JP5678974B2 - Object detection device, medal sorting device, and medal game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an object detection device, a medal sorting device, and a medal gaming machine, and in particular, an object detection device, a medal sorting device, and a medal gaming machine that can prevent unauthorized counting of disc-shaped game media in the gaming machine. About.

  In a gaming machine composed of a rotating body represented by a slot machine (or pachislot machine), a disk-shaped medal is used as a gaming medium.

  The medal sorting device of the gaming machine is provided with an optical sensor, and the number of medals inserted by this optical sensor is counted.

  More specifically, in this optical sensor, two sets of light projecting elements and light receiving elements, each composed of an LED (Light Emission Diode), are provided so as to face each other across a medal passage route. . The light projecting element emits direct current light, and the light receiving element recognizes (detects) that there is no medal on the passage path as long as the direct current light from the light projecting element continues to be received.

  When the medal is inserted into the insertion slot and the medal passes through the passage path by its own weight, the direct current light projected by the light projecting element is shielded by the medal, and the light receiving element cannot receive direct current light for a predetermined time. It becomes. At this time, the optical sensor detects passage of medals. In addition, since the optical sensors having the same structure are connected on the medal path, the movement direction on the medal insertion path is determined by the timing shift and the order in which the passage of the medal is detected by the connected optical sensors. It can be detected (see Patent Document 1).

  By the way, fraudulent acts using fraud jigs using the structure of this optical sensor have been reported.

  This fraudulent jig is made of a flexible squeaky nest that can be inserted into the medal slot, and a light emitting element is provided at the tip thereof.

  The fraud due to this fraudulent jig is, for example, when the tip portion is inserted from the insertion slot of the medal, and the light projecting element of the fraudulent jig is between the light projecting element and the light receiving element in the optical sensor of the gaming machine. It is inserted to a position optically facing the light receiving element. Then, the light projecting element of the fraudulent jig projects direct current light to the light receiving element of the light sensor, so that the light sensor recognizes (detects) that no medal is inserted, It cannot be recognized (detected) even if it is inserted.

  Furthermore, in this state, by repeating the operation of stopping the light projection of the light emitting element of the illegal jig in accordance with the passage time of the medal, even though the medal has not passed, It is possible to erroneously detect that a medal has passed.

  Therefore, in the case where the above-described optical sensor is used, there is a possibility that fraud by such an illegal jig may be made.

  Therefore, in order to prevent the above-described fraud due to the fraudulent jig, modulated light is generated from the light projecting element of the optical sensor, the modulated light is received by the light receiving element, and the presence or absence of the modulated light is detected to pass the medal. A technique for detecting the above has been proposed.

JP 2006-55181 A

  However, when modulated light is generated from the light projecting element of the optical sensor and the passage of the medal is detected based on whether or not the modulated light is detected by the light receiving element, for example, by improving a conventional illegal jig, By further providing a light receiving element at a position optically opposed to the light projecting element of the sensor, the modulated light projected from the light projecting element of the optical sensor is detected and then illegally corrected in synchronization with the detected modulated light. Since the light projecting element of the tool can be projected, there is a risk that the same fraud as the above-described fraudulent jig may be performed.

  This invention is made | formed in view of such a condition, and makes it possible to prevent fraud by making it the structure which can detect the fraud by a fraud jig | tool with an optical sensor.

  An object detection device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a light receiving unit that detects light, a light projecting unit that projects light detectable by the light receiving unit at a predetermined time interval, and a timing that is different from the predetermined time interval. A light generating unit that emits light, a passage unit that allows a disk-shaped object to pass through while blocking an optical path between the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit, and the light receiving unit that emits light from the light projecting unit. A detection unit that detects the passage of the disk-like object based on whether light is detected at the same timing as the time interval, and a part of the light generated by the light generation unit And a superimposing unit that superimposes the light on the light path to the light receiving unit projected by the light receiving unit, and the detecting unit is the same as the predetermined time interval projected by the light projecting unit by the light receiving unit. Depending on the timing, the intensity of a part of the light generated by the light generator Stronger than the first threshold value, which is weaker than the intensity of light in which a part of the light generated by the light generating unit is superimposed on the light on the light path to the light receiving unit projected by the light projecting unit. The passage of the disk-shaped object is detected depending on whether or not strong light is detected.

  Whether the light receiving unit detects light that is stronger than the weakest detectable light intensity and stronger than a second threshold that is weaker than the intensity of a part of the light generated by the light generating unit. A fraud detector for detecting fraud can be further provided.

  In the light generation unit, another light projecting unit that projects light at a timing different from that of the light projecting unit at the predetermined time interval, and light from the other light projecting unit is the passing unit. In the range where the light projected by the light projecting unit is blocked by the passage of the disk-shaped object, the light projecting unit is in the vicinity of the optical path of the light projected by the light projecting unit, and the light projecting unit It is possible to provide a reflection part that reflects on an optical path in which the angle difference from the optical path of the projected light is near 0 within a range in which detection by the light receiving part is impossible.

  The medal sorting device of the present invention can be provided with the object detection device according to claims 1 to 3.

  The medal gaming machine of the present invention can be provided with the medal sorting device according to claim 4.

  In the object detection device according to one aspect of the present invention, light is detected, detectable light is projected at a predetermined time interval, and light is generated and projected at a timing different from the predetermined time interval. A disk-shaped object is allowed to pass while blocking the optical path until light is received, and the disk-shaped object passes depending on whether light is received at the same timing as the predetermined time interval at which light is emitted. Is detected, and a part of the generated light is superimposed on the light on the light path to be projected, and at the same timing as the predetermined time interval to be projected, The circle is determined by whether or not light that is stronger than the intensity and that is stronger than the first threshold that is weaker than the intensity of the light in which a part of the generated light is superimposed on the light on the projected light path is detected. The passage of a plate-like object is detected.

  In the object detection device according to one aspect of the present invention, the light generating unit that generates light at a timing different from the predetermined time interval is, for example, a light emitting unit, and blocks an optical path between the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit. For example, the passage part that allows the disk-shaped object to pass therethrough is a passage, and is light detected by the light receiving part at the same timing as the predetermined time interval emitted by the light projecting part? The detection unit that detects the passage of the disk-like object depending on whether or not is, for example, a passage detection unit.

  That is, when a fraudulent jig is not inserted, the light projected by the light projecting unit is received by the light receiving unit at a predetermined time interval composed of the modulated light of the light projecting unit. Since the light matches the modulated light received by the light receiving unit, the passage detection unit does not detect the passage of the medal. Then, when the medal passes through the passage by its own weight and the optical path is blocked, the modulated light corresponding to the predetermined number of pulses is not received, so that the modulated light projected by the light projecting unit and the light receiving unit are received. Therefore, the passage detection unit detects the passage of the medal. In addition, when a fraudulent jig is inserted, light emitted at a timing different from that of the light projecting section emitted by the light emitting section is received by the light receiving section of the fraudulent jig and projected by the light projecting section. Since the modulated light does not coincide with the light received by the light receiving unit, the detection of the passage detection unit is continued for a predetermined time or more, whereby fraud is recognized.

  As a result, it is possible to suppress an illegal counting action of game media in the gaming machine by the illegal jig.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress an illegal counting action of game media in a gaming machine by an illegal jig.

It is a general-view perspective view which shows the structure of embodiment of the game machine to which this invention is applied. It is a general-view figure which shows the structure of embodiment of the game machine to which this invention is applied. It is a front view which shows the structural example of a selector. It is a rear view which shows the structural example of a selector. It is an exploded view which shows the structural example of a selector. It is a general-view figure which shows the structural example of a sensor. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the sensor of a 1st Example. It is a flowchart explaining the passage detection operation | movement by the sensor of FIG. It is a wave form diagram explaining the passage detection operation | movement by the sensor of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example by which the fraudulent jig | tool was used for the sensor of FIG. It is a wave form diagram when a fraudulent jig | tool is used for the sensor of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the sensor of a 2nd Example. It is a flowchart explaining the passage detection operation | movement by the sensor of FIG. It is a wave form diagram explaining the passage detection operation by the sensor of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example by which the fraudulent jig | tool was used for the sensor of FIG. FIG. 13 is a waveform diagram when a fraudulent jig is used in the sensor of FIG. 12. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the sensor of a 3rd Example. It is a flowchart explaining the passage detection operation | movement by the sensor of FIG. It is a wave form diagram explaining the passage detection operation | movement by the sensor of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example in which the fraudulent jig | tool was used for the sensor of FIG. It is a general-view perspective view which shows the structural example of the sensor of a 4th Example. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the sensor of FIG. It is a wave form diagram explaining the passage detection operation | movement by the sensor of FIG. It is a wave form diagram explaining the passage detection operation | movement by the sensor of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example in which the fraudulent jig | tool was used for the sensor of FIG. It is a figure which shows the example in which the fraudulent jig | tool was used for the sensor of FIG. FIG. 22 is a waveform diagram when a fraudulent jig is used in the sensor of FIG. 21.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Correspondences between the configuration requirements of the present invention and the embodiments described in the detailed description of the present invention are exemplified as follows. This description is to confirm that the embodiments supporting the present invention are described in the detailed description of the invention. Accordingly, although there are embodiments that are described in the detailed description of the invention but are not described here as embodiments corresponding to the constituent elements of the present invention, It does not mean that the embodiment does not correspond to the configuration requirements. Conversely, even if an embodiment is described here as corresponding to a configuration requirement, that means that the embodiment does not correspond to a configuration requirement other than the configuration requirement. It's not something to do.

  In other words, an object detection apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention projects a light receiving unit that detects light (for example, the light receiving unit 114 in FIG. 7) and light that can be detected by the light receiving unit at predetermined time intervals. A light unit (for example, the light projecting unit 111 in FIG. 7), a light generation unit (for example, the light emitting unit 112 in FIG. 7) that generates light at a timing different from the predetermined time interval, the light projecting unit, and the light reception The passage unit (for example, the passage 26 in FIG. 7) that allows a disk-shaped object to pass while blocking the optical path to the unit, and the light receiving unit, the same as the predetermined time interval emitted by the light projecting unit A detection unit (for example, the passage detection unit 115 in FIG. 7) that detects the passage of the disk-shaped object depending on whether or not light is detected at timing, and the light generation unit (for example, the light emitting unit 201 in FIG. 12). ) Before being projected by the light projecting unit. A superimposing unit (for example, the prism 202 in FIG. 12) that superimposes the light on the optical path to the light receiving unit, and the detecting unit (for example, the passage detecting unit 211 in FIG. 12) is projected by the light receiving unit. The light receiving unit projected by the light projecting unit that is stronger than the intensity of a part of the light generated by the light generating unit at the same timing as the predetermined time interval projected by the light unit Depending on whether or not light that is stronger than a first threshold value that is weaker than the intensity of light in which a part of the light generated by the light generating unit is superimposed on the light on the optical path to the light is Detects the passage of objects.

  Whether the light receiving unit detects light that is stronger than the weakest detectable light intensity and stronger than a second threshold that is weaker than the intensity of part of the light emitted by the light generating unit. A fraud detection unit (for example, a fraud detection unit 221 in FIG. 17) that detects fraud can be further provided.

  The light generation unit (for example, the reflection unit 301 in FIG. 22) is projected to another light projection unit (for example, the sensor 71 in FIG. 21) that emits light at the predetermined time interval and at a timing different from that of the light projection unit. Among them, the light projecting unit 111) of the sensor in the optical path L101-1 and the light from the other light projecting unit are projected by the light projecting unit when the disk-shaped object passes through the passing unit. The light receiving unit detects an angular difference between the light path of the light projected by the light projecting unit and the light path of the light projected by the light projecting unit within a range where the light to be transmitted is blocked. It is possible to provide a reflecting portion (for example, the reflecting portion 301 in FIG. 21) that reflects on the optical path that is near 0 in the range where it becomes impossible.

[Example configuration of gaming machine]
1 and 2 are diagrams showing a configuration example of an embodiment of a gaming machine according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the gaming machine 1, and FIG. 2 shows an internal schematic diagram of the gaming machine 1 with the front door 5 opened.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 can play a game by inserting a medal M, which is a game medium, from a medal M slot 2 provided on the right side of the game operation surface. More specifically, when one to three medals M are inserted, the start lever provided on the left side in the figure can be operated. When the start lever is operated, the three rotating bodies rotate, and the rotation is stopped by operating the stop buttons provided corresponding to the rotating members. At this time, when the symbols of the stopped rotating bodies are aligned horizontally or diagonally, the gaming machine 1 discharges the medal M corresponding to the aligned symbols from the return port 3.

  The insertion slot 2 is provided at the right center portion of the game operation surface, accepts medals M one by one, and supplies them to the medal selector 10 (FIGS. 2 to 5). The medal selector (medal selection device) 10 takes only medals of a regular size out of the medals M inserted from the insertion slot 2 and returns medals of a nonconforming size to the external return slot 3. Has a sorting function.

  A return button 4 is provided at the bottom of the insertion slot 2. The return button 4 is pressed when the player wants to stop the game, and when pressed and operated, the medal M is returned from the return port 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the front portion 1a of the gaming machine 1 with the front door 5 open is provided with a rotating body (reel) 6 at the top, and a hopper for taking in or paying out medals at the bottom. 7, a medal return passage (not shown) and a power supply device 8 are provided.

  On the other hand, on the inner surface of the front door 5 on the return port 3 side, a cover 9, a medal selector (medal sorting device) 10, and a return port 3 are arranged in the same order from the top. With the configuration as described above, when the player inserts the medal M from the insertion slot 2, the gaming machine 1 realizes the game by rotating or stopping the rotating body 6.

[Configuration example of medal selector]
Next, a configuration example of the medal selector (medal sorting device) 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the medal selector 10 from the front side of the board, FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing the back side of the medal selector 10, and FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of the medal selector 10 comprised combining a pair with.

  The medal selector (medal sorting device) 10 includes a U-shaped substrate 21 in plan view and an opening / closing plate 22, and pivotally supports a support shaft 23 on the opening / closing plate 22 side on a bearing portion 24 on the substrate 21 side. The opening / closing plate 22 is always urged toward the substrate 21 by the spring 25, and the passage 26 for the medal M to pass through is formed by both the substrate 21 and the opening / closing plate 22.

  The passage 26 is formed in an L shape having an upper (insertion port) inlet 27 and a lower outlet 28, and has a vertical side R 1 extending downward from the inlet 27 connected to the insertion port 2, and obliquely downward. A lateral side portion R2 extending to the outlet 28 and a curved portion R3 that connects both the side portions R1 and R2 in a curved shape are provided.

  In addition, a movable guide plate 30 is provided that can swing around a support shaft 29 on the back side of the substrate 21. The movable guide plate 30 is configured such that a horizontally long guide portion 31 is provided along the upper portion of the passage 26 from the opening portion 32 of the substrate 21, and the upper end side of the medal M is guided in the transport direction by the guide portion 31. Yes.

  Further, a blocker 33 serving as a discharge member located on the back surface side of the substrate 21 is integrally bent on the movable guide plate 30, and a lower end block portion 33 a of the blocker 33 is formed at an opening portion 26 a on the downstream side of the passage 26. It is constituted so that it can appear and disappear in the passage 26.

  A movable plate 35 driven by a solenoid 34 is provided on the back side of the substrate 21 described above. A free end 35a of the movable plate 35 is provided opposite to an upper end 30a of the movable guide plate 30, and the solenoid When the upper end 30a of the movable plate 35 is pressed by the free end 35a of the movable plate 35, the guide portion 31 of the movable guide plate 30 guides the conveyance of the medal M on the upper end side and the blocker 33 The lower end block portion 33 a of the second passage is retracted from the opening portion 26 a of the passage 26 to the back surface side of the substrate 21. As a result, the regular medals M selected as valid are conveyed to the outlet 28, and coins of a nonconforming size selected as invalid are discharged from the discharge port 22a of the opening / closing plate 22 and externally (in the gaming machine). It is configured to be returned to the return port.

  When the solenoid 34 is OFF, the movable guide plate 30 releases the conveyance guide on the upper end side of the medal M, and the lower end block portion 33a of the blocker 33 protrudes toward the passage 26, whereby the acceptance of the medal M is stopped. The

  The horizontal side portion R2 of the passage 26 has a diameter that is parallel to the vertical parallel distance between the guide portion 31 of the movable guide plate 30 that is provided above and below the horizontal side portion R2 and the guide plate 26b that forms the lower surface of the passage 26. The outer shape selection is performed to exclude small medals M out of the passage, and only regular medals M are passed and counted.

  Therefore, from the outlet 28, only a properly sized medal M having a disk shape of a certain size is taken into the hopper 7. A sensor 71 comprising two sensors for detecting and counting the medal M passing through the lateral side portion R2 of the passage 26 is provided on the passage wall of the substrate 21 forming the passage 26 immediately before the outlet 28. They are installed in the direction of the passage.

  These sensors 71 are composed of two sensors consisting of a first sensor and a second sensor, and function as an optical detection sensor that detects the passage of the medal M by projecting and receiving light at each sensor. Moves to the downstream side along the passage 26, and this medal M blocks the respective optical paths of the first sensor and the second sensor in this order, thereby detecting the passage of the medal M. For this reason, the first sensor and the second sensor are arranged at intervals smaller than the diameter of the appropriate medal M.

[First embodiment of sensor]
Next, a detailed configuration example of the sensor 71 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The first sensor in the sensor 71 detects whether or not there is a medal M that is projected from the light projection port 101-2 and crosses the optical path received by the light receiving port 102-2, and the second sensor is the light projection port 101-1. , And the passage of the medal M across the optical path received by the light receiving port 102-1 is detected.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the light emitting port 101-1 receives the modulated light projected from the light projecting unit 111 including an LED (Light Emission Diode) provided therein as an optical path L1. -1 is projected, reflected by the reflecting plate 113, and received by the light receiving unit 114 from the optical path L2-1 through the light receiving port 102-1. The light receiving unit 114 converts the received light into an electrical signal by photoelectric conversion and supplies the light to the passage detection unit 115 as a light reception signal.

  In the following description, the light emitting ports 101-1 and 101-2, the light receiving ports 102-1 and 102-2, and the optical paths L1-1, L1-2, L2-1, and L2-2 are particularly distinguished. If there is no need to do this, they are simply referred to as the light projecting port 101, the light receiving port 102, the optical paths L1 and L2, and the other configurations are also referred to in the same manner. In FIG. 7, only the light projecting port 101-1 and the light receiving port 102-1 are displayed. However, the light projecting port 101-2 and the light receiving port 102-2 are displayed with the light projecting unit 111 and the light receiving unit. The arrangement of 114 is only physically replaced, and the relationship with the other components is the same, so the description thereof will be omitted.

  The light projecting control unit 116 supplies a control signal for controlling the light projecting of the light projecting unit 111 and emits the light projecting unit 111 at a predetermined timing to generate modulated light. At this time, the light projection control unit 116 also supplies a control signal indicating the timing of light projection in the light projection unit 111 to the passage detection unit 115.

  The passage detection unit 115 compares the light reception signal supplied from the light reception unit 114 with the control signal supplied from the light projection control unit 116, and whether the medal M has passed through the passage 26 depending on whether or not they match. When the first sensor and the second sensor detect the passage of the medal, a passage signal that informs the counter 121 of the passage is supplied. More specifically, the passing signal is a signal indicating light shielding or light transmission of the optical path L1 detected by the sensor 71 based on whether or not the medal M has passed.

  The counter 121 counts medals M based on the passage signal that is the detection result from the passage detection unit 115.

  The light emitting unit 112 is constituted by, for example, an LED, and always emits light in the direction of the optical path L3 that is not received by the light receiving unit 114. When an unauthorized jig 151 (FIG. 10), which will be described later, is inserted into the passage 26 from the insertion slot 2 for the medal M, the light emitting unit 112 transmits the emitted light to the inserted unauthorized jig 151 as an optical path. By irradiating via L3, the unauthorized jig 151 receives this light, and by irradiating a part thereof in the direction of the optical path L11, the light receiving unit 114 receives the light via the reflector 113 and the optical path L2.

[Pass detection operation by the sensor of FIG. 7]
Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8, the operation of detecting the passage of the medal M by the sensor 71 of FIG. 7 will be described.

  In step S1, the light projection control unit 116 generates a control signal for causing the light projection unit 111 to project light. Then, the light projection control unit 116 supplies the generated control signal to the light projection unit 111 and the passage detection unit 115. The light projecting unit 111 emits modulated light based on the control signal from the light projecting control unit 116 and projects the light in the direction of the optical path L1. As a result of this processing, if the medal M is not present on the path 26 of the medal M, the modulated light emitted by the light projecting unit 111 is projected from the optical path L1, reflected by the reflecting plate 113, and received from the optical path L2. 114 sequentially receives light. Further, the light receiving unit 114 photoelectrically converts the received light and supplies the light to the passage detection unit 115 as a light reception signal.

  In step S <b> 2, the passage detection unit 115 compares the light reception signal supplied from the light receiving unit 114 with the control signal supplied from the light projection control unit 116, and determines whether or not the light reception signal matches the control signal. Determine whether.

  More specifically, for example, as shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. 9, the light projecting unit 111 of the sensor 71 performs time t2 to t3, t4 to t5, t6 to t7, t8 to t9, t10 to t11, t12 to At t13, t14 to t15..., the light is turned on to project light in the direction of the optical path L1, and time t0 to t2, t3 to t4, t5 to t6, t7 to t8, t9 to t10, t11 to t12, t13 to t14. When the light emitting unit 112 of the sensor 71 is turned on after time t1, as shown in the second row from the top in FIG. When M moves on the path 26 and crosses the optical path L1, the light receiving unit 114 cannot receive the modulated light via the optical paths L1 and L2. For this reason, the light from the light projecting unit 111 is not detected in the light receiving unit 114, as indicated by times t0 to t6 in the third row from the top in FIG.

  Therefore, in step S2, the passage detection unit 115 performs processing when the control signal indicating the timing at which the modulated light is projected by the light projecting unit 111 does not match the light reception signal indicating the timing at which the light receiving unit 114 receives the light. Advances to step S3. In FIG. 9, whether or not the medal M has passed is determined based on whether or not the pulses match each other, but in actuality, the passage detection unit 115 applies the control signal supplied as a pulse wave to the control signal. On the other hand, it is determined whether or not they match based on the comparison of the last several pulses of the received light signal.

  In step S <b> 3, the passage detection unit 115 notifies the counter 121 of a passage signal indicating that the light reception signal and the control signal do not match, that is, the medal M is detected. In detail, it is notified as a signal only that the light receiving unit 114 is in a light shielding state. The counter 121 determines whether or not the light reception signal and the control signal do not match, that is, whether or not the state where the medal M is detected continues for a predetermined time or more. That is, when the medal M passes, the state where the light reception signal and the control signal do not match should be limited to the predetermined time required for passing, that is, the time for several tens of pulses. It is thought that some sort of fraud has been done.

  Therefore, in step S3, when the state where the light reception signal and the control signal do not coincide with each other is not a predetermined time or longer, in step S4, the counter 121 recognizes the passage of the medal M, and the passage of the medal M at two sensors. The medal M is counted from the detected timing difference or the like. Then, the process returns to step S1, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  That is, the counter 121 detects the passage of the medal since the time required for the medal M to pass through the passage 26 is within several pulses at the times t0 to t6, as shown in the lowermost stage of FIG.

  On the other hand, when the medal M does not exist on the path 26 at the timing after the time t7 and the modulated light is continuously projected from the light projecting unit 111 via the optical paths L1 and L2, the third stage in FIG. As shown, in the light receiving unit 114, a state in which modulated light can be received through the optical paths L1 and L2, and time t6 to t7, t8 to t9, t10 to t11, t12 to t13, t14 to As indicated by t15..., the control signal and the received light signal coincide with each other, so that the processing in steps S3 and S4 is skipped, and the processing returns to step S1.

  If it is determined in step S3 that the time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, it is assumed that fraud has been made, the process in step S4 is skipped, and the process returns to step S1.

  Thus, normally, when the control signal and the light reception signal do not match for a predetermined time (when the light is shielded for a predetermined time corresponding to several pulses required for passing the medal M), the medal M passes. Is detected, and the counter 121 can count the medal M based on the detection result.

  9 shows the emission timing of the modulated light of the light projecting unit 111, that is, the control signal from the light projecting control unit 116 substantially. In the second row of FIG. 9, a light emission signal for controlling light emission of the light emitting unit 112 of the sensor 71 is shown. Further, the third row in FIG. 9 shows a light reception signal output by the light receiving unit 114 of the sensor 71. 9 shows a signal indicating the detection result of the passage detection unit 115.

  Further, in the sensor 71 shown in FIG. 7, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, even when the fraudulent jig 151 is inserted from the insertion port 2, fraud due to malfunction can be prevented.

  Here, the fraudulent jig 151 will be described. The fraudulent jig 151 has a squeezed-like structure so that its leading end sequentially reaches the sensor 71 from the insertion port 2 of the gaming machine 1 through the vertical side portion R1, the curved portion R3, and the horizontal side portion R2 of the passage 26. It is the composition to do. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the fraudulent jig 151 includes a fraudulent light projecting unit 161 that can receive light from the light receiving port 102 on the reflecting plate 113 and the rear surface thereof. An unauthorized light receiving unit 162 that receives light from the light projecting port 101 is provided at a position corresponding to the port 101. The unauthorized light projecting unit 161 emits light at the timing when the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 receives light, and projects the light indicated by the optical path L11 onto the reflector 113. Therefore, for example, when the light emitting unit 112 does not exist, the light receiving unit 114 emits light from the unauthorized light projecting unit 161 at the same timing as the light emitted from the light projecting unit 111 from the light projecting port 101, so that the light receiving unit 114 is as if the passage 26. Thus, the same modulated light as that in the state where no medal M is present is received.

  In addition, the light projecting unit 161 is controlled so that the light emission timing is controlled by a control device (not shown), and is turned off so that the light path L1 is shielded when the medal M passes through the passage 26. However, the process of projecting light in synchronization with the modulated light projected from the light projecting unit 111 received by the light receiving unit 162 is repeated. For this reason, the light receiving unit 114 receives modulated light indicating a state as if the medal M is passing through the passage 26 even though the medal M does not pass through the passage 26. As a result, in the conventional sensor in which the light emitting unit 112 does not exist, the medal M may be illegally counted by comparing the light reception signal generated by receiving the light with the light receiving unit 114 and the control signal. It was.

  On the other hand, in the sensor 71 shown in FIG. 7 of the present application, the light emitting unit 112 is projected from the light projecting unit 111 to the light projecting port 101 through which the light projected from the light projecting unit 111 passes. Light is also emitted in the direction of the optical path L3 different from the direction of the optical path L1.

  For this reason, as shown in the uppermost part of FIG. 11, at the timing of times t22 to t23, t24 to t25, t27 to t28, t29 to t30, t31 to t32, t33 to t34, t35 to t36. When the modulated light is turned on from the light unit 111 and the light emitting unit 112 is turned on after time t21, the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 of the unauthorized jig 151 continues to detect light as shown in the third row of FIG. . That is, since the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 is located at a position facing the light projecting port 101, it continuously emits light together with the light in the optical path L1 of the light projecting unit 111 that is projected as modulated light. The light from the light emitting unit 112 is continuously detected.

  For this reason, the unauthorized light projecting unit 161 turns off the light at the fourth stage in FIG. 11, for example, as shown at times t21 to t26, so that the medal M moves on the passage 26 and blocks the optical path L1. As shown in the fifth row of FIG. 11, the light receiving unit 114 does not detect light from the optical path L12 until time t26.

  However, after time t26, the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 receives the light of the optical path L3 emitted from the light emitting unit 112 as shown in the third row of FIG. 11 even at the timing when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off. Thus, as shown in the fourth row in FIG. 11, the unauthorized light projecting unit 161 continues to project the light of the optical path L11.

  As a result, as shown in the fifth stage of FIG. 11, the light receiving unit 114 continues to receive light after time t26, and the control signal of the light projecting unit 111 shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. Therefore, the received light signal from the light receiving unit 114 does not match. For this reason, the passage detection unit 115 continues to detect the presence of medals as shown in the sixth row of FIG. However, since the counter 121 does not count the medals M when the state with medals continues for a predetermined time or more, it is possible to suppress the counting of illegal medals M.

  In the above description, the example in which the light emitting unit 112 continuously emits light has been described. However, it is only necessary to emit light at a timing different from the light emission timing of the light emitted by the light projecting unit 111. 11, at times t23 to t24, t25 to t27, t28 to t29, t30 to t31, t32 to t33, t34 to t35... You may make it light-emit at a timing.

  Further, the angle difference between the light path L3 of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 112 and the light path L1 of the light projected from the light projecting unit 111 indicates that the light emitted from the light emitting unit 112 is received by the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 of the unauthorized jig 151. The angle may be any angle that can be directly received by the light receiving unit 114, but ideally, by setting the entire wide range other than the optical path L1 to the optical path L3, the unauthorized light receiving unit of the unauthorized jig 151 Since it is possible to receive light with respect to 162, it is possible to improve the fraud suppression effect. In addition, by setting the optical path L3 as an angle in the vicinity of the optical path L1, fraud can be suppressed with high accuracy even if the range of the optical path L1 is reduced.

[Second Embodiment of Sensor]
In the above description, the light emitting unit 112 that emits light that is not received by the light receiving unit 114 is provided, and light is emitted from the light projecting port 101 through which the light path L1 of the light projected by the light projecting unit 111 passes. The example in which the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 receives light other than the modulated light from the light projecting unit 111 and suppresses the counting of the unauthorized medals M by the unauthorized jig 151 has been described. The count of illegal medals M may be suppressed by comparing the timing at which the received light level of the modulated light exceeds a predetermined threshold with the control signal.

  FIG. 12 shows a configuration example of the sensor 71 that can suppress the counting of illegal medals M by comparing the timing at which the light receiving level of the modulated light emitted from the light projecting unit 111 exceeds a predetermined threshold with the control signal. Show. In FIG. 12, components having the same functions as those in the sensor 71 of FIG. 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. That is, the sensor 71 of FIG. 12 is different from the sensor 71 of FIG. 7 in that a light emitting unit 201 and a passage detecting unit 211 are provided instead of the light emitting unit 112 and the passage detecting unit 115, and a prism 202 is further provided. Is a point.

  The light emitting unit 201 is formed of an LED or the like, emits constant light constantly, and irradiates the prism 202 with constant light from a predetermined angle indicated by an optical path L21 in FIG.

  The prism 202 splits a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 via the optical path L21 into the optical path L1 'and splits the remaining light into the optical path L3'. Further, the light emitted from the light projecting unit 111 in the optical path L1 is split into the optical path L1 '. That is, the prism 202 generates superimposed light by superimposing a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 on the light emitted from the light projecting unit 111, and irradiates the light in the direction of the optical path L1 ′. After being reflected by the reflecting plate 113, it is received by the light receiving unit 114 via the optical path L2 ′.

  The passage detection unit 211 acquires a light reception signal including a photoelectrically received light level supplied from the light reception unit 114 and a control signal from the light projection control unit 116. Then, the passage detection unit 211 determines whether or not the light reception level of the light reception signal exceeds a predetermined threshold T1 in synchronization with the timing of light projection (lighting timing) according to the control signal, thereby allowing the medal M to pass. Determine whether or not. Here, the predetermined threshold T1 is a value that is higher than the minimum value of the light reception level when the light receiving unit 114 receives the superimposed light and lower than the maximum value. That is, the maximum value of the light receiving level when the light receiving unit 114 receives the superimposed light is the light path L1 ′ by the prism 202 out of the light emitted by the light emitting unit 201 to the light projected by the light projecting unit 111. Is the light reception level of the superimposed light on which the light to be split is superimposed. Further, the minimum value is the light reception level of only the light split by the prism 202 in the optical path L <b> 1 ′ out of the light emitted by the light emitting unit 201.

[Pass detection operation by the sensor of FIG. 12]
Next, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 13, the operation for detecting the passage of the medal M by the sensor 71 of FIG. 12 will be described.

  In step S <b> 21, the light projection control unit 116 generates a control signal for projecting the light projection unit 111 and supplies the control signal to the light projection unit 111 and the passage detection unit 115. The light projecting unit 111 emits modulated light based on the control signal from the light projecting control unit 116 and projects the light in the direction of the optical path L1.

  In step S22, the prism 202 superimposes a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 via the optical path L21 and the modulated light emitted from the light projecting unit 111 via the optical path L1 to obtain superimposed light. The light is split in the direction of the optical path L1 ′ and the remaining light from the light emitting unit 201 is split in the direction of the optical path L3 ′.

  With this processing, if the medal M does not exist on the medal path 26, the superimposed light is projected from the optical path L1 ′, reflected by the reflecting plate 113, and sequentially received by the light receiving unit 114 from the optical path L2 ′. . The light receiving unit 114 photoelectrically converts the received light and supplies a light reception signal corresponding to the light reception level of the received light to the passage detection unit 211.

  In step S <b> 23, the passage detection unit 211 projects the light reception signal supplied from the light reception unit 114 by the light projection unit 111 at a timing when the light reception signal exceeds a predetermined threshold T <b> 1 and the control signal supplied from the light projection control unit 116. The timing of lighting (lighting timing) is compared to determine whether or not they match.

  For example, as shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. 14, similarly to FIG. 9, when the light projecting unit 111 emits light, as shown in the second stage from the top of FIG. 14, the time t <b> 1. Thereafter, when the light emitting unit 201 of the sensor 71 is lit, when the medal M moves on the path 26 and crosses the optical path L1 ′ at the timing from time t0 to t6, Since the superimposed light cannot be received through L1 ′ and L2 ′, the light is not detected in the light receiving unit 114 as indicated by times t0 to t6 in the third row from the top in FIG. .

  For this reason, in step S23, the passage detection unit 211 does not match the control signal indicating the timing at which the modulated light is projected by the light projecting unit 111 with the timing at which the light received by the light receiving unit 114 exceeds the threshold T1. If so, the process proceeds to step S24.

  In step S <b> 24, the passage detection unit 211 is in a state where the control signal indicating the timing at which the light projecting unit 111 projects the modulated light does not match the timing at which the light received by the light receiving unit 114 exceeds the threshold T <b> 1. In other words, the counter 121 is notified of a passing signal indicating that the medal M has been detected. In detail, it is notified as a signal only that the light receiving unit 114 is in a light shielding state. The counter 121 determines whether or not the light reception signal and the control signal do not match, that is, whether or not the state where the medal M is detected continues for a predetermined time or more.

  In step S24, when the state in which the control signal indicating the timing at which the modulated light is projected by the light projecting unit 111 and the timing at which the light received by the light receiving unit 114 exceeds the threshold T1 does not coincide with the predetermined time or more, In step S25, the counter 121 recognizes the passage of the medal M, and counts the medal M from the difference in timing at which the passage of the medal M at the two sensors is detected.

  In other words, the passage detection unit 211 detects the passage of the medal M through the passage 26, that is, the presence of a medal, from time t0 to t6, and notifies the counter 121 as shown at the bottom of FIG. Further, the process returns to step S21, and the subsequent processes are repeated.

  On the other hand, when the medal M does not exist on the passage 26 at the timing after the time t7 and the superimposed light continues to be projected from the prism 202 through the optical paths L1 ′ and L2 ′, the third stage in FIG. As shown, in the light receiving unit 114, a state in which the superimposed light can be received through the optical paths L1 ′ and L2 ′ is maintained, and the times t6 to t7, t8 to t9, t10 to t11, t12 to t13, respectively. As indicated by t14 to t15..., the timing of light projection in the control signal coincides with the timing at which the light reception level of the light reception signal exceeds the predetermined threshold value T1, so the processing in steps S24 and S25 is skipped. The process returns to step S21. In the figure, the light detection level is lower in the non-detection state, and the detection state is entered as the light reception level increases.

  In step S24, a state in which the control signal indicating the timing at which the modulated light is projected by the light projecting unit 111 and the timing at which the light received by the light receiving unit 114 exceeds the threshold T1 does not coincide with the predetermined time or longer. If it is determined that it is determined that fraud has been performed, the process of step S25 is skipped, and the process returns to step S21.

  As described above, the sensor 71 normally does not match the control signal indicating the timing at which the modulated light is projected by the light projecting unit 111 and the timing at which the light received by the light receiving unit 114 exceeds the threshold T1. Is within the predetermined time, the medal M is detected, and a passing signal based on the detection result is supplied to the counter 121. The counter 121 can count medals M based on the passing signal.

  Each waveform in FIG. 14 is basically the same as that in FIG. Further, as shown in the third stage of FIG. 14, at times t7 to t8, t9 to t10, t11 to t12, t13 to t14..., The light reception level is higher than the non-detection state (detection state). This is because, even at the timing when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off, part of the light of the light emitting unit 201 is turned on as superimposed light by the prism 202.

  In addition, in the sensor 71 shown in FIG. 12, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, an incorrect jig 151 ′ is inserted from the insertion port 2, and the unauthorized light receiving portion 162 ′ is moved as shown in FIG. Even if it is on the optical path L2 ′ capable of receiving the superimposed light and does not exist at a position facing the light projection port 101 (the light emitting unit 112), fraud due to a malfunction can be prevented.

  That is, in the sensor 71 shown in FIG. 12 of the present application, the prism 202 transmits the superimposed light in which a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 and the light emitted from the light projecting unit 111 are superimposed on the optical path L1 ′. The light is split with respect to the direction.

  Therefore, as shown in the third stage of FIG. 14, even when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off, such as at times t7 to t8, t9 to t10, t11 to t12, t13 to t14. Since part of the light from the light emitting unit 201 exists on the optical path L1 ′ as superimposed light, the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 ′ of the unauthorized jig 151 ′ Will continue to be detected.

  For this reason, as shown in the fourth row of FIG. 16, for example, the unauthorized light projecting unit 161 ′ is turned off as indicated by the times t21 to t26, so that the medal M is moving on the passage 26. By operating as if the optical paths L1 ′ and L2 ′ are shielded, the light receiving unit 114 does not detect the light from the optical path L12 until time t26 as shown in the fifth row of FIG. It becomes.

  However, after time t26, the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 ′ continues to receive the superimposed light as shown in the third row of FIG. 16 even at the timing when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off. As shown in the fourth stage, the unauthorized light projecting unit 161 ′ continues to project the light of the optical path L1 ′.

  As a result, as shown in the fifth stage of FIG. 16, the light receiving unit 114 continues to receive light after time t26, and the control signal of the light projecting unit 111 shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. The light reception signal from the light receiving unit 114 does not match (here, the timing at which light is projected from the light projecting unit 111 and the timing at which the light reception level of the light received by the light receiving unit 114 exceeds a predetermined threshold T1) Does not match). For this reason, the passage detection unit 211 continues to detect the presence of medals since the state of being shielded from light continues as shown in the sixth row of FIG. However, since the counter 121 does not count the medal M when the medal presence state continues for a predetermined time or more, as shown in FIG. 15, the illegal jig 151 ′ is inserted from the insertion slot 2 and the illegal light reception is performed. Even when the part 162 ′ does not exist at a position facing the projection port 101 as in the case of FIG. 10, it is possible to suppress the counting of the illegal medals M.

[Third embodiment of sensor]
In the above, an illegal medal M depends on whether or not the timing at which light is projected from the light projecting unit 111 and the timing at which the light reception level of the light received by the light receiving unit 114 exceeds a predetermined threshold T1. Although the example which suppresses the count of this is demonstrated, the presence or absence of the fraudulent jig | tool 151 may be detected by further increasing a threshold value, and fraud may be detected.

  FIG. 17 shows a configuration example of the sensor 71 that detects the presence or absence of the fraud jig 151 by increasing the threshold and detects fraud. In FIG. 17, configurations having the same functions as those in the sensor 71 of FIG. 7 or 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. That is, the sensor 71 in FIG. 17 is different from the sensor 71 in FIG. 12 in that a fraud detection unit 221 is newly provided in the passage detection unit 211.

  The fraud detection unit 221 compares the reception level of the reception signal supplied from the light receiving unit 114 with a threshold value T11 that is smaller than the minimum value of the superimposed light and larger than the light reception level in the non-detection state, and exceeds a predetermined time. In some cases, it is assumed that an incorrect jig is being used. Here, the predetermined time is a time of several pulses required to shield the optical paths L1 'and L2' when the medal M passes through the passage 26. When the fraud detection unit 221 detects fraud, the fraud detection unit 221 supplies a signal indicating that fraud has been detected to the counter 121 and stops counting the medal M. The passage detection operation by the sensor in FIG. 17 is the same as that in the sensor 71 in FIG.

[Unauthorized detection operation by the sensor of FIG. 17]
Next, a fraud detection operation for detecting fraud using a fraudulent jig by the sensor 71 of FIG. 17 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  In step S <b> 51, the light projection control unit 116 generates a control signal for projecting the light projection unit 111 and supplies the control signal to the light projection unit 111 and the passage detection unit 211. The light projecting unit 111 emits modulated light based on the control signal from the light projecting control unit 116 and projects the light in the direction of the optical path L1.

  In step S52, the prism 202 superimposes a part of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 201 via the optical path L21 and the modulated light emitted from the light projecting unit 111 from the optical path L1, and superimposes the light path L1. The light is dispersed in the 'direction and the remaining light from the light emitting unit 201 is dispersed in the direction of the optical path L3'.

  With this processing, if the medal M does not exist on the medal path 26, the superimposed light is projected from the optical path L1 ′, reflected by the reflecting plate 113, and sequentially received by the light receiving unit 114 from the optical path L2 ′. . The light receiving unit 114 photoelectrically converts the received light and supplies the light to the passage detection unit 211 and the fraud detection unit 221 as a light reception signal corresponding to the level of the received light.

  In step S53, the fraud detection unit 221 determines whether the light reception signal supplied from the light reception unit 114 exceeds a predetermined threshold T11.

  For example, as shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. 19, similarly to FIG. 9, when the light projecting unit 111 is projecting, as shown in the second stage from the top of FIG. 19, the time t <b> 1. Thereafter, when the light emitting unit 201 of the sensor 71 is lit, when the medal M moves on the path 26 and crosses the optical path L1 ′ at the timing from time t0 to t6, Since the superimposed light cannot be received through L1 ′ and L2 ′, light is blocked by the light receiving unit 114 and is not detected as indicated by times t0 to t6 in the third row from the top in FIG. It becomes a state.

  For this reason, in step S53, the fraud detection unit 221 determines that the light reception level of the light reception signal supplied from the light reception unit 114 does not exceed the predetermined threshold T11 as indicated by the one-dot chain line in FIG.

  In step S54, the fraud detector 221 determines whether or not a state in which the light reception level is smaller than a predetermined threshold T11 continues for a predetermined time or more. For example, as described above, since the light shielding time associated with the passage of the medal M through the passage 26 is shorter than the predetermined time, it is assumed that there is no fraud, and the process returns to step S51.

  On the other hand, in step S54, for example, when the fraudulent jig 151 is inserted from the insertion slot 2 of the medal M and the modulated light is received by the unauthorized light receiving unit 162, and the received light level is higher than the threshold value T1, the unauthorized projection is performed. When the light is projected by the unit 161, the unauthorized light projecting unit 161 is turned off when the light reception level is lower than the threshold value T1, and thus the state in which the light reception level is lower than the threshold value T11 continues. Then, since the state where the light receiving level is smaller than the predetermined threshold T11 continues for a predetermined time required for the medal to pass, in such a case, the improper jig 151 is inserted. And the process proceeds to step S55.

  In step S55, the fraud detector 221 detects fraud by the fraud jig 151 and notifies the counter 121 that fraud has been detected. As a result, the counter 121 recognizes that the fraud due to the fraudulent jig has been detected, and stops counting the medals M.

  In the above example, an example has been described in which fraud is detected when the light reception level continues to be smaller than the predetermined threshold T11 for a predetermined time required for the medal to pass. For example, in the passage detection operation, the timing at which the light receiving signal supplied from the light receiving unit 114 exceeds a predetermined threshold T1 and the timing at which the light projecting unit 111 projects light in the control signal supplied from the light projecting control unit 116. When the coincident pulses are detected continuously, fraud is detected depending on whether or not the light reception level is smaller than the predetermined threshold T11 during the period when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off between the pulses. Anyway.

  That is, for example, the pulse at time t6 to t7 and the pulse at time t8 to t9 in FIG. 19 are the timing at which the received light signal supplied from the light receiving unit 114 exceeds a predetermined threshold T1, and The timing at which light is projected by the light projecting unit 111 in the supplied control signal coincides. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the received light level is smaller than the predetermined threshold T11 during the period when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off at times t7 to t8 between the pulses that are confirmed to match. Thus, the presence or absence of fraud may be detected.

  Further, when fraud is detected, for example, the passage detection unit 115 continuously outputs a signal indicating that the passage of the medal M is detected to the counter 121, and the counter 121 forcibly counts the medal M. You may make it stop, and may suppress the count of the illegal medal M.

  According to the above, by superimposing a part of the light of the light emitting unit 201 on the light projected by the light projecting unit 111 by the prism 202, the light receiving unit 114 emits light even when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off. Since light is received, it is possible to detect fraud by recognizing the use of the fraudulent jig even if the fraudulent jig is used.

  In the above, by superimposing a part of the light of the light emitting unit 201 on the light projected by the light projecting unit 111, the light receiving unit 114 receives light even when the light projecting unit 111 is turned off. The example of the sensor 71 has been described. Of the two sensors provided in the sensor 71, the light from the unauthorized light projecting portion 161 of the unauthorized jig corresponding to one sensor is illegal corresponding to the other sensor. By using the light receiving unit 162 to reflect and receive light, the use of an unauthorized jig may be detected and the counting of unauthorized medals M may be suppressed.

[Fourth embodiment of sensor]
The perspective view of FIG. 21 and the block diagram of FIG. 22 show that the light from the unauthorized projector 161 of the unauthorized jig corresponding to one of the two sensors provided in the sensor 71 is the other sensor. 6 shows a configuration example of the sensor 71 that detects the use of an unauthorized jig and suppresses the counting of unauthorized medals M by reflecting the light to the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 corresponding to the received light. 21 and 22, the same reference numerals are given to the same configurations as those in the sensor 71 of FIGS. 6 and 7, and the description of the configurations will be omitted as appropriate.

  That is, the sensor 71 of FIGS. 21 and 22 is different from the sensor 71 of FIGS. 6 and 7 in that the reflecting plate 301 having the light projecting port 311 and the light receiving port 312 corresponding to the light projecting port 101 and the light receiving port 102. Is additionally provided, the light emitting unit 112 is deleted, and a fraud detection unit 251 is provided instead of the fraud detection unit 211.

  The reflection plate 301 is made of a material having a glossy surface, and of the two sensors provided in the sensor 71, the other is the light from the unauthorized light projecting portion 161 of the unauthorized jig corresponding to one sensor. The light is reflected and received by the unauthorized light receiving unit 162 corresponding to the sensor.

  The fraud detection unit 251 recognizes the use of the fraudulent jig and detects fraud by the same processing as the passage detection unit 115.

  In FIG. 22, the light projected by the light projecting unit 111 is reflected by the reflecting plate 113 through the optical path L101-2 shown in FIG. 21, and received by the light receiving unit 114 through the optical path L-2. However, a sensor (not shown) in which the physical arrangement of the light projecting unit 111 and the light receiving unit 114 is reversed by the optical path L101-1 is also provided on the back side of the drawing. . Hereinafter, a sensor (not shown) that detects the medal M via the optical path L101-1 is referred to as a first sensor, and the sensor illustrated in FIG. 22 is referred to as a second sensor.

  By the way, each of the first sensor and the second sensor is provided with a light projecting unit 111. However, even if the modulated light is generated synchronously, it is actually completely synchronized due to individual differences of LEDs. The modulated light is not generated.

  Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 23, when the passage of medals is detected by the first sensor from time t201 to t203 and the passage of medals is detected by the second sensor from time t202 to t204, The control signal and the light reception signal indicating the timing of the light projecting unit 111 and the light receiving unit 114 in the first sensor and the second sensor have a relationship as shown in FIG.

  That is, as shown in the uppermost part of FIG. 24, time t213 to t214, t217 to t218, t221 to t222, t225 to t226, t229 to t230, t233 to t234, t237 to t238, t241 to t242, t245 to t246, From t249 to t250, t253 to t254, t257 to t258,..., the light projecting unit 111 of the first sensor is turned on. Correspondingly, as shown in the second stage of FIG. 24, the light receiving unit 114 of the first sensor emits light from the light projecting unit 111 of the first sensor at the timings t213 to t214 and t217 to t218. Is received. Then, as shown in the second stage of FIG. 24, when the medal M passes through the passage 26 so that the optical path L101-1 is shielded after time t218, the medal is shown in the third stage of FIG. The passage of M is recognized at time t230 (= t201).

  In FIG. 24, at the generation timing of three pulse waves from time t221 to t222, t225 to t226, and t229 to t230, the light from the light projecting unit 111 should be received corresponding to the control signal. After it is recognized that the timings do not match, the passage of the medal M is recognized after time t230 (= t201) as shown in the third row of FIG.

  Similarly, as shown in the fourth stage of FIG. 24, times t211 to t212, t215 to t216, t219 to t220, t223 to t224, t227 to t228, t231 to t232, t235 to t236, t239 to t240, t243 to At t244, t247 to t248, t251 to t252, t255 to t256, t259 to t260,..., the light projecting unit 111 of the second sensor is turned on. Correspondingly, as shown in the fifth stage of FIG. 24, at times t211 to t212, t215 to t216, t219 to t220, t223 to t224, t227 to t228, t231 to t232, and t235 to t236. The light receiving unit 114 of the second sensor receives light from the light projecting unit 111 of the second sensor. Then, as shown in the fifth row of FIG. 24, when the medal M passes through the passage 26 so that the optical path L101-2 is shielded after time t236, as shown in the sixth row of FIG. The passage of M is recognized at time t248 (= t202).

  Thus, even if the control signal and the light reception signal of the first sensor and the second sensor in the sensor 71 are set to the same frequency, they do not have the same phase.

  In this situation, for example, as shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, consider the case where the fraudulent jig 151 is used. In FIG. 26, the first sensor-side unauthorized light projecting portion 161-2 and the second sensor-side unauthorized light receiving portion 162-1 indicated by dotted lines are provided on the back surface portion of the unauthorized jig 151 in the drawing. The unauthorized light projecting portion 161-2 on the first sensor side and the unauthorized light receiving portion 162-1 on the second sensor side are provided on the front portion of the unauthorized jig 151 in the drawing. Further, the arrangement of the fraudulent jig 151 viewed from the side surface of the sensor 71 is the same as that in FIG.

  That is, the light projected by the light projecting unit 111 of the first sensor is received by the unauthorized light receiving unit 162-1 via the optical path L101-1. The light projected by the unauthorized light projecting unit 161-1 is synchronized with the timing when the light is received by the unauthorized light receiving unit 162-1, and the light receiving unit 114 of the first sensor via the optical path L102-1. Is received. At this time, a part of the light projected by the unauthorized light projecting unit 161-1 is diffused to be irradiated also in the direction indicated by the optical path L111, and is reflected on the optical path L112 by the reflecting plate 301 via the optical path L111. Reflected. The light reflected by the optical path L112 is also received by the unauthorized light receiving unit 162-2 that receives the light projected from the light projecting unit 111 corresponding to the second sensor.

  On the other hand, the light projected from the light projecting unit 111 in the second sensor is received by the unauthorized light receiving unit 162-2 of the second sensor via the optical path L102-2 of the unauthorized jig 151.

  For this reason, as shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. 27, the first sensor, as shown in the uppermost stage of FIG. As shown in the second stage, the unauthorized light receiving unit 162-1 of the unauthorized jig 151 receives the modulated light emitted by the light projecting unit 111 as it is. Furthermore, the unauthorized light projecting unit 161 of the unauthorized jig 151 emits light in the same manner as the second stage in FIG. 24, as shown in the third stage in FIG. 27, the light is received in the same manner as the second stage in FIG. As a result, as shown in the fifth row in FIG. 27, the passage of the medal M is detected as in the third row in FIG.

  On the other hand, for the second sensor, as shown in the sixth stage of FIG. 27, when light is projected from the light projecting unit 111 as in the fourth stage in FIG. The unit 162-2 is projected by the light projected from the light projecting unit 111 of the second sensor and the light projecting unit 111 of the first sensor reflected by the reflector 301 and substantially out of phase. Both light and light are received. For this reason, as shown in the seventh row of FIG. 27, the combined modulated light obtained by superimposing the light projected by both the light projecting units 111 in the first sensor and the second sensor is received. Therefore, as shown in the 8th and 9th stages of FIG. 27, the light projected from the unauthorized light projecting unit 161-2 of the unauthorized jig 151 and the light received by the light receiving unit 114 of the second sensor. In both cases, since the combined modulated light is used, the passage of the medal M is not detected for the second sensor as shown in the lowermost stage of FIG.

  As a result, the light from the light projecting unit 111 of the two sensors is applied to the light receiving unit of the fraudulent jig corresponding to one of the two sensors in the sensor 71 by providing the reflection plate 301. By adopting a configuration in which both are received, it is possible to detect the use of an unauthorized jig and to suppress the counting of unauthorized medals M.

  Note that the passage detection operation and the fraud detection operation using the sensor 71 in FIGS. 21 and 22 are the same as the processing described with reference to FIG. 8, and thus description thereof will be omitted. However, the fraud detection operation is performed when the time in which the control signal and the light reception signal do not coincide with each other is not within the predetermined time in step S3.

  In the above description, an example in which fraud is detected using a difference in the emission timing of modulated light caused by individual differences between the respective light projecting units 111 in the first sensor and the second sensor has been described. Since the light projecting timings of the light projecting units 111 in the sensor and the second sensor may be different from each other, they may be set in advance so as to individually generate modulated light having different frequencies.

  According to the above, it is possible to suppress illegal counting of gaming media in the gaming machine by the illegal jig, and it is possible to detect the illegality by recognizing the use of the illegal jig.

  In this specification, the step of describing the program recorded on the recording medium is not limited to the processing performed in time series in the order described, but of course, it is not necessarily performed in time series. Or the process performed separately is included.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 10 Medal selector 71 Sensor 111 Light projection part 112 Light emission part 113 Reflector 114 Light reception part 115 Passing detection part 116 Light projection control part 121 Counter 151 Unjust jig | tool 161,161-1,161-2 Unjust light projection part 162 , 162-1, 162-2 Unauthorized light receiving unit 201 Light emitting unit 202 Prism 211 Passage detecting unit 221 Unauthorized detecting unit 231 Unauthorized reporting unit 251 Unauthorized detecting unit

Claims (5)

A light receiving unit for detecting light;
A light projecting unit that projects light that can be detected by the light receiving unit at a predetermined time interval;
A light generator that generates light at a timing different from the predetermined time interval;
A passing part that allows a disk-shaped object to pass through while blocking the light path between the light projecting part and the light receiving part;
A detector that detects the passage of the disk-shaped object by detecting whether or not light is detected at the same timing as the predetermined time interval projected by the light projecting unit by the light receiving unit;
A superimposing unit that superimposes a part of the light generated by the light generating unit on the light on the optical path to the light receiving unit projected by the light projecting unit;
The detection unit is stronger than the intensity of a part of the light generated by the light generation unit at the same timing as the predetermined time interval projected by the light projection unit by the light receiving unit, Light stronger than the first threshold, which is weaker than the intensity of the light in which a part of the light generated by the light generation unit is superimposed on the light on the optical path to the light receiving unit projected by the light projecting unit An object detection device that detects passage of the disk-shaped object depending on whether or not is detected. Whether the light receiving unit detects light that is stronger than the weakest detectable light intensity and stronger than a second threshold that is weaker than the intensity of a part of the light generated by the light generating unit. The object detection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fraud detection unit that detects fraud by the use of the above. The light generator is
Another light projecting unit that projects light at a timing different from that of the light projecting unit at the predetermined time interval;
To the extent that the light of the other light emitting portion, the light projecting unit by the disc-shaped object passes a said passage portion is projecting light to the light is shielded, the light projecting by the projecting portion It becomes near the optical path of light, and the object detecting apparatus according to claim 1 and a reflecting portion for reflecting the optical path in a direction which becomes undetectable in front Ki受 light unit.   A medal sorting device comprising the object detection device according to claim 1.   A medal gaming machine comprising the medal sorting device according to claim 4.

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