JP2012105798A - Ball polishing device for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ball polishing device for a game machine which accurately and quickly polishes a game ball and is excellent in maintainability for polishing a large quantity of balls.SOLUTION: The ball polishing device includes a spiral shaft 173A having a spiral body 173G on the outer periphery, a polishing cloth 179 is disposed to hold a game ball P cooperating with the spiral shaft 173A, the spiral shaft 173 A is driven to operate the spiral body 173G, and the game ball P is polished with the polishing cloth 179 while being conveyed in the axial direction of the spiral shaft 173A.

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball polishing apparatus suitable for an enclosed ball type gaming machine or the like that collects game balls launched into a game area and uses them again for games.

In general, a circulation channel (circulation channel) is formed inside a gaming machine, a game ball is enclosed in the circulation channel, and a game is played by repeatedly firing the enclosed game ball to the game area. Enclosed ball game machines are known.
In such an enclosed ball type gaming machine, a safe ball led out to the back side of the game board after winning a prize in a game area of the game board (general prize opening, variable prize winning device, etc.) It is necessary to collect the out ball derived from the out port to the back side of the game board by reaching below the game area without winning a prize.
By the way, a safe ball and a ball polishing apparatus for polishing a game ball may be interposed in a collection path for out balls (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-323434

However, since this type of ball polishing device is supplied with safe balls, out balls, etc. at high speed, it is possible to polish each gaming ball accurately and quickly, and to polish a large number of balls. On the other hand, excellent maintainability is desired.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the conventional techniques described above, to accurately and quickly polish a game ball, and to improve the maintainability for polishing a large number of balls. The object is to provide a ball polishing apparatus.

The present invention includes a spiral shaft having a spiral body on the outer periphery, and a polishing cloth is disposed so as to sandwich the game ball in cooperation with the spiral shaft, the spiral shaft is driven, and the game ball is The game ball is polished by a polishing cloth while being conveyed in the axial direction.
In addition, a spiral shaft having a spiral body on the outer periphery, a flapper for transporting a game ball in the axial direction of the spiral shaft in cooperation with the spiral body when the spiral shaft is driven, and an abrasive cloth between the flapper and the game ball A ball polishing mechanism is provided for polishing the game ball, and a polishing cloth feeding mechanism for feeding the polishing cloth of the ball polishing mechanism.
In the present invention, the outer peripheral portion is provided with a spiral shaft having a spiral body, the abrasive cloth is disposed so as to sandwich the game ball in cooperation with the spiral shaft, the spiral shaft is driven, and the game ball is Since the game ball is polished with a polishing cloth while being transported in the axial direction, it is possible to polish the game ball accurately and quickly, and provide a ball polishing device with excellent maintainability for polishing a large number of balls. can do.
In this case, the flapper may meander in the axial direction of the spiral shaft.
If the flapper meanders so as to wave in the axial direction of the spiral axis, when the game balls P are lifted according to the meandering form of the flapper, each of the game balls P is given irregular rotation (spinning). One by one is lifted in the state. Accordingly, since the surface of the game ball P uniformly contacts the polishing cloth, the game ball can be polished accurately and quickly.

The present invention fires a game ball at a launch position toward a game area formed on the front side of the game board, and wins a winning tool in the game area and is led to the back side of the game board. And an enclosed ball type gaming machine in which each of the out balls that are not won in the prize-winning tool is collected and re-launched into the game area. A spiral shaft having a gripper, a flapper for transporting a game ball in the axial direction of the spiral shaft in cooperation with the spiral when the spiral shaft is driven, and a polishing cloth is provided between the flapper and the game ball to polish the game ball And a polishing cloth feed mechanism for feeding the polishing cloth of the ball polishing mechanism.
Here, the “enclosed ball game machine” is, for example, a ball game machine such as various pachinko machines using a game ball, an arrange ball game machine, or a sparrow ball game machine, and a game launched into the game area. Any game machine that circulates and uses a game ball enclosed in the game machine without discharging the ball outside the game machine is included.
For example, in the above configuration, in the lower area of the game area of the game board, the launch unit is arranged to the right of the center of the game board, and the lifting unit is arranged to the left of the center of the game board facing the launch unit. Also good.

In this case, a polishing unit is constituted by a spiral shaft, a flapper, a ball polishing mechanism, and a polishing cloth feed mechanism, and the polishing unit includes a main body case and a cassette that is detachably attached to the main body case, and the main body case has a spiral. A shaft may be disposed, and a flapper, a ball polishing mechanism, and a polishing cloth feed mechanism may be integrated with the cassette.
Since a spiral shaft is disposed in the main body case, and a flapper, a ball polishing mechanism, and a polishing cloth feeding mechanism are integrated on the cassette side, for example, the cassette can be easily replaced during maintenance of the polishing cloth.
The entrance of the game ball on the spiral shaft may be lower than the lowermost part of the collection unit for collecting each of the safe ball and the out ball, and the exit of the game ball on the spiral shaft may be higher than the launch position.
In this configuration, the game ball can be guided to the entrance while freely falling, and the game ball can be guided to free fall from the exit to the launch pad, and the game ball can be collected efficiently in a narrow space. Can be placed.

  In this invention, the outer peripheral portion is provided with a spiral shaft having a spiral body, the abrasive cloth is disposed so as to sandwich the game ball in cooperation with the spiral shaft, the spiral shaft is driven, and the game ball is Since the game ball is polished with a polishing cloth while being transported in the axial direction, it is possible to polish the game ball accurately and quickly, and provide a ball polishing device with excellent maintainability for polishing a large number of balls. it can.

1 is a perspective view of an enclosing ball type gaming machine showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the enclosure ball type game machine which shows the state where the glass frame was opened. It is a front view which shows the front side of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a rear view which shows the back side of an enclosed ball type game machine. It is a mimetic diagram showing a game board of an enclosed ball type game machine. A is a top view of a launch pad, B is a diagram showing a state in which a game ball is launched by a hammer, and C is a diagram showing a state in which a ball is removed. It is a principal part schematic diagram which shows the lower back surface of an enclosed ball type game machine. A is a perspective view showing the front of the polishing unit, and B is a perspective view showing the back. It is a disassembled perspective view of a grinding | polishing unit. It is a front view which shows the main body case of a grinding | polishing unit. It is a cross-sectional view showing a cassette of the polishing unit. It is a cross-sectional view showing a flapper of a polishing unit. It is a front view which shows the flapper of a grinding | polishing unit.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
The encapsulated ball type gaming machine of the present embodiment is an application of the present invention to a pachinko gaming machine. For example, the game content can be the same as that of a conventional pachinko gaming machine, The size of the outer shape and the like is also the same, and it can be installed in the current island facilities of the pachinko parlor, but it does not use the ball supply mechanism or ball discharge mechanism of the island facilities. In other words, a pre-encapsulated game ball is used as an encapsulated ball type gaming machine, and the game ball can be launched into the game area with the maximum number of players' balls. The number of balls possessed is the number of acquired balls recorded on a recording medium such as a card or coin inserted in the gaming ball lending device (CR unit) and the number of balls that can be fired held by the enclosed ball type gaming machine. It corresponds to the total value. The number of balls acquired is the value transferred from the number of balls that can be fired by the enclosed ball type gaming machine to the recording medium of the gaming ball lending device. Under the conditions for playing with the same enclosed ball type gaming machine, Value transfer (refund) to the number of balls that can be fired is permitted. The value shift from the number of balls that can be fired to the number of balls acquired is performed at the time of the return operation of the recording medium at the end of the game. When this recording medium is reintroduced into the same game ball lending device, the value of the acquired balls can be transferred to the number of balls that can be fired. Note that it is possible to transfer the value of only a part of the number of balls that can be fired to the number of balls acquired on the recording medium of another player, and to give the ball to other players.
When a game ball is fired with an enclosed ball type gaming machine, the data of the number of balls that can be fired is subtracted corresponding to the number of game balls fired. When a prize ball (game ball) is generated by winning a prize, the number of prize balls is added to the data of the number of balls that can be fired without paying out the actual game ball. Further, when the data on the number of balls that can be fired becomes zero, the game ball cannot be fired. In this state, when the number of acquired balls recorded on a storage medium such as a card is transferred to the number of balls that can be fired and the number of balls that can be fired is replenished, the game balls can be fired again.
The prepaid residual value is recorded on the recording medium put into the game ball lending device, and when the number of acquired balls and the number of balls that can be fired is zero and there is no remaining ball, the prepaid residual value is obtained by the ball lending operation. It is possible to receive a rental ball for consideration, and the number of such rental balls is added to the number of balls held. Further, by associating a game ball (so-called “storage ball”) deposited by the player with the game store with a recording medium, the stored ball can be transferred to the number of possessed balls by an operation of paying out the storage ball.

In addition, the game balls that have been launched reach the game area, and a part of them wins and is led to the back side of the game board and collected as safe balls, and the remaining game balls that are not won are collected as out balls. Then, the collected game balls can be relaunched, and the game balls are circulated in the enclosed ball type game machine.
In other words, this enclosed ball type gaming machine launches a game ball at a launch position toward a game area formed on the front side of the game board, and wins a prize in the game area to guide it to the back side of the game board. It is an enclosed ball type gaming machine that collects each of the safe balls and the out balls that do not win the winning equipment and launches them again in the game area.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 includes a machine frame 110 configured in a rectangular frame shape, and one side of the machine frame 110 is rotated with respect to the machine frame 110. A frontal frame 120 having a rectangular frame shape is pivotally supported. The front frame 120 is rotatable to the front side with respect to the front frame main body 130 (main body frame) serving as a base for attaching various members and the like provided in the front frame 120 and the front frame main body 130. The launching unit 150 faces the lower side of the front frame body 130 when the front glass frame 140 is opened. Reference numeral 200 denotes a game ball lending device (CR unit).

  The front frame main body 130 is configured in a substantially rectangular plate shape so as to fit within the machine frame 110 having a rectangular frame shape, and accommodates the game board 1 described later in a portion extending from the center to the upper end portion. For this purpose, a rectangular opening is formed. The front surface of the game board 1 accommodated in the front frame body 130 faces the front side from the opening 121 of the front frame body 130. Further, a glass frame 140 is disposed so as to cover the entire area of the front frame main body 130, and as shown in FIG. 3 between the front surface of the game board 1 and the glass plate 141 fitted in the glass frame 140. A portion surrounded by the guide rail 2 provided on the front surface of the game board 1 is a game area 1a in which game balls are launched and flow down.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2, one side (left side) of the glass frame 140 is pivotally supported by one side of the front frame main body 130 so as to be opened and closed like a door, By opening the glass frame 140, the front side of the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 can be opened.
The glass frame 140 is provided with a space to be a game area 1a in which a game ball can flow down between the game board 1 fitted in the opening so as to substantially close the opening of the front frame body 130. The plate 141 is fixed. In the glass frame 140, at least a part of the game area 1 a on the front side of the game board 1 can be visually recognized from the front side of the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 through the glass plate 141.

As shown in FIG. 1, a decorative lamp 11, a side lamp 12, a speaker 13, and the like are provided on the front side of the glass frame 140 at positions that do not hinder the viewing of the game area 1a.
In the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100, the payout of the winning ball is not performed as described above, and the number of the above-mentioned balls (the number of the winning balls that the game ball has entered through the winning opening, etc.) The number of balls struck into the gaming machine), the number of difference balls (the number of balls obtained by subtracting the number of balls entered), the number of balls held, etc. are not the actual number of game balls, but numerical values in the data. In other words, there are only a limited number of game balls that are actually used (for example, 80 to 90 shots depending on the game content and model), and the number of possessed balls is, for example, launched into the game area. Detected and counted the number of fired balls, detected the number of foul balls that were fired but returned, and detected and counted the number of game balls that were launched and collected in the game area The above-mentioned number of balls entered, number of balls out, number of balls difference, number of balls held can be obtained from the number of balls collected, the number of balls awarded when winning, the number of balls rented from an amusement store, and the like.

  Below the glass frame 140 on the front side of the front frame main body 130, a rotary operation type operation handle 153 for operating a display unit 151 having a liquid crystal display as a display device and a launch unit 150 for launching a game ball. Etc. are attached. The display unit 151 includes, for example, information on the number of balls held, amount information (remaining amount stored in a storage medium such as a card), and storage information (number of game balls stored in the game store without being exchanged for prizes). The number of balls held can be confirmed at any time without paying out the actual game balls. The operation handle 153 can adjust the firing force by rotating. Further, the operation handle 153 is provided with a touch sensor (not shown), and when a player's hand is brought into contact with the operation handle 153, a signal is output to the launch control device (not shown), and the launch unit is controlled based on the control of the launch control device. Operate 150 launchers to fire game balls.

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine as described above, a game is played in the game area 1a on the front side of the game board 1 fitted in the opening of the front frame body 130.
In other words, the enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 is for playing a game by firing a game ball (hit ball; game medium) into the game area 1a surrounded by the guide rails 2 of the game board 1, and in the game area 1a. As shown in FIG. 1, a general diagram start gate 6, a general diagram start memory for displaying the number of unprocessed times that a game ball has passed through the general diagram start gate 6 and a general variation display game has not been processed yet. A display ball (not shown), a normal symbol fluctuation display device (not shown) for displaying a variation display game of a normal symbol (ordinary symbol), a normal variation winning device 9, and a game ball is awarded to the normal variation winning device 9 A special figure start memory display (not shown) that lights and displays the number of unprocessed times in which the figure fluctuation display game is unprocessed, a variable display apparatus that displays a special symbol (special figure, identification information) variable display game, etc. (Not shown), special variable winning device 5, general winning mouth 8, 8, 8,. Ball striking direction changing member called a vehicle (not shown), and a large number of nails (not shown) is provided.

The normal variation winning device 9 includes a pair of left and right opening / closing members, and the opening / closing members always maintain a closed state (a disadvantageous state for the player) at an interval that allows one game ball to flow in. However, when the result of the normal map change display game of the normal map change display becomes a predetermined stop display mode (for example, “7”), the normal change winning device 9 is opened in a reverse “C” shape. The game ball is changed to a state in which it is easy for the game ball to flow in (a state advantageous to the player). The normal variation winning device 9 also serves as a special winning start opening.
In the general figure start gate 6, a general figure start sensor for detecting a game ball that has passed through the general figure start gate 6 is provided. Then, when the game ball that has been driven into the game area 1a passes through the usual figure start gate 6, a usual fluctuation display game is played on the usual figure fluctuation display. Here, the common figure change indicator is composed of, for example, LEDs, etc., and a change display game of normal symbols (for example, numbers, symbols, character designs, etc.) displays the lighting state of the common figure change indicator for a predetermined time. This is done by stopping the display. If, as a result of the usual fluctuation display game, the stop display on the ordinary fluctuation display becomes a special result mode, the opening / closing member of the normal fluctuation prize-winning device 9 is set for a predetermined time (for example, 0). .5 seconds) released as described above. As a result, it is easy to win a game ball in the normal variation winning device 9, and it is easy to start a variation display game of a special figure.

  A special variable display device (not shown) includes a liquid crystal display (not shown) and has a display screen on which display contents can be changed. The display content on this display screen is controlled by an effect control board (sub board, board effect board) serving as an effect control device having a function as display control means. A plurality of types of identification information (for example, for example, on the display screen), based on the fact that the game ball that has been driven into the game area 1a enters the normal variable winning device 9 that also serves as the start port of the special figure and the start condition is satisfied. It is possible to execute a special variable display game that displays variable numbers, symbols, character designs, etc.). As a result of this special figure variable display game, when the display mode of the display screen becomes a special result mode, it becomes a big win and a special gaming state (so-called a big hit state).

  The special variable winning device 5 has a large winning opening that is opened and closed by an attacker-type opening / closing door that can be opened by rotating in a direction in which the upper end side is tilted toward the front side. A cycle game that facilitates the inflow of a game ball into the special winning opening by converting from a closed state to an open state is performed up to a predetermined number of times (a predetermined number of rounds). A count sensor for detecting a game ball that has entered the big prize opening is arranged inside the big prize opening (winning area). In each of the general winning ports 8, 8, 8,..., Winning port sensors for detecting game balls that have entered the winning ports 8, 8, 8,. Here, when a game ball that has been driven into the game area 1a flows into any of the prize winning openings such as the general prize winning opening 8, the normal variable winning prize apparatus 9, and the special winning prize winning apparatus 5, a prize is generated. The winning game balls are detected by the sensors of the respective winning mouths, and based on the detection, the predetermined number of winning balls set corresponding to each winning mouth is the data of the above-mentioned number of gaming balls (the number of possessed balls). To be added.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the game board 1 as viewed from the front.
The game board 1 includes a game area 1a surrounded by a guide rail 2, and a game ball P is launched into the game area 1a to play a game. The game area 1a of the game board 1 extends to the lower end. It is surrounded by the guide rail 2 described above. The game board 1 is provided with an out hole 10 at the lower end of the game area 1a, in addition to a prize winning port such as a general prize winning port 8, a normal variable prize winning device 9, and a special prize winning device 5. A game ball (safe ball) P1 that has flowed into one of the winning holes, or a game ball (out ball) P2 that has not won even after flowing down the game area 1a to its lower end, It passes through the out hole 10 and is guided to the back side of the game board 1 so as to move from the game area 1 a to the back side of the game board 1.

The launch unit 150 that launches the game ball is disposed below the game area 1a and slightly to the right of the center of the game board 1 when viewed from the front side, and includes a hammer 150A for playing the game ball P. ing. The hammer 150A is driven by the operation of the rotary operation handle 153 described above, and the player's hand is brought into contact with the operation handle 153, whereby a signal is sent to the firing control device (not shown) via a touch sensor (not shown). Based on the control of the launch control device, the launch device (not shown) activates the hammer 150A to launch the game ball P. Reference numeral 153A denotes a firing stop switch. The game ball P bounced by the hammer 150A is guided by the start rail 2A and is launched along the guide rail 2 into the game area 1a. An opening 155 is provided between the start rail 2 </ b> A and the guide rail 2, and a game ball that has fallen into the opening 155 without being fired into the game area 1 a among the game balls P played by the hammer 150 </ b> A. (Foul Sphere) P3 is guided downward by the foul rail 2B and falls into the passage 152A. On the other hand, a launch pad 150B is provided at the bullet position of the hammer 150A. The launch pad 150B includes a ball removal mechanism shown in FIGS. 6A to 6C. FIG. 6A is a top view of launch pad 150B. A substantially arc-shaped cutout 150C is formed at the side edge of the launch pad 150B, and the cutout 150C communicates with a ball passage 152B described later. A ball removal actuator 150D is arranged adjacent to the hammer 150A, and this ball removal actuator 150D includes a ball removal pin 150E that can protrude in the axial direction. When the user operates the operation handle 153, the hammer 150A operates as shown in FIG. 6B, and the game ball P is fired by the hammer 150A. When the user releases the operation handle 153, the bullet ball by the hammer 150A stops as shown in FIG. 6C, the ball removal actuator 150D operates, the ball removal pin 150E protrudes, and the game ball P protrudes. The ball P is dropped into the ball extraction passage 152B, and the game ball P on the launch pad 150B is extracted. As shown in FIG. 5, the ball-out ball P4 is removed from the ball, and is guided obliquely downward by the ball-out rail 2C to fall into the passage 152B. The ball-out ball P4 and the above-mentioned foul ball P3 are all in the passage 152A. , 152B to move to the back side of the game board 1.
Note that the ball release of the launch pad 150B is not limited to the configuration in which the game ball P is projected by the ball pull pin 150E, but the launch pad 150B may be retracted or the launch pad 150B may be inclined toward the ball discharge passage 152B. good.

  Next, a collection path for the game balls P will be described. FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a recovery path of the above-described safe ball P1, out ball P2, foul ball P3, and ball-free ball P4 as viewed from the back of the game board 1. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 4, reference numeral 161 denotes an upper collection tray (upper collection unit) disposed on the back side of the game board 1, and a safe ball P <b> 1 from each winning opening on the front surface of the game board 1, a game All the out balls P2 from the out holes 10 on the front surface of the board 1 move to the back side of the game board 1 through the winning holes 5, 8, 9 and the out holes 10, and are collected in the upper collection tray 161. These balls P1 and P2 pass through the upper and lower baskets 162 arranged on the back side of the game board 1 that bends in a substantially square shape shown in FIG. 4 from the upper collection tray 161, and the same game board 1 shown in FIG. Is collected in a lower collection tray (lower collection unit) 163 arranged on the back side of the plate. Further, the foul ball P3 guided to the foul rail 2B through the passages 152A and 152B and the ball removal ball P4 guided to the ball removal rail 2C are provided on the lower collection tray 163 as the safe ball P1 and the out ball. The spheres merge with P2 and are collected, and the balls gradually fall freely on the lower collection tray 163 and are aligned one by one on the lifting lane 164. The lifting lane 164 is connected to the inlet 171A of the polishing lifting unit (ball polishing apparatus) 171. The game ball P that has flowed into the inlet 171A of the polishing lifting unit 171 lifts the polishing lifting unit 171 as described later. Then, it reaches the outlet 171B of the polishing lifting unit 171 and is sent out from the outlet 171B by free fall and aligned on the waiting lane 165. The entrance 171A is provided with an entrance sphere detection sensor 172A, and the entrance sphere detection sensor 172A is arranged on the leading side of the game balls P aligned on the rising waiting lane 164. The exit 171B is provided with an exit ball detection sensor 172B, and the exit ball detection sensor 172B is disposed on the rear end side of the game ball P aligned on the launch waiting lane 165. The height difference between the inlet 171A and the outlet 171B is set to about 7 to 8 cm in the actual machine, for example. The game balls P aligned on the launch waiting lane 165 are sent one by one to the surface side of the game board 1 through the passage 152C through the ball feeding mechanism 166, and appropriately on the launch pad 150B shown in FIG. Moving.

  Actually, as shown in FIG. 4, an upper collection dish (upper collection part) 161 having a central portion lower than both sides is arranged directly below each winning opening 5, 8, 9 and the out hole 10. The upper end of the upper and lower cage 162 is connected to the center portion of 161. The upper and lower ridges 162 are bent in a substantially square shape, and the lower ends thereof are lowered directly below and are connected to the lower collection tray (lower collection unit) 163. In this configuration, the game balls P collected on the upper collection tray 161 gather at the center of the upper collection tray 161, fall almost directly from the center and are collected on the lower collection tray 163. The clogging on the way is suppressed, and the bottom collection tray 163 is quickly collected. The passages 152A and 152B described above are connected to the lower collection tray 163, and the passages 152A and 152B extend substantially directly below the out hole 10, that is, to the substantial center of the game board 1, and from the passages 152A and 152B. Also, the lower end of the upper and lower bowl 162 bent in a substantially square shape is communicated toward the downstream of the lower collection dish 163. In this configuration, the positions of the passages 152 </ b> A and 152 </ b> B are substantially limited in relation to the arrangement of the launch unit 150, and the lower end of the upper and lower basket 162 is communicated downstream of the lower collection tray 163, avoiding this position. The safe ball P1 and the out ball P2 from the upper and lower cage 162 do not collide with the foul ball P3 and the ball without ball P4 from the passages 152A and 152B, and the interference of the game ball P can be suppressed. The number of the safe balls P1 and the out balls P2 is overwhelmingly larger than the number of the foul balls P3 and the ball without balls P4. , 152B, it is desirable to communicate downstream of the lower collection tray 163, but it is possible to connect the lower end of the upper and lower basket 162 upstream of the lower collection tray 163 rather than the passages 152A, 152B.

  The lower collection tray 163 functions as an ascending waiting lane 164, and the lower end of the ascending waiting lane 164 communicates with the inlet 171 A of the polishing ascending unit 171. From here, as will be described later, the game ball P lifts the polishing lifting unit 171 to the exit 171B, is sent out from the exit 171B, and communicates with the launch waiting lane 165. The launch waiting lane 165 extends three-dimensionally so as to overlap with the above-described upper and lower ridges 162 and communicates with the launch unit 150 disposed facing the polishing lifting unit 171. The launch waiting lane 165 overlaps the back side of the upper and lower cage 162 when viewed from the front side of the game board 1. In this configuration, all the game balls P are first collected in the lower collection tray 163 positioned at the lowest position, and in the lower area of the game area 1a, the polishing lifting unit 171 disposed in one space (one half). To reach the launch unit 150 located in the other space (the other half) via the exit 171B located at the top, the launch waiting lane 165, and the launch unit 150 located in the other space (the other half). It is possible to efficiently collect and arrange the collection paths of the game balls P in the narrow lower area. In addition, since the waiting lane 165 and the upper and lower cage 162 extend in a cross shape like a cross, they can be connected at the shortest distance compared to the case where these routes are not crossed, and the game balls P can be collected quickly. It becomes.

  As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9, the polishing lifting unit 171 includes a main body case 173 and a cassette 175 that is detachably combined with the main body case 173. The main body case 173 may be a transparent body. The main body case 173 is positioned below the gaming area 1a shown in FIG. 4 and is located to the right of the center when viewed from the back side of the gaming board 1 (to the left of the center when viewed from the front side) so as to face the launch unit 150. The cassette 175 holds a polishing cloth, which will be described later, and is detachably combined with a main body case 173 fixed to the game board 1. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the main body case 173 includes a lifting spiral shaft 173A connected to the above-described inlet 171A. The lifting spiral shaft 173A extends up and down to the main body case 173. The ends are rotatably held by a pair of bearings 173B and 173C. The lifting spiral shaft 173A includes a spiral body 173G formed in a spiral shape on the outer periphery, and the spiral body 173G holds the game balls P one by one at an interval, and holds the game balls P held one by one, for example, 100 shots. The drive speed is set so that it can be lifted by more than 1 minute. The lifting spiral shaft 173A is accommodated between the pair of vertical ribs 174 and 174. A gear 173D is fixed to the lower end of the lifting spiral shaft 173A, the gear 173D meshes with the gear 173E, and the gear 173E is fixed to the rotation shaft of the drive motor 173F. Then, when the lifting spiral shaft 173A is rotated by the rotation of the drive motor 173F, the game balls P flowing in from the inlet 171A are stored one by one between the spiral bodies 173G of the lifting spiral shaft 173A and lifted. From the upper end of the lifting spiral shaft 173A, the above-mentioned outlet 171B is reached, sent out from the outlet 171B and aligned on the launch waiting lane 165.

  The drive motor 173F is driven and controlled in response to detection by the entrance sphere detection sensor 172A provided at the entrance 171A and the exit sphere detection sensor 172B (see FIG. 7) provided at the exit 171B. When the entrance ball detection sensor 172A detects the game ball P, there is a game ball P to be lifted. In this case, the drive motor 173F is driven by a control board (not shown) as a control means, and the game The lifting of the ball P is started. On the other hand, when the exit ball detection sensor 172B detects the game ball P, the game ball P on the launch waiting lane 165 is in a full state. Prior to the control by the above-mentioned entrance ball detection sensor 172A, the drive of the drive motor 173F is stopped by the control board (not shown) as the control means, and the raising of the game ball P is stopped. A rotating plate 175K is fixed to the upper end of the lifting spiral shaft 173A, and a rotation detection sensor 176K is disposed so as to surround the rotating plate 175K. If a drive signal is output from the control board (not shown) to the drive motor 173F, when the rotation detection sensor 176K detects no rotation or low speed rotation of the lifting spiral shaft 173A, an error is notified to the outside. Is done. The above-mentioned main body case 173 may be a transparent body. If the game ball P is clogged at the inlet 171A and / or the outlet 171B of the polishing and lifting unit 171 shown in FIG. it can. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, with the glass frame 140 opened, the game balls P of the entrance 171A and the exit 171B are visually checked for clogs, and if necessary, for example, the game balls clogged by removing the cassette 175. P can be easily removed.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the cassette 175 includes a ball polishing mechanism 176 and a polishing cloth feed mechanism 177. The polishing cloth feeding mechanism 177 is a mechanism for feeding a polishing cloth 179 such as a nonwoven fabric for polishing the game balls P one by one in one direction. The polishing cloth 179 is spanned between a plurality of rollers 177A to 177G and pins 177H and 177I supported on the inner wall of the cassette case 175A, and is fed in the direction of the arrow by driving a pair of feed rollers 181 and 182. It is done. Although this example is one-way endless, it is not limited to this, and winding feed, reciprocating endless feed, or the like may be used. In winding, when it becomes impossible to feed the cloth any more, it is necessary to control to stop the cloth feeding, and the dirt on the sphere becomes extremely difficult to remove after winding. In the reciprocating endless, after winding it to one side, it rotates in reverse and feeds the cloth. Therefore, the reverse rotation control of the drive motor is required, and since it is always driven, the dirt removal of the sphere gradually decreases. On the other hand, with the one-way endless structure according to the present configuration, the cloth can be fed forever in only one direction, the control is easy, and the contamination of the balls gradually deteriorates, and the frequency of replacing the polishing cloth 179 is reduced. Maintenance is easy because it is possible.

  One feed roller (cloth tension roller) 181 described above is rotatably supported on the swing bracket 183 by a rotating shaft 181A. The swing bracket 183 has one end 183A hinged to a fixing portion 184 fixed to the inner wall of the cassette case 175A, and the other end 183B serving as a free end. The other end 183B and the inner wall of the cassette case 175A are fixed. A spring 185 is interposed between the fixed portion 184 and the fixed portion 184. Due to the spring force of the spring 185, one feed roller 181 is urged toward the other feed roller (cloth driving roller) 182 described above. The other feed roller 182 is a cloth drive roller, and the rotation shaft 182A of the feed roller 182 penetrates the upper wall of the cassette case 175A and protrudes upward, and a gear 186 is fixed to the tip thereof as shown in FIG. 8A. ing. The gear 186 can freely mesh with a gear 187 supported on the main body case 173 side, and the gear 187 is connected to a gear (not shown) of the output shaft of the cloth feed drive motor 188 via a drive gear train (not shown). Has been. When the cassette 175 is removed from the main body case 173, the gear 186 and the gear 187 are disengaged, the gear 187 remains on the main body case 173 side, and when the cassette 175 is attached to the main body case 173, the gear 186 The gear 187 is meshed, and the cloth cloth 179 can be fed by the driving force of the cloth feed driving motor 188. The cloth feed drive motor 188 is driven and controlled at a predetermined cycle via a control board (not shown).

In this automatic cloth feeding, for example, the following controls (I) to (V) are alternatively executed.
(I) Based on the fact that the game ball P that has passed through the polishing lifting unit 171 exceeds a certain amount, the level of dirt transferred from the game ball P to the polishing cloth 179 when recognizing that this criterion has been exceeded is a certain level. The cloth is automatically fed as if it exceeded the limit. At this time, the numerical value of the reference value is the number of shot balls counted during operation of the gaming machine. (II) During the operation of the polishing lifting unit 171, automatic cloth feeding is performed little by little in conjunction with the drive of the drive motor 173 F that drives the lifting spiral shaft 173 A. (III) Immediately after the polishing lifting unit 171 is operated, the cloth is automatically fed by an amount proportional to the operation time. (IV) A stain sensor for the polishing cloth 179, which is performed as part of the initialization process when the power is turned on, is disposed, and automatic cloth feed is performed when the dirt measurement value exceeds a certain standard. Other than (II), if the new surface of the polishing cloth that appears due to the cloth feeding exceeds the width of the contact surface between the game ball P and the polishing cloth 179, the clean surface is wasted. The upper limit is the width of the contact surface between the game ball P and the polishing pad 179. When the contact ratio of the polishing cloth 179 with the game ball P is X, it is efficient to set the cloth feed amount to 2πrX. When the radius of the game ball P is r, the maximum value of the width of this contact surface is 2πr. If the diameter of the current game ball is 11 mm, the maximum value is about 34.55 mm. As another embodiment, the above-described polishing cloth 179 may be configured to manually feed the cloth. In this case, instead of the gear 186 provided at the tip of the rotation shaft 182A of the feed roller 182, for example, an operation handle (not shown) of a manual rotation type may be provided. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the glass cloth 140 is opened, a hand is placed near the operation handle, and the operation handle (not shown) is manually turned, so that the polishing cloth 179 described above can be operated. The cloth can be fed.

Next, the ball polishing mechanism 176 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 11, the ball polishing mechanism 176 is provided near the center of the cassette 175, and is configured so that the game ball P can be polished accurately and quickly using the polishing cloth 179 fed by the polishing cloth feeding mechanism 177. Has been. As shown in FIG. 12, the ball polishing mechanism 176 includes a pair of flappers 178. The pair of flappers 178 are made of polycarbonate and, as shown in FIG. 13, meandering so as to wave in the axial direction of the lifting spiral shaft 173A (meandering flapper). The height of the flapper 178 is the height (width) of the polishing cloth 179. ). As shown in FIG. 12, the pair of flappers 178 is supported so as to be swingable around the support shaft 189, and the inner surfaces 178A of the pair of flappers 178 are formed in a concave shape so as to hold the game ball P. A flapper spring 190 bent in a substantially U-shape is disposed on the outer surface of the pair of flappers 178, and the pair of flappers 178 is urged in the direction of arrow A by the spring force of the flapper springs 190. Inside the inner surface 178A of the pair of flappers 178, the above-described polishing cloth 179 around which the above-described roller 177E and pins 177H and 177I (see FIG. 11) are wound is wound in a tensioned state. The polishing cloth 179 is urged in the direction of arrow A together with the pair of flappers 178 by the spring force of the flapper spring 190 described above.
A pair of protrusions 193 are formed on the back surface of the cassette 175. As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 9, when the cassette 175 is mounted on the main body case 173, the pair of protrusions 193 are engaged with the main body case 173. It is positioned by engaging with a stop (not shown).
When the cassette 175 is mounted on the main body case 173, the gear 186 and the gear 187 are engaged with each other, and the cloth feed of the polishing cloth 179 is enabled by the driving force of the cloth feed driving motor 188, as shown in FIG. In this manner, a space S for sandwiching the game ball P surrounded by the pair of vertical ribs 174 and 174 is formed between the lifting spiral shaft 173A indicated by the broken line and the pair of flappers 178.

  Next, the operation will be described. 5 and 7, the safe ball P1, the out ball P2, the foul ball P3, the ball without ball P4, etc. all move to the back side of the game board 1, as described above, All of them are collected in the lower collection tray 163 through the trough 162 and arranged on the waiting lane 164 for lifting. Then, it flows into the inlet 171A of the polishing lifting unit 171 from the lifting lane 164, lifts the polishing lifting unit 171, reaches the outlet 171B of the polishing lifting unit 171, and fires toward the launch pad 150B from the outlet 171B. Aligned on wait lane 165. When the launch waiting lane 165 becomes full, for example, the raising of the game ball P is stopped. In the ball polishing mechanism 176 of the polishing lifting unit 171, as shown in FIG. 12, a game ball is placed between the lifting spiral shaft 173 A indicated by a broken line and the polishing cloth 179 spanned between the front surfaces of the pair of flappers 178. P is sandwiched, and the game balls P are lifted one by one through the spiral body 173G integrated with the lifting spiral shaft 173A by the rotation and driving of the lifting spiral shaft 173A. At this time, as shown in FIG. 13, the pair of flappers 178 meander so as to wave in the axial direction of the lifting spiral shaft 173A. Irregular rotation (spinning) is given to the game balls P, and one by one is lifted in this state. Therefore, since the surface of the game ball P uniformly contacts the polishing pad 179, the game ball P can be polished accurately and quickly.

  In the lifting process, as shown in FIG. 12, the polishing cloth 179 disposed on the inner surface 178A side of the pair of flappers 178 contacts the surface of the game ball P that is lifted up irregularly, and the game ball Polishing is performed by wiping off the dirt adhering to the surface of P. The pair of flappers 178 tries to open in a substantially C shape by the tension of the polishing pad 179, but the above-described flapper spring 190 urges the pair of flappers 178 in the direction of arrow A. The held polishing cloth 179 comes into contact with the game ball P with an appropriate force, so that the resistance decreases, and the game balls P are smoothly lifted up, and the game balls P can be polished one by one accurately and quickly.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a launch unit 150 is arranged in the lower area of the game area 1 a of the game board 1 to the right of the center of the game board 1, and faces the launch unit 150. The polishing lifting unit 171 is disposed on the left side of the center of the game board 1. As is clear from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the lower area of the game area 1a of the game board 1 has a lower overall height of the space. In the present embodiment, the game is efficiently performed in the lower space. The polishing lifting unit 171 can be arranged so that the ball P can be lifted.
That is, the polishing lifting unit 171 is arranged so that the game ball P can be lifted in the vertical direction, its inlet 171A is lower than the lowermost position of the lower collection tray 163, and its outlet 171B is the launch pad 150B of the launch unit 150. It arrange | positions so that it may become higher than position of. Accordingly, the game ball P can be guided to the inlet 171A while freely falling, and the game ball P can be guided from the outlet 171B to the launch pad 150B while freely falling, so that the game ball can be efficiently and efficiently stored in a narrow space. A recovery route for P can be arranged.
In the present embodiment, the polishing lifting unit 171 includes a lifting spiral shaft 173A, a pair of flappers 178, a ball polishing mechanism 176, and a polishing cloth feed mechanism 177. The polishing lifting unit 171 includes a main body case 173 and a cassette 175 detachably attached to the main body case 173. A lifting spiral shaft 173A is disposed in the main body case 173, and a pair of flappers 178 is provided on the cassette 175 side. Since the ball polishing mechanism 176 and the polishing pad feeding mechanism 177 are integrated, for example, when the polishing pad 179 is maintained, the cassette 175 can be replaced and maintenance can be easily performed.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated based on one embodiment, it is clear that this invention is not limited to this. In the above embodiment, the lifting spiral shaft 173A lifts the game balls P one by one, but without distinguishing one by one, for example, two or more game balls P are lifted at the same time. Also good. In this configuration, the lifting speed can be increased.
The enclosed ball type gaming machine 100 of the present invention is not limited to a pachinko gaming machine as shown in the above embodiment as a gaming machine. For example, other pachinko gaming machines, arrange ball gaming machines, sparrow balls The present invention is applicable to all gaming machines that use gaming balls such as gaming machines.
Furthermore, it should be thought that embodiment disclosed this time is an illustration and restrictive at no points. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and it is obvious that all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims are intended to be included.

1 Game board 1a Game area 5 Special variable prize device (winning equipment)
8 General prize opening (winning equipment)
9 Ordinary variable winning device (winning equipment)
150B launch pad 161 upper collection tray (upper collection section)
162 Upper and lower bowls 163 Lower collection tray (lower collection section)
164 Waiting for lifting 165 Waiting for lane 171 Polishing lifting unit 173 Main body case 173A Lifting spiral shaft 173G Spiral body 175 Cassette 176 Ball polishing mechanism 177 Polishing cloth feed mechanism 178 Flapper 179 Polishing cloth

Claims (6)

Provided with a spiral shaft having a spiral on the outer periphery,
A polishing cloth is arranged so as to sandwich the game ball in cooperation with the spiral shaft, the spiral shaft is driven, and the game ball is polished by the polishing cloth while the game ball is conveyed in the axial direction of the spiral shaft by the operation of the spiral body. A ball polishing apparatus for a gaming machine.   A spiral shaft having a spiral body on the outer periphery, a flapper for transporting a game ball in the axial direction of the spiral shaft in cooperation with the spiral body when the spiral shaft is driven, and a polishing cloth provided between the flapper and the game ball A ball polishing apparatus for a gaming machine comprising: a ball polishing mechanism for polishing a game ball; and a polishing cloth feeding mechanism for feeding a polishing cloth of the ball polishing mechanism.   The ball polishing apparatus for a gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the flapper is formed in a meandering shape in the axial direction of the spiral shaft. A safe ball and a prize-winning tool that launches a game ball at a launch position toward a game area formed on the front side of the game board, wins a prize in the game area, and is led to the back side of the game board. In an enclosed ball type gaming machine that collects each of the out balls that are not won in the game and fires them again in the game area,
Located in the lower area of the game area,
A spiral shaft having a spiral body on the outer periphery, a flapper for transporting a game ball in the axial direction of the spiral shaft in cooperation with the spiral body when the spiral shaft is driven, and a polishing cloth provided between the flapper and the game ball A ball polishing apparatus for a gaming machine, comprising: a ball polishing mechanism for polishing a game ball; and a polishing cloth feeding mechanism for feeding a polishing cloth of the ball polishing mechanism. A polishing unit is constituted by a spiral shaft, a flapper, a ball polishing mechanism, and a polishing cloth feeding mechanism, and the polishing unit includes a main body case and a cassette that is detachable from the main body case.
A spiral shaft is disposed in the main body case,
The ball polishing apparatus for a gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein a flapper, a ball polishing mechanism, and a polishing cloth feed mechanism are integrated with the cassette.   6. The spiral ball game ball entrance is lower than a lowermost part of the collecting portion for collecting each of the safe ball and the out ball, and the spiral ball game ball exit is higher than the launch position. A ball polishing apparatus for a gaming machine according to 1.

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