JP2006198189A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine which can ease the impacts on and prevent the damages to the foul ball passage while blocking the return of the foul balls back to a shooting path area as caused by bouncing back. <P>SOLUTION: The pinball game machine is provided with the foul ball passage 33 which guides the game balls, as shot with a shooter but failing to reach the playing area, to the lower tray from the shooting passage. The foul ball passage 33 is provided with a foul ball drop port 43 between the lower and upper cut end parts of the shooting passage while having a ball return prevention part 45 for preventing the foul balls dropping from the drop port from being returned back to the shooting passage area below the lower and upper cut end parts making up the foul ball drop port. In the ball return prevention part, a part or the whole of the surface which contacts the foul balls dropping from the foul ball drop port makes a foul ball buffer member 48 for easing the impacts which will be generated upon the dropping of the foul balls. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine, and more particularly to a ball game machine provided with a foul ball passage.

A ball ball game machine (a so-called pachinko machine) is a game machine in which a player rotates a handle lever of a launching device in a clockwise direction, for example, operates a built-in launching solenoid to launch a game ball into a game area of a game board. The game ball rolls down and flows down by a large number of game nails and game ball guiding members (for example, a stage, a heaven passage, etc.) provided in the game area, and the desired effect is achieved by the game ball winning a predetermined winning device. It is made and a game is enjoyed by obtaining a prize ball.
By the way, the winning of the game ball to the winning device existing in the game area depends on the player slightly adjusting the strength of the launching game ball by rotating the handle lever, so the player In order to find the optimal game ball launch momentum, adjust the lever rotation of the handle to adjust the launch ball strength of the launcher.

  However, if the launch momentum of the game ball is too weak, there is a game ball that returns to the launch path without reaching the game area, so it is necessary to discharge such a return ball as a foul ball from the launch path area. is there. In other words, if such a foul ball exists in the area of the launch path, it will collide with game balls that are successively launched, and it will not be possible to launch game balls into the game area. Because. Therefore, such a ball game machine is provided with a foul ball passage for discharging the foul ball from the launch passage region to the lower plate.

The foul ball passage is a passage structure that communicates from a foul ball drop port provided in a part of the launch passage to a discharge port provided in a lower plate, but a game ball dropped from the drop port collides with the inner surface of the passage. Since there was a possibility of returning to the launch passage area, conventionally, a fall return ball return prevention member is provided in the fall ball fall area in the foul ball passage to prevent the fall of the foul ball to the launch passage area. At the same time, a ball game machine aimed at reducing the impact of the foul ball on the passage is provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 10-211131 A

However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, since the ball return prevention member is formed of the same hard resin member as the resin member constituting the foul ball passage, the surface with which the falling foul ball contacts is Since the falling foul ball is so hard that it bounces back, even if the falling contact surface of the falling foul ball is inclined downward, there was no action to reduce the momentum of the foul ball.
Therefore, for example, in a foul ball that reaches the upper end (exit side) of the launch passage and returns, there is momentum in the return of the game ball, so that when it collides with the ball return prevention member, it rebounds greatly with that momentum. There is a possibility that the game ball returns to the launch passage area again.
Moreover, since the ball return prevention member with a high frequency of impact is formed of the same resin member as the resin member constituting the foul ball passage, there is a problem that impact resistance is weak.
The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem. The object of the present invention is to prevent the foul sphere from returning to the launch passage area due to rebound, and to reduce the impact of the foul sphere passage and to prevent damage. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine capable of achieving the above.

  In order to achieve such an object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a guide passage 15 is provided on the surface of the game board base 18 to provide a launch passage (second launch passage 38) and is surrounded by the guide rail 15. A game board 19 configured as a game area A in which the game ball rolls down, and a launching device capable of launching the game ball into the game area A through a launch path (second launch path 38) of the game board 19 7 and a foul ball passage 33 for guiding a game ball which has been launched by the launching device 7 but does not reach the game area A from the launch passage (second launch passage 38) to the lower plate 6, and the foul ball passage 33 includes a foul ball dropping port 43 between a lower cut end portion 37a of the launch passage (first launch passage 37) and an upper cut end portion 38a of the launch passage (second launch passage 38). The foul ball that has fallen from the dropping port 43 is below the lower cut end portion 37a and the upper cut end portion 38a constituting the launch passage region (any region of the first launch passage 37 or the second launch passage 38). The ball return prevention part 45 is provided with a ball return prevention part 45 for preventing the ball from returning to the point. This is a bullet ball game machine characterized by the fact that the foul ball buffer member 48 is relaxed.

According to the present invention, a structure in which a foul ball cushioning member 48 (for example, an elastic member such as rubber) is used for the foul ball contact surface of the ball return preventing portion 45 provided in the foul ball passage 33 to alleviate an impact when the foul ball falls. Therefore, the impact when the foul ball collides with the ball return preventing portion 45 can be absorbed and alleviated.
Accordingly, even if there is momentum in the foul sphere that has returned to the firing passage (second firing passage 38) and dropped into the foul sphere passage 33, the foul sphere cushioning member 48 that reduces the impact when the foul sphere falls is used to Since the momentum is diminished, the foul ball returns to the launch path area (either the first launch path 37 or the second launch path 38) or comes into contact with the launched game ball. Can be eliminated.
Moreover, the damage prevention effect of the ball return prevention part 45 can also be expected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the ball return prevention unit 45 is a bullet ball game machine characterized in that an inclined wall portion 45b is provided on a part of the foul ball contact surface.

According to the present invention, even if a foul ball cushioning member 48 for reducing the impact when the foul ball falls is provided on the foul ball contact surface of the ball return preventing portion 45, for example, even if an elastic member having a high frictional resistance is provided, the foul ball Does not stop and stay on the foul ball contact surface.
In addition, by forming a part of the foul ball contact surface as the inclined wall portion 45b, it is possible to reduce the area in which the foul ball buffer member 48 that reduces the shock when the foul ball falls is used. That is, if the foul ball cushioning member 48 that reduces the shock at the time of falling the foul sphere is used only in a place where the contact frequency is high among the foul ball contact surfaces, and the place where the contact frequency is low is an inclined wall portion, The foul ball cushioning member 48 and the inclined wall portion 45b that mitigate the impact of the foul ball can prevent the foul ball from bouncing back and prevent the foul ball from returning to the launch area, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, while preventing the return of the foul ball | bowl to the launch path area | region by rebounding, the ball game machine which can aim at the impact relaxation and damage prevention of a foul ball | bowl path | route can be provided.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that this embodiment is merely an example of the present invention, and is not construed as being limited thereto, and the design can be changed within the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a ball game machine (also referred to as a pachinko machine) to which the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball game machine has an inner frame (base door) 2 pivotally supported on the front surface of the outer frame 1, and a game board base on the front surface of the inner frame 2. A game board 19 having various game members 18 and constituting a game area A is detachably attached, and a display device (not shown) is detachably attached to the back of the game board 19.

  The game members refer to all members necessary for a game in a ball game machine. For example, a game area A on the front side in which a game ball rolls as shown in FIG. 1 is divided and the game area A on the front side is divided. Start winning device for starting the guide rail 15 constituting the launch passage (second launch passage 38) for guiding the game ball launched from the launch solenoid and the display of the variation of the display device and starting the lottery process for determining whether or not to win (Also referred to as a start winning opening) 10, a special winning device (also referred to as a large winning opening) 11 of a special electric accessory called an attacker that is opened at the time of a big hit, a general winning opening where a game ball is paid out when a game ball wins The general winning device 12, the out port 13 for discharging the out ball that missed the winning in the game area, a large number of game nails (not shown) hit on the game board base 18, and the game ball Possible stage 16, the gaming member such as the ceiling passage 17 as an example.

The game board base 18 is formed of a material that can fix the game members and has hardness, strength, and the like that do not easily deform (bend) or change quality. The game board base 18 is formed of a highly transparent hard synthetic resin material (transparent member) such as a colorless and transparent acrylic resin material, a polycarbonate resin, or a polyarylate resin, and is disposed on the back side. The display device is visible through the transparent member.
It is also within the scope of the present invention to adopt a material other than resin, such as glass, and the design can be changed.
In addition, when not adopting a configuration in which the display device on the back side of the game board is visible through the game board base, the entire game board base may be made of a non-transparent member.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a front door 3 fitted with a glass plate 4 is pivotally supported on the front surface of the inner frame 2. When the front door 3 is closed, a glass plate is inserted from the front side of the front door 3. 4, the game board 19 is visually recognized.

A game ball paid out from a payout device (not shown in FIG. 1) is supplied from a game ball receiving port 5a to the lower portion of the front surface of the inner frame 2 that pivotally supports the front door 3, and a game ball is supplied to the launching device 7. A game ball supply tray (upper plate) 5 for supplying the game ball, and a lower tray discharge port 6a for discharging a ball (overflow ball) overflowing from the inside of the game ball receiving port 5a when the game ball supply tray 5 is full. A dish unit 20 provided integrally with a single (identical) mounting base 21 with a lower dish 6 is pivotally supported.
In addition, by operating a game ball (foul ball) that has been launched by the launching device 7 but does not reach the game area A, and a ball extraction device 5b provided in the game ball supply tray 5 are operated on the lower plate 6. The game balls (sampling balls) extracted from the game ball supply tray 5 are discharged through the lower tray discharge port 6a.

  In this embodiment, the tray unit 20 includes a game ball supply tray 5 and a lower plate 6 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and an overflow ball passage 24 that receives game balls overflowing from the game ball supply tray 5. And a foul ball passage 32 on the tray unit side that communicates with a foul ball passage 33 on the game machine main body frame side provided in a foul ball collection basket structure 39 to be described later, and a ball extraction device 5b provided on the game ball supply tray 5 By operating, an extraction ball passage 31 for receiving a game ball extracted from the game ball supply tray 5, a game ball supply port 35 for supplying a game ball from the game ball supply tray 5 to the ball feeder 22, and a tray unit 20 A shutter 36 for preventing the game ball from dropping from the game ball supply port 35 when the is opened is provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, at the lower part of the main frame of the gaming machine consisting of the outer frame 1 and the inner frame 2, the game ball launching of the launching device 7 that launches the game ball toward the game area A is performed. A launching solenoid 9a constituting part 9, a ball feeding device 22 for supplying a game ball supplied from the game ball supply tray 5 in front of the firing solenoid 9a, and a game launched by driving the firing solenoid 9a A launch path (first launch path 37) for guiding a ball and a foul ball collection basket structure 39 that receives a game ball that has been launched by the launch device 7 but does not reach the game area A are provided. In the present embodiment, as shown in the figure, the firing solenoid 9a, the ball feeding device 22, the first firing passage 37, and the foul ball collection basket structure 39 are provided on a single launch unit substrate 42. It is provided at the lower part in the main frame of the gaming machine.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the launching device 7 is provided at the lower part of the front surface of the inner frame 2 corresponding to the notch portion on the side opposite to the axis of the dish unit 20, and directs the game ball toward the game area A. The handle 8 to be fired and a mounting hole 42a provided at a predetermined position of the firing unit substrate 42 are fixed in an inclined manner with a tip 9b to be described later facing obliquely upward. When the lever 8a is rotated in the clockwise direction, the firing stop switch is turned ON to drive the firing solenoid 9a and the game ball supply tray 5 supplied from the ball feeding device 22 is operated by driving the firing solenoid 9a. And a tip 9b that strikes the game ball into the game area A on the front side.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, the ball feeding device 22 is provided on the firing unit substrate 42 as described above, and the ball feeding solenoid 23 and a ball (not shown) that operates by driving the ball feeding solenoid 23 are provided therein. A predetermined number of game balls rolled from the tray unit 20 via the game ball supply tray 5 are placed in front of the launch solenoid 9a of the game ball launcher 9 by the operation of the ball feed lever. Supply one by one.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 5, and 8, the first firing passage 37 is formed between the firing solenoid 9 a and the notch opening edge 39 a of the foul ball collection basket structure 39 from the front of the firing solenoid 9 a. A pair of upper and lower rails 41 are arranged on the firing unit substrate 42 so as to incline upward toward the notch opening edge 39a of the foul ball collection basket structure 39 and at a predetermined interval.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, the foul ball collection basket structure 39 includes a foul ball passage (also referred to as a foul ball passage on the gaming machine main body frame side) 33 provided on the launch unit substrate 42 and the foul ball. It is comprised with the cover member 40 which covers the channel | path 33. FIG.

  The foul ball passage 33 is provided on the upstream side of the lower cut end portion 37a located on the downstream side of the first launch passage 37 provided on the launch unit substrate 42 and the second launch passage 38 provided on the game board 19. A foul ball drop opening 43 existing between the upper cut end 38a and the lower cut end 37a and the upper cut end 38a constituting the foul ball drop opening 43. A foul ball receiving portion 44 for receiving the foul ball received, and the foul ball receiving portion 44 provided in the foul ball receiving portion 44 has a firing passage area (a region of either the first firing passage 37 or the second firing passage 38). A ball return prevention portion 45 for preventing the ball from returning to the foul ball, a foul ball discharge port 46 for guiding the foul ball to the foul ball passage 32 on the plate unit side provided in the plate unit 20, Serial and the foul ball receiving portion 44 is composed of a foul ball introducing passage 47 forming a passage to the foul ball outlet 46.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, the foul ball receiving portion 44 is an area that extends below the foul ball dropping opening 43 and has a size that can receive a plurality of foul balls together with the internal space of the cover member 40. Is formed.
The width and shape of the foul ball receiving portion 44 are not particularly limited, and the design can be changed within the scope of the present invention. The depth is such that it does not easily return to either the first firing passage 37 or the second firing passage 38.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the ball return prevention unit 45 is provided in a lower region of the foul ball receiving unit 44, and reduces the impact of the foul ball colliding with the passage. In this embodiment, a bottom surface portion 45a having a high rate of collision of the foul spheres falling into the foul ball receiving portion 44 is provided with a foul sphere guiding passage 47 provided at the tip of the bottom surface portion 45a. It is formed so as to have a gentle downward slope toward the opening region D1 which is a communication point.

  Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, an inclined wall portion 45 b inclined downward toward the rear end side is provided on the rear end side of the bottom surface portion 45 a. The inclined wall portion 45b has a larger inclination angle than the inclination angle of the bottom surface portion 45a.

  The inclined wall portion 45b is a foul ball collection basket structure 39, which is an area where game balls are launched from the lower cut end portion 37a located at the tip of the first launch passage 37 to the second launch passage 38. It is necessary to take care not to protrude from the notch opening edge 39a so as to be lower than the notch opening edge 39a.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, a part or all of the surface of the ball return preventing portion 45 that contacts the foul ball dropped from the foul ball drop opening 43 contacts a part or all of the surface when the foul ball falls. A foul ball cushioning member 48 for reducing impact was provided.

The foul ball cushioning member 48 can be exemplified by an elastic member made of rubber or soft synthetic resin. In this embodiment, the foul ball cushioning member 48 made of this elastic member is used as a bottom surface 45a of the ball return preventing portion 45. And are attached and fixed to the surface of the inclined wall portion 45b.
The elastic member is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to use a material having high elasticity and frictional resistance that can reduce the momentum of the falling foul ball when it comes into contact. Further, the thickness of the elastic member is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to set the thickness so that the momentum of the foul ball in contact with the elastic member can be reduced.
In the present embodiment, as described above, the inclination angle of the inclined wall portion 45b of the ball return prevention portion 45 is larger than the inclination angle of the bottom surface portion 45a. Return to either the one firing passage 37 or the second firing passage 38), and the falling action of the foul sphere in the direction of the foul sphere guiding passage 47 is enhanced, Even if an elastic member having a high frictional resistance is provided as the ball return preventing portion 45, the foul ball does not stop at the contact surface.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the foul ball guiding passage 47 is provided in communication with an opening region D <b> 1 at the tip of the bottom surface portion 45 a of the ball return preventing portion 45 provided in the foul ball receiving portion 44. A reverse L-shape in front view, which is composed of a vertical passage 47a extending downward from the opening region D1 and a horizontal passage 47b extending from the vertical passage 47a toward the launcher 7 with a gentle downward slope. The shape of the passage is adopted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the foul ball discharge port 46 is an opening provided at the downstream end of the foul ball guide passage 47 and is provided on the back side of the plate unit 20 when the plate unit 20 is closed. It is opened at a position communicating with the opening 32a of the foul ball passage 32 on the dish unit 20 side.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, the cover member 40 covers the foul ball receiving portion 44 and the foul ball guide passage 47, and has the same width as the launch passage between the launch unit substrate 42. It is removably attached to the firing unit substrate 42 so as to form a foul ball receiving port 49 that is wider than the length or the launch passage width and is approximately the same as the foul ball drop port 43 length or longer than the foul ball drop port 43 length. ing.
According to this embodiment, the cover member 40 bulges in a position corresponding to the foul ball receiving portion 44 forward (toward the player) in order to secure a large internal space area of the foul ball receiving portion 44. I am letting. Further, an opening 40 a having a size at least as large as that of the discharge port 46 is formed at a location corresponding to the foul ball discharge port 46.
Further, the cover member 40 is provided with a drop guide surface 40b having a gentle downward slope toward the foul ball receiving port 49 on the top surface thereof.

The overall shape of the cover member 40 is not particularly limited to the illustrated shape, and the design can be changed within the scope of the present invention. Further, although the cover member 40 is integrated in the present embodiment, it may have a divided structure that can be separated into portions corresponding to the foul ball receiving portion 44 and the foul ball guide passage 47 respectively.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the game ball fired by the firing solenoid 9a of the launching device 7 passes through the first firing passage 37 and receives the foul ball receiving from the lower cut end portion 37a of the first firing passage 37 tip. It passes through the inlet 49 and is sent to the second firing passage 38. Then, the game ball that has passed through the second launch passage 38 is launched from the tip of the second launch passage 38 into the game area A of the game board 19 and rolls down the game area A.
Then, it was fired by the launching device 7 and sent to the second launching passage 38, but the launch momentum was weak, and it returned to the second launching passage 38 without being launched into the launching area A, so that the foul ball drop opening 43 The game ball falling from the ball is received as a foul ball in the foul ball receiving port 49 of the foul ball collection basket 39.
The foul ball that has fallen into the foul ball receiving portion 44 from the foul ball receiving port 49 collides with the ball return preventing portion 45, but the foul ball cushioning member 48 provided in the ball return preventing portion 45 has the momentum of the foul ball. To prevent the foul ball from returning to the firing path area (either the first firing path 37 or the second firing path 38). Then, the foul sphere is sent to the foul sphere guiding passage 47, and rolls down the foul sphere guiding passage 47 and passes from the foul sphere discharging port 46 through the foul sphere passage 32 on the tray unit 20 side to the lower dish discharging port. It is discharged from 6a to the lower pan 6.
"Modification 1"

In the first embodiment, the foul ball buffer member is provided on both the bottom surface portion and the inclined wall portion of the ball return preventing portion. However, the region including the foul ball buffer member is a region where at least the foul ball is in direct contact (collision). It may be any one of the bottom surface portion and the inclined wall portion, and may be provided at one or a plurality of locations of the bottom surface portion and the inclined wall portion, and is designed within the scope of the present invention. It can be changed.
Moreover, in Example 1, the form which sticks and fixes the foul ball buffer member which consists of an elastic member separately formed in the ball return prevention part is employ | adopted, However, The ball return prevention part itself is formed with a foul ball buffer member. May be. In the first embodiment, the foul ball cushioning member is attached and fixed, but it is also within the scope of the present invention to adopt a form in which the foul ball buffer member is welded and fixed.

The schematic perspective view which shows one Example of the game board which comprises this invention ball game machine. The perspective view which shows the state which open | released the front door and removed the game board. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the front door and the game board, and isolate | separated the cover member. The front view which shows the state which open | released the front door and removed the game board. The schematic front view which shows a launch unit board | substrate. The schematic plan view which shows a launch unit board | substrate. The schematic perspective view which shows a launch unit board | substrate. The perspective view which shows the state provided with the launch solenoid, the ball feeder, and the cover member in the launch unit board | substrate.

Explanation of symbols

A gaming area 6 lower plate 7 launching device 15 guide rail 18 game board base 19 game board 33 foul ball passage 37 first firing passage 37a lower cut end 38 second launch passage 38a upper cut end 40 cover member 43 foul ball drop opening 44 Foul sphere receiving part 46 Foul sphere discharge port 47 Foul sphere guide passage part

Claims (2)

A game board comprising a guide rail on the surface of the game board base and providing a launch passage, and an area surrounded by the guide rail configured as a game area in which a game ball rolls down,
A launcher capable of launching a game ball into the game area through the launch passage of the game board;
A foul ball passage that guides a game ball that has been launched by the launch device but does not reach the game area from the launch passage to a lower plate,
The foul ball passage has a foul ball dropping port between a lower cut end portion and an upper cut end portion of the launch passage,
Below the lower cut end and the upper cut end constituting the foul ball dropping port, a foul ball falling from the drop port is prevented from returning to the launch path region, and a ball return preventing unit is provided.
The ball return preventing portion is a ball game characterized in that a part or all of the surface that contacts the foul ball dropped from the foul ball drop opening is a foul ball cushioning member that alleviates the impact when the foul ball falls. Machine. 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball return preventing portion is provided with an inclined wall portion in a part of the foul ball contact surface.

Images