JP5830760B2 - Medal insertion device, medal lending machine and gaming machine equipped with the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a medal insertion device, a medal lending machine, and a gaming machine, and more particularly, a medal insertion device that automatically inserts a game medal into a medal insertion port of a gaming machine such as a pachislot machine, and a medal lending machine equipped with the medal insertion apparatus. And a gaming machine.

  The “medal” used in the present specification includes tokens such as tokens and tokens of game machines, coins as currency, and similar items.

  Generally, in a swivel-type gaming machine called a pachislot machine, a medal tray for storing payout medals is usually provided below the gaming machine. Medals lent out from the medal lending machine are also carried by the player and stored in the medal tray. Therefore, when playing a game, it is necessary for the player to insert the medal stored in the medal tray into the medal slot, which is troublesome for the player. In order to eliminate such inconvenience for a player, a medal insertion device that can automatically insert medals into a medal insertion slot has been proposed.

  For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a sending mechanism that sends out coins in a storage unit one by one in a lying posture, a standing mechanism that turns a coin sent from the sending mechanism from a lying posture to a standing posture, and the standing mechanism. There is disclosed a coin transport device including a lifting mechanism that lifts a coin and directly inserts the coin into an insertion slot while maintaining the standing posture of the sent coin.

  Further, Patent Document 2 stores a game medal lent to a player, discharges the game medal, and rents the game medal to the player, and a game supplied from the loan medal payout device. A lending medal tray for storing medals, a rising device for transferring game medals inside the lending medal plate upward, and a rising medal discharging device for discharging game medals raised by the lifting device to the outside There is disclosed a medal lending machine that includes an exit, and that allows a medal discharged from the raised medal discharge port to be inserted into the medal insertion port via the insertion transfer means.

  In those disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a spiral body (also referred to as a screw) is used as means for conveying medals (or coins). In the conveying means using the spiral body, the medal (or coin) is guided from the lower side by the spiral surface of the rotated spiral body while the medal (or coin) is guided by the guide member having the U-shaped guide groove. By pushing up, a medal (or coin) is moved. At this time, the medal (or coin) is arranged between the guide member and the spiral body, and the medal (or coin) is placed on the spiral surface while the periphery of the medal (or coin) is in contact with the guide groove of the guide member. Slides. For this reason, there is a problem that heat generation and wear due to friction occur and durability is lowered.

  By the way, in general, as a medal for a swivel type gaming machine, a plurality of types of medals having different outer diameters (that is, diameters), for example, two types of medals of φ25 mm and φ30.8 mm (hereinafter referred to as a small-diameter medal and a large-diameter medal respectively). Is used. In the transport means using the spiral body, a spiral body designed exclusively for each of these two types of medals is usually used. Although it is possible to use a commonly designed spiral body corresponding to both types of medals, in that case, there is a possibility that a phenomenon that the medal is sandwiched between the spiral body and the guide groove, that is, a so-called biting may occur. In general, when a medal is transported by a spiral body, the inclined spiral surface tends to press the medal against the guide groove of the guide member. In the case of a specially designed spiral body, it can be designed with a sufficient margin so that biting does not occur, but in the case of a shared design spiral body, the design margin for biting becomes small due to restrictions for sharing, and the medal's A relatively large amount of biting occurs due to scratches and deformation. The same applies to the case where not only the diameter but also the thickness is different. Therefore, there is a problem that it is difficult to stably convey and throw in a plurality of types of medals having different outer diameters (diameters) or thicknesses. In other words, there is a problem that the range of the outer diameter (diameter) or thickness of the applicable medal is not sufficient.

Japanese Patent No. 4223883 (FIGS. 1 to 8, paragraph numbers 0058 to 0083) Japanese Patent No. 4234633 (FIGS. 2 to 4, paragraph numbers 0079 to 0086)

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a medal insertion device that can be configured without using a spiral body, a medal lending machine, and a gaming machine having the medal insertion device. It is to provide.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a medal insertion device having excellent durability, a medal lending machine and a gaming machine having the medal insertion device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a medal insertion device, a medal lending machine equipped with the medal lending machine, and a gaming machine that can easily carry and insert a plurality of types of medals having different outer diameters (diameters) or thicknesses. There is.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a medal insertion device having a wide range of applicable outer diameters (diameters) or thicknesses, a medal lending machine and a gaming machine having the medal insertion device.
Other objects of the present invention which are not specified here will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention is configured as follows.
(1) The medal insertion device of the present invention separates the medals stored in the medal storage unit one by one and sends them out one by one, receives the medals sent from the medal sending device at the entrance, and conveys them to the exit A medal transport device, and a medal insertion device that inserts a medal released from the outlet of the medal transport device into a medal slot of a gaming machine directly or via a medal passage, A medal guide passage having left and right guide surfaces for guiding the peripheral surface of the medal and front and back guide surfaces for guiding the front and back surfaces of the medal, respectively, extending from the entrance toward the exit ; 1st which rotates around the 1st-nth (however, n is a positive integer) rotation axis which is arranged in a predetermined order along the guide surface or the right guide surface, and is substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces. Each of the n-th rotating disk and the first to n-th rotating disks protrudes from the surface located on the medal guide path side into the medal guide path, and is disposed to face the corresponding rotation axis. The first and second medal pushers that rotate around the corresponding rotation axis by rotating integrally with the corresponding turntable, and the second to nth rotations that constitute the back guide surface A base portion having an opening for receiving a board, and a guide groove in which a bottom surface forms the front and back guide surfaces and a pair of side surfaces perpendicular to the bottom surface and facing each other form the left and right guide surfaces A plate fixed to the surface of the base portion so that the guide groove and the surface of the base portion face each other, and one of the two adjacent rotating plates among the first to n-th rotating plates. Is the first rotation And the other rotates in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction, and the first and second medal pushers of the one rotating disk and the first and second rotating disks of the other rotating disk Respective rotation positions of the one rotating disk and the other rotating disk are set so that the second medal pusher rotates while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference, and each of the first to nth rotating disks is set. Each of the first to n-th turntables is supported by the first to n-th turntables provided on a rotation shaft provided on the base portion so that the surface is substantially flush with the surface of the base portion. The first and second pushers that rotate while the front surface constitutes the back guide surface together with the surface of the base portion, and the front and back surfaces of the medal in the medal guide passage are directly guided by the front and back guide surfaces. The moving object is in the medal guide passage. The gaming machine is configured to convey the medal from the entrance to the exit by being pushed up in contact with the circumferential surface of the medal .

  In the medal insertion device of the present invention, the medal sending device that separates and sends out the medals stored in the medal storage unit one by one, and the medals sent from the medal sending device are received at the entrance and conveyed to the exit The medal transport device, and the medal discharged from the outlet of the medal transport device is inserted into the medal slot of the gaming machine directly or through the medal passage. The medal transport device pushes the medal by rotating around the medal guide passage extending from the entrance toward the exit and a corresponding one of the first to n-th rotation axes. And first to nth medal pushing means. The medal guide passage has the left and right guide surfaces that guide the peripheral surface of the medal, and the front and back guide surfaces that respectively guide the front and back surfaces of the medal. The first to n-th rotation axes are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces, and are arranged in a predetermined order from the inlet toward the outlet. The first to n-th medal pushing means protrude into the medal guide passage, and one of the medal pushing means corresponding to each of the pair of adjacent rotation axes rotates in the first rotation direction. At the same time, the peripheral surface of the medal is pushed by the other rotating in the second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. Therefore, if the rotational motions of the first to nth medal pushing means are synchronized and have an appropriate phase difference, the medals received at the entrance are sequentially sent to the first to nth medal pushing means. It is pushed and moved along the medal guide passage. Therefore, the medal insertion device can be configured without using the spiral body, and the problems of heat generation and wear associated with the use of the spiral body are solved, and the durability is improved.

  Then, the peripheral surface is guided by the left and right guide surfaces, and the medals pushed by the medal pushing means for rotating the medals guided on the front and back surfaces by the front and back guide surfaces are moved. In this case, the range of the outer diameter (diameter) or thickness of the medal that can be transported becomes wider. That is, since the medal pushing means protruding into the medal guide passage is disposed between the left and right guide surfaces, the distance between the left and right guide surfaces and the medal pushing means is larger, and If the medal has an outer diameter (diameter) in a range smaller than the interval between the left and right guide surfaces, the medal is moved while being supported by one of the left and right guide surfaces and the medal pushing means. It becomes possible. Accordingly, the outer diameter range of medals that can be conveyed is widened. On the other hand, since the medals are pushed and conveyed one by one by each of the medal pushing means, the adjacent medals do not overlap in the medal guide passage. Therefore, even if the gap between the front and back guide surfaces is set wide, there is no clogging of medals. Accordingly, the thickness range of medals that can be conveyed is widened. Therefore, even a plurality of types of medals having different outer diameters or thicknesses can be stably conveyed and thrown in.

(2) The medal lending machine of the present invention is a medal lending machine that is installed adjacent to the gaming machine and pays out medals according to the inserted money to the medal storage unit, and is stored in the medal storage unit. A medal delivery device that separates and sends out medals one by one; and a medal transport device that receives the medals sent from the medal delivery device at the entrance and transports them to the exit, and discharges them from the exit of the medal transport device In a medal lending machine provided with a medal insertion device that inserts medals into the medal insertion slot of a gaming machine directly or through a medal passage, the medal transport device includes left and right guide surfaces that guide the peripheral surface of the medal. , the front and back surfaces of the medals each having a front and back of the guide surface for guiding the medal guide passage extending toward said outlet from said inlet, the guide surface or guide surfaces of the right of the left The first to n-th rotating discs respectively rotating about rotation axes that are arranged in a predetermined order and are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces (where n is a positive integer), and the first In each of the n-th rotating discs, the n-th rotating disc protrudes from the surface located on the medal guiding passage side into the medal guiding passage, and is opposed to the corresponding rotating axis, and is integrated with the corresponding rotating disc. First and second medal pushers that rotate around the corresponding rotation axis by rotating, and an opening that constitutes the back guide surface and accommodates the second to n-th turntables are formed. A guide groove in which a base portion and a bottom surface constitute the front and back guide surfaces, and a pair of side surfaces perpendicular to the bottom surface and opposed to each other constitute the left and right guide surfaces are formed, and the guide groove and the base portion Facing the surface of A plate fixed to the surface of the base portion, and one of the two adjacent rotating disks among the first to n-th rotating disks rotates in the first rotation direction and the other rotates in the first rotation. And the first and second medal pushers of the one turntable and the first and second medal pushers of the other turntable rotate in a predetermined rotation. The rotational positions of the one rotating disk and the other rotating disk are set so as to rotate while maintaining the phase difference, and the surfaces of the first to n-th rotating disks are substantially the same as the surface of the base portion. The first to n-th rotating discs are supported by a rotating shaft provided on the base portion so that the surface of each of the first to n-th rotating discs becomes the back surface together with the surface of the base portion. The medal guide While the front and back surfaces of the medal in the passage are directly guided by the front and back guide surfaces, the first and second pushers that rotate are brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the medal in the medal guide passage and pushed up. The medal lending machine is configured to convey the medal from the entrance toward the exit .

  In the medal lending machine of the present invention, the medal insertion device separates the medals stored in the medal storage unit one by one and sends out the medals sent out from the medal sending device at the entrance. A medal transport device that receives and transports the medal to the outlet, and a medal discharged from the outlet of the medal transport device is inserted directly or through the medal passage into the medal slot of the gaming machine. The medal transport device pushes the medal by rotating around the medal guide passage extending from the entrance toward the exit and a corresponding one of the first to n-th rotation axes. And first to nth medal pushing means. The medal guide passage has the left and right guide surfaces that guide the peripheral surface of the medal, and the front and back guide surfaces that respectively guide the front and back surfaces of the medal. The first to n-th rotation axes are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces, and are arranged in a predetermined order from the inlet toward the outlet. The first to n-th medal pushing means protrude into the medal guide passage, and one of the medal pushing means corresponding to each of the pair of adjacent rotation axes rotates in the first rotation direction. At the same time, the peripheral surface of the medal is pushed by the other rotating in the second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. Therefore, as in the case of the medal insertion device of (1) above, if the rotational movements of the first to nth medal pushing means are synchronized and have an appropriate phase difference, The medals are sequentially pushed by the first to nth medal pushing means and moved along the medal guide path. Therefore, the medal insertion device can be configured without using the spiral body, and the problems of heat generation and wear associated with the use of the spiral body are solved, and the durability is improved.

  Then, as in the case of the medal insertion device of (1) above, the medal that rotates around the medal whose circumferential surface is guided by the left and right guide surfaces and whose front and back surfaces are guided by the front and back guide surfaces. When the medal is moved by being pushed by the pushing means, the range of the outer diameter (diameter) or thickness of the medal that can be transported becomes wide. That is, since the medal pushing means protruding into the medal guide passage is disposed between the left and right guide surfaces, the distance between the left and right guide surfaces and the medal pushing means is larger, and If the medal has an outer diameter (diameter) in a range smaller than the interval between the left and right guide surfaces, the medal is moved while being supported by one of the left and right guide surfaces and the medal pushing means. It becomes possible. Accordingly, the outer diameter range of medals that can be conveyed is widened. On the other hand, since the medals are pushed and conveyed one by one by each of the medal pushing means, the adjacent medals do not overlap in the medal guide passage. Therefore, even if the gap between the front and back guide surfaces is set wide, there is no clogging of medals. Accordingly, the thickness range of medals that can be conveyed is widened. Therefore, even a plurality of types of medals having different outer diameters or thicknesses can be stably conveyed and thrown in.

(3) The gaming machine of the present invention is a gaming machine in which the insertion of a medal into the medal slot is set as a condition for starting the game, and a game in which a medal is paid out to a medal tray according to the game result is executed. A medal sending device that separates and sends medals transferred to the medal storing unit one by one automatically or manually, and a medal conveying device that receives the medals sent from the medal sending device and conveys them to the outlet. In a gaming machine including a medal insertion device that inputs a medal released from the outlet of the medal transport device directly or through a medal passage into the medal insertion port of the gaming machine, the medal transport device includes the It has left and right guide surfaces for guiding the peripheral surface of the medal and front and back guide surfaces for guiding the front and back surfaces of the medal, respectively, and extends from the entrance toward the exit. That the medal guide passage, the left guide surface or the right along the guide surface is arranged in a predetermined order and substantially perpendicular to the first to n-th in the guide surface of the front and back (where, n is a positive integer) rotational axis The first to n-th rotating discs respectively rotating around and the surfaces of the first to n-th rotating discs projecting from the surface located on the medal guide passage side into the medal guide passages and corresponding rotations. The first and second medal pushers that are arranged to face each other across the axis and rotate around the corresponding rotation axis by rotating integrally with the corresponding turntable, and the back guide surface In addition, a base part having an opening for accommodating the second to n-th rotating discs and a pair of side surfaces that form a front and back guide surface and are perpendicular to the bottom surface and face each other are the left and right sides. Configure the guide surface An inner groove is formed, and a plate fixed to the surface of the base portion so that the guide groove and the surface of the base portion face each other, and the two adjacent ones of the first to n-th turntables One of the rotating disks rotates in the first rotating direction and the other rotates in the second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, and the first and second medal pushers of the one rotating disk and the The rotational positions of the one rotating disk and the other rotating disk are set so that the first and second medal pushers of the other rotating disk rotate and maintain a predetermined rotational phase difference, The first to n-th turntables are supported by the rotation shaft provided on the base portion so that the respective surfaces of the first to n-th turntables are substantially flush with the surface of the base portion. Each surface of the 1st to n-th turntable is the above The back and front surfaces of the medal guide passage are configured together with the front surface of the base portion, and the first and second pushers that rotate while directly guiding the front and back surfaces of the medal in the front and back guide surfaces. The gaming machine is configured to convey the medal from the entrance to the exit by contacting and pushing up the peripheral surface of the medal in the medal guide passage .

  In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the medal insertion device receives the medals sent out from the medal sending device by separating the medals transferred to the medal storage unit one by one, and receives the medals sent out from the medal sending device at the entrance. The medal transport device that transports the medal to the exit, and the medal released from the exit of the medal transport device is inserted into the medal slot of the gaming machine directly or through the medal passage. The medal transport device pushes the medal by rotating around the medal guide passage extending from the entrance toward the exit and a corresponding one of the first to n-th rotation axes. And first to nth medal pushing means. The medal guide passage has the left and right guide surfaces that guide the peripheral surface of the medal, and the front and back guide surfaces that respectively guide the front and back surfaces of the medal. The first to n-th rotation axes are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces, and are arranged in a predetermined order from the inlet toward the outlet. The first to n-th medal pushing means protrude into the medal guide passage, and one of the medal pushing means corresponding to each of the pair of adjacent rotation axes rotates in the first rotation direction. At the same time, the peripheral surface of the medal is pushed by the other rotating in the second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. Therefore, as in the case of the medal insertion device of (1) above, if the rotational movements of the first to nth medal pushing means are synchronized and have an appropriate phase difference, The medals are sequentially pushed by the first to nth medal pushing means and moved along the medal guide path. Therefore, the medal insertion device can be configured without using the spiral body, and the problems of heat generation and wear associated with the use of the spiral body are solved, and the durability is improved.

  Then, as in the case of the medal insertion device of (1) above, the medal that rotates around the medal whose circumferential surface is guided by the left and right guide surfaces and whose front and back surfaces are guided by the front and back guide surfaces. When the medal is moved by being pushed by the pushing means, the range of the outer diameter (diameter) or thickness of the medal that can be transported becomes wide. That is, since the medal pushing means protruding into the medal guide passage is disposed between the left and right guide surfaces, the distance between the left and right guide surfaces and the medal pushing means is larger, and If the medal has an outer diameter (diameter) in a range smaller than the interval between the left and right guide surfaces, the medal is moved while being supported by one of the left and right guide surfaces and the medal pushing means. It becomes possible. Accordingly, the outer diameter range of medals that can be conveyed is widened. On the other hand, since the medals are pushed and conveyed one by one by each of the medal pushing means, the adjacent medals do not overlap in the medal guide passage. Therefore, even if the gap between the front and back guide surfaces is set wide, there is no clogging of medals. Accordingly, the thickness range of medals that can be conveyed is widened. Therefore, even a plurality of types of medals having different outer diameters or thicknesses can be stably conveyed and thrown in.

  In the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine of the present invention, the front and back guide surfaces substantially function as surfaces, for example, linear bodies are arranged in parallel to function as surfaces. It may be. Further, by rotating the first to nth medal pushing means in the direction opposite to that during normal conveyance of the medal, the medal in the medal guide passage is directed in the reverse direction from the exit to the entrance. It is also possible to transport it.

  In a preferred example of the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine according to the present invention, the first and second rotation axes are arranged so as to intersect at a predetermined angle when viewed from one of the left and right guide surfaces. Is done. In this case, even if the advancing angle of the medal when being sent out from the medal sending device is different from the advancing angle of the medal when being transported by the medal conveying device, the advancement of the medal is the predetermined angle. By setting according to the change amount of the angle, there is an advantage that the medal can be transported while changing its traveling direction.

  In another preferred example of the medal insertion device, the medal lending machine, and the gaming machine according to the present invention, the second to n-th rotation axes are positioned in parallel to each other along the medal guide path in the medal guide path. And alternately arranged at predetermined intervals on the second axis arrangement line and arranged in a zigzag shape along the extending direction of the medal guide passage. In this case, since the second to n-th medal pushing means are arranged in two rows on the first and second axis arrangement lines, the medal conveyance speed can be increased. That is, the moving speed of the rotating medal pushing means is composed of a speed component along the transport direction and a speed component perpendicular to the transport direction, and these speed components change according to the rotation angle of the medal pushing means. To do. Then, the larger the speed component along the transport direction, the faster the medal transport speed. When the second to nth medal pushing means are arranged in two rows, the rotation angle range in which the speed component along the transport direction is relatively large is easily used out of the rotation angle range of the medal pusher. This makes it possible to increase the conveyance speed of the medal.

  In still another preferable example of the medal insertion device, the medal lending machine, and the gaming machine according to the present invention, the back guide surface is orthogonal to the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis. And the first and second guide surface portions are connected via the first curved surface portion. In this case, since the medal is guided along the first curved surface portion, there is an advantage that the advance angle of the medal can be changed more smoothly.

  In still another preferred example of the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine according to the present invention, the guide surface of the table has a second curved surface portion that faces the first curved surface portion. In this case, since the medal is guided along the first and second curved surface portions, there is an advantage that the advance angle of the medal can be changed more smoothly.

  In still another preferred example of the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine according to the present invention, the first and second medal pushing means have a rotational movement locus formed at a predetermined interval. And the 2nd medal pushing means is arranged. In this case, since the first phase portion can be formed corresponding to the predetermined interval, there is an advantage that a necessary area can be secured in the first phase portion.

  In still another preferable example of the medal insertion device, the medal lending machine, and the gaming machine according to the present invention, the left and right guide surfaces are formed along a curve connecting arcs around the first to nth rotation axes. Is done. In this case, the circular trajectory of the first to nth medal pushing means rotating and the planar shape of the left and right guide surfaces are coaxial, so that the first to nth medal pushing means smoothly push the medal. There is an advantage that it can be pushed. In other words, there is an advantage that the load when the medal pushing means is rotated can be reduced.

  In still another preferred example of the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine of the present invention, each of the first and second gears includes a bevel gear portion having a cone angle corresponding to the predetermined angle. In this case, the first and second medal pushing means are formed in a state where a predetermined angle formed by the first and second rotation axes is formed while the first and second gears are simply configured to mesh with each other. There is an advantage that can be rotated.

  In still another preferred example of the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine of the present invention, the first gear includes a spur gear portion, and the first gear is driven from the driving means via the spur gear portion. Power is transmitted. In this case, there is an advantage that the driving means of the medal sending device can be used with a relatively simple configuration and the driving means dedicated to the medal transport device can be omitted. Further, since the medal delivery device and the medal transport device are driven by a single drive unit, there is an advantage that the medal delivery device and the medal transport device can be easily driven synchronously.

  In still another preferable example of the medal insertion device, the medal lending machine, and the gaming machine of the present invention, a driving force is transmitted from the driving means to the first gear, and the driving force between the driving means and the first gear. A torque limiter is disposed in the transmission path. In this case, even if the medal bites occur in the medal transport device, the driving force transmitted from the driving means to the first gear is cut off by the torque limiter. Therefore, an excessive load is not applied to related parts such as the first to n-th medal pushing means, so that there is an advantage that damage to the parts is prevented and durability is improved. Further, since an excessive load is not applied, the required component strength is small, and there is an advantage that the component can be miniaturized and the entire apparatus can be miniaturized.

  In still another preferred example of the medal insertion device, the medal lending machine, and the gaming machine according to the present invention, a third gear that rotates integrally with each of the second to n-th rotating disks is a back surface of the second to n-th rotating disk. The adjacent third gears are meshed with each other. In this case, the second to n-th rotating discs rotate in synchronism with opposite directions. In other words, those corresponding to the rotation axes adjacent to the second to n-th medal pushing means automatically conflict with each other, and all of the medal pushing means rotate in synchronization. Therefore, there is an advantage that the functions of the rotational directions being opposite to each other and having an appropriate phase difference in the rotational motion can be easily realized with a simple structure.

  In still another preferred example of the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine according to the present invention, a rotation monitoring sensor for detecting the presence or absence of rotational movement of the first to nth medal pushing means is provided, and the rotation monitoring sensor When detecting the stop of the rotational motion of the first to n-th medal pushing means, a signal indicating the stop of the rotational motion is output. In this case, when the medal biting occurs in the medal transport device and the rotational motion of the first to nth medal pushing means stops, based on the signal indicating the stop of the rotational motion. There is an advantage that the delivery of the medal can be stopped. In other words, there is an advantage that unnecessary load on the medal transport device can be avoided and durability can be improved.

  In still another preferred example of the medal insertion device, medal lending machine, and gaming machine according to the present invention, the medal guide passage portion obtained by dividing the medal guide passage in its extending direction, and the entrance or exit of the medal guide passage portion And a plurality of medal transport units in which the first to n-th rotation axes are divided and arranged, and the end surfaces are abutted to each other. It is configured by connecting a medal transport unit. In this case, there is an advantage that the transport distance in the medal transport device can be easily changed by appropriately setting the number of the medal transport units to be connected.

  In the medal insertion device of the present invention and the medal lending machine and gaming machine equipped with the medal insertion device, (a) it can be configured without using a spiral body, (b) it is excellent in durability, and (c) suppresses an increase in cost and weight. However, there is an effect that a desired transport distance necessary for inserting medals can be obtained.

It is a principal part perspective view which shows the medal payout apparatus which has a structure substantially the same as the medal insertion apparatus used for the medal lending machine of one Example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the medal payout device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a side view of the medal payout device of FIG. 1. It is a front view which shows the medal delivery apparatus which comprises the medal payout apparatus of FIG. 1, and the 1st medal conveyance unit of a medal conveyance apparatus. It is sectional drawing along the VV line of FIG. It is a principal part disassembled perspective view of the medal delivery apparatus of FIG. 4, and a 1st medal conveyance unit. It is the principal part disassembled perspective view seen from the front side which shows the medal conveyance apparatus which comprises the medal delivery apparatus of FIG. It is the principal part disassembled perspective view seen from the back side which shows the medal conveyance apparatus which comprises the medal delivery apparatus of FIG. It is the top view seen from the back surface side which shows the top plate of the medal conveyance apparatus which comprises the medal delivery apparatus of FIG. It is a front view which shows the base part of the medal conveyance apparatus which comprises the medal delivery apparatus of FIG. It is sectional drawing along the XI-XI line of FIG. It is a front view which shows the 2nd medal conveyance unit of the medal conveyance apparatus which comprises the medal payout apparatus of FIG. It is a perspective view of the 2nd medal conveyance unit of Drawing 12. It is a front view which shows the 3rd medal conveyance unit of the medal conveyance apparatus which comprises the medal payout apparatus of FIG. It is the perspective view seen from the upper right side of the 3rd medal conveyance unit of FIG. It is the perspective view seen from the lower left side of the 3rd medal conveyance unit of FIG. It is a front view which shows the driving force transmission mechanism of the medal payout apparatus of FIG. FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the driving force transmission mechanism of FIG. 17. FIG. 18 is a side view of the driving force transmission mechanism of FIG. 17. It is a front view of the state which removed the top plate for demonstrating operation | movement of the medal payout apparatus of FIG. FIG. 21 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 20. FIG. 22 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 21. FIG. 23 is a front view of the state in which the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 22. FIG. 24 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 23. FIG. 25 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 24. FIG. 26 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 25. FIG. 27 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 26. FIG. 28 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 27. FIG. 29 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1, and is a continuation of FIG. FIG. 30 is a front view of the state where the top plate is removed for explaining the operation of the medal payout device of FIG. 1 and is a continuation of FIG. 29. It is a principal part perspective view of the medal lending machine provided with the medal insertion apparatus which shows one Example of this invention. FIG. 32 is a main part perspective view showing the medal insertion device of FIG. 31. FIG. 32 is a main part perspective view showing the medal insertion device of FIG. 31.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 31 shows a medal lending machine ML according to an embodiment of the present invention. The medal renting machine ML is disposed adjacent to the rotating type gaming machine SM. In practice, a plurality of spinning cylinder gaming machines SM are arranged side by side, and a medal lending machine ML is arranged in each of the gaps formed between the spinning cylinder gaming machines SM. Therefore, the medal lending machine ML is sometimes referred to as a pedestal machine.

(Game machine)
The rotating type gaming machine SM has a main body 802 provided with a variable display section 804 for stopping and displaying after the symbols are variably displayed. In the main body 802, below the variable display portion 804, a medal slot 806 for a player to insert a medal, a bet for placing a credited medal (that is, held in the revolving game machine SM). A button 808, a start lever 810 for starting variable display of the variable display unit 804, stop buttons 812a, 812b, 812c, etc. for stopping variable display of the variable display unit 804 are provided. Inside the main body 802, a medal payout device 816 that stores medals and pays out the stored medals to the player according to the game result is provided. A medal tray 814 that receives and stores medals paid out from the medal payout device 816 is provided at the lower end of the main body 802.

  When a player plays a game, the game can be started by inserting a medal into the medal insertion slot 806 or by operating the bet button 808 and placing a credited medal. In other words, the insertion of medals into the medal insertion slot 806 is set as a game start condition. When the player operates the start lever 810 in this state, the variable display portion 804 is variably displayed and the game is started. Further, when the player operates the stop buttons 812a, 812b, and 812c, the variable display of the variable display unit 804 is stopped, and medals are paid out to the medal tray 814 according to the game result corresponding to the stop display of the variable display unit 804.

(Medal lending machine)
The medal lending machine ML includes a casing 900 having an outer shape in which two rectangular parallelepipeds having the same width and different depths are stacked in a vertical direction, a bill insertion slot 902 provided on an upper front surface of the casing 900, A bill recognition device 904, a control device 906, and a medal hopper device 912 disposed inside, and a medal insertion device MT disposed on the front surface of the housing 900 are provided. The bill recognition device 904 has a function of taking in a bill inserted into the bill insertion slot 902 and discriminating the authenticity and denomination of the bill, and when the taken bill is a predetermined denomination and authenticity. A bill identification signal is output to the control device 906. The control device 906 supplied with the bill identification signal outputs a medal payout signal for paying out a predetermined number of medals according to the bill value to the medal hopper device 912.

  The medal hopper device 912 has a medal holding bowl 910 that can hold medals in a stacked state and a rotating disk 918 formed with a plurality of through holes 920, and receives a predetermined number of medals based on the supplied medal payout signal. It has a function of paying out from a medal exit (not shown). A medal receiving duct 908 having an opening 909 is disposed above the medal holding bowl 910, and a medal inserted from the medal replenishing port 901 can be received in the medal holding bowl 910 through the opening 909. At the medal exit of the medal hopper device 912, a medal erecting mechanism 914 that places a medal paid out in a lying posture as a standing posture is arranged. The medals in the standing posture sent from the medal standing mechanism 914 are paid out from the medal payout port 922 to the medal insertion device MT via the medal chute 916.

As shown in FIG. 32 and FIG. 33, the medal insertion device MT receives the medal sent out from the medal sending device 10A by separating the stored medals one by one, and the medal sent out from the medal sending device 10A at the entrance 202, and then exited. And a medal transport device 20A transported to 204, and has a function of throwing medals released from the outlet 204 of the medal transport device 20A into the medal slot 806 of the revolving game machine SM through the throwing guide member 700. . The medal delivery device 10 </ b> A and the medal transport device 20 </ b> A constitute a medal payout device 1 </ b> A that pays out stored medals to the outlet 204. The present invention is based on the medal payout device 1 shown in FIGS. In other words, the medal payout device 1A corresponds to the medal payout device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with a medal payout port 922 added, and has substantially the same configuration as the medal payout device 1. Therefore, hereinafter, the medal payout device 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described.

(Medal payout device)
The medal payout device 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 has a function of paying out stacked medals one by one to a predetermined payout position, and roughly includes a medal sending device 10 and a medal transport device 20. Consists of including. The medal payout device 1 can pay out a plurality of types of medals having different outer diameters (that is, diameters) or thicknesses, and functions as a so-called size-free medal payout device.

(Medal sending device)
First, the medal sending device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. The medal delivery device 10 has a function of separating and sending out medals in a stacked state one by one, and a retaining bowl 102 for retaining a large number of medals, and an attachment for supporting and fixing the retaining bowl 102 inclined upward. A base 104, a rotating disk 106 for sorting medals one by one, a driving means 108 for driving the rotating disk 106, a receiving means 112 for receiving medals from the rotating disk 106, and a medal dropping means 118 are provided.

(Holding bowl)
The holding bowl 102 has a function of holding a large number of medals in a stacked state and feeding them toward the rotating disk 106. The storage bowl 102 projects forward (right side in FIG. 3) from the mounting base 104 and increases in depth as it approaches the rotating disk 106, in other words, the bottom wall 122 is inclined downward toward the rotating disk 106. The head portion 102 </ b> A, a medal insertion slot 102 </ b> B for inserting medals, and an exterior portion 102 </ b> C that is in close contact with the mounting base 104 and surrounds at least the lower outer periphery of the rotating disk 106.

  The inclination of the bottom wall 122 is an angle at which a medal can slide toward the rotating disk 106 by its own weight. The head portion 102 </ b> A has a so-called saddle shape in which the rotating disk 106 side is opened, and an open end portion thereof is closely fixed to the mounting base 104. As shown in FIG. 5, a narrow vertical groove 124 is formed in front of the lower portion of the rotary disk 106 so that a dropped medal can stand up easily. The vertical groove 124 is formed by a vertical wall 126 inclined to the rotary disk 106 side with respect to a perpendicular line substantially parallel to the rotary disk 106 formed following the exterior part 102C, the rotary disk 106, and the external part 102C. In this case, the distance between the upper surface of the rotating disk 106 and the vertical wall 126 of the retaining bowl 102 is set to be smaller than the diameter of the smallest medal and 5 to 10 times the thickness of the largest medal. The interval is set to be wider toward the downstream side in the rotation direction. This is because the medals are raised and further tilted toward the rotary disk 106 so that the medal can be paid out by being locked to a medal locking body 128 described later until the last one.

  The exterior portion 102 </ b> C has a cylindrical ring shape, and is disposed close to the outer periphery of the rotating disk 106. Therefore, medals having different diameters are retained in a stacked state in the retaining bowl 102, slide down on the inclined bottom wall 122 by their own weight, and are sent to the rotating disk 106. Further, medals rotated by the rotating disk 106 are guided by the exterior portion 102C so as to remain on the rotating disk 106.

(Mounting base)
The mounting base 104 has a function of rotatably supporting the rotating disk 106 and fixing the storage bowl 102. The mounting base 104 includes two horizontal mounting bases 104A, a first mounting part 104B inclined with respect to the mounting base 104A, a second mounting part 104C extending vertically upward from the upper end of the first mounting part 104B, and a mounting base 104B. It includes support side walls 104L and 104R which are erected substantially at right angles to the mounting portion 104A. The mounting table portion 104A has a rectangular flat plate shape and is formed integrally with the supporting side walls 104L and 104R. The first mounting portion 104B has a flat plate shape and is inclined at an upward angle of about 60 degrees with respect to the mounting table portion 104A. The rotating disk 106 is disposed on the upward upper surface 104U side, and the driving means 108 is disposed on the rear surface side. Is installed. The inclination angle of the first mounting portion 104B is preferably in the range of 50 degrees to 70 degrees. If less than 50 degrees, less pending amount of medals C, greater than 70 degrees, because medals are easily fallen from the medal holding member 128 described later. The second attachment portion 104C is formed integrally with the first attachment portion 104B and supports the medal transport device 20.

(Rotating disc)
The rotating disk 106 has a function of sorting medals with different outer diameters one by one and transporting them to the receiving means 112. The rotating disk 106 is a disc, and has a circular central protrusion 132 at the center, a ring-shaped holding surface 134 around the central protrusion 132, and a medal locking body 128 formed radially on the holding surface 134. Is disposed close to the upward upper surface 104U. The rotating disk 106 is inclined upward and rotated counterclockwise in FIG. It is preferable to form a protrusion 133 on the upper surface of the central protrusion 132 and thereby stir the medal.

  The outer periphery of the central protrusion 132 is a support shelf 136, and the support shelf 136 is substantially perpendicular to the holding surface 134, and the amount of protrusion from the holding surface 134 is set lower than the thickness of the thinnest medal expected to be used. ing. The support shelf 136 has a function of holding only one medal on the holding surface 134 between the medal locking bodies 128. This is because two medals are not supported by the support shelf 136.

  The holding surface 134 has a function of holding a medal in surface contact with one surface of a medal whose peripheral surface is supported by the support shelf 136. The holding surface 134 is a ring-shaped flat surface formed on the outer periphery of the central protrusion 132 and is inclined about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane.

  The medal locking body 128 is in contact with the peripheral surface of the medal and has a function of pushing the medal. The medal locking body 128 is a rib-like ridge formed in a fixed state radially at regular intervals with respect to the rotation axis of the rotary disk 106. In this embodiment, the medal locking body 128 has a trapezoidal trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front, and pushes the medal by the pushing edge 138 at the front end in the rotation direction. The pushing edge 138 extends vertically upward with respect to the holding surface 134, and the height from the holding surface 134 may be a height that can push the medal. However, when the height of the pushing edge 138 is low, the contact pressure per unit length when pushing the medal is increased. On the other hand, when the height of the pushing edge 138 is higher than a predetermined amount, the length of the climbing slope 142 for the receiving means 112 described later becomes long and the minimum diameter medal is pushed by the pushing edge 138. The medal is pushed up by the climbing slope 142 and the minimum diameter medal is easily dropped from the medal receiving means 112. Therefore, it is preferable that the pushing edge 138 is formed as high as possible within a range where the minimum diameter medal is not pushed up by the riding slope 142 when pushed by the pushing edge 138. According to experiments, when a medal with a diameter of 20 mm or more is targeted, the height of the pushing edge 138 is preferably about 2 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the rotation direction downstream edge 144 of the medal locking body 128 is a pushing edge so that the entire length of the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving body 145 constituting the medal receiving means 112 is simultaneously close to the holding surface 134. It is preferable to form it inclined with respect to 138. This is because when the medal receiver 145 comes close to the holding surface 134, no medal is sandwiched between the holding surface 134 and the medal receiver 145. The top portion 147 and the downstream edge 144 of the medal locking body 128 are formed on a stepped slope 149. One surface of the medal is held in contact with the holding surface 134 between the adjacent medal locking bodies 128. Therefore, the distance between the pushing edge 138 and the downstream edge 144 on the holding surface 134 is such that the support shelf 136 side is narrow and gradually expands toward the periphery of the rotating disk 106, and the holding surface 134 has a central protrusion 132. In contrast, it exhibits an inverted trapezoid. When one of the minimum diameter medals expected to be used is supported on the support shelf 136, the other minimum diameter medals are set not to be supported by the support shelf 136. In other words, it is set so that two of the smallest diameter medals do not come into surface contact with the holding surface 134 at a position close to the support shelf 136. This is to prevent two medals from being paid out continuously.

  The climbing slope 142 has a function of pushing up the end of the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving body 145 on the support shelf 136 side from the holding surface 134 along this end. As shown in FIG. 4, the climbing slope 142 is formed at a corner formed by the support shelf 136 and the pushing edge 138, and slopes from the holding surface 134 to the top 147 of the medal locking body 128, and has a minimum diameter. When the medals are in contact with the support shelf 136 and the pushing edge 138, it is preferable to form them in a triangular space formed by them. This is because, when the climbing slope 142 is too large, a part of the medal is placed on the climbing slope 142 in a state where the medal is guided to the receiving edge 146, and the medal easily falls from the receiving edge 146.

(Driving means)
The drive unit 108 has a function of rotating the rotary disk 106 at a predetermined speed. In the present embodiment, the driving means 108 includes an electric motor 152 and a speed reducer 154. A reduction gear 154 is fixed to the back surface of the first mounting portion 104B, and an output gear (not shown) of an electric motor 152 fixed to the reduction gear 154 is engaged with the input gear. An output shaft (not shown) of the speed reducer 154 passes through the first mounting portion 104B, and is tightly inserted and fixed in a fitting hole (not shown) in the center of the rotary disk 106.

  The driving means 108 has an overload prevention function. That is, when the driving means 108 is overloaded due to an abnormality such as a clogged medal, a reverse polarity current flows through the electric motor 152 by a control device (not shown), and the rotating disk 106 is rotated in reverse. As a result, when the abnormality is resolved and the load state of the drive unit 108 becomes normal, the control device causes the rotary disk 106 to rotate forward again.

(Medal receiving means)
The medal receiving means 112 has a function of moving the medals that are sent one by one by the rotating disk 106 in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 106 and performing an escaping motion with respect to the medal locking body 128. In this embodiment, the medal receiving means 112 is a pentagonal plate body, an edge facing the pushing edge 138 is formed with a straight receiving edge 146, and the other end is supported movably by the floating support means 174. The medal receiver 145 has a pushing edge 138 urged toward the rotating disk 106 by an urging means (not shown) in the middle.

  When the receiving edge 146 extends in a straight line from the vicinity of the support shelf 136 in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 106 and is opposed to the pushing edge 138 (when a medal is positioned between them), the extension line of the edges is It is formed to make an acute angle. In other words, as shown in FIG. 4, the receiving edge 146 is offset upward with respect to the center of the rotary disk 106 and faces the entire length of the holding surface 134 in the circumferential direction.

  The idle support means 174 has a function of supporting the medal receiving means 112 so that the posture can be changed in any direction, up, down, left, and right within a predetermined range. Specifically, the movement of the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112 so that it can get over the medal locking body 128 while contacting the position near the holding surface 134 and the climbing slope 142 is possible. The floating support means 174 has the same configuration as the patent document “Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-97322” filed by the applicant of the present application and has been published, and the description of the specific configuration is omitted here.

(Medal dropping means)
The medal dropping unit 118 has a function of dropping a medal placed on the medal held in contact with the holding surface 134 so that the overlapping medals do not reach the receiving unit 112. The medal dropping means 118 is disposed above the axis of the rotating disk 106 and is opposed to the periphery of the rotating disk 106. In other words, the medal dropping means 118 is at a position of about 2 o'clock with respect to the rotating disk 106, and as shown in FIG. 4, the medal dropping means 118 moves forward and backward in a parallel plane close to the holding surface 134 of the rotating disk 106. It is configured to be possible. The medal dropping means 118 has the same configuration as the above-mentioned patent document “Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2008-97322”, and detailed description thereof is omitted here.

(Medal transport device)
Next, the medal transport device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the medal transport device 20 includes a medal guide portion 200 having a medal guide passage 210 extending from the entrance 202 toward the exit 204, and a pair of medal pushers 504 </ b> A to 504 </ b> L and 506 </ b> A to 506 </ b> L. Includes a medal pushing mechanism 500 having first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L, and a medal releasing means 230 and a medal payout detection sensor 240 arranged in the vicinity of the outlet 204. In addition, the medal transport device 20 includes first to third medal transport units 21 to 23 that divide the medal guide passage 210 into three in the extending direction. In other words, the medal transport device 20 is configured such that the medal guide passage 210 is formed by connecting the first and third medal transport units 21 and 23 via the second medal transport unit 22. The entrance 202 of the medal guide passage 210 is provided at the lower part of the first medal transport unit 21, and the outlet 204 is provided at the upper left side of the third medal transport unit 23.

(Medal guide)
The medal guide section 200 includes a base body 300, a top plate 400 provided on the surface 302 of the base body 300, and an entrance guide member 450. On the surface 302 side of the base body 300, as shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10, the first to twelfth turntables 502A supported rotatably around the first to twelfth rotation axes 332A to 332L. ˜502L are arranged. The first to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> A to 332 </ b> L are substantially perpendicular to the surface 302 of the base body 300.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the surface 302 of the base body 300 includes a first guide surface portion 222 and a second guide surface portion 224. The first guide surface portion 222 is parallel to the upward upper surface 104U of the first mounting portion 104B. In other words, the first guide surface portion 222 has an inclination angle of about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane in the same manner as the holding surface 134 of the rotating disk 106. The second guide surface portion 224 is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane and intersects the first guide surface portion 222 at an angle of about 150 degrees. In other words, the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224 have normals that intersect each other at an angle of about 30 degrees. A first curved surface portion 226 is formed between the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224. In other words, the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224 are smoothly connected via the first curved surface portion 226.

  The first and second rotation axes 332A and 332B are arranged on the first axis arrangement line 312 at a predetermined interval d1, and as seen from the side of the base body 300 as shown in FIG. They are arranged so as to intersect at a predetermined angle α (viewed from either one of left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 described later). In other words, they are arranged so as to intersect at a predetermined angle α when viewed from a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the medal guide passage 210 and substantially parallel to the surface 302 of the base body 300. Since the first rotation axis 332A is substantially perpendicular to the first guide surface portion 222 and the second rotation axis 332B is substantially perpendicular to the second guide surface portion 224, the angle α is about 30 degrees.

The second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332L are substantially parallel to each other. The second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J, and 332L are arranged in a row at a predetermined interval d2 on the first axis arrangement line 312. The third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, and 332K are arranged in a line at a predetermined interval d2 on the second axis arrangement line 314. In other words, among the second to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> B to 332 </ b> L, even numbers are arranged in a line on the first axis arrangement line 312, and odd numbers are arranged in a line on the second axis arrangement line 314. The The first and second axis array lines 312 and 314 are parallel to each other and arranged at a predetermined interval w. The third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, 332K are the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J , and 332L are offset by a predetermined distance s. In other words, the second to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> B to 332 </ b> L are arranged in a zigzag shape (that is, a zigzag shape) along the extending direction of the medal guide passage 210.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a medal guide groove 406 extending from the inlet 202 toward the outlet 204 is formed on the back surface 404 side of the top plate 400. The medal guide groove 406 has a bottom surface 410 and first and second side surfaces 412 and 414, and is fixed to the base body 300 in a state where the back surface 404 is superimposed on the front surface 302 of the base body 300. The width wg of the medal guide groove 406 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the maximum diameter medal, and the depth dg (see FIG. 11) is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the maximum thickness medal. In other words, a plurality of medals having different diameters and thicknesses can be passed through the medal guide groove 406 while being guided by the bottom surface 410 and the first and second side surfaces 412 and 414. A width wg and a depth dg of the guide groove 406 are set. In other words, it is set so that medals having only different outer diameters (diameters) or thicknesses within a predetermined range can be conveyed.

  The first side surface 412 of the medal guide groove 406 is a curve formed by connecting a plurality of circular arcs with the third, fifth, seventh, ninth, and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, and 332K as centers. It is formed along 418. The second side surface 414 of the medal guide groove 406 has a plurality of arcs around the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J, and 332L. It is formed along a curve 416 that is connected.

  The front surface 402 and the back surface 404 of the top plate 400 are substantially parallel to the front surface 302 of the base body 300 and are curved corresponding to the shape of the front surface 302 of the base body 300. The bottom surface 410 of the medal guide groove 406 has a second curved surface portion 228 that faces the first curved surface portion 226 of the base body 300.

  An annular groove 422 that prevents contact with the top plate 400 when the later-described medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L are rotated on the back surface 404 of the top plate 400 has first to twelfth rotation axes. It is formed corresponding to each of 332A-332L. Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, on the back surface 404 of the top plate 400, alignment protrusions 432 are formed at positions corresponding to the third to twelfth rotation axes 332 C to 332 L, and the top plate 400 An alignment protrusion 434 is formed at a predetermined position on the periphery. The alignment protrusion 432 is inserted into an alignment hole 342 formed in third to twelfth support shafts 334C to 334L, which will be described later, and the alignment protrusion 434 is located at a predetermined position on the periphery of the surface 302 of the base body 300. Is inserted into the alignment hole 344 formed in the above. Thereby, the top plate 400 can be fixed in a state of being aligned with the base body 300.

  The surface 302 of the base body 300, the bottom surface 410 of the medal guide groove 406 of the top plate 400, and the first and second side surfaces 412, 414 constitute a medal guide passage 210. In other words, the surface 302 of the base body 300 functions as the guide surface 218 on the back of the medal guide passage 210, and the bottom surface 410 of the medal guide groove 406 of the top plate 400 functions as the front guide surface 216 of the medal guide passage 210. The first and second side surfaces 412 and 414 of the medal guide groove 406 of the top plate 400 function as the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 of the medal guide passage 210. In the medal guide passage 210, the peripheral surface of the medal introduced from the entrance 202 is the left and right guide surfaces 212, 214 of the medal guide passage 210 (that is, the first and second side surfaces 412, 414 of the medal guide groove 406). ). The front and back surfaces of the medal are guided by the front and back guide surfaces 216 and 218 of the medal guide passage 210 (that is, the bottom surface 410 of the medal guide groove 406 and the front surface 302 of the base body 300).

  The entrance guide member 450 forms the entrance 202 of the medal guide passage 210 together with the top plate 400. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the inlet guide member 450 includes a substantially pentagonal attachment portion 452, a protrusion 456 extending from the attachment portion 452 toward the first rotation axis 332 </ b> A, and a support provided on the protrusion 456. And a disc body 454 rotatably supported on the shaft. The disc body 454 is disposed on the back surface side of the protrusion 456 so as to cover a recess 502Aa formed in a central portion of the first rotating disk 502A described later. As shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 456 is arranged with its downward side surface 458 facing the medal delivery port 190 of the medal delivery device 10. The downward side surface 458 of the protrusion 456 has a function of guiding the peripheral surface of the medal sent out from the medal delivery port 190 and smoothly introducing the medal into the inlet 202 of the medal guide passage 210.

(Medal pushing mechanism)
As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 and 10, the medal pushing mechanism 500 includes first to twelfth rotary plates 502 </ b> A to 502 </ b> L that rotate around the first to twelfth rotation axes 332 </ b> A to 332 </ b> L. . The first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L are rotatably supported by the first to twelfth support shafts 334A to 334L disposed on the base body 300. The first to twelfth support shafts 334A to 334L have a substantially cylindrical outer shape with the first to twelfth rotation axes 332A to 332L as the central axis, and have substantially the same diameter. The first turntable 502A has an outer shape that is substantially circular in plan view, and a circular recess 502Aa (see FIG. 6) is formed at the center. In other words, the first turntable 502A has an annular peripheral portion that protrudes in a direction parallel to the first rotation axis 332A. The second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L have an outer shape that is substantially circular in plan view.

  The surface of the first turntable 502A has a substantially oval (or oval) planar shape that bends and extends along the outer periphery of the first turntable 502A and is parallel to the first rotation axis 332A. A pair of medal pushers 504A and 506A having a columnar outer shape protruding in the direction is provided. Since the medal pushers 504A and 506A have a function of pushing the medal in a substantially oval (or oval) long axis direction, the medal pushers 504A and 506A have such a planar shape. Durability against mechanical strength and wear. The medal pushers 504A and 506A are arranged opposite to each other with the first rotation axis 332A in the periphery of the first rotary board 502A. In other words, the medal pushers 504A and 506A are arranged on the first rotary board 502A. They are arranged symmetrically with respect to one rotation axis 332A. The medal pushers 504A and 506A function as first medal pusher that rotates around the first rotation axis 332A as the first turntable 502A rotates.

Similar to the first turntable 502A, the surfaces of the second to twelfth turntables 502B to 502L have the same planar shape as the medal pushers 504A and 506A, and the second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332B. A pair of medal pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L having a columnar outer shape protruding in a direction parallel to 332L are provided. The medal pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L are arranged opposite to each other with the rotation axis lines 332B to 332L sandwiched between the peripheral parts of the turntables 502B to 502L. In other words, the medal pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L. Are arranged symmetrically with respect to the rotation axes 332B to 332L on the rotary plates 502B to 502L. The medal pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L function as second to twelfth medal push means that rotate around the rotation axes 332B to 332L as the turntables 502B to 502L rotate.

The heights of the medal pushers 504A, 504B, 506A, and 506B that function as the first and second medal push means (in other words, the protruding length from the surface of the turntable) are the third to twelfth medal push means. The medal pushers 504C to 504L and 506C to 506L that are functioning are set to be large. This is because, in order to convey a medal while changing the advancing angle of the medal, it is necessary to reliably push the medal even when the medal is inclined. The heights of the medal pushers 504C to 504L and 506C to 506L are the same.

  The medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L may be formed integrally with the first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L, or the ones made separately are made to the first to twelfth rotary plates by an appropriate method. It can also be formed fixed to 502A to 502L. In this embodiment, they are integrally formed from the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing costs. The medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L may be columnar bodies, or may be rotatable roller types in which a support shaft is covered with a cylindrical collar. In the case of the roller type, there is an advantage that the wear of the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L is suppressed and durability can be enhanced.

  As described above, the second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332L are alternately arranged in a zigzag manner on the first and second axis arrangement lines 312 and 314. Medal pushers 504B corresponding to the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotation axes 332B, 332D, 332F, 332H, 332J, and 332L disposed on the first axis array line 312; 504D, 504F, 504H, 504J, 504L and 506B, 506D, 506F, 506H, 506J, 506L constitute a first pusher group. Medal pushers 504C, 504E, 504G, 504I corresponding to the third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotation axes 332C, 332E, 332G, 332I, 332K arranged on the second axis array line 314. , 504K and 506C, 506E, 506G, 506I and 506K constitute a second pusher group. The second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth turntables 502B, 502D, 502F, 502H, 502J, and 502L constitute a first turntable group, and the third, fifth, seventh, and third turntables. Ninth and eleventh turntables 502C, 502E, 502G, 502I, and 502K constitute a second turntable group.

  Gears 522B to 522L functioning as driven gears for rotationally driving the rotary plates 502B to 502L are provided coaxially on the back surfaces of the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L, respectively. The second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L and the gears 522B to 522L are respectively formed with shaft insertion holes 510 shown in FIG. Corresponding support shafts 334B to 334L are inserted into these shaft insertion holes 510, respectively. The gears 522B to 522L may be formed integrally with the second to twelfth turntables 502B to 502L, or may be formed separately and fixed to the turntables 502B to 502L by an appropriate method. it can. It suffices that the second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L and the gears 522B to 522L can rotate integrally. In this embodiment, they are integrally formed from the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing cost and improving coaxial accuracy.

  The gears 522B to 522L are adjacent to each other. That is, the gear 522C meshes with the gears 522B and 522D. Similarly, the gear 522E meshes with the gears 522D and 522F, and the gear 522G meshes with the gears 522F and 522H. The gear 522I meshes with the gears 522H and 522J, and the gear 522K meshes with the gears 522J and 522L. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth turntables 502B, 502D, 502F, 502H, 502J, and 502L belonging to the first turntable group are counterclockwise. , And the third, fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotating disks 502C, 502E, 502G, 502I and 502K belonging to the second rotating disk group rotate clockwise. That is, the second, fourth, sixth, eighth, tenth and twelfth rotating disks 502B, 502D, 502F, 502H, 502J and 502L belonging to the first rotating disk group, and the third belonging to the second rotating disk group. The fifth, seventh, ninth and eleventh rotating disks 502C, 502E, 502G, 502I and 502K rotate in directions opposite to each other. Therefore, medal pushers 504B, 504D, 504F, 504H, 504J, 504L and 506B, 506D, 506F, 506H, 506J, 506L belonging to the first pusher group, and medal pushers 504C belonging to the second pusher group. , 504E, 504G, 504I, 504K and 506C, 506E, 506G, 506I, 506K rotate in opposite directions.

  In a pair of adjacent ones of the second to twelfth rotary plates 502B to 502L, the medal pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L are arranged so as to maintain a predetermined rotational phase difference. For example, in the adjacent second and third turntables 502B and 502C, the medal pushers 504B and 504C and the medal pushers 506B and 506C are arranged so as to maintain a predetermined rotational phase difference. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 10, when a plane P including the second and third rotation axes 332B and 332C is defined, a medal that rotates when the rotating medal pusher 504B reaches the plane P. The medal pushers 504B and 504C are arranged so that the pusher 504C reaches a position in front of the plane P by a half of the gear pitch. Similarly, when the rotating medal pusher 506B reaches the plane P, the medal pusher 506C rotates so that the medal pusher 506C reaches the position in front of the plane P by 1/2 of the gear pitch. The moving bodies 506B and 506C are arranged. The third turntable 502C and the fourth turntable 502D, the fourth turntable 502D and the fifth turntable 502E, the fifth turntable 502E and the sixth turntable 502F, the sixth turntable 502F and the seventh turntable 502G, the seventh Turntable 502G and eighth turntable 502H, eighth turntable 502H and ninth turntable 502I, ninth turntable 502I and tenth turntable 502J, tenth turntable 502J and eleventh turntable 502K, eleventh turntable The same applies to each of 502K and the twelfth rotating disk 502L.

  As described above, the medal pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L rotate in synchronization around the corresponding ones of the second to twelfth rotation axes 332B to 332L while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference. Moreover, among the medal pushers 504B to 504L and 506B to 506L, those having adjacent rotation axes rotate and move in directions opposite to each other.

A gear 612 having a spur gear portion 622 and a bevel gear portion 626 is coaxially provided on the back surface of the first rotating disk 502A. A gear 614 having a spur gear portion 624 and a bevel gear portion 628 is provided coaxially on the back surface of the second rotating disk 502B gear 522B. These two gears 612 and 614 have the same shape, the bevel gear portions 626 and 628 have a cone angle of about 30 degrees, respectively. In other words, the bevel gear portions 626 and 628 each have a cone angle corresponding to the angle α formed by the first rotation axis 332A and the second rotation axis 332B.

  The bevel gear portion 626 of the gear 612 and the bevel gear portion 628 of the gear 614 mesh with each other. Therefore, the first and second turntables 502A and 502B rotate in directions opposite to each other. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the first turntable 502A rotates clockwise, and the second turntable 502B rotates counterclockwise. Therefore, the medal pushers 504A and 506A and the medal pushers 504B and 506B rotate in directions opposite to each other. Also in the first and second turntables 502A and 502B, the medal pushers 504A and 504B and the medal pushers 506A and 506B are arranged so as to maintain a predetermined rotational phase difference. As described above, the medal pushers 504A and 504B and the medal pushers 506A and 506B rotate synchronously while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference in directions opposite to each other around the first and second rotation axes 332A and 332B. To do.

  As described above, the bevel gear portions 626 and 628 have a cone angle corresponding to the angle α formed by the first rotation axis 332A and the second rotation axis 332B. Therefore, the first and second rotating discs 502A are formed in a state where the angle α formed by the first and second rotation axes 332A and 332B is formed while the first and second gears 612 and 614 are simply engaged. , 502B can be rotationally driven.

  The spur gear portion 622 and the bevel gear portion 626 may be formed integrally, or may be formed separately and fixed to each other by an appropriate method. In this embodiment, they are integrally formed from the viewpoint of reducing manufacturing cost and improving coaxial accuracy. The same applies to the spur gear portion 624 and the bevel gear portion 628. The gear 612 can be formed integrally with the rotating disk 502A, and the gear 614 can be formed integrally with the gear 522B. When formed integrally, it is advantageous to reduce the manufacturing cost and increase the coaxial accuracy. In this embodiment, it is formed integrally. However, it is formed integrally by fixing them separately by an appropriate method. Of course, it is also possible. The first and second rotating disks 502A and 502B and the gears 612 and 614 may be configured in any manner as long as they can rotate together.

(Driving force transmission mechanism)
As shown in FIGS. 17 to 19, the driving force transmission mechanism 600 is provided coaxially with the gear 602 disposed on the back side of the rotating disk 106 of the medal delivery device 10, the gear 604 that meshes with the gear 602, and the gear 604. A gear 110 to which a torque limiter 611 is attached, a gear 606 that meshes with the gear 110, a gear 606, and a coaxial gear 608 are included. The gear 602 is fixed to the rotating disk 106, and the gear 608 meshes with the spur gear portion 622 of the gear 612.

When the rotating disk 106 is rotated by the driving means 108 of the medal delivery device 10, the gear 602 rotates integrally with the rotating disk 106, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the gear 612 via the gears 604, 610, 606 and 608. Is done. The gear 612 to which the rotational driving force is transmitted rotates, and the rotational driving force is transmitted to the gears 522B to 522L via the gear 614. As a result, all of the gears 612 and 614 and the gears 522B to 522L rotate, and all of the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L rotate.
The driving force transmission mechanism 600 is configured such that the rotating disk 106 of the medal delivery device 10 and the first rotating disk 502A of the medal transport device 20 have a predetermined rotational speed difference. That is, the rotational speeds of the rotating disk 106 and the first rotating disk 502A are set so that the first rotating disk 502A rotates 180 degrees every time the rotating disk 106 rotates 45 degrees. By setting the rotation speed in this way, when each of the eight pushing edges 138 of the rotary disk 106 cooperates with the medal receiving means 112 to send out a medal, the medal pushers 504A and 506A send out the medal. Move to the optimal position to push each of the medals. In other words, all of the medals sent out by each of the eight pushing edges 138 of the rotating disk 106 can be reliably pushed by either one of the medal pushers 504A and 506A.

  Note that when the overload prevention function of the driving means 108 is activated and the rotating disk 106 is reversely rotated, the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L are also reversely rotated. When the first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L are reversely rotated, the medals in the medal guide passage 210 are pushed in the reverse direction by the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. The pushed medals are transported from the exit 204 toward the entrance 202, and some medals are returned to the rotary disk 106 through the medal delivery port 190. Also in this case, since the optimum positional relationship between the rotary disk 106 and the first rotary disk 502A is maintained, the medals in the medal guide passage 210 are smoothly moved onto the rotary disk 106.

The 611a central axis which is the input shaft of the torque limiter 6 11 is fixed by being connected to the rotary shaft 604a of the gear 604, not the fitting hole of the gear 610 (shown on the outer circumferential surface 611b which is an output shaft of the torque limiter 611 ) Is inserted and fixed. As a result, when an excessive torque greater than or equal to a predetermined value is applied to the gear 604, the torque is interrupted and the gear 604 idles. In other words, by including the biting Medals in the medal transporting apparatus 20 occurs, when applied an excessive rotational resistance of more than a predetermined value to the first to twelfth rotating disk 502A~502L, the torque limiter 6 11 The rotational force is released between the input shaft and the output shaft so that the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L are not forcibly rotated. Accordingly, since an excessive load is not applied to the related parts, there is an advantage that damage to the parts is prevented and durability is improved. Further, since an excessive load is not applied, the required component strength is small, and there is an advantage that the component can be downsized and the entire apparatus can be downsized.
As shown in FIG. 19, a rotation monitoring sensor 650 that monitors the rotation state of the first to twelfth rotary disks 502 </ b> A to 502 </ b> L is provided on the rotation shaft 606 a of the gear 606. The rotation monitoring sensor 650 includes an encoder disk 652 fixed to the lower end of the rotation shaft 606a and a transmission type photoelectric sensor 654. The encoder disc 652 is formed with a plurality of through holes (not shown) arranged at equal intervals along the periphery. The photoelectric sensor 654 includes a light projector (not shown) that emits light toward the through hole of the encoder disk 652 and a light receiver (not shown) that receives the light from the light projector and generates an electrical signal. Is done. When the first to twelfth turntables 502A to 502L rotate, the rotation monitoring sensor 650 outputs a pulse signal synchronized with the rotation angle. In other words, the rotation monitoring sensor 650 functions as a sensor that monitors the state of the rotational movement of the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. By monitoring the state of this pulse signal, the operating state of the torque limiter 611 can be detected. That is, when the torque limiter 611 is inactive, a pulse signal having a predetermined cycle is output from the rotation monitoring sensor 650, and when the torque limiter 611 is in an operating state, a pulse signal having a cycle longer than the predetermined cycle is output from the rotation monitoring sensor. Since the output is 650, the non-operation / operation state of the torque limiter 611 can be detected by measuring the period of the pulse signal. When the torque limiter 611 is actuated to stop rotation of the rotary disk 106 stops the electric motor 152. As a result, the delivery of medals from the medal delivery device 10 is stopped, and the medals are prevented from continuing to be supplied to the medal transport device 20 in which the medals are bitten. Therefore, an unnecessary load is applied to related parts. Can be prevented, and durability is improved.

The torque limiter 6 11, for example, those known, such as a torque limiter having a steel ball and a concave groove which is disclosed in JP-A-2001-263364 can be used, in particular, face each other across an axis of rotation What has a pair of concave groove is preferable. In that case, the non-operating state of the torque limiter 6 11 (i.e., a state where the steel ball is locked in the groove), so is caused by the rotation angle of 180 degrees, the medal transporting the rotating disk 106 of the medal delivery device 10 The rotational phase difference between the device 20 and the first turntable 502A is maintained.

(Medal transport unit)
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first medal transport unit 21 includes a first base portion 300 </ b> A and a first top plate portion 400 </ b> A provided on the first base portion 300 </ b> A. As shown in FIG. 10, the first base portion 300A includes first to fourth rotation axes 332A to 332D and first to fourth rotation plates 502A to 502D. In other words, the first to fourth rotation axes 332 </ b> A to 332 </ b> D and the first to fourth turntables 502 </ b> A to 502 </ b> D are arranged in the first medal transport unit 21. 300 A of 1st base parts have the cover body 180, the 1st member 306A, and the 2nd member 308A which were formed integrally with the storage bowl 102. As shown in FIG.

  The cover body 180 has an inclined surface 181 formed in parallel with the upward upper surface 104U of the first attachment portion 104B, and an opening 188 is formed in the upper left portion of the cover body 180. A recess 182 having a peripheral wall 184 is formed around the opening 188, and a part of the recess 182 is further retracted to form a partial annular surface 186. The bottom surface 183 of the concave portion 182 is parallel to the upward upper surface 104U of the first mounting portion 104B of the mounting base 104. In other words, the bottom surface 183 has an inclination angle of about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane in the same manner as the holding surface 134 of the rotating disk 106. . The depth of the recess 182 (in other words, the height of the peripheral wall 184) is set larger than the thickness of the thickest medal. A rotating disc 502A is disposed in the opening 188, and the above-described inlet guide member 450 is disposed in the upper right portion of the recess 182.

The first member 306A of the first base portion 300A includes left and right divided portions 306Aa and 306Ab, and a portion 315A of the through hole 315 shown in FIG. 7 is formed in a state where these divided portions 306Aa and 306Ab are combined. The The second member 308A of the first base portion 300A has a flat plate-like first plate portion 308Aa and a pair of second plate portions 308Ab extending vertically from both side ends of the first plate portion 308Aa. The first plate portion 308Aa is provided with third and fourth support shafts 334C and 334D. A third support shaft 334C is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 510 of the third rotary plate 502C and the gear 522C, and a fourth support shaft 334D is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 510 of the fourth rotary plate 502D and the gear 522D. . An opening 308Ac is formed below the first plate portion 308Aa. The second member 308A is attached to the second attachment portion 104C by fixing the second plate portion 308Ab to the second attachment portion 104C. The second mounting portion 104C, the second support shaft 334 B projecting from the first plate portion 308Aa through the opening 308Ac is provided. The shaft insertion hole 510 of the second rotating disk 502B, gear 522B and the gear 614, the second supporting shaft 334 B is inserted. As shown in FIG. 5, a portion 104Ca that is bent in an L shape is formed at the upper end of the second attachment portion 104C, and in the state where the second member 308A is attached to the second attachment portion 104C, A space 308Ad is formed between the first plate portion 308Aa of the member 308A and the second attachment portion 104C of the attachment base 104. Within this space 308Ad, part of the gear 614 are accommodated. The first member 306A of the first base portion 300A is fixed on the second member 308A with the lower portion thereof disposed on the partial annular surface 186.

A first support shaft 334 </ b> A is provided at the upper left portion of the first mounting portion 104 </ b> B of the mounting base 104. The first support shaft 334 </ b> A is arranged to be coaxial with the opening 188 of the cover body 180 in a state where the cover body 180 (that is, the storage bowl 102) is attached to the attachment base 104. A first support shaft 334A is inserted into a shaft insertion hole (not shown) of the first rotating disk 502A and the gear 612. As a result, the first turntable 502A is disposed in the opening 188 of the cover body 180. Further, a gear 604 and a gear 608 are disposed on the first mounting portion 104 </ b> B of the mounting base 104.
The first top plate portion 400A has a first medal guide groove portion 406A for forming a first medal guide passage portion 210A corresponding to the first to fourth rotation axes 332A to 332D. The second curved surface portion 228 described above is formed in the first top plate portion 400A. In the first top plate portion 400A, a groove 422 is formed to prevent contact when the medal pushers 504A to 504D and 506A to 506D rotate around the first to fourth rotation axes 332A to 332D.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first medal transport unit 21 has a connection portion 251 for connecting the second medal transport unit 22 to the upper end thereof. In the connecting portion 251, notched edges 252a and 252b are formed in the second member 308A of the first top plate portion 400A and the first base portion 300A. The cutout edges 252a and 252b are formed in an arc shape along the contact preventing portion of the medal pushers 504D and 506D in the groove 422, and extend upward and rightward from the arc-shaped portion. Between the notch edges 252a and 252b, an opening 253 exposing the gear 522D and an outlet 211Aa of the first medal guide passage portion 210A are formed. At the upper right end of the first member 306A of the first base portion 300A, there is provided a connecting protrusion 258 that protrudes upward from the notch edges 252a and 252b and is formed with a screw insertion hole 259. At the upper left end of the first medal transport unit 21, a connecting protrusion 268 of the second medal transport unit 22 described later can be inserted between the second member 308A of the first top plate portion 400A and the first base portion 300A. A groove portion 255 is formed. A screw insertion hole 256 is formed in the upper left portion of the first top plate portion 400A, and a screw hole 257 is formed in the upper left portion of the second member 308A of the first base portion 300A.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the second medal transport unit 22 includes a second base portion 300 </ b> B and a second top plate portion 400 </ b> B provided on the second base portion 300 </ b> B. As shown in FIG. 10, fifth to tenth rotation axes 332E to 332J and fifth to tenth rotation disks 502E to 502J are arranged on the second base portion 300B. In other words, the fifth to tenth rotation axes 332E to 332J and the fifth to tenth rotation plates 502E to 502J are arranged in the second medal transport unit 22. The second base portion 300B has a first member 306B and a second member 308B.

  A portion (not shown) of the through hole 315 shown in FIG. 7 is formed in the first member 306B of the second base portion 300B. The second member 308B is provided with fifth to tenth support shafts 334E to 34J. A fifth support shaft 334E is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 510 of the fifth rotating disk 502E and the gear 522E. Similarly, the sixth to tenth support shafts 334F to 334J are inserted into the shaft insertion holes 510 of the sixth to tenth rotating disks 502F to 502J and the gears 522F to 522J.

  The second top plate portion 400B has a second medal guide groove portion 406B for forming a second medal guide passage portion 210B corresponding to the fifth to tenth rotation axes 332E to 332J. Grooves 422 are formed in the second top plate portion 400B to prevent contact when the medal pushers 504E to 504J and 506E to 506J rotate around the fifth to tenth rotation axes 332E to 332J.

The second medal transport unit 22 has connection portions 261A and 261B for connecting the first and third medal transport units 21 and 23 to the upper and lower ends thereof. Connecting portion 261A, 261B has the same configuration with a rotationally symmetrical with respect to symmetry axis CP. Therefore, only the connection unit 261A will be described, and the description of the connection unit 261B will be omitted.

In the connection portion 261A, notched edges 262a and 262b are formed in the second member 308B of the second top plate portion 400B and the second base portion 300B. The notched edges 262a and 262b are formed in an arc shape along the contact preventing portion of the medal pushers 504J and 506J in the groove 422, and extend upward and rightward from the arc-shaped portion. An opening 263 that exposes the gear 522J and an outlet 211Ba of the second medal guide passage portion 210B are formed between the cutout edges 262a and 262b. In addition, in the connection part 261B, the entrance 211Bb of the 2nd medal guide passage part 210B is formed. At the upper right end of the first member 306B of the second base portion 300B, there is provided a connecting protrusion 268 that protrudes upward from the notch edges 262a and 262b and is formed with a screw insertion hole 269. At the upper left end of the second medal transport unit 22, the first member 306B of the second base portion 300B is formed with a holding piece 264 that protrudes from the surface toward the second top plate portion 400B and extends in an approximately L shape. Yes. This holding piece 26 4 between the second member 308B, third medal insertable groove 265 a connection projection 278 of the transport unit 23 to be described later is formed. In the second base portion 300B, a screw insertion hole 266 is formed in the holding piece 264 of the first member 306B, and a screw hole 267 is formed in the upper left portion of the second member 308B.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the third medal transport unit 23 includes a third base portion 300C, a third top plate portion 400C provided on the third base portion 300B, a medal discharge means 230, a medal The payout detection sensor 240 is included. As shown in FIG. 10, eleventh and twelfth rotation axes 332K and 332L and eleventh and twelfth turntables 502K and 502L are arranged in the third base portion 300C. In other words, the eleventh and twelfth rotation axes 332K and 332L and the eleventh and twelfth rotation disks 502K and 502L are arranged in the third medal transport unit 23. The third base portion 300C has a first member 306C and a second member 308C.

  A part (not shown) of the through hole 315 shown in FIG. 7 is formed in the first member 306C of the third base portion 300C. The second member 308C is provided with eleventh and twelfth support shafts 334K and 334J. An eleventh support shaft 334K is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 510 of the eleventh rotating disk 502K and the gear 522K. A twelfth support shaft 334L is inserted into the shaft insertion hole 510 of the twelfth rotary disk 502L and the gear 522L.

  The third top plate portion 400C has a third medal guide groove portion 406C for forming a third medal guide passage portion 210C corresponding to the eleventh and twelfth rotation axes 332K and 332L. The third top plate portion 400C is formed with a groove 422 that prevents contact when the medal pushers 504K, 504L, 506K, and 506L rotate around the eleventh and twelfth rotation axes 332K and 332L.

  The third medal guide passage portion 210C is curved leftward about the twelfth rotation axis 332L, and extends substantially laterally toward the outlet 204 disposed on the left side. In the region on the left side of the twelfth rotation axis 332L in the third medal guide passage portion 210C, the width wg becomes wider as it goes to the outlet 204 side. In other words, the third medal guide passage portion 210 </ b> C includes an exit passage region 220 having a medal guide surface 220 a that is inclined obliquely downward toward the exit 204. This makes it easier for the medal to be discharged obliquely downward from the outlet 204.

  The third medal transport unit 23 has a connecting portion 271 for connecting the second medal transport unit 22 to the lower end thereof. In the connection portion 271A, notched edges 272a and 272b are formed in the second member 308C of the third top plate portion 400C and the third base portion 300C. The notch edges 272a and 272b are formed in an arc shape along the contact preventing portion of the medal pushers 504K and 506K in the groove 422, and extend downward and leftward from the arc-shaped portion. Between the cutout edges 272a and 272b, an opening 273 exposing the gear 522K and an inlet 211Cb of the third medal guide passage portion 210C are formed. At the lower left end of the first member 306C of the third base portion 300C, a connecting protrusion 278 that protrudes downward from the notch edges 272a and 272b and has a screw insertion hole 279 is provided. At the lower right end of the third medal transport unit 23, a groove portion into which the connection protrusion 268 of the second medal transport unit 22 can be inserted between the second top member 308C of the third top plate portion 400C and the third base portion 300C. 275 is formed. A screw insertion hole 276 is formed in the lower right portion of the third top plate portion 400C, and a screw hole 277 is formed in the lower right portion of the second member 308B of the third base portion 300B.

  The medal releasing means 230 includes a frame 231 for mounting components, a repelling roller 232 (see FIG. 7) that elastically contacts the peripheral surface of the medal, a revolving roller 232 that rotatably supports the support shaft ( Rotating lever 233 that rotates about a notch (not shown) and urging lever 233 toward outlet passage region 220 so that flip roller 232 faces outlet passage region 220 of third medal guide passage portion 210C. A string spring 234 and a stopper 235 for receiving and holding the rotating lever 233 at a stationary position where the flip roller 232 faces the exit passage area 220 are configured. The frame 231 is provided with a downward E-shaped stopper 237 bent at a right angle to the surface thereof, and a locking pin 238 is provided on the upper part of the rotating lever 233. One end of the string winding spring 234 is hooked in the groove of the stopper metal 237, and the other end is hooked on the locking pin 238. The flip roller 232 is exposed to the outlet passage region 220 of the third medal guide passage portion 210C through an arc-like flip roller slot 236 formed in the third top plate portion 400C. The medal releasing means 230 is attached to the third medal transport unit 23 by fixing the frame 231 to the third base portion 300C with screws (not shown) penetrating the third top plate portion 400C.

  The medal payout detection sensor 240 is disposed so as to straddle the exit passage area 220 of the third medal guide passage portion 210C immediately before the exit 204. The medal payout detection sensor 240 is a photoelectric sensor having a channel-shaped resin-made outer case 242 that has a projector built in one of the two columnar portions 244 and a light receiver built in the other, and is opposed to each other. . When the medals pass between the two columnar portions 244 in the exit passage area 220, the optical path is blocked, and the medals are detected one by one based on the detection signal output based on the light path.

  When connecting the first medal transport unit 21 and the second medal transport unit 22, the connecting portion is engaged with the gear 522D exposed from the opening 253 of the connecting portion 251 and the gear 522E exposed from the opening 263 of the connecting portion 261. The protrusion 268 of the connection portion 251 is inserted into the groove portion 255 of the connection portion 251, and the protrusion portion 258 of the connection portion 251 is inserted into the groove portion 265 of the connection portion 261. When the gears 552D and 552E are meshed with each other, the positions of the teeth of the gears 552D and 552E are adjusted so that the predetermined phase difference is generated between the fourth rotary plate 502D and the fifth rotary plate 502E. When the second medal transport unit 22 is pressed against the first medal transport unit 21 in this state, the notch edges 252a and 252b of the connection part 251 abut against the notch edges 262a and 262b of the connection part 261, and the insertion is stopped. Is done. In other words, the notch edges 252a, 252b and 262a, 262b function as the butting surfaces for positioning. Further, screws (not shown) inserted into the screw insertion holes 256 of the connection portion 251 and the screw insertion holes 269 of the connection portion 261 are screwed into the screw holes 257 of the connection portion 251. Similarly, screws (not shown) inserted into the screw insertion holes 266 of the connection portion 261 and the screw insertion holes 259 of the connection portion 251 are screwed into the screw holes 267 of the connection portion 261. As a result, the second medal transport unit 22 is fixed to the first medal transport unit 21.

  When connecting the second medal transport unit 22 and the third medal transport unit 23, the gear 522 </ b> J exposed from the opening 263 of the connection portion 252 and the gear 522 </ b> K exposed from the opening 273 of the connection portion 271 are meshed with each other. The protrusion 278 of 271 is inserted into the groove 265 of the connection part 261, and the protrusion 268 of the connection part 261 is inserted into the groove 275 of the connection part 271. When the gears 552J and 552K are engaged with each other, the positions of the teeth of the gears 552J and 552K are adjusted so that the predetermined phase difference is generated between the tenth rotary plate 502J and the eleventh rotary plate 502K. When the third medal transport unit 23 is pressed against the second medal transport unit 22 in this state, the notch edges 262a and 262b of the connection portion 261 come into contact with the notch edges 272a and 272b of the connection portion 271, and insertion is stopped. Is done. In other words, the notched edges 262a, 262b and 272a, 272b function as the butting surfaces for positioning. Further, screws (not shown) inserted into the screw insertion holes 266 of the connection portion 261 and the screw insertion holes 279 of the connection portion 271 are screwed into the screw holes 267 of the connection portion 261. Similarly, screws (not shown) inserted into the screw insertion holes 276 of the connection portion 271 and the screw insertion holes 269 of the connection portion 261 are screwed into the screw holes 277 of the connection portion 271. As a result, the second medal transport unit 22 is fixed to the first medal transport unit 21.

In this way, the first and third medal transport units 21 and 23 are connected via the second medal transport unit 22, and the states of FIGS. 1 to 3 and FIGS. 7 to 10 are realized. That is, the base body 300 is constituted by the first to third base portions 300A to 300C, and the top plate 400 is constituted by the first to third top plate portions 400A to 400C. The first to third medal passage portions 210A to 210C are communicated to form a medal guide passage 210. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, in the base body 300, the first members 306A to 306C of the first to third base portions 300A to 300C constitute the first member 306, and the first to third base portions 300A. The second members 308A to 308C of ˜300C constitute the second member 308.

  That is, the base body 300 has a structure in which the second member 308 is stacked on the first member 306, and the through hole 315 is formed in the second member 308. The through hole 315 has a planar shape in which eleven circular holes having the same inner dimension are connected in a zigzag manner with a part thereof being overlapped, and as shown in FIG. It has the 1st opening 315a with a small internal dimension arrange | positioned at the surface side, and the 2nd opening 315b with a large internal dimension arrange | positioned at the back surface side. The back surface side of the through hole 315 is closed by the second member 308, and a recess 316 is formed in the base body 300.

  On the surface 302 side of the base body 300, the second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L can be accommodated in the first opening 315a, and the gears 522B to 522L can be accommodated in the second opening 315b. In other words, the second to twelfth rotary disks 502B to 502L and the gears 522B to 522L can be accommodated in the recess 316. The bottom surface 318 of the recess 316 is provided with third to twelfth support shafts 334C to 334L. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 11, the third to twelfth support shafts 334 </ b> C to 334 </ b> L are fixed by a fixing screw 310 inserted into the screw hole 340 from the back surface 304 side of the base body 300 through the first member 206. It is fixed to the base body 300.

  The surfaces of the first to twelfth turntables 502 </ b> A to 502 </ b> L are arranged to be substantially flush with the surface 302 of the base body 300. Therefore, the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L provided on the respective surfaces of the first to twelfth rotary disks 502A to 502L protrude above the surface 302 of the base body 300. In other words, the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L protrude into the medal guide passage 210, respectively.

The medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L projecting into the medal guide passage 210 rotate as the first to twelfth rotary plates 502A to 502L rotate to push the medal in the medal guide passage 210. . The pushed medal is moved in the medal guide passage 210 while the circumferential surface is guided by the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 and the front and back surfaces are guided by the front and back guide surfaces 216 and 218. In this case, the range of the outer diameter (diameter) or thickness of the medal that can be transported is widened. That is, since the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L projecting into the medal guide passage 210 are disposed between the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214, the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 and the medal pushers 504A to 504L. , 506A to 506L, and any medal having an outer diameter (diameter) in a range smaller than the distance between the left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214, Either one of them and the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L are moved while being supported and can be transported. Accordingly, the outer diameter range of medals that can be conveyed is widened. On the other hand, since the medals pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L are pushed and conveyed one by one, adjacent medals do not overlap in the medal guide passage 210. Therefore, setting a wide interval of front and back guide surfaces 21 6, 21 8, causing no medals clogging. Accordingly, the thickness range of medals that can be conveyed is widened.

(Operation of medal payout device)
Next, the operation of the medal payout device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In an actual operation, a large number of medals are held to the extent that they are piled up in the holding bowl 102. Here, in order to simplify the description, it is assumed that four medals C1 to C4 are held in the holding bowl 102.

  FIG. 20 shows a state in which the medals C1 to C4 are conveyed by the rotating disk 106 of the medal sending device 10, and the medal C1 is placed on four holding surfaces 134 among the eight holding surfaces 134 of the rotating disk 106. To C4 (C4 is not shown) are held. Each of the medals C1 to C4 is moved by being pushed by the medal locking body 128 of the rotating disk 106 that rotates counterclockwise, and the medal C1 approaches the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112.

  When the rotating disk 106 further rotates, as shown in FIG. 21, the medal C1 is pushed by the medal locking body 128 in contact with the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112 and moved in the circumferential direction of the rotating disk 106. The Then, with the medal C1 pushed out of the rotating disk 106, the medal C1 is stopped at a delivery position supported by the tip of the medal locking body 128 and the peripheral wall 184. When the medal pusher 504A that rotates in the clockwise direction contacts the peripheral surface of the medal C1 at the delivery position, the medal C1 is pushed by the medal pusher 504A.

  With the rotation of the first turntable 502A, as shown in FIG. 22, the medal C1 is pushed by the medal pusher 504A, and the peripheral surface of the medal C1 is pushed against the peripheral wall 184. The medal C1 is guided by the peripheral wall 184 and the left guide surface 212 of the medal guide passage 210 and moved upward, and is introduced into the medal guide passage 210 through the inlet 202. Further, the next medal C <b> 2 pushed by the medal locking body 128 of the rotating disk 106 contacts the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112.

  When the first turntable 502A further rotates, the medal C1 is continuously pushed by the medal pusher 504A, and the circumferential surface of the medal C1 is pressed against the right guide surface 214 of the medal guide passage 210 as shown in FIG. It is moved upwards. At this time, the medal pusher 504B approaches the medal C1 by the counterclockwise rotation of the second turntable 502B. Similarly to the case of the medal C1, the medal C2 pushed out of the rotating disk 106 by the receiving edge 146 of the medal locking body 128 and the medal receiving means 112 is pushed by the medal pushing body 506A, and the peripheral wall 184 is obtained. The peripheral surface is guided to move upward. The next medal C3 pushed by the medal locking body 128 of the rotary disk 106 approaches the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the medal pusher 504B contacts the medal C1 to push the medal C1, and the medal C1 is moved upward while being guided by the right guide surface 214 of the medal guide passage 210. The medal C2 pushed by the medal pusher 506A is introduced into the medal guide passage 210 through the entrance 202. The medal C3 is pushed by the medal locking body 128 while being in contact with the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112, and is moved in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 106.

  In the movement of the medal C1 from FIG. 22 to FIG. 24, the medal C1 is moved from the first guide surface portion 222 of the back guide surface 218 to the second guide surface portion 224, and the advancing angle of the medal C1 is relative to the horizontal plane. It changes from about 60 degrees to about 90 degrees. At this time, the medal C1 is guided by the first curved surface portion 226 formed between the first and second guide surface portions 222 and 224 and the second curved surface portion 228 arranged to face the first curved surface portion 226. Gradually changes, so that the medal C1 is smoothly moved in the medal guide passage 210.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 25, the medal C1 pushed by the medal pusher 504B is moved upward while being guided by the left guide surface 212 of the medal guide passage 210. The medal pusher 504C that rotates in accordance with the clockwise rotation of the third turntable 502C approaches the medal C1. The medal C2 pushed by the medal pusher 506A is moved upward while gradually changing the advancing angle by being guided by the first and second curved surface portions 226, 228 as in the case of the medal C1. . The medal C3 pushed out of the rotating disk 106 is pushed by the medal pusher 504A. The next medal C4 pushed by the medal locking body 128 of the rotary disk 106 approaches the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 26, the medal C1 is moved upward by the push of the medal pusher 504C, the medal C2 is moved upward by the push of the medal pusher 506B, and the medal C3 is moved from the medal pusher 504A. It is moved upward by pushing. The medal C3 is pushed by the medal locking body 128 while being in contact with the receiving edge 146 of the medal receiving means 112, and is moved in the circumferential direction of the rotary disk 106.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 27, the medal C1 is moved upward by the push of the medal pusher 504E, and the medal C2 is moved upward by the push of the medal pusher 506C. The medal C3 is moved upward by the push of the medal pusher 504B, and the medal C4 is moved upward by the push of the medal pusher 506A.

  By repeating the operation of the medal pushing mechanism 500, the state shown in FIG. 28 occurs. When the twelfth rotary disk 502L further rotates counterclockwise from this state, the medal C1 pushed by the medal pusher 504L is guided to the right guide surface 214 of the medal guide passage 210 as shown in FIG. The medal releasing means 230 is reached. When the medal C1 is further pushed by the medal pusher 504L, the medal C1 contacting the flip roller 232 pushes up the turning lever 233 of the medal discharge means 230 against the urging force of the string spring 234, and enters the outlet 204. Move towards. When the maximum diameter portion of the medal C1 passes the flipping roller 232, the rotation lever 233 returns downward due to the elasticity of the string spring 234, and the medal C1 is flipped toward the outlet 204 by the rotational force at that time. It is. As shown in FIG. 30, the medal C <b> 1 is detected by the medal payout detection sensor 240 immediately after being flipped, and then released from the outlet 204. Thereafter, the same operation is repeated for the medals C2 to C4, whereby the medals C2 to C4 are discharged from the outlet 204.

(Medal insertion device)
Hereinafter, the description returns to FIGS. 31 to 33. As described above, the medal payout device 1A which constitutes the token input device MT corresponds to that add a medal payout opening 92 2 in the medal payout apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, almost the same as that of the medal payout device 1 Have Therefore, for the medal payout device 1A, the same or corresponding elements as those in the medal payout device 1 in FIGS. 32 and 33 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. 31 to 33 show a state in which a part of the top plate 400 is omitted for easy understanding of the internal configuration of the medal insertion device MT.

The medal insertion device MT receives the medal sent out from the medal sending device 10A at the entrance 202, and receives the medal sent out from the medal sending device 10A at the entrance 202. And a medal transport device 20 </ b> A for transporting to 204. Medal pay out device 1A has a medal payout opening 92 2 arranged horizontally right side of the first rotating disk 502A. As described above, a predetermined number of medals sent out from the medal hopper device 912 are discharged from the medal payout opening 922 via the medal erecting mechanism 914 and the medal chute 916 and stored in the holding bowl 102.

Between the outlet 204 and the medal insertion slot 806 of the reel-type gaming machine SM medal conveyance device 20A, chute guide member 700 having a medal passage 70 6 are disposed. The inlet 702 of the insertion guide member 700 faces the outlet 204 of the medal transport device 20A, and the medal passage 706 of the insertion guide member 700 communicates with the medal guide passage 210 of the medal transport device 20A. The medal passage 706 of the insertion guide member 700 is inclined obliquely downward left and is bent vertically downward on the outlet 704 side, and the outlet 704 of the insertion guide member 700 is opposed to the medal insertion port 806. Chute guide member 700 is formed in the top plate 4 00 integral with the medal transporting apparatus 20A. However, the insertion guide member 700 may be formed separately and attached to the medal transport device 20A. 31 to 33, the front side wall of the charging guide member 700 is not shown.

  Following the output of the medal payout signal to the medal hopper device 912, the control device 906 outputs a medal insertion signal to the medal insertion device MT. The medal insertion device MT to which the medal insertion signal is supplied starts to operate, and the medal held in the holding bowl 102 is automatically inserted into the medal insertion port 806 of the revolving game machine SM. That is, the medals sent out from the medal delivery device 10A are sequentially transported toward the outlet 204 by the medal transport device 20A. The medals discharged from the outlet 204 of the medal transport device 20A are introduced into the medal passage 706 through the inlet 702. Since the medal passage 706 is inclined obliquely downward from the entrance 702 toward the exit 704, the medal in the medal passage 706 rolls due to its own weight and is discharged from the exit 704, and enters the medal slot 806 of the revolving game machine SM. It is thrown in.

  In the medal insertion device MT shown in FIGS. 31 to 33, the medal discharge means 230 and the medal payout detection sensor 240 in the medal payout device 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3 are not shown. The medal releasing means 230 and the medal payout detection sensor 240 may or may not be provided. Of course, it is possible to provide only one of the medal discharge means 230 and the medal payout detection sensor 240. What is necessary is just to select suitably as needed.

In the medal transport device 20A, the medal guide passage 210 extending from the entrance 202 to the exit 204 and the corresponding one of the first to twelfth rotation axes 332A to 332L are rotationally moved to push the medal. And moving medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. The medal guide passage 210 has left and right guide surfaces 212 and 214 for guiding the peripheral surface of the medal, and front and back guide surfaces 216 and 218 for guiding the front and back surfaces of the medal, respectively. The first to twelfth rotation axes 332A to 332L are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces 216 and 218, and are arranged in a predetermined order from the inlet 202 to the outlet 204. The medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L protrude into the medal guide passage 210, and one and the other of the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L respectively corresponding to the rotation axes 332A to 332L which are adjacent to each other. By rotating in opposite directions, the peripheral surface of the medal is pushed. Therefore, if the rotational movements of the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L are synchronized and have an appropriate phase difference, the medals received at the entrance 202 are sequentially pushed by the medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. It is moved and moved along the medal guide passage 210. Therefore, the medal insertion device can be configured without using the spiral body, and the problems of heat generation and wear associated with the use of the spiral body are solved, and the durability is improved. In addition, since it is not necessary to consider the twist generated in the rotating shaft of the spiral body, a desired transport distance required for inserting medals can be obtained while suppressing an increase in cost and an increase in weight.

(Modification)
In addition, this invention is not limited to said Example, A various change is possible. For example, the first and second medal transport units 21 and 23 may be connected via two or more third medal transport units 22. In this case, the transport distance of medals can be adjusted. The first medal transport unit 21 is provided with rotational axes 332A to 332D and rotary plates 502A to 502D. The second medal transport unit 22 is provided with rotational axes 332E to 332J and rotary plates 502E to 502J. The third medal transport unit 23 is provided with rotation axes 332K and 332L and turntables 502K and 502L. The rotation axes and the number of turntables arranged in the first to third medal transport units 21 to 23 are as follows. Changes can be made as appropriate. Thereby, since the length of the medal transport unit can be changed, the medal transport device 20A having an arbitrary length can be obtained stepwise by combining medal transport units having different lengths.

  Further, in the medal delivery device 10A, the rotating disk 106 is inclined about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane, but the inclination angle of the rotating disk 106 can be changed as appropriate. Furthermore, it is possible to use a medal delivery device having a rotating disk arranged horizontally without having an inclination angle.

  The turntables 502A to 502L are provided with a pair of medal pushers 504A to 504L and 506A to 506L. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, one for each of the turntables 502A to 502L. The medal pusher can also be provided. However, it is preferable to provide two or more medal pushers on each of the turntables 502A to 502L in order to increase the conveyance efficiency.

In the above embodiment, the medal insertion device MT is provided in the medal lending machine ML. However, the medal insertion device MT may be provided in the revolving game machine SM which is a gaming machine. In that case, the medal payout opening 92 2 in the token input device MT is unnecessary. Note that the player manually supplies the medal to the medal insertion device MT. That is, the medals stored in the medal tray 814 of the revolving game machine SM or the medal tray (not shown) of the medal lending machine are transferred to the holding bowl 102 of the medal insertion device MT by the player's hand, Medals are supplied to the insertion device MT. Alternatively, it is possible to provide another device for automatically transferring medals to the holding bowl 102 of the medal insertion device MT.

  The present invention can be used in a medal processing device that processes medals, and is particularly suitable for application to a medal lending machine or a gaming machine.

1, 1A medal payout device 10, 10A medal delivery device 20, 20A medal transport device 21 first medal transport unit 22 second medal transport unit 23, 23A third medal transport unit 102 reservation bowl 102A head portion 102B medal slot 102C exterior Part 104 mounting base 104A mounting base part 104B first mounting part 104C second mounting part 104L, 104R supporting side wall 104U upward upper surface 106 rotating disk 108 driving means 110 gear 112 receiving means 118 medal dropping means 122 bottom wall 124 vertical groove 126 vertical wall 128 medal locking body 132 central protrusion 133 protrusion 134 holding surface 136 support shelf 138 pushing edge 142 climbing slope 144 downstream edge 145 medal receiver 146 receiving edge 147 top 149 stepped slope 152 electric motor 154 speed reducer 17 Floating support means 180 Cover body 181 Inclined surface 182 Recessed portion 183 Bottom surface 184 Peripheral wall 186 Partial annular surface 188 Opening 190 Medal feed outlet 200 Medal guide portion 202 Entrance 204 Exit 206 First member 210 Medal guide passage 210A First medal guide passage portion 210B 2 medal guide passage portion 210C third medal guide passage portion 211Aa, 211Ba exit 211Bb, 211Cb entrance 212 left guide surface 214 right guide surface 216 front guide surface 218 back guide surface 220, 220A exit passage area 220a medal guide surface 222 1st guide surface part 224 2nd guide surface part 226 1st curved surface part 228 2nd curved surface part 230, 230A Medal releasing means 231, 231A Frame 232, 232A Repelling roller 233, 233A Rotating lever 234, 234A String winding spring 235, 235A Stopper 236, 236A Repelling roller long hole 237, 237A Stopper bracket 238, 238A Locking pin 240 Medal payout detection sensor 242 Exterior case 244 Columnar portion 251 Connection portion 252a, 252b Notch edge 253 Opening 255 Groove portion 256, 259 Screw insertion hole 257 Screw hole 258 Projection part 261A, 261B Connection part 262a, 262b Notch edge 263 Opening 264 Holding piece 265, 269 Groove part 266 Screw insertion hole 267 Screw hole 268 Projection part 271 Connection part 272a, 272b Notch edge 273 Opening 275 Groove 276, 279 Screw insertion hole 277 Screw hole 278 Projection 300 Base body 300A First base portion 300B Second base portion 300C Third base portion 302 Front surface 304 Back surface 306 First member 306A First member 306A , 306Ab Divided portion 306B First member 306C First member 308 Second member 308A Second member 308Aa First plate portion 308Ab Second plate portion 308Ac Opening 308Ad Space 308B Second member 308C Second member 310 Fixing screw 312 First shaft Arrangement line 314 Second shaft arrangement line 315 Through hole 315a First opening 315b Second opening 316 Recesses 332A to 332L First to twelfth rotation axes 334A to 334L First to twelfth support shafts 340 Screw holes 342 and 344 Positions Alignment hole 400 Top plate 400A First top plate portion 400B Second top plate portion 400C Third top plate portion 402 Front surface 404 Back surface 406 Medal guide groove 406A First medal guide groove portion 406B Second medal guide groove portion 406C Third medal Guide groove 10 bottom surface 412 the first side 414 second side 416 curve 418 curve 422 groove 432, 434 positioning projections 450 inlet guide member 452 mounting portion 454 disc 456 protrusion 458 downward side 500 medal pressing mechanism 502A~502 L 1st to 12th turntable 502Aa Recesses 504A to 504L, 506A to 506L Medal pushing body (medal pushing means)
510 shaft insertion holes 522A to 522L gear (third gear)
600 Driving force transmission mechanism 602, 604, 606, 608, 610 Gear 611 Torque limiter 611a Center shaft 611b Outer peripheral surface 612 Gear (first gear)
614 Gear (second gear)
622, 624 Spur gear portion 626, 628 Bevel gear portion 650 Rotation monitoring sensor 652 Encoder disc 654 Photoelectric sensor 700 Input guide member 702 Inlet 704 Outlet 706 Medal passage 802 Main body 804 Variable display portion 806 Medal input port 808 Bet button 810 Start lever 812a, 812b, 812c Stop button 814 Medal tray 816 Medal dispensing device 900 Housing 901 Medal replenishment port 902 Bill insertion port 904 Banknote identification device 906 Control device 908 Medal receiving duct 909 Opening 910 Medal holding bowl 912 Medal hopper device 914 Medal standing mechanism 916 Medal chute 918 Rotating disk 920 Through hole 922 Medal payout outlet SM Retractable game machine ML Medal lending machine MT Medal insertion device

Claims (3)

And the medal delivery equipment for feeding the medals stored in the medal accumulating part and separated one by one, and the medal transporting equipment for transporting the port out receiving said medal delivery instrumentation placed et fed medals by entering the mouth, the has, in the token input device to be introduced into the medal insertion slot of the game machine directly or through a medal passage path medals to be the exit or we release the medal transporting equipment,
The medal transporting equipment is,
Right and left guide surface for guiding the peripheral surface of the medal, the and a front and back of the guide surface of the front and rear surfaces respectively guiding the medal, the medal guide communication path extending toward the entering-port or al the exit And
The first to nth (where n is a positive integer) rotation axes that are arranged in a predetermined order along the left guide surface or the right guide surface and are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces, respectively. First to nth turntables;
Each of the first to n-th turntables protrudes from the surface located on the medal guide passage side into the medal guide passage, and is disposed opposite to the corresponding rotation axis, and the corresponding turntable First and second medal pushers that rotate about the corresponding rotation axis by rotating together with
A base portion that constitutes the back guide surface and has an opening for accommodating the second to n-th turntables;
A pair of side surfaces that form the front and back guide surfaces and that are perpendicular to the bottom surface and that face each other are formed with guide grooves that form the left and right guide surfaces, and the guide grooves and the surface of the base portion are formed. A plate fixed to the surface of the base portion so as to face each other;
With
One of the two adjacent rotating disks among the first to n-th rotating disks rotates in the first rotating direction, the other rotates in the second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, and the one The first and second medal pushers of the rotary disc and the first and second medal pushers of the other rotary disc so as to rotate while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference; and Each rotation position of the other turntable is set,
By supporting the first to nth turntables on a rotation shaft provided on the base portion so that the respective surfaces of the first to nth turntables are substantially flush with the surface of the base portion, Each of the first to n-th turntables constitutes the back guide surface together with the surface of the base portion,
While the front and back surfaces of the medal in the medal guide passage are directly guided by the front and back guide surfaces, the first and second pushers that rotate are in contact with the peripheral surface of the medal in the medal guide passage. The medal insertion device, wherein the medal insertion device is configured to convey the medal from the entrance toward the exit by being pushed up . A medal lending machine installed adjacent to a gaming machine and paying out medals according to the inserted money to a medal storage unit ,
And the medal delivery equipment for feeding by separating one by one the medals stored in the medal accumulating part, and the medal transporting equipment for transporting the port out receiving said medal delivery instrumentation placed et fed medals in Ingress mouth, in the a medal lending machine with a medal equipment to be introduced into the medal insertion slot of the game machine medals to be the exit or we release the medal transporting equipment directly or via a medal communication path,
The medal transporting equipment is,
Right and left guide surface for guiding the peripheral surface of the medal, the and a front and back of the guide surface of the front and rear surfaces respectively guiding the medal, the medal guide communication path extending toward the entering-port or al the exit And
The first to nth (where n is a positive integer) rotation axes that are arranged in a predetermined order along the left guide surface or the right guide surface and are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces, respectively. First to nth turntables;
Each of the first to n-th turntables protrudes from the surface located on the medal guide passage side into the medal guide passage, and is disposed opposite to the corresponding rotation axis, and the corresponding turntable First and second medal pushers that rotate about the corresponding rotation axis by rotating together with
A base portion that constitutes the back guide surface and has an opening for accommodating the second to n-th turntables;
A pair of side surfaces that form the front and back guide surfaces and that are perpendicular to the bottom surface and that face each other are formed with guide grooves that form the left and right guide surfaces, and the guide grooves and the surface of the base portion are formed. A plate fixed to the surface of the base portion so as to face each other;
With
One of the two adjacent rotating disks among the first to n-th rotating disks rotates in the first rotating direction, the other rotates in the second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, and the one The first and second medal pushers of the rotary disc and the first and second medal pushers of the other rotary disc so as to rotate while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference; and Each rotation position of the other turntable is set,
By supporting the first to nth turntables on a rotation shaft provided on the base portion so that the respective surfaces of the first to nth turntables are substantially flush with the surface of the base portion, Each of the first to n-th turntables constitutes the back guide surface together with the surface of the base portion,
While the front and back surfaces of the medal in the medal guide passage are directly guided by the front and back guide surfaces, the first and second pushers that rotate are in contact with the peripheral surface of the medal in the medal guide passage. A medal lending machine configured to convey the medal from the entrance to the exit by pushing up . With medals put into medal insertion slot is set as a condition for game start, a game machine is a game medals are paid out to the pan support medals executed by the game result,
And the medal delivery equipment for feeding the medal has been transferred to the medal accumulating part automatically or manually separated one by one, the medal transporting instrumentation for transporting the medal delivery instrumentation placed et the sent medals received by exit at inlet mouth has a location, and with a medal equipment to be introduced into the medal insertion slot of the game machine medals to be the exit or we release the medal transporting equipment directly or via a medal communication path game In the machine
The medal transporting equipment is,
Right and left guide surface for guiding the peripheral surface of the medal, the and a front and back of the guide surface of the front and rear surfaces respectively guiding the medal, the medal guide communication path extending toward the entering-port or al the exit And
The first to nth (where n is a positive integer) rotation axes that are arranged in a predetermined order along the left guide surface or the right guide surface and are substantially perpendicular to the front and back guide surfaces, respectively. First to nth turntables;
Each of the first to n-th turntables protrudes from the surface located on the medal guide passage side into the medal guide passage, and is disposed opposite to the corresponding rotation axis, and the corresponding turntable First and second medal pushers that rotate about the corresponding rotation axis by rotating together with
A base portion that constitutes the back guide surface and has an opening for accommodating the second to n-th turntables;
A pair of side surfaces that form the front and back guide surfaces and that are perpendicular to the bottom surface and that face each other are formed with guide grooves that form the left and right guide surfaces, and the guide grooves and the surface of the base portion are formed. A plate fixed to the surface of the base portion so as to face each other;
With
One of the two adjacent rotating disks among the first to n-th rotating disks rotates in the first rotating direction, the other rotates in the second rotating direction opposite to the first rotating direction, and the one The first and second medal pushers of the rotary disc and the first and second medal pushers of the other rotary disc so as to rotate while maintaining a predetermined rotational phase difference; and Each rotation position of the other turntable is set,
By supporting the first to nth turntables on a rotation shaft provided on the base portion so that the respective surfaces of the first to nth turntables are substantially flush with the surface of the base portion, Each of the first to n-th turntables constitutes the back guide surface together with the surface of the base portion,
While the front and back surfaces of the medal in the medal guide passage are directly guided by the front and back guide surfaces, the first and second pushers that rotate are in contact with the peripheral surface of the medal in the medal guide passage. A gaming machine configured to convey the medals from the entrance to the exit by being pushed up .

Images