JP2008132104A - Tray ball lifting device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a player to take out all balls from an upper ball tray or a lower ball tray without touching the balls. <P>SOLUTION: A ball lifting door 43 closes a lifting ball entrance 26, an upper ball takeout operation body 19 is operated, and the balls are taken out from the upper ball tray 11 to the lower ball tray 12 and are thus stored in the lower ball tray 12 without being fetched to the lifting ball entrance 26. Thereafter, when a lower ball takeout operation body 25 is operated, the balls are taken out from the lower ball tray 12 to a ball box 37. Or, when a lifting operation body 41 is operated, the ball lifting door 43 opens the lifting ball entrance 26, a lifting motor 32 is driven, and the balls are lifted from the lower ball tray 12 to the upper ball tray 11 and stored in the upper ball tray 11. Thereafter, when the lifting operation body 41 is operated again, the lifting motor 31 is stopped after the stipulated time after the ball lifting door 43 closes the lifting ball entrance 26 so that the balls do not remain in a lifting ball introducing path 34 and the lower part of a lifting ball carrier 33. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dish lifting apparatus for a gaming machine in which all balls can be extracted from a lower ball tray and an upper ball tray without touching the balls.

  In a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine that uses a ball as a game medium, a dish lifting apparatus for conveying a ball from a lower ball tray to an upper ball tray is known. 5 and 6 show a pachinko gaming machine provided with the dish lifting apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1. FIG.

  In FIG. 6, the pachinko gaming machine has a form in which a gaming board (not shown) is attached to the inside of the gaming machine frame 1 in a replaceable manner. The gaming machine frame 1 includes a movable frame 3 at the front portion of the fixed frame 2, and includes a front door 4 and a dish structure 5 at the front portion of the movable frame 3. The fixed frame 2 is fixed to the gaming machine installation facility. The gaming machine installation facility is a facility called an island of a gaming store where a pachinko gaming machine is installed. The movable frame 3 is openable and closable around the hinge 6 located on the left side so as to be opened forward and closed rearward in front of the fixed frame 2. The movable frame 3 is provided with a locking device (not shown), a mechanism for mounting a game board (not shown) in a replaceable manner, a ball launching mechanism (not shown), and a ball dispensing device (not shown). The front door 4 and the dish structure 5 can be opened and closed individually with the hinge 7 located on the left side as the center, so that the front door 4 and the dish structure 5 are opened forward and closed rearward in front of the movable frame 3.

  The front door 4 is provided with a window 9 and a front panel 10. The window 9 is configured as a through hole in the front-rear direction. The front panel 10 has a plate shape that is large enough to block the window 9 later. The dish structure 5 is disposed below the front door 4. In the front part of the dish structure 5, an upper ball tray 11, a lower ball tray 12, and a ball launch operation mechanism 13 are provided. The upper ball tray 11 is a container for storing a ball used for a game. The lower ball tray 12 is a container for storing a ball extracted from the upper ball tray 11.

  The upper ball tray 11 is provided with a ball discharge outlet 15, a launch ball supply port 16, an upper extraction ball inlet 17, an upper ball extraction door 18, an upper ball extraction operation body 19, and a lifting ball outlet 20. The bottom surface of the upper ball tray 11 in contact with the ball constitutes a slope that causes the ball taken into the upper ball tray 11 to flow down toward the launch ball supply port 16. The upper ball extraction door 18 and the upper ball extraction operation body 19 are connected to each other by a connection mechanism (not shown), and are connected as the upper ball extraction operation body 19 is operated by the player against the spring force of the spring. The upper ball extraction door 18 operates so as to open the upper extraction ball inlet 17 through the mechanism, and is connected by the spring force of the spring as the operation of the upper ball extraction operation body 19 by the player is released. The upper ball extraction door 18 operates to close the upper extraction ball inlet 17 through the mechanism. That is, the upper ball extraction door 18 is structured to open and close mechanically in accordance with the operation of the upper ball extraction operation body 19.

  The lower ball tray 12 is provided with a lower extraction ball inlet 22, a lower extraction ball outlet 23, a lower ball extraction door 24, a lower ball extraction operation body 25, a lifting ball inlet 26, and a lifting operation body 27. The bottom surface 28 that comes into contact with the sphere of the lower sphere tray 12 forms a slope that causes the sphere taken into the lower sphere tray 12 to flow down toward the lifting ball inlet 26. The lower ball extraction door 24 and the lower ball extraction operation body 25 are connected to each other by a connection mechanism (not shown), and the lower ball extraction operation body 25 is extracted via the connection mechanism as the lower ball extraction operation body 25 is operated by the player. The door 24 operates so as to open the lower extraction ball outlet 23, and the lower ball extraction door 24 is extracted via the connecting mechanism as the operation of the lower ball extraction operation body 25 by the player is released. It operates to close the ball outlet 23. That is, the lower ball extraction door 24 is structured to open and close mechanically in accordance with the operation of the lower ball extraction operation body 25.

  In FIG. 5, the upper ball tray 11 and the lower ball tray 12 are provided with a sampling ball passage 29 and a ball lifting mechanism 30. The ball lifting mechanism 30 includes a lifting housing 31, a lifting motor 32, a lifting ball carrier 33, a lifting ball introduction path 34, and a lifting ball lead-out path 35.

  In FIG. 5, the operation of the dish lifting apparatus will be described. When the upper extraction ball inlet 17 is closed by the upper ball extraction door 18 and a ball as a winning ball or a rental ball is paid out from the ball dispensing device, the ball is discharged from the ball dispensing outlet 15 in FIG. The bottom surface of the upper ball tray 11 that comes into contact with the ball flows down toward the ball launching ball supply port 16 and is stored in the upper ball tray 11.

  Returning to FIG. 5, in the state where the ball is stored in the upper ball tray 11 as described above, the player operates the upper ball extraction operation body 19, and the upper ball extraction door 18 is indicated by a virtual line from the position indicated by the solid line. Move to the position and stop to open the upper extraction ball inlet 17. As a result, the ball is discharged from the upper ball receiving tray 11 to the lower ball receiving tray 12 via the upper sampling ball inlet 17, the extraction ball passage 29 and the lower sampling ball inlet 22, as indicated by the arrow X1, and then the lower ball receiving tray 12 The bottom surface 28 flows down toward the lifting ball inlet 26 and is stored in the lower ball receiving tray 12 and is stored in the lifting ball introduction path 34 via the lifting ball inlet 26 as indicated by an arrow X2.

  Then, in the state where the balls are stored in the lower ball receiving tray 12 and the lifting ball introduction path 34 and the ball box 37 is placed on the shelf 38 of the gaming machine installation equipment so as to be positioned directly below the lower ball receiving tray 12. When the person operates the lower ball extraction operation body 25, the lower ball extraction door 24 moves from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the phantom line and stops to open the lower extraction ball outlet 23. As a result, the sphere falls from the lower extraction ball outlet 23 and is taken into the ball box 37 as indicated by an arrow X3. In this case, the sphere stored in the lifting ball introduction path 34 remains in the lifting ball introduction path 34.

  Further, the lower ball extraction door 24 moves from the position indicated by the phantom line to the position indicated by the solid line and stops to close the lower extraction ball outlet 23, and the ball is stored in the lower ball receiving tray 12 and the lifting ball introduction path 34. When the player operates the lifting operation body 27 in this state, the lifting motor 32 rotates the lifting ball transport body 33, and the lifting ball transport body 33 moves to the balls remaining in the lifting ball introduction path 34 and the lower ball receiving tray 12. The stored sphere is transported upward. The ball transported upward is discharged from the upper part of the lifting ball transport body 33 through the lifting ball lead-out path 35 to the upper ball receiving tray 11 from the lifting ball outlet 20 as indicated by an arrow X4.

However, the bottom surface 28 of the lower ball tray 12 forms a slope that causes the ball to flow down toward the lifting ball inlet 26, and the ball remains in the lifting ball introduction path 34. For this reason, when the ball remaining on the lifting ball introduction path 34 is extracted, the player closes the lifting ball inlet 26 with a hand and operates the lifting operation body 27 and the upper ball extraction operation body 19 to lift the ball. The operating body 27 lifts the ball to the upper ball tray 11 and discharges the ball from the upper ball tray 11 to the lower ball tray 12 via the upper ball extraction door 18, the extraction ball passage 29 and the lower extraction ball inlet 22. The ball needs to be extracted from the lower ball receiving tray 12 via the lower sampling ball outlet 23 to the ball box 37, and the player blocks the lifting ball inlet 26 by hand, so that the player must touch the ball. There are drawbacks.
JP 2001-353322 A JP 2003-340086 A

  The problem to be solved by the invention is that the player must touch the ball when the ball remaining on the lifting ball introduction path is extracted.

  A dish lifting apparatus for a gaming machine according to the present invention includes an upper ball receiving tray for storing balls used for gaming, a lower ball receiving tray for storing balls extracted from the upper ball receiving tray, and balls from the upper ball receiving tray to the lower ball receiving tray. An openable and retractable upper extraction ball inlet, an openable and withdrawable lower extraction ball outlet for extracting the ball from the lower ball tray, a ball lifting mechanism for transporting the ball from the ball tray to the upper ball tray, and a lower ball tray It has an openable and retractable lifting ball inlet that takes the ball into the ball lifting mechanism, and the bottom surface that contacts the ball of the lower ball tray is configured as a slope that allows the ball to flow down toward the lower sampling ball outlet, and the lifting ball inlet is closed Then, it is configured as a slope that allows the sphere to flow down toward the bottom sampling ball outlet or the bottom surface that contacts the sphere of the lower sphere tray.When the upper sampling sphere inlet is closed, the sphere is stored in the upper sphere tray and the upper sampling sphere inlet is opened. And when the lower sampling ball outlet and the lifting ball inlet are closed, the ball is the upper ball tray. And then stored in the lower ball tray, when the lifting ball inlet is closed and the lower sampling ball outlet is opened, the balls flow down the bottom surface and are all extracted from the lower ball tray to the outside and the lower sampling ball outlet is closed. When the lifting ball inlet is opened, the ball lifting mechanism is driven so as to convey the ball from the lower ball receiving tray to the upper ball receiving tray, and when the lifting ball inlet is closed while the ball lifting mechanism is being driven, the specified time from the closing is reached. The main feature is that the opening / closing of the lifting ball inlet and the driving of the ball lifting mechanism are controlled so that the ball lifting mechanism stops later. It may be configured as a slope that causes the ball to flow down to the lifting ball inlet when the lower sampling ball outlet is closed.

  In the state where the lower sampling ball outlet and the lifting ball inlet are closed and the ball is stored in the lower ball receiving tray, the ball is released from the lower ball receiving tray when the lower sampling ball outlet is opened. In the state where the bottom ball contacted with the sphere is flown down and all of the lower sphere receiving tray is pulled out to the outside, and the lower extraction ball outlet and the lifting ball inlet are closed and the ball is stored in the lower sphere tray, the lower extraction ball outlet Is closed and the lifting ball inlet is opened, the ball lifting mechanism is driven to transport the ball from the lower ball receiving tray to the upper ball receiving tray, and when the lifting ball inlet is closed while the ball lifting mechanism is being driven, the closing is started. After the specified time, the ball lifting mechanism stops and the ball does not remain in the ball lifting mechanism from the lifting ball entrance, so it is not necessary for the player to block the lifting ball entrance with his hand, All balls can be removed from the lower and upper ball trays without touching them. There is an advantage. If it is configured as a slope that causes the ball to flow down to the lifting ball inlet when the lower extraction ball outlet is closed, there is an advantage that the player does not touch the ball and all the balls are taken into the lifting ball inlet from the lower ball tray.

  1 to 3 show the best mode for carrying out the invention. 1 to 3, parts having the same functions as those in the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 5 and 6, and a duplicate description is omitted. FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross section of the dish lifting apparatus provided in the dish structure 5 cut vertically. FIG. 2 shows a gaming machine frame 1 of a pachinko gaming machine. FIG. 3 shows a control flow of the dish lifting apparatus. In this specification, the directions of “front”, “rear”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, “lower” are determined from the front indicated by the arrow A with the gaming machine frame 1 placed in the state of FIG. This is the direction specified when viewed.

  In FIG. 2, the ball discharge outlet 15 is provided on the right side of the upper ball tray 11, and the launch ball supply port 16, the upper sampling ball inlet 17 and the upper ball extraction door 18 are provided on the left side of the upper ball tray 11. The upper ball sampling operation body 19 and the lifting operation body 41 are provided on the front surface 42 that covers the front of the upper ball tray 11 in the dish structure 5, and the bottom surface 28 of the lower ball tray 12 is inside the lower ball tray 12. A slope for allowing the ball taken in to the lower extraction ball outlet 23 to flow down, a ball lifting door 43 provided at the lifting ball inlet 26, a lower ball extraction door 24 and a ball lifting door 43. When both are closed, the upper surface of the ball lifting door 43 is disposed above the upper surface of the lower ball extraction door 24, and when the lower ball extraction door 24 is closed, the upper surface of the lower ball extraction door 24 lifts the ball. When a slope that flows down toward the ball feeding inlet 26 is formed and the ball lifting door 43 is closed The upper surface of the ball lifting door 43 formed a slope that allows the ball to flow down toward the lower sampling ball outlet 23 or the bottom surface 28, and when the ball lifting door 43 is opened, the upper surface of the ball lifting door 43 lifts the ball. 6 is different from FIG. 6 in that a slope that flows down from the ball feeding inlet 26 toward the lifting ball introduction path 34 (see FIG. 1) is configured. When the lifting operation body 41 is operated by the player, the ball lifting door 43 and the lifting motor 32 of FIG. 1 are configured to move, so that the lifting operation body 27 and the function of the lifting operation body 27 of FIG. Different.

  That is, the provision of the ball lifting door 43 at the lifting ball inlet 26 is synonymous with the fact that the lifting ball inlet 26 can be opened and closed. The fact that the upper surface of the ball lifting door 43 is disposed above the upper surface of the lower ball extraction door 24 when both the lower ball extraction door 24 and the ball lifting door 43 are closed is that This is synonymous with the fact that the lifting ball inlet 26 is disposed above the lower sampling ball outlet 23 when both the ball outlets 23 are closed. When the lower ball extraction door 24 is closed, the upper surface of the lower ball extraction door 24 constitutes a slope that causes the ball to flow down toward the lifting ball inlet 26, so that the ball is lifted when the lower extraction ball outlet 23 is closed. It is synonymous with constructing a slope that flows down toward the inlet 26. When the ball lifting door 43 is closed, the upper surface of the ball lifting door 43 forms a slope that allows the ball to flow down toward the lower sampling ball outlet 23 or the bottom surface 28. It is synonymous with constructing a slope that flows down toward the lower sampling ball outlet 23 or the bottom surface 28. When the ball lifting door 43 is closed, the upper surface of the ball lifting door 43 forms a slope that allows the ball to flow down toward the lower sampling ball outlet 23 or the bottom surface 28. It is synonymous with constructing a slope that causes the ball to flow down from the lifting ball inlet 26 toward the lifting ball introduction path 34.

  When the lifting operation body 41 is operated in a state where the ball lifting door 43 closes the lifting ball inlet 26 and the lifting motor 32 is stopped, the ball lifting door 43 opens the lifting ball inlet 26, The feed motor 32 is driven. When the lifting operation body 41 is operated in a state where the ball lifting door 43 opens the lifting ball inlet 26 and the lifting motor 32 is driven, the ball lifting door 43 closes the lifting ball inlet 26 and then The lifting motor 32 stops after the specified time. A case where the lifting operation body 41 is operated in a state where the ball lifting door 43 opens the lifting ball inlet 26 and the lifting motor 32 is driven is referred to as re-operation of the lifting operation body 41.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the flow of control of the dish lifting apparatus will be described. In FIG. 3, every time the lifting operation body 41 is operated, the lifting operation detector 49 outputs a lifting start signal to the control device 50, and the control device 50 controls the lifting motor 32. Specifically, when the computer built in the control device 50 is activated by receiving the supply of electricity, the processing for the lifting motor 32 according to the flowchart shown in the block showing the control device 50 is executed. . That is, when the lifting operation body 41 is operated and the lifting operation detector 49 outputs a lifting start signal to the control device 50, the determination of the lifting operation in step 101 becomes YES, and the process proceeds to step 102.

  In step 102, it is determined whether or not a flag indicating that a lifting operation is being performed is set in the RAM of the computer. If it is determined in step 102 that the flag is not set in the RAM, the lifting operation is not being performed, the lifting start signal input in step 101 is a lifting start signal that is not re-input, and step 102 is NO. Since there is, proceed to Step 103. In step 103, a flag indicating that the lifting operation is in progress is set in the RAM of the computer, and the process proceeds to step 104. In step 104, the control device 50 drives the lifting motor 32 and self-holds the driving of the lifting motor 32, and ends one cycle of processing by the computer.

  If the flag is set in the RAM in the determination in step 102, the pumping operation is being performed, the pumping start signal input in step 101 is the re-input pumping start signal, and step 102 is YES. Therefore, the process proceeds to step 105. In step 105, the elapsed time for feeding is counted and the process proceeds to step 106. In step 106, it is determined whether or not the elapsed time of feeding timed in step 105 has reached a specified time. If it is determined in step 106 that the elapsed time has not reached the specified time, step 106 is NO and the routine jumps to step 105. If it is determined in step 106 that the elapsed time has reached the specified time, step 106 is YES and the process proceeds to step 107. In step 107, the control device 50 releases the self-holding of the drive with respect to the lifting motor 32 and stops the lifting motor 32, and the process proceeds to step 108. In step 108, the flag is erased from the RAM, and one cycle of processing by the computer is completed.

  According to the above control process, when the lifting operation body 41 is operated, the control device 50 drives the lifting motor 32 and self-holds the driving of the lifting motor 32. Then, when the lifting operation body 41 is operated in a state where the control device 50 self-holds the drive to the lifting motor 32, the control device 50 re-inputs the lifting start signal from the lifting operation detector 49. After a predetermined time from the detection of the re-input, the control device 50 releases the self-holding of the drive with respect to the lift motor 32 and stops the lift motor 32. The specified time is an empirical rule as a time required from when the re-input of the control device 50 is detected until the lifting ball carrier 33 lifts all the balls remaining in the lifting ball introduction path 34 to the lifting ball lead-out path 35. And is set in the ROM of the computer in the control device 50.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the operation of the dish lifting apparatus will be described. In a state where the upper ball extraction door 18 closes the upper extraction ball inlet 17, when the ball is stored in the upper ball tray 11, the ball is moved from the upper ball tray 11 to the ball launching ball supply port 16 and the upper ball extraction door 18. It reaches the launching ball delivery port 47 from the launching ball supply passage 46 through the bottom surface. When the player operates the ball launch operation mechanism 13 in FIG. 2, an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid in the launch ball delivery mechanism 48 drives the launch ball delivery body, and the launch ball delivery body launches the ball outside the figure. One ball at a time is supplied to the ball launch mechanism according to the launch operation of the mechanism. The ball launching mechanism is driven at a prescribed number of intervals, for example, from 1 to less than 100 shots per minute, with a firing force corresponding to the operation amount output from the ball launching operation mechanism 13 (see FIG. 2), and the launching ball delivery mechanism Launch toward the front of the game board supplied from 48.

  When the player operates the upper ball extraction operation body 19 in a state where the ball is stored in the upper ball tray 11 as described above, the upper ball extraction door 18 moves laterally, for example, from the front surface to the back surface of FIG. Then, the upper sampling ball inlet 17 is opened. As a result, the sphere reaching the launching ball delivery port 47 from the upper ball receiving tray 11 does not remain at the launching ball delivery port 47, and the sampling ball passage 29 and the lower It is discharged to the lower ball tray 12 via the sampling ball inlet 22.

  In the state where the lower ball extraction door 24 is stopped at the position indicated by the solid line and the lower extraction ball outlet 23 is closed, and the ball lifting door 43 is stopped at the position indicated by the solid line and the lifting ball inlet 26 is closed. When the sphere is discharged from the upper sphere tray 11 to the lower sphere tray 12 as shown above, the sphere flows down the bottom surface 28 of the lower sphere tray 12 or the upper surface 44 of the ball lifting door 43 toward the lower extraction ball outlet 23. And stored in the lower ball tray 12.

  In the state where the ball is stored in the lower ball tray 12 and the ball box 37 is placed on the shelf 38 of the gaming machine installation equipment so that the ball box 37 is located directly below the lower ball tray 12 as described above, When the extraction operation body 25 is operated, the lower sphere extraction door 24 moves from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the phantom line and stops to open the lower extraction sphere outlet 23, and the sphere is indicated by the arrow X3. From the lower sampling ball outlet 23 of the tray 12, it falls to the lower outside of the lower ball tray 12 and is taken into the ball box 37.

  When the lower ball extraction door 24 moves from the position indicated by the phantom line to the position indicated by the solid line and stops to close the lower extraction ball outlet 23, the player lifts the ball in the state where the ball is stored in the lower ball tray 12 When the operating body 41 is operated, the ball lifting door 43 moves from the position indicated by the solid line to the position indicated by the phantom line and stops to open the lifting ball inlet 26 and the lifting motor 32 is driven. Thus, as indicated by the arrow X2, the sphere reaches the upper surface 44 of the ball lifting door 43 from the upper surface 45 of the lower ball extraction door 24, and then the surface of the paper surface of FIG. Alternatively, it flows down toward the rear surface and reaches the lower part of the lifting ball introduction path 34 and the lifting ball carrier 33 from the lifting ball inlet 26 via the lifting ball inlet 26. Then, the lifted ball transport body 33 rotated by driving of the lift motor 32 transports the sphere reaching the lower part of the lifted ball transport body 33 upward. The ball transported upward is discharged from the upper part of the lifting ball transport body 33 through the lifting ball lead-out path 35 to the upper ball receiving tray 11 from the lifting ball outlet 20 as indicated by an arrow X4. The driving of the lifting motor 32 is self-held by the control device 50 (see FIG. 3).

  When the player re-operates the lifting operation body 41 while the ball is being lifted from the lower ball receiving tray 12 to the upper ball receiving tray 11 as the lifting motor 32 is driven, the ball lifting door 43 is virtually displayed. It moves from the position indicated by the line to the position indicated by the solid line and stops to close the lifting ball inlet 26, and the ball is stored in the lower ball tray 12 without entering the lifting ball introduction path 34. When the specified time elapses after the ball lifting door 43 closes the lifting ball inlet 26, the lifting motor 32 stops. Thereby, when the ball lifting door 43 closes the lifting ball inlet 26, the ball remaining in the lifting ball introduction path 34 is lifted to the upper ball tray 11 by driving the lifting motor 32 for a specified time. Is done. That is, when the ball lifting door 43 is closed while the ball lifting mechanism 30 is being driven, no ball remains in the ball lifting mechanism 30 from the lifting ball inlet 26.

  After the re-operation of the lifting operation body 41, when the player operates the upper ball extraction operation body 19, the upper ball extraction door 18 opens the upper extraction ball entrance 17, and the ball is received by the upper ball receiving tray as indicated by the arrow X1. 11 is discharged to the lower ball tray 12. In this case, since the ball lifting door 43 has already stopped at the position indicated by the solid line and the lifting ball inlet 26 is closed, the ball discharged from the lower sampling ball inlet 22 to the lower ball receiving tray 12 The bottom surface 28 of 12 or the upper surface 44 of the ball lifting door 43 flows down toward the lower extraction ball outlet 23 and is stored in the lower ball tray 12.

  According to the best mode, as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom surface 28 of the lower ball tray 12 is configured as a slope that causes the ball to flow down toward the lower sampling ball outlet 23, and the lifting ball inlet 26 is configured to be openable and closable. When the lifting ball inlet 26 is closed, it is configured as a slope that causes the ball to flow down toward the lower sampling ball outlet 23 or the bottom surface 28, and the lower sampling ball outlet 23 and the lifting ball inlet 26 are closed so that the ball enters the lower ball receiving tray 12. In the stored state, when the lower extraction ball outlet 23 is opened, the balls flow down the bottom surface 28 and are all extracted downward from the lower ball tray 12, and the extraction ball outlet 23 and the lifting ball inlet 26 are closed. Is stored in the lower ball receiving tray 12, when the lower extraction ball outlet 23 is closed and the lifting ball inlet 26 is opened, the ball lifting mechanism 30 conveys the ball from the lower ball receiving tray 12 to the upper ball receiving tray 11. Drive that sphere If the lifting ball inlet 26 is closed while the feeding mechanism 30 is being driven, the ball lifting mechanism 30 stops after a specified time from the closing, and the ball does not remain in the ball lifting mechanism 30 from the lifting ball inlet 26. There is an advantage that it is not necessary to block the ball feeding entrance with a hand or the like, the player does not touch the ball, and all the balls can be extracted from the lower ball receiving tray and the upper ball receiving tray.

  Specifically, when the player operates the upper ball extraction operation body 19 in a state where the ball lifting door 43 closes the lifting ball inlet 26 and the lower ball extraction door 24 closes the lower extraction ball outlet 23, The balls are extracted from the upper ball tray 11 to the lower ball tray 12 and stored. Then, the ball box 37 is placed on the shelf 38 of the gaming machine installation equipment so that the ball box 37 is positioned directly below the lower ball tray 12, and when the player operates the lower ball extraction operation body 25, the ball is removed from the lower ball tray 12. All of the ball boxes 37 outside the lower ball tray 12 are extracted. Further, after the ball is stored in the lower ball tray 12 as described above, when the player operates the lifting operation body 41 without operating the lower ball extraction operation body 25, the ball lifting door 43 is moved to the lifting ball entrance 26. And the lifting motor 32 is driven, and the ball is lifted from the lower ball tray 12 to the upper ball tray 11 and stored in the upper ball tray 11. Thereafter, when the player re-operates the lower lifting operation body 41, the lifting motor 32 stops after a specified time after the ball lifting door 43 closes the lifting ball inlet 26, and the ball moves from the lifting ball inlet 26 to the ball. It does not remain in the lifting mechanism 30. For this reason, it is unnecessary for the player to block the lifting ball entrance 26 with a hand or the like, and the player does not touch the ball, so that the ball can be lifted from the lower ball receiving tray 12 to the upper ball receiving tray 11 or the upper ball. There is an advantage that a ball can be extracted from the tray 11 to the lower ball tray 12 or a ball can be extracted from the lower ball tray 12 to the ball box 37. That is, there is an advantage that all the balls can be extracted from the lower ball tray 12 and the upper ball tray 11 without the player touching the balls.

  According to the best mode, as shown in FIG. 1, when the lower ball extraction door 24 is closed, the upper surface 45 of the lower ball extraction door 24 constitutes a slope that causes the ball to flow down toward the lifting ball inlet 26. In addition, since it is configured as a slope that causes the ball to flow down to the lifting ball inlet 26 when the lower sampling ball outlet 23 is closed, when the lower sampling ball outlet 23 is closed and the lifting ball inlet 26 is opened, the player touches the ball. Therefore, all the balls are taken in from the lower ball receiving tray 12 to the lifting ball inlet 26, and there is an advantage that the ball lifting mechanism 30 can transport all the balls from the lower ball receiving tray 12 to the upper ball receiving tray 11.

  In FIG. 1, the distance D between the closed lower ball extraction door 24 and the closed ball lifting door 43 is set to a size smaller than the radius of one ball, and the lower ball extraction door 24 is opened and When the ball lifting door 43 is closed, the ball does not stay in the distance D portion.

  The ball lifting door 43 can be opened and closed electrically or mechanically. When the ball lifting door 43 is opened and closed electrically, an actuator is provided on the ball lifting door 43, and the actuator is moved so as to open the ball lifting door 43 in accordance with the operation of the lifting operation body 41. The actuator is moved so as to close the ball lifting door 43 with the re-operation of 41. When the ball lifting door 43 is mechanically opened and closed, the lifting operation body 41 and the ball lifting door 43 are connected to each other by a connection mechanism, and the ball is moved through the connection mechanism in accordance with the operation of the lifting operation body 41. The lifting door 43 operates so as to open and keeps its open state, and the ball lifting door 43 operates so as to close via the coupling mechanism when the lifting operation body 41 is re-operated. Hold. When the ball lifting door 43 is mechanically opened and closed, the lifting operation body 41 and the ball lifting door 43 are connected to each other by a connecting mechanism, and the lifting operation body 41 is operated by the player. Accordingly, the ball lifting door 43 operates to open the lifting ball inlet 26 via the connection mechanism, and the operation from the player to the lifting operation body 41 is released via the connection mechanism. The ball lifting door 43 may operate to close the lifting ball inlet 26. That is, while the lifting operation body 41 is operated by the player, the ball lifting door 43 opens the lifting ball entrance 26, and when the player releases the operation to the lifting operation body 41, the ball lifting is performed. The door 43 is structured to close the lifting ball inlet 26. In this case, the release of the operation from the player to the lifting operation body 41 corresponds to the re-operation of the lifting operation body 41.

  In FIG. 1, the ball lifting door 43 moves laterally from the front surface of the paper of FIG. 1 toward the back surface to open the lifting ball inlet 26, for example, in the left-right direction or the front-rear direction. It may be moved laterally to open the lifting ball inlet 26.

  In FIG. 1, the lower sampling ball outlet 23 and the lifting ball inlet 26 are connected so as to form one hole, but the lower sampling ball outlet 23 and the lifting ball inlet 26 may be individually configured as two holes.

  In FIG. 2, the front door 4 and the dish structure 5 may be integrated. Further, the ball lifting mechanism 30 is not located at the rear part of the dish structure 5 but at the front part of the dish structure 5 so as to be positioned between the front surface of the dish structure 5 and the front surface 42 of the dish structure 5. May also be provided.

  In FIG. 2, the gaming machine is not limited to a pachinko gaming machine but may be a slot machine. In other words, the game board is replaced with a symbol display, the ball launch operation mechanism 13 is replaced with a ball take-in operation mechanism, the ball launch mechanism is replaced with a ball take-in mechanism, and the game start operation mechanism and the symbol stop operation mechanism are If it is provided at the front part of the structure 5 or the front part of the front door 4, the dish lifting apparatus can also be applied to a slot machine.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a ball lifting door 43 may be configured. In FIG. 4 a, the ball lifting door 43 rotates about the shaft 51 between a closed position indicated by a solid line and an open position indicated by a virtual line. In this case, the ball lifting door 43 is not limited to a single opening, but may be a double opening. In FIG. 4b, the ball lifting door 43 rotates about the shaft 52 to a closed position indicated by a solid line and an open position indicated by a virtual line.

The schematic diagram (best form) equivalent to the longitudinal cross-sectional view of a dish raising ball apparatus. The perspective view (best form) of a gaming machine frame. The flowchart (best form) of a dish lifting apparatus. The schematic diagram (different form) which shows a ball lifting door. The schematic diagram (conventional) equivalent to the longitudinal cross-sectional view of a dish raising ball apparatus. The perspective view of a gaming machine frame (conventional).

Explanation of symbols

1 is a gaming machine frame, 2 is a fixed frame, 3 is a movable frame, 4 is a front door, 5 is a dish structure, 6 is a hinge, 7 is a hinge, 8 is a missing number, 9 is a window, 10 is a front panel, 11 is Upper ball tray, 12 is a lower ball tray, 13 is a ball launching operation mechanism, 14 is a missing number, 15 is a ball discharge outlet, 16 is a launch ball supply port, 17 is an upper extraction ball inlet, 18 is an upper ball extraction door, 19 Upper ball extraction operation body, 20 is a lifting ball outlet, 21 is a missing number, 22 is a lower extraction ball inlet, 23 is a lower extraction ball outlet, 24 is a lower ball extraction door, 25 is a lower ball extraction operation body, and 26 is a lifting ball entrance , 27 is a lifting operation body, 28 is a bottom surface of the lower ball receiving tray 12, 29 is a sampling ball passage, 30 is a ball lifting mechanism, 31 is a lifting housing, 32 is a lifting motor, 33 is a lifting ball carrier, 34 is a lifting ball introduction path, 35 is a lifting ball lead-out path, 36 is a missing number, 37 is a ball box, 38 is a shelf, 39; 40 is a missing number, 41 is a lifting operation body, and 42 is a plate structure. Front of the body 5, 43 is a ball lifting door, 44 is the upper surface of the ball lifting door 43, 45 is the upper surface of the lower ball extraction door 24, 46 is a ball launching ball supply passage, 47 is a launching ball delivery port, 48 is launching Sphere delivery mechanism, 49 is a lifting operation detector, 50 is a control device, 51; 52 is a shaft, D is a distance between the lower sphere extraction door 24 and the sphere lifting door 43.

Claims (2)

  An upper ball tray for storing balls used for gaming, a lower ball tray for storing balls extracted from the upper ball tray, an openable upper extraction ball inlet for extracting balls from the upper ball tray to the lower ball tray, and a lower ball A lower extraction ball outlet that can be opened and closed to extract the ball from the bottom to the outside, a ball lifting mechanism that transports the ball from the lower ball tray to the upper ball tray, and an opening and closing that allows the ball to be transferred from the lower ball tray to the ball lifting mechanism. The bottom surface of the lower ball tray that is in contact with the ball of the lower ball receiving tray is configured as a slope that allows the ball to flow down toward the lower sampling ball outlet, and when the lifting ball inlet is closed, the ball is moved to the lower sampling ball outlet or the lower ball receiving tray. It is configured as a slope that flows down toward the bottom surface that comes into contact with the sphere. The ball is extracted from the upper ball tray and stored in the lower ball tray. When the lifting ball inlet is closed and the lower extraction ball outlet is opened, the balls flow down the bottom surface and are all extracted downward from the lower ball tray, and when the lower extraction ball outlet is closed and the lifting ball inlet is opened, the ball lifting is performed. When the feeding mechanism is driven to transport the ball from the lower ball tray to the upper ball tray, and the lifting ball inlet is closed while the ball lifting mechanism is being driven, the ball lifting mechanism is stopped after a specified time from the closing. In addition, the opening and closing of the lifting ball entrance and the driving of the ball lifting mechanism are controlled.   2. A tray lifting apparatus for a gaming machine, wherein the lower sampling ball outlet according to claim 1 is configured as a slope that causes the ball to flow down to the lifting ball inlet when the outlet is closed.

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