JP6164805B2 - Medal insertion device and medal game device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal insertion device for inserting medals into a game space of a medal game device.

  A so-called “medal game device” using a medal as a game medium is known as a business game device installed in a game center or a shopping center. The player (player) collects and arranges the medals to be inserted in a stacked manner and places them in the medal alignment groove as a medal group, and pushes the medal group in the medal alignment groove toward the medal insertion slot at this timing. A medal is inserted and played (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 3873067

  FIG. 14 is a partial perspective view around a medal alignment groove of a conventional medal insertion device called a rail type that inserts medals into the game space of the medal game device. The circle in the lower right in the figure is an enlarged view showing a longitudinal section around the medal alignment groove.

  A player (player) creates a group of medals 3G in a stacked manner so that the faces of the medals 3 before insertion are aligned with each other, and places them in the medal alignment groove 192 of the medal insertion device 190. The medal alignment groove 192 is adjacent to the opening of the medal insertion slot 110 into which the medal 3 is inserted in a vertical position (position with the side face up and down), and the medal group 3G placed in the medal alignment groove 192 is inserted. If pushed in the mouth direction, the medals 3 fall one by one in order from the end of the medal group 3G and are inserted into the game space.

  As one of the strategies for medal games, there is a method in which a plurality of medals 3 are continuously inserted at one time at this timing, interrupted once, and continuously inserted again at the next timing. As a technique for realizing such intermittent intermittent insertion, there is known an insertion operation method for adjusting increase / decrease in the force of pushing the medal group 3G. Specifically, the player presses the medal group 3 against the wall 111 on the side opposite to the medal alignment groove 192 with the medal slot 110 interposed therebetween. Then, when continuously inserting, the next pressing medal is slid right above the insertion slot while removing the medal 3 just above the medal insertion slot 110 by removing a slight pressing force. Then, by increasing the pressing force again, the medal 3 immediately above the medal insertion slot 110 is prevented from falling.

  Such a loading operation method is superior in that the time lag of switching between insertion / interruption is overwhelmingly smaller than that in which the medals 3 are inserted into the loading slot one by one, and quick continuous loading is possible. However, in order to learn how to adjust the force for pressing the medal group 3G against the wall 111, a certain amount of familiarity is required. For this reason, medals may be inserted at unintended timings until they are used, or on the contrary, they cannot be inserted successfully. Further, the force for pressing the medal group 3G has a problem that the operation feeling corresponding to the insertion of medals is poor, so that it is necessary to get used to being able to insert the intended number of medals.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to realize continuous insertion of medals into a game space of a medal game device more easily and with a better operation feeling. A second object is to realize a temporary interruption of continuous insertion of medals easily and as desired.

The first invention for solving the above problems is:
A medal insertion slot (for example, medal insertion slot 110 in FIG. 2) and a medal placement section (for example, medal placement section 120 in FIG. 2) capable of moving a medal group in which a plurality of medals are arranged in the direction of the medal insertion slot. ) And a wall portion (for example, the wall portion 111 in FIG. 2) for pressing the medal group placed on the medal placement portion in the direction of the medal slot, the medal placement portion A displacement part (for example, the displacement part of FIG. 2) that displaces the height position of N medals (N is any one of 1 to 3) approaching the medal slot when the medals are pressed. 124), and when the pressing force is loosened, the medal insertion device is characterized in that a medal that exceeds the displacement portion falls from the medal insertion slot.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a medal insertion slot, a medal placement section capable of moving a medal group in which a plurality of medals are arranged to the medal insertion slot, and one end portion continuous with the placement surface of the medal placement section. The medal insertion device further includes a displacement portion having an inclined surface that is provided near the medal insertion port and has an inclined surface that raises the height position of the medal from the one end portion toward the other end portion.

  According to the first or ninth invention, the placement height of the medal approaching the medal slot can be displaced by the displacement portion. In the conventional medal insertion device, since the medal alignment groove is connected straight to the medal slot, it is difficult to keep the medal to be inserted next at the limit of the slot (see FIG. 14). Therefore, the insertion operation method of inserting the medals 3 one by one into the medal insertion slot 110 or pressing the entire medals group 3G against the wall 111 and properly releasing the force has to be used.

  However, in the present invention, in order to drop the medal into the medal slot, it is necessary to exceed the displacement portion. In other words, there is a marginal boundary for the medal to be inserted next. It is possible to visually confirm that the medal exceeds the displacement part, and it is possible to feel an operational feeling equivalent to feedback because there is some resistance to the force pushing the medal group due to exceeding the displacement part. become.

  Therefore, if the medal group 3G is pushed toward the wall portion 111, the medals are successively inserted over the displacement portion one after another, and by confirming visually or from the operational feeling that the medals exceed the displacement portion, You will know if you have entered a medal. In addition, it is possible to clearly interrupt the insertion of the next medal by reliance on the visual sense or the feeling of operation felt when the medal passes the displacement portion. Intermittent insertion of medals can be realized more easily and with better operation.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, the medal according to the first aspect has an inclined portion (for example, the inclined portion 124b in FIG. 4) that gradually raises the medal from the main placement surface as the displacement portion approaches the medal slot. Input device.

  According to the second invention, the same effect as that of the first invention can be obtained, and the resistance generated when the medal climbs the inclined portion is fed back to the touch of the finger pushing the medal group, thereby making it easier to understand. Create a feeling.

  A third aspect of the invention is the medal insertion device according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein when the inclined portion loosens the pressing force, the medal that has reached the inclined portion has an angle at which the medal can slide down.

  According to the third invention, the same effect as in the second invention can be obtained, and when the pressing force is loosened, the medal that has approached the inclined portion can easily move away from the medal slot. Therefore, if the accelerator is weakened on the way up the hill, the next medal can be instantly and reliably interrupted instantaneously just by slightly removing the force pushing the medal group, just as the vehicle decelerates quickly. That is, it becomes easy to operate.

  A fourth invention is the medal insertion device according to the second or third invention, wherein the displacement portion has a cliff-shaped side surface on the medal insertion port side.

  According to the fourth invention, the same effects as those of the second or third invention can be obtained, and medals exceeding the displacement portion can be reliably dropped to the medal slot.

  5th invention is a medal insertion apparatus of the 1st form in which the said displacement part is lower than the said main mounting surface, and has a shelf part (for example, shelf part 140 of FIG. 11) which can mount only one medal. is there.

According to the fifth invention, the same effect as the first invention can be obtained, and the posture can be changed or moved so that the medal falls from the main placement surface to the shelf and then enters the medal slot. The feeling of resistance that occurs is fed back to the fingertip, making it easier to understand and giving a good feeling of operation.
More preferably, the shape of the shelf surface of the shelf portion is a shape that promotes a change in posture from a previous vertical posture to a posture in which the medal dropped from the main placement surface on the shelf portion is inclined to the wall portion (for example, FIG. 11). It is preferable to have an inclined surface climbing in the direction of the medal slot as shown in the partial enlarged view of FIG. In this case, if the medal immediately before insertion is in an inclined posture, the insertion of the next medal can be surely stopped if the force pushing the medal group toward the wall is relaxed. In addition, it is possible to create an appropriate feeling of resistance by catching the edge of the medal from when the medal once tilted returns to the vertical position and falls to the medal drop opening, so that the operational feeling can be further enhanced. it can.

  According to a sixth aspect of the invention, the medal placement portion has a plurality of uneven portions (for example, the uneven portion 133 in FIG. 8) that abut on the outer edge of the medal placed on the main placement surface. The medal insertion device according to any one of the inventions.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the same effects as those of any of the first to fifth aspects of the invention can be obtained, and an appropriate hook is created between the medal placement portion and the medal placed there. Therefore, medals placed in a vertical posture are unlikely to fall down. For example, when trying to replenish additional medals with medals still remaining on the medal placement section, the remaining medals fall down, and the trouble of causing the fallen medals when refilling can be saved The effect is produced. That is, operability can be improved and a smooth game can be realized.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the movement resistance of the medal when the concavo-convex part moves beyond the concavo-convex part is larger in the reverse direction than in the medal slot direction. The medal insertion device of the sixth invention having the shape of

  According to the seventh invention, the same effects as in the sixth invention can be obtained, and when moving the medal toward the medal slot, the medal insertion is performed while maintaining a smooth operation feeling by reducing the movement resistance. When moving away from the mouth and likely to fall, the movement resistance can suppress the fall of the medal.

  An eighth invention is the invention according to any one of the first to seventh inventions, further comprising a variable portion (for example, a variable portion 117, a shim 118, and a screw 119 in FIG. 4) for changing the opening width of the medal slot. It is a medal insertion device.

  According to the eighth invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as any one of the first to seventh inventions, and that the thickness of the medal used in the medal game device differs depending on the play facility where the device is installed. However, the opening width of the medal slot can be changed to cope with it.

  A tenth invention is a medal game device provided with the medal insertion device of any one of the first to ninth inventions. According to the tenth aspect, the same effect as any one of the first to ninth aspects can be obtained.

The front view explaining the structural example of a medal game device. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view around the grip portion showing a configuration example of the medal insertion device in the first embodiment. The (1) top view and (2) side view around the holding part of the medal throwing device in the first embodiment. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the medal insertion apparatus in 1st Embodiment, Comprising: (1) The disassembled state and (2) The figure which shows an assembly state, respectively. The continuous state figure explaining the insertion operation | movement of the medal in the medal insertion apparatus of 1st Embodiment. FIG. 6 is a continuous state diagram continuing from FIG. 5. The figure which shows the modification of the medal mounting part in 1st Embodiment. The perspective external view which shows the structural example of the medal mounting part of the medal insertion apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The figure for demonstrating the effect of the medal mounting part of the medal insertion apparatus in 2nd Embodiment. The figure which shows the modification of the medal mounting part in 2nd Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view containing the medal mounting part of the medal insertion apparatus in 3rd Embodiment. The continuous state figure explaining the insertion operation | movement of the medal in the medal insertion apparatus of 3rd Embodiment. The longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the structural example of the rotary medal insertion apparatus to which 1st Embodiment is applied. The figure for demonstrating a subject.

[First Embodiment]
As a first embodiment to which the present invention is applied, a so-called “pusher-type” medal game device that uses medals as a main game medium will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective front view seen from diagonally above the front for explaining a configuration example of the medal game device 2 in the present embodiment. The medal game device 2 has a basic configuration as a movable table type (or sometimes called pusher type) medal game device. Specifically, the medal game device 2 defines a game space with the boundary glass 4 and includes an operation table 6 on the front side thereof. A total of two medal insertion devices 100 are provided above the operation table 6 so that a maximum of two players can enjoy a medal game at the same time. The medal insertion device 100 according to the present embodiment is a rail-type medal insertion device that guides and inserts a medal in a vertical posture by a rail that penetrates the boundary glass 4 and is supported so as to freely swing left and right.

  In the center of the game space, a flat panel display 8 for displaying various effect images that excite the game is installed. A movable table 10 and a fixed table 12 are provided below the flat panel display 8 from the back of the game space toward the front (player side; front side in FIG. 1). Further, a medal payout opening 14 is opened.

  The movable table 10 is a substantially horizontal table that extends from the opening at the lower end of the flat panel display 8 toward the front side (that is, the player side), and is sometimes called a “pusher table”. The movable table 10 reciprocates from the opening at the lower end of the flat panel display 8 so as to slide on the upper surface of the fixed table 12 like the known medal game device. In other words, the movable table 10 repeats the reciprocating movement that moves toward and away from the medal payout opening 14.

  The movable table 10 is one step higher than the fixed table 12, and the gap between the front end of the movable table 10 and the upper surface of the fixed table 12 is set so narrow that the medal 3 does not sink under the movable table 10. Further, the left and right sides of the movable table 10 are sandwiched between wall portions 11 that are one step higher than the table.

  A chucker 16 is provided at the front end of the movable table 10. The chucker 16 includes a medal entry detection sensor that detects a medal in an insertion hole through which the medal 3 can drop and pass from the upper surface of the movable table 10 to the front end side. When the passage is detected, an approach detection signal is output to the control board 50.

  The fixed table 12 is a substantially horizontal table that widens from the back of the apparatus toward the front. The movable table 10 slides along the upper surface of the fixed table 12 on the side of the apparatus, and the medal payout opening 14 opens on the front side of the fixed table 12 on the apparatus side. The left and right sides of the fixed table 12 are surrounded by a stepped wall 11 like the movable table 10, and the medal 3 pushed on the front end surface of the movable table 10 is pushed toward the medal payout opening 14 and moves. .

  The medal payout opening 14 has a horizontally long funnel shape for collecting medals dropped from the fixed table 12.

  Usually, in the medal game device 2, a large number of medals 3 are placed on the movable table 10 and the fixed table 12 in advance by the administrator. A player (player) plays by inserting a new medal into the game space with the medal insertion device 100.

  When the movable table 10 moves in the back direction of the apparatus, the medal 3 placed on the upper surface of the movable table 10 moves together with the initial movable table 10 in the apparatus saddle direction. However, as the movable table 10 enters the apparatus from the lower end opening of the flat panel display 8 and its protruding area decreases, the medal 3 placed on the upper surface of the movable table 10 hits the edge of the lower end opening and moves. Limited. Then, these medals are relatively pushed toward the front side of the movable table 10 and a part of them are dropped and placed on the upper surface of the fixed table 12.

  Next, when the movable table 10 moves toward the front side of the apparatus, the medal that has dropped from the movable table 10 to the fixed table 12 is now pushed toward the medal payout opening 14 on the front end surface of the movable table 10. Each pressed medal 3 pushes another medal further forward (on the front side of the apparatus), and the other medal pushes another medal further forward. As a result, the medal 3 placed on the fixed table 12 is pushed in a ball shape and moves toward the medal payout exit 14.

  When the medal pushed and moved by the movable table 10 falls from the fixed table 12 to the medal payout opening 14, the medal flows down to the medal storage section 22 through the medal collection passage 20 and is collected. The dropped medal detection sensor 24 detects a medal passing through the medal collection passage 20 and outputs a fall detection signal to the control board 50.

  The control board 50 controls various microprocessors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 52 and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), an IC memory 54, a communication device 56 for realizing data communication with an external device, and signal input / output from various sensors. And an I / O controller IC for controlling the operation of the medal game device 2 in an integrated manner.

  When the control board 50 receives the fall detection signal from the fall medal detection sensor 24, the control board 50 controls the medal payout device 26 built in the lower part of the apparatus to obtain the same number of medals as those detected by the fall medal detection sensor 24. It is transported from the storage unit 22 to a medal outlet 30 that opens below the operation table 6 and is paid out.

  Further, when receiving the entry detection signal output from the chucker 16, the control board 50 executes an auxiliary lottery process for acquiring a play right to play on the attached game device 800. Specifically, the internal lottery process by the calculation of the CPU 52 is executed, and the flat panel display 8 is controlled to display an effect display indicating the lottery process and the lottery result. As an effect display, for example, a virtual reel in which a plurality of symbols are arranged in a roll shape and vertically rotated is displayed in three horizontal rows, each of the three reels is rotated at the start of the lottery, and the lottery results are displayed after a predetermined time has elapsed. Display to stop at.

  When winning in the internal lottery, the control board 50 controls the bonus medal discharging device 32 provided on the flat panel display 8 side, and the number of medals corresponding to the selected prize is placed on the movable table 10 or the fixed table 12. To pay. If a special prize that grants a play right to play with the attached game device 800 is won, the control board 50 operates the attached game device 800 to execute the attached game. The control board 50 further controls the bonus medal discharging device 32 according to the result of the attached game to discharge the bonus medal.

[Description of medal insertion device]
Next, a detailed configuration of the medal insertion device 100 in the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view around the grip portion showing a configuration example of the medal insertion device 100 in the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a (1) top view and (2) a side view around the grip portion.

  The medal insertion device 100 according to the present embodiment is realized in the same manner as a known rail-type medal insertion device with respect to the support structure in the boundary glass 4 and the rail structure for inserting the medal 3.

  For example, a pair of fixed plates 102 that sandwich the boundary glass 4 and a guide rail portion 106 that is pivotally supported by a swing shaft 104 provided on one fixed plate are provided. The guide rail portion 106 penetrates the boundary glass 4 and is pivotally supported in such a posture that the guide rail portion 106 can swing left and right by the swing shaft 104 and the front end (device rear side end) is kept downward. A grip portion 108 is provided at the rear end portion of the guide rail portion 106 (the front side of the device; the player side; the outside of the boundary glass 4) so that the player can operate to operate the orientation of the medal insertion device 100. Yes. A medal slot 110 for inserting the medal 3 into the guide rail unit 106 in a vertical posture (standing posture in which the normal of the medal surface is horizontal) opens on the upper surface of the grip portion 108.

In the medal insertion device 100 according to the present embodiment, a medal group 3G in which the medals 3 to be inserted are stacked in a vertical posture and stacked in a horizontal direction is placed on one side of the medal insertion port 110 of the grip portion 108. A wall-shaped medal placement unit 120 that can be pressed against the medal 3 placed on the medal placement unit 120 is provided on the other side of the medal insertion slot 110. Yes.
Assuming a right-handed orthogonal coordinate system in which the medal insertion direction is the Y-axis plus direction in FIG. 2, in the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, the medal placement unit 120 has a longitudinal wrinkle along the X-axis direction from the medal insertion port 110. Is forming.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view including the medal placement unit 120 orthogonal to the front-rear direction (Y-axis) of the medal insertion device 100 in the present embodiment, and shows (1) disassembled state and (2) assembled state, respectively. ing.
The medal placement unit 120 is detachable from the grip unit 108. For example, the shape of the stepped portion 112 formed on the side of the medal insertion slot 110 of the gripping portion 108 is formed on the side portion of the medal placement portion 120 so that the gripping portion 108 is fitted with a screw 119. Installed. Note that a shim 118 is appropriately sandwiched between the grip portion 108 and the medal placement portion 120 so that the opening width We of the medal insertion slot 110 is adjusted so that the medal 3 having a different thickness Tm can be handled. Has been. That is, the shim 118 and the screw 119 function as a variable portion 117 that varies the opening width We of the medal slot 110. The opening width We of the medal slot 110 is set to a size that allows only one medal 3 to pass.

  Formed on the top surface of the medal placement section 120 is a medal alignment groove 122 on which individual medals 3 can be placed by arranging a group of medals 3G stacked in the horizontal direction in a vertical posture. In the medal placement unit 120 of this embodiment, the placement position (more specifically, the height) of the medal 3 in the medal alignment groove 122 at the end of the medal alignment groove 122 on the medal insertion slot 110 side. The displacement part 124 which displaces is provided. In other words, the medal alignment groove 122 includes a displacement portion 124 at an end portion on the medal insertion slot 110 side of the main placement surface 125 on which most of the placed medals are placed. In other words, the displacement portion 124 has one end continuous with the placement surface of the medal placement portion 120, the other end provided near the medal slot 110, and from one end to the other end. There is an inclined surface that raises the height position of the medal.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the displacement portion 124 of the present embodiment is formed across the bottom surface and the side surface of the medal alignment groove 122. And the displacement part 124 of this embodiment has the shape of the longitudinal cross section (X-axis direction cross section) of the medal alignment groove | channel 122 formed in a triangle. More specifically, the medal insertion slot 110 side has a substantially vertical cliff-like cut side surface 124 a, the top is sharp, and has an inclined part 124 b that goes down from the medal insertion slot 110.

The width of the triangle base, that is, the width of the displacement portion 124 in the X-axis direction is about 0.5 to 2.5 times the thickness Tm of the medal 3 assumed to be used at the bottom of the medal alignment groove 122. In the figure, it is shown wider than the thickness Tm of the medal so that the presence of the displacement portion 124 becomes clear, but it is preferable to set it approximately 1.0 times as desired. In other words, it is preferable that the displacement portion 124 has a width that allows 1 to 3 medals 3 to be hit, and that one medal is hit.
The inclination angle of the inclined portion 124b has an angle at which the medal 3 approaching the portion can slide down, more preferably an angle of about 40 to 60 degrees, and preferably in the range of 40 to 50 degrees. It is configured as follows. The connecting portion between the inclined portion 124b and the main mounting surface 125 may be a continuous surface that gently connects, but in this embodiment, the connecting portion is discontinuous so that the angle of the surface is clearly switched.

[Description of input operation]
5 to 6 are continuous state diagrams for explaining a medal insertion operation in the medal insertion device 100 of the present embodiment. 5 (1) to 5 (2) and FIGS. 6 (3) to 6 (4) all correspond to the same cross-sectional view as FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5 (1), the player collects medals 3 to be inserted and creates a medal group 3 G and places them on the main placement surface 125 of the medal alignment groove 122 of the medal placement portion 120. To do. The upper part of the medal 3 (3 a) nearest to the medal insertion slot 110 looks like leaning against the wall 111.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 5 (2), when a force F1 in the direction of the medal slot 110 is applied to the surface opposite to the medal slot 110 of the medal group 3G with a finger or the like, the medals of the medal group 3G are The medals come into close contact with each other while gradually changing the posture to the standing posture, and the lower part of the medal 3 (3a) comes into contact with the lower end of the inclined part 124b of the displacement part 124 before long. The reaction force due to this contact is the first feedback to the finger pushing the medal group 3G.

  From here, the medal 3 (3a) nearest to the medal insertion slot 110 is pushed up to the inclined portion 124b of the displacement portion 124 in order. Thus, the medal 3 is gradually raised from the bottom surface (main placement surface 125) of the medal alignment groove 122 as it approaches the medal insertion slot 110. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6 (3), the medal 3 (3a) pushed up by the displacement portion 124 has a force in the direction of sliding down the inclined portion 124b as shown by the small white arrow in the partial enlarged view. That is, a force F2 in the direction of separating the medal from the medal insertion slot 110 (a force for sliding the inclined portion 124b) acts. In order to insert a medal, it is necessary to increase the force for pushing the medal as much as possible against the force F2, and the change in the pushing force (change from the force F1 in FIG. 5 (2) to the force F3 in FIG. 6 (3)). ) Produces a feeling of resistance similar to that of pressing a push switch or pulling a trigger. If the force F3 for pushing the medal is sufficiently strong, the force F2 in the separating direction is overcome, and the medal climbs up the inclined portion 124b. Here, if the force F1 for pushing the medal is sufficiently strong, the medal 3 (3a) beyond the top of the displacement portion 124 is pressed against the wall 111 on the opposite bank of the medal insertion slot 110 (although this is the case). At this stage, it does not fall to the medal slot 110. At this stage, the next medal 3 (3b) is approaching the inclined portion 124b.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6 (4), when the force that slightly pushes the medal group 3 G is loosened (force F 3 → force F 1), the medal 3 (3 a) pressed against the wall 111 becomes the medal insertion slot 110. The next medal 3 (3b) that has naturally fallen to the displacement portion 124 is slightly pushed back in the direction in which the medal group 3G moves away from the medal insertion slot 110 by the force F2 that slides down the inclined portion 124b. Return to the state of (2).

  Then, if the force for pushing the medal group 3G is increased again, the next medal 3 (3b) climbs up the displacement portion 124 and is pressed against the wall portion 111, so that the state shown in FIG. When loosened slightly, the medal 3 (3b) falls to the medal insertion slot 110, and the state shown in FIG. 6 (4) is obtained. In other words, the player continuously pushes the medal group 3G placed in the medal alignment groove 122 toward the medal insertion slot 110 and presses it against the wall 111 while removing the force and continuously moving the force. It is possible to insert medals into the game space.

  Focusing on the force of pushing the medal group 3G, when the player starts pushing the medal group 3G toward the wall portion 111 with a finger, the resistance when the nearest medal at the medal slot 110 touches the inclined portion 124b and rides up. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a feeling that the medal 3 will be inserted. From there, as if the push switch was pushed in and released, if a force was applied and then loosened a little (force F3 → force F1), only one medal could be inserted. That is, for the player, a comfortable operation feeling similar to a single click can be felt every time a medal is inserted with the fingertip pressing the medal group 3G. This change in the feel of the fingertips makes it easier to recognize the boundary between inserting and not inserting medals.

As described above, according to the medal insertion device 100 of the present embodiment, the medal group 3G placed on the medal placement unit 120 is continuously operated as if the push switch is pushed and released. , Medals can be inserted continuously in the sense of “inserting one medal with one push”. Of course, if the next push is not performed, the next input can be easily stopped. In other words, it is possible to interrupt the continuous insertion of medals where desired.
The operation feeling of “inserting one medal with one push” is very similar to a push operation in a conventional video game (for example, an operation of pushing a push switch of a game controller in a shooting game shooting operation), and is not used to a medal game. Even a player can easily learn how to insert medals continuously.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a modified example of the medal placement unit 120 in the present embodiment, and corresponds to a perspective view seen obliquely from the upper side of the attachment surface to the grip unit 108.
As shown in FIG. 7 (1), the number of the displacement portions 124 is not limited to one. For example, as in the first displacement portion 124C and the second displacement portion 124D, the medal alignment grooves 122 are separately provided on the bottom surface and the side surfaces. This can be realized by providing a body. Furthermore, it can also be configured by only one of the first displacement portion 124C and the second displacement portion 124D.

  Further, if attention is paid to the shape of one inclined portion, the cut-off side surface 124a of the displacement portion 124 is not limited to being substantially vertical, and a medal beyond the top portion can be smoothly obtained as in the displacement portion 124E in FIG. As long as it can slide down to the insertion port 110, the cut-off side surface 124a may have an inclination angle looser than vertical. Further, the top portion may be slightly rounded as long as the state where the medal is held is not frequently generated. Further, the inclination angle of the inclined portion 124b is a force F3 that pushes the medal group 3G when inserted in consideration of the material of the medal placement portion 120, the surface treatment, the shape of the side surface of the medal 3, and the like (see FIG. 6 (3)). And a force F1 (see FIG. 6 (4)) that is loosened so as to interrupt the charging can be appropriately set so as to produce an appropriate operational feeling. Accordingly, the inclined portion 124b is not limited to a flat surface, and may be a curved surface as appropriate (for example, a concave curved surface recessed into the medal slot 110).

  Further, the displacement portion 124 is not limited to a solid body, and can be realized by providing a plate forming the inclined portion 124b in the medal alignment groove 122 as shown in the displacement portion 124F of FIG.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. The present embodiment is basically realized in the same manner as the first embodiment, but the medal placement unit 120 has an uneven portion that comes into contact with the outer edge of the medal placed on the main placement surface 125.
Here, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described here, and the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Also, in order to facilitate understanding of the orientation, a right-handed orthogonal coordinate system with the medal insertion direction as the Y axis is assumed as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective external view showing a configuration example of the medal placement unit 120B of the medal insertion device 100B of the medal game device 2 in the present embodiment. The medal placement part 120B is provided with one or a plurality of upright surfaces 130 that are inclined in a direction away from the displacement part 124 on the inner surface of the medal alignment groove 122. Desirably, it is preferable to provide a plurality of upright surfaces 130 with a thickness of the medal 3 at intervals of several sheets.

  If described based on the coordinate system, the vertical surface 130 has a normal line in the negative Z-axis direction and the negative X-axis direction, and extends in the positive X-axis direction from the upper part to the lower part of the inner side surface of the medal alignment groove 122 It can be said that it is a long and slender vertical belt surface as a whole. The inner end of one adjacent standing surface 130 and the outer end of the next adjacent standing surface 130 are connected by a connecting surface 132. That is, the upright surface 130 and the connecting surface 132 constitute a concavo-convex portion 133 that contacts the outer edge of the medal 3 placed on the main placement surface 125. In the example of FIG. 8, four uneven portions 133 are provided on each of the left and right inner surfaces of the medal alignment groove 122, but the number can be increased or decreased as appropriate.

  As shown in the enlarged display portion W1 in FIG. 8, it can be said that the inner surface of the medal alignment groove 122 of the medal placement portion 120B has a saw-tooth shape that stands up toward the medal insertion slot 110 side. If the movement resistance when the medal group 3G is pressed is described, the movement resistance of the medal 3 when the elevation surface 130 and the connection surface 132 move beyond the uneven portion 133 is directed toward the medal slot 110. It can be said that it has a wave shape (more specifically, a traveling wave shape that travels to the medal insertion slot 110) in which the movement in the opposite direction is larger than the movement of the medals.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the effect of the uneven portion 133.
As shown in FIG. 9 (1), in the medal placement unit 120 of the first embodiment, the elevation surface 130 is not provided on the side surface of the medal alignment groove 122. Accordingly, when the finger attached to the medal group 3G is released in order to add another medal while the medal 3 remains in the medal alignment groove 122, the medal 3 placed in the vertical posture may fall down. In this case, in order to place a medal to be added, it is necessary to place the medal that has already fallen while raising it. In some cases, the medal 3 may fall from the medal alignment groove 122 with a fallen momentum.

  However, as shown in FIG. 9 (2), the medal placement portion 120B of the present embodiment is provided with the elevation 130, so that even if the medal 3 remaining in the medal alignment groove 122 is about to fall down. The outer edge is caught on the upright surface 130. The medal 3 is slightly inclined from the vertical posture, and rarely falls down as shown in FIG. Therefore, when adding the medal 3, it is possible to save time and trouble to raise a fallen medal, and the game progresses smoothly. In addition, the possibility that the medal 3 falls down from the medal aligning groove 122 with a momentum to fall down becomes much lower.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 10A, the elevation surface 130 can be provided not only on the side surface of the medal alignment groove 122 but also on the bottom surface. In this case, the above effects are further enhanced. Of course, it may be provided only on the bottom surface of the medal alignment groove 122.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, an elevation surface 130 is provided on the side surface of the medal alignment groove 122, and the medal insertion groove 110 is arranged so that the bottom surface of the medal alignment groove 122 becomes higher as the distance from the medal insertion slot 110 increases. It can also comprise so that it may incline toward. In this case, when the medal 3 left in the medal alignment groove 122 is about to fall down, the effect of suppressing the fall is enhanced. Such a configuration can also be applied as it is to the first embodiment having no elevation 130.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, a third embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described. This embodiment is basically realized in the same manner as the first embodiment, except that a step is provided as a displacement part on the medal insertion slot side of the medal alignment groove of the medal placement part. Here, the difference from the first embodiment will be mainly described here, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, in order to facilitate understanding of the orientation, a right-handed orthogonal coordinate system with the Y-axis as the medal insertion direction is assumed as in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view including a medal placement unit 120C of the medal insertion device 100C of the medal game device 2 in the present embodiment. The medal placement portion 120C of the present embodiment has a shelf 140 that is lower than the height of the main placement surface 125 of the medal alignment groove 122 as a displacement portion in the present embodiment on the medal insertion slot 110 side of the medal alignment groove 122. The shelf 140 is provided at least at the bottom of the medal alignment groove 122, and the thickness Ws (see FIG. 4) may be the same as that of the first embodiment. For example, the medal 3 has a width of about one X-axis direction. . The upper surface of the shelf 140, that is, the shelf surface on which the medals are placed forms an inclined surface 140b corresponding to the inclined portion 124b of the displacement portion 124 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a continuous state diagram for explaining a medal insertion operation in the medal insertion device of the present embodiment, and each corresponds to the same sectional view as FIG.
As shown in FIG. 12 (1), the player creates a medal group 3G by placing a plurality of medals 3 in a vertical posture and bringing the surfaces into close contact with each other. It is placed on the main placement surface 125 of the medal alignment groove 122. Then, when a pressing force F4 (left-pointing white arrow) is applied from the surface opposite to the medal insertion slot 110 of the medal group 3G, the first medal 3 (3c) on the medal insertion slot 110 side sequentially falls onto the shelf 140.

  The upper surface of the shelf 140 forms an inclined surface 140b. In addition, since this medal 3 (3c) is pushed from the side by another adjacent medal, it falls to the medal insertion slot 110 side with the lower end (black circle in the partially enlarged view) in contact with the shelf 140 as a fulcrum. The upper end of the medal 3 (3c) hits the opposite wall 111, and the medal 110 is kept tilted without falling from the shelf 140.

  As shown in FIG. 12 (2), when the pressing force F5 is slightly increased, the medal 3 (3c) placed on the shelf 140 is pushed and climbs the inclined surface 140b, passes the inclined surface 140b, and enters the medal insertion slot 110. It falls naturally. At that time, the next medal 3 (3d) newly falls on the shelf 140 and tilts and stops. If the pressing force F5 is further applied from here, the medal 3 (3d) immediately falls over the inclined surface 140b and spontaneously falls to the medal slot 110. That is, if the player continues to push the medal group 3G placed in the medal alignment groove 122 in the direction of the medal insertion slot 110, the player can easily and continuously insert medals into the game space.

  If the force F5 for pushing the medal 3 is loosened, as shown in FIG. 12 (3), the medal 3 (3d) of the shelf 140 remains on the shelf 140 without exceeding the inclined surface 140b. That is, the insertion of the medal 3 stops.

  When attention is paid to the force by which the player pushes the medal 3, resistance for causing the medal 3 placed on the shelf 140 to climb over the inclined surface 140b is generated. It has a pleasant operation feeling for medal insertion.

  As described above, according to the medal insertion device 100 of the present embodiment, it is possible to continuously insert medals by simply pressing the medals placed on the medal placement unit 120C. Can be stopped. In order to operate the insertion / stop of medals by adjusting the force of pressing the medals placed on the medal placement part 120 so as to press against the wall part on the opposite side across the medal insertion slot 110 as in the past. Compared to this, the operation becomes much easier.

  Instead of the inclined surface 140b of the shelf 140, fine protrusions that should be overcome may be provided. Alternatively, the inclined surface 140b may be omitted to make a substantially flat surface. In this case, the sense of resistance generated between the lower end of the medal that is placed on the shelf 140 and tilted up from the inclined posture and the upper surface of the shelf 140 creates an operational feeling for inserting the medal. In order to generate an appropriate resistance feeling, for example, it is preferable to perform a surface treatment for increasing resistance such as making the upper surface of the shelf 140 into a satin finish.

  Further, the configuration related to the elevation surface 130 described in the second embodiment can be similarly applied to the present embodiment.

[Modification]
Although the embodiments to which the present invention is applied have been described above, the application of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and additions, omissions, changes, and the like of components can be appropriately made. For example, in the above embodiment, the medal insertion device has been described as a rail type, but it can also be applied to a rotation type (also referred to as a carcel type) medal insertion device 750.

  For example, FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a configuration example of the rotary medal insertion device 750 to which the first embodiment is applied, in which the right direction in the drawing indicates the game field direction and the left direction indicates the player side. ing. The rotary medal insertion device 750 includes a medal insertion slot 110 for inserting the medal 3 in a vertical posture into a handle portion 752 protruding above the operation table 6. The medal placement unit 120 is attached to the handle unit 752.

  The lower end of the medal insertion slot 110 is connected to the start end portion of the medal passage 756 through which the medal 3 can pass. The medal passage 756 is provided with a nozzle 758 that extends substantially vertically downward and then reverses in a circular arc and has a variable elevation angle at the end. However, the elevation angle of the nozzle 758 is set and fixed to an appropriate angle by the administrator of the medal game device 2 or the device manufacturer. On the inner peripheral side of the inverted portion of the medal passage 756, the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 764 connected to the motor 760 with a belt is exposed. The rotating body 764 is driven at a constant rotational speed per unit time by a motor 760. These elements (the handle portion 752, the medal passage 756, the nozzle 758, the motor 760, the rotating body 764, and the medal passage sensor 766) are integrally attached to the case portion 768. A swing shaft 770 is provided in the case portion 768, and the swing shaft 770 can swing freely within a predetermined angle range in the left-right direction perpendicular to the frame 2 f of the medal game device 2 by the bearing 772. It is pivotally supported.

  Thus, even if the present invention is applied to the rotary medal insertion device 750, the same effect as that of the above embodiment can be obtained.

2 ... Medal game device 3 ... Medal 3G ... Medal group 100 ... Medal insertion device 106 ... Guide rail part 108 ... Grasping part 110 ... Medal insertion port 111 ... Wall part 117 ... Variable part 118 ... Shim 119 ... Screw 120 ... Medal placement 122: Medal alignment groove 124 ... Displacement part 124a ... Ribbed side surface 124b ... Inclined part 125 ... Main placement part 130 ... Elevated surface 132 ... Connection surface 133 ... Uneven part 140 ... Shelf part 140b ... Inclined surface

Claims (3)

Medal slot,
It is an uneven part that contacts the outer edge of the medal placed on the main placement surface, and the movement resistance of the medal when moving beyond the uneven part is more than the movement in the direction of the medal slot. A medal placement unit that has a plurality of concavo-convex portions having a wavy shape in which movement in the reverse direction is greater, and a medal group in which a plurality of medals are aligned can be moved in the direction of the medal slot;
A wall portion for pressing the medal group placed on the medal placement portion toward the medal slot;
With
The medal mount has said medals can be placed ledge the closest medals one height position into the slot at a position lower than the main mounting surface upon pressing of the medal group, A medal insertion device, wherein a medal is continuously dropped from the medal insertion slot through the shelf by continuously applying a pressing force. A variable portion for varying the opening width of the medal slot;
Further token input device of claim 1 comprising a. Medal game machine having a token input device according to claim 1 or 2.

Images