JP5405074B2 - GAME MEDIA COUNTER AND GAME MEDIA COUNTING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game medium counting machine and a game medium counting system installed in a game store for counting game media .

  In a game store where a pachislot machine is installed, a medal counting machine for counting medals (game media) paid out from the pachislot machine is installed. When a plurality of types of pachislot machines having different types of medals (diameters and surface patterns) are installed in one amusement store, medal counters corresponding to the types of medals are installed. The medals are counted by a dedicated medal counter corresponding to the type of the medal (diameter or surface pattern).

  The medal counter is a hopper into which medals are inserted, a rotating disk that is arranged below the hopper and that feeds out medals in the hopper one by one by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation, and the medals fed out by the rotating disk are conveyed And a count sensor for counting medals transported through the transport path. If the medal transported on the transport path is a medal of a type that is not counted, the medal is discharged from the transport path to the reject box.

Specifically, when a medal transported on the transport path is a medal having a diameter different from that of the medal to be counted, the medal is discharged from the transport path to a reject box (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Also, an optical sensor for reading the pattern on the surface of the medal is provided, and by reading the pattern on the surface of the medal with the optical sensor, it is determined whether or not the medal conveyed on the conveyance path is a medal to be counted. There are some (see, for example, Patent Document 2). When it is determined that the surface pattern is different from the medal to be counted, the medal is discharged from the transport path to the reject box.
JP 2008-12024 A JP 2006-4166 A

If the operator mistakenly selects a medal counter and a large number of medals different from the medal to be counted are erroneously inserted into the hopper of the medal counter, the medal is drawn out to the transport path by the rotating disk. And accumulate in the reject box.
However, the feeding of medals to the transport path by the rotating disk does not stop until there are no medals from the hopper or the medals are fully stored in the reject box. Therefore, the medal counting process cannot be resumed immediately.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a game medium counter and a game medium counting system capable of interrupting or canceling the counting process soon after an erroneous insertion of a non-counting type of game medium into the hopper. For the purpose.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hopper (5) into which a game medium is inserted, a transport path (30) for transporting the game medium fed out from the hopper, and a game medium transported through the transport path. Stop that sets a stop condition for stopping conveyance, including a discriminating means (35A, 35B, 28; 71, 28) for detecting and discriminating the type, and a discriminating number of game media different from a predetermined counting target The condition setting means (28) and the operation stopping means (15) for stopping the transport operation of the game medium when the determination of the game medium different from the predetermined counting target by the determination means satisfies the stop condition. , changes and 28), the stop condition input means for inputting a stop condition (4), a stop condition set by the stop condition setting means, the stop condition input by the stop condition input means That includes a setting changing means (28), game media counting machine; a (6 0 70).

In addition, the alphanumeric characters in parentheses represent corresponding components in the embodiments described later. The same applies hereinafter.
According to this structure, it is discriminate | determined by a discrimination | determination means whether the game medium conveyed on a conveyance path is a game medium of count object. Then, in response to the fact that a predetermined number of game media different from the predetermined count target (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “non-count target type game media”) are determined by the determination means, The transfer operation is stopped.

Therefore, even when a large number of types of game media that are not counted are loaded into the hopper, the game media transport operation can be interrupted or stopped shortly after the erroneous loading. Then, by removing all the game media from the hopper and the transport path, it is possible to resume the transport operation of the game media by the game media counter. Thereby, the counting process by the game medium counter can be restarted at an early stage.
Moreover, it is possible to set a stop condition according to the installation status of the game medium counter.

  The game media counter may include a reject box (7) that can accommodate game media. And between the 1st state which is arrange | positioned rather than the said discrimination means in the said conveyance path, and does not prevent medal conveyance, and the 2nd state which guides the medal conveyed along a conveyance path toward the said rejection box And the drive unit (37) for driving the guide member, and the discriminating means determines that the game medium is not a predetermined counting target game medium. And control means (28) for controlling the portion to bring the guide member into the second state. In this case, the types of game media that are not counted are discharged from the transport path to the reject box. In this case, even if a large number of types of non-counting game media are inserted into the hopper, there is no possibility that the game media overflows from the reject box and the game media is scattered around the reject box.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the display unit (4) for displaying predetermined information and the display unit according to the determination unit determining a predetermined number of game media different from the predetermined counting target. The game medium counter according to claim 1, further comprising warning display means (28) for displaying a warning.
According to this configuration, when the number of types of game media that are not counted is discriminated by the discriminating means by the number determined by the predetermined stop condition, the game media transport operation is stopped and a warning is given to the display unit. Is displayed. This warning display is preferably a display indicating that a type of game medium that is not counted is inserted into the hopper. In this case, it is possible to effectively notify the worker (player / store clerk) that a non-counting target type of game medium has been put into the hopper.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the stop condition may include a condition that the determination unit continuously determines a predetermined number of game media different from a predetermined counting target.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the stop condition includes a condition that the number of times that the discriminating unit discriminates a game medium different from a predetermined counting target has reached a predetermined number from the start of counting. May be.

When the game medium is a medal, as described in claim 5 , the game medium is a medal, and the discriminating means has a predetermined size of a diameter of the medal conveyed through the conveyance path. A size sensor (35A, 35B) for detecting whether or not may be included.
According to this configuration, it is detected by the size sensor whether or not the diameter of the medal transported on the transport path is a predetermined diameter. For this reason, it is possible to discriminate the passage of medals having a diameter different from that of the counting target through the conveying path.

When the game medium is a medal, as described in claim 6 , the game medium is a medal, and the determination unit includes an image sensor (71) that reads a pattern attached to the surface of the medal. May be included.
According to this configuration, the pattern attached to the surface of the medal is read by the image sensor. Then, the discrimination means discriminates whether or not the read pattern is a predetermined pattern. For this reason, it is possible to discriminate the passage of medals having different patterns on the surface to be counted in the conveyance path by the discriminating means.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a slot (3) into which a game medium is inserted, a transport path (30) for transporting the game medium loaded into the slot, and the transport path are transported. A stop condition for stopping the transportation, including a discriminating means (35A, 35B, 28; 71, 28) for detecting a game medium and discriminating its type, and a discriminating number of game media different from a predetermined counting target. An operation stop for stopping the transport operation of the game medium when the stop condition setting means (28) to be set and the determination of the game medium different from the predetermined counting target by the determination means satisfy the stop condition. The stop conditions set by the means (15, 28), the stop condition input means (4) for inputting the stop condition, and the stop condition setting means are changed to the stop condition input by the stop condition input means. You And a setting change unit (28), game media system; a (60 70).

Embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medal counter (game medium counter , game medium counting system ) 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the front right side. The medal counting machine 1 is installed in a game store where a pachislot machine is installed, and counts the number of medals acquired by the player with the pachislot machine. There are cases where a plurality of types of pachislot machines having different diameters of usable medals are installed in an amusement store. The medal counting machine 1 counts medals having a diameter of 30 mm (hereinafter referred to as “φ30 medals”).

The medal counting machine 1 includes a main body casing 2 that forms the casing. The main body casing 2 has a wide box shape. On the top surface of the main casing 2, two insertion ports 3 are formed side by side on the front side, and a display panel (display unit) 4 is provided on the back side.
An upper end of a substantially cylindrical hopper 5 that narrows downward is connected to the periphery of each inlet 3. The lower end of each hopper 5 is opened and faces the inside of the main casing 2.

The display panel 4 is, for example, a liquid crystal touch panel, and the operation status of the medal counter 1 is displayed on the display panel 4, and buttons for operating the medal counter 1 are displayed.
The medal counting machine 1 includes a counting unit 6 in the main body casing 2 below each insertion port 3 (strictly, below a hopper 5 corresponding to each insertion port 3). That is, the medal counter 1 is provided with two counting units 6. A reject box 7 is provided at the lower end of the front surface of each main casing 2 so that it can be pulled out.

The medal counting machine 1 shown in this embodiment is a so-called twin type in which two insertion ports 3 and two counting units 6 are provided in order to perform the counting process quickly. The single type provided only one each may be sufficient.
The medal paid out from the pachislot machine 41 can be exchanged for a prize when the game is finished. Therefore, the player inserts the acquired medals (medals paid out from the pachislot machine 41) into the insertion port 3 (both or one). The medal inserted into the insertion slot 3 is guided to the counting unit 6 through the hopper 5. As will be described later, the counting unit 6 counts the number of guided medals for each type of medal. The medals after counting are discharged from the rear of the main casing 2 to a storage tank or the like outside the machine.

A medal that is not counted (for example, a medal with a diameter of 25 mm (hereinafter referred to as “φ25 medal”)) that is erroneously inserted into the insertion slot 3 is separated from the medal by the counting unit 6, and then the main body casing 2. It is discharged into a reject box 7 that can be pulled out at the lower end of the front of the.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one counting unit 6 as seen from the front right side.

As shown in FIG. 2, the counting unit 6 includes a flat plate-like base 10 that is thin in the vertical direction. The upper surface of the base 10 is a horizontal plane.
The counting unit 6 separates and feeds medals guided by the hopper 5 one by one on the base 10 and a transport mechanism that transports the medals fed one by one toward the rear of the main casing 2. 12 and a discriminating mechanism 13 for discriminating the types of medals transported by the transport mechanism 12 one by one.

The feeding mechanism 11 includes a rotating disk 14, a first motor 15, a guide wall 16, a gate 17, and a second motor 18.
The rotating disk 14 is provided so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis, and its upper surface is formed in a horizontal plane. The upper surface of the rotating disk 14 is a horizontal plane. A guide cap 19 protruding upward is integrally provided at the center position of the circle on the upper surface of the rotating disk 14. The guide cap 19 and the upper surface of the rotating disk 14 around the guide cap 19 are exposed upward from the lower end of the hopper 5 through the insertion port 3 (see FIG. 1).

  The first motor 15 is attached to the upper surface of the base 10 on the rear side of the rotating disk 14. The first motor 15 is provided so as to be able to rotate forward and backward, and the driving force generated by the first motor 15 is transmitted to the rotating disk 14 via a belt or the like. As a result, the rotating disk 14 rotates in a predetermined positive direction (specifically, the clockwise direction in plan view, see the thick solid arrow shown).

  The guide wall 16 has a substantially annular shape concentric with the rotating disk 14, and extends upward from the upper surface of the base 10 so as to surround the rotating disk 14 from the radially outer side along the outer peripheral edge of the rotating disk 14. The guide wall 16 has a notch portion 20 that is notched so as to be completely cut at one place in the circumferential direction (specifically, the left rear portion). Here, for convenience of explanation, the guide wall 16 that partitions the notched portion 20 from the rear side is referred to as a first portion 16A, and the guide wall 16 that partitions the notched portion 20 from the front side is referred to as a second portion 16B.

The guide wall 16 is fixed to the upper surface of the base 10 with screws 21 at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction. However, the second portion 16B described above is not fixed to the base 10 and can move up and down with respect to the upper surface of the base 10.
The gate 17 is a flat plate extending in the tangential direction (specifically, the front-rear direction) with respect to the circumferential direction of the guide wall 16 at the notch portion 20. The gate 17 is long in the tangential direction described above, and integrally includes a closing portion 17A that substantially closes the notched portion 20 from the radially outer side of the guide wall 16, and an extending portion 17B that extends forward from the closing portion 17A. ing.

In the closing portion 17A, the rear end portion is fixed to the first portion 16A of the guide wall 16 with the screw 22, and the front end portion is fixed to the second portion 16B of the guide wall 16 with the screw 23. The rear end portion of the extending portion 17B is also fixed to the second portion 16B of the guide wall 16 by the screw 23.
The lower end edge of the blocking portion 17A is flat in the horizontal direction. The lower end edge of the closing portion 17 </ b> A is slightly opposed to the portion of the upper surface of the rotating disk 14 that coincides with the notched portion 20 of the guide wall 16. Specifically, a gap X is secured between the lower end edge of the closing portion 17 </ b> A and the upper surface of the rotating disk 14. In the normal state shown in FIG. 2 (the position of the gate 17 at this time is the normal position), the dimension of the gap X in the vertical direction is substantially the same as the thickness of one medal, and the dimension of the gap X in the horizontal direction. (Distance between the first portion 16A and the second portion 16B in the guide wall 16) is larger than the diameter of the medal. As described above, in this medal counting machine 1, since φ30 medals can be counted, the dimension of the gap X in the horizontal direction is larger than 30 mm.

The second motor 18 is attached to the upper surface of the base 10 on the left side of the extending portion 17 </ b> B of the gate 17. A cam 24 is attached to an output shaft (an output shaft through a gear mechanism) 18A of the second motor 18, and the cam 24 rotates eccentrically when the second motor 18 is driven.
Here, the front end edge of the extending portion 17 </ b> B is formed with a recess 25 that is recessed in a substantially U shape toward the rear side, and the above-described cam 24 is fitted in the recess 25. When the cam 24 is eccentrically rotated by a predetermined amount (for example, 180 °) in a state where the gate 17 is in the normal position, the cam 24 pushes up a portion that borders the recess 25 from above in the extending portion 17B. As a result, the entire gate 17 is tilted with the first portion 16A of the guide wall 16 as a fulcrum so that the extended portion 17B side is higher than the closed portion 17A side (the position of the gate 17 at this time is taken as the release position). . Along with this, the second portion 16B of the guide wall 16 is lifted, and the gap X described above is slightly widened to the upper side than when the gate 17 is in the normal position. When the cam 24 rotates in the reverse direction by the predetermined amount, the gate 17 returns from the release position to the normal position. In this manner, by moving the gate 17 from the normal position to the release position, the gap X can be expanded upward, and the release process when clogging occurs is executed.

  As the rotating disk 14 rotates in the forward direction, a centrifugal force acts on the medals on the rotating disk 14, and the medals on the rotating disk 14 move to the outer peripheral edge of the rotating disk 14 (in other words, the inner periphery of the guide wall 16). Move toward the surface). As described above, since the guide cap 19 is provided at the center position of the circle on the upper surface of the rotating disk 14, there is no medal that remains at the center position of the rotating disk 14 without centrifugal force.

The medal that has reached the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall 16 cannot move further outward in the radial direction of the rotating disk 14 by contacting the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall 16, but the rotating disk 14 continues to rotate. Then, while rotating one by one along the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall 16 and rotating with the rotating disk 14 while contacting the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall 16.
Thus, the medal that rotates together with the rotating disk 14 while coming into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall 16 goes out of the rotating disk 14 through the gap X by the centrifugal force described above, and is drawn out to the front end portion of the conveying path 30. It is.

On the other hand, when the rotating disk 14 is rotated in the opposite direction opposite to the forward direction, the medals at the front end of the conveyance path 30 (in other words, around the gap X) pass through the gap X and enter the inside of the rotating disk 14. Moving.
In relation to the rotating disk 14, a remaining medal detection sensor 27 (not shown in FIG. 2; see FIG. 5) for detecting whether or not a medal is present on the rotating disk 14 is disposed. The remaining medal detection sensor 27 is formed of, for example, a transmission type optical sensor, and includes a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit respectively disposed outside the guide wall 16. The light projected from the light projecting unit reaches the light receiving unit through a transmission hole (not shown) formed in the guide wall 16. A detection line from the light projecting unit to the light receiving unit is arranged so as to cross over the rotating disk 14. When a medal is present on the rotating disk 14, the light from the light projecting unit is blocked. When no medal is present on the rotating disk 14, light from the light projecting unit is transmitted. It becomes a translucent state.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the main part of the counting unit 6 for explaining the transport mechanism 12 and the discrimination mechanism 13.
The transport mechanism 12 includes a transport path 30, a pair of side walls 31, two pulleys 32 and a transport belt 33 arranged on the transport path 30 for transporting medals from the front to the rear in the transport path 30. And. For convenience of explanation, the pulley 32 and the conveyor belt 33 are indicated by broken lines (see also FIG. 2 for the pulley 32 and the conveyor belt 33).

The conveyance path 30 is configured by a horizontal plane provided on the upper surface of the base 10. The conveyance path 30 extends toward the rear of the main casing 2 (upward in FIG. 3) starting from the vicinity of the notch 20 (in other words, the gap X described above) of the guide wall 16 in the rotating disk 14. The conveyance path 30 extends linearly in the front-rear direction so as to be flush with the upper surface of the rotary disk 14.
4 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 3 cut along a cutting plane line AA. In FIG. 4, the conveyance belt 33 is not shown.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a rectangular-shaped reject hole 34 that is slightly long in the front-rear direction in a plan view is formed in the middle of the conveyance path 30. The reject hole 34 opens downward in the drawing. The reject hole 34 communicates with a reject box 7 (see FIG. 1) disposed below the conveyance path 30. That is, medals dropped from the reject hole 34 are stored in the reject box 7. When the reject box 7 is full of medals, the worker (a clerk / player) pulls out the reject box 7 and removes the medals from the reject box 7. The horizontal dimension of the reject hole 34 is set to be slightly larger than, for example, 30 mm.

The reject hole 34, the slide plates 3 6 is provided which is capable of closing the reject hole 34 partially. The slide plate 36 has a rectangular shape having a length in the medal conveyance direction, and has an upper surface 36 a formed of a flat surface substantially flush with the conveyance path 30. The slide plate 36 is retracted from a passage position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 3) that closes a part of the reject hole 34 (the left end portion shown in FIG. 3) and the reject hole 34 (the left side thereof). It is configured to be movable in the horizontal direction between a retreat position (shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) where the reject hole 34 is opened.

  When the slide plate 36 is in the passing position (shown by a solid line in FIG. 3), the slide plate 36 is transported through the transport path 30 without dropping from the reject hole 34. On the other hand, when the slide plate 36 is in the retracted position (illustrated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3), the medal transported through the transport path 30 falls from the reject hole 34 and is guided to the bottomed container-shaped reject box 7. It is burned. A third motor 37 is connected to the slide plate 36, and the slide plate 36 is moved between the passing position and the retracted position by the driving force of the third motor 37.

The pair of side walls 31 are erected from the upper surface of the base 10 and define the left-right direction of the transport path 30. Specifically, the right side wall 31 </ b> A extends toward the rear of the main casing 2 along the right end of the transport path 30. The left side wall 31 </ b> B extends toward the rear of the main casing 2 along the left end of the transport path 30.
As described above, the pair of side walls 31 define the width of the transport path 30 because it defines the left-right direction of the transport path 30. The width of the conveyance path 30 (the distance between the pair of side walls 31) is constant at about 30 mm over the entire area in the front-rear direction excluding the front end.

  The two pulleys 32 have their rotation axes horizontally facing left and right, and are disposed above the transport path 30 so as to be rotatable in a state of being spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the front pulley 32 </ b> A is disposed above the front end of the conveyance path 30. The rear pulley 32 </ b> B is disposed above the rear end portion of the conveyance path 30. The pulley 32B is connected to the output shaft of the first motor 15 (see FIG. 2) described above.

  The conveyor belt 33 is stretched between the pulley 32A and the pulley 32B with a predetermined tension. The conveyor belt 33 (more specifically, the lower part connecting the lower end of the pulley 32A and the lower end of the pulley 32B) extends linearly toward the rear and is flat in the horizontal direction. It faces from above. Specifically, the transport belt 33 is arranged in a state of being slightly shifted (deflected) to the left side with respect to the transport path 30 as it goes rearward.

  When the first motor 15 (see FIG. 2) is rotationally driven in the forward direction, the driving force is transmitted to the transport belt 33 via the pulley 32B, and the transport belt 33 is in a predetermined forward direction (backward, FIG. 3). Move from the bottom to the top). The medals paid out to the front end portion of the conveyance path 30 are sandwiched from above and below by the conveyance path 30 and the conveyance belt 33, and are conveyed rearward by the conveyance belt 33 that moves around.

  When the first motor 15 (see FIG. 2) is rotationally driven in the reverse direction, the driving force is transmitted to the transport belt 33 via the pulley 32B, and the transport belt 33 is in a predetermined reverse direction (front, FIG. 3). Move in the direction from top to bottom). The medals paid out to the front end portion of the conveyance path 30 are sandwiched from above and below by the conveyance path 30 and the conveyance belt 33, and are conveyed forward along the conveyance path 30 by the conveyance belt 33 that moves around.

  The discriminating mechanism 13 is arranged on the upstream side of the reject hole 34 and includes a pair of sensors 35A and 35B. Of the pair of sensors 35A and 35B, one sensor is a first sensor 35A that is supported by the right side wall 31A and faces the transport path 30, and the other sensor is supported by the left side wall 31B and transported. This is a second sensor 35 </ b> B that faces the road 30. The first sensor 35A is constituted by, for example, a magnetic sensor, and the second sensor 35B is constituted by, for example, a photoelectric sensor.

As described above, the transport belt 33 is slightly shifted to the left side with respect to the transport path 30 as it goes rearward. Therefore, a medal transported rearward along the transport path 30 by the transport belt 33 is the left wall of the transport path 30 ( The conveyance path 30 is advanced along the left side wall 31B) so as to be guided by the side wall 31B.
The first sensor 35A detects the right end portion of the medal when the medal passes and outputs a pulse. Similarly, the second sensor 35 </ b> B detects the left end portion of the medal when the medal passes, and outputs a pulse to the control unit (setting changing means) 28. Here, the pulse output from the first sensor 35A is referred to as a first pulse, and the pulse output from the second sensor 35B is referred to as a second pulse.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the medal counter 1.
The medal counting machine 1 includes a control unit 28 including a microcomputer, for example. The control unit 28 includes a counter 52 and a reject counter 53. A first sensor 35A, a second sensor 35B, a first motor 15, a second motor 18, and a third motor 37 are connected to the control unit 28 as control targets.

  Further, the control unit 28 is given a first pulse from the first sensor 35A and a second pulse from the second sensor 35B. When the first pulse and the second pulse are given simultaneously, the value of the counter 52 is incremented by “+1”. The control unit 28 detects whether or not the diameter of the medal is a predetermined size (φ30 medal) depending on whether or not the passage of medals by the sensors 35A and 35B is detected at the same time. In this embodiment, the first sensor 35A and the second sensor 35B constitute a size sensor. The pair of sensors 35A and 35B and the control unit 28 constitute a determination unit. The value of counter 52 (medal number information) is displayed on display panel 4 (see FIG. 1). The value of the counter 52 (medal number information) is output to an external device (receipt issuing machine, management computer, etc.) via an external information terminal (not shown).

Further, a signal from the remaining medal detection sensor 27 is input to the control unit 28. The input signal of the display panel count start display 50 of 4, check Display 5 1 and reject display 59 is adapted to be supplied to the control unit 28.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the counting process in the medal counter 1. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of display contents on the display panel 4. 7, (a) shows a standby screen, (b) shows a counting process screen, (c) shows a counting end screen, (d) shows a warning screen, and (e) shows a medal jamming warning screen. Show.

In the standby state before the medal counting process is started since no medal is inserted in the insertion slot 3, the display panel 4 is a standby screen (see FIG. 7A). On the standby screen, a guidance “Please insert medal” is displayed at the top of the display panel 4, and a counting start display 50 is displayed at the bottom of the display panel 4.
First, medals to be counted are inserted into either (or both) slot 3. The medal inserted from the insertion slot 3 is poured from above onto the counting unit 6 by being guided through the hopper 5, and falls around the circle center position on the upper surface of the rotating disk 14 of the counting unit 6. Since the guide cap 19 is provided at the center position of the circle on the upper surface of the rotating disk 14, the medal falls on a region other than the position of the center of the circle on the upper surface of the rotating disk 14.

  Thereafter, when the counting start display 50 (see FIG. 7A) displayed on the display panel 4 is pressed, the counting unit 6 starts the medal counting process. Specifically, the first motor 15 is rotated (normal operation), and the rotary disk 14 is rotated in the forward direction (clockwise direction in plan view, see the thick solid arrow shown in FIG. 2) ( Step S1). Further, the conveyor belt 33 is also rotated in a predetermined positive direction (a direction from the bottom to the top shown in FIG. 3). With the start of the medal counting process, the display on the display panel 4 is switched from the standby screen (see FIG. 7A) to the counting process in progress screen (see FIG. 7B).

The medal on the rotating disk 14 to which the centrifugal force is applied by the rotation of the rotating disk 14 moves toward the outer peripheral edge of the rotating disk 14 (in other words, the inner peripheral surface of the guide wall 16), and from the medal outlet 26 to the rotating disk 14 Go outside. Thereby, the sheet is fed out one by one to the front end portion of the conveyance path 30.
The medals paid out to the front end portion of the conveyance path 30 are sandwiched from above and below by the conveyance path 30 and the conveyance belt 33 and are conveyed rearward along the conveyance path 30. When the medals transported on the transport path 30 are φ30 medals, the left end and the right end of the medals pass simultaneously above the first sensor 35A and the second sensor 35B, respectively. Therefore, when the first pulse from the first sensor 35A and the second pulse from the second sensor 35B are simultaneously given to the control unit 28 (YES in step S2 and YES in step S3), the control unit 28 The value is incremented (“+1”) (step S4), and the count display on the display panel 4 is incremented (“+1”) (step S5). Further, the value of the reject counter 53 is reset (step S6). At this time, since the slide plate 36 is located at the passing position and a part of the reject hole 34 is closed, the medal is transported through the transport path 30 without falling into the reject hole 34. The medal that has passed through the rear end of the conveyance path 30 is then discharged from the rear of the main casing 2 toward a cleaning tank (not shown).

  On the other hand, when the second pulse from the second sensor 35B is output to the control unit 28, but the first pulse from the first sensor 35A is not output to the control unit 28 (YES in step S2). In step S3, NO, it is determined that a medal (for example, φ25 medal) having a diameter different from that of the medal to be counted is being conveyed on the conveyance path 30. Then, the third motor 37 is driven and the slide plate 36 is retracted to the retracted position (the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3), so that the medal falls from the reject hole 34 toward the reject box 7. (Step S7). Thereafter, after the control unit 28 increments the value of the reject counter 53 (step S8), the slide plate 36 is returned to the passing position (the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3) (step S9).

This counting process is continuously repeated until there are no medals on the rotating disk 14 of the counting unit 6 (step S11).
During the counting process, the display panel 4 is a counting process in progress screen (see FIG. 7B). In the counting process in progress screen, the total number of medals (here, “974”) that has been counted (detected and counted by the sensors 35A and 35B) is displayed on the upper portion of the display panel 4. Below the display of the total number of medals, the number of prizes and the number of remainders are displayed. Regarding the relationship between the total number of medals, the number of prizes, and the number of remainders, the total number of medals is obtained by adding the remainder to the value obtained by multiplying the number of medals by the number of prizes. Therefore, if the value obtained by multiplying the medal number by the number of prizes is equal to the total number of medals, the remainder is 0 (zero). Each time the total number of φ30 medals that have been counted increases and reaches a multiple of a divisor (here, 6), the number of prizes increases by one. The game number is set in advance by the game hall side.

During the counting process, it is monitored whether or not the value of the reject counter 53 reaches 5 (step S10).
Thereafter, when there are no medals on the rotating disk 14 and the signal from the remaining medal detection sensor 27 becomes High (YES in Step S11), the first motor 15 is stopped and the rotation of the rotating disk 14 and the rotation of the conveying belt 33 are performed. Is stopped (step S12), the value of the counter 52 of the control unit 28 is output to the external device (step S13), and the counting process of the medal counting machine 1 is completed.

At this time, the display panel 4 becomes a counting end screen (see FIG. 7C). FIG. 7C shows an example in which the number of medals inserted into the insertion slot 3 is 1203. On the counting end screen, the counting start display 50 is displayed again below the display of the total number of medals and the display of the number of prizes and the number of remainders.
When the value of the reject counter 53 reaches 5 before there are no medals on the rotating disk 14, that is, when 5 medals having a diameter different from that of the counting object medal (for example, φ25 medal) are detected in succession (step S10). YES), it enters the error mode.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in the error mode.
In the error mode, the rotation drive of the first motor 15 is stopped (step S21), and the rotation of the rotary disk 14 and the conveyor belt 33 is stopped. At this time, a large number of medals remain on the transport path 30.
Further, the display panel 4 switches to a warning screen (see FIG. 7D) (step S22). The warning screen indicates that “incorrect medal (medal that is not counted) may be inserted”, “remove medals in the hopper and rejected medals” and “ A warning display 54 is displayed indicating that the user presses a confirmation button (confirmation display after removal). Further, a confirmation display 51 is displayed at the bottom of the display panel 4.

  The worker (a store clerk / player) pulls out the reject box 7 and removes the medal in the reject box 7. Further, the operator manually removes all medals in the hopper 5. Then, after the medal is removed from the hopper 5 and the empty reject box 7 is set in the main body casing 2, the operator presses the confirmation display 51 on the display panel 4 (step S23).

  When the confirmation display 51 on the display panel 4 is pressed (YES in step S23), the first motor 15 is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, and the rotating disk 14 is in the forward direction (the direction indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 2). Is rotated in the opposite opposite direction (step S24). The conveyor belt 33 is also rotated in the opposite direction (the direction from the top to the bottom in FIG. 3) opposite to the predetermined direction (step S24). By rotating the transport belt 33 in the reverse direction, medals present on the transport path 30 are moved to the front end of the transport path 30. Then, when the rotating disk 14 is rotated in the reverse direction, the medals at the front end of the conveyance path 30 are guided to the hopper 5 through the gap X. Thereby, the medals in the transport path 30 are removed from the transport path 30 and returned to the hopper 5. The reverse rotation of the first motor 15 is continued until a predetermined exclusion time ends (step S25).

  When the exclusion time has elapsed (YES in step S25), the rotation drive of the first motor 15 is stopped (step S26), and the rotation of the rotary disk 14 and the conveyor belt 33 is stopped. Then, after the reject counter 53 is reset (step S27), the error mode is ended, and the medal counter 1 is returned to the standby state before the medal counting process is started. Further, the display panel 4 is switched to a standby screen (see FIG. 7A).

Then, after the medals returned to the hopper 5 are removed by the worker (a clerk / player), all the medals to be counted are again inserted into the hopper 5 and the counting start display 50 is operated. Thus, the counting process in the medal counter 1 is executed again.
In the above description, it has been described that the operator manually removes the medal in the hopper 5 after the rotation of the rotating disk 14 and the conveyor belt 33 in the error mode is stopped. The configuration may be such that the conveyor belt 33 and the rotating disk 14 are rotated in the reverse direction while leaving the medal at 5.

  Further, when a medal clogging occurs in the gap X during the counting process, the display panel 4 is switched to a medal clogging warning screen (see FIG. 7E). On the medal clogging warning screen, a message “medal clogging has occurred” is displayed on the same medal total number display as that on the counting process in progress screen (see FIG. 7B). In addition, a reject display 59 is displayed below the display of the number of remainders similar to the counting process in progress screen (see FIG. 7B). When the medal clogging occurs, the medals transported along the transport path 30 stay on the transport path 30. When the reject display 59 is pressed, the third motor 37 is driven and the slide plate 36 is moved from the passing position to the retracted position. Thereby, the reject hole 34 of the conveyance path 30 is opened. Further, the first motor 15 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, and the rotating disk 14 is rotated in the forward direction (the direction indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 2). The conveyor belt 33 is also rotated in the forward direction (the direction from the bottom to the top in FIG. 3). By rotating the transport belt 33 in the forward direction, the medal in the transport path 30 is moved toward the rear end of the transport path 30 and falls from the reject hole 34. As a result, medals on the transport path 30 are removed from the transport path 30 and stored in the reject box 7.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, whether or not the medal transported on the transport path 30 by the first and second sensors 35A and 35B is a medal having a diameter different from that of the counting target medal (non-counting target medal). Is determined. When five medals of different diameters (for example, φ25 medals) from the medals to be counted are discriminated consecutively by the first and second sensors 35A and 35B, the medals inserted into the hopper 5 are not of the target type. The medal transport operation in the transport path 30 is stopped on the assumption that a large number of medals are included.

  Therefore, even when medals (for example, φ25 medals) having a diameter different from that of the counting target medals are inserted into the hopper 5, the medal transport operation can be interrupted or stopped soon after the erroneous insertion. . The time until the medal counting is interrupted can be shortened. Then, by removing all medals from the hopper 5 and the transport path 30, it is possible to restart the counting process by the medal counter 1. Thereby, the counting process by the medal counter 1 can be restarted at an early stage.

Further, when five medals having a diameter different from that of the counting target medal are detected in succession, the medal transport operation in the transport path 30 is stopped and the display panel 4 is switched to the warning screen. Thereby, it is possible to effectively notify the worker (player / clerk) that a medal that is not counted is inserted into the hopper 5.
Further, some medal remains on the conveyance path 30 after the medal conveyance operation is stopped. When the confirmation display 51 is pressed, medals are forcibly removed from the transport path 30. Thereby, the medal is removed from the conveyance path 30, and the medal counting operation can be resumed.

In the first embodiment, instead of the error mode process shown in FIG. 8, another process described below can be adopted.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of another process in the error mode.
In the error mode, the rotation drive of the first motor 15 is stopped (step S31), and the rotation of the rotary disk 14 and the conveyor belt 33 is stopped. A large number of medals remain on the conveyance path 30. Further, the display panel 4 is switched to the above warning screen (see FIG. 7B) (step S32).

  The worker (a store clerk / player) pulls out the reject box 7 and removes the medal in the reject box 7. Further, the operator manually removes all medals in the hopper 5. Then, after the medal is removed from the hopper 5 and the empty reject box 7 is set in the main body casing 2, the operator presses the confirmation display 51 on the display panel 4 (step S33).

  When the confirmation display 51 on the display panel 4 is pressed (YES in step S33), the third motor 37 is driven and the slide plate 36 is moved from the passing position to the retracted position. Thereby, the rejection hole 34 of the conveyance path 30 is opened (step S34). Further, the first motor 15 is driven to rotate in the forward direction, and the rotating disk 14 is rotated in the forward direction (the direction indicated by the thick arrow in FIG. 2) (step S35). Further, the conveyor belt 33 is also rotated in the forward direction (the direction from the bottom to the top in FIG. 3) (step S35). By rotating the transport belt 33 in the forward direction, the medal in the transport path 30 is moved toward the rear end of the transport path 30 and falls from the reject hole 34. The medals remaining in the hopper 5 without being removed by the operator are fed out to the transport path 30 by the rotation of the rotary disk 14, transported to the rear end portion of the transport path 30, and dropped from the reject hole 34. Then, the medal dropped from the reject hole 34 is guided to the reject box 7. As a result, medals on the transport path 30 are removed from the transport path 30 and stored in the reject box 7. The rotation of the first motor 15 is continued until a predetermined exclusion time ends (step S36).

  When the exclusion time has elapsed (YES in step S36), the rotation drive of the first motor 15 is stopped (step S37), and the rotation of the rotary disk 14 and the conveyor belt 33 is stopped. Further, the third motor 37 is driven, and the slide plate 36 is moved from the retracted position to the passing position (step S38). As a result, medals transported along the transport path 30 do not fall from the reject hole 34. Then, after the reject counter 53 is reset (step S39), the error mode is ended, and the medal counter 1 is returned to the standby state before the medal counting process is started. In addition, the display panel 4 is switched to a standby screen (see FIG. 7A).

Then, after the medals accommodated in the reject box 7 are removed by the worker (store clerk / player), all the medals to be counted are again inserted into the hopper 5 and the counting start display 50 is operated. As a result, the counting process in the medal counter 1 is executed again.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the medal counter 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In the second embodiment, parts corresponding to those shown in the above-described embodiment (first embodiment) of FIGS. 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. The description is omitted.
The medal counter 60 according to the second embodiment is different from the medal counter 1 according to the first embodiment in that it is possible to set the reference medal number to be changed to the error mode by operating the display panel 4. Is a point. An input signal from the character switching display 61 described below on the display panel 4, an input signal from the number setting display 62, and an input signal from the setting confirmation display 66 are respectively supplied to the control unit 28.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a stop condition setting screen displayed on the display panel (stop condition input means) 4.
When a screen switching display (not shown) on the standby screen (see FIG. 7A) displayed on the display panel 4 in the standby state is pressed, the display panel 4 is switched to the stop condition setting screen shown in FIG. In this stop condition setting screen, a condition for changing to the error mode ( stop condition; the number of medals serving as a reference for changing to the error mode) is displayed as a combination of character display and number display.

Specifically, a character display unit 64 for displaying a character display is arranged on the left side of the display panel 4, and a number display unit for displaying the set number of medals on the right side of the display panel 4. 65 is arranged. A setting confirmation display 66 is arranged below the character display section 64 and the number display section 65.
Above and below the character display section 64, there are arranged character switching displays 61 each consisting of an upward and downward arrow display. When the character switching display 61 composed of an upward arrow is pressed, the word “continuously” and the word “from the start of counting” are displayed on the character display section 64 so as to be switchable.

  In the number display portion 65, the set time (seconds) is digitally displayed. Above and below the number display portion 65, a number setting display 62 including upward and downward arrows is arranged. When the number setting display 62 composed of an upward arrow display is pressed, the display value of the number display section 65 is increased by a predetermined number (for example, 1), and when the number setting display 62 composed of a downward arrow display is pressed, the number display is displayed. The display value of the unit 65 is lowered by a predetermined number (for example, 1). Note that the combination display of the character display and the number display for the condition for changing to the error mode in FIG. 11 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this configuration.

When the character switching display 61 and the number setting display 62 are pressed and the condition for changing to the error mode is selected and displayed on the character display section 64 and the number display section 65, and then the setting confirmation display 66 is pressed (operated). The conditions specified by the display of the character display unit 64 and the number display unit 65 are stored in the memory (stop condition setting means) of the control unit 28 as a condition for changing to the error mode.
In the example of FIG. 11 (a), as a condition for changing to the error mode, a case is set in which five medals having different diameters from the medals to be counted are continuously detected, and in the example of FIG. 11 (b). As a condition for changing to the error mode, a case is set in which ten medals having different diameters from the counting target medals are identified from the start of counting.

According to the second embodiment, the character switching display 61, the number setting display 62 and the setting confirmation display 66 are displayed on the display panel 4. Thereby, the optimal stop condition according to the installation state of the medal counter 60 can be set.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the main part of the counting unit 6 of the medal counter 70 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

  In the third embodiment, parts corresponding to those shown in the above-described embodiment (first embodiment) of FIGS. 1 to 8 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIGS. The description is omitted. There are cases in which a plurality of types of pachislot machines (for example, high-rate operation (20 yen / sheet) and low-rate operation (5 yen / sheet)) with different medals that can be used are installed in an amusement store. The medals having different rates have the same shape, diameter and material, but the patterns (images) on the surfaces (one surface and the other surface) are different from each other. The medal counter 70 according to this embodiment is intended for counting medals whose pattern on the surface is a specific pattern (for example, the number “777”).

  The medal counter 70 according to the third embodiment is different from the medal counter 1 according to the first embodiment in that instead of the first and second sensors 35A and 35B that measure the diameter of the medal, the surface of the medal Is provided with an image sensor 71 for optically reading a pattern (image) attached to. In this embodiment, the image sensor 71 and the control unit 28 constitute a determination unit.

The medal that is to be counted by the medal counter 70 has a specific pattern (for example, the number “777”) formed by press transfer at the center of the surface (one surface and the other surface). However, the pattern is not limited to that formed by pressing, and may be formed by so-called laser marking, which is recorded by irradiating laser light, for example.
The image sensor 71 is composed of, for example, a CCD area sensor, and is disposed at the center in the left-right direction in the transport path 30 upstream of the reject hole 34. Therefore, the image sensor 71 comes to face the central portion of the surface of the medal that is transported toward the downstream side of the transport path 30, thereby being able to read the pattern attached to the medal well. The image data read by the image sensor 71 is given to the control unit 28. The image sensor 71 may be composed of, for example, a CCD line sensor, or may be composed of a sensor composed of another imaging element such as a CMOS sensor.

In the medal counter 70, a medal passage sensor 72 for detecting the passage of medals is disposed in the conveyance path 30 upstream of the image sensor 71. The medal passage sensor 72 is constituted by, for example, a photoelectric sensor, and detects the passage of the medal passage sensor 72 of a medal conveyed along the conveyance path 30 and outputs a pulse.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the medal counter 70 shown in FIG.

A pulse from the medal passage sensor 72 is given to the control unit 28. When the pulse is given to the control unit 28, the value of the counter 52 is incremented by “+1”.
The image sensor 71 can take and read an image of the surface of the medal at a predetermined timing under the control of the control unit 28. An image signal read from the surface of the medal is input to the control unit 28. Note that an image signal corresponding to a specific pattern (for example, a numeral “777”) is stored in advance in a memory (not shown) of the control unit 28.

  In response to detection of the passage of the medal by the medal passage sensor 72, the surface of the medal is read by the image sensor 71. The control unit 28 determines whether or not the pattern read by the image sensor 71 is a specific pattern. Specifically, pattern matching is performed to determine whether the image signal supplied to the control unit 28 is the same as the image signal stored in advance in the memory. Since the medal is circular, an image rotation process for rotating an image is simultaneously performed at the time of pattern matching.

  As a result of the determination by the control unit 28, when the pattern read by the image sensor 71 is determined to be a medal to be counted, the slide plate 36 is determined that the medal is a medal to be counted. Without moving from the passing position (shown by the solid line in FIG. 3), the partially closed state of the reject hole 34 is maintained. Therefore, the medal is not dropped from the reject hole 34 and is transported through the transport path 30 to the rear end.

On the other hand, as a result of the determination by the control unit 28, when it is determined that the surface pattern is a medal different from the medal to be counted, the third motor 37 is driven and the slide plate 36 is moved to the retracted position (in FIG. The reject hole 34 is opened. Thereby, the medal falls from the reject hole 34 and is accommodated in the reject box 7.
Then, when the control unit 28 determines five consecutive medals whose surface pattern is different from the counting target medals, the mode changes to the error mode shown in FIG. 8 or 9, and the driving of the first motor 15 is stopped. Thus, the rotation of the rotary disk 14 and the conveyor belt 33 is stopped.

If the patterns on the front and back of the medal to be counted are different, image signals corresponding to the patterns are stored in the control unit 28 in advance, and the read image signals do not match. It is determined that the medal is not counted.
Although three embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention can be implemented in other forms.

  In the first embodiment described above, the error mode is described when five medals (for example, φ25 medals) having different diameters from the count target medals are detected in succession. Generally, in a single medal counting process, even medals that are not counted may be mixed if there are about 1 or 2 medals, in which case the counting process is performed after rejecting medals that are not counted. Just continue. However, for example, it is considered that detecting five medals that are not counted continuously is not mere mixing, so the counting process is stopped.

This stop condition (condition for changing to the error mode) is determined and set in the game shop policy or environment.
Specifically, the present invention is not limited to the case where five sheets are continuously detected, and may be the case where two sheets, three sheets, four sheets are continuously detected, or the case where six sheets or more are continuously detected. Good.
Further, the present invention is not limited to the case where medals having a diameter different from that of the counting object medal are continuously counted, and the error mode is set when a predetermined number of medals having a diameter different from that of the counting object are detected from the start of counting. May be.

Although the medal counters 1 and 60 shown in the first and second embodiments described above are described assuming that φ30 medals are to be counted, φ25 medals may be targeted for counting.
When a medal in which an IC chip storing identification information is embedded is used, it is possible to determine whether or not the medal is to be counted based on identification information predetermined for the medal. In this case, a reader for reading identification information from the IC chip is provided at a position facing the conveyance path 30. The reader and control unit 28 constitutes a determination unit.

  Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a pachinko ball counting machine that counts pachinko balls as game media. For example, by providing a color sensor for discriminating the color of the outer surface of the pachinko ball in the pachinko ball counting machine, it is possible to discriminate whether or not it is a pachinko ball to be counted based on the color of the outer surface of the pachinko ball. Is possible. When such a configuration is adopted, the counting process of the pachinko ball counter may be stopped based on the determination of a predetermined number of pachinko balls of a color other than the specific color.

  In addition, various design changes can be made within the scope of matters described in the claims.

It is the perspective view which looked at the medal counter which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention from the front right side. It is the perspective view which looked at one counting unit shown in FIG. 1 from the front right side. It is a principal part top view of the counting unit shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing which cut | disconnected FIG. 3 by cut surface line AA. It is a block diagram which shows the electrical structure of the medal counter shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the counting process in the medal counter shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows an example of the display content in the display panel shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the process in error mode. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the other process in error mode. It is a block diagram which shows the electric constitution of the medal counter concerning 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the stop condition setting screen displayed on a display panel. It is a principal part top view of the counting unit of the medal counter concerning 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the medal counting machine shown in FIG. 12.

Explanation of symbols

1,60,70 medal counter (game media counter)
4 Display panel (display unit, stop condition input means )
5 hopper 7 reject box 14 rotating disk 15 first motor (operation stop hand stage)
28 control unit (stop condition setting means, setting change means)
30 Conveying path 33 Conveying belt 35A First sensor (size sensor)
35B Second sensor (size sensor)
36 slide plates 37 the third motor 51 check Display 71 image sensor

Claims (7)

A hopper into which gaming media are inserted;
A transport path for transporting a game medium fed from the hopper;
A discriminating means for detecting a game medium carried on the carrying path and discriminating the type thereof;
Stop condition setting means for setting a stop condition for transport stop, including a discriminating number of game media different from a predetermined counting target;
An operation stop means for stopping the transport operation of the game medium in response to the determination of the game medium different from the predetermined counting target by the determination means satisfying the stop condition ;
Stop condition input means for inputting the stop condition;
A game medium counter comprising: setting change means for changing the stop condition set by the stop condition setting means to the stop condition input by the stop condition input means . A display unit for displaying predetermined information;
2. The game medium counter according to claim 1, further comprising warning display means for displaying a warning on the display unit when the determination means determines a predetermined number of game media different from a predetermined counting target.   The game medium counter according to claim 1, wherein the stop condition includes a condition that the determination unit continuously determines a predetermined number of game media different from a predetermined counting target.   The game according to claim 1, wherein the stop condition includes a condition that a number of times that the determination unit has determined a game medium that is different from a predetermined counting target has reached a predetermined number from the start of counting. Medium counting machine. The game medium is a medal;
Said discriminating means includes a size sensor diameter of medals to be conveyed through the conveyance path for detecting whether or not a size of predetermined, game media counting machine as claimed in any one of claims 1-4 . The game medium is a medal;
It said discriminating means comprises an image sensor for reading the pattern attached to the surface of the medal, game media counting machine according to any one of claims 1-4.   A slot through which game media are loaded;
  A transport path for transporting a game medium thrown into the slot;
  A discriminating means for detecting a game medium carried on the carrying path and discriminating the type thereof;
  Stop condition setting means for setting a stop condition for transport stop, including a discriminating number of game media different from a predetermined counting target;
  An operation stop means for stopping the transport operation of the game medium in response to the determination of the game medium different from the predetermined counting target by the determination means satisfying the stop condition;
  Stop condition input means for inputting the stop condition;
  Setting change means for changing the stop condition set by the stop condition setting means to the stop condition input by the stop condition input means;
  A game media counting system.

Images