JP2012090839A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a plurality of game balls from being intertwined with each other in a storing tray when a number of game balls are stored in the storing tray of a game machine.SOLUTION: The bottom 12 of the storing tray 7 mounted in the game machine is provided with a first inclined surface 12a formed in the vicinity of a dispensing port 13 and descending to incline to the downstream side toward a ball receiving port 21; a second inclined surface 12b formed on the other side of a partition wall 15 with respect to the ball receiving port 21 and descending to incline to the upstream side toward the dispensing port 13; and a third inclined surface 12c formed on the other side of the partition wall 15 with respect to the second inclined surface 12b and descending to incline to the downstream side toward the ball receiving port 21. A trough part 12d formed by joining the inclined surfaces 12a, 12b to each other descends to incline toward a joint part of the inclined surfaces 12a, 12c and descends to incline toward the upstream side where the dispensing port 13 is located.

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine configured to launch game balls one by one against a game board surface.

  A gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine is configured to pay out a predetermined number of gaming balls as winning balls when gaming balls launched on the surface of the gaming board enter various winning holes. Such a gaming machine includes a storage tray for storing game balls on the front side thereof, and game balls are paid out to the storage tray (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  In addition, such a gaming machine is provided with a ball guide path that guides the game balls stored in the storage tray one by one with respect to the game ball launching device provided below the game board. . Conventionally, this type of ball guide path is provided so as to communicate with the bottom of the storage tray. Therefore, the bottom surface of the storage dish is inclined downward toward the entrance of the ball guide path so that the game balls stored in the storage dish are guided to the ball guide path by rolling along the inclination. It has become.

JP-A-9-131443 JP 2009-291469 A

  By the way, in the conventional gaming machine, as described above, when the bottom surface of the storage tray is inclined downward in one direction toward the entrance of the ball guide path, a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray. Many of these game balls concentrate toward the entrance of the ball guide path inside the storage dish. Therefore, in the process that the game balls stored in the storage tray move to the ball guide path, a plurality of game balls may be engaged with each other, and the game balls may not be guided to the ball guide path. There is sex. When such a situation occurs, there is a problem in that the game ball is not launched from the launching device even though many game balls are stored in the storage tray, which is disadvantageous to the player.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention prevents a plurality of game balls from being engaged with each other in the storage tray when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray. In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of successfully continuing the launch of a game ball.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is a gaming machine that pays out a game ball as a prize ball when game balls launched on the game board enter into various winning holes. A launching device that launches game balls one by one toward each other, a peripheral wall that surrounds the surroundings, a storage tray that stores game balls paid out from the gaming machine, and the game balls stored in the storage tray are aligned in a row A ball guide path that guides the launching device toward the launching device, and the storage tray is provided along the left-right direction of the overhanging portion that projects to the front side of the gaming machine below the gaming board. The right and left sides have a pay-out port for allowing game balls to be paid out from the gaming machine to flow in, and the other side has a ball receiving port for feeding the game ball into the ball guide path, From the peripheral wall near the center of the storage tray A partition wall extending in a standing manner is provided, and the partition wall on the other side of the storage tray has a first region for aligning game balls in a row on the upstream side of the ball receiving port, and the first wall A second region adjacent to the region is defined. And the bottom part of the storage tray is formed in the vicinity of the payout port, and the second inclined surface is defined by the first inclined surface inclined downward toward the ball receiving port and the partition wall. A second inclined surface formed in a region and inclined downward toward the upstream side toward the payout port and formed in the first region defined by the partition wall and downstream toward the ball receiving port And a third inclined surface that is inclined downward, and the first and second inclined surfaces are joined to each other to form a trough, and the trough is provided in the vicinity of the tip of the partition wall. An upstream side that is formed in a substantially straight line toward the joint portion between the first and third inclined surfaces, is inclined downward toward the joint portion between the first and third inclined surfaces, and further the payout port is located It is the structure characterized by inclining downward.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the storage tray has a ball alignment that protrudes so as to taper toward an upstream side of the storage tray at an upper portion of the ball receiving port. It is the structure characterized by providing a part.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, the game device is provided at a terminal portion of the ball guide path, and receives the game balls aligned with the ball guide path one by one. And when the game balls are aligned in a line from the ball supply device in the ball guide path, the approximate center of the game balls is located immediately below the tip of the ball alignment unit. It is the structure characterized by this.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the second or third aspect, the height of the tip of the ball alignment portion from the bottom surface of the storage tray is such that two game balls are in contact with each other. Lower than the height in a state where they are arranged on a vertical line, and higher than the height in a state where one game ball is placed between two game balls arranged in contact with the left and right on the bottom surface of the storage tray. It is the structure characterized by being provided in the position.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the lower surface of the ball aligning portion is an inclined surface having a substantially arcuate shape in a side view that decreases toward the ball receiving port. It is the structure characterized by this.

  Further, the invention according to claim 6 is the gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the upper surface of the ball alignment portion is an inclined surface that becomes lower toward the upstream side of the storage dish. The configuration is as follows.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to suppress that the game ball stored in the storage tray applies a pressing force intensively toward the ball receiving port serving as the entrance to the ball guide path, and is stored in the storage tray. It is possible to satisfactorily prevent the plurality of game balls from biting each other in the process of moving the game balls to the ball guide path. As a result, it is possible to suppress the problem that the game balls are not launched even though many game balls are stored in the storage tray, and it is possible to continue the launch of the game balls satisfactorily.

It is a perspective view which shows an example of the external appearance structure of the state which looked at the game machine from the diagonally left upper position. It is a perspective view which expands and shows the storage tray provided in a game machine. It is a top view of the storage tray provided in a game machine. It is AA sectional drawing of the storage tray in FIG. It is BB sectional drawing of the storage tray in FIG. It is a top view which shows the area | region where the 1st inclined surface is formed in a storage tray with a hatched area | region. It is a top view which shows the area | region in which a 2nd inclined surface is formed in a storage tray with an oblique line area | region. It is a top view which shows the area | region in which a 3rd inclined surface is formed in a storage tray with an oblique line area | region. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between a storage tray, a ball supply apparatus, and a launching apparatus. It is the perspective view which looked at the ball supply device and the launching device from the back side of the gaming machine. It is a partially transparent perspective view which shows the internal structure of a bulb | ball supply apparatus. It is a figure which shows one structural example and operation | movement of the sphere supply mechanism in a sphere supply apparatus. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the sphere supply mechanism in the state which aligned from the inclined surface of the storage tray to the sphere supply mechanism. It is a figure explaining operation | movement of the sphere supply mechanism in the state which aligned from the inclined surface of the storage tray to the sphere supply mechanism. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the vicinity of the ball receiving opening in a ball guide path. It is the figure which looked at the storage tray of the state in which the game ball was arranged in the state which continued from the ball guide path to the inclined surface from the upper direction. It is a figure which shows the case where the center of a game ball is located directly under the front-end | tip part of a ball | bowl alignment part. It is a figure which shows the case where the center position of a game ball has shifted | deviated slightly from the position right under the front-end | tip part of a ball | bowl alignment part to the upstream of a storage tray. It is a figure which shows the case where the center position of a game ball has shifted | deviated slightly from the position right under the front-end | tip part of a ball | bowl alignment part to the downstream of a storage tray. It is a figure which shows the process in which the game ball of the state aligned with the supply operation | movement of the game ball of a ball supply mechanism advances toward a ball guide path. It is a figure for demonstrating the operation | movement in which the 2nd stage game ball approachs between two 1st stage game balls. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view at the time of seeing the part in which a ball alignment part is contained in the storage tray from the front side of a game machine. It is the figure which looked at the storage tray for demonstrating the passage path | route of a game ball from upper direction. It is a figure which shows an example of the state by which the comparatively many game balls were stored by the storage tray. It is a figure which shows an example in case the game ball row | line | column with which the comparatively many game ball was stored by the storage tray advances on the inclined surface.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the embodiments described below, members that are common to each other are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions thereof are omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of an external configuration of the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment when viewed from an obliquely upper left position. The gaming machine 1 is a ball-type gaming machine configured to pay out a prize ball when a game ball launched on the surface of the game board by an instruction operation by a player enters various winning holes. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 1 includes a main body frame 2 attached to an island facility constructed in a hall (store), and support portions 2 a and 2 a provided in a pair of upper and lower sides on the left side of the main body frame 2. And a front frame member 3 that can be pivoted and opened and closed on the front side (front side) of the main body frame 2.

  The front frame member 3 has a configuration in which a transparent glass plate 4 is fitted in the center thereof. A player plays a game while visually recognizing a board surface of a game board (not shown) attached to the main body frame 2 through a transparent glass plate 4 fitted into the front frame member 3.

  The front frame member 3 is a shelf-like projecting portion 6 in which the lower side of the transparent glass plate 4 projects to the front side (front side) of the gaming machine 1. A storage tray 7 for storing game balls paid out from the gaming machine 1 is provided on the upper surface side of the overhang portion 6 along the left-right direction of the overhang portion 6. Further, on the upper surface side of the overhanging portion 6, in addition to the storage tray 7, various effect buttons 8 that are operated by the player to enjoy the effects performed on the gaming machine 1 and the storage tray 7 are stored. A ball release lever 9 and the like for discharging the game ball to the lower side of the overhanging portion 6 are provided.

  A handle lever 5 that is operated by a player to play a game is provided at a position on the lower right side of the overhanging portion 6. The handle lever 5 is a lever for operating a launching device that launches a game ball onto the surface of the game board. When the player rotates the handle lever 5 in the clockwise direction (clockwise direction), the launching device provided at the lower position of the game board on the back side of the front frame member 3 is operated, and the operation angle of the handle lever 5 is set. With the corresponding hitting force, the game balls are shot one by one on the board surface of the game board at predetermined time intervals. When the game balls hit on the board surface of the game board enter into various winning ports provided on the game board, the prize balls associated therewith are paid out to the storage tray 7.

  The game balls stored in the storage tray 7 are guided to the launching device in an aligned state. Hereinafter, a configuration for guiding the game ball from the storage tray 7 to the launching device will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing the storage tray 7 provided in the gaming machine 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the storage tray 7. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of the storage tray 7 in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of the storage tray 7 in FIG. As shown in these figures, the storage tray 7 includes a bottom portion 12 composed of a plurality of inclined surfaces 12a, 12b, and 12c, a peripheral wall portion 11 standing so as to surround the periphery of the bottom portion 12, and a storage tray. 7 and a partition wall 15 erected at a height lower than the peripheral wall portion 11. The partition wall 15 has a base end connected to the inside of the peripheral wall portion 11 located on the right side of the storage tray 7, and a distal end portion extending toward the center of the storage tray 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the partition wall 15 is stored with a space slightly larger than one gaming ball between the peripheral wall portion 11 (back wall 11 b) located on the rear side of the partition wall 15. The tip 7 is erected on the inside of the tray 7, and the tip thereof is bent to the front side of the gaming machine 1 on the way, and gradually disappears at the center of the storage tray 7 while lowering the height position. The partition wall 15 divides the area on the right side of the storage tray 7 into two areas, a first area on the back side and a second area on the front side. The first area corresponds to a hatched area in FIG. 8 described later, and is an area for aligning the game balls in one line when guiding the game balls stored in the storage tray 7 to the downstream side. The second region corresponds to a hatched region in FIG. 7 described later, and is defined by the partition wall 15 so as to be adjacent to the front side of the first region as described above.

  On the left side of the peripheral wall portion 11 (back wall 11b) corresponding to the back side (rear side) of the gaming machine 1, a payout opening 13 that is opened to allow game balls to be paid out from the gaming machine 1 to flow in is provided. Therefore, the game ball paid out from the gaming machine 1 flows into the storage tray 7 from the payout port 13 toward the front side.

  The bottom 12 of the storage tray 7 is positioned on the first inclined surface 12 a located on the front side of the payout opening 13, on the second inclined surface 12 b located on the front side of the partition wall 15, and on the rear side of the partition wall 15. And a third inclined surface 12c. That is, the second inclined surface 12 b is formed in the above-described second region formed by the partition wall 15. The third inclined surface 12 c is formed in the above-described first region formed by the partition wall 15.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a region where the first inclined surface 12a is formed by a hatched region. The first inclined surface 12 a located on the front side of the payout opening 13 is inclined downwardly mainly toward the right side of the storage dish 7 and inclined slightly downward toward the rear side of the storage dish 7. It has become.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a region where the second inclined surface 12b is formed by a hatched region. The second inclined surface 12b positioned on the front side of the partition wall 15 is inclined downwardly mainly toward the left side of the storage dish 7 and has a slope slightly downward toward the rear side of the storage dish 7. It has become.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a region where the third inclined surface 12c is formed by a hatched region. The third inclined surface 12 c provided between the partition wall 15 and the peripheral wall portion 11 (back wall 11 b) is an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the right side of the storage tray 7. In addition, the space | interval of the partition wall 15 and the surrounding wall part 11 (back surface wall 11b) in this 3rd inclined surface 12c is a space | interval of a grade slightly larger than one game ball.

  The first inclined surface 12a is provided with a step at substantially the center thereof, and a ball opening hole 14 that can be opened and closed is provided at a position near the rear of the step portion. The ball removal hole 14 is normally closed by a closing member, and when the above-described ball removal lever 9 is operated, the closing member moves in a substantially horizontal direction and is opened. Therefore, when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, the player operates the ball release lever 9 to move the game balls stored in the storage tray 7 to below the overhanging portion 6. Can be discharged.

  The first inclined surface 12a is connected to the second inclined surface 12b having a different inclination direction at a substantially central position of the storage tray 7 so as to be connected continuously and smoothly, and the connecting portion is A linear trough portion 12 d is formed on the bottom portion 12 of the storage tray 7. As shown in FIG. 3, the valley portion 12 d is provided on a substantially straight line from the front right side to the rear left side at the bottom portion 12 of the storage dish 7, and on the rear left side so that the front side is high and the rear side is low. Inclining downward. That is, the valley 12 d has a slope that is lowered not only toward the rear side of the storage tray 7 but also toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom portion 12 of the storage tray 7 has a substantially V-shaped cross-sectional structure on the front side of the partition wall 15, and the valley portion 12 d has a bottom portion 12 in the left-right direction of the storage tray 7. It is the deepest part.

  The first inclined surface 12a is also connected to the third inclined surface 12c so as to be continuously and smoothly connected. Both the first inclined surface 12a and the third inclined surface 12c are inclined downward toward the right side of the storage tray 7, and the inclination angles are set to be substantially equal. And the 3rd inclined surface 12c comprises the channel | path for guide | inducing the game ball stored by the storage tray 7 to the ball guide path 20 mentioned later, The channel | path width is prescribed | regulated by the space | interval of the partition wall 15 and the surrounding wall part 11. FIG. Has been. In the illustrated example, the passage width of the third inclined surface 12c is slightly larger than one game ball, and the game balls are aligned in almost one row through the third inclined surface 12c. In this state, it is guided to the ball guide path 20.

  Then, the right end portion of the third inclined surface 12c is connected to a ball guide path 20 that guides the game balls in a state of being aligned in a row. The ball guide path 20 is a passage path for game balls for guiding the game balls stored in the storage tray 7 to the launching device, and is configured to incline downward toward a ball supply device 31 described later. The ball guide path 20 is configured by, for example, a cylindrical peripheral wall that is integrally connected to the peripheral wall portion 11 and the bottom portion 12 of the storage tray 7.

  As shown in FIG. 5, such a ball guide path 20 has a ball receiving port 21 that opens toward the storage tray 7, and a game that rolls along the inclined surface 12 c from the ball receiving port 21. Accept the sphere inside. That is, the ball receiving port 21 serves as an entrance to the ball guide path 20 and has an opening that is slightly larger than one game ball. Therefore, the game balls enter the ball guide path 20 one by one from the ball receiving port 21, and the game balls are arranged in a line inside the ball guide path 20. Such a ball guide path 20 is provided to guide the game ball to the back side of the front frame member 3 in the gaming machine 1.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the storage tray 7 is provided with a ball alignment portion 22 that protrudes so as to taper toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7 at the upper portion of the ball receiving port 21 of the ball guide path 20. It is done. The ball aligning portion 22 stores a large number of game balls in the storage tray 7, and when the plurality of game balls are lined up and down on the inclined surface 12 c on the upstream side of the ball reception port 21, The game balls to be led to 21 are arranged in a one-stage configuration at the lowest level. The specific structure and operation of the sphere alignment unit 22 will be described later.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the relationship among the storage tray 7, the ball supply device 31 and the launching device 40. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the ball supply device 31 and the launching device 40 as viewed from the back side of the gaming machine 1. The ball guide path 20 provided in connection with the storage tray 7 guides the game ball to the ball supply device 31 attached to the back side of the front frame member 3. The ball supply device 31 is fixed to the base member 30 provided on the back side of the front frame member 3. The base member 30 is attached below the transparent glass plate 4 on the back side of the front frame member 3.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the ball supply device 31 is provided with a receiving port 32 for receiving a game ball flowing out from the end portion 20 a of the ball guide path 20 on the front side. As shown in FIG. 10, a supply port 33 is provided on the back side of the ball supply device 31 to supply game balls one by one at a predetermined timing to the launch position of the game balls by the launch device 40.

  The launching device 40 launches a game ball supplied to the launching position with a hitting force corresponding to the operation angle of the handle lever 5 described above. The launching device 40 is provided on the front side of the main body frame 2 and below the game board. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when the front frame member 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the ball supply device 31 and the launching device 40 are in a positional relationship adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. 31 will be in the state which can supply a game ball with respect to a launch position.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the launching device 40 includes a driving unit 41 such as a rotary solenoid, an operating rod 42 whose base end portion rotates around a predetermined rotation axis by the driving unit 41, and a distal end portion of the operating rod 42. And a launcher 43 provided in the above. The drive unit 41 operates when the handle lever 5 is operated, and repeats the operation of rotating the operating rod 42 within a predetermined angle range. When the operating rod 42 rotates toward the launch position, the game ball set at the launch position is launched by the launch rod 43 onto the board surface of the game board. In addition, after launching the game ball, the operating rod 42 rotates the rotation axis in the reverse direction and returns to the original position. The launching device 40 is configured to launch game balls one by one at a predetermined time interval on the surface of the game board by repeatedly performing such an operation.

  The ball supply device 31 is configured to supply a game ball to the firing position at a predetermined timing during the repeated operation of the launch device 40 as described above. The ball supply device 31 includes therein a ball supply mechanism 35 that takes out the aligned game balls guided from the ball guide path 20 one by one and supplies the game balls from the supply port 33 toward the launch position.

  FIG. 11 is a partially transparent perspective view showing the internal structure of the sphere supply device 31. The ball supply device 31 has a holding passage 34 that holds the game balls in an aligned state flowing from the terminal end portion 20a of the ball guide path 20 through the receiving port 32 in an aligned state therein. The ball supply mechanism 35 is provided at the end of the holding passage 34. The ball supply mechanism 35 is provided adjacent to the inside of the supply port 33 for supplying the game ball toward the launch position, and supplies the game ball to the launch position in conjunction with the operation of the launch device 40 described above. Configured. That is, the ball supply mechanism 35 takes out only one game ball located at the head of the game balls guided in a line from the storage tray 7, and takes the taken game ball from the supply port 33 to the launch position. It is the structure which supplies.

  FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example and operation of the sphere supply mechanism 35 in the sphere supply device 31. As described above, the sphere supply device 31 has a configuration in which the sphere supply mechanism 35 is provided at the end of the holding passage 34. The ball supply mechanism 35 includes a swing member 36 that is pivotally supported by a predetermined rotation shaft 37. The swing member 36 can be rotated around a rotation shaft 37 within a predetermined angle range. The swing member 36 swings in conjunction with the game ball launching operation of the launching device 40.

  The oscillating member 36 has a ball receiving portion 38 that faces the end portion of the holding passage 34 at one end, and a weight portion 39 that includes a weight or the like at the other end. The rotating shaft 37 supports the swinging member 36 so as to be rotatable between the ball receiving portion 38 and the weight portion 39. The ball receiving portion 38 is provided adjacent to the supply port 33, and swings in the vertical direction inside the supply port 33 when the swinging member 36 swings. The ball receiving portion 38 is formed with a recess for receiving one game ball, and the recess is inclined downward toward the supply port 33.

  When the launching device 40 is not operating, the sphere supply mechanism 35 in the sphere supply device 31 is in a state as shown in FIG. That is, in this state, the weight portion 39 is lowered by its own weight, and the ball receiving portion 38 is raised. At this time, among the game balls aligned in the holding passage 34, the game ball B located at the head of the game ball remains in contact with the ball receiving portion 38. Then, when the firing device 40 starts to operate, a pressing member 44 (not shown in FIG. 12) located below the weight portion 39 rises and lifts the weight portion 39 upward. As a result, the ball supply mechanism 35 shifts from the state shown in FIG. 12A to the state shown in FIG. That is, the ball receiving portion 38 gradually descends as the weight portion 39 is lifted upward. Even in the state shown in FIG. 12B, the leading game ball B in the holding passage 34 is in contact with the ball receiving portion 38. When the weight portion 39 further rises from this state, the ball receiving portion 38 further falls. Then, the state shown in FIG. 12C is obtained, and the first game ball B in the holding passage 34 rolls toward the concave portion of the ball receiving portion 38 and is taken into the ball receiving portion 38. Thereafter, when the launching device 40 performs a further operation, the pressing member 44 starts to descend. Therefore, the weight part 39 starts to descend due to its own weight. At this time, the ball receiving portion 38 rises while holding the game ball B. Then, when the ball receiving portion 38 rises to the almost same height position as the supply port 33, the game ball B rolls along the downward slope of the recess as shown in FIG. Supplied towards Thereafter, the state again returns to the state shown in FIG.

  The ball supply device 31 performs the operation as described above in conjunction with the launching device 40, thereby taking out only the first game ball from the aligned game balls flowing in through the ball guide path 20. Then, it is configured to supply to the launch position by the launch device 40.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the sphere supply mechanism 35 in a state in which the inclined surface 12c of the storage tray 7 is aligned with the sphere supply mechanism 35. FIG. 13 and 14 are views seen from the front side of the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the pressing member 44 is provided at a lower position of the ball supply mechanism 35, and moves up and down in conjunction with the launching operation of the launching device 40. FIG. 13 shows a state where the pressing member 44 is lowered, and FIG. 14 shows a state where the pressing member 44 is raised. As described above, the pressing member 44 is interlocked with the launching operation of the launching device 40 and moves up and down once every time a game ball is launched. Then, as the pressing member 44 moves up and down, the ball supply mechanism 35 takes out only the first ball from the game balls aligned with the holding passage 34 and supplies it from the supply port 33.

  As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, when the ball supply mechanism 35 performs an operation of supplying one game ball in a state where the game balls are aligned one by one from the inclined surface 12 c of the storage tray 7, The game balls in the aligned state advance toward the ball supply mechanism 35 by one ball each. Such an advance operation of the game ball train is an intermittent operation linked to the operation of the ball supply mechanism 35, and when the game ball advances by one ball, it repeatedly stops for a certain time until the next game ball is supplied. Become.

  Next, the sphere alignment unit 22 provided in the upper part of the sphere receiving port 21 of the sphere guide path 20 in the storage tray 7 will be described. FIG. 15 is an enlarged sectional view showing the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21 in the ball guide path 20. As described above, the ball aligning portion 22 protrudes such that the tip portion 22a tapers toward the upstream side (left side) of the storage tray 7. As shown in FIG. 15A, the distal end portion 22 a has a protruding amount corresponding to the distance D from the ball receiving port 21 toward the upstream side of the storage dish 7.

  The lower surface of the sphere aligning portion 22 is formed as an inclined surface 23 having a substantially arc shape in a side view that decreases from the tip end portion 22 a toward the sphere receiving port 21. The center of the arc constituting the inclined surface 23 is provided in the upstream direction of the storage tray 7 with respect to the tip 22a. Therefore, the inclined surface 23 constituting the lower surface of the sphere aligning portion 22 is formed so as to gradually decrease its height from the upstream side of the storage dish 7 toward the sphere receiving port 21. A space for guiding the game ball to the ball receiving port 21 is formed between the inclined surface 23 and the inclined surface 12 c that forms the bottom 12 of the storage tray 7.

  On the other hand, the upper surface of the sphere alignment portion 22 is formed as an inclined surface 24 that decreases from the base end portion toward the distal end portion 22 a, that is, toward the upstream side of the storage dish 7. In the present embodiment, the inclined surface 24 on the upper surface is also formed in a substantially arc shape in a side view, and the center of the arc is provided in the upstream direction of the storage tray 7 with respect to the tip portion 22a. Therefore, the inclined surface 24 constituting the upper surface of the sphere aligning portion 22 is formed so as to gradually decrease its height toward the upstream side of the storage dish 7, and the lowest point of the inclined surface 24 is the sphere aligning portion. It is the structure located in 22 front-end | tip part 22a.

  And the front-end | tip part 22a of the ball | bowl alignment part 22 is provided so that it may be in the position of height H from the bottom part 12 (more strictly, inclined surface 12c) of the storage tray 7. FIG. The height H is set so that the game balls entering toward the ball receiving port 21 are not bitten. That is, the height H is lower than the height h2 in a state where two game balls are in contact with each other and arranged on the vertical line as shown in FIG. 15B, and shown in FIG. 15C. In this way, the height h1 is set to be higher than the height h1 in a state where one game ball is placed between two game balls arranged in contact with the left and right. For example, when the height H is expressed as a numerical value in relation to the diameter of the game ball, the tip 22a of the ball alignment unit 22 is approximately 1.87 times the diameter of the game ball from the bottom of the storage tray 7. It is provided at a height position less than twice.

  Further, the projection amount D by which the tip end portion 22a of the ball aligning portion 22 protrudes toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7 is such that the game balls are aligned in a line on the ball guide path 20, and the leading game ball is the ball supply mechanism. It is designed so that the approximate center of the aligned game balls is positioned directly below the tip 22a when it is in contact with 35 and is stationary. That is, when the game balls are paid out to the storage tray 7 in a state where the game balls are aligned with the ball guide path 20, the game balls are separated from the partition wall 15 and the peripheral wall portion 11 located on the rear side of the partition wall 15. It flows into the inclined surface 12c between the two and is in a state of being aligned following the game balls aligned with the ball guide path 20. At this time, almost the center of the game balls that flow into the inclined surface 12c and are aligned toward the ball receiving port 21 of the ball guide path 20 are located immediately below the tip 22a of the ball aligning portion 22. .

  FIG. 16 is a view of the storage tray 7 in a state in which the game balls are arranged in a continuous state from the ball guide path 20 to the inclined surface 12c as viewed from above. FIG. 16A shows a state in which game balls are aligned in a straight line on the ball guide path 20 and the inclined surface 12 c of the storage tray 7. At this time, the game balls aligned with the ball guide path 20 and the inclined surface 12c are aligned in a line at intervals corresponding to the diameter of the game balls. On the other hand, the passage width of the ball guide path 20 and the inclined surface 12c is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. Therefore, when the game balls are aligned on the ball guide path 20 and the inclined surface 12c, the game balls are not necessarily aligned on a straight line as shown in FIG. FIGS. 16B and 16C show a state in which the game balls are aligned at positions shifted back and forth within the range of the passage width. As shown in FIGS. 16 (b) and 16 (c), when the game balls are aligned within the range of the passage width, the game balls are arranged at intervals slightly smaller than the intervals corresponding to the diameter of the game balls. Will be aligned.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, the center of the aligned game balls is positioned directly below the tip portion 22a of the ball alignment portion 22, but strictly speaking, immediately below the tip portion 22a. The center of the game ball is not necessarily located, and the center position of the game ball located immediately below the tip 22a is slightly shifted to the upstream side or the downstream side of the storage tray 7 depending on the alignment state of the game balls. There is also. For example, in the case of the alignment state as shown in FIG. 16A, the center of the game ball is at a position slightly shifted to the upstream side of the storage tray 7 from the position immediately below the tip portion 22a of the ball alignment portion 22. In the case of FIG. 16B or FIG. 16C, the center of the game ball is positioned on the downstream side. However, even if the center position of the game ball located immediately below the tip 22a is shifted to the upstream side or the downstream side of the storage tray 7 due to the alignment state of the game balls, the shift amount does not increase so much. It is suppressed to be less than the radius of the sphere.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the game balls are aligned in one row from the ball supply mechanism 35 in the ball guide path 20, the approximate center of the aligned game balls is directly below the tip 22 a of the ball alignment unit 22. Therefore, the ball aligning unit 22 can prevent the game balls from being engaged with each other. Hereinafter, it will be described in detail how the sphere alignment unit 22 operates.

  FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a case where the center of the game balls B1 aligned immediately below the tip 22a of the ball alignment unit 22 is located. First, when the number of game balls stored in the storage tray 7 increases, as shown in FIG. 17 (a), the second game ball is positioned between the lowest game balls upstream of the ball alignment unit 22. And a third stage game ball may be placed between the second stage game balls. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17A, when the center of the lowermost game ball B1 aligned toward the ball guide path 20 is located immediately below the tip portion 22a of the ball alignment portion 22, two steps The game ball of the eye and the game ball of the third stage have a certain distance from the tip portion 22 a of the ball alignment portion 22 and do not hit the tip portion 22 a of the ball alignment portion 22. In this state, when the game ball B2 flows into the upper side of the ball alignment unit 22, the game ball B2 moves toward the upstream side of the storage dish 7 along the inclined surface 24 on the upper surface of the ball alignment unit 22. Roll. And as shown to Fig.17 (a), the game ball B2 will be in the state which contacted the game ball located in the most downstream side among the 3rd stage game balls.

  At this time, the game ball B2 is in contact with the upper half of the third-stage game ball, and the lower part of the game ball B2 is supported by the tip 22a of the ball alignment unit 22. Therefore, the game ball B2 is pressed against the direction in which the third stage game ball is pushed back to the upstream side, while the game ball B1 positioned below the ball alignment unit 22 is pressed from above. It is supported so that no pressure is applied.

  In the state shown in FIG. 17A, there is no space in which the game ball B2 can enter between the third stage game ball and the tip end portion 22a of the ball alignment unit 22, so that the game ball B2 Remains on the upper surface of the sphere alignment portion 22. For this reason, even when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, the game balls are not engaged at the upper part of the ball alignment unit 22.

  On the other hand, the second stage game ball may be pushed downstream by the pressure from the upstream side of the storage tray 7. At this time, as shown in FIG. 17B, a space for the second stage game ball B3 to get over the game ball B1 and guide the game ball formed below the ball alignment portion 22 to the ball receiving port 21. Try to get into. However, in the present embodiment, as described above, since the space between the tip portion 22a and the inclined surface 12c of the storage tray 7 is provided with an interval less than twice the diameter of the game ball, the game ball B2 is There is no entry into the space below the ball aligning portion 22. Then, the game ball B3 is aligned as a second-stage game ball between the game ball B1 and the game ball located on the upstream side of the game ball B1. Therefore, the game balls are not bitten even at the lower part of the ball alignment unit 22.

  Next, FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a case where the center position of the game balls B1 aligned immediately below the tip 22a of the ball alignment unit 22 is slightly shifted to the upstream side of the storage tray 7. This case is also similar to the case of FIG. That is, when the number of game balls stored in the storage tray 7 increases, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), the second-stage game is placed between the lowest-stage game balls upstream of the ball alignment unit 22. There is a case where a ball is placed and a third stage game ball is placed between the second stage game balls. At this time, as shown in FIG. 18 (a), even when the center of the lowermost game ball B1 is slightly shifted to the upstream side of the storage tray 7 from just below the tip 22a of the ball alignment portion 22, The game ball of the eye and the game ball of the third stage have a certain distance from the tip portion 22a of the ball alignment portion 22 and do not hit the tip portion 22a of the ball alignment portion 22. In this state, when the game ball B2 flows into the upper side of the ball alignment unit 22, the game ball B2 rolls toward the upstream side of the storage dish 7 along the inclined surface 24 on the upper surface of the ball alignment unit 22. Move. Then, as shown in FIG. 18A, the game ball B2 is in contact with the game ball located on the most downstream side of the third stage game balls.

  Also at this time, as shown in FIG. 18A, the game ball B2 is in contact with the upper half of the third stage game ball, and the lower part of the game ball B2 is the tip 22a of the ball alignment unit 22. It will be in the state supported by. Therefore, the game ball B2 is pressed against the direction in which the third stage game ball is pushed back to the upstream side, while the game ball B1 positioned below the ball alignment unit 22 is pressed from above. It is supported so that no pressure is applied.

  Further, as described above, since there is no space for the game ball B2 to enter between the third stage game ball and the tip end portion 22a of the ball alignment unit 22, the game ball B2 is shown in FIG. As shown to a), it will be in the state which remained on the upper surface of the ball | bowl alignment part 22. FIG. For this reason, even when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, the game balls are not engaged at the upper part of the ball alignment unit 22.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 18 (b), when the second-stage game ball is pushed downstream by the pressure from the upstream side of the storage tray 7, the second-stage game ball B3 replaces the game ball B1. It gets over and tries to enter the space for guiding the game ball formed below the ball alignment portion 22 to the ball receiving port 21. However, in this case as well, as described above, since the space between the tip 22a and the inclined surface 12c of the storage tray 7 is less than twice the diameter of the game ball, the game ball B2 is It does not enter the space below the alignment portion 22. Then, the game ball B3 is aligned as a second-stage game ball between the game ball B1 and the game ball located on the upstream side of the game ball B1. Therefore, even in this case, the game balls are not bitten at the lower part of the ball alignment unit 22.

  Next, FIG. 19 is a diagram illustrating a case where the center position of the game balls B1 aligned immediately below the tip 22a of the ball alignment unit 22 is slightly shifted to the downstream side of the storage tray 7. This case is also similar to the case of FIG. That is, when the number of game balls stored in the storage tray 7 increases, as shown in FIG. 19A, the second-stage game is between the lowest-stage game balls upstream of the ball alignment unit 22. There is a case where a ball is placed and a third stage game ball is placed between the second stage game balls. At this time, as shown in FIG. 19 (a), even if the center of the lowermost game ball B1 is slightly shifted to the downstream side of the storage tray 7 from just below the tip 22a of the ball alignment part 22, The game ball of the eye and the game ball of the third stage are in a state where they do not hit the tip 22 a of the ball alignment unit 22. In this state, when the game ball B2 flows into the upper side of the ball alignment unit 22, the game ball B2 rolls toward the upstream side of the storage dish 7 along the inclined surface 24 on the upper surface of the ball alignment unit 22. Move. Then, as shown in FIG. 19A, the game ball B2 comes into contact with the game ball located on the most downstream side of the third stage game balls.

  Also at this time, as shown in FIG. 19A, the game ball B2 is in contact with the upper half of the third-stage game ball, and the lower part of the game ball B2 is the tip portion 22a of the ball alignment unit 22. It will be in the state supported by. Therefore, the game ball B2 is pressed against the direction in which the third stage game ball is pushed back to the upstream side, while the game ball B1 positioned below the ball alignment unit 22 is pressed from above. It is supported so that no pressure is applied.

  Furthermore, as described above, there is no space in which the game ball B2 can enter between the third stage game ball and the tip end portion 22a of the ball alignment unit 22, so the game ball B2 is shown in FIG. As shown to a), it will be in the state which remained on the upper surface of the ball | bowl alignment part 22. FIG. For this reason, even when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, the game balls are not engaged at the upper part of the ball alignment unit 22.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 19B, when the second-stage game ball is pushed downstream by the pressure from the upstream side of the storage tray 7, the second-stage game ball B3 moves the game ball B1. It gets over and tries to enter the space for guiding the game ball formed below the ball alignment portion 22 to the ball receiving port 21. However, in this case as well, as described above, since the space between the tip 22a and the inclined surface 12c of the storage tray 7 is less than twice the diameter of the game ball, the game ball B2 is It does not enter the space below the alignment portion 22. Then, the game ball B3 is aligned as a second-stage game ball between the game ball B1 and the game ball located on the upstream side of the game ball B1. Therefore, even in this case, the game balls are not bitten at the lower part of the ball alignment unit 22.

  On the other hand, when the above-described ball supply mechanism 35 performs the operation of supplying one game ball, when the game balls aligned with the ball guide path 20 advance by one ball, the ball alignment unit 22 is 1 The second-stage game balls placed between the lowest-stage game balls aligned in a row are allowed to enter the space below the ball alignment section 22 as they are. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating a process in which the game balls aligned with the supply operation of the game balls of the ball supply mechanism 35 proceed toward the ball guide path 20. As shown in FIG. 20 (a), in a state where the game balls are aligned with the ball guide path 20, the game ball B1 is located immediately below the tip 22a of the ball alignment section 22, and the upstream side of the game ball B1. A case where the game ball B2 is located at the second position and the game ball B3 is placed on the second stage between the game ball B1 and the game ball B2 is illustrated. In the state shown in FIG. 20A, when a game ball is supplied by the ball supply mechanism 35, the game balls aligned with the ball guide path 20 advance toward the ball supply mechanism 35 one by one. To do. Accordingly, the game balls B 1 and B 2 aligned on the upstream side of the ball guide path 20 travel toward the ball receiving port 21 of the ball guide path 20.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, one game ball is provided between the two game balls B1 and B2 in which the tip end portion 22a of the ball alignment portion 22 is in contact with the inclined surface 12c on the left and right sides. It is provided at a position higher than the height h1 where B3 is placed. Therefore, when the game balls B1 and B2 travel toward the ball receiving port 21 of the ball guide path 20, the game ball B3 does not come into contact with the protruding tip 22a of the ball alignment unit 22, and FIG. As shown in (2), it enters the space below the tip 22a. Then, the game ball B3 enters the space below the tip portion 22a, and comes into contact with the inclined surface 23, which is the lower surface of the ball alignment portion 22, at a portion near the top. Further, when the game ball B1 advances toward the ball supply mechanism 35, the game ball B3 enters between the game balls B2 and B1 so as to be pushed downstream from the game ball B2. Then, the game ball B1, the game ball B3, and the game ball B2 are arranged in order from the ball receiving port 21 to the ball guide path 20 and enter.

  FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining an operation in which the second-stage game ball B3 enters between the two first-stage game balls B1 and B2. First, as described above, when a game ball aligned with the ball guide path 20 advances by one ball, the second-stage game ball B3 placed between the first-stage game balls B1 and B2 aligned in the first row is The ball enters the space below the ball aligning portion 22 while being placed between the game balls B1 and B2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 21A, the game ball B3 comes into contact with the inclined surface 23, which is the lower surface of the ball alignment portion 22, at the contact point PT. This contact point PT is located between points P1 and P2 defined on the surface of the game ball B3. The point P1 is a vertex that is the uppermost part of the game ball B3, and the point P2 is an intersection of a line connecting the centers of the game ball B2 and the game ball B3 and the surface of the game ball B3.

  Here, it is assumed that the contact point PT is at the same position as the point P2 on the surface of the game ball B3 or at a position in the traveling direction side of the game ball B3 with respect to the point P2 (that is, a position rotated clockwise). The game ball B3 bites at the contact point PT. Therefore, in this case, even if the game ball B1 further progresses, the game balls B2 and B3 cannot progress any further (that is, a ball jammed state).

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 21A, the contact point PT where the game ball B3 contacts the inclined surface 23 of the ball aligning portion 22 is located between the points P1 and P2. Designed to. Therefore, when the game ball B1 advances further downstream, and the force that pushes the game balls B2 and B3 from the upstream side to the downstream side acts, the game ball B2 is in contact with the game ball B3. Since it cannot advance forward beyond the ball B3, the game ball B2 pushes the game ball B3 downstream. Therefore, the game ball B3 proceeds ahead of the game ball B2 in the space below the ball alignment unit 22. Since the inclined surface 23 corresponding to the lower surface of the ball alignment portion 22 is a substantially arc-shaped inclined surface in a side view that decreases from the tip portion 22a toward the ball receiving port 21, the game ball B3 is always inclined. It proceeds to the downstream side of the game ball B2 while contacting the surface 23. At this time, the contact point PT where the game ball B3 contacts the inclined surface 23 of the ball aligning portion 22 is always located between the points P1 and P2, as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the game ball B3 travels ahead of the game ball B2 in the space below the ball aligning portion 22, the contact point PT does not interfere with the progress of the game ball B3 at any position. Therefore, the game ball B3 advances preferentially over the game ball B2 without biting in the lower space of the ball alignment portion 22, and enters the ball guide path 20 from the ball receiving port 21.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7 by the ball alignment unit 22 provided at the upper part of the ball receiving port 21, and a plurality of game balls are provided near the entrance of the ball guide path 20. It is the structure which can prevent favorably that a game ball will be in the state which bite each other. As a result, even when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, the game balls are well guided in a state of being aligned in a row with respect to the ball supply mechanism 35, and the game is started from the launching device 40. There is no problem that the ball is suddenly stopped.

  Next, FIG. 22 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the storage tray 7 that includes the ball alignment unit 22 when viewed from the front side of the gaming machine 1. As shown in FIG. 22, when a relatively large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, these game balls are concentrated from the ball receiving port 21 toward the ball guide path 20. At this time, the first stage game ball in a state of being placed on the bottom portion 12 of the storage tray 7 tries to roll along the inclined surface 12c. Move towards. In addition, the second stage game ball placed on the first stage game ball moves toward the ball receiving port 21 that is the entrance of the ball guide path 20 as the first stage game ball advances. At this time, as described above, the game ball located at the head of the second-stage game balls is restricted from getting over the first-stage game balls and entering the space below the ball alignment unit 22. . Such a game ball is then stabilized by being placed between the two game balls located in the first stage. Then, when the game ball located at the top of the second stage moves toward the ball receiving port 21 while being placed between the two game balls located at the first stage, as described above, the balls are aligned. The player enters the space below the portion 22 and enters and aligns between the two game balls by the lower surface of the ball alignment portion 22.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 22, when the third stage game ball is placed on the second stage game ball and the game ball is also placed on the ball alignment section 22, the ball alignment section The game ball placed on 22 tries to transfer toward the inclination direction of the inclined surface 24. At this time, the game balls placed on the ball alignment unit 22 exert a force in a direction in which the game balls on the third stage are pushed back toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7 as indicated by an arrow F1 in FIG. . Therefore, the third stage game ball receives resistance from the game balls placed on the ball alignment unit 22. At this time, the game balls placed on the ball alignment unit 22 are supported by the ball alignment unit 22 so as not to exert a pressing force from above on the game balls located in the space below the ball alignment unit 22. Yes. Therefore, in this embodiment, when three or more stages of game balls are stacked in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21 in the storage tray 7, the inclined surface 24 provided on the upper surface of the ball aligning portion 22 is the game ball on the upper surface. And the game ball supported by the inclined surface 24 is configured so as not to exert a pressing force on the game ball located below the ball alignment portion 22. It is possible to prevent the pressure from the upstream side from concentrating in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21, and it is also possible to suppress the game ball from being bitten by this.

  Further, with such a configuration, it is possible to prevent an excessive pressure from being applied to the second stage game ball from the third stage game ball in the vicinity of the distal end portion 22a of the ball alignment section 22. Therefore, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the second stage game ball from being engaged with the tip 22a of the ball alignment portion 22.

  In addition, as described above, the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment is configured such that the bottom portion 12 of the storage tray 7 includes a plurality of inclined surfaces 12a, 12b, and 12c. Such a configuration is also for preventing a large pressure from concentrating from the upstream side of the storage tray 7 in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21 of the ball guide path 20. Hereinafter, the operation of the bottom 12 of the storage tray 7 will be described.

  FIG. 23 is a view of the storage tray 7 as viewed from above. A game ball paid out from the gaming machine 1 to the storage tray 7 passes through a route indicated by an arrow R in the figure. That is, the game ball paid out from the payout opening 13 first rolls toward the front side (front side) of the gaming machine 1. And in the vicinity of the front wall 11a which comprises the surrounding wall part 11 surrounding the circumference | surroundings of the storage tray 7, a game ball comes to roll toward the right side of the storage tray 7 along the inclination direction of the inclined surface 12a. At this time, the game ball rolls rightward on the front side of the storage tray 7. Then, the game ball enters the region of the inclined surface 12b inclined in the direction opposite to the inclined surface 12a beyond the valley 12d, and rolls on the inclined surface 12b located on the front side of the partition wall 15. Since the inclined surface 12b is inclined downward mainly toward the left side of the storage tray 7 as described above, the rolling direction of the game ball after entering the region of the inclined surface 12b is reverse (that is, the storage tray 7). In the direction toward the upstream side) and is again guided onto the inclined surface 12a. Then, the game ball rolls to the rear side of the storage tray 7 and flows into the inclined surface 12 c that leads to the ball guide path 20.

  As described above, the storage tray 7 of the present embodiment does not guide the game balls paid out from the gaming machine 1 to the ball guide path 20 as it is, but temporarily stores the paid-out game balls in the storage tray 7. The momentum at the time of payout is extinguished by flowing into the inclined surface 12c inclined downward toward the upstream side, and then flows into the inclined surface 12c that leads to the ball guide path 20 while rolling the game ball relatively gently. It is the composition which makes it. Therefore, even when the number of game balls stored in the storage tray 7 is relatively small, the momentum of the game balls paid out from the gaming machine 1 is concentrated in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21 of the ball guide path 20. It is possible to prevent a plurality of game balls from biting in the vicinity of the entrance of the ball guide path 20.

  Moreover, the linear trough part 12d formed in the bottom part 12 of the storage tray 7 is provided so that it may descend | inclinate gently toward the back left side from the front right side of the storage tray 7, as mentioned above. In the present embodiment, since the left side of the storage tray 7 is the upstream side and the right side is the downstream side, in other words, such a trough 12d is directed toward the upstream side in the horizontal direction of the storage tray 7. It will fall down. And since such trough part 12d forms the deepest part of the storage tray 7 in the front side of the partition wall 15, when it will be in the state by which the comparatively many game balls were stored by the storage tray 7, those game balls Are concentrated and stored in the vicinity of the valley 12d. In such a case, the valley 12d acts so as to gently push out the stored game balls toward the upstream side in the left-right direction of the storage tray 7. This will be described in more detail below.

  FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating an example of a state in which a relatively large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7. As described above, when the number of game balls stored in the storage tray 7 increases, the game balls are gathered in the vicinity of the valley 12d as shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 24, the valley 12d acts so as to roll the game ball in the inclination direction, so the game ball stored in the vicinity of the valley 12d is indicated by an arrow F2 in the figure. A force acts in the direction shown to try to roll. At this time, since the other game balls are stored in the direction in which the game balls are about to roll, the game balls located in the vicinity of the valley 12d are other games located downstream in the inclination direction of the valley 12d. Press the sphere. This pressing force is transmitted to the downstream side of the valley portion 12d via the game ball located in the vicinity of the valley portion 12d, and finally presses the game ball located inside the back wall 11b constituting the peripheral wall portion 11. To do. And the pressing force which presses the game ball located inside the back wall 11b acts in the direction which pushes back the game ball toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7, as shown by arrow F3 in FIG. Thus, when the valley 12d is inclined downward toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7, when a relatively large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, the valley 12d gathers in the vicinity of the valley 12d. The game ball is caused to exert a force so as to push the game ball about to flow into the inclined surface 12 c for guiding it to the ball guide path 20 back to the upstream side of the storage dish 7. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a large pressing force from all the game balls stored in the storage tray 7 from being concentrated near the ball receiving port 21 in the ball guide path 20. In this case, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the plurality of game balls from being bitten in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21.

  FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where the game ball row arranged on the inclined surface 12c advances in a state where a relatively large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7. In addition, in FIG. 25, the center part of the storage tray 7 is expanded and shown. As shown in FIG. 25, when the game balls arranged on the inclined surface 12c proceed toward the ball guide path 20 in a state where a relatively large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, the storage tray 7 stores the game balls. The played game balls flow toward the inclined surface 12c. At this time, as described above, the game ball located inside the back wall 11b is pressed and urged toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7 (arrow F3), so that it is closer to the game ball than the game ball (storage). The game ball B located on the front side of the tray 7 may flow preferentially into the inclined surface 12c (arrow M). In this case, the game ball B flows into the inclined surface 12c while changing its direction as it rolls toward the rear left side of the storage tray 7 along the valley 12d. For this reason, the game ball flowing toward the inclined surface 12c rolls relatively slowly, so that it smoothly flows into the inclined surface 12c.

  However, as shown in FIG. 25, the game balls in the hands of the game balls located inside the back wall 11b do not necessarily preferentially flow into the inclined surface 12c. That is, the game ball located inside the back wall 11b may flow into the inclined surface 12c with priority over other game balls, or may be further on the front side of the game ball B shown in FIG. A certain game ball may preferentially flow into the inclined surface 12c. In any case, in the present embodiment, the inclination direction of the valley portion 12d acts so as to disperse the pressing force by the game balls stored in the storage tray 7 in the vicinity of the upstream side of the inclined surface 12c. Thus, the configuration is such that the rolling game balls can be gradually and smoothly introduced into the inclined surface 12c. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a plurality of game balls from being engaged in the vicinity of the upstream surface of the inclined surface 12c.

  As described above, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a game ball that is launched on the game board is paid out as a winning ball by entering various winning holes, and the game ball that is paid out is stored. A storage tray 7 is provided along the left-right direction of the overhanging portion 6 that projects to the front side of the gaming machine 1 below the gaming board. The storage tray 7 has a payout opening 13 for allowing a game ball to be paid out from the gaming machine 1 to flow into one of the left and right sides, and a ball receiver for feeding the game ball into the ball guide path 20 on the other side. A partition wall 15 having an entrance 21 and extending from the peripheral wall portion 11 in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21 toward the approximate center of the storage tray 7 is erected, and the partition wall 15 is a game ball upstream of the ball receiving port 21. Are arranged in one row. Furthermore, the bottom of the storage dish 7 is formed in the vicinity of the payout opening 13 and has a first inclined surface 12a inclined downward toward the ball receiving opening 21 and the ball receiving opening 21 with the partition wall 15 in between. Is formed on a different side from the second inclined surface 12b and the second inclined surface 12b with the partition wall 15 in between. A third inclined surface 12 c that is inclined downward toward the downstream side toward the inlet 21 is provided. The first and second inclined surfaces 12 a and 12 b are joined to each other to form a valley portion 12 d, and the valley portion 12 d is provided in the vicinity of the front end portion of the partition wall 15. , 12c is formed in a substantially linear shape toward the joint portion of the first and third inclined surfaces 12a, 12c, and further toward the upstream side where the payout port 13 is provided. It is the structure which inclines and descends.

  By providing such a configuration, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment concentrates the pressing force of the game balls stored in the storage tray 7 toward the ball receiving port 21 serving as the entrance to the ball guide path 20. It becomes possible to suppress the action, and it is possible to prevent a plurality of game balls from biting each other in the process of moving the game balls stored in the storage tray to the ball guide path. . As a result, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent the occurrence of the problem that the game balls are not launched from the launching device 40 even though many game balls are stored in the storage tray 7.

  In addition, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment includes a ball guide path 20 that guides the game balls stored in the storage tray 7 toward the launching device 40 in a state in which the game balls are aligned in a line. 20 has a sphere receiving port 21 that opens to face the storage tray 7, and a sphere alignment portion 22 that protrudes toward the upstream side of the storage tray 7 is provided on the upper side of the sphere receiving port 21. It is the structure which was made. The ball aligning portion 22 guides the game balls to the ball receiving port 21 in a state where the game balls flowing in from the upstream side of the storage tray 7 are aligned one by one in a row. Therefore, according to such a configuration, it is possible to satisfactorily prevent a plurality of game balls from being engaged with each other in the vicinity of the entrance of the ball guide path 20.

  In addition, the gaming machine 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a ball supply device 31 that is provided at the terminal portion of the ball guide path 20 and receives the game balls aligned with the ball guide path 20 one by one and supplies them to the launching device 40 In addition. When the game balls are aligned in a line from the ball supply device 31 in the ball guide path 20, the approximate center of the game balls is positioned directly below the tip 22 a of the ball alignment unit 22. With this configuration, when a large number of game balls are stored on the upstream side of the tip 22a of the ball aligning portion 22, the second and third tiers are placed on the lowermost game ball row. Even if the game balls are stacked, the game balls are normally not in contact with the tip 22a of the ball aligning portion 22 except when they travel toward the ball guide path 20. Therefore, when the row of game balls is not advanced, a gap is formed between the tip 22a of the ball alignment portion 22 and the game balls, so that the game balls are unlikely to bite.

  However, when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7 or when a player pushes and collects game balls in the vicinity of the ball alignment unit 22, the tip 22 a of the ball alignment unit 22 It is possible that the game ball is in contact with the game ball. However, even if it becomes such a state, it is comprised by the following structures so that the occlusion of a game ball may not arise easily.

  That is, in the present embodiment, as described above, the tip portion 22a of the ball aligning portion 22 has a height from the bottom surface of the storage tray 7 in a state where two game balls are in contact with each other and aligned on the vertical line. The structure is provided at a position lower than the height and higher than the height of the state where one game ball is placed between the two game balls arranged in contact with the left and right on the bottom surface of the storage tray 7. is there. With such a configuration, when the two game balls are in contact with each other and proceed in a state of being aligned on the vertical line, only the game balls underneath the ball alignment unit 22 are placed below the ball alignment unit 22. It functions to enter the space and prevent the game ball placed on the space from entering the space below the ball alignment unit 22. Therefore, the game balls can be supplied one by one to the ball receiving port 21 of the ball aligning portion 22, and the ball clogging in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21 can be prevented. On the other hand, such a configuration is used when one game ball is placed between the two game balls arranged on the bottom surface of the storage tray 7 and proceeds toward the ball alignment unit 22. Such a game ball can enter the lower space of the ball aligning portion 22 in this state. The ball aligning unit 22 aligns such three game balls in one row in the space below the ball aligning unit 22.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, as described above, the lower surface of the sphere alignment portion 22 is formed as an inclined surface 23 having a substantially arc shape in a side view that becomes lower toward the sphere receiving port 21. Therefore, as described above, the three game balls that enter the lower part of the ball aligning unit 22 while one game ball is placed between the two game balls are placed in the space below the ball aligning unit 22. It is possible to align in one row without clogging the balls.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the upper surface of the sphere alignment portion 22 is formed as the inclined surface 24 that decreases toward the upstream side of the storage dish 7. Therefore, when the game balls are stacked in multiple stages in the vicinity of the ball aligning portion 22, the game balls on which the inclined surface 24 provided on the upper surface of the ball aligning portion 22 is placed on the upstream side of the storage tray 7. Since the pressure from the upstream side can be prevented from being concentrated in the vicinity of the ball receiving port 21, the game ball is also bitten by this. This can be suppressed.

  As described above, the gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment has the configuration described in detail above, so that even when a large number of game balls are stored in the storage tray 7, a plurality of game balls are connected to each other in the storage tray 7. It becomes possible to satisfactorily prevent the biting state. As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a problem that the game ball is not launched against the surface of the game board even though the game ball is stored in the storage tray 7. It becomes possible to continue well.

  In addition, in the above, although one Embodiment regarding this invention was described, it cannot be overemphasized that this invention is not restricted to the content mentioned above, and various modifications are applicable.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 7 Storage tray 11 Perimeter wall part 12 Bottom part (bottom part of a storage tray)
12a First inclined surface 12b Second inclined surface 12c Third inclined surface 12d Valley portion 13 Discharge port 20 Ball guide path 21 Ball receiving port 22 Ball alignment portion 22a Tip portion of the ball alignment portion 23 Inclined surface (ball alignment portion) Underside)
24 Inclined surface (upper surface of sphere alignment part)
31 Ball feeder 40 Launcher

Claims (6)

A gaming machine that pays out a game ball as a prize ball when game balls launched on the game board enter into various winning openings,
A launcher that launches game balls one by one toward the game board,
A storage tray having a peripheral wall portion surrounding the periphery and storing game balls to be paid out from the gaming machine;
A ball guide path for guiding the game balls stored in the storage dish to the launching device in a state of being aligned in a row;
With
The storage tray is provided along the left-right direction of an overhanging portion that projects to the front side of the gaming machine below the gaming board, and is used to allow a game ball to be paid out from the gaming machine to flow into one of the left and right sides. A partition wall has an outlet and a ball receiving port for feeding game balls into the ball guide path on the other side, and a partition wall extending from a peripheral wall portion in the vicinity of the ball receiving port toward the approximate center of the storage tray. Established,
The partition wall includes, on the other side of the storage tray, a first region for aligning game balls in a row upstream of the ball receiving port, and a second region adjacent to the first region. , And
At the bottom of the storage tray,
A first inclined surface formed in the vicinity of the payout port and inclined downward toward the ball receiving port;
A second inclined surface formed in the second region defined by the partition wall and inclined downward toward the upstream side toward the payout opening;
A third inclined surface formed in the first region defined by the partition wall and inclined downward toward the ball receiving port; and
Is provided,
The first and second inclined surfaces are joined to each other to form a trough, and the trough is directed toward the joined portion of the first and third inclined surfaces provided in the vicinity of the tip of the partition wall. A gaming machine, which is formed in a substantially straight line shape, is inclined downward toward a joint portion of the first and third inclined surfaces, and further downwardly inclined toward an upstream side where the payout port is located.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the storage tray is provided with a ball alignment portion that protrudes toward the upstream side of the storage tray at an upper portion of the ball receiving port. A ball supply device that is provided at a terminal portion of the ball guide path, and that receives game balls aligned with the ball guide path one by one and supplies the game balls to the launching device;
3. The game ball according to claim 2, wherein when the game balls are aligned in a line from the ball supply device in the ball guide path, the approximate center of the game balls is located immediately below the tip of the ball alignment unit. Game machines.   The tip of the ball aligning portion has a height from the bottom surface of the storage tray that is lower than a height in a state where two game balls are in contact with each other and are aligned on a vertical line, and on the bottom surface of the storage tray. The gaming machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the gaming machine is provided at a position higher than a height in a state where one gaming ball is placed between two gaming balls arranged in contact with the left and right.   5. The gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the lower surface of the ball alignment portion is an inclined surface having a substantially arc shape in a side view that decreases toward the ball receiving port.   The gaming machine according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein an upper surface of the ball alignment portion is an inclined surface that decreases toward an upstream side of the storage tray.

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