JPH10249055A - Card sorting mechanism for gift card managing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a card sorting mechanism for gift card managing device with which an install space can be reduced. SOLUTION: Concerning a gift card managing device 1 having a longitudinal card conveyer route 10 longitudinally extended in a casing 2 so as to convey a card A while dropping it and a lateral card conveyer route 11 horizontally extended in the casing 2 while being communicated with the longitudinal card conveyer route 10 so as to horizontally convey the card A, a card sorting mechanism S is provided inside. Concerning this mechanism S, a partition plate 32 is provided for forming the side wall of longitudinal card conveyer route 10 at the joint section of longitudinal card conveyer route 10 and lateral card conveyer route 11 and by moving the partition plate 32 backward, the longitudinal card conveyer route 10 and the lateral card conveyer route 11 are communicated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a card sorting mechanism of a prize card management device, and more particularly, to a pachinko game machine, such as a pachinko parlor, in which a pachinko player using a gaming machine, such as a pachinko or slot machine, obtains a pachinko machine. The present invention relates to a card sorting mechanism applied to a prize card management device for redeeming or storing prize cards (special prizes) received according to points obtained such as the number of balls and the number of coins.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a technique in such a field, there is an apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 6-79052. This device is a special prize cashing device for cashing a prize card (special prize) received by the player according to the acquired points. This special prize cashing device sorts prize cards inserted by a player according to their types and pays out cash corresponding to the prize cards. Specifically, the apparatus detects the type of prize card by an optical sensor while sending the prize card by a transport belt extending in the horizontal direction, and stores the prize in each sorting container arranged in a horizontal direction along a sorting path. The card is dropped according to the type of card. In this sorting operation, the rotatable rocking plate is 3
By turning about 0 ° and opening the mouth of the sorting container, the prize card is simply dropped into the container.

The prize card is a business card size having a thickness of about 2 to 3 mm. For example, a valuable material such as a writer's stone or gold coin having a monetary exchange value is placed in a substrate made of a colored plastic material. It is a sheet made of a transparent plastic material and has a structure in which gold coins and the like are sealed. In this case, there is a prize card in which the money exchange amount can be determined at a glance by the color and design of the plastic material.

[0004]

However, the conventional premium card management device has a horizontally long card transport path for transporting the premium card in a lying state. As a result, the prize card management device becomes horizontal, requiring a large installation space.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a card sorting mechanism of a prize card management device which can reduce an installation space.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a premium card management apparatus, wherein a card sorting mechanism extends vertically in a housing and transports the card while dropping the card. A prize card management device having a card transport horizontal path extending horizontally in communication with a card transport vertical path in a housing and transporting a card in a horizontal direction, wherein the card transport vertical path, the card transport horizontal path, A partition plate that forms a side wall of the card transport vertical path is provided at a joint portion of the card transport path, and the card transport vertical path and the card transport horizontal path are communicated by retracting the partition plate.

The cards inserted into the premium card management device fall one by one along the card transport vertical path while standing. At the time of this drop, when the card approaches the desired card transport lateral path, the card at the time of drop is forcibly stopped. Cards in such a state are scheduled to move into the card transport horizontal path, but the partition plate arranged at the junction of the card transport vertical path and the card transport horizontal path becomes a baffle plate, As a result of retreating the partition plate, the card transport vertical path and the card transport horizontal path communicate with each other, and a state in which the card can be shifted from the card transport vertical path to the card transport horizontal path appears. In addition, when the card is dropped, the partition plate also serves as a guide mechanism for preventing the card from coming off the card transport vertical path, so that the card is reliably dropped. It should be noted that such a partition plate has a unique configuration of a card sorting mechanism when the premium card management device is of a vertical type.

[0008] In this case, it is preferable that the partition plate extends along the card transport vertical path and is moved up / down in a direction perpendicular to the main transport surface of the card transport vertical path. When such a configuration is adopted, the partition plate can be operated in the height direction, so that the partition plate can be quickly moved up and down, and the sorting of cards in the premium card management device can be speeded up. Can be.

A plurality of transport rollers are provided at positions viewed from the main transport surface of the card transport vertical path, and a plurality of transport rollers are provided in a card distribution area for distributing cards from the card transport vertical path to the card transport horizontal path. It is preferable that the auxiliary transport roller is moved up / down with respect to the main transport surface in this area. When such a configuration is adopted, in the card sorting area, when the auxiliary transport roller is raised so as to exit from the main transport surface, it is possible to reliably feed the card along the card transport vertical path, and the auxiliary transport roller When the card is pulled down from the main conveyance surface, the card smoothly moves to the card conveyance horizontal path without being disturbed by the auxiliary conveyance rollers.

Further, it is preferable that the partition plate and the auxiliary transport roller face each other, and that the free end of the swing arm that rotatably supports the auxiliary transport roller and the base of the partition plate are connected. When such a configuration is adopted, when the partition plate and the auxiliary transport roller are moved up / down with respect to the main transport surface, it becomes possible to synchronize the partition plate and the auxiliary transport roller with one drive source.

Further, it is preferable to provide a card stopper at the lowermost position of the card sorting area which moves up and down with respect to the main transport surface in this area. In the case of adopting such a configuration, when the card stopper is raised so as to exit the main transport surface, the card falling down the card transport vertical path can be reliably stopped in the card distribution area. When the card stopper is down so as to withdraw from the main transport surface, the card passes through the card distribution area along the card transport vertical path. Therefore, such a card stopper is particularly effective when the card distribution area exists in multiple stages on the card transport vertical path.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a card sorting mechanism of a prize card management device according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a premium card management apparatus according to the present invention. The prize card management device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a cash exchange device for converting a special prize (specifically, a prize card having a monetary exchange value) acquired by a player into cash, and has a vertically long casing 2. This constitutes a vertical device. On the front surface of the housing 2, there is provided a card slot 3 for inserting a prize card (hereinafter simply referred to as "card") A used as one mode of a special prize acquired by the player. Below the card slot 3, there is provided a card payout port 4 for paying out a different kind of card (for example, a telephone card, a credit card, or the like) inserted by a player by mistake.

Further, a monitor screen 5 is provided beside the card slot 3. The monitor screen 5 is for giving various information to a customer who has come for a prize exchange. For example, various information such as the number of inserted cards 3, the type of the inserted card A and the exchange price thereof is provided. Is displayed and the flight of the user is planned. A cash outlet 6 is provided below the monitor screen 5, and the device 1 has a built-in monitoring camera 7 that enables a security system.

In the housing 1 described above, there is provided a card transport mechanism 9 for detecting the type of the inserted card A and then sorting the card A into a desired cartridge 8.
The card transport mechanism 9 includes a card transport vertical path (hereinafter, simply referred to as a “vertical path”) 10 extending vertically from the card slot 3 and a plurality of stages (in this case, extending horizontally) communicating with the card transport vertical path 10. (“Five stages”) of card transport horizontal paths (hereinafter simply referred to as “horizontal paths”) 11.
In addition, each horizontal path 11 branches right and left from one vertical path 10, and the total is up to ten. On each horizontal path 11, a cartridge 8 for storing the card A inserted from the card insertion slot 3 is arranged. As described above, the cartridges 8 are arranged so as to be vertically stacked in the apparatus 1, and the total number of the cartridges is ten. Reference numeral 12 denotes a cash storage unit that stores desired cash in order to discharge cash from the cash outlet 6.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical path 10 includes a plurality of guide plates 13 extending vertically and forming a guide wall.
The vertical path 10 supports the cards A to fall one by one, and keeps the cards A conveyed directly below while standing. Further, the card A is forcibly conveyed by each conveying roller 14 and
Are provided at such positions as to be viewed from the main transport surface 13a of each guide plate 13. At the card slot 3, feed rollers 15 for feeding the horizontally stacked cards A one by one into the vertical path 10 from the front are installed. (Front side or back side)
It is arranged so as to hit.

Therefore, even when a large number of cards A are inserted into the card slot 3 in a horizontally stacked state, the feeding rollers 1
By forcibly driving the card 5, the cards A can be fed one by one while standing in the vertical path 10. Further, when the card A moving in the vertical path 10 is determined by the card discriminator (not shown) from the different card A, the different card A is transferred to the card provided in the middle of the vertical path 10. It is paid out to the card payout port 4 by a road switching means (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 3, in the middle of the vertical path 10, a horizontal path 11 is arranged so as to be orthogonal. The vertical path 10 is embodied by a flat guide plate 13 that extends in the vertical direction and guides the plane side (front side or back side) of the card A and a transport roller 14, and the horizontal path 11 will be described later. It is embodied by a feed roller 50 and a drive roller 62. Therefore, in the vertical path 10, the card A is transported by the transport roller 14 which is viewed from the main transport surface 13 a of the guide plate 13.
It can be transported in the vertical direction while standing up along the main transport surface 13a. Similarly, in the horizontal path 11, the cooperation of the feed roller 50 and the drive roller 62 allows the card 8 to be conveyed to the cartridge 8 in the horizontal direction with the card A kept upright.

Here, in the area where the vertical route 10 and the horizontal route 11 intersect, the card A is moved from the vertical route 10 to the horizontal route 11.
A card sorting area M used for sorting is provided, and a card sorting mechanism S is arranged in this area M. In the card sorting mechanism S, an auxiliary transport roller 18 having an up / down configuration is disposed substantially at the center of the card sorting area M. The auxiliary transport roller 18 is arranged to face an open roller viewing window 16 provided on the guide plate 13 and is configured as a non-slip rubber roller.

As shown in FIG. 4, an auxiliary transport roller 18 is mounted on a frame plate 19 supporting the guide plate 13.
A solenoid 20 used as a drive source for lowering is fixed. The solenoid 20 is provided with a plunger 21 extending in a vertical direction, and a base end of an L-shaped first link 22 is rotatably fixed to a distal end of the plunger 21. The auxiliary transport roller 18 is
The base end of the second link 23 is rotatably fixed to a support shaft 24 erected from the frame plate 19. Therefore, the second link 23 constitutes a swing arm having the support shaft 24 as a rotation fulcrum. By swinging the swing arm 23, the auxiliary transport roller 18 is moved in and out of the roller viewing window 16. Also, the free end of the first link 22 and the second
The free end of the link 23 is connected by an L-shaped third link 25. In this way, by interposing the link mechanism including the first link 22, the second link 23, and the third link 25 between the auxiliary transport roller 18 and the plunger 21, the forward / backward movement of the plunger 21 is controlled by the auxiliary transport roller. 18 up / down movements.

The auxiliary transport roller 18 is used to transport the card A in the guide distribution area M in the vertical direction along the vertical path 10, and is transported by a combination of motors and gear trains (not shown). Rotate in the direction. Also,
In the card distribution area M, three pinch rollers 26 are fixed on a leaf spring 27, and the pinch rollers 26 are opposed to the auxiliary transport roller 18 by the pinch rollers 2.
The card A can be reliably conveyed in the card sorting area M such that the card A is sandwiched between the card 6 and the auxiliary conveyance roller 18. As described above, the card A is conveyed in the vertical direction by the cooperation of the auxiliary conveyance roller 18 and the pinch roller 26. However, when the card A needs to be shifted to the horizontal path 11 in the card distribution area M, The disadvantage is that the auxiliary transport roller 18 is located on the vertical path 10.

Therefore, as described above, a structure for raising / lowering the auxiliary transport roller 18 is required. That is, when the card A is transported along the vertical path 10, the auxiliary transport roller 18 is moved up so that the auxiliary transport roller 18 looks through the roller viewing window 16. When the card A is moved to the horizontal path 11 in the card sorting area M, the auxiliary transport roller 18 is set down to prevent the auxiliary transport roller 18 from looking through the roller viewing window 16. Therefore, the card A can be moved from the vertical path 10 to the horizontal path 11 without being disturbed by the auxiliary transport roller 18.
Can be shifted smoothly.

Next, a pair of left and right partition plates 31 and 32 that form both side walls of the vertical path 10 are provided at a joint portion between the vertical path 10 and the horizontal path 11. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, each of the partition plates 31 and 32 is formed of an elongated plate having a flat plate shape, is arranged on both sides of the card sorting area M, extends along the guide plate 13, and is being transported. Of the card A does not deviate from the vertical path 10. Therefore, each partition plate 3
1 and 32, the edge A1 side of the card A in the card sorting area M can be reliably guided, and the vertical path 1
This makes it possible to reliably transport the card A along 0 (see FIG. 7). However, when it is necessary to move the card A to the horizontal path 11 in the card distribution area M, the partition plates 31 and 32 become obstruction plates for card separation.

Therefore, a structure for raising / lowering each of the partition plates 31 and 32 is required. As shown in FIG. 5, the partition plate 31 is provided with a plate-like base 31a extending in the horizontal direction along the frame plate 19, and the base 31a extends in the moving direction (horizontal direction) of the partition plate 31. Guide hole 31b
Are formed. Guide pins 33 erected from the frame plate 19 are inserted into the guide holes 31b. Therefore, in the direction perpendicular to the main transport surface 13a, the partition plate 3
1 can be reliably moved up and down in the height direction, and the partition plate 31 can be quickly moved up and down.

The up / down movement of the partition plate 31 is linked to the up / down movement of the auxiliary transport roller 18. Specifically, the free end of the swing arm 23 and the base 31a of the partition plate 31 face each other, and the free end of the swing arm 23 and the base 31a are connected by the connection bar 34. That is, one end of the connection bar 34 extending through the free end of the swing arm 23 and extending in the horizontal direction is inserted into the opening 31c of the base 31a. By adopting such a configuration, the up / down of the partition plate 31 and the auxiliary transport roller 18 can be synchronized, and the solenoid 20 can be shared to raise or lower the partition plate 31. (See FIG. 4).

The partition plate 32 has the same configuration as the partition plate 31. Therefore, the free end of the swing arm 23 is arranged between the partition plate 31 and the partition plate 32, and the connecting bar 3
By connecting the other end of 4 to the base 32a of the partition plate 32, the partition plate 31 and the partition plate 32 can be moved up / down together. Therefore, when it is necessary to move the card A to the horizontal path 11 in the card distribution area M, the auxiliary transport roller 18 and the partition plates 31 and 32 can be simultaneously moved down. Can be opened.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, at the lowermost position of the card sorting area M, the main transport surface 13a of the guide plate 13 is provided.
Card stopper 35 that moves up / down with respect to
Is provided, and the tip of the card stopper 35 is
3 is provided at a position facing the opening 36. Further, a solenoid 37 is fixed to the frame plate 19, and a tip of a plunger 37a of the solenoid 37 is
It is fixed to the end of the card stopper 35 via a pin 39. The card stopper 35 reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the main transport surface 13a in conjunction with the movement of the plunger 37a.

Therefore, by operating the solenoid 37, the tip of the card stopper 35 is made to come out of the opening 36,
The front end of the card stopper 35 can be set up at right angles to the main transport surface 13a of the guide plate 13. As a result, the card A moving in the vertical path 10 is
In the case of No. 5, the card A is reliably stopped in the card distribution area M. When the tip of the card stopper 35 is retracted with respect to the main transport surface 13a, the vertical path 10
Move through the card distribution area M without hitting the card stopper 35. When the card distribution area M is provided in multiple stages, the card stopper 35 of an arbitrary card distribution area M is provided.
Projecting from the main transport surface 13a, the vertical path 10
The moving card A can be stopped at an arbitrary card distribution area M.

Here, the card A forcibly stopped in the card distribution area M by the card stopper 35 described above.
Is sent to the left or right lateral path 11 for card sorting. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,
In order to sort the card A, the card sorting area M
A card kick unit 40 for forcibly sending the card A into one of the left and right lateral paths 11 is provided. The card kick portion 40 is a kick plate (kick member) 41 for kicking the edge A1 of the card A toward an arbitrary lateral path 11.
have. The kick plates 41 are vertically arranged along the vertical path 10, and the base end of each kick plate 41 is fixed to a rotation shaft 42 extending along the vertical path 10.
Are rotatably supported by the frame plate 43. As a result, the kick plate 41 rotates in a plane perpendicular to the main transport surface 13a. Thus, the kick plate 41
At right angles to the edge A1 of the card A, the card A is reliably and strongly kicked out. However, the above-described kick member 42 may be a rod-shaped member.

An operating bar 44 is disposed parallel to the rotating shaft 42. The operating bar 44 is fixed to the rotating shaft 42 via a connecting portion 45 to which the kick plate 41 is fixed. The connecting bar 45 separates the operating bar 44 from the rotating shaft 42. Therefore, the operating bar 44 is connected to the rotating shaft 4.
2 while maintaining a state of being separated from the rotating shaft 2, the circular motion is made around the rotating shaft 42. Further, a solenoid 46 is fixed to the frame plate 43, and a tip of a plunger 46 a of the solenoid 46 is connected to the center of the operation bar 44 via a winding spring 47. As a result, plunger 4
By the advance and retreat of 6a, the operating bar 44 makes a reciprocating circular motion around the rotation shaft 42 as a center axis. Then, the rotating shaft 42 rotates by the circular motion of the operation bar 44, and the tip of the kick plate 41 fixed to the rotating shaft 42 performs a reciprocating circular motion of about 90 °.

In this case, it is necessary to reliably kick out the card A in the card sorting area M at the tip of the kick plate 41.
The tip of the kick plate 41 is sunk from the main transport surface 13a. Therefore, in order to sink the tip of the kick plate 41 from the main transfer surface 13a, the main transfer surface 13a of the guide plate 13 is set.
A notch-shaped kick plate avoiding groove (kick member avoiding groove) 48 is formed at a position where the kick plate 41 hits the end of the card sorting area M. With the kick plate avoiding groove 48, the kick plate 41 can be reliably brought into contact with one edge A1 of the card A. Therefore, the plunger 46a
At a high speed, the kick plate 41 is rotated at a high speed toward the vertical path 10 and the edge A1 of the card A can be reliably kicked. However, the kick member avoiding groove 48 may be a concave groove.

The high-speed rotation of the kick plate 41 means that the card A stopped in the card distribution area M is kicked out at a high speed, and the card A is sent out at a high speed in the arrow Y direction along the main transport surface 13a. Can be. As a result, card A
Moves at a high speed toward the lateral path 11, and a quick turn of the card A is achieved. A coil spring 49 is wound around the rotating shaft 42, and one end of the coil spring 49 is locked to the kick plate 41, and the other end is locked to the frame plate 43. Therefore, after the kick-out of the card A by the kick plate 41 is achieved, the kick plate 41 can be forcibly returned to the original position by the spring force of the coil spring 49. At the same time, the plunger 46a is forcibly advanced to return the plunger 46a of the solenoid 46 whose power has been cut off to the original position.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the card kick units 40 are arranged on the left and right above the card distribution area M so as to correspond to the left and right horizontal paths 11. Also,
A feed roller 50 driven by a motor (not shown) is disposed on the upstream side of each horizontal path 11.
The pinch roller 51 is disposed so as to abut on 0. Accordingly, the kick plate 4 located on the left side in FIG.
The card A kicked out in step 1 is forcibly conveyed along the right lateral path 11 while being sandwiched between the feed roller 50 and the pinch roller 51 located on the right side. Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the card A kicked out by the kick plate 41 located on the right side is fed to the feed roller 5 located on the left side.
The sheet is forcibly conveyed along the left lateral path 11 while being sandwiched between the pinch roller 0 and the pinch roller 51.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11 and FIG.
The card inlet 60 is formed in the shape of a slit, and is located in the immediate vicinity of the feed roller 50. A roller insertion window 61 is provided on the front end wall of the cartridge 8, and a driving roller 62 driven by a motor is inserted into the roller insertion window 61 from outside. Therefore, the card A entered from the card slot 60 is
The rotation of the driving roller 62 allows the cartridge 8 to be reliably guided into the cartridge 8. In this manner, in each cartridge 8, the cards A that have entered through the card inlet 60 are sequentially stored in a stacked state.

Next, the operation of the prize card management device 1 will be briefly described based on the configuration of the prize card management device 1 described above.

First, in order to redeem the card A, the user stands a plurality of cards A in a bundled state in the card slot 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and presses a predetermined start button. . As a result, the card A falls one after another along the vertical path 10 while maintaining the standing state. At this time, the card A passes through a card discriminator (not shown) provided in the middle of the vertical path 10. The card discriminator discriminates the type of the card A (the amount given to the card A). , Which card 8 can accommodate the card A is determined. Then, based on the result of this determination, the falling card A is displayed in any one of the five
The card stopper 35 corresponding to the determined card sorting area M is protruded from the main transport surface 13a, and the falling card A is forcibly stopped at the desired card sorting area M. Let it.

Thereafter, the solenoid 20 is operated, and the auxiliary transport roller 18 and the partition plates 31 and 32 are brought down synchronously. As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the left and right horizontal paths 11 are simultaneously opened, and the preparation for sending the card A into one of the horizontal paths 11 is completed. Thereafter, in order to feed the card A into the cartridge 8 determined by the card discriminator, the predetermined solenoid 46 (one of the two) is operated, and the card A is directed to the desired cartridge 8 by the kick plate 41. Kick it out. Thereafter, the card A is conveyed along a desired lateral path 11 while being sandwiched between the feed roller 50 and the pinch roller 51.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the card A entering from the card slot 60 is surely guided into the cartridge 8 by the rotational force of the drive roller 62. Such an operation is continued until all the cards A inserted into the card slot 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 2) are processed.
In the predetermined cartridge 8, the cards A that have entered through the card slot 60 are sequentially stored in a stacked state. By sorting the ten cartridges 8 in advance for each type of card A, the same type of card A can be accommodated in one cartridge 8, and the management of each cartridge 8 becomes easy.

When all the processing of the card A inserted by the user is completed, an amount corresponding to the value of the inserted card A is displayed on the monitor screen 5. Thereafter, the user checks the amount displayed on the monitor screen 5 and the user himself / herself presses a predetermined confirmation button, whereby cash is paid out from the cash outlet 6.

The prize card management device 1 according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. The prize card management device 1 does not have the cash payout port 6 or the cash storage unit 12 for redeeming the card A. It is sometimes used to sort out and store. Further, in the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, there are five card distribution areas M, but the number is arbitrary according to the number of cartridges 8. Further, the horizontal route 11 may be either one of the left and right with respect to the vertical route 10.

[0041]

The card sorting mechanism of the premium card management apparatus according to the present invention is configured as described above, and has the following effects. That is, a prize card management device having a card transport vertical path for transporting a card in a falling direction in a housing and a card transport horizontal path for transporting a card in a housing in a horizontal direction. A partition plate that forms a side wall of the card transport vertical path is provided at a junction with the horizontal path, and a card sorting mechanism that allows the card transport vertical path and the card transport horizontal path to communicate by retracting the partition plate is used for the prize card management device. It contributes to the vertical type, the installation space can be reduced, and it can be easily installed even in a narrow place.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the appearance of a premium card management device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of the premium card management device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a main part of the card sorting mechanism.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a relationship between a partition plate and an auxiliary transport roller.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a card kick unit.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a card is stopped in a card distribution area.

FIG. 8 is a front view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where one kick plate kicks out a card.

FIG. 10 is a front view of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a cartridge used in the premium card management device.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a state in which a card is taken into a cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

A: Card (prize card), M: Card sorting area, S
... Card sorting mechanism, 1 ... Premium card management device, 2 ... Housing, 10 ... Vertical route (card transport vertical route), 11 ... Horizontal route (card transport horizontal route), 13a ... Main transport surface, 14 ... Transport roller, 18 ... Auxiliary transport roller, 23 ... Swing arm (second link), 31, 32 ... Partition plate, 31a, 32a
... Base of partition plate, 35. Card stopper.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A card transport vertical path extending vertically in a housing and transporting a card while dropping the card, and the card extends in a horizontal direction in communication with the card transport vertical path in the housing, and A prize card management device having a horizontal card conveying path for conveying the card in a horizontal direction, wherein a partition plate that forms a side wall of the vertical card conveying path at a joining portion between the vertical card conveying path and the horizontal card conveying path. A card sorting mechanism of the premium card management device, wherein the card transport vertical path and the card transport horizontal path are communicated by retracting the partition plate. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partition plate extends along the card transport vertical path and moves up and down in a direction perpendicular to a main transport surface of the card transport vertical path. The card sorting mechanism of the premium card management device. 3. A plurality of transport rollers are provided at positions in the card transport vertical path that are viewed from the main transport surface, and the card is transferred from the card transport vertical path to the card transport horizontal path among the transport rollers. 3. The card sorting mechanism of the premium card management device according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary transport roller provided in a card distribution area to be distributed moves up / down with respect to the main transport surface in this area. 4. 4. The partition plate and the auxiliary transport roller are opposed to each other, and a free end of a swing arm that rotatably supports the auxiliary transport roller is connected to a base of the partition plate. Item 3. A card sorting mechanism of the premium card management device according to Item 3. 5. A card stopper, which is provided at a lowermost position of the card sorting area, to move up / down with respect to the main transport surface in this area. The card sorting mechanism of the premium card management device.