JP2001347009A - Ball passage switching device for ball shooting game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To realize a simple ball passage switching mechanism capable of switching delivering passages of prize ball and lending ball and arresting the back flow to simplify the structure of a ball shooting game machine and reduce the cost thereof. SOLUTION: This passage switching device comprises a flapper 55 provided in the vicinity of the branch point of the prize ball delivering passage 52 and lending ball delivering passage 53 of a delivering passage gutter 54, and a switching operation lever 56 rotatably supported by the delivering passage gutter 54 so as to be engaged with a prescribed rotating radial position of the flapper 55 to rotate the flapper 55. A cam groove part 56c for regulating the return of the flapper 55 by the switching operation lever 56 when adding a back flow-directional force for returning the flapper 55 from a first switching position P1 to a second switching position P2 is provided at the tip 56b of the switching operation lever 56.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball passage switching device for a ball-and-ball game machine, and more particularly to a ball passage switching device for paying out prize balls and lending balls from the same payout port. The present invention relates to a ball passage switching device for counting numbers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a ball-and-ball game machine represented by a pachinko game machine, a game ball in a ball tray is fired on a game board surface by a firing device, and when a shot ball flows down while being flipped by a game nail. When the ball enters the winning opening, the payout ball is paid out (or credit is added). On the other hand, when the game ball in the ball tray runs out, the ball lending is paid out according to the operation of the ball lending machine (or the credited ball is paid out). (Payout is performed). Then, when the number of available game balls decreases, a supply operation of the game balls to the circulation path is performed as needed.

[0003] Therefore, a ball game machine has a replenishment tank for receiving ball replenishment from an island facility at an upper portion on the back side of a machine frame, and a prize ball for paying out a game ball from the replenishment tank to a ball tray as a prize ball. A payout device, a ball-lending device for paying out game balls from a replenishment tank as ball-lending to the ball tray side, and a prize-ball sensor and a ball-lending sensor for counting the number of prize balls and lending balls, respectively, are provided. .

[0004]

However, in the above conventional ball game machine, when it is necessary to separately count the prize ball payout and the loaned ball loan, the payout destination of the ball is the same. However, most of the dispensing devices and passages have an independent configuration, so that the device configuration is complicated and the cost is high.

On the other hand, it is conceivable to share the upstream passage of both passages. However, in a simple downstream passage switching structure for counting balls, the payout of prize balls continues with the ball tray side being full. Thus, there is a problem that a backflow phenomenon occurs in which the game balls staying in the passage move the rear end position in the direction opposite to the downflow direction. Therefore, there has been a need for a simple ball passage switching mechanism capable of preventing backflow to the upstream side.

Therefore, the present invention realizes a simple ball passage switching mechanism that can switch between a prize ball and a lending ball payout passage and prevent a backflow, thereby simplifying the configuration of a ball game machine and reducing the manufacturing cost. The purpose is to achieve it.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention forms an upstream passage for introducing game balls, a prize ball payout passage branching from the upstream passage, and a ball lending payout passage. A payout passage gutter capable of paying out game balls introduced from the upstream passage to the ball tray through any one of the prize ball payout passage and the lending ball payout passage; and a prize for the payout passage gutter. An upstream portion that is provided near a branch point between a ball payout passage and a lending ball payout passage, and that is close to the upstream passage so as to switchably connect the upstream passage to either the prize ball payout passage or the lending ball payout passage. A switching valve capable of rotating a side end between a first switching position and a second switching position, and a tip engaged with a predetermined turning radius position of the switching valve and the discharge passage gutter capable of rotating; Supported by A switching operation lever having an end portion for rotating the switching valve; and a reverse flow direction for returning the switching valve from a first switching position to a second switching position at a tip end of the switching operation lever. A cam groove for restricting return of the switching valve by the switching operation lever when the force is applied from the game ball to the switching valve.

In the ball passage switching device for a ball game machine of the present invention, the connection from the upstream passage to the prize ball payout passage or the ball rental payout passage is switched by a switching valve to simplify the upstream passage structure. Can be. In addition, when a prize ball or the like accumulates and stays in the prize ball payout passage and a reverse flow force is applied to the switch valve from the game ball passing through the switch valve, the switching operation lever of the specific cam structure causes the switching valve to return. Because of the restriction, the backflow of the game ball can be prevented while enabling the simple switching of the switching valve.

In the above-mentioned ball passage switching device,
A ball counting sensor is provided in each of the prize ball dispensing passage and the ball lending dispensing passage, and an inner protrusion protruding into the upstream passage is provided on an inner wall of the upstream passage of the dispensing passage gutter,
The flow speed of the game balls introduced into the upstream passage is reduced to a speed at which the ball can be counted by the ball counting sensor. Therefore, with this configuration, erroneous detection of the ball counting sensor can be prevented.

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 are views showing a ball path switching device of a ball game machine according to one embodiment of the present invention, and show an example in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko game machine.

The pachinko gaming machine 10 shown in FIGS.
A base frame 11 supported by an outer frame 100, and a window door 12 provided at the upper front of the base frame 11 so as to be openable and closable.
And a game board 13 arranged on the front side of the base frame 11. The base frame 11 is supported by the outer frame 100 at the left end side in FIG. 1 via hinge mechanisms 115A and 115B so that it can be opened and closed back and forth, and is normally closed.

The window door 12 is provided in a game area 13a of the game board 13.
And is rotatably supported by the base frame 11 via a hinge mechanism (not shown) so that the base frame 11 can be opened and closed back and forth. The window door 12 is provided with illuminated display units 121 and 122 including a plurality of light emitting element groups. The window door 12 is locked at a closed position with respect to the base frame 11 by a lock mechanism 123, and further locked together with the base frame 11 to the outer frame 100 in a closed state.

Below the window door 12, an upper ball tray 15 is provided. Below the upper ball tray 15, a lower ball tray 16 and an operation handle 17 which is rotated by a player are provided. Are provided respectively. Upper ball saucer 1
Reference numeral 5 denotes a part of the upper plate panel 150 supported by the base frame 11 so as to be openable and closable. Reference numeral 18 denotes a ball-pulling operation lever for performing a ball-pulling operation of the upper ball-receiving pan 15, and a ball-pulling-out operation of moving the ball-pulling-operation lever 18 to the left in the drawing changes the upper ball-receiving pan 15 to the lower ball-receiving pan 16. Gaming balls can flow down and out. 19 is an ashtray.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the front side of the game board 13, there is formed a game area 13a in which a firing ball is fired from a firing device 30 through a firing path 22, and the game area 13a is a starting prize. The mouth 23 and the symbol display device 70 with a warp route are arranged substantially at the center, and below the large winning opening 26
And a passage gate 27 are provided. A general winning opening 24 is located on the left and right of the starting winning opening 23.
A, 24B, 25A, and 25B are provided with windmills 28A and 28B (a rotatable obstacle that changes the flowing direction of a game ball) on the left and right sides of the symbol display device 70, respectively. Then, a plurality of LEDs are formed in a ring surrounding these accessories.
Game performance lamp with a light-emitting element inside (no sign)
The lighting control is performed so that the plurality of LED groups divided into blocks in the circumferential direction are sequentially or selectively turned on. The game board 13 is rotatably supported on the front side of the base frame body 11 in the front and rear opening and closing directions via upper and lower left and right hinge portions in FIG.

In this pachinko gaming machine 10, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined prepaid card, which is a frequency card, is inserted into the card insertion slot 1a of the ball lending machine 1 arranged adjacent to the side (of course, cash may be inserted). When a lending operation of a lending ball is performed,
While the lending ball is lent out from the payout port 49 to the upper ball receiving tray 15, the known launching device 30 is operated on the back side of the upper ball receiving tray 15 in accordance with the operation amount of the handle 17 by the player, and the game ball enters the game area. Fire. Then, for example, the starting winning port 23, the general winning ports 24A, 24B, 25A, 25B,
When a game ball enters one of the special winning ports 26, payout of the prize ball from the payout port 49 to the upper ball receiving tray 15 is performed. When the game ball passes through the passage gate 27, the normal symbol display device 60 integrally mounted on the upper portion of the symbol display device 70 is activated, and the two colors of the normal symbol display LED (not shown) are used. A normal symbol variation display by alternate lighting is executed, and when the variation stops in a predetermined stop mode, the tulip of the starting winning opening 23 opens. In addition, the starting winning opening 23
When the game ball wins, the symbol display device 70 executes a special symbol change display game, and the opening and closing door of the special winning opening 26 opens and closes in the front-rear direction according to the stop mode.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base frame 11
On the back surface side, a main mechanism 210 with a protective case, a collective circuit board 220 including a power supply unit, an audio circuit board 230, a launch circuit board 240, a symbol control circuit board 250, and a back mechanism (shown in detail) Are not provided). The back mechanism includes, for example, a ball tank 41 for storing a supply ball from the island device, a ball passage gutter 42 for supplying a game ball from the ball tank 41 to the payout port 49 side as a prize ball or a lending ball, and a ball not shown. A passage, a ball separating device 43 for separating the ball in the middle of the ball passage, and a prize ball for dividing the game balls from the ball separating device 43 into award balls and lending balls, counting and flowing down to the payout port 49 side. It is constituted by a passage switching device 50 for ball rental (ball passage switching device). In FIG. 2, reference numeral 270 denotes a ball feeder mounted on the back side of the upper plate panel 150 so as to supply game balls from the upper ball tray 15 to the launching device 30.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the prize ball / lending ball path switching device 50 includes an upstream path 5 for introducing a game ball B.
1 and the prize ball payout passage 5 branched from the upstream passage 51
2 and a ball let-off payout passage 53. The payout passage gutter 54 passes through any one of the prize ball payout passage 52 and the ball let-off payout passage 53. The game balls B introduced from the upstream passage 51 can be paid out to the ball tray. Further, near the passage branch point 54a of the prize ball payout passage 52 of the payout passage gutter 54 and the ball rental payout passage 53, an upstream passage 5 is provided.
A flapper 55 is provided as a switching valve that is switchably connected to one of the winning ball payout passage 52 and the ball rental payout passage 53.

The flapper 55 has its upstream end 55a close to the upstream passage 51 centered on its base end 55c as shown in FIG.
Can be rotated between a first switching position P1 shown in FIG. 5 and a second switching position P2 shown in FIG.
By the rotation operation around c, selective passage switching to the prize ball payout passage 52 or the ball rental payout passage 53 can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the flapper 55 includes a support shaft portion 55a serving as a rotation support, and the support shaft portion 55a.
And an engagement projection shaft 55b projecting to one side in the axial direction at a predetermined rotation radius position in parallel with the engagement projection shaft 55b.
Are rotatably engaged.

The switching operation lever 56 includes a base end portion 56a rotatably supported by the discharge passage gutter 54 via a cylindrical support shaft 57 near a passage branch point 54a of the discharge passage gutter 54, and a flapper. And a leading end portion 56b that engages with the engaging projection shaft 55b at a predetermined rotational radius position of 55.
A cam groove 5 bent into a substantially L-shape in which an engaging projection shaft 55b is slidably inserted and slidable on the tip end 56b side.
6c is formed. The switching operation of the switching operation lever 56 is performed by a passage switching solenoid 58.

The cam groove 56c formed at the tip end 56b of the switching operation lever 56 has a flapper 55 as shown in FIG.
When the game ball B stays on the downstream side of the flapper 55 in the case where the flapper 55 is located at the first switching position P1 as shown in FIG. 5, the function of restricting the return of the flapper 55 to the second switching position P2 is exerted. It has become.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6A, when the flapper 55 stands substantially vertically and the switching operation lever 56 is oriented substantially horizontally, the flapper 55 is moved to the second switching position P2 side. When it is attempted to return, the engaging projection shaft 55b of the flapper 55 comes into contact with the cam surface portion 56d of the cam groove portion 56c (see FIG. 8). However, when the engaging projection shaft 55b of the flapper 55 attempts to return to the second switching position P2,
The force applied from the flapper 55 to the switching operation lever 56 is
The tangent line between the cam surface portion 56d and the engaging projection shaft 55b (FIG. 6)
(A) Both contact points C1) and the switching operation lever 5
6 is directed to a straight line L connecting with the rotation center axis (the rotation center C2 in FIG. 6A), or the straight line L around the contact point C1.
The force F can be represented by a vector inclined more counterclockwise.
As a result, the force in the reverse flow direction from the game ball B is increased by the flapper 55.
In this state, no rotational moment is generated in the switching operation lever 56, or a moment is generated to rotate clockwise around the rotation center C2 in FIG. The operation lever 56 maintains the state in which the tip end portion 56b is in contact with the stopper portion 54s of the discharge passage gutter 54. As described above, the cam groove portion 56c of the switching operation lever 56 cooperates with the engaging projection shaft 55b of the flapper 55 to cause the flapper 55 to stay in the second switching position P by the force in the reverse flow direction from the game ball in which the flapper 55 stays.
When returning to the second side, the return of the flapper 55 can be restricted.

In the prize ball payout passage 52, a ball counting sensor 92 as a prize ball detection switch is provided.
3 is a ball counting sensor 93 as a ball rental detection switch,
Each is installed. A plurality of annular inner projections 51b projecting into the upstream passage 51 are provided on the inner wall 51a of the upstream passage 51 of the discharge passage gutter 54.
These inner projections 51b are used to control the flow speed of the game balls on the front side (upstream side) of the ball counting sensors 92 and 93 when the game balls are introduced into the upstream passage 51 and flow down the payout passage gutter 54.
The degree of the deceleration is determined by the passage time when the game ball passes the ball counting sensor 92 or 93 (the time when the game ball is in the detection area of the ball counting sensor; for example, 9 ms (millisecond) )), The game ball is transferred to a ball counting sensor 92.
Or 93, the minimum counting time interval required to count reliably (eg, for ball counting, ball counting sensors 92, 9
3 is set to be sufficiently larger than a cycle (for example, 3 ms) in which the interrupt processing for checking the detection signal of the third detection signal by the detection circuit on the main board 210 side is repeated; The inner protrusion 51b is made of, for example, plastic having excellent wear resistance and injection molding accuracy.

The passage switching device 50 includes a back cover 5 that covers the back surface of the payout passage gutter 54 to form a spherical passage.
9 (see FIG. 3), and the switching operation lever 56 is engaged from the outside of the back cover 59 with the rear end of the engaging projection shaft 55b projecting to the back through the arc hole 59a of the back cover 59. .

In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numeral 81 denotes a payout number detection switch for detecting a payout ball.
82 is a sprocket for dividing the front and rear game balls while guiding the game balls B to be paid out one by one to the detection position of the payout number detection switch 81, and 83 is a fulcrum type rotary plate 83a.
Is engaged with the sprocket 82 by a tension spring 83b to restrict the rotation of the sprocket 82,
This is a payout solenoid that sucks the turning plate 83a so as to separate from the turning ball 2 and releases the turning restriction, thereby allowing the payout ball to flow down.

In the passage switching device of the present embodiment configured as described above, when the pachinko gaming machine 10 is in operation, the movable portion 58a of the solenoid 58 is normally at a lowered position. Therefore, the flapper 55 is provided in FIGS.
As shown in (a), it is at the first switching position P1, and the upstream passage 51 is connected to the prize ball payout passage 52.

On the other hand, when the ball lending operation is performed to the ball lending machine 1 by a predetermined operation, the movable portion 5 of the solenoid 58 is operated.
8a rises as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 (b), and the tip 56b of the switching operation lever 56 falls. Accordingly, the flapper 55 is rotated from the first switching position P1 to the second switching position P2, and the upstream passage 51 is connected to the ball rental payout passage 53.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the connection from the upstream passage 51 to the winning ball payout passage 52 or the ball rental payout passage 53 can be switched by the flapper 55, and the upstream passage 51 is unified. The device configuration can be simplified.

Further, when game balls are accumulated in the upper ball tray 15 and stay in the award ball payout passage, the flapper 55
When a force in the reverse flow direction is applied to the flapper 55 from the game ball passing through the cam groove 56 of the switching operation lever 56,
Since the cam structure that restricts the return of the flapper 55 by c is adopted, it is possible to prevent the backflow of the game ball accompanied by unnecessary rotation of the flapper 55 while enabling simple flapper switching.

Further, in the ball passage switching device of the present embodiment, an inner projection 51b protruding into the upstream passage 51 is provided on the inner wall of the upstream passage 51 of the discharge passage gutter 54, and the upstream passage 51 is provided with the inner protrusion 51b. Since the falling speed of the introduced game balls is reduced to a speed lower than the speed at which the ball counting sensors 92 and 93 can count the balls, erroneous detection of the ball counting sensors 92 and 93 can be prevented.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the flapper 55 is provided with an engagement portion protruding to one side in the axial direction at a predetermined rotation position, and is operated to rotate. The pair of switching operation levers may be provided with a pair of engagement portions, and the cam grooves of the pair of switching operation levers may be opposed to each other to switch and drive the flapper. Further, the annular projection 51b for reducing the flow acceleration of the game ball is not limited to a perfect annular shape, and may be constituted by a plurality of projections spaced at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Further, the passage switching device of the present invention is not limited to a pachinko game machine, but can be applied to an arrangement ball machine and other ball and ball game machines.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the configuration of the upstream passage can be simplified by switching the connection from the upstream passage to the prize ball payout passage or the ball rental payout passage by the flapper. Balls stay in the award ball payout passage,
Even in a state where a force in the reverse flow direction is applied to the flapper from the game ball passing through the flapper, the return of the flapper can be reliably restricted by the switching operation lever of the specific cam structure. As a result, while enabling simple flapper switching, it is possible to restrict the backflow of the game ball accompanied by unnecessary rotation of the flapper, and to reliably prevent malfunction of the passage switching device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a pachinko game machine equipped with a passage switching device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine of one embodiment in a state where windows are opened.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the pachinko gaming machine of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front cross-sectional view showing a normal winning ball passage selection state of the passage switching device according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view of the passage switching device according to the embodiment, showing a rental ball passage selected state.

6A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of FIG. 4, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams showing a flapper of the passage switching device of one embodiment, wherein FIG. 7A is a front view of the flapper, and FIG. 7B is a side view of the flapper.

8A and 8B are diagrams showing a switching operation lever of the passage switching device according to the embodiment, wherein FIG. 8A is a front view, FIG. 8B is a bottom view, and FIG. 8C is a rear view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachinko gaming machine 11 Base frame 13 Game board 13a Game area 15 Upper ball saucer 16 Lower ball saucer 17 Operation handle 23 Starting winning opening 24A General winning opening 26 Large winning opening 27 Passage gate 28A, 28B Windmill 30 Launcher 41 Ball Tank 42 ball passage gutter 43 ball separation device 49 payout port 50 passage switching device (ball passage switching device) 51 upstream passage 51a inner wall 51b inner projection 51b annular protrusion 52 winning ball payout passage 53 lending ball payout passage 54 payout passage gutter 54a passage branch point 54s stopper portion 55 flapper (switching valve) 55a upstream end portion 55a support shaft portion 55b engagement protrusion shaft 55c base end portion 56 switching operation lever 56a base end portion 56b tip end portion 56c cam groove portion 56d cam surface portion 57 support Shaft 58 Passage switching solenoid 58a Movable part 81 Out ball detection switch 82 sprocket 83 payout solenoid 92 ball counting sensor 100 outer frame

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. An upstream passage for introducing a game ball, a prize ball payout passage and a ball rental payout passage branched from the upstream passage, and any one of the prize ball payout passage and the ball rental payout passage. A payout passage gutter that can pay out game balls introduced from the upstream passage to the ball tray through one payout passage; and a payout passage gutter provided in the vicinity of a branch point between the prize ball payout passage and the ball lending payout passage. An upstream end close to the upstream passage is connected to the upstream passage so that the upstream passage is switchably connected to one of the winning ball payout passage and the rental ball payout passage.
A switching valve rotatable between a switching position and a second switching position, a distal end engaged with a predetermined rotational radius position of the switching valve, and a base end rotatably supported by the discharge passage gutter. And a switching operation lever for rotating the switching valve. The switching valve includes a first switching valve at a tip end of the switching operation lever.
A cam groove for restricting return of the switching valve by the switching operation lever when a reverse flow force returning from the switching position to the second switching position is applied to the switching valve from the game ball. Ball passage switching device of a ball game machine. 2. A ball counting sensor is provided in each of the prize ball payout passage and the lending ball payout passage, and an inner protrusion protruding into the upstream passage is provided on an inner wall of an upstream passage of the payout passage gutter. 2. The ball passage of a ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the flow speed of the game ball introduced into the upstream passage is reduced to a speed at which the ball can be counted by the ball counting sensor. Switching device.