JP2011072591A - Screw rotary body and conveying device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To efficiently convey objects to be conveyed, different in size (for example, diameter), in the same conveying path. <P>SOLUTION: In a screw rotary body, a screw blade 922 spirally extended on an outer periphery of a rotary shaft 921 and having an inclined surface 922c inclining toward the outside in a radial direction is provided. The first guide slope 922a extended along the screw formed by the screw blade 922 and the second guide slope 922b extended along the screw formed by the screw blade 922 and having a different cross-sectional shape from the first guide slope 922a are formed on the inclined surface 922c. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a screw rotating body and a conveying device, and can be used for conveying a spherical object handled by a game device, for example.

  As an apparatus for conveying an object using a screw-shaped rotating body (hereinafter, also referred to as “screw conveyor”), techniques shown in the following Patent Documents 1 to 4 are known. The screw conveyor includes, for example, a casing having a predetermined shape such as a cylindrical shape, and a screw rotating body provided rotatably in the casing.

  The screw rotating body includes, for example, a screw shaft (shaft) that forms a rotating shaft, and screw blades that are spirally provided along the outer periphery of the screw shaft. When the screw blade is rotated about the screw shaft, the conveyed product introduced into the casing can be conveyed in the direction along the screw shaft (thrust direction) by the thrust of the screw blade.

JP 2001-310072 A JP 2001-187257 A JP 2006-256854 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-072524

  However, conventional screw conveyors can only transport objects (spheres) of a uniform size (diameter) such as pachinko balls, or powder particles such as cement, earth and sand, granular resin, and granular solid fuel. .

  One of the objects of the present invention is to make it possible to efficiently transport, for example, transported objects having different sizes (for example, diameters) using the same transport apparatus (transport path).

  In addition, the present invention is not limited to the above-described object, and other effects of the present invention can be achieved by the functions and effects derived from the respective configurations shown in the embodiments for carrying out the invention which will be described later. It can be positioned as one of

  One aspect of the screw rotor of the present invention is a screw blade that spirally extends on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft, and includes a screw blade having an inclined surface that is inclined radially outward, and the inclined surface includes the screw blade. A first guide slope extending along a spiral formed by a screw blade; and a second guide slope extending along a spiral formed by the screw blade and having a cross-sectional shape different from that of the first guide slope; Is formed.

  Here, the first guide slope has a first arc-shaped cross section, and the second guide slope has a second arc-shaped cross section having a curvature different from that of the first arc-shaped cross section. It is good as well.

  The curvature of the first arc-shaped cross section corresponds to the diameter of the first spherical transport object, and the curvature of the second arc-shaped cross section has a diameter different from the diameter of the first spherical transport object. This may correspond to the diameter of the second spherical conveyed product.

  Further, according to one aspect of the transport device of the present invention, the screw rotating body described above, a drive unit that rotationally drives the screw rotating body around the rotating shaft, and the spherical transported object according to the rotation of the rotating shaft are A conveyance guide that regulates the movement of the spherical conveyance object so as to be guided in the direction along the rotation axis while being in contact with the inclined surface, the conveyance guide being between the first guide slope of the inclined surface The first spherical transport object is supported by the second spherical transport object, and the second spherical transport object having a diameter different from that of the first spherical transport object is supported between the first spherical transport object and the second guide slope on the inclined surface.

  Here, the conveyance guide extends in a direction along the rotation axis, and the first and second spherical conveyance objects regulate positions where the corresponding guide slope is guided in the rotation direction. The first guide rails arranged in parallel to the first guide rails are arranged at positions that regulate the movement of the spherical conveyed objects from the inclined surfaces in the radial direction of the screw blades. And a second guide rail.

  The first guide slope has an arcuate cross section corresponding to the diameter of the first spherical transport object, and the second guide slope has a curvature corresponding to the diameter of the second spherical transport object. It is good also as having an arc-shaped cross section.

  Further, the transport device further includes a slope block that faces any one of the pitch spaces of the screw blades and forms a discharge port for the spherical transport object, and forms a discharge path for the spherical transport object. The second guide rail may be terminated at the slope block, and the first guide rail may protrude in a direction away from the slope block along the rotation axis.

  In addition, the transport device faces any one of the pitch spaces of the screw blades and forms a pitch space that forms the introduction port of the spherical transport object, and the rotational axis directions of the first and second guide slopes of the inclined surface And an alignment block having first and second guide passages at spatially spaced positions according to the position of the first guide passage, wherein the first spherical transport object is connected to the first guide slope. The second guide passage may guide the second spherical conveyed material toward the second guide slope.

  Further, the alignment block includes an upright wall portion provided at a distance in a range between the diameter of the first spherically conveyed product and the diameter of the second spherically conveyed product, and sandwiched between the standing wall portions. And an inclined plate that inclines toward the first guide slope, and the surface of the inclined plate and the wall surface of the upright wall portion that form the first guide passage, The edge portion of the portion protruding from the inclined plate in the direction of the rotation axis may form the second guide passage.

  In addition, the conveying device may be arranged in any one of the pitch spaces of the screw blades and in the pitch space forming the inlet of the spherical conveyed material, so that the spherical conveyed material is not supported by the conveying guide and the circumference of the screw blades. An over-intrusion restricting member that restricts movement that enters too much in the direction may be provided.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to efficiently transport, for example, transported objects having different sizes (for example, diameters) through the same transport path. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and cost of the transport device.

It is a typical perspective view of the game device concerning one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view when the game apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the direction of an arrow A. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view when the game apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the direction of arrow B. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view when the game apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from the direction of an arrow C. FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view showing a state in which a top plate of the game apparatus 1 is removed in the plan view of FIG. 4. It is a perspective view showing typically an example of appearance of a conveyance device (screw conveyor) concerning one embodiment. It is a fragmentary sectional view of the screw rotating body shown in FIG. It is a fragmentary perspective view which paid its attention to the slope block (discharge port) of the screw conveyor shown in FIG. It is a fragmentary perspective view which paid its attention to the ball | bowl alignment block (introduction port) of the screw conveyor shown in FIG. It is a partial side view which paid its attention to the ball | bowl alignment block (introduction port) of the screw conveyor shown in FIG. It is a typical partial side view explaining the operation | movement which the screw conveyor shown in FIG. 6 conveys a ball | bowl with a small diameter. It is a typical fragmentary top view explaining the operation | movement in which the screw conveyor shown in FIG. 6 conveys a ball | bowl with a small diameter. It is a typical partial side view explaining the operation | movement in which the screw conveyor shown in FIG. 6 conveys a ball | bowl with a large diameter. It is a typical fragmentary top view explaining the operation | movement in which the screw conveyor shown in FIG. 6 conveys a ball | bowl with a large diameter.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example, and there is no intention to exclude various modifications and technical applications that are not explicitly described below. In other words, the present invention can be implemented with various modifications (combining the embodiments, etc.) without departing from the spirit of the present invention. In the following description of the drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. The drawings are schematic and do not necessarily match actual dimensions and ratios. In some cases, the dimensional relationships and ratios may be different between the drawings.

(overall structure)
1 to 5 are diagrams showing a game apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the game apparatus 1, FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of the game apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A, and FIG. 3 is a view of the game apparatus shown in FIG. It is a typical side view when it sees. 4 is a schematic plan view of the game apparatus shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow C. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a state in which the top plate of the game apparatus 1 is removed from the plan view of FIG. It is a top view. 1 to 5, a three-dimensional (XYZ) coordinate system that defines directions and planes for convenience is set in the following description. For example, the Z axis is the vertical direction, and the X axis is the game apparatus 1. The width direction and the Y-axis represent the depth direction of the game apparatus 1.

  The game device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 exemplarily has a rectangular parallelepiped housing 10 and one or a plurality (for example, four) of so-called satellites (players play) provided around the housing 10. (Hereinafter referred to as “player station”) 20. The player can enjoy the game provided by the game apparatus 1 by facing the player station 20.

  The game apparatus 1 can be appropriately provided with effect devices such as one or more lighting devices (electric decorations) and one or more sound output devices (for example, speakers). It is also possible to carry out productions by means such as. 1 to 5 illustrate a state where four speakers 30 are provided on the top 12 of the game apparatus 1 corresponding to the four player stations 20.

  The housing 10 can be divided into, for example, a base housing portion 10a and a cover housing portion 10b (see FIG. 2). The base casing portion 10a can be appropriately provided with a console panel 22 used by the player to face the game operation, a button device 23 attached to the console panel 22, and the like. The console panel 22 and the button device 23 form an example of the player station 20 together with a medal insertion device 21 described later.

  A game control device (CPU, memory, etc.) for controlling the operation (game progress, etc.) of the game apparatus 1 can be provided inside the base casing portion 10a. The set of the console panel 22 and the button device 23 exemplarily has a width direction (on each of two side walls facing the depth direction (Y-axis direction) of the game apparatus 1 among the four side walls forming the base housing portion 10a. Two (a total of four) can be provided at predetermined intervals in the X-axis direction.

  The cover housing part 10 b includes, for example, four side walls 11-1, 11-2, 11-3, and 11-4 and a top plate 12 that forms the roof of the game apparatus 1. Inside the cover housing portion 10b, a game space of the game apparatus 1 (a portion where game content can be visually recognized by the player) is formed. One or a plurality of medal insertion devices 21 can be provided on the cover housing portion 10b (opposed side walls 11-1 and 11-3) located above the console panel 22.

  The medal insertion device 21 is used by the player to insert medals into the game space inside the game device 1. FIGS. 1 to 5 illustrate a state in which four (total of eight) medal insertion devices 21 are provided on each of the opposing side walls 11-1 and 11-3. The medal insertion device 21 uses a predetermined fixing member in a predetermined region of the cover housing portion 10b, for example, a position where the player can easily operate in a state where the player is sitting on a chair (not shown) (or the player may be standing). Can be fixed.

  Among the four side walls 11-i (i = 1 to 4), the side walls 11-1 and 11-3 provided with the medal insertion device 21 can be visually recognized from the outside. Transparent members that transmit visible light, such as glass, acrylic, and polycarbonate, can be used. 1 and 2 exemplarily show a state in which two glass (or acrylic) plates 111 that can be opened and closed by a sliding operation in the horizontal direction (X-axis direction) are attached to a predetermined window frame. .

  As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transparent member, for example, the glass (or acrylic) plate 111 is a peripheral region excluding the fixing member of the medal insertion device 21 (for example, the medal insertion device 21-adjacent in the X-axis direction). 21). Thereby, the area of the transparent area | region in the side walls 11-1 and 11-3 can be increased, and the visibility of the game space of the medal insertion apparatus 21 vicinity can be improved.

  A part of the remaining side walls 11-2 and 11-4 where the medal insertion device 21 is not provided is partially or entirely a plate-like member that reflects part of visible light and transmits part of it (hereinafter referred to as a half mirror). , Also referred to as “plate beam splitter”). 1 and 3 exemplarily show a state in which two half mirrors 112 are attached to the side walls 11-2 and 11-4, respectively. The half mirror 112 may be a glass (or acrylic) plate with a half mirror film attached thereto.

  If the lighting at the place where the game apparatus 1 is installed is relatively darker than the game space inside the game apparatus 1, the half mirror 112 transmits light from the bright side (game space). Accordingly, a person located outside the game apparatus 1 can visually recognize the internal game space through the side walls 11-2 and 11-4.

  On the other hand, relatively weak light passes through the half mirror 112 from the dark side (outside the game apparatus 1) to the game space as compared to the reverse direction. Therefore, since reflection of light in the game space is dominant, for those who visually recognize the game space through the glass plate 111 forming the side wall 11-1 or 11-3, the half mirror 112 forming the side walls 11-2 and 11-4. Functions as a mirror of the game space. As a result, it is possible to improve the lighting level of the game space and the feeling of spatial expansion. In addition, it becomes easy for the player to visually recognize the state of the game space corresponding to the other player station 20 located on the opposite side (facing or diagonally in plan view) of the game apparatus 1 by the reflection of the half mirror 112.

  The game space formed by the cover housing portion 10b can be spatially and virtually partitioned in accordance with the number of player stations 20, and each of the partitions has various mechanisms and decorations for executing the medal pusher game. (Electric decorations and mirrors that virtually show the game space) can be provided.

  Illustratively, the game space can be divided into four sections in plan view as shown in FIG. 5, and a medal field 40 (40-) in which medals are placed in each of the base casing portions 10a corresponding to the sections. 1 to 40-4) and a plate-like pusher 50 that can reciprocate (slide) in the depth direction (Y-axis direction) of the game apparatus 1 on the medal field 40, for example.

  In addition, each division can be made into a mutually symmetrical structure with respect to an adjacent division. For example, the game space of the game apparatus 1 can be configured so that it can be seen in the same space when viewed from the side wall 11-1 side and when viewed from the opposite side wall 11-3 side. It can comprise so that it may look in the same space also about the case where it sees from the side wall 11-4 side on the opposite side when it sees from -2. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a part of the configuration is not shown so that it is easy to grasp the state of the game space in the game apparatus 1, and therefore there is a portion that looks asymmetric.

  The pusher 50 exemplarily has an end face 51 (see FIG. 5) that is a standing wall surface with respect to the medal field 40, and pushes out the medal placed on the medal field 40 by the end face 51 by the reciprocating motion. The medals located at the front end of the field 40 can be dropped sequentially.

  The reciprocating motion of the pusher 50 can be realized using, for example, a crank mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into a linear (reciprocating) motion of a predetermined stroke amount. The aforementioned game control device (not shown) can operate the pusher 50 at periodic or intermittent timing. The reciprocating motion of the pusher 50 may be realized using an actuator such as a solenoid or a drive source.

  The pusher 50 can be shared by the two medal fields 40 corresponding to the player stations 20 facing each other. For example, the shape of the pusher 50 is a rectangular shape having two end faces 51 at both ends in the Y-axis direction in a plan view, and a medal placed on the medal field 40-1 (or 40-3) is pushed on one end face 51, The other end face 51 may be able to press a medal placed in the medal field 40-4 (or 40-2).

  When the number of medals present in the medal field 40 is increased, for example, in the accumulated state, the number of medals that receive interference (pressing force) from the end face 51 of the pusher 50 increases with probability in accordance with the reciprocation of the pusher 50. By applying a pressing force to the medal and propagating the pressing force to other medals, one or a plurality of medals are formed in a groove shape provided between the medal field 40 and the side wall 11-1 (11-3), for example. It can be dropped into the gap (drop groove) 60 (see FIG. 5). The medals that have fallen into the drop groove 60 (or the same number of payout medals as the number of dropped medals) are paid to the player through a payout device (not shown) and a medal payout port (not shown) provided in the base housing portion 10a. Can be put out.

  Therefore, the player may adjust the medal insertion position in the medal field 40 so that medals are inserted and arranged as close to the end face 51 of the pusher 50 as possible. The medal insertion position can be adjusted by operating the orientation of the medal insertion device 21 in the horizontal plane (XY plane). If the medal insertion position for the medal field 40 is good, the player can acquire more medals than the number of medals inserted.

  By providing a plurality of medal insertion devices 21 for one medal field 40, a plurality of players can enter a medal into the same medal field 40 and enjoy a medal pusher game. In the game apparatus 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 5, two medal insertion devices 21 are provided for one medal field 40, so that two players each in four medal fields 40-1 to 40-4. (Maximum of 8 players) can simultaneously execute the medal pusher game. One player may operate the two medal insertion devices 21.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the medal insertion device 21 illustratively has a medal insertion part 210 having a medal insertion slot (not shown), communicates with the medal insertion slot, and extends toward the medal field 40. And a medal slope (medal passage) 211 which is inclined vertically downward.

  The medal slope 211 has a slit having a thickness through which one medal can pass, and a guide rail that enables the medal to roll. The medal inserted into the medal insertion slot rolls down the guide rail toward the medal field 40 due to its own weight, and the medal field 40 from the tip (end) part (hereinafter also referred to as “medal discharge slot”) of the guide rail. To be released.

  The direction of the medal discharge port can be changed within a predetermined angle range in the horizontal plane. For example, one or a plurality of movable parts (joint parts) 212 (see FIG. 5) that can be rotated in a horizontal plane according to the player's operation can be provided in the middle of the medal slope. Through the movable portion 212, the player can adjust the position where the medal falls on the medal field 40 by appropriately changing the orientation of the medal discharge port in the horizontal plane. Alternatively or additionally, the attachment portion of the medal insertion device 21 to the side wall 11-1 (11-3) may be configured to be rotatable in the horizontal direction so that the direction of the medal discharge port can be adjusted. .

  In the game space, one or a plurality of game effect devices common to some or all of the sections can be provided. An example of the first game effect device is a medal payout device (hereinafter also referred to as “small hitting mechanism”) capable of paying a plurality of (for example, 10) medals to the medal field 40 at a time, for example, above the pusher 50. Thus, it can be provided at a position indicated by reference numeral 70 in the plan view of FIG. Hereinafter, this apparatus is referred to as “medal payout apparatus 70”. The medal payout device 70 can be made common to two medal fields 40 adjacent in the depth direction (Y-axis direction) of the game apparatus 1 in plan view.

  In this case, the medal payout device 70 can selectively pay out a plurality of medals at a time to one of the two medal fields 40 adjacent in the Y-axis direction under the control of a game control device (not shown). .

  For example, in the game control device, when a predetermined game condition by lottery or the like is established in one of the player stations 20 facing the depth direction (Y-axis direction) of the game device 1, the medal payout device 70 Under the control, a predetermined number of medals corresponding to the established game conditions can be paid out to the medal field 40 corresponding to the established player station 20 at a time. The predetermined game condition is, for example, a case in which the outcomes that indicate a normal combination called “small hit” or the like are arranged as a lottery result. In this case, for example, a medal payout of several to several tens can be made.

  The supply and replenishment of medals to the medal payout device 70 can be performed by, for example, a (first) medal transport device 71 called a medal hopper. The medal transport device 71 includes, for example, a medal transport path (medal guide) 72 extending from the bottom of the base casing portion 10a to the medal payout device 70 installed in the game space.

  Medals that have fallen into the base housing portion 10a from gaps or holes other than the drop groove 60 and have not been paid out to the player (medals that have not been paid out) were collected by a medal collecting device (not shown). Thereafter, it is introduced into the medal guide 72 of the medal transport device 71.

  The medal guide 72 has, for example, a slit passage having a thickness through which one medal can pass. The medal guide 72 moves to the medal payout device 70 while the medal is pushed by the succeeding medal one by one. go. For example, the medal guide 72 can be provided along the height direction (Z-axis direction) in the game space near the center of the side wall 11-2 (11-4) in the width direction (Y-axis direction).

  An example of the second game effect device is a center unit 80 provided near the center of the game space on the base casing portion 10a. For example, the center unit 80 can be appropriately provided with a turntable 81 rotatable in a horizontal plane (XY plane) and a display device 82 such as a liquid crystal display. The display device 82 can display a description of the game content and the like as appropriate under the control of the game control device.

  The turntable 81 can be driven by a rotation drive mechanism (not shown) using, for example, a motor or a gear. The rotation drive mechanism can control the rotation direction and rotation speed of the turntable 81 under the control of the game control device.

  On the exposed surface of the turntable 81 (for example, a donut-shaped field in plan view), medals can be placed or supplied. Hereinafter, this field is referred to as “medal field 81”. For example, medals can be supplied to the medal field 81 from a medal supply device (not shown) provided in the center unit 80.

  Supply and replenishment of medals to the medal supply device can be performed by the (second) medal transport device 84 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). The medal transport device 84 includes, for example, a medal guide 85 that extends from the inside of the base housing portion 10 a to the center unit 80 via the top plate 12. In the medal guide 85, for example, medals recovered by the above-described medal recovery device are introduced.

  The medal guide 85 exemplarily has a slit passage having a thickness through which one medal can pass, and the medal provided in the center unit 80 while the medal is pushed by the subsequent medals one by one through the slit passage. Move to the feeder.

  The medal guide 85 illustratively includes the side wall 11-2 (11-4) and the top board 12 in the game space near the center of the side wall 11-2 (11-4) and the top board 12 in the width direction (Y-axis direction). Can be provided along the longitudinal centerline. The slit passage of the medal guide 85 may be partially shared with the slit passage of the medal guide 72 leading to the medal payout device 70.

  The medal transport device 84 (medal guide 85) may be provided on both side walls 11-2 and 11-4. In this case, the number of medals supplied per unit time (medal supply capability) to the center unit 80 and thus to the medal field 81 can be increased as compared with the case of one on one side.

  The center unit 80 can drop a medal that has dropped from the medal field (hereinafter also referred to as “common field”) 81 of the center unit 80 into any of the medal fields (hereinafter also referred to as “individual field”) 40. Thus, it can arrange | position in the state linked with the medal field 40 corresponding to each player station 20. FIG.

  On the common field 81, for example, it rotates together with the common field 81 and reciprocates (slides) in the radial direction of the common field 81 (in the common field 81, the direction from the field center to the field outer periphery and vice versa). ) Possible plates (pushers) 83 can be provided (see FIGS. 1 and 5).

  The pusher 83 can be formed so as to have an end surface that becomes a standing wall surface with respect to the common field (medal field) 81, for example, an arc-shaped end surface. With the arc-shaped end face, a medal placed on the common field 81 can be pushed so as to fall from the common field 81 by the reciprocating motion. A medal pushed out from the common field 81 by receiving a pressing force directly or indirectly from the pusher 83 can fall into any of the individual fields 40.

  The reciprocating motion of the pusher 83 can also be realized using, for example, a crank mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into a linear (reciprocating) motion of a predetermined stroke amount, an actuator such as a solenoid, or a drive source. However, the reciprocation of the pusher 83 can be controlled from the player station 20 to which the operation authority of the pusher 83 is given.

  The operation authority of the pusher 83 can be given to the player station 20 in which a specific game condition is established by a predetermined lottery or the like in the game control device, for example. In the player station 20 to which the operation authority is given, for example, by operating (for example, pressing) the button device 23, a pusher operation signal can be given to the game control device to activate the pusher 83. Whether or not the operation authority is given can be displayed, for example, when the game control device performs lighting control (lighting, blinking, etc.) of the button device 23.

  When the player recognizes that the operation authority of the button device 23 is given, the pusher 83 that rotates together with the common field 81 is pushed at an arbitrary timing within an angular range in which the pusher 83 is directed toward the individual field 40 being played. The button device 23 can be operated. When the button device 23 is operated in a timely manner, the end face of the pusher 83 is pushed out in the direction toward the individual field 40 being played, and the medal can be dropped from the common field 81 to the individual field 40. The operation authority of the pusher 83 can be set to be valid for a predetermined time or a predetermined number of laps in the common field 81.

  In the game apparatus 1 capable of executing the medal pusher game as described above, a medal field 40 or 81 is additionally used as a game value member that enhances the fun of the game by using a member (object) different from the medal, such as a ball or a capsule. It may be possible to supply to A ball, a capsule, or the like is an example of a play value member that produces a more entertaining game. For example, a ball supplied to the medal field 40 or 81 may be a predetermined drop groove (the medal described above) together with one or more medals. It may be the same as or different from that of the falling groove 60).

  The game apparatus 1 (game control apparatus) that detects the fall of the ball with an optical sensor or the like performs a predetermined lottery. As a result of the lottery, when a winning combination such as a small win is won, the game apparatus 1 (game control apparatus) supplies, for example, more medals than usual to the individual field 40 corresponding to the winning player. Thus, more medals can be paid out to the player than when medals are inserted from the medal insertion device 21.

  A plurality of types of balls can be prepared according to the type of winning (payout or the like). For example, the color or size (diameter) of the ball can be varied according to the type of winning. Therefore, in the game control device, it is possible to set so that the larger the ball diameter, the larger the number of medals released from the medal supply device to the individual field 40 when winning.

  In the game apparatus 1 that enables such an effect using a ball, for example, a ball that has fallen into the inside of the base housing portion 10a from the drop groove 60 is collected, and a predetermined area (for example, medal field 40 or 81) a ball circulation device 90 (see FIGS. 1-3) can be provided.

  In the ball circulation device 90, for example, a ball slope 91 (see FIG. 1) for guiding the ball to the medal field 40 or 81, and a ball that has dropped from the drop groove 60 are collected and a start end (entrance) of the ball slope 91 is collected. And a transfer device 92 (see FIGS. 1 to 3).

  For example, the entrance of the ball slope 91 (hereinafter also referred to as “slope entrance”) can be provided vertically above the medal fields 40 and 81, and the transport device 92 has a transport direction in the vertical direction. As described above, the balls are installed so as to protrude from the inside of the base casing portion 10a to the game space, and the collected balls are transported (lifted) to the slope entrance.

  One or more transfer devices 92 can be provided in the game apparatus 1. For example, a transport device 92 can be provided for each medal field 40. In this case, each conveyance apparatus 92 can be arrange | positioned adjacently in the space of the center vicinity of the side walls 11-2 and 11-4 in planar view, for example (refer FIG.1 and FIG.3).

  For example, a screw conveyor can be used as the transport device 92. The screw conveyor 92 of this example can convey balls of different diameters used in the game space along the same conveyance path as an example of a conveyed product. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide individual screw conveyors or individual conveyance paths for different ball diameters, and the scale (installation space) and cost of the game apparatus 1 can be reduced.

(Screw conveyor 92)
In FIG. 6, the external appearance example of the screw conveyor 92 of this example is typically shown. The screw conveyor 92 shown in FIG. 6 includes, for example, a screw rotating body 920 having a screw shaft (shaft) 921 that is a rotating shaft and screw blades 922 that spirally extend on the outer periphery of the screw shaft 921. As the material of the screw shaft 921 and the screw blade 922, a resin such as plastic can be used. By using resin, molding becomes easier than in the case of using sheet metal or the like, and the screw rotating body 920 can be reduced in weight.

  The screw shaft 921 and the screw blade 922 may be integrally formed or may be combined as individual components. Further, the rotation axis of the screw rotating body 920 may be a virtual axis. For example, the hollow screw blade 922 may be formed so as to form the hollow shaft of the screw rotating body 920. The screw rotor 920 can be further reduced in weight by making the screw blade 922 hollow.

  Further, the screw rotating body 920 is coupled (for example, fitted) to each other so that the respective rotating shafts 921 coincide with each other as many rotating body parts as necessary with the configuration (rotary body parts) shown in FIG. 7 as one unit. Etc.) may be configured.

  In this case, a required number of rotating body parts having the same configuration may be prepared and assembled according to the required length of the screw rotating body 920. Therefore, mass production is easier than the case where the entire screw rotator 920 having the length is integrally formed, and the manufacturing cost of the screw rotator 920 can be reduced. In addition, the length of the screw rotating body 920 can be easily adjusted by adding / deleting rotating body parts.

  Both ends of the screw shaft 921 can be attached to the support plates 923 and 924, for example. Each of the support plates 923 and 924 can be provided with a bearing portion (not shown) using a ball bearing or the like, and the screw shaft 921 can be rotatably supported by the bearing portion.

  The support plates 923 and 924 can be connected and fixed by, for example, one or a plurality of support columns 925. The shape of the column 925 may be a columnar shape, a prismatic shape, or other shapes. The screw conveyor 92 exemplarily has one support plate 924 as a pedestal (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “pedestal 924”), so that the length direction of the screw shaft 921 in the game apparatus 1 is the vertical direction. Can be attached.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, which is a cross-sectional view along the center of the screw shaft 921, the screw blade 922 has an inclined surface 922 c that is inclined toward the radially outer side (for example, downwardly inclined in this example). . A plurality of (for example, two) guide slopes (hereinafter also referred to as “spiral slopes”) 922 a and 922 b having different cross-sectional shapes are formed on the inclined surface 922 c along the spiral formed by the screw blades 922.

  The first guide slope 922 a has a first curved surface, in other words, a first arc-shaped cross section in a cross section along the radial direction of the screw blade 922. The second guide slope 922b is connected to the outer periphery of the first guide slope 922a, extends along the outer periphery, and has a second curved surface (arc-shaped cross section) having a curvature different from that of the first curved surface (arc-shaped cross section). ). The cross sections of the guide slopes 922a and 922b may be complete arcs, or other forms, for example, the curvature may gradually change toward the outer peripheral side.

  The first and second guide slopes 922a and 922b exemplarily form a spiral guide path that guides balls (spherical conveyed objects) having different diameters. The surfaces of the guide slopes 922a and 922b (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “first spiral slope surface 922a” and “second spiral slope surface 922b”, respectively) differ depending on the ball diameters that are different in size. Can be set to curvature.

  For example, the curvature of the first (inner) spiral slope surface 922a is set corresponding to the diameter of the largest ball (first spherical transported object) handled by the game apparatus 1, and the second (outer) spiral slope surface 922b. Can be set corresponding to the diameter of a ball (second spherically conveyed product) smaller than the ball.

  This makes it easier for balls of a corresponding diameter to stay on the spiral slope surfaces 922a and 922b (improvement of retention). Therefore, the external force required to support the ball from the radially outer side of the screw blade 922 can also be reduced. As a result, a guide rail described later can be used to support the ball from the radially outer side of the screw blade 922.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, a screw rotating body 920 (screw shaft 921) is driven to rotate on a support plate (hereinafter also referred to as “top plate”) 923 opposite to the base 924 using a motor, a gear, and the like. A drive unit 926 can be provided.

  Between the pedestal 924 and the top plate 923, a conveyance guide 927 extending in the longitudinal direction along the screw shaft 921 (as one non-limiting example, three guide rails 927a parallel to the longitudinal direction of the screw shaft 922, 927b and 927c) can be provided at positions separated from the screw shaft 921 by a predetermined distance so as not to come into contact with the screw blades 922, and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in plan view.

  For example, the three guide rails 927 can be arranged as schematically shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are a schematic partial side view and partial plan view of the screw conveyor 92 that is transporting a small-diameter ball B2, respectively, and FIGS. 13 and 14 are each transporting a large-diameter ball B1. It is the typical partial side view and partial top view of the screw conveyor 92 of FIG.

  As schematically shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the ball B2 having a small diameter is supported by two guide rails 927 (927a and 927b) and a spiral slope surface 922b outside the screw blade 922 so as to be able to roll. be able to. On the other hand, as schematically shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the ball B1 having a large diameter is composed of the same two guide rails 927a and 927b (or three guide rails 927c added thereto) and screw blades 922. The inner spiral slope surface 922a can be supported to roll.

  The (first) guide rail 927a supports the balls B1 and B2 by preventing the balls B1 and B2 from guiding the spiral slopes 922a and 922b in the rotational direction of the screw blades 922 as the screw blades 922 rotate. The movement of B2 in the rotation direction (circumferential direction) is restricted. On the other hand, the (second) guide rail 927b supports the balls B1 and B2 in the radial direction of the screw shaft 921 so that the balls B1 and B2 are not detached from the screw blades 922, and moves the balls B1 and B2 in the radial direction. regulate.

  With the arrangement of the guide rail 927, the balls B1 and B2 having different diameters are controlled while restricting the movement of the balls B1 and B2 falling along the inclination of the screw blade 922 as the screw blade 922 rotates. It becomes possible to convey (linearly) along the guide rail 927.

  For example, when the screw blade 922 is rotated counterclockwise (in the direction of the arrow D in FIGS. 6 to 14) by the drive unit 926, the small-diameter ball B2 is supported by the two guide rails 927a and 927b. The top plate 923 is moved along the two guide rails 927a and 927b (linearly) by being pushed up by the outer spiral slope surface 922b (possibly rolling) while being restricted in the circumferential and radial movements. It is conveyed (lifted) in the direction toward

  On the other hand, the large-diameter ball B1 is supported by two guide rails 927a and 927b (or three guide rails 927c added thereto), and the inner spiral slope is restricted while the movement in the circumferential direction and the radial direction is restricted. By being pushed up by the surface 922a (in some cases while rolling), the surface is conveyed (lifted) along the two (or three) guide rails 927 (linearly) toward the top plate 923.

  In addition, by adjusting the arrangement of the two guide rails 927a and 927b, the guide rails 927a and 927b support both the balls B1 and B2 having different diameters so that they can roll and move in the circumferential direction and the radial direction. It is possible to regulate. In that case, the third guide rail 927c is auxiliary and may be omitted if it can be omitted.

  Further, the diameters of balls that can be conveyed by the screw conveyor 92 are not limited to two types. If the ball is smaller than the maximum ball diameter handled by the game apparatus 1 and larger than the gap between the guide rails 927a and 927b, the ball is conveyed along the guide rail 927 through one of the spiral slope surfaces 922a and 922b ( Can be lifted).

  As shown in FIG. 6, one of the guide rails (for example, the guide rail 922a closest to the screw blade 922) illustratively has a length similar to the length of the screw shaft 921, and one end is a pedestal 924, The other ends can be attached to the top plate 923, respectively.

(Ball discharge structure)
A slope block 928 forming a ball discharge path can be provided in the middle of the guide rail 922a. The remaining guide rail 927b (and 927c) is illustratively shorter than the guide rail 927a, one end is terminated by a slope block 928 as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, and the other end is illustrated in FIG. As such, it can be attached to the pedestal 924.

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, the slope block 928 includes a pitch space that forms a ball discharge port among pitch spaces formed by adjacent screw blades 922 in the direction along the screw shaft 921 (for example, the drive unit 926 has the most It is facing a close pitch space.

  The slope block 928 has a slope surface 929 that inclines vertically downward from the horizontal plane as it moves away from the screw shaft 921 in the radial direction. The end of the ball slope 91 can be connected to the slope block 928 so that the slope surface 929 is continuous with the ball slope 91 described above.

  In addition, the slope block 928 has an arc-shaped cutout 929a on the screw shaft 921 side so as not to interfere with any of the balls B1 and B2 conveyed along the guide rail 927 according to the rotation of the screw shaft 921. Can be formed. The diameter of the arc can be set in a range that does not hinder the conveyance of the maximum diameter ball.

  When the ball B1 or B2 gets over the notch 929a, the number of guide rails 927 supporting the ball B1 or B2 is reduced from two (or three) to one (927a), so that the radial direction of the ball B1 or B2 The regulation of movement is lifted. The restriction of the movement of the ball B1 or B2 in the circumferential direction is maintained by the guide rail 927a.

  As a result, the ball B1 or B2 loses balance, rolls on the slope surface 929 of the slope block 928, and is discharged to the ball slope 91. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a special or complicated discharge device or discharge mechanism at the ball discharge port, and the screw conveyor 92 (and hence the game apparatus 1) can be simplified and reduced in cost.

  A portion 9271 (see FIG. 8) protruding from the slope block 928 (slope surface 929) of the guide rail 927a continues to regulate the movement of the ball B1 or B2 in the circumferential direction to get over the slope block 928. Therefore, the ball B1 or B2 is circumferentially along the inclination of the screw blade 922 (spiral slope surface 922b or 922a) from the slope block 928 by the rotational force received according to the rotation of the screw shaft 921 (screw blade 922). Rolling down (re-entering the screw blade 922) can be prevented. That is, the protruding portion 9271 of the guide rail 927a is an example of a re-entry restriction member. Thus, by using a part (protruded portion 9271) of the guide rail 927a as a re-entry restricting member at the time of discharging the ball, an individual member is unnecessary and the configuration of the screw conveyor 92 can be simplified.

  Since it is only necessary to prevent re-entry of the ball B1 or B2 to be discharged into the screw blade 922, the portion 9271 protruding from the slope block 928 of the guide rail 927a extends (projects) to the top plate 923. You don't have to. However, by providing one guide rail 927a extending between the pedestal 924 and the top plate 923, the guide rail 927a also functions as a reinforcing column between the top plate 923 and the pedestal 924. obtain. Therefore, the physical strength of the screw conveyor 92 can be improved.

(Ball introduction structure)
As an example of a ball introduction member that introduces a ball into the screw blade 922, the pedestal 924 includes a pitch space that forms a ball introduction port in the pitch space of the screw blade 922, as illustrated in FIGS. 6, 9, and 10. Illustratively, a ball alignment block 930 facing the pitch space closest to the pedestal 924 can be provided.

  The ball B1 or B2 can be entered from the ball alignment block 930 toward the screw blade 922. At this time, the ball alignment block 930 of the present example separates the approach path for the screw blades 922 separately for the balls B1 and B2 having different diameters, and enters the entrance position (in the direction along the screw shaft 921 for each of the balls B1 and B2 having different diameters. The position, height in this example can be varied.

  For example, as schematically shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the ball alignment block 930 has slopes at spatially spaced positions (heights) according to the positions in the pitch direction of the spiral slopes 922 a and 922 b of the screw blades 922. Two-stage alignment slopes (guide passages) 931 and 932 having (guide) surfaces are provided.

  A ball B2 having a small diameter can be placed (aligned) on the first alignment slope 931, and the second alignment slope 932, which is spatially higher than the first alignment slope 931, has a diameter of A large ball B1 can be placed (aligned).

  Therefore, the ball B2 having a small diameter is guided toward the spiral slope surface 922b outside the screw blade 922 by the first alignment slope 931, and the ball B1 having a large diameter is guided by the second alignment slope 922a to the screw blade 922. It can be guided towards the inner spiral slope surface 922a.

  The first alignment slope 931 is, for example, two standing wall portions 933 provided on the pedestal 924 so as to be separated from each other by a distance larger than the diameter of the small ball B2 and smaller than the diameter of the large ball B1. And the surface of one or a plurality of inclined plates 934 that are sandwiched between the standing wall portions 933 and are inclined toward the screw blades 922 (inclination may be stepwise).

  In this case, the edge portion 935 of each vertical wall portion 933 protruding from the inclined plate 934 in the vertical direction (pitch direction of the screw blade 922) is used as the second alignment slope 932 on which the ball B1 having a large diameter is placed. Can be positioned on the guide rail.

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the guide rail (edge portion) 935 can be formed so as to be inclined toward the screw blade 922 vertically downward from the horizontal plane in a side view. 10 corresponds to a side view as viewed from the direction of arrow E in a state where one of the standing wall portions 933 is removed in FIG.

  Since the distance between the standing wall portions 933 on both sides of the guide rail 935 is set to be smaller than the diameter of the large ball B1, the ball B1 that has entered the guide rail 935 makes point contact or two points on the guide rail 935. While being supported hollow by surface contact, it can roll and move toward the screw blade 922 by its own weight.

  The length of the alignment slope 932 (guide rail 935) in the direction toward the screw blades 922 is set to a length such that the ball B1 falls on the inclined plate 934 that guides the ball B2 having a small diameter during the rolling of the ball B1. can do. Thereby, the ball B1 falls to the inclined plate 934 while rolling the standing wall portion 933 (guide rail 935), and enters the screw blade 922 from the inclined plate 934.

  Here, the inclination angle of the inclined plate 934 is such that the ball B2 with a small diameter has a center at the spiral slope surface 922b outside the screw blade 922, and the ball B1 with a large diameter has a spiral slope surface at the center inside the screw blade 922. If the angle is set within an angle range directed to 922a, balls B1 and B2 having different diameters can be made to enter different spiral slope surfaces 922a and 922b with a common inclined plate 934.

  As described above, according to the ball alignment block 930 of the present example, the first and second alignment slopes 931 and 932 having different slope surfaces in the height direction along the screw shaft 921 cause the balls B1 and B2 having different diameters to be different. The direction of introduction can be appropriately oriented to each helical slope surface 922a and 922b of the screw blade 922. Therefore, it is not necessary to prepare individual ball alignment blocks for the balls B1 and B2 having different diameters, and the structure for introducing the ball into the screw rotating body 920 (screw blade 922) can be simplified. As a result, the screw conveyor 92 (and hence the game apparatus 1) can be reduced in size and cost.

  Further, as the second alignment slope 932 on which the ball B1 having a large diameter is placed, an edge portion 935 of the standing wall portion 933 forming a part of the alignment slope 931 of the ball B2 having a small diameter is used, thereby providing a ball introduction structure. It is possible to further simplify the structure of the ball alignment block 930 which is an example. Accordingly, the ball alignment block 930 itself can be reduced in size and weight.

  In addition, in the pitch space (pitch space forming the ball inlet) sandwiched between the screw blade 922 into which the ball B1 or B2 enters from the ball alignment block 930 and the screw blade 22 adjacent vertically above the screw blade 922, A fence (or barrier) 936 that closes the pitch space in a side view can be provided.

  The fence 936 is an example of an excessive entry restricting member that restricts movement in which the balls B1 and B2 are not supported by the guide rail 927 and excessively enter and fall in the circumferential direction of the screw blade 922. The position at which the fence 936 is provided is set such that the ball formed by the fence 936 and the guide rail 927a does not roll down in a plan view as shown by a broken line F in FIGS. 12 and 14, for example. Can do.

  By providing such a fence 936, even if a plurality of balls B1 and / or B2 enter the screw blade 922 continuously from the ball alignment block 930, the ball cannot exceed the fence 936. The balls can be transported to the slope block 928 while being reliably supported by the guide rail 927 and the spiral slope surface 922a or 922b one by one.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the different sizes (diameters) of the balls B1 and B2 are provided along the transport guide 927 through the guide slopes 922a and 922b having different cross-sectional shapes spirally formed on the screw blade 922. It can be transported along the same transport path. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the game apparatus 1 with a transfer device or a transfer path separately for the balls B1 and B2 of different sizes, and the scale (installation space) and cost of the game apparatus 1 can be reduced.

  Further, by using the guide rails 927a and 927b (or 927a to 927c) as an example of the conveyance guide 927, the balls B1 and B2 can be supported by the spiral slope surfaces 922a and 922b of the screw blade 22 and the guide rail. Therefore, it is not necessary to casing the radially outer side of the screw rotating body 920. Therefore, even if a trouble such as a ball clogging occurs during conveyance, it is easy to deal with it. In other words, maintenance of the screw conveyor 92 is easy.

(Other)
The application target of the screw conveyor 92 (screw rotating body 920) is not limited to the game device. It is possible to transport a transport object that is a transport object according to the application target and has a different size along the same transport path in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

  Further, the installation direction (conveying direction) of the screw conveyor 92 (screw shaft 921) is not limited to the vertical direction, and may be the horizontal direction or an oblique direction between the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.

  Further, the ball introduction port and the ball discharge port of the screw conveyor 92 do not need to be pitch spaces at both ends formed by the screw blades 922, and can be set to any intermediate pitch space. Further, a ball introduction port and / or a ball discharge port can be set at a plurality of locations (pitch spaces).

  Further, the conveyance guide 927 may not be a rail (pipe) -shaped guide, and for example, a plate-shaped guide extending in a strip shape in a direction along the screw shaft 921 may be used. For example, it is also possible to use a plate-like guide having a cross section of a line segment (a broken line) when the arrangement positions of the guide rails 927a to 927c are connected in the plan view shown in FIGS.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game device, 10 ... Housing | casing, 10a ... Base housing | casing part, 10b ... Cover housing | casing part, 11-1 to 11-4 ... Side wall, 12 ... Top plate, 20 ... Player station, 21 ... Medal insertion device, 22 ... console panel, 23 ... button device, 30 ... speaker, 40 ... medal field (individual field), 50 ... pusher, 51 ... end face, 60 ... falling groove, 70 ... meeting mechanism (medal payout device), 71 ... medal Conveying device, 72 ... medal guide, 80 ... center unit, 81 ... turntable (medal field (common field)), 82 ... display device, 83 ... pusher, 84 ... medal conveying device, 85 ... medal guide, 90 ... ball circulation Equipment: 91 ... Ball slope, 92 ... Conveying device (screw conveyor), 111 ... Glass plate, 112 ... Half mirror (Plate beam splitter), 210 ... medal insertion part, 211 ... medal slope (medal passage), 212 ... movable part (joint part), 920 ... screw rotating body, 921 ... screw shaft (shaft), 922 ... screw blade, 922a ... first guide slope (spiral slope), 922b ... second guide slope (spiral slope), 922c ... inclined surface, 923 ... support plate (top plate), 924 ... support plate, 925 ... support, 926 ... drive Unit, 927 ... transport guide, 927a, 927b, 927c ... guide rail, 928 ... slope block, 929 ... slope surface, 929a ... notch, 930 ... ball alignment block, 931 ... first alignment slope, 932 ... second Alignment slope, 933 ... Standing wall, 934 ... Inclined plate, 935 ... Guide rail (edge) 936 ... fence (over penetration restricting member), 9271 ... projecting portion, B1, B2 ... ball (spherical conveyed)

Claims (10)

A screw blade that spirally extends on the outer periphery of the rotating shaft, and has a screw blade that has an inclined surface that inclines radially outward,
On the inclined surface,
A first guide slope extending along a spiral formed by the screw blades;
A second guide slope extending along a spiral formed by the screw blades and having a cross-sectional shape different from the first guide slope is formed.
Screw rotating body. The first guide slope has a first arcuate cross section;
The screw rotating body according to claim 1, wherein the second guide slope has a second arc-shaped cross section having a curvature different from that of the first arc-shaped cross section. The curvature of the first arc-shaped cross section corresponds to the diameter of the first spherical transported object,
The screw rotating body according to claim 2, wherein a curvature of the second arcuate cross section corresponds to a diameter of a second spherical transport object having a diameter different from a diameter of the first spherical transport object. A screw rotor according to claim 1;
A drive unit that rotationally drives the screw rotor around the rotation axis;
A conveyance guide that regulates the movement of the spherical conveyance object so that the spherical conveyance object is guided in a direction along the rotation axis while being in contact with the inclined surface as the rotation shaft rotates.
The transport guide is
Supporting the first spherical transport object with the first guide slope of the inclined surface,
Supporting a second spherical transport object having a diameter different from that of the first spherical transport object between the second guide slope of the inclined surface,
Conveying device. The transport guide is
A first guide that extends in a direction along the rotation axis and is disposed at a position that restricts the first and second spherically conveyed objects from being guided in the direction of rotation of the corresponding guide slope. Rails,
A second guide rail that extends in parallel with the first guide rail and is disposed at a position that restricts the movement of each spherically conveyed product from the inclined surface in the radial direction of the screw blades, The transport apparatus according to claim 4. The first guide slope has an arc-shaped cross section corresponding to the diameter of the first spherical transported object,
The said 2nd guide slope is a conveying apparatus of Claim 5 which has the circular arc-shaped cross section of the curvature corresponding to the diameter of the said 2nd spherical conveyed product. A pitch block that faces any one of the pitch spaces of the screw blades and that forms a discharge port for the spherical conveyed product, and further includes a slope block that forms a discharge path for the spherical conveyed product,
The second guide rail is terminated at the slope block,
The transfer device according to claim 6, wherein the first guide rail protrudes in a direction away from the slope block along the rotation axis. It faces any one of the pitch spaces of the screw blades and forms the introduction port of the spherical transport object, and spatially according to the positions of the first and second guide slopes of the inclined surface in the rotational axis direction. An alignment block having first and second guide passages spaced apart from each other,
The first guide passage guides the first spherical transported object toward the first guide slope,
The said 2nd guide channel | path is a conveying apparatus of any one of Claims 4-7 with which the said 2nd spherical conveyance thing guides toward the said 2nd guide slope. The alignment block is:
Standing wall portions provided apart from each other by a distance in a range between the diameter of the first spherical transport object and the diameter of the second spherical transport object;
An inclined plate sandwiched between the standing wall portions and inclined toward the first guide slope,
The surface of the inclined plate and the opposing wall surface of the standing wall portion form the first guide passage,
The conveying device according to claim 8, wherein an edge portion of a portion of the standing wall portion that protrudes from the inclined plate in the rotation axis direction forms the second guide passage.   The spherical transport object is not supported by the transport guide and is excessively advanced in the circumferential direction of the screw blade in any one of the pitch spaces of the screw blades and forming the inlet of the spherical transport object. The transport device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein an over-intrusion restricting member that restricts movement is provided.