JP2017176767A - Storage tank and game machine island - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a storage tank that can be used in various game machine islands having different installation positions, shapes, and sizes and can be manufactured at low cost, and a game machine island constructed by incorporating such storage tank.SOLUTION: A storage tank 20 having a storage part 42 for temporarily storing a game medium flown from the outside and a conveyance path connecting part 43 comprising an outflow port 70 for letting out the game medium to the outside is formed. At least one of the storage part 42 and the conveyance path connecting part 43 is formed by integrally connecting one or more box-shaped bodies 60, 61 in a stacked state. The number of the box-shaped bodies 60, 61 constituting the storage part 42 and/or the conveyance path connecting part 43 can be varied, and the maximum storage amount of the storage part 42 and/or the height of the outflow port 70 of the conveyance path connecting part 43 can be changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage tank capable of temporarily storing game balls inside a gaming machine island in which gaming machines such as pachinko machines are arranged. The present invention also relates to an amusement machine island incorporating such a storage tank.

  In a game arcade where game machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines are installed, a game machine island is generally provided for arranging a plurality of game machines in a line. And in such a gaming machine island, there is one that forms a circulation flow path in which game balls (pachinko balls) circulate, and a storage that can temporarily store game balls in a part of the circulation flow path. Some have a tank.

As a gaming machine island having such a circulation channel, for example, there is one disclosed in Patent Document 1.
The gaming machine island disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes an island tank disposed on the upper side of the gaming machine, a supply rail extending along the line-up direction of the gaming machine on the upper side of the gaming machine, and a gaming machine on the lower side of the gaming machine. The structure includes an outrail extending along the alignment direction, a polishing device for polishing game balls, a lifting device for transporting game balls from the lower side to the upper side, and a lifting flow path. ing.

In the gaming machine island disclosed in Patent Document 1, gaming balls are supplied from the supply rails to the gaming machines, and the gaming balls discharged from the gaming machines are allowed to flow into the outrails. At this time, the game ball that has flowed through the outrail reaches a polishing device that is continuous with the downstream end of the outrail, and after being polished by the polishing device, is transported to the upper side through the lifting channel by the lifting device, It flows into the tank on the island. Then, the game balls temporarily stored in the island tank are supplied to the supply rail.
In other words, the game ball flows through the circulation flow path and circulates inside the game machine island while passing through the island tank, the game machine, the polishing device, and the lifting device. The island tank functions as a storage tank for temporarily storing game balls.

  In this circulation channel, supply rails and outrails that form a transport path for transporting game balls in the horizontal direction are arranged in an inclined posture so as to have a downward slope toward the downstream side. And the game ball which flowed into these supply rails and outrails will roll to the downstream side by its own weight.

JP 2013-135769 A

  By the way, in recent years, amusement halls have been constructed in various places, and the construction structure of the amusement hall itself and the size of the hall are different. For this reason, the total floor area of the floor where the gaming machine island is installed and the ratio of the area where the gaming machine island can be installed in the total floor area are also different for each game hall. . For this reason, the size of the gaming machine island constructed in the game hall may also differ from game hall to game hall. Furthermore, the size of the gaming machine island may be different for each installation position in the floor even in the same game hall floor.

Here, when the number of gaming machines arranged in parallel is increased to increase the gaming machine island, the amount of gaming balls that normally flow through the internal circulation channel also increases. Therefore, the storage tank for temporarily storing the game ball in the middle of the circulation channel also needs to be formed large in order to increase the maximum storage amount. That is, it is necessary to change the size of the storage tank according to the size of the gaming machine island.
However, if a storage tank having a different size is manufactured for each gaming machine island to be constructed, mass production of the storage tank becomes impossible, leading to an increase in manufacturing cost.

  In addition, as described above, rail members (supply rails or outrails) for transporting game balls in the horizontal direction may be connected to the storage tank (island tank). These rail members are structured so that the inflowing game balls roll downstream due to their own weight and are attached in an inclined posture, but the appropriate inclination angle is also larger than the size of the gaming machine island. It will vary depending on the situation.

That is, when the inclination angle at the time of installation of the rail member is steep, it is preferable from the viewpoint of allowing the game ball to flow stably, but on the other hand, when securing the installation area, it is necessary to secure a wide area in the height direction. Will occur.
On the contrary, if the inclination angle when installing the rail member is moderate, it can be installed without securing a wide area in the height direction, but there is a possibility that trouble may arise from the viewpoint of stably flowing the game ball. is there.
From the above, the inclination angle at the time of installation of the rail member is an angle at which the game ball flows stably to the downstream end and is set to an angle that is not too steep.

  Here, if the number of gaming machines in parallel is increased to increase the gaming machine island, the gaming machine island becomes longer in the parallel direction of the gaming machines. At this time, rail members such as supply rails and outrails also need to increase the length of the conveyance path (hereinafter also referred to as flow path length). However, even if the flow path length of the rail member is increased, if the inclination angle remains small, the game ball may not flow stably to the downstream end.

  Therefore, when the gaming machine island is enlarged and the flow path length of the rail member is increased, it is necessary to make the inclination angle of the rail member steep. And when making the inclination angle of a rail member steep, it is necessary to form the position of the connection part of the storage tank to which the upstream end of a rail member is connected upwards. That is, it is necessary to form a position such as an opening for supplying a game ball from the inside of the storage tank to the rail member.

  That is, it is necessary to change the flow path length of the rail member according to the size of the gaming machine island, and to change the inclination angle when installing the rail member according to the flow path length of the rail member. That is, it is necessary to vary the position of the connecting portion of the rail member in the storage tank in the height direction according to the size of the gaming machine island.

  However, when a storage tank having a different arrangement height of the connection port of the rail member is manufactured for each gaming machine island to be constructed, mass production of the storage tank becomes impossible, leading to an increase in manufacturing cost, which is not preferable.

Furthermore, since the floor structure on which the gaming machine island is installed is different in the game hall, for example, on the floor on which the gaming machine island is installed, the pillars of the gaming hall may be located at various locations on the floor. . In other words, there may be a game structure that cannot be moved to various places on the floor.
Although the surrounding area of such a structure is normally not available for the installation of a gaming machine island, a gaming machine island that can be constructed in such an area is desired from the viewpoint of effectively utilizing the space in the floor. It was. In other words, there has been a demand for a gaming machine island with a new structure that can be constructed in the area around the structure of the game hall.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, it is an object to provide a storage tank that can be used at various game machine islands having different installation positions and shapes and sizes, and can be manufactured at low cost. And It is another object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine island built with such a storage tank.

  The invention according to claim 1 for solving the above-mentioned problem is a storage tank capable of temporarily storing game media to be supplied to the gaming machine on a gaming machine island formed by installing one or more gaming machines. A storage section for temporarily storing the game medium flowing in from the outside, and a transport path connection section provided with an outlet for allowing the game medium to flow out to the outside. An external member for forming a transport path for transporting the medium is formed to be connectable, and the game medium can flow out from the outlet to the external member by connecting the external member. In addition, at least one of the storage section and the transport path connection section is formed by a single box-shaped body, or formed by integrally connecting a plurality of the box-shaped bodies in a stacked state in the vertical direction. The reservoir and / or By varying the number of the box-shaped bodies constituting the transport path connecting part, the maximum storage amount of the storage part and / or the height of the outlet of the transport path connecting part can be changed. It is a storage tank.

  The storage tank of the present invention can change the number of box-shaped bodies constituting the storage section and / or the conveyance path connection section, and can change the maximum storage amount of the storage section and / or the height of the outlet of the conveyance path connection section. Therefore, it can be used on game machine islands of various sizes.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the box-shaped body has an opening portion communicating with the inside and the outside on the upper side, and a first box-shaped body having an inner space surrounded by a side wall portion inside, and an upper side A plurality of different structures including a second box-like body having an opening portion communicating with the inside and the outside, an internal space surrounded by a side wall portion inside, and the outflow port formed in a part of the side wall portion The storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the storage tank is selected from a box-like body.

  According to such a configuration, the storage part and the conveyance path connection part can be formed by the same box-shaped body, so that there is a further manufacturing cost reduction effect.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the transport path connecting portion is formed by integrally connecting a plurality of the box-shaped bodies including two or more second box-shaped bodies stacked in the vertical direction. The one second box-like body and the other second box-like body are arranged in a posture in which opening directions of the outflow ports are different from each other. 2. The storage tank according to 2.

  In the storage tank of the present invention, not only the height of the outlet of the conveyance path connection part but also the opening direction can be easily changed. Therefore, various types of games such as a gaming machine island in which the storage tank is installed at the center in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island and a gaming machine island in which the storage tank is installed at the end side in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island. Can be used at Kijima.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the box-shaped body has an opening portion communicating with the inside and the outside on the upper side, and has an internal space surrounded by a side wall portion inside, and the storage portion and / or The transport path connecting portion is configured such that the game medium flows into the inside from the upper portion, and at least one of the box-shaped bodies constituting the storage portion and / or the transport path connecting portion includes the side wall. The storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a plate-like speed adjusting plate protruding from the inner side surface of the portion toward the inner space is provided.

Here, when a large number of box-like bodies are stacked to form a storage part or a transport path connection part, the distance from the upper part into which the game medium flows into the lowermost part becomes longer. And, if the game medium that has fallen vigorously from the upper side collides with the inner surface of the storage unit or the conveyance path connection unit on the lower side or collides with other game balls, these may be damaged. .
Therefore, the storage tank having such a structure is provided with a speed adjustment plate that protrudes toward the internal space of the storage unit or the conveyance path connection unit, and the falling game medium collides with the speed limit plate. From this, the falling game medium collides with the speed limit plate and falls further downward from above the speed limit plate. In this way, if the structure is such that it is once dropped on the speed limiting plate and then dropped further from there, the falling speed of the game medium on the lower side can be made moderate. This can prevent damage to the inner surface of the storage unit and the conveyance path connection unit and the game ball.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the storage section and / or the transport path connecting section is formed by integrally connecting a plurality of the box-shaped bodies in a vertically stacked state. The speed adjusting plate is provided in two or more of the box-like bodies arranged at different positions, and the two or more box-like bodies are different from directions in which the protruding directions of the speed adjusting plates are different from each other. The storage tank according to claim 4, wherein the storage tank is disposed in a posture.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to more reliably cause the game medium that is falling to collide with the speed limit plate.

  The invention according to claim 6 is an upper tank for temporarily storing the game medium transported to the upper part of the gaming machine island, and has an outer box part, and the storage part and the transport path connection The parts are integrally connected in a state of being stacked in the vertical direction, at least a part of the storage part is located inside the outer box part, and the conveyance path connection is provided below the outer box part An overflow medium storage space into which the game medium overflowing from the storage part flows is formed between the inner side surface of the outer box part and the storage part. The storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein:

  The storage tank of the present invention preferably has such a structure.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is a gaming machine island provided with the storage tank according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, and is located outside by installing the gaming machine. A plurality of islets formed with a part of the side surface to be provided, and each of the islets is provided with a supply transport path for transporting the game medium to be supplied to the gaming machine. A transport path for transporting the game medium between the transport section and another small island section, the storage tank is provided in one small island section, and the transport path connection section includes a plurality of the transport path connection sections. An outlet is provided, the supply transport path is connected to at least one of the outlets, the inter-island transport path is connected to at least one other outlet, and the one islet portion and the other The islets are arranged apart from each other, the one islet and the other A game machine island, characterized in that the structure included the Kojima between the transport path and the building into the space formed between the island portion is located.

  The gaming machine island of the present invention is also built around a structure that cannot be moved to another place without increasing the number of members such as a storage tank, that is, a structure such as a pillar of a building standing upright on the floor. It is possible.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a storage tank that can be used at various game machine islands having different installation positions and shapes and sizes, and can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, it is possible to provide a gaming machine island that can be constructed around the structure of the game hall.

1 is a perspective view showing a gaming machine island according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the gaming machine island of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the lifting device of FIG. 2 and a lifting flow path connected to the lifting device. It is a perspective view which shows the tank main body of the island tank shown by FIG. 2, and shows the state with which the feed flow path was connected. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow path connected with the island tank shown in FIG. 2, and an island tank. It is a figure which shows the tank main body shown by FIG. 4, (a) abbreviate | omits a flow-path fixing member, and is a perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows the inside, (b) is a top view of (a). It is a figure which shows the 1st bottomless box member shown by FIG. 6, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits an inside, (b) is sectional drawing, (c) is a top view. It is a figure which shows the 2nd bottomless box member shown by FIG. 6, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits an inside, (b) is sectional drawing, (c) is a top view. It is a figure which shows the internal storage part shown by FIG. 6, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows an inside, (b) is sectional drawing. It is a figure which shows the tank external flow path connection part shown by FIG. 6, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits an inside, (b) is sectional drawing. It is a figure which shows a mode that a game ball | bowl flows in into the tank main body shown by FIG. 4, (a) is sectional drawing, (b) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows a part. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a game ball flows into the tank body following FIG. 11. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where game balls flow into the tank body following FIG. 12. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a game ball flows into the tank body following FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where game balls flow into the tank body following FIG. 14. It is explanatory drawing which shows the gaming machine island of the form different from FIG. It is a figure which shows the tank main body of a form different from FIG. 6, (a), (b) is a top view which shows the tank main body of a different form, respectively. It is a figure which shows the 3rd bottomless box member which is a bottomless box member different from FIG. 7, FIG. 8, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits the inside and (b) is sectional drawing. It is a figure which shows the tank external flow path connection part of the form different from FIG. 10, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits an inside, (b) is sectional drawing. It is a perspective view which shows the game machine island which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the 1st small island part shown by FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the 2nd small island part shown by FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of the gaming machine island shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the upper side storage box shown by FIG. 22, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows an inside, (b) is sectional drawing. It is a figure which shows the lower storage box shown by FIG. 22, (a) is a perspective view which permeate | transmits and shows an inside, (b) is sectional drawing.

  Each embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below, but the present invention is not limited to these examples. In the following description, the vertical and horizontal positional relationship will be described based on the normal installation state unless otherwise specified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine island 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a top plate 6, a end plate 7, a curtain plate 8, and a lamp plate with respect to a skeleton member (not shown) serving as a column and a beam. 9, the plate | board member 10 which forms outer wall surfaces, such as the board | plate board 10, the board 11, the waist board 12, and the baseboard 13, is attached. This gaming machine island 1 is a box-shaped structure whose outer shape is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a plurality of gaming machines 2 are arranged in parallel on the side surface portion in the short direction.

On the side surface portion of the gaming machine island 1 in the short direction, a gaming machine mounting portion 4 for arranging the gaming machine 2 and the gaming medium lending machine 3 is provided. The gaming machine mounting portion 4 is a space formed at a position that is approximately the center of the gaming machine island 1 in the height direction, and communicates the inside and outside of the gaming machine island 1. In the gaming machine mounting portion 4, a set of the gaming machine 2 and the gaming medium lending machine 3 is arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1. That is, assuming that the gaming machine 2 and the gaming medium lending machine 3 provided as a pair are a set of equipment groups, the equipment groups are attached in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1.
In addition, the code | symbol of the game machine 2, the game media rental machine 3, and the game machine attachment part 4 in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 attaches | subjects a code | symbol only to one part, and has abbreviate | omitted the code | symbol to others.

  More specifically, this gaming machine island 1 is provided with two rows of equipment groups, one of which is on one side of the two side parts facing each other in the short direction of the gaming machine island 1. Is formed. And the other (not shown) of the row | line | column of an apparatus group is formed in the other side part of two side parts. In other words, the rows of two device groups are arranged back to back, and the row of the other device group is located at a position spaced apart from the row of one device group in the short direction of the gaming machine island 1. Therefore, each gaming machine 2 (not shown) belonging to the other device group is located at a position away from each gaming machine 2 belonging to the row of one device group in the short direction of the gaming machine island 1. In this state, the back surfaces of the two gaming machines 2 separated in the short direction of the gaming machine island 1 are separated from each other.

  In other words, in the gaming machine island 1 of the present embodiment, the two gaming machines 2 are arranged back to back so that the back faces are spaced apart from each other, and the two gaming machines 2 to be paired are arranged in the horizontal direction. Thus, two rows of gaming machines 2 are formed. Further, the game medium lending machines 3 are arranged at positions adjacent to the lateral sides of the gaming machines 2 arranged in the horizontal direction.

  The gaming machine 2 is a so-called pachinko machine (bullet ball game machine), which launches a game ball (pachinko ball and game medium) into a game area formed inside the main body, and a winning opening formed in the game area It is a device that can play games.

The game medium lending machine 3 is a so-called ball lending machine and is a device for lending game balls to the player. More specifically, it accepts a player's recording medium (so-called prepaid card, not shown) in which cash is input by the player and information on the balance as a value that can be used for the game is received, and a predetermined amount of game balls are paid out. It is a device to put out.
As described above, the game medium lending machine 3 pays out the game ball to the player, so that the game machine 2 corresponding to the game medium lending machine 3 can play a game using the paid game ball.

  The top plate 6 is a member that forms the ceiling wall of the gaming machine island 1.

  The end plate 7 is a member that forms short side walls located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 among the side walls of the gaming machine island 1. From this, the thickness direction of the end plate 7 is the same as the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1.

The curtain 8 is a member that forms a part of the long side wall located at both ends of the gaming machine island 1 in the short direction of the gaming machine island 1.
The curtain plate 8 is continuous with the edge portion of the top plate 6 and is located on the upper portion of the gaming machine mounting portion 4. That is, the curtain plate 8 is a member that forms the vicinity of the upper end of the side wall on which the gaming machine mounting portion 4 is provided.

The ramp plate 9 is a substantially rectangular flat plate-like member that covers a portion slightly away from the upper end, and forms a part of the long side wall of the gaming machine island 1. That is, the lamp plate 9 is in a state where the upper end portion thereof is continuous with the lower end portion of the curtain plate 8 and forms a wall surface positioned below the curtain plate 8.
A data lamp 14 is attached to an upper portion of each of the gaming machines 2 arranged in parallel below the lamp plate 9. That is, the individual data lamps 14 are positioned above the respective gaming machines 2. Each data lamp 14 is paired with the gaming machine 2 positioned below, and functions as a game information display device that displays information regarding the operating status of the paired gaming machine 2.
Note that the reference numerals of the data lamps 14 in FIGS. 1 and 2 are given only to a part, and the other parts are omitted.

  The inter-board 10 is arranged in a portion that is adjacent to the gaming machine 2 or the gaming medium lending machine 3 in the horizontal direction (longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1). By covering this portion, the length of the gaming machine island 1 is increased. It is a member that forms part of the side wall. In other words, the inter-board 10 is a member that covers a portion where the gaming machine 2 or the game medium lending machine 3 is not arranged in a substantially central portion of the gaming machine island 1 in the height direction (vertical direction).

  The gutter plate 11 is a flat plate member having a substantially quadrangular shape in plan view, and projects from the lower part of the gaming machine mounting portion 4 to the outside. More specifically, the board 11 extends along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 while projecting to the seating side of the player (the side with the chair in FIG. 1). Extending from the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction to the vicinity of the other end. The gutter plate 11 is roughly divided into a part located inside the gaming machine island 1 and a part exposed to the outside of the gaming machine island 1. The portion located on the inner side functions as a base for placing the gaming machine 2, and the portion located on the outer side for placing a storage box (not shown) or the like for housing game balls. It functions as a mounting shelf.

  The waist plate 12 is a member that forms a part of the long side wall of the gaming machine island 1 by covering a portion lower than the installation position of the gaming machine 2.

  The skirting board 13 is a long plate-like member that forms a side wall at a position lower than the waist board 12.

  Inside the gaming machine island 1, as shown in FIG. 2, an island tank 20 (storage tank, upper tank), a replenishment rail 21 (external member, supply conveyance path), an overflow rail 22, a ball removal hose 23, an overflow A hose 24, an in-island tank 25, an outrail 26, a polishing device 27, a lifting device 28, and a lifting flow path 29 are provided.

  The island tank 20 is a member attached near the center in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 and above the gaming machine 2, and temporarily stores the game balls lifted from the lifting flow path 29. Functions as a storage means. The specific structure of the island tank 20 that is a characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described later in detail.

The replenishment rail 21 is a member that forms a transport path (flow path) for transporting game balls toward each gaming machine 2, and extends from the portion where the island tank 20 is located toward the longitudinal end of the gaming machine island 1. It is provided to have a downward slope.
More specifically, in the gaming machine island 1 in the present embodiment, two supply rails 21 are provided, one of which extends toward one end side in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 and the other. The game machine island 1 extends toward the other end side in the longitudinal direction. At this time, the upper end portion of the supply rail 21 on one side (left side in FIG. 2) is positioned above the upper end portion of the supply rail 21 on the other side (right side in FIG. 2). That is, one supply rail 21 is positioned above the other supply rail 21. As will be described in detail later, when a game ball flows from the island tank 20 into the supply rail 21, the game ball flows in preference to the supply rail 21 positioned below.

  Each supply rail 21 is provided with a supply chute (not shown) in the middle of the extending direction. More specifically, a plurality of supply chutes are attached to the supply rail 21, and are arranged in parallel with a predetermined interval in the extending direction of the supply rail 21. Each supply chute is a member that forms a transfer path that branches off from the supply rail 21, that is, a transfer path for supplying game balls to the gaming machine 2 and the game medium lending machine 3.

The overflow rail 22 is provided at a position away from the supply rail 21, and, like the supply rail 21, descends from the portion where the island tank 20 is located toward the longitudinal end of the gaming machine island 1. It has become. The overflow rail 22 is a member for forming a transport path for transporting game balls that have reached a certain amount in the island tank 20.
More specifically, the gaming machine island 1 in the present embodiment is provided with two overflow rails 22, one extending toward one end side in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1, and the other being The game machine island 1 extends toward the other end side in the longitudinal direction.

  As described above, the supply rail 21 and the overflow rail 22 form a transport path for transporting the game ball in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) above the gaming machine 2.

The ball removal hose 23 is disposed at a position from the longitudinal end portion of the gaming machine island 1 and forms a conveyance path for conveying the game ball downward. That is, the ball hose 23 is connected to the vicinity of the downstream end of the supply rail 21 and is suspended from the connection portion, and forms a conveyance path extending in the height direction (vertical direction).
The conveyance path formed by the ball removal hose 23 is a conveyance path for forcibly discharging the balls staying on the replenishment rail 21. Normally, the game balls flow inside the ball removal hose 23. There is nothing.

  The overflow hose 24 is also disposed at a position from the longitudinal end portion of the gaming machine island 1 and forms a transport path for transporting the game ball downward. The overflow hose 24 is connected to the vicinity of the downstream end of the overflow rail 22 and is suspended from the overflow rail 22 to form a conveyance path extending in the height direction (vertical direction).

  As described above, the ball removal hose 23 and the overflow hose 24 form a conveyance path for conveying game balls in the vertical direction (vertical direction) on the outer side in the parallel direction of the rows of the gaming machines 2.

The in-island tank 25 is a member that can temporarily store a game ball inside and functions as a storage unit (temporary storage unit) of the game ball.
In the present embodiment, in the gaming machine island 1, a lower side portion located below the gaming machine 2, a position adjacent to one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1, and the other end And the island tank 25 is arranged in each of the adjacent positions.

The outrail 26 is a member that forms a transport path for transporting game balls discharged from the gaming machine 2 (so-called out balls) and game balls discharged from the island tank 25. The outrail 26 is disposed at a lower position than the gaming machine 2 and is installed so as to have a downward slope from the end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 toward the polishing device 27.
In the gaming machine island 1 in the present embodiment, two outrails 26 are provided, one of which extends from one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 toward the polishing device 27 located in the center. One extends from the other end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 toward the polishing device 27 located in the center.

  That is, the outrail 26 forms a conveyance path for conveying the game ball in the horizontal direction (lateral direction) below the gaming machine 2.

  The polishing device 27 is similar to a known one, and is a device that polishes the game ball and removes the adhered dirt. The polishing device 27 is disposed at a lower portion of a portion that is substantially the center in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1 and has a function of transporting the polished game ball to the adjacent lifting device 28.

  The lifting device 28 is the same as that known in the art, and as shown in FIG. 3, the lifting flow path 29 is connected. The lifting device 28 is a device having a function of delivering an upward force to a game ball flowing in from the outside while feeding it to the lifting flow path 29, and the game ball is moved upward via the lifting flow path 29. It has a function to lift to.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lifting flow path 29 is a flow path formed by concentrating a plurality of pipe-like annular members 30 and arranging them in a parallel state.
That is, the pumping flow path 29 includes a plurality of annular members 30, and each annular member 30 extends in parallel with each other in the vertical direction. At this time, the other annular member 30 that is adjacent to the predetermined annular member 30 in the horizontal direction is in contact or in a state of being parallel with a slight gap.

Further, in the lifting flow path 29 of the present embodiment, a bundle member 31 and a box-shaped member are provided at predetermined portions in the extending direction with respect to an aggregate (flow path) formed by a plurality of such annular members 30 being densely formed. 32 is attached.
The bundle member 31 is a member for maintaining the dense state of the annular member 30. In the present embodiment, the bundle member 31 is a plate-like member having insertion holes 31 a through which the annular members 30 are inserted. The insertion hole 31 a is a hole that extends in the vertical direction and extends through the bundle member 31.
The box-shaped member 32 is a box that covers three sides of an assembly (flow path) composed of a plurality of annular members 30, and more specifically, an outer portion in the short direction of the gaming machine island 1 and a gaming machine island. 1 is covered with both side surfaces in the longitudinal direction.

  Here, the island tank 20 which is a characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the island tank 20 is formed by accommodating a tank body 36 capable of temporarily storing game balls inside an external housing 35. More specifically, a part of the internal space of the outer casing 35 is an area for accommodating the tank body 36, and the other space requires other equipment such as a horizontal transfer device (not shown). It is a space to arrange accordingly.

In addition, the horizontal conveyance apparatus here is an apparatus which makes it flow out, giving the force which goes to a conveyance direction with respect to the game ball which flowed in from the outside similarly to what is known. Such a horizontal transfer device is, for example, a device that can be used when transferring game balls from the island tank 20 of the gaming machine island 1 to the island tank 20 of another gaming machine island 1. In addition to this, an auxiliary is provided at a position horizontally separated from the island tank 20 of the gaming machine island 1 (for example, a position above the gaming machine 2 and in the vicinity of the end of the gaming machine island 1 in the longitudinal direction). This is a device that can be used when a tank (not shown) is provided and a game ball is transported from the island tank 20 toward the auxiliary tank.
When such a horizontal transfer device is used, the horizontal transfer device is arranged inside the outer casing 35, and game balls flow into the horizontal transfer device from the tank body 36 (from an overflow ball storage space 74 described later in detail). A transport path for game balls is provided. In addition, a transport path for game balls from the island tank 20 to the island tank 20 of another gaming machine island 1 and a transport path for game balls from the island tank 20 to the auxiliary tank provided on the same gaming machine island 1 are respectively appropriate. Provided. And the game ball which flowed into the horizontal conveyance apparatus from the tank main body 36 will be given the force which goes to a conveyance direction, and will flow out to the conveyance path which goes to another island tank 20 and an auxiliary tank from a horizontal conveyance apparatus.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the tank body 36 includes an outer box portion 40, a flow path fixing member 41 attached to an outer wall portion of the outer box portion 40, and an inner portion accommodated in the outer box portion 40. The storage unit 42 (storage unit) and a tank external channel connection unit 43 (conveyance path connection unit) connected to the internal storage unit 42 are provided.

  The outer box part 40 is a box-like part opened upward, and has a structure including a bottom plate part 47 and four side wall parts 48 that stand from the periphery of the bottom plate part 47 and surround the four sides.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom plate portion 47 is provided with a passage insertion hole 49 that communicates the inside and the outside. The passage insertion hole 49 includes an internal storage portion 42 and a tank external channel connection portion 43. A cylindrical body (which will be described in detail later) formed integrally is inserted. In addition, the inner peripheral surface of the passage insertion hole 49 and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body are in close contact with each other without a gap.

As shown in FIG. 6, each of the two side walls 48 that are opposed to each other among the side walls 48 is provided with an introduction port 50 for introducing a game ball from the outside to the inside of the tank body 36. Yes. The introduction port portion 50 is a notch-like portion extending downward from the upper end of the side wall portion 48, and the shape when viewed from the front (the shape seen from one side in the thickness direction of the side wall portion 48) is a quadrangular shape. Yes. More specifically, the inlet port portion 50 is formed in the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction (the extending direction of the upper side) of the side wall portion 48, which is the upper portion.
In the present embodiment, the introduction port portion 50 is a notch-like portion extending downward from the upper end, but a through hole may be formed slightly below the upper end of the side wall portion 48. That is, the introduction port portion 50 is a portion formed by removing a part of the side wall portion 48 and is a portion for allowing the game ball to pass from the outside to the inside of the tank main body 36.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the flow path fixing member 41 is a member formed by bending a metal plate-like member, and the introduction port portion 50 is disposed outside the outer surface of the side wall portion 48. It is the member attached so that it may cover. Specifically, the flow path fixing member 41 is formed by integrally and continuously forming a pressing plate portion 53 positioned at a central portion in the left-right direction and two mounting plate portions 54 positioned at both end portions in the left-right direction. It has become a member.
In this embodiment, the channel fixing member 41 is fixed to the outside of each of the two opposing side wall portions 48. However, only the channel fixing member 41 on the near side in FIG. A description of the flow path fixing member 41 on the back side in FIG. 4 will be omitted.

  The presser plate portion 53 is a vertical plate-like portion having a square shape when viewed from the front.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mounting plate portion 54 is a portion extending in the vertical direction in a plan view (cross-sectional shape) having a substantially “L” shape. More specifically, the mounting plate portion 54 has a structure including a mounting plate piece 54a having a vertically long shape when viewed from the front, and a connecting plate piece 54b substantially orthogonal to the mounting plate piece 54a.
The connecting plate piece 54b is a portion formed by bending the inner end portion in the left-right direction of the mounting plate piece 54a forward, and forward from the mounting plate piece 54a (in a direction away from the side wall 48). It can be said that it is a protruding part. That is, the connecting plate piece 54b is located between the holding plate portion 53 and the mounting plate piece 54a, the base end side thereof is continuous with the inner end portion in the left-right direction of the mounting plate piece 54a, and the protruding end side thereof is pressed down. The plate portion 53 is in a state of being continuous with the outer end portion in the left-right direction.

  Therefore, the passage insertion for inserting the lifting passage 29 into the region behind the pressing plate portion 53 (on the side wall 48 side from the pressing plate portion 53) and between the two connecting plate pieces 54b. A space 55 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the internal storage part 42 and the tank external flow path connection part 43 are respectively a first bottomless box member 60 (box-like body, first box-like body) and second bottomless box member. It is a part formed by using either one or both of 61 (box-like body, second box-like body). Specifically, in the present embodiment, the internal storage portion 42 is formed by connecting the three first bottomless box members 60 in a state where they are stacked in the vertical direction, and one first bottomless box member 60 is formed. And the two second bottomless box members 61 are connected in a state where they are overlapped in the vertical direction to form the tank external flow path connecting portion 43. That is, each of the internal storage portion 42 and the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is a cylindrical portion formed by superimposing three bottomless box members in the vertical direction and integrating them with a connection fitting (not shown). ing.
In other words, a series of longer cylindrical bodies (rectangular cylindrical bodies) are formed by connecting the internal storage section 42 and the tank external flow path connection section 43 in a state where they are overlapped in the vertical direction. Further, the lower end portion of the cylindrical body is placed on a wooden plate-like body 44 (see FIG. 5, not shown in FIG. 6) protruding from the inner wall surface of the gaming machine island 1. . That is, the opening portion located on the bottom side of the cylindrical body, and the opening portion communicating with the internal space of the cylindrical body is closed by the plate-like body 44 protruding from the inner wall surface of the gaming machine island 1 It has become.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first bottomless box member 60 includes four side wall portions 65, and each side wall portion 65 has a rectangular flat plate shape in an upright posture. The four side wall portions 65 are continuous so as to form a square ring shape. That is, two of the side wall portions 65 are in a state of being opposed to each other, and the other side walls 65 are located at both ends in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the height direction and the thickness direction). The two side wall portions 65 are also spaced apart from each other. In other words, each side wall 65 is continuous in a state in which both end portions in the width direction (the direction orthogonal to the height direction and the thickness direction) are substantially orthogonal to each of the other two side wall portions 65. Thus, the other side wall portion 65 different from the two is separated and opposed.

  In other words, the first bottomless box member 60 has a bottomless box shape (bottomless square box shape) with an open top, and is a member formed to form a rectangular tube shape (tubular shape). . That is, the first bottomless box member 60 has a structure having openings on the upper side and the lower side that communicate the inside and outside. An inner space 66 surrounded by the four side wall portions 65 is formed in the inner portion of the four side wall portions 65. The internal space 66 functions as a space for flowing the game ball downward or storing the game ball.

Here, one of the side wall portions 65 is provided with a speed limiting plate 68 projecting toward the internal space 66 on the inner side surface thereof.
The speed limiting plate 68 protrudes in the direction from the inner side surface of one side wall portion 65 to the other side wall portion 65 of the two side wall portions 65 that are opposed to each other, and more specifically, the other side wall portion 65. It is the direction which goes to the part 65, and protrudes below. In other words, the speed limiting plate 68 protrudes further inward from the inner surface of the side wall portion 65, and protrudes obliquely downward from the base end portion of the inner surface.
From this, the upper surface of the speed limiting plate 68 forms an inclined surface whose height decreases as the distance from the inner surface of the side wall 65 serving as the protruding base end increases. That is, the protruding base end of the speed limiting plate 68 is higher than the protruding end (projecting tip).

The speed limiting plate 68 is in a state in which three surfaces except for the protruding end side among the four side surface portions positioned between the upper surface and the lower surface are continuously or in contact with the inner surfaces of the different side wall portions 65. That is, three sides of the peripheral portion except the protruding end side are in a state of being continuous or in contact with the three consecutive side wall portions 65.
That is, as described above, one side wall portion 65 continuous with the protruding base end of the speed limiting plate 68 is continuous so as to be substantially orthogonal to each of the other two side wall portions 65, and the two side wall portions 65. A speed limiting plate 68 is located between the two. Of the four side surface portions of the speed limiting plate 68, each of the two surfaces that are separated from each other in the direction orthogonal to the projecting direction is in close contact with each of the two side wall portions 65. That is, the speed limiting plate 68 is located between the two side wall portions 65 that are opposed to each other and are in a state as if sandwiched between the two side wall portions 65. In other words, it can be said that the speed limiting plate 68 extends from the inner side surface of one side wall portion 65 to the inner side surface of the other side wall portion 65 of the two side wall portions 65 that are spaced apart from each other.

  Here, assuming that the distance between the inner surface of the side wall 65 serving as the protruding base end of the speed limiting plate 68 and the inner surface of the other side wall 65 facing and separating from the side wall 65 is L, these both surfaces The length l in the horizontal direction of the speed limiting plate 68 that is orthogonal to the length is ½ L or less. That is, the length l of the horizontal component in the protruding direction of the speed limiting plate 68 is ½ L or less.

Thus, the projection surface of the internal space 66 when the first bottomless box member 60 is viewed in plan is divided into a region where the speed limiting plate 68 is located and a region where the speed limiting plate 68 is not located. (See FIG. 7 (c)). In the area where the speed limit plate 68 is located, the game ball cannot fall from the upper end to the lower end (hereinafter also referred to as a speed adjustment area). In the area where the speed limit plate 68 is not located, the game ball is moved from the upper end. It is in a state where it can drop to the lower end (hereinafter also referred to as a free fall region). That is, in the internal space 66, a speed adjustment area where the game ball cannot fall from the upper end to the lower end and a free fall area where the ball can fall are mixed.
In the present embodiment, a speed adjustment region is formed in a portion from the left side in FIG. 7C, and a free fall region is formed in a portion from the right side in FIG. That is, a speed adjustment region is formed in a portion of the projection surface of the internal space 66 closer to one end than the center in the width direction, and a free fall region is formed in a portion closer to the other end. And the area of the part corresponding to a speed adjustment area | region among the projection surfaces of the internal space 66 is smaller than the projection area of the part corresponding to a free fall area | region. In other words, more than half of the projected area of the internal space 66 in plan view corresponds to the free fall region.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the second bottomless box member 61 has substantially the same shape as the first bottomless box member 60, and the replenishment rail 21 (see FIG. ) Is different from the first bottomless box member 60 in that a connecting portion 70 (outlet) is formed. In the following description, the description of the same part as the first bottomless box member 60 is simplified, and the detailed description is omitted.

  The second bottomless box member 61 also includes four side wall portions 65, which are continuous in a square ring shape. That is, the second bottomless box member 61 also has a bottomless box shape with the top opened, and is a member formed to form a rectangular tube shape (tubular shape). Therefore, similarly to the first bottomless box member 60, an inner space 66 surrounded by the four side wall portions 65 is formed in the inner portion of the four side wall portions 65. Furthermore, one of the side wall portions 65 is provided with a speed limiting plate 68 that protrudes toward the internal space 66 on the inner side surface thereof.

  In the second bottomless box member 61, the internal space 66 of the second bottomless box member 61 is formed in the lower part of the other three side wall portions 65 excluding the side wall portion 65 continuous with the protruding base end side of the speed limiting plate 68. And a connecting portion 70 that communicates with the outside. That is, the connecting portion 70 has a communication hole that communicates the inside and the outside of the second bottomless box member 61, and the opening portion of the connecting portion 70 is one side wall portion 65 and the other side that is substantially orthogonal to the side wall portion 65. Extending over the three side wall portions 65 including the two side wall portions 65. The communication hole itself or the communication hole and its peripheral portion function as a connecting portion 70 for connecting an external rail member (a member forming a game ball transport path).

Here, in the present embodiment, the one side wall portion 65 is a side wall portion 65 located at a position facing and separated from the side wall portion 65 continuous with the protruding proximal end side of the speed limiting plate 68. Hereinafter, the side wall portion 65 is also referred to as “reference side wall portion 65”.
In the side wall portion 65 serving as a reference, the lower end side portion is in a state of being missing over the entire region in the width direction (the direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the thickness direction). From this, when the second bottomless box member 61 is viewed from the side (when the second bottomless box member 61 is viewed from the side of the side wall 65 serving as a reference), the lower side portion of the side wall 65 serving as a reference is horizontally long. A square opening is formed.

And in the other two side wall parts 65, it is the state from the side wall part 65 used as a reference | standard, and the periphery of the corner | angular part located from a lower end is missing.
The shape of the missing part formed in each of the two side wall portions 65 is a substantially vertically long rectangular shape in which one of the four corners is rounded. More specifically, when viewed from the outside in the thickness direction of the side wall portion 65, the side wall portion 65 is continuous with the speed limiting plate 68, and the corner portion located on the upper end side has a substantially vertical rectangular shape with rounded corners. ing.
And the missing part of one side wall part 65 and the missing part of the other side wall part 65 are the same shape among the other two side wall parts 65. From this, when these missing portions are viewed from the outside of one side wall 65 (for example, when viewed from the front side of FIG. 8A), they are almost overlapped. In other words, when the missing portions are projected using the plane parallel to the two side wall portions 65 as a projection plane, the projection shapes almost overlap each other.

From the above, in the second bottomless box member 61, as shown in FIG. 8 (b), the speed limiting plate 68 is positioned on one side of the side wall portions 65 that are spaced apart from each other, and the connecting portion 70 is on the other side. It will be in the position. The speed limiting plate 68 and the connecting portion 70 are both provided at positions below the second bottomless box member 61.
That is, the speed limiting plate 68 and the connecting portion 70 are disposed at positions that face each other and are separated from the speed limiting plate 68 in the horizontal direction and continuous with the inner side surface of the side wall 65. The connecting portion 70 is located at a position separated in the orthogonal direction.

  As described above, the internal storage portion 42 of the present embodiment is formed by stacking the three first bottomless box members 60 in the vertical direction and connecting them together. At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the direction of each first bottomless box member 60 is shifted by 90 degrees counterclockwise in plan view (details will be described later).

In the internal reservoir 42, the three first bottomless box members 60 overlap in the vertical direction, and are positioned below and below the four side wall portions 65 of the first bottomless box member 60 positioned above. Each of the four side wall portions 65 of the first bottomless box member 60 is positioned. And the outer side surfaces of the side wall part 65 which overlaps in an up-down direction form the same surface, and the inner side surfaces are also in the state which formed the same surface.
That is, each of the three first bottomless box members 60 has a front side wall 65, a right side wall 65, a back side wall 65, and a left side wall 65. Then, the three side wall portions 65 on the front side overlap each other in the vertical direction, and the outer side surfaces are in the same state. Similarly, the three right side wall parts 65, the three back side wall parts 65, and the three left front side wall parts 65 are also overlapped in the vertical direction, and their outer surfaces form the same surface. doing.
From this, the three first bottomless box members 60 are as if they were one bottomless box with a large volume, forming a single large cylindrical body. That is, three side wall portions 65 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction form a set, and form one side wall of the internal storage portion 42.

  Therefore, the internal space 66 of the three first bottomless box members 60 also forms an integral space in the inner portion of the internal storage portion 42. That is, a space formed by three internal spaces 66 arranged in parallel in the vertical direction and integrally formed inside the four side walls of the annular inner storage portion 42 is formed. That is, the inner side surfaces of the side wall portions 65 that overlap in the vertical direction also form the same surface on the inner side of the inner storage portion 42.

Here, as described above, the directions of the three first bottomless box members 60 are shifted by 90 degrees in plan view.
Specifically, each of the first bottomless box members 60 has a side wall portion 65 on the front side, a right side wall portion 65, a side wall portion 65 on the back side, and a side wall portion 65 on the left side. It is in a continuous state in the circumferential direction.
The uppermost first bottomless box member 60 is in a state in which the speed limiting plate 68 protrudes from the inner side surface of the side wall portion 65 located on the right side, and the first bottomless box member 60 located second from the top. The bottom box member 60 is in a state in which the speed limiting plate 68 protrudes from the inner surface of the side wall portion 65 located on the back side. Further, the first bottomless box member 60 located at the lowest position has a speed limiting plate 68 protruding from the side wall portion 65 located on the left side.

That is, the side wall 65 where the speed limiting plate 68 continues in the first bottomless box member 60 located at the uppermost position, and the side wall where the speed limiting plate 68 continues in the first bottomless box member 60 positioned second from the top. The portion 65 is disposed at a position shifted by 90 degrees in the circumferential direction in plan view. Then, the side wall portion 65 where the speed limiting plate 68 continues in the first bottomless box member 60 located second from the top, and the speed limiting plate 68 continues in the first bottomless box member 60 positioned third from the top. The side wall portion 65 is disposed at a position shifted 90 degrees in the circumferential direction in plan view. In other words, in the first bottomless box member 60 positioned above and the first bottomless box member 60 positioned directly below, the position of the side wall portion 65 where the speed limiting plate 68 continues is 90 in the circumferential direction in plan view. It is in a state shifted by degrees.
Thus, in the internal storage part 42, with respect to the upper first bottomless box member 60, the position of the speed limiting plate 68 is shifted in the circumferential direction of the first bottomless box member 60 located immediately below the first bottomless box member 60. Are arranged so as to overlap. Furthermore, when the plurality of first bottomless box members 60 are arranged in the vertical direction, these are arranged so that the position of the speed limiting plate 68 is shifted in the circumferential direction as it goes downward.

As described above, the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is formed by superimposing one first bottomless box member 60 and two second bottomless box members 61 in the vertical direction and connecting them together. Has been. That is, as shown in FIG. 10, the second bottomless box member 61, the first bottomless box member 60, and the second bottomless box member 61 are arranged in this order from the top, and these are connected together. It has become.
This tank external flow path connection portion 43 is different from the internal storage portion 42 in that the second bottomless box member 61 is disposed on the upper end side and the lower end side. In the following description, the description of the same part as the internal storage part 42 is simplified, and the detailed description is omitted.

Also in the tank external channel connection part 43 of the present embodiment, each of the four side wall parts 65 of the first bottomless box member 60 is positioned below each of the four side wall parts 65 of the second bottomless box member 61. Thus, each of the four side wall portions 65 of the second bottomless box member 61 is located below each of the four side wall portions 65 of the first bottomless box member 60. And the side wall part 65 of the near side of the tank outside flow path connection part 43 is formed because it becomes the state which the side wall part 65 of the near side side overlapped in the up-down direction.
Similarly, the right side wall, the back side wall, and the left side wall of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 are also formed by the three side wall portions 65 overlapping in the vertical direction.

  The internal space of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is also a space in which the internal spaces 66 of the three bottomless box members (one first bottomless box member 60 and two second bottomless box members 61) are continuous. Is forming. That is, a state in which three internal spaces 66 are arranged in parallel in the vertical direction inside the four side walls of the tank external flow path connecting portion 43 that is annularly continuous, and a large space extending in the vertical direction is formed by continuous integration. It has become.

Also in the tank external flow path connecting portion 43, the bottomless box member positioned directly below the bottomless box member is arranged so that the position of the speed limiting plate 68 is shifted in the circumferential direction. Yes. Furthermore, when a plurality of bottomless box members are arranged in the vertical direction, they are arranged so that the position of the speed limiting plate 68 is shifted in the circumferential direction as it goes downward.
In the present embodiment, the uppermost second bottomless box member 61 is in a state in which the speed limiting plate 68 protrudes from the inner surface of the side wall portion 65 located on the right side, and is located second from the top. The first bottomless box member 60 is in a state in which the speed limiting plate 68 protrudes from the inner side surface of the side wall portion 65 located on the front side. Further, the second bottomless box member 61 located at the lowest position has a speed limiting plate 68 protruding from the side wall portion 65 located on the left side.
That is, the position of the side wall portion 65 continuous with the speed limiting plate 68 of the internal storage portion 42 is shifted by 90 degrees counterclockwise in plan view as it goes downward (see FIG. 9 and the like). In the outer flow path connecting portion 43, the position of the side wall portion 65 continuous with the speed limiting plate 68 is shifted by 90 degrees clockwise in plan view as it goes downward.

Here, in the tank outer flow path connecting portion 43, the upper side is located near the lower end of the uppermost second bottomless box member 61, that is, in a portion located slightly below the upper end of the tank outer flow path connecting portion 43. The connecting portion 70 is located. Further, the lower connecting portion 70 is located in the vicinity of the lower end of the second bottomless box member 61 located at the lowermost position, that is, in the vicinity of the lower end of the tank external flow path connecting portion 43. The tank external flow path connecting portion 43 has a structure including two connecting portions 70, with one being positioned on the upper side and the other positioned on the lower side.

  The upper connecting portion 70 is open toward one side in the left-right direction (left side in FIG. 10), and the lower connecting portion 70 is the other side in the left-right direction (right side in FIG. 10). It is open toward. That is, the two connecting portions 70 at different heights are in a state of opening in directions opposite to each other in the left-right direction.

  Next, the mounting structure and assembly structure of the tank body 36 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tank body 36 is installed in a state where the upper end portion of the pumping passage 29 is fixed to the side wall portion 48 of the outer box portion 40.
That is, the upper end portion of the lifting flow path 29 is positioned outside the introduction port portion 50, and the flow path fixing member 41 is positioned further outside. At this time, the mounting plate portion 54 of the flow path fixing member 41 is fixed integrally with the side wall portion 48 being in close contact, and the space surrounded by the pressing plate portion 53 of the flow path fixing member 41 and the two mounting plate portions 54. Next, the upper end portion of the feed channel 29 is positioned. More specifically, the upper end portion of the lifting flow path 29 is positioned such that the upper end portion of the lifting flow path 29 is positioned lower than the upper end portion of the pressing plate portion 53.
By doing so, the pumping flow path 29 is fixed to the side wall 48 of the outer box 40 by the flow path fixing member 41.

  In the tank body 36, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the cylindrical body formed by integrating the internal storage portion 42 and the tank external flow path connection portion 43 communicates the inside and outside of the outer box portion 40. It is in a fixed state.

  At this time, the internal storage part 42 is in a state located in the internal space of the outer box part 40. And as FIG. 6 shows, each side surface of the two side wall parts 48 in which the inlet part 50 was provided among the side wall parts 48 of the outer box part 40 is among the side wall parts of the internal storage part 42. It is in the state which contacted each of the outer surface of two side wall parts. Each of the inner side surfaces of the other two side wall portions 48 of the outer box portion 40 and each of the outer side surfaces of the other two side wall portions of the inner storage portion 42 are spaced apart from each other.

More specifically, the two side wall portions 48 provided with the introduction port portion 50 are in a state of facing each other as described above. Therefore, the inner side surfaces of the side wall portions 48 that face each other and the outer peripheral surfaces of the two side wall portions of the inner storage portion 42 that face and face each other in the same direction are in close contact with each other.
Here, the other two side wall portions 48 of the outer box portion 40 are also in a state of being opposed to each other in a different direction from the two side wall portions 48 provided with the introduction port portion 50. Therefore, one inner side surface of the other side wall portion 48 that is opposed to and spaced from the other side wall portion and one outer side surface of the two side wall portions of the inner storage portion 42 that are spaced and opposed in the same direction are arranged with a space therebetween. An overflow ball storage space 74 is formed between them. Further, the other inner side surface of the other side wall portion 48 facing and separating and the other outer side surface of the two side wall portions of the inner storage portion 42 facing and separating in the same direction are also arranged with a space therebetween. An overflow ball storage space 74 is formed between them.

  That is, two overflow ball storage spaces 74 are formed in the inner portion of the outer box portion 40. The overflow ball storage space 74 is a space formed between the inner side surface of the side wall portion 48 of the outer box portion 40 and the outer side surface of the side wall portion of the inner storage portion 42. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, the two overflowing ball storage spaces 74 are formed on the outer sides of the inner storage part 42 in the left-right direction and at positions adjacent to the outer side of the inner storage part 42. Yes. In other words, the two overflow ball storage spaces 74 are arranged at intervals in the left-right direction, and the internal storage portion 42 is located between the two overflow ball storage spaces 74. That is, the inner part of the outer box part 40 is partitioned into a part where the internal storage part 42 is located and a part where each of the two overflowing ball storage spaces 74 is located.

Further, the lower part of the cylindrical body formed by the internal storage part 42 and the tank external flow path connection part 43, that is, substantially all the part of the tank external flow path connection part 43 is below the bottom plate part 47 of the outer box part 40. It is in a position. That is, the tank external flow path connecting portion 43 is located at the inner side of the passage insertion hole 49 (see FIG. 5 etc.) formed in the bottom plate portion 47 with a slight portion on the upper end side, and almost all other portions are outside. It is located outside the box part 40. And almost all the portions of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 are arranged in such a manner as to protrude downward from the bottom plate portion 47 of the outer box portion 40.
In the present embodiment, substantially all portions except the upper end side portion of the tank outer flow path connection portion 43 are positioned below the bottom plate portion 47 of the outer box portion 40. The portion may be positioned below the bottom plate portion 47. That is, the lower end portion of the internal storage portion 42 is positioned instead of the structure in which the upper end side portion of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is arranged inside the passage insertion hole 49 (see FIG. 5 and the like) formed in the bottom plate portion 47. It is good also as a structure.

Here, as shown in FIG. 5, an inclined surface having a downward slope toward the outside in the left-right direction is formed on the bottom side portion of the overflow ball storage space 74. That is, on the upper surface of the bottom plate portion 47 of the outer box portion 40 and on the portion facing the overflow ball storage space 74, an inclined surface whose height decreases toward the outside is formed.
And in the side wall part 48 of the outer box part 40, the part located in the vicinity of the lower end of this inclined surface is provided with the circulation hole which connects the overflow ball storage space 74 and the exterior. This flow hole or the flow hole and its peripheral portion function as a transport path connecting portion for connecting an external rail member (a member that forms a transport path for game balls). That is, it functions as an overflow rail connecting portion for connecting the upstream end of the overflow rail 22.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 5, two overflow rails 22 are connected to the outer box part 40, and each overflow rail 22 is formed on the side wall part 48 of the outer box part 40. The overflow ball storage space 74 is continuous through the circulation hole. Thus, the game balls stored in the overflow ball storage space 74 can flow out to the overflow rail 22.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the upstream ends of different supply rails 21 are connected to the connecting portions 70 formed in the tank external flow path connection portions 43, respectively. That is, each replenishment rail 21 is continuous with the inside of the tank external flow path connecting portion 43 via the connecting portion 70. Thus, the game ball can flow out from the tank external flow path connection portion 43 to the supply rail 21.
As described above, the two connecting portions 70 are open in directions opposite to each other in the left-right direction. In other words, each connecting portion 70 is open toward the extending direction of the transport path (supply rail 21) to be connected.

  Next, in the gaming machine island 1 of the present embodiment, the flow of game balls when circulating game balls inside will be described in detail.

  In the gaming machine island 1 of the present embodiment, the above-described transport paths and devices are provided inside, thereby collecting the game balls discharged from the gaming machine 2 and playing the games to the gaming machine 2 and the gaming medium lending machine 3. Sphere supply is possible.

Specifically, with reference to FIG. 2, the game balls discharged from the gaming machine 2 are structured to be introduced into the outrail 26 directly or through the inside of the island tank 25. At this time, the game ball that has flowed to the lower end of the outrail 26 flows into the polishing device 27, is polished by the polishing device 27, and then flows into the lifting device 28.
Subsequently, the game ball that has flowed into the inside of the lifting device 28 flows into the lifting channel 29 while being given an upward force by the lifting device 28, and the island tank 20 from the upper end side of the lifting channel 29. It will flow into the tank main body 36. Then, the game balls temporarily stored in the tank main body 36 are supplied to the respective game machines 2 and game medium lending machines 3 through the supply rails 21.
Thus, inside the gaming machine island 1, a circulation path for circulating the game balls via the gaming machine 2 is formed, and the game balls can be circulated.

  Here, when the game balls are caused to flow into the island tank 20 from the lifting flow path 29, an amount of game balls exceeding the storable amount of the island tank 20 may flow in. Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the storage amount of the island tank 20 exceeds a certain level, an excess amount of game balls are introduced into the island tank 25 via the overflow rail 22 and the overflow hose 24. Yes. In other words, a structure in which excess game balls are allowed to flow from the island tank 20 into the island tank 25 can prevent the game balls from overflowing from the island tank 20.

  Hereinafter, a series of flows when the game ball is caused to flow into the island tank 20 from the transporting passage 29 and the game ball is caused to flow out from the island tank 20 to the supply rail 21, and the game balls exceeding the storable amount are transferred to the island tank 20. A series of flows at the time of flowing out from the overflow rail 22 will be described in detail.

First, when a game ball is caused to flow into the island tank 20 from the lifting channel 29, the gaming ball flows into the tank body 36 from the upper end portion of the lifting channel 29. In other words, inside the external housing 35, the pumping flow path 29 is fixed to the tank body 36 as described above. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 11, the game ball flows into the outer box portion 40 from the upper end portion of the pumping flow path 29 through the introduction port portion 50.
At this time, as described above, the inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 48 of the outer box portion 40 in which the inlet port portion 50 is formed and the outer peripheral surface of the side wall portion of the inner storage portion 42 are in close contact with each other. The upper end opening of the internal reservoir 42 is located below the portion located slightly inside the portion 50. For this reason, the game ball that has dropped from the introduction port portion 50 to the inside of the outer box portion 40 flows into the inner storage portion 42 as it is.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, the game ball that has flowed into the internal storage portion 42 falls inside the cylindrical body formed integrally with the internal storage portion 42 and the tank external flow path connection portion 43. To go.
Here, in the internal space of this cylindrical body, as described above, the speed limiting plates 68 protruding inward from the inner side surface are provided at a plurality of locations separated in the vertical direction, The speed limiting plate 68 is inclined downward. For this reason, the game ball falling inside the cylindrical body collides with the upper surface of the speed limiting plate 68, rolls on the upper surface of the speed limiting plate 68, flows downward, and the lower end portion of the inclined surface that becomes the upper surface of the speed limiting plate 68 Fall further down.

  That is, a game ball that falls inside the cylindrical body formed by the internal storage portion 42 and the tank external flow path connection portion 43 collides with the speed limit plate 68 during the fall and rolls on the upper surface of the speed limit plate 68. Thereafter, the falling speed of the game ball can be reduced by dropping further downward. As a result, the game balls that have fallen vigorously are damaged on the lower side of the cylindrical body and collide with the inner surface of the side wall 65 and other game balls, etc. It is possible to prevent breakage of the body, breakage of the conveyance path connected to the cylindrical body, breakage of the game ball, and the like.

Here, in this cylindrical body, as described above, the position of the speed limiting plate 68 is shifted in the circumferential direction as it goes downward. In other words, the speed limiting plates 68 are arranged such that the overlapping portions of the speed limiting plates 68 in plan view are reduced as much as possible. From this, when the internal space of the cylindrical body is viewed in plan, one of the speed limiting plates 68 is located in all other areas except for a slight area on the center side.
As described above, when the structure in which the area where the speed limit plate 68 is not located when viewed in plan is reduced, the game ball flowing from the upper end of the cylindrical body can easily collide with the speed limit plate 68. That is, the game ball collides with the speed limiting plate 68 even if the game ball falls downward at any portion except the center side of the internal space.

  In the present embodiment, the game ball flows in from the position from the peripheral portion of the upper end opening of the cylindrical body (see FIG. 11), so the game ball inevitably falls from the side wall portion 65. It will be. This makes it possible to cause the game ball to collide with one of the speed limiting plates 68 more reliably during the fall. In other words, the structure is such that the speed of the game ball falling more reliably can be moderated.

Thus, when the game ball flows into the cylindrical body, as shown in FIG. 13, it reaches the second bottomless box member 61 located on the lowermost side, and the second bottomless box member 61. Flows into the supply rail 21 connected to the second bottomless box member 61. Then, the game ball that has flowed into the supply rail 21 is in a state of being positioned on (or inside) the supply rail 21 until it is supplied to the gaming machine 2.
That is, if game balls continue to flow into the supply rail 21, a large number of game balls wait on the supply rail 21 (or inside), and a new game ball cannot flow into the supply rail 21. It becomes.

  In a state where a new game ball cannot flow into the supply rail 21 connected to the lower end side of the cylindrical body, when the game ball further flows into the cylindrical body, the game ball is accumulated on the lower end side of the cylindrical body. It will be in a state (see FIG. 14 etc.). That is, as described above, since the lower end opening portion of the cylindrical body is closed by the plate-like body 44 protruding from the inner wall surface of the gaming machine island 1, the second bottomless box located at the lowest end side. Game balls are stored inside the member 61.

  When the game balls are stored as they are, as shown in FIG. 14, the inside of the second bottomless box member 61 located on the lowermost side, the first bottomless box member 60 located second from the bottom. The game balls are stored in order from the inside of the bottomless box member located on the lower side, such as inside.

When the height of the game balls stored and stacked inside the cylindrical body reaches the height of the connecting portion 70 located above, the game balls flow into the upper supply rail 21 continuous with the connecting portion 70. To go.
That is, when the game ball continues to flow into the cylindrical body, the inside of the second bottomless box member 61 located on the lowermost side and the inside of the first bottomless box member 60 located second from the bottom Is filled with game balls. That is, the uppermost end portion of the stacked game balls is gradually moved upward, and the uppermost end portion reaches the inside of the second bottomless box member 61 located third from the bottom. To reach. In this state, when the game ball further flows into the cylindrical body, the game ball flows into the supply rail 21 (upper supply rail 21) continuous with the second bottomless box member 61. .

  Even in the upper supply rail 21, if the game ball continues to flow, the game ball waits on (or inside) the supply rail 21, and a new game ball cannot flow into the supply rail 21. In this state, the game ball continues to flow into the cylindrical body, so that the inside of the second bottomless box member 61 located third from the bottom is filled with the game ball. That is, the inside of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is filled with the game ball.

  In this way, when the game ball continues to flow into the tubular body in a state where the game ball is filled in the tank external flow path connection portion 43, as shown in FIG. Also filled with game balls. That is, the inside of the first bottomless box member 60 located at the lowermost end, the inside of the first bottomless box member 60 located second from the bottom, the first bottomless box member 60 located third from the bottom. Game balls are stored in order. That is, in the internal storage part 42, as with the tank external flow path connection part 43, the game balls are stored in order from the inside of the bottomless box member located on the lower side.

And, as the game ball continues to flow, the state where the game ball is filled up to the upper end of the internal storage portion 42, that is, the cylindrical body formed by connecting the internal storage portion 42 and the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is connected. All of the internal space is filled with game balls.
When a game ball further flows in this state, the game ball overflows from the internal storage portion 42 (cylindrical body), and the overflowing game ball flows into the overflow ball storage space 74. That is, when the game balls are filled in the internal storage part 42 and no more game balls can flow into the internal storage part 42, the game balls that have flowed into the tank main body 36 are overflowed ball storage space 74. To flow into.

  The game ball that has flowed into the overflow ball storage space 74 reaches the inclined surface located at the lower end portion thereof, rolls on the inclined surface, and then overflows through the communication hole located near the downstream end of the inclined surface. It flows into the rail 22.

  As described above, in the island tank 20 of this embodiment, it is possible to temporarily store game balls, supply game balls to the supply rail 21, and supply excess game balls to the overflow rail 22. Yes.

In such an island tank 20 of this embodiment, the amount of game balls stored can be varied by varying the number and combination of bottomless box members constituting the internal reservoir 42 and the tank external flow path connection 43. Alternatively, the height of the connecting portion 70 can be varied.
More specifically, in the above-described embodiment, the three first bottomless box members 60 are overlapped in the vertical direction and integrally connected to form the internal storage portion 42. When the 1 bottomless box member 60 is formed by overlapping in the vertical direction, it is possible to increase the amount of game balls that can be stored more than the internal storage portion 42 described above. On the other hand, if two or less first bottomless box members 60 are overlapped in the vertical direction, the amount of game balls that can be stored can be reduced as compared with the internal storage portion 42 described above.
That is, a game in which the internal storage part 42 can be stored by configuring the internal storage part 42 by one or more bottomless box members and making the number of bottomless box members constituting the internal storage part 42 variable. It is possible to increase or decrease the amount of spheres (the maximum storage amount of the internal storage unit 42).

In addition, as shown in FIG. 16, the tank external flow path connection portion 143 is formed by four bottomless box members, and the first bottomless box member 60, the first bottomless box member 60, and the second bottomless box are formed from above. It is assumed that the member 61 and the second bottomless box member 61 are positioned. When the tank external flow path connection part 143 is formed in this way, the position of the connection part 70 located above and the position of the connection part 70 located below are compared with the above-described tank external flow path connection part 43 (see FIG. 2). Each can be lowered.
Here, the connecting portion 70 is a portion that connects the upstream end of the supply rail 21 as described above. Therefore, by forming the tank external flow path connecting portion 143 so that the connecting portion 70 is at the low position, the upstream end position of the supply rail 21 can be arranged at the low position. It becomes possible to make the inclination angle of the gradual.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 16, when the number of gaming machines 2 arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 101 is reduced, the length in the extending direction of the supply rail 21 is also shortened. It is desirable to loosen. If the inclination angle of the supply rail 21 is made gentle in this way, the height dimension of the supply rail 21 can be made smaller than when the inclination angle of the supply rail 21 is a steep angle. That is, when the installation area of the supply rail 21 is secured inside the gaming machine island 101, it is not necessary to secure a wide area in the height direction, and the installation flexibility of various members including the supply rail 21 can be improved. . In other words, the supply rail 21 and other members can be installed without increasing the overall height of the gaming machine island 101 more than necessary.

On the contrary, when the number of gaming machines 2 arranged in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island increases, the distance in the extending direction of the supply rail 21 also increases, so that the game balls that roll on the supply rail 21 flow smoothly due to their own weight. In view of this, it is preferable that the inclination angle of the supply rail 21 is a steep angle.
For example, the tank external flow path connecting portion is formed by the two second bottomless box members 61, and the two second bottomless box members 61 are connected in the vertical direction (not shown). In this case, this tank external flow path connection part can raise the position of the connection part 70 located below compared with the above tank external flow path connection part 43 (refer FIG. 2). That is, the inclination angle of the replenishment rail 21 located below can be made a steep angle.

As described above, in the island tank 20 of the present embodiment, the number of bottomless box members constituting the tank external flow path connecting portion is variable, or the bottomless box member (second bottomless box member provided with the connecting portion 70) is provided. 61), the arrangement height of the connecting portion 70 can be varied.
This makes it possible to change the arrangement height of the upper end portion of the supply rail 21 (change the inclination angle of the supply rail 21).

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the two overflow ball storage spaces 74 are provided in the island tank 20 and the overflow rails 22 are connected to each other is shown. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, as shown in FIG. 16, the island tank 120 (storage tank, upper tank) may be provided with one overflow ball storage space 74, and the overflow rail 22 may be connected to the overflow ball storage space 74. .

  That is, as shown in FIG. 17A, the outer side surfaces of the three side wall portions of the internal storage portion 42 and the inner side surfaces of the three side wall portions of the outer box portion 140 are in separate contact with each other. There may be. That is, the internal storage part 42 may be arranged so as to be unevenly distributed on one side (left side) in the left-right direction, and the overflow ball storage space 74 may be formed only on the other side in the left-right direction. At this time, the introduction port portion 50 formed in the side wall portion of the outer box portion 140 may also be formed at a position shifted to one side in the left-right direction. That is, the vertical and horizontal positions of the inlet port 50 may be changed as appropriate.

As another example, as shown in FIG. 17B, the outer surface of one side wall portion of the inner storage portion 42 and the inner side surface of one side wall portion of the outer box portion 141 are in contact with each other, and the inner storage portion is stored. The other three side wall portions of the portion 42 and the other three side wall portions of the outer box portion 141 may be formed to be separately spaced from each other. At this time, the introduction port portion 50 may be formed only on one side wall portion of the outer box portion 141. That is, the structure may be such that the game ball is allowed to flow only from the front (downward in FIG. 17B).
By doing in this way, the overflow ball storage space 174 surrounding three sides of the internal storage part 42 will be formed. That is, the shape in plan view is a “concave” shape that is upside down, and one overflow ball storage space 174 that extends across the left side, the back side, and the right side is formed.

In the above-described embodiment, the bottom-out box member is combined in the vertical direction to form the tank external flow path connection portion 43, and the tank external flow path connection portion 43 protrudes from the internal wall surface of the gaming machine island 1. Although an example in which the lower end opening of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is blocked is shown, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the lower-end opening may be closed by forming the tank external flow path connection portion 43 in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment and integrally fixing a plate-like member separately formed at the lower end portion thereof. In this case, the plate-like body 44 protruding from the inner wall surface of the gaming machine island 1 does not have to be positioned below the entire area of the lower end opening of the tank external flow path connection portion 43. By contacting at least a part of the bottom side portion (surface located on the lower end side) of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 with the plate-like body 44 protruding from the internal wall surface of the gaming machine island 1, the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is It only has to be supported.

Further, the tank external flow path connecting portion 43 is not placed on the wooden plate 44 protruding from the inner wall surface of the gaming machine island 1 but is disposed on a metal plate or metal fitting fixed to the inner wall surface of the gaming machine island 1. It may be a structure. In this case, the bottom side portion of the tank external flow path connecting portion 43 only needs to be installed on the metal plate or metal fitting.
Further, when the lower end opening of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is closed with a plate-like member or the like, a part of the L-shaped metal fitting fixed integrally to the side surface or the like of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 The structure located below may be sufficient. That is, the linearly extending portion of the L-shaped metal fitting is fixed to the outside of the side wall portion of the tank external flow path connection portion 43, and the bent and extended portion is fixed to the lower side of the bottom side portion of the tank external flow path connection portion 43. It may be a structure. In this case, it suffices that at least a part of the bottom side portion of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is placed on the metal fitting.

In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the internal storage portion 42 and the tank external flow path connection portion 43 are formed by the first bottomless box member 60 and the second bottomless box member 61 provided with the speed limiting plate 68 has been shown. The invention is not limited to this.
For example, as shown in FIG. 18, a part or all of the internal reservoir 42 is configured by the third bottomless box member 62 (box-like body, first box-like body) that does not include the speed limiting plate 68, A part of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 may be configured. The third bottomless box member 62 has the same structure as the first bottomless box member 60 except that the speed limiting plate 68 is not formed.
Similarly, except that the speed limiting plate 68 is not provided, a fourth bottomless box member (a box-like body, a second box-like body, not shown) having the same structure as the second bottomless box member 61 is used. A part or all of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 may be configured. In other words, a part or all of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 may be configured by a bottomless box member in which the connecting portion 70 is formed with respect to the third bottomless box member 62.
The third bottomless box member 62 and the fourth bottomless box member (not shown) are not formed with the speed limiting plate 68, and therefore the first bottomless box member 60 and the second bottomless box member 61 are not formed. There is an advantage that the amount of game balls that can be stored inside can be increased. However, as described above, from the viewpoint of reducing the speed of the falling game ball, the internal storage portion is used by using the first bottomless box member 60 or the second bottomless box member 61 provided with the speed limiting plate 68. 42 and the tank external flow path connection portion 43 are preferably formed.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the tank external flow path connection portion 43 is formed by stacking bottomless box members in the vertical direction is shown, but the present invention is not limited to this.
A structure may be used in which the tank external flow path connection portion is formed by combining a bottomless box member (box-shaped body) and a bottomed box member (box-shaped body). That is, the bottom plate portion is formed integrally with each of the above-described bottomless box members (the first bottomless box member 60, the second bottomless box member 61, the third bottomless box member 62, the fourth bottomless box member). The bottomed box member may constitute a part or all of the lower end portion of the tank external channel connection portion.

Moreover, although the example which forms the tank external flow path connection part 43 provided with the two connection parts 70 was shown in above-described embodiment, this invention is not limited to this.
For example, one second bottomless box member 61 and one or more first bottomless box members 60 may be combined to form an external tank flow path connection portion and include only one connection portion 70. That is, a structure in which only one replenishment rail 21 is connected to the tank external channel connection portion may be employed.
Although not particularly limited, for example, when the island tank 20 is arranged on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island, it is desirable to form such a tank external flow path connection portion.

In the first bottomless box member 60 and the second bottomless box member 61 described above, one of the four side portions of the speed limiting plate 68 is continuous with the side wall portion 65, and the other two are different from each other. Although an example in which the side wall portion 65 is in close contact is shown, the present invention is not limited to this.
The three side surface portions of the speed limiting plate 68 may be integrally continuous with three different side wall portions 65. In addition, even if two side surface portions are integrally continuous with two different side wall portions 65 and another side surface portion is in close contact with another side wall portion 65 that is different from the two side wall portions 65. Good. In other words, it is sufficient that one or more side portions are integrally continuous with the side wall portion 65.

In the second bottomless box member 61 described above, an example is shown in which the speed limiting plate 68 is spaced apart from the continuous side wall portion 65 in the horizontal direction, and the connecting portion 70 is provided at the portion from the lower end. The invention is not limited to this.
For example, two or more speed limiting plates 68 may be provided on one bottomless box member (or box member). Specifically, two or more speed limiting plates 68 that are continuous with each of the two or more side wall portions 65 may be provided. At this time, the protruding length of the speed limiting plate and the length in the width direction (vertical direction and the direction orthogonal to the protruding direction) may be shortened and arranged at the same height, so that each arrangement height is different. The above speed limiting plate 68 may be provided.
Moreover, you may provide the 2 or more connection part 70 with respect to one bottomless box member (or box member). For example, one connecting portion 70 is provided so that the center is located on one of the two side wall portions 65 facing each other, and the other connecting portion 70 is provided so that the center is located on the other side of the side wall portion 65. Also good. That is, the two connecting portions 70 may be provided so as to be opposed to each other in the left-right direction (or front-rear direction).
At this time, the connecting portion 70 does not extend over the three side wall portions 65 (two or more side wall portions 65), and may be formed on only one side wall portion 65. That is, it is good also as a connection part for forming a notch or a through-hole in a part of side wall part 65, and making it follow with the conveyance path through which a game ball flows. Therefore, the arrangement height of the connecting portion is not limited to the vicinity of the lower end, and the connecting portion may be formed at a position away from the lower end upward. As a matter of course, when separately providing the connecting portions on the plurality of side wall portions 65, that is, when providing the plurality of connecting portions, the arrangement height of each connecting portion may be the same height. You may make it the arrangement | positioning height of a connection part differ.

The above-described bottomless box member (or box member) is a member (a member having a substantially rectangular tube shape) in which the side wall portions 65 are continuous in a square ring shape, but the box member is not limited thereto.
For example, a member in which the side wall portion continues in an annular shape (a round box-like and substantially cylindrical member), a member that continues in a triangular annular shape (a triangular box-like and substantially triangular cylindrical member), and a polygonal annular shape. It may be a member (polygonal box-shaped and substantially polygonal cylindrical member).
In this case, the speed limiting plate may be protruded inward from any part of the inner peripheral surface, and a connecting portion is formed by forming a notch or a through hole communicating with the inside and outside of any part of the outer peripheral surface. May be provided.

As described above, in the island tank 20 of this embodiment, the internal storage portion 42 is formed by one or a plurality of bottomless box members, and the number of bottomless box members constituting the internal storage portion 42 can be varied. It is said.
Furthermore, it is selected from the structural group consisting of only one bottomless box member or bottomed box member, a plurality of bottomless box members, a combination of one or more bottomless box members and one bottomed box member. The tank external flow path connecting portion 43 is formed by the one structure. In addition, the number of bottomless box members constituting the tank external flow path connecting portion 43, the arrangement height of the connecting portion 70, and the orientation of the opening of the connecting portion 70 can be appropriately changed.
And when the internal storage part 42 and the tank external flow path connection part 43 are formed by a plurality of members, a plurality of members constituting these are arranged in the vertical direction, and are integrated by a connection fitting or the like (not shown). It is formed by that.
Accordingly, as described above, the storage amount of the game ball can be varied, and the inclination angle of the conveyance path continuous with the connecting portion 70 can be adjusted.

Here, the island tank 20 can be configured to include the tank external flow path connection portion 243 shown in FIG. 19 instead of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 described above.
The tank external flow path connecting portion 243 includes three second bottomless box members 61 and includes three connecting portions 70. And each of the three connection parts 70 is opening toward a different direction. More specifically, the uppermost connecting portion 70 opens toward the back side (backward in the front-rear direction) in FIG. 19, and the second connecting portion 70 from the top opens toward the left side. The connecting portion 70 located at the lowest position opens toward the right side.
That is, the three connecting portions 70 are open toward each of the left and right directions and one of the front and rear directions. In other words, each of the three connecting portions 70 is open in three different directions in the horizontal direction.

  According to such an on-island tank 20, it is possible to construct a gaming machine island even in the vicinity of a structure of a game hall (building) that cannot originally secure an installation area of the gaming machine island 1.

The gaming machine island 201 of the second embodiment that can be constructed around the structure of such a game arcade will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.
In addition, about the part similar to the above-mentioned game machine island 1, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted. Moreover, the code | symbol of the game machine 2, the game media rental machine 3, the game machine attachment part 4, and the data lamp 14 attaches | subjects a code | symbol only to one part, and abbreviate | omits the code | symbol to others.

  The gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment is also a box-shaped structure whose overall outer shape is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and as shown in FIG. 20, the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 (the parallel direction of the gaming machines 2). It has a structure in which the end plate 207 is located at each of both ends of the. That is, similarly to the gaming machine island 1 described above, the two pawl plates 207 are provided, and these two pawl plates 207 are respectively positioned at both end portions of the gaming machine island 201 in the longitudinal direction in the side wall portion of the gaming machine island 201. It is the member which forms the side wall part to do.

  Here, the gaming machine island 201 of this embodiment has a structure including two islets 202 (a first islet 202a and a second islet 202b, which will be described in detail later). The two small islands 202 are disposed at positions separated from each other in the short direction of the gaming machine island 201 (the direction perpendicular to the parallel direction of the gaming machines 2 in the horizontal direction). Is formed. That is, the structure arrangement space 206 is formed in a portion surrounded by the two end plates 207 and the two small islands 202.

Specifically, in each of the two end plates 207, one end side in the width direction forms the side wall of the first islet portion 202a, the center side in the width direction is located outside the structure arrangement space 206, and the width direction The one end side in is a state in which the side wall of the second small island portion 202b is formed. That is, one of the two end plates 207 forms a side wall portion located at one end in the longitudinal direction of the first and second islets 202a and 202b that are spaced apart, and the other is spaced apart. The side wall part located in the other side edge part in the longitudinal direction of the 1st small island part 202a and the 2nd small island part 202b to be formed is formed.
The structure arrangement space 206, which is a space formed between the two end plates 207 and formed between the two islets 202, is a game that is a structure attached to the game hall. The field pillar 205 is positioned. In other words, the column 205 is located in the structure arrangement space 206 surrounded by the two end plates 207 and the two small islands 202.

Thus, the gaming machine island 201 of this embodiment is formed around the pillar 205 of the game hall, in other words, a space for arranging the pillar 205 is formed in the inner portion. ing.
In the present embodiment, the two pillars 205 are arranged at positions separated from each other in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201.

  In each of the small island portions 202, a top plate 6, a curtain plate 8, a lamp plate 9, a table plate 10, a roof plate 11, It is formed by attaching plate-like members forming outer wall surfaces such as the waist plate 12 and the baseboard 13. That is, each of the small islands 202 is a box-shaped structure whose outer shape is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the side surface located at the end in the longitudinal direction is formed by a part of the end plate 207, and the outer side surface in the upper surface and the lateral direction Are formed by various lamp members, a row of equipment groups (a group of equipment that includes a pair of gaming machines 2 and gaming medium rental machines 3), and a data lamp 14.

  Specifically, in the gaming machine island 1 described above, a row of two device groups is provided, one on each side surface in the short direction, whereas in the small island portion 202, the short direction In this structure, only one device group row is provided on the outer side surface. In other words, a plurality of gaming machines 2 are arranged in parallel only on the outer side surface in the short direction.

More specifically, a row of equipment groups is provided on the outer side portion of both side end portions in the lateral direction, and the inner side portion is open toward the structure arrangement space 206. It has become. That is, the structure arrangement space 206 is located at a position away from the row of equipment groups toward the inside in the short direction of the gaming machine island 201.
That is, in the small island 202, the construction structure of the outer wall portion is substantially the same as that of the gaming machine island 1 described above, and one side surface (inner side surface) in the lateral direction is not constructed, It is different in that it is open to the front. In addition, in the small island part 202 (2nd small island part 202b), the construction structure of an outer wall part also differs in the point which does not provide the island tank 220 (storage tank, upper tank) in addition to this.

Here, the internal structure of the gaming machine island 201, that is, the internal structure of the two islets 202 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 20 and 21, the first small island 202 a has an island tank 220, a supply rail 21, an overflow rail 22, a ball hose 23, an overflow hose 24, an island tank 25, and an outrail 26. A polishing device 27, a lifting device 28, and a lifting flow path 29 are provided.
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 22, the upper storage box 250, the replenishment rail 21, the ball hose 23, the outrail 26, and the lower storage box 260 are respectively provided in the second small island portion 202 b. Is provided.

That is, as a unique configuration of the first small island portion 202a, an island tank 220, an overflow rail 22, an overflow hose 24, an island tank 25, an outrail 26, a polishing device 27, a lifting device 28, and a lifting flow path 29 are provided. The upper storage box 250 and the lower storage box 260 are provided as a specific configuration of the second islet portion 202b.
Thus, the gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment also has a structure including one polishing device 27 and one lifting device 28 as a whole.

  As shown in FIG. 23, between the two islets 202, an upper inter-island flow path 270 (transport path between the small islands) and a lower inter-island flow path 271 (transport path between the small islands) are provided. ing.

  Compared with the above-described island tank 20, the island tank 220 has a structure in which only one overflow ball storage space 74 is provided, and has a structure in which only one lifting passage 29 is connected. Instead of the tank external flow path connection portion 43 (see FIG. 10), the tank external flow path connection portion 243 (see FIG. 19) having three connecting portions 70 opened in three different directions in the horizontal direction is adopted. There are some differences.

  That is, in this island tank 220, the internal reservoir 42 is arranged so as to be unevenly distributed on one side (right side) in the left-right direction, and the overflow ball storage space 74 is formed only on the other side in the left-right direction. The overflow rail 22 is connected to the storage space 74.

  In addition to this, in the present embodiment, of the four side wall portions 48 of the outer box portion 40, the lifting flow path 29 is fixed only to the front side wall portion 48. That is, in the above-described island tank 20, the upper end portions of the two different transporting passages 29 are separately fixed to the two side wall portions 48 that are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, in the gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment, the back side feed channel 29 is not provided, and the upper end portion of the feed channel 29 is fixed only to the side wall portion 48 on the near side.

  And this island top tank 220 has connected the two replenishment rails 21 which are the members for forming a conveyance path to each of the three connection parts 70, and the flow path 270 between upper islets. As a result, the island tank 220 is in a state in which the transport paths of game balls extending in three different directions in the horizontal direction are connected.

The replenishment rail 21 is a member that forms a transport path for transporting game balls toward each gaming machine 2 in the same manner as described above.
In the first islet portion 202a, as shown in FIG. 21, the portion where the island-side tank 220 is located, that is, the vicinity of the approximate center in the longitudinal direction of the first islet portion 202a (the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201), and The first islet portion 202a is provided so as to have a downward slope from the upper end portion toward the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the first islet portion 202a.

More specifically, in the first small island portion 202a, two supply rails 21 are provided, one extending toward one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 1, and the other of the gaming machine island 1 It extends toward the other end side in the longitudinal direction. At this time, the upper end portions of the two supply rails 21 are both connected to the connecting portion 70 of the tank external flow path connecting portion 243.
That is, the upper end portion of one supply rail 21 is one of the three connecting portions 70 of the tank external flow path connecting portion 243 and is connected to the connecting portion 70 that opens toward the left side. . On the other hand, the upper end portion of the other supply rail 21 is another one of the connecting portions 70 of the tank external flow path connecting portion 243, and is connected to the connecting portion 70 that opens toward the right side. It has become.
That is, each of the upper end portions of the two supply rails 21 is separately connected to each of two different connecting portions 70 that are opened separately in the left-right direction.

At this time, one of the two different connecting portions 70 opened separately in the left-right direction is arranged at a higher position than the other connecting portion 70.
From this, the upper end portion of one supply rail 21 (left side in FIG. 21) is positioned higher than the upper end portion of the other (right side in FIG. 21) supply rail 21.

As shown in FIG. 22, the replenishment rail 21 of the second small island part 202b is provided so as to be inclined downward from the portion where the upper storage box 250 is located toward the end in the longitudinal direction of the second small island part 202b. It has been. That is, it is substantially near the center in the longitudinal direction of the second small island 202b (longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201) and from the portion from the upper end of the second small island 202b to the end in the longitudinal direction of the second small island 202b. It extends toward the part.
More specifically, in the second small island portion 202b, two supply rails 21 are provided, one extending toward one end side in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201, and the other of the gaming machine island 201. It extends toward the other end side in the longitudinal direction. At this time, the upper end portions of the two supply rails 21 are both connected to the outflow side rail connecting portion 254 (described later in detail) of the upper storage box 250, and are arranged so as to have the same height. In other words, in the second small island portion 202b, the height of the upper end portions of the two supply rails 21, the length in the transport direction, and the inclination angle are the same (substantially the same).

As shown in FIG. 21, the overflow rail 22 is provided at a position away from one of the two supply rails 21 among the two supply rails 21 provided in the first islet portion 202 a. And the upper end part is connected with the overflow ball storage space 74 of the island tank 220, and the end part in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 from the part where the island tank 220 is located, like the supply rail 21 located below. It has a downward slope toward
The gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment has a structure in which one overflow rail 22 is provided only in the first islet portion 202a which is one of the two islet portions 202. In other words, the overflow rail 22 is provided only between the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction of the first islet portion 202a and the one end portion, and the overflow rail is provided between the approximately central portion in the longitudinal direction and the other end portion. The rail 22 is not provided.

  In the first small island portion 202a, the ball removal hose 23 is connected to the downstream end of the supply rail 21 and the downstream end portion is connected to the island tank 25 in the same manner as the gaming machine island 1 described above. (See FIG. 21). On the other hand, in the second small island portion 202b, as shown in FIG. 22, the upstream end portion is connected to the downstream end of the supply rail 21, and the downstream end portion is connected to the upstream end side of the outrail 26. ing.

As with the gaming machine island 1 described above, the overflow hose 24 has an upstream end portion connected to the vicinity of the downstream end of the overflow rail 22 and a downstream end portion connected to the island tank 25 (see FIG. 21). In other words, it extends in the vertical direction between the downstream portion of the overflow rail 22 and the in-island tank 25.
The gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment has a structure in which one overflow hose 24 is provided only on the first small island portion 202a which is one of the two small island portions 202.

The island tank 25 is the same as that of the gaming machine island 1 described above. In the gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment, the island tank 25 is provided only in the first small island 202a which is one of the two small islands 202. (See FIG. 21).
More specifically, in the first small island portion 202a, the lower end portion located below the gaming machine 2, a position adjacent to one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201, and the other end The island tank 25 is arranged at each of the positions adjacent to the part.

The outrail 26 is the same as that described above, and is arranged on the lower side of the gaming machine 2 and is a transport path for allowing the gaming balls discharged from the gaming machine 2 or the island tank 25 to flow toward a predetermined position. It is a member which forms.
In the first small island 202a, as shown in FIG. 21, two outrails 26 are provided, one of which is directed from the one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 toward the polishing device 27 located in the center. The other extends from the other end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 toward the polishing device 27 located in the center. That is, the end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 serving as the upstream end is disposed at the highest position, and is installed so as to have a downward slope toward the polishing apparatus 27 side.
Here, the upstream end portions of the two outrails 26 of the first small island portion 202a are both connected to the island tank 25 and temporarily stored in the island tank 25. It is possible to allow game balls to flow from the upstream end side. In addition to this, it is also possible to receive the game ball discharged from the gaming machine 2 located above and flow it downstream.

In the second small island 202b, as shown in FIG. 22, two outrails 26 are provided, one of which extends from one end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 to the lower storage box 260 located in the center. The other extends from the other end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 toward the lower storage box 260 located in the center. That is, the outrail 26 of the second small island portion 202b is also arranged with the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 serving as the upstream end at the highest position, and is inclined downward toward the lower storage box 260 side. It is installed as follows.
Here, each downstream end side portion of the two outrails 26 of the second small island portion 202b is connected to an inflow side rail connecting portion 264 (details will be described later) of the lower storage box 260, and the out A game ball can be directly allowed to flow into the lower storage box 260 from the lower end side portion of the rail 26.

The polishing device 27, the lifting device 28, and the lifting flow path 29 are all the same as those of the gaming machine island 1 described above, and in the gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment, of the two small island portions 202. It is provided only in the first small island 202a.
More specifically, the polishing device 27 is disposed at a lower portion of a portion that is substantially in the center in the longitudinal direction of the first small island portion 202a (longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201). 27 is adjacent to the position. And it is in the state where the pumping flow path 29 was connected with the pumping apparatus 28. FIG.
Note that, as described above, the two transport passages 29 are provided in the gaming machine island 1 of the first embodiment, whereas the gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment is provided from the outside of the first small island portion 202a. Only one pumping passage 29 is provided at a position.

The upper storage box 250 is a member provided only in the second islet portion 202b which is the other of the two islet portions 202.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, the bottomed box-shaped member is opened at the top, and includes four side wall portions 251 that are continuous in a square ring shape and a space surrounded by the four side wall portions 251. It has a structure including a bottom plate forming portion 252 that closes the lower portion.

Each of the four side wall portions 251 has a rectangular flat plate shape in an upright posture.
Of the four side walls 251, one side wall 251 has a center side in the width direction (a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and the thickness direction), and an inflow side rail coupling portion 253 is provided at the upper end portion. Yes.

The inflow side rail connecting portion 253 is a cutout portion that extends downward from the upper end of the side wall portion 251, and has a cutout portion that has a square shape when viewed from the front (the shape viewed from one side in the thickness direction). ing. And this notch part itself or a notch part and its peripheral part functions as the inflow side rail connection part 253 for connecting an external rail member (member which forms the conveyance path of a game ball).
In the present embodiment, the inflow side rail coupling portion 253 has a notch portion extending downward from the upper end, but a through hole may be formed slightly below the upper end of the side wall portion 251.

Here, as for the side wall part 251 in which the inflow side rail connection part 253 was formed, the both ends of the width direction are continuing in the state in which the other two side wall parts 251 were substantially orthogonal.
The other two side wall portions 251, that is, the lower end portions of the two side wall portions 251 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction, are each formed with an outflow side rail coupling portion 254.

The outflow side rail connecting portion 254 is a cutout portion extending upward from the lower end of the side wall portion 251, and has a cutout portion in which a side view shape (a shape seen from one side in the thickness direction) is a square shape. ing. And this notch part itself or a notch part and its peripheral part functions as the outflow side rail connection part 254 for connecting an external rail member (member which forms the conveyance path of a game ball).
In the present embodiment, the outflow side rail connecting portion 254 has a structure having a cutout portion extending upward from the lower end, but a through hole may be formed slightly above the lower end of the side wall portion 251.

The bottom plate forming portion 252 is a plate-like member that is bent so that the central portion in the left-right direction is at the highest position (or has a structure having such a plate-like member), and has two on the upper surface. An inclined surface is formed.
More specifically, the two inclined surfaces are inclined from the ridge line extending in the facing direction of the side wall portion 251 in which the inflow side rail coupling portion 253 is formed and the other side wall portion 251 that is spaced apart from the side wall portion 251. It is an inclined surface. These two inclined surfaces are both inclined surfaces that are downwardly inclined toward the left and right end portions, and the lower end portions thereof are continuous with the outflow side rail connecting portion 254.

  Therefore, the game ball that has flowed into the upper storage box 250 from the inflow side rail connecting portion 253 rolls on the inclined surface formed in the bottom plate forming portion 252 and is located near the downstream end of the inclined surface. It will flow out to the outside through the outflow side rail connecting portion 254.

The lower storage box 260 is a member provided only in the second islet portion 202b which is the other of the two islet portions 202.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 25, it is a bottomed box-shaped member that is open at the top, and closes the lower side portion of the space surrounded by the four side wall portions 261 and the four side wall portions 261. The bottom plate forming portion 262 is provided.

  The four side wall portions 261 have two side wall portions 261a in which the shape viewed from the front (the shape viewed from one side in the thickness direction) is substantially “T” -shaped, and the shape viewed from the side (from one side in the thickness direction) 2 side walls 261b having a substantially “concave” shape. All of these four side wall portions 261 are plate-like members in an upright posture.

  Here, the side wall portion 261a located on the near side in FIG. 25 is provided with an outflow side rail coupling portion 263 at the center in the width direction (left-right direction) and located near the lower end.

The outflow side rail coupling part 263 is a through-hole penetrating the side wall part 261a, and has a through-hole whose opening shape is a square shape. That is, it has a structure having a through-hole in which the shape seen from the front (the shape seen from one side in the thickness direction) is a square shape. And this through-hole itself, or a through-hole and its peripheral part functions as the outflow side rail connection part 263 for connecting an external rail member (member which forms the conveyance path of a game ball). In other words, the outflow side rail coupling portion 263 has a structure having a through hole that communicates the inside of the lower storage box 260 (the inner space of a center side recess 262a described later) and the outside.
In addition, although the outflow side rail connection part 263 of this embodiment was set as the structure which has a through-hole which penetrates the side wall part 261a, it is good also as a structure which has a notch part extended upwards from a lower end instead.

Further, both end portions in the width direction of the side wall portion 261a provided with the outflow side rail coupling portion 263 are continuous in a state substantially orthogonal to each of the other two side wall portions 261b.
Here, each of the other two side wall portions 261b is provided with an inflow side rail coupling portion 264 at a portion on the substantially upper side in the width direction (up and down direction) and located on the upper end side. Yes.

  The inflow side rail connecting portion 264 has a notch-like portion extending downward from the upper end of the side wall portion 261b. The notch-like portion has a shape as viewed from the side (in the thickness direction of the side wall portion 261b). The shape seen from one side is a square shape. And this notch-shaped part itself, or a notch-shaped part and its peripheral part functions as the inflow side rail connection part 264 for connecting an external rail member (member which forms the conveyance path of a game ball). .

  The bottom plate forming portion 262 has a structure including a center-side concave portion 262a positioned on the center side in the left-right direction and two bottom-side inclined portions 262b positioned on one end side and the other end side in the left-right direction. . That is, the center side recessed part 262a is located between the two bottom side inclined parts 262b, and these are continuously integrated to form the bottom plate forming part 262.

  The center side recessed part 262a is a part of the bottom part of the lower storage box 260, and forms a recessed part in the bottom part so as to protrude downward from the surroundings. More specifically, it is provided with two standing wall-like portions that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction and a bottom plate-like portion that is positioned between the lower ends of the two standing wall-like portions, and these are formed integrally and continuously. It has become a part.

  The bottom-side inclined portion 262b has an inclined surface formed on the upper surface thereof, extending from the lower end side portion of the side wall portion 261b toward the center side in the left-right direction and decreasing in height toward the center side in the left-right direction. And the lower end part of this inclined surface is in the state which followed the upper end part of the standing wall-like part of the center side recessed part 262a.

  For this reason, the game ball that has flowed into the lower storage box 260 from the inflow-side rail coupling portion 264 rolls on the inclined surface of the bottom-side inclined portion 262b and flows into the center-side recessed portion 262a. And it will flow out outside via outflow side rail connection part 263.

As shown in FIG. 23, the upper inter-island channel 270 is a game ball transport path extending between the two islets 202 from the inside of the first islets 202a to the inside of the second islets 202b. It is a member for forming. That is, the upper inter-island channel 270 forms a transport path for transporting the game balls in the horizontal direction (the short direction of the gaming machine island 201 and the left-right direction in FIG. 23).
More specifically, the upstream end portion of the upper inter-island channel 270 is the direction in which the structure arrangement space 206 is located among the three connecting portions 70 (see FIG. 19 and the like) of the tank outer channel connection portion 243 (game). It is in a state of being connected to the connecting portion 70 that opens toward the inner side in the short direction of the machine island 201, that is, the connecting portion 70 that is located at the uppermost position. The downstream end portion of the upper inter-island channel 270 is connected to the inflow side rail connecting portion 253 of the upper storage box 250.

  Here, the upstream end portion of the upper interisland channel 270 is arranged at a higher position than the downstream end portion, and the upper interisland channel 270 has a downward slope toward the downstream side. Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 23, the lower inter-island channel 271 is a transport path for a game ball extending between the two islets 202a from the inside of the second islets 202b to the inside of the first islets 202a. It is a member for forming. In other words, the lower inter-island channel 271 forms a transport path for transporting the game ball in the horizontal direction (the short direction of the gaming machine island 201 and the left-right direction in FIG. 23).
More specifically, the upstream end portion of the lower interisland channel 271 is connected to the outflow rail connection portion 263 of the lower storage box 260. The lower interisland channel 271 extends toward the polishing device 27 (not shown in FIG. 23, see FIG. 21, etc.) built in the first islet portion 202a.

  Here, the upstream end portion of the lower interisland channel 271 is also arranged at a higher position than the downstream end portion. That is, the lower interisland channel 271 is provided so as to have a downward slope toward the downstream side.

  Subsequently, in the gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment, the flow of the game balls when circulating the game balls inside will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 21, FIG. 22, FIG.

  In the gaming machine island 201 of the present embodiment, the above-described respective flow paths and devices are provided inside, thereby collecting the gaming balls discharged from the gaming machines 2 disposed in the two small island portions 202, and 2 It is possible to supply game balls to the game machines 2 and the game medium lending machines 3 arranged in each of the two islets 202.

  First, the game balls discharged from the gaming machine 2 in the first small island portion 202a are structured to be introduced into the outrail 26 directly or through the inside of the island tank 25 (see FIG. 21). At this time, the game ball that has flowed to the lower end of the outrail 26 flows into the polishing device 27, is polished by the polishing device 27, and then flows into the lifting device 28.

On the other hand, in the second small island portion 202b, the game ball discharged from the gaming machine 2 is introduced into the outrail 26, flows to the lower end of the outrail 26, and then flows into the lower storage box 260 (FIG. 22). reference). Then, it flows from the lower storage box 260 to the lower interisland channel 271 and then flows from the lower islet channel 271 to the inside of the polishing apparatus 27 (see FIGS. 21, 23, etc.). Thereafter, as described above, after being polished by the polishing device 27, it flows into the lifting device 28.
As described above, all of the game balls discharged from the gaming machines 2 arranged in the first and second islets 202a and 202b flow into the polishing device 27 built in the first islet 202a. It will be. In other words, all the game balls discharged from the gaming machines 2 belonging to each of the two small islands 202 are collected in a portion where the polishing device 27 located inside the small island 202 (first small island 202a) on one side is located. Will be.

  Subsequently, the game ball that has flowed into the inside of the lifting device 28 flows into the lifting channel 29 while being given a force directed upward by the lifting device 28, and the island tank 220 from the upper end side of the lifting channel 29. Will flow into the tank main body 236. Then, the game balls temporarily stored in the tank main body 236 flow into the conveyance path connected to the tank external flow path connection portion 243. That is, it flows into the two supply rails 21 of the first islet portion 202a and the upper islet flow channel 270 (see FIGS. 21, 23, etc.) located between the first islet portion 202a and the second islet portion 202b. Will be

  In the first small island 202a, game balls are supplied to the respective game machines 2 and game medium lending machines 3 via the two supply rails 21.

  On the other hand, the game ball that has flowed into the upper inter-island channel 270 flows into the upper storage box 250 from the downstream end of the upper inter-islet channel 270 (see FIG. 23). That is, it will be supplied to the upper storage box 250 of the second islet portion 202b via the upper inter-island channel 270.

  Then, in the second small island portion 202b, the game balls flow into the two supply rails 21 from the upper storage box 250, and the game balls flow to the respective gaming machines 2 and game medium rental machines 3 through the supply rails 21. Will be supplied.

  In this way, a circulation path that extends over the two islets 202 is formed inside the gaming machine island 201, and the game balls pass through the gaming machines 2 arranged in the respective islets 202 by this circulation path. It is possible to circulate.

  In this embodiment as well, when game balls are allowed to flow from the transport channel 29 into the island tank 220, an amount of game balls that exceeds the storable amount of the island tank 220 may flow. Therefore, also in this embodiment, when the amount of storage in the island tank 220 exceeds a certain level, an excessive amount of game balls are introduced into the island tank 25 via the overflow rail 22 and the overflow hose 24. ing.

In the gaming machine island 201 of the second embodiment described above, an example is shown in which the central recess 262a of the lower storage box 260 is formed by two standing wall-like portions and a bottom plate-like portion located between these lower ends. (See FIG. 25). That is, although the example in which the upper surface of the bottom portion of the center-side recess 262a is formed to be a flat surface is shown, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, the upper surface of the bottom portion of the center-side recess 262a may be an inclined surface so as to be inclined downward toward the outflow-side rail coupling portion 263. That is, you may form so that a lower end part may become the inclined surface which follows the outflow side rail connection part 263. FIG.

In the gaming machine island 201 of the second embodiment described above, an example in which the bottomed box-like upper storage box 250 and the lower storage box 260 are employed has been shown, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The structure provided with a saucer-like member instead of these may be sufficient with respect to the 2nd small island part 202b. That is, a large number of game balls may not be temporarily stored, but may be one that immediately receives the game ball flowing out from the downstream end of each transport path and then immediately flows out.
However, from the viewpoint of preventing overflow when a large amount of game balls flow in temporarily, a box-shaped one that can temporarily store a certain amount of game balls is more preferable.

In the gaming machine island 201 of the second embodiment described above, an example in which the end plate 207 is located at the end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 201 and the short side surface of the gaming machine island 201 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape is formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
For example, when the number of gaming machines 2 to be arranged is reduced (when the small island 202 is shortened in the parallel direction of the gaming machines 2), or when the distance between the two small islands 202 needs to be increased (at the game hall) For example, when the size of the structure is long in the same direction), the length in the width direction of the end plate 207 may be longer than the length in the parallel direction of the gaming machines 2 on the gaming machine island 201. That is, the end plate 207 may be positioned at the end of the gaming machine island 201 in the short direction and may have a long side surface.

In the second embodiment described above, an example in which the gaming machine island 201 is constructed so that the two pillars 205 that are parallel to each other at the game hall are positioned in the structure arrangement space 206 provided inside is described. The invention is not limited to this.
The structure of the game arcade positioned in the structure arrangement space 206 is not limited to the pillar 205 but may be, for example, a raised portion of the wall such that a part of the wall of the game arc protrudes inward. In this case, for example, one of the two end plates 207 is not provided, and one side end portion is opened to the outside, the side end portion opened to the outside is brought into close contact with the wall surface, and the wall is placed in the structure arrangement space. A raised portion of the may be located.
In other words, the structure of the game hall located in the structure arrangement space 206 is not limited to the pillar 205, and may be another structure that cannot be moved due to the building structure of the game hall.

  Further, the structure arrangement space 206 may not be a space surrounded by the small island part and the end plate, but may be a space surrounded by the small island part 202 and the end plate 207 as described above. Good. That is, the structure arrangement space is surrounded by a space where the small island part and the twelve board are located in the three surrounding areas, and the wall surface of the game hall is located in the other one, that is, the small island part, the tsum board and the wall of the game hall It may be a space.

  In the second embodiment described above, the example in which the two pillars 205 are arranged in the structure arrangement space 206 has been described. However, as a matter of course, the structure arrangement space 206 includes three or more pillars 205. It may be located or only one pillar 205 may be located.

In the second embodiment described above, the example in which the upper inter-island channel 270 and the lower islet channel 271 are positioned between the two pillars 205 in the structure arrangement space 206 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. It is not a thing.
For example, in the structure arrangement space 206, the upper inter-island channel 270 and the lower islet channel 271 are arranged in a portion located outside the one column 205 in the parallel direction of the two columns 205. Also good.
Specifically, the island tank 220 is arranged on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the first islet portion 202 a, and accordingly, the polishing device 27, the lifting device 28, and the lifting channel 29 are also included in the first islet 202. It is arranged on the end side in the longitudinal direction. At this time, the upper storage box 250 and the lower storage box 260 of the second small island part 202b are also arranged on the end side in the longitudinal direction of the second small island part 202b, and the outer side of the one column 205 (two columns) An upper inter-island channel 270 and a lower inter-island channel 271 are disposed in a portion located on the outer side of the 205 in the parallel direction. In this case, the replenishment rail 21 and the overflow rail 22 are arranged so as to extend from one end side to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the small island portion 202, and the outrail 26 is the other in the longitudinal direction of the small island portion 202. You may distribute in the state extended toward the one end side from the end side.

1,101,201 gaming machine island 2 gaming machine 20,120,220 island tank (storage tank, upper tank)
21 Supply rail (external member, supply conveyance path)
40 Outer box part 42 Internal storage part (storage part)
43, 143, 243 Tank external channel connection (conveyance path connection)
60 First bottomless box member (box-like body, first box-like body)
61 Second bottomless box member (box-like body, second box-like body)
62 Third bottomless box member (box-like body, first box-like body)
65 Side wall portion 66 Internal space 68 Speed limit plate 70 Connection portion (outlet)
74,174 Overflow medium storage space 202 Kojima portion 270 Upper channel between small islands (transport route between small islands)
271 Lower islet flow path (transport path between islets)

Claims (7)

A storage tank capable of temporarily storing game media for supplying to the gaming machine island formed by installing one or more gaming machines;
A storage unit that temporarily stores the game medium flowing in from the outside, and a transport path connection unit that includes an outlet through which the game medium flows out to the outside;
The transport path connecting portion is formed to be able to connect an external member for forming a transport path for transporting the game medium, and the game is connected from the outflow port to the external member by connecting the external member. The media can be spilled,
At least one of the storage part and the transport path connection part is formed by a single box-shaped body, or is formed by integrally connecting a plurality of the box-shaped bodies stacked in the vertical direction. Yes,
By changing the number of the box-shaped bodies constituting the storage section and / or the transport path connection section, the maximum storage amount of the storage section and / or the height of the outlet of the transport path connection section is changed. A storage tank characterized in that it is possible. The box-shaped body has an opening portion communicating with the inside and the outside on the upper side, and a first box-shaped body having an internal space surrounded by a side wall portion inside,
A plurality of different types including a second box-like body having an opening part communicating with the inside and the outside on the upper side, an inner space surrounded by a side wall part inside, and the outflow port formed in a part of the side wall part The storage tank according to claim 1, wherein the storage tank is selected from a box-like body having a structure. The transport path connecting portion is formed by integrally connecting a plurality of the box-shaped bodies including two or more second box-shaped bodies stacked in the vertical direction,
The said 2nd box-shaped body of one and the said other 2nd box-shaped body are arrange | positioned with the attitude | position used as the direction from which the opening direction of the said outflow port differs. Storage tank. The box-shaped body has an opening portion that communicates the inside and the outside on the upper side, and includes an inner space surrounded by a side wall portion inside.
The storage part and / or the transport path connection part is one in which the game medium flows into the inside from the upper part,
At least one of the box-like bodies constituting the storage part and / or the transport path connecting part is provided with a plate-like speed adjusting plate protruding from the inner side surface of the side wall part toward the inner space. The storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the storage tank is provided. The storage section and / or the transport path connection section is formed by integrally connecting a plurality of the box-shaped bodies in a stacked state in the vertical direction,
The speed adjusting plate is provided in two or more of the box-like bodies arranged at different positions in the vertical direction,
5. The storage tank according to claim 4, wherein the two or more box-shaped bodies are arranged in a posture in which the directions of the protruding directions of the speed adjusting plates are different from each other. An upper tank for temporarily storing the game medium that has been transported to the upper part of the gaming machine island;
Has an outer box,
The storage part and the transport path connection part are integrally connected in a state of being stacked in the vertical direction, and at least a part of the storage part is located inside the outer box part, and the outer box At least a part of the transport path connecting part is located below the part,
6. An overflow medium storage space into which the game medium overflowing from the storage part flows is formed between an inner surface of the outer box part and the storage part. The storage tank described in 1. A gaming machine island comprising the storage tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and installed in a building,
The game machine has a plurality of small islands in which part of the side surface located outside is formed by installing the game machine, and the game medium supplied to the game machine is conveyed to each of the small islands A supply transport path is provided,
An inter-island transport path for transporting the game medium between the one small island and the other small island;
The storage tank is provided in one of the small islands,
The transport path connecting portion includes a plurality of the outlets, the supply transport path is connected to at least one of the outlets, and the interisland transport path is connected to at least one other outlet. And
One small island part and the other small island part are arranged apart from each other, and a structure attached to the inter-island conveyance path and the building in a space formed between the one small island part and the other small island part A gaming machine island characterized by its location.

Images