JP2009183395A - Game ball recovery device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game ball recovery device with a flow path structure wherein a ball receiving position can be flexibly adjusted in response to the ball discharge position of a game machine and a failure such as ball clogging does not easily occur. <P>SOLUTION: In response to the ball discharge position on the back surface side of the game machine, a support pillar is moved in right and left directions to a fixed base 50 to adjust the position in the horizontal direction of a ball receiving box support 20, a ball receiving box 10 supported by the ball receiving box support 20 is moved in the cross direction to adjust the position in the vertical direction, and the ball receiving box 10 is positioned so that a game ball discharged from the game machine falls down to the almost center of the ball receiving open part 11 of the ball receiving box 10. When the position of the ball exit of a ball flow path 16 is moved in the cross direction associated with the front and back movement of the ball receiving box 10, the inflow part 231 of a ball guiding path 23 where the game ball flows in from the ball flow path 16 is adjusted in the same cross direction as the flow-down direction of the ball flow path 16, and the game ball is smoothly received from the ball exit of the ball flow path 16 and guided to a sensor unit 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention accepts a game ball discharged from the back side of a gaming machine installed in an island facility of a game arcade, guides it to a game ball detector, and passes the game ball through the game ball detector to a game ball in the island facility. The present invention relates to a game ball collection device that leads to a collection basket.

  In game halls that operate with game machines such as pachinko machines in operation, game balls discharged from the game machines are collected by a game ball collection device. The game balls received by the game ball collecting device are guided to the game ball detector before being discharged to the collection basket in the island facility, and information on the number of discharged balls is obtained from the detection signal of the game ball detector. Can be obtained.

  The gaming machines installed on the island facilities will be mixed with various models from various manufacturers, and the gaming ball discharge position will vary from model to model. Adjustments need to be made. Therefore, the out ball tank that receives the out balls discharged from the gaming machine is in the left-right direction (the direction in which the gaming machines are arranged in the island facility) and the front-back direction (the direction that is substantially orthogonal to the direction in which the gaming machines are arranged). An out-ball tank and a mounting device for the same have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 2759144

  According to the invention described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the position of receiving the out ball can be appropriately adjusted by sliding the out ball tank back and forth and right and left with respect to the mounting device. Even if they are different, they can be handled as long as they are within the movable range of the out ball tank.

  However, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, since the out ball tank itself moves relative to the mounting device, the out ball counter provided in the out ball tank also moves. Can move the out-ball tank only within the range that does not hit the collection basket, and it cannot be said that it can correspond to the out-ball discharge position of all models.

  Further, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, a tank member that receives an out ball discharged from the gaming machine is provided on the upper part of a tank support member provided with a transfer passage that guides the out ball to the out ball counter. There is a drawback in that ball clogging is likely to occur because the out ball that has fallen freely vertically downward from the drop hole formed in the tank member reaches the rolling passage of the tank support member.

  In addition, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, since the tank member is provided on the upper part of the tank support member, the transfer path to the out ball counter is covered with the tank member, and the transfer path is in the transfer path. Even if ball clogging occurs, it cannot be confirmed from the outside of the out-ball tank, and therefore, an operation of removing the tank member from the tank support member must be performed. Similarly, when cleaning the transfer passage of the tank support member, the tank member must be removed, and the operation is complicated.

  Accordingly, the present invention has an object to provide a game ball collecting apparatus that can flexibly adjust a ball receiving position according to a ball discharge position of a gaming machine and has a flow path structure that is less likely to cause defects such as ball clogging. To do. It is another object of the present invention to provide a game ball collecting apparatus that can realize a structure that can improve the efficiency of the measures against the trouble such as ball clogging and the cleaning work.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention according to claim 1 is configured to receive a game ball discharged from the back side of a gaming machine installed in an island facility of a game hall and guide the game ball to a game ball detector. A game ball collecting device for deriving a game ball that has passed through a detector to a game ball collecting bowl in an island facility, the ball receiving empty portion receiving a game ball discharged from the back side of the gaming machine, and the ball receiving empty space A ball receiving box having an open top surface provided with a ball passage formed on one side of the portion in the front-rear direction and for guiding a game ball flowing in from the ball receiving empty portion to the rear downstream, and the ball receiver The box is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and the game ball detector is held behind and below the ball receiving box. The ball that reaches the game ball detector at the most downstream end of the flow path that turns A ball receiving box support body provided with a guiding path, a support pillar for supporting the ball receiving box support body, and fixed at a suitable position on the back side of the gaming machine in the island facility so that the support pillar can be moved in the left-right direction. A fixed base for supporting the ball receiving box in the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support according to the displacement of the derived position of the game ball in the ball flow path as the ball receiving box moves in the front-rear direction. It has the introduction position adjustment structure which can adjust the introduction position of a game ball.

  Further, the invention according to claim 2 is the gaming ball collection device according to claim 1, wherein the introduction position adjustment structure is such that the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support is a ball flow path of the ball receiving box. It is characterized in that the structure is provided so as to be overlapped over the entire region of change of the derived position of the game ball in the ball flow path below.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the game ball collecting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an opening communicating with the outside is formed in the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support. Features.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 3, the ball receiving box is detachable from the ball receiving box support.

  The invention according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in any one of claims 1 to 4, the support pillar supports the ball receiving box support so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.

  The invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that, in the game ball collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the support pillar is extendable in the vertical direction.

  According to the game ball collecting device according to claim 1, a ball receiving empty portion that receives a game ball discharged from the back side of the gaming machine, and the ball formed in a front-rear direction on one side of the ball receiving empty portion. A ball passage for guiding the game ball flowing in from the receiving hollow portion to the rear downstream, and a ball receiving box having an open top surface provided with the ball receiving box, and the ball receiving box is movably supported in the front-rear direction, and The game ball detector is held behind and below the ball receiving box, and the most downstream end of the flow path bent sideways from the flow path in the front-rear direction continuous to the ball flow path of the ball receiving box is the game ball detection A ball receiving box support body provided with a ball guide path leading to the game machine, a support pillar supporting the ball receiving box support body, and fixed to an appropriate position on the back side of the gaming machine in the island facility, Fixed base that is movably supported And the game ball in the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support body according to the displacement of the derived position of the game ball in the ball flow path as the ball receiving box moves in the front-rear direction. Since it has an introduction position adjustment structure that can adjust the introduction position, it supports the fixed base when adjusting the position to receive the discharge ball from the gaming machine at the approximate center of the ball receiving hollow of the ball receiving box. Position adjustment in the left-right direction can be performed by moving the pillar left and right, and position adjustment in the front-rear direction can be performed by moving the ball receiving box back and forth with respect to the ball receiving box support. In other words, since it is not necessary to move the ball receiving box back and forth by adjusting the position of the ball receiving box in the front and rear direction, the game ball detector held on the ball receiving box support hits the game ball collecting basket and adjusts in the front and rear direction. The range is never limited. Furthermore, by moving the ball receiving box in the front-rear direction, even if the flow path outlet of the ball channel for guiding the game ball received in the ball receiving empty portion to the ball guiding path of the ball receiving box support moves in the front-rear direction. By adopting the introduction position adjusting structure, it is possible to receive a game ball from the ball receiving box without interruption of the ball guide path, and smooth ball guidance to the game ball detector is possible.

  Further, according to the game ball collecting device according to claim 2, the introduction position adjusting structure is configured such that the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support is below the ball flow path of the ball receiving box. Since it is a structure that is provided over the entire change area of the game ball lead-out position, the introduction position adjustment structure can be realized with a very simple structure, the manufacturing cost can be suppressed, and problems such as failure and ball clogging are caused. Not likely to occur.

  According to the game ball collecting device of claim 3, since an opening communicating with the outside is formed in the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support, when an abnormality such as a ball clogging occurs, the opening Therefore, visual confirmation is easy, and clogging of the balls can be eliminated through the opening. Furthermore, the cleaning work can be performed by inserting a cleaning tool from the opening.

  According to the gaming ball collecting apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the ball receiving box is detachable from the ball receiving box support, the ball receiving box is removed from the ball receiving box support separately. It can be cleaned and work efficiency is good.

  According to the gaming ball collecting apparatus of the fifth aspect, the support pillar supports the ball receiving box support so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the position of the ball receiving box by moving back and forth with respect to the ball receiving box support. In addition to the adjustment, the position of the ball receiving box support relative to the support pillar can be adjusted by moving back and forth, and the position of the ball receiving box in the front-rear direction can be adjusted with a high degree of freedom.

  According to the game ball collecting device of the sixth aspect, since the support pillar is extendable in the vertical direction, the height of the ball receiving box is set according to the height of the ball discharge position on the back side of the game machine. Adjustments can be made as appropriate.

  Next, the best embodiment of the game ball collecting apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows an outline of an island facility in a game store, and two rows of gaming machines in which a plurality of pachinko gaming machines are arranged in a horizontal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) are provided in an opposing manner. A game ball collecting device 1 is provided corresponding to each game machine. In the following description, for the sake of convenience, the direction facing the player (the front side of the gaming machine 2) is the front direction, and the front / rear / left / right reference is used.

  The game ball collecting device 1 accepts game balls (out balls and the like after the game) discharged from the game machines 2A and 2B, and guides them to the game ball collection basket 3. The back of the game machines 2A and 2B While supporting the ball receiving box 10 that receives the game balls discharged from the side (the side facing the inside of the island), the ball receiving box 10 is movable in the front-rear direction (vertical direction corresponding to the front and rear of the gaming machine), A ball receiving box support 20 that holds a sensor unit 30 as a game ball detector behind and below the ball receiving box 10, a support pillar 40 that supports the ball receiving box support 20, and gaming machines 2A and 2B. The support pillar 40 fixed to the installation base 4 and supporting the ball receiving box support 20 is slid in the left-right direction (the row direction of the gaming machines and the lateral direction in which the game ball collecting basket 3 is disposed). Possible It includes a fixed base 50 for lifting, the.

  The fixed base 50 is fixed by screwing or the like, for example, at a substantially central position on the back side of the gaming machine and with the rear edge portion along the island inner edge (opening edge of the collection basket 3) of the installation table 4 . And the fitting structure which can move to the left-right direction is provided in the upper surface side of the fixed base 50, and the lower part of the support pillar 40, and according to the discharge position of the game ball in the game machines 2A and 2B, the support pillar 40 is provided. Is moved in the horizontal direction, the positions of the ball receiving box 10 and the ball receiving box support 20 in the left-right direction can be appropriately adjusted.

  The fitting structure that can be moved in the left-right direction provided on the fixed base 50 and the support pillar 40 is not particularly limited. For example, the upper surface of the fixed base 50 has a concave portion and a convex portion on a straight line in the left-right direction. Corrugated rails that are alternately arranged are provided, and at the position below the support pillar 40 and facing the corrugated rail, a fitting convex that can be fitted with the concave of the corrugated rail swings back and forth. A wavy rail fitting portion that is elastically supported as much as possible is provided, and when the support pillar 40 is moved in the left-right direction with respect to the fixed base 50, at least one fitting protrusion provided on the wavy rail fitting portion. However, by adopting a structure that fits with the concave portions of the wavy rails one after another over the convex portions of the wavy rail portions, it is possible to realize sliding movement with a click feeling.

  As described above, in the game ball collecting apparatus 1 in which the fixed base 50 is fixed to the installation base 4, the sensor unit 30 held on the rear side of the ball receiving box support 20 is generally above the opening of the game ball collecting basket 3. By being positioned, the game ball discharged from the ball outlet 31 of the sensor unit 30 falls on the bottom of the game ball collection basket 3 as it is without hitting the installation base 4. The sensor unit 30 functioning as a game ball detector may output a game ball detection signal when a predetermined number (for example, four) of game balls pass, or each time one game ball is detected. Alternatively, a game ball detection signal may be output.

  Here, if the discharge position of the game ball is a relatively rear position as in the gaming machine 2A, the ball receiving box 10 is supported in a standard state (for example, see FIG. 2) with respect to the ball receiving box support body 20. The game ball discharged from the gaming machine 2A can be received at the approximate center of the ball receiving cavity 11 having an open top surface. However, when the discharge position of the game ball is a relatively front position as in the gaming machine 2B, if the discharge ball is received by the ball receiving box 10 in the standard state, it is biased toward the front of the ball receiving empty portion 11. Therefore, if the ball receiving box 10 is converted into an adjusted state in which the ball receiving box 10 is moved forward with respect to the ball receiving box support body 20 (see, for example, FIG. 3), the gaming balls discharged from the gaming machine 2B are 11 can be adjusted so that it is received at the approximate center.

  Furthermore, in the game ball collecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the support pillar 40 is provided to the pair of locking guide grooves 20a, 20a provided in the front-rear direction so as to be appropriately separated from the lower surface side of the ball receiving box support body 20. By locking each of the upper end locking portions of the plurality of retaining locking pieces 40a provided at the top of the ball retaining box, the ball receiving box support 20 is prevented from coming off from the support pillar 40 so as to prevent the ball receiving box support 20 from coming off upwardly. Each time a predetermined amount is moved, a slide movement structure with a click feeling is provided on the lower surface of the ball receiving box support 20 and the upper part of the support pillar 40 (see FIG. 4). Thereby, in addition to the position adjustment by the back and forth movement of the ball receiving box 10 with respect to the ball receiving box support 20, the position adjustment by the back and forth movement of the ball receiving box support 20 with respect to the support pillar 40 is possible. Position adjustment in the direction can be performed with a high degree of freedom.

  In addition, the sliding movement structure in the front-rear direction provided on the ball receiving box support 20 and the support pillar 40 is not particularly limited. For example, the recess is formed on the lower surface of the ball receiving box support 20 on a straight line in the front-rear direction. And wavy rail portions in which the wavy rail portions are alternately arranged, and at the upper portion of the support pillar 40 facing the wavy rail portions, the fitting convex portions that can be fitted with the concave portions of the wavy rail portions are provided on the left and right sides. When the ball receiving box support 20 is moved in the front-rear direction with respect to the support pillar 40, at least one of the wavy rail fittings is provided. A sliding movement with a click feeling can be realized by adopting a structure in which the fitting projections provided as described above are fitted to the depressions of the wavy rail one after another over the convex portions of the wavy rail portion. In addition, in the range in which the ball receiving box support 20 can be moved back and forth with respect to the support pillar 40, the opening range of the locking guide grooves 20a and 20a is set so that the retaining locking piece 40a does not become an obstacle.

  Further, the support pillar 40 has a divided structure of the upper pillar 41 and the lower pillar 42, and the support pillar 40 can be expanded and contracted in the vertical direction by changing the downward extension amount of the lower pillar 42 with respect to the upper pillar 41. Due to the expansion / contraction function of the support pillar 40, the height of the ball receiving box 10 can be adjusted appropriately according to the height of the ball discharge position on the back side of the gaming machine 2.

  Next, a structure for enabling the ball receiving box 10 to move in the front-rear direction with respect to the above-described ball receiving box support 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

  A first rib 121, a second rib 122, a third rib 123, a fourth rib 124, a fifth rib 125, a sixth rib 126, and a seventh rib 127 are formed in the front-rear direction from the lower left side to the right side of the ball receiving box 10. The first rib 121 has a substantially horizontal first retaining piece 121a on the lower left side thereof, the lower left side of the seventh rib 127 has a second retaining piece 127a, and the first rib 121 and the second rib 122. Between the fifth rib 125 and the sixth rib 126, and the elastic first engaging portion 131 that can swing up and down. A locking projection 133a that protrudes downward between the third rib 123 and the fourth rib 124 can swing up and down between the third rib 123 and the fourth rib 124 in the elastic second engaging portion 132 in which the mating projection 132a can swing up and down. The elastic locking portion 133 is connected to the second rib 122 and the third rib 1. 3 Between provided respectively substantially L-shaped cross section of the retaining member 134 that is bent extends downwardly to the side.

  On the other hand, on the upper surface side of the ball receiving box support 20, a first restricting member 21a having a substantially L-shaped cross section for restricting the first retaining piece 121a from moving upward and not coming out, and the second retaining part. A second restricting member 21b having a substantially L-shaped cross section that restricts the stopper piece 127a from moving upward and coming off, a retaining member insertion hole 21c1 having a width capable of receiving the retaining member 134 from above, and the retaining member A retaining member receiving portion 21c2 provided on the rear side of the member insertion hole 21c1 is provided to prevent the retaining member 134 from moving upward to be removed. The first engagement receiving portion 221 is positioned at a position corresponding to the first engagement portion 131, the second engagement receiving portion 222 is positioned at a position corresponding to the second engagement portion 132, and the locking portion. A latch receiving portion 223 is provided at a position corresponding to 133. Each of the first and second engagement receiving portions 221 and 222 and the locking receiving portion 223 has a flat upper surface that protrudes upward, and the upper surface of the first engagement receiving portion 221 is from the rear. The first engagement hole 221a, the second engagement hole 221b, and the third engagement hole 221c are directed forward, and the first engagement hole 222a, A second engagement hole 222b and a third engagement hole 222c are provided on the upper surface of the engagement receiving portion 223, and an engagement hole 223a that is long in the front-rear direction is provided.

  When the ball receiving box 10 is attached to the ball receiving box support 20 configured as described above, the retaining member 134 on the lower surface of the ball receiving box 10 is moved upward so that it enters the retaining member insertion hole 21c1 of the ball receiving box support 20. , The first and second retaining pieces 121a and 127a of the ball receiving box 10 are positioned in front of the first and second restricting members 21a and 21b of the ball receiving box support 20, so that the ball receiving box 10 is left as it is. Is moved rearward, the retaining member 134 that is bent in a substantially L shape is introduced below the retaining member receiving portion 21c2 so that it does not come out upward, and the first and second retaining members of the ball receiving box 10 are prevented. The pieces 121a and 127a cannot be removed upward by the first and second regulating members 21a and 21b of the ball receiving box support 20.

  When the ball receiving box 10 is moved to the rear of the ball receiving box support 20, the engaging protrusion 131 a of the first engaging portion 131 is engaged with the upper surface of the first engaging receiving portion 221 and the second engaging portion 132 is engaged. When the projection 132a rides on the upper surface of the second engagement receiving portion 222 and the locking projection 133a of the locking portion 133 rides on the upper surface of the locking receiving portion 223 and further moves rearward, the engagement of the first engagement portion 131 is increased. The mating protrusion 131a is engaged with the third engagement hole 221c of the first engagement receiving portion 221, and the engagement protrusion 132a of the second engagement portion 132 is engaged with the third engagement hole 222c of the second engagement receiving portion 221. The locking protrusion 133a of the portion 133 is fitted into the locking hole 223a of the locking receiving portion 223.

  Here, the engagement protrusion 131a of the first engagement portion 131 and the engagement protrusion 132a of the second engagement portion 132 are triangular inclining in both the front and rear directions, and the engagement protrusion 133a of the engagement portion 133 is inclined backward. However, the front side is a vertical substantially right triangle. As a result, when the ball receiving box 10 is moved backward to attach it to the ball receiving box support 20, the engagement protrusions 131a and 132a of the first and second engaging portions 131 and 132 and the engaging portion 133 are engaged. The locking projection 133a does not become an obstacle, but once the locking projection 133a of the locking portion 133 is fitted in the locking hole 223a of the locking receiving portion 223, the locking hole in the locking receiving portion 223 is used. The locking projection 133a of the locking part 133 presses against the front edge of the 223a, and the ball receiving box 10 is restricted from moving forward.

  When the ball receiving box 10 is further moved rearward, the engaging protrusions 131a and 132a of the first and second engaging portions 131 and 132 become the second engagement of the first and second engaging receiving portions 221 and 222, respectively. It fits in the joint holes 221b and 222b and becomes a stable state. When the ball receiving box 10 is further moved rearward, the engaging protrusions 131a and 132a of the first and second engaging portions 131 and 132 are engaged with the first engagement of the first and second engaging receiving portions 221 and 222, respectively. A first contact portion that is fitted into the joint holes 221 a and 222 a and is in a stable state, and the front end 221 d of the first engagement receiving portion 221 is provided on the lower rear surface side of the front wall portion 10 a of the ball receiving box 10. 10 a 1, the front end 222 d of the second engagement receiving portion 222 is in contact with the second abutting portion 10 a 2 provided on the lower rear surface side of the front wall portion 10 a of the ball receiving box 10, and receives the ball receiving rearward from it. Box 10 does not move.

  In order to smoothly move the ball receiving box 10 back and forth, the right side surface of the first engagement receiving portion 221 in the ball receiving box support body 20 is the left side of the second rib 122 of the ball receiving box 10 with the circumferential surface 221e. The lower surface was brought into sliding contact, and the lower right side of the fifth rib 125 of the ball receiving box 10 was brought into sliding contact with the left side surface of the second engagement receiving portion 222 in the ball receiving box support 20 as the circumferential contact surface 222e. As a result, the second rib 122 and the fifth rib 125 of the ball receiving box 10 smoothly move back and forth along the circumferential contact surface 221e and the circumferential contact surface 222e of the ball receiving box support body 20, respectively, with a small sliding resistance. The ball receiving box 10 can be moved back and forth.

  In the gaming ball collection device 1 in which the ball receiving box 10 is attached to the ball receiving box holding body 20 as described above, for example, the rearmost positions of the first and second engagement receiving portions 221 and 222 in the ball receiving box support 20 In the first engagement holes 221a and 222a, the engagement protrusions 131a and 132a of the first and second engagement portions 131 and 132 in the ball receiving box 10 are fitted into the standard state until a click feeling is obtained. When the ball receiving box 10 is pushed forward, the engagement protrusions 131a and 132a of the first and second engaging portions 131 and 132 in the ball receiving box 10 are engaged in the first and second engagements in the ball receiving box support body 20. 1st adjustment state (state where the ball receiving position was adjusted by moving the ball receiving box 10 slightly forward) fitted in the second engagement holes 221b, 222b of the receiving portions 221, 222 Then, when the ball receiving box 10 is pushed forward until a click feels, the engaging protrusions 131a and 132a of the first and second engaging portions 131 and 132 in the ball receiving box 10 support the ball receiving box. The second adjustment state in which the first and second engagement receiving portions 221 and 222 of the body 20 are fitted into the third engagement holes 221c and 222c (the state in which the ball receiving position is adjusted by moving the ball receiving box 10 forward most) )

  As described above, in the game ball collecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the ball receiving box 10 is slid in the front-rear direction in two stages with respect to the ball receiving box support 20, and in addition to the stable standard state, 1 and 2nd adjustment position can hold | maintain. Of course, it is good also as a structure which can be hold | maintained in three or more types of adjustment positions, and you may make it move the ball receiving box 10 steplessly, and you may make it fix to the ball receiving box support body 20 by the stopper mechanism provided separately. .

  When the game ball collecting device 1 is in the second adjustment state, the locking protrusion 133a of the locking portion 133 in the ball receiving box 10 is pushed upward to engage the locking receiving portion 233 in the ball receiving box support 20. When the ball receiving box 10 is removed from the stop hole 233a, the ball receiving box 10 can be moved further rearward and can be detached from the ball receiving box support body 20. Thus, if it is set as the structure which can attach or detach the ball receiving box 10 from the ball receiving box support body 20 by simple operation, the ball receiving box support body 20 and the ball receiving box 10 can be separated and cleaned separately. So the efficiency of cleaning work is good.

  The ball receiving box 10 described above is a region surrounded by the front wall portion 10a, the rear wall portion 10b, the first side wall portion 10c (for example, the right side wall portion), and the second side wall portion 10d (for example, the left side wall portion). The space above the inner bottom wall portion 10e functions as the ball receiving hollow portion 11, and the game ball received in the ball receiving hollow portion 11 is on the cushioning material 14 made of an elastic panel or the like provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall portion 10e. The game ball is guided toward the flow path member 15 provided via the stepped portion 10f on the downstream side (for example, the left side facing the first side wall portion 10d) of the bottom wall portion 10e that falls gently.

  The upper surface of the flow path member 15 is a flat spherical flow lower surface inclined downward from the front to the rear, and the second side wall portion 10d and the right side (on the left side (the side not communicating with the ball receiving hollow portion 11)) A ball passage 16 through which a game ball can pass is formed by the step portion 10f located on the side communicating with the ball receiving hollow portion 11). In other words, the ball flow channel 16 causes the game balls that have flowed in from the ball receiving hollow portion 11 to flow downstream and downstream, so that the ball guide path 23 of the ball receiving box support 20 (for example, the upstream and rear flow paths on the upstream side). An inflow portion 231 that is connected to this, and a rectifying portion 232 that adjusts the flow of the sphere while bending the flow direction downward to the right, and a downstream outflow portion 233 that is connected to this and has the most downstream end reaching the sphere inlet of the sensor unit 30. ). The ball guide path 23 is a game received from the ball flow path 16 of the ball receiving box 10 to the sensor unit 30 held by the ball receiving box support 20 so as to be positioned rearward and lower than the ball receiving box 10. It is a channel structure that guides the sphere efficiently.

  In addition, since the ball outlet opening 10g is provided by notching a part of the rear wall portion 10b and the second side wall portion 10d in the ball receiving box 10 (see, for example, FIG. 5), the second on the left side of the flow path member 15 An area where the side wall portion 10d is not located is generated. However, when the ball receiving box 10 is supported by the ball receiving box support body 20, the upstream outer wall 20b of the ball receiving box support body 20 corresponds to the second side wall portion 10d. Since it is located outside, the upstream outer wall 20 b functions as the outer wall of the ball channel 16, and the flow of the game ball is not hindered to the flow lower end 15 a of the channel member 15. Therefore, the game ball received from the ball receiving space 11 of the ball receiving box 10 flows down on the flow path member 15 to the downstream (rear), passes through the lower end 15a (ball outlet), and the ball receiving box support 20 It is led to the ball guide path 23.

  Further, when introducing the game sphere received from the ball receiving hollow portion 11 into the ball channel 16, for example, an introduction port is formed so that the game ball is introduced only to the upstream side (front side) of the ball channel 16, The game balls introduced on the flow path member 15 flow down toward the downstream (rear) vigorously, and there is no ball stop or the like from the flow lower end 15a of the flow path member 15 to the ball guide path 23. However, in the game ball collecting apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the game ball overflows from the ball receiving hollow portion 11 of the ball receiving box 10 to the flow channel member 15, the flow channel An overflow ball flow allowance portion 17 capable of allowing a game ball to flow toward the ball guide path 23 and the flow restriction member 24 of the ball receiving box support 20 downstream of the member 15 is provided, and a ball removal operation of the gaming machine is provided. A lot of game balls are discharged in a short time If the is introduced into the ball receiving box support 20 from quickly ball receiving box 10 a large number of game ball, and the allow the processing of quick game ball.

  However, if the game ball received in the ball receiving box 10 directly flows into the outflow portion 233 without being rectified by the rectification portion 232 of the ball guide path 23, the smooth flow of the sphere to the sensor unit 30 is hindered. Therefore, a ball flow-down restricting portion 18 that protrudes upward at an appropriate position on the rear side of the bottom wall portion 10e is provided, and the game ball flowing down from the overflow ball flow-allowing portion 17 reaches the rectifying portion 232 or the flow-down restricting member 24. In this way, the flow is restricted in such a manner that the game ball is prevented from reaching the outflow portion 233 without passing through the rectifying portion 232 of the ball guide path 23 and causing troubles such as ball clogging.

  The ball guide path 23 for guiding the game ball introduced from the ball receiving box 10 to the sensor unit 30 as described above mainly includes a bottom wall member 25 serving as a flow path bottom and an upstream outer wall 20b serving as an outer wall. It comprises a straightening outer wall 20c, a downstream outer wall 20d, a side wall portion 241 of the flow-down limiting member 24 that functions as an inner side wall, and a downstream inner wall 20e that is continuous with the downstream side of the side wall portion 241. The upstream part of the side wall part 241 of the flow restricting member 24 is a flat side wall in the front-rear direction that functions as the inner side wall of the inflow part 231 in the ball guide path 23, but the downstream part connected to this is a rectifying part that turns to the right. In addition to functioning as an inner wall of H.232, a protrusion corresponding to the unevenness of the rectifying outer wall 20c is provided. As a result, the game balls meander down in the rectifying unit 232, and are ordered and flow down to the outflow unit 253.

  The inflow portion 231 of the ball guide path 23 and the bottom wall member 25 on the upstream side of the inflow portion 231 are in the standard state in which the ball receiving box 10 is located at the rearmost position (see FIG. 7A). An induction region 251a that appears on the downstream side of 15a and an induction adjustment region 251b that is hidden below the flow path member 15 are formed.

  Thus, when the game ball collecting device 1 is in the standard state, the game ball introduced from the ball flow path 16 of the ball receiving box 10 rolls on the guide area 251a set in the same direction as the flow direction. Therefore, there is almost no possibility of stagnating and clogging when introduced from the ball flow path 16 of the ball receiving box 10 to the ball guide path 25 of the ball receiving box support 20, and the ball receiving box. The game ball can be smoothly introduced from the ball 10 to the ball receiving box support 20.

  On the other hand, when the game ball collecting device 1 is converted into an adjusted state (for example, in the second adjusted state where the ball receiving box 10 is moved most forward, see FIG. 7B), the flow path member in the ball receiving box 10 15, the lower end 15 a of the sphere 15 (the sphere outlet of the sphere channel 16) moves forward from the guidance area 251 a, but the guidance adjustment area 251 b appears below the sphere flow of the sphere receiving box 10. The game ball introduced from the road 16 rolls on the guidance area 251a through the adjustment guidance area 251b set in the same direction as the flow-down direction thereof, so that the game ball collection device 1 is in the standard state. As is the case, the game ball can be smoothly introduced from the ball receiving box 10 to the ball receiving box support 20. In addition, when the standard state is changed to the adjusted state, the game ball is allowed to flow down from the overflow ball flow allowing portion 17 of the ball receiving box 10 toward the ball guide path 23 or the flow restricting member 24 of the ball receiving box support 20. Since it does not change, when the game ball collecting device 1 is used after being converted to an adjusted state, a large amount of game balls cannot be flowed from the ball receiving hollow portion 11 of the ball receiving box 10 to the flow path member 15. Even if it is received, a large number of game balls can be quickly introduced from the ball receiving box 10 to the ball receiving box support 20 and processed quickly.

  That is, the game ball collecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the ball guide path 23 of the ball receiving box support 20 is placed below the ball flow path 16 of the ball receiving box 10 and the ball outlet (game) The ball receiving box 10 is moved in the front-rear direction by being provided so as to overlap the entire change region of the sphere lead position) (the guide adjustment region 251b from the standard position through the first adjustment state to the second adjustment state). Since the introduction position adjusting structure capable of adjusting the introduction position of the game ball in the ball guide path 23 of the ball receiving box support 20 according to the displacement of the lead position of the game ball in the ball flow path 16 accompanying the above is realized. The ball guiding path 23 is not interrupted by the conversion operation between the standard state and the adjusted state, and the game ball from the ball receiving box 10 can be smoothly received and guided to the sensor unit 30.

  Further, in the game ball collecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a game from the gaming machine is performed by moving the position of the ball receiving box 10 itself including the ball receiving hollow portion 11 that receives the game ball discharged from the gaming machine. Since the position adjustment according to the ball discharge position can be performed, the position adjustment of the ball receiving box 10 can be easily performed so that the game ball can be stably received at substantially the center of the ball receiving empty portion 11. For example, when the ball receiving space in the ball receiving box is configured to expand or contract in the front-rear direction, the cushioning material will fall from the gaming machine unless the shape of the cushioning material is adjusted to the expanded or reduced bottom shape. It is difficult to smoothly receive the incoming game ball, and it is necessary to consider the change of the game ball guide route from the ball receiving space where the shape has changed to the game ball detector. On the other hand, in the game ball collecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, even if the state conversion is performed to the standard state or the adjusted state, the ball receiving hollow portion 11 of the ball receiving box 10 does not change, and accordingly, the ball receiving empty The game ball inflow form from the part 11 to the ball flow path 16 does not change, and even when the game ball is introduced from the ball flow path 16 of the ball receiving box 10 to the ball guide path 23 of the ball receiving box support 20, Since the flow-down direction (front-rear direction) is maintained, the ball introduction from the ball receiving box 10 to the ball receiving box support 20 can be performed smoothly.

  Furthermore, in the game ball collecting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the ball flow path 16 of the ball receiving box 10 and the upper part of the ball guide path 23 of the ball receiving box support 20 are open, and an abnormality such as a ball clogging occurs. When checking, visual confirmation from above was made easier. In addition, it is possible to eliminate clogging by inserting a finger or a tool through the upper openings of the ball passage 16 and the ball guide passage 23. Further, a cleaning tool such as a cotton swab can be inserted from the upper openings of the ball passage 16 and the ball guide passage 23 to perform the cleaning work. In addition, you may form the opening part which connects the ball | bowl guide path 23 of the ball | bowl receiving box support body 20 and the exterior in an outer surface or a lower surface, without forming in upper part. In such a case, a slit-like opening having a width shorter than the ball diameter of the game ball can prevent a situation in which the game ball is dropped from the flow path and smooth flow is prevented.

  As described above, the game ball introduced from the ball flow path 16 of the ball receiving box 10 into the ball guide path 23 of the ball receiving box support 20 passes from the upstream inflow portion 231 through the rectifying portion 232 to the outflow portion 233. The lower end of the outflow portion 233 communicates with the ball inlet of the sensor unit 30, and the game ball introduced from the ball guide path 23 is detected in the sensor unit 30 and then discharged from the ball outlet 31. Then, it falls to the game ball collection basket 3.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of the game ball collection | recovery apparatus based on this invention was described based on the accompanying drawing, the inclusion range of this invention is not limited to these embodiment, A well-known existing method is diverted suitably. It may be realized.

It is a schematic block diagram of the island installation which attached the game ball collection | recovery apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a bird's-eye perspective view of the game ball collection device in the standard state. It is a bird's-eye perspective view of the game ball collection device in the adjusted state. It is a perspective view of a game ball collection device which separated a ball receiving box support and a ball receiving box. It is the perspective view looked up from the downward direction of the game ball collection | recovery apparatus in a standard state. (A) is a top view of the game ball collection device in the standard state. (B) is a top view of the game ball collection device in the adjusted state. (A) is a schematic sectional view taken along the line VIa-VIa in FIG. 6 (a). FIG. 6B is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along the line VIb-VIb in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game ball collection apparatus 10 Ball receiving box 11 Ball receiving empty part 16 Ball flow path 20 Ball receiving box support body 23 Ball guide path 30 Sensor unit 40 Support pillar 50 Fixed base 2A, 2B Game machine 3 Game ball collection basket 4 Installation stand

Claims (6)

Accepts the game balls discharged from the back side of the gaming machine installed in the island facility of the game hall, guides them to the game ball detector, and guides the game balls passed through the game ball detector to the game ball collecting cage in the island facility A game ball collecting device for
A ball receiving empty portion that receives game balls discharged from the back side of the gaming machine, and a rear side that is formed in one side of the ball receiving empty portion in the front-rear direction and flows in from the ball receiving empty portion downstream A ball passage box that is open to the upper surface, and a ball passage box that is led to
The ball receiving box is supported so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, the game ball detector is held behind and below the ball receiving box, and the flow path in the front-rear direction is continuous with the ball flow path of the ball receiving box. A ball receiving box support provided with a ball guiding path leading from the most downstream end of the flow path that bends sideways to the gaming ball detector;
A support pillar for supporting the ball receiving box support;
A fixed base that is fixed at an appropriate position on the back side of the gaming machine in the island facility and supports the support pillar so as to be movable in the left-right direction;
With
Adjusting the introduction position of the game ball in the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support according to the displacement of the derived position of the game ball in the ball flow path as the ball receiving box moves in the front-rear direction. A game ball collecting device having an introduction position adjusting structure capable of achieving the above.   In the introduction position adjusting structure, the ball guide path of the ball receiving box support body is overlapped over the entire region of the change position of the derived position of the game ball in the ball flow path below the ball flow path of the ball receiving box. The game ball collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the game ball collecting apparatus has a provided structure.   3. The game ball collecting device according to claim 1, wherein an opening communicating with the outside is formed in a ball guide path of the ball receiving box support.   The game ball collecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ball receiving box is detachable from the ball receiving box support.   The game ball collecting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support pillar supports a ball receiving box support so as to be movable in the front-rear direction.   The game ball collecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support pillar is extendable in a vertical direction.

Images