JP2011041723A - Base for bank of pachinko game machines - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a base for bank of Pachinko game machines which is capable of securing a wide storage space in a storage tank for storing Pachinko balls to be circulated and used within the base for bank of Pachinko game machines without enlarging the storage tank. <P>SOLUTION: A front joint portion 71 is composed of a third bottom plate 77 disposed to orthogonally cross a first bottom plate 75 which communicates straight with an outlet for making Pachinko balls received from a downstream end opening 50a of a collection passage 50 join on the way of the first bottom plate 75 by converting the direction of downflow of the Pachinko balls at right angles to reduce the downflow speed. A difference in level H13 is formed between the surface of the third bottom plate 77 and the downstream end opening 50a of the collection passage 50. With this structure, a wide storage space can be secured without enlarging the storage tank. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention provides a plurality of pachinko machines, a collection basket for collecting the pachinko balls used in the plurality of pachinko machines together, a used shape formed in a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape and discharged from the plurality of pachinko machines. A storage tank that guides the pachinko balls and stores the surplus pachinko balls that are not supplied to the pachinko machine and returned through the surplus ball return passage in the storage section, and the pachinko balls stored in the storage section of the storage tank Is a pachinko island platform that is installed in a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape.

  Conventionally, in general, a pachinko island platform in which a plurality of pachinko machines are arranged in a row has a pachinko ball stored in a horizontally long storage tank disposed in a lower space thereof. The paper was lifted by a lifting device and supplied to the pachinko machine again. As a result, pachinko balls were used cyclically inside the pachinko islands. As disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-24152) and Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-000271), the storage tank includes pachinko balls discharged from a plurality of pachinko machines. Used pachinko balls that are discharged through the ball box and surplus pachinko balls that are not supplied to each pachinko machine and returned through the extra ball return passage after being lifted. The pachinko balls were to be induced or stored.

  Note that the storage tank of Patent Document 1 has a bottom plate that inclines downward toward the ball feeding device side in the longitudinal direction and causes the pachinko balls to flow down, and a closed cross-sectional shape (tunnel shape) at one end in the short direction of the bottom plate. A ball passage that allows the pachinko ball to flow down, a substantially triangular guide plate that is provided on the downstream side of the bottom plate with an inclined guide surface that slopes downward toward the ball passage in plan view, and a downstream end of the ball passage And a lead-out port drilled in a wall surface portion facing. Then, the pachinko balls that have flowed down on the bottom plate and the pachinko balls that have flowed down the ball passage are joined by the inclined guide surface of the guide plate, and the joined pachinko balls are led out from the outlet to the ball lifting device. Yes.

  In addition, the storage tank of Patent Document 2 is provided at a substantially central position in the short direction, and a ball passage that allows the pachinko ball to flow down to the ball lifting device side, and a pachinko ball that is provided on the left and right sides of the ball passage. Provided at the downstream end of the ball passage, the left and right storage portions to be stored, a plurality of inlets formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction on the side walls that partition the left and right storage portions and the ball passage And a outlet. Then, the pachinko balls stored in the left and right storage portions are fed into the ball passage from a plurality of inlets and merged, and the merged pachinko balls are led out from the outlet to the ball lifting device.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-24152 (FIG. 4) JP-A-10-000271 (FIG. 5)

  By the way, in the case of pachinko islands as described above, the total number of pachinko balls used in circulation varies depending on the number of pachinko machines arranged in the pachinko islands, and many pachinko machines are installed. In connection with this, a large amount of pachinko balls were circulated and used. For this reason, in the conventional storage tank like the said patent documents 1 and 2, in order to receive a large amount of pachinko balls and to be able to store this, it was enlarged and a large storage space was ensured. However, in consideration of transportation and installation work of the storage tank, it is desired to secure a wide storage space without increasing the size of the storage tank. However, the storage tanks of Patent Documents 1 and 2 are each pachinko balls in the storage space. Merging portions for merging and leading to the outlet (in the storage tank of Patent Document 1, a substantially triangular guide plate provided on the downstream side, and in the storage tank of Patent Document 2, a plurality of streams spaced at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction) The inlet) must be provided in a wide range with respect to the longitudinal direction of the storage tank, and the confluence portion is inside the storage space of the pachinko balls, but it is a space where the pachinko balls cannot be substantially stored. It was forced to enlarge.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its object is to secure a large storage space without increasing the size in a storage tank that stores pachinko balls that are circulated and used in the pachinko island platform. It is to provide a pachinko island stand that can.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the invention of claim 1, a plurality of pachinko machines, a collection basket for collecting the pachinko balls used in the plurality of pachinko machines together, and a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape are formed. And a storage tank for guiding the used pachinko balls discharged from the plurality of pachinko machines and storing extra pachinko balls that are not supplied to the pachinko machine and recirculate through an extra ball return passage in a storage unit; In a pachinko island platform in which a pachinko ball lifting device that lifts pachinko balls stored in the storage section of the storage tank is installed, the storage tank includes an upper part of the storage tank of the plurality of pachinko machines. The upper surface opening that directly receives the pachinko ball discharged from the pachinko machine installed in the storage portion, the pachinko ball received from the upper surface opening and the return through the surplus ball return passage A guide path that guides the surplus pachinko balls to be moved toward the ball feeding device side along the bottom surface of the storage section, and the pachinko balls sent from the recovery basket in the storage section separately from the guide path A recovery passage formed and guided toward the ball feeding device side, a pachinko ball provided on the downstream side of the storage portion and discharged from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage, and a downstream end opening of the guide passage A confluence portion that joins the discharged pachinko balls and sends them to the ball lifting device side, and is provided with the ball feeding device after the pachinko balls merged in the confluence portion A lead-out port opened in a front plate that constitutes a side wall on the downstream end side of the storage tank for leading to the side, a straight-line passage in which the lead-out port and the downstream end opening of the guide path communicate in a straight line, Arranged perpendicular to the straight path and A right-angle conversion passage that reduces the flow velocity by changing the flow direction of the pachinko balls received from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage to a right angle and merges the pachinko balls with the straight passage, and is provided with the right-angle conversion. A step is provided between the passage bottom of the passage and the downstream end opening of the recovery passage.

  Further, in the invention of claim 2, the pachinko island platform is pachinko balls discharged from the pachinko machine installed on the side where the storage tank is arranged with the ball lifting device as a boundary in the longitudinal direction. The first recovery rod as the recovery rod that collects the wastewater and the pachinko machine installed on the side where the storage tank is not disposed in the longitudinal direction of the pachinko island base with the ball lifting device as a boundary. And a second recovery rod for collecting the pachinko balls together, and the recovery passage is connected to the downstream end of the first recovery rod and has a closed cross-section at substantially the center in the short direction of the storage tank. A ball passage having a closed cross-sectional shape that is provided in the storage tank so as to overlap with the recovery passage and guides the pachinko balls to the joining portion; A first guide path as the guide path that is arranged on one side of the recovery passage and guides the pachinko balls stored in the storage section toward the ball feeding device side along the bottom surface of the storage section; A second guiding path for guiding the pachinko balls arranged on the other side of the collection passage and stored in the storage section to the joining section along the bottom surface of the storage section, and the second collection basket And a connecting port that is connected to the downstream end and feeds pachinko balls from the second recovery basket to the joining portion, and is stored in the first and second guide passages on both side walls of the ball passage. The right and left ball intake ports for taking the pachinko balls taken into the ball passage are respectively drilled, and the right angle that joins the pachinko balls received from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage to the straight passage is formed in the joining portion. The first right-angle conversion passage as the conversion passage and By changing the flow direction of the pachinko balls arranged perpendicular to the straight path and received from the opening at the downstream end of the ball path to a right angle, the flow speed is reduced to join the pachinko balls to the straight path. The flow rate is reduced by changing the flow direction of the pachinko ball, which is arranged perpendicular to the second right-angle turning passage and orthogonal to the straight passage and received from the downstream end opening of the second guide passage, to a right angle. A third right angle conversion passage that joins the pachinko balls to the straight passage, and a flow direction by changing the flow direction of the pachinko balls arranged perpendicular to the straight passage and received from the connection port to a right angle. A fourth right-angle conversion passage that reduces the speed and joins the pachinko balls to the straight passage, and is provided in parallel in the short direction of the storage tank, and the second Between the passage bottom surface of the right-angle turning passage and the downstream end opening of the ball passage, between the passage bottom surface of the third right-angle turning passage and the downstream end opening of the second guide passage, and the fourth right-angle turning. A step is provided between the passage bottom of the passage and the connecting port.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that the second right-angle turning passage and the third right-angle turning passage are the same right-angle turning passage.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the storage tank is disposed at an upper position of the storage tank at approximately the center in the short direction of the storage tank, and the excess tank fed from the excess ball return passage. A surplus ball passage for feeding a pachinko ball into the guide passage is provided, and the passage bottom surfaces of the guide passage and the surplus ball passage are respectively disposed horizontally in the lateral direction of the storage tank.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the flow velocity is obtained by changing the flow direction of the pachinko ball, which is arranged perpendicular to the straight passage communicating with the outlet port in a straight line and received from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage, to a right angle. Is formed by a right angle conversion passage that causes the pachinko balls to join the straight line passage, and a step is provided between the bottom surface of the right angle conversion passage and the downstream end opening of the recovery passage. As a result, the pachinko balls fed into the right angle conversion passage from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage are perpendicular to the downstream end opening of the recovery passage by the step provided between the bottom surface of the right angle conversion passage and the downstream end opening of the recovery passage. It is dropped on the conversion passage, and then the flow direction is changed to a right angle by flowing down the right-angle conversion passage. Therefore, the pachinko balls that are sent from the storage section side of the storage tank to the confluence section are not directly received by the corner portions of the right-angle conversion passage bent at right angles, so that pachinko balls are commonly used in the corner portions of the right-angle conversion passage. It will not be stopped as a dead ball. In addition, a substantially triangular guide plate is provided by smoothly changing the flow direction of the pachinko balls without causing a dead ball in this way and making the passage that joins the pachinko balls into a straight passage as a right angle conversion passage. As a result, a large storage space can be secured without increasing the size of the storage tank. can do.

  In the invention of claim 2, the pachinko ball of the storage part is fed into the junction part through the first and second guide paths. Part of the pachinko balls stored in the first and second taxiways enter from the left and right ball intakes drilled in the wall surfaces on both sides of the ball passage with a closed cross-sectional shape, flow down in the ball passage, and merge Sent to the department. The pachinko balls recovered by the first recovery rod are sent to the junction through the recovery passage in the storage tank, while the pachinko balls recovered by the second recovery rod are fed from the connection port of the storage tank. It is sent to the junction. Then, the pachinko balls from the first and second taxiways, the pachinko balls from the ball passage, the pachinko balls from the recovery passage, and the pachinko balls from the connection port are merged at the junction and merged. The pachinko balls are sent out from the junction to the ball lifting device side. Further, in the configuration of the merge portion, the pachinko ball that is fed from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage to the first right-angled conversion passage with respect to the straight passage that communicates the downstream end opening and the outlet of the first guide passage in a straight line. , A pachinko ball sent from the downstream end opening of the ball passage to the second right angle change passage, a pachinko ball sent from the downstream end opening of the second guide passage to the third right angle change passage, and the second recovery rod downstream The pachinko balls fed from the end opening (connecting port) to the fourth right angle change passage are merged at right angles, but there is a step between the bottom surface of each right angle change passage and each downstream end opening. It has been. For this reason, even in the configuration in which the pachinko balls from the first to fourth right-angle turning passages are joined to the straight passage, the pachinko balls are smoothly joined without causing a dead ball in the corner portion of each right-angle turning passage. In addition, since the merging portion can be provided in a range as narrow as possible with respect to the longitudinal direction of the storage tank, as a result, a large storage space can be ensured without increasing the size of the storage tank.

  In the invention of claim 3, the pachinko ball from the downstream end opening of the ball passage and the pachinko ball from the downstream end opening of the second guide passage are made to be the same right angle changing passage (second right angle changing passage, first The three right angle conversion passages), and the pachinko balls from the right angle change passage can be merged into the straight line passage, so that the installation space for the right angle change passage at the junction can be reduced, and as a result, An even wider storage space can be secured without increasing the size of the storage tank.

  In the invention of claim 4, the passage bottom surface of the guide path for guiding the pachinko balls toward the joining portion along the bottom surface of the storage portion is disposed horizontally in the short direction of the storage tank. Thereby, since the bottom face of the storage section can be lowered by the amount that the passage bottom face of the guide path is not inclined in the short direction of the storage tank, the storage space of the storage tank can be increased accordingly. Also, the passage bottom surface of the surplus ball passage that is disposed on the upper side of the reservoir at approximately the center in the short direction of the storage tank and feeds the surplus pachinko balls into the guide passage is horizontally disposed in the short direction of the storage tank. As a result, the passage bottom surface of the surplus ball passage which is disposed at the upper position of the storage tank where the pachinko balls are substantially accumulated and forms the upper surface of the storage portion is equivalent to the amount of the slanted ball passage in the short direction of the storage tank. Since it can be made high, the storage space of a storage tank can be taken widely in connection with this.

It is a side view which shows the inside of the pachinko island stand which concerns on embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the part by which the storage tank of a pachinko island stand is installed. It is a perspective view which shows a storage tank. It is the perspective view of the state which saw through the inside of the storage tank from the 1st side plate side. It is the perspective view of the state which saw through the inside of the storage tank from the 2nd side plate side. It is a top view which shows a storage tank. It is a top view which shows the storage tank of the state which removed the overflow ball guide rod, the side guide rod, and the press-release plate. It is a top view which shows the storage tank of the state which removed the overflow ball guide rod, the side guide rod, the press-release plate, and the collection passage. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 6. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the DD sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows a front side junction part. It is a partial expansion perspective view which shows the 1st and 2nd guidance path, the collection | recovery path, the ball path, and the junction part with a front side junction part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, schematic structure of the pachinko island stand 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a side view showing the inside of the pachinko island platform 1 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion where the storage tank 13 of the pachinko island platform 1 is installed.

  In FIG. 1, the pachinko island platform 1 is configured in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as is well known, and a plurality of pachinko machines 2 are arranged in the back direction on both sides in the longitudinal direction. In addition, the pachinko island stand 1 is provided with a pedestal ball lending counter 3 as a counting device so as to be sandwiched between the pachinko machines 2. It is provided so as to correspond one-to-one, and pachinko balls are lent out by coins or bills, prepaid cards or storage card.

  In addition, the stand ball lending counter 3 has a counting function for counting the prize balls acquired by the game, a prize exchange function for exchanging the prize balls for a receipt or a card, and the like. That is, since the various functions as described above are provided in the counter lending counter 3 corresponding to each pachinko machine 2, the number of balls can be stored in a receipt or a card and exchanged for a prize, There is no need to carry pachinko balls to a gift exchange. An ID number necessary for identifying the card is stored in the card or the like, and a card theft prevention device is provided for each pachinko machine 2, so that the card or the like may be misused or stolen. There is no.

  A ball lifting device storage portion 5 in which a ball lifting device (not shown) is stored is erected in the approximate center of the pachinko island stand 1. The ball lifting device is for lifting pachinko balls by a belt-shaped transport belt, and the belt-shaped transport belt is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the pachinko island platform 1 and introduced from a lower introduction rod 18. The pachinko balls are lifted while being polished upward and discharged from the upper discharge basket to the upper tank 6 described below.

  An upper tank 6 for temporarily storing the pachinko balls that have been transported is provided at the upper portion of the ball lifting device, and a replenishment bowl 8 for supplying the pachinko balls to each pachinko machine 2 from the upper tank 6. However, it is provided in an inclined shape toward the longitudinal end of the pachinko island platform 1. In addition, the pachinko island stand 1 of the present embodiment is configured to provide the interbank ball lending counter 3 as described above to quickly and surely return the prize balls to the own island, so that the pachinko island stand 1 It is configured as a completely independent island that does not exchange pachinko balls between the islands (island that does not interact with other islands).

  The pachinko balls lifted by the ball lifting device are first sent to the supply tank 8 connected to the upper tank 6 with the highest priority, and the pachinko balls overflowed in the upper tank 6 are overflow ducts (not shown: surplus balls). It is guided to the overflow ball guide rod 45 (see FIG. 4) of the storage tank 13 at the lower part of the pachinko island platform 1 via the return passage) and the relay rod 14. Further, when not enough pachinko balls are stored in the storage tank 13, it is guided to the overflow ball guide rod 45 of the storage tank 13 at the lower part of the pachinko island base 1 through the overflow duct and the relay rod 14. The The pachinko balls guided to the overflow ball guide rod 45 fall into the storage tank 13 and are stored in the storage tank 13. The pachinko balls stored in the storage tank 13 are collected by the ball lifting device. Because it is polished, it is always a clean pachinko ball.

  Note that the overflow duct is formed integrally with the ball lifting device housing 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the storage tank 13 is provided on one side of the ball lifting device, but the storage tank 13 corresponds to about two to three horizontal widths of the pachinko machine 2. The total capacity of the plurality of ball boxes 26 formed on the pachinko island platform 1 is designed to be acceptable.

  In addition, the supply basket 8 is provided with a distribution chute (not shown) for guiding the pachinko balls to each pachinko machine 2 corresponding to each pachinko machine 2. The pachinko balls taken in by the distribution chute are supplied to a prize ball tank (not shown) provided on the upper back of the pachinko machine 2 and a pedestal ball lending counter 3 via a replenishing device (not shown). Used as a ball or game ball. In addition, a ball separator (not shown) is provided at the downstream end of the replenishing rod 8, and the pachinko balls that have flowed down to the downstream end of the replenishing rod 8 are bellows (not shown). ), The pachinko balls are circulated in the pachinko island platform 1 by being led out to the out ball collection baskets 17 and 17 ′ described later.

  On the other hand, the used pachinko balls discharged from the pachinko machine 2 are collected in an out ball collection box (not shown) having a counting function and then discharged downward. The pachinko balls discharged from the out ball collection box are provided in an inclined manner downward from the both ends of the pachinko island platform 1 toward the lower part of the ball lifting device that is erected substantially at the center. Dropped onto 17 '. It should be noted that four pachinko machines 2 (two pachinko machines 2 correspond to one side of the pachinko island base 1 and four pachinko machines 2 on both sides are arranged at an upper position within the longitudinal width of the storage tank 13. 2), the pachinko balls discharged from the out ball collection box are directly dropped into the storage tank 13 and are installed next to the storage tank 13 side of the ball feeding device 2 (One pachinko machine 2 corresponds to one side of the pachinko island 1 and two pachinko machines 2 correspond to both sides.) The pachinko balls discharged from the out ball collection box are placed on the relay cage 14. It can be dropped.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a counter stand 25 protrudes outward from the pachinko machine 2 so as to be substantially orthogonal to the pachinko island stand 1. A ball box 26 is placed on the counter table 25, and a guide path (not shown) through which prize balls acquired by the player in the game and stored in the ball box 26 are sent to the interbank ball lending counter 3 is provided. Is formed. Then, the prize balls sent to the pedestal ball lending counter 3 through the taxiway are counted in the pedestal ball lending counter 3 and then provided on the back side of the lenticular ball lending counter 3. Then, it is dropped from the outlet 28 of the bellows-like prize ball discharge passage 27 to the out-ball collection baskets 17 and 17 '. In the four pachinko machines 2 arranged in the upper position within the longitudinal width of the storage tank 13, the prize balls discharged from the outlet 28 of the prize ball discharge path 27 on the back side of the interbank ball rental counter 3. Is directly dropped into the storage tank 13, and in the two pachinko machines 2 installed right next to the storage tank 13 side of the ball lifting device, the prize ball discharge path on the back of the interbank ball lending counter 3 The prize balls discharged from the 27 outlets 28 are dropped onto the relay rod 14. Further, below the counter table 25, a waist plate 21 constituting the lower appearance of the pachinko island table 1 is detachably installed on the pachinko island table 1. Out ball collection baskets 17 and 17 ′ are located inside the pachinko island platform 1 at a position corresponding to the waist plate 21. Therefore, by removing the waist plate 21, maintenance of the out ball collection baskets 17 and 17 ′ and balls It is possible to easily deal with troubles such as clogging.

In addition, the out ball collection baskets 17 and 17 ′ collect the pachinko balls counted by the stand-to-ball lending counter 3 (counting function) and the pachinko balls used by the pachinko machine 2, and are collected into a cocoon shape. The guide rail is laid in the center of the pachinko island base 1 along the longitudinal direction. Further, the downstream end of the right out ball collection basket 17 (collection basket, first collection basket) across the ball lifting device is connected to the storage tank 13, and the left out side across the ball lifting device. Ball recovery bowl 17 '
The (second recovery rod) is connected to the storage tank 13 via a connecting rod 19. The out-ball collecting baskets 17 and 17 ′ are not limited to the cage-shaped guide rails, and may be configured by a belt conveyor or the like.

  Therefore, the structure of the storage tank 13 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective view showing the storage tank 13, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inside of the storage tank 13 seen through from the first side plate 40a side, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the storage tank 13 as seen through from the side of the second side plate 40b. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the storage tank 13, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the storage tank 13 in a state where the overflow ball guide rod 45, the side guide rod 47, the pressure release plate 72, and the recovery passage 50 are removed. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 6, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 6, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D in FIG. 7, and FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing the front junction 71. Ri, 14, first and second guide path 54, 55, a recovery passage 50 and ball passage 51, is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a converging portion of the front merging unit 71.

  First, the storage tank 13 is installed in the lower space below the counter base 25 of the pachinko machine 2 for about two to three to the right from the ball lifting device of the pachinko island base 1 (see FIG. 1) The tank base is formed by a rectangular parallelepiped tank base formed with an upper surface opening 13a that directly receives the pachinko balls falling from the first side plate 40a and the first side plate 40a as shown in FIGS. It is composed of a two-side plate 40b, a front plate 41, a rear plate 42, and a bottom plate 43.

  An introduction port 44 to which the relay rod 14 is connected is formed at the center of the upper end portion of the front plate 41, and the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 6 toward the rear plate 42 side from the introduction port 44 are stored in the storage tank 13. An overflow ball guide rod 45 (excess ball passage) for guiding from one end to the other end is provided to be inclined downward. The overflow ball guide rod 45 is formed with a width that is substantially the same as the opening width of the introduction port 44, and its downstream end is an inverted T-shape that is erected with a predetermined distance from the rear plate 42. It is in contact with the rear partition plate 46. Further, a pair of left and right rubber plates 15 having a height width equal to or more than one pachinko ball from the bottom surface of the relay rod 14 is provided at both ends in the lateral width direction of the relay rod 14. The rubber plate 15 is for receiving the pachinko balls discharged from the two pachinko machines 2 (including the adjacent inter-unit ball lending counter 3) installed directly beside the storage tank 13 side of the ball lifting device. It functions as a ball receiving plate and guides the received pachinko balls into the storage tank 13.

  The pachinko balls that have fallen on the rubber plate 15 are guided to the overflow ball guide rod 45 together with the pachinko balls that have fallen on the bottom surface of the relay rod 14 from the rubber plate 15 and overflowed from the upper tank 6. In some cases, the roller rolls on the rubber plate 15 as it is and falls onto first and second guide paths 54 and 55 described later. For this reason, even if the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 6 flow down on the relay rod 14 vigorously, the pachinko balls on the rubber plate 15 cannot fall on the relay rod 14 and fall on the rubber plate 15. The pachinko balls thus rolled roll on the rubber plate 15 and are surely fed into the storage tank 13. Further, the side wall surface of the rubber plate 15 facing the center side of the relay rod 14 gradually narrows the bottom surface width of the relay rod 14 from the upstream side to the downstream side of the relay rod 14, and the bottom surface of the relay rod 14 at the downstream end. The overflow is formed into a shape that is almost the same as the width of the ball guide rod 45. As a result, the pair of left and right rubber plates 15 also has a function of gradually gathering the pachinko balls sent to the relay rod 14 within the width of the ball guide rod 45 as it flows down.

  Side guide rods 47 as side passages are provided on the upper inner walls of the first side plate 40a and the second side plate 40b, respectively. The side guide rods 47 are provided so as to be inclined downward from the inner wall surface of the front plate 41 toward the rear plate 42 side, and the downstream ends of the side guide rods 47 are located at the upper ends of the rear partition plate 46 having an inverted T shape. It is connected to the drilled introduction notch 48. Further, a standing wall portion 49 is erected at the tip of the side guide rod 47 in the heel width direction, and the pachinko ball once inside the side guide rod 47 does not come off the side guide rod 47. It is surely guided to the rear plate 42 (rear partition plate 46) side.

  In addition, a gap is provided in the width direction between the side guide rod 47 and the overflow ball guide rod 45 (see FIG. 2), and is disposed at an upper position within the longitudinal width of the storage tank 13. In the pachinko machine 2, the pachinko balls discharged from the out ball collection box and the pachinko balls discharged from the discharge port 28 of the prize ball discharge path 27 fall into the storage tank 13 from this gap. Moreover, the lower end of the discharge port of the apparatus for dropping the pachinko balls directly from the upper side of the storage tank 13 such as the out-ball collecting box and the interbank ball lending counter 3 is the plate surface of the overflow ball guide rod 45 that becomes the receiving portion of the pachinko balls. And it arrange | positions in the position higher than the upper end part of the standing wall part 49 of the side guide rod 47. FIG. Then, the side guide rod 47 receives the pachinko balls stored in the storage tank 13 up to a position higher than the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 49, and receives the rear plate 42 (rear partition plate 46). By guiding to the side, the pachinko balls are prevented from overflowing from the storage tank 13. Further, the inclination angle of the side guide rod 47, in other words, the inclination angle of the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 49 is set to be the same as the inclination angle of the overflow ball guide rod 45. Accordingly, the height interval between the overflow ball guide rod 45 and the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 49 is constant at any location in the longitudinal direction of the storage tank 13.

  Further, when the inclination angle of the overflow ball guide rod 45 is different from the inclination angle of the side guide rod 47, the inclination angle of the bottom surface of the overflow ball guide rod 45 and the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 49 are the same. What is necessary is just to comprise the standing wall part 49 so that it may become. However, in such a configuration, the standing wall portion 49 becomes large and the space in the storage tank 13 cannot be effectively used. Therefore, desirably, the overflow angle guide rod 45 and the side guide rod 47 have the same inclination angle. Good. In this way, by making the height interval between the overflow ball guide rod 45 and the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 49 constant, the overflow ball guide rod 45 is stacked above the overflow ball guide rod 45 at any location in the longitudinal direction of the storage tank 13. Since the raised pachinko balls can be evenly guided to the side guide rod 47, the outlet of the apparatus for dropping the pachinko balls directly from above the storage tank 13 such as the out-ball collecting box or the interbank ball lending counter 3 is provided. The position can be set easily.

  The bottom plate 43 is inclined downward from the rear plate 42 side toward the front plate 41 side, and a central portion in the short direction along the inclination, that is, an overflow extending from one end to the other end in the storage tank 13. A recovery passage 50 and a ball passage 51 are provided in the upper and lower two layers in a portion directly below the ball guide rod 45 (see FIG. 10). The recovery passage 50 has a closed cross-sectional shape so that pachinko balls stored in the storage tank 13 do not enter (see FIGS. 9 to 12), and an upstream end thereof is introduced in the rear partition plate 46. It is connected to the mouth 52 (see FIG. 5). On the other hand, the downstream end of the collection passage 50 is disposed so as to communicate with a third bottom plate 77 described later (see FIG. 13). Further, left and right side wall portions on the upstream side of the ball passage 51 are respectively provided in the storage tank 13 (strictly, first and second guide paths 54 and 55 described later provided on the left and right sides of the ball passage 51). ) Is taken in, and the downstream end of the ball passage 51 is arranged so as to communicate with a second bottom plate 76 described later. That is, also in the ball passage 51, a portion other than the ball intake port 53 has a closed cross-sectional shape like the collection passage 50. The recovery passage 50 and the ball passage 51 formed in the shape of a passage with a closed cross section in this way, the pachinko balls flowing down in the passage do not receive external ball pressure, so the pachinko balls are almost vertically vertical. And is guided to the downstream side of the storage tank 13 (a front side merging portion 71 described later).

  Further, between the above-described two upper and lower recovery passages 50 and ball passages 51 and the first and second side plates 40a and 40b, the pachinko balls are moved forward from the rear plate 42 side along the inclination of the bottom plate 43, respectively. The first and second guide paths 54 and 55 are guided to the plate 41 side. The first guide path 54 (guide path, first guide path) is a stepped portion in which a portion between the first side plate 40a and the ball intake port 53 serving as an upstream portion is one step higher than the other portions. 56. On the other hand, a first front partition plate 57 is provided at the downstream end of the first guide path 54, and the first guide path 54 and a first bottom plate 75, which will be described later, communicate with the first front partition plate 57. A communication notch 58 is formed. It should be noted that the first guide path 54 is provided at the corner portion between the first front partition plate 57 (portion other than the communication cutout portion 58) and the side wall surface of the ball passage 51 on the first guide path 54. Guide protrusions 83 are provided to prevent the pachinko balls that flow down from clogging (see FIGS. 6 to 8).

  Further, unlike the first guide path 54, the second guide path 55 (second guide path) is formed in a straight inclined path shape from the upstream end to the downstream end and becomes an upstream portion. The height of the bottom surface located between the second side plate 40b and the ball inlet 53 is set to be the same as the height of the step portion 56 of the first guide path 54 (see FIG. 9). In other words, the bottom surface height of the second guide path 55 on the downstream side of the ball intake port 53 is set to be one step higher than the bottom surface height of the first guide path 54 excluding the step portion 56 ( (See FIG. 10). The first guide path 54, the second guide path 55, the recovery path 50, and the ball path 51 are set at the same inclination angle that is 3.7 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. On the other hand, a second front side partition plate 59 is provided at the downstream end of the second guide path 55, and a gap between the lower end of the second front side partition plate 59 and the bottom surface of the second guide path 55 is the second guide path. A communication port 60 that communicates the passage 55 and a second bottom plate 76 described later is formed.

  Thus, the first and second guide paths 54 and 55 are connected to the pachinko balls that have fallen directly into the storage tank 13 from the outlet 28 of the out ball collection box and the prize ball discharge path 27, and from the relay rod 14. The pachinko ball led to the overflow ball guide rod 45 is received and guided to the downstream side (front side joining portion 71) of the storage tank 13. As described above, the ball intake port 53 for taking in the pachinko balls of the respective guide passages 54 and 55 is provided on the upstream side of the ball passage 51 provided between the respective guide passages 54 and 55. The pachinko balls stored on the upstream side of the passages 54 and 55 are promptly guided to the downstream side (the front junction 71) of the storage tank 13 through the ball passage 51. Thereby, only the pachinko balls stored on the downstream side of the respective guide paths 54, 55 are preferentially guided to the downstream side (the front junction 71) of the storage tank 13, and the upstream pachinko balls are guided to the respective guide paths 54. , 55 is avoided.

  The bottom surfaces of the respective guide paths 54 and 55 located on the side of the ball intake port 53 are set to the same height by providing the step portion 56 as described above. The bottom surface height is set slightly lower than the bottom surface height of each of the guide paths 54 and 55 (see FIG. 9). Thereby, the pachinko balls stored on the upstream side of the guide paths 54 and 55 are fed into the ball passage 51 uniformly and smoothly. However, when it is desired to make a difference in the ball flow amount of the pachinko balls from the respective guide paths 54, 55 into the ball passage 51, the bottom of the ball flow amount increased is set higher, or the ball intake 53 May be provided on the upstream side. In addition, the bottom height of the first guide path 54 is set lower than the bottom height of the second guide path 55 except for the side of the ball intake port 53 (upstream portion provided with the step portion 56). This is based on a design for joining the pachinko balls from the respective guide paths 54 and 55 at the front junction 71.

  A rear junction 61 is formed between the rear plate 42 and the rear partition plate 46. The rear merging portion 61 is provided so as to be inclined downward from the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40a and the second side plate 40b toward the communication rod 62, and the communication rod 62 that communicates the out-ball collection rod 17 and the collection passage 50. The first and second guide plates 63 and 64 are provided. The communication rod 62 is connected to the out ball collection rod 17 through an introduction port 65 formed in the rear plate 42 at the upstream end thereof, and the downstream end of the communication rod 62 is introduced through the introduction port 52 of the rear partition plate 46 described above. It is connected to the collection passage 50. In addition, the first guide plate 63 guides the pachinko ball fed from the introduction notch portion 48 of the rear partition plate 46 through the side guide rod 47 provided on the first side plate 40a side to the communication rod 62, The second guide plate 64 guides the pachinko ball fed from the introduction notch 48 of the rear partition plate 46 through the side guide rod 47 provided on the second side plate 40 b side to the communication rod 62. As a result, the communication rod 62 constituting the rear junction 61 joins the pachinko balls fed from the out ball collection rod 17 and the pachinko balls fed from the side guide rod 47 into the collection passage 50. It comes to guide.

  On the other hand, a front junction 71 as a junction is formed between the front plate 41 and the first and second front partition plates 57 and 59. The front junction 71 extends from the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40a to the inner wall surface of the second side plate 40b to the full width in the short direction of the storage tank 13 and constitutes the upper wall surface of the front junction 71. A press-out plate 72 is provided. The punching plate 72 is provided so as to be inclined downward from the front plate 41 toward the rear plate 42, and an end portion on the front plate 41 side is in contact with the inner wall surface of the front plate 41. On the other hand, the end on the rear plate 42 side of the pressure release plate 72 is in contact with the upper end portions of the front partition plates 57 and 59 and the upper wall portion of the downstream end of the collection passage 50.

  Below the punching plate 72, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, first and second partition plates 73 and 74 for partitioning the inside of the front junction 71 into a plurality of guide paths, and the partition 1st thru | or 4th bottom face board 75-78 which comprises the channel | path bottom face of each guide path defined by the plates 73 and 74 is provided. The first and second partition plates 73 and 74 are respectively disposed between the second front partition plate 59 (strictly speaking, the downstream ends of the second guide path 55 and the ball path 51) and the front plate 41, respectively. The plate surface is arranged in parallel with the plate surface of the front plate 41, and is provided at a predetermined interval. Moreover, each one side end of the partition plates 73 and 74 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the second side plate 40b, and each other side end of the partition plates 73 and 74 is a predetermined distance from the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40a. Is placed. The distance between each other end of the partition plates 73 and 74 and the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40a is set to be the same as the width of the first front partition plate 57, in other words, the passage width of the first guide path 54. Has been.

  The first guide path 54 and the introduction rod 18 are communicated between the other side ends of the partition plates 73 and 74 and the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40a through the communication notch 58 of the first front partition plate 57. A first bottom plate 75 serving as a straight passage is provided so as to be inclined downward from the rear plate 42 toward the front plate 41 in the same manner as the first guide path 54. The front plate 41 has a lead-out port 79 for connecting the downstream end of the first bottom plate 75 to the introduction rod 18 (see FIG. 3). In addition, the corner portion between the first side plate 40a and the front plate 41 on the first bottom plate 75 is guided to prevent the pachinko balls flowing down the first bottom plate 75 from clogging at the corner portion. A protruding piece 84 is provided (see FIGS. 7, 8, and 13).

  In this embodiment, the lead-out port 79 is drilled close to the side end rather than the central portion of the front plate 41. This is because the pachinko balls led out from the storage tank 13 are smoothly pumped up. This is because the introduction rod 18 is formed in a straight line in order to lead to the apparatus. The reason why the ball inlet of the ball lifting device cannot be installed in the center of the depth direction of the pachinko island stand 1 is that the ball lifting device is easy to be checked by the operator in consideration of daily maintenance. It is necessary to bring it closer to one side in the depth direction, the convenience of the structure of the ball lifting device itself, the installation environment of other equipment installed in the pachinko island platform 1, and the like.

  Between each downstream end of the second guide path 55 and the ball path 51 and the first partition plate 73, the second bottom plate 76 (the second bottom plate 76 (second) is inclined downward from the second side plate 40 b toward the first side plate 40 a. A right-angle turning passage and a third right-angle turning passage) (see FIG. 14). The upstream end of the second bottom plate 76 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the second side plate 40b. On the other hand, the downstream end of the second bottom plate 76 is disposed at a predetermined interval from the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40 a, as with the other side ends of the partition plates 73 and 74, and is upstream of the first bottom plate 75. It is designed to communicate with each other. Further, with the arrangement of the second bottom surface plate 76, the second guide path 55 is communicated with the upstream portion of the second bottom surface plate 76 through the communication port 60 of the second front side partition plate 59. A ball passage 51 is communicated with the downstream portion of 76 (see FIG. 11).

  The downstream end of the recovery passage 50 located in the upper stage of the ball passage 51 extends to the position of the introduction notch 80 formed in the other end of the first partition plate 73 through the second bottom plate 76. It is installed. In addition, the downstream end of the ball passage 51 communicating with the downstream portion of the second bottom plate 76 has a portion on the first front partition plate 57 side (hereinafter referred to as a downstream branch portion 82) slightly of the first guide path 54. It arrange | positions so that it may communicate with a downstream end part (refer FIG. 14). That is, the downstream end of the ball passage 51 is disposed in communication with the second bottom plate 76, and the downstream end of the ball passage 51 is in communication with the first guide path 54 on the back side of the first front partition plate 57. A branch portion 82 is provided. Thereby, the momentum of the pachinko balls flowing from the second guide path 55 onto the second bottom plate 76 is strong, and the pachinko balls from the ball passage 51 flow onto the second bottom plate 76 due to the momentum of the balls. Even if it becomes difficult, since the pachinko balls from the ball passage 51 can flow to the first guide passage 54 through the downstream branching portion 82, it is avoided that the pachinko balls stagnate in the downstream portion of the ball passage 51. it can.

  Between the first partition plate 73 and the second partition plate 74, a third bottom plate 77 (right angle conversion passage, first right angle change passage) is inclined downward from the second side plate 40b toward the first side plate 40a. Is provided. The upstream end of the third bottom plate 77 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the second side plate 40b. On the other hand, the downstream end of the third bottom plate 77 is arranged at a predetermined interval from the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40a, like the other side ends of the partition plates 73 and 74, so It is designed to communicate with each other. Further, as described above, the introduction notch 80 to which the downstream end of the collection passage 50 is connected is formed in the other side end of the first partition plate 73. Thereby, the collection passage 50 is communicated with the downstream portion of the third bottom plate 77 (see FIG. 12).

  Between the second partition plate 77 and the front plate 41, a fourth bottom plate 78 (fourth right-angle conversion passage) is provided so as to be inclined downward from the second side plate 40b toward the first side plate 40a. The upstream end of the fourth bottom plate 76 is in contact with the inner wall surface of the second side plate 40b. On the other hand, the downstream end of the fourth bottom plate 76 is disposed at a predetermined interval from the inner wall surface of the first side plate 40 a, as with the other side ends of the partition plates 73 and 74, and downstream of the first bottom plate 75. It is designed to communicate with each other. Further, a connecting port 81 to which the connecting rod 19 is connected is formed in a portion of the front plate 41 corresponding to the upstream portion of the fourth bottom plate 76 (see FIG. 3). Accordingly, the connecting rod 19 is communicated with the upstream portion of the fourth bottom plate 78.

  Here, the set dimensions of the above-described front merging portion 71 and various constituent members that merge with the front merging portion 71 will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. First, the set dimensions of the first and second guide passages 54 and 55, the recovery passage 50, and the ball passage 51, which are various components that join the front side joining portion 71, will be described. As described above, the first guide path 54, the second guide path 55, the recovery path 50, and the ball path 51 are set to an inclination angle of 3.7 degrees with respect to the horizontal plane. The passage width dimension W1 of the first guide passage 54 is set to 140 mm as shown in FIG. The communication notch 58 of the first front partition plate 57 that is disposed at the downstream end of the first guide path 54 and communicates the first guide path 54 and the first bottom plate 75 of the front junction 71 is formed on the first side plate 40a. The width W2 is set to 90 mm from the inner wall surface to the second side plate 40 b side, and the height width H1 is set to 31 mm upward from the bottom wall surface of the first guide path 54. Thereby, since the diameter dimension of the pachinko ball becomes 11 mm, the pachinko ball of the first guide path 54 is sent to the first bottom plate 75 of the front junction 71 in two vertical stages through the communication notch 58.

  The passage width dimension W3 of the second guide path 55 is set to 140 mm, which is the same as that of the first guide path 54, and is disposed at the downstream end of the second guide path 55 so that the second guide path 55 and the front junction 71 The communication port 60 of the second front partition plate 59 that communicates with the second bottom plate 76 has a height of 31 mm upward from the bottom wall surface of the second guide path 55, similar to the communication notch 58 of the first front partition plate 57. The width dimension H2 is set. As a result, the pachinko balls in the second guide path 55 are sent to the second bottom plate 76 of the front junction 71 in two vertical stages through the communication port 60.

  The lateral width of the communication port 60 is 140 mm, which is the same as the passage width W3 of the second guide path 55, and is set 50 mm wider than the lateral width W2 (90 mm) of the communication notch 58. In other words, the width W2 of the communication cutout 58 is set to be 50 mm narrower than the width W3 of the communication port 60. This is because the pachinko ball of the first guide path 54 is most vigorous on the design structure of the storage tank 13 described above (the structure in which the first guide path 54 is linearly connected to the first bottom plate 75 of the front junction 71). In order to flow into the first bottom plate 75 well, the lateral dimension W2 of the communication notch 58 is narrowed to reduce the amount of pachinko balls flowing from the first guide path 54 into the first bottom plate 75, and the pachinko balls from the first guide path 54 And the pachinko balls from the second guide path 55 are joined together on the first bottom plate 75 substantially uniformly. With such a configuration, the pachinko balls stored in the first guide path 54 And pachinko balls stored in the second guide path 55 can be circulated evenly.

  The two upper and lower recovery passages 50 and the ball passage 51 are set to passage width dimensions W4 and W5 of 102 mm, respectively. The passage height dimension H3 of the recovery passage 50 is 30 mm, and the passage height dimension H4 of the ball passage 51 is 31 mm, which is the same as the height width dimension of the communication notch 58 and the communication port 60. Further, the downstream branch portion 82 of the ball passage 51 communicating with the first guide path 54 side is disposed at a position where the height dimension H5 is 20.2 mm from the bottom wall surface of the first guide path 54, and the width dimension W6 thereof is It is set to 30 mm. Note that the height width H6 of the ball intake port 53 provided on the upstream side of the ball passage 51 is 31 mm, which is the same as the passage height dimension H4 of the ball passage 51, and the lateral width W7 of the ball intake port 53. Is set to 108 mm (see FIG. 4).

  Next, the set dimension of the 1st thru | or 4th bottom face board 75-78 which comprises the front side junction part 71 is demonstrated. The passage width dimension W8 of the first bottom face plate 75 is set to 140 mm, which is the same as that of the first guide path 54, and the passage width dimension W9 of the second bottom face plate 76 is set to 65 mm. Further, the second bottom plate 76 is set at an inclination angle of 3.4 degrees, and the downstream end of the second bottom plate 76 is first at both end portions in the passage width direction as shown in FIG. From the bottom plate 75, the height dimensions H7 and H8 are disposed at positions of 9 mm and 15 mm. The third and fourth bottom surface plates 77 and 78 are set to the same 65 mm passage width dimensions W10 and W11 as the second bottom surface plate 76, respectively, and are set to an inclination angle of 8 degrees. In addition, the downstream ends of the third and fourth bottom plates 77 and 78 are at one end portion in the passage width direction (one end portion on the upstream side of the first bottom plate 75) and the height dimension H9 from the first bottom plate 75. , H10 is arranged at a position where it becomes 40 mm. Steps H11 and H12 are provided between the upper surface of the second bottom plate 76 and the communication port 60 of the second guide path 55 for feeding the pachinko balls to the second bottom plate 76 and the downstream end opening 51a of the ball passage 51, respectively. Is provided. Similarly, between the upper surface of the third bottom plate 77 and the downstream end opening 50a of the collection passage 50 for feeding the pachinko balls into the third bottom plate 77, the upper surface of the fourth bottom plate 78 and the fourth bottom plate 78. Steps H13 and H14 are also provided between the connection port 81 of the connection rod 19 for feeding the pachinko balls into the connection hole 81, respectively. The second to fourth bottom surface plates 76 to 78 are disposed so as to be inclined downward from the second side plate 40b toward the first side plate 40a. For this reason, the steps H11 to 14 are gradually increased from the second side plate 40b side toward the first side plate 40a side.

  By the way, the above-described third bottom plate 77 is arranged in a direction in which the passage direction for guiding the pachinko balls is orthogonal to the passage direction of the collection passage 50. For this reason, the pachinko balls that flow from the collection passage 50 onto the third bottom plate 77 collide with the side wall surface of the second partition plate 74 facing the third bottom plate 77 and change the flow direction. The momentum of the flow is weakened. However, the downstream end of the third bottom plate 77 is disposed at a position 40 mm above the first bottom plate 75 as high as one pachinko ball, as described above, so that the third bottom plate 77 passes through the recovery passage 50 to the third end. The pachinko balls that have flowed into the bottom surface plate 77 fall onto the first bottom surface plate 75 with a certain degree of momentum. For this reason, the pachinko balls that have flowed down the third bottom plate 77 join the upstream of the first bottom plate 75 and flow down downstream (the pachinko balls that have flowed down the first guide path 54 and the second guide path). 55 and the ball passage 51, the ball can be joined on the first bottom plate 75 without being stopped by the ball flow of the pachinko balls that have flowed down the second bottom plate 76).

  Similarly, the fourth bottom plate 78 is arranged in a direction in which the passage direction for guiding the pachinko balls is orthogonal to the passage direction of the connection rod 19, so that the fourth bottom plate 78 is placed on the fourth bottom plate 78 from the connection rod 19. The flowing pachinko balls collide with the side wall surface of the second partition plate 74 facing the fourth bottom plate 78 side, the flow direction changes, and the momentum of the ball flow is weakened. As described above, the pachinko balls that have flowed into the fourth bottom surface plate 78 through the connecting rod 19 by being disposed at a position of 40 mm, which is at least one pachinko ball height from the first bottom surface plate 75, have a certain amount of momentum. Will drop onto the first bottom plate 75. For this reason, the pachinko balls that have flown into the fourth bottom surface plate 78 merge in the middle flow of the first bottom surface plate 75 and flow down to the downstream side (pachinko balls merged upstream of the first bottom surface plate 75 and the recovery passageway). It is possible to join the first bottom plate 75 without being stopped by the ball flow of the pachinko balls that have flowed down the third bottom plate 77 after passing through 50.

  The second bottom plate 76, the third bottom plate 77, and the fourth bottom plate 78 that form the front junction 71 are arranged orthogonal to the first bottom plate 75 that communicates with the outlet port 79 in a straight line. In addition, the flow direction of the pachinko balls from the downstream end openings of the various passages (the communication port 60, the downstream end opening 51a of the ball passage 51, the downstream end opening 50a of the recovery passage 50, and the connection port 81) is changed to a right angle. The right-angle turning passages (including the first to fourth right-angle turning passages) of the present invention are configured to reduce the flow-down speed and join the pachinko balls in the middle of the first bottom plate 75. And the passage bottom face (the second bottom face plate 76, the third bottom face plate 77, the top face of the fourth bottom face plate 78) and the downstream end openings (the communication port 60, the downstream end opening 51a of the ball passage 51, the recovery) Steps (H11, H12, H13, H14) are provided between the downstream end opening 50a of the passage 50 and the connecting port 81). For this reason, the pachinko balls fed into the right angle conversion passage from the ball reception port are dropped onto the right angle conversion passage from the ball reception port by a step provided between the passage bottom surface of the right angle conversion passage and the downstream end opening, The flow direction is changed to a right angle by flowing down the right angle conversion passage. Therefore, the pressure of the pachinko balls sent from the storage part side of the storage tank 13 to the front side joining part 71 is not directly received by the corner part of the right-angled conversion path bent at a right angle. The pachinko ball is not a popular dead ball and is not stopped. In addition, the ball passage for joining the pachinko balls to the first bottom plate 75 that communicates with the outlet port 79 in a straight line as described above is a right-angle conversion passage, so that it is as narrow as possible with respect to the longitudinal direction of the storage tank 13. Since the merging portion (front merging portion 71) can be provided, a large storage space can be secured without increasing the size of the storage tank 13.

  The structure of the storage tank 13 has been described above. Next, the operation of the storage tank 13 will be described along the flow of pachinko balls. First, as described above, the pachinko balls that have been lifted by the ball lifting device and overflowed in the upper tank 6 are introduced into the overflow ball guide rod 45 in the storage tank 13 via the relay rod 14, and the overflow ball guide rod 45 Flow down. The pachinko ball falls down toward the first and second guide paths 54 and 55 by hitting the rear partition plate 46 after flowing down the overflow ball guide bar 45, and from the upstream side of each guide path 54 and 55. It is stored in the guide paths 54 and 55 in order. However, the pachinko balls that are guided into the storage tank 13 via the relay rod 14 are not only pachinko balls that have overflowed in the upper tank 6, but also two units installed just beside the storage tank 13 side of the ball lifting device. Pachinko balls discharged from each out-of-ball collection box of the pachinko machine 2 and premium ball discharge passages 27 (discharge ports 28) of the inter-unit ball lending counters 3 adjacent to the two pachinko machines 2 The prize bead is dropped onto the rubber plate 15 of the relay rod 14 and guided into the storage tank 13. Moreover, in the guide paths 54 and 55, the pachinko balls discharged from the respective out ball collection boxes of the four pachinko machines 2 arranged in the upper position within the longitudinal width of the storage tank 13, and the four pachinko balls The prize balls discharged from the prize ball discharge path 27 (discharge port 28) of each inter-ball ball lending counter 3 adjacent to the pachinko machine 2 are directly dropped.

  The pachinko balls in the guide paths 54 and 55 are stored up to a height position to the downstream end portion of the rear partition plate 46, and the pachinko balls from the rear partition plate 46 into the guide paths 54 and 55 are stored. When the fall is delayed, the pachinko balls that flow down on the overflow ball guide rod 45 are separated from the overflow ball guide rod 45 before reaching the rear partition plate 46 and stored in the guide paths 54 and 55. Fall on the top. Furthermore, when a large amount of pachinko balls are stored in the guide paths 54 and 55 and the pachinko balls are stacked up to a position higher than the upper end portion of the standing wall portion 49 that becomes the side wall of the side guide rod 47, the standing wall portion 49 The pachinko ball at a position higher than the upper end portion of the hose passes over the standing wall 49 and enters the side guide rod 47, and is sent to the rear junction 61 through the side guide rod 47.

  Then, the pachinko balls in the guide paths 54 and 55 flow down toward the front junction 71 on the downstream side along the slopes of the guide paths 54 and 55, respectively. The pachinko balls stored on the upstream side of the guide paths 54 and 55 enter the ball passage 51 from the ball intake port 53 and are guided to the front junction 71 through the ball passage 51.

  Further, the pachinko machines other than the four pachinko machines 2 arranged at the upper position within the longitudinal width of the storage tank 13 and the two pachinko machines 2 installed beside the storage tank 13 side of the ball lifting device. In the machine 2, the pachinko machine 2 disposed above the out ball collection basket 17 ′ on the left side (side where the storage tank 13 is not disposed) across the ball lifting device is discharged from the out ball collection box of the pachinko machine 2. The pachinko balls and the prize balls discharged from the prize ball discharge path 27 (discharge port 28) of the stand-to-ball lending counter 3 adjacent to the pachinko machine 2 are the out ball collection basket 17 'and the connecting basket. 19 through the front junction 71. On the other hand, in the pachinko machine 2 arranged above the right ball outlet collecting basket 17 on the right side (the side where the storage tank 13 is arranged) across the ball lifting device, the ball is discharged from the out ball collecting box of the pachinko machine 2. The pachinko balls and the prize balls discharged from the prize ball discharge path 27 (discharge port 28) of the inter-table ball lending counter 3 adjacent to the pachinko machine 2 pass through the out ball collection basket 17 and join the rear side. Guided to part 61.

  In the rear junction 61, the pachinko balls that have flowed down the out ball collecting rod 17 flow onto the communication rod 62 through the introduction port 65, and the pachinko balls that have flowed down the side guide rod 47 as described above are introduced into the notch. It flows into the first and second guide plates 63 and 61 through the portion 48. The pachinko balls that have flowed onto the guide plates 63 and 61 merge with the pachinko balls on the communication rod 62, and the joined pachinko balls are fed into the collection passage 50 through the introduction port 52. Then, the pachinko balls in the recovery passage 50 flow down toward the front junction 71 on the downstream side along the inclination of the recovery passage 50.

  On the other hand, in the front junction 71, the pachinko balls that have flowed down the first guide path 54 flow onto the first bottom plate 75 through the communication cutout 58. The pachinko balls that have flowed down the second guide path 54 flow into the upstream portion of the second bottom plate 76 through the communication port 60, and the pachinko balls that have flowed down the ball passage 51 enter the downstream portion of the second bottom plate 76. Flows in. As a result, the pachinko balls fed from the ball passage 51 are merged in the downstream portion of the second bottom surface plate 76 and joined to the pachinko balls that are fed from the second guide path 54 and flow down on the second bottom surface plate 76. Pachinko balls are fed from the first guide path 54 and merged with the pachinko balls flowing down on the first bottom plate 75. At this time, some pachinko balls out of the pachinko balls discharged from the downstream end of the ball passage 51 are sent to the first guide passage 54 through the downstream branch portion 82 on the back surface side of the first front partition plate 57. It is. However, when the momentum of the pachinko balls flowing from the second guide path 55 onto the second bottom plate 76 is strong, the pachinko balls from the ball passage 51 are difficult to flow onto the second bottom plate 76. Most of them are sent to the first guide path 54 through the downstream branch portion 82.

  Further, the pachinko balls that have flowed down the collection passage 50 flow from the introduction cutout portion 80 of the first partition plate 73 onto the third bottom plate 77. The pachinko balls that have flowed onto the third bottom surface plate 77 flow down along the inclination of the third bottom surface plate 77, drop onto the first bottom surface plate 75, and flow down from the upstream side of the first bottom surface plate 75 (first The pachinko ball that has flowed down the first guide path 54 and the pachinko ball that has flowed down the second bottom plate 76 after passing through the second guide path 55 and the ball path 51 are joined together.

  In addition, the pachinko ball that has flowed down the connecting rod 19 through the out ball collecting rod 17 ′ flows from the connecting port 81 of the front plate 41 onto the fourth bottom plate 78. The pachinko balls that have flowed onto the fourth bottom plate 78 flow down along the inclination of the fourth bottom plate 77, drop onto the first bottom plate 75, and flow down from the middle flow of the first bottom plate 75 (first The pachinko balls that have merged upstream of the first bottom plate 75 and the pachinko balls that have flowed down the third bottom plate 77 after passing through the collection passage 50 are merged. The pachinko balls merged downstream of the first bottom plate 75 in this way are fed from the outlet 79 of the front plate 41 through the introduction rod 18 to the ball lifting device.

  By the way, in the ball flow of the pachinko balls in the storage tank 13 described above, in the first and second guide paths 54 and 55 serving as storage spaces for the pachinko balls in the storage tank 13, the ball intake port 53 side. By setting the same bottom surface height to each other, the amount of pachinko balls flowing into the ball passage 51 (ball intake port 53) provided between the respective guide paths 54 and 55 is made uniform. In addition, the pachinko balls fed from the first guide path 54 to the front junction 71 flow straight on the first bottom plate 75 of the front junction 71, whereas from the second guide 55 to the front junction 71. The pachinko balls to be fed are temporarily switched on the second bottom surface plate 76 at a right angle and flow into the first bottom surface plate 75. For this reason, the momentum of the ball flow of the pachinko balls joined on the first bottom plate 75 is weaker in the pachinko balls flowing from the second guide path 55 than in the pachinko balls flowing from the first guide path 54. .

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the communication notch 58 of the first front partition plate 57 that introduces the pachinko balls from the first guide path 54 to the front junction 71 is used, and the pachinko balls from the second guide path 55 to the front junction 71. The width dimension is set to be 50 mm shorter than the communication port 60 of the second front side partition plate 59 to be introduced. That is, the pachinko ball introduction port (communication notch 58) from the first guide path 54 is formed to be smaller than the pachinko ball introduction port (communication port 60) from the second guide path 55. Accordingly, the amount of pachinko balls flowing from the first guide path 54 into the first bottom face plate 75 is reduced, and the pachinko balls from the first guide path 54 and the pachinko balls from the second guide path 55 are reduced to the first bottom face plate 75. It is designed to merge evenly above. Thus, the pachinko balls stored in the first and second guide paths 54 and 55 are circulated evenly, and the pachinko balls are prevented from stagnation only in specific portions in the storage tank 13. ing.

  In addition, each structural member (partition plates 73 and 74 and bottom plate 75-78) which forms the front side joining part 71 which joins the pachinko ball stored in the storage tank 13 and guides it to the ball lifting device is respectively It consists of a single plate member. For this reason, the pachinko balls that are stored in the guide paths 54 and 55 and then merged with the front junction 71 after only slightly changing the shape or mounting inclination angle of each component according to the situation of the pachinko island stand 1 The joining ratio of the pachinko balls joined from the out ball collection basket 17 to the front junction 71 through the collection passage 50 without being stored in the guide paths 54 and 55 can be easily changed.

  For example, the pachinko machine 2 that directly discharges pachinko balls to the storage tank 13 out of the pachinko machines 2 installed on the pachinko island base 1 by setting the length in the longitudinal direction of the storage tank 13 to be long is large. In such a case, while the absolute amount of pachinko balls stored in the guide paths 54 and 55 increases, the absolute amount of pachinko balls sent to the collection passage 50 through the out ball collection basket 17 decreases. In such a case, the slack angle of the third bottom surface plate 77 that receives the pachinko balls from the recovery passage 50 and guides them to the first bottom surface plate 75 is moderated, so that the recovery passageway 17 is connected to the recovery passageway 17. The ratio of the pachinko balls that are joined to the front junction 71 through 50 can be reduced. In other words, it is possible to increase the ratio of pachinko balls that are stored in the guide paths 54 and 55 and then merged with the front junction 71. That is, by increasing the joining ratio of the pachinko balls in the guiding paths 54 and 55 having an increased absolute amount, the guiding paths 54 and 55 are reduced by reducing the joining ratio of the pachinko balls from the out ball collecting basket 17 having the decreased absolute amount. The pachinko balls inside and the pachinko balls from the out ball collection basket 17 can be evenly fed into the ball lifting device.

  In addition, according to the structure of this embodiment, the structure which changes the flow-down direction of the pachinko ball in the storage tank 13 is configured on the longitudinal end of the storage tank 13, that is, on the front plate 41 side of the storage tank 13. A central portion in the longitudinal direction of the storage tank 13, which is a space for storing pachinko balls, is gathered in the front side joining portion 71 and the rear side joining portion 61 configured on the rear plate 42 side of the storage tank 13, that is, each guiding path 54, Since the configuration of the space (reservation space) in which 55 is provided is configured only by a linear member in plan view, for example, when it is desired to change the amount of pachinko balls stored in the storage tank 13, The configuration of the rear merging portion 61 remains as it is, and it can be easily handled by changing the length of each member constituting the storage space. Further, even when it is desired to change the direction of the storage tank 13 (when it is desired to change the position of the outlet 79 to which the introduction rod 18 is connected in the direction opposite to the front plate 41), Since it can respond easily only by changing a position, it becomes unnecessary to manufacture the whole storage tank according to each direction like the past, and it becomes possible to make a common member.

  As described above, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, the flow direction of the pachinko balls arranged perpendicularly to the straight passage that communicates with the outlet port in a straight line and received from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage is perpendicular to The confluence is formed by a right-angled conversion path that reduces the flow-down speed by merging and merges the pachinko balls into a straight-line path, and there is a step between the bottom surface of the right-angled conversion path and the downstream end opening of the recovery path. Provide. As a result, the pachinko balls fed into the right angle conversion passage from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage are perpendicular to the downstream end opening of the recovery passage by the step provided between the bottom surface of the right angle conversion passage and the downstream end opening of the recovery passage. It is dropped on the conversion passage, and then the flow direction is changed to a right angle by flowing down the right-angle conversion passage. Therefore, the pachinko balls that are sent from the storage section side of the storage tank to the confluence section are not directly received by the corner portions of the right-angle conversion passage bent at right angles, so that pachinko balls are commonly used in the corner portions of the right-angle conversion passage. It will not be stopped as a dead ball. In addition, a substantially triangular guide plate is provided by smoothly changing the flow direction of the pachinko balls without causing a dead ball in this way and making the passage that joins the pachinko balls into a straight passage as a right angle conversion passage. As a result, a large storage space can be secured without increasing the size of the storage tank. can do.

  Further, the pachinko balls in the storage part are fed into the junction part through the first and second guide paths. Part of the pachinko balls stored in the first and second taxiways enter from the left and right ball intakes drilled in the wall surfaces on both sides of the ball passage with a closed cross-sectional shape, flow down in the ball passage, and merge Sent to the department. The pachinko balls recovered by the first recovery rod are sent to the junction through the recovery passage in the storage tank, while the pachinko balls recovered by the second recovery rod are fed from the connection port of the storage tank. It is sent to the junction. Then, the pachinko balls from the first and second taxiways, the pachinko balls from the ball passage, the pachinko balls from the recovery passage, and the pachinko balls from the connection port are merged at the junction and merged. The pachinko balls are sent out from the junction to the ball lifting device side. Further, in the configuration of the merge portion, the pachinko ball that is fed from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage to the first right-angled conversion passage with respect to the straight passage that communicates the downstream end opening and the outlet of the first guide passage in a straight line. , A pachinko ball sent from the downstream end opening of the ball passage to the second right angle change passage, a pachinko ball sent from the downstream end opening of the second guide passage to the third right angle change passage, and the second recovery rod downstream The pachinko balls fed from the end opening (connecting port) to the fourth right angle change passage are merged at right angles, but there is a step between the bottom surface of each right angle change passage and each downstream end opening. It has been. For this reason, even in the configuration in which the pachinko balls from the first to fourth right-angle turning passages are joined to the straight passage, the pachinko balls are smoothly joined without causing a dead ball in the corner portion of each right-angle turning passage. In addition, since the merging portion can be provided in a range as narrow as possible with respect to the longitudinal direction of the storage tank, as a result, a large storage space can be ensured without increasing the size of the storage tank. The first to fourth right-angle turning passages do not necessarily have to be composed of individual right-angle turning passages, and any two or more to all right-angle turning passages are composed of the same right-angle turning passage. It may be.

  Also, the pachinko balls from the downstream end opening of the ball passage and the pachinko balls from the downstream end opening of the second guide passage are fed into the same right-angle turning passage (second right-angle turning passage, third right-angle turning passage). Since the pachinko balls can be merged from the right-angled conversion path into the straight-line path, the installation space for the right-angled conversion path at the merged portion can be reduced accordingly, and as a result, the storage tank is not enlarged. Thus, a much wider storage space can be secured.

  Moreover, the passage bottom surface of the guide path that guides the pachinko balls toward the joining portion along the bottom surface of the storage portion is disposed horizontally in the short direction of the storage tank. Thereby, since the bottom face of the storage section can be lowered by the amount that the passage bottom face of the guide path is not inclined in the short direction of the storage tank, the storage space of the storage tank can be increased accordingly. Also, the passage bottom surface of the surplus ball passage that is disposed on the upper side of the reservoir at approximately the center in the short direction of the storage tank and feeds the surplus pachinko balls into the guide passage is horizontally disposed in the short direction of the storage tank. As a result, the passage bottom surface of the surplus ball passage which is disposed at the upper position of the storage tank where the pachinko balls are substantially accumulated and forms the upper surface of the storage portion is equivalent to the amount of the slanted ball passage in the short direction of the storage tank. Since it can be made high, the storage space of a storage tank can be taken widely in connection with this.

  In addition, there is a counting device installed on each pachinko machine that counts the prize balls that are installed in correspondence with each pachinko machine (no need to carry the pachinko balls obtained by the player to the prize exchange) In the configuration of the individual JC), by providing an upper surface opening in the storage tank that directly receives the pachinko balls discharged from the discharge port of the counting device into the storage unit, the pachinko balls discharged from the counting device are quickly sent to the storage tank. be able to. In addition, the storage tank has pachinko balls that are arranged on the left and right sides of the surplus ball passage and that have reached a predetermined height when the pachinko balls stored in the storage section have reached a predetermined height or higher. Since the left and right side passages are individually provided as inner walls of the passages in the longitudinal direction of the storage tank so as to be received and preferentially guided to the junction, the length of the storage tank in the short direction is provided. The ball passage (side passage) can be arranged by effectively utilizing the dead space in the storage tank without increasing the size. However, the discharge port of the counting device is provided in a gap in the short direction of the storage tank formed between the surplus ball passage and the side passage, and the lower end of the discharge port is located between the surplus ball passage and the side passage. Since the pachinko ball discharged from the counting device is stored in the storage unit and exceeds a predetermined height, the pachinko ball from the counting device is counted Without being piled up at the lower position of the discharge port of the apparatus, it is preferentially sent to the confluence section on the ball lifting apparatus side via the side passage. For this reason, it is possible to prevent clogging and overflow of the ball at the discharge port caused by the accumulation of pachinko balls in the lower position of the discharge port of the counting device. The pachinko balls can be smoothly circulated inside the pachinko island platform.

1 Pachinko Island stand 2 Pachinko machine 3 Ball rental counter (counter)
5 Ball Lifting Device Storage 6 Upper Tank 13 Storage Tank 13a Top Opening 14 Relay Rod 17 Out Ball Recovery Trap (Recovery Trap, First Recovery Trap)
17 'Out ball collection basket (second collection basket)
18 Introduction rod 19 Connection rod 25 Counter stand 26 Ball box 27 Premium ball discharge passage 28 Discharge port 40a First side plate 40b Second side plate 41 Front plate 42 Rear plate 45 Overflow ball guide rod (excess ball passage)
46 Rear partition plate 47 Side guide rod (side passage)
50 recovery passage 50a downstream end opening 51 ball passage 51a downstream end opening 53 ball intake 54 first guide path (guide path, first guide path)
55 Second taxiway (second taxiway)
56 Stepped portion 57 First front partition plate 58 Communication cutout portion 59 Second front partition plate 60 Communication port 61 Rear junction portion 62 Communication rod 71 Front junction portion (merging portion)
72 Punching plate 73 First partition plate 74 Second partition plate 75 First bottom plate (straight passage)
76 Second bottom plate (second right-angle turning passage, third right-angle turning passage)
77 Third bottom plate (right angle conversion passage, first right angle change passage)
78 Fourth bottom plate (fourth right-angle conversion passage)
79 Outlet port 81 Connection port 82 Downstream branch

Claims (4)

A plurality of pachinko machines, a collection basket that collects the pachinko balls used in the plurality of pachinko machines together, and a used pachinko ball that is formed in a horizontally long rectangular parallelepiped shape and discharged from the plurality of pachinko machines In addition, a storage tank that stores excess pachinko balls that are not supplied to the pachinko machine and recirculate through an excess ball return passage in a storage section, and a ball that lifts the pachinko balls stored in the storage section of the storage tank In the pachinko island stand where the lifting device was installed,
The storage tank includes an upper surface opening that directly receives the pachinko ball discharged from the pachinko machine installed above the storage tank among the plurality of pachinko machines, and the pachinko ball received from the upper surface opening. And a surplus pachinko ball recirculated through the surplus ball recirculation passage, a guide path for guiding the surplus pachinko ball to the ball lifting device side along the bottom surface of the storage portion, and a pachinko ball fed from the recovery basket Is formed in the storage part separately from the guide path and guides toward the ball lifting device side, and is provided on the downstream side of the storage part and discharged from the downstream end opening of the recovery path. A merging part for joining the pachinko ball and the pachinko ball discharged from the downstream end opening of the guide path and sending it to the ball lifting device side is provided,
In the merging portion, in order to derive the pachinko balls after merging in the merging portion to the ball lifting device side, a lead-out port opened in the front plate constituting the side wall on the downstream end side of the storage tank, and The straight passage in which the outlet and the downstream end opening of the guide passage communicate with each other in a straight line, and the flow-down direction of the pachinko balls received from the downstream end opening of the recovery passage and perpendicular to the straight passage. A right-angle conversion passage that reduces the flow speed by switching to the straight passage and merges the pachinko balls with the straight passage,
A pachinko island stand, wherein a step is provided between a bottom surface of the right-angle conversion passage and a downstream end opening of the recovery passage. In the pachinko island platform, as the collection basket that collects the pachinko balls discharged from the pachinko machine installed on the side where the storage tank is disposed with the ball lifting device as a boundary in the longitudinal direction. A first recovery rod and a second that collectively collects pachinko balls discharged from the pachinko machine installed on the side where the storage tank is not disposed with the ball lifting device as a boundary in the longitudinal direction of the pachinko island platform And a collection tank of
The recovery passage is connected to the downstream end of the first recovery trough and is provided in a closed cross-sectional shape at substantially the center in the short direction of the storage tank,
The storage tank is disposed below the recovery passage so as to overlap with the recovery passage and is disposed on one side of the recovery passage, and a ball passage having a closed cross-sectional shape that guides the pachinko balls to the joining portion. And the 1st guide way as the above-mentioned guide way which guides the pachinko ball stored in the storage part toward the ball lifting device side along the bottom of the storage part, and the other side of the recovery passage A second guide path that guides the pachinko balls arranged and stored in the storage part to the merging part along the bottom surface of the storage part, and is connected to the downstream end of the second recovery rod and the second And a connection port for feeding the pachinko balls from the recovery bowl to the junction,
Left and right ball intake ports for taking pachinko balls stored in the first and second guide passages into the ball passages are formed in both side wall surfaces of the ball passage,
In the merging portion, a first right-angled conversion path as the right-angled conversion path for merging the pachinko balls received from the downstream end opening of the recovery path to the straight-line path, and a right-angled path with respect to the straight-line path are arranged. And a second right-angled conversion path for decelerating the flow velocity by switching the flow direction of the pachinko balls received from the downstream end opening of the ball path to a right angle to join the pachinko balls to the straight path, and the straight path The flow velocity of the pachinko balls arranged from the downstream end opening of the second guide path is changed to a right angle to reduce the flow velocity to join the pachinko balls to the straight path. A third right angle change passage and a flow speed by changing the flow direction of the pachinko balls arranged perpendicular to the straight passage and received from the connection port to a right angle. A fourth right angle conversion path for combining the pachinko balls in the straight passage and is decelerated, is provided in parallel form in the lateral direction in the storage tank,
Between the passage bottom surface of the second right-angle turning passage and the downstream end opening of the ball passage, between the passage bottom surface of the third right-angle turning passage and the downstream end opening of the second guide passage, the fourth The pachinko island stand according to claim 1, wherein a step is provided between the bottom surface of the right-angle conversion passage and the connecting port.   The pachinko island stand according to claim 2, wherein the second right-angle turning passage and the third right-angle turning passage are the same right-angle turning passage. In the storage tank, surplus balls that are arranged at the upper position of the storage tank at approximately the center in the short direction of the storage tank and that send the surplus pachinko balls fed from the surplus ball return passage into the guide path There is a passage,
The pachinko island stand according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein passageways bottom surfaces of the guide passage and the surplus ball passage are respectively disposed horizontally in a lateral direction of the storage tank.

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