JPH0481477B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an automatic pachinko ball lending machine in the form of a vending machine that lends out pachinko balls.

(Prior Art) As is well known, recent pachinko ball lending machines are thin machines that are rented out in the form of vending machines and are installed between pachinko machines to increase the number of balls. Supply and collection are integrated into a series of supply and collection systems. Only one type of coin can be used, and a predetermined number of pachinko balls are lent out, and the counting mechanism uses a coin sorter to sort the coins into good or bad coins, and bad coins are returned, and good coins are linked to the borrowed ball counting mechanism. It has a structure in which the coins are temporarily moored to a sequential coin feed stopper connected to the mechanism, and at the same time the actuator of the micro switch is pressed, and the payout ball counting mechanism is activated in response to a coin acceptance signal to pay out a certain amount of pachinko balls. The coin sorting machine mentioned above was a mechanical type.

Additionally, with the spread of 500 yen coins in recent years, ball lending machines that can accept not only 100 yen coins but also 500 yen coins have appeared. If a conventional mechanical sorting machine is used to sort coins in these ball lending machines, 100 yen coins and 500 yen coins will be used.
A passage for sorting yen coins and even counterfeit coins is required, and although coins with similar outer diameters and materials are cheaper, there is a limit to the sorting ability.

Although electrical sorting machines have excellent sorting ability, they are expensive and complicated, as they also have the function of sorting coins after electrically identifying the denomination.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The conventional technology, in which only one type of coin can be used, and the method of mechanically sorting the coin sorting machine into valid coins and invalid coins, require cleaning of the sorting machine. In addition, the pay-to-play ball counting mechanism and the coin progressive lever that holds the inserted coins are mechanically connected by a link mechanism, and a micro switch is required to start the pay-to-play ball counting mechanism. Various problems have been pointed out, including breakdowns due to wear and tear, shortened service life, and the difficulty of preventing fraudulent means from outside.

The present invention was devised to solve all of the above-mentioned drawbacks, and it introduces a coin identification device that distinguishes between appropriate and inappropriate coins and their types (in this embodiment, 100 yen and 500 yen). The above coins can be used, and the coin sorting mechanism sorts out whether the coins are good or bad, and the coin type is processed by the CPU to set the number of times the ball rental counting mechanism operates. , and further aims to eliminate mechanical linkages and provide a device that operates on electrical commands.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The structure of the present invention for achieving the above object will be explained using FIGS. 1 to 7 corresponding to one embodiment. a progressive lever that detects the moored coin, a progressive sensor that detects the moored coin, and a progressive solenoid that is excited by a detection signal from the sensor and rotates the progressive lever to release the mooring of the coin and moor the next coin. a continuous input mechanism, and a coin identification device that faces the falling path of the unmoored coin and determines whether the coin is suitable or not and its type;
a branch solenoid operated by a signal from the identification device;
A coin sorting mechanism includes a coin sorting plate that is attracted by the solenoid and closes the coin passage, and a branch sensor that detects coins on the sorting plate, and a coin sorting mechanism that faces the pachinko ball supply passage and that the pachinko balls are inserted into. A sprocket wheel that rotates with its weight, a count gear that counts rotations in conjunction with the wheel, a stop lever that normally restrains the count gear with the biasing force of a spring, and a stop lever that resists the biasing force of the spring to restrain the count gear. The device is composed of a ball-cutting solenoid that releases the ball when the counting gear is rotated, and a ball-cutting switch that controls and restrains the counting gear by its rotation angle. a pay-ball counting control means for energizing and starting the ball-cutting solenoid and demagnetizing and stopping the ball-cutting solenoid by a ball-cutting switch; and controlling the ball-cutting solenoid by determining the type of coin with the coin identification device. The automatic pachinko ball dispensing machine further includes condition data calculation processing means for counting and displaying the detection signal of the ball cutter switch.

(Example) Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a side view showing a schematic overall arrangement according to the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a front view of FIG. 1A.

In the automatic ball lending machine A of the present invention, pachinko balls P are guided from a ball supply source (not shown) into a ball passage 1, fall vertically in series, and are discharged from a ball discharge port 11 whose lower end is open to the front. .

A part of the sprocket wheel 21 of the rental ball counting mechanism 2 is inserted into the upper part of the ball passage 1. The sprocket wheel 21 has a predetermined number of notched concave teeth 21a corresponding to the radius of the pachinko ball P,
The falling pachinko ball P engages with the concave teeth sequentially starting from the tip and rotates under its own weight,
When the count gear 22 interlocked with this rotates once, a predetermined number of pachinko balls P are supposed to pass.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a continuous coin insertion mechanism, in which coins S ₁ inserted from a coin insertion slot 30 opened at the front are moored to the tip of a sequential feed lever 31 .

4 is a coin identification device that faces the coin passage 40 and determines whether coins passing through are suitable or not, and also determines the type of coins that are suitable.In this embodiment, the types of coins that are suitable are 100 yen and 500 yen. It's a coin.

5 is a coin sorting mechanism, when the coin is determined to be an unsuitable coin by the coin identification device 4, the coin is
S ₁ '' falls down the coin passage 40 as it is, passes through the coin return passage 41, and is discharged to the coin return opening 42 which opens at the front, and the coin sorting mechanism 5 does not operate.
When the coin identification device 4 determines that the coin is appropriate, the branch solenoid 51 of the coin sorting mechanism 5 is energized, the coin sorting plate 52 is attracted, the coin passage 40 is blocked, and the falling coin S ₁ ' is tilted. The coin is configured to roll along the coin sorting plate 52 and be temporarily moored at the end.

53 is a branch sensor and coin distribution plate 52
The mooring is released by the detection signal of the coin S ₁ ′ moored to the coin S 1 ′, and the coin S ₁ ′ is sent out falling into the coin sending passage 43 .

6 is a control unit in which a microcomputer (hereinafter sometimes abbreviated as CPU), an I/O port, etc. are arranged.

7 is a coin return button protruding from the front.

Reference numeral 8 is a display section that displays troubles and the balance of the inserted coins using light.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ball rental counting mechanism 2. 3rd A
3C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the rental ball counting mechanism.

Concave teeth 21a corresponding to the radius of the pachinko ball P
One tooth of the sprocket wheel 21 arranged on the circumference faces the ball passage 1, and the transmission gear 21b provided coaxially with the sprocket wheel 21 meshes with the count gear 22.
The count gear 22 is configured to rotate in conjunction with the count gear 22.

Stop cam 23 coaxially with count gear 22
and a semicircular switch cam 24 are installed,
The stop cam 23 is provided with a protruding hook portion 23a.

Reference numeral 25 denotes a stop lever, which has a stop claw 25a that engages with the hook 23a of the stop cam 23, and a cutoff claw 25b that prevents over-rotation. The spring 25 is moved in the direction in which the stop claw 25a engages with the catch part 23a.
It is energized by d.

26 is a ball cutting solenoid and its plunger 26a
is arranged to support the other end 25e of the stop lever 25.

27 is a ball-cutting switch and its actuator 27a
is in sliding contact with the switch cam 24.

A governor 28 prevents the sprocket wheel 21 from rotating in reverse.

Next, the operation of the ball rental counting mechanism 2 will be explained. When the ball-cutting solenoid 26 is energized, the plunger 26a rotates around the shaft 25c of the stop lever 25, and the stop pawl 25a, which has been engaged with the latch portion 23a, is tripped against the biasing force of the spring 25d, and the count gear is tripped. 22
is released, and the weight of the pachinko ball P engaged with the teeth 21a of the sprocket wheel 21 causes the count gear 22 to rotate via the transmission gear 21b (see FIG. 3A). The switch cam 24, which rotates at the same time, turns on at about 1/3 rotation to demagnetize the ball cutting solenoid 26, and the counting gear 22 engages the stop claw 25a with the latch part 23a in one rotation, completing one cycle of counting the paid balls. (See Figure 3B).

If the stop lever 25 is activated for some reason (including unauthorized means from outside), the stop lever 25 is activated by the stop lever 25 due to the cut-off solenoid 26, cut-off switch 27, or other mechanical parts located on the trajectory of the locking part 23a. A blocking claw 25b for preventing over-rotation engages with the hook 23a to prevent abnormal discharge of pachinko balls (see Fig. 3C).

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the continuous coin insertion mechanism, Figs. 5A to 5C are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of the continuous coin injection mechanism, and Figs. 6A and 6B show the operation when the coin return button is operated. FIG.

Reference numeral 31 denotes a sequential feed lever for the coin _S1 , and a first protrusion 31a for mooring a coin and a second protrusion 31b for mooring the next coin are disposed at the tip thereof.

32 is a progressive solenoid whose plunger 32
a is supported by the rear end support hole 31c of the forward feed lever 31 and rotatably supported by the support shaft 31d.

33 is a progressive sensor that detects the coin _S1 moored to the first protrusion 31a.

7 is a coin return button whose tip is in contact with the coin return lever 71, and the lever 71 is always in contact with the coin return lever 71.
The tip of the progressive lever 31 is pushed up using the top 71a as a fulcrum to anchor the coin _S1 to the first protrusion 31a, and is biased by a spring 72 in the direction of popping out to the front of the coin return button 7.

Next, the operation of the coin continuous insertion mechanism 3 will be explained.

When the inserted coin S ₁ is anchored to the first protrusion 31 a at the tip of the forward feed lever 31, the forward feed sensor 33 excites the forward feed solenoid 32 with the detection signal of the coin S ₁ . The plunger 32a of the progressive solenoid 32 is connected to the support shaft 31d of the progressive lever 31.
The coin _S1 of the first protrusion 31a is released from its mooring by rotating around the fulcrum. The next coin S ₂ is moored to the second protrusion 31b. This state is maintained until the operation of coin _S1 is completed (see Figure 5). i.e. coin
When S ₁ receives a detection signal from the branch sensor 53 and the sequential feed solenoid 32 is demagnetized, the next coin S ₂ is moored from the second protrusion 31b to the first protrusion 31a, and the next coin continuous insertion mechanism 3 operates. starts.

When the coin return button 7 is pressed, the coin return lever 71 rotates around its fulcrum 71a, lowers the tip of the forward feed lever 31, releases the coin from the first protrusion 31a, and discharges the coin into the coin return slot 42. (See Figure 6).

7A to 7D are operation explanatory diagrams showing the coin sorting mechanism.

7A and 7B show the operation when the coin identification device 4 facing the coin passage 40 determines that the coin is a valid coin, and the coin distribution plate 52 is attracted by the excitation of the branch solenoid 51 and the coin passage 40 is blocked. do.

The fallen coin _S1 rolls along the slope of the coin distribution plate 52 and is temporarily moored at the corner of the side wall.
The branching solenoid 51 is demagnetized by the detection signal of the moored coin S ₁ ′ or the branching sensor 53, the coin sorting plate 52 is opened, and the coin S ₁ ′ is sent out to the coin sending passage.At the same time, the ball cutting solenoid 26 is activated. The ball rental counting mechanism 2 is excited and starts operating.

7C to 7D show the case of an incorrect coin. Since the coin identification device 4 does not energize the branch solenoid 51, the incorrect coin S ₁ ″ falls into the coin return path 41 and is discharged to the coin return port 42.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the microcomputer installed in the control section, which consists of a CPU 61, a ROM 62 in which programs are written, a RAM 63 for storing various data, and various inputs and outputs. In addition, an I/O port is installed between each input and output, and communication between the CPU 61, RAM 63, and ROM 62 is provided by a data bus 64 and an address bus 65. RAM 63 is a battery backup circuit that retains all data in the event of a power outage. be done. Also CPU6
It is also equipped with a clock as a control timing signal and a timing clock such as a dynamic display to ensure reliable digital operation.

Figures 9 and 10 are flow charts and timing charts showing the operation and functions of the entire device.
The following description will be made based on a flowchart and with reference to a timing chart.

If a trouble message such as "Stop using" is displayed on the display section 8 on the front of the machine, coin insertion is not possible (steps n101 to n103). In step n104, while the sequential feed sensor 33 is on, if the inserted coin _S1 is on the first protrusion 31a and no other switch (for example, the ball rental is out of supply) is on, the CPU 61 determines that it is on and sequentially feeds the coin. The solenoid 32 turns on after 0.5 seconds (steps n105 and n106). If the coin _S1 inserted here is a fake coin, the forward feed solenoid 3
2 is turned on and after 2 seconds it is turned off and returned and a trouble message is displayed. In step n107, the coin identification device 4 determines whether the coin is suitable or not and its type (in this example, a 100 yen or 500 yen coin), and the coin is determined to be an unsuitable coin.
If S ₁ ″ (coin other than 100 yen or 500 yen), step
Proceeding to n108, the coin is returned, and the correct coin _S1 ' turns on the branch solenoid 51, closes the coin passage 40 with the coin sorting plate 52, and sends it to the branch sensor 53.
(steps n109 to n110). step
If no detection signal is output even after 3 seconds have elapsed at n110, a trouble message is displayed (steps n111 to n112).
In step n113, the type of coin is displayed as a code, and the process moves to step n114, in which the coins are counted. Here, the branch sensor 53 is turned on and the coin _S1 ' is unmoored, and the off signal turns on the ball cutting solenoid 26.
Ball rental counting for 100 yen/time starts (step
n115). Moving to step n116, when the ball-cutting switch 27 is turned on, the ball-cutting solenoid 26 is turned off and 100 yen/
After the ball rental count for one cycle is completed (step n119), the display shows the number with 1 subtracted (step n121). You are asked to finish at step n122, but if the remaining display is other than 0/, branch to step n115 and repeat the counting of the remaining balls, and when the remaining display becomes 0/, return to the starting position and wait (step
n101). Steps n117 and n120 flash and display a trouble code when the balls are out of charge.

Immediately after the forward feed sensor 33 detects the coin S ₁ and the forward feed solenoid 32 is turned on, the forward feed sensor 33 is turned off, but the forward feed solenoid 32 is turned off by the off signal from the ball cutting switch 27. That is, the signal determined to be 500 yen by the coin identification device 4 is arithmetic processed by the CPU 61, and the sequential feed solenoid 32 is maintained in the on state until the fifth off signal of the cutter switch 27 is received.

The amount display will display "5" or "1" according to the input amount after the branch sensor 53 is turned off, and the ball-cutting switch 2 will be displayed.
It is subtracted (-1) after 7 off.

If an abnormality occurs in the operating order, all functions will stop.

Rather than using a conventional coin sorting machine to mechanically sort one type of coin, the present invention uses a coin identification device to determine whether a coin is suitable or not, and then uses an electrical method (for example, a high-frequency oscillation signal) to determine the appropriate coin type. The coin is passed through a magnetic field and its type is determined based on the permeability of the magnetic field lines, etc.) The detected signal is processed by the CPU, the coin sorting mechanism sorts out whether the coin is good or bad, and the coin is lent according to the appropriate coin type. The ball lending machine of the present invention, which is configured to set the number of times the ball counting mechanism operates, is a ball lending machine that solves various problems that have arisen in conventional mechanical coin sorting machines and electronic coin sorting machines. It provides an opportunity for especially,
In conventional mechanical coin sorting machines and ball lending machines using mechanical control mechanisms, fraudulent acts using fake coins frequently occur, and the damage caused by these incidents to pachinko halls is immeasurable.

In addition, while electronic coin sorting machines have a very good coin sorting function, they also have a sorting function and are constructed as an integrated structure, so the sorting machine itself is large and thin (4 cm wide). The ball rental machines for pachinko halls had problems that made them unusable, and they were also expensive, which affected the product cost.

In view of these drawbacks, in the present invention, the coin identification device itself has only a mechanism for determining whether the coin is suitable or not, thereby making the identification device more compact (it can be stored in a thin ball lending machine). It became possible to use inexpensive products.

Furthermore, the control of the ball lending machine of the present invention uses a CPU, thereby eliminating the need for the conventional complicated mechanical structure, simplifying the structure and eliminating any failures.

Furthermore, in order to prevent counterfeit coins as well as acts that drive the ball lending machine due to fraudulent acts from outside, the input to the sensor installed at each step is
If the actions are performed in an unnatural order, the CPU will determine that there is a problem or fraudulent activity, and at the same time, the ball rental will be stopped and the location of the problem will be displayed to prevent the aforementioned fraudulent behavior or trouble, and to notify the customer in case of trouble. This has the effect of making it possible to deal with problems more smoothly.

This device, which can use one or more of the above-mentioned different types of coins, has made a tremendous contribution to improving the industry's labor savings, easing congestion at conventional ball lending machines, and improving customer service. There is.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1A is a side view showing the general layout of the entire structure according to the present invention, FIG. 1B is a front view of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ball rental counting mechanism, and FIGS. 3A to 3C are the ball rental counting mechanism. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the continuous coin insertion mechanism, FIGS. 5A to 5C are illustrations of the operation of the continuous coin insertion mechanism, and FIGS. 6A to B are illustrations of the coin return operation of the continuous coin insertion mechanism. Figures 7A and 7B are side views for explaining the operation of the coin sorting mechanism (in the case of correct coins) and its A-A' sectional view, and Figures 7C and D are the coin sorting mechanism (in the case of incorrect coins). A side view for explaining the operation and its B-B' sectional view, Fig. 8 is a block diagram, Fig. 9 is a flowchart, and Figs. 10A to C are times when using a 500 yen coin, a 100 yen coin, and a counterfeit coin, respectively. Show the chart diagram. A... Automatic ball lending machine, 1... Ball passageway, 2... Ball lending counting mechanism, 3... Coin continuous insertion mechanism, 4... Coin identification device, 5... Coin sorting mechanism, 6... Control unit , 7... Coin return button, 11... Ball discharge port, 21... Sprocket wheel, 22... Count gear, 23... Stop cam, 24... Switch cam, 25... Stop lever, 31...
Progressive feed lever, 32... Progressive feed solenoid, 33
...Forward feed sensor, 51...Branch solenoid,
52... Coin distribution plate, 53... Branch sensor.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A progressive lever that moors the inserted coin, a progressive sensor that detects the moored coin, and is excited by the detection signal of the progressive sensor to rotate the progressive lever to release the mooring of the coin and move it to the next place. a coin continuous input mechanism consisting of a sequential feed solenoid that moors coins, a coin identification device that faces the falling path of the unmoored coin and discriminates whether the coin is suitable or not and its denomination; A coin sorting mechanism consisting of a branching solenoid operated by a signal, a coin sorting plate that is excited and attracted by the branching solenoid to block a coin passage, and a branching sensor that detects coins on the coin sorting plate; A sprocket wheel that faces the pachinko ball supply path, into which the pachinko balls are inserted and rotates under the weight of the pachinko balls, and a count gear that counts rotations in conjunction with the sprocket wheel.
A stop lever that restrains the count gear by the urging force of a spring, a stop lever that releases the restraint of the count gear against the urging force of the spring, and a stop lever that controls and restrains the count gear by its rotation angle. a ball rental counting mechanism comprising a ball rental counting mechanism; and a ball rental counting control means for starting and controlling the rental ball counting mechanism using a coin detection signal from a branch sensor in the coin sorting mechanism;
An automatic pachinko ball lending machine comprising: a control section having means for controlling the number of operations of the ball lending counting mechanism according to a denomination signal determined by the coin identification device.