JP5571975B2 - Medal auxiliary storage - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal auxiliary storage used by being installed adjacent to a medal payout hopper of a slot machine.

A slot machine called a pachislot in Japan includes a box-shaped housing whose front surface is open and a door which is attached to the housing so that the front surface can be opened and closed. A liquid crystal display, a reel front panel, a speaker, a medal tray, and the like are attached to the front of the door. Further, the center portion of the housing is arranged a reel unit, the bottom of the enclosure, mounted is because the hopper paid out medals for game accumulated in the interior to the medal tray, so that adjacent to the hopper In addition, a medal auxiliary storage for temporarily storing medals overflowing from the hopper is additionally provided.

The medal auxiliary storage is a box made of a resin molded body that opens upward. The medal in the medal auxiliary storage is normally stored up to a predetermined amount, and when the medal auxiliary storage is full, the hall employee Manually collected. In other words, when the medal auxiliary storage is full of medals, an error message is displayed on the front of the slot machine, and when this error message is displayed, the hall employee opens the slot machine door with the key and opens the inside of the housing. the medal medal in the auxiliary storage case it is to be collected manually.
Contact name whether the medal auxiliary storage case becomes full medals, two electrodes provided on the inner wall of the box body Medals auxiliary storage case is sensed by short-circuited by a metal medal is a conductor ing.

In recent years, a system for automatically collecting overflowing medals in the medal auxiliary storage has been generally introduced . When automatically recovered medals is previously provided with a through-opening for the medal automatic recovery to the bottom surface of the medal auxiliary storages, medals tank provided overflows become filled with medals on the top of the hopper tank When flowing from the medal outlet into the medal auxiliary storage from above, the medal is collected through the medal collecting hole provided in the bottom surface of the slot machine casing and the opening provided in the installation frame of the game island from the through hole. Ru is allowed to fall to use belt conveyor belt on.

As described above, the conventional medal auxiliary storage is provided on the box body of a box-shaped resin molded body having an open top and the bottom surface of the box body so that medals can be collected manually or automatically. and the medal automatic recovery of the through-hole that is, having a lid of the resin molded body for closing the through-opening, is a structure such as may be used in any case. That is, when used for manual collection, it is installed in the casing of the slot machine with the through-hole provided in the bottom surface of the box body closed by the lid. On the other hand, in the case of automatically collecting medals, remove the lid placed on the bottom of the box body of the medal auxiliary storage, or lean the lid on the box body in advance, It is installed and used in the slot machine housing with the through hole for collecting medals opened.

Recently, from the viewpoint of recycling the parts of the slot machine, the lid that closes the medal automatic recovery through-hole on the bottom surface of the box body of the medal auxiliary storage is separated from the box body and is not lost. Thus, it has been proposed that the lid is hinged to the bottom of the box body.
Patent Document 2 proposes a technique in which the tank body and the lid of the auxiliary tank are integrally formed, the bottom surface of the auxiliary tank is used as the lid bottom of the lid, and the bottom is closed. Yes. Specifically, in Patent Document 2, the entire bottom surface of the tank body has an opening hole, and the first protrusion formed on the cover body is closed by the cover body bottom portion also serving as the bottom surface part. Closed state maintaining means (locking means) is provided for engaging the portion and a first locking hole formed in one side wall of the tank body.

JP 2009-226006 A JP 2009-297203 A

However, when the lid is hinge-coupled to the bottom of the box body as in Patent Document 1, the number of parts is increased, such as the need for a shaft member for hinge coupling, and the hinge-coupled portion is attached to the box body. If it is intended to be molded integrally with the bottom portion, the degree of freedom of design is narrowed and the mold has a complicated structure, making it difficult to mold, and the work of assembling the lid on the bottom portion of the box body is also difficult and troublesome.
On the other hand, the auxiliary tank having a configuration in which the opening hole is closed by the bottom part of the lid that is also used as the bottom part as in Patent Document 2 has a problem that the mold becomes large and complicated, and is expensive. In addition, when the auxiliary tank of Patent Document 2 is used for many years, the first protrusion and the first locking hole are formed when the lid bottom is rotated and the opening hole is closed and opened many times. The engagement state when worn and engaged is loosened, and when carrying a large amount of coins (medals) stored in the auxiliary tank, the first protrusion and the first locking hole with a large amount of coin weight As a result, the lid bottom is undesirably opened, and the coin in the auxiliary tank may fall.
Further, Patent Document 2 is configured such that the lid bottom and the other side wall of the tank body can be bent freely when the lid bottom is rotated and closed and opened for many years. The thin-walled portion 120b may be cracked, and when carrying a large amount of coins in the tank body, the cracked thin-walled portion 120b is damaged or torn by the weight of the large amount of coins, A large amount of coins may fall.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is a medal auxiliary storage that can be manufactured by easily assembling the lid to the bottom of the box body without increasing the number of parts. The purpose is to provide.

In order to solve the above object, the present invention relates to the following medal auxiliary storages (1) to (3) .

(1) A medal auxiliary storage that stores medals overflowing from the medal payout hopper , and includes a case body, an opening, a lid, a groove, a mounting portion, and a flexible portion.
The case body has a rectangular shape configured by surrounding the bottom surface portion with a pair of long side walls and a pair of short side walls, and stores medals. The opening is formed on the bottom surface of the case body and is for discharging medals. The lid body is a plate shape whose planar shape is selected to be smaller than the bottom surface portion of the case body and larger than the opening portion, and a part of the lid body serves as a lid portion that covers the entire surface of the opening portion. The groove portion is formed at an elongated position along the long side wall at a position below the one long side wall and on the bottom surface portion of the case main body. The attachment portion is integrally formed along one side of the lid, and the width thereof is selected to be about the depth of the groove portion, and is fitted into the groove portion. The flexible portion is formed between the lid portion and the attachment portion of the lid body in a direction along one side of the lid body, and can be bent by being thinner than the thickness of the lid body.
Then, the lid is rotatably supported inside the case main body with the flexible portion as an axis as seen from the side surface by fitting the attachment portion into the groove portion. Further, the lid is opened by standing upright inside the case body so as to be in contact with one of the long side walls, and is opened by being rotated so as to be in contact with the bottom surface and placed on the bottom surface. The part is closed.

According to the medal auxiliary storage of (1) above, the lid is folded between the lid that covers the opening on the bottom surface of the case body and the attachment that is inserted into a groove formed in the bottom of the case body. Since it has a possible flexible part, the lid can be attached to the bottom part of the case body so as to be opened and closed by a simple operation of simply inserting the attachment part into the groove in the bottom part of the case body from above. In addition, the lid is not easily separated from the case body, and the lid is not lost even when used for automatic medal collection .

(2) The medal auxiliary storage is in a state in which the opening of the case body is opened in relation to the upper part of one long side wall of the case body and the end of the lid body opposite to the attachment portion. The 1st latching | locking part for maintaining is formed. Further, a second part for maintaining the lid in a state in which the opening of the case main body is closed in relation to the lower portion of the other long side wall of the case main body and the end of the lid opposite to the attachment portion. A locking portion is formed.

According to the medal auxiliary storage of the above (2), in addition to the effect of the above (1), the lid is opened in the case body even when the opening of the bottom surface of the case body is closed. even, Ru can be good locking so that it does not stick butter. Also, in manual collection of medals, the lid does not flutter even if the medal auxiliary storage is turned upside down and the medals are put into the medal collection box. In automatic collection of medals, the lid is unexpectedly opened. It is possible to prevent the part from being closed.

(3) On the back side of the bottom surface portion of the case body, a rib protrudes so as to surround the inner peripheral portion of the opening. The rib is selected so that the lower end portion thereof is flush with the lower end portions of the pair of long side walls and the pair of short side walls.

According to the present invention, a medal auxiliary storage that can be used for both manual and automatic methods for collecting medals can be easily assembled to the bottom of the case body without increasing the number of parts. Can be manufactured. In addition, since the lid that is easily assembled to the bottom of the case body is used without being separated from the case body, it is possible to prevent the lid from being lost .

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance structure of a slot machine. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a slot machine, Comprising: The state which opened the door (front door) is shown. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the housing | casing bottom part of a slot machine, Comprising: The hopper and medal auxiliary storage are shown. It is a perspective view which shows a medal auxiliary storage. It is sectional drawing which shows a medal auxiliary storage, and shows the state which obstruct | occluded the opening of (A) bottom face, and the opening of (B) bottom face.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Appearance configuration]
As shown in FIG. 1, the slot machine 1 includes a box-shaped housing 2 whose front surface is open, and a door (front door) 3 that is attached to the housing 2 so as to be openable and closable. Yes.

At the top of the front door 3, various effect regarding the game, the liquid crystal display 4 is attached, et al is for displaying the information. Reel front panel 5 is attached to the medium-central part. On the liquid crystal display device 4, a pair of upper speakers 19A and 19B for outputting effect sounds corresponding to the effect images displayed on the liquid crystal display device 4 and sound effects corresponding to the gaming state are attached. It is. The central portion of the Li Lumpur front panel 5, the five effective lines 20A~20E depicted display window is formed. Below the display windows a lower portion of the reel front panel 5, as valuable resource owns the game medal payout number display 21 and the player for displaying the number of medals to be paid out to a player when a winning occurs Various displays such as a game medal stored number display 22 for displaying the number of medals credited to the slot machine 1 and a display lamp are arranged.

  A title panel 6 on which a model name, an image design, and the like are printed is mounted at the lower portion of the door 3, an ashtray 7 is provided on the lower left side of the title panel 6, and a medal tray 8 is provided from the center to the right hand. A game medal payout opening 9 is provided so as to face the center of the medal tray 8, and a pair of lower speakers 18A and 18B are provided on both sides thereof.

  An operation unit is provided between the reel front panel 5 and the title panel 6. A game medal slot 10 is provided on the right side of the upper part of the operation unit, and a game medal settlement button 12, a bet button (a button for storing one stored game medal and a button 14 for inserting three stored game medals are provided on the left side. ), And two liquid crystal corresponding buttons K1 and K2 for switching various display contents of the liquid crystal display device 4 are provided in the middle.

  A start lever 15 for starting the rotation of the reel is located on the left side of the front part of the operation unit, three stop buttons 16L, 16C and 16R for stopping the rotation of the reel are provided on the center, and a game medal is inserted on the right side. A return button 17 is provided for returning the game medal from the game medal payout opening 9 when the game medal inserted into the mouth 10 is jammed. A key 11 is provided at the center right end of the door 3.

[Internal configuration]
As shown in FIG. 2, three reels 30L, 30C, and 30R are arranged in the center of the housing 2, and a reel control relay board 31 is provided thereon, and a drive source for each reel 30L, 30C, and 30R. Stepping motors that are are arranged.

The back wall upper portion of the housing 2, the slot machine 1 of the basic operation and programs that govern the like reel control is housed ROM or C PU, RA M, mounted on main control board, such as connectors (main board) the main board unit includes a main circuit board case 100 of matches and Ru is attached. At the bottom of the housing 2, the power supply device 33, game medal payout device (hopper) 34, such as medals auxiliary storage case 35 is disposed.

On the back side of the operating portion of the door 3 is operated system control relay board 32 mounting et be. On the back side of the liquid crystal display device 4, display of an image to be displayed to the person the liquid crystal display device 4, matches the upper and lower speakers 18A, 18B, 19A, the sub-control board for controlling the 19B sound output sub board case 200 is attached, et al are.

[Medal auxiliary storage structure]
As shown in FIG. 3, a hopper 34 having a function of paying out a game medal M from a medal payout opening 9 to a medal tray 8 according to a game result or the like is fixed and arranged on the bottom plate of the housing 2 of the slot machine 1. Is done. Adjacent to this hopper 34, medal auxiliary storage box 35 is Ru is the hotel is placed. Hopper 34, obtain Bei hopper tank 341 you accommodating game medals M on the top. The e Ppatanku 341, overflow chute 342 is provided to derive a game medal M overflowing beyond its capabilities to the adjacent medal auxiliary storage case 35.

Medals auxiliary storage case 35, the opening of a overflow chute 342 of the hopper 34, so as to receive the game medals M falling overflow from the overflow chute 342, Ru is placed on the bottom plate of the housing 2. The sides of its, two on top and bottom opening is formed. The medal auxiliary storage sensors (electrodes) 36 and 36 attached to the lower part of the back plate of the housing 2 are inserted into the upper two openings 36a and 36a (see FIG. 5) . The medal auxiliary storage grounds (electrodes) 37 and 37 attached to the lower part of the back plate of the housing 2 are inserted into the lower two openings 37a and 37a (see FIG. 5). The pair of medals auxiliary storage case sensor 36 is of the order to detect that the medal auxiliary storage box 35 has become full in game medal M.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the medal auxiliary storage 35 will be described in more detail. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the medal auxiliary storage 35 includes a case main body 351 and two lids (bottom plates) 354 and 354. The case body 351 is for example made of a synthetic resin molded body such as ABS resin straight rectangular parallelepiped.
Open Specifically, the case body 351 surrounds the periphery of the rectangular bottom portion 351d pair long side wall 351e and a pair of the short side wall 351f of each long side wall 351e, the short side wall 351f is upward direction Thus, the upper part is an opening. In the vicinity of the upper end portion of the case body 351, stepped portions 351g of the order to further extend the open mouth of the upper is formed.
Two first locking holes 351c and 351c are formed at a predetermined interval in the vicinity of the step portion 351g of one long side wall (right side in FIG. 5) 351e .

Two openings 352 and 352 are formed in a part of the bottom surface portion 351d of the case body 351 in the extending direction of the long side wall 351e. A rib 351h protrudes and is formed on the lower edge (back side) of the opening 352 of the bottom surface portion 351d. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the rib 351h is formed so that its lower end protrudes until it is flush with the lower end of the long side wall 351e.
Reinforcing ribs 351j are erected in a lattice pattern on the bottom surface (or back surface) of the bottom surface portion (bottom plate) 351d . Further, two second locking holes 351b and 351b are formed at the lower part of the other long side wall (left side in FIG. 5) 351e of the case body 351 so as to face the first locking holes 351c and 351c. The
Et al is, one of the A and the bottom portion 351d is the lower portion of the long side wall 351 e, a slit-shaped attachment groove (groove) dug vertically so as to be along the person the long side wall of the case body 351 3 51a , 351a are provided in a straight line. In other words, the attachment groove (groove portion) 351a is formed at a position below the one long side wall 351e and is elongated along the long side wall 351e on the bottom surface portion 351d of the case body 351.

On the other hand, the lid body 354 is a rectangular plate made of a synthetic resin molding such as polypropylene resin, for example , and one side thereof (the side in the horizontal direction in FIG. 5A when the opening 352 is closed) is the bottom surface. It is selected to be shorter than the short side of the portion 351d and longer than the short side of the opening 352, and the other side in the direction along the long side wall 351e is selected to be longer than the long side of the opening 352. An attachment portion 356 is integrally formed on one side of the lid 354 along the long side wall 351e (the lower side in FIG. 5B) via a flexible portion 357. In other words, the lid body 354 and the attachment portion 356 are configured by a single plate-like member, and the portion where the lid body 354 and the attachment portion 356 are in contact with each other is formed thin, thereby forming the flexible portion 357. It is said. A portion that is a part of the lid body 354 and covers the upper portion of the opening 352 is a lid portion 355.
The lid portion 355 has a predetermined thickness that provides a strength that does not cause deformation or cracking even when the game medal M is placed at the full depth of the case body 351, and has an opening 352 on the bottom surface of the case body 351. the has an area enough to completely cover, as fits the bottom surface of the case body 351, is the width direction of length slightly shorter than the length of the bottom surface. In addition, the cover part 355 is formed thin as a whole by providing reinforcing ribs in order to reduce the amount of resin to be used .
Their to, the upper central portion of the lid body 355 locking portion 355a are substantially vertically extending. A first claw portion 355c is formed at the distal end of the locking portion 355a, and a second claw portion 355b is formed in the vicinity of the root so as to protrude in a direction opposite to the first claw portion 355c. The

The attachment portion 356 of the lid body 354 has an elongated rectangular plate shape (or strip shape ) formed to be equal to or thicker than the thickness of the lid portion 355, and two claw portions 354a and 354a are formed at the lower end. The mounting portion 356 by being fitted so as inserted from above taken in groove 351a of the bottom side of the case body 351, as lid 355 protrudes from the upper surface of the opening 352 of the case body 351 the lid 354 is rotatably preparative wearing inside of the case body 35 1. At this time, the claw portion 354a of the mounting portion 356, 354a is Ru locked in two holes formed in the bottom of the attachment groove 351a of the case main body 351.
Contact name claw portion 354a of the two positions from the outside through the two holes of the case body 351, while pressing down the 354a, by the Hikiageruko the lid 355 upward, be removed the lid 354 from the case body 351 it can.

The flexible portion 357 of the lid 354 by the calls being thinner than the thickness of the lid 355 and the mounting portion 356, Ri is bent at a right angle the lid 354 relative to the mounting portion 356, or straight to let freely to, it is consolidated foldably the lid portion 355 and the mounting portion 356.

Next, the case where the opening 352 on the bottom surface of the case body 351 is closed with the lid 354 and the case where the opening 352 is opened will be described.
Prior to use of the medal storage 35, the lid 354 is attached to the case main body 351 and assembled. That is, the attachment portion 356 is inserted into and inserted into the attachment groove 351a formed in the bottom surface portion 351d along the one long side wall 351e of the case body 351, whereby the lid body 352 is flexible. Is supported so as to be pivotable (or bendable).
Then, if closing the opening 352 of the to case body 351 with the cover 354, FIG. 5 (A), the are bent et al. In the flexible portion 357 of the lid 354 pixels bottom portion 351d It is rotated until it comes into contact with the part of the lid portion 355 of the cover 354 are in horizontal position so as to cover from above the opening 352 of the case body 351. At this time, the second claw portion 355b of the locking portion 355a provided at the center of the tip of the lid portion 355 is provided with the attachment groove 351a so that the lid portion 355 of the lid body 354 does not rise due to the spring back phenomenon. the second locking portion 354c is configured obtained for a is engaged with the second locking hole 351b provided in the lower portion of the long side wall of the opposite side of the case main body 351. The lid thereby, so as not to Yu technique medals M, which is housed in to case body 351 to fall through the opening 352, by a gap the top of the opening 352 without the lid 354 (lid 355) Will be.
Contact name to release the locked state of the second engagement portion 354c of the engaging portion 355a of the lid 354, by lifting upward (the arrow direction in the drawing) by holding the engaging portion 355a, the case body The opening 352 of 351 can be opened.

Hand, to open the opening 352 of the to case body 351, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), standing as the lid 354 is in contact with the inner wall surface of those said long side walls (upright) tongue state until being rotated is retained. At this time, the first claw portion 355c of the locking portion 355a provided at the center of the front end of the lid portion 355 is provided at the upper step portion of the case body 351 so that the lid portion 355 of the lid body 354 does not wobble. is locked to the first locking hole 351c, the first locking portion 354b is Ru configured.
Na us, by releasing the locked state of the first engagement portion 354b of the engaging portion 355a of the lid 354, so that tilted downward (the arrow direction in the drawing) by holding the engaging portion 355a The opening 352 of the case body 351 can be closed.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described example, and it is possible to make design changes as appropriate within a range that satisfies the configuration of the present invention.

35 medal auxiliary storage 351 case main body 351a attachment groove 351b first locking hole 351c second locking hole
351d bottom surface
351e long side wall
351f short side wall
351g step
351h (formed on the periphery of the opening on the back side of the bottom)
351j Grid-shaped reinforcing ribs 352 Opening 354 Lid 354a Claw 354b First locking part 354c Second locking part 355 Lid 355a Locking part 355b Second claw part 355c First claw part 356 Wearing part 357 Flexible part

Claims (3)

A medal auxiliary storage for storing medals overflowing from a medal payout hopper,
A case main body configured to enclose the periphery of the bottom portion with a pair of long side walls and a pair of short side walls;
An opening formed on the bottom surface of the case body and for discharging a medal;
Flat surface shape is chosen to shape larger than small and the opening portion than the bottom portion of the case body, a plate-shaped lid to be lid part closes the entire surface of the opening of the planar shape,
A groove formed at an elongated position along the long side wall at the bottom surface of the case main body and below the one long side wall;
An attachment portion that is integrally formed along one side of the lid body and the length of the short side is selected to be approximately the depth of the groove portion, and is fitted into the groove portion, and the lid portion and the attachment portion in the lid body A flexible portion that is formed in a direction along one side of the lid body and bendable by being thinner than the thickness of the lid body,
The lid body is rotatably supported inside the case main body with the flexible portion as an axis as seen from the side surface of the lid body by fitting the attachment portion into the groove portion,
Further, the lid body is brought into an open state by standing upright inside the case main body so as to be in contact with the one long side wall, and is rotated so as to be in contact with the bottom surface portion so as to be in contact with the bottom surface portion. The medal auxiliary storage is characterized in that the opening is closed by being placed on the medals. In order to maintain the lid in a state where the opening of the case main body is opened in relation to the upper portion of one long side wall of the case main body and the end of the lid opposite to the attachment portion. A first locking portion is formed,
In order to maintain the lid in a state in which the opening of the case body is closed in relation to the lower part of the other long side wall of the case body and the end of the lid opposite to the attachment portion. The medal auxiliary storage according to claim 1, wherein the second locking portion is formed. On the back side of the bottom surface of the case body, ribs are formed to protrude so as to surround the inner periphery of the opening,
The medal auxiliary storage according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rib is selected such that a lower end portion thereof is substantially flush with a lower end portion of the pair of long side walls and the pair of short side walls.