JP5562535B2 - 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 medal sorting device that sorts medals thrown into the machine according to size.
JP 2002-263257 A

  By the way, the medal sorting device shown in the above-mentioned patent document 1 is provided with a medal passage that takes in the medal in a substantially upright state, and the medal passage is gently inclined downward in the longitudinal direction to move the medal downstream. It tries to roll toward. The medal passage is also inclined with respect to the thickness direction of the medal taken in the standing state, and the medal discharge port is provided on the lower side wall of the medal passage where the lower side surface of the inclined standing medal contacts. It has been. The opening width of the outlet of the medal is set to be slightly narrower than the diameter of the regular medal having an appropriate size. As a result, even when a regular medal having an appropriate diameter reaches the discharge port, both the upper edge side and the lower edge side of the outer peripheral edge thereof are in contact with the upper and lower edges of the discharge port, respectively. Guided and passes through the medal passage without falling from the discharge port. On the other hand, illegal medals with a small diameter contact the lower edge of the discharge port at the lower edge of the outer periphery, but the upper end of the outer periphery does not contact the upper edge of the medal passage due to the lack of diameter. It is inclined to fall from the discharge port. In this way, regular medals and illegal medals are selected by utilizing the difference in the diameters of medals.

  However, in the medal sorting device of Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 3 of Patent Document 1, when the illegal medal falls from the discharge port, the illegal medal has lost its guide by the medal passage. It becomes a state. As a result, the falling direction of the medal cannot be properly controlled, and the medal is influenced by uncertain factors such as a difference in the rolling speed of the medal in the medal passage and a timing of the medal passing through the discharge port. There is a risk that a large difference will occur in the falling direction of the. In some cases, the discharged medals may collide with the medal sorting device itself or peripheral members of the medal sorting device, and may accidentally bounce back in the direction in which the regular medals are ejected and be mixed into the regular medals. It is done. In order to prevent such a situation, for example, it is necessary to take measures such as forming a sufficiently large opening of a container for collecting illegal medals so as to surround the falling direction of the illegal medals. However, such a method has a problem that it is necessary to secure a large installation space around the medal sorting device. In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a medal sorting device that discharges one sorted medal in a direction significantly different from the other medal, and can regulate the discharging direction to a narrow range. For the purpose.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the medal sorting device according to the present invention includes a medal sending unit that sends out a small-diameter medal and a large-diameter medal that are mixed in the medal storage tank one by one, and a sending from the medal sending unit. A medal sorting device comprising a medal discharge passage section for discharging while sorting sorted medals,
The medal discharge passage portion has a small-diameter medal drop opening formed with an opening wider than the diameter of the small-diameter medal and narrower than the diameter of the large-diameter medal on the outer peripheral side curved in an arc shape so that one side of the medal faces each other. A small-diameter medal guide passage provided downstream of the small-diameter medal drop-out opening, and a small-diameter medal guide passage provided so as to communicate with the small-diameter medal drop-out opening and branch off from the large-diameter medal guide passage,
The small diameter medal guide passage is formed with a start end portion so as to approximate the drop direction of the small diameter medal that has passed through the small diameter medal drop opening, and the downstream of the start end portion is separated from the large diameter medal guide passage. It is characterized by being curved in the direction.

  Here, the small-diameter medal guide passage is formed so that the start end portion is formed so as to approximate the drop-out direction of the small-diameter medal that has passed through the small-diameter medal drop-out opening. It is a concept that means the direction in which the sliding direction of the medal is combined with the falling direction due to gravity received when the small diameter medal passes through the small diameter medal dropout opening. It can also be said to be the traveling direction of the small diameter medal when passing through the small diameter medal dropout opening. The direction toward the start end of the small-diameter medal guide passage is formed so as to approximate this drop-off direction, that is, to face a direction within a predetermined range centering on the drop-off direction.

  According to the present invention, the start end portion of the small diameter medal guide passage is formed so as to approximate the drop direction of the small diameter medal that has passed through the small diameter medal drop opening, and the downstream of the start end portion is the large diameter medal guide passage. It is curved away from the direction. Therefore, even if the small-diameter medal flows down the medal discharge passage portion at high speed and is ejected vigorously from the small-diameter medal outlet, the small-diameter medal can be smoothly taken into the small-diameter medal guide passage. The discharge direction can be reversed to the direction opposite to the direction in which the large-diameter medal is discharged. As described above, the direction in which the sorted small-diameter medals are discharged is appropriately oriented by the small-diameter medal guide passage, so that it is possible to prevent an accident that the small-diameter medals after sorting are erroneously mixed into the large-diameter medals. Furthermore, since the direction in which the sorted small-diameter medals are discharged can be controlled, the discharge direction of the small-diameter medals can be restricted to a narrow range, and thereby the collection port such as a container or a hopper for collecting the small-diameter medals after the separation. Can be designed compactly. Therefore, it is not necessary to secure a wide installation space around the place where the medal sorting device is installed, and the degree of freedom in design can be improved.

  Next, an embodiment of a medal sorting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the inside of an enclosing box in which a medal sorting device according to the present invention is incorporated. Outside the enclosure box 1, a medal counting and collecting unit 2 for collecting and collecting medals acquired by the player, and a medal collecting conveyor for carrying and collecting medals discharged from each gaming machine (not shown). 3 is provided. Further, inside the enclosing box 1, there are a medal washing machine 4 for washing dirt on the surface of the medal, a medal storage tank 5 for temporarily storing washed medals, and a medal sorting device 6 according to the present invention. Is provided.

  The medal counting and collecting unit 2 is installed on the middle upper surface portion 1a of the surrounding box 1 so that the player can insert a small diameter medal and a large diameter medal in a mixed state. A hopper 7 is provided below the medal counting and collecting unit 2 and inside the enclosure box 1. The hopper 7 collects medals that have been inserted and counted, and guides the medals onto a transporting conveyor 8 provided in the lower part of the enclosure box 1.

  On the other hand, the medal recovery conveyor 3 is provided such that its end portion 3 a is positioned above the start end portion 8 a of the transporting conveyor 8 inside the enclosure box 1. By doing in this way, the small diameter medal and the large diameter medal discharged from each gaming machine and transported by the medal recovery conveyor 3 fall from the end portion 3a of the medal recovery conveyor 3, and the start end portion of the lifting conveyor 8 It is made to pass to 8a.

  The transporting conveyor 8 is a device for transporting medals collected by the medal counting / collecting device 2 or the medal collecting conveyor 3 to the medal washing machine 4 so as to incline upward from the starting end portion toward the ending portion. In this manner, the end portion is connected to one side of the medal washing machine 4. The medal washing machine 4 is an apparatus configured to wipe off dirt on both surfaces of the medal by transporting the medal while pressing a wiping cloth impregnated with a cleaning solution against the surface of the medal. A hopper 9 that receives the medals washed by the medal washing machine 4 is connected to one side of the medal washing machine 4 that is different from the side to which the end of the conveying conveyor 8 is connected. The hopper 9 is provided in an inclined shape that is inclined downward toward the end direction, and the end thereof is connected to the base end portion 10 a of the medal lifting lift 10.

  The medal lifting lift 10 is a device for lifting medals to the medal storage tank 5 provided at the upper part of the enclosing box 1, and is substantially vertical from the lower part of the enclosing box 1 toward the medal storage tank 5. Provided. The medal lifting lift 10 lifts the cleaned small diameter medal and large diameter medal to the medal storage tank 5 and temporarily stores them in the medal storage tank 5. The medal sorting device 6 is provided below the medal storage tank 5, and the medals in the medal storage tank 5 are guided to the medal sorting device 6 via the hopper 5a. Below the medal sorting device 6, a medal container 11 (not visible due to the shade in FIG. 1) for storing the sorted small-diameter medals and a medal container 12 for storing the sorted large-diameter medals are arranged. .

  Also, below the medal sorting device 6, a medal collection basket 13 for collecting medals discharged from the overlapping medal discharge area 27 described later is provided in a substantially vertical shape. The medal recovery basket 13 is provided such that the opening start end portion is positioned immediately below the overlapping medal discharge area 27 and the terminal end portion is connected to the base end portion 10 a of the medal lifting lift 10. Further, on the side of the medal container 12, a medal collecting bowl 14 for collecting medals discharged from the medal sorting device 6 by a movable piece 51 serving as a medal distribution means described later is provided in a substantially vertical shape. The start end portion of the medal recovery basket 14 is greatly opened to receive medals discharged by the medal distribution means, and the terminal end portion is connected to the base end portion 10a of the medal lifting lift 10. . That is, the medals discharged to the outside of the medal sorting device 6 by the overlapping medal discharge area 27 and the movable piece 51 as the medal distribution means pass through the medal recovery rod 13 or the medal recovery rod 14, and further, the medal lifting lift 10 The medals are stored in the medal storage tank 5 again. Thus, the medals are circulated by combining the medal collection baskets 13 and 14 and the medal lifting lift 10.

  Next, the medal sorting device 6 will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing a medal sending portion and a medal discharge passage portion of the medal sorting device, and FIG. 3 is an external perspective view from a different angle from FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the medal sorting device, and FIG. 5 is a plan view thereof. The medal sorting device 6 includes a medal sending unit 15 that arranges medals and sends them one by one, and a medal discharge passage unit 16 connected to the medal sending unit 15. The downstream side of the medal discharge passage portion 16 is divided into a small diameter medal guide passage 17 in which only small diameter medals slide down and a large diameter medal guide passage 18 in which only large diameter medals slide down. The medal container 11 is provided below the small-diameter medal discharge port 43 that is the downstream end of the large-diameter medal guide passage 18. 12 is generally provided.

  The medal delivery unit 15 is formed by connecting a medal tank 20 to an opening provided on one surface of a circular chamber 19 and projecting a motor 21 on the other surface. As shown in FIG. 4, the circular chamber 19 is supported by the support member 22 in an inclined state of about 60 degrees, and the medal delivery unit 15 is fixed on the upper surface of the substrate 23. The circular chamber 19 is provided with a medal delivery port 24 at the top, and a sending disk 25 that rotates around the center of the circular chamber 19 is provided inside. On the surface of the delivery disk 25, a plurality of protruding pieces 26, 26,..., 26 arranged at equal intervals with a slightly larger interval than the diameter of the large medal are slightly inward from the outer peripheral edge of the delivery disk 25. Provided. The medals are fitted one by one between the protruding pieces 26, 26,..., With one surface of the medals in contact with the surface of the delivery disk 25. Then, the rotational movement of the motor 21 is transmitted to the delivery disk 25, whereby the delivery disk 25 is rotated, and the medals fitted between the protruding pieces 26, 26,. Led.

  The medal discharge passage portion 16 is connected to the delivery port 24 so that the sent medal can be inserted therethrough. The medal discharge passage portion 16 is provided with an overlapping medal discharge region 27, an acceleration region 28, and an overlapping medal separation region 29 in order from the upstream side to the downstream side. A medal sorting area 30 branched from the large-diameter medal guide passage 18 is provided. The overlapping medal discharge area 27 is configured to allow only one medal to pass through and discharge other medals when a plurality of medals are sent out from the medal sending unit 15. The speed-up area 28 accelerates the sliding speed of medals so that medals sent later cannot catch up with medals previously sent into the medal discharge passage portion 16. In addition, the overlapping medal separation area 29 separates these medals one by one when the overlapping medals are not discharged in the overlapping medal discharging area 27 and the medals slide down in a state where two medals overlap. ing. Further, a small-diameter medal dropout port 31 is opened in the medal sorting area 30, and a small-diameter medal guide passage 17 is provided below the small-diameter medal dropout port 31. On the other hand, a small-diameter medal guide passage 18 is provided downstream of the small-diameter medal drop opening 31. The small diameter medal and the large diameter medal are discharged separately from the small diameter medal guide path 17 and the large diameter medal guide path 18 and are respectively accommodated in the medal container 11 or the medal container 12.

  As described above, the medal discharge passage portion 16 is for sliding the medal received from the outlet 24 and feeding the medal into the medal container 11 or the medal container 12, and its cross section is slightly thicker than the medal. It is thick and the width is slightly wider than the diameter of the medal. That is, the part including the overlapping medal discharge area 27 of the medal discharge passage section 16 to the speed increasing area 28, the overlapping medal separation area 29, and the large diameter medal guide path 18 of the medal sorting area 30 is slightly thicker than the thickness of the medal. The pair of formed gap members 32, 32 are arranged in parallel with a gap slightly wider than the diameter of the large medal, and a plate-like side wall member 33 is fixed to the lower surface of each gap member 32. . Further, on the upper side surface of each gap member 32, a portion including the speed increasing area 28, the overlapping medal separation area 29, and the opening position of the small diameter medal dropout opening 31 in the medal separation area 30 is provided with a translucent synthetic resin. The side wall member 34 made of a material is fixed. On the other hand, the small-diameter medal guide passage 17 in the medal sorting area 30 has a pair of gap members 35 and 35 that are curved in a U shape at the middle and slightly thicker than the thickness of the medal. The side wall member 36 is fixed to the lower side from the upper end portion to the middle portion of each gap member 35, and the side wall member 37 is fixed to the lower side from the middle portion to the lower end portion. . Therefore, the medal inserted into the medal discharge passage portion 16 has the medal discharge passage portion 16 in the medal discharge passage portion 16 so that one side surface of the medal faces one of the side wall members 33, 36, and 37. It can move in the diameter direction.

  Such a medal discharge passage portion 16 steeply slopes downward from the start end in a direction in which medals slide down at an angle of about 30 degrees, bends further downward at the overlapping medal separation area 29, and separates the medal separation The area 30 is divided into a small-diameter medal guide path 17 and a large-diameter medal guide path 18, and a small-diameter medal discharge port 43, which is a terminal portion of the small-diameter medal guide path 17, is directed to the medal container 11. A large-diameter medal discharge port 42, which is an end portion of 18, faces the medal container 12. The medal discharge passage portion 16 is also slightly inclined in the thickness direction of the medal moving in the medal discharge passage portion 16 from the start end toward the intermediate portion (direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 16). Therefore, the medal slides down in the medal discharge passage portion 16 while sliding one surface of the medal against the lower side wall member 33 in an inclined standing state.

  The duplicate medal discharge area 27 is configured such that, for example, when two medals are sent out from the delivery port 24 of the medal sending unit 15, one of the medals is discharged from the medal discharge passage unit 16 to overlap the medals. This is a section in which medals are inserted one by one into the speed increasing area 28. The upper surface of the overlapping medal discharge area 27 is open, and the width of the gap member 38 that supports the lower part of the outer peripheral edge of the sliding medal is formed narrower than the thickness of the medal. That is, the width of the bottom surface of the medal discharge passage portion 16 is narrower than the thickness of the medal. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, in the overlapping medal discharge area 27, only the medal M1 is supported from below by the upper end surface of the gap member 38 (the bottom surface in the medal discharge passage portion 16). The medal M2 overlapped with M1 falls downward without being supported by the gap member 38. Then, the dropped medal M2 enters the medal recovery rod 13 through the opening of the start end portion of the medal recovery rod 13 provided below the overlapping medal discharge area 27, and the base end portion 10a of the medal lifting lift 10 is obtained. To be carried to. In this way, it is possible to prevent two medals from overlapping and being sent out to the speed increasing area 28.

  As described above, the speed increasing area 28 slides the medals at a steep angle of about 30 degrees, so that the medals in a substantially upright state can be accelerated at a stretch here. In the lower side wall member 33 in the speed increasing area 28, a narrow slot-like groove 39 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing area 28. The slot 39 reduces the frictional resistance by reducing the contact area between one surface of the medal and the surface of the lower side wall member 33, and increases the effect of increasing the sliding speed of the medal.

  The overlapping medal separation area 29 is on the downstream side of the speed increasing area 28 and smoothly curves so that the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 16 becomes a steep angle from a downward inclination of about 30 degrees. It is located at the site. The overlapping medal separation area 29 is smoothly bent downward in a plane including one side surface of the medal and parallel to the side surface (within the inclined plane of the circular chamber 19). The longitudinal direction of the medal separation area 29 substantially coincides with the maximum inclination direction in the plane. A speed reduction member 40 is provided inside the side wall member 34 on the upper side of the overlapping medal separation area 29.

  The speed reduction member 40 is made of a member having a large friction such as a plastic whose surface is processed to be rough or a rubber whose surface is difficult to slide, and in the overlapping medal separation area 29, one of the two overlapping medals. It is made to contact and the sliding speed of one medal is decelerated. That is, when the overlap of medals is not eliminated for some reason in the overlap medal discharge area 27, the medals are prevented from flowing into the medal sorting area 30 with the overlap. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, a notch 34a is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall member 34, and the speed reduction member 40 is fitted into the notch 34a. The inner surface of the speed reduction member 40 is smoothly connected so that the upper end portion is not uneven with respect to the inner surface of the side wall member 34, and gradually protrudes inward from the inner surface of the side wall member 34 toward the downstream. It has become. At the lower end of the deceleration member 40, the thickness of the overlapping medal separation area 29 is slightly narrower than the thickness of two medals. Then, when the medal M3 and the medal M4 overlap and slide down, only the medal M4 located on the side wall member 34 side comes into contact with the reduction member 40 and the sliding speed is reduced. On the other hand, the medal M3 located on the side wall member 33 side does not contact the speed reducing member 40 and is not decelerated. As a result, a difference occurs in the sliding speed of the overlapping medals M3 and M4, and the overlapping medals are separated from each other.

  In the present embodiment, the speed reduction member 40 is provided on the inner side of the side wall member 34 to reduce the sliding speed of the medal that contacts the speed reduction member 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, one inner surface of the side wall member 34 may be roughened to increase friction, and the inner surface may be formed so as to protrude toward the inside of the overlapping medal separation area 29 so as to contact the medal.

  The medal sorting area 30 is located downstream of the overlapping medal separation area 29. The part where the small diameter medal drop opening 31 is opened in the medal sorting area 30 is curved in a smooth arc shape so that its longitudinal direction gradually changes from a steep slope to a gentle slope. The downstream side is a large-diameter medal guide passage 18 that is inclined downward at a constant angle in a straight line with the gentle slope. On the other hand, a small diameter medal guide passage 17 is provided below the small diameter medal drop opening 31.

  The small diameter medal drop opening 31 is formed in a long hole shape along the longitudinal direction of the medal discharge passage portion 16, and the opening width is wider than the diameter of the small diameter medal and narrower than the diameter of the large diameter medal. It has become. The passage width of the medal discharge passage portion 16 in this part is slightly wider than the diameter of the large diameter medal, and therefore the side wall members 33 are left narrow on both sides in the width direction of the medal discharge passage portion 16. A pair of guide pieces 41 is formed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the large-diameter medals L do not fall through the small-diameter medal drop-out opening 31 by the outer peripheral edge portions being supported by these guide pieces 41, 41. On the other hand, since the diameter of the small diameter medal S is smaller than the opening width of the small diameter medal drop opening 31, the small diameter medal S passes through the small diameter medal drop opening 31 and flows into the small diameter medal guide passage 17. Note that the upper end portion of the small-diameter medal drop opening 31 and the lower end portion of the slot 39 are connected to form a communication shape.

  The large-diameter medal guide passage 18 is provided so as to be inclined substantially linearly downstream of the small-diameter medal drop-out port 31, and its end portion serves as a large-diameter medal discharge port 42 for discharging the large-diameter medal. Yes. The medal container 12 is provided at the end of the large-diameter medal outlet 42 so that the discharged large-diameter medal is accommodated. In addition, medal distribution means described later is provided by attaching a solenoid 48 to the lower side of the large-diameter medal guide passage 18.

  On the other hand, the small-diameter medal guide passage 17 is provided so as to be positioned below the small-diameter medal drop-out opening 31, and the start end portion thereof is along the portion where the small-diameter medal drop-out opening 31 is opened in the side wall member 33. It is smoothly curved. That is, the start end portion of the small diameter medal guide passage 17 faces substantially the same direction as the direction in which the small diameter medal is dropped from the small diameter medal drop opening 31, and the dropped small diameter medal can be smoothly received. . The downstream side is inclined downward substantially linearly and gradually away from the side wall member 33. In this part, the downstream direction of the small-diameter medal guide passage 17 faces the same direction as the large-diameter medal discharge passage 42 side of the large-diameter medal guide passage 18. The small-diameter medal guide passage 17 is greatly bent into a U shape at the intermediate portion, and the downstream direction is directed to the side opposite to the large-diameter medal outlet 42 side. That is, it is curved so that the downstream direction of the small diameter medal guide passage 17 and the downstream direction of the large diameter medal guide passage 18 are opposite to each other. Further, the end portion of the small-diameter medal guide passage 17 is formed so as to be inclined substantially linearly, and the end portion is a small-diameter medal outlet 43 for discharging the small-diameter medal. The medal container 11 is provided at the tip of the small diameter medal discharge port 43 so that the discharged small diameter medal is accommodated. In addition, a medal distributing means, which will be described later, is provided by attaching a solenoid 48 below the end portion of the small diameter medal guide passage 17.

  One medal distribution means is provided for each of the large-diameter medal guide passage 18 and the small-diameter medal guide passage 17. Since the configuration is the same, the medal distribution means on the large diameter medal guide passage 18 side will be described, and the description on the small diameter medal guide passage 17 side will be omitted. Hereinafter, in the description of the medal distribution means, the large diameter medal guide passage 18 is simply referred to as the medal guide passage 18 and the large diameter medal discharge port 42 is simply referred to as the medal discharge port 42. The medal distribution means is for changing the sliding direction of the medal sliding down in the medal guide passage 18 toward the medal discharge port 42 and discharging the medal in a direction different from the medal discharge port 42. . For example, when the medal container 12 is full, no more medals are sent into the medal container 12. FIG. 9 is an enlarged front view of a portion provided with medal distribution means, and FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. FIG. 11 is an enlarged front view showing a state where the medal distribution means is activated.

  The medal guide passage 18 is provided with a sub discharge path 46 so as to branch obliquely from the longitudinal direction at the end portion. In addition, an elongated through hole 47 is formed in the side wall member 33 corresponding to the branch portion of the sub discharge path 46. The longitudinal direction of the through hole 47 faces the direction of the sub discharge path 46. In other words, it is inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the medal guide passage 18. A solenoid 48 is fixed to the lower surface of the side wall member 33 corresponding to the opening position of the through hole 47. The solenoid 48 includes an air-core conductive coil (not shown) inside, and a plunger 49 capable of moving back and forth in the axial direction is provided in the air-core portion. Further, a flange 50 is formed at the tip of the plunger 49, and a movable piece 51 as a medal distribution means is projected. In addition, a coil spring 52 is mounted in a compressed state around the proximal end side of the plunger 49 so as to contact the flange 50.

  The plunger 49 of the solenoid 48 causes the coil spring 52 to contract and retract toward the solenoid 48 side when an electric current is passed through the conductive coil to excite the conductive coil. On the other hand, when the conductive coil is demagnetized, the elastic force of the coil spring 52 The solenoid 48 is advanced outward. Therefore, the movable piece 51 as the medal distribution means can move back and forth substantially vertically with respect to the side wall member 33 of the medal guide passage 18 and can move into and out of the medal guide passage 18 through the through hole 47. is there. Therefore, when the movable piece 51 protrudes into the medal guide passage 18 through the through hole 47 by the operation of the plunger 49 of the solenoid 48, the medal that slides down the medal guide passage 18 as shown in FIG. It collides with the movable piece 51 and changes the sliding direction to the sub discharge path 46 side. An opening start end of the medal recovery basket 14 is located at the end of the end portion of the sub discharge path 46, and the medal discharged from the sub discharge path 46 is received.

  A medal container detection sensor 53a and a medal detection sensor 53b are provided at a site where the medal container 12 (same for the medal container 11) is set. The medal container detection sensor 53a is attached below the arrangement positions of the medal container 11 and the medal container 12. Then, the medal container detection sensor 53a determines whether or not the medal containers 11 and 12 are normally set at predetermined positions by detecting whether the lower surfaces of the medal containers 11 and 12 are close to each other. If either the medal container 11 or the medal container 12 is not set or the set position is deviated from the predetermined position, the medal container detection sensor 53a detects an abnormality and transmits a signal. .

  When the medal container 11 and the medal container 12 are set at predetermined positions, the medal detection sensor 53b is provided inside the medal containers 11 and 12 and at a position slightly below the upper edge. . Then, it is detected that the medals are accumulated in the respective medal containers 11 and 12 and the stacked medals reach the attachment position of the medal detection sensor 53b. In other words, when the medal containers 11 and 12 are full of medals, the medal detection sensor 53b detects it and transmits a signal.

  Based on a signal from the medal container detection sensor 53a or the medal detection sensor 53b, the solenoid 48 automatically stops energization of the conductive coil and demagnetizes the conductive coil. As a result, the plunger 49 of the solenoid 48 advances by the elastic force of the coil spring 52, and the movable piece 51 as a medal transfer means protrudes into the medal guide passage 18 through the through hole 47. In this way, the change of the sliding direction of the medal is automatically performed based on the signal from the medal container detection sensor 53a or the medal detection sensor 53b.

  Next, the operation of the medal sorting device of this embodiment will be described. The medals sent out from the outlet 24 first slide down in the overlapping medal discharge area 27 of the medal discharge passage portion 16. In this overlapping medal discharge area 27, if two medals are overlapped and sent out from the delivery port 24, only one medal is allowed to pass and the other medal is dropped. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, only one medal M <b> 1 located on the side wall member 33 side is supported by the upper end surface (the bottom surface in the medal discharge passage portion 16) of the gap member 38 and passes through the overlapping medal discharge area 27. .

  On the other hand, the other medal M2 that is not supported by the upper end surface of the gap member 38 is detached from the medal discharge passage portion 16 and falls downward. The medal M2 enters the medal recovery rod 13 through the opening at the start end of the medal recovery rod 13 and is carried to the base end portion 10a of the medal lifting lift 10, and the medal storage tank 5 is operated by the medal lifting lift 10. It is lifted again. Thus, the medal M2 returns to the medal sorting device 6.

  The medals that have passed through the overlapping medal discharge area 27 smoothly flow into the speed increasing area 28 of the medal discharge passage section 16. Then, the inside of the medal discharge passage portion 16 is slid down while accelerating the sliding speed by flowing down the slope inclined at an angle of about 30 degrees in the longitudinal direction of the speed increasing region 28 by its own weight. Then, the medal whose sliding speed is increased flows into the overlapping medal separation area 29.

  In the overlap medal separation area 29, when the overlap of medals is not eliminated for some reason in the overlap medal discharge area 27, the overlap medal is separated. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, only the medal M4 of the medals M3 and M4 that slide down in duplicate overlaps the deceleration member 40, and the sliding speed is reduced. On the other hand, the medal M3 slides down the overlapping medal separation area 29 without being decelerated. Thus, the medals M3 and M4 are separated by causing a difference in the sliding speed between the medals M3 and M4. Each separated medal flows into the medal sorting area 30.

  When the medal reaches the small diameter medal dropout port 31 in the medal classification area 30, in the case of a large diameter medal, the opening width of the small diameter medal dropout port 31 is narrower than the diameter of the large diameter medal. As shown in the figure, both ends of the large diameter medal in the diametrical direction are held by a pair of guide pieces 41, 41 formed on both sides of the small diameter medal drop opening 31. Therefore, the large-diameter medal passes through the small-diameter medal drop-out opening 31 without passing through, and slides down to the large-diameter medal guide passage 18. Normally, as indicated by a symbol L in FIG. 12, the large-diameter medal discharge passage 42, which is the terminal portion of the large-diameter medal guide passage 18, is discharged and stored in the medal container 12.

  On the other hand, in the case of a small-diameter medal, as indicated by a symbol S in FIG. 8, both ends in the diameter direction of the small-diameter medal are completely connected to a pair of guide pieces 41, 41 formed on both sides of the small-diameter medal dropout opening 31. Will not be retained. Therefore, the small diameter medal passes through the small diameter medal drop opening 31 and flows into the small diameter medal guide passage 17.

  A portion closer to the start end of the small-diameter medal guide passage 17 is provided such that the small-diameter medal sliding down in the medal discharge passage portion 16 faces in substantially the same direction as the direction in which the small-diameter medal drop-out port 31 drops out. Accordingly, as indicated by reference numeral S in FIG. 12, the small diameter medal is smoothly received in the small diameter medal guide passage 17, the small diameter medal slides down in the small diameter medal guide path 17, and the small diameter medal guide path 17 is U-shaped. The sliding direction is changed to the opposite side to the large-diameter medal discharge port 42 at the middle portion bent greatly. Usually, it reaches the small-diameter medal discharge port 43, which is the terminal portion of the small-diameter medal guide passage 17, is discharged from the small-diameter medal guide passage 17, and is stored in the medal container 11.

  Thus, each of the large diameter medal and the small diameter medal discharged from the large diameter medal discharge port 42 and the small diameter medal discharge port 43 is accumulated in the medal container 11 or the medal container 12. When the medal container 11 or the medal container 12 becomes full, the medal detection sensor 53b detects it and generates a signal. Based on this signal, the energization of the conductive coil of the solenoid 48 is stopped. As a result, the conductive coil is demagnetized, and the plunger 49 provided inside the solenoid 48 advances toward the outside of the solenoid 48 by the elastic force of the coil spring 52. Therefore, the movable piece 51 as the medal distribution means protrudes into the medal guide passage 18 through the through hole 47 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. (The explanation will be given on the large-diameter medal guide passage 18 side, and the explanation on the small-diameter medal guide passage 17 side which operates in the same manner will be omitted.) Then, the medal sliding down in the medal guide passage 18 is as shown in FIG. Colliding with the movable piece 51, the sliding direction is changed to the sub discharge path 46 side, and the sub discharge path 46 is discharged from the end portion. The discharged medals flow into the medal recovery rod 14 from the opening at the start end of the medal recovery rod 14 and are carried to the base end portion 10a of the medal lifting lift 10. It is lifted to 5 again.

  In the medal sorting device according to the present invention, the portion near the starting end of the small diameter medal guide passage 17 is formed so as to approximate the drop direction of the small diameter medal that has passed through the small diameter medal drop opening 31. Therefore, even if the small diameter medal is discharged from the small diameter medal drop opening 31 at a high speed, the small diameter medal can be smoothly taken into the small diameter medal guide passage 17. Further, the small-diameter medal guide passage 17 is greatly curved in a U shape in a direction away from the large-diameter medal guide passage 18 at an intermediate portion thereof, and the small-diameter medal discharge port 43 faces the opposite side to the large-diameter medal discharge port 42. It is like that. Thereby, the discharge direction of the taken-in small diameter medal can be turned to the opposite side to the direction in which the large diameter medal is discharged. In this way, by properly orienting the direction in which the sorted small-diameter medals are discharged, the small-diameter medals will not scatter in all directions, and the small-diameter medals after sorting will be mixed into the large-diameter medals. Can be prevented. Further, since the direction in which the small-diameter medals are discharged can be controlled within a narrow range, for example, a collection port such as a container or a hopper for collecting the small-diameter medals after sorting can be designed in a compact manner. Thereby, it is not necessary to secure a wide installation space around the place where the medal sorting device is installed, and the degree of freedom in design can be improved.

Schematic which shows the inside of the enclosure box in which the medal classification apparatus which concerns on this invention was integrated. The external appearance perspective view which shows a medal sending part and a medal discharge passage part. The external appearance perspective view from another angle which shows a medal sending part and a medal discharge passage part. The front view which shows the medal classification apparatus which concerns on this invention. The top view which shows the medal classification apparatus which concerns on this invention. The expanded cross-sectional view of an overlap medal discharge area. The expanded secondary sectional view of an overlap medal separation area. The expanded cross-sectional view of a medal classification area. The enlarged front view of the site | part provided with the medal distribution means. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the site | part provided with the medal distribution means. The enlarged front view which shows the state which the medal distribution means act | operated. The enlarged front view which shows the sliding direction of a small diameter medal and a large diameter medal in a medal classification area.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Enclosure box 2 Medal counting collection machine 3 Medal collection conveyor 4 Medal washing machine 5 Medal storage tank 6 Medal sorting device 8 Lifting conveyor 10 Medal lifting lift 11 Medal container 12 Medal container 15 Medal delivery part 16 Medal discharge passage part 17 Small diameter Medal guide passage 18 Large diameter medal guide passage 19 Circular chamber 20 Medal tank 21 Motor 27 Overlapping medal discharge area 28 Acceleration area 29 Overlapping medal separation area 30 Medal separation area 31 Small diameter medal dropout opening 40 Deceleration member 42 Large diameter medal discharge opening 43 Small-diameter medal outlet 48 Solenoid 50 Ridge 51 Movable piece (medal distribution means)
53b Medal detection sensor

Claims (1)

A medal provided with a medal sending part for sending small medals and large diameter medals mixed in the medal storage tank one by one and a medal discharge passage part for sorting and discharging medals sent from the medal sending part A separation device,
The medal sorting area of the medal discharge passage section is curved in a smooth arc shape on the outer peripheral side where one side faces the medal so that the longitudinal direction gradually changes from a steep slope to a gentle slope. A large-diameter medal guide passage inclined linearly downward is formed downstream of the zone, a large-diameter medal discharge port is formed at the end of the large-diameter medal guide passage, and the outer circumference is curved in the arc shape of the medal separation area A small diameter medal dropout opening that is wider than the diameter of the small diameter medal and narrower than the diameter of the large diameter medal is formed in the shape of a long hole along the longitudinal direction on the side, and the large diameter medal guide passage is below the small diameter medal dropout opening A small-diameter medal guide passage is provided so as to branch off from the end of the small-diameter medal guide passage. Large diameter medal discharge The small-diameter medal guide passage is bent in a U-shape so that it is directed to the opposite side, and the end portion of the small-diameter medal guide passage is formed so as to be inclined substantially linearly. A medal sorting device, characterized in that it is formed .

Images