JP2742759B2 - Ball supply device for pachinko machines - 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 replenishing apparatus for replenishing balls to pachinko machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, pachinko balls are supplied to a pachinko machine by feeding a pachinko ball to a replenishing gutter 3 provided inside a pachinko island stand 1 by a reducing machine or the like.
The pachinko balls stored in the pachinko machine 2 are separated from the main stream by a separator 5 provided for each pachinko machine 2, and flow out from the bellows pipe 4 to a replenishing tank 10 of the pachinko machine 2 as refill balls. In this case, a so-called hanging-off method and a ball-cutting method in which a predetermined number of balls are discharged from the separator 5 to the bellows pipe 4 by a signal of a ball detection switch fixedly attached to the replenishing tank 10 (normally 400 pieces are cut off). ).

[0003]

In the drop-off system, since the supply of balls to the pachinko machine 2 is not interrupted, a ball detection switch is not required, but the number of balls held by the entire island stand 1 is reduced. There is also a problem that the cost is increased, which is uneconomical, and that the balls constantly flow, so that static electricity easily generates noise on the pachinko machine.

On the other hand, when the number of balls in the replenishment tank 10 is reduced and the ball detection switch is turned off, the ball stopping member (usually a solenoid) of the separator 5 is operated, and a predetermined number of balls are used. Is counted by the counter 6 and flows out to the replenishment tank 10, so that
There is an advantage that the number of balls held in the entire island stand 1 is reduced and noise is hardly generated. However, in recent years, pachinko machines 2 that derive a large amount of prize balls in a short time have been installed. For this reason, when a plurality of pachinko machines 2 enter the special prize state on the same island 1 at the same time, ball replenishment is performed. A problem has arisen that is not right.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned problems by enabling ball replenishment to be performed at an appropriate timing according to the type of pachinko machine even in a ball cutting system.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball replenishing apparatus comprising: a refill tank of a pachinko machine; A ball detection switch having a ball detection unit whose detection position is deviated in the left-right direction from the center is mounted in the fitting hole so as to be reversible left and right, and ball detection of the ball detection switch mounted in the fitting hole is performed. The ball is supplied to the replenishing tank by detecting the breaking of the ball by the unit.

[0007] A second means of the present invention is to form a long slot-like mounting groove along the direction of inclination in a lower portion of a slanted bottom surface of a replenishment tank of a pachinko machine which is inclined leftward and rightward toward a ball flow lower opening. Further, a long hole for detection is formed on the groove portion, and a ball detection switch having a ball detecting portion on the upper surface is slidably mounted in the mounting groove portion in the longitudinal direction, and the ball detecting portion is inserted into the ball receiving bottom surface from the long hole. The ball is projected upward, and the ball is supplied to the replenishing tank by detecting the breaking of the ball by the ball sensing unit.

[0008]

In each of the above constructions, the position of the ball detecting portion of the ball detecting switch provided in the supply tank is variable. That is, in the first means, since the ball detection position of the ball detection unit is deviated in the left-right direction from the center, by using the same fitting hole, by reversing the position of the ball detection switch, The ball sensing position differs between left and right. For this reason, the height position where the ball sensing unit is arranged on the inclined bottom surface changes,
The number of staying balls (minimum staying ball number) at the time when the ball sensing unit detects that the ball has run out changes. In other words, the higher the ball sensing position, the higher the ball sensing position corresponding to the inclined surface.
The minimum number of staying balls increases. Then, a predetermined number of pachinko balls stored in the supply gutter are supplied to the supply tank in addition to the staying balls.

In the second means, the position of the ball sensing portion projecting from the elongated hole can be changed by moving the ball detection switch in the mounting groove. For this reason, it is possible to arbitrarily adjust the ball supply time (minimum number of staying balls).

[0010] By simply adjusting the position of the ball detection switch, the number of staying balls when a predetermined number of pachinko balls are replenished changes, and even if a large number of prize balls are generated in a short time, the number of staying balls is reduced. By setting a large number, it becomes possible to supply balls at an appropriate timing according to the model of the pachinko machine, for example, the replenishment will be completed sooner.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

In FIG. 3, the replenishment tank 10 has a ball flow opening 11 formed at one side edge thereof, and an inclined bottom surface 12 which is inclined in the left-right direction toward the ball flow opening 11 at the bottom thereof. Have been.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show such a replenishing tank 10 in which a rectangular fitting hole 15 is formed at the inclined bottom surface 12 at a position in front of the ball flow opening 11. At the lower bottom of the fitting hole 15, a rectangular mounting frame 16 is connected.

A ball detecting switch S shown in FIG. 4 is fitted in the fitting hole 15 and is held by a mounting frame 16, and the ball detecting piece 22 (ball detecting portion) is moved upward from the inclined bottom surface 12. It protrudes.

The configuration of the ball detection switch S will be described with reference to FIG.

A base 21 fixed to the case 20 is provided in the case 20, and one end of a ball sensing piece 22 is supported on the base 21 by a shaft 23 so as to be tiltable.
A limit switch 24 is provided on the base 21, and the detection tongue 25 abuts against the lower surface of the ball sensing piece 22, and the ball sensing piece 22 is inclined by the urging action of the detection tongue 25. . When a load is applied to the ball sensing piece 22, the ball sensing piece 22 slightly rotates in the horizontal direction around the shaft 23, and the detection tongue piece 25 of the limit switch 24 is pressed to turn on. Since the ball detection switch S is turned on when a load is applied to the front end of the ball sensing piece 22 that tilts upward, the ball detection position is deviated from the center in the left-right direction. .

As shown in FIG. 5, the ball detection switch S having such a configuration is detachable from the fitting hole 15,
And it can be mounted left-right inverted as shown by the arrow.
That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the front end of the ball sensing piece 22 can be positioned so as to be below the inclined bottom surface 12, or can be positioned so as to be above as shown in FIG. In the fitting mode shown in FIG. 6, the ball detection position of the ball sensing piece 22 is lowered. In the fitting mode of FIG. 7, the ball detection position of the ball sensing piece 22 is high. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the ball stays considerably below the inclined bottom surface 12, the ball detection switch S Is returned to the off position, and a predetermined number of balls counted by the counter 6 are supplied from the supply gutter 3. Therefore, the ball is replenished early and is added to the number of staying balls (minimum staying ball number) at the time when the out-of-ball condition is detected, and the number of held balls increases.

FIGS. 9 to 15 show another configuration. Here, on the inclined bottom surface 12, a long slot 30 is formed along the inclined surface, and the holding side plates 32, 32 connected to the inclined bottom surface 12 at a position directly below the long hole 30. Thereby, a long groove-shaped mounting groove portion 31 is formed. And
The ball detecting switch S is mounted in the mounting groove 31 so that the ball detecting piece 22 protrudes from the elongated hole 30 above the inclined bottom surface 12.

In order to hold the ball detection switch S in this manner, the fitting grooves 3 are formed on the opposing inner surfaces of the holding side plates 32, 32.
3 and 33, and locking projections 3 fitted into the fitting grooves 33 and 33 on both sides of the case 20 of the ball detection switch S.
4, 34 are formed. Then, the locking projections 34, 34 are fitted into the fitting grooves 33, 33 from the open ends of the mounting grooves 31, to hold the ball detection switch S, and the inclination of the inclined bottom surface 12 along the fitting grooves 33. It is slidable in the direction.

Therefore, by moving the ball detection switch S along the elongated hole 30 and the fitting groove 33, the ball supply timing (minimum number of staying balls) can be selected in a stepless manner. Therefore, there is an advantage that the selection can be performed easily and finely by the sliding operation.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show the configuration of the second holding means of the ball detection switch S for continuously selecting the ball supply timing (minimum number of staying balls).

Here, guide racks 35 having engagement teeth formed linearly are formed on the opposing inner surfaces of the holding side plates 32, 32. An idle pinion 36 that engages with the guide rack 35 is supported on the case 20 of the ball detection switch S. Thereby, the guide rack 3
The ball detection switch S can move in the mounting groove 31 steplessly by the engagement between the idle rotation pinion 36 and the idle rotation pinion 36.

In this configuration, there is an advantage that the guide action of the guide rack 35 enables the notch movement and the position adjustment becomes easy.

In addition, the ball detecting switch S is attached to the mounting groove 31.
There are various proposed means for holding the robot so as to be movable steplessly.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show a third holding means for the ball detecting switch S in the mounting groove 31. FIG. That is, the holding projections 40 are provided on the holding side plates 32 at predetermined intervals.
Are formed on the both sides of the case 20 of the ball detection switch S at intervals equal to the intervals of the holding projections 40, and pressure-receiving projections 41, 41 are formed.

[0026] As the target pressure projections 41 and 41 is clearly shown by the chain line in FIG. 15, a rubber sheet between the case 20, the elastic member 42 such as sponge is interposed. And figure
As shown by the solid line 15 , when the pressed projections 41, 41 are pushed between the required holding projections 40, 40, the elastic projections of the elastic material 42 and the elastic bending of the holding side plates 32, 32 cause the pressed projections 41, 41 to move. 41, 41 receive the pressing action from the holding projections 40, 40,
Thus, the ball detection switch S is held at a predetermined position in the mounting groove 31. In addition, various configurations, such as the generation of other elastic members, are proposed. Further, the pressure-receiving projection 41 may have a continuous shape irrespective of the interval between the holding projections 40.

In this configuration, the position of the ball detection switch S can be arbitrarily held by pushing the ball detection switch S from below the fitting groove 33, and the holding position can be selected by the holding projection 40. , The position of the ball detection switch S in each pachinko machine 2 can be easily adjusted to be the same according to the model by specifying the pinching projection 40 to be used. There are advantages.

In each of the above-described configurations, the setting of the ball supply time can be performed according to the type of the pachinko machine 2. For this reason, in the pachinko machine 2 that derives a large amount of prize balls in a short time, the ball detection position of the ball detection switch S is set upward, and the minimum number of staying balls is increased. Since sufficient time until replenishment can be gained, even if a large hit occurs on a plurality of pachinko machines 2 on the same island 1 at the same time and the supply of balls from the resupply gutter 3 cannot be made in time, It becomes possible to supply prize balls with balls. On the other hand, in a model in which a large amount of prize balls are not generated in such a short time, by setting the replenishment timing by the ball detection switch S, it is possible to suppress an excessive number of balls held by the pachinko machine 2. The ball can be used effectively.

[0029]

According to the present invention, as described above, the supply tank 10 is provided.
Since the setting of the ball detection position of the ball detection switch S is made variable along the inclination direction of the inclined bottom surface 12, in a pachinko machine that derives a large amount of prize balls in a short time, By increasing the minimum number of staying balls, it is possible to prevent the shortage of prize balls, and for other pachinko machines, it is possible to suppress excessive ball stagnation. There is an excellent effect that the time can be selected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a pachinko island stand 1;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a ball supply mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a supply tank 10.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball detection switch S.

FIG. 5 is a replenishing tank 1 showing the ball detection switch S separately.
0 is a cutaway perspective view.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway perspective view of the replenishment tank 10 showing a fitting state of the ball detection switch S.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway perspective view of the supply tank 10 showing another fitting state of the ball detection switch S.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway perspective view of the supply tank 10 showing a state in which balls are retained.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway perspective view of a supply tank 10 having another configuration.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway perspective view of the replenishing tank 10 showing a configuration of a mounting groove portion 31 used as a first holding means of the ball detection switch S.

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of a ball detection switch S used for a first holding unit.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a ball detection switch S used for a second holding unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second holding unit of the ball detection switch S.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a third holding means of the ball detection switch S.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a third holding unit of the ball detection switch S.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko island stand 2 Pachinko machine 10 Replenishment tank 11 Ball flow outlet 12 Inclined bottom surface 15 Fitting hole 22 Ball sensing piece 30 Long hole 31 Mounting groove 32 Holding side plate 33 Fitting groove 35 Guide rack 36 Idling pinion 40 Nipping protrusion 41 Cover Pressure projection S Ball detection switch

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fitting hole is formed in a slanted bottom surface of a replenishment tank of a pachinko machine which is inclined leftward and rightward toward a ball flow lower opening,
A ball detection switch provided with a ball detection unit whose ball detection position is deviated in the left-right direction from the center is mounted in the fitting hole so as to be reversible left and right, and the ball of the ball detection switch mounted in the fitting hole is mounted. A ball supply device for a pachinko machine, wherein a ball is supplied to the replenishment tank by detection of a broken ball by a sensing unit. 2. A replenishment tank of a pachinko machine is provided with a long groove-shaped mounting groove formed along the direction of inclination at a lower portion of an inclined bottom surface which is inclined leftward and rightward toward a ball flow lower opening, and a detection is performed on the groove. A ball detection switch provided with a ball sensing unit on the top surface is slidably mounted in the mounting groove so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction, and the ball sensing unit projects from the long hole onto the ball receiving bottom surface. A ball supply device for a pachinko machine, wherein a ball is supplied to the replenishment tank by detection of a broken ball by a sensing unit.