JP4194524B2 - Ball supply device for vertical ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball supply device that is provided in a vertical ball game machine represented by a pachinko machine and supplies a game ball to a hitting ball launching mechanism.

  A vertical ball game machine represented by a pachinko machine is attached to an indoor installation facility called “Amusement Island” in an almost upright state, and a game area (game board) in front of it has a prize opening and a pattern. A predetermined game component such as a display device is provided. On the lower right side (front side of the front frame) of the game area, an operation handle operated by a player sitting in front of the game machine so as to face the game area is provided, and according to the twisting operation of the operation handle by the player The hitting hammer inside the gaming machine is electrically driven, and the hitting game ball is sent into the game area. The hit ball sent into the game area rolls and falls within the game area. At this time, when the game ball enters the winning opening, a plurality of game balls are newly given to the player as prize balls. Yes. In the case of a type equipped with a symbol display device, when the game ball enters the winning opening, the displayed symbol changes, and when this matches a predetermined winning symbol, a predetermined benefit such as an increase in the payout rate is obtained. It is supposed to be.

In such a vertical ball game machine, it is necessary to hit the game balls one by one in accordance with the operation of the operation handle by the player. For this purpose, a predetermined hit ball in which the hit ball hits the game ball. A game ball needs to be supplied to a position (specifically, a lower end portion of a launch rail provided obliquely extending below the game board) in accordance with the hitting operation of the hitting hammer. For this reason, a valve mechanism called a ball feed valve is usually provided in the vicinity of the hitting ball launching mechanism, and game balls can be supplied to the hitting ball launching mechanism one by one by operating the valve in synchronization with the hitting operation of the hitting hammer. It is like that. Then, the game balls are supplied to the ball feeding device by the game balls rolling by their own weight through a ball supply path extending obliquely downward from the ball storage portion of the ball tray provided on the front face of the gaming machine. This is done by moving.
JP-A-10-179850 JP 2002-282442 A

  However, since the ball supply path in the conventional vertical ball game machine needs to be supplied to the ball feeding device in a state in which the game balls are aligned in a line, the passage width is narrow, and a large amount of the ball supply path is provided in the ball storage section. When game balls are stored, ball clogging may occur due to the weight of the game balls in the ball supply path. Such clogging of the balls is not only unpleasant for the player, but may cause a player to feel frustrated when a big hit and a smooth launch of the ball are desired. In addition, as described above, the conventional gaming machine requires a valve mechanism (ball feed valve) for supplying game balls to the hitting ball launching mechanism one by one in accordance with the hitting ball of the hitting ball launching mechanism. In combination with the mechanism for operating, there is a problem that the manufacturing cost becomes very high.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and prevents a ball clogging in a ball supply path for supplying a game ball to a hitting ball launching mechanism so that a player can enjoy a comfortable game. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball supply device for a vertical bullet ball game machine that can contribute to a reduction in manufacturing cost.

A ball supply / discharge device for a vertical ball game machine according to the present invention includes a rectangular frame-shaped outer frame and a front shape formed in a square shape matching the front opening area of the outer frame and attached to the outer frame so as to be freely opened and closed. A frame, a game board attached to the front frame, a ball striking mechanism for launching a game ball attached to the front frame into a game area provided in front of the game board, and a game ball attached to the front frame A vertical ball game machine that is configured to have a ball storage unit that stores the ball and a ball supply path that moves the game ball in the ball storage unit and supplies the ball to the hitting ball launching mechanism, and that is provided in a substantially standing state A spiral tooth that is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis and extends on the outer surface in the axial direction, and the axial region in which the spiral tooth is provided forms a part of the spherical supply path a toothed shaft member, in a recess formed between adjacent helical teeth together on the spiral toothed shaft member Ri elaborate shaft member driving means for rotating the helical toothed shaft member in a direction in which the game ball is conveyed moved to hitting the firing mechanism side (e.g., the shaft member drive motor 65 in the embodiment) and the hitting a ball supply channel Ball discharge hole provided between the launching mechanism and the ball discharge hole provided so as to communicate with the ball discharge hole and to discharge the game ball that has entered through the ball discharge hole to the front side of the front frame A road and a ball shutter provided so that the ball hole can be opened and closed. Then, in a state in which the ball release shutter closes the ball release hole, in synchronization with the hitting operation of the hitting ball launching mechanism, the shaft member driving means drives the spiral toothed shaft member to spiral the game ball that has entered the recess. It is transported to the hitting ball launching mechanism side by the toothed shaft member, and is moved on the ball releasing shutter to be fed to the hitting ball launching mechanism. On the other hand, in the state where the ball releasing shutter opens the ball releasing hole, the shaft member is driven. The helical toothed shaft member is driven by the means so that the game ball in the ball storage portion enters the recess and is conveyed to the hitting ball launching mechanism side by the helical toothed shaft member and enters the ball punching hole to pass the ball discharge path. It is configured to be discharged to the front side of the front frame.
In this ball supply / discharge device, preferably, the second ball storage section is provided below the ball storage section in the front frame, and the game discharged to the front side of the front frame through the ball discharge path The sphere is configured to be stored in the second sphere storage unit.

  In the ball supply device for a vertical bullet ball game machine according to the present invention, the helical tooth is driven by driving the helical toothed shaft member in a state where the gaming ball enters the recess formed on the helical toothed shaft member. The game ball of the attached shaft member is detached from the end of the helical toothed shaft member and guided to the predetermined hitting position in the hitting ball launching mechanism through the ball feed path. Since the (helix tooth feeding operation) is performed in synchronization with the operation of hitting the game ball located at the hitting position by the hitting ball launching mechanism, the conventionally required ball feed valve and its driving mechanism are It becomes unnecessary. For this reason, a structure becomes simple and manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the game ball is transported and moved to the hitting ball launching mechanism side by the spiral toothed shaft member, the inclination of the ball path from the ball storing part to the hitting ball launching mechanism can be loosened, and the dimension in the height direction can be reduced. Since it can be made small, the entire ball tray can be made compact. In addition, since the game ball in the ball supply path is forcibly moved to the hitting ball launching mechanism side by the spiral toothed shaft member, even if the passage width of the ball supply path is narrow, ball clogging hardly occurs and the player can comfortably You can enjoy the game.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a pachinko machine 1 as a vertical ball game machine to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied. This pachinko machine 1 is configured in a predetermined outer rectangular frame shape, and is installed on the front side of the outer frame 2 that is installed in a standing state on an installation table TB called “amusement island”. The front frame 3 configured in a rectangular frame shape adapted to the area uses the upper and lower hinges 4 and 5 (see FIG. 2) disposed on the upper left and right front portions of each other and the locking device 6 provided on the front right side. And can be opened and closed (cantilevered sideways).

  Each part of the front frame 3 is a glass door 7 made of an openable and closable frame having a square frame size matching the front area of the front frame 3 as a component required for the game, and a top provided below the glass door 7. A ball tray 9 and a lower ball tray 11 extending in the left-right direction below the upper ball tray 9 are provided. A rectangular frame-shaped storage frame 13 is provided in the front frame 3, and the game board 12 is stored and held in the storage frame 13 so as to be detachable (replaceable). In addition, a transparent glass plate 14 is attached to the rectangular opening 7 a formed in the center of the glass door 7, and in the closed state where the glass door 7 is accommodated in the front frame 3, The front surface faces the back surface of the glass plate 14.

  In addition, a hitting ball launching operation device 20 having an operation handle 24 to be twisted by a player is provided on the right side of the front of the lower ball tray 11, and an operation handle 24 is provided in an inner region near the lower ball tray 11. A striking ball launching mechanism 30 is provided that strikes a game ball with a striking force according to a twisting operation angle (twisting operation amount) and launches the game ball into a game area provided in front of the game board 12. Further, on the back side of the storage frame 13 for holding the game board 12, a back set board 40 for holding other components such as a tank for storing a prize ball, a control board, and a game ball payout mechanism in a predetermined position (FIG. 1). (See (B) and FIG. 3) is attached to the storage frame 13 so as to be freely opened and closed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to a large number of game nails and windmills, the game board 12 is provided with a symbol display device 12a, a winning opening 12b and the like, and a large winning opening 12c and a winning opening at the lower part of the gaming area. An out port 12d and the like are provided for discharging the game balls that have fallen without entering the 12b or the big winning port 12c to the back side of the game board 12. In addition to the outer rail 15 for guiding the game ball fired from the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 into the game area, the inner rail for guiding the game ball dropped in the game area to the out port 12d is provided at the outer edge of the game board 12. 16 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the back set board 40 is provided with a prize ball device and a game ball processing path for paying out prize balls so as to surround the window 41a. In other words, the tank member 42 for storing and supplying the game balls is attached to the lower surface side of the base frame 41, and the process of attaching the game balls supplied from the tank member 42 to the lower part of the tank member 42 in a loosely inclined posture. The alignment rod member 43 to be aligned in front and rear two rows, the game balls supplied from the deflection outlet 43a of the alignment rod member 43 are received and guided to the lower prize ball cassette 45, and a predetermined number of game balls are arranged in the front and rear two rows in the passage. The award ball waiting passage 44 to be held in a waiting state in the aligned state, and the game ball waited in the award ball waiting passage 44 is received from the upper receiving port and paid out from the lower payout port based on a predetermined command signal. A prize ball payout path 46 and the like for guiding the game balls paid out from the prize ball cassette 45 to the upper ball tray 9 and the lower ball tray 11 are provided.

  Further, on the front side of the base frame body 41, a ball removal mechanism provided above the out ball, the safe ball and the prize ball waiting passage 44 that is located below the window 41 a and is discharged to the back side of the game board 12. (Not shown) forms a collecting path for collecting and draining the balls discharged from the winning ball waiting passage 44, and the base ball body 41 has a base on which the game balls collected by the collecting path are based. A collection ball discharge path (not shown) for discharging from the lower end of the frame body 41 to a collection bucket (not shown) on the game facility (hall) side is formed.

  In each part of the back surface of the back set board 40, a main board 51 for comprehensively controlling the operation of the pachinko machine 1 and a launching device control for controlling the operation of the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 in response to an operation signal from the hitting ball launching operation device 20 A ball payout control for controlling the operation of the prize ball cassette 45 by outputting a command signal to the prize ball cassette 45 based on a control signal from the board 52 and the launcher relay board 52a (not shown in FIG. 3) and the main board 51. Circuit board such as board 53, lamp / sound control board 54 for controlling the operation of effect lighting and sound according to game development status, power supply board 55 for supplying power to these control boards and various electronic devices, etc. It is attached as possible. These circuit boards and electronic devices are connected to each other by a wire harness (not shown).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the hitting ball launching operation device 20 has a cylindrical handle holder 21 that extends from the lower right part of the front frame 3 so as to penetrate the lower plate 11 forward (player side). A disc-shaped handle base 22 attached to the front end of the handle holder 21, a bowl-shaped cap 23 attached to the front side of the handle base 22, and between the handle base 22 and the cap 23. The above-described operation handle 24 is provided to be freely twisted. The operation handle 24 is formed in a ring shape, and a plurality of concavo-convex portions for facilitating gripping by the player are provided on the outer peripheral portion thereof. Further, the operation handle 24 is always urged counterclockwise (in the direction of arrow A1 shown in FIG. 4) by a torsion coil spring (not shown) provided in the handle base 22, and the player can perform a game ball launch operation. When performing the operation, the operation handle 24 is twisted clockwise (in the direction of arrow A2 shown in FIG. 4) against the biasing force of the torsion coil spring.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 has a rectangular flat plate-like fixed base 31 attached to the back side of the lower part of the front frame 3 in a posture substantially parallel to the board surface of the game board 12, and is attached to the fixed base 31. The hitting hammer 32 provided so that the back side of the fixed base 31 can swing within a plane substantially parallel to the board surface of the game board 12, and the hitting hammer 32 is always turned counterclockwise (the arrow shown in FIG. 4). The return spring 33 biased in the B1 direction), the stopper 34 that abuts the ball striking hammer 32 to limit the swing range of the ball striking hammer 32 in the counterclockwise direction, and the ball hitting against the biasing force of the return spring 33 A launcher drive source (for example, a rotary solenoid) 35 that swings and urges the hammer 32 clockwise (in the direction of arrow B2 shown in FIG. 4) is configured.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the handle base 22 of the hit ball launching operation device 20 detects whether or not the player is touching the operation handle 24 by detecting the electrostatic capacity of the human body touching the operation handle 24. A ring-shaped touch switch 26 is provided. When the player touches the operation handle 24, the touch switch 26 detects this and outputs an ON signal to the launcher relay board 52a (see FIG. 11). As described above, the operation handle 24 is always urged counterclockwise by the torsion coil spring provided in the handle base 22 (in the direction of the arrow A1 shown in FIG. 4). When a twisting operation is performed clockwise (in the direction of arrow A2 shown in FIG. 4) against the urging force of the torsion coil spring, a protruding member (not shown) is provided to protrude from the operation handle 24 toward the handle base 22 side. And the operation shaft 25 in the handle base 22 fitted therewith is rotated by the same twisting operation angle as that of the operation handle 24. The rotation angle of the operation shaft 25 is detected as the magnitude of resistance by a firing intensity volume 27 (see FIG. 4) made of a variable resistor provided in the handle base 22, and twist operation angle information (launch intensity) of the operation handle 24. Signal) is sent to the launcher relay board 52a (see FIG. 11). Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a launch stop switch 28 that can be operated from the outside is provided inside the handle base 22, and when the player presses with a finger, a launch stop signal is sent to the launcher relay board 52a. (See FIG. 11).

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a ball feeding device 37 that is located near the hitting hammer 32 and is attached to the upper ball tray 9, and a plate-like rail base 38 that faces the ball feeding device 37. And a launch rail 39 which is held by the rail base 38 and extends obliquely. Here, the launch rail 39 is provided in the lower space of the front frame 3 (the space on the back side of the backing plate 9t described later) so as to extend from the lower right to the upper left as viewed from the front of the pachinko machine 1, The aforementioned outer rail 15 is disposed on the extension line (see FIG. 2). The ball feeding device 37 is a game that has moved in a ball supply path 10 (see FIGS. 5 and 6), which will be described later, from within a ball storage section 9c (see FIGS. 1B and 6) provided in the upper ball tray 9. A ball feed path 37a (see FIG. 7) for guiding the ball B to a predetermined hitting position (the lower end portion of the launch rail 39) in the hit ball launching mechanism 30 is provided, and the launch rail 39 is provided downstream of the ball feed path 37a. The lower end of is located.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the upper ball tray 9 includes a contact plate 9 t made of a horizontally long plate member that is openable and closable with respect to the front frame 3 below the glass door 7, and an exterior attached to the contact plate 9 t. It is comprised from the body 9a and the plate body 9b attached to the inner side of this exterior body 9a. The above-described ball storage portion 9c for storing the game ball B is provided in the upper left front portion of the dish body 9b, and the ball storage portion 9c is inclined obliquely toward the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 as a whole (in front of the pachinko machine 1 The ball supply path 10 is provided so as to extend from the upper left to the lower right as viewed from the top.

  The pachinko machine 1 is provided with a ball supply auxiliary device for allowing the game ball B stored in the ball storage section 9c to be sent into the ball supply path 10 without clogging the ball. In this embodiment, the supply assisting device is configured by a game ball movement assisting mechanism 60 provided on the back side of the dish body 9b. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 to 10, the game ball movement assist mechanism 60 is a helical tooth that is rotatably supported around the axis on the back side of the plate body 9 b and extends axially on the outer surface. A shaft member 61 with a helical tooth having 62 and a shaft member drive motor (electric motor) 65 for driving the shaft member 61 with a helical tooth. As shown in FIG. 9, the helical toothed shaft member 61 has a large number of recesses 63 formed between the helical teeth 62 formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof (partitioned by the helical teeth 62). The non-supporting portions 61a and 61b provided at both ends are supported by shaft member support portions 9m and 9n provided on the back side of the plate body 9b. The parts connected by the two-dot chain line shown in FIG. 8 are connected to each other when the upper ball tray 9 is assembled.

  The shaft member drive motor 65 is fixed to the dish body 9b, and an end portion (non-supporting portion 61a) of one side of the helically toothed shaft member 61 is attached to the rotating shaft. For this reason, by performing rotation control of the shaft member drive motor 65 from the launching device relay board 52a and the launching device control board 52 described above (see FIG. 11), it is possible to rotate the helically toothed shaft member 61.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the spiral toothed shaft member 61 has the most upstream part located in the sphere storage part 9 c, consisting of a part of the bottom surface of the sphere storage part 9 c, toward the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side. On the downstream side of the sphere supply slope 9d formed to extend obliquely, it is provided close to the sphere supply slope 9d. Further, the portion of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 located outside the ball reservoir 9c (on the downstream side of the ball reservoir 9c) constitutes the above-described ball supply path 10, and the game in the ball reservoir 9c. The ball B is moved and supplied to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30. During the game, the game ball B in the ball storage unit 9c moves downward through the ball supply path 10 and hits the end portion 9k (see FIG. 10) formed on the dish body 9b, so that the back side (the contact) of the pachinko machine 1 It falls to the plate 9t side (downward on the paper surface in FIG. 10), and moves from the ball flow path 37b (see FIG. 9) to the predetermined hitting position of the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 through the ball feed path 37a.

  As shown in FIG. 9, on the ball supply path 10 in a state in which the game balls B are aligned at a position downstream of the upstream end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 9) of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 ( Here, a slope portion (spherical heel 9f) is formed as a rectifier for allowing movement on the helically toothed shaft member 61).

  FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the on / off state of the touch switch 26 and the on / off state of the launcher drive source 35 and the shaft member drive motor 65. As can be seen from this chart, when the player is touching the operation handle 24 and an on signal is output from the touch switch 26 (only when a firing stop signal is not output from the firing stop switch 28). The launcher drive source 35 is rotationally controlled (turned on and off) at regular intervals via the launcher relay board 52a and the launcher control board 52.

  When the firing drive source 35 is controlled to rotate at regular intervals, the hitting hammer 32 once swings clockwise (in the direction of arrow B2 shown in FIG. 4) and then counterclockwise receives the urging force of the return spring 33. The operation of swinging vigorously in the direction (in the direction of arrow B1 shown in FIG. 4) and then coming into contact with the stopper 34 and stopping is repeated. Thereby, the hitting hammer 32 performs a continuous hitting operation. At this time, the launcher relay board 52a applies the hitting hammer 32 with an amplitude according to the launch intensity signal (that is, the magnitude of the twisting operation angle of the operation handle 24) output according to the resistance value of the launch intensity volume 27. Performs control to swing.

  Further, in accordance with the tapping operation, the launcher relay board 52a and the launcher control board 52 intermittently turn the shaft member drive motor 65 at time intervals according to the twisting operation angle of the operation handle 24 detected by the firing strength volume 27. To control the rotation. The driving direction of the shaft member driving motor 65 at this time is the direction in which the game ball B on the helical toothed shaft member 61 is conveyed to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side, that is, the helical teeth 62 of the helical toothed shaft member 61. It is a direction (this is referred to as a forward direction) that proceeds to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side. As a result, the helical toothed shaft member 61 is rotated at regular intervals according to the hitting interval of the hitting hammer 32 (the helical tooth 62 is fed), and the game balls B on the helical toothed shaft member 61 are launched one by one. It will be sent to the lower end of the rail 39. The pachinko machine 1 is not provided with a ball feed valve and its driving mechanism, which are conventionally required, and the ball feed path 37a is stored in a state where the ball feed path 37a enters into each recess 63 on the helically toothed shaft member 61. The game ball B transported and moved from the side of the portion 9c and dropped and dropped from the spiral toothed shaft member 61 at the end portion (left end portion in FIG. 9) of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 is a hitting position ( It serves to guide to the lower end of the firing rail 39).

  Thereby, the game balls B that have passed through the ball feed path 37a are supplied one after another onto the launch rail 39, and the hitting hammer 32 hits the game balls B supplied onto the launch rail 39 at the heel portion 32a. The game balls B are sent to the game area one by one from the launch rail 39 through the outer rail 15 one by one at regular intervals. In FIG. 12, the game ball B supplied onto the launch rail 39 by the on / off operation of the shaft member drive motor 65 is driven by the hitting hammer 32 corresponding to the on / off operation of the launch device drive source 35 performed immediately thereafter. Be beaten. One basic cycle of hitting a ball (one hit ball) corresponds to a section T shown in the figure. Further, the length of the on-duration t of the shaft member drive motor 65 is such that the game balls B (in the recesses 63) on the spiral toothed shaft member 61 are separated and dropped from the end of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 one by one. The time delay Δt is determined in accordance with the amount of rotation of the helical toothed shaft member 61 (feed amount of the helical tooth 62) necessary for making the helical toothed shaft member 61 turn on and off by the axial member drive motor 65. It is determined based on the time required for the game ball B that has fallen off from above to move to the lower end of the firing rail 39 through the ball feed path 37a.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine 1, the game ball B transported and moved by the helical toothed shaft member 61 and passing through the ball feed path 37 a in the ball feed device 37 is set in accordance with the hitting operation of the hitting ball launching mechanism 30. A hitting operation of the game ball B by the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 and a feeding operation of the helically toothed shaft member 61 by the shaft member drive motor 65 so as to be supplied to the hitting position (the lower end of the launch rail 39 as described above) Are performed synchronously. In this example, the synchronization control means for performing such synchronization control includes a launcher relay board 52a, a launcher control board 52, a launcher drive source 35, and a shaft member drive motor 65.

  In such a configuration, the ball feed valve and its driving mechanism, which have been conventionally required as described above, are not required, so the configuration is simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since the game ball B is transported and moved by the spiral toothed shaft member 61, the inclination of the ball path from the ball storage portion 9c to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 can be relaxed, and the height direction dimension can be reduced. Therefore, it is possible to make the whole upper ball tray 9 into a compact configuration.

  By the way, although the game ball B is sent into the game area as described above, the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 moves the game ball B with the strength according to the operation angle (twist angle) of the operation handle 24 operated by the player. Therefore, the player can hit the game ball B with the aim of hitting any position in the game board 12. Then, when the game ball B that falls within the game area falls into the winning opening 12b during the development of the game, a command signal corresponding to the winning condition is output from the ball payout control board 53 to the winning ball cassette 45, and this command signal The received prize ball cassette 45 pays out the game ball B supplied from the tank member 42 via the alignment rod member 43 and the prize ball standby passage 44 to the prize ball payout path 46 based on the command signal, and through this path the upper ball A prize ball (game ball B) is given in the ball storage portion 9c of the tray 9.

  Here, during the game, the game ball B that has been rollingly moved in the ball supply path 9d is transferred onto the spiral toothed shaft member 61, and after that, is placed in the recess 63 as it is. 24, when the ON signal is output from the touch switch 26, the launching device relay board 52a and the launching device control board 52 control the rotation of the shaft member drive motor 65 in the forward direction. The game balls B in the upper concave portion 63 are arranged on the spiral toothed shaft member 61 at equal intervals, and in a state of receiving an urging force obliquely downward from the concave portion 63 (from the helical teeth 62), the ball hitting mechanism is orderly arranged. It is transported to the 30 side. Note that the side wall SW1 formed by the dish body 9b and the side wall SW2 formed by the contact plate 9t are provided on both sides of the helical toothed shaft member 61 (see FIG. 10). It is carried to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side without dropping from the toothed shaft member 61.

  As described above, in the pachinko machine according to the first embodiment, the ball storage unit 9c and the ball supply path 10 are provided so as to extend over the ball storage part 9c (which constitutes at least a part of the ball supply path 10). A spiral toothed shaft member 61 and a shaft member drive motor 65 (game ball movement assisting mechanism 60) that rotationally drives the shaft member 61. The game ball B in the ball storage portion 9c is driven. Therefore, the urging force received from the spiral toothed shaft member 61 is forcibly moved into the sphere supply path 10, so that the boundary portion between the sphere reservoir 9 c and the sphere supply path 10 (the Ball clogging is unlikely to occur in the lower part), and the player can enjoy the game comfortably. In such a configuration, the game ball B in the ball supply path 10 can be forcibly sent downward (to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side), so that the inclination of the ball supply path 10 can be reduced, The entire upper ball tray 9 can be made compact so that the game area of the game board can be expanded downward.

  Further, in the ball supply device provided in the pachinko machine 1 for supplying the game ball B in the ball supply path 10 to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30, the recess 63 formed on the spiral toothed shaft member 61 is provided. When the helical toothed shaft member 61 is driven in a state where the game ball B enters, the gaming ball B of the helical toothed shaft member 61 separates and falls from the end of the helical toothed shaft member 61, and the ball feed path 37a. The ball hitting mechanism 30 is guided to a predetermined hitting position in the hitting ball launching mechanism 30, and the rotation operation of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 (the feeding operation of the spiral tooth 62) is a game in which the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 is located at the hitting ball position. Since it is made in synchronism with the operation of hitting the ball B, the ball feed valve and its driving mechanism, which are conventionally required, become unnecessary. For this reason, a structure becomes simple and manufacturing cost can be reduced. In addition, since the game ball B is transported and moved to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side by the spiral toothed shaft member 61, the inclination of the ball path from the ball storing unit 9c to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 can be relaxed. Since the vertical dimension can be reduced, the entire upper ball tray 9 can be made compact. Further, since the game ball B in the ball supply path 10 is forcibly moved to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side by the spiral toothed shaft member 61, even if the passage width of the ball supply path 10 is narrow, ball clogging hardly occurs. The player can enjoy the game comfortably.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, a ball punching hole 9h located near the lower end of the ball supply path 10 is provided below the ball supply path 10, and the ball punching hole 9h is used as an upper end to make a pachinko machine. A ball discharge path (slope) 9g is provided at a position extending obliquely from upper right to lower left as viewed from the front of 1 (from upper left to lower right in FIG. 9). The lower end portion of the ball discharge path 9g is opened to a ball discharge port 12e (see FIG. 2) provided at the lowermost part of the game board 12, and the game ball B that has been rolling and moving in the ball discharge path 9g is The ball discharge port 12e reaches the lower ball dish 11 through a ball hole 9u provided in the contact plate 9t. The lower end portion of the ball discharge path 9g is open to the lower ball tray 11. Further, a ball removal shutter 71 is provided at a boundary portion between the ball discharge passage 9g and the ball supply passage 10, that is, the ball removal hole 9h. The ball release shutter 71 is movably provided in a shutter moving groove 9i formed in the plate body 9b so as to extend in the left-right direction. The ball release hole 9h is closed during the game by a spring (not shown) (that is, the ball supply) It is located at a position where the communication between the path 10 and the ball discharge path 9g is blocked (see FIG. 9).

  Here, in the state where the ball shutter 71 closes the ball hole 9h as described above, the game ball B that has passed through the ball supply path 10 rolls on the ball shutter 71 (in FIG. When the shutter release lever (ball removal lever) 72 connected to the ball removal shutter 71 is operated by the player, the ball movement path 37a enters (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 10). 9, the ball removal shutter 71 moves to the left in FIG. 9 to open the ball removal hole 9h (that is, the ball supply path 10 and the ball discharge path 9g communicate with each other). Without falling on the ball, it falls downward from the ball removal hole 9h, rolls in the ball discharge passage 9g, and is discharged to the lower ball tray 11. Here, a shutter opening switch 73 (see FIG. 11) for detecting the open state of the ball shutter 71 is provided in the vicinity of the ball shutter 71, and the launcher relay board 52a and the launcher control board 52 are When an off signal is output from the touch switch 26 (that is, the player is not touching the touch switch 26) and a signal for detecting the open state of the ball removal shutter 71 is output from the shutter release switch 73, The shaft member drive motor 65 is controlled to rotate in the forward direction. For this reason, the game balls B in the ball storage portion 9 c and the game balls B stored in the recess 63 of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 are all discharged to the lower ball tray 11.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 show the main configuration of the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components or components having the same functions as those in the first embodiment. ing. In the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, a ball hole 109h is formed between the upstream end of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 and the ball supply slope 9d. A ball discharge passage 109g (see FIGS. 13 and 14) is provided extending from below to the lower side of the helically toothed shaft member 61. The lower end portion of the ball discharge path 109g is open to a ball discharge port 12e provided at the lowermost part of the game board 12, and the game ball B that has rolled and moved in the ball discharge path 109g is released from the ball discharge port 12e. It reaches the lower ball tray 11 through a ball hole 9u provided in the contact plate 9t. In addition, a ball removal shutter 171 is provided at a position where the ball removal hole 109h can be opened and closed (specifically, it is provided movably in a shutter moving groove 109i formed in the plate body 9b extending in the left-right direction). It is normally positioned at the position where the above-mentioned ball hole 109h is closed by a spring (not shown) (see FIG. 14). In this state, the game ball B that has been rolling on the ball supply slope 9d rolls on the ball shutter 171 and rides on the spiral toothed shaft member 61 and then enters the recess 63 (see FIG. 14). However, in the state where the ball removal shutter 171 is moved to the right in FIG. 14 and the ball removal hole 109h is opened, the game ball B rolling on the ball supply slope 9d rides on the ball removal shutter 171. Without falling from the ball removal hole 109h, it rolls on the ball discharge passage 109g and is discharged to the lower ball tray 11. As shown in FIG. 14, a step D is provided between the sphere supply slope 9d and the sphere removal shutter 171. From the upstream side (here, the sphere supply slope 9d side) to the downstream side (here, the sphere removal). The pressing force of the game ball B acting on the shutter 171 side) can be reduced, and a stable flow of the game ball can be secured.

  That is, in the second embodiment, the ball shutter 171 is located in the ball reservoir 9c, and the game from the ball reservoir 9c to the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 side when the ball hole 109h is closed. While allowing the movement of the ball B, the game ball B that has been rollingly moved from within the ball storage portion 9c is discharged to the ball discharge path 109g in a state where the ball removal hole 109h is opened. The ball release shutter 171 extends leftward (see FIG. 14) from the shutter release lever (ball release lever) 172 (see FIG. 14) provided forward (from the player side) from the ball release shutter 171 (see FIG. 14). Is moved to the right of the paper surface), the ball removal shutter 171 can be moved to open the ball removal hole 109h. It should be noted that by preventing the tip of the shutter release lever 172 from protruding outside the exterior body 9a, a situation in which a player accidentally touches the shutter release lever 172 and discharges the ball is prevented. can do.

  In addition, a shutter release switch (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the ball removal shutter 171. When the ball removal shutter 171 is located at a position where the ball removal hole 109h is opened, an ON signal is sent to the launcher relay board 52a. It is designed to output. The launch device relay board 52a is fired when an off signal is output from the touch switch 26 (that is, the player is not touching the touch switch 26) and an on signal is output from the shutter release switch. When the ball discharge command signal is output to the device control board 52, the launch device control board 52 receives the ball discharge command signal and moves the shaft member drive motor 65 in a direction opposite to the forward direction (the spiral toothed shaft member 61 spheres the game ball B. Control to rotate in the direction of transport to the storage unit 9c side is performed. As a result, not only the game ball B rolling on the ball supply slope 9d positioned on the upstream side of the spiral toothed shaft member 61 but also all the game balls B contained in the concave portion 63 of the spiral toothed shaft member 61. The balls are discharged from the hole 109h into the ball discharge passage 109g.

  Thus, in the pachinko machine according to the second embodiment, the helically toothed shaft member 61, the shaft member drive motor 65 that drives the spiral toothed shaft member 61 in both forward and reverse directions, and the ball extraction hole 109h provided in the ball storage portion 9c. A ball discharge passage 109g provided in communication and a ball release shutter 171 provided so as to be able to open and close the ball release hole 109h are provided. In a state where the ball release shutter 171 closes the ball release hole 109h, the ball is stored. The game ball B in the portion 9c rolls and moves on the ball shutter 171 and enters the recess 63 on the spiral toothed shaft member 61, and the ball ball 171 opens the ball hole 109h. The ball supply / discharge in which the game ball B that has entered the recess 63 on the spiral toothed shaft member 61 driven in the reverse direction and in the storage portion 9c is discharged and discharged to the ball discharge path 109g. It is equipped with a device. Also in this ball supply / discharge device, the ball hole 109h is provided in the ball storage portion 9c, and the game ball B in the ball storage portion 9c and the game ball B in the ball supply path 10 are simultaneously connected to this ball. Since it can be discharged from the hole 109h, the game ball B can be discharged and collected quickly (in a short time). Moreover, if the reverse rotation speed of the shaft member drive motor 65 is increased, the game ball B in the ball supply path 10 can be discharged quickly. The game ball B just before being supplied to the hitting position of the hitting ball launching mechanism 30 (the lower end portion of the launch rail 39) rides on the spiral toothed shaft member 61 and rides on the spiral toothed shaft member 61. Since the game ball B can be discharged and collected from the ball extraction hole 109h to the lower ball tray 11 by controlling the rotation of the shaft member drive motor 65 in the reverse direction, all of the unlaunched game balls B are collected. It is possible.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described so far, but the scope of the present invention is not limited to those shown in the above-described embodiments. For example, in the above-described embodiment, a pachinko machine having upper and lower ball dishes has been described as an example. However, the present invention is also applicable to a pachinko machine in which upper and lower ball dishes are integrated. As in the example, it is possible to expand the game area downward by making the entire ball tray a compact configuration. In the above-described embodiment, the case where the vertical ball game machine to which the present invention is applied is a pachinko machine has been described as an example. However, other vertical ball game machines similar to this (for example, arrange balls) Etc.), the present invention can be similarly applied.

1 shows a pachinko machine as a vertical ball game machine to which the first embodiment of the present invention is applied, in which (A) is a front view and (B) is a side view. It is a front view of the said pachinko machine in the state where the glass door was opened. It is the figure which looked at the back set board of the said pachinko machine from the back side of the pachinko machine. It is a disassembled perspective view of the hitting ball launching operation device and hitting ball launching mechanism in the pachinko machine. It is a perspective view of the hitting ball launching mechanism of the pachinko machine. It is the figure which looked at the upper ball plate in the said pachinko machine from upper direction. It is a fragmentary sectional view seen from arrow VII-VII in FIG. 5, and is a figure which shows a ball | bowl feed path | route. It is the exploded view which shows the structure of the upper ball tray in the said pachinko machine, and is the figure seen from the back side of the pachinko machine. It is the figure which looked at the top plate ball in the above-mentioned pachinko machine from the back side of the pachinko machine. It is the fragmentary sectional view which looked at the upper ball tray in the pachinko machine from the upper part. It is a block diagram which shows the signal transmission path | route between the hit ball launching operation apparatus and the hit ball launching mechanism in the pachinko machine. It is a timing chart which shows the relationship between the on-off state of the touch switch in the said pachinko machine, and the on-off state of a launcher drive source and a shaft member drive motor. It is the exploded view which shows the structure of the upper ball tray in the pachinko machine which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and is the figure seen from the back side of the pachinko machine. It is the figure which looked at the upper bowl in the pachinko machine concerning a 2nd embodiment from the back side of the pachinko machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 2 Outer frame 3 Front frame 4 Hinge 5 Hinge 6 Locking device 7 Glass door 7a Opening part 9 Upper ball tray 9a Exterior body 9b Plate body 9c Ball storage part 9d Ball supply path 9f Ball leveling bowl 9g Ball discharge path 9h Ball release hole 9i Shutter moving groove 9k End part 9m Shaft member support part 9n Shaft member support part 9t Baffle plate 10 Ball supply path 11 Lower ball dish 12 Game board 12a Symbol display device 12b Prize opening 12c Large prize opening 12d Out hole 12e Ball Discharge port 13 Storage frame 14 Glass plate 15 Outer rail 16 Inner rail 20 Hitting ball launch operation device 21 Handle holder 22 Handle base 23 Cap 24 Operation handle 25 Operation shaft 26 Touch switch 27 Launch strength volume 28 Launch stop switch 30 Base 32 Hitting hammer 32a Buttocks 33 Return Pulling 34 Stopper 35 Firing device drive source 37 Ball feeding device 37a Ball feeding path 37b Ball supply port 38 Rail base 39 Firing rail 40 Back set panel 41 Base frame body 41a Window 42 Tank member 43 Alignment rod member 43a Deflection outlet 44 Prize ball waiting Path 45 Prize ball cassette 46 Prize ball payout path 51 Main board 52 Launcher control board 52a Launcher relay board 53 Ball payout control board 54 Lamp / voice control board 55 Power board 60 Game ball movement assist mechanism 61 Spiral toothed shaft member 61a Non-supporting part 61b Non-supporting part 62 Spiral tooth 63 Recess 65 Shaft member drive motor 71 Ball release shutter 73 Shutter release switch 109g Ball discharge path 109h Ball release hole 109i Shutter moving groove 171 Ball release shutter 172 Shutter release lever TB table B game ball

Claims (2)

A rectangular frame-shaped outer frame, a front frame attached openably to said outer frame is formed in a rectangular shape to match the front opening area of the outer frame, a game board attached to the front frame, wherein a hit ball firing mechanism hitting fired attached to the front frame of the game balls in the game area provided in the game board front, and the ball reservoir for storing game balls attached to the front frame, the ball storage portion A vertical ball game machine that is configured to have a ball supply path that moves the game ball and supplies the ball to the hitting ball launching mechanism, and is provided to the game in a substantially standing state.
A spiral having a helical tooth that is rotatably supported about an axis and extends axially on an outer surface, and an axial region in which the helical tooth is provided forms a part of the spherical supply path A toothed shaft member;
The helical toothed shaft member is rotationally driven in a direction in which a game ball that has entered a recess formed between adjacent helical teeth on the helical toothed shaft member is transported and moved to the hitting ball launching mechanism side. Shaft member driving means;
A ball extraction hole provided between the ball supply path and the hitting ball launching mechanism;
A ball discharge path provided in communication with the ball release hole and provided to discharge the game ball entering through the ball release hole to the front side of the front frame;
A ball release shutter provided so as to be able to open and close the ball release hole;
In a state in which the ball removal shutter is closing the ball removal hole, the shaft member driving means drives the helical toothed shaft member into the recess in synchronization with the hitting operation of the hitting ball launching mechanism. The game ball is transported to the hitting ball launching mechanism side by the spiral toothed shaft member, and moved on the ball-shutter shutter to be sent to the hitting ball launching mechanism,
In a state where the ball shutter has the ball hole, the shaft member driving means drives the spiral toothed shaft member to allow the game ball in the ball storage portion to enter the recess and the spiral. It is configured to be conveyed to the hitting ball launching mechanism side by a toothed shaft member, enter into the ball punching hole, and discharged to the front side of the front frame through the ball discharge path. Ball supply and discharge device for vertical ball game machines. A second sphere storage section is provided below the sphere storage section in the front frame, and game balls discharged to the front side of the front frame through the sphere discharge path are stored in the second sphere storage section. The ball supply / discharge device for a vertical ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the ball supply / discharge device is configured to be stored in a portion.

Images