JPS63302872A - Play ball projection apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] λ Bean Ritan [Industrial Application Field] The present invention drives a firing motor by operating a game ball firing handle, and hits a game ball into a pachinko machine along a ball hitting path. Regarding the game ball launching device.

[Prior art] Generally, a player uses a game ball launcher (hereinafter referred to as a launcher)
When operated, game balls are launched into the pachinko machine as shown below.

Game ball firing handle of the firing device (hereinafter referred to as the handle)
An interlocking member having a member that generates a displacement in conjunction with the player's operation is installed, and when displacement occurs in the interlocking member, current is applied to the firing motor, and the firing motor starts rotating at a constant speed. Each rotation of the firing motor drives a game ball hitting device (hereinafter referred to as the hitting device) using a punch, etc., and the game ball is hit into the pachinko machine along the ball hitting path.

The launch strength of the game ball by the launch device increases as the amount of displacement of the interlocking member increases.

Therefore, if the amount of displacement of the interlocking member is constant, the game balls are launched at regular intervals and with a constant launch strength.

To change the launch interval of game balls, either set the displacement amount of the interlocking member to -HO, stop the firing motor, and then repeat the operation to return the displacement amount to the original value, or leave the displacement port as it is and move it separately from the interlocking member. This is accomplished by repeatedly turning ON and OFF the motor switch of the firing motor provided on the handle. Further, the ejection strength can be changed by changing the displacement opening of the interlocking member.

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention 1] According to the conventional launching device as described above, the player senses the launch strength of the game ball by the amount of displacement of the interlocking member that occurs when the player operates the handle; The launch interval of game balls is sensed by visually observing the movement of the game balls that are actually launched. However, because players are constantly watching to see whether or not the game ball hit into the playing area of a pachinko machine will win a prize, they need to know the displacement of interlocking members to know the launch strength and launch interval, and when entering the gaming area. He was unable to visually confirm the game ball he was playing, so he relied on the person in question. Particularly with a pachinko machine where players are trying to play a game for the first time, since the relationship between the launch strength of the launch device and the amount of displacement of the interlocking member of the handle is not known, the player can play the game ball with the launch strength desired by the player from the beginning of the game. It was difficult to launch.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a launching device that allows a player to sense the launch strength and launch interval of a game ball.

1-Dish Sensation [Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the means constituted by the present invention are as follows: A game ball is launched by operating a game ball launch handle and driving a launch motor. , a game ball launcher for driving a game ball into a pachinko machine along a ball hitting path leading inside the pachinko machine; Launched ball situation sound control means M2 that outputs a control signal according to the detection result from the launched ball launch intensity detection means M1; and situation sound generation that generates a sound according to the control result from the launched ball situation sound control means M2. The gist of the present invention is a game ball launching device characterized by comprising means M3.

[Function] The firing device of the present invention having the above configuration has the following functions.

The ball launch strength detecting means M1 detects conditions such as the interval at which the game ball passes through the batting path and is launched into the pachinko machine, and the launch strength when the game ball is launched. This launch strength may be the launch strength of a launch device such as a punch that actually launches the game ball, or the speed at which the launched game ball passes through the batting path may be substituted as the launch strength.

The launched ball situation sound control means M2 outputs a sound signal having a generation interval and characteristics corresponding to the launched interval and the launched strength of the game ball, based on the detection result from the launched ball launch strength detection means M1.

The situational sound generation means M3 receives the output from the launched ball situational sound control means M2 and generates a sound according to the output.

[Example] Hereinafter, a pachinko machine using a firing device of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

Figure 2 shows the first embodiment, in which the known lower game ball holder on the front of the pachinko machine excludes a tray, a lower game ball holder [1 (hereinafter, the upper holder is referred to as a plate and the lower holder is referred to as a plate), a handle, etc. 1 is a front view of main parts of a pachinko machine 1. FIG.

A ball hitting path 4 leading to the game ball area 2 of the pachinko machine draws a gentle curve and is arranged diagonally from the exit part to the game area 2 at the upper part of the pachinko machine to the game ball hitting position at the lower part. Below the ball hitting path 4, a game ball guide frame 6 is attached to an upper receiver (not shown) into which a game ball P is fed from a tray and sets the game ball P at a predetermined launch position.

Three proximity switches are attached to the ball hitting path 4 at positions described below for detecting passage of the game ball P using changes in magnetic flux. A first proximity switch 8a is attached to the ball hitting path 4 near where the game ball guide frame 6 is attached. The lower part of the ball hitting path 4 above the first proximity switch 8a is a tray 25 (the third
A missed ball return port 10 for returning missed balls (as shown in the figure) is provided, and a second proximity switch 8b is attached to the hit ball path 4 above the missed ball return port 10. Furthermore, a third proximity switch 8G is attached to the exit of the ball hitting path 4 to the play area 2.

A key-shaped launch post 12 is installed at a launch position that is always below the ball hitting path 4, and this key-shaped portion is located at the launch point of the game ball P. This ejection column 12 is rotatable about the rotation shaft 12a located between the spring 14 and the eccentric cam 16 by the spring 14 and the ejection timing eccentric cam 16 attached to the rotation shaft 15a of the firing motor 15. It is installed.

One end of the spring 14 is fixed to the punching post 12 as shown, and the other end is fixed to a variable spring length stick 17 that changes the length of the spring 14.

The swinging stick 18 is attached to be swingable about a central swinging shaft 18a, and the upper end of the swinging stick 18 is axially mounted on the variable spring length stick 17. On the other hand, the lower end of the swing stick 1B is connected to a handle wire 2 that transmits the amount of displacement of the interlocking member generated by operating the handle 19.
It is fixed at 0. The other end of the handle wire 20 is connected to a drum 2 that winds the handle wire 20 according to the amount of displacement of the interlocking member of the handle 19 operated by the player.
It is fixed at 2. Note that a motor switch 19a is attached to the handle 19 to turn the firing motor 15 ON-OFF. Further, a warning indicator light 23 is installed at the center of the upper front of the pachinko rescue machine.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the main parts of the pachinko machine 1.

A speaker 24 is installed on the right center part of the back of the pachinko machine, but this speaker 24 may be an existing speaker used when a game ball wins. A microswitch 26 is installed on the back side of the tray 25 at the front of the pachinko machine, and the microswitch 26 is turned ON before the game balls stored in the tray 25 reach a predetermined opening where they cannot be launched. It is installed in the position where it operates. Note that 28 in the center of the back of the pachinko machine is an electronic control circuit that will be described later.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the electronic control circuit 28 and peripheral equipment. .

As shown in the figure, the electronic control circuit 28 is mainly composed of a well-known microcomputer, including a CPU 28a that executes logical operations, a ROM 28b that stores programs to be described later, and a RAM 2 that temporarily stores information.
8c, an input port 28d and an output port 28e serving as an information transfer port, and these CPU 28a, ROM
28b.

RAM28c, input port 28d and output port 28
e are connected to each other by a bus 28f. An external constant voltage source 31 is connected to this input port 28d via the three proximity switches Ba, Bb and 9c mentioned above, the microswitch 26 and the switch 30. - The output port 28e is equipped with a digital-to-analog converter (hereinafter referred to as D) that converts digital signals into analog signals.
/A converter >28Q, analog voltage fl-~
Voltage/frequency conversion vs. converting to fH range frequency
(hereinafter referred to as a V/F converter) 28h and an amplifier circuit 28i for amplifying an input signal are connected as shown. A speaker 24 is connected to this amplifier circuit 281. A warning indicator light 23 is also connected to this output port 28e.

A program executed by the electronic control circuit 28 having the above configuration will be explained based on the flowchart of FIG.

When a constant voltage is supplied from the external constant voltage source 31, the CPU
28a starts operating. First, initial processing of this program such as clearing the storage area of the RAM 28C is started (step 100). After executing this step 100, the first step. A self-check signal is output to the second and third proximity switches Ba, Bb and 8C, and the operation of each of the three proximity switches is checked based on the response state thereof (step 110). If an abnormality is detected in any of the proximity switches in this step, a series of warning light display processes are performed to display this to the pachinko parlor staff (step 1).
20 to step 130). In step 120, the warning indicator lamp 23 is turned on, and in the next step 130, the warning indicator lamp 23 is kept turned on until the clerk replaces the proximity switch and inputs a reset signal. On the other hand, when a reset signal indicating that the appropriate treatment has been completed is input, the process returns to step 110. Next, the lower amount determines the storage state of game balls in the tray 25 using the microswitch 26 (step 140), and performs a series of warning generation processes to issue a warning to the player if the microswitch 26 is in the ON state (step 150). Step 160).

The lower amount of game balls is stored in the tray 25, and when the amount reaches the predetermined amount, the supply of game balls to the launching position of the game ball guide frame 6 explained in FIG. 2 is forcibly interrupted, The game ball becomes unlaunchable. Since such interruptions occur frequently while the player is continuing to play the game, the interruption causes discomfort to the player. Therefore, in order to prevent this forced interruption, it is necessary to warn the player that he will soon be unable to launch the game ball. Therefore, before the number of game balls in the tray 25 reaches the predetermined amount, the lower amount is determined by the microswitch 26 detecting the storage state of the game balls, and making the player aware of it by lighting the warning indicator light 23 and emitting a warning sound from the speaker 24. It is. Note that this warning sound is clearly different from the firing sound that is generated as a sound that represents the launch interval and launch strength of the game ball, which will be described later. Unlike,
This is the sound at the highest level frequency fH among the frequencies output by the V/F conversion IN28h.

In step 150, a predetermined digital signal stored in the ROM 28b is transferred to the D/A converter 28Q, V
A warning sound is generated from the speaker 24 via the /F converter 28h and the amplifier circuit 281. Further, the warning indicator light 23 is also turned on at the same time. This warning sound continues to sound until the player removes a predetermined amount of game balls from the lower tray 25 and turns the microswitch 26 off in the next step 160. Similarly, the warning indicator lights 2 and 3 continue to light up.

In step 140, the microswitch 26 is in the OFF state, or in step 160, the microswitch 26 is in the OFF state.
When is in the OFF state, the launch speed representing the launch strength of the game ball is calculated as follows. First proximity switch 8a
The time from inputting the detection signal of the passage of the game ball from the second proximity switch 8b to inputting the detection signal of the passage of the game ball from the second proximity switch 8b is measured. Next, the launch speed of the game ball is calculated from this time, and the speed calculation result is converted into a digital signal and sent to the RA.
Store in M28C. On the other hand, until detection signals are input from the proximity switches 8a and Bb, the standby state for the above calculations, etc. is continued (step 170).

Next, in order to exclude erroneous information caused by a game ball launch error, a launch error determination is performed (step 180).

1st. If the detection signals are input in this order from the second and third proximity switches 8a, 8b, and 8C without duplication, it is determined that there is no hitting error, and the process proceeds to the next step. - If the input order of the force detection signals is not in the above order, or if detection signals from the same proximity switch are input redundantly, it will be determined that there is a launch error, and the process will proceed to step 110 without executing the process of the next step. Repeat the return process. For example, the first. After inputting the detection signal from the second proximity switch, inputting the detection signal again from the second proximity switch, or inputting the detection signal from the first proximity switch again. Second and third proximity switches Ba
, Bb and 8C, and then again inputting the detection signal from the third proximity switch 8c, it is determined that a firing error has occurred. If there is a launch error, the lower part of the game ball returns to the tray 25 through the error ball return port 10.

If it is determined that there is no launch error, the ROM28
The frequency f corresponding to the launch speed calculated in step 170 is selected from the range of fl--fM (fM is a frequency lower than fH) from the correspondence map between launch speed and frequency stored in step 170, and the ball is hit. When the detection signal is input from the third proximity switch 8C attached to the exit of the path 4, a digital signal corresponding to the frequency f is sent to the D/A converter 28Q,
It passes through the V/F converter 28h and the oscillation circuit 281 to produce a firing sound with a frequency corresponding to the firing speed, and this firing sound is emitted from the speaker 24 to the player (step 190). Further, the correspondence between the ejecting speed and the frequency is such that the higher the ejecting speed, the higher the frequency.

When the processing of step 190 is thus completed, the process returns to step 110 described above and the processing of the platform steps is repeated in sequence.

The launching device of this embodiment, which has the above-mentioned configuration and operates based on the configuration, brings about the following effects.

When a player operates a handle to launch a game ball, the player can know the launch interval and launch intensity of the game ball from the generation interval and frequency of the firing sound emitted from the speaker. Therefore, the player only needs to always keep an eye on the various behaviors of the game balls in the game ball area that lead to winning, and his/her eyes should be on the operating position of the handle that adjusts the launch strength of the game ball or the initial game ball launched from the ball path. There is no need to take extra precautions such as pointing the camera. In addition, before the lower tray reaches a predetermined amount of game balls and the game is forcibly interrupted, a warning sound that is clearly different from the above-mentioned firing sound is emitted from the speaker, which warns the player. The game ball can be handled by sensing the need to handle the game ball while continuing the game. Moreover, interest in the game will not weaken due to forced interruption of the game. In this way, the player can follow the behavior of the game ball with his or her eyes and learn the launch interval and launch strength of the game ball with his or her ears.

Roughly speaking, in this embodiment, the launch speed of the game ball is replaced with the launch speed, and the frequency of the tA sound is determined based on the launch speed that is actually calculated. Therefore, if the firing sound has the same frequency, the firing strength will be the same even if the pachinko machine is different, and the player can sense the same firing strength depending on the frequency of the firing sound regardless of the pachinko machine being used.

FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment, and is a front view of the main parts of the Pachinko machine 1, excluding the well-known upper and lower supports on the front of the Pachinko machine, such as the plate and handle.

Since the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the method of calculating the launch strength of the game ball, the structure and effects that are different from the first embodiment will be explained.

At the lower end of the swing stick 18, there is a potentiometer that is a resistance ratio split type displacement sensor that can obtain an output corresponding to displacement, or a displacement sensor such as a differential transformer that uses changes in electromotive force due to changes in magnetic flux. 40 is installed. This displacement sensor 40 detects the ejection strength of the ejection column 12 based on the displacement of the lower end of the swing stick 18.

Therefore, the electronic control circuit 28 inputs the detection result from the displacement sensor 40 and makes it correspond to the frequency f of the emitted sound.

The firing device of the second embodiment operates in the same manner as the firing device of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment, as explained in the first embodiment, the player is made to sense the launch interval and launch intensity of the game ball based on the interval and frequency of the firing sound. In addition, the lower receiver generates a warning sound when the game ball is removed from the tray to alert the player. In the second embodiment, a detector with a simple structure of 11 degrees and easy adjustment is used to detect the ejection strength, so maintenance and inspection of the firing device is easy.

As described above in detail including the embodiments, the firing device of the present invention allows the player to control the launch interval and launch strength of the game ball, and the firing interval and frequency of the launch sound adapted to the launch of the game ball. , by characteristics such as volume.

Therefore, the player can concentrate on watching the behavior of the game balls in the game area, and can sense the launch interval and launch intensity of the game balls through his ears.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the general configuration of a firing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of the main parts of a pachinko machine that is a first embodiment using the present invention, and FIG. Rear view of main parts,
Figure 4 is a block diagram of the electronic control circuit, Figure 5 is a flowchart of the program executed by the electronic control circuit, and Figure 6 is a block diagram of the electronic control circuit.
The figure is a front view of the main parts of a pachinko machine that is a second embodiment of the present invention. 8a, 8b, 8c... Proximity sensor 24... Speaker 28... Electronic control circuit 40...
・Displacement sensor

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A game ball launcher that launches a game ball by operating a game ball launch handle and driving a launch motor, and drives the game ball into a pachinko machine along a ball launch path that runs through the machine. , a launched ball launch strength detection means for detecting the launch strength of the launched game ball; a launched ball situation sound control means for outputting a control signal according to the detection result from the launched ball launch strength detection means; 1. A game ball launching device comprising: situation sound generating means for generating a sound according to a control result from a shooting ball situation sound control means.