JP2002011192A - Pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pachinko game machine which hinders a biased higher ball pressure from working on partial game balls in a ball guide gutter for guiding game balls to a ball payout device from a game ball tank. SOLUTION: Partition walls 231 and 234 are arranged being extended parallel with the direction of the downflow of balls within a range to the downstream end of a ball guide gutter 200 from a downstream point somewhere right below a ball guide outlet 262 of a ball tank 260 to section multiple lines of ball guide paths 230a to 230c of the ball guide gutter 200, which guides game balls flowing down from the ball guide outlet 262 of the ball tank 260 where the game balls are stored to game ball payoff devices 80a to 80b being aligned line by line separately with the ball guide paths 230a to 230c. In other words, none of the partition walls 321 and 324 are arranged right below the ball guide outlet 262 of the ball tank, on which a higher ball pressure works, to allow relatively free movement of the game balls in the direction of the downflow thereof right below the ball guide outlet 262.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine, and more particularly to a pachinko gaming machine having a ball guiding gutter for aligning gaming balls flowing down from a ball tank and guiding the balls to a gaming ball dispensing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a pachinko game machine has a ball tank for storing game balls supplied from a so-called game island on which a large number of game machines are installed, and an event or game in which a game ball falls into a winning opening. When a predetermined event such as an event where a ball passes through a winning gate occurs, a ball dispensing device that dispenses game balls to a game ball supply tray, and a ball that has a ball guiding path for guiding game balls from a ball tank to a ball dispensing device. An induction gutter is provided.
And the game ball supplied from the so-called game island is supplied to the ball dispensing device via the ball tank and the ball guiding gutter,
When a predetermined event occurs, game balls are paid out to the game ball supply plate by the ball payout device. The ball guide gutter includes a tank rail provided downstream of the ball tank, and a bent gutter provided between the tank rail and the ball dispensing device.

[0003] The structure of a conventional pachinko gaming machine will now be described with reference to Figs. 12 is a perspective view of a conventional tank rail, FIG. 13 is a plan view of a conventional tank rail, and FIG. 14 is a plan view showing only a ball tank and a tank rail in a conventional game machine. The tank rail 300 is located at the back when viewed from the back side of the pachinko gaming machine (the same applies to the description of the direction of the related art hereinafter) and is in contact with a mechanism plate (not shown) for fixing to the gaming machine. , Left side wall 3 located on the left
02, the front wall 303 and the front bulging portion 30 located on the near side
4 and the bottom surface portion 310 constitute an outer surface. The bottom surface portion 310 forms an inclined surface descending to the right as a whole.

The first partition wall 32 is provided on the bottom surface 310.
1 and a partition plate 322, and a second partition wall 324 are erected, and the three ball guiding paths 325a to 325a-
325c is sectioned, and the respective ball guiding paths 325a to 32
At 5c, the game balls flow down in one row. The first ball guiding path 325a is configured by the first partition wall 321 and the partition plate 322, the bottom surface 310, and the rear wall 301, and
Of the sphere guiding path 325b is composed of the second partition wall 324, the bottom surface 310, the first partition wall 321 and the partition plate 322, and the third sphere guiding path 325c is
3, a bottom portion 310 and a second partition wall 324.

[0005] The bottom surface 310 of the tank rail 300 includes a first ball guiding path 325a and a second ball guiding path 325b.
Is constituted by a first ball detection plate 320 provided to be swingable up and down within a predetermined angle range,
An upstream portion of the third ball guiding path 325c is constituted by a second ball detection plate 326 provided to be vertically swingable within a predetermined angle range.

[0006] Each ball guiding path 325a (325b, 325)
c) except for the upstream part is a bottom wall 331a at the back.
B (331bB, 331cB) and the bottom wall 331 in the foreground
aF (331bF, 331cF) and these bottom walls 3
31aB (331bB, 331cB) and 331aF
(331bF, 331cF)
337.

A ball tank 260 is provided above the tank rail 300. The ball tank 260 opens upward and has a ball inlet 265 through which game balls are supplied from a so-called gaming machine island, and a ball inlet 260 below. And a ball outlet 262 located above the first ball detection plate 320 and the second ball detection plate 326, and reduces the number of game balls supplied from the ball inlet 265. From the ball outlet to the tank rail 300. The game ball guided to the tank rail 300 is guided by the ball guiding paths 325a to 325c, and is guided to a bent gutter (not shown) connected downstream of the tank rail 300.

The first ball detecting plate 320 is held in a state of being lifted upward by the urging means when no game ball is placed, and when the game ball is placed. The state in which the weight of the game ball is depressed by winning the urging force of the urging means. A first supply switch (not shown) for detecting the position of the first ball detection plate 320
And outputs an ON or OFF signal in accordance with whether the inclination of the first ball detection plate 320 is greater than a predetermined angle. Then, according to the output of the first supply switch, the first ball guiding path 325a and the second ball guiding path 3
It is detected whether a predetermined number of game balls exist in 25b.

The second ball detecting plate 326 is also provided with a second replenishing switch (not shown) for detecting the position of the second ball detecting plate 326, whereby the third ball guiding path 325 is provided.
It is detected whether or not a predetermined number of game balls exist in c. When the first replenishment switch or the second replenishment switch detects a shortage of a ball, a ball replenishment request signal is output from the game machine to a game ball management device in the game hall, and the management device is provided on the game machine island. Since the supplied game ball replenishing device is driven, the game balls are replenished to the ball tank 260, and the game balls sequentially flow down from the ball outlet 262 to the tank rail 300. In this way, the ball payout device is always replenished with game balls without shortage.

[0010]

However, in the conventional pachinko gaming machine, a partition wall or a partition plate is generally provided from the upstream end to the downstream end of the ball guiding gutter. That is, a partition wall or a partition plate is also provided in a portion of the ball guiding gutter located below the ball outlet of the ball tank. For this reason, the game ball accommodated in the ball guide path below the ball outlet is subject to a higher ball pressure than other places because the game ball flows down from above, but the inner surface of the ball guide path Since the movement is limited by the partition wall or the partition plate constituting, when the ball pressure is applied from above, the ball pressure cannot be dispersed, and the ball pressure is concentrated on a specific location, There is a problem that a game ball flowing abnormality in which the game balls are engaged with each other and the flow of the ball stops is relatively likely to occur.

[0011] Further, since the partition wall or the partition plate is provided from the upstream end to the downstream end of the ball guiding gutter as a whole, the partition wall and the partition plate occupy a predetermined volume, and the fluidity of the game ball is reduced. Since a gap is secured between these partitions and the gaming balls to secure them, the game balls cannot be accommodated by these volumes, and the upper part of the back of the relatively narrow pachinko gaming machine cannot be accommodated. There is a problem that the space cannot be used efficiently.

Further, in each ball guiding route, there is no portion where the game ball can freely move from the ball guiding route to another ball guiding route, and there is a shortage of game balls in only some ball guiding routes. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a plurality of ball detection plates and a plurality of replenishment switches as described above, and this has contributed to an increase in the manufacturing cost of the pachinko gaming machine.

[0013] In view of the above problems, among the inventions according to the present application, the object of the invention described in claim 1 is as follows.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a pachinko gaming machine in which a game ball flowing abnormality due to a clogged ball is unlikely to occur in a ball guiding gutter, and to provide a pachinko gaming machine with an increased game ball accommodation capacity in a ball guiding gutter. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the object of the first aspect, a means for detecting a shortage of a ball in a ball guiding gutter is simplified, productivity is improved, and a pachinko game machine is provided. It is an object of the invention to reduce the manufacturing cost.

[0014]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pachinko game machine, comprising: a ball tank for causing a stored game ball to flow down from a ball outlet; A ball guiding gutter that guides the game balls flowing down from the ball to a game ball dispensing device by aligning the game balls in a row by each of a plurality of ball guiding paths, and the ball outlet is disposed above the ball guiding gutter. In a pachinko gaming machine, an upper portion of the ball guiding gutter is open at least immediately below the ball outlet, and the plurality of ball guiding paths are located at a position downstream of the ball outlet of the ball tank. The gist is that the partition is formed by one or a plurality of partition walls extending parallel to the flow-down direction in a range up to the downstream end of the ball guiding gutter.

As described above, the partition wall is provided in a range from a position immediately below the ball outlet of the ball tank to the downstream end of the ball guiding gutter, and the partition wall is provided immediately below the ball outlet of the ball tank. If the ball is not provided, the game ball that has flowed down to the bottom of the ball guiding gutter directly below the ball outlet of the ball tank can move in a direction perpendicular to the flowing direction, that is, in the width direction of the ball guiding gutter. Therefore, a ball that receives a relatively high ball pressure can reduce its ball pressure by moving in the width direction in addition to the flowing direction, and can disperse the ball pressure exerted by the game ball flowing from above. it can. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid locally applying a high ball pressure in the ball guiding gutter, and it is possible to prevent a flow-down abnormality of a game ball such as a ball clogging due to a ball bite. Further, since a partition wall is not provided in a portion of the ball guiding gutter upstream of the partition wall upstream end, a larger number of game balls can be accommodated in the portion than in the related art.

[0016] Further, in a portion which is not finely divided upstream of the partition wall upstream end, the game ball can move in a direction perpendicular to the flow-down direction. , Almost evenly distributed in the width direction,
It is almost equally introduced into each ball guiding gutter defined by the partition wall.

Therefore, in this case, as in the second aspect of the present invention, the ball detecting plate which is swingable up and down around a part thereof and urged upward by urging means is provided with the ball guiding plate. At least one ball detection plate position sensor is provided on the bottom of the gutter and detects whether the ball detection plate is in the upper or lower range of the swing range, and the ball detection plate is provided with the ball game. It is preferable that a part of the bottom surface of the gutter is formed, and a part or all of the bottom surface is provided so as to be located directly below the ball outlet.

With this configuration, when a game ball is placed on the ball detection plate, the ball detection plate is pushed down, and when the game ball is not placed on the ball detection plate, the ball detection plate is pushed by the urging means. Can be lifted. Then, when the ball detection plate is pushed down, the ball detection plate position sensor outputs a signal indicating that the position of the ball detection plate is located at a lower position, but as described above, the game ball is guided to the downstream in the ball guide gutter. And the ball is almost evenly distributed in the width direction, so that it is possible to determine from the signal that the game ball exists over the entire width of the ball guiding gutter downstream of the position of the ball detection plate. On the other hand, when the ball detecting plate is lifted by the urging means without the game ball being placed on the ball detecting plate, the ball detecting plate position sensor outputs a signal indicating that the position of the ball detecting plate is located at a higher position. However, it can be determined from this signal that no game ball exists upstream of the position of the ball detection plate.

Therefore, when the output of the ball detecting plate position sensor is a signal indicating that the ball detecting plate is at a higher position, it can be determined that the ball needs to be replenished, and the output of the ball detecting plate position sensor indicates that the ball detecting plate is in the upper position. If the signal indicates that the ball is lower, it can be determined that it is not necessary to refill the ball. That is, it is possible to determine whether or not to refill the ball, based on the detection results using one ball detection plate and one or more ball detection plate position sensors.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a back view of the pachinko gaming machine. The pachinko gaming machine 10 includes an outer frame 11 forming a side of the pachinko gaming machine main body, and an inner frame 12 serving as a base of the pachinko gaming machine front part. A metal frame 13 is fitted around the periphery of an opening formed in a frame shape of the inner frame 12, and a glass door 15 that covers the front surface of the game board 14 is provided on the metal frame 13 so as to be openable and closable. From the upper edge to the upper right edge of the inner frame 12, a frame top decoration 2 composed of a lens body made of synthetic resin is provided.
3 are provided inside the frame top decoration 23, and frame decoration lamps 24, 24... Are provided.

At a position below the glass door 15, a receiving tray (upper receiving tray) 16 for storing game balls to be supplied to the ball launching device is mounted, and further below the receiving tray 16 at the time of discharging the prize balls. A ball tray (lower tray) 17 for storing game balls overflowing from 16 is provided.
The game balls in the upper tray 16 are dropped toward the lower tray 17 by operating a ball release button 18 provided on the upper tray 16. A firing lever 2 for firing a game ball toward the game board 14 at the right side position of the lower receiving tray 17 in the drawing.
0 is provided, and this firing lever 20 is provided with a single shot switch 21 for firing a game ball for each ball. The game balls are set in accordance with the amount by which the firing lever 20 is turned.
The degree of projectile firing toward the surface is adjusted, and the power of the firing motor is turned on by detecting a predetermined amount of rotation.

As shown in FIG. 2, a game ball supplied to the upper tray 16 is hit by a hitting hammer at a position near the lower rear corner of the game machine 10 to be fired toward the game board 14 surface. Ball launching device 100 is provided.
The hitting ball launching device 100 includes a hitting launching motor 101, a hitting mechanism including a hitting hammer, and a game ball launching adjustment dial 1.
03 and the like, and are controlled by the launcher control circuit. The game ball launch adjustment dial 103 is a game board 1
It is provided to adjust and set the resilience of the game ball toward four sides and the flight distance on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine. A launching device control board 104 including a launching device control circuit is provided near the hit ball launching device 100. Launcher control board 1
The touch switch circuit 04 is provided with a touch switch circuit for detecting the contact of the player with the hit ball firing operation handle and turning on the power of the hit ball firing motor 101, and a touch sensitivity adjusting volume 102 for adjusting the sensitivity of the touch switch circuit. .

On one side of the pachinko gaming machine 10, a ball lending machine (hereinafter referred to as a "prepaid card unit") 30 using a prepaid card is installed. The prepaid card units 30 are installed one by one in a gaming machine. In response to the installation of the prepaid card unit 30, on the front face of the upper tray 16 of the pachinko gaming machine 10,
A ball lending operation unit 31 for performing a lending operation of a game ball with a prepaid card is provided. The ball lending operation unit 31 includes a ball lending button 32 for operating a ball lending with a prepaid card, and a possible state of the ball lending. A ball lending lamp 33 shown, a card return button 34 for discharging a prepaid card, a balance display of a prepaid card, and a frequency display unit 35 for displaying an error are provided.

When using the prepaid card, insert the prepaid card into the card insertion slot 37 while the card availability indicator lamp 36 provided in the prepaid card unit 30 is lit, and operate the amount setting button 38 to obtain the loan amount. (100 yen, 200 yen, 300 yen, 5
00 yen). The upper tray 16
The ball lending button 32 of the ball lending operation unit 31 provided for
Each time the game is performed, a game ball of a preselected amount is lent.

The game board 1 provided on the front of the inner frame 12
Reference numeral 4 denotes a metal inner rail 41 mounted on a game board, an outer rail 42 for guiding a game ball fired from a ball firing position by a hitting hammer toward the board surface, a ball hitting position, and a rolling rail. A foul stop 43 that prevents the hit ball from returning to the firing rail or the hitting position again due to the rebound action of the moving game ball reaching the game board surface, and a game ball having an excessive flying force rolling from the hitting position to the game board. In the upper right portion, the periphery is constituted by a back rubber 44 or the like which falls down below the game board surface while absorbing a shock, and a game area is formed inside.

At the upper right of the game area of the game board 14, there is provided an out-of-ball LED 151 which is lit when an out-of-ball error, which is an error of insufficient supply of the ball to the ball payout device, is provided. A payout ball error LED 150 is provided which is lit when a predetermined error related to payout of game balls occurs. A special symbol display device 50 is provided slightly above the center of the game area, and three special symbol display units (left symbol display unit 50a, middle symbol display unit 50b, right symbol display unit 50c in order from the left in the figure) are provided in the center. Is provided.

At a position directly below the special symbol display device 50, a start winning port 51 is provided. The starting winning opening 51 is
The start winning opening 51a which can be always won, and the variable starting winning opening 51b which has an electric variable wing and which can win when the variable wing is opened, which one of the starting winning opening 51a and the variable starting winning opening 51b. When a crab game ball wins,
Each symbol display unit 50a, 50b of the special symbol display device 50,
A symbol change is started in which a numeral or symbol is alternately displayed on 50c.

The symbol change stops after a predetermined time (for example, about 5 seconds) has elapsed after the start, and the combination of the symbols displayed on the symbol display sections 50a, 50b, 50c at the time of the stop is determined in advance. (For example, a combination in which three symbols are the same; hereinafter, referred to as a "big hit symbol"), that is, when a big hit occurs, a special winning opening that is installed below the starting opening 4 and is normally closed. 52 is opened for a predetermined time, and at the same time, it becomes possible to win the specific area winning opening 53. When the special area winning opening 53 is won while the special winning opening is being opened, the special winning opening is once closed and then opened again for a predetermined time. Then, for one jackpot, the special winning opening is repeatedly opened up to 16 times.

Further, at the left and right positions of the special winning opening 52,
Ordinary prize openings, left down prize opening 54, right down prize opening 55
And a left sleeve winning opening 5
6. A right sleeve winning port 57 is provided. Each winning opening 51
When a game ball wins a, 51b and 52 to 57, a predetermined number of award balls are paid out for each winning opening.

In addition, a semi-circular decorative frame formed on the upper part of the decorative frame 58 surrounding the periphery of the special symbol display device 50 is provided with a normal symbol display device 60 displayed by digital display of 7 segments. Be provided. The normal symbol display device 60 displays numbers from “0” to “9”. Further, a left gate 61 and a right gate 62 are provided at the left and right positions of the special symbol display 50, and as the game balls pass through these left and right gates 61, 62, the symbol display device 6 is provided.
The variable start winning opening 51b is configured such that 0 starts a symbol change, stops after a lapse of a predetermined time, and the stopped symbol becomes a predetermined symbol (for example, “3” or “7”).

In addition to the symbol display device, the winning opening, and the like, the direction of the falling of the game ball fired and fired by the operation of the player is changed on the surface of the game board 14 at random. A windmill and a ramp windmill that change the speed are provided. As a result, the game balls fired and shot fall down while rolling in the game area of the game board 14 and win the above-mentioned devices and winning openings, or play if they do not win anywhere. It is discharged to the back side of the game board 14 at a discharge port 66 provided at the lowermost part of the area.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 8, the structure of the ball tank and tank rail provided on the back of the gaming machine will be described. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where the ball tank and the tank rail are incorporated in the upper back set plate 250. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of a ball tank and a tank rail in the same state as in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the ball tank and the tank rail in the same state as FIG. 3 as viewed from the back side of the gaming machine.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the ball tank and the tank rail. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tank rail.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the tank rail. The upper back set plate 250 is mounted on the upper rear surface of the gaming machine.

The ball tank 260 is formed in a box shape with an open top, and has a discharge port 262 for discharging game balls to the tank rail 200 at the lower left when viewed from the back of the gaming machine.
It is installed so that the side part on the front side fits into the concave part provided on the upper part of the back set substrate 250. The game ball supplied from the outside of the pachinko gaming machine falls on the bottom slope 261 of the ball tank 260 as shown in FIG. 3 and once the ball speed decreases, the outlet is provided by the slope 261 gently descending to the left when viewed from behind. It is guided toward 262 and falls from the outlet 262 to the upstream part (left part when viewed from the back) of the ball guiding path of the tank rail 200.

As shown in FIG. 7, the tank rail 200 has a tank rail main body 210 and a game ball detecting plate 220 for detecting a supply state of game balls in the tank rail. There is a guide rail main body 210.

The tank rail body 210 has a rear wall 201 in contact with the upper back set substrate 250, a left wall 202 located to the left as viewed from the back of the gaming machine, a bottom wall 205, and a rear wall located on the back of the gaming machine. And a front wall 203 parallel to 201. The front wall 203 is provided with a bulging portion 204 bulging in the back direction of the gaming machine. The bulging portion constitutes a bulging portion guiding path. And is higher than the height of the bottom wall 225 and is gently inclined toward the front side of the gaming machine. The game balls flowing down from the ball outlet 262 of the game ball tank 260 to the bulging portion 204 are guided onto the game ball detection plate 220 or the third ball guiding path 230c. The tank rail body 210 further includes a detection plate mounting port 211 provided at the lower left when viewed from the back of the gaming ball game machine,
It is inserted.

The bottom wall 205 is provided from the downstream edge (right edge when viewed from the back side of the gaming machine) of the detection plate mounting opening 211 to the downstream end (right end) of the tank rail main body 210,
It is inclined so as to gradually descend from left to right when viewed from the back of the gaming machine. Further, as can be seen from the figure, the bottom wall 205 has respective ball guiding paths 230a, 230b, and 2
In the center of 30c, a plurality of dust flow holes 232a1 are respectively provided.
~ 232a4, 232b1 ~ 232b4, 232c1 ~
232c4 are provided.

The tank rail main body 210 has a first partition wall 231 and a second partition wall 234. The first partition wall 231 is parallel to the rear wall 201 and the front wall 203, and the ratio of the distance from the rear wall 201 to the distance from the front wall 203 is about 1: 2. In the range from the downstream edge to the downstream end of the tank rail main body (the right end when viewed from the back side of the gaming machine), it is vertically erected on the bottom wall 205. The second partition wall 234 is parallel to the rear wall 201 and the front wall 203, has a ratio of a distance from the rear wall 201 to a distance from the front wall 203 of approximately 2: 1, and stands perpendicular to the bottom wall 205. And extends from the downstream edge of the ball detection plate mounting opening 211 to the downstream end of the tank rail body (the right end when viewed from the back side of the gaming machine). The height of the first partition wall 231 of the left side wall 202 is lower than that of the second partition wall 234.

In the tank rail 200,
A gutter-shaped ball path formed by the rear wall 201, the bottom wall 205, the game ball detection plate 220, and the front wall 203 is formed, and the first partition wall 231 and the second Of the three ball guiding paths, that is, the first ball guiding path 230a located on the most front side, and the second ball guiding path 230 adjacent thereto.
b and a third ball guiding path 230c located on the back side. And here, each ball guidance route 230a
To 230c have a groove width slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball.

The game ball detecting plate 220 is connected to the first to third ball guiding paths 230a to 230a of the tank rail main body 210.
It is provided in a detection plate mounting opening 211 provided at a position upstream of 30c with a width equal to the entire width of these paths, and swings within a predetermined angle range around a front-rear support shaft 221 located at its downstream portion. It is installed freely. As shown in FIG. 5, a supply switch pressing member 228 and a link member 227 are hung on the back surface of the game ball detecting plate 220, and the link member 227 has both arms in a direction facing the support shaft 225. It is connected to one arm of a balance member 226 that is provided so as to be swingable about the support shaft 225. A weight 224 is fixed to the other arm of the balance member 226.

Therefore, when no game ball is placed on the first game ball detection plate 220, the game ball detection plate 220 is lifted upward by the weight of the weight 224 and positioned at the highest position in the predetermined range. Then, when the number of game balls on the game increases, the game balls are pushed down by the weight of the game balls, and are positioned at the lowest position in the predetermined range. When the game detection plate 220 is located at the highest position or the lowest position of the predetermined range, the predetermined range is set so as to be inclined downward toward the downstream, so that the game balls placed thereon are always Guide downstream. When the upstream end is located at the lowest position, the inclination of the game ball detection plate 220 is substantially equal to the inclination of the bottom wall 205.

As described above, the first partition wall 231 and the second partition wall 231
The upstream end of the partition wall 234 is located downstream from directly below the ball tank 260, so that the upper and downstream sides of the upper part (left part when viewed from the back side of the gaming machine) of the tank rail body 210 are opened. A one-room ball reservoir is formed. This ball storage tank is provided with a ball outlet 26 of a ball tank 260 located above the ball storage tank.
The game balls flowing down from 2 are temporarily stored and guided downstream by the inclined ball detection plate 220. The guided game balls are equally introduced into the first ball guide path 230a, the second ball guide path 230b, and the third ball guide path 230c which are defined and formed downstream of the ball detection plate 220, and The guide paths 230a to 230c are arranged in a line.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the tank rail 200 taken along line BB shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, the dust flow holes 232a1 to 232a4, 232b1 to 232b
4, 232c1 to 232c4 are the first
In the center of each of the third ball guiding paths 230a to 230c,
It is arranged so as to penetrate the bottom surface, and dust falls from these holes and is removed.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, the flow of game balls related to payout will be described. FIG. 10 illustrates a payout path of a prize ball and a rental ball. Although partially overlapping with the above description, the game ball tank 260 has an outlet 262 thereof.
Is provided above the ball detection plate 220 of the tank rail 200.

A replenishment switch 81 is provided below a ball detection plate 220 provided at an upstream portion of the tank rail 200. When a game ball is placed on the ball detection plate 220 and the inclination angle of the ball detection plate 220 is equal to or less than a predetermined angle, the switch pressing member 228 presses the supply switch 81,
The replenishment switch 81 outputs an ON signal. Since the ON signal is output as a signal notifying that a predetermined amount of game balls are being replenished to the tank rail, the ball tank 260
Is not supplied with game balls.

On the other hand, when the game ball is not placed on the ball detecting plate 220 and the inclination angle of the ball detecting plate 220 is larger than a predetermined angle, the switch pressing member 228 is turned on by the supply switch 81.
Is not pressed, the supply switch 81 outputs an OFF signal as a supply ball request signal, thereby notifying a game shortage management computer (not shown) of a shortage of balls, and the game space management computer outputs a game ball (not shown) provided on the game machine island. By operating the supply device, a predetermined number of game balls are stored in the game ball tank 2.
60.

The downstream end of the tank rail 200 is connected to the upstream end of the bent gutter 280. This bent gutter 280
Each ball guiding path 230a to 230c of the tank rail 200
The first ball guiding path 281a on the front side is connected to the downstream end of the first ball guiding path 230a on the front side of the tank rail 200, and the back side is connected to the three ball guiding paths 281a to 281c. The third ball guiding path 281c is connected to the downstream end of the ball guiding path 230c on the back side of the tank rail 200, and the second ball is sandwiched between the first ball guiding path 281a and the third ball guiding path 281c. The guide path 281b connects to the downstream end of the remaining ball guide path 230b of the tank rail 200.

The bent gutter 280 is provided with a ball removing device 130 in the middle of the path, and by operating the ball removing device 130, the game balls stored in the ball tank 260 and the tank rail 200 are removed from the ball removing gutter 123. To be discharged to the outside of the pachinko machine. Then, the ball guiding path 2 on the front side of the bent gutter 280
At the downstream end of 81a, 281b, a ball payout device 8 for prize balls
0a is continuously provided, and at the downstream end of the ball guiding path 281c on the back side of the bent gutter 280, a ball dispensing device 80b for lending balls.
Are connected.

The ball guiding path 281a of the curved gutter 280
In the middle of each of (-281c), an emptying prevention switch 82a for detecting whether or not a game ball exists there.
(-82c) are provided. Then, the emptying prevention switch 82a continuously detects that there is no game ball on the ball guiding path 281a for a predetermined time, or the emptying prevention switch 82b detects that a game ball exists on the ball guiding path 281b. When it is detected that there is no game ball for a predetermined time, the rotation of the ball payout motor 136a for the prize ball is stopped, and the emptying prevention switch 82c keeps the game ball not existing in the ball guiding path 281c for a predetermined time. Upon detection, the rotation of the ball payout motor 136b for lent balls is stopped.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing details of the ball payout device 80a for winning balls. This ball payout device 80a
The prize ball payout motor 136a is provided on the main body frame 135a, and a screw 137a attached to the motor shaft is provided at the open lower end of the prize ball payout device 80a. The main body frame 135a is provided with prize ball sensors 138a and 138b for detecting prize balls to be paid out one by one. When the screw 137a is rotationally driven by the drive of the prize ball payout motor 136a, the game ball is bent 2
The first ball guiding path 281a and the second ball guiding path 281b move to the entire downstream direction via the first ball guiding path 281 and are introduced into the introducing paths 139a and 140a of the prize ball payout device 80a, and the prize ball payout. The game balls in the device 80a are moved by the screw 137a in the downstream direction, and are dropped and paid out from the lower open end in order from the downstream one.

The ball payout device 80b for prize balls has a similar configuration and function. However, the game ball is introduced from the third ball guiding path 281c of the curved gutter 280 to one introduction path 140b of the rental ball dispensing device 80b, but is not introduced to the other introduction path 139b.

The game balls dispensed from the ball dispensing devices 80a and 80b fall into the prize ball retaining unit 125 provided below the ball dispensing devices 80a and 80b, and are temporarily retained. When the upper tray 16 is paid out to the upper tray 16 of the gaming machine and the upper tray 16 is full, the game ball overflows from the prize ball holding unit 125 and the lower tray communication passage gutter 1.
The game is paid out to the lower tray 17 on the front of the gaming machine via the lower ball outlet 129 and the lower ball outlet 129. The lower tray communication passage gutter 128 is provided with a full tank detection plate 84 swingably around the lower end, and the full tank detection plate 84 is provided with a game ball overflowing from the prize ball holding unit 125. When the inside of 128 is filled, it is pushed by the filled game ball.

Whether or not the full tank detection plate 84 is pushed is detected by the full tank switch 83, and when the full tank switch 83 detects that the full tank detection plate 84 is pushed, the hitting ball firing motor 101 and the Ball dispensing motor 136a,
136b is stopped. Therefore, when the lower tray communication passage gutter 128 is filled with game balls, the hit balls cannot be fired and fired, and the game balls cannot be paid out.

According to the pachinko gaming machine configured as described above, the ball supplied from outside the gaming machine to the gaming ball tank 260 flows down from the outlet 262 onto the ball detecting plate 220 of the gaming tank rail 200. Each game ball flowing down to the ball detection plate 220 is provided with a first partition wall 231 and a second partition wall 234.
The game ball that has flowed into any of the first ball guiding route 230a, the second ball guiding route 230b, or the third ball guiding route 230c and has flowed into the first ball guiding route 230a, Bottom wall surface 20 of one ball guiding path 230a
5 while rolling or sliding, and is guided to the first ball guiding path 281 a of the curved gutter 280. Similarly, the second
The game ball that has flowed into the ball guiding path 230b of the
The game ball that has been guided to the second ball guiding path 281b of No. 0 and has flowed into the third ball guiding path 230c is guided to the third ball guiding path 281c of the curved gutter 280. That is, the game ball flowing down from the ball tank 260 is the ball guiding path 230a-2.
30c guides the bent gutter 280 in three rows.

The game balls arranged in three rows by the game tank rail 200 are bent gutter 280, prize ball payout device 80
a and the rental ball payout device 80b. Then, when a game ball wins in the winning opening, the payout motor 136a of the prize ball payout device 80a is driven to rotate, and the prize ball is placed in the upper receiving tray 1.
6 or the lower tray 17, and when the ball lending button 32 is operated, the payout motor 136 of the lending ball payout device 80b.
b is driven to rotate, and the lending ball is paid out to the upper tray 16 or the lower tray 17.

As described above, according to the tank rail 200 in this embodiment, the game ball is the ball tank 2
Since the ball flows from the ball outlet 262 to the upstream of the tank rail 200, that is, the ball detection plate 220, a relatively high ball pressure is applied to the game balls existing on the ball detection plate 220. The upstream ends of the partition wall 231 and the second partition wall 234 are separated from the left side wall 202 and the ball outlet 2
Since there is no partition member such as a partition wall on the upper surface of the ball detection plate 220, which is located downstream from the position directly below 62,
In the upstream part of the tank rail 200, a single storage tank in which game balls can move more freely than before is formed. The game sphere moves relatively freely in the storage tank, thereby avoiding locally applying a high ball pressure. As a result, so-called ball biting is less likely to occur in the tank rail 200, and smooth flow of game balls can be ensured.

Further, since the number of partition members in the tank rail is reduced as compared with the related art, there is an advantage that the number of game balls that can be accommodated in the tank rail increases. Furthermore,
Since the storage tank is a single room, only one ball detection plate 220 and one replenishment switch 80 are required to detect a shortage of balls on the tank rail 200, which contributes to a reduction in the cost of pachinko gaming machines. Is what you do.

Needless to say, the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the number of ball guiding paths in the tank rail is not limited to three, but may be two or four or more. In addition, although a pachinko gaming machine that pays out prize balls and rental balls has been illustrated, for example, a pachinko gaming machine that pays out only prize balls may be used.

In the above embodiment, the ball detecting plate 22
Although a partition member such as a partition wall is not provided in 0, a partition member may be provided on the ball detection plate in a downstream area below the ball outlet. On the other hand, in the above-described embodiment, the length of the ball detection plate in the flowing direction is longer than the size of the ball outlet in the flowing direction, and the width of the ball detection plate is substantially equal to the width of the bottom surface of the ball guiding gutter. However, it goes without saying that the size of the ball detection plate is not limited to this size. For example, the length of the ball detecting plate may be shorter than the length of the ball tank outlet in the flowing direction, and the width of the ball detecting plate may be smaller than the width of the bottom surface of the ball guiding gutter. In this case, a bottom wall may be extended to a portion where the ball detection plate is not provided on the bottom surface. Furthermore, it is not always necessary to provide a ball detection plate on the bottom wall of the ball guiding gutter. If no ball detection plate is provided, a bottom wall may be formed on that portion.

[0059]

According to the pachinko gaming machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, the game ball can move in the width direction in addition to the flowing direction just below the ball outlet of the ball tank. Since the ball pressures received by the game balls are equalized and a locally high ball pressure is prevented from being applied in the ball guiding gutter, it is possible to prevent a game ball flowing abnormality such as a ball clogging due to a ball bite.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, 1
It is possible to determine whether or not to replenish balls by using one ball detection plate and one or more ball detection plate position sensors. Such a reduction in the number of parts reduces the cost of parts, and the reduction in the number of production processes associated with the reduction in the number of parts improves the productivity of pachinko gaming machines, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of pachinko gaming machines. It is effective.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine that is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a ball tank and a tank rail are assembled into an upper back set plate.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a ball tank and a tank rail in the same state as in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the ball tank and the tank rail in the same state as in FIG. 3 as viewed from the back side of the gaming machine.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA of the ball tank and the tank rail.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a tank rail.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of a tank rail.

9 is a sectional view of the tank rail taken along line BB shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 illustrates a payout path of a prize ball and a rental ball.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing details of a ball payout device for winning balls.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a tank rail of a conventional pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a tank rail of a conventional pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a ball tank and a tank rail in a conventional pachinko gaming machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachinko gaming machine 80a, 80b Ball payout device 81 Supply switch (ball detection board position sensor) 200 Tank rail 201 Rear wall 202 Left side wall 203 Front wall 205 Bottom wall 210 Tank rail main body 211 Game ball detection plate mounting port 220 Game ball detection Plate 228 Switch pressing member 230a First ball guiding path 230b Second ball guiding path 230c Third ball guiding path 231 First partition wall 234 Second partition wall 260 Game ball tank 261 Bottom slope 262 Ball outlet 280 Curved gutter

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Keishi Mori 4-396 Nakaodai, Nishi-ku, Nagoya-shi F-term (reference) 2C088 BA02 BA66 DA09

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ball tank for allowing stored game balls to flow down from a ball outlet, and a game ball paying out by aligning the game balls flowing from the ball outlet in a line by each of a plurality of ball guiding paths. A ball guiding gutter leading to the device, wherein the ball outlet is a pachinko game machine installed above the ball guiding gutter, wherein an upper portion of the ball guiding gutter is opened at least immediately below the ball outlet. The plurality of ball guiding paths are one or more extending in parallel to the flowing direction in a range from a position downstream of the ball outlet of the ball tank to a downstream end of the ball guiding gutter. A pachinko gaming machine characterized by being partitioned by individual partition walls. 2. A ball detecting plate which is swingable up and down around a part thereof and is urged upward by an urging means is provided on a bottom surface of the ball guiding gutter, and the ball detecting plate is oscillated. At least one ball detection plate position sensor that detects whether the ball is in the upper or lower range of the movement range is provided, and the ball detection plate constitutes a part of the bottom surface of the ball game gutter, and a part or a part thereof. The pachinko gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the whole is provided so as to be located directly below the ball outlet.