JP5898463B2 - Medal lending device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal lending device that is provided adjacent to a gaming machine such as a slot machine that uses a medal as a game medium and lends a medal.

  In gaming machines that use medals as game media, for example, game machines where slot machines are installed, a medal lending device that lends medals to players is installed adjacent to the slot machine so that the player You can borrow medals without leaving the front. In addition, in order to eliminate the trouble of the player transferring the medals from the medal lending device to the slot machine, the medal lending device is provided with a medal supply pipe, and the tip of the medal supply pipe is allowed to face the medal storage tray of the slot machine. It has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

JP-A-11-342258 JP 2006-150117 A

  By the way, in the medal lending device described in each of the above-mentioned patent documents, the tip of the medal supply pipe overlaps above the recessed portion (storage space portion) of the medal storage tray, and a part of the medals in the medal storage tray is medal. It will be located below the supply pipe. As a result, the player cannot smoothly take out the medals in the medal storage tray. Further, the tip of the medal supply pipe is not supported and is unstable.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to allow a player to take out a medal from a medal storage tray without hindrance by a medal supply pipe. It is an object of the present invention to provide a medal lending device that can be used to stabilize a medal supply pipe.

The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and the one according to claim 1 is provided adjacent to a gaming machine that uses a medal as a game medium and rents a medal. In the device
A main body for storing the medal inside;
The main body is extended in a state of being inclined downward toward the medal storage tray provided in the gaming machine, and a medal discharge port is opened at the lower end of the inclination to allow the medal in the main body to flow down. provided from the medal discharge port, and the medal supply pipe for supplying to said medal accumulating dish side,
On the lower surface of the medal supply pipe , a protruding portion that can be locked to the medal storage tray is provided so that the lower edge of the medal discharge port is in a state along the inner standing wall of the medal storage tray ,
In the medal lending apparatus, the medal discharge port is disposed above the inner standing wall .

According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
According to the first aspect of the present invention , the player can take out the medal from the medal storage tray without hindrance without being disturbed by the medal supply pipe. Further, the medal supply pipe can be stabilized using the medal storage tray.

It is a front view of a medal lending device and a slot machine. It is a perspective view of a medal lending device and a slot machine. It is a top view of a medal lending device and a slot machine. (A) is a figure which shows the positional relationship of a medal lending apparatus and a medal supply pipe | tube, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view, (c) is a perspective view. It is explanatory drawing of a medal supply pipe | tube, (a) is a front view, (b) is a perspective view. It is explanatory drawing of the medal supply pipe comprised by the bellows shape in 2nd Embodiment, (a) is a front view of a contracted state, (b) is explanatory drawing of an expansion | extension state, (c) is latched to a medal storage tray It is explanatory drawing of the state which carried out. It is a front view of a medal lending device and a slot machine in a third embodiment. It is a perspective view of a medal lending device and a slot machine in a 3rd embodiment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the positional relationship of the medal supply pipe and medal storage tray in 3rd Embodiment, (a) is the perspective view seen from the medal lending device side front, (b) is seen from the slot machine side front. FIG. It is the modification of 3rd Embodiment which provided the latching protrusion in the lower surface of the medal supply pipe, (a) is a front view of a medal lending device, (b) is a front view of a medal supply pipe, (c) is a medal. It is a perspective view of a supply pipe.

Hereinafter, a slot machine, which is a typical gaming machine that uses medals as a game medium, and a medal lending device that lends medals used in the slot machine are taken as examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings. This will be explained based on this. For convenience of explanation, the player side is referred to as “front” or “table” with respect to the slot machine and medal lending device, and the side opposite to the player across the slot machine and medal lending device is referred to as “rear” or “ It is called “the back”.
First, the slot machine will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the slot machine 1 is arranged adjacent to the medal lending device 2. Then, a front door (front frame) 5 is provided on one side edge on the front side of the housing 4 whose front is open (the left edge on the opposite side to the medal lending device 2 with the slot machine 1 in between in FIG. 1). A variable display device 7 having three independently rotatable reels (not shown) is housed inside the housing 4. In addition, a plurality of identification information such as symbols and numbers is described on the outer peripheral surface (display portion) of the reel, and the outer peripheral surface of the reel is exposed from the variable display opening 8 formed in the central portion of the front door 5 in the vertical direction. Thus, a plurality of identification information can be variably displayed. Furthermore, an effect display device 11 is provided above the variable display opening 8 on the front surface of the front door 5, and an operation panel 12 operated by the player is disposed below the variable display opening 8. . And in the lower part of the front door 5 located below the operation panel 12, the decoration panel 14, the medal payout exit 15 for paying out medals from the slot machine 1, and the medals paid out from the medal payout exit 15 are stored. A medal storage tray 16, an ashtray 17, and a speaker 18 are provided.

  Specifically, the medal storage tray 16 is disposed below the decorative panel 14, and the ashtray 17 is disposed on the side opposite to the medal lending device 2 (left side in FIG. 1) across the medal storage tray 16. ing. In addition, a medal payout opening 15 is opened at the center in the left-right direction of the rear partition wall 16a standing on the rear side of the medal storage tray 16, and sound transmission holes 19 are opened on both left and right sides of the medal payout opening 15, respectively. The speaker 18 is disposed behind the sound transmission hole 19. Further, the front side partition wall 16b standing on the front side of the medal storage tray 16 is set to an upward inclined posture in which the upper edge portion is positioned forward of the lower edge portion, and the front and rear widths (slots) of the storage space portion in which medals are stored. The width along the front-rear direction of the machine 1 is configured to gradually narrow toward the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16.

  In addition, a bet button 21 for setting the number of bets in the game is arranged on the shaft landing end side (the left side in FIG. 2) of the front door 5 on the upper surface of the operation panel 12, and the free end side (see FIG. On the right side in FIG. 2, a medal insertion slot 22 through which a player can insert a medal as a game medium is arranged. Then, on the shaft landing end side (left side in FIG. 2) of the front door 5 on the front surface of the operation panel 12, the player operates to start reel rotation (variable display of identification information) at the start of the game. A start lever 23 is provided, and a stop button 24 for stopping the rotation operation of the reel and stopping the variable display of the identification information is arranged in the horizontal direction at the center of the front surface of the operation panel 12 in accordance with the position of the reel. It is arranged. Further, in the front face of the operation panel 12, the medal stored in the slot machine 1 is settled and the already inserted medal is paid out at a position closer to the end of the front door 5 than the start lever 23. And a medal return button 26 for returning a medal staying in a medal selector (not shown) in the slot machine 1 at a position closer to the free end of the front door 5 than the stop button 24. I have.

  A game in the slot machine 1 having such a configuration is performed as follows. First, the player inserts a medal into the medal insertion slot 22 and operates the bet button 21 to set the bet number of the game. When the start lever 23 is operated (specifically, a push-down operation) after setting the number of bets, the slot machine 1 rotates each reel to start a variable display game, and the variable display device 7 identifies a plurality (for example, three). Variable display of information. Further, when the player presses the stop button 24 at an arbitrary timing, the reel corresponding to the pressed stop button 24 stops rotating, the variable display of the identification information is ended, and the stop state identification information is displayed. It faces the variable display opening 8. A combination of identification information stopped as a result of pressing all the stop buttons 24, in other words, a special result mode in which the result mode of the variable display game is preset (for example, each reel has the same identification information for variable display) The slot machine 1 generates a special game state (so-called jackpot), and a prize medal as a predetermined special game value is generated. Is discharged from the medal payout exit 15 and given to the player.

Next, the medal lending device 2 adjacent to the slot machine 1 will be described.
The medal lending device 2 is a device that lends medals based on a player's lending operation (specifically, a player's bill insertion operation). As shown in FIGS. Part 31 and a medal supply pipe 32 extending from the front surface of the main body part 31, and a plurality of medals are lent out when a predetermined amount of banknotes is taken in (for example, a thousand yen banknote) It is set so that 50 medals are lent out for one capture).

  The main body 31 incorporates a hopper device that stores and sends out medals, a banknote capturing device that captures banknotes (not shown), and the banknote capturing device is disposed on the upper side in the main body 31. In addition, the hopper device is disposed on the lower side in the main body 31. In addition, a banknote insertion port 34 is opened at the upper part of the front surface of the main body 31 and communicates with the banknote taking-in device, and a banknote extraction door 35 is provided above the banknote insertion port 34 in a lockable state. It is comprised so that it can open 35 and the banknote in a main-body part (specifically, the banknote taken in and stored by the banknote taking-in apparatus) can be taken out. Further, a medal supply pipe 32 is connected to the lower part of the front surface of the main body 31 to communicate with a medal delivery outlet (not shown) of the hopper device, and medals delivered from the hopper device are passed through the medal supply tube 32 to lend medals. It can be discharged out of the device 2. Further, a medal supply door 36 is provided above the medal supply pipe 32 in a lockable state, and the medal supply door 36 is opened so that medals can be supplied to the hopper device from outside the medal lending device 2. A medal payout count indicator 37 is arranged between the bill insertion slot 34 and the medal replenishment door 36, and the medal payout count indicator 37 counts down the remaining payout number of medals based on the medal payout operation by the hopper device. It is configured to display or to count up the number of payouts.

The medal supply pipe 32 is a tubular member that extends in a state of being inclined downward from the front surface of the main body 31 toward the medal storage tray 16 side. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the upstream portion 41 located on the main body portion 31 side is inclined downward toward the front of the medal lending device 2 and connected to the inclined lower end of the upstream portion 41. The middle stream portion 42 is inclined downward while being curved from the front position of the medal lending device 2 toward the slot machine 1 side (left side in FIG. 4A), and the downstream portion 43 connected to the inclined lower end of the middle stream portion 42 is a medal. It is inclined downward from the side of the storage tray 16 (right side in FIG. 4B) toward the medal storage tray 16 side. Then, a rectangular medal discharge port 44 is opened at the lower end of the downstream portion 43 (the lower end of the medal supply pipe 32) and is opened upward from the medal storage tray 16, and the medal in the main body portion 31 is removed. It is configured to flow down into the medal supply pipe 32 and to be supplied from the medal discharge port 44 to the medal storage tray 16. In addition, a locking portion (convex portion) 45 made of an elastic material such as rubber protrudes from the lower surface of the downstream portion 43 (specifically, the portion of the lower surface of the downstream portion 43 located on the medal discharge port 44 side ). The locking portion 45 is inclined downward toward the opposite side of the medal discharge port 44 (right side in FIG. 5A) across the base end of the locking portion 45. Then, the lateral width of the cross section of the downstream portion 43 (the lateral width of the cross section orthogonal to the downward inclination direction of the downstream portion 43) is greater than the lateral width of the cross section of the upstream portion 41 (lateral width of the cross section orthogonal to the downward inclination direction of the upstream portion 41). Also, the width of the cross section of the midstream portion 42 (the width of the cross section perpendicular to the downward inclination direction (curving direction) of the upstream portion 41) is gradually narrowed from the upstream portion 41 side toward the downstream portion 43 side. Set to state.

In the medal lending device 2 having such a configuration, as shown in FIG. 4C, the locking portion 45 is arranged on the medal lending device 2 side of the medal storage tray 16 (right side in FIG. 4C). The lower edge portion of the medal discharge port 44 is located on the inner surface of the medal storage tray 16, more specifically, the inner standing surface located on the medal lending device 2 side (right side in FIG. 4C). (Inner standing wall) The medal supply pipe 32 is locked to the medal storage tray 16 in a state along 16d. As a result, the inconvenience that the medals stored in the medal storage tray 16 enter below the medal supply pipe 32 can be avoided. Therefore, the player can take out the medals from the medal storage tray 16 without hindrance without being obstructed by the medal supply pipe 32. Further, the medal supply pipe 32 can be stabilized using the medal storage tray 16.

  Further, since the locking portion 45 is inclined downward toward the opposite side of the medal discharge port 44 across the base end of the locking portion 45, the medal discharge port 44 moves toward the base end side of the medal supply pipe 32. It is possible to prevent the inconvenience of moving, and consequently the inconvenience of the medal supply pipe 32 being detached from the medal storage tray 16. Moreover, since the latching | locking part 45 is comprised with the elastic material, the latching | locking part 45 can be bent and can be engaged / disengaged to the medal storage tray 16, and the medal supply pipe 32 is latched to the medal storage tray 16 And the unlocking operation can be easily performed.

  For example, when the downstream part 43 of the medal supply pipe 32 is configured by a double pipe structure and can be expanded and contracted along the downward inclined direction (longitudinal direction) of the downstream part 43, the medal discharge port 44 is configured as a medal storage dish. When approaching 16, the locking portion 45 is first bent in a state where the protruding end (lower end) faces the upstream side of the medal supply pipe 32. If the downstream portion 43 of the medal supply pipe 32 is extended in this bent state, the locking portion 45 can easily get over the upper edge of the medal storage tray 16 and be positioned inside the medal storage tray 16. Further, when the locking portion 45 is released from the bending state when it is positioned inside the medal storage tray 16 and restored to the normal state (downward inclined state), the protruding end of the locking portion 45 contacts the inner standing surface 16d of the medal storage tray 16. The medal supply pipe 32 can be easily locked to the medal storage tray 16. Further, when the downstream portion 43 of the medal supply pipe 32 is contracted while being locked to the medal storage tray 16 and the medal discharge port 44 is moved away from the medal storage tray 16, the protruding end (lower end) of the locking portion 45 is the medal. The locking part 45 is removed from the inner standing surface 16 d of the medal storage tray 16 by bending in a state of facing the downstream side of the supply pipe 32. When the downstream portion 43 of the medal supply pipe 32 is contracted in this bent state, the locking portion 45 easily gets over the upper edge of the medal storage tray 16 from the inner side of the medal storage tray 16 and moves outside the medal storage tray 16. The medal supply pipe 32 can be easily unlocked from the medal storage tray 16.

  By the way, in the said embodiment, although the medal supply pipe | tube 32 was comprised with the cross-sectional rectangular pipe member, this invention is not limited to this. For example, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the medal supply pipe 32 ′ has a bellows shape (bellows hose) that can be expanded and contracted along the longitudinal direction of the medal supply pipe 32 ′. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, one end of a medal supply pipe 32 'formed of a bellows hose is connected to the front surface of the main body 31 to the medal payout port of the hopper device. In communication, an opening at the other end of the medal supply pipe (bellows hose) 32 'is a medal discharge port 44'. Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the medal supply pipe 32 'is inclined downward from one end to the other end, and the middle part of the medal supply pipe 32' is bent so that the medal discharge port 44 'is connected to the medal storage tray 16. When the other end portion is placed on the upper edge portion of the medal storage tray 16, the peak portion (bellows-shaped peak portion) on the lower side of the other end portion (location facing the upper edge portion of the medal storage tray 16) Functions as the locking portion 45 ′ and is hooked on the inner standing surface 16 d of the medal storage tray 16, so that the medal supply pipe 32 ′ can be locked to the medal storage tray 16. Further, since the medal supply pipe 32 'is formed in a bellows shape, the medal supply pipe 32' can be expanded and contracted to easily adjust the position of the medal discharge port 44 '(FIGS. 6A and 6B). )), The state where the lower edge portion of the medal discharge port 44 ′ is along the inner standing surface 16 d of the medal storage tray 16 can be easily set.

  By the way, in each of the above embodiments, the medal supply pipe 32 is locked to the medal storage tray 16 with the lower edge of the medal discharge ports 44 and 44 ′ along the inner standing surface 16 d of the medal storage tray 16. Is not limited to this. For example, the medal supply pipes 32 and 32 ′ are set to such a length that the lower end portion can be inserted into the medal storage tray 16, and the locking portions 45 and 45 ′ are hooked on the upper edge portion of the medal storage tray 16 and the medal supply pipe 32. , 32 ′ is locked to the medal storage tray 16, the lower edge of the medal discharge port 44, 44 ′ is along the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16 (in other words, the lower ends of the medal supply pipes 32, 32 ′ are The state may be set such that the medal storage tray 16 is in contact with the inner bottom surface 16c. If the medal supply pipes 32 and 32 'are locked to the medal storage tray 16 with the lower edge portions of the medal discharge ports 44 and 44' along the inner bottom surface 16c of the medal storage tray 16, the medal supply pipes 32 and 32 ' It is difficult to form a gap through which medals can enter between the inner bottom surface 16c of the medal storage tray 16 and avoid the inconvenience that the medals stored in the medal storage tray 16 enter below the medal supply pipes 32 and 32 '. it can. Therefore, the player can take out the medal from the medal storage tray 16 without hindrance without being obstructed by the medal supply pipes 32 and 32 '.

  Furthermore, the medal lending device 2 of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but the lower edge of the medal discharge port 44 is connected to the inner bottom surface 16c of the medal storage tray 16. Is different in that a locking portion that can be disposed along the lower end of the medal supply pipe is provided. Specifically, in the medal supply pipe 32 in the third embodiment, the length of the downstream portion 43 is set to a dimension that allows the lower end of the downstream portion 43 to be positioned in the medal storage tray 16. At the lower end of the slope, an upper portion and one side portion (the left side portion on the opposite side of the main body portion 31 with the medal discharge port 44 in FIG. 8) are opened. 1). The locking unit 50 extends along the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16 from the flange 51 that extends outward from the upper edge and both side edges of the medal discharge port 44 and the lower edge of the medal discharge port 44. A flat plate-like fitting portion 52 that is extended and a standing wall 53 that rises upward from both front and rear edges of the fitting portion 52. And the edge part located in the flange part 51 side among the standing walls 53 is connected to the side edge part of the flange part 51, and the front-rear width of the fitting part 52 used as the bottom part of the latching unit 50 (front and rear of the medal storage tray 16). The width along the direction) is set to be slightly smaller than the minimum value of the inner dimension in the front-rear direction of the medal storage tray 16, in other words, the front-rear width of the inner bottom surface 16c of the medal storage tray 16.

  In the medal supply pipe 32 provided with the locking unit 50 having such a configuration, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the downstream portion 43 of the medal supply pipe 32 is connected to the storage space of the medal storage tray 16. The locking unit 50 is shifted from the medal payout opening 15 to the main body 31 side (right side in FIG. 9A) to prevent the medal payout opening 15 from being blocked by the standing wall 53, and the fitting portion 52 is It is placed on the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16. Then, the fitting portion 52 overlaps the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16 and fits in the medal storage tray 16, so that the medal supply pipe 32 is locked to the medal storage tray 16 and the lower edge of the medal discharge port 44. Are arranged along the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16. As a result, the medal supply tube 32 can be locked to the medal storage tray 16 without forming a gap through which the medal can enter between the medal supply tube 32 and the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16. The inconvenience that medals stored in the storage tray 16 enter below the medal supply pipe 32 can be avoided. Therefore, the player can take out the medals from the medal storage tray 16 without hindrance without being obstructed by the medal supply pipe 32. Further, the medal supply pipe 32 can be stabilized using the medal storage tray 16. Moreover, regardless of the shape of the edge of the medal storage tray 16, the medal supply pipe 32 can be locked to the medal storage tray 16.

  In the medal supply pipe 32 in which the dust catching locking unit 50 is provided at the inclined lower end of the downstream portion 43, the locking protrusion 55 is provided on the lower surface of the downstream portion 43 of the medal supply pipe 32 as shown in FIG. You may provide as a kind of the latching | locking part in this invention separately from the latching unit 50. FIG. Specifically, in the modified example of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10, an elastic material such as rubber is provided from a position located on the upstream side of the locking unit 50 on the lower surface of the downstream portion 43 of the medal supply pipe 32. The locking projection 55 is formed so as to project toward the opposite side of the medal discharge port 44 (right side in FIG. 10B) with the proximal end of the locking projection 55 interposed therebetween. Tilted down.

  In order to lock the medal supply pipe 32 provided with the locking protrusion 55 having such a configuration together with the locking unit 50 to the medal storage tray 16, the downstream portion 43 of the medal supply pipe 32 is placed in the storage space portion of the medal storage tray 16. And the fitting portion 52 of the locking unit 50 is placed on the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16. Then, the fitting part 52 overlaps the inner bottom surface 16c of the medal storage tray 16 and fits in the medal storage tray 16, and the lower edge portion of the medal discharge port 44 extends along the inner bottom surface 16c of the medal storage tray 16. Be placed. Further, the locking projection 55 is hooked on the upper edge portion of the medal storage tray 16 located on the medal lending device 2 side. Therefore, the medal supply pipe 32 can be sufficiently locked to the medal storage tray 16 at the two positions of the locking unit 50 and the locking protrusion 55. As a result, even if the player tries to grab the medal in the medal storage tray 16 and hits the medal supply tube 32, the medal supply tube 32 is not easily displaced. For this reason, there is a disadvantage that the lower edge portion of the medal discharge port 44 moves away from the inner bottom surface 16c of the medal storage tray 16, and a gap that allows the medal to enter the medal supply pipe 32 below is formed. Can be avoided.

  By the way, in the said 3rd Embodiment and its modification, the standing wall 53 was provided and the latching unit 50 was made into dust removal shape, However, This invention is not limited to this. For example, the locking unit 50 is configured only by the fitting portion 52 extending from the lower edge portion of the medal discharge port 44, and the fitting portion 52 (locking unit 50) is placed on the inner bottom surface 16 c of the medal storage tray 16. The medal supply pipe 32 may be engaged with the medal storage tray 16 by being overlapped with each other.

  Moreover, although each said embodiment demonstrated the medal lending apparatus 2 which lends a medal when a banknote is inserted, this invention is not limited to this. In short, any medal lending device may be used as long as it is a medal lending device that passes the medal lent to the player to the medal storage tray 16 of the slot machine 1 through the medal supply pipe 32. For example, a medal lending device that executes a medal lending operation when a coin is inserted or a prepaid card is inserted may be used. Furthermore, as a typical gaming machine adjacent to the medal lending device, a slot machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a medal storage tray capable of storing medals as game media is provided. Any gaming machine may be used as long as it is a gaming machine.

  It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the above description, but is defined by the scope of the claims, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Slot machine 2 Medal lending device 4 Case 5 Front door 7 Variable display device 11 Effect display device 12 Operation panel 15 Medal payout port 16 Medal storage tray 16a Rear partition wall 16b Front partition wall 16c Inner bottom surface 16d Inner standing surface 21 Bet Button 22 Medal insertion slot 23 Start lever 24 Stop button 31 Main body 32, 32 'Medal supply pipe 34 Bill insertion slot 35 Bill removal door 36 Medal replenishment door 37 Medal payout count indicator 41 Upstream part 42 Midstream part 43 Downstream part 44, 44 'medal outlet 45, 45' locking part 50 locking unit 51 flange part 52 fitting part 53 standing wall 55 locking projection

Claims (1)

In a medal lending device that is provided adjacent to a gaming machine that uses a medal as a game medium and lends a medal,
A main body for storing the medal inside;
The main body is extended in a state of being inclined downward toward the medal storage tray provided in the gaming machine, and a medal discharge port is opened at the lower end of the inclination to allow the medal in the main body to flow down. provided from the medal discharge port, and the medal supply pipe for supplying to said medal accumulating dish side,
On the lower surface of the medal supply pipe , a protruding portion that can be locked to the medal storage tray is provided so that the lower edge of the medal discharge port is in a state along the inner standing wall of the medal storage tray ,
The medal lending device, wherein the medal discharge port is disposed so as to be above the inner standing wall .

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