JP2002360885A - Ball release hole opening/closing device for lower tray - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To select either of a type, with which the aperture of a ball release hole can be continuously changed, and a type for maintaining the ball release hole in an opened state by a player. SOLUTION: This device is provided with an opening/closing plate 12 for opening/ closing a ball release hole 203b, an energizing means 15 for operating force directed to close the ball release hole 203b upon the opening/closing plate 12 at all the time, an operating member 14 to be operated from the outside against the energizing force of the energizing means 15, opening/closing plate driving mechanisms which are opening/closing plate driving mechanisms 13 and 14 or the like to be interlocked with the operating member 4, for moving the opening/closing plate 12 just for a moving amount corresponding to a manipulated variable to the operating member 4, and lock means which are lock means 7 and 10 to be operated only when prescribed operation is applied to the operating member 4, for fixing the position of the opening/closing plate 12 so that the opened state of the ball release hole 203b can be maintained, and when the outer prescribed operation is applied to the operating member 4 after the prescribed operation to the operating member 4 is finished, the lock means 7 and 10 cancel fixing in the position of the opening/closing plate 12.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for opening and closing a hole in a lower plate provided at a lower front portion of a pachinko game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a lower plate is provided at a lower portion of the front of a pachinko game machine, and a game ball such as a prize ball at the time of a big hit is discharged into a plate portion of the lower plate. The bowl is provided with a ball opening hole that is opened and closed by an opening and closing plate. Normally, the ball opening hole is kept closed by the opening and closing plate, and the game balls released to the dish are stored in the dish. Can be Then, when the player wants to take out the game balls stored in the dish portion, the player operates the operation lever or the operation button to move the opening / closing plate to open the ball hole,
Gaming balls such as prize balls stored in the plate portion can be discharged to a prize box or the like.

Conventionally, as a mechanism for opening and closing a ball hole in a lower plate, while a player is operating an operating member with a thumb or the like, an opening and closing plate moves by a movement amount corresponding to the operation amount, and a ball is opened. The type that can continuously change the opening degree of the hole, and the position where the opening / closing plate keeps the ball opening hole open even if the player releases the thumb etc. from the operating member after operating the operating member There are two types of types configured to be fixed.

[0004]

However, since the conventional lower hole opening / closing device for the lower plate is limited to one of the above two types, there is no room for the player to select it as needed. Was.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has two features: a type in which the degree of opening of a ball hole is continuously changed by a player; and a type in which the ball hole is maintained in an open state. It is a main object of the present invention to provide an opening / closing device for opening a hole in a lower plate capable of selecting the following type.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided an opening / closing apparatus for opening a hole in a lower plate, the opening / closing plate for opening and closing a hole formed in a plate of the lower plate, An urging means for applying a force in a direction to close the hole, an operating member externally operated against the urging force of the urging means, and an opening / closing plate drive mechanism interlocked with the operating member, An opening / closing plate drive mechanism for moving the opening / closing plate by a movement amount corresponding to an operation amount for the operation member, and a lock unit that operates only when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation member,
Locking means for fixing the position of the opening and closing plate so as to maintain the open state of the ball hole, the locking means,
After the predetermined operation on the operation member is completed, when another predetermined operation is performed on the operation member, the fixing of the position of the open / close plate is released.

The locking means comprises a locking portion provided on the operating member and a locked portion provided on a cover of the lower plate, and the locking portion is locked on the locked portion. By doing so, the position of the open / close plate is fixed so as to maintain the open state of the ball hole.

The locking portion is locked to the locked portion by receiving the urging force of the urging means.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko gaming machine in which a ball-drilling hole opening / closing device for a lower plate according to an embodiment is incorporated.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lower plate, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view for explaining the assembling of the operation member to the cover body and a perspective view after the assembling, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a rear view of the lower plate main body for explaining the state of the ball hole opening / closing device when the operation on the operation member is not performed;
FIG. 7 is a rear view of the lower plate main body for explaining the operation of the ball hole opening / closing device when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation member. FIG. The back views of the lower plate main body for explaining the operation of the ball hole opening / closing device when the predetermined operation is performed are respectively shown.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower plate opening / closing device 1 for a lower plate according to the present embodiment is incorporated in a lower plate 200 provided at the lower front part of the pachinko gaming machine 100.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lower plate 200 includes a cover 201 attached to the front frame 101 of the pachinko gaming machine 100, and a lower plate main body 202 assembled to the recess 201a of the cover 201 from the back side. , Cover 2
The operation member 4 is inserted into the through hole 3 of the operation member mounting hole 2 formed in the front wall 201b of the recess 201a of FIG.

As shown in FIGS. 3 (A) and 3 (B), the operating member 4 has a flat push button portion 5 having a long left and right width and a low height, and a central portion of a lower rear surface of the push button portion 5. And a locking portion 7 composed of a vertical plate extending in the front-rear direction and extending downward from the left or right end of the lower surface of the pressing portion 6.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the operation member mounting hole portion 2 of the cover body 201 has a through hole 3 through which the push button portion 5 of the operation member 4 is inserted from behind. An operating member receiving portion 8 extending rearward from the lower end of the through hole 3 and supporting the operating member 4 from below so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. A notch 9 that accommodates the stopping portion 7 is formed, and a locked portion 10 that is a stepped portion that can lock the locking portion 7 is formed in the notch 9. The locking portion 7 faces the side surface of the cutout 9 on the side of the locked portion 10. A stopper 11 protrudes from the rear end of the push button portion 5 of the operation member 4, and the stopper 11 comes into contact with the peripheral portion of the through hole 3 of the cover body 201 on the rear surface side, so that the operation member 4 4 is prevented from falling out of the through hole 3 to the front.

As shown in FIG. 4, the lower plate body 202 is
A dish portion 203 is provided, and on the back surface 203a of the dish portion 203,
The opening / closing plate 12, the transmission gear 13, the rocking plate 14, the tension coil spring 15, the two pins 16, 17 and the fixed plate 18 are assembled.

At the bottom of the tray 203, a circular hole 203b for discharging game balls stored in the tray 203 to the outside is formed. Back 203a of plate 203
Are formed with a plurality of guide walls 19, 20, 21, and 22 for guiding the movement of the opening and closing plate 12 in the left-right direction while restricting the movement of the opening and closing plate 12 in the front-rear direction. In addition, a stopper 23 for restricting the amount of movement of the opening and closing plate 12 in the left-right direction is formed on the back surface 203a of the plate 203. Further, on the back surface 203a of the plate portion 203, a locking projection 24 on which one end portion 15a of the tension coil spring 15 is hooked, a pin receiving hole 25 for holding a pin 16 serving as a rotation axis of the transmission gear 13, and a rocking plate 14 Pin 1 to be a rotation axis
7, and a plurality of positioning engaging projections 31, 3 whose distal ends can be engaged with a plurality of positioning engaging portions 27, 28, 29, 30 of the fixing plate 18.
2, 33 and 34 are formed respectively.

The opening / closing plate 12 is provided with a ball hole 20 in the plate 203.
3b has a circular lid 12a for opening and closing the lid 3b.
A rectangular base 12b extends from 2a. A long hole 12c extending in the left-right direction is formed in the base 12b. The stopper 23 of the dish 203 is accommodated in the long hole 12c, and both ends 12d and 12e of the long hole 12c abut the stopper 23, respectively. This restricts the amount of movement of the opening and closing plate 12 in the left-right direction. A rack 12f extending in the left-right direction is formed on the base 12b, and the large-diameter gear 13a of the transmission gear 13 is meshed with the rack 12f.
It is moved in the left-right direction while meshing with a. The lid 12a of the opening / closing plate 12 keeps the ball hole 203b closed when the end 12d of the elongated hole 12c located on the side opposite to the lid 12a is in contact with the stopper 23. When the end 12e of the lid 12a on the side of the lid 12a is in contact with the stopper 23, the ball hole 203b is opened.

The transmission gear 13 is formed integrally by a concentric large-diameter gear 13a and small-diameter gear 13b. The large-diameter gear 13a meshes with the rack 12f of the opening / closing plate 12. The small diameter gear 13b meshes with the partial gear 14a of the rocking plate 14. When the rocking plate 14 rotates, the transmission gear 13 rotates while the small-diameter gear 13b meshes with the partial gear 14a, and simultaneously rotates the small-diameter gear 13b with the large-diameter gear 13a.
The rack 12f is rotated while engaging with 2f to move the rack 12f in the left-right direction.

The oscillating plate 14 has a partial gear 14a on the outer peripheral surface.
3b. Further, the swinging plate 14 is provided with a locking arm 14 on which the other end 15b of the tension coil spring 15 is hooked.
b. The swinging plate 14 receives the urging force of the tension coil spring 15, and opens and closes a force in a direction to close the hole 203b in the lid 12a via the partial gear 14a, the small diameter gear 13b, the large diameter gear 13a and the rack 12f. It always acts on the plate 12. Further, the rocking plate 14 has a pressure receiving surface 14 c in contact with the pressing portion 6 of the operation member 4 at a portion facing the through hole 3 of the cover body 201, and the pressure receiving surface 14 c Receives the pressing force that overcomes the urging force of the tension coil spring 15 from above, the rocking plate 14 rotates about the pin 17.

The tension coil spring 15 is provided between the locking projection 24 on the back surface 203 a of the plate 203 and the locking arm 1 of the swing plate 14.
4b, and pulls the rocking plate 14 toward the locking projection 24.

One pin 16 is provided in the shaft hole 1 of the transmission gear 13.
3c, and is held by the pin receiving hole 25 in the back surface 203a of the plate 203. The other pin 17 is inserted into the shaft hole 14 d of the rocking plate 14,
a is held by the pin receiving hole 26 of FIG.

The fixing plate 18 has a plurality of positioning engaging portions 27, 28, 29, 30 formed on the surface on the side of the plate 203. The fixing plate 18 is provided with respective positioning engagement portions 27, 28,
29, 30 are engaged with the distal ends of the positioning engagement projections 31, 32, 33, 34 on the back surface 203a of the plate 203, and the mounting holes 27a of the positioning engagement portions 27, 28, 29, 30 are formed.
Screws (not shown) are inserted through 28a, 29a, 30a and screwed into mounting holes 31a, 32a, 33a, 34a of positioning engaging projections 31, 32, 33, 34, thereby being fixed to plate portion 203. . When the fixed plate 18 is fixed to the plate 203, the fixed plate 18 is provided between the fixed plate 18 and the plate 203, the opening / closing plate 12, the transmission gear 13, and the swing plate 1.
4. It is configured to hold the tension coil spring 15 and the two pins 16, 17 without obstructing their operation.

Next, the operation of the lower pan opening / closing device 1 will be described.

When no operation is performed on the operation member 4, as shown in FIG. 5, the swinging plate 14 receives a rotational force in the direction toward the locking projection 24 by the urging force of the tension coil spring 15. The partial gear 1 of the swing plate 14
4a, small diameter gear 13b, large diameter gear 13a, rack 12f
Through the hole 12 in the base 12b of the opening and closing plate 12
Although the force for moving in the direction of b is acting,
Is restricted by the stopper 23 being in contact with the end 12d of the elongated hole 12c of the opening / closing plate 12, so that the opening / closing plate 12, the transmission gear 13, and the rocking plate 14 are each maintained in a fixed posture. The lid 12a of the opening / closing plate 12 keeps the ball hole 203b closed. Further, since the pressure receiving surface 14c of the swing plate 14 is maintained at the forward position, the operation member 4
The push button portion 5 is kept in a state of protruding from the through hole 3 of the cover body 201 to the maximum, and the locking portion 7 is not locked to the locked portion 10 and is located inside the cutout portion 9. are doing.

From the state shown in FIG. 5, a predetermined operation is performed on the operation member 4, that is, the left portion or the right portion of the push button portion 5 (the left portion of the push button portion 5 shown in FIG. When the push operation is performed, the push button portion 5 penetrates deeply into the through hole 3 against the urging force of the tension coil spring 15. At this time, after the locking portion 7 of the operation member 4 slides along the side surface of the notch 9 of the operation member receiving portion 8, as shown in FIG.
It is locked to the locked portion 10. During the period from the start of the predetermined operation to the locking of the locking portion 7 to the locked portion 10, the rocking plate 14 receives the pressing force of the pressure receiving surface 14 c from the pressing portion 6 of the operation member 4. As a result, the tension coil spring 15
5, the small-diameter gear 13b meshing with the partial gear 14a rotates in the direction of the arrow a shown in FIG. Opening / closing plate 1 via diameter gear 13a and rack 12f
2 moves in the direction of the arrow b shown in FIG. 5, and its lid 12a gradually opens the hole 203b. When the locking portion 7 is locked to the locked portion 10, the predetermined operation is thereafter released, that is, even if the finger is released from the push button portion 5, the locking portion 7 is pulled by the tension coil spring. 15 is kept in a state of being locked to the locked portion 10 by the urging force of 15,
As shown in FIG. 6, the lid 12a keeps the ball hole 203b open. In the case of the predetermined operation,
Even if the locking part 7 exceeds the locked part 10 due to the push button part 5 being strongly pressed, the end 12 e of the elongated hole 12 c of the opening and closing plate 12 abuts against the stopper 23, so that the opening and closing
When the predetermined operation is released, the locking portion 7 is returned to the locked portion 10 and locked by the urging force of the tension coil spring 15 to maintain the locked state. Become like

After that, another predetermined operation on the operation member 4, that is, the predetermined operation is an operation of pressing the left portion of the push button portion 5, while the right portion or the center portion of the push button portion 5 is momentarily moved. When the pressing operation is performed, the locking portion 7 locked to the locked portion 10 separates from the locked portion 10 and the locked state with the locked portion 10 is released, and the tension coil spring 15 The swinging plate 14 rotates in the direction toward the locking projection 24 by the urging force of the above, and the opening / closing plate 12 moves in the direction of arrow c shown in FIG. When the end portion 12d of the elongated hole 12c comes into contact with the stopper 23, the lid portion 12a
03b is closed. After performing the other predetermined operation, the operating member 4 causes the pressing portion 6 to move the pressure receiving surface 1 of the rocking plate 14.
4c receives a pressing force, and the push button portion 5 of the
The state returns to the state most protruding from, that is, the initial state shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a state of the opening / closing plate 12 and the like halfway from the time when the locking portion 7 is released from the locked state to the locked portion 10 to the time when the lid portion 12a closes the ball hole 203b.

On the other hand, when a normal operation is performed on the operating member 4 from the state shown in FIG. 5, that is, an operation of pressing the right portion or the center portion of the push button portion 5, the push button portion 5 Although the locking portion 7 penetrates deeply into the through hole 3 against the urging force, the locking portion 7 moves away from the locked portion 10 or in a linear direction based on the direction of the pressing force applied to the push button portion 5. The locking portion 7 does not lock to the locked portion 10. For this reason, the opening / closing plate 12 moves by a movement amount corresponding to the operation amount applied to the push button unit 5, and
Changes the degree of opening of the ball hole 203b continuously. Then, when the operation on the push button portion 5 is released, that is, when the finger is released from the push button portion 5, the urging force of the tension coil spring 15 returns the lid portion 12a to the original state of closing the ball hole 203b.

As described above, the lower plate opening / closing device 1 according to the present embodiment includes the opening / closing plate 12 that opens and closes the hole 203 b formed in the plate portion 203 of the lower plate 200.
Biasing means (tensile coil spring 15) for constantly applying a force to the opening / closing plate 12 in a direction to close the ball hole 203b;
An operating member 4 that is externally operated against the urging force of the urging means 15 and an opening / closing plate driving mechanism (mainly, a swinging plate 14 and a transmission gear 13) interlocked with the operating member 4; 4
Opening / closing plate driving mechanism for moving the opening / closing plate 12 by a movement amount corresponding to the operation amount with respect to the operation member 4, and locking means (locking portion 7, locked portion 10 Lock means 7 for fixing the position of the opening / closing plate 12 so as to maintain the open state of the hole 203b;
The lock means 7 and 10 release the fixing of the position of the open / close plate 12 when another predetermined operation is performed on the operation member 4 after the predetermined operation on the operation member 4 is completed.

For this reason, according to the present embodiment, the player selects either a type in which the degree of opening of the ball hole 203b can be continuously changed or a type in which the ball hole 203b is kept open. Will be able to

The lock members 7 and 10 are connected to the operating member 4.
And the locked portion 10 provided on the cover body 201 of the lower plate 200.
Is locked to the locked portion 10 so that the ball hole 2
Since the position of the opening / closing plate 12 is fixed so as to maintain the open state of 03b, the locking means can be configured with a very simple configuration.

Since the locking portion 7 is locked by the locked portion 10 by receiving the biasing force of the biasing means 15, it exerts a biasing force on the opening / closing plate 12 to keep the ball hole 203b closed. The urging means 15 may also serve as means for locking the locking portion 7 to the locked portion 10.

[0032]

According to the present invention, the player can select either a type in which the degree of opening of the ball hole can be continuously changed or a type in which the ball hole is kept open. Become like

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a pachinko gaming machine in which a lower plate ball opening / closing device according to an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a lower plate.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are an exploded perspective view and a perspective view after assembling for describing the assembling of the operation member to the cover body.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a lower plate main body.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the lower plate main body for explaining a state of the ball hole opening / closing device when the operation on the operation member is not performed;

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the lower plate main body for explaining the operation of the ball hole opening / closing device when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation member.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the lower plate main body for explaining the operation of the ball hole opening / closing device when another predetermined operation is performed on the operation member after the predetermined operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Opening / closing device of ball hole 4 Operating member 7 Locking part (locking means) 10 Locked part (locking means) 12 Opening / closing plate 13 Transmission gear (opening / closing plate driving mechanism) 14 Swinging plate (opening / closing plate driving mechanism) 15 Pulling Coil spring (biasing means) 200 Lower plate 201 Cover body 203 Plate portion 203b Ball hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] An opening / closing plate for opening and closing a hole for removing a ball formed in a dish portion of a lower plate; an urging means for constantly applying a force to the opening and closing plate in a direction for closing the hole for removing a ball; An operating member externally operated against an urging force of a biasing means; and an opening / closing plate driving mechanism interlocked with the operating member, wherein the opening / closing plate is moved by a moving amount corresponding to an operation amount of the operating member. An opening / closing plate driving mechanism, a locking device that operates only when a predetermined operation is performed on the operation member, and a locking device that fixes a position of the opening / closing plate so as to maintain an open state of the ball hole. The lock means releases the fixed position of the open / close plate when another predetermined operation is performed on the operation member after the predetermined operation on the operation member is completed. Opening / closing device for the hole in the lower plate. 2. The locking means comprises a locking portion provided on the operating member and a locked portion provided on a cover body of the lower plate, wherein the locking portion is provided on the locked portion. 2. The opening / closing device according to claim 1, wherein the position of the opening / closing plate is fixed such that the opening of the opening is maintained by being locked. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the locking portion is locked to the locked portion by receiving an urging force of the urging means.