JP2004073492A - Medal delivery device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a medal delivery device for throwing in medals at one try and surely delivering the medals. <P>SOLUTION: This medal delivery device 100 includes: a medal receiving part 1 for guiding the medals dropped in an inlet to an outlet part A; a belt 2 for carrying the medals M discharged from the outlet part A of the medal receiving part 1; a separating means 3 for separating a plurality of medals M from each other in the case where two or more medals M are transported in an overlapping state by the belt 2, and a first guide part 5 mounted on the belt 2 to guide the medal M to the separating means 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a medal sending device used in a game machine including a slot machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A gaming machine such as a slot machine is provided with a medal slot. The player can enjoy the game by inserting a predetermined number of medals.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In conventional gaming machines, medals were inserted one by one. This is inconvenient and time-consuming when a large number of medals are inserted at once. However, if a large number of medals can be inserted at one time, there is a problem that the medals are blocked at the insertion slot or the discharge slot. Further, when the rotary hopper is provided at the medal insertion slot, there is a problem that a large space is required in the horizontal direction.
[0004]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a medal sending device that enables a medal to be inserted at a time and that can reliably send out medals.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The medal sending device of the present invention,
[0006]
A medal receiving unit that guides the medal inserted into the insertion slot to the exit,
[0007]
A belt for transporting medals discharged from an exit portion of the medal receiving portion,
[0008]
When a plurality of medals are conveyed by the belt in an overlapping state, a separating unit that can separate the plurality of medals,
[0009]
A first guide portion provided on the belt, for guiding the medal to the separating means.
[0010]
In the present invention, since the width of the belt is substantially twice or more the diameter of the medals, a large amount of medals can be reliably discharged onto the belt at a time from the exit of the medal receiving portion.
[0011]
Further, according to the present invention, a separating means capable of separating a plurality of medals is provided. For this reason, medals can be aligned and introduced one by one into the gaming machine.
[0012]
Further, according to the present invention, the first guide portion for guiding the medals to the separating means is provided on the belt. For this reason, medals can be reliably guided to the separating means.
[0013]
Further, in the present invention, the separating means is provided on the belt, and a gap between the separating means and the belt is equal to or more than the thickness of one medal and less than the thickness of two medals. It can be. Thereby, medals can be surely aligned and introduced one by one into the gaming machine.
[0014]
Further, in the present invention, the width between the first guide portions below the outlet portion may be larger than the width between the first guide portions near the separating means. Thereby, the medal can be reliably discharged from the medal receiving portion to between the first guide portion.
[0015]
Further, in the present invention, the width between the first guide portions near the separating means may be less than twice the diameter of the medal. Thereby, medals can be more reliably aligned and introduced one by one into the gaming machine.
[0016]
In the present invention, the shape of the medal passage portion defined by the first guide portion may be substantially L-shaped.
[0017]
Further, in the present invention, a vibration means for vibrating the medals on the belt before the medals pass through the separating means may be provided. Thereby, even if the medals are overlapped in the previous stage of the separating means, the medals can be separated or the number of overlapping medals can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent medals from clogging in the separating means.
Further, in the present invention, a second guide portion for guiding the medal between the separating device and the belt may be provided on the medal receiving portion side of the separating device. Thus, by providing the second guide portion, the medal can be reliably introduced between the separating means and the belt.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
1. First Embodiment [0020]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a medal feeding device according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the medal feeding device according to the embodiment.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, the medal sending device 100 includes a medal receiving unit 1, a belt 2, a first medal guiding unit (first guiding unit) 5, and a separating unit 3.
[0022]
The medal receiving section 1 has a function of guiding the medals inserted into the insertion slot to the exit section A.
[0023]
The belt 2 is for transporting medals discharged from the exit portion A of the medal receiving portion 1. As shown in FIG. 2 (the medal receiving portion is omitted), the width W10 of the belt 2 can be substantially equal to or more than twice the diameter of the medal. In this way, by setting the width W10 of the belt 2 to be wide, for example, substantially twice or more of the width of the medals, it becomes easy to throw a large amount of medals onto the belt 2 at once.
[0024]
The first medal guide section (first guide section) 5 guides the medals discharged from the medal receiving section 1 to the belt 2 to the separating means 3. The presence of the first medal guide section (first guide section) 5 enables the medal to be reliably guided to the separating means 3.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, the width W20 between the first medal guide portions (first guide portions) 5 below the exit portion A of the medal receiving portion 1 is equal to the width of the first medal guide portion (first guide) near the separating means 3. The width W30 of the part 5 is larger than the width W30. Further, the width W30 between the first medal guide portions (first guide portions) 5 near the separating means 3 can be less than twice the diameter of the medal. Thereby, the medals can be reliably aligned and introduced into the gaming machine. The planar shape of the medal passage portion (hatched region in FIG. 4) defined by the first medal guide portion (first guide portion) 5 can be substantially L-shaped.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 1, the separating means 3 can be composed of a roller for separating a plurality of medals inserted in an overlapping state. The roller 3 is provided substantially parallel to the belt 2. A gap b is provided between the roller 3 and the belt 2. When the medals are conveyed one by one, the gap b is slightly wider than the thickness of one medal and narrower than the thickness of two medals. In this case, the medals are conveyed one by one by the belt 2. The size of the gap b is determined according to the thickness of the conveyed medals and the number of conveyed medals. As shown by the arrow in the figure, the roller 3 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the belt 2 in the gap b. More specifically, the roller 3 rotates so that the side of the roller 3 facing the transport direction of the belt 2 moves in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the surface of the belt 2 facing the roller 3. The fact that the roller 3 moves in the direction opposite to the conveying direction of the belt 2 means such a situation.
[0027]
The second medal guide section (second guide section) 4 is provided at the end of the belt 2 and guides the conveyed medals in a predetermined direction. The roller 6 is for driving the belt 2.
[0028]
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the medal feeding device 100 of FIG. 1 is applied to a gaming machine (slot machine). The medals inserted by the medal sending device 100 can be sent to a medal selector, a hopper or the like.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 5, the slot machine 10 has a box-shaped housing 11. A rectangular window-like display window 12 facing the player side is formed at the center and upper part of the housing 11. At the center of the display window 12 at the center, a symbol display window 13 through which symbols 61 of the three reels 40 can be seen is formed. The pet switch 16 is a switch located below the rotating reel 40, and replaces the medal insertion by subtracting the number of medals bet (betting) by operating the bet switch from a numerical value storing the inserted medal number. The settlement switch 17 is a switch located diagonally below the spinning reel, and is configured to store a number of inserted medals corresponding to a numerical value storing the number of inserted medals (a subtracted numerical value when the number has been subtracted by betting). Pay out. The start switch 30 is a lever located diagonally below the rotating reel 40, and starts driving the reel unit 60 on condition that a game medal or the pet switch 16 is turned on. The stop switch 50 is for stopping the driving of the reel unit 60. The reel unit 60 includes three rotating reels 40. Each rotating reel 40 includes a rotating drum made of a synthetic resin, and a tape-shaped reel tape 42 attached around the rotating drum. On the outer peripheral surface of the reel tape 42, a plurality of (for example, 21) symbols 61 are displayed.
[0030]
FIG. 6 shows a state in which the medal feeding device 100 is viewed obliquely from above. 101 is a start / stop switch. By operating this switch 101, the medal delivery device 100 operates / stops. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of a medal may be provided to automatically operate / stop the apparatus. When a player inserts a large number of medals into the medal receiving portion 1, the medals slide on the slope of the funnel-shaped medal receiving portion 1, reach the exit portion A, and drop onto the belt 2 from there. The size of the exit portion A is slightly large enough to easily drop a plurality of medals. Therefore, not only when one or two medals are inserted, but also when many medals are inserted at the same time, some medals are surely dropped onto the belt 2 and conveyed. As will be described later, even if a plurality of medals drop onto the belt 2 through the exit A, the medals are conveyed one by one (in order to inspect and sort medals in the medal selector or to count the medals, Are transported one by one). Note that the medal receiving section 1 may be detachable.
[0031]
FIG. 7 is a view of the inside of the medal sending device 100 with the medal receiving unit 1 removed. A belt 2, a roller 3, and a first medal guide (first guide) 5 are mounted between two frames 9. The medals that have passed through the exit A of the medal receiving unit 1 fall onto the belt 2 shown in FIG. In FIG. 7, 3a is a pulley provided on the rotating shaft of the roller 3, 6a is a pulley provided on the rotating shaft of the belt roller, 8 is a motor shaft, and 7 is provided between the pulleys 3a, 6a and the motor shaft 8. A pulley (play wheel) B is a belt for transmitting the power of a motor (not shown) to the roller 3 and the belt roller 6.
[0032]
FIG. 8 is a view of the medal delivery device 100 as viewed from the back. The two frames 9 are held by spacers S. The second medal guide (second guide) 4 is fixed to the slot machine body with screws.
[0033]
Next, the operation of the medal sending device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. 9 to 11 show a case where one medal M is inserted. In FIG. 9, the medals M that have passed through the exit portion A of the medal receiving portion 1 fall onto the belt 2. Since the belt 2 is moving in the direction of the arrow, the tip of the medal M also moves in the same direction, and the medal M is guided to the roller 3 from the first medal guide (first guide) 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, since the gap between the belt 2 and the roller 3 is wider than the thickness of one medal, the medal M is conveyed by the belt 2 and reaches the end of the belt 2. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the medals M fall along the second medal guide (second guide) 4 from the end of the belt 2. Then, it is led to a medal selector (not shown).
[0034]
Consider the case where there is no roller 3. If a medal is inserted in a state where two medals are overlapped, the medal is conveyed by the belt 2 as it is. In this case, medals may be jammed in the medal selector. Consider a case in which a plate is used instead of the roller 3 to provide a gap for one medal. When two medals are inserted in a state of being overlapped, the two medals are conveyed together by a belt. Then, medals may be clogged in the gap. Therefore, in order to transport medals one by one without causing medal clogging when a plurality of medals are inserted at the same time, it is desirable to provide, for example, the roller 3.
[0035]
2. Second Embodiment [0036]
As shown in FIG. 12, a vibration unit 20 that vibrates the medals M on the belt 2 may be provided before the medals M pass through the separation unit 3. By vibrating the medals M on the belt 2 by the vibrating means 20, even if the medals M overlap each other before the separating means 3, the medals M can be separated or the number of overlapping medals can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the medal M from being clogged in the separating means 3.
[0037]
The vibrating means 20 can be configured to vibrate the belt 2 and vibrate the medals M, for example. The belt 2 may be vibrated in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the belt 2 or in a direction parallel to the surface of the belt 2. When the belt 2 is vibrated in a direction perpendicular to the surface thereof, the vibration means 20 is constituted by, for example, a rotating body which is in contact with the belt 2 and has a polygonal cross section (for example, hexagonal or octagonal). Can be done. As shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b), the rotating body 20 rotates following the movement of the belt 2 (rotates under the stress of the belt 2), so that the belt 2 is placed on its surface. Vibration can be made in the vertical direction (vertical direction). As a result, the medals M can be vibrated in the vertical direction via the belt 2, and the medals M can be separated or the number of overlapping medals M can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the medal M from being jammed between the separating means 3 and the belt 2.
[0038]
The rotating body 20 may be rotated in the same rotation direction as the belt 2 by a driving unit, for example, a motor (not shown). Further, the rotating body 20 is not limited to a polygonal one in cross-sectional shape, and may be provided with a protrusion 22 as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) to 13 (c).
[0039]
3. Third Embodiment
As shown in FIG. 14, a guide portion 30 for guiding the medal M between the separating device 3 and the belt 2 may be provided on the medal receiving portion 1 side of the separating device 3. The guide surface 30 a of the guide portion 30 can be inclined toward the belt 2 as approaching the separation unit 3. The guide 30 may be plate-shaped.
[0041]
By providing the guide portion 30 in this manner, the medal M can be reliably introduced between the separating means 3 and the belt 2.
[0042]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of a medal feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view schematically showing the medal sending device.
FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a medal passage section.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the medal sending device according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied to a gaming machine (slot machine).
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the invention is viewed obliquely from above.
FIG. 7 is a view of the inside of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention with the medal receiving portion removed;
FIG. 8 is a view of the medal delivery device according to the embodiment of the invention as viewed from the back.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention (in the case of one medal).
FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the medal feeding device according to the embodiment of the present invention (in the case of one medal) (continued).
FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the medal feeding device according to the first embodiment of the present invention (in the case of one medal) (continued).
FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing an operation of the medal sending-out device according to the embodiment of the second invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view showing a modified example of the rotating body of the medal delivery device according to the embodiment of the third invention.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a medal sending-out device according to an embodiment of the third invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Medal receiving part 2 Belt 3 Roller 4 Second medal guide part 5 First medal guide part 6 Belt roller 7 Pulley 8 Motor shaft 9 Frames 10 to 16 Inhibiting member 17 Nozzle 20 First medal guide part 100 Medal feeding device 101 Start / stop switch A Outlet of medal receiving part B Belt M Medal S Spacer

Claims (7)

A medal receiving unit that guides the medal inserted into the insertion slot to the exit,
A belt for transporting medals discharged from an exit portion of the medal receiving portion,
When a plurality of medals are conveyed by the belt in an overlapping state, a separating unit that can separate the plurality of medals,
And a first guide portion provided on the belt and for guiding the medals to the separation means. In claim 1,
The separating means is provided on the belt,
A medal feeding device, wherein a gap between the separating unit and the belt is equal to or more than the thickness of one medal and less than the thickness of two medals. In claim 1 or 2,
The medal feeding device, wherein a width between the first guide portions below the outlet portion is larger than a width between the first guide portions near the separating unit. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
A medal feeding device, wherein a width between the first guide portions near the separating means is less than twice a diameter of the medal. In any one of claims 1 to 4,
A medal feeding device, wherein a medal passage portion defined by the first guide portion is substantially L-shaped. In any one of claims 1 to 5,
A medal feeding device, wherein a vibrating means for vibrating the medals on the belt is provided before the medals pass through the separating means. In any one of claims 1 to 7,
A medal delivery device, further comprising: a second guide portion that guides the medal between the separating device and the belt on the medal receiving portion side of the separating device.

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