JP2557602Y2 - Storage tank for prize balls in pachinko machines - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a storage tank for a prize ball in a pachinko game machine, and more specifically, a pachinko ball can be used to play a required game, and can be used as a reward (prize) for winning a prize. The present invention relates to a tank for storing a considerable amount of pachinko balls prepared for prize balls on the back side of a pachinko game machine which discharges pachinko balls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, for this type of gaming machine,
There is a pachinko machine that launches a game of winning a game ball by hitting a pachinko ball, which is a game moving body, one by one into a game surface, and an arrangement ball machine that launches a combination game of symbols. Each of these gaming machines is equipped with a storage / discharge path for prize balls on the back side of each machine, and is provided with an installation frame in a game store.
(Commonly referred to as `` islands ''), in the state of implementation provided for games, a considerable amount of timely supply from the ball distribution unit (also called distribution unit) of the ball replenishment facility installed on the installation frame base side Pachinko balls are stored for a while in the storage supply and discharge section for prize balls. Under these circumstances, during each game, a safe ball was generated by winning a game ball into the winning opening,
A predetermined number of prize balls commensurate with the formation of the prize are discharged from the storage supply / discharge unit in response to the achievement of the score by the combination of the symbols based on the entrance of the game ball to each entrance. .

[0003] The storage, supply and discharge section of such a gaming machine has a basic configuration in which a mechanism set board set on the back side of the front frame with respect to the outer frame extends from above to below.
A storage tank for directly receiving the ball input from the ball distribution unit of the ball replenishment facility, a rectifying gutter and a discharge gutter for aligning and flowing the ball discharged from the storage tank, and a prize ball for discharging the ball in a predetermined number unit The discharge section is sequentially connected. In this storage supply and discharge unit, ideal conditions are to be able to store and discharge as many pachinko balls as possible as appropriate,
For this reason, it is desired that the storage tank, which is the storage supply source having the maximum capacity, be made as large (deep) as possible and installed at an upper position to increase the storage capacity of the sphere.

However, as an actual technical condition, this storage tank may not collide with the upper frame rod of the outer frame or the ball distribution unit of the ball replenishing facility when the front frame of the gaming machine is opened and closed. Avoiding interference is rather an absolute requirement, so the size is naturally limited and large containers cannot be used. Therefore, in such a restrictive condition, in each gaming machine of each maker, in consideration of avoiding collision between the storage tank and the ball distribution unit, study the installation position of the storage tank with respect to the mechanism set board, and do not reduce the volume as much as possible. On this assumption, the depth size of the storage tank itself is set. Under this condition, a storage tank having a standard depth and a lower side portion or a storage tank having a slightly shallower depth than a standard is installed at a position where it does not collide with the ball distribution unit. However, the respective storage tanks have substantially no substantial difference in their volume, and are often installed at a relatively lower position in consideration of the ball distribution unit.

[0005] Incidentally, in the case of gaming machines, there are "Kansai frame and Kanto frame" which are generally called by those skilled in the art in terms of the outer size of the body (outer frame and front frame), but all of them are front frames. Various game components (e.g., a game board and a mechanism set board) mounted and set on the side are divided into sizes and the like, and are commonly used without limitation. And, in the game machines of each external size, "Kansai frame,
It is installed on the installation frame stand (island) for `` Kanto frame '' and `` Kansai frame ''
In the case of the "Kanto frame", which is slightly smaller in size, the vertical distance (height difference) between the upper frame rod of the outer frame and the storage tank is considerably small. On the other hand, in the ball replenishment equipment installed on the installation frame for each row in each game store, each ball distribution unit provided separately for each gaming machine has a ball discharge port at the lower end thereof, The outer frame faces the upper surface of the opening of the storage tank while being lowered from the upper frame rod. However, the installation position of each unit is different (uneven)
In particular, in the case of the aforementioned “Kanto frame”, the vertical distance between the ball discharge port and the storage tank may be considerably small.

[0006]

As described above, the storage tank of the storage supply / discharge unit in the gaming machine is implemented under technical conditions to avoid collision or interference with the ball-selling unit, but is partially or Due to the overall shape of the upper surface opening that is shallow, the impact in the vertical direction during opening and closing of the front frame, vibration, and rebound when the ball is thrown in from the ball distribution unit of the ball replenishment facility, etc. Balls often spilled out of the plane. It is also pointed out that the shallow shape of the storage tank reduces the storage capacity of the sphere. Therefore, as a countermeasure against this, conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-190940, a fall prevention member 41 formed of a soft synthetic resin is attached to one side of the storage tank 8 (the outer edge of the upper edge of the opening). In addition, a proposal has been made to prevent the ball from spilling by additionally providing the comb-teeth-shaped protrusion 43 above the upper edge of the opening of the storage tank 8. The fall prevention member 41 is provided with a fixing portion 42 having a U-shaped cross section.
Is a suitable ball spill prevention material that can be easily attached to the upper edge of the storage tank 8, but it must be molded separately from the storage tank 8, increasing the number of parts and increasing the cost, and controlling inventory. It is pointed out that the drawbacks are complicated.

[0007]

The purpose of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problem in a suitable manner. The present invention is directed to the upper edge of the opening of a storage tank as a ball storage supply source for prize balls arranged on the back side of a gaming machine.
The purpose of this invention is to provide a prize ball storage tank that integrally forms a protective edge for preventing ball spillage, reduces the number of parts and saves inventory management, and can increase the storage capacity of the entire storage tank. And

[0008]

[Means for solving the problems] To overcome the above-mentioned problems,
Prize balls for the storage tank in the pachinko-type gaming machine according to the present invention for achieving the intended purpose is installed in <br/> rear upper portion of the pachinko type game machine, corresponds supplied from the spherical supply facility side a reservoir tank capable of storing the synthetic resin molded pachinko balls for the prize balls in an amount, and mainly the storage tank
And thereby forming the attachment pieces at both ends of the molded body on an upper surface opened horizontally long box shape, while forming the sheet outlet of the sphere to the downstream portion of the slant bottom plate portion of the main body, on the opening of the body Along the edge
A reinforcing rib with the appropriate width
A substantially comb-shaped protective edge is integrally formed in an upright state along the surface longitudinal direction, and this protective edge is capable of moderate elastic deformation.
If necessary, insert multiple protective pieces that can be cut
It is characterized by being formed in parallel with a slit interval smaller than the diameter .

[0009]

When the protective edge of the storage tank installed on the upper upper edge of the pachinko game machine interferes with the ball replenishing equipment, the protective edge is elastically deformed, so that the storage tank and the protective tank are elastically deformed. Damage or breakage of the ball supply equipment can be avoided beforehand. In addition, since the protective edge is integrally formed in an upright state on the upper edge of the opening of the box-shaped main body, it serves as a wall for preventing the bouncing balls of the pachinko balls supplied from the ball supply facility into the storage tank. In addition to functioning, the storage capacity of the sphere in the storage tank is increased.

[0010]

Next, a preferred embodiment of a storage tank for a prize ball in a pachinko game machine according to the present invention will be described.
This will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the present embodiment, a pachinko machine, in which a pachinko ball, which is a moving body of a game, is struck one by one into a game surface to develop a prize game of a game ball, and a prize ball storage tank when the game is executed in the machine, are mainly exemplified. I do.

First, as briefly shown in FIG. 1, the back side of the pachinko machine P installed on the installation frame M in the amusement store will be briefly described. A mechanism is provided on the back side of the front frame 2 mounted on the outer frame 1. The set board 3 is detachably set. In the set board 3, as means relating to storage, supply and discharge of prize balls, as shown in the drawing, the ball distribution unit 20 of the ball replenishment facility 19 is used.
Storage tank 4 for temporarily storing the pachinko balls (also referred to as prize balls) supplied from the company, a two-row straightening gutter 5 capable of aligning and discharging the prize balls from the storage tank 4, and a prize from the straightening gutter 5 A row of delivery gutters 6 that can send the spheres under reduced pressure are sequentially connected. Below the delivery gutter 6, a prize ball discharge device 7 of an electric detection type capable of counting and detecting a prize ball one by one and discharging a required number is installed in a case unit. Upper and lower ball dishes in front of frame 2
First and second discharge paths 8, 9 are defined which are connected to the sides (both not shown).

As another structure of the mechanism set board 3, as shown schematically in FIG. 1, two rows of prize balls are alternately placed one by one at the orthogonal connection between the straightening gutter 5 and the sending gutter 6. A ball feed alignment mechanism 10 that receives and forms a single row is provided. In addition, the communication between the first discharging path 8 and the ball removing path 11 is switched and controlled based on the operation detection condition, and the prize balls discharged from the prize ball discharging device 7 are discharged to the ball removing path 11. The resulting switching ball punching device 12 is provided. On the way of the second discharge path 9, there is provided a prize ball filling detection mechanism 13 capable of detecting the filling amount of the prize ball and temporarily disabling the hit ball launching device 18. On the other hand, a discharge path 15 for the out ball and a collective discharge path 16 for the safe sphere are defined below each other below the window 14 formed in the center of the set board 3. ,
An electric detection type safe ball processing device 17 capable of detecting and stopping all safe balls one by one and performing a discharge process after the end of the prize ball discharging operation is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 6, the prize ball storage tank of this embodiment implemented in the above-described pachinko machine P has the following features.
An elastically deformable protective edge 26 is integrally formed with the upper edge of the opening of the main body 21 in the storage tank 4 to prevent the ball from spilling by the protective edge 26 and to appropriately reduce the overall ball storage capacity (capacity). It can be enhanced.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the storage tank 4 is formed of a synthetic resin material (for example, a polypropylene resin material or a vinyl chloride resin material) that can be elastically deformed into a rectangular shape having an open upper and inner surface. Attachment pieces 22, 2 which are fixed to the installation portion 3A of the mechanism set board 3 with screws or the like on both left and right outer sides of the main body 21 having a flat horizontally long concave shape.
2 is formed integrally, while a supply port 24 communicating with the most upstream end of the straightening gutter 5 is opened at the most downstream end of the slanted bottom plate 23 of the main body 21. The reinforcing rib 25 has a flat concave shape over the entire area outside the upper edge of the opening of the main body 21.
Are formed with a uniform width, and the rigidity of the entire main body 21 is increased. The main body 21 is provided with required rigidity depending on the thickness and the shape thereof, and is configured so as not to be deformed by the weight of the stored considerable amount of spheres, vibration, impact or the like accompanying opening and closing of the front frame.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, and 8, the storage tank 4 is positioned and set with the opening of the main body 21 aligned with the installation portion 3A of the mechanism set board 3. In the above, the upper end edge and the rear end edge of the main body 21 are positioned with a required height difference interval and a depth protrusion difference with respect to the inner surface and the rear edge of the upper frame rod 1a of the outer frame 1. By the way, in pachinko machines, there are two types of large frame size “Kansai frame” and small frame size “Kanto frame”, which are classified and referred to from the external size. In the case of the latter “Kanto frame”, The difference interval is considerably smaller.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show the upper surface (upper edge of the opening of the main body 21) of the reinforcing rib 25 in the storage tank main body 21.
As shown in the figure, a protective edge 26 is integrally formed along the center of the rib 25 in the width direction in an upright state. This protective edge 2
6 is formed by forming a large number of protective pieces 27 in parallel at the same height with a slit interval smaller than the diameter of the sphere in the longitudinal direction, and is formed in a comb-like shape as a whole. I have. Further, each protective piece 27 is formed in a shape capable of moderate elastic deformation. That is, the protection piece 27 is
As shown in the figure, the thickness is gradually reduced from the portion connected to the reinforcing rib 25 upward, and grooves 28 are formed on both sides of the connected portion. Thereby, when the protection edge 26 and the ball distribution unit 20 of the ball replenishment facility 19 interfere with each other, the protection edge 26 (protection piece 27)
By elastically deforming, breakage and breakage of both can be avoided beforehand (see FIG. 8). Also, the groove 28 is
In portions where no protection is required, the protective piece 27 also functions as a guide when cutting with a cutter, scissors, or the like.
The groove 28 may be formed only on one side of the protection piece 27, or the groove 28 may be formed only at a necessary place.

[0017]

Next, the operation of the prize ball storage tank in the pachinko machine according to the embodiment will be described.

In the prize ball storage tank 4, an elastically deformable protective edge 26 is integrally formed in a standing state above the upper edge of the opening of the main body 21 in the tank 4, and this is a ball spill prevention wall. As a result, the entire storage tank 4 is effectively deepened, and the storage capacity of the sphere is increased.

Therefore, the ball is supplied to the pachinko machine P provided for the game by the operation of the ball replenishing equipment 19 from the ball dispensing unit 20 into the storage tank 4 (protection). The edge 27 can appropriately prevent the ball from spilling out and effectively store a considerable amount of the ball.
(Contained) (see FIG. 7). Pachinko machine P
When the front frame 2 is opened or closed again with respect to the outer frame 1 for inspection, repair, etc. of the front frame 2, the front frame 2
The storage tank may fall suddenly when it moves away from the outer frame 1 or suddenly rises when combined with the outer frame 1, causing considerable vibration and impact. The storage sphere in 4 can be protected by the protection edge 26 to prevent the spillage.

In addition, when the front frame 2 is opened and closed, it is possible to avoid damage due to interference with the ball arrangement unit 20. That is, assuming that the pachinko machine is the “Kanto frame” described above, as illustrated in FIG. 7, all the protection pieces 27 on the protection edge 26 formed in the storage tank 4 are used.
Are located at substantially the same height with respect to the inner surface of the upper frame rod 1a of the outer frame 1, and each of the ball distribution units 20 in the ball replenishment facility 19 is slightly leftward as viewed from the storage tank 4, Regardless of whether it is installed at the center or at a position slightly to the right, the ball discharge port is often positioned lower than the upper frame rod 1a and faces the upper surface of the opening of the storage tank 4. For this reason, as shown in FIG.
In a situation where there is a height difference H with the lower end, even if the front and rear frames 2 and 26 interfere with each other when the front frame 2 is opened and closed, as illustrated in FIG. Thus, the impact can be appropriately mitigated, and breakage or breakage of the storage tank 4 and the ball distribution unit 20 can be avoided.

In the storage tank of this embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the slits 29 and 30 formed in the installation portion 3A of the mechanism set board 3 and the inside of the main body 21 of the storage tank 4, respectively. A partition plate 31 for changing the storage capacity of the ball is inserted in a replaceable manner.

[0022]

[Modification] The prize ball storage tank in the pachinko game machine to which the present invention is applied is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other examples in which this is appropriately applied or changed are also recommended.

FIG. 9 shows an example in which the depth of the main body 21 in the storage tank 4 is set to be shallow and the height of the protection edge 26 is set to be large.
When installed on the mechanism set board 3 under the same conditions, the lower end of the pitching unit 20 and the body 2
It can be suitably used for the "Kanto frame" in which the height difference from 1 is small. Then, even when the depth size of the main body 21 is set to be shallow as described above, the entire tank can be effectively deepened by the protective edge portion 26, and the storage capacity of the ball can be increased. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage tank 4 in which the depth size of the main body 21 is large and the height dimension of the protection edge 26 is set small is
It is suitably used for "Kansai frame".

The form of the protective edge 26 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a protective edge 26 is integrally formed on the upper end on the rear side of the reinforcing rib 25 formed along the upper peripheral edge of the opening of the main body 21 in the storage tank 4. Further, as shown in FIG. 10, each protective piece 27 in the protective edge portion 26 is formed so as to change the thickness dimension stepwise in the height direction. The height can be variably adjusted by cutting the protection piece 27 using each step as a mark. However, in any of the protective edge portions 26, an example in which a plurality of protective pieces 27 are arranged in a comb-like shape is shown.

In addition, a mode in which the protective edge 26 is directly formed on the upper edge of the opening of the main body 21 without forming the reinforcing rib 25 can be appropriately adopted. The groove 28 formed in each protective piece 27 so as to give the protective edge portion 26 an appropriate elastic deformation is formed only in the protective piece 27 facing the position corresponding to the ball distribution unit 20 in the ball replenishing equipment 19. There may be.

The storage tank 4 described above can be suitably used in an arrangement ball machine using a pachinko ball as a game medium and a prize medium, a combination game machine (a game machine also called a pachinko slot machine), and the like. It is implemented.

[0027]

As described above, according to the storage tank for prize balls in the pachinko game machine according to the present invention, a protective edge which can be elastically deformed is integrally formed on the upper edge of the opening of the main body of the storage tank. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the balls from falling out of the storage tank and increase the storage capacity of the pachinko balls in the tank without increasing the number of parts. Further, by integrally molding the main body and the protective edge, it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and to save labor for inventory management. In addition, when the protective edge interferes with the ball replenishing equipment, the protective edge is elastically deformed, so that the storage tank and the ball replenishing equipment can be prevented from being damaged or broken. Especially the storage tank for prize balls of the present invention
Reinforced ribs with appropriate width along the upper edge of the body opening
The main body and, consequently, the storage tank
Can increase body stiffness and withstand a considerable amount of ball weight
Long and suitable as a stable spherical tank member with strong shape
Can be used for And in such a storage tank,
A substantially comb-shaped protective edge along the upper surface longitudinal direction of the reinforcing rib
Because it is integrally molded in a standing state, a considerable amount of spheres can be stored
One inexpensive ball tank member that has both ball and ball spill prevention
It can be easily handled and stored. I
It is possible to cut the protective piece at the protective edge
In the implementation (installation) of pachinko machines, storage tanks
Protective edge is part of the ball replenishment facility, for example as shown in the examples
When it is expected to strongly interfere with the pitching unit
Is to cut (cut) the protection piece of the required part in advance if necessary
To form a relief recess for non-interference.
Ensure the security of the gaming machine so that damage due to
Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a pachinko machine employing a prize ball storage tank according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a main part showing a prize ball storage tank according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the storage tank shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the storage tank shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a main part of the storage tank shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a main part showing the storage tank shown in FIG. 2 with a part cut away.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a main part of the pachinko machine to which the storage tank is attached, with a part cut away.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a protective piece is brought into contact with the ball arrangement unit and elastically deformed by opening a front frame of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 9 is a modified example of the prize ball storage tank according to the present invention, and is a rear view of the storage tank in which the depth size of the main body is set to be small.

FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of a main part showing an example of a change in the state of continuous connection between the main body and the protective edge in the storage tank.

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view of a main part showing a modification of the protective edge.

[Explanation of symbols]

4 Storage tank 19 Ball replenishment equipment 21 Main body 22 Attachment piece 23 Slant bottom plate 24 Supply port (supply
(Outlet) 25 Reinforcing rib 26 Protective edge 27 Protective piece

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] A synthetic resin molded storage tank (4) installed at the upper end on the back side of a pachinko game machine and capable of storing a considerable amount of pachinko balls supplied from the ball replenishment facility (19) for prize balls. ) comprising together forming the attachment piece (22) at both ends of the storage tank (4) principal and then molded into the upper opening the horizontally long box shape body (21), the body (21) on one forming the sphere of the sheet outlet (24) to the downstream portion of the slant bottom plate (23), the reinforcing ribs having an appropriate width along the opening upper edge of said body (21)
(25), and along the longitudinal direction of the upper surface of the reinforcing rib (25).
Integrally formed comb-shaped protective edge (26) in an upright state Te, this
Protective edge (26) allows for moderate elastic deformation and
Protective pieces (27) that can be cut in
A storage tank for a prize ball in a pachinko game machine, which is formed in parallel with a smaller slit interval .