JP2011224212A - Ball channel unit and game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball channel unit and a game machine preventing dropping of game balls in maintenance by switching the passage of game balls to be permitted or blocked, and solving a problem caused by game balls placed on a switching member for the switching.SOLUTION: The ball channel unit 40 includes a first ball passage 41 formed on a game machine frame side, a second ball passage 42 configured to be connected to or separated from the first ball passage 41, and an upper tray shutter member 46 whose state can be changed to a blocking state to block passage of game balls 23 from the first ball passage 41 to the second ball passage 42 or to a permission state to permit passage of game balls. When the upper tray shutter member 46 is in the blocking state, a blocking plate 48 is raised within the ball channel. When the upper tray shutter member is in the permission state, the blocking plate 48 is inclined outward from the ball channel and downward and is retracted. When the upper tray shutter member is in the blocking state with the raised blocking plate, the upper end side 48a of the blocking plate 48 is an inclined side.

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball channel unit and a gaming machine, and more particularly, to a ball channel unit and the like that prevent a game ball from falling and improve maintainability.

  In a pachinko machine, a ball that has been bulleted flows down a game area (an area formed on or near the game board surface for realizing a game or production by the flow of the game ball). In the process of flowing down, the game ball rolls while colliding with an obstacle nail (also referred to as gauge) or impeller in the game area, and the flow direction changes. As a result, if a ball wins various winning holes arranged on the game area, a predetermined prize ball payout (prize ball payout) is made, while if a ball flows into the out mouth without winning any of the winning holes. The prize ball payout (prize ball payout) is not performed. The player enjoys the game by demonstrating his / her skill in the ball or using the chance of the game ball flowing down and expecting the game ball to be won and paid out.

  Such a pachinko machine has a prize ball payout unit for executing a prize ball payout. The prize ball payout unit is usually arranged on the gaming machine frame side (for example, the back side of the front frame holding the game board), and the game balls paid out from the prize ball payout unit pass through the ball channel. It flows down while being guided to a ball tray for storing game balls.

  The ball tray is disposed on the front side of the gaming machine frame so that it can be opened and closed forward. During maintenance or the like, the ball tray is opened forward and separated from the front frame so that the inside of the gaming machine can be accessed. Here, when the ball tray is opened forward, the ball flow path from the prize ball payout unit is also separated on the front frame side and the ball tray side. At this time, there is a problem that the game ball flowing down or staying in the ball flow channel falls from the separated portion, and the maintenance work becomes complicated.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a flow path switching member that switches the flow path of the prize ball to the upper dish side when the front opening / closing frame having the upper dish is closed while switching the flow path of the prize ball to the lower dish side when the front opening / closing frame is opened. 622 is disclosed (see, for example, FIG. 11 of Patent Document 1). The flow path switching member 622 can solve the problem that the game ball spills even when the front opening / closing frame is opened.

JP-A-10-258167

  However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose the idea of preventing the occurrence of a problem that a game ball is placed on the flow path switching member. When a game ball is placed on the flow path switching member, there are problems such as a ball spilling due to the flow path switching operation, a switching operation not being performed normally, or a game ball not flowing smoothly. May occur.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances. On the switching member that prevents the game ball from falling off during maintenance or the like by switching the passage of the game ball to permissible / blocked, and realizes the switching. It is an exemplary problem to provide a ball channel unit and a gaming machine that can solve a problem caused by a game ball being placed on the machine.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a ball channel unit as an exemplary aspect of the present invention is a ball tray side that stores game balls from a game machine frame side that holds a game board that realizes a game by flowing down game balls. A part of a ball channel for allowing the game ball to flow down toward the first side, a first ball passage formed on the gaming machine frame side, a part of the ball channel, and formed in communication with the ball tray A second ball passage configured to be connectable to and separable from one ball passage, and disposed between the first ball passage and the second ball passage, and allows a game ball to pass from the first ball passage to the second ball passage. A ball flow path unit having a blocking state for blocking and a switching member capable of changing a state to an allowable state for allowing a game ball to pass from the first ball path to the second ball path, wherein the switching member is: In the blocking state, the first sphere passage and the second sphere passage are separated and the blocking plate portion stands in the sphere flow path, The passage of the game ball from the one ball passage to the second ball passage is blocked, and in the allowable state, the first ball passage and the second ball passage are connected, and the blocking plate portion tilts outside and below the ball flow path. By retreating, the game ball is allowed to pass from the first ball passage to the second ball passage, and the upper end side of the blocking plate portion is an inclined side in the standing blocking state.

  When the first ball passage and the second ball passage are separated in the shut-off state, the shut-off plate portion of the switching member rises in the ball passage, and the game ball passes from the first ball passage to the second ball passage. Blocked. Therefore, for example, even when the gaming machine frame side and the ball tray side are separated at the time of maintenance or the like, it is possible to prevent the gaming ball from spilling from the first ball path, and the workability of the maintenance work is improved. Can be improved.

  Further, in the allowable state, when the first ball path and the second ball path are connected, the blocking plate portion of the switching member is tilted and retracted outside the ball flow path, and is moved from the first ball path of the game ball to the second position. Passing to the two-ball path is allowed. Therefore, when the game machine frame side and the ball tray side are connected at the end of the maintenance, etc., the first ball path and the second ball path automatically communicate with each other without requiring separate work. A game ball is guided to the ball tray through the first ball passage and the second ball passage. Therefore, maintainability is also improved in this respect.

  Since this switching member is retracted outside the ball flow path during retraction, when the first ball path and the second ball path are connected, the game ball passing through the ball flow path becomes the switching member. Do not touch directly. However, since the switching member is outside the ball channel and is retracted downward, when the first ball path and the second ball path are separated, the game ball is placed on the switching member. There is a case. When the blocking plate portion of the switching member stands while the game ball is placed on the switching member, there is a problem that the gaming ball falls from the first ball passage with the rising operation of the blocking plate portion. In addition, when a large number of game balls are placed, the blocking plate portion cannot normally stand when separating the ball passages, and the passage of the game balls from the first ball passage to the second ball passage cannot be blocked. There may be a problem that separation occurs.

  However, according to the configuration of the present invention, since the upper end side of the shielding plate portion is an inclined side, the switching member quickly drops the game ball placed on the shielding plate portion and removes it from the shielding plate portion. It has a function to do. That is, when the upper end side of the blocking plate portion is not an inclined side, the upper end side extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the flow direction of the game ball in the ball channel in the state where the blocking plate portion is tilted, It does not have a function to eliminate the game ball on the blocking plate. However, if the upper end side of the shielding plate part is an inclined side, the extending direction of the upper end side is an oblique direction with respect to the flow direction of the game ball in the ball channel in the state where the shielding plate part is tilted. . Therefore, the game ball on the blocking plate part is promoted to move further along the oblique direction of the inclined side toward the downstream side.

  In particular, if the end of the ball path and the inclined side of the blocking plate portion are not parallel, and a step is formed that is narrow and wide on the other side, the game ball moves from the narrow side of the step to the wide side. Is promoted. Therefore, the game ball can flow smoothly from the narrow side of the stepped portion to the wide side.

  The ball tray may be held by a tray frame configured to be openable and closable with respect to the front frame as a part of the gaming machine frame. Further, the dish frame may be pivotally supported on either the left or right side with respect to the front frame, and swingable forward and backward. Further, the switching member may be disposed between the first ball passage and the second ball passage and in the vicinity of the connection portion of both ball passages, and may be attached to the game machine frame side or the ball tray side. It may be attached to the (dish frame side).

  For example, a gaming machine in which this ball channel unit is arranged has an upper plate and a lower plate as ball plates, and the second ball passage guides game balls from the first ball passage to the upper plate. In the case where the third ball passage that is provided on the gaming machine frame side and branches from the first ball passage guides the game ball to the lower plate, the inclined side in the tilted state causes the game ball to If the ball extends obliquely so as to guide to the three-ball path, the game ball placed on the blocking plate portion smoothly guides to the third path when the first and second ball paths are separated. And discharged to the lower tray.

  In this specification, the vertical direction when the gaming board is attached to the gaming machine is the vertical direction, and the horizontal direction when the player views the gaming board is the horizontal direction. In addition, the direction from the game board to the player is the forward direction, and the opposite direction is the backward direction.

  Protruding portions that protrude sideways and upward in the blocking state may be formed in the vicinity of at least one of the left and right ends of the upper end side of the blocking plate portion.

  The switching member can be changed between an upright blocking state and a tilted allowable state, and the state change is realized by swinging rotation of the blocking plate portion about the shaft. For example, the blocking plate portion of the switching member is urged in the standing direction by an urging means such as a torsion spring, and when the first sphere passage and the second sphere passage are connected, in the vicinity of either end of both sphere passages The blocking plate portion tilts and retreats by being brought into contact with.

  When the both spherical passages are separated, the shielding plate portion is maintained in an upright state by contacting the shielding plate portion with a stopper wall (wall surface) disposed in the vicinity of either end of the both spherical passages. Here, since the protruding portion protrudes laterally from the blocking plate portion, the contact of the protruding portion with the stopper can be facilitated while minimizing the influence of the protruding portion on the game ball in the ball flow path. Moreover, since the protrusion part protrudes upwards, the interruption | blocking function which interrupts | blocks passage of the game ball when the interruption | blocking board part stands up is exhibited more effectively.

  A gaming machine according to another exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a gaming board that realizes a game by flowing a gaming ball, a gaming machine frame that holds the gaming board so as to contain the gaming board, and the gaming ball that is a gaming board. It has a launch unit that launches toward a game area, a ball tray that stores game balls, and the above-described ball flow path unit.

  Since this gaming machine has the above-described ball flow path unit, the gaming ball does not fall down when the maintenance is performed with the ball tray separated from the gaming machine frame side, and the maintenance workability is improved. ing. Also, since the game ball placed on the blocking plate portion of the switching member is smoothly removed, the game ball may spill with the standing operation, or the blocking plate portion may not be properly raised. Such a problem can be prevented.

  Further objects and other features of the present invention will become apparent from the preferred embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  According to the present invention, when the gaming machine frame side and the ball tray side are separated, it is possible to prevent the gaming ball from falling off from the first ball passage on the gaming machine side, so that the maintenance performance is improved. In addition, since the upper edge of the shield plate part for preventing the game ball from falling down is an inclined side, the game ball that has been placed on the shield plate part is smoothly flowed down and removed from the shield plate part. can do.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is an expansion perspective view which expands and shows the dish frame part vicinity of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is an expansion perspective view in the state where the saucer frame of the pachinko machine shown in Drawing 1 was opened. It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the pachinko machine of the open state of the plate frame shown in FIG. 4 from the different direction. It is an expansion perspective view in the upper plate shutter member vicinity of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the state which is opening the tray frame of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1 ahead from the front frame.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine (game machine) 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine 2 shown in FIG. The pachinko machine 2 includes a gaming machine frame 3, a gaming board unit 5, a glass 10, a launch unit (not shown), a ball tray 14, and a ball channel unit 40 (see FIG. 3). The launch units can launch the game balls 23 one by one toward the game area 16 configured in the game board unit 5.

  In the pachinko machine 2, when a player operates a launcher handle 15 described later, a game ball is launched by the launch unit toward the game area 16, and a game is realized by the flow of the game ball. In addition to the pachinko machine 2, the game machine can be an arcade machine such as a coin game machine or various game machines. In short, any game machine having a game area that realizes a game by the flow of game media is included. It is.

  In addition, in the pachinko machine, any pachinko machine such as a combination pachinko machine such as an arrangement ball machine or a sparrow ball machine, a so-called digipachi type (one type) or a honey mono type (two types) pachinko machine can be conceptualized. In this embodiment, a so-called one-type pachinko machine that realizes a digipachi game (also referred to as a one-type game or a symbol variation game) will be described as an example. The symbol variation game will be described later.

  The gaming machine frame 3 of the pachinko machine 2 is for holding a gaming board unit 5 to be described later, and is configured to surround the peripheral side surface of the pachinko machine 2 and the front side or the rear side in addition thereto. In addition to the game board unit 5, various mechanism parts such as various control boards and paths for game media, which are described later, are arranged on the inner side of the gaming machine frame 3. Unauthorized access to the inside of the pachinko machine 2 from behind is prevented.

  The gaming machine frame 3 includes an outer frame 4 that surrounds the pachinko machine 2 and a front frame 9 that is swingably supported by a hinge 22 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge 22 and holds the gaming board unit 5. In addition, the gaming machine frame 3 may include the glass frame 12 that swings and is supported by a hinge 22 in front of the front frame 9 so that the glass 10 and a decorative member 32 that decorates the periphery of the glass 10 can be held. The glass 10 is a transparent member that allows the player to visually recognize the game board 6 held inside the gaming machine frame 3 from the front.

  The glass 10 is a transparent plate that is spaced apart from the game board 6 by a certain distance or more. The glass 10 is formed of two transparent flat glasses and is held on the back side of the glass frame 12, and has a function of forming a flowing-down space for the game ball 23 to flow between the game board 6 and the player through the glass 10. The function of ensuring visibility so that the game board 6 can be visually recognized and the function of preventing unauthorized access so that the player cannot illegally access (contact) the game board 6 are exhibited.

  The ball tray 14 is a dish member disposed on the front surface of the pachinko machine 2 to store the player's ball, and in the present embodiment, has an upper ball tray 14a and a lower ball tray 14b. Yes. The upper ball tray 14a has a ball punching member 14c and is disposed below the game board 6, that is, a lower portion of the glass frame 12, and the lower ball tray 14b is disposed further below the upper ball tray 14a. . The upper plate 14 a and the lower plate 14 b are held by the plate frame 13. The dish frame 13 is a frame member that is pivotally supported on the front side of the front frame 9 below the glass frame 12 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the front frame 9. In the pachinko machine 2, the dish frame 13 swings back and forth around the open / close shaft 13a on the left side when viewed from the front in FIG.

  The launch unit launches (balls) the game ball 23 sent from the upper ball tray 14a as a part of the ball tray 14 to the launch position by the ball feeder (not shown) toward the upper part of the game area 16. belongs to. The launch unit includes, for example, a launcher for projecting the game ball 23 at the launch position, a launch motor for driving the launcher, a launch spring for energizing the launcher to generate a ball force, and the like. It is attached to the front frame 9. In order to launch a ball by the launch unit, a launcher handle 15 is provided below the front surface of the pachinko machine 2 to realize on / off of the launch of the ball and adjustment of its launch intensity based on the player's operation.

  The game board unit 5 has a game board 6 in which a center accessory 7 as a game accessory is arranged in the approximate center of the game board surface (surface of the game board) 6a, and the game board surface 6a includes a number of game boards 6a. A game nail 27 is also arranged. An effect display device 7a as an image display means is disposed at the center of the center accessory 7, and a display opening 7d for exposing the display portion 7b of the effect display device 7a is formed.

  The game board 6 is a board-like member for constituting a game area 16 for realizing a game by the flow of the game ball 23 on the surface side thereof, so that the game board 6 can be visually recognized from the front by the player. It is held in the gaming machine frame 3 (in the present embodiment, the front frame 9 as a part of the gaming machine frame 3). A rail ornament 26 is attached to the surface of the game board 6 in a substantially circular shape so as to surround the periphery, and an outer rail 26a of the rail ornament 26 is arranged so as to stand on the game board. The game area 16 is a substantially circular area defined by the outer rail 26a of the rail decoration 26 and facing the outer rail 26a.

  The game nails 27 are flow-down changing members that collide with the game balls 23 flowing down the game area 16 and change the flow-down direction thereof, and many of them are arranged in the game area 16. Further, in the game area 16, a ball entry member such as a start winning opening 29 and a grand winning opening 31 and an out opening 30 are arranged. Furthermore, a gate 33, a windmill 34, and the like are arranged in the game area 16, and the game balls 23 that flow down flow into each ball entry member, pass through the gate 33, and rotate the windmill 34. Thus, it is possible to enjoy the down-flow game by the game ball 23. The start winning opening 29 is constituted by a pitching unit to be described later.

  The effect display device 7a is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display device, an organic EL display, an LED, and the like, and is arranged so that the player can see from the game board surface 6a side, and displays an image on the display unit 7b. It is. The display unit 7b of the effect display device 7a displays a first decorative symbol that is linked to the first symbol. The first decorative symbol is a symbol for visually producing the lottery result of the first lottery means, and corresponds to the first game. Further, for example, an effect image as a story tailoring image by a character or the like is also displayed on the display unit 7b. An effect control board as a game control means is electrically connected to the effect display device 7a via a relay board, and image display is controlled by the effect control board.

  On the back side of the game board 6, a main control board case 35 containing a main control board as a game control means for controlling the entire pachinko machine 2, and an image display of the effect display device 7a and a light emission effect of the light emitting unit. An effect control board case 36 containing an effect control board for performing control, a payout control board case 37 containing a payout control board (not shown) for controlling payout of prize balls, and a power supply board (not shown). An accommodated power supply substrate case 38 is disposed. A game is realized by each control board accommodated in each control board case. Furthermore, an external output terminal plate 39 for outputting game information such as the gaming state of the pachinko machine 2 to the outside is provided on the back side of the game board 6.

  When the game ball 23 is launched by a ball launcher (not shown), the game ball 23 travels along the outer rail 26 a of the rail decoration 26 and reaches the upper part in the game area 16. Thereafter, the game ball 23 moves along a plurality of passing trajectories, some moves to the right along the outer rail 26a of the rail decoration 26, and some moves downward in the game area 16 while colliding with the gauge. Some of them flow into the regular winning opening 28 and trigger a certain number of prize balls to be paid out. Some do not flow into any of the entering devices, and the out opening 30 located at the bottom in the game area 16 Is discharged into the outside of the pachinko machine 2 as an out ball.

  When the game ball 23 flows into the start winning opening 29 during the symbol variation game, the display symbol 7c of the effect display device 7a starts rotating display (the first special game lottery) due to the inflow. If 7c is stopped and displayed with a predetermined symbol (for example, “7, 7, 7”), a big hit (first special game; hereinafter referred to as symbol fluctuation big hit) occurs in the symbol variable game. Then, the grand prize opening 31 is opened to accept a large amount of winning balls, and a large amount of prize balls are paid out to the ball tray 14.

  The prize balls (prize balls) are paid out by the prize ball payout unit 90. The winning ball payout unit 90 is arranged on the back side of the front frame 9 as a part of the back set board (see FIG. 2). The prize ball payout unit 90 is connected to a ball flow path unit 40 to be described later, and discharges the payout premium ball (prize ball) to the upper plate 14a or the lower plate 14b.

  Next, the ball channel unit 40 of the pachinko machine 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the dish frame 13 portion of the pachinko machine 2. In FIG. 3, the upper plate 14 a and the lower plate 14 b held in front of the plate frame 13 are illustrated by two-dot chain lines. Further, illustration of the game board unit 5 held by the front frame 9 is omitted to facilitate visual recognition of the ball channel unit 40.

<Closed state of dish frame 13>
A through-hole penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed at an upper position of the dish frame 13, and the through-hole constitutes a second spherical passage 42 communicating with the upper dish 14a. A through hole penetrating in the front-rear direction is also formed at the lower position of the dish frame 13, and the through hole constitutes a lower dish passage 44 communicating with the lower dish 14b. The dish frame 13 is swingable back and forth with respect to the front frame 9 about the opening / closing shaft 13a. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the pachinko machine 2 in a state in which the dish frame 13 is opened. In FIG. 4 as well, only the main configuration is shown as in FIG. 3, and the game board unit 5 and the ball trays 14a and 14b are not shown. FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the pachinko machine 2 in an opened state of the dish frame 13 as seen from a direction different from that in FIG. 4. In the open state of the dish frame 13, an upper dish shutter member 46, which will be described later, is originally standing (see the two-dot chain line in FIGS. 4 and 5) to block the passage of the game ball 23. For easy visual recognition of the internal configuration, the upper plate shutter member 46 is shown in an inclined state (allowable state) in FIGS. 4 and 5.

  The game ball 23 as a prize ball paid out from the prize ball payout unit 90 flows down the first ball passage 41. In a state where the tray frame 13 is closed, the first ball passage 41 and the second ball passage 42 are connected, and the game ball 23 flows down from the first ball passage 41 to the second ball passage 42 to the upper plate 14a. It is supposed to be discharged. The first ball passage 41 is arranged on the gaming machine frame side, that is, the front frame 9 as a part of the back set board. The second ball passage 42 is disposed on the dish frame 13 side.

  On the gaming machine frame side, a third ball passage 43 is also arranged that branches rightward from the first ball passage 41 and guides the game ball 23 to the lower plate 14b. The third ball passage 43 is a state in which the game ball 23 staying in the first ball passage 41 or the game ball 23 flowing down the first ball passage 41 in a state where the tray frame 13 is opened forward with respect to the front frame 9. It is a ball passage that leads to the lower plate 14b. In a state where the dish frame 13 and the front frame 9 are separated, the third ball path 43 and the lower dish path 44 are also separated. Then, the lower tray shutter member 45 disposed in the vicinity of the terminal end portion of the third ball passage 43 blocks passage of the game ball 23 from the third ball passage 43 to the lower tray passage 44. The game ball 23 that has flowed down the first ball passage 41 is guided to the third ball passage 43 and is blocked by the lower plate shutter member 45. On the other hand, when the tray frame 13 is closed with respect to the front frame 9, the lower tray shutter member 45 is opened, and the game balls 23 in the third ball passage 43 are discharged to the lower tray 14 b through the lower tray passage 44. The

<Open state of dish frame 13>
When the dish frame 13 is opened forward with respect to the front frame 9 during maintenance of the pachinko machine 2 or the like, the first ball path 41 and the second ball path 42 are separated along with the separation of the front frame 9 and the dish frame 13. To be separated. An upper plate shutter member (switching member) 46 is attached between the first sphere passage 41 and the second sphere passage 42 and in the vicinity of the end portion (front end portion) of the first sphere passage 41. The upper shutter member 46 is tilted by being pushed backward by the end portion (rear end portion) of the second spherical passage 42 when the first spherical passage 41 and the second spherical passage 42 are connected. It is located outside and below the spherical channel. However, when the dish frame 13 is opened forward and the second sphere passage 42 is separated from the first sphere passage 41, the upper dish shutter member 46 is urged in the standing direction by the torsion spring and enters the sphere flow path. . As a result, the passage of the game ball 23 from the first ball passage 41 to the second ball passage 42 is blocked, and the game ball 23 from the first ball passage 41 is prevented from falling off.

<Description of the upper plate shutter member 46>
Next, the structure of the upper plate shutter member 46 and the standing / tilting operation accompanying the opening / closing operation of the plate frame 13 will be described. As described above, the upper plate shutter member 46 is disposed in the vicinity of the front end portion of the first ball passage 41. The spherical channel unit 40 is roughly configured by including the upper shutter member 46, the first spherical passage 41, the second spherical passage 42, and the third spherical passage 43. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view in the vicinity of the upper plate shutter member 46.

  The upper plate shutter member 46 has a shaft penetrating portion 47 and a blocking plate portion 48 and is generally configured. The shaft penetrating portion 47 has a rotating shaft 49 inserted therethrough. The rotation shaft 49 is disposed in a lower position (outside the ball flow path) near the front end of the first ball passage 41 so as to extend in the left-right direction (a direction perpendicular to the flow-down direction of the game ball 23). Then, the shield plate 48 swings and rotates about the rotation shaft 49, thereby realizing the standing state (see FIG. 6A) and the tilted state (see FIG. 6B) of the shield plate 48. Is done.

  The shaft penetrating portion 47 has a hollow through hole extending in the left and right directions, and the rotating shaft 49 is inserted through the through hole. An opening 47 a having a substantially rectangular shape in front view is formed on the front side of the central portion of the shaft penetrating portion 47. Although not shown, substantially rectangular openings are formed on the left and right sides of the opening 47a on the rear side. In this way, an opening is formed in the shaft penetrating portion 47, and the position of the opening is divided into the front and the rear at the center and the left and right, so that the upper plate shutter member 46 can be moved forward and backward without using a pin slide or the like. It can be easily molded with two molds (core mold and mold mold) that break the mold.

  Further, since the torsion spring 47b contacting the gaming machine frame side and the blocking plate part 48 can be disposed in the opening 47a portion located near the center of the shaft penetrating portion 47, the urging force of the torsion spring 47b can be changed to the left and right. Can work in a balanced manner. Therefore, the swinging movement (standing / tilting) of the upper plate shutter member 46 is smooth, and a reliable swinging operation can be realized, and wear can be reduced to improve the component life.

  A blocking plate portion 48 is formed in connection with the shaft penetrating portion 47. The blocking plate portion 48 is a flat plate portion having a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front in the standing state, and has a long side extending along the extending direction of the shaft penetrating portion 47. And the upper end side 48a of the interruption | blocking board part 48 is made into the inclined side, and in the standing state, it inclines so that the left end part side may become high and the right end part side may become low. A protrusion 48b is disposed in the vicinity of the left end of the upper end side 48a, and the protrusion 48b protrudes upward and leftward. Due to the upward protrusion of the protrusion 48 b, the blocking effect of the game ball 23 in the standing state of the blocking plate 48 is increased. Further, the protrusion 48b protrudes to the left so that it can easily come into contact with the stopper wall 41a located near the front end of the first ball passage 41. In addition, since the protrusion 48b protrudes to the left (and protrudes upward), there is almost no possibility that the game ball 23 and the protrusion in the ball channel come into contact with each other. The influence on the sphere 23 is minimized.

  In the standing state, the blocking plate portion 48 has a tapered surface 48c that is inclined from the front to the rear from the bottom toward the top along the upper end side 48a. The tapered surface 48c also exhibits the function of smoothly flowing down the game ball 23 along with the inclination of the upper end side 48a. Details will be described later. Further, in the vicinity of the left end portion of the blocking plate portion 48, a flank face 48d that is inclined from the front to the rear from the left to the right in the standing state is formed. In the standing state of the blocking plate portion 48, the flank 48d guides the game ball 23 flowing down from the left to the right, and the game ball 23 collides with the entrance wall 43a of the third ball passage 43. Is preventing.

  In a state where the dish frame 13 is closed with respect to the front frame 9, the blocking plate part 48 of the upper dish shutter member 46 abuts on the rear end of the second ball passage 42 and is pushed backward, and tilts to rotate backward. is doing. Since the rotation shaft 49 is positioned below the second ball passage 42, when the vicinity of the rear end portion of the second ball passage 42 and the vicinity of the front end portion of the first ball passage 41 are connected, the blocking plate The part 48 is located below the lower surface of the second spherical passage 42 and is outside the spherical flow path.

  In this state, since the upper dish shutter member 46 is outside the ball channel, it does not contact the game ball 23 passing through the ball channel. Therefore, the upper dish shutter member 46 hardly affects the passage of the game ball 23 and allows the game ball 23 to pass from the first ball passage 41 to the second ball passage 42.

  When the dish frame 13 is opened forward from the front frame 9 during maintenance or the like, the rear end portion of the second ball passage 42 is gradually separated from the front end portion of the first ball passage 41. At this time, as shown in FIG. 7, a gap is formed between the front end portion of the first ball passage 41 and the rear end portion of the second ball passage 41, and the tilted blocking plate portion 48 is positioned below the gap. It becomes. In this state, the game ball 23 flowing down from the first ball passage 41 falls from the front end of the first ball passage 41 and rests on the blocking plate portion 48.

  However, since the upper end side 48a of the blocking plate portion 48 is an inclined side, a guide path 50 extending in the left-right direction is formed by the front end portion of the first spherical passage 41 and the upper end side 48a. The guide path 50 is narrow on the left side and has a gap extending toward the right, and extends toward the entrance of the third ball passage 43. Therefore, the game ball 23 placed on the blocking plate portion 48 is smoothly guided along the guide path 50 from the narrow side (left side) to the wide side (right side). Then, it is guided into the third ball passage 43.

  Since the upper end side 48a is inclined, the function of quickly guiding the game ball 23 from the left to the right is exhibited, and the game ball 23 on the blocking plate portion 48 can be quickly removed. In addition, since the blocking plate portion 48 has the tapered surface 48 c, the function of smoothly moving the game ball 23 on the blocking plate portion 48 onto the guide path 50 is ensured so as not to be detached from the guide path 50. The function of keeping along the guideway 50 is also exhibited.

  Even if the game ball 23 is placed on the blocking plate portion 48, it is removed smoothly and quickly as described above and guided to the third ball passage 43. It is prevented that it falls down. Further, it is possible to avoid the problem that the blocking plate portion 48 does not stand up normally due to the weight of the game ball 23.

  When the dish frame 13 is opened forward from the front frame 9, the blocking plate portion 48 rotates and stands up in this way, and the upper dish shutter member 46 is moved from the first ball passage 41 of the game ball 23 to the second ball. The passage to the passage 42 is reliably blocked. Even when the game ball 23 stays in the first ball passage 41 or when the game ball 23 is paid out by the prize ball payout unit 90, the game ball 23 reaches the second ball passage. In addition, without being spilled from the front end portion of the first ball passage 41, it is smoothly guided to the third ball passage 43.

  As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to these, A various deformation | transformation and change are possible within the range of the summary. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the upper plate shutter member is arranged on the gaming machine frame side, that is, the front end portion side of the first ball passage has been described. It may be arranged on the rear end side. In addition, the ball tray is not limited to one divided into an upper plate and a lower plate, and may be one integrated plate.

2: Pachinko machine (game machine)
3: Gaming machine frame 4: Outer frame 5: Game board unit 6: Game board 6a: Game board surface (surface of the game board)
7: Center character 7a: Effect display device 7b: Display unit 7c: Display pattern 7d: Display opening 9: Front frame 10: Glass 12: Glass frame 13: Dish frame 13a: Opening / closing axis 14: Ball tray 14a: Upper ball Dish 14b: Lower ball dish 14c: Ball removal member 15: Launcher handle 16: Game area 22: Hinge 23: Game ball 26: Rail decoration 26a: Outer rail 27: Game nail 28: Ordinary winning opening 29: Start winning opening 30 : Out port 31: Grand prize port 32: Decoration member 33: Gate 34: Windmill 35: Main control board case 36: Production control board case 37: Discharge control board case 38: Power supply board case 39: External output terminal board 40: Ball Channel unit 41: first ball passage 41a: stopper wall 42: second ball passage 43: third ball passage 43a: inlet wall 44: lower plate passage 45: lower plate shutter member 46: upper plate shutter member ( Exchange member)
47: Shaft penetrating portion 47a: Opening portion 47b: Torsion spring 48: Blocking plate portion 48a: Upper end side 48b: Protruding portion 48c: Tapered surface 48d: Relief surface 49: Rotating shaft 50: Guide path 90: Prize ball dispensing unit

Claims (3)

A part of a ball flow path for allowing the gaming ball to flow down from a gaming machine frame side that holds a gaming board that realizes a game by flowing down the gaming ball toward a ball tray side that stores the gaming ball; A first ball passage formed on the frame side;
A part of the spherical flow path, a second spherical path formed in communication with the spherical dish and configured to be connected to and separated from the first spherical path;
A blocking state that is disposed between the first ball path and the second ball path and blocks the passage of the game ball from the first ball path to the second ball path; A ball passage unit having a switching member capable of changing a state to an allowable state allowing passage of the game ball to the second ball passage,
The switching member is
In the shut-off state, the first sphere passage and the second sphere passage are separated, and the shut-off plate portion stands in the sphere flow path, so that the first sphere passage to the second sphere passage is provided. Block the passage of the game ball,
In the permissible state, the first sphere passage and the second sphere passage are connected, and the blocking plate portion is retracted by tilting outward and downward from the sphere passage so that the first sphere passage is disengaged from the first sphere passage. Allowing the game ball to pass to the second ball passage,
A spherical channel unit in which an upper end side of the blocking plate portion in the standing blocking state is an inclined side.   2. The spherical channel unit according to claim 1, wherein a protruding portion that protrudes laterally and upward in the blocking state is formed in the vicinity of at least one of the left and right ends of the upper end side of the blocking plate portion. The game board for realizing a game by flowing down the game ball;
The gaming machine frame for holding the game board so as to contain the game board;
A launch unit that launches the game ball toward a game area configured in the game board;
A ball tray for storing the game balls;
A gaming machine comprising the ball channel unit according to claim 1 or 2.

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