JP6463590B2 - Paper sheet transport device, game machine island, transport path fixture - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a paper sheet conveying device that conveys paper sheets such as banknotes by the action of an air flow generated in a conveying pipe, and in particular, a gaming machine in which gaming machines and game medium lending machines are arranged in a curved shape. The present invention relates to a paper sheet transport device installed inside the island.

  Inside the gaming machine island that houses multiple sets of gaming media lending machines that lend gaming media (medals etc.) to players upon receipt of banknotes and gaming machines such as slot machines, A transport device is provided along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island for transporting the bills inserted into the gaming medium lending machine to a safe provided at the end of the gaming machine island. In the middle of the conveyance path, a take-in device for taking in the bills discharged from the game medium lending machine into the conveyance path is provided for each game medium lending machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in order to cope with various installation forms of gaming machines in a game arcade, a gaming machine island (called a circle island) in which gaming machines and gaming media rental machines are arranged in an arc shape or the like has been devised. In order to transport banknotes or the like to a safe on such a circle island, it is necessary to form a transport path in an arc shape along the inside of the circle island.

  In the case of forming an arcuate conveyance path along the inner side of the circular island, it is conceivable to connect the linear part and the curved part curved in an arcuate shape. For example, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a paper piece conveying device in which a linear conveying device and a curved conveying device are connected to form a curved form of a gaming machine island.

  By the way, when fixing a conveyance path inside the gaming machine island, a conveyance fixture (clamp) is attached to the back of the game medium lending machine having a banknote discharge port, and a rigid linear frame is attached to the conveyance fixture. By fitting, a reference of a conveyance path is created, and various members constituting the conveyance path are attached to the frame to secure their positions. That is, since a take-in device for taking in the banknotes discharged from the game medium lending machine into the carry path is provided in the middle of the carry path, the take-in apparatus is in a correct position corresponding to the game medium lending machine. The transport path is assembled based on the frame held by the transport fixture attached to the back of the game medium lending machine so that it can be attached.

  When the interval between the game medium lending machine and the game medium lending machine is increased, the interval between adjacent conveyance fixtures is also increased, and the conveyance path may hang down midway due to the weight of the conveyance path. Therefore, in addition to the transport fixtures attached to the back of the game media lending machine, prepare island-mounted transport fixtures to be attached to other parts of the gaming machine island, and attach the island-mounted transport fixtures to the appropriate locations on the gaming machine island. Thus, it is possible to prevent the conveyance path from sagging. The island-mounted transfer fixture cannot be attached to a place where various equipment and wiring installed in the gaming machine island exist, and is installed at a position avoiding them.

JP 2004-81249 A

  On curved gaming machine islands such as circle islands, a straight path and a curved part are connected to form a transfer path. To support the entire transfer path with the above-mentioned frame, it corresponds to the curvature of the curved part. A curved frame is also required. However, it is difficult to create a rigid frame that serves as a reference for the transport path while maintaining accuracy with an arbitrary curvature. In addition, since the curvature of a curved gaming machine island such as Yenjima varies depending on the game hall, it is not preferable to prepare frames with various curvatures from the viewpoint of sharing parts.

  On the other hand, if only the straight part is supported by the frame and the bending part is supported by the conveyance path of the straight part connected to the bending part, it is difficult to keep the conveyance path of the bending part in an accurate position. . That is, micro vibrations are generated due to a collision with the inner wall when a bill or the like passes through a curved portion, so that the curved portion moves and the upstream straight line portion is connected while the bill or the like repeatedly passes. It may come off.

  Therefore, there is a method of preventing the deviation by fixing the curved portion to the gaming machine island with a conventional island mounting type transport fixing tool, but the island mounting type transport fixing tool has various types installed in the gaming machine island. Since it cannot be attached to the place where the equipment is present, the island-mounted transfer fixture cannot be used depending on the position of the curved portion. In addition, when the island-mounted transfer fixture is extended to a position where interference with equipment and wiring can be avoided and the curved part is held, the installation position of equipment and wiring conditions differ for each gaming machine island. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare various types of island-mounted transport fixtures.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and the curved portion of the conveyance path connecting the straight portion and the curved portion is securely fixed according to the conveyance route setting reference without being influenced by the island environment. An object of the present invention is to provide a paper sheet transport device, a gaming machine island, and a transport path fixture that can be used.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] A conveyance path that extends along the inside of a gaming machine island in which gaming machines and gaming medium lending machines are arranged in a curved line, and conveys paper sheets discharged from the gaming medium lending machine to a predetermined place Have
The transport path is configured by connecting a straight portion and a curved portion along the inside of the gaming machine island,
The linear portion is held by a linear frame having rigidity fixed to the gaming machine island,
The frame is interrupted at the curved portion,
A paper sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: a bending portion holding member that is attached to the frame and holds the bending portion.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [7] below, the conveyance path is configured by connecting the straight portion and the curved portion, and the straight portion is held by a frame fixed to the gaming machine island. The frame is interrupted at a portion corresponding to the bending portion, and the bending portion at the position where the frame is interrupted is held by a bending portion holding member attached to an end portion of the frame.

[2] The end of the curved portion is a straight section,
The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to [1], wherein the bending portion holding member holds the straight section of the bending portion.

  In the above invention and the invention described in [8] below, the bending portion holding member holds the straight section of the end portion of the bending portion, so that the bending portion can be held regardless of the difference in curvature of the bending portion. .

[3] The linear section on the upstream side of the curved portion is provided with an extended portion extended outward.
The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to [2], wherein the curved holding member has a contact portion that contacts the extended portion and holds the downstream side of the extended portion.

  In the above-described invention and the invention described in [9] below, the abutting portion of the bending holding member abuts the expansion portion of the bending portion from the downstream side, thereby preventing the movement of the bending portion to the downstream side.

[4] The paper sheet according to any one of [1] to [3], wherein the transport path is cylindrical and transports the paper sheet by the action of an air flow flowing inside. Conveyor.

[5] The paper sheet transport device according to [4], wherein the paper sheet is pushed and moved from behind by a transport auxiliary member that receives an air flow and moves in the transport path.

[6] A gaming machine island in which gaming machines and gaming media lending machines are arranged in a curve,
A gaming machine island comprising the paper sheet transport device according to any one of [1] to [5].

[7] A conveyance path that extends along the inside of a gaming machine island in which gaming machines and gaming medium lending machines are arranged in a curved line, and conveys paper sheets discharged from the gaming medium lending machine to a predetermined place A transport path fixture that supports a part of
The transport path is configured by connecting a straight portion and a curved portion along the inside of the gaming machine island,
The straight portion is held by a linear frame having rigidity fixed to the gaming machine island, and the frame is interrupted by the curved portion,
The conveyance path fixture is attached to the frame and holds the curved portion.

[8] The end of the curved portion is a straight section,
The conveyance path fixture according to [7], wherein the bending portion holding member holds the straight section of the bending portion.

[9] The linear section on the upstream side of the curved portion is provided with an extended portion that extends outward,
The conveyance path fixture according to [8], wherein the curved holding member has an abutting portion that abuts on the extension portion, and holds the downstream side of the extension portion.

  According to the paper sheet transport device, the gaming machine island, and the transport path fixture according to the present invention, the transport path setting reference is not influenced by the island environment, with the curved section of the transport path connecting the straight section and the curved section. It can be securely fixed according to

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the paper sheet conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention provided in the circle island. It is a perspective view which shows the paper sheet conveying apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention provided in the circle island. It is a figure which shows the structure of the part provided in the inside of the safe of an island edge among paper sheet conveying apparatuses. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which a conveyance auxiliary body pushes and moves the banknote in a conveyance pipe from the rear end side of this banknote. It is a perspective view which shows the conveyance pipe in a linear part. It is sectional drawing of the conveyance pipe in a straight part. It is a figure which shows the plane and front of a conveyance auxiliary body. It is sectional drawing which passes along the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary body of the state which inserted the conveyance auxiliary body in the conveyance pipe. It is sectional drawing which shows a turn part. It is a perspective view which shows a turn part. It is a perspective view which shows the one part area of a conveyance pipe. It is a disassembled perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows the conveyance pipe of the area shown in FIG. It is a front view which shows the conveyance pipe of the area corresponding to FIG. It is a top view which shows the conveyance pipe of the area corresponding to FIG. It is a figure which shows a part of conveyance path of the state to which the game media rental machine was attached. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of a banknote taking-in apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows a bending pipe part. It is the perspective view which looked at the bending pipe part holding metal fitting from the diagonally upstream side. It is the perspective view which looked at the bending pipe part holding metal fitting from the diagonally downstream side. It is a front view which shows a bending pipe part holding metal fitting. It is a left view which shows a bending pipe part holding metal fitting. It is a rear view which shows a bending pipe part holding metal fitting. It is a top view which shows a bending pipe part holding metal fitting. It is a bottom view which shows a bending pipe part holding metal fitting. It is a figure which shows how to attach the bending pipe part holding metal fitting to the edge part of a frame member. It is a perspective view which shows the state which hold | maintained the bending pipe part with the bending pipe part holding metal fitting attached to the downstream end of a frame member. It is a perspective view which shows the turn part holding member holding a turn part. It is a perspective view which shows the turn part holding member holding the turn part in the position away from the banknote taking-in apparatus to some extent. It is a figure which shows the state which hold | maintained the turn part with the turn holding member of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the conveyance path of the paper sheet conveying apparatus installed in the inside of the game machine island provided so that a pillar might be surrounded. It is a top view which shows the conveyance path of the paper sheet conveying apparatus installed in the inside of the game machine island provided so that a pillar might be surrounded. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a corner | angular part curved tube holding member. It is a perspective view which shows the state which hold | maintained the corner | angular bending tube with the corner | angular part bending tube holding member. It is a perspective view which shows the example of another corner | angular_part bending tube holding member. It is a perspective view which shows the state which hold | maintained the corner | angular bending tube with the corner | angular part bending tube holding member.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a paper sheet transport apparatus 10 incorporated in a circle island according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the paper sheet transport apparatus 10 incorporated in the circle island. FIG. In the present embodiment, the paper sheet transport device 10 is a combination of a game medium lending machine 3 that lends a game medium (medal) to a player upon receipt of a bill and a gaming machine 4 such as a slot machine. Are arranged inside a circle island (gaming machine island 2) arranged in a circular arc shape with the front side facing outward, and the banknotes discharged from the back of each gaming medium lending machine 3 are taken in to play the gaming machine island 2 It is comprised as a banknote conveying apparatus which conveys to the safe 5 provided in the edge part. In FIG. 2, the gaming machine 4 is not shown. FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the safe 5.

  The paper sheet transport apparatus 10 includes a transport pipe 12 that serves as a transport path for bills 6 (paper sheets), and an air flow generator (blower) 14 that generates an air flow that flows in the extending direction in the transport pipe 12 ( 3). The transport pipe 12 extends in an arc shape along the inside of the gaming machine island 2 (the game medium lending machine 3 and the gaming machine 4 arranged in an arc shape). In the paper sheet transport apparatus 10, a transport auxiliary body 16 that can move in the transport pipe 12 by receiving an air flow is inserted into the transport pipe 12 upstream of the banknote 6 to be transported. The banknote 6 in the conveyance pipe 12 is pushed from behind and conveyed downstream.

  In the gaming machine island 2 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, an air flow generator 14 and a banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 20 are provided inside the safe 5. The banknote separation / conveyance auxiliary body circulation device 20 includes a function of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 21 that sends out the conveyance auxiliary body 16 into the conveyance pipe 12, and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that has been conveyed by pushing and moving the banknote 6 from behind. In addition to the function of the separation / recovery device 22 that separates and collects each of them, the recovered transport auxiliary body 16 is returned to the transport auxiliary body inserting device 21 and circulated. The bills 6 collected by the separation and collection device 22 are stored in a bill storage unit (not shown) in the safe 5.

  The air blowing side (air blowing passage 14 a) of the air flow generator 14 is connected to the air inlet side of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 21, and the starting end of the conveyance pipe 12 is connected to the air outlet side of the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 21. It is connected. The transfer pipe 12 has a forward path 12a that extends in an arc shape from the air outlet side of the transfer auxiliary body insertion device 21 to the other end of the gaming machine island 2, and a turn that is folded in a U shape at the other end. After being turned back by the turn part 12b, the part 12b (see FIG. 2) and the return path 12c extended so as to return to the safe 5 along the forward path 12a are formed. The end of the return path 12c is connected to the air inlet side of the separation and recovery device 22 (see FIG. 3), and the air suction side (air suction passage 14b) of the air flow generator 14 is connected to the air outlet side of the separation and recovery device 22. It is connected.

  The air flow generator 14 generates an air flow by rotating a fan with a motor. The air flow generated by the air flow generator 14 flows from the air blowing passage 14a to the starting end of the transport pipe 12 through the transport auxiliary body insertion device 21, passes through the forward path 12a, the turn portion 12b, and the return path 12c, and then is separated and recovered by the recovery apparatus 22. Then, the air flows through the air suction passage 14b so as to be drawn into the suction side of the air flow generation device 14.

  Each of the forward path 12a and the return path 12c of the transport pipe 12 is formed in an arc shape along the inner side of the gaming machine island 2 as a whole by connecting a straight straight pipe section and a curved curved pipe section. In the straight pipe part constituting the return path 12c, the bills 6 discharged from the back of the game medium lending machine 3 are placed in the transport pipe 12 (straight pipe part of the return path 12c) at a position corresponding to each game medium lending machine 3. The banknote taking-in apparatus 24 to take in is provided. The bill taking-in device 24 includes a passage portion 51 (see FIG. 15) that forms a part of the straight pipe portion of the return path 12c, and takes in the bill 6 into the passage portion 51.

  The banknote 6 taken in from the banknote taking-in device 24 into the return path 12c of the transport pipe 12 stays at the take-up completion position with the paper surface in a posture along the extending direction of the transport pipe 12. In order to transport and collect the bill 6 that has been taken in and stayed in the transport pipe 12 (passage section of the bill capturing device 24) to the safe 5, the transport auxiliary body 16 is transported by the transport auxiliary body inserting device 21 to the transport pipe. 12 is sent into. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 sent into the conveyance pipe 12 from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 21 moves in the forward path 12a toward the turn portion 12b under the action of the air flow generated by the air flow generation device 14, After making a U-turn at the turn part 12b, the inside of the return path 12c further moves toward the terminal part. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 pushes and moves the banknote 6 in the conveyance pipe 12 from the rear end side of the banknote 6 toward the terminal end of the conveyance pipe 12 (in the drawing). The bill 6 is transported in the transport direction F).

  The banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulating apparatus 20 and the banknote taking-in apparatus 24 of the paper sheet transporting apparatus 10 have a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory) and the like as main parts. The operation is controlled by a control unit (not shown). In this example, the air flow generation device 14 is always operated, and the control unit detects the bill 6 discharged from the back of the game medium lending machine 3 when the sensor provided in the bill pickup device 24 detects the bill pickup device. 24 is operated to take the bill 6 into the transport pipe 12. When this taking-in operation is completed, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is fed into the conveyance pipe 12 from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 21. Then, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 receives the action of the air flow and moves in the conveyance pipe 12 from the forward path 12a to the turn portion 12b and the return path 12c, and in the backward path 12c, the banknote 6 staying in the middle is moved backward. Push to move it. When the separation and recovery device 22 detects the arrival of the conveyance auxiliary body 16, it separates the banknote 6 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and collects them, and the recovered conveyance auxiliary body 16 is provided with a conveyance auxiliary body insertion device in preparation for the next delivery. The operation is controlled such that the bill 6 guided to 21 is transported to the bill storage portion in the safe 5.

  The air flow generator 14 is operated only when necessary (for example, from the time when the banknote take-in device 24 detects the banknote 6 discharged from the game medium lending machine 3 until the banknote is transported to the safe 5). You may control to make it.

  In this way, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is moved under the action of the airflow, and the banknote 6 is pushed and conveyed from the rear end side by the conveyance auxiliary body 16, so that the banknote 6 itself receives the airflow and propulsion force. No need to get. Therefore, the banknote 6 can be conveyed by the airflow without taking measures such as bending the banknote 6 to receive the airflow. Moreover, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can obtain a driving force from an air flow more efficiently than the banknote 6, the banknote can be efficiently conveyed.

  Next, the shape of the conveyance pipe | tube 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is demonstrated in detail.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the transport pipe 12 forming a part of the straight pipe portion, and FIG. 6 is an extending direction F of the transport pipe 12 in the same part (= banknote transport direction F = air flow direction). It is sectional drawing which shows a vertical cross-sectional shape. The conveyance tube 12 is formed of a resin having a thickness of about 1.5 mm. The conveyance pipe 12 is formed by extrusion molding, for example. The inner shape of the transport pipe 12 is the same in the curved pipe section.

  The cross-sectional shape of the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F of the straight portion of the transport pipe 12 is a shape in which the central portions of the left and right side walls of the vertically long rectangle are expanded outwardly into a rectangle. Specifically, the transport pipe 12 includes upper and lower wall portions 31, left and right side wall portions 32, and an extension portion 33 that protrudes outward in a rectangular shape at a central portion in the vertical direction of the left and right side wall portions 32. In the substantially rectangular cross section perpendicular to the extending direction (conveying direction F) of the conveying pipe 12, the short side direction is the X direction (or width direction, left and right direction), and the long side direction is Y direction (or height direction, up and down). Direction). In each of the X direction and the Y direction, the direction toward the center of the transport pipe 12 is referred to as the inside, and the direction from the center toward the inner wall is referred to as the outside.

  The extension part 33 is divided into two parts, upper and lower, by a separation wall 34 erected in the inner direction of the transport pipe 12. The separation wall 34 is formed by attaching a T-shaped member to the inner wall of the extension portion 33.

  A plurality of ribs 35 projecting inward of the transport pipe are formed on the side wall 32 so as to extend along the transport direction. In this example, ribs 35 projecting inward of the transport pipe are formed along the transport direction at the boundary between the side wall 32 and the extension 33. The separation wall 34 has the same height as the rib 35, and the top of the separation wall 34 functions as a rib.

  The side wall part 32 is a pair of inner walls facing the paper surface of the bill 6 to be conveyed. The banknote 6 has a rectangular shape, and is transported in the transport tube 12 with the long side in the transport direction F. In other words, the paper surface is transported in such a direction that the paper surface faces the side wall portion 32 of the transport pipe 12 and one short side of the banknote 6 is the front end side in the transport direction and the other short side is the rear end side.

  The interval Dy between the upper and lower wall portions 31 of the transport pipe 12 is slightly longer than the short side of the banknote 6. The distance Dx between the left and right side wall portions 32 (the portion where the rib 35, the extended portion 33, and the separation wall 34 are not formed (referred to as a reference plane portion)) is set to about 21 mm. The extended portions 33 provided on the left and right side wall portions 32 extend about 6 mm outward from the side wall portions 32 (reference plane portions). The tops of the ribs 35 and the separation wall 34 have a height of about 2 mm from the side wall portion 32 (reference plane portion) to the inside. What is necessary is just to set the height of the rib 35 suitably.

  FIG. 7 shows a plane and a front surface of the conveyance auxiliary body 16. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape with a circular section (a section perpendicular to the axis is circular) having a different diameter at each portion. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is used by being inserted into the conveyance pipe 12 so that the central axis of the cylinder is in the Y direction (height direction) of the conveyance pipe 12. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a shape that is an upper and lower object, and in order from the top, has the same diameter as the head portion 16a, the neck portion 16b having a slightly smaller diameter than the head portion, the large diameter portion 16c having a larger diameter than the head portion 16a, and the neck portion 16b. Thus, it has a constricted portion 16d, a large-diameter portion 16c, a neck portion 16b, and a head portion 16a that are positioned at the upper and lower centers. The conveyance auxiliary body 16 is lightweight and strong, and the inside thereof is formed into a cavity by a plastic or the like. In addition, if it is lightweight and strong, you may form with a polystyrene foam, an extrusion foaming polystyrene, etc.

  FIG. 8 shows a cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F and passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 in a state where the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is inserted into the conveyance pipe 12. The diameter of each part of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 corresponds to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12. That is, the cross-sectional shape passing through the central axis of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 in the cross section perpendicular to the extending direction F, and the inside of the conveyance pipe 12 is between the inner wall and the inner wall. It has a shape that is almost closed with a predetermined clearance.

  In this way, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 forms a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12 (substantially the same shape with a slight clearance) and closes almost the entire cross section of the conveyance pipe 12. Receive and move efficiently. Furthermore, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 plays a role of preventing the air flow from the upstream from reaching the downstream side of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 and suppressing the disturbance of the air flow on the downstream side.

  The banknote 6 tends to stick to the side wall 32 when it receives an action from the air flow in the transport pipe 12. That is, the interval between one paper surface of the banknote 6 and the side wall portion 32 opposite to the paper surface and the interval between the other paper surface and the side wall portion 32 opposite to the paper surface are hardly uniform. When narrower than the other, the flow velocity of the air flow is faster on the narrow interval side than on the wide interval side, so that the air pressure on the narrow interval side is lower than the air pressure on the wide interval side. 32 is sucked and pressed. If it becomes so, the space | interval by the side of a narrow space | interval will become further narrow, and the phenomenon which the banknote 6 sticks and adsorb | sucks to the side wall part 32 will arise.

  If the banknote 6 sticks strongly to the side wall part 32, it becomes difficult to push and move the banknote 6 with the transport auxiliary body 16, but the transport auxiliary body 16 blocks the flow of air to the downstream side as described above ( Therefore, the force with which the bill 6 is stuck and attracted is reduced, and smooth conveyance is realized.

  The two large diameter portions 16 c included in the conveyance auxiliary body 16 engage with the two expansion portions 33 that are partitioned by the separation wall 34 of the conveyance pipe 12. In this example, the extended portion 33 is divided into two by the separation wall 34, and these extended portions 33 are provided near the center in the Y direction of the transport pipe 12, so that the transport auxiliary body 16 is maintained in a stable posture. Can be moved. Moreover, since the attitude | position of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is stabilized, the large diameter part 16c of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can contact | abut appropriately at the rear end of the banknote 6, and the stable conveyance force can be given. Moreover, it becomes difficult for the banknote 6 to be caught between the conveyance pipe 12 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16.

  Moreover, the conveyance auxiliary body 16 can receive the force for moving efficiently because the area of the part which receives the effect | action of an airflow expands by providing the large diameter part 16c. Moreover, since the large diameter part 16c is provided and the effect | action of an airflow is received efficiently, the diameter of the head 16a can be made small by that much. By reducing the diameter of the head, the interval (width (Dx)) between the pair of opposing side wall portions 32 in the transport pipe 12 can be reduced, and the banknote 6 can be prevented from falling.

  Furthermore, the presence of the plurality of ribs 35 provided on the side wall portion 32 prevents the banknote 6 from sticking to the side wall portion 32 exactly. That is, the contact area between the bill 6 and the side wall portion 32 is reduced, friction is reduced, and generation of static electricity can be suppressed. Further, even when the banknote 6 sticks to the side wall portion 32, the banknote 6 is supported by the tip portion of the rib 35, so that a gap is secured between the side wall portion 32 and the banknote 6 around the rib 35, Sticking force can be kept small. Moreover, since the banknote 6 is supported by the separation wall 34, it is prevented that the banknote 6 falls into the hollow of the expansion part 33.

  In addition, the tops of the plurality of ribs 35 and the separation wall 34 protruding inward from the side wall portion 32 have the passage width W of the banknote 6 in the width direction (X direction) of the transport pipe 12 and the reference inter-planar portion distance Dx. It plays a role of narrowing. Thereby, it becomes difficult for the banknote 6 to fall down in the conveyance pipe 12, and the attitude | position of the banknote 6 is hold | maintained along a Y direction. In particular, by providing a plurality of ribs 35, the banknote 6 can be prevented from falling down and sticking to the side wall 32 of the banknote 6 can be effectively prevented. Note that Dx can be increased by the amount of the ribs 35 provided, thereby increasing the cross-sectional area of the transport pipe 12 and making the transport auxiliary body 16 susceptible to the action of airflow.

  In the case of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 according to the present embodiment, since the diameter of the large-diameter portion 16c is the largest, as shown in FIG. Become.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the turn portion 12b, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the turn portion 12b. The turn part 12b connects the conveying pipe 12 with an arc part 13b extending so as to draw a 90 degree arc with the Y direction as a radial direction, a linear part 13c, and a 90 degree arcuate arc part 13b. The path of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is changed by 180 degrees. The rib 35 and the extended portion 33 are also formed in the turn portion 12b, but the separation wall 34 is not provided so that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is not caught when moving in an arc shape along the arc portion 13b. The ribs 35 and the extended portion 33 are allowed to escape (the clearance is larger than that of the straight portion) at a portion overlapping the locus when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 passes through the turn portion 12b. Thereby, the rotation radius in the circular arc part 13b of the turn part 12b can be made small. The length of the straight line portion 13c may be appropriately determined according to the distance required between the forward path 12a and the return path 12c depending on the size of the conveyance auxiliary body separating device 22 and the bill taking-in device 24. . The extended portion 33 of the turn portion 12b is provided with two ribs 13a corresponding to the large-diameter portion 16c of the conveyance auxiliary body 16, and restricts the position of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 toward the center in the X direction.

  Next, connection and fixing of the transport pipe 12 will be described.

  11 is a perspective view showing a partial section of the transport pipe 12, FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the transport pipe 12 in a section corresponding to FIG. 11, and FIG. 13 corresponds to FIG. FIG. 14 is a front view showing the transport pipe 12 in the section, and FIG. 14 is a plan view showing the transport pipe 12 in the section corresponding to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the straight pipe portion 40 in the forward path 12 a of the transport pipe 12 includes a straight transport pipe 41 having a predetermined length and an upstream connection adapter 42 to which the downstream end of the straight transport pipe 41 is connected. The The curved tube portion 45 includes an arc-shaped portion curved with a predetermined curvature and short straight conveyance pipe connection ports formed at both ends thereof (an upstream conveyance tube connection port 45a and a downstream conveyance tube connection port 45c described later). Consists of. A straight conveyance pipe 41 is connected to one conveyance pipe connection port (downstream conveyance pipe connection port 45c) of the curved pipe portion 45, and an upstream connection is connected to the other conveyance pipe connection port (upstream conveyance pipe connection port 45a). An adapter 42 is connected.

  The straight pipe portion 46 in the return path 12c includes a passage portion 51 (see FIG. 16) of the banknote capturing device 24, an upstream connection adapter 42 connected to one end (upstream side) of the passage portion 51, and an upstream connection adapter 42. A straight conveyance pipe 41 connected to the upstream side, a straight conveyance pipe 41 connected to the other end (downstream side) of the passage portion 51, and an upstream connection adapter 42 connected downstream of the linear conveyance pipe 41. It consists of. A curved pipe portion 45 is connected to the upstream side and the downstream side of the straight pipe portion 46, respectively.

  The straight pipe portions 40 and 46 of the transport pipe 12 are supported by a metal, linear frame member 60 having rigidity. The frame member 60 has a length slightly shorter than the total width of the game machine 4 and the game medium lending machine 3 arranged side by side. The frame member 60 is not in a portion corresponding to the bending tube portion 45, and is interrupted at this portion.

  One end of the frame member 60 is supported by the other end of the first mounting bracket 70 whose one end is fixed to the structure of the gaming machine 4 or the gaming machine island 2. The other end of the frame member 60 is supported by the other end of the second mounting bracket 80 whose one end is fixed to the back surface of the game medium rental machine 3.

  The frame member 60 has an elongated flat plate shape having grooves on both sides in the width direction. The upper surface of the frame member 60 is engaged with the frame member 60 and freely slides along the longitudinal direction of the frame member 60. A movable pedestal 62 is attached. The pedestal 62 is attached to the frame member 60 such that the lower claws are hooked on the back side of the frame member 60. The base 62 is not easily detached from the frame member 60 by this catch.

  The lower part of the bill taking-in device 24 is fitted on the upper surface of the pedestal part 62. The pedestal portion 62 supports the bill taking-in device 24 from below. The banknote taking-in device 24 is attached so that the taking-in port 54 of the banknote 6 is just at the position facing the discharge port of the banknote 6 provided on the back surface of the game medium lending machine 3 (see FIG. 15).

  The second mounting bracket 80 is fixed to the game medium lending machine 3 at one end side and extends in a direction in which the rear surface of the game medium lending machine 3 faces, and attached to the other end side of the fixed arm 81 and fixed thereto. A surface that includes an attachment angle with respect to the arm 81 that is perpendicular to the paper surface of the banknote 6 from the discharge port on the back surface of the game medium lending machine 3 to the intake port 54 of the banknote capturing device 24 and that extends from the discharge port to the intake port 54. And a support portion 82 that can be adjusted within a predetermined angle range. As shown in FIG. 15, the fixed arm 81 of the second mounting bracket 80 connects the discharge port of the banknote 6 provided on the back surface of the game medium lending machine 3 and the intake port 54 of the banknote capturing device 24. .

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 15, between the discharge port provided in the back surface of the game medium lending machine 3 and the intake port 54 of the banknote taking-in device 24, the banknote 6 taken out from the discharge port is made into the banknote taking-in device 24. Are connected by a bill guide passage 110 that guides to the take-in port 54. The bill guide passage 110 is configured by connecting a plurality of short rectangular tubular passage members 111. By adjusting the number of passage members 111 to be connected, the length of the bill guide passage 110 is adjusted to the distance from the discharge port on the back surface of the game medium lending machine 3 to the intake port 54 of the bill pickup device 24. Further, since the passage members 111 are connected by hinges, the passage members 111 can be bent within a predetermined angle range at the connection portion.

  A hook member 64 is attached in the vicinity of the end of the frame member 60 on the side supported by the first attachment fitting 70 (see FIG. 12). The hook member 64 is suspended by being hooked on the frame member 60. The hook member 64 includes a hanging arm portion 64a that extends downward and has a lower end bent upward in a U-shape. The forward path 12 a of the transport pipe 12 is held so as to be held by the hanging arm portion 64 a of the hook member 64. That is, the forward path 12 a of the transport pipe 12 is held so as to be suspended from the frame member 60 via the hook member 64.

  A curved pipe holding bracket 90 is attached to the end of the frame member 60 on the side supported by the second mounting bracket 80. The curved tube portion holding metal fitting 90 is attached to the base plate 91 (see FIG. 25), one end of which is inserted into the end portion of the frame member 60 and fixed to the frame member 60, and attached to the other end side of the base plate 91, and downward. The extended forward curved pipe suspension member 92 and an extended backward curved pipe holding member 93 attached to the other end of the base plate 91 and extending upward are configured.

  The outward curved tube suspending member 92 holds the curved tube portion 45 on the outward route 12 a side so as to be held similarly to the hook member 64. The return curve tube holding member 93 holds the curve tube portion 45 on the return path 12c side. Details of the curved tube portion holding metal fitting 90 will be described later.

  On the return path 12 c of the transport pipe 12, the frame member 60 is fixed to the gaming machine island 2 by the first attachment fitting 70 and the second attachment fitting 80, and the bill taking-in device 24 is attached to the frame member 60 via the pedestal portion 62. Then, the front and rear transport pipes are attached to and supported by the banknote taking-in device 24. Further, the bent tube portion 45 of the return path 12 c is held by a return curve tube holding member 93 of a bent tube portion holding fitting 90 attached to the end of the frame member 60.

  The forward path 12 a of the transport pipe 12 is supported so as to be suspended from the frame member 60 via the hook member 64 and the forward curved pipe suspension member 92 of the curved pipe portion holding metal fitting 90.

  Next, the structure of the banknote capturing device 24 will be briefly described.

  FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the banknote capturing device 24. The bill taking-in device 24 includes a cylindrical passage portion 51 that is a part of the conveyance path 12 and a rectangular box-shaped main body frame portion 52 that is provided along the passage portion 51.

  One end portion of the passage portion 51 is an upstream-side transport tube connection portion 51a to which the upstream-side transport tube 12 is connected via an upstream connection adapter 42, and the other end portion is a downstream-side transport tube 12 (see FIG. 12 is a downstream side transport pipe connecting portion 51b to which the straight transport pipe 41) is connected. An arrow F in the figure indicates the conveyance direction (air flow direction) of the banknote 6 in the conveyance tube 12.

  Between the upstream conveyance pipe connection part 51a and the downstream conveyance pipe connection part 51b is a banknote passage 51c having an inner edge shape corresponding to the inner edge shape of the conveyance pipe 12. An opening 53 for taking the bill 6 into the bill passage 51c is provided on the wall surface of the bill passage 51c on the main body frame portion 52 side.

  At one end of the front surface of the main body frame portion 52 of the bill taking-in device 24, a taking-in port 54 for receiving the bill 6 fed out from the discharge port provided on the back surface of the game medium lending machine 3 is opened. The gaming medium lending machine 3 discharges the banknote 6 in a horizontally long and upright posture in a direction of a long side starting from one short side. The taking-in port 54 is a thin rectangular opening slightly longer than the short side of the banknote 6 and accepts the banknote 6 from the short side. Between the taking-in port 54 and the opening part 53 of the channel | path part 51, the waiting | standby part 55 as a path | route which waits for the banknote 6 sent out next from the opening part 53 in the banknote channel | path 51c is formed. The standby section 55 is a narrow passage (curved passage) curved in an S-shape (narrow in the thickness direction of the bill 6), so that one bill 6 can wait in the curved passage. It has become.

  Various transport rollers 56 provided in the standby unit 55 send the banknote 6 taken in from the take-in port 54 from the opening 53 into the banknote passage 51 c through the standby unit 55. The intake port 54 of the banknote capturing device 24 is opened so as to face the same direction as the front direction of the banknote capturing device 24.

  Next, holding of the bending tube portion 45 of the return path 12c by the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90 will be described.

  First, the shape of the bending tube portion 45 held by the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90 will be described. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the bending tube portion 45. The curved tube portion 45 includes an arc-shaped curved portion 45b that is curved in an arc shape with a predetermined curvature, an upstream-side transport pipe connection port 45a provided on the upstream side of the arc-shaped curved portion 45b, and a downstream of the arc-shaped curved portion 45b. A downstream side transport pipe connection port 45c provided on the side is provided. Each of the upstream side transport pipe connection port 45a and the downstream side transport pipe connection port 45c is a straight pipe line.

  The upstream-side transport pipe connection port 45a is adjacent to the arcuate curved portion 45b, is adjacent to the edge k1 whose outer shape is slightly larger than the arcuate curved portion 45b, is adjacent to the upstream side of the edge k1, and the arcuate curved portion A straight tube portion k2 having the same outer shape as 45b, an expansion tube portion k4 at the upstream end of the curved tube portion 45 and having an outer shape extending outward from the straight tube portion k2, and an expansion from the upstream end of the straight tube portion k2. It is comprised between the linear pipe part k2 and the inclination expansion pipe part k3 which connects between the straight pipe part k2 and the expansion pipe part k4 in the wall surface which was between the downstream ends of the pipe part k4, and inclined so that an external shape may become large gradually toward the expansion pipe part k4. . The inclined expansion tube portion k3 and the expansion tube portion k4 form an expansion portion that is expanded outward as compared with the straight tube portion k2.

  In the return path 12c of the transport pipe 12, the upstream connection adapter 42 is connected to the upstream transport pipe connection port 45a, and the linear transport pipe 41 is connected to the downstream transport pipe connection port 45c (see FIG. 12).

  18 is a perspective view of the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90 as viewed from the oblique upstream side, FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90 as viewed from the oblique downstream side, and FIG. 21 is a left side view of the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90, FIG. 22 is a rear view of the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90, FIG. 23 is a plan view of the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90, and FIG. FIG. 25 is a diagram showing how to attach the curved tube portion holding metal fitting 90 to the frame member 60, and FIG. 26 holds the curved tube portion 45 by the curved tube portion holding metal fitting 90 attached to the downstream end of the frame member 60. It is a perspective view which shows the state which carried out.

  As shown in FIG. 25, the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90 is attached to the other end side of the base plate 91 and the base plate 91 fixed to the frame member 60 with one end inserted into the end portion of the frame member 60. An outward curved tube suspension member 92 extending downward, and a backward curved tube holding member 93 attached to the other end of the base plate 91 and extending upward.

  The frame member 60 includes an elongated plate-like flat portion 66, a groove portion 67 having a U-shaped cross section extending along the longitudinal direction of the flat portion 66 at both ends in the width direction of the flat portion 66, and groove portions on both edges. A pair of projecting pieces 68 projecting from 67 to the center in the width direction of the flat portion 66 and extending along the longitudinal direction of the frame member 60.

  The base plate 91 has a width substantially equal to the distance between the groove portion 67 on one edge of the frame member 60 and the groove portion 67 on the other edge, and a gap 68 a between the back surface of the flat portion 66 and the pair of protruding pieces 68. Is an elongated high-rigidity flat plate having a thickness corresponding to, and a locking portion 91a having a slightly wider width is provided at the center in the longitudinal direction.

  The base plate 91 is firmly held by the frame member 60 by pushing one end side of the base plate 91 into the gap 68a at the end of the frame member 60 until the engaging portion 91a enters the gap 68a.

  A pair of opposing support plates 91 b are erected along the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 at the center of the upper surface on the other end side of the base plate 91. The outward curved tube suspension member 92 and the backward curved tube holding member 93 are each attached to the support plate 91b. The forward curved tube suspension member 92 and the backward curved tube holding member 93 can be adjusted by slidably moving the attachment positions in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 with respect to the support plate 91b.

  The outward curved tube suspension member 92 extends downward along one side wall of the curved tube portion 45 suspended downward from the base plate 91 and then has an upward U-shape so as to hold the lower portion of the curved tube portion 45 at the lower end. The suspension arm portion 92a is bent into a shape, and a sandwiching piece 92b that sandwiches the upper portion of the other side wall of the bending tube portion 45 between the suspension arm portion 92a.

  An attachment plate 92c for attaching the suspension arm portion 92a to one support plate 91b is provided at the upper end of the suspension arm portion 92a. A long hole 92d that is long in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 is provided in the mounting plate 92c. The suspension arm portion 92a is attached to one support plate 91b with a screw passing through the elongated hole 92d, and the attachment position can be adjusted by sliding in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 within the range of the elongated hole 92d. .

  An attachment plate 92e for attaching the sandwich piece 92b to the other support plate 91b is provided at the upper end of the sandwich piece 92b. A long hole 92f that is long in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 is provided in the mounting plate 92e. The clamping piece 92b is attached to the other support plate 91b with a screw passing through the elongated hole 92f, and the attachment position can be adjusted by sliding in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 within the range of the elongated hole 92f.

  The return curve tube holding member 93 is slidably attached to one support plate 91b of the base plate 91, and extends upward along one side wall of the curve tube portion 45 of the return path 12c to be held, and then the upper end. The upper holding arm 93a bent in a downward U shape so as to hold the upper portion of the bending tube portion 45, and the lower portion of the other side wall of the bending tube portion 45 of the return path 12c to be held are the upper holding arm 93a. And an upper sandwiching piece 93b sandwiched therebetween.

  An attachment plate 93c for attaching the upper holding arm 93a to one support plate 91b is provided at the lower end of the upper holding arm 93a. A long hole 93d that is long in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 is provided in the mounting plate 93c. The upper holding arm 93a is attached to one support plate 91b with a screw passing through the elongated hole 93d, and the attachment position can be adjusted by sliding in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 within the range of the elongated hole 93d.

  An attachment plate 93e for attaching the upper clamping piece 93b to the other support plate 91b is provided at the lower end of the upper clamping piece 93b. A long hole 93f that is long in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 is provided in the mounting plate 93e. The upper clamping piece 93b is attached to the other support plate 91b with a screw passed through the elongated hole 93f, and the attachment position can be adjusted by sliding in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 within the range of the elongated hole 93f.

  In the middle of the arm extending above the upper holding arm 93a, a contact portion 93g formed by bending both ends in the width direction of the arm inward is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 26, the return tube holding member 93 of the bending tube portion holding metal 90 is a straight tube portion at a position closest to the inclined expansion tube portion k3 of the upstream conveyance tube connection port 45a in the bending tube portion 45. hold k2. As a result, the contact portion 93g of the upper holding arm 93a of the return curve tube holding member 93 contacts the inclined expansion tube portion k3 of the upstream conveyance tube connection port 45a of the curve tube portion 45 from the downstream side.

  The abutment portion 93g abuts on the inclined expansion tube portion k3, thereby preventing the bending tube portion 45 from falling off the upstream connection adapter 42. In the paper sheet transport apparatus 10, the conveyance assisting body 16 that moves from the upstream to the downstream collides with the curved portion of the curved tube portion 45, and a force that moves the curved tube portion 45 downstream acts. Even if this force acts and the bent tube portion 45 tries to move downstream, the abutting portion 93g of the return curve tube holding member 93 comes into contact with the inclined expansion tube portion k3 of the upstream conveyance tube connection port 45a, Since the return curve tube holding member 93 is firmly fixed to the frame member 60 via the base plate 91, the curve tube portion 45 does not move downstream. As a result, the bending tube portion 45 is prevented from falling off the upstream connection adapter 42.

  Further, since the return curved tube holding member 93 holds the straight tube portion k2 which is the straight portion of the curved tube portion 45, the curved tube portion 45 is held without being affected by the curvature of the arcuate curved portion 45b. be able to. That is, in the configuration in which the arcuate curved portion 45b is held, the return curve tube holding member 93 having various curvatures is provided in order to correspond to a plurality of types of curved tube portions 45 having different curvatures in the arcuate curved portion 45b. It is necessary to prepare. Since the return tube holding member 93 of the bending tube portion holding metal 90 holds the bending tube portion 45 at the straight tube portion k2 which is a straight portion, such a problem does not occur, and all the bending tube portions 45 have no problem. Can be used in common.

  Note that the presence of the edge k1 makes it possible to prepare the position where the curved tube portion 45 is held by the return curved tube holding member 93.

  Further, the bending tube portion holding metal fitting 90 for holding the bending tube portion 45 serves as an installation reference for the transport tube 12 (in particular, fixed to the game medium lending machine 3 serving as a reference for the installation position of the banknote take-in device 24). Since it is attached to the member 60, the curved pipe portion 45 is securely fixed in accordance with the installation standard of the transfer pipe 12 without being affected by the island environment (installation status of equipment and wiring in the gaming machine island 2). be able to.

  Next, holding of the turn part 12b will be described.

  The turn part 12b is also a kind of curved part. The turn part holding member that holds the turn part 12b is attached to the gaming machine island 2 or the frame member 60, and has a contact part that contacts the U-shaped bottom part of the turn part 12b from the outside.

  The turn part holding member 120 shown in FIG. 27 corresponds to the case where the turn part 12b is arranged immediately next to the banknote capturing device 24. The turn portion holding member 120 is formed in a lateral U shape, and the vertical side thereof is provided on the fixed arm 121 attached to the back surface of the game medium lending machine 3 and the front end portion of the lower side of the fixed arm 121, and the frame member 60 is attached. A frame holding part 122 to be held, and an outer side (outward path) provided at the bottom of the U-shape of the U-shaped turn part 12b provided at the distal end of the arm extending in the downstream direction in the forward path 12a from the lower side in the vicinity of the front end part 12a is provided with an abutting portion 123 that abuts from the downstream side of 12a.

  The contact portion 123 contacts the turn portion 12b with a surface (contact surface) having a predetermined width. The contact surface of the contact portion 123 is set so that the traveling direction of the paper sheet reaching the turn portion 12b from the forward path 12a is a normal line of the contact surface.

  The turn part holding member 130 shown in FIG. 28 corresponds to the case where the turn part 12b is located at a certain distance from the banknote take-in device 24 closest to the turn part 12b (see FIG. 29). The turn portion holding member 130 is attached along the frame member 60 fixed to the gaming machine island 2 by the mounting bracket 70 or the like, and is an extension arm that extends further downstream from the downstream end of the frame member 60 in the forward path 12a direction. 131 and an abutting portion 132 provided at the downstream end of the extension arm 131 and abutting from the outside on the U-shaped bottom portion of the U-shaped turn portion 12b.

  The contact portion 132 contacts the turn portion 12b with a surface having a predetermined width (contact surface). The abutting surface of the abutting portion 132 is set so that the traveling direction of the paper sheets coming from the forward path 12a side to the turn portion 12b is a normal line of the corresponding abutting surface.

  FIG. 29 shows a state in which the turn part 12 b is held by the turn part holding member 130. When the banknote 6 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 that have entered the turn part 12b from the forward path 12a travel along the turn part 12b curved in a U-shape and change their direction, they hit the inner wall of the turn part 12b. The force which moves the turn part 12b downstream acts. The abutment portions 123 and 132 of the turn portion holding members 120 and 130 abut against the turn portion 12b from the direction opposite to the direction in which the force acts, thereby preventing the turn portion 12b from moving (dropping out) against the force. To do.

  In addition, in the gaming machine island provided so as to surround the pillar of the game hall, for example, the conveyance path (conveyance pipe 12) of the paper sheet conveyance device 10 is installed in the shape as shown in FIGS. There is also. In such a conveyance path, a curved tube 160 curved at approximately 90 degrees is provided at a corner that is curved at approximately 90 degrees. In the corner bending tube 160, when the bill 6 or the conveyance auxiliary body 16 entering from the upstream changes its direction along the bending tube 160, it collides with the inner wall of the bending tube 160. As a result, a force in the direction of falling from the upstream conveyance tube to the corner bending tube 160 acts. In order to prevent the bending tube 160 from falling off due to this force, the corner bending tube holding members 140 and 150 for holding the corner bending tube 160 are provided.

  FIG. 32 shows an example of the corner bending tube holding member 140. The corner bending tube holding member 140 is attached to the gaming machine island at one end, and abuts against the bending portion from the outside in the direction opposite to the traveling direction of the bill 6 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 entering the corner bending tube 160. A contact portion 142 is provided.

  32 is attached to the upper surface of the longer arm of the L-shaped fixed base part 141 and the fixed base part 141 so as to be slidable along the longitudinal direction of the arm. The contact portion 142 is provided. The shorter arm of the fixed base 141 is fixed to the wall surface of the end of the gaming machine island with a screw or the like so that the longer arm extends horizontally toward the other end of the gaming machine island.

  The contact portion 142 includes a contact surface 142 a that contacts the side wall surface (particularly, the expansion portion 33) of the transport pipe 12. When attaching the contact part 142 to the fixed base part 141, the attachment angle of the contact part 142 can be selected from four directions in units of 90 degrees. For example, in the upper corner bending tube holding member 140 in FIG. 32, the contact surface 142a is oriented along the longitudinal direction of the longer arm of the fixed base 141, and the lower corner The bending tube holding member 140 is oriented such that the contact surface 142a faces the wall surface of the gaming machine island end. Thereby, by enabling the direction of the contact surface 142a to be switched, the common corner bend tube holding member 140 can correspond to the bend tubes 160 at the left and right corners.

  FIG. 33 shows a state in which the corner bend tube 160 is held by the corner bend tube holding member 140. In the corner bending tube holding member 140, the contact surface 142a contacts the peripheral surface of the bending tube 160 from the outside in the direction opposite to the direction in which the bill 6 or the conveyance auxiliary body 16 enters the corner bending tube 160 from upstream. It is attached to touch. By contacting the bending tube 160 with the contact surface 142a, the bending tube 160 is firmly held, and the bending tube 160 is prevented from falling off or moving.

  FIG. 34 shows an example of another corner bending tube holding member 150. The corner bend tube holding member 150 shown in FIG. 34 abuts on the bend tube 160 having a bend of approximately 90 degrees from two directions to prevent displacement.

  One end of the corner bending tube holding member 150 is fixed to the wall surface of the end of the gaming machine island with a screw or the like, and a main arm 151 having a predetermined length extending horizontally from the wall surface toward the other end of the gaming machine island, 151 has a sub arm 152 extending in the horizontal direction at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the main arm 151 from the middle of 151. The main arm 151 and the sub arm 152 are formed with long holes along the respective longitudinal directions. A moving contact portion 153 slidably movable along the elongated hole is attached to each or one of the main arm 151 and the sub arm 152.

  The abutting portion 153 has a shape that holds the conveying tube 12 so as to surround the four sides, and of these, a sheet-like elastic body is provided on the abutting surface 153 a that abuts on the outer peripheral wall surface of the corner curved tube 160. 154 is pasted.

  FIG. 35 shows a state in which the corner bend tube 160 is held by the corner bend tube holding member 150. The corner bending tube holding member 150 is attached such that the elastic body 154 attached to the contact surface 153a of the contact portion 153 contacts the curved peripheral surface of the corner bending tube 160 from the outside. The abutting surface 153a of the abutting portion 153 that abuts the bending tube 160 at a position downstream from the center of the corner bending tube 160 is the direction in which the bills 6 and the conveyance auxiliary body 16 arrive at the bending portion 160 from the upstream side. It comes into contact with the side surface of the bending portion 160 from the outside in the opposite direction to prevent the bending portion 160 from falling off. Further, by providing the elastic body 154, the contact of the bending portion 160 with the curved outer peripheral surface is ensured.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  The shape of the bending tube part holding metal fitting 90 is not limited to that illustrated in the embodiment. For example, the base plate 91 may be attached to the frame member 60 with screws or the like. Further, the structure or the like that allows the attachment position of the outward curved tube suspension member 92 and the backward curved tube holding member 93 to be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 91 with respect to the base plate 91 is limited to that exemplified in the embodiment. Not.

  In the embodiment, the abutting portion 93g is brought into contact with the inclined expansion tube portion k3 whose outer shape gradually increases so that the bending tube portion 45 does not move downstream. However, the inclined expansion tube portion k3 is omitted and a straight line is formed. The expansion pipe part k4 may be provided adjacent to the upstream side of the pipe part k2, and the contact part 93g may come into contact with the expansion pipe part k4 from the downstream side. Further, the contact portion 93g bent inward may not be provided, and the upper holding arm 93a may be in contact with the inclined expansion tube portion k3 or the expansion tube portion k4 with the upper holding arm 93a itself as the contact portion.

  In the embodiment, the air conveyance type paper sheet conveying apparatus 10 that pushes the paper sheets such as the bills 6 from the rear by the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is shown, but only the air flow is used without using the conveyance auxiliary body 16. The present invention is also applicable to a paper sheet transport device that transports paper sheets such as banknotes 6. Furthermore, the present invention is also applicable to a paper sheet transport apparatus that transports paper sheets by other methods such as a belt or a roller without using an air flow.

  The shape of the conveyance auxiliary body 16 shown in the embodiment is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it is good also as columnar shapes, such as a cross-sectional rectangle and a polygon. Moreover, although the conveyance auxiliary body 16 was made into the object shape with respect to the Y direction center part, you may make it an asymmetrical shape in a Y direction.

  In the embodiment, the bill 6 is described as an example of the paper sheets, but other types of paper sheets such as tickets and cards may be used. Moreover, although the case where it installed in the inside of the substantially circular gaming machine island 2 was illustrated in the embodiment, the gaming medium rental machine 3 and the gaming machine 4 are arranged in an arbitrary curved shape such as an elliptical shape or a wave shape. The present invention is applied to gaming machine islands.

  In the embodiment, an example in which only one sheet is conveyed is shown in FIG. 4 and the like. However, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is inserted in a state where a plurality of banknotes 6 exist in the middle of the conveyance tube 12. It is also possible to transport the plurality of banknotes 6 at a time. For example, when the conveyance auxiliary body 16 is fed from the conveyance auxiliary body insertion device 21 in a state where the banknotes 6 are stopped at the completion positions of the respective banknote acquisition devices 24 in the middle of the return path 12c of the conveyance pipe 12, the conveyance assistance is performed. The number of banknotes 6 that the body 16 pushes increases in order on the way through the return path 12c, so that all banknotes 6 can be conveyed. Such a large conveying force is due to the fact that the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a shape that substantially closes the cross section of the conveyance tube 12, the sticking adsorption of the banknote 6 is reduced, and the presence of the expansion portion 33. It is ensured by the large area that receives the action of In addition, since the conveyance auxiliary body 16 has a columnar shape that does not deform, a large number of sheets can be conveyed at a time, which is not realized with a wing or the like.

  In the embodiment, the cross section of the transfer tube 12 is substantially rectangular, but may be other shapes such as a circle or an ellipse. However, a plurality of ribs are provided on the inner wall to prevent sticking of paper sheets and to guide the position and posture of the conveyance auxiliary body. Moreover, it is preferable that the conveyance auxiliary body closes substantially the entire cross section with a shape corresponding to the inner edge shape.

  In addition, the gaming machine island is not limited to the configuration that accommodates the slot machine exemplified in the embodiment and the gaming medium lending machine that lends medals, and the gaming machine island that lends gaming balls and pachinko machines that lend gaming balls. It doesn't matter.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Game machine island 3 ... Game media rental machine 4 ... Game machine 5 ... Safe 6 ... Banknote 10 ... Paper sheet conveyance apparatus 12 ... Conveyance pipe 12a ... Outward path 12b ... Turn part 12c ... Return path 13a ... Turn part rib 13b ... Arc part of turn part 13c ... Linear part of turn part 14 ... Air flow generator 14a ... Air blowing passage 14b ... Air suction passage 16 ... Transport auxiliary body 16a ... Head 16b ... Neck part 16c ... Large diameter part 16d ... Constriction part 20 ... banknote separating / conveying auxiliary body circulation device 21 ... conveying auxiliary body inserting device 22 ... separation / collection device 24 ... banknote taking-in device 31 ... wall portion 32 ... side wall portion 33 ... expansion portion 34 ... separation wall 35 ... rib 40 ... straight pipe Portion 41 ... Straight conveyance pipe 42 ... Upstream connection adapter 45 ... Curved pipe portion 45a ... Upstream conveyance pipe connection port k1 ... Edge k2 ... Straight pipe portion k3 ... Inclined expansion pipe portion k4 ... Expansion pipe portion 45b ... Arc-shaped bay Portion 45c: Downstream transport pipe connection port 46: Straight pipe section 51 ... Passage section 51a ... Upstream transport pipe connection section 51b ... Downstream transport pipe connection section 51c ... Bill path 52 ... Main body frame section 53 ... Opening section 54 ... Intake Port 55 ... Standing portion 56 ... Conveying roller 60 ... Frame member 62 ... Pedestal portion 64 ... Hook member 64a ... Hanging arm portion 66 ... Flat portion 67 ... Groove portion 68 ... Protruding piece 68a ... Gap 70 ... First mounting bracket 80 ... First 2. Mounting bracket 81 ... Fixed arm 82 ... Supporting portion 90 ... Bending tube portion holding fitting 91 ... Base plate 91a ... Locking portion 91b ... Support plate 92 ... Outward bending tube hanging member 92a ... Hanging arm portion 92b ... Holding piece 92c ... Attachment plate 92d ... Elongated hole 92e ... Attachment plate 92f ... Elongated hole 93 ... Return curve tube holding member 93a ... Upper holding arm 93b ... Upper clamping piece 93c ... Attachment plate 93 ... Elongated hole 93e ... Mounting plate 93f ... Elongated hole 93g ... Abutting part 110 ... Bill guide passage 111 ... Passage member 120 ... Turn holding member 121 ... Fixed arm 122 ... Frame holding part 123 ... Abutting part 130 ... Turn part holding Member 131 ... Extension arm 132 ... Abutting portion 140 ... Corner bend tube holding member 141 ... Fixing base portion 142 ... Abutting portion 142a ... Abutting surface 150 ... Corner bend tube holding member 151 ... Main arm 152 ... Sub arm 153 ... Abutting portion 153a ... Abutting surface 154 ... Elastic body 160 ... Corner bend tube Dx ... Distance between reference plane portions of conveying tube Dy ... Inner dimension in Y direction of conveying tube F ... Extending direction of conveying tube W ... Passage Width X: Passage pipe width direction Y: Transport pipe height direction

Claims (9)

A game machine and a game medium lending machine extend along the inside of the gaming machine island arranged in a curved line, and have a conveyance path for conveying paper sheets discharged from the game medium lending machine to a predetermined place ,
The transport path is configured by connecting a straight portion and a curved portion along the inside of the gaming machine island,
The linear portion is held by a linear frame having rigidity fixed to the gaming machine island,
The frame is interrupted at the curved portion,
A paper sheet conveying apparatus, comprising: a bending portion holding member that is attached to the frame and holds the bending portion. The end of the curved portion is a straight section,
The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the bending portion holding member holds the straight section of the bending portion. The linear section on the upstream side of the curved portion is provided with an extended portion that extends outward,
The paper sheet conveying apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the curved holding member has a contact portion that contacts the extended portion and holds the downstream side of the extended portion. The paper sheet transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the transport path is cylindrical and transports the paper sheet by an action of an air flow flowing through the inside. The paper sheet transport apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the paper sheet is transported by being pushed and moved from behind by a transport auxiliary member that receives an air flow and moves in the transport path. A gaming machine island in which gaming machines and gaming media rental machines are arranged in a curve,
A gaming machine island comprising the paper sheet transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A part of a conveyance path that extends along the inside of a gaming machine island in which gaming machines and gaming medium lending machines are arranged in a curved line, and conveys paper sheets discharged from the gaming medium lending machine to a predetermined place A transport path fixture that supports
The transport path is configured by connecting a straight portion and a curved portion along the inside of the gaming machine island,
The straight portion is held by a linear frame having rigidity fixed to the gaming machine island, and the frame is interrupted by the curved portion,
The conveyance path fixture is attached to the frame and holds the curved portion. The end of the curved portion is a straight section,
The conveyance path fixture according to claim 7, wherein the bending portion holding member holds the straight section of the bending portion. The linear section on the upstream side of the curved portion is provided with an extended portion that extends outward,
The conveyance path fixture according to claim 8, wherein the curved holding member has a contact portion that contacts the extension portion, and holds the downstream side of the extension portion.