JP2005131193A - Ball put-out control mechanism for pinball machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a put-out control mechanism which achieves a stable operation of even a relatively small ball put-out device for a long time by enabling a proper operation. <P>SOLUTION: The pinball machine is provided with a pressure receiving member 120 at a standby path 52 in a guide path with which a ball storage tank for storing the game balls to the ball put-out device to supply the game balls so as to be displaceable to the pressure receiving position at which the pressures applied by the game balls stored on the upstream side are received to reduce the pressures working on the game balls on the downstream side and to the releasing position at which the pressures applied by the game balls stored on the upstream side are transmitted to the game balls on the downstream side without being reduced and a pressure receiving member drive means 130 which has a drive source 131 disposed between the front wall surface of the standby path and the game board and displaces the pressure receiving member to the pressure receiving position or to the releasing position. In the ball put-out control mechanism, a controller actuates the pressure receiving member drive means 130 prior to the start of the rotation of a ball put-out motor to locate the pressure receiving member 120 at the pressure receiving position. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine including a ball storage tank that stores game balls, and a motor-driven ball payout device that pays out game balls guided from the ball storage tank according to winning conditions in a game board. More specifically, the present invention relates to a payout control mechanism for a ball payout device that operates while receiving pressure from a game ball stored upstream of the ball payout device.

  Conventionally, in a ball game machine that uses a game ball as a game medium, such as a pachinko machine, a mechanism set board called a back set board is provided on the back of the game board so that it can be opened and closed. In addition, a ball payout device for paying out game balls according to the winning state on the game board is used. A ball storage tank that stores a large number of game balls and a guide passage that aligns the game balls stored in the ball storage tank and guides them to the ball payout device are provided above the ball payout device. A ball payout passage is formed for guiding the game balls paid out from the payout device to a ball tray in front of the gaming machine, and a control device for controlling the operation of the ball payout device is provided to constitute a ball payout control mechanism. .

In recent ball payout devices, the number of game balls to be paid out at the time of a single winning (referred to as the number of payout winning balls) can be arbitrarily set, and according to winning conditions such as the type and timing of the winning equipment won. A motor-driven ball payout device is generally used so that a plurality of types of payout winning ball numbers can be set, and furthermore, payout at the time of lending a ball in a so-called CR machine can be supported. The motor-driven ball payout device includes a ball payout motor whose rotation is controlled by a control device, and a ball feed rotating body driven by the ball payout motor. It is configured to move out to the ball payout passage side by turning the feed rotating body and pay out the game ball (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-164626 (pages 24 to 25, FIG. 28)

Here, as shown in FIG. 13, a specific configuration example of the ball payout device in the ball payout control mechanism is such that the guide ball that guides the game ball by aligning the game ball above the payout device 53 in the recent ball payout control mechanism ball. Two rows are formed, and the ball feeding rotating body 53r of the ball dispensing device has a front and rear two-stage impeller configuration corresponding to the front and rear guide passages 52a and 52b. The front row side impeller 53r ₁ and the back row side impeller 53r ₂ are each provided with three receiving portions for receiving game balls at a pitch of 120 degrees, and the angular positions of the receiving portions in the front and rear impellers are offset by 60 degrees. The front and rear impellers are shown as (a) and (b), respectively, showing the angular positional relationship between the front and rear row impellers at a certain stop timing and the state of the game balls waiting to be aligned in the guide passage. Are configured to alternately receive the game balls in the receiving portion, and move the received game balls one by one from the guide path side to the ball payout path side by the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 53r. For this reason, by controlling the rotation angle of the ball payout motor 53m and setting the rotation angle of the ball feed rotating body 53r to n times 60 degrees (n = 1, 2, 3,...), The impeller is single-staged. In any case, an arbitrary number of game balls can be paid out regardless of whether the number is an odd number or an even number. In addition, by switching the rotation direction of the ball payout motor clockwise or counterclockwise, for example, the payout of the prize ball and the lending of the ball are divided according to the rotation direction of the motor, or the ball path to be paid out is divided into different paths. It is also possible to do.

  By the way, in the payout control mechanism, the ball storage tank is disposed at the upper side and the ball payout device is disposed at the lower side so that the game balls stored in the ball storage tank flow down to the ball payout device by the weight of the game balls themselves. The guide passage is formed with a large drop between them. For this reason, pressure based on the own weight of a large number of game balls stored on the upstream side acts on each part of the ball dispensing device in contact with the game ball, and the ball feed rotator and the bearing unit that supports the ball feed rotator A ball payout motor or the like for rotating the ball feed rotating body is required to have strength and rotational torque corresponding to the magnitude of the acting pressure. In particular, a large starting torque is required at the time of rotation starting to rotate the ball feeding rotating body from a stopped state where the storage balls are closely connected, and a high torque motor that satisfies this is required, and the ball feeding rotating body and the bearing portion In addition, it is necessary to have a strength that does not cause damage or shaft run-off against the reaction force acting at the start of rotation.

  For this reason, in addition to the problem that the ball payout motor itself becomes large and expensive, the ball feed rotating body, the bearing portion that supports the ball feed rotating body, the support portion that supports the ball payout motor, and the like are similarly increased in size. There has been a problem that the use of materials has been advanced, and the entire ball dispenser has become larger and more expensive. In addition, even if a relatively large ball dispensing device as described above is used, each part and bearing part of the ball-feed rotating body that receives strong pressure from the game ball is likely to wear with long-term use, and stable for a long time. There has been a need for a payout control mechanism that can be activated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and even with a ball dispensing device using a relatively small motor, an appropriate dispensing operation is possible, which contributes to downsizing and cost reduction of the device, and for a long time. It is an object to provide a payout control mechanism that can be stably operated.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a back set board attached to cover the back of the game board, a ball storage tank for storing game balls, and a game board provided below the ball storage tank. A ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of game balls according to the winning conditions, and a game ball stored in the ball storage tank provided between the ball storage tank and the ball payout device are aligned to the ball payout device. A guide passage for guiding, a ball payout passage for guiding the game balls paid out from the ball payout device to the ball tray, and a control device for controlling the operation of the ball payout device, the ball payout device being rotated by the control device; A ball payout motor to be controlled and a ball feed rotator driven by the ball payout motor are moved to the ball payout passage side by rotating the ball feed rotator. A motor-driven ball dispenser that dispenses game balls The guide passage has an alignment passage for aligning in the process of flowing down the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank, and a standby passage for receiving the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guiding them to the lower ball dispensing device. The present invention relates to a ball payout control mechanism of a ball game machine. In addition, in the present invention, the standby passage receives pressure applied from a game ball stored on the upstream side to reduce pressure applied to the game ball on the downstream side, and a game ball stored on the upstream side. A pressure receiving member that is displaceably provided at a release position that transmits the applied pressure to the downstream game ball without reducing it, and a drive source (e.g., between the front wall surface of the standby passage and the game board) A pressure receiving member driving means having a solenoid 131) in the embodiment for displacing the pressure receiving member to a pressure receiving position or a release position, and the control device operates the pressure receiving member driving means prior to the rotation start of the ball dispensing motor, The ball payout control mechanism is configured to position the pressure receiving member at the pressure receiving position.

  In this ball payout control mechanism, the guide passage connecting the ball storage tank and the ball payout device is stored upstream in a standby passage that receives the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guides them to the lower ball payout device. The pressure receiving position that receives pressure acting on the game ball received and reduces the pressure acting on the downstream game ball, and the downstream game ball without reducing pressure acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side A pressure receiving member that is displaceably provided at a release position to be transmitted, and a driving source disposed between the front wall surface of the standby passage and the game board, and that displaces the pressure receiving member to the pressure receiving position or the release position. Drive means. Here, “reducing pressure” means reducing or excluding pressure acting on the downstream game ball from the game ball stored on the upstream side, and acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side. When the pressure receiving member receives a part of the pressure to reduce the pressure acting on the downstream game ball, and when the pressure receiving member receives all the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side, the downstream game ball It is a concept that includes both cases of exempting the pressure acting on the. In the ball payout control mechanism, the control device operates the pressure receiving member driving means prior to the rotation start of the ball payout motor so that the pressure acting on the downstream game ball is reduced by placing the pressure receiving member in the pressure receiving position. Composed.

  Note that the position of the pressure receiving member in the standby passage is determined by the number of game balls stopped between the pressure receiving member and the ball feed rotating body when the pressure receiving member is positioned at the pressure receiving position. It is preferable that the position be equal to or greater than the number of game balls that can be paid out at a time according to conditions.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, among the guide passages connecting between the ball storage tank and the ball payout device, the standby passage for guiding the game balls aligned in the alignment passage to the lower ball payout device, that is, downstream in the entire guide passage. The pressure receiving member is provided on the side, and when the rotation of the ball dispensing motor is started, the ball dispensing motor is activated and the ball feeding rotation is performed in a state where the pressure receiving member is disposed at the pressure receiving position and the pressure acting on the downstream game ball is reduced or exempted. The body is rotated. For this reason, the pressure acting from the game ball at the time of starting the rotation of the ball payout motor is reduced to a weight corresponding to the number of game balls stopped between the pressure receiving member and the ball feed rotating body in the standby passage. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the starting torque at the time of starting the rotation, which requires the largest rotational torque, thereby enabling the use of a smaller motor than the conventional one, and also for the ball feed rotating body and the bearing portion, etc. Similarly, it can be miniaturized or constructed using general materials. Accordingly, even a ball dispensing device using a relatively small motor can ensure an appropriate dispensing operation, and the device can be reduced in size and cost, and can be stably operated for a long time by reducing the load. A payout control mechanism can be provided.

  In addition, the back set board includes a game ball guide path, a game ball discharge path for collecting the game balls discharged from the game board and discharging them to the game island collection device, A ball removal passage for extracting game balls stored in a ball storage tank or a guide passage is provided, and the back set board generally has a front and rear two-layer structure in which these ball passages are three-dimensionally formed. . In the ball payout control mechanism of this configuration, the driving source of the pressure receiving member driving means for displacing the pressure receiving member to the pressure receiving position or the release position is the layer between the front wall surface of the guide passage and the game board, that is, the front side layer of the front and rear two-layer structure. It is arranged. For this reason, it is possible to provide a ball payout control mechanism having the above-described effect with a compact configuration that does not increase the thickness of the back set board in the front-rear direction.

  Note that the number of game balls stopped between the pressure receiving member and the ball feed rotating body when the pressure receiving member is positioned at the pressure receiving position is the number of game balls that can be paid out at a time according to the winning conditions on the game board. By providing the pressure receiving member at a position where the number of balls is equal to or greater than the number of balls, it is possible to realize a quick and stable dispensing operation while reducing the ball pressure load acting on the ball dispensing device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a front view and a rear view of a pachinko machine as an example of a ball game machine to which a payout control mechanism according to the present invention is applied. First, referring to these figures, the pachinko machine PM The overall configuration will be described briefly.

  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 3 arranged on the upper left and right sides of the front side is attached to the front so as to be openable and detachable and detachable, and is always engaged and connected to the outer frame 1 using a locking device 4 provided on the right side of the front side. Kept in a state.

  On the front side (front side) upper part of the front frame 2, a glass door 5 is attached to the front so that it can be opened / closed and detached detachably, and the front side of the front frame 2 is always fixed using a locking device 4 provided on the right side of the front. The cover is kept closed. An upper part of the front frame located behind the glass door 5 is provided with an accommodation frame for detachably accommodating the game board 20, and the game board 20 latched and held in this accommodation frame in a standing posture is provided on the glass door. 5 is visible.

  The game board 20 has a decorative board 21 in which cells are pasted on the surface of a laminated plywood having a predetermined thickness and a router processing as a substrate, and inner and outer guide rails 22 are fixed on the front side in a circular arc shape so as to have a substantially circular game area. PA is partitioned. In the game area PA, there are a large number of game nails and game components such as a windmill, various prize-winning devices 23, 24, 25, a symbol display device 27 for displaying symbols according to the game development status, and left and right side lamps. It is attached and an out port 28 is formed at the lower end of the game area PA. A symbol display control device 87 for controlling the operation of the symbol display device 27 is attached to the center of the back side of the decorative plate 21, and a winning tool is dropped around the guide plate control device 87 and guided to the back side of the decorative plate 21. The safe balls and the out balls (collectively referred to as “played balls”) guided to the back side of the decorative plate 21 through the out port 28 are connected to the back set board 30 along the back surface of the decorative plate 21. A ball gathering cover 29 that leads to the game-completed ball discharge passage is attached.

  An auxiliary mechanism portion called a game auxiliary board is provided at the front side intermediate portion of the front frame 2, and an upper ball tray 6 is attached to the front side of the front frame 2 so that it can be opened and closed laterally and attached detachably. It is always kept in a closed state that covers the front surface of the game assisting board by using the ball tray locking device. A game ball launching device 9 is attached to the lower part of the rear surface of the front frame 2, and a game rail that guides the game ball hit by the hammer of the game ball launching device 9 and launches it toward the outer rail on the game assisting board. In addition, a speaker for generating sound effects according to the game development status is provided.

  A lower ball tray 7 is attached to the front lower portion of the front frame 2 so as to protrude forward, and a launching handle 8 for performing a game ball launching operation is attached to the right side thereof.

  On the other hand, on the back side (rear side) of the front frame 2, a back set board 30 is attached to the back of the front frame 2 so as to be opened and closed laterally and detachable, and is always kept in a closed state covering the back side of the game board 20. Yes. The back set board 30 has a window 32 for receiving the game board symbol display control device 87 at the center, and is formed in a rectangular frame shape slightly smaller than the inner size of the outer frame 1. Based on

  The base frame 31 has a front and rear two-layer structure in which a game-completed ball discharge passage, a ball passage of a ball payout control mechanism, a ball removal passage, and the like are three-dimensionally formed on the front and back sides, and the base frame body 31 is divided into front and rear. A game-recovered collection path and a ball removal path that collects game-completed balls discharged mainly on the back side of the game board 20 on the front side of the support surface and guides them to the collection device on the game island are mainly game balls on the back side of the support surface. A ball payout control mechanism for paying out the ball is formed.

  In addition, on each rear part of the base frame 31, a main control device 81 that comprehensively controls the operation of the pachinko machine PM, a ball payout control device 82 that controls the payout operation of the game ball, and operation control of effect lighting and sound effects Various control devices such as a lamp / voice control device 83, a power supply unit 84 for supplying power to each control device and electronic components, a terminal board 85 for inputting / outputting signals and power to / from the game facility side, a ball payout Electronic parts such as the device 53 are attached, and these are connected by a connector cable (not shown) so that the pachinko machine PM can be operated.

  The pachinko machine PM is provided to the game with the upper ball tray 6 and the glass door 5 closed and locked, and the game is started by storing the game ball in the upper ball tray 6 and rotating the launch handle 8. The When the firing handle 8 is turned, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 6 are sent one by one to the launch rail by the ball feeding device mounted on the back of the upper ball tray, and the game ball launching device 9 It is launched by a hammer and fired into the game area PA, and then a pachinko game is developed.

  Now, in the pachinko machine PM generally configured as described above, regarding the payout process of the game ball when the game ball launched into the game area PA falls into each winning tool, the configuration of each related part is a little more detailed explain. There are various types of prizes provided on the game board, including the appearance design and actions at the time of winning, and any type of prizes may be used depending on the gauge setting. For example, the gaming board 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 shows an example in which three types of prizes are provided: a general prize 23, a start prize 24, and an attacker device 25.

  The general winning tool 23 is a fixed winning tool having a winning opening into which a game ball can drop, and a winning detection sensor 23s for detecting the gaming ball is attached to the inside of the winning hole. A safe ball guiding path for guiding the dropped safe ball to the back side of the decorative board 21 is provided at the rear portion of the general winning device 23, and the safe ball that has dropped into the general winning device 23 is detected by the winning detection sensor 23s. Then, it passes through the safe ball guide path and the ball approaching cover 29 and is received by the game-completed ball discharge passage on the front side of the base frame 31, and flows down the ball discharge passage and is discharged to the collection device on the game island.

  The starting prize-winning tool 24 is a so-called electric tulip-type movable prize-winning tool, and can open and close the left and right tulip blades to enlarge / reduce the winning opening. A safe ball guiding path for guiding the winning safe ball to the back side of the decorative board 21 is provided at the rear of the start winning tool 24, and a winning detection sensor 24s for detecting a game ball flowing down the guiding path is attached. Then, the safe ball won in the start winning tool 24 is detected by the winning ball detection sensor 24s, and flows down the safe ball guide path, the ball gathering cover 29, and the game-completed ball discharge passage and is discharged to the collection device of the game island.

  The attacker device 25 is a so-called attacker-type movable winning tool, and an open / close door that covers a horizontal rectangular large winning opening is attached to be openable and closable. The open / close door is normally closed, and when a special game state is established under predetermined winning conditions during the game, the upper part of the open / close door is tilted forward approximately 90 degrees to open the large winning opening. The left and right area openings are provided inside the big winning opening, and winning detection sensors 25 s and 25 t are provided respectively, and on the rear side of the attacker device 25, the two opening areas are connected to penetrate the decorative plate 21. Two safe ball guide paths are provided, and the safe balls that have fallen into the big prize opening are detected by the winning detection sensors 25s and 25t through one of the area openings, It flows down the game-completed ball discharge passage and is discharged to the collection device on the game island.

  Detection signals from the winning detection sensors 23s, 24s, 25s, and 25t are output to the main control device 81, and the main control device 81 controls the operation of the pachinko machine PM based on the input detection signals. For example, when a game ball falls into the start winning opening 24 and a winning detection signal is output from the winning detection sensor 24s, the main controller 81 determines that the gaming ball has dropped into the winning tool from the input signal. It is detected that the winning tool is the start winning opening 24, and a game program corresponding to the winning conditions is called and executed. Specifically, the symbol combination lottery is performed in the main control device, the lottery result is output to the symbol display control device 87, and the symbols displayed on the symbol display device 27 are controlled to fluctuate and stop. For example, a blinking display of a side lamp or generation of a sound effect by a speaker is performed via the lamp / voice control device 83. Further, the ball payout control device 82 outputs a payout command signal corresponding to the winning condition, and operates the ball payout device 53 to perform the game ball payout operation.

  On the other hand, a ball payout control mechanism that performs a payout operation of game balls is provided on the back set board 30 that is always located behind the game board 20 and held closed. FIG. 3 shows a rear view of the right frame rod (frame frame portion on the right side of the window in the base frame body 31) 33 of the back set board including the ball payout control mechanism. The main mechanism related to the payout of the game ball is provided on the back side of the base frame 31 having a front and rear two-layer structure, and will be described with reference mainly to the rear view. The left and right directions in the rear view shown will be referred to as the left or right, and the other side (pachinko machine front side) in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface will be referred to as the front, and the front side (the back side) will be referred to as the rear. Further, the basic configuration such as the guide passage for guiding the game ball to the ball payout device and the operation of the ball payout device are substantially the same as the configuration and operation shown in FIG. 13 referred to in the background art section. The description will be given with reference.

  The ball payout control mechanism is attached to the lower left part of the base frame 31 and stores the game balls. The ball payout device 53 and the ball storage tank 41 are attached to the lower part of the ball storage tanks 41 and 33 for paying out the game balls. A guide passage that is connected to the ball payout device 53 and is arranged below the ball payout device 53 for aligning the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 41 and leading to the ball payout device 53. A ball payout passage 60 that guides the played game balls to the upper and lower ball dishes 6 and 7, a ball payout control device 82 that is attached to the lower back of the base frame 31 and controls the operation of the ball payout device 53, and a guide passage The pressure receiving control unit 100 is provided that regulates the pressure of the game ball that is provided and acts on the ball dispensing device 53.

  The ball storage tank 41 is a box-shaped body with an open top surface, and can store about 500 to 800 game balls inside the tank. The bottom surface of the sphere storage tank 41 is gently inclined leftward and forwardly, and an opening communicating with the upper and lower sides is formed in the front left and connected to the lower guide passage. The guide passage includes an alignment passage that aligns the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank 41 in the process of flowing down, and a standby passage that receives the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guides them to the lower ball dispensing device 53. The passage is formed in a tank rail 42 attached immediately below the ball storage tank, and the standby passage is formed before and after the S-shaped rail 52 attached to the right frame rod 33.

  The tank rail 42 has a hook-like body surrounded by front and rear wall surfaces in the mounting posture screwed to the base frame body 31 above the window 32, and has a rib-like shape whose height increases toward the right on the bottom surface. The partition wall 42w is erected to form two rows of alignment passages 42a and 42b in the front and rear. The tank rail 42 is attached at an inclination angle of about 4 degrees from the upper left ball storage tank 41 side toward the lower right standby passage side, and the game balls stacked in the vertical direction are leveled in the middle of the passage. The ball leveling tool 44 is vertically arranged, and the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank 41 are aligned in the process of flowing down toward the downstream side of the slope. It flows down to the standby passage side in a state of being aligned with 42b. The inclined end portion of the tank rail 42, that is, the end portions of the alignment passages 42 a and 42 b are smoothly bent downward and connected to the standby passage by a deflection outlet 42 e opened at the lower end.

  An S-shaped rail 52 that receives the game balls sent from the deflection outlet 42e and waits in an aligned state in the standby passages 52a and 52b, and a standby passage that is attached to the lower side of the S-shaped rail 52 are attached to the right frame rod 33. The ball payout device 53 for paying out the game balls waiting on the basis of a predetermined payout condition and the rear of the S-shaped rail 52 supported by the right frame rod 33 are attached to the front and rear surfaces of the S-shaped rail 52. A lid member 58 or the like for forming two rows of standby passages is attached. Further, between the deflection outlet 42e and the S-shaped rail 52, a ball detection sensor 51 for detecting whether or not sufficient game balls capable of paying out game balls are held in the waiting passages 52a and 52b. Are attached detachably, and between the payout outlet of the ball payout device 53 and the ball payout passage 60, ball counting sensors 54 and 54 for detecting the paid game balls and counting their real numbers are associated. It is provided so that it can be removed.

  The S-shaped rail 52 has a partition wall 52w formed in the middle, and a passage wall 52L erected in parallel on the left and right sides with a space slightly larger than the ball diameter of the game ball on the front and rear surfaces sandwiching the partition wall. A concave passage groove surrounded by passage walls 52L and 52R is formed on the front and rear sides of the partition wall 52w. The front and rear passage grooves are bent as shown in FIG. 3, and the ball pressure due to the weight of the game ball located on the upstream side is applied on the downstream side so that it does not become excessive pressure. The S-shaped rail 52 is configured separately from the base frame 31 for easy cleaning of the passage groove, etc., and is inserted into a support boss 34 erected on the right frame rod 33 so as to be positioned and supported. The member 58 is fixed to the right frame rod 33 by screwing.

  When the S-shaped rail 52 is fixed to the right frame rod 33, the opening portions of the front and rear passage grooves are covered with the support surface of the front right frame rod 33 and the rear lid member 58, and the front and rear two rows of standby passages 52a. , 52b are formed. A part of the upper passage wall in the S-shaped rail 52 is notched, and is always closed by a flow path switching member 55 in which a passage wall 55a corresponding to the notch is formed. The lower end portion of the S-shaped rail 52 is formed so as to be aligned with the receiving port of the ball dispensing device 53, and guides the game balls introduced from the deflection outlet 42e to the ball dispensing device 53 in a two-row alignment state. When the apparatus is stopped, the game balls are placed on standby in the standby passages 52a and 52b.

The ball payout device 53 is formed with receiving ports 53a and 53b for receiving game balls by communicating with standby passages 52a and 52b in front and rear of the upper center, and payout ports 53c and 53d for paying out game balls on the left and right sides of the lower part. Inside the case, there are provided a ball feed rotating body 53r having two front and rear impellers, and a ball payout motor 53m for rotating the ball feed rotating body. The front row side impeller 53r ₁ and the back row side impeller 53r ₂ of the ball feed rotating body 53r are each provided with three U-groove shaped receiving portions for receiving game balls at intervals of 120 degrees, and the front and rear impellers are respectively The angular position of the receiving part is offset by 60 degrees. For this reason, the game balls supplied from the receiving ports 53a and 53b are alternately received by the receiving portions of the front and rear impellers 53r ₁ and 53r ₂ with the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 53r. One by one is moved to the right or left passage in the cassette and is paid out to the ball payout passage 60 from either the left or right payout outlets 53c, 53d.

  The ball payout control device 82 receives a payout command signal corresponding to the winning conditions in the game board 20 from the main control device 81, and the ball payout control device 82 responds to the payout command signal input from the main control device 81. The motor driving signal is output to the ball paying device 53. The ball paying device 53 operates the ball paying motor 53m on the basis of the input motor driving signal, and the ball feed rotating body 53r is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as required. The amount of game balls corresponding to the motor drive signal is paid out to the ball payout passage 60 from the right or left payout ports 53d and 53c.

  In the so-called CR machine to which the prepaid card unit 90 is connected, a CR operation panel 92 having a ball lending request button is provided on the front side of the upper ball tray 6, and an output signal thereof is input to the ball payout control device 82. The ball payout control device 82 outputs a motor drive signal corresponding to the ball lending request signal input from the CR operation panel 92 to the ball payout device 53, and the ball payout device 53 is based on the input motor drive signal. The ball payout motor 53m is actuated to rotate the ball feed rotating body 53r counterclockwise or clockwise by a required rotation angle, and the number of game balls corresponding to the motor drive signal are left or right payout outlets 53c, 53d. To the ball payout passage 60.

  The game balls paid out from the ball payout outlets 53c and 53d are detected by the ball counting sensors 54 and 54, and the ball payout control device 82 receives the game balls paid out from the detection signal input from the ball counting sensor. The quantity is counted and compared with the target quantity related to the motor drive signal, and the operation of the ball dispensing device 53 is controlled. As a result, a number of game balls corresponding to the payout command signal input from the main controller 81 or the ball lending request signal input from the CR operation panel 92 are paid out to the ball payout passage 60, and the ball payout passage 60 is switched. It moves down and is paid out to the upper ball tray 6 or the lower ball tray 7.

  The ball presence detection sensor 51 provided at the upper portion of the standby passage detects whether or not the game balls are waiting for alignment up to the upper position where the ball presence detection sensor is disposed, thereby paying out the game balls. Is a sensor for determining whether or not a sufficient quantity (for example, about 35) of game balls can be held, and a detection signal thereof is output to the ball payout control device 82. The ball payout control device 82 restricts the operation of the ball payout device 53 and generates a predetermined alarm when the detection signal input from the ball presence detection sensor 51 is in the absence of a ball.

  Further, an upper ball stop mechanism is provided in the downstream portion of the alignment passage, and an upper ball removal mechanism is provided in the upstream portion of the standby passage. The upper ball stopper mechanism includes a ball stopper member 45 that is positioned above the deflection outlet 42e and pivotally supported in a plane parallel to the support surface of the base frame 31. The ball stopper member 45 is formed with a hook-shaped hook portion in accordance with the arrangement positions of the front and rear alignment passages 42a and 42b. The ball stopper member 45 is swung counterclockwise to remove the front and rear hook portions. By projecting into the alignment passage, it is possible to stop the flow of game balls located upstream from the hook portion.

  The upper ball removing mechanism includes a flow path switching member 55 pivotally supported on the back side of the right frame rod 33 in a plane parallel to the support surface of the right frame rod, and a right side on the front side of the right frame rod 33. The operation member 56 is mounted so as to be swingable in a direction orthogonal to the support surface of the frame cage, and a ball removal passage 57 that guides a game ball that overflows when the standby passage is opened to a collection device on the game island.

  A passage wall 55a having a wall shape corresponding to a notch portion of the S-shaped rail 52 is formed in the lower portion of the flow path switching member 55, and the pivot shaft 35 of the right frame rod is formed by a pivot hole formed in the middle portion. (See FIG. 10). The ball removal passage 57 is located on the right side of the S-shaped rail 52 and is formed on the back surface side of the base frame 31, and passes through the support surface of the right frame rod 33 below the spare passage 57a. The communication opening 57b is formed, and a lower passage 57c formed downward from the communication opening 57b on the front side of the base frame 31. The descending passage 57c is covered with a front cover 117 attached to the front surface side of the base frame body 31, and is connected to the above-described game ball discharge passage below the right frame rod 33.

  The flow path switching member 55 is always held at a closed position where the notch portion of the S-shaped rail is closed by the engagement with the engagement protrusion of the operation member 56, and the game balls supplied from the upstream side are in standby in two rows. The balls 52a and 52b are guided to the ball dispensing device 53 in an aligned state. On the other hand, when the operation lever portion of the operation member 56 is swung backward, the engagement between the engagement protrusion and the flow path switching member is released, and the flow path switching member 55 is swung counterclockwise to be released. The game balls overflowing from the cut-out portion into the preliminary passage 57a flow down from the communication opening 57b to the game island collection device via the descending passage 57c and the game-completed ball discharge passage.

  For this reason, the game ball stored in the ball storage tank 41 or the tank rail 42 is removed by restricting the flow of the game ball using the upper ball stop mechanism and performing the ball removal operation using the upper ball removal mechanism. Without removing all the balls, only the game balls located in the vicinity of the detection sensor 51 with a sphere are extracted, and the maintenance inspection and replacement work of the detection sensor 51 with a sphere can be performed.

  Now, the pressure receiving control unit 100 is provided in the intermediate portion of the standby passages 52a and 52b in the payout mechanism configured as described above, and the ball payout control mechanism is configured. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the pressure receiving control unit 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pressure receiving control unit 100 as viewed from the diagonally left rear, FIG. 5 is a plan sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows V-V in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view of the pressure receiving control unit 100 as viewed from the front side of the back set panel 30. 8 is a block diagram mainly showing the control mode of the ball payout control mechanism, FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the drive timing of the solenoid and the ball payout motor in the ball payout control mechanism, and FIGS. 10 and 11 show the pressure receiving member at the pressure receiving position. FIG. 12 is a rear view of the pressure receiving control unit 100 when the ball is stopped by the ball stop key.

Broadly speaking, the pressure receiving control unit 100 is supported by the S-shaped rail 52 so as to be swingable, receives pressure acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side, and applies pressure acting on the game ball on the downstream side. The pressure receiving position P _r for reducing and releasing the pressure, the release position P _{f for} transmitting the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side to the downstream game ball as it is without reducing the pressure, and damming the game ball stored on the upstream side The pressure receiving member 120 provided so as to be displaceable at a ball stop position that restricts the game ball from flowing down to the downstream side, the pressure receiving member driving mechanism 130 that displaces the pressure receiving member 120 to the pressure receiving position or the release position, and the pressure receiving member 120 to the ball The ball stop structure 140 is configured to be locked at the stop position. In the present embodiment, a form (common form) in which the pressure receiving position and the ball stop position at the rocking angle position of the pressure receiving member 120 are set to the same rocking angle position is shown.

  The pressure receiving member 120 as a whole has a tongue-like shape extending to the left and right, a cylindrical bearing 121 formed on the right end side of the main body plate portion in the front-rear direction, and a pressure receiving pressure described below on the left end side of the main body plate portion. The pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b at the two front and rear portions that are formed to project downward in the shape of a hook in accordance with the formation position of the protrusion insertion portion, the pressure receiving member side latch hook 123 that is formed to project upward at the center of the upper surface of the main body plate portion, and the main body It consists of an operation knob 124 etc. that extends to the left by extending the central part on the left end side of the plate part, and injects resin materials such as ABS resin and nylon resin polyacetal resin to which toughness is enhanced by adding glass fiber or carbon fiber It is formed by integral molding by molding means such as molding. The pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are formed to have a height that can protrude to the standby passages 52a and 52b with a protrusion amount of about 10 to 30% of the ball diameter of the game ball, while the main body plate portion can be elastically deformed to the same extent in the vertical direction. It is configured as follows.

  The S-shaped rail 52 has a support boss 111 that supports the front and rear bearings 121 via the support shaft 125, and front and rear pressure receiving openings formed in the passage wall 52L in accordance with the positions where the front and rear standby passages 52a and 52b are formed. The protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b, a rail-side hook 113 that protrudes downward from the partition wall 52w positioned above the pressure-receiving member-side hook 123, and the like are formed. Note that the rear portion of the passage wall of the standby passage 52b on the rear row side is formed on the lid member 58 side (see FIGS. 5 and 6), and therefore the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portion 112b on the rear row side is a notch opened rearward. It is in the shape.

  The pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b are formed in the bent portion of the S-shaped rail 52 so as to match the center of the front and rear standby passages 52a and 52b, on the downstream side of the standby passage, and between the pressure receiving protrusion and the ball feed rotating body 53r. The game balls that satisfy the quantity of game balls to be paid out in accordance with the winning conditions (maximum payout quantity of 15 prize balls in this embodiment) can be stopped.

  The pressure receiving member 120 is positioned in the front and back of the support boss 111 and coaxially aligned, and the support 125 is inserted into the support boss 111 from the front or the rear of the bearing 121 to be S-shaped. It is pivotally supported on the rail 52 so as to swing up and down. Then, the return spring 126 is hooked between the rail side hook 113 and the pressure receiving member side hook 123, whereby the pressure receiving member 120 is biased upward (clockwise), and the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are moved. It arrange | positions in the state retracted above the pressure receiving protrusion insertion part 112a, 112b.

  By the way, a shaft receiving hole for receiving and supporting the front end portion and the rear end portion of the support shaft 125 in accordance with the arrangement position of the support shaft 125 on the rear surface side of the support surface in the right frame rod 33 and the front surface side of the lid member 58, respectively. 39, 59 are formed. For this reason, the S-shaped rail 52 to which the pressure receiving member 120 is attached is loosely inserted into the support boss 34 erected on the support surface, and the tip end portion of the support shaft 125 is inserted into the shaft receiving hole 39, and the S-shaped rail 52 from the rear. The cover member 58 is disposed so as to cover the back of the support member 125, and the rear end portion of the support shaft 125 is fitted into the shaft receiving hole 59 on the front surface side of the cover member 58. By fixing the screw to 35 or the like, the S-shaped rail 52 and the lid member 58 are attached to the right frame rod 33 in a state where they are positioned. At this time, the operation knob 124 of the pressure receiving member 120 is disposed so as to slightly protrude in the window direction from the key receiving hole 141 formed on the side wall of the right frame rod 33, and the biasing force of the return spring 126 causes the key receiving hole 141. It is supported in contact with the upper end surface of the opening.

  On the other hand, on the front side of the support surface of the right frame rod 33, a frame wall 114 for securing the rigidity of the base frame 31 and increasing the strength of the frame is formed so as to surround the periphery of the window 32. A solenoid support portion 115 that supports the solenoid 131 in the pressure receiving member drive mechanism 130 is formed inside the wall 114. In addition, a pin insertion hole 116 through which the engagement pin 132 b of the drive transmission tool 132 is inserted is formed in the support surface located in front of the pressure receiving member 120. The solenoid support portion 115 is formed in an angle shape for supporting the case of the solenoid 131, and screw receiving slits 115s and 115s for receiving a fixing screw 138 for fixing the solenoid 131 from the front end side are formed on the side wall surface. Yes. The pin insertion hole 116 has a long hole shape having an opening width larger than the shaft diameter of the engagement pin 132b and an opening length larger than the drive stroke of the solenoid 131.

  The pressure receiving member drive mechanism 130 is a drive source of the drive mechanism, and is a solenoid 131 that pulls in and operates when the solenoid drive signal is turned ON, a drive transmission tool 132 fitted to the tip of the plunger, and a solenoid 131. The coil spring 134 is mounted on the outer periphery of the plunger between the metal case and the drive transmission tool 132 and pushes the plunger back to the reference position when the solenoid drive signal is turned off.

  The solenoid 131 has a metal case, a drive coil housed in the case, and a plunger supported so that the air core portion of the drive coil can be slidably displaced, and when a solenoid drive signal is applied to the drive coil This is a direct acting electromagnetic solenoid in which a plunger is pulled in and operated. The signal line of the drive coil is connected to the ball payout control device 82, and the operation of the solenoid 131 is controlled by the ball payout control device 82. The distal end portion of the plunger is chamfered partly on the outer peripheral surface to form a shaft end locking portion, and screw holes for attaching the solenoid 131 are formed in two upper and lower portions on the case side surface of the solenoid 131.

  The drive transmission tool 132 includes a shaft end block 132a and an engagement pin 132b. The shaft end block 132a has a slightly smaller mounting hole having the same cross-sectional shape as the shaft end locking portion at the tip of the plunger. Yes. The engagement pin 132b is a smooth cylindrical pin, and is provided extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the mounting hole. The drive transmission tool 132 is integrally formed by molding means such as aluminum die casting, or a metal engaging pin 132b such as stainless steel is press-fitted and fixed to a shaft end block 132a formed by a similar molding method, or The resin shaft end block 132a is integrally formed by means such as insert molding of a metal engagement pin 132b.

  The pressure receiving member driving mechanism 130 is attached and supported by a coil spring 134 on the outer peripheral portion of the plunger of the solenoid 131, and press-fitted and fixed by engaging the mounting hole of the shaft end block 132 with the shaft end locking portion at the tip of the plunger. A spring return type drive mechanism is partially assembled. Then, the fixing screws 138 and 138 are loosely screwed into the screw holes on the side surface of the solenoid 131 to align with the lower end corner of the solenoid support portion 115, and the operation knob 124 is pressed downward to lower the pressure receiving member 120 somewhat downward. The solenoid 131 is slid backward in a state where the swing is retracted. Then, the fixing screws 138 and 138 slide rearwardly in the grooves of the screw receiving slits 115s and 115s, and the engaging pin 132b of the drive transmission tool 132 passes through the pin insertion hole 116 on the base frame body supporting surface and the main body of the pressure receiving member. It protrudes above the plate, and the case rear end surface of the solenoid 131 is engaged with the support surface of the base frame 31 and positioned. Therefore, by tightening the upper and lower fixing screws 138 from the inside of the window 32, the pressure receiving member driving mechanism 130 is attached to the front surface side of the support surface of the right frame rod 33.

  When the pressure receiving member 120 and the pressure receiving member driving mechanism 130 pivotally supported by the S-shaped rail are attached to the right frame rod 33, the engagement pin 132b of the pressure receiving member driving mechanism is engaged with the upper surface of the body plate portion of the pressure receiving member. A pressure receiving control unit 100 is formed. Then, by connecting the signal line of the solenoid 131 to the ball payout control device 82, a ball payout control mechanism is formed, and the operation of the pressure receiving control unit 100 is controlled by the ball payout control device 82.

  When the pressure receiving control unit 100 is attached, that is, when the solenoid drive signal is OFF, the pressure receiving member 120 is urged clockwise by the spring force of the return spring 126 so that the upper surface of the main body plate portion is the engagement pin 132b of the drive transmission tool. And the front and rear pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are held at the moving angular positions retracted above the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b. Therefore, the game balls flowing down the standby passages 52a and 52b do not contact the pressure receiving projections 122a and 122b, and flow down as they are toward the ball dispensing device 53.

Accordingly, at the swing angle position shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the pressure receiving control unit 100 transmits the pressure acting from the game ball stored upstream of the pressure receiving member 120 to the game ball downstream. In this way, the swing angle position at which the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side is directly transmitted to the downstream game ball without being reduced or released is referred to as a release position _Pf . The ball dispensing control mechanism, in before the payout of game balls is started, the pressure receiving member 120 is disposed in the release position P _f in principle.

  On the other hand, in the ball payout control mechanism, the pressure receiving member driving mechanism 130 is operated to swing the pressure receiving member 120 when the game ball payout is started. Hereinafter, the operation of the ball payout control mechanism will be mainly described with reference to the block diagram of the control configuration in the ball payout control mechanism shown in FIG. 8 and the timing chart of the solenoid 131 and the ball payout motor 53m shown in FIG. . In addition, each figure of (a), (b), and (c) in FIG. 9 exemplifies the control timing when the payout conditions are different, such as winning conditions on the game board 20 or ball lending by the ball lending request button on the CR operation panel 92. Is.

The main control device 81 receives detection signals from the winning detection sensors 23s, 24s, 25s, and 25t of the winning devices, and the main control device 81 receives the winning detection signals from the winning detection sensors. The winning condition is determined from the winning detection signal, and a payout command signal based on the winning condition is output to the ball payout control device 82. For example, when the winning detection signal is input from the winning detection sensor 23 s of the general winning tool 23 or the winning detection sensor 24 s of the start winning tool 24, the main controller 81 pays out when winning the winning tools 23, 24. It is determined from the table stored in the internal memory that the quantity corresponds to a small number (for example, 4 or 8), and a payout command signal C ₁ corresponding to the small number is output to the ball payout control device 82. Similarly, when a winning detection signal is input from the winning detection sensors 25s and 25t of the attacker device 25, the main control device 81 corresponds to a large number (for example, 15) of payout quantities when winning a big winning opening. It determines, and outputs a payout command signal C ₂ corresponding to the large number to the ball dispensing control device 82.

In addition to the payout command signals C ₁ and C ₂ input from the main controller 81, a ball lending request signal C ₃ is input from the CR operation panel 92 to the ball payout control device 82. Ball lending is generally performed in units of 25, and the ball lending request signal is a signal for requesting the 25 payouts.

  When these signals are input to the ball payout control device 82, the ball payout control device 82 first refers to the detection signal of the ball presence detection sensor 51, and a sufficient number of game balls for paying out are placed in the standby passage. It is determined whether or not the storage is waited up to the top. When the detection signal is in the absence of a ball (for example, when the contact point of the ball detection sensor 51 is open), a ball break signal is output to the main control device 81, and the main control device 81 operates the ball payout device 53. The ball break indicator lamp on the front surface of the pachinko machine is turned on, and an alarm such as outputting a ball break signal to the management device on the game facility side is generated via the terminal board 85.

  On the other hand, when the detection signal of the ball presence detection sensor 51 is in a ball presence state (when the contact of the ball presence detection sensor 51 is closed), drive signals are output to the pressure receiving control unit 100 and the ball payout device 53, respectively. The game ball is paid out.

By the way, the payout command signals C ₁ and C ₂ and the ball lending request signal C ₃ input to the ball payout control device 82 are signals for requesting different numbers of payouts. Therefore, the ball payout control device 82 generates motor drive signals M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ corresponding to the quantity to be paid out (payout conditions) from the input payout command signal C (C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ ). It is generated and output to the ball payout motor 53m of the ball payout device 53. The ball payout control device 82 generates solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ for driving the solenoid 131 of the pressure receiving control unit 100 and outputs the solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ to the solenoid 131.

9 (1), (2), and (3), when the ball payout quantity is a small number (1), a large number (2), and a ball lending (3), and each of them is continuously operated multiple times (a plurality of payout commands). As shown in the timing chart, the relationship between the motor drive signals M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ and the solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ (when the signal C is accumulated and in the continuous payout state) is shown in the timing chart. The drive signal S (S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ ) is synchronized with the motor drive signal M (M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ ) immediately before the motor drive signal M is output (in other words, the ball payout motor 53m). This is a pulse-like drive signal that is turned on before the rotation of the motor is turned on and turned off after the motor drive signal M is output and a predetermined time has elapsed (after the rotation of the ball payout motor 53m is started).

  That is, when the solenoid drive signal S is turned on, the ball payout motor 53m has not yet rotated, and the game balls are aligned in two rows in the front and rear in the alignment passages 42a and 42b and the standby passages 52a and 52b. Is stored in a state of being closely connected from the ball storage tank 41 to the downstream ball dispensing device 53.

  When the solenoid drive signal S is turned ON, the plunger of the solenoid 131 is drawn to move the drive transmission tool 132 downward, and the engagement pin 132b presses the main body plate portion near the pressure receiving member side latch hook 123 downward. For this reason, the pressure receiving member 120 is swung counterclockwise about the support shaft 125, and the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b project to the standby passages 52a and 52b through the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b (FIG. 3 to FIG. 10). ).

  Therefore, in many cases, the game balls stopped in alignment in the standby passages 52a and 52b are hooked and locked by the pressure receiving protrusions 122b (122a) as shown in FIG. 11, the pressure receiving protrusion 122b (122a) is sandwiched between the distal end portion of the pressure receiving protrusion 122b (122a) and the passage wall 52R so as to be locked and held. As described above, the pressure receiving member 120 is configured such that the main body plate portion can be elastically deformed up and down to the same extent as the protruding amount of the pressure receiving protrusion. Even when the game ball is held as described above, the solenoid 131 The game ball is elastically locked and held in a state in which the game ball is frictionally engaged with the tip portions of the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b without exerting an excessive load on the drive transmission tool 132, the pressure receiving member 120, and the like. In addition, it is good also as a structure which balances and balances elastically with the attraction | suction force of the solenoid 131, and according to such a structure, it is also possible to form the pressure receiving member 120 with a metal plate.

As a result, the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side is received by the pressure receiving member 120, and the pressure from the upstream side does not act on the downstream game ball. In this way, the pressure receiving member 120 receives the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side, and the swing angle position where the pressure to the game ball located on the downstream side is reduced or released (in this embodiment, the swing to be released). the dynamic angular position) of the pressure-receiving position _{P r.}

In a state where the pressure receiving member 120 is moved to the pressure-receiving position P _r, is reduced greatly the pressure acting on the game ball than the pressure receiving member 120 is aligned stand downstream, the ball disbursement motor 53m, thus pressure A motor drive signal from the ball payout control device 82 in a reduced state, more specifically, in a state where the weight is reduced to the weight of 15 to 18 balls positioned between the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b and the ball feed rotating body 53r. M is output.

The motor drive signals M ₁ , M ₂ , and M ₃ are signals that rotate the ball feed rotator 53r clockwise or counterclockwise by a rotation angle corresponding to the dispensed quantity. For example, a small number of dispense command signals C 240 ° ball disbursement motor when ₁ is four, 480 degrees in the case of eight, to rotate the ball feeding rotary body 53r outputs a motor drive signal M ₁ for rotating clockwise, right Pays out to the ball payout passage 60 from the payout exit 53d. The same applies to the case of a large number of payout signal, 15 a ball disbursement motor 900 degrees with respect to the payout command signal C ₂ (2.5 rotations) by outputting a motor drive signal M ₂ for rotating clockwise The ball feed rotator 53r is rotated and paid out to the ball payout passage 60 from the right payout port 53d. Further, in the case of the ball lending request signal C ₃ (25), a motor drive signal M ₃ for rotating the ball payout motor counterclockwise by 1500 degrees (4 rotations and 60 degrees) is output and the ball feed rotating body 53r. Is rotated to pay out to the ball payout passage 60 from the left payout port 53c.

When the motor drive signal M is output and a predetermined time (for example, a time of about 50 to 200 ms) elapses, the ball payout controller 82 turns off the solenoid drive signal S. When the solenoid drive signal is turned OFF, the plunger is pushed back by the elastic force of the coil spring 134 attached to the outer peripheral portion of the plunger of the solenoid 131, the drive transmission tool 132 returns to the reference position, and the pressure receiving member 120 is elastic of the return spring 126. is swung clockwise by the pressure-receiving projections 122a, 122b are pressure-receiving projection insertion portion 112a, retracted above the 112b returns to the release position _{P f} by it until the game ball is waiting that has been locked to the pressure receiving projection path 52a , 52b. As the ball feed rotating body 53r starts to rotate, the waiting ball 52a, 52b catches up with the game ball moving down first and is smoothly paid out.

  The game balls paid out from the ball payout outlets 53 c and 53 d are detected by the left and right ball counting sensors 54 and 54, and the ball payout control device 82 is paid out from the detection signal input from the ball counting sensor 54. The actual number of the game balls is counted and compared with the target quantity related to the motor drive signal M to control the operation of the ball payout motor 53m. As a result, a number of game balls according to the winning conditions on the game board 20 and the payout conditions such as the ball lending request input from the CR operation panel 92 are paid out to the ball payout passage 60 and flow down the ball payout passage 60. Then, it is paid out to the upper ball tray 6 or the lower ball tray 7.

Payout operation of the game ball, when paying command signal C is more accumulated, for example, when the payout command signal C ₂ is the n accumulation by one operation corresponding to each payout command signal C ₂ n performed repeatedly times, solenoid drive signal S ₂ to each output of the motor drive signal M _2, is output before the rise of the motor drive signal M _2. For this reason, the pressure receiving member 120 receives the pressure of the upstream game ball and reduces the load on the ball payout motor 53m at the time of the rotation start that requires the largest rotational torque for the ball payout device 53, thereby reducing the load on the ball payout motor 53m. Even a ball dispensing device using a small motor can ensure an appropriate dispensing operation. Further, not only the ball payout motor 53m but also the load on the ball feed rotator 53r, the receiving port and the like can be greatly reduced, so that it can be stably operated for a long time.

In addition, a light emitting element 137 such as an LED is provided at a visible position on the back side of the back set panel, for example, around the ball detection switch 51 or on the side of the window near the solenoid, and the light emitting element 137 blinks from the ball payout control device 82. It is also preferable that the light emission control signal to be output is output simultaneously with the solenoid drive signal S so that the light emitting element is turned on when the solenoid 131 is driven. During the operation of the solenoid 131 according to this arrangement, i.e. the pressure receiving member 120 is lit the light emitting element 137 when it is swung to the pressure receiving position P _r, the back of the operating condition of the pressure-receiving control unit 100 of the back set Release 30 It can be easily visually confirmed from the side.

Further, in the above description, regardless of whether the payout command signal C or the like input to the ball payout control device 82 is a small or large number of ball payout command signals C ₁ and C ₂ or a ball lending request signal C _3. The control mode for controlling the operation of the pressure receiving control unit 100 in the same manner is illustrated, but the operating state is changed according to the type of the input signal, or the number of game balls to be paid out, the continuous state of payout, etc. be configured by appropriately changing the operating state Te (e.g., in the case that a small number of payout command signal C ₁ is more storage is configured to activate pressure control unit only when the first payout operation Is also possible.

  The ball payout control mechanism is provided with a ball stop function capable of artificially stopping the flow of the game ball in addition to the pressure control function for reducing the load when the rotation of the ball payout motor 53m is started as described above. This function is realized by the ball stop structure 140. For example, it is not necessary to remove all the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 41 as in the inspection work or replacement work of the ball payout device 53, and the upper ball. This is used when a game ball in a waiting passage that cannot be removed by the removal mechanism is removed.

  The ball stop structure 140 includes an operation knob 124 formed in the pressure receiving member 120, a key receiving hole 141 formed in the side wall of the right frame rod 33, a ball stop key 145 for locking and holding the pressure receiving member 120 at the ball stop position, and the like. Consists of

The key receiving hole 141 is formed such that a part of the side wall of the right frame rod 33 located on the left side of the pressure receiving member 120 is notched so that the operation knob 124 can be inserted, and the pressure receiving member 120 is moved from the release position P _f to the pressure receiving position P. It is formed with an opening height somewhat larger than the lifting range of the operation knob 124 when it is swung between _r . The operation knob 124 is positioned above the key receiving hole 141 at the release position _Pf , and is arranged with the tip slightly protruding from the opening.

The ball stop key 145 includes a key block portion 145a and a knob portion 145m, and the key block portion 145a is formed to have a thickness of about several millimeters. Tip of the key block portion 145a is in accordance with the tilt angle of the operating knob 124 when the positions the pressure receiving member 120 to the pressure receiving position P _r is formed in a tapered shape, and a flat engagement surface 145b is formed. Also on the upper surface of the key block portion 145a, the pressure receiving member 120 is positioned at the receiving position P _r, when engaging the engagement surface 145b on the upper surface of the operation knob 124, the opening on the edge of the key receiving hole 141 A step-shaped lock portion 145c is formed in accordance with the position.

Further, as described above, at the release position _Pf , the pressure receiving member 120 is urged clockwise by the spring force of the return spring 126, and the upper surface of the main body plate portion is engaged with the engagement pin 132b of the drive transmission tool, The protrusions 122a and 122b are elastically held at the swing angle position retracted above the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b.

Therefore, when the finger is put on the operation knob 124 and pressed downward against the spring force of the return spring 126, the pressure receiving member 120 can be swung counterclockwise, and the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are connected to the standby passage. 52a, it can be displaced to the pressure receiving position _{P r} protruding 52b. Therefore, the pressure receiving member 120 is swung to a certain extent, and the ball stopper key 145 is inserted into the key receiving hole 141, and the distal end side of the key block portion 145a is loosely inserted into the key receiving hole 141. Then, the pressure receiving member 120 is swung counterclockwise, the engagement surface 145b on the lower surface side of the key block is engaged with the upper surface of the operation knob 124, and the lock portion 145c on the upper surface side of the key block is the upper edge of the opening of the key receiving hole 141. sphere keyed 145 engages is engaged, the pressure receiving member 120 is locked held on the pressure receiving position P _r and. Thereby, the flow of the game ball stopped on the upstream side to the downstream side is restricted by the pressure receiving projection.

In this state, the ball stopper key 145 is sandwiched between the upper surface of the operation knob 124 and the upper edge of the opening of the key receiving hole 141, and further, the engagement of the lock portion 145c is held by receiving the spring force of the return spring 126. Therefore, for example, even if the back set board 30 is shaken or the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side fluctuates, the pressure receiving member 120 does not return to the release position _Pr side. . Therefore, a clerk at the game facility drops a plurality of game balls into the general prize device 23 or the start prize device 24, or opens the opening / closing door of the attacker device 25 to insert the game balls into the big prize opening, or performs CR operation. The game ball stopped between the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b and the ball feed rotating body 53r is obtained by operating the ball payout device 53 by pressing the ball lending request button on the panel 92 to cause the game ball to be paid out. All the balls can be removed in a short time, and the inspection and replacement of the ball dispensing device 53 can be easily performed without scattering these stationary balls (see FIG. 12).

In order to release the ball-stopping state after the inspection work of the ball dispensing device 53 is completed, the ball-stopping key 145 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed from the insertion / removal direction, and the lock portion 145c and the key receiving port are opened. The engagement with the upper edge of 141 is released, and the ball stopper key 145 may be removed as it is. Then swung clockwise by the spring force of the pressure receiving member 120 return spring 126, the body plate portion is returned to the release position P _f to be engaged with the engaging pin 132b of the drive transmitting device.

The configuration example in which the ball stop state is maintained using the ball stop key 145 dedicated to the ball stop operation has been described above. However, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 4, for example, the lid member 58 and the right frame rod 33 bored a circular hole in the supporting surface, in a state where the swing the pressure receiving member 120 to the pressure receiving position P _r, operating pin for the spherical punching operation attendant of the gaming facility is carried at all times, is passed through the so-called Heart key 146 The pressure receiving member 120 may be engaged with the upper surface of the main body plate portion, and the pressure receiving member 120 may be locked at the pressure receiving position.

  Therefore, according to the ball payout control mechanism as described above, a proper payout operation can be ensured even with a ball payout device using a relatively small motor, and therefore the device can be reduced in size and cost. Further, it is possible to provide a payout control mechanism that can be stably operated for a long period of time by reducing the load. In addition, it is possible to provide a payout control mechanism with good maintenance workability with a simple device configuration in which the pressure receiving member is displaced and locked at the ball stop position. Further, since the driving source of the pressure receiving member driving mechanism is disposed between the front wall surface of the standby passage and the game board, that is, the front side layer of the front and rear two-layer structure, the thickness of the back set board in the front-rear direction is reduced. A ball payout control mechanism having the above effects can be provided with a compact configuration that does not increase.

  In the embodiment described above, the pressure receiving position for reducing or excluding the pressure acting on the downstream game ball and the ball stop position for restricting the flow of the game ball are made the same swing angle position and used in common. However, for example, both may be configured as different positions by providing a difference in the protruding amount of the pressure receiving protrusion (that is, the swing angle position of the pressure receiving member). According to such a configuration, a quick operation can be ensured with a small swing displacement amount at the pressure receiving position, and a reliable ball stop can be realized with a large protrusion amount at the ball stop position.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine shown as an example of a bullet ball game machine provided with the ball discharge control mechanism concerning the present invention. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine. It is a rear view of the right frame collar part of the back set board in the said pachinko machine. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the pressure receiving control unit in a ball | bowl paying-out control mechanism from diagonally backward. It is the plane sectional view seen in the VV arrow direction in FIG. It is a sectional side view of the principal part of a pressure receiving control unit seen from the inner side of the window. It is the front view which looked at the receiving pressure control unit from the front side of the back set board. It is a block diagram which mainly shows the control form of a ball payout control mechanism. It is a timing chart which shows the drive timing of the solenoid and ball payout motor in a ball payout control mechanism. It is a rear view which shows the latching state of a game ball when a pressure receiving member is displaced to a pressure receiving position. It is a rear view which shows the other latching state of a game ball when a pressure receiving member is displaced to a pressure receiving position. It is a rear view of a pressure receiving control unit when it is made into a ball stop state by a ball stop key. It is a rear view which illustrates the composition and operation of the ball dispensing device in the conventional ball dispensing control mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

PA game area PM Pachinko machine P _f release position P _r pressure receiving position C ₁ , C ₂ payout command signal C ₃ ball lending request signal M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ motor drive signal S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ solenoid drive signal DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer frame 2 Front frame 3 Hinge mechanism 4 Locking device 5 Glass door 6 Upper ball dish 7 Lower ball dish 8 Launch handle 9 Game ball launcher 20 Game board 21 Dressing board 22 Guide rail 23 General prize (23s prize detection sensor)
24 start prize tool (24s prize detection sensor)
25 Attacker device (25s, 25t winning detection sensor)
27 Symbol display device 28 Out port 29 Ball gathering cover 30 Back set board 31 Base frame body 32 Window 33 Right frame rod 34 Support boss 35 Pivot shaft 39 Shaft receiving hole 41 Ball storage tank 42 Tank rail (42a Front row side alignment passage 42b Alignment passage on the rear row side,
42e deflection outlet, 42w partition wall)
44 Sphere equalizing tool 45 Sphere stop member 51 Sphere detection sensor 52 S-rail (52a Standby line on the front row side, 52b Standby path on the back row side,
52L, 52R left and right passage walls, 52w partition walls)
53 Ball dispenser (53a Front row side receiving port, 53b Rear row side receiving port, 53c, 53d Left and right payout ports,
53m ball delivery motor, 53r ball feed rotor, 53r ₁ front row impeller,
53r ₂ rear row impeller)
54 ball counting sensor 55 flow path switching member (55a passage wall)
56 Operating member 57 Ball passage (57a preliminary passage, 57b communication opening, 57c descending passage)
58 Lid member 59 Shaft receiving hole 60 Ball payout passage 81 Main control device 82 Ball payout control device 83 Lamp / voice control device 84 Power supply unit 85 Terminal board 87 Symbol display control device 90 Prepaid card unit 92 CR operation panel 100 Pressure receiving control unit 111 Support boss 112a Pressure receiving protrusion insertion portion 112b on the front row side Pressure receiving protrusion insertion portion 113 on the rear row side Rail side latching hook 114 Frame wall 115 Solenoid support portion (115s screw receiving slit)
116 Pin insertion hole 117 Front cover 120 Pressure receiving member 121 Bearing portion 122a Front row pressure receiving projection 122b Rear row side pressure receiving projection 123 Pressure receiving member side latch hook 124 Operation knob 125 Support shaft 126 Return spring 130 Pressure receiving member drive mechanism 131 Solenoid 132 Drive Transmitter (132a shaft end block, 132b engagement pin)
134 Coil spring 137 Light emitting element 138 Fixing screw 140 Ball stop structure 141 Key receiving hole 145 Ball stop key (145a Key block portion, 145b Engagement surface, 145c Lock portion,
145m knob)
146 Heart Key

Claims (2)

A back set board attached to cover the back of the game board, a ball storage tank for storing game balls, and a predetermined quantity according to winning conditions in the game board provided below the ball storage tank. A ball payout device for paying out game balls; a guide passage provided between the ball storage tank and the ball payout device and arranged to guide the game balls stored in the ball storage tank to the ball payout device; A ball payout passage for guiding the game balls paid out from the ball payout device to a ball tray, and a control device for controlling the operation of the ball payout device,
The ball payout device includes a ball payout motor whose rotation is controlled by the control device, and a ball feed rotating body driven by the ball payout motor. A motor-driven ball payout device that moves to the ball payout passage side by turning the ball feed rotating body and pays out a game ball;
The guide passage includes an alignment passage that aligns the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank in the process of flowing down, and a standby passage that receives the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guides them to the ball dispensing device below. In the ball game machine you have,
In the standby passage, a pressure receiving position for receiving pressure acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side and reducing pressure acting on the game ball on the downstream side, and pressure reducing on the pressure acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side The pressure receiving member includes a pressure receiving member that is displaceably disposed at a release position that is transmitted to a downstream game ball without being driven, and a drive source disposed between a front wall surface of the standby passage and the game board. Pressure receiving member driving means for displacing a member to the pressure receiving position or the release position,
The ball dispensing of the ball game machine characterized in that the control device is configured to operate the pressure receiving member driving means prior to the rotation activation of the ball dispensing motor and to position the pressure receiving member at the pressure receiving position. Control mechanism. The arrangement position of the pressure receiving member in the standby passage is:
When the pressure receiving member is positioned at the pressure receiving position, the number of game balls stopped between the pressure receiving member and the ball feed rotating body can be paid out at a time according to winning conditions on the game board. The ball payout control mechanism for a ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball payout control mechanism is a position that is equal to or greater than the number of game balls.

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