JP2009240572A - Ball shooter for game machine and game machine having same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball shooter for game machines capable of preventing the easy transmission of an impact when shooting a game ball set at a ball shooting position, to a subsequent game ball and surely shooting a shot game ball onto a game area. <P>SOLUTION: A ball feed passage 14 is provided with a ball space part S allowing a subsequent game ball P2 to stay at the ball feed passage 14 with its in contact with a preceding game ball P1, even if the subsequent game ball P2 is fed from a flow straightener 12 with the preceding game ball P1 present at a ball shooting position H. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball launcher for a gaming machine and a gaming machine having the same.

  In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, a game board is detachably assembled to an inner frame that can be opened and closed with respect to an outer frame, and a front frame is provided on the inner frame so as to be opened and closed. The game board is provided with inner and outer rails that form a game area. In the game area, a board part such as a symbol display device (liquid crystal display device), a game nail, a winning opening, a big winning opening, an electric tulip, an outro, etc. Is provided.

  A ball launcher is provided on the back side of the handle provided at the lower front side of the pachinko machine. The ball launching device hits a game ball supplied from a ball tray provided on the front frame with a hitting ball and launches it toward a game area through a ball launching rail.

  Specifically, the game balls stored in the ball tray by the operation of the handle are supplied to the ball launching position through a rectifier provided on the back side of the ball tray, and the ball is moved by a ball hitting basket that is rotationally driven by a rotary solenoid or a step motor. The game ball supplied to the launch position is launched, and fired toward the game area via the ball launch rail.

The structure of the supply path which supplies a game ball from the rectifier to the ball launch position of the ball launcher is illustrated. For example, a game ball sent from a rectifier is provided below the ball introducing portion along a supply guide rail having a V-shaped cross section provided in the ball introducing portion from the opening of the ball launching device covered by the protective cover. The ball is inserted into the gap between the receiving part and the ball launching position. In this state, a striking ball driven by a rotary solenoid or the like strikes a game ball at a ball launch position toward the game area along the launch path. In addition, since the ball launcher is covered with a protective cover, it prevents a game ball or a foreign object from entering the operation area of the hitting ball and causing a malfunction (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2008-43777 A

However, in the above-described ball launching device of Patent Document 1, when the game ball once launched by the hitting ball becomes a foul ball and returns to the ball launch position through the launch passage, the far ball is placed on the launch passage cover portion. The provided balls allow the foul balls to be stacked in a substantially straight line along the firing path.
For this reason, it is easy to connect the game balls from the ball launcher to the rectifier through the ball supply unit. In this state, when a game ball at the ball launch position is hit by a hitting ball, an impact is transmitted to the subsequent game ball, which may cause a malfunction in the operation of the rectifier. Further, the game ball hit by the influence of the subsequent game ball does not reach the game area, and returns to the ball launch position again as a foul ball. Usually, since the ball launcher is designed to launch one game ball set at the ball launch position into the game area, in the state where the game ball to be fired and the foul ball are chained, The ball cannot reach the game area and becomes a foul ball again. For this reason, there is a possibility that a plurality of foul balls are in a chain state and the game balls cannot be fired.

  The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and the impact at the time of hitting the game ball set at the ball launch position is difficult to be transmitted to the subsequent game ball, and the shot game ball is surely launched into the game area. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball launcher for a gaming machine and a gaming machine using the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises the following configuration.
A ball launcher for a gaming machine that launches a game ball supplied to a ball launch position toward a game area, and a ball striking pad that launches the game ball supplied to the ball launch position toward the game area, and a ball tray A rectifier that supplies game balls from the rectifier one by one to the ball launch position, and a ball passage that guides the game balls from the rectifier to the ball launch position. The ball supply path that is inclined to flow down and the ball guide path that guides the game ball to the ball supply path are arranged to intersect each other, and the preceding game ball is placed at the ball launch position in the ball supply path. Even if a subsequent game ball is supplied from the rectifier in the existing state, a ball space portion is provided in which the subsequent game ball can stay on the ball supply path in contact with the preceding game ball. It is characterized by that.

  Further, in the ball space portion, when the preceding game ball is hit by the hitting ball, the subsequent game ball adjacent to the preceding game ball can be retracted in a direction away from the ball launch position. A evacuation space is provided.

  In addition, the retreat space portion is provided on the upstream side from the guide position of the game ball guided from the ball guide path to the ball supply path.

  Further, the rectifier includes a ball feeding member that feeds game balls one by one to the ball launching position, and the ball feeding member forms a part of the ball guiding path.

  In addition, the gaming machine is characterized by including the gaming machine launching device described above.

By using the above-described ball launcher for gaming machines, the ball supply path inclined so that the game ball flows down to the ball launch position and the ball guide path for guiding the game ball to the ball supply path intersect (orthogonal). Since it is arranged, the impact acting on the subsequent game ball is not directly transmitted to the rectifier or the game ball existing in the rectifier. Therefore, the stable rectification operation of the game ball by the rectifier can be maintained.
In addition, even if a subsequent game ball is supplied from the rectifier in a state where the preceding game ball exists at the ball launch position, the subsequent game ball is in contact with the previous game ball on the ball supply path. The ball space part that can stay in the rectifier is provided, so there is no problem such as clogging of the rectifier, and it is difficult for the impact to be passed to the rectifier side through the subsequent game ball, and the rectifier can be protected. it can.

  In particular, the ball space portion is provided with a retreat space portion in which, when a preceding game ball is hit by a hitting ball, a subsequent game ball adjacent to the preceding game ball can be retracted in a direction away from the ball launch position. Therefore, it is possible to launch into the game area without diminishing the momentum of launching the game ball at the ball launch position.

  In addition, the retreat space is provided upstream of the guide position of the game ball guided from the ball guide path to the ball supply path, so even if there is a game ball in the ball guide path, It is possible to evacuate to the evacuation space without affecting. Then, the succeeding game ball that has once escaped to the retreat space portion by the launch of the preceding game ball flows again down to the ball launch position along the ball supply path due to its own weight. Therefore, subsequent game balls can also be continuously fired.

  In addition, the rectifier includes a ball feeding member that feeds game balls one by one to the ball launching position, and the ball feeding member forms a part of the ball guiding path, so that the ball guiding path intersects with the ball supply path. The ball launcher can be designed to be compact in the thickness direction.

  In a gaming machine, even if a plurality of game balls are continuously supplied to the ball launch position, or a foul ball that has been launched once returns, the game ball can be reliably and continuously launched into the game area. Therefore, a stable gaming state can be continued.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.
With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, schematic structure of the ball | bowl launching apparatus for game machines which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. In this embodiment, a pachinko machine will be described as an example of a gaming machine.
First, the schematic configuration of the pachinko machine 1 will be described. The inner frame 3 (see FIG. 2) is attached to the outer frame 2 forming the outer shape of the pachinko machine 1 by a hinge 5 so as to be openable and closable. A front frame 4 is attached so as to be openable and closable.
In FIG. 2, a game board 6 is provided on the inner frame 3, and a ball launching device 7 that launches a game ball toward the game area is assembled below the game board 6.

In FIG. 1, game balls such as rental balls and prize balls are stored below the front frame 4, and the surplus overflowing from the upper ball tray 8 that guides the game balls to the ball launcher 7. A lower ball receiving tray 9 for storing balls, an ashtray 10 for storing cigarette butts on the left side of the lower ball receiving tray 9, and a handle 11 for adjusting the hitting force for launching a game ball on the game board 3 on the right side of the lower ball receiving tray 9 Each is provided.
The game balls stored in the upper ball tray 8 shown in FIG. 1 are supplied to the ball launcher 7 via the ball guide path 13 provided in the rectifier 12 provided on the back side of the upper ball tray 8 shown in FIG. It is led to the supply path 14. When the handle 11 is operated, the ball launching device 7 is actuated, and the game ball set at the ball launch position is launched toward the game area via the game board rail 15 provided in the game board 6.

Next, the configuration of the ball launcher 7 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows a state where the rectifier 12 is removed from the ball launcher.
The ball launching device 7 is assembled to the mounting base 16 by screwing a ball launching rail 17 that guides the game ball toward the game area as a guide path. The lowermost position of the ball launch rail 17 is a ball launch position H of the game ball, and the game ball set at the ball launch position H passes along the game board rail 15 via the ball launch rail 17 by the hitting ball 18. Launched towards the gaming area.

Although not shown, the back side of the mounting base 16 is a board case provided with a rotary solenoid 19 (see FIG. 4) for reciprocating the hitting ball 18 and its control board.
The hitting ball 18 is fixed to the rotary shaft 19a of the rotary solenoid 19 via the arm 18a. When the rotary solenoid 19 is activated, the arm 18a reciprocates between the stopper 20a and the stopper 20b.

  The rectifier 12 supplies the game balls from the upper ball tray 8 (see FIG. 1) one by one to the ball launch position H. The rectifier 12 includes a ball feed member 21 that feeds game balls one by one to the ball launch position H. The ball feeding member 21 is formed in a V shape, and the V-shaped notch of the ball feeding member 21 forms a part of the ball guiding path 13. The ball feeding member 21 swings around the swinging shaft 21 a when the yoke is attracted by the electromagnet 22. The ball feeding member 21 swings while holding the game balls one by one in the notch, and sends the game balls to the ball supply path 14 through a communication port 24 described later.

  The spherical passage is formed between the rectifier 12 and the spherical launching rail 17 provided via the partition plate 23. That is, the ball guiding path 13 is formed from the ball feeding member 21 of the rectifier 12 through the communication port 24 provided in the partition plate 23, and the ball guiding path 13 is formed in a part of the ball launching rail 17. (See FIGS. 5 and 6). The ball supply path 14 is inclined so that the game ball flows down toward the ball launch position H, and the game ball guided from the ball guide path 13 to the ball supply path 14 flows down the ball supply path 14. Guided to the ball launch position H.

  In FIG. 4, even if the subsequent game ball P2 is supplied from the rectifier 12 in a state where the preceding game ball P1 such as a foul ball exists at the ball launch position H, the subsequent game ball P2 is supplied to the ball supply path 14. Is provided with a ball space portion S that can remain on the ball supply path 14 in contact with the preceding game ball P1.

In FIG. 7, when the preceding game ball P1 is hit by the hitting ball 18, the ball space portion S indicates that the subsequent game ball P2 adjacent to the preceding game ball P1 is in the direction of the arrow from the ball launch position H. A retreat space portion S ′ is provided so as to be retreatable in a direction away from it. The evacuation space S ′ is provided on the upstream side from the guide position U of the game ball guided from the ball guide path 13 to the ball supply path 14 (see FIG. 7).
Thus, after the preceding game ball P1 is fired, the subsequent game ball P2 once flows backward through the ball supply path 14 and escapes to the retreat space portion S ′, and then flows down the ball supply path 14 again by its own weight. Set to H. Therefore, the subsequent game balls P2 can also be continuously fired. At this time, if the line segment M connecting the centers of the preceding game ball P1 and the subsequent game ball P2 is in contact with the opposite side of the ball guide path side of the ball supply path 14 in plan view, When the preceding game ball P1 is hit by the hitting ball 18, the subsequent game ball P2 can be smoothly retreated to the retreat space S ′ along the ball supply path 14 (see FIG. 6). Note that if the subsequent game ball P2 is in contact with the preceding game ball P1 and is in contact with the wall W opposite to the ball guide path 13 side of the ball supply path 14, the subsequent game ball P2 is not shattered, and upstream. It is easy to escape to the side retreat space S ′ (see FIG. 4). Further, a recess (groove) may be formed in the sphere supply path 14 so that the line segment M is parallel to the wall W opposite to the sphere guide path 13 in plan view.

  In FIG. 4, the ball discharge rail 17 is formed with a ball discharge path 25 that discharges a foul ball in contact with a game ball existing at a ball discharge position H provided on the downstream side of the ball supply path 14. . The ball discharge path 25 intersects the direction in which the game balls are fired, and is formed at a position substantially opposite to the ball supply path 14. When the foul ball returns to the ball launch rail 17 without reaching the game area in the state where the subsequent game ball exists at the ball launch position H, the foul ball comes into contact with the subsequent game ball present at the ball launch position H. Then, it is discharged toward the lower ball tray 9 (see FIG. 1) through the ball discharge path 25. Then, the player can supplement the foul ball in the upper tray 8 (see FIG. 1) and use it again.

  Since the ball discharge path 25 is provided at a position for discharging a foul ball in contact with the game ball present at the ball launch position H, when a game ball exists at the ball launch position H, the foul ball is moved to the ball launch rail 17. Even if it comes back along, it comes into contact with the subsequent game ball at the ball launch position H and flows down toward the ball discharge path 25. Therefore, the ball launch rail 17 has only a game ball that is always present at the ball launch position H, and a plurality of foul balls are not chained on the ball launch rail 17 as in the prior art, and are launched in a stable state. can do.

Further, in the pachinko machine 1, even if a foul ball once launched returns and a subsequent game ball is supplied from the rectifier 12 in a state where the game ball exists at the ball launch position H, the game ball is surely entered into the game area. Can be launched continuously, so that a stable gaming state can be continued.
Further, the ball launch position H, the ball supply path 14, the ball discharge path 25, and the ball launch rail 17 are integrally formed, and the molded product is fixed to the mounting base 16 (substrate case), so the number of parts is omitted. In addition, since it is not necessary to adjust the assembly position between components, the assembly work can be simplified.

  The gaming machine launching device described above has been described as being provided in a pachinko machine, but may be applied to a ball launching device provided in another gaming machine, such as a sparrow ball gaming machine or an arrangement ball gaming machine.

It is a front view of a pachinko machine. It is a perspective view of the state where the front frame of the pachinko machine was opened. It is a partially exploded perspective view of a ball launcher. It is a front view of the ball launcher in a standby state. FIG. 5 is a left side view of FIG. 4. It is arrow AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is a front view of the ball launcher in an operating state.

Explanation of symbols

H Sphere Launch Position S Sphere Space S 'Retreat Space U Guidance Position W Wall 1 Pachinko Machine 2 Outer Frame 3 Inner Frame 4 Front Frame 5 Hinge 6 Game Board 7 Ball Launcher 8 Upper Ball Sauce 9 Lower Ball Sauce
10 Ashtray
11 Handle
12 Rectifier
13 ball taxiway
14 ball supply path
15 Game board rails
16 Mounting base
17 Ball launch rail
18 Hitting ball
18a Arm 19 Rotary solenoid 19a Rotating shaft
20a, 20b Stopper 21 Ball feed member
21a Oscillating shaft
22 Electromagnet
23 Partition plate
24 communication port
25 ball discharge path

Claims (5)

A ball launcher for a gaming machine that launches a game ball supplied to a ball launch position toward a game area,
A striking ball that launches the game ball supplied to the ball launch position toward the game area;
A rectifier for supplying game balls from the ball tray to the ball launch position one by one;
A ball path for guiding a game ball from the rectifier to the ball launch position,
The ball passage is arranged such that a ball supply path that is inclined so that a game ball flows down to the ball launch position and a ball guide path that guides the game ball to the ball supply path intersect.
Even if a subsequent game ball is supplied from the rectifier in a state where a preceding game ball is present at the ball launch position, the subsequent game ball is in contact with the preceding game ball in the ball supply path. A ball launcher for a gaming machine, characterized in that a ball space capable of staying on a ball supply path is provided.   In the ball space portion, when the preceding game ball is hit by the hitting ball, a retreat space in which a subsequent game ball adjacent to the preceding game ball can be retreated in a direction away from the ball launch position. The ball launcher for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a portion is provided.   3. The ball launcher for a gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the retreat space portion is provided on an upstream side from a guide position of a game ball guided from the ball guide path to the ball supply path. The rectifier includes a ball feed member that feeds game balls one by one to the ball launch position,
The ball launcher for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ball feed member forms a part of the ball guide path.   A gaming machine comprising the ball launcher for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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