JP2002360830A - Stock ball prize winning device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve playability by preventing the idle discharging operation of a stock chamber. SOLUTION: When whole balls P stocked in a stock chamber 6 become heavy, a movable body 7 is moved down with a shaft 8 as a rotational center like a deer threatener and inclined to guide the stock balls P from the deep side of the stock chamber 6 to the top side, and the stock balls P are discharged from the top of the stock chamber 6 through a side slope 4 onto a play panel in the manner of self-discharge. After discharge, the movable body 7 is recovered into original state to take in balls like a deer threatener.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball storage and prize apparatus for a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a ball storage and prize apparatus for storing balls shot in a game area and, when the number of stored balls reaches a predetermined number, the storage balls. Related to the structure to be released.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a ball storage prize apparatus for storing a ball fired in a game area and discharging the stored ball to the game area, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-57353 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
No. 104947.

[0003]

However, as shown in FIG. 11, the ball storage and prize apparatus 101 disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-57353 discloses a storage room 102 for storing a plurality of balls.
And the prize hole 103 are distributed, and the ball detector 104 provided in the prize hole 103 detects a ball to drive the actuator 105, and the actuator 105 opens the outlet of the storage room 102, In this configuration, the sphere is released from the storage chamber 102. For this reason, in the case where no ball is stored in the storage room 102, when a ball is won in the prize-winning opening 103, the exit of the storage room 102 is opened,
The empty operation is performed in which the ball is not released from the storage room 102, and the game lacks in the playability. As shown in FIG.
No. 947 discloses a ball storage and prize winning device 111 in which a player operates an operation switch 1 provided on a front surface of a gaming machine frame 112.
When the player operates the actuator 13, the actuator 114 of the ball storage and prize device 111 is driven to discharge the ball from the ball storage and prize device 111. For this reason, when the ball is not stored in the ball storage and winning device 111, when the player operates the operation switch 113, the ball storage and winning device 111 performs an idle operation in which the ball is not released and lacks in the playability. there were.

[0004] Therefore, the present invention provides a ball storage and prize winning device which can prevent the empty discharge operation of the storage room and improve the playability.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, when a plurality of balls are stored in a storage room like a deer threatening a storage room, the storage room is weighted by the storage balls. By moving and releasing the ball from the storage room, the empty release operation of the storage room can be prevented, and the game performance can be improved. In the present invention, if a weight is used as a movable source of the storage room,
It can stabilize the movement of the storage room like a deer threat. Further, in this one aspect of the present invention, if the movable body forming the storage chamber and the weighted arm having the weight are formed separately,
The movable body and the weighted arm can be arranged in front and back, and the width of the portion composed of the movable body and the weighted arm can be reduced. According to another aspect of the present invention, when the ball detector detects a ball stored in the storage chamber, the actuator opens the outlet of the storage chamber and discharges the ball, so that the ball from the storage chamber is released. The release of the ball is assured, and the empty discharge operation of the storage room can be prevented, and the playability can be improved.
In this another aspect of the present invention, if the actuator is driven when the ball detection signal continues for a predetermined time, even if the storage chamber for the ball detector has a simple structure in which no detour is provided, the ball from the storage chamber can be moved. Release can be assured.

[0006]

1 to 3 show a first embodiment. FIG. 1 shows the front of a ball storage and prize winning apparatus 1 with a part of a front plate 5 cut away, and FIG. 2 shows FIG. FIG. 3 shows a cross section cut along AA, and FIG. 3 shows a front view of the pachinko machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, the ball storage and winning device 1 will be described. The ball storage and prize apparatus 1 includes an entrance 2, an induction slope 3, a side slope 4, a front plate 5, a movable body 7 constituting a storage chamber 6 such as a deer threat, a shaft 8, a spring, an upper stopper 10, and a lower stopper 11. Are combined into a single unit and a center decoration 12 made of a constituent resin having a light-shielding property. The movable body 7 is flipped up around the shaft 8 by the spring force of a spring (not shown), and the distal end of the movable body 7 is moved downward by an upper stopper 10 which is a connecting portion between the arc-shaped guiding slope 3 and the arc-shaped side slope 4. Collision from the side, movable body 7
Is prevented from further jumping. When the movable body 7 is received by the upper stopper 10, the movable body 7 is inclined so as to guide the sphere ejected from the guiding slope 3 to the back side of the axis 8 of the storage room 6.

The guiding slope 3 guides a ball which has entered the entrance 2 from the left and right of the natural winning opening 13 in the center decoration 12 in the direction of the storage room 6, and enters the storage room 6 indicated by an arrow X1. By setting the direction to be perpendicular to the operation direction indicated by arrow X2 about the axis 8 of the movable body 7, accidental operation of the movable body 7 due to the impact of a ball is prevented. The side slope 4 discharges the ball discharged from the storage room 6 in a predetermined direction. The front plate 5 forms a front design of the center decoration 12 and has a front open box 14 that is recessed behind the front plate 5. Rear wall 1 of box 14
5, an opening 16 for forming a symbol recognition area is formed.
A transparent plate-like lens body 17 for closing the opening 16
2 makes the symbol displayed on the screen of the symbol display 18 of FIG. 2 look enlarged and protects the symbol display 18 from collision with a ball.

Referring to FIG. 2, the internal structure of the ball storing and winning device 1 will be described. The shaft 8 that rotatably supports the movable body 7 is fixed to the rear wall 15 by press-fitting or bonding, and the lower stopper 11 protrudes from the rear wall 15. A symbol display 18 such as a liquid crystal display is attached to the lens body 17 fixed to the box 14 or the box 14. The box 14, the winning prize opening 13, and the ball storage prize device 1 in the center decoration 12 are inserted from the front side of the game board 20 into the component mounting holes 21 formed in the game board 20, and the front plate 5 around the component mounting holes 21. The center decoration 12 is attached to the game board 20 by being fixed to the game board 20 with a set screw (not shown) from the front side.

A pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIG. The game machine frame 25 of the pachinko machine is installed on an island of a game store such as a pachinko parlor, and the game machine frame 25 stores therein the game board 20 which is a game main body. The stored gaming panel 20 is covered with a front decorative frame 26 of the gaming machine frame 25, and the game area of the gaming panel 20 is passed through a transparent panel 27 of the front decorative frame 26 from the front side of the gaming machine frame 25. And is visually recognized. The center board 12, the ball storage prize device 1, the symbol display 18 of FIG. 2, the start prize device 29, the variable prize device 30, the out port 31, and the like are provided inside the game area surrounded by the guide rail 28 in the game board 20. Parts other than those shown are arranged. The symbol display 18 can be visually recognized from the front side of the gaming machine frame 25 via the panel 27 and the lens body 17 of the center decoration 12. Other parts not shown include a winning device, a windmill, a tulip, a game nail, and a side lamp.

When a player operates a ball firing operation section 32 called a handle grip disposed on the front decorative frame 26, the ball is disposed outside the dish device 33 provided on the front decorative frame 26, as shown in FIG. The ball launching mechanism launches the ball supplied from the dish device 33 toward the game area of the game board 20 with a launching force according to the operation amount of the ball launching operation unit 32. Dish device 33
Is provided with an upper plate device 34 and a lower plate device 35. Upper plate unit 3
Reference numeral 4 stores a ball to be supplied from the player side to the ball firing mechanism, or stores a ball to be paid to the player side from a ball payout mechanism provided on the back side of the gaming machine frame 25. The lower plate device 35 stores the balls overflowing from the upper plate device 34.

According to the structure of the first embodiment, the ball hit from the ball firing mechanism is fired into the game area inside the game board 20 surrounded by the guide rail 28 and flows down the game area. In the process, the ball taken into the entrance 2 of the ball storage and prize apparatus 1 passes through the guiding slope 3 and is stored in the storage chamber 6 from the movable body 7 received by the upper stopper 10. When the number of the balls (storage balls P) in FIG. 2 stored in the storage chamber 6 becomes plural and the total weight of the storage balls P becomes larger than the spring force of the spring, the movable body 7 resists the spring force of the spring. As a result, the movable body 7 moves downward around the shaft 8 as the center of rotation and collides with the lower stopper 11, thereby preventing the movable body 7 from moving downward.

When the movable body 7 is received by the lower stopper 11, the movable body 7 has an inclination to guide the storage sphere P from the back side of the storage room 6 to the front end side. 6
From the front end of the symbol display device 18 as a game area in the game board 20 via the side slope 4 in a self-discharged manner. With the entrance 2, the guide slope 3, the side slope 4, the movable body 7, the shaft 8, the spring, the upper stopper 10, and the lower stopper 11 in the ball storage winning device 1 covered with the front plate 5 having light-shielding properties, Although the player may not be able to see the amount of balls stored in the storage room 6 or the movement of the movable body 7, the movable range of the movable body 7 or the entrance 2, the guide slope 3, the side slope 4, the movable body 7, and the upper side If the portion of the front plate 5 that covers the stopper 10 is formed of a transparent cover (not shown), the player can see the behavior of the ball and the movement of the movable body 7 in the ball storage and prize device 1 so that the player can feel safe. Can be given.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment. FIG. 4 shows a front view of the ball storing and winning apparatus 1, and FIG. 5 shows a cross section corresponding to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the side slope 4 of FIG. 1 is removed, and the movable body 7 collides with the upper stopper 10 provided below the guide slope 3, and the movable body 7 stops rising due to the spring force of the spring. A notch 36 is formed in the front plate 5, and the movable body 7 is
, The storage sphere P is released from the storage chamber 6 forward in a self-discharging manner. The released ball flows straight through the front of the box 14 along the panel 27 into the game area as shown by the phantom line in FIG. Flow into the area.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment, in which FIG. 6 shows the back surface of the ball storage and prize winning device 1 in which a part of the rear wall 15 is broken, and FIG. The cross section taken along the line is shown. As shown in FIG. 6, the movable body 7 moves like a deer by the weight 40, and the movement of the movable body 7 is stabilized. A weight arm 41 having a weight 40 fixed to one end thereof is positioned below the movable body 7 and is rotatably supported by a shaft 42 fixed to the rear wall 15. The weight arm 41 is positioned on the opposite side of the weight 40 of the weight arm 41. Shaft 4 whose other end protrudes toward the rear wall 15 from the movable body 7
The roller 3 contacts the roller 44 rotatably supported from below. When the movable body 7 moves downward from the position indicated by the solid line toward the position indicated by the imaginary line about the axis 8 by the weight of the storage ball P, the weight arm 41 pressed by the roller 44 is moved to the axis 4.
The weight 40 is rotated from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the imaginary line around the center 2, and the weight 40 is lifted upward. When the storage ball P of FIG. 7 is released in a self-discharge manner from the storage chamber 6 by the downward movement of the movable body 7, the weight 40 causes the weighted arm 41 to move about the axis 42 due to the weight of the weight 40. With the rotation from the virtual line indicated position to the solid line indicated position, the movable body 7 moves upward from the virtual line indicated position to the solid line indicated position about the axis 8. As shown in FIG. 7, the weight 4 lifted upward
0 and the weighting arm 41 enter the gap between the movable body 7 and the rear wall 15.

In the third embodiment, the weight 40 is provided on the weighting arm 41 which is different from the movable body 7. However, a support portion (not shown) of the movable body 7 in FIG. The weight 40 may be provided at the support portion so as to project in a form separated from the storage room 6.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment, wherein FIG. 8 shows the front of the ball storage and prize winning apparatus 1, and FIG.
The cross section cut along line C is shown. As shown in FIG. 8, a cover 51 made of a synthetic resin having a light-shielding property projects forward from the front plate 5, and a window 53 is formed on a front wall 52 of the cover 51 to form a symbol recognition area, and the window 53 is closed. A transparent plate-shaped cover 54 is fixed to the cover 51. A storage room 6 having a pair of left and right entrances 2 is formed on the back surface of the front wall 52 from the upper wall 55 of the cover 51, and a non-contact type sphere such as a photoelectric switch is provided near the entrances 2 in the storage room 6. The storage chamber 6 is provided with a detector 56, and the bottom of the storage chamber 6 is closed by a pair of right and left rotating bodies 57 having transparency. The rotating body 57 is rotated by a motor 58 such as a step motor which is an actuator fixed to the back side of the box 14 in FIG. 9, and has a concave portion 59 which is depressed on the peripheral edge toward the center from the outer peripheral surface.

The ball detector 56 outputs an electric signal indicating detection of the ball to a control device 60 mounted on the back of the game board 20 in FIG. 9 or on the back of the game machine frame 25 in FIG. And
The number of the storage balls P in the storage room 6 becomes plural, and the ball detector 56
When the signal input from the controller to the control device 60 continues for a predetermined time set in the control device 60, the control device 60
8, the motor 58 rotates the rotating body 57 in the direction of arrow X3. With the rotation of the rotating body 57, the storage ball P becomes 1
It is taken into the concave portion 59 one by one and moved between the cover 54 and the lens body 17 arranged on the front side of the symbol display 18 of FIG.
The ball discharged into the space is guided toward the center by the lower wall 61 of the cover 51 and then discharged to the back side of the game board 20 through the winning opening 62 at the center. When the motor 58 rotates the rotating body 57 in the direction of the arrow X4 opposite to the arrow X3, the storage sphere P taken into the concave portion 59 of the rotating body 57 with the rotation of the rotating body 57 causes the side opening 63 of the cover 51 to move. It is released to the game area more self-discharged.

In the fourth embodiment, the prize opening 62 is provided in the lower wall 61 of the cover 51.
9, a lower opening (not shown) is formed in the lower wall 61, and the cover 54 and the lens body 1 of FIG.
7 is released to the game area from the lower opening of the lower wall 61, the number of balls flowing in the game area is increased, and at the same time, a start winning prize hole (not shown) provided immediately below is provided. Can be guided.

FIG. 10 shows a ball storage and winning device 1 according to a fifth embodiment.
The ball storage winning device 1 is a form in which the storage room 6, the ball detector 56, the movable body 64, and the electromagnetic solenoid 65 as an actuator are combined as at least one unit, and the symbol display is performed. It is attached to the game board 20 so as to be located above the device 18. Then, the ball flowing down the game area of the game board 20 enters the storage room 6 and is stored. When the number of the stored balls P in the storage room 6 becomes plural and the electric sphere detection signal inputted from the sphere detector 56 to the control device 60 continues for a predetermined time set in the control device 60, the control device 60 switches to the electromagnetic solenoid 65. Drive. The movable body 64 is opened by the electromagnetic solenoid 65, and the storage ball P is released from the storage room 6 to the game area via the front side of the symbol display 18 in a self-discharged manner.

8 to 10 show a configuration in which the sphere enters the storage chamber 6 via the sphere detector 56. However, the sphere bypasses the sphere detector 56 and forms a passage into the storage chamber 6, and the sphere enters the storage chamber 6. If the storage chamber 6 is formed so that the spheres accumulate in the storage chamber 6 by a predetermined amount and then enter the storage chamber 6 to detect the spheres overflowing the predetermined amount, the sphere detection signal from the sphere detector 56 can be obtained. Since it is not necessary to perform a process of determining whether or not the predetermined time has been continued by the control device 60, the control process of the control device 60 can be simplified.

It is also possible to provide an opening / closing body for opening / closing left and right at the entrance 2 in the above embodiment. The opening and closing body may be opened and closed either mechanically or electrically. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the ball storage winning device 1 is disposed directly above the symbol display 18, but may be disposed obliquely upward, sideward or downward.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a ball storage and winning device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3 of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the pachinko machine of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a ball storage and winning device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to a section taken along line AA of the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a rear view showing the ball storage and winning device according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a ball storage and winning device according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a ball storing and winning device according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing a conventional ball storage winning device.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a different conventional pachinko machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 ball storage winning device 6 storage room 7 movable body 40 weight 41 weighted arm 56 ball detector 57 rotating body 58 motor (actuator) 60 control device 64 movable body 65 electromagnetic solenoid (actuator)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A ball storage and prize device comprising a storage room which is movable by the weight of a ball stored in a storage room and discharges the ball. 2. The ball storage and prize winning device according to claim 1, wherein a weight is used as a movable source of the storage room. 3. A movable body forming a storage room and a weight arm provided with a weight are formed separately.
The ball storage winning device according to the description. 4. A storage chamber for storing spheres, a sphere detector for detecting spheres stored in the storage chamber, and an actuator for opening an outlet of the storage chamber in response to a sphere detection signal from the sphere detector. A ball storage winning device characterized by the following. 5. The ball storage and prize winning device according to claim 4, further comprising a control device for driving the actuator when the ball detection signal continues for a predetermined time.