JP6867190B2 - Medal insertion assist device and medal counter - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a medal insertion assist device used when a player inserts a medal acquired from a gaming machine into a medal counter, and a medal counter used when a player counts medals acquired from the gaming machine. Is.

In amusement facilities such as pachinko halls and arcades, a large number of slot machines are installed on the amusement machine island. In a slot machine, generally, a number of medals corresponding to a combination of symbols of a plurality of reels stopped on a winning line such as a row are ejected to a saucer below the gaming machine. The ejected medals are collected in the saucer of the gaming machine, transferred to the medal box (also called a dollar box) after the player finishes the game, and installed at the edge of the gaming machine island (hereinafter referred to as "island edge"). It is carried to the medal counter and counted. When the saucer is full of medals, the player transfers the medals from the saucer to the medal box even during the game, but finally carries the medal box to the Shimabata medal counter.

Since the medal box becomes a considerable amount of weight when the medals are full, the transportation is physically burdensome for the players and the employees of the amusement facility. In addition, since the number of centralized counters installed on the island edge is small, users may have to wait in line. Therefore, a "coin counter for slot machines" disclosed in Patent Document 1 below has been proposed. The counter of this document 1 is configured to be movable by itself. Therefore, the player can count medals near the gaming machine that was playing the game without carrying the medal box to the island edge, but a counting machine with a large physique can pass through in a gaming facility with a narrow passage width. It can get in the way. Even if it can be moved, it is complicated to push the counter to the vicinity of the gaming machine where the medal box is placed, and it is troublesome to return it to its original position after use.

Therefore, the following Patent Documents 2 and 3 disclose an example of a medal counter provided adjacent to each gaming machine. FIG. 1 of Patent Document 2 discloses an example of a medal lending machine and a counting machine arranged on the right side of each gaming machine. Further, Patent Document 3 below discloses a "medal counting device" as a specific example thereof. In a game facility equipped with such a counting machine for each gaming machine (hereinafter referred to as "counting machine for each machine"), the player counts the medals acquired by using the counting machine for each machine even during the game. Can be done. Therefore, in general, there are many amusement facilities where a medal counter is not installed on the island edge and a medal box is not prepared.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 5-76636 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-226366 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-188006

However, each of the counters disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3 has a narrower medal slot than the receiving hopper of a centralized counter as installed at Shimabata. Therefore, depending on the player, it is necessary to concentrate on the work of inserting medals into each machine counter, and there is a problem that the introduction of each machine counter may lead to a decrease in the operating rate of the game machine. Further, if a medal spills from the slot of each counter due to carelessness of the player or the like, there is a problem that the medal may be lost.

That is, in a game facility where the use of medal boxes has been abolished due to the introduction of each counter, even if the player notices that the medals accumulated in the saucer are full during the game, the player medals the accumulated medals. Cannot be transferred to the box. In this case, the player is forced to perform an operation such as, for example, while operating the slot machine with his left hand, he picks up the medals accumulated in the saucer with his right hand and inserts the medals into the slot of each counter. Therefore, a player who is unfamiliar with the counter-insertion operation during such a game has no choice but to temporarily stop the game and concentrate on the work of inserting the medals accumulated in the saucer into each counter. During this time, the player cannot play the game.

Even if the player is accustomed to the counter insertion operation during the game, if the number of medals to be grasped at one time is too large, medals that cannot fit in the insertion slot will spill out from each counter and move downward. In such cases, the player needs time to pick up and search for the dropped medals. Therefore, even a player who is accustomed to such a throwing operation during a game cannot play a game while dealing with a dropped medal, which may lead to a decrease in the operating rate of the gaming machine. It can also lead to the loss of medals.

It is conceivable that such a problem can be solved by providing a hopper with a wide receiving port at the inlet of each counter, but the hopper is generally large in size. Therefore, if the hopper is simply connected to the slot of each counter, the player's hand or arm on the counter side of each counter may come into contact with such a hopper, which is a new problem. There is concern about the occurrence. In addition, as long as the slot for each counter is narrow, simply preparing a medal box will reveal inconvenience such as spilling medals at the time of insertion, so it is difficult to promote the introduction of each counter. ..

In addition, in gaming machines such as slot machines, various effects that visually and audibly entertain the player are realized by the display and sound effects on the game board controlled by computer, etc. The gimmicks and the like do not have to be limited to game machines.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medal insertion assist device and a medal counter capable of suppressing a decrease in the operating rate of a gaming machine and loss of medals. Another object of the present invention is to provide a medal insertion assist device and a medal counter that can be visually enjoyed by a player in a mode in which medals are dropped before counting.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical means of claim 1 described in the claims is adopted. According to this means, the medal insertion assist device of the present invention includes a passage portion, a cushioning portion, a transport portion, and a receiving portion . The passage portion is provided above the adjacent medal counter adjacent to the gaming machine, and has a medal entrance that opens larger than the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter so that medals obtained from the gaming machine can be inserted. In addition, the medal entered from the medal entrance extends downward so that it can be dropped, and a part or all of the medal in the middle of falling is made of a transparent member so that the player can see it. The cushioning portion is provided inside the passage portion and prevents the medal from freely falling in at least a part of the transparent member portion. The transport unit transports the medal to the medal entrance. The receiving portion has an opening on the upstream side that opens in an area larger than the opening area of the medal entrance, and the downstream side communicates with the medal entrance and receives the opening in the shelf plate provided above the gaming machine. It is attached to the shelf so that the entrance can communicate. Then, the medals transported by the transport section and enter the medal entrance are discharged from the medal exit of the passage section to the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter after passing through the buffer section.

The medal entrance in the aisle is wider than the slot of the adjacent medal counter. Therefore, for example, when the player notices that the medals accumulated in the saucer of the gaming machine are full during the game, the medals are medals with one free hand even while the gaming machine is being operated. Is grabbed and put into the transport section, so that the transport section transports the medal to the medal entrance above the adjacent medal counter (in the antigravity direction). Therefore, the player can save the trouble of inserting a medal into the upper medal entrance. When the entrance of the transport portion is larger (wider) than the medal entrance of the passage portion, it becomes easier to insert medals. Further, when the entrance of the transport portion is below the medal entrance of the passage portion (in the direction of gravity), the player inserts the medal into the medal entrance without reaching upward or standing up. Becomes possible. As a result, the player can easily insert medals into the slot of the adjacent medal counter during or after the game without stopping the game. Further, the receiving portion that has a receiving port that opens in an area larger than the opening area of the medal entrance on the upstream side and the downstream side communicates with the medal entrance is a receiving portion that opens in the shelf plate provided above the gaming machine. Is attached to the shelf so that they can communicate with each other. As a result, the number of slots into which medals can be inserted is expanded, making it difficult for medals to spill. For example, if a medal box is prepared, one free hand can be used while operating the game machine. After transferring medals from the saucer of the game machine to the medal box, it is possible to easily insert medals into the receiving section from the medal box placed on the shelf board after the game is completed through the opening of the shelf board. Become.

If a medal box is prepared, the medal is transferred from the saucer of the game machine to the medal box with one free hand during the operation of the game machine, and then the medal is transported from the medal box after the game is completed. By putting it in the unit, the transport unit transports the medal to the medal entrance above the adjacent medal counter. Therefore, when the entrance of the transport section is below the medal entrance of the aisle section (in the direction of gravity), the player holds the medal at the medal entrance without lifting the medal box heavier with the accumulated medals to near overhead. It will be possible to put it in. As a result, the player can easily insert medals into the slot of the adjacent medal counter during or after the game without stopping the game.

Further, in the transparent member portion of the passage portion, the cushioning portion prevents the free fall of the medal at least in a part thereof. Therefore, the medal inserted into the medal entrance falls in the passage portion while moving irregularly due to the buffer portion when passing through the transparent member portion, and the state can be seen by the player. As a result, the player can see how the medals fall irregularly from the transparent member portion of the passage portion.

Further, the technical means of claim 2 described in the claims is adopted. According to this means, the transport unit has a first transport unit and a second transport unit. The first transport unit moves the medal horizontally with respect to the medal entrance, and the second transport unit moves the medal with respect to the medal entrance in the antigravity direction. As a result, even if the medal entrance of the passage portion exists above the gaming machine (in the antigravity direction), the second conveying portion conveys the medal from below the gaming machine to the position in the height direction of the medal entrance, and then the first The transport unit transports medals from the exit of the second transport unit to the lateral position of the medal entrance. Therefore, the player can insert the medal into the medal entrance without reaching up or standing up. In addition, the player can insert medals into the medal entrance without lifting the medal box, which is heavy due to the accumulated medals, to near overhead. As a result, the player can easily insert medals into the slot of the adjacent medal counter during or after the game without stopping the game.

Further, the technical means of claim 3 described in the claims is adopted. According to this means, the cushioning portion includes an inclined portion having an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the free fall direction of the medal, and a protruding portion protruding from the inner wall of the passage portion toward the falling space of the medal. At least one or both. As a result, the medal falls while being obstructed by such an inclined portion or a protruding portion, and therefore, an effect mode according to the degree of each obstruction, for example, in the case of an inclined portion, the medal rolls down or slides down on the inclined surface. If it is a protruding part, the front and back sides are reversed or the falling direction is irregularly changed.

Further, the technical means of claim 4 described in the claims is adopted. According to this means, the cushioning portion has a movable portion that tilts toward the falling direction of the medal about a support shaft fixed to the inner wall of the passage portion due to the load of the contacted medal, and a support fixed to the inner wall of the passage portion. A rotating part that rotates about an axis, and at least one or both of them. As a result, the medal falls while operating the movable portion and the rotating portion, so that the falling of the medal operates the movable portion and the rotating portion to produce various effects on the movable portion and the rotating portion. For example, if it is a movable part, it is provided to the player that it is tilted according to the position and the number of medals that touch it, and if it is a rotating part, it is provided to the player that it is rotated in a direction according to the position of the touched medal. ..

Further, the technical means of claim 5 described in the claims is adopted. According to this means, the medal insertion assist device has a nozzle capable of accommodating the tip of the nozzle into the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter or the receiving port communicating with the insertion port, and the medal discharged from the medal outlet is passed through the nozzle. It is equipped with a discharge unit that discharges to the slot of the adjacent medal counter. As a result, even if the medal outlet of the passage portion and the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter are physically separated from each other, the medal emitted from the medal outlet can be used as the insertion port of the medal counter through this discharge portion. Can be put in.

Further, the technical means of claim 6 described in the claims is adopted. According to this means, the discharging portion includes a movable mechanism portion, and the position of the nozzle or the tip of the nozzle is arbitrarily changed within a predetermined range by operating the movable mechanism portion. As a result, the positions of the nozzle of the discharge portion and the tip of the nozzle can be freely changed.

Further, the technical means of claim 7 described in the claims is adopted. According to this means, the medal counter of the present invention has a counting unit that is provided adjacent to the game machine and counts the number of medals, and the medal insertion assist according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The medal that has been transported by the transport unit and entered the medal entrance without having the medal outlet and having the device on the upstream side of the counting unit is discharged to the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter after passing through the buffer unit. without, Ru enter the counting section. As a result, the technical features, actions, and effects of the medal insertion assist device that employs the technical means of claims 1 to 4 above can be obtained.

In the invention of the medal insertion assist device according to claim 1, the player can easily insert medals into the insertion slot of the adjacent medal counter during or after the game without stopping the game. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operating rate of the gaming machine, and it is also possible to suppress the loss of medals due to spilling and falling from the slot of the adjacent medal counter. In addition, the player can be shown from the transparent member of the passage portion how the medals fall irregularly. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the counting of medals. In addition, the number of medals that can be inserted is expanded, making it difficult for medals to spill. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress a decrease in the operating rate of the gaming machine and loss of medals caused by dropping medals. Also, for example, if a medal box is prepared, the medal is transferred from the saucer of the game machine to the medal box with one free hand during the operation of the game machine, and then placed on the shelf board after the game is completed. From the stored medal box, medals can be easily inserted into the receiving section through the opening of the shelf board. Therefore, in addition to being able to further suppress the decrease in the operating rate of the gaming machine and the loss of medals caused by the falling of medals, the usefulness of the medal box is enhanced, and the adjacent medal counter for each machine (counting each machine). The introduction of machines) will be promoted.

In the invention of the medal insertion assist device according to claim 2, after the second transport unit transports the medal from below the game machine to the position in the height direction of the medal entrance, the first transport unit moves from the exit of the second transport unit to the medal entrance. Since the medal is transported to the lateral position of the medal, the player can insert the medal into the medal entrance without reaching up or standing up. In addition, the player can insert medals into the medal entrance without lifting the medal box, which is heavy due to the accumulated medals, to near overhead. Therefore, the player can more easily insert medals into the slot of the adjacent medal counter, so that the decrease in the operating rate of the gaming machine can be further suppressed.

In the invention of the medal insertion assist device according to claim 3, since the medal falls while being obstructed by the inclined portion and the protruding portion, the medal falls downward in an effect mode according to the degree of each obstruction. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the various falling modes.

In the invention of the medal insertion assist device according to claim 4, since the medal falls while operating the movable portion and the rotating portion, the falling of the medal operates the movable portion and the rotating portion to produce various effects. Let me. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the effect of the movement of the movable portion and the rotating portion.

In the invention of the medal insertion assist device according to claim 5 , even if the positions of the medal outlet of the passage portion and the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter are physically separated, the medal outlet exits through the ejection portion. The medal can be inserted into the slot of the adjacent medal counter. Therefore, even if the mounting positions of the adjacent medal counters adjacent to the gaming machines are variously diversified for each gaming machine island, medals can be inserted from the passage portion into the insertion slot of the adjacent medal counter.

In the invention of the medal insertion assist device according to claim 6 , the positions of the nozzle and the tip of the nozzle of the ejection portion can be freely changed. Therefore, it is possible even for the mounting position of the diverse adjacent medal counting machine, inserting a medal from the passage to the inlet of an adjacent medal counter. Further, if the nozzle can be an obstacle when opening and closing the game board of the gaming machine, the nozzle can be moved to a position where it does not get in the way.

In the invention of the medal counter according to claim 7 , the technical features, actions and effects provided in the medal insertion assist device adopting the above-mentioned technical means of claims 1 to 4 can be obtained. Therefore, it is possible to provide a medal counter having the functions and effects of the invention of the medal insertion assist device according to claims 1 to 4.

It is a front view which shows the structural example of the game system provided with the medal insertion assist device which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 1 includes a partial cross-sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows the cut surface cut by the line II-II shown in FIG. FIG. 3 (A) is a plan view seen from the arrow direction (upper side) of line III shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 (B) is an enlarged view of a part thereof. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the medal insertion assist device of 1st Embodiment, FIG. 4A is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 4 (B) is an arrow of line IV-B shown in FIG. 4 (A). It is a front view seen from a direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the medal insertion assist device shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 5 (A) is the sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 (B) is from the direction of the arrow of the VB line shown in FIG. 5 (A). It is a front view as seen. It is explanatory drawing which shows the movable example of the ejection nozzle of the medal insertion assist device, FIG. 6A is an example of a base end movable part, and FIG. 6B is an example of a tip movable part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the conveyor of the medal insertion assist device, FIG. 7A is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1, FIG. 7B is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 3, and FIG. 7C is FIG. It is a considerable sectional view. It is explanatory drawing which shows the use example of the medal insertion assist device of 1st Embodiment, FIG. 8A is a front view, and FIG. 8B is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. FIG. 8 (A) includes a partial cross-sectional view. It is a figure which shows the other configuration example of the medal insertion assist device of 1st Embodiment, FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 9 (B) is the line IX-B shown in FIG. 9 (A). It is a front view seen from the direction of the arrow of. 9 is an explanatory view showing an operation example of the medal insertion assist device shown in FIG. 9, FIG. 10 (A) is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 10 (B) is from the direction of the arrow of the XB line shown in FIG. 10 (A). It is a front view as seen. It is a figure which shows the other configuration example of the medal insertion assist device of 1st Embodiment, FIG. 11A is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, FIG. 11 (B) is the line XI-B shown in FIG. 11 (A). It is a front view seen from the direction of the arrow of. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the medal insertion assist device shown in FIG. 11, FIG. 12 (A) is the sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 12 (B) is the arrow of line XII-B shown in FIG. 12 (A). It is a front view seen from a direction. It is a figure which shows the other configuration example of the medal insertion assist device of 1st Embodiment, FIG. 13A is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 13B is a line XIII-B shown in FIG. 13A. It is a front view seen from the direction of the arrow of. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the medal insertion assist device shown in FIG. 13, FIG. 14 (A) is the sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 14 (B) is the arrow of line XIV-B shown in FIG. 14 (A). It is a front view seen from a direction. It is a front view which shows the structural example of the game system provided with the medal insertion assist device which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 15 includes a partial cross-sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows the cut surface cut by the XVI-XVI line shown in FIG. It is a top view seen from the arrow direction of line XVII shown in FIG. It is a top view seen from the arrow direction (upper) of line XVIII shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation example of the medal insertion assist device shown in FIG. FIG. 19 includes a partial cross-sectional view. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the medal counter which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, FIG. It is a front view seen from the arrow direction of the XVII-B line shown. It is explanatory drawing which shows the use example of the medal counter of 3rd Embodiment, FIG. 21A is a front view, and FIG. 21B is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 or FIG. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the medal counter of 3rd Embodiment, FIG. 22A is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 or FIG. 16, FIG. 22 (B) is XXII shown in FIG. 22 (A). -It is a front view seen from the arrow direction of line B. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the medal counter of 3rd Embodiment, FIG. 23 (A) is the sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 or FIG. 16, FIG. 23 (B) is XXIII shown in FIG. 23 (A). -It is a front view seen from the arrow direction of line B. It is a figure which shows the other configuration example of the medal counter of 3rd Embodiment, FIG. 24A is a sectional view corresponding to FIG. 2 or FIG. 16, FIG. 24 (B) is XXIV shown in FIG. 24 (A). -It is a front view seen from the arrow direction of line B.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a game system in which the medal insertion assist device and the medal counter of the present invention are installed in a game facility such as a pachinko hall or an arcade will be described with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, the direction of gravity is referred to as "downward", "lower side" or "lower side", and the direction of antigravity is referred to as "upper side", "upper side" or "upper side". Further, the front direction of the slot machine 10 is referred to as "front", "front side" or "front", and the rear direction of the slot machine 10 is referred to as "rear", "rear side" or "rear". Further, the right-hand direction of the player playing the game on the slot machine 10 is referred to as "right side" or "right", and the left-hand direction of the player is referred to as "left side" or "left". Furthermore, the front left-right direction of the slot machine 10 may be simply referred to as "left-right direction" or "horizontal direction". Further, the front vertical direction of the slot machine 10 may be simply referred to as a "vertical direction" or a "vertical direction".

[First Embodiment]
First, an embodiment of the medal insertion assist device of the present invention will be described as a first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14. A configuration example of the game system including the medal insertion assist device 15a according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. Hereinafter, the medal insertion assist device 15a will be referred to as an assist device 15a.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the gaming machine island 1 is mainly composed of a waist frame 2, an upper frame 3, and an island pillar 4. A plurality of slot machines 10 as gaming machines are installed back to back on the gaming machine island 1, and island pillars 4 are floored at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 in which these slot machines 10 are lined up. It is fixed to the surface F. The island pillar 4 is mainly composed of two square pipes or square members extending in the vertical direction, and the lower end portion 4a thereof is a slot machine 10 installed on both sides of the gaming machine island 1 in the lateral direction, that is, back to back. It is formed in a shape in which the "U" character of katakana is turned down so that it extends toward the front. Note that FIG. 2 shows half of the island pillar 4 in the width direction, and the other half is omitted.

The waist frame 2 is a vertically long rectangular plate material having a thick plate thickness, and is fixed to a lower end portion 4a of each island pillar 4 and a top plate 5 is attached to the upper end portion thereof. The top plate 5 is a long plate member bridged in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1, and the slot machine 10 is installed on the top plate 5. The waist frame 2 is covered with a waist plate 7 so that the lower end portion 4a of the island pillar 4 and the like cannot be seen from the player side.

In the upper frame 3, for example, the cross-sectional shape of the gaming machine island 1 in the lateral direction is formed in an L shape, the vertical portion thereof is fixed to the upper end portion 4b of the island pillar 4, and the lower portion is the top plate. The upper part of the slot machine 10 mounted on the 5 is covered like the eaves of the roof. A shelf board 6 is attached to the upper side of the lower portion (corresponding to the eaves) of the upper frame 3. The shelf plate 6 is also a long plate member that is bridged in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 like the top plate 5. The vertical portion of the upper frame 3 is covered with a back plate 8 so as not to be seen from the player side. Note that in FIG. 1, a part of the shelf board 6 (the part where the conveyor 90 is provided) is a cross-sectional view.

A medal lending machine 11 and an assist device 15a are provided on the right side of each of the plurality of slot machines 10 installed on the gaming machine island 1. A stud 9 is interposed between the assist device 15a and the slot machine 10 adjacent thereto. The stud 9 is, for example, a strip-shaped elongated plate, and is a blank panel that closes the gap between the stud sandwich such as the medal lending machine 11 and the assist device 15a and the slot machine 10.

The medal lending machine 11 has a lending function of renting a fixed number of medals M for a predetermined amount paid by the player, and a counting function ( adjacent medal counting machine) for counting the medals M acquired by the player from the slot machine 10. , Is equipped. FIG. 1 shows a bill insertion slot 11a, a card insertion slot 11b, a payout slot 11c, and a medal insertion slot 11d, which constitute the main appearance of the medal lending machine 11. As shown in FIG. 2, the medal counter 13 of the medal lending machine 11 is provided behind the medal insertion unit 11d. In FIG. 1, the tip of the payout port 11c is directed to the saucer 10a of the slot machine 10.

In the first embodiment, the opening 6a is formed in a part of the shelf board 6. The opening 6a is a rectangular hole (see FIGS. 3A and 3B) and penetrates the shelf board 6. The medal chute 20 of the assist device 15a is attached to the opening 6a. Further, in the first embodiment, the upper frame 3 is also located below the shelf board 6. Therefore, the upper frame 3 is also formed with a square hole similar to the opening 6a of the shelf board 6. A medal box 19 or the like is placed on the shelf board 6 as needed by the player (see FIG. 1). Although not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a chair fixed to the floor surface F is installed in front of the slot machine 10, and the player sits on this chair to operate the slot machine 10. That is, the game is played.

The length of the square hole such as the opening 6a provided in the shelf board 6 or the upper frame 3 in the lateral direction is set to be equal to or slightly larger than the lateral width of the medal box 19, for example. This facilitates the insertion of the medal M from the medal box 19 into the opening 6a. The length of the square hole such as the opening 6a in the lateral direction is set to be less than the width in the lateral direction of the shelf board 6. Further, the length of the square holes such as the openings 6a in the longitudinal direction does not exceed the separation distance between the studs 9 on both sides of the slot machine 10 provided below the shelf plate 6 at the maximum. This is to avoid a conflict with an opening 6a or the like similarly provided in the shelf board 6 of the adjacent slot machine 10.

The assist device 15a is provided between the medal lending machine 11 and the stud 9, and is composed of a medal chute 20, a discharge nozzle 30, an effect unit 40, and a conveyor 90.

The medal chute 20 is provided with a hopper-shaped receiving port 20a located above the effect unit 40, and is attached to the opening 6a of the shelf board 6. In the first embodiment, the medal chute 20 is composed of four panels so that the opening shape of the receiving port 20a forms a rectangle slightly smaller than the rectangle of the opening 6a (FIGS. 2 and 3). See (A) and (B)). Specifically, the medal chute 20 is composed of, for example, a front panel 21, a back panel 22, a slope panel 23, and a hanging panel 24. The hopper shape referred to here is a hollow truncated cone shape, but as another example of the shape, a hollow truncated cone shape may be used.

The receiving port 20a of the medal chute 20 is opened with an opening area larger than that of the medal entrance 40a of the effect unit 40 described later. Therefore, the downstream side of the medal M connected to the production unit 40 (hereinafter referred to as the “downstream side of the medal”) is more than the upstream side of the medal M into which the medal M is inserted by the player (hereinafter referred to as the “upstream side of the medal”). It forms a rectangular shape with a small opening area. In the first embodiment, the medal chute 20 is configured in a hopper shape in which the difference in size between the upstream and downstream openings can be absorbed by the slope panel 23.

That is, the slope panel 23 has an inclined surface that inclines downward from the upstream side of the medal toward the downstream side of the medal, a vertical panel 23a that rises from the inclined surface toward the upstream side of the medal, and an inclined surface toward the downstream side of the medal. It is composed of a hanging panel that hangs down. As a result, the medal chute 20 forms a rectangle in which the opening shape of the receiving port 20a is slightly smaller than the rectangle of the opening 6a on the upstream side of the medal, and is a rectangle that can be connected to the medal entrance 40a of the effect unit 40 on the downstream side of the medal. It is configured to form the opening shape of. The upstream side of the medal is upward, and the downstream side of the medal is downward.

The effect unit 40 is a main component of an assist device 15a provided between the upper frame 3 and the top plate 5 as an inter-table sand, and is a front panel 41, side panels 42, 43, inclined panels 46, 47, and a guide panel. It is composed of 48. Of these, the front panel 41 and the side panels 42, 43 can correspond to the "passage portion" described in the claims. Since a configuration example of the effect unit 40 is illustrated in FIG. 4, the effect unit 40 will be described from here with reference to FIG.

The front panel 41 is a strip-shaped elongated plate member that closes from the upper frame 3 to the medal outlet 41a to which the discharge nozzle 30 is fixed, and is, for example, a visually colorless and transparent acrylic plate. The front panel 41 may be colored transparent such as smoke gray as long as it is visually transparent. The length of the front panel 41 in the width direction (longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1) is set to be larger than twice the diameter of the medal M, for example. That is, the facing distance between the side panels 42 and 43 is set to be larger than twice the diameter Dm of the medal M. Preferably, the width direction length of the front panel 41 (opposite distance between the side panels 42 and 43) is added by twice the diameter Dm of the medal M and twice the thickness Tm of the medal M (= Dm ×). It may be set larger than 2 + Tm × 2).

As a result, even if the two medals M are positioned parallel to the front panel 41 in the radial direction thereof, they can pass between the facing side panels 42 and 43, so that the two medals M can pass between the facing side panels 42 and 43. The flow of the medal M can be made smooth. The facing distance between the side panels 42 and 43 may be set to three times the diameter Dm of the medal M.

The side panels 42 and 43 are slightly wide strip-shaped long plate members extending from the upper frame 3 to the top plate 5, and sandwich the front panel 41, the inclined panels 46, 47, and the guide panel 48 so as to sandwich them from both sides. Is. For example, it is an acrylic plate having the same quality as the front panel 41. The color may be colorless and transparent or opaque. That is, it does not have to be visually transparent. The length of the side panels 42 and 43 in the depth direction (front-back direction) is set so as to slightly protrude from the top plate 5, for example. This length is set according to, for example, the length in the depth direction (front-back direction) of the adjacent medal lending machine 11 or the slot machine 10, or the depth direction (front-back direction) of the accessory unit that can be accommodated in the empty space S below. It may be set slightly larger than the length of the direction). Although the side panel 42 is shown and the side panel 43 is not shown in FIG. 2, the side panel 43 on the opposite side is also configured in the same manner as the side panel 42.

The inclined panels 46 and 47 are buffer plates that prevent the medal M entered from the medal entrance 40a of the effect unit 40 from freely falling, and can correspond to the "buffer portion" described in the claims. .. As will be described later, the inclined panels 46 and 47 have a role of causing the medal M to move and behave irregularly, and also a role of reducing the falling speed of the medal M to prevent damage to the guide panel 48. The inclined panels 46 and 47 are strip-shaped elongated plate members whose width direction (longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1) is set in the same manner as the front panel 41. All of these are fixed to the side panels 42 and 43 so as to be sandwiched by the side panels 42 and 43 as described above (see FIGS. 4A and 4B).

In the first embodiment, the inclined panel 46 is inclined so as to descend from the front to the rear (from the front to the rear), and conversely, the inclined panel 47 is inclined from the rear to the front (from the rear to the front). It is tilted down (towards). That is, the side panels 42 and the side panels 43 are alternately positioned in a stepped manner so as to form a katakana "H" shape in the falling direction of the medal M (from the upstream side of the medal to the downstream side of the medal). .. For example, three inclined panels 46 and two inclined panels 47 are provided.

The positions where the tips of the inclined panels 46 and 47 face each other are set substantially in the center of the effect unit 40. In the first embodiment, the medal outlet 41a is formed on the front panel 41. Therefore, the length of the inclined panels 46 and 47 in the longitudinal direction is set so that the inclined panel 46 is shorter than the inclined panel 47. As a result, the medals M that have slid down the inclined panels 46 and 47 can easily gather in the direction of the medal outlet 41a.

The guide panel 48 is also a strip-shaped elongated plate member having the same structure as the inclined panels 46 and 47, and plays a role of guiding the medal M toward the discharge nozzle 30 connected to the medal outlet 41a. Therefore, the guide panel 48 is located on the downstream side of the medals of the inclined panels 46 and 47, and is fixed to the side panels 42 and 43 so as to divide the space below the medals. In the first embodiment, the guide panel 48 is set to have the same tilt direction and tilt angle as the tilt panel 47, and the end on the side close to the medal outlet 41a is connected to the lower side of the discharge nozzle 30. ..

The number of tilted panels 46, 47 and the tilt angles of the tilted panels 46, 47 and the guide panel 48 are irregular movements and behaviors due to the medal M rolling down or sliding down the tilted panels 46, 47. Is set to a value that can occur in the medal M. Further, on the inclined panels 46 and 47 and the guide panel 48, the angle at which the medal M does not stagnate or cause the medal clogging, and the speed of entry into the discharge nozzle 30 where the medal M can be satisfactorily discharged from the discharge nozzle 30. The tilt angles of the tilt panels 46 and 47 and the guide panel 48 are set so that the sliding speed of the medal M falls within the range. These are set based on the results of individual specific experiments and computer simulations.

The space between the fixed portion of the discharge nozzle 30 and the top plate 5, that is, the space below the space (empty space S) separated by the guide panel 48, is closed by the blank panel P in the first embodiment. Instead of such a blank panel P, for example, an accessory unit including a cup holder, a smoke separation board, or the like may be installed. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the empty space S. In the first embodiment, the blank panel P is provided with a switch 99 that the player presses when starting the operation of the conveyor 90, which will be described later.

The details of the discharge nozzle 30 are shown in FIG. Therefore, it will be described here with reference to FIG. The discharge nozzle 30 discharges the medal M discharged from the medal outlet 41a of the effect unit 40 toward the medal insertion unit 11d of the medal lending machine 11, and corresponds to the “discharge unit” described in the claims. What you get. That is, even if the positional relationship between the medal outlet 41a of the effect unit 40 and the medal insertion unit 11d of the medal counter 13 is physically separated, the discharge nozzle 30 uses the medal M emitted from the medal outlet 41a as the medal insertion unit 11d. Can be put into. The discharge nozzle 30 is mainly composed of a fixed portion 31, a pipeline portion 32, a nozzle 33, a base end movable portion 35, and a tip movable portion 37. These are formed of, for example, flame-retardant synthetic resins.

The fixing portion 31 is fixed to the front panel 41 and the side panels 42, 43 of the effect unit 40 described above, and is connected to the effect unit 40 so that the medal M discharged from the medal outlet 41a can enter the introduction port thereof. ing. The pipeline portion 32 is a hollow pipe having an L-shaped bent opening shape and a rectangular opening shape, and is connected to the fixing portion 31 via a base end movable portion 35 so as to communicate with the introduction port of the fixing portion 31. The rectangular opening of the conduit portion 32 is set to a size that allows the medal M to sufficiently pass through. The nozzle 33 is connected to the pipeline portion 32 via the tip movable portion 37, and the tip 33a is formed in a rectangular opening that can be ejected even with a stacked medal M, for example, in which two or three medals are stacked. The base end movable portion 35 is pivotally supported by a shaft portion 36 so as to be able to move in the vertical direction with respect to the fixed portion 31 and the pipeline portion 32. Further, the tip movable portion 37 is pivotally supported by the shaft portion 38 so that the tip movable portion 37 can move in the lateral direction (the stacking direction of the medals M) of the rectangular opening of the tip 33a with respect to the pipeline portion 32 and the nozzle 33. ..

In this way, both ends of the pipeline portion 32 of the discharge nozzle 30 are connected to the base end movable portion 35 and the tip end movable portion 37. Therefore, the pipeline portion 32 is movable as shown in the pipeline portion 32'shown in FIG. 6 (A), and the nozzle 33 is movable as shown in the nozzles 33', 33 "shown in FIG. 6 (B). As a result, the positions of the nozzle 33 and its tip 33a can be freely changed. Therefore, for example, even if the specifications of the medal lending machine 11 are changed and the position of the medal insertion unit 11d is changed, such a change can be made. Further, if the nozzle 33 can be an obstacle when opening and closing the front door of the slot machine 10, the nozzle 33 can be moved to a position where it does not get in the way. In the embodiment, the pipeline portion 32 is made of synthetic resin, but for example, the conduit portion 32 may be formed of a metal flexible pipe or a resin bellows joint. As a result, the conduit portion 32 itself is also hollow. Since it can be easily deformed while maintaining the shape of the pipe, the degree of freedom in changing the position of the nozzle 33 and its tip 33a can be further increased. Further, the base end movable portion 35 necks in the left-right direction with respect to the fixed portion 31. It may be configured to shake.

As shown in FIGS. 3B and 7, the conveyor 90 is mainly composed of a motor 91, a conveyor belt 92, a shutter unit 97, and a control unit (not shown). The conveyor 90 can correspond to the "conveyor unit" and the "first conveyor unit" described in the claims. The conveyor 90 is a belt conveyor using a motor 91 as a driving force source, and the medal M to be inserted into the medal chute 20 is placed in the recess 6b provided in the shelf plate 6 in the longitudinal direction (left and right) of the shelf plate 6. It is a conveyor (conveyor unit) that carries to the receiving port 20a in the directional or horizontal direction.

In the first embodiment, the stock barrier 100 positioned on the frame-shaped guide 101 is placed above the conveyor 90. The stock barrier 100 is a plastic molded product obtained by molding a transparent acrylic resin or the like like the medal box 19, and its external shape is similar to that of the medal box 19. The internal volume of the stock barrier 100 is set to be several times (4 to 8 times) that of the medal box 19, for example. Therefore, the player can store the medals M in the stock barrier 100 without stacking many medals boxes 19 in which the medals M are stored. As a result, the number of medal boxes 19 used can be reduced.

Further, the upper opening 100a of the stock barrier 100 is set to have a larger opening width and opening length than the lower opening 100b. This facilitates the work of moving the medal M from the medal box 19 and makes it difficult for the player to spill the medal M from the stock barrier 100. The stock barrier 100 does not have a bottom plate. That is, the bottom of the stock barrier 100 is open (lower opening 100b). Therefore, the conveyor 90 is provided with a shutter unit 97 that closes the receiving port 20a of the medal chute 20 so that the medal M is not discharged from the stock barrier 100 except when the player intends.

The transport belt 92 is, for example, a flexible band-shaped endless annular member such as urethane resin, and is hung on two rollers 96a and 96b extending in the lateral direction of the shelf board 6. Both of these rollers 96a and 96b are rotatably provided on a frame 93 formed in a rectangular frame shape. A pulley 94b is attached to the shaft of the drive roller 96a located in a direction away from the receiving port 20a, and receives a driving force transmitted from the motor 91 by a belt drive or the like via the pulley 94b. On the other hand, the driven roller 96b located near the receiving port 20a can rotate freely and rotates according to the movement of the transport belt 92.

A pulley 94a is attached to the output shaft of the motor 91. The pulley 94a is, for example, a toothed one (timing pulley) capable of efficiently transmitting a driving force to the drive belt 95, and rotates the pulley 94b connected to the drive roller 96a via the drive belt 95. It is configured to be possible. The motor 91 is fixed to the frame 93 or the shelf board 6 via a bracket or the like (not shown). The operation of the motor 91 is controlled by a control unit (not shown). For example, when the switch 99 (touch type or push button type) provided on the blank panel P is pushed by a player or the like to shift from the off state to the on state, the control unit (not shown) is driven by a motor during a predetermined period. The drive power is supplied to 91.

The reception port 20a is normally closed by the shutter 98 of the shutter unit 97 (see FIG. 3 (A), FIG. 7; gray colored portion). That is, since the bottom of the stock barrier 100 is open (lower opening 100b), if the receiving port 20a is always open, the medal M that has entered the stock barrier 100 will move from the lower opening 100b into the receiving port 20a. May leak into. Therefore, in the first embodiment, the medal M can be stored (accumulated) in the stock barrier 100 by providing the shutter unit 97 that can close the receiving port 20a. In addition, in FIG. 3B, the shutter 98 at the time of opening is shown (the part colored in gray).

The shutter unit 97 includes a rectangular thin plate-shaped shutter 98 capable of closing the receiving port 20a, and is configured to be controllable by a control unit (not shown). Drive power is supplied to the shutter unit 97 from an external DC power supply device. The shutter unit 97 is provided at a position facing the driven roller 96b of the transport belt 92 with the receiving port 20a interposed therebetween. The positional relationship of the shutter unit 97 and the amount of protrusion of the shutter 98 are set so that the tip of the shutter 98 protruding from the shutter unit 97 can be placed on the end of the transport belt 92 (the end on the driven roller 96b side). ..

To project and retract (accommodate) the shutter 98, for example, a mechanism (rack and pinion) that combines a rack gear provided on the shutter 98 and a pinion gear that is attached to a motor and rotates is provided in the shutter unit 97. Is feasible. A linear motor using a magnet may be provided in the shutter unit 97 to project or retract (accommodate) the shutter 98.

An external DC power supply device, a motor 91, a shutter unit 97, and a switch 99 are electrically connected to the control unit (not shown). For example, after receiving the ON signal of the switch 99 and retracting (accommodating) the shutter 98 in the shutter unit 97, the control unit drives the motor 91 from the DC power supply device until a predetermined time elapses after starting the timer. Supply power. Then, after the elapse of a predetermined time, the control unit controls the shutter unit 97 to project the shutter 98 after stopping the supply of the driving power to the motor 91. As a result, the medal M in the stock barrier 100 is conveyed by the conveying belt 92 and continues to be inserted into the receiving port 20a until a predetermined time elapses, and after that, the receiving port 20a is closed.

Further, a medal sensor (not shown) may be provided in the vicinity immediately below the receiving port 20a, and the sensor output thereof may be electrically connected to the control unit. As a result, for example, after the switch 99 is turned on and the shutter 98 is retracted (opened), the drive power is supplied from the DC power supply device to the motor 91 until the medal sensor does not detect the medal M entering the reception port 20a. Can be controlled by the control unit so that Examples of the medal sensor (not shown) include detection means (Hall element, photo interrupter, etc.) capable of detecting that the medal M has passed near the sensor by detecting a change in magnetism, blocking of infrared rays, and the like.

In the first embodiment, the length and width of the transport belt 92 are set according to, for example, the size of the lower opening 100b of the stock barrier 100. The length of the transport belt 92 referred to here is not the entire annular shape, but is equivalent to 1/2 (half) of the length (the range of cross-hatching shown in FIG. 7B is the transport belt 92). The width of the transport belt 92 is equal to or slightly equal to the lateral length of the lower opening 100b so that the medal M discharged from the stock barrier 100 can be efficiently transported to the receiving port 20a of the medal chute 20. It is set to be large. If the width of the transport belt 92 is smaller than the length of the lower opening 100b in the lateral direction, the medal M may be caught in the gap formed thereby and hinder the operation of the transport belt 92. In addition, medals M that cannot be inserted into the receiving port 20a may occur.

Further, the length of the transport belt 92 is obtained by subtracting the same overlapping length in the longitudinal direction of the lower opening 100b where the lower opening 100b and the receiving port 20a overlap (communicate) from the length in the longitudinal direction of the lower opening 100b. It is set to be slightly larger than the value. If the length of the transport belt 92 is smaller than this value, the medal M discharged from the transport belt 92 may enter the back side of the transport belt 92 (inside the recess 6b of the shelf board 6), and the receiving port. A medal M that cannot be inserted into 20a may occur. It can also cause medal clogging in the conveyor 90.

By configuring the effect unit 40 and the conveyor 90 in this way, for example, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the medal M entered from the medal entrance 40a slides down the inclined panels 46 and 47, etc. After that, the guide panel 48 guides the medal outlet 41a to the tip 33a (see FIG. 4) of the nozzle 33 of the discharge nozzle 30 (medal M'shown in FIG. 5). As a result, the medal M'discharged from the nozzle 33 can be inserted into the medal insertion unit 11d of the medal counter 13.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, in the assist device 15a, for example, when the player notices in the middle of the game that the medals M accumulated in the saucer 10a of the slot machine 10 are full, the slot machine 10 Even during the operation of, the medal M is grabbed with one free hand and thrown into the stock barrier 100 above the shelf board 6. Then, at an appropriate timing, the switch 99 is touched or the switch 99 is pressed. As a result, the medals M accumulated in the stock barrier 100 are carried to the conveyor 90 and thrown into the receiving port 20a, so that the player can easily count the medals M during the game without stopping the game. It becomes possible to insert the medal into the medal insertion unit 11d of the machine 13. Since the upper opening 100a of the stock barrier 100 is much larger than the receiving port 20a of the medal chute 20, the medal M can be easily inserted.

When the medal box 19 is prepared, the player transfers the medal M from the saucer 10a of the slot machine 10 to the medal box 19 with one free hand during the operation of the slot machine 10, and then the medal box 19 is prepared. After the game is completed, the medal M is thrown into the stock barrier 100 above the shelf board 6 from the medal box 19, and then the switch 99 is touched or the switch 99 is pressed. As a result, the medals M accumulated in the stock barrier 100 are carried to the conveyor 90 and thrown into the receiving port 20a, so that the player can easily count the medals M after the game is completed without stopping the game. It becomes possible to insert the medal into the medal insertion unit 11d of the machine 13.

Therefore, the assist device 15a of the first embodiment can suppress a decrease in the operating rate of the slot machine 10, and the medal M is lost due to spilling and falling from the medal insertion portion 11d of the medal counter 13. Can also be suppressed. Note that in FIG. 8, as in FIG. 1, a part of the shelf board 6 (the portion where the conveyor 90 is provided) is a cross-sectional view.

Further, since the front panel 41 of the effect unit 40 is made of a transparent acrylic plate, the inside of the effect unit 40 can be seen by the player through the front panel 41. As a result, when the player inserts the medal M into the receiving port 20a of the medal shoot 20, the player sees the medal M falling in the effect unit 40 while making irregular movements by the inclined panels 46 and 47. It can be seen through the front panel 41 of the board. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the counting of medals M.

As a modification of the above-mentioned effect unit 40, various configuration examples can be considered. Here, another configuration example of the effect unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 14. In these figures, the same components as those of the effect unit 40 of the assist device 15a described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 9, the effect unit 50 of the assist device 15b uses the inner wall of the side panels 42, 43 of the effect unit 50 to replace the inclined panels 46, 47 of the effect unit 40 described above as a cushioning portion of the medal M. A plurality of poles 56 protruding toward the falling space are provided. The poles 56 are erected at equal intervals, for example, at intervals Db. Further, the poles 56 are provided at the respective apex positions of the equilateral triangle in the vertical direction. In addition, two introduction panels 55 are provided at the medal entrance 50a so as to form a "H" shape of katakana from the upstream side of the medal to the downstream side of the medal.

The tip facing distance Da of the introduction panel 55 and the distance Db between the poles 56 are set to be larger than, for example, twice the diameter of the medal M. Preferably, these intervals Da and Db are set to a value (= Dm × 2 + Tm × 2) obtained by adding twice the diameter Dm of the medal M and twice the thickness Tm of the medal M. As a result, even if the two medals M are positioned parallel to the side panels 42 and 43 in the radial direction, they can pass through these intervals Da and Db, so that the medals are more than the introduction panel 55. The flow of medals M to the downstream side can be smoothed. The intervals Da and Db may be set to three times the diameter Dm of the medal M.

By configuring the effect unit 50 of the assist device 15b in this way, as shown in FIG. 10, the medal M entered from the medal entrance 50a is such that the front and back sides of the medal M are reversed or the falling direction is irregularly changed. It falls downward in a straightforward manner. As a result, the above-mentioned effect unit 40 falls downward in an effect mode in which the medal M rolls down or slides down the inclined surfaces of the inclined panels 46 and 47, whereas the medal M falls in a completely different effect mode. Fall below the medal. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the various falling modes. These poles 56 also play a role of reducing the falling speed of the medal M to prevent damage to the guide panel 58.

Two introduction panels 55 and a plurality of poles 56 may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and inclined panels 46 and 47 of the effect unit 40 may be provided on the downstream side thereof. As a result, the medal M behaves in both the production mode by the inclined panels 46 and 47 and the production mode by the pole 56, so that the player can visually enjoy the various falling modes. On the contrary, the inclined panels 46 and 47 of the effect unit 40 may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and two introduction panels 55 and a plurality of poles 56 may be provided on the downstream side thereof.

As shown in FIG. 11, the effect unit 60 of the assist device 15c is fixed to the inner wall of the side panels 42, 43 of the effect unit 60 as a shock absorber instead of the inclined panels 46, 47 of the effect unit 40 described above. Seesaws 66 that tilt toward the drop direction side of the medal M with respect to the support shaft 67 are provided at a plurality of locations. The seesaw 66 is composed of a plate portion 66a and a bearing portion 66b. A bearing portion 66b capable of receiving the support shaft 67 is attached to the center of the lower surface of the plate portion 66a in the longitudinal direction. In order to limit the inclination of the seesaw 66 by a predetermined amount, stoppers 68 are provided on both lower sides of the seesaw 66.

The medal entrance 60a is provided with an introduction panel 65 having the same structure as the introduction panel 55 of the effect unit 50 described above. In the configuration example of the effect unit 60, seesaws 66 are provided in a plurality of stages along substantially the downstream side of the central medal at the tip facing distance of the introduction panel 65. One seesaw 66 is provided in the first and third stages, and two seesaws 66 are provided side by side in the second stage. The tip facing distance Da of the introduction panel 65 is set in the same manner as the tip facing distance Da of the introduction panel 55 of the effect unit 50.

By configuring the effect unit 60 of the assist device 15c in this way, as shown in FIG. 12, the medal M entered from the medal entrance 60a falls while operating the seesaw 66, so that the medal M falls due to the seesaw 66. To produce various effects. For example, the production mode of the plurality of seesaws 66 by tilting according to the position and the number of medals M touching the seesaw 66 provides the player with visual enjoyment and fun. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the effect of the movements of the plurality of seesaws 66. These seesaws 66 also play a role of reducing the falling speed of the medal M to prevent damage to the guide panel 69.

The inclined panels 46, 47 of the effect unit 40, the plurality of poles 56 of the effect unit 50, and the like may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and a plurality of seesaws 66 may be provided on the downstream side thereof. On the contrary, a plurality of seesaws 66 may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and the inclined panels 46 and 47 of the effect unit 40, a plurality of poles 56 of the effect unit 50, and the like may be provided on the downstream side thereof. As a result, the medal M behaves in various ways due to its fall, so that the player can visually enjoy the medal in various fall modes.

As shown in FIG. 13, the effect unit 70 of the assist device 15d is fixed to the inner wall of the side panels 42, 43 of the effect unit 70 as a shock absorber instead of the inclined panels 46, 47 of the effect unit 40 described above. Wind turbines 76 that rotate around the support shaft 77 are provided at a plurality of locations. The wind turbine 76 is composed of a disk portion 76a and a vane portion 76b. In the disk portion 76a, a plurality of (for example, four) vane portions 76b are erected radially around a hole passing through a support shaft 77.

The medal entrance 70a is provided with an introduction panel 75 having the same structure as the introduction panel 55 of the effect unit 50 described above. In the configuration example of the effect unit 70, the wind turbines 76 are provided in a plurality of stages (two stages) along the substantially downstream side of the central medal at the tip facing distance of the introduction panel 75. One wind turbine 76 is provided in the first stage, and two wind turbines 76 are provided side by side in the second stage. The tip facing distance Da of the introduction panel 75 is set in the same manner as the tip facing distance Da of the introduction panel 55 of the effect unit 50.

By configuring the effect unit 70 of the assist device 15d in this way, as shown in FIG. 14, the medal M entered from the medal entrance 70a falls while rotating the windmill 76, so that the medal M falls due to the windmill 76. Is rotated to produce various effects. For example, the effect mode of the windmill 76 by rotating in the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction according to the position of the medal M touching the windmill 76 provides the player with visual enjoyment and fun. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the effect of the rotation of the plurality of wind turbines 76. These wind turbines 76 also play a role of reducing the falling speed of the medal M to prevent damage to the guide panel 78.

A plurality of seesaws 66 of the effect unit 60 described above may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and a plurality of wind turbines 76 may be provided on the downstream side thereof. On the contrary, a plurality of wind turbines 76 may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and a plurality of seesaws 66 of the effect unit 60 described above may be provided on the downstream side thereof. As a result, the medal M behaves in both the production mode by the seesaw 66 and the production mode by the windmill 76, so that the player can visually enjoy the various falling modes.

Further, the inclined panels 46 and 47 of the effect unit 40, the plurality of poles 56 of the effect unit 50, and the like may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and a plurality of wind turbines 76 may be provided on the downstream side thereof. On the contrary, a plurality of wind turbines 76 may be provided on the upstream side of the medal, and the inclined panels 46 and 47 of the effect unit 40, a plurality of poles 56 of the effect unit 50, and the like may be provided on the downstream side thereof. As a result, the medal M behaves in various ways due to its fall, so that the player can visually enjoy the medal in various fall modes.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, an embodiment of the medal insertion assist device of the present invention will be described as a second embodiment with reference to FIGS. 15 to 19. The medal insertion assist device according to the second embodiment is obtained by adding a lift 110 to the assist device 15a of the first embodiment. Therefore, in these figures, the same components as those of the assist device 15a, the medal entrance 40a, and the like described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Further, for convenience of explanation, the medal insertion assist device according to the second embodiment is also designated by the reference numeral "15a". Note that in FIGS. 15 and 19, a part of the shelf board 6 (the part where the conveyor 90 is provided) is a cross-sectional view.

The lift 110 included in the assist device 15a of the second embodiment is mainly composed of a motor 111, a transport belt 112, a tower 113, a box 120, and a control unit (not shown). The lift 110 can correspond to the "conveying section" and the "second transporting section" described in the claims. The lift 110 is a lifter for medals using the motor 111 as a driving force source, and the medal M to be inserted into the stock barrier 103 mounted on the shelf plate 6 above the slot machine is placed on the top plate below the slot machine. It is a transport device (transport unit) that transports the stock barrier 103 from the height position of 5.

In the second embodiment, a stock barrier 103 larger than the stock barrier 100 of the first embodiment is used. The stock barrier 103 is also positioned on the frame-shaped guide 104 above the conveyor 90, similarly to the stock barrier 100 of the first embodiment. The stock barrier 103 is also a plastic molded product obtained by molding a transparent acrylic resin or the like like the medal box 19, and its external shape is similar to that of the medal box 19. The internal volume of the stock barrier 103 is set to, for example, 6 to 10 times that of the medal box 19. Therefore, the player can store the medals M in the stock barrier 103 without stacking many medals boxes 19 in which the medals M are stored. As a result, the number of medal boxes 19 used can be reduced.

Further, the length of the upper opening 103a of the stock barrier 103 is set to be about 1.5 to 2 times longer than that of the upper opening 100a of the stock barrier 100. This makes it difficult for the medal M discharged from the lift 110 to be spilled. This stock barrier 103 also has no bottom plate and has an open bottom (lower opening 103b). Further, as compared with the stock barrier 100 of the first embodiment, the inner wall of the stock barrier 103 is formed in a concave and gentle curved shape toward the lower opening 103b. Since it is necessary to form a gently curved inner wall surface, the lower opening 103b of the stock barrier 103 is set to have a smaller (shorter) length in the lateral direction than the lower opening 100b of the stock barrier 100.

The transport belt 112 is, for example, a flexible band-shaped endless annular member such as urethane resin, and has plate-shaped fins 112a protruding outward at predetermined intervals. As will be described later, the fin 112a has a function of scooping up and holding the medal M anchored in the medal pool 114x at the bottom of the vertical structure portion 114. The transport belt 112 is hung on a plurality of rollers 118a and 118b. These rollers 118a and 118b are rotatably provided in the tower 113 described below.

The tower 113 accommodates the transport belt 112 and the rollers 118a and 118b inside the tower 113 to form a transport space for the medal M. In the second embodiment, the tower 113 is composed of a vertical structure portion 114 and a horizontal structure portion 115. The vertical structure portion 114 and the horizontal structure portion 115 are formed in the shape of a hollow square bar such as a square duct for air conditioning. For example, it is composed of a visually colorless transparent acrylic plate or a colored transparent acrylic plate such as smoke gray.

The vertical structure portion 114 penetrates the shelf plate 6 so that one end (lower end) thereof is placed on the top plate 5 and the other end (upper end) rises from the top plate 5 (reference numerals shown in FIG. 17). 6c refers to a "through hole" for the vertical structure 114 formed in the shelf board 6). That is, the other end (upper end) of the vertical structure portion 114 is located above the shelf board 6. A box 120, which will be described later, is connected to one end (lower end) of the vertical structure portion 114 so as to be communicable.

Further, one end (left end) of the horizontal structure portion 115 communicates with the other end (upper end) of the vertical structure portion 114, and the other end (right end) of the horizontal structure portion 115 is on the conveyor 90 side above the shelf board 6. Extends to. In the second embodiment, the other end (right end) of the horizontal structure portion 115 extends until the position of the opening 115a of the horizontal structure portion 115 reaches above the stock barrier 103. The medal M discharged from the opening 115a is prevented from falling to a position outside the range of the upper opening 103a of the stock barrier 103. An opening 115a that opens downward is formed at the other end (right end) of the horizontal structure portion 115. The medal M is discharged to the outside from the opening 115a. Further, in the horizontal structure portion 115, a slope plate 115b that tilts downward so that the medal M dropped from the transport belt 112 can be guided in the direction of the opening 115a is provided below the horizontal structure portion 115.

A plurality of rollers 118a and 118b are rotatably provided inside the tower 113, and a transport belt 112 is hung on these rollers. In the second embodiment, the motor 111 to which the pulley 116a is attached to the output shaft is provided near one end side of the vertical structure portion 114. The motor 111 is fixed to the vertical structure portion 114 via a bracket or the like (not shown). A drive roller 118a is provided on one end side of the vertical structure portion 114 of the motor 111. The pulley 116a of the motor 111 is, for example, a toothed pulley 116a capable of efficiently transmitting a driving force to the drive belt 117, and is connected to the drive roller 118a via the drive belt 117b. Is configured to be rotatable.

When the motor 111 rotates, its rotational force is transmitted to the drive roller 118a via the pulley 116a, the drive belt 117, and the pulley 116b. As a result, the transport belt 112 hung on the drive roller 118a and the driven roller 118b rotates. In the second embodiment, as the drive roller 118a rotates clockwise, the fins 112a of the transport belt 112 scoop up the medals M from the medal pool 114x and pass through the vertical structure 114 in the direction of the shelf board 6 ( The medal M is conveyed in the upper direction (counterclockwise direction), and further, the medal M is conveyed in the direction of the conveyor 90 (right side when the slot machine 10 is viewed from the front, in the horizontal direction) through the horizontal structure portion 115.

The box 120 is mainly composed of a main body portion 121 and a lid portion 123. These are plastic molded products obtained by molding ABS resin, PP resin, acrylic resin, or the like. The main body 121 is, for example, a substantially rectangular box body set to an internal volume capable of accommodating about 30 to 50 medals M, and a top plate so that one side in the longitudinal direction faces the player's left hand direction. It is placed in 5. On the other hand, there is no wall on the other side of the main body 121 in the longitudinal direction, and the wall communicates with the vertical structure 114 of the tower 113. As a result, the medals M inserted into the main body 121 can be sent to the medal pool 114x of the vertical structure 114.

Further, the main body portion 121 is formed with a recess 121a at the bottom thereof. The recess 121a is formed on the right side of the other side in the longitudinal direction without a wall (see FIG. 18). As a result, when the drive roller 118a rotates clockwise, the medals M are likely to be accumulated at the position (upstream side of the medal accumulation 114x) before entering the medal accumulation 114x of the vertical structure portion 114. The medal M can be easily scooped up by the fin 112a.

The lid portion 123 is a long plate-shaped cover that closes the upper opening of the main body portion 121. In the second embodiment, the side of the lid 123 on the slot machine 10 side is pivotally supported. Therefore, when opened, the lid 123 moves so as to jump upward (see reference numeral 123'shown in FIG. 17).

Further, in the second embodiment, the box 120 can be removed from the vertical structure portion 114 in order to prevent the front door from contacting the box 120 when the front door of the slot machine 10 is opened to the left side when facing the machine. It is configured in. In order to eliminate unnecessary removal of the box 120, a lock mechanism portion 119 for preventing the removal is provided at one end (lower end) of the vertical structure portion 114.

An external DC power supply, a motor 111, and a switch or medal sensor (not shown) are electrically connected to the control unit (not shown). The control unit, for example, supplies drive power from the DC power supply device to the motor 111 until a predetermined time elapses after starting the timer after receiving the on signal of the switch (not shown). This predetermined time is, for example, the time required for the medal M to be scooped up from the medal pool 114x by the fins 112a of the transport belt 112 and then discharged from the opening 115a via the vertical structure portion 114 and the horizontal structure portion 115. The time corresponding to or a few seconds added to this. That is, it is the time required for the transport belt 112 to start transporting the specific medal M and almost certainly end the transport.

Further, the control unit may have a configuration in which, for example, a medal sensor (not shown) is provided in or near the recess 121a of the main body 121, and the sensor output thereof is electrically connected to the control unit. As a result, for example, when the medal M is inserted into the main body 121 and reaches the recess 121a, the medal sensor (not shown) detects the presence of the medal M, so that the sensor signal output from the sensor is used as a trigger. The drive power is supplied from the DC power supply device to the motor 111 until a predetermined time elapses after starting the timer. In this configuration, since it is not necessary for the player to press the switch shown in the figure, it is possible to prevent the player from stopping the game due to the operation of the switch.

Further, as long as the medal sensor (not shown) detects the medal M, that is, while the medal M exists in the recess 121a, the timer for measuring the predetermined time restarts, so that the medal M is continuously conveyed to the transfer belt 112. It becomes possible to make it. Examples of the medal sensor (not shown) include detection means (Hall element, photo interrupter, etc.) capable of detecting that the medal M has passed near the sensor by detecting a change in magnetism, blocking of infrared rays, and the like.

Further, the control unit may have a configuration in which, for example, a level sensor (not shown) is provided in the upper opening of the stock barrier 103 and the sensor output thereof is electrically connected to the control unit. As a result, for example, when the medal M in the stock barrier 103 is filled to the extent that the medal M discharged from the opening 115a of the lift 110 and enters the stock barrier 103 reaches the upper opening of the stock barrier 103, the medal M is filled. The level sensor in the figure detects the fullness of such a medal M. Therefore, the sensor signal output from the sensor is used as a trigger to forcibly stop the supply of the drive power output from the DC power supply device to the motor 111. In this configuration, when the medal M in the stock barrier 103 is full, the motor 111 stops and the transport of the medal M by the transport belt 112 stops, so that the medal M does not overflow from the stock barrier 103. Becomes possible. In such a level sensor (not shown), for example, the accumulation level of the medal M in the stock barrier 103 is detected by detecting the electrical conduction between the opposing electrodes, the reflection of infrared rays, and the like. Examples thereof include a detection means (conducting medal level sensor, reflective infrared sensor, etc.) capable of detecting that the sensor has reached the vicinity.

By configuring the assist device 15a of the second embodiment in this way, for example, as shown in FIG. 19, the player grabs the medal M from the saucer 10a of the slot machine 10 and inserts it into the main body 121 of the box 120. Then, the medal M that has entered the main body 121 is scooped up by the transport belt 112 of the lift 110 at the medal pool 114x. After that, the medal M is carried above the shelf board 6 by the fins 112a and discharged from the opening 115a. As a result, even if the stock barrier 103 exists on the shelf board 6 above the slot machine 10, the conveyor 90 conveys the medal M from below the slot machine 10 to the position in the height direction of the stock barrier 103, and then the conveyor 90 moves. The medal M is conveyed from the lower opening 103b of the stock barrier 103 to the lateral position of the receiving port 20a. Therefore, the player can insert the medal M into the receiving port 20a of the medal shoot 20 without reaching up or standing up. Further, the player can insert the medal M into the receiving port 20a without lifting the medal box 19 which is heavy due to the accumulated medals to near overhead. As a result, the player can easily insert the medal into the slot of the medal counter 13 during or after the game without stopping the game.

In the second embodiment, the medal M discharged from the opening 115a of the lift 110 is inserted into the receiving port 20a via the stock barrier 103, but the opening above the stock barrier 103. A configuration may be adopted in which the medal M is inserted into the receiving port 20a via the stock barrier 100 having a small size. Further, the medal M discharged from the opening 115a of the lift 110 may be directly inserted into the receiving port 20a without interposing the stock barrier 100 or the stock barrier 103. In this case, since the opening for receiving the medal M is smaller than that of the stock barrier 100 and the stock barrier 103, it is expected that the medal M will spill out. For example, the opening 115a of the lateral structure portion 115 of the lift 110 By directly connecting the medal chute 20 and the receiving port 20a of the medal chute 20 and adopting a configuration in which the medal M does not leak to the outside, the medal M can be directly inserted into the medal chute 20 from the lift 110.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, an embodiment of the medal counter of the present invention will be described as a third embodiment with reference to FIGS. 20 to 24. A configuration example of the medal counter 17a according to the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. The medal counter 17a has a configuration in which the discharge nozzle 30 is removed from the assist device 15a described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the counter unit 80 is housed in the effect unit 140. Here, an example based on the configuration of the first embodiment will be described, but the stock barrier 100 may be the stock barrier 103 of the second embodiment, and the conveyor 90 of the second embodiment is added. You may. Therefore, in these figures, the same components as those of the assist device 15a and the like described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The medal counter 17a is composed of a medal shoot 20 and an effect unit 140 (the medal shoot 20 is not shown in FIG. 21). Since the medal shoot 20 is the same as that of the first and second embodiments, it is omitted here. Similar to the effect unit 40 of the first embodiment, the effect unit 140 is provided between the upper frame 3 and the top plate 5 as an inter-table sand, and the front panel 141, the side panels 142, 143, and the inclined panel 46, It is composed of 47, 146, 147 and a guide panel 148. Of these, the front panel 141 and the side panels 142, 143 can correspond to the "passage portion" described in the claims.

The front panel 141 is a strip-shaped elongated plate member that closes up to the boundary of the lower end space in which the counter unit 80 is housed, and is, for example, a visually colorless and transparent acrylic plate. The front panel 141 may also be colored transparent such as smoke gray as long as it is visually transparent. The length of the front panel 141 in the width direction (longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1) is set to be larger than, for example, twice the diameter of the medal M for the same reason as the front panel 41 of the first and second embodiments. Or, it is set to be larger than the value (= Dm × 2 + Tm × 2) obtained by adding twice the diameter Dm of the medal M and twice the thickness Tm of the medal M. The diameter of the medal M may be set to be larger than 3 times.

A maintenance panel 144 is provided below the front panel 141. That is, a strip-shaped maintenance panel 144 is provided between the lower end of the front panel 141 and the top plate 5. The maintenance panel 144 closes the front side of the space below the guide panel 148 in which the counter unit 80 is housed. The maintenance panel 144 is provided with a lock mechanism portion 145 to prevent the maintenance panel 144 from being opened at the time of locking. The maintenance panel 144 is also, for example, a visually colorless and transparent acrylic plate.

The tilted panel 146 is provided at the lowermost portion of the plurality of tilted panels 47, and collects medals M falling from the tilted panels 46 and 47 substantially in the center in the lateral direction of the effect unit 140. is there. Therefore, the two inclined panels 146 are provided so as to form a "C" shape of katakana from the upstream side of the medal to the downstream side of the medal.

On the other hand, the inclined panel 147 formed in the shape of a "he" is provided in the lower portion of the inclined panel 146 so that the top thereof faces the upstream side of the medal. The inclined panel 147 is located above the counter unit 80 (upstream side of the medal), and the medal M is dropped so as to divide the medals M collected in the center of the effect unit 140 in the lateral direction into two on both sides in the same lateral direction. Control the direction. This makes it easier to guide the medal M to the hopper portion 81 of the counter unit 80 together with the guide panel 148.

Two guide panels 148 are provided in the lower portion of the inclined panel 147 so as to form a "H" shape of katakana from the upstream side of the medal to the downstream side of the medal, similarly to the inclined panel 146. The distance between the tips of the guide panels 148 facing the tip is set to be smaller than the entrance opening width of the hopper portion 81 of the counter unit 80. This makes it easier for the medal M to enter the hopper portion 81 in cooperation with the inclined panel 147 described above.

The tilt angle of the tilt panels 146 and 147 and the guide panel 148 is a value at which the medal M does not damage the counter unit 80 and its hopper portion 81 when the medal M rolls down or slides down the tilt panels 146 and 147. Is set to. Further, in the inclined panels 146 and 147 and the guide panel 148, the angle is such that the medal M does not stagnate or the medal is clogged, and the medal M is rushed into the counter unit 80 which can be discharged satisfactorily with respect to the counter unit 80. The tilt angles of the tilt panels 146 and 147 and the guide panel 148 are set so that the sliding speed of the medal M falls within the speed range. These are set based on the results of individual specific experiments and computer simulations.

The counter unit 80 is mainly composed of a hopper unit 81 and a counter unit 83, and medals M entered in the hopper unit 81 are counted (counted) by the counter unit 83 and discharged to the outside of the counter unit 80. For example, a discharge port (not shown) is provided behind the counter unit 80, from which the counted medal M is discharged. In the third embodiment, such a counter unit 80 is housed in the lower end space of the guide panel 148 so that the medal M guided by the guide panel 148 can enter the hopper portion 81. The count data of the medal M counted by the counter unit 83 is output to a display unit of a diagram provided above the slot machine 10, the count number is displayed on the display unit, or is output to the computer of the game system. Used for predetermined information processing.

The effect unit 140 is configured in this way, so that the medal M entered from the medal entrance 140a slides down the inclined panels 46, 47, 146, 147 and is guided by the guide panel 148 to the counter unit 80. Enter the hopper section 81. As a result, the medal M is counted by the counter unit 83 and discharged to the outside. That is, as shown in FIG. 21, in the medal counter 17a that also functions as the assist device 15a of the first embodiment, for example, the player is filled with the medals M accumulated in the saucer 10a of the slot machine 10. If this is noticed during the game, even while the slot machine 10 is being operated, the medal M is grabbed with one free hand and thrown into the receiving port 20a of the medal shoot 20. As a result, the player can easily count the medal M in the counter unit 80 during the game without stopping the game.

When the medal box 19 is prepared, the player transfers the medal M from the saucer 10a of the slot machine 10 to the medal box 19 with one free hand during the operation of the slot machine 10, and then the medal box 19 is prepared. After the game is completed, the medal M is inserted from the medal box 19 into the entrance 20a of the medal shoot 20. As a result, the player can easily count the medal M in the counter unit 80 after the end of the game without stopping the game.

Therefore, the medal counter 17a of the third embodiment can suppress a decrease in the operating rate of the slot machine 10, and spills out and falls from the slot as in the conventional counters for each machine. The loss of the medal M due to this can also be suppressed.

Further, since the front panel 141 of the effect unit 140 is made of a transparent acrylic plate, the inside of the effect unit 140 can be seen by the player through the front panel 141. As a result, when the player inserts the medal M into the receiving port 20a of the medal shoot 20, the medal M falls in the effect unit 140 while making irregular movements by the inclined panels 46, 47, 146, 147. The situation can be seen through the front panel 141 of the transparent acrylic plate. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the counting of medals M. Further, the maintenance panel 144 that closes the front side of the accommodation space of the counter unit 80 is also visually composed of a colorless and transparent acrylic plate. Therefore, the player can visually confirm how the medal M enters the hopper portion 81 of the counter unit 80. Therefore, the reliability of the medal counting can be improved for the player.

As for the above-mentioned effect unit 140, various configuration examples can be considered as examples of modifications thereof. Here, another configuration example of the effect unit will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 to 24. In these figures, the same components as those of the effect unit 140 of the medal counter 17a described above are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 22, the effect unit 150 of the medal counter 17b, which also functions as the assist device 15b of the first embodiment, is a combination of the effect unit 50 described in the first embodiment and the effect unit 140 described above. It is a medal. That is, since the side panels 142 and 143 are longer toward the downstream side of the medal, the pole 56 is formed more than the effect unit 50 of the first embodiment, and the inclined panel 147, the guide panel 148, and the counter unit 80 are provided. The point is different from the production unit 50.

Further, as shown in FIG. 23, the effect unit 160 of the medal counter 17c, which also functions as the assist device 15c of the first embodiment, includes the effect unit 60 described in the first embodiment and the effect unit 140 described above. Is a combination of. That is, since the side panels 142 and 143 are longer toward the downstream side of the medal, the seesaw 66 is formed more than the effect unit 60 of the first embodiment, and the inclined panel 147, the guide panel 148, and the counter unit 80 are provided. The point is different from the production unit 60.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the effect unit 170 of the medal counter 17d, which also functions as the assist device 15d of the first embodiment, includes the effect unit 70 described in the first embodiment and the effect unit 140 described above. Is a combination of. That is, since the side panels 142 and 143 are longer toward the downstream side of the medal, the wind turbine 76 is formed more than the effect unit 70 of the first embodiment, and the inclined panel 147, the guide panel 148, and the counter unit 80 are provided. The point is different from the production unit 70.

As described above, in these medal counters 17a to 17d, the side panels 142 and 143 are longer toward the downstream side of the medals than the side panels 42 and 43 of the effect units 40, 50, 60 and 70. Therefore, the production distance of the medal M in the production units 140, 150, 160, 170 becomes long. Therefore, the player can visually enjoy the appearance of the falling medal M in various production modes for a long period of time.

Further, in the first to third embodiments described above, the slope panel 23 is provided only on one surface of the receiving port 20a as the medal chute 20, but the structure is such that the opening area becomes smaller from the upper side to the lower side. If there is, a configuration may be adopted in which a surface facing the slope panel 23 and other slope panels are provided. As a result, the inclination angle of the slope panel can be increased or decreased, so that, for example, the medal chute 20 in which the sliding speed of the medal M is set to an optimum value can be configured. Further, it is also possible to configure the medal chute 20 that matches the arbitrary shape of the medal entrance 40a of the effect unit 40.

Further, in the first to third embodiments described above, the inclined panels 46, 47, 146, 147, pole 56, seesaw 66, windmill 76 and the like are used as the shock absorbers, but they prevent the medal M from falling freely. If there is, for example, a coil spring or an uneven member protruding from the front panel 41 or the side panels 42, 43 may be used. Further, a metal or resin wire or a fibrous string or thread stretched between the side panels 42 and 43 may be used. Further, a combination of these with inclined panels 46, 47, 146, 147, pole 56, seesaw 66, wind turbine 76 and the like may be used.

Further, in the first to third embodiments described above, a conveyor 90 (belt conveyor) provided with a conveyor belt 92 is used as the first conveyor, but if the medal M can be conveyed, for example, a roller conveyor may be used. good.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the inclined panels 46, 47, 146, 147 are used as the inclined portion having the inclined surface, but the present invention is not limited to such a plate-shaped member. As long as it is an inclined portion having an inclined surface, for example, a block-shaped member having a triangular prism shape or a trapezoidal shape may be used. This makes it possible to increase the mechanical strength.

Further, the stock barriers 100 and 103 may have a hopper shape, a hollow truncated cone shape, a hollow elliptical truncated cone shape, or the like, as long as the medal M can be guided to the conveyor 90. The hopper shape is a hollow pyramidal frustum shape.

Although specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of claims. The techniques described in the claims include various modifications or modifications of the above-mentioned specific examples. In addition, the technical elements described in the present specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the techniques illustrated in this specification or drawings achieve a plurality of objectives at the same time, and achieving one of the objectives itself has technical usefulness. The description in parentheses in the [Explanation of Code] column can clearly indicate the correspondence between the terms used in each of the above-described embodiments and the terms described in the claims.

1 ... Game machine island 5 ... Top plate 6 ... Shelf plate 6a ... Opening 10 ... Slot machine (game machine)
10a ... Recipient 11 ... Medal lending machine 11a ... Banknote insertion slot 11b ... Card insertion slot 11c ... Payout slot 11d ... Medal insertion slot (insertion slot for adjacent medal counter adjacent to the game machine)
12 ... Medal slot 13 ... Medal counter ( adjacent medal counter adjacent to the gaming machine)
15a, 15b, 15c, 15d ... Assist device (medal insertion assist device)
17a, 17b, 17c, 17d ... Medal counting machine (medal counting machine)
19 ... Medal box 20 ... Medal shoot (acceptance section)
20a ... Inlet 30 ... Discharge nozzle 33 ... Nozzle 33a ... Tip (nozzle tip)
35 ... Base end movable part (movable mechanism)
37 ... Movable tip (movable mechanism)
40, 50, 60, 70, 140, 150, 160, 170 ... Production unit (passage, buffer)
40a, 50a, 60a, 70a, 140a, 150a, 160a, 170a ... Medal entrance 41, 141 ... Front panel (passage)
41a ... Medal exit 42, 43, 142, 143 ... Side panel (passage)
46, 47, 146, 147 ... Inclined panel (buffer, inclined part)
56 ... Pole (buffer, protrusion)
66 ... Seesaw (buffer, moving part)
76 ... Windmill (buffer, rotating part)
80 ... Counter unit 81 ... Hopper unit 83 ... Counter unit (counting unit)
90 ... Conveyor (conveyor unit, first conveyor unit)
91 ... Motor 92 ... Conveying belt 93 ... Frame 97 ... Shutter unit 98 ... Shutter 99 ... Switch 100, 103 ... Stock barrier 101, 104 ... Guide 110 ... Lift (conveying section, second transport section)
111 ... Motor 112 ... Conveyance belt 112a ... Fin 113 ... Tower 114 ... Vertical structure 115 ... Horizontal structure 120 ... Box F ... Floor M ... Medal

Claims (7)

It has a medal entrance that is provided above the adjacent medal counter adjacent to the game machine and opens larger than the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter so that medals obtained from the game machine can be inserted. The medal that entered from is extended downward so that it can be dropped, and the medal that is being dropped can be visually viewed by the player.
A cushioning portion provided inside the passage portion to prevent the medal from freely falling in at least a part of the transparent member portion,
A transport unit that transports the medal to the medal entrance,
The inlet has an inlet on the upstream side that opens in an area larger than the opening area of the medal inlet, and the downstream side communicates with the medal inlet and opens in a shelf plate provided above the gaming machine. With a receiving part attached to the shelf board so that the slingshots can communicate with each other.
The medal that has been conveyed by the transfer unit and entered the medal inlet is discharged from the medal outlet of the passage unit to the insertion port of the adjacent medal counter after passing through the buffer portion. Assist device. The transport unit
A first transport unit that moves the medal horizontally with respect to the medal entrance,
The medal insertion assist device according to claim 1, further comprising a second transport unit that moves the medal in the antigravity direction with respect to the medal entrance. The cushioning portion is an inclined portion having an inclined surface inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the free fall direction of the medal, and / or a protruding portion protruding from the inner wall of the passage portion toward the falling space of the medal. The medal insertion assist device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the medal insertion assist device is provided. The cushioning portion is subjected to the load of the contacted medal.
A movable portion that tilts toward the falling direction of the medal about a support shaft fixed to the inner wall of the passage portion, and / or a rotating portion that rotates around a support shaft fixed to the inner wall of the passage portion. The medal insertion assist device according to claim 1 or 2. It said inlet of said adjacent medal counting machine the medal discharged from the medal outlet has a nozzle and nozzle tip may accommodated in the receptacle communicating with the inlet or the inlet of the adjacent medal counting apparatus through the nozzle The medal insertion assist device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising a discharge unit for discharging the medal. The fifth aspect of the present invention, wherein the discharging portion includes a movable mechanism portion, and the position of the nozzle or the tip of the nozzle is arbitrarily changed within a predetermined range by operating the movable mechanism portion. Medal insertion assist device. A medal counting machine provided adjacent to a gaming machine and having a counting unit for counting the number of medals, wherein the medal insertion assist device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is located upstream of the counting unit. And without having the medal exit
The medal that has entered into the medal inlet is conveyed by the conveying section, the passes through the buffer portion, said adjacent medal counting machine Without being discharged into the slot of, and wherein incoming Rukoto the counting unit Medal counter.

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