JP5350701B2 - Medal sorting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting medals according to their size in a game field where a large number of gaming machines such as slot machines and coin game machines in which medals (coins and circular chips are used) are used as game media. Is.

The medals used in gaming machines such as slot machines and coin game machines are generally 25 mm in diameter and 30 mm in diameter, and the medals that can be used differ depending on the type of gaming machine. is there. For this reason, in a game arcade where a large number of gaming machines are installed, since two kinds of medals are mixed even on one island stand, a sorting device that sorts medals collected on the island stand according to size Is required. Note that the gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 below includes a sorting device that sorts medals thrown into the machine according to size.
Japanese Patent No. 3648181

  By the way, the medal sorting device disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is provided with a rail formed with a groove that can support a medal in a substantially upright state and disposed substantially horizontally, and arranged in parallel with the rail above the rail. A belt that is installed and travels in contact with one surface of the supported medal and can transport the medal along the rail, and the other surface of the transported medal is in sliding contact. A long hole having three different widths, a narrow width region that is smaller than the diameter of the medal, an equal width region that is substantially the same width, and a wide width region that is a large width in the order in which the medals are transported. And a plate-shaped medal guide provided with a shaped opening. Then, the medal conveyed along the rail while being in sliding contact with the medal guide is pressed against the medal guide by the pressing force of the belt, so that the position where the medal passes through the medal guide differs depending on the diameter of the medal. To separate medals.

  However, since the medal sorting device of Patent Document 1 transports medals by a running belt, the number of medals that can be sorted per unit time depends on the running speed of the belt. If the belt traveling speed is increased in order to increase the medal separation processing capacity, it is necessary to keep the belt, which is a movable member, traveling at a high speed at all times, and it is easy to cause a failure such as the belt being cut due to wear. was there. Therefore, it has been difficult to stably separate a large number of medals distributed in the game hall at a high speed for a long time.

Therefore, in order to solve the above-described problem, the medal sorting device according to claim 1 includes a medal sending unit in which small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals mixed therein are sent one by one, and the medal sending unit. And a medal discharge passage portion for discharging the medals sent out from the medals while separating the medals, the medal discharge passage portion being formed so as to hold the medals in a substantially upright state and having a longitudinal length. A speed increasing area in which the sliding speed of the medal is accelerated by its own weight by tilting downward in the direction, and an arc shape so that one side of the medal provided on the downstream side of the speed increasing area faces the outer peripheral side. passing a small diameter medal discharge area for discharging the small diameter medals such as drop ports opening width smaller than the diameter of the wider diameter medals than the diameter of the small-diameter medal, the small-diameter medal discharge area on the outer peripheral side thereof which is curved Characterized in that it comprises a large-diameter medal discharge opening for discharging the large diameter medals.

  Here, the word “abbreviated” is used as “keep the medal in a substantially upright state” not only when the medal stands upright in the medal discharge passage portion, but also in the thickness direction. This is to include a case where it is inclined. Specifically, the “medal substantially standing state” means a state in which the outer peripheral end surface of the medal in the medal discharge passage portion is in contact with the bottom surface of the medal discharge passage portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, at least the speed increasing region is arranged such that a longitudinal direction of the speed increasing region includes one side surface of the sliding medal and is directed in a maximum inclination direction in a plane parallel to the one side surface. It is characterized in that a part is curved.

Further, in the invention described in claim 3 , the small-diameter medal discharge area is inclined in the thickness direction of the medal so that at least a part of one side surface of the medal is in sliding contact, and the dropping port is positioned on the side where the medal is in sliding contact. It was made to let it be made to do.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 discharges the medal sent out from the medal sending unit, in which the small diameter medal and the large diameter medal mixed in the inside are sent out one by one, and the medal sent from the medal sending unit is sorted out. A medal sorting device comprising a medal discharge passage portion, wherein the medal discharge passage portion is formed so as to hold the medal in a substantially upright state, and the medal slides down by being inclined downward in the longitudinal direction. A speed increasing region in which the speed is accelerated by its own weight, and a medal that slides in the thickness direction of the medal so that at least a part of one side surface of the medal is in sliding contact with the speed increasing region. A small-diameter medal discharge area that discharges a small-diameter medal by providing a drop opening with an opening width wider than the diameter of the large-diameter medal on the side and narrower than the diameter of the large-diameter medal, and a large-diameter medal that passes through the small-diameter medal discharge area And a large-diameter medal discharge opening for discharging, the bulking speed region as toward the maximum inclination direction in the longitudinal direction in a plane parallel to said one side surface comprises one side of medals the sliding of the speed increasing area It is characterized in that at least a part thereof is curved .

In the medal sorting device according to the present invention, since the medal slides down in the medal discharge passage portion, it is not necessary to introduce a movable member such as a belt for conveying the medal and a motor for driving the belt. Therefore, the medal sorting device can be configured in a simple and small size. Further, it is possible to reduce risks such as cutting of the movable member belt and motor failure. In addition, the medal sorting processing capacity per unit time does not depend on the running speed of the belt, and a large number of medals can be sorted at high speed.

Further, in the medal sorting device according to the present invention , the medal sliding speed is accelerated in the speed increasing region of the medal discharge passage portion, so that the medal sent later with respect to the medal sent earlier from the medal sending portion. Cannot catch up. Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent clogging of medals that may occur when medals collide or overlap each other in the medal discharge passage portion.

In particular, in the medal sorting device according to claim 1 , the medal discharge passage portion is curved in an arc shape so that one side face of the medal faces the outer peripheral side, and the large diameter medal is wider on the outer peripheral side than the diameter of the small diameter medal. A drop opening having a narrower opening width than the diameter of the small diameter medal is provided, and a small diameter medal discharge area is provided to discharge a small diameter medal from the drop opening. Then, since the small-diameter medal discharge area is curved in an arc shape, the centrifugal force acts on the small-diameter medal that slides in the outer circumferential direction of the arc-shaped curve. Since the drop opening is provided in the direction in which the centrifugal force acts, the small-diameter medal passes through the drop opening and drops out of the medal discharge passage portion. Therefore, the small-diameter medals can be sorted without providing an urging means for pressing the small-diameter medals toward the drop opening side.

In the medal sorting device according to claim 2 , at least a part of the speed increasing region is curved, and a longitudinal direction of the speed increasing region includes a side surface of the sliding medal and is in a plane parallel to the one side surface. It is going to the maximum inclination direction. Then, the downward sloping slope in the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing region changes from a gentle slope to a steep slope, and the sliding speed of the medal is further accelerated. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the risk avoidance effect such as a collision between medals.

Further, in the medal sorting device according to claim 3 , the medal discharge passage portion is inclined in the thickness direction of the medal, and at least a part of one side surface of the medal is slid by the inclination. It is the contact side and the outer peripheral side curved in an arc shape so that one side of the medal faces the outer peripheral side. Then, both the gravity acting by the inclination in the thickness direction of the medal and the centrifugal force acting in the outer peripheral direction of the curve due to the arc-shaped curve are applied to the medal sliding down the small diameter medal discharge area. The drop mouth is positioned in the direction of the resultant force. Accordingly, the synergistic effect of both gravity and centrifugal force acting on the medal makes it possible to more reliably and efficiently sort small-diameter medals.

In the medal sorting device according to claim 4 , the small-diameter medal discharge area is inclined in the thickness direction of the medal, and a dropping port for discharging the small-diameter medal is provided on the side where one side surface of the medal slides due to the inclination. Therefore, it becomes possible to sort the small-diameter medals by the gravity acting on the small-diameter medals without providing an urging means for pressing to the dropping port side, and at least a part of the speed increasing area is curved, the speed increasing area The longitudinal direction of the accelerating region includes one side surface of the sliding medal and includes a side parallel to the one side surface. It changes to a gradient, and the sliding speed of the medals is further accelerated in the increased speed range. For this reason, the medals sent later from the medals sending unit collide with In addition it will be able to effectively prevent the medal clogging that can occur by would Tsu.

  Next, an embodiment of a medal sorting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The medal sorting device according to the present invention is generally composed of a medal sending section for arranging medals one by one and sending them one by one from a sending outlet, and a medal discharge passage section connected to the sending outlet. As for the medals sent from the medal sending part, the sliding speed is accelerated in the speed increasing region of the medal discharge passage part. And it classify | categorizes into a small diameter medal and a large diameter medal, and these small diameter medal and large diameter medal are each accommodated in a separate hopper.

  First, the first embodiment will be described. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view, and FIG. 3 is a plan view. 4 is an arrow view seen from the direction of arrow A shown in FIG.

  The medal delivery unit 1 is formed by connecting a medal tank 3 to an opening provided on one surface of a circular chamber 2 and projecting a motor 4 on the other surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the circular chamber 2 is supported by the support member 5 in an inclined state at an angle of about 60 degrees and fixed to the upper surface of the substrate 6. The circular chamber 2 is provided with a medal delivery port 7 at the top, and a delivery disk 8 that rotates around the center of the circular chamber 2 is provided inside. On the surface of the delivery disk 8, a plurality of protrusions 9, 9,... That are arranged at equal intervals slightly wider than the diameter of the large medal are provided slightly inward from the outer peripheral edge of the delivery disk 8. It is done. The medals are fitted one by one between the protruding pieces 9, 9,... With one surface of the medals in contact with the surface of the delivery disk 8. Then, the rotational movement of the motor 4 is transmitted to the delivery disk 8, whereby the delivery disk 8 is rotated, and the medals fitted between the projecting pieces 9, 9, ... are guided to the delivery port 7. .

  A medal discharge passage portion 10 through which a medal is inserted is connected to the delivery port 7. The medal discharge passage portion 10 is for holding the medal received from the outlet 7 in a substantially upright state and feeding the medal into the hoppers 11a and 11b, and its cross section is thicker than the medal. It is slightly thicker and the width is slightly wider than the diameter of the large diameter medal. That is, a pair of gap members 12 and 12 formed slightly thicker than the thickness of the medal are arranged in parallel with a gap that is slightly wider than the diameter of the large medal, and plate-like on both sides of the gap members 12 and 12. These side wall members 13a and 13b are fixed to each other. The medal inserted into the medal discharge passage portion 10 can move in the medal discharge passage portion 10 in the diameter direction of the medal in a state where both surfaces of the medal face the side wall members 13a and 13b. The side wall member 13b is made of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material.

  The medal discharge passage 10 is steeply inclined in a direction in which the medal is slid down at an angle of about 30 degrees from the start end portion, is further bent downward at a position near the end, and the end portion is directed to the hopper 11b. Yes. Further, the medal discharge passage portion 10 is slightly inclined also in the thickness direction of the medal moving in the medal discharge passage portion 10 over the entire length thereof (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion). Therefore, the medal slides down in the medal discharge passage portion 10 while making one surface of the medal slidably contact the lower side wall member 13a in an inclined standing state.

  The medal discharge passage portion 10 can be divided into a speed increasing area 14, a small diameter medal discharge area 15, and a large diameter medal discharge area 16. Specifically, the start end portion of the medal discharge passage portion 10, that is, the portion from the portion connected to the outlet 7 of the medal delivery portion 1 to the later-described small-diameter medal outlet 17 is the speed increasing region 14. A portion from the start end to the end of the mouth 17 is a small-diameter medal discharge area 15, and a portion after the end of the drop opening 17 is a large-diameter medal discharge area 16.

  As described above, the acceleration zone 14 slides the medal at a steep angle of about 30 degrees, so that the medal in a substantially upright state can be accelerated at a stretch here. Further, on the downstream side of the speed increasing area 14, a longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 10 is provided on a side wall member 13 a located below the medal discharge passage portion 10 (the side on which one surface of the medal slides). A long hole-like drop opening 17 is established along the line, and a region where the drop opening 17 is provided is a small-diameter medal discharge area 15. The opening width of the drop opening 17 is wider than the diameter of the small diameter medal and narrower than the diameter of the large diameter medal. Further, since the passage width of the medal discharge passage portion 10 is slightly wider than the diameter of the large diameter medal, the side wall members 13a are left narrow on both sides in the width direction of the drop port 17, and a pair of guide pieces 18 and 18 are formed. Further, the downstream side of the small-diameter medal discharge area 15 is a large-diameter medal discharge area 16 in which only the large-diameter medals passing through the small-diameter medal discharge area 15 slide down, and the end portion of the large-diameter medal discharge area 16 discharges the large-diameter medal. It is a medal outlet 19.

  Note that hoppers 11 a and 11 b are installed below the medal discharge passage portion 10. That is, a hopper 11a that accommodates a small-diameter medal dropped from the medal discharge passage portion 10 by passing through the drop port 17 is installed below the drop opening 17 of the medal discharge passage. A hopper 11b that accommodates a large-diameter medal is installed below.

  Next, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the small-diameter medal discharge area described above. The small diameter medal and the large diameter medal are temporarily stored in a mixed state in the medal tank 3 and guided to the circular chamber 2. Inside the circular chamber 2, the delivery disk 8 is driven to rotate by the motor 4. The medals guided from the medal tank 3 to the circular chamber 2 are fitted one by one between the projecting pieces 9, 9,... Formed on the surface of the delivery disk 8, and are generated by the rotation of the delivery disk 8. It moves along the inner peripheral wall of the circular chamber 2 by force. At this time, the medal is moving in the diameter direction of the medal in a state where the medal is standing upright by bringing one surface into contact with the surface of the delivery disk 8. The medals are sent out one by one from the outlet 7 provided in the upper part of the circular chamber 2 to the outside of the circular chamber 2.

  The medals delivered from the delivery port 7 smoothly flow into the medal discharge passage portion 10 and slide down the speed increasing area 14 of the medal discharge passage portion 10 in the diameter direction of the medal. Due to the inclination that inclines downward at an angle of about 30 degrees in the longitudinal direction of the acceleration zone 14, the sliding speed of the medal is accelerated by the weight of the medal itself.

  When the medal reaches the drop opening 17 of the small diameter medal discharge area 15, in the case of the small diameter medal, the upper end portion of the small diameter medal is the guide piece 18 on the upper side of the drop opening 17 as shown by reference numeral S1 in FIG. Will not be retained. Therefore, the small-diameter medals fall through the drop opening 17 so as to fall by gravity, fall out of the medal discharge passage portion 10, and are accommodated in the hopper 11a.

  On the other hand, in the case of a large-diameter medal, since the opening width of the drop opening 17 is narrower than the diameter of the large-diameter medal, both end portions in the diameter direction of the large-diameter medal are shown in FIG. It is held by a pair of guide pieces 18 and 18 formed on both sides of the drop port 17. Therefore, the large-diameter medal slides down to the downstream side of the medal discharge passage portion 10 without passing through the drop opening 17. Then, it reaches the end of the medal discharge passage portion 10 and falls and is accommodated in the hopper 11b. In this way, the small-diameter medals and the large-diameter medals sent out from the medal delivery unit 1 one by one are separated one after another and are accommodated in separate hoppers 11a and 11b.

  As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention, the medals sent in a substantially upright state from the delivery port 7 of the medal sending unit 1 are caused to flow into the medal discharge passage unit 10, and the medals are placed in the medal discharge passage unit 10. The small diameter medal is separated from the large diameter medal in the small diameter medal discharge area 15 where the drop opening 17 is opened. That is, the medals can be sorted without introducing a conveyor belt or a motor for driving the conveyor belt in order to convey the medals in the medal discharge passage section 10. Therefore, the medal sorting device can be configured in a simple and small size. Then, by eliminating risks such as cutting of the belt that is the movable member and failure of the motor, the medals can be more stably separated.

  Further, since the medal sliding speed is accelerated in the speed increasing region 14, the medal sent out from the outlet 7 can keep a wide interval with the next medal. Therefore, medals can be prevented from colliding with each other or overlapping in the medal discharge passage portion 10, and medal clogging can be prevented.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above only in the configuration of the medal discharge passage portion. Therefore, detailed description is omitted by giving the same reference numerals to the same configurations, and different configurations will be described. 6 is an external perspective view of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is an arrow view seen from the direction of arrow B shown in FIG.

  The medal discharge passage portion 20 that receives medals from the medal sending portion 1 is basically configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, the medal discharge passage portion 20 is formed such that its cross-sectional thickness is slightly larger than the medal thickness, and its width is slightly wider than the diameter of the large-diameter medal. Specifically, a pair of gap members 21 and 21 formed slightly thicker than the thickness of the medal are arranged in parallel with an interval slightly wider than the diameter of the large medal, and both surfaces of the gap members 21 and 21 are arranged. The plate-like side wall members 22a and 22b are fixed to each other. The medal inserted through the medal discharge passage portion 20 can move in the medal discharge passage portion 20 in the diameter direction of the medal in a state where both surfaces of the medal face the side wall members 22a and 22b. Note that the side wall member 22b is formed of a translucent synthetic resin material.

  The medal discharge passage portion 20 steeply slopes in the direction of sliding down the medal at an angle of about 30 degrees from the start end portion, bends further downward at a position near the end, and the end portion is directed to the hopper 11b. Yes. The medal discharge passage portion 20 is also slightly inclined in the thickness direction of the medal moving in the medal discharge passage over the entire length thereof (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 20). Accordingly, the medal slides down in the medal discharge passage portion 20 while sliding one surface of the medal against the lower side wall member 22a in an inclined standing state.

  The medal discharge passage portion 20 can be divided into a speed increasing area 23, a small diameter medal discharge area 24, and a large diameter medal discharge area 25. Specifically, the start end portion of the medal discharge passage portion 20, that is, the portion from the portion connected to the delivery port 7 of the medal delivery portion 1 to the later-described small-diameter medal outlet 26 is the speed increasing region 23. A portion from the start end to the end of the mouth 26 is a small-diameter medal discharge area 24, and a portion from the end of the drop opening 26 to the portion after that is a large-diameter medal discharge area 25.

  As described above, the speed increasing area 23 slides the medal at a steep angle of about 30 degrees, so that the medal in a substantially upright state can be accelerated at a stretch here. In addition, on the downstream side of the speed increasing area 23, the side wall member 22 a located on the lower side of the medal discharge passage portion 20 has a long hole-like drop port 26 along the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 20. The small-diameter medal discharge area 24 is provided. The opening width of the drop opening 26 is formed wider than the diameter of the small diameter medal and narrower than the diameter of the large diameter medal. Further, since the passage width of the medal discharge passage portion 20 is slightly wider than the diameter of the large diameter medal, the side wall members 22a are left narrow on both sides in the width direction of the drop opening 26, and a pair of guide pieces. 27, 27 are formed. Further, the downstream side of the small-diameter medal discharge area 24 is a large-diameter medal discharge area 25 where only the large-diameter medals passing through the small-diameter medal discharge area 24 slide down, and the terminal portion of the large-diameter medal discharge area 25 discharges the large-diameter medal. A medal outlet 28 is provided.

  In addition, below the medal discharge passage portion 20, hoppers 11a and 11b are installed. That is, below the drop opening 26 of the medal discharge passage portion 20, a hopper 11a that accommodates a small-diameter medal dropped from the medal discharge passage portion 20 by passing through the drop opening 26 is installed, and the medal discharge passage portion Below the 20 end, a hopper 11b that accommodates a large-diameter medal is installed.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the entire medal discharge passage portion 20 is formed in an arcuate shape having an outer periphery on the side in which the small diameter medal is dropped. By doing in this way, the centrifugal force which acts in the outer peripheral direction of a curved circular arc acts on the medal sliding down in the medal discharge passage part 20. Then, one surface of the medal opposed to the outer peripheral side of the arc is pressed more strongly toward the side wall member 22a side, and the small-diameter medal is thrown out from the drop opening 26 in the small-diameter medal discharge area 24. It comes off from the passage portion 20. Therefore, an effect that the medal sorting process is more reliable is obtained.

  In the second embodiment, the entire medal discharge passage portion 20 is curved in an arc shape. However, if at least a portion corresponding to the drop opening 26 is curved, a small-diameter medal using centrifugal force is used. Is thrown outward from the drop opening 26, so that the effect of making the medal sorting process more reliable can be achieved.

  In the second embodiment, the medal discharge passage portion 20 is described as being slightly inclined in the medal thickness direction. However, at least a part of the small-diameter medal discharge region 24 of the medal discharge passage portion 20 has a small diameter. If the medals are curved in a circular arc shape with the outer side as the outer side, the small diameter medals can be discharged from the drop port 26 of the small diameter medals discharge area 24 by centrifugal force. It does not have to be inclined in the thickness direction.

  In addition, in the first and second embodiments described above, the entire medal discharge passage is formed so as to be inclined in the thickness direction of the medal. However, it is not always necessary to incline the entire medal discharge passage. If the medal discharge area is inclined, the object of the present invention can be achieved. That is, if the speed increase area portion and the large diameter medal discharge area portion of the medal discharge passage are not inclined in the thickness direction of the medal, in other words, even if the medal stands up completely in that portion, the minimum For example, if the drop opening portion (small diameter medal discharge area) for discharging the small diameter medal is inclined in the thickness direction of the medal, the small diameter medal is dropped by gravity, and thus the object of the present invention can be achieved.

  Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above only in the configuration of the medal discharge passage portion. Therefore, detailed description is omitted by giving the same reference numerals to the same configurations, and different configurations will be described. FIG. 8 is an external perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is an external perspective view from another angle. FIG. 10 is a front view thereof, and FIG. 11 is a plan view thereof. Further, FIG. 12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the overlapping medal discharge area.

  The medal discharge passage portion 29 that receives medals from the medal sending portion 1 is basically configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment. That is, the medal discharge passage portion 29 is formed such that its cross-sectional thickness is slightly larger than the medal thickness, and its width is slightly wider than the diameter of the large-diameter medal. Specifically, a pair of gap members 30, 30 formed slightly thicker than the thickness of the medal are arranged in parallel with an interval slightly wider than the diameter of the large-diameter medal. It is formed by fixing plate-like side wall members 31a and 31b. The medal inserted through the medal discharge passage portion 29 can move in the medal discharge passage portion 29 in the diameter direction of the medal in a state where both surfaces of the medal face the side wall members 31a and 31b. The side wall member 31b is formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin material.

  The medal discharge passage portion 29 is steeply inclined downward from the starting end portion in a direction to slide the medal at an angle of about 30 degrees, further bent downward at a position near the end, and the end portion is directed toward the hopper 11b. Yes. Further, the medal discharge passage portion 29 is slightly inclined also in the thickness direction of the medal moving in the medal discharge passage portion 29 over the entire length thereof (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 29). Accordingly, the medal slides down in the medal discharge passage portion 29 while sliding one surface of the medal against the lower side wall member 31a in an inclined standing state.

  The medal discharge passage portion 29 can be divided into an overlapping medal discharge area 32, a speed increasing area 33, a small diameter medal discharge area 34, and a large diameter medal discharge area 35. Specifically, an overlapping medal discharge area 32 is provided near the start end of the medal discharge passage section 29, and a portion from the downstream to a later-described small diameter medal drop opening 37 is a speed increasing area 33, and the start end of the drop opening 37 is provided. A portion from the end to the end is a small-diameter medal discharge area 34, and a portion after the end of the drop opening 37 is a large-diameter medal discharge area 35.

  The duplicate medal discharge area 32 eliminates the duplication of medals by discharging one medal from the medal discharge passage portion 29 when two medals are sent out from the delivery port 7 of the medal sending unit 1. In this case, the medals are inserted through the speed increasing area 33 one by one. Since the side wall member 31b is not provided in the overlapping medal discharge area 32, one side surface of the medal discharge passage portion 29 is opened. Further, the width of the lower gap member 30a is narrower than the thickness of the medal. That is, the width of the bottom surface of the medal discharge passage portion 29 is narrower than the thickness of the medal. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 12, in the overlapping medal discharge area 32, only the medal M1 is supported from below by the upper end surface of the gap member 30a, and the medal M2 overlapping the medal M1 is the gap member. It is not supported by 30a and falls downward. This prevents two medals from overlapping and being sent to the speed increasing area 33 and being jammed.

  As described above, the speed increasing area 33 slides the medal at a steep angle of about 30 degrees, so that the medal in a substantially upright state can be accelerated at a stretch here. In the side wall member 31 a corresponding to the speed increasing area 33, a narrow slot-like slot 36 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing area 33. The slot 36 reduces the frictional resistance by reducing the contact area between one surface of the medal and the surface of the side wall member 31a, and enhances the effect of increasing the sliding speed of the medal.

  The lower end portion of the acceleration area 33 is within a plane including one side face of the medal and parallel to the side face (in the circular chamber 2 so that the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing area 33 becomes a steep angle from a downward inclination of about 30 degrees. It is smoothly curved downward in the inclined plane. Finally, the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing region 33 of the medal discharge passage portion 29 substantially coincides with the direction of the maximum inclination line in the plane.

  Further, in the downstream of the acceleration region 33, the medal discharge passage portion 29 is smoothly curved in an arc shape so that the longitudinal direction is out of the plane, and the steep slope gradually changes to a gentle slope. Furthermore, the downstream is formed in a straight line shape with the gentle slope.

  In this way, the medal discharge passage portion 29 is curved in an arc shape, and is further extended along the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 29 to the side wall member 31a located below the portion formed in a linear shape. By opening the hole-shaped drop port 37, a small-diameter medal discharge area 34 is provided. The opening width of the drop opening 37 is wider than the diameter of the small diameter medal and narrower than the diameter of the large diameter medal. Further, since the passage width of the medal discharge passage portion 29 is slightly wider than the diameter of the large diameter medal, the side wall members 31a are left narrow on both sides in the width direction of the dropping port 37, and a pair of guide pieces. 38, 38 are formed.

  Downstream of the small-diameter medal discharge area 34 is a large-diameter medal discharge area 35 in which only the large-diameter medals passing through the small-diameter medal discharge area 34 slide down. It is an exit 39. The dropping port 37 and the slot 36 are connected at a portion where the lower end of the speed increasing area 33 and the upper end of the small diameter medal discharging area 34 are in contact with each other.

  In addition, below the medal discharge passage portion 29, hoppers 11a and 11b are installed. That is, a hopper 11a that accommodates a small-diameter medal that has dropped from the medal discharge passage portion 29 by passing through the drop port 37 is installed below the drop opening 37 of the medal discharge passage portion 29. A hopper 11b that accommodates a large-diameter medal is installed below the terminal 29.

  Next, the operation of the third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the small-diameter medal discharge area described above. The medals sent out from the outlet 7 first slide down in the overlapping medal discharge area 32 of the medal discharge passage portion 29. In this overlapping medal discharge area 32, if two medals are overlapped and sent out from the delivery port 7, only one medal is allowed to pass and the other medal is dropped. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, only one medal M1 located on the side wall member 31a side is supported by the upper end surface of the gap member 30a and passes through the overlapping medal discharge area 32. On the other hand, the other medal M2 that is not supported by the upper end surface of the gap member 30a is detached from the medal discharge passage portion 29 and falls downward.

  The medals that have passed through the overlapping medal discharge area 32 smoothly flow into the speed increasing area 33 of the medal discharge passage portion 29. Then, the inside of the medal discharge passage 29 is slid down while accelerating the sliding speed by flowing down the slope inclined downward at an angle of about 30 degrees in the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing region 33 by its own weight. Then, the medal whose sliding speed is increased flows into the small-diameter medal discharge area 34.

  When the medal reaches the drop opening 37 of the small-diameter medal discharge area 34, in the case of the small-diameter medal, both end portions in the diameter direction of the small-diameter medal are on both sides of the drop opening 37 as shown by reference numeral S2 in FIG. The pair of guide pieces 38, 38 formed is not completely held. Accordingly, the small-diameter medal passes through the drop opening 37 and falls out of the medal discharge passage portion 29 and is accommodated in the hopper 11a. At this time, since the drop opening 37 is positioned directly below the medal that slides down the medal discharge passage portion 29, the small-diameter medal falls off in the direction of the gravity acting on the medal. In addition, since the small-diameter medal discharge area 34 is formed in an arc shape that smoothly changes from a steep slope to a gentle slope, a centrifugal force acts on the small-diameter medal in the direction in which the medal falls off. Accordingly, the gravity and centrifugal force acting on the small-diameter medal are directed in the same direction side, and due to their synergistic effect, the small-diameter medal surely passes through the drop opening 37 and falls out of the medal discharge passage portion 29.

  On the other hand, in the case of a large diameter medal, since the opening width of the drop opening 37 is narrower than the diameter of the large diameter medal, both ends in the diameter direction of the large diameter medal are shown in FIG. It is held by a pair of guide pieces 38, 38 formed on both sides of the drop opening 37. Accordingly, the large-diameter medal slides down to the downstream of the medal discharge passage portion 29 without passing through the drop opening 37. Then, it reaches the end of the medal discharge passage portion 29 and falls and is accommodated in the hopper 11b.

  In the first embodiment to the third embodiment described above, the “medal discharge passage portion” has been described with the plate-shaped side wall members fixed to both sides of the pair of gap members. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, passage members 40, 40 each having a U-shaped cross section may be arranged on the upper and lower sides, and the medal M3 may pass between them. In short, it is only necessary that medals pass in a substantially upright state in the speed increasing region of the medal discharge passage portion.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, the large-diameter medal discharge area is provided on the downstream side of the medal discharge passage portion. However, in carrying out the present invention, the large-diameter medal discharge port is If it is provided, it is not always necessary to provide a large-diameter medal discharge area. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, a large-diameter medal discharge port 41 is provided immediately next to the drop opening 17 for discharging a small-diameter medal. Also good.

  FIG. 16 is an external perspective view showing a medal circulation system in which the medal sorting device according to the present invention is introduced. The enclosing boxes 42a to 42c are the backbone devices of the medal circulation system responsible for the medal collection, sorting and delivery functions, and the medal sorting device and the small diameter medal selected by the medal sorting device in the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c. There are provided a large diameter medal storage tank and a small diameter medal storage tank in which large diameter medals are respectively stored. Further, in addition to the medal sorting device, the large-diameter medal storage tank, and the small-diameter medal storage tank, the central enclosure boxes 42a to 42c are provided with a medal washing device so that these devices operate in cooperation with each other. It is configured. In addition, a medal counting and collecting unit 43 for counting the medals acquired by the player and returning the medals to the store side is installed on the front surface of the central enclosure box 42b.

  The island platforms 44a to 44c are formed by arranging gaming machines 45, 45,. The island platforms 44a to 44c are mixed with gaming machines 45, 45,... That use small diameter medals or large diameter medals. These island stands 44a to 44c are installed so as to be connected to the back surfaces of the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c, as shown in FIG. Each island platform 44a-44c has a medal collection conveyor (not shown) for transporting small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals discharged from each gaming machine 45, 45,... To the surrounding boxes 42a-42c. A medal delivery conveyor (not shown) for conveying the small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals sorted by the medal sorting device from the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c to the gaming machines 45, 45,. Further, a medal distribution conveyor 46 is bridged on the upper sides of the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c, and a door plate 47 that can be opened and closed is provided on the side surfaces of the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c.

  In this medal circulation system, small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals discharged from each gaming machine 45, 45,... Are conveyed to enclosure boxes 42a to 42c by a medal collection conveyor (not shown). Further, small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals discharged from the medal counting and collecting unit 43 are also led to the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c. The medals transported to the enclosing boxes 42a to 42c are in a state in which a small diameter medal and a large diameter medal are mixed, and are sorted into a small diameter medal and a large diameter medal by the above-described medal sorting device, respectively. And stored in a small medal storage tank. The separated small and large diameter medals are delivered to each gaming machine 45, 45,... By a medal delivery conveyor (not shown) laid inside the islands 44a to 44c. Used as a payout medal. Moreover, the small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals sorted in the enclosing boxes 42a to 42c can be taken out by opening the door plate 47 provided on the side surface.

  Furthermore, the surface of the medal that has become dirty due to the player's hand dirt, friction with the circulation passage, or the like is cleaned by the medal cleaning device installed in the central surrounding boxes 42a to 42c. When a predetermined number of medals are stored in the large diameter medal storage tank or the small diameter medal storage tank in the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c, the medals are distributed to the adjacent surrounding boxes 42a to 42c by the medal distribution conveyor 46. The number of medals stored in the surrounding boxes 42a to 42c is adjusted to be substantially equal.

1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. The front view of 1st embodiment of this invention. The top view of 1st embodiment of this invention. The arrow view seen from the arrow A direction shown in FIG. The expanded sectional view of the small diameter medal discharge area in the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an external perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention. The arrow view seen from the arrow B direction shown in FIG. The external appearance perspective view of 3rd embodiment of this invention. The external appearance perspective view from another angle of 3rd embodiment of this invention. The front view of 3rd embodiment of this invention. The top view of 3rd embodiment of this invention. The expanded sectional view of the overlap medal discharge area in the third embodiment of the present invention. The expanded sectional view of the small diameter medal discharge area in a third embodiment of the present invention. The expanded sectional view of the medal discharge passage part formed with the passage member. The external appearance perspective view of embodiment which provided the large diameter medal discharge port immediately next to the small diameter medal discharge area. The external appearance perspective view which shows the medal circulation system which introduced the medal classification apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal delivery part 2 Circular chamber 3 Medal tank 4 Motor 7 Outlet 10 Medal discharge passage part 14 Acceleration area 15 Small diameter medal discharge area 16 Large diameter medal discharge area 17 Falling hole 18 Guide piece 19 Large diameter medal discharge opening 20 Medal discharge Passage section 23 Acceleration area 24 Small diameter medal discharge area 25 Large diameter medal discharge area 26 Drop opening 27 Guide piece 28 Large diameter medal discharge opening 29 Medal discharge passage section 32 Duplicate medal discharge area 33 Increase speed area 34 Small diameter medal discharge area 35 Large Diameter medal discharge area 37 Drop opening 38 Guide piece 39 Large diameter medal discharge opening

Claims (4)

  A medal sorting device comprising a medal sending unit that sends out small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals that are mixed inside one by one, and a medal discharge passage that discharges the medals sent from the medal sending unit while sorting them. The medal discharge passage is formed so as to hold the medal in a substantially upright state, and the medal sliding speed is increased by its own weight by being inclined downward in the longitudinal direction. The speed range and the outer diameter side of the medal, which is provided downstream of the speed increase range and is curved in an arc shape so that one side of the medal faces the outer circumference side, is wider than the diameter of the small diameter medal and larger than the diameter of the large diameter medal. A medal comprising a small-diameter medal discharge area for discharging a small-diameter medal by providing a drop opening with a narrow opening width, and a large-diameter medal discharge opening for discharging a large-diameter medal that has passed through the small-diameter medal discharge area Another apparatus.   At least a part of the speed increasing region is curved so that a longitudinal direction of the speed increasing region includes one side surface of the sliding medal and includes a side parallel to the one side surface in a maximum inclination direction. The medal sorting device according to claim 1.   The small-diameter medal discharge area is inclined in the thickness direction of the medal so that at least a part of one side surface of the medal is in sliding contact, and the dropping port is positioned on the side in which the medal is in sliding contact. The medal sorting device according to claim 1 or 2. A medal sorting device comprising a medal sending unit that sends out small-diameter medals and large-diameter medals that are mixed inside one by one, and a medal discharge passage that discharges the medals sent from the medal sending unit while sorting them. The medal discharge passage is formed so as to hold the medal in a substantially upright state, and the medal sliding speed is increased by its own weight by being inclined downward in the longitudinal direction. Inclined in the thickness direction of the medal so that at least a part of one side of the medal is slidably contacted with the speed region and the speed increasing region, and wider than the diameter of the small-diameter medal on the side where the medal slidably contacts A small-diameter medal discharge area for discharging a small-diameter medal by providing a drop opening having an opening width narrower than the diameter of the medal, and a large-diameter medal discharge opening for discharging a large-diameter medal that has passed through the small-diameter medal discharge area For example, wherein the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing zone is curved at least a portion of bulking speed range to be directed to the maximum inclination direction in the sliding to include an aspect of the medal the in one side surface in a parallel plane Medal sorting device.

Images