JPH052220Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a ball rental counting mechanism for an automatic ball rental machine in the form of a vending machine that rents out pachinko balls.

(Prior art) As is well known, in the recent pachinko industry, there has been a trend to centrally control the supply and collection of balls and coins, and as a result ball lending machines have become thinner and are installed between pachinko machines. The main purpose of this system is to reduce the congestion of traditional ball rental machines by allowing the machines to be used more frequently, thereby saving labor on the part of the store, increasing sales, and improving customer service. Conventionally, mechanical ball lending machines of this type have a high market share because they can be provided at low cost.However, although they are cheap, they are frequently used, so they often break down due to abrasion of the moving parts, and their lifespan is short. It was pointed out that the drawback was that the sorting of balls and coins was inaccurate.

Further, the conventional ball rental counting mechanism has a structure in which the counting mechanism and the coin sequential feed lever are connected by a link mechanism, and control each other to synchronize the coin sequential feeding and ball counting.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) Such a conventional ball lending machine connects the ball lending counting mechanism and the coin forwarding lever with a link mechanism that is pulled upward by a spring, and sorts the inserted coins. If the coin is a proper coin, it will fall down the coin path, and along the way, the coin forwarding lever will stop the coin from falling, and at the same time push down the actuator of the micro switch, and the signal from the micro switch will start the payout counting mechanism. After that, the coins were ejected, and the pay-ball counting mechanism, which received upward force from the spring of the link, waited until it was in a fixed position. It has been pointed out that this system does not work reliably unless an extremely weak spring is used as the means for urging the movable part back to its original state, and that malfunctions may occur due to wear and the like.

The present invention was devised to solve all of the above-mentioned drawbacks.The counting gear, which normally controls the start and stop of ball rental counting, is biased in the direction of stopping by an extremely strong spring, and when starting The ball-cutting solenoid that operates against the biasing force of this spring is energized and attracted, and the ball-cutting solenoid is demagnetized by a signal from the ball-cutting switch that operates at the rotation angle of the switch cam that rotates in synchronization with the count gear to stop. However, when the above-mentioned ball-cutting solenoid, ball-cutting switch, and other mechanisms are in the activated state for some reason, the cutoff claw of the stop lever is connected to the latching portion of the stop cam. It is an object of the present invention to provide a paid ball counting mechanism configured to prevent abnormal discharge of pachinko balls by interlocking with each other.

(Means for solving the problem) The structure of the present invention to achieve the above purpose is as follows:
This will be explained using FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 and 3 corresponding to the embodiment.

A count gear 2 rotates in conjunction with a sprocket wheel 21 facing the pachinko ball supply path 1.
2. A stop cam 23 that rotates coaxially with the counting gear 22 and has a protruding hooking portion 23a and a semicircular switch cam 24 are superimposed, and are normally engaged with the hooking portion 23a by the biasing force of a spring 25d to perform counting. A stop pawl 25 that stops the rotation of the gear 22
a and a blocking claw 25b that prevents over-rotation of the count gear 22 in the rotational orbit around the outer periphery of the hooking part 23a.
The ball rental counting mechanism 2 is equipped with a stop lever 25 formed at one end, a ball cutting solenoid 26 supported by a plunger 26a and acting on the other end of the stop lever 25, and a ball cutting switch 27 in sliding contact with the switch cam 24. The ball rental counting mechanism 2 is activated by a branching sensor 53 of the coin sorting mechanism 5.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a side view showing the overall schematic arrangement of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a front view of FIG. 1A.

In the automatic ball lending machine A of the present invention, pachinko balls P are guided from a ball supply source (not shown) into a ball passage 1, fall vertically in series, and are discharged from the lower end to a ball discharge port 11 that is open to the front. .

A part of the sprocket wheel 21 of the rental ball counting mechanism 2 is inserted into the upper part of the ball passage 1. The sprocket wheel 21 has a predetermined number of notched concave teeth 21a corresponding to the radius of the pachinko ball P,
The falling pachinko ball P engages with the concave teeth sequentially starting from the tip and rotates under its own weight,
When the count gear 22 interlocked with this rotates once, a predetermined number of pachinko balls P are supposed to pass.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a continuous coin insertion mechanism, in which coins S ₁ inserted from a coin insertion slot 30 opened at the front are moored to the tip of a sequential feed lever 31 .

4 is a coin identification device that faces the coin passage 40 and determines whether coins passing through are suitable or not, and also determines the type of coins that are suitable.In this embodiment, the types of coins that are suitable are 100 yen and 500 yen. It's a coin.

5 is a coin sorting mechanism, when the coin is determined to be an unsuitable coin by the coin identification device 4, the coin is
S ₁ '' falls down the coin passage 40 as it is, passes through the coin return passage 41, and is discharged to the coin return opening 42 which opens at the front, and the coin sorting mechanism 5 does not operate.
When the coin identification device 4 determines that the coin is appropriate, the branch solenoid 51 of the coin sorting mechanism 5 is energized, the coin sorting plate 52 is attracted, the coin passage 40 is blocked, and the falling coin S ₁ ' is tilted. The coin is configured to roll along the coin sorting plate 52 and be temporarily moored at the end.

53 is a branch sensor and coin distribution plate 52
The mooring is released by the detection signal of the coin S ₁ ′ moored to the coin S 1 ′, and the coin S ₁ ′ is sent out falling into the coin sending passage 43 .

6 is a control unit in which a microcomputer (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as CPU), an I/O port, etc. are arranged.

7 is a coin return button protruding from the front.

Reference numeral 8 is a display section that displays troubles and the balance of the inserted coins using light.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ball rental counting mechanism 2. 3rd A
3C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the rental ball counting mechanism.

Concave teeth 21a corresponding to the radius of the pachinko ball P
One tooth of the sprocket wheel 21 arranged on the circumference faces the ball passage 1, and the transmission gear 21b provided coaxially with the sprocket wheel 21 meshes with the count gear 22.
The count gear 22 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the count gear 22.

Stop cam 23 coaxially with count gear 22
and a semicircular switch cam 24 are installed,
The stop cam 23 is provided with a protruding hook portion 23a.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a stop lever, which has a stop claw 25a that engages with the hook 23a of the stop cam 23, and a cutoff claw 25b that prevents over-rotation. The spring 25 is moved in the direction in which the stop claw 25a engages with the catch part 23a.
It is energized by d.

26 is a ball cutting solenoid and its plunger 26a
is arranged to support the other end 25e of the stop lever 25.

27 is a ball-cutting switch and its actuator 27a
is in sliding contact with the switch cam 24.

A governor 28 prevents the sprocket wheel 21 from rotating in reverse.

Next, the operation of the ball rental counting mechanism 2 will be explained. When the ball-cutting solenoid 26 is energized, the plunger 26a rotates around the shaft 25c of the stop lever 25, and the stop pawl 25a, which has been engaged with the latch portion 23a, is tripped against the biasing force of the spring 25d, and the count gear is tripped. 22
is released, and the weight of the pachinko ball P engaged with the teeth 21a of the sprocket wheel 21 causes the count gear 22 to rotate via the transmission gear 21b (see FIG. 3A). The switch cam 24, which rotates at the same time, turns on at about 1/3 rotation to demagnetize the ball cutting solenoid 26, and the counting gear 22 engages the stop claw 25a with the latch part 23a in one rotation, completing one cycle of counting the paid balls. (See Figure 3B).

If the stop lever 25 is activated for some reason (including unauthorized means from outside), the stop lever 25 is activated by the stop lever 25 due to the cut-off solenoid 26, cut-off switch 27, or other mechanical parts located on the trajectory of the locking part 23a. A blocking claw 25b for preventing over-rotation engages with the hook 23a to prevent abnormal discharge of pachinko balls (see Fig. 3C).

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the continuous coin insertion mechanism, Figs. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the continuous coin injection mechanism, and Figs. 6A and 6B show the operation when the coin return button is operated. FIG.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a sequential feed lever for the coin _S1 , and a first protrusion 31a for mooring a coin and a second protrusion 31b for mooring the next coin are disposed at the tip thereof.

32 is a progressive solenoid whose plunger 32
a is supported by the rear end support hole 31c of the forward feed lever 31 and rotatably supported by the support shaft 31d.

33 is a progressive sensor that detects the coin _S1 moored to the first protrusion 31a.

7 is a coin return button whose tip is in contact with the coin return lever 71, and the lever 71 is always in contact with the coin return lever 71.
The tip of the progressive lever 31 is pushed up using the top 71a as a fulcrum to anchor the coin _S1 to the first protrusion 31a, and is biased by a spring 72 in the direction of popping out to the front of the coin return button 7.

Next, the operation of the coin continuous insertion mechanism 3 will be explained.

When the inserted coin S ₁ is anchored to the first protrusion 31 a at the tip of the forward feed lever 31, the forward feed sensor 33 excites the forward feed solenoid 32 with the detection signal of the coin S ₁ . The plunger 32a of the progressive solenoid 32 is connected to the support shaft 31d of the progressive lever 31.
The coin _S1 of the first protrusion 31a is released from its mooring by rotating around the fulcrum. The next coin S ₂ is moored to the second protrusion 31b. This state is maintained until the operation of coin _S1 is completed (see Figure 5). i.e. coin
When S ₁ receives a detection signal from the branch sensor 53 and the sequential feed solenoid 32 is demagnetized, the next coin S ₂ is moored from the second protrusion 31b to the first protrusion 31a, and the next coin continuous insertion mechanism 3 operates. starts.

When the coin return button 7 is pressed, the coin return lever 71 rotates around its fulcrum 71a, lowers the tip of the forward feed lever 31, releases the coin from the first protrusion 31a, and discharges the coin into the coin return slot 42. (See Figure 6).

7A to 7D are operation explanatory diagrams showing the coin sorting mechanism.

7A and 7B show the operation when the coin identification device 4 facing the coin passage 40 determines that the coin is a valid coin, and the coin distribution plate 52 is attracted by the excitation of the branch solenoid 51 and the coin passage 40 is blocked. do.

The fallen coin _S1 rolls along the slope of the coin distribution plate 52 and is temporarily moored at the corner of the side wall.
When the moored coin S ₁ ' is detected by the branch sensor 53, the branch solenoid 51 is demagnetized, the coin sorting plate 52 is opened, and the coin S ₁ ' is sent out to the coin sending passage. At the same time, the ball cutting solenoid 26 is activated. The ball rental counting mechanism 2 is excited and starts operating.

7C to 7D show the case of an incorrect coin. Since the coin identification device 4 does not energize the branch solenoid 51, the incorrect coin S ₁ ″ falls into the coin return path 41 and is discharged to the coin return port 42.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the microcomputer installed in the control section, which consists of a CPU 61, a ROM 62 in which programs are written, a RAM 63 for storing various data, and various inputs and outputs. In addition, an I/O port is installed between each input and output, and communication between the CPU 61, RAM 63, and ROM 62 is provided by a data bus 64 and an address bus 65. RAM 63 is a battery backup circuit that retains all data in the event of a power outage. be done. Also CPU6
It is also equipped with a clock as a control timing signal and a timing clock such as a dynamic display to ensure reliable digital operation.

Figures 9 and 10 are flow charts and timing charts showing the operation and functions of the entire device.
The following description will be made based on a flowchart and with reference to a timing chart.

If a trouble message such as "Stop using" is displayed on the display section 8 on the front of the machine, coin insertion is not possible (steps n101 to n103). In step n104, when asked if the forward feed sensor 33 is on, if the inserted coin _S1 is on the first protrusion 31a and no other switch (for example, the ball rental is out of supply) is turned on, the CPU 61 determines that it is on, and forwards the coin sequentially. The solenoid 32 turns on after 0.5 seconds (steps n105 and n106). If the coin _S1 inserted here is a fake coin, the forward feed solenoid 3
2 is turned on and after 2 seconds it is turned off and returned and a trouble message is displayed. In step n107, the coin identification device 4 determines whether the coin is suitable or not and its type (in this example, a 100 yen or 500 yen coin), and the coin is determined to be an unsuitable coin.
If S ₁ ″ (coin other than 100 yen or 500 yen), step
Proceeding to n108, the coin is returned, and the correct coin _S1 ' turns on the branch solenoid 51, closes the coin passage 40 with the coin sorting plate 52, and sends it to the branch sensor 53.
(steps n109 to n110). step
If no detection signal is output even after 3 seconds have elapsed at n110, a trouble message is displayed (steps n111 to n112).
In step n113, the type of coin is displayed as a code, and the process moves to step n114, in which the coins are counted. Here, the branch sensor 53 is turned on and the coin _S1 ' is unmoored, and the off signal turns on the ball cutting solenoid 26.
Ball rental counting for 100 yen/time starts (step
n115). Moving to step n116, when the ball-cutting switch 27 is turned on, the ball-cutting solenoid 26 is turned off and 100
After the ball rental count for one cycle of yen/time is completed (step n119), the number from which 1 has been subtracted is displayed (step n121). You are asked to finish at step n122, but if the remaining display is other than 0, step
Branching to step n115, the ball rental count is repeated and when the remaining display becomes 0, the process returns to the starting position and waits (step n101). Steps n117 and n120 flash and display a trouble code when the balls are out of charge.

Immediately after the forward feed sensor 33 detects the coin S ₁ and the forward feed solenoid 32 is turned on, the forward feed sensor 33 is turned off, but the forward feed solenoid 32 is turned off by the off signal from the ball cutting switch 27. That is, the signal determined to be 500 yen by the coin identification device 4 is arithmetic processed by the CPU 61, and the sequential feed solenoid 32 is maintained in the on state until the fifth off signal of the cutter switch 27 is received.

The amount display will display "5" or "1" according to the input amount after the branch sensor 53 is turned off, and the ball cutter switch 2 will be displayed.
It is subtracted (-1) after 7 off.

If an abnormality occurs in the operating order, all functions will stop.

(Effects of the invention) This invention is structured so that one rotation of the counting gear completes one cycle of counting the rental balls that fit into the teeth of the sprocket wheel and fall.
The count gear is started by energizing the ball cutting solenoid when the branch sensor of the coin sorting mechanism is turned off, and the stop lever resists the biasing force of the spring so that the ball cutting solenoid is demagnetized and stopped by the detection signal of the ball cutting switch. The stop lever can be shut off even if the stop lever's stop claw does not engage with the catch of the stop cam installed coaxially with the count gear due to abnormal operation of the ball cut solenoid or ball cut switch, or by unauthorized means from the outside. Since the pawls engage, over-rotation of the count gear is prevented. This device is all CPU
Since it is electrically controlled via the link rod, the disadvantages of conventional link rods such as those that cause malfunction due to wear and the like are eliminated, and the use of a ball-cutting switch has been reported to have excellent functionality.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1A is a side view showing the general arrangement of the entire invention, Figure 1B is a front view of Figure 1, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the ball rental counting mechanism, and Figures 3A to 3C are the ball rental counting mechanism. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the continuous coin insertion mechanism, FIGS. 5A to 5C are illustrations of the operation of the continuous coin insertion mechanism, and FIGS. 6A to B are illustrations of the coin return operation of the continuous coin insertion mechanism. Figures 7A and 7B are side views for explaining the operation of the coin sorting mechanism (in the case of correct coins) and its A-A' sectional view, and Figures 7C and D are the coin sorting mechanism (in the case of incorrect coins). A side view for explaining the operation and its B-B' sectional view, Fig. 8 is a block diagram, Fig. 9 is a flowchart, and Figs. 10A to C are times when using a 500 yen coin, a 100 yen coin, and a counterfeit coin, respectively. Show the chart diagram. A... Automatic ball lending machine, 1... Ball passageway, 2... Ball lending counting mechanism, 3... Coin continuous insertion mechanism, 4... Coin identification device, 5... Coin sorting mechanism, 6... Control unit , 7... Coin return button, 11... Ball discharge port, 21... Sprocket wheel, 22... Count gear, 23... Stop cam, 24... Switch cam, 25... Stop lever, 31...
Progressive feed lever, 32... Progressive feed solenoid, 33
...Forward feed sensor, 51...Branch solenoid,
52... Coin distribution plate, 53... Branch sensor.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A count gear installed to rotate in conjunction with a sprocket wheel facing the pachinko ball supply path is activated by the excitation of a ball cutting solenoid, and slides into contact with a switch cam installed to rotate in conjunction with the count gear. The ball cutting solenoid is demagnetized and stops rotating in response to a detection signal from the ball cutting switch, and a stop cam having a hooking portion is mounted coaxially with the count gear, and the stop cam is normally operated by the biasing force of a spring. a stop lever that is formed at one end with a stop pawl that engages with the latching part to stop the rotation of the counting gear and a blocking pawl that prevents the counting gear from over-rotating in the rotation orbit around the periphery of the latching part, and a stop lever that is supported by a plunger. and a ball cutting solenoid that acts on the other end, and the ball cutting solenoid turns on the branch sensor of the coin sorting mechanism in the automatic ball lending machine, releases the mooring of a proper coin, and turns off the branch sensor. A ball rental counting mechanism of an automatic ball rental machine that is set to start at a certain time.