JP4253874B2 - Pachinko ball counting system - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a pachinko ball counting system in which a player can count the number of pachinko balls without moving from the pachinko machine.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, a player who has won a large number of prize balls in a pachinko machine game has carried thousands to tens of thousands of pachinko balls to a counter, printed out the counting results, and exchanged them for the desired prize. It was.
[0003]
Since the counter is provided at the end of the game island where pachinko machines are lined up, the player carries a heavy ball storage box from his or her pachinko machine to the counter, or holds a cart. I came and loaded the ball storage box on the carriage and carried it to the counter. Whichever work you do, it's never easy.
[0004]
In order to solve this, there is a system that enables counting without carrying a ball storage box. In this system, a ball inlet is formed on the counter (the shelf-like place where the ball storage box is placed) provided below the pachinko machine, the lower part of the ball lending machine, etc. It is guided and counted by a counter provided in the amusement island, and is displayed on a display device provided on the side of the pachinko machine.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, according to the prior art, a counter is required for each pachinko machine, and the entire system becomes very complicated and expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize a system capable of counting the number of balls without moving the ball storage box with a simple configuration.
[0006]
Further, the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 2 (hereinafter also simply referred to as a system) aims to increase the counting capability of other pachinko machines belonging to the system when the pachinko machine breaks down. .
Furthermore, the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 3 is intended to complete counting in a short time even when a large number of balls flow into the ball inlet.
[0007]
The pachinko ball counting system according to claim 4 proposes a mode in which counting can be appropriately performed in the system according to claim 3.
The pachinko ball counting system according to a fifth aspect is intended to complete counting in a shorter time when a large number of balls flow into the ball inlet in the system according to the third aspect.
[0008]
The pachinko ball counting system according to claim 6 proposes a preferred mode of the pachinko ball counting system according to claims 3 to 5.
The pachinko ball counting system according to claim 7 is intended to allow the game to be resumed using the balls counted by the player.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The pachinko ball counting system according to claim 1 of the present invention is a pachinko ball counting system used in a pachinko hall equipped with a plurality of pachinko machines that discharges pachinko balls downward according to game results,
A ball inlet into which the pachinko balls discharged from the respective pachinko machines flow;
By having a plurality of grooves that are inclined along the length direction and have a width that allows one pachinko ball to pass in parallel, each pachinko ball is detected by a ball sensor provided in a downstream portion of each groove. A counting unit for counting pachinko balls in the groove;
A partition plate for dividing the plurality of grooves of the counting unit in the parallel direction;
Each group divided by the partition plate is connected to each ball inlet, and the balls discharged downward from the pachinko machine are guided to the grooves of the group through the ball inlet. A guidance route to
A counting control unit that counts the number of balls counted by the ball sensor for each group;
It is characterized by comprising notifying means for notifying a player of the pachinko machine corresponding to the group of the results totaled by the totaling control unit.
[0010]
The present invention described in claim 2 is the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 1,
The partition plate is capable of changing its position in the parallel direction of the grooves,
Each of the guide paths is capable of guiding a pachinko ball to a new group whose width is changed by changing the position of the partition plate,
The counting control unit is configured to count the balls counted by the ball sensor for each group whose width is changed by changing the position of the partition plate.
[0011]
The present invention described in claim 3 is the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 2,
When the total result of the ball sensor per unit time of a group is significantly larger than the total result of the ball sensor per unit time at the same time of another group, A distribution means for re-grouping so that the number of grooves belonging to the group becomes larger than the number of grooves belonging to other groups;
Partition plate driving means for moving the partition plate in the parallel direction of the groove in accordance with a group newly grouped by the sorting means.
[0012]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the pachinko ball counting system according to the second aspect,
A valve that is provided in each of the guide paths and is open in an initial state, and allows the pachinko ball to flow into and out of each corresponding group by being opened and closed; and
When the counting results of a certain group are remarkably increased, the pachinko balls are controlled before and after the grouping by controlling the opening and closing of the valves and issuing commands to the partition plate driving means and the counting control unit. And a valve control means for correctly maintaining the correspondence of the pachinko machine.
[0013]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the pachinko ball counting system according to the fourth aspect,
The valve control means is
A first valve control means for closing all of the valves when the counting result of a certain group is significantly increased;
When all the valves are closed by the first valve control means and the counting result of each group does not change, a command to move the partition plate according to the group newly grouped by the distribution means, Command means for issuing to the partition plate driving means;
And second valve control means for opening all the valves when the movement of the partition plate by the partition plate driving means is completed.
[0014]
The present invention described in claim 6 is the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 4 or 5,
When the counting results of the ball sensors per unit time of each group are almost equal to each other, all the valves are closed and the partition plates are moved so that the number of grooves belonging to each group is substantially the same. And a groove number equalizing means for opening all the valves.
[0015]
The present invention described in claim 7 is the pachinko ball counting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
From the results counted by the counting control unit, in accordance with instructions from the player of the pachinko machine corresponding to the group, counting result supply means for supplying the pachinko machine as a rental ball,
Counting result management means for subtracting the number of balls lent out by the counting result supply means from the result counted by the counting control unit is provided.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The pachinko ball counting system according to claim 1 is provided with a ball inlet for receiving the pachinko balls discharged from each pachinko machine, and when the pachinko balls flow into the pachinko ball, the pachinko ball counting system reaches the counting unit through the guide path, and the counting is performed. It is configured to be done. As a result, the player can count without going to the island edge.
[0017]
The counting portion has a width that allows one pachinko ball to pass through, and includes a groove that is inclined along the length direction. A plurality of the grooves are arranged in parallel in the width direction. And it is comprised so that a pachinko ball can be counted by all the grooves by detecting the pachinko ball with the ball sensor provided in the downstream part of each groove | channel. The plurality of grooves are divided in the parallel direction by the partition plates, and each group corresponds to one guide path, and thus one pachinko machine.
[0018]
Here, if the counting unit has 18 grooves and is divided into three groups of 6 by using two partition plates, three pachinko machines are counted simultaneously by one counting unit. It will be possible (hereinafter represented in this embodiment).
It should be noted that many of the counters described above, when placed on the island edge or the like, have the same form as the counting unit. In other words, the counting unit of this system divides a plurality of grooves of an existing counter into several pieces by a partition plate, adds a configuration corresponding to a totaling control unit, and displays a notification of the totaling result for each pachinko machine ( This can be realized if it corresponds to the notification means).
[0019]
Therefore, according to the system of the first aspect, since the counting for a plurality of pachinko machines is possible with one counting unit, the system can be configured simply. For example, if N units are counted, it is possible to count with about 1 / N units compared to the case where a counter is installed for each pachinko machine.
[0020]
As described above, the ball storage box may be used to guide the prize ball discharged downward from the pachinko machine to the ball inlet, or the lower part of the pachinko machine and the ball inlet may be directly connected by a pipe or the like. May be. In the former case, the ball storage box forms part of the guiding path. Here, such a ball storage box is particularly called a guide box.
[0021]
Further, in the system according to claim 2, the position of the partition plate can be changed in the parallel direction of the grooves, thereby making the number of grooves belonging to each group variable. Accordingly, the tabulation control unit can tabulate pachinko balls for each group that is changed by the movement of the partition plate.
[0022]
The guiding path is capable of guiding the pachinko balls to a new group whose width is changed by the movement of the partition plate.
That is, by changing the position of the partition plate, it is possible to change the number of grooves of the group that performs counting corresponding to each pachinko machine. The number of grooves belonging to each group is substantially proportional to the counting speed of that group. In addition, as a method of changing the partition plate, a moving mechanism such as a ball screw is configured by using an actuator such as a motor as power, or a U-shaped rail in which the edge of the partition plate is fitted in the housing of the counting unit, It is possible to form a plurality in parallel with the groove, and manually remove the partition plate and fit it into another rail.
[0023]
In addition, the aggregation control unit may detect the position of the changed partition plate and change the group unit for counting accordingly, or provide a dip switch for each groove, to which group each groove belongs. May be manually specified by switching the DIP switch. Note that the time point when the counting control unit starts counting for the new group is not necessarily after the movement of the partition plate is completed. As the earliest point in time, it can be considered immediately after the grouping by the sorting means to be described later is performed again.
[0024]
Therefore, according to the second aspect, when one of the three pachinko machines becomes unusable due to a failure or the like, the remaining two pachinko machines can be quickly counted. This is because if the number of grooves in the group corresponding to the failed pachinko machine is reduced and the number of grooves in the group corresponding to the other two pachinko machines is increased, the counting speed of the two machines is improved.
[0025]
In addition to this configuration, the system according to claim 3 includes sorting means and partition plate driving means.
The sorting means is a method that, when the aggregation result per unit time of a group is markedly larger than the aggregation result per unit time at the same time of another group, the groove belonging to the increased group. The grouping is performed again so that the number of grooves is larger than the number of grooves belonging to other groups.
[0026]
Here, the following cases are assumed as the “conspicuously many” states. In other words, when the game that has been played with the prize ball always flowing at the ball entrance becomes a so-called big hit, or when the player has finished the game that was performed with the prize ball stored in the guide box. .
[0027]
The former occurs in a game form in which a game is played only with pachinko balls stored in a well-known upper plate and lower plate provided in the pachinko machine, and balls overflowing from these are counted more and more. In this form, the pachinko balls hardly flow in the state where the jackpot is not made. As soon as the jackpot is reached, several hundred balls per minute flow to the ball entrance. The number varies depending on the type of pachinko machine and the skill of the game.
[0028]
On the other hand, until the end, the ball hardly flows to the ball flow inlet, but at a certain point a large amount of balls flow at once. Although it depends on the number of balls stored in the induction box, when converted per unit time, it usually exceeds the flow rate when the jackpot is reached.
Considering the above, as the “conspicuously many” state, a case where the jackpot is large is set as a threshold value, and when it is larger than this, it may be determined that “conspicuously many”. For example, if the aggregated value per minute in one group is 100 or more more than the aggregated value per minute in other groups, it is judged as “remarkably large” and the number of grooves in the group corresponding to the pachinko machine Regroup so that there are more. As described above, the inflow amount at the time of the big hit varies depending on the model of the pachinko machine. Therefore, the numerical value “100” may be changed according to the model. The unit time is not limited to “per minute” but may be changed according to the model.
[0029]
Thus, the partition plate driving means moves the partition plate in the parallel direction of the grooves according to the newly grouped group.
According to the system of claim 3 configured in this way, the counting speed of a group in which a large number of balls flow into the ball flow inlet is automatically improved, so that a pachinko machine player corresponding to the group can be kept for a long time. There is no waiting.
[0030]
However, if only the partition plate is moved in order to increase the number of grooves of the increased group, there is a possibility that a part of the large number of balls will be counted as balls with other groups. However, prior to moving the partition plate, if the totaling group performed by the totaling control unit is updated to a new group determined by the sorting means, the ball of the group on the side where the number of grooves is reduced has the number of grooves. There is a possibility that it will be counted as a ball of the group on the side to be increased (we will call such a ball of another group as a ball of the group a group error). The system according to claim 4 solves this problem.
[0031]
That is, in the system according to claim 4, a valve is provided in the guide path. This valve is open in the initial state, and the pachinko ball flows into the corresponding group and counting is performed. By closing the valve, the pachinko ball can be prohibited from flowing into the group. .
[0032]
The opening and closing of these valves is controlled by valve control means. Then, the valve is closed when the total result of a certain group is remarkably increased. For example, there is a case where only one group has increased from the state where the total results of all groups are substantially the same, or a case where the total result of another group has further increased from this state. The valve is opened when the movement of the partition plate is completed or when a situation in which a group error does not occur even when a ball flows into the groove is reached. The valve control means controls the opening and closing of the valve according to the change in the counting result, and issues a command to the partition plate driving means and the counting control unit, and the number of balls to be counted and the pachinko machine before and after the grouping. Keep the correct response.
[0033]
The following are mentioned as an example of the concrete method of this. When only one group becomes conspicuously large, the valves corresponding to the other two groups are closed at that time, and the totaling control unit is started to count according to the grouping that the sorting means re-does. The distribution means does not regroup so that the number of grooves of the group that has newly increased the count result (excluding the group that has already increased) is reduced, so update the group to be counted at this point. There is no problem.
[0034]
Then, a command is issued to the partition plate driving means, and the partitioning means is moved to correspond to the new group formed by the sorting means again, and when the movement is completed, the valve is opened. In this way, when a large amount of balls flow into a certain group, there is no possibility of counting as balls with other groups.
[0035]
The system according to claim 5 proposes an aspect that can cope with any grouping among the systems according to claim 4. That is, in the system according to the fifth aspect, when the counting result is remarkably increased, the first valve control means closes all the valves. Then, the command means issues a command to the partition plate drive means after waiting for the total results of all groups to remain unchanged, and moves the partition plate. Waiting for the counting result to stop changing is because the pachinko balls that are left downstream (including in the groove) when the valve is closed are mistakenly used as balls of other groups (ie pachinko machines). This is to prevent counting.
[0036]
Then, the second valve control means opens all the valves. In this aspect, the aggregation control unit may update the group to be aggregated after the aggregation results of all the groups no longer change until the valve is opened.
According to such a system, all the valves are closed before the partition plate is moved, and the partition plate is moved after the counting in progress is completed, so even if the partition plate is moved to the appropriate position. No group error occurs. In addition, there is also an effect that troubles such as pachinko balls being caught in the gap between the partition plate and the groove during movement do not occur.
[0037]
Note that increasing the number of grooves belonging to a certain group means reducing the number of grooves in another group, and thus the tabulation ability in the “other group” is lower than before the partition plate is moved. If the pachinko machine corresponding to the group does not win or the game is not finished, as mentioned above, almost no ball flows into the ball entrance, so there is no big problem even if the counting ability is low. . However, if a situation occurs in which the total number of “other groups” increases thereafter, the amount of movement of the partition plate increases by the number of grooves reduced by the above-described movement, which takes extra time. In particular, in the aspect of the fifth aspect, the valve is closed by the first valve control means during this period, so that the inflow to the ball inlet is delayed and the player is caused to wait extra.
[0038]
The present invention according to claim 6 solves this problem. That is, the present invention described in claim 6 includes a groove number equalizing means. The groove number equalizing means closes all the valves and moves the partition plates to move the grooves belonging to each group when the total results per unit time of each group related to the counting unit are substantially equal to each other. Make the number of the valves approximately the same and open all the valves.
[0039]
Note that the “substantially equal” state includes a state in which the difference between the maximum group value and the minimum group value within one minute is less than 100. “Make the number of grooves substantially the same” may be “same” when the number of grooves of the counting unit can be divided by the number of pachinko machines in charge. For example, if there are three pachinko machines and the number of grooves is 16, the number is 5, 5, 6, etc.
[0040]
If this groove number equalizing means is provided, the number of grooves is equalized every time when a significantly large number of states are finished, so that the counting ability of other groups is revived. Even if it becomes, the partition plate can be moved in almost the same time, and the player does not wait extra. Note that the opening and closing of the valve by the groove number equalizing means is an operation required along with the movement of the partition plate.
[0041]
The system according to claim 7 includes counting result supply means and counting result management means.
The counting result supply means supplies the pachinko machine as a rental ball in accordance with an instruction from the player of the pachinko machine corresponding to the group based on the result obtained by the aggregation control unit. Thereby, the ball once counted can be returned to the player again.
[0042]
On the other hand, the counting result management means subtracts the number of balls lent out by the counting result supply means from the result counted by the counting control unit.
According to this system, the player can receive the conversion of the counted balls at any time, so that the acquired pachinko balls can be counted as much as possible. As a result, the player can calculate the true number of pachinko balls he has acquired. A value close to the value can be known. If the player plays the game in this way, there is an advantage for the hall side that the number of pachinko balls required per pachinko machine can be reduced.
[0043]
【Example】
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
First, FIG. 1 is a front view showing a part of an amusement island 1 to which the present invention is applied. In addition, the balustrade etc. which are always provided in a general game island are omitted, and details of the present invention are not shown because they will be described later.
[0044]
As shown in this figure, this pachinko ball counting system includes a guiding unit 6a, 6b, 6c that connects the counting unit 2, the three pachinko machines 4a, 4b, 4c and the counting unit 2, respectively, and the pachinko machine 4a, 4b, 4c corresponding to the ball number display devices 10a, 10b, 10c, and signal lines 12a, 12b, 12c connecting the ball number display devices 10a-10c and the counting unit 2 as main parts. It is configured. The guide path 6a is a pipe through which a pachinko ball passes, the vicinity of the counting unit 2 has a bellows shape, and the other end is a ball formed on the upper surface of a shelf-like counter 14 provided on the game island 1 It communicates with the inflow port 16a (the same applies to the guide paths 6b and 6c). Reference numeral 18 denotes a pipe for returning the ball that has been counted by the counting unit 2 to an island tank (not shown). In addition, the structure written below the counter 14 in this figure is installed inside the game island 1.
[0045]
FIG. 2 shows the counting unit 2. 2A is a plan view, and FIG. 2B is a view seen through the front. The inside of the counting unit 2 is divided into three areas by two partition plates 20a and 20b, and the guide paths 6a to 6c are arranged to guide the pachinko balls to the respective areas. The partition plate 20a is supported by ball screws 22a and 24a via nuts 26a and 28a at the front and rear (up and down in FIG. 2A). The ball screws 22b and 24b that support the partition plate 20b are It is made to pass 20a. Pulleys 30a and 32a are attached to the left ends of the ball screws 22a and 24a. The pulleys 30a and 32a are rotated through a timing belt 36a by using a stepping motor 34a indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Is moved in the horizontal direction in the figure. The partition plate 20b is moved in the same manner using the stepping motor 34b as power.
[0046]
Even if the partition plate 20a is moved, springs 38a are attached to the left and right ends of the guide path 6a so that the guide path 6a is located at the center of the area. The guide paths 6b and 6c are also provided with springs 38b and 38c so as to be located at the center of each area. The diameter of the guide path 6 (the letter common to the guide paths 6a to 6c is omitted in this way. The same applies to other configurations), and the diameter of the guide path 6 is approximately three of the width of the groove 48. .
[0047]
The pachinko balls that have flowed out of the guide path 6 reach the first slope 40. The first inclined surface 40 is inclined so that the lower side in FIG. 2A is lowered, thereby rolling downward in FIG. 2A and reaching the second inclined surface 44. The second inclined surface 44 is inclined in the opposite direction to the first inclined surface 40, and 17 strip-like walls 46 are erected along the inclined direction to form 18 grooves 48. Yes. Note that two of the walls 46 are not shown in the figure because they are located directly below the partition plates 20a and 20b.
[0048]
The width of the groove 48 is set so that only one pachinko ball can enter, and the balls from the first inclined surface 40 to the second inclined surface 44 enter each groove 48 in one row, and are shown in FIG. It is guided upwards. Although it is difficult to understand in this figure, there are only a few gaps between the partition plate 20a and the first inclined surface 40 and between the partition plate 20a and the upper portion of the wall 46, and the pachinko balls that have flowed out from the guide path 6a are adjacent to each other. Don't get stuck in the area. The same is applied to the partition plate 20b, so that the pachinko balls coming out of the respective guide paths 6a flow into only the corresponding areas. Hereinafter, a group of grooves 48 divided by the partition plates 20a and 20b is referred to as a group. That is, in the counting unit 2, the inside is divided into three groups. Reference numeral 50 denotes a ball sensor unit that counts balls that have flowed down from each groove 48, and reference numeral 52 denotes a slope for guiding the ball that has flowed down from the ball sensor unit 50 to the pipe 18.
[0049]
FIG. 3 shows the counting unit 2 viewed from the right. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 3B is a side view. The pachinko balls rolling on the second slope 44 rotate the star gear 54 provided in the ball sensor unit 50. Eighteen star gears 54 are provided like the grooves 48, and the number of pachinko balls that have flowed is detected from the rotation angle of the star gears 54 and transmitted to the totaling control unit 58 via the signal line 56. The 2nd slope 44, the groove | channel 48, and the ball | bowl sensor part 50 are equivalent to the counting part of this invention. Pachinko balls that have been counted flow into the pipe 18. Reference numeral 59 denotes a table on which the ball sensor unit 50 is placed, and the table 59 and the tabulation control unit 58 are omitted to show the slope 52 in FIG.
[0050]
Here, it returns to Fig.3 (a). The valve 60c is a disk-like member placed in the guide path 6c, and is rotated 90 ° by the stepping motor 62c to close and open the guide path 6c (this figure is in an open state). The stepping motor 62 c is driven by an instruction given from the totaling control unit 58 via the signal line 64. The valves 60a and 60b (not shown) are also configured in the same manner, so that the inflow of pachinko balls can be permitted / prohibited for each group. Reference numeral 65 shown in FIG. 3B is a pulley for driving the timing belt 36b, and reference numeral 66 is a tension pulley.
[0051]
FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the vicinity of the ball inlet 16a. In this system, the ball discharged from the lower plate 68 is basically guided to the ball inlet 16 a via the guide box 70. For this purpose, the guide box 70 is provided with a ball outlet 72 at the bottom thereof, and is opened and closed when the handle 74 is moved back and forth.
[0052]
The number of balls display device 10a is provided on the upper surface of the counter 14, and a return button 76a and a settlement button 78a are provided in the back thereof. When the return button 76a is pushed, 125 balls (all numbers when the number of balls displayed on the ball number display device 10a is less than 125) are lent out from the ball lending machine 80a, and the ball number display device 10a. The displayed number will decrease accordingly. When the adjustment button 78a is pressed, the number displayed on the ball number display device 10a is printed out from the printer 81a, and the display on the ball number display device 10a becomes zero. Note that if the checkout button 78 is pressed while the member card is inserted in the card insertion slot 82a, no print output is made, and instead the number of balls stored in the member card is displayed in the number of balls display device 10a. The display number is added.
[0053]
The cross-sectional view of FIG. 5 shows how the pachinko balls in the guide box 70 flow into the guide path 6a. As shown in the figure, when the guide box 70 is placed on the counter 14, the position of the ball outlet 72 and the position of the ball inlet 16a are substantially aligned. In this state, when the player pulls the handle 74 forward, the ball outlet 72 is opened, the pachinko ball 84 flows into the ball inlet 16a, is guided to the guide path 6a, and reaches the counting unit 2.
[0054]
The control block of the counting unit 2 is as shown in FIG. That is, the counting unit 2 will be described later based on an input circuit 86 to which detection signals from the ball sensor unit 50, the return button 76, and the settlement button 78 are input, and detection signals acquired via the input circuit 86. From the CPU 88 that executes processing, the processing that the CPU 88 executes, the ROM 90 that stores the relationship between the rotation angle of the stepping motor 34 and the position of the partition plate 20 in advance, the RAM 92 that temporarily stores the data that the CPU 88 processes, and the CPU 88 Output circuit 94 for outputting drive signals to the ball number display device 10, the stepping motors 34a and 34b, the stepping motor 62, the ball lending machine 80, the printer 81, etc., and a magnetic card reader / writer 96, respectively A magnetic card reader / writer controller 98 for exchanging control signals and data (in FIG. A card R / W controller hereinafter), and a, a bus 100 for connecting the respective units. An input circuit 86, a part of the output circuit 94, and a CPU 88, ROM 90, and RAM 92 are installed in the aggregation control unit 58.
[0055]
The ball sensor unit 50 includes 18 rotation angle sensors T corresponding to the star gear 54. ₁ ~ T ₁₈ And 18 can be independently detected.
The magnetic card reader / writer 96 is for reading and writing data from the above-described member card, and is disposed at the back of the card insertion slot 82.
[0056]
Actually, the return button 76 and the settlement button 78 are connected to the input circuit 86 three by three corresponding to the pachinko machines 4a to 4c. The same applies to the ball number display device 10, the stepping motor 62, the inter-ball ball lending machine 80, and the printer 81.
In the counting unit 2, patterns of how to divide the three groups are prepared in advance, and are selected from these according to the total result. There are four ways to divide groups. A representative of this is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 represents the counting unit 2 as a rectangle, and represents the number of grooves 48 belonging to each group divided by the partition plates 20a and 20b as a number. FIG. 7A shows a pattern used when the initial state and the total result of any group are almost the same. In this state, each group has six grooves 48. FIGS. 7B and 7C are patterns used when the total result of one group is remarkably larger than the other two groups (this pattern is hereinafter referred to as “12, 3, 3”). Called). FIG. 7B shows a case where the number of groups receiving the pachinko balls 84 from the center, that is, the guide path 6b increases, and FIG. In all cases, the number of grooves belonging to the increased group is increased to twelve. FIG. 7D shows a pattern used when the total result of two groups is significantly larger than the remaining one group (this pattern is hereinafter referred to as “7, 7, 4”). In addition to those shown here, there are one “12, 3, 3”, two “7, 7, 4”, and seven patterns in total.
[0057]
FIG. 8 shows the counting process that is the basis of the process executed by the CPU 88 to perform this grouping. FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the counting process, which is activated every 0.5 seconds. When this process is started, the rotation angle of the star gear 54 is determined by the rotation angle sensor T. ₁ ~ T ₁₈ Each is converted into a number (S110). Next, the calculation results are totaled for each group (S120). For example, in the pattern of FIG. 7A, the left group is the rotation angle sensor T. ₁ ~ T ₆ The total number detected and converted at the center group is the rotation angle sensor T ₇ ~ T ₁₂ The total number detected and converted at, and the right group is the rotation angle sensor T ₁₃ ~ T ₁₈ Total the number detected and converted in. These three total values correspond to the pachinko machines 4a, 4b, 4c.
[0058]
And this is added to the total value calculated last time, and it is set as the total result of each pachinko machine 4 (S130). Finally, the counting result is displayed on the corresponding ball number display device 10 (S140). Although not shown in the figure, the totaling result of S130 is stored in the RAM 92 for each pachinko machine 4, and the totaling result displayed on the ball number display device 10 in S140 is the one stored in the RAM92. Is displayed.
[0059]
According to this counting process, the display of the ball number display device 10 is updated every 0.5 seconds. Therefore, when the pachinko ball 84 is inserted into the ball inlet 16, the player counts almost in real time. You can know the result. 1 to 6, the counting of three pachinko machines 4 by one counting unit 2 can be performed without carrying the guide box 70. The counting process corresponds to the counting control unit of the present invention, and the ball number display device 10 corresponds to the notification unit.
[0060]
When the return button 76 is pressed, 125 balls are subtracted from the tabulation result stored in the RAM 92 corresponding to the pachinko machine 4 on which the return button 76 is pressed, and 125 balls are taken from the interbank ball lending machine 80. Loaned to. When the counting result is less than 125, the counting result is set to zero, and the whole number is lent out to the player. The process of lending the pachinko ball 84 to the player corresponds to the counting result supply means of the present invention, and the process of subtracting 125 (or the total number) from the counting result stored in the RAM 92 corresponds to the counting result management means. When the total result of the RAM 92 is operated in this way, the result is reflected on the ball number display device 10 by S140 of the counting process executed next time.
[0061]
Further, when the checkout button 78 is pressed, it is determined whether or not a member card is inserted in the card insertion slot 82, and when it is inserted, the count result is added to the number of pachinko balls stored in the member card. The count result in the RAM 92 is set to zero. When the membership card is not inserted, the totaling result is printed out from the printer 81 and the totaling result in the RAM 92 is made zero.
[0062]
Next, a summary result comparison process will be described with reference to FIG. This process is started every minute. When this process is started, first, in S210, the difference between the current aggregation result and the aggregation result one minute ago is calculated for each group. As a result, the count value for the last one minute in the pachinko machines 4a to 4c is calculated.
[0063]
Next, a difference d between the maximum group and the minimum group of the calculation results is calculated (S220). For example, if there are 30 groups corresponding to the pachinko machine 4a, 324 groups corresponding to the pachinko machine 4b, and 23 groups corresponding to the pachinko machine 4c, the maximum is 324 and the minimum is 23. d = 324-23 = 301 (pieces). In step S230, it is determined whether d is greater than 100. If so, the process proceeds to a group distribution process (S240). If not, a group initialization process (S250) is performed and the process is terminated.
[0064]
Here, the group distribution process will be described with reference to FIG. When the group distribution process is started, first, a command is issued to the stepping motors 62a to 62c, all the valves 60a to 60c are closed (S310), and the results of counting in the counting process corresponding to the three pachinko machines 4 However, it waits for none to change (S320). S310 corresponds to the first valve control means of the present invention.
[0065]
Next, it is determined how many groups have more than 100 calculated values more than the smallest group (S330). If there is one, the grouping is set to “12, 3, 3”, and the stepping motors 34a, 34b are driven so that the number of grooves 48 belonging to the group having many calculated values is 12 (S340), that is, the partitioning. The plates 20a and 20b are moved, and the process proceeds to S350. The ROM 90 stores in advance how much the stepping motors 34a and 34b are rotated to move the partition plates 20a and 20b to desired positions. Information on the rotation angle stored in the ROM 90 and the stepping motor 34 correspond to the partition plate driving means.
[0066]
On the other hand, if there are two groups that have increased by 100 or more, the grouping is set to “7, 7, 4”, and the stepping motors 34a, 34b are driven so that the two groups with the large total result are both seven. (S360), the process proceeds to S350. Note that S330, S340, and S360 correspond to the distribution unit of the present invention, and the processing of S340 and S360 corresponds to the command unit.
[0067]
In S350, the rotation angle sensor T is made to correspond to a new group divided into the partition plates 20a and 20b moved by driving the stepping motors 34a and 34b. ₁ ~ T ₁₈ Perform grouping. Thereafter, the counting process and the total result comparison process are performed according to the grouping until the group is sorted again. Finally, all the valves 60a to 60c are opened (S370), and this process ends. S370 corresponds to the second valve control means of the present invention.
[0068]
Although not shown, the group initialization process is the same as the group distribution process. The difference from the group distribution process is that there is no process corresponding to the determination in S330 and that the stepping motors 34a and 34b are driven so as to have a pattern of “6, 6, 6” instead of S340 and S360. is there. The group initialization process corresponds to the groove number equalizing means of the present invention.
[0069]
The following effects are exhibited by these totaling result comparison processing, group distribution processing, and group initialization processing. That is, when the counting result (per minute) of any of the pachinko machines 4a to 4c is larger than that of the other pachinko machines 4, the number of grooves in the group corresponding to the increased pachinko machine 4 is increased by the group distribution process. Increased. As described above, the counting result increases when the corresponding pachinko machine 4 is a big hit or when the player pulls the handle 74 while at least 100 balls are stored in the guide box 70. Etc.
[0070]
On the other hand, when the difference between the counting results of the pachinko machines 4a to 4c falls within 100, the number of grooves 48 corresponding to the pachinko machine 4 is all six.
In addition to the counting process, the totaling result comparison process and the group distribution process are executed in the system shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, so that when counting a large number of balls, the number of grooves in the group is increased and the totaling is performed. Since the ability is improved, a large amount of pachinko balls 84 can be counted quickly. Moreover, since all the valves 60a-60c are closed and the count is stopped before and after the movement of the partition plate 20, the pachinko balls of other groups are not counted. Further, troubles such as the pachinko ball 84 being caught in the gap between the moving partition plate 20 and the groove 48 do not occur.
[0071]
Then, when the count values become substantially the same by executing the group initialization process, the number of grooves 48 belonging to each group is set to six. The counting ability is restored. Thereafter, regardless of which group has a large count value, the partition plate 20 can be moved in substantially the same time, and the player is not caused to wait excessively.
[0072]
As described above, the system using the counting unit 2 has been described as an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and can be implemented in various modes.
For example, although three pachinko machines are handled by one counting unit 2, if the number of grooves 48 provided in the counter is large or the counting speed is high, four or more pachinko machines may be used. . Conversely, the number of units handled may be reduced to two. Even if it does in this way, compared with the aspect which provides one counter for every pachinko machine, the number of counters can be reduced to about 1/2.
[0073]
In the total result comparison process, the calculated values of the groups are compared based on the calculated values every minute, but this may be changed to another time such as every 30 seconds. In addition, although the threshold value for determining “more” is 100, this value may be changed according to the model of the pachinko machine 4. The hall may be able to change this value freely.
[0074]
Further, it is determined whether or not the pattern determined in the group distribution process is the same as the current pattern. If the pattern is the same, the process corresponding to S310, S340, and S360 may not be performed. This eliminates the need for the operation of closing the valve 60 and the operation of operating the stepping motors 34a and 34b, so that the time period during which counting cannot be performed can be reduced as much as possible. To do this, S310 is deleted and before S340 and S360, it is determined whether or not they are the same. If they are the same, the group distribution process is terminated, and if they are different, all the valves 60 are closed and the processes after S340 (or S360) are performed. The group initialization process may be the same.
[0075]
When grouping, seven patterns represented in FIG. 7 were selected, but the number of patterns may be further increased by adding “3, 7, 8”, “0, 3, 14” or the like. Note that a pattern in which the number of grooves 48 belonging to a certain group (here, a group corresponding to the pachinko machine 4a) is set to zero, such as “0, 3, 14”, the count result of the pachinko machine 4a is completely zero. It should be generated when it does not increase. The pachinko machine 4a is used when the game is not being performed or the game is being performed while the handle 74 is being pressed. The reason why the total does not become 18 in “0, 3, 14” is that the group that is set to 0 by the width of the nut 26 also consumes the groove width. A pattern “0, 3, 15” may be realized by changing the drive mechanism of the partition plate 20. Further, when a pattern for reducing the number of grooves to less than three is inserted in this way, the shape of the tip of the guide path 6 is flattened in parallel with the grooves 48 or as the partition plate 20 moves. The shape of the tip should be changed flexibly.
[0076]
Further, instead of preparing the pattern in advance, for example, the partition plates 20a and 20b may be moved so that the number of grooves is approximately proportional to the count value for 1 minute of each group.
In the above embodiment, the moving mechanism of the partition plate 20 is configured such that the ball screw 22 is rotated by the stepping motor 34 via the pulley 30 or the like, but other configurations may be employed. For example, two ball screws 22 are used to drive one partition plate 20, but one may be a spline. In order to prevent the bending of the partition plate 20, a spline may be passed through the center of the partition plate 20. The power source may be a servo motor instead of the stepping motor 34, or the partition plate 20 may be directly driven using a linear motor.
[0077]
When the existing counter is modified and used as the counting unit 2, the number of the grooves 48 may not be equally divided. For example, it is a case where it is desired to count three pachinko machines 4 with one counter, but the counter has 16 grooves. In such a case, the initial state is set to “5, 5, 6”, and a grouping pattern (corresponding to FIG. 7) is prepared corresponding to this, and thereafter the group distribution process is performed according to the counting result. The corresponding processing is performed, and when the counting results become uniform, it is good to return to “5, 5, 6”. Of course, the initial state may be “6, 5, 5” or “5, 6, 5” instead of “5, 5, 6”.
[0078]
In addition, the detection of the number of balls by the ball sensor unit 50 may be performed using other than the rotation angle of the star gear 54. For example, it is conceivable to provide a magnetic sensor or an optical sensor in the downstream portion of each groove 48 to detect the passage of a pachinko ball. When such a sensor is used, a plurality of sensors are preferably provided in each groove. For example, it is preferable to provide two sensors and calculate the average value of the detection results (or adopt the larger detection result), or provide three sensors and take a majority vote.
[0079]
Moreover, in the said Example, although the ball inflow port 16 was formed in the counter 14, you may provide in places other than this, for example, the lower part of the ball lending machine 80. In this case, the ball inlet and the outlet of the lower plate 68 may be directly connected by a pipe or the like.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a part of an amusement island 1 to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 2 is a plan view and a front view of the counting unit 2;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view and a right side view of the counting unit 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a ball inlet 16a of amusement island 1;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing how a pachinko ball 84 in the guide box 70 flows to the guide path 6a.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an outline of a pachinko ball counting system.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing patterns for grouping.
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a counting process executed by a CPU 88.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a totaling result comparison process executed by a CPU 88;
10 is a flowchart showing group distribution processing executed by a CPU 88. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 ... Amusement Island 2 ... Counting Unit
4a-4c ... Pachinko machine
6a to 6c: Guidance route
10a to 10c ... Number of balls display device
12a to 12c, 56, 64 ... signal lines
14 ... Counter 16a-16c ... Tamagawa entrance
18 ... Pipe 20a, 20b ... Partition plate
22a, 22b, 24a, 24b ... Ball screw
26a, 26b, 28a, 28b ... nuts
30a, 30b, 32a, 32b, 65 ... pulley
34a, 34b, 62 ... stepping motors
38a-38c ... Spring
40 ... first slope 44 ... second slope
46 ... wall 48 ... groove
50 ... ball sensor 54 ... star gear
58 ... Total control unit 60a-60c ... Valve
68 ... lower plate 70 ... induction box
72 ... Tamagawa exit 74 ... handle
76a, 76b ... Return button
78a, 78b ... Checkout button
80a-80c ... Tama-ma ball rental machine 81 ... Printer
82a, 82b ... Card insertion slot
84 ... Pachinko ball 86 ... Input circuit
88 ... CPU 90 ... ROM
92 ... RAM 94 ... Output circuit
96 ... Magnetic card reader / writer
98 ... Magnetic card reader / writer controller
(Magnetic card R / W controller)
100 ... Bus T ₁ ~ T ₁₈ ... Rotation angle sensor

Claims (7)

A pachinko ball counting system used in a pachinko hall equipped with a plurality of pachinko machines that discharge pachinko balls downward according to game results,
A ball flow inlet into which pachinko balls discharged from the respective pachinko machines flow and a plurality of grooves inclined in the length direction and having a width through which one pachinko ball can pass are arranged in parallel. A counting unit that counts pachinko balls in each groove by detecting the pachinko balls with a ball sensor provided in
The plurality of grooves of the counting section are connected to the partition plates that are divided in the parallel direction, the groups divided by the partition plates, and the ball inlets, and are discharged downward from the pachinko machine. A guide path for guiding a ball to the groove of the group via the ball inlet,
A counting control unit that counts the number of balls counted by the ball sensor for each group;
A pachinko ball counting system comprising: notifying means for notifying a player of the pachinko machine corresponding to the group of the results totaled by the totaling control unit. In the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 1,
The partition plate is capable of changing its position in the parallel direction of the grooves,
Each of the guide paths is capable of guiding a pachinko ball to a new group whose width is changed by changing the position of the partition plate,
The counting control unit counts the balls counted by the ball sensor for each group whose width is changed by changing the position of the partition plate,
Pachinko ball counting system characterized by being. In the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 2,
When the total result of the ball sensor per unit time of a group is significantly larger than the total result of the ball sensor per unit time at the same time of another group, A distribution means for re-grouping so that the number of grooves belonging to the group becomes larger than the number of grooves belonging to other groups;
Partition plate driving means for moving the partition plate in the parallel direction of the grooves according to the group newly grouped by the distribution means;
A pachinko ball counting system characterized by comprising: In the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 3,
A valve that is provided in each of the guide paths and is open in an initial state, and allows the pachinko ball to flow into and out of each corresponding group by being opened and closed; and
When the counting results of a certain group are remarkably increased, the pachinko balls are controlled before and after the grouping by controlling the opening and closing of the valves and issuing commands to the partition plate driving means and the counting control unit. And valve control means to keep the correspondence of the pachinko machine correct,
A pachinko ball counting system characterized by comprising: In the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 4,
The valve control means is
A first valve control means for closing all of the valves when the counting result of a certain group is significantly increased;
When all the valves are closed by the first valve control means and the counting result of each group does not change, a command to move the partition plate according to the group newly grouped by the distribution means, Command means for issuing to the partition plate driving means;
A second valve control means for opening all the valves when the movement of the partition plate by the partition plate driving means is completed;
A pachinko ball counting system characterized by comprising: In the pachinko ball counting system according to claim 4 or 5,
When the counting results of the ball sensors per unit time of each group are almost equal to each other, all the valves are closed and the partition plates are moved so that the number of grooves belonging to each group is substantially the same. A pachinko ball counting system comprising means for equalizing the number of grooves for opening all the valves. In the pachinko ball counting system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
From the results counted by the counting control unit, in accordance with instructions from the player of the pachinko machine corresponding to the group, counting result supply means for supplying the pachinko machine as a rental ball,
Counting result management means for subtracting the number of balls lent by the counting result supply means from the result counted by the counting control unit;
A pachinko ball counting system characterized by comprising:

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