JPH10222722A - Bill carrying system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely carry a bill and to reduce costs by guiding a bill into a carrying tube where air flow is generated. SOLUTION: A bill that is put in each machine that is arranged at a place of games is made to be waited in a bill receiving part. A control system receives a bill collection request from each machine, performs bill carrying control and controls a carrying system as an independent system. Also, it can be incorporated in a part of a system that manages a whole place of games and consists of terminal units which are connected through an information processor and a signal line group. A bill guiding machine of each machine guides a waited bill into a carrying tube 2100. That is, a push lever 2710 and a receiving lever 2720 pick up a bill from both the surface and rear sides on a waiting stage and moves it from a waiting position to a delivering position. An air flow generator generates air flow in the tube 2100 and moves a bill that is guided into the tube.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bill transport system for transporting bills handled by various devices installed in a game arcade.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional banknote transport system, a banknote is generally transported by sandwiching it between a pair of belts, or transported by sandwiching it between a belt and a pulley.

[0003] Further, bills are stored in a capsule-like container,
It is conceivable that a container is put in a transport pipe and the container is transported by an air flow flowing in the transport pipe.

[0004]

However, in such a conventional banknote transport system, it is good if the transport path is straight and relatively short, but the transport path is largely bent or long. In such a case, there is a problem that the banknote cannot be transported reliably.

On the other hand, in order to reliably transport bills, the bills are accommodated in a capsule-shaped container, the container is placed in a transport tube, the flow of air in the transport tube is switched to reciprocate the container, and the banknotes are transported. It has been proposed to transport paper money, but banknotes can be stored in containers, removed from containers,
The structure for stopping the container at a predetermined position is complicated, which causes an increase in cost. The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bill transport system capable of reliably transporting bills and reducing costs.

[0006]

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object lies in the matters described in the following items. [1] In a bill transport system for transporting bills handled by each device installed in a game arcade, a transport pipe (21
00), an air flow generator (25) for moving bills present in the transport pipe (2100).
00), a bill receiving unit (40) for receiving and waiting the bills inserted into the respective devices, and a bill introducing machine (2700) for introducing the suspended bills to the transport pipe (2100) side. And a control system (CS) for performing a bill transfer control in response to a bill collection request from any of the devices.

[2] In the banknote transport system according to the item [1], the banknote introducing machine (2700) sandwiches the standby banknote from the front side and the rear side and moves the banknote from the standby position to the delivery position. Clamping members (2710,
2720), and a part of the transfer pipe (2100) includes:
A connection position where the leading end port is connected to the connection destination port of the transfer pipe (2100) to enable the transfer path of the transfer pipe (2100) to be continuous, and a bill whose front end port is moved to the delivery position faces the bill. And a suction pipe (2150) which is flexible to a suction position at which bills can be sucked.

[3] In the banknote transport system according to the item [2], the banknote receiving section (40) has a standby stage (40) in which a slit (47) is formed corresponding to the symmetrical line of the standby rectangular banknote. 46), the pair of holding members (2710, 2720) are provided with a pushing lever for bending a bill along the line of symmetry and pushing it into the slit (47), and the pushing lever with the slit (47) therebetween. And a receiving lever that receives the bent portion of the bill bent by the pushing lever and moves to the delivery position while holding the bill with the pushing lever. The force by which the push lever and the receiving lever pinch the bill loosens when the bill moves to the delivery position.

[4] In the bill transfer system according to the item 2 or 3, the pushing lever and the receiving lever have the same rotating shaft (2730) extending in the horizontal direction, and in the standby position, the pushing lever is Above the standby stage (46), the receiving lever faces the slit (47) from below, and in the delivery position, the pushing lever and the receiving lever rotate around the same rotation axis (2730). The suction pipe (2150) rotates, and each tip thereof hangs below the standby stage (46), and the tip end of the suction pipe (2150) faces the bill moved to the delivery position from below.

[5] In the banknote transport system according to the item 1, 2, 3 or 4, the air flow generating device (250
0) is a vortex generator for generating a vortex in the transport pipe (2100).

Next, the operation of the invention described in each of the above items will be described.

[0012] In the bill transfer system according to the item (1), bills taken into each device installed in the game arcade are made to stand by by a bill receiving unit (40). Control system (CS)
Performs bill transport control in response to a bill collection request from each device. The control system (CS) can control the transport system as an independent system. Also, for example, it can be incorporated in a part of a system that manages the entire game arcade. Generally, one control system (CS) is configured for one gaming machine island.
The control system (CS) includes an information processing device and a plurality of terminal units connected via signal lines.

Under the control of the control system (CS), the bill introducing machine (2700) in each device introduces the waiting bills into the transport pipe (2100). The airflow generator (2500) generates an airflow in the transport pipe (2100) to move the bills introduced into the transport pipe (2100).

In the bill transfer system according to the item (2), a pair of holding members (2710, 210) of the bill introducing machine (2700) are provided.
720) moves the banknote from the standby position to the delivery position by sandwiching the standby banknote from its front side and back side. Suction pipe (2150) constituting the transfer pipe
Are flexible between a connection position and a suction position. Suction pipe (2
150) is bent to the connection position, the suction pipe (2150)
Is connected to the connection port of the transfer pipe (2100), so that the transfer path of the transfer pipe (2100) can be continued. On the other hand, when the suction pipe (2150) bends to the suction position, the tip end of the suction pipe (2150) can face the bill moved to the delivery position and suck the bill. That is, under the control of the control system (CS), the suction pipe (2150) bends between the connection position and the suction position, sucks the bill, and moves the bill to the transport path.

In the bill transfer system according to the third aspect, the bill receiving section (40) has a standby stage (46), and the bills taken into each device are transferred to the standby stage (4).
Move to 6) and wait on the standby stage (46). At this time, the slit (47) of the standby stage (46)
It corresponds to the line of symmetry of the rectangular banknotes on standby. The pair of holding members (2710, 272)
The push lever that constitutes 0) is a standby stage (46).
The upper bill is bent at the line of symmetry and pushed into the slit (47). At this time, the receiving lever is moved to the standby stage (46).
Is arranged on the opposite side to the pushing lever with the slit (47) therebetween, the receiving lever receives the bent portion of the bill bent by the pushing lever, and the bill is pushed by the receiving lever and the pushing lever. It moves to the delivery position while being clamped. When the banknote is moved to the delivery position in a state where the banknote is clamped, the force of the push lever and the receiving lever to clamp the banknote is relaxed, and the suction pipe (2150) extracts the banknote from the gap between the receiving lever and the push lever and sucks the banknote.

In the bill transfer system according to the fourth aspect, in the standby position, the pushing lever is connected to the standby stage (4).
Above 6), the receiving lever faces the slit (47) from below. In the delivery position, the pushing lever and the receiving lever are on the same rotation shaft (273).
0), and each end thereof hangs below the standby stage (46). At this time, the suction pipe (2
The tip end of 150) faces the bill moved to the delivery position from below. For example, if the force for pinching the bill by the pushing lever and the receiving lever is relaxed, the bill is moved to the end of the suction pipe (2150). It is sucked into the end opening and taken into the transport path.

In the bill transfer system according to claim 5, the air flow generating device (2500) includes a transfer pipe (2100).
A vortex generator for generating a vortex in the interior. Here, for example, the vortex generator is a vortex generating unit for generating a vortex, and a suction unit which is a blower, for example, which generates air flow by sucking air in the vortex generating unit and generates the vortex. And If a plurality of suction units are connected in series, the suction force can be increased.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The present invention is a transport system that is installed in a game arcade and transports a transported object such as a bill, particularly, with a spiral airflow. In the amusement arcade, there are gaming machines such as coin game machines, for example, a plurality of slot machines,
A plurality of gaming machine islands arranged in one or two rows are arranged on a common base. The transport system of the present invention can be installed for each of these gaming machine islands.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming machine island 1 includes a gantry 3
The gaming machine 2 as four slot machines is arranged in a row on the upper side. The number and the number of rows of the gaming machines 2 arranged on the tatami 3 tatami mat are not limited thereto. For example, 20 on the gantry 3
The gaming machines 2 may be arranged in two rows of ten gaming machines. The gaming machine islands 1 are generally arranged in parallel,
It is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 3, the outline of the transport system for a game arcade is a transport pipe T for transporting a transported object.
B and n + 1 inserted and installed at n + 1 places of the transport tube TB
The system includes the node units NU1 to NUn and a control system CS for controlling the operation of each of the node units NU1 to NUn.

Each of the node units NU1 to NUn is connected to the transport tube T so that an air flow flows in the transport tube TB.
It communicates with B. n node units NU1 to NU
n includes a plurality of types of units having different functions. The first type is a vortex flow generating node unit N for generating a spiral air flow in the transport tube TB and generating an air flow for moving an object to be transported existing in the transport tube TB.
U. The second type is a transported object introduction node unit N for introducing a transported object into the transport pipe TB.
U. The third type is at least one node unit NU for taking out the transported object for removing the transported object from the transport pipe TB.

The transfer tube TB has a cross-sectional shape and a cross-sectional area capable of accommodating the transferred object therein. Further, the transport tube TB can be divided into a plurality of systems according to the type of the transported object. For example, there may be two systems for conveying coins and for conveying bills. Further, it may be further divided according to the type of coin and the type of bill. In this control system CS, a signal line group SL for transmitting a signal indicating the state of each of the node units NU1 to NUn, excluding NU0, and a signal indicating the state of the environment where they are located, NU1
A command for controlling the operation of the NUn is sent, and in each of the node units NU1 to NUn, a corresponding node unit is read based on a bus BL for reading the generated data and a signal read via the signal line group SL. NU1
To NUn. The signal line group SL is provided corresponding to the terminal unit TU to which it is connected.
Therefore, when the signal line groups SL are connected to the terminal units TU1 to TUn, n signal line groups SL are provided.

The signal line group SL includes a necessary number of signal lines according to the number of signals output from the terminal. Therefore, the terminal units TU having different numbers of output signals are:
The number of signal lines included in the signal line group SL connected to them differs. Note that the signal line group SL may be standardized so as to include the same number of signal lines. As shown in FIG. 3, the control system CS includes the respective node units N
A plurality of terminal units TU arranged for each of U1 to NUn
Having. The terminal unit TU and the information processing device PS are connected by a signal line group SL and a bus BL.

The terminal unit TU transmits information indicating the status of each of the node units NU1 to NUn, for example, various status information such as a request for transporting a transported object, a request for unloading a transported object, and a request for loading a transported object. And the status information is collected from sensors, switches, and the like (not shown) provided for the respective node units NU1 to NUn, and the status information is transmitted to the information processing device PS via the signal line group SL. On the other hand, the instruction from the information processing device PS is transmitted to the bus BL.
And the respective node units NU1 to NU
The operation of one or more actuators (not shown) for driving Un is controlled.

In some node units, data representing the state of the node unit may exist. Also,
Depending on the environment in which the node unit is placed, there may be data indicating the state. For example, data such as the number of coins supplied by a coin supply device described later and the number of taken-in bills by a bill discriminating device communicating with a bill introducing device are sent from the terminal unit TU to the information processing device PS via the bus BL. Can be.
On the other hand, without providing such a terminal unit TU, the information processing apparatus PS can directly collect information and control the operation. For example, the node unit N
U0 is a unit that is not under control of the control system CS. The node unit NU0 operates independently of the other node units NU1 to NUn and is a unit that can be controlled independently. For example, a device that operates steadily corresponds to this.

For the node units NU1 to NUn provided with the terminal unit TU, the terminal unit TU is used, and for the node unit NU0 not provided, information collection and operation control are directly performed. You can also do so. As shown in FIG.
The node unit NU0 has not been placed under the control of the control system. However, all node units N
U0 to NUn may be placed under the control of the control system.

As shown in FIG. 3, one terminal unit TU corresponds to one node unit NU for convenience of explanation. However, in actuality, in consideration of the arrangement of devices in the amusement arcade and the generation status of information such as various signals, it may be more preferable to associate one terminal unit TU with a plurality of node units NU. For example, as will be described later, the gaming machine 2 as a slot machine is provided with a plurality of node units NU, and these can be collectively associated with one terminal unit. In this way, it is sufficient to input the information obtained from the gaming machine 2 to one terminal, thereby facilitating the wiring and conveniently performing the centralized management of the information.

An embodiment of a game arcade transport system using such a node unit NU will be described below. As shown in FIG. 4, the configuration of the transport system for a game arcade arranged for each gaming machine island includes a first transport system 1000 that transports a transported object that is a coin, and transports a transported object that is a bill. A second transport system 2000 is included. The first transport system 1000 and the second transport system 2000 can operate independently. However, the first transport system 1000 and the second transport system 2000 are controlled by a common control system CS. Of course, it is also possible to provide a separate control system for the first transport system 1000 and the second transport system 2000 and control them independently. The invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 44, only a bill transfer system may be provided. The present bill transport system is configured similarly to the second transport system 2000, is similarly controlled, and can operate similarly. Therefore, the same reference numerals as those of the present bill transfer system will be assigned the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transport system is installed in a game arcade where a gaming machine 2 which is a slot machine is arranged, and transports a game medium and bills handled in the gaming machine 2 as an object to be transported. More specifically, the first transport system 1000 supplies coins used in each gaming machine 2 to each gaming machine 2 and collects coins from each gaming machine 2. In addition, coins are collected as necessary in a coin safe 1600 provided for each gaming machine island. On the other hand, the bills inserted into each gaming machine 2 are collected by the second transport system 2000 in a bill safe 2600 provided for each gaming machine 2. That is, coins are transported by the first transport system 1000, and bills are transported by the second transport system 2000. Therefore, as the transport tube TB, there are a coin transport tube 1100 for transporting coins as a transported object, and a bill transport tube 2100 for transporting banknotes as a transported object. Here, coins are used as game media, but tokens such as medals may be used instead of coins.

As shown in FIG. 5, the gaming machine 2 which is a slot machine includes, for example, a game execution unit 10 for playing a game.
A handle 15 for executing the game; and a game machine hopper 30 for paying out coins used in the game.
And a bill receiving unit 40 and a coin receiving unit 50.
The banknote receiving unit 40 is, for example, shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 48, a bill insertion slot 41 for accepting the insertion of a bill, a bill validator (not shown) for determining the authenticity and denomination of the inserted bill and taking in a receivable bill. And a guide unit 4 for guiding the taken bills inside.
And 4. As shown in FIG. 36, the banknote recognition unit 42 is provided with a counter 43 for counting the number of sheets taken in. The bill validator 42 outputs information on the denomination and also outputs information on the number of sheets taken in by the counter 43.

The bill receiving section 40 has a waiting stage 46 in which inserted bills wait. Standby stage 46
The two groove walls 46a are formed in a groove shape to guide both long edges of the rectangular bill, and the standby stage 46 has
A slit 47 penetrating the standby stage 46 in the up-down direction is formed corresponding to the symmetry line on the side parallel to the longitudinal direction of the bill. The slit length of the slit 47 is set to be longer than the maximum length of the bill to be inserted in the longitudinal direction in consideration of the positional deviation error of the bill in the standby state. The slit width of the slit 47 is 8 to 10 mm.
Set to about.

The coin receiving section 50 includes a coin insertion slot 51.
A coin identification unit 5 for determining the authenticity and the denomination of the inserted coin and taking in a captureable coin
2 (see FIG. 36). The coin identification section 52 is a counter 53 for counting the number of coins taken (see FIG. 36).
Having. The taken-in coin is sent to the game machine hopper 30 via a shoot (not shown). In the coin receiving unit 50, the denomination information and the counter 53
Can output information indicating the number of coins counted. Each output of the bill receiving unit 40 and the coin receiving unit 50 is connected to the terminal unit TU corresponding to the slot machine 2.

As shown in FIG. 5, the game machine hopper 30 has a coin storing section 31 for storing coins, and a payout section 32 for paying out the stored coins in response to a payout instruction from the game executing section 10. . In the sending section 32,
A coin delivery mechanism, a drive motor for the mechanism, and a motor drive circuit are provided (neither is shown). The game machine hopper 30 pushes up coins stored in the coin storage unit 31 through a passage (not shown) by the sending-out unit 32, and the game execution unit 10
To supply. The capacity of coins that can be stored by the game machine hopper 30 is an amount that can be paid out at least a plurality of times.

The game machine hopper 30 has an overflow mechanism 60 for sending the overflowed coins to a coin introduction machine 2400 described later when the stored coins exceed the capacity. Overflow mechanism 6
0 has a counter 61 for counting the number of coins to be ejected in a part thereof. The output of the counter 61 is the terminal unit T corresponding to the game machine hopper 30.
U, and the count value is output to the terminal unit TU (see FIG. 36). Note that the coin inserted into the coin receiving unit 50 may be directly sent to the coin introduction machine 2700.

The game machine hopper 30 has a coin storage state detection sensor 33 for detecting the storage state of coins.
Is provided. This coin accumulation state detection sensor 33
Has its output connected to the terminal unit TU and sends a signal indicating the coin accumulation state to the terminal unit TU (FIG. 36).
reference). The coin accumulation state detection sensor 33 is composed of, for example, a micro switch or the like.
It operates when the amount of coins stored in 0 becomes smaller than a predetermined storage amount, and detects that the amount of coins has decreased. The terminal unit TU captures this signal as a coin supply request signal to the corresponding slot machine 2.

The plurality of node units NU installed in the coin transport pipe 1100 include a vortex generator 1500 that operates as the vortex generator NU, and the coin transport unit NU as the transported object introduction unit NU. A coin supply device (game medium supply device) 1200 for introducing coins to be supplied into the transport tube 1100, and a coin transported through the coin transport tube 1100 as the transported object removal node unit NU. At least a plurality of branching machines 1300 for taking out are included. These branch machines 1300 are used to supply coins as game media to each slot machine 2. Further, as the unit NU for introducing a transferred object,
It further includes a coin introduction machine 1400 for introducing coins to be collected into the coin transport tube 1100.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of branching machines 1300 are installed for slot machine 2, one is installed for coin safe 1600, and one
00 and one of the coin transfer tubes 110
0 is inserted and connected. The branching machine 1300 corresponding to the slot machine 2 branches coins from the coin transport pipe 1100 and supplies coins to the game machine hoppers 30 of the corresponding slot machines 2. In addition, the branching machine 1300 corresponding to the coin safe 1600 branches the coin from the coin transport pipe 1100 to form a coin safe 160
0. Further, the branching machine 1300 corresponding to the coin supply device 1200 separates the collected coin from the airflow and returns the coin to the coin supply device 1200.

Branch machine 13 provided in slot machine 2
00 is installed in the slot machine 2, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, the game machine hopper 30 is installed below the slot machine 2, and a guide member 34 for guiding coins to the coin storage section 31 of the game machine hopper 30 is arranged behind the game machine hopper 30. A branch machine 1300 is installed above the game machine hopper 30 at the rear, that is, above the guide member 34. This branch machine 130
The opening 1360a of the zero branch passage 1360 is located at a position where the coin is dropped into the guide member 34.

Branch machine 1 arranged in slot machine 2
The coin transport tube 1100 is connected to 300. In the slot machine 2, a bill transfer pipe 2100 is located above the branching machine 1300. As shown in FIG. 4, the banknote transfer pipe 2100 conveys the delivered banknotes by the vortex in the banknote transfer pipe 2100, and further operates as the vortex generation unit NU. 2500, as the transported object introducing node unit NU, as a plurality of banknote introducing machines 2700 for introducing banknotes to be delivered into the banknote transport pipe 2100, and as the transported object removing node unit NU. And a bill discharging machine 2800 for taking out bills from within the bill transport tube 2100. In addition, in the example shown in FIG.
It is configured to reciprocate between the banknote delivery machine 2800 and the banknote introduction machine 2700 located farthest from the banknote ejection machine 2800. Therefore, the banknote ejecting machine 2800 and the banknote introducing machine 270 at the position farthest from the banknote ejecting machine 2800.
A tube having a relatively large diameter that allows bills to easily move inside is used as the bill transport tube 2100 that connects between zero and zero. On the other hand, the bill discharging machine 2800 and the vortex generator 2
500 and the bill introducing machine 2700 and the vortex generator 250 located farthest from the bill ejector 2800.
As the bill transport tube 2100 connecting between 0 and 0, a tube having a relatively small diameter capable of transmitting a vortex is used.
Of course, it is also possible to construct all the tubes with a large diameter.

As the coin transport tube 1100 and the bill transport tube 2100, for example, both flexible plastic hoses are used. Of course, it is not limited to such a hose. However, when such a hose is used, each transfer pipe can be freely bent, so that the pipe can be easily formed. In addition, this type of hose is easy to process such as cutting, and is light, so that the work is easy when installing the transport system of the present invention on site.

As shown in FIG. 45, the bill transport tube 210
0, which constitutes a part of the transport path of
It is provided corresponding to the bill receiving unit 40 of each gaming machine 2. A cylindrical suction port member 2160 is fitted to the front end of the suction pipe 2150, and the front end of the suction port member 2160 is cut diagonally downward. Corresponding to the suction pipe 2150, the pipe member 2
170 is fitted, and a connection port 2180 of the pipe member 2170 is cut diagonally upward to correspond to the suction port member 2160. Both edges of the distal end port of the suction port member 2160 and the connected port 2180 of the pipe member 2170 are in contact with each other to enable a continuous transport path. When a negative pressure is reached, it comes into close contact.

On both sides of the suction pipe 2150, a raising / lowering arm 2190 is provided, and the base end of the raising / lowering arm 2190 is rotatably supported. Have been. Raised arm 219
0 rises, the suction pipe 2150 bends, and the tip end of the suction port member 2160 becomes a suction position in which the suction port 2160 is directed upward.
50 is restored to a connection position where the distal end of the suction port member 2160 faces in the horizontal direction and abuts on the connected port 2180 so that the transport path can be continued. Since the banknote transport tube 2100 is made of a flexible plastic hose or the like, even if it is repeatedly deformed for a long period of time, there is little aging and excellent durability.

The vortex generators 1500 and 2500 basically generate a vortex according to the same principle.
Therefore, first, a vortex generator 1500 for generating a vortex in the coin transport tube 1100 will be described, and then the vortex generator 2500 will be described focusing on differences.

Next, the eddy current generator 1500 used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 6, and 7 to 9. Eddy current generator 150 used in the present invention
0 is the most downstream side of the flow of coins in the coin feeding pipe in which the coin supply device 1200, the plurality of branching machines 1300, and the plurality of coin introduction machines 1400 are inserted and connected as shown in FIG. Installed in The vortex generator 1500 has a vortex generation unit 1510 for generating a vortex, and a suction unit 1570 for generating airflow by sucking air in the vortex generation unit 1510 and generating a vortex.

The suction unit 1570 can be constituted by, for example, a blower. For example, a configuration in which suction is performed using one or a plurality of blowers can be employed.
For example, as shown in FIG. 19, four blowers can be connected in series to perform strong suction.
As shown in FIG. 6, the vortex generation unit 1510 includes a vortex generation unit main body 1520 on which a mechanism for vortex generation is mounted.
The coin transport tube 1100 and the suction unit 1570
Is connected to a connection hose 1530 for connection to
Generate vortices.

The vortex generating unit main body 1520 is formed of a cylinder whose upper and lower surfaces are sealed. Vortex generating unit body 15
On the side peripheral surface of 20, for connecting a coin transport tube,
A connection pipe 1511 is provided. The connection pipe 1511 is connected to the coin transfer pipe 1100 at an end protruding outside the vortex generation unit main body 1520. On the other hand, a cutout 1512 is provided at a part of the opening end on the tip side protruding inside the vortex generating unit main body 1520. This notch 1512 is used for an auxiliary slit 1 described later.
523 are provided at opposing positions. The reason why the notch 1512 is provided at such a position is to allow a part of the airflow flowing through the connection pipe 1511 to flow toward the auxiliary slit 1523.

Upper surface 152 of vortex generating unit main body 1520
1, two rectangular main slits 15 are formed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the axial direction of the connection pipe 1511.
24 are formed, and the total opening area of the two main slits 1524 is substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the connection pipe 1511. Further, a box-shaped cover portion 1525 is provided on a portion of the upper surface 1521 where the two main slits 1524 are formed so as to cover these main slits 1524. A connection pipe 15 for connecting a suction hose 1530 having flexibility is provided on a side surface of the cover portion 1525.
27 is provided through the side surface of the cover portion 1525.
This connection pipe 1527 communicates with the inside of the cover 1524. The cover 1525 and the connection pipe 152
7 may be formed integrally.

On the upper surface 1521 between the end of the vortex generating unit body 1520 of the connecting pipe 1511 and the main slit 1524, a connecting pipe 1522 is provided.
It is provided through 21. This connecting pipe 1522
Communicate with the inside of the vortex generating unit body 1520. Connection pipe 152 in vortex generating unit body 1520
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a rectangular auxiliary slit 1523 is provided on the peripheral surface of the second pipe 2 so as to extend long along the axial direction of the connecting pipe 1522. The opening area of the auxiliary slit 1523 is provided, for example, so as to be substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the connection pipe 1511.

The end of the connecting pipe 1522 outside the vortex generating unit main body 1520 and the branch portion 1528 protruding from the connecting pipe 1527 are connected to the connecting hose 1 having flexibility.
529. Suction hose 1 described above
530, connection pipe 1527, branch portion 1528, cover portion 1525, connection pipe 1522, and connection hose 1
529 and the suction unit 1570 (see FIG. 4) connected to the other end of the suction hose 1530 form an air flow generating means 1501. This air flow generating means 1501
Is the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523.
Then, the air in the coin carrying tube 1100 is sucked through the vortex generating unit main body 1520. As a result, a vortex is generated and an air flow is generated.

The air flow generating means 1501 is
When the air flow in the coin transport tube 1100 is sucked through the auxiliary slit 1523 and the air flow from the connection pipe 1511 in the vortex generating unit main body 1520, the air flow flowing through the main slit 1524 is reduced. And the flow of the air flowing through the auxiliary slit 1523 intersects with a shift. For this reason, two flows of substantially equal pitch are generated in the coin transport tube 1100 by the flow of air flowing through the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523.

Since the flow of air flowing through the main slit 1524 and the flow of air flowing through the auxiliary slit 1523 intersect with each other,
The phases of the two vortices generated within 0 can be shifted. Further, the auxiliary slit 1523 is
11 is located near the end of the connection pipe 1511 at a position shifted away from the center of the connection pipe 1511 (a position shifted to the left of the connection pipe 151l in FIG. 6). The two vortices generated in the tube 1100 will be out of phase.

By the way, the vortex of air generated in the transport pipe transports the transported object according to the spiral movement of the vortex. As described above, the disaster occurrence unit 1 used in the present invention
The reference numeral 510 generates two vortices having a phase shift and substantially equal pitches in the coin transport tube 1100. As a result,
The pitch of the vortex becomes smaller. Thereby, the density of the vortex in the coin transfer tube 1100 can be increased, and the transfer capability of the transfer system can be increased. Therefore,
It can be said that using such a vortex generating unit is suitable for transporting a transported object having a high density such as a coin.

By the way, in the present embodiment, the main slit 1
Although the opening areas of 524 and auxiliary slit 1523 are made substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of connecting pipe 1511, the opening areas of main slit 1524 and auxiliary slit 1523 may be larger than the cross-sectional area of connecting pipe 1511. By setting the opening area of the auxiliary slit 1523 to be substantially equal to or slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the connection pipe 1511,
Air can smoothly flow from the connection pipe 1511 to the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523.

The connection pipe 1511, the connection pipe 1527, the cover portion 1525, and the connection pipe 1522 may be formed integrally with the vortex generating unit body 1520. Further, in that case, the shape thereof is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 6, that is, the rectangular main slit 1
As long as the 524 and the auxiliary slit 1523 can be formed, they may be formed in an arbitrary shape. The vortex generating unit 15 described above
In No. 10, the auxiliary slit 1523 is formed in a direction substantially orthogonal to the main slit 1524. However, the vortex generating unit used in the present invention is not limited to this. For example,
As shown in FIG. 9, the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523 are formed on the same surface, and the vortex generating unit 15
10 can also be configured.

In this vortex generating unit 1510, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper surface 152 of the vortex generating unit main body 1520.
1, an auxiliary slit 1523 and a main slit 1524 are provided in this order from the connection pipe l511 side in a substantially parallel manner. The auxiliary slit 1523 is formed in a rectangular shape, and has an opening area substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of the connection pipe 1511. Then, a cover portion 1526 is formed on the upper surface 1521 so as to cover the auxiliary slit 1523. The connecting portion 1526 includes a connecting pipe 1522 that connects the inside and the outside of the covering portion 1526 and a branch portion 1528 protruding from the connecting pipe 1527, and a connecting hose 1 having reachability.
529.

As described above, the vortex generating unit 1 shown in FIG.
510 is a main slit 1524 and an auxiliary slit 1523
Are provided on the upper surface 1521 of the vortex generating unit main body 1520, so that the auxiliary slit 1523 can be manufactured in the same process as the main slit 1524 by punching the upper surface 1521. Therefore, it is possible to easily manufacture the auxiliary slit 1523. Here, the suction hose 1530, the connection pipe 1527, the branch portion 15
28, the cover parts 1525 and 11, the connection hose 1529, and the suction unit 1570 (see FIG. 4) connected to the other end of the suction hose 1530 to suck the vortex generating unit main body 1520 to generate vortices. , An air flow generating means 1501 for generating an air flow. The air flow generating means 1501 sucks air in the coin transport tube 1100 via the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523, and the vortex generating unit main body 1520.

The air flow generating means 1501 is connected to the main slit 15
When the air in the coin transfer pipe 1100 is sucked through the whirl generating unit main body 1520 and the auxiliary slit 1523 and the whirl generating unit main body 1520, the main slit 1524 and the Since the flow of air flowing through the auxiliary slit 1523 intersects with each other, the flow of air flowing through the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523 causes the coin transport tube 1100 to have two substantially equal pitches. A vortex is generated. The main slit 152
4 and the flow of air flowing through the auxiliary slit 1523 do not intersect with each other,
The phases of the two vortices generated in 00 are substantially equal. Accordingly, two vortices having substantially the same phase and substantially the same pitch are generated in the coin transport tube 1100, so that the density of the vortex can be increased as in the case shown in FIG. Can be increased.

The configuration of the vortex generating unit 1510 other than the auxiliary slit 1523 is the same as that shown in FIG. 6, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Incidentally, the vortex generating unit shown in FIG. 9 is provided with a cover portion 1525 which individually covers the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523. However, it is not limited to this. For example, one cover part that covers the main slit 1524 and the auxiliary slit 1523 is provided, and the inside of the cover part is partitioned by a wall into two chambers on the main slit 1524 side and the auxiliary slit side 3, and suction is performed on the room on the main slit 1524 side. Hose 1530 is connected to the auxiliary slit 152
A connection hose 1529 may be connected to the room on the third side.

Next, the coin supply device and the coin safe will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 33. The coin supply device 1200 shown in FIG. 10 includes a coin storage unit 1210 for storing coins, and a coin delivery unit 1220 for sending out the stored coins. In the coin feeder 1220, a coin inlet 1110 of the coin transport tube 1100 for receiving the fed coin is arranged. The coin delivery unit 1220 has a delivery mechanism (not shown), a motor 1221 for driving the delivery mechanism, and a drive circuit 1222 for driving the motor 1221 as shown in FIG. Drive circuit 1222
Receives the coin supply instruction signal and drives the motor 1221.

The coin supply device 1200 is provided with a coin accumulation state detection sensor 1211 thereon.
The coin storage state detection sensor 1211 detects whether or not the amount of coins in the coin storage unit 1210 has reached a predetermined capacity. This sensor 1211
Specifically, for example, it is configured by a micro switch, a photoelectric switch, and the like. In addition, the coin delivery unit 1220
Is provided with a counter 1231 for counting the number of coins to be sent. The outputs of the coin accumulation state detection sensor 1211 and the counter 1231 and the input of the driving circuit are connected to the terminal unit TU (see FIG. 33) to which the coin supply device 1200 corresponds.

A coin safe 1600 shown in FIG. 10 has a branching machine 1300 located next to the coin supply device 1200.
Accommodates coins diverged by. The coin safe 1600 is provided with a coin accumulation state detection sensor 1610. Thus, it is possible to detect whether or not the amount of coins stored in coin safe 1600 has reached a predetermined capacity. The coin accumulation state detection sensor 1610 is connected to a terminal unit TU described later (see FIG. 36). Since the coin safe 1600 itself can be moved to the coin safe 1600,
Casters 1620 are provided.

The coin safe 1600 can be provided with a counter for counting the number of stored coins. The branch machine 1300 provided for the coin safe 1600 has basically the same structure as a branch machine 1300 provided in the slot machine 2 described later. Therefore, the branching machine 1300 will be described later.

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the branching machine 1300 includes an auxiliary flow path 1320 for maintaining the communication state of the coin transport pipe 1100 and the coin transport pipe 1100.
And a path changer 1330 for preventing movement of the coin being conveyed in the coin 100 and for taking the coin out of the coin conveyance tube 1100. The route changer 1330
Is to execute a switching operation in response to a path switching signal. The route switching device 1330 is normally provided to communicate with the main flow path portion 1340 and a main flow path portion 1340 directly connected to the coin transfer tube 1100, and a coin taken out of the coin transfer tube 1100 at the time of switching. Holding unit (game medium holding unit) 1360 for temporarily holding
Normally, the coin holding portion 1360 and the main flow path 13
30 and communicates with the main flow path 1 at the time of switching.
A switching valve 1331 that is located in 330 and that prevents the coin from being conveyed, opens the communication portion 1347, and branches the coin to the coin holding portion 1360.

The auxiliary flow path 1320 is constituted by, for example, a box-shaped surrounding member 1321 and communicates with the main flow path 1340 through two opening portions 1345 and 1346 provided in the main flow path 1340. When the switching valve 1331 is in a state of interrupting the flow of coins in the main flow path 1340, the switching valve 1331 itself has the two openings 1345 and 1346.
Located between. Therefore, the communication state of the coin transport pipe is maintained through the opening 1345, the auxiliary flow path 1320, and the opening 1346. The opening 134
5 is provided with a grid or net 1322 to prevent coins from flowing.

The main flow path 1340 is constituted by the wall surface member 1341 and the upper surface member 1344 so that the cross section has a rectangular shape. This is because the switching valve 1331 has a rectangular shape to simplify its structure and facilitate opening and closing.
The two openings 1345 and 1346 are provided in the upper surface member 1344. Also, coin holding unit 1
A communication portion 1347 with 360 is provided on the lower surface of main flow path 1340. This is to allow the coin to easily fall.

The switching valve 1331 has a rotary shaft 1 on one end side.
332, and the rotating shaft 1332 has a main flow path 1340.
Is rotatably supported by a bearing 1343 provided on the lower surface of the. On the other hand, the distal end side of the switching valve 1331 is notched diagonally. Further, the lower surface on the side of the tip 1333 has the main flow path 13
40 can be in close contact with the bottom member 1342. Thus, the communication portion 1347 can be almost completely sealed. The size of the main flow path 1340 is determined in consideration of the size of the coin to be conveyed. The circle inside the double circle shown in FIG. 11 corresponds to the size of the coin. on the other hand,
The outside of the double circle corresponds to the size of the token, for example.

The coin holding portion 1360 has an openable / closable lid 1352 for temporarily closing a coin by closing the opening 1360a on the lower side thereof. That is, the coin holding portion 1360 is
When 62 is opened, it has a structure that is released to the outside of the held coin. The cover 1362 has a spring 1363 attached to one end thereof. The spring 1363 is attached to the attachment portion 1364. This lid 1362
Is opened against the spring 1366 by the weight of coins when the number of coins accumulated in the coin holding portion 1360 exceeds a certain number. Thereby, the coin falls and is ejected. However, in order to allow the lid 1362 to be easily opened by the weight of the coin, it is necessary to suppress the strength of the spring. However, if the spring 1363 is weak, the lid 1362 may be opened when a small number of coins are accumulated in the coin holder 1360. In this case, the coin transfer tube 11
Since air is sucked in from outside at 00, there is a possibility that suction and conveyance of coins from the coin supply device 1200 may be weak.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the lid 1362 is sucked up by using the negative pressure of the coin transport tube 1100, so that the lid 1362 may be removed depending on the weight of coins accumulated in the coin holder 1360. They are not opened immediately. That is, the communication portion 1347 is covered by the switching valve 1331 so that the suction force of the coin transport tube 1100 does not reach the coin holding portion 1360. This causes the lid 1362 to open, with the spring 1363 losing the weight of the coin. The lid 1362
Is closed again by the spring 1363 after the coin falls. However, if the spring force is set weakly,
It may not be completely closed due to the weight of the lid body 1362 itself. In this case, the coin transfer tube 1
By utilizing the negative pressure of 100, the spring 1363 is reinforced and the opening 1360a of the coin holding portion 1360
The cover 1362 can be completely closed.

The switching valve 1331 is connected to the switching valve driving mechanism 1
With 350. The switching valve drive mechanism 1350 includes a rotary solenoid 1351, a power transmission mechanism 1352, and a bracing member 1353. That is, the rotating shaft 133
2 is connected to a rotary solenoid 1351 via a power transmission mechanism 1352. The solenoid 1351 is attached to the switch 1330 main body by an attachment member 1353.

At both ends of the main flow path 1340, a transfer pipe connecting portion 1312 for connecting the transfer pipe 1100 for coins,
A fixing portion 1314 for fixing the branching machine 1300 itself is provided. The branching machine 1300 shown in FIG.
Although the structure is such that the lid 1362 of the coin holding portion 1360 is opened by the weight of the coin, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, an actuator such as a rotary solenoid 1366 is used to power the lid 1
The 362 may be opened and closed.

Next, the coin is installed at important points (a place where coins are likely to stay) in the coin transport tube 1100. The retention preventing means will be described with reference to FIGS. A connection tube 1110 is inserted and installed at a key point of the coin transfer tube 1100.

The connecting tube 1110 has front and rear ends fitted to the coin carrying tube 1100. Connecting tube 1110
An insertion tube 1120 is installed inside. Connecting tube 1
A bearing member 11 having an outer ring member and an inner ring member rotatably supported by a ball bearing at an inner peripheral portion at a front end and a rear end of the bearing 110.
Thirty outer ring members are tightly fitted. Further, the insertion tube 1120 is firmly fitted inside the inner ring member of the bearing member 1120. Thus, the insertion tube 1120 is rotatably supported by the connection tube 1110 via the bearing member 1130.

The pinion 1140 is inserted into the connecting pipe 1110 through the insertion hole 1115 of the connecting pipe 1110, and the pinion 1140 meshes with the wheel gear 1125 integrally formed on the outer peripheral portion of the inserting pipe 1120. The pinion 1140 is fixed to the output shaft of the drive motor 1150. On the inner wall of the insertion tube 1120, four accommodating recesses 1126 capable of accommodating coins are formed in the circumferential direction of the tube. Both side walls of the accommodation recess 1126 extend from the front end to the rear end of the insertion tube 1120 along the tube center axis. As shown in FIG. 52, when drive motor 1150 is driven, pinion 1140 and wheel gear 1125
The insertion tube 1120 rotates through the insertion tube 1120, and the coin retained in the insertion tube 1120 is located at the lower position at that time.
126, and rotates together with the accommodation recess 1126.
When the storage recess rotates to some extent and the recess opening of the storage recess 1126 faces the horizontal direction, even if a coin spills from the storage recess 1126 due to mechanical vibration or the like,
Since the coins are caught on both side walls of the housing recess 1126, the coin does not spill out of the housing recess 1126. Further, the insertion tube 1120 rotates, and eventually,
When the recess opening of the accommodating recess 1126 in which the coin is accommodated is directed obliquely downward, the accommodating coin is accommodated in the accommodating recess 1
It is spilled from the concave portion 126 of the insertion tube 1120, falls toward the center of the insertion tube 1120, is re-introduced into the vortex flow flowing in the center of the insertion tube 1120, and is conveyed to the main side of the front coin conveyance tube 1100.

Although the coin temporarily stays at the key points of the coin carrying tube 1100, when the insertion tube 1120 rotates, the staying coins are again taken into the vortex, so that the staying is immediately eliminated and the result The coins will be conveyed smoothly. Next, a coin introduction machine used for collecting coins in the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
6 and FIG.

The coin introduction machine 1400 has an introduction portion main body 1470 for introducing coins, and a merging portion 1440 for merging coins introduced from the introduction portion main body 1470 to the coin transport tube 1100. Introduction unit main body 1470
Is a shutter 1471 that can be opened and closed, and the shutter 147.
1 has a coin holding unit 1475 for temporarily storing coins with the lower end closed, and the shutter moving mechanism 1480. The introduction portion main body 1470 is formed in a tubular shape using the wall surface member 1473, and has a structure in which a cross section has a substantially rectangular shape, specifically, a square shape. Of the wall surface member 1473, a member that rotatably supports the rotation shaft 1472 of the shutter 1471 is provided with a bearing portion 1474 and a cutout portion 1473a for retracting the shutter 1471 when the shutter 1471 is opened. Has been.

The shutter drive mechanism 1480 has a rotary solenoid 1481, a power transmission mechanism 1482, and a support member 1483 for supporting them. The driving force of the rotary solenoid 1481 is the power transmission mechanism 1482.
Is transmitted to the rotating shaft 1472 through the
Is driven to open and close. The shutter 1471 closes the lower end opening 1476 of the coin holding portion 1475 in a sealed state. As a result, it is possible to prevent air from leaking to the coin carrying tube 1100.

The merging portion 1440 is formed by the wall member 1446 into a rectangular cross section, more specifically, a cylindrical cross section. Then, the introduction portion main body 1470 is connected to the central upper portion of the merging portion 1440. The merging portion 1440 and the introduction portion main body 1470 are coupled to each other in a T shape, and the internal spaces are in communication with each other. In addition, at both ends of the merging portion 1440, a transfer pipe connecting portion 14 for connecting the coin transfer pipe 1100.
12 and a fixing part 1 for fixing the branching machine 1300 itself.
And 414 are provided.

FIG. 18 shows another example of the coin introducing machine 1400. The basic structure of this coin introduction machine 1400 is the same as that shown in FIG. However, the coin introduction machine 1400 shown in FIG.
The structure of 0 is more simplified. That is, the introduction unit main body 1490 has a cylindrical basic structure, and accordingly, the shutter 1491 also has a disk-shaped structure. This shutter 1491 is opened and closed by a shutter drive mechanism 1480 having an actuator such as a rotary solenoid. The structure of the junction 1440 is also basically the same as that shown in FIG. However, the structure of the connecting portion 1415 with the coin carrying tube 1100 is different. FIG.
In the example shown in FIG.
The structure is such that 100 end portions are inserted.

Next, the components of the bill transport system 2000 will be described with reference to the drawings. In the carrying system shown in FIG. 4, when carrying a bill, the bill is carried from the bill introducing machine 2700 to the bill ejecting machine 2800.

The vortex generator 2500 shown in FIG. 19 includes a vortex generator 2510, a suction unit 2570, and a connection hose 2530 connecting the vortex generator 2510 and the suction unit 2570. The vortex generating unit 2510 and the suction unit 2570 are respectively
Vortex generating unit 151 used for coin transport described above
0 and the same configuration as the suction unit 1570.

The vortex generating unit 2510 is connected to the bill discharging machine 2
It is connected to the bill transport tube 2100 on the 800 side. Specifically, the vortex generating unit 2510 is replaced by the suction unit 2570.
Connect to Here, the vortex generating unit 2510 is connected to the suction unit 2570, and a vortex flows from the bill introducing machine 2700 to the bill discharging machine 2800 in the bill transport tube 2100. Thus, the bill can be moved into the bill transport tube 2100.

The vortex generator 2500 shown in FIG. 20 has a vortex generation unit 2510 and a suction unit 2570. The example shown in FIG. 20 is the same as the eddy current generation unit of FIG. 19 described above. Next, the transport pipe 2 by the bill discharging machine
The ejection of banknotes from 100 to the banknote safe 2600 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 21 shows a state in which the change is made in steps F to G. First, in stage F, the state is the same as in stage D of FIG. 28 described above. That is,
At the stage F, the bill push-down bar 2741 is pushed down by the linear motion mechanism 2731, and its tip 2741a
However, it is in a state of reaching the vicinity of the lower slit of the carrier pipe 2100. In this state, the bill is not restricted by the opening width of the upper slit. Therefore, it is in a state of being expanded until it touches the inner wall in the transport pipe 2100 due to its own elasticity. At this stage, the stroke of the linear motion has not reached the lower limit.

In step G, the bill push-down bar 2741 is pushed down by the linear movement mechanism 2731, and the tip 2
741a passes through the lower slit of the carrier pipe 2100,
The state has reached the inside of the banknote safe 2600. The banknote bundle is being inserted into the banknote safe. Note that the banknote safe 2600 shown in FIG. 21 is provided with a member 2699 that pushes up the banknote bundle B that is accumulated. Therefore, the bill pushing bar 2741 pushes down the bill bundle against the pushing member 2699. In this way, the banknote stack is pushed down within the banknote safe 2600 to a depth at which it can spread. This point is detected by the limit switch 2738B, and a stroke lower limit signal is output to the terminal unit.

Next, in the stage H, the bill push-down bar 274.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a state where it is lifted above the transport pipe 2100.
At this time, the bill safe 2600 has a push-up member 2699.
Is pushing up the bill bundle B in the safe. The system for transporting banknotes has been described above. next,
Another example of a device that can be used as a bill introducing machine or a bill ejecting machine will be described with reference to FIGS. The device shown in FIG. 22 is different from the devices described above in the point of the shutter mechanism, and is common in other points. Therefore, the difference will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 23, an opening 2723 provided at the center of the stage 2721 shows a double-opening and rotary shutter 2724. The shutter 2724 includes a support plate 2724b and a pivot plate 2724a supported by the support plate 2724b. One side of the rotating plate 2724a is rotatably supported, and can be self-returned by a spring (not shown). In this example,
The shutter does not require a special drive device. By being pushed by the push-down bar, it pivots against the force of the spring. When the push-down bar retreats upward, the spring force causes it to return by itself.

Next, another embodiment of the transport system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

The transfer system shown in FIG. 26 is an example in which the first system for transferring coins is different from the system shown in FIG. 4 in the way of collecting coins. Here, the description will focus on the differences from the system of FIG.
26 is a coin introduction branch machine instead of the coin introduction machine 1400 and the collection branch machine 1300 in the slot machine 2 that takes in coins for collection at a position closest to the vortex generator 1500. 17
It is characterized in that 00 is set. This coin introduction branch machine 1700 is a slot machine 2 in which it is installed.
The coins are introduced, and the coins introduced into the coin carrying tube 1100 in the slot machine and other slot machines are branched from the coin carrying tube 1100 and returned to the coin supply device 1200.

The specific structure of the coin introduction and branching machine 1700 is shown in FIGS. 27 and 28. The coin introduction branch machine 1700 is basically the branch machine 13 shown in FIG.
00 and the coin introduction machine 1400 shown in FIG. 16 are combined. However, since the coin introducing machine 1400 is mounted on the auxiliary flow path portion 1320 of the branching machine 1300, the auxiliary flow path portion 1320 is installed outside by a pipe.

First, a portion corresponding to a coin introducing machine will be described. As shown in FIG. 27 and FIG. 28, this portion includes an introduction portion main body 1770 for introducing a coin, and a coin introduced from the introduction portion main body 1770 for transferring the coin to the coin transfer tube 11.
00 and a merging portion 1740 for merging. The introduction unit main body 1770 includes a shutter 177 that can be opened and closed.
1 and a coin holding portion 1775 for temporarily storing coins with the shutter 1771 closing the lower end, and the shutter drive mechanism 1780. The introduction unit main body 1770 and the shutter drive mechanism 1780 are described in FIG.
Please refer to the description of the coin introduction machine 1400 shown in FIG.

The merging portion 1740 is formed in a tubular shape having a rectangular cross section, specifically, a square cross section. Then, the introduction portion main body 1770 is connected to the central upper portion of the merging portion 1740. Further, a portion of the branching machine 1300 is connected to a lower center portion of the junction 1740. The coin introducing machine and the branching machine share the merging portion 1740. This confluence part 174
0 is provided with an auxiliary flow path portion 1720. One end of the auxiliary flow path portion 1720 is opened to the coin supply side (174
5) and the other end is open to the vortex flow generator side (17
46). A net 1745a is attached to the opening 1745 so that coins do not flow into the opening 1745. The coin introducing / branching machine 1700 is formed by connecting in a cross shape as a whole.

When using the coin introducing and branching machine 1700, first, the switching valve 1731 corresponding to the branching machine 1300 is used.
After switching to the branching state, coins are introduced from any coin introducing machine. This is this coin introduction branch machine 1
Also in the slot machine in which 700 is installed, the processing is performed in this order. Therefore, this coin introduction branching machine 1700
Can be used in the same manner as when a normal coin introduction machine 1400 and a branch machine 1300 are used.

Next, still another embodiment of the transport system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 29 and 30. Compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, this embodiment is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. Therefore, this difference will be mainly described.

As shown in FIG. 29, in this embodiment, the collecting branching machine 1300 used in FIG. 4 is omitted.

Therefore, the coin is transferred to the coin transfer tube 1100.
The vortex generation unit 1510 is provided with a collection hopper 1540 in place of the branching machine 1300 in order to separate from the diverter 1300.
The recovery hopper 1540 is installed below the vortex generating unit main body 1520 of the vortex generating unit 1510 as shown in FIG. This is the vortex generating unit body 1
Since the vortex flow sucked by 520 is drawn into a region having a much larger cross-sectional area than the coin transport pipe 1100 up to then, the coin cannot be supported there.
As a result, the coin will fall. The coins that have fallen are stored in the coin storage unit 1541, and when the weight is sufficient to overcome the balance of the weight 1543, the lid 154
4 is opened and coins are ejected. Of course, the lid 154 is manually or using an actuator instead of the weight.
4 may be opened.

Next, the configuration of the control system used in the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The control system of the present invention can control the transfer system as an independent system. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 31, it can be incorporated into a part of a system for managing the entire game arcade. The system of FIG. 31 basically has a control system CS of 1 corresponding to the island 1. And each control system CS
Is composed of an information processing device PS and a plurality of terminal units TU connected thereto via a signal line group SL and a bus BL. Information processing device PS of each control system CS
Is connected to the management computer M via the information transmission line CL.
It is connected to C. Each information processing device PS has information about an event that has occurred on the island on which it is placed, for example, the received coin denomination, the number of received coins, the number of coins paid out, the number of coins stored in the coin safe, the number of received banknotes,
Information transmission line CL for various information such as the number of banknotes
To the management computer MC via.

The information processing apparatus PS is constituted by a computer system. The information processing apparatus PS includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) as shown in FIG.
210, memory 220, interface (I / F)
230 and a storage device 240. The information transmission line CL, the signal line group SL connected to each terminal unit, and the bus BL are connected to the interface 230. The interface 230 has a communication control function for transmitting information. Further, this interface 230 can be connected to an external device such as a storage device.

The communication control function of the interface 230 includes control of communication with the terminal unit TU via the bus BL, management computer MC and information transmission line C.
There is a control of communication via L. In the communication with the terminal unit TU, the information processing apparatus PS manages the bus right, and the information processing apparatus transmits a message to all or a specific terminal unit. Further, the information processing apparatus PS sends a data transmission request to a specific terminal unit TU, and in response to this, the specific terminal unit places the requested data on a message and sends the data to the information processing apparatus via the bus BL. P
Send to S.

The interface 230 has an input port (not shown) corresponding to each of the plurality of signal line groups SL.
Having. That is, this input port is connected to the signal line group SL
Exist for the connected terminal unit TU. C
The PU 210 checks the input port, and if a signal that needs to be processed by the information processing device is input, the PU 210 sends, to the queue, information indicating the content of the signal together with source information indicating the source of the signal. Link to the end.

When the CPU 210 checks the input port, it compares it with the contents of this queue. That is, if the current state is the same as the content linked to the queue, it is determined that the signal at the input port is unchanged. On the other hand, for an input port to which a signal that is not linked to the queue is input, information indicating the content of the signal is linked to the end of the queue together with source information indicating the source of the signal. .. Then, for an input port in which the signal linked to the queue is not currently output, the link of the signal is released from the queue. This advances the queued rank of the queue-linked signal after the released signal is linked to the queue. CPU 21
0 executes processing from the top of this queue. Therefore, it can be said that this queue gives priority to the processing of the information processing device PS.

The CPU 210 checks the input port to detect whether or not there is a response to an instruction given to a specific terminal unit. In this case, the response does not always come from the terminal unit for which the instruction has been made. Information about the environment in which the object is located may be collected at different terminal units. When a signal input to the input port is linked to the queue, the signal may be linked to a higher position depending on the content of the signal and / or the transmission source. That is, priority processing can be performed.

For example, a hard disk device is used as the storage device 240, and a program executed by the information processing device, data for processing, processed data, and the like are stored therein. The program stored in the storage device 240 is transmitted from the management computer MC via the information transmission line CL. In addition, a program stored in a recording medium such as a floppy disk or an optical disk may be installed. For example, a floppy disk drive can be connected to the interface 230, and the program recorded on the floppy disk can be stored in the storage device 240. It is also possible to mount a recording medium such as a ROM in which the program is written.

The CPU 210 loads the programs stored in the storage device 240 into the memory 220 and sequentially executes the programs on the memory 220, thereby realizing the processing shown in the flowchart described later.

Next, regarding the terminal unit TU, FIG.
The description will be made with reference to ~ 39. In the transport system shown in FIG. 4 which is one of the typical embodiments of the present invention, the terminal unit TU is connected as shown in FIGS.
There may be multiple types of embodiments, as shown in. Note that FIG.
FIG. 8 shows a configuration corresponding to the embodiment shown in FIG. FIG. 39 shows another connection mode of the terminal unit.

The terminal unit TU shown in FIGS.
Both are composed of computer systems. That is, the central processing unit (CPU) 110 and the memory 120
And an interface (I / F) 130. The memory 120 is provided with a ROM as a part thereof. This ROM is a storage medium for storing programs to be executed by the CPU 11. Needless to say, a storage device such as a hard disk device may be separately provided as in the case of the above-described information processing device PS, and the program may be stored in the storage device. It is also possible to store the program in a floppy disk, an optical disk, etc., and read them through a reading device. Of course, necessary programs, data, etc. may be received from the information processing device PS via the signal line group SL.

The interface 130 is connected to the signal line group SL. The interface 130 has a communication control function for transmitting information. Also,
The interface 130 can connect an external device to a storage device or the like. The CPU 110 uses the interface 13
When there is information that needs to receive various signals input via 0, check the content of the input information, and notify the information processing apparatus PS of the information, a predetermined signal line of the signal line group SL is included. Is used to notify information to be notified. For example, for each of a plurality of signal lines constituting the signal line group SL, the meaning is defined in advance and dedicated, and when an event occurs, a signal is loaded on a signal line corresponding to the event, The occurrence of the event can be notified. More specifically, request signals such as a coin supply request, a coin collection request, and a bill collection request can be assigned to dedicated signal lines, and an operation completion report signal can be assigned to another signal line. .

When there are many types of signals, if dedicated signal lines are assigned to each of them, there is a problem that the number of signal lines increases. Therefore, information can be coded and sent using some signal lines. In this case, although an encoder and a decoder are required, much information can be notified with a small number of signal lines. It is also possible to extend to various systems. Here, it is assumed that this signal line is assigned for each event.

Next, the connection relationship between each terminal unit TU shown in FIGS. 33 to 39 and the corresponding device will be described. The terminal unit TU shown in FIG. 33 is provided corresponding to the coin supply device 1200.
That is, the interface 130 is connected with the coin accumulation state detection sensor 1211, the counter 1231, and the drive circuit 1222. Coin accumulation state detection sensor 1
Information indicating the coin accumulation state is input from 211,
The number of coins sent out from the counter 1231 is input to the terminal unit TU. On the other hand, a coin supply command from the information processing device PS is sent to the drive circuit 1222 of the coin sending unit 1220 via the terminal unit TU. The drive circuit 1222 is based on the coin supply command,
The motor 1221 of the coin delivery unit 1220 of the coin supply device 1200 is driven. The counter 1231 counts the number of coins sent by the coin sending unit 1220. This count value is sent to the terminal unit TU. The terminal unit TU checks the output of the counter 1231 and, when sending out a predetermined number of coins, instructs the drive circuit 1222 to stop the motor 1221 and processes the supply completion signal through the signal line group SL. Send to device PS. Here, the number of sheets to be determined as “coin supply processing is completed” is determined in advance. This number is
For example, it can be determined in consideration of the coin holding capacity of the coin holding unit 1360 of the branching machine 1300.

Although the terminal unit itself determines the end of the coin supply here, the coin supply may be ended by an instruction from the information processing device. In that case, the driving of coin supply continues until the coin supply command is released.

The terminal unit TU shown in FIG. 34 is provided for a coin safe and a branching machine corresponding thereto. This terminal unit TU includes a branching machine 1300
Clogging detection sensor 1301 provided in the
The driving circuit 1359 for driving the solenoid 1341 for driving 1 is connected. A coin accumulation state detection sensor 1610 for detecting the accumulation state of coins is also connected to the coin safe 1600.

The terminal unit TU shown in FIG. 35 is provided corresponding to the coin collecting and branching machine 1300. Since the processing load of this terminal unit TU is small, this processing can be shared by other terminal units. For example, the terminal unit TU corresponding to the closest slot machine 2 where the branching machine 1300 is placed, the terminal unit TU corresponding to the coin supply device 1200, and the like can perform this processing.

The terminal unit TU shown in FIG. 36 is provided for a gaming machine, that is, for the slot machine 2. The terminal unit TU is provided for each slot machine. The terminal unit TU includes a coin accumulation state detection sensor 33 provided in the game machine hopper 30, a counter 53 provided with a coin identification section 52, and a counter 4 provided in a bill identification section 42.
3 and a counter 6 provided in the overflow mechanism
1 and are connected. Also, in this terminal unit TU,
A clogging detection sensor 1301 and a drive circuit 1359 of the solenoid 1351 are connected to the branching machine 1300. Further, regarding the coin introduction machine 1400, the jam detection sensor 1401 and the drive circuit 14 of the solenoid 1481 are provided.
89 is connected. Further, regarding the bill introduction machine 2700, the bill detection sensor 2769 and the clogging detection sensor 27
01, a bill introduction drive circuit 2739 for driving a motor 2731, a shutter drive circuit 2759 for driving a solenoid 2751, and a lock mechanism 2789 for driving a solenoid 2781 are connected.

Next, the mechanical structure of the bill introducing machine 2700 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIGS. 46 to 48, the bill introducing machine 2700 has a pair of holding members, and the pair of holding members includes a pushing lever 2710 and a receiving lever 2720. The push lever 2710 and the receiving lever 2720 sandwich the bills on standby on the standby stage 46 from the front side and the back side, and move the banknotes from the standby position to the delivery position. The pushing lever 2710 and the receiving lever 2720 are rotatably supported about the same rotating shaft 2730 extending in the horizontal direction.

The pushing lever 2710 is not installed (see FIG. 4).
6 (a)), and stands at the initial stage of introduction (FIG. 4).
6 (b)), the bill is bent at a line of symmetry along the longitudinal direction and is pushed into the slit 47 of the standby stage 46. In (a) and (b)), the slit 46 is disposed at a position facing the lower side, and receives the bent portion of the bill bent by the pushing lever. At the end of the introduction (see FIG. 46 (c)), the pushing lever 2710 and the receiving lever 2720 rotate forward (rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 46) by power to push the receiving lever 2720 against the urging force. Then, the bill is normally rotated, and the bill is held between the pushing lever 2710 and the receiving lever 2720 to move to the delivery position. In the delivery position, the pushing lever 2710 and the receiving lever 2720
Each of the tip ends is hung down, and the tip end of the suction port member 2160 of the suction pipe 2150 is located below each tip. When the bill is moved to the delivery position, the receiving lever 27 is moved.
20 is restrained by a lock member (not shown).

When the banknote is to be delivered, the push lever 27
The lever 10 is slightly reversed (rotated clockwise in FIG. 46) to relax the force between the pushing lever 2710 and the receiving lever 2720. When the pinching force is loosened, the bill falls and is sucked by the negative pressure in the suction port member 2160,
The banknote transport tube 2 is passed through the leading end port of the suction port member 2160.
It is introduced into 100 transportation paths. Push lever 271
To return the 0 and the receiving lever 2720 to their original positions, the pushing lever 2710 is rotated forward again to push the receiving lever 2720 again, and after the restraining of the receiving lever 2720 is released, the pushing lever 2710 is reversely rotated by power. I should go. When the pushing lever 2710 rotates in the reverse direction, the receiving lever 2720 follows the pushing lever 2710 by the urging force and rotates in the reverse direction, returns to the original position facing the slit 47 from below, contacts the stopper (not shown), and is restrained in the original position. You.

The bill introducing operation of each bill introducing machine 2700 and the bill sucking operation of each suction pipe 2150 of the bill transport tube 2100 are sequentially performed in one stage unit.
The banknotes introduced into 100 are sequentially conveyed in units of one stage. The terminal unit TU shown in FIG. 37 is provided in correspondence with the bill discharging machine 2800 and the eddy current generator 2500.
0 banknote accumulation state detection sensor 2601
And a counter 43 provided in the bill validator 42 are connected.

A direction switch 2580 is connected to the vortex generator 2500. Furthermore, the banknote ejector 28
For 00, the bill detection sensor 2769 and the jam detection sensor 2701, the bill introduction drive circuit 2739 that drives the motor 2731, the shutter drive circuit 2759 that drives the solenoid 2751, and the lock mechanism 2789 that drives the solenoid 2781 are connected. It The terminal unit TU shown in FIG. 38 is provided for a specific slot machine provided in the transport system shown in FIG. That is, this specific slot machine has a coin introduction branch machine 1700 for collecting coins. This coin introduction branching machine 1700 is different from the other coin introduction machine 140.
Since the configuration is partially different from 0, the connection to the terminal unit TU is also different. That is, the connection for the coin introduction branch machine 1700 is different from that of the slot machine compatible terminal unit shown in FIG. Therefore, only the differences will be described. Regarding the coin introduction / branching machine, clogging detection sensors 1401 and 1701, and a solenoid 178.
One drive circuit 1789 and the drive circuit 1759 of the solenoid 1751 are connected.

Next, the operation of the transport system of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. First, in the transfer system described below, in principle, the vortex flow generator is always in operation with both the first system for transferring coins and the second system for transferring banknotes. Then, various devices are controlled to convey the target transported object from the starting position to the target position. of course,
A control mode in which the operation of the vortex generator is turned on and off as part of the control can also be adopted. However, here, the description will be made on the assumption that the operation is always performed.

In the transfer system described below, various request signals and status signals from devices such as slot machines are
It is sent to the information processing device using a signal line group assigned to each device. Instructions and instructions from the information processing device are sent to the respective devices via the bus BL. Of course, the present invention is not limited to such a signal transmission system, but here, the operation will be described assuming such a system.

FIG. 39 is a general processing flow of the information processing apparatus PS. Here, a request to be processed is selected from various requests (step 101). This choice is
From the preset queue, the first priority is picked up and the request is processed. Normally,
As will be described later, the information processing apparatus links various request signals sent via the signal line group SL to a queue in the order of generation in principle, and sequentially executes the request signals from a higher order. That is, contents to be processed relating to the request are extracted (step 10).
2) Execute the processing corresponding to the contents (step 1
04). As the content of the processing, for example, in the case of the present invention,
There are a coin supply request, a coin collection request, a bill collection request, and the like. And if the process is over, it ends there. If there is something to continue, again,
Returning to step 101, the processing is executed (step 1
05).

The corresponding processing in step 104 includes, for example, processing for a coin supply request, processing for a bill collection request, and the like.

Here, the setting of the queue used for selecting the processing target will be described. This queue is
It can be said that it corresponds to a priority table in that the processing is performed in that order. First, the information processing device PS
Checks the input port of the interface 230 (step 501). It is judged whether or not there is any request signal in any of the signal line groups (step 503). When the request signal exists, the request source information indicating the request source and the request content are read for the input port (step 504). Then, if there is another unprocessed request, this request signal is linked to the end of the queue (step 5).
05).

Here, it is checked whether or not any priority is given to the request signal in advance (step 506). If any priority is given, the queue is reset (step 507).
As described above, it is possible to preset the selection target to be performed in step 101 of FIG. This process
The information processing device PS performs this at any time.

Next, the processing of the coin supply request will be described with reference to FIG. In this process, the information processing apparatus issues a coin supply request and sends a
A switching instruction for the switching valve 1331 of 300 is output (step 201). This switching instruction is issued by the corresponding terminal unit T.
Send to U via bus BL. The terminal unit TU that has received the instruction instructs the drive circuit 1359 of the branching machine 1300 to switch the switching valve 1331 to the branch state.

On the other hand, the information processing device PS supports the supply of coins to the terminal unit TU corresponding to the coin supply device 1200 (step 202). In response to this, the terminal unit TU instructs the drive circuit 1222 to drive the motor 1221. As a result, the motor 1221 is driven, and the coin feeding section 1220 is operated to feed the coin to the coin transport tube 1100. Then, the coin is transported on the swirl generated in the transport pipe 1100 for coins. When the switching valve reaches the branching machine 1300 in which the switching valve is switched to the branch, the coin hits the switching valve and is prevented from proceeding further. In addition, the coin is sent to the coin holding unit 1360.

At this time, in the coin supply device 1200, the counter 1231 counts the number of coins to be sent out, and sends the result to the terminal unit TU. The terminal unit TU determines whether or not the number of sheets supplied has been reached in advance. Then, when the planned number of sheets are sent out, the drive circuit 1222 is instructed to stop the motor 1221. Then, the supply completion signal indicating that the supply of coins has ended is notified to the information processing apparatus by PS using the signal line group SL. The information processing device PS waits for this signal to be sent (step 203),
It is monitored whether or not a certain time has passed since the message was sent (step 204). This monitoring is performed by the terminal unit T
U may be performed. Here, the reason for waiting for a certain period of time is to consider the existence of coins fed in the coin transport tube 1100 between the coin supply device and the branching machine.

After a certain time has passed, the information processing device PS
Sends an instruction to return the switching valve to the previous terminal unit TU (step 205). As a result, a series of coin replenishment processing ends. After that, when the replenishment of the coins is less than the required amount in the game machine hopper 30 that has been replenished, the coin accumulation state detection sensor 33 still detects that the number of coins is insufficient. Therefore, the coin replenishment request is continuously issued from the terminal unit TU. Therefore, in FIG.
The information processing apparatus again selects the same slot machine as the processing target. Therefore, replenishment will continue until the required amount is satisfied. If such a state continues, there is a problem that services to other devices cannot be performed. Therefore, in FIG. 43, as described above, by giving priority to other slot machines and the like as in step 506, it is possible to prevent concentration of services to a specific device.

Next, the coin collecting process shown in FIG. 41 will be described. In this processing, first, the coin collecting branch machine 1300 is instructed to switch the switching valve via the terminal unit (step 301). Next, an instruction to open the shutter is sent to the coin introducing machine 1400 of the slot machine that has made a coin collection request through the terminal unit TU (step 302). Then, for the same reason as in the case of the above-described branching machine, after waiting for a predetermined time (step 303), an instruction to return the switching valve to the coin collecting branching machine 1300 is given.
Send via terminal unit TU (step 304).

Thus, a series of coin collection processing is completed. Next, with reference to FIG. 42, a procedure for collecting banknotes will be described. First, the information processing device PS instructs the terminal unit TU to introduce a bill (step 405). The terminal unit TU transmits the bill into the bill introduction drive circuit 273.
Instruct 9 The procedure for introducing bills has already been described and will not be repeated here.

The information processing apparatus PS checks whether or not the introduction has been completed by looking at the signal of the corresponding input port (step 406). Upon receiving the notice of the completion of the introduction, the information processing apparatus PS sets the terminal unit T
A bill capture instruction is issued to U (step 408). When the information processing device PS receives the signal indicating that the bill has been captured (step 410), the information processing device PS instructs the terminal unit TU to eject the bill (step 411). Note that the bill discharging procedure has already been described, so the description will not be repeated here.

The information processing apparatus PS checks whether or not the discharge is completed by looking at the signal of the corresponding input port. Upon receiving the notification of the discharge end, the information processing apparatus PS ends the processing of introducing and discharging the bill (step 412). Each time the information processing device PS finishes processing such as coin replenishment, coin collection, and bill collection, the information processing apparatus PS performs step 105 shown in FIG.
Return to Then, the next processing request is made. In addition to the above-described processing, the information processing device also collects various data such as the inserted amount of coins and the inserted amount of bills from the terminal unit and reports the collected data to the management computer MC.

In the above description, the bill transport tube 2
An example is shown in which the air flow flowing through 100 is a vortex flow. However, in the case of the banknote transport tube 2100, the flow is not limited to the vortex flow and may be a straight flow. Of course, when the vortex flow is used, it is possible to expect an effect that the banknotes are less likely to contact the inner wall of the transport tube 2100. Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example in which bills are collected in the bill safe 2600 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The banknotes carried into the vortex generator 2500 may be manually collected.

[0132]

According to the bill transport system according to the present invention, the bill is introduced into the transport pipe in which the air flow is generated by the bill transport control of the control system, so that the bill can be transported reliably. And cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of an essential part showing an example of a bill introducing machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration and an arrangement example of islands in a game arcade.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of a game arcade transport system of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a first embodiment of a game arcade transport system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a slot machine.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a first example of a damage generation unit used in the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing an example of a configuration of an auxiliary slit provided in the vortex generating unit.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a flange for attaching the auxiliary slit to the upper surface of the vortex generating unit.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a second example of a damage generation unit used in the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of an example of a coin supply device and a coin safe used in the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing an example of a configuration of a branching machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a switching valve portion of the branching machine.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a switching valve opening / closing mechanism in the branch machine.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing another example of the branching machine.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a positional relationship between a branch machine and a game machine hopper in the slot machine.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a configuration of a coin introduction machine for introducing coins into a coin conveyance path.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a shutter opening / closing mechanism in the coin introducing mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the configuration of the coin introducing machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of an example of an eddy current generation device for generating an eddy current in a bill transport tube.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of another example of the eddy current generation device for generating an eddy current in the banknote transport tube.

21A to 21F are explanatory diagrams showing a process of discharging a bill in the bill discharging machine.

FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing another example of the banknote introducing machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view showing an example of a supply state of banknotes to the banknote introducing machine.

FIG. 24 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration of a shutter provided in the bill introducing machine.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view showing an example of an operation of a shutter provided in the bill introducing machine.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a second embodiment of the transported object transport system of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a configuration of a coin introduction and branching machine used in the second embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a drive mechanism of a shutter and a switching valve of the coin introduction and branching machine.

FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a third embodiment of the transported object transport system of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a perspective view showing an example of a configuration of a vortex generating unit used in this embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing an outline of the overall configuration of a control system used in the present invention.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an information processing apparatus used in the present invention.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram showing a coin supply device and a terminal unit corresponding thereto.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram showing a coin safe and a branch machine, and a terminal unit corresponding thereto.

FIG. 35 is a block diagram showing a branching machine and a terminal unit corresponding thereto.

FIG. 36 is a block diagram showing various devices in the slot machine and terminal units corresponding to these devices.

FIG. 37 is a block diagram showing a banknote discharging machine and a terminal unit corresponding thereto.

FIG. 38 is a block diagram showing various devices in the slot machine and terminal units corresponding to these devices.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing in the information processing system.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a branch processing operation of the branch machine.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of the coin introducing machine.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart showing a procedure of bill introduction and bill ejection.

FIG. 43 is a flow chart showing a processing procedure for setting a processing order by checking various requests from the terminal unit.

FIG. 44 is a block diagram showing an example of a transport system having only a second transport system in the transport system shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 45 is an enlarged front view of an essential part showing an example of the banknote introducing machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 46 is an operation explanatory view of the bill introducing machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 47 is an operation explanatory view of the banknote introducing machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the bill introducing machine used in the present invention.

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the retention preventing means used in the present invention.

FIG. 50 is an explanatory view of the arrangement of stay prevention means used in the present invention.

FIG. 51 is an explanatory view of the operation of the retention preventing means used in the present invention.

FIG. 52 is an explanatory view of the operation of the retention preventing means used in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 CS: control system 2: gaming machine (slot machine) 40: bill receiving section 46: standby stage 47: slit 1100: coin transport tube 1120: insertion tube 1125: wheel gear 1126: accommodation recess 1140: pinion 1400: coin introduction Machine 2100 ... Banknote transport pipe 2150 ... Suction pipe 2500 ... Vortex generator 2700 ... Banknote introducing machine 2710 ... Pushing lever (holding member) 2720 ... Receiving lever (holding member) 2730 ... Rotating shaft

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A bill transport system for transporting bills handled by respective devices installed in a game arcade, wherein an air flow is generated in a transport tube to generate an air flow for moving bills present in the transport tube. A device, a bill accepting unit that accepts bills inserted into each device and makes them stand by, a bill introduction machine for introducing the bills that have been made to stand by to the transport pipe side, and a bill collection request from any device And a control system for receiving and controlling the transport of the bills. 2. A bill conveying system according to claim 1, wherein said bill introducing machine sandwiches the waiting bill from the front side and the back side, and moves the bill from the standby position to the delivery position. A part of the transfer pipe has a distal end port connected to a connected port of the transport pipe and a connection position that enables a continuous transport path of the transport pipe, and a distal end port thereof is located at the delivery position. It is characterized in that it is composed of a suction pipe which is flexible in a suction position where the banknote that has been moved can be faced and the banknote can be sucked. 3. The banknote transport system according to claim 2, wherein the banknote receiving unit has a standby stage in which a slit is formed corresponding to a symmetrical line of the standby rectangular banknote; The holding member is arranged on the opposite side of the pushing lever for pushing the bill into the slit by bending the bill along the line of symmetry and the pushing lever with the slit in between, and the bending portion of the bill bent by the pushing lever. The receiving lever is configured to receive and move to the delivery position while holding the bill with the pushing lever. The force of the pushing lever and the receiving lever to clamp the bill moves the bill to the delivering position. It is characterized by loosening when it is done. 4. The bill transport system according to claim 2, wherein the pushing lever and the receiving lever have the same rotating shaft extending in a horizontal direction, and in the standby position, the pushing lever is in the standby stage. Above, the receiving lever faces the slit from below, and at the delivery position, the pushing lever and the receiving lever rotate around the same rotation axis, and each of the distal ends of the pressing lever and the receiving stage The bill is suspended downward, and the tip end of the suction pipe faces the bill moved to the delivery position from below. 5. The bill conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the air flow generating device is a vortex generating device for generating a vortex in a conveying pipe.