JP6636751B2 - Game media supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game medium replenishing apparatus for replenishing a game medium using machine with a game medium in a game machine island.

  The gaming hall has a gaming machine island in which gaming machines, such as slot machines and coin gaming machines, which play medals in predetermined areas are arranged side by side. Usually, a medal lending machine is provided adjacent to the slot machine, and medals are paid out according to the amount of inserted money. A game is started when a medal paid out from a medal lending machine is inserted into a slot machine, and when a plurality of reels have a predetermined winning combination as a result of the game, a corresponding number of medals are paid out. It is a mechanism that is paid as. Therefore, in order to continue the game, it is necessary to sequentially supply a medal for winning to the slot machine and a medal for lending to the medal lending machine.

  As a means for replenishing medals in response to a medal request of such a slot machine or a medal lending machine, there is a game medium circulation system for replenishing and collecting medals inside a gaming machine island. As an example of the game medium circulation system, medals conveyed on a line constituted by a belt conveyor are dropped on a supply chute by a medal distribution device provided at a distribution position on the line, and connected to the supply chute. Some machines supply medals to slot machines and medal lending machines via piping.

  As a distributing device for distributing medals on this line, a bar that is formed in a frame shape with an open bottom, and has a slanted tip is pivotally supported at the rear so that it can move up and down, and a support rod is attached to the bar and a notch There is disclosed a gate device that is provided with a vertically movable drive unit that protrudes from a small hole formed in accordance with the above and pushes up a protruding support bar from below (Patent Document 1).

  In the device described in Patent Literature 1, medals are conveyed by a medal conveyance conveyor, and a medal replenishment control unit moves a driving unit of a gate device downward to lower a bar by its own weight in response to a reaction of a sensor. The medal lands on the conveyor belt of the medal transport conveyor and is closed obliquely. The medal hits the tip of the bar, is guided to the opening, and is taken into the chute.

Japanese Patent No. 4540584

  However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, the bar is lowered by its own weight by moving the drive unit to release the support on the support bar. In this regard, if the bar is lowered only by its own weight, the tip of the bar, which has landed on the conveyor belt and blocked obliquely, will jump or lift due to a collision with a medal or belt conveyor. There is a possibility that a medal may pass through by creating a gap between the conveyor belt and the tip of the bar. For this reason, guidance of medals cannot be performed accurately, and the medal replenishment control unit may not be able to replenish the planned number of medals to the game medium using machine.

  The present invention has been made under such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game medium replenishing apparatus capable of accurately replenishing a game medium using machine with a game medium.

In order to solve the above problem, a game medium replenishing apparatus according to the present invention is a game medium replenishing apparatus for replenishing game media to a plurality of game medium using machines arranged in right and left, comprising a transport path and the transport path. A supply line capable of transporting the game medium in the left or right direction, a discharge port formed in the side wall, and discharging the game medium transported on the transport path. A dispensing device that guides to an outlet, and a supply chute that receives the game medium discharged from the discharge port and supplies the game medium to the game medium using machine via a pipe. A case provided with a base piece disposed above the conveyance path, and a pair of leg pieces provided below from both ends of the base piece and detachably locked to an outer surface of the side wall; and One shield plate that blocks obliquely A flap provided in, et al provided in the leg which is supported by a bearing portion disposed above the replenishing line, the other end of the flap is also disposed upstream of the supply line from the bearing portion up and down A shaft rotatably supported in a direction, a biasing means for constantly biasing one end of the flap upward against the gravity, and a control against the upward biasing force of the biasing means. A drive unit that lowers one end of the flap under control of the unit and obliquely closes the transport path with the shielding plate , wherein the drive unit is a solenoid that pulls down an operating body with energization. the solenoid is mounted to the leg, a connecting member to which the other end is connected at one end to the actuation of the solenoid is connected to the flap, the biasing means is a spring member, the One end of the spring material is in the above case It is connected and the other end is connected to the connecting member (claim 1).

  With this configuration, the distributing device applies a force in a direction in which the driving unit lowers one end of the flap when one end of the flap is lowered and the conveyance path is obliquely closed by the shielding plate. Therefore, the shield plate does not jump up or lift up due to the collision with the game medium or the transport path to form a gap between the transport surface and the shield plate. Can be guided to the outlet.

In this case, it is preferable that the leg of the dispensing device is detachably engaged with the outer surface of the side wall of the supply line .

  According to the game medium replenishing apparatus of the present invention, it is configured as described above, and the distributing apparatus can accurately guide all the conveyed game media to the discharge port. The medium can be replenished accurately.

It is a front view showing a part of game machine island provided with the game medium supply device concerning the present invention. It is a general | schematic whole block diagram of the game medium supply apparatus which comprises the said game machine island. It is a perspective view which shows the vicinity of the supply line which comprises the said game medium supply apparatus. It is the perspective view which cut out some game media supply devices concerning this invention. It is an exploded perspective view of a supply line which constitutes the above-mentioned game medium supply device. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a mounting state of the distribution device according to the present invention. It is a front view (a) of the distribution apparatus in this invention, and the schematic enlarged view (b) which extracted only the case of B part of FIG. 7 (a). It is a front view showing the state where the flap of the front side of the distribution device in the present invention was lowered. FIG. 3 is a left side view of the dispensing device according to the present invention, with a portion cut away. It is sectional drawing which follows the A line of FIG.7 (a). 9A is a schematic enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. 7A and FIG. 8B is a schematic enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. It is a D part schematic enlarged view in FIG.

  Hereinafter, the game medium supply device 4 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, a case where the game medium supply device 4 according to the present invention is applied to the gaming machine island 1 in a gaming hall will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a gaming machine island 1 includes a slot machine 2 that is a gaming medium using machine, and a medal lending machine 3 (gaming medium using machine) that is attached to the slot machine 2 and pays out a gaming medium, for example, a medal. A plurality of rows are provided on the left and right sides, and they are configured in a double-sided form in which they are connected back to back. In the vicinity of the center of the inside of the gaming machine island 1 between the slot machines 2, a game medium supply device 4 is incorporated along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1.

  The game medium replenishing device 4 is a device for replenishing a slot machine 2 with a medal for winning and a medal lending machine 3 with a medal for lending. As shown in FIG. The supply line 10 transports medals on a conveyor to the supply chute 20 connected to the slot machine 2 or the medal lending machine 3 via the bellows tube 40, and the slot machine 2 and the medal lending which are arranged below the gaming machine island 1 A collection line 6 for receiving medals discharged from the machine 3 and medals dropped via the communication path 5 and transporting the medals by a belt conveyor. Also, a storage tank (not shown) for storing medals collected by the collection line 6, a lifter device (not shown) for lifting medals stored in the storage tank onto the supply line 10, and a game medium replenishing device 4 A control unit 100 that controls the entire operation, and a storage box 7 that stores a medal washing machine, a dehydrator, and the like and is provided at an end of the gaming machine island 1 are provided.

  In this case, for example, the control unit 100 shown in FIG. 2 is configured by a computer including a microprocessor such as a CPU and an arithmetic processing unit having peripheral circuits, and is electrically connected to each device constituting the game medium supply device 4. These devices are connected to perform operation control of these devices by executing a predetermined program. Specifically, the control unit 100 determines whether or not a medal replenishment request has been made from the slot machine 2 or the medal lending machine 3. Of the operating body 34a of the solenoid 34 is controlled.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the supply line 10 includes a transport belt 11 for transporting medals, a hollow frame 12 supported from the inner side of the transport belt 11, and a refill line 10 inserted into a hollow portion of the frame 12. A connection port (not shown) to which a joint 13 that connects the two frames 12, a drive pulley (not shown) that is connected to one end of the frame 12 and that drives the transport belt 11 in a fixed direction, and a communication path 5 can be connected. ), A second pulley unit 15 connected to the other end of the frame 12 and having a return pulley (not shown), and a roller (not shown) to adjust the position of the rollers. A tensioner 16 for applying a predetermined tension to the belt 11. In this case, the transport belt 11 and the frame 12 form a transport path 10A of the supply line 10 that can transport medals to the left.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the supply line 10 includes a cover unit 18 made of resin. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the cover unit 18 includes side walls 17 arranged on both sides of the frame 12, and the side wall 17 includes a discharge port 17 d that discharges medals that the distributing device 30 pushes out from above the conveyor belt 11. The first side wall 17A includes a first side wall 17A and a second side wall 17B connected to the left side of the first side wall 17A and having a lower height than the first side wall 17A. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the second side wall 17B is formed in a channel-like shape with its upper end connected by an upper piece 17g and opened downward. Further, the second side wall 17B has a locking projection 17c formed on the lower side on the outside. In addition, a ceiling plate 18d that removably closes an opening formed in an upper portion is disposed between the first side walls 17A.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, the discharge port 17d is formed in a horizontally long drive shape that is long in the left-right direction, and a pair of bearing portions 17e is formed above the discharge port 17d. An opening / closing door 17f for opening and closing the discharge port 17d is rotatably supported by a shaft supported by a bearing 17e. The opening / closing door 17f can prevent the medal conveyed on the conveying path 10A from dropping from the discharge port 17d even though it is not guided by the distribution device 30. As will be described later, six distribution devices 30 are attached, and there are a total of 12 distribution positions, 6 on the right side of the transport belt 11 and 6 on the left side, and a discharge port 17d is provided at each position.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, six cover units 18 configured as described above are mounted on the transport path 10A. The transport path between the first pulley unit 14 and the cover unit 18, between each cover unit 18, and between the cover unit 18 and the second pulley unit 15 so that medals on the transport path 10 </ b> A do not fall. A cover member 19 covering 10A is attached (see FIG. 4).

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the supply line 10 includes a distribution device 30. The distributing device 30 is a device for guiding medals conveyed on the conveying path 10A to a discharge port 17d formed on the first side wall 17A, and as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a base piece 31a and a pair of legs. A case 31 provided with a piece 31b, a pair of flaps 32, 33 provided with shielding plates 32A, 33A capable of obliquely closing the transport path 10A, and a bias for constantly biasing one end of the flaps 32, 33 upward. It is mainly composed of a spring member 36 as a means, a solenoid 34 as a drive unit for lowering one end of the flaps 32 and 33, and a connecting member 35 for connecting the operating body 34a of the solenoid 34 and the flaps 32 and 33. .

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 9, the case 31 is opened downward by a base piece 31a disposed above the transport path 10A and a pair of leg pieces 31b provided below both ends of the base piece 31a. It is a resin member having a channel-like shape. As shown in FIG. 7 (b), a bearing 31c, which is a hole through which a shaft 31d that supports the other ends of the flaps 32 and 33 described later, can be inserted, is formed above the leg 31b. On the right side of the bearing portion 31c, a vertically long slot 31e is formed so that the fixing portions 32d and 33d projecting laterally from the side surface of the flap 32 do not contact when moving in the vertical direction. (See FIGS. 7 (b), 11 (a) and 11 (b)).

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 6, a concave portion 31f is provided inside the lower portion of the leg piece 31b so as to be detachably engaged with the engaging convex portion 17c formed on the second side wall 17B. The case 31 has a channel shape that opens downward, and the recesses 31f formed in the leg pieces 31b on both sides are respectively engaged with the engagement protrusions 17c, so that the case 31 is formed on the outer surface of the second side wall 17B. It can be detachably locked to. As shown in FIG. 7, a storage portion 31g is formed outside the concave portion 31f so that a solenoid 34 described later can be screwed and stored. By attaching the solenoid 34 to the leg piece 31b in this manner, the height of the gaming machine island 1 can be kept low, and a bright and easy-to-see game hall can be formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 to 11, the flap 32 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate-like flap main body 32 b and a shield formed at one end of the flap main body 32 b and extending obliquely downward from the flap main body 32 b at right angles. A plate 32A, a shaft insertion portion 32c formed at the other end of the flap main body 32b, into which the rod-shaped shaft 31d can be inserted, and a fixing formed at the side surface of the flap main body 32b and disposed through the above-described elongated hole 31e. And 32d (see FIG. 10). In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, the shielding plate 32A has a length of the base that can obliquely block the transport path 10A.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, a pair of flaps 32 and 33 are provided. The back side flap 33, like the front side flap 32, is composed of a flap body 33b, a shaft insertion portion 33c, and a fixed portion 33d, but the shielding plate 33A is obliquely perpendicular to the flat flap body 33b. It extends downward from the front. In this case, the shielding plate 32A of the flap 32 is provided with a notch 32d on the upper side so as to avoid contact with the shielding plate 33A of the wrap 33 when descending. On the other hand, the shielding plate 33A of the flap 33 has a cutout 33d on the lower side so as to avoid contact with the shielding plate 32A of the lap 32 when descending. In this embodiment, a pair of flaps 32 and 33 are provided. However, in the present invention, one flap may be provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A, 8 and 11, the flaps 32 and 33 configured as described above are arranged such that the flap 32 is disposed on the front side and the flap 33 is disposed on the rear side and inserted into the shaft insertion portions 32c and 33c. The shaft 31d is rotatably attached to the case 31 by being supported by a bearing 31c provided on the leg piece 31b.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the flap 32 rotates and the shielding plate 32A descends to obliquely close the transport path 10A, the medals can be guided to the discharge port 17d on the front side. On the other hand, when the flap 33 rotates and the shielding plate 33A descends to obstruct the conveyance path 10A obliquely, medals can be guided to the discharge port 17d on the back side. As described above, the distribution device 30 is configured to guide medals in both the front side and the back side orthogonal to the transport direction.

  The solenoid 34 is electrically connected to a power supply (not shown), and can pull down the operating body 34a protruding in a rod shape with energization. The solenoid 34 is electrically connected to the control unit 100, and the control unit 100 measures the amount of stored medals attached to a tank (not shown) provided in the slot machine 2 or the medal lending machine 3. Upon receiving a signal transmitted from a sensor (not shown) for detecting that the medal is equal to or less than a specified amount, a signal for lowering the operating body 34a is transmitted to the solenoid 34 to control the solenoid 34. A total of two solenoids 34 configured as described above are arranged in the storage portions 31g of the leg pieces 31b on the front side and the rear side, respectively.

  The connecting member 35 is a metal member that connects the operating body 34a of the solenoid 34 and the flaps 32, 33, and as shown in FIGS. An upper piece 35b is provided upright from the side of the base 35a, and a lower piece 35c provided upright from the front side of the base 35a. In this case, the upper piece 35b is screwed and connected to the fixing portion 32d that has penetrated the long hole 31e, and the lower piece 35c is connected to the lower piece 35c by a rod that penetrates the operating body 34a. An opening is formed at the center of the base 35a so as to form a projection 35d (see FIG. 10), and the other end of a spring member 36 described later is locked to the projection 35d.

  The spring material 36 is a metal spring, one end of which is locked and connected to a convex portion 31h formed near the upper end of the leg 31b of the case 31, as shown in FIGS. Are locked to and connected to the protruding pieces 35d of the connecting member 35. The spring member 36 constantly biases the connecting member 35 upward, and the flaps 32 and 33 connected to the connecting member 35 and the operating body 34a of the solenoid 34 are constantly biased upward.

  The medals distributed by the distribution device 30 configured as described above and discharged from the discharge port 17d of the cover unit 18 are dropped and received by the supply chute 20 as shown in FIG. And is conveyed to the slot machine 2 and the medal lending machine 3.

  Next, an installation procedure of the distribution device 30 configured as described above will be described. The worker confirms the position of the bellows tube 40 connected to the slot machine 2 or the medal lending machine 3, and determines the distribution position of the supply line 10 on the transport path 10A. Next, as shown in FIG. 6, the operator screws the lower portion of the side wall 17 of the cover unit 18 to the side surface of the frame 12 so that the outlet 17d is arranged at the distribution position.

  Next, the worker attaches the distribution device 30 to the cover unit 18. As shown in FIG. 6, a channel-shaped case 31 opened downward is fitted into a portion formed in a channel shape by the pair of second side walls 17 </ b> B and the upper side. At this time, the recesses 31f formed on the front side and back side leg pieces 31b are respectively engaged with the engagement projections 17c formed on the second side wall 17B, so that the case 31 is formed on the second side wall 17B. Lock on the outer surface of 17B. The flaps 32 and 33 of the distribution device 30 are arranged in a space between the pair of first side walls 17A. Next, the worker lowers the ceiling plate 18d from above to close the opening formed between the first side wall 17A on the front side and the back side. Further, the worker connects the wiring (not shown) provided in the distribution device 30 to electrically connect to the control unit 100 and the power supply.

  A situation in which the worker has completed the installation of the distribution device 30 and the game medium supply device 4 is operating will be described. When the control unit 100 does not receive a signal that is detected to be equal to or less than a specified amount of medals transmitted from a sensor that measures a stored amount of medals attached to a tank provided in the slot machine 2 or the medal lending machine 3 , Does not transmit a signal to the solenoid 34 to pull down the operating body 34a. In this case, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 11A, since the spring member 36 of the distribution device 30 constantly urges the connecting member 35 upward, the flap 32 connected to the connecting member 35 , 33 and the operating body 34a of the solenoid 34 are constantly urged upward. For this reason, the shield plates 32A and 33A of the flaps 32 and 33 are maintained in a state of being lifted upward, and the medals conveyed on the conveyance path 10A pass below the flaps 32 and 33.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 100 receives a signal that is detected to be equal to or less than the specified amount of medals transmitted from a sensor that measures the stored amount of medals attached to the tank provided in the front slot machine 2, for example. A signal is sent to the solenoid 34 on the front side to lower the operating body 34a downward. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11 (b), the solenoid 34 that has received the command from the control unit 100 pulls the operating body 34a downward against the upward biasing force of the spring member 36. When the connecting member 35 connected to the operating body 34a is pulled down and the fixing portion 32d of the flap 32 connected to the connecting member 35 is further pulled down in the long hole 31e, the flap 32 rotates and the flap 32 is One end is pulled down. When one end of the flap 32 is pulled down, the shielding plate 32A provided at one end of the flap 32 obliquely closes the transport path 10A and guides the medals transported on the transport path 10A to the discharge port 17d on the front side. I do.

  Then, the solenoid 34 keeps pulling down the operating body 34a until a release signal is transmitted from the control unit 100. As a result, the dispensing device 30 keeps the shielding plate 32A provided at one end of the flap 32 obstructing the conveyance path 10A obliquely, and guides the medals conveyed on the conveyance path 10A to the discharge port 17d on the back side. to continue. When one end of the flap 32 is lowered and the transport path 10A is obliquely closed by the shielding plate 32A, the force applied by the solenoid 34 to the one end of the flap 32 is applied. The plate 32A does not jump up or lift up due to a collision with the medals or the transport path 10A to form a gap between the transport path 10A and the shielding plate 32A, and all the medals to be transported can be accurately measured. Can be guided to the discharge port 17d.

  As described above, according to the game medium replenishing device 4 of the present invention, the distributing device 30 can accurately guide all the conveyed medals to the discharge port 17d, so that the medal is provided to the slot machine 2 and the medal lending machine 3. Can be replenished accurately.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and the technical scope of the claims includes various modified forms without departing from the gist of the invention.

2 slot machine (machine using game media)
3 Medal rental machines (machines using game media)
4 Game Media Supply Device 10 Supply Line 10A Transport Path 17 Side Wall 17d Discharge Port 20 Supply Chute 30 Distributor 31 Case 31a Base 31b Leg 31c Bearing 31d Shaft 32, 33 Flap 32A, 33A Shielding Plate 34 Solenoid (Drive)
34a Actuator 35 Connecting member 36 Spring material 40 Bellows tube (piping)
100 control unit

Claims (2)

A game medium replenishing device for replenishing game media to a plurality of game medium using machines arranged in right and left, comprising a transport path and side walls provided upright on both sides of the transport path, wherein the game medium is left or right. A supply line that can be transported in the direction, a discharge port formed in the side wall, a distribution device that guides the game medium conveyed on the conveyance path to the discharge port, and the game medium discharged from the discharge port And a supply chute for supplying the game medium to the game medium using machine via a pipe,
The dispensing device includes a base provided above the transport path, and a pair of legs provided below from both ends of the base and detachably engaged with an outer surface of the side wall. When,
A flap provided at one end with a shielding plate for obliquely closing the transport path,
Et provided in the leg which is supported by a bearing portion disposed above the supply line, rotatably other end of the flap is also disposed upstream of the supply line from the bearing portion in the vertical direction A shaft that supports the
Biasing means for constantly biasing one end of the flap upward against gravity .
A driving unit that lowers one end of the flap under the control of the control unit against the upward urging force of the urging unit, and obliquely closes the transport path with the shielding plate ;
The drive unit is a solenoid that pulls down the operating body with energization,
The solenoid is attached to the leg,
A connecting member having one end connected to the operating body of the solenoid and the other end connected to the flap,
The game medium replenishing device according to claim 1 , wherein the urging means is a spring material, and one end of the spring material is connected to the case and the other end is connected to the connection member . The game medium supply device according to claim 1,
A game medium replenishing device, wherein a leg of the dispensing device is detachably engaged with an outer surface of the side wall of the replenishing line.