JP2006334091A - Game ball apportioning mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game ball apportioning mechanism capable of preventing easy prediction of the result of apportionment of game balls. <P>SOLUTION: The game ball apportioning mechanism in a game machine is an apportioning mechanism for apportioning game balls shot out onto a game board to a shot ball receiving part or a failure ball discharge part. The apportioning mechanism comprises an introduction part for guiding winning balls among the shot-out game balls, a conveying part capable of conveying game balls via the failure ball discharge part toward the shot ball receiving part while holding the game balls via the introduction part, and a magnetic force feeding part for selectively feeding the magnetic force to the conveying part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball distribution mechanism, and more particularly to a game ball distribution mechanism that combines a moving means for moving a game ball and a magnetic ball adsorption means using magnetic force.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a gaming machine is known in which the right or wrong of a distribution destination of game balls supplied to a winning device called a so-called prize is used as a game point. More specifically, the gaming machine distributes game balls that have passed a predetermined winning opening to any one of a plurality of passages by a distribution mechanism, and when a game ball passes through a specific passage, A predetermined number of prize balls are paid out, a specific game is started, or a change in the game image on the display unit provided on the game board surface is started.

  As such a distribution mechanism, there are a mechanism that uses the shape of the structure for performing the distribution, a mechanism that uses a magnet, a mechanism that uses an electric drive means such as a motor, or a combination of these. In recent years, in order to change the flow of the game ball according to the shape of the structure of the game ball and to electrically control the game ball distribution destination, a distribution mechanism using a lot of electric drive means has been mainly developed. .

  For example, as a combination of an electric drive means such as a motor and a structure, a distribution mechanism using a rotating disk is known (see Patent Documents 1 and 2). The distribution mechanism described in Patent Document 1 includes a rotating disk body, an introduction portion that guides a game ball toward the rotating disk body, and a rotating mechanism that rotates the rotating disk body. The rotating disk body includes a plurality of first holes provided in a line along the circumferential direction, a second hole provided in the center of rotation, and extends in a radial direction from the edge. And a single guide groove for guiding the game ball toward the second hole. Further, first and second passages corresponding to the first and second holes are provided. The distribution mechanism rotates the rotating disk body by the rotation driving unit, and guides the game balls supplied toward the rotating disk body to the first or second hole. That is, the distribution mechanism distributes the first or second passage using a rotating disk body.

The distribution mechanism described in Patent Document 2 is a rotating disk body in which a rotation axis is arranged perpendicular to the vertical direction, a guide frame that surrounds the outer periphery of the rotating disk body, and the rotating disk body is rotated in one direction. Including a motor. The guide frame has a ball introduction path above the rotating disk body, a ball dropping path below the rotating disk body, and first and second ball outflow paths at the outer left and right positions of the lower portion of the rotating disk body. I have. The rotating disk body includes a vertical concave portion carved along the radial direction from the edge portion, a first bent concave portion that is bent in the radial direction from the edge portion and formed into a “<” shape. , And a second bent concave portion that is folded back and formed in a “J” shape after going from the edge in the radial direction. The rotary disc body can accommodate the game ball that has passed through the ball guide path in either the vertical recess or the first or second bent recess by a rotational motion by a motor. The game ball once accommodated is guided to the ball dropping path and the first and second ball outflow paths in accordance with the shape of the accommodated recess. That is, the game ball accommodated in the vertical recess is led to the first ball outflow path, and the game ball accommodated in the first bent recess is guided to the ball drop path and stored in the second bent recess. The sphere is led to the second sphere outflow path.
JP-A-10-76054 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-138582

  Any of the above-described distribution mechanisms is configured to distribute the game balls according to the shape of the rotating disk body. As a result, an operator of a gaming machine equipped with such a distribution mechanism almost predicts the final distribution destination according to the position of the game ball in the rotating disc body before the game ball passes through each distribution path. There was a problem that could be done.

  That is, before the game ball passes through the final distribution destination path, the distribution result is predicted by the operator, and the position of the game ball on the rotating disk body provides a disadvantageous result for the player. If the operator predicts this, the player's interest in the game ball distribution destination will be lost at an early stage before the final result is obtained. As a result, the attractiveness to gaming machines has been reduced.

  The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problem as an example. A game ball distribution mechanism in which it is difficult to predict a distribution result until the game ball passes through a distribution destination path. It is intended to provide.

  A game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention is a game ball distribution mechanism that distributes game balls hit on a game board to a receiving part or a release part, and introduces a winning ball out of the game balls As long as the magnetic force is provided and is provided between the introduction part and the corresponding receiving part, the game ball passing through the introducing part is held and then passed through the detaching discharge part toward the corresponding receiving part. It includes a transport unit that can transport and a magnetic force supply unit that selectively supplies magnetic force to the transport unit.

Hereinafter, a game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, although the following Example demonstrates the game machine called what is called a 2nd type game machine, it is not limited to this.
(Example 1)
As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 includes an outer frame 2 that is configured by a vertically long rectangular frame and is firmly fixed to a place where the gaming machine is installed, and one side held by the outer frame 2 and the outer frame 2. And a transparent glass frame 4 and a door frame 5 provided on the front frame 3 so as to be openable and closable.

  The front frame 3 is provided with a game board 6 whose board surface is a game area. Below the front frame 3, an upper plate 7 for temporarily storing bullets to be supplied to the gaming machine (hereinafter also referred to as gaming balls), and a part of the bullets discharged as prize balls from the gaming machine 1 are stored. A lower plate 8, a bullet launching mechanism (not shown) for launching the bullet into the upper part of the game board, and an operation handle 9 for operating the bullet launching mechanism are provided. Further, an electronic control device (not shown) for controlling various devices of the gaming machine is provided on the back surface of the gaming machine 1.

  The game board 6 is provided with start ports 10 at three positions, the lower left and right and the lower center, as well as nails, windmills and the like (not shown). Further, a variable winning device 11 (so-called special electric accessory) having a plurality of winning areas is provided in the approximate center of the game board 6. The variable winning device 11 has a blade portion 12 that distributes whether or not the game ball can pass into the mechanism. The blade portion 12 may be opened and closed when the game ball passes through the start port 10. When the blade portion 12 is in the open state, the game ball can be guided into the variable winning device 11. Of the game balls that have been launched on the game board 6, the game balls that have passed through the wings 12 serve as winning balls and are guided to the game ball distribution mechanism 13 via a guide path (not shown). The distribution mechanism 13 includes a plurality of passages (not shown in FIG. 1), that is, a disk-like body 14 that constitutes a conveyance unit that distributes the game balls to either the hit acceptance unit or the off-discharge unit.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the game ball distribution mechanism 13 includes an introduction portion 15 that communicates with the guide path of the variable winning device 11 and guides the winning ball. The introduction part 15 has an inclined bowl-like part 15a that is connected to the guide path and has an inclined surface, and a vertical cylindrical part 15b that guides a game ball in the vertical direction from the inclined bowl-like part 15a.

  A transport unit 16 is disposed below the introduction unit 15. The transport unit 16 includes a disk-like body 14 and a base 17 that rotatably supports the disk-like body 14. The disc-like body 14 is a rotating body provided with a plurality of groove portions 14a for receiving game balls at the edge, and is rotated by a second driving means (not shown). The groove portion 14a extends radially to the outer edge along the radial direction of the disk-like body 14, and the bottom portion 14b of the groove portion 14a becomes an inclined surface that allows the game ball to fall from the center of the disk-like body to the outer edge. Yes. Note that the ball discharge opening 15c of the vertical cylindrical portion 15b is disposed in the vicinity of the edge of the disk-like body 14 so that the game ball is supplied to the groove portion 14a.

  A contact receiving portion 18 and a disengagement discharge portion (not shown) are disposed on the outer periphery of the disk-like body 14, and an outer edge of the disk-like body 14 is surrounded by the contact reception portion 18 and a disengagement discharge portion (not shown). ing. The contact receiving part 18 is disposed at a position away from the vicinity of the vertical cylindrical part 15b, that is, at a position away from the edge near the vertical cylindrical part 15b in the circumferential direction of the disk-like body 14. In other words, the transport unit 16 is provided between the introduction unit 15 and the contact receiving unit 18. The hit receiving portion 18 supports a receiving ball passage 18 a having an accepting ball passage opening (not shown) through which a game ball passes, and a game ball that has fallen from the groove portion 14 a of the disk-like body 14 in the vicinity of the hit receiving portion 18. And an inclined portion 18b for guiding the game ball to the receiving ball passage opening. Although the detachment discharge portion is omitted in FIG. 2 for the sake of simplicity, a discharge ball passage opening through which a game ball that falls from the groove portion 14a of the disk-like body 14 passes in the vicinity of the detachment discharge portion (see FIG. And a discharge ball passage (not shown).

  That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer periphery of the disk-shaped body 14 is surrounded by the contact receiving portion 18 and the disengagement discharge portion 19, and the game ball that has fallen from the groove portion 14 a is the inclined portion 18 b of the contact reception portion 18 or the outflow discharge. It passes through one of the discharge ball passage openings 19a of the part 19. The discharge ball passage opening 19a of the detachment discharge portion 19 is a general winning opening. In addition, a ball detection sensor (not shown) is provided in a discharge ball passage (not shown) through which the game ball that has passed through the discharge ball passage opening 19a is guided. When the sensor detects a game ball, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out.

  On the other hand, the receiving ball passage opening 18c of the hit receiving portion 18 is a specific winning opening, and a ball detection sensor (not shown) is also provided in the receiving ball passage 18a. When the ball detection sensor detects that a game ball has passed through the receiving ball passage 18a, the gaming machine provides a specific game state (also referred to as a big hit game state) advantageous to the player. Here, the specific gaming state refers to a state in which the gaming machine gives the player an opportunity to pay out a large amount of prize balls in a short time. This refers to the state where it is easy to guide into the device.

  The disk-like body 14 has a belt-like magnetic adsorption region 14c that is disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral edge and has a shape along the circumferential direction. The magnetic adsorption region 14c has a “C” shape with a part of the ring missing. One end of the magnetic adsorption region 14c is disposed below the ball discharge opening 15c (shown by a dotted line in FIG. 3) of the vertical cylindrical portion 15b, and the other end is disposed in the vicinity of the contact receiving portion 18. ing. In the magnetic adsorption region 14c, a means (not shown) for supplying a magnetic force such as a permanent magnet can be arranged below the disk-like body 14, that is, on the base 17 side that supports the disk-like body 14. A means for supplying a magnetic force having a shape corresponding to the region of the disk-like body 14 is disposed. The magnetic adsorption region 14 c is a region fixed with respect to the base 17 and does not move according to the rotation of the disk-like body 14. That is, one end of the magnetic adsorption region 14c is always disposed below the ball discharge opening 15c, and the other end is always disposed in the vicinity of the contact receiving portion 18. Further, the magnetic force is supplied to the region by using a magnetic force supply unit (not shown) provided with means for supplying the magnetic force. The magnetic force supply unit has a structure for selectively supplying magnetic force to the transport unit 16 as described below.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the magnetic force supply unit 20 supports the permanent magnet 21 with a semi-cylindrical permanent magnet 21 provided with a slit in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder so that the cross-sectional shape is C-shaped, and has a cross-sectional shape. Has a magnet support part 22 formed in the same manner as the cross section of the permanent magnet 21. In FIG. 4, both the contact receiving part 18 and the detaching discharge part 19 are omitted in order to simplify the description. The permanent magnet 21 is a core having a C-shaped magnetic end. That is, the C-shaped end faces of the permanent magnet 21 are different magnetic poles. The permanent magnet 21 and the magnet support portion 22 are disposed below the magnetic adsorption region 14c. The magnet support part 22 is moved up and down by the first drive means 23 constituting the magnetic force supply part 20. That is, the permanent magnet 21 can be moved freely. The first driving means 23 includes a solenoid 24. The solenoid 24 has an exciting coil (not shown) wound in a cylindrical shape, a metal mandrel 24a inserted into the exciting coil, and a spring (not shown) that urges the mandrel 24a to one side of the exciting coil. And a case 24b containing the exciting coil and the mandrel 24a. Usually, the mandrel 24a inserted into the exciting coil is stored in the case 24b by the spring provided in the case 24b. In addition, when an excitation current is input to the excitation coil, the excitation coil is magnetized to protrude the mandrel 24a out of the case 24b. The driving of the first driving means 23 is performed according to a control signal from the electronic control device 25 of the gaming machine. The first drive means 23 may be a cam mechanism including a rotary motor, a transmission gear that changes the rotational speed of the rotary motor, and a cam connected to the transmission gear.

  A longitudinal rotary connecting shaft 26 is inserted inside the cylindrical portions of the permanent magnet 21 and the magnet support portion 22. One end of the rotary connecting shaft 26 is coupled to the center of the disc-like body 14, and the other end is coupled to the second driving means 27. The second driving means 27 is composed of, for example, a rotary motor. The driving of the second driving means 27 is controlled by the electronic control device 25 of the gaming machine, and the rotational movement of the second driving means 27 is transmitted to the disk-like body 14 via the rotary connecting shaft 26. ing. That is, by driving the second driving means 27, the disk-like body 14 is rotated about the rotation connecting shaft 26 as a central axis.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the first driving means 23 operates in response to a driving start signal from the electronic control device 25, and the mandrel 24 a of the solenoid 24 lifts the magnet support portion 22 upward. When the permanent magnet 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the disc-like body 14, a magnetic force sufficient to attract the game ball B (shown by a dotted line in the figure) to the magnetic attraction area 14c of the disc-like body 14 is supplied. Even when the permanent magnet 21 is disposed in the vicinity of the magnetic adsorption region 14c, the disk-like body 14 is rotatable.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the first driving means 23 operates in response to a driving stop signal from the electronic control unit 25, and the mandrel 24a of the solenoid 24 is accommodated in the case 24b. In response to this, the magnet support portion 22 moves downward, the permanent magnet 21 is disposed at a position away from the disc-like body 14, and the magnetic force in the magnetic adsorption region 14c becomes weak. As a result, the game ball B (indicated by the dotted line in the figure) cannot be attracted to the magnetic adsorption region 14c, and the game ball B arranged in the magnetic adsorption region 14c falls along the inclined bottom portion 14b of the groove portion 14a. Then, it is discharged to the outside of the disk-shaped body 14 (indicated by a thick arrow in the figure).

  The electronic control unit 25 receives a ball detection signal from a ball detection sensor 28 provided in the start winning opening 10. The electronic control unit 25 controls the first timer 29a and the second timer 29b and receives time signals from them. The sphere detection sensor 28, the first timer 29a, and the second timer 29b will be described in detail later.

  Next, the movement of the game ball in the game ball distribution mechanism configured as described above will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the game ball B that has passed through the ball discharge opening 15c of the introduction portion 15 is guided to the groove portion 14a of the disk-like body 14 that rotates counterclockwise. Here, when the permanent magnet 21 is lifted upward and the magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region 14c, the game ball B is attracted to the magnetic adsorption region 14c by the magnetic force and stays in the groove 14a. However, when the permanent magnet 21 is disposed below and no magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region 14c, the game ball B falls from the groove portion 14a and passes through the discharge ball passage opening 19a of the detachment discharge portion 19. It becomes.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, the game ball B attracted to the magnetic attraction area 14 c rotates and moves around the center of rotation of the disk-shaped body 14 while staying in the groove 14 a according to the rotation of the disk-shaped body 14. When the magnetic force is not supplied to the magnetic adsorption region 14c during the rotational movement, the game ball falls and is guided to the discharge ball passage opening 19a of the discharge unit 19. When the disc-like body 14 is further rotated in a state where the game ball is adsorbed on the disc-like body 14, the game ball B is transported to the vicinity of the hitting / receiving portion 18 as shown in FIG. Here, when the magnetic force is no longer supplied to the magnetic adsorption region 14c, the game ball B falls from the groove 14a, is guided to the inclined portion 18b, and further passes through the receiving ball passage opening 18c. Even if the supply of the magnetic force to the magnetic adsorption region 14c is maintained, the magnetic force is weakened with the other end of the magnetic adsorption region 14c as a boundary, so that the game ball B is formed in the disc-like body 14 at the end of the magnetic adsorption region 14c. Fall from. Such a game ball is also guided to the receiving ball passage opening 18c by the inclined portion 18b. That is, the game ball B transported to the vicinity of the hit acceptance unit 18 is guided to the hit acceptance unit 18.

  As described above, as long as magnetic force is supplied, the transport unit 16 can transport the game ball B that has passed through the introduction unit 15 through the detachment discharge unit 19 toward the contact receiving unit 18 while being held. In the distribution mechanism described above, the distribution of the game balls is determined according to the operation state of the magnetic force supply unit 20, and the groove that can make the game ball hit and reach the receiving unit is not specified in the disk-shaped body. In other words, since the allocation destination is not determined in advance by the shape of the member that transports the game ball in the transport unit, the allocation destination of the game ball cannot be predicted at the time when the game ball is supplied to the disk-shaped body.

  Note that the rotating body in the transport unit is not limited to a disk-shaped body, and an object (for example, an elliptical shape) that has a groove portion that receives a game ball at the edge and can discharge the game ball from the groove portion to the outside. Plate).

  Next, control of the game ball distribution mechanism will be described.

  In the gaming machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, when a game ball passes the start winning opening 10 on the game board 6, the ball detection sensor 28 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) provided in the starting winning opening 10 is electronically controlled. A sphere detection signal is supplied to the device 25 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The electronic circuit device 25 sends an opening command to the blade portion 12 so as to open only for a predetermined time. Further, the electronic control device 25 performs interrupt processing as shown in FIG. 7 for the distribution mechanism 13 in response to the reception of the ball detection signal.

First, the electronic control unit 25 stores time data T ₀ related to the time for driving the first driving means 23 and time data T ₁ and T ₂ related to the time for driving the second driving means 27 to a memory unit (not shown). Load) (S1). Here, T ₀ is set longer than the time obtained by adding T ₁ and T ₂ (T ₀ > T ₁ + T ₂ ). Next, the electronic control unit 25 supplies a drive start signal to the second drive unit 27 and sends a drive start command (S2). The second driving means receives the driving start signal and rotates the disk-like body 14. In such a situation, even if the game ball is guided to the disk-like body 14, the game ball cannot be adsorbed on the disk-like body 14.

Next, the electronic control unit 25 starts the first timer 29a (S3). The first timer 29a continuously supplies information regarding the elapsed time from the start of the first timer 29a to the electronic control unit 25. Here, when the elapsed time of the first timer 29a becomes T ₁ (S4), the electronic control unit 25 sends a drive start command to supply a drive start signal to the first driving means 23 (S5) . The first drive means 23 receives a drive start command from the electronic control unit 25, inputs an excitation current to an excitation coil (not shown) in the solenoid 24, and the mandrel 24a projects out of the case 24b. At this time, the mandrel 24a lifts the magnet support portion 22 upward, and magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region 14c (see FIG. 4). In this situation, when the game ball is guided to the disk-like body 14, the game ball is adsorbed in the groove portion 14a of the disk-like body 14 (see FIG. 6A).

Subsequently, the electronic control unit 25 starts the second timer 29b (S6). The second timer 29b continuously supplies information related to the elapsed time from the start of the second timer 29b to the electronic control unit 25. Here, until the elapsed time of the second timer 29b is T _2, the operation of the sorting mechanism 13 is maintained. That is, the game ball adsorbed on the disc-like body 14 moves while adsorbed on the disc-like body 14 according to the rotation of the disc-like body 14 (see FIGS. 6B and 6C).

If the elapsed time of the second timer 29b becomes T ₂ (S7), the electronic control unit 25 sends a drive stop command to the first drive means 23 (S8). The first drive means 23 that has received the drive stop command stops the input of the excitation current to the excitation coil (not shown) in the solenoid 24, and the mandrel 24a is accommodated in the case 24b. In response to this operation, the magnet support portion 22 moves downward, and the supply of magnetic force to the magnetic adsorption region 14c is completed (see FIG. 5). As a result, the game ball adsorbed by the discoid body falls from the bottom portion 14b of the groove portion 14a. Here, when the first driving means 23 stops driving, when the game ball is at a position as shown in FIG. 6B, that is, at a position away from the hit receiving unit 18, the game ball is removed from the detaching and discharging unit 19. Will pass through the discharge ball passage opening 19a. Further, when the first driving means 23 stops driving, if the game ball is in the position shown in FIG. 6C, that is, in the vicinity of the contact receiving portion 18, the game ball falls toward the inclined portion 18b. It will pass through the receiving ball passage opening 18c of the hit receiving portion 18.

When the elapsed time of the first timer 29a reaches T ₀ (S9), the electronic control unit 25 sends a drive stop command to the second drive means (S10), and the interrupt process for the distribution mechanism 13 is completed. To do.

A plurality of the lengths of T ₁ and T ₂ described above may be set for each, and a combination of these may be used. For example, for T ₁ , T ₁₁ and T ₁₂ are set, and T ₁₂ is equal to the average time from when the game ball passes through the blade portion 12 until it reaches the ball discharge opening 15 c of the introduction portion 15. , T ₁₁ is assumed to be a half of the _{T 12 (T 11 ≒ T 12} /2). Also, setting the T ₂₁ and _{T 22 (T 21 <T 22} ) for T _2, to T ₂₁ is moved to the vicinity of the contact receiving portion 18 from the ball discharge opening 15c game ball by a disc-shaped body 14 has become equal to the time required, T ₂₁ is assumed to be a half of the _{T 22 (T 21 ≒ T 22} /2).

As shown in FIG. 8, when T ₂ is set to T ₂₁ and fixed, a combination (D1-1) in which magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region after T _{11 has} elapsed after the blade 12 is opened, and T ₁₂ after the can is magnetic in the magnetic adsorption region to set a combination of two combinations (D1-2) that are supplied. In such a combination, in the case of the former (D1-1), since the opening of the blade portion 12 and the supply of magnetic force are performed in a short time, a game ball that passes at a high speed to a game ball that passes at a low speed, that is, introduction. Regardless of the passing speed in the section 15, almost all game balls can be adsorbed to the disc-like body 14. However, since the time T ₂₁ during which the magnetic force is supplied to the disk-like body 14 is set equal to the time required to move from the ball discharge opening 15 c to the vicinity of the contact receiving portion 18, Only game balls that pass at a high speed and are attracted to the disc-like body 14 at an early stage can reach the receiving portion 18.

On the other hand, in the latter case (D1-2), the time during which the magnetic force is supplied to the disc-like body 14 from the opening of the blade portion ₁₂ is set to the average passing time T12 of the game balls in the introduction portion 15. The game ball that has passed through the introduction portion 15 at a high speed is not attracted to the disc-like body 14. In addition, since the time during which the magnetic force is supplied to the disc-like body 14 is T ₂₁ , only the game balls that have passed through the introducing portion 15 at an average speed are allowed to hit the receiving portion 18 under the condition of D1-2. Can reach. Here, when the average velocity has a peak in the velocity distribution of the game balls passing through the introduction unit 15, the condition of D1-2 is a probability that the game ball reaches the hit receiving unit 18 as compared with the condition of D1-1. Is a highly advantageous condition.

When T ₂ is set to T ₂₂ and fixed, a combination (D1-3) in which magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region after T _{12 has} elapsed after the blade portion 12 is opened, and magnetic adsorption after T _{11 has} elapsed. Two combinations of combinations (D1-4) in which magnetic force is supplied to the region can be set. In such a combination, T ₂₂ is set sufficiently longer than the time required for the game ball to move from the ball discharge opening 15 c to the vicinity of the contact receiving portion 18, so that the blade portion 12 starts to open. The condition for supplying the magnetic force on the disk-like body 14 at an early stage is an advantageous condition for allowing more game balls to hit the receiving unit 18. That is, the condition of D1-4 is more advantageous than the condition of D1-3.

  As described above, the game ball distribution result can be changed by combining the time until the second driving means is operated and the time for maintaining the operation. Further, by randomly changing the setting of such conditions, it becomes more difficult to predict the distribution result.

(Example 2)
A conveyance part is good also as including a support plate and the extrusion member of a game ball. For example, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the transport unit 30 includes a circular plate 31 that supports a game ball and is formed in a circular shape, and a center that is rotatably disposed at the center of the circular plate 31. A rotating member 32 including a plurality of extruding pieces 32b extending radially from the shaft 32a and the central shaft 32a and disposed above the circular plate 31. In FIG. 10, both the contact receiving part 18 and the detaching discharge part 19 are omitted in order to simplify the description.

  The circular plate 31 acts as a support plate and has an inclined surface 31a so that the game ball can roll from the center of the circle toward the periphery. The rotating member 32 acts as an extruding member and can push out the game ball on the circular plate 31 in the rotating direction. The circular plate 31 has a belt-like magnetic adsorption region 31b which is disposed in the vicinity of the peripheral edge and has a shape along the circumferential direction. The magnetic adsorption region 31b has a “C” shape with a part of the ring missing. The magnetic adsorption region 31b is a region in which a means for supplying magnetic force such as the permanent magnet 21 can be disposed below the circular plate 31, and has a shape corresponding to the region of the circular plate 31. A means for supplying a magnetic force is arranged. Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the distribution mechanism 13 of the first embodiment.

  In the vicinity of the peripheral edge of the circular plate 31 and in the vicinity of one end of the magnetic adsorption region 31b, a ball discharge opening 15c of the introduction portion 15 is disposed. When the magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region 31b, the game ball supplied from the ball discharge opening 15c is adsorbed to the region. The game ball is pushed out in the rotation direction (counterclockwise) by the pushing piece 32b of the rotating member 32. Here, as long as the magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region, the game ball does not fall from the inclined surface 31a of the circular plate 31 and remains adsorbed on the circular plate 31 along the magnetic adsorption region. Move to the vicinity of. The game ball transported to the vicinity of the hit receiving unit 18 is guided to the hit receiving unit 18 by stopping the supply of magnetic force or reaching the other end of the magnetic adsorption region. If the supply of magnetic force is stopped before the game ball reaches the vicinity of the receiving portion 18, the game ball falls from the circular plate 31 and passes through the discharge ball passage opening 19 a of the discharge portion 19. .

  Even with the transport unit 30 configured as described above, the distribution of the game balls is determined according to the operation state of the magnetic force supply unit 20, and the distribution destination is not defined according to the shapes of the circular plate 31 and the rotating member 32. . Therefore, at the time when the game balls are supplied to the transport unit 30, it is difficult to predict the game ball distribution destination.

  Note that the magnetic force supply unit may use an electromagnet as an alternative to the permanent magnet. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the electromagnet 33 includes a semi-cylindrical core 34 provided with a slit in the longitudinal direction of the cylinder so that the cross-sectional shape is C-shaped, and a coil 35 wound around the core 34. ,including. When a current is passed through the coil 35, the core 34 is magnetized, and the end portions 34a and 34b of the core 34 become magnetic pole end portions. The coil 35 is connected to current supply means (not shown), and the current supply means starts and stops input of current to the coil 35 in response to a control signal from an electronic control device (not shown) of the gaming machine. I do.

  When such an electromagnet 33 is used, the magnetic force is supplied to the magnetic adsorption region 31b by on / off control of the current to the coil 35. Therefore, the magnetic force supply unit 20 having the electromagnet 33 does not have to be provided with driving means for moving the electromagnet 33 up and down. As a result, the configuration of the distribution mechanism can be simplified.

1 is an external perspective view of a gaming machine equipped with a game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. It is a general | schematic external appearance perspective view of the distribution mechanism of the game ball by this invention. It is a schematic top view of the game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the game ball distribution mechanism shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the game ball distribution mechanism shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a schematic top view for explaining the movement of the game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention. 6 is a time chart for explaining the operation of the game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention. It is a schematic top view which shows the modification of the distribution mechanism of the game ball by this invention. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of the game ball distribution mechanism shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view (a) and a schematic cross-sectional view (b) of an electromagnet in a magnetic force supply section of a game ball distribution mechanism according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 13 Distribution mechanism 14 Disk-like body 14a Groove part 14b Bottom part 14c, 31b Magnetic adsorption area | region 15 Introduction part 15a Inclined bowl-shaped part 15b Ball-shaped cylindrical part 15c Ball discharge opening 16, 30 Conveyance part 17 Base 18 Perception part 18a Reception Ball passage 18b Inclined portion 18c Receiving ball passage opening 19 Displacement discharge portion 19a Discharge ball passage opening 20 Magnetic force supply portion 21 Permanent magnet 22 Magnet support portion 23 First driving means 24 Solenoid 24a Mandrel 24b Case 25 Electronic control device 26 Rotation coupling shaft 27 Second driving means 28 Sphere detection sensor 29a First timer 29b Second timer 31 Circular plate 31a Inclined surface 32 Rotating member 32a Central shaft 32b Extruded piece 33 Electromagnet 34 Core 34a, 34b End 35 Coil

Claims (7)

A game ball distribution mechanism that distributes game balls launched on the game board to a receiving part or a release part,
An introduction part for guiding a winning ball of the game balls;
As long as it is provided between the introduction part and the hit receiving part and magnetic force is supplied, it can be transported toward the hit receiving part via the detachment discharge part while holding the game ball via the introduction part. A transport section;
A game ball distribution mechanism comprising: a magnetic force supply unit that selectively supplies magnetic force to the transport unit.   2. The game ball distribution mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the transport portion includes a rotating body provided with a plurality of groove portions for receiving game balls at an edge portion.   3. The game ball distribution mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the rotating body is a disk-shaped body.   The game ball distribution mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit includes a support plate and a push-out member for a game ball. The support plate is a circular plate;
The pushing member includes a central axis that is rotatably arranged at the center of the circular plate, and a rotation that includes a plurality of extruded pieces that extend radially from the central axis and are arranged above the circular plate. The game ball distribution mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the game ball distribution mechanism is a member.   The game ball distribution mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic force supply unit includes a permanent magnet or an electromagnet that can freely move.   7. The game ball distribution mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic force supply unit includes a core having a C-shaped magnetic pole end.

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