JPH04319380A - Coin supply system for row of coin game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To enable coins to be smoothly and automatically supplied to a coin game machine and a coin lending machine by causing a coin lift to lift and carry coins from a row of coin game machines and other coins thrown into a coin calculator to a main tank for storage, and then supplying the stored coins to the coin game machine and coin lending machine, according to a demand signal. CONSTITUTION:A coin supply conveyor 3 is provided above a row of coin game machines such as slot machines, and a coin collection conveyor 4 is provided below the row of the machines. The coin supply conveyor 3 is provided with a coin delivery machine 8 for each coin game machine and a coin lending machine between each game machine. Also, the terminal end of the coin collection conveyor 4 and the collection passage 16 of a coin calculator 7 are connected to the lower end introduction section 17 of a coin lift 5. The upper end of the lift 5 is connected to a main tank 19.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is applicable to coin game machine rows in which coin game machines such as throttle machines are arranged horizontally, and coins are automatically circulated between each coin game machine and the coin lending machine installed between the machines. This relates to a coin supply system for replenishment.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as a coin replenishment system for this type of coin game machine series, for example,
The one described in Japanese Patent No. 879 is known. In this conventional system, as shown in FIG.
and a coin collection conveyor 102, and a coin polishing lift 103 and a hopper type coin dispensing device 10 on one side.
4 is provided, and in response to a replenishment signal from the coin game machine 105, coins are sent out from the hopper type coin dispensing device 104 onto the coin supply conveyor 101 for replenishment, and the coins discharged from each coin game machine 105 are sent to the coin collection conveyor 102. The coins are collected in a coin polishing lift 103 and circulated and transported to a hopper type coin dispensing device 104.

0003

By the way, the hopper-type coin dispensing device 104 used in the conventional coin replenishment system rotates a disk inside a hopper in which a large number of coins are pooled to dispense coins one by one into yen coins. Since the coins are configured to be dispensed in the circumferential direction, there is a problem in that the coins get caught in the coin dispensing openings around the disk and coin dispensing stops. In addition, recently, there has been a demand for coin calculators to be installed in rows of coin game machines at game parlors to exchange coins won by players for prizes. However, if players exchange coins all at once, the number of coins in the coin game machine rows will increase rapidly, making normal automatic replenishment difficult. There is. Furthermore, it would be very convenient if automatic replenishment of coins, including a plurality of coin game machine rows, could be easily carried out in a game parlor. In this case, it is necessary that the structure is simple and can be performed with high efficiency, and it must be highly reliable. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new coin replenishment system for coin game machines, which has a simple structure and is capable of automatically replenishing coins with high efficiency.

0004

[Means for Solving the Problems] The coin supply system for a coin game machine row according to the present invention is characterized by providing a coin supply conveyor and a coin collection conveyor above and below the coin game machine row, and a coin lift on one side. A coin polishing lift and a coin calculator are provided, and the coins discharged from each coin game machine to the coin collection conveyor and the coins inserted into the coin calculator are transported to the main tank by the coin lift, and the coins in the main tank are The coin is fed into the introduction part of the coin polishing lift through a coin feeder, and a separation device is provided at the top opening of the coin polishing lift to separate the abrasive material from the coin, and a shutter plate is installed in the front of the separation device. The distribution device is provided with a supply chute that sends coins to a coin supply conveyor and a return chute that returns coins to the main tank by opening and closing the shutter plate. A coin feeder for replenishing the coin game machines is provided to replenish coins for each coin game machine. It is effective to feed coins from the main tank, separator, and coin feeder by applying vibration to each of them. Further, it is preferable to provide a defective coin removal section in the return chute.

[0005]

[Operation] The coin replenishment system in the coin game machine row of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and the coins discharged from each coin game machine to the coin collection conveyor and the coins inserted into the coin calculator are always kept by the coin lift. transported to the main tank. When a replenishment request signal is sent from one of the coni game machines, the coins in the main tank are sent to the coin polishing lift via the coin feeder, and then transported to the separation device where they are separated from the polishing material. Coins are sent to a coin supply conveyor through a distribution device and supplied to a coin game machine by a coin feeder.

[0006]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a row of coin game machines, FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the main parts of the coin replenishment system according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of the main parts. The plurality of coin game machine rows A1, A2, etc. used in the present invention are configured by installing coin game machines 1 such as throttle machines laterally facing backwards, and between each of the coin game machines 1 there are coin lending machines 2.
is provided. A coin supply conveyor 3 is provided above the rows of coin game machines A1, A2..., and a coin collection conveyor 4 is provided below. A coin lift 5 is installed at one end of the coin game machine rows A1, A2, . . . . Furthermore, a coin polishing lift 6 and a coin calculator 7 are provided at one end of the coin game machine row A1 to which the present invention is applied.

A coin feeder 8 is provided on the coin supply conveyor 3 for each coin game machine 1 and coin lending machine 2. This coin feeder 8 is connected to the endless belt 3a of the coin supply conveyor 3, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 8.
a support base 9 attached to the gutter-like body 3b in which the trough-like body 3b runs; a distribution member 10 rotatably supported by the support base 9;
It has a first solenoid 11a that rotates the sorting member 10 clockwise with respect to the coin transport direction, and a second solenoid 11b that rotates it counterclockwise. The support base 9 has a top plate 9a
It is formed into a U-shaped cross section with left and right side plates 9b and 9c,
The left and right side plates 9b, 9c are fixed to both outer sides of the gutter-like body 3b. Also, the left and right side plates 9b, 9 of the support base 9
Openings 91b and 91c for sending out coins are formed in c.

The distributing member 10 is rotatably supported via a bearing 10d having an internal bearing at approximately the center of the upper plate 9a of the support base 9, and has a rotary shaft 10a having a length that protrudes above and below the upper plate 9a. , fixed to the lower end of the rotary shaft 10a, and an endless belt 3a
A vertical distribution plate 10b located above and a T-shaped body 10c fixed to the upper end of the rotary shaft 10a.
It is composed of. The distribution plate 10b is made of a thin metal plate, and its lower end is separated from the upper surface of the endless belt 3a with a slight gap. Note that the gap is desirably about 0.5 mm, which is smaller than the thickness of the coin. The T-shaped body 10c has left and right arms 101c, 10
2c and a central arm 103c, the right arm 101c and the plunger 111a of the first solenoid 11a are pivotally connected by a link piece 12a, and the left arm 102c and the second
The plunger 111b of the solenoid 11b is the link piece 1.
2b. Also, the central arm 103c
A coil spring 13 is connected to the coil spring 1.
3, the T-shaped body 10c is normally rotated and biased to the central position shown by the solid line in FIG.
0b is arranged to stably stand still at the center of the endless belt 3a in the extending direction. Therefore, the coins delivered to the coin supply conveyor 3 pass through both sides of the distribution plate 10b and are conveyed to the coin game machine 1 or the coin lending machine 2 that requires replenishment. And the first solenoid 11a
When is turned ON, the T-shaped body 10c rotates to the right as shown by the chain line in FIG. 5 via the link piece 12a connected to the plunger 111a, and thereby the distribution plate 10b also
As shown in FIG. 9, the coins on the coin supply conveyor 3 are rotated to the right from the center position and sent out from the opening 91b. Further, when the second solenoid 11b is turned on, the T-shaped body 1
0c rotates to the left via the link piece 12b connected to the plunger 111b, and thereby the distribution plate 1
0b rotates to the left as shown by the chain line in FIG. 8, and sends the coins on the coin supply conveyor 3 outward from the opening 91c. The coins sent outward from the opening 91b are received by the chute 14a and supplied to the coin game machines 1 or coin lending machines 2 lined up on the right side of the rows of coin game machines A1 and A2, and then sent outward from the opening 91c. The collected coins are received by the chute 14b and distributed and supplied to the coin game machines 1 or coin lending machines 2 lined up on the left side of the coin game machine rows A1, A2, . . .

As shown in FIG. 3, the lower end of the ejection pipe 15 of each coin game machine 1 faces above the coin collection conveyor 4, and furthermore, the terminal end and the collection passage 16 of the coin calculator 7 are connected to the coin lift 5. It is connected to the lower end introduction part 17 of. For example, the coin lift 5 has an endless belt vertically installed inside, and has buckets on the surface of the belt that scoop up coins at regular intervals, and as the belt runs, the coins are received in the bucket and carried to the upper end. Outlet 1
This is a well-known method for transporting by discharging at a temperature of 8. on the other hand,
A main tank 19 is arranged near the coin lift 5, and the coins discharged from the discharge port 18 are guided to the main tank 19 by a guide chute 20. A vibrator 29 is installed at the bottom of the main tank 19 as shown in FIG.
A coin feeder 23 is provided facing the outlet 22 of the hopper 21, and the coin feeder 23 is connected to a lower end introduction part 24 of the coin polishing lift 6. The coin polishing lift 6, for example, inserts a spiral body into the inside of a lift pipe 6a, and rotates the spiral body to polish the coin with an abrasive material mixed in the coin while transporting the coin. A separation device 25 is provided at the upper end opening of the coin polishing lift 6.

As shown in FIG. 10, the separating device 25 has a downwardly sloping bottom plate 27 having a large number of abrasive drop holes 26 smaller than the diameter of the coin in a box body 48, and the bottom plate 27 provides a coin transport path. 28 is formed. In the case of this embodiment, a vibrator 29 is mounted on the bottom plate 27, and the coin and the abrasive are separated while vibrating the bottom plate 27. The coin separated from the abrasive material then enters a distribution device 30 provided at the front of the separator 25, and the abrasive material falls into a tray 31 of the separator 25, and is returned to the coin polishing lift 6 via the abrasive material circulation pipe 32. Introduction part 17
supplied to Note that a plurality of abrasive wiping plates 33 are suspended from the conveyance path 28 of the separation device 25 at intervals.

The distribution device 30 is for distributing and replenishing the coins sent out from the separating device 25 to both or one of the coin game machine row A1 and the coin game machine row A2, and is shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. As shown in FIG. 2, a dispensing case 34 is located at the front of the separating device 25. An opening 35 for dropping coins is formed between the upstream end of the inclined bottom plate of the distribution case 34 and the downstream end of the separator 25, and below the opening 35, the coins are received and returned to the main tank 19. A return chute 36 is provided. Further, the opening 35 is provided with a first shutter plate 37a for replenishing the coin game machine row A1 and a second shutter plate 37b for replenishing the coin game machine row A2. A partition plate 38 is provided to separate a branch coin supply path 39a to the coin game machine row A1 and a branch coin supply path 39b to the coin game machine row A2. The first and second shutter plates 37
a, 37b are pivotally mounted by a horizontal shaft 40 extending upstream of the opening 35 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction. A plunger of a first solenoid 41a fixed to the distribution case 34 is connected to the first shutter plate 37a, and a plunger of a second solenoid 41b is connected to the second shutter plate 37b. When the first solenoid 41a and the second solenoid 41b are turned off, the first shutter plate 37a and the second shutter plate 37b are rotatably biased to positions that close the opening 35, respectively. When the solenoid 41b is turned on, it rotates downward to open the opening 35 and send the coin to the downward return chute 3.
It is designed to fall to 6. In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the return chute 36 has a bottom surface 36a having a mountain-shaped cross section, and a portion of both side walls are removed to form defective coin removal parts 36b, 36b, as shown in FIG. 15(b). As shown in the figure, a defective coin C that is warped is allowed to fall downward. Further, the coin game machine row A1 and the coin game machine row A2 are connected by a divert coin supply conveyor 42 and a divert coin collection conveyor 43, as shown in FIG. 2, and the divert coin supply path 39b of the distribution device 30
is connected to the diverted coin supply conveyor 42 by a diverted chute 44 . Thereby, the coins sent out from the branch coin supply path 39b are guided to the branch coin supply conveyor 42 of the coin game machine row A2, and are supplied to each coin game machine 1 and coin lending machine 2. Also coin game machine row A2
The coins discharged from each coin game machine 1 are guided to a coin collection conveyor 4, a coin lift 5, a branch coin collection conveyor 43, and sent to a main tank 19.

The coin feeder 23 is composed of a tray 23a that accommodates coins fed from the main tank 19, and a vibrating body 23b that vibrates the tray 23a to feed the coins to the introduction section 24 of the coin polishing lift 6. The tray 23a is provided with a payout chute 45 and a photo sensor (not shown) consisting of a light emitter and a light receiver to detect the amount of coins stored. Note that 46 is a control box.

Next, the overall operation and effect of the embodiment configured as above will be explained. When the power switch is turned on, the coin collection conveyor 4, coin lift 5, and diversion collection conveyor 43 of the coin game machine rows A1 and A2 are activated.
is constantly rotating, and the coins discharged from each coin game machine 1 are guided to a coin lift 5 by a coin collection conveyor 4 and lifted upward. And coin game machine row A1
The coins from the coin game machine row A2 are sent to the main tank 19 by the guide chute 20, and the coins from the coin game machine row A2 are sent to the main tank 19 by the diversion collection conveyor 43 and are pooled. On the other hand, the coin supply conveyor 3, coin polishing lift 6, coin feeder 8, coin feeder 23, etc. are kept in an inactive state until a request signal is output from each coin game machine 1 and coin lending machine 2. . Note that the coins are continuously waiting from the coin polishing lift 6 to the transport path 28 of the separating device 25.

In this state, for example, when a coin request signal is output from each coin game machine 1 or coin lending machine 2 of the coin game machine row A1, the solenoid of the coin dispenser 8 at the request signal position, for example, the solenoid of the coin dispenser 8 in FIG. 1 solenoid 11a is turned on to rotate the sorting plate 10b from the center position to the solid line position in FIG.
N to rotate the first shutter plate 37a downward. After a certain period of time (for example, about 2 seconds), the separation device 25
And the vibrators 20 and 29 of the main tank 19, the coin polishing lift 6, and the coin feeder 23 are operated. When the vibrator 29 of the separator 25 is activated, the bottom plate 27 of the separator 25 vibrates, thereby moving the coins on the bottom plate 27 downstream and sending them to the distribution device 30. On the other hand, the hopper 21 is vibrated by the operation of the vibrator 20 of the main tank 19, and the coins in the main tank 19 are fed out little by little onto the tray 23a of the coin feeder 23. And coin feeder 23
When the tray 23a vibrates due to the operation of the vibrating main body 23b, the coin moves on the tray 23a and passes through the payout chute 4.
5 to the introduction part 24 of the coin polishing lift 6, and is transported upward while being polished, and is sent to the separating device 25 from the upper end opening.
is sent out onto the bottom plate 27 of. Note that if too many coins remain on the tray 23a of the coin feeder 23 and are detected by the photo sensor, the vibrator 2 of the main tank 19
0 operation and temporarily stop coin feeding. On the other hand, the coins sent to the distribution device 30 and flowing down from the center to the right half pass over the second shutter plate 37b and are sent to the coin supply conveyor 3 from the branched coin supply path 39a.
The coins sent upward and flowing down approximately the left half from the center fall through the opening 35 and are returned to the main tank 19 through the return chute 36.

In this way, the coins sent onto the coin supply conveyor 3 are conveyed to the request signal position on the endless belt 3a, and then sent to the rotating coin feeder 8.
The route is changed by contacting the distribution plate 10b. As a result, all the coins conveyed by the coin supply conveyor 3 are transferred from the opening 91b of the support base 9 to the chute 14a.
It is then taken out and replenished to the coin game machine 1 or coin lending machine 2 at the request signal position. When the request signal is turned off upon completion of replenishment, the first solenoid 11a of the coin feeder 8 is turned off after a certain period of time, and
The rotation of the coin supply conveyor 3 is stopped. Also, if the request signal from the coin game machine row A2 is not output,
All operations except the coin collection conveyor 4, coin lift 5, and diversion collection conveyor 43 are stopped.

Next, when supplying coins to the coin game machine row A2, the coin game machine row A2 is supplied with coins by a request signal.
coin supply conveyor 3 and separate coin supply conveyor 42
At the same time, the coin dispenser 8 at the request signal position is activated. Also, the second solenoid 41b of the distribution device 30 is turned on to rotate the second shutter plate 37b downward. Other operations are carried out in the same manner as when supplying coin game machine row A1. Therefore, from the separation device 25 to the distribution device 3
Of the coins sent to the slot 0, approximately the left half of the coins flowing down from the center pass over the first shutter plate 37a, are sent from the diverted coin supply path 39b onto the diverted coin supply conveyor 42, and are sent to the coin game machine row A2. supply conveyor 3
and is supplied to the coin game machine 1 or coin lending machine 2 located at the request signal position. When the request signal is turned off, the operation of the coin feeder 8, the coin supply conveyor 3, and the diverted coin supply conveyor 42 is stopped after a certain period of time, and the second solenoid 41b of the distribution device 30 is turned off.

[0017]

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the present invention pools the coins ejected from each row of coin game machines and the coins inserted into the coin calculator by transporting them to the main tank by a constantly operating coin lift. Since the main tank is designed to replenish the coin game machine or coin lending machine at the position of the request signal in response to the coin request signal, for example, many players may use the coin calculator at the same time to supply the main tank to the coin game machine or coin lending machine. Even if the number of coins suddenly increases in the queue, it can be extremely quickly transferred to the main tank and processed, so there will be no problem with the automatic replenishment of coins. Then, each coin game machine or coin lending machine is supplied by sending the coins in the main tank in appropriate amounts to the coin polishing lift using mechanical vibrations, so the coins are not caught in the coins like in the past. This eliminates the possibility that troubles caused by the above may hinder the operations of the game parlor. Furthermore, since the coins lifted by the coin polishing lift are supplied to the coin game machine rows or returned to the main tank by the distribution device, the coins can be used effectively and the automatic coin replenishment function is effective. can be further improved. Furthermore, it is possible to provide an innovative coin replenishment system for a coin game machine array, such as automatic replenishment of coins for a plurality of coin game machine arrays, which can be achieved easily and efficiently.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a row of coin game machines to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of essential parts of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of essential parts of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a coin dispenser portion.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the coin dispenser portion.

FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway side view of the coin dispenser portion.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the coin dispenser portion.

FIG. 8 is a plan view illustrating the function of the sorting plate of the coin dispenser.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the introduction portion of the coin polishing lift.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the separation device.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the dispensing device.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a portion of the dispensing device.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the distribution device.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a return chute.

FIG. 15(a) is a cross-sectional view of a defective coin removal section of the return chute, and FIG. 15(b) is an explanatory diagram showing a defective coin removal state.

FIG. 16 is an operation flow of the coin replenishment system of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional coin supply system.

[Explanation of symbols]

A1, A2 Coin game machine row 1
coin game machine 2
Coin lending machine 3
Coin supply conveyor 4
Coin collection conveyor 5
Coin lift 6 Coin polishing lift 7 Coin calculator 8 Coin feeder 19
main tank 20
vibrator 21
Hopper 23 Coin feeder 23a Receiver 23b Vibrating main body 24 Introducing section 25 Separating device 26
Abrasive material drop hole 27
Bottom plate 28 Conveyance path 29 Vibrator 30
Distribution device 36
Return chute 36b Defective coin removal parts 37a, 37b Shutter plate 42 Diversion coin supply conveyor 43 Diversion coin collection conveyor 44 Diversion chute 47
Supply chute 48
box body

Claims (6)

[Claims] [Claim 1] A coin supply conveyor and a coin collection conveyor are provided above and below the row of coin game machines, and
A coin lift, a coin polishing lift, and a coin calculator are provided on one side, and the coins discharged from each coin game machine to the coin collection conveyor and the coins inserted into the coin calculator are transported to the main tank by the coin lift,
The coins in the main tank are fed into the introduction part of the coin polishing lift via the coin feeder, and on the other hand,
A separating device is provided at the upper end opening of the coin polishing lift to separate the abrasive material from the coins, and a distributing device having a shutter plate is provided at the front of the separating device, and the distributing device is configured to remove coins by opening and closing the shutter plate. A supply chute that sends the coins to the coin supply conveyor and a return chute that returns them to the main tank are provided, and the coin supply conveyor is also equipped with a coin feeder that supplies the coins sent to each coin game machine to supply coins to each coin game machine. A coin replenishment system for a coin game machine series, characterized in that the coin replenishment system is made to perform the following operations. 2. The coin replenishment system for a coin game machine row according to claim 1, wherein a hopper equipped with a vibrator is provided at the bottom of the main tank, and the hopper is vibrated by the vibrator to send coins to the coin feeder. . 3. The coin feeder according to claim 1, wherein the coin feeder comprises a tray for accommodating coins fed from the main tank, and a vibrating body for vibrating the tray to feed out the coins. Coin replenishment system. 4. A diverting coin supply conveyor and a diverting coin collecting conveyor are further disposed between the coin game machine row of claim 1 and the adjacent coin game machine row, and the dispensing device receives coins by opening and closing a shutter plate. Claim 1: A diverter chute is provided to send the coins to the diverter supply conveyor, and a diverter coin collection conveyor is connected to the main tank to circulate and divert the coins to the adjacent row of coin game machines.
Coin replenishment system for coin game machines. 5. The coin supply system for a coin game machine array according to claim 1, wherein the return chute according to claim 1 is provided with a defective coin removal section. 6. The separation device according to claim 1 is provided with a bottom plate having an abrasive falling hole smaller than the diameter of the coin in a downwardly sloping shape in the box body, and a vibrator is disposed on the bottom plate, and the vibrator causes the bottom plate to Claim 1: The coin is vibrated to cause the coin to flow down toward the dispensing device.
Coin replenishment system for coin game machines.