JP2004089519A - Ball supply member and pachinko game machine having it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball supply member capable of preventing ball plugging in a simple constitution and a pachinko game machine having it. <P>SOLUTION: A substantially triangular protrusion 605 is disposed on the left side in a central part of a foul ball guidance passage 604. When game balls B in a ball receiving section 601 increases, the game balls B in an extended part 601A are pressed up to the foul ball guidance passage 604 side. However, the game balls B are regulated to a left side surface 605A of the protrusion 605 and fall to a proximity of an entrance 605A of a ball feeding passage 603 along the left side surface 605A. The game balls (foul balls) B discharged from a foul ball discharge port 604A to the foul ball guidance passage 604 roll left on the foul ball guidance passage 604 and hit a right side surface 605C of the protrusion 605. The foul balls B having hit the right side surface 605C of the protrusion 605 fall to a proximity of an entrance 603A along the right side surface 605C one by one. Over ingression of the game balls B into the ball feeding passage 603 can be restricted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a ball supply member (ball plate) for supplying game balls to a launch device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Usually, a pachinko machine stores game balls (loan balls and prize balls) to be paid out from a ball payout outlet up to a predetermined amount, and supplies an upper plate for supplying the stored game balls to the launching device, and an upper plate for supplying the game balls to the launching device. A lower plate for storing game balls that cannot be stored is provided.
On the upper plate, for example, a ball receiving portion for receiving game balls paid out from a ball payout exit, and a game ball connected to the ball receiving portion and stored in the ball receiving portion, are sent to the launching device by one. And a ball supply path for supply in a line. The ball supply path is inclined so as to be lower toward the launching device, and the bottom surface of the ball receiving portion is inclined so as to be lower toward the ball supply path. Thereby, the game ball paid out from the ball payout port to the ball receiving section is guided to the ball supply path side in the ball receiving section, enters the ball supply path one by one from the entrance, and then rolls on the ball supply path. Supplied to the launching device.
[0003]
However, in the case of the above configuration, when the game balls stored in the ball receiver enter the ball supply path from the entrance, the balls may be clogged.
In order to prevent such ball clogging in the vicinity of the entrance, for example, a pachinko machine has been proposed in which a vibrating device is arranged near the entrance, and a ball is prevented from being clogged by applying vibration to a game ball. However, in such a configuration, there is a problem that the cost is increased due to the provision of the vibration device.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-11-42347 [0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ball supply member that can prevent ball clogging with a simple configuration, and a pachinko machine including the same.
[0006]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
An invention according to claim 1 for achieving the above object is a ball supply member (60) applicable to a pachinko machine (1) for playing a game by firing a game ball (B) from a firing device (12). The launching ball supply path (603), which can supply game balls in a line to the launching device, and is provided near the entrance (603A) of the launching ball supply path, and enters the launching ball supply path. And a projection (605) for restricting excessive entry of the game ball.
[0007]
It should be noted that the alphanumeric characters in parentheses indicate corresponding components and the like in embodiments described later. Hereinafter, the same applies in this section.
According to this configuration, with a simple configuration in which only the protrusion is provided, it is possible to restrict excessive entry of the game balls entering the launching ball supply path and prevent the ball from being clogged.
In this case, as in the second aspect of the present invention, the game ball (B) disposed adjacent to the entrance (603A) of the launching ball supply path (603) and discharged from the predetermined ball discharge port (7). ), And further includes a ball receiving area (601) for receiving and storing the ball, and the protrusion (605) is a ball if it restricts excessive entry of the game balls stored in the ball receiving area into the entrance. Excessive entry of the game balls stored in the receiving area into the entrance can be restricted to prevent ball clogging.
[0008]
The ball receiving area may have a shape projecting to both sides with respect to an extension of the launching ball supply path. According to this configuration, it is possible to increase the capacity of the game balls that can be stored in the ball receiving area as compared with a conventional pachinko machine in which the ball receiving area protrudes only to the front side with respect to the extension of the launch ball supply path. it can.
In this case, since the game balls try to enter the entrance from both sides in the width direction with respect to the extension of the launch ball supply path, the game balls easily enter the launch ball supply path excessively, but project near the entrance. By providing the portion, excessive entry can be limited and ball clogging can be effectively prevented.
[0009]
As in the invention according to claim 3, it is arranged on the side opposite to the ball receiving area (601) with respect to the projection (605), and after being fired from the firing device (12), to the firing device side. Guidance for guiding a foul ball discharge port (604A) for releasing the returned foul ball (gaming ball) and a foul ball released from the foul ball discharge port to the entrance (603A) by applying the foul ball to the protrusion. With the configuration further including the region (604), it is possible to restrict the excessive entry of the foul ball into the launching ball supply path and prevent the ball from being clogged.
[0010]
Further, as in the fourth aspect of the present invention, if the portion of the ball supply member (60) in which the game ball (B) rolls is formed smoothly so as not to catch the game ball, the ball is clogged. Can be more reliably prevented.
The invention according to claim 5 includes the ball supply member (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and a launching device (12) that launches a game ball supplied from the ball supply member. It is a pachinko machine (1) characterized by the following.
[0011]
According to this configuration, it is possible to provide a pachinko machine provided with a ball supply member having the above effects. Therefore, ball clogging can be prevented with a simple configuration.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a pachinko machine 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The pachinko machine 1 includes a substantially rectangular main frame 2, a holding frame 3 arranged on the front side of the main frame 2 for holding a game board, and a front door 4 arranged on the front side of the holding frame 3. And an outer frame 5 surrounding the main frame 2 in the up, down, left, and right directions, and for attaching the pachinko machine 1 to a game machine island at a game arcade. The main frame 2, the holding frame 3, and the front door 4 are attached to be openable and closable about their respective left edges.
[0013]
A plurality of lamps L capable of emitting light during a game or the like are provided on the front door 4, and speakers S for outputting sound are provided on both left and right sides of the lower end of the holding frame 3 (FIG. 1, only the right speaker S is visible). During the game in the pachinko machine 1, the atmosphere of the game can be excited by the light emitted from the lamp L and the sound output from the speaker S.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine 1 with the front door 4 opened.
[0014]
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a ball tray 60 for storing game balls (pachinko balls) used for games is provided below the holding frame 3. A ball payout port 7 is formed on the upper left side of the ball tray 60, and a game ball paid out as a prize ball or a rental ball from a ball payout device (not shown) provided in the machine is a ball payout port. 7, and falls on a bowl 60.
The ball dish 60 receives, for example, game balls paid out from the ball payout port 7 and stores the game balls up to a predetermined amount, and launches the stored game balls toward the game board 8 (see FIG. 1). 5 and FIG. 6), and a ball storage unit 602 formed below the ball reception unit 601 to receive and store game balls that have overflowed without being stored in the ball reception unit 601. have.
[0015]
The ball tray 60 is covered with a ball tray cover 61 on the near side. A ball discharge mechanism 62 (see FIG. 4) for discharging the game balls stored in the ball storage section 602 is disposed below the ball plate 60 in the ball plate cover 61. Of the ball tray cover 61 protrudes from the lower part of the front surface of the ball tray cover 61. The ball tray 60, the ball plate cover 61, and the ball discharging mechanism 62 constitute the ball receiving device 6 as one body.
[0016]
A recess is formed in the lower right corner of the bowl cover 61, and a handle 9 for a player to grip during a game is arranged in the recess. The handle 9 has, for example, a substantially cylindrical grip 91 and a substantially hexagonal rotary operation member 92 provided rotatably around the central axis of the grip 91. When the rotation operation member 92 is rotated in a state where the game balls are stored in the ball receiving portion 601 of the ball tray 60, the launching device 12 is activated, and the game balls in the ball receiving portion 601 are transferred to the launching device 12 one by one. It is taken in and fired from the launching device 12 toward the board of the game board 8.
[0017]
The game ball fired from the firing device 12 is guided upward along a guide rail 81 provided on the game board 8, then released from the upper portion of the game board 8, and is driven onto the board of the game board 8. It falls through a large number of obstacle nails (not shown).
In the front door 4, for example, a substantially circular opening 41 is formed. A substantially rectangular transparent plate holding frame 43 for holding a transparent plate 42 (for example, a glass plate) is provided on the back side of the front door 4, and the transparent plate 42 is fitted into the transparent plate holding frame 43. Thereby, the rear side of the opening 41 can be covered with the transparent plate 42. Thus, when the front door 4 is closed, the game board 8 provided on the rear side can be visually recognized through the transparent plate 42.
[0018]
The rear side of the main frame 2 is covered with a back cover 11. On the front surface (inner surface) of the back cover 11, for example, various control boards (not shown) for controlling game contents in the pachinko machine 1 are attached.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ball receiving device 6. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball receiving device 6, in which the ball tray cover 61 is omitted.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, ball storing section 602 is disposed on the right front side of ball receiving section 601, and has a projecting section 606 having a substantially triangular cross section projecting upward at a joint thereof. Are curved from the left front side to the right rear end side of the bowl 6. When the number of game balls in the ball receiving portion 602 exceeds a predetermined amount, the game balls of the predetermined amount or more get over the overhang portion 606 and fall to the ball storage portion 602 (see FIG. 6). ).
[0019]
When the number of game balls in the ball receiving portion 601 decreases, the game balls stored in the ball storing portion 602 are transferred to the ball receiving portion 601 with one hand (for example, the hand opposite to the hand holding the handle 9 (the right hand)). A game ball can be easily supplied to the launching device 12 by lifting and moving it with the hand (left hand).
A discharge port 602A for discharging game balls in the ball storage unit 602 downward is formed on the bottom surface of the ball storage unit 602. The ball discharge mechanism 62 is attached to the back side of the ball storage unit 602 from below, and in the attached state, the lower part of the discharge port 602A is closed by the discharge port opening / closing plate 622 provided in the ball discharge mechanism 62. I have.
[0020]
The ball discharge mechanism 62 is provided with a spring (torsion coil spring) 623 for urging the discharge port opening / closing plate 622 to a position (a position shown in FIG. 4) that closes below the discharge port 602A. When the discharge lever 621 is slid in the left-right direction, the discharge port opening / closing plate 622 is displaced against the urging force of the spring 623, and the discharge port 602A is opened.
Further, the ball discharge mechanism 62 is provided with a cylindrical portion 624 that communicates with the discharge port 602A when the discharge port opening / closing plate 622 is open, and guides the game ball discharged from the discharge port 602A downward. . The opening at the lower end surface of the tubular portion 624 is closed by a tubular portion opening / closing plate 625, and the tubular portion opening / closing plate 625 also opens and closes in conjunction with the sliding of the discharge lever 621. . More specifically, when the discharge lever 621 is slid in the left-right direction, the tubular portion opening / closing plate 625 is opened first, and when the discharge lever 621 is further slid, the outlet opening / closing plate 622 is opened. ing.
[0021]
The ball receiving section 601 is provided with a ball supply path 603 for continuously supplying game balls to the launching device 12 in a line. The ball supply path 603 extends in the left-right direction at a predetermined inclination angle (for example, about 4 °) so as to become lower toward the firing device 12. The bottom surface of the ball receiver 601 is inclined so as to become lower toward the ball supply path 603, and the game balls stored in the ball receiver 601 are supplied one by one to the ball supply path 603 from the entrance 603A. It is supposed to be.
[0022]
A part (right side) of the surface of the ball supply path 603 is formed of a metal plate 603B formed of a metal material such as stainless steel. By the function of the metal plate 603B, the static electricity accumulated in the game ball rolling on the ball supply path 603 can be grounded.
When the ball receiving device 6 is attached to the pachinko machine 1, the rear edge of the ball supply path 603 is flush with the front surface of the front door 4. That is, the rear end of the ball receiving portion 601 is an extended portion 601 </ b> A formed so as to be recessed inside the pachinko machine 1, and the ball receiving portion 601 is moved forward and backward with respect to the extension of the ball supply path 603. It has a shape protruding on both sides. By the expansion portion 601A, the capacity of the game balls that can be stored in the ball receiving portion can be increased as compared with a conventional pachinko machine in which the ball receiving portion projects only to the front side with respect to the extension of the ball supply path. .
[0023]
When the game ball is intentionally weakly hit from the launch device 12, or when the game ball is directed along the guide rail 81 toward the upper portion of the game board 8, the frictional resistance of the game ball varies, and the launch device 12 malfunctions. In some cases, the game ball may return to the firing device 12 along the guide rail 81 without being released from the upper portion of the game board 8. The game balls (foul balls) returning to the launching device 12 are collected by the ball receiving device 6.
[0024]
On the rear side of the ball supply path 603, a foul ball guide path 604 for guiding the foul ball returned to the ball tray 60 to the ball receiving portion 601 extends left and right. The foul ball guide path 604 is formed one step higher than the ball supply path 603 and is inclined so as to become lower toward the left side (the ball receiving portion 601 side). Above the right edge of the foul ball guideway 604 is a foul ball discharge port 604A that discharges a foul ball to the foul ball guide path 604.
[0025]
FIG. 5 is a front view for explaining a mode in which foul balls are collected by the ball receiving device 6.
The tip of the ball supply path 603 leads to the launching device 12 arranged on the right side of the ball tray 60. The launching device 12 is driven by a motor 121 disposed in front of the launching device 12. When the motor 121 is driven, a game ball supplied one by one from the ball supply path 603 is launched. Fired from 12 toward the upper left. The launching device 12 launches a game ball using, for example, a magnetic force, and the game ball launched from the launching device 12 flies in the air, reaches the guide rail 81, and follows the guide rail 81. To the upper part of the game board 8.
[0026]
Most (approximately 97%) of the game balls (foul balls) B that have been returned from the firing device 12 to the firing device 12 again pass through the guide member 31 attached to the holding frame 3, The ball 60 is guided to the far ball guiding path 604. On the other hand, the foul ball B (about 3%) that has not entered the guide member 31 is guided to the cylindrical portion 624 of the ball discharging mechanism 62 and is collected in the space inside the cylindrical portion 624. The foul sphere collected in the cylindrical portion 624 is discharged downward by sliding the discharge lever 621 to open the cylindrical portion opening / closing plate 625.
[0027]
Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, a projection 605 having a substantially triangular shape in plan view is formed on the left side of the center of foul ball guiding path 604 so as to project upward. More specifically, the vertex 605A of the triangle of the protrusion 605 protrudes to the boundary between the foul ball guiding path 604 and the ball supply path 603, and faces the vicinity of the entrance 603A of the ball supply path 603.
If the height of the foul ball guiding path 604 at the position of the vertex 605A of the protrusion 605 with respect to the ball supply path 603 is at least equal to or greater than the radius of the game ball (about 5.5 mm), the ball supply path 603 The game balls in the ball supply path 603 can be reliably supplied to the launching device 12 without the game balls getting on the foul ball guide path 604.
[0028]
The left side surface 605B and the right side surface 605C of the protrusion 605 are each inclined at a predetermined angle (about 45 °) with respect to the left and right direction. The projection 605 (left side 605B and right side 605C) divides the ball receiving portion 601 (extended portion 601A) and the foul ball guiding path 604.
FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the flow of game balls in the bowl 60.
Referring to FIG. 6, game balls B paid out from ball payout port 7 to ball receiving section 601 are stored in ball receiving section 601 and supplied to ball supply path 603 one by one from entrance 603A. You. When the number of the game balls B in the ball receiving portion 601 increases, the game balls B in the extended portion 601A of the ball receiving portion 601 are pushed up to the foul ball guiding path 604 side. It is regulated by the left side surface 605A, and falls near the entrance 605A of the ball supply path 603 along the left side surface 605A.
[0029]
According to the above configuration, the game ball B in the ball receiving portion 601 (extended portion 601A) is not pushed up to the foul ball guiding path 604 and falls into the middle of the ball supply path 603. Therefore, the game balls B can be reliably supplied from the entrance 603A to the ball supply path 603 one by one into the ball supply path 603, so that the ball clogging occurs due to the excessive entry of the game balls B entering the ball supply path 603. Can be prevented.
In particular, in this embodiment, the ball receiving portion 601 has a shape (having an extended portion 601A) that protrudes on both front and rear sides with respect to the extension of the ball supply passage 603, and the ball reception portion 601 has a shape that extends with respect to the extension of the ball supply passage 603. Since the game ball B attempts to enter the entrance 603A from both front and rear sides, the game ball tends to over-enter the ball supply path 603. However, by providing the protrusion 605 near the entrance 603A, excessive entry is restricted. , Can effectively prevent ball clogging.
[0030]
On the other hand, the game ball (foul ball) B released from the foul ball discharge port 604A to the foul ball guide path 604 rolls leftward on the foul ball guide path 604 and hits the right side surface 605C of the protrusion 605. The foul B that has hit the right side surface 605C of the protrusion 605 falls one ball at a time near the entrance 603A along the right side surface 605C. The length of the foul ball guide path 604 in the left-right direction is set to a length sufficient to allow the game balls discharged from the foul ball discharge port 604A to drop near the entrance 603A with a certain margin.
[0031]
According to the above configuration, the foul ball B can be reliably returned one ball at a time from the entrance 603 </ b> A to the ball supply path 603 without falling down in the middle of the ball supply path 603. Accordingly, excessive entry of game balls entering the ball supply path 603 can be further restricted, so that clogging of the balls can be prevented more reliably.
As described above, in this embodiment, with a simple configuration in which the substantially triangular-shaped protrusion 605 is provided, excessive entry of the game ball B entering the ball supply path 603 can be limited, and ball clogging can be prevented.
[0032]
However, means (left side 605B) for preventing the game ball B from excessively entering the ball supply path 603 from the ball receiving portion 601 (extended portion 601A), and the game ball B from the foul ball guide path 604 to the ball supply path 603. The means for preventing excessive entry (right side 605C) is not limited to the configuration provided on the same member (projection 605), and may be provided separately.
Further, the foul ball guide path 604 and the foul ball discharge port 604A are omitted, and the protrusion 605 is used only to prevent the game ball B from excessively entering the ball supply path 603 from the ball receiving portion 601 (extended portion 601A). May function. In this case, foul ball discharge port 604A may face ball storage section 602.
[0033]
In this embodiment, the surfaces of the ball receiving portion 601, the ball supply path 603, and the foul ball guiding path 604, that is, the portions where the game balls in the ball tray 60 roll, are each formed smoothly. This prevents the game balls B rolling in the ball dish 60 from being caught, so that ball clogging can be prevented more reliably.
The ball dish 60 is an integrated dish integrally provided with a ball receiving portion 601, a ball storage portion 602, and a ball supply passage 603. However, the ball storage portion (lower plate) is a ball receiving portion or a ball supply passage. A so-called upper and lower plate-separated ball plate may be provided separately below (upper plate).
[0034]
The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine with a front door opened.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the ball receiving device.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball receiving device.
FIG. 5 is a front view for explaining a mode in which foul balls are collected by a ball receiving device.
FIG. 6 is a plan view for explaining the flow of a game ball in a ball dish.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Pachinko machine 7 Ball payout port 12 Launching device 60 Ball tray 601 Ball receiving section 603 Ball supply path 603A Entrance 604 Fal ball guide path 604A Fal ball discharge port 605 Projection B Game ball (Fall ball)

Claims (5)

A ball supply member applicable to a pachinko machine that plays a game by firing a game ball from a launch device,
For the launching device, a launching ball supply path capable of supplying gaming balls in a line,
A projection provided near the entrance of the launching ball supply path, the projection being configured to limit excessive entry of game balls entering the launching ball supply path. A ball receiving area is disposed adjacent to the entrance of the launching ball supply path and receives and stores game balls released from a predetermined ball discharging port,
2. The ball supply member according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion restricts excessive entry of the game balls stored in the ball receiving area into the entrance. A foul ball discharge port that is disposed on the side opposite to the ball receiving area with respect to the protrusion, and discharges a foul ball that has returned to the firing device side after being fired from the firing device,
3. The ball supply member according to claim 2, further comprising: a guiding region for guiding a foul ball discharged from the foul ball discharge port to the protrusion by guiding the foul ball to the protrusion. The ball supply member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a portion on which the game ball rolls in the ball supply member is formed smoothly so as not to cause the game ball to be caught. A ball supply member according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A launching device for launching a game ball supplied from the ball supply member.

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