JPH0745803Y2 - Coin hopper - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a coin hopper for accommodating coins used in a game machine or the like.

[Conventional technology]

A game machine or the like is provided with a hopper for accommodating a predetermined amount of coins, and pays out a predetermined amount of coins as the game progresses. The hopper is provided with a micro switch for detecting whether or not a certain amount of coins are inserted, or an electrode that conducts electricity when more than a certain amount of coins are accommodated.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

However, in the conventional hopper, the device for detecting the amount of stored coins can only detect whether or not a certain amount of coins are stored, and how much coins are stored in the hopper. It was not possible to detect if there was. Therefore, when the hopper is used as a money changer, etc., the remaining amount of coins in the hopper cannot be grasped, so a bid exceeding the remaining amount of coins is made and not only coins are not paid out, but also the presence or absence of coins in the hopper. It was necessary for an attendant to walk around and inspect to confirm.

In view of this point, the present invention can detect the amount of coins in the hopper almost accurately, and when the hopper is used as a money changer, it is possible to control the bid according to the number of remaining coins and the remaining amount of coins. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coin hopper that does not require an attendant to walk around for inspection.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

The coin hopper of the present invention comprises a base plate provided on one side of a hopper for accommodating coins, and a support frame for supporting the hopper so as to project in a substantially lateral direction by pivotally attaching an upper portion of the base plate, The inside of the hopper is controlled by the output of the pressure sensor, which is provided on the support frame so that it can come into contact with the lower part of the base plate, and whose output voltage changes with the applied pressure, and the pressure sensor that responds to the applied pressure from the hopper through the base plate. Is equipped with a display unit for displaying the amount of coins, a base plate and a support frame, and tension adjusting means for adjusting the force with which the base plate presses the pressure sensor.

[Action]

By configuring as described above, the load of the coin stored in the hopper becomes a force in the rotation direction about the pivotal attachment portion of the base plate, and the error of the pressing force is small, and the pressure sensor moves in a fixed direction. Since is pressed, the amount of coins can be measured properly and accurately by the pressure sensor.

Further, by adjusting the tension adjusting means, the initial load on the pressure sensor can be adjusted, and the load applied to the pressure sensor can be finely adjusted to fall within an appropriate range.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, a coin hopper M of the present invention used in a slot machine or other game machine has an upright supporting frame 2, and the supporting frame 2 is fixed on a base 1. A hopper 3 is provided on the side surface of the support frame 2 so as to project laterally, and a predetermined amount of coins C are accommodated in the hopper 3. An opening is provided in the upper part of the hopper 3, and a lid (not shown) is provided in the opening. The lid is opened so that coins can be stored in the hopper. A base plate 15 is provided on a side surface of the support frame 2 of the hopper 3, and an upper end portion of the base plate 15 is pivotally attached to an upper portion of the support frame by a pivot pin 4. A rotary disk 6 is provided along the base plate 15, and the rotation of the rotary disk 6 causes the coins C stored in the hopper 3 to be sent out one by one to a discharge port of the game machine along a slide path (not shown). The rotary disk 6 is attached to a rotary shaft 7, and a motor 8 is connected to the rotary shaft 7, and the rotary disk 6 is rotated by a predetermined amount by the motor 8. A tension adjusting spring 9 is provided on the base plate 15, and the tension adjusting spring 9 is connected to a tension adjusting screw 11 screwed to a frame 10. The tension adjusting screw 11 is rotated to rotate the tension adjusting screw 11. Adjust the tension that urges the base plate 15 of in the counterclockwise direction in the figure. A protrusion 16 is provided on the lower portion of the base plate 15, and the protrusion 16 is in contact with the sensor 12 mounted on the lower portion of the support frame 2.
The sensor 12 is a pressure sensor, and the pressure sensor is of a type such as a strain gauge or a piezoelectric element in which the output voltage changes with the applied pressure. This pressure sensor 12 has a display 13
The electric signal detected by the pressure sensor 12 is displayed on the display unit 13.

The display unit 13 may display the weight of the coin C, and when the coin C is full is displayed as a percentage indicating how many coins are accommodated with respect to the full amount. You may do it.

[Effect of device]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the amount of coins stored in the hopper of a game machine or the like can be grasped almost accurately, and the approximate number of coins stored in the hopper at the casino and game center can be used as a data Can be managed as, and specifically, the following effects can be achieved.

1) The number of coins supplied to the hopper can be managed.

2) In a currency exchange machine or the like that uses the hopper of a game machine, the currency exchange machine can grasp the remaining amount of coins in the hopper, so that it is possible to control the bid in accordance with the number of remaining coins in the hopper.

3) Even if you do not look at the hopper, if you have the data at hand, you can determine the game machine that requires coin supply.

4) The amount of coins inserted by the customer is controlled so that when the hopper reaches a certain amount, it goes into the coin safe, but it was difficult to change this amount setting without changing mechanically until now, but this method. By changing the dip switch etc. on the board, it is possible to change the setting quite thinly and easily.

5) The load of the coins housed in the hopper becomes a force in the rotational direction around the pivot portion of the base plate, and the pressure difference is small, and the pressure sensor is pressed in a fixed direction. This has the effect of properly and accurately measuring the amount of coins.

6) By adjusting the tension adjusting means, the initial load on the pressure sensor can be adjusted, and fine adjustment can be performed so that the load applied to the pressure sensor falls within an appropriate range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a hopper of the present invention. 2 ... Support frame, 3 ... Hopper, 4 ... Pivot pin, 8 ...
Motor, 12 ... Pressure sensor, 13 ... Display section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A base plate provided on one side of a hopper for accommodating coins, and a support frame for supporting the hopper so as to extend in a substantially lateral direction by pivotally attaching an upper portion of the base plate, A pressure sensor provided on the support frame so as to be capable of contacting the lower portion of the base plate, the output voltage of which changes with the pressure, and the pressure sensor corresponding to the pressure applied from the hopper through the base plate. Is installed between the display unit that displays the amount of coins in the hopper, the base plate, and the support frame, and the tension adjustment that adjusts the force with which the base plate presses the pressure sensor. A coin hopper comprising means.