JP2013042940A - Pinball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pinball game machine capable of suppressing the power consumption of a hitting device more than before and reducing power consumption of the entire game machine.SOLUTION: A hitting mechanism 70 includes a clapper type solenoid 75 which has a cylindrical coil 76 for generating magnetism by making a current flow, a stator 77 arranged inside the cylindrical coil 76, and a mover 78 whose distal end is arranged inside the cylinder of the coil 76 and base end is fixed to a hammer 72, and swings the hammer 72 to a ball hitting position for hitting a game ball by energizing the coil 76 and attracting the mover 78 to the stator 77.

Description

  The present invention relates to a bullet ball game machine configured to perform a game in which a game ball launched from a launch device is moved while dropping in a game area to be awarded to a winning device.

  Conventionally, the ball game machine having such a configuration is well known as a pachinko machine or the like. In the pachinko machine, a player purchases a game ball, puts it on a ball tray, and then operates a launch handle to play a game. Specifically, when a game ball is thrown into the ball tray, the game balls are sent one by one from the alignment passage connected to the ball tray into the launch device, and the game is played by the launch device according to the player's launch handle operation. Each ball is configured to be launched into the game area one by one. The game ball thus launched and launched into the game area is guided by a game nail or the like to fall while changing the fall route, and during this movement, the game ball is played on the winning device provided in the game area. When a ball enters, that is, wins, a predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the ball tray as prize balls in accordance with the winning.

  Such a pachinko machine launching device has a hammer provided so as to be able to swing in substantially the same plane as the game board, and a rotary solenoid (or swing motor) for swinging the hammer. It is known that a game ball is launched by energizing a rotary solenoid (swing motor) with a current corresponding to the amount of operation of the handle and swinging the hammer from a standby position to a hitting position ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-213925 A

  By the way, in a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, a liquid crystal display device that displays a variation of symbols according to the progress of the game has the largest power consumption, and the next largest power consumption is a game ball launching device. . Therefore, in order to reduce the power consumption of the entire gaming machine, it is necessary to suppress the power consumption of the liquid crystal display device and the launching device.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine capable of suppressing the power consumption of the launching device as compared with the conventional one and reducing the power consumption of the entire gaming machine.

  In order to achieve such an object, a ball game machine according to the present invention includes a game board having a predetermined game area on the front side, a launch handle operated by a player, and an operation amount of the launch handle. And a launching device that launches a game ball into the game area with a launch intensity according to the game area, and configured to perform a game in which a game ball launched by the launch apparatus is awarded to a winning opening provided in the game area. The The launching device is provided so as to be swingable in a plane substantially the same as the board surface of the game board, and a ball striking member for launching a game ball toward the game area, and a tension type for swinging the ball striking member The solenoid includes a launch control means for controlling the launch strength of the game ball by controlling the current supplied to the tension solenoid in accordance with the operation amount of the launch handle. In addition, the tension type solenoid includes a cylindrical coil that generates magnetism when an electric current flows, a stator that is disposed within the cylinder of the coil, and a tip that is disposed within the cylinder of the coil. An end portion has a mover fixed to the hitting member, and the coil is energized to attract the mover to the stator, thereby swinging the hitting member to a hitting position for launching a game ball. Configured to let

  According to such a configuration, the launching device includes the tension type solenoid that swings the hitting member fixed to the mover to the hitting position when the coil is energized and the mover is attracted to the stator. Composed. Therefore, the swinging width (swing width) of the ball striking member can be made shorter than that of a launching device configured with a rotary solenoid or a swing motor as in the prior art. can do. Therefore, the power consumption of the launching device can be suppressed as compared with the conventional case. Further, since the swinging width of the hitting ball member can be shortened, the launching device can be made compact.

  In the ball game machine having the above-described configuration, the firing control unit changes the range of the supply current value according to the gaming state, and the supply current value according to the operation amount of the firing handle within the range. It is preferably configured to control. According to such a configuration, it is possible to supply the minimum necessary current according to the gaming state to the solenoid of the launching device, so that the power consumption of the launching device can be further reduced.

  Further, in the ball game machine having the above-described configuration, the firing control unit is configured such that the slope from the start of supply of the current value to the supply current value is constant regardless of the value of the supply current value. Preferably, the tension type solenoid is configured to supply a current. According to such a configuration, since a constant current value can be supplied to the launching device, variation in launching of game balls by the launching device can be suppressed.

  According to the bullet ball gaming machine according to the present invention, the power consumption of the launching device can be suppressed as compared with the conventional one, and the power consumption of the entire gaming machine can be reduced.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine shown as an example of the ball game machine concerning the present invention. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine. It is a front view of the front frame shown in the state where the game board was attached. It is a rear view of a ball tray unit. It is a front view of the game board with which the said pachinko machine was equipped. It is a block diagram which shows the control form of the main control apparatus in the said pachinko machine, a sub control apparatus, and the payout control apparatus. It is a front view which shows the state which has a hammer in a launch standby position in a game ball | bowl launching apparatus and a game ball | bowl collection | recovery mechanism. It is a front view which shows the state which has a hammer in a firing completion position in a game ball | bowl launching apparatus and a game ball | bowl collection | recovery mechanism. It is a graph which shows the electric current value supplied to the launching mechanism which concerns on this invention, and the electric current value supplied to the conventional launching apparatus. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional launcher. It is a circuit diagram of an overcurrent suppression circuit.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, a schematic configuration of a pachinko machine PM to which a ball game machine according to the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko machine PM has a rectangular frame size adapted to the front of the opening of the outer frame 1 that forms a vertically fixed holding frame that is configured to have an outer rectangular frame size. The front frame 2 is formed by an upper and lower hinge mechanism 3a, 3b disposed on the left front edge of each other so that it can be opened and closed laterally and attached and detached, and is called a double lock provided on the front right edge. The locking device 4 is always used to keep the closed state engaged with the outer frame 1.

  On the front side of the front frame 2, a rectangular glass door 5 and a ball tray unit 6 that match the upper front area of the front frame 2 are installed horizontally by using hinge mechanisms 7 a, 7 b, 7 c provided on the left side of the front side. It is assembled so that it can be opened and closed and detachable, and is always held in a closed state covering the front surface of the front frame 2 using the locking device 4. An operation handle 60 for performing a game ball launching operation is provided at the lower right side of the front of the ball tray unit 6. A rectangular frame-shaped storage frame (not shown) for detachably storing the game board 10 is provided on the upper portion of the front frame 2 located behind the glass door 5, and a predetermined gauge setting is provided in the storage frame. The configured game board 10 is detachably set and held, and the game area PA in front of the game board 10 is exposed through the glass door 5 that is always held closed.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the game board 10 includes a decorative board 11 formed by attaching a cell printed with a predetermined pattern on a rectangular laminated plywood subjected to router processing or the like. On the front surface of the decorative plate 11, a substantially circular game area PA in which the flying rail 12a and the inner rail 12b are fixed in an arc shape and the game ball can roll is defined. A launching passage 12 that guides the game ball to the game area PA is formed by the flying rail 12a and the inner rail 12b, and the launching passage 12 launches at a position in the vicinity of the exit opening 12c of the game ball (the tip of the inner rail 12b). A ball return prevention device 13 is provided for preventing a game ball released from the outlet opening 12c into the game area PA through the passage 12 from returning to the launch passage 12 again.

  In the game area PA of the game board 10, along with a large number of game nails, a windmill, various winning devices 14, 15, 16, and 17, and a pattern for displaying various effect pattern images and patterns according to the progress of the game. Game components such as the display device 18 are attached. Further, at the lower end of the game area PA, there is provided an out port 19 through which game balls that have fallen without winning in each winning device are discharged to the back side of the game board 10.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a game auxiliary board 20 that is positioned behind the ball tray unit 6 and can be aligned vertically with the game board 10 is formed at the lower front portion of the front frame 2. Are provided with a launch mechanism 70 for launching a game ball toward the game board 10, a prize ball communication passage 22 and an overflow ball passage 23 formed in communication with the front and rear of the front frame 2, and a game ball collection mechanism 100. It has been. A cover member 24 that covers the front side of the firing mechanism 70 is detachably attached to the front of the firing mechanism 70. The cover member 24 is formed by molding means such as injection molding using a resin material such as ABS resin.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a mechanism device corresponding to each device provided in the game assisting board 20 is provided on the back side of the ball tray unit 6 that always covers the game assisting board 20 and is held closed. ing. That is, a ball feeding cassette 26 for feeding game balls stored in the upper ball tray 6a corresponding to the launching mechanism 70 to the launching mechanism 70 one by one is provided, and aligned with the prize ball communication path 22 and aligned with the prize ball connection path. An upper ball tray connecting duct 27 that guides the game ball flowing down from the upper ball tray 6a to the upper ball tray 6a is provided, and the lower ball guiding the game ball flowing down from the overflow ball passage 23 to the lower ball tray 6b in alignment with the overflow ball passage 23 A dish communication duct 28 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a back set board 30 formed in a rectangular frame shape somewhat smaller than the inner size of the outer frame 1 is detachably attached to the back side of the front frame 2. The back set board 30 is formed in a frame shape having a large window opening 30a that opens in communication with the front and rear in an upper region located behind the game board 10, and a game ball is placed above the window opening 30a. A sphere storage tank 31 for storage and a tank rail 32 that is connected to the sphere storage tank 31 and slightly tilted downward are provided, and are guided to the right side of the window opening 30a in rear view by the tank rail 32 in an aligned state in front and back. A ball payout device 33 for paying out the game balls that have been sent out based on the winning state on the game board 10, a ball payout passage 34 for guiding the game balls paid out from the ball payout device 33 to the upper ball tray 6 a of the ball tray unit 6, etc. A prize ball mechanism is provided.

  For this reason, the game balls that are paid out by the ball payout device 33 and flow into the rear end portion of the prize ball communication path 22 from the ball payout path 34 usually flow down forward in the prize ball communication path 22 and the upper ball tray. The upper ball tray 6 a is reached through the passage in the communication duct 27. On the other hand, when the upper ball tray 6a is filled with game balls, the game balls paid out by the ball payout device 33 pass through the overflow ball guide port (not shown) from the prize ball communication passage 22 and overflow balls. It flows down the passage 23 and reaches the lower ball tray 6b through the passage in the lower ball tray connecting duct 28.

  Further, on the back of the back set panel 30, a control device, a power supply unit 41 for supplying electric power to electronic components, a main control device (main control board) 42 for comprehensively controlling the operation of the pachinko machine PM, image display, effects A sub-control device (sub-control board) 43 that controls game effects such as lighting and sound effects, the operation of the ball payout device 33, and a payout control device 44 that controls the operation of a game ball launching device 50 to be described later, etc. The various boards and electronic components are attached, and these are connected by a connector cable (not shown) so that the pachinko machine PM can be operated.

  With regard to the pachinko machine PM structured as described above, the configuration of each part related to the payout process of the game ball when the game ball launched into the game area PA falls into each winning device will be described in more detail. . There are various types of winning devices provided on the game board 10 including appearance design and operations at the time of winning, and any type of winning device may be used according to the gauge setting. However, for example, the gaming board 10 illustrated in FIG. 5 shows an example in which three types of winning devices, that is, a general winning device 14, a start winning device 15, and large winning devices 16 and 17 are provided.

  The general winning device 14 is a fixed winning tool having a winning opening 14a into which a game ball can drop, and the safe ball that has dropped into the winning opening 14a is discharged to the back side of the decorative board 11 through the safe ball passage. The winning is detected by passing through a winning ball detector 14s (see FIG. 6) provided on the back side. The winning ball detector 14s is not particularly limited as long as it is a passing sensor that can detect the passing of a game ball. For example, a non-contact operation type such as a magnetic sensor, an optical sensor, a proximity switch, etc. It may be an operation type (the same applies to the winning ball detectors 15s, 16s, and 17s shown below).

  The start winning device 15 has a winning opening 15a into which a game ball can drop, and is a winning tool that determines the conditions for starting the fluctuation of the symbol. The safe ball that has entered the winning opening 15a passes through the safe ball passage. A winning is detected by being discharged to the back side of the decorative plate 11 and passing through a winning ball detector 15s (see FIG. 6) provided on the back side.

  The grand prize winning devices 16 and 17 have prize winning openings 16a and 17a into which game balls can be dropped, and are so-called attacker type movable prize winning devices. The open / close doors covering the horizontal rectangular prize winning openings 16a and 17a are opened and closed. It is attached as possible. The door is normally closed, and when a special game state is established under a predetermined winning condition during the game, the upper part of the door is tilted forward approximately 90 degrees to open the large winning openings 16a, 17a. The The safe balls that have fallen into the big winning openings 16a, 17a pass through the safe ball passage and are discharged to the back side of the decorative board 11, and the winning ball detectors 16s, 17s (corresponding to the area openings on the back side) Winning is detected by passing through (see FIG. 6). Note that the game balls detected by the winning ball detectors 14s, 15s, 16s, and 17s flow down the game-completed ball discharge passage and are discharged to the game island collection device of the game facility.

  In the pachinko machine PM configured as described above, the outer frame 1 is fixedly installed on the game island (installation frame base) of the game facility, and the front frame 2, the glass door 5, the ball tray unit 6 and the like are closed and locked. The game is started by storing the game ball in the upper ball tray 6a of the ball tray unit 6 and rotating the launch handle 60. When the firing handle 60 is rotated, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 6a are sent to the guide holder one ball at a time by the ball feeding cassette 26 disposed on the back side of the ball tray unit 6, and fired. A pachinko game is developed by being hammered into the game area PA by the hammer 72 of the mechanism 70.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows a block diagram mainly showing control modes of the main control device 42, the sub control device 43 and the payout control device 44. As shown in FIG. 6, the detection signals of the winning ball detectors 14s, 15s, 16s, and 17s are output to the main controller 42. The main controller 42 operates the pachinko machine PM based on the input detection signals. Control all over. For example, when a game ball rolling down the game area PA falls into the general winning device 14, a winning is detected when the entered game ball passes the winning ball detector 14s, and the detection signal is sent to the main controller 42. Entered. From this detection signal, the main control device 42 detects that the game ball has dropped into the winning device and that the winning device that has won the prize is the general winning device 14, and responds to the payout control device 44 according to the winning conditions. The ball payout command command is output and the ball payout device 33 is operated to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls set in advance to the upper ball tray 6a as a case where the general payout device 14 is won.

  Further, when a game ball falls into the start winning device 15 and a detection signal is output from the winning ball detector 15s, the main control device 42 determines from this detection signal that the game ball has fallen and the winning winning. It is detected that the device is the start winning device 15, and a game program corresponding to the winning conditions is called and executed. Specifically, the symbol combination lottery is performed in the main control device 42, and the lottery result is output to the sub-control device 43, and the symbol displayed on the symbol display device 18 is controlled to be varied and stopped, so that the combination of stop symbols is obtained. For example, a blinking display of a side lamp or generation of a sound effect by a speaker is performed. Further, the main control device 42 outputs a ball payout command command corresponding to the winning conditions to the payout control device 44 to operate the ball payout device 33 and wins the start winning device 15 as a predetermined preset. The number of prize balls is paid out to the upper ball tray 6a.

  When the lottery result by the main control device 42 is a jackpot (when the symbol at the time of fluctuation stop is a jackpot symbol), the symbol display device 18 is made to match, for example, a decorative symbol imitating the symbol display of the slot machine. Such a display mode is displayed and a special game is executed. In the special game, the special winning devices 16 and 17 are operated to open the special winning openings 16a and 17a. Then, for example, after the grand prize winning openings 16a and 17a are opened for about 30 seconds, or after nine or more game balls have won the prize winning devices 16 and 17, the big winning prize openings 16a and 17a are temporarily closed. Such an opening / closing operation is continuously repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 times). Each time a game ball falls into the big winning devices 16 and 17, a predetermined number of game balls set in advance are paid out from the ball payout device 33 as prize balls.

  Next, the game ball launching device 50 and the game ball collecting mechanism 100 provided on the game assisting board 20 will be described with additional reference to FIGS. The game ball launching device 50 includes a launch handle 60 that performs a launch operation of the game ball, a launch mechanism 70 that launches the game ball, a launch rail unit 80 that guides the launched game ball to the launch passage 12, and a launch mechanism 70. And a dispensing control device 43 that controls the operation.

  The firing handle 60 includes a handle base 61 (see FIG. 4) that protrudes forward from the body of the pachinko machine PM, and a rotation lever 62 (see FIG. 1) that is provided in front of the handle base 61 so as to be rotatable. ), An angle detector 63 (see FIG. 6) such as a potentiometer that is provided in the handle base 61 and detects the amount of rotation of the rotation lever 62, and the player attaches to the launch handle 60 (the rotation lever 62). And a touch detector 64 (see FIG. 6) for detecting whether or not they are in contact with each other. The detection signals from the angle detector 63 and the touch detector 64 are input to the payout control device 44, and the payout control device 44 determines whether or not the player is touching the launch handle 60 from the detection signal from the touch detector 64. It determines, detects the amount of rotation operation of the rotation lever 62 from the detection signal from the angle detector 63, and controls the action | operation of the discharge mechanism 70 based on these detection signals.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the launch mechanism 70 is provided on the front side of the game auxiliary board 20 and is a flat base plate 71 serving as a mounting base of the launch mechanism 70, and is located on the front side of the base plate 71. A hammer 72 is provided so as to be able to swing in a plane substantially the same as the board surface of the game board 10, and a clapper type solenoid 75 (a tension type solenoid) for swinging the hammer 72 is configured.

  The base plate 71 is formed, for example, by cutting and punching a thin steel plate and performing a required surface treatment. The clapper type solenoid 75 includes a cylindrical coil 76 that generates magnetism when an electric current flows, and a stator 77 and a mover 78 that are arranged in the cylinder of the coil. The stator 77 and the mover 78 are formed using a ferromagnetic material. The base end portion of the mover 78 is fixed to the hammer 72. In the clapper type solenoid 75, when the coil 76 is energized based on a command from the payout control device 44, the mover 78 operates so as to be attracted to the stator 77 disposed in the coil 76.

  The hammer 72 includes a hammer arm portion 72a whose base end portion is pivotally supported on the front surface of the base plate 71 and extends in the left-right direction, and a buffer arm portion 72b that protrudes leftward from the distal end portion. Is done. The hammer arm portion 72a is pivotally supported on the front surface of the base plate 71 by using a support shaft 73a and a bearing 73b, and can swing within a plane substantially parallel to the board surface of the game board 10. A hammer head 72c made of resin for hitting a game ball is attached to the tip of the hammer arm portion 72a so as to protrude upward. A mover 78 of a clapper type solenoid 75 is fixed to an intermediate portion of the hammer arm portion 72a so as to protrude upward. The hammer 72 is operated by the clapper type solenoid 75 based on a command from the payout control device 44, that is, when the movable element 78 is attracted to the stator 77 in the coil 76, the hammer arm portion 72 a is moved to the front side of the base plate 71. Thus, it swings upward about the support shaft 73a.

  Further, on the front surface of the base plate 71, there is a lower stopper 74 that elastically receives the hammer arm portion 72a at a swinging position retracted downward from the hitting position of the hammer head 72c, and a swinging position slightly exceeding the hitting position. An upper stopper 79 that elastically receives the buffer arm portion 72b is attached. Therefore, the hammer 72 has a lower limit position (referred to as a “firing standby position”) in which the hammer arm portion 72a abuts against the lower stopper 74 and is controlled to swing around the support shaft 73a, and a buffer arm portion 72b. Is swingable and displaceable between the upper limit position (which is referred to as a “firing completion position”) that is in contact with the upper stopper 79 and is controlled to swing.

  The firing rail portion 80 is provided on the front side of the base plate 71, and a guide for temporarily holding the game ball B (see FIGS. 7 and 8, etc.) supplied from the ball feed cassette 26 according to the hitting position of the hammer head 72c. A holder 81 and a firing rail 82 extending obliquely upward from the guide holder 81 are configured.

  The firing rail 82 has a central passage wall 83 that extends obliquely upward to the left, and a left passage wall that is erected substantially parallel to the left and right sides with a gap slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball across the central wall. 84 and a right passage wall 85, and a ball passage 86 surrounded by these passage walls 83, 84, 85 and through which a game ball launched by the hammer 72 can pass is formed. The firing rail 82 is directed from the upper end position of the guide holder 81 toward the firing passage 12 between the flying rail 12a and the inner rail 12b (that is, upward from the rail surface near the lower end of the flying rail 12a). It is provided to extend diagonally to the left. A launch port 82a (see FIG. 3) at the upper end of the launch rail 82 extends above the support surface of the housing frame and opens at a height position that is substantially on the left side of the out port 19 on the front surface of the game board 10.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a foul ball collection basket 150 having a foul ball collection port 151 opened upward is provided on the left side of the launch port 82a in the launch rail 82, and reaches the game area PA. A game ball (that is, a foul ball) returning to the launch passage 12 without being able to fall into the foul ball collection port 151. The foul ball collection passage 152 formed in the foul ball collection basket 150 communicates with the overflow ball passage 23 connected to the lower ball tray 6b, and the foul ball that has entered the foul ball collection port 151 is collected. It flows down the passage 152, is guided to the overflow ball passage 23, and reaches the lower ball tray 6b via the lower ball tray connecting duct 28.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the payout control device 44 drives the firing mechanism 70 by supplying a current corresponding to the rotational operation amount of the firing handle 60 (the rotational lever 62) to the clapper type solenoid 75 of the firing mechanism 70. A launch control circuit 45 is provided. The firing control circuit 45 is configured to have a variable resistor, and the resistance value of the variable resistor is set in accordance with the rotation operation amount of the firing handle 60 detected based on the detection signal from the angle detector 63. By changing the current, the current corresponding to the rotation operation amount of the firing handle 60 is supplied to the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75.

  Note that the variable resistor provided in the firing control circuit 45 exceeds or falls below the assumed current value due to the detection error (assembly error) of the angle detector 63 even when the amount of rotation of the firing handle 60 is maximum. Therefore, a resistance value exceeding the range of the rotation operation amount of the firing handle 60 is provided, and the resistance value has a width.

  The firing control circuit 45 changes the range of current values that can be supplied to the clapper type solenoid 75 (hereinafter referred to as a suppliable current range) in accordance with the gaming state, and the amount of rotation operation of the firing handle 60 within that range. Is configured to supply a current corresponding to the current to the clapper type solenoid 75. For example, in a normal game, a game that is performed by causing a game ball to reach the left side area in front view in the game area PA of the game board 10 (so-called left-handed game) is the main, so even if the launch intensity of the game ball is relatively small Good. On the other hand, in the special game in which the big prize winning device 16 is opened, a game that is performed by causing the game ball to reach the right side area in the front view in the game area PA (so-called right-handed game) is mainly used. Greater launch intensity is required than in gaming. Therefore, the launch control circuit 45 sets the maximum current value in the above-mentioned supplyable current range during the normal game to a value smaller than the maximum current value during the special game where the grand prize winning device 16 is opened. The possible current range may be changed. The launch control circuit 45 may be configured to change the energization time of the current supplied to the clapper type solenoid 75 according to the gaming state.

  In addition, when the current corresponding to the amount of rotation of the firing handle 60 is supplied to the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75, the firing control circuit 45 has a slope (rising up) from the start of supplying the current value to the supplied current value. ) Is supplied to the coil 76 so as to have a constant slope (rise) regardless of the value of the supply current value (see the solid line and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9).

  Further, the firing control circuit 45 has an allowable current value (for example, a guaranteed current value determined in advance in consideration of normal operation in the clapper solenoid 75) according to the rotation operation amount of the firing handle 60. Overcurrent suppression circuit 46 (limiter circuit) that suppresses current exceeding the allowable current value from flowing into coil 76 of clapper solenoid 75 and causes current below the allowable current value to flow through coil 76. It is comprised. It should be noted that the maximum allowable current value is a current corresponding to the launch intensity that allows a game (so-called right-handed game) to be performed without any problem by causing the game ball to reach the right side area in front view in the game area PA of the game board 10. It is desirable to be a value.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the overcurrent suppressing circuit 46 includes a plurality of resistors, an operational amplifier 46 a, a diode 46 b, and a plurality of resistors, and is input according to the amount of rotation operation of the firing handle 60. When the value (voltage value) exceeds the allowable current value (allowable voltage value), the current value (voltage value) below the allowable current value (allowable voltage value) is output to the clapper type solenoid 75. Has been.

  The overcurrent suppression circuit 46 is configured to change the above-described allowable current value according to the gaming state. As described above, in the normal game, the launch intensity of the game ball is relatively small, and in the special game in which the big winning device 16 is opened, the launch intensity of the game ball is higher than that in the normal game. Therefore, for example, the overcurrent suppressing circuit 46 may be configured to change the above-described allowable current value during a normal game to a value smaller than the allowable current value during a special game where the special winning device 16 is opened. Good. The overcurrent suppressing circuit 46 may be configured to change the energization time of the current supplied to the clapper type solenoid 75 according to the gaming state.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the game ball collecting mechanism 100 is provided with an arm member (not shown) provided on the back side of the base plate 71 and connected to the hammer 72 of the firing mechanism 70, and the arm member through the arm member. The on-off valve member 120 that opens and closes the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 by transmitting the swing of the hammer 72 and the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 that is provided adjacent to the left passage wall 84 of the firing rail 82 and communicates. And a game ball collecting basket 130 to be configured. The arm member is connected to the hammer 72 and the opening / closing valve member 120 so as to be swingable, and transmits the pressing force generated by the swing of the hammer 72 to the opening / closing valve member 120.

  The on-off valve member 120 is provided to be biased toward the game ball collection basket 130 side (left side) in a communication port 87 in which the left passage wall 84 of the launch rail 82 is partially cut away and opened in the left-right direction. Yes. The on-off valve member 120 includes a cylindrical support shaft portion 121 inserted into the hole of the game auxiliary board 20 and a strip-shaped valve body provided on the front end side of the support shaft portion 121 and extending radially outward. 122 and a pin insertion hole that is provided on the rear end side of the support shaft portion 121 and has a tongue-like rocking piece (not shown) in a front view extending radially outward and penetrating in the front-rear direction. When the pivot pin 129 is inserted into the base plate, the pivot pin 129 is pivotally supported in a vertical plane on a base plate provided on the back side of the game assisting board 20.

  The valve body 122 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape matching the opening surface area of the ball passage 86 in the firing rail 82. An unillustrated swinging piece is provided with a shaft-like rod that protrudes rearward, and on the upper surface side of the arm member corresponding to this rod, over a range somewhat wider than the swinging range of this rod. A substantially arc-shaped curved support surface that opens upward is formed. The on-off valve member 120 has a counterclockwise moment acting in front view around the pivot pin 129 due to its own weight such as the valve body 122 and the swinging piece, and the on-off valve member 120 counterclockwise by this moment. By receiving the urging force in the direction, the rod of the swing piece in the on-off valve member 120 is always in contact with the curved support surface of the arm member. Therefore, when the arm member swings up and down by the swing operation of the hammer 72, the curved support surface is moved while the rod of the swing piece is pushed by the curved support surface of the arm member according to the swing of the arm member. The on-off valve member 120 swings clockwise or counterclockwise about the pivot pin 129 in conjunction with this movement.

  Accordingly, when the hammer 72 swings upward from the firing standby position toward the firing completion position, the on / off valve member 120 pushes the rod of the swinging piece upward by the arm member connected to the hammer 72. The valve body 122 integrally connected to the rod swings counterclockwise when viewed from the front. When the hammer 72 reaches the firing completion position, the valve body 122 extends in a substantially vertical direction. It becomes a posture and the ball passage 86 of the launch rail 82 is opened. On the other hand, when the hammer 72 swings downward from the firing completion position toward the firing standby position, the arm member connected to the hammer 72 swings downward, and the opening / closing valve member 120 has a moment generated by its own weight. Oscillates clockwise in front view, and when the hammer 72 reaches the firing standby position, the valve body 122 extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the firing rail 82 and the ball of the firing rail 82 The passage 86 is closed.

  That is, when the valve element 122 is inserted into the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 to prevent the passage of the game ball (this is referred to as a “closed position”), It is possible to swing up and down between a position retracted out of the ball passage 86 82 and allowing a game ball to pass (referred to as an “open position”). A projection 88 is formed on the right passage wall 85 of the firing rail 82 so as to protrude inward of the passage. When the on-off valve member 120 swings clockwise and reaches the closed position, the valve body The bottom surface of the front end of 122 is in contact with (or close to) the top surface of the protrusion 88.

  The game ball collection basket 130 communicates with the ball passage 86 of the launch rail 82 through the communication port 87 of the left passage wall 84, and a game ball collection port 131 that opens upward is formed at the lower side. A game ball collection passage 132 is formed through which a game ball that enters from the contact port 87 and drops into the game ball collection port 131 flows down. The game ball collection passage 132 joins the foul ball collection passage 152 and the overflow ball passage 22 on the back side of the game auxiliary board 20 and is connected to the lower ball tray 6b through the lower ball tray connecting duct 28. The game ball collection passage 132 and the foul ball collection passage 152 may be directly connected, or the game ball collection basket 130 and the foul ball collection basket 150 may be integrally formed.

  In the game ball launching device 50 and the game ball collecting mechanism 100 configured as described above, first, when the player is not operating the firing handle 60, the output signal of the touch detector 64 is the contact of the player. Is in a non-contact state where no player is detected, and the payout control device 44 determines that the player is in a standby state in which no game is played, and turns off the operation of the launch mechanism 70. That is, since the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75 is not energized by a command from the firing control circuit 45 of the payout control device 44, the hammer 72 is stopped at the firing standby position. At this time, the on-off valve member 120 closes the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82.

  On the other hand, when the player grasps and rotates the launch handle 60, the output signal of the touch detector 64 becomes a contact state in which the player's contact is detected, and the game ball stored in the upper ball tray 6a is transferred to the ball feeding cassette. 26, one ball at a time is placed at the hitting position of the guide holder 81, and the operation of the firing mechanism 70 is turned on. That is, the firing control circuit 45 supplies a current corresponding to the rotation operation amount of the firing handle 60 (detected value of the angle detector 63) to the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75, and attracts the stator 77 and the mover 78. The hammer 72 is swung upward by force. At this time, the firing control circuit 45 changes the current value range (suppliable current range) that can be supplied to the clapper-type solenoid 75 according to the gaming state, and in accordance with the rotational operation amount of the firing handle 60 within that range. Is supplied to the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75. Moreover, the firing control circuit 45 supplies current to the coil 76 so that the slope from the start of supply of the current value to the supply current value becomes a constant slope regardless of the value of the supply current value. Further, when the current corresponding to the amount of rotation of the firing handle 60 exceeds the allowable current value, the current value is suppressed by the overcurrent suppression circuit 46 and a current equal to or less than the allowable current value is supplied to the coil 76. . In this way, the game ball is launched toward the game area PA with the firing intensity corresponding to the amount of rotation of the launch handle 60 by the hammer 72 swung upward from the launch standby position to the launch completion position (ball hitting position). It is.

  Thus, the firing mechanism 70 is configured such that the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75 is energized and the mover 78 is attracted to the stator 77, whereby the hammer 72 fixed to the mover 78 is moved from the firing standby position to the firing completion position ( The game ball is launched by swinging it to the hitting position). Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the game ball is moved by swinging the hammer 172 attached to the drive shaft 173a of the rotary solenoid (or swing motor) from the standby position to the hitting position by the rotary solenoid (swing motor). The swinging width L1 (see FIG. 7) of the hammer 72 in the firing mechanism 70 can be made shorter than the swinging width (swing width) L2 of the hammer 172 of the conventional firing mechanism 170 configured to strike. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the energization time of the current supplied to the solenoid can be made shorter than before, so that the power consumption of the firing mechanism 70 can be suppressed more than before. Further, since the swinging width L1 of the hammer 72 can be made shorter than before, the launch mechanism 70 can be made compact.

  Further, in the launch mechanism 70, the launch control circuit 45 changes the range of current values that can be supplied to the clapper type solenoid 75 (suppliable current range) according to the gaming state, and the launch handle 60 rotates within that range. A current corresponding to the operation amount is supplied to the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75. For this reason, it is possible to supply the minimum necessary current corresponding to the gaming state to the clapper type solenoid 75 of the launching mechanism 70, so that the power consumption of the launching mechanism 70 can be further reduced.

  In the launch mechanism 70, the launch control circuit 45 causes the clapper-type solenoid 75 so that the slope from the start of supply of the current value to the supply current value becomes a constant slope regardless of the value of the supply current value. A current is supplied to the coil 76 (see FIG. 9). Therefore, since a constant current value can be supplied to the clapper type solenoid 75, variations in launching game balls by the launch mechanism 70 can be suppressed.

  In addition, in the firing mechanism 70, when the current corresponding to the amount of rotation operation of the firing handle 60 exceeds the allowable current value, the current value is suppressed by the overcurrent suppression circuit 46, and a current equal to or less than the allowable current value is applied to the coil. 76 is supplied. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the clapper solenoid 75 from being supplied with a current (overcurrent) exceeding the allowable current value. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent burnout due to heat generated by the clapper type solenoid 75 and mechanism deterioration such as a stopper of the firing mechanism 70.

  In the launch mechanism 70, the overcurrent suppression circuit 46 can change the allowable current value according to the gaming state. According to such a configuration, it is possible to supply the minimum necessary current corresponding to the gaming state to the clapper type solenoid 75, so that the power consumption of the launch mechanism 70 can be reduced.

  When the hammer 72 swings upward, the arm member connected to the hammer 72 swings upward integrally with the hammer 72, so that the on-off valve member 120 is counterclockwise when viewed from the front (the firing rail 82). The ball passage 86 is swung in the direction in which the ball passage 86 is opened. When the hammer 72 reaches the firing completion position, the on-off valve member 120 is located at the open position where the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 is opened. The ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 can pass without colliding with the valve body 122 of the member 120.

  After the game ball is fired by the hammer 72 in this way, the coil 76 of the clapper type solenoid 75 is de-energized by a command from the firing control circuit 46, and the hammer 72 swings downward by its own weight to reach the firing standby position. Return. Therefore, the opening / closing valve member 120 swings clockwise in front view due to the moment generated by its own weight and reaches the closing position, and the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 is closed by the valve body 122 of the opening / closing valve member 120.

  Here, when the launch strength of the game ball launched according to the rotation operation amount of the launch handle 60 is weak, a foul ball returning to the launch passage 12 without reaching the game area PA may be generated. The majority of the falling foul balls fall into the foul ball collection port 151 and pass through the foul ball collection passage 152, the overflow ball passage 23, the lower ball tray connection duct 28, etc. of the foul ball collection basket 150. It is discharged to the ball tray 6b.

  On the other hand, the fall route of the foul sphere may shift to the right and return to the firing rail 82. At this time, since the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 is blocked by the valve body 122 of the opening / closing valve member 120, the foul ball that has returned to the firing rail 82 contacts the valve body 122 in the ball passage 86. The fall is stopped. When the subsequent game ball B placed in the guide holder 81 is fired by the swing operation of the hammer 72, the on-off valve member 120 is counterclockwise in front view via the arm member connected to the hammer 72. The foul ball is ejected from the connection port 87 of the left passage wall 84 to the game ball collecting bowl 130 by the valve body 122 of the on-off valve member 120, and the game ball collection passage 132, the overflow ball passage 23, and It is discharged to the lower ball tray 6b through the lower ball tray communication bucket 28. Further, the subsequent game ball B launched by the hammer 72 passes through the ball passage 86 of the launch rail 82 without being blocked by the valve body 122 (and does not collide with the foul ball), and the flying rail 12a. To the game area PA. Therefore, even when there is a foul ball that falls and returns from the launch rail 82, it is possible to prevent the game balls from colliding with each other in the ball passage 86 in the launch rail 82.

  In the state where the on-off valve member 120 is in the closed position, the swinging piece rod of the on-off valve member 120 abuts on the arm member, and the clockwise swing is restricted, but the clockwise direction Since the ball can be freely swung in the direction in which the ball path 86 of the launch rail 82 is opened, when the game ball is launched by the hammer 72, it may be caused by a malfunction of the on-off valve member 120. Even if the ball passage 86 is closed by the valve body 122, the valve body 122 may be opened upward by the ball pressure of the game ball that has been fired, which may prevent the game ball from flying on the launch rail 82. Absent.

  Further, in the state where the hammer 72 is held at the firing standby position, the ball passage 86 of the firing rail 82 is closed by the valve body 122 of the opening / closing valve member 120, and thus falls from the board surface of the game board 10 and the firing passage 12. Foreign matter such as dust (foreign matter adhering to the game ball) is blocked by the valve body 122 and is discharged to the game ball collection basket 130 with the swinging movement of the on-off valve member 120. Therefore, there is no fear that a large amount of foreign matter stays in the launch mechanism 70 located below the launch rail 82, and the mechanical parts of the launch mechanism 70 bite the foreign matter and cause poor launch of the game ball due to its malfunction. In addition to being able to prevent this, the cleaning / inspection time for removing foreign matters is greatly reduced, and the maintainability can be improved.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, If it is a range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, it can improve suitably. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the pachinko machine PM is described as an example of the ball game machine, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, in a ball game machine such as a sparrow ball game machine or an arrangement ball machine. Also, the present invention is applicable.

PM Pachinko machine (ball game machine)
PA game area 10 game board 44 payout control device 45 launch control circuit (launch control device)
50 game ball launch device 60 launch handle 70 launch mechanism (launch device)
72 Hammer (ball striking member)
75 Clapper type solenoid (Tension type solenoid)
76 Coil 77 Stator 78 Mover

Claims (3)

A game board provided with a predetermined game area on the front side, a launch handle operated by a player, and a launching device that launches a game ball into the game area with a launch intensity according to the operation amount of the launch handle A ball game machine configured to perform a game for winning a game ball launched by the launching device in a prize opening provided in the game area;
The launching device is provided so as to be swingable in a plane substantially the same as the board surface of the game board, and a striking ball member that launches a game ball toward the game area, and a tension solenoid that swings the hit ball member; A firing control means for controlling the firing strength of the game ball by controlling the current value supplied to the tension solenoid according to the operation amount of the firing handle;
The tension solenoid includes a cylindrical coil that generates magnetism when an electric current flows, a stator that is disposed in the cylinder of the coil, a distal end portion that is disposed in the cylinder of the coil, and a proximal end portion that is A mover fixed to the hitting member, and configured to swing the hitting member to a hitting position for launching a game ball by energizing the coil and attracting the mover to the stator. A ball game machine characterized by being played.   The launch control means changes a range of the supply current value according to a gaming state, and controls the supply current value according to an operation amount of the launch handle within the range. The bullet ball game machine described.   The firing control means supplies current to the tension solenoid so that the slope from the start of supply of the current value to the supply current value is constant regardless of the value of the supply current value. The bullet ball game machine according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that.

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