JP2011139855A - Spherical body counter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spherical body counter wherein there is almost no erroneous count. <P>SOLUTION: The spherical body counter 10 includes: an engagement member 32 which is engaged with a separate wheel 25 and stops rotation of the separate wheel 25; a drive unit 33 for driving the engagement member 32 to cancel the engagement and allows the separate wheel 25 to rotate; and a control unit for controlling driving of the drive unit 33. A passage 12 includes an admission passage 20 which is diagonally bent downward toward the separate wheel just before the separate wheel, in which a trajectory of a center of gravity of spherical bodies 16 is above a tangent below the separate wheel 25 parallel to the trajectory when sending the spherical body 16 into a recessed part 28 of the separate wheel 25, and which is directed in the direction of rotating the separate wheel 25 downward by gravity of the spherical bodies 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a sphere counting device such as a pachinko ball, and more particularly to a sphere counting device that performs counting using free fall energy due to the weight of the sphere, regardless of the driving force.

  Various devices for counting and supplying spheres such as pachinko balls are known. For example, in Patent Document 1, the pawl gear is rotated by a pachinko ball that falls in a substantially vertically formed passage, and counting is performed according to the number of rotations. When counting, the clutch plate is operated by the weight of the pachinko ball, connected to the drive motor, and controlled so as to correspond to the pachinko ball discharge number of the claw gear by the rotation speed of the drive motor.

JP-A-10-277249

  However, in the configuration as in Patent Document 1, there is no problem when the number of pachinko balls waiting at the upper part of the ball passage is always constant and almost full, but there is no problem when the passage is empty. Since the impact force is instantaneously received when a piece falls, the response time of the clutch mechanism will vary, resulting in miscounting that counts more than the number actually passed, and insufficient rotation depending on the timing of counting and dropping Therefore, there is a problem that an erroneous count of counting less than the actual number is likely to occur.

  An error in which the number is insufficient causes a problem for the player. On the other hand, if the error is large, it causes a loss of the amusement store and affects the management. In recent years, due to the diversification of pachinko game services, for example, the minimum unit for ball lending, for example, is 25, and the number that can be set in units of one is increasing. When counting in units of one is required, and ball lending with a small quantity of 25 or less is also required, counting error becomes a problem, and it is more necessary to raise the error to zero.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and the object of the present invention is to stably and accurately count the ball drop impact by absorbing it as much as possible in the counting device. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a sphere counter that can reduce the miscount to almost zero.

  In the sphere counting device according to the present invention, a path for continuously dropping a sphere such as a pachinko ball by gravity and a plurality of recesses for receiving protrusions and spheres one by one are formed alternately on the outer periphery, and the rotation axis is By rotating to the center, the concave portion sequentially faces the passage, a separation wheel that sequentially receives the spheres supplied from the passage and discharges them to the discharge path, and a counting unit that calculates the number of spheres discharged to the discharge path. In the sphere counting apparatus provided, the locking member that locks the separation wheel or a member related to the separation wheel, stops the rotation of the separation wheel, and drives the locking member to release the locking, A drive unit configured to rotate the separation wheel; and a control unit configured to control driving of the drive unit, and the passage is bent obliquely downward toward the separation wheel immediately before the separation wheel. When the sphere is fed into the recess, the locus of the center of gravity of the sphere is higher than the lower tangent of the separation wheel parallel to the locus, and the separation wheel is rotated downward by the gravity of the sphere. And a communication path for allowing the sphere fed from the approach path to the recess of the separation wheel to pass from the approach path toward the discharge path by rotating the separation wheel. .

The direction of the center of gravity of the sphere moving along the approach path is in a direction that coincides with the axis of the rotation axis of the separation wheel, or the direction toward the separation wheel in the entry path so as to pass below the rotation axis. Is preferably set. At this time, it is preferable to set the inclination angle of the approach path from the horizontal plane to about 5 to 45 °.
In addition, it is preferable that a bent path that bends obliquely downward in the direction opposite to the approach path is provided on the upstream side of the approach path in the immediate upstream side of the approach path.

Moreover, the said discharge path can be formed in the discharge path which discharge | releases a spherical body diagonally downward rather than a perpendicular direction.
The coefficient section has a contact that contacts the separation wheel, a swing member that swings once when the separation wheel rotates by an angle corresponding to one sphere, and a sensor that detects the swing of the swing member Can be configured to include.

Two sensors are provided, and both sensors are set so that the light (High: ON) time is longer than the dark (Low: OFF) time, and the mutual OFF is between each other. be able to.
Alternatively, two of the above sensors are provided so that the dark (Low: OFF) time of each sensor is longer than the bright (High: ON) time, and the mutual ON is between the OFF times of each other. Can be set.

You may make it provide the sensor which detects or counts the presence or absence of the spherical body which passes the upstream of the said separation | separation wheel of the said channel | path.
A sensor for detecting or counting a passing sphere may be provided in the discharge path.
An electromagnetic solenoid can be used for the drive unit.

  According to the present invention, since the falling impact of the sphere is absorbed as much as possible in the counting device, the counting can be performed stably and accurately, so that it is possible to provide a sphere counting device capable of almost zero miscounting. In addition, a small number of spheres including one can be counted.

It is explanatory drawing of the principal part of the sphere counting device which concerns on this Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing in case a separation wheel serves as a latching | locking part. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which has arrange | positioned two sensors in 2 steps | paragraphs. It is explanatory drawing which shows the state which provided two sensors side by side. It is an operation | movement chart figure of each sensor at the time of providing two sensors. It is a flow explanatory view of the operation at the time of discharging one pachinko ball. It is an operation | movement schematic diagram of two sensors. It is an operation | movement chart figure of each sensor in the state which showed the actual chattering phenomenon in simulation. It is an actual measurement oscilloscope chart which shows a chattering phenomenon. It is an operation | movement chart figure of each sensor at the time of comprising light and dark reversely with the sensor shown in FIG. It is an operation | movement schematic diagram of the other example of two sensors.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail.
FIG. 1 is a partially broken front explanatory view of the sphere counting device 10.
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 denotes a passage, which is fixed to the base 14 in the vertical direction. The passage 12 continuously and naturally drops a spherical body such as a pachinko ball (hereinafter described as a pachinko ball) 16 inserted from the upper insertion port 15 by gravity, and has a pipe shape.

  In addition, the passage 12 is formed in a bent path 18 that is bent vertically downward from the insertion port 15 (vertical path 17) and then diagonally downward to the left in FIG. ) Contrary to the curved path 18, it is formed in an approach path 20 that bends diagonally downward to the right, and further formed in a discharge path 22 that extends downward diagonally to the left, after descending substantially vertically (communication path 21). Further, it is formed in a vertical path 23 through which the pachinko balls 16 are dropped onto a tray (not shown) of a pachinko machine (not shown).

The pachinko ball 16 falling on the vertical path 17 hits the inner wall (lower wall) of the curved path 18 and is reduced in speed, then hits the inner wall (opposite wall) of the vertical path 19 and reduced in speed. Hit the inner wall (lower wall) to reduce the speed.
The lengths of the curved path 18, the vertical path 19, and the approach path 20 are not particularly limited, but may be about 1 to 3 pachinko balls 16. Further, the bending path 18 is not necessarily provided.

Next, reference numeral 25 denotes a separation wheel, which is provided on the base 14 so as to be rotatable about a rotation shaft 26.
The separation wheel 25 has a sprocket shape in which a plurality of recesses 28 that alternately receive the protrusions 27 and the pachinko balls 16 one by one are formed on the outer periphery. In the present embodiment, ten protrusions 27 and ten recesses 28 are provided, but the present invention is not limited to this. The separation wheel 25 is made of polyacetal resin, polycarbonate resin, or the like having lightweight wear resistance and impact resistance, but may be made of other materials or metal.
The separation wheel 25 is provided such that a part of the outer periphery thereof enters the passage 12 near the boundary between the entrance passage 20 and the communication passage 21 from a slit 29 provided in the passage 12.

  The approach path 20 extends obliquely downward toward the separation wheel 25 immediately before the separation wheel 25. Specifically, when the pachinko ball 16 is fed into the recess 28, the approach path 20 has the locus P of the center of gravity of the pachinko ball 16 above the tangent line Q below the separation wheel 25 parallel to the locus P (separation). The separation wheel 25 is turned downward (counterclockwise in FIG. 1) when viewed from the pachinko ball 16 due to the gravity of the pachinko ball 16. The pachinko balls 16 received in the recesses 28 circulate from the approach path 20 to the communication path 21 as the separation wheel 25 rotates, and are further discharged toward the discharge path 22 and are supplied from the vertical path 23 into the tray of the pachinko machine. Is done. Note that the tangent line Q is defined as a tangent line of a circle including the center of gravity of the pachinko ball 16 in a state where the pachinko ball 16 is received in the recess 28 while being in contact with the bottom of the recess 28.

  In order for the separation wheel 25 to be rotated downward by the gravity of the pachinko ball 16 received in the recess 28 (counterclockwise in FIG. 1), the direction toward the separation wheel 25 of the approach path 20 (the approach path) (The extension line direction of the line P connecting the center of gravity of the two pachinko balls 16 positioned at 20) is directed in a direction coinciding with the axis of the rotation shaft 26 of the separation wheel 25 or passes below the rotation shaft 26. Thus, it is necessary to set the angle (entrance angle) of the approach path 20. The direction of the approach path 20 is set so that the extended line of the line P passes above the rotation axis 26 because the pachinko balls 16 bridge around the outer periphery of the separation wheel 25 and the separation wheel 25 rotates. 1 or a force that rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 is received, and the pachinko ball 16 does not fall down the passage 12 and is prohibited.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the approach path 20 itself is not formed on the vertical path, but is provided so as to be inclined obliquely downward with respect to the horizontal, so that the pachinko ball 16 falling on the vertical path 17 is provided. The fall speed of is reduced. In addition, since the approach path 20 extends obliquely downward toward the separation wheel 25 from a direction above the tangent line Q on the lower side of the separation wheel 25, the pachinko ball 16 supplied to the recess 28 from the approach path 20 Is received by hitting the bottom of the recess 28, which also reduces the drop speed. In other words, when the pachinko ball 16 enters the separation wheel 25, a component force is generated from the pachinko ball 16 toward the rotation center of the separation wheel 25 with respect to the separation wheel 25. Thus, since the falling speed of the pachinko ball 16 is reduced, the impact on the separation wheel 25 is reduced. Further, since the rotational force of the separation wheel 25 is reduced accordingly, the separation wheel 25 is forcibly rotated (idled) by some time due to the drop impact of the pachinko balls or the weight of the plurality of pachinko balls waiting in the passage or the drop impact. And erroneous counts can be eliminated.

As described above, in order to reduce the falling speed of the pachinko ball 16 and, on the other hand, to obtain the gravitational force of the pachinko ball 16 necessary to rotate the separation wheel 25 downward, The inclination angle (entrance angle) with respect to the horizontal plane is preferably about 5 to 45 ° (2 to 45 ° when the entrance angle can be accurately set), more preferably 15 to 40 °. By setting the inclination angle (entrance angle) of the approach path 20 to about 5 to 45 °, the pachinko balls 16 continuously flow as the rotational force applied to the separation wheel 25 from the pachinko balls 16 supplied from the approach path 20. Even if there is an influence from the subsequent pachinko balls 16, it is considered that the weight of the pachinko balls 16 of the pachinko balls 16 is at most about 1 (maximum total of about 2). Because of this, there are no pachinko balls waiting at the upper part of the ball passage, and even if one or several pieces are dropped while the ball passage is empty, there is almost no influence by the impact force due to the fall. The supply amount setting of the balls 16 can be accurately counted from one.
Further, by adjusting the inclination angle (entrance angle) of the approach path 20 in the range of 2 to 45 °, the speed at which the pachinko balls 16 are directed toward the recesses 28 is changed, so that the counting speed can be adjusted.
Further, the counting speed can be adjusted by adjusting the inclination angle (entrance angle) of the approach path 20 and the length of the approach path 20 (distance to the recess 28). Therefore, the length of the approach path is not limited to this embodiment and can be adjusted as appropriate.
The upper limit of the inclination angle (entrance angle) is 45 °, but is not limited thereto, and may be 60 ° or more. The reason for the 45 ° is that the counting interval for each pachinko ball is stable. This is the range in which the counting speed can be obtained.If the counting time and the stability are ignored, or corresponding to a sphere different from the pachinko ball, the angle of the separation wheel can be set as long as the rotational force of the separation wheel can be obtained to separate the sphere. There is no limit.

  Further, as described above, since the force for rotating the separation wheel 25 from the pachinko ball 16 becomes small, the penetrating force of the separation wheel 25 becomes small, and the idling of the separation wheel 25 can be prevented. For example, even when the pachinko ball 16 is lost in the approach path 20, the separation wheel 25 stops rotating due to frictional resistance on the rotating shaft 26 and resistance from a swinging member described later, and the idle wheel is caused to idle by the penetrating force. No miscounting is prevented. In order to set the frictional resistance of the rotating shaft 26 to a predetermined value, a bending washer or the like is interposed in the bearing portion, the position or weight of the weight 39 of the swing member 36 is changed, or a biasing member such as a spring. The urging force may be changed.

  The discharge path 22 may be formed in a vertical path, but if the slant is inclined obliquely to the left as described above, the pachinko ball 16 falls along the sloping wall, so that it follows more or less. It can be said that the flow rate of the pachinko balls 16 is affected, and this can also reduce the falling speed of the pachinko balls 16. The falling speed of the pachinko ball train may be adjusted by adjusting the inclination angle of the discharge path 22. Furthermore, you may make it adjust fall speed together with adjustment of the inclination angle (entrance angle) etc. of the approach path 20 and the approach path 20.

Next, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 denotes a locking portion provided coaxially with the separation wheel 25, and rotates integrally with the separation wheel 25. Concave portions 31 are provided on the peripheral surface of the locking portion 30 at positions corresponding to the respective concave portions 28 of the separation wheel 25.
Reference numeral 32 denotes a locking member, which is driven by an electromagnetic solenoid (drive unit) 33, and is normally projected by a biasing member such as a spring built in the drive unit 33, and engages with the recess 28 of the separation wheel 25 to be separated. The rotation of the wheel 25 is prevented.

The electromagnetic solenoid 33 is controlled by a control unit (not shown) and is energized to pull the locking member 32 against the urging force of the urging member and release the locking of the locking member 32 to the separation wheel 25. As a result, the separation wheel 25 can rotate.
In addition, the drive part 33 should just be what can drive the latching member 32 by electromagnetic force. In the case of an electromagnetic solenoid, a plunger type solenoid, a movable iron piece type solenoid or the like, and a self-holding type solenoid or the like can be used.

Next, the detection unit 35 will be described.
Reference numeral 36 denotes a swinging member which can swing around the rotation shaft 37.
The swing member 36 has two contacts 38, 38 provided at a predetermined interval, and these contacts 38, 38 can come into contact with the concave surface reaching the protrusion 27 of the recess 28 of the separation wheel 25. It has become. A weight 39 for urging the swinging member 36 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 is attached to a portion of the swinging member 36 opposite to the contact 38 with respect to the rotating shaft 37.

In the stationary state of FIG. 1, the left contactor 38 is in a position to enter toward the bottom of the recess 28.
When the separation wheel 25 starts rotating, the left contactor 38 is pressed outward by the wall surface of the protrusion 27, and the swing member 36 is rotated counterclockwise. The left contactor 38 gets over one protrusion 27 and the right contactor 38 enters the recesses 28 at positions different from the recesses 28 in which the left contactor 38 has entered (in FIG. 1, a plurality of alternating contacts are formed. The recessed portion 28 is a portion of the recessed portion 28 in which the left contactor 38 has entered, and is swung one counterclockwise as viewed from the recessed portion 28). While being pressed outward by the wall surface of the projecting portion 27, it is urged by the weight 39 and rotated clockwise, returning to the state of FIG. That is, the swinging member 36 swings back and forth once each time the separation wheel 25 rotates 36 ° to release one pachinko ball 16. The structure in which the swing member 36 swings accurately in this way is an application of the principle of an escapement mechanism in a mechanical timepiece.

  A detection plate 40 is provided on the front side of the weight 39 of the swing member 36 so as to swing together with the swing member 36. A transmission sensor 41 is provided on the swing path of the detection plate 40 so that the swing of the swing member 36 can be detected. The swing member 36, the sensor 41, the control unit, and the like constitute a counting unit.

The present embodiment is configured as described above.
The number of payouts of the pachinko balls 16 is input or set in a control unit (not shown). When a payout signal is input to the control unit, for example, when a bill is inserted into a bill recognition device (not shown), the control unit commands the electromagnetic solenoid 33 to be energized, thereby driving the electromagnetic solenoid 33, The locking member 32 is pulled in against the urging force of the urging member, the locking state of the separation wheel 25 is released, the rotation of the separation wheel 25 is started by the gravity of the pachinko ball 16, and the pachinko ball 16 is released. It is discharged downward through the passage 23.

  The swing of the swing member 36 is detected by the sensor 41, and this detection signal (ON / OFF signal of the sensor 41) is input to the control unit. The control unit swings the swing member 36, and accordingly, the pachinko ball 16 Count the number of releases. When the number of pachinko balls 16 released reaches a predetermined number, the control unit instructs the electromagnetic solenoid 33 to stop driving. When the electromagnetic solenoid 33 is stopped, the locking member 32 is engaged by the urging force of the urging member. Since the locking member 32 acts in the direction in which the locking member 32 enters the recessed portion 31 of the stopping portion 30 to lock the rotation of the separation wheel 25, the series of pachinko balls 16 is dispensed.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the approach path 20 is provided so as to be inclined obliquely downward with respect to the horizontal. Specifically, when feeding the pachinko ball 16 into the recess 28 through the approach path 20, the locus P of the center of gravity of the pachinko ball 16 is above the tangent line Q on the lower side of the separation wheel 25 parallel to the locus P, In addition, since the separation wheel 25 is directed to rotate downward due to the gravity of the pachinko ball 16, the falling speed of the pachinko ball 16 is reduced and the impact on the separation wheel 25 is reduced, so the pachinko ball 16 As described above, it is possible to eliminate the false count.
Further, in the present embodiment, when the protruding portion 27 of the separation wheel 25 enters the slit 29 provided in the passage 12 in the vicinity of the boundary portion between the entrance passage 20 and the communication passage 21 of the passage 12, the bottom surface of the recess 28. Can be prevented from projecting from the wall surface of the communication path 21. As a result, the collision of the pachinko ball 16 that reaches the recess 28 through the approach path 20 can be received by the wall surface of the communication path 21 and the impact on the separation wheel 25 can be further mitigated.

In the present embodiment, the separation wheel 25 and the locking portion (member related to the separation wheel) 30 are provided separately. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the locking member 32 is provided in the recess 28 of the separation wheel 25. If a small concave portion that can enter is provided, the separation wheel 25 can also serve as the locking portion 30.
Further, the shape of the swinging member, the position and shape of the detection unit, or the detection means in the counting unit 35 are not limited to this as long as the same effect can be obtained.
Moreover, you may make it provide the sensor (not shown) which detects or counts the presence or absence of the pachinko ball which passes the upstream of the isolation | separation wheel 25 of the channel | path 12. FIG.
Moreover, you may provide the sensor which counts the pachinko ball which passes in the discharge path 23. FIG.

Of course, only one sensor 41 in the detection unit 35 is required.
However, in the case of a single sensor, it was found that if a life / acceleration test considering the product life is continued for a long time, a counting error occurs as the end of the life is approached. As a result of the investigation, it was found that the main factor causing the error was due to contaminants adhering to the pachinko balls. Pachinko balls are collected from the game machine, sent to the stock section, and supplied to the game machine from above. Although a device for wiping in the circulation path is also installed, it is a cleaning process within a practical range for the player and the game device, and dust cannot be completely removed. Contaminants estimated to be affected by this invisible dirt, oil and fat content, moisture in the air, etc., which are considered to be slightly present in the test apparatus, adhere to the separation wheel 25 from the pachinko balls, and the swing member 36 As a result of the transfer to the contact 38, a deviation such as a delay occurs in the vibration cycle, and as a result, an unexpected collision occurs between the tip of the protrusion 27 and the contact 38 of the swing member 36, and the swing member 36 Unnecessary vibration, that is, a so-called chattering phenomenon occurs on the sensor side, and the error of counting more than the actual one increases with the lapse of the test time.

Therefore, in the embodiment described below, by providing two sensors and performing the control as described below, the number of millions is counted up to several (5 or less) errors (25 is 1). (Equivalent to 200,000 sets or more as a set) Counting accuracy was improved.
The counting mechanism using two sensors described below is an independent invention itself, and can be applied not only to the counting device according to the present invention but also to a general counting device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing two sensors 1 (41) and sensor 2 (42). The sensor 1 and the sensor 2 are configured in two layers on the base surface, and a detection plate 40 is provided on the swing member 36 corresponding to each sensor. The sensor 1 is covered with the detection plate 40 (OFF), and is turned ON when the end surface passes, and then returns to OFF. The detection plate 40 of the sensor 2 is provided with a long hole, and the sensor 2 is configured to return to ON from the ON-OFF operation when the detection plate 40 swings.
Note that the sensors 1 and 2 are not stacked in two stages, but may be turned on and off by a single detection plate 40 having a long hole, as shown in FIG.

The feature of using two sensors according to the present embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 5, both the sensor 1 (41) and the sensor 2 (42) are darker during the bright (High: ON) time. The long hole and the sensor position in the detection plate 40 are set so as to be longer than the time of (Low: OFF) and so that the mutual OFF is between the mutual ON.
Here, OFF and ON are coded and described. If OFF is code 0, ON is code 1, and the sensor 1 (41) and sensor 2 (42) are expressed in the order of a 2-digit single pattern and a composite pattern consisting of multiple combinations of 2-digit single patterns, pachinko balls Can be represented by a composite pattern of 01-11-10-11-01 with one cycle. In this cycle, there are 10 sandwiched between 11, but when the control unit first detects a composite pattern that becomes 01-11, it is set to 1 as the first counting point, and there is no chattering phenomenon or the like. For example, the composite pattern of 10-11 continues, but a chattering phenomenon or the like occurs and a complex pattern or a single pattern different from normal, such as 10-01-10-01, is detected. Can continue to ignore them, and wait for the next timing of 11. That is, it can be determined that one cycle is completed at 11-01 after starting at 01 and counting 11 at the first counting point, and then undergoing a phenomenon other than 11.

  This 01 is also a start code, so if 11 comes after 01, the count is 1 again. The phenomenon other than the above 11 includes, in addition to 10 which is a normal operation, 01 or 10 due to a chattering phenomenon that occurs before and after the phenomenon, or 11 that occurs repeatedly within 10. There is also a chattering phenomenon in which 11 and 01 are repeated between the start codes 01 and 11. Even in this case, if it becomes 01-11 (assuming that 11 is due to chattering), the count 1 may be counted, and then chattering 01 and normal 11 will follow, but 01-11 after chattering 11 Other codes are ignored and can be controlled not to overcount.

This will be described more specifically with reference to FIG.
1) Initial (standby) state ⇒ With the electromagnetic solenoid 33 being OFF (not energized), the urging member causes the locking member 32 to enter the recess 31 of the locking portion 30 to lock the rotation of the separation wheel 25. ing. At this time, the sensor 1 is kept in the OFF (dark) state, and the sensor 2 is kept in the ON (bright) state.
2) The locking of the locking member 32 is released.
Point A in Fig. 5 (only point symbols are shown below)
⇒ Energization of the electromagnetic solenoid 33 causes the locking member 32 directly connected to the plunger to rise, and the locking gear (locking portion) 30 becomes free. The control unit stores that the ON signal has been transmitted to the electromagnetic solenoid.
3) The separation wheel 25 starts rotating and the swing member 36 starts swinging.
4) Point B that detects that the sensor 1 is “High” (ON) ⇒ When the condition of the transmission signal + sensor 1 detection is met, this point B is used as a counting point and the memory number of the counting unit of the control unit is set to 0. Add one. The condition for counting the first one from the beginning of the count 0 is different from the second and subsequent conditions by detecting the energization signal of the electromagnetic solenoid 33 and the sensor 1.
The memory that transmitted the solenoid ON signal and the memory of the sensor 1 detection signal are erased (reset) from the memory of the control unit.
The reason why 1 can be counted here is that the driving force for the rotation of the separation wheel 25 is not limited to the weight of approximately one pachinko ball, and the position where the locking (claw) portion 30 is opened and the sensor 1 is detected. In the state where the separation wheel 25 is rotated until the locking (claw) portion 30 is returned, it is impossible to generate a stress that returns the rotation (stops the fall of the pachinko ball and reverses it back to the original position) ( FIG. 6 (c)). Therefore, even if the sensor 1 is detected, there is no actual condition that there is no pachinko ball, and since the pachinko ball cannot be returned, the count 1 is established. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the flow of operations when discharging one pachinko ball, and details will be described later.
The swinging member 36 obtains a swinging force by the separation wheel 25 (tooth and tooth tip) by application of the escapement mechanism, starts swinging operation, and rotates once with the rotation angle of one tooth of the protruding portion. Even if the protruding portion of the separation wheel 25 rotates by one tooth, the swing does not become 0 or 2 even if the protrusion is rotated by one tooth. This mechanism is trusted by mechanical watch technology.
5) Subsequently, it is detected that the sensor 2 has become “Low”. Point C ⇒ The fact that the sensor 2 has become “Low” is stored in the control unit.
Thereafter, even if the sensor 2 is detected again until a condition described below is satisfied, it is ignored.
The reason for detecting the sensor 2 again is the chattering phenomenon. The solution to this chattering phenomenon with a simple configuration is the addition of “Sensor 2”. Further, the swinging member 36 changes the direction from the maximum amplitude to the return toward the initial direction during the step in which the sensor 2 is “Low”.
6) Check "High" D point of sensor 2, check "Low" E point of sensor 1, and check "High" of sensor 1. Point B ⇒ 5) Memory C point passing + D point passing + E point 1 is added to the storage unit of the counting unit of the control unit when the condition of passing + B point (counting point) (referred to as “C + D + E + B” of the detection condition) is met. The minimum condition is C point + B point (count point). However, since the change of the voltage value cannot be detected without the E point in detecting the B point (counting point), the E point is a semi-essential requirement.
Here, the detection memory is reset after adding 1 to the memory number of the counting unit.
After each point is stored, other sensor behaviors are not stored (ignored even if detected) until the next point check condition is met. This is a means for completely preventing erroneous counting from chattering. This mechanism will be described in detail later.
7) Counting end operation ⇒ In each of the above steps, the process of adding 1 to the storage number of the storage unit of the control unit of the control unit has been described. If the sum of the added numbers matches the predetermined count value, a signal for stopping energization of the electromagnetic solenoid is sent at that moment to stop the electromagnetic solenoid. The plunger lowers the locking member 32 toward the concave portion 31 of the locking portion 30 by the biasing force of the biasing member (FIG. 6C). At this moment, while holding the pachinko balls that have just been counted, the fall is rotating, so that the locking member 32 comes into contact with the tooth surface of the locking portion 30 to stop the lowering (FIG. 6 (c)). As the stopper 30 rotates, the locking member 32 gradually enters the recess 31 along the inclination of the tooth surface (FIGS. 6 (d) and 6 (e)), and almost simultaneously when the pachinko ball is released and dropped. The next pachinko ball is held (however, when there is no standby pachinko ball, in the holding standby state), it is gently stopped without receiving the impact force of the next standby pachinko ball (FIG. 6 (f)).

In addition, although it overlaps with the above, according to FIG. 6 (a)-FIG. 6 (f) and FIG. 7 (a)-FIG. The flow will be described.
1) FIG. 6A shows a standby state, and at this time, sensor 1 (41) -OFF and sensor 2 (42) -ON (FIG. 7A). At the same time as the electromagnetic solenoid (drive unit) 33ON (FIG. 6B), the separation wheel 25 starts to rotate due to the weight of the pachinko ball 1. Sensor 1 (41) -OFF and sensor 2 (42) -ON do not change from the start.
2) As shown in FIG. 6C, the separation wheel 25 continues to rotate while swinging the swinging member 36, so that the sensor 1 (41) -ON is turned on simultaneously with the sensor 2 (42) (FIG. 7). (B)). Here, since 1 is added to the count and the count value n = 1, the electromagnetic solenoid (drive unit) 33 is turned OFF, and the locking member 32 starts to descend.
3) As shown in FIGS. 6 (c) to 6 (d), the separation wheel 25 continues to rotate, and the locking member 32 comes into contact with the inclined surface from the rotating outer peripheral surface of the locking portion 30 toward the recess 31. After that, while sliding on the slope according to the rotation angle of the separation wheel 25, the separation wheel 25 enters the concave portion 31. In the meantime, the sensor 2 (42) is turned OFF while the sensor 1 (41) remains ON, and reaches the swing conversion point, and the swing direction of the swing member 36 is converted to the standby direction (FIG. 7C). -FIG.7 (d)).
4) As shown in FIG. 6 (e), while returning to the standby direction, the sensor 2 (42) is turned on and simultaneously with the sensor 1 (41) (FIG. 7 (b)).
5) The swinging member 36 returns to the standby position (FIG. 6 (f)). There is a point where the pachinko ball is released to the discharge path 22 by being released from the regulation of the separation wheel 25, and the pachinko ball is The free fall and the locking member 32 completely coincides with the recess 31 of the locking portion 30 to stop the rotation of the separation wheel 25, and the counting operation is finished (FIG. 6 (f), FIG. 7 (a)). .
6) As described above, counting at an early timing immediately after the pachinko ball is held on the separation wheel and rotation is started can completely eliminate counting errors due to chattering that may occur thereafter. In FIG. 6 (c), it seems that the locking member 32 is already in contact with the locking portion 30, but actually, the rotation of the separation wheel 25 advances further, so that the vicinity of the position in FIG. 6 (d). It contacts after the rotation is advanced. Here, by increasing the urging force of the urging member, the return speed is also increased. However, the urging force of the urging member is naturally set to be weaker than the attraction force of the electromagnetic solenoid (drive unit) 33, and the urging force is not so fast that the locking member 32 enters before the position of FIG. Even if it enters the vicinity of the contact point between the concave portion 31 and the slope, the rotational speed and rotational force of the separation wheel 25 are set so that there is no urging force that acts on the wall of the concave portion 31 and forcibly reverses. After that, it enters the vicinity of the position of FIG. Accordingly, since the ball cannot return after the reverse rotation from the moment of FIG. 6B, counting can be performed at the subsequent point of FIG. 6C.

FIG. 5 is a principle diagram, but in FIG. 8, the actual chattering phenomenon is simulated by referring to the actual measurement data of FIG. The counting control method will be described with reference to FIG. It can be seen from FIG. 9 that the chattering phenomenon instantaneously occurs at a position where the sensor is turned from ON to OFF or from OFF to ON. However, the chattering that affects the counting in this embodiment is mainly dark after ON → OFF. It occurs frequently in a short time (Low).
It should be noted that the detection demarcation line determines that a change in sensor output of 1/2 of the total voltage is detected. That is, when the value that changes from Low to High or from High to Low exceeds the detection demarcation line, it is determined that the value has changed to High or Low, and is set as a detection point.
1) A1 is the moment when the ON signal is transmitted to the electromagnetic solenoid 33, and the control unit that issued the signal stores it.
2) The detection limit of each sensor detects a change in the output voltage value.
3) For example, when going from Low to High, the detection demarcation line indicated by a line in the middle is bordered, and at the moment the line is crossed from below to above, it is determined as High and the process proceeds to the next step. Similarly, High → Low is determined to be Low at the moment when the detection demarcation line is crossed from above to below.
4) At B1 in FIG. 8 (when going from Low to High, the moment when the detection demarcation line is crossed upward from below), 1 is added to the memory of the counting unit of the control unit, and it starts from 0. While storing the count value n = 1, the detection storage of A1 and B1 is reset.
5) Next, C1 (the moment when the detection boundary line is crossed from the top to the bottom when High → Low) is stored. Since F does not exceed the detection demarcation line, it is not detected.
6) While referring to the detection of D1 and E1, add 1 to the storage unit at B2 and store the count value n = 2. In other words, B2 clearly detects the chattering phenomenon, but the detection condition “C + (D) + (E) + B” (where (D) and (E) are merely passing points and are not required conditions. Is good). Here, the point detection memory is reset.
7) Next, it waits for C2, but since E2-B3 is detected before that, but the condition of waiting for "C" does not match, this detection is ignored and no counting is performed.
8) The detection of C2 is stored by the detection of C2. Next, D2-C3 continues, but because the conditions do not match, the detection of C2-D2 is ignored and the storage of C2 is rewritten and stored as the detection of C3. Alternatively, D2-C3 may be ignored and the memory of C2 may be retained.
9) 1 is added to the storage unit when the condition of “C3 + (D3) + (E3) + B4” (where (D3) and (E3) are merely passing points and may not be required conditions) and the count value n = 3 is stored. At this time, G in front of B4 does not exceed the detection demarcation line and is not detected in the same manner as F described above.
10) Here, assuming that the predetermined count value is 3, simultaneously with the count value n = 3, an OFF signal is sent to the electromagnetic solenoid, and the three counts are finished. If the predetermined number is 25, it may be continued until the count value n = 25.
11) As shown in FIG. 8, a large chattering phenomenon occurs at the "H" point next to B4, but the counting is already completed at the B4 point and is ignored, so there is no effect on the counting accuracy. Although the above-mentioned chattering phenomenon “H” point is ignored, the control unit is engaged when the detection condition “C + D + E + B” is repeated and reaches a certain number of times even though the counting is finished. It may be determined that the locking member 32 has a locking function or other failure, and some indication or alarm may be issued.
12) For instantaneous changes such as “B2-E2”, “D2-C3”, “F, G”, etc., control that ignores changes within a short time and sensor reaction time are slowed (sensitivity is slowed down). However, as can be seen from the actual measurement chart of FIG. 9, the major scale is 200 ms (milliseconds) and the whole is about 1,640 ms (milliseconds), that is, about 1.6 seconds. As described above, 25 times of vibrations are captured. As a method of accurately capturing 10 to 20 vibrations per second, the former determines that the change point to be detected is not detected, and the latter detects it. Any control is not theoretically impossible, but it is not appropriate because it makes it difficult to detect changes to be made.

In the above embodiment, both the sensor 1 and the sensor 2 are such that the bright (High: ON) time is longer than the dark (Low: OFF) time, and the other OFF is between each other. In addition, a long hole and a sensor position in the detection plate 40 were set.
In contrast to the above, FIG. 10 shows that both sensor 1 and sensor 2 have a dark (Low: OFF) time longer than a bright (High: ON) time, and each other's The long hole and the sensor position in the detection plate 40 are set so that ON comes. In the present embodiment, the timing when both are “dark” and “dark” are repeatedly generated, and one cycle is counted as one. Even in this way, chattering can be prevented.

FIG. 10 will be further described in conjunction with FIGS. 11 (a) to 11 (d).
1) Initial (standby) state ⇒ With the electromagnetic solenoid 33 being OFF (not energized), the urging member causes the locking member 32 to enter the recess 31 of the locking portion 30 to lock the rotation of the separation wheel 25. ing. At this time, the sensor 1 is kept in the OFF (dark) state, and the sensor 2 is kept in the ON (bright) state (FIG. 11A).
2) Point A—The control unit stores that the electromagnetic solenoid 33ON signal has been transmitted.
3) It is detected that the point B-sensor 2 is “Low” (OFF) (FIG. 11B), and 1 is added to the memory number 0 of the counting unit of the control unit.
⇒ Erase (reset) the memory that transmitted the solenoid ON signal and the memory of the sensor 1 detection signal from the memory of the control unit.
4) Point C—Detect that the sensor 1 is “High” (ON) (FIG. 11C) and store it in the control unit.
5) While confirming D point and E point, add 1 to the storage unit of the counting unit at the next B point.
6) The counting end operation is compared with a predetermined number at the timing when 1 is added to the storage unit, and when they coincide with each other, a signal for stopping energization is sent to the electromagnetic solenoid 33 to stop the counting operation.

In the embodiment described above, the control method in which the counting point is set to the point B in FIGS. 5 and 10 is described. However, this is merely a design matter and can be changed as appropriate. For example, it may be set to point C or other points, and a single or complex pattern for detection may be set in accordance with the change of the counting point. However, for D and E points, there is a possibility that it will be just before or after the release of the pachinko balls to be counted, so the detection will be delayed due to slight variations in the detection timing of the sensor. Or, due to the operation characteristics of the locking member, there is a possibility that the locking member may be delayed and the next sphere may be separated and released. In view of this, it is also possible to send a stop signal so that the locking member locks at a value obtained by subtracting one from the predetermined count value (in this case, the minimum countable number is 2 or more). In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to increasing detection accuracy and component accuracy. In the control method for storing each detection point and resetting the memory, the detection is performed after one or all of the counts are completed so that other patterns are ignored until the next pattern to be detected appears. Changes can be made as appropriate without departing from the object of the present invention, such as resetting the memory.
In each of the above embodiments, the supply amount of the pachinko balls is set and described as an example of counting whether or not the predetermined supply number has been reached, but simply counting the pachinko balls flowing in the passage Of course, it can be applied to only the apparatus. Furthermore, it is not limited to a pachinko sphere, and any sphere can be applied.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Sphere counter 12 Passage 14 Base 15 Insertion port 16 Pachinko ball 17 Vertical path 18 Bending path 19 Vertical path 20 Approaching path 21 Communication path 22 Release path 23 Vertical path 25 Separation wheel 26 Rotating shaft 27 Protrusion part 28 Concave part 29 Slit 30 Stop part 31 Concave part 32 Locking member 33 Electromagnetic solenoid (drive part)
35 Detection part 36 Oscillating member 37 Rotating shaft 38 Contact 40 Detection plate 41 Sensor (Sensor 1)
42 Sensor (Sensor 2)

Claims (11)

A plurality of recesses for receiving a spherical body such as a pachinko ball continuously by gravity and a plurality of recesses for receiving protrusions and spheres one by one are formed on the outer periphery, and the recesses are formed by rotating around a rotation axis. In a sphere counting device comprising a separation wheel that sequentially faces the passage, sequentially receives the spheres supplied from the passage and discharges them to the discharge path, and a counting unit that calculates the number of spheres discharged to the discharge path,
A locking member that locks the separation wheel or a member related to the separation wheel and stops the rotation of the separation wheel;
A driving unit that drives the locking member, releases the locking, and allows the separation wheel to rotate;
A control unit for controlling the driving of the driving unit,
The passage is
When the sphere is bent obliquely downward toward the separation wheel immediately before the separation wheel and the sphere is fed into the recess, the locus of the center of gravity of the sphere is above the tangent on the lower side of the separation wheel parallel to the locus, and An approach path that faces the direction of rotating the separation wheel downward by the gravity of a sphere,
A sphere counting device, comprising: a communication path that allows a sphere fed from the approach path to the recess of the separation wheel to pass from the approach path toward the discharge path when the separation wheel rotates.   The direction of the center of gravity of the sphere moving along the approach path is in a direction that coincides with the axis of the rotation axis of the separation wheel, or the direction toward the separation wheel in the entry path so as to pass below the rotation axis. The sphere counting device according to claim 1, wherein: is set.   The sphere counting device according to claim 2, wherein an inclination angle of the approach path from a horizontal plane is 5 to 45 °.   The sphere counting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the passage has a curved path that bends obliquely downward in a direction opposite to the approach path on the upstream side immediately adjacent to the approach path.   The sphere counting device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge path is formed in a discharge path that discharges a sphere obliquely downward rather than in a vertical direction. The coefficient part is
An oscillating member that has a contact that contacts the separation wheel, and that oscillates once when the separation wheel rotates at an angle of one sphere;
The sphere counting device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects a swing of the swing member.   Two sensors are provided, and both sensors are set so that the light (High: ON) time is longer than the dark (Low: OFF) time, and each other is turned off between each other. The sphere counting device according to claim 6, wherein   Two sensors are provided, and each sensor is set so that the dark (Low: OFF) time is longer than the bright (High: ON) time, and that each other is turned on between each other. The sphere counting device according to claim 6, wherein   The sphere counting device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects or counts the presence or absence of a sphere that passes upstream of the separation wheel in the passage.   The sphere counting device according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor that detects or counts a passing sphere in the discharge path.   The sphere counting device according to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is an electromagnetic solenoid.