JP2001340612A - Ball quantity controller for pachinko ball storage tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball quantity controller for a pachinko ball storage tank which can optimize the transferring of balls between pachinko ball storage tanks. SOLUTION: The preferential order is previously set for a plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2 and B3 and when a detection output is led out of an upper limit sensor S4 while detection outputs are led out of upper limit sensors S4 of other pachinko ball storage tanks adjacent thereto, a ball transfer device is driven or controlled so as to transfer balls to the pachinko ball storage tank with a lower preferential order from that with a higher preferential order. Thus, if the preferential order of the pachinko ball storage tank with an easier increase in the volume of storage is set higher, the volume of storage in the pachinko ball storage tank involved can be decreased preferentially thereby enabling the preparations for the return of prize balls.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pachinko ball storage device provided in association with a plurality of pachinko ball stands. The present invention relates to a ball amount control device for controlling.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A ball amount control device for controlling the amount of balls stored by transferring pachinko balls via a ball transfer device between a plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks provided in association with a plurality of pachinko island stands. Conventionally, the applicant has disclosed in
3141 and JP-A-8-141198 are proposed. In these prior arts, a plurality of ball amount detection sensors provided in a storage tank are divided into five stages, and among the five stages of ball amount detection sensors, a ball amount detection sensor that detects the upper limit and the lower limit of the stored ball amount is used. When activated, it was controlled to mutually transfer balls between adjacent storage tanks.

[0003]

However, the storage amount is likely to increase depending on the type of pachinko machine installed in the pachinko island stand where the storage tank is installed, the tank capacity, the presence or absence of a prize ball return device, and the like. There are cases where there are storage tanks and other storage tanks, and there are storage tanks whose storage amount is likely to decrease and storage tanks which are not. When the detection output is derived from the upper limit sensor at the same time between a storage tank having a storage amount that is easy to increase, for example, a storage tank having a prize ball return device and a storage tank not having the same, the storage amount is likely to increase. If the pachinko balls are transferred from the storage tank that is not so toward the tank, there is a problem that it is difficult to prepare for the return of new pachinko balls to the prize ball returning device. In addition, storage tanks whose storage amount is likely to decrease, for example,
When the detection output is derived from the lower limit sensor of the storage tank at the same time between the storage tanks on the Pachinko Island stand equipped with pachinko machines that are popular and have more pachinko machines and those that are not, the amount of storage decreases. If the pachinko balls are transferred from a storage tank that is easy to a storage tank that is not so easy, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to prepare for the emergence of pachinko balls, where the number of players increases. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to set a priority in advance in each of the pachinko ball storage tanks according to the difference in the degree of increase and decrease in the amount of storage, thereby achieving a pachinko machine. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball amount control device in a pachinko ball storage tank that can optimally transfer balls between ball storage tanks.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a ball transfer device is provided between a plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks provided in association with a plurality of pachinko island stands. In the ball amount control device that controls the amount of balls stored in each of the pachinko ball storage tanks by transferring the pachinko balls through, each of the pachinko ball storage tanks detects a storage amount level of a plurality of balls. A sensor is provided, and the plurality of sensors include an upper limit sensor that detects that the stored amount level of the ball is the upper limit, and / or a lower limit sensor that detects that the stored amount level of the ball is the lower limit. Then, priorities are set in advance to the plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks, and when the detection output from the upper limit sensor is derived, the adjacent pachinko ball storage tanks When the detection output is also derived from the upper limit sensor, the ball transfer device is driven and controlled so as to transfer the ball from the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank. And / or when the detection output from the lower limit sensor is derived and the detection output is also derived from the lower limit sensor of another adjacent pachinko ball storage tank, the pachinko ball with a lower priority The ball transfer device is driven and controlled so as to transfer balls from a storage tank to a pachinko ball storage tank having a high priority. By controlling in this way, even if the upper limit sensors of the adjacent pachinko ball storage tanks both derive the detection output, the balls are transferred from the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank. If the priority of a pachinko ball storage tank whose storage amount is easy to increase, for example, a pachinko ball storage tank having a prize ball return device is set high, the storage amount of this pachinko ball storage tank is prioritized. And can be prepared for the return of the prize ball. Also, even if the lower limit sensors of the adjacent pachinko ball storage tanks both derive the detection output, the balls can be transferred from the low-priority pachinko ball storage tanks to the high-priority pachinko ball storage tanks, If the priority of the pachinko ball storage tank where the storage amount is easy to decrease, for example, the pachinko ball storage tank on the pachinko island stand equipped with pachinko machines where the number of players increases, the storage amount of this pachinko ball storage tank is increased. It can be increased in priority, and can be prepared for the emergence of pachinko machines.

[0005] In the invention of claim 2, the setting of the priority order can be changed. With such a configuration, for example, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the installation position of the prize ball returning device or a change in the model of the pachinko machine arranged in the pachinko island stand.

Further, in the invention according to claim 3, the ball transfer device is arranged so as to cross over an upper tank provided on an upper part of a pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank and to cross one of the upper tanks. A first AC gutter that is inclined so that the pachinko balls flow down toward the other upper tank, and a second AC gutter that is inclined so that the pachinko balls flow down from the other upper tank toward the one upper tank, A first shutter device that allows the pachinko balls to flow down in the first AC gutter when opened, and stops the pachinko balls from flowing down in the first AC gutter when closed, and a pachinko machine that opens in the second AC gutter when opened. A second shutter device that allows the ball to flow down and stops the pachinko ball flowing down in the second AC gutter when the ball is closed. It is characterized in that so as to transfer the balls by opening and closing control of the coater unit and a second shutter device. With this configuration, the balls are transferred using the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter where the pachinko balls naturally flow, so that the balls are transferred as compared with a ball transfer device that conveys pachinko balls on a conveyor or the like. Since the structure is simple and the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter are bridged between the upper tanks of the pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank, the pachinko balls to be transferred are bidirectionally and directly. The pachinko balls can be quickly transferred because the pachinko balls can be moved.

[0007] In the invention of claim 4, the upper tank provided on the pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank guides the pachinko balls to each pachinko machine on its own island with the highest priority, and the guidance is required. It is configured to be guided to the first AC gutter or the second AC gutter when it disappears, and to be guided to the pachinko ball storage tank when the guidance is no longer necessary. It is. With this configuration, it is possible to smoothly supply the pachinko balls to the own island and supply the pachinko balls to the pachinko island stand connected by the ball transfer device.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, the plurality of pachinko island stands are located between the main pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank and the two pachinko island stands. A secondary pachinko island that does not have a tank, wherein the two main pachinko islands have the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter crossed between the upper tanks thereof in an intersecting manner. The slave pachinko island is formed so as to receive the pachinko balls from the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter penetrating the upper tank, respectively, and the received pachinko balls are formed on the slave pachinko island. It is configured to be guided to a lower tank provided inside. With this configuration, the pachinko balls are always supplied from the main pachinko island having the pachinko ball storage tank to the slave pachinko island having no pachinko ball storage tank by the two first AC gutters and the second AC gutter. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a shortage of balls on the sub-pachinko island.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG.
Are a plurality of pachinko islands A1 to A in the first embodiment.
9 and the relationship between the base tanks B1, B2, B3 as pachinko ball storage tanks provided in connection therewith, and the ball transfer device (including the first AC gutter 1, the second AC gutter 2, the shutter device 3, etc.). FIG. 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of pachinko island stands A1, A4, A5, A8, A9 provided adjacent to the base tanks B1, B2, B3, and FIGS. 5 is the base tank B1, B
Pachinko island stand A1, A provided adjacent to B2 and B3
Upper tank 2 provided above 4, 4, A8, A9
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the operation of the pachinko island stand A2, A3, A6, A7 (but not provided with the prize ball return device 5 in A3, A6) which is not adjacent to the base tank. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the internal structure, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the operation of an upper tank 41 provided above pachinko island stands A2 and A7 not adjacent to the base tank, and FIG. 8 is not adjacent to the base tank. Pachinko Island A3, A
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an operation of an upper tank 49 provided on the upper part of FIG. 6, FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining a flowing down state of an overflowing pachinko ball in the upper tank 49, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a basic structure of the first AC gutter 1 or the second AC gutter 2 constituting the apparatus. FIG. 11 shows the pachinko island stand A3 of the first AC gutter 1.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an AC gutter inserted between A4 and the pachinko island stand A5 and A6 of the second AC gutter 2, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the AC gutter.
FIG. 13 is a partially broken perspective view of the AC gutter, and FIG.
Is a pachinko island stand A2, A not adjacent to the base tank
FIG. 15 is a schematic view showing a structure of an overflow passage 61 and a suction passage 62 which connect the upper tanks 41 and 49 of the tanks 3 and 6 and the lower tank 13 in the island.
FIG. 16 is an enlarged view showing the structure of the junction below the overflow passage 61 and the suction passage 62. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the lower tank 13 provided inside each of the pachinko island stands A1 to A9, and FIG. FIG. 18 is a perspective view for explaining the flow of balls stored in the lower tank 13, and FIG. 18 is a perspective view of base tanks B1 to B3, and FIG.
9 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the base tanks B1 to B3.

First, in FIG. 1, a plurality of pachinko islands A1 to A9 installed in a game arcade (more or less pachinko islands are installed depending on the game arcade) are relatively relatively internally provided. A lower tank 13 for storing a small amount of pachinko balls (capable of storing about 20,000 pieces) is built in, and the pachinko balls stored in the lower tank 13 are ball-lifting devices 2
1 to be transported to the upper tanks 22, 41, 49 so as to replenish the balls to the pachinko machines 10 and the ball rental machines 24 (both shown in FIGS. 2 and 6) installed in the respective pachinko island stands A1 to A9. Has become. The pachinko balls used in the pachinko machine 10 are collected by an out-ball collecting gutter 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 6), guided to the lower tank 13, and returned to the ball-lifting device 2.
It is pumped by one. Thereby, the pachinko balls circulate in the pachinko islands A1 to A9. The detailed structure of the pachinko island tables A1 to A9 including the circulating mechanism will be described later in detail.

[0011] Also, a prize ball returning device 5 for returning pachinko balls obtained by the player is provided at a predetermined one of the pachinko islands A2, A4, A7 and A8 among the pachinko islands A1 to A9. (It doesn't have to be the island edge, for example,
(Center of the island). If the number of pachinko balls returned by the prize ball returning device 5 becomes extremely large, the pachinko islands A2, A4, A7, and A8 cannot be fully stored in the lower tank 13 built in the pachinko island stands. The pachinko balls that have been collected are returned to the base tanks B1 to B3 from the upper tanks 22 and 41 via the return gutter 4 and the like.
(Sometimes referred to as pachinko ball storage tanks B1 to B3)
Will be returned to you. Although the return gutter 4 is not clearly shown in the drawing, the return tank 4 is moved from the upper tank 41 of the pachinko island stand A2 to the upper tank 22 of the pachinko island stand A1.
, Respectively, from the upper tank 41 of the pachinko island stand A7 to the base tank B3 via the upper tank 22 of the pachinko island stand A8.

Further, in the illustrated pachinko island stands A1 to A9, a plurality (four) of the pachinko island stands A1 to A4 or A5 to A8 or A9 to are considered as one block.
Large base tanks B on both sides of each of these blocks
1, B2 and B3 are provided. That is, the base tanks B1 and B2 are arranged on both sides of the first block, the pachinko islands A1 to A4, and the base tanks B2 are provided on both sides of the second block, the pachinko islands A5 to A8. , B3 are provided. In addition, pachinko island stand A9
The description of the subsequent blocks is omitted. And
Pachinko island stand A1, adjacent to base tanks B1 to B3
A4, A5, A8, and A9 are so-called wall islands, and have a structure in which the pachinko machine 10 is installed on only one side.

Thus, each of the base tanks B1 to B3 can store the amount of pachinko balls required for each block. For example, the amount of balls required for one pachinko island stand is 500,000. Assuming that the number of pachinko balls is one, the number of pachinko balls required for four pachinko island stands A1 to A4 or A5 to A8 constituting one block is 2 million each. And
The base tank B1 has a capacity capable of storing about 1 million pachinko balls out of 2 million pachinko balls required for one block A1 to A4.
About 100 remaining pachinko balls required for blocks A1 to A4
Pachinko balls 20 needed for blocks and blocks A5 to A8
It has a capacity to store a total of about 2 million pachinko balls including about 1 million pachinko balls out of 100,000,
Similarly, the base tank B3 includes two blocks A5 to A
8. It is configured to have a capacity capable of storing a total of about 2 million pachinko balls in order to correspond to blocks A9 to A9.

Each of the pachinko island stands A1 to A4 or A5 to A8 belonging to each block described above has base tanks B1, B2 or B2 on both sides when the ball quantity is insufficient or when the ball quantity is full. , B3 to receive the missing balls or to send out excess balls to the base tanks B1, B2 or B2, B3. For this reason, pachinko island stand A located on both sides of each block
A first AC gutter 1 and a second AC gutter 2 constituting a ball transfer device are crossed between the upper tanks 22 of A1, A4, A5 and A8. The first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 are located on the middle of the pachinko island stand A2, A3 or A.
6, A7 penetrate the inside of the upper tanks 41, 49, and fall into the respective upper tanks 41, 49 from drop ports 44, 46 described later. The connection between the AC gutters 1 and 2 and the upper tanks 22, 41 and 49 is as follows.
This is performed through a joint provided in each upper tank, and by connecting correspondingly to the upstream inlet and the downstream outlet of the AC gutters 1 and 2 formed in advance in each upper tank, as a whole, They are connected so as to penetrate.

At the ends of the first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2, a shutter device 3 which is opened and closed by an electric drive source (not shown) is provided. The shutter device 3 constitutes a part of a ball transfer device, and is electrically controlled to be opened and closed by a control board 89 described later according to the amount of balls stored in the base tanks B1 to B3. In the opened state, the pachinko balls in the first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 are provided on the downstream base tanks B1 to B3.
In the closed state, the pachinko balls stagnate in the first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2. Also, when there is room to receive pachinko balls in the upper tanks 41, 49 of the pachinko island stand A2, A3 or A6, A7 located on the way (when the storage amount of the pachinko island stand A2, A3 or A6, A7 is small), Pachinko balls are supplied to the pachinko islands A2, A3 or A6, A7 located in the middle. Actually, pachinko island stand A2, A
Pachinko balls are always supplied to upper tanks 41, 49 of A3, A6, A7, and Pachinko islands A2, A3, or A
The storage amounts of A6 and A7 are always filled. In FIG. 1, the installation position of the shutter device 3 is set to the upper tank 2 of the pachinko island stand A1, A4, A5, A8.
2 is provided immediately before the upper tank 41 of the pachinko island stands A2 and A7, or may be provided immediately after the upper tank 49 of the pachinko island stands A3 and A6.

The outline of the relationship between the plurality of pachinko islands A1 to A9 has been described above. As described above, the pachinko balls are transported by the AC gutters 1 and 2 using the plurality of pachinko islands as one block. Is called island exchange. Therefore, the detailed structure of each island-type pachinko island stand and base tank will now be described. First, the structure of the pachinko island will be described with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 19. ,
There are non-adjacent slave pachinko islands A2, A3, A6, and A7, both of which have almost the same structure.
There is a slight difference in the structure of the lower tank 13, 2, 41 and 49. Therefore, first, the base tank B1
Main pachinko island stand A1, A4, A5, A adjacent to B3
8 and 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, and thereafter, mainly the differences will be described, and the secondary pachinko islands A2, A3, A not adjacent to the base tanks B1 to B3 will be described.
6, A7 will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 2, the main pachinko island stands A1, A4, A5, A8, A9 adjacent to the base tanks B1 to B3.
In the following (hereinafter referred to as the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like), as described above, the lower tank 13 for storing a relatively small amount of pachinko balls is incorporated therein, and the pachinko balls stored in the lower tank 13 are used for the main pachinko balls. An upper tank 22 is provided by a doffing and feeding device 21 installed substantially at the center of the island stand A1 or the like.
The ball is supplied to the pachinko machine 10 and the ball rental machine 24 installed on the respective main pachinko island stand A1 and the like via the supply gutter 23. The pachinko balls used in the pachinko machine 10 are discharged to an out-ball collecting gutter 12 through an out-ball box 11, collected by the out-ball collecting gutter 12, guided to the lower tank 13, and then balled again. It is pumped by the device 21. Thus, the pachinko balls circulate in the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like.

The lower tank 13 built in the main pachinko island stand A1 or the like is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a bottom plate 14 on the bottom surface which is inclined downward toward the introduction gutter 16 of the doffing and conveying device 21, and has a bottom plate 14 inside. An upper guide gutter 15 that is inclined in a direction opposite to the bottom plate 14 is provided at an upper portion. This upper guiding gutter 15
Are not particularly required in the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like, and are not adjacent to the base tanks B1 to B3, and the secondary pachinko island stands A2, A3, A6 and A7 (hereinafter, referred to as the secondary pachinko island stand A2 and the like). It is particularly required. An inflow port 18 is provided in the upper portion on the upstream side of the lower tank 13.
An opening for receiving pachinko balls flowing from 1 to B3, an inflow gutter 20 (see FIG. 1) connected to the inflow port 18 is provided between the base tanks B1 to B3 and the lower tank 13. Has been handed over.

The lower tank 13 has a ball quantity sensor 19 (S1) for detecting that the number of pachinko balls flowing from the adjacent base tanks B1 to B3 has decreased and the quantity of balls in the lower tank 13 has also decreased. Is provided. The ball amount sensor 19 (S1) detects that the amount of stored pachinko balls in the base tanks B1 to B3 is insufficient. Of course, the ball quantity sensor 19 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a ball shortage sensor S1) may be provided inside the base tanks B1 to B3. Further, the lower tank 13 is provided with a ball-lifting device 21 which is installed substantially at the center of the main pachinko island stand A1 or the like.
Is installed at one side (the right side in FIG. 2), so as to guide the pachinko balls flowing through the out ball collecting gutter 12 for collecting the out balls from the pachinko machine 10 installed on the opposite side to the lower tank 13. A communication gutter 17 extends between the out ball collection gutter 12 and the lower tank 13. The end of the communication gutter 17 is slightly above the connection position of the introduction gutter 16. A more detailed structure of the lower tank 13 provided on the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like will be described later in detail.

The pachinko balls stored in the lower tank 13 are arranged in a plurality of rows by the introduction gutter 16 and sent to the doffing and feeding device 21. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the ball lifting device 21 is provided so as to face a lifting belt swiveled by a pulley with a built-in motor and faces the lifting belt, and holds the pachinko balls between the lifting belt. A polishing cloth to be polished, wherein the pachinko balls guided from the introduction gutter 16 are lifted while being polished upward by the frictional force of the lifting belt.

The pachinko balls discharged by the ball discharging device 21 are discharged to an upper tank 22. Upper tank 22
Supplies the received pachinko balls to the supply gutter 23, the first AC gutter 1
Alternatively, it has a function of sorting to the second AC gutter 2 or the like. The details of the distribution function will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.
As shown in the figure, a gutter installation space 2 in which the inside is penetrated by a vertically fixed partition plate through a downstream portion of the second AC gutter 2 and a downstream portion of the return gutter 4.
5 and a gutter installation space 2 in which the upstream part of the first AC gutter 1 is installed
6, a diversion space 27 in which the pachinko balls discharged by the doffing and feeding device 21 are sorted and sorted, and a doffing and feeding device 2
1 is divided into a lifting device installation space 28 through which the upper portion is installed. The ball outlet of the ball lifting device 21 installed in the lifting device installation space 28 faces the branch flow space 27.

The pachinko balls discharged from the ball outlet of the doffing and feeding device 21 fall on a drop receiving plate 29 fixed to the upper part of the diversion space 27 in a horizontally inclined shape.
9, is blocked by a blocking plate 30 that is erected and fixed in the middle of the block 9, and falls downward from a first priority drop port 31 formed on the upstream side of the blocking plate 30. The pachinko ball that has fallen from the first priority drop port 31 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, step plates 32a, 32 provided in a step shape are provided.
The first supply guide plates 33a to 33c formed in steps while being weakened by b b are guided to the first supply gutter connection port 34 opened on one of the left and right side surfaces of the upper tank 22. The first supply gutter connection port 34 is connected to the supply gutter 23 provided to be inclined toward the island end on the right side of the pachinko island stand in FIG. Supply gutter 23
Is for supplying pachinko balls to each of the pachinko machines 10 and the ball lending machine 24 as described above. When the right supply gutter 23 is full of pachinko balls and the pachinko balls are also clogged on the first supply guide plates 33a to 33c, the uppermost upstream first supply guide plate 33a is slightly upstream. Then, the pachinko balls flow into the second supply guide plates 35a and 35b which are formed in an inclined stepwise direction opposite to the first supply guide plates 33a to 33c, and guide the pachinko balls to the second supply gutter connection port 36. The second supply gutter connection port 36 is connected to the supply gutter 23 provided in an inclined manner toward the left island end of the pachinko island stand in FIG.

As described above, the pachinko balls that have been ground and fed by the doffing and feeding device 21 are first sorted such that they are preferentially supplied to the supply gutter 23 of the own island. In addition, due to the structure of the upper tank 22, one of the supply gutters 2 is provided as described above.
After the tank 3 is full, the other supply gutter 23 is replenished. However, the pumping amount per unit time pumped by the doffer 21 is consumed through one supply gutter 23. Since the average ball quantity is much larger than the average ball quantity, pachinko balls are always being supplied to both supply gutters 23.

As described above, the supply of pachinko balls to both supply gutters 23 is sufficiently distributed, and the step plates 32a, 32 are provided.
When the ball is filled with b and the pachinko ball does not drop from the first priority drop port 31, the pachinko ball ground and transported by the ball lifting and feeding device 21 passes over the dam plate 30 and the gutter installation space 2.
It flows out to the first AC gutter 1 from the AC gutter outlet 37 formed in the partition plate that partitions the 6 and the branch space 27. Since the shutter device 3 is provided at the end of the first AC gutter 1 as described above, when the shutter device 3 is released, the base tank B is connected via the first AC gutter 1.
Pachinko balls are transferred to 1 or B2 or B3. vice versa,
When the shutter device 3 is closed, the first AC gutter 1
The pachinko balls are jammed inside, and as described later, the pachinko balls are supplied to the pachinko island stand A2 and the like. Note that the structure of the shutter device 3 includes a shield plate attached to the outside of the terminal connection of the AC gutters 1 and 2 of the upper tank 22 and a motor for driving the shield plate in the same manner as the shutter device 116 described later. Things.

When the shutter device 3 is closed as described above and the supply of the pachinko balls to the first AC gutter 1 is substantially stagnant, the pachinko balls released to the drop receiving plate 29 are not shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the overflow vertical gutter 38 (step plates 32a, 3
2b) and is guided to the overflow port 40 via overflow guide plates 39a and 39b formed in steps.
The overflow port 40 is connected to the base tanks B1 to B3.
An overflow return gutter 6 (see FIG. 1) for returning balls is connected. The overflow return gutter 6 is also connected to the ends of the second AC gutter 2 and the return gutter 4 penetrating through the gutter installation space 25, and the pachinko balls discharged from these gutters are also connected to the base tank B1. ~ B3
Will be collected.

The structure of the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like has been described above. (FIG. 4), when the guidance is no longer needed, it is guided to the AC gutter 1 (FIG. 3), and when the guidance is no longer needed, the main pachinko island stand A1 is provided.
The base tank B1 or B2 or B3
(FIG. 5), the supply of pachinko balls to the own island and the secondary pachinko island stand A2
The pachinko balls can be smoothly supplied to the apparatus.

The description of the upper tank 22 is as follows.
Although the description has been given mainly of the components provided on the main pachinko island A1, other main pachinko islands A5, A4, A8 are provided.
The upper tank 22 provided in the gutter is basically the same, except that the type and inclination direction of the gutter installed in the gutter installation spaces 25 and 26 are different from those shown in FIG. That is, in comparison with FIG. 3, in the upper tank 22 provided in the main pachinko island stand A5, the gutter installed in the gutter installation space 25 is only the downstream part of the second AC gutter 2, and the main pachinko island stand A4 In the upper tank 22 provided in the gutter installation space 25, the gutter installed in the gutter installation space 26 is a downstream portion of the first AC gutter 1 in a reverse inclined direction and the gutter installed in the gutter installation space 26 is the second AC gutter 2. Is the upstream part of
In the upper tank 22 provided in the main pachinko island stand A8, what is provided in the gutter installation space 25 is a downstream portion of the return gutter 4 and a downstream portion of the first AC gutter 1, both of which are in the reverse inclination direction and the gutter installation. The gutter provided in the space 26 is an upstream part of the second AC gutter 2 and has a reverse inclination direction.

Next, slave pachinko islands A2, A3, A6
A7 will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the secondary pachinko island stand A2 and the like are not different from the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like in the basic configuration as shown in FIG. 6, and the different point is that the structure of the upper tank and the own island are different as described above. Structure of the built-in lower tank 13 (with only slight differences), and structure for guiding the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank and the pachinko balls supplied from the AC gutters 1 and 2 to the lower tank 13. ,
And so on. Hereinafter, the slave pachinko island stand A2 and the like will be described focusing on these differences.

First, the structure of the upper tank provided on the slave pachinko island A2 or the like will be described. The structure of the upper tank includes the slave pachinko islands A2 and A7 provided with the prize ball returning device 5, and the prize ball. The structure is slightly different from the slave pachinko island stands A3 and A6 in which the return device 5 is not provided. That is, while the return gutter 4 is passed from the slave pachinko island stands A2 and A7 in which the prize ball return device 5 is provided to the main pachinko island stands A1 and A8, the prize ball return device 5 is Slave pachinko island stand A3, A6 not provided
Is that the return gutter 4 is not passed over, but the surplus ball return gutter 53 instead is passed between the main pachinko island stands A4 and A5. Therefore, first, the structure of the upper tank 41 of the slave pachinko island stands A2 and A7 provided with the prize ball returning device 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 7, the same components as those of the upper tank 22 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Further, in the following description, reference numerals not given in FIG. 7 may be used, and the reference numerals also indicate the same components as those of the upper tank 22.

In FIG. 7, the upper tank 41 has a second AC gutter 2 and a return gutter 4 formed by a vertically fixed partition plate, similarly to the upper tank 22 provided on the main pachinko island stand A1 or the like. Gutter installation space 25 that penetrates the upper end of the gutter, gutter installation space 26 in which the first AC gutter 1 is installed,
It is divided into a diversion space 27 in which pachinko balls discharged by the doffing and conveying device 21 are sorted and assigned in order, and a lifting device installation space 28 through which the upper portion of the doffing and conveying device 21 is installed. The ball outlet of the ball lifting device 21 installed in the lifting device installation space 28 faces the branch flow space 27.

The pachinko balls discharged from the ball outlet of the doffing and feeding device 21 fall on a drop receiving plate 29 fixed to the upper part of the diversion space 27 in a horizontally inclined shape.
9 and is blocked by a tall blocking plate 30a that is erected and fixed, and falls downward from a first priority drop port 31 (not shown) formed on the upstream side of the blocking plate 30a. It has become. The pachinko ball that has fallen from the first priority drop port 31 is provided with a step plate 32 provided in a step shape.
a and 32b, the first replenishment guide plates 33a to 33c (steps 33a to 33c) formed in a step-like manner while being weakened.
Are guided to a first supply gutter connection port 34 opened on one of the left and right side surfaces of the upper tank 41.
The first supply gutter connection port 34 is connected to the supply gutter 23 provided to be inclined toward the island end on the right side of the pachinko island stand in FIG. Then, the right supply gutter 23 becomes full of pachinko balls, and the first supply guide plate 33 is provided.
When pachinko balls are jammed on a ~ 33c,
Pachinko balls flow out to the second supply guide plates 35a and 35b, which are slightly upstream of the first supply guide plate 33a on the most upstream side and are formed in the shape of inclined steps opposite to the first supply guide plates 33a to 33c. It is guided to the second supply gutter connection port 36. The second supply gutter connection port 36 is connected to the supply gutter 23 provided to be inclined toward the island end on the left side of the pachinko island stand in FIG.

As described above, the pachinko balls that have been polished and fed by the doffing and feeding device 21 are first sorted like the upper tank 22 so that they are preferentially supplied to the supply gutter 23 of the own island. . In addition, due to the structure of the upper tank 41,
As described above, after one of the supply gutters 23 is full, the other supply gutter 23 is supplied with water. Since it is much larger than the average amount of balls consumed through the supply gutter 23, the pachinko balls are always being supplied to both supply gutters 23.

Further, as described above, the supply of pachinko balls to both supply gutters 23 is sufficiently distributed, and the step plates 32a,
When the balls are filled with the balls 32b and the pachinko balls no longer fall from the first priority drop port 31, the pachinko balls that have been ground by the ball lifting device 21 are formed lower than the tall dam plate 30a. It flows out to the overflow vertical gutter 38 (not shown) and overflow guide plates 39a and 39b.
(However, 39a is not shown) is led to the overflow port 40, and is led to the lower tank 13 via an overflow passage 61 described later.

Next, when the lower tank 13, the overflow passage 61, the overflow guide plates 39a and 39b, and the overflow vertical gutter 38 are full of pachinko balls, the pachinko balls that have been ground and fed by the doffing and feeding device 21 are used. Jumping over the tall dam plate 30a and diverting space 27
Returning through an AC gutter outlet 37 provided in a partition plate for partitioning the gutter installation space 26 and a return gutter outlet 43 provided in a partition plate for partitioning the gutter installation space 26 and the gutter installation space 25. It falls on the gutter 4. The pachinko balls that have fallen on the return gutter 4 roll on the return gutter 4, pass through the upper tank 22 of the main pachinko island stand A1, A8, and are returned from the overflow return gutter 6 to the base tanks B1, B3.
Such return is performed when a large number of prize balls obtained by the player are returned to the prize ball return device 5. A return guide plate 42 is provided so as to connect the AC gutter outlet 37 and the return gutter outlet 43. For this reason, unlike the main pachinko island stand 22, the pachinko balls jumping over the dam plate 30a and flowing out of the AC gutter outlet 37 do not fall into the first AC gutter 1 penetrating through the gutter installation space 26 without returning to the return gutter 4. Is to be led to.

The first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 penetrate the gutter installation spaces 26 and 25 in the upper tank 41 of the slave pachinko island stands A2 and A7, respectively, as described above. A drop port 44,
46 are formed. More specifically, the first AC gutter 1 penetrating through the gutter installation space 26 is located below the return guiding gutter 42, and has a drop port 44 formed on one bottom surface thereof. Since the falling port 44 is larger than the diameter of the pachinko balls, the pachinko balls flowing down the first AC gutter 1 overflow from the falling ports 44. Similarly, the second AC gutter 2 penetrating through the gutter installation space 25 is the return gutter 4
, And a drop port 46 is formed on one side bottom surface. Since the falling port 46 is also larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball, the pachinko ball flowing down the second AC gutter 2 is
It is overflowing from 6. The pachinko balls that have fallen from the drop openings 44 and 46 are
The overflow port 4 is provided at a lower portion of the
It is guided to an AC communication port 48 formed adjacent to the zero. The AC communication port 48 is connected to an upper end of a suction passage 62 to be described later. Therefore, the pachinko balls received from the drop ports 44 and 46 pass through the suction port 62 from the AC communication port 48 through the lower tank. 13.

Next, the upper tank 49 provided on the slave pachinko island stands A3 and A6 without the prize ball returning device 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 13. In FIG. Similarly to the upper tank 22 provided in the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like, a gutter installation space 25 through which the second AC gutter 2 is penetrated by a partition plate fixed in the vertical direction, and a first AC gutter 1 are provided. A gutter installation space 26 to be installed, a diversion space 27 in which pachinko balls pumped by the doffing and feeding device 21 are sorted and sorted, and a lifting device installation space 28 through which the upper part of the doffing and feeding device 21 is installed.
And, it is divided into. And the lifting device installation space 28
The ball outlet of the ball-lifting device 21 installed in the space faces the branch space 27.

The pachinko balls discharged from the ball outlet of the doffing and feeding device 21 fall on a drop receiving plate 29 fixed to the upper part of the diversion space 27 in a horizontally inclined shape.
The first priority drop port 31 formed on the side of No. 9 drops downward. Since the drop receiving plate 29 is not provided with a member corresponding to the blocking plates 30 and 30a, the pachinko balls discharged by the ball discharging device 21 are:
All fall from the first priority drop port 31. The pachinko balls that have fallen from the first priority drop port 31 are stepped into first replenishment guide plates 33a to 33c (however, 33a) while being weakened by step plates 32a and 32b provided in steps. Are guided to the first supply gutter connection port 34 which is opened on one of the left and right side surfaces of the upper tank 49. The first supply gutter connection port 34 is connected to the supply gutter 23 provided to be inclined toward the island end on the right side of the pachinko island stand in FIG. When the supply gutter 23 on the right side is full of pachinko balls and the pachinko balls are also clogged on the first supply guide plates 33a to 33c, the first supply guide plate 33a on the most upstream side is slightly upstream. Then, the pachinko balls flow into the second supply guide plates 35a and 35b, which are formed in an inclined stepwise shape opposite to the first supply guide plates 33a to 33c.
It is guided to the second supply gutter connection port 36. The second supply gutter connection port 36 is connected to the supply gutter 23 provided to be inclined toward the island end on the left side of the pachinko island stand in FIG.

As described above, the pachinko balls that have been ground and fed by the doffing and feeding device 21 are first sorted like the upper tank 22 so that they are firstly supplied to the supply gutter 23 of the island. . In addition, due to the structure of the upper tank 49,
As described above, after one of the supply gutters 23 is full, the other supply gutter 23 is supplied with water. Since it is much larger than the average amount of balls consumed through the supply gutter 23, the pachinko balls are always being supplied to both supply gutters 23.

Further, as described above, the supply of pachinko balls to both supply gutters 23 is sufficiently distributed, and the step plates 32a,
When the ball is filled with the ball 32b and the pachinko ball no longer falls from the first priority drop port 31, the pachinko ball ground and pumped by the ball lifting device 21 flows out into the overflow vertical gutter 38 as shown in FIG. . Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid is guided from the overflow guide plates 39a and 39b (39a not shown) to the overflow port 40, and to the lower tank 13 via an overflow passage 61 described later. ing.

Next, when the lower tank 13, the overflow passage 61, and the overflow guide plates 39a and 39b are full of pachinko balls, the overflow vertical gutter 3 is used.
8 is guided to an excessive return portion 52 via a guide plate 51 from a branch return port 50 formed near the lower end portion. As shown in FIG. 8, the excess return portion 52 is provided in the gutter installation space 26 and provided directly above the first AC gutter 1. Thus, the pachinko ball guided to the excessive return section 52 is the first pachinko ball.
It is led to the excess ball returning small gutter 53 integrally assembled on the upper part of the AC gutter 1. The excess ball return small gutter 53 descends from the slave pachinko island stand A3 toward the main pachinko island stand A4, above the first AC gutter 1, and descends from the slave pachinko island stand A6 toward the main pachinko island stand A5. The pachinko balls that are placed on the upper part of the second AC gutter 2 that is inclined and that flow down the excess gutter 53 are returned to the base tank B2.
Will be returned to you.

To explain the excess ball returning small gutter 53 in more detail, first, the first AC gutter 1 is, as shown in FIG. The portion is covered with a synthetic resin gutter cover 55a to form a square tubular gutter. The gutter cover 55a is attached to the AC gutter main body 54 by engaging the engaging portions 58a protruding from both sides of the lower surface of the gutter cover 55a.
Can be attached and detached very easily by engaging with the side of the upper surface opening of the AC gutter main body 54. In the case of the illustrated embodiment, the first AC gutter 1 having the above-described structure extends between the main pachinko island stand A1 and the secondary pachinko island stand A3,
First between the secondary pachinko island A3 and the primary pachinko island A4
The AC gutter 1 is configured by covering an AC gutter body 54 having the same structure with a gutter cover 55 having a different configuration. The structure of the second AC gutter 2 is also composed of the AC gutter 54 and the gutter cover 55a. A mat (not shown) made of synthetic resin or rubber is attached to the bottom surface of the AC gutter main body 54 (and the bottom surface of the excess ball returning small gutter 53) in order to suppress the noise caused by the pachinko balls flowing down. I have.

Thus, the synthetic resin gutter cover 55 for covering the AC gutter main body 54 between the slave pachinko island stand A3 and the main pachinko island stand A4 has an upper surface as shown in FIGS. A small gutter fitting projection 56 is formed at the center of the U-shaped steel sheet excessive ball return small gutter 53, which is detachably fitted (or may be loosely fitted). An arc cover locking portion 57 for detachably locking the arc cover 60 is formed. A steel plate is formed so as to cover the excess ball return small gutter 53 from above in a state where the excess ball return small gutter 53 is fitted inside the small gutter fitting projection 56 with respect to the gutter cover 55 thus configured. The gutter cover 59 is covered, and the arc cover 60 is deformed so as to press the gutter cover 59 in this state, and the arc cover 60 is locked to the arc cover locking portion 57. As a result, the excess ball return gutter 53
Is attached to the gutter cover 55, and the attached gutter cover 5
By attaching 5 to the AC gutter main body 54, the excess ball returning small gutter 53 can be formed integrally with the first AC gutter 1.

The excess ball returning small gutter 53 may be fixed to the gutter cover 55 by a fixture so that the small gutter 53 is securely fixed after being fitted to the small gutter fitting projection 56. Either of the gutter cover 59 and the arc cover 60 that cover the upper part of the excess ball return gutter 53 may be omitted. In this case, if the arc cover 60 is omitted, the small gutter cover 59 needs to be fixed to the gutter cover 55. Therefore, it is desirable to omit the small gutter cover 59. Even if the gutter cover 59 is omitted, as shown in FIG.
There is an advantage that the upper surface of the excess ball returning small gutter 53 can be closed by the arc cover 60, and the appearance of the first AC gutter 1 inserted between the pachinko island stands A3 and A4 is also beautiful. Also, in order to be able to confirm a pachinko ball flowing down the excess ball return small gutter 53, for example,
The gutter cover 59 and the arc cover 60 may be formed of a transparent material, or slits may be intermittently formed in the surfaces of the gutter cover 59 and the arc cover 60.

By the way, the reason why the excessive ball returning small gutter 53 is formed integrally with the first AC gutter 1 inserted between the sub-pachinko island stand A3 and the main pachinko island stand A4 is as follows. That is, as described above, since the storage amount of the pachinko balls of the slave pachinko island stand A3 is always maintained in a filled state, for example, the driving balls of the pachinko machine 10 installed on the slave pachinko island stand A3 When the number increases, the secondary pachinko island A
There is a case where the storage amount in 3 becomes excessive. If such an excessive state is left, the pachinko island stand A3
Inside, the pachinko balls are not smoothly circulated, so that the excess pachinko balls must be transferred to the outside of the slave pachinko island stand A3. It is. Then, the excess ball return small gutter 53 can transfer a large amount of pachinko balls to the base tank B2 of the main pachinko island stand A4 by simply transferring excess pachinko balls by the driving balls of the pachinko machine 10. Are formed by square gutters having an extremely small width compared to the AC gutters 1 and 2 which need to transfer the pachinko balls and the return gutter 4 which needs to transfer a large amount of pachinko balls returned at one time. It is to be noted that the excess ball returning small gutter 53 may be formed separately from the first AC gutter 1 and inserted between the slave pachinko island stand A3 and the main pachinko island stand A4, but the mounting work is troublesome. In addition, since it gives a complicated appearance and a complicated impression, it is possible to simplify the mounting work and improve the appearance by integrally providing the first AC gutter 1 as in the present embodiment.

In the above description, the excess ball return gutter 53
Has been described only as a part to be inserted between the pachinko islands A3 and A4 as an AC gutter integrally formed. In principle, an excess ball return small gutter 53 is inserted between the AC gutters between the pachinko island stand A6 and the main pachinko island stand A5 in the embodiment shown in FIG. An excess ball returning small gutter 53 is integrally formed on the upper part of the second AC gutter 2 as well.

Next, a structure for guiding the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tanks 41 and 49 such as the slave pachinko island stand A2 and the pachinko balls supplied from the AC gutters 1 and 2 to the lower tank 13 is shown in FIGS. This will be described with reference to FIG.

First, in the island pachinko island stand A2 or the like of the island interchange type, the pachinko balls supplied from the AC gutters 1 and 2 are supplied as long as there is room to accept the pachinko island stand A2 or the like. The upper tanks 41, 4
AC gutter 1 rather than pachinko balls overflowing from 9
Priority is given to pachinko balls supplied from the lower tank 13
When the pachinko balls stored in the lower tank 13 are pumped by the ball lifting device 21 and finally overflow, the pachinko balls supplied from the AC gutters 1 and 2 take precedence. Since it is supplied to the tank 13,
Pachinko balls that overflowed are in overflow passage 6
As a result, the pachinko balls cannot be smoothly circulated. Therefore, in the island pachinko island stand A2 of the island exchange type, etc.,
It is necessary to guide the pachinko balls overflowing over the pachinko balls supplied from 2 to the lower tank 13 with priority.

However, conventionally, the upper tank 4
Return of pachinko balls from 1,49 to lower tank 13
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 9-38311 proposed earlier by the present applicant, a hose for overflow (hereinafter, referred to as an overflow hose) from an upper tank (small box) to a storage tank and another island. Hose for supplied pachinko balls (hereinafter referred to as suction hose)
Are separately connected, and moreover, the pachinko balls returned by the overflow hose are preferentially guided to the ball-lifting device over the pachinko balls supplied by the suction hose inside the storage tank. And the above overflow hose and suction hose are:
Since a flexible synthetic resin circular hose with a spiral wire built inside and reinforced was used, a large number of pachinko balls that fell vigorously bore holes in the curved part of the hose in a short time. However, there is a drawback that the pachinko balls are opened and overflow from outside. In addition, there is a drawback in that the relative mounting positions of the lower ends of the overflow hose and the suction hose with respect to the storage tank must be accurately set in order to prioritize the guidance to the doffing apparatus.

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, the upper tank 41, such as the secondary pachinko island stand A2 in the present embodiment,
Pachinko balls and AC gutters 1 overflowing from 49
The structure for guiding the pachinko balls supplied from the upper tank 4 to the lower tank 13 is as shown in FIG.
An overflow passage 61 whose upper end is connected to the overflow port 40 of the upper and lower tanks 41 and 4;
9 is made of wood or a metal plate so that a suction passage 62 whose upper end is connected to the AC communication port 48 is adjacent to the AC communication opening 48, and a merging portion 64 is formed so as to merge at lower ends of the respective passages 61 and 62. Have been. Each of the pachinko balls joined at the joining section 64 is placed on the taxiway 68
Through the lower tank 13.

The above-described overflow passage 61 and suction passage 62 will be described in more detail. Each of the passages 61 and 62 is linearly fixed inside one side of the space where the doffing apparatus 21 is installed. (See FIG. 6), and in the case of the illustrated embodiment, a predetermined thickness (for example, 1
To form a square tube made of wood such as a veneer plate having a thickness of about 2 cm (or a metal plate as described above), and to reduce the force of the pachinko balls falling inside. As shown in FIG. 14, a number of alternating current plates 63 are provided alternately. The upper surface of the AC plate 63 and the passages 61 and 62
A rubber plate or a synthetic resin plate is affixed to the inner peripheral surface to suppress noise generated by falling of the ball. Also, the ends of the passages 61 and 62 are the merging portions 64 which communicate with each other as described above.
As shown in FIG. 5, a steeply inclined surface 65 for guiding the pachinko balls falling in the overflow passage 61 toward the center.
A gentle inclined surface 66 for guiding the pachinko balls falling down the suction passage 62 toward the central portion;
Merging passage portion 67 formed between the lower end of the slanted surface and the lower end of the gentle inclined surface 66 and guiding the pachinko balls guided by the inclined surfaces 65 and 66 toward the guiding path 68.
And, it consists of.

As described above, the overflow passage 61 and the suction passage 62 are formed linearly from a wood or metal plate having a predetermined thickness.
The pachinko balls that fall on 62 fall linearly and fall into each passage 6.
Since the predetermined portions of the inner walls of the inner walls 1 and 62 do not vigorously collide with each other, the predetermined portions of the inner wall are less likely to be damaged by the pachinko balls. Since the alternating current plates 63 are alternately protruded inside the passages 61 and 62 to weaken the falling force of the pachinko balls falling down the passages 61 and 62, the downstream ends of the pachinko balls reach the downstream end. The downstream ends of the passages 61 and 62 are less likely to be damaged by the pachinko balls.

On the other hand, the junction 64 at the downstream end of the overflow passage 61 and the suction passage 62 is, as described above,
It is constituted by a steeply inclined surface 65 of the overflow passage 61 and a gentlely inclined surface 66 of the suction passage 62, and the pressure of the pachinko balls riding on the steeply inclined surface 65 of the overflow passage 61 and the gentlely inclined surface 66 of the suction passage 62 The pressure of the riding pachinko ball is applied to the merging portion 64 along each of the inclined surfaces 65 and 66. In addition, steep slope 6
Since the inclination angle of 5 is larger than the inclination angle of the gentle slope 66, the downstream end of the overflow passage 61 is filled to some extent with pachinko balls (the suction passage 62 is always filled with pachinko balls). Is
The pressure of the pachinko balls on the steeply inclined surface 65 is lower than that of the gentlely inclined surface 6.
6, the flow of the pachinko balls on the steeply inclined surface 65 suppresses the flow of the pachinko balls on the gentle inclined surface 66. As a result, the pachinko balls flowing down the overflow passage 61 are preferentially guided paths. 68 and is guided to the lower tank 13.

That is, when the pachinko balls are filled inside the sub-pachinko island stand A2 or the like, the upper tank 4
The pachinko balls that have flowed out of the first and the 49 are filled in at least the downstream end of the overflow passage 61 and are preferentially guided to the lower tank 13, while the pachinko balls that are constantly filled from the suction passage 62 are supplied. Since the outflow of the balls to the guide path 68 is suppressed by the amount of the overflowed pachinko balls, the pachinko balls do not flow into the inside of the secondary pachinko island stand A2 or the like, and the pachinko balls can be smoothly circulated. The inflow of pachinko balls from the suction passage 62 is caused by a decrease in the amount of pachinko balls overflowing (occurs when the number of pachinko balls supplied to a pachinko machine or the like increases due to a large hit of the pachinko machine) and overflows. The pachinko balls flow in when the amount of pachinko balls from the suction passage 62 cannot be suppressed by the amount of the pachinko balls. In the case of the present embodiment, the structure in which the overflowed pachinko balls are preferentially supplied to the ball-lifting device 21 is performed at the merging portion 64 outside the lower tank 13, so that the overflow hose or the suction hose is used as in the related art. It is also free from the troublesome work of having to accurately position the downstream end position of the.

The structure for returning the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tanks 41 and 49 to the lower tank 13 in the secondary pachinko island A2 and the like has been described above. Stand A2
The structure of the lower tank 13, which is one of the differences from the above, will be described with reference to FIGS. The structural difference of the lower tank 13 is slight. In particular,
The main pachinko island stand A1 and the like do not necessarily need the upper guiding gutter 15 but need an inflow port 18 (see FIG. 2) for receiving pachinko balls from the base tanks B1 to B3. An upper guide gutter 15 is necessary for the island stand A2 and the like, but an inflow port 18 for receiving pachinko balls from the base tanks B1 to B3 is not required. That is, in the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like, the pachinko balls supplied from the AC gutters 1 and 2 and the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 22 are returned to the base tanks B1 to B3 via the overflow return gutter 6. The pachinko balls supplied from the AC gutters 1 and 2 and the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 22 are moved upstream of the lower tank 13 by the upper guiding gutter 15 (the ball-lifting device 2).
Opposite the outlet 73 for supplying pachinko balls to 1)
There is no need to transport to On the other hand, slave pachinko island A
2 and the like, the pachinko balls supplied from the AC gutters 1 and 2 and the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 22 and guided by the suction passage 62 and the overflow passage 61 are passed through the upper guiding gutter 15 to the lower tank 13.
Need to be led upstream. This necessity will be described in detail later. Also, it is clear that the inflow port 18 is not necessary in the secondary pachinko island stand A2 or the like, but the position of the inflow port 18 provided in the main pachinko island stand A1 or the like is, as shown in FIG. Slightly above the lower end of the flow, whereby pachinko balls supplied from the base tanks B1 to B3 can be supplied to the upstream side of the lower tank 13.

However, the structure of the lower tank 13 except for the above-mentioned points is the same as that of the lower tank 13 installed on the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like, and the lower tank 13 is installed on the secondary pachinko island stand A2 and the like. The common structure will be described. The lower tank 13 is formed of a rectangular parallelepiped box frame having an open upper surface, and has a bottom plate 14 on the bottom surface which is inclined downward toward the introduction gutter 16 of the doffing and conveying device 21, and has an inner upper portion opposite to the bottom plate 14. An upper guide gutter 15 that is inclined in the direction is provided. The guide path 6 is provided at the upstream end of the upper guide gutter 15.
A guideway connection port 69 for communicating with the communication path 8 is formed. Therefore, the pachinko balls that have flowed down the overflow passage 61 and the suction passage 62 are guided by the guiding passage 68,
It is guided to the upstream side of the lower tank 13 via the guideway connecting port 69 and the upper guide gutter 15. In addition, these pachinko balls are pachinko balls polished and fed by the ball lifting device 21, and since they are clean and have dirt wiped off, they may be stored upstream of the lower tank 13. ,
The priority of the pachinko ball that is led to the ball discharging device 21 is a low pachinko ball.

On the other hand, among the pachinko balls stored in the lower tank 13, the high-priority pachinko balls guided to the ball lifting device 21 are unpolished pachinko balls used in the pachinko machine 10 and the like. Specifically, it is a pachinko ball that is guided into the lower tank 13 through the left and right out ball collection gutters 12. Therefore, a structure for guiding out balls preferentially to the ball discharging device 21 will be described below. On one side of the bottom surface of the lower tank 13, an out ball guiding passage 70 to which the downstream end of the out ball collecting gutter 12 on the side where the lower tank 13 is installed is connected via a spacing plate 77. The downstream end of the out ball guiding passage 70 is
And a priority plate 71 for guiding the pachinko balls flowing out from the open end to the outlet 73 side is provided. An interval is provided between the priority plate 71 and the bottom plate 14, and the pachinko balls stored in the lower tank 13 flow down toward the outlet 73 from this interval. The guide bottom plate 14a from the outlet 73 to the downstream end of the spacing plate 77 is formed slightly lower than the other bottom plates 14.

A depressurizing plate 72 is fixed downwardly from the front side wall plate of the lower tank 13 to a position slightly above the out ball guiding passage 70 below the guiding path connecting port 69. The press-release plate 72 is laid horizontally over the entire width of the lower tank 13.
When a large amount of pachinko balls are stored in the inside 3, the pressure of the stored pachinko balls is not applied to the pachinko balls flowing toward the outlet 73. The lower tank 13 is located below the pressure release plate 72.
Partitioning plate 7 so as to have a predetermined interval between the partition plate 7 and the front side wall plate.
4 is fixed. An inclined plate 75 that is inclined toward the outlet 73 is fixed to the bottom surface between the front side plate of the lower tank 13 and the partition plate 74. Partition plate 74
Guides the pachinko balls stored on the rear surface side (upstream side) to the lower part of the priority plate 71 from between the spacing plate 77 and the communication gutter 17 (FIG. 2 and FIG. 2) on the front side (downstream side). Out balls that roll from (see FIG. 6) are guided from the connecting gutter connection port 76 to the inclined plate 75 to a position immediately before the outflow port 73. In addition, the above-mentioned guideway connecting port 69 and connecting gutter connecting port 7 are provided on the front side wall plate of the lower tank 13.
6. The outlet 73 is opened, but the taxiway connecting port 69 is
The connection gutter connection port 76 is provided at an upper portion on one side, is provided below the guideway connection port 69 and is provided at a position slightly above the inclined plate 75, and the outlet 73 is provided at a lower portion on the other side. .

In the lower tank 13 configured as described above, the overflowed pachinko balls and the pachinko balls supplied from other islands are supplied to the upper guiding gutter 15 or the inflow port 1.
The gas is discharged onto the bottom plate 14 on the upstream side through 8 and is stored in the storage space of the lower tank 13. On the other hand, out ball collection gutter 1
The pachinko ball that has rolled 2 is the out ball guiding path 70
And, it is discharged to a position immediately before the outflow port 73 through the inclined plate 75. Thus, in the relationship between the pachinko balls (also called storage balls) stored in the storage space of the lower tank 13 and the out balls, as shown in FIG. It falls between the partitioning plate 74 and the spacing plate 77 from the tip of the priority plate 71 to cover above the storage balls flowing out from the lower part of the priority plate 71. For this reason, since the out ball from the out ball guiding passage 70 is in a state of preventing rolling down of the storage ball, the out ball flowing down the out ball guiding passage 70 has priority to the outflow port 7.
3 will be led. On the other hand, since the out ball that rolls on the inclined plate 75 is also formed so that a predetermined step occurs between the end position of the inclined plate 75 and the guiding bottom plate 14a, Drop to cover. For this reason, since the out ball falling on the inclined plate 75 is prevented from rolling downward of the pachinko ball rolling on the guiding bottom plate 14a, the out ball rolling and falling on the inclined plate 75 has priority. To the outlet 73. In this way, after the unpolished out ball is led to the outlet 73 with priority over the overflowed pachinko ball and the polished pachinko ball supplied from another island, the introduction gutter 16
Is supplied to the ball lifting device 21 for polishing and transporting, so that the dirty pachinko balls do not stay in the lower tank 13 for a long period of time.

The details of the main pachinko island stand A1 and the like and the secondary pachinko island stand A2 and the like in the island interchange type have been described above. Next, the base tanks B1 to B3, which are important components in this island interchange form, are shown in FIG. This will be described with reference to FIGS. Each of the base tanks B1 to B3 is formed of a plywood or a metal plate in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having an open upper surface, and has a bottom plate 80 inclined downward toward the center, and an inflow gutter connected to the lower tank 13 at a central inclined bottom surface portion. 20 are provided. On the upper part of the inflow gutter 20, a depressurizing plate 8 is provided so that the stored pachinko balls flow smoothly into the inflow gutter 20.
1 extend in the width direction. The illustrated inflow gutter 20 has a mountain shape at the center so as to protrude left and right from the central side wall of the base tank.
This is because the type in which the pachinko balls are returned to the left and right main pachinko islands, such as B2 and B3, is illustrated, and the pachinko balls are supplied to only one main pachinko island A1, such as the base tank B1. In this case, the inflow gutter 20 may be formed so as to protrude outward from one side wall.

The storage spaces 82 of the base tanks B1 to B3 have a large number of pachinko balls (10
Since the storage space 82 has a capacity for storing pachinko balls in the storage space 82, a considerable pressure is applied to the side walls.
4, the side walls of the base tanks B1 to B3 are reinforced. Specifically, two upper and lower metal reinforcing outer members 84 are provided on the outer surface of the base tanks B1 to B3, and the upper reinforcing outer member 84 includes a metal that penetrates the storage space 82 in the lateral direction. A reinforcement rod 83 made of stainless steel is inserted, and a lower reinforcement outer peripheral member 84 is bolted to the base tank B by a bolt.
1 to B3. In addition, above the base tanks B1 to B3, the pachinko balls returned by the overflow return gutter 6 and the pachinko balls transferred by the AC gutters 1 and 2 are guided to both ends of the base tanks B1 to B3. An upper guide plate 85 and a lower guide plate 86 are provided to be inclined in different directions. The upper guide plate 85 and the lower guide plate 86 are provided by being fixed on a mounting horizontal bar 87 that is laid horizontally in the storage space 82. Also, the upper guide plate 85
Are provided on both upper sides in an inclined manner,
The pachinko balls returned by the overflow return gutter 6 or the AC gutters 1 and 2 are directly received and guided in the inclined direction, and the pachinko balls dropped during the guidance are received by the lower guide plate 86 and guided in the opposite direction. Things.

Further, inside the base tanks B1 to B3, ball quantity sensors 88a to 88h for detecting the quantity of balls stored in the storage space 82 are provided at the center of the side wall.
Specifically, ball amount sensors 88a to 88d (which may be abbreviated as ball amount sensors S2 to S5) are mounted in a row so as to have different heights sequentially from the lower position. 88h (this is the ball amount sensor S6 to S9
May be abbreviated as ")" in a row so that the heights are sequentially different from the upper position. However, the ball amount sensor S
6 to S9 are installed so as to be approximately at the middle of the respective intervals of the ball amount sensors S2 to S5. In such an installation position, the ball amount sensors may be arranged such that at least one of the ball amount sensors functions, and when finer control is performed, the ball amount sensors of both lines are used. Should work. In the first embodiment, among the ball amount sensors S2 to S9 and the ball amount sensor S1 of the storage tank 13, the ball amount sensor S1 is used.
Is used as a ball shortage sensor, the ball amount sensor S2 is used as a lower limit sensor, the ball amount sensor S3 is used as a lower limit recovery sensor, the ball amount sensor S5 is used as a ball excess sensor, and the ball amount sensor S4 is an upper limit sensor. Used as the base tank B based on the detection signal from the sensor.
The shutter device 3 is controlled so as to be open so that the storage amount in 1 to B3 is not always insufficient. The control is automatically performed by a control board 89 (see FIG. 2) provided inside the main pachinko island stand A1 or the like. Controlled. And
The control board 89 receives signals from the ball quantity sensors S1 to S5 provided in the base tank associated with the island and signals from the ball quantity sensors S1 to S5 provided in the base tanks on both the left and right sides. It has become. Specific control will be described later in detail.

The pachinko island tables A1 to A9 shown in FIGS. 1 to 19 described above are said to be of the island exchange type in which a plurality of pachinko island tables are used as one block and the pachinko balls are transported by the AC gutters 1 and 2. However, in this island exchange type ball transfer device, the balls are transferred using the first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 in which the pachinko balls naturally flow, so that the pachinko machine or the like uses a pachinko machine. The structure is simpler than a ball transfer device for transferring balls, and the upper tank 2 such as the main pachinko island stand A1 where the first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 are adjacent to each other.
Since the pachinko balls to be transferred can be moved bidirectionally and directly because they are stretched between the two, the same storage is performed when there is a difference in the storage amount of the balls between adjacent base tanks. It can respond quickly to the quantity level.

Next, a description will be given of a pachinko island stand called an arch type in which pachinko balls are conveyed by adjacent pachinko island stands with reference to FIGS. 20 to 23. FIG. FIG.
FIG. 21 is an overall schematic diagram showing a relationship between a plurality of pachinko islands C1 to C4 according to the second embodiment of the present invention when a ball transfer device different from that of FIG. 1 is used, and FIG. 21 is shown in FIG. It is a front view showing the internal structure of the pachinko island stand C1 to C4,
FIG. 22 is a side view of an upper tank 92 and an AC tank 93 provided on the pachinko island stand C1 to C4.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view for explaining the flow of balls in the upper tank 92 and the alternating current tank 93. 21 and 22, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Further, the upper tank in the present invention is constituted by the upper tank 92 and the AC tank 93 in the second embodiment.

First, the arched pachinko island stand C1 to C
4 and the pachinko island stand A1 to A9 in the island interchange is that a large pachinko ball storage tank 90 corresponding to a base tank is provided inside each of the arched pachinko island stands C1 to C4 (see FIG. 20). (In this sense, the pachinko islands C1 to C4 correspond to the main pachinko islands A1 and the like in the first embodiment), and each of the pachinko ball storage tanks 90 is adjusted to adjust the storage amount between the pachinko ball storage tanks 90. An AC tank 93 into which a ball transfer device is inserted separately from the upper tank 92 is provided above pachinko islands C1 to C4. Pachinko machine 1 on other pachinko islands C1 to C4
0, an out ball box 11, an out ball collection gutter 12, a ball lifting device 21, a supply gutter 23, a ball lending machine 24, and a prize ball return device 5 are provided in the structure of the island interchange pachinko island stand A1 to A9. And does not change. However, arched pachinko island stand C1
In many of C4 to C4, the prize ball returning device 5 is independently provided, and the position thereof is also mounted in place of the pachinko machine 10 adjacent to the doffing device 21 as shown in FIG. Needless to say, the prize ball returning devices 5 may be provided at the edge of the island without replacing the pachinko machine 10, respectively. Hereinafter, the structure of the pachinko ball storage tank 90 and the structure of the ball transfer device including the upper tank 92 and the AC tank 93 which are characteristic in the arched pachinko island stand C1 to C4 will be mainly described.

A pachinko ball storage tank 90 is provided below the pachinko island stand C1 to C4. The pachinko ball storage tank 90 is provided with two pachinko balls on both sides of the ball discharging device 21 as shown in FIG. Storage tanks 90a, 90b
It is provided as. This pachinko ball storage tank 90
The a and 90b are formed so large that a large amount of pachinko balls can be stored. Specifically, the number of pachinko balls stored in the storage section of the pachinko ball storage tank 90a or 90b can sufficiently cope with various game states of the plurality of pachinko machines 10 installed on the pachinko island platforms C1 to C4. It is designed to have a size of about (for example, 200,000 to 250,000 pieces).

The pachinko ball storage tanks 90a, 90
The b is connected to overflow passages 123 and 124 for returning the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 92 and the AC balls flowing from the AC tank 93 to the lower part. The overflow passages 123, 124 are formed by rectangular parallelepiped boxes provided so as to use the space adjacent to the doffing and conveying device 21, and the inside thereof is vertically partitioned by a branch partition. The branch partition divides a priority overflow passage 123 that preferentially guides overflow balls and AC balls, and a non-priority overflow passage 124 that overflows when the priority overflow passage 123 becomes full. In addition, inside the overflow passages 123 and 124, flow-down plates for weakening the strength of falling balls are provided alternately in a stepped manner.

Thus, the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 92 and the AC balls flowing from the AC tank 93 are preferentially guided to the priority overflow passage 123, and when the priority overflow passage 123 becomes full, non-priority is given. It overflows into the overflow passage 124. And the priority overflow passage 123
The non-priority overflow passage 124 includes a left-side pachinko ball storage tank 90a (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as a priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a) and a right-side pachinko ball storage tank 90b (hereinafter, a non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90).
b). As described above, in the present embodiment, the overflow mechanism is configured in a box shape instead of the conventional flexible pipe, so that the generation of noise due to the returned pachinko balls can be extremely reduced, and not only the return function but also the return function is provided. There is also a storage function for storing a considerable amount of pachinko balls (in the present embodiment, about 20 to 30,000 pieces), so that a pachinko island stand C is used by utilizing a space that has not been used conventionally.
It can be effectively used as a storage space inside 1 to C4. In FIG. 21, the overflow passage 12
3 and 124 are drawn in front of the doffing and conveying device 21, but this is to show the structure of the overflow passages 123 and 124 in detail, and actually, the overflow passages 123 and 124 are not doffed. It is formed more deeply than the feeding device 21.

The pachinko ball storage tanks 90a, 90
A plurality of ball quantity sensors 125 (see FIG. 20) for detecting the stored ball quantity are provided on the inner side wall of b. According to the experiments conducted by the present applicants, it has been found that the change in the storage of the pachinko balls in the pachinko ball storage tanks 90a and 90b is such that the change is stored from the upstream side of each of the pachinko ball storage tanks 90a and 90b. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 21, the plurality of ball quantity sensors 125a to 125i are arranged in a substantially horizontal straight line, and the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90 is provided.
The lower limit of the storage amount is detected by a ball amount sensor 125a (hereinafter, may be referred to as a ball amount sensor S1) disposed upstream of the a, while the ball amount disposed downstream of the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b. The sensor 125e (hereinafter, may be referred to as a ball amount sensor S5) detects the upper limit of the storage amount. Then, based on the detection signals of the ball quantity sensors 125a to 125i, opening / closing control of a shutter device 116, which will be described later, of the ball transfer device is performed, and a plurality of pachinko islands C
The ball storage amounts of 1 to C4 are equalized.
The control that performs this equalization is performed by one of the two pachinko islands C1 and C2, one of the pachinko islands C2 and C3, and the one of the pachinko islands C3 and C4 connected by the ball transfer device. The control board 89 is provided inside one of them. In order to control the opening and closing of the ball transfer device, among the ball amount sensors 125a to 125i shown in the drawing, the ball amount sensors 125a and 125b provided in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a and the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b. Ball amount sensors 125c and 125 provided
Although it is sufficient to use d and 125e, in order to perform fine opening / closing control, these ball amount sensors 125a to 125e are used.
Ball amount sensors 125f to 125
i may be used.

Here, the pachinko ball storage tanks 90a, 90
0b will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a and the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b have slightly different structures, but the same reference numerals are given to components having the same function. Pachinko ball storage tanks 90a and 90b
The balls received from the overflow passages 123 and 124 are caused to flow down by the upper gutter 126 and are sequentially stored from the upstream side on the bottom surface inclined toward the ball discharging device 21, and the stored balls are introduced into the ball discharging device 21. It leads to the gutter 16. However,
The balls stored in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a are placed in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a because the introduction gutter 16 of the ball lifting and conveying device 21 is arranged in a direction facing the bottom surface of the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b. It is guided to the small reduction machine 91 from the lower communication gutter 128 communicating with the bottom surface of the 90a, and supplied to the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b by the small reduction machine 91.

Further, in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a, an out ball guiding internal gutter 127 which is communicated with the out ball collecting gutter 12 is formed. It is sent to the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b via the communication gutter 17. In this way, the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a does not lead out the received pachinko balls directly to the ball discharging device 21, but the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b via the small reduction machine 91 or the communication gutter 17. Send to That is, in the pachinko ball stand C1 to C4 of the second embodiment, the pachinko balls received in the pachinko ball storage tanks 90a and 90b are configured to be collectively guided to the ball lifting device 21 from the pachinko ball storage tank 90b side. . In this way, the introduction gutter 16 of the ball doffing device 21 is directed only toward the one pachinko ball storage tank 90b because the flow of the balls into the ball doffing device 21 is made smooth and the ball doffing device 21 is lifted. This is for the purpose of sufficiently exhibiting the feeding ability and for forming the pachinko island bases C1 to C4 so that the island width is reduced.

Further, in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a, there are two upper and lower communication gutters connected to the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b because the upper communication port connected to the upper out ball guiding inner gutter 127 is provided. Gutter 17
However, in order to preferentially guide the used and dirty pachinko balls to the ball discharging device 21 without storing them in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a, a relatively high position, specifically, a non-priority pachinko ball storage. It is necessary to provide at a position higher than the bottom surface of the tank 90b. Otherwise, the out balls flowing down the out ball guiding inner gutter 127 cannot be allowed to naturally flow down to the non-priority pachinko ball storage tank 90b side. on the other hand,
If the bottom surface of the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a is made to coincide with the height position of the out ball guiding internal gutter 127, the pachinko balls stored in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a will also be stored in the non-priority pachinko ball via the upper connecting gutter 17. Although it can be allowed to flow naturally to the tank 90b side, since the position of the bottom surface is increased, there is a disadvantage that the storage amount in the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90a is reduced accordingly. For this reason, the height position of the bottom surface of the priority pachinko ball storage tank 90 a is lowered to increase the storage amount, and the lower communication gutter 128 communicating with the bottom surface is connected to the small reduction machine 91, and the small reduction machine 91 does not give priority. It is sent to the pachinko ball storage tank 90b.

Next, the pachinko island stand C according to the second embodiment will be described.
The detailed structure of the ball transfer device inserted between 1 to C4 will be described. The ball transfer device is the AC tank 93 described above.
And pachinko island stand C1 to C adjacent to AC tank 93
AC lower gutter 118 that is gently inclined toward the AC tank 93 of AC No. 4 and an arch-shaped AC lower arch that receives AC balls from the AC tank 93 of the adjacent pachinko islands C1 to C4 into the lower part of the AC tank 93. The AC tank 93 and the upper tank 92 closely related to the AC tank 93 will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 and 23.

The upper tank 92 is formed in a box shape in which a ball inlet for receiving the balls discharged by the ball discharging device 21 is formed on one upper side thereof, and the inside thereof is divided by a branch vertical plate 96 into a branch space 94. And overflow space 9
5 and a branch. The diversion space 94 is a space into which the pachinko balls flowing from the ball entrance enter first, and the pachinko balls entering the diversion space 94 are stepped plates 97a to 97c provided so as to be inclined inward alternately.
As a result, the water drops downward while the momentum is weakened, and is guided from a stepped bottom plate 98 constituting the bottom surface of the diverting space 94 to a supply outlet 99 formed on one side wall of the upper tank 92.
The replenishment outlet 99 is connected to the replenishment gutter 23 for replenishing balls to the pachinko machines 10 and the ball-to-ball machines that are arranged in a line on one side (right side in FIG. 21) from the center of the pachinko island tables C1 to C4. It is.

The upper tank 9 is located on the side of the vertical plate 96 of the step plate 97c provided above the stepped bottom plate 98.
2, a lower guiding side plate 100 inclined toward the other side wall is provided, and a supply connecting cylinder 102 inserted between the lower guiding side plate 100 and the AC tank 93 is connected to a position corresponding to the tip of the lower guiding side plate 100. . Then, the downstream end of the supply connecting cylinder 102 is connected to the receiving port 111 of the AC tank 93,
The receiving port 111 is connected to the pachinko machine 10 arranged in a row on the other side (left side in FIG. 21) from the center of the pachinko island stand C1 to C4 and the supply gutter 23 for supplying balls to the pachinko ball lending machine. It is.

An upper guide side plate 101 which is inclined toward the other side wall of the upper tank 92 is provided on the branch vertical plate 96 side of the uppermost step plate 97a. The AC communication cylinder 103 inserted between the AC tank 93 and the AC tank 93 is connected to a position where the AC communication cylinder 103 is located. Note that a stopper plate 10 is provided above the upper guiding side plate 101.
1a is fixed, but this is a ball that has flowed in from the ball inlet and guided to the lower part so that the ball that has traveled through the step plate 97a and the upper guide side plate 101 does not flow out of the AC connecting tube 103, Only the ball overflowing to the upper guide side plate 101 flows out to the AC connecting cylinder 103.

On the other hand, the upper end of the branch vertical plate 96 is located slightly above the upper guide side plate 101, and the overflow space 9 branched by the branch vertical plate 96 is located.
5 also includes step plates 104a-
104d is provided. The step plates 104a to 104a
4d is for guiding the ball overflowing from the upper end of the branching vertical plate 96 downward while weakening the momentum of the ball. The lower end of the overflow guide gutter 105 communicates with the priority overflow passage 123. The overflow space 9
5 are provided on the upper surfaces of the step plates 104a to 104c.
A member (rubber, synthetic resin, or the like) for reducing the impact of the falling ball is affixed.
Steps 97a to 97c and a stepped bottom plate 98
May be stuck on.

In the upper tank 92 configured as described above, the pachinko balls pumped by the ball pumping device 21 are guided from the ball inlet to the diversion space 94, and thereafter, the step plates 97a to 97c and the stepped bottoms are formed. Supply plate 99 from face plate 98
To the supply gutter 23 on one side. Since the number of pachinko balls used by the supply gutter 23 on one side is far larger than the number of pachinko balls used by the ball hoisting device 21, the balls flowing into the diversion space 94 are immediately stored and accumulated. The accumulated balls are first supplied from the step plate 97c and the lower guide side plate 100 to the supply gutter 23 on the other side via the supply connection cylinder 102 and the AC tank 93. Since the number of pachinko balls to be pumped is much larger than the number of pachinko balls used in the above-mentioned left and right supply gutters 23, pachinko balls further accumulate in the diversion space 94, and the accumulated balls are separated by an upper step. It is guided to the plate 97a and the upper guide side plate 101, jumps over the stopper plate 101a, flows out to the AC connecting cylinder 103, and is guided to the AC tank 93. The balls guided to the AC tank 93 are supplied to the adjacent pachinko islands C1 to C4 via the AC upper gutter 118 as described later. In the ball transfer device, the maximum is 6,000 pieces / min (3,000 pieces / min for one AC upper gutter 118 alone, but there are two on the left and right). The left and right supply gutters 2
3 and the number of refills to the AC tank 93 is larger than the total number of pachinko balls to be pumped, so that the pachinko balls further accumulate in the diversion space 94, and the accumulated balls jump over the upper end of the branch vertical plate 96. Flows into the overflow space 95 and flows from the overflow guiding gutter 105 to the overflow passage 12.
3,124.

That is, in the second embodiment, the left and right supply gutters 23 and the AC tank 93 are provided as long as the ball discharging device 21 is discharging balls at a normal discharging capacity (15,000 pieces / min). Even when the supply of oil to the tank reaches the maximum value, the overflow space 95 always overflows the overflow passages 123 and 1.
The ball is circulated guided by 24.

On the other hand, the AC tank 93 communicated with the upper tank 92 is branched into a supply space 106 and a reception space 107 by a branch horizontal plate 108 provided in a horizontal direction slightly above the center of the rectangular parallelepiped box. The inlet 109 and the feed port 110 face the feed space 106.
And has been established. The receiving port 109 is a port to which the downstream end of the AC communication tube 103 is connected.
Are formed on left and right side walls adjacent to the side wall on which the receiving port 109 is formed, and are connected to an upstream end of an AC upper gutter 118 described later. Thus, in the feeding space 106, a passage for guiding the pachinko balls received from the receiving port 109 to the feeding port 110 is formed. The AC upper gutter 118 is connected to the outside of the feed port 110 as described above.
0 and the AC upper gutter 118, the shutter device 11
6 is attached. This shutter device 116
Is, as shown in FIG. 22, a motor 117 and the motor 1
And an elevating plate which is moved up and down by the lift 17. The shutter device 116 includes ball amount sensors S1 to S9 provided in the pachinko ball storage tanks 90a and 90b of its own island, and ball amount sensors S1 to S9 provided in the pachinko ball storage tanks 90a and 90b of another adjacent island. Open / close drive control is performed based on a signal from the controller. This will be described in detail later.

The receiving space 107 is provided with a receiving port 111, a supply port (a port to which the upstream end of the supply gutter 23 is connected; not shown), and a receiving port 114. The receiving port 111 is connected to the downstream end of the supply connecting cylinder 102, and has a supply port (not shown) formed in a lower part of the side wall facing the receiving port 111. A pair of partition plates 112 are erected in the receiving space 107 so as to connect the receiving port 111 and the replenishing outlet, and guide the pachinko balls received from the receiving port 111 only to the replenishing outlet. . In the space formed by the pair of partitioning plates 112, an inclined bottom surface 113 is provided on the bottom surface thereof, which is inclined downward toward the supply outlet, and a step plate 113a is provided on the upper portion of the supply outlet in a reversely inclined shape. The pachinko balls received from the receiving port 111 are temporarily received by the step plate 113a to reduce the momentum, and then discharged from the replenishing port by the inclined bottom surface 113. In addition, the receiving port 114 faces the space outside the pair of partition plates 112. The end of the AC lower arch gutter 119 is connected and fixed to the outside of the receiving port 114.
The pachinko balls received from the AC lower arch gutter 119 are received in the outer space of the partition plate 112, and then discharged to the outside of the AC tank 93 from a drop port 115a formed in the center of the bottom plate 115 constituting the bottom surface. As shown in FIG. 21, the pachinko balls discharged from the falling port 115a are guided to the priority overflow passage 123 of the overflow passages 123 and 124.

The structure of the upper tank 92 and the AC tank 93 is substantially the same as that described above, and these tanks 92 and 93 are provided with one tank cover 122 (FIG. 21).
Ref.).

Next, the AC upper gutter 118 and the AC lower arch gutter 119 inserted into the AC tank 93 will be described. One end of the AC upper gutter 118 is connected and fixed to the feed port 110 of the AC tank 93, and the other end of the AC upper gutter 118 is gradually loosened toward the substantially central AC portion 121 between the adjacent pachinko island stands C1 to C4. It is formed so as to be inclined. Accordingly, the AC upper gutter 118 is fixedly extended from the AC tank 93 of the adjacent pachinko island stand C1 to C4. On the other hand, AC lower arch gutter 11
Reference numeral 9 denotes an arc-shaped gutter whose both ends are connected and fixed to the receiving port 114 of the adjacent AC tank 93, and an AC upper gutter 118 extending from the left and right at a top portion of the arc. The AC unit 121 communicates with the end. In this AC section 121, the pachinko ball flowing from the upper left AC upper gutter 118 is guided to the lower right AC lower arch gutter 119, and the pachinko ball flowing from the upper right AC upper gutter 118 is moved to the lower left AC lower gutter. Arch gutter 119
It is designed to be guided in an intersection.

The AC upper gutter 118 and the AC lower arch gutter 119 are each formed by attaching a material such as semi-rigid urethane to the inner periphery of a metal gutter member having a U-shaped cross section having an open upper surface. By covering the lid cover plate to which the soft urethane material is adhered from the upper surface thereof, the cover member is formed as a cylindrical member having a rectangular cross section as a whole, and exhibits a noise reduction effect. Further, a sensor 120 is provided at the lower end of the AC lower arch gutter 119 (immediately before the receiving port 114), and the sensor 120 monitors a flowing state of the AC ball, a failure of the shutter device 116, and the like. In addition,
Rubber or synthetic resin may be attached below each urethane material to improve the vibration absorption. Further, the mounting position of the sensor 120 may be another position, for example, an upstream end portion (near the shutter device 116) of the AC upper gutter 118.

Thus, in the second embodiment described above, the AC lower arch gutter 119 is inserted between the adjacent AC tanks 93, and the AC lower arch gutter 119 is connected between the AC section 121 and the AC tank 93. The upper gutter 118 is inserted, and the AC upper gutter 118 and the AC lower arch gutter 11 are inserted.
Since the pachinko balls flow down in the interior of 9, the AC upper gutter 118 formed linearly is supported from below by the arch structure of the AC lower arch gutter 119 formed in an arch shape to secure sufficient strength. Even if the pachinko balls stay in the AC upper gutter 118 and the AC lower arch gutter 119, they are not twisted or bent by their weight. Therefore, there is no need to support the AC gutter with a separately prepared supporting member as in the conventional case, and the structure is simple and the appearance is favorable. In the structure according to the second embodiment, if a ball is clogged at any point of the AC lower arch gutter 119 or downstream thereof and the ball flows backward through the AC lower arch gutter 119, the ball is sent out. Since the current flows backward to the AC tank 93 on the side via the AC lower arch gutter 119, the entire AC lower arch gutter 119 is not filled with balls, and the load is reduced accordingly. Also, even if a thin material is used as a member constituting the AC upper gutter 118 and the AC lower arch gutter 119, sufficient strength for the arch structure can be obtained, and overall cost reduction can be achieved. it can.

Further, the AC lower arch gutter 119 is an arc-shaped portion extending in a substantially horizontal direction for a pachinko ball received in a cross shape from the AC upper gutter 118 provided at a gentle slope so as to reduce the speed and gradually increase the speed. As a result, the force of the pachinko balls flowing down can be weakened as compared with the inclined AC gutter that is guided linearly as in the related art, and the sound of pachinko balls flowing down can be reduced.

Although the ball transfer device in the above-described embodiment has a configuration in which the upper tank 92 and the AC tank 93 are separately provided, these are formed in one tank, and the inside is formed in the upper portion of the present embodiment. By partitioning the tank so as to have a structure similar to that of the tank 92 and the alternating current tank 93, one tank may be formed.

As described above, the pachinko island stand 2 corresponding to the present invention is described.
One embodiment has been described, but the ball transfer device (island interchange) of the pachinko islands A1 to A9 according to the first embodiment is also a ball transfer device (arch interchange) of the pachinko islands C1 to C4 according to the second embodiment. As described above, the pachinko ball storage tank (base tank B)
1 to B3, a pachinko ball storage tank 90; hereinafter, simply referred to as a pachinko ball storage tank), which is controlled by a control board 89 as a control means provided on any of the pachinko islands. 89 and ball amount sensors S1 to S5 provided in the pachinko ball storage tank
(However, the relationship with the ball amount sensor S1 of the first embodiment is provided in the lower tank 13) is as shown in FIG. FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram showing the relationship between the control board 89 and the ball quantity sensors S1 to S5 provided in the pachinko ball storage tank. To briefly explain this,
The control board 89 includes a pachinko ball storage tank and is provided on any one of the pachinko ball stands connected by the ball transfer device. The control board 89 includes a pachinko ball storage tank provided on the pachinko ball stand. All ball quantity sensors S1
To S5 are connected. The ball amount sensors S1 to S5 of B2 (90 of C2), the ball amount sensors S1 to S5 of B1 (90 of C1), and the ball amount sensors S1 of B3 (90 of C3).
To S5 respectively correspond. Therefore, one control board 89 controls the whole, and stores the amount of pachinko balls between the pachinko ball storage tank on the own island and the pachinko ball storage tank on the pachinko island stand connected by the ball transfer device. The predetermined control is performed while comparing the levels. In FIG. 24, the connection between the control board 89 and the ball amount sensors S1 to S5 is indicated by a two-dot chain line.
The two-dot chain line arrow pointing downward from the middle of the AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 is the slave pachinko island stand A2 in the first embodiment.
Indicates the supply of pachinko balls, etc., and the reference numerals in parentheses correspond to the components of the second embodiment. The symbol t is an identification number for identifying each pachinko ball storage tank in a flow chart described later, and t = 1, 2, 3,... In order from the pachinko ball storage tank B1 (90 of C1).
・ It is given.

The control board 89 connected as described above controls the storage amount of the pachinko ball storage tanks B1 to B3 or 90 in accordance with the flowcharts shown in FIGS. Therefore, hereinafter, the storage amount control will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 25 is a main flowchart showing the control of the ball transfer device in the embodiment, and FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing step 3 in the main flowchart of FIG.
27 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of FIG. 27 and FIG.
8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 23 in the flowchart of FIG. 26, FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 4 in the main flowchart of FIG. 25, and FIGS. FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 55 in the flowchart of FIG. 29.

In FIG. 25, when the power is turned on at the time of opening the store, in step 1, t used to identify each pachinko ball storage tank and flags FL and FL used to determine the lower limit comparison control are described later in detail. FR is initialized as 0. Further, all shutter devices installed in the ball transfer device are closed. Then, in step 2,
The initial value 0 is substituted for t, and t = 1, and the upper limit storage amount control in step 3 and the lower limit in step 4 are performed on 90 (hereinafter, storage tank (1)) of the pachinko ball storage tanks B1 and C1 in FIG. The storage amount control is executed. In step 5, it is determined whether or not the identification number t of the pachinko ball storage tank matches the number N of the installed pachinko ball storage tanks. In this case, since t = 1, if the set number of N is not 1, it is determined to be “NO” in step 5 and the process returns to step 2 to set the value of t to 2, and the pachinko ball storage tanks B2 and C2 The upper limit storage amount control of step 3 and the lower limit storage amount control of step 4 are executed for 90 (hereinafter, storage tank (2)). And t = N
Is repeated until t = N, "YES" is determined in step 5. In step 5, "YE
When it is determined to be "S", the value of t becomes 0, and the process returns to step 2 and the upper limit storage amount control in step 3 and the lower limit storage amount control in step 4 are executed again for the pachinko ball storage tank t = 1. In addition, the pachinko ball storage tank is 3
In the case of a table, N = 3, and the upper limit storage amount control and the lower limit storage amount control are repeatedly executed in the order of the storage tank (1), the storage tank (2), and the storage tank (3).

The upper limit storage amount control subroutine of step 3 executes a process when the storage amount of the pachinko ball storage tank increases, and is shown in FIG. The lower limit storage amount control subroutine of step 4 executes a process when the storage amount of the pachinko ball storage tank is reduced, and is shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the upper limit storage amount control will be described. In the description, it is assumed that t = 2.

In FIG. 26, at step 21, it is determined whether or not the ball excess sensor S5 of the storage tank (2) is ON, that is,
It is determined whether or not the storage tank (2) is full. If “YES” is determined in step 21, that is, if the storage tank (2) is full, in step 22, the left and right storage tanks (storage tanks (1, 3) located on the left and right of the storage tank (2) ) To close the shutter device from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (2). This makes it impossible to transfer pachinko balls from the storage tanks (1, 3) to the storage tank (2), and notifies that the storage tank (2) is full. Then, after executing step 22, a subroutine of upper limit comparison control in step 23 described later is executed. On the other hand, if "NO" is determined in the step 21, the display of the excess-ball warning of the storage tank (2) is canceled in a step 25, and then in a step 26, it is determined whether or not the upper limit sensor S4 of the storage tank (2) is ON. Determine. When "YES" is determined in step 26, the process proceeds to step 23, and when "NO" is determined in step 26, that is, when the storage amount has not reached the upper limit sensor S4, step 2 is performed.
The upper limit storage amount control subroutine is terminated without executing the upper limit comparison control of No. 3. That is, each storage tank (1,
, 2), the upper limit sensor S4 (the ball excess sensor S)
When 5) is ON, the upper limit comparison control in S23 is performed.

Next, the upper limit comparison control will be described with reference to FIGS. 27 and 28. In FIG. 27, step 3
At 1, it is determined that there is a left storage tank (storage tank (1)) with respect to the storage tank (2), "YES".
If it is determined in step 2 that the ball excess sensor S5 of the storage tank (1) is not ON (NO), and if it is determined in step 33 that the upper limit sensor S4 of the storage tank (1) is not ON (NO), Is a shutter (shutter device 3) from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (1) in Step 34.
Alternatively, the shutter device 116) is opened, and the ball is transferred from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (1).
Similarly, in FIG. 28, it is determined in step 41 that the storage tank (2) has a right storage tank (storage tank (3)) with respect to the storage tank (2), and in step 42, the ball excess sensor S5 of the storage tank (3) is determined. Is determined not to be ON (NO), and when it is determined in step 43 that the upper limit sensor S4 of the storage tank (3) is not ON (NO), the storage from the storage tank (2) is performed in step 44. The shutter (shutter device 3 or shutter device 116) to the tank (3) is opened, and the ball is transferred from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (3). That is, the upper limit sensor S4 of the storage tank is turned on (steps 21 and 26).
In order to lower the storage level of the storage tank, the balls are transferred to the storage tank in which the upper limit sensor S4 is not ON.

Then, after the above processing is completed, in step 47, the upper limit sensor S4 of the storage tank (2) is turned off, or all shutters from the storage tank (2), It is determined whether or not the shutter device for transferring the ball from the tank (2) to the left and right storage tanks (storage tanks (1, 3)) is closed. If “NO”, the process proceeds to step 31 in FIG. Back to
In the case of "YES", the CPU exits the subroutine of the upper limit comparison control, closes the shutter device for transferring the ball from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (1, 3) in step 24 of FIG. The process exits the storage amount control subroutine and returns to the main routine of FIG. Then, the lower limit storage amount control in step 4 described later is performed in detail. When the lower limit storage amount control is completed, one is added to t in step 2 and the upper limit storage amount is set for the storage tank (3) in the same manner as described above. The quantity control and the upper limit comparison control are performed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 31 that there is no left storage tank (storage tank (1)) “NO” (for example, there is no left storage tank for storage tank (1)),
And the ball excess sensor S of the storage tank (1) in step 32
5 is ON, it is determined that the storage tank (1) is in the storage tank (2).
Since the transfer of the ball from the storage tank cannot be received, the shutter device from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (1) is closed in step 36, and the storage tank (2) is closed.
The transfer of the ball from to the storage tank (1) is stopped.
Similarly, in FIG. 28, if it is determined in step 41 that there is no right storage tank (storage tank (3)) “NO”, and in step 42 the ball excess sensor S5 of the storage tank (3) is ON. If "YES" is determined, that is, this state is a state where the storage tank (3) cannot receive the transfer of the ball from the storage tank (2). The shutter device to (3) is closed, the transfer of the ball from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (3) is stopped, and the process proceeds to step 47. Note that in step 47, all shutter blockages from the storage tank (t) are, as described above, in steps 36 and 46,
This refers to a state in which the shutters from the storage tank (t) to the left and right storage tanks are both closed.

Next, the case where "YES" is determined in steps 33 and 43, that is, the case where the upper limit sensor S4 of the left and right storage tanks (storage tanks (1, 3)) is ON will be described. Normally, the total amount of pachinko balls is such that when all the pachinko balls are returned to each storage tank (1, 2, 3), the upper limit sensor S4 of each storage tank is turned off. Then, “YES” in steps 33 and 43
That is, both the upper limit sensors S4 of the storage tank (2) and the storage tank (1) are ON.
Is a state in which the storage tank (2) and the storage tank (1) are set to a storage tank other than these storage tanks (for example,
This occurs when the pachinko balls in the storage tank (3) are returned unevenly.

If "YES" is determined in the step 33, the priority of the left storage tank (storage tank (1)) and the storage tank (2) is determined in a step 35, and the storage order from the storage tank (1) is determined. If priority is given to the tank (2) (“YES”), the storage tank (2) is
The shutter is opened so that the balls can be transferred from the storage tank (1) to the storage tank (1). In step 35, the storage tank (1)
When the storage tank (2) is not given priority ("NO")
First, in step 36, the shutter is closed so that the balls cannot be transferred from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (1). Similarly, if “YES” is determined in the step 43, the right storage tank (the storage tank (3)) is determined in a step 45.
And the priority order of the storage tank (2) is determined, and the priority is given to the storage tank (2) over the storage tank (3) (“Y
In “ES”), the shutter is opened in step 44 so that the balls can be transferred from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (3). If the storage tank (2) is not given priority over the storage tank (3) in step 45 (“NO”),
In step 46, the storage tank (2) is changed to the storage tank (3).
The shutter is closed so that the ball cannot be transferred.

That is, when both the upper limit sensors S4 of the adjacent storage tanks are turned ON, the balls are transferred from the storage tank with the higher priority to the storage tank with the lower priority. Note that such priorities are set in advance, and, for example, the priority of a storage tank that increases the number of balls returned from the return device is set high, and the priority is given to a storage tank with a high priority. This is a process for reducing the amount of balls in the storage tank in advance in preparation for returned balls. In addition, the ball quantity of the storage tank having the lower priority is further increased. However, if the ball quantity exceeds the ball excess sensor S5, the priority is determined by the above-described steps 32 and 42 and steps 36 and 46. The shutter from the storage tank with the higher priority to the storage tank with the lower priority is closed and the transfer of the balls is stopped. Further, as described above, the total amount of pachinko balls is such that when all the pachinko balls are returned to each storage tank, the upper limit sensor S4 of each storage tank is turned off. Even if a plurality of storage tanks with the sensor S4 turned on are generated, by repeatedly performing the upper limit storage amount control and the upper limit comparison control with respect to each storage tank, the storage tank in which the upper limit sensor S4 is turned on turns the upper limit sensor S4 off. After being transferred to the tank, all the upper limit sensors S4 are finally turned off.

Next, the lower limit storage amount control will be described.
In the description, it is assumed that t = 2 in the same manner as described above.

In FIG. 29, at step 51, the lower limit recovery sensor S3 of the storage tank (2) is not turned ON.
O ", the lower limit sensor S2 of the storage tank (2) is determined not to be ON in step 52," NO ", and the ball shortage sensor S1 of the storage tank (2) is determined to be
If NO is determined as NO, that is, if the storage tank (2) is in a ball shortage state, step 54
The shutter device from the storage tank (2) to the left and right storage tanks (storage tanks (1, 3)) is closed, and the storage tank (2) ball shortage warning display is performed. Thereby, from the storage tank (2) to the left and right storage tanks (storage tanks (1,
3) In addition to making pachinko balls untransferable,
It notifies that the storage tank (2) is in a ball shortage state.
Then, after executing step 54, the lower limit comparison control of step 55 described later is executed. If it is determined in step 53 that the ball shortage sensor S1 of the storage tank (2) is ON (YES), the lower limit comparison control in step 55 described below is similarly executed without executing step 54. I do.

On the other hand, when "YES" is determined in the step 51, the flags FL and FR (described later) of the storage tank (2) are set to 0 in a step 57, and then, in a step 58
After the warning display of the shortage of balls in the storage tank (2) is cancelled, the lower limit storage amount control subroutine ends without executing the lower limit comparison control of step 55. If "YES" is determined in the step 52, similarly, a step 58 is performed.
After the warning display of the shortage of balls in the storage tank (2) is cancelled, the lower limit storage amount control subroutine ends without executing the lower limit comparison control of step 55. That is, when the lower limit sensor S2 (lower limit recovery sensor S3) is not ON in each of the storage tanks (1, 2, 3,...), The lower limit comparison control in step 55 is performed.

Next, the lower limit comparison control in step 55 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 30, it is determined in step 61 that there is a left storage tank (storage tank (1)) with respect to the storage tank (2), and in step 62, the ball shortage sensor S of the storage tank (1) is detected.
It is determined that "1" is ON and "YES".
Is determined to be "YES", that is, the flag FR = 0 (described later) of the storage tank (1), and when it is determined in step 64 that the lower limit sensor S2 of the storage tank (1) is ON, "YES". Is a shutter (shutter device 3) from the storage tank (1) to the storage tank (2) in step 65.
Alternatively, the shutter device 116) is opened, and the ball is transferred from the storage tank (1) to the storage tank (2).
Similarly, in FIG. 31, it is determined in step 71 that there is a right storage tank (storage tank (3)) with respect to the storage tank (2), and in step 72, the ball shortage sensor S1 of the storage tank (3) is determined. Is determined to be "YES", and the flag F of the storage tank (3) is determined in step 73.
It is determined that L = 0 (which will be described later), and in step 74, the lower limit sensor S2 of the storage tank (3) is turned on, "Y
If "ES" is determined, the shutter (shutter device 3 or shutter device 116) from the storage tank (3) to the storage tank (2) is opened in step 75, and the storage tank (3) is moved to the storage tank (2). The ball is transferred toward. That is, if the lower limit sensor S2 of the storage tank is not ON (see steps 52 and 53), the lower limit sensor S2 is turned ON in order to increase the storage level of the storage tank.
The ball will be transferred from the storage tank.

After the above-described processing is completed, in step 79, the lower limit sensor S2 of the storage tank (2) is turned ON, or, as will be described later, from the left and right storage tanks (storage tanks (1, 3)). It is determined whether or not all the shutters, that is, the shutter devices for transferring the balls from the storage tanks (1, 3) to the storage tank (2) are closed. In the case of "NO", FIG. Returning to step 61, if "YES", the subroutine of this lower limit comparison control is exited, and the storage tank (1, 1) is determined in step 56 of FIG.
The shutter device for transferring the ball from 3) to the storage tank (2) is closed, the subroutine of the lower limit storage amount control is exited, and the process returns to the main routine of FIG. Then, one is added to t in step 2, and the process is repeated.

On the other hand, in FIG. 30, if it is determined in step 61 that there is no left storage tank (storage tank (1)) “NO” (for example, there is no left storage tank for storage tank (1)), step 62 When it is determined that the ball shortage sensor S1 of the storage tank (1) is not ON at "NO" in step 63, and at step 63, the flag F of the storage tank (1) is
If it is determined that “NO” is not R = 0 (described later),
In other words, in this state, the ball cannot be transferred from the storage tank (1) to the storage tank (2). Therefore, in step 68, the shutter from the storage tank (1) to the storage tank (2) is closed, and the storage tank is closed. The transfer of the ball from (1) to the storage tank (2) is stopped. Similarly, FIG.
In step 71, if it is determined in step 71 that the right storage tank (storage tank (3)) is absent, "NO"
When it is determined in step 2 that the ball shortage sensor S1 of the storage tank (3) is not ON (NO), and in step 73, it is determined that the flag FL of the storage tank (3) is not 0 (described later) and is "NO". In other words, in this state, the balls cannot be transferred from the storage tank (3) to the storage tank (2), so that the shutter from the storage tank (3) to the storage tank (2) is closed in step 78. Then, the transfer of the balls from the storage tank (3) to the storage tank (2) is stopped, and the routine goes to Step 79. Note that, in step 79, all shutter blockages from the left and right storage tanks are, as described above, in steps 68 and 78.
This refers to a state in which the shutters from the left and right storage tanks to the storage tank (t) are both closed.

Next, the case where "NO" is determined in steps 64 and 74, that is, the case where the lower limit sensor S2 of the left and right storage tanks (storage tanks (1, 3)) is OFF will be described. In addition, this state is a state where both the storage tank (2) and the storage tank (1, 3) have a small amount of balls.
It occurs when a large number of pachinko machines hit the jackpot and a pachinko ball as a prize ball is discharged out of the storage tank.

If "NO" is determined in the step 64, the priority order of the left storage tank (storage tank (1)) and the storage tank (2) is determined in a step 66, and the storage order from the storage tank (1) is determined. When the priority is given to the tank (2) (“YES”), the storage tank (2) is
Is set to 1, and in step 65, the shutter is opened so that the balls can be transferred from the storage tank (1) to the storage tank (2). If the storage tank (2) is not given priority over the storage tank (1) in step 66 ("NO"), the shutter is set in step 68 so that the balls cannot be transferred from the storage tank (1) to the storage tank (2). Closed. Similarly, if “NO” is determined in the step 74, the priority order of the right storage tank (the storage tank (3)) and the storage tank (2) is determined in the step 76, and the storage tank (3) is stored in the storage tank (3). If priority is given to 2) (“YES”), the storage tank (2) is determined in step 77.
Is set to 1, and in step 75, the shutter is opened so that the balls can be transferred from the storage tank (3) to the storage tank (2). If the storage tank (2) is not given priority over the storage tank (3) in step 76 ("NO"), the shutter is set in step 78 so that the balls cannot be transferred from the storage tank (3) to the storage tank (2). Closed.

That is, when both of the lower limit sensors S2 of the adjacent storage tanks are turned off, the balls are transferred from the storage tank of lower priority to the storage tank of higher priority. Note that such priorities are set in advance in the same manner as described above. The priority order of the storage tanks is set high, and this is a process for increasing the amount of balls in the storage tank in advance in preparation for prize balls discharged from this popular pachinko machine. In addition,
The ball quantity of the storage tank having a lower priority order will be further reduced, but if the ball quantity falls below the ball shortage sensor S1, the above-described steps 62 and 68 and steps 72 and 7 will be described.
By 8, the shutter from the low-priority storage tank to the high-priority storage tank is closed to stop the transfer of the balls.

Hereinafter, the flag FL and the flag FR will be described. For example, when t = 2 and the lower limit sensors S2 of the storage tank (2) and the storage tank (3) are both OFF, the processing of the above-described step 76 is performed. If it is determined that the storage tank (2) has priority over the right storage tank (storage tank (3)), the flag FR of the storage tank (2) is set to 1 in step 77, and the storage tank (3) is set in step 75. The shutter from the storage tank to the storage tank (2) is opened, the ball is transferred from the storage tank (3) to the storage tank (2),
Move to step 79. Then, as described above, "YES" is determined in the step 79, the subroutine of the lower limit comparison control in the storage tank (2) is finished, and the process returns to the main routine shown in FIG. The control regarding (3) is performed. And the lower limit sensor S2 of the storage tank (3) continues to be OF
Since the result is F, "NO" is determined in the step 52 of FIG. 29, and the lower limit comparison control of the step 55 is performed through the step 53 (and the step 54).

Here, the left storage tank with respect to the storage tank (3) is the storage tank (2) (“Y” in step 61).
ES "), the ball shortage sensor S1 of the storage tank (2) is ON
(“YES” in step 62), and since the flag FR of the storage tank (2) is 1 as described above,
In step 63, “NO” is determined, and in step 68, the shutter from the storage tank (2) to the storage tank (3) is closed. That is, no balls are transferred from the storage tank (2) even though the lower limit sensor S2 of the storage tank (3) is OFF. This is because when both the lower limit sensors S2 of the adjacent storage tanks are turned off, the storage tank having a lower priority (storage tank (3)) is changed to a storage tank having a higher priority (storage tank (2)). Once the balls are transferred to the storage tank, to prevent the balls from being transferred from the storage tank with higher priority to the storage tank with lower priority, that is, the balls move back and forth between the storage tanks This is to prevent the user from doing so. If the stored amount level of the storage tank (2) recovers to the lower limit recovery sensor S3 due to the return of the pachinko ball as a prize ball or the increase of the driving balls for the pachinko machine, it is determined as "YES" in the step 51. In step 57, the flag FR becomes 0, and the storage tank (2)
The transfer of the ball from the storage tank (3) becomes possible. In addition, regarding the flag FL, for example, the storage tank (1)
In the relationship between and the storage tank (2), it plays the same role as described above, and the description is omitted.

The ball amount control device in the pachinko ball storage tank according to the embodiment has been described in detail above.
A pachinko ball is transferred between a plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, and B3 provided in association with A9 via a first AC gutter 1, a second AC gutter 2, and a shutter device 3 as a ball transfer device. In the ball amount control device for controlling the amount of balls stored in the respective pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, and B3, the pachinko ball storage tanks B1,
Each of B2 and B3 is provided with a plurality of sensors S1 to S5 (where S1 is attached to the lower tank 13 provided inside the pachinko island stands A1 and A4) for detecting the storage amount level of the balls. , The plurality of sensors S
1 to S5 include an upper limit sensor S4 for detecting that the storage amount level of the ball is the upper limit, and a lower limit sensor S2 for detecting that the storage amount level of the ball is the lower limit, and the plurality of pachinko balls. Priorities are set in advance for the storage tanks B1, B2, and B3, and when the detection output from the upper limit sensor S4 is derived, the detection output is also derived from the upper limit sensor S4 of another adjacent pachinko ball storage tank. The ball transfer device is driven and controlled so as to transfer balls from a high-priority pachinko ball storage tank to a low-priority pachinko ball storage tank, and the detection from the lower limit sensor S2 is performed. When the output is derived, the lower limit sensor S2 of another adjacent pachinko ball storage tank
When the detection output is also derived from, the ball transfer device is driven and controlled so as to transfer the ball from the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank. It is characterized by the following. By controlling in this way, even if the upper limit sensor S4 of the adjacent pachinko ball storage tank derives the detection output together, the ball is moved from the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank. If the priority of a pachinko ball storage tank, for example, a pachinko ball storage tank having the prize ball return device 5 is set high, the storage amount of this pachinko ball storage tank can be increased because the storage amount is easily increased. Can be preferentially reduced, and preparation can be made for the return of a prize ball. Further, even if the lower limit sensor S2 of the adjacent pachinko ball storage tank derives the detection output, the ball can be transferred from the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank. A pachinko ball storage tank in which the storage amount is easy to decrease, for example, a pachinko island stand A1 to A1 including a pachinko machine 10 in which the number of players increases.
If the priority of the pachinko ball storage tank 9 is set high, the storage amount of this pachinko ball storage tank can be preferentially increased, and the pachinko machine 10 can be prepared for a payout.

Further, in this embodiment, the setting of the priority order can be changed.
With this configuration, for example, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the installation position of the prize ball return device 5 or a change in the model of the pachinko machines 10 arranged in the pachinko island stands A1 to A9.

In the present embodiment, the ball transfer device includes the pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, B3, and B3.
Pachinko islands A1, A4, A having 90a, 90b
5, A8, A9, and C1 to C4, are crossed between an upper tank 22 and an AC tank 93 provided between the upper tank 22 and the AC tank 93. A first AC gutter 1, an AC upper gutter 118, an AC lower arch 119, and a pachinko ball from the other upper tank 22 to one upper tank 22 as a first AC gutter inclined so that the pachinko balls flow down. As a second AC gutter inclined so that the water flows down
AC gutter 2, AC upper gutter 118, AC lower arch 119
The first AC gutter 1 and the AC upper gutter 11 at the time of opening.
8. A shutter device 3 as a first shutter device that allows the pachinko balls to flow down in the AC lower arch 119 and stops the pachinko balls from flowing down in the first AC gutter 1, the AC upper gutter 118 and the AC lower arch 119 when the pachinko balls are closed. , 116 and the opening thereof allow the pachinko balls to flow down in the second AC gutter 2 and the second
Shutter devices 3 and 116 as a second shutter device for stopping the flow of pachinko balls in the AC gutter 2. The first and second shutter devices are controlled to open and close to transfer the balls. It is characterized by the following. With this configuration, the balls are transported using the first AC gutter 1, the second AC gutter 2, the AC upper gutter 118, and the AC lower arch gutter 119 in which the pachinko balls naturally flow, so that the conveyor is conveyed. The first AC gutter 1, the second AC gutter 2, the AC upper gutter 118, and the AC lower arch gutter 119 have a simpler structure than a ball transfer device that conveys pachinko balls. Since the pachinko balls to be transferred are bidirectionally passed between the upper tank 22 and the alternating current tank 93 of the pachinko island stands A1, A4, A5, A8, A9, C1 to C4 having B2, B3, 90a, and 90b. The pachinko balls can be moved quickly and directly.

In this embodiment, the pachinko ball stand A1, A4, A5, A8, A9, C1 having the pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, B3, 90a, 90b.
Upper tank 22, AC tank 93 provided in C4
Guides the pachinko balls to each pachinko machine on the own island with the highest priority, and when the guidance is no longer necessary, to the first AC gutter 1 or the second AC gutter 2 or the AC upper gutter 118 and the AC lower arch gutter 119. When the pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, B
3, 90a, 90b. With this configuration, the pachinko island stands A1, A4, A5, A8, A9,
Pachinko balls can be smoothly supplied to C1 to C4.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plurality of pachinko island stands A1 to A9 are provided with the main pachinko island stands A1, A4, having the pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, B3.
A5, A8, A9 and slave pachinko islands A2, A3, A5, A6, A7 which are located between the two main pachinko island stands and do not have the pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, B3.
The first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 are bridged between the upper tanks 22 of the two main pachinko islands, while the secondary pachinko islands A2, A
3, A5, A6, and A7 are formed so as to receive pachinko balls from the first AC gutter 1 and the second AC gutter 2 penetrating the upper tanks 41 and 49, respectively. Pachinko Island A2, A3, A
5, A6, and A7 are configured to be guided to a lower tank 13 provided therein.
With this configuration, the secondary pachinko islands A2, A without the pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, B3
Pachinko ball storage tanks B1, B2, B3 by two first AC gutter 1 and second AC gutter 2 at 3, A5, A6, and A7.
Pachinko island stand A1, A4, A5, A8, A9 having
Since the pachinko balls are always supplied from, it is possible to prevent a shortage of balls at the slave pachinko islands A2, A3, A5, A6 and A7.

[0114]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks provided in association with a plurality of pachinko ball stands are interposed via a ball transfer device. In the ball amount control device for controlling the amount of balls stored in each of the pachinko ball storage tanks by transferring the pachinko balls, each of the pachinko ball storage tanks includes a plurality of sensors for detecting the amount of stored balls. Along with providing, the plurality of sensors include an upper limit sensor that detects that the stored amount level of the ball is the upper limit, and / or a lower limit sensor that detects that the stored amount level of the ball is the lower limit, Priorities are set in advance for the plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks, and when the detection output from the upper limit sensor is derived, the other pachinko ball storage tanks are adjacent to each other. When the detection output is also derived from the limit sensor, drive control of the ball transfer device so as to transfer the ball from the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank, And / or when the detection output from the lower limit sensor is derived and the detection output is also derived from the lower limit sensor of another adjacent pachinko ball storage tank, the lower priority pachinko ball storage. The ball transfer device is driven and controlled so as to transfer balls from a tank to a pachinko ball storage tank having a high priority. By controlling in this way, even if the upper limit sensors of the adjacent pachinko ball storage tanks both derive the detection output, the balls are transferred from the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank. Since the storage amount of the pachinko ball storage tank in which the storage amount is likely to increase, for example, if the priority of the storage tank having the prize ball return device is set high, the storage amount of this pachinko ball storage tank is prioritized. It can be reduced and can be prepared for the return of the prize ball. Also, even if the lower limit sensors of the adjacent pachinko ball storage tanks both derive the detection output, the balls can be transferred from the low-priority pachinko ball storage tanks to the high-priority pachinko ball storage tanks, If the storage tanks whose storage volume is easy to decrease, for example, the storage tanks of Pachinko Island stand equipped with pachinko machines that increase the number of players are set high, the storage volume of this pachinko ball storage tank will be increased with priority It can be prepared for the emergence of pachinko machines.

[0115] In the invention of claim 2, the setting of the priority order can be changed. With such a configuration, for example, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the installation position of the prize ball returning device or a change in the model of the pachinko machine arranged in the pachinko island stand.

Further, in the invention of claim 3, the ball transfer device is arranged so as to cross over an upper tank provided on an upper part of a pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank so as to cross the ball from one of the upper tanks. A first AC gutter that is inclined so that the pachinko balls flow down toward the other upper tank, and a second AC gutter that is inclined so that the pachinko balls flow down from the other upper tank toward the one upper tank, A first shutter device that allows the pachinko balls to flow down in the first AC gutter when opened, and stops the pachinko balls from flowing down in the first AC gutter when closed, and a pachinko machine that opens in the second AC gutter when opened. A second shutter device that allows the ball to flow down and stops the pachinko ball flowing down in the second AC gutter when the ball is closed. It is characterized in that so as to transfer the balls by opening and closing control of the coater unit and a second shutter device. With this configuration, the balls are transferred using the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter where the pachinko balls naturally flow, so that the balls are transferred as compared with a ball transfer device that conveys pachinko balls on a conveyor or the like. Since the structure is simple and the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter are bridged between the upper tanks of the pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank, the pachinko balls to be transferred are bidirectionally and directly. The movement of the ball can be performed quickly, so that the ball can be quickly transferred.

[0117] In the invention of claim 4, the upper tank provided on the pachinko ball stand having the pachinko ball storage tank guides the pachinko balls to each pachinko machine on its own island with the highest priority, and the guidance is required. It is configured to be guided to the first AC gutter or the second AC gutter when it disappears, and to be guided to the pachinko ball storage tank when the guidance is no longer necessary. It is. With this configuration, it is possible to smoothly supply the pachinko balls to the own island and supply the pachinko balls to the pachinko island stand connected by the ball transfer device.

[0118] Further, in the invention of claim 5, the plurality of pachinko island stands are provided between the main pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank and the two pachinko island stands. A secondary pachinko island that does not have a tank, wherein the two main pachinko islands have the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter crossed between the upper tanks thereof in an intersecting manner. The slave pachinko island is formed so as to receive the pachinko balls from the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter penetrating the upper tank, respectively, and the received pachinko balls are formed on the slave pachinko island. It is configured to be guided to a lower tank provided inside. With this configuration, the pachinko balls are always supplied from the main pachinko island having the pachinko ball storage tank to the slave pachinko island having no pachinko ball storage tank by the two first AC gutters and the second AC gutter. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a shortage of balls on the sub-pachinko island.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram showing a relationship between a plurality of pachinko island stands, a base tank as a pachinko ball storage tank provided in association with the pachinko ball stand, and a ball transfer device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing an internal structure of a pachinko island stand provided adjacent to a base tank.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an operation of an upper tank provided on an upper part of a pachinko island stand provided adjacent to a base tank.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an operation of an upper tank provided on an upper part of a pachinko island stand provided adjacent to the base tank.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an operation of an upper tank provided on an upper part of a pachinko island stand provided adjacent to the base tank.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the internal structure of the pachinko island stand that is not adjacent to the base tank.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an operation of an upper tank provided on an upper part of the pachinko island stand which is not adjacent to the base tank.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an operation of an upper tank provided on an upper part of the pachinko island stand which is not adjacent to the base tank.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining a flowing down state of an overflowing pachinko ball in the upper tank.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a basic structure of an AC gutter included in the ball transfer device.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an AC gutter inserted between some pachinko island stands of the AC gutter.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an AC gutter.

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway perspective view of an AC gutter.

FIG. 14 is a schematic view showing a structure of an overflow passage and a suction passage which communicate an upper tank of the pachinko island stand which is not adjacent to the base tank and a lower tank of the island.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged view showing a structure of a merge portion below the overflow passage and the suction passage.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a lower tank provided inside each pachinko island stand.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view for explaining the flow of balls stored in a lower tank.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a base tank.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of a base tank.

FIG. 20 is an overall schematic diagram showing a relationship between a plurality of pachinko island stands according to the second embodiment when a ball transfer device different from FIG. 1 is used.

FIG. 21 is a front view showing the internal structure of the pachinko island stand shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 22 is a side view of an upper tank and an AC tank provided on the upper part of the pachinko island stand.

FIG. 23 is a perspective view for explaining the flow of balls in the upper tank and the AC tank.

FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram showing a relationship between a control board and a ball amount sensor provided in a pachinko ball storage tank.

FIG. 25 is a main flowchart showing control of the ball transfer device in the embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 3 in the main flowchart of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 23 in the flowchart of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 23 in the flowchart of FIG. 26;

FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 4 in the main flowchart of FIG. 25;

FIG. 30 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 55 in the flowchart of FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step 55 in the flowchart of FIG. 29;

[Description of Signs] A1 to A9 Pachinko Island B1 to B3 Base tank (Pachinko ball storage tank) 1 First AC gutter (ball transfer device) 2 Second AC gutter (ball transfer device) 3 Shutter device (ball transfer device) 13 Lower tank 19 Ball amount sensor (lower limit sensor S1) 22 Upper tank 41 Upper tank 44 Drop outlet 46 Drop outlet 49 Upper tank 88a to 88h Ball amount sensor 90a, 90b Storage tank (Pachinko ball storage tank) 125a to 125i Ball amount sensor

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Makoto Yanagawa 2-102 Mino-cho, Kasugai-shi, Aichi F-term (reference) 2C088 BA25 BA59 CA24

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A ball stored in each of the pachinko ball storage tanks by transferring a pachinko ball via a ball transfer device between a plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks provided in association with a plurality of pachinko island stands. In the ball amount control device that controls the amount, each of the pachinko ball storage tanks is provided with a plurality of sensors that detect a stored amount level of the balls, and the plurality of sensors is such that the stored amount level of the balls is an upper limit. And / or a lower limit sensor for detecting that the stored amount level of the balls is a lower limit, wherein priorities are set in advance for the plurality of pachinko ball storage tanks, and When the detection output is derived, and when the detection output is also derived from the upper limit sensor of another adjacent pachinko ball storage tank, a higher priority When the detection output from the lower limit sensor is derived so as to drive-control the ball transfer device so as to transfer the ball from the tank ball storage tank to the lower priority pachinko ball storage tank, and / or When the detection output is also derived from the lower limit sensor of another adjacent pachinko ball storage tank, the ball is transferred from the low-priority pachinko ball storage tank to the high-priority pachinko ball storage tank. A ball amount control device in a pachinko ball storage tank, wherein the ball transfer device is drive-controlled. 2. The ball amount control device for a pachinko ball storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the setting of the priority order can be changed. 3. The pachinko ball transfer device, wherein the pachinko ball is crossed between upper tanks provided on an upper part of a pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank and pachinko balls are moved from one upper tank to the other upper tank. A first AC gutter inclined so that the ball flows down, a second AC gutter inclined so that the pachinko ball flows down from the other upper tank toward one upper tank, and the first AC gutter when the pachinko ball is opened. A first shutter device that allows the pachinko balls to flow down in the gutter and stops the pachinko balls from flowing down in the first AC gutter when the gutter is closed, and allows the pachinko balls to flow down in the second AC gutter when the gutter opens. A second shutter device for stopping a pachinko ball from flowing down in a second AC gutter when closed. The first shutter device and the second shutter device Ball amount control device in a pachinko ball storage tank according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that so as to transfer the balls by opening and closing control. 4. An upper tank provided on the pachinko island stand having the pachinko ball storage tank guides the pachinko balls to each of the pachinko machines on the island at the highest priority, and the first tank is provided when the guidance is no longer necessary. The pachinko ball storage tank according to claim 3, wherein the pachinko ball storage tank is configured to be guided to an AC gutter or a second AC gutter, and further guided to the pachinko ball storage tank when the guidance is no longer necessary. Ball quantity control device. 5. The plurality of pachinko islands include a main pachinko island having the pachinko ball storage tank and a secondary pachinko island having no pachinko ball storage tank positioned between the two main pachinko islands. The first main gutter and the second main gutter are crossed over the two main pachinko islands between upper tanks thereof, while the secondary pachinko islands are: The pachinko balls are formed to receive pachinko balls from the first AC gutter and the second AC gutter penetrating the upper tank, respectively, and the received pachinko balls are guided to a lower tank provided inside the slave pachinko island stand. The ball amount control device for a pachinko ball storage tank according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the ball amount control device is configured as described above.