JP2011188988A - Ball feeding device for game machine, ball shooting device for game machine, and game machine including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of suppressing ball pressure from a following ball in feeding game balls and capable of more securely feeding game balls one by one. <P>SOLUTION: The shooting device 10 for a game machine includes the ball feeding device 11 for the game machine and a ball hitting device 12. The ball feeding device 11 has a rotatably disposed rotator 30 with a plurality of storing parts 32 for storing one game ball respectively. The rotator 30 receives one game ball from the upstream side via an intake 56 when one storage part 32 is located at a prescribed intake position where the storage part communicates with the intake 56, and after receiving the game ball in the storage part 32, moves the storage part 32 receiving the game ball to an outlet 58 side by rotating at a prescribed angle. Then, when the storage part 32 receiving the game ball is located at a prescribed outlet position where the storage part communicates with the outlet 58, the rotator 30 feeds the game ball stored in the storage part 32 to outside of the rotator 30 via the outlet 58. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball feeding device for a gaming machine, a ball launching device for a gaming machine, and a gaming machine including the same.

  In a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, generally, a game ball is launched toward a game area by hitting a game ball with a hitting ball provided in a ball launcher. In this type of ball launcher, due to the structure and specifications, it is required to launch game balls one by one. A ball delivery device that sends game balls to the ball launcher is sure to play game balls one by one. The structure which can be supplied to is required.

JP 2009-77904 A

  For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-133707 is provided as a technique for supplying game balls one by one to the ball launcher. In the ball feeder of Patent Document 1, a rotary plate (60) is rotatably attached to the downstream side of the flow down guide path (56), and six passage openings (62) are formed in the rotary plate (60). ing. Each time the rotating plate (60) rotates by a certain angle, the passage opening (62) is interposed between the downstream end portion of the flow down guide path (56) and the opening portion (66) and overlaps with them. Sometimes, a game ball from the flow down guide path (56) passes and is supplied to the launching device (18). In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis used here is a code | symbol attached | subjected by patent document 1. FIG.

  However, in the technique of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the pressure (ball pressure) from the succeeding sphere is applied to the game ball waiting in front of the rotating plate (60), the staying game ball is caught in the ball and jammed. This is likely to occur and the game ball may not be supplied to the launching device. In addition, since the rotating plate (60) simply functions as a shutter that opens and closes the passage, a plurality of (for example, two) game balls may pass through the passage opening (62) and the opening (66). However, this problem becomes significant in the technique of Patent Document 1 in which the ball pressure from the succeeding sphere is easily applied.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can suppress the ball pressure from the succeeding ball at the time of supplying the game ball, and can more reliably send out the game balls one by one. The purpose is to provide.

The present invention is a ball feeding device for a gaming machine that takes in game balls from the upstream and feeds them one by one toward the hitting device, and is configured to be rotatable around a predetermined central axis and driven from the outside A rotating body that is driven by force and that is provided with a plurality of housing portions each housing a game ball around the central axis; a holding portion that rotatably holds the rotating body; An intake port configured to allow the game ball to pass therethrough and disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the housing portion at a predetermined circumferential position around the central axis, and on the opposite side of the intake port across the rotating body And a delivery port disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the housing portion at a position deviated from the intake port in the circumferential direction around the central axis.
Further, the rotating body receives one game ball from the upstream through the intake port when any of the storage portions reaches a predetermined intake position communicating with the intake port, and the storage portion By rotating the predetermined angle after receiving the game ball at a position, the storage unit receiving the game ball is moved to the delivery port side, and the storage unit receiving the game ball communicates with the delivery port. When the predetermined delivery position is reached, the game ball accommodated in the accommodation portion is delivered to the outside of the rotating body toward the ball hitting device via the delivery opening.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the storage portion has a length in the direction of the central axis larger than the diameter of the game ball and less than 1.5 times the diameter of the game ball.

  In the present invention, a gear may be formed integrally with the housing portion in the rotating body. In this case, the rotating body may be configured to rotate by receiving a driving force from an external driving device provided outside the rotating body by the gear.

  In the present invention, the bottom portion of the housing portion when in the delivery position may be inclined so that the delivery port side is lower than the intake port side at the delivery position.

  Moreover, in this invention, the said accommodating part may be comprised as a hole part penetrated along the direction of the said central axis. In this case, it is desirable that the opening on the intake port side has a circular shape with a diameter smaller than twice the diameter of the game ball.

  Further, the gaming machine ball feeding device according to the present invention, the gaming ball holding unit for holding the gaming ball sent by the gaming machine ball feeding device, and the gaming ball held by the gaming ball holding unit By providing a hitting ball rod for hitting and a hitting ball rod driving means for driving the hitting ball rod, a characteristic launching device for a gaming machine can be configured.

  In the gaming machine launching apparatus provided with the gaming machine ball feeding apparatus according to the present invention, a transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the hitting ball driving means to the rotating body may be provided. In this case, it is desirable that the rotating body is configured to be rotationally driven by transmitting the driving force of the hitting ball driving means by the transmitting means.

  Further, in the gaming machine launching device provided with the gaming machine ball feeding device according to the present invention, the hitting ball driving means may be constituted by a motor that rotates the hitting ball. The transmission means is constituted by a rotational force transmission means for rotating the rotating body by transmitting the rotational force of the motor to the rotating body, and the rotational force transmitting means is rotated each time the hitting ball is rotated once. In addition, the striking ball cage and the rotating body may be linked so that the supply operation from the storage of the game ball by the storage unit to the delivery of the game ball from the storage unit is performed once. Good.

  In addition, a characteristic gaming machine can be configured by providing the gaming machine ball feeder or the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the present invention.

The present invention is configured to be rotatable about a predetermined central axis, and is driven by receiving external driving force, and a plurality of accommodating portions for accommodating gaming balls one by one are disposed around the central axis. And a holding portion that rotatably holds the rotating body, and a game ball from upstream can pass therethrough, and is disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the housing portion at a predetermined circumferential position around the central axis. An intake port and a delivery port disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the housing portion at a position shifted from the intake port in the circumferential direction around the central axis are provided.
Further, the rotating body receives one game ball from the upstream through the intake port when any of the storage units reaches a predetermined intake position communicating with the intake port, and receives the game ball into the storage unit. Later, by rotating a predetermined angle, the storage unit that has received the game ball is moved to the delivery port side, and when the storage unit that has received the game ball is in a predetermined delivery position communicating with the delivery port, the delivery port is The game ball accommodated in the accommodating portion is sent out to the outside of the rotating body.
If it does in this way, a game ball can be received in a storage part one ball at a time, and the game ball will be carried to a delivery mouth by a storage part, and it will become possible to discharge | emit one ball at a time reliably. In particular, since only one game ball is accommodated in the accommodating portion and then moved to the delivery position, subsequent game balls do not continuously enter the accommodation portion, and are taken into the delivery port. Since the mouth is displaced, when the storage portion moves to the delivery position, it becomes difficult for the ball pressure from the game ball staying near the intake port to be applied to the single game ball stored in the storage portion, When the game ball is sent out, the influence of the succeeding ball can be more reliably divided. Therefore, it is possible to reliably and stably send out the game balls one by one.

  Further, since the game ball is moved in the circumferential direction by the rotating body, there is no need to arrange the intake port and the delivery port so as to overlap each other, and the positional relationship in which the intake port and the delivery port are displaced in the circumferential direction. Can be widely designed and arranged. The arrangement relationship between the intake port and the delivery port can be variously designed depending on the arrangement of the central axis of the rotating body, and can be shifted in the vertical direction or in the horizontal direction. .

  Further, it is desirable that the game ball accommodated when the game ball is moved from the take-in port to the send-out port by the rotating body moves at least in the lateral direction. In this way, when the game ball accommodated in the accommodation unit moves from the vicinity of the intake port with the rotation of the rotating body, the amount of pushing back the subsequent game ball (game ball staying in the vicinity of the intake port) is reduced. It becomes difficult to apply the ball pressure from the game ball in the housing portion to the subsequent game ball.

  Further, it is desirable that the length of the housing portion in the central axis direction is larger than the diameter of the game ball and less than 1.5 times the diameter of the game ball. If it does in this way, it will become a little easy to move the game ball accommodated in the accommodating part in the direction of the central axis, and when the accommodating part is moved from the taking-in position to the sending-out position, the gaming ball in which the accommodating part stays is pushed back to the upstream side. It is possible to reduce the force (the force for dividing the game ball inside the storage unit and the game ball outside the storage unit). Therefore, the staying game ball is hard to be pushed back, so that the behavior at the time of stay is less likely to be unstable, and it is possible to satisfactorily take in the game ball in which the next storage section stays.

  In the present invention, a gear may be formed integrally with the housing portion in the rotating body. In this case, it is desirable that the rotating body is rotationally driven by receiving a driving force from an external driving device provided outside the rotating body by a gear. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a gear as a separate body from the housing portion, so that the number of parts can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is desirable that the bottom portion of the housing portion when in the delivery position is inclined so that the delivery port side is lower than the intake port side at the delivery position. If it does in this way, when a storage part reaches a sending-out position, a game ball can be sent out quickly and stably to a sending-out mouth side.

  Moreover, in this invention, the said accommodating part may be comprised as a hole part penetrated along the direction of the said central axis. In this case, it is desirable that the opening on the intake port side has a circular shape with a diameter smaller than twice the diameter of the game ball. If it does in this way, it can prevent that two game balls enter into an accommodating part simultaneously. In addition, since the game balls are less likely to enter the storage portion at an early stage, the time during which the ball pressure from the subsequent game balls is applied to the game balls stored in the storage portion can be shortened.

  Also, the game machine ball feeding device according to the present invention, a game ball holding unit for holding a game ball sent by the game machine ball feeding device, and a game ball held by the game ball holding unit are hit. It is more desirable to configure a gaming machine launching device that includes a hitting ball rod and a hitting ball driving means for driving the hitting ball rod. In this way, it is possible to realize a gaming machine launching apparatus that can reliably supply the balls one by one with the ball feeding device for gaming machines and can stably hit the balls one by one.

  Further, in the gaming machine launching device provided with the ball feeding device for gaming machines according to the present invention, a transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the hitting ball driving means to the rotating body is provided, and the driving of the hitting ball driving means by the transmitting means is provided. The rotating body may be configured to rotate by transmitting force. In this way, the hitting ball driving means can be used as an external driving device used for driving the rotating body, and the number of parts can be reduced and the size can be reduced.

Further, in the gaming machine launching device provided with the gaming machine ball feeder according to the present invention, the hitting ball driving means may be constituted by a motor that rotates the hitting ball. The transmission means is constituted by a rotational force transmission means for rotating the rotating body by transmitting the rotational force of the motor to the rotating body. You may comprise the structure which links a hitting ball basket and a rotary body so that supply operation | movement from taking-in of a ball | bowl to sending out of the game ball from the said accommodating part may be performed once.
In this way, every time the striking ball is rotated one time, the supply operation from taking in the game ball to the delivery of the game ball is carried out once by the housing portion. It will surely be sent out one by one.

  Further, by providing the gaming machine launching device in the gaming machine, it is possible to realize a gaming machine having the same effects as the gaming machine launching device.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating a gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the front frame is opened in the gaming machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the gaming machine launching device of FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the gaming machine launching apparatus of FIG. 3 as seen from a direction different from that in FIG. 6 is a front view of the gaming machine launching apparatus of FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of the gaming machine launching apparatus of FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a state where a part of the case is removed in the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG. FIG. 11A is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the central portion of the rotating body, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the intake opening. FIG. 12 is a front view showing a state in which any of the accommodating portions is in the take-in position in the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the first embodiment. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 14 is a front view showing a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG. FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which any one of the accommodating portions is in the delivery position in the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the first embodiment. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. FIG. 18 is a front view showing a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG. FIG. 20 is a front view showing the configuration of the ball striking device side in the game machine launching apparatus according to the first embodiment, and shows a state when the ball striking ball is at the ball striking position. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG.

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a ball feeder for gaming machines, a launching machine for gaming machines, and a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Outline of the gaming machine)
First, an outline of the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the front frame is opened in the gaming machine of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming machine 1 is configured as a pachinko machine, and includes a frame-shaped outer frame 2 that forms an outer shell. On the front side of the outer frame 2, one side is a hinge 2a, The inner frame 3 is supported by a structure that can be pivotally supported via 2a and can be opened to the front side. A game board 5 in which a game area 5a is formed by the guide rail 8 is mounted on the inner frame 3, and a game machine launching device (hereinafter simply referred to as a launching device) 10 is provided below the game board 5. A front frame 4 having a glass frame 6 and a ball tray frame 7 is provided on the front side of the inner frame 3. A glass frame 6 forming a part of the front frame 4 is provided with a transparent plate such as glass, and is attached to the inner frame 3 through a hinge 2b so as to be opened and closed. The ball tray frame 7 is attached to the inner frame 3 through a hinge 2c so as to be freely opened and closed. A game ball is stored on the front surface of the ball tray frame 7, and the stored game ball is rectified and supplied to the launching device 10. A ball tray 9 is provided. A ball launching handle 19 for adjusting the launching force of the game ball is provided on the lower right side of the ball receiving tray 9.

  In the present specification, the vertical direction in the gaming machine 1 means the direction in which the game ball flows down the game area 5a in a manner along the board surface of the game board 5 (vertical direction in the representative example shown in FIG. 1 and the like). Further, the left-right direction means a direction (horizontal direction in the representative example shown in FIG. 1 and the like) orthogonal to the up-down direction in a mode along the board surface of the game board 5. Further, the front-rear direction means a direction orthogonal to the board surface of the game board 5 (horizontal direction in the representative example shown in FIG. 1 and the like), the player side of the game board 5 is the front side, and the back side of the game board 5 ( The opposite side of the game area 5a) is the rear side.

(Configuration of launcher)
Next, the launcher 10 will be described in detail.
First, the configuration of the launching device will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the launching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the launching device of FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the launching device of FIG. 3 as seen from a direction different from that in FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view of the launching device of FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view of the launcher of FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating a state where a part of the case is removed in the launching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG. FIG. 11A is an enlarged view showing the vicinity of the central portion of the rotating body, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the intake opening.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the launching device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a hitting device 12 and a ball feeding device 11 for a gaming machine (hereinafter also simply referred to as a ball feeding device). The ball feeder 11 is supplied from upstream through an upstream flow path 100 (FIG. 8) configured to supply the game ball B (FIG. 8) from the ball tray 9 (FIG. 1) to the ball feeder 11. The game balls B (FIG. 8) to be played are taken in one by one and sent out one by one toward the hitting device 12, and the hitting device 12 is sent out one by one by the ball feeding device 11. 20 and FIG. 21) are shot one by one and fired toward the game area 5a (FIG. 1).

(Configuration of hitting device)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hitting device 12 includes a game ball holding portion 26 (FIG. 4) having an M-shaped cross section that holds game balls that are sent one by one by a ball feeding device 11 described later, and a game ball. A hitting ball 24 for hitting a game ball held by the holding unit 26, a gear 22 that rotates integrally with the hitting ball 24, and a motor 20 that rotates the hitting ball 24 and the gear 22 about a predetermined rotation axis G2. And.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 20, and 21, the game ball holding unit 26 is configured as a rail inclined with respect to the vertical direction, and is arranged along the board surface direction of the game board 5. . The game ball holding portion 26 is formed with a groove portion 26 a into which a part of the game ball is fitted in the center portion in the front-rear direction, and the groove portion 26 a is arranged so as to be inclined along the board surface direction of the game board 5. Yes. Further, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, a rearward projecting portion 17 projecting rearward from the ball feeding device 11 supports the oblique upper side of the game ball B placed on the game ball holding portion 26, and these game balls The game ball B is held at the launch position by the support of the holding portion 26 and the rearward protruding portion 17.

  The striking ball 24 is configured in an arm shape as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, and one end side portion 24 c is fixed to the drive shaft (rotating shaft portion 20 a) of the motor 20. Further, an extended portion 24a extending along the rotational radius direction of the motor 20 is connected to the one end side portion 24c, and a game ball B (FIGS. 20 and 21) is connected to the distal end side of the extended portion 24a. A colliding portion 24b that collides is formed. The collision portion 24b protrudes along the circumferential direction from the vicinity of the tip portion of the extension portion 24a, and is configured to rotate so as to move to the protruding direction side by driving a motor 20 described later.

  The motor 20 is configured by, for example, a known stepping motor, and is configured to rotationally drive a drive shaft (rotating shaft portion 20a) upon receiving power supply from a motor drive circuit (not shown). The motor 20 is controlled by, for example, a motor drive circuit and a control circuit (both not shown) so as to rotate at a speed corresponding to the rotation angle (operation angle) of the handle 19 (FIG. 1 and the like). The above-mentioned hitting ball 24 and the gear 22 are fixed to the drive shaft (rotary shaft portion 20a) of the motor 20 using a nut (not shown), and these rotate integrally with the rotation of the rotary shaft portion 20a. It is configured as follows. In the present embodiment, the motor 20 corresponds to an example of “external drive device” and “hit ball driving means”.

  The gear 22 is configured, for example, as a known spur gear, and is configured to be fixed to the rotating shaft portion 20a of the motor 20 and rotate around the rotating shaft G2 by receiving the driving force of the motor 20. In the present embodiment, the rotation axis G2 of the gear 22 (that is, the rotation axis of the motor 20) and the center axis G1 of the gear 38 that will be described later (that is, the rotation axis of the rotating body 30) are configured in parallel. 22 is engaged with the gear 38 adjacent to the gear 38 of the rotating body 30 and functions to transmit the driving force of the rotating shaft portion 20 a to the gear 38. In the present embodiment, the gear 22 corresponds to an example of “transmission means” and “rotational force transmission means”.

(Configuration of ball feeder)
Next, the ball feeder 11 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the ball feeder 11 includes a rotating body 30 configured to be rotatable about a predetermined central axis G <b> 1 (FIG. 6), and a case for rotatably holding the rotating body 30. 50, and in the case 50, an intake port 56 (FIGS. 3 and 6) for taking in game balls from the upstream side, and a delivery port 58 (FIG. 5) for sending out the game balls accommodated in the rotating body 30. , FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the rotator 30 is configured in a substantially disc shape so that the outer shape forms a substantially circular shape. The rotator 30 is driven by an external driving force and rotates about the central axis G1. Is configured to do. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11A, the rotating body has a plurality of receiving holes 32 formed at a predetermined distance from the central axis G1, and the receiving holes 32 are centered on the central axis G1. Are arranged in a ring in the circumferential direction. Further, the plurality (eight in this case) of the accommodation holes 32 are configured to have substantially the same shape, and each of the accommodation holes 32 is configured as a hole portion penetrating along the direction of the central axis G1. More specifically, each accommodation hole 32 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inner surface is configured as a substantially cylindrical surface. As shown in FIG. 11A, the center of each inner surface (cylindrical surface) Axis (cylindrical axis) C1 to C8 are substantially parallel to the central axis G1. More specifically, the inner peripheral surface of each accommodation hole 32 is configured such that the diameter on the delivery port 58 side is gradually wider than the intake port 56 side, whereby a portion (bottom portion) that becomes the bottom of the accommodation hole 32 is formed. 33) has an inclined structure in which the intake port 56 side becomes lower.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11A, the eight receiving holes 32 have the same distance to the central axis G1 in any of the eight receiving holes 32. That is, the distances from the central axis G1 to the central axes C1 to C8 are all the same. The eight receiving holes 32 have the same distance between the adjacent receiving holes 32. Specifically, the distance between the axis C1 and the axis C2, the distance between the axis C2 and the axis C3, and the axis C3. Distance between axis C4, distance between axis C4 and axis C5, distance between axis C5 and axis C6, distance between axis C6 and axis C7, distance between axis C7 and axis C8, distance between axis C8 and axis C1 Are all the same. Further, regarding the virtual planes F1 to F8 including the central axis G1 and passing through the axes C1 to C8, the angles θ formed by the adjacent surfaces are all the same. That is, an angle formed by the virtual surface F1 and the virtual surface F2, an angle formed by the virtual surface F2 and the virtual surface F3, an angle formed by the virtual surface F3 and the virtual surface F4, an angle formed by the virtual surface F4 and the virtual surface F5, The angle formed by the virtual surface F5 and the virtual surface F6, the angle formed by the virtual surface F6 and the virtual surface F7, the angle formed by the virtual surface F7 and the virtual surface F8, and the angle formed by the virtual surface F8 and the virtual surface F1 are all the same. Θ. With this configuration, each time the rotating body 30 rotates by a predetermined angle θ, the axes C1 to C8 are shifted one by one to move to the position of the adjacent shaft, and each receiving hole 32 is moved to the adjacent receiving hole. It moves to the position of 32.

  In addition, the diameter L2 of the opening 35 on the intake port 56 side in each accommodation hole 32 is preferably a circular shape having a diameter smaller than twice the diameter D of the game ball B (further, the diameter of the game ball B). In the example shown in FIG. 11 (B), the diameter of the circular opening 35 provided on the intake port 56 side of the accommodation hole 32 is desirable. L2 is configured to be approximately the same as the diameter D of the game ball B or slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball B.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11B, each accommodation hole 32 has a length L1 in the direction of the central axis G1 larger than the diameter D of the game ball B and more than 1.5 times the diameter D of the game ball. It is comprised so that it may become small. Since it is configured in this way, only one game ball B can be stored in each storage hole 32, and two or more balls cannot be stored.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the rotating body 30 is formed with a gear 38 integrally with the receiving hole 32, and the driving force from the motor 20 provided outside the rotating body 30 is applied to the rotating body 30. The entire rotating body 30 including the gear 38 is rotationally driven by being received by the gear 38. The gear 38 is configured, for example, as a spur gear, and is disposed adjacent to the gear 22 and meshes with the gear 22 so that the driving force from the gear 22 is transmitted and transmitted by the gear transmission. .

Next, the case 50 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 7, and 8, the case 50 is configured to cover most of the rotating body 30, and is one side of the rotating body 30 in the direction of the central axis G <b> 1 (that is, A front wall portion 51 disposed on the front side), a rear wall portion 52a (FIGS. 7 and 8) facing the front wall portion 51, an upper wall portion 52b disposed above the rotating body 30, and a rotation A lower wall portion 52c (FIGS. 6 to 8) disposed below the body 30 and a side wall portion 52d (FIG. 6) disposed on the side of one side of the rotating body 30 (the side opposite to the ball striking device 12). And. In this case 50, a front wall portion 51 and a rear wall portion 52a are formed on a plate and are arranged substantially parallel along the board surface of the game board 5, and the case as a whole has a thin box shape. There is no. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, an opening 55 is formed in a part (side of the ball striking device 12) and opened. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear wall portion 52a, the upper wall portion 52b, the lower wall portion 52c, and the side wall portion 52d are integrally formed to form a second case body 52. A front wall 51 as a first case body is assembled to the two case body 52 by fastening members 91a, 91b, 91c, 91d such as screws.

  The case 50 functions as a “holding portion” that rotatably holds the rotating body 30. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a hole 37 formed at the center of the rotating body 30. A rod-shaped shaft member 39 is arranged so as to pass through the shaft, and one end portion of the shaft member 39 is inserted into an insertion hole 54a (FIG. 5) formed in the front wall portion 51, thereby the front wall portion. 51, and the other end portion of the shaft member 39 is inserted into an insertion hole 54b (FIG. 4) formed in the rear wall portion 52a and is held by the rear wall portion 52a. Yes. Thus, the shaft member 39 is held in the case 50 so as to extend in the front-rear direction, and the rotating body 30 penetrating the shaft member 39 rotates around the shaft member 39.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, and 8, the front wall 51 of the case 50 has an intake port for taking the game ball B (FIG. 8) from the upstream flow path 100 (FIG. 8) into the case 50. 56 is formed. The intake port 56 is configured as a through-hole penetrating the front wall portion 51 in the front-rear direction, and has a size that allows the game ball B (FIG. 8) from upstream to pass therethrough. The intake port 56 is disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the accommodation hole 32 at a predetermined circumferential position around the central axis G1. That is, each accommodation hole 32 passes through a position adjacent to the intake port 56 during the movement until one rotation, and any one of the accommodation holes 32 overlaps with the intake port 56 as shown in FIG. The game ball B can be guided to the accommodation hole 32 at the time (specifically, when the game balls B overlap with each other so that the game ball B can pass therethrough).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the rear wall portion 52a of the case 50 is formed with a delivery port 58 for discharging the game ball accommodated in the accommodation hole 32 and delivering it to the ball striking device 12 side. As shown in FIG. 6, the delivery port 58 is disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the accommodation hole 32 at a position shifted from the intake port 56 in the circumferential direction around the central axis G1 (see also FIG. 13). . That is, each accommodation hole 32 passes through a position adjacent to the delivery port 58 during the movement until one rotation, and any accommodation hole 32 overlaps with the delivery port 58 as shown in FIG. The game ball B can be guided to the outside of the case 50 (specifically, when the game balls B overlap with each other so that the game ball B can pass therethrough). Further, the amount of deviation between the intake port 56 and the delivery port 58 is the amount of rotation of the rotating body 30 during one rotation of the ball striking device 12, and more specifically, each time the ball striking device 12 rotates once. The length is such that the accommodation hole 32 moves.

(Ball feeding operation)
Next, the ball feeding operation by the ball feeding device 11 will be described.
FIG. 12 is a front view showing a state in which any of the accommodating portions is in the take-in position in the launching apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 14 is a front view showing a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG. 12, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG. FIG. 16 is a front view showing a state in which any of the accommodating portions is in the delivery position in the launching apparatus according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 18 is a front view showing a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG. 16, and FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG.

  In the ball feeding device 11 configured as described above, first, when the intake port 56 and the accommodation hole 32 are shifted as shown in FIG. 8, the game ball B is mostly outside the intake port 56. It waits in the state arranged in Then, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, when the position of the rotating body 30 reaches a predetermined take-in position (that is, any one of the accommodation holes 32 communicates with the take-in port 56 and the game ball can pass through. When the rotation position is reached, the game ball B from the upstream flow path 100 (FIG. 8) is received through the intake port 56. Then, after the game ball B is received in the storage hole 32 as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, the rotary body 30 is rotated by a predetermined angle to move the storage hole 32 that has received the game ball B to the delivery port 58 side. Can do.

  In FIG. 12 to FIG. 14, the game ball B immediately after being taken in at the take-in port 56 is indicated by reference numeral B <b> 1, and the game ball moved to the vicinity of the delivery port 58 is indicated by reference sign B <b> 2. When the game ball B is taken in at 56, the receiving hole 32 for receiving the game ball B is configured to be in a predetermined delivery position communicating with the delivery port 58 when the hitting ball 24 rotates approximately once. . In other words, the game ball B1 moves to the position indicated by B2 when the striking ball 24 rotates almost once. When this position is reached, the game ball B accommodated in the accommodation hole 32 is moved. The ball is fed out of the rotating body 30 toward the ball striking device 12 through the feed port 58.

  In order to realize such delivery, the gear transmission between the gear 22 and the gear 38 is adjusted. In the example of FIG. 14, each time the hitting ball 24 rotates once, the game ball is taken in from the take-in hole 32. The hitting basket 24 and the rotating body 30 are interlocked so that the supply operation from the hole 32 to the delivery of the game ball is performed once. More specifically, eight accommodating holes 32 are annularly provided in the rotating body 30 at equal intervals, and each time the rotating body 30 rotates 45 °, each accommodating hole 32 moves from the take-in position to the send-out position. It has become. In order to realize such movement, the number of teeth of the gear 22 on the motor 20 side is 1 / N of the number of teeth of the gear 38 on the rotating body 30 side (where N is the number of 32 receiving holes, FIG. Then “8”).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the bottom portion (bottom 33) of the receiving hole 32 when in the delivery position is inclined so that the delivery port 58 side is lower than the intake port 56 side at the delivery position. In the example of FIG. 13, the front end portion 33a is the highest and the rear end portion 33b is the lowest at the bottom 33 when the accommodation hole 32 is in the delivery position. And it inclines continuously so that it may become a low position gradually as it goes to the rear end part 33b side from the front end part 33a.

(Hitball motion)
Next, the hitting operation will be described. FIG. 20 is a front view showing the configuration of the ball striking device side in the launching apparatus according to the first embodiment, and shows a state when the ball striking ball is at the ball striking position. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the configuration of FIG.

  As described above, the ball feeder 11 sends out a single game ball when the hitting basket 24 is in the rotational position shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 (the rotational position when any one of the accommodating portions 32 is in the delivery position). Before the rotational position shown in FIGS. 16 to 19 is reached from this rotational position, it is discharged onto the game ball holder 16 and supported at a predetermined position on this game ball holder 26. It has become. When the hitting basket 24 is in the rotational position shown in FIGS. 16 to 19, a game in which the collision portion 24 b of the hitting basket 24 is held at a predetermined position on the game ball holding section 16 as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. The ball reaches the ball B and is hit by the collision portion 24b. The hit game ball B is guided by the left end portion of the guide rail 8 (FIG. 1) and enters the game area 5a.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, when a game ball (see reference numeral B2) is sent out from any of the storage portions 32 that have reached the delivery position, the delivery position is almost simultaneously or slightly shifted. The next game ball B1 is accommodated in the next accommodation portion 32 adjacent to the arrival accommodation portion 32. Therefore, after the game ball sent out from the storage portion 32 that has reached the sending-out position is hit as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the hitting basket 24 is again at the same rotational position as in FIGS. That is, when the hitting ball 24 is rotated once after the game ball B2 is sent out), the next game ball B1 is sent out, and when the hitting ball 24 is rotated about half a round from the sending, this game ball B1 is hit. 24 will hit the ball. Such a ball feeding operation and a hitting operation are reliably performed one by one, so that each ball is stably fired.

(Main effects of the first embodiment)
The ball feeder 11 used in the first embodiment is configured to be rotatable about a predetermined central axis G1, is driven by an external driving force, and has a single game ball around the central axis G1. A rotating body 30 in which a plurality of receiving holes 32 for storing each ball are arranged, a case 50 (holding portion) that rotatably holds the rotating body 30, and a game ball from upstream can pass therethrough, and a central axis G1 An intake port 56 disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the accommodation hole 32 at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction around, and adjacent to the rotation path of the accommodation hole 32 at a position shifted from the intake port 56 in the circumferential direction around the central axis G1. And a delivery port 58 that is arranged. Further, the rotating body 30 receives one game ball from the upstream through the intake port 56 when any of the storage holes 32 reaches a predetermined intake position communicating with the intake port 56, and enters the storage hole 32. By rotating a predetermined angle after receiving the game ball, the accommodation hole 32 that received the game ball is moved to the delivery port 58 side, and a predetermined delivery position where the accommodation hole 32 that received the game ball communicates with the delivery port 58 When it becomes, it is comprised so that the game ball accommodated in the said accommodation hole 32 may be sent out to the exterior of the rotary body 30 through the delivery port 58. FIG.
In this way, the game balls can be received one by one in the accommodation hole 32, and the game balls can be transported to the delivery port 58 through the accommodation hole 32 and discharged reliably one by one. In particular, since only one game ball is accommodated in the accommodation hole 32 and then moved to the delivery position, a plurality of subsequent game balls do not enter the accommodation hole 32 continuously. 58 and the intake port 56 are deviated from each other, so that when the storage hole 32 storing the game ball moves to the delivery position, the game ball stays near the intake port 56 with respect to the game ball stored in the storage hole 32. It is difficult to apply the ball pressure from the ball, and the influence of the following ball can be more reliably divided when the game ball is sent out. Therefore, it is possible to reliably and stably send out the game balls one by one.

  Further, the ball feeder 11 used in the present embodiment has a length L1 (FIG. 11B) in the direction of the central axis G1 of the accommodation hole 32 larger than the diameter D of the game ball B and the diameter of the game ball. Less than 1.5 times. If it does in this way, it will become easy to move the game ball B accommodated in the accommodation hole 32 a little in the direction of the central axis G1, and when the accommodation hole 32 is moved from a taking-in position to a sending-out position, the containing hole 32 is a sending-out opening. It becomes difficult to push the game ball staying in the vicinity of 56 back to the upstream side. Therefore, the behavior of the game ball in the vicinity of the delivery port 56 during the stay is less likely to become unstable, and the staying game ball can easily enter the next accommodation hole 32 favorably.

  Further, in the ball feeding device 11 used in the present embodiment, a gear 38 is formed integrally with the accommodation hole 32 in the rotating body 30. The rotating body 30 is configured to rotate by receiving a driving force from a motor 50 (external driving device) provided outside the rotating body 30 by a gear 38. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the gear 38 as a separate body from the accommodation hole 32, and therefore the number of parts can be reduced.

  Further, the ball feeding device 11 is inclined so that the bottom portion of the receiving hole 32 when in the delivery position is lower at the delivery port 58 side than at the intake port 56 side at this delivery position (FIG. 13). ). In this way, when the accommodation hole 32 reaches the delivery position, the game ball B can be delivered quickly and stably to the delivery port 58 side.

  In the present embodiment, the accommodation hole 32 is configured as a hole penetrating along the direction of the central axis G1, and the opening 35 on the intake port 56 side has a diameter smaller than twice the diameter of the game ball. It has a circular shape (FIG. 12 etc.). If it does in this way, it can prevent that two game balls enter the accommodation hole 32 simultaneously. In addition, since it becomes difficult for the game ball to enter the accommodation hole 32 at an early stage, the time during which the ball pressure from the subsequent game ball is applied to the game ball accommodated in the accommodation hole 32 can be shortened. It is possible to stabilize the behavior of the game ball and effectively reduce the load on the game ball.

  In the present embodiment, the ball feeding device 11, a game ball holding unit 26 that holds a game ball sent by the ball feeding device 11, and a ball that hits a game ball held by the game ball holding unit 26. A launching device 10 is provided that includes a spear 24 and a motor 20 (a hitting spear driving means) that drives the hitting spear 24. In this way, it is possible to realize the launching device 10 that can reliably supply the balls one by one by the characteristic ball feeder 11 and can stably hit the balls one by one.

  Further, the launching device 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a gear 22 (transmission means) for transmitting the driving force of the motor 20 (hit ball driving means) to the rotating body 30, and the motor 20 (hitting ball habit) is transmitted by this gear 22. The rotating body 30 is driven to rotate by transmitting the driving force of the driving means). If it does in this way, the motor 20 (striking ball driving means) can be used also for the drive of the rotary body 30, and reduction of a number of parts and compactization can be achieved.

  In addition, the launching device 10 according to the present embodiment is configured so that each time the hitting ball 24 rotates once by the gear transmission of the gear 22 (rotational force transmitting means) and the gear 38, the receiving hole 32 starts to receive the game ball from the receiving hole 32. The striking ball basket 24 and the rotating body 30 are interlocked so that the supply operation until the game ball is delivered from 32 is performed once. In this way, every time the striking ball basket 24 makes one revolution, the supply operation from taking in the game ball through the accommodation hole 32 to sending out the gaming ball is performed once. Will be sent out one ball at a time.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, since the gearwheel 22 and the gearwheel 38 always cooperate, the load with respect to the launch power source (motor 20) can be kept constant. Therefore, the load of the motor 20 does not fluctuate greatly due to the driving of the ball feeding device 11, the driving of the ball striking device 12 can be performed stably, and as a result, the firing can be made more stable.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the driving force of the motor 20 is transmitted to the rotating body 30 by gear transmission, but may be transmitted by a timing belt or the like.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the rotary body 30 is rotated continuously with the driving force of the motor 20, you may rotate in steps. For example, a ratchet mechanism may be provided on the rotator 30 so that the rotating body 30 is held at its rotational position every time it rotates by a certain angle. In order to rotate the fixed angle, for example, a cam member protruding forward is provided at a position between the rotation shaft portion 20a and the collision portion 24b of the hitting ball 24, and the rotating body 30 is rotated every time the cam member rotates once. And the cam mechanism may be configured to rotate the rotating body 30 by a predetermined angle for each collision.

  In the above embodiment, the example in which the motor 20 configured as the hitting ball driving means is also used as an “external drive device” that applies driving force to the rotating body has been described. The external driving means for driving the body may be configured separately.

  In the above embodiment, the gear 22 fixed to the rotating shaft portion 20a of the motor 20 and the gear 38 on the outer peripheral portion of the rotating body 30 are directly meshed with each other. However, the size of the rotating body 30 is reduced and the gear 22 rotates. A relay gear may be interposed between the body gear 38 and the body gear 38. If it does in this way, size reduction of a rotary body can be attained and by extension, size reduction of a ball feeder can be attained.

  In the above-described embodiment, the external gear configuration has the gear teeth protruding toward the outside of the rotating body 30, but the internal gear configuration may have a tooth protruding inward of the rotating body 30.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine 10 ... Launching device for game machines 11 ... Ball feeder for game machines 12 ... Hitting device 20 ... Motor (external drive device, hitting ball driving means)
22 ... Gear (Transmission means, rotational force transmission means)
24 ... Hitting ball 26 ... Game ball holding part 30 ... Rotating body 32 ... Accommodating hole (accommodating part, hole)
33 ... Bottom 35 ... Opening 38 ... Gear 56 ... Intake port 58 ... Delivery port G ... Center axis

Claims (9)

A ball feeding device for a gaming machine that takes in game balls from the upstream and sends them one by one toward the ball hitting device,
A rotating body that is configured to be rotatable about a predetermined central axis and that is driven by an external driving force, and that has a plurality of storage portions for storing game balls one by one around the central axis. When,
A holding portion for rotatably holding the rotating body;
An intake opening configured to allow the game ball from upstream to pass through and disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the housing portion at a predetermined circumferential position around the central axis;
A delivery port disposed on the opposite side of the intake port across the rotating body, and disposed adjacent to the rotation path of the housing portion at a position shifted from the intake port in the circumferential direction around the central axis;
With
The rotating body is
When one of the storage units reaches a predetermined intake position communicating with the intake port, the game ball from the upstream is received through the intake port,
By rotating the predetermined angle after receiving the game ball in the storage unit, the storage unit that has received the game ball is moved to the delivery port side,
When the storage unit that has received the game ball reaches a predetermined delivery position communicating with the delivery port, the game ball that is received in the storage unit via the delivery port is directed toward the hitting device. A ball feeder for a gaming machine, characterized by being fed out of a rotating body.   2. The game according to claim 1, wherein the storage portion has a length in a direction of the central axis that is greater than a diameter of the game ball and less than 1.5 times the diameter of the game ball. Ball feeder for machine.   The rotating body is formed with a gear integrally with the housing portion, and is rotationally driven by receiving a driving force from an external driving device provided outside the rotating body by the gear. A ball feeder for a gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2.   The portion that becomes the bottom of the housing portion when in the delivery position is inclined so that the delivery port side is lower than the intake port side in the delivery position. A ball feeder for a gaming machine according to any one of the preceding claims.   The housing portion is configured as a hole portion penetrating along the direction of the central axis, and the opening on the intake port side has a circular shape having a diameter smaller than twice the diameter of the game ball. The ball feeding device for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the ball feeding device is for a gaming machine. A ball feeder for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A game ball holding unit for holding the game ball sent by the ball feeder for the game machine;
A hitting ball for hitting the game ball held by the game ball holding unit;
A hitting ball driving means for driving the hitting ball;
A launching device for a gaming machine, comprising: A transmission means for transmitting the driving force of the hitting ball driving means to the rotating body;
The game machine launching device according to claim 6, wherein the rotating body is rotationally driven by the driving force of the hitting ball driving means being transmitted by the transmitting means. The hitting ball driving means comprises a motor for rotating the hitting ball,
The transmission means comprises rotational force transmission means for rotating the rotating body by transmitting the rotational force of the motor to the rotating body,
The rotational force transmitting means is configured so that each time the striking ball is rotated, a supply operation from taking in the game ball by the housing portion to sending out the game ball from the housing portion is performed once. The launching device for gaming machines according to claim 7, wherein the bag and the rotating body are interlocked.   A ball feeder for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, or a launching device for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 6 to 8, comprising: To play.

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