JP2009261468A - Pachinko apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a Pachinko apparatus which does not need to alter a Pachinko machine when exchanging models and solves demerits of a conventional technology by effectively using an out tank for collecting out balls discharged by the Pachinko machine, sorting balls of different colors, and collecting them. <P>SOLUTION: The Pachinko apparatus includes a Pachinko machine 1 to which balls are charged to play and an out tank 3 which is provided for each Pachinko machine 1 and collects out balls discharged by the Pachinko machine 1. The Pachinko apparatus is provided with: an optical sensor for detecting colors of the out balls collected by the out tank 3; a storage part for storing information about colors of the balls; an identification part for identifying balls of different colors in which the color of out balls differs from a color of balls stored in the storage part on the basis of a detection signal of the optical sensor and storage information in the storage information; and ball of different color collection parts 8 and 10 for collecting balls of different colors identified by the identification part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pachinko machine provided with a pachinko machine in which a ball color that can be used is designated.

  Pachinko game lending fees reflect various demands of players, and multiple fees such as 3 yen per ball, 2 yen, 1 yen, etc. are set at the same store instead of a single fee (4 yen per ball). In addition, each rental ball fee is played only on a designated pachinko machine. In such a situation, for example, if a ball lent out at 1 yen per ball is used in a pachinko machine for a 4 yen ball, and the prize is exchanged, the prize exchange rate for a 4 yen ball is 1 yen Pachinko parlors are damaged because they are higher than the exchange rate. Therefore, the inside of the store is divided into a plurality of game areas that can be played only with balls of each fee, and movement of balls between the regions is prohibited (detected by a sensor and alarmed when moved), and each fee There is a known pachinko amusement hall in which the color of the balls is made different and the fraudulent use is monitored by a store clerk or the like (see Patent Document 1).

In addition, in order to prevent unauthorized use of balls with a color different from the specified color (hereinafter referred to as different color balls), the color identification unit that identifies the color of the pachinko balls is connected to the supply tray (upper plate) of the launch balls of the pachinko machine. A pachinko machine provided with a sorting mechanism that is provided in a passage between the launching device and discharges to a lower tray provided below the supply tray when a different color ball is detected is known (see Patent Document 2).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-337369 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-146435

The pachinko amusement hall described in Patent Document 1 requires manpower to monitor unauthorized use in pachinko machines, and it is not particularly detected even when playing with different color balls in the pachinko machine, causing actual damage. May not be completely prevented.
In the pachinko machine described in Patent Document 2, even if different colored balls are thrown in, they are automatically excluded and cannot be played, but on the other hand, the disadvantaged that the different colored balls stay in the lower plate and are repeatedly thrown in. is there. In addition, the pachinko machine described in Patent Document 2 is provided with a different color ball sorting mechanism in the pachinko machine itself. For example, when replacing pachinko machines, a pachinko machine incorporating a different color ball sorting mechanism is introduced from the beginning. There is a disadvantage that the replacement cost of the pachinko machine increases, because it is not permitted by law to modify the pachinko machine after installation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and by effectively using an out tank that collects out balls discharged from a pachinko machine, by selecting and collecting different colored balls, the model can be changed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a pachinko machine that eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art without the need to modify the pachinko machine.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a specific configuration of the different color ball sorting and collecting means provided in the out tank.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko machine in which the means for detecting different colored balls is simplified by using an out ball counting mechanism in an out tank.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko machine in which the different colored balls collected in the out tank can be easily taken out and confirmed.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko machine that can immediately know that different colored balls have been collected in the out tank.

A pachinko machine according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a pachinko machine in which a ball is inserted to play, and an out tank that is provided corresponding to each pachinko machine and collects out balls discharged from the pachinko machine. In the pachinko apparatus, the optical sensor for detecting the color of the out ball collected in the out tank, the storage unit storing information relating to the color of the ball, the detection signal of the optical sensor, and the storage of the storage unit An identification unit for identifying a different color ball whose color of the out ball is different from the color of the ball stored in the storage unit based on the information, and a different color ball collection unit for collecting the different color ball identified by the identification unit It is provided.
In the first invention, the out ball collected in the out tank provided corresponding to each pachinko machine is detected by the optical sensor, and the detection signal of the optical sensor and the information relating to the stored color of the ball If it is identified that the color of the out ball is different from the stored color of the ball, the different color ball is collected by the different color ball collecting unit.

In the pachinko machine according to a second aspect of the present invention, the out tank according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a receiving portion for receiving the out ball at the upper portion, and the optical sensor circulates downward from the receiving portion as the out ball flows down from the receiving portion. The dissimilar ball recovery unit is disposed in the middle of the passage that merges with the passage, and the branch unit that is disposed on the downstream side of the optical sensor in the passage and branches the different color ball from the passage; And a storage unit for storing the branched different colored balls.
In the second invention, the light that is discharged from the pachinko machine and received by the receiving part at the upper part of the out tank flows down from the receiving part and is arranged in the middle of the passage where it joins the circulation path on the lower side. When it is detected by the sensor and identified as a different color ball based on the detection signal of the optical sensor, the different color ball is branched from the passage by the branching means arranged in the passage on the downstream side of the optical sensor and stored in the storage unit. The

A pachinko machine according to a third aspect of the present invention is provided with a feed gear that holds and conveys one out ball one by one in order to count the number of out balls that pass through the passage in the middle of the passage in the second invention. The optical sensor uses an out ball held by the feed gear as a detection target.
In the third aspect of the invention, the photosensors detect the out balls that are held and conveyed one by one by the feed gear provided to count out balls in the middle of the passage flowing down from the receiving portion of the out tank. The different colored balls are identified based on the detection signal of the optical sensor.

A pachinko machine according to a fourth invention is characterized in that the storage section in the second or third invention is constituted by a removable container.
In 4th invention, the container which comprises a storage part can be removed, the collect | recovered different colored balls can be taken out easily, and confirmation of the number, kind, etc. of different colored balls can also be performed easily.

A pachinko apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that a warning means is provided for warning that a different color ball has been identified by the identification unit according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention.
In the fifth aspect of the invention, when it is identified that a different color ball is included in the out ball, the alarm means is activated.

According to the pachinko machine according to the first invention, the different colored balls thrown into the pachinko machine are collected in the different colored ball collection unit and do not stay in the pachinko machine. In addition, since the pachinko machine itself is not provided with a different color ball sorting mechanism, it is provided using an out tank corresponding to each pachinko machine, so a different color ball sorting mechanism is provided when changing models. The out-tank can be used as it is, and a pachinko machine that does not have a different-colored ball sorting mechanism can be introduced, thereby avoiding an increase in replacement cost of pachinko machines.
Therefore, by effectively using the out tank that collects the out balls discharged from the pachinko machine and selecting and collecting the different colored balls, there is no need to modify the pachinko machine when changing models, eliminating the disadvantages of the conventional technology A pachinko machine is provided.

  According to the pachinko apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the out-tank is provided by the optical sensor, the branching means, and the storage unit provided in the middle of the passage that flows down from the receiving portion of the out-tank and joins the circulation path on the lower side. A specific configuration of the different color ball sorting and collecting means to be provided is provided.

  According to the pachinko apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, the out ball held and transported by the feed gear for counting the out balls is used as the detection target of the optical sensor, so the out ball counting mechanism in the out tank is used. Thus, a pachinko apparatus is provided in which the means for detecting different colored balls is simplified.

  According to the pachinko apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pachinko apparatus that allows easy removal, confirmation, etc. of the different colored balls collected in the out tank.

  According to the pachinko apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pachinko apparatus that can immediately know that the different colored balls have been collected in the out tank by the operation of the alarm means.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a pachinko machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko machine according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially sectional rear view of the out tank, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the out tank.

  An appropriate ball color (golden, silver, green, etc.) used for the pachinko machine 1 is set for each island where a plurality of pachinko machines 1 are arranged in a line. Each color ball is rented at a charge different from 4 yen, 3 yen, 2 yen, 1 yen, etc., and the prize exchange rate is also different.

  The pachinko machine 1 is a well-known pachinko machine equipped with a game board surface 1a, a ball launching unit located at the lower part of the game board surface 1a and a front plate or the like (not shown) for holding balls to be sent to the launching unit on the front side. is there. The upper part of the back side of each pachinko machine 1 is provided with a storage part 2 for storing balls supplied from a circulation path (not shown) to the pachinko machine 1, and the lower part is a game board surface 1a of the pachinko machine 1. There is provided an out tank 3 for collecting out balls that are discharged from the back side of the water and fall.

  The out tank 3 is provided with a dish-shaped receiving portion 3a for receiving an out ball at the top. The receiving portion 3a has a vertical wall around it, and the bottom is inclined so that the side far from the game board surface 1a is low and the central portion in the horizontal direction is lower than both ends. Adjacent to the vertical wall on the side (rear side) far from the game board surface 1a of the receiving portion 3a, a bowl-shaped discharge path 3b for discharging the out balls in the receiving portion 3a is provided. The discharge path 3b has a vertical wall around the periphery except for a communicating part with the receiving part 3a described later, and the width of the ridge is a dimension slightly larger than the diameter of the ball. One end of the discharge passage 3b is adjacent to the lowest portion of the receiving portion 3a, and the bottom of the discharge passage 3b is positioned lower than the bottom of the receiving portion 3a at the one end. It inclines so that it may become low toward the edge part of the other side from the edge part of the other side. An opening having the same width is formed in a corresponding portion of the vertical wall on the rear side of the receiving portion 3a and the vertical wall on one end of the discharge passage 3b, and the receiving portion 3a communicates with the discharge passage 3b through the opening. . A discharge hole 3c is provided at the bottom of the other end of the discharge path 3b.

  Below the other end of the discharge path 3b, a feed gear 6 that holds and conveys the out balls that flow down one by one, and an out pulse that is connected to the feed gear 6 and synchronizes with the feed of one ball. A case 7 is provided that accommodates the generator 6a that generates the. A downward passage 4 for allowing the out balls to flow down inside the case 7 is provided with a passage wall formed integrally by the case 7, and the upper entrance of the passage 4 is located directly below the discharge hole 3c of the discharge passage 3b. .

  The feed gear 6 is held by a case 7 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, and a plurality of arc surfaces 6b having a radius of curvature substantially equal to or slightly larger than the radius of curvature of a ball are formed around the circumference. The portion of the surface 6b is disposed so as to protrude into the passage from a window provided on the wall of the passage 4. The feed gear 6 has an appropriate rotational resistance, and rotates with a load when the ball moving down in the passage 4 is held on the arc surface 6b. In the case 7, an optical sensor 5 for detecting the color of an out ball conveyed by the feed gear 6 is provided opposite to the installation position of the feed gear 6 with the passage 4 therebetween. The optical sensor 5 includes a light emitter 5 a that radiates detection light to an out ball held by the feed gear 6 through a window provided on the wall of the passage 4, and reflected light from the out ball through a window provided on the wall of the passage 4. And a light receiver 5b for receiving light. The passage 4 protrudes in a cylindrical shape from the lower end of the case 7 and extends to a position above the bowl-shaped circulation path 9 on the lower side.

  A branch path 4a to a container 10 storing different colored balls is connected to a cylindrical path 4 protruding from the lower end of the case 7 and downstream of the position of the optical sensor 5, and the path 4 is branched to the connection location. A branch lever 8 is provided to switch between a position for branching to 4a and a position for not branching. The container 10 is a detachable container. For example, the container 10 can be pulled out and removed to the side away from the pachinko machine 1 and can be attached by being pushed toward the pachinko machine 1. The branch lever 8 is pivotally supported and urged by a spring (not shown) so as to return the passage 4 to a position where it does not branch into the branch passage 4a, and is driven by an electromagnetic solenoid 8a (see FIG. 4). It swings to a position where the passage 4 is branched into the branch path 4a.

  Next, the control unit of the pachinko apparatus according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration around the control unit 11 of the pachinko machine according to the present invention.

  The control unit 11 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 11a that performs various types of arithmetic processing, a control program for arithmetic processing that is performed by the CPU 11a, a ROM 11b that stores various setting values, and data when the CPU 11a performs arithmetic processing. It is a microcomputer composed of a RAM 11c for storing and holding. Information on the color of the ball set as an appropriate ball to be used in the pachinko machine 1 is stored in the RAM 11c. Connected to the control unit 11 are an optical sensor 5, an electromagnetic solenoid 8 a for driving the branch lever 8, and an alarm lamp 12 that is located above the pachinko machine 1 to notify that a different color ball has been detected. Further, the control unit 11 is connected to, for example, a computer installed in the central management room in order to transmit a signal that a different color ball has been detected.

  The CPU 11a determines whether or not the out ball is a different color ball based on the detection signal of the optical sensor 5 and the information related to the appropriate ball color stored in the RAM 11c. Specifically, if the case where the appropriate ball color is gold is described as an example, a ball of a color other than gold (for example, a color lower than the signal level of the light receiver 5b that receives the reflected light from the gold ball) A threshold value is stored in the RAM 11c so as to be higher than the signal level of the light receiver 5b that has received the reflected light from a normal iron ball. Therefore, when the detected out ball is a gold ball, the signal level of the light receiver 5b exceeds the threshold value, so it can be determined that it is not a different color ball. When the detected out ball is a ball of a color other than gold, Since the signal level of the light receiver 5b is lower than the threshold value, it can be determined that the ball is a different color ball. If it is determined that the balls are different colors, a drive signal is output to the electromagnetic solenoid 8a, and the branch lever 8 is swung so as to branch the passage 4 into the branch passage 4a.

  In the above-described embodiment, the optical sensor 5 is provided on the opposite side of the feed gear 6 across the passage 4, and the out ball held by the feed gear 6 is set as a detection target. However, the position of the optical sensor 5 is not limited to this. is not. The optical sensor 5 may be arranged on the side portion of the passage 4 on the upstream side or the downstream side of the position of the feed gear 6 so that an out ball flowing down the passage 4 is a detection target.

  In the above-described embodiment, the light sensor 5 is configured with a simple light amount sensor that irradiates the out ball with detection light and detects the amount of reflected light from the out ball. Using a high-performance optical sensor such as a CCD sensor that can detect the color, information on the proper ball color is stored as information relating to the ball color, and the color of the out ball detected by the CCD sensor or the like is stored. A configuration may be adopted in which the different colored balls are identified by performing a comparison process of whether or not the colors of the balls are matched.

It is a rear view of the pachinko machine concerning the present invention. It is a partial cross section rear view of an out tank. It is a top view of an out tank. It is a block diagram which shows the structure around the control part of the pachinko apparatus based on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 3 Out tank 3a Receiving part 4 Passage 5 Optical sensor 6 Feeding gear 8 Branching lever (branching means, different color ball collection part)
9 Circulation path 10 Container (Storage section, Distinct ball collection section)
11a CPU (identification part)
11c RAM (storage unit)
12 Alarm lamp (alarm means)

Claims (5)

In a pachinko machine equipped with a pachinko machine that throws balls into a game, and an out tank that is provided corresponding to each pachinko machine and collects out balls discharged from the pachinko machine,
An optical sensor for detecting the color of the out ball collected in the out tank, a storage unit storing information relating to the color of the ball, an out based on the detection signal of the optical sensor and the storage information of the storage unit An identification unit for identifying a different color ball whose ball color is different from the color of the ball stored in the storage unit, and a different color ball collection unit for collecting the different color ball identified by the identification unit are provided. A pachinko machine characterized by   The out tank includes a receiving portion for receiving the out ball at an upper portion thereof, and the optical sensor is disposed at a midpoint of a passage where the out ball flows down from the receiving portion and joins a circulation path on a lower side, The different-colored ball collecting unit has a branching unit that is arranged on the downstream side of the optical sensor in the passage and branches the different-colored ball from the passage, and a storage unit that stores the different-colored balls branched by the branching unit. The pachinko machine according to claim 1, wherein   A feed gear that holds and conveys the out balls one by one in order to count out balls that pass through the passage is provided in the middle of the passage, and the optical sensor is configured to hold the out balls held by the feed gear. The pachinko apparatus according to claim 2, which is a detection target.   The pachinko apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the storage unit is configured by a removable container.   The pachinko apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a warning unit that warns that a different color ball has been identified by the identification unit.

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