JP2011036423A - Spherical article conveying device, and game apparatus and game system each including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify a route or structure for conveying a spherical article to an entrance provided in a conveyance device by providing flexibility to a positional relationship between the position of the entrance and the positions of guide rails. <P>SOLUTION: The conveyance device includes: a conveyance screw member 62 having a vertically extended rotary shaft 62a to which a helical blade portion 62b is fixed; and two guide rails 64A supporting a ball between the blade portion and the guide rails, the conveyance device conveys the ball supported between the blade portion and the two guide rails by rotating the rotary shaft of the conveyance screw member. In the conveyance device, each of the two guide rails is formed of: a conveyance rail portion 66 which conveys the ball upward in the vertical direction; and a conveyance start rail portion 67 which receives at its end the ball entering from the entrance and guides the ball to the conveyance rail portion. The end of each conveyance start rail portion is disposed at a position where the end does not hinder entering of the ball from the entrance, and a direction of a normal to the rail surface at the end of the conveyance start rail portion and a direction of a normal to the rail surface of the conveyance rail portion are different from each other. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a spherical object transport device that transports a spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction, and a game apparatus and a game system including the same.

  As this type of spherical object transport device, for example, a device used in a pusher game machine described in Patent Document 1 is known. In this pusher game machine, not only a medal but also a ball (spherical object) is placed on a medal placement table, and when the ball falls into the medal drop groove, the ball goes to a station lottery device that performs physical lottery using the ball. Be transported. In the middle of the ball transport path, a ball lifting transport mechanism for transporting the ball vertically upward is provided as a spherical object transport device. This ball ascending and conveying mechanism conveys the ball vertically upward by rotating the rotating shaft of a conveying screw member having a helical blade fixed to a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction.

  The present inventors include a conveying screw member in which a spiral blade portion is fixed to a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction, and two guide rails that support a spherical object between the blade portion of the conveying screw member. Provided, and configured to convey the spherical object supported between the blade portion of the conveying screw member and the two guide rails upward or downward in the vertical direction by rotating the rotating shaft of the conveying screw member. A new spherical object transport device is under development. The feature of the new spherical object conveying device is that two guide rails are provided on the same side surface as the spherical object conveying device provided with the spherical object entrance, and the two guide rails and the blade portion of the conveying screw member are provided. It is the structure conveyed while supporting a spherical object between.

  In a spherical object transport device that transports a spherical object while supporting the spherical object between the two guide rails and the blades of the conveying screw member, the spherical object is conveyed in order to convey the spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction. It is necessary to always support three points with the blade portion of the screw member and the two guide rails. At this time, two of the forces transmitted from the blade portion of the conveying screw member to be rotationally driven to the spherical object are positioned away from the conveying direction and opposed to the force facing away from the blade portion of the conveying screw member. The guide rail must be arranged. If such an arrangement relationship is not always established, the force received from the blade portion of the conveying screw member that is rotationally driven displaces the spherical object in a direction away from the blade portion, and from the blade portion of the conveying screw member. This is because the force in the conveying direction is not transmitted to the spherical object, and the spherical object cannot follow the movement of the blade portion of the conveying screw member, and the conveyance becomes impossible.

  Such an arrangement relationship is required from the time when the spherical object enters from the spherical object entrance and comes into contact with the blade portion of the conveying screw member to start conveyance. For this reason, conventionally, a structure has been adopted in which a spherical object is made to enter the two guide rails from the front in the direction of rotation of the blades, and the spherical object is inserted into the ends of the two guide rails. Therefore, the spherical object entrance is provided on the side surface that is located in front of the rotation direction of the blade with respect to the side surface on which the two guide rails are provided.

  By the way, in a spherical object transport apparatus employed in a game system composed of a plurality of stations, one spherical object transport apparatus may be shared by two stations. In this case, the spherical object transport device is provided between the two stations so that each of the spherical objects transported by the guide rail can be visually recognized by the player. That is, the spherical object to be conveyed corresponding to each station is conveyed by the two guide rails provided on the mutually opposing side surfaces of the spherical object conveying device. Therefore, there is a problem that the entrance of the spherical object corresponding to each station is restricted by the position of the guide rail. That is, it is necessary to devise a route and a structure for conveying the spherical object to the entrance in accordance with the position of the entrance of the spherical object defined by the guide rail, and the structure is complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and the object thereof is to have a degree of freedom in the positional relationship between the position of the spherical object entrance provided in the spherical object conveyance device and the position of the guide rail. It is possible to provide a spherical object transport device capable of simplifying the path and structure for transporting the spherical object to the entrance, and a game device and a game system including the same.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that a spherical object is formed between a conveying screw member in which a spiral blade portion is fixed to a rotating shaft extending in a vertical direction and the blade portion of the conveying screw member. Two guide rails to be supported, and by rotating the rotating shaft of the conveying screw member, convey the spherical object supported between the blade portion of the conveying screw member and the two guide rails. A spherical object transport device, wherein the two guide rails include an end part for conveying the spherical object in a vertical direction upward or downward, and the spherical object entering from a substantially horizontal direction from the spherical object entrance. A transfer start rail portion that receives and guides to the transfer rail portion, and the end of the transfer start rail portion is disposed at a position that does not hinder the entry of the spherical object from the spherical object entrance, Transfer start rail A rail surface normal direction of the end portion, and is characterized in that the rail surface normal direction of the conveying rail section is configured differently from each other.
In this spherical object conveyance device, the conveyance rail part that conveys the spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction starts conveyance having an end portion that becomes a rail surface normal that does not depend on the rail surface normal direction of the conveyance rail part. Since the rail portion is provided, the position of the spherical object entrance determined depending on the normal direction of the rail surface at the end of the conveyance start rail portion can be provided on an arbitrary surface. As a result, the positional relationship between the position of the spherical object entrance provided in the spherical object conveyance device and the position of the guide rail (conveying rail portion) can be given a degree of freedom, and the spherical object is conveyed to the entrance. The path and structure can be simplified.
The “two guide rails” referred to here may be ones in which the guide rails are connected to each other. Therefore, for example, a long member having a U-shaped cross section may be used, and two guide rails may be configured by two free ends in the U-shaped. In other words, any structure may be used as long as a spherical object can be supported at three points by the blade portion of the conveying screw member and the two support portions (end portions).
Further, the transfer start rail portion may be provided at an intermediate portion of the actual members constituting the two guide rails. In this case, the “end portion” of the transfer start rail portion is the transfer start rail portion. Means a portion that receives a spherical object that enters from a substantially horizontal direction from the spherical object entrance rather than the end of the actual member that constitutes the structure.

Further, the invention of claim 2 is the spherical object transport apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the end of the transfer start rail portion has a rail surface normal direction relative to a spherical object entrance direction to the spherical object entrance. And the conveyance rail portion is configured such that the normal direction of the rail surface is substantially parallel to the spherical object entry direction to the spherical object entrance. To do.
In this spherical object transport device, the transport rail portions of the two guide rails are arranged on the same side surface as the side surface on which the spherical object entrance is provided, or on the side opposite to the side surface on which the spherical object entrance is provided. .

The invention according to claim 3 is the spherical object conveyance device according to claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral end moving direction of the blade portion due to rotation of the rotation shaft of the conveyance screw member is the end portion of the conveyance start rail portion. And a displacing member for displacing the spherical object entering from the spherical object entrance in a direction approaching the end of the conveyance start rail portion. It is what.
When the outer peripheral end moving direction of the blade portion by rotating the rotation shaft of the conveying screw member is directed from the end of the conveying start rail portion to the spherical object entrance, the spherical object entered from the spherical object entrance , The spherical object is returned to the spherical object entrance side by the force received from the blade before it is supported between the end of the transfer start rail and the blade. In other words, a situation may occur in which the spherical object cannot be transported indefinitely. Therefore, the present spherical object transport device is provided with a displacement member so as to displace the spherical object that has entered from the spherical object entrance in a direction approaching the end of the transport start rail part. Thereby, it becomes easy for a spherical object to move between the edge part of a conveyance start rail part, and a blade | wing part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the spherical object conveying device according to any one of the first to third aspects, two sets of the two guide rails are provided for a single conveying screw member. Each spherical object entering from the spherical object entrance is respectively supported between the blade portion of the single conveying screw member and the two guide rails of each group, and the rotating shaft of the single conveying screw member is supported. Along the vertical direction, it can be simultaneously conveyed upward or downward.
In this spherical object conveying apparatus, two spherical objects can be conveyed simultaneously by a single conveying screw member. Further, as a result of the presence of the two transport routes by the two sets of guide rails, the spherical objects transported by the respective transport routes can be visually distinguished from each other due to the difference in the transport routes. As a result, at least a part of the configuration of the spherical object transport device can be shared between the two game devices that use the spherical object transport device, so that the cost can be reduced by reducing the number of members.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the spherical object conveying device according to the fourth aspect, the two spherical object inlets are provided at positions facing each other across the rotation shaft of the single conveying screw member. The paths through which the spherical objects entering from the two spherical object entrances enter the conveyance start rail portions of the two guide rails in the respective sets are transverse to the rotation axis and are the same as each other. It is comprised so that it may go to the position which shifted | deviated to the side.
In this spherical object conveying apparatus, the spherical objects can be conveyed upward or downward in the vertical direction on opposite sides of each other with a single conveying screw member interposed therebetween.

Further, the invention of claim 6 is provided with a spherical object conveying means for conveying the spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction, and as a spherical object conveying means in a game device for executing a game using the spherical object. Item 6. The spherical object transport device according to any one of Items 1 to 5 is used.
In this game device, the spherical shape in the game device is compared with a configuration in which a spherical object entrance is provided on the side surface located in front of the rotation direction of the blade with respect to the side surface on which the two guide rails are provided. The degree of freedom of arrangement of the object conveying device and the degree of freedom of design of the spherical object conveying path including the spherical object conveying device are increased. Also, when one spherical object transport device is shared by providing a spherical object transport device between two stations, the set of the spherical object entrance and the transport path for each station is set in the direction toward each station. It is also possible to realize a configuration in which each is provided on the opposite side across the conveying screw member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a spherical object transport device that transports the spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction, and a game progress that controls the progress of the game using the spherical object by executing a predetermined game program. The spherical object transport device includes a control unit and a spherical object transport control unit that transports the spherical object vertically upward or downward according to the game progress controlled by the game progress control unit, and is adjacent to each other. A game system comprising a plurality of game devices arranged, wherein the spherical object conveying device according to claim 4 or 5 is used as the spherical object conveying device, and the conveying screw members are adjacent to each other. The spherical object conveying device is arranged so as to be located between the devices.
In this game system, spherical objects respectively used by two game devices adjacent to each other can be visually distinguished from each other by a difference in the conveyance route by using a single spherical object conveyance device.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the positional relationship between the position of the spherical object entrance provided in the spherical object transport device and the position of the guide rail (conveyance rail portion) can be given a degree of freedom, and the spherical shape is provided to the entrance. The excellent effect that the path and structure for conveying an object can be simplified can be obtained.

FIG. 1 is an external view of a pusher game machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a station of the pusher game machine. FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing a station control unit provided in the station. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the station lottery apparatus. FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining a hardware configuration of a main control unit provided in the central lottery device of the pusher game machine. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the central lottery performed by the central lottery apparatus. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the ball raising and transporting mechanism in the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the ball ascending and transporting mechanism in a state where the frame forming the ball entrance is removed. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of the ball ascending / conveying mechanism as viewed obliquely from above in order to explain the movement of the ball conveyed by the ball rising / conveying mechanism. FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the ball ascending / conveying mechanism viewed from directly above in order to explain the movement of the ball conveyed by the ball ascending / conveying mechanism. FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a modification of the ball raising and transporting mechanism.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pusher game machine, which is a medal game machine as a game system including 10 game placement stations, will be described. Needless to say, a game system to which the present invention is applicable is not limited to a pusher game machine.
FIG. 1 is an external view of a pusher game machine 1 according to the present embodiment.
The pusher game machine 1 has a play field 2 as ten independent effect display spaces, and in each play field 2, two players (users) can play a pusher game. Therefore, a maximum of 20 players can play a game simultaneously. In addition, the space where the player plays is divided by the support 3 for each play field 2, and the space between the support 3 is covered with a transparent cover. As a result, the player cannot directly touch the mechanism inside the play field. Further, in each play field 2, a pusher game is executed by the station 10 as a game device that performs an independent pusher game.

  In addition, the pusher game machine 1 has ten stations 10 arranged on substantially the same circumference with a predetermined center position as a reference, and a central lottery device 40 is provided at the center thereof. The central lottery device 40 can be rotated by a casing rotation driving device (not shown) around a rotation axis extending in the vertical direction passing through the center of the pusher game machine 1. As a result, the two main displays 47A and 47B arranged in front of the central lottery device 40 can be directed to the desired station 10.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of the station 10.
The station 10 is provided with two medal inserters 11 for sending out medals as game media to be bet and payout in the play field 2. Note that the medal inserter on the right side in the figure is omitted for the sake of explanation. The medal inserter 11 constitutes an operation accepting unit and a betting object accepting unit, and has a medal slot 11a exposed on the outer front side of the pusher game machine 1. When a player inserts a medal M from the medal insertion slot 11a, the medal M passes through the medal passage portion 11b and is discharged from the tip. The medal passage portion 11b is provided with an inserted number detection sensor 11d that detects passage of medals, detects a medal inserted by the player, and outputs a detection signal to a station control unit described later. The front end of the medal passage portion 11 b is disposed so as to protrude into the play field 2, and the medal M discharged from the front end is inserted into the play field 2. Further, the medal inserter 11 is rotatably attached by a shaft portion 11c fixed to the main body portion of the pusher game machine 1 so that the player can appropriately select the throwing direction of the medal M. Thereby, the player can turn the front-end | tip of the medal path part 11b of the medal insertion device 11 right and left within a predetermined range.

In the play field 2 into which the medal M is inserted by the medal inserter 11, an upper medal mounting table 12, a middle medal mounting table 13, and a lower medal mounting table 14 are provided.
The lower medal mounting table 14 mounts a large number of medals M on its upper surface. When the medal M falls into the medal dropping groove 15 formed on the front side of the lower medal mounting table 14 in the drawing, the medal M is correspondingly on the medal insertion mounting surface 5 provided on the front surface of the main body of the pusher game machine 1. Is discharged. Thereby, the player can acquire the medal M. Further, a stopper portion 14a is formed at the front end of the lower medal placement table 14 in the drawing so that the medal M accumulated on the lower medal placement table 14 does not easily fall into the medal dropping groove 15. The stopper portion 14a is formed by bending the medal placement surface on the lower medal placement table 14 upward.
The middle medal placement table 13 reciprocates along the upper surface of the lower medal placement table 14 with a predetermined stroke in a direction indicated by an arrow A in the figure by a placement table driving means (not shown). The middle medal placing table 13 that reciprocates in this way pushes out the medal M present on the lower medal placing table 14 part where the middle medal placing table 13 reciprocates to the front side in the figure. FIG. 2 shows a state where the middle medal mounting table 13 has moved to the foremost position in the drawing. Further, the middle-stage medal placement table 13 places a medal M on the upper surface thereof. When the medal M on the middle medal placing table 13 falls to the front side in the figure, it is placed on the lower medal placing table 14. When the medal M falls from the middle medal placement table 13 when the middle medal placement table 13 is not in the foremost position, the medal M is pushed by the middle medal placement table 13 and the lower medal M is accumulated. It is pushed into the medal placement surface. When the medal M is pushed in this way, the medal M accumulated on the lower medal mounting table 14 is pushed to the front side in the figure, and the pressing force is applied to the medal M stopped by the stopper portion 14a. The medal M falls into the medal drop groove 15.
The front side portion of the upper medal mounting table 12 in the drawing is disposed along the upper surface of the middle medal mounting table 13. When the middle medal placing table 13 is reciprocated in the direction indicated by the arrow A in the figure by the placing table driving means, the upper medal placing table 12 displays the medal of the portion located on the back side in the figure on the middle medal placing table 13. Push it out to the front side.

  In the play field 2, a medal jump table 16 and a medal chucker 17 are provided. The medal jumping table 16 has a medal moving surface 16a made of a transparent acrylic plate that is inclined so that the rear side in FIG. 2 is at a high position, and this medal moving surface 16a is formed by a side plate 16b with a middle medal mounting table. 13 is fixed. As a result, the placing table moving means for reciprocating the middle medal placing table 13 in the direction of arrow A in the figure moves the medal jump table 16 relative to the medal chucker 17. Therefore, the medal moving surface 16a reciprocates relative to the medal chucker 17 in the horizontal direction by reciprocating together with the middle medal mounting table 13.

  The medal chucker 17 is formed with seven medal passage openings 17a at the center in the horizontal direction so as to correspond to the two medal inserters 11 provided in the station 10. The medal inserter 11 located on the left side in FIG. 2 corresponds to seven medal passage openings 17 a located on the left side of the medal chucker 17 in the figure. The medal chucker 17 is configured to reciprocate in the horizontal direction in a direction orthogonal to the moving direction of the medal jump table 16 by a chucker driving means (not shown). A medal detection sensor (not shown) that detects the medal M that has passed through the medal passage port 17a is provided on the back surface of the medal chucker 17. This medal detection sensor is a photo interrupter arranged so as to face both ends of the medal chucker 17 in the horizontal direction. When the optical path between these is interrupted by the medal M passing through the medal passage port 17a, the detection signal Is output. The detection signal of the medal detection sensor is sent to the station control unit inside the station.

  A slot device 20 is provided in the play field 2. The slot device 20 is a liquid crystal display device, and three reel images are displayed on the liquid crystal screen. The slot device 20 is subjected to display control by a station control unit inside the station.

FIG. 3 is a control block diagram showing the station control unit 30 provided in each station 10.
Each station control unit 30 includes a station control device 31 as game progress control means, a display control device 32 that performs display control of the slot device 20 under the control of the station control device 31, and various types executed by the station control device 31. A ROM 33 for storing programs and various databases, and a RAM 34 for temporarily recording various data used in programs executed by the station control device 31 are provided. In addition, the station control device 31 includes a medal detection sensor 19b that detects a medal M that has passed through the medal passage port 17a of the medal chucker 17, a inserted number detection sensor 11d that detects the passage of the medal M inserted into the medal inserter 11, It is also connected to a count sensor 21 a that detects the medal M discharged from the medal payout device 21.

  When the player inserts a medal M into the medal inserter 11, a detection signal is output from the inserted number detection sensor 11d to the station control device 31. Receiving this detection signal, the station control device 31 outputs a medal insertion signal to the main control unit described later. When the medal M passes through the medal passage port 17a, a detection signal is output from the medal detection sensor 19b to the station control device 31. Upon receiving this detection signal, the station control device 31 executes a lottery program stored in the ROM 33. The station control device 31 that executes the lottery program generates a lottery random number, and compares the generated lottery random number with the generated lottery random number in the light of the winning probability table in which the correspondence between the generated lottery random number and each prize is described. The winning prize will be determined based on this. In this lottery, the winning prize may not be determined, and a loss may be determined. Then, the station control device 31 outputs an image display command to the display control device 32 based on the determination information.

  Upon receiving the image display command, the display control device 32 displays an image of rotation of the three reels on the screen of the slot device 20, and finally displays a stop image of the three reels. At this time, when the winning prize is determined by the station control device 31, the combination of symbols related to the winning prize is finally stopped based on the image display command. If the station controller 31 has determined that a loss has occurred, an appropriate symbol combination that does not ultimately correspond to the winning prize is stopped and displayed based on the image display command. As a result, the player can see the lottery result when the medal M passes the medal passage port 17a by looking at the screen of the slot device 20.

When the winning prize is determined by executing the lottery program, the station control device 31 gives the player a privilege corresponding to the winning prize.
For example, when a medal payout award for paying out a predetermined number of medals is won, the station control device 31 outputs a medal payout command to the medal payout device 21 constituting the payout processing means. As shown in FIG. 2, the medal payout device 21 includes a medal storage unit that stores a large number of medals installed inside the pusher game machine 1, and a medal hopper unit that pays out medals stored in the medal storage unit. And a medal passage section 22 for guiding medals paid out from the medal hopper section into the play field 2. Upon receiving the medal payout command, the medal payout device 21 controls the medal hopper unit and executes the medal discharge operation for the number of medals according to the medal payout command. The medals M paid out by the medal hopper portion are discharged from the medal payout port 22a through the medal passage portion 22. The medals discharged from the medal payout device 21 are detected by the count sensor 21a, and the detection signal is sent to the station control device 31. Receiving this detection signal, the station control device 31 outputs a medal payout signal to a main control unit described later.

  The medal M discharged from the medal payout opening 22a falls on the upper surface plate 13a of the middle medal mounting table 13, whereby a predetermined number of medals are paid out into the play field 2. In the present embodiment, even if the medal payout prize is won, medals are not paid out directly to the player, but the number of medals M according to the prize is paid out into the play field 2. Therefore, in order for the player to acquire the medal M, it must be dropped into the medal dropping groove 15 on the front side of the lower medal mounting table 14 in the drawing. Note that a large number of medals M paid out by the medal payout device 21 are deposited on the middle medal placement table 13 and the lower medal placement table 14 because they are drowned into the middle medal placement table 13 and the lower medal placement table 14. The medal M is pushed out, and finally a large number of medals are paid out to the player.

  In addition, for example, when the station control device 31 determines that the ball bonus prize is won by executing the lottery program, the ball B as a spherical lottery moving object is supplied onto the lower medal placement table 14 in the play field 2. The Specifically, when the winning of the ball bonus prize is determined, the station control device 31 outputs a ball supply command to the ball supply device 23. As shown in FIG. 2, the ball supply device 23 includes a ball storage unit (not shown) disposed inside the pusher game machine 1, a ball supply control unit (not shown), and a first transport rail unit 23a from the ball storage unit. A ball holding portion 23b for temporarily holding the ball B supplied through the second holding rail 23c for transferring the ball B held by the ball holding portion 23b onto the lower medal mounting table 14. And a third transport rail portion 23 d for transporting the ball B held by the ball holding portion 23 b to the medal dropping groove 15. When the ball supply command from the station control device 31 is received by the ball supply control unit of the ball supply device 23, the ball supply control unit controls each unit according to the ball supply command.

  The ball B supplied in this way is present in the play field in a state of being placed on the medal M accumulated on the lower medal mounting table 14. Then, along with the movement of the medal M, it moves toward the medal dropping groove 15. Here, a notch portion 14b is formed in the central portion of the stopper portion 14a provided on the lower medal mounting table 14 so that the medal M can easily fall. In addition, two ball guides 24 are provided above the lower medal mounting table 14 so that only the ball B on the lower medal mounting table 14 is moved toward the center. Therefore, the ball B on the lower medal mounting table 14 is moved toward the center by the ball guide 24 toward the medal drop groove 15, and the medal drop groove via the notch portion 14b of the stopper portion 14a that is easily dropped. Fall to 15.

  When the ball B falls in the medal drop groove 15 in this way, it is received by the ball collection rail 25 that sorts the medal M and the ball B provided in the medal drop groove 15 and collects only the ball B, which will be described later. Is sent to a station lottery device 70 which will be described later through the ball transport mechanism. When the station lottery device 70 wins, a lottery using the central lottery device 40 shown in FIG. 1 is performed.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the station lottery apparatus 70.
When the ball B is received by the ball collection rail 25 in the medal dropping groove 15, it is sent to the station lottery device 70 through a ball raising and conveying mechanism 60 described later. The station lottery device 70 is arranged on the central lottery device 40 side of the slot device 20 provided in each station 10, that is, on the back side of the slot device 20 as viewed from the player.

  The station lottery device 70 includes an introduction rail 71, a ball cradle 72, and a lottery chucker 73. The ball B that has been transported from the medal drop groove 15 to the upper part of the ball ascending transport mechanism 60 is guided to the introduction rail 71 and is supplied into the ball rest 72 through the introduction rail 71. The ball pedestal 72 is formed in a mortar shape, and the ball B introduced from the introduction rail 71 rolls around the central axis O of the ball pedestal 72 while rotating along the inner peripheral surface 72a. And it reaches | attains the lottery chucker 73 provided in the central-axis O part on the internal peripheral surface 72a of the ball | bowl stand 72. FIG. The lottery chucker 73 is formed with six lottery pockets, one of which is one special accommodation space K as a special pocket, and the other five are other accommodation pockets J which are other lottery pockets. It is.

  In the station lottery device 70, a physical lottery is performed to determine which of the six accommodation spaces J and K the ball B introduced from the introduction rail 71 enters. When the ball B enters the special accommodation space K, the ball B is guided to the center axis O while being on the holding rail, and is detected by a ball detection device (not shown). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, a ball detection signal is output from the ball detection device 79 to the station control device 31. When the station control device 31 receives the ball detection signal from the ball detection device 79, the station control device 31 outputs a lottery start request to the main control unit that controls the entire pusher game machine 1. The main control unit that has received the lottery start request rotates the central lottery device 40 so that the front of the central lottery device 40 faces the station 10. Thereafter, the central lottery apparatus 40 performs a central lottery.

  On the other hand, when the ball B introduced from the introduction rail 71 enters the normal accommodation space J among the six accommodation spaces, the lottery chucker 73 rotates while the ball B is held in the normal accommodation space J. Is rotated and conveyed. On the inner peripheral surface 72 a of the ball receiving base 72, a ball collection port 72 b is opened on the moving path of the ball B held in the normal accommodation space J. Therefore, when the ball B held in the normal accommodation space J is rotated and conveyed to the position of the ball collection port 72 b by the lottery chucker 73, the ball B enters the ball collection port 72 b and is provided on the upper surface of the casing 78. It falls into 78a. The ball collection passage 78a extends to a ball storage portion (not shown) and guides the ball B to the ball storage portion.

  When the ball B accommodated in the normal accommodation space J passes through the ball collection port 72b, the ball B is detected by a ball detection means such as a photo interrupter (not shown), and a detection signal is sent to the station control device 31. The station control device 31 that has received this detection signal uses the medal payout device 21 to pay out the number of medals according to the type of the normal accommodation space J in which the ball B is accommodated. At this time, since the station control device 31 recognizes the rotation angle of the stepping motor 76 that rotates the lottery chucker 73, the ball B is determined from the rotation angle of the stepping motor 76 when the ball B passes the ball collection port 72b. Can be identified. The station control device 31 that has identified the normal accommodation space J in which the balls B are accommodated in this way outputs a medal payout command for paying out a predetermined number of medals for each normal accommodation space to the medal payout device 21. Then, the medal M is paid out into the play field 2 of the player.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the hardware configuration of the main control unit provided in the central lottery apparatus 40.
The main control unit includes a main control device 41, a storage device 42 that stores various programs executed by the main control device 41, various databases, data tables, and the like, and the main displays 47A and 47B under the control of the main control device 41. And a display control device 43 that performs display control. The main control unit also includes a command output device 44 that outputs a medal payout command to the medal payout device 45 constituting the payout payout processing means.

Next, the central lottery performed by the central lottery apparatus 40 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of the central lottery performed by the central lottery apparatus 40.
When the ball B enters the special accommodation space K by physical lottery in the station lottery device 70 of each station 10 (S1), a lottery start request is sent from the station control device 31 to the main control unit, and the central lottery device 40 performs central lottery. Is started. In this central lottery, first, the main control device 41 controls the casing rotation drive device 48 to the front of the central lottery device 40, that is, the two main displays 47A and 47B with respect to the station 10 that is the transmission source of the lottery start request. The central lottery device 40 is rotated so that the direction is correct (S2).

  The main control device 41 that has received the lottery start request executes a central lottery program, generates random numbers for lottery, and wins probabilities in which the correspondence between the generated random numbers for lottery and respective prizes are described. In the light of the table, a central lottery is performed for determining a winning prize based on the generated random numbers for lottery (S3). In this central lottery, no losing is determined in which no winning prize is determined, but a losing may be determined. Then, the main control device 41 outputs an image display command to the display control device 43 based on the determination information. The two main displays 47A and 47B of the central lottery apparatus 40 function as one display means adjacent to the left and right. Therefore, the display control device 43 that has received the image display command displays an image in which one reel rotates on one display means including the two main displays 47A and 47B, and finally displays a stop image of the reel. A lottery result notification effect process is performed (S4). This stop image is obtained by stopping and displaying the symbol related to the winning prize based on the image display command. Thereby, the player can know the result of the center lottery by looking at the screens of the two main displays 47A and 47B. In the central lottery of the present embodiment, a plurality of medal payout prizes with different medal payout numbers are prepared. When the lottery effect process is completed, the medal payout device 45 of the central lottery device 40 is used to pay out the number of medals corresponding to the winning prize in the play field 2 of the station 10 related to the winning (S5).

Next, the configuration and operation of the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60 as the spherical object conveying device, which is a characteristic part of the present invention, will be described.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the ball raising and conveying mechanism 60 in the present embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60 in a state where the frame body 61 that forms the ball inlets 61A and 61B that are spherical object entrances is removed.
In the ball raising and conveying mechanism 60 in the present embodiment, ball inlets 61 </ b> A and 61 </ b> B are provided at positions facing each other across the rotation shaft 62 a of the single conveying screw member 62. The ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60 is disposed between two stations 10 disposed adjacent to each other, and is disposed such that the ball inlets 61A and 61B face the stations 10 respectively. The pusher game machine 1 is provided with five ball raising / lowering mechanisms 60, all of which are the same.

  The conveying screw member 62 has a configuration in which a spiral blade 62b is fixed to a rotating shaft 62a extending in the vertical direction. The rotating shaft 62a of the conveying screw member 62 is always rotated by receiving a driving force from the driving motor 63, but may be rotated only when necessary. In addition, the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60 is provided with two sets of guide rail members 64 </ b> A and 64 </ b> B including two guide rails that support the ball B with the blade portion 62 b of the conveying screw member 62. The two guide rails 64 </ b> A and 64 </ b> B are connected to each other in the middle of the rail by a reinforcing member 65. The two guide rails of the respective guide rail members 64A and 64B may be composed of two members in which the respective guide rails are completely independent, but the guide rails may be connected to each other in this way. Good. In addition, for example, an elongate member having a U-shaped cross section may be used, and two guide rails may be configured by two free ends in the U-shaped.

  The two guide rails of each of the guide rail members 64A and 64B receive the conveyance rail 66 for conveying the ball B upward in the vertical direction, and the ball B entering from the substantially horizontal direction through the ball inlets 61A and 61B at the end 67a. And a conveyance start rail portion 67 that guides to the conveyance rail portion 66. In the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60 of the present embodiment, the rotating shaft 62a of the conveying screw member 62 is rotated by the drive motor 63, so that the ball B that has entered from the ball inlets 61A and 61B becomes a blade of the single conveying screw member 62. While being supported between the portion 62b and the two guide rails in each of the guide rail members 64A and 64B, it is transported upward in the vertical direction along the rotation shaft 62a of the transport screw member 62.

The conveying operation of the ball B will be described in detail. In the following description, the description will be made on the assumption that the pusher game machine 1 is viewed from the outside (player standing position side).
When the ball B falls into the medal drop groove 15 of each station 10 and is received by the ball collection rail 25, the ball B rolls on the ball collection rail 25 by its own weight and is directed toward the station 10 side. It enters the inside of the ball raising and conveying mechanism 60 from the inlets 61A and 61B. For example, when the ball B falls into the medal drop groove 15 in the pusher game of the station 10 arranged on the right side of the ball ascending transport mechanism 60 when viewed from the outside (the player standing position side) of the pusher game machine 1, B enters from a ball inlet 61 </ b> A that opens to the right side surface of the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60. In the following description, the conveyance of the ball B entering from the ball inlet 61A opened on the right side surface of the ball ascending and transporting mechanism 60 will be described as an example. Description of the transfer of the ball B to be performed is omitted.

  The ball B that has entered from the ball inlet 61A of the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60 heads toward an end portion 67a of the conveying start rail portion 67 of the two guide rails disposed on the front side surface of the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60, and first, a conveying screw member It collides with the outer peripheral end of 62 blades 62b. When the outer peripheral end portion of the blade portion 62b that contacts the ball B passes upward in the vertical direction as the conveying screw member 62 rotates, the ball B moves by its own weight toward the end portion 67a to form the end portion 67a. It fits between the two rails and the blade 62b of the conveying screw member 62. Depending on the entry timing of the ball B from the ball inlet 61A, it does not collide with the outer peripheral end of the blade portion 62b of the conveying screw member 62, and suddenly the end 67a of the conveying start rail portion 67 and the blade of the conveying screw member 62 It may be fitted between the part 62b.

  In a state where the ball B is supported between the end portion 67a of the conveyance start rail portion 67 and the blade portion 62b of the conveyance screw member 62, the blade portion 62b supports the ball B from the oblique lower side at the outer peripheral end portion. . On the other hand, the conveyance start rail portion 67 has a direction that is out of the conveyance direction (upward in the vertical direction) and away from the blade portion 62b out of the force transmitted from the blade portion 62b of the conveyance screw member 62 to be rotated to the ball B. The ball B is supported so as to resist the facing force. Thus, the ball B moves along the conveyance start rail portion 67 following the fact that the outer peripheral end portion supporting the ball B in the blade portion 62b is displaced upward in the vertical direction by the rotational drive of the conveyance screw member 62. Can do.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the ball B moving along the conveyance start rail portion 67 by the rotational drive of the conveyance screw member 62 follows the displacement of the outer peripheral end portion supporting the ball in the vertical direction upward. It moves to the start end (lower end) of the transport rail portion 66 at the end (upper end) of the transport start rail portion 67 and moves upward in the vertical direction along the transport rail portion 66. At this time, the ball B being transported along the transport rail portion 66 is visible from the outside. As a result, it is possible to obtain an effect that the player can confirm that the ball B itself that has been played and dropped into the medal drop groove 15 is being conveyed, and to give the player a sense of achievement that the ball B has been dropped. Can do. Then, the ball B that has moved to the end (upper end) of the transport rail portion 66 is pushed out to the right by the outer peripheral end portion of the blade portion 62b because the support of the transport rail portion 66 is lost. The pushed ball B is received by the discharge rail 68, rolls on the discharge rail 68 by its own weight, and is transferred to the introduction rail 71 of the station lottery device 70 as shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the ball ascending / conveying mechanism 60 is disposed between two stations 10 disposed adjacent to each other, and is shared by each station 10. More specifically, the ball B dropped in the medal dropping groove 15 of each station 10 is transported vertically upward using the ball ascending transport mechanism 60 disposed between these stations 10. 10 is delivered to the introduction rail 71 of each station lottery device 70 provided at 10. In this embodiment, as described above, the ball B being transported along the transport rail portion 66 so that the player can confirm that the ball B itself played and dropped in the medal drop groove 15 is transported. Can be seen from the outside. Therefore, it is important for maintaining the effect that the ball dropped by himself can be clearly recognized by distinguishing it from the ball of the adjacent station.

Here, when the two sets of guide rail members 64A and 64B are each constituted by two straight guide rails, and the conveyance rail portion 66 extends straight upward from the conveyance start rail portion 67, two sets of guides The rail members 64 </ b> A and 64 </ b> B are arranged side by side on the front side surface of the ball raising and conveying mechanism 60. In this case, the transport path of the balls B used at each station is divided into the right side and the left side of the rotation shaft 62a of the transport screw member 62 when viewed from the front of the ball ascending transport mechanism 60, and is in a side-by-side state. If the ball transport paths of the stations are too close in this way, it is difficult for the player to know whether the ball being transported is a ball used at his / her station 10 or a ball used at an adjacent station. Inconvenience occurs.
On the other hand, when the two sets of guide rail members 64A and 64B are each constituted by two straight guide rails, and the conveyance start rail portion 67 extends straight down from the conveyance rail portion 66, it is used at each station. The transport path of the ball B is positioned on the opposite side across the rotation shaft 62 a of the transport screw member 62. Therefore, it is easy for the player to know whether the ball being transported is a ball used at his / her station 10 or a ball used at an adjacent station. However, in this configuration, since the transfer start rail portion 67 reaches the ball inlets 61A and 61B, entry of the ball B from the ball inlets 61A and 61B is hindered, so this configuration cannot be used.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the end portion 67a of the conveyance start rail portion 67 constituting each guide rail member 64A, 64B is disposed on the front side surface that is a position that does not hinder the entry of the ball B from the ball inlets 61A, 61B. Further, the entry of the ball B from the ball inlets 61A and 61B is prevented from being hindered. And about the conveyance rail part 66 which comprises each guide rail member 64A, 64B, it is the same side surface as the side surface in which ball entrance 61A, 61B was provided so that each station 10 may be faced, and ball entrance 61A, 61B It is arranged above the vertical direction so that the player can easily grasp whether the ball being transported is a ball used at his station 10 or a ball used at an adjacent station.

  In this configuration, the rail surface normal direction (the direction connecting the front and back of the ball lift transport mechanism 60) at the end 67a of the transport start rail portion 67 and the rail surface normal direction (ball lift) of the transport rail portion 66 are as follows. The left and right directions of the transport mechanism 60 are different from each other. Specifically, the end surface 67a of the conveyance start rail portion 67 and the rail surface normal direction of the conveyance rail portion 66 are different by approximately 90 degrees. In the present embodiment, the ball B received at the end 67a of the conveyance start rail portion 67 moves along the conveyance rail portion 66 by the rotational drive of the conveyance screw member 62, thereby conveying as shown in FIG. The position of the screw member 62 around the rotation shaft 62a is displaced by approximately 90 degrees. Therefore, the ball B received at the end 67 a of the conveyance start rail portion 67 can be moved to the conveyance rail portion 66 by being conveyed along the conveyance start rail portion 67. As a result, the ball B that has entered from the ball inlets 61 </ b> A and 61 </ b> B is smoothly transported from the end portion 67 a of the transport start rail portion 67 to the terminal end (upper end) of the transport rail portion 66 by the rotational drive of the transport screw member 62.

  Further, in this embodiment, the outer peripheral end moving direction of the blade portion 62b due to the rotation of the rotation shaft 62a of the conveying screw member 62 is configured to be directed from the end portion 67a of the conveying start rail portion 67 toward the ball inlet 61A. Yes. Therefore, when the ball B entering from the ball inlet 61A comes into contact with the blade portion 62b of the conveying screw member 62, the ball B receives a force to return to the ball inlet 61A side by the force received from the blade portion 62b, and the end of the conveyance start rail portion 67 forever. There may occur a situation in which it cannot be fitted between the portion 67a and the blade portion 62b of the conveying screw member 62.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, a displacement member 69 that displaces the ball B entering from the ball inlet 61 </ b> A in a direction approaching the end portion 67 a of the transfer start rail portion 67 is provided. The displacement member 69 in the present embodiment is composed of a bottom surface member 69a whose upper surface is inclined downward toward the left front side, and a wall surface member 69b provided in the ball entrance direction to the ball inlet 61A. The bottom member 69a of the displacement member 69 is for displacing the ball B, which rolls on the upper surface, and moves downward in the tilt direction by its own weight. An end portion 67a of the conveyance start rail portion 67 is provided at the tip of the bottom surface member 69a on the lower side in the inclination direction. The wall surface member 69 b of the displacement member 69 is configured to displace the ball B by repelling the ball B colliding with the wall surface toward the end portion 67 a of the transport start rail portion 67.

  In this embodiment, the ball B that has entered with a momentum from the ball inlet 61A first collides with the wall surface member 69b of the displacement member 69 and is repelled toward the end portion 67a of the conveyance start rail portion 67, and the momentum is exerted. Reduced. Thereafter, the upper surface of the bottom surface member 69 a is rolled to approach the end portion 67 a of the conveyance start rail portion 67. Even if the ball B displaced by the displacement member 69 in this way receives a force to return from the blade portion 62 b to the ball inlet 61 A side, the blade portion 62 b is rotated by the rotation of the conveying screw member 62. When the ball travels away from the ball moving path toward the end 67a, it can quickly move to the end 67a of the transfer start rail portion 67. Therefore, the situation that the ball B cannot be fitted between the end portion 67a of the conveyance start rail portion 67 and the blade portion 62b of the conveyance screw member 62 is solved.

  In the present embodiment, the ball inlets 61A and 61B are arranged so that the balls enter toward the rotating shaft 62a of the conveying screw member 62, but as shown in FIG. 11, the rotating shaft 62a of the conveying screw member 62 is arranged. Alternatively, the ball inlets 61A and 61B may be arranged so that the ball enters toward a position shifted laterally with respect to the horizontal direction. In this case, as shown in FIG. 11, the position shifted to the downstream side on the side where the ball entering direction is opposite to the moving direction of the outer peripheral end of the blade 62b on the rotating shaft 62a (the direction of the arrow in the figure). It is preferable to arrange in the. In this case, the ball B entering from the ball inlets 61A and 61B is hardly returned to the ball inlet side by the outer peripheral end of the blade part 62b, and the end 67a of the transfer start rail part 67 and the blade part 62b of the transfer screw member 62 It can fit smoothly in between. In particular, by providing the wall surface member 69b of the displacement member 69 described above as shown in FIG. 11, smoother fitting can be realized.

In the present embodiment, a configuration has been described in which two balls B adjacent to each other share one ball raising and transporting mechanism 60 and two balls B can be simultaneously transported by a single transport screw member 62. However, the present invention is not limited to this. I can't. For example, one ball raising / lowering mechanism 60 may be provided for each station, and a single conveying screw member 62 may be configured to convey only one ball B. In this configuration, only one ball entrance or guide rail member is required.
In the present embodiment, the configuration in which two balls B at the same height position can be simultaneously transported by the single transport screw member 62 has been described. However, three or more balls at the same height position can be transported simultaneously. It is good also as composition to do. For example, when using the ball ascending and transporting mechanism 60 of the present embodiment, two or more guide rails are added to the inner surface to simultaneously transport three or more balls at the same height position. Is possible.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pusher game machine 10 Station 15 Medal drop groove 25 Ball collection rail 40 Central lottery device 60 Ball raising conveyance mechanism 61A, 61B Ball inlet 62 Conveying screw member 62a Rotating shaft 62b Blade part 64A, 64B Guide rail member 66 Conveying rail part 67 Conveyance Start rail portion 67a End portion 68 Discharge rail 69 Displacement member 69a Bottom surface member 69b Wall surface member 70 Station lottery device

JP 2002-253842 A

Claims (7)

A conveying screw member having a spiral blade fixed to a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction; and two guide rails for supporting a spherical object between the blades of the conveying screw member. A spherical object conveying device for conveying the spherical object supported between the blade portion of the conveying screw member and the two guide rails by rotating the rotation shaft of the conveying screw member,
The two guide rails include a conveyance rail portion that conveys the spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction, and the spherical object that enters from a substantially horizontal direction from the spherical object entrance to the conveyance rail portion. Consists of a conveyance start rail section to guide,
The end of the transfer start rail is disposed at a position that does not hinder the entry of the spherical object from the spherical object entrance,
A spherical object transport device, wherein the rail surface normal direction at the end of the transport start rail portion and the rail surface normal direction of the transport rail portion are different from each other. In the spherical object conveying apparatus according to claim 1,
The end portion of the transport start rail portion is configured such that a normal direction of the rail surface is substantially orthogonal to a spherical object entering direction to the spherical object entrance, and the transport rail portion includes the rail A spherical object conveying apparatus characterized in that a surface normal direction is substantially parallel to a spherical object entering direction to the spherical object entrance. In the spherical object conveying apparatus according to claim 2,
The outer peripheral end moving direction of the blade portion due to rotation of the rotation shaft of the conveying screw member is configured to go from the end portion of the conveying start rail portion to the spherical object entrance side,
A spherical object transport apparatus comprising a displacement member for displacing a spherical object entering from the spherical object entrance in a direction approaching the end of the transport start rail portion. In the spherical object conveyance device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Two sets of the above-mentioned two guide rails are provided for a single conveying screw member, and each spherical object entering from the two spherical object entrances is respectively connected to the blade part of the single conveying screw member and two of each group. A spherical object conveying device characterized in that it can be simultaneously conveyed upward or downward in the vertical direction along the rotation axis of the single conveying screw member by being respectively supported between the two guide rails. In the spherical object conveyance device according to claim 4,
The two spherical object entrances are provided at positions facing each other across the rotation shaft of the single conveying screw member,
The paths through which the spherical objects entering from the two spherical object entrances enter the conveyance start rail portions of the two guide rails of the respective sets are transverse to the rotation axis and are on the same side as each other. It is comprised so that it may go to the position which shifted | deviated to the spherical object conveying apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. In a game apparatus for executing a game using the spherical object, comprising spherical object transport means for transporting the spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction,
A game apparatus using the spherical object transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 as the spherical object transport means. A spherical object transport device for transporting the spherical object upward or downward in the vertical direction;
Game progress control means for controlling the progress of a game using the spherical object by executing a predetermined game program, and the spherical object transporting device according to the game progress controlled by the game progress control means. A game system comprising a plurality of game devices arranged respectively adjacent to each other, each having spherical object conveyance control means for conveying an object vertically upward or downward;
As the spherical object conveying device, using the spherical object conveying device of claim 4 or 5,
A game system, wherein the spherical object transport device is arranged so that the transport screw member is positioned between two game devices adjacent to each other.

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