JP4264408B2 - Medal selector foreign object detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a foreign object detection device capable of preventing an illegal act called “got” in a medal gaming machine in which a medal is inserted to play a game.

Conventionally, the medal slot of this type of gaming machine, for example, a slot machine, has been provided with a medal slot that has a medal slot for inserting a medal from above. A medal sensor is provided for detecting the medal that has been played. This medal sensor is an optical sensor that detects the passage of a medal, and by arranging a plurality of sensors arranged side by side at a predetermined distance, the control device monitors the detection interval of both sensors and does not depend on the passage of a medal. (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-336416 (paragraph 0034)

However, in recent years, a goto tool with a light emitter attached at the tip is inserted from the medal insertion slit, and the light emitter is flashed in the same manner as the timing of passing the medal in accordance with the position of the medal sensor, thereby performing pseudo insertion of the medal. The malicious fraud that came to be started. In order to counter such a goto tool, it is conceivable to detect a medal by using a physical sensor that physically detects the passage of the medal by pushing and protruding the projecting body.
However, as long as the detection unit is in a fixed position and detects medals, a goto tool with an opening at the position of the detection unit and a movable body that comes in contact with the protruding body according to the passage timing of the medal is used. There is also a risk.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and the object of the present invention is to reliably detect foreign matter in the medal path and to reliably determine whether an actual medal is inserted or a pseudo-insertion. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a medal selector foreign matter detection device capable of preventing or suppressing fraud using a goto tool.

The invention described in each claim has been made to achieve the above-described object, and features of the present invention will be described below using the embodiments of the invention shown in the drawings.
In addition, the code | symbol and drawing number show the code | symbol and number used in embodiment of invention, and do not limit the technical scope of this invention.
(Feature point)
(Claim 1)
The invention according to claim 1 has a medal transfer surface (12A) to which medals are transferred and a side wall (12B) substantially perpendicular to the medal transfer surface (12A), from a medal receiving port (13) formed above. A medal passage (12), which is a medal transfer space where medals flow down in a standing state toward a medal discharge port (14) formed on the side, and a medal detection device that is provided in the side wall (12B) and detects a flowing medal It is a foreign object detection device used for a medal selector (1) provided with (medal sensor (16)).

The medal selector (1) according to the present invention is provided below the medal slot (50) of the gaming machine, and the medal provided in the middle of the route (medal passage (12)) through which the medal is transferred. The detection device (16) detects the passage of the inserted medal and transfers an appropriate medal into the gaming machine. Therefore, the medal selector (1) may have a device that, for example, excludes medals having different diameters from the medal passage (12) or cancels inserted medals when the gaming machine is not in the medal acceptance state.
Here, the medal passage (12) is a passage through which medals can pass in an upright state, and can be, for example, a space having a thin rectangular section that communicates from the medal receiving port (13) to the medal discharging port (14). The medal transfer surface (12A) is preferably a downwardly inclined surface on which the medal rolls on its upper surface, and the side wall (12B) is a surface orthogonal to the medal transfer surface (12A). In addition to the medal transfer surface (12A), the medal passage (12) may have a dropping portion where the medal drops in the vertical direction. The medal “standing state” is a state where the front and back surfaces of the medal are in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the medal flows down such that the side surface (circumferential surface) rolls on the medal transfer surface (12A).

The medal detection device (16) is a detecting means for detecting the passage of the medal, and detects the passage of the medal based on the shielding of the light beam and the change of the magnetic field.
Then, the present invention, the upstream wall the medal detection device in (12B) (16), comprising a support shaft (23) which are embedded such that the axial direction is a direction orthogonal to the side walls, the support shaft ( fixed rotating body 23) (21), the rotary body (21), the rotation actuator for rotating along said side wall (12B) about said support shaft (23) (motor (24) ) And a sensor (photosensor (25)) capable of detecting a detected portion (protrusion (26)) provided on the rotating body (21) and outputting a detection signal based on the detection, A control device is provided that outputs a signal for operating the operating device (24), and receives and monitors a detection signal output from the sensor (25). Further, the rotating body (21) is provided with a distance larger than the medal radius in the diameter direction of the medal passing through the medal passage (12) from the support shaft (23), and the side wall (12B) At least one projecting body (shielding rod (22)) projecting into the medal path in a direction perpendicular to the medal path, and when the rotating body (21) stops rotating , the projecting body (22) does not prevent the medal from passing through. It is formed to be located at a place . Then, the control device outputs a signal for operating the rotary actuator (24) when a predetermined operation start condition is met, and the rotary actuator (24) is a signal output from the control device. based on the rotating body (21) by a predetermined angle rotation from the stop position Rutotomoni, said sensor (25) is the control detects that the detected portion of the rotating body (26) is not in the predetermined position A detection signal is output to the device, and the control device outputs a signal for operating the rotation actuator (24), and detects that the rotating body (21) is not in a predetermined position from the sensor (25). In spite of receiving the received signal, if no signal is detected from the sensor (25) that the detected part (26) is in a predetermined position within a predetermined time, it is determined that there is an abnormality. It is characterized by being formed .

Here, the `` rotating body '' only needs to be formed to be rotatable around the support shaft (23), and can be, for example, a thin disk or a bar-like arm, for example, a recess provided in the side wall (12B). It is preferable to insert it into (12b) so as not to prevent the passage of medals. Further, the “rotating operation device” may be any means that can rotate the rotating body (21), and may be a driving device such as a motor or a solenoid. The rotating body (21) is `` rotated along the side wall (12B) '' in a state where the surface of the rotating body (21) on the side wall (12B) side is parallel to the surface of the side wall (12B). It is to rotate.
The “projecting body” is formed so as to project from the rotating body (21) in the thickness direction of the medal passage (12), and may be one or plural. When there are a plurality of protrusions (22), the plurality of protrusions (22) all move the medals flowing down the medal passage (12) when the rotating body (21) is stopped. It will be installed in a place where it will not interfere. For example, it is provided so that the height from the medal transfer surface (12A) of the protrusion (22) is not near the center of the medal, above, obliquely above, below, or obliquely below the standing medal to be transferred. Is preferred.

The detection signal of the sensor can be output to a control device of a gaming machine or the like, and by monitoring this, insertion of a foreign object in the medal path can be detected.
Here, the “predetermined operation start condition” for operating the rotation operating device (24) is a rotation operating device from a control device of the gaming machine equipped with the medal selector (1) or a control unit of the medal selector (1). (24) is a condition for outputting a command signal for activating, for example, when a medal insertion signal is received, when a predetermined number of medal insertion signals are received, when operating a game machine operation means, etc. can do.

(Function)
According to the present invention, when the predetermined operation start condition is met, the rotation operation device (24) is operated, and the rotating body (12) is rotated in the medal passage (12). When there is nothing inside the medal passage (12), the rotating body (12) rotates by a predetermined angle for a predetermined time. However, when there is a foreign object (in particular, a foreign object inserted over the length of the medal path (12)) in the medal path (12), the projecting body (23) comes into contact with the foreign object and the rotating body (12 ) Stops halfway. Based on the detection signal from the sensor (25), the control device detects that the rotating body (21) is not rotating at a predetermined angle for a predetermined time, and the control device for the gaming machine receives a signal from the sensor (25) . Based on the signal abnormality, a predetermined treatment such as an alarm can be issued or the game can be interrupted.

In the present invention, the rotating direction of the rotating body (21) and the rotation angle of the rotating body by one operation are not limited. However, the protrusion (23) moves almost in the upper and lower range of the medal passage (12), that is, the protrusion (23) is surely applied to any shape of foreign matter inside the medal passage (12). It is preferable to rotate the protrusion (23) at least 180 degrees so that it can come into contact. Further, the foreign object detection device of the present invention is preferably operated at a timing when the medal is not flowing down the medal passage (12).
When the medal selector equipped with the foreign object detection device according to the present invention is attached to the slot machine, for example, the goto tool (100) as shown in FIG. Is inserted through the medal slot 50, the projecting body (22) comes into contact therewith, and the rotation of the rotating body (21) is stopped, and an abnormality is detected. In order not to be noticed abnormally, it is necessary to take out the goto tool immediately after using it, so that the goto action is reminiscent from the troublesomeness of taking out and putting in many times. Further, it is preferable to form the rotary actuator (24) so that the rotary actuator (24) is actuated when the goto tool is expected to be used, for example, when the credit reaches 50 or when the settlement switch (44) is operated.

(Claim 2)
The invention according to claim 2 is characterized by the following points in addition to the features of the invention according to claim 1 described above.
That is, in the invention according to claim 2, the projecting body (22) is formed in a columnar shape, and the rotation operating device (24) operates when the medal detecting device (16) detects a medal. The rotating body (21) is rotated so that the upper end of the rotating body (21) rotates in the flow direction of the token, and the embedded position of the supporting shaft (23) and the supporting shaft (23) provided with the projecting body (22) are provided. The distance from is the following medal (M1) that flows down in contact with the medal (M1) and the upper rear periphery of the medal (M1) when the detected medal (M1) flows down the medal passage for a predetermined distance (L). The projecting body (22) is set in a range of a space (C) formed by the front upper outer periphery of (M2), and the rotation actuator (24) is configured to detect the detected medal ( The angle (θ) at which the projecting body (22) can be positioned within the space (C) before M1) flows down the medal passage a predetermined distance (L). Only the rotating body (21) is formed to be rotatable.

In the present invention, the metal passage (12) is formed so that the medal clogging does not occur even when the rotating body (21) is rotated by operating the rotary actuator (24) while the medal is flowing down.
In addition, the predetermined distance (L) is to prevent the clogging of the medal due to the projecting body rotating and coming into contact with the upper end point of the following medal flowing down to press the subsequent medal and prevent the medal from moving down, It is preferable that the distance is shorter than the radius of the medal.
(Function)
When the medal detection device (16) detects a medal, a signal for operating the rotation operation device (24) is output by the signal or based on the signal, and the rotating body (21) starts rotating. Then, while the previously detected medal (M1) rolls for a predetermined distance L, the rotating body (21) rotates by θ degrees, and the projecting body (22) reaches the range of the space (C) (FIG. 6). (See (A)). The projecting body (22) is formed in a columnar shape, and the upper end of the rotating body (21) rotates in the flow direction of the medal, so the projecting body (22) is a medal (M2) following the medal (M1). It moves from the upper side to the lower side while pressing the front side (side surface) in the traveling direction. At this time, the medal (M2) is momentarily prevented from flowing down by the projecting body (22) at a certain point (see FIG. 6 (B)), but the projecting body (22) is moved along with the rotation of the rotating body (21). The medal (M2) moves to the lower side, and the medal (M2) is pushed down by the succeeding medal (M3) or over the projecting body (22) by the inclination of the downward sloping portion of the medal transfer surface (12A). (See FIG. 6C).

  According to the present invention, for example, when the medal detecting device (16) detects a predetermined number of medals, the rotation actuating device (24) can be operated, and at this time, the medal is flowing down in the medal passage (12). Even if it exists, the downward movement of the medal is not blocked by the projecting body (22), and the medal is not clogged.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, it is possible to reliably determine whether an actual medal is inserted or a pseudo-insertion, and a foreign object of a medal selector that can prevent or suppress cheating using a goto tool. A sensing device can be provided.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings by taking a slot machine as an example.
(Explanation of drawings)
1 to 6 show an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a rear view of the medal selector when the medal passes, FIG. 2 is an external front view of the slot machine, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the shutter device 20, FIG. 4 is a rear view of the medal selector when the shutter is closed, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the medal selector with the tool 100 inserted, and FIG. 6 shows the operation of the shutter device 20 when the medal passes.
(Slot Machine S)
As shown in FIG. 2, the slot machine S has a box-shaped housing 2, and a front door 4 is attached to the front surface of the housing 2. In addition, inside the housing 2, a reel unit 3 having a rotating reel 30, a control device for controlling the overall operation of the slot machine S, not shown, and a medal are stored and paid out. The hopper unit 5 is built in.

The front door 4 is a plate-like door in which a display window facing the player side is formed, and a symbol display window 46 through which the symbols of the three rotary reels 30 can be seen at the upper center of the display window. Is formed. A substantially central portion of the front door 4 below the symbol display window 46 is a counter-like operation unit 40 provided with operation means for operating the slot machine S. A medal tray 45 for storing payout medals is formed at the lower part of the front door 4.
In front of the operation unit 40, a start switch 41 for starting the rotation of the rotary reel 30 and a stop switch 42 provided for each rotary reel 30 to stop the rotation of the rotary reel 30 are also operated. On the upper left side of the unit 40, a bet switch 43 for replacing medals stored as credits with medals and a settlement switch 44 for paying back stored medals are provided. A medal insertion slot 50 for inserting medals is formed on the right side of the operation unit 40, and a medal cancel button 60 is provided below the medal insertion slot 50.

Further, below the medal insertion slot 50, on the back side of the front door 4 (inside the casing), medals inserted from the medal insertion slot 50 are selected and counted, and an appropriate medal is transferred to the hopper unit 5. A medal selector 1 is provided. The medal cancel button 60 is for canceling the medal in the medal selector 1 and returning it to the medal tray 45.
A credit display section 47 for displaying the number of stored medals is provided below the symbol display window 46. Here, the credit means that a medal inserted from the medal insertion slot 50 and passed through the medal selector 1 or a medal to be paid out by winning is stored inside the gaming machine. It is made possible. Specifically, when a medal is inserted from the medal insertion slot 50 or a winning combination with medal payout is won, the display of the credit display unit 47 is added, and when the bet switch 43 is operated, the display is subtracted. It has become. When the display on the credit display unit 47 becomes 50, the inserted medals thereafter are canceled by the medal selector 1 and are paid back to the medal tray 45, and the payout medals are paid out from the hopper unit 5 to the medal tray 45.

Then, in the slot machine S, when the medal is inserted or the medal is credited, the operation of the start switch 41 becomes valid on the condition that the bet switch 43 is operated. 30 starts rotating all at once. Then, each rotary reel 30 is stopped by operating the stop switch 42. When all of the rotary reels 30 are stopped, a symbol that can be visually recognized from the symbol display window 46 becomes a winning state, and a medal is awarded. Is arranged so that an advantageous game is started.
(Medal selector 1)
Next, the medal selector 1 will be described in detail.

  The medal selector 1 is a box-like member provided below the medal slot 50 as shown in FIG. 2, and has a base 10 and a cover 11 attached to the base 10 as shown in FIG. The cover 11 is attached to the back surface of the front door 4 so that the cover 11 is on the back side (the back side when the slot machine S is viewed from the front). Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a medal receiving port 13 for receiving a medal inserted from the medal inserting port 50 is formed on the upper surface of the medal selector 1, and the medal passage 12 is passed to the side. A medal discharge port 14 for discharging medals is provided. A medal passage 12 communicating from the medal receiving port 13 to the medal discharging port 14 is formed between the base 10 and the cover 11, and further, the medal passage 12 includes a blocker device 15, a medal sensor 16, and A shutter device 20 is provided.

  Although not specifically shown, the cover 11 is pivotally supported by a shaft stopper provided above the base 10 so that the lower end of the cover 11 can rotate in a direction away from the base 10. Is biased toward the base 10 side. When canceling medals in the medal passage 12 (when the blocker device 15 is activated and when the medal cancel button 60 is operated), the medals are rotated away from the base 10 and a gap is formed below the medal passage 12. It is supposed to be. Further, the medal selector 1 is attached to be inclined toward the cover 11 side, and when the cover 11 is moved to the open position by the operation of the canceling device, the flowing-out medals fall downward. .

The medal passage 12 is a passage for guiding the medal to the hopper unit 5 and is curved so as to guide the medal inserted from above to the side as shown in FIG. A medal transfer surface 12A that is inclined downward is formed. That is, the medals inserted from the medal receiving port 13 flow downward from the upper side.
The blocker device 15 is a medal canceling device for preventing the medal in the medal selector 1 from being transferred to the hopper unit 5, and has a protruding claw called a blocker protruding from the side wall 12B of the medal passage 12 as shown in FIG. Have. This projecting claw is operated by a solenoid (not shown). Normally, the projecting claw does not project from the surface of the side wall 12B, and at a predetermined time such as when the credit is exceeded, the solenoid is activated and the projecting claw is moved to the side wall 12B. Project from the surface. Thus, before the medal is detected by the medal sensor 16, the medal is repelled from the medal passage 12, and falls from the gap between the cover 11 and the base 10. The dropped medal is discharged from a medal discharge port formed in the lower front portion of the front door 4 and is returned to the medal tray 45.

The medals that are not canceled by the blocker device 15 are detected by the passage sensor 21 and discharged from the medal discharge port 14. Then, it passes through the transfer rail 17 (see FIG. 1) attached to the side of the medal selector 1 and falls into the medal tank of the hopper unit 5.
Although not particularly shown, the medal selector 1 is provided with a cancel device for dropping the medal in the medal passage 12 downward by operating the medal cancel button 60. This canceling device is a medal canceling means different from the blocker device 15 and manually cancels the inserted medal, and is used particularly for releasing the jammed jam.

  The medal sensor 16 is a sensor for detecting a medal that passes through the medal passage 12, and as shown in FIG. 1, a light shielding sensor installed on the side wall 12B downstream (on the medal discharge port 14 side) from the blocker device 15. Or it is a magnetic sensor. The medal sensor 16 detects the vicinity of the outer edge of the medal, and is formed so as to be able to recognize the passage of each medal by the ON / OFF waveform, and outputs a medal detection signal to the control board of the slot machine S. Then, it is for counting the number of medals inserted. The reason why the medal sensor 16 has two detection units is that it is possible to detect the reverse flow of the medal by monitoring the timing of detection signals from the two detection units.

(Shutter device 20)
As shown in FIG. 1, the shutter device 20 is a foreign matter detection device provided in the middle of the downward inclined portion in the medal passage 12 , that is, on the upstream side of the medal sensor 16 , and is substantially at the center in the height direction of the side wall 12B. A rod-like rotary arm 21 that rotates along the side wall 12B around a support shaft 23 provided in the part, and a shielding rod 22 that protrudes from both ends of the rotary arm 21 to the back side (cover 11 side). .
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the rotary arm 21 is a rod-like member formed in such a length that a medal can pass between the two shielding rods 22, and is fixed to the support shaft 23 at the center in the length direction. Has been. And it is formed so that it can rotate in the flow-down direction of the medal (the white arrow direction in FIG. 4) by the motor 24 which is connected to the support shaft 23 and embedded in the side wall 12B. The medal transfer surface 12A and the ceiling surface facing the medal transfer surface 12A are respectively formed with recesses 12a and 12a ′ cut in an arc shape so that the shielding rod 22 does not interfere when the rotary arm 21 rotates. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the side wall 12B of the medal passage 12 is formed with a circular recess 12b in which the rotating arm 21 can rotate around the support shaft 23, and the shutter device 20 is used for the medal. It does not prevent the transfer.

  The shielding rod 22 is a cylindrical rod-like member that protrudes in the opposite direction to the side wall 12B from both ends of the rotating arm 21, and is formed by bending both ends of the rotating arm 21, as shown in FIG. The protruding length of the shielding bar 22 is substantially the same as the thickness of the medal passage 12, or slightly longer than the thickness of the medal passage 12, and the vicinity of the position where the rotary arm 21 is substantially orthogonal to the medal passage 12 (see FIG. 1). ), The transfer of medals moving through the medal passage is not hindered. That is, the shielding rod 22 positioned in the recess 12a is disposed so as to be substantially flush with the medal transfer surface 12A, and has a function of smoothly moving down by simply dropping the falling medal into the recess 12a. . Further, when the rotary arm 21 is in the vicinity of a position that is substantially horizontal with the medal passage 12 (see FIG. 4), the flow of the medal M2 sandwiched between the shielding rods 22 and the medal M3 subsequent to the medal is temporarily stopped. It is like that.

In addition, it is preferable that the surfaces of the rotary arm 21 and the shielding rod 22 are made slippery by coating or the like so that there is little friction even when contacting the medal. Further, the shielding rod 22 may be provided with a cylindrical roller that is rotatable around the bent portion shown in FIG. The rotating arm 21 and the shielding rod 22 are preferably formed using a member having a strength that can temporarily receive a medal flowing down the medal passage 12, such as a metal rod or hard plastic.
Further, on the opposite side of the shielding arm 22 of the rotary arm 21, a projection 26 is formed as a detected portion that protrudes toward the side wall 12B. The protrusion 26 is for detecting the rotation of the rotary arm 21 by passing through a photosensor 25 provided on the back side of the recess 12a ′. Since the protrusions 26 are provided at both ends of the rotating arm 21, each time the rotating arm 21 rotates 180 degrees, the protrusion 26 passes through the photosensor 25. That is, when the protrusion 26 is at the position of the photosensor 25, the switch is turned off, and when the protrusion 26 is out of the position of the photosensor 25, the switch is turned on.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6A, the rotary arm 21 is a position downstream by L from the position where the medal M1 passing through the medal passage 12 is detected by the medal sensor 16 (indicated by a two-dot chain line). It is set to rotate by θ from a fixed position while moving to (indicated by a broken line). In the figure, “O1” and “O2” indicate the center of the medal M1, L indicates a length, and θ indicates an angle. L is shorter than the radius of the medal. The “fixed position” is a position where the rotating arm 21 is substantially orthogonal to the medal path 12 and a medal flowing down the medal path 12 can pass between the two shielding rods 22. In this state, the upper protrusion 26 is detected by the photosensor 25.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6A, the support shaft 23 is a space formed by the upper rear outer periphery of the medal M1 and the upper front outer periphery of the subsequent medal M2 when the rotary arm 21 rotates by θ. C is provided at such a position that the shielding rod 22 enters. For this reason, when the medal sensor 16 detects the medal M1 and rotates the rotary arm 21 at the same time, the shielding rod 22 does not hinder the movement of the medal M1, and the detection error in the medal sensor 16 occurs. There is no. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the support shaft 23 is provided at a position where the rotary arm 21 does not interfere with the blocker device 15 when rotating, so that the operation of the blocker device 15 and the operation of the shutter device 20 overlap. There is no problem.

(Foreign matter detection by shutter device 20)
Next, the operation of the shutter device 20 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.
The shutter device 20 starts to operate at a predetermined timing to be described later, and the motor 24 is driven so as to rotate the rotating arm 21 by 180 degrees for each operation.
First, when the rotating arm 21 is stopped at a fixed position, it is detected that the protrusion 26 is at the position of the photosensor 25 and the rotating arm 21 is stopped in the switch OFF state. When the rotating arm 21 rotates, the protrusion 26 is removed from the position of the photosensor 25 and the switch is turned on, and it is detected that the rotating arm 21 is rotating. When there is nothing in the medal passage 12 including the medal when the rotating arm 21 rotates, the rotating arm 21 rotates at a constant speed. The protrusion 26 on the opposite side comes to the position of the photosensor 25, and the rotation arm 21 stops rotating. Therefore, the photo sensor 25 returns to the switch OFF state again after passing through the switch ON state for a predetermined time from the switch OFF state. Incidentally, in the control apparatus for the slot machine 10, the Ttei Ru predetermined time, such as the switch ON state is stored as a normal rotation time, in contrast to the time at which actually switch ON state during the operation of the shutter device 20, Judge whether there is normal rotation or abnormality.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, when the goto tool 100 is inserted into the medal passage 12, the shielding rod 22 of the rotary arm 21 comes into contact with the upper end portion of the goto tool 100 and cannot rotate. Here, the goto tool 100 has a light emitting body 110 attached to the tip of a "<"-shaped main body formed of a resilient member such as celluloid, and the main body is a medal insertion slit of the medal insertion slot 50. Is inserted into the medal passage 12, and the light emitter 110 is positioned at the medal sensor 16. By flashing the light emitter 110, medals can be pseudo-inserted. When such goto tool 100 is used, the switch ON state of the photo sensor 25 continues for a predetermined time or more, so that it can be detected that a foreign object is inserted into the medal passage 12.

Further, a case where the shutter device 20 is operated while a medal flows down through the medal passage 12 will be described with reference to FIG.
When the shutter device 20 is operated while a medal is flowing down the medal passage 12, the motor 24 starts to be driven when the medal sensor 16 detects a medal. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the detection unit on the upstream side of the two detection units of the medal sensor 16 detects the medal M1, the motor 24 starts to drive and the rotary arm 21 rotates. When the medal M1 moves Lmm to a position indicated by a broken line after sensing, the rotating arm 21 rotates by θ degrees where the shielding bar 22 is positioned in a space C formed above the medal M1 and the succeeding medal M2. At this time, the medal M2 is sandwiched between the two shielding rods 22. In addition, when the shielding rod 22 located below rotates upward, it may be possible to lift the medal in some cases, but since the shielding rod 22 is cylindrical, the medal does not stay at the top, You can only lift medals momentarily. There is no problem because the height of the medal passage 12 is set higher than the distance at which the medal is lifted instantaneously.

When the rotary arm 21 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 6B, the medal M2 is prevented from moving downward by the two shielding rods 22, and the subsequent medal M3 of the medal M2 is slightly pushed back by the shielding rod 22 positioned upstream. Is prevented from moving down. At this time, the medal M2 is in a state of being fitted in the recess 12a formed on the transfer surface of the medal passage 12.
Further, when the rotary arm 21 rotates to the position shown in FIG. 6C, the medal M2 is pushed by the medal M3 and flows over the shielding rod 22. That is, the shield rod 22 moves rearward (toward the medal receptacle 13) so as to scoop up the medal M2 fitted in the concave portion 12a along the concave portion 12a, and the rotating arm 21 becomes substantially perpendicular to the medal passage 12. Thus, the medal M2 can pass between the two shielding rods 22.

The depth of the recess 12a is about the diameter of the shielding bar 22, and the transfer surface of the medal is inclined downward, so that the medal M2 does not fit into the recess 12a and cannot be moved. Further, since the shielding rod 22 is formed in a cylindrical shape, there is little frictional resistance with the contact surface of the medal, and the rotating arm 21 is rotated from the position of FIG. 6B to the position of FIG. 6C. The medal M2 is not caught by the shielding rod 22 and the rotation does not stop. Furthermore, since the time required for the rotary arm 21 to rotate 180 degrees is several milliseconds, the medals M2 and M3 are instantaneously stopped, and there is no problem in inserting the medals.
As described above, when the shutter device 20 is operated in response to the medal detection of the medal sensor 16, when the medal is actually inserted, the rotating arm 21 is almost within a predetermined time as described above. Since it rotates 180 degrees, the time for which the photosensor 25 is in the switch ON state is almost the same as the normal rotation time.

(Operation control of shutter device 20)
Here, the control of the slot machine 10 based on the operation of the shutter device 20 and the timing for operating the shutter device 20 will be described.
The control device of the slot machine 10 receives a motor control means for rotating the rotary arm 21 of the shutter device 20 by 180 degrees at a predetermined timing and a detection signal (ON signal) of the photosensor 25, although not particularly shown. Rotation detection means is provided for monitoring the rotation state of the rotary arm 21 when the motor 24 is driven. Then, when an abnormality is confirmed in the detection signal transmitted from the photosensor 25, a setting such as issuing a predetermined warning is set. For example, if the medal sensor 16 detects a medal, but the switch ON state of the photo sensor 25 is abnormally long, there is a high possibility that foreign objects such as goto tools are inserted in the medal passage 12. In addition to invalidating the medal count (for example, returning the display of the credit display unit 47 to zero), it is possible to generate a predetermined alarm such as sounding an alarm sound or turning on an emergency lamp.

The detection signal may be monitored by a control device provided in the medal selector 1. In this case, the motor control means and the rotation detection means are provided in the control device of the medal selector 1, and if the rotation detection means detects an abnormality, an error signal may be output to the control device of the slot machine 10. it can.
Next, the timing for operating the shutter device 20 can be as follows.
(1) During medal detection When the medal sensor 16 detects the first medal, the shutter device 20 can be operated. In this way, there is an advantage that it is possible to detect pseudo-insertion with goto equipment early, but for example, when playing a game while inserting several medals, the shutter device 20 operates each time, so the motor 24 etc. There is a problem that the parts are consumed quickly.

(2) After detecting a predetermined number of medals, when the medal sensor 16 detects a predetermined number of medals, the shutter device 20 can be operated when the next medal is detected. The predetermined number may be, for example, a bundle of medals, that is, a number that can be placed on the medal guide recess of the medal slot 50 at one time, or may be 10 or 20.
(3) When the credit 50 is inserted When the credit display is added using the goto tool, the goto tool cannot be taken out from the medal slot 50 immediately after the display reaches 50, so the detection signal of the medal sensor 16 is 50. By activating the shutter device 20 at the time of reaching the point, that is, when the 50th sheet is detected, it is possible to find a pseudo-insertion by the goto tool.

(4) When operating the operation means such as the start switch 41, the stop switch 42, the bet switch 43, the checkout switch 44, etc. Basically, no medals are inserted when these operation switches are operated. There should be no medals inside. However, if the goto is left in place, it will be caught by the rotating arm 21 and fraud will be detected. In this case, the shutter device 20 is operated regardless of the presence or absence of the medal detection signal of the medal sensor 16.
In addition, the timings (1) to (4) may be operated in an appropriate combination.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, if the goto tool is left in place, the presence of the goto tool is detected by the shutter device 20. Therefore, in order to prevent detection, the goto tool is frequently taken in and out. Must. However, such actions will be conspicuous, making it difficult to artificially insert medals with goto tools and discouraging their use. Further, when the goto tool has a narrow shape such as a bar shape, when the rotary arm 21 rotates, the shield bar 22 can be entangled so that the goto tool cannot be pulled out. As a result, it is possible to prevent or suppress a malicious fraudulent act in which only a credit indication is added even though no medal is actually inserted, and the medal is reimbursed by the settlement switch 44 to obtain a medal illegally. It is.

Furthermore, since the upper part of the rotating arm 21 is formed so as to rotate in the downward direction of the medal, the rotating arm 21 rotates so that the rear upper outer periphery of the preceding medal detected by the medal sensor 16 is pushed out by the shielding rod 22. It is possible to prevent detection of the sensor twice by backflow.
In the present embodiment, the rotating arm 21 is provided as a rotating body. However, as long as the rotating arm 21 rotates around the support shaft 23, for example, a disk-shaped rotating body may be used. Further, only one shielding rod 22 as a protrusion may be provided above the medal when the rotary arm 21 is stopped. In this case, when the rotating arm 21 is rotated during the medal flow, the medal M3 subsequent to the medal M2 (see FIG. 6B) blocked by the shielding rod 22 is pushed back by the medal M2. It becomes the form that is. Further, the shielding rod 22 that is rotated 180 degrees and is located below the medal is configured to rotate the rotating arm 21 to return to the original position at a predetermined timing (for example, after a predetermined time has elapsed after the passage of the medal). In this case, there will be no problem at the next operation. Of course, if the rotating arm 21 does not rotate during this return operation (the photo sensor 25 does not turn off even after a predetermined time has elapsed), it can be determined that a foreign object has been inserted into the medal path 12. .

It is embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a rear view of the medal selector at the time of medal passage. FIG. 4 is an external front view of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a perspective view of a shutter device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the medal selector when the shutter is closed according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a rear view of the medal selector which inserted the goto tool. It is an embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing the operation of the shutter device when a medal passes.

Explanation of symbols

S Slot machine 1 Medal selector 2 Housing 3 Reel unit 4 Front door 5 Hopper unit
10 Base 11 cover
12 Medal passage 12A Medal transfer surface
12B Side wall 12a, 12b Recess
13 Medals outlet 14 Medals outlet
15 Blocker device 16 Medal sensor (medal detection device)
17 Transfer rail
20 Shutter device (foreign object detection device) 21 Rotating arm (Rotating body)
22 Shield rod (projection) 23 Spindle
24 Motor (rotary actuator) 25 Photo sensor ( sensor )
26 Protrusion ( Detected part )
30-turn reel
40 Control section 41 Start switch
42 Stop switch 43 Bet switch
44 Checkout switch 45 Medal tray
46 Symbol display window 47 Credit display
50 medal slot 60 medal cancel button
100 Goto 110 Light emitter

Claims (2)

A medal that has a medal transfer surface to which medals are transferred and a side wall that is substantially perpendicular to the medal transfer surface, and the medals flow down in a standing state from a medal receiving port formed above to a medal discharging port formed to the side. and the medal passage is the transfer space, wherein an object detection device that is used in the medal selector and a medal detection device for detecting a falling medal provided on the side wall,
Upstream of the medal detection device in the side wall, provided with a support shaft axial direction is embedded to be a direction perpendicular to the side walls,
While detecting the rotating body fixed to the said spindle, the rotation actuator for rotating this rotating body along the said side wall centering on the said spindle, and the to-be-detected part provided in the said rotating body A sensor capable of outputting a detection signal based on the detection,
A control device that outputs a signal for operating the rotation actuator and receives a detection signal output from the sensor and monitors the detection signal,
The rotating body is provided at a distance larger than the medal radius in the diameter direction of the medal passing through the medal passage from the support shaft, and protrudes into the medal passage in a direction orthogonal to the side wall. With protrusions,
When the rotation of the rotating body is stopped, the protruding body is formed so as to be located at a place that does not hinder the passage of medals ,
The control device outputs a signal for operating the rotation operation device when a predetermined operation start condition is met, and the rotation operation device detects the rotation body based on the signal output from the control device. Rutotomoni is predetermined angular rotation from the stop position, the sensor outputs a detection signal to the control unit detects that the detected portion of the rotating body is not in a predetermined position,
The control device outputs a signal for operating the rotation operation device, and receives the signal that the rotation body is not in a predetermined position from the sensor, but the sensor within a predetermined time. The medal selector foreign matter detection device is formed so as to determine that an abnormality is detected when a signal indicating that the detected portion is in a predetermined position is not received . The protrusion is formed in a columnar shape,
The rotation operation device starts operation when the medal detection device detects a medal, and rotates the rotating body so that an upper end of the rotation member rotates in a flow direction of the medal.
The embedded position of the support shaft and the distance from the support shaft on which the projecting body is provided are such that when the detected medal flows down the medal passage for a predetermined distance, the medal passage is in contact with the rear upper outer periphery and the medal. The projecting body is set so as to be located in a range of a space formed by the front upper outer periphery of the succeeding medal,
The rotation actuating device is formed to be capable of rotating the rotating body by an angle that allows the protruding body to be positioned in the space until the detected medal flows down the medal passage for a predetermined distance. The foreign object detection device for a medal selector according to claim 1, wherein:

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