JP2004024348A - Ball put-out device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball put-out device capable of responding to high-speed put-out. <P>SOLUTION: The ball put-out device 11 is equipped with a ball feeding passage 26 to which pachinko balls are continuously fed, a rotary body 27, on the outer periphery of which a plurality of rows of teeth of protruded parts 32 and recessed parts 33 are provided at constant pitches, and a transit passage 28 in which pachinko balls are constrained by the rotary body 27 and transferred. The upper face of the protruded part 32 of the rotary body 27 is set so that the distance to an axis 30a is gradually decreased over the recessed part 33, and a straight-line shape face 32a is formed on a part of the upper face of the protruded part 32. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball dispensing device for controlling and dispensing a pachinko ball, and more particularly to a ball dispensing device corresponding to high-speed rotation dispensing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a conventional ball dispensing device, a plurality of tooth rows (concavo-convex portions) face a sprocket arranged at predetermined intervals in a supply passage through which pachinko balls are aligned and guided, and are driven by an electric drive source such as a motor. 2. Description of the Related Art A ball dispensing device that dispenses pachinko balls one by one is known. According to this device, it is possible to pay out one by one, but if the payout speed is 1,000 or more per minute including the interval, the pachinko ball cannot catch the ball in the concave portion in time and the ball bites. Dispensing becomes impossible, and if the concave portion is made shallow in order to speed up the gripping, the gripping becomes so loose that the pachinko ball flies and dances, making it impossible to pay out at an extra high speed.
[0003]
Also, if it takes time to pay out prize balls, there is a problem that the payouts cannot catch up, especially at a big hit where a large amount of prize balls are generated, and the prize balls overflow, which causes problems such as hindering opening and closing of the big prize opening, High-speed payout is desired.
[0004]
Therefore, there is disclosed a ball dispensing device which is formed in a half-crescent shape which is gradually inclined downward from the convex portion to the concave portion so that the concave portion can be quickly caught in the concave portion to enable high-speed dispensing. (See JP-A-5-345069)
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, although the above-mentioned ball dispensing device is capable of high-speed dispensing because it is gently inclined downward from the convex portion to the concave portion, the convex portion has a convex arc shape, and thus the ball dispensing device takes a long time until the concave portion is caught in the concave portion. The moving distance is inevitably long, and it takes a long time to be caught in the concave portion, and the payout speed is limited.
[0006]
Further, in the ball dispensing device, a ball cutting passage which is a part of the ball passage is provided from above the rotating body to the side, and when the rotating body pays out the pachinko ball at a high speed, the pachinko ball is rotated in the rotating direction of the rotating body. Due to the effect of transporting the ball, the dispensing may not be performed smoothly due to the impact on the side wall of the discharge passage, and if it is worse, there is a problem that the pachinko ball is caught in the recess while holding the pachinko ball .
[0007]
Further, the back side of the engaging claw that supports the pachinko ball on the axis is formed in a half crescent-shaped convex arc surface, and connects the spherical center of the pachinko ball supported by the convex arc surface and the contact point of the convex arc surface. Since the imaginary line is directed not in the axial direction but in the rotation direction, there is a problem that when a ball pressure is applied to the engaging claw, the rotating body is rotated by the ball pressure and the pachinko ball is inadvertently paid out.
[0008]
Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ball dispensing apparatus capable of responding to high-speed dispensing.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a ball supply path to which pachinko balls are continuously supplied, a rotating body provided with a plurality of tooth rows of projections and recesses at a constant pitch on the outer periphery, A ball dispensing device including a pachinko ball and a transfer path that is conveyed while being constrained by the rotating body, wherein the distance between the pachinko ball and the axis of the rotating body is set so as to gradually decrease over the concave portion. It is characterized in that a linear surface is formed on a part of the upper surface of the projection. By forming a part of the tom from the convex part to the concave part in a linear surface while being a tom, the pachinko ball can be quickly received in the concave part and the restraint can be released quickly, so that the speed of the rotating body can be increased. did. It is preferable that the concave portion is formed at a depth at which a portion equal to or less than the hemisphere of the pachinko ball can be fitted. The “depth into which a hemispherical portion of the pachinko ball or less can fit” means the distance from the lower end of the pachinko ball received in the concave portion to the height position of the convex portion, and the pachinko ball received in the concave portion. Does not necessarily have to contact the bottom of the recess.
[0010]
It is preferable that the upper surface of the convex portion has a linear surface, and an end of the linear surface is a connecting portion with the concave portion. Preferably, an imaginary line connecting the end and the rotation axis of the rotating body is perpendicular to the linear surface.
[0011]
The convex portion upper surface is composed of a linear surface and an arc-shaped surface, and each of the linear surface and the arc-shaped surface of the convex portion has no contact point with an inscribed circle centered on the rotation axis of the rotating body. It is preferable that the straight surface is connected to the arc-shaped portion before coming into contact with the inscribed circle. In other words, the ball pressure of the pachinko ball supported on the upper surface of the projection does not reliably work toward the axis, but works slightly in the direction of rotation, so that the rotation is smooth and suitable for higher-speed dispensing. It becomes. In addition, a motor having a small torque can be used as a driving source, so that cost can be reduced.
[0012]
It is preferable that the linear surface is provided at the start end in the rotation direction of the convex portion, and the tip of the convex portion can smoothly enter between the pachinko ball received in the concave portion and the subsequent pachinko ball without interfering with the pachinko ball. .
[0013]
Further, it is preferable that the upper surface of the convex portion be shaped so that the ball pressure acts toward the rotation axis of the rotating body when the pachinko ball is supported by the upper surface of the convex portion, and the pachinko ball is supported by the upper surface of the convex portion. In this case, even if a ball pressure is applied, a rotational moment is not generated, so that excessive rotation of the rotating body can be prevented. Specifically, the decreasing rate of the distance from the rotation axis of the upper surface of the convex portion becomes small, and the width is 0.5 mm outward (preferably 0.15 to 0.2 mm) outward from the axial center distance of the upper end of the convex portion. In the upper surface of the convex portion within the range of the arc surface (centering on the rotation axis), the spherical pressure acts substantially toward the axis. At this time, the larger the curvature of the upper surface of the projection, the longer the projection distance within the above range.
[0014]
The phrase "the distance from the convex portion to the axis gradually decreases from the concave portion" means that a part of the distance from the convex portion to the concave portion forms a perfect circular arc surface having the same distance from the axis. Including things. At this time, the ball pressure of the pachinko ball supported on the true arc surface acts so as to be surely directed in the axial direction, and the rotating body is not rotated by the spherical pressure as long as the pachinko ball is supported on the true arc surface. The upper surface of the convex portion may be constituted by a linear surface and a true arc surface.
[0015]
The top surface of the projection has an inscribed circle or a circumscribed circle centered on the axis so that the imaginary line connecting the ball point and the contact point of the pachinko ball supported on the top surface of the projection faces the axis. By supporting the pachinko ball at the contact point, the ball pressure acts toward the axis, so that excessive rotation due to the ball pressure can be prevented. When the contact is on the linear surface, the linear surface is always the end point of the linear surface that is tangent to the arc-shaped surface, and cannot be located at an intermediate position. This is because if the projection is located at an intermediate position between the linear surfaces, the upper surface of the projection does not "decrease the distance from the axis gradually".
[0016]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the transfer path is formed in a downward inclined shape substantially along the outer periphery of the rotating body at least from the side to the lower side of the rotating body. . Since the transfer path is provided along the downflow direction of the pachinko balls that are to be conveyed in the rotation direction by high-speed payout, the flow is smooth. Here, the “down-tilt surface shape” may be a linear shape or an arc shape, and it is preferable that the transfer path is formed in an arc shape having the center of curvature substantially at the rotation center of the rotating body. Further, it is preferable that the discharge port is provided below the axis of the rotating body, and the “discharge port” here means a portion where the pachinko ball is released from the restraint of the rotating body. Preferably, the transfer path is set so that the distance from the axis of the rotating body gradually increases, and the downstream side is formed wider than the upstream side, and along the side wall of the transfer path gradually widened by centrifugal force. It is better to move it to release the constraint. Further, it is preferable that a discharge passage provided in communication with the transfer path is provided in the transfer path in a tangential or downward inclined manner, so that the pachinko balls released from the restraint of the rotating body are smoothly discharged.
[0017]
The ball supply path is formed so that the starting end is formed to have a wide passage width in which the pachinko balls can be arranged in a plurality of rows or half a plurality of rows, and the terminating end facing the rotating body is reduced to approximately one pachinko ball. Is preferred. By forming the ball supply path with a wide passage width in which the pachinko balls can be arranged in a plurality of rows or a plurality of half rows, the distance between the ball centers of the pachinko balls that are randomly continuous becomes smaller than the pachinko ball diameter (about 11 mm). Therefore, when the pachinko balls are dispensed, there is no gap between the pachinko balls and the pachinko balls are not interrupted. By supplying the pachinko balls continuously, it is possible to cope with high-speed dispensing.
[0018]
Further, the width reducing direction of the ball supply path is not particularly limited, and may be in the same parallel plane as the rotation direction of the rotating body or in the direction of the rotation axis orthogonal to the rotation direction. Further, it is preferable that the width of the ball supply path is reduced in a direction in which the rotation of the rotating body is promoted.
[0019]
A ball supply path to which pachinko balls are continuously supplied, a rotating body that faces the ball supply path and restrains the earliest pachinko ball, a motor that drives the rotating body, and is released from the restraint of the rotating body A detection sensor for detecting a pachinko ball, wherein a power supply to the motor is stopped after a predetermined number of payouts are detected by the detection sensor, wherein the rotating body has a pachinko ball on a peripheral surface. A concave portion for receiving a ball, and a plurality of convex portions having a ball support portion that acts on at least a part of the ball pressure so as to be directed to the rotation axis are provided at equal intervals, and after stopping power supply to the motor, the inertia of the motor or It is preferable to dispose the rotator and the detection sensor in consideration of a stop zone that can be rotated by the ball pressure. The stop zone includes an over zone that can be rotated by inertia of a motor and a slip zone that can be rotated by a ball pressure. For this reason, after a predetermined number of pachinko balls are dispensed and the motor is turned off, even if the rotating body excessively rotates due to inertia and ball pressure, a ball support (for example, a rotating body The pachinko ball is supported by a perfect circular arc surface centered on the axis, and does not generate a rotational moment. Therefore, it does not rotate any more except for driving the motor and does not needlessly pay out. . Here, the “slip zone” means a range in which a rotating moment is generated in the rotating body due to the ball pressure of the pachinko ball in the ball supply path regardless of driving of the motor, and the rotating body can rotate. As a matter of course, the stop zone is set smaller than the pitch angle of the rotating body. (Stop zone <rotational body pitch angle) This is because if the stop zone is large, pachinko balls are paid out extra. Also, the ball pressure may be supported by a ball support that acts so as to be directed to the rotation axis within a range of an over zone that can be rotated by inertia of the motor after power supply to the motor is stopped. Note that the motor is preferably a stepping motor that can set the over zone to be small. Therefore, depending on the type of the motor, the over zone may be a slip zone.
[0020]
In addition, the ball payout device of the present invention can be used not only for paying out ball rental or prize balls, but also for ball rental machines provided between pachinko machines, replenishing machines for ball tanks, and ball counters such as jet counters. Can be applied.
[0021]
Further, the ball dispensing device of the present invention is not limited to pachinko gaming machines, but includes a sparrow ball gaming machine, an arrangement ball type gaming machine, a slot-type or image-type slot gaming machine using pachinko balls (pachilot), and the like. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to other game machines. Particularly, in a slot machine (pachilot), a game is settled for each game, and the next game can be started only after the prize ball is settled. Dispensing is desired, and a ball dispensing device capable of dispensing at high speed as in the present invention is optimal.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko game machine as a game machine to which a ball payout device according to the present invention is mounted. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a machine frame of a pachinko gaming machine, 2 denotes a front frame which is openably and closably mounted on the machine frame, and 3 denotes a game board which is detachably attached to a rear surface of the front frame 2. A winning ball collecting cover 4 is provided on the back of the winning ball collecting cover 4, and a substrate box 5 is mounted on the back of the winning ball collecting cover 4. The board box 5 houses a circuit board for controlling game contents of the pachinko gaming machine.
[0023]
Reference numeral 6 denotes a mechanism plate mounted on the back surface of the game board 3, which is formed in a substantially rectangular shape by a synthetic resin. A window 7 is opened substantially at the center of the mechanism plate 6 and faces the rear of a central role such as a variable display device provided on the board box 5 and the game board 3. A ball tank 8 for storing pachinko balls is mounted above the window 7, and a ball guiding gutter 9 for aligning and guiding pachinko balls is provided below the ball tank 8. The downstream end of the ball guiding gutter 9 is connected to a ball discharging device 11 for discharging a predetermined number of pachinko balls via a bending guiding gutter 10, and the ball is discharged below the ball discharging device 11. A discharge gutter 12 is formed to guide the pachinko balls to a hit ball supply tray (not shown) provided on the front side of the front frame 2. Reference numeral 13 denotes a control circuit of the ball dispensing device 11 provided on the plate portion.
[0024]
The spherical tank 8 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape whose upper surface is opened by the side wall 14 and the bottom wall 15, is a downstream end of the bottom wall 15, and is substantially upstream of the ball guiding gutter 9 in the center of the front-rear width. A rectangular ball outlet 16 is opened corresponding to the end portion. The bottom wall 15 is substantially flat, and has a gentle downward inclination of about 3 ° toward the ball outlet 16 as shown in FIG.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the ball guiding gutter 9 is formed by opening a top surface by a rear wall 19 in contact with the mechanism plate 6 and a front wall 18 and a bottom wall 20 facing the rear wall 19. A main channel 21 having a groove-shaped cross section is formed to guide the pachinko balls to the ball dispensing device 11. The front and rear walls 18 and 19 bulge in a curved shape on both sides thereof, and the sub-flow paths 22a and 22b which join the main flow path 21 on the downstream side are positioned higher than the bottom wall 20 of the main flow path 21 via a step. They are juxtaposed in a widened shape so as to be a support surface. Further, the starting ends of the main flow path 21 and the sub flow paths 22a and 22b located below the outlet 16 of the ball tank 8 are set to the same surface 9a so that the ball pressure from the outlet 16 is dispersed in the width direction. I have. Further, a lid member 23 for leveling the pachinko balls flowing down in a plurality of stages downstream of the main flow path 21 in one step and preventing the balls from spilling from the front wall 18 side is provided with a gentle downward inclination. The lid member 23 may be a fixed type or a movable type that can move up and down within a predetermined range.
[0026]
The width of the main flow path 21 is about 21 mm, which is a width of about 21 mm, in which two or more pachinko balls flow down in half a plurality of rows and are not arranged in parallel in the width direction. This is because when the main flow path 21 has a normal width of 12 mm, the ball center distance of a continuous pachinko ball becomes 11 mm, which is the same as the ball diameter, but the pachinko ball contacts the main flow path 21 by setting the width to 21 mm. , The distance between the center of the ball and the subsequent pachinko ball becomes 5.5 mm, which is about half of the ball diameter. Then, even if the ball dispensing device 11 performs dispensing at a high speed, there is no gap between the pachinko balls, and the ball continuously flows down in a contact state without any gap, and the trouble due to the gap between the pachinko balls is prevented and the supply is surely continued. Can be.
[0027]
The sub-flow paths 22a and 22b are formed such that one of the sub-flow paths 22b located on the rear surface side has a passage width of about 14 mm, which is slightly wider than the pachinko ball, and has an arc shape of about 320R whose downstream side gradually narrows. The passage width of about 36 mm through which the pachinko balls can flow down randomly in a plurality of rows or half a plurality of rows in the other front-side sub-flow path 22a is set so as to increase the amount of stored pachinko balls in the entire ball guiding gutter 9. The sub-flow paths 22a and 22b have a downward inclination of 2 ° and 3 °, which is gentler than the 4 ° inclination of the main flow path 21, so that the flow velocity is suppressed as compared with the main flow path 21. The junctions 17a and 17b of the sub-flow paths 22a and 22b with the main flow path 21 are located in the middle to the rear half of the main flow path 21, and the front-side sub-flow path 22a is connected to the rear-side sub-flow path. The merging point 17a is shifted downward by about two pachinko balls so as to merge with the main flow path 21 downstream of 22b. This prevents both ball pressures from being dispersed at the merging points 17a and 17b at once to prevent clogging of the balls. The "merging point" here is guided by the curved front and rear walls 18, 19 in which the pachinko balls of the sub-flow paths 22a, 22b are swollen, and are forcibly separated from the support surfaces of the sub-flow paths 22a, 22b. This means a portion that can flow down to the side, and in this embodiment, it is a range of two to three pachinko balls from the end of each of the sub-channels 22a and 22b.
[0028]
Further, the heights of the supporting surfaces of the pachinko balls of the rear sub-channel 22b and the front sub-channel 22a are different, and the front sub-channel 22a is lower than the rear sub-channel 22b. By setting, the pachinko balls flowing down the front-side sub-flow path 22a join the main flow path 21 at a lower position than the pachinko balls flowing down the rear-side sub-flow path 22b. This not only prevents ball clogging by shifting the ball pressure in the height direction, but also reduces the number and the inclination angle of the pachinko balls flowing down on the front side sub-channel 22a compared with the back side sub-channel 22b. This is because it is easy to merge because the difference is a large ball pressure. Specifically, the step difference from the main flow path 21 at the junction 17b of the sub flow path 22b on the rear side is 12.5 mm, which is equal to or more than one pachinko ball, and the main flow at the junction 17a of the sub flow path 22a on the front side. The level difference from the path 21 is equal to or more than one hemisphere of pachinko balls and less than one. In this embodiment, the height is about 9.5 mm, which has a height difference of about 3 mm from the junction 17b of the sub flow path 22b on the rear side. This height is almost equal to the height of the lower end of the pachinko ball placed in the same plane between the pachinko balls flowing down in contact with each other, and is located between the lowermost pachinko ball flowing down the main channel 21 and the pachinko ball. The height is such that the pachinko balls in the sub flow path 22a can enter smoothly. In this embodiment, the height difference between the rear-side sub-flow path 22b and the front-side sub-flow path 22a is made to be caused by the difference in the respective inclination angles with the respective starting ends being the same height. It is needless to say that the width and the inclination angle of each of the sub-flow paths 22a and 22b may be the same width and the same inclination without being made different in front and rear.
[0029]
The bending guide gutter 10 has a width of a bending passage portion from a start end of the ball passage 24 which is a connection portion with the ball guiding gutter 9 to an end of the bending portion as a passage width of 24 mm where two pachinko balls can be arranged in parallel. The lower vertical passage portion is gradually narrowed to a passage width of 21 mm. Then, the ball passage 24 at the connection with the ball guiding gutter 9 is set to about 10 ° which is steeper than the inclination of the main flow path 21 of the ball guiding gutter 9, and the pachinko balls stacked in multiple stages are formed by the inclination difference to the lower pachinko balls. The flow velocity is increased so that the upper stage pachinko balls enter between the lower stage pachinko balls to rectify the flow. In addition, by making the starting end of the bending guide gutter 10 wide by 24 mm, the ball pressure of the ball guiding gutter 9 is diffused in the width direction, and the starting end of the bending guide gutter 10 extends vertically in the ball passage 24 surrounded by the front, rear, upper and lower four sides. Also, since there is more room than the ball diameter, it is possible to prevent diagonal clogging of the ball due to the ball pressure beforehand, and to smoothly flow down the pachinko ball at the bent portion. When narrowing the ball passage 24 from a width of 24 mm to a width of 21 mm, it is preferable that one side is flat and only the other side is narrowed.
[0030]
Next, the configuration of the ball payout device 11 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ball dispensing device 11 includes a ball supply path 26 that communicates with a ball passage 24 of the bending guide gutter 10 to a box frame-shaped case 25 composed of a pair of frames 25a and 25b, and that continuously supplies pachinko balls, A rotating body 27 that faces the supply path 26 and restrains the pachinko balls, a transfer path 28 on which the pachinko balls are transported while being restrained by the rotating bodies 27, and a discharge where the pachinko balls released from the restraints of the rotating bodies 27 are discharged. And a passage 29. A motor 30 as an electric drive source for driving the rotating body 27 is attached to the frame 25a of the case 25, and the rotating body 27 is mounted on a motor shaft 30a of the motor 30 so that the rotating body 27 rotates. I have. The motor 30 is a stepping motor in this embodiment.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 5, the ball supply path 26 has a wide inner width of 21 mm at which the pachinko balls can flow down randomly in half a plurality of rows at the starting end connected to the ball path 24 of the bending guide gutter 10, The end portion facing the body 27 is gradually narrowed down into a funnel shape by a gentle arc-shaped inclined side wall 26a on one side, and is narrowed to 12 mm, which is approximately one pachinko ball. The transfer path 28 is formed in an arc shape having the center of curvature substantially at the rotation center 30a of the rotating body 27, and extends along the outer periphery so as to wind the rotating body 27 from the side to the lower side of the rotating body 27. It has a downward slope. This is because the pinch by the concave portion 33 becomes strong at the time of high-speed dispensing, and the action of carrying the pachinko ball in the rotating direction of the rotating body 27 occurs, so that the restraint is smoothly released. Preferably, the center of curvature of the transfer path 28 is slightly shifted from the center of rotation 30a of the rotator 27 so as to gradually widen the passage width, and is opposed to the rotator 27 by the centrifugal force exerted by the grip of the recess 33. It is preferable to release the restraint of the rotating body 27 along the inner wall having the downward inclined surface. In other words, the transfer path 28 is preferably set so that the distance from the rotation axis 30a gradually increases, and the discharge port from which the pachinko ball is released from the restraint of the rotating body 27 is positioned below the axis 30a. Good to do. The transfer path 28 is not limited to a curved shape, but may be a linear downward inclined surface. Further, the discharge passage 29 is provided to be inclined in the tangential direction of the transfer passage 28, and the end thereof is formed in a gentle arc so as to attenuate the flow force of the pachinko ball released from being restrained by the rotating body 27 and discharged. Like that.
[0032]
Reference numeral 31 denotes a sensor for detecting the pachinko balls discharged to the discharge passage 29, and the sensor 31 is an optical sensor including a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. Further, the pachinko balls are arranged so that their optical axes intersect at a position shifted from the center line of the discharge passage 29, and the pachinko balls released from the restraint by the rotating body 27 can detect the pachinko balls by blocking the optical axes. Are arranged as follows. Note that the detection sensor 31 may be a proximity switch.
[0033]
The rotator 27 is a disk having a thickness of about 30 mm and having a thickness (about 8 mm in this embodiment) for supporting one pachinko ball, and a plurality of teeth rows of the convex portion 32 and the concave portion 33 at a constant pitch on the outer periphery. (Four locations in this embodiment). Then, a center hole 27a of the rotating body 27 is fixed to a motor shaft 30a so as to rotate in the width direction of the widened ball supply path 26 by the rotation of the motor 30. The rotating body 27 may be formed by die-casting using an aluminum alloy or the like. Naturally, the strength is excellent and the static electricity charged in the pachinko ball is discharged through the rotating body 27 to prevent a trouble due to the static electricity. be able to.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 6, the concave portion 33 is formed as an arc-shaped concave portion having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a pachinko ball, and has a depth D such that a depth equal to or less than a hemisphere (preferably about 2.5 to 5 mm) of the pachinko ball is fitted. ing. In addition, the upper surface of the convex portion 32 is formed in the shape of a tom with a linear surface 32a and a convex arc-shaped surface 32b so that the axial center distance gradually decreases over the concave portion 33. Specifically, the depth D of the concave portion 33 is set to about 4 mm, which is a depth at which a hemisphere or less of a pachinko ball can be fitted and does not support the ball center. On the other hand, the linear surface 32a is formed at the starting end of the convex portion 32 so as to be inclined downward by about 25 ° toward the concave portion 33, and the distance of the linear surface 32a is approximately 16 ° of the rotating body 27. It is about 4.3 mm. A 20R gently convex arcuate surface 32b communicating with the linear surface 32a is formed in a tom-like shape toward the recess 33, and is connected to the recess 33 by a 3R arc surface. In addition, the shape of the convex portion 32 does not have an inscribed circle centered on the rotation axis 30a of the rotating body 27 on each of the linear surface 32a and the arc-shaped surface 32b, and the linear surface 32a is The connecting portion is connected to the arc-shaped portion 30b just before the contact. By doing so, the ball pressure of the pachinko ball supported on the upper surface of the convex portion does not reliably act on the axis, but acts slightly in the direction of rotation, so that high-speed dispensing becomes smooth. . Further, the torque of the motor 30 as a drive source may be small, and cost can be reduced. Although the convex portion 32 and the concave portion 33 are connected by a 3R arc surface, they may be connected by a gentler arc surface or may be connected by a corner portion. Further, the shape of the arc-shaped surface 32b is not limited to the 20R arc surface shown in the embodiment, and may be, for example, a gentler 30R arc surface or an elliptical arc surface.
[0035]
In addition, although the axial distance is gradually reduced by setting the upper surface of the convex portion 32 to the concave portion 33, as shown in FIG. 9, a part of the convex arc-shaped surface 32b is replaced with the axial center 30a having the same axial distance. The center may be a true arcuate surface 32c. At this time, a connection point between the straight surface 30a and the perfect arc surface 32c is a contact point where the straight surface 30a is a tangent to the perfect arc surface 32c.
[0036]
The ball pressure of the pachinko ball supported from the end of the linear surface 32a to the arcuate surface 32b acts substantially toward the axis 30a. In other words, from the end of the linear surface 32a to the arcuate surface 32b, the rate of decrease of the distance from the rotation axis 30a becomes as small as possible without approaching zero, and the distance from the axis 30a at the end of the upper surface of the projection 32 becomes 0. A range of an arc surface centered on the rotation axis 30a within 5 mm width, in other words, an arc surface centered on the rotation axis 30a within 0.5 mm width inward in the direction of the axis 30a from the end of the linear surface 32a. On the upper surface of the convex portion 32 located inside, an imaginary line drawn from the ball center of the pachinko ball supported in this range toward the contact point of the pachinko ball is directed substantially in the direction of the axis 30a. For this reason, the ball pressure of the pachinko ball acts substantially toward the axis 30a, so that even if the ball pressure is applied, no rotational moment for rotating the rotating body 27 is generated and the ball is excessively rotated by the ball pressure. There is no. Naturally, on the upper surface of the convex portion 32 within the range where the width of the arc surface is narrowed to, for example, 0.15 to 0.2 mm, the shape becomes close to a perfect circle centered on the axis 30a, and the spherical pressure becomes smaller. Acts toward the heart 30a. More specifically, by having a contact point of an inscribed circle or a circumscribed circle centered on the axis 30a on the linear surface 32a or the arc-shaped surface 32b of the convex portion 32, the vicinity of the contact point of the inscribed circle and the circumscribed circle is obtained. The ball pressure of the supported pachinko ball acts substantially toward the axis 30a.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 5, a rotating body 27 is provided below the ball supply path 26, and a detection sensor 31 is provided. Further, the relationship between the arc-shaped transfer path 28 and the rotating body 27 is such that the pachinko ball cannot flow into the transfer path 28 in a state where the pachinko ball is supported by the projection 32, and the pachinko ball is held in the recess 33. In this embodiment, the distance (path width) between the bottom of the recess 33 and the side wall of the transfer path 28 is set to 11.3 mm to 12.5 mm. It is preferable to set the width so that the play of the width in the transfer path 28 is reduced and the pachinko ball is transferred while being held in the recess 33 even at a low speed rotation. Is approximately 11.5 mm. By reducing the play of the width, the detection waveform of the detection sensor 31 is also stabilized, and the detection of the pachinko ball is ensured. Further, it is preferable to restrict the play of the width of the rotating body 27 in the direction of the shaft 30a. For example, as shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, ridges 40, 40 are provided on both side walls of the transfer path 28 near the rotator 27, and the ridges 40, 40 provide a direction of the axis 30a of the rotator 27 and a direction orthogonal to the axis 30a. May be restricted. Although the protrusions 39 and the protrusions 40 are provided as a pair in the figure, the protrusions 39 and 40 may be restricted to the wall surface by the protrusions 39 and 40 on one side. Further, it is preferable that the ridges 40, 40 that regulate also in the rotation direction be provided to a position substantially in the vicinity of the detection portion (about 1 to 2 mm of the detection portion) of the detection sensor 31 in the transfer path 28, and high-speed payout is performed. However, a stable detection waveform can be obtained, and it can be distinguished from a malfunction caused by static electricity.
[0038]
The control of the rotating body 27 is performed via the control circuit 13. When a predetermined number of pachinko balls are detected by the detection sensor 31, the power supply to the stepping motor 30 is stopped by this detection signal to rotate the pachinko ball. The rotation drive of the body 27 is stopped.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 2, the ball dispensing device 11 having the above-described configuration is configured such that the insertion pieces 35, 35 and the hook pieces 36 formed on the case 25 are engaged with the receiving pieces 37, 37 formed on the mechanism plate 6 and the engagement holes. Attachment is carried out by engaging with each of 38. More specifically, the hook piece 36 faces the engaging hole 38, the insertion piece 35 is positioned above the receiving piece 37, and the ball dispensing device 11 is pulled down so that the insertion piece 35 is received. The hook 37 is engaged with the engaging hole 38 while being supported by the engagement with the portion 37 and is attached. By mounting the bending guide gutter 10 in this state, the upward movement of the ball dispensing device 11 is prevented from being restricted, and the ball dispensing device 11 cannot be unnecessarily removed. Attachment may be performed via an elastic body such as rubber or urethane at the time of attachment so that at least the upper portion of the ball dispensing device 11 vibrates when the motor 30 is operated. By this vibration, appropriate vibration is applied to the ball supply path 26 and the bending guide gutter 9 provided above, so that clogging of the ball can be eliminated or prevented.
[0040]
Next, the payout operation of the ball payout device 11 will be described with reference to FIGS. A pachinko ball is supplied from the ball passage 24 of the bending guide gutter 10 to the ball supply path 26, and the earliest pachinko ball B1 is moved from the linear surface 32a of the convex portion 32 to the arcuate surface 32b as shown in FIG. And are randomly arranged in the ball supply path 26. In this state, when a payout signal of a lending ball or a prize ball is issued via the control circuit 13, power is supplied to the motor 30, and the rotating body 27 is driven to rotate clockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. Then, the first pachinko ball B1 in the ball supply path 26 is immediately received from the convex part 32 into the concave part 33 as shown in FIG. 7B, and moves on the transfer path 28, as shown in FIG. 7C. The tip of the convex portion 32 enters between the pachinko balls B1 and B2, and the subsequent pachinko ball B2 is supported by the linear surface 32a. At this time, as shown in the enlarged view of FIGS. 8A to 8C, since the tip of the convex portion 32 is a linear surface 32a, it does not interfere with the subsequent pachinko ball B2. As shown in FIG. 8 (c), the pachinko balls B1 and B2 can be smoothly and smoothly inserted between the pachinko balls B1 and B2 without being lifted or moved, and the pachinko balls B2 can be reliably supported by the linear surface 32a. it can. When the rotating body 27 further rotates, the pachinko ball B1 is released from the restraint of the concave portion 33, detected by the sensor 31, falls into the discharge passage 29, and is discharged to the discharge gutter 12, as shown in FIG. Thus, the earliest pachinko ball in the ball supply path 26 is supported by the arcuate surface 32b from the linear surface 32a of the projection 32.
[0041]
When the pachinko balls are continuously dispensed in this manner, the rotating body 27 rotates smoothly and the pachinko balls are quickly caught in the concave portions 33 because the linear surface 32a is provided on the upper surface of the convex portion 32. Will be. When a predetermined number of pachinko balls are detected by the sensor 31, power supply is stopped by a stop signal, and the drive of the motor 30 is turned off. At this time, if the payout is performed at a low speed, the pachinko ball received in the concave portion 33 moves downward while being supported by the arc-shaped portion 32b of the convex portion 32 by the weight of the pachinko ball because the width of the transfer path 28 has a margin. However, when the pachinko ball is dispensed at a speed higher than its own weight, the pachinko ball can be reliably sent out while being held in the concave portion 33 and the ball does not bite. When the payout is performed at a high speed, the pachinko ball held by the concave portion 33 is transported in the rotating direction of the rotating body 27. However, the transfer path 28 winds the rotating body 27 downward from the side of the shaft 30a. Since it is provided in the shape of a downwardly inclined surface so as to be turned, it is transported along the rotating body 27 while being held by the concave portion 33, and the restraint of the pachinko ball can be released without difficulty and can be reliably dispensed. Moreover, since the detection sensor 31 is provided at a position shifted along the side wall side facing the rotating direction of the rotating body 27, the pachinko ball can be reliably detected without chattering.
[0042]
As described above, the ball dispensing device 11 has the upper surface of the convex portion 32 formed on the concave portion 33 so as to partially form the linear surface 32a, so that the time until the pachinko ball is caught in the concave portion 33 can be shortened accordingly. As a result, the pachinko balls can be sent out quickly, and a high-speed payout of paying out 1,000 or more pieces per minute including the interval (0.4 seconds) becomes possible. For example, assuming that the axial distance between the start end and the end of the convex portion 32 is the same, the spherical position in which the upper surface of the convex portion is formed by the conventional arc-shaped surface alone and the spherical position in which the linear surface is formed are approximately 0. There is a height difference of 3 to 0.4 mm, and this slight difference allows the pachinko ball to be quickly caught in the concave portion 33, and the rotating body 27 to rotate smoothly without pressing the pachinko ball on the side wall. become. In addition, unlike the conventional case where only the circular arc surface is used, the rotating body 27 rotates smoothly without the action of pressing the pachinko ball against the side wall of the transfer path 28 by the upper surface of the convex portion.
[0043]
Here, the “depth at which a hemispherical portion of the pachinko ball or less can be fitted” means from the lower end of the pachinko ball received in the concave portion 33 to the highest height position of the convex portion 32. In addition, the lower surface of the pachinko ball received in the concave portion 33 does not necessarily need to be entirely in contact with the bottom of the concave portion 33, and is supported at two or three points as shown in FIGS. 12 (a) and 12 (b). The groove may be V-shaped or U-shaped, or may be a concave portion 33 which partially has a concave arc surface substantially matching the circular arc surface of the pachinko ball as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 13 (b). It suffices that a hemisphere or less of the sphere is fitted to support the pachinko sphere. In this way, by preventing the entire concave portion 33 from conforming to the arcuate surface of the pachinko ball, dust and dirt entering the ball supply path 26 enter the groove formed when the pachinko ball is caught in the concave portion 33. The accumulated pachinko balls do not come into direct contact with dust or dirt, and the flow of the balls can be made smooth without the adverse effects of dispensing due to dust. The shape of the concave portion 33 is not limited to the above shape, and can be variously changed without changing the support position of the pachinko ball received in the concave portion 33. Further, as shown in FIGS. 12 (b) and 13 (b), by forming the shape of the concave portion 33 so as to support the pachinko ball in the rotation direction of the rotating body 27, the pachinko machine is provided regardless of the rotating speed of the rotating body 27. The ball can be transported so as to be held in the concave portion 33, and smooth rotation is possible without the tip of the convex portion 32 interfering with the subsequent pachinko ball.
[0044]
Further, by making the passage width of the ball supply path 26 wide so that the pachinko balls are randomly arranged in a plurality of rows or half a plurality of rows, the center of the pachinko balls located in the ball supply path 26 is shifted and the continuous ball interval is reduced. It is smaller than the ball diameter, and even if it is paid out at high speed, there is no gap between pachinko balls and it can be supplied continuously, so it becomes a so-called "big hit" and it is empty even when a large amount of prize balls are paid out in a short time It is possible to pay out by holding the pachinko ball without dispensing.
[0045]
At this time, the pachinko balls in the ball supply path 26 can randomly move not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction as shown in FIGS. At the same time, there is no possibility that the contact between the pachinko balls is shifted and the arrangement of the pachinko balls is changed, so that clogging of the balls does not occur. Each time the pachinko ball is dispensed, the pachinko ball in the passage moves randomly, the arrangement in the passage changes, and an appropriate vibration is generated, and the vibration becomes a vibrating effect. Ball clogging of the upstream ball guiding gutter 9 and the ball tank 8 can be prevented or eliminated.
[0046]
If the ball supply path 26 is made wide so that a plurality of pachinko balls are juxtaposed, it is not necessary to align the pachinko balls with the ball guiding gutter 9, so that the ball supply path 26 can be provided directly at the ball outlet 16 of the ball tank 8, for example. At this time, it is preferable that the ball supply path 26 of the ball dispensing device 11 is not limited to the vertical ball supply path 26 as shown in the figure, but is provided in an inclined manner to reduce the ball pressure.
[0047]
In the above embodiment, the stopped state of the rotating body 27 is a state in which the pachinko ball is supported by the convex portion 32 without accepting the pachinko ball in the concave portion 33, but is not limited to this state. Alternatively, the first pachinko ball may be received in the concave portion 33 and the subsequent pachinko ball may be supported by the convex portion 32, or the pachinko ball may be received in the plurality of concave portions 33.
[0048]
In addition, even at the time of payout at a high speed, the rotating body 27 may rotate excessively due to the inertia of the motor even after receiving the stop signal. Furthermore, the action of the rotational moment may act on the rotating body 27 due to the ball pressure, and the rotating body 27 may be over-rotated, and there is a possibility that the pachinko balls are inadvertently paid out. Therefore, a ball payout device that solves the above problem will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0049]
As shown in FIG. 14, the rotating body 27 in this embodiment has a perfect arcuate surface centered on the axis 30a in which the spherical pressure acts on the projection 32 to assure the axis 30a in order to ensure reliability. 32c. The concave portion 33 has a convex portion 32 side as a concave arc surface, and the other side has a plane direction facing the axis 30a so as to make point contact with the pachinko ball so that the pachinko ball can be surely fed in the ball feeding direction. ing. In addition, a built-up portion 28a is provided at the start end of the transfer path 28 so that the width of the passage is approximately 11.5 mm, which is substantially equal to the diameter of the ball, so that the pachinko ball can be reliably caught in the concave portion 32. The lower end of the following pachinko ball is not jolted, so that the tip of the convex portion 32 surely faces between the pachinko balls B1 and B2.
[0050]
The ball dispensing apparatus 11 according to the present embodiment takes into account the range (stop zone) in which the rotating body 27 can rotate after the power supply to the stepping motor 30 is stopped, and considers the rotating body 27 and the detection sensor 31. Even if the predetermined number of pachinko balls are detected by the detection sensor 31 and the power supply to the motor 30 is stopped, and the rotating body 27 rotates by the angle of the stop zone, the ball supply path 26 The pachinko ball is supported by the convex portion 32 of the rotating body 27 (from the linear surface 32a where the spherical pressure acts toward the axis 30a to the true arc surface 32c) and is set to stand by. The stop zone includes an over zone O (a range in which the rotating body 27 can rotate due to the inertia of the motor) and a slip zone S (a range in which the rotating body 27 can rotate due to the ball pressure of the pachinko ball). Note that, naturally, the constituent angle of the stop zone is set to be smaller than the pitch angle P of the rotating body 27 (O + S <P). This is because if the constituent angle of the stop zone is larger than the pitch angle P (O + S> P), extra pachinko balls will be paid out. In this embodiment, the angle at which the motor 30 can rotate extra by inertia is 7.5 ° (360 ° / 48), which is obtained from the number of counter poles (p) of the stepping motor 30.
[0051]
Next, the payout operation of the ball payout device 11 will be described with reference to FIG. Pachinko balls are supplied from the ball passage 24 of the bending guide gutter 10 to the ball supply path 26, and the earliest pachinko ball B1 is supported by the convex portion 32 of the rotating body 27 at random as shown in FIG. line up. When a payout signal of a lending ball or a prize ball is issued through the control circuit 13 in this state, power is supplied to the motor 30, and the rotating body 27 is driven to rotate clockwise as indicated by an arrow in FIG. At this time, the pachinko ball is supported by the convex portion 32 extending from the end of the linear portion 32a where the ball pressure acts substantially toward the axis 30a to the true arc portion 32c. Then, the first pachinko ball B1 in the ball supply path 26 is immediately received in the concave portion 33 from the ball support portion 32 as shown in FIG. 15B, and the tip of the convex portion 32 faces between the following pachinko balls B2. Then, as shown in FIG. 15C, the pachinko ball B1 is pushed by the flat surface facing the axis 30a of the concave portion 33 and moves on the transfer path 28, and the subsequent pachinko ball B2 is supported by the ball support portion 35. You. Further, when the rotating body 27 rotates, as shown in FIG. 15D, the pachinko ball B1 is released from the restraint of the ball receiving portion 33, falls into the discharge passage 29, is detected by the sensor 31, and is discharged to the discharge gutter 12. The pachinko ball B2 is supported by the linear surface 32a of the projection 32. Then, when a predetermined number of payouts are made and the pachinko balls are detected by the sensor 31, the power supply is stopped by the stop signal and the drive of the motor 30 is turned off.
[0052]
At this time, even if the motor 30 rotates by inertia due to the high-speed payout, the over zone O shown in FIG. 16B from the state of FIG. 16A is 7.5 ° described above, and the pachinko ball is still convex. It is supported by the linear surface 32a of the portion 32. In this state, when a subsequent ball load and ball pressure are applied to the pachinko ball supported by the linear surface 32a of the convex portion 32, a rotational moment is generated, and the rotating body 27 can rotate as shown in FIG. . At this time, the slip zone S is 45.5 ° until the spherical pressure is reliably supported by the true arc-shaped surface 32c acting toward the axis 30a. Since the pitch angle P of the rotating body 27 is 90 ° (360 ° / 4), 7.5 ° (O) + 45.5 ° (S) <90 ° (P), which satisfies the above condition. Pachinko balls are not paid out due to excessive rotation. Since the stepping motor 30 may stop in the state shown in FIG. 16A without coasting rotation, the slip zone S may be 53 ° without the over zone O. Further, depending on the arrangement position of the detection sensor 31 and the shape of the passage, it is also possible to immediately support the detection sensor 31 on the perfect arcuate surface 32c at a configuration angle of only the over zone O. As in the case of the rotating body 27 in the above-described embodiment, when there is a margin in the distance between the true arc-shaped surfaces 32c in which the spherical pressure acts toward the axis 30a, the control is particularly easy.
[0053]
As described above, even if the power supply to the motor 30 is stopped and turned off, there is a possibility that the motor will rotate due to inertia. However, the pachinko ball in the ball supply path 26 eventually becomes a ball as shown in FIG. Since the pressure is supported by the convex portion 32 acting toward the axis 30a, even if a ball pressure is applied to the rotating body 27, the ball pressure acts toward the axis 30a and the rotational moment does not act, so that the driving of the motor 30 is performed. In other cases, the rotating body 27 does not rotate unnecessarily, so that the pachinko ball is not accidentally dispensed. Therefore, even if the power supply to the motor 30 is stopped, the state of being supported by the projections 32 is maintained. Of course, there may be a stop in the over zone O or the slip zone S depending on conditions such as the number of payouts, but there is no problem in the payout operation.
[0054]
In this embodiment, since the driving source motor 30 is a stepping motor, the overzone O can be set to a small angle of 7.5 ° due to the nature of the stepping motor (the number of counter poles is 48). With a motor other than the motor, the inertial rotation can be larger. Therefore, when a motor other than the stepping motor is used for dispensing, a rotation range in which inertial rotation is possible is assumed in advance, and a true pressure centered on the shaft 30a on which the ball pressure reliably acts toward the shaft 30a. The detection sensor 31 may be provided by setting an over zone O until the pachinko ball is supported on the arc-shaped surface 32c. In addition, since the conventional ball dispensing device stops at a stop position as a point, a separate control means such as a sensor for controlling the rotating body 27 is required, resulting in a complicated structure and high cost. However, the ball dispensing device 11 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the stop position of the rotating body 27 has a width as a zone (range). The pachinko ball has a convex upper surface (a shape having a point of contact with an inscribed circle or a circumscribed circle centered on the rotation axis 30a and a perfect arcuate surface 32c) that ensures that the ball pressure acts on the axis 30a. Supported. For this reason, even if a ball pressure is applied to the rotating body 27 in this state, the ball pressure acts toward the axis 30a and a rotating moment does not work, and the rotating body 27 does not needlessly rotate except for driving the motor 30. There is no need to pay out extra pachinko balls. Therefore, even if the power supply to the motor 30 is stopped, the state where the ball pressure of the pachinko ball is supported by the convex portion acting so as to be directed to the axis 30a can be maintained, and the rotating body 27 can be stopped. As a result, the motor 30 can be used for a long time.
[0055]
The stop position is not limited to the true arc-shaped surface 32c, and may be a tom-shaped arc-shaped surface 32b or a linear surface 32a in which the spherical pressure acts so as to be directed to the axis 30a. It is sufficient to have a contact point with an inscribed circle or a circumscribed circle centered on the rotation shaft 30a. At this time, the range in which the spherical pressure acts toward the axis 30a is the linear surface 32a or the arc-shaped surface 32b near the contact point with the inscribed circle or the circumscribed circle. The range is close to the locus of the portion 32c. When the contact is on the linear surface 32a, it is always an end point of the linear surface 32a and cannot be located at an intermediate position. This is because the upper surface of the convex portion 32 does not mean that “the distance from the axis 30a gradually decreases” if it is located at an intermediate position between the linear surfaces 32a.
[0056]
Further, the number of the projections 32 and the depressions 33 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be provided at a plurality of equal intervals without departing from the configuration of the present invention. However, although the number of the convex portions 32 and the concave portions 33 is not limited, if the number of the convex portions 32 and the concave portions 33 is increased within a predetermined size of the rotating body 27, it is difficult to form the linear surface 32a, so that the linear range 32 On the contrary, if the diameter of the rotating body 27 is increased in order to secure the linear surface 32a, the torque of the motor 30 must be increased, which increases the cost. For this reason, the number of the projections 32 and the depressions 33 is preferably 4 to 6 places. If the range in which the ball pressure acts toward the axis 30a is narrow, the stop control is performed with the stop position as a point (point) as in the conventional ball dispensing apparatus. It is preferable to provide control means for controlling. However, even if the range in which the ball pressure acts toward the axis 30a is narrow, the stop position (power-off position) of the motor 30 is controlled as a zone (range) so that the motor 30 eventually stops there. In this case, there is no need to provide control means for controlling the stop at the point, and the rotating body 27 can be stopped at the stop position where the ball pressure finally acts on the shaft center 30a.
[0057]
In order to reduce the ball pressure by bending the ball supply path 26 in order to eliminate the inconvenience caused by the ball pressure, the slip zone S which rotates extra by the ball pressure as in the ball dispensing device 11 is used. When the stop control is performed in consideration of the above, the pressure is not deliberately reduced. Instead, the rotating body 27 is rotated by the ball pressure so as to be supported by the perfect circular arc surface 32c acting so that the ball pressure is directed to the axis 30a. Is also good.
[0058]
Also, the linear surface 32a is not necessarily provided at the start end of the convex portion 32, but may be provided between the arcuate surfaces 32b, 32b from the convex portion 32 to the concave portion 33 as shown in FIG. The payout can be performed at a higher speed than when the conventional convex portion is formed only by an arc without departing from the configuration of the present invention. In addition, as shown in FIG. 18, substantially the entirety of the convex portion 32 may be formed on the linear surface 32 a, and it is preferable that the spherical pressure acts on the linear surface 32 a toward the axis 30 a ( It is preferable to provide a point (an imaginary line drawn perpendicularly from the axis toward the linear surface 32a) or to provide an arc-shaped surface 32b on which a spherical pressure acts toward the axis 30a. Further, the end of the linear surface 32a may be directly connected to the concave portion 33 so that an imaginary line connecting the end and the rotation axis 30a of the rotating body 27 is orthogonal to the linear surface 32a. Is good.
[0059]
Also, the shape of the ball supply path 26, the transfer path 28, and the discharge path 29 is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, and the ball supply path 26 may be provided on the shaft 30a. A straight line may be provided from the supply path 26 to the discharge path 29. Further, the ball supply path 26 may be provided diagonally above or on the side of the rotator 27 so that the pachinko balls are supplied diagonally above or on the side of the rotator 27.
[0060]
In the above embodiment, the ball supply path 26 is a single row, but may be supplied in a double row. At this time, the rotating body 27 may face the respective ball supply paths 26 without shifting the pitch, or the rotating body 27 may have a width capable of supporting a plurality of rows of pachinko balls. However, when paying out pachinko balls one by one, the transfer path 28 and the discharge path 29 are made different from each other to shift the discharge timing, so that pachinko balls supplied in a double row are paid out one by one alternately. What should I do? In addition, if the ball supply path 26 is provided on the axis 30a, the rotating body 27 is provided at a shifted pitch, so that even if one of the rotating bodies receives the pachinko ball in the concave portion 33, the ball pressure is set on the axis. There is no problem because it works in the opposite direction.
[0061]
Further, the width-reducing direction of the ball supply path 26 is not limited, and may be the rotation direction of the rotating body 27 shown in the above embodiment or the direction of the rotation axis 30a orthogonal to the rotation direction. Good. Further, the above-described ball supply path 26 is narrowed to a passage width of about 12 mm by narrowing one side wall, but may be narrowed so as to narrow both side walls. In addition, the width of the starting end of the ball supply path 26 is set to be 21 mm wide, but the width is not limited to this, and the width of the ball supply path 26 may be set to be wider and the entire ball supply path 26 may have the same 12 mm path width as the end. Good. When the starting end of the ball supply path 26 has a width of 12 mm, it is preferable that at least the width of the end of the ball passage 24 of the bending guide gutter 10 be 12 mm, which is approximately one pachinko ball.
[0062]
It is preferable that the shape of the discharge passage 29 is formed so as to be widened in a curved shape as shown in FIG. 19 in order to further absorb the impact. It is preferable to provide a buffer member 41 such as movable or fixed. By providing the buffer member 41, the impact noise at the time of dispensing can also be reduced.
[0063]
In the embodiment, the ball dispensing device 11 is provided on the back surface of the mechanism plate 6. However, the ball dispensing device 11 is not necessarily provided on the mechanism plate 6, and may be provided directly on the back surface of the game board 3. Needless to say, it may be provided at
[0064]
Further, the ball dispensing device 11 of the present invention is not limited to the ball dispensing device of the pachinko gaming machine that pays out the ball lending and the prize ball shown in the embodiment, and for example, a ball lending provided between pachinko gaming machines. The present invention can also be applied to a machine or a replenishing machine for a ball tank, particularly a ball counter such as a jet counter in which high-speed dispensing is desired.
[0065]
In the embodiment, the gaming machine has been described as a pachinko gaming machine. However, the ball payout apparatus of the present invention is a spinning ball type or an image type slot game using a sparrow ball gaming machine, an arrangement ball type gaming machine, and a pachinko ball. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to other game machines such as a machine (pachilot). Particularly, in a slot machine (pachilot), a game is settled for each game, and the next game can be started only after the prize ball is settled. Dispensing is desired, and a ball dispensing device capable of dispensing at high speed as in the present invention is optimal.
[0066]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention includes a ball supply path to which pachinko balls are continuously supplied, and a rotating body provided with a plurality of tooth rows of convex portions and concave portions at a constant pitch on the outer periphery. The upper surface of the convex portion of the rotating body is set so that the distance from the axis to the concave portion gradually decreases over the concave portion, and a linear surface is formed on a part of the upper surface. It is possible to cope with faster payout. In addition, since the ball pressure acts on the upper surface of the projection toward the axis, the ball pressure does not cause excessive rotation and the pachinko ball is not overpaid. Further, by providing the rotating body and the ball sensor assuming excessive rotation of the rotating body, it is not necessary to separately provide a rotation control means for controlling the rotating body at a fixed position, so that the cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko gaming machine to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a ball payout device according to the present invention is removed.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the ball payout device of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a ball payout device portion.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the ball payout device.
FIG. 6 is a front view of a rotating body.
FIGS. 7 (a) to 7 (d) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of paying out pachinko balls.
FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c) are explanatory views of the operation of the main part of paying out a pachinko ball.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a rotating body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a main part of a transfer path.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part of a transfer path according to another embodiment.
12A and 12B are front views of a rotating body according to another embodiment.
13A and 13B are front views of a rotating body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 14 is a front view of a rotating body according to another embodiment.
FIGS. 15 (a) to (d) are explanatory diagrams of the operation of paying out pachinko balls.
FIGS. 16 (a) to (c) are action explanatory views showing rotation of a rotating body after power is stopped.
FIG. 17 is a front view of a rotating body according to another embodiment.
FIG. 18 is a front view of a rotating body according to still another embodiment.
FIG. 19 is a front view showing another embodiment of the discharge passage.
FIG. 20 is a front sectional view of a ball guiding gutter portion.
FIG. 21 is a plan view of a ball guiding gutter.
[Explanation of symbols]
11 Ball dispensing device
26 ball supply path
27 Rotating body
28 transfer route
29 discharge passage
30 motor (electric drive source)
30a Rotary shaft (axis center)
31 Detection sensor
32 convex
32a linear surface
32b arc-shaped surface
32c True arc surface
33 recess
D Depth

Claims (2)

A ball supply path to which pachinko balls are continuously supplied, a rotating body provided with a plurality of teeth of convex and concave parts at a constant pitch on the outer periphery, and a transfer path through which the pachinko balls are constrained and carried by the rotating body. A ball dispensing device provided with
A ball dispensing device characterized in that the upper surface of the convex portion of the rotating body is set so that the distance from the axis to the concave portion gradually decreases over the concave portion, and a linear surface is formed on a part of the upper surface of the convex portion. 2. The ball dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the transfer path is formed in a downwardly inclined shape substantially along the outer periphery of the rotating body at least from a side of the rotating body to a lower part thereof.

Images