JP2007007370A - Token falling direction control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means for reducing malfunction such as a failure and a trouble due to contaminated tokens with dirt on a hand by disposing the means in a casing outside and inside having portions in contact with tokens in a slot machine, for example, a prescribed portion in a hopper device of the casing inside. <P>SOLUTION: A token moving device G having a guide part G20 which has an approximately V-shaped cross section for receiving a token M, conformed to the shape of a falling position of the token M falling from an engagement part G10 formed conformed to a structural material inside the casing 10 and a token detecting means 13 to an opening part of a hopper tank 21, is detachably fitted in the structural material inside the casing, so that the token M inserted from a token slot 11 is received by the guide part G20 via the token detecting means 13, when reaching the other end part G22 of the guide part, the token M falling into an overflow part 23b passes through a token recovery means 30 provided in the lower part of the overflow part 23b and is automatically sent to a token polishing means (not shown) via a conveyer belt (not shown). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  In order to change the contact part of the medal inside or outside the case of the swivel type gaming machine using medals, the present invention is provided between the hopper device or its peripheral part and the medal insertion part or medal detection means. The present invention relates to a medal drop direction control means, characterized in that a means for changing the direction of the medal flow is provided.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are diagrams schematically showing, for example, the inside of a slot machine in a rotating game machine using medals, and an example of the flow of medals M in a conventional general slot machine SM will be described. To do.
In the slot machine SM, a hopper device 20 is provided inside the housing 10. For example, the hopper device 20 is disposed inside the housing 10 and stores a medal inside the hopper tank 21 and the hopper tank. A medal payout means (not shown) is provided inside the lower part 21, a medal payout part 22 is provided on the lower outer side of the hopper tank 21, and an overflow part 23 a and an overflow part 23 b are provided at the upper peripheral edge of the hopper tank 21. The medal collecting means 30 and medal polishing means (not shown) disposed around the lower portion of the hopper device 20 are arranged by a conveyor belt (not shown).
When the player holds the medal M from the medal tray 12 of the slot machine SM and inserts it into the medal insertion slot 11 during the game, the medal detection means 13 detects this and a game is possible. The medals that have passed the medal detection means 13 are temporarily accumulated in the hopper tank 21 of the hopper device 20. If the result of the game by the symbol combination of the rotating drum 14 is a winning, the number corresponding to the type of the winning is paid out from the medal paying unit 22 to the medal tray 12. The player repeats the act of holding the paid-out medal M from the medal tray 12 by hand and inserting it into the medal slot 11.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing an operation in the hopper device 20 in the slot machine SM, for example. For example, the number of medals M in the hopper device 20 increases / decreases as the game progresses, but the number of medals M inserted from the medal insertion slot 11 is larger than the amount paid out from the medal payout unit 22 to the medal tray 12. Then, when medals are accumulated up to the overflow portion 23a, the surplus medals M overflow through the overflow portion 23b and are automatically collected by the medal collection means 30 via the conveyor belt (not shown). (Not shown).

  For example, when a game is played with a medal feeder (not shown) installed adjacent to the slot machine SM, bills and coins are inserted into the medal feeder, but the card is inserted to supply the medal feeder. A predetermined amount of medals is supplied from the mouth to the medal receiving portion, and the player holds the medals accumulated in the medal receiving portion of the medal supply machine by hand and moves them to the medal tray 12 of the slot machine SM. The player holds the medal M by hand and inserts it into the medal slot 11 to play the game. The player repeats the action of holding the medal M as described above, so that the medal M is contaminated with dirt, dust, and fat components of the player's hand, and the accumulation of the contaminated medal M causes the inside of the hopper tank 21 and The medal payout means (not shown) is contaminated with hand dirt, dust, and fat components, so that it is likely to break down or cause trouble. Further, the portion that contacts the contaminated medal M inside or outside the housing 10 has a high probability of being contaminated at a considerable rate. For example, the medal slot 11 and the medal detection means 13 break down or trouble occurs. Is likely to occur.

In other words, in order for the slot machine SM to operate smoothly, the hopper device 20 needs to operate stably. However, the hopper device 20 has been problematic in that it has been prone to failure and trouble. In the past, there have been many development projects for countermeasures against failures and troubles related to the hopper device 20.
For example, a hopper tank having a medal supply port at the top and a medal discharge port smaller than the medal supply port at the bottom, and a plurality of medal holes adjacent to the medal discharge port of the hopper tank and into which the medals fit, In a hopper device comprising a rotating disk for guiding medals to the medal outlet and a hopper motor for paying out medals to a player by rotating the rotating disk, the payout provided at the medal outlet There has been known a development project for a hopper device that includes a chute and a payout subchute provided on the payout chute at a predetermined interval. (Refer to Japanese Patent No. 3341837)

  Further, for example, in a hopper device including a hopper motor for paying out medals to a player, a base end portion is fixed to the inclined surface of the hopper tank, and a free end portion is a rotating disk. Elasticity that is positioned so as to close almost half of the medal outlet and located away from the medal outlet and extends substantially horizontally from the lower end of the inclined surface to the upper side of the medal outlet. There is known a development project of a hopper device characterized in that a medal guide plate made of a metal having a metal is provided. (Refer to Japanese Patent No. 3217935)

  Further, for example, it is an object to provide a hopper device that can handle both manual replenishment and automatic replenishment. As a means for solving the problem, for example, a rectangular flow hole 51 for discharging medals is formed on the inclined side surface of the hopper tank 42. Is provided. A rectangular slide body 52 is attached to the flow hole 51 as a switching means for closing a part of the flow hole 51 so as to be slidable in a direction indicated by a one-dot chain line arrow. A game characterized in that a part of the flow hole 51 is blocked by the slide body 52 and the upper flow hole on the upper side and the lower flow hole on the lower side are alternatively switched to be usable. Development projects for hopper equipment are known. (Refer to Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2005-6842)

  Also, for example, when replenishing medals to the slot machine, even if the front door is slightly opened and replenished with medals, a part of the replenished medals can be reliably replenished to the hopper without entering the overflow passage, and For example, a new medal replenishment structure that can be easily replenished with medals and can cope with the increase in the size of the drum device at low cost. The medal replenishment guide plate is fixed in a freely rotatable manner. As a result, when replenishing medals to the slot machine, even if the front door is opened slightly and the medals are replenished, the space area necessary for replenishing medals can be secured, so that some of the replenished medals do not enter the overflow passage. A new medal replenishment structure is known that can surely replenish the hopper, and that can be easily replenished with medals and can cope with an increase in the size of the drum device at low cost. (See JP 2004-173939 A)

  In addition, for example, it is an object to provide a medal hopper of a slot machine that can adjust the number of medals accommodated according to the situation of a game hall. The medal to be awarded at the time of winning a prize is supplied from the stored medals, and if the stored medals exceed a certain amount, the surplus medals are removed from the overflow hole 3d provided in the side wall. In the medal hopper 3 of the slot machine that is adapted to be discharged, a medal hopper of the slot machine is known in which a shutter 3e for adjusting the opening width is provided in the overflow hole 3d. (Refer to Utility Model Registration No. 3099573)

  However, for example, in the development project of the hopper device of Japanese Patent No. 3341837, it is necessary to provide a payout chute provided at the medal outlet and a payout subchute provided at a predetermined interval on the payout chute. In the development project of the hopper device of Japanese Patent No. 3217935, it is necessary to provide a medal guide plate made of a metal having elasticity extending substantially horizontally from the lower end of the inclined surface to above the medal discharge port. In the development project of the hopper device of the gaming machine disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 6842, a part of the flow hole is blocked by the slide body, and the upper flow hole on the upper side and the lower flow hole on the lower side are selectively switched to be usable. In the development project of the medal replenishment structure of the hopper device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-173939, the hopper It is necessary to fix a medal supply guide plate formed in a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape to the upper edge of the front wall of the medal storage tray of the table, and to develop a medal hopper for the slot machine of Utility Model Registration No. 3099573 In the overflow hole, it is necessary to provide a shutter that adjusts the opening width, and it is necessary to plan, design, and manufacture a unique hopper device, respectively. Manipulating and processing the hopper device is difficult due to various regulatory issues, and as a result, it is difficult to immediately respond to requests from customers.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a rotating game machine using medals, for example, a hand in a slot machine or a medal contaminated with dust or sebum components comes into contact. It is an object of the present invention to provide means for eliminating or reducing failures, troubles, and troubles while eliminating the need for any processing on the outside of the housing, the inside of the housing, or a predetermined portion of the inside of the housing, for example, a hopper device.

  As a first means for solving the problem, in order to change the contact part of the medal outside the casing or inside the casing of the rotating game machine using medals, A medal drop direction, characterized in that means for changing the direction of the flow of medals is provided between the peripheral part and the medal insertion part provided outside the case or the medal detection means provided inside the case. Provide control means.

There are pachislot machines, slot machines, and other various game machines with respect to the above-mentioned spinning-type game machine, and any game can be used as long as the game machine uses medals and the medal supply machine is adjacent. . In addition, the medal supply means for the above-mentioned spinning cylinder type game machine may be automatically performed or manually performed, and either one may be used.
The medal detection means can be used other than an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor as long as it has a function for determining whether or not a medal has passed. If it has a function for determining the authenticity of a medal, an optical sensor or For example, a medal selector (medal authenticity determination / selection counter) is known.

As for the hopper device, the following types are known, but this is a very general example, and any type may be used as long as it is a type having an overflow portion.
For example, in a state where the hopper device is incorporated in the housing of the slot machine, the drop opening of the medal inserted into the medal insertion slot is located above the medal hopper, and the medals fall from the drop opening every game during the game. The type that accumulates in the medal hopper.
For example, a hopper tank having a medal supply port at the top and a medal discharge port smaller than the medal supply port at the bottom, and a plurality of medal holes adjacent to the medal discharge port of the hopper tank into which the medals fit, A type of hopper device comprising a rotating disk that guides medals to the medal outlet, and a hopper motor that pays out medals to a player by rotating the rotating disk.
For example, a hopper tank for storing medals, a recovery means for recovering the medals overflowing from the hopper tank, and an upper flow for discharging the medals to the recovery means formed at a higher position on the side surface of the hopper tank A switching means for selectively switching the upper flow hole and the lower flow hole to a hole, a lower flow hole for discharging the medal to the collecting means formed at a lower position on the side surface of the hopper tank, and the upper flow hole and the lower flow hole A type of hopper device that has
For example, when receiving and storing medals inserted into the plane for each game, supplying medals to be awarded at the time of winning from the stored medals, and when the number of stored medals exceeds a certain amount, A type of hopper device that discharges surplus medals to the outside through an overflow hole provided in the side wall.

  As a second means for solving the problem, the medal direction changing means is provided detachably on a predetermined part of the hopper device, according to the first means for solving the problem, Provide medal drop direction control means.

The predetermined part of the hopper device may be anywhere on the peripheral part of the upper side of the hopper device or the peripheral part of the middle wall surface, but may be around the opening of the hopper device, the overflow part or the periphery thereof. .
Regarding the above,

  The third means for solving the problem is described in the first means for solving the problem, wherein the medal direction changing means is detachably provided in a predetermined part inside the housing. The medal drop direction control means is provided.

  Regarding the predetermined part inside the casing, the casing is composed of various devices and various tools necessary for the functioning of the slot machine, but the various devices and tools are fixed. A structure or a structural material is formed, and an arbitrary place of such a structural body or structural material can be used.

  As a fourth means for solving the problem, the medal direction changing means moves while holding a medal, an engaging part that is detachably attached to a predetermined part of the hopper device or a predetermined part inside the housing. The medal drop direction control according to any one of the first means for solving the problem to the third means for solving the problem, characterized in that the medal moving device includes a guide unit for causing the medal to move. Provide a means.

As for the engaging portion, any means may be used as long as it can be detachably attached to and fixed to a predetermined part inside the casing. The material of the engaging portion is selected from metal, synthetic resin, wood, paper, etc.
The guide portion may be of any structure or material as long as it can be moved while holding a medal. Further, the surface characteristics of the guide portion may be uneven or smooth. The material of the guide portion is selected from metal, synthetic resin, woody material, paper, and the like.
As for the medal movement device, any one of these can be selected from those that can be expanded and contracted, bendable, flexible, flexible, or attached. It is preferable that it can be easily removed and removed, and can easily cope with a change in the model of the above-mentioned spinning cylinder type game machine.

  As a fifth means for solving the problem, the cross-section for receiving the medal at the other end from one end of the guide portion of the medal moving device has a substantially V shape, a substantially U shape, and a substantially U shape. There is provided medal drop direction control means described in the fourth means for solving the problem.

As for the cross-section being substantially V-shaped, substantially U-shaped, and substantially U-shaped, if it has a character shape similar to these, substantially W-shaped, substantially Y-shaped, substantially H-shaped, substantially J-shaped L-shape, L-shape, C-shape, N-shape, M-shape, I-shape, U-shape, U-shape, K-shape, S-shape, S-shape Shape, Abbreviated C-shape, Abbreviated Ta-shape, Abbreviated Te-shape, Abbreviated To-shape, Abbreviated N-shape, Abbreviated N-shape, Abbreviated Nu-shape, Abbreviated H-shape, Abbreviated F-shape, Abbreviated F Shape, Abbreviated M-shape, Abbreviated M-shape, Abbreviated U-shape, Abbreviated U-shape, Abbreviated Yo-shape, Abbreviated Ra-shape, Abbreviated-L-shape, Abbreviated-L-shape, Abbreviated-R-shape, Character-like shapes such as a letter shape can also be used.
In addition, regarding the forming method in which the guide portion has the above-described cross-sectional shape, the guide portion is press-molded from a plate-shaped material using, for example, a mold designed to be the character-shaped body using a pressing means. Alternatively, the block-shaped material may be cut and formed using a tool selected to form the character shape using, for example, a cutting means, or the powdered material may be extruded, for example. Or you may perform injection molding or press molding using the metal mold | die designed so that it may become the said character-shaped body using a press means.

  As a sixth means for solving the problem, the medal according to the fourth means for solving the problem, wherein the medal is formed so as to be inclined from one end portion to the other end portion of the guide portion. A drop direction control means is provided.

  With respect to the angle of inclination, it can be used from about 1 ° to about 90 °, but preferably it is formed in the range of about 5 ° to about 60 °, and preferably about 10 ° to about 30 °. It is preferable to form in the range.

Since the medal dropping direction control means of the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.
For example, see FIGS. For example, in a slot machine SM using a medal, a place where there is a possibility that a medal M contaminated with dirt, dust, or sebum components in the hand may come into contact with the outside of the slot machine SM. There are a medal slot 11, a medal tray 12, a medal detection means 13 inside the housing 10, a hopper tank 21, a medal payout part 22, an overflow part 23a, an overflow part 23b, etc. The contact with the medal M will contaminate the hand with dirt, dust, and sebum components, which requires frequent cleaning, washing, and polishing operations. Failure to do so will cause the player to feel uncomfortable or break down. However, according to the present invention, from the medal insertion slot 11 or the medal detection means 13 to the hopper By changing the flow of the medal M to the click 21 to the overflow portion 23a or the overflow portion 23b or medal collection means 30, it is possible to provide a medal falling direction control means capable of reducing the aforementioned problems.

  According to the present invention, any type of gaming machine using medals can be used. Therefore, any type of gaming machine can provide medal drop direction control means that can expect the above-described effects of the invention.

  According to the present invention, any type of gaming machine using medals can be designed and manufactured together. For example, once the medal moving device is commercialized, it is not necessary to request a specialist or a trader. It is possible to provide medal drop direction control means that can be easily mounted and removed by anyone and can be expected to have the effects of the above-described invention.

  The cross-section for receiving the medal at the other end from one end of the guide portion of the medal moving device of the present invention is substantially V-shaped, substantially U-shaped, and substantially U-shaped, thereby moving the direction of the medal. Therefore, it is possible to provide medal drop direction control means that can smoothly implement the flow of medals without causing any trouble and without causing trouble.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the inside of a conventional slot machine. FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the inside of a conventional slot machine. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the operation of a conventional hopper device. FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a side perspective view for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the outline of the medal movement device of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view for explaining the outline of the medal movement device of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a side view and a front view for explaining an embodiment of the medal movement device.

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 8, SM is a slot machine, M is a medal used in the slot machine SM, and a medal that may be touched by a human hand, and 10 is a slot machine SM. Reference numeral 11 denotes a medal slot, which is provided on the outside of the casing 10, most of which are inserted with medals M touched by a human hand, and 12 is a medal tray, which is provided at the lower part outside the casing 10. 13 is a medal detection means installed inside the housing 10, and 14 is a rotating drum installed inside the housing 10. Reference numeral 20 denotes a hopper device that is installed inside the housing 10, 21 is a hopper tank, which has a function of accumulating medals M in the hopper device 20, and 22 is a medal payout unit, which is used to store the medals M in the hopper tank 21. A function of discharging the tray 12 to the tray 12, 23a having a function of overflowing a predetermined number of medals M in the hopper tank 21 to the outside of the hopper tank 21, and 23b reliably collecting medals M from the overflow portion 23a , 30 is a medal recovery means, and the medal M from the overflow portion 23b is automatically medal polishing means (not shown) via the conveyor belt (not shown). (Not shown). G is a medal movement device that is detachably provided at a predetermined part inside the housing 10, and G10 is a unit that includes means for detachably providing the medal movement device G at a predetermined part inside the housing 10. G20 is a main part constituting the medal moving device G, a guide part for moving the medal M, G21 is one end part of the guide part G20, and G22 is the guide part G20. The medal moving device G is the other end portion, and the medal M is formed from the guide portion one end portion G21 to the other end portion of the guide portion by forming an inclination between the guide portion one end portion G21 and the guide portion other end portion G22. A function to move to G22 by the action of gravity is provided.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the engagement is formed according to the structural material inside the housing 10 provided between the rotary drum 14 and the hopper device 20. The section for receiving the medal M in accordance with the dropping position of the medal M falling from the portion G10 and the medal detecting means 13 to the opening of the hopper tank 21 is substantially V-shaped, substantially U-shaped, substantially L-shaped, substantially The medal moving device G including the guide portion G20 formed in a U-shape or a substantially letter-shaped shape is detachably fitted to the structural material inside the housing 10 so that it can be inserted from the medal insertion slot 11. The medal M is detected or selected by the medal detection means 13 and then received by the guide portion G20. The medal M moves smoothly on the guide portion G20, and overflows when the medal M reaches the other end portion G22 of the guide portion. Part 2 Guide portion and the other end portion G22 to ensure that fall smoothly b are formed open. The medal M that has reached the overflow portion 23b passes through a notch or through hole provided in the overflow portion 23b, passes through a medal collecting means 30 provided below the overflow portion 23b, and is formed in an opening. It is automatically sent to a medal polishing means (not shown) via a not shown.
According to the first embodiment, all medals M touched even once by the player of the slot machine SM are surely sent directly to the medal polishing means (not shown) via the overflow portion 23b and the medal collection means 30. .

  7-8, as shown in FIGS. 7-8, when the medal moving device G is mounted on the slot machine SM, an operator attaches the engaging portion G10 with one hand or both hands to a predetermined housing. The medal moving device G mounted by being sandwiched between the structural members of the body 10 is fixed to a predetermined part of the housing 10 and the function of the present invention is used. However, the medal moving device G becomes unnecessary or needs to be replaced. When removed, the operator can easily remove the engaging portion G10 from the structural material of the predetermined housing 10 with one hand or both hands.

  From the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 8, as shown in FIGS. 7 to 8, for example, when the longitudinal direction of the engaging portion G10 is horizontally mounted on the structural material of the housing 10, the medal moving device G The longitudinal direction is formed so as to incline from the guide part one end G21 to the guide part other end G22. More specifically, the guide part G20 is located at the position of the guide part other end G22 from the position of the guide part one end G21. The medal M moves from the position of the guide part one end G21 to the position of the other end G22 of the guide part, and moves downward from the opening of the other end part G22 of the guide part due to the action of gravity. It becomes possible to fall.

  In the above-described embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied to a slot machine has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to a gaming machine that uses medals other than the slot machine. Of course, it is possible to obtain the same effect.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the inside of a conventional slot machine. FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating the inside of a conventional slot machine. It is the figure which demonstrated schematically operation | movement of the conventional hopper apparatus. It is a perspective view explaining the embodiment of this invention. It is a side perspective view explaining the embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view explaining the outline of the medal movement device of the present invention. It is a perspective view explaining the outline of the medal movement device of the present invention. It is the side view and front view explaining an example of an embodiment of a medal movement device.

Explanation of symbols

SM slot machine M medal 10 case 11 medal insertion slot 12 medal tray 13 medal detection means 14 rotating drum 20 hopper device 21 hopper tank 22 medal payout portion 23a overflow portion 23b overflow portion 30 medal recovery means G medal moving device G10 engagement portion G20 guide part G21 guide part one end G22 guide part other end

Claims (6)

In order to change the contact part of the medal inside or outside the case of the swivel type gaming machine using medals, the hopper device provided inside the case or its peripheral part and the medal provided outside the case A medal drop direction control means, characterized in that means for changing the direction of the medal flow is provided between the insertion portion or the medal detection means provided in the housing. The medal drop direction control means according to claim 1, wherein the medal direction changing means is detachably provided at a predetermined part of the hopper device. 2. The medal drop direction control means according to claim 1, wherein the medal direction changing means is detachably provided at a predetermined part inside the casing. In the medal moving device, the medal direction changing means includes an engaging portion that is detachably attached to a predetermined portion of the hopper device or a predetermined portion inside the housing, and a guide portion that moves while holding the medal. The medal drop direction control means according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the medal drop direction control means is provided. 5. The cross-section for receiving the medal at the other end portion from one end portion of the guide portion of the medal moving device has a substantially V shape, a substantially U shape, and a substantially U shape. Medal drop direction control means. 5. The medal drop direction control means according to claim 4, wherein the medal drop direction control means is formed so as to be inclined from one end portion to the other end portion of the guide portion.

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