JP3054087B2 - Medal supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a medal supply device for supplying medals to gaming machines or medal lending machines using medals such as slot machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a belt conveyor is provided along a gaming machine row in which a plurality of gaming machines using medals (coins) are arranged in the width direction, and medals conveyed by the belt conveyor are medalized. A medal take-in device that guides and drops medal into the take-in tub, and uses a belt conveyor and medal take-in device to reduce the remaining amount of medals in a knocked-down gaming machine or a medal lending machine in a medal shortage condition Supplying medals has been done.

In this type of medal supply device, generally, a belt conveyor is operated in response to a request from a game machine or the like to continuously transfer medals, and a medal take-in device corresponding to the game machine is operated. The medals on the belt conveyor are taken into a gaming machine or the like, and after taking in a certain amount of medals, the medal taking device and the belt conveyor are stopped. Therefore, when the supply of medals is completed, many medals will remain on the belt conveyor from the upstream side to the gaming machine.
Therefore, next time, when medals are supplied to the gaming machine on the upstream side, the medal on the belt conveyor is moved downstream on the belt conveyor in accordance with the movement of the belt conveyor. Are guided to the return means via the guide means, and further guided by the return means to the upstream side for reuse.

Recently, a medal take-in device corresponding to all gaming machines and the like downstream of a gaming machine and the like to be replenished is operated to forcibly supply the above-mentioned residual medals to the downstream gaming machines and the like. Such a medal supply device has been proposed (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-97765). According to this medal supply device, the remaining medals on the belt conveyor can be effectively used, and the configuration can be simplified by eliminating the need for the guide means for collecting the remaining medals. There are advantages.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the medal supply device disclosed in -97765,
The amount of medals to be paid out to operate the medal take-in devices corresponding to all gaming machines and the like downstream of the gaming machine to which medals are supplied this time to forcibly supply the remaining medals as described above to the gaming machines and the like. There is a risk that medals will be over-supplied to gaming machines with a small number of medals, which may cause clogging of the medals, or that the supplied medals may overflow and fall into the gaming machines to induce malfunctions of the gaming machines. There is.

When the medal taking-in devices corresponding to all the gaming machines downstream of the gaming machine to which the medal is supplied this time are operated, the medal taking-in devices of the gaming machines located mainly on the downstream side are mainly operated. There is also a problem that the operation frequency increases and the mechanical life of the medal take-in device on the downstream side is shortened.

[0007] In view of such circumstances, the present invention relates to a gaming machine in which a plurality of medal machines including a gaming machine or a medal lending machine are installed in a width direction, such as a malfunction of the medal machine caused by medal replenishment. An object of the present invention is to provide a medal supply device capable of effectively utilizing residual medals on a belt conveyor while avoiding the occurrence of medals.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a game machine or a medal lending machine using medals, a plurality of medal machines arranged side by side in the width direction, and each medal use machine is used. A medal taking-in means is provided corresponding to the machine, and while the medal is conveyed by driving the conveyor provided along the medal using machine, the medal taking-in means is operated based on a request for medal replenishment from the medal using machine. In the medal supply device configured to guide the upper medal to the medal using machine and take in the medal using the medal using machine, when the medal using machine to be replenished is supplied with the medal, the medal using machine downstream of the medal using machine is used. To determine whether or not there is a request for medal replenishment, and to activate the medal taking-in means corresponding to the medal machine determined to have the request. It is provided with a control means for controlling the medal uptake means (claim 1).

According to this apparatus, at the time of medal replenishment, the medal taking-in means corresponding to the medal using machine to be replenished this time is operated, and the medal for which a medal replenishment request is made downstream of the medal using machine. The medal taking-in means corresponding to the used machine is operated. As a result, the medals on the conveyor are guided to the medals using machines to be replenished this time, and the medals on the conveyor are replenished. All or a part of the medals is guided and supplied to a medal machine downstream of the medal machine.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the medal using machine is divided into a unit composed of a plurality of medal using machines arranged in succession and a medal using machine to be refilled is supplied with medals. The control means is configured to sequentially determine the presence or absence of a medal replenishment request of the medal using machine for each unit other than the unit to which the medal using machine is applicable (claim 2).

According to this device, the number of machines using medals is increased,
Alternatively, it is possible to easily cope with reduction.

[0012] Further, the control means sets the medal using machine which has made the first request in the state of waiting for the medal replenishment request as the target medal using machine, and within a predetermined time from the determination of the target medal using machine, the medal of the downstream medal using machine. It is configured to check a replenishment request (claim 3).

According to this device, the processing efficiency of judging the presence / absence of a medal replenishment request of the downstream medal using machine can be enhanced.

Further, the control means is configured to control the medal taking-in means and the conveyer so as to stop the conveyer after stopping the medal taking-in means when the medal supply to the medal using machine is stopped. (Claim 4) According to this device, when medals are supplied to the medal using machine on the downstream side, it is possible to quickly supply the medals to the medal using machine on the downstream side.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a game machine to which a medal supply device according to the present invention is applied. As shown in this figure, the gaming machine is a gaming machine 2 using medals.
And the medal lending machine 10 are arranged in a predetermined arrangement. Specifically, a first gaming machine row 4a configured by placing every other medal lending machine 10 between gaming machines 2 adjacent in the width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. There are two gaming machine rows 4b, and the first gaming machine row 4a and the second gaming machine row 4b are arranged in a back-to-back state to constitute a gaming machine. Then, the medal supply device is integrally incorporated in the gaming machine configured as described above.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of a medal supply device incorporated in the gaming machine. The medal supply device includes a main tank 1 for storing medals, a transfer unit 3 for transferring medals derived from the inside of the main tank 1 to an installation portion of the gaming machine 2, and a medal transferred by the transfer unit 3. And a medal transport unit 5 for transporting the medal along the installation part of the gaming machine 2.

The transfer means 3 includes a storage section 6 for storing medals derived from the main tank 1, a lift means 7 for lifting medals in the storage section 6, and a medal lifted by the lift means 7 Main tank 1
And a sorting means 9 comprising a forward / reverse conveyor for sorting on a receiving portion 8 erected on the upper surface of the medals or on a starting end of the medal conveying means 5. The lift means 7 is composed of a lift conveyor in which conveying wings are projected from the surface of an endless belt provided in the vertical direction, and transports the medals in the storage section 6 upward while placing the medals on the conveying wings. Is configured.

The above-mentioned medal transport means 5 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in the figure, a guide member 12 having a U-shaped cross section is installed along the upper surface of the joining portion of the gaming machine rows 4a and 4b in substantially the entire area in the longitudinal direction thereof. And a belt conveyor 13 for conveying medals.
On the side wall of the guide member 12, a first gaming machine row 4a is provided.
A first medal capturing unit 14 having a hopper for supplying medals to each of the gaming machines 2 and the medal lending machine 10;
Each gaming machine 2 and medal lending machine 10 in the second gaming machine row 4b
And a second medal take-in section 15 having a hopper for supplying medals to the player.

Between the first medal take-in section 14 and the second medal take-up section 15, the medal transport means 5 is provided.
A guide member 16 composed of a ladder plate for guiding the medals conveyed to the side is provided, and a driving means 17 for driving the guide member 16 to displace the medal supply direction is provided. Further, on the side wall of the guide member 12, a displacing means 18 for driving the guide member 16 to displace the medal conveying means 5 away from the conveying surface when the medal is not supplied is provided with a first medal capturing unit. It is provided at a position close to the fourteen installation parts.

The guide member 16 is swingably supported by a swing shaft 20 at the tip of a mounting board 19 attached to the upper side of the guide member 12. A driven pin 21 protrudes from the upper surface of the guide member 16, and
An arc-shaped guide groove 22 through which the driven pin 21 is inserted is formed in the mounting board 19, and when the guide member 16 is oscillated with the oscillating shaft 20 as a fulcrum, the swing range is set to the above range. It is regulated by the guide groove 22.

The driving means 17 comprises an operating lever 24 swingably supported by support pins 23 projecting from the upper surface of the mounting board 19, and a push-pull solenoid 25 for driving the operating lever 24. ing.
The driving pin 27 protruding from the operating rod 26 of the push-pull solenoid 25 is
Are engaged with the engagement grooves 29 formed in the driven portion of the actuator lever 24 and the engagement grooves 28 formed in the drive portion of the operation lever 24.
When the driven pin 21 of the guide member 16 is engaged, the driving force of the push-pull solenoid 25 is transmitted to the guide member 16 via the operating lever 24.

The guide member 16 is driven by the driving means 17 so that the medals conveyed by the medal conveying means 5 are transferred to the guide member 16 as shown in FIG.
A state in which the guiding direction of the medals is directed so as to be in contact with the one side wall surface 16a and guided toward the first medal taking-in portion 14 side, and as shown in FIG. In a state where the medal guiding direction is directed so as to be brought into contact with the second medal take-in portion 15 by contact with the medals 16b, the oscillating displacement about the oscillating shaft 20 according to the driving force of the driving means 17 is performed. It is configured to be.

The mounting board 19 has a horizontal shaft 30 serving as a swing fulcrum attached to a rear end thereof, and an operating pin 31 protruding forward of the horizontal shaft 30. Then, the operation pin 31 is driven in the vertical direction by the operation rod 32 of the displacement means 18 attached to the guide member 12 of the medal conveyance means 5, whereby the horizontal shaft 3 is moved.
The mounting substrate 19 is oscillatingly displaced about 0 as a fulcrum.

That is, the displacement means 18 has an operating rod 32, a coil spring 33 for urging the operating rod 32 upward, and pulls the operating rod 32 downward against the urging force of the coil spring 33. An electromagnet (not shown) is provided. When the electromagnet is not operated, the operating rod 32 is pushed up according to the urging force of the coil spring 33,
The guide member 16 is configured to be separated from the transport surface of the medal transport unit 5 by raising the distal end of the mounting substrate 19.

When the electromagnet is actuated, the operating rod 32 is pulled down by the driving force against the pushing force of the coil spring 33, so that the distal end of the mounting board 19 and the guide member 16 are moved. It descends according to its own weight, and is set at the guide position of the medal where the guide member 16 contacts the transport surface of the medal transport means 5.

That is, the guide member 16 and the driving means 1
The medal take-in means of the present application is constituted by the 7 and the displacement means 18 and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, a belt conveyor for returning medals discharged from each of the gaming machines 2 to the accommodation section 6 of the transfer means 3 is provided at the lower side of the gaming machine rows 4a and 4b. Returning means 34 is provided, and the medal transporting means 5 is provided at the end portion with the transported medals.
A guide means 35 for guiding the start portion 4 on the start end is provided.

In the above-mentioned medal supply device, the medals drawn out of the main tank 1 into the accommodating section 6 of the transfer means 3 are transferred to the sorting conveyor 9 by the lift means 7 which is always in a driving state, and are then sorted. Conveyor 9
Is divided into right and left. In other words, when there is no need to supply medals to the gaming machine 2 or the medal lending machine 10, the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor 9 is set to the receiving unit 8 side, and the medals are supplied onto the receiving unit 8. ,
When medals are returned to the main tank 1 and medals need to be supplied to a specific gaming machine 2 or medal lending machine 10, the conveying direction of the sorting conveyor 9 is changed to the medal conveying means 5
The medal is supplied on the start end of the medal transporting means 5 when set to the side.

Then, a supply signal is output from the gaming machine 2 or the medal lending machine 10 which needs to supply medals,
When this is input to the controller 40 via each of the unit control means 43a to 43g, a medal supply point is specified based on this signal input, and the first medal take-in unit 14 or the second medal take-up unit located at this supply point is specified. The guide member 16 is swingably displaced by the drive means 17 so that the guide surfaces 16a and 16b of the guide member 16 are directed to the portion 15 side, and the displacement means 18 drives the mounting board 19 on which the guide member 16 is installed. The guide rod 16 is lowered by its own weight and comes into contact with the transport surface of the medal transport means 5.

As a result, the medals conveyed by driving the belt conveyor 13 are guided along the guide surface of the guide member 16 to the first medal take-in portion 14 or the second medal take-in portion 15 side. , 15 to the gaming machine 2 or the medal lending machine 10.

Then, when it is confirmed by a timer or the like that the supply of medals has been performed for a predetermined time set in advance, or when a predetermined amount of medals have been supplied is detected by detection means (not shown). Then, at this point,
The energization of the displacement means 18 to the electromagnet is stopped, and the operating rod 32 is pushed up in response to the urging force of the coil spring 33, whereby the mounting board 19 is displaced in a swinging manner, and the guide member 16 is moved to the conveyance surface of the medal conveyance means 5. And the belt conveyor 13 is stopped, and the supply of medals is completed.

By the way, the gaming machine constructed as described above is provided with a controller 40 having a microcomputer as a component as shown in FIG. 1. 40.

In this gaming machine, as shown in FIG. 2, two gaming machines 2 adjacent to each other in the first gaming machine row 4a, a medal lending machine 10 therebetween, and a second lending machine 10 arranged back to back. The gaming machine 2 of the gaming machine row 4b and the medal lending machine 10 are one unit for control, and unit control means corresponding to this unit is provided, and each of the gaming machines constituting the unit is It is connected to the unit control means. In the illustrated example, the entire gaming machine is divided into seven units U1 to U7.
To U7 are connected to the unit control means 43a to 43g, respectively, so that the game operation, the medal lending operation, and the like can be performed by the unit control means 43a to 43g, respectively.
43g.

Each of the unit control means 43a to 43g
Are connected to the controller 40, and supply signals output from the gaming machines 2 or the medal lending machines 10 of the units U1 to U7 are supplied to the respective unit control means 43a to 43a.
The data is input to the controller 40 via 3g. Then, the drive of the medal supply device is controlled by the controller 40 in response to the input of the supply signal, so that medals are supplied to the respective gaming machines 2 and the like as described later.

Next, the control of the medal supply device by the controller 40 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

First, in step S1 of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not a supply signal is output from the gaming machine 2 or the medal lending machine 10. When the supply signal is output, supply of medals is performed based on this signal. A first medal loading unit 1 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 or the like by specifying a location (the gaming machine 2 or the like)
The guide member 16 is operated to guide the medals to the fourth or second medal take-in section 15 (steps S1 and S1).
2).

Next, as a process (step S3) for controlling the operation of the guide member 16 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 or the like downstream of the gaming machine 2 or the like which supplies the medal this time, a subroutine of FIG. Then, the process proceeds to step S4.

At this point, the belt conveyor 13 is driven to convey medals, and the medals are taken into the first medal take-in section 14 or the second medal.
The medals are supplied to the gaming machine 2 and the like while guiding the medals to the medal taking-in section 15 (step S4). Then, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the operation of the guide member 16 is stopped, that is, the mounting substrate 19 is oscillated and displaced to guide the guide member 1.
6 to the initial position and the belt conveyor 1
3 is stopped, and the flowchart ends (steps S5 to S7). At this time, the belt conveyor 13 is stopped at a timing slightly later than the operation stop timing of the guide member 16, whereby the leading portion of the residual medals on the belt conveyor 13 is appropriately conveyed to the downstream side. I have. As a result, even when the next replenishment point is downstream from the previous replenishment point, a time lag from belt driving to medal arrival is prevented, and the medal supply to the downstream side is quickly performed. In the illustrated process of step S5, the guide member 16 and the belt conveyor 13 are stopped based on the lapse of time. However, as described above, the guide member 16 and the belt May be stopped.

On the other hand, in step S3, processing is performed according to a subroutine shown in FIG.

That is, in step S11 of the figure, a unit immediately downstream of the unit including the gaming machine 2 for supplying medals (for example, the gaming machine 2 for supplying medals is included in the unit U2). If it is, the unit U3) immediately downstream is set, and the gate No. of this unit is set. It is determined whether a supply signal has been output from 1 (whether or not a gate is near end) (steps S11 to S13).

That is, in this embodiment, the gaming machine 2 on the most upstream side of the first gaming machine row 4a in the unit is connected to the gate N
o. 1, the gaming machine 2 on the most upstream side of the second gaming machine row 4b is assigned a gate number. 2, Gate No. Medal lending machine 1 downstream of 1
0 is the gate No. 3, Gate No. The medal lending machine 10 on the downstream side of the gate no. 4 in the order of the game machines 2 and the like in the unit from the upstream side. 1 to No.
6, and in step S13, the gate No. It is determined whether a supply signal has been output from the gaming machine 2 corresponding to 1.

Here, when the supply signal is being output, the medal take-in section 14 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 or the like,
The guide member 16 is operated to guide the medals to No. 15 and the process proceeds to step S15.

On the other hand, in step S13, the gate No. When it is determined that the supply signal is not output from 1, the gate number is incremented (updated), and it is determined whether the updated gate number does not exceed “7”. Moves to step S13 (steps S17, S18).

Then, in step S18, the gate N
o is determined to have exceeded "7", that is, the gate No. of this unit. 1 to No. If it is determined that the supply signal is not output from any of the gates, the process proceeds to step S15.

Here, it is determined whether or not there is a unit downstream of this unit. If there is a unit, the target unit is updated and set to a downstream unit in step S16, and then the process proceeds to step S12. (Steps S15 and S16).

On the other hand, if no unit exists on the downstream side in step S15, the process returns to step S5 in FIG.

The above-described medal supply operation will be summarized as follows.

That is, in the above-described gaming machine, when a supply signal is output from the gaming machine 2 or the like, the guide member 16 corresponding to the gaming machine 2 or the like to which the supply signal is output is operated, so that the belt conveyor 13 The conveyed medals correspond to the gaming machine 2 or the like,
It is supplied while being guided to 15.

When the supply signal is output from the gaming machine 2 or the like as described above, the supply signal is output in each unit downstream from the gaming machine 2 or the like within a predetermined time according to the subroutine shown in FIG. A search is performed to determine whether or not there is. When the output is performed, the guide member 16 corresponding to only the gaming machine 2 and the like located at the most upstream side in each unit is provided.
Is activated. In other words, the medals on the belt conveyor 13 are guided and supplied to the gaming machines 2 and the like to be supplied this time, and the medals on the belt conveyor 13 are
If there is a machine located downstream of the gaming machine 2 to be supplied this time, all or a part of these medals are guided and supplied to the downstream gaming machine 2 or the like.

As described above, according to the medal supply device of the gaming machine, for example, even when the position of the gaming machine 2 or the like supplying the current medal is located upstream of the gaming machine 2 or the like supplying the previous medal, The medals remaining on the belt conveyor 13 can be supplied to the gaming machine 2 or the like on the downstream side, so that the medals remaining on the belt conveyor 13 can be effectively used.

Further, the supply of such residual medals to the downstream gaming machine 2 or the like is performed when a supply signal is output from the downstream gaming machine 2 or the like, that is, when a shortage of medals occurs in the downstream 2 or the like. Only done if For this reason, the conventional medal supply of this kind, in which the medal taking-in devices corresponding to all the gaming machines on the downstream side are operated to forcibly supply the residual medals on the belt conveyor to the gaming machines on the downstream side, etc. As in the case of devices, there is a risk that medals will be excessively supplied to gaming machines that emit little medals, causing medals to be clogged, or medals will overflow and fall into the gaming machines, causing malfunctions. Absent.

In addition, the supply of such residual medals is
At most one gaming machine 2 for each unit U1 to U2
The medal capturing device, that is, the guide member 16, or the guide member 16 or the conventional medal supplying device that supplies the remaining medals by operating the medal capturing devices corresponding to all the gaming machines and the like on the downstream side. There is also an advantage that the mechanical life can be extended by rationally operating the driving means 17 and the displacing means 18 for operating the motor.

Further, in the above-mentioned gaming machine, the four gaming machines 2 and the two medal lending machines 10 arranged on the back as described above are one unit for control, and the medal supply operation is shown in the flowchart of FIG. As shown in the figure, the search for the gaming machine 2 or the like to which the supply signal is output is performed in units of this unit. Therefore, for example, even when the number of gaming machines is increased or reduced, the gaming machine 2 or the like is identified in units of this unit. There is also an advantage that the number of gaming devices can be increased or reduced without increasing or decreasing the number of complicated control systems.

The gaming machine described above is an example of a gaming machine to which the medal supply device according to the present invention is applied, and its specific configuration can be changed as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. is there.

For example, in the gaming machine 2 using medals,
The medals are always supplied to the gaming machine 2 by the insertion of medals by the player, and as described above, the situation where the medal supply by the medal supply device is required is when a large amount of medals need to be paid out to the player. Often limited to. Therefore, in the operation control of the medal supply shown in FIG. 6, after step S1, a step of determining whether or not there is such a large payout request is provided. Gaming machine 2
The guide member 16 corresponding to the above operation may be operated.

In the operation control in the medal supply shown in FIG. 6, the process of step S4 is uniformly performed regardless of the position at which the medal is supplied this time. Is located downstream of the position of the gaming machine 2 or the like to which the medal was supplied last time, the guide member corresponding to the gaming machine 2 or the like downstream of the gaming machine 2 or the like supplying the medal this time. Actually, even if 16 is activated, the supply of medals may not be performed.
After step S2 in the flowchart of FIG. 6, it is determined whether or not the position of the gaming machine 2 or the like to which the supply signal has been output is located upstream of the position of the gaming machine 2 or the like to which the medal was supplied last time. Only when it is located on the upstream side, step S3 may be omitted and the process may shift to step S4. In this way, there is an advantage that the guide member 16 and the like can be operated more rationally by reducing the number of times the guide member 16 is driven. When such control is performed, control may be performed such that the guide member 16 and the belt conveyor 13 are simultaneously stopped when the medal supply is stopped.

In the gaming machine of the above embodiment, the four gaming machines 2 and the two medal lending machines 10 arranged on the back are one unit for control. For example, the first gaming machine row Four gaming machines 2 on the upstream side of 4a and 2
One medal lending machine 10 may be considered as one unit, and the gaming machine rows 4a and 4b may be divided into similar units for control. At this time, the number of gaming machines 2 and medal lending machines 10 constituting the unit may be appropriately set to a number convenient for control.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example is described in which the medal supply device of the present invention is applied to a gaming device including two gaming machine rows 4a and 4b arranged behind each other. The device is also applicable to a gaming device composed of a single gaming machine row. In this case, the guide member 16 extends between a position retracted to the medal inlet side and a position protruding above the belt conveyor 13.
May be configured to swing in a planar manner, and the medals on the belt conveyor 13 may be guided to the medal intake by the guide member 16 at the protruding position.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, when medals are supplied to a medal using machine to be refilled, there is a request for medal replenishment at each medal using machine downstream of the medal using machine. It is determined whether or not there is a request, and the medal taking-in means corresponding to the medal using machine determined to have a request is operated. If there is a medal downstream from the medal using machine, all or a part of the medal is used. Is guided to a medal machine downstream of the medal machine, and replenishment is performed, so that residual medals on the conveyor can be effectively used while avoiding malfunctions in gaming machines etc. due to medal replenishment. Can be used.

In particular, when a medal using machine is partitioned into a unit composed of a plurality of medal using machines arranged in succession and a medal using machine to be supplied with medals is supplied, the medal using machine corresponds to the medal using machine. If it is determined whether or not there is a medal replenishment request of a medal using machine for each unit other than the unit to be performed, it is possible to easily cope with an increase or decrease in the number of gaming machines.

In the state of waiting for a medal replenishment request, the medal using machine for which the first request was made is set as a target medal using machine, and a medal replenishment request of the downstream medal using machine is made within a predetermined time from the determination of the target medal using machine. If you try to find out,
It is possible to increase the processing efficiency of the medal replenishment request determination of the downstream medal using machine.

Further, when the medal supply to the medal using machine is stopped, the conveyor is stopped after the medal taking-in means is stopped, so that the medal can be quickly supplied to the medal using machine on the downstream side. Medals can be supplied, and the remaining medals on the conveyor can be used more effectively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a gaming device to which a medal supply device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the overall configuration of the medal supply device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a main configuration of the medal supply device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of the medal supply device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a medal supply position is changed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control example of a medal supply position.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing operation process control of the guide member after the replenishment point in the above flowchart.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 gaming machine 4a first gaming machine row 4b second gaming machine row 5 transport means 10 medal lending machine 13 belt conveyor 14 first medal take-in section 15 second medal take-in section 16 guide members 16a, 16b guide surface 17 drive means 18 Displacement means 20 Swing axis 40 Controller 43a to 43g Each unit control means U1 to U7 Unit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-79058 (JP, A) JP-A-6-31050 (JP, A) JP-A-3-129179 (JP, U) JP-A 97765 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 5/04 A63F 7/02 B65G 47/46 G07D 1/00 G07F 5/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A plurality of medal machines comprising gaming machines or medal lending machines which use medals are arranged side by side in the width direction, and a medal taking-in means is provided corresponding to each medal machine. While the medal is conveyed by driving the conveyor provided along, the medal on the conveyer is guided to the medal using machine by the operation of the medal taking-in means based on the medal replenishment request from the medal using machine to take in the medal. In the medal supply device, when refilling medals to a medal using machine to be medal replenished, it is determined whether or not there is a medal replenishment request at each medal using machine downstream of the medal using machine. The control means for controlling each medal capturing means so as to activate the medal capturing means corresponding to the medal using machine determined to be present is provided. Characterized medal supply device. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the medal using machine is divided into a plurality of units using a plurality of medal using machines arranged in succession.
2. The medal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to sequentially determine, for each unit other than the unit to which the medal using machine corresponds, whether or not a medal using machine has a medal replenishment request. Feeding device. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to set the medal using machine for which the first request has been made in the state of waiting for a medal replenishment request as a target medal using machine, and to set the downstream medal using machine within a predetermined time from the determination of the target medal using machine. 3. The medal supply device according to claim 1, wherein the medal supply device is configured to check a medal supply request. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control means controls the medal taking-in means and the conveyer so as to stop the conveyer after stopping the medal taking-in means when the medal supply to the medal using machine is stopped. The medal supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: