JP4174616B2 - Game ball rectifier - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game ball rectifier.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Normally, it is necessary to replenish each ball game machine with a game ball in a game hall, and a replenishment facility for that purpose is installed. In this replenishment facility, the diversion rod 100 having the structure illustrated in FIG. 6 is mounted on the replenishment rod 102 so as to be placed one by one above each ball game machine, and the game balls from the replenishment rod 102 are placed. A structure for replenishing each ball game machine was widely adopted.
[0003]
The diversion rod 100 includes an inflow port 106 through which a game ball flows in from a notch-shaped diversion port 104 of the replenishment rod 102, an entry side ramp 108 that guides the inflow game ball, an alignment ramp 110 in parallel therewith, and an alignment ramp. 110, a rectifying pendulum 112 disposed upstream of the alignment ramp 110, a holding plate 114 disposed above the alignment ramp 110, an outlet 116 opened at the downstream end of the alignment ramp 110, and the like. It was connected to a prize ball tank of a ball game machine through a flexible hose 118 called.
[0004]
In the diversion rod 100, the game balls that flow in a disorderly manner are rectified into a single line by the action of the rectifying pendulum 112 and the holding plate 114, particularly while passing through the entrance ramp 108 to the alignment ramp 110. It was discharged. The reason for the straightening is to make the counting of the game balls accurate by a counter attached to the tip of the flexible hose 118 or the like.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in order to rectify a game ball with such a rectifying pendulum and a holding plate, it is necessary to pass the game ball through a long path as it is, and the entrance side inclined passage 108 and the rectifying passage 110 are made to make a U-turn. Even so, further downsizing was difficult.
[0006]
Moreover, even if a ball scraping member driven by a motor is provided as in the diversion rod described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-327833, the path itself is not so short, and the size is increased by the complexity of the configuration. I have.
However, for example, if it is intended to reduce the size of the game ball replenishment facility, it is also necessary to reduce the size of the diversion rod, and such a small diversion rod has been demanded.
[0007]
In addition, even inside a ball game machine, for the detection and counting of game balls, a game ball rectifier may be used to reduce the number of game balls or the flow of disorder to one, and the miniaturization thereof may also be reduced. It was sought after.
The present invention meets such a need and provides a game ball rectifier that is smaller than a conventional similar device.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, a game ball rectifier according to claim 1 is:
Comprises a passageway having a pair of side plates and the side plates between the horizontally provided by bottom plate facing at intervals to pass one ball game, the bottom 1 Jomoku the game ball that plate in contact to move within said passage and said one In a game ball rectifier that joins a second game ball moving in the aisle in contact with a game ball of the item to make a flow of one game ball,
A gear-shaped rotating body having a plurality of teeth provided at intervals where a part of a game ball can enter , and one of the inclinations connecting the valley bottom and the apexes of the teeth on both sides is relatively gentle, and the other is relative Rotating body that is steeply inclined,
A game ball is supported at a rotating shaft horizontally provided between the pair of side walls so that the second game ball is in contact with the teeth without contacting the first game ball. Attach it in the posture where the destination side is the gentle slope,
An external force is applied to the teeth from the second game ball and the tooth is rotated as the second game ball moves .
It is characterized by that.
[0009]
This game ball rectifier is configured such that a game ball moves in a bowl-shaped passage. For the purpose of this device, the width between the side walls of the passage is preferably slightly larger than that of one game ball, so that the number of game balls moving in the passage in contact with the bottom plate is one. The second game ball moves in the passage in contact with the first game ball on the side opposite to the bottom plate . The bowl-shaped passage can be formed by a pair of side plates and a bottom plate , but may further be provided with an upper surface that faces the bottom plate .
[0010]
The rotating body used in the game ball rectifier is in the form of a gear having a plurality of teeth , and between the teeth, that is, the valley portion is a part of the game ball, preferably about 1/4 to 1/3 of the diameter of the game ball. Is allowed to enter. The shape of this rotating body is similar to a sprocket, but the inclination connecting the valley bottom and the apex of the teeth on both sides is a gentle inclination on the rotation destination side (the advance side of the game ball), and the rear side is a steep inclination. It has become. If it carries out like this, reception of the game ball to a trough part and detachment | leave of the game ball from a trough part will be performed more smoothly.
[0011]
In this game ball rectifier, the rotating body is rotatably supported by a rotating shaft horizontally provided between a pair of side walls, so that the second game ball does not touch the first game ball and the second game ball touches the teeth. Since the advancing side of the game ball is attached to the contact position with a gentle inclination, the rotating body rotates with the movement of the second game ball due to external force applied to the teeth from the second game ball To do. At this time, the rotation of the second game ball is slightly delayed with respect to the first ball due to the resistance of the rotating body, and the spacing between the second game balls is reliably ensured. Since the force acts in the direction in which the second game ball is joined to the first article, that is, in the direction of joining, it is considered that the joining of the first and second articles is smooth and quick.
[0012]
In this game ball rectifier, since the rectification is performed from two to one by almost the function of the rotating body, the path for rectification can be very short. Further, since it is not necessary to drive the rotating body, a driving source such as a motor is not required. Therefore, the game ball rectifier is extremely small.
[0013]
In addition, when the bottom is inclined along the horizontal direction, that is, when the moving direction of the game ball is along the horizontal direction, a known rectifying pendulum can be provided upstream of the rotating body. . If this rectifying pendulum is provided, for example, a game ball that flows in about three lanes can be made into two lanes by the action of the rectifying pendulum.
[0014]
The game ball rectifier according to claim 2 is the game sphere rectifier according to claim 1,
The upstream end of the passage is closed by a rear end plate connected to the upstream end of the side plate and the bottom plate,
On one side of the side plate, an inflow port for allowing a game ball to flow into the passage is formed with an interval between the rear end plate,
The portion of the passage that is closer to the rear end plate than the inflow port is a play chamber in which game balls that flow into the passage from the inflow port can enter and exit .
[0015]
When the ball pressure of the game balls flowing into the passage from the inflow port increases, some of the game balls retreat into the game room to relieve the ball pressure, so when the ball pressure of the game balls increases, The movement of the game ball in is not hindered. When the game ball in the passage is discharged and the ball pressure in the passage decreases, the game ball that has been retreated into the play room flows out of the play room. In this way, the ball pressure in the interior can be reduced by the action of the game room and the ball clogging in the passage can be prevented, so that the reliability of the game ball rectifier is extremely high.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
【Example】
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the diversion rod 10 as the game ball rectifier of the present embodiment includes a slope 12 and a pair of mounting claws 14 and 16 for mounting the diversion rod 10 on a supply rod (not shown). An inlet 18 is formed between the mounting claws 14 and 16. The diversion rod 10 is attached to the supply rod by fitting the groove-shaped portion formed on the back side of the mounting claws 14 and 16 to the side wall of the diversion port portion of the supply rod (about the attachment state of the diversion rod 10). Is a conventional example (see FIG. 6). As shown in FIG. 3, the slope 12 is slightly inclined from the replenishment tub side toward the inflow port 18, and the game ball is guided from the replenishment basin to the slope 12 and passes through the inflow port 18 to the diversion basin 10. Inflow. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a triangular protrusion 13 is provided on the upper surface of the slope 12. The protrusion 13 is installed at a position about 1/3 upstream from the front of the inlet 18, and the height of the protrusion 13 flows along the direction of the parallel arrows shown in FIG. Is a height that can easily be overcome (in this embodiment, about 1 mm). The game ball that has flowed through the supply basket and hit the protrusion 13 on the slope 12 changes its traveling direction irregularly and flows into the inlet 18 from various directions. In other words, the game balls are dispersed by the protrusions 13 and flow in on average in almost the entire area of the inflow port 18. Therefore, the game balls are not concentrated in one place at the inflow port 18 or inside and outside the inflow port 18, and the flow of the game balls from the supply basket to the diversion basket 10 becomes smooth.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, and 5, a passage 30 is formed in the diversion basin 10 by side plates 20 and 22, a rear end plate 24, a rear side wall 26, a bottom plate 28, and the like. A play chamber 32 communicating with the passage 30 is formed by the side plate 22, the rear end plate 24, the rear side wall 26, and the bottom plate 28. The slope 12, the mounting claws 14 and 16, the side plates 20 and 22, the rear end plate 24, the rear side wall 26, the bottom plate 28 and the like are integrally formed as a main body member 33.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, bearings 34 and 36 are provided on the side plates 20 and 22. 1, 4, and 5, a pendulum shaft 38 is inserted into the bearing 34, a rotating shaft 40 is inserted into the bearing 36, a rectifying pendulum 42 is inserted into the pendulum shaft 38, and a gear is mounted into the rotating shaft 40. 44 are externally fitted rotatably. Further, a protective member 46 for protecting the rectifying pendulum 42 and the gear 44 and preventing the pendulum shaft 38 and the rotary shaft 40 from falling off is attached to the side plates 20 and 22 by screws 48. The shape of the teeth of the gear 44 is as shown in the figure, and the inclination connecting the valley bottom and the apexes of the teeth on both sides thereof is a gentle inclination on the rotation destination side (advancing destination side of the game ball) and a steep inclination on the rear side. . Further, the protective member 46 forms an outlet 50 in cooperation with the main body member 33. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a fixing protrusion 49 for screwing the diversion rod 10 to the replenishment rod is provided on the upper portion of the protection member 46.
[0022]
As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, a U-shaped pressing plate 52 is provided inside the protection member 46. The interval between the holding plate 52 and the bottom plate 28 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball on the outlet 50 side, and the interval is about two game balls on the gear 44 side. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the gear 44 enters the notch portion of the pressing plate 52.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4, and 5, a hose holding member 56 is attached to the distal end plate 54 of the main body member 33, and a flexible hose (not shown) is connected to the hose holding member 56. The flexible hose can be connected to the diversion rod 10 by fitting.
[0024]
Now, in the diversion rod 10, since the bottom plate 28 is inclined from the inlet 18 side to the outlet 50 side, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. The sphere moves in the passage 30 toward the outlet 50.
Immediately after flowing in from the inflow port 18, the arrangement of the game balls is disordered, but is generally made into two strips by the action of the rectifying pendulum 42 and moves to the gear 44 side. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the second game ball (the side away from the bottom plate 28) comes into contact with the teeth of the gear 44 and rotates the gear 44. At this time, the game ball B in contact with the gear 44 is delayed in movement with respect to the preceding first game ball A due to the resistance of the gear 44, so that the following game ball C and the following game balls are preceded. There is a slight gap between A and A. Then, the game ball B moves while rotating the gear 44 and is pushed by the gear 44 and enters between the game balls A and C as shown in FIG. In this way, the game balls flowing in the second row are merged into the first row. In addition, the holding plate 52 makes the merging of the game balls more reliable, such as assisting the movement of the merging, or preventing the game balls that have once merged from returning to the second row. Then, the game balls that have joined together to become one row are discharged from the outlet 50.
[0025]
Thus, the diversion rod 10 of the present embodiment can smoothly and quickly join the two game balls into one. At that time, since the rectification is performed from two to one by only the action of the gear 44, the passage 30 for rectification is very short, and it is not necessary to lengthen the path. Further, since it is not necessary to drive the rotating body, a driving source such as a motor is not required. Therefore, the game ball rectifier is extremely small.
[0026]
Further, in the diversion rod 10, the passage 30 for rectifying the game ball is straight and short, so that the game ball moves quickly in the diversion rod 10. That is, the game ball can be rectified and discharged in a very short time compared to the conventional shunt.
In addition, the inflow of game balls from the supply basket is random, and the outflow from the shunt basket 10 to the ball game machine side is intermittent depending on the amount of game balls in the prize ball tank of the ball game machine. Therefore, there are many cases in which the inside of the diversion basket 10, particularly the vicinity of the inlet 18, is filled with game balls. In such a case, the ball pressure of the game ball in the shunt basket 10 increases.
[0027]
There is no conventional diversion rod corresponding to the play chamber 32 in the diversion rod 10 of the present embodiment, and when the ball pressure of the game ball increases, the movement of the game ball in the diversion rod is inhibited and sometimes the ball is clogged. there were.
However, in this diversion rod 10, when the ball pressure increases in this way, a part of the game balls retreat into the play room 32 (see FIG. 4), so that the ball pressure is relieved so that the game balls move. There is no inhibition. And if an internal ball pressure falls by discharging a game ball from the exit 50, the game ball in the game room 32 will also reduce (refer FIG. 5). In this way, with the diversion rod 10 of the present embodiment, the ball pressure in the diversion rod 10 can be prevented by reducing the internal ball pressure by the action of the play room 32, so the reliability is extremely high. Become.
[0028]
As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated according to the Example, this invention is not limited to such an Example, It cannot be overemphasized that it can implement variously in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.
For example, in the embodiment, the game ball rectifier of the present invention is used as a shunt in a replenishment facility, but the game ball rectifier of the present invention can also be installed inside a ball game machine.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the gaming ball rectifier of claim 1, two gaming balls can be smoothly and quickly merged into one. At that time, since the rectification is performed from two to one by almost the function of the rotating body, the path for rectification can be very short. Further, since it is not necessary to drive the rotating body, a driving source such as a motor is not required. Therefore, the game ball rectifier is extremely small.
[0030]
In the gaming ball rectifier according to the second aspect, the internal ball pressure can be relieved by the action of the game room and clogging of the ball in the passage can be prevented, so that the reliability of the gaming ball rectifier becomes extremely high.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a diverter in an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diverter in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a front view of a diverter in the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a side perspective view illustrating the movement of the game ball inside the shunting ram according to the embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a side perspective view for explaining the movement of the game ball inside the shunt basket of the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional diverter.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Divergence basket (game ball rectifier), 12 ... Slope, 13 ... Protrusion, 14, 16 ... Mounting claw, 18 ... Inlet, 20, 22 ... Side plate (Side wall ), 24 ... rear end plate, 26 ... rear side wall, 28 ... bottom plate (bottom face), 30 ... passage, 32 ... play room, 33 ... body member, 34, 36 .. Bearing, 38... Pendulum shaft, 40... Rotating shaft, 42 .. Rectification pendulum, 44... Gear (rotating body), 46. ..Fixing projection, 50... Outlet, 52 .. holding plate, 54... Tip plate, 56.

Claims (2)

Comprises a passageway having a pair of side plates and the side plates between the horizontally provided by bottom plate facing at intervals to pass one ball game, the bottom 1 Jomoku the game ball that plate in contact to move within said passage and said one In a game ball rectifier that joins a second game ball moving in the aisle in contact with a game ball of the item to make a flow of one game ball,
A gear-shaped rotating body having a plurality of teeth provided at intervals where a part of a game ball can enter , and one of the inclinations connecting the valley bottom and the apexes of the teeth on both sides is relatively gentle, and the other is relative Rotating body that is steeply inclined,
A game ball is supported at a rotating shaft horizontally provided between the pair of side walls so that the second game ball is in contact with the teeth without contacting the first game ball. Attach it in the posture where the destination side is the gentle slope,
An gaming ball rectifying device, wherein an external force is applied to the teeth from the second gaming ball and the tooth is rotated in accordance with the movement of the second gaming ball. The game ball rectifier according to claim 1,
The upstream end of the passage is closed by a rear end plate connected to the upstream end of the side plate and the bottom plate,
On one side of the side plate, an inflow port for allowing a game ball to flow into the passage is formed with an interval between the rear end plate,
A game ball, wherein a portion of the passage closer to the rear end plate than the inflow port is a play room in which a game ball flowing into the passage from the inflow port can freely enter and exit. Rectifier.

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