JPH078599A - Medal selector for medal game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely arrest a so-called swallowing phenomenon that a regulated number or more of medals are taken into a game machine even when the medals are inputted in the continuing state. CONSTITUTION:A medal flowing member 30 has an input medal count device 80 situated between a medal input hole 20 and a medal selecting device 100 to count the medals flowing down in the medal flowing member 30; and a medal flow arresting device 90 situated between the input medal count device 8 and the medal selecting device 100 and operated when the input medal count device 80 counts a predetermined fixed number of medals to temporarily arrest the flow of the input balls.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a slot machine for playing games by continuously inserting medals, which are game media, and more particularly to a predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and a maximum number of accumulated credits. The medal selector is designed to prevent the insertion of medals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in this type of slot machine, when an attempt is made to insert a predetermined number of medals or more medals to be stored per game, the maximum number of medals to be inserted is exceeded. The medals were returned after changing the flow route by the medal selector.

An example of the above-mentioned conventional medal selector is shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a front view of the state in which the medal selector 200 is viewed from the inside of the gaming machine. This medal selector
Reference numeral 200 denotes a structure in which medals are made to flow down from a medal slot 210 provided on the front panel of the gaming machine to a medal payout device (not shown) provided inside the gaming machine through a gutter member 220. In the middle of the, a medal selecting device 240 for selecting the medals and ejecting them out of the gaming machine when the medals do not match a preset specified value (for example, diameter or thickness),
A medal count sensor 250 that counts the number of inserted medals by detecting passage of medals is provided, and in the medal flow-down path 260 between the medal selection device 240 and the medal count sensor 250, the medal count sensor 250 has a predetermined number. There is provided a medal blocker 270 that evacuates from the medal downflow path 260 and discharges the medals flowing down the medal downflow path 260 to the outside of the gaming machine when the maximum number of inputs per game and the maximum number of credits accumulated are counted.

A method of changing the flow path of medals by the medal selector 200 will be described. The medals inserted from the medal insertion port 210 flow down inside the gutter member 220 toward the medal payout device. When this medal does not match the preset specified value, for example, a medal smaller than the specified diameter is returned by the medal selecting device 240 to a medal tray (not shown) provided on the lower portion of the front panel of the gaming machine.

On the other hand, a regular medal flows down the medal flow-down path 260 in the gutter member 220 and is taken into the medal payout device. The number of medals taken into the medal payout device is counted by the medal count sensor 250. . When the medal count sensor 250 detects a predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and a maximum number of stored credits, for example, 50 medals, a medal blocker.
By operating 270, the medals flowing down the medal downflow path 260 are returned to the medal tray provided on the lower part of the front panel of the gaming machine.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional medal selector 200, the medal count sensor 2 is used.
The token blocker 270 is activated after 50 detects a predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and a maximum accumulated number of credits, for example, 50 medals. That is, there is a slight time lag between the time when the medal count sensor 250 counts the specified number of medals and the time when the medal blocker 270 is activated.

Therefore, the conventional medal selector 200
Then, when the medals are thrown in continuously, from the receiving state where the medals flow down to the medal payout device,
When switching to a return state in which medals are ejected to the outside of the gaming machine, a number of medals exceeding a prescribed number, for example, the 51st medal has passed through the medal blocker 270 before the medal blocker 270 is activated, and medals that are not counted are played. There is a possibility that a so-called swallowing phenomenon may occur in which it is taken into the aircraft.

Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of a medal selector capable of reliably preventing a so-called swallowing phenomenon in which more than a specified number of medals are taken into the gaming machine even when the medals are continuously inserted.

[0009]

The present invention is to achieve the above-mentioned object, and the contents thereof will be described below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings. In the invention according to claim 1, the medal flow-down member (30) is located between the medal insertion port (20) and the medal selecting device (100), and the medal flow-down member (30) is provided.
The inserted medal counting device (80) for counting the medals flowing down, is located between the inserted medal counting device (80) and the medal selecting device (100), and the inserted medal counting device (80) is predetermined. A medal downflow prevention device (90) is provided, which operates when counting a certain number of medals and temporarily blocks downflow of the inserted medals.

[0010]

[Operation] Therefore, according to the invention of claim 1, the medals inserted from the medal insertion slot (20) are first counted by the insertion medal counting device (80). And
The medals that exceed the maximum number of coins inserted per game and the maximum number of accumulated credits per game, for example, the prescribed number of medals is 50
When the 51st medal is detected, the medal downflow prevention device (90) is activated to temporarily prevent the 51th medal from flowing down. Then, at an appropriate time, for example 400
After ~ 1000 msec has passed, the medal blocker (1
30) is operated to remove the medal from the medal flow-down member (30).

In the medal selecting device (150), when a medal that does not match the preset specified value flows down, the medal is removed from the medal downflow route (50). Specifically, for example, it is discharged to a medal tray provided on the front panel of the game machine,
Also, it may stop the flow of medals that are thicker than the specified value.
Further, the taken-in medal counting device (80) counts the number of medals taken into the medal storage unit in the gaming machine, for example, the medal payout device. Then, when the predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and the maximum accumulated number of credits, for example, the 50th medal is detected, the medal blocker (130) is activated to switch the medal flow path, and then flow down. The coming medals are discharged to the medal tray provided on the front panel of the game machine.

That is, in the invention described in claim 1, when the medals having the predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and the maximum accumulated number of credits are taken into the game machine, the medal blocker (130) is activated, The above medals are prevented from being taken into the game machine, but the medals of the specified number or more are temporarily blocked from flowing down by the medal flow-down prevention device (90).

Therefore, even when the medals are continuously inserted, the prescribed number of medals, for example, the 51st medal does not flow down continuously to the prescribed number of medals, for example, the 50th medal. . That is, medal blocker
While the (130) is activated and the state of accepting the medal flowing down to the medal storage section is switched to the returning state of ejecting the medal out of the gaming machine, the medal downflow prevention device (90) allows the medal to flow down the medal. Since 50) does not flow down, the medal blocker (130) operates reliably. Therefore, medals that are not counted will be taken into the gaming machine,
The so-called swallowing phenomenon does not occur.

[0014]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view of a medal selector as seen from the inside of a gaming machine, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a medal flow-down prevention member. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the medal downflow prevention device, and FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the medal downflow prevention device.

In the embodiment described below, it is assumed that there are 50 medals having a predetermined maximum number of inserted coins and a maximum accumulated number of credits per game. The medal selector 10 according to the present invention is a medal payout device (not shown) which is a medal storage portion provided inside the gaming machine through a medal insertion port 20 provided on the front panel of the gaming machine and a trough-shaped medal flow-down member 30. The medal M is made to flow down.

The aforementioned medal flow-down member 30 has a width slightly wider than the thickness of the medal M, and the medal M flows down while rolling inside. The medal downflow member 30 is provided with a medal intake port 60 on the upper end side of the medal downflow path 50 so as to communicate with the medal insertion port 20, and a medal downflow path (not shown) toward the medal payout device at the lower end side. A medal outlet 70 is provided so as to communicate with each other. Further, the medal flow-down member 30 is connected to the medal flow-down path 50 from the medal intake port 60 toward the medal intake port 70.
Is inclined downward and is attached to the gaming machine with an inclination such that the upper side of the medal flow-down member 30 is positioned inside the gaming machine more than the lower side. That is, the medal M flowing in from the medal take-in port 60 rolls down toward the medal take-out port 70 with the upper part tilted toward the inside of the gaming machine, and flows down from the medal take-out port 70 toward the medal payout device.

Further, the medal flow-down member 30 detects and inserts the medal M which has passed through the medal take-in port 60, from the medal take-in port 60 to the medal take-out port 70 along the flow-down direction thereof. The inserted medal counting device 80 for counting the number of medals, the medal downflow preventing device 90 for preventing the medal flowing down from the medal intake 60, and the medal selection when the medals do not match the preset specified value. Then, the medal selecting device 100 for excluding it outside the gaming machine, the medal discharge port 110 for returning the medals to the outside of the game machine, and the taken-in medal counting device 120 for counting the number of medals taken into the medal payout device. It is arranged.

The inserted medal counting device 80 is provided in the vicinity of the medal inlet 60 of the medal flow-down member 30, and is constructed by vertically arranging two proximity sensors.
The medals M that have passed through are detected and the number of inserted medals is counted. The medal downflow prevention device 90 is a medal downflow member.
Cylindrical solenoid 91 that appears in and out of the medal flow path 50 of 30
And an iron core 92 that is located inside the cylindrical center of the solenoid 91 and slidably supports the solenoid 91.

The medal downflow prevention device 90 is always positioned such that the tip of the solenoid 91 is retracted from the medal downflow member 30 by the urging force of the urging member 133 composed of a spring (see the solid line in FIG. 2). ). In this state, the medal flow-down member 30
The medal M can freely flow down the medal downflow route 50. Then, the input medal counting device 80 described above,
When the number of medals M (51st medal) equal to or larger than the predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and the maximum number of stored credits is detected, the solenoid 91 is excited to resist the bias of the spring 93 and the tip of the solenoid 91. Of the solenoid 91, the tip of the solenoid 91 presses down the 51st medal M flowing down the medal downflow path 50 of the medal downflow member 30 to prevent the medal M from flowing down (broken line in FIG. 2). ).

Thereafter, the medal M is used in the game, and the number of medals taken into the game machine is less than a predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and the maximum number of accumulated credits (5
(Less than 0), the solenoid 91 is demagnetized. When the solenoid 91 is demagnetized, the solenoid 91
Is pulled toward the outside of the medal flow-down member 30, the tip of the solenoid 91 is retracted from inside the medal flow-down member 30, and the medal flow-down path 50 of the medal flow-down member 30 is moved to the medal M.
Returns to the state where it flows freely.

The medal selecting device 100 is a device for selecting the medals and excluding them from the gaming machine when the medals do not match the preset specified value. If it does not reach, the medal is discharged to the outside of the gaming machine, and if the medal thickness exceeds the specified value, the medal is selected by preventing the medal from flowing down, and the medal flow-down member 30 A selection opening is provided on the side surface located inside the gaming machine.

This selection opening has a substantially rectangular shape,
The lower side 101 is located slightly above the bottom surface of the medal downflow path 50 of the medal downflow member 30, and the upper side 102 is located slightly below the height (diameter) of the regular medal M flowing down the medal downflow path 50. By adjusting the position of this upper side 102,
The diameter of the medal M to be selected can be adjusted. That is, the closer the position of the upper side 102 is to the bottom surface of the medal flow-down passage 50, the smaller the diameter of the medal M to be selected can be made.

As described above, the medal flow-down member 30 is attached to the gaming machine with an inclination such that the upper side of the medal flow-down member 30 is located inside the gaming machine more than the lower side. Therefore, the regular medal M flowing down the medal downflow path 50 of the medal downflow member 30 is supported by the side surface of the medal downflow member 30 on the inner side of the gaming machine and passes through the medal selecting device 100. On the other hand, for example, a medal having a diameter smaller than that of the regular medal M falls toward the inside of the gaming machine because the side surface of the medal flow-down member 30 that supports the upper side of the medal does not exist when passing through the medal selecting device 100. , Through a medal ejection path (not shown), and is ejected to a medal tray provided below the front panel.

It should be noted that medals having a diameter smaller than the regular medal M are selected by the medal selecting device 100 described above, but medals having a diameter larger than the regular medal M have the size of the medal insertion slot 20. It can be selected by making it slightly larger than the regular medal M. That is, a medal having a diameter larger than the medal insertion slot 20 cannot be inserted into the medal insertion slot 20 in the first place.

Also, a medal thicker than the regular medal M,
For example, a medal thicker than the groove width in the passage of the medal selecting device 100 cannot pass through the medal selecting device 100. A medal blocker 130 is attached to the medal ejection port 110 so as to close the medal ejection port 110. This medal blocker 130 is attached so as to be swingable in the width direction of the medal flow-down member 30, and has a medal blocker 13 on one side.
A drive device 131 for swinging 0 is attached. The drive device 131 is composed of a solenoid, and the tip of the plunger is attached to one side surface of the medal blocker 130. And, the plunger is always in a projecting state by the biasing of a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring, and the medal blocker 130 blocks the medal ejection port 110. When the solenoid is excited, the plunger is attracted against the urging force of the urging member, and the medal blocker 130 connected to the plunger swings toward the front of the gaming machine and the medal downflow path 50.
The medal discharge port 110 opens. On the other hand, when the solenoid is demagnetized, the plunger projects due to the urging of the urging member, and the medal blocker 130 returns to the state of closing the medal ejection port 110.

As described above, the medal blocker 130 is always in a state of closing the medal discharge port 110 and allowing the medal M to flow down the medal downflow path 50 of the medal downflow member 30. Then, when the inserted medal counting device 80 counts a predetermined maximum number of inserted medals M per game and the maximum number of stored medals (50), the solenoid is excited after a predetermined time (for example, 400 to 1000 mec). Then, the plunger is sucked, the medal blocker 130 is disengaged from the medal discharge port 110, and the medal M flowing down the medal flow-down path 50 is a medal tray (not shown) provided below the front panel from the medal discharge port 110. Is discharged to. After that, when the medals M are used in the game and the number of medals taken into the game machine is less than the predetermined maximum number of inserted coins per game and the maximum accumulated number of credits (less than 50), Demagnetize the solenoid to project the plunger, the medal blocker 130 blocks the medal discharge port 110,
The state in which the medal M flows down the medal downflow path 50 of the medal downflow member 30 is restored.

The taken-in medal counting device 120 is provided in the vicinity of the medal take-out port 70 of the medal flow-down member 30, and is composed of two optical sensors arranged in parallel in the medal flow-down direction. In addition, the taken-in medal counting device 120 flows down the medal flow-down path 50 of the medal flow-down member 30 to make the medal take-out port 70.
The number of medals taken into the medal payout device is counted.

Incidentally, the taken-in medal counting device 120 is composed of two optical sensors arranged in parallel in the medal flowing direction, in addition to counting the number of flowing medals, it detects the direction in which the medals M pass. This is to prevent cheating. That is, when the medal M flowing down from the upstream side to the downstream side of the medal downflow path 50 is detected, "1" is added to the count value, and conversely, from the downstream side of the medal downflow path 50 to the upstream side. When the medals M are detected, "1" is subtracted from the count value so that only the medals M that have been properly inserted are counted.

According to the medal selector 10 described above, the medals taken in from the medal inlet 60 are first counted by the inserted medal counting device 80. And
The number of medals taken in is equal to or greater than the predetermined maximum number of inserted medals per game and the maximum accumulated number of credits M.
When the (51st medal) is detected, the medal downflow prevention device 90 is activated and the tip of the solenoid 91 causes the medal downflow member.
The 51st medal M flowing down the 30 medal downflow path 50 is pressed to prevent the subsequent medal M from flowing down (broken line in FIG. 2).

On the other hand, by the inserted medal counting device 80,
When the 50th medal is counted, from the inserted medal counting device 80 to the loaded medal counting device 120, 50
Time for the second medal to flow down (eg 300-500m
sec) has elapsed (for example, 400 to 1000 mse
In c), the medal blocker 130 is operated to open the medal discharge port 110.

Therefore, the taken-in medal counting device 120
However, even if it is turned off after counting the 50th medal, the so-called swallowing phenomenon in which the taken-in medal counting device 120 does not count even though the medal payout device takes in the medal payout device does not occur. Further, according to the operations of the medal downflow prevention device 90 and the medal blocker 130 described above, for example, when the specified number of medals M (50th medal) is a medal smaller than the diameter of the regular medal M, This medal is not counted by the taken-in medal counting device 120 although it is counted by the inserted medal counting device 80. For this reason, the flow-down of the 50th medal M is actually blocked by the medal flow-down prevention device 90. Therefore, in this case, the import medal counting device
In 100, after counting the 50th medal, the inserted medal counting device 80 to the taken-in medal counting device 12
Time until the 50th medal flows down to 0 (for example, 30
Even if (0 to 500 msec) has elapsed, if the 50th medal is not counted by the taken-in medal counting device 120, the medal blocker 130 is not operated, the solenoid 91 of the medal downflow prevention device 90 is demagnetized, and the medal is blocked. The medal downflow path 50 of the downflow member 30 is returned to a state in which the medal M freely flows down, only one medal of the 50th medal is allowed to flow down, and then the solenoid 91 is excited again to deactivate the medal M of the 51st medal or later. Stop the flow. By performing this process, the flowed-in medals are counted by the taken-in medal counting device 120 by 50.
It will be counted as the first medal.

In this case, the 50th medal M
Next medal M flows down continuously, and the medal downflow prevention device
It does not seem to serve the role of 90. However, since the medal downflow prevention device 90 is provided at the upper end portion of the medal downflow path 50, when the medal downflow prevention device 90 prevents the medal M from flowing down, the next medal M is inserted.
Can't throw in 20. Therefore, even if the medal flow-down prevention device 90 is deactivated after a certain period of time and the flow-down of the medal M is restarted, it takes some time until the next medal M is thrown in. I won't.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the inserted medal counting device 80 is composed of two proximity sensors arranged side by side. This is because if one sensor is provided and this sensor is arranged so as to detect the central portion of the medal, the interval between the medals M cannot be detected when the medals M are continuously inserted. This is because the detection of the inserted medal M becomes unstable. Therefore, if the medals M that have been continuously inserted can be reliably detected, even if only one sensor is used, it does not matter. Also, a medal flow prevention device
To further ensure the operation of the 90, connect two proximity sensors in series or use the detection output of both proximity sensors
It is also possible to perform the D process and activate the medal downflow prevention device 90 only when both of the two proximity sensors detect the inserted medal.

Further, in the present embodiment, the inserted medal counting device 80 is constituted by the proximity sensor, but the inserted medal counting device 80 may be any device as long as it can count the inserted medals M, for example, an optical sensor. Good. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the medal flow prevention device 90. This medal downflow prevention device 130 is used for the medal downflow member 30.
It is composed of a plunger 141 that appears and disappears in the medal flow path 50, and a solenoid 142 that drives this plunger 141.

In this medal flow-down prevention device 130, the plunger 141 is always retracted into the solenoid 142 by the urging force of a spring 143 as a urging member made of a spring, and the tip of the plunger 141 is fixed to the medal flow-down member 30. It is located outside (solid line in Figure 4). In this state, the medal M can freely flow down the medal downflow path 50 of the medal downflow member 30.
On the other hand, when the above-mentioned inserted medal counting device 80 detects a medal M (51st medal) which is equal to or more than a predetermined maximum inserted number per game and the maximum accumulated number of credits,
Exciting the solenoid 142, the tip of the plunger 141 is projected into the medal flow-down member 30 against the urging force of the spring 143, and the tip of the plunger 141 flows down the medal flow-down path 50 of the medal flow-down member 30. The medal M of the eye is pressed down to prevent the medal M from flowing down (broken line in FIG. 4).

When the solenoid 142 is demagnetized, the plunger 141 is retracted into the solenoid 142 by the urging force of the spring 143, and the tip of the plunger 141 is located outside the medal flow-down member 30. The flow path 50 returns to a state where the medal M falls freely.

[0037]

Since the present invention is constituted as described above, it has the following effects. Claim 1
According to the invention described in (3), when a predetermined maximum number of medals to be inserted per game and maximum number of credits to be stored are inserted, the medal flow-down prevention device is activated, and more medals flow down the medal flow-down member. To be temporarily blocked.
On the other hand, the medal blocker is activated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the medal flow-down prevention device was activated, and is in a state of returning the medal to the outside of the machine.

Therefore, even when the medals are thrown in continuously, the medals of the specified number or more do not flow down continuously to the specified number of medals. Therefore, until the medal blocker is activated, that is, while the medal blocker is in the accepting state where it flows down to the medal storage section, and when it is switched to the returning state where the medal is discharged to the outside of the gaming machine, the maximum amount per game is set by the medal downflow prevention device. Medals exceeding the maximum number of inserted and credits do not flow down the medal downflow route, so it is possible to reliably prevent the so-called swallowing phenomenon that medals that are not counted by the imported medal counting device are taken into the gaming machine. be able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a state in which a medal selector is viewed from the inside of a gaming machine.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a medal flow-down prevention device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a medal flow prevention device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another embodiment of the medal flow prevention device.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a conventional medal selector as viewed from inside the gaming machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 medal selector 20 medal insertion slot 30 medal downflow member 50 medal downflow path 60 medal intake opening 70 medal exit 80 inserted medal counting device 90 medal downflow prevention device 91 solenoid 92 iron core 93 spring 100 medal selection device 101 lower side 102 upper side 110 medals Outlet 120 Intake medal counting device 130 Medal blocker 131 Drive device 140 Medal flow stop device 141 Plunger 142 Solenoid 143 Spring 200 Medal selector 210 Medal insertion port 220 Gutter member 240 Medal sorting device 250 Medal counting sensor 260 Medal downflow route 270 Medal Blocker M medal

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A medal flow-down member for causing a medal inserted from a medal insertion port to flow down to a medal storage section provided inside a gaming machine, and a medal provided at a midpoint of the length of the medal flow-down member for flowing down the medal flow-down member. The medal counting device for counting the number of coins, and the medal that is located between the medal counting device and the medal insertion port and flows down the medal flow-down member does not match the preset specified value. Is located between the medal selecting device and the medal selecting device for removing the medal from the medal flow-down member, and operates when the medal taking device counts a predetermined number of medals. In a medal selector of a medal game machine provided with a medal blocker for excluding medals flowing down the medal flowing down member from the medal flowing down member The medal flow-down member is located between the medal insertion port and the medal selection device, and the inserted medal count device for counting the medals flowing down the medal flow-down member, and between the inserted medal count device and the medal selection device. And a medal downflow prevention device that operates when the inserted medal counting device counts a predetermined number of medals and temporarily blocks downflow of the inserted medals. The medal selector of the medal game machine.