JP3985759B2 - Ball exchange device between pachinko islands - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball exchange device between pachinko islands that exchange balls according to the amount of balls stored in a plurality of pachinko islands.

  Conventionally, between a plurality of pachinko islands installed in a game hall, balls are exchanged by a ball exchange device according to the amount of balls stored in the pachinko islands. This ball exchange was to take place only between adjacent pachinko islands.

  However, when performing ball exchange only between adjacent pachinko islands, for example, when the ball storage amount of a certain pachinko island reaches the lower limit, return to the ball return device of the adjacent pachinko island is prohibited. At the same time, you will receive replenishment of balls from the adjacent pachinko islands, but when the adjacent pachinko islands do not have much storage, the adjacent pachinko islands immediately reach the lower limit and are further adjacent to pachinko islands. In addition to prohibiting the return to the ball return device, it is also necessary to receive replenishment from the adjacent pachinko island stand, and there is a disadvantage that the period for prohibiting the return to the ball return device as a whole becomes longer.

  Conversely, when the ball storage capacity of a certain pachinko island stand reaches the upper limit, return to the ball return device of that pachinko island stand is prohibited and the ball is moved only to the adjacent pachinko island stand. However, if a large amount of balls are already stored in the adjacent pachinko island stand, the adjacent pachinko island stand also reaches the upper limit immediately, and return to the ball return device of the pachinko island stand is prohibited and further adjacent The ball had to be moved toward the pachinko island stand, and there was a disadvantage that the period during which the return to the ball return device was prohibited as a whole became longer.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances described above, and the purpose of the present invention is to constantly equalize the amount of balls stored on the pachinko islands and quickly respond to the decrease in the amount stored. It is to provide a ball exchange device.

In order to achieve the above object, an example of the solution adopted by the invention according to claim 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 19, 20, and 27 to 32 , a plurality of pachinko islands are provided. In the ball exchange device between pachinko islands that exchange balls according to the amount of balls stored in the base 1, in step 97, the sensor S1 determines that the amount of balls stored in one pachinko base A has reached the lower limit. In step 141 to 144, the closest pachinko island platform C is identified from among the plurality of pachinko island platforms that are in an alternating relationship with each other, and is identified in steps 152 and 153. with balls to the pachinko Isle of Eternal Youth a reaching the pachinko Isle of Eternal Youth C to the lower limit that controls the ball AC devices pachinko Isle of Eternal Youth A~C in between to move, the lower limit of pachinko Isle of Eternal Youth C with the identified When the ball exchange device of the pachinko islands A to C between them is controlled so that the balls move to the pachinko islands A, the amount of balls moved is calculated and stored (steps 160 to 173). When the sensor S3 determines that the ball storage amount of the pachinko island platform A that has reached the lower limit in 94 has returned to the predetermined ball storage amount, the pachinko island platform A that has reached the lower limit in steps 180 to 189 The ball exchange device of the pachinko islands A to C in between is controlled so as to move the number of balls calculated and stored in the specified pachinko islands C.

By configuring as in the invention of claim 1, it is possible to move from the pachinko island platform C having a predetermined amount or more to the pachinko island platform A where the ball storage amount has reached the lower limit. The amount of increase / decrease in the amount of ball storage can be reduced to make the amount even, and it is possible to respond quickly to a decrease in the amount of storage, resulting in a shorter time for prohibiting return to the entire ball return device. can do. In addition, Pachinko Island A, which has reached the initial lower limit, recovers the ball storage amount by the exchange ball that is not enough for its own storage ball, but eventually exceeds the initial ball storage amount by the returned ball by the customer In order to prevent this, all pachinko islands can be prevented by returning to the pachinko island stand C that has been replenished with the number of balls replenished during the operation when the storage amount returns to a predetermined value. It is possible to quickly equalize the storage amount of the table with the initial value.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, with reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, schematic structure of the pachinko island stand 1 which concerns on this embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a relationship between a plurality of pachinko island platforms 1, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal structure of one pachinko island platform 1.

  In FIG. 2, the pachinko island platform 1, as is well known, has a rectangular parallelepiped frame structure, and a pachinko machine 2 is arranged in parallel with the back in the center in the longitudinal side surface. The pachinko island platform 1 is also provided with a ball return device 3 in parallel with the pachinko machine 2 for returning the pachinko balls obtained by the pachinko machine 2 to one side of the ball lifting device storage unit 4 in the center. However, the ball return device 3 is desirably provided on the row side of the pachinko machine 2 in which a non-priority side storage tank 12 described later is built. This is because it is possible to reliably return the prize balls from the ball return device 3 to the non-priority storage tank 12 that is almost full in a normal business state. The ball return device 3 is formed with a return port, and the pachinko balls (prize balls) returned from the return port are guided onto an upper bowl 21 described later. Further, the return port of the ball return device 3 is driven to open and close by an electric drive source (for example, a motor or a solenoid) although not shown.

  In addition, a ball lifting device storage unit 4 is configured in the approximate center of the pachinko island stand 1, and a ball lifting device 5 is stored and installed in the ball lifting device storage unit 4. The ball lifting device 5 according to the present embodiment lifts a pachinko ball by a belt-shaped transport belt (not shown in detail), and the belt-shaped transport belt is installed in the vertical direction with respect to the pachinko island platform 1. The pachinko ball is lifted up. An upper tank 6 for temporarily storing the pachinko balls that have been lifted is provided at the top of the ball lifting device 5. From the upper tank 6, replenishment rods (not shown) are provided on the left and right sides in an inclined manner so that pachinko balls flow down from the upper tank 6. A distribution chute (not shown) corresponding to each pachinko machine 2 is provided in the replenishing basket, and a pachinko ball that flows down the replenishing basket is taken in. Pachinko balls taken in by the distribution chute are counted by a counting device (not shown) provided at the lower portion of the distribution chute, and then supplied to a prize ball tank (not shown) provided at the upper back of the pachinko machine 2 to play the game. Is used as a prize ball to be paid out to the player. In FIG. 2, the pachinko island stand 1 without a pedestal ball lending machine is shown, but in the case of a configuration in which a pedestal ball lending machine is provided so as to be sandwiched between each pachinko machine 2. Is provided with a distribution chute so as to be compatible with this machine. In this case, an independent distribution chute may be provided corresponding to the inter-ball ball lending machine, but it may be a distribution chute that divides the pachinko machine 2 and the inter-ball ball lending machine by one distribution chute.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the above-described upper tank 6 is provided with an AC tank 7 that constitutes a ball AC device passed between the plurality of pachinko islands 1. The ball AC device includes an AC tank 7, an AC upper wall 70 that is gently inclined from the AC tank 7 toward the AC tank 7 of the adjacent pachinko island 1, and an AC tank 7 of the adjacent pachinko island 1. Is formed from an arch-shaped AC lower arch ridge 71 that receives an AC ball from the AC tank 7 in the lower part. The upper tank 6 and the AC tank 7 described above are covered with a cover body 8, and it is desirable that the cover body 8 is detachably attached. The ball AC device including the upper tank 6 and the AC tank 7 will be described in detail later.

  On the other hand, storage tanks 11 and 12 are provided on both sides of the ball lifting device 5 below the pachinko island platform 1. The storage tanks 11 and 12 are formed so large that a large amount of pachinko balls are stored. Specifically, the number of pachinko balls stored in the storage portions of the storage tanks 11 and 12 can sufficiently cope with various gaming states of the plurality of pachinko machines 2 installed on the pachinko island platform 1 (for example, It is designed to have a size of 1 to 200,000 pieces each).

  Thus, the used balls discharged from each pachinko machine 2 are discharged downward from a ball discharge nozzle (not shown) of the out ball box 9 having a counting function. In the pachinko machine 2 at the position facing the storage tanks 11 and 12, the ball discharge nozzle is inclined downward from the downstream end (island center side) toward the upstream end at the center of the storage tanks 11 and 12. In the pachinko machine 2 which is arranged facing the out ball guide inner rod 13 provided and is out of the storage tanks 11, 12, the out ball guide rod 10 is inclined downward from the island edge toward the storage tanks 11, 12. It comes to be arranged face to face. The out ball guide rod 10 is connected to a junction box 14 attached to the outside of the upstream end side walls of the storage tanks 11 and 12, and the out ball guide inner rod 13 is also connected to the junction box 14. 14 is connected to an out-ball guiding / merging rod 15 which is disposed in an inclined manner toward the introduction rod 18 of the ball lifting device 5 along the lower portion of one side wall of the storage tanks 11, 12. Therefore, the used balls discharged from each pachinko machine 2 are the entrance portion of the ball lifting device 5 through the out ball guide inner cage 13 or the out ball guide rod 10, the merge box 14, and the out ball guide merge rod 15. Is preferentially guided to. However, the structures of the left and right storage tanks 11 and 12 are slightly different depending on the arrangement state of the ball lifting device 5 as will be described later, which will be described in detail later.

  Further, the above-described storage tanks 11 and 12 are connected to an overflow box 22 for returning a pachinko ball overflowing from the upper tank 6 and an AC ball flowing from the AC tank 7 to the lower part. The overflow box 22 is a rectangular parallelepiped box provided so as to use the adjacent space of the ball lifting device 5, and the inside thereof is partitioned in the vertical direction by a branch partition 23. This branching partition 23 is provided close to one side of the overflow box 22, and a plurality of flow-down plates are alternately provided in steps in one side passage communicating with the wide area to constitute a box priority passage 22a. The box non-priority passage 22b is formed by alternately providing a plurality of descending plates in a step shape in the other passage communicating with the narrow region.

  Thus, the pachinko balls overflowing from the upper tank 6 and the AC balls flowing from the AC tank 7 are preferentially guided to the box priority passage 22a, and when the box priority passage 22a is full, the box non-priority passage 22b. It has come to overflow. The box priority passage 22a and the box non-priority passage 22b include a left storage tank 11 (hereinafter may be referred to as priority storage tank 11) and a right storage tank 12 (hereinafter may be referred to as non-priority storage tank 12). It has come to communicate with. Thus, in this embodiment, since the overflow mechanism is configured in a box shape instead of the conventional flexible pipe, it is possible to extremely reduce the generation of noise due to the recirculated pachinko balls and not only the recirculation function. Since there is also a storage function for storing a considerable amount of pachinko balls (about 2 to 30,000 in this embodiment), it is effective as a storage space inside the pachinko island platform 1 using a space that has not been used conventionally. Can be used. In FIG. 2, the overflow box 22 is drawn on the front side of the ball lifting device 5, but this is for showing the structure of the overflow box 22 in detail. It is formed on the back side of the ball lifting device 5.

  A plurality of storage level detection sensors S1 to S5 (see FIG. 10) for detecting the amount of stored balls are provided on the inner side walls of the storage tanks 11 and 12, respectively. According to the experiments by the present applicants, it was found that the change in storage of the pachinko balls in the storage tanks 11 and 12 stays from the upstream side of the storage tanks 11 and 12. Therefore, the storage level detection sensors S1 to S5 are arranged in a substantially horizontal straight line, and the storage level detection sensor S1 disposed on the upstream side of the priority storage tank 11 detects the lower limit of the storage amount, while non-priority. The upper limit of the storage amount is detected by a storage level detection sensor S5 disposed on the downstream side of the storage tank 12. And based on the detection signal of these detection sensors S1-S5, while the storage level alerting | reporting device 24 attached to the both ends exterior of the pachinko island stand 1 notifies the storage amount in the storage tanks 11 and 12. The opening / closing control of the stopper device 61 of the ball AC device is performed to equalize the ball storage amount of the plurality of pachinko islands 1.

  Here, the detailed structure of the storage tanks 11 and 12 is demonstrated based on FIG. In addition, although the priority storage tank 11 and the non-priority storage tank 12 have a slightly different structure, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structural member which has the same function. The storage tanks 11 and 12 cause the balls received from the overflow box 22 to flow down at the upper basket 21 and sequentially store from the upstream side on the bottom surface inclined toward the ball feeding device 5. It leads to an introduction rod 18 of the feeding device 5. However, since the introduction rod 18 of the ball lifting device 5 is arranged in a direction facing the bottom surface of the non-priority storage tank 12, the balls stored in the priority storage tank 11 are placed on the bottom surface of the priority storage tank 11. It is led from the lower communication rod 19 communicated to the small lifting device 20 and supplied to the non-priority storage tank 12 by the small lifting device 20.

  Further, in the priority storage tank 11, as described above, an out ball guide inner rod 13 for receiving used balls from the pachinko machine 2 arranged substantially in the center is formed. 13 and the out ball flowing down the out ball guide rod 10 are transferred to the contact rod 16 via the junction box 14 and the out ball guide junction rod 15, and sent from the contact rod 16 to the non-priority storage tank 12. In this way, the priority storage tank 11 does not lead the received pachinko balls directly to the ball lifting device 5 but sends them to the non-priority storage tank 12 via the small lifting device 20 or the contact rod 16. That is, in the pachinko island stand 1 of the present embodiment, the pachinko balls received in the storage tanks 11 and 12 are collectively guided from the storage tank 12 side to the ball lifting device 5. This is because the introduction rod 18 of the ball lifting device 5 is directed only in the direction of the one storage tank 12 so that the flow of the ball into the ball lifting device 5 is smoothed and the lifting capacity of the ball lifting device 5 is increased. This is for the purpose of sufficiently exhibiting and for forming the pachinko island platform 1 so that the island width is narrow.

  Furthermore, in the priority storage tank 11, the reason why the upper and lower two contact rods connected to the non-priority storage tank 12 are provided is that the contact rod 16 communicated with the upper out ball induction junction rod 15 is used and becomes dirty. In order to preferentially guide the pachinko ball to the ball lifting device 5 without storing it in the priority storage tank 11, it is necessary to provide it at a relatively high position, specifically, a position higher than the bottom surface of the non-priority storage tank 12. There is. Otherwise, the out balls that flow down the out ball induction confluence 15 cannot be naturally flowed down to the non-priority storage tank 12 side. On the other hand, if the bottom surface of the priority storage tank 11 is made to coincide with the height position of the out ball merging rod 15, the pachinko balls stored in the priority storage tank 11 will naturally flow down to the non-priority storage tank 12 side via the contact rod 16. However, since the position of the bottom surface becomes high, there is a disadvantage that the storage amount in the priority storage tank 11 is reduced accordingly. For this reason, the height position of the bottom surface of the priority storage tank 11 is lowered to increase the storage amount, and the lower communication rod 19 that communicates with the bottom surface is connected to the small lifting device 20, which is non-prioritized by the small lifting device 20. It is sent to the storage tank 12.

  A storage ball guide rod 17 is provided on one side of the bottom surface of the priority storage tank 11. The storage ball guide rod 17 is a pachinko ball stored in the priority storage tank 11 and takes in the ball stored in the upstream portion or the midstream portion thereof and guides it to the downstream side. The function of guiding the pachinko balls stored in the priority storage tank 11 uniformly to the lower contact rod 19 is exhibited so that the pachinko balls do not stay in one place. Similarly, a storage ball guide rod 17 is also provided on the bottom surface of the non-priority storage tank 12 so that pachinko balls stored in the non-priority storage tank 12 are uniformly guided to the introduction rod 18. However, an out-ball guidance / merging rod 15 is provided at the upper portion of the storage ball guiding rod 17 provided on the non-priority storage tank 12 side, and the outlet of the out-ball guiding / merging rod 15 is stored. Since it is closer to the introduction rod 18 than the exit of the ball guidance rod 17, the out ball discharged from the out ball guidance junction rod 15 covers the upper part of the ball flowing out from the storage ball guidance rod 17 and covers the storage ball guidance rod 17. Since the ball is stopped, the out ball that flows down the out ball guide confluence 15 is preferentially guided to the introduction rod 18.

In the present embodiment, the priority order of the pachinko balls guided to the introduction basket 18 is as follows. First, the types of pachinko balls guided to the introduction basket 18 are the following four types (1) to (4).
(1) Pachinko balls stored on the bottom plate of the non-priority storage tank 12.
(2) A pachinko ball that flows down the out ball induction confluence 15 of the non-priority storage tank 12.
(3) Pachinko balls stored on the bottom surface of the priority storage tank 11 and sent to the non-priority storage tank 12 by the small lifting device 20.
(4) A pachinko ball that has flowed down the out ball induction confluence 15 of the priority storage tank 11 and is sent to the non-priority storage tank 12 by the communication rod 16.

  Among these, the pachinko balls that are most preferentially introduced into the introduction basket 18 are the (2) pachinko balls that are guided directly to the introduction basket 18 through the non-priority storage tank 12. The second is a pachinko ball (4) guided from the priority storage tank 11 through the contact rod 16 into the non-priority storage tank 12. The third is a pachinko ball (3) that is stored in the priority storage tank 11 and then guided into the non-priority storage tank 12 through the small lifting device 20. The fourth is the pachinko ball (1) stored in the non-priority storage tank 12.

  Further, the ball lifting device 5 in the present embodiment has a capacity of 15000 pieces / minute as its lifting capacity, and the small lifting device 20 has a lifting capacity of 10,000 pieces / minute. Thus, on the premise that there is such a lifting capacity, considering how the balls of (1) to (4) described above are distributed, it is as follows. That is, since the total number of pachinko machines 2 installed on the average pachinko island platform 1 is about 40, the maximum number of balls in (2) and (4) is 4000 pieces / min. (3) Of pachinko balls are 10,000 pieces / minute. For this reason, the number of pachinko balls in (1) is 1000 / min. That is, in the pachinko island stand 1 of this embodiment, about 4000 used balls ((2) and (4) pachinko balls) discharged per minute from a plurality of pachinko machines 2 arranged in parallel are given top priority. Next, about 10,000 recirculation balls ((3) pachinko balls) transferred from the priority storage tank 11 to the non-priority storage tank 12 for one minute are pumped up, and finally the non-priority storage tank 12 The remaining 1000 balls are lifted from the reflux balls and return balls ((1) pachinko balls) stored inside.

  As described above, the outline of the pachinko island platform 1 according to the embodiment has been described. As described above, the pachinko island platform 1 according to the present embodiment has a ball AC device passed between adjacent pachinko island platforms 1. Yes. Therefore, the detailed structure of the ball AC device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the upper tank 6 and the AC tank 7, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the upper tank 6, and FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the AC tank 7. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the flow of balls in the upper tank 6 and the AC tank 7, and FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the AC tank 7 and the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the intersection between the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the pachinko island stand 1 showing different embodiments of the ball AC device. It is a perspective view.

  As described above, the ball AC device includes an AC tank 7, an AC upper wall 70 that is gently inclined and connected from the AC tank 7 toward the AC tank 7 of the adjacent pachinko island 1, and the adjacent pachinko island 1 The AC tank 7 is composed of an arch-shaped AC lower arch ridge 71 for receiving an AC ball from the AC tank 7 in the lower part of the AC tank 7. First, the AC tank 7 and the upper tank 6 closely related to the AC tank 7 are configured. Will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 6, the upper tank 6 is configured in a box shape in which a ball inlet 30 that receives a ball lifted by the ball lifting device 5 is formed on one side of the upper tank 6. The inside is branched into a diversion space 31 and an overflow space 32 by a branching vertical plate 33. The shunt space 31 is a space where the pachinko balls flowing in from the ball inlet 30 first enter, and the pachinko balls that have entered the shunt space 31 are provided so as to be alternately inclined inwardly. Then, it drops with its momentum weakened downward, and is guided from a stepped bottom plate 37 constituting the bottom surface of the diversion space 31 to a replenishment outlet 38 opened on one side wall of the upper tank 6. The replenishment outlet 38 is connected to a pachinko machine 2 arranged on one side (right side in FIG. 2) from the center of the pachinko island platform 1 and a replenishment rod (not shown) for replenishing balls to the inter-ball ball lending machine. Is.

  Further, a lower guide side plate 39 inclined toward the other side wall of the upper tank 6 is provided on the branched vertical plate 33 side of the step plate 36 provided on the upper portion of the stepped bottom plate 37. A supply communication port 48 is opened at a position corresponding to the tip. The replenishment communication port 41 is connected to a replenishment communication tube 41 that is passed between the AC tank 7. The downstream end of the supply communication tube 41 is connected to the receiving port 55 of the AC tank 7, and the receiving port 55 communicates with a supply outlet 58 described later. The replenishment outlet 58 is connected to a pachinko machine 2 arranged on the other side (left side in FIG. 2) from the center of the pachinko island platform 1 and a replenishment rod (not shown) for replenishing balls to the inter-ball ball lending machine. Is.

  Further, an upper guide side plate 40 that is inclined toward the other side wall of the upper tank 6 is provided on the branch vertical plate 33 side of the uppermost step plate 34, and is located at a position corresponding to the tip of the upper guide side plate 40. An AC contact 49 is established. An AC communication tube 42 that is passed between the AC tank 7 and the AC tank 7 is connected to the AC communication port 49. A stopper plate 40a is fixed immediately above the AC communication port 49 of the upper guide side plate 40, and this is a ball that has flowed in from the ball entrance 30 and travels through the step plate 34 and the upper guide side plate 40. The ball is surely guided downward so as not to flow out of the AC communication port 49, and only the balls overflowing to the upper guide side plate 40 are discharged to the AC communication port 49.

  On the other hand, the upper end of the branched vertical plate 33 is positioned slightly above the upper guide side plate 40, but the step plate 43 is also inclined inward in the overflow space 32 branched by the branched vertical plate 33. -46 are provided. The step plates 43 to 46 guide the ball that overflows from the upper end of the branch vertical plate 33 while weakening the momentum, and the lowermost step plate 46 projects forward to form the bottom surface of the overflow guide rod 47. ing. The lower end of the overflow guide rod 47 communicates with the box priority passage 22 a of the overflow box 22. Note that members (rubber, synthetic resin, etc.) for weakening the impact of the falling balls are affixed to the upper surfaces of the step plates 43 to 45 provided in the overflow space 32. These members are attached to the shunt space 31. You may affix on the level | step difference plates 34-36 and the step-like bottom plate 37 which are provided.

  In the upper tank 6 configured as described above, the pachinko balls lifted by the ball lifting device 5 are guided from the ball inlet 30 to the diversion space 31, and then the step plates 34 to 36 and the stepped bottom plate 37. Is supplied to the supply outlet 38 with the highest priority and supplied to the supply tank on one side. Since the number of pachinko balls used in the replenishment rod on one side is significantly higher than the number of pachinko balls used, the balls that have flowed into the diversion space 31 are immediately stored and collected. The accumulated balls first flow out from the intermediate step plate 36 and the lower guide side plate 39 to the replenishment communication port 48, and as described above, from the replenishment outlet 58 through the replenishment communication tube 41 and the AC tank 7, to the other side. Supplied to the replenishment pot. Since the number of pachinko balls used in the left and right replenishing rods is more than the number of pachinko balls, the pachinko balls are further accumulated in the diversion space 31, and the accumulated balls are the upper step plates. 34 and the upper guide side plate 40, jumps over the stopper plate 40 a, flows out to the AC communication port 49, and is guided to the AC tank 7. The balls guided to the AC tank 7 are replenished to the adjacent pachinko island platform 1 via the AC upper cage 70 as will be described later. In that case, the maximum is 6,000 pieces / minute (only one AC upper wall 70 is 3000 pieces / minute, but there are two left and right). Therefore, since the number of pumped pumps is larger than the total number of the left and right replenishment baskets and the AC tank 7, the pachinko balls are further accumulated in the diversion space 31, and the accumulated balls are It jumps over the upper end of the branching vertical plate 33, flows out into the overflow space 32, and is led from the overflow guide rod 47 to the overflow box 22.

  That is, in this embodiment, as long as the ball lifting device 5 is lifting the ball with a normal lifting capacity (15000 pieces / minute), the supply to the left and right supply rods and the AC tank 7 is maximized. Even in the reached state, the ball is always led from the overflow space 32 to the overflow box 22 and circulates.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 7, the AC tank 7 communicated with the upper tank 6 is a branched horizontal plate provided in a horizontal direction slightly above the center of a rectangular parallelepiped box. 52 is branched into a feeding space 50 and a receiving space 51, and a receiving port 53 and a feeding port 54 are opened so as to face the feeding space 50. The receiving port 53 is connected to the downstream end of the AC communication tube 42, and the feeding port 54 is formed on each of the left and right side walls adjacent to the side wall on which the receiving port 53 is formed. The upstream end of the AC upper wall 70 described later is connected. Thus, a passage for guiding the pachinko ball received from the receiving port 53 to the feeding port 54 is formed in the feeding space 50. The passage is provided with a passage component plate 50a (see FIG. 5). It is formed by doing. Further, as described above, the AC upper ridge 70 is connected to the outside of the feeding port 54, and a stopper device 61 is attached between the feeding port 54 and the AC upper ridge 70. As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper device 61 includes a motor 62, a lifting plate 63 that is moved up and down by the motor 62, and a guide piece 64 that guides the operation of the lifting plate 63. And this stopper apparatus 61 is based on the ball quantity sensors S1-S5 provided in the storage tanks 11, 12 of its own island, and the ball quantity sensors S1-S5 provided in the storage tanks 11, 12 of other islands. Open / close drive control is performed. This point will be described in detail later.

  In addition, in the above-described receiving space 51, a receiving port 55, a supply outlet 58, and a receiving port 59 face each other. The receiving port 55 is connected to the downstream end of the supply connecting cylinder 41, and a supply port 58 is formed in the lower portion of the side wall facing the receiving port 55. A pair of partition plates 56 are erected in the receiving space 51 so as to connect the receiving port 55 and the replenishing outlet 58, and the pachinko balls received from the receiving port 55 are guided only to the replenishing port 58. ing. The space formed by the pair of partition plates 56 is provided with an inclined bottom surface 57 inclined downward toward the replenishment outlet 58 on the bottom surface, and a step plate 57a is formed in a reverse inclination above the replenishment outlet 58. The pachinko ball received from the receiving port 55 is temporarily received by the step plate 57 a to weaken the momentum, and then discharged from the supply outlet 58 by the inclined bottom surface 57. Further, the receiving port 59 faces the space outside the pair of partition plates 56. The terminal of the AC lower arch ridge 71 is connected and fixed to the outside of the receiving port 59. The pachinko ball received from the AC lower arch ridge 71 is received in the outer space of the partition plate 56, and then the bottom surface is formed. It is discharged to the outside of the AC box 7 from a drop port 60a formed in the center of the bottom plate 60. The pachinko balls released from the drop port 60a are guided to the box priority passage 22a of the overflow box 22 as shown in FIG.

  The configurations of the upper tank 6 and the AC tank 7 are substantially the same as those described above. Next, the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71 to be passed to the AC tank 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. Will be described with reference to FIG. One end of the AC upper ridge 70 is fixedly connected to the feeding port 54 of the AC tank 7, and the other end is gently inclined toward the center between the adjacent pachinko islands 1 and is directed downward at the tip. The AC lower opening 73 is formed. Therefore, the AC upper cage 70 is fixedly extended from the AC tank 7 of the adjacent pachinko island stand 1. On the other hand, the AC lower arch rod 71 is constituted by one arc-shaped rod whose both ends are connected and fixed to the receiving port 59 of the adjacent AC tank 7, and an AC upper opening 74 is formed at the top of the arc. Has been. The alternating current upper opening 74 and the alternating current lower opening 73 communicate with each other so as to guide the pachinko balls flowing down in a crossing manner. Further, in order to securely connect the AC upper opening 74 and the AC lower opening 73, a connector 75 that wraps and fixes the outer periphery of the two AC upper ridges 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71 is fixed. The AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71 described above are formed by attaching a material such as a semi-rigid urethane to the inner periphery of a metal ridge member having a U-shaped cross section whose upper surface is open. By covering the cover cover plate to which the material is adhered from the upper surface, the cover cover plate is configured as a cylindrical member having a rectangular cross section as a whole and exhibits a silencing effect. Further, a sensor 72 is provided at the lower end of the AC lower arch rod 71 (immediately before the receiving port 59), and the sensor 72 monitors the flow situation of the AC ball, the failure of the stopper device 61, and the like. In addition, you may stick rubber | gum or a synthetic resin under each above-mentioned urethane material, and may improve vibration absorption.

  As mentioned above, although the structure of the pachinko island stand 1 according to the embodiment has been described, in the cover body 8 that covers the upper tank 6 and the AC tank 7 in the above-described embodiment, the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71 are provided. Although what was penetrated was shown, as shown in FIG. 9, embodiment which provides the connection rubber | gum 81 in the penetration part of a cover body, and improves the beauty | look and stability of a ball | bowl alternating current apparatus may be sufficient. In the illustrated embodiment, a connecting rubber 81 is provided at a portion of the tank cover 80 that covers the shape of the upper tank 6 and the AC tank 7 through which the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71 penetrate, and the AC upper portion. The heel and the base of the AC lower arch ridge 71 are covered. By comprising in this way, the alternating current upper ridge 70 and the alternating current lower arch ridge 71 can be supported stably, and the beauty | look of a ball | bowl alternating current apparatus can also be improved. Further, when the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71 are configured to be slidable to change the connection position, the slide groove can be covered with the connection rubber 81.

  Thus, the ball AC device according to the present embodiment described above has an AC upper wall 70 which is gently inclined toward the center at the upper part between the adjacent AC tanks 7 and a lower part between the adjacent AC tanks 7. And an AC lower arch rod 71 formed in an arch shape in which the upper center is connected and abutted at the lower center of the AC upper rod 70, and the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch rod 71, Since the pachinko balls flowing down at the center crossing portion are guided in a cross shape, the AC upper ridge 70 formed in a straight line is lowered by the arch structure of the AC lower arch ridge 71 formed in an arch shape. The pachinko ball stays in the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71, and does not twist or bend due to its weight. . Therefore, it is not necessary to support the AC rod with a support member separately prepared as in the prior art, and the structure is simplified and the aesthetic appearance is favorable. In addition, in the structure which concerns on this embodiment, when the clogging occurs in any part of the AC lower arch rod 71 or the downstream side thereof and the ball flows backward through the AC lower arch rod 71, the side from which the ball is sent out Therefore, the entire AC lower arch rod 71 is not filled with balls, and the load can be reduced accordingly. Further, even if thin materials are used as the members constituting the AC upper ridge 70 and the AC lower arch ridge 71, sufficient strength can be obtained for the arch structure, and overall cost reduction can be achieved. it can.

  Further, the AC lower arch rod 71 guides the pachinko ball received in a cross shape from the AC upper rod 70 provided in a gently slanting shape with an arcuate portion extending in a substantially horizontal direction to reduce the speed and gradually increase the speed. Therefore, it is possible to weaken the downward force of the pachinko balls that flow down compared to the inclined alternating current rod that is linearly guided as in the conventional case, and it is possible to suppress the accident of damaging the AC tank on the receiving side.

  In addition, although the ball | bowl alternating current apparatus in above-described embodiment showed what provided the upper tank 6 and the alternating current tank 7 separately, these were formed with one tank and the inside was formed with the upper tank 6 of this embodiment, and By partitioning to have a structure similar to that of the AC tank 7, one can be provided.

  Next, the operation of the ball alternating current device described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 10 is a side view showing the internal structure of the pachinko island stand 1 showing the arrangement positions of the sensors S1 to S5 for controlling the stopper device 61 and the ball return device 3 of the ball AC device, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a main flowchart showing control of the AC device, FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a replenishing device control processing subroutine in the main flowchart, and FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a receiving device control processing subroutine in the main flowchart. FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an additional processing subroutine in the main flowchart, FIGS. 15 to 17 are explanatory diagrams for explaining states corresponding to the flowcharts, and FIG. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of the ball | bowl return apparatus 3. FIG.

  In FIG. 10, in this embodiment, the priority storage tank 11 is provided with four sensors, the most upstream sensor S1 constitutes a lower limit sensor S1, and the downstream sensor S2 of the sensor S1 is lower limit. The release sensor S2 is configured, and the other two sensors are merely sensors for detecting the amount of balls. On the other hand, the non-priority storage tank 12 is also provided with four sensors, the most downstream sensor S5 constituting the upper limit sensor S5, and the downstream sensor S4 of the sensor S5 constitutes the upper limit release sensor S4. In addition, the sensor S3 on the most upstream side with one sensor constitutes the intermediate sensor S3. Among the sensors S1 to S5 described above, the lower limit sensor S1 and the upper limit sensor S5 are used for opening / closing operation control of the ball return device 3, and the lower limit release sensor S2 and the upper limit release sensor S4 are the ball AC device. The intermediate sensor S3 is used in the control, and is not used in the present embodiment, and simply detects the amount of balls stored in the storage tanks 11 and 12 in the same manner as a sensor without a reference numeral. It is just a sensor.

  Of the operations controlled by the sensors S1 to S5 described above, the ball alternating current device control is performed in step 10 in FIG. 11, whether or not the upper limit release sensor S4 of the own island is ON, that is, the storage amount is It is determined whether or not the fuel is stored above the upper limit release sensor S4 provided in the non-priority storage tank 12, and if it is determined that it is ON, the replenishment flag is turned ON in step 11. Thereafter, at step 12, a replenishing device control processing subroutine is executed.

  As shown in FIG. 12, this replenishment device control process is performed while judging whether the adjacent left and right pachinko islands have reached the upper limit (upper limit release sensor S4 position). That is, it is determined in step 40 whether or not the supply flag of both adjacent islands is ON (whether or not both adjacent islands have reached the upper limit). If both adjacent islands have also reached the upper limit, it is necessary to supply the supply. In step 41, the replenishment flag for the own island is turned OFF, and the process proceeds to step 19 described later to close both shutters on the own island. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 40 that the supply flag of both adjacent islands is not ON, it is determined in step 42 whether or not the supply flag is ON on the left island. In step 43, the stopper device 61 for supplying the balls to the left island (indicated as shutter; hereinafter the same) is closed, and if the left island supply flag is not ON, the left island in step 44 Open the shutter to replenish the ball. Similarly, in step 45, it is determined whether or not the replenishment flag is ON in the right island. If it is ON, it means that the right island has reached the upper limit, and in step 46, the ball is replenished to the right island. If the right island replenishment flag is not ON, the shutter for replenishing the right island is opened in step 47.

  Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the upper limit release sensor S4 is turned OFF in Step 13 while the replenishing device control process is executed in Step 12, and if not, the process returns to Step 11 and returns to Step 11. ˜13 is repeated, and when it is determined that the upper limit release sensor S4 has been turned off, the timer is reset in step 14 and then a timer for a fixed time (3 minutes in the present embodiment) is set in step 15. The same replenishing device control process as in step 12 is executed in step 16 until the time set by the timer (3 minutes) elapses, and after it is determined in step 17 that 3 minutes have elapsed, the replenishment flag is turned off in step 18 In step 19, both shutters in the own island are closed, and the processing when the storage amount reaches the upper limit is terminated.

  The shutter is driven to open until a predetermined time elapses after the detection output from the upper limit release sensor S4 is not derived by the operation realized by the processing of steps 10 to 19 described above. Since the storage amount at the end of the shutter opening operation can be surely positioned on the upstream side (smaller storage amount side) than the upper limit release sensor S4, some time margin is required until the upper limit release sensor S4 is actuated again. Therefore, for example, the return blocking time of the ball return device 3 can be reduced as much as possible, and the prize balls can be returned smoothly by the player, thereby improving the service. Further, if the set time of the timer for measuring a certain time can be changed and adjusted, the remaining storage amount on the upstream side from the upper limit release sensor S4 can be set to a desired storage amount.

  The above-described replenishing device control process will be described with reference to FIG. 15 illustrating the amount of storage of a plurality of actual pachinko islands 1 (in the case of five rows A to E), as shown in FIG. At the beginning of business, the amount of storage of the pachinko islands A to E is substantially equal, and a slightly smaller amount than the sensor S4 is stored in the respective pachinko islands A to E as initial values. Thus, as the business continues, as shown in FIG. 15 (B), the storage amount varies. For example, when the storage amount of the central pachinko island platform C exceeds S4, the pachinko island platform C The shutters of the pachinko islands B and D on both sides are opened and balls are replenished. Finally, as shown in FIG. 15 (C), the amount of the pachinko islands C stored is slightly smaller than the sensor S4 ( The left and right pachinko islands B and D are replenished so as to satisfy the above-described decrease by the timer. In addition, as shown in FIG. 15D, when the amount of storage exceeds S4 in the pachinko islands B and C, the exchange of balls between the pachinko islands B and C is not performed, but the pachinko The ball is moved from the island platform B to the pachinko island platform A, and the ball is moved from the pachinko island platform C to the pachinko island platform D. It should be noted that the phenomenon in which the amount of balls stored as described above reaches the upper limit (beyond the position of the sensor S4) occurs rarely because the number of balls held by the player is large. The above-described replenishment device control process is performed in consideration of the case where the number of the toner increases.

  On the other hand, the processing when the storage amount in the priority storage tank 11 reaches the lower limit, that is, it is determined in step 10 that the upper limit release sensor S4 is not ON, and in step 20 the lower limit release sensor S2 is OFF. In step S21, the receiving flag is turned ON. Then, in step 22, the receiving device control processing subroutine is executed, and in step 23, the additional processing subroutine is executed.

  Among these, the receiving device control process in step 22 is performed while judging whether the adjacent left and right pachinko islands have reached the lower limit (lower limit release sensor S2 position), as shown in FIG. That is, in step 50, it is determined whether or not the receipt flag of both neighboring islands is ON (whether or not both neighboring islands have reached the lower limit), and if both neighboring islands have also reached the lower limit, they are received. Since there is no answer, the receipt flag of the own island is turned off in step 51, and the process proceeds to step 31 described later to close both shutters of the adjacent AC tank 7 facing the own island. On the other hand, if it is determined in step 50 that the receiving flag of both adjacent islands is not ON, it is determined in step 52 whether or not the receiving flag is ON in the left island. In step 53, the shutter on the left island facing the own island (displayed as shutter; hereinafter the same) is closed to stop receiving the ball, and the receipt flag on the left island is not ON. In step 54, the shutter of the left island facing the own island is opened and the ball is received. Similarly, in step 55, it is determined whether or not the receipt flag is ON on the right island, and if it is ON, it means that the right island has also reached the lower limit. The island shutter is closed to stop receiving the ball. If the right island receiving flag is not ON, the right island shutter facing the own island is opened in step 57 to receive the ball and the subroutine is terminated.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 14, the additional processing in step 23 identifies the neighboring islands on both sides of the island that issued the receipt flag in step 60, and the receipt flag of the island identified in step 61 is OFF (set to the lower limit). If it is determined that the specified island has not reached the lower limit, the shutter of the specified island on the island side that issued the receipt flag is opened in step 62, and the specified island is Is determined to have reached the lower limit, the shutter of the island specified in step 63 is closed and the subroutine is terminated.

  Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the lower limit release sensor S2 is turned on in step 24 while the replenishing device control process and the adding process in steps 22 and 23 are being performed. , The steps 21 to 23 are repeated, and when it is determined that the lower limit release sensor S2 is turned ON, after the shutter of the island specified in the additional process is closed in the step 25, the timer is reset in the step 26, In step 27, a timer for a fixed time (3 minutes in the present embodiment) is set, and in step 28, the same receiving device control process as that in step 22 is executed until the time (3 minutes) set by the timer elapses. After it is determined in step 29 that 3 minutes have passed, the receipt flag is turned off in step 30 and the self-island in step 31 Accumulation volume by closing both shutters of the AC tank 7 of facing both sides finishes the processing when it reaches the lower limit.

  Due to the operation realized by the processing of steps 20 to 31 described above, the pachinko on both sides in the receiving device control process from when the detection output from the lower limit release sensor S2 is no longer derived until the predetermined time elapses. Since the shutter of the island base 1 is driven to open and the storage amount at the end of the shutter opening operation can be surely positioned downstream (lower side of the storage amount) than the lower limit release sensor S2, the lower limit release sensor again. Since there can be some time before the operation of S2, for example, the return blocking time of the ball return device 3 of the adjacent pachinko islands 1 can be reduced as much as possible. Can be performed smoothly and the service can be improved. Further, if the set time of the timer for measuring a certain time can be changed and adjusted, the remaining storage amount on the downstream side from the lower limit release sensor S2 can be set to the desired storage amount.

  Furthermore, in the additional processing, the adjacent pachinko island platform is also configured to receive the replenishment of balls from the outside pachinko island platform via the ball exchange device. The amount of increase / decrease can be reduced and the amount of storage can be made equal, and a decrease / increase in the amount of storage can be quickly handled, resulting in a reduction in the time for which return to the entire ball return device 3 is prohibited. Can do.

  The above-described receiving device control processing and additional processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrating the storage amounts of a plurality of actual pachinko island platforms 1 (in the case of five rows A to E). First, in the receiving device control process, as shown in FIG. 16A, as business continues, in many cases, the storage amount of the plurality of pachinko islands A to E decreases and varies compared to the initial value. Among them, for example, when the storage amount of the pachinko island platform C in the center is S2 or less, the shutters of the adjacent pachinko island platforms B and D are opened and the pachinko island platform C has a ball. As shown in FIG. 16 (B), the left and right pachinko island platforms B so that the storage amount of the pachinko island platform C is slightly larger than the sensor S2 (increase by the timer described above). , D are replenished. In addition, as shown in FIG. 16 (C), when the storage amount is less than or equal to S2 in the pachinko islands C and D, the ball exchange between the pachinko islands C and D is not performed. Balls are supplied to pachinko islands C from pachinko islands B, balls are supplied to pachinko islands D from pachinko islands E, and finally, as shown in FIG. It is replenished from the left and right pachinko islands B and E so that the storage amount is slightly larger than the sensor S2. Further, as shown in FIG. 16 (E), in all pachinko islands A to E, when the ball storage amount is S2 or less, the ball exchange between pachinko islands is not performed.

  In addition, the above-described receiving device control process is an exchange of balls only between adjacent pachinko islands. However, in this embodiment, when the sensor S2 is turned off, not only the adjacent pachinko islands but also the outer side. Additional processing is also performed in which ball exchange is performed between the pachinko island stand and the adjacent pachinko island stand. As shown in FIG. 17 (A), for example, when the storage amount of the central pachinko island platform C becomes S2 or less, the shutters of the adjacent pachinko island platforms B and D are opened. At the same time as the balls are replenished to the pachinko island platform C, the shutters of the outside pachinko island platforms A and E are also opened and the pachinko island platforms A and E are replenished with balls to the pachinko island platforms B and D. Even if the amount of pachinko islands B and D that are adjacent to each other is small, the number of balls supplied from the pachinko islands B and D to the pachinko islands C is almost the same as the number of balls supplied from the pachinko islands A and E. As shown in FIG. 17 (B), the balls on the outermost pachinko islands A and E are finally supplied to the center pachinko islands C as shown in FIG. , Decrease the amount of increase or decrease of the ball storage amount of each pachinko island stand A ~ E Can be equal reservoirs amount, it is possible to quickly respond to a decrease, an increase in the storage amount.

  In addition, since the phenomenon that the above-described amount of storage of the balls becomes the lower limit (sensor S2 or less) occurs frequently as the number of balls held by the player increases, the above-described receiving device control processing and additional processing are performed as follows: This is an important control in the ball AC device.

  By the way, by performing the above-described replenishing device control processing, receiving device control processing, and additional processing, in many cases, the return operation to the ball returning device 3 of all pachinko islands is not prohibited. Although it is considered, if it becomes more than the upper limit or less than the lower limit, the return operation of the ball return device 3 on its own island or other islands must be permitted or prohibited, but such a control must be performed. The control is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 18 will be described. First, in step 70, it is determined whether or not the upper limit sensor S5 has been turned on (whether or not the upper limit has been reached), and the upper limit has been reached. If it is determined, the self-island counter is closed in step 71, the timer is reset in step 72, then the timer is started in step 73, and a predetermined time (for example, 10 minutes) by the timer in step 74. Whether or not has elapsed, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, the counter is opened in step 75. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 70 that the upper limit sensor S5 is not ON, it is determined in step 76 whether or not the lower limit sensor S1 is OFF (whether or not the lower limit has been reached). When it is determined that the counter has reached, the counter of the facing island is closed in step 77, the timer is reset in step 78, the timer is started in step 79, and the timer is started in step 79. It is determined whether or not (10 minutes) has elapsed, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the counter of the facing island is opened in step 81. Note that when both of the determinations at step 70 and step 76 are “NO”, the counter control is not performed.

  The control described above (control according to the first embodiment) moves the ball to the adjacent pachinko islands when the upper limit is reached, and receives balls from the adjacent pachinko islands when the lower limit is reached. Although the control for driving the ball alternating current device on the outside of the pachinko island stand has been shown, it is also possible to perform the control while monitoring the ball storage amount of a plurality of pachinko island stands in a wider range. Such control (control according to the second embodiment) will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 19 is a side view showing the internal structure of the pachinko island platform 1 used for the control according to the present embodiment, FIG. 20 is a main flow diagram showing the control of the ball AC device, and FIG. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the upper limit priority control processing subroutine in the flowchart, FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing the upper limit priority processing subroutine in the flowchart of the upper limit priority control processing subroutine, and FIG. 23 is the process in FIG. FIG. 24 is a table showing the state of a flag with a customer used in a step, and FIG. 24 is a table showing a correspondence between a customer with a flag used in the processing step replaced in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 and an opening time. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state corresponding to the upper limit priority control process, FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a normal upper limit process subroutine in the main flowchart, and FIG. FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a lower limit priority control subroutine, FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a lower limit priority subroutine in the lower limit priority control subroutine, and FIG. 29 is a flowchart showing a lower limit priority subroutine. FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a feed data calculation processing subroutine in the flowchart, FIG. 30 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state corresponding to the lower limit priority control process, and FIGS. 31 and 32 are diagrams in the main flowchart. FIG. 33 is a flowchart showing a ball return processing subroutine, FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a state corresponding to the ball return processing, and FIG. 34 is a flowchart showing a normal lower limit processing subroutine in the main flow diagram. FIG. 35 is a flowchart showing the operation of the ball return device 3.

  In the pachinko island platform 1 in the control according to the second embodiment, compared to the pachinko island platform 1 (FIG. 10) in the control according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. The sensor S6 is provided (therefore, the sensor S5 corresponds to the upper limit release sensor S5). The sensor S6 controls the opening / closing operation of the own island ball return device 3. The stopper device 61 of the device is controlled, and the opening / closing operation of the ball returning device 3 on the other island is controlled by the lower limit sensor S1. In addition, also in the pachinko island stand 1 according to the second embodiment, the reference ball storage amount at the start of business is set at a position slightly downstream from the sensor S4.

  Of the operations controlled by the above-described sensors S1 to S6, the ball alternating current device control determines whether or not there is an island in which the upper limit release sensor S5 is turned on in step 90 in FIG. When it is determined that there is an upper limit, an upper limit priority control processing subroutine is executed at step 91. This upper limit priority control processing subroutine is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 21, the island determined that the sensor S5 is turned on in step 90 is confirmed in step 110 to be a signal from, for example, the island B. Thereafter, in step 111, the ball amount data of all the islands is obtained from the sensors S1 to S1. Extraction is performed according to the presence or absence of the detection of S6, and the smallest island is searched from the extracted data in step 112, and one island is selected. After that, the island selected as the smallest island in step 113 is confirmed as, for example, E island, and it is determined in step 114 whether or not the flag with customers of the confirmed E island is ON. As shown in FIG. 23, the flag with customers is determined in advance as to whether the flag is ON or OFF at the rate of the number of customers playing on E Island. If it is 10% or less, it is set to ON, and if it is larger, it is set to OFF. The calculation of the rate with customers is based on the number of pachinko machines 2 installed on the pachinko islands in the denominator of the pachinko machine where the game is actually played (detectable by the ON signal of the operation handle). It is calculated by making the number a numerator. Therefore, if the customer flag on E island is not ON in step 114 (that is, the customer on E island exceeds 10%), the following steps 115 and 116 are executed. The upper limit priority control processing subroutine ends. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 114 that the customer flag is ON (that is, the customer flag is 10% or less on island E), the ball from island B that issued the ON signal from sensor S5 in step 115 is the most ball. Control of islands other than E islands identified as islands with a small storage amount is controlled by a subroutine that executes processing equivalent to steps 92 to 100 of the main routine, and B islands to E islands are given priority to the upper limit of step 116. Processing is executed. The reason why the upper limit priority process is not executed when the customer is high is that if the customer is high, the amount of balls to be returned is expected to increase. This is to prevent unnecessary ball exchange by preventing ball movement.

  As shown in FIG. 22, the upper limit priority process in step 116 is as follows. First, in step 120, both shutters on each island from island B to island E are closed, and then in step 121, E on each island from island B to island E. Open only the shutter on the island side. As a result, the ball of island B is moved to island C, the ball of island C is moved to island D, and the ball of island D is moved to island E, but the number of balls moved per unit time is almost the same. (3,000 pieces / minute), it is the same as a ball moving from B island to E island after all. The opening of the shutter described above is continued until it is determined in step 122 that the sensor S4 on the B island is turned off or the sensor S4 on the E island is turned on. When such a determination is made, In step 123, both shutters of each island from island B to island E are closed, and the upper limit priority process and the upper limit priority control process are terminated.

  The above-described upper limit priority control process will be described with reference to FIG. 25 illustrating the storage amounts of a plurality of actual pachinko islands 1 (in the case of five rows A to E), as shown in FIG. As shown by the arrow, the shutter on the E island side from the B island that is determined to have reached the upper limit when the sensor S5 is turned on to the E island that is determined to have the smallest amount of storage is indicated by an arrow. Is moved to island C, the ball of island C is moved to island D, and the ball of island D is moved to island E. Then, when the sensor S4 on the B island is turned off, the shutter that was opened closes and the movement of the ball stops, and the storage amount of the ball on each island from the B island to the E island at that time is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is natural that the B islands decrease and the E islands increase, but there is no change in the storage amount of the intermediate C islands and D islands. That is, the ball has moved from island B to island E. Thus, since the upper limit priority control process can be moved from the pachinko island stand 1 (B) where the ball storage amount has reached the upper limit to the pachinko island stand 1 (E) with the smallest ball amount, the decrease in the storage amount -It can respond to an increase rapidly and can shorten the time which prohibits the return to the whole ball return apparatus 3 as a result.

  In the above-described control, the condition for executing the upper limit priority processing in step 116 is determined by ON / OFF of the customer flag, but it corresponds to the customer rate of the sending island (E). The upper limit priority process may be executed for a predetermined time. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, assuming that a maximum of 30,000 pieces are supplied and the rate with customers is 10% or less, the maximum number (30,000) is sent and the rate with customers is more than that. If it is 49% or less, 60% of the maximum number is sent. If the rate with customers is 50% or more and 79% or less, 30% is sent, and if the rate with customers is 80% or more, Set to not send at all. In the case of the ball feed amount as described above, since the number of balls sent by opening one stopper device 61 (shutter) is 3000 pieces / minute, the opening time corresponding to the rate with each customer is 10 minutes. , 6 minutes, 3 minutes, 0 minutes.

  Thus, when it is confirmed that the island is E island in step 113 in FIG. 21, the shutter opening time based on the table in FIG. 24 is calculated in step 117 instead of step 114, and then steps 115 and 116 are executed. In the upper limit priority process, instead of step 122, the upper limit priority process is executed by substituting the determination process in step 124 for determining whether the opening time of the B island has elapsed or whether the sensor S4 on the E island has been turned on. Is. In this way, the amount of movement of the ball from the pachinko island platform B that has reached the upper limit to the pachinko island platform E that has been identified as having the least amount of balls is controlled by the time according to the number of customers to the identified pachinko island platform E. Thereby, it can control finely according to the predicted value of the ball to be returned to the specified pachinko island stand E, and can prevent useless exchange of balls.

  Returning to FIG. 20, when it is determined in step 90 that there is no island where the sensor S5 is ON, it is determined in step 92 whether there is an island where the sensor S4 is ON (a storage amount greater than the reference storage amount). If there is an island in which the sensor S4 is turned on, the normal upper limit process of step 93 is executed. This normal upper limit process is shown in FIG. That is, the replenishment flag of the island where the sensor S4 is turned on is turned on in step 130, and then a replenishment device control processing subroutine is executed in step 131. Since the replenishing device control process is exactly the same as the process procedure shown in FIG. 12, the description thereof is omitted here. Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the sensor S4 is turned off in step 132 while the replenishing device control process in step 131 is being executed. If not, the process returns to step 130 and steps 130 to 132 are returned. When it is determined that the sensor S4 is turned off, the timer is reset in step 133, and then a timer for a fixed time (in this embodiment, 3 minutes) is set in step 134, and is set by the timer. In step 135, the same replenishing device control process as in step 131 is executed until the elapsed time (3 minutes) elapses. In step 136, it is determined that 3 minutes have elapsed, and in step 137, the replenishment flag is turned OFF. At 138, both shutters on the island are closed and the processing when the storage amount reaches the upper limit is terminated. .

  The shutter is driven to open until a predetermined time elapses after the detection output from the sensor S4 is not derived by the operation realized by the processing in steps 130 to 138 described above. Since the storage amount at the end of the opening operation can be surely positioned on the upstream side (smaller storage amount side) than the sensor S4, and there is some time margin before the operation of the sensor S4 again, For example, the return blocking time of the ball return device 3 can be reduced as much as possible, and the prize balls can be returned smoothly by the player, thereby improving the service.

  Returning to FIG. 20, if it is determined in step 92 that there is no island with the sensor S4 turned on, it is determined in step 94 whether there is an island with the sensor S3 turned on. Since the sensor S3 detects an amount slightly larger than the median of the amount of balls stored in the pachinko island stand 1, there is no problem in continuing normal business, so it is determined that there is an island where the sensor S3 is turned on. When the feed data is stored, it is determined at step 95 whether or not the feed data is stored on the island. When the feed data is stored, the ball return process is executed at step 96. This ball return process and feed data will be described in detail later, but when the island where the sensor S3 is turned on has received a ball by the lower limit priority control process in the past, the process of returning the same ball amount as the received ball It is. Therefore, the ball return process will be described in detail after the lower limit priority control process is described.

  Returning to FIG. 20, if it is determined in step 94 that there is no island where the sensor S3 is ON, it is determined in step 97 whether there is an island where the sensor S1 (lower limit sensor) is OFF (island below the lower limit). If it is determined that there is an island where the sensor S1 is OFF, the lower limit priority control process of step 98 is executed. This lower limit priority control processing subroutine is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 27, the island determined that the sensor S1 is turned off in step 97 is confirmed in step 140 to be a signal from, for example, island A. Thereafter, in step 141, the ball amount data of all the islands is obtained from the sensors S1 to S1. Extraction is performed based on whether or not S6 is detected, and it is determined in step 142 whether or not there is an island in which sensor S2 is ON in an island other than island A, and there is no island in which sensor S2 is ON. Is determined (the amount of ball storage on other islands is also small), the lower limit priority control processing subroutine is terminated without executing the following processing. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is an island in which the sensor S2 is turned on, it is determined in step 143 whether or not there is only one island in which the sensor S2 is turned on. One island closest to island A is selected and one is confirmed in step 145. For example, if it is confirmed that the island is C, in step 146, the island other than island C that is identified as the closest island with the amount of storage more than sensor S2 from island A that issued the OFF signal from sensor S1 is controlled. The lower limit priority process of step 147 is executed for A island to C island, which is controlled by a subroutine that executes processes equivalent to steps 92 to 100 of the main routine.

  As shown in FIG. 28, the lower-limit priority processing in step 147 first resets the timer for timekeeping in step 150, then starts timekeeping in step 151, and then in step 152 from island A to island C After closing both shutters on each island, in step 153, only the shutter on the A island side of each island from island A to island C is opened. As a result, the ball of island C is moved to island B, and the ball of island B is moved to island A, but the number of balls moved per unit time is almost the same (3,000 / min). After all, it is the same as a ball moving from island C to island A. The opening of the shutter described above is continued until it is determined in step 154 that the sensor S2 on the A island is turned ON or the sensor S2 on the C island is turned OFF. When such a determination is made, In step 155, both shutters of each island from island A to island C are closed, and then the timing is finished in step 156 and the feed data calculation processing subroutine is executed in step 157 to complete the lower limit priority process and the lower limit priority control process. To do.

  As shown in FIG. 29, the feed data calculation process of step 157 described above stores the time T measured by the process of step 151 to step 156 in step 160, and extracts the data of all islands in step 161. In 162, it is determined whether or not the lower limit priority processing from island C to island A is the first time. If it is the first time, the counter n is set to “1” in step 163. If not, the counter is counted in step 164. Set the value of “n + 1” to n, then set the time stored in step 60 as the time data of TCA (n) in step 165, and store TCA (n) as the time data of island A in step 166 In step 167, the total value W (CA) of the stored TCA (n) is calculated. After that, in step 168, it is determined whether or not the lower limit priority processing has been performed from island A to island C. If there is, the magnitudes of W (CA) and W (AC) are compared in steps 169, and steps 170 and 172 are performed. Then, a small value is subtracted from the large value, and a numerical value that becomes a positive value is stored in the total data W (CA) or W (AC) in steps 171 and 173. The feed data calculated in this way is used in a ball return process (step 96) described in detail later.

  The above-described lower limit priority control process will be described with reference to FIG. 30 illustrating the storage amounts of a plurality of actual pachinko islands 1 (when five rows A to E are used), as shown in FIG. 30 (A). As shown by the arrow, the shutter on the A island side from the A island determined that the sensor S1 is turned OFF and the lower limit has been reached to the C island determined to have a storage amount greater than the sensor S2 is opened. Island balls are moved to B island, and island B balls are moved to A island. Then, when the sensor S2 on the C island is turned off, the opened shutter is closed and the movement of the balls is stopped. The amount of balls stored on each island from the A island to the C island at that time is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, it is natural that the island C is decreasing and the island A is increasing, but there is no change in the storage amount of the intermediate island B. That is, the ball has moved from island C to island A. In this way, the lower limit priority control process can move the ball from the pachinko island platform 1 (C) having a storage amount equal to or greater than a predetermined amount to the pachinko island platform 1 (A) where the ball storage amount has reached the lower limit. Therefore, it is possible to quickly cope with the decrease / increase in the storage amount, and as a result, it is possible to shorten the time during which the return to the entire ball return device 3 is prohibited.

  Here, the ball return processing in step 96 will be described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 33. The feed data of the island where the sensor S3 is turned on in step 180 in FIG. (For example, even when viewed mainly from island A, there are a plurality of data to be sent to island C, data to island D, etc.). The sending island is confirmed from the sending data. In step 183, the receiving side is determined as island C, and in step 184, the sending side is determined as island A. Then, after closing both shutters of each island from island C to island A in step 185 shown in FIG. 32, the shutter on the island A side of each island from island C to island A is opened and opened. Is continued until it is determined in step 187 that the data time W (CA) has elapsed. If it is determined that the feed data time has elapsed, all the shutters from island C to island A are closed in step 188, and then data W (CA) and all TCA are erased in step 189. The return processing subroutine is terminated.

  With reference to FIG. 33 illustrating the storage amount of the actual plurality of pachinko islands 1 (in the case of five rows of A to E) for the above-described ball return processing, as shown in FIG. 33 (A), When the sensor S3 is turned ON, the shutter on the A island side from the A island determined as the sending side to the C island determined as the receiving side is opened, and the ball on the A island is moved to the B island as indicated by the arrow. , B island ball is moved to C island. Then, when the feed data time elapses, the opened shutter is closed and the movement of the ball is stopped, and the ball storage amount of each island from A island to C island at that time is as shown in FIG. In addition, it is natural that island A is decreasing and island C is increasing, but there is no change in the storage amount of intermediate island B. That is, the ball has moved from island A to island C. In this way, in the ball returning process, the pachinko island stand A that has reached the initial lower limit recovers its ball storage amount by the exchange ball that is not enough for its own storage ball, but it is finally returned by the return ball by the customer There is a possibility of storing more than the initial ball storage amount, and when the storage amount returns to a predetermined value, by returning to the pachinko island stand C to which the number of balls replenished during business is returned, The amount stored on the pachinko islands can be quickly equalized with the initial value.

  Returning to FIG. 20, when it is determined in step 97 that there is no island with S1 turned off, it is determined in step 99 whether or not there is an island with S2 turned off (whether there is an island approaching the lower limit). The If there is an island for which the sensor S2 is turned off, the normal lower limit process of step 100 is executed. This normal lower limit process is shown in FIG. That is, in step 190, the receipt flag of the island where the sensor S2 is turned off is turned on, and then in step 191 a receiving device control processing subroutine is executed. Since this receiving device control process is exactly the same as the processing procedure shown in FIG. 13, the description thereof is omitted here. Accordingly, it is determined whether or not the sensor S2 is turned on in step 192 while the receiving device control process in step 191 is being executed. If not, the process returns to step 190 and steps 190 to 192 are performed. When it is determined that the sensor S2 is turned on, the timer is reset in step 193, and then a timer for a fixed time (in this embodiment, 3 minutes) is set in step 194, and is set by the timer. In step 195, the same receiving device control process as that in step 191 is executed until the time (3 minutes) elapses. After it is determined in step 196 that 3 minutes have elapsed, the receiving flag is turned off in step 197, In 198, the shutter (stopper device 61) on both neighboring islands facing the own island is closed and the storage amount is lowered. To end process at the time of close to.

  The shutter is driven to open until a predetermined time elapses after the detection output from the sensor S2 is not derived by the operation realized by the processing of steps 190 to 198 described above. Since the storage amount at the end of the opening operation can be surely positioned downstream (a larger storage amount side) than the sensor S2, and there is some time margin before the operation of the sensor S2 again, For example, the return blocking time of the ball returning device 3 that faces the player can be reduced as much as possible, and the player can smoothly return the prize balls, thereby improving the service.

  By performing the above upper limit priority control process, normal upper limit process, ball return process, lower limit priority control process, and normal lower limit process, in many cases, the return operation to the ball return device 3 of all pachinko islands is performed. Although it is considered that it will not be prohibited, in the unlikely event that it becomes more than the upper limit or less than the lower limit, control to allow or prohibit the return operation of the ball return device 3 on its own island or other islands must be performed. However, such control is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG. Therefore, the control of the counter (ball return device 3) in FIG. 35 will be described. First, in step 200, it is determined whether or not the upper limit sensor S6 has been turned on (whether or not the upper limit has been reached), and the upper limit has been reached. If it is determined, the self-island counter is closed in step 201, the timer is reset in step 202, then the timer is started in step 203, and a predetermined time (eg, 10 minutes) by the timer in step 204. Whether or not has elapsed, and when a predetermined time has elapsed, the counter is opened in step 205. On the other hand, when it is determined in step 200 that the upper limit sensor S6 is not ON, it is determined in step 206 whether or not the lower limit sensor S1 has been turned OFF (whether or not the lower limit has been reached). When it is determined that the counter has reached, the counter of the facing island is closed in step 207, the timer is reset in step 208, the timer is started in step 209, and the timer is started in step 209. It is determined whether or not (10 minutes) has elapsed, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the counter of the facing island is opened in step 211. Note that when both of the determinations at step 200 and step 206 are “NO”, the counter control is not performed.

  As mentioned above, although the two control methods have been described for the control of the ball AC device passed between the pachinko islands 1, in the above control, the pachinko islands of A to E have been exemplified and shown, In amusement halls, it is normal to have more pachinko islands than the above, and in such a case, even if all pachinko islands are configured to have an alternating relationship, the above control is performed. It is good, but the above-described control may be performed for each block by forming an alternating current relationship by dividing the block into a plurality of blocks.

It is a perspective view which shows the relationship of a some pachinko island stand. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of one pachinko island stand. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between an upper tank and an alternating current tank. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of an upper tank. It is a perspective view which shows the internal structure of an alternating current tank. It is a perspective view which shows the flow of the ball in an upper tank and an alternating current tank. It is side sectional drawing which shows the relationship between an alternating current tank, an alternating current upper ridge, and an alternating current lower arch ridge. It is sectional drawing of the cross | intersection part of an alternating current upper ridge and an alternating current lower arch ridge. It is a perspective view of the pachinko island stand which shows different embodiment of a ball exchange device. It is a side view which shows the internal structure of the pachinko island stand which showed the arrangement position of the sensor for controlling the stopper apparatus and ball return apparatus of a ball | bowl alternating current apparatus with a 1st control method. It is a main flowchart which shows control of the ball | bowl alternating current apparatus by a 1st control method. It is a flowchart which shows the replenishment apparatus control processing subroutine in a main flowchart. It is a flowchart which shows the receiving device control processing subroutine in a main flowchart. It is a flowchart which shows the addition process subroutine in a main flowchart. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state corresponding to a replenishment apparatus control process. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state corresponding to a receiving device control process. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state corresponding to an impossible process. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a ball return apparatus. It is a side view which shows the internal structure of the pachinko island stand used for the 2nd control method. It is a main flowchart which shows control of the ball | bowl alternating current apparatus by a 2nd control method. It is a flowchart which shows the upper limit priority control processing subroutine in a main flowchart. It is a flowchart which shows the upper limit priority process subroutine in the flowchart of an upper limit priority control process subroutine. It is a table | surface figure which shows the state of the flag with a customer used at the process step in FIG. FIG. 23 is a table showing a correspondence relationship between customers and opening times used in the replaced processing steps in FIGS. 21 and 22. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state corresponding to an upper limit priority control process. It is a flowchart which shows the normal upper limit process subroutine in a main flowchart. It is a flowchart which shows the lower limit priority control processing subroutine in a main flowchart. It is a flowchart which shows the lower limit priority processing subroutine in the flowchart of a lower limit priority control processing subroutine. It is a flowchart which shows the feed data calculation process subroutine in the flowchart of a lower limit priority process subroutine. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state corresponding to a lower limit priority control process. It is a flowchart which shows the ball return process subroutine in a main flowchart. FIG. 32 is a flowchart subsequent to FIG. 31. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the state corresponding to a ball return process. It is a flowchart which shows the normal lower limit process subroutine in a main flowchart. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a ball return apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 Pachinko Island Stand 5 Ball Lifting Device 6 Upper Tank 7 AC Tank 11 Priority Storage Tank 12 Non-Priority Storage Tank 61 Stopper Device (Shutter)
70 AC upper ridge 71 AC lower arch ridge 73 AC lower opening 74 AC upper opening S1 to S6 Ball amount detection sensor

Claims (1)

In the ball exchange device between pachinko islands that exchange balls according to each ball storage amount of multiple pachinko islands,
When the ball storage amount of one pachinko island stand reaches the lower limit, the closest pachinko island stand is identified among the pachinko island stands that are more than the predetermined ball storage amount from the plurality of pachinko island stands that are in an alternating relationship. And controlling the ball exchange device of the pachinko island platform between them so that the ball moves from the identified pachinko island platform to the pachinko island platform that has reached the lower limit, and the pachinko that has reached the lower limit from the identified pachinko island platform When the ball exchange device of the pachinko island stand in between is controlled so that the ball moves to the island stand, the amount of the moved ball is calculated and stored, and the ball storage amount of the pachinko island stand reaching the lower limit is When returning to a predetermined ball storage amount, control the ball AC device on the pachinko island in between so as to move the number of balls calculated and stored from the pachinko island that has reached the lower limit to the specified pachinko island Ball exchange device between pachinko Isle of Eternal Youth, characterized in that that.

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