JP2007215755A - Low restitution structure of ball tray - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To permit the restraint of game balls hitting the top face of a ball tray from rebounding, the prevention of the game balls from jumping out of the ball tray and the reduction of noise caused at the time when the game balls hit against the tray. <P>SOLUTION: An impact diffusion member 15 made by molding a plurality of riblike impact diffusion pieces 17 at an appropriate interval is mounted in contact with the lower surface of the ball tray 5 in such a manner as to make the riblike impact diffusion pieces extend in parallel with the lower surface of the ball tray. The state of contact of the impact diffusion members 15 with the underside of the ball tray 5 is made adjustable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a low resilience structure of a ball tray that prevents a ball from hitting the ball tray and greatly rebounding in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, an arrange ball machine, a sparrow ball game machine, a slot machine, a parrot game machine, etc. It is about.

  In a gaming machine using a sphere (pachinko ball made of a steel ball having a diameter of about 11 mm) such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine as a game medium, in general, the game ball paid out from the prize ball payout outlet is received on the front of the gaming machine. There is a ball tray. A ball lending machine such as a card insertion type or a money insertion type is provided adjacent to the gaming machine. A ball lending replenishing nozzle is provided on the front surface of the ball lending machine so as to be rotatable. The nozzle is operated to position the nozzle above the ball tray, and the ball lending button of the ball lending machine is pushed in this state so that a predetermined number of game balls are dropped from the nozzle onto the ball tray. I have to.

  By the way, in recent pachinko machines, as a large electronic display device such as a liquid crystal display device is provided on the game board, the game board surface is gradually expanded downward, and with this enlargement, the ball tray is gradually lowered to a lower position. It has become necessary to set up. For this reason, the tip opening of the ball lending supply nozzle of the existing ball lending machine and the upper surface of the ball receiving tray are considerably separated from each other. The phenomenon of rebounding and spilling from the ball tray is increasing.

Therefore, in the gaming machine shown in Patent Document 1 below, an impact absorbing plate made of a synthetic resin such as soft urethane is placed flush with the upper surface of the ball tray to reduce the impact force of the pachinko ball. It was intended to prevent the ball from popping out.
In addition, the gaming machine shown in the following Patent Document 2 determines a ball supply timing at which a game ball is supplied to the ball tray, and advances the ball spill restricting member prior to the supply timing, so Even if it bounces back, it makes it possible to suppress popping out.
JP 2002-210173 A JP 2005-237785 A

However, if the shock absorbing plate is arranged on the upper surface of the ball tray as in Patent Document 1, the rebound may be increased depending on the design. There is a problem that it is difficult to roll the ball, and a problem that separation is required when the gaming machine is discarded due to different materials. In addition, the gaming machine of Patent Document 2 requires an electric drive source for operating the ball spill restricting member and a control device for the electric drive source, and the configuration becomes complicated. Since the spill restricting member is raised, there is a risk of injury to the player's finger.
Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide a low resilience structure of a ball tray that can minimize the rebound of the game ball without any change in appearance such as the upper surface of the ball tray.

Therefore, the invention of the low resilience structure of the ball tray described in claim 1 is characterized in that an impact diffusion member is mounted in contact with the lower surface of the ball tray.
In the invention of the low resilience structure of the ball tray according to claim 2, a plate-shaped impact diffusion member formed by molding a plurality of rib-shaped impact diffusion pieces at appropriate intervals is provided on the lower surface of the ball tray. The piece is mounted in a contact state so as to extend in a direction parallel to the lower surface of the ball tray.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the low resilience structure of the ball tray, an impact diffusion member is mounted on the lower surface of the ball tray, and the contact state of the impact diffusion member with the lower surface of the ball tray can be adjusted. It is characterized by that.
The invention described in claim 4 is characterized in that, in the low resilience structure of the ball tray, the impact diffusing member makes the natural frequency of the bottom wall of the ball tray unspecified.

  According to the ball tray of the present invention, the rebound of the game ball can be suppressed and the game ball can be prevented from jumping out of the ball tray. Further, noise generated at the time of game ball collision can be reduced.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows the front of the pachinko machine 1, and 2 is a ball lending machine provided next to it. The pachinko machine 1 is provided with a large electronic display device 4 in the center of the game board 3, and a ball tray 5 according to the present invention is provided below the game board. A ball lending replenishment nozzle 6 is provided on the front surface of the ball lending machine 2 so as to be rotatable in a horizontal plane. By rotating the nozzle 6, the tip opening of the nozzle is opposed to the upper surface of the ball receiving tray. It is configured to be. Then, when the player inserts a card or the like into the ball lending machine 2 and operates the button, the game ball falls onto the ball receiving tray 5 from the tip outlet of the nozzle 6, and as shown in FIG. Since the bottom wall 9 of the tray 5 is gently inclined in the direction of the launching part 7, the game ball flows in the direction of the launching part 7 by its own weight and is used for the game. Note that 8 is a prize ball payout exit, and the game balls discharged as prizes from the payout exit are also temporarily stored on the ball receiving tray 5. Reference numeral 13 denotes a lower pan provided in the lower front portion of the pachinko machine 1 for storing game balls overflowing from the ball receiving tray 5, and reference numeral 14 denotes a hitting ball launching handle.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the ball tray 5 is formed on the front surface of the mounting substrate 10 by, for example, injection molding of ABS resin with a predetermined mold so that the thickness of the bottom wall 9 is about 2 mm. Molded into a protruding shape. A plurality of bosses 11 project from the bottom surface of the bottom wall 9 of the ball tray 5 at appropriate intervals, and a plate-like impact diffusion member 15 is mounted on the bosses by fastening means such as screws 12.

  The impact diffusing member 15 is formed of a synthetic resin such as ABS resin or polycarbonate, like the ball receiving tray 5, and has a plurality of rib-like shapes on one side of the flat plate portion 16 at appropriate intervals as shown in FIG. The impact diffusion piece 17 is integrally formed, and the cylindrical fitting portions 18 into which the bosses 11 are loosely fitted at the four corners of the flat plate portion 16 are integrally formed. In addition, the thickness of the flat plate part 16 shown in this embodiment is 2 mm. The rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 is 2 mm thick, and a plurality of rib-like impact diffusion pieces 17 are formed on one side of the flat plate portion 16 at an equal pitch of 4 mm, and the standing height is set to 10 mm.

  When the impact diffusing member 15 is attached to the bottom surface of the bottom wall of the ball tray 5 with the screw 12, the contact condition and the crimping condition of the impact diffusion member 15 with respect to the bottom surface of the ball tray 5 can be adjusted by tightening the screw 12. I am doing so. By mounting the impact diffusion member 15 on the lower surface of the ball tray 5 in this manner, the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 can be in a state extending in a direction parallel to the lower surface of the ball tray.

  Thus, in the ball tray 5 equipped with the impact diffusing member 15, a pachinko ball made of a steel ball having a diameter of 11 mm and a weight of 5.5 gram, which is widely used in general, is naturally dropped from a height of 20 cm, and its bottom wall 9 When it is made to collide with the upper surface, the height of jumping is 1/10 or less compared to the case where nothing is provided, and there is almost no rebound that can be visually confirmed, and there is a remarkable effect that can suppress the rebound Was confirmed. The sound generated at the time of collision changed to a dull sound, and the noise level was clearly reduced.

  The reason why repulsion can be suppressed by mounting the impact diffusing member 15 is not clear, but repulsion occurs when the pachinko ball collides with the ball tray 5 and the bottom wall 9 of the ball tray 5 is locally elastically deformed and restored. Therefore, it is considered that the resilience can be suppressed by reducing the restoring force and delaying the restoration timing. Therefore, the impact diffusion member 15 propagates the energy of the collision generated at the collision point of the pachinko sphere in the longitudinal direction by the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 provided in a state extending in a direction parallel to the lower surface of the ball tray 5 and instantly. Spread. As a result, the restoring force at the collision point is reduced, and at the same time, the restoration timing is delayed, the repulsion of the pachinko sphere is suppressed, and the frequency of noise is also lowered and the volume is reduced.

  Further, when the thickness, pitch, height, etc. of the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 other than the values shown in this embodiment were manufactured and tested, these values were found to be repulsive and noise of the game ball. It has been found that this is related to the degree of suppression. Incidentally, the impact diffusion member 15 shown in the above embodiment has almost no rebound that can be visually observed, but the rebound increases when the standing height of the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 is 15 mm or more or 5 mm or less. Became. For this reason, if the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 is formed with an equal pitch of 2 mm and 4 mm, the standing height is preferably about 5 to 12 mm. Further, it was found that the height of the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 formed at an equal pitch of 2 mm and 8 mm is preferably about 5 to 12 mm for the same reason. However, the repulsion is minimized, that is, in the best mode, as shown in this embodiment, a plurality of rib-shaped impact diffusion pieces 17 having a thickness of 2 mm and a standing height of 10 mm are provided at an equal pitch of 4 mm. Was to form. The thickness of the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 is preferably about 1 to 2 mm in order to facilitate the production of the synthetic resin material by injection molding.

  The pitch is preferably 11 mm or less, which is the diameter of the pachinko sphere, since the falling point of the pachinko sphere varies. Here, the optimum dimensions of the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 are summarized as follows. That is, it is preferable that the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 has a thickness of 1 to 2 mm, a pitch of 4 to 11 mm, and a standing height of 5 to 12 mm. Moreover, when the value of this range is expressed by volume ratio, when the volume of the flat plate portion 16 having a thickness of 2 mm is 100, the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 has a volume ratio of 45 to 220 so that the volume ratio of the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 is approximately 45 to 220. By forming the impact diffusion piece 17, the desired low repulsion structure can be obtained.

  Thus, the extent to which repulsion and noise are actually suppressed is affected by the size and pitch of the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17. Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 8, when the impact diffusion member 15 formed in a lattice shape by connecting adjacent rib-like impact diffusion pieces 17 with ribs 17a was also tested for repulsion, In the case of the sample having a thickness of 2 mm and a pitch of 4 mm, the desired result was obtained by setting the standing height of the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 to 5 mm or less, and the rebound increased at 5 mm or more. The impact diffusion member formed with a cylindrical impact diffusion piece having a diameter of 3 mm was also tested by changing the standing height and pitch in various ways, but almost no action to suppress repulsion and noise was obtained. This is presumed to be caused by the fact that if the impact diffusion piece has an isolated shape with no continuity such as a cylindrical shape, the collision energy is not instantly propagated and is difficult to diffuse.

  The degree to which repulsion and noise are suppressed is affected not only by the shape of the impact diffusion member 15 but also by the contact state of the impact diffusion member 15 with the lower surface of the ball tray 5. For this reason, it is possible to find an optimum tightening condition for suppressing the repulsion by adjusting the contact condition and the crimping condition by adjusting the tightening of the screw 12. It is also possible to adjust the contact condition and the crimping condition by increasing or decreasing the number of screws 12 to be used. It is also possible to attach the impact diffusion member 15 to the lower surface of the ball tray 5 by forming fastening means other than screws, for example, engaging portions.

  On the other hand, FIG. 9 shows an embodiment in which the impact diffusion member 15 is turned upside down and mounted on the lower surface of the ball receiving tray 5, and the rib-shaped impact diffusion piece 17 is directly fixed to the lower surface of the ball receiving tray 5 in this way. You may let them. FIG. 10 shows an embodiment in which an impact diffusion member 15 having rib-like impact diffusion pieces 17 formed on both surfaces of the flat plate portion 16 is mounted on the lower surface of the ball tray 5. Even when the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 was formed on both sides, the expected effect was confirmed.

  Further, delaying the restoration timing of the bottom wall 9 of the ball tray 5 that has collided with the pachinko ball is considered to be effective in suppressing repulsion, but the impact diffusion member 15 is mounted on the lower surface of the ball tray 5 in this way. By doing so, it is considered that the restoration timing of the bottom wall 9 is also delayed. That is, by attaching the impact diffusion member 15, it is considered that the natural frequency becomes unspecified as the shape becomes complicated, or the natural frequency of the bottom wall 9 decreases. It is considered that the restoration is not performed at a specific timing that coincides with the rebound period, and the rebound is suppressed. From this point of view, it is considered effective to make it impossible to specify the natural frequency by mixing rib-shaped impact diffusion pieces 17 having various heights as shown in FIG.

  Further, the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 of the impact diffusion member 15 shown in this embodiment has a linear shape. However, as shown in FIG. 12, a multiple circle in which the fall point of the pachinko sphere is substantially at the center. It is good also as what formed the rib-shaped impact-diffusion piece 17 in the form extended in a shape. In short, in the present invention, if the impact diffusion member 15 is mounted in a contact state so that the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 extends in a direction parallel to the lower surface of the ball receiving tray 5, the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 is linear. It does not have to be. Further, in this embodiment, the impact diffusion member 15 is provided only in the portion facing the nozzle 6 of the ball tray 5, but it may be provided in a wider range. Further, by molding the impact diffusion member 15 with the same synthetic resin material as that of the ball tray 5, it becomes unnecessary to separate each material at the time of disposal of the gaming machine, and disposal becomes easy.

Further, in the present invention, the impact diffusion member 15 can be formed of ordinary synthetic resin such as ABS resin. Therefore, by placing an impact absorbing plate such as rubber on the upper surface of the ball tray as in the prior art. There is no problem that settling occurs or dirt easily adheres and makes it difficult for the pachinko ball to roll, and there is no problem that the structure becomes complicated and the manufacturing cost increases.
Although it is assumed that the rib-like impact diffusion piece 17 is integrally formed on the lower surface of the ball tray 5, streaky irregularities are formed on the upper surface of the ball tray 5 due to shrinkage (sink) of the synthetic resin material at the time of molding. Although there is a possibility of harming the flow of the game ball, there is no such problem when the impact diffusion member 15 is formed as a separate member and the ball receiving tray 5 is mounted on the lower surface as in the present invention.
And in this invention, since it is only necessary to provide the impact diffusion member 15 on the lower surface of the ball tray 5, there is no fear of damaging the external aesthetics of the gaming machine by providing a cover member that covers the impact diffusion member 15. It is possible to easily cope with a problem that a game ball jumps out of the ball tray 5.

In this embodiment, the pachinko machine in which the lower tray 13 is provided below the ball tray 5 has been described. However, the present invention may be implemented in a ball tray in which the ball tray 5 and the lower tray 13 are integrated. Of course. In this case, since the position of the ball tray is further lowered, there is a problem of the game ball popping out. However, by providing the impact diffusion member 15, the game ball can be effectively prevented from jumping out.
Moreover, although the above embodiment demonstrated the ball | bowl tray of the front surface of the pachinko machine, this invention may be provided in other parts which are worried about the repulsion of a game ball | bowl, or the noise accompanying a collision. For example, as shown in FIG. 13 showing the back surface of the pachinko machine, by attaching the impact diffusion member 15 according to the present invention to the lower surface of the ball receiving tray 5a for storing the prize sphere provided at the upper back side of the pachinko machine, Repulsion and noise when the pachinko ball falling from the prize ball supply cylinder 20 collides with the ball tray 5a can be reduced, and the game ball does not spill from the ball tray 5a. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the game ball is directed to the lower plate 13 at the bottom of a ball guide bar 19 provided in the pachinko machine in order to move the game ball overflowing from the ball tray 5 to the lower plate 13. A bucket-shaped ball receiving tray 5b whose bottom wall is inclined forward is provided. By mounting an impact diffusing member 15 on the lower surface of the bottom wall 9 of the ball receiving tray 5b with a screw 12 or the like, the inside of the ball receiving tray 5b is provided. The rebound of the game ball that has fallen into the ball is suppressed, the flow of the game ball is made smoother and the noise is suppressed.

  The present invention is not limited to the pachinko machine shown in the embodiment, but various points such as a game machine such as a sparrow ball game machine or a slot machine, a ball lending machine, or an island return device for moving the game ball in the game hall. Can be applied to.

The front view of the pachinko machine and ball lending machine concerning this invention. The top view of the ball | bowl tray of the pachinko machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. BB sectional drawing of FIG. The perspective view of the ball tray which concerns on this invention. The disassembled perspective view of the ball tray which concerns on this invention. The perspective view of the impact-diffusion member which concerns on this invention. The perspective view of the impact-diffusion member which shows other embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ball receiving tray which shows other embodiment of this invention. The longitudinal cross-sectional view of the ball receiving tray which shows other embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the impact-diffusion member which shows other embodiment of this invention. The perspective view of the impact-diffusion member which shows other embodiment of this invention. The back view of the pachinko machine concerning this invention. The perspective view of the ball receiving tray which shows other embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

5 Ball tray 9 Bottom wall 12 Screw 15 Impact diffusion member 16 Flat plate portion 17 Rib-shaped impact diffusion piece

Claims (4)

  A low resilience structure for a ball tray, wherein an impact diffusion member is mounted in contact with the lower surface of the ball tray.   A plate-shaped impact diffusion member formed by molding a plurality of rib-shaped impact diffusion pieces at appropriate intervals is brought into contact with the lower surface of the ball tray so that the rib-shaped impact diffusion pieces extend in parallel with the lower surface of the ball tray. Low resilience structure of a ball tray characterized by being mounted as a state.   The low resilience structure of the ball tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an impact diffusion member is attached to a lower surface of the ball tray, and a contact state of the impact diffusion member with respect to a lower surface of the ball tray can be adjusted.   The low resilience structure of the ball tray according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the impact diffusion member makes the natural frequency of the bottom wall of the ball tray unspecified.

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