JP4294013B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine such as a pachinko gaming machine including a ball storage tank that stores game balls and a ball discharge unit that discharges the game balls stored in the ball storage tank.

There is a pachinko game machine as a typical game machine that uses a game ball to play a game. In the upper part on the back side of this pachinko machine, a ball storage tank for storing game balls is provided, and when a game ball wins a winning opening, the ball discharge unit is activated and the game stored in the ball storage tank The ball is discharged as a prize ball to the upper plate of the front surface of the pachinko machine. In addition, when a ball lending operation is performed, the ball discharge unit operates to discharge the game balls in the ball storage tank to the upper plate. The ball discharge unit is generally provided on the downstream side of the ball aligning cage extending below the ball storage tank, but the number of parts is reduced to reduce the arrangement space and cost. Therefore, for example, what is directly attached to the sphere storage tank without using the sphere alignment rod has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
JP-A-8-141175

  By the way, the pachinko gaming machine described in the above-mentioned patent document includes a rotating body in which a plurality of ball holding portions (holding holes) are formed at the periphery of the ball discharge unit, and the rotating body is inclined at the lower end of the bottom of the ball storage tank. It is located below the ball entrance opened in Then, the rotating body is rotated in a state where the game ball flowing down from the ball storage tank is held in the ball holding section, and the game ball is guided to the discharge port opened below the rotating body to move below the ball storage tank. It is configured to discharge.

  However, when the amount of game balls stored in the ball storage tank is small, it becomes difficult to hold the game balls in the ball holding unit, and even if the rotating body is rotated, the game balls are held in the ball holding unit. Without it, the game balls cannot be discharged quickly. Therefore, by configuring the rotating body to be thick and forming the ball holding portion vertically long, it is possible to hold a plurality of game balls on one ball holding portion, and to easily hold the game balls on the ball holding portion It is possible to do. Furthermore, a stopper capable of locking the game ball is provided in the ball holding portion, and a plurality of game balls stacked in the ball holding portion are caused to flow down one by one, and the plurality of game balls positioned immediately above the discharge port It is conceivable that the ball is prevented from flowing down at a time so that the game ball is not sandwiched between the rotating ball holding portion and the discharge port.

  However, if a plurality of game balls can be held in the ball holding portion, there is a possibility that the plurality of game balls are biased and held by one ball holding portion. In order to discharge a plurality of game balls held by this one ball holding portion, the game body is discharged one by one each time the rotating body is rotated a plurality of times to connect the ball holding portion and the discharge port. There must be. For this reason, it takes time to discharge the game balls, and it is difficult to expect improvement in the discharge efficiency of the ball discharge unit.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to prevent a plurality of game balls from being held by one ball holding portion when the amount of game balls stored is small. An object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine that can improve the discharge efficiency of the ball discharge unit.

The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and the one according to claim 1 is a ball storage tank for storing game balls supplied from the outside, and the ball storage tank stored in the ball storage tank. A gaming machine equipped with a ball discharge unit capable of discharging a game ball in a directly connected state,
The ball discharge unit has a rotary shaft arranged in a vertical direction, a holding rotary body provided with a plurality of ball holding parts on the outer peripheral edge, and a state in which any of the ball holding parts can communicate with the lower part of the holding rotary body With a discharge port that can discharge the game ball in the ball holding section,
The holding rotator is formed in a vertically long shape along the rotation axis direction of the holding rotator so that a plurality of game balls can be held in a state aligned along the rotation axis direction of the holding rotator,
The sphere storage tank is provided at the bottom of the sphere storage tank so as to have a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the holding rotator and the center axis set in the vertical direction, and the rotation axis is arranged in the vertical direction. A rotating body accommodating portion that can accommodate the holding rotating body in the posture , and a ball guide path that is disposed on the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body accommodating portion and guides the game ball in the ball storage tank to the ball holding portion, The ball guide path is inclined downward along the discharge rotation direction of the holding rotator , and is set to be inclined downward toward the sphere holding portion , along the discharge rotation direction of the holding rotator of the ball guide path. The lower end of the inclined direction inclined downward is the downstream end of the ball guide path, and the lower end of the inclined direction inclined downward toward the sphere holding part of the downstream end is the lowest part of the spherical guide path,
Among the rotating body accommodating portions, a ball engaging portion that protrudes toward the ball holding portion side and engages a game ball in the ball holding portion is provided on an inner wall surface facing the ball holding portion of the holding rotating body. ,
The ball engaging portion is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the rotating body accommodating portion, and is played from the upper end portion of the ball holding portion while facing the lowermost portion of the ball guide path. Arranged at a distance shorter than the diameter of
When the ball holding part receives a game ball from the lowest part of the ball guide path or the periphery of the lowest part, the game ball is held in a state of engaging with the ball engaging part and protruding from the upper end of the ball holding part, Restricting another game ball from flowing down to the ball holding portion holding the game ball by the protruding portion of the game ball;
When the holding rotator rotates in the discharge rotation direction and the game ball held in a state of protruding from the ball holding portion is released from the engagement state with the ball engaging portion, the game ball moves the ball holding portion. The gaming machine is allowed to flow down and allow another gaming ball to flow into the ball holding portion holding the gaming ball.

  The discharge rotation direction means the rotation direction (forward rotation direction) of the holding rotating body when the ball holding unit is communicated with the discharge port, in other words, when the game ball is guided to the discharge port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the ball holding unit can hold at least three game balls in a state of being arranged along the rotation axis direction of the holding rotating body,
Among the rotating body housing parts, a ball flow blocking part that protrudes toward the ball holding part on the inner wall surface facing the ball holding part of the holding rotating body and can prevent the flow of game balls in the ball holding part. With
The ball flow-fall prevention portion is formed in an arc shape in a state parallel to the ball engaging portion along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the rotating body housing portion, and is played from the discharge port in a state where it faces the discharge port. Arranged at substantially the same distance as the diameter of the sphere, and configured to prevent the gaming balls in the sphere holding portion above the gaming balls held on the outlet side from flowing down to the outlet. And
The end located on the upstream side in the discharge rotation direction of the ball engaging portion is arranged closer to the upstream side of the ball guide path than the end located on the upstream side in the discharge rotation direction of the ball flow lowering prevention portion. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is characterized by the following.

  A third aspect of the present invention is the gaming machine according to the first or second aspect, wherein the ball storage tank has a bottom portion inclined downward toward the upstream portion of the ball guide path.

According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ball discharge unit includes a holding rotary body in which the rotation shaft is arranged vertically and a plurality of ball holding parts are provided on the outer peripheral edge, and a lower part of the holding rotary body. And a discharge port through which the game balls in the ball holding portion can be discharged. The holding rotating body is vertically long along the rotation axis direction of the holding rotating body. The ball storage tank can hold a plurality of game balls arranged in the direction of the rotation axis of the holding rotator, and the ball storage tank has an inner diameter that is smaller than the outer diameter of the holding rotator at the bottom of the ball storage tank. A rotating body housing portion that is large and has a cylindrical shape with a central axis set vertically, and that can hold a holding rotating body in a posture in which the rotation shaft is vertically disposed ; A ball guide path that is disposed on the outer peripheral edge and guides the game ball in the ball storage tank to the ball holding portion, While downward inclined along the discharge direction of rotation of the holding rotating member guideways, and set in a state of inclined downward toward the ball holding portion, inclined downward along the discharge direction of rotation of the holding and rotating member of the ball guideway The lower end of the inclined direction is the downstream end of the ball guide path, and the lower end of the inclined direction inclined downward toward the sphere holding part of the downstream end is the lowest part of the ball guide path. A ball engaging portion that protrudes toward the ball holding portion and can engage with a game ball in the ball holding portion on the inner wall surface facing the ball holding portion of the holding rotating body, A distance shorter than the diameter of the game ball from the upper end portion of the ball holding portion formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the rotating body housing portion and facing the lower portion of the ball guide path And when the ball holding part accepts a game ball from the lowest part of the ball guideway or around the lowest part, The game ball is held in a state of engaging the ball engaging portion and protruding from the upper end of the ball holding portion, and another game ball flows down to the ball holding portion holding the game ball by the protruding portion of the game ball When the game ball held in a state of protruding from the ball holding portion is released from the engaged state with the ball engaging portion, the game ball is turned into the ball. The holding part is allowed to flow down and another game ball is allowed to flow into the ball holding part that holds the game ball. Therefore, when the storage amount of game balls is small, one game ball is placed in the plurality of ball holding parts. The plurality of game balls flowing down to the ball guide path can be prevented from being biased and held by one ball holding portion. Therefore, a plurality of game balls can be quickly discharged during one rotation of the holding rotating body, and the discharge efficiency of the ball discharge unit can be improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the holding unit can hold at least three game balls in a state of being arranged along the direction of the rotation axis of the holding rotator. the inner wall surface of the counter and the ball holding portion, and protrude toward the ball holding portion comprises a sphere falling blocking portion capable prevents falling of game balls within the ball holding portion, the spherical falling blocking portion, the rotation It is formed in an arc shape in a state parallel to the ball engaging portion along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the body housing portion, and has a distance substantially the same as the diameter of the game ball from the discharge port in a state facing the upper side of the discharge port. The game balls stored in the ball holding portion are configured to prevent the game balls above the game balls held on the discharge port side from flowing down to the discharge port among the game balls in the ball holding unit. When a large number of game balls are held in the ball holding part, the game balls flow down to the discharge port one by one. Can one sphere holder plurality of game balls held in that flow down to game ball at a time can be suppressed trouble clogged between the holding rotating member and the discharge port.

  Furthermore, since the end located on the upstream side in the discharge rotation direction of the ball engaging portion is arranged closer to the upstream side of the ball guide path than the end located on the upstream side in the discharge rotation direction of the ball flow lowering prevention portion. It is possible to hold the game balls one by one in the plurality of ball holding portions by engaging the ball engaging portions before the game balls received in the ball holding portions are caused to flow down to the ball flow down preventing portion. Accordingly, it is possible to further prevent a plurality of game balls from being biased and held by one ball holding portion. Therefore, it becomes easy to divide the game balls one by one, and the discharge efficiency of the ball discharge unit can be further improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the bottom of the ball storage tank is inclined downward toward the upstream portion of the ball guide path, the game balls in the ball storage tank can be efficiently guided to the ball holding section. The game ball discharge efficiency can be further improved.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a pachinko gaming machine as a typical gaming machine as an example. FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine.
The pachinko gaming machine 1 is attached to an outer frame (machine frame or main body frame) 2 so that one side of a frame-shaped front frame (inner frame) 3 having a large opening can be opened and closed, and the back side of the front frame 3 The back mechanism unit 4 is attached to the front. The back mechanism unit 4 is fitted with a display device (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display device from the front, and the front side of this display device is exposed to the front (player side) from the opening opened in the game board (not shown). Not. Also, below the back mechanism unit 4, a game control device 7, a discharge control device 8, a power supply device 9, a relay board 10, and the like that control the game in an integrated manner are arranged. Further, a ball storage tank 15 for storing game balls is disposed above the back mechanism unit 4, and a ball discharge unit 16 is attached to the ball storage tank 15 and integrated, and the side portion of the back mechanism unit 4 (in FIG. 1). On the right side), a ball flow path for guiding a game ball discharged from the ball storage tank 15 (specifically, a ball flow for guiding the game ball to the upper plate (not shown) of the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1). A path 17 and a ball outlet channel 18 for guiding the game balls in the ball storage tank 15 to a lower ball collection basket (not shown) in the gaming machine island facility are provided. A replenishing device (not shown) is provided above the ball storage tank 15 in the game machine installation island facility to replenish game balls from the game machine installation island facility to the ball storage tank 15 of the pachinko gaming machine 1. ) Is arranged.

Next, the ball storage tank 15 and the ball discharge unit 16 will be described.
The ball storage tank 15 is for storing game balls supplied (supplemented) from the outside of the pachinko gaming machine 1, specifically, from the replenishing device of the gaming machine installation island facility. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the sphere storage tank 15 is formed in a horizontally long bottomed box shape having an upper opening, and is arranged below the replenishing device with the upper opening as a sphere receiving port. Further, the bottom 15a of the sphere storage tank 15 is inclined downward from one side in the longitudinal direction (left side in FIG. 2) toward the other side (right side in FIG. 2). A substantially cylindrical sprocket accommodating portion 21 (corresponding to a rotating body accommodating portion in the present invention) capable of accommodating a sprocket 20 (corresponding to a holding rotating body in the present invention) of a ball discharge unit 16 to be described later is projected downward. is doing. Further, an annular ball guide path 22 is arranged on the outer peripheral edge of the sprocket housing portion 21 to connect between the ball storage tank 15 and the sprocket housing portion 21 (see FIG. 5). Then, the other side wall of the ball storage tank 15 is formed in an arc shape in plan view along the outer peripheral edge of the ball guide path 22, and this arc-shaped side wall guides the game ball along the ball guide path 22. The side wall portion 23 is used. That is, the guide side wall portion 23 is disposed on the opposite side of the ball guide path 22 from the sprocket housing portion 21. Further, the upper end portion of the guide side wall portion 23 is set to a height lower than the upstream side wall of the ball storage tank 15.
The configuration of the ball guide path 22 and the configuration of the bottom portion 15a of the ball storage tank 15 taking into consideration the ease of rolling of the game ball onto the ball guide path 22 will be described in detail later.

  The ball discharge unit 16 is a unit that is directly connected (arranged) to the other side of the ball storage tank 15, that is, the inclined lower end side of the bottom 15 a of the ball storage tank 15, and can discharge the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 15. . As shown in FIG. 4, the ball discharge unit 16 is housed in a state in which the discharge stage member 25 disposed below the sprocket housing portion 21 and the sprocket housing portion 21 can be rotated. A sprocket 20 provided with a sphere holder 26, a discharge drive motor 27 connected to the top of the sprocket 20 to rotate the sprocket 20, and disposed above the other side of the sphere storage tank 15 so as to cover the sprocket 20, A motor base 28 to which the discharge drive motor 27 is attached is provided on the upper surface.

  The discharge stage member 25 is a member in which a discharge port 30 and a ball extraction port 31 that are connected to one of the ball holding portions 26 and can discharge a game ball are opened below the sprocket 20 (see FIG. 3). The stage main body 32 is formed in a shape, a lid member 33 that closes the upper opening of the stage main body 32, and a passage sensor 34 that can detect one game ball passing through the discharge port 30.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the stage main body 32 has a support part 36 that supports the central part of the lid member 33 projecting substantially at the center of the bottom part, and the ball flow path 17 is provided on the outer peripheral side of the support part 36. A discharge opening 37 that is a downstream opening of the discharge port 30 and a ball opening 38 that is connected to the ball extraction channel 18 and is a downstream opening of the ball extraction port 31 are opened. In addition, a surrounding wall that surrounds the discharge opening 37 is provided around the discharge opening 37 to form a sensor housing portion 39. When the passage sensor 34 is housed inside the sensor housing portion 39, The opened through hole 34a and the discharge opening 37 are configured to communicate with each other. The passage sensor 34 is configured to output a detection signal when the game ball passes through the through hole 34 a and detect the game ball passing through the discharge port 30.

As shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 8, the lid member 33 has a bearing hole 41 in the approximate center of the upper surface thereof, and a rotary shaft protrusion 42 that projects from below the sprocket 20 into the bearing hole 41. The sprocket 20 is inserted and supported in a rotatable state. A flat slide stage 43 is formed around the bearing hole 41 so that the game ball held by the sprocket 20 can slide as the sprocket 20 rotates. Further, an exposure hole 44 serving as an upper opening of the discharge port 30 is provided at a peripheral portion of the sliding stage 43 and at a position corresponding to the through hole 34a of the passage sensor 34 (specifically, above the through hole 34a). The through hole 34a is opened to expose a game on both sides and the back side (opposite to the sliding stage 43 side) of the exposure hole 44 in the forward rotation direction R (clockwise direction in FIG. 6) of the sprocket 20. A regulation wall portion 45 that regulates the moving direction of the sphere is erected in a state surrounding the exposure hole 44, and a space surrounded by the regulation wall portion 45 is defined as a discharge guide passage 46, and the game passes through the discharge guide passage 46. The sphere can be guided to the discharge port 30 (the exposure hole 44, the through hole 34a, and the discharge opening 37).
The forward rotation direction R described above is determined when the game ball is discharged from the discharge port 30 by communicating the ball holding portion 26 to the discharge port 30, in other words, when the game ball is guided to the discharge port 30. It is a rotation direction and corresponds to the discharge rotation direction in the present invention.

  Further, a ball extraction hole 47 serving as an upper opening of the ball extraction port 31 is communicated with the ball extraction opening 38 at a position that is a peripheral portion of the slide stage 43 and whose phase is shifted from the exposure hole 44 in the normal rotation direction R. The sprocket 20 is held in the sprocket 20 when the sprocket 20 rotates in the reverse direction L (the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6 and the rotation direction of the sprocket 20 when the game ball is discharged from the ball outlet 31). The game ball thus formed is configured to flow into the ball extraction opening 38 through the ball extraction hole 47. Further, above the ball extraction hole 47, a ball extraction guide portion 48 with the tip portion directed in the normal rotation direction R is extended, and the lower surface of the ball extraction guide portion 48 extends from above the ball extraction hole 47 to the ball extraction hole. It is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the edge of 47, and a game ball moving in the reverse direction L on the sliding stage 43 can be guided to the ball outlet 31 (ball hole 47, ball opening 38). It is configured.

  The discharge stage member 25 configured as described above is disposed at the lower part of the sprocket housing portion 21 with the sliding stage 43 facing upward, and a fastening piece provided on the outer peripheral portion of the stage main body 32 in this state. 49 is fixed to a stage fixing portion 50 provided on the outer periphery of the sprocket accommodating portion 21 with a fixing member (not shown) such as a screw, so that the lower opening of the sprocket accommodating portion 21 is closed and fixed. When the discharge stage member 25 is disposed below the sprocket accommodating portion 21, the sliding stage 43 faces the inside of the sprocket accommodating portion 21 and functions as the bottom portion of the sprocket accommodating portion 21. Further, the discharge port 30 is disposed on the opposite side of the bottom portion 15a of the ball storage tank 15 with the center of the sliding stage 43 (that is, the rotation center of the sprocket 20) interposed therebetween.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the sprocket 20 is accommodated in the sprocket accommodating portion 21 in a posture in which the outer diameter is set slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the sprocket accommodating portion 21 and the rotation shaft CS is arranged vertically. In addition, the outer peripheral edge of the sprocket 20 is provided with a plurality (ten in this embodiment) of ball holding portions 26 that can receive and hold game balls. The ball holding portions 26 are formed by arc-shaped notches that follow the outer shape of the game ball in plan view, and are formed at equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the sprocket 20. In addition, the sprocket 20 is formed in a vertically long shape along the direction of the rotation axis CS, and a plurality of game balls (up to three in the present embodiment) are stacked between the ball holding portion 26 and the inner peripheral surface of the sprocket accommodating portion 21. In other words, the sprocket 20 can be held in an aligned state along the direction of the rotation axis CS of the sprocket 20. Further, in the upper part of the sprocket 20, an annular sphere inclined downward from the rotating shaft CS side to the sphere holding unit 26 side (that is, the outer peripheral side of the sprocket 20) closer to the rotating shaft CS side than the sphere holding unit 26. The guide unit 52 is provided, and is configured to guide the game ball placed on the rotating shaft CS side of the sprocket 20 to the ball holding unit 26.

  Further, a holding partition wall portion 54 extending outward from the rotation shaft CS side of the sprocket 20 is disposed between the adjacent ball holding portions 26. The holding partition wall portion 54 has a shorter protruding length in the radial direction (lateral direction in FIG. 6B) of the sprocket 20 than on the lower side (discharge port 30 side) on the upper side (ball guide path 22 side). It is configured so as not to prevent the game ball that is set and held at the lower part of the ball holding part 26 from flowing into the discharge guiding path 46. Furthermore, the upper end portion of each holding partition wall portion 54 is disposed at a position slightly lower than the inner periphery of the ball guide path 22, specifically, the ball guide path 22.

  Of the sprocket accommodating portion 21 in which the sprocket 20 is accommodated, a ball falling prevention portion 61 capable of preventing the flow of the game ball in the ball holding portion 26 is provided on the inner wall surface facing the ball holding portion 26. Projecting toward the 26th side. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the ball flow down prevention unit 61 is arranged above the discharge port 30 and the ball discharge port 31, and the diameter of the game ball from the discharge port 30 and the ball discharge port 31 (or the sliding stage 43). The sprocket housing portions 21 are arranged at substantially the same distance, and are formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the sprocket housing portion 21. Further, the upstream end 61 a located on the upstream side in the forward rotation direction R in the ball flow lowering preventing portion 61 is disposed upstream of the discharge port 30. In other words, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the front end (upper side in the drawing) 61 a of the ball flow-fall prevention unit 61 is disposed at a position shifted in the reverse rotation direction L around the rotation axis CS from the position of the discharge port 30. is doing. Further, the downstream end 61 b located on the downstream side in the forward rotation direction R in the ball flow lowering preventing portion 61 is disposed closer to the downstream side than the ball outlet 31. In other words, in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the phase of the rear end portion 61 b (lower side in the figure) of the ball flow drop prevention portion 61 is shifted in the forward rotation direction R around the rotation axis CS from the position of the ball outlet 31. It is arranged at the position. The operation of the ball flow down prevention unit 61 will be described in detail later.

  The discharge drive motor 27 (for example, a step motor) connects the output shaft extending downward to the upper end portion located on the rotation shaft CS of the sprocket 20. The output shaft is rotated based on the control by the discharge control device 8, and the sprocket 20 is rotated (forward or reverse) by a desired angle. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the motor base 28 is configured by a substantially semicircular plate material that follows the upper edge portion of the guide side wall portion 23, and a through hole 63 is formed at a substantially central portion. The discharge drive motor 27 is attached to the upper surface of the motor base 28 in a state where it is connected to the sprocket 20 through the output shaft of the discharge drive motor 27. Then, by fastening the fastening piece 64 protruding from the side portion of the motor base 28 to the base fastening portion 65 provided on the outer periphery of the guide side wall portion 23 by a fastening member (not shown) such as a screw, The sprocket housing part 21 is fixed in a state of covering from above.

Further, a laterally long rectangular shielding wall 66 is provided at one side edge of the motor base 28 (upstream side edge of the ball storage tank 15) along the front-rear width of the ball storage tank 15 (the front-rear direction of the pachinko gaming machine 1). A comb-shaped ball guide member 67 is disposed along the shielding wall 66 on the side surface of the lower end portion of the shielding wall 66 facing the upstream side of the ball storage tank 15. The tip of the ball guide member 67 is curved so as to incline upward toward the upstream side of the ball storage tank 15. Therefore, an introduction port 68 (see FIG. 2) for introducing a game ball into the ball guide path 22 and the ball discharge unit 16 is formed between the ball guide member 67 and the bottom 15a of the ball storage tank 15. The height of the introduction port 68 is set so as to gradually decrease toward the ball discharge unit 16 side. Thereby, it can suppress that many game balls flow into the sprocket 20 side at once, and accumulate on the sprocket 20 in the state which accumulated many times. Accordingly, the sprocket 20 can be smoothly rotated without being obstructed by the upper game ball, and as a result, the game ball can be discharged efficiently.
The entire motor base 28 (that is, the whole including the shielding wall 66 and the ball guide member 67) may be formed of metal. In this case, the motor base 28 generates heat generated from the discharge drive motor 27 in a comb shape. This is suitable because it can function as a heat radiating member that transmits heat to the sphere guide member 67 and radiates heat from the sphere guide member 67, and the discharge drive motor 27 is less likely to overheat.

Next, the configuration of the ball guide path 22 and the bottom portion 15a of the ball storage tank 15 will be described.
The annular ball guide path 22 disposed outside the sprocket housing portion 21 is inclined downward from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side, in other words, toward the ball holding portion 26 side of the sprocket 20, and the ball guide The game ball that has reached the path 22 can be guided to the ball holding unit 26 (see FIG. 6B and FIG. 9). Furthermore, the ball guide path 22 is set to a posture in which the entire ball guide path 22 is inclined downward to the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and is inclined downward to the other side of the ball storage tank 15. Therefore, the ball guide path 22 has an upstream end portion 22a located in the vicinity of the rear side (lower side in FIG. 7) of the downstream portion of the bottom portion 15a of the ball storage tank 15, and the upstream side of the rotation axis CS of the sprocket 20 The position opposite to the end portion 22a, in other words, the position shifted in phase in the reverse rotation direction L from above the discharge port 30, is defined as the downstream end portion 22b, and the forward rotation direction R of the sprocket 20 from the downstream portion of the bottom portion 15a of the ball storage tank 15 Is set in a state of being inclined downward (inclined downward in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 7). From this, the inner peripheral edge of the downstream end portion 22b of the ball guide path 22, that is, the lower end of the inclined surface inclined downward toward the ball holding section 26 side of the downstream end portion 22b is the lowest position in the ball guide path 22. Is set to the lowest part 22c.

  Further, the ball storage tank 15 is not only inclined in the left-right direction but also inclined in the front-rear direction of the pachinko gaming machine 1, specifically, downwardly inclined toward the front side of the pachinko gaming machine 1. As a result, the bottom 15a of the ball storage tank 15 is inclined downward from the rear side of the upstream part toward the upstream side of the downstream end 22b of the ball guide path 22, that is, toward the upstream part of the ball guide path 22 (FIG. 5). The game ball in the ball storage tank 15 is configured to easily flow into the ball guide path 22 by being inclined downward in the direction indicated by the white arrow. Further, a stepped portion 70 that is one step higher than the other portions is provided on the rear side of the bottom portion 15a of the ball storage tank 15, and as shown in FIG. 5, a front side edge (an edge located on the upper side in the drawing) is provided. ) Is gradually inclined toward the front side of the ball storage tank 15 as it goes toward the ball discharge unit 16.

In addition, the ball storage tank 15 is a ball that can engage the game ball in the ball holding unit 26 on the inner wall surface of the sprocket housing portion 21 that faces the ball holding unit 26, separately from the ball flow down prevention unit 61. The engaging part 72 protrudes toward the ball holding part 26 side. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the ball engaging portion 72 is disposed below the lowest portion 22c of the ball guide path 22 with a distance shorter than the diameter of the game ball from the upper end portion of the ball holding portion 26, Along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the sprocket housing portion 21, the sprocket housing portion 21 is formed in an arc shape in a state of being substantially parallel to the ball flow drop prevention portion 61. Then, the upstream end 72 a located on the upstream side in the forward rotation direction R in the ball engaging portion 72 is disposed closer to the upstream of the ball flow down path 17 than the upstream end portion 61 a of the ball flow down blocking portion 61. Yes. In other words, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the phase of the front end (upper side in the drawing) 72 a of the ball engaging portion 72 in the reverse rotation direction L around the rotation axis CS is higher than the upstream end 61 a of the ball flow lowering prevention portion 61. Is placed at a shifted position. Further, the downstream end 72 b located on the downstream side in the forward rotation direction R in the ball engaging portion 72 is arranged closer to the downstream end 22 b of the ball guide path 22 than the downstream end 61 b of the ball flow down prevention portion 61. is doing. In other words, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the rear end portion 72 b of the ball engaging portion 72 (lower side in the figure) is rotated in the reverse direction L around the rotation axis CS from the downstream end portion 61 b of the ball flow lowering preventing portion 61. The phase is shifted to the position.
The operation of the ball engaging portion 72 will be described in detail later.

Next, the operation of the ball storage tank 15 and the ball discharge unit 16 will be described.
When the replenishment device of the gaming machine installation island facility supplies the game ball to the ball storage tank 15, the ball storage tank 15 uses the downward force when it flows down from the replenishment device or the bottom 15 a of the ball storage tank 15 as a ball discharge unit 16. The game ball is caused to flow down to the ball guide path 22 by being inclined downward toward the side. At this time, the game ball crosses the upstream part of the ball guide path 22 or rolls on the ball guide path 22 to reach the periphery of the sprocket 20 and then flows down toward the sprocket 20 to hold each ball. Held in the section 26. Then, the game balls are sufficiently stored in the ball storage tank 15, and the sprocket 20 is vertically stacked with a plurality (three in this embodiment) of game balls on the ball holding unit 26 before the ball engaging unit 72. (Fig. 9 (a)), and in this state, when the vehicle ball rotates in the forward rotation direction R, the game ball located at the uppermost stage (third stage from the bottom) among the held game balls is moved to the ball engaging portion 72. Engage (FIG. 9B).

  When the sprocket 20 is further rotated in the forward rotation direction R, the first and second tiers of the game balls in the sphere holder 26 are in front of the sphere holder 26 communicating with the outlet 30 via the discharge guide path 46. The above is separated by the ball flow drop prevention unit 61. In this state, when the ball holding portion 26 reaches above the discharge port 30, the first-stage (lowermost) game ball flows down to the discharge port 30, but the second-stage or higher game balls (held on the discharge port 30 side). The game ball above the played game ball) is prevented from flowing into the discharge port 30 by the ball flow down prevention unit 61 (FIG. 9C). Thereby, the game balls held on the ball holding portion 26 of the sprocket 20 on the sliding stage 43 can be reliably discharged to the discharge port 30 one by one. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a problem that a plurality of game balls held by one ball holding unit 26 flow down at a time and the game balls are clogged between the discharge port 30 and the sprocket 20.

  When the sprocket 20 is continuously rotated in the forward rotation direction R and the ball holding portion 26 passes the downstream end 72b of the ball engaging portion 72, the uppermost game ball is released from the engaged state with the ball engaging portion 72. As a result, it is possible to flow down the ball holding portion 26 (FIG. 9D). In this state, when the sprocket 20 is rotated in the forward rotation direction R, and the ball holding portion 26 passes through the ball outlet 31 and the downstream end portion 61b of the ball flow down prevention portion 61, the second stage game ball is moved to the sliding stage. It falls onto 43 and the uppermost game ball flows down to the second stage position. When the sprocket 20 is further rotated in the forward rotation direction R, the ball holding portion 26 rotates while maintaining the vertical position of the game ball in the ball holding portion 26 and reaches above the discharge port 30 to guide discharge. When communicating with the path 46, the second-stage game ball is engaged with the ball flow-down prevention unit 61 to prevent the flow-down, and the first-stage game ball can flow down to the discharge port 30.

  On the other hand, when the sprocket 20 rotates in the reverse direction L with the game ball held by the ball holding portion 26 (FIG. 9A), the held game ball reaches (communicates) with the ball outlet 31. Since the downstream end 61b of the ball flow prevention unit 61 is positioned in front, the first and second stages of the three game balls stacked vertically are separated by the ball flow prevention unit 61. In this state, when the ball holding unit 26 reaches above the ball outlet 31, the first-stage game ball flows down to the ball outlet 31, but the second and higher-stage game balls are extracted by the ball flow-inhibiting unit 61. It is prevented from flowing into the mouth 31. Thereby, the game balls held on the ball holding portions 26 of the sprocket 20 on the sliding stage 43 can be reliably discharged one by one from the ball outlet 31.

Next, the holding action and the discharging action of the game balls when the amount of the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 15 is small will be described based on FIG.
When the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 15 are discharged by rotating the sprocket 20 in the forward rotation direction R and the storage amount decreases, the ball storage tank 15 is moved to the bottom of the ball storage tank 15. 15a is inclined downward toward the ball discharge unit 16 side, and the guidance of the stepped portion 70 causes the game ball to be positioned on the front side of the ball storage tank 15 in the ball guide path 22, that is, on the ball guide path 22. It flows down toward a position (upstream part) upstream of the downstream end 22b. Therefore, it is possible to enter the ball guide path 22 while moving the game ball along the forward rotation direction R of the sprocket 20, and to efficiently guide the game ball in the ball storage tank 15 to the ball holding unit 26. . For this reason, it is possible to improve the discharge efficiency of game balls.

  The game ball flowing down the ball guide path 22 flows down the ball guide path 22 while being guided by the guide side wall 23, and approaches the downstream end 22 b of the ball guide path 22, and the ball holding section of the ball guide path 22. Due to the downwardly inclined shape toward the 26th side, it flows down toward the inner peripheral edge of the downstream end portion 22b of the ball guide path 22, that is, the lowest part 22c of the ball guide path 22 or the periphery of the lowest part 22c (FIG. 10A). Then, when the game ball reaches the lowest part 22c of the ball guide path 22 or the periphery of the lowest part 22c, the game ball falls to the sprocket housing part 21, and the periphery of the lowest part 22c or the lowest part 22c of the ball guide path 22 Is received by the rotating sphere holder 26. Then, the game ball is engaged with the ball engaging portion 72 and the upper portion of the game ball is held in a state of slightly protruding from the upper end portion of the ball holding portion 26. In such a state, the sprocket 20 holding the game ball on the uppermost stage has another game ball (for example, a subsequent ball flowing down the ball guide path 22) in the ball holding portion 26 holding the game ball by the protruding portion of the game ball. The game ball is restricted from flowing down (FIG. 10B).

  Then, the other game balls (following game balls) that are prevented from flowing into the ball holding unit 26 are the front and rear (forward rotation direction) of the ball holding unit 26 that has already held the game balls and protruded from the upper end portion. It is easy to flow down to the ball holding portion 26 that does not protrude from the upper end portion, that is, the ball holding portion 26 that does not hold the game ball on the uppermost stage (see FIG. 11). Therefore, when the storage amount of the game balls is small, the game balls can be received one by one in the plurality of ball holding portions 26, and the plurality of game balls flowing down to the ball guide path 22 are biased to one ball holding portion 26. Can be prevented. Thus, a plurality of game balls can be quickly discharged while the sprocket 20 makes one rotation, and the discharge efficiency of the ball discharge unit 16 can be improved. In addition, since the upstream end 72a of the ball engaging portion 72 is disposed closer to the upstream side of the ball guide path 22 than the upstream end 61a of the ball flow down prevention portion 61, the game ball received by the ball holding portion 26 is stored. The game balls can be held one by one in the plurality of ball holding portions 26 by engaging with the ball engaging portions 72 before flowing down to the ball flow preventing portion 61. Therefore, it is possible to further prevent the plurality of game balls from being biased and held by one ball holding portion 26. From this, it becomes easy to divide the game balls one by one, and the discharge efficiency of the ball discharge unit 16 can be further improved.

  Subsequently, the sprocket 20 is rotated in the forward rotation direction R so as to pass above the discharge port 30 (FIG. 10C), and further passes through the downstream end 72b of the ball engaging portion 72, and then protrudes from the ball holding portion 26. The game ball held in this state is released from the engaged state with the ball engaging portion 72 (FIG. 10D). Then, the game ball arranged at the uppermost level flows down the ball holding unit 26, and the ball holding unit 26 holding the game ball allows another game ball to flow in. In addition, the game ball that has flowed down the ball holding portion 26 is prevented from falling onto the sliding stage 43 by engaging with the ball flow falling prevention portion 61. In this state, the sprocket 20 continues to rotate in the forward rotation direction R, passes through the ball outlet 31, and further, when the ball holding portion 26 passes the downstream end portion 61 b of the ball flow down prevention portion 61, it is positioned at the second stage. The game ball is released from the flow-down prevention state by the ball flow-down prevention unit 61. Then, the second stage game ball falls on the slide stage 43 (see the game ball indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10A). Further, when the sprocket 20 is rotated in the forward rotation direction R and the ball holding portion 26 communicates with the discharge guide path 46, the game ball on the slide stage 43 is guided to the discharge port 30 and falls (in FIG. 10C). (Refer to the game ball shown with a two-dot chain line). In this way, even when the amount of game balls stored in the ball storage tank 15 is small, the ball discharge unit 16 can reliably discharge the game balls one by one to the discharge port 30.

  By the way, in the said embodiment, although the sprocket accommodating part 21 was equipped with the structure which controls reception of the game ball to the ball | bowl holding | maintenance part 26, in addition to this structure, the sprocket 20, the guide side wall part 23, or the ball guide path 22 is provided. A configuration may be provided that restricts the acceptance of the game ball to the ball holding unit 26. For example, the ball storage tank 15 and the ball discharge unit 16 of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 12 are basically the same as those of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the sprocket 20 and the configuration of the guide side wall 23 are different. Further, the ball storage tank 15 of the third embodiment and its modification shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is basically the same as that of the first embodiment, but the configuration of the ball guide path 22 is different.

  First, the second embodiment will be described in detail. The ball discharge unit 16 of the second embodiment has an end (outer peripheral end) on the side of the ball guide path 22 on the upper part of the holding partition wall 54 of the sprocket 20. Partition projections 75 projecting upward from the ball guide path 22 and the interval X between adjacent partition projections 75 is set to a distance that is wider than the diameter of the game ball and smaller than twice the diameter of the game ball. In this configuration, only one game ball can be arranged between the partition projections 75. Further, an inclined surface 76 that is inclined upward is formed on the upper edge of the partition projection 75, and on the upper surface of the holding partition wall portion 54, the lower end portion of the sphere guiding portion 52 from the partition projection 75, in other words, the sphere holding. An inclined portion 77 inclined downward toward the upper edge of the portion 26 is formed.

  Further, the ball storage tank 15 of the second embodiment has a guide side wall portion 23 (position shifted in phase in the reverse rotation direction L) located upstream of the ball engagement portion 72 and the ball flow down prevention portion 61 in the forward rotation direction R. The guide side wall 23) is disposed at a distance Y narrower than the diameter of the game ball from the partition projection 75. Further, the guide side wall portion 23 is located at a position where the thickness is located upstream of the ball flow drop prevention portion 61 in the forward rotation direction R (in other words, the periphery on the opposite side of the lowest portion 22c across the ball guide path 22). ) From the inner peripheral surface of the guide side wall portion 23 to the sprocket housing portion 21 (specifically, the outer peripheral edge of the sprocket housing portion 21). Has been established. In the second embodiment, the portion of the guide side wall 23 that is located downstream of the discharge port 30 in the forward rotation direction R is formed such that its thickness gradually decreases along the forward rotation direction R. ing.

  When the partition projection 75 and the guide side wall portion 23 having such a configuration are provided, the sprocket 20 is in the middle of the game ball flowing down the ball guide path 22 when the amount of the game ball stored in the ball storage tank 15 is small. Holds only one game ball between adjacent partition projections 75 while rotating in the normal rotation direction R, and prevents other game balls from entering the space between the partition projections 75 that already hold the game balls. . In this state, when the sprocket 20 is further rotated in the forward rotation direction R and the game ball reaches the lowest portion 22c of the ball guide path 22, the game ball gradually increases along the thick guide side wall portion 23. While being brought close to the sphere holding part 26 side, it descends to the inner peripheral side of the sphere guide path 22 and flows down to the sphere holding part 26. In this way, one game ball can be received in each ball holding portion 26. In addition, the game ball held by the ball holding unit 26 can be engaged with the ball engaging unit 72 and the upper part can protrude from the ball holding unit 26, and a plurality of game balls flowing down the ball guide path 22 are 1 It can be prevented from being held by the two ball holding portions 26. Therefore, a plurality of game balls can be quickly discharged while the sprocket 20 makes one rotation.

  Further, since the sprocket 20 is formed with the ball guiding portion 52, the inclined surface 76 of the upper edge portion of the partition projection 75, and the inclined portion 77 of the holding partition wall portion 54, adjacent partitions while rotating in the normal rotation direction R. When the game ball is held between the protrusions 75, even if the game ball rides on the top of the sprocket 20, the game ball can be easily guided to the ball holding unit 26. Further, it is possible to easily guide the game ball riding on the upper portion of the partition projection 75 to the ball holding unit 26 via the ball guiding unit 52. Therefore, it is possible to further improve the discharge efficiency of game balls.

  The ball storage tank 15 of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 13 is located above the ball engaging portion 72 and the ball flow drop preventing portion 61 in the ball guide path 22, specifically, on the upstream side of the ball engaging portion 72. A raised portion 80 is arranged at a location located downstream of the end portion 72a and the upstream end portion 61a of the ball flow drop prevention portion 61 in the forward rotation direction R. The raised portion 80 is for changing the downward force of the game ball flowing down the ball guide path 22, and a first inclined portion inclined downward in the normal rotation direction R from the intermediate portion is formed on the upper surface of the raised portion 80. 81 and a second inclined portion 82 that inclines downward from the intermediate portion in the reverse rotation direction L (that is, the direction opposite to the normal rotation direction R). Further, both the first inclined portion 81 and the second inclined portion 82 are inclined downward toward the ball holding portion 26 side (sprocket accommodating portion 21 side). Therefore, the first inclined portion 81 has an inner peripheral edge (an edge on the sprocket 20 side) of an end located on the downstream side in the forward rotation direction R from the outer peripheral edge (the edge on the guide side wall 23 side) of the intermediate portion of the raised portion 80. Part). Further, the second inclined portion 82 is an inner peripheral edge (an edge on the sprocket 20 side) of an end located upstream in the forward rotation direction R from the outer peripheral edge (the edge on the guide side wall 23 side) of the intermediate portion of the raised portion 80. Part).

  When a game ball flows down to the ball guide path 22 having such a configuration, it is easy to distribute the game balls flowing down the ball guide path 22 between the upstream side and the downstream side of the ball guide path 22 by the raised portion 80. It is possible to prevent the plurality of game balls from being biased and held by one ball holding portion 26 by flowing down to the sprocket accommodating portion 21 in a distributed state. In addition, the game ball held by the ball holding unit 26 can be engaged with the ball engaging unit 72 and the upper part can protrude from the ball holding unit 26, and a plurality of game balls flowing down the ball guide path 22 are 1 It can be prevented from being held by the two ball holding portions 26. Therefore, a plurality of game balls can be quickly discharged while the sprocket 20 makes one rotation.

  In the modification of the third embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the ball storage tank 15 includes a plurality of raised portions 85 in the ball guide path 22 along the ball guide path 22 (that is, along the forward rotation direction R). The first inclined portion 86 that is arranged at equal intervals and inclines downward from the intermediate portion in the normal rotation direction R and inclines toward the ball holding portion 26 on the upper surface of each raised portion 85, and the normal rotation direction R from the intermediate portion A second inclined portion 87 that inclines downward in the opposite direction and inclines toward the sphere holding portion 26 is formed. If a plurality of the raised portions 85 having such a configuration are arranged, the game balls are not limited to the positions located above the ball flow-down preventing portion 61 and the ball engaging portion 72, and the game balls are placed on the upstream side and the downstream side of the ball guide path 22. Can be easily distributed. Therefore, it is possible to further prevent a plurality of game balls from being held biased to one ball holding portion 26 when the amount of game balls stored is small.

  In the above-described embodiment, three game balls can be held in the ball holding portion 26. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and at least three game balls can be held in the ball holding portion 26. I just need it. Moreover, although the spherical guide path 22 was formed in an annular shape over the entire outer peripheral edge of the sprocket accommodating portion 21, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a start end (upstream end) is arranged in the vicinity of the stepped portion 70 of the ball storage tank 15, the ball guide path is extended in an arc shape along the forward rotation direction R, and the end (downstream end) is set as the ball storage tank 15. It may be arranged on the rear side. That is, a C-shaped ball guide path may be formed.

  Moreover, although the ball | bowl engaging part 72 and the ball | bowl flow-down prevention part 61 were comprised by the circular-arc-shaped rib, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the ball engaging portion or the ball flow-fall preventing portion is formed by a plate member that can partition the ball holding portion 26 vertically from the middle, and extends from the inner peripheral surface of the sprocket accommodating portion 21 to hold the holding partition wall of the sprocket 20. The portion 54 may be formed with a slit for avoiding interference with the sphere engaging portion or the sphere falling prevention portion.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, a pachinko gaming machine that is a typical gaming machine has been illustrated and described. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a ball storage tank that stores game balls, and a storage in the ball storage tank. Any game machine may be used as long as it has a ball discharge unit for discharging the played game balls, for example, a game machine such as an arrange ball type game machine or a sparrow ball type game machine. Good.

  In addition, the configurations of the ball storage tank 15 and the ball discharge unit 16 of the above embodiment can be used for purposes other than the use as a discharge mechanism for discharging game balls. For example, in a ball slot type gaming machine (slot machine type gaming machine using a gaming ball as a game medium), it is necessary to take in 5 gaming balls with 1 bet and 15 gaming balls with 3 bets at a high speed. It can also be used as a game ball take-in mechanism for a gaming machine that needs to take a large amount of game balls at a high speed. In particular, since stable discharge (intake) is possible without aligning game balls, it is suitable as a game ball take-in mechanism arranged on the front side of a game machine that requires space saving.

  It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the above description, but is defined by the scope of the claims, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

It is a rear perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine. It is a back perspective view of a ball storage tank. It is the perspective view seen from the downward direction of a ball storage tank. It is a disassembled perspective view of a ball storage tank. It is a top view of the ball storage tank which accommodated the sprocket. (A) is a plane enlarged view of a ball guide way and a sprocket, (b) is a CS-A sectional view of (a). It is a top view of a sprocket accommodating part and a ball guide path. It is a perspective view of a sprocket accommodating part and a ball guide path. It is sectional drawing in Fig.6 (a) which showed the rotation state of the ball | bowl holding | maintenance part holding three game balls, (a) is CS-C1 sectional drawing, (b) is CS-C2 sectional drawing, (c ) Is a CS-C3 cross-sectional view, and (d) is a CS-C4 cross-sectional view. It is sectional drawing in Fig.6 (a) which showed the behavior of the game ball which flows down from a ball guide path, (a) is CS-C1 sectional drawing, (b) is CS-C2 sectional drawing, (c) is CS- C3 sectional drawing and (d) are CS-C4 sectional drawings. It is the top view of the sprocket accommodating part and the ball guide path which showed the behavior of the game ball which flows down from the ball guide path. It is the schematic of the sprocket accommodating part and ball guide path in 2nd Embodiment, (a) is a top view, (b) is CS-D1 sectional drawing of (a), (c) is CS-D2 of (a). Sectional drawing and (d) are CS-D3 sectional drawings of (a). It is the schematic of the sprocket accommodating part and ball guide path in 3rd Embodiment, (a) is a top view, (b) is CS-E sectional drawing of (a). It is the schematic of the modification of the sprocket accommodating part and ball guide path in 3rd Embodiment, (a) is a top view, (b) is CS-F sectional drawing of (a).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 4 Back mechanism unit 15 Sphere storage tank 15a Bottom part 16 Sphere discharge unit 20 Sprocket 21 Sprocket accommodating part 22 Sphere guide way 22a Upstream end part 22b Downstream end part 22c Minimum part 23 Guide side wall part 26 Sphere holding part 30 Outlet 31 Sphere outlet 52 Sphere guiding portion 54 Holding partition wall portion 61 Sphere falling prevention portion 61a Upstream end portion 61b Downstream end portion 72 Sphere engaging portion 72a Upstream end portion 72b Downstream end portion 75 Partition projection 76 Inclined surface 77 Inclined portion 80 Bumped portion 81 First inclined portion 82 Second inclined portion 85 Bumped portion 86 First inclined portion 87 Second inclined portion

Claims (3)

A gaming machine comprising a ball storage tank for storing game balls supplied from the outside and a ball discharge unit capable of discharging the game balls stored in the ball storage tank in a directly connected state,
The ball discharge unit has a rotary shaft arranged in a vertical direction, a holding rotary body provided with a plurality of ball holding parts on the outer peripheral edge, and a state in which any of the ball holding parts can communicate with the lower part of the holding rotary body With a discharge port that can discharge the game ball in the ball holding section,
The holding rotator is formed in a vertically long shape along the rotation axis direction of the holding rotator so that a plurality of game balls can be held in a state aligned along the rotation axis direction of the holding rotator,
The sphere storage tank is provided at the bottom of the sphere storage tank so as to have a cylindrical shape with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the holding rotator and the center axis set in the vertical direction, and the rotation axis is arranged in the vertical direction. A rotating body accommodating portion that can accommodate the holding rotating body in the posture , and a ball guide path that is disposed on the outer peripheral edge of the rotating body accommodating portion and guides the game ball in the ball storage tank to the ball holding portion, The ball guide path is inclined downward along the discharge rotation direction of the holding rotator , and is set to be inclined downward toward the sphere holding portion , along the discharge rotation direction of the holding rotator of the ball guide path. The lower end of the inclined direction inclined downward is the downstream end of the ball guide path, and the lower end of the inclined direction inclined downward toward the sphere holding part of the downstream end is the lowest part of the spherical guide path,
Among the rotating body accommodating portions, a ball engaging portion that protrudes toward the ball holding portion side and engages a game ball in the ball holding portion is provided on an inner wall surface facing the ball holding portion of the holding rotating body. ,
The ball engaging portion is formed in an arc shape along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the rotating body accommodating portion, and is played from the upper end portion of the ball holding portion while facing the lowermost portion of the ball guide path. Arranged at a distance shorter than the diameter of
When the ball holding part receives a game ball from the lowest part of the ball guide path or the periphery of the lowest part, the game ball is held in a state of engaging with the ball engaging part and protruding from the upper end of the ball holding part, Restricting another game ball from flowing down to the ball holding portion holding the game ball by the protruding portion of the game ball;
When the holding rotator rotates in the discharge rotation direction and the game ball held in a state of protruding from the ball holding portion is released from the engagement state with the ball engaging portion, the game ball moves the ball holding portion. A gaming machine that flows down and allows another game ball to flow into a ball holding portion that holds the game ball. The ball holding unit can hold at least three game balls in a state of being arranged along the rotation axis direction of the holding rotating body,
Among the rotating body housing parts, a ball flow blocking part that protrudes toward the ball holding part on the inner wall surface facing the ball holding part of the holding rotating body and can prevent the flow of game balls in the ball holding part. With
The ball flow-fall prevention portion is formed in an arc shape in a state parallel to the ball engaging portion along the circumferential direction of the inner wall surface of the rotating body housing portion, and is played from the discharge port in a state where it faces the discharge port. Arranged at substantially the same distance as the diameter of the sphere, and configured to prevent the gaming balls in the sphere holding portion above the gaming balls held on the outlet side from flowing down to the outlet. And
The end located on the upstream side in the discharge rotation direction of the ball engaging portion is arranged closer to the upstream side of the ball guide path than the end located on the upstream side in the discharge rotation direction of the ball flow lowering prevention portion. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is characterized.   The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the ball storage tank has a bottom portion inclined downward toward an upstream portion of a ball guide path.

Images