JP3891634B2 - Disc-shaped body feeding device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for feeding out disc-like bodies such as medals and coins used in game equipment one by one. Specifically, the disc-like body is provided at the bottom of a hopper that houses a large number of disc-like bodies. A rotating body is provided which has a plurality of through-holes or notches that enter the disk-shaped body and move along the rotation path at predetermined intervals in the rotation direction. The disk-shaped body feeding device is provided with a feeding means for feeding the disk-shaped body that has entered into the through-hole or notch portion transferred in this way, through the space between the back surface of the rotating body and the bottom of the hopper, and to the outside of the rotational radius. .
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in this type of disk-shaped body feeding device, the rotational speed of a rotating body driven and rotated by an electric motor is set at a position corresponding to the rotation center of the rotating body in the bottom of the hopper. The output shaft from the reduction case provided with a plurality of reduction gears for adjusting the number of rotations suitable for the rotation of the rotating body is exposed, and the rotation center portion on the back surface of the rotating body has a rotation shaft with respect to the output shaft. A boss part that is detachably fitted from the core direction is formed. Further, the boss part is engaged with a different-diameter part having a substantially D-shaped cross section formed at the upper end of the output shaft from the rotational axis direction. Thus, an engaging recess for integrally rotating the output shaft and the rotating body is formed (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-86472).
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional disk-shaped body feeding device described above, when the output shaft vibrates along the axial direction due to variations in machining accuracy of the output shaft or backlash in the thrust direction, the rotating body moves along the rotational axis direction accordingly. The relative distance between the back surface of the rotating body and the bottom of the hopper varies in the direction of the rotation axis.
As a result, when the facing interval becomes larger than the set interval, not only the feeding action of the disk-like body outward in the rotational radius direction by the sending means is reduced, but the sending action may not function at all. On the contrary, if the facing interval is smaller than the set interval, there is a problem that the disk-like body fed out by the feeding means is likely to be clogged between the back surface of the rotating body and the bottom of the hopper.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and the main problem is that the output shaft on the electric motor side is devised by a power transmission system to the rotating body and a system for rotatably supporting the rotating body. Due to variations in machining accuracy and backlash in the thrust direction, even when the transmission gear vibrates along the axis of rotation, the facing distance between the back of the rotating body and the bottom of the hopper can be easily maintained at the set interval. Thus, the present invention is to provide a disk-shaped body feeding device that can always reliably and smoothly deliver a disk-shaped body.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the disk-shaped body feeding device according to claim 1 of the present invention is characterized in that the disk-shaped body enters the bottom of a hopper capable of accommodating a number of disk-shaped bodies, In addition, a rotating body in which a plurality of through holes or notches for transferring the disk-shaped body along the rotation path are formed at predetermined intervals in the rotation direction is provided, and the through holes or notches are provided in the rotating body. An annular receiving member for placing and supporting a part of the disk-shaped body in the section is provided, and a disk-shaped body that has entered the through-hole or notch portion that is transferred as the rotating body rotates is provided on the rotating body. A disk-shaped body feeding device provided with a feeding means for feeding the rotating radius outwardly between the back surface and the bottom of the hopper,
The annular protrusion provided on the back surface of the annular receiving member is provided with a reduction gear that engages and interlocks with the transmission gear on the electric motor side in a state of being relatively movable in the direction of the rotation axis, and is provided at the bottom of the hopper. Forming an annular guide groove having an opening width slightly larger than the maximum width of the annular receiving member along the rotation path of the rotating body, and the annular receiving member and the annular protrusion in the annular guide groove with some placed enters the door, lies in is provided with a bearing for rotatably supporting and desorbing the rotating body.
According to the above characteristic configuration, the rotating body rotates by meshing interlocking between the transmission gear and the reduction gear in a state where the rotating body is rotatably and detachably supported by a support portion provided independently of the electric motor side. Even if the transmission gear vibrates along the rotational axis due to variations in machining accuracy of the output shaft on the electric motor side or backlash in the thrust direction, the transmission gear and the reduction gear are The relative movement of the two gears can be absorbed by the meshing portion of the two gears, so that vibration along the rotational axis of the transmission gear is hardly transmitted to the rotating body via the reduction gear. .
Therefore, even if the transmission gear vibrates along the direction of the rotation axis due to variations in machining accuracy of the output shaft on the electric motor side or backlash in the thrust direction, the rotating body moves relatively in the direction of the rotation axis. Therefore, the opposing distance between the back surface of the rotating body and the bottom portion of the hopper can be easily maintained at the set distance, so that the disk-shaped body can be delivered reliably and smoothly at all times.
[0006]
Further, since a reduction gear meshing with and interlocking with the transmission gear is provided on the rear surface of the annular receiving member, the gear portion of the reduction gear is covered with the annular receiving member with respect to the disk-like body group in the hopper. As a result, not only can the contact of the disk-shaped body with the speed reduction gear be prevented, but also the contact of foreign matter mixed in the disk-shaped body group with the speed reduction gear can be suppressed.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent foreign matter mixed in the disk-shaped body group from being caught in the meshing portion of the reduction gear and the transmission gear on the electric motor side, so that the rotational load caused by such meshing Increase in rotation or occurrence of rotation failure of the rotating body such as rotation stop can be advantageously suppressed in terms of manufacturing cost.
[0007]
The characteristic configuration of the disk-shaped body feeding device according to claim 2 of the present invention resides in that a sliding guide member having a small friction coefficient is interposed between the relative sliding surfaces of the support portion.
In the above characteristic configuration, the frictional resistance between the relative sliding surfaces of the support portion can be reduced, and as a result, smooth rotation of the rotating body can be ensured.
Further, the disk-like body feeding device according to claim 3 of the present invention is characterized in that the support portion includes a boss portion formed at the center of rotation on the back surface of the rotating body, and rotation and desorption of the boss portion. A support shaft standing in a recess formed in the bottom portion of the hopper, and a front end surface of the boss portion between the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion and an outer peripheral surface of the support shaft. A sliding guide member having a small friction coefficient is interposed between the bottom surface of the concave portion.
In the above characteristic configuration, the frictional resistance between the relative sliding surfaces of the support portion can be reduced, and as a result, smooth rotation of the rotating body can be ensured.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 6 show a preferred embodiment of a disc-shaped feeding device according to the present invention, in which an electric motor M and a speed reduction mechanism 2 are mounted in a drive case 1A constituting the bottom of a hopper 1 that opens upward. In addition, a disc-shaped rotation made of synthetic resin provided with a plurality of through holes 3A for transferring a medal A, which is an example of a disc-shaped body, along the rotation path on the upper surface of the upper wall 1a of the drive case 1A. A body 3 is provided.
The plurality of through holes 3 </ b> A have a diameter slightly larger than the medal A, and are formed at predetermined intervals in the rotation direction of the rotating body 3.
[0009]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, an annular receiving member 10 for placing and supporting a part of the medal A that has entered each through hole 3 </ b> A is concentric with the rotating body 3 on the back surface of the rotating body 3. The medal A in the through hole 3A is configured to be able to be transferred along the rotation path in a state where the medal A is placed and supported by the annular receiving member 10.
The annular receiving member 10 is disposed at a position corresponding to an intermediate portion in the rotational radius direction in the annular movement region of the through hole 3A of the rotating body 3, and further, on the back surface of the annular receiving member 10, An annular protrusion 4B is attached along the circumferential direction thereof, and a metal reduction gear 4 that meshes with and interlocks with the transmission gear 2B of the reduction mechanism 2 driven by the electric motor M is integrally rotated. It is provided. Specifically, a gear portion (a gear tooth in the present embodiment) constituting the reduction gear 4 is integrally formed on the outer peripheral surface on the outer side in the rotational radial direction of the annular protrusion 4B.
The hopper 1 is composed of the drive case 1A and a hopper case 1B that is detachably locked on the upper surface of the upper wall 1a of the drive case 1A, and the hopper that is locked and held by the drive case 1A. A large number of medals A are inserted into the case 1B.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the speed reduction mechanism 2 adjusts the rotation speed of the rotating body 3 driven and rotated by the electric motor M to a rotation speed suitable for feeding the medal A by the rotating body 3. A worm gear 2A comprising a worm attached to the drive shaft of the electric motor M, a worm wheel meshing with the worm, and one end of the rotating shaft of the worm wheel, and rotates integrally with the worm gear 2A. The speed reduction mechanism 2 is configured as a power transmission system from the electric motor M to the speed reduction gear 4.
[0011]
As shown in FIG. 2, the rotating body has a rotating body on the opposite side of the center of rotation on the back surface of the rotating body 3 and the circular recess of the upper wall 1a of the drive case 1A on which the rotating body 3 is provided. A support portion 5 is provided for rotatably supporting and detaching 3.
The support portion 5 is integrally provided with a cylindrical boss portion 3B integrally formed at the center of rotation on the back surface of the rotating body 3, and a flange portion that covers the front end surface of the boss portion 3B. A cylindrical member 6 fitted in 3B, a circular recess 1b formed in a recess of the upper wall 1a of the drive case 1A, and a support shaft 7 standing at the center of the recess 1b. The boss 3B is engaged in the recess 1b so as to be relatively rotatable in a state in which the cylindrical member 6 is rotatably fitted on the support shaft 7.
The cylindrical member 6 is made of a synthetic resin having a low coefficient of friction in which a lubricant such as silicon oil or lubricating oil is kneaded, and a stainless washer 8 having a low coefficient of friction is formed at the bottom of the recess 1b. Is attached.
That is, among the relative sliding surfaces of the support portion 5, between the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion 3B and the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft 7, a sliding guide member made of a single cylindrical member 6 having a low friction coefficient. In addition, a sliding guide member having a low coefficient of friction is formed between the distal end surface of the boss portion 3B and the bottom surface of the recess 1b. The frictional resistance between the relative sliding surfaces can be reduced, and as a result, smooth rotation of the rotating body 3 can be ensured.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, on the upper surface of the upper wall 1 a of the drive case 1 </ b> A, an annular peripheral wall 9 is erected integrally along the peripheral edge of the recessed portion. The outer side in the rotational radius direction is surrounded by the annular peripheral wall 9, and the bottom opening peripheral edge of the hopper case 1 </ b> B is placed and supported on the peripheral surface of the end of the annular peripheral wall 9.
As shown in FIG. 4, on the back surface of the rotating body 3, the medal A that has entered the through holes 3 </ b> A is formed across the upper wall 1 a and the annular peripheral wall 9 of the drive case 1 </ b> A. A feed groove 3a for feeding outward in the radial direction of rotation toward 9A is formed.
Of the wall surfaces of the partition wall 3b between the delivery grooves 3a adjacent to each other in the rotation direction of the rotating body 3, the wall surface portion 3c positioned on the lower side in the rotation direction is an arc shape positioned on the lower side in the rotation direction toward the outer side of the rotation radius. The medal A in the through-hole 3A can be pushed outward in the rotational radial direction as the rotating body 3 rotates, and the medal A in the through-hole 3A While the circumferential surface is in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the annular circumferential wall 9, it is pressed by the wall surface portion 3 c and transferred along the rotation path of the rotating body 3 to a location corresponding to the medal delivery port 9 </ b> A.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 3, an opening width slightly larger than the maximum width of the annular receiving member 10 along the rotation path of the rotating body 3 is formed in the recess of the upper wall 1 a of the drive case 1 </ b> A. In the state where the annular guide groove 12 having an opening width capable of allowing the relative rotation of the annular receiving member 10 is formed in a recessed manner, and the rotating body 3 is rotatably attached to the drive case 1A, the gear portion An annular protrusion 4B integrally formed with 4A and an annular receiving member 10 are disposed so as to enter the annular guide groove 12. The opening width of the annular guide groove 12 is set so that the gap between the rotational radial direction both side edges of the annular receiving member 10 and the radial guide side edges of the annular guide groove 12 is as small as possible. It is preferable.
Further, a part of the transmission gear 2B disposed in the drive case 1A passes through the notch hole 12a formed between the outer wall portion and the bottom wall portion of the annular guide groove 12, and the inside of the annular guide groove 12 A part of the transmission gear 2B and the gear portion 4A of the reduction gear 4 in the annular guide groove 12 are engaged with each other.
Therefore, the reduction gear 4 and a part of the transmission gear 2B are surrounded by the annular receiving member 10 and the peripheral wall of the annular guide groove 12, and are covered with the medal A group in the hopper case 1B. For example, even if foreign matter larger than the gap between the meshing portions of both the gears 4 and 2B is mixed in the medal A group in the hopper case 1B, the foreign matter hardly enters the annular guide groove 12. As a result, it is possible to prevent the rotation of the rotating body 3 from being stopped due to a foreign object biting into the meshing portion.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a through hole that is pressed and transferred as the rotating body 3 rotates in one place of the rotating path of the rotating body 3 in the recess of the upper wall 1 a of the drive case 1 </ b> A. The medal delivery port 9A formed outwardly in the rotational radial direction by passing the medal A in 3A between the back surface of the rotating body 3 and the upper wall 1a of the drive case 1A by pressing by the wall surface portion 3c of the partition wall 3b. Sending means 13 for sending out to is provided.
Specifically, the delivery means 13 is positioned in the annular movement region of the through hole 3A of the rotating body 3 in the vicinity of the medal delivery port 9A and on both sides of the annular guide groove 12 in the rotational radius direction. It is comprised from the two pin-shaped guides 13A and 13B arrange | positioned at both the annular surfaces 11 of the upper wall upper surface of the drive case 1A located in this. Moreover, the pin-shaped guides 13B positioned on the outer side in the rotational radial direction from the annular receiving member 10 are mounted separately in a state where the pin-shaped guides 13B positioned on the inner side are displaced toward the lower side in the rotational direction. It is.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the pin-shaped guides 13A and 13B protrudes upward from the respective medal sliding contact guide surfaces 11 by a single leaf spring 14 fixed in the drive case 1A. The pin guides 13A and 13B are urged toward the projecting side by a leaf spring 14 and are removably attached to the positions where the medals slide contact guide surface 11 is retracted. Each of 13A and 13B is pivotally supported by the leaf spring 14 so as to be rotatable around an axial center along the extending and retracting direction thereof.
Each partition wall 3b of the rotating body 3 is provided with a relief groove 3d that avoids the partition walls 3b coming into contact with the pin-shaped guides 13A and 13B as the rotating body 3 rotates. The relative rotation between the rotating body 3 and the pin-shaped guides 13A and 13B is allowed.
Therefore, when the medal A transferred by the rotating body 3 is caught between the rotating body 3 and one of the pin-shaped guides 13A or 13B, the medal A is guided by the guide 13A or 13 While pushing down 13B to the retracted position, it is possible to overcome the bite and overcome the frictional resistance caused by the contact between the medal A and each guide 13A, 13B and the wear of each guide 13A, 13B. It can suppress by rotation of guide 13A, 13B.
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, a counter member 15 that abuts the medal A sent from the rotating body 3 by the sending means 13 to the medal moving direction upper side portion of the medal sending outlet 9 </ b> A and counts it. It is swingably mounted.
The counter member 15 protrudes from the inside of the driving case 1A to the upper surface side of the upper wall 1a through a long hole 16 formed through the upper wall 1a of the driving case 1A, and is sent out from the through hole 3A of the rotating body 3. A counter roller 17 that comes into contact with the medal A, and the counter roller 17 is mounted in an idle state, and can swing around an axis that is perpendicular to the upper wall 1a of the drive case 1A. The counter arm 18 is mounted in the drive case 1A, and a spring 19 is mounted between the counter arm 18 and the drive case 1A to urge the counter roller 17 to contact the medal A. ing.
A gate-type photoelectric sensor 20 for detecting passage of the counter arm 18 when the counter arm 18 swings is mounted in the drive case 1A, and the medal outlet is based on the number of times the sensor 20 is detected. The number of medals A passing 9A is counted.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 6, in the hopper case 1B of the hopper 1, a stirring member 21 for stirring the medals A group in the hopper case 1B is provided.
The agitating member 21 is formed by bending a spring wire into a U-shape and bending both ends thereof, and each of the both ends of the agitating member 21 is formed at the upper opening of the hopper case 1B. Locked and fixed to the peripheral edge. That is, the stirring member 21 is supported at both ends by the hopper case 1B.
[0018]
[Other Embodiments]
(1) In the above embodiment, the storage portion 3A is configured by forming a plurality of through holes into which a medal A, which is an example of a disk-shaped body, enters at a predetermined interval in the rotation direction of the rotating body 3. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the storage portion 3A is provided with a plurality of notches into which a medal A, which is an example of a disk-like body, is placed at a predetermined interval in the rotation direction of the rotary body 3. It may be formed and configured. In this case, the cutout portion is formed in a substantially U shape that opens outward in the rotational radius direction, and the delivery groove 3a in the above embodiment is configured with a part of the cutout portion.
(2) In the above embodiment, the annular receiving member 10 is provided with an annular protrusion 4B along the circumferential direction on the back surface thereof, and the gear portion 4A constituting the reduction gear 4 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the annular protrusion 4B. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and an annular gear constituting the reduction gear 4 may be externally fitted and fixed to the annular protrusion 4B.
(3) In the above embodiment, the rotating body 3, the annular receiving member 10, the annular protrusion 4B, and the reduction gear 4 may be integrally formed from a synthetic resin.
(4) In the above embodiment, the medal A is illustrated as an example of the disk-shaped body. However, the medal A is not limited to the medal A, and the disk-shaped body may be a coin.
(5) The support portion 5 is provided at a position where the rotation center portion on the back surface of the rotating body 3 and the bottom portion (drive case 1A) of the hopper 1 are opposed to each other, and the rotating body 3 is supported to be freely rotatable and detachable. If possible, the configuration is not limited to the structure described in the embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a drive case according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a developed cross-sectional view of the main part. FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view of the drive case. Cross section of rotating body [Fig. 6] Perspective view of hopper [Explanation of symbols]
A Disc-like body M Electric motor 1 Hopper 2B Transmission gear 3 Rotating body 3A Through hole 4 Reduction gear 5 Bearing portion 6 Sliding guide member 8 Sliding guide member 10 Annular receiving member 12 Annular guide groove 13 Sending means

Claims (3)

A plurality of through-holes or notches are provided in the rotational direction so that the disk-shaped body enters the bottom of a hopper capable of storing a large number of disk-shaped bodies, and the disk-shaped body is transferred along the rotation path. provided the rotation body is formed at intervals in the rotating member, provided with an annular receiving member for placing the supporting part of the disc-shaped body of the through hole or cutout portion, the rotation of the rotating body Feeding out the disk-shaped body provided with delivery means for feeding the disk-shaped body that has entered the through-hole or notch portion transferred along with the back surface of the rotating body and the bottom of the hopper to the outside of the radius of rotation A device,
The annular projection provided on the back surface of the annular receiving member is provided with a reduction gear that meshes and interlocks with the transmission gear on the electric motor side in a state of being relatively movable in the direction of the rotation axis, and is provided at the bottom of the hopper. Forming an annular guide groove having an opening width slightly larger than the maximum width of the annular receiving member along the rotation path of the rotating body, and the annular receiving member and the annular protrusion in the annular guide groove The disc-shaped body feeding device is provided with a support portion for supporting the rotating body so as to be rotatable and detachable. 2. The disk-shaped body feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a sliding guide member having a small friction coefficient is interposed between the relative sliding surfaces of the support portions . The support portion is a boss portion formed at the center of rotation on the back surface of the rotating body, and a support shaft erected in a recess formed at the bottom of the hopper so as to support the boss portion so that the boss portion can be rotated and detached. And a sliding guide member having a small friction coefficient is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the boss portion and the outer peripheral surface of the support shaft and between the front end surface of the boss portion and the bottom surface of the recess. Item 3. A disk-shaped body feeding device according to Item 2.

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