JP4060391B2 - Ball circulation mechanism - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball circulation mechanism for balls circulating in an island where a plurality of pachinko machines are arranged.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent pachinko halls, there are islands in which a plurality of pachinko machines are installed in parallel, and ball counters are installed on this island.
[0003]
In the pachinko halls as described above, pachinko balls are circulated on a per-island basis, including the collection of balls, or a group of multiple islands is used to adjust the increase or decrease in the number of balls. ing.
[0004]
In addition, a storage tank having a bottom wall inclined downward toward the polishing machine is provided at the bottom of each island. In this storage tank, pachinko balls are stored in advance in order to increase the absolute amount of pachinko balls circulating in the island. On the other hand, out balls thrown into the pachinko machine and pachinko balls that have been transported to the top of the island and overflowed. Etc. are to be recovered.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 10, the pachinko balls P stored in the storage tank 70 are polished by a polishing machine through a passage 72 formed downstream of the storage tank 70, transported to the upper part of the island, and returned to the storage tank 70 again. Although it is refluxed, as a characteristic of the spherical pachinko ball P, the pachinko ball P (part of arrow A) located on the upstream side far from the passage 72, particularly in the portion close to the bottom wall 74, is stagnant and difficult to flow. .
[0006]
If such a state is left unattended, so-called dead balls are generated in the storage tank 70 and remain and rust, and the pachinko balls P are not smoothly supplied to the respective pachinko machines.
[0007]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a ball circulation mechanism that reliably and smoothly circulates pachinko balls in a storage tank in consideration of such facts.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The ball circulation mechanism according to claim 1 is a ball circulation mechanism in which a downwardly inclined tank is provided at a lower part of an island where a plurality of pachinko machines are disposed, toward a lifting and polishing means, and downstream of the tank. A passage formed on the side for passing the balls of the tank to the lifting and polishing means, and a plurality of bottom ball guide tunnels formed on the bottom of the tank and leading to a part of the passage from the upstream side of the bottom of the tank to partition the passage If, have a, among the plurality of tunnels, it is characterized in the tunnel located in a widthwise central portion of the plurality of tunnels that extend toward the upstream side of the tank.
[0009]
In the ball circulation mechanism according to the first aspect, since the plurality of tunnels divide the passage, the balls stored in the tank flow toward the lifting and polishing means through the tunnel. For this reason, the balls stored in the tank are completely recirculated through a plurality of tunnels arranged in parallel on the left and right . Here, partitioning the passage through a part of the passage means that the tunnel partitions the whole or part of the height direction or width direction of the passage.
[0013]
Further, the balls stored on the upstream side of the tank flow toward the lifting and polishing means through a tunnel extending upstream of the tank, and the balls stored on the downstream side of the tank are lifted through other tunnels of the tank. Flow towards the feeding and polishing means. For this reason, regardless of the upstream side or the downstream side of the tank, the balls stored in the tank are recirculated evenly.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
The island 10 provided with the ball | bowl circulation mechanism which concerns on this embodiment is shown by FIG.1 and FIG.2.
[0015]
The island 10 has a structure in which a plurality of pachinko machines 12 can be attached to both sides in parallel. A ball counter 16 is attached to the end wall 14 of the island 10. The pachinko ball P counted by the ball counter 16 is discharged onto a V-shaped chute 18 that inclines toward the mini-lift 22 (see FIG. 7) through the hollow portion of the storage tank 20 provided at the lower part of the island 10. The
[0016]
As shown in FIG. 5, the storage tank 20 is a box having a rectangular cross section, and the center of the ceiling wall 20A is open along the longitudinal direction. A partition wall 24 extends vertically downward from the opening edge 23 toward the inside of the storage tank 20 so as to surround both ends in the width direction of the V-shaped chute 18 with a predetermined gap. With this partition wall 24, the pachinko balls P stored in the storage tank 20 do not flow onto the V-shaped chute 18, and the pachinko balls P flowing through the V-shaped chute 18 can be preferentially sent to the mini lift 22. Further, the space between the side wall 20C of the storage tank 20 and the partition wall 24 can be effectively used as a ball storage space.
[0017]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, an acceleration chute 26 is provided on the upstream side of the V-shaped chute 18, that is, below the ball outlet 16 </ b> A of the ball counter 16. The acceleration chute 26 is configured to draw a relaxation curve with a large inclination angle, and the pachinko ball P falls on this steeply inclined surface.
[0018]
As a result, the initial velocity of the pachinko ball P that has fallen from the ball outlet 16A of the ball counter 16 increases, so that the V-shaped chute 18 does not have to be steep or the width of the V-shaped chute 18 has to be increased. The number of pachinko balls P per unit time flowing through the V-shaped chute 18 can be increased. Therefore, even if a large amount of pachinko balls P are poured into the ball counter 16, there is no traffic jam near the ball outlet 16A.
[0019]
In the present embodiment, the acceleration chute 26 is configured to draw a relaxation curve. However, if the acceleration chute 26 is continuously connected to the upstream end of the V-shaped chute 18 and has a steep slope, the curve and the clothoid curve are used. The shape of the curve is not specified.
[0020]
Further, the V-shaped chute 18 is a ridge inclined downward from both ends in the width direction, and as shown in FIG. 6, the pachinko balls P can be distributed in an orderly manner so as to snuggle up to the center.
[0021]
Furthermore, when the staying part T of the pachinko ball P is generated on the downstream side of the V-shaped chute 18, a triangle having the apex at the upstream side of the staying part T is formed. Accordingly, the pachinko balls P flowing from the upstream side hit the triangular inclined surface L and are distributed to the left and right, and fall into the storage tank 20 from the gap between the partition wall 24 and the V-shaped chute 18, as shown in FIG. Clogging on the character chute 18 can be avoided. Moreover, since the pachinko balls P are equally distributed to the left and right spaces of the storage tank 20, the space of the storage tank 20 can be used effectively.
[0022]
The downstream side of the downstream end portion of the V-shaped chute 18 continues to the upper rod 28 (see FIG. 7) of the minilift 22. A side wall 31 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), which will be described later, is provided in a continuous portion between the V-shaped chute 18 and the upper rod 28, and the pachinko balls P pass through through holes (not shown) provided in the side wall 31. Then flows from the V-shaped chute 18 into the upper rod 28.
[0023]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom wall 30 of the storage tank 20 is inclined downward toward the mini-lift 22, and the stored pachinko balls P are allowed to naturally flow down to the mini-lift 22. A channel-shaped frame 34 is fixed to the bottom wall 30 with the opening facing downward, and the opening surface extends from the vicinity of the upstream portion of the storage tank 20 to the vicinity of the lower rod 36 (see FIG. 7). A rectangular tunnel 32 is formed.
[0024]
A side wall 31 is disposed downstream of the storage tank 20, and as shown in FIG. 5, a passage 35 that is a rectangular opening is formed on the side wall 31 on the bottom wall 30 side. The passage 35 is partitioned vertically by the top plate 34 </ b> A of the frame body 34 constituting the tunnel 32 over the entire width direction. That is, the passage 35 is divided into an upper passage 35A located above the downstream end of the top plate 34A and a lower passage 35B communicated with the tunnel 32.
[0025]
The height of the upper passage 35A (that is, the length from the top plate 34A to the upper portion of the opening of the side wall 31) and the height of the lower passage 35B (that is, the opening height of the tunnel 32) are set larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball P. The pachinko ball P flows from the passage 35 to the lower rod 36. Here, the lower rod 36 is disposed on the downstream side of the passage 35 and is continuously connected to the bottom wall 30.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 7, the mini-lift 22 includes a lower roller 38, an upper roller 40, and an endless belt 42 that is wound around the lower roller 38 and the upper roller 40. A mounting member 42A having an L-shaped cross section is attached to the outer surface of the belt 42 at a predetermined interval, so that the pachinko balls P flow from the lower rod 36 into the mounting member 42A.
[0027]
A motor (not shown) is connected to the lower roller 38, and the mounting member 42A located on the lower collar 36 side is raised by rotating the motor counterclockwise (arrow CCW in FIG. 7). That is, the pachinko ball P placed on the placement member 42A rises to a position slightly higher than the upper eyelid 28, and falls from the placement member 42A to the upper eyelid 28 via the connecting member 43 shown in FIG. It is like that. Then, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pachinko balls P sent to the upper basket 28 are sent to the bowl-shaped foreign matter removing device 44 through the collective basket 41 continuing to the upper basket 28.
[0028]
In this embodiment, two mini-lifts 22 are provided so as to cope with the increase / decrease of circulating pachinko balls P. However, in a normal business state, one mini-lift 22 can sufficiently process. Even if both of the mini lifts 22 break down, the pachinko balls P flow directly to the upper bowl 28 (see FIG. 7) through the V-shaped chute 18, so that the necessary pachinko balls P can be secured and the business can be continued.
[0029]
The pachinko balls P from which foreign matter has been removed by the foreign matter removing device 44 are sent through a chute 46 to a polishing device 48 provided at the center of the island 10. A polishing cloth (not shown) is attached to the inside of the storage cover of the polishing apparatus 48. A conveying belt is wound around the polishing cloth in the vertical direction. Further, a plurality of hemispherical grooves that can store pachinko balls P in a row are formed near the entrance of the polishing device 48. Thereby, the pachinko balls P sent from the chute 46 are sandwiched between the polishing cloth and the conveyor belt, and are lifted to the upper part of the island 10 while being polished with the polishing cloth.
[0030]
On the other hand, the discharge port of the polishing device 48 is connected to a replenishment rod 50 that is inclined downwardly symmetrically toward both ends of the island 10. A replenishing hose (not shown) is connected to the replenishing rod 50 at a predetermined interval so that the pachinko balls P are replenished to the pachinko machine 12 and a ball rental machine (not shown).
[0031]
Further, the pachinko ball P overflowed from between the discharge port of the polishing device 48 and the replenishing rod 50 is sent to a small tank 54 provided on the upper portion of the island 10. The small tank 54 temporarily stores the overflowing pachinko balls P, and the overflowing pachinko balls P from the small tank 54 are sent to a junction box 56 (FIG. 2) provided below. The junction box 56 is connected to a tank recovery rod 58 that is symmetrically inclined downward toward both ends of the island 10, and pachinko balls P overflowing from the junction box 56 are collected at predetermined intervals. Through the collection hose 60 connected to 58, as shown in FIG. 5, the water is evenly returned between the partition wall 24 and the side wall 20 </ b> C of the storage tank 20.
[0032]
In the present embodiment, the pachinko balls P are circulated between the groups of a plurality of islands through the ridges 64 shown in FIG. 1, and the island 10 provided with the magic tank 62 in order to eliminate excess or deficiency of the pachinko balls P is illustrated as an example. Although shown, it is not limited to this, Of course, it can apply to the system which circulates the pachinko ball P including the collection | recovery of a ball by island 10 alone.
[0033]
Next, the operation of the tunnel 32 constituting the ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, the pachinko balls P stored in advance through the collection hose 60 and the pachinko balls P overflowing from the V-shaped chute 18 are stored in the storage tank 20.
[0034]
Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the pachinko balls P stored near the upstream of the storage tank 20 and stored near the upper part of the storage tank 20 or near the downstream pass through the upper passage 35 </ b> A without passing through the tunnel 32. Thereafter, the pachinko balls P stored on the upstream side of the bottom part flow through the tunnel 32 toward the mini lift 22 from the lower passage 35B.
[0035]
Therefore, according to the ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment, the stored pachinko balls P can be reliably recirculated regardless of the upper or lower portion of the upstream or downstream side of the storage tank 20, and the upper upper portion with hand dirt is attached. Since the nearby pachinko balls P that are easily rusted (that is, the used pachinko balls P) are given priority to flow to the mini-lift 22, rusting can be reliably prevented.
(Second Embodiment)
8 and 9 show the main part of the ball circulation mechanism according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 8, a frame 76 constituting a plurality of tunnels 70, 72, 74 is fixed to the bottom wall 30. FIG. 9 is a side view in which a part of the storage tank viewed from the side wall side is broken. 8 and 9, the same reference numerals are given to the portions corresponding to FIGS. 1 and 5, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0036]
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the frame body 76 is fixed to the bottom wall 30 with the side plates 78 </ b> A and 78 </ b> B fixed to the bottom wall 30 so that the opening faces downward. Is located at the center and has a frame portion 78 having side plates 78A and 78B whose tips are fixed to the bottom wall 30, and both sides of the frame portion 78 share the side plates 78A and 78B with the frame portion 78 and the tip is the bottom wall. Frame portions 80 and 82 having side plates 80A and 82A fixed to 30 are formed. That is, the tunnel 70 constituted by the frame portion 78 , the tunnel 72 constituted by the frame portion 80, and the tunnel 74 constituted by the frame portion 82 are arranged in parallel in the left and right direction. In the second embodiment, an example in which three tunnels are used has been described. However, the number of tunnels is not limited to three, and can be arbitrarily changed as necessary.
[0037]
The upstream end portion of the frame portion 78 extends (longer) toward the upstream side than the upstream end portions of the frame portions 80 and 82. Here, the frame portion 78 is extended toward the upstream side, and the frame portions 80 and 82 are positioned on the downstream side. The pachinko ball P positioned on the upstream side is transferred by the tunnel 70 to the mini lift 22 (see FIG. 1). This is because the pachinko balls P located on the downstream side are caused to flow to the mini lift 22 (see FIG. 1) through the tunnels 72 and 74.
[0038]
Further, the side plates 80A and 82A outside the frame portions 80 and 82 are provided with a plurality of through holes 84 (shown by broken lines in FIG. 8) through which the pachinko balls P can pass. Then, the pachinko balls P flow into the tunnels 72 and 74 through these through holes 84 and are evenly recirculated. The side plates inside the frame portions 80 and 82 are common to the side plates 78A and 78B on both sides of the frame portion 78.
[0039]
That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the passage 35 is partitioned in the width direction over the height direction throughout in the side plates 78A and 78B of the frame body 7 6 constituting the tunnel 70, 72, and 74, the left channel It is divided into 35C, middle passage 35D and right passage 35E.
[0040]
Therefore, according to the ball circulation mechanism according to the second embodiment, the pachinko balls P flow to the minilift 22 through the plurality of tunnels 70, 72, and 74 arranged in parallel in the left and right directions, so that the upstream side of the storage tank 20 Alternatively, the stored pachinko balls P can be reliably refluxed regardless of the upper and lower portions on the downstream side.
[0041]
In addition, by providing a plurality of through-holes through which the pachinko balls P can pass on the upper wall of the frame 34 constituting the tunnel 32, the pachinko balls P stored in the middle portion of the bottom wall 30 are passed through the through-holes to the tunnel 32. It can flow. Thereby, the pachinko balls P are further refluxed evenly.
[0042]
Further, the passage 35 may be partitioned by arranging the top plate 34A of the frame 34 and the side plates 78A, 78B, 80A, 82A of the frame 76 obliquely.
[0043]
【The invention's effect】
Since this invention was set as the said structure, a ball can be circulated reliably and smoothly, without generating the dead ball which does not circulate in a storage tank.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of an island provided with a ball circulation mechanism according to a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view of an island provided with a ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an acceleration chute of the ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a ball flow state in the tunnel of the ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a side view of a part of the storage tank of the ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment as viewed from the side wall side.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where balls are collected on a V-shaped chute of the ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a mini-lift of the ball circulation mechanism according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a state in which frame bodies constituting a plurality of tunnels of a ball circulation mechanism according to a second embodiment are fixed to a bottom wall.
FIG. 9 is a side view in which a part of a storage tank of a ball circulation mechanism according to a second embodiment is viewed from the side wall side.
FIG. 10 is a side view showing a flow state of balls in a storage tank in a conventional ball circulation mechanism.
[Explanation of symbols]
20 Storage tank (tank)
30 bottom wall 32, 70 tunnel 72, 74 tunnel 35 passage 35A upper passage 35B lower passage 35C left passage 35D middle passage 35E right passage

Claims (1)

A ball circulation mechanism in which a downwardly inclined tank is provided toward the lifting and polishing means at the lower part of the island where a plurality of pachinko machines are arranged,
A passage formed on the downstream side of the tank and passing the balls of the tank to the lifting and polishing means;
A plurality of bottom ball guide tunnels formed at the bottom of the tank and leading to a part of the passage from the upstream side of the bottom of the tank to partition the passage;
I have a,
A ball circulation mechanism characterized in that , among the plurality of tunnels, a tunnel located at a central portion in the width direction of the plurality of tunnels is extended toward the upstream side of the tank .

Images