JP4073073B2

JP4073073B2 - Island where game machines are installed

Info

Publication number: JP4073073B2
Application number: JP05900498A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 定男井置
Original assignee: 株式会社ソフィア; 株式会社西陣
Priority date: 1998-02-23
Filing date: 1998-02-23
Publication date: 2008-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-23
Also published as: JPH11235462A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、パチンコ遊技機や雀球遊技機などの遊技機を並べて設置する遊技機設置島に関するものである。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
遊技機設置島においては、当該設置島内で遊技球を循環使用するために、設置島の内部下方から上方に球を揚送する球揚送装置を設ける。
【０００３】
従前は、揚送パイプを立設し、この揚送パイプ内に挿通した螺旋体を回転することにより球とペレットとを撹拌混合しながら揚送するスパイラルタイプの球揚送装置が主流であったが、近年は、作動音が静かで揚送能力に優れたベルト式球揚送装置が普及している。
【０００４】
このベルト式球揚送装置は、水平方向に向けたローラを上下に設け、両ローラ間に縦長な無端ベルトを掛け渡し、この無端ベルトの上昇側に対向する位置に研磨布を張設し、無端ベルトと研磨布との間に球を挟持した状態で無端ベルトを上昇させることにより、下部の球導入口から導入した球を遊技機設置島の上部に揚送して上部タンクに供給する構成である。そして、研磨布の裏側に、複数本の球案内溝を平行に形成した案内板材を配置する。したがって、球が挟持されながら上昇する場合には、球の一部が球案内溝内に研磨布を押し込みながら上昇する。また、研磨布は、縦長な蓋の内面側に、上部と下部を固定することに張設されている。
【０００５】
そして、従来の遊技機設置島においては、各遊技機から排出された球を回収する球回収樋を設置島の長手方向に沿って配設してある。また、この設置島に球揚送装置を設置する場合には、設置島の一方の面（遊技機を設置した面）に設けた空部から押し入れるので、球回収樋により回収した球を球揚送装置の球導入口に流し込むには、球回収樋からほぼ直角に屈曲した流路を流下させて導入口に導く。
【０００６】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
研磨布は、上部と下部を固定した状態で張設されているので、球が揚送される際に幅方向に平均して接触している場合には一方に偏ることはない。しかしながら、実際は、ある程度の稼働時間が経過すると、研磨布が幅方向の一方に偏ったり、偏りによる皺が発生するおそれがある。特に、研磨布を新しいものと交換して球案内溝になじんでいない場合に偏りを発生し易い。
【０００７】
研磨布に偏りが発生したり、皺が発生すると、球が転動しながら通る部分に段差が生じるので、球を円滑に揚送することが困難になり、騒音が発生したり、時には球を揚送できない状態になる。
【０００８】
本発明は上記事態に鑑みなされたもので、その目的は、球揚送装置の球導入口に均一に球を導入することができ、研磨布に偏りが発生し難い球揚送装置を備えた遊技機設置島を提供しようとするものである。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は上記目的を達成するために提案されたもので、請求項１に記載のものは、複数の遊技機を並設し、これらの遊技機から排出された使用済みの球を球揚送装置に供給する揚送球供給樋を下り傾斜した状態で設け、球揚送装置により揚送された球を各遊技機に補給する遊技機設置島において、
前記球揚送装置は、上下方向に無端ベルトを掛け渡し、この無端ベルトの上昇側に対向する位置に研磨布を張設し、無端ベルトと研磨布との間に球を挟持した状態で無端ベルトを上昇させることにより、下部の球導入口から導入した球を揚送する構成とし、
前記球導入口に球導入樋を接続し、該球導入樋を流下する遊技球を球導入口へ導入可能とし、
前記球導入樋に前記揚送球供給樋の傾斜下端を、球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する状態で接続し、球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する接続部分には、球導入樋の底面を揚送球供給樋の底面よりも下げて段差部を形成し、この段差部よりも球導入樋側に、当該段差部から流出する球が当接可能な球当接面を有する整列補助部材を設けるとともに、該整列補助部材と球導入樋の底面との間に、前記段差部から流出した球が通過し得る間隔を空け、前記球当接面に対する垂線が揚送球供給樋の球流下方向に沿った仮想軸線と球導入樋の球導入口へ向かう方向に沿った仮想軸線とが交叉する交叉角の半分の位置を通るように、前記球当接面を揚送球供給樋並びに球導入樋に対して傾斜させたことを特徴とする遊技機設置島である。
【００１２】
請求項２に記載のものは、前記球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する前記接続部分を上方から覆う導入部カバーを設け、該導入部カバーに整列補助部材を取り付けて支持したことを特徴とする請求項１に記載の遊技機設置島である。
【００１３】
請求項３に記載のものは、研磨布の裏側に、複数本の球案内溝を平行に形成した案内板材を無端ベルト側に対して進退可能な状態で配置し、付勢部材の付勢により案内板材を無端ベルト側に付勢し、球導入口には、球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する前記接続部分から流下する球を複数列に整列する球整列部材を設け、該球整列部材により整列した各球列の先頭が上記案内板材の球案内溝とそれぞれ対応する位置になるように配置したことを特徴とする請求項１または２に記載の遊技機設置島である。
【００１４】
請求項４に記載のものは、球導入樋は遊技機設置島の前後厚み方向に延在し、この球導入樋に、遊技機設置島の長手方向に延在する第１揚送球供給樋を一側から接続するとともに、遊技機設置島の長手方向に延在する第２揚送球供給樋を他側から接続し、整列補助部材の球当接面を上方から見て断面Ｖ字状に配置したことを特徴とする請求項１から３のいずれかに記載の遊技機設置島である。
【００１５】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の実施の形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
図１は、代表的な遊技機であるパチンコ遊技機１を設置した遊技機設置島２（以下、設置島２という。）の概略構成図、図２は３つの設置島２の接続状態を示す斜視図、図３は３つの設置島２の正面図、図４は設置島２のほぼ中央に設置した球揚送装置３の斜視図、図５は球揚送装置３の断面図である。
【００１６】
この設置島２は、一面に２台、相対向する両面で４台のパチンコ遊技機１を背向状態にして設置できる大きさの開口部を形成した金属製フレーム４を１モジュールとし、このフレーム４を所定数連結することにより床面積に応じた長さにできるように構成されており、長手方向のほぼ中央部分には球揚送装置用フレーム４を配置するとともに、このフレーム４内に球揚送装置３を配設する。各フレーム４の所定高さには設置用棚部（図示せず）が形成されているので、この設置用棚部上にパチンコ遊技機１を設置するとともに、台間球貸機５等の設備を設置する。
【００１７】
そして、この様に構成した設置島２の上部には、球揚送装置３により揚送した球を貯留する上部タンク６を設け、この上部タンク６から各パチンコ遊技機１に球を補給する第１球補給樋７ａと第２球補給樋７ｂを設置島２の各端部に向けてそれぞれ僅かに下り傾斜した状態で架設するとともに、上部タンク６から後述する第１球貯留タンク１０ａに供給する球を流下する第１貯留用球供給流路１１ａと第２球貯留タンク１０ｂに供給する球を流下する第２貯留用球供給流路１１ｂを同様に下り傾斜した状態でそれぞれ架設する。第１，第２球補給樋７ａ，７ｂには、各パチンコ遊技機１ごとに枝樋１２を分岐し、枝樋１２の出口をパチンコ遊技機１の球タンク上部に臨ませる。したがって、パチンコ遊技機１の球タンク内の球が不足した場合には、枝樋１２に設けた球補給装置の作動により当該パチンコ遊技機１の球タンク内に、球補給樋７内の球を補給することができる。
【００１８】
一方、設置島２内の下部、具体的にはパチンコ遊技機１よりも少し低い位置には、各パチンコ遊技機１から排出される使用済みの球（アウト球とセーフ球）を回収する第１球回収樋１３ａと第２球回収樋１３ｂを設置島２の各端部からそれぞれ球揚送装置３に向けて僅かに下り傾斜した状態で設ける。なお、本実施形態では、パチンコ遊技機１から排出された使用済みの球を一旦パルスタンクに受け入れ、ここで計数してから球回収樋１３に流下するように構成してある。また、第１，第２球回収樋１３ａ，１３ｂは、本実施形態においては、両側のパチンコ遊技機１から排出された使用済みの球を途中で落下させることなく球揚送装置３まで流下させるために、両側縁に落下防止部材として壁を立設してある。また、本実施形態では、球回収樋１３ａ，１３ｂが、球揚送装置３によって揚送する球を供給する揚送球供給樋としても機能する。
【００１９】
本実施形態においては、各パチンコ遊技機１から排出された使用済みの球をすべて球回収樋１３により回収して球揚送装置３によって揚送研磨するので、汚れた使用済みの球が、後述する球貯留タンク１０内にそのまま貯留されることはない。同様に、設置島２の端部や途中に球計数装置１４を設けた場合、この球計数装置１４から排出される計数済みの球も主として球回収樋１３に流し込んで回収するので、この点においても、汚れた球をそのまま球貯留タンク１０で貯留することは殆どない。
【００２０】
また、上記第１球回収樋１３ａよりも低い設置島２内に第１球貯留タンク１０ａを、第２球回収樋１３ｂよりも低い設置島２内に第２球貯留タンク１０ｂをそれぞれ設置島２の長手方向に沿って配設する。そして、設置島２の端部に位置する第１，第２貯留用球供給流路１１ａ，１１ｂの傾斜下端からこれらの流路の一部として機能する可撓性パイプ製の第１，第２球流下管１５ａ，１５ｂを垂設し、第１球流下管１５ａの下端出口を第１球貯留タンク１０ａに連通し、第２球流下管１５ｂの下端出口を第２球貯留タンク１０ｂに連通する。したがって、球揚送装置３が揚送した球が上部タンク６から第１，第２貯留用球供給流路１１ａ，１１ｂに流入すると、これらの流路を通って球が設置島２の上部を通って設置島２の端部まで流下し、その後は第１，第２球流下管１５ａ，１５ｂを介して設置島２の下部に配設された第１，第２球貯留タンク１０ａ，１０ｂ内に流入して貯留される。
【００２１】
球揚送装置３は、図４に示すように、遊技店の床面上に設置するベース２０に下端を固定した状態で上下方向に長尺な筺体２１を垂直に立設し、筺体２１の下部に駆動ローラ２２を、上部に従動ローラ２３をそれぞれ軸方向を水平に向けた状態で設け、両ローラ２２，２３間に、上昇側のベルトを筺体２１内に配置し下降側のベルトを筺体２１外に配置して縦長な無端ベルト２４を掛け渡し、筺体２１の外部を通る無端ベルト２４の途中にテンションローラを押し当てて無端ベルト２４に張力を付加し、上記駆動ローラ２２の軸には駆動機構として減速機付きモータ２５を接続し、駆動ローラ２２の下方の球導入口２６には、球を整列する球整列部材２７を備えた球導入樋２８を設け、筺体２１の上端には、揚送した球を排出する球排出口２９を横向きに突設する。
【００２２】
球導入樋２８は、球導入口２６に対して真っ直ぐに球を導入させる樋であり、球整列部材２７は、上流側から下流側に向かって次第に高さを増加する仕切り板３０を複数枚平行に立設してある。なお、仕切り板３０の間隔は、球が丁度一列に流下する寸法に設定してあり、本実施形態では球を７列に整列するように構成してある。したがって、揚送球供給樋として機能する球回収樋１３から球が球導入樋２８内に流れ込むと、これらの球は、球導入樋２８内を流下するにしたがって仕切り板３０の整列機能により７列に整列されて、球導入口２６に導入される。
なお、球回収樋１３から球導入樋２８への球の流れについては後述する。
【００２３】
上記した筺体２１は、設置した状態で遊技機設置島２の外側に向いた一側面が上下に大きく開口した縦長な筐本体２１ａと、この筐本体２１ａの開口に開閉可能な状態で取り付けた縦長な蓋２１ｂとからなる。そして、筐本体２１ａの開口の幅は前後寸法よりも大きく設定し、また、開口の上下長さは、下端の駆動ローラ２２のほぼ下半を曲面で覆うロアアールから従動ローラ２３のほぼ上半を曲面で覆うアッパーアールまで十分長尺に設定してある。このような縦長な筐本体２１ａの内部には、上端に従動ローラ２３を、下端に駆動ローラ２２を設ける他に、従動ローラ２３と駆動ローラ２２の間には、無端ベルト２４の裏面に接触するバックアップローラ３１を多数設け、これらのバックアップローラ３１間に設けたバックアッププレート（図示せず）とにより無端ベルト２４が直線状態を維持しながら上昇するように構成してある。なお、バックアップローラ３１は従動ローラ２３や駆動ローラ２２よりも小径であり、これらのローラ２２，２３，３１はすべて平行に位置している。
【００２４】
本実施形態では分割蓋として、同じ上下長さ、即ち開口の上下寸法の半分の長さを有する上段蓋２１ｂと下段蓋２１ｂ′とを取り付けて筐本体２１ａの開口を塞ぎ、しかも上段蓋２１ｂａと下段蓋２１ｂ′とに互換性を持つように構成してあるので、上段蓋２１ｂと下段蓋２１ｂ′とは同じ寸法であるばかりでなく取付金具を含めて同じ構成としてある。
【００２５】
この様な互換性を持たせた蓋２１ｂは、筐本体２１ａの幅と同様の幅を有する平面部と、この平面部の左右両側縁から無端ベルト２４側に延設した側面部とを有する断面略コ字状の部材であり、側面部の内側に、研磨布用溝を縦方向に形成するとともに、この研磨布用溝よりも平面部側に隣接させて案内板材用溝を縦方向に形成してある。そして、平面部の外側の上部に、コイルスプリング３２の付勢力により常時下方に向けて付勢してある可動クランプ３３部材を設け、下部に固定クランプ部材３４をそれぞれ設け、平面部の内側に押圧付勢部材として押圧スプリング３５を多数設け、これらの押圧スプリング３５の付勢力により、両クランプ部材３３，３４で縦方向のテンションを加えて張設した研磨布３６を案内板材３７によって無端ベルト２４側に押圧する。
【００２６】
研磨布３６は、耐摩耗性に優れ皺になり難い適度な剛性を有する布材であり、上端部分と下端部分を蓋２１ｂの裏側に過不足なく折り返して止着し得る十分な長さで切断してあり、例えば合成樹脂製の不織布を用いる。そして、この研磨布３６には、静電防止剤や抗菌剤などを予め含浸させておくことが好ましい。
【００２７】
案内板材３７は、揚送する球を整列して案内するものであり、本実施形態では合成樹脂製板に深さが球径の半分弱である断面半円形の球案内溝３９を７本平行に形成し、左右の側縁には案内板材用溝内に嵌合して前進位置を規制するとともに左右の位置を規制する嵌合段部を形成してある。なお、この案内板材３７の上下長さは、蓋２１ｂの上下長さと同じに設定する。
【００２８】
研磨布３６を張設した２つの蓋２１ｂ，２１ｂ′を筐本体２１ａに取り付けると、研磨布３６と無端ベルト２４との間に揚送路４０が形成される。したがって、この状態で球揚送装置３を始動すると、球整列部材２７により整列した状態で導入された球が無端ベルト２４と研磨布３６との間の揚送路４０に入り込む。そして、球整列部材２７により整列されてガイドされる位置は、案内板材３７の球案内溝３９の位置に合わせてある。すなわち、球整列部材２７により整列した各球列の先頭が案内板材３７の球案内溝３９とそれぞれ対応する位置となるように配置してある。
【００２９】
したがって、球導入口２６内に導入された球は、研磨布３６を間に挟んだ状態で球案内溝３９内に入り込み、この状態で押圧スプリング３５の付勢力により無端ベルト２４側に押圧される。この挟持状態で無端ベルト２４が上昇移動しているので、これにより揚送力を受ける。このため、揚送路４０内に入り込んだ球は転がりながら揚送され、この転がりにより研磨布３６に研磨されて表面の汚れが除去される。
【００３０】
案内板材３７の球案内溝３９のすべてに球が同じく入り込んだ場合、研磨布３６に作用する幅方向の張力は釣り合うので研磨布３６が幅方向の一方に引っ張られない。したがって、すべての球案内溝３９内に球が入り込んだ場合には、研磨布３６に幅方向の偏りやこれに起因する皺は発生しない。
【００３１】
しかし、球が入り込まない球案内溝３９があると、特に片側に空の球案内溝３９が集中すると、研磨布３６に作用する幅方向の張力の均衡が崩れてしまう。このため、球が入り込まず空になっている球案内溝３９側の研磨布３６が球の入り込んだ球案内溝３９側の研磨布３６に引っ張られて横方向に移動してしまう。したがって、これにより研磨布３６に偏りが発生したり、皺が発生したりする。
【００３２】
この様に、球が入り込まない球案内溝３９があると、これが研磨布３６の偏り発生に大きく影響するが、本実施形態では、球が球回収樋１３から球導入樋２８に流れ込む際に、整列補助部材４１の作用により球導入口２６の幅方向に球が均一に分散して流れ込むようにしてあるので、各球案内溝３９への球の供給も確実に行われ、空になることを防止している。
【００３３】
次に、球回収樋１３と球導入樋２８との接続構造、および整列補助部材４１について説明する。
【００３４】
本発明では、球導入樋２８に、揚送球供給樋を屈曲した状態で接続し、この屈曲接続部分に、揚送球供給樋からの球を当接して流下方向を球導入樋２８側に変換する球当接面４２を有する整列補助部材４１を設けてある。
【００３５】
具体的に説明すると、図６および図７に示すように、揚送球供給樋として機能する第１，第２球回収樋１３ａ，１３ｂは、設置島２の長手方向に沿ってそれぞれ配設されており、両球回収樋１３ａ，１３ｂの流下端部同士が対向する部分に空部を形成し、設置島２の一面（遊技機を設置した面）から押し入れた球揚送装置３の球導入樋２８が遊技機設置島２の前後厚み方向に延在して上記空部内に進入し、この球導入樋２８が球回収樋１３に対して直角に交叉する状態で接続する。したがって、球導入樋２８の仮想軸線と球回収樋１３の仮想軸線とがほぼ直角に交叉することになる。
【００３６】
そして、球導入樋２８に接続する球回収樋１３の流下下端（出口近傍）の底面には、球流下方向に沿って長孔（スリット）状の異物除去孔４３を開設してある。この異物除去孔４３は、球径よりも幅狭であって、ほぼ球径と同じピッチで複数平行に配置してある。したがって、球回収樋１３を流下する球にゴミやコイン等の異物が混入していた場合には、これらの異物は上記異物除去孔４３から落下して除去される。また、異物除去孔４３上を球が流下することにより球が異物除去孔４３上に整列されるので、球が転動しながら流下する位置は安定し、したがって、後述する球当接面４２に当たる球の角度も安定する。
なお、球回収樋１３の流下下端には、後述する導入部カバー部材４４を固定するベース板４５を、その下を球が通過し得る間隔を空けて球回収樋１３の両側壁部間に架設してある。
【００３７】
また、屈曲接続部分における球回収樋１３の流下下端の底面と球導入樋２８の底面との間には、球導入樋２８側の底面を揚送球供給樋側の底面、すなわち球回収樋１３の底面よりも少なくとも球径の２倍以上の高低差で下げた段差部４６を形成し、この段差部４６よりも球導入樋２８側に、底面との間に球が通過し得る間隔を空けた状態で整列補助部材４１を設け、球回収樋１３の傾斜下端の段差部４６から流出した球を整列補助部材４１の球当接面４２に当接させるようにしてある。
【００３８】
本実施形態における整列補助部材４１は、屈曲接続部分を上方から覆ってゴミ等が入り込まないようにするための導入部カバー部材４４に取り付けられている。この導入部カバー部材４４は、図８に示すように、板材を球回収樋１３の幅と同様の幅を有する断面下向きコ字状に屈曲したものであり、上面部５０には装着時に球回収樋１３の長手方向に移動させて位置調整可能とする長孔５１を開設するとともに、球導入樋２８の長手方向に沿ったスリット状の窓部５２を設け、上面部５０の両側縁から下方に屈曲した側面部５３のうち、一方の側面部５３の内側に整列補助部材４１を固定してある。なお、導入部カバー部材４４によって覆いきれない球導入口２６近傍は、クリア樹脂製のカバー５４を設けて、ゴミ等の侵入を防止するとともに、球の導入状態を外部から監視できるようにしてある。
【００３９】
図面に示す整列補助部材４１は、左右の球回収樋１３から球が対向して流下するので、断面が略二等辺三角形の短尺な筒材を使用しており、底辺に相当する面を固定面として導入部カバー部材４４の側面部５３の内側に固定し、頂角５５が球導入樋２８の仮想中心線上で球導入口２６に向き、頂角５５と底角との間の面が球当接面４２として、球回収樋１３の球流下方向（仮想軸線）に対して傾斜した状態で配置されるようにしてある。すなわち、両方の球当接面４２，４２は、断面略Ｖ字状に配置され、図９に示すように、該球当接面４２に対する垂線Ａが球回収樋１３の仮想軸線（詳しくは球回収樋１３の球流下方向に沿った仮想軸線）Ｂと球導入樋２８の仮想軸線（詳しくは球導入樋２８の球導入口２６へ向かう方向に沿った仮想軸線）Ｃとが交叉する交叉角のほぼ半分の位置を通るように球回収樋１３並びに球導入樋２８に対して傾斜しており、本実施形態では両樋１３，２８が直角に交叉するので、４５度の傾斜角度に設定してある。この傾斜角度は、球回収樋１３から流出した球が球当接面４２に当たって跳ね返ったときに、球導入樋２８の仮想軸線にほぼ平行に流れ込む角度を設定することが望ましい。
【００４０】
また、導入部カバー部材４４の側面部５３に固定した部分から頂部までの突出長さ（二等辺三角形の高さに相当）は、球回収樋１３の流路幅の約２分の１に設定してある。要するに、球回収樋１３の流路幅のうち、球導入口２６から遠い部分から流路幅の途中までの範囲に球当接面４２を臨ませ、球回収樋１３の傾斜下端から流出する球のうち、球導入口２６から遠くで流出した球を球当接面４２に当接するようにしてある。
【００４１】
そして、上記した整列補助部材４１は、球回収樋１３の流下下端の段差部４６から流出した球が球当接面４２に当接し得る高さであって、整列補助部材４１の下方を球が通過し得る高さに取り付ける。この整列補助部材４１を所定の位置に取り付けるには、導入部カバー部材４４の両側面部５３，５３を球回収樋１３のベース板４５上に載置し、上面部５０の長孔５１内に上方から長いボルト５６を挿入し、下端の雄ネジ部をベース板４５の雌ネジ孔内に螺合して締め付けることにより固定する。なお、導入部カバー部材４４は、ボルト５６を通す孔が長孔５１なので、少しずつ移動して位置調整を行うことができ、頂角５５が球導入樋２８の流路幅のほぼ中央に位置するように固定する。
【００４２】
次に、上記した構成からなる整列補助部材４１を設けた場合における球の流れについて説明する。
例えば、図９に示すように、図中左側の第１球回収樋１３ａから球が流下した場合、球導入口２６から遠い方の球、即ち図中第１球回収樋１３ａの流路の下半部分を流下した球は、段差部４６から勢い良く流出した球が左側の球当接面４２に当接して球導入口２６に向かって跳ね返り、球導入樋２８のうちで第１球回収樋１３ａ寄りに流れ込む。第１球回収樋１３ａから流出する殆どの球は勢い良く流出するので、球導入口２６から遠い方の球は、そのほとんどが球当接面４２に当接してから球導入口２６の図９中左半に向かって流れ込む。割合とすれば少ないが、段差部４６から緩やかに流出した球が整列補助部材４１の下方の隙間を通って球導入樋２８のほぼ中央あるいは少し第２球回収樋１３ｂ寄りに流れ込み、また、極く弱い勢いで流出した球は球導入樋２８の底面上に落下し、この底面の下り傾斜により球導入口２６側に流路を変更してそのまま第１球回収樋１３ａよりの球導入口２６内に流れ込む。
一方、球導入口２６から近い方の球、即ち図９中第１球回収樋１３ａの流路の上半部分を流下した球は、段差部４６から流出しても、その先に球当接面４２がないので、球導入口２６の底面上に幅方向に斜めに転動して、多くの球が、図９中における球導入口２６の右半部分に導入される。
【００４３】
そして、球当接面４２に当接した球は、整列補助部材４１の下方に球が通過し得る隙間が確保されているので、球当接面４２よりも低い位置にある球導入樋２８の底面上を球導入口２６に向かって流下し、球回収樋１３から流出して球当接面４２に当たろうとする球と、一旦当たって流下方向を強制的に変更された球とが衝突することを防止することができる。したがって、これにより球の整列を確実にすることができる。
【００４４】
この様に、第１球回収樋１３ａの段差部４６から流出した球は、球導入口２６から遠い方の球は、整列補助部材４１の球当接面４２に当たって流下方向を強制的に修正されることにより球導入口２６のうち第１球回収樋１３ａ寄りに流れ込むので、球導入口２６においては、その幅方向に分散されて均一化された状態で球を導入させることができ、球の導入に偏りが発生することを防止することができる。球導入口２６への球の導入が均一化されると、これらの球は、前記した球整列部材２７により７列に整列され、各列の先頭が案内板材３７の球案内溝３９の位置に合わせて配置されているので、案内板材３７の球案内溝３９内に満遍なく球が入り込むことになり、空のままになる球案内溝３９がなくなる。したがって、揚送路４０内を挟持されながら揚送される際に、球が研磨布３６を球案内溝３９内に押し込む場合でも、各球案内溝３９内に同じ様に押し込むことになり、これにより研磨布３６の幅方向への偏りや皺の発生を未然に防止することができる。このため、研磨布３６の偏りや皺に起因する騒音の発生を抑制することができるし、研磨布３６による清浄作用を全幅に亘ってほぼ均一に期待することができるので、長期使用を可能ならしめることができる。
【００４５】
なお、上記した整列補助部材４１の整列作用は、第１球回収樋１３ａから球導入樋２８内に球を流し込む場合であっても、反対側の第２球回収樋１３ｂからの球を流し込む場合も同様であり、第１，第２球回収樋１３ａ，１３ｂの両方から球を流し込むと、さらに均一化された状態で球が球導入口２６に流れ込む。
【００４６】
そして、研磨布３６に摺接して研磨されながら揚送路４０内を上昇した球は、従動ローラ２３を乗り越えると、筺体２１の球排出口２９から排出されて上部タンク６内に入る。
【００４７】
上部タンク６は、球揚送装置３により揚送された球を貯留するタンク本体と、隣りの設置島２へ球を補給したり、或は当該設置島２の球が不足したときに隣りの設置島２から球を受けいれるバランスタンクとから構成されている。
タンク本体は、縦長直方体形の有底箱体であり、球揚送装置３側の側面の上部に、球揚送装置３の球排出口２９が挿入される入口を開口し、この入口の下方に、複数の棚を交互に設けるとともに、所定部位に球の出口を設け、球補給樋７や供受給樋６０ａ，６０ｂや貯留用球供給流路１１などに球を分流したり、あるいは貯留したりする。
【００４８】
左側の第１貯留用球供給流路１１ａ内に流れ込んだ球は、この流路内を流下して設置島２の左側端部に到達し、ここから第１球流下管１５ａを介して設置島２の左側下部に配設された第１球貯留タンク１０ａ内に流入して貯留される。また、第２貯留用球供給流路１１ｂ内に流れ込んだ球は、左側の第１貯留用球供給流路１１ａ内に流れ込んだ場合と同様に、設置島２の右側端部に到達してから第２球流下管１５ｂを介して設置島２の右側下部に配設された第２球貯留タンク１０ｂ内に流入して貯留される。
【００４９】
そして、球揚送装置３を作動しても上部タンク６内の球が不足した場合、球貯留タンク１０ａ，１０ｂ内で貯留していた球を球リフト装置６１ａ，６１ｂにより球回収樋１３に流し込み、この球を球揚送装置３により揚送して上部タンク６に補充する。したがって、遊技機で短時間に「大当り」が集中して発生した場合にも、賞球として排出する球の不足を生じることがない。なお、球リフト装置６１ａ，６１ｂは、前記した球揚送装置３と同様の構造、即ち上部と下部に設けたローラー間にベルトを掛け渡し、このベルトの回動と押圧板、或は押圧板に添設した研磨布との間に挟持した球を揚送する。
【００５０】
なお、前記した実施形態では、左右の第１，第２球回収樋１３ａ，１３ｂを揚送球供給樋として機能させたが、本発明における揚送球供給樋は球回収樋１３に限定されるものではなく、球揚送装置３に球を供給する樋であればよい。したがって、例えば球貯留タンク１０から直接導出した球を流下する樋を球回収樋１３とは別個に設け、この樋を揚送球供給樋としてもよい。
【００５１】
また、整列補助部材４１は、球当接面４２を略Ｖ字状に配した三角形の部材に限定されるものではなく、球当接面４２が１つでもよいし、また、２つ形成しても全体形状を例えば台形にしてもよい。そして、球当接面４２と揚送球供給樋の球流路との幅の割合は、揚送球供給樋の傾斜角度など他の要素によっても異なるので、適宜設計変更することができる。
【００５２】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように本発明によれば、以下の効果を奏する。
請求項１の発明によれば、球導入口に球導入樋を接続し、該球導入樋を流下する遊技球を球導入口へ導入可能とし、球導入樋に前記揚送球供給樋の傾斜下端を、球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する状態で接続し、球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する接続部分には、球導入樋の底面を揚送球供給樋の底面よりも下げて段差部を形成し、この段差部よりも球導入樋側に、当該段差部から流出する球が当接可能な球当接面を有する整列補助部材を設けるとともに、該整列補助部材と球導入樋との底面との間に、前記段差部から流出した球が通過し得る間隔を空け、球当接面に対する垂線が揚送球供給樋の球流下方向に沿った仮想軸線と球導入樋の球導入口へ向かう方向に沿った仮想軸線とが交叉する交叉角の半分の位置を通るように、球当接面を揚送球供給樋並びに球導入樋に対して傾斜させたので、揚送球供給樋の傾斜下端から流出する球のうち、球導入口から遠くで流出した球が球当接面に当接して球導入口の揚送球供給樋寄りに流れ込む一方、球導入口に近い方で流出した球が球当接面に当接せずに球導入口の底面を球導入口の幅方向に斜めに転動するようになり、球導入口の幅方向に均一化して球を導入することができる。
【００５５】
請求項２の発明によれば、球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する接続部分を上方から覆う導入部カバーを設け、該導入部カバーに整列補助部材を取り付けて支持したので、整列補助部材を球導入樋の底面から浮いた状態で配置する場合でも、構造の簡素化を図ることができ、製造が容易である。
【００５６】
請求項３の発明によれば、研磨布の裏側に、複数本の球案内溝を平行に形成した案内板材を無端ベルト側に対して進退可能な状態で配置し、付勢部材の付勢により案内板材を無端ベルト側に付勢し、球導入口には、球導入樋と揚送球供給樋とが交叉する接続部分から流下する球を複数列に整列する球整列部材を設け、該球整列部材により整列した各球列の先頭が上記案内板材の球案内溝とそれぞれ対応する位置になるように配置したので、球を整列した状態で円滑に揚送することができるとともに、球の清浄効果を高めることができる。
【００５７】
そして、研磨布を交換した直後に、研磨布の球案内溝内への押し込みを偏らせることなくでき、球案内溝内に一旦押し込まれてなじむと、その後の研磨布の偏りの発生を抑制することができる。したがって、研磨布の偏りを長期間に亘って防止することができる。
【００５８】
請求項４の発明によれば、球導入樋は遊技機設置島の前後厚み方向に延在し、この球導入樋に、遊技機設置島の長手方向に延在する第１揚送球供給樋を一側から接続するとともに、遊技機設置島の長手方向に延在する第２揚送球供給樋を他側から接続し、整列補助部材の球当接面を上方から見て断面Ｖ字状に配置したので、第１，第２揚送球供給樋の両方の樋から球を球揚送装置に供給することができ、短時間で大量の球を揚送することができ、この場合に両側から向い合って流下してきた球を整列補助部材により整列するので、球導入口への球の導入を円滑に行うことができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】パチンコ遊技機を設置した遊技機設置島の概略構成図である。
【図２】３つの設置島の接続状態を示す斜視図である。
【図３】３つの設置島の正面図である。
【図４】設置島に設置した球揚送装置の斜視図である。
【図５】（ａ）は蓋を開いた状態を、（ｂ）は蓋を閉じた状態をそれぞれ示す球揚送装置の断面図である。
【図６】導入部カバー部材を取り付けた状態における屈曲接続部の平面図である。
【図７】（ａ）は導入部カバー部材を取り外した状態における屈曲接続部の平面図、（ｂ）は導入部カバー部材の平面図である。
【図８】（ａ）は導入部カバー部材の底面図、（ｂ）は導入部カバー部材の側面図である。
【図９】取り付けた導入部カバー部材を断面にした屈曲接続部の平面図である。
【図１０】（ａ）は基端寄りで整列補助部材を断面とした屈曲接続部の断面図、（ｂ）は先端寄りで整列補助部材を断面とした屈曲接続部の断面図である。
【符号の説明】
１パチンコ遊技機
２遊技機設置島
３球揚送装置
４フレーム
５台間球貸機
６上部タンク
７球補給樋
１０球貯留タンク
１１貯留用球供給流路
１２枝樋
１３揚送球供給樋としても機能する球回収樋
１４球計数装置
１５球流下管
２０球揚送装置のベース
２１筺体
２２駆動ローラ
２３従動ローラ
２４無端ベルト
２５モータ
２６球導入口
２７球整列部材
２８球導入樋
２９球排出口
３０仕切り板
３１バックアップローラ
３２コイルスプリング
３３可動クランプ部材
３４固定クランプ部材
３５押圧スプリング
３６研磨布
３７案内板材
３９球案内溝
４０揚送路
４１整列補助部材
４２球当接面
４３異物除去孔
４４導入部カバー部材
４５ベース板
４６段差部
５０上面部
５１長孔
５２窓部
５３側面部
５４カバー
５５頂角
５６ボルト
６０供受給樋
６１球リフト装置[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gaming machine installation island in which gaming machines such as a pachinko gaming machine and a sparrow ball gaming machine are installed side by side.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the game machine installation island, in order to circulate and use the game ball in the installation island, a ball lifting device for lifting the ball from the lower inside of the installation island is provided.
[0003]
Previously, the mainstream was a spiral-type ball lifting device that installed a lifting pipe and rotated the spiral inserted through this lifting pipe while stirring and mixing the balls and pellets. In recent years, belt-type ball lifting devices that have quiet operation noise and excellent lifting ability have become widespread.
[0004]
This belt-type ball lifting device is provided with rollers oriented horizontally in the vertical direction, a vertically long endless belt is stretched between both rollers, and a polishing cloth is stretched at a position facing the rising side of the endless belt, A configuration in which the ball introduced from the lower ball introduction port is lifted to the upper part of the gaming machine installation island and supplied to the upper tank by raising the endless belt with the ball sandwiched between the endless belt and the polishing cloth. It is. Then, a guide plate material in which a plurality of ball guide grooves are formed in parallel is disposed on the back side of the polishing cloth. Therefore, when the ball rises while being sandwiched, a part of the ball rises while pushing the polishing cloth into the ball guide groove. Further, the polishing cloth is stretched to fix the upper part and the lower part on the inner surface side of the vertically long lid.
[0005]
And in the conventional game machine installation island, the ball collection baskets which collect the ball | bowl discharged | emitted from each game machine are arrange | positioned along the longitudinal direction of the installation island. In addition, when installing a ball lifting device on this installation island, it is pushed in from an empty space provided on one side of the installation island (the side on which the gaming machine is installed), so that In order to flow into the ball introduction port of the lifting device, a flow path bent almost at right angles from the ball collection basket is caused to flow down and guided to the introduction port.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the polishing cloth is stretched in a state where the upper part and the lower part are fixed, the polishing cloth is not biased to one side when the balls are in contact in the width direction on average. However, in reality, when a certain amount of operation time has elapsed, the polishing cloth may be biased in one direction in the width direction, or wrinkles due to the bias may occur. In particular, bias is likely to occur when the polishing cloth is replaced with a new one and is not familiar with the ball guide groove.
[0007]
If the polishing cloth is biased or wrinkled, there will be a step in the part where the ball rolls, making it difficult to lift the ball smoothly, generating noise, and sometimes It will be in a state where it cannot be lifted.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and the object thereof is to provide a ball lifting device that can uniformly introduce a ball into the ball introduction port of the ball lifting device and is less likely to cause a bias in the polishing cloth. It is intended to provide a game machine installation island.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above-mentioned object. According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of gaming machines are arranged in parallel, and used balls discharged from these gaming machines are lifted. Lifting ball supply rod to supply to the deviceIn a state of being inclined downIn the game machine installation island that supplies each game machine with the ball lifted by the ball lift device,
  The above-mentioned ball lifting device spans an endless belt in the vertical direction, and a polishing cloth is stretched at a position facing the ascending side of the endless belt, and the endless belt is sandwiched between the endless belt and the polishing cloth. By raising the belt, it is configured to lift the ball introduced from the lower ball inlet,
A ball introduction basket is connected to the ball introduction port, and a game ball flowing down the ball introduction vessel can be introduced into the ball introduction port,
The lower end of the lifting ball supply rod is connected to the ball introduction rod in a state where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod cross each other, and the connection portion where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod intersect A stepped portion is formed by lowering the bottom surface of the introduction basket below the bottom surface of the lifting ball supply rod, and a ball contact surface on which the ball flowing out from the stepped portion can abut on the side of the ball introduction rod from the stepped portion. An alignment assisting member is provided, and an interval is provided between the alignment assisting member and the bottom surface of the ball introduction rod so that a ball flowing out from the stepped portion can pass through. The ball abutting surface is passed through the position of the crossing angle of the virtual axis along the downward direction of the sphere and the virtual axis along the direction toward the sphere inlet of the sphere introduction rod, and the ball contact surface is moved to the lifting ball supply rod. Inclined with respect to the ball introduction cageIt is a game machine installation island characterized by this.
[0012]
  Claim 2Those listed inThe connecting portion where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod intersectAn introductory part cover that covers from above is provided, and an alignment assisting member is attached to and supported by the introductory part cover.Claim 1Is an island with gaming machines described in.
[0013]
  Claim 3The guide plate material in which a plurality of ball guide grooves are formed in parallel on the back side of the polishing cloth is disposed in a state where the guide plate material can advance and retreat with respect to the endless belt side, and the guide plate material is biased by the biasing member. Energized toward the endless belt,The connecting portion where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod intersectA sphere alignment member for aligning spheres flowing down from the plurality of rows is provided, and the top of each of the sphere rows aligned by the sphere alignment member is disposed at a position corresponding to each of the ball guide grooves of the guide plate material. Claim 1Or 2Is an island with gaming machines described in.
[0014]
  Claim 4The ball introduction rod extends in the front and rear thickness direction of the gaming machine installation island, and the first lifting ball supply rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine installation island is connected to the ball introduction cage from one side. Connect the second lifting ball supply rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine installation island from the other side, and connect the ball contact surface of the alignment assisting member.Cross section viewed from above2. It is arranged in a V shape.To 3The gaming machine installation island according to any one of the above.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gaming machine installation island 2 (hereinafter referred to as an installation island 2) in which a pachinko gaming machine 1 which is a typical gaming machine is installed, and FIG. 2 shows a connection state of three installation islands 2 3 is a front view of the three installation islands 2, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ball lifting device 3 installed almost at the center of the installation island 2, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the ball lifting device 3.
[0016]
This installation island 2 is composed of a metal frame 4 having an opening of a size that allows two pachinko machines 1 on one side and four pachinko gaming machines 1 facing each other on the opposite side to be installed. By connecting a predetermined number of 4, a length corresponding to the floor area can be obtained, and a ball lifting device frame 4 is arranged in a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction. A lifting device 3 is provided. Since an installation shelf (not shown) is formed at a predetermined height of each frame 4, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed on the installation shelf and equipment such as a ball renting machine 5 is installed. Is installed.
[0017]
And the upper tank 6 which stores the ball | bowl lifted by the ball | bowl lifting apparatus 3 is provided in the upper part of the installation island 2 comprised in this way, The ball | bowl which supplies each ball | bowl machine 1 from this upper tank 6 is supplied. A 1-ball replenishment rod 7a and a second-ball replenishment rod 7b are erected in a state of being slightly inclined downward toward each end of the installation island 2, and supplied from the upper tank 6 to a first ball storage tank 10a described later. Similarly, the first storage sphere supply flow path 11a flowing down the sphere and the second storage sphere supply flow path 11b flowing down the sphere supplied to the second sphere storage tank 10b are respectively installed in a state of being inclined downward. In the first and second ball supply baskets 7 a and 7 b, the branch basket 12 is branched for each pachinko gaming machine 1, and the outlet of the branch basket 12 faces the upper part of the ball tank of the pachinko gaming machine 1. Therefore, when there is a shortage of balls in the ball tank of the pachinko gaming machine 1, the balls in the ball supply basket 7 are placed in the ball tank of the pachinko gaming machine 1 by the operation of the ball supply device provided on the branch basket 12. Can be replenished.
[0018]
On the other hand, in the lower part of the installation island 2, specifically, a position slightly lower than the pachinko gaming machine 1, the first used to collect used balls (out ball and safe ball) discharged from each pachinko gaming machine 1 The ball collection basket 13a and the second ball collection basket 13b are provided in a state where the ball collection basket 13a and the second ball collection basket 13b are slightly inclined downward from the respective ends of the installation island 2 toward the ball lifting device 3. In the present embodiment, the used balls discharged from the pachinko gaming machine 1 are once received in the pulse tank, counted here, and then flowed down to the ball collecting basket 13. Further, in the present embodiment, the first and second ball collection baskets 13a and 13b cause the used balls discharged from the pachinko gaming machines 1 on both sides to flow down to the ball lifting device 3 without dropping in the middle. Therefore, walls are erected on both side edges as fall prevention members. In the present embodiment, the ball collection baskets 13 a and 13 b also function as a lifting ball supply basket that supplies a ball to be lifted by the ball lifting device 3.
[0019]
In the present embodiment, since all used balls discharged from each pachinko gaming machine 1 are collected by the ball collection basket 13 and lifted and polished by the ball lifting device 3, the dirty used balls are described later. The ball storage tank 10 is not stored as it is. Similarly, when the ball counting device 14 is provided at the end or in the middle of the installation island 2, the counted balls discharged from the ball counting device 14 are mainly poured into the ball collecting basket 13 and collected. However, the dirty sphere is hardly stored in the sphere storage tank 10 as it is.
[0020]
Further, the first sphere storage tank 10a is installed in the installation island 2 lower than the first sphere collection basket 13a, and the second sphere storage tank 10b is installed in the installation island 2 lower than the second sphere collection basket 13b. It arrange | positions along the longitudinal direction. And the 1st, 2nd made from the flexible pipe which functions as a part of these flow paths from the inclination lower end of the 1st, 2nd storage ball supply flow paths 11a, 11b located in the end of installation island 2 The ball flow down pipes 15a and 15b are suspended, the lower end outlet of the first ball flow down pipe 15a communicates with the first ball storage tank 10a, and the lower end outlet of the second ball flow down pipe 15b communicates with the second ball storage tank 10b. . Therefore, when the ball lifted by the ball lifting device 3 flows from the upper tank 6 into the first and second storage ball supply flow paths 11a and 11b, the ball passes through these flow paths and moves over the upper part of the installation island 2. And then flows down to the end of the installed island 2 and then in the first and second sphere storage tanks 10a and 10b disposed at the lower part of the installed island 2 via the first and second sphere down pipes 15a and 15b. It flows into and is stored.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 4, the ball lifting device 3 has a vertically long casing 21 standing vertically with a lower end fixed to a base 20 installed on the floor of a game store. A driving roller 22 is provided in the lower part, and a driven roller 23 is provided in the upper part in a state where the axial direction is horizontally oriented. The ascending belt is disposed in the housing 21 between the rollers 22 and 23, and the descending belt is provided in the housing. A longitudinal endless belt 24 is arranged outside the belt 21 and a tension roller is pressed in the middle of the endless belt 24 passing through the outside of the casing 21 to apply tension to the endless belt 24. A motor 25 with a speed reducer is connected as a drive mechanism, and a sphere introduction rod 28 having a sphere alignment member 27 for aligning the spheres is provided at a sphere introduction port 26 below the drive roller 22. Ball outlet 2 for discharging the lifted ball The to project sideways.
[0022]
The ball introduction rod 28 is a rod that introduces a ball straight into the ball introduction port 26, and the ball alignment member 27 includes a plurality of partition plates 30 that gradually increase in height from the upstream side toward the downstream side. Is standing up. In addition, the space | interval of the partition plate 30 is set to the dimension which a ball | bowl flows down exactly in 1 row, and it is comprised so that a ball | bowl may be arranged in 7 rows in this embodiment. Therefore, when the balls flow into the ball introduction rod 28 from the ball collection rod 13 that functions as a lifting ball supply rod, these balls are divided into seven rows by the alignment function of the partition plates 30 as they flow down in the ball introduction rod 28. Aligned and introduced into the sphere inlet 26.
The flow of the sphere from the sphere collection basket 13 to the sphere introduction bowl 28 will be described later.
[0023]
The above-described casing 21 is installed in a vertically long casing body 21a whose one side facing the outside of the gaming machine installation island 2 is greatly opened up and down, and a vertically long casing that is attached to the opening of the casing body 21a so as to be opened and closed. And a lid 21b. The width of the opening of the housing body 21a is set to be larger than the front-rear dimension, and the vertical length of the opening is from the lower radius that covers the lower half of the driving roller 22 at the lower end with a curved surface to the upper half of the driven roller 23. The upper are covered with a curved surface is set long enough. In such a vertically long casing body 21a, a driven roller 23 is provided at the upper end, and a driving roller 22 is provided at the lower end. In addition, the back surface of the endless belt 24 is in contact between the driven roller 23 and the driving roller 22. A large number of backup rollers 31 are provided, and a backup plate (not shown) provided between the backup rollers 31 is configured so that the endless belt 24 rises while maintaining a linear state. The backup roller 31 has a smaller diameter than the driven roller 23 and the driving roller 22, and these rollers 22, 23, and 31 are all located in parallel.
[0024]
In this embodiment, as the divided lid, an upper lid 21b and a lower lid 21b 'having the same vertical length, that is, half the vertical dimension of the opening, are attached to close the opening of the housing body 21a, and the upper lid 21ba Since the lower lid 21b 'is configured to be compatible, the upper lid 21b and the lower lid 21b' are not only the same size but also the same configuration including the mounting bracket.
[0025]
The lid 21b having such compatibility has a cross section having a flat surface portion having a width similar to the width of the housing body 21a and a side surface portion extending from the left and right side edges of the flat surface portion toward the endless belt 24. This is an approximately U-shaped member, and the groove for the polishing cloth is formed in the vertical direction inside the side surface part, and the groove for the guide plate material is formed in the vertical direction adjacent to the flat part side of the groove for the polishing cloth. It is. Then, a movable clamp 33 member that is always biased downward by the biasing force of the coil spring 32 is provided on the upper portion outside the flat portion, and a fixed clamp member 34 is provided on the lower portion, and pressed inside the flat portion. A large number of pressing springs 35 are provided as urging members, and the polishing cloth 36 stretched by applying a tension in the vertical direction by the clamp members 33 and 34 by the urging force of these pressing springs 35 is guided by the guide plate material 37 to the endless belt 24 side. Press on.
[0026]
The polishing cloth 36 is a cloth material that has excellent wear resistance and has an appropriate rigidity that is unlikely to become wrinkles. The polishing cloth 36 is cut with a sufficient length so that the upper end portion and the lower end portion can be folded back and fastened to the back side of the lid 21b. For example, a non-woven fabric made of synthetic resin is used. The polishing cloth 36 is preferably impregnated with an antistatic agent or an antibacterial agent in advance.
[0027]
The guide plate member 37 aligns and guides the spheres to be transported. In this embodiment, seven parallel guide guides 39 having a semicircular cross section whose depth is less than half the sphere diameter are formed on the synthetic resin plate. In the left and right side edges, fitting step portions are formed in the guide plate material grooves so as to be fitted into the guide plate material grooves to restrict the forward position and the right and left positions. The vertical length of the guide plate material 37 is set to be the same as the vertical length of the lid 21b.
[0028]
When the two lids 21 b and 21 b ′ with the polishing cloth 36 stretched are attached to the housing body 21 a, the feeding path 40 is formed between the polishing cloth 36 and the endless belt 24. Accordingly, when the ball lifting device 3 is started in this state, the balls introduced in a state of being aligned by the ball alignment member 27 enter the lifting path 40 between the endless belt 24 and the polishing pad 36. The position aligned and guided by the ball alignment member 27 is aligned with the position of the ball guide groove 39 of the guide plate material 37. That is, the sphere rows aligned by the sphere alignment member 27 are arranged so that the heads thereof correspond to the sphere guide grooves 39 of the guide plate 37.
[0029]
Accordingly, the sphere introduced into the sphere introduction port 26 enters the sphere guide groove 39 with the polishing pad 36 sandwiched therebetween, and is pressed toward the endless belt 24 by the urging force of the pressing spring 35 in this state. . Since the endless belt 24 moves upward in this clamping state, it receives a lifting force. For this reason, the ball that has entered the transport path 40 is transported while rolling, and is polished by the polishing cloth 36 by this rolling to remove the dirt on the surface.
[0030]
When the spheres enter all of the sphere guide grooves 39 of the guide plate member 37, the tension in the width direction acting on the polishing cloth 36 is balanced, so the polishing cloth 36 is not pulled in one of the width directions. Therefore, when the sphere enters all the sphere guide grooves 39, the polishing cloth 36 does not have a deviation in the width direction and wrinkles caused by the deviation.
[0031]
However, if there is a sphere guide groove 39 into which a sphere does not enter, especially when empty sphere guide grooves 39 are concentrated on one side, the balance of the tension in the width direction acting on the polishing pad 36 is lost. For this reason, the polishing cloth 36 on the side of the ball guide groove 39 that is empty without entering the ball is pulled by the polishing cloth 36 on the side of the ball guide groove 39 into which the ball has entered, and moves in the lateral direction. Therefore, this causes the polishing cloth 36 to be biased or wrinkled.
[0032]
In this way, if there is a sphere guide groove 39 into which the sphere does not enter, this greatly affects the occurrence of the bias of the polishing pad 36, but in this embodiment, when the sphere flows from the sphere collection basket 13 into the sphere introduction bowl 28, Since the spheres are uniformly dispersed and flow in the width direction of the sphere inlet 26 by the action of the alignment assisting member 41, the supply of the spheres to the respective sphere guide grooves 39 is also reliably performed and the spheres are emptied. It is preventing.
[0033]
Next, a connection structure between the ball collection basket 13 and the ball introduction basket 28 and the alignment assisting member 41 will be described.
[0034]
In the present invention, the lifting ball supply rod is connected to the ball introduction rod 28 in a bent state, and the ball from the lifting ball supply rod is brought into contact with the bent connection portion to change the flow direction to the ball introduction rod 28 side. An alignment assisting member 41 having a ball contact surface 42 is provided.
[0035]
More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first and second ball collecting rods 13 a and 13 b that function as the lifting ball supply rods are respectively disposed along the longitudinal direction of the installation island 2. In addition, the ball introduction rod of the ball lifting device 3 is formed by forming an empty portion in the portion where the lower end portions of the two ball collecting rods 13a and 13b face each other and being pushed in from one surface of the installation island 2 (the surface on which the gaming machine is installed). 28 extends in the thickness direction of the gaming machine installation island 2 and enters into the empty space, and the ball introduction rod 28 is connected to the ball collection rod 13 in a state of crossing at right angles. Therefore, the virtual axis of the ball introduction rod 28 and the virtual axis of the ball collection rod 13 intersect at substantially right angles.
[0036]
In addition, a long hole (slit) -shaped foreign matter removal hole 43 is formed along the bottom direction of the sphere flow at the bottom surface of the sphere collection rod 13 connected to the sphere introduction rod 28 at the lower end (near the outlet). The foreign matter removal holes 43 are narrower than the sphere diameter, and a plurality of the foreign substance removal holes 43 are arranged in parallel at substantially the same pitch as the sphere diameter. Therefore, when foreign matters such as dust and coins are mixed in the sphere flowing down the ball collection basket 13, these foreign matters are dropped and removed from the foreign matter removing hole 43. In addition, since the spheres flow down on the foreign matter removal hole 43, the spheres are aligned on the foreign matter removal hole 43, so that the position where the sphere flows down while rolling is stable, and therefore hits a sphere contact surface 42 described later. The angle of the sphere is also stable.
A base plate 45 for fixing an introduction portion cover member 44, which will be described later, is installed at the lower end of the ball collection basket 13 between the side walls of the ball collection basket 13 with a space through which the ball can pass. It is.
[0037]
In addition, between the bottom surface of the lower end of the ball collecting rod 13 and the bottom surface of the ball introducing rod 28 at the bent connection portion, the bottom surface on the ball introducing rod 28 side is the bottom surface on the lifting ball supply rod side, that is, the ball collecting rod 13 side. A stepped portion 46 is formed which is lowered at a height difference of at least twice the sphere diameter from the bottom surface, and a space through which the sphere can pass is provided between the stepped portion 46 and the bottom surface on the side of the ball introduction rod 28. In this state, the alignment assisting member 41 is provided, and the sphere that has flowed out from the stepped portion 46 at the lower end of the sphere collecting rod 13 is brought into contact with the sphere contact surface 42 of the alignment assisting member 41.
[0038]
The alignment assisting member 41 in this embodiment is attached to an introduction portion cover member 44 for covering the bent connection portion from above and preventing dust and the like from entering. As shown in FIG. 8, the introduction portion cover member 44 is formed by bending a plate material into a U-shaped cross-section having a width similar to the width of the ball collection rod 13, and the upper surface portion 50 has a ball collection shape when mounted. A long hole 51 that can be adjusted in position by moving in the longitudinal direction of the flange 13 is opened, and slit-like window portions 52 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the ball introduction rod 28, and are downward from both side edges of the upper surface portion 50. The alignment assisting member 41 is fixed to the inside of one side surface portion 53 among the bent side surface portions 53. Note that a clear resin cover 54 is provided in the vicinity of the sphere introduction port 26 that cannot be covered by the introduction portion cover member 44 to prevent entry of dust and the like, and to monitor the introduction state of the sphere from the outside. .
[0039]
  The alignment assisting member 41 shown in the drawing uses a short cylindrical member having a substantially isosceles triangle cross section because the spheres flow down from the left and right sphere collecting rods 13 and the surface corresponding to the bottom is a fixed surface. As fixed to the inside of the side surface portion 53 of the introduction portion cover member 44, the apex angle 55 is directed to the sphere introduction port 26 on the virtual center line of the sphere introduction rod 28, and the surface between the apex angle 55 and the base angle is a ball contact. The contact surface 42 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the ball flow downward direction (virtual axis) of the ball collection basket 13. That is, both the ball contact surfaces 42 and 42 are arranged in a substantially V-shaped cross section, and as shown in FIG. 9, the perpendicular A to the ball contact surface 42 is an imaginary axis of the ball collection basket 13.(Specifically, the virtual axis along the downward direction of the ball flow of the ball collecting basket 13)B and virtual axis of the ball introduction rod 28(Specifically, a virtual axis along the direction of the ball introduction rod 28 toward the ball introduction port 26)It is inclined with respect to the ball collection rod 13 and the ball introduction rod 28 so as to pass through approximately half of the crossing angle at which C intersects. In this embodiment, both the balls 13 and 28 intersect at right angles. It is set to a tilt angle of degrees. The inclination angle is desirably set to an angle at which the sphere that has flowed out of the sphere collecting rod 13 flows into the sphere introduction rod 28 substantially parallel to the phantom axis when the sphere hits the ball contact surface 42 and bounces off.
[0040]
In addition, the protruding length (corresponding to the height of an isosceles triangle) from the portion fixed to the side surface portion 53 of the introduction portion cover member 44 to the top portion is set to about one half of the flow path width of the ball collection basket 13. It is. In short, the sphere that flows out from the inclined lower end of the sphere collecting rod 13 with the sphere contact surface 42 facing the range from the portion far from the sphere introduction port 26 to the middle of the channel width in the channel width of the sphere collecting rod 13. Among them, a sphere that has flowed far from the sphere inlet 26 contacts the sphere contact surface 42.
[0041]
The above-described alignment assisting member 41 has such a height that a sphere that has flowed out from the stepped portion 46 at the lower end of the falling of the sphere collecting bowl 13 can abut against the sphere abutting surface 42. Install it at a height that allows it to pass. In order to attach the alignment assisting member 41 to a predetermined position, the side surface portions 53 and 53 of the introduction portion cover member 44 are placed on the base plate 45 of the ball collection basket 13 and are moved upward into the long hole 51 of the upper surface portion 50. A long bolt 56 is inserted, and the male screw portion at the lower end is screwed into the female screw hole of the base plate 45 and tightened. In addition, since the hole through which the bolt 56 passes is the long hole 51, the introduction portion cover member 44 can be moved little by little to adjust the position, and the apex angle 55 is positioned substantially at the center of the flow path width of the ball introduction rod 28. To fix.
[0042]
Next, the flow of the sphere when the alignment assisting member 41 having the above-described configuration is provided will be described.
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, when a sphere flows down from the first sphere collection basket 13a on the left side in the figure, the sphere far from the sphere inlet 26, that is, below the flow path of the first sphere collection bowl 13a in the figure. The sphere that has flowed down the half part of the sphere that has flowed out of the step portion 46 comes into contact with the sphere contact surface 42 on the left side and bounces back toward the sphere introduction port 26. It flows toward 13a. Since most of the spheres flowing out from the first sphere recovery rod 13a flow out vigorously, most of the spheres far from the sphere introduction port 26 abut on the sphere abutment surface 42 before the sphere introduction port 26 of FIG. It flows toward the middle left half. Although the ratio is small, the sphere that gently flows out from the step portion 46 flows through the gap below the alignment assisting member 41 into the center of the sphere introduction rod 28 or slightly closer to the second sphere collection rod 13b. The sphere that has flowed out with a weak momentum falls on the bottom surface of the sphere introduction rod 28, the flow path is changed to the sphere introduction port 26 side by the downward inclination of the bottom surface, and the sphere introduction port 26 from the first sphere collection rod 13a is directly changed. Flows in.
On the other hand, the sphere that is closer to the sphere inlet 26, that is, the sphere that has flowed down the upper half of the flow path of the first sphere collecting rod 13a in FIG. Since there is no surface 42, it rolls diagonally in the width direction on the bottom surface of the sphere inlet 26, and many spheres are introduced into the right half of the sphere inlet 26 in FIG.
[0043]
The spheres that are in contact with the sphere contact surface 42 have a clearance through which the spheres can pass below the alignment assisting member 41, so that the sphere introduction rod 28 located at a position lower than the sphere contact surface 42 can be used. A sphere that flows down on the bottom surface toward the sphere inlet 26 and flows out of the sphere collecting rod 13 and tries to hit the sphere contact surface 42 collides with a sphere that once hits and the flow direction is forcibly changed. Can be prevented. This therefore ensures the alignment of the spheres.
[0044]
In this way, the sphere that has flowed out from the stepped portion 46 of the first sphere collection rod 13a is forced to be corrected in the flow-down direction when the sphere far from the sphere inlet 26 hits the sphere contact surface 42 of the alignment assisting member 41. This causes the sphere introduction port 26 to flow closer to the first sphere collection basket 13a, so that the sphere introduction port 26 can introduce the sphere in a state of being dispersed and uniform in the width direction. It is possible to prevent the introduction from being biased. When the introduction of the spheres into the sphere introduction port 26 is made uniform, these spheres are aligned in 7 rows by the sphere alignment member 27 described above, and the top of each row is at the position of the sphere guide groove 39 of the guide plate material 37. Since they are arranged together, the spheres uniformly enter the sphere guide grooves 39 of the guide plate material 37, and the sphere guide grooves 39 that remain empty are eliminated. Therefore, even when the ball pushes the polishing cloth 36 into the ball guide groove 39 when being fed while being held in the feed path 40, the ball is pushed into each ball guide groove 39 in the same manner. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the polishing cloth 36 from being biased in the width direction and generating wrinkles. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the generation of noise due to the unevenness and wrinkles of the polishing pad 36, and the cleaning action by the polishing pad 36 can be expected almost uniformly over the entire width. It can be tightened.
[0045]
The alignment operation of the alignment assisting member 41 described above is performed when a ball is poured from the second ball collection rod 13b on the opposite side, even when a ball is poured from the first ball collection rod 13a into the ball introduction rod 28. This is the same, and when the spheres are poured from both the first and second sphere collection baskets 13a and 13b, the spheres flow into the sphere inlet 26 in a more uniform state.
[0046]
Then, the balls that have been polished while being slid in contact with the polishing cloth 36 and moved up in the lifting path 40 are discharged from the ball discharge port 29 of the housing 21 and enter the upper tank 6 when they get over the driven roller 23.
[0047]
The upper tank 6 has a tank main body for storing the spheres lifted by the sphere lifting device 3, and supplies the spheres to the adjacent installation island 2 or when the spheres on the installation island 2 are insufficient. It consists of a balance tank that accepts a ball from the installation island 2.
The tank main body is a vertically long rectangular parallelepiped bottomed box body, and an inlet into which the ball discharge port 29 of the ball lifting device 3 is inserted is opened at the upper part of the side surface on the side of the ball lifting device 3. In addition, a plurality of shelves are provided alternately, and a sphere outlet is provided at a predetermined site, and the spheres are shunted or stored in the sphere replenishment tub 7, the supply / reception tubs 60a and 60b, the storage sphere supply passage 11 Or
[0048]
The sphere that has flowed into the first storage sphere supply channel 11a on the left side flows down in this channel and reaches the left end of the installation island 2, and from here through the first sphere lower pipe 15a, the installation island 2 flows into the first sphere storage tank 10a disposed in the lower left portion of the tank 2 and is stored. In addition, the sphere that has flowed into the second storage sphere supply flow path 11b reaches the right end of the installation island 2 in the same manner as when it flows into the left first storage sphere supply flow path 11a. It flows into the second sphere storage tank 10b disposed at the lower right side of the installation island 2 via the second sphere flow down pipe 15b and is stored.
[0049]
If the balls in the upper tank 6 run short even when the ball lifting device 3 is operated, the balls stored in the ball storage tanks 10a and 10b are poured into the ball collection basket 13 by the ball lift devices 61a and 61b. The ball is lifted by the ball lifting device 3 and replenished to the upper tank 6. Therefore, even when “big hits” are concentrated in a short time in gaming machines, there is no shortage of balls to be discharged as prize balls. The ball lift devices 61a and 61b have the same structure as the above-described ball lifting device 3, that is, a belt is stretched between rollers provided at the upper and lower portions, and the rotation of the belt and the pressing plate, or the pressing plate. The ball that is sandwiched between the polishing cloth and the abrasive cloth that is attached to is lifted.
[0050]
In the above-described embodiment, the left and right first and second ball collecting rods 13a and 13b function as the lifting ball supply rod. However, the lifting ball supply rod in the present invention is not limited to the ball collecting rod 13. However, it is only necessary to supply the ball to the ball lifting device 3. Therefore, for example, a basket that flows down the sphere directly derived from the sphere storage tank 10 may be provided separately from the sphere collection basket 13, and this basket may be used as a lifting ball supply basket.
[0051]
Further, the alignment assisting member 41 is not limited to a triangular member in which the ball contact surfaces 42 are arranged in a substantially V shape, and one or two ball contact surfaces 42 may be formed. However, the overall shape may be a trapezoid, for example. And since the ratio of the width | variety of the ball | bowl contact surface 42 and the ball | bowl flow path of the lifting ball supply rod differs also by other factors, such as the inclination angle of the lifting ball supply rod, it can change a design suitably.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
  As described above, the present invention has the following effects.
  According to the invention of claim 1,A ball introduction rod is connected to the ball introduction port, and a game ball flowing down the ball introduction vessel can be introduced into the ball introduction port. The inclined lower end of the lifting ball supply rod is supplied to the ball introduction rod, and the ball introduction rod and the supply of the feeding ball are supplied. At the connection part where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod intersect, a step is formed by lowering the bottom surface of the ball introduction rod from the bottom surface of the lifting ball supply rod. An alignment assisting member having a ball abutting surface on which the sphere flowing out from the stepped portion can abut is provided on the side of the ball introducing rod from the stepped portion, and between the alignment assisting member and the bottom surface of the ball introducing rod. , With a space through which the spheres flowing out from the stepped portion can pass, the perpendicular to the sphere contact surface is along the imaginary axis along the downward direction of the ball flow of the lifted ball supply rod and the direction toward the ball inlet of the ball introduction rod The ball abutment surface is moved to the feeding ball supply rod and ball guide so that it passes through the half of the crossing angle where it intersects the virtual axis. Because the spheres are inclined with respect to the heel, out of the spheres that flow out from the lower end of the lifting ball supply ridge, the spheres that have flowed far from the sphere introduction port come into contact with the sphere contact surface and close to the lifting ball supply basin at the sphere introduction port. However, the sphere that has flowed out closer to the sphere introduction port does not come into contact with the sphere contact surface, and the bottom surface of the sphere introduction port rolls obliquely in the width direction of the sphere introduction port. It is possible to introduce the spheres by making them uniform in the width direction.
[0055]
  Claim 2According to the invention ofConnection part where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod crossSince the introduction part cover that covers the upper part is provided and the alignment auxiliary member is attached to and supported by the introduction part cover, the structure can be simplified even when the alignment auxiliary member is arranged in a state of floating from the bottom surface of the ball introduction rod. Can be manufactured easily.
[0056]
  Claim 3According to the invention, on the back side of the polishing cloth, a guide plate material in which a plurality of ball guide grooves are formed in parallel is arranged in a state where the guide plate material can advance and retreat with respect to the endless belt side, and the guide plate material is biased by the biasing member. Energized toward the endless belt,, The connecting part where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod crossSince the sphere alignment members for aligning the spheres flowing down from the sphere alignment member are provided, and the tops of the respective sphere rows aligned by the sphere alignment members are arranged at positions corresponding to the sphere guide grooves of the guide plate material, Can be smoothly transported in an aligned state, and the cleaning effect of the sphere can be enhanced.
[0057]
Immediately after the polishing cloth is replaced, the pushing of the polishing cloth into the ball guide groove can be performed without bias, and once the pushing is performed in the ball guiding groove, the subsequent occurrence of the unevenness of the polishing cloth is suppressed. be able to. Accordingly, the unevenness of the polishing cloth can be prevented over a long period of time.
[0058]
  Claim 4According to the invention, the ball introduction basket extends in the front-rear thickness direction of the gaming machine installation island, and the first lifting ball supply basket extending in the longitudinal direction of the game machine installation island is connected to the ball introduction basket from one side. Connect the second lifting ball supply rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine installation island from the other side, and connect the ball contact surface of the alignment assisting member.Cross section viewed from aboveSince it is arranged in a V-shape, it is possible to supply balls to the ball lifting device from both the first and second lifting ball supply rods, and to transport a large number of balls in a short time. In this case, since the spheres flowing down from both sides are aligned by the alignment assisting member, the sphere can be smoothly introduced into the sphere inlet.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a gaming machine installation island in which pachinko gaming machines are installed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a connection state of three installation islands.
FIG. 3 is a front view of three installed islands.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a ball lifting device installed on an installation island.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views of the ball lifting device showing a state where the lid is opened, and FIG. 5B is a state where the lid is closed.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a bent connection portion in a state where an introduction portion cover member is attached.
7A is a plan view of a bent connection portion in a state where an introduction portion cover member is removed, and FIG. 7B is a plan view of the introduction portion cover member.
8A is a bottom view of the introduction portion cover member, and FIG. 8B is a side view of the introduction portion cover member.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a bent connection portion having a cross-section of an attached introduction portion cover member.
FIG. 10A is a cross-sectional view of a bent connection portion having a cross section of the alignment assisting member near the proximal end, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view of the bend connection portion having a cross section of the alignment assisting member near the distal end.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Pachinko machine
2 game machine installation island
3 ball lifting device
4 frames
5 inter-ball rental machines
6 Upper tank
7 ball supply bowl
10 ball storage tank
11 Storage ball supply channel
12 Edema
13 Ball collection bowl that also functions as a lifting ball supply bowl
14 ball counter
15 Sphere downcomer
20 Ball lifting device base
21 body
22 Driving roller
23 Followed roller
24 endless belt
25 motor
26 Ball inlet
27 Sphere alignment member
28 balls introduced
29 ball outlet
30 partition plate
31 Backup roller
32 Coil spring
33 Movable clamp member
34 Fixed clamp member
35 Pressing spring
36 Abrasive cloth
37 Guide plate material
39 Ball guide groove
40 Lifting route
41 Alignment auxiliary member
42 Ball contact surface
43 Foreign object removal hole
44 Introduction cover member
45 Base plate
46 steps
50 Upper surface
51 long hole
52 windows
53 Side
54 Cover
55 vertical angle
56 volts
60 Receipt and receipt
61 Ball lift device

Claims

A plurality of gaming machines are arranged in parallel, and a lifting ball supply rod for supplying used balls discharged from these gaming machines to the ball lifting device is provided in a downwardly inclined state, and is lifted by the ball lifting device. On the island where game machines are installed to supply balls to each game machine,
The above-mentioned ball lifting device spans an endless belt in the vertical direction, and a polishing cloth is stretched at a position facing the ascending side of the endless belt, and the endless belt is sandwiched between the endless belt and the polishing cloth. By raising the belt, it is configured to lift the ball introduced in a state dispersed in the width direction from the lower ball introduction port,
A ball introduction basket is connected to the ball introduction port, and a game ball flowing down the ball introduction vessel can be introduced into the ball introduction port,
The lower end of the lifting ball supply rod is connected to the ball introduction rod in a state where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod cross each other, and the connection portion where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod intersect A stepped portion is formed by lowering the bottom surface of the introduction basket below the bottom surface of the lifting ball supply rod, and a ball contact surface on which the ball flowing out from the stepped portion can abut on the side of the ball introduction rod from the stepped portion. An alignment assisting member is provided, and an interval is provided between the alignment assisting member and the bottom surface of the ball introduction rod so that a ball flowing out from the stepped portion can pass through. The ball abutting surface is passed through the position of the crossing angle of the virtual axis along the downward direction of the sphere and the virtual axis along the direction toward the sphere inlet of the sphere introduction rod, and the ball contact surface is moved to the lifting ball supply rod. An island with game machines, which is tilted with respect to the ball introduction cage .

The introduction part cover which covers the said connection part from which the said ball introduction rod and the raising ball supply rod cross | intersect from the upper direction was provided, and the alignment assistance member was attached to and supported by this introduction part cover. Island with game machines.

On the back side of the polishing cloth, a guide plate material in which a plurality of ball guide grooves are formed in parallel is arranged so that it can advance and retreat with respect to the endless belt side, and the guide plate material is biased toward the endless belt side by the biasing member The ball introduction port is provided with a ball alignment member that aligns the balls flowing down from the connecting portion where the ball introduction rod and the lifting ball supply rod intersect, and arranged in a plurality of rows. The gaming machine installation island according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the top is located at a position corresponding to each of the ball guide grooves of the guide plate material.

The ball introduction rod extends in the thickness direction in the front and rear direction of the gaming machine installation island, and a first lifting ball supply rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine installation island is connected to the ball introduction cage from one side. The second lifting ball supply rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the installation island is connected from the other side, and the ball contact surface of the alignment assisting member is arranged in a V-shaped cross section when viewed from above. To 3. The gaming machine installation island according to any one of 3.