JP2006271619A - Game ball conveyance system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game ball conveyance system which enables the construction of game ball supply equipment with a low height at low cost without executing hefty work and can flexibly correspond to layout change or the like. <P>SOLUTION: The game ball conveyance system for supplying the game balls B to two or more game machines installed in a hall has a continuous horizontal conveyance route for the game ball formed by linearly connecting two or more game ball conveyance units 21 formed for individual game machine units. The game ball conveyance units 21 are equipped with a horizontal conveyance route 33 formed for the individual game machine units and linearly connected, a conveyance body 34 for horizontally conveying the game balls in the horizontal conveyance route 33, and a driving gear 35 for driving the conveyance body 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball transport system for supplying game balls to a plurality of game machines installed in a hall.

  A gaming machine such as a pachinko machine that is played using a gaming ball is normally installed on a gaming machine island (pachinko island) equipped with a gaming ball supply facility. A general game ball supply facility is of a saddle type, and a game ball is transported using a slope of the kite (about 5%). However, in order to install such a kite on a gaming machine island, a large height space is required to secure a slope, and this becomes more prominent as the number of gaming machines installed on the gaming machine island increases. .

  Therefore, a game ball transport device that transports game balls in the horizontal direction has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Patent Document 1 shows a belt conveyor type game ball transfer device, and Patent Document 2 shows a rotating disk type game ball transfer device, and any game ball transfer device is installed between a plurality of game machines. Has been.

  In recent years, a slot machine for playing a game using a game ball (hereinafter referred to as a ball-type slot machine) has been recognized due to a revision of the game machine rules (technical standards related to a rotating game machine). According to such a ball-type slot machine, it is possible not only to share a game ball with a pachinko machine, but also to divert existing game ball equipment (such as a game ball counter) installed in the hall. There are advantages.

  The ball type slot machine has an external circulation type that circulates and uses game balls in units of islands as shown in Patent Document 3, and an internal circulation type that circulates and uses game balls in units of gaming machines as shown in Patent Document 4. Can be divided into The former can be easily installed on existing Pachinko islands, but cannot be installed on existing slot islands or new islands that do not have game ball supply facilities.

JP-A-9-299583 JP 2004-275670 A Japanese Patent Publication No. 8-11138 JP 2003-70965 A

  On the other hand, the latter can be installed on an existing slot island or a new island that does not have a game ball supply facility. However, since game balls have a lower unit price (1/5) than medals, the ball type slot machine needs to pay out game balls at a predetermined multiple (5 times) of medals. For example, if a big bonus occurs once, it is necessary to pay out a maximum of 2400 game balls (equivalent to 480 medals). If a big bonus occurs continuously, the number of game balls required for payout is This is a multiple of 2400.

  The slot machine has a larger capacity than the pachinko machine, but it is substantially difficult to cover such a large amount of payout with the internal circulation capacity. Therefore, even when installing an internal circulation type ball-type slot machine, it is required to install a game ball supply facility on the gaming machine island, and as a result, a large-scale construction is required and a large amount of work is required. There is a problem that not only costs and operational losses occur, but also the degree of freedom of arrangement, which is an advantage of the slot machine, is reduced.

  The present invention has been considered in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible not only to construct a game ball supply facility at a low cost without performing a large-scale construction, but also to provide a game ball transport that can flexibly respond to layout changes and the like. The purpose is to provide a system.

  In order to achieve the above object, a game ball transport system according to the present invention is a game ball transport system for supplying game balls to a plurality of game machines installed in a hall. Thus, a plurality of game ball transfer devices configured in units of gaming machines are connected in series to form a continuous game ball horizontal transfer path.

  In this way, it is possible to form a continuous game ball horizontal transfer path simply by connecting a plurality of game ball transfer devices configured in units of gaming machines in series, so that it is possible to reduce costs without carrying out extensive construction work. Not only can a game ball supply facility be constructed, the height of the apparatus can be reduced, and the layout can be flexibly dealt with.

In addition, as described in claim 2, the game ball transport device is configured to be connected in a straight line shape or a curved shape as viewed from above.
In this way, the present invention can be applied not only to gaming machine islands in which gaming machines are arranged in a straight line but also to gaming machine islands in which gaming machines are arranged in a curved shape.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the game ball transport device is configured in units of gaming machines and can be connected in series, and the game balls in the horizontal transport path are horizontally aligned. It is set as the structure provided with the conveyance body to convey and the drive device which drives the said conveyance body.
In this way, not only can the game ball transport device modularized in units of gaming machines be configured easily, but each game ball transport device can be driven independently.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the transport body is a spiral transport body that transports game balls in the horizontal transport path in the horizontal direction by rotation about a horizontal axis.
In this way, compared to other transport methods such as a belt conveyor, not only can the structure be simplified and the cost can be reduced, but also the transport direction can be switched only by forward / reverse control of the rotational direction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the spiral transporter is configured to transport a game ball with an air-core coil-shaped spiral rod.
In this way, it is possible to carry out ambiguous transport that allows the backflow of the game ball even when overflowing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the horizontal transport path is formed to be wide at the connecting portion between the transport body and the driving device.
If it does in this way, stagnation of the game ball in a connection part can be prevented, and smooth horizontal conveyance can be performed.
Furthermore, by providing a supply port for supplying game balls to the gaming machine side at this connecting portion, it is possible to prevent the game balls from being discharged from the supply port without stagnation or stagnation, and to prevent the game balls from being rusted. it can.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the end portion of the horizontal conveyance path is configured to be slidably provided with a connecting member that can be fitted to an adjacent horizontal conveyance path.
If it does in this way, when installing a game ball transportation device, a connection operation of game ball transportation devices can be completed only by pulling out a connecting member and making it fit in an adjacent horizontal conveyance path.

In addition, as described in claim 8, it is configured to include level detection means for detecting a storage level of game balls in the horizontal conveyance path.
If it does in this way, it will become possible to perform horizontal conveyance of a game ball between each game ball transportation device, after recognizing the storage level of a game ball in each game ball transportation device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the game ball transport device is installed in a gaming machine.
If it does in this way, it will become possible to construct | assemble a game ball supply equipment within the height of a game machine.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the game ball transport device is installed outside the game machine.
In this way, it is possible to realize a gaming ball supply facility with excellent versatility that can be applied even if the configuration / mechanism of the gaming machine changes.

  As described above, according to the game ball transport system of the present invention, a plurality of game ball transport devices configured in units of gaming machines can be connected in series to form a continuous game ball horizontal transport path. In addition to constructing a game ball supply facility at a low cost without carrying out a large-scale construction, the height of the apparatus can be reduced and the layout can be flexibly dealt with.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a game ball transport system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is a front view of a slot machine provided in a game ball transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an internal front view of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an internal side view of the slot machine. 4 is an internal plan view of the slot machine, and FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the slot machine.

A slot machine (game machine) 1 shown in these drawings is a ball-type slot machine that is played using a game ball B (pachinko ball), and includes a front door 10 that opens and closes a front opening of the slot machine 1. On the front side, the slot 11 into which the game ball B is inserted, the BET switch 12 and the MAXBET switch 13 that specify the number of game balls B to be put on the game, and the start of the rotation of the spinning cylinder 14 (14a to 14c) are started. Pay off the lever 15, three stop buttons 16 (16 a to 16 c) for stopping the rotation of the rotating drum 14, a return button 17 for returning the inserted game ball B, and a game ball B (award ball and return ball) A payout opening 18 is provided, and a tray 19 for holding the game ball B paid out from the payout opening 18 is provided.
Moreover, in this embodiment, the automatic throwing-in apparatus 60 which conveys the game ball B in the saucer 19 automatically to the insertion slot 11 is provided.

  Inside the slot machine 1, a drum unit 20 in which the revolving drum 14 is incorporated, a game ball transport device 21 that stores and horizontally transports the game balls B, and a tray that receives the game balls B in the game ball transport device 21 as prize balls. A payout device 22 for paying out 19, a take-in device 23 for taking the game ball B thrown into the slot 11 into the slot machine 1 in accordance with the BET operation of the player, and a game ball B taken in by the take-in device 23, From the lifter device 24 that returns to the game ball transport device 21, the game ball cleaning device 25 that cleans the surface of the game ball B through the lifting path of the lifter device 24, and a microcomputer that controls each part of the slot machine 1 And a control device 26 (see FIG. 5).

A player who wants to play a game in the slot machine 1 first borrows a game ball B at a predetermined unit price.
Here, it is preferable to match the unit price of the rented game balls B with the unit price of the pachinko balls used in the current pachinko machine. In this way, not only can the game ball B be shared between the ball-type slot machine and the pachinko machine, but also existing game ball equipment (such as a game ball counter) installed in the hall can be diverted.
Note that the gaming ball B can be lent by the inter-ball ball lending machine 27 or the slot machine 1.

When matching the unit price of the game ball B with the current pachinko ball, the unit price of the game ball B is 4 yen, which is 1/5 of the unit price (20 yen) of medals used in the current slot machine. Therefore, the game balls B bet on the game are handled in units of five, and the maximum bet number of one game is 15 (equivalent to three medals).
Further, the number of game balls B to be paid out according to the winning contents of the game is in units of 5, and the maximum payout amount per time is 75 (equivalent to 15 medals).

The player inserts a predetermined number or more of game balls B into the insertion slot 11 and then operates the BET switch 12 or the MAXBET switch 13 to determine the number of game balls B to bet on the game. For example, if the BET switch 12 is operated once, five game balls B are bet on one game, and if the BET switch 12 is operated twice, ten game balls B are bet on one game, and the BET switch 12 is turned on. When three times or the MAXBET switch 13 is operated once, 15 game balls B are bet on one game.
Note that the game ball B can be inserted into the insertion slot 11 by allowing the player to grab the game ball B with his / her hand and insert the game ball B in the tray 19 to the insertion slot 11 by the automatic insertion device 60. It can be automatically transferred and loaded.

  The take-in device 23 holds the game balls B thrown in from the slot 11 in units of five, and takes the game balls B into the slot machine in units of five according to the operation of the BET switch 12 or the MAXBET switch 13. . The game ball B captured here is sent to the lifter device 24 via the capture path 28. Further, when the number of game balls B inserted is insufficient with respect to the set bet number or when the return button 17 is operated, the path is switched by the switching machine 29 and the game in the take-in device 23 is performed. The ball B is returned to the tray 19.

  After the player operates the BET switch 12 or the MAXBET switch 13, the player rotates the three rotating cylinders 14 based on the operation of the start lever 15, and then rotates the rotating cylinders 14 based on the operation of the stop button 16. Are stopped sequentially. A plurality of symbols are arranged on the outer periphery of each spinning cylinder 14, and the winning combination is determined based on the stopped symbols on the active line.

  The payout device 22 holds the game balls B supplied from the game ball transport device 21 in units of five, and discharges the game balls B in units of five according to the winning content of the game. The game ball B discharged by the payout device 22 is normally paid out to the tray 19 via the payout route 30. When a prize ball number error or the like occurs in the payout device 22, the switching device 31 switches the route. The game ball B in the payout device 22 is sent to the lifter device 24.

  The lifter device 24 lifts the game balls B sent from the take-in device 23 and the payout device 22 to the game ball transport device 21 in a state of being aligned in a line via a lift path 32 that rises substantially vertically. The lifter device 24 of the present embodiment immediately lifts the game ball B sent from the take-in device 23 or the payout device 22, but temporarily stores the game ball B sent from the take-in device 23 or the payout device 22. A lower storage tank may be provided, and the game ball B may be lifted according to the storage status of the lower storage tank or the game ball transport device 21.

  The game ball cleaning device 25 includes a cleaning member 25 a that contacts the game ball B in the pipe through an opening formed in the lifting path 32 and cleans the surface of the game ball B. The cleaning member 25a of this embodiment is a so-called brush, and includes a plate-like brush holder and a large number of hairs implanted on one side surface thereof. If it does in this way, compared with the case where polishing cloth is used, the lifetime of the cleaning member 25a can be extended and a running cost can be reduced.

6 is an internal front view of the game ball transport device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is an internal plan view of the game ball transport device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is the present invention. FIG. 9 is an AA arrow view of the game ball transport device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a BB arrow view of the game ball transport device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in these drawings, the game ball transport device 21 includes a horizontal transport path 33, a transport body 34, a drive device 35, and a connecting member 36.

The horizontal conveyance path 33 is a rod (or pipe) having a length dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the slot machine 1, and is connected in series with the horizontal conveyance path 33 of the adjacent slot machine 1 via the connecting member 36. Can be linked.
As shown in FIG. 8A, the connecting member 36 of this embodiment is a ridge (sheath tube) that overlaps with the outer peripheral surface of the horizontal conveyance path 33, and the bent portions 36 a at both end edges are at both ends of the horizontal conveyance path 33. Engage with the edge. According to such a connecting member 36, it is slidably supported at the end portion of the horizontal conveyance path 33. Therefore, the connecting member 36 is simply slid out and fitted to the end portion of the adjacent horizontal conveyance path 33. Thus, the connection work between the game ball transport devices 21 can be completed. In addition, the connection member 36 is not limited to a linear thing like this embodiment. For example, you may comprise by the bent pipe and the flexible tube which has flexibility. In this way, it is possible to connect the game ball transport device 21 in a curved shape when viewed from above.

The horizontal transport path 33 is set to have a capacity so that a predetermined number of game balls B can be stored. For example, it is preferable that 2400 or more necessary for a big bonus can be stored. A supply port 33 a is formed at the bottom of the horizontal conveyance path 33, from which the game ball B is supplied to the payout device 22.
The horizontal conveyance path 33 can be formed in a bowl shape with the upper side opened as shown in FIG. 8A, but as shown in FIG. 8B, it is formed in a pipe shape such as a perfect circle. By forming or attaching a cover to the upper opening of the bag, it is possible to form a culvert-shaped conveyance path. By using such a culvert-shaped transport path, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from overflowing and overflowing from the transport path 33, and there is an advantage that an arbitrary pipe line can be set, such as reducing the diameter of the transport path 33. .

  The transport body 34 transports the game balls B in the horizontal transport path 33 in the horizontal direction. The transport body 34 of the present embodiment is a helical transport body that horizontally transports the game balls B by rotation about the horizontal axis 34a, and has a simplified structure and cost reduction compared to other transport systems such as a belt conveyor. In addition, the conveyance direction can be switched only by forward / reverse control in the rotation direction. Further, among the spiral transport bodies, in particular, a vine conveyor that transports the game ball B with the air-core coil-shaped spiral bar 34b is preferable. If the transport body 34 is configured in this way, it is possible to perform ambiguous transport that allows the game ball B to flow backward even when it overflows. The spiral bar 34b is integrally fixed to a plurality of stays 34c projecting radially from the horizontal shaft 34a.

  A predetermined gap is secured between the transport body 34 and the horizontal transport path 33. When the gap is made equal to or less than the radius of the game ball B, the game ball B can be positively conveyed while preventing the game ball B from being caught. Further, the gap may be equal to or larger than the diameter of the game ball B. In this case, although the conveyance capability is lowered, the conveyance body 34 can be prevented from being locked.

  The drive device 35 includes a speed reducer 35a and a motor 35b. The speed reducer 35a rotatably supports an intermediate portion of the horizontal shaft 34a and decelerates the power of the motor 35b to rotate the horizontal shaft 34a. In this case, it is not necessary to bearing both ends of the horizontal shaft 34 a, so that it is possible to avoid the narrowing of the both end flow paths of the horizontal conveyance path 33 by the bearing member, and smoothly between adjacent horizontal conveyance paths 33. The game ball B can be transported. Further, the horizontal conveyance path 33 is formed wide at the connecting portion between the conveyance body 34 and the driving device 35. When such a wide part 33b is formed, the stagnation of the game ball B at the connecting part can be prevented, and smooth horizontal conveyance can be performed. The motor 35b may be an AC motor of several tens of watts, and it is preferable to reduce the output rotation to several tens of rpm and rotate the transport body 34 at a low speed.

  In addition, the game ball transport device 21 is provided with level detection means 37 for detecting the storage level of the game ball B in the horizontal transport path 33. If it does in this way, it will become possible to perform horizontal conveyance of game ball B between each game ball transportation device 21, after recognizing the storage level of game ball B in each game ball transportation device 21. There is no limitation on the detection method of the level detection means 37. For example, an eddy current proximity sensor, a reflection optical sensor, a transmission optical sensor, or the like can be used. However, in the present embodiment, the level detection unit 37 is configured at low cost by utilizing the conductivity of the game ball B. is doing. More specifically, the horizontal conveyance path 33 is formed of an insulating resin, and a metal insert is provided by shifting the position in the height direction. In the present embodiment, four metal inserts are provided, and the level high detection unit 37a, the level middle detection unit 37b, the level low detection unit 37c, and the ground unit 37d are sequentially arranged from the top. If it does in this way, the storage level of the game ball B in the horizontal conveyance path 33 is detectable based on the electroconductive state of each detection part 37a-37c.

  According to the present embodiment configured as described above, since the game ball transport device 21 is modularized in units of gaming machines, the game ball transport devices 21 corresponding to the number of installed devices are connected to perform continuous game ball horizontal transport. A road can be constructed. As a result, it is possible not only to construct a gaming ball supply facility at a low cost, but also to flexibly cope with layout changes and the like without carrying out extensive construction work.

  Further, since the transport body 34 is a spiral transport body that transports the game balls B in the horizontal transport path 33 in the horizontal direction by rotation about the horizontal axis 34a, compared to other transport methods such as a belt conveyor, Not only can the structure be simplified and the cost can be reduced, but also the conveyance direction can be switched only by forward / reverse control in the rotation direction.

  Further, since the spiral transport body is a vine conveyor that transports the game ball B with the air-core coil-shaped spiral rod 34b, it is possible to perform an ambiguous transport that allows the game ball B to flow backward even when it overflows.

  Further, since the horizontal transport path 33 is formed wide at the connecting portion between the transport body 34 and the driving device 35, the stagnation of the game ball B at the connecting portion can be prevented and smooth horizontal transport can be performed.

  Further, since the end portion of the horizontal conveyance path 33 is slidably provided with a coupling member 36 that can be fitted to the adjacent horizontal conveyance path 33, when installing the game ball conveyance device 21, the coupling member 36 is pulled out to be adjacent to the horizontal conveyance path 33. The connection work of the game ball transport devices 21 can be completed only by fitting them in the horizontal transport path 33.

  In addition, since the level detecting means 37 for detecting the storage level of the game ball B in the horizontal transfer path 33 is provided, the game ball transfer device 21 recognizes the storage level of the game ball B in each game ball transfer device 21. It becomes possible to transport the game ball B horizontally.

  Further, since the game ball transport device 21 is built in the slot machine 1, not only can the game ball supply equipment be configured simultaneously with the installation of the slot machine 1, but also the game ball supply equipment is accommodated within the height of the slot machine 1. be able to. Note that the game ball transport device 21 is preferably detachably installed in the slot machine 1. If it does in this way, when replacing slot machine 1, old game ball transportation device 21 can be removed and used for a new model.

  Further, since the slot machine 1 includes a lifter device 24 that returns the game ball B taken inside to the game ball transport device 21, not only the game ball collection facility on the game machine island is unnecessary, but also the game ball B The amount of external circulation can be reduced and the capacity of the game ball transport device 21 can be suppressed.

  Further, since the game ball cleaning device 25 for cleaning the game ball B is provided in the lifting path 32 of the lifter device 24, the game ball can be obtained without providing a game ball cleaning facility on the game machine island. B can be kept clean.

Next, another embodiment of the game ball transport device 21 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 10 is an internal front view of the game ball transport device according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is an internal plan view of the game ball transport device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in these drawings, in the game ball transport device 21B of the second embodiment, the transport body 34 is not a vine conveyor but a screw conveyor using a spiral plate 34d. The screw conveyor usually has a higher conveying capacity than the vine conveyor, and there is no ambiguity to allow backflow at the time of overflow. However, by increasing the gap between the spiral plate 34d and the horizontal conveyance path 33, Ambiguous conveyance can be performed like a conveyor.

FIG. 12 is a side view of a slot machine showing an installation example of a game ball transport device according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 shows an installation example of the game ball transport device according to the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of a pachinko machine.
As shown in these drawings, the game ball transport device 21C according to the third embodiment is different from the game ball transport device 21 of the above embodiment in that it is installed outside the game machine without being installed inside the game machine. ing. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the game ball transport device 21C is installed on the upper surface of the slot machine 1B, and the game ball B is supplied to the upper storage tank 39 of the slot machine 1B via the supply pipe 38. 13 shows an example in which the game ball transport device 21C is installed on the upper surface of the pachinko machine 1C, and the game ball B is supplied to the upper storage tank 39 of the pachinko machine 1C via the supply pipe 38. Thus, when the game ball transport device 21C is of the external type, the game ball B can be supplied regardless of the type of the game machine.

Next, a game ball transport system configured using a plurality of game ball transport devices 21 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 14 is a plan view of a wall surface slot island to which the game ball transportation system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 15 is a front view of the wall surface slot island to which the game ball transportation system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG.
As shown in these figures, the game ball transport system is for supplying a game ball B to a plurality of game machines installed in a hall, and transports a plurality of game balls configured in units of game machines. The devices 21 (including 21B and 21C) are connected in series to form a continuous game ball horizontal conveyance path. In this way, it is possible to form a continuous game ball horizontal transfer path by simply connecting a plurality of game ball transfer devices 21 configured in units of game machines in series, so that a low cost can be achieved without performing a large-scale construction. In addition to building a game ball supply facility, it can flexibly respond to layout changes and the like.

  14 and 15 show wall surface slot islands to which the game ball transportation system of the present invention is applied. Here, the game ball transport device 21 installed in each slot machine 1 is connected in a straight line to form a continuous game ball horizontal transport path. In addition, a supply pipe 41 is installed at a substantially central portion of the game ball horizontal conveyance path, and when the storage level of the game ball B in the game ball horizontal conveyance path falls below a predetermined level, the supply pipe 41 automatically A game ball B is supplied. A storage box 42 is connected to one end of the game ball horizontal conveyance path. The storage box 42 is for collecting the game balls B surplus in the game ball horizontal conveyance path.

  Each game ball transport device 21 constituting such a game ball transport system may be autonomously controlled by a game machine or may be centrally controlled by a central control device. In any case, the game balls B are horizontally transported to each game ball transport device 21 so that the shortage of the game balls B does not occur in all the gaming machines. For example, in the game ball transport device 21 in which the game ball transport device 21 is connected on both sides, the transport control is performed so that the storage level in the adjacent game ball transport device 21 is between middle and low, and the game ball is only on one side. In the game ball transport device 21 at the end to which the transport device 21 is connected, the transport control is performed so that its own storage level is between the middle and low levels. When there is no large change in the total amount in the game ball horizontal conveyance path or when there is a tendency to decrease, the storage level in the game ball horizontal conveyance path can be equalized by such conveyance control.

  On the other hand, when the total amount of the game ball horizontal transport path is increasing, it is necessary not only to actively transport the game balls B horizontally but also to store surplus balls in the storage box 42 in order to prevent overflow. . For example, if there is a high level game ball transport device 21, it is transported toward the game ball transport device 21 that is below the level. If the level high state is still not resolved, the game balls B are filled in the range below the level high in order from the opposite side of the storage box 42 to try to equalize the entire level. If the level is still high in many game ball transport devices 21, the release mode is set, and the game balls B are transported toward the storage box 42 so that the level becomes lower than the level in order from the side close to the storage box 42. To do. Although such a state seems to hardly occur, the game ball B stored in the storage box 42 may be rusted if left as it is, so it is preferable to provide a sensor to give some alarm. Since the slot island is usually provided with a storage box for collecting overflow medals, the storage box may be used.

FIG. 16 is a plan view of a double-sided slot island to which the game ball transportation system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 17 is a plan view of the double-sided slot island to which the game ball transportation system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG.
As shown in this figure, the game ball transport system of the present invention can be applied to a double-sided slot island. However, in this case, it is preferable that the two rows of game ball horizontal conveyance paths are communicated with each other via the communication conveyance device 43, and the supply pipe 41 is installed in the communication conveyance device 43. If it does in this way, leveling of a storage level can be attained in the whole two-row game ball horizontal conveyance way. The communication transport device 43 employs a transport system similar to that of the game ball transport device 21, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

18 is a plan view of a curved slot island to which the game ball transportation system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 19 is a plan view of the curved pachinko island to which the game ball transportation system according to the embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG.
As shown in these drawings, the game ball transport system of the present invention can also be applied to a gaming machine island in which slot machines 1, 1B and pachinko machines 1C are arranged in a curved manner. In this case, each game ball transport device 21 is preferably connected by using a bent pipe or a flexible tube having flexibility.

As mentioned above, although the preferred embodiment was shown and demonstrated about the game ball conveyance system of this invention, this invention is not limited only to embodiment mentioned above, A various change implementation is possible in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.
For example, in the embodiment described above, a ball-type slot machine has been described as an example of a gaming machine that is an object of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to a slot machine, and a game ball is used to play a game. As long as it is a variety of gaming machines, it may be a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball machine, a sparrow ball machine, etc., and the type, model, configuration, installation form, etc. of the game are not particularly limited. .

  The present invention is applied to a game ball transport system for supplying game balls to a plurality of game machines installed in a hall. In particular, it is useful when supplying game balls to a slot machine that is played using game balls.

It is a front view of the slot machine which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is an internal front view of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an internal side view of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an internal plan view of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control configuration of the slot machine according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an internal front view of the game ball transport device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an internal plan view of a game ball transport device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is an AA arrow line view of the game ball transportation device concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a BB arrow line view of the game ball transportation device concerning a first embodiment of the present invention. It is an internal front view of the game ball transport device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. It is an internal top view of the game ball conveying apparatus which concerns on 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of the slot machine which shows the example of installation of the game ball transportation apparatus concerning a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view of the pachinko machine which shows the example of installation of the game ball transportation device concerning a third embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the wall surface slot island to which the game ball transportation system concerning an embodiment of the present invention was applied. It is a front view of the wall surface slot island to which the game ball transportation system concerning an embodiment of the present invention was applied. It is a top view of the double-sided slot island to which the game ball transportation system concerning an embodiment of the present invention was applied. It is CC arrow directional view of the double-sided slot island to which the game ball conveyance system concerning the embodiment of the present invention was applied. It is a top view of the curve slot island to which the game ball transportation system concerning an embodiment of the present invention was applied. 1 is a plan view of a curved pachinko island to which a game ball transport system according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Explanation of symbols

1 slot machine 21 game ball transport device 24 lifter device 25 game ball cleaning device 33 horizontal transport path 33b wide portion 34 transport body 34a horizontal shaft 34b spiral rod 35 drive device 35a speed reducer 35b motor 36 connecting member 37 level detection means 40 replenishment Tube 41 Storage box 42 Communication device for communication

Claims (10)

A game ball transport system for supplying game balls to a plurality of game machines installed in a hall,
A game ball transport system comprising a plurality of game ball transport devices configured in units of game machines connected in series to form a continuous game ball horizontal transport path.   The game ball transport system according to claim 1, wherein the game ball transport device is connected in a straight line shape or a curved shape as viewed from above. The game ball transport device comprises:
A horizontal conveyance path that is configured in units of gaming machines and that can be connected in series;
A transport body for transporting game balls in the horizontal transport path in a horizontal direction;
The game ball transport system according to claim 1, further comprising: a driving device that drives the transport body.   The game ball transport system according to claim 3, wherein the transport body is a spiral transport body that transports game balls in the horizontal transport path in a horizontal direction by rotation about a horizontal axis.   The game ball transport system according to claim 4, wherein the spiral transport body transports a game ball with an air-core coil-shaped spiral rod.   The game ball transport system according to claim 3, wherein the horizontal transport path is formed wide at a connecting portion between the transport body and the driving device.   The game ball transport system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein an end portion of the horizontal transport path is slidably provided with a connecting member that can be fitted to an adjacent horizontal transport path.   The game ball transport system according to claim 3, further comprising level detection means for detecting a storage level of game balls in the horizontal transport path.   The game ball transport system according to claim 1, wherein the game ball transport device is installed in a gaming machine.   The game ball transport system according to claim 1, wherein the game ball transport device is installed outside a game machine.

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