JP6004256B2 - Coin payout device and game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a coin payout device provided in, for example, a gaming machine and a gaming machine including the same.

  Conventionally, a gaming machine using coins such as a slot machine has been provided with a coin payout device, and the coin payout device can pass coins stored in the hopper part one by one in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction. The coin passage is sequentially sent from the hopper to the coin passage having a cross-sectional shape, and is discharged from the coin discharge port at the end of the coin passage. The coins discharged from the coin discharge port of the coin payout device are paid out from the payout port of the gaming machine.

  In recent years, there has been a problem of illegally acquiring coins called hopper goto in gaming machines equipped with such a coin payout device. Specifically, a fraudulent person accesses a coin discharge port of a coin payout device from a payout port of a gaming machine, inserts a foreign object such as a wire into the coin passage, and counts the number of coins to be paid out. Incorrect operation of a sensor installed near the entrance of the hopper (near the exit of the hopper) may cause the hopper motor to rotate illegally, causing coins to be paid out when coins should not be paid out. Alternatively, it is considered that coins more than the number that should be paid out are paid out and the coins are illegally acquired.

  On the other hand, a gaming machine and a coin payout device have been proposed in which various measures are taken to prevent such illegal acquisition of coins. For example, a shutter member that can freely open / close the payout port is provided, and an abnormality is notified when the opening detection device detects that the shutter member opens the payout port in a scene where coins should not be paid out. Also, a gaming machine is known in which an abnormality is notified even when a closing detection device detects that a shutter member closes a payout slot when a coin is to be paid out (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  In addition, a shutter member that can freely open / close the coin discharge port is provided, and the shutter member is held at a position to close the coin discharge port while urging the shutter member to the side that normally closes the coin discharge port by a spring, In a scene where coins are to be paid out, a coin payout device is known in which a shutter member is driven to open a coin discharge port against an urging force of a spring by an actuator linked to a motor for driving a hopper portion. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

  Also, the shutter member is provided with a shutter member that can freely open / close the inlet at the end of the coin passage on the hopper portion side, and normally closes the inlet while urging the shutter member toward the side that closes the inlet by a spring. In a scene where coins are to be paid out, a solenoid having a movable iron core drives the shutter member to open the entrance against the biasing force of the spring, and the shutter member opens the entrance of the coin passage. A coin payout device is known in which the operation of the motor of the hopper portion is allowed only when the detector detects that it is doing (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent No. 4133720 Japanese Patent No. 4258753 JP 2010-142622 A

  However, even if the payout port of the gaming machine is closed by the shutter member as in the cited document 1, the payout port is easy to access and the shutter member can be easily moved to the side where the payout port is opened by a finger or the like. Thus, foreign matter such as a wire is inserted into the coin passage of the coin payout device from the open payout port, and there is a possibility that the coin will be paid out illegally. Further, even when the opening detection device detects that the shutter member has opened the payout port of the gaming machine in a scene where coins should not be paid out, the shutter member is also provided with a payout port. Is not fully opened, but if it is illegally moved to a halfway position where a coin can be inserted, it is not recognized as abnormal, and the coin is illegal from the payout opening opened in this way There was a possibility of being paid out. In addition, when it is configured to notify the abnormality when it is detected that the shutter member closes the payout port of the gaming machine at the scene where the coin is to be paid out, the shutter member completely closes the payout port. If there is no coin, but if it is accidentally stuck in a halfway position where coins cannot be inserted, it will be an abnormal situation that the coin that should be paid out will not be paid out, but such an abnormal situation is not recognized as abnormal There was a problem.

  Also, when the coin payout device is provided with a shutter member that can freely open / close the coin discharge port as in Cited Document 2, the coin discharge port is easily accessible from the payout port of the gaming machine. Even if the shutter member is held at the position where the coin discharge port is closed while urging the shutter member toward the side where the coin discharge port is closed, it is not possible to move the shutter member to the side where the coin discharge port is opened by a finger or a tool. There is a possibility that a foreign object such as a wire is inserted into the coin passage from the coin discharge port that has been illegally opened in this way, and the coin may be illegally paid out.

  Further, when the entrance of the end portion on the hopper portion side of the coin passage is closed with a shutter member as in the cited document 3, the wire from the coin discharge port of the coin passage to the entrance (to the position closed by the shutter member) or the like It is possible to insert a foreign object, and there is a possibility that a fraudulent action such as malfunctioning a sensor for counting the number of coins to be paid out may be performed. Further, foreign matter such as a wire or a tool may be inserted into the coin passage from the coin discharge port, and the shutter member may be moved illegally to the side that opens the entrance of the coin passage. In Cited Document 3, since the motor is driven only when the detector detects that the shutter member opens the entrance, the shutter member opens the entrance of the coin passage. If it is closed, the motor will not rotate only by the act of malfunctioning the sensor, but if the sensor is malfunctioned after moving the shutter member to the side that opens the entrance of the coin passage, for example, the motor will rotate. As a result, coins may be paid out illegally. In addition, since the coin passage entrance is close to the hopper, the surrounding structure is more complicated than the coin discharge opening.Furthermore, the solenoid with a movable iron core has a long shape in the expansion and contraction direction. Therefore, it is necessary to secure an installation space that takes into account the length of the coil.Therefore, when a solenoid having such a movable iron core is installed around the entrance of the coin passage, the configuration becomes complicated and the apparatus becomes large. It was.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a highly reliable coin payout device in which it is difficult to insert a foreign substance into a coin passage and a gaming machine including the same. To do.

The present invention coin discharge end of the successively fed out by the coin passage from the hopper to the coin passage only of the cross-sectional shape stored coins can pass one by one in its thickness direction and the direction perpendicular to the hopper a constructed coin dispenser as discharged from the outlet, the thickness direction of the coin at a position adjacent to said coin outlet a on the side of the hopper than said coin outlet in the coin passage It said shutter mechanism comprising a coin path having a shutter member is opened and closed is provided, the direction of the shutter member is a gap width of the coin passage by advancing and retreating in the direction of the gap width of the coin path corresponding to as tip from the sidewall portion of one side of closing the coin path by projecting to a position to enter the side wall of the other side of the In made coins dispenser, the shutter member and the coin discharge opening and the closing state holding projection portion which projects to the opposite side is provided, said shutter member on the side opposite to the tip the coin outlet The shutter mechanism is installed so as to be tiltable in the direction of displacement, and the shutter mechanism includes a spring element that urges the tip of the shutter member toward the coin discharge port, and the shutter member passes through the coin passage. In the closed state, when the shutter member is pushed against the biasing force of the spring element from the coin discharge port side and is displaced to the side opposite to the coin discharge port, the shutter toward the side that opens the coin passage A coin configured to prevent movement of a member by engagement between the closed state holding projection and the side wall of the coin passage. By issuing device in which the above-mentioned problems are eliminated.
According to the present invention, in the same coin payout device, the shutter member is configured such that the coin comes into contact with a portion of the shutter member on the surface of the hopper portion that closes the coin passage from the hopper portion side. The above problem is similarly solved by a coin payout device characterized in that an inclined surface inclined so as to be biased toward the tip end portion is formed.

  The present invention solves the above problems by a gaming machine equipped with the coin payout device.

  In the above coin payout device, since the coin passage can be closed by the shutter member in a scene where the coin should not be discharged from the coin discharge port, foreign matter such as a wire into the coin passage for illegally paying out the coin can be obtained. Insertion can be prevented. In addition, the shutter member is not located outside the coin discharge port but on the hopper portion side of the coin passage in the coin passage and adjacent to the coin discharge port. Further, the shutter member has a gap width of the coin passage. Since the coin passage is closed by protruding from the side wall portion on one side of the direction to the position where the tip portion enters the side wall portion on the other side, the tip of the shutter member at the position closing the coin passage It is difficult to allow a foreign object such as a finger or a wire to approach the portion, and the act of illegally opening the shutter member and inserting a foreign object such as a wire into the coin path can also be prevented.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a highly reliable coin payout device in which it is difficult to insert a foreign object into a coin passage and a gaming machine including the same.

Sectional drawing seen from the top which shows the structure of the coin payment apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention Sectional drawing which expands and shows the peripheral part of the coin discharge port in FIG. Front view of the coin dispensing device Sectional view seen from the front of the coin dispensing device Sectional view of the peripheral portion of the coin discharge port of the coin dispensing device viewed from the side The perspective view which looked at the coin payment device from the slanting back Sectional view of the coin payout device viewed from the rear Rear view of the base plate of the coin dispensing device The perspective view which looked at the casing of the shutter mechanism of the coin dispensing device from diagonally forward The exploded perspective view which shows the principal part structure of the shutter mechanism of the coin payout device A perspective view of the shutter member of the shutter mechanism The perspective view which looked at the shutter member from the opposite side to FIG. Sectional view of the same shutter member viewed from below Sectional drawing which shows the state which the shutter member inclined in the direction which the front-end | tip part of the shutter member in FIG. 2 displaces to the opposite side to a coin discharge port. Exploded perspective view showing the structure of the flapper type solenoid of the shutter mechanism Perspective view of the movable piece of the flapper solenoid

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment relates to a coin payout device 10 as shown in FIGS. The coin payout device 10 is provided in a gaming machine (not shown), and coins discharged from the coin payout device 10 are paid out from a payout port of the gaming machine. 1 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II in FIG. The coin payout device 10 sequentially feeds the coins 14 stored in the hopper portion 12 from the hopper portion 12 to the coin passage 16 having a cross-sectional shape that can pass one by one in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the coin passage 16. It is configured to be discharged from the coin discharge port 18 at the end, and the thickness of the coin 14 at a position adjacent to the coin discharge port 18 on the coin path 16 on the hopper portion 12 side of the coin discharge port 18. A shutter mechanism 22 having a shutter member 20 that can open and close the coin passage 16 by moving forward and backward in the direction of the gap width of the coin passage 16 corresponding to the direction is provided. The leading end protrudes from the side wall 24 on one side in the width direction to the position where it enters the side wall 26 on the other side. It is characterized in that it is configured so as to close the passage 16. Since other configurations are not considered particularly important for the understanding of the present embodiment, description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  The coin payout device 10 includes a hopper portion 12 on the front side of a base plate 28 having a substantially square plate shape as shown in FIG. 8, and a motor 30 and a shutter mechanism 22 for driving the hopper portion 12 on the rear side. Is provided. A cutout 28 </ b> A is formed in a portion of the base plate 28 corresponding to the coin discharge port 18. In many cases, the coin payout device 10 is actually installed in a gaming machine with the front surface of the base plate 28 facing diagonally upward. In this embodiment, for convenience, the side of the base plate 28 on which the hopper portion 12 is provided is the front side. And the opposite side is called the rear side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the hopper portion 12 includes a disc 32 in which a plurality of circular holes 32A are formed at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction, and a hopper base in which a circular hole into which the disc 32 is loosely fitted is formed. 34, and the disk 32 is driven and rotated by the motor 30 to sequentially feed the coins 14 to the coin path 16. More specifically, the coins 14 are stored on the disk 32, and fall one by one into the hole 32A and enter between the disk 32 and the base plate 28. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a fin 32B is formed on the rear surface side of the disk 32, and the coin 14 is pushed by the fin 32B and sent out to the coin passage 16. The hopper base 34 extends to the coin discharge port 18, and the coin path 16 is formed by the hopper base 34 and the base plate 28. One side wall 24 in the gap width direction of the coin passage 16 is a part of the base plate 28, and the other side wall 26 is a part of the hopper base 34. The side wall portion 26 is formed with a concave portion into which the distal end portion of the shutter member 20 enters.

  A counting roller 35 is provided at the entrance which is the end of the coin passage 16 on the hopper portion 12 side. As the counting roller 35 moves within a certain range, the size of the entrance of the coin passage 16 is variable between a state where the diameter is smaller than the diameter of the coin 14 and a state where the diameter is larger than the diameter of the coin 14. The counting roller 35 is biased by a spring (not shown) to the side where the size of the entrance of the coin passage 16 is narrower than the diameter of the coin 14. When the coin 14 is pushed by the fin 32B and comes into contact with the counting roller 35, the counting roller 35 moves to the side where the size of the entrance of the coin passage 16 widens against the biasing force of the spring, and the coin passage 16 When the size of the entrance is larger than the diameter of the coin 14, the coin 14 enters the coin passage 16, and the counting roller 35 returns to the side where the entrance size of the coin passage 16 becomes narrower by the biasing force of the spring. The coin 14 is sent out toward the coin discharge port 18.

  The shutter mechanism 22 is accommodated in a casing 36 as shown in FIG. The casing 36 is a substantially trapezoidal box body whose front side is open (when viewed from the front), and the side portion on the coin discharge port 18 side is vertical. The casing 36 is installed in contact with the rear surface of the base plate 28 so that the vertical side surface portion is along the peripheral edge of the base plate 28 where the notch 28A is formed. Further, a projection 36A that protrudes forward and engages with the notch 28A of the base plate 28 is formed on the vertical side surface. The thickness in the left-right direction of the protrusion 36A is thinner than the width in the left-right direction of the notch 28A of the base plate 28. When the protrusion 36A engages with the notch 28A, the protrusion 36A and the notch 28A move up and down. A long hole is formed. The shutter member 20 is inserted into the hole and protrudes into the coin passage 16. A recess 36B that is long in the vertical direction is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the casing 36 adjacent to the rear side of the protrusion 36A so that the shutter member 20 is slidably engaged in the front-rear direction. The other side surface portion of the casing 36 is inclined so that the width of the casing 36 becomes narrower downward. Note that the two side portions of the casing 36 are slightly inclined to the side where the width of the casing 36 becomes narrower toward the rear. The upper surface portion and the lower surface portion of the casing 36 are parallel to the horizontal direction. Further, on the inner peripheral surface of the rear surface portion of the casing 36, a pair of L-shaped guide projections 36C for guiding the shutter member 20 in the front-rear direction (in front view), a cylindrical spring locking projection 36D, a sensor locking A projection 36E and the like are formed.

  As shown in FIG. 10, in the casing 36, in addition to the shutter member 20, a compression coil spring (spring element) 38 that biases the shutter member 20 in a direction to close the coin passage 16 and a compression coil spring 38 are attached. The flapper type solenoid 40 for driving the shutter member 20 in the direction to open the coin passage 16 against the force (direction of the gap width of the coin passage 16), and the shutter member 20 are in a position to close the coin passage 16. And a shutter member position detector 42 that can detect that the shutter member 20 is in a position to open the coin passage 16. In FIG. 10, for convenience, the casing 36 and the like are depicted in a posture in which the vertical direction is opposite to the posture in which the casing 36 is installed.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the shutter member 20 includes a rectangular plate-like base portion 20A, a slide portion 20B adjacent to the front side of the base portion 20A, a shutter portion 20C adjacent to the front side of the slide portion 20B, and a base portion. A driven portion 20D that protrudes from 20A to the opposite side of the coin discharge port 18 and a detected portion 20E that protrudes downward from the driven portion 20D are integrally formed.

  The slide portion 20B protrudes upward and downward from the base portion 20A and slightly protrudes toward the coin discharge port 18 side. The shutter member 20 is slidably engaged with the recess 36B of the casing 36 at the slide portion 20B, and is slidably engaged with a pair of L-shaped guide protrusions 36C of the casing 36 at the rear end portion 20L of the base portion 20A. It moves forward and backward. The range of forward / backward movement of the shutter member 20 is between a position where the front end of the slide portion 20B contacts the rear surface of the base plate 28 and a position where the rear end of the slide portion 20B contacts the rear end of the recess 36B of the casing 36. .

  The shutter portion 20 </ b> C is inserted through a hole formed by the protruding portion 36 </ b> A of the casing 36 and the notch 28 </ b> A of the base plate 28. The width of the shutter portion 20C in the front-rear direction is larger than the gap width of the coin passage 16 (corresponding to the thickness direction of the coin 14). The vertical width of the shutter portion 20C is larger than the width of the coin passage 16 (corresponding to the diameter direction of the coin 14). The surface of the coin discharge port 18 is inclined so that the shutter portion 20C becomes thinner toward the tip portion. Further, a foreign matter insertion preventing projection 20F protruding toward the coin discharge port 18 is formed at the tip of the shutter portion 20C (tip of the shutter member 20). The shutter portion 20C is formed with two closed state holding projections 20G that protrude on the side opposite to the coin discharge port 18. The shutter member 20 is urged toward the front end portion by the coin 14 coming into contact with the portion of the shutter portion 20C on the hopper portion 12 side that closes the coin passage 16 from the hopper portion 12 side. An inclined surface 20H that is inclined in the direction is formed.

  In the driven portion 20D, two engaging holes 20J are formed in the vicinity of the base portion 20A. The engaging pieces 20J engage with movable pieces (described later) of the flapper type solenoid 40. These engaging holes 20J are rectangular in cross section, and are tapered holes that increase toward the coin discharge port 18 side. The rear end portion 20L of the base portion 20A of the shutter member 20 is engaged with a pair of L-shaped guide projections 36C of the casing 36 with a slight play in the left-right direction. It is possible to incline in the direction of displacement to the side opposite to the outlet 18. Further, the driven portion 20D is formed with a truncated cone-shaped spring locking projection 20K protruding rearward. The compression coil spring 38 is engaged with the spring locking projection 20K of the shutter member 20 on the inner periphery of the front end portion, and is engaged with the spring locking projection 36D on the rear surface portion of the casing 36 on the outer periphery of the rear end portion. . The spring locking projections 20K of the driven portion 20D and the spring locking projections 36D on the rear surface of the casing 36 are disposed so that the position in the left-right direction is further away from the coin discharge port 18 than the base portion 20A. The coil spring 38 is installed on the side farther from the coin discharge port 18 than the base 20A. As a result, the shutter member 20 is urged toward the side closing the coin passage 16 by the compression coil spring (spring element) 38 and the tip is urged toward the coin discharge port 18 side. As shown in FIG. 14, the shutter member 20 is pushed against the urging force of the compression coil spring 38 from the coin discharge port 18 side while the shutter member 20 closes the coin passage 16, and the coin discharge port 18. When displaced to the opposite side, the movement of the shutter member 20 to the side that opens the coin passage 16 is prevented by the engagement between the closed state holding projection 20G and the side wall portion 24 of the coin passage 16. . When the play between the shutter member 20 and the movable piece of the flapper type solenoid 40 and the play between the movable piece and the solenoid base are large, the shutter member 20 is related to the rear end portion 20L of the base portion 20A and the guide protrusion 36C of the casing 36. The tip portion is inclined in a manner of rotating with the joint portion as a fulcrum, and is displaced to the side opposite to the coin discharge port 18. On the other hand, when the play is small, the shutter member 20 is inclined in such a manner that the shutter member 20 rotates with the engagement portion between the driven portion 20D and the movable piece of the flapper type solenoid 40 as a fulcrum, and the tip is opposite to the coin discharge port 18 Displace to the side.

  The detected portion 20E is a plate-like body that is long in the vertical direction and thin in the left-right direction, and has a stepped shape in which the lower half is thinner than the upper half in the side view as the rear end of the lower half is cut away. ing.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the flapper type solenoid 40 includes a disc-shaped solenoid bobbin 40A having a center hole, a plate-shaped solenoid bobbin base 40B bent in an L shape, and a solenoid bobbin. A bobbin shaft 40C that fits into the center hole of 40A and fixes the solenoid bobbin 40A to one portion of the L-shape of the solenoid bobbin base 40B, and an engagement hole formed in the other portion of the L-shape of the solenoid bobbin base 40B And a movable piece 40D that engages with the movable piece 40D. The solenoid bobbin base 40B is attached to the inner peripheral surface of the rear surface portion of the casing 36. The movable piece 40D is a plate-like body that is long in the left-right direction, and one projection 40E that engages with the engagement hole of the solenoid bobbin base 40B is formed at one end in the longitudinal direction, and two engagements of the shutter member 20 are formed at the other end. Two protrusions 40F that engage with the holes 20J are formed. The material of the movable piece 40D is a magnetic material having the property of being attracted by the magnetic force of the solenoid bobbin 40A.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the shutter member position detector 42 includes two sensors 42 </ b> A and 42 </ b> B installed side by side in the vertical direction. These sensors 42A and 42B are locked to a sensor locking protrusion 36E on the rear surface of the casing 36. The sensors 42A and 42B have the same structure, and each includes a light projector that projects light in the left-right direction and a light receiver that receives light emitted from the light projector. The upper sensor 42A (the lower side in FIG. 10) is installed at a position where light projection from the light projector to the light receiver is blocked by the upper half of the detected portion 20E of the shutter member 20, and the lower sensor 42B is The shutter member 20 is installed at a position where the light projected from the light projector to the light receiver is blocked by the lower half that is thinner than the upper half of the detected portion 20E. The sensors 42A and 42B and the detected portion 20E of the shutter member 20 are such that the light receivers of the two sensors 42A and 42B receive light from the projector at the position where the shutter member 20 closes the coin path. At the position where the shutter member 20 opens the coin passage, the shape and arrangement are designed so that the light receivers of the two sensors 42A and 42B do not receive light from the light projector.

  In addition, the coin payout device 10 determines that the shutter member 20 is in a position where the coin passage 16 is closed in a scene where the coin 14 should not be paid out when the shutter member position detector 42 does not detect an abnormality. Control means (not shown) configured as described above is further provided. This control means is configured to determine that the shutter member 20 is in an abnormal state even when the shutter member position detector 42 does not detect that the shutter member 20 is in a position to open the coin passage 16 in the scene where the coin 14 is to be paid out. Yes. The control means is a computer such as a microcomputer. The control means may be a dedicated computer for controlling the coin payout device 10 or may also be a computer for controlling a gaming machine provided with the coin payout device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 7, a coin number detector 44 for counting the number of coins 14 sent out from the hopper 12 to the coin passage 16 is provided in the casing 36. The coin number detector 44 has two sensors 44A and 44B installed side by side in the left-right direction. These sensors 44A and 44B have the same structure, and each includes a projector that projects light in the front-rear direction and a light receiver that receives the light. An arm is connected to the counting roller 35, and the arm swings a track passing between the projector and the light receiver of the sensors 44A and 44B in conjunction with the movement of the counting roller 35. When the counting roller 35 moves to the side where the size of the entrance of the coin passage 16 increases when the coin 14 passes through the entrance of the coin passage 16, the light receiver receives the light from the projector in the sensor 44A, and the sensor 44B Then, the light from the light projector to the light receiver is blocked by the arm. On the other hand, when the counting roller 35 moves to the side where the size of the entrance of the coin passage 16 becomes narrower, in the sensor 44A, the light from the light projector to the light receiver is blocked by the arm, and in the sensor 44B, the light receiver is projected from the light projector. It is designed to receive light. The number of coins 14 passing through the entrance of the coin passage 16 is detected based on the light receiving state of the light receivers of the sensors 44A and 44B.

  Next, the operation of the coin payout device 10 will be described. As described above, the shutter member 20 is urged to close the coin passage 16 by the compression coil spring (spring element) 38, and normally, from the side wall portion 24 on one side of the coin passage 16 in the gap width direction. The tip portion protrudes to a position where it enters the side wall portion 26 on the other side and is held at a position where the coin passage 16 is closed. In this state, the light receivers of the two sensors 42A and 42B of the shutter member position detector 42 both receive light from the light projector, and the control means controls the shutter member 20 based on the light reception state of the sensors 42A and 42B. Is in a position to close the coin passage 16.

  In a scene where the coin 14 is to be paid out, the solenoid bobbin 40A of the flapper solenoid 40 attracts the movable piece 40D by magnetic force according to an instruction from the control means. As a result, the shutter member 20 moves against the urging force of the compression coil spring 38 in the direction of opening the coin passage 16 (direction of the gap width of the coin passage 16). At this time, since the tip of the shutter member 20 is urged toward the coin discharge port 18 by the compression coil spring (spring element) 38, the movement of the shutter member 20 toward the side of opening the coin passage 16 is closed. It is not blocked by the engagement between the holding projection 20G and the side wall 24 of the coin passage 16. As the shutter member 20 moves, first, the upper half of the detected portion 20E of the shutter member 20 blocks light from the light projector to the light receiver of the sensor 42A of the shutter member position detector 42, so that the shutter member 20 moves to the coin path. When the position 16 is moved to the fully open position, the lower half of the detected portion 20E blocks the light projection from the light projector to the light receiver of the sensor 42B. Based on the light receiving states of these sensors 42A and 42B, the control means recognizes that the shutter member 20 is at a position where the coin passage 16 is opened, and rotates the motor 30 that drives the hopper 12. As a result, the coins 14 are sequentially sent out to the coin passage 16 and discharged from the coin discharge port 18. Each time the coin 14 passes the entrance of the coin passage 16, the arm swings together with the counting roller 35, and the light receiving state of the sensors 44A and 44B of the coin number detector 44 changes, and control is performed based on the change in the light receiving state. The unit recognizes the number of coins 14 to be discharged.

  When the control unit recognizes that a predetermined number of coins 14 have been discharged, it stops the motor 30. Further, the flapper type solenoid 40 stops the suction of the movable piece 40D by the magnetic force of the solenoid bobbin 40A and releases the movable piece 40D according to the instruction of the control means. As a result, the shutter member 20 is biased by the compression coil spring 38 and moves in a direction to close the coin passage 16. As the shutter member 20 moves, the light receiver of the sensor 42B of the shutter member position detector 42 receives light from the light projector, and the sensor moves to a position where the shutter member 20 completely closes the coin path. The light receiver 42A also receives light from the projector. Based on the light receiving states of these sensors 42A and 42B, the control means recognizes that the shutter member 20 is in a position where the coin passage 16 is closed. In a situation where the coin 14 should not be ejected, the control means maintains the state where the solenoid bobbin 40A of the flapper type solenoid 40 stops the suction of the movable piece 40D by the magnetic force, and closes the coin passage 16 so as to close the shutter member 20. Hold.

  As described above, in the scene where the coin 14 should not be discharged from the coin discharge port 18, the coin passage 16 is closed by the shutter member 20, so that the wire is inserted into the coin passage 16 to illegally pay out the coin 14. The act of inserting foreign objects such as can be prevented.

  The shutter member 20 is not located outside the coin discharge port 18 but is located on the hopper portion 12 side of the coin passage 16 and closer to the coin discharge port 18 than the coin discharge port 18. Is configured to close the coin passage 16 by protruding from the side wall portion 24 on one side in the gap width direction of the coin passage 16 to a position where the tip portion enters the side wall portion 26 on the other side. It is difficult to allow a foreign object such as a finger or a wire to approach the tip of the shutter member 20 at a position where the coin passage 16 is closed. The shutter member 20 is illegally opened and a foreign object such as a wire is inserted into the coin passage 16. The act of doing can also be prevented.

  Furthermore, a foreign matter insertion preventing projection 20F that protrudes toward the coin discharge port 18 is formed at the tip of the shutter member 20, thereby preventing the foreign matter such as a wire from approaching the tip of the shutter member 20. The effect to do is heightened.

  Further, the shutter member 20 is formed with a closed state holding projection 20G that protrudes on the opposite side of the coin discharge port 18, and the shutter member 20 is located at the position where the shutter member 20 closes the coin passage 16. 18 is pushed against the biasing force of the compression coil spring 38 from the side of 18 and displaced to the side opposite to the coin discharge port 18, the movement of the shutter member 20 toward the side of opening the coin passage 16 is a closed state holding projection. 20G and the side wall portion 24 of the coin passage 16 are prevented from being engaged, so that a sharp tool or the like is brought into contact with the surface of the shutter portion 20C on the coin discharge port 18 side so that the shutter member 20 is moved. Unauthorized opening can also be prevented.

  Further, since the sensors 44A and 44B of the coin number detector 44 are accommodated in the casing 36, the coin number detector 44 is erroneously operated by accessing the coin number detector 44 from the outside through a route not via the coin passage 16. Cheating can also be prevented.

  Further, the control means determines that an abnormality occurs when the shutter member position detector 42 does not detect that the shutter member 20 is in a position to close the coin passage 16 in a scene where the coin 14 should not be paid out. Since it is configured, it is possible to prevent the coins 14 from being illegally paid out even if the shutter member 20 is illegally opened. Although the shutter member 20 does not completely open the coin passage 16, it is recognized as abnormal even when it is illegally moved to a halfway position where the coin 14 can be inserted, and is thus opened halfway. It is also possible to prevent the coin 14 from being illegally paid out from the coin discharge port 18 of the coin passage 16.

  The shutter member 20 is urged toward the front end portion by the coin 14 coming into contact with the coin passage 16 on the surface of the shutter member 20 on the hopper portion 12 side from the hopper portion 12 side. Since the inclined surface 20H that is inclined in the direction is formed, the coin 14 is sent out from the hopper portion 12 to the coin passage 16 due to malfunction or fraudulent action while the shutter member 20 closes the coin passage 16, and the coin 14 is transferred to the shutter member 20. Since the shutter member 20 is urged toward the tip end side and the state where the coin passage 16 is closed is securely held even if it contacts from the hopper portion 12 side, the coin 14 is not accidentally ejected. Absent.

  The control means is also configured to determine that the shutter member 20 is abnormal even when the shutter member position detector 42 does not detect that the shutter member 20 is in a position to open the coin passage 16 in the scene where the coin 14 is to be paid out. Therefore, the shutter member 20 does not open the coin passage 16 due to a malfunction of the shutter mechanism 22 in the scene where the coin 14 is to be paid out, which contributes to the discovery of an abnormal situation in which the coin 14 that should be paid out is not paid out. . Although the shutter member 20 does not completely close the coin passage 16, it is possible to find an abnormal situation where the shutter member 20 erroneously remains at a halfway position where the coin 14 cannot pass.

  Further, since the shutter member 20 moves forward and backward in the gap width direction of the coin passage 16 corresponding to the thickness direction of the coin 14, the stroke of the forward and backward movement is short, and the coin payout device 10 can be made compact. Contribute. Further, since the stroke of the forward and backward movement of the shutter member 20 is short, it is possible to use a compact flapper type solenoid 40 in the direction of the stroke, which also contributes to making the coin payout device 10 compact.

  In the present embodiment, the shutter member position detector 42 includes two sensors 42A and 42B, and can detect that the shutter member 20 is in a position to close the coin path 16 and the shutter member 20. It is also possible to detect that the shutter member position detector opens the coin passage 16, but the shutter member position detector has only one sensor and cannot detect that the shutter member is in the position closing the coin passage. It may be possible to detect only that the member is in a position to open the coin passage. For example, after a predetermined number of coins 14 are paid out and the flapper type solenoid 40 stops the suction of the movable piece 40D by the magnetic force of the solenoid bobbin 40A in accordance with an instruction from the control means, the shutter member 20 biases the compression coil spring 38. If the control is performed so that the suction of the movable piece 40D by the magnetic force of the solenoid bobbin 40A cannot be resumed until a time when the coin passage 16 can be moved to the position where the coin passage 16 is surely passed has elapsed, the shutter member closes the coin passage. It is not always necessary to detect the position.

  Further, the shutter member position detector may be omitted, and it may not be possible to detect that the shutter member is in a position to close the coin passage, and it is not possible to detect that the shutter member is in a position to open the coin passage. For example, after the suction of the movable piece 40D by the magnetic force of the solenoid bobbin 40A is started, the rotation of the motor 30 can be started only after a predetermined time has elapsed, and further, the movable piece 40D by the magnetic force of the solenoid bobbin 40A can be started. If the suction of the movable piece 40D by the magnetic force of the solenoid bobbin 40A can be resumed only after a predetermined time has passed after the suction is stopped, the shutter member may be in a position to close the coin passage. It is not always necessary to detect that the member is in a position to open the coin passage.

  Further, in this embodiment, the flapper type solenoid 40 is used as the drive source of the shutter member 20, but in the case where the problem of interference with the peripheral members of the coin payout device in the gaming machine does not occur, Other types of solenoids such as a solenoid having a movable iron core may be used as a driving source for the shutter member 20.

  In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 20H is formed at the portion of the shutter member 20 on the surface of the hopper portion 12 that closes the coin passage 16, but the coin 14 comes into contact with the hopper portion 12 side. When opening of the shutter member 20 is not a problem, the shutter member may be configured such that an inclined surface is not formed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a foreign matter insertion preventing projection 20F is formed at the tip of the shutter member 20, but for example, due to the structure of a gaming machine equipped with a coin payout device, the tip to the tip of the shutter member 20 is provided. When the approach of foreign matter such as a wire is not a problem, the shutter member may be configured such that the foreign matter insertion preventing protrusion is not formed.

  Further, in this embodiment, the shutter member 20 is formed with a closed state holding projection 20G. However, for example, due to the structure of a gaming machine equipped with a coin payout device, the shutter member 20C has a coin discharge port 18 side. When the problem of the act of opening the shutter member 20 illegally by bringing a sharp tool or the like into contact with the surface does not occur, the shutter member may be configured such that the projection for holding the closed state is not formed.

  Further, in this embodiment, a slot machine is illustrated as a gaming machine, but the present invention can also be applied to gaming machines other than the slot machine.

  The present invention can be used for a gaming machine such as a slot machine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Coin paying-out apparatus 12 ... Hopper part 14 ... Coin 16 ... Coin passage 18 ... Coin discharge port 20 ... Shutter member 20F ... Protrusion part for foreign matter insertion prevention 20G ... Protrusion part 20 for obstruct | occluded state holding | maintenance surface 22 ... Shutter mechanism 24 , 26 ... side wall 38 ... compression coil spring (spring element)
40 ... Flapper type solenoid 42 ... Shutter member position detector

Claims (7)

The coins stored in the hopper are sequentially fed from the hopper to a coin passage having a cross-sectional shape that can pass one by one in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, and discharged from the coin outlet at the end of the coin passage. A coin payout device configured to:
By moving forward and backward in the direction of the gap width of the coin passage corresponding to the thickness direction of the coin at a position adjacent to the coin discharge port on the hopper portion side of the coin discharge port in the coin passage. A shutter mechanism having a shutter member that can open and close the coin passage is provided, and the shutter member extends from the side wall portion on one side in the gap width direction of the coin passage to the side wall portion on the other side. in co-in dispenser configured to close the coin path by projecting position to enter into,
The shutter member is provided with a closed state holding projection that protrudes on the side opposite to the coin discharge port, and the shutter member can be inclined in a direction in which the tip end portion is displaced to the side opposite to the coin discharge port. The shutter mechanism includes a spring element that urges the tip of the shutter member toward the coin discharge port, and the shutter member closes the coin passage while the shutter member closes the coin passage. When the coin member is pushed from the side of the coin discharge port against the biasing force of the spring element and displaced to the side opposite to the coin discharge port, the movement of the shutter member toward the side of opening the coin passage is held in the closed state. A coin payout device configured to be blocked by the engagement between the projection portion for use and the side wall portion of the coin passage . Oite to claim 1,
A coin payout device, wherein a protrusion for preventing foreign matter insertion protruding toward the coin discharge port is provided at the tip of the shutter member. The coins stored in the hopper are sequentially fed from the hopper to a coin passage having a cross-sectional shape that can pass one by one in the direction perpendicular to the thickness direction, and discharged from the coin outlet at the end of the coin passage. A coin payout device configured to:
By moving forward and backward in the direction of the gap width of the coin passage corresponding to the thickness direction of the coin at a position adjacent to the coin discharge port on the hopper portion side of the coin discharge port in the coin passage. A shutter mechanism having a shutter member that can open and close the coin passage is provided, and the shutter member extends from the side wall portion on one side in the gap width direction of the coin passage to the side wall portion on the other side. In the coin payout device configured to close the coin passage by protruding to the position to enter,
The shutter member is inclined so that the shutter member is urged toward the front end portion when the coin abuts on the surface of the shutter member on the hopper portion side that closes the coin passage from the hopper portion side. A coin payout device characterized in that an inclined surface is formed. In claim 1 or 2 ,
The coin payout device, wherein the shutter mechanism includes a flapper type solenoid for driving the shutter member in the direction of the gap width of the coin passage. In claim 1 or 2 ,
A shutter member position detector capable of detecting that the shutter member is in a position to close the coin passage, and the shutter member is in a position to close the coin passage in a scene where the coin should not be paid out. And a control means configured to determine that an abnormality is detected when the shutter member position detector does not detect the coin payout device. In claim 1 or 2 ,
A shutter member position detector capable of detecting that the shutter member is in a position to open the coin passage, and the shutter member is in a position to open the coin passage in a scene where the coin should be paid out. And a control means configured to determine that an abnormality is detected when the shutter member position detector does not detect the coin payout device. A gaming machine comprising the coin payout device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 .

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