JP2669491B2 - Ball dispenser - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball dispensing machine used for a pachinko machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a ball dispensing machine in a pachinko machine, for example, an apparatus described in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 61-171983 is known. In the device described in this publication, a fixed number of balls can be stored by providing an upper valve and a lower valve respectively above and below in a passage leading from a storage portion for storing balls to a payout port. A ball storage is provided to prevent the ball from passing. Then, when the prize balls are generated, the lower valve is opened, the balls stored in the ball storage unit drop and are dispensed as prize balls from the payout opening, and all the stored balls are dispensed. After closing, the upper valve opens,
The predetermined number of balls are stored again in the ball storage unit.

However, with the recent diversification of customer needs, the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize balls has changed depending on each pachinko machine. That is, a certain number of prize balls were paid out for one prize ball in the past, but recently, the number of prize balls paid out for one prize ball changes according to the type of prize. Have been doing. Therefore, when using the device described in the above publication, it is necessary to arrange a plurality of devices according to the type of winning, and further, in order to make the number of prize balls paid out in each device different, The size of the ball reservoir formed between the valve and the lower valve has to be changed, which makes the device very difficult to manufacture and assemble.

[0004] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the applicant has disclosed in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 04-11347 a ball storage portion for storing balls and a ball payout outlet for discharging balls. A ball guiding path that is formed in between and guides the ball from the ball storage portion to the ball paying outlet, and is arranged in the ball guiding path,
A spiral collar part is formed around the member, a flow-down prevention member for preventing the flow-down of balls, a drive means for rotationally driving the flow-down prevention member, and a counting means for counting the number of balls paid out from the ball payout outlet. A ball dispenser with and was proposed.

[0005]

However, according to this ball dispensing machine, any number of balls can be dispensed, and the assembling work can be simplified and the time can be shortened. However, if the timing of rotation of the downflow prevention member happens to be incorrect, the end of the collar may collide with the ball and the ball may not be smoothly introduced into the guideway. In order to prevent this, for example, a method of controlling the timing of the ball supply and the rotation of the flow-down prevention member is conceivable, but a new rotation position sensor is required, and a quick ball payout operation cannot be performed. There is a fear. There is also a method of reducing the thickness of the flange portion as much as possible. However, the interval formed between the balls is accordingly reduced, so that the number of balls to be dispensed may not be accurately counted. There is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to pay out an arbitrary number of balls quickly and smoothly, and to accurately count the number of balls to be paid out. The purpose is to provide a ball dispenser that can

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a ball dispensing machine according to the present invention is formed between a ball storing portion for storing balls and a ball discharging outlet for discharging balls, and the ball storing portion is provided with the ball storing portion. A ball guide path for guiding a ball from the ball discharge port to the ball payout exit, and a spiral flange portion is formed around the ball guide path, which is disposed in the ball guide path,
A flow-down preventing member for preventing the flow-down of the ball, a driving means for rotating and driving the flow-down prevention member, and a counting means for counting the number of balls paid out from the ball payout port, further comprising the flow-down prevention member A flange having a predetermined thickness is formed spirally at a feed pitch larger than the diameter of the ball, and at least the flange near the ball introduction is thinner toward the ball. The collar surface of the ball is cut off. Further, the flange portion of the ball introduction girder of the flow-down preventing member has a flange surface cut off at an inclination corresponding to a feed pitch which is almost half of the feed pitch.

[0008]

In the ball dispensing machine of the present invention having the above structure, a ball guiding path formed between a ball storing section for storing balls and a ball discharging outlet for discharging the balls has a spiral shape around it. A downflow prevention member having a collar portion is arranged. When the flow-down preventing member is rotationally driven by the driving means, the ball is moved in the ball guiding path by the spiral flange, and is discharged from the ball discharging port. At this time, the balls supplied from the ball storage section are
With the rotation of the flow-down prevention member, due to the action of the collar part in which a part near the ball introduction gutter is cut off, the ball is smoothly introduced into the ball guide path, and by the collar part having a predetermined thickness,
A predetermined interval is formed between balls and the balls are paid out. Thereby, the balls continuously and at intervals from the ball payout outlet are accurately counted by the counting means.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, two guide paths 15 for guiding prize balls 11 are formed in the upper base 6 constituting the ball dispensing machine 9, and each of the guide paths 15 is Are connected to both sides of a guide path (ball guide path) 17 provided in the lower base member 5. Further, the lower substrate 5 is provided with two payout openings 16 corresponding to the lower end portions on both sides of the guide path 17. In the guide path 17, a downflow prevention member 1 having a spiral collar portion 1b having a feed pitch larger than the diameter of the prize balls 11 is arranged around the shaft 1a, and the upper portion of the shaft 1a is A lower portion of the lower base 5 is rotatably supported by a bearing portion 4 attached to a rotary shaft 2a of a well-known pulse motor (drive means) 2 by a set screw 3.

The pulse motor 2 and the upper and lower bases 6 and 5 are provided with two self-tapping screws 8 in a hole 2 b provided in a mounting bracket of the motor 2 and a hole 6 a provided in the upper base 6. It is inserted, and its tip is screwed into the tap hole 5a of the lower base 5 to be fixed integrally with the three members. Further, at the rear end portions of the upper base 6 and the lower base 5, one self-tapping screw 18 is screwed into the tap hole 6b of the upper base 6 through the hole 5b of the lower base 5. When the pulse motor 2 is rotationally driven, the downflow prevention member 1 also rotates around the shaft 1a in the direction of arrow A shown in FIG.

A count sensor 7 for counting the number of prize balls 11 paid out from each of the payout ports 16 is provided outside each of the guide paths 17 extending upward from the two payout ports 16. 16 is attached to the lower base body 5. The count sensor 7 is composed of a light-transmissive photosensor, and the passage of the prize ball 11 is detected by blocking the optical path of the prize ball 11.
This is based on a known configuration.

FIG. 3 shows a state in which the ball payout machine 9 configured as described above is mounted on a pachinko machine as a device for paying out prize balls 11. , When a winning ball occurs on a pachinko machine,
Passage 12 of prize balls 11 supplied from prize tank 10
Are formed so as to communicate with the guide path 15 formed in the upper base 6 of the ball dispenser 9. Further, below the ball payout machine 9, the prize balls 11 paid out from the payout exit 16 collide with each other, and a bell 14 for notifying the player that the prize balls 11 have been paid out in accordance with the winning, A delivery port 13 for delivering the prize balls is provided to a well-known ball receiving portion (not shown) provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine.

Next, the spiral shape of the flow-down prevention member 1 in the ball payout machine 9 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, a method of manufacturing the downflow prevention member 1 will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, in forming the spiral collar portion 1b around the downflow prevention member 1, the prize balls 11 are formed. The spiral collar 1b is formed with a feed pitch P slightly larger than the sum of the diameter and the thickness of the collar 1. As a result, a groove having a width that allows the prize balls 11 to pass is formed between the collars of the collar portion 1b.

Next, the portion indicated by S in FIG. 4B, that is, the end of the flange portion 1b where the ball of the prize ball 11 is introduced is gradually thinned toward the arm. In the predetermined range W, the collar surface of the ball introduction is cut off. Specifically, in FIG. 4 (a), the cutting tool used to manufacture the collar portion 1b is moved within a predetermined range W at a feed pitch of approximately ½ of the feed pitch P,
A portion indicated by S in FIG. 4B is cut off to form a tapered collar portion 1c as shown in FIG. 5A. by this,
The flange surface of the ball introduction rib of the flange portion 1c has a feed pitch P of about 2
The flange surface has an inclination corresponding to a feed pitch of 1 / min.

Next, referring to FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the operation of the downflow prevention member 1 will be described. First, the prize ball 11b that has entered the guide path 17 is shown in FIG. 5 (a). like,
It is in contact with the prize ball 11a already sent. At this time, the ball introduction of the downflow prevention member 1 is the collar portion 1c
However, when the flow-down preventing member 1 rotates in the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 5B, the prize ball 11a and the prize ball 11b are inserted.
While being moved downward in the figure, they are smoothly separated to have a predetermined interval (thickness of the collar portion 1b) B.

Further, when the downflow preventing member 1 rotates in the direction of arrow A, the prize balls 11a and the prize balls 11b are discharged from the ball payout port 16 while maintaining the interval B by the flange 1b following the flange 1c.
Lead to. Then, at this interval B, the prize ball 11a
When the prize ball 11b passes through the count sensor 7, the transmitted light is surely interrupted, and the passage of each prize ball 11 is detected accurately.

In this embodiment, the feed pitch is smaller than the feed pitch P of the flange portion 1b, for example, two minutes of the feed pitch P, so that the prize balls 11 can be quickly and smoothly separated by the flange portion 1c. Although the collar surface having an inclination corresponding to the feed pitch of 1 is formed, the present invention is not limited to this, and the prize balls 11 are separated by the time the count sensor 7 is reached, and the balls are separated from each other. Any structure may be used as long as the space B can be formed between the and. For example, one half
A flange surface having an inclination corresponding to a feed pitch larger than the feed pitch (smaller than the feed pitch P) is formed, thereby further expanding the forming range of the flange portion 1c and separating the prize balls 11 more smoothly. You may be able to do. In addition, it is not limited to the collar surface with one kind of inclination,
For example, it is possible to form a collar surface having a plurality of types of inclinations that gradually (or infinitely) approach the feed pitch P from the collar portion 1c toward the collar portion 1b.

Next, the configuration of the control system for the ball payout machine 9 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

A motor drive circuit 25 for generating a drive pulse for driving the pulse motor 2 is connected to a ball payout control circuit 24 for controlling the operation of the ball payout machine 9. The ball payout control circuit 24 is also connected to the count sensor 7, detects the output of the count sensor 7 and counts the number of payouts of the prize balls 11 to obtain a predetermined number of prize balls 1
When the payout of 1 is completed, the generation of the drive pulse by the motor drive circuit 25 is stopped. The ball payout control circuit 24 is also connected to a main body control circuit 23 for controlling the pachinko machine main body. This body control circuit 23
Is connected to a plurality of winning ball detectors 21, sends the number data of the prize balls 11 which are different depending on each winning ball to the ball payout control circuit 24 as the winning balls are generated,
It controls the operation of the pachinko machine body, such as changing the numbers of a slot machine and instructing the generation of electronic sounds associated with winning.

Next, the operation of the ball dispensing machine 9 configured as described above will be described.

When the occurrence of a winning ball is detected by the winning ball detector 21, the main body control circuit 23 sends the number data of the prize balls 11 corresponding to the winning ball to the ball payout control circuit 24. Then, the ball payout control circuit 24 instructs the motor drive circuit 25 to generate a drive pulse. When the pulse motor 2 is rotationally driven by the drive pulse generated by the motor drive circuit 25, the shaft 1a of the flow-down preventing member 1 connected to the rotation shaft 2a of the pulse motor 2 is moved by an arrow shown in FIG. Rotate in the A direction. Along with this, the prize balls 11 supplied from the prize ball tank 10 through the passage 12 and the guide path 15 to the guide path 17 provided in the lower base body 5.
Is gradually moved downward in the guide path 17 by the action of the collar portions 1c and 1b of the flow-down prevention member 1 in a state where only the vertical movement is allowed by the guide path 17.
Fall from 6.

At this time, the prize balls 11 dropped from the respective payout openings 16 pass through the count sensors 7 corresponding to the respective payout openings 16, so that the prize balls 11 paid out.
The number of coins is counted by the ball payout control circuit 24. When the total number of the prize balls 11 paid out from each payout opening 16 reaches the number corresponding to the winning prize, the ball payout control circuit 24 stops the drive pulse generation instruction to the motor drive circuit 25. The rotation of the pulse motor 2 is stopped.
Then, the prize ball 11 in the taxiway 18 is moved to the downflow prevention member 1.
Stop in a state where downward movement is prevented by the flange portions 1b and 1c. When the next winning ball is generated and the pulse motor 2 is driven to rotate again as described above, the prize ball 11 falls from the payout port 16 through the guide path 17.

The prize balls 12 dropped from the payout opening 16 are sent out from the sending exit 13 to a ball receiving portion provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine, and collide with the bell 14 in the middle of the drop, so that the player can By hearing the sound of the bell 14, it is possible to know that the prize ball 11 has been paid out and the prize ball 11 has been paid out.

As described above, even when the number of prize balls 11 changes depending on the type of prize balls, a series of ball dispensers 9
Can easily respond to that change, and
Even when the winning balls are successively generated, there is no delay in paying out the prize balls 11 as in the related art, and the player can enjoy the game comfortably.

The present invention can be used not only for paying out prize balls 11 due to the occurrence of winning balls, but also for a ball lending machine for lending out play balls when money is thrown in. It is.

[0028]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the ball dispensing machine of the present invention, the number of balls to be dispensed can be set arbitrarily, so that the number of balls to be dispensed at once can be adjusted according to the prior art. It is not necessary to provide multiple ball dispensing machines, making it easier to manufacture and assemble the ball dispensing machine, and delaying the dispensing of balls even if it is necessary to continuously dispensing balls. There is no. Moreover, in particular, the downflow prevention member is
The ball supplied from the ball storage section can be smoothly introduced into the ball guide path by partially cutting off the flange portion of the ball introduction girder, and the flange portion having a predetermined thickness. Since a predetermined interval can be reliably formed between the balls, the balls to be dispensed continuously and at intervals from the ball dispensing outlet can be accurately counted by the counting means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side view of a ball payout machine showing an embodiment embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a ball dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side view showing a state where the ball dispensing machine is attached to a pachinko machine.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of manufacturing a flow-down prevention member.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of a flow-down prevention member.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system for controlling the operation of the pachinko machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fall prevention member 1b Flange part 1c Flange part from which ball surface of ball introduction rib was cut off 2 Pulse motor (drive means) 5 Lower substrate 6 Upper substrate 7 Count sensor 9 Ball dispenser 10 Prize ball tank 11 Prize ball 16 payment Exit (ball exit) 17 Taxiway (ball taxiway) 24 Ball ejection control circuit 25 Motor drive circuit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ball guiding path which is formed between a ball storing portion for storing balls and a ball paying outlet for paying out balls, and which guides the ball from the ball storing section to the ball paying outlet, and the ball guiding path. Arranged in the road, a spiral collar is formed around it, a flow-down prevention member for preventing the flow-down of balls, a drive means for rotating the flow-down prevention member, and a ball paid out from the ball payout outlet. And counting means for counting the number of the balls, further, the flow-down prevention member, the collar portion having a predetermined thickness is formed in a spiral with a feed pitch larger than the diameter of the ball, at least the ball introduction A ball dispensing machine characterized in that the flange surface of the ball introduction gutter is cut off so that the collar portion near the ball becomes thinner toward the ball introduction. 2. The flange portion of the flow-down prevention member in the vicinity of the ball introduction hole has a flange surface cut off at an inclination corresponding to a feed pitch of about ½ of the feed pitch. Item 1. The ball dispenser according to item 1.