JP6504427B2 - Gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine.

A slot machine is known as a gaming machine for playing a game by using a gaming medal.
In this type of slot machine, a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted into a predetermined medal insertion slot is provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
The medal selector is formed with a flow path for guiding at least the medal inserted from the medal insertion slot into the slot machine, and the flow path is provided with detection means such as a photo sensor for detecting the inserted medal. It is done.
In addition, the slot machine is provided with a main control unit for controlling the progress of the game, and when the detection signal output from the detection means indicating that the medal has been detected is input, the number of medals detected is It counts and stores this count value as a credit.

JP 2005-342397 A

  However, conventional gaming machines have room for improvement.

The gaming machine according to the present invention is a gaming machine provided with a medal selector for detecting an inserted medal, wherein the medal selector is a medal channel through which the inserted medal passes and a medal passes through the medal channel. And a guide member movable to a support position for supporting the medal so as to support the medal, and a discharge position for discharging the medal from the medal channel, and the medal supported by the guide member. The medal channel is provided with a first sensor provided at a position that can be detected, the medal channel has a wall surface portion facing the circular surface of the medal passing in the upright state, and the first sensor is The movable member is orthogonal to the passing direction of the medal when the length of the wall surface in the direction orthogonal to the passing direction of the medal is the wall surface length. Length in the direction along the direction are formed in almost the same length as the wall portion length, the movable member has a first surface portion provided on the upstream side of the medal passage, downstream from said first surface portion And a second surface portion provided at an angle different from the first surface portion .

It is a front view showing the composition of the slot machine in the embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of a slot machine. It is a figure which shows the structure of a medal | token selector, Comprising: (i) is a front view, (ii) is a rear view. It is a figure which shows the structure of a monitoring sensor, Comprising: (i) is a front view, (ii) is DD sectional drawing of (i). It is sectional drawing (AA sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which the blocker supports the medal | token. It is sectional drawing (BB sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which does not have a medal | token in a medal flow path. It is sectional drawing (BB sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which the medal | toe contacted the tread plate part of the monitoring sensor. It is sectional drawing (BB sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, and is a figure which shows the state by which the tread plate part of the monitoring sensor was accommodated in the recessed part for monitoring sensors by the press from medal. It is a front view of a medal | token selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the position of a medal | token when the monitoring sensor, the insertion detection sensor, and the exit sensor will be in the state of ON or OFF. It is an external appearance perspective view when a medal selector is seen from diagonally downward. It is a waveform diagram which shows the waveform of the detection signal P1 output from the monitoring sensor, Comprising: (i) is a waveform diagram of a detection signal when a monitoring sensor detects a regular medal, (ii) is ON time more than a threshold It is a wave form diagram of a long detection signal. It is sectional drawing (CC sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which does not have a medal | token in a medal flow path. It is sectional drawing (CC sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, and is a figure which shows the state by which the tread plate part of the monitoring sensor was accommodated in the recessed part for monitoring sensors by the press from medal. It is sectional drawing (CC sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, and is a figure which shows the state in which the to-be-contacted part of an exit sensor was accommodated in the recessed part for exit sensors by the press from medal. It is sectional drawing (CC sectional drawing of FIG. 3 (i)) of a medal | token selector, and is a figure which shows the state which the medal | token which has flowed back is contact | abutting on an exit sensor. It is a front view of a medal | token selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the state which the disk shaped member provided in the irregular | improper apparatus was located in the vicinity of the injection | throwing-in detection sensor. It is a figure which shows the waveform diagram which shows the waveform of detection signal P1-P3 each output from the monitoring sensor, the insertion detection sensor, and the exit sensor, and a medal | token detection pattern. It is a sectional view (A-A sectional view of Drawing 3 (i)) of a medal selector, and a blocker is not supporting medals and is a figure showing the state where a medal is discharged. It is a front view of a medal | token selector, Comprising: It is a figure which shows the position of the medal | token detected by the injection | throwing-in detection sensor, and the position of the medal continuously thrown in to this medal | token.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[A game machine]
There are various machines such as slot machines, ball balls, arrange balls, etc. in the gaming machine provided with a sensor for detecting inserted game medals, but in the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to the slot machine The case will be described.

  The slot machine of this embodiment is configured as a roll-to-roll type gaming machine capable of acquiring medals, which are gaming media, by rotating a plurality of reels, and a medal insertion slot provided on the front of this slot machine A medal selector including: a medal selector for detecting a medal inserted into the medal insertion slot; and the medal selector being a photosensor that detects a medal channel through which the inserted medal passes and a medal that passes through the medal channel The configuration includes a detection sensor, and a monitoring sensor that detects the medals before and after a period in which the insertion detection sensor detects medals.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the slot machine of the present embodiment is based on the number of medals (for example, three) actually inserted from the medal insertion slot 2 or credit medals stored internally. The game can be started according to the number of medals (for example, 3) inserted in the signal format by the operation of the bet button 2a. When the start lever 3 is operated (starting operation) in this state, a plurality of reels When the stop button 5 (5a to 5c) corresponding to each of the reels 41a to 41c is pressed while 41 (41a to 41c) starts to rotate, the lottery of the lottery process performed at the operation timing of the start lever 3 The reels 41a to 41c are stop-controlled so as to stop with the combination of the symbols according to the result, and the presence or absence of a prize is determined based on the combination of the stopped symbols, and the determination That the medals from the medal payout device 6 in accordance with the result being paid out, and a feasible structure of ordinary slot machine game.

In the slot machine 1 capable of realizing such slot machine games, the medal selector 10 for detecting the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 and the medal is detected based on the detection signal output from the medal selector 10 A main control unit 7 is provided.
Hereinafter, the configurations of the medal selector 10 and the main control unit 7 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 18.

[Overall configuration of medal selector and main control unit]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the medal selector 10 has a medal passage 11 formed as a path through which the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 passes while rolling in a standing state, and the start lever 3. The blocker which removes the medal M from the medal channel 11 and guides the medal M to the medal payout opening 6a by turning off the solenoid 12 provided on the back side of the medal selector 10 based on the start signal output by the operation. 13, and an insertion port side detection sensor 14 provided upstream of the blocker 13 in the medal channel 11 and detecting the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2; and downstream of the blocker 13 in the medal channel 11 , And the blocker 13 by the insertion detection sensor 15 which is a photosensor for detecting the medal M passing through the medal channel 11. The monitoring sensor 16 for detecting the medal M is provided at a position where it can detect the medal M held, and the medal exit from which the medal M passing through the medal channel 11 exits the medal selector 10 And an exit sensor 17 provided in the vicinity of 18 (see FIGS. 3 and 10, etc.) for detecting the medal M.

  In this configuration, when the insertion port side detection sensor 14, the insertion detection sensor 15, the monitoring sensor 16, and the exit sensor 17 detect the medal M passing through the medal channel 11, a detection signal indicating that detection is performed is output. Send to the main control unit 7.

The main control unit 7 includes a main board on which a control chip in which a main CPU, a main ROM, a main RAM, and the like are integrated is mounted, a board case for accommodating the same, and the like. A drum unit provided in the inside of the housing 1b based on the detection signals output from 14 to 17 and the signals output from each operation means such as the start lever 3 and the stop button 5 and the like. By controlling each device such as 4 and the medal payout device 6, it is possible to advance the slot machine game.
Further, the main control unit 7 receives detection signals output from the respective sensors 14 to 17 and detects that the medal M has passed through the medal channel 11 based on these detection signals, It is also possible to detect the occurrence of an abnormality.

  Next, detailed configurations of the medal selector 10 and the main control unit 7 will be described.

[Detailed Configuration of Medal Selector and Main Control Unit]
Here, the following matters will be described.
(A) Monitoring sensor (b) Exit sensor (c) Detection of medals in main control unit (d) Blocker (e) Medal flow path (f) Insertion port side detection sensor

(A) Monitoring Sensor (a-1) Structure and Operation The monitoring sensor 16 functions as a first sensor of the present invention, and detects the medal M passing through the medal channel 11.
As shown in FIGS. 3I and 3I, the monitoring sensor 16 detects the displacement of the movable member 161, which is displaced by the contact of the medal M passing through the medal channel 11, and the displacement of the movable member 161. And a displacement detection sensor 162.
As shown in FIGS. 4 (i) and 4 (ii), the movable member 161 has a tread-plate-like (flap-like) shape which is displaced when the medal M passing through the medal channel 11 contacts and receives pressure from the medal M. It has a tread plate portion 161a, a pivot portion 161b pivotally supported by a base portion 19 which is a base member of the medal selector 10, and a detected portion 161c displaced with displacement of the tread plate portion 161a.
When the displacement detection sensor 162 detects the displacement of the detected portion 161 c of the movable member 161, the displacement detection sensor 162 outputs a detection signal indicating that the medal M has been detected, and sends the detection signal to the main control unit 7.

Here, the movable member 161 is provided at the next place in the medal passage 11.
The medal channel 11 has a wall surface portion 11a that faces the circular surface of the medal M passing in the standing state. Moreover, the wall surface part 11a has the wall surface part surface 11b which is a surface which opposes the circular surface of the medal | token M which passes in a standing-up state (refer FIG. 3 (i), FIG. 5).

The shaft support portion 161b and the detected portion 161c of the movable member 161 are located behind the wall surface 11b in the wall surface 11a of the medal passage 11 (see FIG. 6).
On the other hand, although the tread plate portion 161a is generally provided along the wall surface portion 11b of the wall surface portion 11a of the medal channel 11, a part thereof protrudes obliquely forward from the wall surface portion 11b. Provided in

The configuration of the footboard portion 161a will be further described.
The tread plate portion 161a is a thin plate-like member, and when the thin plate-like one surface (one surface of the surfaces orthogonal to the thickness direction) is a flow path side surface 161d, the flow path side surface 161d is It is provided in the wall surface part 11a in the state which follows the surface direction of the wall surface part surface 11b.
However, the flow path side surface 161d of the tread plate portion 161a is not a flat surface without unevenness, and is formed as a surface having a shape that gradually protrudes forward from the wall surface 11b.

Here, in the case where the tread plate portion 161a is provided on the wall surface portion 11a, among the four sides of the rectangular flow path side surface 161d, the side facing the upstream side of the medal channel 11 is taken as the upstream side 161e. The side facing the side 161e, that is, the side facing the downstream side of the medal channel 11 is taken as the downstream side 161f (see FIGS. 4 and 6). Then, when the flow path side surface 161d is traced from the upstream side 161e toward the downstream side 161f, the flow path side surface 161d can be divided into four faces according to the inclination angle.
The first surface 161g is a surface having the upstream side 161e as one side, and a virtual plane including the upstream side 161e and the downstream side 161f is a tread plate virtual plane FK (FIG. 4 (ii)) Reference), it is a surface inclined in the direction in which it protrudes from this tread plate virtual surface FK.
The second surface 161h is a surface adjacent to the first surface 161g, and is a surface inclined in a direction in which it is recessed from the tread plate virtual surface FK.
The third surface 161i is a surface adjacent to the second surface 161h, and is a surface inclined in a direction in which the tread plate virtual surface FK protrudes.
The fourth surface 161 j is a surface adjacent to the third surface 161 i and having the downstream side 161 f as one side, and is a surface inclined in a direction recessed from the tread plate virtual surface FK.

When the tread plate portion 161a is provided on the wall surface portion 11a, it is provided in the following state.
Here, as shown in FIG. 6, a surface including the wall surface 11b of the wall surface 11 and the surface when the wall surface 11b is virtually extended in the surface direction is taken as a wall surface imaginary surface HK. . Further, a recess formed in a portion where the tread plate portion 161a is provided in the wall surface portion 11a is taken as a monitoring sensor recess 11c. In this case, the first surface 161g of the tread plate portion 161a is provided inside the monitoring sensor recess 11c and inside the wall surface imaginary surface HK. The second surface 161 h is provided inside the monitoring sensor recess 11 c and at a position along the wall surface virtual surface HK. The third surface 161i is provided at a position intersecting the wall surface virtual surface HK. That is, a portion of the third surface 161i (side in contact with the second surface 161h) is provided inside the monitoring sensor recess 11c, and another portion (side in contact with the fourth surface 161j) is monitored It is provided outside the sensor recess 11c. The fourth surface 161 j is provided outside the monitoring sensor recess 11 c.

By providing the tread plate portion 161a at such a position, the medal M passing through the medal channel 11 contacts the third surface 161i of the tread plate portion 161a and this medal M flows down while pressing the third surface 161i. By doing this, the tread plate portion 161a is displaced (see FIGS. 6 to 8).
That is, in the step board portion 161a, a part of the first surface 161g, the second surface 161h and the third surface 161i is located inside the monitoring sensor recess 11c, and the other one of the third surface 161i When the medal M passes through the medal channel 11, the medallion M and the fourth surface 161j are located in a state of being projected in an oblique direction outside the monitoring sensor recess 11c. Pass along. Therefore, when the leading end of the medal M in the flow-down direction approaches the recess 11c for the monitoring sensor, the leading end abuts the third surface 161i of the tread plate portion 161a (see FIG. 7).

The third surface 161i of the tread plate portion 161a is an inclined surface, and the pivot portion 161b is formed at a position along the upstream side 161e on the back surface of the tread plate portion 161a. When the medal M in contact with the surface 161i further pushes down the third surface 161i to move down, the tread plate portion 161a rotates about the central axis of the pivot portion 161b, and the third surface 161i and the fourth surface 161i The entire tread plate portion 161a including the face 161j is accommodated in the monitoring sensor recess 11c (see FIG. 8).
The bearing portion 161b is formed at a position along the upstream side 161e on the back surface of the tread plate portion 161a. Further, the axial direction of the central axis passing through the shaft support portion 161b is a direction along the upstream side 161e. Thus, the tread plate portion 161a is rotatable around the central axis of the pivot portion 161b.

The to-be-detected part 161c is also displaced by the footplate part 161a being rotated and displaced centering | focusing on the central axis of this axial support part 161b. The displacement detection sensor 162 that detects the displacement of the detected portion 161c outputs a detection signal indicating that the medal M has been detected.
On the other hand, after the entire tread plate portion 161a is stored in the monitoring sensor recess 11c, the tread plate portion 161a does not exist forward in the flow-down direction of the medal M, so the medal M continues to flow further down the medal channel 11. It passes through the medal outlet 18 and enters the medal guiding passage 20 connected to the outside.
In addition, when the medal M does not contact the tread plate portion 161a and the movable member 161 no longer receives the pressure from the medal M, the movable member 161 is pivoted about the central axis of the pivot portion 161b by biasing by the biasing member 163, A portion of the tread plate portion 161a (a portion of the third surface 161i and the fourth surface 161j) moves from the inside to the outside of the monitoring sensor recess 11c to the state where it protrudes diagonally forward from the wall surface virtual surface HK (See FIG. 6).

Thus, the monitoring sensor 16 can detect the medal M passing through the medal channel 11, but the tread plate portion 161a further detects the medal M in a state supported by the blocker 13 in the medal channel 11. It is provided in the position which can be done.
As shown in FIG. 9, the medal M is supported by the blocker 13 in a part of the medal channel 11 when passing through the medal channel 11 (the medal "M11" shown in FIG. 9). Then, in the state where the medal M is supported by the blocker 13, the flow-down direction front end contacts the third surface 161 i of the tread plate portion 161 a of the movable member 161 of the monitoring sensor 16. Thereafter, the tread plate portion 161 a is displaced by the further flow of the medal M, and the displacement detection sensor 162 detects the displacement of the detection target portion 161 c in accordance with the displacement.

For the displacement detection sensor 162, for example, a sensor, a switch, or the like that can detect the displacement of the detected portion 161c of the movable member 161, such as a photo sensor, can be used.
Further, in a state in which the medal M is not in contact, the shaft support portion 161b is maintained so that a part of the tread plate portion 161a protrudes obliquely forward from the wall surface 11b of the wall surface 11a of the medal channel 11. The biasing member 163 is provided to the (see FIG. 4 (ii)). For example, a torsion spring can be used as the biasing member 163.

(A-2) Features of the monitoring sensor The monitoring sensor 16 has the structure described in (a-1), and operates as described in (a-1). Have.
Here, the following matters will be described.
(A-21) Length of the tread plate portion 161a along the direction perpendicular to the passing direction of the medal M (a-22) Positional relationship between the tread plate portion 161a and the insertion detection sensor 15 (a-23) monitoring sensor The time when 16 detects medal M and fraud detection

(A-21) Length in the direction along the direction orthogonal to the passing direction of the medal M in the tread plate portion 161a As one of the features of the monitoring sensor 16, the passing direction of the medal M in the tread plate portion 161a of the movable member 161 The length XN of the direction along the direction RT orthogonal to the MR is the wall length HN of the wall surface portion 11a of the medal channel 11 (the length along the direction RT orthogonal to the passing direction MR of the medal M in the wall surface portion 11a And the length approximately the same as the length of the lens (see FIG. 3 (i)).
In other words, the length XN of the tread plate portion 161a is as follows.
Of the directions orthogonal to the direction MR in which the medal M passes the medal channel 11, the direction along the wall surface 11b of the wall 11a is taken as the channel orthogonal direction RT. Then, the length of the wall surface portion 11 a in the flow channel orthogonal direction RT is taken as the wall surface length HN. At this time, the footplate portion 161a of the movable member 161 is formed to have a length XN in the direction along the flow passage orthogonal direction RT substantially equal to the wall surface length HN.
Note that “the length XN of the footboard portion 161a is substantially the same as the wall surface length HN” means that the length XN is the same length as the wall surface length HN, and the length XN Is slightly shorter than the wall length HN, and the length XN is slightly longer than the wall length HN. The length XN of the tread plate portion 161a shown in FIG. 3I is a length slightly shorter than the wall surface length HN.

By making the length XN of the tread plate portion 161a substantially the same as the length HN of the wall surface portion as described above, it is possible to reliably detect the medal M passing through the place where the tread plate portion 161a is installed.
That is, when the medal M comes in contact with the monitoring sensor recess 11c while flowing down the medal channel 11, and the flow direction direction end of the medal M abuts on the third surface 161i of the tread plate portion 161a, then, The tread plate portion 161a is present facing the circular surface (the circular surface on the left side in the flow-down direction) of the medal M, but the tread plate portion 161a is present at a position facing the top of the circular surface of the medal M, Further, the tread plate portion 161a is also present at the position facing the lower part of the circular surface of the medal M, and thus the tread plate portion 161a is present at the opposing position at any portion on the circular surface of the medal M. Therefore, the monitoring sensor 16 having the footboard portion 161a can reliably detect the medal M.

Further, by setting the length XN of the footboard portion 161a to be substantially the same as the length HN of the wall surface portion in this manner, it is possible to reliably detect an unauthorized device inserted in a place where the footboard portion 161a is installed.
Although there are various forms of fraudulent devices, for example, there is one in which the shape of the fraudulent device is formed in a shape similar to the regular medal M. An LED is attached to a predetermined place in such a fraudulent instrument, and the fraudulent instrument is inserted from the medal insertion slot 2, and the light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b of the penetration detection sensor (photosensor) 15 10), and the insertion detection sensor 15 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the blinking of the LED by causing the LED to blink, and the main control unit 7 medals based on the detection signal. Misjudge that M is detected. And the said fraudulent instrument performs the fraudulent act of raising the number of sheets of credit illegally by repeating lighting and light extinction of LED many times.
Since such an unauthorized device is formed in a shape approximate to the shape of the medal M, when it is inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 and it is attempted to reach the vicinity of the insertion detection sensor 15, the tread plate portion 161a of the monitoring sensor 16 Be sure to contact Thus, the monitoring sensor 16 can reliably detect the unauthorized device.
Then, as described later in (a-23), such a fraudulent device stays in the vicinity of the insertion detection sensor 15 for a predetermined time in order to unfairly raise the credit. Therefore, when the ON time of the detection signal output from the monitoring sensor 16 continues for a predetermined time or more, the main control unit 7 can determine that an abnormality has occurred in the medal selector 10.

Furthermore, by making the length XN of the tread plate portion 161a substantially the same length as the wall surface length HN in this manner, the monitoring sensor 16 can prevent the fraudulent device from being formed into a shape other than the shape of the medal M. Can be detected when passing through the installation position of the tread portion 161a.
For example, it is assumed that the fraudulent device or the part thereof is formed in a rod or tube shape. When such a fraudulent device is inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 and tries to reach the insertion detection sensor 15 through the medal channel 11, the rod portion or the like of the fraudulent device is in the vicinity of the insertion detection sensor 15, It is located only at the upper part of the medal channel 11, and not at the lower part.
On the other hand, in the step board portion 161a of the monitoring sensor 16, the length XN of the step board portion 161a is substantially the same length as the wall surface length HN. For this reason, even if the fraudulent instrument is located only in the upper part of the medal channel 11, since the footboard portion 161a is located in the upper portion, the fraudulent device always abuts on the footboard portion 161a, The monitoring sensor 16 can reliably detect the fraudulent device.
Further, even if the rod-like portion or the like of the fraudulent instrument is located only at the lower portion of the medal channel 11, the footboard portion 161a is located at the lower portion of the medal passage 11, so the fraudulent instrument It always abuts, and the monitoring sensor 16 can reliably detect the unauthorized device.
As described above, since the monitoring sensor 16 has the length XN of the tread plate portion 161a substantially the same as the length HN of the wall surface portion, the monitoring sensor 16 can It can reliably detect unauthorized equipment located nearby.

(A-22) Positional Relationship Between Footboard 161a and Insertion Detection Sensor 15 Another feature of the monitoring sensor 16 is the positional relationship with the insertion detection sensor 15.
The insertion detection sensor 15 functions as a second sensor of the present invention, and detects the medal M passing through the medal channel 11.
The monitoring sensor 16 is disposed at such a position as to detect the medal M while the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M. In other words, the positional relationship is such that the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M in at least a part of the period in which the monitoring sensor 16 detects the medal M.

In order to realize such a positional relationship, in the tread plate portion 161a, the boundary 161k, which is the boundary between the second surface 161h and the third surface 161i, is positioned upstream of the insertion detection sensor 15, and The side 161 f is located downstream of the input detection sensor 15 (see FIG. 9).
By arranging in such a positional relationship, the monitoring sensor 16 and the insertion detection sensor 15 detect the medals M in the following order.
When the medal M flowing down the medal channel 11 comes in contact with the monitoring sensor recess 11c, and the leading end of the medal M in the flowing direction abuts against the third surface 161i of the tread plate portion 161a, the monitoring sensor 16 , And detects the medal M (medal "M11" shown in FIG. 9). Next, when the medal M enters between the light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b in the insertion detection sensor 15, the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M (the medal "M12" shown in FIG. 9). Furthermore, when the medal M flows down and passes between the light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b, the insertion detection sensor 15 ends the detection of the medal M (medal "M14" shown in FIG. 9). Then, when the trailing end of the flow direction of the medal M passes the downstream side 161f of the flow path side surface 161d of the tread plate portion 161a, the monitoring sensor 16 ends the detection of the medal M (medal "M16" shown in FIG. 9) .

By setting the positional relationship between the tread plate portion 161a and the insertion detection sensor 15 to such a relationship, the following effects can be obtained.
The fraudulent apparatus described in (a-21) positions the LED of the fraudulent apparatus between the light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b of the insertion detection sensor 15. Then, the unauthorized appliance stays in the vicinity of the insertion detection sensor 15 for a predetermined time, and causes the insertion detection sensor 15 to malfunction.
In this case, the fraudulent apparatus only needs to have its own LED positioned between the light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b of the insertion detection sensor 15. Therefore, the position shown in M12 of the medal M shown in FIG. , Or may be in the position shown in M14.
As described above, it is conceivable that the unauthorized device stays near either the upstream side or the downstream side with respect to the installation position of the insertion detection sensor 15.

On the other hand, the tread plate portion 161a of the monitoring sensor 16 is provided with the boundary 161k and the downstream side 161f at the portions described above.
For example, the boundary 161 k is provided on the upstream side with respect to the installation position of the insertion detection sensor 15. For this reason, the monitoring sensor 16 can detect an unauthorized device positioned upstream with respect to the installation position of the insertion detection sensor 15.
The downstream side 161 f is provided downstream of the installation position of the insertion detection sensor 15. For this reason, the monitoring sensor 16 can detect an unauthorized appliance located downstream of the installation position of the insertion detection sensor 15.
As described above, the monitoring sensor 16 can detect both the fraudulent device located upstream of the installation position of the insertion detection sensor 15 and the fraudulent device located downstream. Therefore, the monitoring sensor 16 can reliably detect the unauthorized device.

(A-23) Time during which the monitoring sensor 16 detects the medal M and fraud detection When the monitoring sensor 16 detects the medal M or a fraudulent instrument, the detection signal P1 is changed from OFF to ON and detection indicating this ON A signal P1 is sent to the main control unit 7.
When the detection signal P1 is input, the main control unit 7 measures the time during which the detection signal P1 is ON as the ON time.
Then, the main control unit 7 compares the ON time of the detection signal P1 with the threshold, and determines that the monitoring sensor 16 has detected the regular medal M when the ON time is shorter than the threshold. On the other hand, when the ON time of the detection signal P1 exceeds the threshold value, the main control unit 7 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the medal selector 10 (see FIG. 11).

The reason for enabling such determination is as follows.
As described above, the monitoring sensor 16 can detect the medal M detected by the insertion detection sensor 15. Further, the monitoring sensor 16 can also detect an unauthorized device that the insertion detection sensor 15 erroneously recognizes as the medal M.
Here, the time when the monitoring sensor 16 detects the regular medal M is a short time. This is because the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 passes through the medal channel 11 of the medal selector 10 while rolling in the upright state.
On the other hand, the unauthorized appliance needs to stay near the insertion detection sensor 15 for a predetermined time because it is necessary to increase the number of credits.
Therefore, a time slightly longer than the time when the monitoring sensor 16 detects the regular medal M is set as a threshold, and the ON time of the detection signal P1 sent from the monitoring sensor 16 is compared with the threshold. Then, when the ON time is shorter than the threshold, the main control unit 7 can determine that what the monitoring sensor 16 has detected is the regular medal M (see FIG. 11 (i)). On the other hand, when the ON time is longer than the threshold value, the main control unit 7 can determine that the one detected by the monitoring sensor 16 is other than the regular medal M, and that an abnormality has occurred in the medal selector 10 (FIG. 11). (Ii)).

Then, when the main control unit 7 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the medal selector 10, the main control unit 7 executes a predetermined process.
For example, the main control unit 7 outputs a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred to the outside of the slot machine 1. A device that has received this signal (for example, a game arcade management device that manages and manages information related to games) executes a predetermined notification indicating that an abnormality has occurred based on the signal. The store clerk at the game arcade that has recognized the notification can take appropriate measures for the abnormality.
Further, the main control unit 7 sends a signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred to the sub control unit 8. As a result, the sub control unit 8 outputs an alarm sound in the slot machine 1 or causes the liquid crystal surfacer to make an error surface, etc., to notify that an abnormality has occurred. The store clerk at the game arcade that has recognized the notification can take appropriate measures for the abnormality.
Furthermore, when the main control unit 7 determines that an abnormality has occurred, it can stop the progress of the game. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the subsequent raising of the fraudulent credit by the fraudulent equipment, and it is possible to suppress the damage caused by the game arcade.

(B) Exit sensor (b-1) structure and operation The exit sensor 17 functions as a third sensor of the present invention, and detects the medal M passing through the medal channel 11.
The outlet sensor 17 is provided downstream of the blocker 13 in the medal channel 11, and the medal M which has flowed down the medal selector 10 is connected to the medal guiding passage 20 connected to the outside of the medal selector 10. It is provided in the vicinity of the medal outlet 18 (see FIG. 3, FIG. 10, etc.) formed as an opening through which the user tries to advance.

The outlet sensor 17 has a movable member 171 which is displaced by the contact of the medal M passing through the medal channel 11, and a displacement detection sensor 172 which detects the displacement of the movable member 171 (FIG. 3 (i ), (Ii)).
The movable member 171 has a to-be-contacted portion 171a which is displaced by contact with the medal M passing through the medal channel 11 and receiving a pressure from the medal M, and a pivot portion 171b pivotally supported by the base 19 of the medal selector 10. And the to-be-detected part 171c displaced with the displacement of the to-be-contacted part 171a.
The to-be-contacted part 171a is a rod-shaped part protrudingly formed from the axis | shaft support part 171b, Comprising: The rod-shaped middle part is formed in the shape bent by a predetermined angle.
When the displacement detection sensor 172 detects the displacement of the detected portion 171 c of the movable member 171, the displacement detection sensor 172 sends a detection signal indicating that the medal M has been detected to the main control unit 7.

Here, the movable member 171 is provided at the next place in the medal passage 11.
Of the movable member 171, the shaft support portion 171b and the detected portion 171c are located on the back side of the wall surface portion 11a of the medal channel 11 (see FIG. 12).
On the other hand, the to-be-contacted part 171a is provided in the following location.
A surface including the wall surface 11b of the wall surface 11a and the surface when the wall surface 11b is virtually drawn in the surface direction is a wall surface virtual surface HK, and the contact portion 171a is provided in the wall surface 11a. Of the rod-like contact portion 171a on the side closer to the pivot portion 171b (the end portion of the contact portion 171a) is the outlet sensor recess 11d. The portion is provided inside the wall surface imaginary surface HK, and a portion (a tip end portion of the contacted portion 171a) beyond the bent portion of the contacted portion 171a is provided outside the exit sensor recess 11d.
In addition, when the wall surface 11b of the wall surface 11a is viewed from the front, the end portion and the tip portion of the contacted portion 171a are directed to the upstream side of the medal channel 11, and the tip portion is the medal It is directed to the downstream side of the flow path 11.

By providing the to-be-contacted portion 171a in such a position and direction, the medal M passing through the medal channel 11 contacts the to-be-contacted portion 171a and presses the to-be-contacted portion 171a while flowing down. Then, the said to-be-contacted part 171a displaces.
That is, while the distal end portion of the contacted portion 171a is located inside the outlet sensor recess 11d, and the tip end portion is positioned in a state of protruding in the diagonal direction outside the outlet sensor recess 11d, When passing through the medal channel 11, the medal M passes along the wall surface virtual plane HK. Therefore, when the lower end of the medal M in the flow-down direction of the medal M reaches the outlet sensor recess 11d, the lower end of the medal abuts on the contacted portion 171a (see FIG. 13).

  The tip of the contacted portion 171a is inclined in the direction toward the downstream side of the medal channel 11, and the axially supported portion 171b is formed continuously with the end of the contacted portion 171a. Therefore, when the medal M in contact with the contact portion 171a further pushes down the contact portion 171a, the contact portion 171a pivots about the central axis of the pivot portion 171b, and the contact portion 171a is rotated. Is entirely stored in the outlet sensor recess 11 d (see FIG. 14).

The to-be-detected part 171c is also displaced by rotating and displacing the to-be-contacted part 171a centering on the central axis of this axial support part 171b. The displacement detection sensor 172 that detects the displacement of the detected portion 171 c outputs a detection signal indicating that the medal M has been detected.
On the other hand, since the to-be-contacted part 171a does not exist ahead of the flow-down direction of the medal M after the whole of the to-be-contacted part 171a is stored in the outlet sensor recess 11d, the medal M further flows Continuing, the medal exit 18 is passed through to enter the medal guiding passage 20 connected to the outside.
In addition, when the medal M does not contact the contacted portion 171a and does not receive the pressure from the medal M, the movable member 171 is rotated about the central axis of the pivot portion 171b by the urging of the urging member 173. Then, the tip end portion of the contacted portion 171a returns to the state where it protrudes outward from the outlet sensor recess 11d (see FIG. 12).

For the displacement detection sensor 172, for example, a sensor, a switch, or the like that can detect the displacement of the detected portion 171c of the movable member 171, such as a photo sensor, can be used.
In addition, in a state in which the medal M is not in contact, the axial support portion is maintained so that a part of the contacted portion 171a protrudes obliquely forward from the wall surface 11b of the wall surface 11a of the medal channel 11. The biasing member 173 is provided in 171b (refer FIG. 12). For example, a torsion spring can be used as the biasing member 173.

(B-2) Function of Exit Sensor The exit sensor 17 has the structure described in (b-1) and operates as described in (b-1). Have.
(B-21) Function to prevent backflow of medal M (b-22) Function to prevent the use of unauthorized equipment

(B-21) Function to prevent the backflow of the medal M After this function is detected by the insertion detection sensor 15, the medal M which has come out from the medal outlet 18 (or tried to go out from the medal outlet 18) It is a function for preventing the medal M) from going back to the medal outlet 18 for any reason and being detected again and counted by the insertion detection sensor 15.

As described above, the rod-like tip portion of the movable member 171 of the outlet sensor 17 projects from the inside to the outside of the outlet sensor recess 11 d and protrudes in the direction toward the medal outlet 18. It is provided in such a state.
Therefore, when the medal M coming out from the medal outlet 18 flows back and enters the medal outlet 18, as shown in FIG. 15, the lower side surface of the medal M comes in contact with the tip of the contacted portion 171a. And further entry is blocked.
This prevents further backflow of the medal M. And double counting of the said medal M accompanying a backflow of the medal M is prevented.

(B-22) Function to prevent the use of unauthorized equipment In order to explain this function, first, the configuration of the unauthorized equipment will be described. The fraudulent apparatus described here is a fraudulent apparatus called a so-called windmill.
This fraudulent instrument has a disk-like member as shown in FIG.
In the disk-like member, a notch is formed in part of the peripheral edge.
The notches are notches in the direction from the peripheral edge toward the center of the disc.
The disk-like member is housed in a case (not shown) formed to have a size capable of flowing down the medal channel 11, and when inserted into the medal insertion slot 2, it passes through the medal channel 11. , And the stop detection sensor 15 is provided at a position where it is provided.
When the regular medal M is further inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 after this case is stopped, the tip of the regular medal M collides with the rear end face of the case. Then, in response to the collision, the disk-like member starts to rotate inside the case.

The disk-like member is located between the light emitting unit 15 a and the light receiving unit 15 b of the insertion detection sensor 15. For this reason, normally, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 15a is blocked, and the light reception in the light receiving unit 15b is blocked.
However, when the disk-shaped member rotates and the notch reaches between the light emitting unit 15a and the light receiving unit 15b, the light emitted from the light emitting unit 15a reaches the light receiving unit 15b without being blocked, and the light receiving unit 15b receives the light. Then, when the disk-shaped member is further rotated, the disk-shaped member blocks the light emitted from the light emitting unit 15a, and the light receiving unit 15b blocks light reception.
In this manner, the disc-like member is rotated, so that the blocking and passing of the light emitted from the light emitting unit 15a is repeated, and the light reception and non-light reception in the light receiving unit 15b are repeated. The detection signal output from the signal is a signal that repeats ON and OFF. Then, the main control unit 7 having received the detection signal erroneously determines that the plurality of medals M are detected by the insertion detection sensor 15 based on the repetition of the detection signal being ON and OFF.
As a result, the credit is unfairly raised, and the game is unfairly played.

For such fraudulent devices, the outlet sensor 17 effectively blocks its use.
In order to cause the insertion detection sensor 15 to malfunction, the unauthorized appliance always stops in a state in which it enters between the light emitting unit 15 a and the light receiving unit 15 b of the insertion detection sensor 15. And when a disk-shaped member rotates, the notch formed in this also rotates along the periphery of a disk-shaped member.
On the other hand, the to-be-contacted part 171 a of the movable member 171 of the outlet sensor 17 is provided in the vicinity of the medal outlet 18 on the downstream side of the medal passage 11 as in the insertion detection sensor 15. Further, the contacted part 171 a of the outlet sensor 17 is provided in the vicinity of the position facing the insertion detection sensor 15 via the medal channel 11. For this reason, when the fraudulent device stops at the detectable position of the insertion detection sensor 15, the fraudulent device contacts the contacted portion 171a, and the outlet sensor 17 detects the fraudulent device.
The rod-like end portion of the contacted portion 171 a faces the upstream side of the medal channel 11, and the tip end portion of the contacted portion 171 a faces the downstream side of the medal channel 11. For this reason, when the disc-shaped member of the fraudulent instrument rotates and the notch also rotates along the peripheral edge, and the notch reaches the arrangement position of the contacted portion 171a, the circular shape of the disc-shaped member until then The portion to be contacted 171a which has been in contact with the surface (the back surface of the disk-like member shown in FIG. 16) is released from the contact at the portion of the notch and stands up to abut the edge of the notch (FIG. 16) reference).
By this abutment, the rotation of the disk-like member is restricted and further rotation is prevented. As a result, since the light receiving unit 15b of the insertion detection sensor 15 continues to receive no light, the detection signal repeating ON and OFF continues to indicate ON only, and the main control is performed. Part 7 does not count credits. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent an illegal increase in credit.

(C) Detection of medals in the main control unit The main control unit 7 detects the detection signal P1 output from the monitoring sensor 16, the detection signal P2 output from the closing detection sensor 15, and the detection signal output from the exit sensor 17. P3 is received, and based on these detection signals P1 to P3, it is detected that the medal M has passed in the medal channel 11 of the medal selector 10.

The following matters will be described as matters regarding detection of the medal M in the main control unit 7.
(C-1) Detection of the medal M based on detection signals output from the insertion detection sensor 15, the monitoring sensor 16, and the exit sensor 17 (c-2) based on detection signals output from the insertion detection sensor 15 and the exit sensor 17 Detection of medal M

(C-1) Detection of the medal M based on detection signals output from the insertion detection sensor 15, the monitoring sensor 16 and the exit sensor 17.

The main control unit 7 executes the following process to detect the medal M.
(C-11) Reception of detection signal and identification of ON state or OFF state of each sensor 15-17 (c-12) Identification of chronological order of transition between ON state and OFF state in each sensor (c- 13) Judgment of detection of medal M

(C-11) Reception of detection signal and identification of ON state or OFF state of each sensor 15 to 17 The main control unit 7 outputs the detection signal P1 output from the monitoring sensor 16 and the input detection sensor 15 The detection signal P2 and the detection signal P3 output from the exit sensor 17 are respectively received (see FIG. 17).

  Next, the main control unit 7 specifies whether the monitoring sensor 16 is in the ON state or the OFF state, based on the detection signal P1. Further, based on the detection signal P2, the main control unit 7 specifies which state the input detection sensor 15 is ON or OFF. Furthermore, based on the detection signal P3, the main control unit 7 specifies which of the ON and OFF states the outlet sensor 17 is in.

The identification of the ON or OFF state in each of the sensors 15 to 17 will be described here using the monitoring sensor 16 as an example.
When the medal M does not exist in the medal channel 11 of the medal selector 10, the medal M is not in contact with the tread plate portion 161a of the movable member 161 of the monitoring sensor 16, and the movable member 161 is displaced. There is no state (state shown in FIG. 6). In this case, since the displacement detection sensor 162 of the monitoring sensor 16 does not detect the detected portion 161c of the movable member 161, it outputs a detection signal P1 indicating OFF.
On the other hand, when the medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 and the medal M passes through the medal channel 11 of the medal selector 10 and the medal M contacts the tread plate portion 161 a of the movable member 161 of the monitoring sensor 16 The member 161 pivots about the central axis of the pivot portion 161b (see FIG. 8). Along with this, the tread plate portion 161a of the movable member 161 is displaced and the detected portion 161c is displaced. In this case, the displacement detection sensor 162 detects the displaced detected portion 161c, and outputs a detection signal P1 indicating ON.
The displacement detection sensor 162 continues to output the detection signal P1 indicating ON while detecting the displaced detected portion 161c.

  Thereafter, when the medal M passes the installation position of the tread plate portion 161a of the monitoring sensor 16 in the medal flow channel 11, and the medal M is not in contact with the tread plate portion 161a, the movable member is moved by the biasing member 163. 161 rotates about the central axis of the pivot portion 161b, and returns to a state before the movable member 161 is displaced (see FIG. 6). As a result, the displacement detection sensor 162 does not detect the detected portion 161c of the movable member 161 which has been detected, and outputs the detection signal P1 indicating OFF in response to the non-detection.

  The main control unit 7 receives the detection signal P1, and when the detection signal P1 indicates ON, the main control unit 7 specifies that the monitoring sensor 16 is detecting the medal M, that is, the state of ON. On the other hand, when the detection signal P1 indicates OFF, it is specified that the monitoring sensor 16 is not detecting the medal M, that is, the state of OFF.

  Here, the identification of the ON or OFF state in the monitoring sensor 16 has been described, but the same processing is performed for the identification of the ON or OFF state in the input detection sensor 15 and the identification of the ON or OFF state in the outlet sensor 17 It can be executed by the contents.

(C-12) Identification of chronological order of transition between ON state and OFF state in each sensor The main control unit 7 detects the closing detection sensor 15, the monitoring sensor 16, and the exit sensor based on the detection signals P1 to P3. While specifying the state of ON or OFF for each of the seventeen, the time series order of the transition from ON to OFF or OFF to ON is specified.
For example, it is assumed that the detection signals P1 to P3 input by the main control unit 7 have waveforms as shown in FIGS. 17 (i) to 17 (iii). In this case, the time-series order of the transition between the ON state and the OFF state in each of the sensors 15 to 17 is as follows.
Transition from OFF to ON of the monitoring sensor 16 → transition from OFF to ON of the detection sensor 15 → transition from OFF to ON of the exit sensor 17 → transition from ON to OFF of the detection sensor 15 → exit sensor 17 from ON to OFF Transition → Monitoring sensor 16 transitions from ON to OFF

(C-13) Determination of detection of medal M When specifying the time series order of the transition between the ON state and the OFF state of each of the sensors 15 to 17, the main control unit 7 stores this time series order in advance. The medal detection pattern A (which indicates the chronological order of the transition between the ON state and the OFF state of the sensors 15 to 17 and is stored in advance in a predetermined storage unit) is compared with the medal detection pattern A.
Then, when the specified time-sequential order matches the medal detection pattern A, it is determined that the medal M is detected.
On the other hand, when the specified time-series order is different from the medal detection pattern A, the main control unit 7 does not determine that the medal M is detected.

For example, the detection signals P1 to P3 input by the main control unit 7 have waveforms as shown in FIGS. 17 (i) to 17 (iii), and the transition between the ON state and the OFF state in each sensor 15 to 17 is made. It is assumed that the sequential order is the order described above.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 17 (iv), the medal detection pattern A is ON, the monitoring sensor 16 is ON, the closing detection sensor 15 is ON, the exit sensor 17 is ON, the closing detection sensor 15 is OFF, and the exit sensor 17 is It is assumed that the order of OFF → the monitoring sensor 16 is OFF.
In this case, since the specified time-series order matches the medal detection pattern A, the main control unit 7 determines that the medal M has been detected.

The characteristics of such determination include the following.
(Ci)
During at least a part of the period in which the monitoring sensor 16 detects the medal M, the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M.
In addition, while the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M, the monitoring sensor 16 detects the medal M.
That is, there is a period in which the monitoring sensor 16 and the insertion detection sensor 15 simultaneously detect the same medal M.

(C-ii)
The monitoring sensor 16 starts detecting the medal M before the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M, and continues the detection of the medal M even after the insertion detection sensor 15 finishes detecting the medal M. Detect period.

(C-iii)
The exit sensor 17 detects the medal M during at least a part of the period in which the monitoring sensor 16 detects the medal M.
Further, while the exit sensor 17 detects the medal M, the monitoring sensor 16 detects the medal M.
That is, there is a period in which the monitoring sensor 16 and the exit sensor 17 simultaneously detect the same medal M.

(C-iv)
The monitoring sensor 16 starts detecting the medal M before the outlet sensor 17 detects the medal M, and continues detecting the medal M for a predetermined period even after the outlet sensor 17 finishes detecting the medal M. Do.

(Cv)
As a summary of (ci) to (c-iv), the monitoring sensor 16 covers the period in which the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M and the period before and after the period in which the exit sensor 17 detects the medal M The medal M is detected.
Further, the medal detection pattern A is not a simple one in which the three sensors 15 to 17 are sequentially turned off in the order of turning on, but the complex that the monitoring sensor 16 that has first transitioned to ON finally transitions to OFF It is in order.
This makes it difficult for the fraudster to intervene and prevent fraudulent acts.

Furthermore, the main control unit 7 is configured to determine that the medal M has been detected based on at least the detection signal being received from both the monitoring sensor 16 and the insertion detection sensor 15.
Also in this respect, it is not a simple thing that the monitoring sensor 16 and the closing detection sensor 15 are sequentially turned off in the order of transition to ON, but the complex that the monitoring sensor 16 that first transitions to ON finally changes to OFF The order is
This makes it difficult for the fraudster to intervene and prevent fraudulent acts.

When the regular medal M is inserted, the monitoring sensor 16, the insertion detection sensor 15, and the exit sensor 17 are turned ON, the insertion detection sensor 15 is turned ON, and the exit sensor 17 is activated. The medal detector 10 is disposed in the medal selector 10 so that the insertion detection sensor 15 is turned off, the exit sensor 17 is turned off, and the monitoring sensor 16 is turned off.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 9, the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 flows down the medal channel 11 and reaches the position of the medal “M11” shown in FIG. When the contact with the tread plate portion 161a of the monitoring sensor 16 presses the tread plate portion 161a, the monitoring sensor 16 is turned on. Next, when the medal M flows down and reaches the position of the medal "M12" shown in FIG. 9, the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M and is turned on. Subsequently, when the medal M flows down and reaches the position of the medal "M13" shown in FIG. 9, the tip of the medal M contacts the contacted part 171a of the exit sensor 17 and presses the contacted part 171a. The exit sensor 17 detects the medal M and is turned on. Then, when the medal M flows down and reaches the position of the medal "M14" shown in FIG. 9, the insertion detection sensor 15 does not detect the medal M, so the state becomes OFF. Furthermore, when the medal M flows down and reaches the position of the medal "M15" shown in FIG. 9, the medal M does not press the touched portion 171a of the outlet sensor 17, and the outlet sensor 17 no longer detects the medal M So it will be off. Thereafter, when the medal M flows down and reaches the position of the medal "M16" shown in FIG. 9, the medal M does not press the tread plate portion 161a of the monitoring sensor 16, and the monitoring sensor 16 no longer detects the medal M. , Will be off.
The monitoring sensor 16, the insertion detection sensor 15, and the exit sensor 17 are arranged in the medal selector 10 so as to transition between the ON state and the OFF state in such a time-sequential order when the regular medal M is inserted. ing.
The tread plate portion 161a of the monitoring sensor 16 is formed in such a shape as to cause the respective sensors 15 to 17 to transition between the ON state and the OFF state in the above-described chronological order, and such a transition is possible Are placed in

  (C-2) Detection of the medal M based on the detection signal output from the insertion detection sensor 15 and the exit sensor 17

In (c-1), the method of determining the detection of the medal M based on the transition of the ON state and the OFF state of the three sensors 15 to 17 has been described.
Here, a method of determining the detection of the medal M based on the transition of the ON state and the OFF state of the two sensors, the insertion detection sensor 15 and the exit sensor 17 will be described.

The main control unit 7 executes the processes (c-11) to (c-14) described above in (c-1) in order to detect the medal M.
Here, the contents of each process of (c-11) to (c-14) executed in (c-2) are basically executed in (c-1) (c-11) It is the same as the contents of each processing of (c-14), but there are also differences.
Here, among the contents of the respective processes (c-11) to (c-14), points different from the contents to be executed in (c-1) will be described.

(C-11) The main control unit 7 receives at least the detection signal P2 output from the closing detection sensor 15 and the detection signal P3 output from the exit sensor 17.
The main control unit 7 specifies, based on the detection signal P2, which state the input detection sensor 15 is ON or OFF. Further, based on the detection signal P3, the main control unit 7 specifies which of the ON and OFF states the outlet sensor 17 is in.

(C-12) The main control unit 7 specifies ON or OFF states for each of the input detection sensor 15 and the outlet sensor 17 based on the detection signals P2 and P3, and turns ON to OFF or OFF to ON. Identify the chronological order of transitions to
For example, it is assumed that the detection signals P2 and P3 input by the main control unit 7 have waveforms as shown in FIGS. 17 (ii) and (iii). In this case, the time series order of the transition between the ON state and the OFF state in each of the sensors 15 and 17 is as follows.
Transition detection sensor 15 from OFF to ON → exit sensor 17 transition from OFF to ON → transition detection sensor 15 from ON to OFF → transition from exit sensor 17 to ON

(C-13) When the main control unit 7 specifies the time series order of the transition between the ON state and the OFF state of each of the sensors 15 and 17, the medal detection pattern B (this time series order is stored beforehand) The time series order of the ON / OFF transition of each sensor 15, 17 is shown, and it is compared with one stored in a predetermined storage unit in advance.
Then, when the specified time-series order matches the medal detection pattern B, it is determined that the medal M is detected.
On the other hand, when the specified time-series order is different from the medal detection pattern B, the main control unit 7 does not determine that the medal M is detected.

For example, the detection signals P2 and P3 input by the main control unit 7 have waveforms as shown in FIG. 17 (ii) and (iii), and the transition between the ON state and the OFF state in each sensor 15 and 17 It is assumed that the sequential order is the order described above.
On the other hand, in the medal detection pattern B, as shown in FIG. 17 (v), it is assumed that the insertion detection sensor 15 is ON → the exit sensor 17 is ON → the insertion detection sensor 15 is OFF → the exit sensor 17 is OFF. Do.
In this case, since the specified time-series order matches the medal detection pattern B, the main control unit 7 determines that the medal M has been detected.
On the other hand, when the specified time-series order is different from the medal detection pattern B, the main control unit 7 does not determine that the medal M is detected.

  Even when the determination is made with such contents, the main control unit 7 can detect the medal M that has passed through the medal channel 11 of the medal selector 10.

(D) Blocker (d-1) Structure and Operation The blocker 13 supports the medal M so that the medal M can pass through the medal channel 11, and the medal M which exceeds the maximum number of credits is A guide member for releasing the support of the medal M so as to be discharged from the medal channel 11, and a support position for supporting the medal M and a discharge position for discharging the medal M from the medal channel 11 It is movable.
The blocker 13 has a medal support portion 131 disposed over a predetermined length along the direction from the upstream side to the downstream side of the medal channel 11 on one side of the medal channel 11 There is.

The blocker 13 operates in conjunction with the operation of the solenoid 12.
The solenoid 12 is a guide member control unit that moves and holds the blocker 13 from the discharge position to the support position by excitation, and moves the blocker 13 from the support position to the discharge position by releasing the excitation.
For example, when the solenoid 12 is energized, the blocker 13 is drawn to the solenoid 12 as shown in FIG. Thereby, the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 protrudes from the side of the medal channel 11 to the front of the wall surface portion 11 a.
As described above, in the state where the medal support portion 131 protrudes from the side portion of the medal channel 11, the medal M is supported so that the medal M can pass through the medal channel 11. The state is the support position of the blocker 13.

On the other hand, when the solenoid 12 is not excited, as shown in FIG. 18, the attracted blocker 13 separates from the solenoid 12. In this case, the blocker 13 is biased by a biasing member (not shown), and the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 is pulled down from the side portion of the medal channel 11 to the back side of the wall portion 11a.
As described above, the state in which the medal support portion 131 is pulled down from the side portion of the medal channel 11 is the state in which the medal M which is going to pass through the medal channel 11 can not be supported. It is discharged downward from the That is, the discharge position of the blocker 13 is the state in which the medal support portion 131 is pulled down from the side portion of the medal passage 11 to the back side of the wall portion 11a.

The solenoid 12 operates under the control of the main control unit 7.
For example, when medals M having a number exceeding the maximum number of credits (for example, 50) are inserted into the medal insertion slot 2, the main control unit 7 causes the medal selector 10 to discharge the medal M for the excess. Therefore, the solenoid 12 is shifted from the excitation state to the non-excitation state.

The control of the solenoid 12 by the main control unit 7 and the operation of the main control unit 7 will be further described.
When the number of credits has not reached the maximum and the medal M can be inserted into the medal insertion slot 2, the main control unit 7 causes the solenoid 12 to be in an excited state, and the medal supporting unit 131 of the blocker 13. Move to support position.
Further, the main control unit 7 operates as a counting unit of the present invention, and counts the number of credits based on at least the detection signal P2 from the insertion detection sensor 15. Then, when the counted number of credits reaches the maximum number, the main control unit 7 deenergizes the solenoid 12 and moves the medal support unit 131 of the blocker 13 from the support position to the discharge position.
Thereby, even if the medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 thereafter, the medal M is discharged from the medal channel 11 of the medal selector 10 and is sent to the medal payout opening 6a.

Thus, the medal M inserted after the maximum number of credits has been discharged is discharged from the medal channel 11 of the medal selector 10, but the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 is enabled to perform such an operation. The shape is as follows.
When it is possible to insert the medal M into the medal insertion slot 2 when the number of credits has not reached the maximum number, the blocker 13 is in the supporting position. In this case, when the medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 2, the medal M is detected by the insertion detection sensor 15. The position of the medal M when it is detected by the insertion detection sensor 15 in this manner is shown as "M21" in FIG.
When the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M, the insertion detection sensor 15 sends a detection signal P2 indicating ON to the main control unit 7. When the main control unit 7 receives this detection signal, the main control unit 7 increments the count by "1".

Then, assuming that the medal M indicated as “M21” in FIG. 19 is the medal M counted by the main control unit 7 and becoming the maximum number of credits, the main control unit 7 switches the solenoid 12 from the excitation state to the non-excitation state Switch to the excitation state.
As a result, the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 moves from the support position to the discharge position. Therefore, the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 after this is discharged from the medal channel 11.

However, when a plurality of medals M are continuously inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 and the next medal M ("M22" shown in FIG. 19) exists immediately behind the medal M indicated as "M21" Since this "next medal M" is the medal M exceeding the maximum number of credits, it is not sent out from the medal outlet 18, but is discharged downward from the medal channel 11 and paid out from the medal payout opening 6a It must be
Thus, the main control unit 7 moves the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 from the support position to the discharge position. However, since this movement is a mechanical movement, it takes a predetermined time to move from the support position to the discharge position.

On the other hand, the “next medal M” is one inserted from the medal insertion slot 2 and passes through the medal channel 11 at a predetermined speed.
Here, after the insertion detection sensor 15 detects the medal M indicated as "M21", the medal supporting portion 131 of the blocker 13 so that "M22" which is the "next medal" is discharged from the medal channel 11. Assuming that the time taken for the movement of the wheel to the discharge position is the guide member movement time, the “M22” which is the “next medal” is the medal channel 11 during the time from the start to the end of the guide member movement time. Will move.
As described above, even when “M22”, which is the “next medal”, moves, the downstream end of the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 so that the “next medal” is discharged from the medal channel 11 A position 132 is located in the vicinity of a position facing the insertion detection sensor 15 across the medal channel 11.
That is, at the position where the downstream end portion 132 of the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 is disposed, the “next medal” moves the medal channel 11 from the start to the end of the guide member movement time. It is located at a position where it can support the “next medal” after movement, or on the downstream side of the medal channel 11 from this position.
By providing the blocker 13 so as to be in such a position, the medal M inserted after the number of credits reaches the maximum number is reliably discharged from the medal channel 11 and paid out from the medal payout opening 6a. Can be

(E) Medal Channel The medal channel 11 is a passage through which the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 passes through the inside of the medal selector 10.
In the medal channel 11, a wall surface portion 11a facing the circular surface of the medal M passing through the medal channel 11 is formed (see FIGS. 3 and 5). Further, the wall surface portion 11a has a wall surface portion surface 11b which is a surface opposed to the circular surface of the medal M passing in the upright state.
The wall surface 11 b is a substantially vertical surface when the medal selector 10 is attached to the back of the front door 1 a of the slot machine 1.

Thus, clogging of the medal M in the medal channel 11 can be prevented by making the wall surface 11b a substantially vertical surface.
For example, it is assumed that the wall surface 11b is not a vertical surface but an inclined surface such that the surface faces obliquely upward or obliquely downward.
In this case, when the medal M is inserted into the medal insertion slot 2, the medal M is inserted while standing upright in a substantially vertical direction, but when it approaches the inclined wall surface 11b, the medal M is also inclined according to this inclination. It will be. That is, when the medal M passes through the medal channel 11, it is necessary to change the posture from the posture upright in the vertical direction to the inclined posture.
Along with this, the round surface or the circumferential surface of the medal M easily collides with the wall surface 11 b or the blocker 13, and the flow of the medal M is suppressed due to the collision. Clogging may occur, for example, by stopping.

On the other hand, when the wall surface 11b is a substantially vertical surface, the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 in a substantially upright posture maintains the medal channel 11 while maintaining this posture. You can pass through.
For this reason, since the medal M does not collide with the wall surface 11 b or the blocker 13 when passing through the medal channel 11, the medal M may stop flowing down on the way of the medal channel 11. It disappears.
From this, it is possible to prevent clogging of the medal M in the medal channel 11 by making the wall surface 11b a substantially vertical surface.

The wall surface 11b can be made to be a substantially vertical surface in this manner because the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 is located below the medal channel 11.
For example, in the case where the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 is positioned above the medal channel 11, the wall surface 11b of the medal channel 11 is obliquely downward in order to support the medal M on the medal support portion 131. The medal M must be inclined in accordance with this inclined surface so that the upper end portion of the medal M can be supported by the medal support portion 131. Then, when passing through the medal channel 11, the medal M must change its posture from the vertically upright posture to the inclined posture, which may cause clogging.
On the other hand, when the medal support portion 131 of the blocker 13 is positioned below the medal channel 11, since the medal support portion 131 is positioned in the direction of the center of gravity of the medal M, the medal M is vertically erected. Can be maintained in the same posture. Thereby, since it is not necessary to make wall surface part surface 11b of medal channel 11 into an inclined surface, this wall surface part surface 11b can be made into a substantially perpendicular field.

  As described above, since the medal selector 10 according to the present embodiment does not assume clogging of the medal M, the return button for returning the medal M that is clogged is not provided.

(F) Insertion slot side detection sensor The insertion port side detection sensor 14 is a sensor for detecting the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2, and is provided on the medal flow path 11 upstream of the blocker 13. There is.
The inlet-side detection sensor 14 outputs a detection signal when it detects that the movable member 141 in the form of a tread plate, the displacement member 142 displaced in conjunction with the movement of the movable member 141, and the displacement member 142 are displaced. And a displacement detection sensor 143 for sending to the main control unit 7 (see FIG. 3).

The movable member 141 is formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape, and one side surface 141a of the four side surfaces in the rectangular plate shape faces the upstream side of the medal channel 11, and is opposed to the one side surface 141a. The medal passage 11 is provided such that the side surface 141 b facing the medal passage 11 faces the downstream side of the medal passage 11.
In addition, the movable member 141 is located at a position where one side 141a is slightly shifted to the back side of the medal selector 10 than the wall surface 11b of the medal channel 11, but the side 141b is opposed to the one side 141a. Is positioned in front of the wall surface 11 b of the medal channel 11.
Furthermore, the movable member 141 is pivotally supported on the base 19 of the medal selector 10 such that the direction along the wall surface length HN of the medal passage 11 is the axial direction of the rotation axis.
For this reason, when the medal M inserted into the medal insertion slot 2 abuts on the movable member 141, the movable member 141 rotates around the rotation axis. Then, when the displacement member 142 is displaced with the rotation of the movable member 141, the displacement detection sensor 143 which detects this displacement outputs a detection signal indicating ON and sends it to the main control unit 7.

Here, the movable member 141 is formed such that the length YN in the direction along the flow passage orthogonal direction RT is substantially the same length as the wall surface length HN or slightly longer than the wall surface length HN (see FIG. 3).
By setting the length YN of the movable member 141 to such a length, it is possible to reliably detect the medal M passing through the location where the movable member 141 is installed.

In addition, by setting the length YN of the movable member 141 to such a length, it is possible to reliably detect an unauthorized device inserted in a place where the movable member 141 is installed.
There are various forms of fraudulent devices, for example, there are rod-like ones and tube-like ones as the shape of the fraudulent device or its parts.
Here, when the length YN of the movable member 141 is shorter than the wall surface length HN, a gap is formed between the side portion of the movable member 141 and the side portion of the medal channel 11, for example, It is possible to insert the device into the gap. Then, since the insertion port side detection sensor 14 including the movable member 141 can not detect the fraudulent apparatus, the medal M may be illegally paid out.

On the other hand, when the length YN of the movable member 141 is equal to or longer than the wall length HN, there is a gap between the side portion of the movable member 141 and the side portion of the medal channel 11 Since it can not be done, for example, when a bar-like fraudulent instrument is inserted from the medal insertion slot 2, the fraudulent instrument always abuts on the movable member 141. Then, the insertion port side detection sensor 14 including the movable member 141 can reliably detect the fraudulent appliance.
Then, the inlet-side detection sensor 14 sends a detection signal indicating ON to the main control unit 7 based on the detection of the fraudulent appliance, but the main control unit 7 generates an abnormality based on the detection signal indicating the ON. We can detect what we did. For example, a time interval between the timing when the detection signal sent from the inlet side detection sensor 14 transitions from OFF to ON and the timing when the detection signal sent from the insertion detection sensor 15 subsequently transitions from OFF to ON When the time is shorter than the predetermined time, it is determined that the insertion port side detection sensor 14 and the insertion detection sensor 15 both detect the regular medal M. On the other hand, when the time interval is longer than a predetermined time, it can be determined that an abnormality such as a fraud has occurred. In this case, the main control unit 7 can notify the store clerk of the game arcade of the occurrence of the abnormality by executing a notification indicating that the abnormality has occurred.

As described above, according to the gaming machine of the present embodiment, in the medal channel of the medal selector, monitoring is performed to detect the medal over the period before and after the insertion detection sensor, which is a photosensor, detects the medal. By providing the sensor, it is possible to reliably detect an unauthorized device inserted for the purpose of malfunction of the insertion detection sensor.
Further, by providing an outlet sensor disposed in the vicinity of the medal outlet in the medal channel of the medal selector, with the direction of protrusion facing in the direction of the medal outlet, further entry of medals flowing back from the medal outlet can be prevented. .
Furthermore, in the main control unit, each sensor is turned on in chronological order, with the monitoring sensor ON, input detection sensor ON, outlet sensor ON, input detection sensor OFF, outlet sensor OFF, and monitoring sensor OFF. Since it is determined that the medal has been detected when it is determined that the OFF state has transitioned, it becomes difficult to intervene in fraudulent activity, and the occurrence of this fraudulent activity can be prevented.

The preferred embodiment of the gaming machine according to the present invention has been described above, but the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a slot machine has been described as an example of a gaming machine provided with a medal selector, but the gaming machine is not limited to a slot machine, and a gaming machine using medals as gaming media, for example, It may be a sparrow ball or an arrange ball. Also, in the case of a slot machine, it may be an enclosed type slot machine.

  In the embodiment described above, the main control unit detects the medal or detects the occurrence of an abnormality based on the detection signals output from each of the monitoring sensor, the insertion detection sensor, and the exit sensor. However, for example, the detection of the medal or the detection of the occurrence of abnormality may be performed based on the detection signal output from the insertion port side detection sensor. For example, the main control unit measures an elapsed time from the timing at which the detection signal indicating ON that is output from the inlet side detection sensor is received to the timing at which the detection signal indicating ON that is output from the insertion detection sensor is received. If the elapsed time is within a predetermined time, it may be determined that a regular medal has been detected, and if the elapsed time is greater than or equal to the predetermined time, it may be determined that an abnormality has occurred.

  Furthermore, it is assumed that all of the insertion detection sensor provided in the medal selector, the displacement detection sensor of the monitoring sensor, the displacement detection sensor of the exit sensor, and the displacement detection sensor of the insertion port side detection sensor use a photosensor. However, the sensor is not limited to the photo sensor, and a proximity sensor, a capacitance sensor, or the like may be used.

1 Slot machine (game machine)
7 main control unit 10 medal selector 11 medal flow passage 11a wall surface 12 solenoid (guide member control unit)
13 Blocker (guide member)
132 Blocker downstream end 15 Insertion detection sensor (second sensor)
16 monitoring sensor (first sensor)
161 movable member 161a tread plate portion 17 exit sensor (third sensor)
M Medal HN Wall length XN Monitoring sensor treadle length P1 to P3 Detection signal

Claims (6)

A gaming machine provided with a medal selector for detecting inserted medals, wherein
The medal selector is
A medal channel through which the inserted medal passes;
The medal is supported so that the medal can pass through the medal channel, and the medal is moved to a support position for supporting the medal and a discharge position for discharging the medal from the medal channel Possible guide members,
A first sensor provided at a position capable of detecting a medal supported by the guide member;
The medal channel has a wall surface portion facing the circular surface of the medal passing in the standing state,
The first sensor includes a tread-plate-like movable member provided on the wall surface portion of the medal channel,
When the length of the wall surface in the direction orthogonal to the passing direction of the medal is the wall surface length, the length of the movable member in the direction along the direction orthogonal to the passing direction of the medal is substantially the same as the length of the wall surface Formed in the same length ,
The movable member is
A first surface portion provided on the upstream side of the medal channel;
A game machine comprising: a second surface portion provided downstream of the first surface portion and set at an angle different from the first surface portion . A gaming machine provided with a medal selector for detecting inserted medals, wherein
The medal selector is
A medal passage having a first medal passage and a second medal passage located downstream of the first medal passage as a passage through which the inserted medal passes;
A support position provided for the first medal channel, supporting the medal so that the medal can pass through the first channel, and a support position for supporting the medal, and the medal for the medal channel A guide member movable to a discharge position for discharging from the
A first sensor provided in the second medal channel,
Provided on the second medal passage, and a second sensor for detecting the medal at least part of a time period when the first sensor has detected the medal,
The second medal channel has a wall surface portion facing the circular surface of the medal passing in the upright state,
The first sensor has a tread-plate-like movable member provided on the wall surface portion of the second medal channel,
When the length of the wall surface in the direction orthogonal to the passing direction of the medal is the wall surface length, the length of the movable member in the direction along the direction orthogonal to the passing direction of the medal is substantially the same as the length of the wall surface Formed in the same length,
While the second sensor detects the medal, the first sensor detects the medal,
The control unit of the gaming machine determines that the medal has been detected based on at least a detection signal indicating that the medal has been detected from both of the first sensor and the second sensor. Yu Technical machine it said. The medal selector includes a third sensor capable of preventing the medals passing through the medal flow path from backflowing,
The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the control unit determines the detection of the medal based on detection signals respectively output from the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor. The control unit determines, based on the detection signal, whether each of the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor is ON or OFF.
In chronological order, the first sensor is turned ON, the second sensor is turned ON, the third sensor is turned ON, the second sensor is turned OFF, the third sensor is turned OFF, and the first sensor is turned OFF. The gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor are disposed on the medal selector so that A counting unit that counts the number of credits based on a detection signal from the second sensor;
A guide member control unit for moving the guide member from the support position to the discharge position when the number of credits counted by the count unit reaches a predetermined number;
The guide member is disposed over a predetermined length along one direction from the upstream side to the downstream side of the medal channel on one side of the medal channel,
Assuming that the time taken for the guide member to move to the discharge position after the second sensor detects the medals that become the predetermined number when counted by the counting unit is the guide member movement time,
Even if the next medal moves in the medal channel between the start and the end of the guide member movement time, the next medal is discharged from the medal channel so that the next medal is discharged from the medal channel. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein an end on the downstream side is located in the vicinity of a position facing the second sensor across the medal channel. The control unit of the gaming machine executes a predetermined process based on the ON time of the detection signal output from the first sensor continuing for a predetermined period or more. The game machine described in.

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