JP2008093189A - Ball putting out device and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball putting out device made more compact by devising a ball putting out structure and a game machine using it. <P>SOLUTION: A step motor 700 serving as a drive source is interposed inside a casing 400 through the use of the longitudinally middle space of put-out routes 406 and 407. Spur gears 704, 706 and 709 are disposed in parallel in a radial direction of a pinion 703 supported on the output shaft 702 of the motor 700 inside the casing 400 together with the motor 700 respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball payout device and a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine using the ball payout device.

  Conventionally, as a ball payout device, for example, a prize ball payout device for a pachinko gaming machine disclosed in Patent Document 1 below has been proposed.

  The prize ball payout device is provided along the end of the prize ball guide rail positioned in an inclined manner below the prize ball storage tank of the pachinko machine and along one side edge of the mechanism plate on the rear surface of the pachinko machine. It is provided at the one side edge of the mechanism plate between the prize ball discharge passage.

  Thus, the prize ball payout device passes the prize sphere discharged from the prize sphere storage tank through the prize sphere discharge passage through the prize sphere discharge passage based on the prize signal from the prize ball detection switch. Each piece is paid out in the upper plate of a pachinko machine.

  In such a prize ball payout device, a stepping motor is employed as a drive source in achieving the prize ball payout function. This stepping motor is assembled to the case lid constituting the front wall of the case of the prize ball dispensing device by the motor body from the outside via a motor mounting plate. Here, the stepping motor is assembled to the case lid by the motor body so that the output shaft is orthogonal to the outer surface of the case lid.

  In addition, both sprockets are supported at the lower part of both ball supply rods in order to send the prize balls in both ball supply rods provided in the case downward, and both sprockets are connected via both gears meshing with each other. It is driven by a stepping motor.

The both gears are supported coaxially with the sprockets between the case lid and the motor mounting plate, and one of the two gears is supported coaxially with the stepping motor.
Japanese Patent No. 3766980

  By the way, in the prize ball dispensing device described above, the stepping motor is assembled to the case lid of the case from the outside via the motor mounting plate as described above. For this reason, a stepping motor will be located in the outer side of a case. As a result, the width of the prize ball dispensing device increases due to the influence of the thickness of the case (case width) along the axial direction of the output shaft of the stepping motor and the axial thickness of the motor body of the stepping motor. .

  Thus, when the prize ball payout device is attached to the one side edge portion of the mechanism plate of the pachinko machine from the rear side, the prize ball payout device has a mechanism so that the width direction thereof is along the left-right direction of the mechanism plate. Attached to one side edge of the plate. For this reason, in addition to the width of the case, the prize ball dispensing device is wide by the axial thickness of the motor body of the stepping motor, with the rear region of the mechanism plate directed from one side edge to the other side edge. Will be occupied.

  However, in recent years, the external shapes of various devices such as a symbol display device and a winning device that are fitted in a game board of a gaming machine tend to increase significantly.

  Therefore, even if it is intended to attach the prize ball payout device to one side edge of the mechanism plate as described above, this prize ball payout device is installed in the rear area of the mechanism plate in various devices such as a symbol display device and a winning device. It causes a problem that it is difficult to install by bumping.

  As described above, in the prize ball dispensing device, both gears supported coaxially with both sprockets are positioned between the case lid and the motor mounting plate, and one gear rotates the stepping motor. It is supported coaxially on the shaft.

  Therefore, the above-described prize ball payout device occupies the rear area of the mechanism plate more widely by the motor mounting plate and both gears. For this reason, the above-mentioned trouble is further promoted.

  Therefore, in order to deal with the above, the present invention aims to provide a more compact ball payout device and a gaming machine using this ball payout device by devising a game ball payout configuration. And

In solving the above problems, the ball payout device according to the present invention, according to claim 1,
A casing (400) having left and right side walls (409, 410) facing each other;
A first ball introduction port (412) that opens at the upper part (401, 400b) of the casing and a first ball discharge port (423a) that opens at the lower part (423, 402, 411) of the casing; A first ball payout passage extending in a vertical strip shape between the left and right side walls in the casing so as to move the game ball from the first ball introduction port toward the first ball payout port. (406)
A second ball introduction port portion (413) that opens at the upper portion of the casing and a second ball discharge port portion (423b) that opens at the lower portion of the casing; A second ball payout passage (407) extending in the vertical direction along the space between the left and right side walls in the casing so as to move the game ball toward the ball payout opening,
An electric motor (not shown) that is interposed between the intermediate portions of the first and second ball discharge passages in the casing and extends the output shaft (702) toward one of the left and right side walls (409). 700)
Ball payout means (703, 703) provided in the casing so as to alternately pay out each game ball moving in the first and second payout passages as the electric motor rotates from the first and second ball payout openings. 705, 706, 707, 708, 709, 710).

  As described above, the electric motor that is the driving source of the ball dispensing device is interposed in the casing by using the space between the middle portions of the first and second ball dispensing paths. Therefore, the distance between the left and right side walls of the casing (the width of the ball dispensing device) can be greatly reduced compared to the case where the electric motor is positioned outside the casing as in the prior art.

  This means that the ball dispensing device is significantly more compact in its width direction. As a result, even when such a ball payout device is attached to the rear surface of the frame-like main body of a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, the ball payout device does not occupy the rear area of the frame-like main body.

  Here, since the electric motor is positioned in the casing so as to extend toward one of the left and right side walls (409) of the casing at its output shaft, the interval between the left and right side walls of the casing is set to the outer diameter of the motor. It is determined by the axial dimension of the motor without being affected. Therefore, even if the outer diameter of the electric motor is large as long as the motor has a small axial dimension, the width of the ball dispensing device can be further reduced.

  Further, since the ball payout means is provided in the casing together with the electric motor, an extra component required when the ball payout means is provided outside the casing as in the conventional case together with the electric motor becomes unnecessary. The width can be further reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ball dispensing device according to the first aspect,
The ball payout means is
A pinion gear (703) supported by the output shaft of the electric motor and rotating with the rotation of the output shaft, and first and second gear shafts (705, 708) provided in parallel to the output shaft below the electric motor. ) And a gear train comprising first and second driven spur gears (706, 709) engaged with each other so as to reversely rotate outwardly with the rotation of the pinion gear,
The first and second driven spur gears are coaxially connected to the first and second driven spur gears by the first and second gear shafts on the one (410) side of the left and right side walls from the first and second driven spur gears. The first and second gear shafts are supported in the respective intermediate portions in the belt-like direction of the two ball payout passages so that the game balls reaching the intermediate portions in the belt-like directions are directed downward in the intermediate portions in the belt-like directions. First and second sprockets (707, 710) rotating in reverse with each other in reverse rotation of the first and second driven spur gears so as to alternately move the outer sides of both,
The gear train is arranged so as to be positioned in the radial direction of the pinion gear together with the first and second gear shafts and the first and second sprockets in the first and second driven spur gears. It is characterized by.

  According to this, in the ball payout means, the gear train is the first and second driven spur gears, together with the first and second gear shafts and the first and second sprockets, the output shaft of the motor. Are arranged so as to be positioned in the radial direction of the pinion gear supported by the output shaft of the electric motor, not in the axial direction. As a result, the function and effect of the invention of claim 1 can be further improved.

  Further, the first and second sprockets are alternately moved on the outer sides of both the first and second gear shafts downward in the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the first and second ball payout passages. The first and second ball payout passages are respectively provided from the first and second ball introduction ports to the first and second ball payout ports on the premise that they are supported so as to be rotated reversely to each other. Each of the intermediate portions in the belt-like direction is continuously configured in the belt-like direction while maintaining the passage wall without being interrupted.

For this reason, each game ball in the first and second ball payout passages does not pass between the first and second sprockets, but in each of the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the first and second ball payout passages. At
The first and second sprockets are guided downward along the inner wall of each of the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the first and second ball discharge passages so as to pass through the outer sides of the first and second sprockets.

  Accordingly, each game ball can move toward the first and second ball payout ports without being laterally shaken or violated in the first and second ball payout passages. As a result, when a game ball is detected by a ball payout detector in order to determine the number of game balls to be paid out, a phenomenon (chattering phenomenon) in which the same game ball is detected multiple times may be induced. The number of game balls to be paid out can be determined appropriately.

  As a result, if the ball payout device is used in a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine, an unnecessary trouble between the game hall manager and the player will occur in advance under the appropriate payout operation of the game ball. As a result, smooth operation of the amusement hall can be secured.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ball dispensing device according to the second aspect,
The gear train includes an intermediate spur gear (704) supported between the pinion gear and one of the first and second driven spur gears (706) and meshing with the pinion gear and the one driven spur gear. Features.

  As a result, the configuration of the gear train of the ball paying-out means can be made more specific, and the operation and effect of the invention according to claim 2 can be achieved more specifically.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ball dispensing device according to the second or third aspect,
The first ball payout passage is provided with a first raised portion (424) so as to smoothly guide the game ball from the periphery of the first gear shaft to the first ball payout opening portion along the inner wall of the first ball payout passage.
The second ball payout passage is provided with a second raised portion (431) so as to smoothly guide the game ball from the periphery of the second gear shaft to the second ball payout opening along the inner wall of the second ball payout passage. It is characterized by.

  According to this, when the first and second driven spur gears rotate reversely outward, the first and second sprockets also rotate reversely outward. Accordingly, the game ball reaching the first sprocket in the first ball payout passage does not sway in the front / rear / right / left direction at the portion around the axis of the first gear shaft by the first raised portion. Can be smoothly fed out through the opposite side of the second gear shaft. In addition, the game ball reaching the second sprocket in the second ball payout passage is not shattered in the front / rear / left / right direction around the second gear shaft by the second raised portion. It can be sent out through the opposite side of one gear shaft.

  Each game ball sent out in this manner is separated from the first and second gear shafts by the first and second raised portions in the first and second ball payout passages. The portion extending downward can be smoothly moved to the first and second ball payout ports without shaking in the front-rear and left-right directions. As a result, the operational effects of the invention as set forth in claim 2 or 3 can be achieved, and game balls can be paid out smoothly.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ball dispensing device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects,
First and second ball payout detectors (711, 712), ball breakage detecting means (416, 425, 520, 530), and a control unit (500) are provided.

The first ball payout passage is
An upper passage portion (406a) that extends downward from the first sphere introduction port portion and is formed to be bent in a crank shape toward one of the front and rear sides at the lower portion of the extension portion;
A lower passage portion (406b) formed so as to be bent downward from the lower end portion of the upper passage portion toward one of the left and right sides, and
The second ball payout passage is
Extending downward from the second sphere introduction port portion between the upper passage portion of the first ball payout passage and one corresponding portion (409a, 410a) of the left and right side walls with respect to the upper passage portion. An upper passage portion (407a) formed so as to be bent in a crank shape in the opposite direction to the lower portion of the upper passage portion of the first ball payout passage,
A lower passage portion (407b) formed to bend from the lower end portion of the upper passage portion toward the other side on both the left and right sides and to extend downward in line with the lower passage portion of the first ball payout passage. Have
The electric motor is a step motor that is interposed between the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the lower passage portions and extends the output shaft toward the one of the left and right side walls,
The first and second sprockets are respectively supported by the first and second gear shafts in the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the lower passage portions,
The first ball payout detector is provided in the lower passage portion of the first ball payout passage below the first sprocket, detects a game ball sent from the first sprocket,
The second ball payout detector is provided in the lower passage portion of the second ball payout passage below the second sprocket to detect a game ball sent from the second sprocket,
The ball breakage detecting means is provided in the casing so as to face the upper passage portions of the first and second ball payout passages, and a game ball into at least one of the upper passage portions is broken. When this happens, this ball break is detected,
The control unit is fitted into an opening (511a) formed in one of the front and rear sides on the upper part of the casing so as to face the upper passage portions of the first and second ball discharge passages from one of the front and rear sides. The step motor is stopped when the number of game balls detected by the first and second ball payout detectors reaches a predetermined number, or when a ball break is detected by the ball break detection means. It is characterized by controlling to.

  With this configuration, when performing motor control for paying out a game ball based on detection of a ball payout detector and motor control based on detection of ball breakage by a ball breakage detection means, the control unit has the first and first control units. 2 is provided in the casing together with the ball payout detector and the ball breakage detecting means. As a result, the ball payout device is configured integrally and compactly including the control unit, the ball payout detector, and the ball breakage detecting means, and the operational effect of the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 4 Can be further improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the ball dispensing device according to the fourth or fifth aspect,
A ball discharge passage extending in a strip shape in the vertical direction on the opposite side to the control unit of the first and second ball payout passages in the casing, wherein each of the upper passage portions is opposite to the control unit. A ball extraction passage (408) formed with a ball extraction opening so as to face from,
A ball removing means (600),
Each of the upper passage portions of the first and second ball payout passages has a ball discharge port portion at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction so as to face the ball discharge port portion from the side opposite to the control unit. Become
Ball removal means
A ball release lever (419) provided to be openable and closable in common with the ball discharge port of each of the upper passage portions;
An operating shaft (621a) that is provided on the casing so as to be operable from the outside and that opens and closes the ball release lever;
Each of the ball discharge ports is opened and closed by a ball release lever based on the operation of the operation shaft.

  As described above, the ball removal passage and the ball removal means configured as described above are provided in the casing, and the game balls of the first and second ball payout passages are drawn into the ball removal passage by the ball removal means. As a result, the ball dispensing device has a compact configuration in which the ball removal passage and the ball removal means are integrated, and the ball removal can be performed well.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a gaming machine according to the present invention
A base frame (100) erected for installation;
A gaming machine body (200),
A front door (300) supported to be openable and closable from the front side of the gaming machine main body,
The gaming machine itself is
A frame-shaped main body (210) assembled to the base frame;
A ball storage tank (220) that is supported along the rear side of the upper part of the frame-shaped main body and stores game balls;
Various devices (240) such as a symbol display device and a winning device assembled to the game board assembled to the frame-shaped main body below the ball storage tank and projecting to the rear side of the frame-shaped main body;
One of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped body is a game ball that extends from the space between the ball storage tank and the various devices toward one of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped body and falls from the ball storage tank. A ball guide rod (230) for guiding toward the
The ball dispensing device (D) according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The ball guide rod is formed at its inclined end portion to form a ball outlet portion that opens outward.
The ball payout device is positioned on the left and right side walls of the casing on the left and right sides, and faces the ball outlet port of the ball guide rod at the ball introduction ports of the first and second ball discharge passages. And attached along one of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped body.

  In this way, the ball dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 is located on the left and right side walls of the casing on the left and right sides, and the respective balls are introduced into the first and second ball dispensing passages. It is attached along one of the said right-and-left both-sides edge part of a frame-shaped main body so that it may oppose the said ball | bowl outflow port part of a bulb | ball guide rod at a mouth part, It is possible to provide a gaming machine that can achieve the effects of the invention.

  Here, since the interval between the left and right side walls of the casing, that is, the width of the ball dispensing device has been greatly reduced as described above, the ball dispensing device is arranged on the rear side of the frame-shaped main body in the width direction. It does not occupy a large area. As a result, even if the external shape of the various devices increases in the left-right direction on the rear side of the frame-shaped main body, the ball dispensing device does not collide with the various devices and changes the external specifications of the various devices. Without being done, it can be properly attached along one of the left and right side edges of the frame-like body.

Moreover, according to the description of claim 8, the ball dispensing device according to the present invention is as follows.
A base frame (100) erected for installation;
A gaming machine body (200),
A front door (300) supported to be openable and closable from the front side of the gaming machine main body,
The gaming machine itself is
A frame-shaped main body (210) assembled to the base frame;
A ball storage tank (220) that is supported along the rear side of the upper part of the frame-shaped main body and stores game balls;
Various devices (240) such as a symbol display device and a winning device assembled to the game board assembled to the frame-shaped main body below the ball storage tank and projecting to the rear side of the frame-shaped main body;
One of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped body is a game ball that extends from the space between the ball storage tank and the various devices toward one of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped body and falls from the ball storage tank. A ball guide rod (230A) for guiding to the side,
A dispensing device (D) according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The ball guide rod is formed at its inclined end portion to form a ball outlet portion that opens outward.
The frame-shaped main body is provided with a fixing member (212) extending rearward from one side edge in the left-right direction,
The ball dispensing device extends along the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body at one of the left and right side walls of the casing so as to extend from one side edge of the frame-shaped main body toward the other side edge. It is fixedly supported by the fixing member, and is positioned opposite to the ball outlet port portion of the ball guide rod at each of the ball introduction port portions of the first and second ball payout passages,
The various devices are interposed between the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body and the ball dispensing device from the end on the side edge side of the frame-shaped main body.

  Accordingly, the various devices are arranged so that the ball dispensing device extends from one side edge portion of the frame-shaped main body toward the other side edge portion along the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body at one of the left and right side walls of the casing. A gaming machine that can achieve the operational effects of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6 by being fixedly supported by a fixing member via an end portion on one side edge portion side of the frame-shaped main body Can be provided.

  Here, since the front-rear direction of the ball payout device coincides with the left-right direction of the pachinko gaming machine, the ball payout device largely protrudes from one side edge of the frame-shaped main body to the other side, and the various devices described above Even if the outer shape of the frame is increased in the left-right direction on the rear side of the frame-shaped main body, the various devices are paid out from the frame-shaped main body and the ball at the end of one side edge of the frame-shaped main body It is interposed between the devices. Accordingly, the ball dispensing device is properly supported by the support member without colliding with the various devices and without changing the external specifications of the various devices.

  In addition, since the width of the ball payout device is thin as described above, even if the width direction of the ball payout device matches the front-rear direction of the pachinko gaming machine, the ball payout device is connected to the pachinko gaming machine. The rear side does not unnecessarily protrude, and as a result, it does not collide with other pachinko machines standing on the rear side.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each said means shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means as described in each embodiment mentioned later.

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(First embodiment)
1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine to which the present invention is applied. The pachinko gaming machine is erected on an island in the pachinko hall when the pachinko gaming machine is installed. The pachinko gaming machine includes a rectangular base frame 100, a gaming machine main body 200 supported by the base frame 100, and A front door 300 is provided. In FIG. 1, the left side, right side, upper side, and lower side of the base frame 100 correspond to the left side, right side, upper side, and lower side of the pachinko gaming machine, respectively. Further, the front side (front door 300 side) and the rear side of the base frame 100 correspond to the front side and the rear side of the pachinko gaming machine, respectively.

  The gaming machine main body 200 includes a frame-shaped main body 210 and a game board (not shown), and the frame-shaped main body 210 is supported at its left edge so that it can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction on the left edge of the base frame 100. Has been. The game board is fitted in a central hole (not shown) of the frame-shaped main body 210, and various devices 240 (see FIG. 1) such as a symbol display device and a winning device are connected to the game board from the front side. ) Is attached. Note that the symbol display device and the winning device are each configured by a device main body and a control device thereof.

  In the first embodiment, the various devices 240 protrude to the rear side of the frame-shaped main body 210 immediately below the ball guide rod 230.

  In recent years, since the devices included in the various devices 240 described above tend to increase further, the outer shape of the various devices 240 tends to increase not only in the vertical direction of the frame-shaped main body 210 but also in the horizontal direction. . For this reason, the various devices 240 occupy the frame-shaped main body 210 widely in the left-right direction on the rear side.

  The frame-shaped main body 210 is configured by assembling a synthetic resin fixing plate along the right edge of the wooden game board, and the fixing plate is along the right edge of the game board at the assembly portion. It is assembled. Further, the fixed plate is integrally extended in a L shape to the left along the rear surface of the game board from the rear end portion of the assembly portion at the fixed portion.

  The gaming machine body 200 includes a ball storage tank 220 and a ball guide basket 230. The ball storage tank 220 is directly attached to the upper part of the frame-shaped main body 210 along the rear surface at the front wall thereof, and the ball storage tank 220 is supplied with game balls and stored therein from the upper end opening. . Note that the sphere storage tank 220 has a bottom wall opening, and this bottom wall opening secures a space on the rear side of the upper portion of the frame-shaped main body 210, Of these, an opening is formed downward in the corner between the left wall and the rear wall of the ball storage tank 220.

  The ball guide rod 230 is attached along the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body 210 so that the ball guide rod 230 is inclined rightward from the left end portion of the ball storage tank 220 to the right side and directly downward. The ball guide rod 230 guides the game ball falling from the bottom wall opening of the ball storage tank 220 in the tilt direction. In addition, the ball guide rod 230 has a ball outlet (not shown) at the right end 231 thereof, and the ball guide rod 230 moves the guide game ball downward from the ball outlet. Drop towards

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming machine main body 200 has a ball payout device D. The ball payout device D is located below the ball outlet portion of the ball guide rod 230. It is fixedly supported along the rear surface of the fixing portion of the fixing plate of the frame-shaped main body 210 so as to be positioned.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, 7, and 8, the ball dispensing device D includes a flat casing 400, and the casing 400 includes a rectangular parallelepiped casing body 400 a and the casing body. It is formed of a synthetic resin material so as to have a casing head part 400b that integrally extends upward from the rear part of the upper wall 401 of the part 400a. The flat shape described above means that the casing 400 has a thin shape in the left-right direction in FIG.

  Thus, the casing 400 is supported at an appropriate position on the right edge so that it abuts along the right edge on the rear surface of the frame-shaped body 210 at the front wall 402 (see FIG. 3) of the casing body 400a. (See FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). For this reason, in the casing 400, the casing main body portion 400a is below the spherical outlet port portion of the spherical guide rod 230 and protrudes rearward from the right edge portion of the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body 210. The casing head portion 400b is positioned immediately below the above-described ball outlet portion of the ball guide rod 230 while facing the right edge portion of the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body 210 at the front wall 403 with a space therebetween.

  The casing 400 includes a partition wall 404 (see FIGS. 5 and 7), a partition wall 405 (see FIGS. 4 to 7), a ball discharge passage 406 (see FIGS. 4 to 7), and a ball discharge passage 407 ( 4 to 6) and a ball passage 408 (see FIG. 5).

  The partition wall 404 has an upper partition wall portion 404a (see FIGS. 5 and 7) and a lower partition wall portion 404b (see FIG. 7), and the upper partition wall portion 404a has a casing head portion 400a as shown in FIG. The center of the casing 400 is located along the center in the left-right direction (corresponding to the center in the width direction) between the left and right side walls 409, 410 (see FIG. 7) from the front end of the casing 400 to the middle portion of the casing body 400b. Further, the casing 400 is integrally extended from the rear wall 411 to the front wall 402 side. The left and right side walls 409 and 410 are formed in common on the casing body 400a and the casing head 400b.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lower partition wall 404b is positioned below the upper partition wall 404a and closer to the right wall 410 of the casing 400 than the upper partition wall 404a and along the right wall 410. The casing 400 is integrally extended from the rear wall 411 to the front wall 402 side.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the partition wall 405 is located inside the lower wall portion 409b of the left wall 409 of the casing 400 and is integrated with the upper wall portion 409a of the left wall 409 so as to be along the lower wall portion 409b. Is provided.

  In detail, the partition 405 is provided as follows. As shown in FIG. 7, the left wall 409 is divided into two at the center in the vertical direction of the casing main body 400 a to form an upper wall 409 a and a lower wall 409 b. Further, the connecting wall portion 409c is bent in an L shape inward from the lower end portion of the upper wall portion 409a, and the partition wall 405 is provided so as to extend downward from the right end portion of the connecting wall portion 409c. ing. The lower wall portion 409b constitutes a lid wall portion 801 of the lid 800 as will be described later. Similarly to the left wall 409, the right wall 410 is divided into an upper wall portion 410a and a lower wall portion 410b.

  As shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the both ball payout passages 406 and 407 are formed in a band shape from the casing head portion 400b to the casing main body portion 400a on the rear side of the ball removal passage 408.

  The ball payout passage 406 has an upper passage portion 406a and a lower passage portion 406b (see FIG. 5), and the upper passage portion 406a has a left sphere introduction port portion of the casing head portion 400b at its upper end opening. 412 (see FIGS. 5 and 9). As shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 7, the upper passage portion 406 a has an arrow R <b> 1 (from the left sphere introduction port portion 412 to the upper wall portion 409 a of the left wall 409 of the casing 400 and between the partition wall 405 and the partition wall 404. 5 and FIG. 6 (see an arrow by a two-dot chain line).

  Here, the casing head 400b is divided into two parts left and right by the upper part of the upper partition wall 404a of the partition wall 404, and two parts back and forth by the partition wall 414a (see FIG. 9). The left and right sphere inlet ports 412 and 413 having a square shape are formed so as to be positioned in the diagonal direction. The dividing wall 414a is orthogonal to the upper partition wall 404a.

  That is, the left sphere inlet 412 is located on the rear wall 411 side of the casing 400 between the upper wall portion 409 a of the left wall 409 of the casing 400 and the upper partition wall portion 404 a of the partition wall 404. Accordingly, the upper passage portion 406a faces the above-described ball outlet portion of the ball guide rod 230 from below at the left-side sphere inlet portion 412.

  Further, the right opening 413 is located on the front wall 403 side of the casing head 400b between the upper part of the right wall 410 of the casing 400 and the upper partition part 404a of the partition 404 as the right sphere introduction port 413. . Of the extended tip of the casing head 400b, the portions other than the left and right side ball introduction ports 412 and 413 are blocked by blocking portions 414b and 414c as shown in FIG.

  Further, as described above, the upper passage portion 406a along the arrow R1 is, together with the lower passage portion 406b, the upper wall portion 409a of the left wall 409 of the casing 400 and the upper partition wall of the partition wall 404 as shown in FIG. Between the partition 404a and between the partition 405 and the lower partition 404b of the partition 404, the width-direction inner wall 415, the left-side portion of the lever portion 416a of the left-side ball break lever 416 (described later), the width-direction inner wall 417, the casing 400, an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the rear wall 411 and an inner wall 418 in the width direction, a dividing wall 414a (see FIG. 8), a left side portion of the front wall 403 of the casing head 400b, and a lever portion 419a of a ball release lever 419 (described later). Are formed between the respective inner walls 420, 421 and 422 in the width direction.

  In the first embodiment, in the upper passage portion 406 a of the ball payout passage 406, the respective widthwise inner walls 415, 417 and 420 are located on the left surface of the upper partition portion 404 a of the partition 404. Further, in the lower passage portion 406b, the respective widthwise inner walls 418, 421, and 422 are located on the left surface of the lower partition wall portion 404b of the partition wall 404.

  Here, the inner wall 415 in the width direction is bent as shown in FIG. 5 from the rear wall 411 side of the casing 400 to the front wall 403 side of the casing head portion 400b. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the inner walls 417, 420 in the width direction are formed so as to bend downward from the front wall 403 of the casing head 400a toward the rear wall 411 and then downward.

  The left-side ball break lever 416 is a component of the control unit 500 and is formed in an L-shaped plate shape with the lever portion 416a and the operation portion 416b. The left-side ball break lever 416 operates with the lever portion 416a. In the connecting portion with the portion 416b, the respective portions located immediately below the lower end portion of the widthwise inner wall 415 of the left and right side walls 409, 410 of the casing 400 can be rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as shown in FIG. It is supported.

  As a result, the left-side ball break lever 416 is pushed by the game ball (see reference numeral B1 in FIG. 5) flowing down in the ball payout passage 406 at the lever portion 416a, and counterclockwise from the original position. It rotates and closes between both width direction inner walls 415 and 417, and plays the role of the width direction inner wall between these width direction inner walls 415 and 417. On the other hand, if there is no game ball flowing down in the ball payout passage 406, the left ball break lever 416 rotates clockwise as described later and returns to the original position.

  Further, the ball release lever 419 is formed in a substantially L shape with both lever portions 419a and 419b, and this ball release lever 419 is a connecting portion of both lever portions 419a and 419b, and the casing main body portion 400a. Immediately below the upper wall 401 and on the lower rear side of the front wall 403 of the casing head portion 400b, the shaft 419c is rotatably supported and is sandwiched between the left and right side walls 409 and 410 of the casing 400. When the ball release lever 419 is in the position shown in FIG. 5, it functions as a width direction inner wall between the front wall 403 of the casing head 400b and both width direction inner walls 420 and 429 (described later). .

  In addition, each inner wall 418, 421, 422 in the width direction is formed to bend toward the center in the front-rear direction of the lower wall 423 of the casing 400 while being bent from the rear wall 411 side to the front wall 402 side. Accordingly, the ball payout passage 406 forms a rear payout port portion 423a of the casing main body portion 400a at the lower end opening of the lower passage portion 406b.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner wall 421 in the width direction is curved at the lower wall portion 421 a in a circular arc shape that protrudes forward along the front peripheral portion of the circular insertion hole 405 a of the partition wall 405. Has been. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the width direction inner wall 422 is curved and formed in an arc shape that protrudes forward along the front peripheral edge portion of the circular insertion hole 405 b of the partition wall 405 at the upper wall portion 422 a, The width direction inner wall 421 is connected to the lower wall portion 421a. Moreover, the width direction inner wall 418 is formed in the circular arc shape along the rear side peripheral site | part of the circular hole 405a of the partition 405 in the upper part 418a.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the circular insertion hole 405 a described above is formed at an intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the partition wall 405, and the upper portion 418 a of the width-direction inner wall 418 and the width-direction inner wall of the ball payout passage 406. It opens in the passage part between the lower part 421a of 421 and the upper part 422a of the width direction inner wall 422.

  Further, in the lower passage portion 406b of the ball payout passage 406, as shown in FIGS. 10, 13, and 14, the raised portion 424 is formed with a substantially triangular cross section, and this raised portion is formed. 424 is a projecting surface 424a from the intermediate portion in the left-right direction of the inner wall 422 in the width direction to the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the corresponding portion of the lower partition wall portion 404b of the partition wall 404 with respect to the lower portion of the lower passage portion 406b. It is gently inclined. In the first embodiment, the belt-like direction corresponds to the direction of the game ball in the lower passage portion 406b, and the ball payout passage 406, the upper passage portion 406a, the ball payout passage 407, and the upper side thereof. The same applies to the passage portion 407a, the lower passage portion 407b, and the ball removal passage 408.

  Further, as shown by broken lines in FIGS. 5 and 6, the raised portion 424 is formed around the shaft 705 (described later) of the sprocket gear member S <b> 1 (described later) and the partition wall 405 from the rear outlet port portion 423 a of the casing body 400 a. The circular insertion hole 405a is formed over the rear peripheral edge.

  Here, the reason why the raised portion 424 is formed around the axis 705 (described later) of the sprocket-equipped gear member S1 as described above is based on the following grounds. That is, a spherical passage portion formed between both adjacent blades 707a (see FIG. 6) of the sprocket 707 (described later) and the inner wall portion 418 in the width direction of the lower passage portion 406b facing the opposite inner wall portion 707a. (Hereinafter, also referred to as a rear sphere passage portion), a movable cross section of the game ball is narrowly limited by an opposed raised surface portion P (see FIG. 13) of the raised surface 424a of the raised portion 424 with respect to the rear sphere passage portion. It is to do.

  As a result, the game ball moves in the front-rear and left-right directions between the two adjacent blades 707a and the inner wall portion facing the two adjacent blades 707a in the widthwise inner wall 418 under the clockwise rotation of the sprocket 707 (see FIG. 6). It can move smoothly along the rear peripheral edge of the circular insertion hole 405a of the partition wall 405 and move downwardly below the lower passage 406b without moving.

  As described above, the raised portion 424 is formed from the periphery of the shaft 705 to the lower portion in the belt-like direction of the lower passage portion 406b, so that the game ball is placed in the lower portion in the belt-like direction of the lower passage portion 406b. Thus, it can be moved smoothly without moving in the front-rear and left-right directions.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the ball payout passage 406 has an inclined portion 406c. The inclined portion 406c is a casing corresponding to the upper passage portion 406a in the lower end portion of the upper partition wall portion 404a. 400 is inclined downward so as to approach the right wall 410 side, and faces the triangular plate guide G. The guide G is provided at a corner portion formed by the lower end portion of the upper wall portion 409a of the left wall 409 and the connecting wall portion 409c. The guide G is inclined at the inclined end portion Ga. It is formed along the inclination direction of 406c.

  The ball payout passage 407 has an upper passage portion 407a and a lower passage portion 407b (see FIG. 5), and the upper passage portion 407a has a right sphere inlet port portion of the casing head portion 400b at its upper end opening. 413 (refer to FIG. 9) is formed, and the above-mentioned ball outlet portion of the ball guide rod 230 faces from below. Further, as can be seen from FIG. 5, the upper passage portion 407 a, together with the lower passage portion 407 b, from the right sphere inlet 413, the upper partition portion 404 a and the partition wall 405 of the partition 404, and the right wall 410 of the casing 400. Between the upper part and the lower partition part 404b of the partition 404, it is formed along the arrow R2 (see the arrow by the broken line in FIG. 5).

  Thus, the upper passage portion 407a and the lower passage portion 407b of the ball payout passage 407 along the arrow R2 are located between the upper partition portion 404a of the partition wall 404 and the upper portion of the right wall 410 of the casing 400, and between the partition wall 405 and the partition wall 404. Between the lower partition wall portion 404b, a dividing wall 414a (see FIG. 8), a lever portion 425a (described later) of the right-side ball break lever 425, the respective widthwise inner walls 426, 427 and 428, and the casing head 400b It is formed along the right side portion of the wall 403, the right side portion of the lever portion 416 a of the ball release lever 416, and the respective widthwise inner walls 429 and 430.

  The right ball break lever 425 is a component of the control unit 500 and is formed in an L-shaped plate with the lever portion 425a and the operation portion 425b. The right ball break lever 425 operates with the lever portion 425a. In the connecting portion with the portion 425b, it is possible to rotate in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction shown in FIG. 5 by each portion located directly below the lower end portion of the inner wall 415 in the width direction among the left and right side walls 409 and 410 of the casing 400. It is supported.

  As a result, the right side ball break lever 425 is pushed by the game ball flowing down in the ball payout passage 406 at the lever portion 425a and rotated counterclockwise from the original position, so that the dividing wall 414a The space between the right side portion and the width direction inner wall 4426 is closed, and it plays the role of the width direction inner wall between the right side portion of these divided walls 414a and the width direction inner wall 4426. On the other hand, if there is no game ball flowing down in the ball payout passage 407, the right ball break lever 425 rotates clockwise as described later and returns to the original position.

  In the present embodiment, in the upper passage portion 407a of the ball payout passage 407, the respective width direction inner walls 426, 429 are positioned on the right surface of the upper partition portion 404a of the partition wall 404, and in the lower passage portion 407b, the respective width direction inner walls. 427 and 430 are located on the left surface of the lower partition 404b of the partition 404.

  Here, both the inner walls 426 and 429 in the width direction are bent in a direction substantially opposite to the inner walls 420 and 417 in the width direction and then bent downward, so that the upper wall portion 404a of the partition wall 404 and the right wall of the casing 400 are bent. It is formed between the upper part of 410.

  In addition, each inner wall 427, 428, and 430 in the width direction is formed between the partition 405 and the lower partition 404b of the partition 404. Accordingly, the ball payout passage 407 forms a front payout port portion 423b of the lower wall 423 of the casing 400 at the lower end opening of the lower passage portion 407b.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner wall 427 in the width direction is curved at its lower wall portion 427a in a circular arc shape protruding rearward along the rear peripheral edge portion of the circular hole portion 405b of the partition wall 405. Is formed. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the inner wall 428 in the width direction is curved and formed in a circular arc shape convex toward the rear side along the rear peripheral edge portion of the circular hole 405 b of the partition wall 405 at the upper wall portion 428 a. Are connected to the lower wall portion 427a of the inner wall 427 in the width direction. In addition, the inner wall 430 in the width direction is formed in an arc shape along the front peripheral portion of the circular hole 405b of the partition wall 405 at the upper portion 430a.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, the circular insertion hole 405 b described above is formed side by side in the front-rear direction together with the circular insertion hole 405 a at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction of the partition wall 405. The hole portion 405 b opens in a passage portion between the upper portion 430 a of the width direction inner wall 430, the lower portion 427 a of the width direction inner wall 427, and the upper portion 428 a of the width direction inner wall 428 in the ball payout passage 407.

  Further, in the lower passage portion 407b of the ball payout passage 407, as shown in FIGS. 10, 13 and 14, the raised portion 431 is formed to be raised with a substantially triangular cross section. 431 is gently inclined at the raised surface 431a from the intermediate portion in the left-right direction of the inner wall 428 in the width direction to the intermediate portion in the front-rear direction of the corresponding portion of the lower partition wall portion 404b of the partition wall 404 with respect to the lower passage portion 407b. ing.

  Further, as shown by broken lines in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the raised portion 431 is formed around the shaft 708 (described later) of the sprocket gear member S2 and the partition 405 from the front discharge port portion 423b of the casing body 400a. It is formed over the front peripheral edge of the circular insertion hole 405b.

  Here, the reason why the raised portion 431 is formed around the shaft 708 (described later) of the sprocket gear member S2 as described above is based on the following grounds. That is, a spherical passage portion formed between both adjacent blades 710a (see FIG. 6) of the sprocket 710 (described later) and the inner wall portion 430 facing the both adjacent blades 710a in the widthwise inner wall 430 of the lower passage portion 407b. (In the following, it is also referred to as a front passage portion) In order to narrowly limit the movable cross section of the game ball by the opposed raised surface portion Q (see FIG. 13) with respect to the front ball passage portion of the raised surface 431a of the raised portion 431. is there.

  As a result, the game ball is moved back and forth between the adjacent blades 710a and the opposite inner wall portion of the widthwise inner wall 430 with respect to the adjacent blades 710a under the counterclockwise rotation of the sprocket 710 (see FIG. 6). Without moving in the direction, it can move smoothly along the front peripheral edge of the circular insertion hole 405b of the partition wall 405 and below the lower passage 407b.

  As described above, the raised portion 431 is formed from the periphery of the shaft 708 to the lower portion of the lower passage portion 407b in the belt-like direction, so that the game ball is placed in the lower portion of the lower passage portion 407b in the belt-like direction. Thus, it can be moved smoothly without moving in the front-rear and left-right directions.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the ball payout passage 407 has a guide portion F, and the guide portion F projects from the inner surface of the right wall 410 to the left wall 409 side in a plate shape. The protruding front end portion of the guide portion F is formed at an upper end portion F1 so as to be inclined downward from the inner surface of the right wall 410 toward the left wall 409 side. Accordingly, the guide portion F moves the game ball on the inner surface of the right wall 410 of the casing 400 along the protruding tip portion into the lower passage portion 407b.

  The ball removal passage 408 is formed between the left and right side walls 409 and 410 of the casing main body 400a, the width direction inner wall 432, the front wall 402 of the casing main body 400a, the lever portion 419a of the ball removal lever 419, and the width inner wall 429. And the ball opening passage 408 is formed at the upper end opening (ball opening portion) of the upper passage portions 406a and 407a (that is, the casing head). The spherical discharge port portion between the front wall 403 of 400b and the inner walls 420 and 429 in both width directions is formed so as to face from the front wall 402 side. Moreover, the said ball extraction channel | path 408 comprises the discharge port part 423c of the lower wall 423 of the casing 400 in the lower end opening part.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ball removal mechanism 600 is provided in a corner portion between the front wall 402 and the upper wall 401 of the casing main body 400 a, and the ball removal mechanism 600 includes the column member 610 and the restriction member 620. And the ball removal lever 419 described above.

  The strut member 610 has a strut portion 611 and a bifurcated portion 612, and the strut portion 611 is supported in the left-right direction along the upper portion of the front wall 402 of the casing main body portion 400a. The bifurcated portion 612 extends in a bifurcated shape from the left side portion of the support column portion 611 toward the rear wall 411 side of the casing 400.

  The restricting member 620 includes a restricting lever 621, and the restricting lever 621 has the operation shaft 621 a on the rear side of the bifurcated portion 612 and the upper wall portions 409 a of the left and right side walls 409 and 410 of the casing 400. , 410a are supported by the annular bosses 409d and 410c, and extend axially into the hollow portion of the boss 410c. Note that the annular boss 409d protrudes to the inside of the left wall 409. On the other hand, the annular boss 410c protrudes from the outer surface of the upper wall portion 410a of the right wall 410 to the inside thereof.

  In addition, the regulating lever 621 is supported by an axially intermediate portion of the operation shaft 621a at the longitudinal center portion thereof. The regulating lever 621 is engaged in the bifurcated portion 612 at one end in the longitudinal direction, and the regulating lever 621 extends from one end in the longitudinal direction to the other end in the longitudinal direction on the casing body 400a. The wall 401 is supported so as to extend in parallel.

  A coil spring 621c is coaxially fitted to the annular boss 409d from the outside and is sandwiched between the left wall 409 and the regulating lever 621. For this reason, the regulating lever 621 is biased by the coil spring 621c so as to be axially movable toward the annular boss 410c.

  Thus, when the regulating lever 621 is urged by the coil spring 621c so as to be axially movable toward the annular boss 410c, the regulating lever 621 is the lever portion of the ball removal lever 419 at the other longitudinal end. It contacts 419b in the clockwise direction from the upper side. This means that the ball release lever 419 closes between the front wall 403 of the casing 400b and the widthwise inner wall 429 at the lever portion 419a.

  Further, when the regulating lever 621 is pushed from the annular boss 410c side to the annular boss 409d side by the operation shaft 621a, the regulating lever 621 does not contact the lever portion 419b of the ball removal lever 419 and the lever portion 419b. Located on the left side of This means that the ball removal lever 419 is positioned so that the lever portion 419a can open between the front wall 403 of the casing 400b and the inner wall 429 in the width direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the step motor 700 is disposed between the inner wall 420 of the ball discharge passage 406 and the inner wall 426 of the ball discharge passage 407 in the casing main body 400 a. The step motor 700 includes a motor main body 701 and an output shaft 702 extending coaxially from the rotor in the motor main body 701 to the output side.

  The motor body 701 is seated on the inner surface of the right wall 410 of the casing 400 at the opposite end face of the motor body 701, and the motor body 701 has an upper end portion of the partition 405 and the left wall 409 at the output end face thereof. Oppositely supported by the lower end of the upper wall 409a. The output shaft 702 extends from the output-side end surface of the motor main body 701 toward the boundary wall portion between the partition wall 405 and the upper wall portion 409a (see FIGS. 4 to 6). Specifically, the output shaft 702 extends into a notch t formed at the center in the front-rear direction of the boundary wall portion between the partition wall 405 and the upper wall portion 409a (see FIGS. 5 and 11).

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the pinion gear 703 is coaxially supported at the output end portion of the output shaft 702 of the step motor 700 as a drive gear in the notch t, and this pinion gear 703. Rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the output shaft 702 of the step motor 700.

  The large-diameter spur gear 704 is supported as an intermediate spur gear via the shaft 704 a on the upper portion of the partition wall 405 from the left side, and meshes with the pinion gear 703. The shaft 704a is supported between the lid wall portion 801 of the lid 800 and the partition wall 405 so as to be orthogonal thereto.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the sprocket-equipped gear member S1 is coaxially supported on a shaft 705 (gear shaft 705) by its cylindrical boss, thereby allowing the sprocket gear member S1 to pass through the circular insertion hole 405a of the partition wall 405. The lower partition wall 404b is rotatably supported on the left surface. The shaft 705 is sandwiched between the lower partition wall 404b and the lid wall 801 of the lid 800.

  The sprocket-equipped gear member S1 includes a spur gear 706 (driven spur gear 706) and a sprocket 707 formed coaxially and integrally on the rear surface of the spur gear 706. The sprocket 707 is a spur gear. The 706 is inserted along the circular insertion hole 405a of the partition 405 so as to be positioned along the left surface of the partition 405, and is rotatably supported by the shaft 705 on the left surface of the lower partition 404b.

  In the first embodiment, the sprocket 707 has three blades 707a, and these blades 707a are formed around the cylindrical boss of the sprocket-equipped gear member S1 at intervals of 120 °. Each blade 707a is gently curved in the clockwise direction from its base to the tip so as to send out the game ball in the clockwise direction shown in FIG.

  The spur gear 706 is meshed with the spur gear 704, and a protrusion 706 a is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the left surface of the spur gear 706 in the width direction (rotational direction) of one of the three blades 707 a of the sprocket 707. ) Protruding to correspond to the center.

  The sprocket gear member S2 is coaxially supported on the shaft 708 (gear shaft 708) by its cylindrical boss, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, and through the circular insertion hole 405b of the partition wall 405. The lower partition wall 404b is rotatably supported on the left surface. The shaft 708 is sandwiched between the lower partition wall 404b and the lid wall 801 of the lid 800.

  The sprocket gear member S2 includes a spur gear 709 (driven spur gear 709) and a sprocket 710 that is coaxially and integrally formed on the rear surface of the spur gear 709. 709 is inserted along the circular insertion hole 405b of the partition 405 so as to be positioned on the left surface of the partition 405, and is rotatably supported by the shaft 708 on the left surface of the lower partition 404b.

  In the first embodiment, the sprocket 710 has three blades 710a, and these blades 710a are formed around the cylindrical boss of the sprocket-equipped gear member S2 at intervals of 120 °. Each blade 710a is gently curved in the counterclockwise direction from its base to the tip so as to send out the game ball in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIG.

  The spur gear 709 is meshed with the spur gear 706, and an angle between two blades 710 a adjacent to each other among the three blades 710 a of the sprocket 710 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the left surface of the spur gear 709. It protrudes so as to correspond to the center of the interval (1 pitch).

  Thus, the spur gear 709 is meshed with the spur gear 706 so that the protrusion 709a faces the protrusion 706a. In other words, the spur gears 706 and 709 mesh with each other so that the sprockets 707 and 710 maintain a half-pitch angular deviation from each other. The pinion gear 703 and the spur gears 704, 706, 709 constitute a gear train.

  The lid 800 includes a partition 405, a lower portion in the strip shape of the ball passage 408, a lower half portion of the pinion gear 702, spur gears 704, 706, 710, and both ball discharge detectors 711, 712, and a lower portion of the casing main body 400a. The lid 800 is detachably covered from the left side, and the lid 800 constitutes a lower end portion of the inner wall 420 of the ball removal passage 408 by a lid wall portion inner wall 801 (see FIG. 5). Further, the lid 800 constitutes a lower portion of the rear wall 411 of the casing 400 by a rear wall 803 (see FIG. 5).

  The ball payout detectors 711 and 712 are both made of a photocoupler, and the ball payout detector 711 is attached to the lower part of the ball payout passage 406 in the belt-like direction from the rear side as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, the ball payout detector 711 is mounted so that the light emitting portion 711a and the light receiving portion 711b sandwich the lower end of the ball payout passage 406 from the left and right sides. The detector 711 optically detects a game ball flowing down the ball payout passage 406 every time it passes. Specifically, in a state where the light receiving portion 711b receives light from the light emitting portion 711a through the through hole portion h1 of the partition wall 405 and the through hole portion h2 of the lower partition wall portion 404b, this light receiving state is blocked by the game ball. Each time, the ball payout detector 711 detects a game ball flowing down the ball payout passage 406.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, the ball payout detector 712 is attached to the lower portion of the ball payout passage 407 in the belt-like direction from the front side. As shown in FIG. 14, the ball payout detector 712 is mounted so that the light emitting portion 712a and the light receiving portion 712b sandwich the lower end of the ball payout passage 407 from the left and right sides. The detector 712 optically detects the game ball flowing down the ball payout passage 407 every time it passes. Specifically, in a state where the light receiving portion 712b receives light from the light emitting portion 712a through the through hole portion h3 of the partition wall 405 and the through hole portion h4 of the lower partition wall portion 404b, this light receiving state is blocked by the game ball. Each time, the ball payout detector 712 detects a game ball flowing down the ball payout passage 407.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 500 is fitted with an upper opening 511 a of the rear wall 411 of the casing 400 with a U-shaped wall 510. In addition to 416 and 425, normally open left and right micro switches 520 and 530 and a circuit board 540 are provided. The circuit board 540 is supported in the U-shaped wall 510 along the rear wall portion.

  The left and right micro switches 520 and 530 are respectively mounted on the left and right above the circuit board 550, and the left and right micro switches 520 and 530 are respectively connected to the push levers 521 and 531 by the ball break levers 416 and 425. Are opposed to the lever portions 416a and 425a (see FIG. 5). In the present embodiment, the left micro switch 520 constitutes a left-side ball break detector together with the ball break lever 416, and the right micro-switch 530 constitutes a right-side ball break detector together with the ball break lever 425. Further, the left and right both-side ball break detectors constitute a ball break detecting means.

  Accordingly, the left microswitch 520 is turned on by being pushed by the push lever 521 with the protrusion 416c (see FIG. 5) by the ball break lever 416. Further, the right microswitch 530 is turned on by being pushed by the push lever 531 with the protrusion 425c by the ball break lever 425. In other words, when the micro switch 520 is off, it detects a broken ball of the game ball in the ball discharge passage 406 as a ball break detector, and when the micro switch 530 is off, the micro switch 520 serves as a ball break detector 407 as a ball break detector. Detects a broken game ball inside.

  The circuit board 540 is supported in the U-shaped wall 510 along the rear wall portion thereof. The circuit board 540 includes a payout control based on a game ball payout detection, and a payout prohibition control based on a ball breakage detection or a full tank detection. A control circuit 550 (see FIG. 17) is provided.

  The control circuit 550 includes a drive circuit 550a for the microcomputer and the step motor 700. The microcomputer of the control circuit 550 includes the drive circuit 550a, both ball payout detectors 711 and 712, and both micro switches 520 and 530. And a micro switch 940 (described later).

  The step motor 700 is wired to the drive circuit 550a via the connector 541, and both ball payout detectors 711 and 712, both the micro switches 520 and 530, and the micro switch 940 are connected to the control circuit 550 via the connector 542. ing. Both connectors 541 and 542 are attached to the circuit board 550. Both connectors 541 and 542 are connected to a connector of an external circuit via a connection hole 410d (see FIG. 1) formed in the vicinity of the control unit 500 in the upper part of the right wall 410.

  The microcomputer of the control circuit 550 controls the step motor 700 to stop when a predetermined number (for example, 15) is detected by the both-ball payout detectors 711 and 712. Further, the microcomputer controls to stop the step motor 700 based on the detection of the broken ball by both the micro switches 520 and 530 or the full detection of the game ball by the micro switch 940. The microcomputer starts control based on a winning signal from the winning detection switch.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the discharge member 900 is supported along the right edge of the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body 210 immediately below the ball dispensing device D. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the discharge member 900 has a flat casing 910, and the casing 910 extends along the right edge of the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body 210 at the front wall 911. The right side edge is supported at a proper position so as to be seated.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the casing 910 has a ball discharge passage 920 and a ball discharge passage 930 inside the casing 910, and the ball discharge passage 920 is on the upper rear wall 912 and lower rear wall 913 side of the casing 910. It is formed toward the bottom along. Here, the ball discharge passage 920 faces the rear discharge port portion 423a and the front discharge port portion 423b of the lower wall 423 of the casing 400 of the ball discharge device D at the upper end opening 921 thereof. The ball discharge passage 920 is connected to a payout passage (not shown) to the upper plate at the lower end opening 922 thereof.

  Further, the casing 910 has a full tank lever 923, and this full tank lever 923 closes the width direction inner wall 924 and the upper rear wall 912 at the lower part of the ball discharge passage 920 in the belt-like direction. As shown, the shaft 923a is rotatably supported. Thus, the full tank lever 923 has a game in the vicinity of the inner wall 924 in the width direction and the upper rear wall 912 when the game ball is full in the ball discharge passage 920, the discharge passage to the upper plate, and the upper plate. It is pushed by the ball and turns clockwise. The shaft 923a is supported between the left and right side walls of the casing 910 immediately above the width-direction inner wall 924.

  The micro switch 940 is a normally open type micro switch and constitutes a full tank detector together with the full tank lever 923. The micro switch 940 includes the lower end portion of the upper rear wall 912 and the full tank lever 923 and the lower rear wall. The full lever 923 is maintained in the closed state shown in FIG. 18 by the push lever 941. When the game ball is full as described above, the full-lever 923 pushes the push lever 941 by turning clockwise to turn on the micro switch 940. This means that the full detector detects the above-mentioned full state.

  The ball removal passage 930 is formed downward along the front wall 911 side of the casing 910, and this ball removal passage 930 has a ball removal passage of the casing 400 of the ball dispensing device D at its upper end opening 931. It faces the discharge port portion 423c of 408. The ball removal passage 930 is connected to the discharge passage to the outside of the pachinko gaming machine at the lower end opening 932 thereof.

  In the first embodiment configured as described above, in the ball dispensing device D, the step motor 700 as a driving source thereof is provided in the casing 400 between the intermediate portions in the belt-shaped direction of both ball dispensing channels 406 and 407. It is interspersed using.

  Therefore, compared with the case where the said step motor 700 is located outside the casing 400 conventionally, the space | interval (width | variety of the ball delivery apparatus D) of the right-and-left both-side walls 409 and 410 of the casing 400 can be reduced significantly. This means that the ball dispensing device D is significantly more compact in the width direction. As a result, even if such a ball payout device D is attached to the right edge of the frame-like main body 210 of the pachinko gaming machine from the rear side as described above, the ball payout device D can be Does not occupy a large area.

  Therefore, even if the outer shapes of the various devices 240 increase in the left-right direction on the rear side of the frame-shaped main body 210 as described above, the ball dispensing device D does not collide with the various devices 240 and the various devices 240. It can be attached along the right edge of the frame-shaped main body 210 appropriately without changing the external shape specification.

  Here, the step motor 700 is positioned in the casing 400 so as to extend in the left-right direction from the right wall 410 toward the left wall 409, not in the up-down direction of the casing 400, at the output shaft 702. The distance between the left and right side walls 409 and 410 is determined by the axial dimension of the step motor 700 without being influenced by the outer diameter of the motor body 701 of the step motor 700. Therefore, even if the outer diameter of the step motor 700 is large as the specification of the step motor 700, the width of the ball dispensing device D can be further reduced if the axial dimension of the step motor 700 is small.

  In addition, the spur gears 704, 706, and 709 are arranged in the casing 400 along with the step motor 700 in the radial direction of the pinion gear 703 supported by the output shaft 702. For this reason, the sprockets 707 and 710 are also arranged in the casing 400 along the radial direction of the pinion gear 703.

  Therefore, unnecessary components required when the spur gears 704, 706, 709 and the sprockets 707, 710 are provided outside the casing together with the step motor 700 as in the prior art are unnecessary, and the width of the ball dispensing device D is reduced. It can be further reduced.

  Therefore, even if the outer shape of the various devices 240 increases in the left-right direction on the rear side of the frame-shaped main body 210 as described above, the ball dispensing device D does not collide with the various devices 240 and the various devices. It can be attached along the right edge of the frame-shaped main body 210 even more appropriately without changing the external shape specification of 240.

  Further, as described above, the control unit 500 is provided in the casing 400 together with the ball payout detectors 711 and 712, both the ball breakage detectors, the ball removal mechanism 600 and the ball removal passage 408. As a result, the ball dispensing device D can be configured integrally and compactly including the control unit 500, the ball dispensing detectors 711 and 712, both the above-mentioned ball breakage detectors, the ball removal mechanism 600 and the ball removal passage 408. .

  The spur gears 704, 706, and 709 are detachably supported on the outside of the partition wall 405 in the lid 800. Here, both spur gears 706, 709 are provided with projections 706a, 709a so that both sprockets 707, 710 are opposed by a half pitch. Accordingly, when adjusting the meshing so that the two spur gears 706 and 709 are opposed to each other by the projections 706a and 709a, it is convenient because it can be simply performed by removing the cover 800.

  Further, when placing the pachinko gaming machine in the gaming state, it is assumed that the game balls are filled in the both payout passages 406 and 407 of the ball payout device D up to just above the sprocket gear members S1 and S2. At this time, both the microswitches 520 and 530 are both in the off state.

  In this state, when the pachinko gaming machine is in the gaming state, in the control circuit 550, the microcomputer is operated to drive and control the step motor 700 via the drive circuit 550a. Accordingly, when the step motor 700 rotates clockwise (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the pinion gear 703 rotates in the same direction, and the spur gear 704 rotates counterclockwise. Therefore, the spur gear 706 that meshes with the spur gear 704 rotates in the clockwise direction together with the sprocket 707, while the spur gear 709 that meshes with the spur gear 706 rotates in the counterclockwise direction together with the sprocket 710.

  Here, the two sprockets 707 and 710 are reversely rotated so as to alternately pass through the outer sides of both the gear shafts 405 and 708 downwardly in the respective belt-shaped intermediate portions of the two ball discharge passages 406 and 407. Assuming that they are supported, the two ball discharge passages 406 and 407 are cut off at the intermediate portions in the respective belt-like directions from the two ball introduction ports 412 and 413 to the two ball discharge ports 423a and 423b, respectively. It is constructed continuously in the belt-like direction while maintaining the passage wall. Further, as described above, the spur gears 706 and 709 are meshed so that the sprockets 707 and 710 are shifted from each other by a half pitch. In the first embodiment, the reverse rotation of both the sprockets 707 and 710 described above means that the sprocket 707 rotates clockwise and the sprocket 710 rotates counterclockwise (see FIG. 6).

  Therefore, the game balls located immediately above the sprocket geared members S1 and S2 in the two payout passages 406 and 407 do not pass between the two sprockets 707 and 710, and the above two ball payout passages 406 and 407 In each band-shaped intermediate part, the both sprockets 707 and 710 pass the outer sides of the first and second sprockets one after the other so that the ball discharge passages 406 and 407 have the band-shaped intermediate parts. Guided downward along the inner wall.

  Accordingly, each game ball does not sway in the front / rear / right / left direction in each ball payout passage 406, 407, and does not run wild, but alternately, the ball payout ports 423a, 423a, It can move toward 423b. For this reason, the both-ball payout detectors 711 and 712 do not induce a phenomenon (chattering phenomenon) in which the same game ball is detected a plurality of times.

  Therefore, as will be described later, the number of game balls to be paid out can be appropriately determined. By adopting the ball payout device for a pachinko gaming machine, the game hall can be operated under an appropriate game ball payout operation. Occurrence of unnecessary troubles between the manager and the player can be prevented in advance, and as a result, smooth operation of the amusement hall can be ensured.

  Further, as described above, the raised portions 424 and 431 are formed from the circumference of the sprockets 707 and 710 (around the axes of the axes 705 and 708) of the ball delivery passages 406 and 407 to the ball delivery ports 423a and 423b. Has been.

  For this reason, when the game ball is sent out through the outside of the sprocket 707 as described above, the movable cross section of the game ball in the rear ball passage portion of the lower passage portion 406b has a raised portion 424 as described above. Are confined narrowly by the opposed raised surface portion P (see FIG. 13). Accordingly, the game ball is swung in the front-rear and left-right directions between the adjacent blades 707a and the inner wall portion facing the adjacent blades 707a in the widthwise inner wall 418 by the clockwise rotation of the sprocket 707 (see FIG. 6). Without being moved, it can be smoothly moved along the rear peripheral edge of the circular insertion hole 405a of the partition wall 405 and below the lower passage portion 406b.

  Next, the game ball can be smoothly moved by the raised portion 424 without being shaken in the front-rear and left-right directions from the periphery of the shaft 705 within the lower portion of the lower passage portion 406b in the belt-like direction.

  Further, when the game ball is sent out through the outside of the sprocket 710 as described above, the movable cross section of the game ball in the front ball passage portion of the lower passage portion 407b is opposed to the raised portion 431 as described above. Narrowly limited by the raised surface Q (see FIG. 13). Therefore, the game ball is rotated counterclockwise by the sprocket 710 (see FIG. 6), and is moved back and forth in the left-right direction between the two adjacent blades 710a and the inner wall portion facing the two adjacent blades 710a in the widthwise inner wall 430. It can be smoothly moved below the lower passage portion 407b along the front peripheral edge of the circular insertion hole 405b of the partition wall 405 without moving.

  Then, the game ball can be smoothly moved by the protuberance 431 without being shaken in the front / rear / left / right direction from the periphery of the shaft 708 within the lower portion of the lower passage portion 407b in the belt-like direction.

  As a result, the game balls are smoothly discharged from the ball discharge ports 423a and 423b by the ball discharge device D, and the game balls thus discharged pass through the ball discharge passage 920 of the discharge member 900 and the front door. Enter the top 300 plate.

  When the number of game balls detected by the both-ball payout detectors 411 and 412 reaches the predetermined number as described above, the step motor 700 is stopped by the microcomputer of the control circuit 550 via the drive circuit 550a. The At this time, as described above, the detection by the both-ball payout detectors 411 and 412 is appropriately performed without the chattering phenomenon, so that the stepping motor 700 can be appropriately stopped based on the predetermined number. As a result, as described above, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of unnecessary troubles between the game hall manager and the player under the appropriate payout operation of the game ball, and as a result, the game hall can be smoothly operated. Operation can be secured.

  In addition, when a ball break occurs in at least one of the two ball payout passages 406 and 407, for example, a game ball introduced into the ball payout passage 406, the micro switch 520 causes the push lever 521 to break the ball. The lever 416 is turned on while being pushed. For this reason, the microcomputer of the control circuit 550 stops the step motor 700 via the drive circuit 550a when the micro switch 520 is turned on. Thereby, the payout of the game ball of the ball payout device D is stopped. This is because the microswitch 530 is turned on while pushing the ball break lever 425 by the push lever 531 even when a ball break occurs in the game ball introduced into the ball payout passage 407. Can be achieved.

  When it is necessary to pull out the game balls from the both ball payout passages 406 and 407, if the regulating lever 621 is pushed from the annular boss 410c side to the annular boss 409d side by the operation shaft 621a, the regulating lever 621 is The ball release lever 419 is positioned on the left side of the lever portion 419b without contacting the lever portion 419b.

  For this reason, the ball release lever 419 is positioned so as to open between the front wall 403 of the casing 400b and the inner wall 429 in the width direction at the lever portion 419a. As a result, the game balls are extracted from the ball discharge ports of the both ball payout passages 406 and 407 into the ball discharge passage 408 via the ball discharge port, and the ball of the discharge member 900 is discharged from the ball discharge port 423c. It is discharged to the outside of the gaming machine through the passage 930 through the discharge port 932.

Here, when the game ball fills up from the upper plate of the front door 300 into the discharge passage 920 of the discharge member 900, the full tank lever 923 is pushed by the game ball located in the vicinity thereof, and the micro full detector is detected. Switch 940 is turned on. For this reason, the step motor 700 is stopped by the control circuit 550 via the drive circuit 550a. As a result, the payout of game balls by the ball payout device D is stopped.
(Second Embodiment)
19 and 20 show the main part of a second embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine to which the present invention is applied. In the second embodiment, the ball dispensing device D and the discharge member 900 described in the first embodiment are not the right side edge portion of the frame-shaped main body 210 described in the first embodiment, but will be described later. The frame-shaped main body 210 is supported by a fixing plate 210b.

  In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 20, the frame-shaped main body 210 has a game board 210a (corresponding to the game board described in the first embodiment) and a right edge of the game board 210a. The assembled synthetic resin fixing plate 210b (corresponding to the fixing plate described in the first embodiment) is assembled.

  As shown in FIG. 20, the fixed plate 210b is configured by extending the fixed portion 212 in a stepped manner from the assembled portion 211, and the assembled portion 211 is assembled along the right edge of the game plate 210a. . Further, as can be seen from FIG. 20, the step-like fixing part 212 has an L-shaped leg part 212 a and an arm part 212 b, and the leg part 212 a extends from the extended end part of the assembly part 211 to the game board. After extending in the L shape to the left along the rear surface of 210a, it extends in the L shape rearward.

  As can be seen from FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the arm portion 212 b extends integrally in an L shape to the left from the extending end portion of the leg portion 212 a. Here, the fixing portion 212 is formed so that the arm portion 212b is positioned at the same height as the mounting surface of a ball guide rod 230A (described later). In the present embodiment, the mounting surface of the ball guide rod 230A corresponds to the rear surface of the upper end protruding portion 213 (see FIG. 19) of the frame-shaped main body 210. Further, the upper end protruding portion 213 protrudes to the rear surface side of the frame-shaped main body 210 to the position of the bottom wall opening of the sphere storage tank 220 on the right side of the sphere storage tank 220 and directly below it. This is because the bottom wall opening of the ball storage tank 220, the ball outlet port of the ball guide rod 230A, and the ball inlet ports 412 and 413 of the ball dispensing device D are positioned in the same vertical plane.

  Thus, the ball dispensing device D and the discharge member 900 are fixedly supported on the arm portion 212b of the fixing plate 210b as follows.

  That is, in the ball dispensing device D, the casing 400 is fixedly supported along the arm portion 212b of the fixing plate 210b by the right wall 410 so that the control unit 500 is positioned on the left side of the front wall 402. (See FIG. 20). Note that the casing head portion 400b of the casing 400 is located directly below a ball outlet portion of a ball guide rod 230A (described later).

  In the second embodiment, the above-described ball guide rod 430A is directly below the ball storage tank 220 described in the first embodiment, instead of the ball guide rod 230 described in the first embodiment. The ball storage tank 220 is attached along the rear surface of the upper end protruding portion 213 (see FIG. 19) of the frame-like main body 210 so as to be inclined gently from the left end to the right and downward. The basket 230A guides the game ball falling from the opening of the bottom wall of the ball storage tank 220 in the tilt direction. Further, the ball guide rod 230A is located on the left side of the right end portion 231 of the ball guide rod 430 at the right end portion (having a ball outlet port portion) thereof as shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the right end portion of the ball guide rod 230A is also denoted by reference numeral 231.

  In the discharge member 900, the casing 910 is fixedly supported along the arm portion 212b of the fixing plate 210b immediately below the casing 400 so that the rear wall 912 is positioned on the left side of the front wall 911. (See FIG. 20). Note that the ball discharge passage 920 is opposed to the rear discharge port portion 423a and the front discharge port portion 423b of the lower wall 423 of the casing 400 of the ball discharge device D at the upper end opening 921. The ball discharge passage 920 is connected to a payout passage (not shown) to the upper plate at the lower end opening 922 thereof.

  Moreover, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the various devices 240 described in the first embodiment have a right edge of the game board 210a and an arm 212b of the fixed board 210b at the right end. Intervened in between. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the second embodiment configured as described above, the ball dispensing device D is fixedly supported on the arm portion 212b by the fixing portion 212 of the fixing plate 210b of the frame-shaped main body 210 together with the discharge member 900 as described above. Yes. This means that the width direction of the ball payout device D matches the front-rear direction of the pachinko gaming machine, and the front-back direction of the ball payout device D matches the left-right direction of the pachinko gaming machine.

  Further, as described above, the various devices 240 are interposed at the right end portion between the right edge portion of the game board 210a and the arm portion 212b of the fixed plate 210b, as shown in FIGS. ing. This means that the various devices 240 are interposed in the void formed between the right edge of the game board 210a and the arm part 212b of the fixed board 210b at the right end. .

  Therefore, as described above, the front and rear direction of the ball payout device D matches the left and right direction of the pachinko gaming machine, so that the ball payout device D protrudes greatly from the right edge of the frame-shaped main body 120 to the left side, And even if the external shape of various devices 240 increases in the left-right direction on the rear side of the frame-shaped main body 210 as described in the first embodiment, the various devices 240 are It is interposed in a space formed between the right edge of the game board 210a and the arm part 212b of the fixed board 210b. Accordingly, the ball dispensing device D can be properly attached to the arm portion 212b of the fixing plate 210b without colliding with the various devices 240 and without changing the external specification of the various devices 240.

  Further, since the width of the ball payout device D is thin as described in the first embodiment, the width direction of the ball payout device D coincides with the longitudinal direction of the pachinko gaming machine as described above. However, the ball payout device D does not unnecessarily protrude to the rear side of the pachinko gaming machine, and as a result, does not collide with other pachinko gaming machines standing on the rear side. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In carrying out the present invention, the following various modifications are possible without being limited to the first or second embodiment.
(1) Unlike the first or second embodiment, the both ball payout passages 406 and 407 may be bent in opposite directions.
(2) Of the partition 404, portions other than the corresponding portions for the both ball payout passages 406 and 407 may be abolished.
(3) The ball dispensing device D may be supported on the right edge of the frame-shaped main body 210 from the rear wall side of the casing 400.
(4) The ball dispensing device D may be fixedly supported on the right end side of the various devices 240 with respect to the arm portion 212b of the fixing portion 212 described in the second embodiment.
(5) The fixing plate 210b is not limited to the one described in the second embodiment, and the shape that can fix the ball dispensing device D to the rear side of the frame-shaped main body 210 via the right end portion of the various devices 240. Any fixing member may be used.
(6) Unlike the first or second embodiment, the ball payout device D is a boundary between the upper wall portion 409a and the lower wall portion 409b (the lid wall portion 801 of the lid 800) of the left wall 409 (FIG. 3). The ball introduction body into which the game ball is introduced and the ball payout body to which the game ball is paid out from the ball introduction body may be formed separately.
(7) The upper end opening (left sphere inlet 412) of the upper passage 406a in the ball payout passage 406 and the upper end opening (right sphere inlet 413) of the upper passage 407a in the ball discharge passage 407 Unlike the first or second embodiment, any one of the front wall, the left wall, and the right wall of the casing head 400b may be formed so as to be opened side by side. In this case, the ball outlets of the ball guide rod 230 are upper end openings of the upper passage portion 406a and the upper passage portion 407a formed in any of the front wall, the left wall, and the right wall of the casing head 400b. It is formed so as to oppose.
(8) The lower end opening (rear outlet 423a) of the lower passage portion 406b in the ball payout passage 406 and the lower end opening (front discharge outlet 423b) of the lower passage portion 407b in the ball discharge passage 407 are as described above. Unlike the first or second embodiment, each of the front and rear walls 402 and 411 of the casing 400 may be formed so as to open outward in parallel. In this case, the upper opening portion of the ball discharge passage 920 of the discharge member 900 is a lower passage portion formed so as to open outward in parallel at either of the lower end portions of the front and rear walls 402 and 411 of the casing 400. It is formed so as to oppose the respective lower end openings of 406b and lower passage portion 407b.
(9) The ball storage tank 220 may be attached along the mechanism plate at its front wall. The mechanism plate is provided on the upper portion of the frame-shaped main body 210 along the rear surface.
(10) Instead of the step motor 700, for example, a small induction motor or a DC motor may be employed.
(11) Instead of the step motor 700, a geared motor may be employed. Here, the geared motor may be configured such that a reduction gear is coaxially connected to the step motor, and the pinion gear 703 is coaxially supported on the output shaft of the reduction gear. The reduction gear is composed of a small-diameter gear that supports the output shaft of the step motor and a large-diameter gear that meshes with the small-diameter gear, and the pinion gear 703 is coaxially supported on the output shaft of the large-diameter gear. For example, the pinion gear 703 can be supported by being displaced in the radial direction from the output shaft of the step motor.
(12) The number of blades of both sprockets 707 and 710 may be two, four, or five, unlike the above embodiment, and generally only needs to be plural.
(13) In the fixing plate 210b, the step-like fixing portion 212 may be separate from the assembling portion 211, unlike the above-described embodiment. For example, together with the ball storage tank 220 and the ball guide rod 230A, The main body 210 may be provided on the rear surface.
(14) The raised portions 424 and 431 are not limited to the cross-sectional shape described in the first or second embodiment, and the game balls are moved in the front-rear and left-right directions in the lower passage portions 406b and 407b. The movable cross section of the game ball may be in any shape and may be formed in any position as long as it can move downward without shaking.
(15) The present invention is not limited to pachinko gaming machines, and may be applied to arrange ball machines, sparrow ball machines, and parrot machines (rotating game machines that use game balls as game media).

1 is a schematic rear perspective view showing a first embodiment of a pachinko gaming machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a partial rear view of the pachinko gaming machine of FIG. 1. It is a left side view of the ball dispensing device of FIG. FIG. 4 is a left side view showing the ball dispensing device of FIG. 3 with the lid removed. It is sectional drawing which follows the 5-5 line in FIG. FIG. 6 is a partially broken enlarged sectional view of the ball dispensing device of FIG. 5. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the ball dispensing device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a front view of the ball dispensing device of FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the ball dispensing device of FIG. 1. It is a bottom view of the ball dispensing device of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the 11-11 line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows a 12-12 line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows a 13-13 line in FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the 14-14 line in FIG. FIG. 2 is an electric circuit configuration diagram of the ball dispensing device of FIG. 1. It is a left side view of the discharge member of FIG. It is a rear view of the discharge member of FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the 18-18 line of FIG. It is a partial rear view of the pachinko gaming machine showing the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

D ... ball payout device, 100 ... base frame, 200 ... game machine main body, 210 ... frame-shaped main body,
210b ... fixed plate, 212 ... fixed part, 212b ... arm part, 220 ... ball storage tank,
230, 230A ... ball guide rod, 240 ... various devices, 300 ... front door,
400 ... casing, 400b ... casing head, 409 ... left wall, 401 ... upper wall,
406, 407 ... ball payout passage, 406a, 407a ... upper passage portion,
406b, 407b ... lower passage part, 408 ... ball passage, 410 ... right wall,
412, 413 ... Sphere introduction port, 416, 425 ... Lever breaker lever,
419 ... Ball release lever, 423 ... Lower wall, 423a, 423b ... Ball discharge port,
424, 431 ... raised portion, 500 ... control unit, 511a ... opening,
520, 530 ... micro switch, 600 ... ball removal mechanism, 621a ... operation shaft,
700 ... Step motor, 703 ... Pinion gear, 704, 706, 709 ... Spur gear,
705, 708 ... gear shaft, 707, 710 ... sprocket,
711, 712 ... Ball payout detectors.

Claims (8)

A casing having left and right side walls facing each other;
A first sphere introduction port that opens at an upper portion of the casing; and a first sphere discharge port that opens at a lower portion of the casing, and is directed from the first sphere introduction port toward the first sphere discharge port. A first ball payout passage extending in a vertical strip shape between the left and right side walls in the casing so as to move the game ball,
A second ball introduction port portion that opens at the upper portion of the casing and a second ball discharge port portion that opens at the lower portion of the casing, and the second ball discharge port portion extends from the second ball introduction port portion. A second ball payout passage extending in the vertical direction along the space between the left and right side walls in the casing so as to move the game ball toward
An electric motor interposed between the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the first and second payout passages in the casing and extending an output shaft toward one of the left and right side walls;
Ball payout provided in the casing so as to alternately pay out the game balls moving in the first and second payout passages as the electric motor rotates from the first and second ball payout openings. And a ball dispensing device. The ball payout means is
A pinion gear supported by the output shaft of the motor and rotating as the output shaft rotates, and supported by first and second gear shafts provided below and parallel to the output shaft of the motor. A gear train comprising first and second driven spur gears that mesh with each other so as to reversely rotate outwardly with the rotation of the pinion gear;
The first and second driven spur gears are coaxially connected to the first and second driven spur gears by the first and second gear shafts on the one side of the left and right side walls relative to the first and second driven spur gears. The first and second game balls are supported in the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the second ball payout passage, and the game balls reaching the belt-shaped intermediate portions are directed downward in the belt-shaped intermediate portions. First and second sprockets rotating in reverse with each other in reverse rotation of the first and second driven spur gears so as to alternately move both outer sides of the gear shaft of
The gear train is positioned in the radial direction of the pinion gear together with the first and second gear shafts and the first and second sprockets in the first and second driven spur gears. The ball payout device according to claim 1, wherein the ball payout device is arranged as follows.   The gear train includes an intermediate spur gear supported between the pinion gear and one of the first and second driven spur gears and meshing with the pinion gear and the one driven spur gear. The ball dispensing device according to claim 2. The first ball payout passage is provided with a first raised portion so as to smoothly guide the game ball from the circumference of the first gear shaft to the first ball payout opening portion along the inner wall of the first ball payout passage.
The second ball payout passage is provided with a second raised portion so as to smoothly guide the game ball from the periphery of the second gear shaft to the second ball payout opening portion along the inner wall thereof. The ball dispensing device according to claim 2 or 3. A first and second ball payout detector, a ball breakage detector, and a control unit;
The first ball payout passage is
An upper passage portion that extends downward from the first sphere introduction port portion and is formed to be bent in a crank shape toward one of the front and rear sides at the lower portion of the extension portion;
A lower passage portion that is formed to extend downward from the lower end portion of the upper passage portion while bending toward one of the left and right sides,
The second ball payout passage is
The first sphere payout passage extends downward from the second sphere introduction port portion between the upper passage portion of the first sphere payout passage and one of the left and right side walls corresponding to the upper passage portion. An upper passage portion formed so as to be bent in a crank shape in the opposite direction to the lower portion of the upper passage portion of the one-ball payout passage;
There is a lower passage portion that is bent from the lower end portion of the upper passage portion to the other side on both the left and right sides and a lower passage portion that is formed to extend downward in line with the front and rear sides of the first ball payout passage. And
The electric motor is a step motor that is interposed between the belt-shaped intermediate portions of the lower passage portions and extends the output shaft toward the one of the left and right side walls,
The first and second sprockets are respectively supported by the first and second gear shafts in each belt-shaped intermediate portion of the lower passage portions,
The first ball payout detector is provided in the lower passage portion of the first ball payout passage below the first sprocket to detect a game ball sent from the first sprocket,
The second ball payout detector is provided in the lower passage portion of the second ball payout passage below the second sprocket to detect a game ball sent from the second sprocket,
The ball breakage detecting means is provided in the casing so as to face the upper passage portions of the first and second ball payout passages, and is a game ball into at least one of the upper passage portions. Detects when the ball is out of ball,
The control unit is fitted in an opening formed in one of the front and rear sides on the upper portion of the casing so as to face the upper passage portions of the first and second ball discharge passages from one of the front and rear sides. When the number of game balls detected by the first and second ball payout detectors reaches a predetermined number, or when the ball breakage detecting means detects the ball breakage, the step motor is turned on. It controls so that it may stop, The ball paying-out apparatus as described in any one of Claims 2-4 characterized by the above-mentioned. A ball extraction passage extending in a strip shape in the vertical direction on the opposite side of the first and second ball discharge passages from the control unit in the casing, wherein each upper passage portion is connected to the control unit. A ball extraction passage formed with a ball extraction opening so as to face from the opposite side,
A ball removing means,
Each upper passage portion of the first and second ball payout passages has a ball discharge port portion at the intermediate portion in the vertical direction so as to face the ball discharge port portion from the side opposite to the control unit. And
The ball removing means includes
A ball release lever provided to be openable and closable in common in the ball discharge port portion of each upper passage portion;
An operating shaft that is provided on the casing so as to be operable from the outside and that opens and closes the ball release lever;
6. The ball dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein each of the ball discharge ports is opened and closed by the ball removal lever based on an operation of the operation shaft. A base frame erected for installation;
A gaming machine body,
A front door supported to be openable and closable from the front side of the gaming machine main body,
The gaming machine body is
A frame-shaped main body assembled to the base frame;
A ball storage tank that is supported along the rear side of the upper part of the frame-shaped main body and stores game balls,
Various devices such as a symbol display device and a winning device assembled to the game board assembled to the frame-shaped main body under the ball storage tank and projecting to the rear side of the frame-shaped main body,
The game balls that extend from the space between the ball storage tank and the various devices toward one of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped main body and fall from the ball storage tank are left and right of the frame-shaped main body. A ball guide rod to guide toward one of the edges,
A ball payout device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The spherical guide rod is formed at the inclined end thereof to form a spherical outlet that opens outward.
The ball payout device is located on the left and right side walls of the casing on the left and right sides, and the ball outlet port portion of the ball guide rod at each ball introduction port portion of the first and second ball payout passages. A gaming machine attached along one of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped main body so as to face the frame. A base frame erected for installation;
A gaming machine body,
A front door supported to be openable and closable from the front side of the gaming machine main body,
The gaming machine body is
A frame-shaped main body assembled to the base frame;
A ball storage tank that is supported along the rear side of the upper part of the frame-shaped main body and stores game balls,
Various devices such as a symbol display device and a winning device assembled to the game board assembled to the frame-shaped main body under the ball storage tank and projecting to the rear side of the frame-shaped main body,
The game balls that extend from the space between the ball storage tank and the various devices toward one of the left and right side edges of the frame-shaped main body and fall from the ball storage tank are left and right of the frame-shaped main body. A ball guide rod to guide one side of the edge,
The payout device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The spherical guide rod is formed at the inclined end thereof to form a spherical outlet that opens outward.
The frame-shaped main body is provided with a fixing member (212) extending rearward from one side edge in the left-right direction,
The ball dispensing device extends from one side edge to the other side edge of the frame-shaped main body along the rear surface of the frame-shaped main body at one of the left and right side walls of the casing. As described above, fixedly supported by the fixing member, and located at the respective ball introduction port portions of the first and second ball discharge passages so as to face the ball outlet portion of the ball guide rod,
The various devices are game machines that are interposed between a rear surface of the frame-shaped main body and the ball payout device from an end portion on one side edge side of the frame-shaped main body.

Images