JP5688719B1 - Slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A slot machine capable of automatically eliminating clogged medals without increasing a control signal to a hopper control device. A game control device for outputting a payout signal controlled to a voltage level of an on level or an off level, and when a payout signal is on level, a payout motor is rotated in a forward direction to pay out a medal. The game control device 14 is provided with a payout abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality caused by clogging of medals, and the payout abnormality detecting means has a payout signal on level. When the abnormality is detected during a certain period, the payout signal is switched to the off level. On the other hand, the hopper control device 21 is configured to control the payout motor 34 to rotate the payout motor 34 in the reverse rotation direction opposite to the normal rotation direction, triggered by the change of the payout signal from the on level to the off level. [Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a configuration for eliminating clogging of medals in a slot machine.

  The slot machine is provided with a hopper unit for paying out medals. The hopper unit includes a hopper tank that stores medals for payout, and a rotor that closes an opening at the bottom of the hopper tank. A plurality of circular accommodation holes for accommodating medals in a fixed posture are formed on the outer periphery of the rotor, and when the rotor is driven to rotate by a payout motor, the medals of the hopper tank are accommodated in the accommodation holes. In addition, a medal kicker is arranged immediately below the rotor, and when the accommodation hole that accommodates the medal rotates to the position of the medal kicker, the medal accommodated in the accommodation hole is ejected one by one in the outer circumferential direction of the rotor. The payout is provided from the payout opening provided at the lower front of the slot machine.

  In the hopper unit, there is a case where a medal stored in the rotor is caught while the rotor is rotating, and the rotor cannot be rotated. Such a malfunction is called medal clogging. When medals are jammed, it is common to rotate the payout motor in the reverse direction (reverse direction) to remove the medals caught on the rotor. Some conventional hopper units are provided with a reverse rotation switch for a game attendant to rotate the rotor in the reverse rotation direction (for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 4594186

  In the slot machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to clear a medal jam because it is necessary for an attendant at the game hall to open the front door and operate the reverse switch every time a medal jam occurs. There is a drawback that it takes time and effort. On the other hand, a reversal signal line for rotating the payout motor in the reverse direction is arranged from the game control device for controlling the game to the hopper control device for controlling the payout motor, thereby causing a medal clogging. Sometimes, it is proposed that the game control device transmit a reverse signal to automatically eliminate the medal jam. However, such a configuration is not preferable because the number of control signals output from the game control device to the hopper control device increases and the risk of fraudulent acts on the signal line increases compared to the conventional configuration.

  The present invention has been made in view of the present situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a slot machine capable of automatically eliminating clogged medals without increasing the control signal from the game control device to the hopper control device.

  The present invention provides a hopper unit having a hopper tank for storing medals, a payout motor for rotating medals in the hopper tank one by one by rotating in the forward direction, and driving control of the payout motor. In a slot machine comprising a hopper control device and a game control device that outputs a payout signal controlled to an on-level or off-level voltage level to the hopper control device, the hopper control device is configured such that the payout signal is on level. At a certain time, the payout motor is rotated in the forward rotation direction, and the game control device includes payout abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality caused by clogging of medals in the hopper unit, and the payout abnormality detecting means If the abnormality is detected during the period when the payout signal is on level, the payout signal is turned off level. The hopper control device switches the payout motor in the reverse rotation direction opposite to the normal rotation direction when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level at all times or under a predetermined condition. A slot machine that controls the payout motor to rotate.

  In this configuration, when the game control device controls the payout signal to the on level, the medal payout is performed, and when the payout signal is controlled to the off level, the medal payout stops. When a token jam occurs, the game control device switches the payout signal from the on level to the off level, and the hopper control device uses the change in the payout signal as a trigger to rotate the payout motor in the reverse direction. Medal clogging will be resolved automatically. As described above, according to the present invention, the game control device can cause the hopper unit to pay out the required number of medals only by controlling the voltage level of the payout signal to the on level and the off level, and the medal clogging occurs. Sometimes, the medal clogging can be automatically eliminated, so that the medal clogging of the slot machine can be automatically eliminated without increasing the control signal from the game control device to the hopper control device.

In the present invention, the hopper control device includes an overcurrent detection circuit that detects that an overcurrent exceeding a specified current value has flowed through the payout motor, and during the period in which the payout signal is on level, And controlling the payout motor to rotate the payout motor in the reverse direction when the payout signal changes from on level to off level, on condition that the overcurrent detection circuit detects an overcurrent. Proposed.

  When a token jam occurs, even if a voltage is applied to the payout motor, it does not rotate and an overcurrent flows through the payout motor. For this reason, in such a configuration, the payout motor rotates in the reverse direction only when a token jam occurs. Therefore, according to this configuration, the frequency with which the payout motor is rotated in the reverse direction can be minimized, thereby reducing the load on the payout motor. In addition, it is possible to reduce the wear of the gear that transmits the driving force of the payout motor to the rotor.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the hopper control device includes an output terminal connected to the payout motor and a plurality of control input terminals, and according to a voltage level input to the control input terminal, A motor drive circuit for controlling the payout motor in a normal rotation state rotating in the normal rotation direction, a reverse rotation state rotating in the reverse rotation direction, and a stop state in which the rotation is stopped; and the payout signal from the game control device And a driver control circuit that controls a voltage level input to the control input terminal of the motor drive circuit, and the overcurrent detection circuit is changed from a non-detection state to a detection state by detection of an overcurrent, The detection state is maintained until a reset signal is input, and the driver control circuit detects the overcurrent when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level. When the detection state cancellation circuit that outputs the reset signal to the road and the overcurrent detection circuit change from the detection state to the non-detection state, the motor drive circuit sets the payout motor to the reverse rotation state. It is proposed to comprise a reverse circuit for controlling the voltage level of the control input terminal.

  According to such a configuration, the payout motor can be rotated in the reverse rotation direction only when a medal jam occurs with a simple circuit configuration.

  In the present invention, it is proposed that the hopper control device always rotates the payout motor in the reverse rotation direction when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level.

  In such a configuration, the hopper control device does not require a configuration such as an overcurrent detection circuit, and thus the circuit configuration of the hopper control device can be simplified.

  Further, in the above-described configuration, the hopper control device includes an output terminal connected to the payout motor and a plurality of control input terminals, and according to a voltage level input to the control input terminal, A motor drive circuit for controlling the payout motor in a normal rotation state rotating in the normal rotation direction, a reverse rotation state rotating in the reverse rotation direction, and a stop state in which the rotation is stopped; and the payout signal from the game control device And a driver control circuit that controls a voltage level input to the control input terminal of the motor drive circuit, and the driver control circuit triggers a change of the payout signal from an on level to an off level. In addition, it is proposed to include a reverse rotation circuit for controlling the voltage level of the control input terminal so that the motor drive circuit is in the reverse rotation state.

  In such a configuration, the motor drive circuit can be configured by an existing motor driver, so that the hopper control device according to the present invention can be realized at low cost.

  In the present invention, the motor drive circuit includes an abnormality detection circuit that detects an abnormality of the motor drive circuit, and when the abnormality detection circuit detects an abnormality, the motor drive circuit is locked, and the control input terminal A protection circuit that maintains the locked state until the voltage level of the control circuit reaches a predetermined unlocking pattern, and in the locked state, controls the payout motor to be stopped regardless of the voltage level of the control input terminal. The driver control circuit includes a lock state release circuit that controls the voltage level of the control input terminal to the lock release pattern for a certain period of time when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level. When the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level, the reverse rotation circuit causes the lock state release circuit to detect the voltage level of the control input terminal. Le after controlling certain time to the unlock pattern, it is proposed to control the voltage level of the control input terminal to the dispensing motor to the reverse rotation state.

  In such a configuration, before the reverse rotation circuit controls the voltage level of the control input terminal to put the payout motor in the reverse rotation state, the lock state release circuit releases the lock state of the motor drive circuit. Even when the motor drive circuit is in the locked state at the time of occurrence, the payout motor can be set in the reverse rotation state by the reverse rotation circuit, and the medal jam can be reliably eliminated.

  In the present invention, when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level, the driver control circuit causes the reverse rotation circuit to set the voltage of the control input terminal so that the motor drive circuit is in the reverse rotation state. It is proposed to have a reverse delay circuit that delays the level control.

  When the payout motor is switched from the normal rotation state to the reverse rotation state, the load on the payout motor and the gear that transmits the driving force of the payout motor becomes relatively large. However, in such a configuration, the payout signal becomes off-level. Since there is a delay time until the reverse rotation circuit puts the payout motor in the reverse rotation state, even if the payout motor is in the normal rotation state immediately before the payout signal becomes off level, By stopping or decelerating the rotation of the dispensing motor in the forward rotation direction, the burden on the dispensing motor and gear can be reduced. Note that the reverse rotation delay circuit may be disposed in the reverse rotation circuit, or may be disposed other than the reverse rotation circuit.

  Also, in the present invention, the game control device switches the payout signal to an off level when the payout abnormality detection means detects the abnormality during a period in which the payout signal is on level. Later, it is proposed to switch the payout signal back on.

  In such a configuration, the medal payout operation interrupted by the medal jam can be automatically resumed after the medal jam is automatically resolved.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically eliminate clogged medals in the slot machine without increasing the control signal from the game control device to the hopper control device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the slot machine 1 according to the first embodiment. 2 is a perspective view showing an outline of the slot machine 1 with a front door 3 opened. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a hopper unit 20. FIG. 2 is a front view of a hopper unit 20. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the control circuit which concerns on payout of a medal. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of control processing related to medal payout on the main control board 14; 3 is a circuit diagram of a hopper control board 21. FIG. It is an input-output correspondence table of driver IC50. 3 is a circuit diagram of a reverse rotation circuit 54. FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a reset circuit 55. FIG. It is a timing chart which shows the operation | movement at the time of normal of the control circuit which concerns on payout of a medal. It is a timing chart which shows the operation | movement at the time of abnormality generation of the control circuit which concerns on payout of a medal. It is a circuit diagram of the hopper control board 21a of Example 2. 10 is a timing chart illustrating an operation in a normal state of a control circuit related to medal payout according to the second embodiment. 10 is a timing chart illustrating an operation when an abnormality occurs in the control circuit related to medal payout according to the second embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention are described according to the following examples.
In the following embodiments, the hopper control device according to the present invention corresponds to the hopper control board 21, and the game control device corresponds to the main control board 14. The motor drive circuit according to the present invention corresponds to the driver IC 50.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 2 of the slot machine 1 is opened forward and is covered by the front door 3 from the front. As shown in FIG. 1, a visual recognition window 4 for visually recognizing three reels 9 disposed inside the housing 2 is provided at the center of the front door 3. A horizontally long liquid crystal display device 10 is disposed above the viewing window 4. Further, on the front side of the front door 3, various switches such as bet switches 5 a and 5 b, a start switch 6, a stop switch 7, and a checkout switch 8 used for game operation are disposed below the viewing window 4. The front door 3 is provided with a plurality of speakers 11 and effect lamps 12 at appropriate positions. Further, at the lower part of the front door 3, a medal payout opening 22 for paying out medals and a medal tray 23 for receiving medals paid out from the medal payout opening 22 are arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the main control board 14 and the sub control board 15 are installed inside the casing 2 in a state of being accommodated in the case above the reel 9. The main control board 14 and the sub control board 15 constitute a control device of the slot machine 1, and a command is transmitted in one direction from the main control board 14 to the sub control board 15 via the signal line 16 connecting the boards. It is configured to be sent. Inside the housing 2, a power box 19 including a power-on switch 18 and a hopper unit 20 are disposed below the reel 9. Furthermore, on the back side of the hopper unit 20, a hopper control board 21 according to the present invention is disposed in a state of being housed in a case. The hopper control board 21 performs drive control of a payout motor 34 described later. The hopper control board 21 is connected to the main control board 14 via the signal line 16 and drives the payout motor 34 in accordance with a payout signal output from the main control board 14. In addition, a medal passage 24 through which the medal sent out by the hopper unit 20 flows down to the medal payout opening 22 is disposed at the lower back of the front door 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hopper unit 20 is configured by mounting a hopper tank 31 that stores a payout medal P on a hopper body 30. The hopper main body 30 includes a base body 32, a disk-like rotor 33 that is rotatably held on the base body 32, and a payout motor 34 that is disposed below the rotor 33 and rotationally drives the rotor 33. It has.

  The rotor 33 is disposed so as to close the opening 35 at the bottom of the hopper tank 31. A plurality of circular accommodation holes 36 are formed along the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion of the rotor 33, and the medals P of the hopper tank 31 are accommodated in a certain posture in the accommodation holes 36. . The payout motor 34 is a DC motor. When the payout motor 34 is rotated in a predetermined forward direction, the rotor 33 rotates clockwise in FIG. 3 and the medals P received in the receiving holes 36 are sent out from the hopper unit 20 one by one.

  Specifically, a medal sending unit 37 having a medal kicker 38 is disposed immediately below the left front portion of the rotor 33. When the rotor 33 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG. Each time the accommodation hole 36 crosses the top of 37, the medals P accommodated in the accommodation hole 36 are ejected one by one by the medal kicker 38 to the front of the medal sending part 37. As described above, the medal P ejected from the medal sending unit 37 is paid out to the medal tray 23 through the medal passage 24. As shown in FIG. 4, the medal sending unit 37 is provided with a medal count sensor 39 that detects the payout of the medal P by the movement of the medal kicker 38.

  On the other hand, when the dispensing motor 34 is rotated in the reverse rotation direction opposite to the normal rotation direction, the rotor 33 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. In this case, the medal P is not sent out from the hopper unit 20, but the medal P caught on the periphery of the rotor 33 can be removed to eliminate the jammed jam.

  FIG. 5 shows a control circuit for paying out medals. The payout of medals is realized by the main control board 14, the hopper control board 21, and the hopper unit 20. The main control board 14 performs control related to the progress of the game, and corresponds to the game control device according to the present invention. The main control board 14 includes a main microcomputer 40 including a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, an I / O port, and the like.

  The medal count sensor 39 is connected to the main control board 14 via the signal line 16 and is configured to input a payout detection signal from the medal count sensor 39 to the I / O port of the main microcomputer 40. The Each time the medal count sensor 39 detects the payout of the medal P, the medal count sensor 39 turns on the payout detection signal for a predetermined time (low level). The main microcomputer 40 detects the hopper unit based on the payout detection signal. 20 counts the number of medals paid out, and determines whether the hopper unit 20 is operating normally.

  The main microcomputer 40 outputs a payout signal to the hopper control board 21 via the I / O port. The payout signal is controlled to a voltage level of high level or low level, and the hopper control board 21 stops the payout motor 34 while the payout signal is at high level, and while the payout signal is at low level. The payout motor 34 is rotated in the forward rotation direction. That is, in this embodiment, the low level of the payout signal corresponds to the on level, and the high level of the payout signal corresponds to the off level.

  Although not shown, signals are input to the I / O port of the main microcomputer 40 from the start switch 6, the stop switch 7, the bet switches 5a and 5b, and the settlement switch 8. Based on these input signals, the main microcomputer 40 outputs a signal to the motor that drives the reel 9, the sub-control board 15, and the like to advance the game.

  The main microcomputer 40 normally controls the voltage level of the payout signal to the off level. Then, when it becomes necessary to pay out medals due to the occurrence of a prize or the operation of the settlement switch 8, the payout signal is switched to the on level, thereby instructing the hopper control board 21 to pay out medals. When the hopper control board 21 rotates the payout motor 34 in the forward rotation direction by switching the payout signal to the on level, medals are sent out one by one from the hopper unit 20. Each time a medal is sent out, the payout detection signal of the medal count sensor 39 is turned on. The main microcomputer 40 counts the number of medals paid out by counting the number of times the payout detection signal is turned on after switching the payout signal to the on level, and when the required payout number is reached Then, the payout signal is switched to the off level to stop the hopper control board 21 from paying out medals, and the series of payout operations is completed.

  Here, the main microcomputer 40 measures the interval at which the payout detection signal is turned on during the period in which the payout signal is on level, and the state in which the interval has exceeded a predetermined waiting time is measured. Detect as abnormal. This waiting time is set at an interval that cannot occur when medals are paid out normally. When the medals are clogged or when the hopper tank 31 has run out of medals, such an abnormality may occur. Detected. When the main microcomputer 40 detects the abnormality, the main microcomputer 40 switches the payout signal from the on level to the off level, and then switches to the on level again after 1 second. As will be described later, since the payout motor 34 rotates in the reverse direction by switching the off level of the payout signal, the abnormality is resolved after 1 second if the medal is jammed, and the payout signal is turned on. By switching to, it is possible to resume the interrupted payout operation. On the other hand, if the cause is not the clogging of medals, the same abnormality is detected again when the payout signal is turned on. For this reason, when the main microcomputer 40 detects an abnormality in the payout operation again, the main microcomputer 40 switches the payout signal from the on level to the off level, notifies the error to the outside, and the restoration work is performed by the game hall staff. Suspend the game until told.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the contents of the control process relating to the payout of medals executed by the CPU of the main microcomputer 40. In the following control processing, the payout abnormality detection means according to the present invention is mainly realized by steps S102, S103, and S106.
Step S100: The payout error flag is set to “0”. The payout error flag is “1” when an abnormality in the payout operation is detected.
Step S101: The voltage level of the payout signal is set to the on level.
Step S102: A standby time until the medal payout is detected is set.
Step S103: The medal count sensor 39 detects the payout of medals and determines whether or not the payout detection signal is turned on. If the payout detection signal is on, the process proceeds to step S104, and the payout detection signal is turned on. If not, the process proceeds to step S106.
Step S104: It is determined whether or not the number of paid out coins has reached the scheduled number by detecting the payout of medals. When the planned number is reached, the process proceeds to step S105. If the planned number has not been reached, the process proceeds to step S102 to reset the waiting time and wait for the next medal to be paid out.
Step S105: The voltage level of the payout signal is set to the off level, and the process related to payout is normally terminated.
Step S106: It is determined whether or not the standby time has elapsed. If the standby time has not elapsed, the process proceeds to step S103, and it is determined again whether or not medals have been paid out. If the standby time has elapsed, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the payout operation, and the process proceeds to step S107.
Step S107: The voltage level of the payout signal is set to the off level, and the process proceeds to step S108.
Step S108: It is determined whether or not the payout error flag is “1”. If the payout error flag is not “1”, the process proceeds to step S109 because it is the first abnormality detection. On the other hand, if it is determined that the payout error flag is “1”, the process proceeds to step S111 because it is the second abnormality detection.
Step S109: The payout error flag is set to “1”, and the process proceeds to step S110.
Step S110: Wait until a predetermined time (1 second) elapses. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S101, the payout signal is set to the on level, and the payout operation is restarted.
Step S111: A payout error is notified to the outside through the liquid crystal display device 10 and the speaker 11, and the process related to payout is abnormally terminated.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the hopper unit 20 includes a payout motor 34 and a medal count sensor 39. The payout motor 34 is driven by the hopper control board 21 in the forward direction and the reverse direction. As described above, when the payout motor 34 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the rotor 33 rotates in the direction of paying out medals, and when the payout motor 34 rotates in the reverse rotation direction, the rotor 33 rotates in the direction of not paying out medals. As described above, the medal count sensor 39 controls the payout detection signal output to the main control board 14 to a low level for a certain period of time each time the payout of the medal P is detected.

  FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the hopper control board 21. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the hopper control board 21 includes a driver IC 50 that drives the payout motor 34, a driver control circuit 51 that controls the driver IC 50 based on a payout signal from the main control board 14, and overcurrent detection. Circuit 52.

  The driver IC 50 is configured by a general driver IC for a DC motor. As shown in FIG. 7, the driver IC 50 includes two control input terminals IN1 and IN2, two output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 connected to the payout motor 34, a power supply voltage application terminal VM, and a ground terminal GND. I have. As shown in FIG. 8, the driver IC 50 outputs the output terminals OUT1 and OUT2 depending on whether the voltage level input to the control input terminals IN1 and IN2 is low level (L) or high level (H). By controlling the voltage level, the payout motor 34 is controlled to a normal rotation state rotating in the normal rotation direction, a reverse rotation state rotating in the reverse rotation direction, and a stopped state in which the rotation is stopped. The stop state of the payout motor 34 is divided into a stop state and a brake state. The stop state is a state in which the two output terminals are both in a high impedance state and no current flows through the dispensing motor 34. The brake state is a state in which the two output terminals are short-circuited and the rotation of the dispensing motor 34 is restricted by the counter electromotive force. In the following description, the high level of the voltage level is abbreviated as “H” and the low level is abbreviated as “L”. In the following description, the voltage levels of the two control input terminals IN1 and IN2 are expressed as “L / H” or the like. The left side of the slash indicates the voltage level of IN1, and the right side of the slash indicates the voltage level of IN2. Is shown.

  Although not shown, the driver IC 50 includes an abnormality detection circuit that detects an abnormality and a protection circuit that locks the driver IC 50 based on the abnormality detection of the abnormality detection circuit. The abnormality detection circuit controls the voltage applied to the output terminal, the voltage monitoring circuit that monitors whether the voltage applied from the power supply is within the normal range, the thermal shutdown circuit that detects the abnormal temperature of the chip temperature, and so on. An abnormal current detection circuit for detecting whether or not the value of the current flowing through the power transistor is a normal value. When the driver IC 50 is locked, the protection circuit turns off both output terminals (high impedance) regardless of the voltage level of the control input terminal, and puts the payout motor 34 in the stop state. This locked state is maintained until the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes L / L. That is, in this embodiment, the state in which the voltage levels of the control input terminals IN1 and IN2 are both L corresponds to the unlocking pattern according to the present invention. Since the circuit configuration of the driver IC 50 is known, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the driver control circuit 51 is directly connected to the control input terminals IN 1 and IN 2 of the driver IC 50, and is input to the control input terminal according to the payout signal input from the main control board 14. By controlling the voltage level, the dispensing motor 34 is made to perform a required operation. The driver control circuit 51 includes pull-up resistors R14 and R17 at a connection portion with the control input terminal of the driver IC 50. Normally, the voltage level of the control input terminal is H / H by the pull-up resistors R14 and R17. Controlled. The driver control circuit 51 includes a normal rotation circuit 53, a reverse rotation circuit 54, and a reset circuit 55. As will be described later, the voltage level to the control input terminal is set to these circuits 53, 54, and 55. Is switched to L at appropriate timing.

  The normal rotation circuit 53 is a circuit for setting the payout motor 34 in a normal rotation state. As shown in FIG. 7, a payout signal is input to the input part IN of the normal rotation circuit 53, and the output part OUT of the normal rotation circuit 53 is connected to the control input terminal IN <b> 1 on one side of the driver IC 50. As shown in FIG. 7, the normal rotation circuit 53 includes an inverting circuit E10 and a transistor Q2. When the payout signal is on level, the normal rotation circuit 53 turns on the transistor Q2 so that the control input terminal IN1 is short-circuited and switched to L so that the driver IC 50 sets the payout motor 34 in the normal rotation state. Control.

  The reverse rotation circuit 54 is a circuit for setting the payout motor 34 in a reverse rotation state. As shown in FIG. 7, a signal indicating the detection state is input from the overcurrent detection circuit 52 to the input portion IN of the reverse rotation circuit 54. Further, the output part OUT of the reversing circuit 54 is connected to the control input terminal IN2 on one side of the driver IC 50. When the input voltage level is switched from H to L, the reverse rotation circuit 54 controls the driver IC 50 to reverse the payout motor 34 by switching the output voltage level to L for a certain time.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the reversing circuit 54 is formed by connecting a transistor Q10, a delay circuit 63, an inverting circuit E15, a one-shot circuit 65, and a diode D5 in series. . The input to the input section IN of the reverse circuit 54 is input to the one-shot circuit 65 via the transistor Q10, the delay circuit 63, and the inverter circuit E15. The delay circuit 63 includes resistors R33 and R34 and a capacitor C21, and delays an input signal to the one-shot circuit 65 by a delay time tA. The delay circuit 63 corresponds to the reverse delay circuit according to the present invention.

  The one-shot circuit 65 inputs an input signal into two branched signals to the NAND circuit E52 and outputs an output signal from the NAND circuit E52. Here, one of the branched input signals is input to the NAND circuit E52 via the resistor R35, the transistor Q11, the delay circuit 64, and the inverting circuit E16. The delay circuit 64 includes resistors R36 and R37 and a capacitor C22, and delays an input signal to the NAND circuit E52 by a delay time tB. The other branched input signal is input to the NAND circuit E52 via the inverting circuit E51 so as to have a voltage level opposite to that of the one input signal. In the one-shot circuit 65, when the input signal is switched from H to L, both the input voltages to the NAND circuit E52 become H only during the delay time tB of the delay circuit 64, and the output from the NAND circuit E52. Becomes L.

  According to the reversing circuit 54, when the input voltage level is switched from H to L, the input voltage level to the one-shot circuit 65 is switched to L after the delay time tA of the delay circuit 63 has elapsed. The output of 54 is switched to L for the delay time tB of the delay circuit 64.

  The reset circuit 55 is a circuit for releasing the lock state of the driver IC 50 and releasing the detection state of the overcurrent detection circuit 52. That is, in this embodiment, the reset circuit 55 constitutes a detection state release circuit and a lock state release circuit according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7, a payout signal is input to the input section IN of the reset circuit 55. Of the three output units OUT1, OUT2 and OUT3 of the reset circuit 55, the two output units OUT1 and OUT2 are for releasing the locked state of the driver IC 50, and are connected to the control input terminals IN1 and IN2 of the driver IC 50, respectively. Connected. The remaining output section OUT3 of the reset circuit 55 is connected to the input section IN of the overcurrent detection circuit 52, and a signal for making the overcurrent detection circuit 52 non-detection is output from the output section OUT3. .

  Specifically, the reset circuit 55 includes a delay circuit 66 as shown in FIG. The delay circuit 66 includes a resistor R12 and a capacitor C13, and delays an input signal by a delay time tC. The payout signal input to the reset circuit 55 is input to the transistor Q4 via the delay circuit 66 and the inverting circuits E11, E12, E13, and is output from the output unit OUT1. For this reason, the output unit OUT1 outputs a signal obtained by delaying the payout signal by the delay time tC. Note that the delay time tC of the delay circuit 66 is set shorter than the delay time tA of the delay circuit 63 of the reverse rotation circuit 54.

  The reset circuit 55 includes a one-shot circuit 67 that includes the delay circuit 66, a NAND circuit E22, and an inverting circuit E11. The one-shot circuit 67 branches the payout signal into two and inputs one branch signal to the NAND circuit E22 as it is, and sends the other branch signal to the NAND circuit E22 via the inverting circuit E11 and the delay circuit 66. Is input. In the one-shot circuit 67, when the payout signal is switched to the off level (H), the NAND circuit E22 is turned off for the delay time tC of the delay circuit 66, and the output voltage becomes L. The output of the one-shot circuit 67 is output to the two output units OUT2 and OUT3 via the three transistors Q3, Q5, and Q6. That is, by the operation of the one-shot circuit 67, when the voltage level of the payout voltage changes to the off level, the outputs of the output units OUT2 and OUT3 of the reset circuit 55 are switched to L for the delay time tC.

  The reset circuit 55 includes a one-shot circuit 68 including the delay circuit 66, a NAND circuit E21, and an inverting circuit E12. The one-shot circuit 68 branches to two of the inverted payout signals, and inputs one branch signal to the NAND circuit E21 as it is, while the other branch signal is NANDed via the delay circuit 66 and the inverter circuit E12. This is input to the circuit E21. In the one-shot circuit 68, when the payout signal is switched to the on level (L), the NAND circuit E21 is turned off for the delay time tC of the delay circuit 66, and the output voltage becomes L. The output of the one-shot circuit 68 is output to the two output units OUT2 and OUT3 via the inverting circuit E14 and the two transistors Q7 and Q8. That is, when the voltage level of the payout voltage is switched to the on level by the operation of the one-shot circuit 68, the outputs of the output units OUT2 and OUT3 of the reset circuit 55 are switched to L for the delay time tC.

  With the above circuit configuration, the reset circuit 55 outputs a signal obtained by delaying the payout signal for a certain time from one output unit OUT1. Further, the voltage levels of the remaining output units OUT2 and OUT3 of the reset circuit 55 are switched to a certain time (delay time tC) L when the voltage level of the payout voltage is switched.

  The overcurrent detection circuit 52 is a circuit for detecting that an overcurrent exceeding a specified current value has flowed through the dispensing motor 34. The overcurrent detection circuit 52 changes from a non-detection state to a detection state when an overcurrent flowing through the dispensing motor 34 is detected, and maintains the detection state until a reset signal is input. As shown in FIG. 7, a reset signal is input from the reset circuit 55 to the input section IN of the overcurrent detection circuit 52. Of the three output units OUT1, OUT2, and OUT3 of the overcurrent detection circuit 52, one output unit OUT1 is connected to the input unit IN of the reversing circuit 54, and the two output units OUT2 and OUT3 are connected to the driver IC 50. The control input terminals IN1 and IN2 are connected respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the overcurrent detection circuit 52 includes an overcurrent detection resistor R22 connected between the ground terminal GND of the driver IC 50 and the ground, and the current flowing through the dispensing motor 34 is the overcurrent. It is configured to flow from the ground terminal GND to the ground via the detection resistor R22. The overcurrent detection circuit 52 includes an overcurrent detection unit 60 connected between the ground terminal GND and the overcurrent detection resistor R22. The overcurrent detection unit 60 includes resistors R23, 24, and 25, capacitors C17 and 18, and a comparator E41. When an overcurrent flows through the overcurrent detection resistor R22, the input voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Thus, the comparator E41 is turned on and the output voltage level is set to H. The output of the overcurrent detection unit 60 is input to the setting delay unit 61 via the resistor R26. The setting delay unit 61 includes a pull-up resistor R27, a resistor R28, a capacitor C19, and a diode D3, and prevents the overcurrent detection circuit 52 from entering a detection state due to a temporary overcurrent. That is, even if the input from the overcurrent detection unit 60 is switched to H, the setting delay unit 61 does not switch the output voltage level for a while, and the input becomes longer than the delay time defined by the resistor R28 and the capacitor C19. Sometimes the output voltage level is switched to H.

  The output of the setting delay unit 61 is input to the detection state setting unit 62. As shown in FIG. 7, the detection state setting unit 62 includes resistors R29, R30, R31, and R32, a capacitor C20, a comparator E42, and a transistor Q9. The overcurrent flows through the overcurrent detection resistor R22 for a predetermined time or more, and the input from the setting delay unit 61 to the detection state setting unit 62 is switched to H. When the input to the detection state setting unit 62 becomes H, the comparator E42 is turned on, and accordingly the transistor Q9 is also turned on. When the transistor Q9 is turned on, the reference potential of the comparator E42 is lowered by the output of the transistor Q9. Therefore, even if the overcurrent stops and the input to the detection state setting unit 62 becomes L, the comparator E42 and the transistor Q9 Keep on. Thus, the state where the comparator E42 and the transistor Q9 are kept on is the detection state of the overcurrent detection circuit 52, and the state where the comparator E42 and the transistor Q9 are off is the non-detection state of the overcurrent detection circuit 52. Equivalent to.

  A reset signal is input from the reset circuit 55 to the detection state setting unit 62. When the signal from the reset circuit 55 becomes L when the overcurrent detection circuit 52 is in the detection state, the comparator E42 is turned off, and the transistor Q9 is turned off accordingly, so that the overcurrent detection circuit 52 is not detected. It becomes a state. That is, in this embodiment, the L signal input from the reset circuit 55 corresponds to the reset signal according to the present invention. Further, the output of the comparator E42 of the detection state setting unit 62 is input to the reverse rotation circuit 54 from the output unit OUT1. This signal becomes H in the detection state and becomes L in the non-detection state, and the reverse rotation circuit 54 operates for a certain period of time when the overcurrent detection circuit 52 switches to the non-detection state. The output of the transistor Q9 of the detection state setting unit 62 is output from the output units OUT2 and OUT3 via the diode D4. Therefore, in the detection state of the overcurrent detection circuit 52, the voltage level of each control input terminal of the driver IC 50 becomes an unlock pattern (L / L), the driver IC 50 is released from the locked state, and the payout motor 34 is stopped. Controlled by the state.

  FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing the operation of the control circuit when the medal payout is normally completed. In this timing chart, before the time T1 when the payout signal is off level (H), the forward rotation circuit 53, the reverse rotation circuit 54, and the reset circuit 55 of the hopper control board 21 all have the output voltage level H, and the control is performed. The voltage level of the input terminal is H / H. For this reason, before the time T1, the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state.

  At time T1, when the main control board 14 switches the payout signal to the on level (L), the two output units OUT2 and OUT3 of the normal rotation circuit 53 and the reset circuit 55 of the hopper control board 21 are switched to L. Thereby, one control input terminal IN1 of the driver IC 50 is set to L by the normal rotation circuit 53, and the other control input terminal IN2 is set to L by the reset circuit 55. That is, at the time T1, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes a lock release pattern, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the stop state.

  At the time T2 when a certain time (delay time tC) has elapsed from the time T1, the reset circuit 55 switches one output unit OUT1 to L and the other two output units OUT2 and OUT3 to H. . Thereby, one control input terminal IN2 of the driver IC 50 is switched to H, and the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes the input pattern L / H instructing the normal rotation state, so that the payout motor 34 is controlled to the normal rotation state. Is done.

  At time T3, when the main control board 14 detects the required number of payouts, the main control board 14 switches the payout signal to the off level. As a result, in the hopper control board 21, the output of the normal rotation circuit 53 is switched to H, and the output of the reset circuit 55 is that the output unit OUT1 is maintained at L and the remaining two output units OUT2 and OUT3 are set to L. Switch. As a result, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes a lock release pattern (L / L), and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the stop state.

  At time T4 when a certain time (delay time tC) has elapsed from time T3, all the output units OUT1, OUT2, and OUT3 of the reset circuit 55 are switched to H, thereby completing a series of operations related to payout. . That is, after the time point T4, the control input terminal becomes H / H and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state, similarly to the time point T1 before the payout signal becomes the on level.

  As described above, when the payout is normally completed, the payout signal is switched to the off level by paying out the required number of sheets, and accordingly, the payout motor 34 is changed from the normal rotation state to the stop state. When the payout is normally performed, the overcurrent detection circuit remains in the non-detection state, and the reverse motor 54 does not rotate the payout motor 34 in the reverse direction.

  FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the operation of the control circuit when a medal jam occurs during the payout of medals. In this timing chart, medals are clogged at time T3 when the payout motor 34 is in the forward rotation state. Since the operation before time T3 is the same as that in the normal state of FIG.

  When a token jam occurs at the time T3, the payout motor 34 cannot rotate in the forward rotation direction, and the torque reaches the stalling torque, so that an overcurrent flows through the payout motor 34. Then, the overcurrent detection circuit 52 detects this overcurrent and enters a detection state. The overcurrent detection circuit 52 in the detection state sets the voltage level of the control input terminal to the lock state release pattern (L / L) by setting the two output units OUT2 and OUT3 to L, and the payout motor 34 is stopped. To. In addition, the overcurrent detection circuit 52 that has entered the detection state switches the output voltage to the reverse rotation circuit 54 to H. At time T3, the driver IC 50 is locked when the abnormality detection circuit detects an overcurrent. However, when the lock state release pattern is input to the control input terminal, the lock state is immediately released. Is done.

  When the interval at which the payout detection signal is turned on reaches the standby time at time T4, the main control board 14 detects such an abnormality and switches the payout signal to the off level. As a result, at time T4, in the hopper control board 21, the output of the normal rotation circuit 53 is switched to H, and the output of the reset circuit 55 is the remaining two output units OUT2 while the output unit OUT1 maintains L. , OUT3 switches to L. As a result, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes a lock release pattern (L / L), and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the stop state.

  At time T4, the overcurrent detection circuit 52 switches from the detection state to the non-detection state when the input voltage from the reset circuit 55 becomes L. The overcurrent detection circuit 52 in the non-detection state switches the two output units OUT2 and OUT3 to H and switches the output voltage to the reverse rotation circuit 54 to L.

  At time T5 when a certain time (delay time tC) has elapsed from time T4, all the output units OUT1, OUT2, and OUT3 of the reset circuit 55 are switched to H. As a result, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes H / H, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state.

  The output of the reverse rotation circuit 54 is switched to L at time T6 when a further time (delay time tA) has elapsed from time T4. Thereby, one control input terminal IN2 is switched to L, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes an input pattern (H / L) instructing the reverse rotation state, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the reverse rotation state.

  The output of the reversing circuit 54 switches to H at a time T7 when a certain time (delay time tB) has elapsed from the time T6. As a result, the control input terminal becomes H / H, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state.

  Although not shown in FIG. 12 since it is after the time point T7, the main control board 14 sets the payout signal to the on level again after 1 second has elapsed since the payout signal was switched to the off level at the time point T4. Switch. The medal clogging is resolved by the reverse of the payout motor 34 between T6 and T7, so that the payout of medals is resumed normally by switching of the payout signal.

  As described above, when a medal clogging occurs during the payout of medals, the overcurrent detection circuit 52 enters a detection state in the hopper control board 21 due to an overcurrent accompanying the occurrence of a medal clogging. When the main control board 14 detects a payout abnormality and switches the payout signal to the off level, the overcurrent detection circuit 52 changes from the detection state to the non-detection state, and the change of the overcurrent detection circuit 52 is triggered. As a trigger, the reverse rotation circuit 54 controls the payout motor 34 to be in the reverse rotation state, so that the medal jam is eliminated.

  As described above, in the slot machine 1 according to the present embodiment, when a clogged token occurs in the hopper unit 20 during the payout of medals, the main control board 14 detects an abnormality in the payout operation and switches the payout signal to the off level. . Then, when the payout signal is changed to the off level, the hopper control board 21 sets the payout motor 34 in the reverse rotation state, so that the medal clogging is eliminated. That is, in this embodiment, the medal clogging can be automatically resolved without rotating the payout motor 34 in the reverse rotation direction by manual operation of a game attendant.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the hopper unit 20 is made to pay out the required number of medals simply by controlling the payout signal transmitted from the main control board 14 to the hopper control board 21 to the on level and the off level. In addition, since the medal clogging can be eliminated, the medal clogging can be automatically eliminated without increasing the control signal from the main control board 14 to the hopper control board 21.

  In this embodiment, the hopper control board 21 reverses the payout motor when the payout signal changes to the off level on condition that an overcurrent is detected during the period in which the payout signal is on level. Therefore, there is an advantage that the frequency of rotating the payout motor in the reverse direction can be minimized to reduce the burden on the payout motor 34 and the gear. In this embodiment, the brake motor 34 is controlled to be in the brake state before the reverse motor 34 is in the reverse rotation state. However, since the payout motor 34 is stopped by detecting an overcurrent before the reverse motor is in the reverse rotation state, the brake state Even if the payout motor 34 is controlled in the reverse rotation state without passing through, the burden on the payout motor 34 and the gear does not increase.

  Further, in this embodiment, before the reverse rotation circuit 54 controls the voltage level of the control input terminal so as to put the dispensing motor 34 in the reverse rotation state, the reset circuit 55 controls the voltage level of the control input terminal to the unlock pattern for a certain period of time. Therefore, even if the driver IC 50 is locked when a token jam occurs, the locked state can be released before the reverse rotation circuit 54 operates to eliminate the token jam.

  In this embodiment, the driver control circuit 51 delays the reverse rotation circuit 54 from controlling the voltage level of the control input terminal by the delay circuit 63 (reverse rotation delay circuit) when the payout signal changes to the off level. Therefore, there is an advantage that the burden on the payout motor 34 and the gear can be reduced by stopping or decelerating the rotation of the payout motor 34 in the forward rotation direction before the payout motor 34 is set in the reverse rotation state.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the main control board 14 simply switches the payout signal to the on level after a certain period of time after switching the payout signal to the off level due to abnormality detection, and restarts the payout operation. In addition to automatically eliminating clogged medals, the payout operation interrupted by clogged medals can be completed and the game can be continued without bothering the staff of the game hall.

  In the first embodiment, on the condition that an overcurrent is detected, the payout motor 34 is rotated in the reverse direction in response to the change of the payout signal to the off level, whereas in this embodiment, the payout signal is turned off. When the level changes, the dispensing motor is rotated in the reverse direction unconditionally. In this embodiment, the configuration other than the hopper control board is the same as that of the first embodiment, and a part of the configuration of the hopper control board is also the same as that of the first embodiment. For this reason, in the following description, about the structure which is common in Example 1, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted using a common code | symbol in a text and a figure.

  FIG. 13 is a circuit diagram of the hopper control board 21a of the present embodiment. The hopper control board 21a of the present embodiment includes a driver IC 50 and a driver control circuit 51a that controls the driver IC 50. The driver IC 50 is the same as that in the first embodiment. Further, the hopper control board 21a of this embodiment is not provided with an overcurrent detection circuit.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the driver control circuit 51a is directly connected to the control input terminals IN1 and IN2 of the driver IC 50, and the voltage level to the control input terminal is determined according to the payout signal input from the main control board 14. By controlling this, the payout motor 34 is caused to perform a required operation. The driver control circuit 51a includes pull-up resistors R16 and R19 at the connection portion with the control input terminal of the driver IC 50. Normally, the voltage level of the control input terminal is H / H by the pull-up resistors R16 and R19. Controlled. The driver control circuit 51a includes a forward rotation circuit 53, a reverse rotation circuit 54a, a first reset circuit 55a, and a second reset circuit 55b. As described later, the voltage level to the control input terminal is as follows. These circuits 53, 54a, 55a and 55b are switched from H to L.

  The normal rotation circuit 53 has the same configuration as the normal rotation circuit 53 of the first embodiment. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, a payout signal is input to the input part IN of the normal rotation circuit 53, and the output part OUT of the normal rotation circuit 53 is connected to the control input terminal IN1 on one side of the driver IC 50. Then, when the payout signal is on level, the normal rotation circuit 53 turns on the transistor Q2 so that the control input terminal IN1 is short-circuited and switched to L, whereby the driver IC 50 sets the payout motor 34 in the normal rotation state. Control to

  The reverse rotation circuit 54a is a circuit for setting the payout motor 34 in a reverse rotation state. As shown in FIG. 13, a payout signal is input to the input section IN of the reversing circuit 54a through the inverting circuit E12, the transistor Q3, and the delay circuit 70. The delay circuit 70 includes resistors R9 and R10 and a capacitor C13, and delays the input to the reverse rotation circuit 54a by a delay time tD. The delay circuit 70 corresponds to a reverse delay circuit according to the present invention. On the other hand, one output part OUT1 of the reversing circuit 54a is connected to the control input terminal IN2 on one side of the driver IC 50, and the other output part OUT2 is connected to the input part IN of the second reset circuit 55b. When the input voltage level is switched from L to H, the reverse rotation circuit 54a controls the driver IC 50 to place the payout motor 34 in the reverse rotation state by switching the output voltage level to L for a certain time.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the reversing circuit 54a is formed by connecting an inverting circuit E13, a one-shot circuit 71, an inverting circuit E25, a resistor R15, and a transistor Q10. The input to the input section IN of the reverse rotation circuit 54a is input to the one-shot circuit 71 via the reverse circuit E13. The one-shot circuit 71 inputs an input signal branched into two to the NAND circuit E22 and outputs an output signal of the NAND circuit E22. Here, one of the branched input signals is input to the NAND circuit E22 via the resistor R12, the transistor Q4, the delay circuit 72, and the inverting circuit E15. The delay circuit 72 includes a resistor R13 and a capacitor C14, and delays an input signal to the NAND circuit E22 by a delay time tE. The other branched input signal is input to the NAND circuit E22 via the inverting circuit E14 so that the voltage level is opposite to that of the one input signal. In the one-shot circuit 71, when the input signal is switched from H to L, both input voltages to the NAND circuit E22 become H and the NAND circuit E22 is turned off only during the delay time tE of the delay circuit 72. , The output signal becomes L. The output of the one-shot circuit 71 is output from one output section OUT1 to the control input terminal IN2 via the inverting circuit E25, the resistor R15, and the transistor Q10. The output of the one-shot circuit 71 is directly output from the other output unit OUT2 to the second reset circuit 55b.

  According to the reversing circuit 54a, when the input voltage level is switched from L to H, the output of the one-shot circuit 65 is switched to L for the delay time tE, so that the output section OUT1 of the reversing circuit 54a during the delay time tE. , OUT2 becomes L level.

  The first reset circuit 55a sets the control input terminal IN2 to L for a certain time L immediately after the payout signal changes to the on level, thereby coordinating with the normal rotation circuit 53 to set the voltage level of the control input terminal to the unlock pattern ( L / L). As shown in FIG. 13, a payout signal is input to the input section IN of the first reset circuit 55a. The output part OUT of the first reset circuit 55a is connected to one control input terminal IN2 of the driver IC 50.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the payout signal input to the first reset circuit 55a is input to the one-shot circuit 73 via the inverting circuit E12. The one-shot circuit 73 inputs an input signal branched into two to the NAND circuit E21 and outputs an output signal of the NAND circuit E21. Here, one of the branched input signals is input to the NAND circuit E21 as it is, and the other branched input signal has a voltage level opposite to that of the one input signal, so that the transistor Q3 and the above-described delay are provided. The signal is input to the NAND circuit E21 through the circuit 70. In the one-shot circuit 73, when the input signal is switched from L to H, both input voltages to the NAND circuit E21 become H and the NAND circuit E21 is turned off only during the delay time tD of the delay circuit 70. , The output signal becomes L. The output of the one-shot circuit 73 is output from the output unit OUT via the transistors Q5 and Q6.

  That is, according to the first reset circuit 55a, when the payout signal is switched from the off level to the on level, the output of the one-shot circuit 73 is switched to L for the delay time tD, whereby the control input terminal IN2 of the driver IC 50 is switched. The voltage level is switched to L for the delay time tD.

  The second reset circuit 55b sets the control input terminal IN1 to L for a predetermined time L immediately after the payout signal changes to the off level, so that the voltage level of the control input terminal is set to the unlock pattern (L / L). That is, in this embodiment, the second reset circuit 55b and the reverse rotation circuit 54a constitute a lock state release circuit according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 13, the output of the reverse rotation circuit 54a is input to the input section IN of the second reset circuit 55b. The output part OUT of the second reset circuit 55b is connected to one control input terminal IN1 of the driver IC 50.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the signal input to the second reset circuit 55 b is input to the one-shot circuit 74. The one-shot circuit 74 inputs one of the two branched input signals to the NAND circuit E24 via the delay circuit 75, and sends the other branched input signal to the NAND circuit E24 via the inverting circuit E23. It is what you enter. The delay circuit 75 includes a resistor R14 and a capacitor C15, and delays an input signal to the NAND circuit E24 by a delay time tF. In the one-shot circuit 74, when the input signal is switched to L, both the input voltages to the NAND circuit E24 become H and the NAND circuit E24 is turned off for the delay time tF of the delay circuit 75, and the NAND circuit E24 is turned off. The signal becomes L. The output of the one-shot circuit 74 is output from the output unit OUT via the inverting circuit E16 and the transistor Q8.

  That is, in the second reset circuit 55b, when the input from the reversing circuit 54a is switched to L, the output of the one-shot circuit 74 is switched to L for the delay time tF of the delay circuit 75, whereby the control input terminal of the driver IC 50 The voltage level of IN1 becomes L for the delay time tF. In this embodiment, the period during which the output of the second reset circuit 55b is L (delay time tF) is set to be shorter than the period during which the output of the reverse rotation circuit 54a is L (delay time tE).

  FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing the operation of the control circuit in the present embodiment when the medal payout is normally completed.

  In this timing chart, the output voltage of the forward rotation circuit 53, the reverse rotation circuit 54, the first reset circuit 55a, and the second reset circuit 55b of the hopper control board 21a is H before the time point T1 when the payout signal is off level. The voltage level of the control input terminal is H / H. For this reason, before the time T1, the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state.

  When the main control board 14 switches the payout signal to the on level (L) at time T1, the voltage level of the output part OUT of the normal rotation circuit 53 and the first reset circuit 55a is switched to L in the hopper control board 21a. Thereby, one control input terminal IN1 of the driver IC 50 becomes L by the normal rotation circuit 53, and the other control input terminal IN2 becomes L by the first reset circuit 55a. That is, at the time T1, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes a lock release pattern, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the stop state.

  The voltage level of the output part OUT of the first reset circuit 55a is switched to H at time T2 when a certain time (delay time tD) has elapsed from time T1. Thereby, one control input terminal IN2 is switched to H, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes an input pattern (L / H) instructing the normal rotation state, and the dispensing motor 34 is controlled to the normal rotation state. .

  At time T3, when the main control board 14 detects the required number of payouts, the main control board 14 switches the payout signal to the off level. Thereby, in the hopper control board 21a, the output of the normal rotation circuit 53 is switched to H, and the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes H / H, whereby the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state.

  At a time point T4 when a certain time (delay time tD) has elapsed from the time point T3, the voltage level of the input part IN of the reverse rotation circuit 54 is switched to H, whereby the output of the reverse rotation circuit 54a is switched to L. The output of the second reset circuit 55b is also switched to L when the output change of the reverse rotation circuit 54 is triggered. For this reason, at time T4, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes the lock release pattern (L / L), and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the stop state.

  Then, the output of the second reset circuit 55b is switched to H at a time T5 when a certain time (delay time tF) has elapsed from the time T4. Thereby, one control input terminal IN1 is switched to H, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes an input pattern (H / L) instructing the reverse rotation state, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the reverse rotation state.

  At time T6 when a further time (delay time tE) elapses from time T4, the output of the reverse rotation circuit 54a is switched to H, thereby ending a series of operations related to payout. That is, after time T4, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes H / H, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state, as before time T1 when the payout signal becomes the on level.

  FIG. 15 is a timing chart showing the operation of the control circuit when a medal jam occurs during the payout of medals. In this timing chart, medals are clogged at time T3 when the payout motor 34 is in the forward rotation state. Since the operation before time T3 is the same as that in the normal state of FIG.

  When a token jam occurs at the time T3, the payout motor 34 cannot rotate in the forward rotation direction, and the torque reaches the stalling torque, so that an overcurrent flows through the payout motor 34. The overcurrent is detected by the abnormality detection circuit of the driver IC 50, so that the driver IC 50 is locked. Therefore, at time T3, the output voltage of the driver IC 50 is turned off regardless of the voltage level of the control input terminal, and the payout motor 34 is stopped.

  When the interval at which the payout detection signal is turned on reaches the standby time at time T4, the main control board 14 detects such an abnormality and switches the payout signal to the off level. Thereby, at time T4, the hopper control board 21a switches the output of the normal rotation circuit 53 to H, and the voltage level of the control input terminal switches to H / H. However, since the driver IC 50 is in the locked state at such time, even if the voltage level of the control input terminal changes, the output of the driver IC 50 does not change, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the stop state.

  At a time point T5 when a certain time (delay time tD) has elapsed from the time point T4, the voltage level of the input section IN of the reverse rotation circuit 54 is switched to H, whereby the outputs of the reverse rotation circuit 54a and the second reset circuit 55b are changed. Switch to L. For this reason, at time T5, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes the unlock pattern (L / L), and the driver IC 50 is unlocked. Then, the driver IC 50 controls the dispensing motor 34 to the stop state according to the voltage level (L / L) of the control input terminal.

  Then, the output of the second reset circuit 55b is switched to H at a time T6 when a certain time (delay time tF) has elapsed from the time T5. Thereby, one control input terminal IN1 is switched to H, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes an input pattern (H / L) instructing the reverse rotation state, and the dispensing motor 34 is controlled to the reverse rotation state. The medal clogging is resolved by the reverse state.

  The output of the reversing circuit 54a is switched to H at the time T7 when the time (delay time tE) further elapses from the time T5. As a result, the voltage level of the control input terminal becomes H / H, and the payout motor 34 is controlled to the brake state.

  Although not shown in FIG. 15 since it is after the time point T7, the main control board 14 sets the payout signal to the on level when one second has elapsed after switching the payout signal to the off level at the time point T4. Switch. The medal clogging is resolved by the reverse of the payout motor 34 between T6 and T7, so that the payout of medals is resumed normally by switching of the payout signal.

  As described above, in this embodiment, regardless of whether or not a medal jam has occurred, when the payout signal changes to the off level, the payout motor 34 is unconditionally controlled in the reverse state for a certain time. This embodiment has an advantage that the circuit configuration of the hopper control board 21a can be simplified as compared with the first embodiment, as much as the overcurrent detection circuit and the like can be omitted.

  In this embodiment, when the payout signal changes from the on level to the off level, first, the voltage level of the control input terminal is controlled to a lock release pattern for a certain time by the cooperation of the reverse rotation circuit 54a and the second reset circuit 55b. Thereafter, the reverse rotation circuit 54a controls the voltage level of the control input terminal so as to put the dispensing motor 34 in the reverse rotation state. Therefore, in this embodiment, even when the driver IC 50 is in a locked state when a medal jam occurs, the payout motor 34 can be reliably reversed to eliminate the medal jam.

  In this embodiment, the driver control circuit 51a determines that the timing at which the reverse circuit 54 controls the voltage level of the control input terminal when the payout signal changes to the off level is the delay circuit 70 (reverse delay circuit). Therefore, there is an advantage that the burden on the payout motor 34 and the gear can be reduced by stopping or decelerating the rotation of the payout motor 34 in the forward rotation direction before the payout motor 34 is set in the reverse rotation state.

  The slot machine of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the payout motor is a DC motor, but the payout motor may be a stepping motor or an AC motor.

  In the above embodiment, the main control board 14 is configured to restart the payout operation by switching the payout signal to the on level when the clogging of the medals is resolved by the rotation of the payout motor 34 in the reverse direction. In the present invention, even if the clogging of medals is resolved, the payout operation may not be resumed, but may wait until the reset button is operated.

  In the above embodiment, the reverse rotation state of the payout motor 34 is configured to end in a fixed time. However, in the present invention, the reverse rotation state of the payout motor may be continued until the reset button is operated. Good.

1 Slot machine 14 Main control board (game control device)
16 Signal line 20 Hopper unit 21, 21a Hopper control board (hopper control device)
22 medal payout opening 23 medal tray 24 medal passage 30 hopper main body 31 hopper tank 32 base body 33 rotor 34 payout motor 36 receiving hole 37 medal sending part 38 medal kicker 39 medal count sensor 40 main microcomputer 50 driver IC (motor drive circuit) )
51, 51a Driver control circuit 52 Overcurrent detection circuit 53 Forward rotation circuit 54, 54a Reverse rotation circuit 55 Reset circuit (detection state release circuit, lock state release circuit)
55a First reset circuit 55b Second reset circuit 63 Delay circuit (reverse rotation delay circuit)
70 Delay circuit (Reverse delay circuit)
P medal

Claims (5)

A hopper unit comprising: a hopper tank that stores medals; and a payout motor that pays out medals in the hopper tank one by one by rotating in the forward direction.
A hopper control device for controlling the driving of the dispensing motor;
In a slot machine comprising: a game control device that outputs a payout signal controlled to an on-level or off-level voltage level to the hopper control device;
The hopper control device rotates the payout motor in the forward rotation direction when the payout signal is on level.
The game control device includes a payout abnormality detecting unit that detects an abnormality caused by clogging of medals in the hopper unit, and the payout abnormality detecting unit detects the abnormality during a period in which the payout signal is on level. Is to switch the payout signal to an off level,
The hopper control device
An overcurrent detection circuit for detecting an overcurrent that exceeds a specified current value flowing through the dispensing motor;
An output terminal connected to the payout motor and a plurality of control input terminals are provided, and the payout motor rotates in the forward rotation direction in accordance with a voltage level input to the control input terminal. A motor drive circuit that controls a state, a reverse rotation state that rotates in the reverse rotation direction, and a stop state that stops rotation;
A driver control circuit that controls a voltage level input to the control input terminal of the motor drive circuit based on the payout signal from the game control device;
The overcurrent detection circuit changes from a non-detection state to a detection state by detecting an overcurrent, and maintains the detection state until a reset signal is input.
The driver control circuit includes:
A detection state cancellation circuit that outputs the reset signal to the overcurrent detection circuit when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level;
A reverse circuit that controls the voltage level of the control input terminal so that the motor drive circuit sets the payout motor in the reverse rotation state when the overcurrent detection circuit changes from the detection state to the non-detection state; A slot machine comprising:   A hopper unit comprising: a hopper tank that stores medals; and a payout motor that pays out medals in the hopper tank one by one by rotating in the forward direction.
  A hopper control device for controlling the driving of the dispensing motor;
  A game control device for outputting a payout signal controlled to an on-level or off-level voltage level to the hopper control device;
In a slot machine comprising
  The hopper control device rotates the payout motor in the forward rotation direction when the payout signal is on level.
  The game control device includes a payout abnormality detecting unit that detects an abnormality caused by clogging of medals in the hopper unit, and the payout abnormality detecting unit detects the abnormality during a period in which the payout signal is on level. Is to switch the payout signal to an off level,
  The hopper control device
An output terminal connected to the payout motor and a plurality of control input terminals are provided, and the payout motor rotates in the forward rotation direction in accordance with a voltage level input to the control input terminal. A motor drive circuit that controls a state, a reverse rotation state that rotates in the reverse rotation direction, and a stop state that stops rotation;
A driver control circuit that controls a voltage level input to the control input terminal of the motor drive circuit based on the payout signal from the game control device;
  The driver control circuit controls the voltage level of the control input terminal so that the motor drive circuit is in the reverse rotation state when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level at any time or under a predetermined condition. A slot machine comprising a reversing circuit. The motor drive circuit is
An abnormality detection circuit for detecting an abnormality of the motor drive circuit;
A protection circuit that locks the motor drive circuit when the abnormality detection circuit detects an abnormality, and maintains the lock state until the voltage level of the control input terminal reaches a predetermined unlocking pattern;
In the locked state, the dispensing motor is controlled to be stopped regardless of the voltage level of the control input terminal,
The driver control circuit includes a lock state release circuit that controls the voltage level of the control input terminal to the lock release pattern for a certain period of time when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level.
When the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level, the reverse rotation circuit controls the reverse rotation of the payout motor after the lock state release circuit controls the voltage level of the control input terminal to the unlock pattern for a predetermined time. 3. The slot machine according to claim 1, wherein a voltage level of the control input terminal is controlled so as to be in a state. The driver control circuit delays the reverse rotation circuit controlling the voltage level of the control input terminal so that the motor drive circuit is in the reverse rotation state when the payout signal changes from an on level to an off level. The slot machine according to claim 1, further comprising a reverse delay circuit. When the payout abnormality detecting means detects the abnormality during the period in which the payout signal is on level, the game control device switches the payout signal to off level, and then turns on the payout signal again. The slot machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the slot machine is switched to a level.

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