JP3842114B2 - Earth device for ball game machines - Google Patents

Earth device for ball game machines Download PDF

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JP3842114B2
JP3842114B2 JP2001365786A JP2001365786A JP3842114B2 JP 3842114 B2 JP3842114 B2 JP 3842114B2 JP 2001365786 A JP2001365786 A JP 2001365786A JP 2001365786 A JP2001365786 A JP 2001365786A JP 3842114 B2 JP3842114 B2 JP 3842114B2
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ball
game
passage
prize ball
board
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JP2003164637A (en
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昌幸 吉成
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Sammy Corp
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Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、パチンコ機に代表される弾球遊技機に関し、さらに詳しくは、遊技球が通る球通路にこの球通路を通過する遊技球が接触するように設けられた導電部材と、一端が導電部材に接続され他端がアース電位に地落されるアース線とからなり、帯電した遊技球の電荷を放出させるアース装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
パチンコ機やアレンジボール機等の弾球遊技機では、遊技球として鉄系合金を主体とした金属材料が使用されているが、この遊技球が移動する遊技球の貯留タンクや給排出路等にはＡＢＳ樹脂やポリアセタール樹脂、ポリカーボネート樹脂等の樹脂材料が多用されており、遊技球がこれらの部材と接触し擦り合って移動する間に静電気を帯びやすく、また一旦帯電するとその電位を保持しやすいという特性がある。
【０００３】
一方、近年の弾球遊技機は、遊技の趣向性を向上させるためいわゆるマイコン遊技機やデジタル遊技機といわれる遊技機が主流になっており、遊技機内部にはマイクロプロセッサを搭載した主制御基板をはじめ、表示制御基板、音声制御基板、打球発射装置制御器盤等の多種多様な電子制御回路が搭載されている。これらの電子制御回路は、一般的に、短周期・高ピーク電圧のパルス状ノイズに極めて弱く、何等の静電対策をも行わない場合には、遊技球が蓄積した静電気が絶縁破壊により気中放電して発生する静電気ノイズによって制御上の誤動作が生じたり、回路に搭載されたＩＣチップが破損するなど種々の障害を発生するおそれがある。
【０００４】
このため、近年の弾球遊技機では、遊技球の電位があまり高くならないうちに電荷をアースさせ、静電気を蓄積させないようにするアース装置が遊技球移動経路の要所ごとに設けられている。アース装置は、遊技球が通る球通路にこの球通路を通過する遊技球が接触するように設けられたアース金具と、一端が上記アース金具に接続され他端が遊技機のアース端子や遊技施設のアース端子に接続されたアース線とからなり、帯電した遊技球がアース金具と接触したときに電荷を放出させてアース電位に地落させるように構成されている。
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、従来のアース装置では、遊技球の通路に配設されたアース金具とアース線との接続はねじを用いて行われていた。すなわち、アース線の端部に一般には丸形圧着端子を圧着接続し、この圧着端子をねじを用いて固定することによりアース金具と電気的、機械的に接続させていた。このため、アース線が接続された部材を保守点検等で着脱交換等する際には、逐一ねじを緩めて部材交換を行い、交換後に再びねじを締めてアース線を接続させる必要があり、作業が繁雑であるという問題や、ねじを紛失させやすいという問題があった。
【０００６】
また、多数のアース線を接続する場合には、複数の丸形端子を共締めして接続することがよく行われている。しかし、このような接続では、組み付け作業が容易でなく時間がかかるばかりでなく、一本のアース線を交換するために全体を分解して再度付け直しをしなければならないという問題があった。また、このような接続を回避するため各アース金具を直列に接続するとすれば、部品交換が煩雑となるうえに、末端側のアース線の接続を忘れて有効にアースされない状態が生じ得るという問題があった。
【０００７】
本発明はこのような問題に鑑みて成されたものであり、簡便かつローコストな構成でアース金具の着脱交換や配線作業等を容易に行うことができるアース装置を提供し、もって生産性や保守性に優れた弾球遊技機を提供すること目的とする。
【０００８】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的達成のため、本発明は、枠部材と、この枠部材の裏面側に開閉自在に取り付けられた裏セット盤と、枠部材または裏セット盤に取り付けられた遊技盤と、裏セット盤の上部に取り付けられて遊技球を貯留するタンク部材と、タンク部材に下方に位置して配設され、遊技盤における所定の入賞状態に基づいてタンク部材に貯留された遊技球を払い出す賞球払出装置と、タンク部材と賞球払出装置との間に設けられてタンクに貯留された遊技球を賞球払い出し装置に導く球通路と、球通路に近接して裏セット盤の後面側に設けられ、遊技機の作動状態を遊技施設側に出力するターミナル基板とを備える弾球遊技機において、球通路には、仕切壁を挟む前後に遊技球を導く案内溝を有して裏セット盤の後面側に配設される通路部材および当該通路部材の後方を覆って裏セット盤に取り付けられる蓋部材を有するとともに、蓋部材の後面に沿って配設される基板部、基板部から前方に屈曲成形された接触板、および基板部から後方に屈曲されたうえ基板部と平行に曲げ戻されて複数の接続端子が形成されたアース金具と、一端に接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が接続されてアース金具にコネクタ接続され他端がターミナル基板を介してアース電位に地落されるアース線と、一端に接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が接続されてアース金具にコネクタ接続され他端が遊技球の通る他の通路に配設されたアース金具に接続された他のアース線とを備え、アース金具は、蓋部材が通路部材の後方を覆って取り付けられるときに接触板が前後の案内溝に突出して遊技球と接触可能に配設されて当該蓋部材とともに裏セット盤に固定され、複数の接続端子が裏セット盤の後面側に視認可能に配設されるように弾球遊技機のアース装置が構成される。
【０００９】
上記構成のアース装置では、アース金具に複数の接続端子が形成され、アース線には一端にアース金具の接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が固着されてアース金具に接続され、他端がターミナル基板を介してアース電位に地落されている。また、他のアース線には一端にアース金具の接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が固着されてアース金具に接続され、他端が遊技球の通る他の通路に配設されたアース金具に接続されている。アース金具とアース線との接続はアース線のコネクタ部材をアース金具の接続端子に嵌合接続させることにより行われ、取り外しはコネクタ接続を解除することにより行われる。
【００１０】
このため、アース金具を保守点検等で着脱交換する際や蓋部材を取り外して点検等を行う際には、アース線のコネクタ部材をアース金具の接続端子に嵌脱させるだけでよく、組立や保守作業を容易に行うことができるとともに、従来アース線を固定していたねじを紛失させる等の心配もない。また、アース金具に複数の接続端子が形成され、ここに他のアース金具のアース線がコネクタ接続されて、このアース金具を介してアース電位に地落される構成、すなわち中継端子としての機能を兼ね備えていることから、複数のアース線を迅速かつ容易に着脱させることができるアース装置を構成することができる。さらに、複数の接続端子が裏セット盤の後面側に視認可能に配設されているため、接続されていないアース線が一目瞭然であり、末端側のアース線の接続を忘れるようなこともなく、確実にアースを確保できるアース装置を提供することができる。なお、アース線に接続されるコネクタ部材およびこれに嵌脱自在に接続する接続端子からなるコネクタの型式は特に限定されるものではないが、例えば、平型のオス・メス差込端子を用い、アース線に接続されるコネクタ部材としてメス側の差込端子を圧着固定し、アース金具の端部をオス側の差込端子形状とすることにより、簡単かつローコストな構成で嵌脱自在に接続するアース装置を構成することができる。
なお、アース金具は、接触板が基板部からそれぞれ前方に屈曲成形された第１接触板および第２接触板からなるとともに、基板部から前方に屈曲成形された掛止片部を有し、蓋部材には、第１接触板および第２接触板をそれぞれ前後に挿通させる二つのスリット孔と、掛止辺部を側縁に沿って掛止させる掛止斜辺とを有し、第１接触板および第２接触板をそれぞれ二つのスリット孔に挿通し、掛止辺部を掛止斜辺に掛止させて蓋部材を裏セット盤に固定したときに、アース金具が位置決めされて裏セット盤に固定されるように構成することが好ましい。
また、上記アース装置において、通路部材が配設される裏セット盤の後面側に、後方に突出して円柱状のボスが複数立設され、通路部材には、複数のボスと位置整合して各ボスとそれぞれ係脱自在な円筒状の円筒支持部が複数形成され、蓋部材の前面側には、複数のボスと位置整合して各ボスとそれぞれ係脱自在な有底円筒状の被支持部が複数形成され、裏セット盤の後面側に立設した複数のボスに複数の円筒支持部を係合させ、複数のボスの後端部に複数の被支持部を係合させたときに、通路部材と蓋部材とが裏セット盤に位置決めされ、蓋部材の後面側からアース金具および蓋部材に形成された孔部を通してネジをボスの後端に螺合締結したときに、通路部材、蓋部材およびアース金具が位置決めされて裏セット盤に固定されるように構成することが好ましい。
【００１１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の好ましい実施形態について添付図面を参照しながら説明する。実施例では本発明に係る弾球遊技機の代表例としてパチンコ機を採り上げ、このパチンコ機の裏セット盤に本発明を適用した場合を主として説明する。まず、本発明が適用されるパチンコ機ＰＭについてその概要構成を図１から図５を参照して要約説明する。ここで、図１はパチンコ機ＰＭを正面から見た正面図、図２はパチンコ機ＰＭを裏面から見た背面図（遊技盤の裏面構成を記載省略している）、図３は裏セット盤ＢＳＰから各種回路基盤やカバー類を取り外した状態で示す背面図、図４はさらに裏セット盤を取り外した状態で遊技盤２０の裏面構成を示す背面図、図５はパチンコ機ＰＭから遊技盤２０を取り外した状態で裏セット盤の表面側を示す斜視図である。
【００１２】
パチンコ機ＰＭは、外郭方形枠サイズに構成されて縦向きの固定保持枠を成す外枠１の開口前面に、これに合わせた方形枠サイズに構成されて開閉搭載用の前枠２が互いの正面左側上下に配設されたヒンジ部材３ａ，３ｂにより横開き開閉および着脱可能に取り付けられ、正面右側に設けられた施錠装置４を利用して外枠１と係合された閉鎖状態で遊技に供される。
【００１３】
前枠２の正面側には、前枠２の前側面域に合わせた方形状のガラス扉５および上球皿６がともに横開き開閉及び着脱が可能に組付けられており、施錠装置４および図示しないロック機構を利用して前枠２の前面を覆う閉止状態で保持される。上球皿６には払い出された遊技球を貯留して整列させる球皿部６ａが設けられるとともに、球皿部に貯留する遊技球を下球皿７に排出させる球抜きレバー６ｂが設けられている。前枠２の下部には球皿部７ａおよび球出口７ｅを有する下球皿７が設けられ、この下球皿７と並んで遊技球の発射操作を行う操作ハンドル８が取り付けられている。
【００１４】
前枠２の裏側には、この前枠２と一体に方形枠状の収容枠２ａが成形されており、この収容枠２ａに所定のゲージ設定で構成された遊技盤２０が複数の係合レバー１７，１７…により着脱交換可能にセット保持される。収容枠２ａは遊技盤２０をセット保持したときに、遊技盤２０の前面が閉鎖状態にあるガラス扉５のガラス板と所定間隔をおいて対向するように構成されており、遊技盤面とガラス板内面との間に遊技球が落下移動する遊技領域空間が形成される。
【００１５】
また、前枠２の裏側下部には打球発射装置９が取り付けられ、前枠２における収容枠２ａの下部に前枠２と一体に遊技補助盤１０が形成されている。なお、遊技補助盤１０の表側には打球発射装置９のハンマーと位置整合して遊技球を遊技盤の外レールに向けて発射する発射レールや、効果音を発生するスピーカ等が取り付けられている。遊技補助盤１０は上球皿６の裏側に位置し、常には閉鎖状態に保持される上球皿６によりその表面側が覆われている。
【００１６】
収容枠２ａの裏側に球貯留供給機構４０や賞球払出機構５０等を有する裏セット盤ＢＳＰが上下のヒンジ１８，１８で横開き開閉及び着脱が可能に装備され、常には閉鎖レバー１９，１９…を用いて遊技盤２０の裏面を覆うように閉鎖保持される。裏セット盤ＢＳＰの各部には、このパチンコ機の作動を統括的に制御する主制御基板９１や、賞球の払出制御を行う賞球制御基板９２、効果照明や効果音の作動制御を行うランプ・音声制御基板９３、各制御基板や電子部品に所定の電力を供給する電源基板９４、複数のコネクタが取り付けられて制御信号や電力の中継を行う中継基板９５、遊技機の作動状態を遊技施設側に出力するためのターミナル基板９６等の各種基板や賞球カセット５３などの電子部品が取り付けられ、各機器が図示しないワイヤーハーネスで接続される。パチンコ機ＰＭは、全体が所要の後傾角度（例えば、１度以内の後傾角）で遊技施設の遊技島に縦向きに保持される。
【００１７】
パチンコ機ＰＭは、上球皿６およびガラス扉５が閉止施錠された状態（図１に示す状態）で遊技に供され、球皿部６ａに遊技球を貯留させて操作ハンドル８を回動操作することにより遊技が開始される。操作ハンドル８の操作レバーが回動操作されると、球皿部６ａに貯留する遊技球が図示省略する球送り装置によって１球ずつ発射レール上に送り出され、打球発射装置９のハンマーに打ち出されて遊技盤２０の外レール２２ａに沿って遊技領域ＰＡに導かれ、以降パチンコゲームが展開される。
【００１８】
このように概要構成されるパチンコ機ＰＭについて、以降では各部の構成をもう少し詳しく説明する。遊技盤２０は所定板厚の積層合板の表面にセルが貼り付けられた化粧板２１の前面側に、ステンレス鋼板等を利用した帯状の外レール２２ａおよび内レール２２ｂ（これらを合わせて案内レール２２と称する）が固設され、この案内レール２２に囲まれた内側に遊技領域ＰＡが区画される。遊技領域ＰＡ内には多数本の遊技釘とともに、複数の風車２３、一般入賞具２４や始動入賞具２５並びにアタッカー装置２６などの入賞具、周囲に飾り部を有した図柄表示装置２８などが設けられている。
【００１９】
一般入賞具２４は、遊技球が落入可能な入賞孔を有し、ここに入賞した遊技球を検出する入賞球検出センサ（具体的には、遊技球の通過を磁気的、光学的または電気的手段等により検出するセンサ）が取り付けられている。一般入賞具２４の後側には化粧板２１を貫通するセーフ球通路孔２４ｈが設けられており、一般入賞具２４に入賞したセーフ球はセーフ球通路孔２４ｈを通って遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。
【００２０】
始動入賞具２５は、いわゆる電動チューリップ構成の入賞具からなり、左右のチューリップ羽根を開閉させることができる。この始動入賞具２５にも入賞した遊技球を検出する入賞球検出センサが取り付けられるとともに、その後側に化粧板２１を貫通するセーフ球通路孔（不図示）が設けられており、始動入賞具２５に入賞したセーフ球はセーフ球通路孔を通って遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。
【００２１】
アタッカー装置２６は、中央に横長方形状の開口からなる大入賞口を有し、この大入賞口を開閉自在に覆って開閉扉が取り付けられている。開閉扉は通常閉止されており、遊技中において所定の遊技条件の下で特別遊技状態が成立したときに、開閉扉が前方にほぼ９０度倒されて大入賞口が開放される。大入賞口内には左右二つの入賞口が設けられ、それぞれに入賞球検出センサが取り付けられるとともに、このアタッカー装置２６の後側に上記二つの入賞口に繋がって化粧板２１を貫通する二つのセーフ球通路孔２６ｈ，２６ｈが設けられている。大入賞口から入ったセーフ球はセーフ球通路孔２６ｈ，２６ｈを通って遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。
【００２２】
各入賞具２４，２５，２６に遊技球が入賞すると、各入賞具に取り付けられた入賞球検出センサによって入賞したセーフ球が検出され、その入賞具の種類や遊技状況に応じた所定数の賞球が後述する賞球払出機構５０から上球皿６もしくは下球皿７に払い出される。また、図柄表示装置２８は遊技盤の前面側に液晶表示パネルを有しており、遊技盤２０の裏面側に取り付けられた画像制御基板９７により制御されて遊技状況に応じた種々の表示がなされる。
【００２３】
遊技領域ＰＡの最下部には、入賞具２４，２５，２６に入賞せずに落下したアウト球を集合して排出させるアウト口２７が設けられている。アウト口２７の後側には化粧板２１を貫通してアウト球通路孔２７ｈが形成されており、アウト口２７に集められたアウト球がアウト球通路孔２７ｈを通って遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。化粧板２１の裏側にはセーフ球通路孔２４ｈ，２６ｈおよびアウト球通路孔２７ｈの裏側を覆い所定間隔をおいて不正防止用の裏カバー２９が固定され化粧盤裏面との間に排出空間を形成している。裏カバー２９の下端は開放されており、セーフ球通路孔およびアウト球通路孔を通って遊技盤２０の裏面に排出された遊技済み球が上記排出空間を化粧板２１の裏面に沿って下方に落下する。
【００２４】
遊技盤２０の背後に位置し、上下のヒンジ１８を利用して横開き開閉自在に取り付けられる裏セット盤ＢＳＰは、常には閉鎖レバー１９を用いて遊技盤２０の裏面を覆うように閉鎖保持される。裏セット盤ＢＳＰは、全体として収容枠２ａの背面外郭サイズよりも幾分大きめの縦長方形形状を成し、中央に遊技盤２０から突出する画像制御基板９７を受容する窓口３１を有して一体成形された基枠体３０をベースとして構成される。なお、以降では裏セット盤ＢＳＰの構成を主として説明するため、説明の便宜上、図３に示す背面図における左右方向を左方または右方と称し、紙面直交方向の向こう側（パチンコ機前面側）を前方、手前側（同裏面側）を後方と称して説明する。
【００２５】
裏セット盤を構成する基枠体３０には、窓口３１の上部に装備されて予備賞球の貯留・供給処理を行う球貯留供給機構４０や、窓口３１の右側方に装備されて賞球の払い出し処理を行う賞球払出機構５０などの機構構成部品が取り付けられるとともに、賞球払出機構５０の下方に位置して同機構５０から払い出された賞球を上下の球皿６，７に排出するための賞球払出経路６０、窓口３１の下方に位置して遊技盤２０から排出されるアウト球およびセーフ球（これらをまとめて「遊技済み球」という）を遊技施設側の回収バケットに排出させる遊技済み球排出経路７０などが形成されている。
【００２６】
また、基枠体３０の裏面各部には、前述した各回路基盤が取り付けられる平坦な基板取り付け部８１，８２，８３，８５等が一体成形されており、基板ケースや基板ベースに固定された各回路基盤９１，９２，９３，９５等が、それぞれの基板ケースまたは基板ベースにおけるベース部材の背面に形成されたケース側係合部と、基枠体側の基板取り付け部に形成された基枠側係合部とを利用して着脱交換自在に装備される。
【００２７】
基枠体３０の上部に取り付けられる球貯留供給機構４０は、予備賞球用のタンク部材４１、タンク部材４１内に貯留された予備賞球を整列して流下させる整列樋部材４２を有して構成される。タンク部材４１は、取付姿勢において上面が開放されるとともに底面が緩く左傾および前傾された箱状体をなし、底面の左前方に形成された開口部で整列樋部材４２の予備賞球通路と連通している。
【００２８】
整列樋部材４２は、基枠体３０にねじ止めされた取付姿勢において、前後の壁面に囲まれた樋状体をなし、底面に左右方向に延びて立設されたリブ状の仕切壁４２ｗにより、この樋内に前後二列の予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂを形成する。（図１７および図１８を参照）。整列樋部材４２はタンク部材４１側から賞球払出機構５０側に向けて緩く下傾して取り付けられ、タンク部材４１から供給された予備賞球を上記二列の予備賞球通路に整列させて流下させる。整列樋部材４２の傾斜端部すなわち予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂの終端部は下方に略直角に折り曲げられ、その下端に下方に向けて開口する偏向出口４３が形成されている。予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂの終端近傍には、この通路を流下する予備賞球の流れを停止可能な球止め機構４２０が設けられており、必要に応じて予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂを閉鎖して偏向出口４３から賞球払出装置５０への予備賞球の供給を停止させることができるようになっている。なお、球止め機構４２０の構成については遊技球の経路説明の後に詳述する。
【００２９】
賞球払出機構５０は、基枠体３０に支持され、偏向出口４３から送り出された予備賞球を受けて所定数量の予備賞球を前後二列の賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂに待機保持させる待機通路部材５２（図１３および図２２を参照）と、この待機通路部材５２下部の基枠体３０に取り付けられ、賞球待機通路に待機保持された予備賞球を所定の払出条件に基づいて払い出す賞球カセット５３、および基枠体３０に支持された待機通路部材５２をその取付面との間に挟持して上記二列の賞球待機通路を形成させる蓋部材５５（図１３参照）を主体として構成される。また、偏向出口４３と待機通路部材５２との間には、賞球として払い出すに充分な予備賞球が賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂに保持されているか否かを検出するための球切れ検出スイッチ５１が着脱可能に取り付けられ、賞球カセット５３の払出口と賞球払出経路６０との間には、払い出された賞球を検出する賞球検出センサ５４が係脱可能に設けられている。
【００３０】
賞球カセット５３は、上部中央に賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂと繋がって予備賞球を受容する受容口、下部の左右に賞球を払い出す払出口が設けられるとともに、カセットのケース内部に前後二段のインペラとこのインペラを回転させるモータおよび賞球を受容口から払出口に導くカセット内通路を有し、所定条件のもと賞球制御基盤９２から出力される払出指令信号に応じてモータを作動させ、インペラを時計回りまたは反時計回りに回転させて、指令信号に応じた数量の遊技球を右または左の払出口から賞球払出経路６０に払い出す。具体的には、入賞具２４，２５，２６等への遊技球の入賞状態や、いわゆるＣＲ機における球貸し操作等に基づいて賞球制御基板９２から出力される払出指令信号に応じてインペラを例えば反時計回りに回転作動させ、指令信号に応じた数量の遊技球を賞球として左側の払出口から賞球払出経路６０に払い出す。
【００３１】
なお、球切れ検出スイッチ５１の上部には疑似球有り状態創出機構５１０が、予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂと賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂとの間には球抜き機構５２０が、賞球カセット５３の取り付け部には賞球カセット取り付け機構５３０が、賞球検出センサ５４の取り付け部には払出賞球検出機構５４０が、蓋部材５５にはアース装置５５０がそれぞれ設けられているが、これらの各機構の構成および作用については、遊技球が流下する各経路の説明の後に詳述する。
【００３２】
賞球払出機構５０の下方に位置して賞球払出経路６０が形成され、この賞球払出経路６０と並んで遊技済み球排出経路７０が形成される。図３における窓口３１よりも下部の詳細図を図６に示し、図６中の矢印VII−VIIに沿った断面図を図７に、矢印VIII−VIIIに沿った断面図を図８に、矢印IX−IXに沿った断面図を図9に、矢印X−Xに沿った断面図を図１０に示す。
【００３３】
賞球払出経路６０は、上球皿６の球皿部６ａに通じる上球皿払出通路６１と、下球皿７の球皿部７ａに通じる下球皿払出通路６５とからなり、両通路は仕切壁６２で仕切られつつこの壁面６２の上部で連通し、一体となって賞球払出機構５０の出口（すなわち、賞球検出センサ５４の出口開口）に繋がっている。上球皿払出通路６１には、賞球カセット５３の下方に位置して賞球出口６１ｅが設けられており、賞球カセット５３から払い出された賞球は、上球皿払出通路６１を落下して賞球出口６１ｅから遊技補助盤１０の上部の通出口１０ｅ内に流れ、さらに上球皿６形成された通出樋６ｅを通って球皿部６ａに送り出される。賞球出口６１ｅの通路面、通出樋６ｅの通路面にはアース金具６１ｇおよび６ｇが取り付けられており、それぞれ図示しないアース線でパチンコ機ＰＭのアース端子に接続されている。
【００３４】
一方、下球皿払出通路６５には、基枠体３０と蓋部材３２とのそれぞれに、仕切壁６２の上端を通り背面視左方に下傾する迂回路６３ａ，６３ｂが形成されている。すなわち、基枠体３０には、仕切壁６２を越えて溢れ出ようとする賞球をスムーズに下球皿払出通路６５に導くべく、前方に突出して左方に傾斜した溝状の第１迂回路６３ａが形成され、蓋部材３２には、同様に賞球を下球皿払出通路６５に導くべく後方に突出して左方に傾斜した第２迂回路６３ｂが形成されている。
【００３５】
このため、上球皿６に貯留する賞球が一杯になって賞球出口６ｅから賞球を排出できなくなり、さらに仕切壁６２の上端まで賞球が充満した状態で賞球払い出し機構５０からさらに賞球が払い出されたときに、新たに払い出された賞球は仕切壁６２に堰き止められた賞球を乗り越えて下球皿払出通路６５に溢れ出るとともに、仕切壁６２の前後に設けられた第１迂回路６３ａおよび第２迂回路６３ｂを通って下球皿払出通路６５に至り、この下球皿払出通路６５を流下してその下端の排出開口６５ｅから排出される。
【００３６】
排出開口６５ｅの下方には、この排出開口６５ｅと対向する後方開口６８ａを有した賞球バケット６８が設けられている。賞球バケット６８は、全体として箱状を成し、その上部に突出形成された返し壁６８ｗを挟んで後方上面に後方開口６８ａ、前方上面に前方開口６８ｂを有し、左右並びに後部の壁面および前方下方に向けて傾斜する底面に囲まれたバケット空間６８ｓを形成する。賞球バケット６８は、前枠２の裏面下部に取り付けられており、バケット空間６８ｓの前方が前枠２に形成された球出口７ｅと連通して下球皿７の球皿部７ａに繋がっている。上方に開く後方開口６８ａは、裏セット盤ＢＳＰを前枠２に閉鎖した閉鎖姿勢において排出開口６５ｅの直下に位置するように形成されている。このため、排出開口６５ｅから排出された賞球は、賞球バケット６８の後方開口６８ａ、バケット空間６８ｓおよび球出口７ｅを通って下球皿７の球皿部７ａに送り出される。
【００３７】
下球皿払出通路６５の下部には、球詰まり検知レバー６６ａが捻りバネを利用して下球皿払出通路６５の内方に向けて付勢支持され、この検知レバー６６ａの角度位置を検出する球詰まり検知スイッチ６６ｂが図示のように配設されている。このため、下球皿７の球皿部７ａに賞球が一杯となり、球出口７ｅおよびバケット空間６８ｓに充満して、下球皿払出通路６５の下部にまで賞球が充満すると、球詰まり検知レバー６６ａが充満する賞球により通路外方に押圧されて揺動し、球詰まり検知スイッチ６６ｂの接点がオンまたはオフ作動されて賞球の充満状態を検出できるようになっている。
【００３８】
なお、基枠体３０には、賞球出口６１ｅの上方および左側方に、この出口の周囲を覆うように前方に突出するガード壁３３が設けられており、裏セット盤ＢＳＰを前枠２に閉鎖させた閉鎖姿勢において、ガード壁３３が遊技補助盤１０と遊技盤２０（化粧板２１）との間に形成されたガード壁受容空間に進入し、裏セット盤側の賞球出口６１ｅと遊技補助盤側の通出口１０ｅとの連絡部に隙間が生じないように配設される。このため、上球皿の通出樋６ｅ側から通出口１０ｅを通して裏セット盤ＢＳＰと遊技盤２０との間に針金や薄肉金属片等を侵入させ、入賞具の賞球検出センサ等に悪戯を行うような不正行為を未然に且つ有効に防止し、公正な遊技に供することができる。
【００３９】
また、賞球バケット６８における前方開口６８ｂと後方開口６８ａとの間には、上方に突出する返し壁６８ｗが立設されており、前方開口６８ｂの後壁となって基枠体３０の前端部を覆うようにオーバーラップして配設される。このため、下球皿の球出口７ｅから針金や薄肉金属片等を侵入させ、前方開口６８ｂから裏セット盤ＢＳＰと遊技補助盤１０との間に侵入させようとしても、この返し壁６８の存在によってこれらの間に侵入させることができず、従って、遊技盤裏面の賞球検出センサに悪戯を行う等の不正行為を未然に防止することができる。
【００４０】
なお、賞球バケット６８の前方開口６８ｂは遊技補助盤１０の前後を連通する集合回収口１６と繋がっている。集合回収口１６は遊技補助盤１０の前面側に形成されたファール球回収路や、通出樋６ｅに遊技球が充満している状態で上球皿６を開放したときに通出樋６ｅや通出口１０ｅからこぼれる賞球を受容して回収するこぼれ球回収路（ともに不図示）と繋がっており、これらの回収路を通って回収された遊技球が集合回収口１６および前方開口６８ｂを通ってバケット空間６８ｓに落下し、球出口７ｅから球皿部７ａに回収される。
【００４１】
また、集合回収口１６の前方には閉鎖姿勢にある上球皿６の球抜き口６ｃが位置している。上球皿６には球皿部６ａに貯留する遊技球を球抜き口６ｃに導く球抜き通路が形成されており、上球皿６に設けられた球抜きレバー６ｂが操作されたときに、球皿部６ａに貯留する遊技球が球抜き通路を通って球抜き口６ｃから集合回収口１６に排出され、前方開口６８ｂ、バケット空間６８ｓおよび球出口７ｅを通って球皿部７ａに回収される。賞球バケットの底面をなす排出通路面にはアース金具６８ｇが取り付けられており、図示しないアース線でパチンコ機ＰＭのアース端子に接続されている。
【００４２】
遊技済み球排出経路７０は、基枠体３０の表面側に形成されて遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出されるアウト球およびセーフ球を集合させる遊技済み球集合通路７１と、基枠体３０の裏面側に形成されて遊技済み球集合通路７１で集められた遊技済み球を裏セット盤ＢＳＰの下部に導く遊技済み球排出通路７５とからなり、遊技済み球排出通路７５の下方には、前枠２の裏面に取り付けられて遊技済み球排出通路７５から排出される遊技済み球を遊技施設側の回収バケット（不図示）に導くダクト７６が設けられている。
【００４３】
基枠体３０の表面側に形成される遊技済み球集合通路７１は、それぞれ左右端部から中央に向けて下傾された第１集合樋７１ａ、第２集合樋７１ｂおよび第３集合樋７１ｃを有し、裏セット盤ＢＳＰが前枠２に閉鎖された状態で、これらの集合樋がセーフ球通路孔２４ｈ，２６ｈ等およびアウト球通路孔２７ｈの出口下方に位置するように配設される。集合樋の後方には、各通路孔の裏側を覆うように壁面部７２が立設されるとともに、その上部が裏セット盤ＢＳＰの閉鎖姿勢において遊技盤の裏カバー２９とほぼ当接するように折り曲げられて天井壁部７３が形成され、図４中に二点鎖線で示ように遊技盤２０の裏面下部を覆う蓋状に構成されている。このため、外部から遊技済み球集合通路７１に遊技球が流入することが防止されるとともに、入賞具に取り付けられたセーフ球検出器への不正操作を防止している。
【００４４】
第１集合樋７１ａと第２集合樋７１ｂとの間に、基枠体３０を前後に貫通する導出口７４が設けられ、基枠体３０の裏面側に形成された遊技済み球排出通路７５と繋がっている。遊技済み球排出通路７５は各図に示すように多段に屈曲して形成されており、導出口７４から落下する遊技済み球を緩衝部７５ａ，７５ｂ，７５ｃで受け止めて落下速度を緩和させ下端の排出口７５ｅから排出させる。排出開口７５ｅの下方にはダクト７６が配設される。ダクト７６は、上下に開口７６ａ，７６ｂを有して上下に延びる中空角筒状に形成されており、前枠２の裏面から後方に突出する支持脚６９にねじ止めされて、裏セット盤ＢＳＰが前枠２に閉止された閉鎖姿勢において、上部の開口７６ａが遊技済み球排出通路７５の排出口７５ｅと対向するように配設される。
【００４５】
このため、セーフ球通路孔２４ｈ，２６ｈ等およびアウト球通路孔２７ｈを通って遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出された遊技済み球は、この遊技済み球集合通路の第１〜第３集合樋７１ａ，７１ｂ，７１ｃに受け止められてこの樋上を転がり、傾斜下端の導出口７４から基枠体３０の裏面側の遊技済み球排出通路７５に導かれる。遊技済み球排出通路７５では、導出口７４から落下する遊技済み球が各緩衝部７５ａ，７５ｂ，７５ｃで受け止められ落下速度が緩和され、ダクト７６内を通って遊技施設側の回収バケットに排出される。このため、遊技済み球の落下速度が緩和されるとともに、落下方向が一定範囲内に制限され、遊技施設側の回収バケットで遊技済み球が散乱するようなことがない。なお、図７中に二点鎖線で示すように、ダクト７６の開口を下端側で縮小させることにより上記効果をさらに高めることも可能である。
【００４６】
賞球払出経路６０および遊技済み球排出経路７０は、これらの経路の後方を塞ぐ一体の蓋部材３２で覆われており、蓋部材３２の表面が主制御基板９１の取付部８１や賞球制御基板９２の取付部８２と同一面に位置して、この蓋部材３２の上面に電源基板９４の基板取り付け部８４が形成される。
【００４７】
さて、以上のように遊技球の流下経路が構成されるパチンコ機ＰＭにあって、球貯留供給機構４０および賞球払出機構５０に、予備賞球を排出させるための各種の機構、すなわち球止め機構４２０、疑似球有り状態創出機構５１０、球抜き機構５２０がそれぞれ装備されるとともに、組立性や保守性を向上させた賞球カセット取り付け機構５３０および払出賞球検出機構５４０が形成され、さらに確実な作動を担保するためのアース装置５５０が設けられている。
【００４８】
これらの機構および装置の全体構成を図１１に示し、賞球カセット５３よりも上部の各機構の構成を蓋部材５５を取り外した状態で示す斜視図を図１２に、各機構が取り付けられる基枠体３０の全体の斜視図を図１３に、基枠体３０に形成された各機構の取り付け部を拡大して示す斜視図を図１４に、各機構の作用を説明するために蓋部材５５を取り外した状態で示す背面図を図１５および図１６にそれぞれ示ししている。以下、これ等の図面をベースとし、さらに各機構の詳細図を加えて参照しながら各機構・装置の構成および作用について説明する。
【００４９】
球止め機構４２０は、予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂの終端近傍に設けられ、タンク部材４１に貯留する予備賞球まで含めて全遊技球を抜く必要がない保守作業等を行う際に利用される。具体的には、賞球払出機構５０の各構成部品、例えば、球切れスイッチ５１や賞球カセット５３などの保守、点検作業、あるいは交換作業を行うときには、タンク部材４１に貯留する予備賞球を全量抜く必要がなく、球止め機構４２０を利用して予備賞球通路内の球の流れを停止させ、この機構より下流の予備賞球のみを球抜き機構５２０で排出させて上記各作業を迅速に行えるように設けられている。
【００５０】
この球止め機構部４２０の詳細な斜視図を図１7に示し、この機構部の平面図を図１８に、図１１中の矢印XIX−XIXに沿った部分断面図を図１９に示す。
【００５１】
球止め機構４２０は、整列樋部材４２に形成された予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂの終端近くに、この通路の上方を跨ぐように取り付けられた球止め部材４２２と、基枠体３０の球止め機構取り付け部３４に設けられて球止め部材４２２を球止め位置と開放位置とに保持させる球止め係合片３４ｂとを主体として構成される。球止め係合部材４２２は予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂの終端上部を覆う樋出口カバー部材４２１を利用して揺動可能に取り付けられる。
【００５２】
基枠体３０の上部の球止め機構取り付け部３４には、後方に突出成形された円筒状のボス３４ａ、上下および右辺が切り離されたアーム状の球止め係合片３４ｂ、後方に突出する断面視凸状の球止め支軸３４ｃ、基枠体３０を前後に貫通する基枠体側ダボ孔３４ｄ、整列樋部材４２および樋出口カバー部材４２１の取り付けねじを受容するネジ穴３４ｅなどが一体成形で形成されている。球止め係合片３４ｂは、上下および右辺が基枠体３０からスリット状に切り離されたアーム部と、このアーム部の先端側に後方に向けて突出成形された平面視台形状の係合部とを有して構成され、アーム部が弾性変形することで係合部が前後に変位可能に形成されている。
【００５３】
樋出口カバー部材４２１は、全体として下方に凸の円弧状に形成され、その下面側に整列樋部材４２の仕切壁４２ｗと位置整合して下方に突出する仕切リブ４２１ｗを有し、ポリカーボネートやメタクリル樹脂等の透明な樹脂材料を用いて射出成形により一体成形されている。このカバー部材の上面中央には仕切リブ４２１ｗを挟む前後に、この面を貫通する矩形形状のガイド孔４２１ａ，４２１ｂが形成され、その右方の後端部に球止め部材４２２を支持する軸支部４２１ｃが形成されている。また、樋出口カバー部材４２１の右方端部には前後に突出する係合突起４２１ｄ，４２１ｄが形成され、左方端部には取り付けねじを挿通させる円筒部４２１ｅおよび球止め機構取り付け部３４のボス３４ａと係合する支持孔部４２１ｆが形成されている。
【００５４】
球止め部材４２２は、取付姿勢において後方に突出する支軸４２２ｃおよびこの支軸４２２ｃと同軸上の前端側に形成された軸受け孔（不図示）、この支軸および軸受け孔で形成される揺動軸と直交方向に延びるアーム４２２ｄ、アーム４２２ｄの先端部から屈曲してフック状に突出する二つの球止め片４２２ａ，４２２ｂ、アーム４２２ｄの先端部から後方に突出する操作片４２２ｌなどを有し、樋出口カバー部材と同様の樹脂材料を用いて一体に成形されている。二つの球止め片４２２ａ，４２２ｂの前後方向位置、および揺動軸から球止め片までのアーム長さ（すなわち球止め片の揺動半径）は、この球止め部材４２２が取り付けられた取付姿勢において前述したガイド孔４２１ａ，４２１ｂと位置整合するように形成されている。
【００５５】
樋出口カバー部材４２１と球止め部材４２２とは、整列樋部材４２を基枠体３０に取り付ける際に、球止め機構取り付け部３４に一括して取り付けられる。樋出口カバー部材４２１は、支持孔部４２１ｆが球止め機構取り付け部３４のボス３４ａに挿通されるとともに、前方の係合突起４２１ｄが基枠体側ダボ孔３４ｄと係合し、後方の係合突起４２１ｄが整列樋部材に形成された整列樋部材側ダボ孔４２ｄと係合して上下左右位置が規定され、円筒部４２１ｅを挿通するねじ等を利用して整列樋部材４２と一体に固定される。
【００５６】
球止め部材４２２は、この樋出口カバー部材４２１の取り付けに際し、支軸４２２ｃと同軸上に前端側に形成された軸受け孔が球止め機構取り付け部３４の球止め支軸３４ｃに軸支され、後端側の支軸４２２ｃが樋出口カバー部材の軸支部４２１ｃに軸支されて、樋出口カバー部材４２１と球止め機構取り付け部３４の取付面との間に挟持されるようにして揺動可能に取り付けられる。
【００５７】
このようにして組み立てられた球止め機構４２０は、その作用を図１６に実線（開放位置）および二点鎖線（球止め位置）とで示すように、球止め部材４２２を左方に揺動変位させることで、二つの球止め片４２２ａ，４２２ｂをそれぞれガイド孔４２１ａ，４２１ｂを通して前後の予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂに突出させることができ、このように球止め片を突出させた球止め位置で、両通路を流下する予備賞球の流れを止めることができる。
【００５８】
ここで、球止め機構取り付け部３４に形成された球止め係合片３４ｂは、上下および右辺でスリット状に切り離されたアーム部を有して前後に弾性変形可能に構成されるとともに、アーム部の右側に後方に突出して形成された係合部の突出端面が、非係合時における球止め部材４２２の前方端面よりも後方に突出して位置し（図１９を参照）、球止め部材４２２と係合可能に構成されている。また、係合部は平面視台形状に形成されて左右に斜めの導入部が形成されている。
【００５９】
このため、球止め機構の開閉操作を行う作業者が、球止め部材のレバー部４２２ｌに指をかけて球止め部材を揺動させ、球止め部材４２２と係合片３４ｂとの係合抵抗（アーム部の弾性による摺動抵抗）に抗して球止め部材４２２を回動させることで、予備賞球通路の開閉操作を軽快に行うことができる。一方、このような人為的な揺動操作が行われない状態では、球止め部材４２２の前端面が係合片３４ｂの突出部と当接して自由な揺動変位が規制されるため、球止め部材４２２は図１６中に実線で示す開放位置または二点鎖線で示す球止め位置に保持される。
【００６０】
従って、例えば、球止め位置に位置させていた球止め部材４２２が予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂ内に貯留する予備賞球の押圧力によって勝手に揺動変位して遊技球が流下したり、パチンコ機ＰＭの着脱交換や運搬時に傾動や振動等によって球止め部材４２２が揺動変位し予期せぬ位置に変化しているなどの問題を生じることがない。また、基枠体３０に球止め部材４２２と係合可能な球止め係合片３４ｂを基枠体３０に一体成形して設けるという簡便な手段で、上記問題を解決して球止め部材４２２を開放位置と球止め位置とに保持させる球止め機構を得ることができる。さらに、本実施例では樋出口カバー部材４２１を透明な樹脂材料を用いて一体成型しているため、予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂ内に位置する予備賞球の状態を直視的に確認することができる。
【００６１】
なお、上記実施例では、樋出口カバー部材４２１に円筒部４２１ｅを設け、この円筒部を挿通するねじで整列樋部材４２と樋出口カバー部材４２１とを固定する例を示したが、このような円筒部を設けずに樋出口カバー部材４４１の位置を規定するボス３４ａを利用してこのボス３４ａの後端部に整列樋部材４２をねじ固定することにより樋出口カバー部材４２１を挟持させて一括固定することもできる。
【００６２】
また、実施例では、球止め部材４２２の揺動軸を樋出口カバー部材４２１側の軸支部４２１ｃと基枠体３０側の軸支部３４ｃとに分けて構成した例を示したが、樋出口カバー部材４２１の前後に軸支部４２１ｃを二カ所設けて球止め部材を揺動可能に支持させるように構成することができ、さらにこの樋出口カバー部材４２１に球止め部材４２２を球止め位置に係止する係止手段を設けてもよい。このような構成によれば、球止め機構をサブアッセンブリ化することができるとともに、この機構の組み付けが容易となり作業性を向上させることができる。また基枠体側取り付け部の構成を簡単化して歩留まりを向上させることが可能である。
【００６３】
さらに、本実施例では球止め部材４２２を揺動させて球止め部材４２２を開放位置と球止め位置とに保持させる構成を例示したが、球止め部材および保持手段は球止め部材を開放位置と球止め位置とに保持可能であればよい。例えば、球止め部材が上下または前後方向にスライド移動して球止め係合片が予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂに出没可能な形態であってもよく、保持手段はこのようにスライド移動する球止め部材と係合して球止め部材を開放位置と球止め位置とに保持するものであっても良い。
【００６４】
次に、球抜き機構５２０について説明する。この機構は球抜き機構が配設された球通路よりも上流側に位置する予備賞球をパチンコ機ＰＭの機外に排出させるための機構であり、具体的には、球切れ検出スイッチ５１をはじめとする賞球払出機構５０の各構成部品の保守、点検作業、交換作業などの際に利用されるほか、遊技球の清掃作業や、パチンコ機における遊技球の通路の清掃作業などのようにタンク部材に貯留する遊技球を全量排出させる際にも利用される。
【００６５】
球抜き機構５２０の分解斜視図を図２０に示し、図１１中の矢印XXI−XXIに沿った球抜き機構５２０の主要断面図を図２１に、矢印XXII−XXIIに沿った断面図を図２２に、矢印XXIII−XXIIIに沿った断面図を図２３に示す。
【００６６】
球抜き機構５２０は、大別して、待機通路部材５２と隣接して基枠体３０の裏面側に揺動可能に枢支される流路切り替え部材５２１と、基枠体３０の表面側に取り付けられて流路切り替え部材５２１の作動操作を行う操作部とから構成され、操作部は基枠体３０に着脱自在に固定される固定部材５２２とこの固定部材５２２に揺動自在に枢結されるレバー部材５２３とから構成される。
【００６７】
この球抜き機構が取り付けられる基枠体３０の球抜き機構取り付け部３６には、待機通路部材５２を支持するボス３６ａ，３６ａ、流路切り替え部材５２１を揺動可能に枢支する枢支軸３６ｂなどが突出成形されるとともに、基枠体３０の前後を貫通して係合突起挿通孔３６ｃ、固定部材５２２を掛止固定する固定部材掛支片３６ｄおよび固定部材係合孔３６ｅ、基枠体前面側の遊技済み球集合通路７１に繋がる球抜き通路７７などが基枠体３０と一体に形成されている。
【００６８】
また、待機通路部材５２は、その前後面に屈曲した立設壁面で囲まれた各一列の賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂが形成され、球切れ検出スイッチ５１直下の通路外壁面の一部が切り欠かれた構成となっている。待機通路部材５２は賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの清掃作業容易化等のため基枠体３０と別体に構成されており、球抜き機構取り付け部３６に着脱自在に取り付けられる。すなわち、待機通路部材５２には球抜き機構取り付け部３６の二カ所のボス３６ａ，３６ａと係脱自在な円筒支持部５２ｃ，５２ｃが形成されており、この二カ所の円筒支持部５２ｃ，５２ｃで前後に挿脱自在にボス３６ａ，３６ａに支持され、待機通路部材５２の裏面側を覆う蓋部材５５をねじ固定することにより球抜き機構取り付け部３６に固定される。
【００６９】
流路切り替え部材５２１は、上記待機通路部材５２における切り欠き部の壁面に相当する壁面形状を有した通路壁部５２１ａ、枢支軸３６ｂに枢支され流路切り替え部材５２１を揺動可能に支持する支軸孔部５２１ｂ、通路壁部５２１ａを下方に揺動させて賞球待機通路を閉止させた待機揺動角度位置でレバー部材５２３の係合突起部５２３ｃと係合する閉止保持係合孔５２１ｃ、通路壁部５２１ａを上方に揺動させて賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの上部を開放させた球抜き揺動角度位置でレバー部材５２３の係合突起部５２３ｃと係合する開放保持係合辺５２１ｄなどを有し、ＡＢＳ樹脂等の樹脂材料を用いて射出成形により一体成形されている。流路切り替え部材５２１は、支軸孔部５２１ｂを枢支軸３６ｂに挿通させて支持させた状態で蓋部材５５をねじ固定することにより、待機通路部材５２とともに球抜き機構取り付け部３６に揺動可能に取り付けられる。
【００７０】
操作部を構成する固定部材５２２には、レバー部材５２３に形成された枢結軸５２３ａを揺動可能に支持する枢結孔５２２ａ、取付姿勢において枢結孔５２２ａの後方下部に位置し球抜き機構取り付け部３６の固定部材掛支片３６ｄと係合可能な掛支部５２２ｂ、掛支部５２２ｂの上方に突出成形されて固定部材係合孔３６ｅと係合可能な嵌合部５２２ｃ、固定部材５２２の上端部に上方に向けて立設された抜け止めリブ５２２ｄなどが設けられ、ポリアセタール樹脂やポリエチレン等の樹脂材料を用いて射出成形により一体成形される。嵌合部５２２ｃには、突出端部から左右側方に弾性的に開く楔状の係合爪が形成されるとともに、嵌合部５２２ｃの背面側にはレバー部材５２３の弾性片部５２３ｄと当接して受容する受容面が形成されている。
【００７１】
レバー部材５２３には、固定部材５２２に形成された枢結孔５２２ａに揺動可能に支持される枢結軸５２３ａ、取付姿勢において、この枢結軸５２３ａから上下に延びるアーム部の上部から右側方に突出するレバー部５２３ｂ、アーム部の下部から前方に突出する係合突起部５２３ｃが形成され、枢結軸５２３ａの下部から後方に延びる薄片状の弾性片部５２３ｄなどが形成されている。係合突起部５２３ｃは円筒状を成すとともにその先端部が半球状に形成されている。レバー部材５２３は固定部材５２２と同様の樹脂材料を用い、同様の成形手段により一体に成型される。
【００７２】
固定部材５２２とレバー部材５２３とは、固定部材５２２に形成された枢結孔５２２ａとレバー部材５２３に形成された枢結軸５２３ａとで相互に係合し、この枢結孔５２２ａと枢結軸５２３ａとで形成される係合軸を中心として相対揺動可能に連結される。連結された固定部材５２２とレバー部材５２３との間には、レバー部材５２３から突出する弾性片部５２３ｄが挟持され、この弾性片部５２３ｄの反発弾性力によりレバー部５２３ｂが固定部材５２２から離れる方向に付勢される。
【００７３】
このように連結された固定部材５２２とレバー部材５２３とからなる操作部は、固定部材５２２に形成された掛支部５２２ｂを球抜き部材取り付け部３６における固定部材掛支片３６ｄに掛止させ、この掛支部を中心に固定部材５２２を後方に傾動させるようにして嵌合部５２２ｃを固定部材係合孔３６ｅに挿通させることで、嵌合部５２２ｃの突出端部に形成された楔状の係合爪が固定部材係合孔３６ｅの左右に開いてロックされ、操作部が球抜き部材取り付け部３６に固定される。また抜け止めリブ５２２ｄが球抜き部材取り付け部３６における下向き面と対峙し、連結された操作部が上動して脱落することを防止する。このようにして操作部が取り付けられると、レバー部材の係合突起部５２３が弾性片部５２３ｄの反発弾性力により係合突起挿通孔３６ｃを通って基枠体３０の裏面側に突出し、常には、図１１，図１２，図１５の各図に示すように、流路切り替え部材５２１の閉止保持係合孔５２１ｃと係合した状態に保持される。
【００７４】
このようにレバー部材の係合突起部５２３ｃが流路切り替え部材５２１の閉止保持係合孔５２１ｃと係合した状態では、通路壁部５２１ａが賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの側壁を形成し、この通路を通る予備賞球は賞球カセット５３に向かう通常の賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂに導かれる。また、流路切り替え部材５２１は、係合突起部５２３ｃと閉止保持係合孔５２１ｃとの係合により自由な揺動が規制され、上記通常の賞球待機通路を形成する揺動角度位置（待機揺動角度位置）に保持される。
【００７５】
一方、レバー部５２３ｂが前方から押圧操作（または裏セット盤ＢＳＰの裏面側から引込み操作）されると、レバー部材５２３は図２１中に二点鎖線で示すように揺動変位して係合突起部５２３ｃと閉止保持係合孔５２１ｃとの係合が解除され、それまで規制されていた流路切り替え部材５２１の揺動規制が解除される。賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの上部に予備賞球が貯留された状態では、流路切り替え部材５２１の通路壁部５２１ａは、この通路壁部によって賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂ内に保持される予備賞球の押圧力を受けており、揺動規制が解除されると予備賞球の押圧力によって枢支軸３６ｂまわりに揺動し、図１６に示すように賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの上部が開放されて、この通路に位置する予備賞球を球抜き通路７７に導く球抜き揺動角度位置に変位する。そして、このように一旦流路切り替え部材５２１が球抜き揺動角度位置に変位すると、通過する予備賞球がなくなるまで、次々に通過する予備賞球に押圧されて揺動変位した状態が継続される。
【００７６】
ここで、流路切り替え部材５２１が球抜き揺動角度位置に変位した状態では、閉止保持係合孔５２１ｃが係合突起挿通孔３６ｃの左方に待避し、かわりに開放保持係合辺５２１ｄが係合突起挿通孔３６ｃの前方左側に位置するように構成されている。このため、流路切り替え部材５２１が球抜き揺動角度位置に変位した状態でレバー部５２３ｂの押圧力を解除すると、弾性片部５２３ｄの弾性力によってレバー部材５２３が押圧前の揺動角度位置に変位し、係合突起部５２３ｃが係合突起挿通孔３６ｃを通って開放保持係合辺５２１ｄの右側方に突出し、流路切り替え部材５２１を球抜き揺動角度位置に係止保持する（図１６を参照）。このため、レバー部５２３ｂを常時押圧していなくとも、流路切り替え部材５２１を球抜き揺動角度位置に切り替えた状態で保持させることができる。
【００７７】
なお、裏セット盤ＢＳＰを前枠２に閉鎖保持させた状態でレバー部５２３ｂの前方に位置する前枠２およびガラス扉５には、レバー部５２３ｂと対峙する位置に操作ピンＯＰを挿通させる球抜き操作孔２ｈ，５ｈが形成されており（図１、図４および図１１参照）、パチンコ機ＰＭの前面側から球抜き操作孔５ｈ，２ｈを通して操作ピンＯＰを挿入し、パチンコ機外部からレバー部５２３ｂを押圧操作可能に構成されている。
【００７８】
このため、例えば、前述した球止め機構４２０で予備賞球通路４２ａ，４２ｂを閉鎖せず、タンク部材４１に貯留する予備賞球を全量球抜きするような場合には、前枠２を開放して直にレバー部５２３ｂを操作することなく、前枠２を閉鎖させた状態のまま操作ピンＯＰを用いてパチンコ機前面側からレバー部５２３ｂを揺動操作することができ、前方からワンプッシュするのみの簡単な操作で流路切り替え部材５２１を待機揺動角度位置から球抜き揺動角度位置に切り替えて、この通路を通る予備賞球を球抜き通路７７に導き、継続して球抜きを行わせることができる。
【００７９】
また、球抜きが完了し、賞球待機通路の上部に予備賞球がなくなったときには、球抜き操作と同様にレバー部５２３ｂを前方からワンプッシュして係合突起部５２３ｃと開放保持係合辺５２１ｄとの係合を解除し、係合突起部５２３ｃによる揺動規制を解除する。すると、すでに予備賞球からの押圧力が解除された流路切り替え部材５２１は、その自重によって枢支軸３６ｂまわりに揺動し通路壁部５２１ａを閉鎖させた待機揺動角度位置に変位する。そして、レバー部５２３ｂへの押圧力が解除され係合突起部５２３ｃが係合突起挿通孔３６ｃから突出したときに、再び閉止保持係合孔５２３ｃと係合突起５２３ｂとが係合し、流路切り替え部材５２３が待機揺動角度位置に保持される。
【００８０】
このように構成される球抜き機構５２０では、予備賞球が球切れ検出スイッチ５１の下部に位置する賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂから抜き出す構成のため、機内に残る予備賞球の残留球数を減少させるとともに、球切れ検出スイッチ５１の検出通路内に予備賞球が残留することがなく、このスイッチの着脱交換等を容易且つ確実に行うことができる。また、流路切り替え部材２５１の取り付け部や操作部の取付部を基枠体３０側に一体成形で設けるとともに、操作部の固定部材５２２をねじ等を用いずに係脱可能に取り付けているため、部品点数や組立工数等を削減することができる。
【００８１】
なお、本実施例では弾性片部５２３ｄをレバー部材５２３に一体に形成した例を示したが、この弾性片部は固定部材５２２側に設けてもよく、またこれらの部材と別の部材（例えば板状のバネ部材や捻りバネ等）を用いて組み立てるものであっても良い。
【００８２】
さて、以上のように構成される球抜き機構５２０に対して、待機揺動角度位置にある球抜き部材５２１の右側方から下方に向けて球抜き通路７７が形成されている。球抜き通路７７は、基枠体３０における裏面側の待機通路部材５２の右側方に形成された予備通路７７ａと、この予備通路７７ａの下方に基枠体３０を前後に貫通して形成された連絡開口７７ｂ、および基枠体３０の前面側に形成されて連絡開口７７ｂから下方に向かい前述した集合通路７１（第３集合樋７１ｃ）に繋がる下降通路７７ｃから構成される。
【００８３】
基枠体３０の裏面側には予備通路７７ａの後面壁を成す蓋部材５５がねじ止め固定されるとともに、基枠体３０の表面側には下降通路７７ｃの前面壁をなす通路カバー５２４がねじ等の締結手段で取り付けられている（図５を参照）。通路カバー５２４は、この下降通路７７ｃの前面壁を構成するとともに、前述した球抜き機構５２０の操作部の前面を覆う保護カバーとして機能し、さらに操作部の下部に下降通路と並んで形成され、上下に延びるケーブルダクトのハーネス押さえとしても機能する。
【００８４】
予備通路７７ａは、流路切り替え部材５２１が揺動して通路壁部５２１ａが開放されたときに、賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂと連通し、この通路から流れ出る予備賞球（「抜き球」という）を受容して流下させる。予備通路７７ａと下降通路７７ｃとの間を繋ぐ連絡開口７７ｂの通路面７７ｒは、図１９に部分断面図を示すように曲面状に形成されるとともに、蓋部材５５には通路面７７ｒとの接合部に曲面との間を斜めに繋ぐ斜面５５ｓが形成されており、予備通路７７ａを落下する予備賞球が曲面端部に滞留することなく速やかに連絡開口７７ｂを通って下降通路７７ｃに至るように構成されている（図３０を併せて参照）。
【００８５】
また、連絡開口７７ｂの前面を覆う通路カバー５２４にも上記通路面７７ｒと同様に曲面部５２４ｒが形成されている。このため流路切り替え部材５２１が球抜き揺動角度位置に係止保持されて賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂから予備通路７７ａに流れ出た抜き球は、連絡開口７７ｂを通ってスムーズに下降通路７７ｃに導かれる。
【００８６】
連絡開口７７ｂを通って基枠体３０の前面側に導かれた抜き球は、左右の壁面とカバー部材５２４とに囲まれた下降通路７７ｃを流下する。下降通路７７ｃの下端部は遊技済み球集合通路７１に繋がって開放されており、下降通路７７ｃを流下する抜き球は第３集合樋７１ｃ上に落下して受け止められ、第３集合樋７１ｃおよび第２集合樋７１ｂに沿って流下した後、前述した遊技済み球集合通路の導出口７４および遊技済み球排出通路７５を介してパチンコ機ＰＭから排出され、遊技施設側の回収バケットに回収される。
【００８７】
このため、裏セット盤ＢＳＰに抜き球専用の排出経路を設けることなく、基枠体３０の構成を簡明化してパチンコ機の生産コストを低減化することができる。また、このように球通路を簡明化することにより、上球皿払出通路６１や下球皿払出通路６５などの遊技球の通路との立体交差状態を解消することができ、これにより基枠体３０の裏面を平坦化して、主制御基盤取り付け部８１や賞球制御基板取り付け部８２、ランプ・音声制御基板取り付け部８３、中継基盤取り付け部８５等の回路基盤取り付け部を形成し、これらの各回路基盤を略同一面上に取り付け保持させることができる。
【００８８】
次に、疑似球有り状態創出機構５１０について説明する。この機構は上述した球抜き機構５２０により球抜き操作が行われた後に、賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの下部に残留する予備賞球を排出させるための機構であり、具体的には、待機通路部材５２や賞球カセット５３等の保守、点検作業、交換作業などの際に利用されるほか、遊技球の清掃作業のようにパチンコ機内の全遊技球を排出させるとき、パチンコ機の製造過程における動作チェック後にパチンコ機内の全遊技球を排出させるときなどに利用される。
【００８９】
一般には、通常の遊技状態において二つの賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂに待機する予備賞球のいずれかが球切れ状態になり球切れ検出スイッチ５１でこの球切れ状態が検出されると、賞球カセット５３の作動が規制されるように構成されており、球抜き機構５２０を利用して予備賞球を排出しても流路切り替え部材５２１よりも下流に位置する予備賞球が機内に残留することになる。
【００９０】
疑似球有り状態創出機構５１０は、このような場合に賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂに残留する予備賞球を排出させるために用いられる機構であり、あたかも賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの上部まで予備賞球が存在するように擬似的に球有り状態を創出して球切れ検出状態を解消させ、遊技盤２０の入賞具（２４，２５，２６等）に遊技球を投入して賞球カセット５３を作動させることでパチンコ機内に残留する予備賞球を全量排出させるための球抜き装置である。
【００９１】
疑似球有り状態創出機構５１０の分解斜視図を図２４に示し、図１１中の矢印XXV−XXVに沿った断面図を図２６に示す。また、既に参照した図１５にこの機構部の予備賞球の通路に沿った部分断面図を示し、図１９には図１１中の矢印XIX−XIXに沿った断面図を示している。以下これらの各図を併せて参照しつつ本機構について説明する。
【００９２】
球切れ検出スイッチ５１は、前後に二つの筒状の検出通路５１ａ，５１ｂを有し、この検出通路の上方に揺動支点を有して通路内に付勢され突出する検知レバー５１ｃ，５１ｄを有している。検出通路５１ａ，５１ｂ内に予備賞球が供給されると検知レバー５１ｃ，５１ｄが通路外方に押圧されて揺動変位し、スイッチ内の接点を閉鎖するように作用する。前後のスイッチ接点は直列に接続されており、一般に、前後両方の検出通路に予備賞球が存在するときにスイッチ回路がクローズ（閉）となり、前後いずれかの検出通路に予備賞球が存在しないときにスイッチ回路がオープン（開）となるように構成されている。なお、通常の遊技状態で予備賞球が流下する際に生じ得る短時間の開閉作動に対しては、この検出信号をフィルタリング処理して平滑化することにより誤検出を防止している。
【００９３】
球切れ検出スイッチ５１は、基枠体３０における球有り機構取り付け部３５のスイッチガイド３５ａに沿って基枠体後方から挿入され、スイッチロック爪３５ｂにより固定される。なお、図１６では球切れ検出スイッチ５１の着脱状態を示すため、便宜上、窓口３１の内方に二点鎖線で取り外し時の球切れ検出スイッチ５１を付記している。
【００９４】
疑似球有り状態創出機構５１０は、球切れ検出スイッチ５１の検知レバー５１ｃ，５１ｄを押圧するための押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂを有した押圧部材５１１を基本部材とし、さらに、押圧部材５１１を基枠体３０側の球有り機構取り付け部３５に保持させるホルダ部材５１２と、押圧部材５１１を裏面側で回動可能に支持するカバー体５１３とを有し、球切れ検出スイッチ５１の上部に取り付けられる。
【００９５】
押圧部材５１１は、それぞれ扇状に形成された押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂと、この前後の押圧子を繋いで前後に延びる回転軸５１１ｃと、後方の押圧子５１１ｂから後方に突出成形された操作レバー５１１ｌとを有して構成されている。ホルダ部材５１２は図２４に示すように概要箱状の形態をなし、その右半分が上下に開いた壁面構成を有するとともに、左右両側の壁面部に前方に突出する楔状の爪部５１２ｅが形成されている。カバー体５１３は、押圧部材の回転軸５１１ｄを回動自在に支持するカバー側軸受け部５１３ａが形成され、その周辺に操作レバー部を挿通させる扇状のレバー窓５１３ｂが形成されている。またカバー体５１３には上部二カ所にねじ固定用の貫通孔が形成されるとともに、その背面側に基枠体側から突出するボスを受容する円筒部が形成されている。これらの各部材は、ＡＢＳ樹脂等の樹脂材料を用いて射出成形によりそれぞれ図示する形状に一体成形される。
【００９６】
一方、これらの構成部材が取り付けられる球有り機構取り付け部３５には、押圧部材の回転軸５１１ｃを回転自在に支持する基枠体側軸受部３５ｃ、左右および下辺がスリット状に切り離されたアーム部を有し、その下端部が軸受部３５ｃの外周を囲むように半円弧のリブ形状に後方に突出する付勢係合辺３５ｄ、ホルダ部材の左右の爪部５１２ｅを受容してホルダ部材を係止する二カ所のホルダ係止孔３５ｅ、カバー体５１３をねじ固定するための円筒状のボス３５ｆなどが形成されている。
【００９７】
この機構の組立においては、まずホルダ部材５１２が押圧部材５１１の二つの押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂの間を跨ぐように位置させさせるとともに、回転軸５１１ｃの前端部を球有り機構取り付け部３５の基枠体側軸受部３５ｃに嵌挿し、ホルダ部材の左右の爪部５１２ｅをホルダ係止孔３５ｅと位置合わせしてホルダ部材５１２を前方に押圧することにより、左右の爪部５１２ｅをホルダ係止孔３５ｅに係合ロックさせる。次いで、押圧部材５１１の操作レバー５１１ｌをレバー窓５１３ｂから挿通させるようにカバー体５１３をかぶせて、カバー側軸受部５１３ａを片持ち支持された回転軸５１１ｃの後端部に嵌挿させ、二カ所のボス３５ｆ，３５ｆにカバー体背面の円筒部をはめ込んでカバー体５１３を基枠体にねじ固定する。
【００９８】
このようにして組み付けられた疑似球有り状態創出機構５１０では、球有り機構取り付け部３５の取付面とホルダ部材５１２とにより、偏向出口４３における前方の予備賞球通路４２ａと球切れ検出器５１における前方の検出通路５１ａとの間を繋ぐ前方通路が形成され、ホルダ部材５１２の後面側とカバー体５１３とにより、偏向出口４３における後方の予備賞球通路４２ｂと球切れ検出器５１における後方の検出通路５１ｂとの間を繋ぐ後方通路が形成される。
【００９９】
そして、押圧部材の操作レバー５１１ｌをカバー窓５１３ｂの左縁まで回転させた待避角度位置では、図１５および図２５に示すように、前後の押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂが前方通路および後方通路からともに待避し、偏向出口４３から流下する予備賞球はこれら前後の通路を自由に通過することができる。一方、球抜き機構５２０を利用して球抜きを行った後に、押圧部材の操作レバー５１１ｌをカバー窓５１３ｂの右縁まで回転させた押圧角度位置では、前後の押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂが前方通路および後方通路内に突出するとともに、各押圧子の右端部が球切れ検出スイッチ５１の前後の検知レバー５１ｃ，５１ｄを押圧し、この検出スイッチ５１のスイッチ回路をクローズ状態に反転させる。
【０１００】
ここで、前方の押圧子５１１ａにおける前面側の左側縁部には、この縁部に沿って前方に突出する枠状の突起部が形成されており、付勢係合辺３５ｄの突出部と係合可能に構成されている。付勢係合辺３５ｄの突出部は、操作レバー５１１ｌがカバー窓５１３ｂの左右中間領域にあるときに押圧子５１１ａの突起部と前後方向に当接し、操作レバー５１１ｌがカバー窓５１３ｂの開口左方向に回転されて押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂが通路外に待避した待避角度位置まで回転されたときに、突起部の前面との係合が外れて押圧子５１１ａの前方面を付勢するとともに枠状の突起部の側面と係合する。
【０１０１】
また、操作レバー５１１ｌがカバー窓５１３ｂの開口右方向に回転されて押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂが検出スイッチ５１のスイッチ回路をクローズ状態に反転せた押圧角度位置まで回転されたときに、突起部を含む押圧子５１１ａとの係合が外れて押圧子５１１ａの左側縁の左側に後方に向けて突出し、それぞれの側面同士が相互に係合する。
【０１０２】
このため、押圧部材５１１は操作レバー５１１ｌがカバー窓５１３ｂの中間領域にあるときに付勢係合辺３５ｄの弾性力によって常時後方に付勢されるとともに、押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂが通路外に待避した待避角度位置、および押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂが球切れ検出スイッチの検知レバー５１１ｃ，５１１ｄを押圧してスイッチ回路をクローズ状態にした押圧角度位置の二カ所の角度位置で係止保持される。
【０１０３】
従って、押圧部材５１１は、通常の遊技時には遊技球の通過に伴う振動等に拘わらず常に待避角度位置に係止保持され、一方、人為的に押圧角度位置まで回動されて係止保持されたときには検知レバー５１ｃ，５１ｄの付勢力に抗してスイッチ回路をクローズ状態に維持させる。これにより、押圧部材５１１を押圧角度位置に係止保持させることで賞球カセット５３を作動させることができ、この状態において作業者が遊技盤２０のいずれかの入賞具２４，２５，２６に遊技球を投入することで賞球カセット５３を作動させて賞球待機通路の下部に残留する予備賞球を全量排出させることができる。
【０１０４】
また、このような構成によれば、賞球カセット５３の払出作動が入賞具に対する遊技球の入賞状態に基づいて行われるため、専用の球抜きスイッチを設ける場合のようにスイッチに対する不正操作によって賞球が払い出されるようなおそれがなく、不正行為を未然に防止して公正な遊技に供するパチンコ機を提供することができる。さらに、実施例に開示した構成では、押圧部材５１１が押圧角度位置にある時に押圧子５１１ａ，５１１ｂが検出通路５１ａ，５１ｂ内に位置し、これらの通路を塞ぐ機能も兼ね備える。このため、予備賞球の排出中に新たに賞球待機通路に予備賞球が流入することを完全に防止することができるとともに、前述した球抜き機構５１０と連動操作を行うことにより球止め機構４２０を設けずにパチンコ機を構成することも可能である。
【０１０５】
なお、本実施例では押圧部材５１１を回動させることで球切れ検出スイッチ５１のスイッチ回路を開閉させる例を開示したが、本機構は球切れ検出スイッチが検出する通路位置に遊技球があるような状態（擬似的な球有り状態）を創出するものであればよい。従って、例えば上記のようなレバー式の検出スイッチ５１を用いる場合には、検知レバー５１ｃ，５１ｄを押圧可能な構成であればよく、押圧部材は上下または左右方向にスライド移動して検知レバーを押圧するものであっても良い。また他の検出形態、例えば光学的や磁気的に遊技球を検出する検出スイッチを用いる場合には、これらの検出形態に相応して擬似的な球有り状態を創出可能な手段（例えば光学的な遮蔽部材や金属部材等）を用いて構成することができる。
【０１０６】
次に、図２６〜図３１を参照して賞球カセット取り付け機構５３０および払出賞球検出機構５４０について説明する。これらの機構は、所定の払出条件に基づいて賞球を払い出す賞球カセット５３の取り付け機構、および賞球カセット５３から払い出された賞球の実数を計数する賞球検出センサの支持機構に関するものであり、賞球カセット５３および賞球検出センサ５４の着脱作業や保守点検作業を容易化して作業性を向上させた技術に関するものである。
【０１０７】
ここで、図２６は、払出賞球検出機構５４０とその取り付け部３７を中心として示す払出賞球検出機構の分解斜視図、図２７は賞球検出センサ５４を係止保持するホルダ部材の取り付け状態を説明する側断面図、図２８は賞球カセット５３および払出賞球検出機構の取り付けおよび作用状態を示す側断面図、図２９は賞球カセット５３の着脱状態を説明する背面図、図３０は図２９に対応する賞球カセット取付時の側面図、図３１は賞球カセット５３を取り外した状態で払出賞球検出機構５４０の組み付け状態を示す平断面図を示している。
【０１０８】
まず、賞球カセット５３の取り付け機構５３０および賞球カセット５３の作動について説明する。賞球カセット５３は、前後二分割のカセットケース５３１，５３２に納められて全体として方形箱状のモジュールをなし、その上部中央に賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂの下端部と繋がって予備賞球を受容する受容口５３ａ，５３ｂ、下部の左右に賞球を払い出す払出口５３ｃ，５３ｄが設けられている。ケース内部には前後二段のインペラ５３４，５３４とこのインペラを回転させるモータ５３３、および受容口５３ａ，５３ｂから受け入れた予備賞球を払出口５３ｃ，５３ｄに導くためのテーパ状のカセット内通路を有している。
【０１０９】
前後のインペラ５３４，５３４にはそれぞれ１２０度間隔で予備賞球を受容する受容部が三カ所形成されるとともに（図３を参照）、前後のインペラはそれぞれの受容部の位置が６０度オフセットするように回転軸に取り付けられている。このため、受容口５３ａ，５３ｂから供給された予備賞球は、交互に前後のインペラの受容部に受け入れられ、インペラ５３４，５３４の回転に伴って右または左のカセット内通路を通り、テーパ面に案内されて前後方向の中央に寄せられ、左右いずれかの払出口から払い出される。
【０１１０】
賞球の払出は、所定条件のもと賞球制御基板９２から出力される払出指令信号に基づいて行われる。賞球カセット５３は賞球制御基板９２からの払出指令信号に応じてモータ５３３を作動させ、インペラ５３４，５３４を時計回りまたは反時計回りに回転させて、左払出口５３ｃまたは右払出口５３ｄから賞球を払い出す。具体的には、入賞具２４，２５，２６等への遊技球の入賞状態に基づいて賞球制御基板９２から出力される払出指令信号に応じてインペラ５３４，５３４を例えば反時計回りに回転作動させ、指令信号に応じた数量の遊技球を賞球として左側の払出口５３ｃから賞球払出経路６０に払い出す。また、いわゆるＣＲ機において球貸し操作が行われたときには、賞球制御基板９２から出力される払出指令信号に応じてインペラ５３４，５３４を逆方向、例えば時計回りに回転作動させ、指令信号に応じた数量の遊技球を貸し球として右側の払出口５３ｄから賞球払出経路６０に払い出す。
【０１１１】
賞球カセット５３が取り付けられる賞球カセット取り付け部３７は、その取付面がカセットケース５３１の厚さに合わせて前方にオフセット成形されており、予備賞球通路５２ａ，５２ｂと、これに対応する受容口５３ａ，５３ｂ内の通路とが段差なく繋がるように構成されている。賞球カセット取り付け部３７には、基枠体３０の後方に突出する脚部とこの脚部の後端部から水平に突出する係合片とからなり平断面視Ｌ字状をなすカセット係合部３７ａが三カ所形成されるとともに、上部二カ所のカセット係合部３７ａ，３７ａの間には、左右および下辺がスリット状に切り離されたアームの下端部に後方に突出する係合突起が形成されたロック片部３７ｂが、ともに一体成形により形成されている。
【０１１２】
一方、カセットケース５３１の背面には、上記カセット係合部３７ａの係合片を受容可能な受容孔と、この受容孔から下方に延びカセット係合部における脚部を受容して係合片と係合可能な支持溝が形成されたケース側係合部５３１ａが三カ所形成されるとともに、上記ロック片部３７ｂの係合突起を受容可能な溝部５３１ｂが、ともに一体成形で形成されている。また、ケース５３１の下端面には左右の払出口５３ｃ，５３ｄの開口が設けられるとともに、後述するセンサホルダ５４１の固定係合ピン５４１ｆと係合可能なアーチ状の固定係合片５３１ｆが形成されている。
【０１１３】
このように形成された賞球カセットの取り付け機構５３０では、図２９および図３０に示すように、払出賞球検出機構５４０を開放させた状態で、賞球カセット５３を把持してカセットケース５３１の背面に形成された三カ所のケース側係合部５３１ａと賞球カセット取り付け部３７に形成された三カ所のカセット係合部３７ａとを位置合わせして受容孔内に係合片を受容させ、賞球カセット５３を前方に押圧してカセットケース５３１の背面と賞球カセット取り付け部３７の取付面とを密着させた状態のまま賞球カセット５３を上方にスライド移動させる。すると、それぞれ三カ所のケース側の係合片と取り付け部側の支持溝とが係合してケース側係合部５３１ａとカセット係合部３７ａとが連結されるとともに、ロック片部３７ｂの係合突起がケース側の溝部５３１ｂに突出して係合し、賞球カセット５３が賞球カセット取り付け部３７にロック保持される。
【０１１４】
このようにロック保持される賞球カセット５３の下部に、賞球カセット５３から払い出された賞球を検出する払出賞球検出機構５４０が設けられる。払出賞球検出機構５４０は、遊技球を検出する賞球検出センサ（具体的には、前述した入賞検出センサと同様に遊技球の通過を磁気的、光学的または電気的手段等により検出するセンサ）５４，５４と、この賞球検出センサを係止保持するセンサホルダ５４１とを主体として構成され、センサホルダ５４１が基枠体３０の払出賞球機構取り付け部３８に係脱自在に取り付けられ、センサホルダ５４１が賞球カセット５３と賞球払出経路６０との間に係止された状態で賞球カセット５３から払い出された賞球を検出するように構成されている。
【０１１５】
センサホルダ５４１は、大別すると、賞球検出センサ５４を係止保持するホルダ部とアーム部とからなり、ポリカーボネート（ＰＣ）等の透明な樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段で一体に成形されている。ホルダ部の左右には、賞球検出センサ５４，５４を後方から受容して保持し、賞球検出センサの検出孔部５４ｃ，５４ｄを露出させるセンサ保持部５４１ａ，５４１ａが形成されるとともに、後方に突出して賞球検出センサ５４，５４をロック保持するロックアーム５４１ｂ，５４１ｂが形成されている。また、ホルダ部の前方中央部には賞球カセット５３の下端面に突出する固定係合片５３１ｆと係合可能な固定係合ピン５４１ｆが前方に向けて突出成形されている。
【０１１６】
ホルダ部の側部には、このホルダ部から側方に突出する上下二枚の板状の支持アーム５４１ｃ，５４１ｃが形成され、両支持アームの先端部に互いに外向きに上下に突出する円柱状の嵌合突起５４１ｄ，５４１ｄが形成されている。上下の嵌合突起５４１ｄ，５４１ｄは支持アームの延びる先端側の円柱角部がテーパ状に面取りされて形成されている。
【０１１７】
一方、センサホルダ５４１が取り付けられる基枠体３０の払出賞球検出機構取り付け部３８には、側面視凹状の嵌合支持部が形成され、その凹部の上下の内面に嵌合突起５４１ｄ，５４１ｄを受容してセンサホルダ５４１を旋回可能（水平揺動可能）に支持する溝状の嵌合支持溝３８ａ，３８ａが形成されている。また、この嵌合支持溝を挟む左右には、この支持部の強度を向上させるとともに、センサホルダ５４１が過度に旋回しないように規制するリブ３８ｃが立設されている。
【０１１８】
また、賞球カセット５３の取り付け部３７の下部に位置して、ロック保持部３８ｂが突出成形されている。ロック保持部３８ｂは水平な板状の支持面を有し、その左右端部が下方に折り曲げられて縦リブとして機能するように形成されており、下向きに作用する力に対する抗力、すなわち支持力を高める構成となっている。ロック保持部の中央部は左右がスリット状に切り離されてアーム部を形成するとともにその後端側に楔状に上方に突出するロック部が形成されている。ロック保持部３８ｂは、センサホルダ５４１が閉止されたときにその上面でホルダ部の下面を支持し、ロック部がホルダ部の後端縁部と係合してセンサホルダを閉止位置にロック保持する。
【０１１９】
さて、このように構成される払出賞球検出機構５４０において、賞球検出センサ５４，５４は、センサ保持部５４１ａに後方から挿入され賞球検出センサの検出孔部５４ｃ，５４ｄが所定位置に到達したときにセンサの後端縁部がロックアーム５４１ｂ，５４１ｂによりロックされてセンサホルダ５４１に係止保持される。そして、センサホルダ５４１は嵌合突起５４１ｄ，５４１ｄを嵌合支持部の嵌合支持溝３８ａ，３８ａに嵌合させることで、払出賞球検出機構取り付け部３８に旋回可能に取り付けられる。
【０１２０】
前述したように、上下の嵌合突起５４１ｄ，５４１ｄはそれぞれ板状の支持アーム５４１ｃ，５４１ｃの先端部に突出形成されるとともに、支持アームの延びる先端方向の円柱角部がテーパ状に面取りされて形成されている。このため、センサホルダ５４１を取り付ける際には、図２７に示すように、嵌合突起５４１ｄ，５４１ｄのテーパ面を凹状の嵌合支持部の角部にあてがい、この凹部に向けて押圧する。このとき、上下の支持アーム５４１ｃ，５４１ｃはテーパ面の作用により弾性変形して嵌合突起部が嵌合支持部の上下面間に進入し、嵌合支持溝３８ａ，３８ａ部に到達したときに支持アームの弾性力によりもとの状態に復帰して、嵌合突起部５４１ｄ，５４１ｄと嵌合支持溝３８ａ，３８ａとが相互に係合する。このように係合した状態では、センサホルダ５４１が基枠体３０に対して水平に旋回可能に支持される。
【０１２１】
次いで、上記のように旋回開閉可能に支持されたセンサホルダ５４１を賞球カセット５３の下部に旋回させ、ロック保持部３８ｂに係止保持させる。賞球カセット５３が係合保持された状態では、賞球カセット５３の下部にセンサホルダ５４１を受容する受容空間が形成されており、センサホルダ５４１を上下の嵌合突起および嵌合支持溝で形成される旋回軸まわりに水平旋回させて、ホルダ部を賞球カセット５３の下面とロック保持部３８ｂの上面との間に挿入させる。このとき、ホルダ部の下面がロック保持部の楔状のロック部斜辺と当接するが、さらにホルダ部を押圧することでロック保持部のアーム部が弾性変形してセンサホルダ５４１を受容し、センサホルダ５４１を閉止位置まで旋回させさせたときにロック部がホルダ部の後端縁部と係合してセンサホルダ５４１を閉止位置にロック保持する。これにより、センサホルダ５４１はロック保持部３８ｂの上面に支持されるとともにロック部により閉止位置にロック保持される。
【０１２２】
このようにしてセンサホルダ５４１が閉止位置にロック保持されると、左右の賞球検出センサの検出孔部５４ｃ，５４ｄが賞球カセット５３の左右の払出口５３ｃ，５３ｄの直下に位置整合して配設され、賞球カセット５３から払い出される賞球または貸し球が検出孔部５４ｃ，５４ｄを通過するときにそれぞれの賞球検出センサにより検出される。
【０１２３】
また、センサホルダ５４１が閉止位置にロック保持されると、ホルダ部全体が賞球カセット５３が振動等で下動して脱落することを防止するとともに、ホルダ部の前方中央部に突出成形された固定係合ピン５４１ｆが賞球カセット５３の固定係合片５３１ｆと係合してセンサホルダ５４１と賞球カセット５３との相対位置関係を堅持させ、賞球カセット５３が取付面内で傾いて払出口と検出孔部の心ずれが生じる等の障害を確実に防止する。
【０１２４】
なお、賞球センサ５４は、センサホルダ５４１の組み付け前はもとより、センサホルダ５４１が嵌合支持部に支持された後においても着脱交換することができる。すなわち、センサホルダ５４１を図２９や図３０に示すように開放させた状態では、ロックアーム５４１ｂを上方に弾性変形させることができ、センサ保持部５４１ａに賞球検出センサ５４を挿入してロックアーム５４１ｂにロックさせることにより賞球センサ５４を装着することができ、あるいはロックアーム５４１ｂを上動させてロックを解除させ賞球センサ５４を引き抜くことで賞球センサを取り出すことができる。
【０１２５】
一方、通常の遊技状態すなわち、センサホルダ５４１の閉止位置ではホルダ支持部のロックアーム５４１ｂが賞球カセット５３の下端面に近接して位置し、賞球検出センサ５４のロックを解除できないようになっている。このため、例えば前枠と外枠との隙間から金属片等を挿入してロックアーム５４１によるロックを解除させ、賞球検出センサ５４に悪戯を行うような不正行為を有効に防止することができる。また、センサホルダ５４１は透明な樹脂材料で形成されているため、センサホルダ５４１を閉止させた状態で賞球カセット５３から払い出される賞球を裏セット盤ＢＳＰの裏面側から目視確認することができ、例えば、賞球検出センサ５４の動作確認等を容易に行うことができるように構成されている。
【０１２６】
そして、以上のように構成される賞球カセット取り付け機構５３０および払出賞球検出機構５４０によれば、センサホルダ５４１を用いて賞球検出センサ５４を賞球カセット５３と賞球払出経路６０との間に係脱自在に配設することにより、賞球検出センサ５４の着脱作業や保守点検作業を容易化するとともに、賞球カセット５３の着脱作業や保守点検作業等をも容易化して作業性を向上させたパチンコ機を構成することができる。
【０１２７】
次に、アース装置５５０について説明する。このアース装置は、パチンコ機における遊技球の通路に配設された導電部材と、一端が導電部材に接続され他端がアース電位に地落されるアース線とからなり、通路を通る遊技球が導電部材と接触することで帯電した電荷を放出させる装置である。以下では、アース装置を賞球待機通路に適用した例について、主に図１１，図２２，図２３および図３２を参照して説明する。
【０１２８】
まず、このアース装置５５０が装備される賞球待機通路について、再び図１６を参照して概要説明すると、前後に屈曲した立設壁面で囲まれた賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂを有する待機通路部材５２は、基枠体３０と別体に形成されており、待機通路部材５２に形成された円筒支持部５２ｃ，５２ｃを球抜き機構取り付け部３６に形成された二カ所のボス３６ａ，３６ａに係合させて支持させたうえで、待機通路部材５２の裏面側を覆う蓋部材５５をねじ固定することにより球抜き機構取り付け部３６に固定される。
【０１２９】
ここで、前後の賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂを前後に仕切る仕切壁面には賞球待機通路の立設壁面に沿って前後に貫通するスリット部５２ｓ，５２ｓが形成されて前後の賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂが連通されており、また、待機通路部材５２の裏面側を覆う蓋部材５５にもこれらのスリット部５２ｓ，５２ｓと位置整合して蓋部材５５の前後を貫通するスリット孔５５ｂ，５５ｃが形成されている。また、蓋部材５５の下方には、前枠全体の着脱交換時やパチンコ機を運搬等する際に遊技機の電源コードが邪魔にならないようにコンセントプラグを係止するプラグ係止部５５ｎが形成されている。
【０１３０】
本実施例において導電部材として用いるアース金具５５１は、この蓋部材５５に取り付けられて賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂに突出し、この通路を通る予備賞球に接触して予備賞球の電荷を放出させる装置である。
【０１３１】
すなわち、アース金具５５１は、例えば、板厚0.5〜0.8mm程度の所定板厚のステンレス鋼板を打ち抜きおよび曲げ成型して形成され、蓋部材５５に固定される基盤部５５１ａと、待機通路部材５２の二つのスリット部５２ｓ，５２ｓ（および蓋部材５５の二つのスリット孔５５ｂ，５５ｃ）に合わせて屈曲成型された第１接触板５５１ｂおよび第２接触板５５１ｃ、蓋部材５５に形成された掛支斜辺５５ｄに掛支される掛支片部５５１ｄ、および基盤部５５１ａから後方に切り起こされた後、基盤部５５１ａと平行に延びるタブ状の接続端子部５５１ｔなどから構成される。
【０１３２】
アース金具５５１は、第１接触板５５１ｂおよび第２接触板５５１ｃを蓋部材５５の二つのスリット孔５５ｂ，５５ｃに挿通させ、さらに待機通路部材５２の二つのスリット部５２ｓ，５２ｓを挿通させることで賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂに位置決めされ、固定ねじ５５３をアース金具と蓋部材の取り付け孔５５１ｈ，５５ｈを通してボス３６に締め付けることで、蓋部材５５とともに球抜き機構取り付け部３６に一括固定される。
【０１３３】
アース金具５５１における接続端子部５５１ｔは、アース線５５２の端部に圧着接続されたメス側の差込端子５５２ｃとコネクタ接続可能なオス側の端子形状（接触子形状）に形成されており、アース線５５２の差込端子５５２ｃが嵌脱自在に接続される。アース線５５２におけるケーブル５５２ａの他端側は、例えばターミナル基盤９６に設けられたアース端子を介して地落されており、これによりアース金具５５１がアース電位に地落される。
【０１３４】
従って、このようにして接続されたアース金具５５１はアース電位に落とされており、賞球待機通路５２ａ，５２ｂを通る予備賞球は、この通路を流下する過程で第１接触板５５１ｂまたは第２接触板５５１ｃと接触し、ここに至る球通路で蓄積した電荷を放出して安定状態て賞球カセット５３に供給される。従って、賞球カセット５３の内部基盤や賞球検出センサ５４等に放電してこれらを損傷させる等のおそれがない。
【０１３５】
また、アース金具５５１におけるアース線５５２との接続部を差込端子の端子形状に形成しているため、アース線５５２を着脱する際に逐一ねじを用いる必要がなく、簡便且つ安価な構成でありながら着脱容易なアース装置を構成することができる。さらに、本実施例ではアース金具５５１の接続端子部に複数の接続端子を形成しているため、この接続端子部を他のアース線の中継端子として利用することも可能であり、配線の省力化をも図ることができる。
【０１３６】
なお、上記実施例ではアース装置の一例として賞球待機通路にアース金具５５１を設け、このアース金具５５１におけるアース線５５２との接続部をアース線の差込端子と嵌脱可能な端子形状に形成した例を示したが、アース金具を設ける通路は賞球待機通路に限るものではなく、遊技球が通る他の通路、例えば予備賞球通路４２や賞球払出経路６０（例えば、既述した上球皿払出通路６１におけるアース金具６１ｇやアース金具６ｇ、下球皿払出通路６５におけるアース金具６８ｇ等）、遊技済み球排出経路７０等であってもよい。また、実施例では導電部材の一例としてアース金具を別途製作して用いた例を示したが、遊技球の通路が導電性の部材で形成されている場合にはその導電部材の一部を端子形状に構成することでアース装置を構成することができる。例えば、パチンコ機ＰＭにおける外レール２２ａや内レール２２ｂの一端に上記同様の接続端子部を形成することで、同様の効果を有した内・外レールのアース装置を構成することができる。
【０１３７】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明では、枠部材の裏面側に開閉自在に取り付けられた裏セット盤と、枠部材または裏セット盤に取り付けられた遊技盤と、裏セット盤の上部に取り付けられて遊技球を貯留するタンク部材と、タンク部材に下方に位置して配設され、遊技盤における所定の入賞状態に基づいてタンク部材に貯留された遊技球を払い出す賞球払出装置と、タンク部材と賞球払出装置との間に設けられてタンクに貯留された遊技球を賞球払い出し装置に導く球通路と、球通路に近接して裏セット盤の後面側に設けられ、遊技機の作動状態を遊技施設側に出力するターミナル基板とを備える弾球遊技機において、上記球通路には、仕切壁を挟む前後に遊技球を導く案内溝を有して裏セット盤の後面側に配設される通路部材および当該通路部材の後方を覆って裏セット盤に取り付けられる蓋部材を有するとともに、蓋部材の後面に沿って配設される基板部、基板部から前方に屈曲成形された接触板、および基板部から後方に屈曲されたうえ基板部と平行に曲げ戻されて複数の接続端子が形成されたアース金具と、一端に接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が接続されてアース金具にコネクタ接続され他端がターミナル基板を介してアース電位に地落されるアース線と、一端に接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が接続されてアース金具にコネクタ接続され他端が遊技球の通る他の通路に配設されたアース金具に接続された他のアース線とを備え、アース金具は、蓋部材が通路部材の後方を覆って取り付けられるときに接触板が前後の案内溝に突出して遊技球と接触可能に配設されて当該蓋部材とともに裏セット盤に固定され、複数の接続端子が裏セット盤の後面側に視認可能に配設されて弾球遊技機のアース装置が構成される。
【０１３８】
本構成のアース装置によれば、保守点検等でアース金具を着脱交換する際や蓋部材を取り外して内部の通路部材の点検等を行う際には、アース線のコネクタ部材をアース金具の接続端子に嵌脱させるだけでよく、組立作業や保守作業を容易に行うことができる。また、アース金具に複数の接続端子が形成され、ここに他のアース金具のアース線が接続されて中継端子としての機能を兼ね備えているため、複数のアース線を迅速かつ容易に着脱させることができる。さらに、複数の接続端子が裏セット盤の後面側に視認可能に配設されているため、接続されていないアース線が一目瞭然であり、アース線の接続を忘れるようなこともなく、確実にアースを確保できるアース装置を提供することができる。従って、本発明によれば、簡便な構成でアース金具の着脱交換や配線作業等を容易に行うことができるアース装置を提供することができ、これにより生産性や保守性に優れた弾球遊技機を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る弾球遊技機の一例として示すパチンコ機の正面図である。
【図２】上記パチンコ機の裏面側を示す背面図である。
【図３】上記パチンコ機を構成する裏セット盤から回路基板やカバー等を取り外した状態で示す背面図である。
【図４】上記パチンコ機を構成する前枠および遊技盤の裏面側を、裏セット盤を取り外した状態で示す背面図である。
【図５】上記パチンコ機を構成する裏セット盤の表面側を遊技盤を取り外した状態で示す斜視図である。
【図６】上記裏セット盤を構成する基枠体の下部の構成を示す背面図である。
【図７】図６中の矢印VII−VIIに沿った断面図である。
【図８】図６中の矢印VIII−VIIIに沿った断面図である。
【図９】図６中の矢印IX−IXに沿った断面図である。
【図１０】図６中の矢印X−Xに沿った断面図である。
【図１１】上記パチンコ機における球止め機構、疑似球有り創出機構、球抜き機構、賞球カセット取り付け機構、払出賞球検出機構、アース装置等の組立状態を示す背面図である。
【図１２】蓋部材を取り外した状態で上記球止め機構、疑似球有り創出機構、球抜き機構等の構成を示す斜視図である。
【図１３】上記裏セット盤における基枠体の全体構成および上記各機構の取り付け部の位置関係を示す斜視図である。
【図１４】上記基枠体における上記各機構の取り付け部の詳細を示す斜視図である。
【図１５】蓋部材を取り外した状態で上記球止め機構、疑似球有り創出機構、球抜き機構等の構成を示す背面図である。
【図１６】蓋部材を取り外した状態で上記球止め機構、球抜き機構等の作用を示す背面図である。
【図１７】上記球止め機構の詳細構成を示す斜視図である。
【図１８】上記球止め機構を主として示す平面図（部分断面図）である。
【図１９】図１１中の矢印XIX−XIXに沿った断面図である。
【図２０】上記球抜き機構の詳細構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図２１】図１１中の矢印XXI−XXIに沿った断面図である。
【図２２】図１１中の矢印XXII−XXIIに沿った断面図である。
【図２３】図１１中の矢印XXIII−XXIIIに沿った断面図である。
【図２４】上記疑似球有り状態創出機構の詳細構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図２５】図１１中の矢印XXV−XXVに沿った断面図である。
【図２６】上記賞球カセット取り付け機構および払出賞球検出機構の詳細構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【図２７】上記払出賞球検出機構の着脱作用を示す部分拡大図である。
【図２８】上記賞球カセット取り付け機構および払出賞球検出機構の取り付け状態を示す主要断面図（側断面図）である。
【図２９】上記賞球カセットの着脱作用および払出賞球検出機構の開閉作用を示す背面図である。
【図３０】上記賞球カセットの着脱作用および払出賞球検出機構の開閉作用を示す側面図（部分断面図）である。
【図３１】上記払出賞球検出機構におけるセンサホルダを閉鎖させた取り付け状態および開閉作用を示す平断面図である。
【図３２】上記アース装置の詳細構成を示す分解斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
ＢＳＰ 裏セット盤
ＰＡ 遊技領域
ＰＭ パチンコ機
ＯＰ 操作ピン
１ 外枠
２ 前枠（２ａ 収容枠、２ｈ 球抜き操作孔）
３ａ，３ｂ ヒンジ部材
４ 施錠装置
５ ガラス扉（５ｈ 球抜き操作孔）
６ 上球皿（６ａ 球皿部、６ｂ 球抜きレバー、６ｃ 球抜き口、
６ｅ 通出樋、６ｇ アース金具）
７ 下球皿（７ａ 球皿部、７ｅ 球出口）
８ 操作ハンドル
９ 打球発射装置
１０ 遊技補助盤（１０ｅ 通出口）
１６ 集合回収口
１７ 係合レバー
１８ ヒンジ
１９ 閉鎖レバー
２０ 遊技盤
２１ 化粧板
２２ 案内レール（２２ａ 外レール、２２ｂ 内レール）
２３ 風車
２４ 一般入賞具（２４ｈ セーフ球通路孔）
２５ 始動入賞具
２６ アタッカー装置（２６ｈ セーフ球通路孔）
２７ アウト口（２７ｈ アウト球通路孔）
２８ 図柄表示装置
２９ 裏カバー
３０ 基枠体
３１ 窓口
３２ 蓋部材
３３ ガード壁
３４ 球止め機構取り付け部
（３４ａ ボス、３４ｂ 球止め係合片、３４ｃ 球止め支軸、
３４ｄ 基枠体側ダボ孔、３４ｅ ネジ穴）
３５ 球有り機構取り付け部
（３５ａ スイッチガイド、３５ｂ スイッチロック爪、
３５ｃ 基枠体側軸受部、３５ｄ 付勢係合辺、３５ｅ ホルダ係止孔、
３５ｆ ボス）
３６ 球抜き機構取り付け部
（３６ａ ボス、３６ｂ 枢支軸、３６ｃ 係合突起挿通孔、
３６ｄ 固定部材掛支片、３６ｅ 固定部材係合孔）
３７ 賞球カセット取り付け部
（３７ａ カセット係合部、３７ｂ ロック片部）
３８ 払出賞球検出機構取り付け部
（３８ａ 嵌合支持溝、３８ｂ ロック保持部、３８ｃ リブ）
４０ 球貯留供給機構
４１ タンク部材
４２ 整列樋部材
（４２ａ，４２ｂ 予備賞球通路、４２ｄ 樋部材側ダボ孔、４２ｗ 仕切壁）
４３ 偏向出口
４４ 出口カバー
５０ 賞球払出機構、
５１ 球切れ検出スイッチ
(５１ａ，５１ｂ 検出通路、５１ｃ，５１ｄ検知レバー)
５２ 待機通路部材
（５２ａ，５２ｂ 賞球待機通路、５２ｃ 円筒支持部）
５３ 賞球カセット
（５３ａ，５３ｂ 受容口、５３ｃ，５３ｄ払出口）
５４ 賞球検出センサ
（５４ｃ，５４ｄ 検出孔部）
５５ 蓋部材
（５５ｂ，５５ｃ スリット孔、５５ｄ 掛支斜辺、５５ｈ 取り付け孔）
６０ 賞球払出経路
６１ 上球皿払出通路（６１ｅ 賞球出口、６１ｇ アース金具）
６２ 仕切壁
６３ａ 第１迂回路
６３ｂ 第２迂回路
６５ 下球皿払出通路（６５ｅ 排出開口）
６６ａ 球詰まり検知レバー
６６ｂ 球詰まり検知スイッチ
６８ 賞球バケット
（６８ａ 後方開口、６８ｂ 前方開口、６８ｇ アース金具、
６８ｓ バケット空間、６８ｗ 返し壁）
６９ 支持脚
７０ 遊技済み球排出経路
７１ 遊技済み球集合通路
（７１ａ 第１集合樋、７１ｂ 第２集合樋、７１ｃ 第３集合樋）
７２ 壁面部
７３ 天井壁部
７４ 導出口
７５ 遊技済み球排出通路
（７５ａ，７５ｂ，７５ｃ 緩衝部、７５ｅ 排出口）
７６ ダクト（７６ａ，７６ｂ 上下の開口）
７７ 球抜き通路（７７ａ 予備通路、７７ｂ 連絡開口、７７ｃ 下降通路）
８１ 主制御基板取り付け部
８２ 賞球制御基板取り付け部
８３ ランプ・音声制御基板取り付け部
８４ 電源基板取り付け部
８５ 中継基板取り付け部
８６ ターミナル基板取り付け部
９１ 主制御基板
９２ 賞球制御基板
９３ ランプ・音声制御基板
９４ 電源基板
９５ 中継基板
９６ ターミナル基板
９７ 画像制御基板
４２０球止め機構
４２１ 樋出口カバー部材
（４２１ａ，４２１ｂ ガイド孔、４２１ｃ 軸支部、４２１ｄ 係合突起、
４２１ｅ 円筒部、４２１ｆ 支持孔部、４２１ｗ 仕切リブ）
４２２ 球止め部材
（４２２ａ，４２２ｂ 球止め片、４２２ｃ 支軸、４２２ｄ アーム、
４２２ｌ 操作片）
４５０ タンクアース
４６０ タンク球切れ検出機構
５１０ 疑似球有り状態創出機構
５１１ 押圧部材（５１１ａ，５１１ｂ 押圧子、５１１ｃ 回転軸、
５１１ｌ 操作レバー）
５１２ ホルダ部材（５１２ｅ 爪部）
５１３ カバー体（５１３ａ カバー側軸受部、５１３ｂ レバー窓）
５２０ 球抜き機構
５２１ 流路切り替え部材
（５２１ａ 通路壁部、５２１ｂ 支軸孔部、５２１ｃ 閉止保持係合孔、
５２１ｄ 開放保持係合辺）
５２２ 固定部材
（５２２ａ 枢結孔、５２２ｂ 掛支部、５２２ｃ 嵌合部、
５２２ｄ 抜け止めリブ）
５２３ レバー部材
（５２３ａ 枢結軸、５２３ｂ レバー部、５２３ｃ 係合突起部、
５２３ｄ 弾性片部）
５２４ 通路カバー
５３０ 賞球カセット取り付け機構
５３１ カセットケース
（５３１ａ ケース側係合部、５３１ｂ 溝部、５３１ｆ 固定係合片）
５３２ カセットケース
５４０ 払出賞球検出機構
５４１ センサホルダ
（５４１ａ センサ保持部、５４１ｂ ロックアーム、５４１ｃ 支持アーム、５４１ｄ 嵌合突起、５４１ｆ 固定係合ピン）
５５０ アース装置
５５１ アース金具
（５５１ａ 基盤部、５５１ｂ 第１接触板、５５１ｃ 第２接触板、
５５１ｄ 掛支片部、５５１ｈ 取り付け孔、５５１ｔ 接続端子部）
５５２ アース線
（５５２ａ ケーブル、５５２ｂ 差込端子）
５５３ ねじ[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball game machine represented by a pachinko machine. More specifically, the present invention relates to a conductive member provided so that a game ball passing through the ball path contacts a ball path through which the game ball passes, and one end is conductive. The present invention relates to a grounding device that includes a grounding wire connected to a member and whose other end is grounded to a ground potential, and discharges a charged game ball.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In ball game machines such as pachinko machines and arrange ball machines, metal materials mainly made of iron-based alloys are used as game balls, but they are used as storage tanks and supply / discharge paths for game balls to which these game balls move. Resin materials such as ABS resin, polyacetal resin, polycarbonate resin, etc. are often used, and it is easy to be charged with static electricity while the game ball contacts and rubs against these members, and it is easy to maintain the potential once charged There is a characteristic.
[0003]
On the other hand, in recent ball game machines, so-called microcomputer game machines and digital game machines have become mainstream in order to improve the game preference, and the main control board with a microprocessor installed inside the game machine In addition, various electronic control circuits such as a display control board, a voice control board, and a ball hitting device controller board are mounted. These electronic control circuits are generally very vulnerable to short-period, high-peak voltage pulse noise, and if no countermeasures against static electricity are taken, the static electricity accumulated in the game ball is in the air due to dielectric breakdown. There is a possibility that various malfunctions such as malfunction in control due to electrostatic noise generated by discharge or damage of an IC chip mounted on the circuit may occur.
[0004]
For this reason, in recent ball game machines, a grounding device is provided for each important point of the game ball movement path so as to ground the electric charge and prevent the static electricity from being accumulated before the potential of the game ball becomes too high. The grounding device includes a grounding fixture provided so that a game ball passing through the ball passage is in contact with a ball passage through which a game ball passes, and one end connected to the grounding fixture and the other end connected to the ground terminal of the gaming machine or a game facility. And an earth wire connected to the earth terminal, and when the charged game ball comes into contact with the earth metal fitting, the electric charge is discharged and the earth potential is lowered to the earth potential.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional grounding device, the grounding metal provided in the path of the game ball and the grounding wire are connected using screws. That is, generally, a round crimp terminal is crimped and connected to the end of the ground wire, and the crimp terminal is fixed with a screw to be electrically and mechanically connected to the ground metal fitting. For this reason, when replacing or replacing a member connected to the ground wire for maintenance inspection, etc., it is necessary to loosen the screw one by one and replace the member one by one, and then tighten the screw again after the replacement to connect the ground wire. There is a problem that is difficult, and that it is easy to lose the screw.
[0006]
Further, when a large number of ground wires are connected, a plurality of round terminals are often connected together. However, in such a connection, not only the assembly work is easy and time-consuming, but also there is a problem that the whole must be disassembled and reattached in order to replace one ground wire. In addition, if each grounding fixture is connected in series in order to avoid such a connection, parts replacement becomes complicated, and the state where the grounding wire on the terminal side is forgotten to be effectively grounded may be caused. was there.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and provides a grounding device that can easily perform attaching / detaching / replacement of a grounding metal and wiring work with a simple and low-cost configuration, thereby improving productivity and maintenance. The object is to provide a ball game machine with excellent performance.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a frame member, a back set board attached to the back side of the frame member so as to be opened and closed, a game board attached to the frame member or the back set board, and a back set board. A tank member that is attached to the upper part and stores a game ball, and a prize ball payout that is disposed below the tank member and that pays out the game ball stored in the tank member based on a predetermined winning state on the game board A ball path that is provided between the tank member and the prize ball payout device and guides the game balls stored in the tank to the prize ball payout device.A terminal board that is provided on the rear side of the back set board in the vicinity of the ball passage and that outputs the operating state of the gaming machine to the gaming facility side;In a ball game machine comprising:A passage member disposed on the rear surface side of the back set board having a guide groove for guiding a game ball before and after sandwiching the partition wall and the rear of the passage memberCoveringOn the back set boardHas a lid to be attachedIn addition, a substrate portion disposed along the rear surface of the lid member, a contact plate bent forward from the substrate portion, a plurality of portions bent back from the substrate portion and bent back in parallel with the substrate portion. A grounding bracket with a connection terminal;At one endRemovable with connection terminalConnector member is connected to the grounding bracketconnectorConnected and the other endThrough the terminal boardGround wire that is grounded to ground potentialAnd a connection terminal and a detachable connector member connected to one end and connected to the ground fitting, and the other end connected to the ground fitting disposed in another passage through which the game ball passes.WithThe ground metal fitting is fixed to the back set board together with the lid member so that the contact plate protrudes into the front and rear guide grooves and comes into contact with the game ball when the lid member is attached to cover the rear of the passage member. So that the connecting terminal is visible on the rear side of the back set panelA grounding device for a ball game machine is constructed.
[0009]
  In the grounding device having the above configuration,A plurality of connection terminals are formed on the grounding metal. The grounding wire connection terminal and a detachable connector member are fixed to one end of the grounding wire, and the other end is connected to the ground potential via the terminal board. It has been crushed. In addition, the other grounding wire is fixed to one end of a connecting member of the grounding fitting and a detachable connector member and connected to the earthing fitting, and the other end is connected to the earthing fitting disposed in another passage through which the game ball passes. It is connected.To connect the grounding bracket to the ground wire, connect the ground wire connector to the grounding bracket.Connecting terminalIs performed by fitting and connecting, and removal is performed by releasing the connector connection.
[0010]
  For this reason, when removing and replacing the grounding bracket for maintenance inspection or when removing the lid member for inspection, etc., connect the ground wire connector member to the grounding bracket.Connecting terminalAs a result, the assembly and maintenance work can be easily performed, and there is no worry of losing the screw which has conventionally fixed the ground wire. Also,A plurality of connection terminals are formed on the grounding bracket, and the ground wire of another grounding bracket is connected to the connector here, and the grounding potential is lowered via this grounding bracket, that is, the function as a relay terminal is also provided. BecauseA grounding device that can quickly and easily attach and detach a plurality of grounding wires can be configured.In addition, since a plurality of connection terminals are arranged on the rear side of the back set panel so as to be visible.Unconnected ground wire is obviousRThus, it is possible to provide a grounding device capable of reliably securing the ground without forgetting to connect the terminal-side ground wire. It should be noted that the connector member connected to the ground wire and the connector member to be detachably connected theretoConnecting terminalThe type of the connector is not particularly limited. For example, a flat male / female insertion terminal is used, and the female-side insertion terminal is crimped and fixed as a connector member to be connected to the ground wire. By making the end portion of the metal fitting into a male-side plug-in terminal shape, it is possible to configure a grounding device that is detachably connected with a simple and low-cost configuration.
  In addition,The ground metal fixture includes a first contact plate and a second contact plate, each of which has a contact plate bent forward from the substrate portion, and has a latching piece portion bent forward from the substrate portion. Has two slit holes through which the first contact plate and the second contact plate are inserted back and forth, and a latching oblique side for latching the latching side portion along the side edge. 2 When the contact plate is inserted into the two slit holes, and the hook side is hooked on the hook slant side and the lid member is fixed to the back set board, the grounding metal is positioned and fixed to the back set board It is preferable to configure so that.
  Further, in the grounding device, a plurality of cylindrical bosses protrude rearward on the rear surface side of the back set panel on which the passage members are disposed, and the passage members are aligned with the plurality of bosses, respectively. A plurality of cylindrical cylindrical support portions that can be engaged with and disengaged from the bosses are formed, and on the front surface side of the lid member, a bottomed cylindrical supported portion that can be engaged with and disengaged from each boss by aligning with the plurality of bosses. When a plurality of cylindrical support parts are engaged with a plurality of bosses erected on the rear surface side of the back set board, and a plurality of supported parts are engaged with the rear end parts of the plurality of bosses, When the passage member and the lid member are positioned on the back set panel, and the screw is screwed and fastened to the rear end of the boss through the hole formed in the ground metal fitting and the lid member from the rear surface side of the lid member, the passage member and the lid The member and grounding bracket are positioned and fixed to the back set panel. It is preferable to.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment, a pachinko machine is taken as a representative example of the ball game machine according to the present invention, and the case where the present invention is applied to the back set board of this pachinko machine will be mainly described. First, a schematic configuration of a pachinko machine PM to which the present invention is applied will be briefly described with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine PM as seen from the front, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine PM as seen from the back (the back side configuration of the game board is omitted), and FIG. 3 is the back set board. FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the back side configuration of the game board 20 with the back set board further removed, and FIG. 5 is a back view showing the game board 20 from the pachinko machine PM. It is a perspective view which shows the surface side of a back set board in the state which removed.
[0012]
The pachinko machine PM is configured to have a rectangular frame size and a rectangular frame size corresponding to the opening front of the outer frame 1 that forms a vertically fixed holding frame. The hinge members 3a and 3b disposed on the upper left and right sides of the front face are attached to be opened and closed and detachable, and the game is performed in a closed state engaged with the outer frame 1 using the locking device 4 provided on the right side of the front face. Provided.
[0013]
On the front side of the front frame 2, a rectangular glass door 5 and an upper ball tray 6 that match the front side area of the front frame 2 are assembled so as to be openable and detachable laterally. It is held in a closed state that covers the front surface of the front frame 2 using a lock mechanism (not shown). The upper ball tray 6 is provided with a ball tray portion 6a for storing and aligning the paid game balls, and a ball release lever 6b for discharging the game balls stored in the ball tray portion to the lower ball tray 7 is provided. ing. A lower ball tray 7 having a ball tray portion 7 a and a ball outlet 7 e is provided below the front frame 2, and an operation handle 8 for performing a game ball launching operation is attached along with the lower ball tray 7.
[0014]
On the back side of the front frame 2, a rectangular frame-shaped storage frame 2a is formed integrally with the front frame 2, and a game board 20 configured with a predetermined gauge setting is formed on the storage frame 2a. 17, 17... Are set and held so as to be detachable and replaceable. The housing frame 2a is configured such that when the game board 20 is set and held, the front surface of the game board 20 is opposed to the glass plate of the glass door 5 in a closed state with a predetermined distance therebetween. A game area space in which a game ball falls and moves is formed between the inner surface and the inner surface.
[0015]
Further, a ball hitting device 9 is attached to the lower part of the back side of the front frame 2, and a game assisting board 10 is formed integrally with the front frame 2 at the lower part of the housing frame 2 a in the front frame 2. Note that, on the front side of the game auxiliary board 10, a launch rail for launching the game ball toward the outer rail of the game board in alignment with the hammer of the hitting ball launching device 9, a speaker for generating sound effects, and the like are attached. . The game assisting board 10 is located on the back side of the upper ball tray 6 and the surface side is covered with the upper ball tray 6 that is always kept closed.
[0016]
A back set board BSP having a ball storage and supply mechanism 40, a prize ball payout mechanism 50, and the like is provided on the back side of the housing frame 2a so that it can be opened / closed and attached / removed by the upper and lower hinges 18 and 18, and the closing levers 19 and 19 are always provided. Are closed and held so as to cover the back surface of the game board 20. Each part of the back set panel BSP includes a main control board 91 for comprehensively controlling the operation of the pachinko machine, a prize ball control board 92 for controlling the payout of prize balls, and a lamp for controlling the operation of effect lighting and sound effects.・ Voice control board 93, power supply board 94 for supplying predetermined power to each control board and electronic components, relay board 95 for attaching a plurality of connectors to relay control signals and power, and the operating state of the gaming machine Various boards such as a terminal board 96 for output to the side and electronic components such as a prize ball cassette 53 are attached, and each device is connected by a wire harness (not shown). The entire pachinko machine PM is held vertically on the gaming island of the gaming facility at a required rearward tilt angle (for example, a rearward tilt angle of 1 degree or less).
[0017]
The pachinko machine PM is used for a game in a state where the upper ball tray 6 and the glass door 5 are closed and locked (the state shown in FIG. 1), the game ball is stored in the ball tray portion 6a, and the operation handle 8 is rotated. By doing so, the game is started. When the operation lever of the operation handle 8 is rotated, the game balls stored in the ball tray portion 6a are sent one by one onto the firing rail by a ball feeding device (not shown), and launched by the hammer of the ball launching device 9. Then, it is led to the game area PA along the outer rail 22a of the game board 20, and the pachinko game is developed thereafter.
[0018]
In the following, the configuration of each part of the pachinko machine PM schematically configured will be described in more detail. The game board 20 has a belt-like outer rail 22a and inner rail 22b using a stainless steel plate or the like on the front side of a decorative board 21 in which cells are attached to the surface of a laminated plywood having a predetermined thickness. The game area PA is defined on the inner side surrounded by the guide rails 22. In the game area PA, in addition to a large number of game nails, a plurality of windmills 23, a general prize-winning tool 24, a starting prize-winning tool 25, a prize-winning tool such as an attacker device 26, a symbol display device 28 having a decorative portion around it, and the like are provided. It has been.
[0019]
The general winning device 24 has a winning hole into which a game ball can be dropped, and a winning ball detection sensor (specifically, a magnetic ball, an optical or an electric ball that passes the game ball is detected here). A sensor for detecting by an appropriate means or the like) is attached. A safe ball passage hole 24h that penetrates the decorative board 21 is provided on the rear side of the general winning device 24, and the safe ball that has won the general winning device 24 passes through the safe ball passage hole 24h to the back side of the game board 20 To be discharged.
[0020]
The start winning tool 25 is a winning tool having a so-called electric tulip structure, and can open and close the left and right tulip blades. A winning ball detection sensor for detecting a winning game ball is also attached to the start winning tool 25, and a safe ball passage hole (not shown) penetrating the decorative plate 21 is provided on the rear side thereof. The safe ball that won the prize is discharged to the back side of the game board 20 through the safe ball passage hole.
[0021]
The attacker device 26 has a large winning opening consisting of a horizontal rectangular opening in the center, and an open / close door is attached to the large winning opening so as to be openable and closable. The open / close door is normally closed, and when a special game state is established under a predetermined game condition during the game, the open / close door is tilted forward approximately 90 degrees to open the big prize opening. There are two left and right winning openings in the big winning opening, and a winning ball detection sensor is attached to each of them, and two safes that pass through the decorative board 21 connected to the two winning openings on the rear side of the attacker device 26. Ball passage holes 26h and 26h are provided. The safe ball that has entered from the big prize opening is discharged to the back side of the game board 20 through the safe ball passage holes 26h, 26h.
[0022]
When a game ball wins each winning tool 24, 25, 26, a winning safe ball is detected by a winning ball detection sensor attached to each winning tool, and a predetermined number of prizes according to the type of the winning tool and the game situation. The ball is paid out to the upper ball tray 6 or the lower ball tray 7 from a prize ball payout mechanism 50 described later. The symbol display device 28 has a liquid crystal display panel on the front side of the game board, and is controlled by an image control board 97 attached to the back side of the game board 20 to display various displays according to the game situation. The
[0023]
In the lowermost part of the game area PA, an out port 27 is provided for collecting and discharging out balls that have fallen without winning the prize-winning tools 24, 25, and 26. An out ball passage hole 27h is formed on the rear side of the out port 27 through the decorative board 21, and the out ball collected in the out port 27 passes through the out ball passage hole 27h and is on the back side of the game board 20. To be discharged. On the back side of the decorative plate 21, a back cover 29 for preventing fraud is fixed at a predetermined interval so as to cover the back sides of the safe ball passage holes 24h and 26h and the out ball passage hole 27h, thereby forming a discharge space between the back surface of the decorative board 21 is doing. The lower end of the back cover 29 is open, and the game balls that have been discharged to the back surface of the game board 20 through the safe ball passage hole and the out ball passage hole move down the discharge space along the back surface of the decorative board 21. Fall.
[0024]
The back set board BSP, which is located behind the game board 20 and can be opened and closed sideways by using the upper and lower hinges 18, is always held closed so as to cover the back surface of the game board 20 using the closing lever 19. The The back set board BSP as a whole has a vertical rectangular shape that is somewhat larger than the rear outline size of the housing frame 2a, and has a window 31 for receiving the image control board 97 protruding from the game board 20 at the center. The molded base frame 30 is used as a base. In the following, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the left and right direction in the rear view shown in FIG. 3 is referred to as the left or right, and the other side in the direction orthogonal to the plane of the drawing (the front side of the pachinko machine). Is referred to as the front, and the near side (the back side) is referred to as the rear.
[0025]
The base frame body 30 constituting the back set panel is equipped with a ball storage and supply mechanism 40 that is installed on the upper side of the window 31 and stores and supplies a preliminary prize ball, and is mounted on the right side of the window 31 to receive the prize ball. A structural component such as a prize ball payout mechanism 50 for performing a payout process is attached, and prize balls that are located below the prize ball payout mechanism 50 and are paid out from the mechanism 50 are discharged to the upper and lower ball dishes 6 and 7. Out balls and safe balls (collectively referred to as “game-completed balls”) discharged from the game board 20 located below the winning ball payout route 60 and the counter 31 are discharged into a collection bucket on the game facility side. The game-completed ball discharge path 70 to be played is formed.
[0026]
In addition, flat substrate mounting portions 81, 82, 83, 85 and the like to which the above-described circuit boards are mounted are integrally formed on each back surface portion of the base frame body 30, and are fixed to the substrate case and the substrate base. The circuit boards 91, 92, 93, 95, etc. are respectively connected to a case side engaging portion formed on the back surface of the base member in each substrate case or the substrate base, and a base frame side relationship formed on the substrate mounting portion on the base frame body side. Equipped with detachable exchange using the joint.
[0027]
The ball storage and supply mechanism 40 attached to the upper part of the base frame 30 has a tank member 41 for preliminary prize balls, and an alignment rod member 42 for aligning and flowing down the preliminary prize balls stored in the tank member 41. Composed. The tank member 41 forms a box-like body whose upper surface is opened and the bottom surface is loosely inclined to the left and forward in the mounting posture, and the preliminary prize ball passage of the alignment rod member 42 is formed in an opening formed on the left front of the bottom surface. Communicate.
[0028]
In the mounting posture screwed to the base frame 30, the alignment rod member 42 forms a rod-shaped body surrounded by the front and rear wall surfaces, and is formed by rib-like partition walls 42 w erected on the bottom surface in the left-right direction. The preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b are formed in the front and rear two rows in the basket. (See FIGS. 17 and 18). The alignment rod member 42 is attached so as to be inclined gently and downward from the tank member 41 side toward the prize ball payout mechanism 50 side, and the preliminary prize balls supplied from the tank member 41 are aligned with the two rows of preliminary prize ball paths. Let it flow down. An inclined end portion of the alignment rod member 42, that is, a terminal end portion of the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b, is bent downward at a substantially right angle, and a deflection outlet 43 opening downward is formed at the lower end thereof. Near the end of the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b, a ball stop mechanism 420 capable of stopping the flow of the preliminary prize balls flowing down the passage is provided, and the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b are closed as necessary. Thus, the supply of the preliminary prize ball from the deflection outlet 43 to the prize ball payout device 50 can be stopped. The configuration of the ball stop mechanism 420 will be described in detail after explanation of the path of the game ball.
[0029]
The prize ball payout mechanism 50 is supported by the base frame 30 and receives a preliminary prize ball sent out from the deflection outlet 43, and holds a predetermined number of preliminary prize balls in the two front and rear rows of prize ball waiting passages 52a and 52b. Based on a predetermined payout condition, a standby path member 52 (see FIGS. 13 and 22) and a preliminary prize ball attached to the base frame 30 below the standby path member 52 and held on standby in the prize ball standby path are displayed. The payout ball cassette 53 to be paid out and the standby passage member 52 supported by the base frame 30 are sandwiched between the mounting surfaces thereof and the lid member 55 for forming the two rows of prize ball standby passages (see FIG. 13). It is composed mainly of. Further, between the deflection outlet 43 and the standby passage member 52, a ball break detection for detecting whether or not a preliminary prize ball sufficient to be paid out as a prize ball is held in the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b. A switch 51 is detachably attached, and a prize ball detection sensor 54 for detecting a prize ball dispensed is detachably provided between the prize outlet of the prize ball cassette 53 and the prize ball payout path 60. Yes.
[0030]
The prize ball cassette 53 is connected to the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b in the center of the upper part, and is provided with a receiving port for receiving the preliminary prize ball, and a payout outlet for delivering the prize ball to the left and right of the lower part. A two-stage impeller, a motor that rotates the impeller, and a passage in the cassette that guides the winning ball from the receiving port to the discharging port, and the motor according to a paying command signal output from the winning ball control board 92 under a predetermined condition Is operated, and the impeller is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise, and a number of game balls corresponding to the command signal are paid out to the winning ball payout path 60 from the right or left payout opening. Specifically, the impeller is turned on in accordance with a payout command signal output from the winning ball control board 92 based on a winning state of the game balls to the winning devices 24, 25, 26, etc., or a ball lending operation in a so-called CR machine. For example, it is rotated counterclockwise, and a number of game balls corresponding to the command signal are paid out to the prize ball payout path 60 from the left payout opening as prize balls.
[0031]
In addition, a pseudo ball presence state creation mechanism 510 is provided above the ball break detection switch 51, and a ball removal mechanism 520 is provided between the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b and the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b. The award ball cassette mounting mechanism 530 is provided at the mounting portion of the ball, the payout winning ball detection mechanism 540 is provided at the mounting portion of the prize ball detection sensor 54, and the ground device 550 is provided at the lid member 55. The structure and operation of the mechanism will be described in detail after explanation of each path through which the game ball flows down.
[0032]
A prize ball payout path 60 is formed below the prize ball payout mechanism 50, and a game-completed ball discharge path 70 is formed along with the prize ball payout path 60. FIG. 6 shows a detailed view below the window 31 in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view along arrows VII-VII in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view along arrows VIII-VIII in FIG. A cross-sectional view along IX-IX is shown in FIG. 9, and a cross-sectional view along arrow XX is shown in FIG.
[0033]
The prize ball payout path 60 is composed of an upper ball dish payout passage 61 that communicates with the ball dish portion 6a of the upper ball dish 6 and a lower ball dish payout path 65 that communicates with the ball dish portion 7a of the lower ball dish 7. While being partitioned by the partition wall 62, it communicates with the upper portion of the wall surface 62 and is integrally connected to the outlet of the prize ball payout mechanism 50 (that is, the outlet opening of the prize ball detection sensor 54). The upper ball tray payout passage 61 is provided with a prize ball outlet 61e located below the prize ball cassette 53, and the prize balls discharged from the prize ball cassette 53 fall through the upper ball tray payout passage 61. Then, it flows from the prize ball outlet 61 e into the upper outlet 10 e of the game auxiliary board 10, and is further sent out to the ball tray portion 6 a through the outlet bowl 6 e formed on the upper ball tray 6. Earth fittings 61g and 6g are attached to the passage surface of the prize ball outlet 61e and the passage surface of the outlet rod 6e, and are respectively connected to the ground terminal of the pachinko machine PM by ground wires (not shown).
[0034]
On the other hand, in the lower ball tray discharge passage 65, detours 63a and 63b are formed in the base frame body 30 and the lid member 32, respectively, and pass through the upper end of the partition wall 62 and incline downward to the left in the rear view. That is, the base frame 30 has a groove-shaped first detour projecting forward and inclined leftward so as to smoothly guide the prize ball that is about to overflow beyond the partition wall 62 to the lower ball tray discharge passage 65. A path 63a is formed, and the lid member 32 is similarly formed with a second detour path 63b that protrudes rearward and is inclined leftward so as to guide the prize ball to the lower ball tray payout passage 65.
[0035]
For this reason, the prize balls stored in the upper ball tray 6 are full, the prize balls cannot be discharged from the prize ball outlet 6e, and the prize balls are further filled from the prize ball payout mechanism 50 in a state where the prize balls are filled up to the upper end of the partition wall 62. When the prize ball is paid out, the newly awarded prize ball gets over the prize ball blocked by the partition wall 62 and overflows into the lower ball tray discharge passage 65 and is provided before and after the partition wall 62. The first detour path 63a and the second detour path 63b are used to reach the lower ball tray discharge passage 65, flow down the lower ball tray discharge passage 65, and discharged from the lower discharge opening 65e.
[0036]
A prize ball bucket 68 having a rear opening 68a facing the discharge opening 65e is provided below the discharge opening 65e. The prize ball bucket 68 has a box-like shape as a whole, and has a rear opening 68a on the rear upper surface and a front opening 68b on the front upper surface across a return wall 68w that protrudes from the upper portion. A bucket space 68s surrounded by a bottom surface inclined toward the front lower side is formed. The prize ball bucket 68 is attached to the lower part of the rear surface of the front frame 2, and the front of the bucket space 68 s communicates with the ball outlet 7 e formed in the front frame 2 and is connected to the ball dish portion 7 a of the lower ball dish 7. Yes. The rear opening 68a that opens upward is formed so as to be positioned directly below the discharge opening 65e in a closed posture in which the back set board BSP is closed to the front frame 2. For this reason, the prize ball discharged from the discharge opening 65e is sent to the ball tray portion 7a of the lower ball tray 7 through the rear opening 68a of the prize ball bucket 68, the bucket space 68s and the ball outlet 7e.
[0037]
A ball clogging detection lever 66a is urged and supported in the lower part of the lower ball tray discharge passage 65 by using a torsion spring, and detects the angular position of the detection lever 66a. A ball clogging detection switch 66b is arranged as shown. For this reason, when the ball ball portion 7a of the lower ball plate 7 is full, the ball outlet 7e and the bucket space 68s are filled, and the ball is filled to the lower part of the lower ball plate discharge passage 65, the ball clogging is detected. The lever 66a is pushed outward by the award ball filled with the lever 66 and swings, and the contact of the ball clogging detection switch 66b is turned on or off to detect the full state of the award ball.
[0038]
The base frame 30 is provided with a guard wall 33 projecting forward so as to cover the periphery of the outlet above and to the left of the prize ball outlet 61e, and the back set board BSP is attached to the front frame 2. In the closed position, the guard wall 33 enters the guard wall receiving space formed between the game auxiliary board 10 and the game board 20 (decorative board 21), and the prize ball outlet 61e on the back set board side and the game It arrange | positions so that a clearance gap may not arise in the connection part with the outlet 10e by the side of an auxiliary | assistant panel. For this reason, a wire or a thin metal piece or the like is inserted between the back set board BSP and the game board 20 through the exit 10e from the exit bowl 6e side of the upper ball tray, and the prize ball detection sensor etc. It is possible to prevent fraudulent acts that are performed in advance and effectively, and to provide a fair game.
[0039]
Further, a return wall 68w that protrudes upward is provided between the front opening 68b and the rear opening 68a in the prize ball bucket 68, and serves as a rear wall of the front opening 68b to be a front end portion of the base frame 30. It is arranged to overlap so as to cover. Therefore, even if a wire, a thin metal piece, or the like enters from the ball outlet 7e of the lower ball tray and tries to enter between the back set board BSP and the game auxiliary board 10 from the front opening 68b, the presence of the return wall 68 exists. Therefore, it is not possible to intrude between them. Therefore, it is possible to prevent an illegal act such as performing a mischief on the prize ball detection sensor on the back of the game board.
[0040]
The front opening 68 b of the prize ball bucket 68 is connected to the collective collection port 16 that communicates with the front and rear of the game auxiliary board 10. The collect collection port 16 is a foul ball collection path formed on the front side of the game assisting board 10 or the exit basket 6e when the upper bowl tray 6 is opened with the game bowl filled with the game bowl 6e. The prize balls spilled from the outlet 10e are received and collected through a collection ball collection path (both not shown), and the game balls collected through these collection paths pass through the collection collection port 16 and the front opening 68b. Then, it falls into the bucket space 68s and is collected from the ball outlet 7e to the ball tray portion 7a.
[0041]
In addition, a ball outlet 6c of the upper ball tray 6 in a closed position is located in front of the collective recovery port 16. The upper ball tray 6 is formed with a ball passage for guiding the game balls stored in the ball tray portion 6a to the ball outlet 6c. When the ball release lever 6b provided on the upper ball tray 6 is operated, The game balls stored in the ball tray portion 6a are discharged from the ball discharge port 6c to the collect collection port 16 through the ball discharge passage, and are collected in the ball tray portion 7a through the front opening 68b, the bucket space 68s and the ball outlet 7e. The A ground metal fitting 68g is attached to the discharge passage surface forming the bottom surface of the prize ball bucket, and is connected to the ground terminal of the pachinko machine PM by a ground wire (not shown).
[0042]
The game-completed ball discharge path 70 is formed on the front surface side of the base frame body 30 and collects out-balls and safe balls that are discharged to the back surface side of the game board 20. A game-completed ball discharge passage 75 that is formed on the back side and collected by the game-completed ball collecting passage 71 is guided to the lower part of the back set board BSP. A duct 76 that is attached to the back surface of the frame 2 and guides the game balls discharged from the game ball discharge passage 75 to a collection bucket (not shown) on the game facility side is provided.
[0043]
The game-completed ball assembly passage 71 formed on the surface side of the base frame 30 includes a first assembly rod 71a, a second assembly rod 71b, and a third assembly rod 71c that are inclined downward from the left and right ends toward the center. In the state where the back set board BSP is closed to the front frame 2, these collecting rods are arranged so as to be positioned below the outlets of the safe ball passage holes 24 h and 26 h and the out ball passage hole 27 h. A wall surface 72 is erected on the rear side of the collective bowl so as to cover the back side of each passage hole, and the upper part thereof is bent so as to substantially contact the back cover 29 of the game board in the closed posture of the back set board BSP. Thus, a ceiling wall portion 73 is formed, and is configured in a lid shape covering the lower part of the back surface of the game board 20 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the game balls from flowing into the game-completed ball collecting passage 71 from the outside, and to prevent an unauthorized operation to the safe ball detector attached to the winning tool.
[0044]
Between the first collective rod 71a and the second collective rod 71b, there is provided a lead-out port 74 that penetrates the base frame 30 forward and backward, and a game-completed ball discharge passage 75 formed on the back side of the base frame 30 It is connected. As shown in each drawing, the game-completed ball discharge passage 75 is formed by bending in multiple stages, and the game-completed ball that falls from the outlet 74 is received by the buffer portions 75a, 75b, and 75c to reduce the falling speed and reduce the lower end. It discharges from the discharge port 75e. A duct 76 is disposed below the discharge opening 75e. The duct 76 is formed in a hollow rectangular tube shape having openings 76a and 76b in the vertical direction and extending in the vertical direction, and is screwed to a support leg 69 protruding rearward from the back surface of the front frame 2 so In the closed posture with the front frame 2 closed, the upper opening 76a is disposed so as to face the discharge port 75e of the game-completed ball discharge passage 75.
[0045]
For this reason, the game-completed balls discharged to the back side of the game board 20 through the safe ball passage holes 24h, 26h, etc. and the out-ball passage hole 27h are the first to third collecting rods 71a of this game-completed ball assembly passage. , 71b, 71c and rolls on the bowl, and is led from the outlet 74 at the lower end of the slope to the played ball discharge passage 75 on the back side of the base frame 30. In the game ball discharge passage 75, a game ball that has dropped from the outlet 74 is received by the buffer portions 75a, 75b, and 75c, the falling speed is reduced, and the ball is discharged into the collection bucket on the game facility side through the duct 76. The For this reason, the falling speed of the game-completed ball is reduced, the falling direction is limited to a certain range, and the game-completed ball is not scattered by the collection bucket on the game facility side. Note that, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7, the above effect can be further enhanced by reducing the opening of the duct 76 on the lower end side.
[0046]
The winning ball payout path 60 and the game-completed ball discharging path 70 are covered with an integral lid member 32 that covers the rear of these paths, and the surface of the lid member 32 is attached to the mounting portion 81 of the main control board 91 or the prize ball control. A substrate mounting portion 84 of the power supply substrate 94 is formed on the upper surface of the lid member 32, which is located on the same surface as the mounting portion 82 of the substrate 92.
[0047]
Now, in the pachinko machine PM in which the flow path of the game ball is configured as described above, various mechanisms for causing the ball storage and supply mechanism 40 and the prize ball payout mechanism 50 to discharge the preliminary prize ball, that is, the ball stopper A mechanism 420, a pseudo ball presence state creation mechanism 510, and a ball removal mechanism 520 are provided, respectively, and a prize ball cassette mounting mechanism 530 and a payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 with improved assemblability and maintainability are formed. A grounding device 550 is provided to ensure proper operation.
[0048]
FIG. 11 shows the overall structure of these mechanisms and devices, FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the structure of each mechanism above the prize ball cassette 53 with the lid member 55 removed, and FIG. 12 shows a base frame to which each mechanism is attached. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the entire body 30, FIG. 14 is an enlarged perspective view showing a mounting portion of each mechanism formed on the base frame body 30, and a lid member 55 is used to explain the operation of each mechanism. The rear view shown in the removed state is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, respectively. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of each mechanism / device will be described with reference to these drawings and with reference to detailed drawings of the mechanisms.
[0049]
The ball stop mechanism 420 is provided in the vicinity of the terminal end of the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b, and is used when performing a maintenance operation or the like that does not require removing all the game balls including the preliminary prize balls stored in the tank member 41. . Specifically, when performing maintenance, inspection work, or replacement work for each component of the prize ball payout mechanism 50, such as the ball break switch 51 and the prize ball cassette 53, the spare prize balls stored in the tank member 41 are stored. There is no need to remove the entire amount, the ball stop mechanism 420 is used to stop the flow of balls in the preliminary prize ball passage, and only the preliminary prize balls downstream from this mechanism are discharged by the ball removal mechanism 520 to quickly perform each of the above operations. It is provided so that it can be done.
[0050]
A detailed perspective view of the ball stop mechanism 420 is shown in FIG. 17, a plan view of the mechanism is shown in FIG. 18, and a partial cross-sectional view along arrow XIX-XIX in FIG. 11 is shown in FIG.
[0051]
The ball stop mechanism 420 includes a ball stop member 422 attached to straddle the upper part of the preliminary prize ball passages 42 a and 42 b formed in the alignment rod member 42 so as to straddle the passages, and a ball stop of the base frame 30. A ball stopper engaging piece 34b that is provided in the mechanism attaching portion 34 and holds the ball stopper member 422 in the ball stopper position and the open position is mainly configured. The ball stopper engaging member 422 is swingably attached by using a basket outlet cover member 421 that covers the upper end portions of the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b.
[0052]
The upper part of the base frame 30 includes a ball stop mechanism mounting portion 34 having a cylindrical boss 34a projecting rearward, an arm-shaped ball stopper engaging piece 34b having upper and lower and right sides separated, and a cross section projecting rearward. The ball-supporting spindle 34c having a convex shape, the base frame body side dowel hole 34d penetrating the base frame body 30 back and forth, the screw hole 34e for receiving the mounting screw of the alignment rod member 42 and the rod outlet cover member 421, etc. are integrally formed. Is formed. The ball stopper engaging piece 34b includes an arm portion whose upper and lower sides and right side are separated from the base frame body 30 in a slit shape, and a trapezoidal engagement portion that is formed to protrude rearward toward the distal end side of the arm portion. The engaging portion is formed to be displaceable back and forth by elastically deforming the arm portion.
[0053]
The eaves outlet cover member 421 as a whole is formed in a downwardly projecting arc shape, and has a partition rib 421w that projects downward in alignment with the partition wall 42w of the alignment eave member 42 on its lower surface side. It is integrally formed by injection molding using a transparent resin material such as resin. At the center of the upper surface of the cover member, rectangular guide holes 421a and 421b penetrating this surface are formed before and after the partition rib 421w is sandwiched, and a shaft support portion that supports the ball stopper member 422 at the right rear end thereof 421c is formed. Engagement projections 421d and 421d projecting forward and backward are formed at the right end of the heel outlet cover member 421, and a cylindrical portion 421e through which a mounting screw is inserted and a ball stop mechanism attaching portion 34 at the left end. A support hole 421f that engages with the boss 34a is formed.
[0054]
The ball stopper member 422 has a support shaft 422c protruding rearward in the mounting posture, a bearing hole (not shown) formed on the front end side coaxial with the support shaft 422c, and a swing formed by the support shaft and the bearing hole. An arm 422d extending in a direction orthogonal to the axis, two ball stopper pieces 422a and 422b that are bent from the tip of the arm 422d and projecting like a hook, an operation piece 422l that projects backward from the tip of the arm 422d, and the like It is integrally molded using the same resin material as the eaves outlet cover member. The positions of the two ball stopper pieces 422a and 422b in the front-rear direction and the arm length from the swing shaft to the ball stopper piece (that is, the swing radius of the ball stopper piece) are determined in the mounting posture where the ball stopper member 422 is attached. It is formed so as to be aligned with the guide holes 421a and 421b described above.
[0055]
The heel outlet cover member 421 and the ball stopper member 422 are collectively attached to the ball stopper mechanism attachment portion 34 when the alignment rod member 42 is attached to the base frame 30. In the eaves outlet cover member 421, the support hole portion 421f is inserted into the boss 34a of the ball stopper mechanism attachment portion 34, the front engagement protrusion 421d is engaged with the base frame body side dowel hole 34d, and the rear engagement protrusion 421d engages with the alignment rod member side dowel hole 42d formed in the alignment rod member to define the vertical and horizontal positions, and is fixed integrally with the alignment rod member 42 using a screw or the like that passes through the cylindrical portion 421e. .
[0056]
The ball stopper member 422 has a bearing hole formed on the front end side on the same axis as the support shaft 422c, and is supported by the ball stop support shaft 34c of the ball stop mechanism mounting portion 34 when the rod outlet cover member 421 is attached. The support shaft 422c on the end side is pivotally supported by the shaft support portion 421c of the soot outlet cover member so as to be swingable so as to be sandwiched between the soot outlet cover member 421 and the mounting surface of the ball stopper mechanism mounting portion 34. It is attached.
[0057]
The ball stopper mechanism 420 assembled in this manner swings and displaces the ball stopper member 422 to the left as shown by the solid line (open position) and the two-dot chain line (ball stopper position) in FIG. By doing so, the two ball stopper pieces 422a and 422b can be protruded into the front and rear preliminary award ball passages 42a and 42b through the guide holes 421a and 421b, respectively, and the ball stopper pieces are thus protruded at the ball stopper position. It is possible to stop the flow of the preliminary prize ball flowing down both passages.
[0058]
Here, the ball stopper engaging piece 34b formed on the ball stopper mechanism mounting portion 34 has an arm portion that is cut in a slit shape on the upper and lower sides and the right side, and is configured to be elastically deformable in the front and rear directions. The protruding end surface of the engaging portion that protrudes rearward on the right side of the ball is positioned to protrude rearward from the front end surface of the ball stopper member 422 when not engaged (see FIG. 19). It is comprised so that engagement is possible. Moreover, the engaging part is formed in a trapezoidal shape in plan view, and an oblique introduction part is formed on the left and right.
[0059]
For this reason, an operator who performs the opening / closing operation of the ball stopper mechanism places a finger on the lever portion 422l of the ball stopper member to swing the ball stopper member, and the engagement resistance between the ball stopper member 422 and the engagement piece 34b ( By rotating the ball stopper member 422 against the sliding resistance due to the elasticity of the arm portion, the opening and closing operation of the preliminary prize ball passage can be easily performed. On the other hand, in the state where such an artificial swinging operation is not performed, the front end surface of the ball stopper member 422 is in contact with the protruding portion of the engagement piece 34b, so that the free swing displacement is restricted. The member 422 is held at an open position indicated by a solid line or a ball stop position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
[0060]
Therefore, for example, the ball stop member 422 positioned at the ball stop position swings and displaces freely due to the pressing force of the preliminary prize balls stored in the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b, or the game balls flow down, There is no problem that the ball stopper 422 is swung and changed to an unexpected position due to tilting, vibration or the like when the machine PM is attached / detached or transported. In addition, the ball stopper member 422 is solved by the simple means of providing the base frame body 30 with a ball stopper engaging piece 34b that can be engaged with the ball stopper member 422 integrally formed with the base frame body 30. It is possible to obtain a ball stop mechanism that is held at the open position and the ball stop position. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the eaves outlet cover member 421 is integrally molded using a transparent resin material, the state of the preliminary prize balls located in the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b can be confirmed directly. it can.
[0061]
In the above-described embodiment, an example is shown in which the rod exit cover member 421 is provided with the cylindrical portion 421e, and the alignment rod member 42 and the rod exit cover member 421 are fixed by screws inserted through the cylinder portion. By using the boss 34a that defines the position of the eaves outlet cover member 441 without providing the cylindrical portion, the eaves outlet cover member 421 is clamped by screwing the alignment eaves member 42 to the rear end portion of the boss 34a. It can also be fixed.
[0062]
In the embodiment, the swing shaft of the ball stopper member 422 is divided into the shaft support portion 421c on the side of the eaves outlet cover member 421 and the shaft support portion 34c on the side of the base frame 30. Two ball supporting portions 421c are provided on the front and rear sides of the member 421 so that the ball stopper member can be swingably supported. Further, the ball stopper member 422 is locked to the ball stopper position by the rod outlet cover member 421. Locking means may be provided. According to such a configuration, the ball stopper mechanism can be sub-assembled, the assembly of the mechanism can be facilitated, and workability can be improved. In addition, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the base frame side attachment portion and improve the yield.
[0063]
Further, in the present embodiment, the ball stopper member 422 is swung to hold the ball stopper member 422 at the open position and the ball stopper position. However, the ball stopper member and the holding means are configured so that the ball stopper member is at the open position. What is necessary is just to be able to hold | maintain at a ball stop position. For example, the ball stopper member may be configured to slide up and down or back and forth so that the ball stopper engaging piece can be projected and retracted in the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b. The ball stop member may be held at the open position and the ball stop position by engaging with the member.
[0064]
Next, the ball removal mechanism 520 will be described. This mechanism is a mechanism for discharging the preliminary prize ball located upstream of the ball passage in which the ball removing mechanism is provided to the outside of the pachinko machine PM. In addition to being used for maintenance, inspection work, replacement work, etc. of each component of the prize ball payout mechanism 50, such as cleaning work for game balls and cleaning work for the path of game balls in pachinko machines, etc. It is also used when all the game balls stored in the tank member are discharged.
[0065]
An exploded perspective view of the ball removal mechanism 520 is shown in FIG. 20, a main sectional view of the ball removal mechanism 520 along the arrow XXI-XXI in FIG. 11 is shown in FIG. 21, and a sectional view along the arrows XXII-XXII is shown in FIG. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows XXIII-XXIII.
[0066]
The ball removal mechanism 520 is roughly divided and attached to the front surface side of the base frame body 30 and the flow path switching member 521 that is pivotally supported on the back surface side of the base frame body 30 adjacent to the standby passage member 52. And an operation part for operating the flow path switching member 521. The operation part is detachably fixed to the base frame body 30 and a lever pivotably connected to the fixed member 522. And a member 523.
[0067]
The ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36 of the base frame 30 to which the ball removal mechanism is attached has bosses 36a and 36a that support the standby passage member 52 and a pivot shaft 36b that pivotally supports the flow path switching member 521 in a swingable manner. Are projectingly molded, and the engaging protrusion insertion hole 36c, the fixing member hooking piece 36d and the fixing member engaging hole 36e for fixing the fixing member 522 through the front and rear of the base frame body 30, and the base frame body A ball removal passage 77 connected to the game-completed ball collecting passage 71 on the front side is formed integrally with the base frame 30.
[0068]
The standby passage member 52 is formed with a row of prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b surrounded by standing wall surfaces bent at the front and rear surfaces of the standby passage member 52, and a part of the outer wall surface of the passage immediately below the ball break detection switch 51 is cut. It has a lack of structure. The standby passage member 52 is configured separately from the base frame 30 for easy cleaning of the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b, and is detachably attached to the ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36. That is, the standby passage member 52 is formed with cylindrical support portions 52c and 52c that are detachably engageable with the two bosses 36a and 36a of the ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36, and these two cylindrical support portions 52c and 52c The lid member 55 is supported by the bosses 36a and 36a so as to be removably inserted back and forth, and is fixed to the ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36 by screwing a lid member 55 that covers the back side of the standby passage member 52.
[0069]
The flow path switching member 521 is pivotally supported by a passage wall portion 521a having a wall shape corresponding to the wall surface of the notch portion in the standby passage member 52 and the pivot shaft 36b so as to swingably support the flow path switching member 521. A closed holding engagement hole that engages with the engagement protrusion 523c of the lever member 523 at the standby swing angle position where the support shaft hole 521b and the passage wall 521a are swung downward to close the prize ball standby passage. 521c, an open holding engagement that engages with the engagement protrusion 523c of the lever member 523 at the ball swinging angular position where the upper part of the winning ball waiting passages 52a and 52b is opened by swinging the passage wall 521a upward. It has a side 521d and the like, and is integrally molded by injection molding using a resin material such as ABS resin. The flow path switching member 521 swings together with the standby passage member 52 to the ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36 by screwing the lid member 55 in a state where the support shaft hole portion 521b is inserted into and supported by the pivot shaft 36b. Installed as possible.
[0070]
The fixing member 522 constituting the operation unit includes a pivot hole 522a that pivotably supports a pivot shaft 523a formed on the lever member 523, and a ball removing mechanism that is located at a lower rear portion of the pivot hole 522a in the mounting posture. A hooking portion 522b that can be engaged with the fixing member hooking piece 36d of the mounting portion 36, a fitting portion 522c that is protruded and formed above the hooking portion 522b and can be engaged with the fixing member engaging hole 36e, and an upper end of the fixing member 522 A retaining rib 522d standing upward is provided on the part, and is integrally formed by injection molding using a resin material such as polyacetal resin or polyethylene. The fitting portion 522c is formed with a wedge-shaped engaging claw that elastically opens from the protruding end portion to the left and right sides, and abuts against the elastic piece portion 523d of the lever member 523 on the back side of the fitting portion 522c. Receiving surface is formed.
[0071]
The lever member 523 includes a pivot shaft 523a that is swingably supported by a pivot hole 522a formed in the fixing member 522. In the mounting position, the lever member 523 is moved from the upper portion of the arm portion extending vertically from the pivot shaft 523a to the right side. Are formed, a lever portion 523b projecting from the bottom, an engaging projection 523c projecting forward from the lower portion of the arm portion, and a flaky elastic piece portion 523d extending rearward from the lower portion of the pivot shaft 523a. The engaging protrusion 523c has a cylindrical shape, and its tip is formed in a hemispherical shape. The lever member 523 uses the same resin material as the fixing member 522 and is integrally molded by the same molding means.
[0072]
The fixing member 522 and the lever member 523 are engaged with each other by a pivot hole 522a formed in the fixed member 522 and a pivot shaft 523a formed in the lever member 523, and the pivot hole 522a and the pivot shaft are engaged with each other. 523a and an engaging shaft formed so as to be relatively swingable. An elastic piece 523d protruding from the lever member 523 is sandwiched between the fixed member 522 and the lever member 523, and the lever part 523b is separated from the fixed member 522 by the repulsive elastic force of the elastic piece 523d. Be energized by.
[0073]
The operation portion composed of the fixing member 522 and the lever member 523 connected in this manner causes the hanging portion 522b formed on the fixing member 522 to be hooked on the fixing member hanging piece 36d in the ball removing member mounting portion 36. A wedge-shaped engagement claw formed at the protruding end of the fitting portion 522c by inserting the fitting portion 522c into the fixing member engaging hole 36e so that the fixing member 522 tilts rearward around the hanging support portion. Is opened and locked to the left and right of the fixing member engaging hole 36e, and the operating portion is fixed to the ball removing member attaching portion 36. Further, the retaining rib 522d faces the downward surface of the ball removing member attaching portion 36, and prevents the connected operation portion from moving upward and falling off. When the operating portion is attached in this manner, the engaging protrusion 523 of the lever member protrudes to the back surface side of the base frame 30 through the engaging protrusion insertion hole 36c by the repulsive elastic force of the elastic piece 523d, and is always 11, 12, and 15, the flow path switching member 521 is held in a state of being engaged with the closing and holding engagement hole 521 c.
[0074]
Thus, in a state where the engaging protrusion 523c of the lever member is engaged with the closing holding engaging hole 521c of the flow path switching member 521, the passage wall portion 521a forms the side walls of the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b. The preliminary prize balls passing through the passage are guided to normal prize ball waiting passages 52 a and 52 b that are directed to the prize ball cassette 53. The flow path switching member 521 is controlled to freely swing by the engagement between the engagement protrusion 523c and the closing and holding engagement hole 521c, and the swing angle position (standby) that forms the normal prize ball standby passage. (Oscillating angle position).
[0075]
On the other hand, when the lever portion 523b is pressed from the front (or pulled in from the back side of the back set panel BSP), the lever member 523 swings and displaces as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The engagement between the portion 523c and the closing holding engagement hole 521c is released, and the swing restriction of the flow path switching member 521 that has been restricted so far is released. In a state where preliminary prize balls are stored above the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b, the passage wall portion 521a of the flow path switching member 521 is reserved in the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b by the passage wall portion. When receiving the pressing force of the prize ball and the swing restriction is released, it swings around the pivot shaft 36b by the pressing force of the preliminary prize ball, and as shown in FIG. 16, the upper part of the prize ball waiting passages 52a and 52b. Is released, and the preliminary prize ball located in this passage is displaced to the ball removal swinging angle position for guiding it to the ball removal passage 77. Then, once the flow path switching member 521 is displaced to the ball swinging and swinging angular position in this way, the state of being swung and displaced by the successively passing preliminary prize balls is continued until there are no more preliminary prize balls to pass. The
[0076]
Here, in the state where the flow path switching member 521 is displaced to the ball swinging angular position, the closing holding engagement hole 521c is retracted to the left of the engagement protrusion insertion hole 36c, and the opening holding engagement side 521d is instead provided. It is configured to be positioned on the left front side of the engagement protrusion insertion hole 36c. For this reason, when the pressing force of the lever portion 523b is released in a state where the flow path switching member 521 is displaced to the ball swinging swing angle position, the lever member 523 is moved to the swing angle position before being pressed by the elastic force of the elastic piece portion 523d. As a result, the engagement protrusion 523c protrudes to the right of the open holding engagement side 521d through the engagement protrusion insertion hole 36c, and the flow path switching member 521 is locked and held at the ball swinging angular position (FIG. 16). See). For this reason, even if the lever part 523b is not always pressed, the flow path switching member 521 can be held in a state of being switched to the ball swinging angular position.
[0077]
In addition, the ball which inserts the operation pin OP in the position which opposes the lever part 523b in the front frame 2 and the glass door 5 which are located in front of the lever part 523b with the back set board BSP closed and held in the front frame 2 The punching operation holes 2h and 5h are formed (see FIGS. 1, 4 and 11), the operation pin OP is inserted from the front side of the pachinko machine PM through the ball punching operation holes 5h and 2h, and the lever is provided from the outside of the pachinko machine. The part 523b is configured to be pressed.
[0078]
For this reason, for example, when the preliminary prize ball passages 42a and 42b are not closed by the above-described ball stopper mechanism 420 and all the preliminary prize balls stored in the tank member 41 are removed, the front frame 2 is opened. The lever portion 523b can be swung from the front side of the pachinko machine using the operation pin OP while the front frame 2 is closed without directly operating the lever portion 523b. Only by simple operation, the flow path switching member 521 is switched from the standby swing angle position to the ball swing swing angle position, and the preliminary prize ball passing through this passage is guided to the ball discharge passage 77, and the ball is continuously removed. Can be made.
[0079]
Further, when the ball removal is completed and there is no preliminary prize ball in the upper part of the prize ball standby passage, the lever portion 523b is pushed once from the front in the same manner as the ball removal operation, and the engagement protrusion 523c and the open holding engagement side The engagement with 521d is released, and the rocking restriction by the engagement protrusion 523c is released. Then, the flow path switching member 521 whose pressing force from the preliminary prize ball has already been released swings around the pivot shaft 36b by its own weight and is displaced to the standby swing angle position where the passage wall portion 521a is closed. When the pressing force to the lever portion 523b is released and the engaging protrusion 523c protrudes from the engaging protrusion insertion hole 36c, the closing holding engaging hole 523c and the engaging protrusion 523b are engaged again, and the flow path The switching member 523 is held at the standby swing angle position.
[0080]
In the ball removal mechanism 520 configured as described above, the number of preliminary prize balls remaining in the machine is determined because the preliminary prize balls are extracted from the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b located below the ball break detection switch 51. In addition, the preliminary award ball does not remain in the detection path of the ball break detection switch 51, and this switch can be easily and reliably exchanged. In addition, the attachment portion of the flow path switching member 251 and the attachment portion of the operation portion are integrally formed on the base frame 30 side, and the fixing member 522 of the operation portion is detachably attached without using a screw or the like. The number of parts and the number of assembly steps can be reduced.
[0081]
In the present embodiment, the elastic piece portion 523d is formed integrally with the lever member 523. However, the elastic piece portion may be provided on the fixing member 522 side, or a member other than these members (for example, A plate-like spring member, a torsion spring, etc.) may be used for assembly.
[0082]
Now, with respect to the ball removal mechanism 520 configured as described above, a ball removal passage 77 is formed from the right side of the ball removal member 521 at the standby swing angle position downward. The ball extraction passage 77 is formed by passing through the base frame body 30 in the front-rear direction under the spare passage 77a formed on the right side of the standby passage member 52 on the back surface side of the base frame body 30. The communication opening 77b and a downward passage 77c that is formed on the front surface side of the base frame 30 and that extends downward from the communication opening 77b and connects to the above-described collecting passage 71 (third collecting rod 71c).
[0083]
A lid member 55 constituting the rear wall of the preliminary passage 77a is screwed and fixed to the back side of the base frame 30, and a passage cover 524 forming the front wall of the descending passage 77c is screwed to the front side of the base frame 30. Etc. (see FIG. 5). The passage cover 524 constitutes a front wall of the descending passage 77c, functions as a protective cover that covers the front surface of the operation portion of the above-described ball removal mechanism 520, and is formed alongside the descending passage at the lower portion of the operation portion. It also functions as a harness retainer for cable ducts that extend vertically.
[0084]
The spare passage 77a communicates with the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b when the flow path switching member 521 swings and the passage wall portion 521a is opened, and the spare prize ball flowing out from the passage (referred to as “extracted ball”). ) And let it flow down. A passage surface 77r of the communication opening 77b that connects between the preliminary passage 77a and the descending passage 77c is formed in a curved surface as shown in a partial sectional view in FIG. 19, and the lid member 55 is joined to the passage surface 77r. An inclined surface 55s that obliquely connects the curved surface to the curved surface is formed, so that the preliminary prize ball that falls through the preliminary passage 77a quickly reaches the descending passage 77c through the communication opening 77b without staying at the curved end. (See also FIG. 30).
[0085]
Also, a curved surface portion 524r is formed in the passage cover 524 that covers the front surface of the communication opening 77b, similarly to the passage surface 77r. For this reason, the extracted ball that flows into the preliminary passage 77a from the winning ball standby passages 52a and 52b while the flow path switching member 521 is locked and held at the ball removal swinging angular position smoothly passes into the lower passage 77c through the communication opening 77b. Led.
[0086]
The extraction ball guided to the front side of the base frame 30 through the communication opening 77 b flows down the descending passage 77 c surrounded by the left and right wall surfaces and the cover member 524. The lower end portion of the descending passage 77c is connected to the game-completed ball gathering passage 71 and is opened, and the drawn ball flowing down the descending passage 77c falls on the third gathering rod 71c and is received. After flowing down along the second set cage 71b, it is discharged from the pachinko machine PM through the aforementioned game ball collection passage outlet 74 and the game ball discharge passage 75 and collected in a collection bucket on the game facility side.
[0087]
For this reason, it is possible to simplify the configuration of the base frame 30 and reduce the production cost of the pachinko machine without providing a dedicated discharge path for the ball to the back set board BSP. In addition, by simplifying the ball passage in this way, it is possible to eliminate the three-dimensional intersection state with the game ball passages such as the upper ball tray payout passage 61 and the lower ball tray payout passage 65, whereby the base frame body 30 is flattened to form circuit board mounting parts such as a main control board mounting part 81, a prize ball control board mounting part 82, a lamp / voice control board mounting part 83, a relay board mounting part 85, etc. The circuit board can be attached and held on substantially the same plane.
[0088]
Next, the pseudo sphere presence state creation mechanism 510 will be described. This mechanism is a mechanism for discharging preliminary prize balls remaining in the lower portions of the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b after the ball removal operation is performed by the ball removal mechanism 520 described above. In addition to being used for maintenance, inspection work, replacement work, etc. of the member 52 and the prize ball cassette 53, etc., when all the game balls in the pachinko machine are discharged, such as cleaning work of the game ball, in the manufacturing process of the pachinko machine This is used when all game balls in the pachinko machine are discharged after the operation check.
[0089]
In general, when one of the two preliminary prize balls waiting in the two prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b in a normal game state becomes a ball-out condition, and the ball-out detection switch 51 detects this ball-out condition, the prize ball The operation of the cassette 53 is restricted, and even if the preliminary award ball is discharged using the ball removal mechanism 520, the preliminary award ball located downstream from the flow path switching member 521 remains in the machine. It will be.
[0090]
The pseudo ball presence state creation mechanism 510 is a mechanism used for discharging the preliminary prize balls remaining in the prize ball waiting passages 52a and 52b in such a case, as if the preliminary ball waiting passages 52a and 52b are preliminarily reserved. A pseudo ball presence state is created so that a prize ball is present, and the broken ball detection state is canceled, and a game ball is inserted into a prize-winning tool (24, 25, 26, etc.) of the game board 20 to obtain a prize ball cassette 53. Is a ball removal device for discharging all the preliminary prize balls remaining in the pachinko machine by operating the.
[0091]
FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view of the pseudo-sphere presence state creation mechanism 510, and FIG. 26 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows XXV-XXV in FIG. Further, FIG. 15 already referred to shows a partial cross-sectional view along the path of the preliminary prize ball of this mechanism portion, and FIG. 19 shows a cross-sectional view along arrows XIX-XIX in FIG. The mechanism will be described below with reference to these drawings.
[0092]
The ball breakage detection switch 51 has two cylindrical detection passages 51a and 51b on the front and rear sides, and has detection levers 51c and 51d which have a swing fulcrum above the detection passage and are urged and projected in the passage. Have. When a preliminary prize ball is supplied into the detection passages 51a and 51b, the detection levers 51c and 51d are pressed outwardly from the passage to swing and displace to actuate the contacts in the switch. The front and rear switch contacts are connected in series. Generally, when a preliminary prize ball exists in both the front and rear detection paths, the switch circuit is closed (closed), and there is no preliminary prize ball in either the front or rear detection path. Sometimes the switch circuit is configured to be open. In addition, for a short time opening / closing operation that may occur when the preliminary prize ball flows down in a normal gaming state, the detection signal is filtered and smoothed to prevent erroneous detection.
[0093]
The ball breakage detection switch 51 is inserted from the rear of the base frame body along the switch guide 35a of the sphere-equipped mechanism mounting portion 35 in the base frame body 30, and is fixed by the switch lock claw 35b. In addition, in FIG. 16, in order to show the attachment or detachment state of the ball break detection switch 51, for convenience, the ball break detection switch 51 at the time of removal is attached inside the window 31 by a two-dot chain line.
[0094]
The pseudo ball presence state creation mechanism 510 uses, as a basic member, a pressing member 511 having pressing members 511a and 511b for pressing the detection levers 51c and 51d of the ball break detection switch 51, and further, the pressing member 511 is a base frame body. It has a holder member 512 that is held by the sphere-equipped mechanism attachment portion 35 on the 30 side and a cover body 513 that rotatably supports the pressing member 511 on the back surface side, and is attached to the upper part of the ball breakage detection switch 51.
[0095]
The pressing member 511 includes pressing elements 511a and 511b each formed in a fan shape, a rotating shaft 511c that connects the front and rear pressing elements, and an operation lever 511l that protrudes rearward from the rear pressing element 511b. It is comprised. As shown in FIG. 24, the holder member 512 has an outline box shape, and has a wall structure in which the right half is opened up and down, and a wedge-shaped claw portion 512e that protrudes forward is formed on the left and right wall surfaces. ing. The cover body 513 is formed with a cover-side bearing portion 513a that rotatably supports the rotating shaft 511d of the pressing member, and a fan-shaped lever window 513b through which the operation lever portion is inserted is formed around the cover-side bearing portion 513a. The cover body 513 is formed with screw fixing through holes at two upper portions, and a cylindrical portion for receiving a boss projecting from the base frame body side is formed on the back side thereof. Each of these members is integrally formed into a shape shown in the figure by injection molding using a resin material such as ABS resin.
[0096]
On the other hand, the ball-equipped mechanism mounting portion 35 to which these constituent members are mounted includes a base frame body side bearing portion 35c that rotatably supports the rotating shaft 511c of the pressing member, and an arm portion in which the left and right and lower sides are separated in a slit shape. The lower end portion of the bearing portion 35c surrounds the outer periphery of the bearing portion 35c so as to receive a biasing engagement side 35d projecting rearward into a semicircular rib shape and the left and right claw portions 512e of the holder member to lock the holder member Two holder locking holes 35e and a cylindrical boss 35f for fixing the cover body 513 with screws are formed.
[0097]
In assembling this mechanism, first, the holder member 512 is positioned so as to straddle between the two pressing elements 511a and 511b of the pressing member 511, and the front end portion of the rotating shaft 511c is the base frame of the mechanism attachment portion 35 having a ball. The left and right claw portions 512e are inserted into the holder locking holes 35e by fitting the body side bearing portions 35c, aligning the left and right claw portions 512e of the holder member with the holder locking holes 35e, and pressing the holder member 512 forward. Engage lock. Next, the cover body 513 is covered so that the operation lever 511l of the pressing member 511 is inserted from the lever window 513b, and the cover-side bearing portion 513a is fitted into the rear end portion of the rotating shaft 511c that is cantilevered. The cylindrical portion of the back surface of the cover body is fitted into the bosses 35f and 35f, and the cover body 513 is screwed to the base frame body.
[0098]
In the pseudo ball presence state creation mechanism 510 assembled in this way, the front award ball path 42a in the deflection outlet 43 and the ball break detector 51 are separated by the mounting surface of the ball presence mechanism mounting portion 35 and the holder member 512. A front passage connecting the front detection passage 51a is formed, and the rear preliminary prize ball passage 42b at the deflection outlet 43 and the rear detection at the ball break detector 51 are detected by the rear surface side of the holder member 512 and the cover body 513. A rear passage that connects the passage 51b is formed.
[0099]
Then, at the retracted angle position where the operating lever 511l of the pressing member is rotated to the left edge of the cover window 513b, the front and rear pressing elements 511a and 511b are retracted from the front passage and the rear passage as shown in FIGS. The preliminary prize balls flowing down from the deflection outlet 43 can freely pass through these front and rear passages. On the other hand, after performing the ball removal using the ball removal mechanism 520, the front and rear pressing elements 511a and 511b are connected to the front passage and the pressing angle position where the operation lever 511l of the pressing member is rotated to the right edge of the cover window 513b. While projecting into the rear passage, the right end of each pusher presses the detection levers 51c and 51d before and after the ball breakage detection switch 51, and the switch circuit of the detection switch 51 is inverted to the closed state.
[0100]
Here, a frame-like protrusion that protrudes forward along the edge is formed on the left side edge on the front surface side of the front presser 511a, and is engaged with the protrusion of the urging engagement side 35d. It is configured to be compatible. The protruding portion of the urging engagement side 35d abuts the protrusion of the presser 511a in the front-rear direction when the operation lever 511l is in the left and right intermediate region of the cover window 513b, and the operation lever 511l is in the left direction of the opening of the cover window 513b When the pushers 511a and 511b are rotated to the retracted angle position where they are retracted outside the passage, the projections are disengaged from the front surface to urge the front face of the pusher 511a and Engages with the side surface of the protrusion.
[0101]
Further, when the operation lever 511l is rotated rightward of the opening of the cover window 513b and the pressing elements 511a and 511b are rotated to the pressing angle position where the switch circuit of the detection switch 51 is reversed, the protrusions are included. The engagement with the pressing element 511a is released and the left side of the left edge of the pressing element 511a protrudes rearward, and the respective side surfaces engage with each other.
[0102]
Therefore, the pressing member 511 is always urged rearward by the elastic force of the urging engagement side 35d when the operation lever 511l is in the intermediate region of the cover window 513b, and the pressing elements 511a and 511b are retracted outside the passage. The retracted angular position, and the pressing elements 511a and 511b are latched and held at two angular positions of the pressing angular position where the switch circuit is closed by pressing the detection levers 511c and 511d of the ball break detection switch.
[0103]
Therefore, the pressing member 511 is always locked and held at the retracted angle position regardless of the vibration associated with the passage of the game ball during normal gaming, and is artificially rotated and held at the pressing angle position. Sometimes the switch circuit is kept closed against the biasing force of the detection levers 51c and 51d. As a result, the winning ball cassette 53 can be operated by locking and holding the pressing member 511 at the pressing angle position, and in this state, the operator can play the game on any of the winning devices 24, 25, 26 of the game board 20. By inserting the balls, it is possible to operate the prize ball cassette 53 and discharge all the preliminary prize balls remaining in the lower part of the prize ball waiting passage.
[0104]
Further, according to such a configuration, the payout operation of the prize ball cassette 53 is performed based on the winning state of the game ball with respect to the prize-winning tool, so that the prize is obtained by an illegal operation on the switch as in the case of providing a dedicated ball removal switch. There is no fear that the ball will be paid out, and it is possible to provide a pachinko machine that prevents illegal acts and provides them for a fair game. Further, in the configuration disclosed in the embodiment, when the pressing member 511 is at the pressing angle position, the pressing elements 511a and 511b are positioned in the detection passages 51a and 51b, and also have a function of closing these passages. For this reason, it is possible to completely prevent the preliminary prize ball from flowing into the prize ball waiting passage during the discharge of the preliminary prize ball, and to perform the ball stop mechanism 510 to perform the ball stop mechanism. It is also possible to configure a pachinko machine without providing 420.
[0105]
In this embodiment, the example in which the switch circuit of the ball break detection switch 51 is opened and closed by rotating the pressing member 511 is disclosed. However, this mechanism seems to have a game ball in the path position detected by the ball break detection switch. As long as it creates a simple state (a state with a pseudo sphere). Therefore, for example, when the lever-type detection switch 51 as described above is used, it is sufficient that the detection levers 51c and 51d can be pressed, and the pressing member slides up and down or left and right to press the detection lever. It may be what you do. In addition, when using other detection forms, for example, a detection switch for detecting a game ball optically or magnetically, means (for example, optically) capable of creating a pseudo ball presence state corresponding to these detection forms. A shielding member, a metal member, etc.) can be used.
[0106]
Next, the prize ball cassette mounting mechanism 530 and the payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 will be described with reference to FIGS. These mechanisms relate to a mechanism for attaching a prize ball cassette 53 that pays out a prize ball based on predetermined payout conditions, and a mechanism for supporting a prize ball detection sensor that counts the actual number of prize balls paid out from the prize ball cassette 53. The present invention relates to a technique for improving workability by facilitating attachment / detachment work and maintenance / inspection work of the prize ball cassette 53 and the prize ball detection sensor 54.
[0107]
Here, FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view of the payout prize ball detection mechanism centered on the payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 and its attachment portion 37, and FIG. 27 is an attached state of the holder member that holds and holds the prize ball detection sensor 54 FIG. 28 is a side sectional view showing the mounting and operating states of the prize ball cassette 53 and the payout prize ball detection mechanism, FIG. 29 is a rear view explaining the attachment / detachment state of the prize ball cassette 53, and FIG. FIG. 31 is a side cross-sectional view showing the assembled state of the payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 with the prize ball cassette 53 removed.
[0108]
First, the operation of the mounting mechanism 530 for the prize ball cassette 53 and the prize ball cassette 53 will be described. The prize ball cassette 53 is housed in a cassette case 531, 532 divided into two front and rear parts to form a rectangular box-like module as a whole, and is connected to the lower ends of the prize ball standby passages 52a, 52b at the center of the upper part to receive preliminary prize balls. Receiving ports 53a and 53b for receiving, and payout ports 53c and 53d for paying out prize balls on the left and right sides of the lower part are provided. Inside the case are two stages of front and rear impellers 534, 534, a motor 533 for rotating the impeller, and a taper-shaped cassette passage for guiding the preliminary prize balls received from the receiving ports 53a, 53b to the payout ports 53c, 53d. Have.
[0109]
The front and rear impellers 534 and 534 are each formed with three receiving portions for receiving preliminary prize balls at intervals of 120 degrees (see FIG. 3), and the front and rear impellers are offset by 60 degrees in the positions of the respective receiving portions. Is attached to the rotating shaft. For this reason, the preliminary prize balls supplied from the receiving ports 53a and 53b are alternately received by the receiving portions of the front and rear impellers, pass through the right or left cassette passage as the impellers 534 and 534 rotate, and are tapered surfaces. To the center in the front-rear direction and paid out from either the left or right payout exit.
[0110]
The payout of the prize ball is performed based on a payout command signal output from the prize ball control board 92 under a predetermined condition. The prize ball cassette 53 operates the motor 533 in response to the payout command signal from the prize ball control board 92, and rotates the impellers 534, 534 clockwise or counterclockwise, from the left payout outlet 53c or the right payout outlet 53d. Pay out the prize ball. Specifically, the impellers 534 and 534 are rotated, for example, counterclockwise in response to a payout command signal output from the prize ball control board 92 based on the winning state of the game balls to the winning tools 24, 25, 26, etc. The number of game balls according to the command signal is paid out to the prize ball payout path 60 from the left payout port 53c as a prize ball. Further, when a ball lending operation is performed in a so-called CR machine, the impellers 534 and 534 are rotated in the reverse direction, for example, clockwise in accordance with the payout command signal output from the prize ball control board 92, and in response to the command signal. A predetermined number of game balls are paid out to the winning ball payout path 60 from the right payout port 53d.
[0111]
The award ball cassette attaching portion 37 to which the award ball cassette 53 is attached has an attachment surface that is offset forward according to the thickness of the cassette case 531, and the preliminary award ball passages 52 a and 52 b and their corresponding receptions. The passages in the mouths 53a and 53b are configured to be connected without any step. The prize-ball cassette mounting portion 37 is composed of a leg portion projecting rearward of the base frame body 30 and an engaging piece projecting horizontally from the rear end portion of the leg portion to form an L-shape in a plan view. Three portions 37a are formed, and between the upper two cassette engaging portions 37a, 37a, engaging protrusions projecting rearward are formed at the lower end portions of the arms whose left and right sides and lower sides are separated in a slit shape. Both the lock piece portions 37b are formed by integral molding.
[0112]
On the other hand, on the back surface of the cassette case 531, a receiving hole that can receive the engaging piece of the cassette engaging portion 37a, and a leg portion that extends downward from the receiving hole and receives the leg portion in the cassette engaging portion, Case-side engaging portions 531a in which engaging support grooves are formed are formed at three locations, and groove portions 531b capable of receiving the engaging protrusions of the lock piece portion 37b are integrally formed. In addition, the lower end surface of the case 531 is provided with openings of left and right payout ports 53c and 53d, and an arch-shaped fixed engagement piece 531f that can be engaged with a fixed engagement pin 541f of a sensor holder 541 described later is formed. ing.
[0113]
In the prize ball cassette mounting mechanism 530 formed in this way, as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the prize ball cassette 53 is gripped with the payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 opened, and the cassette case 531 The three case side engaging portions 531a formed on the back surface and the three cassette engaging portions 37a formed on the prize ball cassette mounting portion 37 are aligned to receive the engaging pieces in the receiving holes, The prize ball cassette 53 is pushed forward, and the prize ball cassette 53 is slid upward while the back surface of the cassette case 531 and the attachment surface of the prize ball cassette attachment portion 37 are in close contact with each other. As a result, the case side engagement pieces and the attachment portion side support grooves are engaged with each other to connect the case side engagement portion 531a and the cassette engagement portion 37a, and to engage the lock piece portion 37b. The mating protrusion protrudes and engages with the groove portion 531b on the case side, and the prize ball cassette 53 is locked and held by the prize ball cassette mounting portion 37.
[0114]
A payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 that detects a prize ball paid out from the prize ball cassette 53 is provided below the prize ball cassette 53 that is locked and held in this manner. The payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 is a prize ball detection sensor that detects a game ball (specifically, a sensor that detects passage of a game ball by magnetic, optical, or electrical means as in the above-described prize detection sensor). ) 54, 54 and a sensor holder 541 that latches and holds the prize ball detection sensor, and the sensor holder 541 is detachably attached to the payout prize ball mechanism attachment portion 38 of the base frame body 30, The sensor holder 541 is configured to detect a prize ball paid out from the prize ball cassette 53 in a state where the sensor holder 541 is locked between the prize ball cassette 53 and the prize ball payout path 60.
[0115]
The sensor holder 541 is roughly divided into a holder portion and an arm portion for holding and holding the prize ball detection sensor 54, and is integrally formed by a molding means such as injection molding using a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate (PC). Molded. Sensor holders 541a and 541a are formed on the left and right sides of the holder part to receive and hold the prize ball detection sensors 54 and 54 from the rear and expose the detection hole parts 54c and 54d of the prize ball detection sensor. Are formed with lock arms 541b and 541b that lock and hold the prize ball detection sensors 54 and 54, respectively. Further, a fixed engagement pin 541f that can be engaged with a fixed engagement piece 531f that protrudes from the lower end surface of the prize ball cassette 53 is formed to protrude forward at the front center portion of the holder portion.
[0116]
Two upper and lower plate-like support arms 541c and 541c projecting laterally from the holder portion are formed on the side portion of the holder portion, and a cylindrical shape projecting upward and downward outward from each other at the distal ends of both support arms. The fitting protrusions 541d and 541d are formed. The upper and lower fitting protrusions 541d and 541d are formed by chamfering a cylindrical corner portion on the distal end side where the support arm extends in a tapered shape.
[0117]
On the other hand, the payout winning ball detection mechanism attachment portion 38 of the base frame 30 to which the sensor holder 541 is attached is formed with a concave fitting support portion in a side view, and fitting protrusions 541d and 541d are formed on the upper and lower inner surfaces of the concave portion. Groove-like fitting support grooves 38a, 38a that receive and support the sensor holder 541 so as to be turnable (horizontal swingable) are formed. In addition, ribs 38c are provided on the left and right sides of the fitting support groove so as to improve the strength of the support portion and restrict the sensor holder 541 from turning excessively.
[0118]
In addition, a lock holding portion 38b is formed so as to protrude below the attachment portion 37 of the prize ball cassette 53. The lock holding portion 38b has a horizontal plate-like support surface, and its left and right end portions are bent downward to function as vertical ribs, and has a resistance against a force acting downward, i.e., a support force. It is the composition which raises. The central part of the lock holding part is separated into slits on the left and right to form an arm part, and a lock part protruding upward in a wedge shape is formed on the rear end side. When the sensor holder 541 is closed, the lock holding portion 38b supports the lower surface of the holder portion on its upper surface, and the lock portion engages with the rear edge of the holder portion to lock and hold the sensor holder in the closed position. .
[0119]
In the payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 configured as described above, the prize ball detection sensors 54 and 54 are inserted into the sensor holding part 541a from the rear, and the detection hole parts 54c and 54d of the prize ball detection sensor reach a predetermined position. In this case, the rear edge of the sensor is locked by the lock arms 541b and 541b and is held by the sensor holder 541. The sensor holder 541 is pivotally attached to the payout prize ball detection mechanism attachment portion 38 by fitting the fitting protrusions 541d and 541d into the fitting support grooves 38a and 38a of the fitting support portion.
[0120]
As described above, the upper and lower fitting protrusions 541d and 541d are formed to protrude from the tip ends of the plate-like support arms 541c and 541c, respectively, and the columnar corners in the tip direction in which the support arms extend are chamfered in a tapered shape. Is formed. For this reason, when attaching the sensor holder 541, as shown in FIG. 27, the tapered surfaces of the fitting protrusions 541d and 541d are applied to the corners of the concave fitting support portions and pressed toward the concave portions. At this time, when the upper and lower support arms 541c and 541c are elastically deformed by the action of the tapered surface, the fitting protrusion enters between the upper and lower surfaces of the fitting support portion and reaches the fitting support grooves 38a and 38a. The original state is restored by the elastic force of the support arm, and the fitting protrusions 541d and 541d and the fitting support grooves 38a and 38a are engaged with each other. In this engaged state, the sensor holder 541 is supported so as to be able to turn horizontally with respect to the base frame body 30.
[0121]
Next, the sensor holder 541 supported so as to be capable of opening and closing as described above is swung to the lower part of the prize ball cassette 53 and is locked and held by the lock holding portion 38b. In a state where the prize ball cassette 53 is engaged and held, a receiving space for receiving the sensor holder 541 is formed in the lower part of the prize ball cassette 53, and the sensor holder 541 is formed by upper and lower fitting protrusions and fitting support grooves. The holder portion is inserted between the lower surface of the winning ball cassette 53 and the upper surface of the lock holding portion 38b. At this time, the lower surface of the holder portion comes into contact with the wedge-shaped oblique portion of the lock holding portion, but when the holder portion is further pressed, the arm portion of the lock holding portion is elastically deformed to receive the sensor holder 541, and the sensor holder When the 541 is turned to the closed position, the lock portion engages with the rear end edge portion of the holder portion, and the sensor holder 541 is locked and held at the closed position. Accordingly, the sensor holder 541 is supported on the upper surface of the lock holding portion 38b and is locked and held at the closed position by the lock portion.
[0122]
When the sensor holder 541 is locked and held in the closed position in this way, the detection holes 54c and 54d of the left and right prize ball detection sensors are aligned and directly below the right and left payout outlets 53c and 53d of the prize ball cassette 53. The prize balls or lending balls that are arranged and paid out from the prize ball cassette 53 pass through the detection holes 54c and 54d, and are detected by the respective prize ball detection sensors.
[0123]
Further, when the sensor holder 541 is locked and held at the closed position, the entire holder portion prevents the prize ball cassette 53 from dropping due to vibration or the like, and is projected and formed at the front center portion of the holder portion. The fixed engagement pin 541f engages with the fixed engagement piece 531f of the prize ball cassette 53 to hold the relative positional relationship between the sensor holder 541 and the prize ball cassette 53, and the prize ball cassette 53 is tilted within the mounting surface to be paid off. Failures such as misalignment between the outlet and the detection hole are reliably prevented.
[0124]
The prize ball sensor 54 can be attached and detached not only before the sensor holder 541 is assembled but also after the sensor holder 541 is supported by the fitting support portion. That is, when the sensor holder 541 is opened as shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, the lock arm 541b can be elastically deformed upward, and the prize ball detection sensor 54 is inserted into the sensor holding portion 541a to lock the lock arm 541b. The prize ball sensor 54 can be mounted by being locked to 541b, or the prize ball sensor 54 can be taken out by moving the lock arm 541b upward to release the lock and pulling out the prize ball sensor 54.
[0125]
On the other hand, in the normal gaming state, that is, in the closed position of the sensor holder 541, the lock arm 541b of the holder support portion is positioned close to the lower end surface of the prize ball cassette 53, and the prize ball detection sensor 54 cannot be unlocked. ing. For this reason, for example, a metal piece or the like is inserted from the gap between the front frame and the outer frame to release the lock by the lock arm 541, so that it is possible to effectively prevent an illegal act such as mischief to the prize ball detection sensor 54. . In addition, since the sensor holder 541 is formed of a transparent resin material, the prize balls paid out from the prize ball cassette 53 with the sensor holder 541 closed can be visually confirmed from the back side of the back set panel BSP. For example, the operation of the prize ball detection sensor 54 can be easily confirmed.
[0126]
Then, according to the prize ball cassette mounting mechanism 530 and the payout prize ball detection mechanism 540 configured as described above, the prize ball detection sensor 54 is connected to the prize ball cassette 53 and the prize ball payout path 60 using the sensor holder 541. By disposing it in a freely detachable manner, the attaching / detaching work and maintenance / inspection work of the prize ball detection sensor 54 are facilitated, and the attaching / detaching work, maintenance / inspection work, etc. of the prize ball cassette 53 are also facilitated. An improved pachinko machine can be configured.
[0127]
Next, the ground device 550 will be described. This grounding device is composed of a conductive member disposed in the path of a game ball in a pachinko machine, and a ground wire having one end connected to the conductive member and the other end grounded to the ground potential. It is a device that discharges a charged electric charge by contacting with a conductive member. Below, the example which applied the earthing | grounding apparatus to the prize ball waiting path is demonstrated mainly with reference to FIG.11, FIG.22, FIG.23 and FIG.
[0128]
First, the outline of the winning ball waiting passage equipped with the grounding device 550 will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 16 again. The waiting passage member having the winning ball waiting passages 52a and 52b surrounded by standing wall surfaces bent forward and backward. 52 is formed separately from the base frame 30, and the cylindrical support portions 52 c and 52 c formed in the standby passage member 52 are engaged with the two bosses 36 a and 36 a formed in the ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36. Then, the lid member 55 that covers the back side of the standby passage member 52 is screwed and fixed to the ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36.
[0129]
Here, slit walls 52s and 52s penetrating front and rear along the standing wall of the prize ball standby passage are formed on the partition wall that partitions the front and rear prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b back and forth, so that the front and rear prize ball standby passages are formed. 52a and 52b are communicated, and the lid member 55 that covers the back surface side of the standby passage member 52 is also aligned with the slit portions 52s and 52s so as to pass through the front and rear of the lid member 55. Is formed. Also, a plug locking portion 55n for locking the outlet plug is formed below the lid member 55 so that the power cord of the gaming machine does not get in the way when the whole front frame is attached / detached or transported. Has been.
[0130]
The earth metal fitting 551 used as a conductive member in the present embodiment is attached to the lid member 55 and protrudes to the prize ball standby passages 52a and 52b, and comes into contact with the preliminary prize ball passing through the passage to release the charge of the preliminary prize ball. Device.
[0131]
That is, the ground metal fitting 551 is formed by punching and bending a stainless steel plate having a predetermined plate thickness of about 0.5 to 0.8 mm, and is fixed to the lid member 55 and the standby passage member 52. The first contact plate 551b and the second contact plate 551c that are bent in accordance with the two slit portions 52s and 52s (and the two slit holes 55b and 55c of the lid member 55), and the hanging slant side formed on the lid member 55 It includes a hooking piece 551d that is hooked on 55d, a tab-like connection terminal portion 551t that is cut and raised rearward from the base 551a, and extends in parallel with the base 551a.
[0132]
The ground metal fitting 551 is configured to insert the first contact plate 551b and the second contact plate 551c into the two slit holes 55b and 55c of the lid member 55 and further insert the two slit portions 52s and 52s of the standby passage member 52. Positioned in the award ball waiting passages 52a and 52b, the fixing screw 553 is fastened to the boss 36 through the mounting holes 551h and 55h of the ground metal fitting and the lid member, and is fixed together with the lid member 55 to the ball removal mechanism attachment portion 36.
[0133]
The connection terminal portion 551t of the ground metal fitting 551 is formed in a male terminal shape (contactor shape) that can be connected to the female insertion terminal 552c that is crimped to the end of the ground wire 552. The insertion terminal 552c of the line 552 is connected in a freely detachable manner. The other end side of the cable 552a in the ground wire 552 is grounded through, for example, a ground terminal provided on the terminal base 96, and thereby the grounding metal fitting 551 is grounded to the ground potential.
[0134]
Accordingly, the ground metal fitting 551 connected in this way is lowered to the ground potential, and the preliminary prize ball passing through the prize ball waiting passages 52a and 52b flows through the first contact plate 551b or the second contact point in the process of flowing down the passage. The electric charge accumulated in the ball passage reaching here comes into contact with the contact plate 551c and is supplied to the award ball cassette 53 in a stable state. Therefore, there is no fear that the internal base of the prize ball cassette 53, the prize ball detection sensor 54, etc. will be discharged and damaged.
[0135]
In addition, since the connection portion of the grounding metal 551 with the grounding wire 552 is formed in the shape of the terminal of the plug-in terminal, it is not necessary to use a screw each time when attaching or detaching the grounding wire 552, and the structure is simple and inexpensive. However, it is possible to configure a grounding device that can be easily attached and detached. Further, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of connection terminals are formed in the connection terminal portion of the ground metal fitting 551, it is possible to use this connection terminal portion as a relay terminal for other ground wires, thereby reducing the labor of wiring. Can also be achieved.
[0136]
In the above embodiment, as an example of the grounding device, a ground metal fitting 551 is provided in the prize ball standby passage, and the connection portion of the grounding metal fitting 551 with the ground wire 552 is formed in a terminal shape that can be fitted to and detached from the ground wire insertion terminal. However, the path for providing the ground metal fitting is not limited to the prize ball standby path, but other paths through which the game balls pass, such as the preliminary prize ball path 42 and the prize ball payout path 60 (for example, the above-mentioned The earth metal fitting 61g and the earth metal fitting 6g in the ball tray payout passage 61, the earth metal fitting 68g in the lower ball tray payout passage 65, etc.), the game-completed ball discharge path 70, and the like may be used. Further, in the embodiment, an example in which a grounding fixture is separately manufactured and used as an example of the conductive member is shown. However, when the path of the game ball is formed of a conductive member, a part of the conductive member is a terminal. A grounding device can be comprised by comprising in a shape. For example, by forming the same connection terminal portion at one end of the outer rail 22a and the inner rail 22b in the pachinko machine PM, it is possible to configure an inner / outer rail grounding device having the same effect.
[0137]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, in the present invention, the back set board attached to the back side of the frame member so as to be opened and closed, the game board attached to the frame member or the back set board, and attached to the upper part of the back set board. A tank member that stores game balls, a prize ball payout device that is disposed below the tank member and that pays out game balls stored in the tank member based on a predetermined winning state in the game board, and a tank member A ball passage that is provided between the ball and the prize ball dispensing device and guides the game balls stored in the tank to the prize ball dispensing device.A terminal board that is provided on the rear side of the back set board in the vicinity of the ball passage and that outputs the operating state of the gaming machine to the gaming facility side;In the ball game machine comprising:A passage member disposed on the rear surface side of the back set board having a guide groove for guiding a game ball before and after sandwiching the partition wall and the rear of the passage memberCoveringOn the back set boardHas a lid to be attachedIn addition, a substrate portion disposed along the rear surface of the lid member, a contact plate bent forward from the substrate portion, a plurality of portions bent back from the substrate portion and bent back in parallel with the substrate portion. A grounding bracket with a connection terminal;At one endRemovable with connection terminalConnector member is connected to the grounding bracketconnectorConnected and the other endThrough the terminal boardGround wire that is grounded to ground potentialAnd a connection terminal and a detachable connector member connected to one end and connected to the ground fitting, and the other end connected to the ground fitting disposed in another passage through which the game ball passes.WithThe ground metal fitting is fixed to the back set board together with the lid member so that the contact plate protrudes into the front and rear guide grooves and comes into contact with the game ball when the lid member is attached to cover the rear of the passage member. The connection terminals are visibly arranged on the rear side of the back set panelA grounding device for a ball game machine is constructed.
[0138]
  According to the grounding device of this configuration, when the earth fitting is attached / detached / replaced for maintenance inspection, etc., or when the cover member is removed and the internal passage member is inspected, the ground wire connector member is attached to the earth fitting.Connecting terminalThe assembly work and the maintenance work can be easily performed. In addition, multiple grounding bracketsBecause a connection terminal is formed and the ground wire of another grounding fixture is connected here, it also functions as a relay terminalThe plurality of ground wires can be attached and detached quickly and easily.In addition, since a plurality of connection terminals are arranged on the rear side of the back set panel so as to be visible.Unconnected ground wire is obviousTheIt is possible to provide a grounding device capable of reliably securing the ground without forgetting to connect the ground wire. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a grounding device that can easily perform attaching / detaching / replacement of the grounding metal, wiring work, etc. with a simple configuration, thereby enabling a ball game with excellent productivity and maintainability. Machine can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine shown as an example of a ball game machine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the back side of the pachinko machine.
FIG. 3 is a rear view showing a state in which a circuit board, a cover and the like are removed from a back set board constituting the pachinko machine.
FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the front frame and the back side of the game board constituting the pachinko machine with the back set board removed.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the front side of the back set board constituting the pachinko machine with the game board removed.
FIG. 6 is a rear view showing a configuration of a lower part of a base frame body constituting the back set board.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows VII-VII in FIG.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows VIII-VIII in FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow IX-IX in FIG.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow XX in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a rear view showing an assembled state of a ball stopper mechanism, a pseudo ball existence creation mechanism, a ball removal mechanism, a prize ball cassette mounting mechanism, a payout prize ball detection mechanism, a grounding device, and the like in the pachinko machine.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the ball stop mechanism, the pseudo ball presence creation mechanism, the ball removal mechanism, and the like with the lid member removed.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the base frame body in the back set panel and the positional relationship between the attachment portions of the mechanisms.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing details of a mounting portion of each mechanism in the base frame.
FIG. 15 is a rear view showing the configuration of the ball stop mechanism, the pseudo ball presence creation mechanism, the ball removal mechanism, and the like with the lid member removed.
FIG. 16 is a rear view showing the operation of the ball stopping mechanism, the ball removing mechanism and the like with the lid member removed.
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the ball stop mechanism.
FIG. 18 is a plan view (partial cross-sectional view) mainly showing the ball stop mechanism.
19 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow XIX-XIX in FIG.
FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the ball removing mechanism.
21 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow XXI-XXI in FIG.
22 is a sectional view taken along arrows XXII-XXII in FIG.
23 is a sectional view taken along arrows XXIII-XXIII in FIG.
FIG. 24 is an exploded perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the pseudo-sphere presence state creation mechanism.
25 is a sectional view taken along arrows XXV-XXV in FIG.
FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the prize ball cassette mounting mechanism and the payout prize ball detection mechanism.
FIG. 27 is a partially enlarged view showing the attaching / detaching action of the payout prize ball detecting mechanism.
FIG. 28 is a main cross-sectional view (side cross-sectional view) showing an attached state of the prize ball cassette attaching mechanism and the payout prize ball detecting mechanism.
FIG. 29 is a rear view showing an attaching / detaching action of the prize ball cassette and an opening / closing action of a payout prize ball detection mechanism.
FIG. 30 is a side view (partial cross-sectional view) showing the attaching / detaching action of the prize ball cassette and the opening / closing action of the payout prize ball detection mechanism.
FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional plan view showing an installed state and an opening / closing action of a sensor holder in the payout prize ball detection mechanism closed.
FIG. 32 is an exploded perspective view showing a detailed configuration of the ground device.
[Explanation of symbols]
BSP back set board
PA game area
PM Pachinko machine
OP operation pin
1 outer frame
2 Front frame (2a storage frame, 2h ball removal operation hole)
3a, 3b Hinge member
4 Locking device
5 Glass door (5h ball removal operation hole)
6 Upper ball tray (6a Ball tray, 6b Ball release lever, 6c Ball release port,
6e Outlet, 6g grounding bracket)
7 Lower ball tray (7a ball tray, 7e ball exit)
8 Operation handle
9 Hitting ball launcher
10 Game auxiliary board (10e exit)
16 Collecting collection port
17 Engagement lever
18 Hinge
19 Closing lever
20 Game board
21 Decorative plate
22 guide rails (22a outer rail, 22b inner rail)
23 Windmill
24 general prize-winning equipment (24h safe ball passage hole)
25 Starting prizes
26 Attacker device (26h Safe ball passage hole)
27 Out mouth (27h out ball passage hole)
28 Symbol display device
29 Back cover
30 Base frame
31 counter
32 Lid member
33 Guard wall
34 Ball stop mechanism attachment
(34a boss, 34b ball stopper engaging piece, 34c ball stopper spindle,
34d Dowel hole on base frame side, 34e screw hole)
35 Ball mounting mechanism attachment
(35a switch guide, 35b switch lock claw,
35c base frame side bearing portion, 35d urging engagement side, 35e holder locking hole,
35f boss)
36 Ball removal mechanism attachment
(36a boss, 36b pivot shaft, 36c engagement protrusion insertion hole,
36d fixing member hanging piece, 36e fixing member engaging hole)
37 Prize ball cassette attachment
(37a cassette engaging part, 37b lock piece part)
38 Awarding ball detection mechanism mounting part
(38a fitting support groove, 38b lock holding part, 38c rib)
40-ball storage and supply mechanism
41 Tank members
42 Alignment rod members
(42a, 42b preliminary prize ball passage, 42d flange member side dowel hole, 42w partition wall)
43 Deflection outlet
44 Exit cover
50 prize ball payout mechanism,
51 Out of ball detection switch
(51a, 51b detection path, 51c, 51d detection lever)
52 Standby passage member
(52a, 52b prize ball standby passage, 52c cylindrical support part)
53 prize ball cassette
(53a, 53b receiving port, 53c, 53d payout port)
54 Award Ball Detection Sensor
(54c, 54d detection hole)
55 Lid member
(55b, 55c slit hole, 55d hanging slant side, 55h mounting hole)
60 prize ball payout route
61 Upper ball tray discharge passage (61e prize ball exit, 61g grounding bracket)
62 Partition
63a First detour
63b Second detour
65 Lower ball tray discharge passage (65e discharge opening)
66a Ball clogging detection lever
66b Ball clogging detection switch
68 prize ball bucket
(68a rear opening, 68b front opening, 68g grounding fitting,
68s bucket space, 68w return wall)
69 Support legs
70 Played ball discharge route
71 Played ball gathering passage
(71a first set bag 71b second set bag 71c third set bag 71)
72 Wall part
73 Ceiling wall
74 Outlet
75 Played ball discharge passage
(75a, 75b, 75c buffer, 75e outlet)
76 Duct (76a, 76b top and bottom openings)
77 Ball passage (77a preliminary passage, 77b communication opening, 77c descending passage)
81 Main control board mounting part
82 Prize ball control board mounting part
83 Lamp / voice control board mounting part
84 Power supply board mounting part
85 Relay board mounting part
86 Terminal board mounting part
91 Main control board
92 Prize ball control board
93 Lamp / Voice Control Board
94 Power supply board
95 Relay board
96 Terminal board
97 Image control board
420 ball stop mechanism
421 Trap outlet cover member
(421a, 421b guide hole, 421c shaft support, 421d engagement protrusion,
421e cylindrical portion, 421f support hole, 421w partition rib)
422 Ball stopper
(422a, 422b ball stopper piece, 422c support shaft, 422d arm,
422l operation piece)
450 Tank earth
460 Tank ball breakage detection mechanism
510 Pseudosphere presence state creation mechanism
511 pressing member (511a, 511b pressing element, 511c rotating shaft,
511l control lever)
512 Holder member (512e claw part)
513 cover body (513a cover side bearing part, 513b lever window)
520 Ball removal mechanism
521 Channel switching member
(521a passage wall portion, 521b support shaft hole portion, 521c closing holding engagement hole,
521d Open holding engagement side)
522 Fixing member
(522a pivot hole, 522b hanging part, 522c fitting part,
522d retaining rib)
523 Lever member
(523a pivot shaft, 523b lever part, 523c engaging projection part,
523d elastic piece)
524 passage cover
530 Prize ball cassette mounting mechanism
531 Cassette case
(531a case side engaging portion, 531b groove portion, 531f fixed engaging piece)
532 cassette case
540 Awarded ball detection mechanism
541 Sensor holder
(541a sensor holding part, 541b lock arm, 541c support arm, 541d fitting protrusion, 541f fixed engagement pin)
550 Earth device
551 Grounding hardware
(551a base part, 551b first contact plate, 551c second contact plate,
551d hanging piece, 551h mounting hole, 551t connection terminal)
552 Ground wire
(552a cable, 552b plug terminal)
553 screw

Claims (3)

枠部材と、
前記枠部材の裏面側に開閉自在に取り付けられた裏セット盤と、
前記枠部材または前記裏セット盤に取り付けられた遊技盤と、
前記裏セット盤の上部に取り付けられて遊技球を貯留するタンク部材と、
前記タンク部材の下方に位置して配設され、前記遊技盤における所定の入賞状態に基づいて前記タンク部材に貯留された遊技球を払い出す賞球払出装置と、
前記タンク部材と前記賞球払出装置との間に設けられて前記タンクに貯留された遊技球を前記賞球払い出し装置に導く球通路と、
前記球通路に近接して前記裏セット盤の後面側に設けられ、遊技機の作動状態を遊技施設側に出力するターミナル基板とを備える弾球遊技機において、
前記球通路には、仕切壁を挟む前後に遊技球を導く案内溝を有して前記裏セット盤の後面側に配設される通路部材および当該通路部材の後方を覆って前記裏セット盤に取り付けられる蓋部材を有するとともに、
前記蓋部材の後面に沿って配設される基板部、前記基板部から前方に屈曲成形された接触板、および前記基板部から後方に屈曲されたうえ前記基板部と平行に曲げ戻されて複数の接続端子が形成されたアース金具と、
一端に前記接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が接続されて前記アース金具にコネクタ接続され他端が前記ターミナル基板を介してアース電位に地落されるアース線と、
一端に前記接続端子と嵌脱自在なコネクタ部材が接続されて前記アース金具にコネクタ接続され他端が遊技球の通る他の通路に配設されたアース金具に接続された他のアース線とを備え、
前記アース金具は、前記蓋部材が前記通路部材の後方を覆って取り付けられるときに前記接触板が前記前後の案内溝に突出して遊技球と接触可能に配設されて当該蓋部材とともに前記裏セット盤に固定され、前記複数の接続端子が前記裏セット盤の後面側に視認可能に配設されるように構成したことを特徴とする弾球遊技機のアース装置。A frame member;
A back set board attached to the back side of the frame member so as to be freely opened and closed;
A game board attached to the frame member or the back set board;
A tank member that is attached to an upper part of the back set board and stores a game ball;
A prize ball payout device that is disposed below the tank member and that pays out game balls stored in the tank member based on a predetermined winning state in the game board;
A ball path that is provided between the tank member and the prize ball payout device and guides the game balls stored in the tank to the prize ball payout device ;
In a ball game machine provided with a terminal board that is provided on the rear side of the back set board in the vicinity of the ball path and outputs the operating state of the game machine to the game facility side ,
The ball passage has a guide groove for guiding a game ball before and after sandwiching the partition wall, and a passage member disposed on the rear surface side of the back set board and covers the back of the passage member to the back set board. as well as have a mounted lid member,
A substrate portion disposed along the rear surface of the lid member, a contact plate bent forward from the substrate portion, and a plurality of portions bent back from the substrate portion and bent back in parallel with the substrate portion A grounding fitting with a connection terminal of
A connector member that is detachably connected to the connection terminal at one end, and is connected to the ground bracket by a connector , and the other end is grounded to the ground potential via the terminal board ;
A connector member that is detachable from the connection terminal is connected to one end and connected to the ground fitting, and the other end is connected to a ground fitting arranged in another passage through which the game ball passes. Prepared,
The ground metal fitting is disposed so that the contact plate protrudes into the front and rear guide grooves when the lid member covers the back of the passage member so as to be able to contact the game ball, and the back set together with the lid member. A grounding device for a ball game machine, wherein the grounding device is fixed to a board, and the plurality of connection terminals are arranged to be visible on the rear side of the back set board . 前記アース金具は、前記接触板が前記基板部からそれぞれ前方に屈曲成形された第１接触板および第２接触板からなるとともに、前記基板部から前方に屈曲成形された掛止片部を有し、The ground metal fixture includes a first contact plate and a second contact plate in which the contact plate is bent forward from the substrate portion, and a latching piece portion bent forward from the substrate portion. ,
前記蓋部材には、前記第１接触板および前記第２接触板をそれぞれ前後に挿通させる二つのスリット孔と、前記掛止辺部を側縁に沿って掛止させる掛止斜辺とを有し、The lid member has two slit holes through which the first contact plate and the second contact plate are inserted back and forth, and a latching oblique side for latching the latching side portion along a side edge. ,
第１接触板および前記第２接触板をそれぞれ前記二つのスリット孔に挿通し、前記掛止辺部を前記掛止斜辺に掛止させて前記蓋部材を前記裏セット盤に固定したときに、前記アース金具が位置決めされて前記裏セット盤に固定されることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の弾球遊技機のアース装置。When the first contact plate and the second contact plate are respectively inserted into the two slit holes, the hook side is hooked to the hook oblique side, and the lid member is fixed to the back set board, 2. The ground device for a ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ground metal fitting is positioned and fixed to the back set board. 前記通路部材が配設される前記裏セット盤の後面側に、後方に突出して円柱状のボスが複数立設され、On the rear surface side of the back set board where the passage member is disposed, a plurality of columnar bosses are provided to protrude rearward,
前記通路部材には、前記複数のボスと位置整合して各前記ボスとそれぞれ係脱自在な円筒状の円筒支持部が複数形成され、The passage member is formed with a plurality of cylindrical cylindrical support portions that are aligned with the plurality of bosses and are detachable from the bosses.
前記蓋部材の前面側には、前記複数のボスと位置整合して各前記ボスとそれぞれ係脱自在な有底円筒状の被支持部が複数形成され、On the front surface side of the lid member, a plurality of bottomed cylindrical supported portions that are aligned with the plurality of bosses and are detachable from the bosses are formed.
前記裏セット盤の後面側に立設した前記複数のボスに前記複数の円筒支持部を係合させ、前記複数のボスの後端部に前記複数の被支持部を係合させたときに、前記通路部材と前記蓋部材とが前記裏セット盤に位置決めされ、前記蓋部材の後面側から前記アース金具および前記蓋部材に形成された孔部を通してネジを前記ボスの後端に螺合締結したときに、前記通路部材、前記蓋部材および前記アース金具が位置決めされて前記裏セット盤に固定されることを特徴とする請求項２に記載の弾球遊技機のアース装置。When the plurality of cylindrical support parts are engaged with the plurality of bosses erected on the rear surface side of the back set panel, and the plurality of supported parts are engaged with rear end parts of the plurality of bosses, The passage member and the lid member are positioned on the back set board, and a screw is screwed and fastened to the rear end of the boss from the rear surface side of the lid member through the hole formed in the grounding metal fitting and the lid member. 3. The ground device for a ball game machine according to claim 2, wherein the passage member, the lid member, and the ground metal fitting are positioned and fixed to the back set board.
JP2001365786A 2001-11-30 2001-11-30 Earth device for ball game machines Expired - Fee Related JP3842114B2 (en)

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