JP2009100804A - Ball putout device and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball putout device capable of adopting a one-line path and reducing an occupancy volume without damaging stable supply of the sufficient amount of balls. <P>SOLUTION: The ball output device includes a storage tank 1 for storing many game balls P, an alignment path 2 for aligning the game balls stored in the storage tank in one line and making them flow down, and a putout part 3 for putting out only the determined number of the game balls aligned in one line by the alignment path, and the storage tank 1 and the alignment path 2 are turned to the almost same inclination and connected. The alignment path 2 is provided with a narrowing part 21 for gradually narrowing a path width from the storage tank, a path angle change part 22 for changing the flow-down direction of the balls from the narrowing part, and a flow-down limit part 23 for allowing the flow-down of the balls in the triangle state of two upper and lower stages to the part immediately before the end part at which the balls in two or more stages from the path angle change part are turned to the balls in one stage. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball dispensing device and a gaming machine, and in particular, in a ball dispensing device used for dispensing a winning ball or a lending ball for a ball game machine, a large number of stacked state fed from a storage tank The present invention relates to a structure of an alignment passage that allows game balls to smoothly flow down to a payout portion.

  In general, a ball game machine (pachinko machine) pays out a game ball (game ball: also called a pachinko ball, or ball) as a game medium, as a prize ball or a rented ball from the back side to the front side of the pachinko machine. ing. When paying out the balls (supplying the balls), a storage tank (premium ball tank) for storing a large number of balls is installed at the upper back of the pachinko machine, and the balls are removed from the supply mechanism above the storage tank. The balls replenished and stored, and the balls stored in the storage tank are paid out downward through the payout portion.

  Here, when the balls are paid out, the balls are led from the storage tank to the lower paying section (winning ball processing section) through the ball aligning passage, where the number of payout commands is counted and counted in front of the pachinko machine. It is paid out to the upper plate or the lower plate located in the lower part.

  In this way, the balls supplied from the upstream storage tank are guided to the downstream dispensing section through the ball alignment passage, but the passage (樋) between these balls smoothly moves downstream without clogging the balls. The slope is relatively gentle so as to move.

  By the way, in recent years, in order to improve the game preference, the mainstream is the enlargement of the liquid crystal screen, the expansion of the game area, or the enlargement of the effect effect parts. There is a demand for downsizing of functional parts such as devices (reduction of occupied volume).

  Therefore, conventionally, a tank-integrated ball dispensing device has been proposed in which the storage tank, the alignment passage, and the dispensing portion are configured in substantially the same inclination direction, aiming to reduce the occupied area (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

JP 2004-267383 A

  Conventionally, most ball passages (樋) that supply balls from a storage tank to a payout portion are configured in a plurality of rows (a plurality of rows: generally two rows). This is to obtain a sufficient flow rate of balls by providing a plurality of ball passages, and to stably supply the balls to the dispensing unit.

  That is, for example, in the ball dispensing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the ball passages after the alignment passage through which the balls of the storage tank flow are configured in two rows, but this ball passage may be configured in one row. Obviously, if possible, further downsizing is possible.

  However, reducing the ball passage from two rows to one row reduces the flow rate of the balls supplied to the dispensing unit, and particularly at the big hit when the balls are continuously dispensed. There is a possibility that a gap between the ball and the ball becomes empty and the supply of the ball to the dispensing unit is delayed, which makes it impossible to stably dispense the ball. Therefore, conventionally, a one-row configuration of a tank-integrated ball dispensing device in which the storage tank to the dispensing unit are configured in substantially the same inclination direction has been difficult.

  In view of the problems in the conventional ball dispensing device described above, the present invention provides a ball dispensing device and a game that can reduce the occupied volume by adopting a single-row passage without impairing the stable supply of a sufficient amount of balls. The purpose is to provide a machine.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the storage tank that stores a large number of game balls, the alignment passage that allows the game balls stored in the storage tank to flow in a row, and the alignment passage 1 A ball payout device, wherein the storage tank and the alignment passage are connected to each other with substantially the same inclination, wherein the alignment passage includes the predetermined amount of game balls aligned in a row. A throttle portion that gradually narrows the passage width from the storage tank, a passage angle changing portion that changes the flow direction of the ball from the throttle portion, and a plurality of balls from the passage angle changing portion are arranged in one row. There is provided a ball dispensing device comprising a flow restricting portion that allows the ball to flow in a triangular state of two stages up and down until just before the end of the ball.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gaming machine provided with a ball dispensing device, the ball dispensing device comprising a storage tank that stores a large number of game balls, and a game ball stored in the storage tank. An alignment passage for aligning and flowing down in one row, and a payout portion for paying out a predetermined number of game balls aligned in one row by the alignment passage, wherein the storage tank and the alignment passage are inclined substantially the same The alignment passage includes a throttle portion that gradually narrows the passage width from the storage tank, a passage angle changing portion that changes a flow direction of the ball from the throttle portion, and a passage angle changing portion. A gaming machine comprising: a flow restricting portion that allows a ball to flow down in a triangular state of two stages up and down until just before the end of which the plurality of balls become one-stage balls in a row. Provided.

  The payout part can be configured to be directly connected to the flow restriction part. The flow restriction part is the endmost ball in the flow restriction part immediately before the ball whose flow is controlled by the payout part, or the ball one upstream from the endmost ball is downstream of the upper and lower triangular balls. It is preferable that a first alignment guide having a predetermined shape is provided on the upper portion so as to constitute a ball on the side. The first alignment guide may be formed so as to have an inner surface with a central portion bulging upward with respect to the flow of the balls.

  Further, the ball dispensing device may further include a descending passage provided in a substantially vertical direction from the flow-down restricting portion, and the dispensing portion may be configured to be connected to the flow-down restricting portion via the descending passage.

  The narrowed portion has one side whose inclination angle becomes steep as it goes downstream, and can be configured to gradually narrow its width to approximately one ball width. It is preferable that the passage angle changing portion is provided with a second alignment guide on the upper surface of the passage angle changing portion for guiding the ball from the throttle portion downstream without overflowing the upper surface of the passage angle changing portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a ball dispensing device and a gaming machine that can reduce the occupied volume by adopting a one-line passage without impairing the stable supply of a sufficient amount of balls.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a ball payout device and a gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko gaming machine to which the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the ball dispensing apparatus in the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. . 1 and 2, reference numeral 100 denotes a pachinko gaming machine, 110 denotes a ball dispensing device, and 120 denotes a substrate portion.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a ball dispensing device (tank-integrated ball dispensing device) 110 is disposed on the back side (rear) upper part of the gaming board surface of the gaming machine (game table) 100, and at the lower center portion thereof. A substrate unit 120 having a large display device, a control unit and the like is disposed.

  A replenishment chute (not shown) is provided above the top surface of the storage tank 1 of the ball dispensing device 110 facing the opening, and the ball dispensing device 110 is configured to replenish balls from above via this replenishment chute. Yes. Further, in the first embodiment, the ball lowering passage 4 is connected to the lower side of the ball dispensing device 110, and the ball passes through the ball lowering passage 4 to a tray (upper plate or lower plate) located at the lower front of the game table. Is paid out.

  In the ball dispensing device 110, a gap 130 is formed between the ball lowering passage 4 and the back surface of the game board surface in the vicinity of the connection portion with the ball lowering passage 4, so that a circuit board or the like can be provided.

  FIG. 3 is an external perspective view showing a first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, in the first embodiment, the ball dispensing device 110 stores the balls replenished from a replenishment chute (not shown) and the balls flowing down from the storage tank 1 in a row. It is configured to include an alignment passage 2 that aligns, and a payout unit 3 that pays out a predetermined number of aligned balls.

  Here, the ball dispensing device 110 of the first embodiment is a compact tank-integrated ball dispensing device by integrally forming the storage tank 1, the alignment passage 2 and the dispensing portion 3 with substantially the same inclination. Yes.

  The storage tank 1 has a box shape with the upper surface open, and is configured such that balls are supplied from a supply mechanism (not shown) above the upper surface opening portion, and a large number of balls are stored in the storage tank 1. Has been. The balls stored in the storage tank 1 are guided by rolling from the upstream side to the dispensing unit 3 on the downstream side by their own weight. That is, the alignment passage 2 is formed in the preceding stage of the payout portion 3 so that the balls can be smoothly passed from the upstream side to the downstream side.

  The alignment passage 2 includes an alignment rail 200 from the storage tank 1 to the payout portion 3, and a throttle portion 21, a passage angle changing portion 22, and a flow restriction portion 23 formed by passage guides 232 and 233. A ball presence / absence detection sensor 24 that detects the presence / absence of a ball (a ball in a standby state) in the storage tank 1 is attached below a predetermined position of the alignment rail 200 in the throttle unit 21. Reference numeral 234 indicates a cover that covers the circuit board 35 and the drive motor 31.

  The throttle portion 21 is a portion that gradually narrows the passage width from the storage tank 1 and guides the ball to the passage angle changing portion 22. The passage angle changing portion 22 changes the passage angle from the throttle portion 21 and flows down. The flow restriction part 23 is a part that leads to the restriction part 23, and the flow restriction part 23 controls the flow state immediately before the end toward the paying part 3 from the passage angle changing part 22 and continuously supplies balls to the paying part 3. Part.

  Here, the top plate 11 is disposed above the restricting portion 21, the alignment guide (second alignment guide) 221 is disposed above the passage angle changing portion 22, and the flow restricting portion 23 is disposed. An alignment guide (first alignment guide) 231 is also provided above the upper side of the screen.

  The payout unit 3 includes a sprocket 32 that is a rotating member that sends out the balls supplied from the storage tank 1 via the alignment passage 2 one by one, a drive motor 31 that drives the sprocket 32 based on a payout signal, and a feed A ball counting sensor 34 for counting the balls is provided. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 35 denotes a circuit board that controls the drive motor 31, and 33 denotes a ball lowering passage through which the balls flow down when the balls are discharged in the ball lowering passage 4 and at the time of ball removal. A ball removal guide for switching between a ball passage where balls flow down is shown.

  FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the flow down of the balls (P) in the storage tank of the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 6 is the flow restriction in the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. The figure which shows a mode that the ball | bowl was poured into the part and the paying-out part, and FIG. 7 are sectional drawings of 1st Example of the ball paying-out apparatus based on this invention. FIG. 8 is a top view of the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a guide plate (top plate) of the storage tank according to the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. In FIG. 5 also, a part of the top plate of the storage tank is cut.

  Here, FIG. 6A is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the ball dispensing device 110, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of the passage angle changing unit 22, the flow restriction unit 23, and the dispensing unit 3. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the passage guide 232 by cutting away. Further, FIG. 7A shows a cross section (longitudinal section) of the ball dispensing device 110 in a state where there is no ball, and FIG. 7B shows a ball dispensing device in which the storage tank 1 is filled with about half of the balls P. 110 shows a cross section.

  As shown in FIGS. 5, 6 (a), 7 (a), 8, and 9, the alignment passage 2 is formed integrally with the storage tank 1 and is discharged from the front end of the storage tank 1. The elongated alignment passage 2 continues to the part 3.

  From the tank bottom surface in the upstream storage tank 1 to the bottom surface from which the balls of the downstream dispensing unit 3 are dispensed, it is gently inclined in the same direction. That is, as shown in FIG. The same inclined passage L which becomes lower as it goes is formed.

  The same inclined passage L is configured to connect the bottom surfaces of the passages through which the balls P roll and pass in the order of the storage tank 1, the alignment passage 2, and the payout portion 3 with a gentle inclination angle in the same direction. is there. Thereby, the ball P gently rolls from the upstream side to the downstream side by its own weight.

  Here, if the inclination angle of the same inclined passage L is small, the rolling speed of the balls becomes slow, and the supply of the balls P to the downstream side tends to be delayed. On the other hand, when the inclination angle of the same inclined passage L is large, the load due to gravity on the balls P flowing down tends to become excessive, so the inclination angle of the same inclined passage L is, for example, 5 to 8 degrees. It is preferable to roll at a moderate angle. Thereby, the ball P rolling on the same inclined passage L flows down stably.

  In addition, since the same inclined path L is a path that goes straight diagonally downward, it extends longer in the horizontal direction than in the vertical (height) direction. Therefore, the occupied area (occupied volume) in the height direction can be reduced, and a compact ball dispenser with a shortened length in the height direction can be configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7B, the storage tank 1 described above is configured to roll a large number of stored balls P by its own weight and guide them to the downstream side. The ball P from is guided to the dispensing unit 3 through the throttle unit 21, the passage angle changing unit 22, and the flow restriction unit 23.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a top plate 11 is provided at the upper part on the downstream side of the storage tank 1 to receive the upper layer portion of the ball P that moves overlapping from above in the storage tank 1, and is piled up By blocking the flow of the upper layer of the ball P and the flow of only the ball P of the lower layer, the number of balls is sufficiently reduced and supplied to the downstream side.

  Thereby, the ball pressure to the downstream side can be reduced, and a smooth flow suitable for supplying the balls P from the storage tank 1 to the alignment passage 2 side can be ensured. Further, the balls P flowing down in a three-stage stacked state by the alignment guide (second alignment guide) 221 are aligned into a two-stage triangular state of the ball flow and flowed down to the dispensing unit 3.

  In the first embodiment, the payout unit 3 is disposed so as to be directly connected to the flow restricting unit 23 on the downstream side in the same inclination direction of the storage tank 1, and a ball supplied from the storage tank 1 is not illustrated. The specified number of balls based on the input signal is paid out to the tray located at the lower front of the pachinko gaming machine 100 through the ball lowering passage 4.

  Next, a ball dispensing process operation in the ball dispensing apparatus (tank integrated ball dispensing apparatus) 110 according to the first embodiment will be described.

  First, in the storage tank 1 of the tank-integrated ball dispensing device 110 installed at the upper back side of the pachinko gaming machine 100, a large number of balls are stored in a state waiting for dispensing.

  From this standby state, when a ball payout signal is input from the main control unit that controls the entire pachinko gaming machine and the drive motor 31 is driven, the upstream storage tank 1 is operated in accordance with this drive. P is led from the high position on the upstream side of the same inclined passage L to the low position on the downstream side by its own weight.

  On the other hand, on the downstream side of the storage tank 1, the top plate 11 receives the balls of the upper layer portion in the storage tank 1, restricts the flow of the upper layer portion, and passes only the balls P of the lower layer portion.

  Thereafter, the balls P flow down through the same inclined passage L and reach the alignment passage 2. After the irregularly stored balls are aligned by the alignment passage 2, the balls are guided from the alignment passage 2 to the payout portion 3 on the downstream side.

  Further, in the alignment passage 2 corresponding to the intermediate position of the same inclined passage L, that is, in the throttle portion 22, the balls P flow down in a state of being aligned in one row every time the balls are dispensed, and through the flow-down limiting portion 23. Guided to the payout unit 3.

  In the payout unit 3, the balls P are successively and sequentially sent out as the sprocket 32 rotates, and a predetermined number of balls are paid out by controlling the rotational drive / stop of the sprocket 32. Then, the dispensed balls are dispensed to the upper plate or the lower plate on the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 100 through the ball lowering passage 4.

  FIG. 10 is a view for explaining the flow of the ball in the narrowing portion of the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 11 is the diaphragm of the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the shape of a part.

  Here, in FIGS. 10 and 11, a part of the top plate (guide plate) 11 of the storage tank 1 is cut. Further, in FIG. 11, FIG. 11 (a) shows a top view of the ball dispensing device, and FIG. 11 (b-1), FIG. 11 (b-3), FIG. 11 (c-1), and FIG. 3) and FIGS. 11 (d-1) and 11 (d-3) show cross-sectional views along the lines LL, NN and RR in FIG. 11 (a), respectively, and 11 (b-2), FIG. 11 (c-2), and FIG. 11 (d-2) are respectively at the positions of the LL line, the NN line, and the RR line in FIG. 11 (a). It is a top view which shows the state with the ball P. FIG. In addition, the broken line in FIG.11 (b-3), FIG.11 (c-3), and FIG.11 (d-3) shows the case where the side surface 211 (211b, 211c, 211d) of the aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part 21 does not have a curved surface shape. Is.

  First, the throttle unit 21 aligns the balls P loaded in the storage tank 1 in a random state with the flow of one row of balls, and receives the ball pressure from the upstream by adopting the shape described below. At the same time, the area where the ball can flow down is narrowed down.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the throttle portion 21 that forms the upstream portion of the alignment passage 2 gradually narrows the passage width from the storage tank 1, and the shape thereof is the one of the side surface 211. The curved surface approaches the vertical as it goes downstream.

  Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 11 (b-1) to 11 (b-3), the inclination of the side surface 211b becomes gentle at the position of the LL line, which is the upstream portion of the throttle portion 21. However, as shown in FIGS. 11 (c-1) to 11 (c-3), the slope of the side surface 211c becomes steep at the position of the NN line, which is the midstream portion of the throttle portion 21, and 11 (d-1) to 11 (d-3), at the position of the RR line that is the downstream portion of the narrowed portion 21, the inclination of the side surface 211d becomes closer to the vertical. As a result, the passage of the balls P is narrowed down. Further, the shape of the side surface 211b of the narrowed portion 21 described above allows the ball passages to be narrowed down to one row, and the second step ball is placed on the first step ball (lower ball).

  That is, one side surface (inclined surface inclined to one of the ball passage side walls) 211 of the narrowed portion 21 is gradually narrowed to the passage width of one ball, and the inclination angle is steep. The balls P are arranged in a single row into a plurality of ball flows. It should be noted that the illustrated shape of the diaphragm portion 21 is merely an example, and it is needless to say that various modifications can be made.

  The balls P squeezed into one row by the squeezing unit 21 described above are guided to the flow restriction unit 23 after passing through the passage angle changing unit 22 that changes the passage angle.

  FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the flow of balls in the flow restricting portion 23 of the first embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. Here, FIG. 12A is a diagram showing a first standby state, FIG. 12B is a diagram showing a state in which the ball P is released from the first standby state, and FIG. 12C is a second standby state. FIG. 12D is a diagram illustrating the state, FIG. 12D is a diagram for explaining the first standby state, and FIG. 12E is a diagram for explaining the second standby state.

  As described above, in the ball dispensing apparatus of the first embodiment, in order to reduce the size of the apparatus, the alignment passage 2 after the alignment passage 2 for aligning the balls P flowing down from the storage tank 1 (downstream from the throttle portion 21) is 1 It is configured as a tank-integrated ball dispensing device in a row.

  Here, in the flow restricting portion 23, the ball immediately before the ball P0 in the sprocket 32 (the most end ball (endmost ball): the first ball in the flow restricting portion 23) is defined as P1, and from this end ball P1 The second, third, fourth, fifth,... Balls that continue upstream are referred to as P2, P3, P4, P5,.

  First, as shown in FIG. 12A, in the flow-down limiting portion 23 in the first standby state, an alignment guide having a predetermined shape (a shape having an inner surface in which a central portion is swollen upward with respect to the flow of balls). The (first alignment guide) 231 forms a two-stage triangular state by the first to third balls P1 to P3 so that the balls P are sequentially supplied to the sprocket 32 of the payout unit 3 on the downstream side. It has become.

  In other words, the flow restriction part 23 is arranged such that the endmost ball P1 in the flow restriction part 23 immediately before the ball P0 whose flow is controlled by the payout part 3 is located downstream of the upper and lower triangular balls (P1 to P3). An alignment guide 231 having an inner surface whose center portion swells upward with respect to the flow of the ball is provided at the upper portion so as to constitute a ball. In addition, the shape of the alignment guide 231 is not limited to the shape shown in the figure, and the flow restriction part 23 is a shape that allows the ball to flow down in the upper and lower two-stage triangular state until just before the end portion. Various modifications can be made.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12D, a straight line CL1 that connects the centers of the first and third balls P1 and P3, and a straight line CL2 that connects the centers of the first and second balls P1 and P2. Is set to a range of 20 degrees to 60 degrees, for example, and the distance between the first ball P1 and the second ball P2 is shortened. In FIG. 12D, the angle θ is about 40 degrees, that is, the horizontal distance between the center of the first ball P1 and the center of the second ball P2 is about 6.8 mm.

  It should be noted that two upper and lower triangular states (P3 to P5, P5 to P7,...) Are formed on the upstream side of the third ball P3.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, the ball P0 in the sprocket 32 in the first standby state shown in FIG. It is paid out to the saucer located at.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12 (c), in the flow-down restricting portion 23 in the second standby state, the first ball P1 and the second ball P2 have one stage, but the predetermined shape By the alignment guide 231, the second to fourth balls P <b> 2 to P <b> 4 form a two-stage triangular state and are sequentially supplied to the sprocket 32 of the payout unit 3 on the downstream side. In addition, on the upstream side of the fourth ball P4, two upper and lower triangular states (P4 to P6, P6 to P8,...) Are formed.

  That is, the flow restricting portion 23 has a ball P2 that is one upstream from the endmost ball P1 in the flow restricting portion 23 immediately before the ball P0 whose flow is controlled by the payout portion 3, and a ball in a triangular state (P2 to P2). An alignment guide 231 having a predetermined shape is provided on the upper part so as to constitute a ball on the downstream side of P4).

  As shown in FIG. 12 (e), the horizontal distance between the center of the first ball P1 and the center of the second ball P2 is about 10.8 mm. P2 to P4 form a triangular state with two upper and lower stages. When the ball P0 in the sprocket 32 is paid out in the second standby state, for example, the first standby state shown in FIG. The standby state of 2 is repeated at random.

  That is, as can be seen from the comparison between FIG. 12D and FIG. 12E, the second standby state shown in FIG. 12C is obtained by setting the standby state to the first standby state shown in FIG. The distance of the ball immediately before the dispensing unit 3 (the horizontal distance between P1 and P2) can be shortened from 10.8 mm to 6.8 mm, and the next ball of the dispensing unit 3 can be shortened faster than the standby state. The sprocket 32 can be supplied, and as a result, the supply amount of balls can be increased.

  As described above, according to the first embodiment, the first alignment guide 231 causes the endmost ball P1 in the flow restricting portion 23 or the ball P2 one upstream from the endmost ball P1 to have two upper and lower stages. The balls on the downstream side of the triangular balls (P1 to P3 or P2 to P4) are formed. That is, the flow restriction part 23 allows the ball to flow in a triangular state of two stages up and down until just before the sprocket 23 of the paying part 3 from the passage angle changing part 22 toward the paying part 3. It becomes possible to realize a stable payout by increasing the supply amount of balls.

  In order to maintain the flow of the ball in the first standby state described above, the alignment passage (passage angle changing portion 22) that is upstream of the flow restriction portion 23 is also important. That is, regarding the two-stage clogging in the vertical direction between the passage bottom face 210 and the first alignment guide 231, the second-stage ball flow is not stable (the second-stage (upper-stage) ball is the first-stage (lower-stage) ball. Is a major factor.

  By the way, in order to simply increase the supply amount of balls, it can be imagined that it is effective to form a straight line from the storage tank 1 to the dispensing unit 3 and apply ball pressure. However, in such a linear configuration, pressure is also applied to the second-stage ball, so that the ball flow is not stabilized by rolling on the first-stage ball, resulting in clogging.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, a passage angle changing portion 22 that changes the flow direction of the balls is provided. Since the ball passing through the passage angle changing portion 22 abuts against the side wall of the passage and rolls, the ball pressure applied to the ball that runs ahead is reduced (decreased) compared to the case of rolling through the linear passage, and two steps. The eyeball is stably maintained without rolling over the first ball, that is, the above-described two upper and lower triangular states are stably maintained, and the eyeball flows down to the flow restricting portion 23 while maintaining the state.

  For example, with respect to the inclination angle of the passage bottom surface 210 of about 7 degrees (the passage bottom surface 210 is lowered by an angle of about 7 degrees downstream with respect to the horizontal plane), the passage angle changing unit 22 is about about the flow down direction. The angle of the passage is changed by an angle of 31 degrees (see δ in FIG. 8). If the angle of this passage is set to an acute angle (for example, 15 degrees), the ball pressure increases and the second ball tends to roll on the first ball, making it difficult to maintain a stable triangular state. On the other hand, when the angle of the passage is set to an obtuse angle (for example, 50 degrees), the ball pressure is reduced, but the flow of the ball is decelerated, the supply of the ball cannot catch up, and the ball passage cannot be configured in one row.

  The change angle δ of the passage angle changing unit 22 has a correlation with the inclination angle of the same inclined passage L. For example, when the inclination angle of the passage bottom surface 210 is 5 to 8 degrees, the change of the passage angle changing unit 22 is changed. The angle δ is preferably about 25 to 45 degrees.

  Thus, according to the first embodiment, even in the tank-integrated ball dispensing device, the occupied volume can be reduced by adopting a single-row passage without impairing the stable supply of a sufficient amount of balls. It becomes possible.

  The ball dispensing device according to the first embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 12 is a tank-integrated ball dispensing device in which the dispensing unit 3 is directly connected to the flow-down limiting unit 23. The present invention is not limited to such a tank-integrated ball dispensing device, and can also be applied to a ball dispensing device in which a dispensing unit is connected to a flow-down restricting unit via a descending passage.

  FIG. 13 is a rear view of a pachinko gaming machine to which a second embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 14 is an external perspective view showing a second embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. It is.

  As apparent from the comparison between FIG. 13 and FIG. 14 and FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 described above, the ball dispensing device 110 ′ of the second embodiment includes the alignment passage 2 (flow restriction part 23) and the dispensing part 30 ( 3), a descending passage 25 provided in a substantially vertical direction is inserted, and the payout portion 30 (3) is provided at a position lower than the storage tank 1, that is, at a position substantially the same as or slightly higher than the tray. ing. The descending passage 25 corresponds to, for example, the payout passage 4 in FIG.

  That is, in the second embodiment, the endmost ball (first ball) P1 ′ of the flow restricting portion 23 is not directly supplied to the payout portion 3 (sprocket 32), but the payout portion via the descending passage 25. However, the configuration of the storage tank 1 and the alignment passage 2 is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Further, the structure of the payout unit 3 is the same as that of the ball P supplied through the descending passage 25 except that it is processed.

  FIG. 15 is a view for explaining the flow of balls in the flow restricting portion of the second embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, and corresponds to FIG. 12 described above. Here, FIG. 15A is a diagram showing the first standby state, FIG. 15B is a diagram showing a state in which the ball P is released from the first standby state, and FIG. 15C is the second standby state. FIG. 15D is a diagram for explaining the first standby state, and FIG. 15E is a diagram for explaining the second standby state. Note that the balls P0 ′, P1 ′, P2 ′, P3 ′,... In FIGS. 15 (a) to 15 (e) are balls P0, P1, P2, and P3 in FIGS. 12 (a) to 12 (e). , ... are supported.

  As is apparent from a comparison between FIGS. 15A to 15E and FIGS. 12A to 12E, the first alignment is also achieved in the ball dispensing apparatus of the second embodiment. By the guide 231 ′, the outermost ball P1 ′ in the flow restricting portion 23 or the ball P2 ′ that is one upstream from the outermost ball P1 ′ is a two-stage triangular ball (P1 ′ to P3 ′ or P2 ′). ~ P4 ') will constitute the downstream ball. That is, in the flow restriction part 23, the flow of the ball in the upper and lower two-stage triangular state is permitted until just before the descending passage 25 heading from the passage angle changing part 22 to the paying part 3, thereby It becomes possible to realize a stable payout by increasing the supply amount.

  FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention in which a ball is filled, and FIG. 16 (a) is a cross section of the storage tank 1 and the alignment passage 2 in a plane parallel to the game board surface. FIG. 16B is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the descending passage 25 and the payout portion 3 are cut along a plane orthogonal to the game board surface.

  As shown in FIG. 16B, the descending passage 25 is configured to have a meandering shape in which the interval becomes wider as going downstream, but the shape of the descending passage 25 can be appropriately modified. Needless to say, the shape of the alignment guides 221 and 231 'can be variously modified.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the ball dispensing device according to the present invention, in the alignment passage of the ball dispensing device constituted by one row of ball passages, the passage angle for changing the passage angle from the throttle portion by the flow restricting portion. The ball is allowed to flow down in the upper and lower two-stage triangular state immediately before the end portion from the changing portion toward the payout portion. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a ball dispensing device that can reduce the occupied volume by adopting a single-row passage without impairing the stable supply of a sufficient amount of balls, and a gaming machine equipped with the ball dispensing device. It becomes possible.

  The present invention can be applied to a ball dispensing device of a pachinko gaming machine, but a tank-integrated ball dispensing in which a dispensing portion for counting and dispensing balls by a sprocket is provided at substantially the same height as the storage tank and the alignment passage. It can be widely applied to a ball dispensing device or the like in which the dispensing portion is provided at a position lower than the storage tank and the alignment passage through the apparatus, and the descending passage provided substantially vertically from the storage tank and the alignment passage. it can.

1 is a rear view of a pachinko gaming machine to which a first embodiment of a ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a ball dispensing device in the pachinko gaming machine shown in FIG. 1. 1 is an external perspective view showing a first embodiment of a ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a ball dispensing device according to the present invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the ball in the storage tank of 1st Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows a mode that the ball | bowl was poured into the flow-down restriction | limiting part and discharge part in 1st Example of the ball | bowl discharge apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing of 1st Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention. 1 is a top view of a first embodiment of a ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention by partially cutting a guide plate of a storage tank. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the ball | bowl in the narrowing part of 1st Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the shape of the aperture | diaphragm | squeeze part of 1st Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the ball | bowl in the flow-down restriction | limiting part of 1st Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine to which the second embodiment of the ball dispensing device according to the present invention is applied. It is an external appearance perspective view which shows 2nd Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the flow of the ball | bowl in the flow-down restriction | limiting part of 2nd Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is sectional drawing of the state which filled the ball | bowl with 2nd Example of the ball dispensing apparatus which concerns on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Storage tank 2 Alignment channel | path 3,30 Discharge part 4 Discharge part 21 Restriction part 22 Passage angle change part 23 Flow-down restriction part 24 Ball presence detection sensor 25 Descent path 31 Drive motor 32 Sprocket 33 Ball removal guide 34 Ball count sensor 35 Circuit board DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Pachinko machine 110,110 'Ball delivery apparatus 120 Board | substrate part 130 Space | gap 200 Alignment rail 221 Alignment guide (2nd alignment guide)
231 and 231 ′ alignment guide (first alignment guide)
232, 233 passage guide 234 cover

Claims (9)

A storage tank that stores a large number of game balls, an alignment passage that allows the game balls stored in the storage tank to flow in a row, and a game ball that is aligned in a row by the alignment passage are defined. A ball dispensing device comprising a number of dispensing units, and the storage tank and the alignment passage are provided with substantially the same inclination,
The alignment passage includes a throttle portion that gradually narrows the passage width from the storage tank, a passage angle changing portion that changes the flow direction of the ball from the throttle portion, and a plurality of balls from the passage angle changing portion. And a flow restriction unit that allows the ball to flow down in a triangular state of two stages up and down until just before the end of the first row in a row.   The ball dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing unit is directly connected to the flow-down limiting unit.   3. The ball dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the flow restriction part is an endmost ball in the flow restriction part immediately before a ball whose flow is controlled by the dispensing part, or one upstream from the end ball. A ball dispensing apparatus comprising a first alignment guide having a predetermined shape on an upper portion thereof so that the balls constitute downstream balls of the two upper and lower triangular balls.   4. The ball dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first alignment guide has an inner surface whose center portion swells upward with respect to the flow of the balls. The ball dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a descending passage provided in a substantially vertical direction from the flow restriction part,
The ball dispensing device, wherein the dispensing unit is connected to the flow restriction unit via the descending passage.   6. The ball dispensing device according to claim 5, wherein the flow restricting portion includes an endmost ball in the flow restricting portion immediately before a ball dropped by the descending passage, or a ball one upstream from the endmost ball. A ball dispensing apparatus comprising a first alignment guide having a predetermined shape on an upper portion thereof so as to constitute a ball on the downstream side of the two upper and lower triangular balls.   The ball dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the throttle portion has a side surface whose inclination angle becomes steep as it goes downstream, and gradually increases to a passage width of approximately one ball. A ball dispensing device characterized in that its width is narrowed.   The ball dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the passage angle changing portion guides the ball from the throttle portion downstream to the upper surface of the passage angle changing portion without overflowing. A ball dispensing device comprising an alignment guide at an upper portion thereof.   A gaming machine comprising the ball dispensing device according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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