JP4986572B2 - Slot island - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a plurality of slot islands installed in an amusement store, and more particularly to a slot island provided with a replenishing device that circulates medals via a conveyor conveyer that spans between islands.

  Conventionally, in order to facilitate the smooth operation of a game store, a game having a structure in which game media are transferred between a plurality of installed game machine islands to equalize the amount of game media distributed to each game machine island. Machine island is realized. Among such amusement machine islands, in the case of Pachinko Island, there is a technology that removes dirt with a polishing cloth at the same time as the pachinko ball incorporated in the island is lifted, but in the case of Slot Island, washing medals The device must be provided separately from the lifting device, and a special installation space is required.

  The medal replenishment device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is intended to reduce the installation space of the medal cleaning device on the slot island, and both of them are provided with a transport unit for replenishing medals to the slot machine or the medal lending machine. The island medal replenishment device and a plurality of Katashima medal replenishment devices attached to both island medal replenishment devices are configured. Both islands medal replenishment devices are equipped with a lower tank that stores medals collected from the island and Katajima and premium medals that are thrown into the medal counting machine, and a polishing device for polishing medals paid out from the lower tank. It has been. The polished medals are raised by the upper lifter, distributed by the distribution device that switches the supply destination of the medals, and sent to the upper islands tank or the upper island island tank.

  Also in Patent Document 2, two types of medal supply devices are provided at one end of the slot island. One of these types of medal replenishing devices includes a medal cleaning device inside and a mounting table for mounting a medal counter on the outside. Then, medals collected via the island's collection conveyor and the medal counter placed on the mounting table are stored in the lower tank and then put into a medal washing device arranged below the tank. Washed. The cleaned medal is lifted by the main lifter and stored in the upper tank. The medals in the upper tank are lifted again by the replenishment lifter and directed by the distribution unit to replenish their own islands or delivered to another slot island that does not have a medal washing device or medal counter. It is the structure divided into whether it is conveyed via a conveyor.

  JP-A-6-254251   JP 2003-284858 A

  The medal replenishing device described in Patent Document 1 has a structure in which polished medals are stored in a tank provided in the upper part of each slot island for replenishment to the own island. And since it is an upper tank, the magnitude | size of a tank is restrict | limited. On the other hand, the lower tank can be designed to have a larger capacity than the upper tank, but the medals stored in the lower tank are those before the polishing process is performed. Due to the relationship with the polish processing capacity, it may happen that the supply of medals is not in time.

  The medal supply device described in Patent Document 2 is a circulation system in which a medal counter is indispensable. In other words, a medal is brought into a slot island equipped with a medal cleaning device from a slot island not equipped with a medal cleaning device, and is carried by a player to enter the medal counting machine. Therefore, on a slot island without a medal cleaning device, medals that do not turn to the medal counter may circulate many times while remaining dirty in the same island. In addition, the washed medal is stored in the upper tank in the same manner as in Patent Document 1.

  In addition to reducing the installation space of the medal cleaning device, the present invention allows the medals collected at each slot island to be transferred to the medal cleaning device, and the washed medals are carried into each island to produce a large amount. It is intended to be stored in. Also, there is to provide flexibility of medal supply between slot islands and to provide emergency avoidance means for some troubles.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the slot island according to claim 1 collects a medal transport device and a medal for supplying medals to a slot machine and a medal lending machine arranged adjacent to each other. A plurality of slot islands having medal recovery devices are installed, and an inter-island recovery conveyor and an inter-island supply conveyor are bridged between the slot islands. One slot island is recovered from the own island. A first recovery lifter for lifting medals, a recovery tank for storing medals lifted by the first recovery lifter and medals carried in from other islands by the inter-island recovery conveyor, and medals in the recovery tank. The medal cleaning device that receives and cleans, the first main tank that stores the cleaned medals, and the medals stored in the first main tank First supply lifter, and first switching means for distributing medals transported by the first supply lifter toward the first supply tank provided on the own island or the inter-island supply conveyor. A medal replenishing device, a second recovery lifter that lifts a medal recovered from its own island and sends it to the inter-island recovery conveyor without storing the medal, and a medal carried in by the inter-island supply conveyor Distributing means for distributing to the own island or other islands, a second main tank for storing medals carried into the own island, and a second for transporting medals stored in the second main tank And a second switching means for distributing medals transported by the second supply lifter toward a second supply tank provided on the own island or the inter-island supply conveyor. That includes a medal supply device, characterized in that.

  The slot island according to claim 2, wherein the one slot island is branched so that medals stored in the recovery tank are fed into the first main tank without passing through the medal cleaning device. A branching means is provided.

  The slot island according to claim 3 is characterized in that the collecting device of each slot island is provided with a discharging means for discharging the collected medals out of the collecting device.

  The slot island of the present invention receives medal distribution by concentrating the medal cleaning function on the medal replenishing device installed on one slot island and distributing the medal that has been cleaned to other slot islands. The medal replenishing device on the slot island on the side does not require a space for installing the medal washing device. In addition to the replenishment tank for replenishing medals to its own island, the upper part of each slot island is equipped with a main tank at the bottom. it can. In particular, on a slot island where no medal cleaning device is provided, a large-capacity main tank can be provided. Moreover, the medals stored in the main tank can be further transferred to the adjacent slot island, and the amount of medals for each island can be made more uniform.

  In the slot island of the present invention, an emergency evacuation bypass that does not pass through the medal cleaning device is prepared by the switching means when a failure such as a failure or a medal clogging occurs in the medal cleaning device. As a result, the dirty medals are distributed to the islands as they are, but it is avoided that the circulation of the medals is stopped, and the business of the amusement store can be continued.

Furthermore, in each slot island, when the amount of medals to be collected on the own island exceeds the capacity of the collection lifter, the medals are discharged out of the collection device by the attached discharge means. Continuous circulation of medals can be continued. The discharged medals fall into a spare bucket and are collected by a store clerk.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the entire slot island of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the left two rows of slot islands in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view of the leftmost slot island in FIG. The slot islands shown in FIG. 1 are 1a, 1b, 1c in order from the left, and medal supply devices 2a, 2b, 2c are arranged at one end of each slot island. As for the slot islands 1a and 1b, the medal replenishing devices 2a and 2b and the schematic configuration inside the island are illustrated, and the internal configuration is different as described later. Further, only the appearance of the slot island 1c is shown, but it has the same internal configuration as the slot island 1b.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the slot islands 1a, 1b, and 1c are installed at one end of a double-sided island in which slot machines 30 and medal lending machines 31 are alternately arranged and arranged back to back. Medals supply devices 2a, 2b and 2c. The medal replenishing devices 2a, 2b, and 2c are connected by an inter-island collection conveyor 40 and an inter-island replenishment conveyor 41 that span the upper part. Further, from the back of the medal supply devices 2a, 2b, and 2c, a medal transport device 32 extends along the upper center of the double-sided island, and a medal collection device 33 extends along the lower center of the double-sided island. Yes.

  The medal transport device 32 includes an endless transport belt 34, a replenishment chute 35, a drive motor (not shown), and the like. The supply chute 35 is provided corresponding to each of the slot machine 30 and the medal lending machine 31 on the double-sided island. Then, for example, the replenishment medals supplied from the medal replenishing device 2a are placed on the transport belt 34 and transported (arrow O) as shown in FIG. When the shielding plate is lowered onto the transport belt 34 in accordance with the operation of the solenoid incorporated in the replenishment chute 35 during transport by the transport belt 34, the medals whose progress has been hindered are sent to the slot machine 30 or the medal lending machine 31. (Arrows P and Q).

  The medal recovery device 33 includes an endless transport belt 36, a spare tank chute 37, a drive motor 38, and the like. A medal that overflows because the tank built in the slot machine 30 is full falls on the upper surface of the transport belt 36 (arrow a) and is transported to the medal replenishing device 2a (arrow b). Further, medals transported to the end of the medal transport device 32 without being supplied in the medal transport device 32 are also dropped on the transport belt 36 and collected. The reserve tank chute 37 is provided in preparation for the case where the medal replenishing device 2a exceeds the limit of the processing capability. The spare tank chute 37 conveys a medal that has been prevented from advancing due to the operation of a solenoid incorporated therein. 36 is discharged from above and accommodated in a reserve tank 39 placed below (arrow h). The spare tank 39 has a size and weight that can be carried.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the medal replenishing device 2 a includes two lifters, a recovery lifter 50 and a replenishment lifter 60. As shown in FIG. 3, these lifters are protruded in the vertical direction with respect to the outer surface of the lifting belt 61 and are equidistantly formed by the endless lifting belt 61 circulated from the upper end to the lower end. The mechanism is such that a large number of buckets 62 arranged on the top lifts the medal and releases it at the upper end. The medals carried in from the medal collection device 33 on the self-island are put into the collection lifter loading basket 51 (arrow c), then lifted by the collection lifter 50 (arrow d), and dropped into the collection tank 52 ( Arrow e). Further, the recovery tank 52 accepts the medals recovered by the adjacent slot island 1b and further adjacent slot island 1c and carried by the inter-island recovery conveyor 40 (arrow A) through the recovery basket 42. (Arrow B).

  The collection tank 52 includes a cleaning conveyor 53 at the lower end. The medals stored in the recovery tank 52 are transported to the leading end of the conveyor by the operation of the cleaning transport conveyor 53 and dropped, and are received by the switching means 54 provided immediately below (arrow C). The switching means 54 is formed by, for example, a rocking plate provided to branch the medal delivery destination, and is normally set on the side where the medal is fed into the medal cleaning device 70. The switching means 54 may be a manual type or an automatic type using a solenoid or the like.

  The medal cleaning device 70 includes a hot water type medal cleaning unit and a roller type dehydrating unit. Among these, the medal cleaning unit is constituted by a cleaning liquid tank 71 and a cleaning drum 72. The cleaning drum 72 includes a drum body having a cylindrical shape, and the lower part of the cleaning drum 72 is infiltrated into the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning liquid tank 71 with the axis line horizontal. A spiral feed plate is attached to the inner wall surface of the drum body. When the cleaning drum 72 rotates horizontally by driving the motor, the medal inserted from one end of the cleaning drum 72 (arrow D) Then, while being stirred in the cleaning liquid inside the cylindrical body, it is gradually fed forward by a feed plate erected in a spiral shape and discharged from the other end in a state where the dirt is removed (arrow E). In the drawing, the movement process of medals after being cleaned is indicated by white arrows.

  The dewatering unit is configured by a dewatering conveyor 73 and a water absorption roller 74. The medals washed by the medal washing unit are dropped on the lower part of the inclined dewatering conveyor 73 and dropped in the process of being conveyed to the upper part (arrow F in FIG. 3), and are put between the water absorption rollers 74. The The water absorption roller 74 is formed by coating the outer periphery of a roller body with a material having high water absorption and elasticity such as sponge rubber and felt fiber, and a set of two rollers in which the outer peripheral surfaces of the rollers are in contact with each other. Moisture is wiped off when the medal passes as if it is drawn between the rollers. The medal from which moisture has been wiped off is dropped into the main tank 63 below and stored (arrow G).

  The medals stored in the main tank 63 are lifted by the replenishing lifter 60 (arrow H) and discharged to the replenishing tank conveyor 64 at the upper part. The replenishment tank conveyor 64 is provided with a replenishment chute 65 that distributes the path of medals moving on the conveyor belt to its own island or another island. That is, the medals are dropped onto the inter-island supply conveyor 41 by switching the supply chute 65 (arrow J) and conveyed toward the adjacent slot islands 1b and 1c (arrow K), or the supply tank 66 on the own island. (Arrow L). The medals stored in the replenishment tank 66 are transported to the rear of the apparatus by the operation of the replenishment conveyor 67 provided below the replenishment tank 66 (arrow M), and fall at the front end of the conveyor (arrow N). To the medal transport device 32 (arrow O).

  By the way, when a failure such as a failure or clogging of medals occurs in the medal cleaning device 70, or when the cleaning liquid is replaced or replenished, the medals recovered in the recovery tank 52 are changed by switching the switching means 54. A short-circuit line is provided (arrow g) that is discharged to the detour rod 55 (arrow f) and sent directly to the main tank 63 (arrow g). In this route, medals that will not be washed will be mixed into the main tank 63 until the defect is resolved. However, the medal replenishment device will be stopped and the medal will continue to operate. Repair work of the cleaning device 70 can be performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the medal supply device 2 b is also provided with a medal collection lifter 71 and a supply lifter 73. The medals collected by the medal collection device 33 on the self-island are collected in the collection lifter loading basket 72 (arrow c ′) and are transported by the collection lifter 71 (arrow d ′). The recovery lifter 71 is a long one that reaches the inter-island recovery conveyor 40, and the raised medals are discharged to the inter-island recovery conveyor 40 at the upper part and conveyed to the medal supply device 1a (arrows e 'to A').

  On the other hand, the washed medals discharged from the medal replenishing device 2 a to the inter-island replenishment conveyor 41 and carried into the medal replenishing device 2 b are branched to the lid by switching the replenishment chute 43. One is to pass the medal supply device 2b and go to the previous medal supply device 2c. The other is to store in the main tank 74 of the medal replenishing device 2b through the replenishing rod 44 (arrow G '). The main tank 74 can have an extremely large capacity by effectively using the space of the medal replenishing device 2b.

  In the medal supply device 2b, medals stored in the main tank 74 are lifted by the supply lifter 73 (arrow H ') and discharged to the supply tank conveyor 64 at the upper part. The replenishment tank conveyor 64 is provided with a replenishment chute 75 that distributes the path of medals moving on the transport belt to its own island or another island. That is, according to the switching of the supply chute 75, the medal is dropped to the inter-island supply conveyor 41 and then conveyed toward the next slot island 1c or dropped to the supply tank 76 on the own island (arrow L ′). ). The medals stored in the replenishment tank 76 are conveyed rearward by the operation of the replenishment conveyor 77 provided below the replenishment tank 76, fall at the front end of the conveyor, and supplied to the medal conveyance device 32 on the own island. Is done.

  As described above, the medal replenishing devices 2a and 2b installed on the slot islands 1a and 1b include the replenishing tanks 66 and 76 for replenishing medals to their own islands, and the medals that have finished the cleaning process. The main tank 74 can be stored in a large capacity, and the medal once stored in the main tank can be taken out and used for the next island. In response to a replenishment request signal transmitted based on a medal storage amount detected by energization sensors that are set in stages above and below each tank, for example, the control unit attached to the island receives a medal replenishment request. It comes to adjust.

  It is a perspective view of the whole slot island of the present invention.   FIG. 2 is a front view of the left two rows of slot islands in FIG. 1.   FIG. 2 is a side view of the leftmost slot island in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

2a, 2b, 2c Medal replenishment device 32 Medal transport device 33 Medal recovery device 37 Spare tank chute 39 Spare tank 40 Inter-island recovery conveyor 41 Inter-island supply conveyor 43 Replenishment chute (distribution means)
50 Recovery lifter (first recovery lifter)
52 Recovery tank 54 Switching means 55 Detour rod 60 Supply lifter (first supply lifter)
63 Main tank (first main tank)
65 Supply chute (first switching means)
66 Supply tank (first supply tank)
70 Medal cleaning device 71 Recovery lifter (second recovery lifter)
72 Recovery lifter throwing pad 73 Supply lifter (second supply lifter)
74 Main tank (second main tank)
75 Supply chute (second switching means)
76 Supply tank (second supply tank)

Claims (3)

A plurality of slot islands having a medal transport device for supplying medals to a slot machine and a medal lending machine arranged adjacent to each other and a medal recovery device for collecting medals are installed. , The island collection conveyor and the island supply conveyor are overlaid,
One slot island is
The first recovery lifter to lift the medals recovered from its own island,
A collection tank for storing medals transported by the first collection lifter and medals carried from other islands by the inter-island collection conveyor;
A medal cleaning device for receiving and cleaning medals in the recovery tank;
A first main tank for storing washed medals;
A first supply lifter for lifting medals stored in the first main tank;
A medal replenishment device comprising: a first switching means for distributing medals transported by the first replenishment lifter toward a first replenishment tank provided on the own island or the inter-island replenishment conveyor;
Slot islands excluding the one slot island
A second recovery lifter that lifts medals recovered from its own island and sends them to the inter-island recovery conveyor without storing the medals ;
Distributing means for distributing medals carried by the inter-island supply conveyor toward the own island or other islands;
A second main tank for storing medals to be carried into its own island;
A second supply lifter for lifting medals stored in the second main tank;
Second switching means for distributing medals transported by the second supply lifter toward a second supply tank provided on the own island or the inter-island supply conveyor;
A medal replenishing device comprising
Slot island characterized by that.   The one slot island is provided with branching means for branching so that medals stored in the recovery tank are fed into the first main tank without passing through the medal cleaning device. The slot island according to claim 1.   3. The slot island according to claim 1, wherein the collecting device of each slot island is provided with a discharging means for discharging the collected medals out of the collecting device. 4. .

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