JP4174617B2 - Diversion - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, as a part of a supply facility for supplying game balls to a ball game machine, is connected to a supply basket arranged above the plurality of ball game machines to receive game balls from the supply basket. It is related to the shunt for supplying and supplying to the ball game machine.
[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 a replenishment rod 102 that runs above the ball ball game machine so that one is arranged above each ball ball game machine. A structure for supplying game balls from the supply basket 102 to each ball game machine has been 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 such a shunt, the widths of the passages (entrance ramp 108 and alignment ramp 110) are normally such that one game ball can pass through. On the other hand, since the width of the inflow port 106 is wide, the game balls that have flowed in from the inflow port 106 are once retained in the vicinity of the inflow port 106 and then gradually move through the passage. For this reason, the ball pressure increases in the vicinity of the inflow port 106, the movement of the game ball to the passage side is obstructed, and sometimes the ball is clogged.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to prevent clogging of a ball due to an increase in ball pressure in the vicinity of the inlet of a branch flow trough.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve this problem, a game ball rectifier according to claim 1 is provided with an inflow port through which a game ball flows in, a discharge port through which the game ball is discharged, and the game ball flows down from the inflow port to the discharge port. A flow path and a rectifying mechanism that rectifies the flowing game balls into a predetermined number of strips, and rectifies the game balls that have flowed in from the inflow port into a predetermined number and discharges them from the discharge port,
The passage includes a pair of side plates arranged to face each other, a bottom plate horizontally disposed between the side plates, and a rear end plate connected to the upstream side end portion of the side plate and the bottom plate to close the upstream end of the passage. And
By forming the inflow opening on one side of the side plate with a space between the rear end plate,
A portion of the passage that is closer to the rear end plate than the inlet is a play chamber in which game balls that flow into the passage from the inlet can freely enter and exit .
[0008]
In this diversion, when game balls are flowing in the passage, almost all of the game balls that have flowed in from the inflow port are quickly guided to the passage, but when the flow in the passage is slow or stagnant (that is, , in a case where discharging is not performed), the game ball that has flowed from the inflow port would be allowed to stay in the vicinity of the inlet. Then, the ball pressure in the vicinity of the inlet increases due to the inflow pressure from the supply rod side.
[0009]
However, in this shunt, when the ball pressure increases in this way, a part of the game balls retreat into the play room, so that the ball pressure is relieved, so that the game balls are engaged with each other by the ball pressure, for example. Will not become immobile.
Then, when the game ball is discharged from the discharge port and the movement of the game ball in the passage is resumed and the ball pressure decreases, the game ball in the game room also moves to the passage side.
[0010]
As described above, since the increase of the ball pressure in the vicinity of the inflow port is alleviated by the entry / exit of the game ball into the play room, it is possible to prevent the ball from being blocked by the ball pressure .
[0011]
By the way, in order to rectify the game ball with the rectifying pendulum and the holding plate as in the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, it is necessary to pass the game ball through a long path as it is. Even if the passage 110 was U-turned, further downsizing was difficult. 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.
[0012]
In addition to the effect (prevention of ball clogging) of the structure according to the first aspect, the structure according to the second to fourth aspects is intended to further reduce the size of the diversion rod.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the diversion rod according to the first aspect is configured such that the width of the passage is a width that allows one game ball to pass therethrough, and a plurality of teeth provided at intervals at which a part of the game ball can enter. A rotating body that is a gear-shaped rotating body that rotates with the movement of the second gaming ball by applying an external force to the teeth from the second gaming ball counted from the bottom plate side, It is provided as a feature.
[0013]
In this diversion rod, the width of the passage is set to allow one game ball to pass. Therefore, one game ball moves in the passage in contact with the bottom plate , and the second game ball moves in the passage so as to overlap the first game ball. The rotating body used in the diversion rod may have a gear shape having a plurality of teeth, but the space between the teeth, that is, the valley portion, is a part of the game ball, preferably 1/4 to the diameter of the game ball. About 1/3 can be entered. Examples of the shape of the rotating body include a shape similar to a sprocket or a shape similar to a sprocket. In addition, the inclination connecting the valley bottom and the apexes of the teeth on both sides thereof may be a gentle inclination on the rotation destination side (advancing destination side of the game ball) and a steep inclination on the rear side. 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.
[0014]
In order to rotate the rotating body with the movement of the second game ball, the rotation direction may be set along the traveling direction of the game ball in the passage. Moreover, it is better not to contact the rotating body with the first game ball.
The rotating body is subjected to an external force applied to the teeth from the second-row game ball and rotates as the second-row game ball moves. 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.
[0015]
In this shunt, the game ball is rectified from two to one with almost the function of the rotating body, so that the flow path for rectification is very short. Further, since it is not necessary to drive the rotating body, a driving source such as a motor is not required. Thus, the shunt is very small.
[0016]
A known rectifying pendulum can also 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.
Shunt trough according to claim 3, wherein, in the shunt trough according to claim 2, wherein the bottom plate and downstream of the gap between the bottom plate is only intervals one game ball to the downstream side of the end portion is an interval that can pass upstream It is characterized in that a pressing plate is provided which is larger than the side and is arranged to face the bottom plate on the downstream side of the rotating body.
[0017]
Since this presser plate functions to ensure straightening by the rotating body, it is possible to better straighten the game ball.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the upstream side end of the pressing plate extends between the rotating body and the side wall while avoiding the rotation area of the rotating body. In addition, a part of the extending portion is on the bottom plate side with respect to the shaft of the rotating body.
[0018]
As a structure that extends the upstream end of the retainer plate between the sprocket and the side wall while avoiding the rotation range of the sprocket, a notch is provided at the upstream end of the retainer plate, and the inside of the notch is sprocketed. Or a structure in which two pressing plates are used and the gap between the two pressing plates is the rotation range of the sprocket.
[0019]
According to the configuration of claim 4, the presser plate can more reliably join the game balls, such as assisting the movement of the joining by the rotating body or preventing the game balls that have joined once from returning to the second row. Close.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
【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.
[0022]
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 mounting plate 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.
[0023]
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.
[0024]
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.
[0025]
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.
[0026]
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.
[0027]
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.
[0028]
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, the shunting basket 10 may be filled with game balls. In such a case, the ball pressure of the game ball in the diversion rod 10, particularly the ball pressure in the vicinity of the inlet 18, is increased by the inflow pressure from the supply rod side.
[0029]
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 near the inflow port 18 is relieved. The game balls are not engaged with each other by the ball pressure, and the game balls are not moved (clogged with balls). If the internal ball pressure is reduced by discharging the game ball from the outlet 50, the game ball in the game room 32 also flows out toward the passage 30 and decreases (see 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.
[0030]
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.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the shunting kit described in claim 1, since the increase of the ball pressure in the vicinity of the inflow port is alleviated by the entry and exit of the game ball into and from the play room, it is possible to prevent clogging of the ball due to the ball pressure.
[0032]
In the shunting kit according to claim 2, two gaming balls can be smoothly and promptly 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.
[0033]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the presser plate functions to ensure straightening by the rotating body, the game ball can be straightened more favorably.
Furthermore, if it is set as the structure of Claim 4, a game ball can be rectified still more favorably.
[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 basin, 12 ... Mounting plate, 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 surface), 30 ... passage, 32 ... play room, 33 ... main body member, 34, 36 ... bearing, 38 ... Pendulum shaft, 40 ... Rotating shaft, 42 ... Rectifying pendulum, 44 ... Gear (rotating body), 46 ... Protective member, 48 ... Bis, 49 ... Protrusion for fixing , 50 ... outlet, 52 ... pressing plate, 54 ... tip plate, 56 ... hose holding member.

Claims (4)

An inflow port through which game balls flow in, a discharge port through which game balls are discharged, a passage through which game balls flow down from the inflow port to the discharge port, and a rectifying mechanism that rectifies the game balls that flow down to a predetermined number In a diversion trough that rectifies the game ball that has flowed in from the inflow port into a predetermined number and discharges it from the discharge port,
The passage includes a pair of side plates arranged to face each other, a bottom plate horizontally disposed between the side plates, and a rear end plate connected to the upstream side end portion of the side plate and the bottom plate to close the upstream end of the passage. And
By forming the inflow opening on one side of the side plate with a space between the rear end plate,
A diversion kite in which a 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 leave. . The rectifier basket according to claim 1,
The width of the passage is a width that allows one game ball to pass through ,
A gear-shaped rotating body having a plurality of teeth provided at intervals at which a part of a game ball can enter, and an external force is applied to the teeth from the second game ball counted from the bottom plate side. A diversion kite characterized in that a rotating body that rotates as a game ball moves is provided as the rectifying mechanism. In the shunt kit according to claim 2,
Wherein the bottom plate and the downstream end and the interval is the interval where only one game ball can pass through the upstream side of and greater than the downstream side the distance between the bottom plate, facing the bottom plate at a downstream side of the rotating body This is a diversion basin characterized by the provision of a pressure plate. In the shunt kit according to claim 3,
An upstream side end portion of the pressing plate is extended between the rotating body and the side wall while avoiding a rotation area of the rotating body, and a part of the extending portion is located on the bottom plate with respect to the shaft of the rotating body. A shunt that is characterized by its side.

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