JP2005323826A - Game ball shooter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game ball shooter which solves the problem of the need for the stabilization of the ball bouncing hammer by making the motor larger in size for the stabilization of the carry of the game balls in the conventional type and can realize the highly accurate carry of the game balls under the stabilization of the track of shooting the game balls and the shooting speed. <P>SOLUTION: In the game ball shooter 2 provided on a pachinko game machine 1, a circular plate material 62 of a flywheel 6 is fixed on a game ball hammering member 5 through a vibration-proof member 61. As a result, the vibration generated in the game ball hammering member 5 associated with the vibration in the output shaft 41 of a stepping motor 4 is absorbed with the vibration-proof member 61 to be damped. This can control the vibrations of the game ball hammering member 5 so much to eliminate the effect on the track of shooting the game balls T and its shooting speed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball launcher that strikes and launches a game ball.

  Conventionally, as this type of game ball launching device, there is a ball launching device shown in Patent Document 1 below, which launches a game ball into a game board of a pachinko machine. In this bullet ball launcher, a bullet ball basket that strikes a game ball is urged in the strike direction by an urging member and is pivotally supported by a base plate. A motor is attached to the base plate, and a half-moon shaped cam is fixed to the tip of the output shaft of the motor. The ball cage is pressed by a cam rotated by a motor and rotates in the return direction. However, when the pressing by the cam is released, the urging force of the urging member rotates in the striking direction, and the game ball supplied to the firing rail is struck at the striking portion at the tip of the bullet ball cage.

In the above-described bullet launcher, since the cam is eccentrically fixed to the tip of the output shaft, and there is a gap between the output shaft and its support, the tip of the motor output shaft draws an elliptical orbit. As the motor rotates, vibration is generated in the motor output shaft, and the rotation of the cam becomes unstable. In addition, the ball cage and the motor itself vibrate with the vibration of the motor output shaft. For this reason, in the bullet ball launching device shown in Patent Document 1 below, a flywheel is attached to the rear end of the output shaft of the motor, and the inertia of the flywheel suppresses the vibration of the ball cage and the motor itself.
JP 2003-325791 A (paragraphs [0007] to [0008])

  However, in the conventional bullet launcher described above, a certain amount of inertia is required for the flywheel in order to suppress the vibration of the bullet cage and the motor itself, so that a certain amount of weight is required for the flywheel. For this reason, when the ball cage is rotated in the return direction against the biasing force of the biasing member, it is necessary to generate a large output torque in the motor. For this reason, the conventional bullet ball launcher has a large size. As the motor becomes necessary, the power consumption of the motor increases.

  The present invention was made to solve such a problem, a game ball hitting member that hits a game ball, a motor that rotates an output shaft to which a fulcrum of the game ball hitting member is fixed, And a dynamic vibration absorber for attenuating the vibration of the game ball striking member formed by providing a damping member on a flywheel fixed to the fulcrum of the game ball striking member.

  According to this configuration, the vibration generated in the game ball striking member accompanying the vibration of the motor output shaft is absorbed and attenuated by the vibration damping member of the dynamic vibration absorber, so without increasing the weight of the flywheel, The movement of the game ball striking member can be stabilized. Further, since the game ball is directly hit by the hitting member without using the conventional half-moon shaped cam, the timing at which the game ball is fired is not shifted due to the cam position shift or the like. For this reason, even if a low-power and small-sized motor is used, it is possible to stabilize the launch trajectory and launch speed of the game ball and realize a highly accurate ball jump.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the dynamic vibration absorber is configured by providing a vibration damping member in at least a part of the region surrounding the rotation center of the flywheel.

  According to this configuration, the vibration generated in the game ball hitting member is transmitted to the vibration damping member of the flywheel fixed to the game ball hitting member. The damping member vibrates with the flywheel and quickly attenuates the vibration.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the damping member is made of an elastic body and has an opening that can adjust the value of the spring constant and the damping coefficient of the elastic body.

  According to this configuration, by setting the size of the opening, desired values can be selected as values of the spring constant and damping coefficient of the damping member. For this reason, the size of the opening of the damping member that can suppress the amplitude of vibration of the game ball striking member to be small and quickly attenuate the vibration, that is, the spring constant and damping coefficient value of the damping member are set. By setting, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the game ball striking member, stabilize the launch trajectory and launch speed of the game ball, and realize a highly accurate ball jump.

  According to the present invention as described above, as described above, it is possible to stabilize the launch trajectory and launch speed of the game ball and realize a highly accurate ball jump.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a pachinko machine 1 according to the present embodiment. The pachinko machine 1 is provided with a transparent game board 12 in the center of the front surface, and a liquid crystal display device 13c provided behind the transparent game board 12 is observed through the board surface. Below the transparent gaming board 12, tray unit 11b is provided consisting of an upper pan 11b ₁ and the lower receiving plate 11b _2. The right side of the lower receiving plate 11b ₂ launching handle 13a is provided. Further, a special symbol displayed on the liquid crystal display device 13c is visually recognized at the location 12a of the transparent game board 12. When the special symbols displayed on the liquid crystal display device 13c are arranged in a predetermined jackpot combination, a so-called jackpot occurs.

Passing holes (not shown) are provided on the left and right sides of the portion 12a where the special symbol on the transparent game board 12 is visually recognized. In addition, a start winning opening 12b is provided at the bottom of the transparent game board 12. When the game ball shot on the board surface by operating the ball launch handle 13a wins the start winning opening 12b, the special symbol is variably displayed on the liquid crystal display device 13c, and the special symbol game is started. Further, on the left and right sides of the start winning opening 12b, there are provided general winning openings 12c through which a predetermined number, for example, 10 winning balls are paid out when a game ball is won. Although prize balls are paid out to the upper pan 11b ₁ dish unit 11b, an upper pan 11b ₁ is when full are paid out to the lower receiving tray 11b _2. Also, below the start winning opening 12b, there is provided a large winning opening 12d for opening and closing the door in the big winning game that is performed when the big winning prize is generated. Below the big winning opening 12d, there is provided an out opening 12e through which a game ball that has not won the starting winning opening 12b or the like enters.

The jackpot game is performed after a special symbol jackpot combination is stopped and displayed at the end of the special symbol game, and a predetermined number of game balls, for example, ten game balls are won or a predetermined time, for example, 30 seconds elapses. Until the game is completed, a maximum of 15 rounds of games in which the special winning opening 12d remains open are performed, for example. During the round, if a game ball that has won the grand prize opening 12d wins a specific area called V zone provided inside the big prize opening 12d, it can continue to the next round. If the player does not win the V zone, the game will be a so-called punk, and even if the 15th round is not reached, the jackpot game will be terminated in that round. During the game, an effect is performed by turning on the illumination LED 11a ₁ provided above the surface of the transparent gaming board 12 and the speaker sound from the sound emission hole 11a ₂ .

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the pachinko machine 1. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. The pachinko machine 1 is configured by attaching a middle frame 13 to the front surface of a rectangular frame-shaped wooden frame 14. The middle frame 13 is pivotally supported on the left side of the wooden frame 14 so that it can be opened and closed on the front surface of the wooden frame 14. A transparent game board 12 is attached to the center of the front surface of the middle frame 13, and a pair of speakers 13b and 13b from which a game effect sound is emitted are attached to the upper part. Further, the above-described firing handle 13 a is attached to the lower right portion of the front surface of the middle frame 13. The transparent gaming board 12 and the speakers 13b and 13b are covered with a glass door 11a, and the board surface of the gaming board 12 is observed from the transparent glass portion of the glass door 11a. The upper portion of the glass door 11a illuminations LEDs 11a ₁ are provided as described above. Further, the above-described dish unit 11 b is attached to the lower part of the middle frame 13.

A liquid crystal display device 13c is attached to the center of the back surface of the middle frame 13 so as to face the transparent game board 12, and a ball payout unit 15a and a substrate case unit 15b are attached so as to cover the liquid crystal display device 13c from the back. The ball paying unit 15a is pivotally supported by the middle frame 13 on the left side, and the right side of the substrate case unit 15b is pivotally supported by the middle frame 13. The ball paying unit 15a and the substrate case unit 15b are opened in a door-like manner to expose the back surface of the liquid crystal display device 13c. The liquid crystal display device 13c performs an effect display according to the gaming state or the like on the front surface, and displays a special symbol on the liquid crystal display device 13c as described above. Ball disbursement unit 15a supplies the number of gaming balls corresponding to a winning result to the upper pan 11b ₁ and the lower receiving plate 11b _2. The board case unit 15b accommodates a main board, an effect board, a ball launch control board, and the like for controlling game operations, effect display, ball launch, and the like.

  FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged front view of the lower right portion of the middle frame 13.

As shown in the figure, a launch rail 13d that is inclined upward from the right side to the left side of the middle frame 13 is provided at the lower right portion of the middle frame 13. Launching rail 13d is the front face of the region of the middle frame 13 and the upper plate 13d ₁ and the lower plate 13d ₂ is constituted by compartments with, leads to board the rail 12f that is configured on the left side of the transparent gaming board 12 . A holding portion 13d ₃ that holds the game ball T supplied from the upper tray 11b _{1 is} provided at the right end of the lower plate 13d ₂ . The upper surface of the holding portion 13d ₃ has the shape of a substantially V-shaped section, and holds the support both sides of the game ball T. Further, the right end of the upper plate 13d _1, the support piece 13d ₄ for supporting the rear end of the game balls T held by the holding portion 13d ₃ is provided. In addition, a game ball launching device 2 that launches the game ball T held by the holding portion 13d ₃ on the surface of the transparent game board 12 is provided at the lower right of the launch rail 13d.

  4 is a perspective view from the rear of the game ball launcher 2, FIG. 5 is a perspective view from the front of the game ball launcher 2, and FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the game ball launcher 2 from the direction of arrow A in FIG. FIG. 7 is a top view of the game ball launcher 2 from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 8 is a side view of the game ball launcher 2 from the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4, FIG. 9 is a side view of the game ball launcher 2 from the direction of arrow D in FIG. 4, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a side view of the game ball launching device 2 from the direction of arrow F in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and demonstrated to these same parts in each figure.

  As shown in these drawings, the game ball launching device 2 includes a stepping motor 4 on the lower surface side of the base plate 3, a game ball hitting member 5, a flywheel 6, and a pair of stoppers 7 on the upper surface side of the base plate 3. It is configured with.

  The stepping motor 4 is for rotating the game ball hitting member 5 in the hitting direction (the direction of arrow G in FIG. 3), and its output shaft 41 (see FIGS. 9 and 10) is the upper surface of the base plate 3. It is attached to the base plate 3 so as to protrude from the side to the upper side of the base plate 3. The stepping motor 4 rotates the output shaft 41 by a predetermined angle every time a pulse drive signal is input from the ball launch control board. For example, when a 200 pulse drive signal is input, the output shaft 41 rotates once. .

  The game ball striking member 5 includes a striking member main body 51 made of a substantially L-shaped plate that is bent at a portion fixed to the output shaft 41, and a striking protrusion 54 provided at one end of the striking member main body 51. With. The striking member main body 51 has a substantially L-shaped bent portion that is widened in a substantially circular shape. As shown in FIG. 9, a support shaft 53 is integrated with the widened portion 52 on the lower surface of the widened portion 52. Is provided. The support shaft 53 is fixed to the output shaft 41 with the output shaft 41 of the stepping motor 4 being inserted into the cylindrical lower end side, and functions as a fulcrum for transmitting the rotation of the output shaft 41 to the striking member main body 51. To do. The hitting portion 54 has a shape with a taper provided at the tip of the cylindrical body, and protrudes in the hitting direction G from the side surface of the hitting member main body 51. The hitting portion 54 rotates in the hitting direction G along the upper surface of the base plate 3 in accordance with the rotation of the hitting member main body 51 around the support shaft 53, and hits the game ball T at the tip surface thereof.

  The flywheel 6 includes a vibration damping member 61 and an annular plate member 62 attached to the upper surface of the vibration damping member 61. The damping member 61 is a rubber elastic body having a shape in which four openings 61 a having substantially the same shape are provided at equal intervals in a region surrounding the rotation center of the flywheel 6. The damping member 61 is attached to the upper surface of the widened portion 52 of the striking member main body 51 constituting the game ball striking member 5 so that the center portion thereof coincides with the rotation center of the game ball striking member 5. Yes. The annular plate 62 is a metal plate having a ring shape on the outer periphery that substantially matches the outer periphery of the damping member 61, and is attached along the peripheral edge of the upper surface of the damping member 61. The vibration damping member 61 and the annular plate member 62 constitute a dynamic vibration absorber that attenuates the vibration of the game ball hitting member 5.

  The spring constant k and the damping coefficient C of the damping member 61 are determined by the material, hardness, shape, and the like. In this embodiment, the size, shape, and formation of each opening 61a provided in the damping member 61. The position is such that the spring constant k and the damping coefficient C of the damping member 61 suppress the vibration amplitude of the game ball hitting member 5 accompanying the vibration of the output shaft 41 of the stepping motor 4 to a small level and quickly attenuate the vibration. The value is set as follows so that

  FIG. 12 shows that the inertia of the flywheel 6 having the damping member 61 having the spring constant k and the damping coefficient C is j, the spring constant of the rotor of the stepping motor 4 is K, and the inertia of the stepping motor 4 and the game ball hitting member 5. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically showing these relationships when J is J.

  When the inertia ratio of the inertia j of the flywheel 6 and the inertia J of the stepping motor 4 and the game ball hitting member 5 is μ as in the following equation (1), the spring constant k and the damping coefficient of the damping member 61 C is represented by the following formulas (2) and (3).

j = μJ (μ ≦ 0.2) ... (1)

k = j × (K / J) × (1 / (μ + 1)) ² (2)

C = 2j × (K / J) ^1/2 × (3 μ / 8 (1 + μ) ³ ) ^1/2 (3)

The value of the natural angular frequency of the stepping motor 4 and the game ball hitting member 5 is represented by (K / J) ^1/2 . When this natural angular frequency matches the drive frequency of the stepping motor 4, resonance occurs, and the game The ball striking member 5 vibrates greatly. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the spring constant k expressed by the equation (2) and the equation (3) are values that can suppress the amplitude of the vibration generated by the resonance to be small and can quickly attenuate the vibration. The size, shape, and formation position of each opening 61a included in the damping member 61 are set so that the damping coefficient C can be obtained.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the stoppers 7 are respectively provided on opposite sides of the upper surface of the base plate 3. The stopper 7 provided on one side is in contact with the side surface of the front end side of the hitting member main body 51 of the game ball hitting member 5 hitting the game ball T so that the hitting hit of the game ball hitting member 5 The rotation in the direction G is restricted. The stopper 7 provided on the other side is brought into contact with the opposite side surface of the hitting member main body 51 that hits the game ball T and returns to the origin position, so that the game ball hitting member 5 in the return direction is in contact. Regulates rotation. Each stopper 7 is made of an elastic material such as rubber, and is attached to a stopper attaching portion 31 erected on the upper surface of the base plate 3.

  Next, operation | movement of the game ball | bowl launching apparatus 2 comprised in this way is demonstrated.

  In the game ball launching device 2, when the launching handle 13a is not operated, the hitting portion 54 of the game ball hitting member 5 is at the origin position as shown in FIG. When the firing handle 13a is operated, a predetermined number of pulses are supplied from the ball launch control board to the stepping motor 4. When the stepping motor 4 receives this pulse supply, the output shaft 41 rotates in the impact direction G by a predetermined angle. The game ball hitting member 5 rotates in the hitting direction G together with the output shaft 41, and the flywheel 6 also rotates in the hitting direction G together with the game ball hitting member 5.

The tip of the striking projection 54 having moved from the home position to the upward by the rotation of the game ball hitting projecting member 5, enters from between the support piece 13d ₄ and the holding portion 13d ₃ firing rail 13d in launching rail 13d The game ball T held by the holding portion 13d ₃ is hit. The game ball T hit by the hitting portion 54 moves in the launch rail 13d and enters the board rail 12f of the transparent gaming board 12. The game ball hitting member 5 hitting the game ball T with the hitting portion 54 continues to rotate, and the hitting member main body 51 collides with the stopper 7. Then, due to the reaction at this time, the striking member body 51 rotates in the opposite direction and returns to the origin position. By repeating this operation lasts launching handle 13a is operated, the game ball T from the upper pan 11b ₁ is supplied to the holding portion 13d ₃ are sequentially with punching projections 54 of the game ball hitting projecting member 5 It is struck and launched into the board surface of the transparent game board 12.

  In the pachinko machine 1 according to this embodiment, the vibration generated in the game ball hitting member 5 due to the vibration of the output shaft 41 of the stepping motor 4 is the flywheel 6 fixed to the fulcrum of the game ball hitting member 5. The vibration damping member 61 absorbs and attenuates. That is, the vibration generated in the game ball hitting member 5 is transmitted to the vibration damping member 61 of the flywheel 6 fixed to the game ball hitting member 5. The damping member 61 vibrates with the annular member 62 of the flywheel 6 and quickly attenuates the vibration. For this reason, according to the present embodiment, the movement of the game ball hitting member 5 can be stabilized without increasing the weight of the flywheel 6. Further, since the game ball T is directly hit by the hitting member 5 without using a conventional half-moon shaped cam, the timing at which the game ball T is fired does not shift due to a cam position shift or the like. For this reason, even if a low-power and small-sized motor is used, it is possible to stabilize the launch trajectory and launch speed of the game ball T and realize a highly accurate ball jump. In addition, the conventional cam-type game ball launching device has a large number of parts and a high product cost. However, the game ball launching in which the game ball hitting member 5 is rotated by the direct drive of the stepping motor 4 without using a cam. According to the apparatus 2, the number of parts can be reduced and the product cost can be reduced accordingly.

  Further, in the present embodiment, a desired value can be selected as the value of the spring constant k and the damping coefficient C of the damping member 61 by setting the size, shape, and formation position of the opening 61a. Therefore, by setting the size of the opening 61a of the vibration damping member 61 that can quickly reduce the vibration of the game ball striking member 5, that is, the spring constant k and the damping coefficient C of the vibration damping member 61, the game ball By suppressing the vibration of the hitting member 5, the launching trajectory and launching speed of the game ball T can be stabilized, and a highly accurate ball jump can be realized.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the vibration damping member 61 of the flywheel 6 has the four openings 61a has been described. However, if the spring constant k and the damping coefficient C of the damping member 61 that can quickly reduce the vibration of the game ball striking member 5 can be obtained, the number of openings 61a is not limited to four, and can be changed as appropriate. There is no problem. Further, the hardness and material of the vibration damping member 61 are arbitrary as long as the spring constant k and the damping coefficient C that can quickly reduce the vibration of the game ball striking member 5 can be obtained, and may be changed as appropriate.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the case where the flywheel 6 was comprised by attaching the cyclic | annular board | plate material 62 on the disk-shaped damping member 61 was demonstrated. However, the configuration of the flywheel 6 is not limited to this as long as the swing of the game ball hitting member 5 can be suppressed.

  In addition, the arrangement position of the annular plate member 62 on the vibration damping member 61 is not necessarily the peripheral portion of the vibration damping member 61 as long as the swing of the game ball striking member 5 can be suppressed, and is appropriately changed. It does not matter. Further, the shape, weight, and material of the annular plate member 62 are arbitrary as long as the swing of the game ball striking member 5 can be suppressed, and may be changed as appropriate.

  Moreover, although the said embodiment demonstrated the case where this invention was applied to the pachinko machine 1 using the transparent game board 12, you may apply this invention to the pachinko machine using the normal game board which is not transparent.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the gaming machine according to the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to other gaming machines including a game ball launching device that strikes and shoots a ball. It is. Even when the present invention is applied to such a gaming machine, the same effects as the above-described embodiment can be obtained.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the pachinko machine by one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view which expands and shows the firing rail and game ball | bowl launching apparatus provided in the middle frame shown in FIG. It is a perspective view from the back of the game ball launcher shown in FIG. It is a perspective view from the front of the game ball launcher shown in FIG. It is a bottom view from the A direction of the game ball launching apparatus shown in FIG. It is a top view from the B direction of the game ball launching apparatus shown in FIG. It is a side view from the C direction of the game ball launcher shown in FIG. It is a side view from the D direction of the game ball launcher shown in FIG. It is a side view from the E direction of the game ball launcher shown in FIG. It is a side view from F direction of the game ball | bowl launching apparatus shown in FIG. If the inertia of a flywheel having a damping member with a spring constant k and a damping coefficient C is j, the spring constant of the rotor of the stepping motor is K, and the inertia of the stepping motor and game ball striking member is J, these It is the figure which represented the relationship typically.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine 2 ... Game ball launcher 3 ... Base plate 31 ... Stopper mounting part 4 ... Stepping motor 41 ... Output shaft 5 ... Game ball hitting member 51 ... Hitting hitting member main body 52 ... Widening part 53 ... Supporting shaft 54 ... Hitting protrusion 6 ... Flywheel 61 ... Damping member 61a ... Opening 62 ... Ring plate 7 ... Stopper

Claims (3)

  A game ball hitting member that hits a game ball, a motor that rotates an output shaft to which a fulcrum of the game ball hitting member is fixed, and a flywheel that is fixed to the fulcrum of the game ball hitting member. A game ball launcher comprising: a dynamic vibration absorber for attenuating vibration of the game ball striking member configured to be provided with a vibration member.   2. The game ball launcher according to claim 1, wherein the dynamic vibration absorber is configured by providing the vibration damping member in at least a part of a region surrounding a rotation center of the flywheel.   3. The game ball launching apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the damping member is made of an elastic body and has an opening that can adjust the value of the spring constant and the damping coefficient of the elastic body.

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