JP2005102874A - Path mechanism in pinball machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a path mechanism which enables the preparation of a ball case with a room until the put-out path is filled to the capacity. <P>SOLUTION: In the path mechanism, a pinball machine has upper and lower ball trays arranged on the surface side of the front frame having a game board housed and held therein, a ball put-out device disposed on the rear side of the front frame, an upper ball tray put-out path connectingthe ball put-out device and the upper ball tray and a lower ball tray put-out path which is provided on the rear side of the front frame with connecting the ball put-out device and the lower ball tray and makes the game balls running over the upper ball tray put-out path flow down onto the lower ball tray. The upper ball tray 5 is mounted on the surface side of the front frame so as to be openable or closable forward while an opening part 211 is provided in the course of the upper ball tray put-out path and a lower ball tray downflow path L20 which has a ball receiving port 35 made to communicate with the opening part 211 with the upper ball tray 5 closed on the front frame is provided on the surface side of the front frame to link the ball receiving port 35 to the lower ball tray. With the upper tray 5 closed, this allows the game balls positioned near the opening part 211 to flow down onto the lower ball tray through the lower ball tray downflow path L20. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention includes an upper and lower ball tray that stores game balls on the front side of a front frame that detachably accommodates and holds a game board, and a ball payout device that pays out game balls to the upper and lower ball plates on the back side of the front frame The present invention relates to a path mechanism of a game ball in a ball game machine equipped with the above.

  A pachinko machine is widely known as a typical example of a ball game machine including the upper and lower ball trays and the ball dispensing device as described above. In the pachinko machine, a glass door that covers the front of the game board and an upper ball tray that can be opened and closed horizontally are provided at the upper front side of the front frame that detachably accommodates and holds the game board. On the other hand, it is equipped with a back set board (also called a back mechanism board or mechanism set board) equipped with a game ball payout mechanism on the back side of the front frame. The game balls stored in the game are launched into the game board one by one, and in the process of rolling and dropping the surface of the game board, the game balls are dropped into the prize-winning equipment and played.

  The back set board arranged on the back side of the front frame has a ball payout device for paying out game balls stored in the ball storage tank according to the winning state in the game board, between the ball payout device and the upper ball tray. The upper ball tray discharge passage, the ball discharge device and the upper ball, which are connected to flow out of the game balls discharged from the ball discharge device to the upper ball tray via the front frame outlet and the upper ball tray outlet rod. A game ball that overflows from the upper ball tray discharge passage when the game ball is further discharged from the ball discharge device while the upper ball tray discharge passage is filled with game balls is provided in communication with the tray. A lower ball tray discharge passage and the like are provided to flow down to the ball tray.

By the way, when the upper ball tray payout passage is filled with the paid out game balls and further filled up to the upstream part of the lower ball tray payout passage, there is no space for receiving the game balls below the ball payout device, If the ball dispensing device is operated in this state, not only is it difficult to dispense an accurate quantity, but the ball dispensing device may be damaged. For this reason, a full detector for detecting the full state of the game ball is provided in the lower ball tray payout passage (see, for example, Patent Document 1), and the lower ball tray payout passage is filled with this full detector. When it is detected that there is a game ball, generally, the operation of the ball payout device and the game ball launching device is restricted so that the game ball cannot be fired until the full state is released.
JP 2003-135702 A (page 11, FIG. 6)

  Under these circumstances, recent pachinko machines are configured to receive a large number of prize balls that cannot be stored in the upper and lower ball trays with a single jackpot. In order to avoid the operation restriction and to enjoy the profit of the jackpot state to the maximum extent, it is necessary to perform a ball pulling operation for pulling the game ball from the lower ball tray to the ball box (so-called dollar box) in the middle of the jackpot. For this reason, when the player starts to pay out the game ball to the lower ball tray side, the player calls a staff member of the game facility using a call lamp or the like installed on the game island, receives the ball box, Preparing for ball removal.

  However, when the game ball starts to be paid out to the lower ball tray side, the payout passage on the upper ball tray side is already filled with game balls, and the game balls to be paid out after that are almost entirely in the lower ball It flows down to the lower ball tray through the dish discharge passage. For this reason, the lower ball tray payout passage is filled before the attendant at the game facility notices the calling lamp and carries the ball box, and the operation of the game ball launching device is restricted and it becomes incapable of firing. There was a problem that there was. In recent years, the number of game balls that can be paid out per unit time (that is, the payout speed) has increased in response to the increase in the number of prize balls that can be paid out at the time of a big hit, and a large amount of game balls in a short time. Has been pointed out, and it has been pointed out that there is not enough time to prepare the ball box.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a path mechanism that can prepare a ball box with a margin until the payout passage is filled.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a front frame that detachably accommodates and holds a game board, an upper ball tray and a lower ball tray that are arranged on the front side of the front frame and store game balls, and a rear side of the front frame. A ball payout device for paying out game balls according to the winning state on the game board, and a game ball paid out from the ball payout device provided in communication between the ball payout device and the upper ball tray An upper ball tray discharge passage that flows down to the upper ball tray, and a ball further in a state where the upper ball tray discharge passage is filled with game balls provided on the back side of the front frame in communication between the ball discharge device and the lower ball tray. In a ball game machine having a lower ball tray discharge passage for allowing game balls overflowing from the upper ball tray discharge passage to flow down to the lower ball tray when the game balls are paid out from the payout device, the upper ball tray has a front frame Is attached to the front side of the upper ball tray so as to be openable and closable, and an opening is provided on the upper ball tray side of the upper ball tray discharge passage. A lower ball dish flow passage is provided on the front side of the front frame, which has a ball receiving port that communicates with the opening when the upper ball plate is closed to the front frame, and connects the ball receiving port and the lower ball plate. The path mechanism is configured so that the game ball located in the vicinity of the opening in the state where the upper ball tray is closed by the front frame flows down to the lower ball tray through the lower ball tray flow-down passage.

  In the route mechanism configured as described above, in addition to the upper ball tray discharge passage and the lower ball tray discharge passage as described in the background art section, an opening is provided in the upper ball tray side of the upper ball tray discharge passage. On the other hand, on the front side of the front frame, there is provided a ball receiving passage that communicates with the opening in a state where the upper ball dish is closed to the front frame, and a lower ball dish flow passage that connects the ball receiving opening and the lower ball dish is provided In the gaming state in which the upper ball tray is closed to the front frame, the game ball located in the vicinity of the opening is caused to flow down to the lower ball tray through the lower ball tray flow path. For this reason, when the game balls paid out from the ball payout device are stored in the upper ball tray payout passage, the game balls located near the opening in the flow path pass through the lower ball tray flow-down passage. As soon as it flows down to the lower ball tray, it notifies that the upper ball tray discharge passage is being filled. Therefore, the player can recognize that the passage is being filled before the upper ball tray payout passage is completely filled, and prepares the ball box without bothering the player and the staff of the gaming facility. be able to.

  Further, in addition to the lower ball tray discharge passage on the back side of the front frame, a lower ball tray flow passage is formed separately for communicating between the opening and the lower ball tray with the upper ball tray closed on the front side of the front frame. Therefore, the number of game balls that can be stored before the lower ball tray payout passage is filled corresponds to the volume of the lower ball tray flow-down passage in addition to the number of game balls that can be stored in the upper and lower ball trays and the payout passage. This makes it possible to store a large number of game balls, thereby extending the time until the lower ball tray payout passage reaches a full state.

  Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a path mechanism capable of preparing a ball box with sufficient time and spirit before both the upper and lower payout passages are filled.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As a representative example of a ball game machine equipped with a path mechanism according to the present invention, a front view of a pachinko machine is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a rear view of the pachinko machine is shown in FIG. The overall outline of the pachinko machine PM will be described. 2 shows a state in which the glass door 3 and the upper ball tray 5 on the front of the machine body are opened forward, and FIG. 3 shows a state in which the back cover attached to the back surface of the back set panel is partially broken.

  In the pachinko machine PM, the front frame 2 for opening and closing mounted on the front surface of the outer frame 1 that is configured to have a rectangular frame size and forms a vertically fixed holding frame is arranged on the front surface of the opening and closing mounted to each other. A hinge mechanism disposed on the upper left and lower sides of the front side is attached to the front so that it can be opened / closed and attached / detached, and is always in a closed state engaged and connected to the outer frame 1 using a locking device provided on the right side of the front. Retained.

  A glass door 3 is attached to the front side (front side) upper part of the front frame 2 so that it can be opened / closed / removed sideways and covers the front side of the front frame 2 using a locking device provided on the right side of the front. It is kept closed. An upper part of the front frame located behind the glass door 3 is provided with an accommodation frame for detachably accommodating the game board 10, and the game board 10 latched and held in an upright posture on the accommodation frame is provided with the glass door. 3 is visible. The game board 10 uses a decorative board 11 in which cells are attached to the surface of a laminated plywood having a predetermined board thickness and is router-processed as a substrate, and the inside of a substantially circular game area PA surrounded by an arc-shaped outer rail 12 and an inner rail 13. Along with a large number of game nails, game components such as a windmill, various prize-winning devices 14, an image display device 15 for displaying a game according to the game development status, and left and right side lamps are attached to the lower end of the game area. An out port 18 is provided and configured.

  An auxiliary mechanism portion called a game auxiliary board is provided at the front side intermediate portion of the front frame 2, and in front of it, the upper ball tray 5 can be opened and closed laterally and opened and removed by a hinge mechanism 4 provided on the left side of the front face. It is always kept in a closed state that covers the front surface of the game auxiliary board using a ball tray locking device provided on the right side of the front. The game assisting board 20 includes a launching rail 22 that guides and launches a game ball hit by the hammer of the game ball launching device 21 toward the outer rail 12, an upper bowl tray outlet 55 described below, and a back set board. The upper cover outlet 25 formed in the shape of an inclined passage connecting with the upper payout passage 45, the speaker cover 31 for holding a speaker for generating sound effects according to the development situation of the game and forming a foul ball collection passage etc. Etc. are provided.

  The upper ball tray 5 includes a cover plate 51 formed in a rectangular lid shape covering the front surface of the game assisting board 20, a bowl-shaped exterior body 52 attached to the front surface of the cover plate 51 and protruding forward, and a cover plate 51 and the outer body 52, and the rear side of the counter plate 51 communicates with the upper outlet 25 of the game auxiliary board in alignment with the upper ball tray 5 closed. A duct-shaped outlet 55 for receiving the game ball flowing in from the upper outlet 25 and flowing down to the ball tray portion 56 of the tray member 53 is formed so as to protrude to the back side.

  A lower ball tray 7 with an open top surface is attached to the front lower portion of the front frame 2 so as to protrude forward, and a box-shaped lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 having openings on the upper surface and the front surface is mounted on the lower side of the front frame 2. The lower ball tray 7 and the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 are connected to each other through a lower outlet 27 that penetrates the front frame 2 back and forth (see FIG. 10). The lower ball tray 7 has a lower ball removing mechanism 8 that opens a ball outlet formed on the bottom surface and draws a game ball stored in the ball tray portion into a ball box (generally referred to as a dollar box) BB. The game ball stored in the lower ball tray 7 is caused to flow down to the ball box BB by operating the ball release lever provided on the front surface of the lower ball tray 7 to open the ball release port. The ball can be removed. On the right side of the front of the lower ball tray 7, a firing handle 9 for performing a game ball firing operation is attached.

  On the other hand, on the back side (rear side) of the front frame 2, a back set board 40 is attached to the rear side of the front frame 2 so as to be laterally openable and detachable. The back set board 40 has a ball storage tank 41 for storing game balls for payout, a tank rail 42 for aligning and flowing down game balls stored in the ball storage tank 41, and a game ball guided through the tank rail 42. The ball payout device 43 that pays out the game board 10 according to the winning state, the partition wall 44 that is formed obliquely below the ball payout device 43 so as to project into the payout passage, and directly below the ball payout device 43. A state in which the upper payout passage 45 is formed so as to be adjacent to the upper payout passage 45 across the partition wall 44 and the upper payout passage 45 that guides the formed game ball discharged from the ball payout device 43 to the upper ball tray 5. Further, the lower payout passage 47 for guiding the game balls paid out to the lower ball tray 7 and an inclined passage surface adapted to the height of the upper end of the partition wall 44 have a partition between the upper payout passage 45 and the lower payout passage 47. Contact above wall 44 The safe ball guided to the overflow ball passage 46 and the winning device 14 and led to the back side of the decorative board 11 and the out ball guided to the back side of the decorative board 11 through the out port 18 are gathered to collect the amusement islands. A game ball discharge passage 48 that leads to the collection device is provided. Various circuit boards such as a main control board and a payout control board are attached to the back of the back set board 40, and each electrical component is connected by a connector cable to constitute a pachinko machine PM.

  The pachinko machine PM is used in a game in which the upper ball tray 5 and the glass door 3 are closed and locked, and the game ball is stored in the upper ball tray 5 and the operation lever of the launch handle 9 is rotated. Is started. When the operation lever is turned, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 5 are sent one by one to the launch rail 22 by a ball feed cassette attached to the back of the upper ball tray 5, and the game ball launching device 21. The hammer is driven into the game area PA.

  The game ball that has reached the game area PA rolls and falls in the game area PA while being hit by a large number of game nails and windmills that have been driven into the game area, and then drops into the winning tool 14 in the fall process. It is guided to the back side of the board 11 or falls without falling into the prize-winning tool 14 and is guided to the back side of the decorative board 11 through the out port 18, both of which are the game ball discharge passages 48 of the back set board 40. It is discharged to the collection device on the amusement island. Each winning tool is provided with a winning ball detector for detecting a winning game ball and a detection signal is output to the main control board, and the main control board receives a winning detection signal from any of the winning detectors. Then, a payout signal preset according to the type of the winning tool is output to the ball payout device 43 via the payout control board, and the ball payout device 43 pays out a predetermined number of game balls according to the payout signal.

  The game balls paid out from the ball payout device 43 are normally guided to the upper payout passage 45 by a partition wall 44 formed in the payout passage, and the upper outlet 25 and the upper ball tray 5 penetrating the front frame 2. Then, it is guided to the ball tray part 56 through the outlet bowl 55 formed in the above. In other words, before the upper payout passage 45 is filled, the game balls paid out from the ball payout device 43 are paid out to the ball tray portion 56 through the upper payout passage 45 to the upper outlet 25 to the outlet basket 55. It is. In this specification, the ball path connecting the ball dispensing device to the upper ball dish 5 side in this way is referred to as an upper ball dish dispensing path L5.

  On the other hand, when a game ball is paid out from the ball payout device 43 in a state where the upper ball tray 5 is full and the upper payout passage 45 is filled up to the upper end of the partition wall 44, the payout game ball is divided. Overflowing to the lower payout passage 47 side through the wall 44 or bypassing the overflow ball passage 46 and flowing into the lower payout passage 47, flowing down the lower payout passage 47 and passing through the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 and the lower outlet 27. It is led to the lower ball tray 7 through. That is, after the upper payout passage 45 is filled, the game balls paid out from the ball payout device 43 are paid out to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower payout passage 47, the lower ball tray connection bucket 37, and the lower outlet 27. It is. In this specification, the ball path connecting from the ball dispensing device to the lower ball dish 7 side is referred to as a lower ball dish dispensing path L7.

  A full detector 49 for detecting the full state of the ball path is provided downstream of the lower payout path 47 and located above the lower ball tray connection bucket 37, and the detection signal is input to the main control board. The main control board is configured to regulate the operation of the ball dispensing device 43 and the game ball launching device 21 when the full detector 49 detects the full state of the lower ball tray dispensing passage L7 at the passage position. Yes.

  In the pachinko machine PM generally configured as described above, the lower ball dish flow passage having an opening part in the upper ball dish discharge passage L5 and communicating between the opening part and the lower ball dish 7 Is provided on the front side of the front frame 2.

  Below, with reference to each figure of FIGS. 4-12, after first explaining in more detail about the ball path provided in the game auxiliary | assistant board 20 and the upper ball tray 5, it continues the lower ball tray flow down of the 1st structure form. The passage L10 will be described. Here, FIG. 4 to FIG. 12 will be outlined in advance. FIG. 4 is a front view showing each ball passage on the side of the game auxiliary board with the upper ball tray 5 opened, and FIG. 5 is the upper ball tray closed. FIG. 6 is a rear view of the upper ball dish 5 mainly showing the lower ball dish flow path L10, and FIG. 7 is an opening and shutter of the lower ball dish flow path L10. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of the mechanism, FIG. 8 is a plan sectional view around the shutter mechanism as seen in the direction of arrows VIII-VIII in FIG. 5, and FIG. 9 shows the upper ball tray discharge passage L5 and the lower ball tray flow-down passage L10. FIG. 10 is a side sectional view of the pachinko machine PM for explaining the flow of game balls during the game, and FIG. 11 is a position of each ball passage when the upper ball tray 5 is opened. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the relationship and the state of the shutter mechanism. FIG. Kino is a side sectional view of a pachinko machine PM for explaining the flow of a game ball.

  By the way, behind the speaker cover 31 attached to the game auxiliary board 20, a foul ball collection port 32 is formed which is opened at a predetermined distance between the firing rail 22 and the outer rail 12, and a foul ball is formed below the foul ball collection port 32. A foul ball collection passage 33 is formed through which the foul ball dropped into the ball collection port 32 flows down. A ball receiving port 35 is formed below the upper outlet 25 so that the cover portion extends forward and opens upward, and a spilled ball collection passage 36 for allowing the spilled ball that has fallen into the ball receiving port 35 to flow down is provided below the ball receiving port 35. Is formed.

  The foul ball collection passage 33 and the spilled ball collection passage 36 merge at the substantially right and left central portions of the game auxiliary board, and are connected to the lower ball tray connecting bucket via the collective collection port 26 formed through the front frame 2 vertically. 37. As a result, the foul ball dropped into the foul ball collection port 32 and the spilled ball flowing into the ball receiving port 35 respectively pass through the foul ball collection passage 33 and the spilled ball collection passage 35 from the collective collection port 26 to the lower ball tray communication bucket. It flows down to 37 and is guided to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower outlet 26. The speaker cover 31 is formed with a shutter receiving portion 160 that is notched at a portion directly above the collective opening 26 and opens forward, and can receive a shutter mechanism 150 described later.

  On the other hand, the upper ball tray 5 includes a rectangular lid-shaped cover plate 51, a bowl-shaped exterior body 52 attached to the front surface of the contact plate 51 and protruding forward, and the contact plate 51 and the exterior body 52. It is comprised from the plate member 53 etc. which were attached between. A bowl plate portion 56 for storing game balls is formed on the plate member 53 located on the front side of the contact plate 51, and the ball plate portion 56 is inclined to the right as shown in partial cross sections in FIGS. The flat plate shape is formed in a teardrop shape for gathering game balls downwardly inclined, and the downstream side thereof is connected to a launch ball alignment passage 57 for waiting for the game balls in a single row alignment state.

  The downstream portion of the firing ball alignment passage 57 is folded back in a “<” shape at the alignment position facing the base end portion of the firing rail 22 in the front-rear direction with the upper ball tray 5 closed by the front frame 2. The ball 51 is connected to a ball outlet flow passage 58 that is inclined to the left toward the center of the plate 51. The firing ball alignment passage 57 and the ball discharge flow passage 58 are always partitioned by the valve member of the upper ball removal mechanism 6 provided in the folded portion so as to be openable and closable. A ball feeding cassette for feeding game balls one by one is attached to the downstream end portion 57 (the folded portion of the ball passage). The ball feeding cassette is controlled in synchronism with the game ball launching device 21 based on the launch operation of the launch handle 9, and the game balls that are waiting to be aligned in the launch ball alignment passage 57 are sent to the launch rail 22 one by one. A hammer of the launcher 21 is launched.

  The downstream portion of the ball removal flow passage 58 is bent rearward at an alignment position facing the shutter receiving portion 160 of the game auxiliary board 20 in the front-rear direction with the upper ball tray 5 being closed by the front frame 2, It passes through the ball outlet 59 penetrating in the front-rear direction and is led out to the back side of the contact plate 51.

  On the back side of the counter plate 51, the above-mentioned outlet bowl 55 constituting the upper bowl tray discharge passage L5 is projected and molded, and with the upper bowl tray 5 closed to the front frame 2, A lower ball tray flow passage L <b> 10 that communicates with the lower ball tray 7 is provided on the back surface of the contact plate 51.

  The upper structure of the lower basin dish flow passage L10 includes a passage groove that is surrounded by passage walls 101 and 102 erected on the back surface of the cover plate 51 and is formed in a recessed groove shape that is open on the rear surface, and a rear surface of the passage groove. It is mainly composed of a passage cover 103 that covers the opening and is fixed with screws. On the exit side of the outlet bowl 55 (the front end side connected to the ball tray portion 56), a part of the wall surface is cut out from the left side surface to the bottom surface in the rear view, and an opening 111 is formed. A branch channel that branches from the payout passage L5 is formed. On the entrance side (the rear end side that communicates with the upper passage outlet 25) of the doorway 55 is provided a ball approaching side 55s that is located behind the opening 111 and extends obliquely from the side toward the center. The game ball that flows in from the rear upper outlet 25 and flows down to the front ball tray portion 56 is guided toward the center of the outlet bowl 55 so that the game ball flowing down the upper ball tray discharge passage L5 is directly below the lower ball. It is constituted so as not to flow into the dish flow down passage L10.

  A passage chamber 112 having a relatively wide passage width and extending vertically is formed in the upstream portion of the lower ball dish flow passage L10 where the opening 111 is opened, and a predetermined amount of game balls are provided in the passage chamber 112. Can be stored. On the other hand, the passage cover 103 is formed with a flow-down guide piece 103 s that is inclined to be positioned above the bottom wall surface of the passage chamber 112 when the passage cover 103 is attached. It is guided downstream without stopping at the bottom of the chamber 112.

  In the midstream portion of the lower ball dish flow passage L10, the upper and lower passage walls 101, 102 are formed with an inclined passage 113 with a gentle inclination, and the lower passage is gently bent downward and descends above the ball outlet 59. The lower ball dish flow passage L10 and the ball removal flow passage 58 merge through the ball removal opening 59. At the lower end of the descending passage portion, the passage walls 101 and 102 and the bottom wall 105 located on the left and right of the ball outlet 59 are extended to form a box-like protrusion portion 106 that protrudes rearward. A junction port 115 is formed on the side, and a shutter port 116 is formed on the lower surface side. The opening dimensions of the junction port 115 and the shutter port 116 are both formed to be larger than the diameter of the game ball, and a ball passage extending up and down is formed by joining the lower ball dish lower passage L10. A shutter mechanism 150 that opens and closes the shutter opening 116 is provided on the protruding portion 106.

  As shown in an exploded perspective view in FIG. 7, the shutter mechanism 150 includes a shutter member 151 that opens and closes the shutter opening 116, left and right guide columns 156 that support the shutter member 151 slidably in the front-rear direction, and left and right guide columns 156. A coil spring 157 that constantly urges the shutter member 151 supported by the rear side (in the closing direction), and a support boss that is located outside the left and right passage walls 101 and 102 and is formed to protrude rearward and support the guide column 156 and the coil spring 157. 158, an engagement protrusion 163 projecting from the front end portion of the collective recovery port 26 on the game auxiliary board side.

  The shutter member 151 includes a blade portion 152, left and right side portions 154 formed by bending the left and right end portions of the blade portion upward, and an upper end of the side portion somewhat larger than the outer diameter of the guide column 156. A bearing portion 155 that is curled and formed into a cylindrical shape having a large inner diameter is formed, and a thin plate made of, for example, a stainless alloy is processed and formed by stamping and press molding or the like, and is formed in a concave shape as viewed from the back.

  In this embodiment, the guide column 156 shows an example in which the production cost is reduced by using a commercially available cross slotted screw. The length of the guide column 156 is when the guide column is screwed to the support boss 158 and fixed. In addition, the position of the seat surface on the screw head is set to a length dimension that substantially matches the rear end position of the shutter opening 116.

  The blade portion 152 has a left and right central portion that is convex forward in accordance with the opening width of the shutter opening 116, and an engagement receiving portion 153 that is bent at a right angle and protrudes downward is formed. The engagement receiving portion 153 can be engaged with and disengaged from the engagement protrusion 163 on the game auxiliary board side in accordance with the closing and opening of the upper ball tray 5. The longitudinal dimension of the blade part 152 is somewhat shorter than the projecting dimension of the bottom wall 105 at the protruding part 106 and is longer than the shutter opening 116, and the shutter member 151 is supported by the guide column 156 and forward. The blade member 152 is positioned below the bottom wall 105 when being slid to open the shutter opening 116 as a whole, and the shutter member is moved until the rear end surface of the bearing portion 155 contacts the screw head of the guide column 156. The blade portion 152 is set to close the lower surface of the shutter port 116 when the 151 is slid rearward.

  The shutter opening 116 is formed by cutting out the rear part of the bottom wall 105 and the lower part of the rear wall 107 in the protruding part 106 and using the lower corner part, and the lower ball dish flow path L10 and the ball discharge flow path 58. The game ball flowing down from the vehicle can smoothly flow down toward the collective collection port 26 obliquely rearward, and the shutter port 116 can be opened and closed with a relatively small slide stroke in the front-rear direction.

  The side portion 154 and the bearing portion 155 in the shutter member 151 are formed such that the front end side is shorter than the blade portion 152, and the dimensions thereof are set based on the relative relationship with the coil spring 157. That is, in a state where the shutter member 151 is slid forward and the engagement receiving portion 153 is brought into contact with the back surface of the contact plate 51, the front end surface of the bearing portion 155 (more specifically, the front end surface of the washer 159) and the contact plate 51 is larger than the contact length of the coil spring 157, and the shutter member 151 is slid rearward so that the rear end surface of the bearing portion 155 contacts the screw head of the guide column 156. The mutual relationship is set so that the distance between the front end face (same as above) and the contact plate 51 is smaller than the free length of the coil spring 157.

  The support boss 158 that is formed to protrude outside the left and right passage walls 101 and 102 is formed with a screw receiving hole that receives and supports the screw portion of the guide column 156 at the center thereof, and the outer diameter dimension is a coil spring 157. The protrusion height is set so as not to come into contact with the bearing portion 155 or the like even when the shutter member 151 is moved forward as described above. The functions of the support portion of the guide column 156 and the support portion of the coil spring 157 are integrated into one support boss 158, and the opening / closing stroke of the shutter member 151 and the expansion / contraction length of the coil spring 157 are secured. ing.

  The shutter member 151 is a coil spring 157 in which guide struts 156 are inserted into the left and right bearing portions 155 from the rear, and a washer 159 is supported by the strut portions protruding forward, and a screw portion at the tip is supported on the support boss 158 side. The support boss 158 is screwed and fastened to be attached to the back side of the cover plate 51. When the shutter member 151 is attached in this manner, the shutter member 151 is supported so as to be slidable back and forth along the left and right guide columns 156, and is always urged rearward by the urging force of the coil spring 157, so that the blade portion 152 is moved. It is held in a closed position for closing the lower surface of the shutter opening 116.

  As described above, in the shutter mechanism 150, the shutter opening 116 uses the lower end corner portion of the protruding portion 106 to reduce the opening / closing stroke of the shutter member 151, and the front portion of the bearing portion 155 is shortened from the blade portion 152 to provide a coil spring. The housing dimensions of 157 are secured, and the support portion of the guide column 156 and the support portion of the coil spring 157 are gathered on the support boss 157, and the opening / closing stroke of the shutter member 151 and the expansion / contraction length of the coil spring 157 are secured. Is realized.

  On the other hand, a shutter receiving portion 160 that receives the shutter mechanism 150 is formed on the game assisting board 20 side. The shutter receiving portion 160 has a concave shape in which the speaker cover 31 located immediately above the collective opening 26 is notched in accordance with the position and shape of the protrusion 106 and the shutter mechanism 150 on the upper ball tray 5 side and opens forward. The projection 106 and the shutter mechanism 150 can be retractably accommodated in accordance with the closing and opening of the upper ball tray 5.

  The collective recovery port 26 is formed with a frame-like upper edge surface in accordance with the height position of the blade portion 152 in the shutter mechanism 150, and an engagement protrusion 163 that protrudes forward and extends to the left and right is formed at the center of the front surface. ing. The front end portion of the engagement protrusion 163 is formed in a smooth arc shape when viewed from the side, and the shutter mechanism 150 is smoothly received by the shutter receiving portion 160 when the upper ball tray 5 is swung in the closing direction. The engagement member 153 is engaged, and the engagement receiver 153 is pressed forward to slide the shutter member 151 forward against the urging force of the coil spring 157.

  In a state where the upper ball tray 5 is closed to the front frame 2, the passage cover 103 of the lower ball tray flow passage L10 and the case cover 31 of the game assisting board are disposed to face each other, while the rear portion of the shutter mechanism 150 and The protruding portion 106 is accommodated in the shutter receiving portion 160, and the blade portion 152 in the shutter mechanism is accommodated below the bottom wall 107 and disposed at an open position where the shutter opening 116 is opened. In the open position, the coil spring 157 is disposed without being in close contact with the compression shell, and a predetermined clearance is secured between the engagement receiving portion 153 and the back plate back 51 (partial enlarged view in FIG. 10). And the upper ball tray 5 can be securely closed and held while the entire shutter opening 116 is opened.

  In a state where the upper ball tray 5 is closed to the front frame 2, the passing-out bar 55 communicates with the upper outlet 25 on the game auxiliary board side at the upper part of the upper ball tray 5, and from the ball payout device 43 of the back set board 40. An upper ball tray discharge passage L5 connected to the upper discharge passage 45 to the upper outlet 25 to the outlet plate 55 to the ball tray portion 56 is formed, and the passage is made from the opening 111 formed in the outlet rod 55 on the front side of the front frame 2. A lower ball dish flow passage L10 that passes through the chamber 112, the inclined passage 113, the shutter opening 116, and the collect collection port 26 through the lower ball dish communication bucket 37 and the lower outlet 27 is formed.

  Further, in the shutter receiving portion 160, a spherical passage is formed which communicates in the vertical direction from the confluence 115 on the upper surface side of the protrusion 106 accommodated in the receiving portion to the collection recovery port 26 through the shutter opening 116 on the lower surface side, As a result, the foul balls dropped into the foul ball collection port 32 and the spilled balls dropped into the ball receiving port 35 are respectively joined from the foul ball collection passage 33 and the spilled ball collection passage 36 to the confluence 115 to the shutter opening 116 to the collection collection port. A collecting and collecting passage is formed to flow down to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower ball tray communication bucket 37 and the lower outlet 27.

  Now, the flow of game balls (action of each ball passage) in the pachinko machine PM configured as described above will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine PM is provided for a game with the upper ball tray 5 and the glass door 3 closed and locked, and the player stores the game ball in the ball tray portion 56 of the upper ball tray 5. The operation is started by rotating the operation lever of the firing handle 9. When the operation lever is turned, the game balls waiting to be aligned in the firing ball alignment passage 57 are sent one by one to the firing rail 22 by the ball feeding cassette disposed at the downstream end of the firing ball alignment passage 57. Then, it is launched by the hammer of the game ball launcher 21.

  Of the game balls launched by the hammer, the game balls that have returned along the outer rail 12 without reaching the game area PA fall into the foul ball collection port 32, pass through the foul ball collection passage 33, and protrude. From the junction 115 on the top surface of the unit, the shutter 116, the collection / recovery port 26, the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 and the lower outlet 27 flow down to be collected in the lower ball tray 7.

  On the other hand, of the game balls hit by the hammer, the game ball that has reached the game area PA rolls and falls in the game area PA while being hit by a large number of game nails and windmills that are driven into the game area. In the process of dropping, it drops into the winning device 14 and is guided to the back side of the decorative plate 11, or falls without falling into the winning device 14 and is guided to the back side of the decorative plate 11 through the out port 18, Both are discharged through the game-completed ball discharge passage 48 of the back set board 40 to the game island collection device. The game balls won in the winning tool 14 are detected by a winning ball detector provided in each winning tool and a winning detection signal is output to the main control board, and the main control board outputs a payout signal corresponding to the type of the winning tool. This is output to the ball payout device 43 via the payout control board, and the ball payout device 43 pays out a predetermined number of game balls (for example, 5 balls, 10 balls, 13 balls, etc.) according to the payout signal.

  The game balls paid out from the ball payout device 43 are guided to the upper payout passage 45 by the partition wall 44 formed in the payout passage before the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is filled. It flows into the outlet 55 through the upper outlet 25. Here, on the entrance side of the doorway 55, a ball approaching side 55s for guiding the game ball that has flowed into the doorway 55 toward the center is provided. The game ball that flows down is guided to the ball approaching side 55s, passes through the side of the opening 111, and is guided to the ball tray 56.

  Therefore, until the paid-out game ball stops around the opening 111, specifically, the ball tray portion 56 is filled with the game ball and the game ball is stored in the outlet 55. Until the game ball is discharged, the game balls discharged from the ball dispensing device 43 flow down the upper dispensing passage 45 to the upper passage outlet 25 to the passage basket 55 and pass through the upper ball tray dispensing passage L 5 to reach the ball tray portion 56. There is hardly any game ball that is guided to the ball tray 56 and moves into the lower ball tray flow passage L10 from the opening 111 and flows down to the lower ball tray 7.

  As the game progresses, if there are more game balls to be paid out for winning than the game balls launched from the game ball launching device 21 to the game area PA, the number of stored balls in the ball tray portion 56 gradually increases. Along with this, the stored balls stored in the ball tray part 56 go back up the slope to cover the ball dish part, and further stack in a plurality of stages in front of the exit of the outlet bowl 55 where there is a step with the ball dish part 56. Go up and the whole ball tray is filled with game balls.

  When the ball tray is filled up to the front of the exit bowl 55 and the game balls are stored in the passage of the exit bowl 55, a part of the game balls stopped near the side edge of the opening 111 However, it is pressed in the direction of the opening 111 by the game ball newly flowing into the doorway and connected to the rear, and moves into the passage chamber 112 from the opening 111. The game ball transferred into the passage chamber 102 is guided by the flow-down guide piece 103 s disposed at the lower part of the passage chamber 102 to smoothly roll down the inclined passage portion 113, and from the shutter port 116 to the collective recovery ports 26 to 26. The lower ball tray 7 is guided to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower ball tray flow passage L10 that reaches the lower ball tray 7 via the lower ball tray communication bucket 37 to the lower outlet 27.

  Here, after the game ball starts to be stored inside the passage of the doorway 55, the game ball that moves into the passage chamber 112 from the opening 111 is located in the vicinity of the opening 111 (for convenience, A vector of a pressing force acting on the stationary ball from a game ball connected to the rear of the stationary ball, and a vector of a pressing force acting on the stationary ball from a game ball located in front of the stationary ball. The resultant force obtained by synthesizing is limited to the direction toward the opening 111. That is, the resultant force acting on the stationary ball is determined by the acting direction of the pressing force and the magnitude of the pressing force due to the contact angle positional relationship between the spherical surfaces of the stationary ball and the game balls located before and after the stationary ball. A stationary ball that is inward of the portion 111 moves into the passage chamber 112 from the opening 111.

  Accordingly, the game balls that are transferred from the opening 111 to the passage chamber 112 after the game balls start to be stored inside the passage of the doorway 55 have the above-mentioned conditions among the game balls stopped near the side edge of the opening 111. Part of the game ball is filled, the game ball is paid out from the ball payout device 43, the pressing force to the stationary ball fluctuates, and the ball stored in the ball tray portion 56 is consumed by the game ball being fired. Each time the stored balls in 55 gradually flow down and move, several balls are sequentially transferred from the opening 111 to the passage chamber 112 and flow down through the lower ball tray discharge passage L10 and are led to the lower ball tray 7.

  As a result, the player can recognize that the ball passage is gradually filling before the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is completely filled, and the game ball flows down to the lower ball tray 7 little by little. At this point, for example, a game facility staff is called using a game island call lamp LP or the like indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, and a ball box BB is received to prepare for the ball removal work of the lower ball tray 7 It can be performed.

  When the game balls are paid out one after another in such a state that the game balls flow down to the lower ball tray 7 little by little in this way, the paid-out game balls are passed from the outlet 通 55 to the upper outlet 25 to the upper outlet passage. It is stored so as to go back to the upper ball tray payout passage L5 to 45, and is filled with game balls up to the upstream portion of the upper payout passage 45.

  When the game ball is further paid out from the ball payout device 43 in a state where the game ball is filled up to the upper end of the partition wall 44 that partitions the upper payout passage 45 and the lower payout passage 47, the partition wall 44 is dammed. The game balls that have passed over the partition wall 44 overflow to the lower payout passage 47 side, or bypass the overflow ball passage 46 and flow into the lower payout passage 47. It flows down the lower ball tray discharge passage L 7 connected to the lower ball tray 7 through the outlet 27 and is discharged to the lower ball tray 7.

  In this state, the number of pooled balls that are consumed and reduced gradually by the release of the game balls and the game balls that gradually flow from the opening 111 to the lower ball dish 7 through the lower ball dish flow passage L10 are about The game balls are supplied to the upper ball tray payout passage L5 side, and most of the newly released game balls are paid out to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower ball tray payout passage L7. That is, a small number of game balls are sequentially led out to the lower ball tray 7 until the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is filled after the ball tray portion 56 of the upper ball tray is filled, while the upper ball tray payout passage L5. After the game is filled, a large number of game balls are paid out to the lower ball tray 7, and the player can thereby accurately recognize that the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is full.

  Therefore, the player arranges the ball box BB prepared at the notice notification stage below the ball outlet of the lower ball tray 7 and observes the state of paying out and storing the lower ball tray 7 and the lower ball removing mechanism. The ball removal operation can be performed by operating the 8 ball removal lever.

  If the stored balls in the lower ball tray 7 increase and fill up without performing the ball removal operation, the paid-out game balls fill the lower ball tray communication bucket 37 from the lower outlet 27, and further the lower ball tray The lower payout passage 47 is filled so as to go back through the payout passage L7. When the storage ball is filled up to the passage position of the full detector 49 provided in the lower payout passage 47 and a full detection signal is output from the full detector 49 to the main control board, the main control board detects the detection signal. Based on this, the operations of the ball payout device 43 and the game ball launching device 21 are restricted, and the payout operation and the firing operation are stopped.

  Here, in the path mechanism of this configuration, in addition to the lower ball tray discharge passage L7, a lower ball tray discharge passage L10 is provided separately, and even after the upper ball tray discharge passage L5 is filled with the stored balls, the lower ball tray A game ball that flows into the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 from behind through the payout passage L7 and a game ball that flows into the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 from the front through the lower ball tray flowing down passage L10 coexist. For this reason, the number of game balls that can be stored before the operation restriction based on the detection signal of the full detector 49 is applied is in addition to the numbers that can be stored in the upper and lower ball trays 5 and 7 and the upper and lower ball tray discharge passages L5 and L7. Thus, it is possible to increase the quantity stored in the lower ball tray flow passage L10, thereby extending the time until the operation restriction is applied, so that a large number of game balls are paid out to the lower ball tray 7. The ball removal work can be done with a margin without panic.

  By the way, in the pachinko machine, a ball clogging may occur in the ball feeding cassette attached to the back side of the upper ball tray 5, or a plurality of game balls may be detained on the launch rail 22 so that the game balls cannot be fired. During the game, it is necessary to open the upper ball tray 5 to solve the problem. The shutter mechanism 150 is provided so that even when game balls remain in the ball path of the upper ball tray 5 when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, these remaining balls do not fall out.

  When the upper ball tray 5 is unlocked from the state where the upper ball tray 5 is closed and locked and pulled forward, the upper ball tray 5 swings around the hinge pin of the hinge mechanism 4 provided on the left side of the front surface as a swing shaft. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the protruding portion 106 and the shutter mechanism 150 in the lower sphere dish lowering passage L10 move away from the state accommodated in the shutter accommodating portion 160 and move to the front of the shutter accommodating portion 160, so 55 changes from being in communication with the upper outlet 25 to being separated from the upper outlet 25 in front of the upper outlet 25.

  At this time, in the shutter mechanism 150, the protrusion 106 moves forward, and the engagement protrusion 163 on the game auxiliary board side is displaced relatively rearward, so that it is in contact with and pressed against the engagement protrusion 163. The pressing force applied to the engagement receiving portion 153 is released, and the shutter member 151 slides backward by the elastic force of the compressed coil spring 157, and the blade portion 152 closes the lower surface of the shutter port 116.

  For this reason, when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, the game balls already stored in the lower ball tray flow passage L10 or when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, it flows into the lower ball tray flow passage L10 from the opening 111. The game ball is held by the blade portion 152 and held in the lower ball dish flow passage L10, and ball spillage does not occur.

  Further, since the lower ball tray flow passage L10 and the ball discharge flow passage 58 are merged and the shutter mechanism 150 is provided on the downstream side of the merge portion, for example, when the upper ball tray 5 is opened or after the upper ball is accidentally opened. Even when the ball removal operation lever of the removal mechanism 6 is operated in the opening direction, the game ball that has flowed down the ball removal flow path 58 and joined through the ball removal port 59 is blocked by the blade portion 152 and removed. It is held in the flow-down passage 58 and does not cause spilling of the ball as described above.

  Furthermore, in the shutter mechanism 150, the shutter member 151 slides back and forth in conjunction with the closing / opening of the upper ball tray 5 to open / close the shutter opening 116. There is no need to perform an operation, and a route mechanism with good workability can be provided.

  On the other hand, a ball receiving opening 35 is formed below the gap between the outlet bowl 55 and the upper outlet 25 generated when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, and the case cover 31 projects forward. A spilled ball collecting passage 36 is formed below the spilled ball that has fallen into the ball receiving port 35.

  For this reason, even if game balls are stored in the upper ball tray payout passage L5 before the upper ball tray 5 is opened, the spilled balls overflowing forward from the upper outlet 25 when the upper ball tray 5 is opened. Then, the spilled ball overflowing rearward from the outlet 55 drops into the ball receiving port 35 which is located on the lower side and opens upward, flows down the spilled ball collection passage 36, and the protruding portion 106 is detached. The shutter accommodating portion 160 falls and is collected in the lower ball tray 7 through the lower collection tray 26 through the lower ball tray communication bucket 37 to the lower outlet 26. Therefore, even when the game balls are stored in the upper ball tray payout passage L5 when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, the overflowing game balls pass through the spilled ball collection passage 36 to the lower ball tray 7. It will not be collected and scattered game balls.

  Therefore, by providing the path mechanism as described above, it is possible to prepare a ball box with sufficient time and spirit until both the upper and lower ball tray dispensing passages are full, and the upper ball tray is opened. In this case, a pachinko machine can be provided in which even when game balls remain in each ball passage, these game balls are not scattered.

  Next, the lower ball dish flow passage L20 in the second configuration form will be described. Here, FIG. 13 is a front view showing each ball passage on the game assisting board side with the upper ball tray 5 opened, and FIG. 14 is a front view showing each ball passage on the upper ball tray side with the upper ball tray closed. 15 is a rear view of the upper ball tray 5 mainly showing the lower ball tray flow passage L20, FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the opening and shutter mechanism of the lower ball tray flow passage L20, and FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional plan view of the periphery of the shutter mechanism as viewed in the direction of the arrow XVII-XVII, FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional plan view of the pachinko machine PM mainly showing the upper ball tray discharge passage L5 and the lower ball tray flow-down passage L20, and FIG. FIG. 20 is a side sectional view of the pachinko machine PM for explaining the flow of the game ball at the time, FIG. 20 is a plan sectional view showing the positional relationship of each ball passage and the state of the shutter mechanism when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, FIG. Is for explaining the flow of the game ball when the upper ball tray 5 is opened It is a side sectional view of a pachinko machine PM.

  In the route mechanism of this configuration, the lower ball tray flow passage L20 that communicates between the outlet bowl 55 and the lower ball tray 7 with the upper ball tray 5 closed to the front frame 2 is provided on the front surface of the game auxiliary board 20. The spilled ball collecting passage 36 provided on the side is configured to be used in combination, the configuration of the game auxiliary board 20 excluding the opening width of the ball receiving port 35, and the lower ball dish flow passage L10 formed on the back surface of the counter plate 51. The main configuration of the upper ball tray 5 except for the same is the same as that of the pachinko machine PM described with reference to FIGS. Therefore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a duplicate description is omitted. Hereinafter, the lower ball dish flow path L20 will be described in detail.

  The lower ball tray flow passage L20 has a ball receiving port 35 located below the exit rod 55 in a state where the upper ball plate 5 is closed to the front frame 2, and the game ball dropped into the ball receiving port 35 is placed in the lower ball plate. 7 is used in combination with a spilled ball collection passage 36 that is caused to flow down to 7. An opening 211 is formed on the entrance side (the rear end side communicating with the upper exit 25) of the outlet rod 55 so that a part of the bottom surface on the left side in front view is cut out and communicates vertically. A branch flow path that branches from the upper ball tray payout passage L5 through the opening 211 is formed.

  Here, in the upper payout passage 45, as shown in FIG. 18, a first tilt guide side 45s for guiding the game ball paid out from the ball payout device 43 to the lower right, and the first tilt guide side The second inclined guiding side 45t that guides the game ball guided by 45s forward is provided, and the gaming ball paid out from the ball payout device is guided to the inclined guiding sides 45s and 45t and paid upward. The passage 45 flows down while being turned so as to turn clockwise in plan view. For this reason, in the vicinity of the entrance of the upper exit 25 to the exit pole 55, the game ball flows down the area on the right side of the ball passage, and the game ball is stored up to the inside of the upper exit 25 and is applied to the game ball stopped in the passage. There is a characteristic that almost no game ball passes through the region on the left side until it is guided leftward.

  Based on the above characteristics, the opening 211 is formed by partially cutting away the passage surface on the left side of the entrance of the exit rod 55 where game balls hardly flow down, and makes the exit rod 55 oblique. A partition wall 55t that protrudes upward and extends forward and backward is formed on the side edge near the center of the opening 211 so that the game ball that flows down does not directly transfer into the opening 211.

  Below the opening 211, a cover portion of the speaker cover 31 projects forward to form a ball receiving opening 35 that opens upward, and a spilled ball collection passage that allows the game balls that have fallen into the ball receiving opening 35 to flow downward. 36 is formed. As described above, the spilled ball collection passage 36 merges with the foul ball collection passage 33 at the substantially right and left central portions of the game assisting board 20 and vertically penetrates the shutter receiving portion 160 that receives the shutter mechanism 150 and the front frame 2. It is connected to the lower ball tray communication bucket 37 via the collective recovery port 26. Thereby, in a state where the upper ball tray 5 is closed to the front frame 2, the ball receiving port 35 to the spilled ball collecting passage 36 to the shutter receiving portion 160 to the collective collecting port 26 to the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 to the lower passage from the opening 211. A lower ball dish flow passage L20 connected to the lower ball dish 7 through the outlet 27 is formed.

  On the other hand, a protrusion 206 is formed on the back side of the counter plate 51 in the upper ball tray 5 so as to surround the ball outlet 59 and protrude rearward. The shutter 206 is similar to the shutter mechanism described above. 150 is provided.

  The projecting portion 206 is formed in a box shape that surrounds the periphery of the ball outlet 59 by the left and right passage walls 201 and 202, the upper surface wall 204, the bottom wall 205, and the rear wall 207. At the rear of the projecting portion 206, a confluence 215 is formed on the upper surface side, and a shutter port 216 is formed on the lower surface side, and a ball passage extending in the vertical direction is formed so as to be connected to the ball outlet flow passage 58. The projecting portion 206 is configured such that the rear portion of the projecting portion 206 is accommodated in the shutter receiving portion 160 in the closed state of the upper ball tray 5, and the junction port 215 and the shutter port 216 are located in the shutter receiving portion 160. Thus, a part of the lower ball dish flow path L20 is configured, and the ball discharge flow path 58 and the lower ball dish flow path L20 merge in the shutter receiving portion 160.

  The shutter mechanism 150 has a shutter member 151 that opens and closes a shutter port 216, left and right guide columns 156 that support the shutter member 151 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction, and a shutter member 151 that is supported by the left and right guide columns 156. A coil spring 157 urging in the closing direction), a support boss 158 that is formed on the outside of the left and right passage walls 201 and 202 and protrudes rearward to support the guide strut 156 and the coil spring 157, and the collective recovery port 26 on the side of the game auxiliary board It is comprised from the engagement protrusion 163 etc. which were protrudingly molded by the front-end part. The shutter mechanism 150 is configured in the same manner as the described shutter mechanism, as is apparent from a comparison of the exploded perspective view shown in FIG. 7 and the exploded perspective view shown in FIG. The same numbers are given to the constituent parts, and the duplicated explanation is omitted.

  The confluence 215 of the projecting portion 206 in this configuration form has a configuration in which the upper portion of the rear wall 207 is formed shorter than the left and right passage walls and the upper end corner portion is cut away. Even when the game balls are filled up above the junction 215, the upper ball tray 5 can be opened without the stored game balls biting between the junction 215 and the shutter receiving portion 160. ing. The shutter port 216 is formed by cutting out the lower part of the rear wall 207 and using the lower corner portion, and gathers the game balls flowing down from the lower ball dish flow path L20 and the ball discharge flow path 58 obliquely rearward. The shutter port 216 can be opened and closed with a relatively small slide stroke in the front-rear direction while flowing smoothly toward the recovery port 26.

  On the other hand, a shutter receiving portion 160 that receives the shutter mechanism 150 is formed on the game assisting board 20 side. Similarly to the shutter receiving portion described above, the shutter receiving portion 160 is also formed in accordance with the arrangement position and the protruding shape of the protruding portion 206 and the shutter mechanism 150 on the upper ball tray 5 side. The protrusion 206 and the shutter mechanism 150 can be retractably accommodated according to the opening. Further, an engaging protrusion 163 that protrudes forward and extends to the left and right is formed at the center of the front surface of the collective collection port 26, and is engaged with and disengaged from the engagement receiving portion 153 of the shutter mechanism 150 according to closing and opening of the upper ball tray 5. The shutter member 151 is slid to open and close the shutter port 216.

  In a state where the upper ball tray 5 is closed to the front frame 2, the rear portion of the shutter mechanism 150 and the protruding portion 206 are accommodated in the shutter receiving portion 160, and the blade portion 152 is accommodated below the bottom wall 205 and It is arrange | positioned in the open position which opens 216. In the open position, the coil spring 157 is disposed without being in close contact with the compression shell, and a predetermined clearance is secured between the engagement receiving portion 153 and the back plate back 51 (see a partially enlarged view in FIG. 19). ), The upper ball tray 5 can be reliably closed and held while the entire shutter port 216 is opened.

  In a state where the upper ball tray 5 is closed to the front frame 2, the passing-out bar 55 communicates with the upper outlet 25 on the game auxiliary board side at the upper part of the upper ball tray 5, and from the ball payout device 43 of the back set board 40. An upper ball tray discharge passage L5 connected to the upper discharge passage 45 to the upper outlet 25 to the outlet bowl 55 to the ball tray portion 56 is formed.

  Further, on the front side of the front frame 2, the ball receiving port 35 through the spilled ball collecting passage 36 through the collecting port 215 and the shutter port 216 are passed through the opening 211 formed in the outlet bowl 55, and the collecting and collecting port 26 communicates with the lower ball tray. A lower ball dish flow path L20 connected to the lower ball dish 7 via the bucket 37 to the lower communication outlet 27 is formed, and a ball discharge flow path 58 extended rearward by the protrusion 206 is formed in the shutter receiving part 160. There is a ball draining flow passage that joins with the lower ball tray flow passage L20 and is connected to the lower ball tray 7 through the ball discharge flow passage 58, the shutter port 216, the collection recovery port 26, the lower ball tray communication bucket 37, and the lower communication outlet 27. It is formed.

  In the path mechanism configured as described above, of the game balls launched by the hammer, the game balls that have returned without reaching the game area PA fall into the foul ball collection port 32 and fall into the foul ball collection passage 33. , And then flows down from the junction port 215 through the shutter port 216 to the collection / recovery port 26 to the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 and the lower outlet 27 and is collected in the lower ball tray 7.

  On the other hand, of the game balls hit by the hammer, the game ball that has reached the game area PA rolls and falls on the game area PA while being hit by a game nail or windmill in the game area. And is guided to the back side of the decorative board 11, or dropped without falling into the prize-winning device 14 and guided to the back side of the decorative board 11 through the out port 18, It is discharged to the game island collection device through the game-completed ball discharge passage 48. The game ball won in the prize tool 14 is detected by the prize ball detector and a prize detection signal is output to the main control board, and the main control board sends a payout signal corresponding to the type of the prize tool through the payout control board. The ball payout device 43 pays out a predetermined number of game balls according to the payout signal.

  The game balls paid out from the ball payout device 43 are guided to the upper payout passage 45 by the partition wall 44 formed in the payout passage before the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is filled. It flows into the outlet 55 through the upper outlet 25. Here, as described above, the upper payout passage 45 is provided with the first and second inclined guide sides 45s and 45t, and the game balls flowing in from the upper payout passage 45 are arranged on the inclined guide sides 45s and 45t. Due to the action, the gas flows into the outlet rod 55 through a path on the right side of the opening 211, and a partition wall 55 t is erected on the side edge of the opening 211.

  Therefore, until the game ball is stored and stopped inside the upper passage 25, the game ball that has flowed into the passage 55 flows down the right region without contacting the partition wall 55t, or It is guided by the partition wall 55t to flow down the central portion, and all flow into the ball tray portion 56 without moving into the opening 211. That is, until the ball tray portion 56 is filled with the game balls and the game balls are stored retroactively to the inside of the outlet bowl 55 to the upper outlet 25, the game balls paid out from the ball payout device 43 are stored. The upper ball discharge passage 45 to the upper outlet 25 to the discharge rod 55 flow down to the ball tray portion 56 and is guided to the ball tray portion 56 through the upper ball tray discharge passage L5. A game ball that moves into the passage L20 and flows down to the lower ball tray 7 hardly occurs.

  On the other hand, if there are more game balls to be paid out for winning than the game balls launched from the game ball launcher 21 to the game area PA, the number of stored balls in the ball tray portion 56 gradually increases. Accordingly, the stored balls stored in the ball tray part 56 go back up the slope to cover the ball dish part, and further piled up in multiple stages in front of the exit of the outlet bowl 55 having a step difference from the ball dish part 56. The entire dish is filled with game balls.

  When the game ball is filled up to the entrance of the doorway 55 and the game ball stops inside the passage of the upper exit 25, the game ball that has flowed into the upper passage 25 gradually starts from the side of the right passage wall. The partition wall 55t is also stopped and the game ball newly flowing in from the upper payout passage 45 is bounced by the game ball stopped in this way and guided leftward, or in the vicinity of the partition wall 55t. The game ball that has been stopped is pressed by the game ball that has been stopped rearward and pushed leftward, and moves into the ball receiving port 35 from the opening 211. The game balls that have moved into the ball receiving port 35 roll down smoothly through the spilled ball collecting passage 36 and fall into the junction port 215, and from the shutter port 216 to the collecting / collecting port 26 to the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 to the lower outlet 27. Is passed to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower ball tray flow passage L20 that reaches the lower ball tray 7.

  Here, after the game ball starts to be stored in the passage of the upper exit 25, the game ball transferred to the ball receiving port 35 from the opening 211 is a game ball (stopped ball) already stopped at the upper exit 25. There is a game ball that is touched and played in the direction of the opening 211, and a game ball that is pushed backward by the stored game ball and pushed out in the direction of the opening 211. Of these, the former is a game ball whose rolling direction is played toward the opening 211 on the left side when viewed from the front, in other words, a stop ball. The reflection direction determined according to the contact angle position between the spherical surfaces of the ball and the newly flowing game ball is limited to the game ball directed to the left.

  For the latter, a vector of pressing force acting on the stationary ball from the game ball connected to the rear of the stationary ball and a vector of pressing force acting on the stationary ball from the gaming ball located in front of the stationary ball. The resultant resultant force is limited to the direction toward the left (front of the opening of the opening 211). In other words, the resultant force acting on the stationary ball is determined by the acting direction of the pressing force and the magnitude of the pressing force due to the contact angle positional relationship between the spherical surfaces of the stationary ball and the game balls located before and after the stationary ball. Only the stationary ball in the direction is pushed out and transferred into the ball receiving port 35 from the opening 211.

  Accordingly, the game balls that are transferred from the opening 211 to the ball receiving port 35 after the game balls start to be stored inside the passage of the doorway 55 are game balls that satisfy the above conditions among the game balls that are stopped at the upper exit 25. Then, the game balls are paid out from the ball dispensing device 43 and played by the stationary balls, or the stored balls in the ball tray portion 56 are consumed by the launch of the game balls, and the stored balls in the upper outlet 25 gradually flow down and stop. Each time the pressing force on the sphere fluctuates, a small number is transferred from the opening 211 to the sphere receiving port 35, flows down the lower sphere tray discharge passage L <b> 20, and is led to the lower sphere tray 7.

  As a result, the player can recognize that the ball passage is gradually filling before the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is completely filled, and the game ball flows down to the lower ball tray 7 little by little. At this point, for example, a game facility staff is called using a game island call lamp LP or the like indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, and a ball box BB is received to prepare for the ball removal work of the lower ball tray 7 It can be performed.

  When the game balls are paid out one after another in such a state that the game balls flow down to the lower ball tray 7 little by little in this way, the game balls that have been paid out are transferred from the upper outlet 25 to the upper payout passage 45. It is stored so as to go back through the dish payout passage L5 and is filled with game balls up to the upstream portion of the upper payout passage 45.

  When the game ball is further paid out from the ball payout device 43 in a state where the game ball is filled up to the upper end of the partition wall 44 that partitions the upper payout passage 45 and the lower payout passage 47, the partition wall 44 is dammed. The game balls that have passed over the partition wall 44 overflow to the lower payout passage 47 side, or bypass the overflow ball passage 46 and flow into the lower payout passage 47. It flows down the lower ball tray discharge passage L 7 connected to the lower ball tray 7 through the outlet 27 and is discharged to the lower ball tray 7.

  In this state, the amount of the game is a combination of the pooled balls that are consumed and gradually decreased due to the launch of the game balls, and the game balls that gradually flow from the opening 211 to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower ball dish flow passage L20. The balls are replenished to the upper ball tray payout passage L5 side, and most of the newly released game balls are paid out to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower ball tray payout passage L7. That is, a small number of game balls are sequentially led out to the lower ball tray 7 until the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is filled after the ball tray portion 56 of the upper ball tray is filled, while the upper ball tray payout passage L5. After the game is filled, a large number of game balls are paid out to the lower ball tray 7, and the player can thereby accurately recognize that the upper ball tray payout passage L5 is full.

  Therefore, the player arranges the ball box BB prepared at the notice notification stage below the ball outlet of the lower ball tray 7 and observes the state of paying out and storing the lower ball tray 7 and the lower ball removing mechanism. The ball removal operation can be performed by operating the 8 ball removal lever.

  If the stored balls in the lower ball tray 7 increase and fill up without performing the ball removal operation, the paid-out game balls fill the lower ball tray communication bucket 37 from the lower outlet 27, and further the lower ball tray The lower payout passage 47 is filled so as to go back through the payout passage L7. When the storage ball is filled up to the passage position of the full detector 49 provided in the lower payout passage 47 and a full detection signal is output from the full detector 49 to the main control board, the main control board detects the detection signal. Based on this, the operations of the ball payout device 43 and the game ball launching device 21 are restricted, and the payout operation and the firing operation are stopped.

  Here, in the route mechanism of this configuration, in addition to the lower ball tray discharge passage L7, a lower ball tray flow passage L20 is provided separately, and even after the upper ball tray discharge passage L5 is filled with stored balls, the lower ball tray A game ball that flows into the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 from behind through the payout passage L7 and a game ball that flows into the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 from the front through the lower ball tray flowing down passage L20 coexist. For this reason, the number of game balls that can be stored before the operation restriction based on the detection signal of the full detector 49 is applied is in addition to the numbers that can be stored in the upper and lower ball trays 5 and 7 and the upper and lower ball tray discharge passages L5 and L7. Thus, it is possible to increase the quantity stored in the lower ball tray flow passage L20, thereby extending the time until the operation restriction is applied, and a large number of game balls are paid out to the lower ball tray 7. The ball removal work can be done with a margin without panic.

  In addition, in the pachinko machine, a ball clogging may occur in the ball feeding cassette attached to the back side of the upper ball tray 5, or a plurality of game balls may be detained on the launch rail 22 so that the game balls cannot be fired. During the game, it is necessary to open the upper ball tray 5 to solve the problem. The shutter mechanism 150 is provided so that even when game balls remain in the ball draining flow path 58 of the upper ball tray 5 when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, these remaining balls do not fall out.

  When the upper ball tray 5 is unlocked from the state where the upper ball tray 5 is closed and locked and pulled forward, the upper ball tray 5 swings around the hinge pin of the hinge mechanism 4 provided on the left side of the front surface as a swing shaft. As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the protruding portion 206 and the shutter mechanism 150 in the lower sphere dish lowering passage L <b> 20 are moved away from the state accommodated in the shutter accommodating portion 160, and moved to the front of the shutter accommodating portion 160. 55 changes from being in communication with the upper outlet 25 to being separated from the upper outlet 25 in front of the upper outlet 25. Here, since the rear wall 207 of the protruding portion 206 is formed with a short upper portion and the junction 215 is provided at the upper corner of the projection 206, the lower ball dish flow passage L20 is located above the junction 215. Even when the game balls are filled with the ball, the stored game balls can fall into the collective recovery port 26 without being caught between the junction 215 and the shutter receiving portion 160 to open the upper ball tray 5. it can.

  In the shutter mechanism 150, the engagement that has been pressed against the engagement protrusion 163 as the protrusion 206 moves forward and the engagement protrusion 163 on the game auxiliary board side is displaced relatively rearward. The pressing force to the receiving portion 153 is released, and the shutter member 151 slides backward due to the elastic force of the compressed coil spring 157, and the blade portion 152 closes the lower surface of the shutter port 216.

  Therefore, for example, even when the upper ball tray 5 is opened or after the upper ball tray 5 is opened, the ball removal operation path of the upper ball removal mechanism 6 is accidentally operated in the opening direction. The game ball that has flowed down is blocked by the blade portion 152 and held in the ball draining flow passage 58, and ball spillage does not occur. Further, in the shutter mechanism 150, the shutter member 151 slides back and forth in conjunction with the closing / opening of the upper ball tray 5, and the shutter opening 216 is opened / closed. There is no need to perform an operation, and a route mechanism with good workability can be provided.

  On the other hand, a ball receiving opening 35 is formed below the gap between the outlet bowl 55 and the upper outlet 25 generated when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, and the case cover 31 projects forward. A spilled ball collecting passage 36 is formed below the spilled ball that has fallen into the ball receiving port 35.

  For this reason, even when the upper ball tray 5 is stored in the upper ball tray discharge passage L5 before the upper ball tray 5 is opened, the spilled balls overflowing forward from the upper outlet 25 when the upper ball tray 5 is opened and The spilled ball overflowing rearward from the tap 55 drops into the ball receiving port 35 located below and opening upward, and flows down the spilled ball collecting passage 36, and the shutter housing part from which the protruding part 206 is detached. 160 is dropped and collected from the collective collection port 26 to the lower ball tray 7 through the lower ball tray connecting bucket 37 to the lower outlet 26. Therefore, even when the game balls are stored in the upper ball tray payout passage L5 when the upper ball tray 5 is opened, the overflowing game balls pass through the spilled ball collection passage 36 to the lower ball tray 7. It will not be collected and scattered game balls.

  Therefore, by providing the path mechanism as described above, it is possible to prepare a ball box with sufficient time and spirit until both the upper and lower ball tray dispensing passages are full, and the upper ball tray is opened. In this case, a pachinko machine can be provided in which even when game balls remain in each ball passage, these game balls are not scattered.

  In this configuration, an example in which the partition wall 55t is integrally formed on the side edge of the opening 211 of the outlet rod 55 is shown. However, for example, a clip-shaped partition member 255 as shown in FIG. The partition wall 255 t that is formed separately from the upper wall 55 and protrudes upward may be configured to be locked and fixed to the entrance side of the outlet rod 55 according to the side edge of the opening 211.

  In each of the configuration modes described above, the configuration example in which the shutter member 152 slides back and forth to open and close the shutter port is shown. However, the opening and closing mode of the shutter mechanism 150 is not limited to the front and back slide, for example, slides to the left and right. Thus, the shutter opening / closing may be performed or the shutter opening / closing may be performed by swinging up and down. In addition, bells are arranged on either one of the lower ball tray flow-down passages L10, L20 or the lower ball tray discharge passage L7, or a tone is generated on each of the lower ball tray flow-down passage and the lower ball tray discharge passage. Different bells may be arranged so that when a game ball passes through each ball passage, a sound effect is generated by contacting the bell, thereby further clarifying the notice function. .

It is a front view of the pachinko machine shown as an example of the game machine provided with the course mechanism concerning the present invention. It is a front view of the said pachinko machine in the state where the glass door and the upper ball tray were opened. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine. It is a front view which shows each ball path by the side of a game assistance board in the state which opened the upper ball tray in the path | route mechanism of a 1st structure form. It is a front view which shows each ball path by the side of an upper ball tray in the state which closed the upper ball tray in the path | route mechanism of a 1st structure form. It is a rear view of the upper ball tray mainly showing the lower ball tray flow-down passage in the route mechanism of the first configuration form. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the opening part of a lower sphere dish flow path, and a shutter mechanism in the path | route mechanism of a 1st structure form. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of the periphery of the shutter mechanism as seen in the direction of arrows VIII-VIII in FIG. 5. It is a plane sectional view of a pachinko machine mainly showing an upper ball tray discharge passage and a lower ball tray flow-down passage in the route mechanism of the first configuration form. It is side sectional drawing of the said pachinko machine for demonstrating the flow of the game ball at the time of a game. It is a plane sectional view showing the positional relationship of each ball passage when the upper ball tray is opened and the state of the shutter mechanism. It is a sectional side view of the pachinko machine for demonstrating the flow of the game ball when the upper ball tray is opened. It is a front view which shows each ball path by the side of a game auxiliary | assistant board in the state which open | released the upper ball tray in the path | route mechanism of a 2nd structure form. It is a front view which shows each ball path by the side of an upper ball tray in the state which closed the upper ball tray in the path | route mechanism of a 2nd structure form. It is a rear view of the upper ball tray mainly showing the lower ball tray flow-down passage in the route mechanism of the second configuration form. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the opening part of a lower sphere dish flow path, and a shutter mechanism in the path | route mechanism of a 2nd structure form. It is the plane sectional view of the shutter mechanism periphery seen in the XVII-XVII arrow direction in FIG. It is a plane sectional view of the pachinko machine mainly showing an upper ball tray discharge passage and a lower ball tray flow-down passage in the route mechanism of the second configuration form. It is side sectional drawing of the said pachinko machine for demonstrating the flow of the game ball at the time of a game. It is a plane sectional view showing the positional relationship of each ball passage when the upper ball tray is opened and the state of the shutter mechanism. It is a sectional side view of the pachinko machine for demonstrating the flow of the game ball when the upper ball tray is opened. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of the partition wall in the path | route mechanism of a 2nd structure form.

Explanation of symbols

PM Pachinko machine PA Game area LP Call lamp BB Ball box L5 Upper ball tray discharge passage L7 Lower ball tray discharge passage L10 Lower ball tray flow-down passage (first configuration)
L20 Lower ball dish flow passage (second configuration)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer frame 2 Front frame 3 Glass door 4 Hinge mechanism 5 Upper ball tray 6 Upper ball tray mechanism 7 Lower ball tray 8 Lower ball tray mechanism 9 Launching handle 10 Game board 11 Dressing board 12 Outer rail 13 Inner rail 14 Prize 15 Display device 18 Out port 20 Game auxiliary board 21 Game ball launch device 22 Launch rail 25 Upper exit 26 Collecting recovery port 27 Lower exit 31 Speaker cover 32 Foul ball recovery port 33 Foul ball recovery passage 35 Ball receiving port 36 Spilled ball recovery passage 37 Lower ball tray connection bucket 40 Back set panel 41 Sphere storage tank 42 Tank rail 43 Ball dispensing device 44 Partition wall 45 Upper dispensing passage (45s first inclined guiding side, 45t second inclined guiding side)
46 Overflowing ball passage 47 Lower payout passage 48 Played ball discharge passage 49 Full detector 51 Counterplate 52 Exterior body 53 Dish member 55 Outlet (55s ball-side edge, 55t partition wall)
56 Ball tray 57 Launch ball alignment passage 58 Ball discharge flow passage 59 Ball discharge port 101, 102 Passage wall 103 Passage cover (103s flow guide piece)
105 Bottom wall 106 Protruding portion 107 Rear wall 111 Opening portion 112 Passage chamber 113 Inclined passage portion 115 Junction port 116 Shutter port 150 Shutter mechanism 151 Shutter member 152 Blade portion 153 Engagement receiving portion 154 Side portion 155 Bearing portion 156 Guide column 157 Coil spring 158 Support boss 159 Washer 160 Shutter receiving portion 163 Engagement projections 201 and 202 Passage wall 204 Upper surface wall 205 Bottom wall 206 Projection portion 207 Rear wall 211 Opening portion 215 Junction port 216 Shutter port 255 Partition member (255t partition wall)

Claims (1)

A front frame that detachably accommodates and holds the game board, an upper ball tray and a lower ball dish that are arranged on the front side of the front frame and store game balls, and a game board that is arranged on the back side of the front frame A ball payout device for paying out game balls in accordance with a winning state in the game, and a game ball provided from the ball payout device provided in communication between the ball payout device and the upper ball tray. An upper ball tray discharge passage that is allowed to flow down, and a space between the ball discharge device and the lower ball tray that is provided on the back side of the front frame, and the upper ball tray discharge passage is filled with game balls. In a ball game machine comprising a lower ball tray payout passage for allowing a game ball overflowing from the upper ball tray payout passage to flow down to the lower ball tray when a game ball is paid out from the ball payout device,
The upper ball tray is attached to the front side of the front frame so as to be openable and closable forward, and an opening is provided on the upper ball tray side of the upper ball tray payout passage.
On the front side of the front frame, there is a lower ball dish flow passage that has a ball receiving port that communicates with the opening in a state where the upper ball dish is closed to the front frame and connects the ball receiving port and the lower ball dish. Provided,
In the state where the upper ball tray is closed to the front frame, the game ball located in the vicinity of the opening is configured to flow down to the lower ball tray through the lower ball tray flow path. Path mechanism in a ball game machine.

Images