JP3001973U - A ball polishing machine for game balls - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a ball-polishing machine for game balls, which can improve the efficiency of ball-polishing and downsize the device. [Structure] The ball polishing machine 1 includes a lower roller 11, a driven roller 13 provided on the upper side, and rollers 11 and 13
A belt B stretched between the two and a polishing guide portion 15 having a length L arranged on the front surface side of the feeding portion B1 (a portion of the belt B that runs toward the upper side). Part 15
A polishing cloth 17 is provided on the surface of the belt B side.
As a result, the pachinko ball T is transferred to the lifting portion B1 and the polishing cloth 17
It can be lifted and polished by being sandwiched between. Further, a ball-polishing skin 21 having a length of about L / 2 is also arranged on the back surface side of the belt-feeding unit B1.
A pachinko ball T can be sandwiched between them to be lifted and polished. That is, the ball-polishing machine 1 polishes balls on both the front and back sides of the feeding section B1 of the belt B.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a ball-polishing machine for polishing game balls such as pachinko balls, and more particularly to a ball-polishing machine for game balls capable of improving the efficiency of ball polishing and downsizing the device.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Traditionally, pachinko parlors have been equipped with a ball polisher that polishes the pachinko balls in use and keeps them clean, giving the pachinko balls a sparkle and giving a good impression to the players. It plays an important role in maintaining good hygiene.

As a ball-polishing machine of this type, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61-191379 by the applicant of the present application, a belt driven in a predetermined direction and a polishing member (polishing cloth, etc.) are used. It is known that a pachinko ball is sandwiched between), and the pachinko ball is polished and pumped at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 12, this type of ball polishing machine P1 is provided inside a pachinko island S formed by arranging a plurality of pachinko machines P in a row, and a motor (not shown) indicates an arrow A Lower roller P11 which is rotationally driven in the direction, driven roller P13 provided on the upper part of the apparatus, belt B stretched between both rollers P11 and P13, and feeding section B1 of this belt B (belt B is provided with a polishing cloth P17 (length L) that is stretched at a predetermined interval outside the portion (the portion that runs toward the upper side of B). A large number of rollers P18 are provided on the back surface side of the lifting section B1. The roller P 18 rotates in contact with the feeding section B1 and reduces the contact resistance to smoothen the running of the belt B.

In the ball-polishing machine P1, the pachinko balls T flowing out from the storage tank P19 provided on the lower side of the pachinko machine P through the passage P21 are used as the belt B (lifting section B1) and the polishing cloth. It is sandwiched between P17 and rubbed up, and while pachinko balls T are being polished, they are pumped by height L. The pachinko balls T which have been pumped and polished pass through the guide passage P23 above the driven roller P13 and are discharged to the replenishment tank P24 provided on the pachinko island S.

Note that the pachinko balls T that have been pumped and entered the replenishment tank P24 flow down the replenishment gutter P25 and are replenished to each pachinko machine P and the like in the pachinko island S. Further, the supply tank P24 and the storage tank P19 are connected by an overflow hose P27 (hose made of synthetic resin). Therefore, when a sufficient amount of pachinko balls T are replenished to each pachinko machine P and the amount of pachinko balls T stored in the replenishment tank P24 increases, excess pachinko balls T (excess balls) are overflow hose P27. It flows down and is returned to the storage tank P19.

[0007]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the conventional ball-polishing machine P1 has the following problems. That is, in the ball polishing machine P1 described above, in order to polish the pachinko balls T cleanly, it is necessary to lengthen the length L of the polishing cloth P17 (that is, the distance for lifting and polishing the pachinko balls) to some extent. . Therefore, the height of the device becomes large, and the device becomes large-scaled, which causes a problem of high manufacturing cost. Further, if the apparatus becomes large in size as described above, various maintenance / inspection work, for example, replacement work of the polishing pad P17 cannot be easily performed. Further, the height H of the ball polishing machine P1 protruding from the pachinko island S becomes large, which may not give a good aesthetic impression to the player. On the other hand, if the length L 1 of the polishing pad P17 is shortened to downsize the device in order to eliminate these disadvantages, the polishing condition of the pachinko balls T will be adversely affected.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ball-polishing machine for game balls, which can improve the efficiency of ball polishing and reduce the size of the device.

[0009]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The invention of claim 1 for achieving the above object comprises an endless belt driven in a predetermined direction, and a polishing member arranged so as to face the belt, and the game ball is driven in the predetermined direction. In a ball-polishing machine for playing balls that is sandwiched between a belt and a polishing member, the above-mentioned polishing members are arranged on both front and back sides of the belt, and the above-mentioned game balls are polished on both front and back sides of the belt. To do.

The invention of claim 2 is characterized in that the ball-polishing machine according to claim 1 also functions as a lifting machine. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ball-polishing machine according to the second aspect, the polishing members are arranged on both sides of the front and back sides of the lifting portion that runs in the lifting direction in the belt. It is characterized by polishing and lifting game balls on both front and back sides of the lifting part.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ball-polishing machine according to the third aspect, a drop guide member is provided to face a descending portion of the belt that travels downward. It is characterized in that the game ball is dropped through between the descending portion of the belt and the drop guide member.

Further, the invention of claim 5 is the ball polishing machine according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the game balls falling between the descending part of the belt and the drop guide member is lifted up of the belt. By providing a lower guide member that guides between the back surface of the portion and the polishing member, it is possible to lift and polish at least a part of the falling game balls on the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt. Characterize.

Further, the invention of claim 6 is, in the ball-polishing machine according to claim 5, the game balls that have been pumped and polished through the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt and the descending portion of the belt and the game ball. By providing an upper guide member that guides between the fall guide members, it is possible to drop the game balls that have been pumped and polished through the back side of the belt through the descending portion of the belt and the fall guide member. Characterize.

Further, the invention of claim 7 is the ball-polishing machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the inside of the upper storage tank is provided on the upper side of an island in which a plurality of game machines are arranged. The upper side guide passage that guides the surplus game balls in the game balls between the descending part of the belt and the fall guide member, and the game that dropped between the descending part of the belt and the fall guide member. A lower guide passage for guiding the balls to the lower storage tank provided on the lower side of the island is provided.

The invention of claim 8 is the gaming machine ball polishing machine according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the drop guide member is provided on the back surface side of the descending portion of the belt. Characterize. Further, the invention of claim 9 is the game ball ball polishing machine according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the drop guide member is a polishing member.

Further, the invention of claim 10 is the game ball ball polishing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a restricting member for restricting a displacement of the belt toward the back surface by a predetermined amount or more. It is characterized by that. Further, the invention of claim 11 is characterized in that, in the ball-polishing machine for gaming balls according to claim 10, the above-mentioned restricting member is a bearing.

A twelfth aspect of the invention is the ball polishing machine for gaming balls according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, wherein the polishing member is a polishing cloth. According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming ball ball polishing machine according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the polishing member is a ball polishing skin.

Here, as the above-mentioned game balls, there are pachinko balls as typical ones, and as the above-mentioned game machines, there are pachinko machines, but the present invention is not particularly limited thereto. Further, as the island in which the plurality of gaming machines are arranged in a row, for example, there is a pachinko island in which a plurality of pachinko machines are arranged in a row, but the present invention is not particularly limited to this. .

The above-mentioned polishing cloth is not particularly limited in its material etc. as long as it can wipe off dirt on the game balls and polish it. For example, a woven fabric (or non-woven fabric) made of polypropylene, polyester, etc., Various ones can be used. Also, as the ball-polished leather, various kinds of synthetic leather or natural leather can be used as long as the dirt adhered to the game balls can be wiped off.

[0020]

[Action]

 The ball polishing machine according to claim 1 is for polishing a game ball by sandwiching it between an endless belt driven in a predetermined direction and a polishing member. Especially, in the invention of claim 1, such polishing members are arranged on both front and back sides of the belt driven in a predetermined direction, and the game ball can be polished on both front and back surfaces of the belt. Therefore, it is possible to utilize both front and back surfaces of the belt, and it is possible to polish a larger number of game balls, so that the efficiency of ball polishing is improved. Therefore, even when the device is downsized, the device can be downsized by polishing both sides of the belt without lowering the efficiency of ball polishing. In addition, the game ball sandwiched between the belt and the polishing member serves as a roller that reduces the contact resistance of the belt, and the belt can run smoothly.

Further, in the invention of claim 2, the ball-polishing machine also serves as a lifting machine, and the ball-polishing is performed by sandwiching the game ball between the belt and the polishing member traveling in the lifting-up direction. At the same time, the game balls can be sent to a predetermined place. Further, in the invention of claim 3, in the ball-polishing machine of claim 2, among the belts driven in a predetermined direction, the polishing members are arranged on both front and back sides of the lifting portion traveling in the lifting direction, The game balls can be sandwiched between the front and back sides of this pumping portion, and the polishing and pumping of the game balls can be performed at the same time.

Further, in the invention of claim 4, in the ball-polishing machine of claim 3, there is provided a drop guide member which is arranged so as to face a descending portion of the belt which runs downward, and the game ball It can be dropped by passing it between the descending portion of the belt and the fall guide member. Therefore, according to the invention of claim 4, when it is necessary to drop and transfer the pumped game ball to a predetermined place, the game ball is passed between the descending portion of the belt and the drop guide member to be dropped. be able to. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a hose or the like for dropping the game ball. Also, by dropping the game ball along the belt, the drop sound of the game ball is reduced. That is, by dropping the game balls along the wide belt, collision of the falling game balls with each other is reduced, and the dropping sound of the game balls is reduced as compared with the case where the game balls are dropped through the hose. Also, since the belt plays a role of a cushion against the falling game balls, the dropping sound is suppressed also in this respect.

Further, in the invention of claim 5, in the ball-polishing machine of claim 4, at least a part of the game balls falling between the descending part of the belt and the drop guide member is the belt of the belt due to the lower guide member. It is guided between the back surface of the lifting portion and the polishing member. As a result, the game balls falling along the descending portion of the belt can be guided to the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt, and can be lifted and polished again.

Further, in the invention of claim 6, in the ball polishing machine according to claim 5, the game ball pumped and polished through the back side of the pumping portion of the belt is belted by the upper guide member. Is guided between the descending part of the and the fall guide member. Therefore, it is possible to drop a game ball that has been pumped and polished through the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt, to a predetermined place, between the descending portion of the belt and the drop guide member.

Further, in the invention of claim 7, the surplus game balls among the game balls in the upper side storage tank provided on the island where a plurality of game machines are arranged in a row are belted by the upper side guide passage. Is guided between the descending portion and the fall guide member. Then, the game balls (excess balls) that have fallen between the descending part and the falling guide member are guided to the lower side storage tank provided on the lower side of the island by the lower guide passage.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 7, it is not necessary to provide a hose (overflow hose) for dropping the surplus balls from the upper storage tank to the lower storage tank. In addition, by dropping the game ball along the belt, the drop sound of the game ball is reduced.

Further, in the invention of claim 8, since the drop guide member is provided on the back side of the descending portion of the belt, the ball polisher becomes compact, and the noise reduction effect of the drop noise is further enhanced. . Further, in the invention of claim 9, since a polishing member such as a polishing cloth or a ball polishing is used as the drop guide member, the game ball is dropped and transferred, and at the same time, the game ball is polished. be able to.

Further, in the invention of claim 10, the regulation member regulates the displacement of the belt toward the back surface by a predetermined amount or more. Thus, for example, even when there is no game ball on the back side of the belt, the displacement of the belt is regulated, and the gap between the surface of the belt and the polishing member is set to an appropriate value (the game ball can be sandwiched). It can be kept as large as possible). Therefore, even if there is no game ball on the back side of the belt, the game ball can be reliably sandwiched between the front surface of the belt and the polishing member.

In the invention of claim 11, a bearing is used as the regulating member. Therefore, the bearing that contacts the belt rotates, and the belt runs smoothly.

[0030]

【Example】

 Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko ball polishing machine will be described with reference to the drawings. Here, FIG. 1 is a side view showing an outline of the entire configuration of a ball-polishing machine 1 for pachinko balls (hereinafter, simply referred to as ball-polishing machine 1) of the embodiment, and FIG. 2 is an arrangement of polishing members in the ball-polishing machine 1. And FIG. 3 is a side view showing the flow of pachinko balls, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

First, the outline of the overall configuration of the ball polishing machine 1 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the ball-polishing machine 1 is provided inside a pachinko island S in which a plurality of pachinko machines P are lined up, and inside a storage tank 3 installed below the pachinko machine P. The pachinko balls T are pumped to the replenishment tank 5 installed on the pachinko island S and, at the same time, the pachinko balls T are polished.

That is, the ball-polishing machine 1 includes a lower roller 11 provided on the lower side of the apparatus and rotating in the direction of arrow A, a driven roller 13 provided on the upper side of the apparatus, and both rollers 11 1 and 13. Polishing of a belt B stretched between and a length L that is arranged so as to face the surface side (outer side) of the feeding portion B1 of this belt B (the portion of the belt B that runs toward the upper side) A polishing pad 17 (shown by a chain line in FIG. 2) as a polishing member is provided on the surface of the polishing guide portion 15 on the belt B side. Therefore, the pachinko balls T sent from the storage tank 3 can be sandwiched between the pumping section B1 and the polishing cloth 17 and rubbed up, and can be pumped toward the supply tank 5 while polishing. In the following description, the lifting passage (length L) between the surface of the lifting portion B1 and the polishing pad 17 is referred to as the front lifting passage 18.

In addition, in the ball-polishing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the ball-polishing skin 21 (having a length of about L / 2) is also used as a polishing member at a position facing the back surface side (inside) of the pumping section B1. 1 and 2 are shown in FIG. 1 and 2), and a pachinko ball T can be sandwiched between this ball-polishing skin 21 and the lifting portion B1 to perform lifting and polishing. In the following description, the pumping passage (length about L / 2) between the back surface of the pumping section B1 and the ball rind 21 is referred to as the back pumping path 22.

Further, in the ball-polishing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the length as a drop guide member is provided on the back surface side (inside) of the descending portion B2 of the belt B (the portion that travels downward in the belt B). A ball-polishing skin 23 (indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 1 and 2) of about L 2 is provided, and a pachinko ball T can be dropped between the ball-polishing skin 23 and the descending portion B2. In the following description, the passage (length about L / 2) between the ball-polishing skin 23 and the descending portion B2 is referred to as the drop passage 24.

Further, in the supply tank 5, there is provided an inflow cylinder 25 for dropping the excess pachinko balls T (excess balls) in the tank, and at the lower part of the inflow cylinder 25, the excess balls are dropped. A guide passage 27 for guiding to the lower passage 24 is provided. As a result, the surplus balls can be dropped through the drop passage 24 and returned to the storage tank 3.

Further, in the ball-polishing machine 1 of this embodiment, a rail member (lower guide member) is provided below the drop passage 24 for guiding a part of the dropped pachinko balls T to the back side feeding path 22. ) 31 is provided, and on the upper side of the back side feeding path 22, a guide tube (upper side guiding) for guiding the pachinko balls T pumped and polished through the back side feeding path 22 to the fall path 24 again. (Member) 33 is provided. As a result, a part of the pachinko balls T that have fallen in the drop passage 24 can be lifted and polished in the back-side lift passage 22, guided to the drop passage 24 again, and returned to the storage tank 3.

Next, the configuration of each part of the ball polishing machine 1 as described above will be described in detail. First, the belt B is an endless belt made of, for example, leather or synthetic resin, and is stretched between the lower roller 11 and the driven roller 13 described above. Two tension rollers 41 and 43 are in contact with the belt B. When the pachinko balls T are lifted and polished, the lower roller 11 is rotated in the direction of arrow A by a motor (not shown), and the belt B is driven and run.

Below the lower roller 11, there is provided a curved passage 45 for guiding the pachinko balls flowing down from the storage tank 3 through the passage 44 to the front side feeding passage 18. A curved path 47 is provided above the driven roller 13 to guide the pachinko balls T that have been lifted and polished through the front-side lifting path 18 to the supply tank 5. The pachinko balls T passing through the curved passage 47 are discharged from the cylindrical ball outlet 48 protruding into the replenishment tank 5 and fall into the replenishment tank 5.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the polishing guide portion 15 includes a door 51 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, a guide rail 53 fitted inside the door 51, and a door 51 and a guide rail 53. The urging spring 55 is provided between them, and the polishing cloth 17 is provided on the surface 53a (the surface on the belt B side) of the guide rail 53. Of these, the guide rail 53 is a plate-shaped member as shown in FIG. 4 (a perspective view showing the guide rail 53), and the surface 53a has a cross section for guiding the pachinko balls T in the lifting direction. Seven substantially semicircular grooves 53b are formed. The guide rail 53 is fitted to the door 51 so as to be movable in the left-right direction in FIG. 3 by a predetermined distance (that is, to be able to approach or separate from the lifting portion B1), and is biased by the biasing spring 55 in the arrow B direction. Is always energized.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the polishing cloth 17 is provided so as to cover the entire surface 53 a of the guide rail, and the urging spring 55 described above (via the guide rail 53) causes the belt to move. It is urged towards B. As a result, the pachinko balls T are reliably sandwiched between the pumping section B 1 and the polishing cloth 17.

The door 51 is attached to the outer frame members 57, 57 (members provided on both end sides of the belt B and covering the entire side portions of the ball polishing machine 1) so as to be openable and closable, and a polishing cloth is provided. When carrying out maintenance work such as replacement and washing of 17 the door 51 can be opened in the direction of arrow C as indicated by the chain double-dashed line. Further, when the ball polishing is performed, the door 51 is securely fixed to the outer frame members 57, 57 and held at the position shown by the solid line in FIG.

Next, the ball-polishing skins 21 and 23 arranged on the back surface side of the belt B are strip-shaped skin materials, and are attached to a mounting member 63 having a plurality of bearings 61 as shown in FIG. Has been. The mounting member 63 is a long member that extends in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the ball polishing machine 1 and is detachably fixed to the outer frame members 57, 57. When performing maintenance work such as replacement and cleaning of the ball rinsing skins 21 and 23, the mounting member 63 can be removed and taken out of the ball scouring machine 1.

Two pieces of ball-polishing skin 21 facing the feeding section B1 are provided on the right and left sides of the mounting member 63 on the feeding section B1 side, one on each side, that is, two pieces in total. These ball-polishing skins 21 have a width slightly larger than that of two pachinko balls, and are cushioning members on the flat surface portion 63a of the mounting member 63 (the surface parallel to the feeding portion B1). It is attached via a sponge 67. In addition, guide protrusions 63b are provided on both left and right ends of each ball-polishing skin 21 to prevent the pachinko balls T from jumping out from the back side feeding path 22. Therefore, with such a configuration, on the back surface side of the pumping section B1, the pachinko balls T are sandwiched between the pumping section B1 and the ball-polishing skin 21, and two rows are provided for each ball-polishing skin 21 for a total of four rows. The pachinko balls T of can be pumped and polished.

The bearing 61 provided next to the ball-polishing skin 21 is a well-known ball bearing (or roller bearing), and is in the direction of arrow B of the feeding section B1 (immediately on the rear surface side of the feeding section B1). ) Is provided as a regulating member that regulates a displacement of a predetermined amount or more. The bearings 61 are provided at the center and both left and right ends of the mounting member 63, and as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1, a plurality of bearings 61 are provided at predetermined intervals in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 3, when the pachinko balls T are sandwiched between the back surface of the feeding section B1 and the ball-polishing skin 21, a slight gap is left between the feeding section B1 and the bearing 61. There is. On the other hand, when there is no pachinko ball T between the back surface of the lifting portion B1 and the ball-polishing skin 21, the belt B is loosened and the lifting portion B1 is pushed in the direction of the arrow B by the biasing force of the biasing spring 55. Since the bearing 61 is in contact with the lifting section B1, the movement of the lifting section B1 in the direction of the arrow B is restricted. Therefore, even when there is no pachinko ball T on the back surface side of the lifting section B1, the pachinko ball T can be reliably sandwiched between the lifting section B1 and the polishing cloth 17 in the front side lifting path 18. . Further, at this time, since the bearing 61 that abuts on the lifting portion B1 rotates, the belt B runs smoothly.

In order to make the belt B run smoothly, it is preferable to use the bearing 61 as the restricting member, but other than this, for example, a rotating member such as a normal roller may be used. In addition, a member that does not rotate (for example, a protruding member having a substantially semicircular cross section) may be used as long as the belt B can travel smoothly.

On the other hand, the ball-polishing skin 23 facing the descending portion B2 is attached to a flat surface portion 63c formed on the descending portion B2 side of the mounting member 63. That is, guide projections 63d for preventing the pachinko balls T from jumping out to the left and right are provided at both left and right ends of the flat surface portion 63c parallel to the descending portion B2. It is fitted in and attached to a mounting groove 63e formed at the base of the protrusion 63d. There is a space for 10 pachinko balls between the two guide protrusions 63d and 63d. Further, the distance between the descending portion B2 and the ball-polishing skin 23 is almost the same as (or slightly larger than) the diameter of the pachinko ball T. As a result, a total of 10 rows of pachinko balls can be dropped through the space between the descending portion B2 and the ball-polishing skin 23 (that is, the drop passage 24). At the time of this drop, the pachinko balls T drop while being rubbed by the ball polishing skin 23, so that the pachinko balls T are polished. Further, since the pachinko ball T falls along the descending portion B2 of the belt B, the sound of the pachinko ball falling is reduced. In other words, since the pachinko balls T are sandwiched between the descending part B2 and the ball-polishing skin 23, which are spaced apart by about one pachinko ball, and fall in a horizontal row, the pachinko balls T collide with each other. The fit is less and the falling sound is less. Also, since the descending portion B2 of the belt B stretched between the driven roller 13 and the tension roller 43 functions as a cushion against the pachinko ball T that is falling, the dropping sound is reduced also in this point. . In addition, in this embodiment, in order to smoothly drop the pachinko ball T, the interval between the descending portion B2 and the ball polishing skin 23 is about one pachinko ball. When it is desired that the pachinko balls be securely sandwiched between the polishing skins 23 to further enhance the polishing efficiency, the distance between the descending portion B2 and the ball polishing skins 23 may be further narrowed within a range where the pachinko balls can fall. On the other hand, when it is desired to smoothly drop a large amount of pachinko balls T, the interval between the descending portion B2 and the ball-polishing skin 23 can be widened (for example, two pachinko balls or more).

Next, the guide passage 27 for guiding the surplus balls in the supply tank 5 to the drop passage 24 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. Here, FIG. 5 is a front view showing the upper side of the ball polishing machine 1 (a view seen from the direction of arrow E in FIG. 1), and FIG. 6 (A) is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5. Yes, FIG. 6 (B) is a front view showing the exit of the pachinko balls T of the guide passage 27, FIG. 7 (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC of FIG. 6 (A), and FIG. 7 (B). FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the guide passage 27 is provided below the inflow cylinder 25 erected inside the replenishment tank 5, and as shown in FIG. The lower surface B2a of the descending portion B2) extends from the front surface B2a to the back surface B2b, has a substantially U-shaped inclined surface 27a, an outer wall portion 27b that is erected along the outer peripheral edge of the inclined surface 27a, and an inner wall. And an inner wall portion 27c and an end wall portion 27d provided upright at the end portion. The inclined surface 27a is provided with a continuous downward inclination so that the pachinko balls T roll down and reach the back surface B2b side of the descending portion B2. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, a ball outlet 27e having a width W of about 10 pachinko balls is cut out in a portion of the inner side wall portion 27c that faces the back surface B2b of the descending portion B2. Is formed. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the pachinko ball T rolls down on the inclined surface 27a, drops from the ball outlet 27e, and is guided to the drop passage 24.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B), in the center portion of the ball outlet 27e, a small protrusion 27g having a width of six pachinko balls (height is the diameter of the pachinko ball T. The pachinko balls T are less likely to fall in the central six rows of the drop passage 24 where the 10 rows of pachinko balls T fall. That is, as shown in FIG. 7A, in the portion where the small protrusion 27g is provided, the small protrusion 27g restricts the pachinko balls T from falling, so that it is difficult for the pachinko balls T to drop. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7 (B), the pachinko ball T easily falls in the portion of the ball outlet 27e where the small protrusion 27g is not provided. Therefore, by providing the small protrusions 27g, the pachinko balls T can be preferentially dropped to the positions of two rows (a total of four rows) on the left and right sides of the drop passage 24. In particular, as shown in FIG. 7B, when there are few pachinko balls T (that is, surplus balls) flowing on the inclined surface 27a, all the pachinko balls T drop to the positions of two rows on the left and right sides. However, as shown in FIG. 7 (A), when the amount of surplus balls increases to a certain extent, the pachinko balls T pass over the small protrusions 27 g, so that the pachinko balls T also drop to the positions of the central 6 rows of the drop passage 24. Like

As shown in FIG. 1, below the drop passage 24, a ball receiving box 71 for accommodating the central 6 rows of the 10 rows of pachinko balls T that fall through the drop passage 24. The pachinko balls T housed in the ball receiving box 71 flow down the return gutter 74 and are returned to the storage tank 3.

On the other hand, of the 10 rows of pachinko balls that fall in the drop passage 24, the two rows on the left and right sides are guided to the back side feeding passage 22 by the rail members 31 provided on the lower side of the drop passage 24. As shown in FIG. 8 (side view showing the rail member 31), the rail member 31 has a shape curved in a substantially arc shape when viewed from the side, and FIG. 9 (front view showing the rail member 31: As shown in the view from the direction of the arrow F), one belt (two in total) is arranged and fixed on each of the left and right ends of the belt B. The rail member 31 is provided with two grooves 31a each having a substantially semicircular cross section and adapted to the size of the pachinko ball T. In addition, the upper end portion 31b of the rail member 31 is located at a position corresponding to two rows on the left and right sides of the ten rows of pachinko balls T 1 that fall in the drop passage 24. Therefore, the pachinko balls T falling in the two rows on the left and right sides enter the groove 31a of the rail member 31 and roll down along the groove 31a. Further, as is clear from FIG. 9, the rail member 31 is curved so that its lower end portion 31c is directed toward the inside of the belt B, and as shown in FIG. It is located right below. Therefore, the pachinko ball T that has rolled down the rail member 31 is guided between the pumping section B1 and the lower end 21a of the ball polishing skin 21, and is sandwiched between the pumping section B1 and the ball polishing skin 21 and lifted. It is sent and polished.

The pachinko balls T thus pumped and polished in the back side lifting path 22 fall again by the guide cylinder 33 (see FIG. 1) provided on the upper side of the back side lifting path 22. It is led to the passage 24. As shown in FIG. 10 (A) (side view showing a part of the guide tube 33 cut away) and FIG. 10 (B) (bottom view thereof), the guide tube 33 has a substantially arc shape when viewed from the side. It is a curved tubular body. The discharged pachinko balls T enter the substantially square-shaped opening (ball entrance) 33b facing the back side lifting passage 22 and pass through the internal passage 33d of the guide cylinder 33. As shown in FIG. 10 (B), the opening 33b has a width sufficient to receive a total of four rows of pachinko balls T that have been pumped in the back side lifting passage 22. Then, the pachinko ball T which has passed through the internal passage 33d jumps out from the opening portion (ball outlet) 33c located right above the ball polishing skin 23 and falls between the descending portion B2 of the belt B and the ball polishing skin 23. Here, as is clear from FIG. 10C (a front view showing the opening 33c of the guide cylinder 33), the opening 33c is substantially square-shaped and has a width of six pachinko balls. There is. Therefore, the pachinko balls T that have jumped out of the opening 33c are guided to the positions of the central 6 rows of the drop passage 24.

Next, the operation of the ball polishing machine 1 as described above will be described with reference to the flow of pachinko balls T on the pachinko island S. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko balls T flowing out from the storage tank 3 through the passage 44 pass through the curved passage 45 below the lower roller 11, and pass through the polishing cloth 17 of the polishing guide portion 15 and the lifting portion B1. Guided in between. Then, this pachinko ball T is sandwiched between the polishing cloth 17 and the lifting portion B1 of the belt B and rubbed up, and is lifted and polished by a distance L in the front lifting path 18. Since the pachinko balls T are hoisted along the seven grooves 53b of the guide rail 53 in the front-side hoisting passage 18, a total of seven rows of pachinko balls T are hoisted and polished. The seven rows of pachinko balls T thus pumped and polished pass through the curved passage 47 and are discharged from the ball outlet 48 into the supply tank 5. In this way, while the ball polishing machine 1 is in operation, a fixed amount of pachinko balls T can be constantly pumped and polished through the front pumping path 18 and supplied to the supply tank 5.

The pachinko balls T that have been pumped to the replenishment tank 5 flow down the inclined replenishment gutter 73 in the tank 5, and the replenishment ball outlets 75 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. (See FIG. 5). The outflowed pachinko balls T flow down the gutter 81 and are supplied to a pachinko machine P, a ball lending machine (not shown) or the like in the pachinko island S.

On the other hand, when a sufficient amount of pachinko balls T are replenished to each pachinko machine P and the amount of the pachinko balls T flowing out from the replenishment ball outlet 75 becomes small, as shown in FIG. The amount of the pachinko balls T in the inside increases, and the height of the pachinko balls T reaches the height of the inflow tube 25. Then, the surplus pachinko balls T (surplus balls) come to fall through the inflow tube 25. The surplus balls fall on the inclined surface 27a of the guide passage 27 and roll down, and are guided to the fall passage 24 of the ball polishing machine 1 and fall. As described above, in the drop passage 24, a maximum of 10 rows of pachinko balls T fall.

As shown in FIG. 1, among the 10 rows of pachinko balls that fall in the drop passage 24, the pachinko balls T that drop in the central 6 rows are the ball receiving boxes below the drop passage 24 as they are. It is dropped and stored in 71, flows down the return gutter 74, and is returned to the storage tank 3. In addition to the surplus balls that are returned in this manner, balls (out-out balls) that have been driven into the pachinko machine P by a player, etc. are provided in the storage tank 3 at the bottom of the pachinko machine P. Collected by gutter 77 and returned.

On the other hand, the pachinko balls T falling in two rows on the left and right sides (four rows in total) of the drop path 24 are guided to the back side feeding path 22 by the rail member 31. Then, it is sandwiched between the ball-polishing skin 21 and the back surface side of the feeding portion B1 and rubbed up, and is fed and polished by a distance of about L / 2. Then, all the four rows of pachinko balls that have passed through the back-side lifting passage 22 pass through the guide cylinder 33 and are guided to the position of the central six rows of the drop passage 24 and fall. Therefore, these pachinko balls T are not guided to the backside feeding path 22 by the rail member 31, but fall into the ball receiving box 71 as they are and are returned to the storage tank 3. In other words, the pachinko balls T that have fallen in the two rows on the left and right sides of the drop passage 24 are always guided to the back side feeding path 22 for being lifted and polished, but are repeatedly guided to the back side feeding path 22. There is no chance of being burned.

In this embodiment, since the small projection 27g (see FIG. 6) is provided at the ball outlet 27e of the guide passage 27, the pachinko balls T are given priority at the two rows on the left and right sides of the drop passage 24. Can be guided. Therefore, even when the amount of surplus balls is small, the surplus balls can always be guided to the back side feeding path 22 to carry out lifting and polishing, and the polishing efficiency can be improved.

Here, the flow of the pachinko balls T as described above will be collectively described with reference to FIG. As indicated by the white arrow (lifting), the pachinko balls T from the storage tank 3 are fed and polished in a total of 7 rows through the front side feeding path 18. On the other hand, as indicated by the black arrow (fall), the excess balls from the replenishment tank 5 drop through the drop passage 24 in a total of 10 rows. Of the 10 rows of pachinko balls that drop, 4 rows are guided to the back side feeding path 22 on the back side of the feeding section B1 and are fed and polished. On the other hand, the remaining 6 rows are dropped as they are and returned to the storage tank 3. In addition, the pachinko balls T that have passed through the back-side lifting passage 22 are again guided to the falling passage 24, fall, and are returned to the storage tank 3.

As described above in detail, in the ball-polishing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the polishing cloth 17 is arranged and opposed to the front surface side of the feeding portion B 1 of the belt B, and the back surface of the same feeding portion B 1 is arranged. Ball polishing 21 is also arranged on the side, and pachinko balls are pumped and polished on both the front and back sides of the pumping section B1. Therefore, the following remarkable effects can be obtained.

There is an effect that the efficiency of ball polishing is improved. In other words, in this embodiment, the ball polishing is performed by utilizing both the front and back sides of the feeding section B1 of the belt B, and therefore, compared to the conventional device that polishes a pachinko ball only on one side of the belt. , More pachinko balls will be polished, and the efficiency of ball polishing will be improved.

By improving the efficiency of ball polishing, it is possible to set the distance L of the front feeding path 18 to be short, so that there is an effect that the height of the apparatus can be reduced and the apparatus can be downsized. That is, in the present embodiment, since ball polishing is performed on both front and back surfaces of the lifting section B1, even if the distance L of the front lifting path 18 is made shorter than that of the conventional apparatus, it is the same as that of the conventional apparatus. It is possible to obtain a high polishing efficiency. Therefore, the height of the ball polisher 1 can be reduced.

With the miniaturization of such a device, the following advantages (a) to (c) are brought about. (A) The manufacturing cost of the ball polishing machine 1 can be reduced. In addition, the equipment on the pachinko island S where the ball polishing machine 1 is installed can be downsized, and in this respect as well, the cost can be reduced.

(B) The height H (see FIG. 1) at which the ball polishing machine 1 projects above the pachinko island S can be suppressed, and the player can be given an aesthetically pleasing impression. (C) Various types of maintenance and inspection work become easy. In other words, if the height of the device is high, for example, maintenance / inspection work such as replacement and cleaning of the polishing cloth 17 and the ball-polished skins 21 and 23 cannot be easily performed, but by lowering the height of the device, Such inconvenience can be resolved.

Since the pachinko balls (balls that have been lifted and polished) on the back side of the lifting portion B1 play a role of a roller for smoothing the traveling of the belt B, as in the conventional case, It is not necessary to provide many rollers on the back surface side of the portion B1. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in addition to the above effects, the following effects (1) to (4) are achieved.

It is no longer necessary to provide an overflow hose (a hose for returning surplus balls of the supply tank 5 to the storage tank 3) in the pachinko island S, which simplifies the equipment of the pachinko island S and saves space. There is an effect that can be achieved. In other words, in this embodiment, since the ball-polishing skin 23 is disposed as the drop guide member on the rear surface side of the descending portion B2 of the belt B, the excess pachinko balls T ( The surplus ball can be dropped through the space between the descending portion B2 and the ball-polishing skin 23 (falling passage 24) and returned to the storage tank 3. As a result, it is not necessary to install an overflow hose in the pachinko island S, so that it is possible to reduce the number of parts of equipment on the pachinko island S. Also, other equipment can be installed at the place where the overflow hose was conventionally provided.

There is an effect that it is possible to reduce the falling noise when dropping the surplus balls in the supply tank 5. That is, in this embodiment, since the surplus balls are dropped along the belt B (the descending portion B2), the drop sound of the surplus balls can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the ball-polishing skin 23 as a drop guide member is provided on the back surface side of the descending portion B2. Therefore, as compared with the case where the ball-polishing skin 23 is provided on the front side of the descending portion B2, the device becomes compact and the sound deadening effect is enhanced. Since the ball-polishing skin 23 is used as the drop guide member, the ball-polishing can be performed at the same time when the excess balls are dropped and transferred, and the ball-polished efficiency is further improved.

Since the bearing 61 as a regulating member is provided on the rear surface side of the lifting portion B1, even if there is no pachinko ball T in the back lifting path 22, the pachinko balls in the front lifting path 18 are not provided. By firmly sandwiching T between the lifting section B1 and the polishing cloth 17, the pachinko ball T can be reliably lifted and polished.

In this embodiment, since the bearing 61 is used as the restricting member, the belt B can be run smoothly. Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be implemented in various modes.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, seven rows of pachinko balls T are pumped up on the front-side lifting passage 18 and four rows of pachinko balls T are transported on the back-side lifting passage 22, and ten rows of pachinko balls T are fed through the falling passage 24. However, the number of these columns is not particularly limited, and can be appropriately changed according to the situation.

Further, although the ball-polishing machine 1 of the above-mentioned embodiment also serves as a pumping device, the ball-polishing machine of the present invention may not also serve as a pumping device. That is, for example, the pachinko balls T can be polished by disposing polishing members on both front and back surfaces of a belt that runs in the horizontal direction.

[0073]

[Effect of device]

 As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the ball polishing can be performed by utilizing both the front and back surfaces of the belt, so that the efficiency of the ball polishing can be improved and the device can be downsized. It has a great effect. In particular, in the device that also serves as a lifter as in the inventions of claims 2 and 3, the height of the device is lowered by utilizing the front and back surfaces of the belt to improve the efficiency of ball polishing. be able to.

According to the invention of claim 4, the game ball can be dropped by passing it between the descending portion of the belt and the drop guide member. As a result, when the game ball is dropped to a predetermined place as necessary, it is not necessary to separately provide a member such as a hose for dropping the game ball, so that there is an effect that space saving of the equipment can be achieved. . Moreover, since the game balls are dropped along the belt, the drop sound can be reduced.

Further, in the invention of claim 5, the lower guiding member can guide the game ball dropping along the belt between the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt and the polishing member. As a result, it is possible to polish the front and back surfaces of the lifting portion of the belt and efficiently polish the game balls.

Further, in the invention of claim 6, by providing the upper guide member, the game balls that are pumped and polished through the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt are provided in the descending portion of the belt and the fall guide member. You can drop it by guiding it in between. Therefore, it is possible to gently drop the game balls that have been pumped and polished on the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt along the descending portion of the belt to a predetermined location.

Further, in the invention of claim 7, by providing the upper side guide passage and the lower side guide passage, the surplus game balls in the upper side storage tank of the island are separated from the descending part of the belt and the falling guide member. It can be returned to the storage tank on the lower side of the island by guiding it during the period. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an overflow hose for dropping the game balls from the upper side storage tank to the lower side storage tank, so that the structure of the island facility can be simplified and space saving can be achieved. Further, there is an effect that the falling sound of the game ball can be reduced.

Further, in the invention of claim 8, the drop guide member is provided on the back surface side of the descending portion of the belt, so that the ball polisher becomes compact and the effect of silencing the drop sound is further enhanced. There is. Further, the invention of claim 9 uses the polishing member as the drop guide member. Therefore, the balls can be polished at the same time when the game balls are dropped / transferred, which has the effect of further improving the efficiency of the balls.

Further, in the invention of claim 10, by providing the regulating member for regulating the displacement of the belt to the back side by a predetermined amount or more, even when there is no game ball on the back side of the belt, the game is played. The balls can be reliably sandwiched between the surface of the belt and the polishing member. Therefore, on the front side of the belt, it is possible to reliably lift and polish the game balls.

Further, in the invention of claim 11, since the bearing is used as the regulating member, in addition to the effect of claim 10, there is an effect that the belt can be smoothly run.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the outline of the overall configuration of a ball-polishing machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing the arrangement of polishing members and the flow of pachinko balls in the ball polishing machine of the embodiment.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a guide rail.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the upper side of the ball polishing machine.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a guide passage, FIG.
6B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration of a guide passage, (A)
6B is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG. 6B, and FIG.
FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view showing a rail member.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a rail member.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing the configuration of the guide tube, (A)
Is a front view showing a part of the guide tube in a cutaway manner, (B) is a bottom view of the guide tube, and (C) is a front view showing an opening (ball outlet) of the guide tube.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the ball-polishing machine according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side view showing a conventional ball polishing machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ball polishing machine 3 ... Storage tank 5 ... Replenishment tank 15 ... Polishing guide part 17 ... Polishing cloth 18 ... Front side feeding passage 21, 23 ... Ball polishing 22 ... Back side feeding passage 24 ... Drop passage 25 ... Inflow pipe 27 ... Guide passage 31 ... Rail member 33 ... Guide tube 53 ... Guide rail 61 ... Bearing 63 ... Mounting member 71 ... Ball receiving box 73 ... Supply gutter 74 ... Gutter

Claims (13)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An endless belt driven in a predetermined direction,
A ball polishing machine for a game ball, comprising: a polishing member arranged to face the belt, and sandwiching the game ball between the belt driven in the predetermined direction and the polishing member. A ball-polishing machine for game balls, characterized in that the abrading member is arranged on the front surface and the back surface of the belt to polish the game balls. 2. The ball polishing machine for game balls according to claim 1, wherein the ball polishing machine also functions as a lifting machine. 3. A game ball is polished and hoisted on both front and back surfaces of the hoisting portion by disposing the abrasive members on both front and back surfaces of the hoisting portion that runs in the hoisting direction of the belt. The ball polishing machine for game balls according to claim 2, wherein 4. A drop guide member is provided to face a descending portion of the belt that travels downward so that a game ball is dropped between the descending portion of the belt and the fall guide member. The ball polishing machine for game balls according to claim 3, characterized in that. 5. A lower guide member for guiding at least a part of the game balls falling between the descending portion of the belt and the fall guide member between the back surface of the lifting portion of the belt and the polishing member. 5. The ball polishing machine for a game ball according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the falling game ball is lifted and polished on the back side of the lift portion of the belt. 6. A belt is provided by providing an upper guide member for guiding a game ball that has been pumped and polished through the back surface side of the lifting portion of the belt, between the descending portion of the belt and the drop guide member. 6. A ball polishing machine for a game ball according to claim 5, wherein the game ball lifted and polished through the back surface side of the game ball is dropped through a portion between the descending portion of the belt and the drop guide member. 7. A surplus game ball out of the game balls in an upper side storage tank provided on the upper side of an island where a plurality of game machines are arranged in a row, a descending portion of the belt, and the fall guide member. Between the lower part of the belt and the drop guide member, the lower side guide path for guiding the game ball dropped between the lower part of the island and the lower storage tank provided on the lower side of the island, 7. A ball polishing machine for game balls according to claim 4, wherein said ball polishing machine is provided. 8. The ball polishing machine for gaming balls according to claim 4, wherein the drop guide member is provided on the back surface side of the descending portion of the belt. 9. The ball polishing machine for gaming balls according to claim 4, wherein the drop guide member is a polishing member. 10. A ball-polishing machine for game balls according to claim 1, further comprising a restricting member for restricting a displacement of the belt toward the back surface by a predetermined amount or more. 11. The ball polisher for a game ball according to claim 10, wherein the restricting member is a bearing. 12. The ball polishing machine for gaming balls according to claim 1, wherein the polishing member is a polishing cloth. 13. The ball polishing machine for gaming balls according to claim 1, wherein the polishing member is a ball polishing leather.