JPH11146977A5 - - Google Patents

Description

[Document name] Statement
[Name of invention] medal game machine
[Claims]
[Claim 1] The medal slot and
a medal launching device that launches medals inserted through the medal insertion port;
a play field provided in front of the throw-in slot;
a recovery chute provided adjacent to the inner periphery of the playfield on the opposite side of the medal insertion opening of the playfield;
a tray that receives the medals launched by the medal launching device while they are moving;
a tray tilting means for dropping the medals received by the tray into a chucker while the medals are moving;
a drive device that drives the tray so as to include the movement of the tray on the collection chute that allows the tray to receive the medals while the tray is moving, and the movement that tilts the tray tilting means that drops the medals on the tray into a chucker while the tray is moving;
a detection means for detecting the medals dropped into the chute by the tray tilting means and issuing a detection signal;
a control means for starting a lottery process based on a detection signal from the detection means;
a payout device that pays out medals determined as a result of the lottery process;
A medal game machine comprising:
[Claim 2] 2. The medal game machine according to claim 1, wherein the playfield is raised in the center, inclined toward the collection chute, and further comprising a tilting mechanism for tilting the playfield toward the collection chute.
[Claim 3] 2. The medal game machine according to claim 1, wherein the medal launching device launches medals toward the tray while moving on a play field.
[Claim 4] The medal game machine of claim 1, characterized in that the medal launching device has a medal storage section with a medal insertion port and a medal discharge port, and a trigger provided in the launching device body, a spin-imparting section on which part of the medal is caught is provided near the medal discharge port of the medal storage section, and a medal impact mechanism is provided in the launching device body which, when the trigger is pulled, impacts a point shifted from the center of the medal surface at the medal discharge port in a direction approximately perpendicular to the point.
[Claim 5] 5. A medal game machine according to claim 1, wherein the payout device is provided in the center, a plurality of play fields are provided around the payout device, and the machine is provided with a mechanism for rotating the payout device so as to pay out onto any one of the play fields.
[Detailed description of the invention]
0001
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a medal launching device for launching medals (disk-shaped medals are described in this specification, but oval or polygonal plate-shaped medals may also be used if necessary) in a game machine.medal game machine equipped withIt is related to.
0002
[Prior art and problems to be solved]
There have been few examples of game machines that shoot medals into the air, such as those described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-112572 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 59-53080.
0003]
In the medal game described in JP 58-112572 A, a rotating drum is positioned with its rotation axis oriented left-right relative to the player, and a jumping member protrudes from the outer periphery of the drum. The rotating drum is driven to rotate from the front side to the top, then towards the back side. Furthermore, when a coin is inserted into the coin slot, coins that fall from the coin slot onto the rotating drum are randomly jumped upward by the jumping member which moves from below to above, and one of these coins ends up in a basket, with players competing to see who can get the most coins into the basket.
0004]
In addition, in the medal game machine described in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 59-53080, the coin is supported approximately horizontally, and a medal-flipping piece moves from below the coin to above the center of the coin, causing the coin to be flung into the air.
0005]
As such, conventional medal launching devices strike the side of the medal at a right angle or an angle close to a right angle, which results in poor directionality and prevents players from demonstrating their skill.
0006]
Furthermore, like in pachinko game machines, when a medal is fired upward along a vertically erected board, the medal falls irregularly, hitting numerous nails driven vertically into the board. In the medal firing device used in these medal game machines, as described in JP 8-289970 A, a medal fed from below along a vertical plane is sandwiched between the circumferential surfaces of two receiving rollers arranged above and below along the vertical plane and a firing rotating roller, and the tangential frictional force of this firing rotating roller causes the medal to be fired upward along the vertically erected board, and the medal that rises to the top of the board hits the nails on the board as it falls, competing to see whether it will land in the required pocket.
0007
In this medal launching device, the diameter of the two receiving rollers is significantly smaller than the diameter of the launching rotating roller, and the frictional force exerted by the circumferential surface of the launching rotating roller acts on only one side of the medal.As a result, although the medal can be launched along the vertical surface of the board, it cannot be launched stably into the air.
0008]
The gameplay of the aforementioned gaming machine was almost the same as that of the machine that shoots spherical balls, and it was not possible to play a game that took advantage of the characteristics of the medals.
0009
As a child's game, children would stand a medal upright, hold down the top with the fingers of one hand, and flick the outer edge of the medal with the fingers of the other hand, causing the medal to rotate around a plumb line, enjoying the idea of seeing how far the medal could rotate and in which direction it would move. However, flicking the medal requires skill, and no game machine had ever existed that took advantage of the medal's characteristics in this way.
0010]
Furthermore, when a medal game machine hits the jackpot and a large number of medals, such as 100 or 500, are paid out, a predetermined number of coins are calculated in advance and stored in a hopper, which are then discharged all at once through the payout opening; alternatively, as in Patent Publication No. 3-158991, medals fitted into medal holding holes in a rotating disk are supplied one after another in the tangential direction of the disk as the rotating disk rotates, and are continuously discharged through the medal payout opening.
0011]
With these medal payout devices, the player is unable to directly see the coins being paid out, which means that they do not get the sense that a large number of medals have been paid out, and they are unable to fully enjoy the feeling of success.
0012]
[Means and effects for solving the problem]
The present invention solves this problem.Metal game machineThe invention according to claim 1 relates to an improvement,a medal insertion slot, a medal launching device that launches medals inserted through the medal insertion slot, a playfield provided in front of the insertion slot, a collection chute provided adjacent to the inner periphery of the playfield on the side of the playfield opposite the medal insertion slot, a receiving tray that receives medals inserted by the medal launching device while it is moving, a tray tilting means that drops the medals received by the tray into a chute while it is moving, a drive device that drives the receiving tray so as to include the movement of the receiving tray on the collection chute that allows the receiving tray to receive the medals while it is moving, and the movement that tilts the receiving tray tilting means that drops the medals on the receiving tray into the chute while it is moving, detection means that detects the medals dropped into the chute by the receiving tray tilting means and issues a detection signal, control means that starts a lottery process based on the detection signal from the detection means, and a payout device that pays out medals determined as a result of the lottery process.
0013]
The invention described in claim 1 is configured as described above,Medals launched by the medal launcher travel along an irregular trajectory across the playfield from the medal slot toward the edge of the field, such as the inner periphery, and medals that reach the edge of the playfield at the right time can be transferred onto a medal tray that has moved onto a collection chute adjacent to the inner periphery of the playfield. The medals on the tray are carried up to the chucker, where the medal tray tilts and drops into the chucker, and a large number of medals are paid out in the event of a jackpot through a lottery process based on detection signals from the medal detection means. Therefore, anyone can easily try their hand at medal games on this game machine, and although a certain degree of skill is required, players can fully enjoy the feeling of medal payout and the sense of success when they hit the jackpot, making for a fulfilling medal game experience..
0014]
Furthermore, by configuring the invention as described in claim 2,The medals launched onto the playfield by the medal launcher travel along irregular trajectories from the raised area in the center of the playfield to the edges of the field, requiring a certain degree of skill in gameplay, which adds to the enjoyment of the game. In addition, the playfield can be tilted using a tilting mechanism, making it easy to retrieve medals that have fallen onto the playfield.
0015]
Furthermore, by configuring the invention as described in claim 3,The medals move on the play field toward the medal tray, but the movement trajectory of the medals is irregular and difficult to predict, so the movement of the medals on the field arouses the interest of the player, making the medal game more enjoyable.
0016]
Furthermore, by configuring the invention as described in claim 4,When a medal is stored in the medal storage section and positioned at the medal discharge port of the medal storage section, the trigger is pulled to operate the medal impact mechanism. The medal positioned at the medal discharge port is impacted at approximately the center by the medal impact mechanism in a direction approximately perpendicular to the medal, and as the medal leaves the medal discharge port and flies out while remaining approximately parallel to the medal discharge port, part of the medal hits the spin imparting section, causing the medal to rotate around a vertical line.
0017]
In this way, by simply loading medals into the medal storage section and pulling the trigger, the medals can be rotated around a vertical line in an upright state and easily and reliably shot without requiring any special technique such as supporting the medals with fingers and flicking them, and a fulfilling medal game can be enjoyed with a highly reliable game machine.
0018]
Furthermore, by configuring the invention as described in claim 5,When a big win occurs, the payout device turns and quickly turns toward the play field where the big win occurred, and the medals are paid out in the play field, so that the player can fully enjoy the feeling of having a large number of medals paid out and the feeling of successful play.
0019]
[Embodiment of the invention]
The following describes the present invention as illustrated in Figures 1 to 5.Medal game machine equippedAn embodiment of the medal launching device will be described.
0020]
The medal launching device 1 of the present invention is used in the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43 and Figures 45 to 60, and an explanation of the medal game machine 0 will be provided later.
0021]
Two horizontal base plates 2, arranged horizontally with a gap between them on the left and right, are fixed together at the top end of a tower (not shown) within the doll 132 of the medal game machine 0. Roller pivot plates 3 are pivoted to the rear ends of the horizontal base plates 2 via pivot screws 4 so that they can swing freely left and right. Long holes 3a are formed at the outer ends of the roller pivot plates 3, and guide screws 5 that pass through the long holes 3a are screwed into the horizontal base plate 2. Spring mounting pins 6 protrude upward from the inner ends of the roller pivot plates 3, and both ends of tension coil springs 7 are engaged with the spring mounting pins 6. The tension force of the tension coil springs 7 urges the left and right roller pivot plates 3 toward each other, centered on the pivot screws 4.
0022]
In addition, a large hole (not shown) is formed in the center of each of the left and right horizontal base plates 2, and the upper ends of the roller drive motors 8 are attached integrally to the underside of the roller pivot support plate 3, penetrating through the hole from bottom to top. A gear head 9 protrudes from the top of the roller drive motor 8, and clamping rollers 10 are spline-fitted to the rotating shaft 9a of the gear head 9, which penetrates the roller pivot support plate 3 from bottom to top and protrudes above the roller pivot support plate 3. A circlip 22 is engaged in the circumferential groove at the upper end of the rotating shaft 9a. The outer periphery 10a of the left and right clamping rollers 10 is made of soft rubber, and the left and right clamping rollers 10 are each driven to rotate at the same speed but in opposite directions by the roller drive motor 8. The lower casing portion 9b of the gear head 9 is loosely fitted with the rotating shaft (not shown) of the roller drive motor 8, and the upper casing portion 9c of the gear head 9 houses a group of reduction gears, so that the pinch roller 10 is decelerated by the gear head 9.
0023]
Furthermore, left and right entrance side guide plates 11 and exit side guide plates 12 are attached to the roller pivot plate 3, respectively, in parallel with each other, behind and in front of the left and right clamping rollers 10, and a regulating plate 13 is attached integrally between the left and right exit side guide plates 12, sloping upward from the rear to the front (sloping upward from right to left in Figure 1).
0024]
Furthermore, the upper end 16a of the medal guide 16 of the medal supply device 15 is positioned adjacent to the left and right entrance guide plates 11, and medals 14 sent from the medal supply device 15 through the medal guide 16 to the medal discharge end 16a are clamped between the left and right clamping rollers 10 and are ejected along the vertical plane on the perpendicular bisector of the centres of the left and right clamping rollers 10 by the left and right clamping rollers 10 which rotate in opposite directions.
0025]
The medal supply device 15, like the medal payout device described in JP 59-183484 A, has a rotating disk (not shown) in contact with the bottom surface of the hopper 17, and the rotating disk has a number of holes (not shown) around its circumference into which medals can be loosely fitted. The rotating disk is connected to a medal supply motor 18, and when the rotating disk is rotated by the medal supply motor 18, the medals loosely fitted in the holes in the rotating disk are sent one by one into the medal guide 16. The sending force of this rotating disk pushes up the medals 14 inside the medal guide 16, and the medals 14 are supplied between the left and right entrance guide plates 11 from the upper end 16a of the medal guide 16.
0026]
Furthermore, a swing lever 23 is pivoted around a pin 24 at the upper end 16a of the medal guide 16 so that it can swing up and down freely, and a medal abutting cylindrical piece 25 is provided at the tip 23a of the swing lever 23 (it can also be pivotally attached to the tip 23a so that it can rotate freely). The rear end 23b of the swing lever 23 is loosely fitted into a groove 26a of an optical sensor 26, which is integrally fitted into the upper end 16a of the medal guide 16. As shown in Figure 5, each time a medal 14 passes through the tip 16a of the medal guide 16 and the tip 23a of the swing lever 23 is pushed up, light projected from the light-emitting element 26b of the optical sensor 26 is blocked by the rear end 23b of the swing lever 23, and the passage of the medal 14 is detected.
0027
The embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 is configured as described above, so when a large number of medals 14 are placed into the hopper 17 and the roller drive motor 8 and medal supply motor 18 are rotated, the medals 14 in the hopper 17 are sent into the medal guide 16, rise within the medal guide 16, and are supplied between the left and right entrance side guide plates 11 from their upper end 16a.The medals 14 are then clamped between the left and right clamping rollers 10, which are driven to rotate in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2, and are urged in the direction of the white arrows in Figure 2 by the frictional force exerted by the outer surfaces 10b of the left and right clamping rollers 10 acting on both outer surfaces of the medals 14, and are then released through between the left and right exit side guide plates 12.
0028]
The launched medal 14 is able to fly diagonally upward through the air due to the restricting plate 13 which is inclined diagonally upward.
0029
At this time, the rotation speeds of the left and right clamping rollers 10 are the same, and the outer diameters of the left and right clamping rollers 10 are equal, so the paper can fly along a direction parallel to the exit side guide plate 12 without rotating around a vertical line.
0030]
In addition, because the outer periphery 10a of the clamping roller 10 is made of soft rubber, when the medal 14 is clamped, the outer periphery 10a elastically deforms, allowing the medal 14 to be clamped stably without generating any impact force. It can also absorb changes in the thickness of the medal 14, reducing noise generation.
0031
Furthermore, the roller pivot plate 3 that pivotally supports the clamping rollers 10 can swing around the pivot screw 4, and the left and right clamping rollers 10 are biased by a tension coil spring 7 so that they approach each other. As a result, the clamping force of the medal 14 into the clamping rollers 10 can be absorbed by this tension coil spring 7, and the clamping reaction force on the outer periphery 10a of the clamping rollers 10 can be reduced, improving the durability of the clamping rollers 10.
0032]
Furthermore, the left and right clamping rollers 10 are biased against each other by the spring force of the tension coil spring 7, so that a thick and heavy medal 14 is more tightly clamped between the left and right clamping rollers 10 due to the increased spring force of the tension coil spring 7, and the medal 14 can be reliably released with a large frictional force.
0033]
Furthermore, since a roller drive motor 8 is provided for each of the left and right clamping rollers 10, the power transmission system to the left and right clamping rollers 10 is greatly simplified, making it possible to make them smaller and lighter.
0034]
In addition, a regulating plate 13 is provided between the left and right exit side guide plates 12, so the ejection direction of the medal 14 can be directed diagonally upward.
0035
Furthermore, since the rotation axis of the clamping roller 10 is oriented vertically, the medal 14 is launched along a vertical plane, allowing the medal 14 to be launched accurately toward the target without bending the flight plane of the medal 14 left or right.
0036
Furthermore, if a medal 14 becomes stuck in the medal guide 16, this is detected by the optical sensor 26, and the medal supply motor 18 is immediately stopped, preventing damage to the medal supply device 15.
0037
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the central axis of rotation of the clamping roller 10 is oriented vertically up and down, but the clamping rollers 10 may be stacked one on top of the other and the central axis of rotation of the clamping roller 10 may be oriented horizontally.With this configuration, the medal 14 can be oriented horizontally and thrown far away.
0038]
In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the left and right clamping rollers 10 rotate at the same rotational speed and their peripheral speeds are also matched, but by slightly changing the rotational speed of either the left or right roller drive motor 8, a difference in peripheral speed between the left and right clamping rollers 10 can be created, and this difference in peripheral speed can be used to curve the flight surface of the medal 14 to the left or right.
0039
Furthermore, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the left and right clamping rollers 10 are urged toward each other by the spring force of the tension coil spring 7, but it is also possible to integrally attach a magnet (not shown) to the outer surface of the spring mounting pin 6, and arrange a magnet so that the same magnetic poles face the outside of this magnet, and attach this facing magnet integrally to the horizontal base plate 2, and to urge the left and right clamping rollers 10 toward each other by utilizing the repulsive force of the facing magnets.
0040]
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, there is one roller drive motor 8, and the left and right roller pivot plates 3 are pivotally supported on the horizontal base plate 2 by a single pivot screw 4 so that they can swing freely. The center of the rotation axis of the roller drive motor 8 is aligned with the center of the pivot screw 4, and the rotation axis of the roller drive motor 8 is provided with a pitch circle with a radius of r₁, r₂The drive gears 19X and 19Y are overlapped and fitted together, and the pitch circle radius r of the drive gears 19X and 19Y is₁, r₂Driven gears 20X and 20Y with a constant ratio k (the pitch circle radius is kr₁, kr₂) are provided integrally at the rotation centers of the left and right pinching rollers 10X, 10Y, and one drive gear 19X is directly meshed with one driven gear 20X, and the other drive gear 19Y is meshed with the other driven gear 20Y via an idler gear 21. This allows the left and right pinching rollers 10X, 10Y to be rotated in opposite directions at the same rotational speed by a single roller drive motor 8.
0041
Moreover, in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the horizontal base plate 2 and roller pivot plate 3 that pivotally support the clamping rollers 10 (the roller pivot plate 3 can swing slightly around the pivot screw 4 in response to the presence or absence of a medal 14 and changes in the outer diameter of the clamping rollers 10, but is generally fixed as a whole) are held on a horizontal plane, and the coin launch direction is constant; however, the rotation axis 9a of the clamping rollers 10 can be tilted back and forth, left and right, and up and down, so that the launch direction of the medal 14 launched by the pair of clamping rollers 10 can be freely changed.
0042
The horizontal base plate 2 can then be attached to the barrel of a mock gun (not shown), allowing the mock gun to be freely oriented as required.
0043
A medal launching device may also be configured as shown in Figures 7 to 10.
0044
In the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 10, the same components as those in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 are each given the same reference numerals.
0045
In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, a pair of roller drive motors 8 were attached to each pair of pinch rollers 10 via gear heads 9, but in the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 10, the roller drive motor 8 is attached to the pinch roller 10 on the right side in the direction of transport of the medal 14 (on the left side in Figure 9, which is a front view), and the pinch roller 10 on the left side in the direction of transport of the medal 14 is rotatably fitted to a rotation shaft 27 that protrudes perpendicularly from the left roller pivot support plate 3, and when the medal supply device 15 is at rest, the medal 14 is rotated by the pair of pinch rollers 1 When no medals 14 are being supplied between the pair of clamping rollers 10, the spring force of the tension coil spring 7 pulls the left and right roller pivot support plates 3 toward each other around the pivot screw 4, bringing the left and right clamping rollers 10 into close contact, and the left clamping roller 10, which is not equipped with a roller drive motor 8, rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the right clamping roller 10. When medals 14 are supplied between the pair of clamping rollers 10 by the medal supply device 15, the left clamping roller 10 rotates in conjunction with the medals 14 interposed between the pair of clamping rollers 10.
0046
In addition, holes (not shown) are provided in each of the left and right exit side guide plates 12, and the light emitting portion 28a of the optical sensor 28 is attached to the outer surface of one of the left and right exit side guide plates 12, while the light receiving portion 28b of the optical sensor 28 is attached to the other outer surface of the exit side guide plate 12.It is possible to detect when the light projected from the light emitting portion 28a of the optical sensor 28 is blocked by a medal 14 passing between the pair of exit side guide plates 12 and fails to reach the light receiving portion 28b of the optical sensor 28.
0047
Furthermore, if the medal supply device 15 is operated by a computer (not shown), and the optical sensor 26 detects that a medal 14 has been supplied between the pair of clamping rollers 10, and the optical sensor 28 does not operate after three seconds or more have passed, the computer determines that a medal 14 has become stuck between the pair of clamping rollers 10, and automatically stops the medal supply device 15.
0048
In this embodiment, no restricting plate 13 is provided.
0049
The embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 10 is configured as described above, so even if the medal supply device 15 is not operating and a medal 14 is not supplied between the pair of clamping rollers 10, the pair of clamping rollers 10 are held tightly together by the spring force of the tension coil spring 7, and not only the clamping rollers 10 connected to the roller drive motor 8 but also the clamping rollers 10 not equipped with a roller drive motor 8 are rotated.As a result, when a medal 14 is supplied between the pair of clamping rollers 10 due to the operation of the medal supply device 15, the medal 14 is clamped between the pair of clamping rollers 10 that are rotating together, and the medal 14 can be released.
0050
In addition, in the operation of the medal supply device 15, when medals 14 are continuously supplied between a pair of clamping rollers 10, the clamping roller 10 that does not have a roller drive motor 8 attached has its rotational force transmitted from the clamping roller 10 connected to the roller drive motor 8 through the medal 14, and can continue to rotate due to its rotational inertia torque, so that the clamping roller 10 that does not have a roller drive motor 8 attached can also contribute to the launch of the medal 14 in cooperation with the clamping roller 10 connected to the roller drive motor 8.
0051
In addition, optical sensors 26 and 28 are provided on the inlet and outlet sides of the clamping rollers 10, respectively, to detect the passage of medals 14. These sensors determine whether a medal 14 is stuck between the pair of clamping rollers 10, and if a medal 14 is stuck, the operation of the medal supply device 15 is automatically stopped. Therefore, even if a medal 14 does get stuck between the pair of clamping rollers 10, the medal supply device 15 is automatically stopped, preventing the medal 14 from being forcibly fed between the pair of clamping rollers 10 and preventing damage to the medal supply device 15, clamping rollers 10, etc.
0052
Furthermore, since a pair of clamping rollers 10 can be rotated and driven by a single roller drive motor 8, significant cost reductions are possible.
0053
Next, we will describe one embodiment of the medal spinning and launching device shown in Figures 11 to 20.
0054
The medal rotation and launching device 31 of the present invention is used in the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43 and 45 to 60, and an explanation of the medal game machine 0 will be provided later.
0055
The lower end shaft 37 (see Figure 15) of the support 36 is inserted into the central hole 33 of the base 32, which has a square shape with rounded sides as shown in Figure 17. A nut 38 is screwed onto the threaded portion of the lower end shaft 37, and the guide pin 39 of the support 36 is fitted into the guide groove 34 of the base 32, allowing the support 36 to be rotated left and right around the central hole 33 of the base 32.
0056
As shown in Figures 11 and 14, the barrel section 41 of the medal swivel launcher 31 comprises a stock 42 whose side shape is similar to that of a regular gun stock and whose upper section 42a is bent at a right angle in the width direction; a bottom 43 with a long hole 43a formed in the center with a width slightly narrower than the diameter of a medal 14 of a specified size; two medal guides 44 of the same thickness as the medal 14 (actually very slightly thicker) attached to both sides of the bottom 43 with a distance equal to the diameter of the medal 14; a lid 45 that covers approximately the center of the bottom 43 and medal guide 44; a medal loading bracket 46 attached to the front end of the medal guide 44 and lid 45; and a medal stopper 47 attached to the bottom 43 adjacent to the tip of the medal guide 44 and lid 45. The medal stopper 47 is made up of a pair of left and right spacers 48 attached to it, and a spin applying portion 49 attached to the pair of spacers 48. The bottom 43, medal guide 44, and lid 45 are sequentially stacked on the top piece 42a of the stock 42, and the medal loading fitting 46 is stacked on the medal guide 44 on the front side of the lid 45, while the medal stopper 47, spacer 48, and spin applying portion 49 are sequentially stacked on the medal loading fitting 46 on the back side of the lid 45, and these are joined together as a single unit. The bottom 43, medal guide 44, and lid 45 form a medal storage section 50, and a medal loading opening 50a is provided adjacent to the medal loading fitting 46 at the top end of the medal storage section 50, and a medal discharge opening 50b is provided at the bottom end of the medal storage section 50.
0057
Furthermore, a hole 43b is formed at the tip of the butt 43 into which the striking portion 61a of the striking piece 61 (described below) can fit loosely, and a sensor mounting notch 43c is formed on the right side between the long hole 43a and the hole 43b. Furthermore, a protrusion 44a is formed on the inner edge of the left medal guide 44, and a notch 44b and a sensor mounting notch 44c are formed on the inner edge of the right medal guide 44.
0058
The upper part 36a of the support 36 is formed in a bifurcated shape, and the left and right mounting pieces 43d of the gun base 43 are attached integrally to the upper end of the bifurcated part 36a using screws or the like.
0059
A trigger 51 is pivotally mounted adjacent to the grip 42e on the front side of the stock 42 via a pin 52 so that it can tilt back and forth. The trigger 51 is formed with a trigger drive projection 51a, ratchet teeth 51b formed on an arcuate surface centered on the pin 52, and a spring mounting portion 51c. A tension coil spring 54 is stretched between the spring mounting portion 51c and the pin 53 of the stock 42, and the tension spring force of the tension coil spring 54 urges the trigger 51 to rotate counterclockwise in Figure 11.
0060
Furthermore, a ratchet pawl 55 is pivotally supported on the stock 42 adjacent to the ratchet tooth 51b of the trigger 51, and a tension coil spring 57 is tensioned between a pin 56 integral with the stock 42 and the ratchet pawl 55 so that the ratchet pawl 55 engages with the ratchet tooth 51b in Figures 11 and 18.The ratchet tooth 51b and the ratchet pawl 55 together form a trigger detent mechanism 58.
0061
The medal striking mechanism 60 further comprises a striking piece 61 pivotally mounted on a support shaft 62 at the tip of the stock 42 so as to be able to tilt up and down so as to strike the centre of the medal 14 at the medal discharge port 50b; a tension coil spring 63 as an impact biasing member that biases the striking end 61a of the striking piece 61 against the centre of the medal 14 at the medal discharge port 50b; and a trigger actuation means 66 that, when the trigger 51 is pulled to a predetermined limit, retracts the striking end 61a of the striking piece 61 against the biasing force of the tension coil spring 63, and, when the trigger 51 is pulled beyond the predetermined limit, severs the connection between the striking piece 61 and the trigger 51, causing the striking end 61a of the striking piece 61 to strike the centre of the medal 14 at the medal discharge port 50b with the biasing force of the tension coil spring 63.
0062
A pair of front and rear receiving pieces 42b, 42c are provided on the stock 42, positioned forward of the striking piece 61. An adjustment screw 64 passes through these receiving pieces 42b, 42c, and an adjustment pin 65 is threaded into the adjustment screw 64. As shown in Figure 14, the tip 65a of the adjustment pin 65 is fitted into the guide groove 42d of the stock 42, and one end of a tension coil spring 63 is engaged with the base end 65b of the adjustment pin 65. The other end of the tension coil spring 63 is engaged with the pin 68 on the central protrusion 67a of the connecting member 67 of the trigger actuation means 66.
0063
The trigger actuation means 66 also comprises the connecting member 67, a tilting cam 69 pivotally attached to the stock 42 via a pin 70, a disengagement piece 71 pivotally attached to the tilting cam 69 so that it does not tilt more than a certain angle relative to the tilting cam 69, and a compression coil spring 72 that biases the tilting cam 69 and disengagement piece 71 in directions away from each other. The tip end 67b of the connecting member 67 is pivotally attached to the striking piece 61 via a pin 73, and the base end 67c of the connecting member 67 is pivotally attached to the tilting cam 69 via a pin 74.
0064
In addition, a soft, elastic elastic piece 75 is attached to the underside of the tip of the butt 43. When the trigger 51 is not pulled as shown in Figure 20, the spring force of the tension coil spring 63 urges the striking piece 61 counterclockwise around the support shaft 62, and the spring force of the pin 73 supports the striking piece 61 so that the striking end 61a of the striking piece 61 does not protrude above the hole 43b in the butt 43.
0065
In addition, a firing detection limit switch 76 is attached to the stock 42 adjacent to the ratchet teeth 51b of the trigger 51, and a medal passage sensor 77 is attached to the sensor mounting notch 43c of the bottom 43, the sensor mounting notch 44c of the medal guide 44, and the sensor mounting notch 45a of the lid 45.
0066
As shown in Figure 11, an improper medal discharge chute 78 is attached to the lower part of the forked portion 36a of the support 36.
0067
The embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20 is configured as described above, so even if an attempt is made to load a medal 14 into the loading opening 50a of the medal storage section 50 adjacent to the medal loading fittings 46, a medal 14 larger than a medal 14 of the specified appropriate size cannot be loaded into the loading opening 50a using the medal loading fittings 46 or the pair of medal guides 44 on the left and right.
0068
Furthermore, medals 14 with a diameter smaller than the specified proper dimensions will fall through the long hole 43a in the bottom 43 of the gun when passing through the medal storage section 50, and only medals 14 of the specified proper dimensions will reach the discharge outlet 50b of the medal storage section 50, with the leading edge medal 14 being retained in the V-shaped abutment recess 47a of the medal stopper 47, prohibiting play with illegal medals 14 and allowing play with normal medals 14.
0069
In addition, since the medal storage section 50 is tilted downward from the loading opening 50a to the discharge opening 50b, the medals 14 can be automatically moved from the loading opening 50a to the discharge opening 50b by gravity, further simplifying the structure of the medal rotation launching device.
0070
After storing a predetermined number of medals 14 in the medal storage section 50, when the trigger 51 begins to be pulled in the state shown in Figure 20, the trigger 51 tilts clockwise as shown in Figure 11, and the trigger drive protrusion 51a of the trigger 51 abuts the engagement piece 71. In response to the clockwise pulling of the trigger 51, the tilting cam 69 is tilted counterclockwise via the engagement piece 71. The connecting member 67 moves forward, overcoming the spring force of the tension coil spring 63, causing the striking piece 61 to tilt downward in the clockwise direction, and as shown in Figure 18, the striking end of the striking piece 6161ais far away from the hole 43b in the butt 43.
0071
Next, as shown in Figure 19, when the trigger 51 is pulled to its limit until the trigger drive projection 51a of the trigger 51 abuts against the stopper 79, the tip of the trigger drive projection 51a disengages from the tip of the engagement piece 71, and the spring force of the tension coil spring 63 pulls the connecting member 67 forward, tilting the striking piece 61 counterclockwise and bringing it into forceful contact with the elastic piece 75, causing the striking end 61a to strike strongly approximately the center of the medal 14 inside the medal stopper 47. At this time, the top surface 61b of the striking piece 61 hits the area around the hole 43b in the butt 43, but this is cushioned by the elastic piece 75, suppressing vibration and noise.
0072
Furthermore, the medal 14 is hit hard at approximately the center diagonally forward within the medal stopper 47, passes between the spacers 48, and the right end of the medal 14 hits the engagement portion 49a of the spin imparting portion 49, causing it to rotate around a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the barrel portion 41 as shown in Figure 19, fly along a parabola as shown by the arrow, and then fall onto the sector-shaped playfield 104 shown in Figures 32 and 33, allowing the medal 14 to rotate on the sector-shaped playfield 104.
0073
Furthermore, since a spacer 48 is interposed between the medal stopper 47 and the spin imparting portion 49, the right end of the medal 14 does not hit the upper surface of the gun bottom 43, and the medal 14 can reliably rotate in the air.
0074
When the trigger 51 is pulled to its limit as shown in Figure 19, and the force applied to pull the trigger 51 is then released, the spring force of the tension coil spring 54 causes the trigger 51 to tilt counterclockwise, and the arc-shaped end 51d of the trigger 51 hits the back of the ratchet pawl 55, causing the ratchet pawl 55 to tilt clockwise at a right angle. Therefore, even when the ratchet pawl 55 comes into contact with the ratchet teeth 51b, the counterclockwise tilt of the trigger 51 is not prevented, and as shown in Figure 20, the trigger 51 is engaged with the stopper 79, allowing the trigger 51 to return to the state it was in before it was first pulled.
0075
In addition, the medal storage section 50 is designed to store a predetermined number of medals 14, so that by loading medals 14 into the medal storage section 50 once, the predetermined number of medals 14 can be fired one after another by simply pulling the trigger 51 repeatedly.
0076
Furthermore, if the distance between the gun base 43 and the medal loading fitting 46 is set to the thickness of the medal 14 and the thickness of the medal guide 44 is made slightly greater than the thickness of the medal 14, the medal 14 can pass through the medal storage section 50 even if the gun base 43, medal guide 44, and lid 45 are formed with gently curved surfaces. By gently curving the gun base 43, medal guide 44, and lid 45 in this way, the ejection opening 50b can be made closer to vertical than the loading opening 50a, allowing the medal 14 to rotate more reliably.
0077
Furthermore, the barrel portion 41 is pivoted so that it can swing freely left and right around the lower end axis 37, allowing the medal 14 to be fired in the required direction.
0078
Furthermore, when the pulling force on the trigger 51 is eased, the ratchet pawl 55 engages with the ratchet teeth 51b of the trigger 51, allowing the trigger 51 to remain stationary in that position.When the pulling force on the trigger 51 is increased again, the trigger 51 is pulled from that position, allowing the trigger 51 to be pulled stably.
0079
In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20, the bottom 43 slopes downward from the loading opening 50a to the ejection opening 50b, the width of the bottom 43 is horizontal, and the engagement portion 49a of the spin imparting portion 49 is offset to the right. However, as shown in Figures 21 to 23, the width of the bottom 43 may be aligned approximately vertically, sloped downward from the loading opening 50a to the ejection opening 50b, and the engagement portion 49a of the spin imparting portion 49 may be offset to the tip of the bottom 43. In this embodiment, the medal 14 can be rotated more easily.
0080
In this embodiment, in order to ensure that the engagement portion 49a of the spin imparting portion 49 is always positioned in front of the medal ejection port 50b when the barrel portion 41 is tilted up and down around the pivot axis 36b, a ring-shaped recess 49b is formed in the spin imparting portion 49, and a flange portion 41a that can fit into this ring-shaped recess 49b is formed at the tip of the barrel portion 41, and the support 36 and the spin imparting portion 49 are connected by a parallel link 49c.
0081
Instead of the soft and elastic elastic piece 75, a leaf spring with a downward curved center may also be used.
0082
In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, the stock top piece 42a, the base 43, the medal guide 44 and the lid 45 are formed flat, but the medal guide 44 may be made slightly thicker than the medal 14, and the stock top piece 42a, the base 43, the medal guide 44 and the lid 45 may be curved downward so that the inclination angle of the tip gradually increases.
0083
Furthermore, we will describe other embodiments shown in Figures 25 to 29.
0084
In this embodiment, the same components as those in the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20 are designated by the same reference numerals.
0085
In the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20, the bottom 43 extended to the front lower end of the top piece 42a of the stock 42, but in the embodiment shown in Figures 25 to 29, the bottom 43 ends just before the front lower end of the top piece 42a of the stock 42, and a medal receiving plate 80, which is 0.6 mm thinner than the bottom 43, is attached to the top piece 42a of the stock 42 from here to the front lower end, and a hole 80a and a hole 42e are formed in the medal receiving plate 80 and the top piece 42a, into which the striking piece 61a of the striking piece 61 can be fitted.
0086
In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20, a firing detection limit switch 76 that detects completion of the trigger operation of the trigger 51 is attached adjacent to the ratchet teeth 51b of the trigger 51, and a medal passage sensor 77 that detects the passage of the medal 14 between the left and right pins 74 is attached to the sensor mounting notch 43c of the gun base 43, the sensor mounting notch 44c of the medal guide 44, and the sensor mounting notch 45a of the lid 45. However, in the embodiment shown in Figures 25 to 29, an optical sensor 81 is used, and the light-emitting element 81a and light-receiving element 81b of the optical sensor 81 are attached to the spin application portion 49, sandwiching the hole 49b in the spin application portion 49 between them, so that it is possible to detect the medal 14 that is struck by the engagement/release piece 71 and launched into the air.
0087
When the optical sensor 81 detects the firing of a medal 14, this detection signal causes a firing sound to be generated from a speaker (not shown).
0088
Furthermore, instead of the elastic piece 75, an adjustment member 82 is provided to adjust the amount of protrusion of the impact end 61a of the impact piece 61. As shown in Figures 28 and 29, the adjustment member 82 is formed so that its thickness changes in four stages of 0.1 mm each along its longitudinal direction. By changing the left-right position of this adjustment member 82, the amount of protrusion of the impact end 61a of the impact piece 61 can be adjusted in 0.1 mm increments.
0089
The outer periphery of the medal rotating and launching device 31 is sealed with a cover 83.
0090
The embodiment shown in Figures 25 to 29 is configured as described above, and therefore in addition to the effects achieved by the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20, the following effects are achieved.
0091
First, at the front lower end of the bottom surface of the medal storage section 50, a step of 0.6 mm is formed due to the difference in thickness between the stock 42 and the medal receiving plate 80, preventing medals 14 from getting stuck in the medal storage section 50. 10 to 20, in which there is no step on the bottom surface of the medal storage section 50, the medal 14 at the front lower end of the bottom surface of the medal storage section 50 may be lifted up by the impact end 61a of the impact piece 61, which is struck upward by the spring force of the tension coil spring 63, as shown in FIG. 30, and the subsequent medal 14 may become wedged in the gap between this lifted medal 14 and the upper surface of the regulating plate 13, which is the bottom surface of the medal storage section 50, causing the medal 14 to become stuck at the front lower end of the medal storage section 50. However, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 to 29, as mentioned above, there is a 0.6 mm step on the bottom surface, front lower end of the medal storage section 50, so that the subsequent medal 14 will not become wedged between the underside of the medal 14 at the front lower end of the medal storage section 50 and the upper surface of the regulating plate 13, as shown in FIG. 31.
0092
In addition, in the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 20, the firing sound of the medal rotation launching device 31 is generated by the launch detection limit switch 76, which detects the completion of the trigger operation of the trigger 51.Therefore, if the trigger is operated when there are no medals 14 loaded in the medal storage section 50, the firing sound of the medal rotation launching device 31 will be emitted even though no medals 14 will be fired.However, in the embodiment shown in Figures 25 to 29, unless a medal 14 is actually fired from the front lower end of the medal storage section 50, the optical sensor 81 will not operate and the firing sound of the medal rotation launching device 31 will not be emitted, resulting in a more realistic spin launch play.
0093
Furthermore, the launch detection limit switch 76 and medal passage sensor 77 have been replaced with an optical sensor 81, reducing the number of parts and enabling costs to be reduced.
0094
Furthermore, an adjustment member 82 is provided instead of the elastic piece 75, so the amount of protrusion of the striking end 61a of the striking piece 61 can be adjusted appropriately and easily.
0095
Furthermore, because the elastic piece 75 is an elastic body, when the medal striking mechanism 60 is operated repeatedly, the thickness of the elastic piece 75 gradually becomes thinner, changing the amount of protrusion of the striking end 61a of the striking piece 61, making maintenance, inspection, and servicing more complicated. However, in this embodiment, because the adjustment member 82 is made of metal, there is no change in the thickness of the adjustment member 82, reducing the frequency of maintenance, inspection, and servicing and simplifying these tasks.
0096
We will now explain the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43, which applies the medal launching device 1 and medal rotation launching device 31 shown in Figures 1 to 6 and Figures 11 to 20.
0097
The upper half of the medal game machine 0 is sealed with a transparent cover 101, and the lower part of the cover 101 has windows 102 as shown in Figure 34 formed in four locations (front, back, left and right), two locations on each side, and two locations on the left and right, for a total of eight locations around the entire circumference.
0098
As shown in Figure 34, the medal rotation and launching device 31 described below is located inside each window 102 and pivoted freely to the left and right on the peripheral plate 103.
0099
Four fan-shaped play fields 104 are arranged inside the peripheral plate 103, positioned front to back, left to right, and right to left. As shown in Figure 39, each fan-shaped play field 104 consists of a reinforcing plate 105 cut and bent to a predetermined shape, and a plastic playing surface member 106 formed to the required shape and in contact with the upper side of the reinforcing plate 105. A medal receiving notch 107 is formed on the outer peripheral edge 104a of each fan-shaped play field 104 to smoothly receive medals 14.
0100
The playing surface 104c of the sector-shaped playfield 104 is formed so that its central portion 104d rises most upward and curves gently downward from the central portion 104d toward the left and right ends 104e, 104f and the inner and outer peripheral edges 104a, 104b.
0101
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 36, a support bracket 109 is integrally installed on the base 8 inside the peripheral plate 103, near the center position of the medal game machine 0, and a horizontal shaft 110 passes through the support bracket 109 and the hanging wall 105a of the reinforcing plate 105 of the fan-shaped playfield 104, and both ends of the horizontal shaft 110 are fixed integrally to the support bracket 109 by fixing means 111 shown in Figure 39, and the fan-shaped playfield 104 is pivoted so that it can freely rise and fall up and down around the horizontal shaft 110.
0102
Furthermore, a support pillar 112 is erected on the base 8 near the peripheral plate 103, and a cushioning rubber 113 is fitted to the upper end of the support pillar 112.When the playfield raising motor 114 (described below) is set to an inoperative state, the support pillar 112 and cushioning rubber 113 support the sectorial playfield 104 approximately horizontally.
0103
A playfield raising motor 114 is installed on the base 8, and a gear 115 is integrally fitted to the rotating shaft 114a of the playfield raising motor 114, as shown in FIG. 39. A raising shaft support bracket 116 (shown in FIG. 39 but not in FIGS. 36 and 37) is integrally attached to the base 8. A raising shaft 117 is rotatably supported on the raising shaft support bracket 116. A gear 118 is integrally fitted to one end of the raising shaft 117, and the gear 118 is meshed with the gear 115. An arm 119 is integrally fitted to the center of the raising shaft 117, and a roller 120 is rotatably attached to the tip of the arm 119. When the raising shaft 117 rotates once due to the playfield raising motor 114, the raising shaft support bracket 116 The arm 119 rotates once more, and the roller 120 at the tip of the arm 119 comes into contact with the underside of the reinforcing plate 105 of the sectorial playfield 104, causing the sectorial playfield 104 to make one reciprocating up-and-down movement around the horizontal shaft 110.
0104
A cam 121 is integrally fitted onto the elevation shaft 117, and a microswitch 122 is attached to the base 8 adjacent to the cam 121, so that the inclination angle of the arm 119 is detected when the arm 119 rotates once and moves away from the underside of the reinforcing plate 105.
0105
Furthermore, as shown in Figures 32, 33 and 35, a ring-shaped medal discharge groove 123 is formed adjacent to the inner peripheral edge 104b of the sector-shaped playfield 104.
0106
Furthermore, a trapezoidal chain guide 124 is arranged above the medal discharge groove 123 for each sector-shaped playfield 104, and four sprockets 125 are arranged at the back of the trapezoidal chain guide 124, one at each of the four corners of the trapezoidal chain guide 124. An endless chain 126 is stretched across the sprockets 125, and one of the four sprockets 125 is connected to a motor (not shown), which drives the endless chain 126 in one direction, for example, clockwise.
0107
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 34, five hinges 127 are arranged at equal intervals around the entire circumference of the endless chain 126, and one piece 127a of each hinge 127 is integrally connected to the endless chain 126, while the top end of the hanging rod 128a of the medal tray 128, which is shaped like a lift seat, is integrally connected to the other piece 127b of each hinge 127.
0108
One side edge of the tray body 128b is integrally connected to the lower end of the hanging rod 128a of the medal tray 128, and a rising piece 128c is formed on the other side edge of the tray body 128b, and inclined pieces 128d are formed on both the left and right end edges.
0109
Furthermore, a funnel-shaped chuck 129 is disposed directly below the inner central portion 124a of the trapezoidal chain guide 124, and within the lower portion of the chuck 12914 medalsA medal detector for detecting the passage of medals is disposed, and an engaging projection 130 is provided on the top of the chucker 129. As shown in FIG. 34, as the endless chain 126 is transported, the inclined piece 128d of the medal receiving tray 128 engages with the engaging projection 130, causing the medal receiving tray 128 to tilt, and the medals on the tray body 128b14 medalscan fall into chucker 129.
0110
In addition, a slot machine 131 is arranged approximately in the center of the front of each ladder-shaped chain guide 124, and when the medal detector in the chute 129 operates, the slot machine 131 is activated.
0111
A doll 132 is placed in the center of the medal game machine 0, and while the medal game machine 0 is operating, the doll 132 slowly rotates around a vertical line.When a jackpot is hit on the slot machine 131, the lamp 133 on the doll 132 flashes and a siren 134 sounds, while the doll 132 rapidly rotates toward the sector-shaped playfield 104 where the jackpot was hit, and faces directly on this sector-shaped playfield 104.
0112
Furthermore, a small amount of medals 14 are disposed between the left and right sector-shaped playfields 104, and when the small amount of medals 14 are operated, a small amount of medals 14 are fired toward the notch 107.
0113
Furthermore, a medal launching device 1 is built into the doll 132.
0114
In this way, the medal rotation launching device 3114 medalsis launched onto the sector-shaped playfield 104,14 medalsWhen the player stands upright and turns around a vertical line, the central part 104d of the fan-shaped play field 104 is the highest part of the playing surface 104c.14 medalsWhen the ball moves from the outer peripheral edge 104a to the inner peripheral edge 104b, it curves in the direction approaching both the left and right ends 104e, 104f.14 medalsThe friction at the approaching point causes it to sway slightly from side to side.
0115
Then, at the perfect timing, the medal tray 128 approached the inner peripheral edge 104b of the sector-shaped playfield 104, and the medal was dropped onto the tray body 128b.14 medalsWhen the medal can be transferred, it is carried onto the chuck 129 along with the endless chain 126 being sent back, and the inclined piece 128d of the medal tray 128 engages with the engaging protrusion 130, causing the medal tray 128 to tilt, and the medal on the tray body 128b14 medalscan enter the chucker 129, and the slot machine 131 is put into operation.
0116
When the slot machine 131 hits a small jackpot, a few medals are dispensed from the small-quantity medal dispenser 135.14 medalswas fired towards notch 107,14 medalsThe ball approaches the notch 107 while rotating on the fan-shaped play field 104, enters the notch 107 and is dispensed.
0117
Also, when the slot machine 131 hits a jackpot, the medal 14 in the hopper 17 is sent into the medal guide 16, rises within the medal guide 16, and is supplied between the left and right entrance side guide plates 11 from its upper end 16a. The medal 14 is then clamped between the left and right clamping rollers 10, which are driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in Figure 55. The frictional force exerted by the outer surfaces 10b of the left and right clamping rollers 10 acting on both outer surfaces of the medal 14 causes it to be forced in the direction of the arrow in Figure 55, passing between the left and right exit side guide plates 12 and being launched toward the notch 107 in the playing surface member 106.
0118
However, the transfer from the fan-shaped playfield 104 to the medal tray 128 failed.14 medalsThe medals fall into the medal discharge groove 123, and the slot machine 131 does not operate.
0119
Furthermore, even if a medal 14 is placed on the tray body 128b of the medal tray 128, if part of the medal 14 is resting on the rising piece 128c or the inclined piece 128d, causing an unstable position, when the tray body 128b tilts, the medal 14 may not fall into the chute 129, and the play may not be successful.
0120
In the embodiment of the medal rotation launching device 31 shown in Figures 32 to 43, the medal 14 is rotated around a vertical line while held upright, but a medal rotation launching device 90 as shown in Figure 44 may be used instead of the medal rotation launching device 31.
0121
The medal rotary launching device 90 shown in Figure 44 has a medal storage section 91 with its width direction facing a vertical plane and its length direction sloping downward, the thickness of the medal storage section 91 being approximately the same as the thickness of the medal 14 and the width of the medal storage section 91 being approximately the same as the diameter of the medal 14, the thickness and length of the medal insertion opening 91a of the medal storage section 91 being formed in the same manner as described above, the upper part of the medal discharge opening 91b of the medal storage section 91 being cut out at an angle and a groove 91c being formed at the bottom of the medal discharge opening 91b.
0122
A stopper 92 is loosely fitted into the groove 91c of the medal storage section 91, and the upper end of the stopper 92 is pivoted by an axis 93 so that it can tilt freely up and down. The movable piece 94a of the solenoid 94 is pivotally attached to the lower end of the stopper 92, and the fixed part 94b of the solenoid 94 is pivotally attached to the peripheral plate 103. The upper part of the stopper 92 is formed with locking claws 92a and 92b that lock the medal 14. When a trigger (not shown) is pulled, the stopper 92 tilts downward from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the two-dot chain line within a short period of time, and then can be restored to the position shown by the solid line.
0123
Furthermore, a medal rotation roller 95 made of soft rubber is arranged above the medal discharge opening 91b of the medal storage section 91. When the stopper 92 is tilted upward by the solenoid 94, the medal rotation roller 95 comes into contact with the medal 14, and the medal rotation roller 95 is rotated counterclockwise by a motor that rotates in response to the operation of a trigger (not shown), allowing the medal 14 in the medal discharge opening 91b of the medal storage section 91 to rotate across the fan-shaped playfield 104.
0124
Furthermore, the sector-shaped playfield 104 is made of a relatively soft plate such as rubber, as shown in Figure 45, and multiple air cylinders 96 are arranged upright below the sector-shaped playfield 104.The degree of expansion and contraction of the numerous air cylinders 96 can be appropriately changed by a computer (not shown), allowing the curvature of the sector-shaped playfield 104 to be freely changed.
0125
In this embodiment, when the sector-shaped playfield 104 is flat, the medal 14 can move straight on the sector-shaped playfield 104 and its direction of movement is easy to predict. However, when the sector-shaped playfield 104 is irregularly curved, like a golf pad, the path of the medal 14 becomes difficult to predict, and a certain degree of skill is required to play.
0126
By widening the gap between the locking claws 92a and 92b of the stopper 92, even if the operating cycle of the solenoid 94 is extended, the medal 14 next to the medal 14 fired by the locking claw 92a at the tip can be reliably locked in the medal discharge port 91b.
0127
In addition, in the above embodiment, medals 14 that have fallen onto the sector-shaped playfield 104 are removed from above the sector-shaped playfield 104 by tilting the sector-shaped playfield 104, but medals 14 on the sector-shaped playfield 104 may also be removed using a wiper device such as those attached to automobile windows.
0128
Finally, we will explain the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 46 to 60, which is different from the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43. The medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 46 to 60 uses the medal launching device 1 shown in Figures 7 to 10 and the medal rotation launching device 31 shown in Figures 25 to 29.
0129
In addition, in the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43, the playing surface 104c of the sector-shaped playfield 104 and both left and right ends 4e, 4f are adjacent at approximately right angles, as shown in Figure 40, whereas in the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 46 to 60, the playing surface 104c of the sector-shaped playfield 104 and both left and right ends 104e, 104f are formed as curved surfaces 104g, 104h with a radius of curvature larger than the radius of the medal 14, as shown in Figure 56.
0130
Furthermore, as shown in Figure 55, mounting brackets 136 are integrally fixed to both sides of both side portions 106a of the playing surface member 106, both end portions 137a of a reinforcing plate 137 are integrally attached to the mounting brackets 136 by the reinforcing plate 137, and the tip of a rocking member 139 is integrally attached to the central portion 137b of the reinforcing plate 137.
0131
Furthermore, in the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43, the medal tray 128 was a metal product made by pressing sheet metal, but in the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 46 to 60, the medal tray 128 is a molded product made of ABS resin or other synthetic resin that is relatively self-lubricating, and is attached to the endless chain 126 via a steel hinge 127 and mounting bracket 136, so that the medal tray 128 can rotate relative to the endless chain 126 around the axis 127c of the hinge 127 and the connecting bolt 138 between the hanging rod 128a of the medal tray 128.
0132
Furthermore, the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43 does not show the specific structure of the prize medal payout mechanism or the unsuccessful medal recovery mechanism. However, for the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 46 to 60, these will be explained in detail as follows.
0133
A prize medal payout mechanism 141 is disposed on the peripheral plate 103 and the base 108. The planar shape of the prize medal payout chute 142 of the prize medal payout mechanism 141 is such that, as shown in Figures 49 and 50, the outer peripheral portion 142a of the prize medal payout chute 142 is curved in an arc shape so as to fit along the outer peripheral wall 140 of the medal game machine 0, and the inner portion 142b of the prize medal payout chute 142 is formed so as to be straight. When viewed from the outside, the shape of the prize medal payout chute 142 is such that, as shown in Figure 51, the bottom portion 142c is formed in a funnel shape sloping downward from both ends toward the center. The cross-sectional shape of the prize medal payout chute 142 is formed so that it is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, as shown in Figure 48. The outer peripheral edge 104 of the fan-shaped playfield 104 a is loosely fitted into the prize medal payout chute 142. A medal payout opening 143 is connected to the lower end of the prize medal payout chute 142, as shown in Figure 51, and this medal payout opening 143 is attached to the outer peripheral wall 140.
0134
Furthermore, as partially shown in FIG. 51, inside the inner edge portion 104b of the fan-shaped playfield 104, unsuccessful medal collection chutes 145 (corresponding to the medal discharge grooves 123 in FIGS. 32 to 43) of the unsuccessful medal collection mechanisms 144 are disposed adjacent to each other. As partially shown in FIG. 51, the bottom surface 145a of the unsuccessful medal collection chutes 145 is inclined downward toward the hopper 147 of the small quantity medal supply device 146 immediately below the adjacent fan-shaped playfields 104. When a medal 14 on the playing surface 104c of a fan-shaped playfield 104 fails to transfer to the medal tray 128 and falls into the unsuccessful medal collection chute 145, or when a medal 14 that has fallen on the playing surface 104c of a fan-shaped playfield 104 is dropped into the unsuccessful medal collection chute 145 due to the upward tilt of the fan-shaped playfield 104, When the medal 14 falls into the unsuccessful medal recovery chute 145, the medal 14 is guided along the bottom surface 147a of the unsuccessful medal recovery chute 145 into the hopper 147. The upper end of the small amount medal supply device 146 is connected to the small amount medal launching device 135.
0135
Furthermore, medals 14 that overflow from one pair of hoppers 147 are guided to the hopper 150 of the mass medal supply device 149 via the surplus medal chute 148, as shown in Figures 50 and 53, and medals 14 that overflow from the other pair of hoppers 147 and the hopper 150 of the mass medal supply device 149 are guided to the collection container 152 via the surplus medal chute 151, as shown in Figures 52 and 53.
0136
Furthermore, a medal drop guide plate 153 is arranged at the rear side of the unsuccessful medal collection chute 145, and medals 14 that pass over the unsuccessful medal collection chute 145 from the fan-shaped playfield 104 are guided to the unsuccessful medal collection chute 145 by the medal drop guide plate 153.
0137
The medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 46 to 60 is configured as described above, so in addition to the effects achieved by the medal game machine 0 shown in Figures 32 to 43, the following effects can be expected.
0138
In the medal game machine 0 of Figures 46 to 60, curved surfaces 104g and 104h with a curvature larger than the radius of the medal 14 are formed between the playing surface 104c of the fan-shaped playfield 104 and the left and right end portions 104e and 104f. Therefore, even if the medal 14 rotating on the playing surface 104c of the fan-shaped playfield 104 approaches the left end portions 104e and 104f, the large curved surfaces 104g and 104h return the rotating medal 14 to the playing surface 104c, where it continues to rotate and is reliably guided to the inner edge 104b of the fan-shaped playfield 104, reducing the likelihood of it falling over on the playing surface 104c of the fan-shaped playfield 104.
0139
In addition, the medal tray 128 is made of a synthetic resin product with excellent self-lubricating properties, so there is little friction when the medal tray 128 changes direction in response to the movement of the endless chain 126.
0140
Furthermore, when the inclined piece 128d of the medal receiving tray 128 engages with the engaging protrusion 130, the medal receiving tray 128 tilts smoothly, and then the inclined piece 128d smoothly disengages from the engaging protrusion 130.
0141
Furthermore, the medal tray 128 is attached to the endless chain 126 so that it can rotate around the axis 127c of the hinge 127, which faces the direction of travel of the endless chain 126, and the reinforcing plate 137, which faces forward and backward perpendicular to the direction of travel of the endless chain 126. However, it cannot rotate around a vertical line, so that the raised piece 128c of the medal tray 128 can stably face the inner edge 104b of the fan-shaped playfield 104, and the rotating medal 14 on the fan-shaped playfield 104 can be smoothly transferred to the medal tray 128.
0142
Furthermore, even when the sectorial playfield 104 is lifted upward as shown in Figure 48, the lower end of the outer peripheral edge 104b of the sectorial playfield 104 is positioned below the medal stopper 47 and spin imparting portion 49 of the medal rotation launching device 31, so even if a player accidentally launches the medal rotation launching device 31, the medal 14 is prevented from penetrating onto the base 108.
0143
In addition, medals 14 that fail to transfer from the playing surface 104c of the fan-shaped playfield 104 to the medal tray 128 or from the medal tray 128 to the chute 129 fall into the unsuccessful medal recovery chute 145. However, these medals 14 are sent from the hopper 147 to the small quantity medal discharge device 135 via the small quantity medal supply device 146, so that if the operation of the chute 129 results in a small quantity of medals being dispensed, the medals 14 will always be dispensed.
0144
Furthermore, any remaining medals 14 in the pair of hoppers 147 are sent via the surplus medal chute 148 to the hopper 150 of the mass medal supply device 149, and when the doll 132 returns to the home position, a large amount of medals 14 are replenished from the hopper 150 by the mass medal supply device 149 to the hopper 17 of the medal launcher 1. Therefore, even if a large amount of medals is paid out as a result of the operation of the chucker 129, a predetermined number of medals 14 will fly into the air from the medal supply device 15 by the medal launcher 1, and will be launched towards the notch 107 in the fan-shaped playfield 104, where they will be collected in the prize medal payout chute 142 of the prize medal payout mechanism 141 and paid out from the medal payout opening 143.
0145
Any medals 14 exceeding the number of medals 14 dispensed from the small quantity medal launcher 135 and medal launcher 1 are automatically collected in the collection container 152, and the owner of the medal game machine 0 can remove these medals 14.
[Brief description of the drawing]
[Figure 1]
This is a left side view illustrating one embodiment of the medal launching device of the present application invention.
[Figure 2]
Plan view of Figure 1.
[Figure 3]
Front view of Figure 1.
[Figure 4]
An oblique view of the medal supply device used in the embodiment of Figure 1.
[Figure 5]
An explanatory diagram showing the state of detecting the number of medals fired in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4.
[Figure 6]
An explanatory diagram of another embodiment different from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4.
[Figure 7]
This is a left side view of another embodiment that is different from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6.
[Figure 8]
Plan view of Figure 7.
[Figure 9]
Front view of Figure 7.
[Figure 10]
An explanatory diagram showing the state of detecting the number of medals fired in the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to 9.
[Figure 11]
A side view illustrating one embodiment of the medal spinning and launching device 1 according to the present invention.
[Figure 12]
This is a view taken from the arrow II in Figure 1.
[Figure 13]
This is an exploded oblique view of the barrel portion 11 of the medal spinning launching device 1 of Figure 1.
[Figure 14]
This is an exploded oblique view of the medal impact mechanism shown in Figure 1.
[Figure 15]
A side view of the support pillar that supports the barrel.
[Figure 16]
This is a view taken from the arrow VI in Figure 5.
[Figure 17]
A plan view of the base that pivots the support column so that it can swing freely.
[Figure 18]
A side view of the medal spinning launching device 1 with the trigger pulled nearly to its limit.
[Figure 19]
A side view of the medal spinning launching device 1 with the trigger fully pulled.
[Figure 20]
A side view of the medal spinning launching device 1 in the state where the trigger is fully pulled and then released from the trigger.
[Figure 21]
An oblique view of another embodiment of the medal spinning launching device 1.
[Figure 22]
This is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in Figure 11.
[Figure 23]
This is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII in Figure 11.
[Figure 24]
This is a schematic side view of another embodiment different from the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 15.
[Figure 25]
A side view of another embodiment different from the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 24.
[Figure 26]
View from the X arrow in Figure 25.
[Figure 27]
This is an exploded oblique view of the main parts of Figure 25.
[Figure 28]
Side view of adjustment member 28.
[Figure 29]
Bottom view of Figure 28.
[Figure 30]
An explanatory diagram showing the state of medals 14 jamming in the embodiment shown in Figures 11 to 23.
[Figure 31]
This is an explanatory diagram showing the storage state of medals 14 in the medal storage section 50 in the embodiment shown in Figures 25 to 29, and shows that in this case, medals 14 do not get stuck.
[Figure 32]
An oblique view of one embodiment of a medal game machine according to the present application invention.
[Figure 33]
figure321 is a perspective view of a slot machine when a jackpot is hit.
[Figure 34]
figure32FIG.
[Figure 35]
figure32FIG.
[Figure 36]
A side view of the sectorial playfield supported horizontally.
[Figure 37]
A side view of the sectorial playfield when not tilted.
[Figure 38]
Plan of a sector-shaped playing field.
[Figure 39]
Back view of the sectorial playfield.
[Figure 40]
A front view of the fan-shaped playfield from the outer perimeter.
[Figure 41]
Front view of the chucker.
[Figure 42]
Side view of the chucker.
[Figure 43]
Plan view of the chucker.
[Figure 44]
A longitudinal side view of another embodiment of a medal spinning launching device.
[Figure 45]
Floor plan of the playing field.
[Figure 46]
This is an oblique view of another embodiment of a medal game machine that is different from the medal game machine shown in Figures 32 to 43.
[Figure 47]
Figure 46 shows an oblique view of a slot machine when a jackpot is hit.
[Figure 48]
An enlarged longitudinal side view of the main part of Figure 46.
[Figure 49]
An enlarged plan view of the main parts of Figure 46.
[Figure 50]
A partially cutaway plan view showing an outline of the prize medal payout mechanism and unsuccessful medal collection mechanism of a medal game machine.
[Figure 51]
A partially cut-out front view of Figure 50.
[Figure 52]
View from the U arrow in Figure 50.
[Figure 53]
View from the V arrow in Figure 50.
[Figure 54]
A partial side view of the playfield with the sectorial playfield supported horizontally.
[Figure 55]
A partial plan view of the sector-shaped playfield.
[Figure 56]
Front view from inside the sector-shaped playfield.
[Figure 57]
Front view of the medal tray attached to the endless chain.
[Figure 58]
Right side view of Figure 57.
[Figure 59]
This is a cross-sectional view taken along line Y-Y in Figure 57.
[Figure 60]
This is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line Z-Z in Figure 58.
[Symbol explanation]
0... Medal game machine, 1... Medal launching device, 2... Horizontal base plate, 3... Roller pivot plate, 4... Pivot screw, 5... Guide screw, 6... Spring mounting pin, 7... Tension coil spring, 8... Roller drive motor, 9... Gear head, 10... Clamping roller, 11... Entrance side guide plate, 12... Exit side guide plate, 13... Restriction plate, 14... Medal, 15... Medal supply device, 16... Medal guide, 17... Hopper, 18... Medal supply motor, 19... Drive gear, 20... Driven gear, 21... Idler gear, 22... Circlip, 23... Oscillating lever, 24... Pin, 25... Medal contact cylindrical piece, 26... Optical sensor, 27... Rotating shaft, 28... Optical sensor
31... Medal rotation launching device, 32... Base, 33... Center hole, 34... Guide groove, 35... Mounting hole, 36... Support, 37... Lower end shaft, 38... Nut, 39... Guide pin, 41... Barrel, 42... Stock, 43... Bottom, 44... Medal guide, 45... Cover, 46... Medal loading fitting, 47... Medal stopper, 48... Spacer, 49... Spin application section, 50... Medal storage section, 51... Trigger, 52, 53... Pin, 54... Tension coil spring, 55... Ratchet pawl, 56... Pin, 57... Tension coil spring, 58... Trigger detent mechanism,
60... Medal striking mechanism, 61... Striking piece, 62... Support shaft, 63... Tension coil spring, 64... Adjusting screw, 65... Adjusting pin, 66... Trigger actuation means, 67... Connecting member, 68... Pin, 69... Tilt cam, 70... Pin, 71... Engagement/disengagement piece, 72... Compression coil spring, 73, 74... Pin, 75... Elastic piece, 76... Launch detection limit switch, 77... Medal passage sensor, 78... Incorrect medal ejection sheet,
80... Medal receiving plate, 81... Optical sensor, 82... Adjustment member,
90...Medal rotation launching device, 91...Medal storage section, 92...Stopper, 93...Axis, 94...Solenoid, 95...Medal rotation roller, 96...Air cylinder,
101 ...cover, 102 ...window, 103 ...periphery plate, 104 ...fan-shaped playfield, 105 ...reinforcement plate, 106 ...playing surface member, 107 ...notch, 108 ...base, 109 ...support bracket, 110 ...horizontal shaft, 111 ...fixing means, 112 ...support column, 113 ...buffer rubber, 114 ...playfield raising motor, 115 ...gear, 116 ...raising shaft support bracket, 117 ...raising shaft, 118 ...gear, 119 ...arm, 120 ...roller, 121 ...cam, 122 ...microswitch, 123 ...medal discharge groove, 124 ...ladder-shaped chain guide, 125 ...sprocket, 126 ...endless chain, 127 ...hinge, 128 ...medal tray, 129 ...chucker, 130 ...engaging protrusion, 131 ...slot machine, 132 ...figure, 133 ...lamp, 134 ...Siren, 135 ...Small quantity medal launcher, 136 ...Mounting bracket, 137 ...Reinforcing plate, 138 ...Connecting bolt, 139 ...Swinging member, 140 ...Outer wall, 141 ...Prize medal payout mechanism, 142 ...Prize medal payout chute, 143 ...Medal payout port, 144 ...Unsuccessful medal recovery mechanism, 145 ...Unsuccessful medal recovery chute, 146 ...Small quantity medal supply device, 147 ...Hopper, 148 ...Surplus medal chute, 149 ...Large quantity medal supply device, 150 ...Hopper, 151 ...Surplus medal chute, 152 ...Recovery container, 153 ...Medal fall guide plate.