JP2008284232A - Ball distribution device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball distribution device provided with a rotating body and capable of distributing game balls by a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: A winning device 7 is provided with the rotating body 13 functioning as the ball distribution device for distributing the game balls to a special winning port 12 and a discharge port 25. At the rotating body 13, the special winning port 12, which is a through-hole 22 that the game ball can pass through and whose one end part is opened facing the upper part Z1, is formed. The upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 is formed so as to be inclined relative to the horizontal direction. A winning area 9 is formed around the rotating body 13, and a bottom wall 28 inclined relative to the horizontal direction is provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball sorting apparatus that is provided in a pachinko machine and sorts a destination of game balls.

  In a conventional pachinko machine, a rotatable rotating body is used as a ball sorter, and a plurality of holes are formed on the outer periphery of the rotating body. Among the plurality of holes, a specific hole is a winning hole advantageous to a player. The other holes are set as out holes that are not advantageous to the player. With such a rotating body, a game ball that has dropped near the rotating body can be guided to a winning hole or a disengagement hole of the rotating body (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-6-1226027

  In the above-described conventional technology, it is necessary to devise the structure of the rotating body or the winning device main body on which the rotating body is mounted in order to distinguish the winning hole and the detaching hole. For example, in the configuration on the rotating body side, it is necessary to configure the shape and depth of the holes formed on the outer periphery to be different between the winning hole and the detaching hole.

  Further, in the configuration on the winning device main body side, it is necessary to separately form the ball passage connected to the winning hole and the ball passage connected to the release hole. In order to provide different spherical passages in a rotating member such as a rotating body, there is a problem that the configuration becomes complicated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a ball sorting apparatus that has a rotating body and is capable of sorting game balls with a simple configuration.

  In the present invention, a through-hole through which a game ball can pass from the rolling surface of the rotary body is formed in the rotary body that constitutes the ball sorting apparatus toward a ball path that is advantageous to the player. Thereby, when the game ball guided by the rotating body enters the through hole, the entered game ball can be guided to an advantageous ball path. In addition, the rolling surface of the rotating body is formed to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the game ball can roll from the vicinity of the center of the rotating body to the outer periphery. Thus, when the game ball guided by the rotating body does not enter the through hole, the gaming ball can be rolled to the outer periphery of the rotating body by the rolling surface of the rotating body. Therefore, the game balls guided by the rotating body can be distributed to different ball passages depending on whether the game balls enter the through hole or not. In addition, a bottom wall that forms a game area and is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction is provided around the rotating body. Therefore, the game ball rolled to the outer periphery of the rotating body by the rolling surface of the rotating body can be further rolled downward by the bottom wall. As a result, the game ball rolled by the bottom wall can be guided to a ball path unfavorable to the player. Therefore, unlike the prior art described above, it is not necessary to form two different through holes in the rotating body in order to distribute the balls. As a result, it is possible to realize a ball sorting apparatus that can sort balls with a simple configuration in which one through-hole of a rotating body is formed as in the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Portions corresponding to the matters described in the preceding forms in each embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description may be omitted. When only a part of the configuration is described, the other parts of the configuration are the same as those described in the preceding section. Not only the combination of the parts specifically described in each embodiment, but also the embodiments can be partially combined as long as the combination does not hinder.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing a game board 1 of a pachinko machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Although not shown, the game board 1 is attached to the game board mounting frame of the pachinko machine, and the front door is attached to the front side of the game board mounting frame. The front door is provided with a glass plate as a transparent window plate, and the glass plate is substantially parallel to the game board 1 when the front door is closed. The glass plate is provided so as to cover the front Y1 side of the game area 2 where the game ball can roll, and the player can see the movement of the game ball in the game area 2 from the front Y1 side through the glass plate. Hereinafter, the thickness direction of the glass plate is referred to as the front-rear direction Y. The direction extending along the long side of the surface of the game board 1 when projected onto a projection plane perpendicular to the thickness direction out of the directions perpendicular to the thickness direction of the glass plate is referred to as the up-down direction Z. A direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction Y and the up-down direction Z is referred to as a left-right direction X. When the pachinko machine is installed in a store or the like and can be played, the up-down direction Z is set to be substantially parallel to the vertical direction, and the left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y are set to be substantially parallel to the horizontal direction.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a guide rail 3 for guiding a launched game ball is provided on the front side of the game board 1, and the game ball is guided above the game area 2 surrounded by the guide rail 3. Is done. In the game area 2, nails 4 for rolling the game ball are placed, and various structures such as a passing chucker 5 and an out port 6 are disposed.

  Further, when the gaming board 1 shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the front Y1 in the front-rear direction Y, a winning device 7 is provided on the upper Z1 side in the up-down direction Z from the center of the game area 2. The winning device 7 is formed with a winning region 9 which is partitioned from the normal region 8 through which the launched game ball normally passes, and is provided in the gaming ball inflow portion 10 above the winning device 7 under predetermined winning conditions. When the movable member 11 is released, the game ball can flow into the winning area 9 in the winning device 7. The winning condition in the case of the winning device 7 shown in FIG. 1 is that the game ball passes through the passing chucker 5. When the game ball passes the passing chucker 5, the winning device 7 opens the movable member 11, and the game ball is switched from a state where it is difficult to enter the winning area 9 to a state where the game ball is easy to enter. Only maintained for seconds.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the winning device 7 as viewed from the upper Z1 side of the front Y1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the winning device 7 as viewed from the lower Z2 side of the front Y1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the winning device 7 as seen from the upper Z1 side of the rear Y2. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the winning device 7 as seen from the lower Z2 side of the rear Y2. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the winning device 7. FIG. 7 is a side view showing the winning device 7. The winning device 7 will be described with reference to FIG. The internal configuration of the winning device 7 varies depending on the model of the pachinko machine. The pachinko machine of the present embodiment has an analog lottery function. In such a pachinko machine, the winning device 7 is provided with a special winning opening 12 called “V zone” in the winning area 9. The pachinko machine generates a big hit when a game ball wins a special winning opening 12. The jackpot means that the operation mode of the pachinko machine is in an advantageous state for the player. Although the operation mode of the pachinko machine when it is a big hit varies depending on the model, in the pachinko machine of this embodiment, the open state of the movable member 11 provided in the game ball inflow portion 10 is maintained, and the game ball is The state in which the player can flow into the winning device 7 is continued, and the game balls enter the special winning port 12 again, whereby a large number of winning balls can be obtained.

  The winning device 7 includes a rotating body 13 in which a special winning opening 12 is formed, a ball discharge passage 14 for discharging game balls from the winning area 9, a first passage 15 and a second passage 16 for guiding the gaming balls to the rotating body 13, A seesaw type sorting device 17 that sorts game balls into the first passage 15 and the second passage 16, a suction device 21 that can suck the game balls, and a game ball inflow portion 10 that drops the game balls onto the seesaw type sorting device 17 And a drive unit 31 that drives each unit. The seesaw type distribution device 17 is provided in the lower Z2 of the game ball inflow portion 10. The game balls that have flowed in from the game ball inflow portion 10 are first distributed to the left and right first passages 15 or the second passages 16 by the seesaw type sorting device 17 provided above the winning area 9. The seesaw type sorting device 17 is flat and swings around a swing axis L1 extending in the front-rear direction Y, thereby distributing the game balls in the left-right direction X. A game ball distributed to the left side X2 from a liquid crystal display device (not shown) provided at the center passes through the first passage 15 and rolls from the left side X2 to the right side X1 of the rotating body 13. To the rotating body 13. The game balls distributed to the right side X1 with respect to the liquid crystal display device provided in the center pass through the second passage 16 and are dropped from the upper side Z1 of the rotating body 13 and reach the rotating body 13. Thus, since the path of the game ball reaching the rotator 13 is different between the first passage 15 and the second passage 16, the probability of entering the special winning opening 12 of the rotator 13 is different depending on the passages 15 and 16.

  The first passage 15 and the second passage 16 are provided with a speed reduction means 18 or an acceleration means for changing the speed of the game ball toward the rotating body 13. In the present embodiment, a speed reduction means 18 is provided, and as the speed reduction means 18, a step serving as an obstacle is provided in each passage. The game balls distributed to the first passage 15 or the second passage 16 are decelerated by colliding with a step. Accordingly, the decelerated game ball is guided to the rotating body 13. Further, as another speed reducing means 18, a coiled spring member may be provided in the passage, and the game ball may be dropped and decelerated while colliding with the inside of the spring member.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the winning device 7 as viewed from the upper Z1 side of the front Y1, and is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the rotating body 13. As shown in FIG. FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the vicinity of the rotating body 13 of the winning device 7. The configuration related to the second passage 16 will be further described. 2 to 7, the rotator 13 is provided on the right X1 side of the winning area 9. A sorting crune 19 is provided at the end of the lower passage Z2 of the second passage 16. The distribution croon 19 is opened facing the upper side Z1, and two drop ports 20a and 20b are formed in the lower side Z2 so as to be separated in the left-right direction X. The game ball guided to the distribution croon 19 by the second passage 16 is dropped to the lower Z2 from one of the two drop openings 20a and 20b. Thereby, the game ball is guided to the rotating body 13 from the upper side Z1 of the rotating body 13.

  The attracting device 21 is provided with a permanent magnet, and attracts the game ball guided by the sorting croon 19 from above Z1 by magnetic force. Further, the suction device 21 is configured to be capable of reciprocating in the left-right direction X, and the displacement distance of the reciprocating motion is set to be larger than the dimension in the left-right direction X of the opening portion of the upper portion Z1 of the sorting croon 19. Accordingly, when the game ball guided to the sorting cruone 19 is attracted and driven to be displaced in the left-right direction X, it collides with a wall portion provided at an end portion of the sorting cron 19 in the left-right direction X. Therefore, the game ball adsorbed by the adsorbing device 21 falls to the lower Z2 and is dropped to the rotating body 13 from either the left or right dropping port 20a, 20b. As described above, since the two different drop openings 20a and 20b are dropped, the game ball dropped from the left X2 drop opening 20b is formed on the rotary body 13 at the position of the rotary body 13 as shown in FIG. It is easy to enter the special prize opening 12, and the game ball dropped from the right-side X1 drop opening 20 a is difficult to enter the special prize opening 12. When the rotating body 13 is rotated 180 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 8, the game ball dropped from the left X2 drop opening 20b is difficult to enter the special winning opening 12, and is dropped from the right X1 drop opening 20a. It becomes easy for the game ball to enter the special prize opening 12. When the rotator 13 is rotated 90 degrees from the state shown in FIG. 8, the game ball dropped from the left X2 drop port 20b and the game ball dropped from the right X1 drop port 20a are special prize ports. The probability of entering 12 is approximately equal. Thus, which of the drop openings 20a, 20b is advantageous by the game ball changes depending on the angular position of the rotating body 13.

  Next, the rotating body 13 will be described. The rotating body 13 is provided on the lower Z2 side of the winning area 9 so as to be rotatable around a predetermined axis L2 facing the up-down direction Z, and is provided with a rolling surface 23 for rolling the game ball. In the present embodiment, the rotating body 13 is provided to be rotatable around an axis L2 substantially parallel to the vertical direction Z. The rotating body 13 has a through hole 22 through which a game ball that has entered from the outer periphery and the upper Z1 of the rotating body 13 can pass through the surface 23 facing the upper Z1 of the rotating body 13, which is a rolling surface 23, for the player. It is formed towards an advantageous ball passage 14. In the present embodiment, the outer periphery of the rotating body 13 is synonymous with the outer side in the radial direction of the rotating body 13 because the rotating body 13 is formed in a substantially disk shape. In other words, the rotating body 13 is formed with a through hole 22 through which a game ball can pass, and opens toward the upper side Z1 thereof. One end portion of the upper Z1 of the through hole 22 becomes a special winning opening 12 (V zone). The other end of the through hole 22 is a predetermined ball passage, and is formed toward the ball discharge passage 14 that is advantageous to the player. The game ball that has reached the rotating body 13 advances to the upper Z1 of the special winning opening 12 while rolling irregularly by colliding with the rotating body 13, and if it enters the special winning opening 12 in a timely manner, it will win a prize and a big hit. . The rotator 13 is formed in a substantially disc shape, and is formed on the surface 23 facing the upper Z1 of the rotator 13 (hereinafter, also referred to as “the upper surface 23 of the rotator 13”) from the radially outer side to the radial direction. A plurality of guide walls 24 that can guide the game balls heading inward to the special winning opening 12 are provided.

  Further, referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, two ball discharge passages 14, which are other ball passages and are disadvantageous for the player, are provided at the front Y <b> 1 of the rotating body 13, and one end thereof serves as a discharge port 25. It opens to the upper side Z1. Each ball discharge passage 14 is configured such that the opening portion of the discharge port 25 is divided into left and right by the area of the front Y1 of the rotating body 13. A mountain-shaped slope 26 that distributes game balls in the left-right direction X is formed in the area of the front Y1 of the rotating body 13. In order to make the rotating body 13 as large as possible, the distance between the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotating body 13 and the glass plate is smaller than the game ball in the area of the front Y1 of the rotating body 13. By forming the mountain-shaped slope 26 in such a region, the game ball rolling to the front Y1 of the rotating body 13 can be guided to one of the discharge ports 25.

  Further, a bottom wall 28 that forms a winning area 9 is provided around the rotating body 13. Referring to FIG. 7, the bottom wall 28 is configured to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. In the present embodiment, the bottom wall 28 is inclined so as to proceed downward Z2 as it proceeds forward Y1. Further, the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 is formed to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the game ball can roll from the vicinity of the center of the rotating body 13 to the outer periphery. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 has a portion that inclines so as to proceed downward Z2 as it proceeds forward Y1. Further, the lower surface 29 of the rotating body 13 is inclined so as to proceed downward Z2 as it proceeds forward Y1. Of the game balls that have reached the rotating body 13, the gaming balls that have not fallen into the special prize opening 12 and have fallen into the front Y 1 due to the inclination of the rotating body 13 and the bottom wall 28 enter the discharge port 25 as described above. The ball discharge passage 14 is discharged from the rear Y2 side of the winning device 7 to the outside of the game area 2. In addition, the inclination angle α2 with respect to the front-rear direction Y which is the horizontal direction of the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 is different from the inclination angle α1 with respect to the horizontal direction of the bottom wall. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 23 of the rotation 13 has a mountain shape that protrudes upward Z1, so that the inclination angle α1 of the bottom wall 28 is larger than the inclination angle α2 of the lower surface 29 of the rotating body 13. Set to The inclination angle α1 of the bottom wall 28 is set to 8 degrees, for example, and the inclination angle α2 of the lower surface 29 of the rotating body 13 is set to 5 degrees, for example. As a result, the height position of the bottom wall 28 and the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 can be set at substantially the same position at the rear Y2 of the rotating body 13. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the game ball from being caught by the rotating body 13 projecting upward from the bottom wall 28 to the upper Z1 at the rear Y2 of the rotating body 13.

  Each ball discharge passage 14 is provided with a sensor 30 for detecting whether or not a game ball has passed. Therefore, the number of game balls that have passed through the special winning opening 12, the number of game balls that have passed through the discharge port 25, and the number of game balls that have passed through the out port 6 can be counted. Accordingly, the number of game balls given to the game area 2 by the player's operation and the number of game balls discharged from the game area 2 can be compared. Therefore, game fraud and game ball clogging can be detected due to excessive or insufficient game balls.

  The drive unit 31 is a drive unit, and drives the adsorption device 21, the movable member 11 provided in the game ball inflow unit 10, and the rotating body 13. The suction device 21 is driven to reciprocate, and the movable member 11 is driven to open and close. The rotating body 13 is driven to rotate about the rotation axis L2. The rotation period of the rotator 13 is set to be a predetermined period. The drive unit 31 is appropriately configured by an actuator such as a motor and an electromagnetic solenoid, and transmission means such as a rack, a pinion, and a gear. Such a drive unit 31 is controlled to perform a predetermined operation by a control unit (not shown).

  Next, the configuration of the rotating body 13 will be described in more detail. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the rotating body 13 as viewed from above Z1. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the rotator 13 as viewed from below Z2. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing the rotator 13. FIG. 13 is a bottom view showing the rotator 13. FIG. 14 is a front view showing the rotating body 13. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view seen from the section line S1-S1 of FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view seen from the section line S2-S2 of FIG. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the winning device 7 as viewed from the upper Z1 side of the front Y1, and is an enlarged perspective view showing a state where the rotating body 13 is removed. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the winning device 7 as viewed from the lower Z2 side of the rear Y2, and is an enlarged perspective view showing a state where the rotating body 13 is removed. As shown in FIG. 11, the rotating body 13 is formed in a substantially bottomed cylindrical shape when viewed from below Z2. Such a rotating body 13 is provided by being fitted to a circular support base 32 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the special winning opening 12 is formed in the rotary body 13 near the center of the upper surface 23 of the rotary body 13 at a position eccentric from the center of the rotary body 13. In other words, the shortest distance from the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotating body 13 to the special winning opening 12 is different. Therefore, since the distance to the special prize opening 12 changes depending on the direction in which the game ball enters the rotating body 13, the probability of entering the special prize opening 12 changes.

  At least one guide wall 24 is provided on the upper surface 23 of the rotator 13 to guide the special winning opening 12 from the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotator 13. In the present embodiment, eight guide walls 24 are provided. The guide wall 24 is convex upward Z1 from the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 and is radially inward (hereinafter referred to as “outward”) from the end of the rotating body 13 in the radial direction (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “outward”). , Sometimes referred to as “inward”). Since the special winning opening 12 is formed at a position eccentric from the center of the rotating body 13, the lengths of the guide walls 24 from one end to the other end are also different. The height dimension of the guide wall 24 is set based on the game ball, and is set to be smaller than the diameter of the game ball in the present embodiment. As a result, depending on the speed of the game ball when it collides with the guide wall 24, the game ball may get over the guide wall 24, or may be guided by the guide wall 24, which may change the movement of the game ball. it can.

  The guide wall 24 has a portion inclined with respect to the radial direction perpendicular to the rotation axis L2 when viewed from above Z1. In the present embodiment, the guide wall 24 is provided so as to bend and extend from the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotating body 13 toward the through hole 22 as viewed from above Z1. Specifically, the guide wall 24 is configured to bend in a counterclockwise direction from the outside toward the inside as viewed from above Z1. Therefore, the game ball entering from the outside of the rotating body 13 is guided inward while colliding with the guide wall 24. When the rotation direction of the rotating body 13 is clockwise when viewed from above Z1, the game ball is easily guided near the center, but when the rotation direction is counterclockwise, the game ball is not easily guided near the center. . Further, as shown in FIG. 14, the outer end 33 of the guide wall 24 is configured to incline downward Z2 as it goes outward. As a result, it is possible to increase the possibility that the game ball entering the rotator 13 from the outside of the rotator 13 will travel to the inner side without being rebounded at the outer peripheral portion.

  A partition wall 35 that is orthogonal to the radial direction as viewed from above Z1 is connected to the end 34 of the guide wall 24 that is positioned inward of the rotating body 13. The partition wall 35 is provided so that two adjacent guide walls 24 are paired and the pair of guide walls 24 are connected. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the four partition walls 35 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. Since the partition wall 35 is orthogonal to the radial direction, it becomes an obstacle for a game ball going from the outside to the inside, and an obstacle for a game ball going from the inside to the outside. Therefore, the game balls are between the adjacent guide walls 24, and the four paths T1 where the partition wall 35 is not provided are easily moved between the outside and the inside of the remaining paths T2. Is possible.

  Such four paths T1 are different from each other in the distance from the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotating body 13 to the special winning opening 12. The distance between the pair of guide walls 24 is the largest for the pair of guide walls 24 having a large distance to the special prize opening 12, and the distance between the pair of guide walls 24 is sequentially decreased as the distance to the special prize opening 12 is sequentially reduced. The distance is also reduced. The total distance between the four pairs of guide walls 24 in the outer peripheral portion 27 is set to be smaller than the distance of the remaining area excluding the four routes T1. As a result, the game ball entering the rotating body 13 from the outside of the rotating body 13 is likely to reach the remaining area. The width dimensions of the four paths T1 are appropriately set based on the winning probability.

  Further, the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 has a raised portion 36 between the special winning opening 12 and the outer peripheral edge 27 of the rotating body 13 as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. A slope that is inclined so as to roll the game ball to the outer peripheral edge 27 of the rotating body 13 or the special winning opening 12 is formed with the raised portion 36 as a boundary. In this embodiment, the outer peripheral edge 27 is the outermost edge in the radial direction of the rotating body 13 and has the same meaning as the outer peripheral portion 27. The upper surface 23 of the rotator 13 is inclined so as to advance upward Z1 as it goes inward from the outer periphery 27 to the predetermined raised portion 36 between the special prize opening 12 and the outer periphery 27 of the rotator 13. From the raised portion 36 to the special winning opening 12, it is formed so as to incline so as to advance downward Z2 as it advances inward. In other words, on the upper surface 23 of the rotator 13, a specific raised portion 36 between the special prize opening 12 and the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotator 13 is raised to the uppermost Z 1 over the entire circumference, and the special raised portion 36 extends from the raised portion 36. As the winning opening 12 is reached, a slope is formed that proceeds downward Z2. The raised portion 36 is set slightly outward from the inner end 34 of each guide wall 24. Further, the positions of the raised portions 36 in the four paths T1 are such that the pair of guide walls 24 having the largest distance to the special prize opening 12 are farthest from the special prize opening 12, and the distance to the special prize opening 12 is sequentially reduced. Get closer. Therefore, the inner region from the four partition walls 35 is an inner region from the raised portion 36, and is configured by a so-called slipped inclined surface that inclines downward Z2 toward the special winning opening 12. In the region inward from the four partition walls 35, the game balls from the inside to the outside are difficult to roll by the partition walls 35 and are inclined toward the special winning opening 12. In the case of this area, the possibility that a game ball enters the special winning opening 12 becomes high.

  Next, a configuration for supporting the rotating body 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. A support base hole 37 penetrating in the vertical direction Z is formed in the circular support base 32 shown in FIG. The support base hole 37 is configured such that a game ball can be inserted therethrough. When the rotator 13 is disposed at a predetermined angular position in a state where the rotator 13 is fitted to the support base 32, the through hole 22 of the rotator 13 and the support base hole 37 of the support base 32 are coaxial. In addition, the position of the support base hole 37 is set. Therefore, when the rotating body 13 is in the remaining position excluding the predetermined angular position, the lower Z2 of the game ball that has entered the special winning opening 12 of the rotating body 13 is supported by the upper surface 38 of the support base 32. The height dimension from the upper surface 38 of the support base 32 to the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 is set slightly smaller than the game ball. Therefore, in a state where the game ball is stuck in the special winning opening 12, the player can easily see the game ball. When the rotating body 13 is rotated and the rotating body 13 is arranged at a predetermined angular position in a state where such a game ball is fitted, the through hole 22 is located at the same position in the vertical direction Z as the support base hole 37. . Thereby, the game ball held by the through hole 22 of the rotating body 13 and the upper surface 38 of the support base 32 passes through the support base hole 37. When the passage through the support hole 37 is detected, a big hit is made. Thereby, the player can visually recognize the moment of entering the special prize opening 12. The game balls that have passed through the support base hole 37 are discharged out of the game area 2 from the rear Y2 side of the winning device 7 through the ball discharge passage 14 that is a predetermined ball passage.

  A rib 39 that protrudes outward is provided on the lower side Z <b> 2 of the rotating body 13. A gear (not shown) is formed on the rib 39. The gear of the rotating body 13 is connected to the drive unit 31 via a gear 47 provided on the lower side Z <b> 2 of the bottom wall 28. As a result, the drive unit, for example, a motor is driven to rotate, whereby the rotator 13 rotates along the outer periphery of the support base 32.

  The rotating body 13 is provided with a detected portion 40 that is convex in the lower Z2. By detecting the position of the detected portion 40 by the detection means 41 such as a photosensor, the angular position of the rotating body 13 can be detected. Thereby, the angular position of the rotator 13 can be controlled with high accuracy.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine according to the present embodiment, the winning device 7 includes the rotating body 13 that functions as a ball sorting device that distributes the game balls to the special winning port 12 and the discharge port 25. The rotating body 13 is a through hole 22 through which a game ball can pass, and is formed with a special winning opening 12 having one end facing the upper Z1. Thereby, when the game ball guided by the rotating body 13 enters the through hole 22, the entered game ball can be guided to the ball discharge passage 14. Further, the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 is formed so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. Accordingly, when the game ball guided by the rotating body 13 does not enter the through hole 22, the game ball can be rolled downward Z2 by the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13. Therefore, the game balls guided by the rotator 13 can be distributed to different ball discharge passages 14 depending on whether the game balls enter the through hole 22 or not. Further, a winning wall 9 is formed around the rotating body 13 and a bottom wall 28 that is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction is provided. Therefore, the game ball rolled to the lower Z2 by the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 can be further rolled to the lower Z2 by the bottom wall 28, and the game ball is placed in the discharge port 25 provided in the front Y1 of the rotating body 13. Can be guided. Therefore, unlike the prior art described above, it is not necessary to form two different holes in the rotating body 13 in order to distribute the spheres. As a result, it is possible to realize a ball sorting apparatus that can sort game balls with a simple configuration in which one through hole 22 of the rotating body 13 is formed as in the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the raised portion 36 as described above is formed on the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13. As a result, the game ball entering inward from the outside of the rotating body 13 goes uphill from the outer peripheral portion 27 to the raised portion 36, so that it is decelerated toward the outside again before reaching the raised portion 36. There is a possibility of rolling, and since there is a so-called downhill inward from the raised portion 36, the possibility of being accelerated and guided to the special winning opening 12 increases. Therefore, the rolling direction of the game ball differs depending on the portion of the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13. This makes it difficult for the player to predict the behavior of the game ball. Further, the probability of entering the special winning opening 12, that is, the so-called winning probability can be changed depending on the position where the raised portion 36 is provided.

  Further, in the present embodiment, at least one guide wall 24 is provided on the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 so as to open to the upper Z1 and guide the special winning opening 12 from the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotating body 13. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the possibility that the game ball entering from the outside of the rotating body 13 to the inside will be guided to the special winning opening 12 by the guide wall 24. Further, the guide wall 24 has a portion inclined with respect to the radial direction when viewed from the upper side Z1. As a result, the collision mode of the game balls entering from the outside of the rotating body 13 to the inside differs depending on the rotating direction of the rotating body 13, so that the possibility of being guided to the special winning opening 12 is changed based on the rotating direction. Can do.

  In the present embodiment, a partition wall 35 that is orthogonal to the radial direction as viewed from above Z1 is connected to the inner end 34 of the guide wall 24. As a result, there is a possibility that a game ball entering inward from the outside of the rotating body 13 may collide with the partition wall 35, so that the possibility of being guided to the through hole 22 can be reduced by the partition wall 35. Conversely, when a game ball falls from the upper side Z1 to the inside of the partition wall 35 and is prevented from rolling outward by the partition wall 35, the possibility of entering the special prize opening 12 is shown. 35 can be enlarged. Thereby, the possibility of entering the special winning opening 12 can be changed based on the approach direction of the game ball. Therefore, the winning probability can be varied by controlling the rotation direction and the number of rotations of the rotating body 13.

  In the present embodiment, the first passage 15 is provided with a speed reduction means 18 that changes the speed of the game ball toward the rotating body 13. Thereby, the approach speed of the game ball toward the rotating body 13 can be set as appropriate within a certain range. Therefore, the winning probability of the game ball from the first passage 15 can be easily set.

  In the present embodiment, since the motor is distributed by the rotating body 13, the motor that drives the rotating body 13 has higher durability than the solenoid that drives the movable member 11 and the like. Therefore, operation reliability can be ensured as compared with the configuration in which the solenoids and the like are used.

  Next, a pachinko machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the rotating body 13A of the present embodiment as viewed from above Z1. The pachinko machine of the present embodiment is partially different from the pachinko machine of the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the rotating body 13A. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 19, the shape of the special winning opening 12 of the rotating body 13A is different. A circular recess 41 that is slightly larger than the special prize opening 12 is formed on the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13 </ b> A, and a through hole 22 that forms the special prize opening 12 is formed in the bottom portion 42 of the recess 41. Since the recess 41 is provided inside the raised portion 36, the game ball guided inward of the raised portion 36 rolls toward the recessed portion 41. As a result, the game ball that has entered the recess 41 is less likely to be separated from the recess 41 again by the wall portion 43 extending in the vertical direction Z of the recess 41, and conversely, the game ball is more likely to enter the special prize opening 12. Become. Therefore, the winning probability can be made higher than that of the rotating body 13 of the first embodiment. Thus, the winning probability can be set by appropriately setting the shape of the recess 41.

  Next, a pachinko machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the rotating body 13B of the present embodiment as viewed from above Z1. The pachinko machine of the present embodiment is partially different from the pachinko machine of the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the rotating body 13B. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 20, the shape of the guide wall 24 of the rotating body 13B is different. The guide wall 24 is provided so as to extend inward from a position at a predetermined interval from the outer peripheral portion 27 inward rather than the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotating body 13. Therefore, the distance guided by the guide wall 24 can be shortened compared to the guide wall 24 of the first embodiment. Accordingly, the winning probability can be made lower than that of the rotating body 13 of the first embodiment. Thus, the winning probability can be set by appropriately setting the shape of the guide wall 24.

  Next, a pachinko machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the rotating body 13C of the present embodiment as viewed from above Z1. FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing the rotating body 13C as viewed from below Z2. FIG. 23 is a plan view showing the rotating body 13C. FIG. 24 is a bottom view showing the rotating body 13C. FIG. 25 is a front view showing the rotating body 13C. 26 is a cross-sectional view seen from the section line S3-S3 in FIG. The pachinko machine of the present embodiment is partially different from the pachinko machine of the first embodiment described above in the configuration of the rotating body 13C. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 22, the shape on the lower Z2 side for rotating the rotating body 13C is different, and is configured to be rotatable without using the support base 32 of the first embodiment.

  A hollow rotating shaft body 45 is provided along the vertical direction Z on the lower surface 44 opposite to the surface portion forming the upper surface 23 of the rotating body 13C of the present embodiment. The game ball that has entered the through hole 22 is configured to be able to pass through the inside of the rotary shaft 45. On the lower side Z2 of the rotating shaft body 45, a rib 46 that protrudes outward is provided. A gear (not shown) is formed on the rib 46. The gear of the rotating shaft body 45 is connected to the drive unit 31 via the gear 47 provided on the lower side Z2 of the bottom wall 28 as described above. Even if it is such a structure, the effect | action and effect similar to each above-mentioned embodiment can be achieved.

  Each of the embodiments described above is merely an example of the present invention, and the configuration can be changed within the scope of the present invention. The rotating body 13 may be provided in the normal region 8. The lower surface 29 of the rotator 13 may be provided substantially parallel to the horizontal direction, and the upper surface 23 of the rotator 1 may be provided so as to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction so that the game ball rolls. The rotating body 13 may be configured to be provided with a concave groove on the upper surface 23 so that the groove functions as the guide wall 24. You may comprise so that a friction coefficient may change with the part of the rotary body 13. FIG. As a result, a region where the game ball easily rolls and a region where it is difficult to roll are provided according to the friction coefficient, and the winning probability can be appropriately set by such a region. In addition, a movable part that changes the course of the game ball by displacing at a predetermined cycle may be provided on the ball path through which the game ball enters the rotary body 13 from the outside of the rotary body 13. The movable portion is provided on the bottom wall 28, for example, and is realized by an obstacle that reciprocates along the vertical direction Z. Accordingly, the probability that the game ball guided by the first passage 15 reaches the rotating body 13 can be changed.

  The rotating body 13 may be configured to rotate and to be slidable in the vertical direction Z. Thus, when the rotating body 13 is positioned closer to the upper Z1, the outer peripheral portion 27 of the rotating body 13 becomes an obstacle, making it difficult for a game ball to enter the rotating body 13 from the outside of the rotating body 13, but the second passage Since the fall distance from 16 is shortened, the winning probability is high for the game ball from above Z1. Therefore, the winning probability can be changed.

The front view which shows the game board 1 of the pachinko machine of 1st Embodiment. The perspective view which shows the winning device 7 seeing from the upper Z1 side of front Y1. The perspective view which shows the winning device 7 seeing from the downward Z2 side of front Y1. The perspective view which shows the winning device 7 seeing from the upper Z1 side of back Y2. The perspective view which shows the winning device 7 seeing from the downward Z2 side of back Y2. The front view which shows the winning device 7. FIG. The side view which shows the winning device 7. FIG. The perspective view which expands and shows the rotary body 13 vicinity. The top view which shows the rotary body 13 vicinity. The perspective view which shows the rotary body 13 seeing from upper direction Z1. The perspective view which shows the rotary body 13 seeing from the downward direction Z2. The top view which shows the rotary body 13. FIG. The bottom view which shows the rotary body 13. FIG. The front view which shows the rotary body 13. FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view seen from a section line S1-S1 in FIG. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view seen from the section line S2-S2 of FIG. The perspective view which expands and shows the state except the rotary body 13. FIG. The perspective view which expands and shows the state except the rotary body 13. FIG. The perspective view which shows 13 A of rotary bodies of 2nd Embodiment seeing from upper direction Z1. The perspective view which shows the rotary body 13B of 3rd Embodiment seeing from upper direction Z1.

The perspective view which shows 13 C of rotary bodies of 4th Embodiment seeing from upper direction Z1. The perspective view which shows the rotary body 13C seeing from the downward Z2. The top view which shows the rotary body 13C. The bottom view which shows the rotary body 13C. The front view which shows the rotary body 13C. FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional view seen from the section line S3-S3 in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game board, 2 ... Game area | region, 7 ... Winning device, 12 ... Special prize opening, 13, 13A, 13B, 13C ... Rotating body, 14 ... Ball discharge passage, 22 ... Through-hole, 24 ... Guide wall, 28 ... Bottom wall, 31 ... drive unit, 35 ... partition wall, 36 ... raised portion

Claims (3)

A ball distribution device that distributes a game ball that has entered the game area of a pachinko machine into a ball path that is advantageous or unfavorable for the player,
A rotating body provided in the game area so as to be rotatable about a predetermined axis line oriented in the vertical direction, and provided with a rolling surface for rolling the game ball;
Driving means for rotating the rotating body around the axis;
A bottom wall provided around the rotating body, forming the gaming area, and inclined with respect to a horizontal direction;
In the rotating body, a through hole through which a game ball can pass from the rolling surface of the rotating body is formed toward a ball path that is advantageous for the player,
The rotating body is provided with a ball distribution characterized in that a rolling surface of the rotating body is provided so as to be inclined with respect to a horizontal direction so that a game ball can roll from the vicinity of the center of the rotating body to the outer periphery. apparatus.   2. The ball sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the rolling surface of the rotating body with respect to a horizontal direction is different from an inclination angle of the bottom wall with respect to the horizontal direction.   The ball distribution device according to claim 1, wherein the through hole is formed at a position eccentric from a center of the rotating body.

Images