JP4313786B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a storage tank that stores game balls supplied from the outside, and a game ball that is located on the inclined downstream side of the bottom wall of the storage tank and is provided integrally with the storage tank and stored in the storage tank. The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a discharge device that can discharge a predetermined number of pieces.

  A conventional gaming machine includes a gaming board that forms a gaming area and a front frame to which the gaming board is attached. The front frame is formed with a game board storage part for storing the game board, and the game board is stored in the game board storage part from the front side or the rear side of the gaming machine. In addition, on the back side of the front frame, there are provided a discharge device that discharges prize balls and rental balls, a discharge control device that controls the discharge device, various ball passages, and the like. The game board is provided with an electrical device such as a liquid crystal display device, and the electrical device is disposed in a bulging state on the rear side of the game board. Therefore, on the back side of the front frame, the discharge device, the spherical flow path, and the like are arranged so as to avoid this electrical device. In recent years, with the increase in the size of electrical equipment arranged on a game board, there is a tendency that the problem of the arrangement space of various mechanisms on the back side of the front frame increases.

  In addition, a storage tank for temporarily storing game balls supplied from the island facility is provided at the upper part on the back side of the front frame. A lead-out basket is provided on the downstream side of the storage tank, and the game balls stored in the storage tank are guided to the side portion on the back of the gaming machine while flowing down the guide basket and being rectified in one row. . A ball path in the vertical direction is provided on one side of the front frame on the back side, and the upstream end of the ball path is connected to the downstream end of the lead rod, and the game ball that has flowed down the lead rod is The flow direction is changed in the vertical direction near the side edge of the front frame. The discharging device is provided in the middle of the ball flow path, and a predetermined number of game balls are discharged by the discharging device.

In addition, a gaming machine in which the discharge device is integrally provided in a storage tank is also considered (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
In the case where the discharge device is provided integrally with the storage tank, only the ball channel is provided on one side of the opening in the front frame. Even when the electrical equipment is increased in size, there is an effect that the problem of the arrangement space of the discharge device can be solved.

Thus, when the discharge device is provided integrally with the storage tank, the game balls stored in the storage tank are directly taken into the discharge device. That is, as described above, the game balls flow down from the intake port provided at, for example, the bottom of the storage tank to the discharge device without being aligned by the lead-out rod.
Here, in the storage tank, the flow path (for example, the upper surface of the bottom of the storage tank) that causes the game ball to flow down to the intake port side is abruptly narrowed before the intake port to guide the game ball to the intake port. Therefore, the ball clogging is likely to occur. Also, since the intake port is provided at the bottom of the storage tank, the game balls also overlap on the intake port, and the game balls mesh with each other by the ball pressure of these stacked game balls to form a bridge, Ball clogging may occur.

  In addition, in the game ball flow path, ball clogging has been a problem before the configuration in which a storage device is directly provided in the storage tank as described above is proposed, and the storage tank is discharged separately from the storage tank. In the tank rail (leading rod) that allows the game balls to flow out toward the device and to be aligned in two lines, the ball leveling plate that prevents the game balls from overlapping vertically can be swung around the swing axis. Thus, a configuration that suppresses the clogging of the spheres at the portion of the sphere leveling plate is known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

In addition, a gaming machine has been proposed in which a vibrator is provided at a portion of the storage tank where game balls flow out to prevent clogging of the balls and the clogging is eliminated by vibration when the clogging occurs (see, for example, Patent Document 3). It is conceivable to apply such a configuration to a gaming machine in which a discharge device is provided integrally with a storage tank, and to suppress clogging of balls.
JP 2000-79225 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-226183 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-280902

However, even if a swingable ball leveling plate as shown in Patent Document 2 is provided at the intake port portion of the storage tank to the discharge device, there is a high possibility that the ball clogging cannot be sufficiently prevented.
Further, if a vibrator device is provided as in Patent Document 3, it is highly possible that ball clogging can be eliminated. However, it is necessary to provide a vibration motor as a vibrator device only for eliminating ball clogging and to control the vibration motor. There is an increase in cost.
In addition, it is necessary to secure a space for mounting a relatively powerful vibration motor that is effective against clogging in the storage tank. In addition, the vibration motor needs to be firmly attached so as to withstand vibration, and the wiring of the power cable (control cable) is required, so that the work becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a game machine that discharges game balls from a storage tank to a discharge device that is integrated with a storage tank. It is to be able to reliably prevent clogging of the balls without increasing the number.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a storage tank that stores game balls supplied from the outside, and is located on the inclined downstream side of the bottom wall of the storage tank and is integrated with the storage tank. In a gaming machine provided with a discharge device provided in the storage tank and capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls stored in the storage tank,
The discharge device is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and includes a rotating body having a plurality of ball receiving portions for receiving game balls from an introduction portion into which the game balls of the storage tank are introduced, the rotating body In response to the rotation of the ball, the game ball is received in the ball receiving unit and the received game ball is led out to the deriving unit.
The bottom wall of the storage tank is inclined downward toward one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine to form an inclined portion where the game balls flow irregularly with a plurality of widths, and the introduction portion is formed on the inclined downstream side of the inclined portion. A height limiting member that limits the height of the stacked game balls flowing down the inclined portion and flowing into the introduction portion is provided across the front and rear direction of the game machine of the storage tank,
The height limiting member is
An attachment portion attached to the storage tank so as to be rotatable by an attachment shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine;
An extending portion extending from the mounting portion to the inclined portion inclined upstream side so as to increase the distance from the surface facing the inclined portion upper surface;
An interlocking portion extending from the mounting portion toward the rotating shaft;
And can be converted into an upper state in which the extension portion moves upward and a lower state in which the extension portion moves downward about the mounting shaft, and is biased to the lower state by a biasing member. To configure
It has an uneven contact surface that can come into contact with the interlocking portion, and includes a contact portion that rotates with the rotating body around the rotation axis,
The interlock portion does not contact the contact surface when the height restricting member is in the lower state, and the interlock portion contacts the contact surface when the height restricting member is in the upper state.

Here, the fact that the discharge device is provided integrally with the storage tank does not necessarily mean that the discharge device is integrally formed with the storage tank. For example, a single game ball is provided between the storage tank and the discharge device ( Alternatively, the game balls stored in the storage tank directly flow into the discharge device without providing alignment passages such as guide rods to be aligned in a number such as 2).
In addition, the introduction part has an opening through which a game ball can flow, and is, for example, a part serving as a reception port for the game ball to the discharge device side.
The rotating body is, for example, one having a plurality of ball receiving portions on the outer peripheral surface, that is, a sprocket-like one, or one having a hole-like ball receiving portion along the circumferential direction. Then, by rotating the game balls received in the ball receiving unit, the game balls of the ball receiving unit are guided to the deriving unit and led out one by one.
Further, the shape of the uneven surface of the uneven contact surface is not particularly limited. For example, the bottom surface of the concave portion or the top surface of the convex portion may be a substantially horizontal plane, or may be an inclined surface or a triangular shape. It may be a curved surface such as a sharp point (recessed in a valley shape) or an arc. In addition, the interlocking portion does not vibrate along the unevenness of the uneven contact surface, but in the interlocking portion that contacts the uneven contact surface, only the convex portion is in contact with the friction due to the contact with the convex portion. The interlocking portion may be vibrated.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the height of the game balls flowing into the introduction portion is limited by the height limiting member, and the game balls are stacked high on the introduction portion, so that due to the load of the game balls, When the game balls are engaged with each other to form a bridge and become solid, it is possible to prevent clogging of the balls.
In addition, a large number of game balls flow in at a time between the height limiting member and the bottom wall of the storage tank immediately below the height limit member. This can be prevented by attaching the limiting member to the storage tank so as to be rotatable by an attachment shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine, and making the height limiting member swingable in the vertical direction. In other words, when a large number of game balls flow between the height limiting member and the bottom wall of the storage tank and the ball is likely to become clogged, the height limiting member moves upward, so that the height limiting member Ball clogging can be prevented by widening the distance between the bottom wall and the storage tank bottom wall.

  Furthermore, when a ball clogging occurs due to a large amount of game balls flowing in between the height limit member and the storage tank bottom wall at one time, the height limit member is pushed by the game ball and When the interlocking part of the height limiting member comes into contact with the uneven contact surface of the contact part that rotates about the rotation axis, and the contact part rotates, the entire height limiting member vibrates via the interlocking part. Will do. This vibration eliminates the clogging of the game balls between the height limiting member and the storage tank bottom wall (introduction portion). From the above, in the discharge device integrally formed in the storage tank, it is possible to reliably prevent the game balls discharged from the storage tank from being blocked by the game balls flowing into the discharge device. .

Further, since the contact portion only needs to rotate around the rotation axis of the rotating body, the contact portion can be configured to rotate with the rotating body by a driving source of the rotating body. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a new motor to rotate the contact portion, and even if the configuration prevents ball clogging reliably, the mounting operation becomes complicated and there is no need to increase the number of expensive members. That is, it is possible to reliably prevent the clogging of the balls without complicating the mounting operation and increasing the cost.
Note that the rotating body only needs to rotate when discharging the game ball, so the rotating body does not always rotate, but when the above-mentioned ball clogging occurs when discharging the game ball In addition, the clogging of the balls is eliminated by the rotation of the rotating body.

That is, the game ball received in the ball receiving portion of the rotating body at the time of discharging is derived from the discharging device in accordance with the rotation of the rotating body, and when the game ball is derived, the rotating body places the game ball in the ball receiving portion. Since it becomes possible to accept the ball and the clogging of the ball is eliminated at this timing, the game ball can be smoothly introduced into the discharge device when the game ball is led out from the discharge device.
Therefore, even if no particular control is performed, if the discharging device is not in a state of accepting a game ball when the ball is clogged, the height limiting member does not vibrate, and the height limiting member vibrates when it is not necessary. Thus, no load is applied to the height limiting member and the contact portion, and the service life of the height limiting member and the contact portion can be extended.

  In addition, when the ball is not clogged, the height limiting member is in the lower state, so the interlocking portion does not contact the contact surface, and the height limiting member vibrates even when the rotating body rotates. do not do. Therefore, as in the case described above, the height limiting member vibrates when it is not necessary, so that no load is applied to the height limiting member and the contact portion, and the durability of the height limiting member and the contact portion is not affected. The period can be lengthened.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a storage tank for storing game balls supplied from the outside and an inclined downstream side of the bottom wall of the storage tank, which is provided integrally with the storage tank and stored in the storage tank. In a gaming machine comprising a discharge device capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls,
The discharge device is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and includes a rotating body having a plurality of ball receiving portions for receiving game balls from an introduction portion into which the game balls of the storage tank are introduced, the rotating body In response to the rotation of the ball, the game ball is received in the ball receiving unit and the received game ball is led out to the deriving unit.
The bottom wall of the storage tank is inclined downward toward one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine to form an inclined portion where the game balls flow irregularly with a plurality of widths, and the introduction portion is formed on the inclined downstream side of the inclined portion. A height limiting member that limits the height of the stacked game balls flowing down the inclined portion and flowing into the introduction portion is provided across the front and rear direction of the game machine of the storage tank,
The bottom wall is a movable bottom wall member that can be converted into an upper state that moves upward about a mounting shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine and a lower state that moves downward, below the height limiting member. With
The moving bottom wall member is biased to the upper state by a biasing member, and an interlocking portion extending from the moving bottom wall member to the rotating shaft side is provided,
It has an uneven contact surface that can come into contact with the interlocking portion, and includes a contact portion that rotates with the rotating body around the rotation axis,
The interlocking portion does not contact the contact surface when the movable bottom wall member is in the upper state, and the interlocking portion contacts the contact surface when the movable bottom wall member is in the lower state.

  Here, the discharge device, the introduction portion, the rotating body, the uneven contact surface, and the like that are integrally provided in the storage tank may be the same as those in the first aspect.

  The biasing force of the biasing member holds the moving bottom wall member in the upper state even when the game balls are stacked on the moving bottom wall member to the vicinity of the height limiting member. When the game balls are stacked until they contact the height limiting member, the moving bottom wall member is preferably adjusted so as to move from the upper state to the lower state due to the load of the game balls.

According to the invention described in claim 2, the height limit member restricts the stacking height of the game balls flowing into the introduction portion, and the game balls are stacked high on the introduction portion, so that the load of the game balls The game balls are meshed with each other to form a bridge, thereby preventing the ball from becoming clogged.
In addition, a large number of game balls flow in at a time between the height limiting member and the bottom wall of the storage tank immediately below the height limit member. A movable bottom wall member is provided on the bottom wall portion of the storage tank below the restricting member, and the movable bottom wall member is attached to the storage tank so as to be rotatable by an attachment shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine. Can be prevented by swinging in the vertical direction. That is, when a large number of game balls flow between the height limiting member and the storage tank bottom wall and ball clogging is likely to occur, the moving bottom wall member moves downward so that the height limiting member Ball clogging can be prevented by increasing the distance between the storage tank bottom wall (moving bottom wall member).

  Furthermore, when a ball clogging occurs due to a large amount of game balls flowing in between the height limiting member and the storage tank bottom wall at one time, the moving bottom wall member is pushed down by the game ball and lowered. When the interlocking part of the moving bottom wall member comes into contact with the uneven contact surface of the contact part that rotates about the rotation axis, and the contact part rotates, the entire moving bottom wall member vibrates via the interlocking part. Will do. This vibration eliminates clogging between the height limiting member and the storage tank bottom wall (moving bottom wall member). From the above, in the discharge device integrally formed in the storage tank, it is possible to reliably prevent the game balls discharged from the storage tank from being blocked by the game balls flowing into the discharge device. .

Further, since the contact portion only needs to rotate about the rotation axis of the rotating body, the contact portion can be configured to rotate with the rotating body by a driving source of the rotating body. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a new motor to rotate the contact portion, and even if the configuration prevents ball clogging reliably, the mounting operation becomes complicated and there is no need to increase the number of expensive members. That is, it is possible to reliably prevent the clogging of the balls without complicating the mounting operation and increasing the cost.
Note that the rotating body only needs to rotate when discharging the game ball, so the rotating body does not always rotate, but when the above-mentioned ball clogging occurs when discharging the game ball In addition, the clogging of the balls is eliminated by the rotation of the rotating body.

That is, the game ball received in the ball receiving portion of the rotating body at the time of discharging is derived from the discharging device according to the rotation of the rotating body, and when the game ball is derived, the rotating body places the game ball in the ball receiving portion. Although it becomes acceptable, the ball clogging is eliminated at this timing, so that the game ball can be smoothly introduced into the discharge device when the game ball is led out from the discharge device.
Accordingly, even if no particular control is performed, the moving bottom wall member does not vibrate if the discharging device is not in a state of accepting a game ball when the ball is clogged, and the moving bottom wall member vibrates when it is not necessary. Thus, no load is applied to the movable bottom wall member and the contact portion, and the service life of the movable bottom wall member and the contact portion can be extended.

  In addition, when the ball clogging does not occur, the moving bottom wall member is in the upper state, so the interlocking portion does not contact the contact surface, and the moving bottom wall member vibrates even when the rotating body rotates. do not do. Therefore, as in the case described above, the movable bottom wall member and the contact portion are not subjected to a load by vibrating the movable bottom wall member when not necessary, and the movable bottom wall member and the contact portion are durable. The period can be lengthened.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to the first aspect, the interlocking portion is located above the rotating body and can contact a game ball located above the rotating body. .

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the rotating body rotates, the game ball above the rotating body that moves along with the rotation of the rotating body comes into contact (collision) with the interlocking portion, so that the height limiting member is Vibrate. That is, not only the interlocking portion contacts the irregularities of the contact surface described above, but also the game ball that moves by the rotation of the rotating body vibrates the height limiting member, and the ball clogging can be more reliably eliminated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to third aspects, the pressure of the game ball in the storage tank is applied to the height limiting member or the movable bottom wall member. wherein the interlocking part acts is provided a movement regulating member for regulating the movement range so as not too strongly presses the contact surface.

  Here, the movement restricting member is, for example, a height limiting member or a moving bottom wall until the interlocking portion comes into contact with the contact surface when the interlocking portion moves in a direction approaching the contact surface from a position away from the contact surface. Although movement of the member is allowed, for example, the height-limiting member when the interlocking portion contacts the contact surface or the moving bottom wall member contacts as a stopper, and the interlocking portion moves from the position away from the contact surface to the contact surface. The movement of the height limiting member or the moving bottom wall member in the approaching direction is prevented. As a result, even after the interlocking portion comes into contact with the contact surface, even when the pressure of the game ball is applied so that the interlocking portion moves in the direction, the movement restricting member receives the pressure, It becomes the structure which prevents that a big pressure is applied to a surface from an interlocking | linkage part. In order to reliably reduce the pressure applied from the interlocking portion to the contact surface, for example, the interlocking portion contacts the top of the convex portion of the contact surface, but contacts the bottom of the concave portion below the top of the convex portion. It is preferable that the movement restricting member prevents the height restricting member or the moving hand wall member from rotating as long as it is not.

According to invention of Claim 4, it can prevent that a interlocking | linkage part contacts the contact surface of a contact part strongly, and reduces the rotational speed of a rotating shaft. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the rotational speed of the rotating body that rotates together with the rotating shaft from being lowered and the game ball discharge speed from being lowered.
That is, when a large ball pressure acts on the height limiting member or the moving bottom wall member, the interlocking portion strongly presses the contact surface to prevent rotation of the contact portion and further rotation of the rotating body. can do. Since the interlocking portion only needs to come into contact with the unevenness of the contact surface and vibrate, it is not necessary to strongly press the contact surface when making contact with the contact surface, and can maintain a state in which the contact surface can be contacted with the convex portion What is necessary is just to be pressed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the gaming machine according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
A drive source for driving the rotator is mounted above the rotator by a drive source mounting member,
An attachment portion of the height limiting member is attached to the drive source attachment member.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the attachment portion of the height limiting member is attached to the drive source attachment member to which the drive source for driving the rotator is attached, the drive source is activated when the rotator is rotated. In addition, the vibration accompanying the operation of the drive source is transmitted to the height limiting member, and the ball clogging can be more reliably eliminated by this vibration.

  According to the present invention, the storage tank and the discharge device are provided integrally with the storage tank without using a flow path such as a discharge rod, and the game ball is directly led from the storage tank to the integrated discharge device. Even if it does not increase the number of members that are relatively expensive and complicated to install, such as a vibration motor, the height limiting member or the moving bottom wall member is vibrated when the discharging device accepts the game ball, and the discharging device is used. Ball clogging at a portion where a game ball is received can be reliably prevented.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
Here, a pachinko gaming machine as a suitable example of the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine 100 of the present embodiment includes a machine frame 110 configured in a rectangular frame shape, and can be rotated with respect to the machine frame 110 at one side of the machine frame 110. A rectangular frame-shaped front frame 120 is pivotally supported. 1 shows the back side of the entire gaming machine 100 having the machine casing 110, and FIG. 2 shows the front frame 120 removed from the machine casing 110.
Further, the front frame 120 is pivotally supported on the front frame main body 130 serving as a base for mounting various members and the like provided in the front frame 120 so as to be rotatable on the front side of the front frame main body 130. The clear member holding frame 140 and the firing operation unit 150 attached to the lower side of the clear member holding frame 140 on the front surface of the front frame body 130 are provided. A back mechanism frame 160 including a display unit 170 is pivotally supported on the back side of the front frame main body 130 so as to be rotatable.

  The front frame main body 130 is configured in a substantially rectangular plate shape so as to fit within the machine frame 110 having a rectangular frame shape, and accommodates the game board 1 described later in a portion extending from the center to the upper end portion. For this purpose, a rectangular opening is formed. The front surface of the game board 1 accommodated in the front frame body 130 faces the front side from the opening of the front frame body 130. That is, the game board 1 is attached to the front frame 120 by being fitted into the front frame main body 130.

  In addition, the clear member covers the front side of the front frame main body 130 at an opening portion in which the game board 1 of the front frame main body 130 is fitted, that is, a portion extending from slightly lower to the upper end than the center of the front frame main body 130. A holding frame 140 is arranged, and a guide rail (not shown) provided on the front surface of the game board 1 between the front surface of the game board 1 and a glass plate as a clear member fitted in the clear member holding frame 140. ) Is a game area (not shown) in which a game ball is launched and flows down.

Also, one side of the clear member holding frame 140 (the left side as viewed from the front side of the gaming machine 100) is pivotally supported by one side of the front frame main body 130 so as to be door-shaped. The front side of the game area on the front side of the game board 1 can be opened by opening the clear member holding frame 140.
The clear member holding frame 140 is spaced from the game board 1 fitted in the opening so as to substantially close the opening of the front frame main body 130 so that a game area where a game ball can flow down is provided. A double glass plate is fixed. In the clear member holding frame 140, at least a part of the game area on the front side of the game board 1 can be visually recognized from the front side of the gaming machine 100 through the glass plate.

A firing operation unit 150 is attached to the lower side of the clear member holding frame 140 on the front side of the front frame body 130.
The firing operation unit 150 has an opening / closing panel (not shown) that can be opened / closed by being pivoted in the left / right direction, with the left side that is one side of the left / right sides being pivotally attached to the front frame main body 130. It consists of a lower panel (not shown). The open / close panel has an upper plate (not shown) that stores the discharged game balls and sends the game balls to a launching device (not shown) that launches the game balls. In addition, the lower panel on the lower side of the open / close panel has a lower plate (not shown) and an ashtray (not shown) for containing game balls that cannot be accommodated in the upper plate, and a game ball launch operation toward the game area. In addition, an operation handle 151 for adjusting the firing force when the game ball is launched into the game area, a speaker (not shown) for outputting sound, and the like are provided.

In addition, the back mechanism frame covers the back side of the front frame body 130 on the back side of the front frame body 130 and extends from the upper end of the opening into which the game board 1 is fitted to a position slightly below the center. 160 is arranged.
As shown in FIG. 2, the left end of the front surface of the back mechanism frame 160 is a back surface of the front frame main body 130, and is rotated around an attachment member provided on the right side as viewed from the back surface side of the gaming machine 100. It is pivotally supported and can be opened and closed like a door. By opening the back mechanism frame 160, the upper part on the back side of the game board 1 can be opened.

  In addition, the front frame main body 130 is provided with a structure for attaching each member to the attachment position of each member. For example, a reinforcing rib is formed so as to surround the attached member, A boss or the like for attaching the member is formed.

The game board 1 fitted into the opening of the front frame main body 130 has a game area surrounded by guide rails arranged in a substantially circular shape on the front face (not shown) of the wooden game board main body, and a game ball is included in this game area. (Hit ball; game medium) is fired to play a game.
In the game area, although not shown in the figure, a general map start gate, a general map start memory display that displays the number of unprocessed games in which the game sphere has passed through the general map start gate and the normal map variable display game has not been processed. A general-purpose variation display device for displaying a variation display game of a normal pattern is provided. Also, a normal variable winning device, a special figure start memory display that lights up the number of unprocessed times in which a game ball has won the special variable winning device and the special figure variable display game has not been processed, Front display component 11 (the back side is shown in FIG. 2) forming a display window 12 that becomes a display area of a variable display game of figure, identification information), special variable winning device, panel decoration lamp, general winning mouth, windmill There are provided a hitting direction changing member called a large number of obstacle nails and the like.

  A gate sensor for detecting a game ball that has passed through the normal start gate is provided in the normal start gate. Then, when the game ball driven into the game area passes through the usual figure start gate, the usual fluctuation display game is played on the usual figure fluctuation display (not shown). Here, the common figure change indicator is composed of, for example, LEDs, etc., and a change display game of normal symbols (for example, numbers, symbols, character designs, etc.) displays the lighting state of the common figure change indicator for a predetermined time. This is done by stopping the display. It should be noted that the universal map display game may be displayed in a part of the display area of the special map variable display game. If, as a result of the usual fluctuation display game, the stop indication on the ordinary fluctuation display becomes a special result mode, the opening / closing member of the normal fluctuation prize-winning device is operated for a predetermined time (for example, 0.00. (5 seconds) released as described below. Thereby, it becomes easy to win a game ball in the normal variation winning device, and it is easy to start a variation display game of a special figure.

The normal variation prize winning device includes a pair of left and right opening / closing members, and the opening / closing members always maintain a closed state (a disadvantageous state for the player) at an interval that allows one game ball to flow in. If the result of the game of the map change display on the map change display becomes a predetermined stop display mode (for example, “7”), it is opened in the shape of a reverse “c” and the game is played in the normal variation prize winning device. The ball is changed to a state in which it is easy to flow in (a state advantageous to the player).
This ordinary variable winning device also serves as a special winning start opening. In other words, the start condition is established based on the detection of the game ball by the start port sensor (not shown) provided in the inside of the normal variable winning device (winning area), and the special display variable display game is started. It has become.

As shown in FIG. 2, a front structural member 11 that forms a display window 12 serving as a display area of a special variable display game is attached to a substantially central portion of the game board 1 (game area).
The front structural member 11 is a cylindrical member having a complex cross section, and the substantially central portion of the game board 1 is such that the direction in which the cylindrical space extends is along the front-rear direction of the game board 1. It is attached in a state of being inserted into the display opening formed in the above. The display opening is formed in accordance with the cross-sectional shape of the front structural member 11 having a complicated cross section.

  A front end surface of the front structural member 11 is decorated, and a panel decoration lamp as a panel decoration is provided. Further, the lower part of the inner peripheral surface of the front component 11 is a stage on which a game ball can roll. The rear part of the front structural member 11 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the game board, and the rear end part 16 is arranged so that the front face of a display unit 170 attached to a back mechanism frame 160 described later comes into contact. As a result, the display on the image display surface 171 of the display unit 170 can be viewed from the front side of the game board 1 through the display window 12 which is an opening of the cylindrical front structural member 11. Yes. As will be described later, the area of the image display surface 171 is sufficiently larger than the area of the display window portion 12, and the display on the image display surface 171 is performed only in the region where the display window portion 12 is disposed. So that it is controlled.

Then, based on the fact that the game ball thrown into the game area enters the normal variable winning device that also serves as the start port of the special figure and the start condition is satisfied, a plurality of types of identification information (for example, on the image display surface 171) It is possible to execute a special symbol variable display game that displays variable numbers, symbols, character symbols, and the like. It should be noted that the special figure variation display game is performed by varying and displaying a plurality of types of identification information on the image display surface 171 for a predetermined time.
As a result of the special display variable display game, when the display mode of the image display surface 171 becomes a special result mode (for example, any one of the numbers “7, 7, 7”, etc.) It becomes a big hit and it becomes a special game state (so-called jackpot state).

  The special variable prize-winning device is equipped with a big prize opening that is opened and closed by an attacker-type opening and closing door that can be opened by turning the upper end side in a direction that falls to the near side. Is converted from a closed state to an open state, thereby facilitating the inflow of game balls into the special winning opening. The open / close door is driven by a drive device such as a solenoid. In addition, a special winning opening sensor for detecting a game ball that has entered the special winning opening is disposed inside the special winning opening (winning area).

  In addition, a general winning sensor for detecting a game ball that has entered the general winning opening is disposed at each general winning opening provided in the game area. Then, the game ball that is driven into the game area by starting the game is placed in any of the winning ports such as a general winning port, a starting winning port (ordinary variable winning device), a large winning port (special variable winning device), etc. When winning a prize, game balls as a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to each winning opening are discharged (paid out) to the upper plate by the discharge device 200 under the control of a discharge control board 34 (discharge control device) described later. It has become.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming machine 100 has a main control circuit (main control board 30) that controls the progress of the game as its control system, and controls various effects under the control of the main control circuit. The first control circuit (production ROM board 32), the second control circuit (production control board 33), the discharge control circuit (discharge control board 34) for controlling the payout of prize balls, and the control of the launch of the game ball by the launching device And a power supply circuit (power supply board 37) for supplying power.

A main control board 30 as a main control circuit is a game microcomputer having a CPU, RAM, ROM, etc. (not shown), an input / output interface, a clock (oscillator) for outputting pulse signals for synchronization of various processes, timers, etc. Etc.
The CPU includes a control unit and a calculation unit, performs calculation control, and also generates various random number values such as a jackpot determination random number value for a special figure variation display game.
The RAM includes a storage area for storing an ON signal of a start port sensor provided in the normal variation winning device, a storage area for the various random numbers, a work area for the CPU, and the like.
In addition to the game control program and control data being written in the ROM, the special display variable display game for determining the occurrence of the big hit of the special display variable display game corresponding to the various random numbers described above. Jackpot determination value, determination value of variation pattern (type of reach action), and the like are stored.

In addition, the input / output interface is connected to a start opening sensor of an ordinary variable prize device through a low-pass filter and a buffer gate, and various signals are input from the input / output interface. Is output to the CPU.
Furthermore, various control signals output from the CPU are input to the input / output interface, and these control signals are relayed by the input / output interface, and through an output port and a driver (not shown), The signals are output to various open / close solenoids as drive means of the special variation winning device, the production ROM board 32 as the first control circuit, the discharge control board 34 as the discharge control circuit for controlling the discharge of the prize balls.

The effect ROM board 32 as the first control circuit includes a control ROM that stores the control details of the effect, a CGROM that stores image and video data, and a sound data ROM that stores sound data. Note that the contents stored in the various ROMs provided on the effect ROM board 32 depend on the model of the gaming machine.
The effect ROM board 32 relays control signals (such as various commands) output from the main control board 30 and transmits them to the effect control board 33.
Further, the extended ROM board 32 includes a decoration driver (not shown) for driving a board decoration such as a board decoration lamp, based on a control signal (effect command) received by the effect control board 33 from the main control board 30 ( The board decoration driver is controlled (under the control of the main control board 30) to control the board decoration.

An effect control board 33 as a second control circuit directly connected to the effect ROM board 32 is an image memory that controls display on the CPU and RAM as a control device and the display unit 170 (liquid crystal display panel 175). A video circuit including a video display processor (VDP) as a graphic processor, a sound source LSI for controlling sound output, and the like. The effect control board 33 can be commonly used in a plurality of models.
The effect control board 33 controls frame decoration by a frame decoration lamp or the like (under the control of the main control board 30) based on a control signal (effect command) received from the main control board 30 via the effect ROM board 32. The liquid crystal display panel 175 of the display unit 170, the backlight provided in the liquid crystal display panel 175, and the sound output from the speaker are controlled.
In addition, the board via the board decoration driver provided on the effect ROM board 32 based on the control signal (effect command) received from the main control board 30 via the effect ROM board 32 (under the control of the main control board 30). Make decoration.

The discharge control board 34 as a discharge control circuit includes a microcomputer having a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, etc., and a control signal (prize ball command) from the main control board 30 and a control from a ball lending machine (not shown). Based on the signal (ball lending command), control is performed to discharge the required number of game balls (prize balls, lending balls) from the discharging device 200.
Moreover, the launch control board as the launch control circuit performs launch control of the game ball by the launch device.
Then, power is supplied to each control board described above and each device provided in the gaming machine 100 from a power supply board 37 as a power supply circuit.

In these control circuits, for example, the following control is performed.
The CPU of the main control board 30 extracts the jackpot determination random number value of the special figure based on the input of the detection signal of the game ball from the start port sensor provided in the normal variation winning device, and the determination stored in the ROM Compared with the value, a process of determining whether or not the special figure variation display game is successful is performed. In addition to this, processing for determining a variation pattern is performed, and a control signal including these results is output to the effect control board 33 via the effect ROM board 32. In the effect control board 33 and the effect ROM board 32 connected to the effect control board 33, based on the control signal from the main control board 30, the process of displaying the special display variable display game on the liquid crystal display panel 175 of the display unit 170, and the output of sound The board decoration such as blinking of the lamp and the process of controlling the frame decoration are performed. Then, the CPU of the main control board 30 performs a control to generate a special game state and operate the special variable winning device 6 when the special display variable display game is a big hit.

  In addition, the CPU of the main control board 30 determines whether or not to hit the fluctuation display game of the usual figure based on the input of the detection signal of the game ball from the gate sensor provided at the usual figure starting gate, as described above. A control signal is output to the effect control board 33 via the ROM board 32, and the usual figure change display game is displayed on the usual figure change display. Then, the CPU of the main control board 30 performs control for operating the normal variation winning device when the usual variation display game is won.

Further, the CPU of the main control board 30 outputs a control signal to the discharge control board 34 based on the detection signal of the game ball input from sensors provided at various winning ports. The discharge control board 34 controls the discharge device 200 based on the input of the control signal so that a predetermined number of game balls are paid out.
The CPU of the main control board 30 outputs a control signal to the launch control board via the discharge control board 34 based on a predetermined input signal. The launch control board controls the launch device based on the input of the control signal so that the game ball is launched into the game area.
That is, from the above, the main control board 30 that forms the main control circuit constitutes a game control device that controls the progress of the game, and the effect ROM board 32 that forms the first control circuit and the effect control board 33 that forms the second control circuit. Constitutes an effect control device that controls various effects in the gaming machine 100.

And each of these board | substrates is attached to the gaming machine as follows.
As shown in FIG. 2, the production ROM board 32 as the first control circuit in which the data depending on the model such as the display data on the image display surface 171 is stored is stored in the box 32a. The rear side of the back mechanism frame 160, which will be described later, is attached to the lower side of the back side, and the main control board 30 as a main control circuit for controlling the game is attached to the rear side thereof in a state of being housed in the box 30a. Yes. In FIG. 2, the box 32 a that houses the main control board 30 on the rear side of the box 32 a that houses the effect ROM board 32 is removed (not shown) so that the box 32 a can be easily seen. .
An effect control board 33 as a second control circuit that can be commonly used by a plurality of models is attached to a back mechanism frame 160 (described later) attached to the back side of the front frame body 130 in a state of being housed in the box 33a. ing. Further, a discharge control board 34 as a discharge control circuit for controlling the payout of prize balls by the discharge apparatus 200 and a power supply board 37 as a power supply circuit for supplying power to each device in the gaming machine 100 are supplied to boxes 34a and 37a, respectively. In the housed state, the front frame body 130 is attached to a position below the game board 1 on the back side. The launch control board is also attached to the front frame body 130.

  That is, the production-dependent production ROM board 32 and the main control board 30 are attached to the game board 1, and the production control board 33, the discharge control board 34, the launch control board, and the power supply board 37 that can be commonly used by a plurality of models are on the front surface. It is attached to the frame body 130 or the back mechanism frame 160. Therefore, by changing the game board 1, only the board depending on the model is exchanged, and the game content of the gaming machine 100 can be changed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the back mechanism frame 160 includes a main body portion 161 and a guide portion 162 for supporting and guiding a display unit 170 including a liquid crystal display panel 175 for displaying an image. In addition to the unit 170, an effect control board 33 that controls the display unit 170, a discharge device 200 that discharges prize balls, and the like, a storage tank 220 that supplies game balls to the discharge device 200, and a chute 240 are attached. The discharge device 200, the storage tank 220, and the chute 240 constitute a game ball discharge mechanism in the gaming machine according to the present invention.
As described above, the end on the left side when viewed from the front of the back mechanism frame 160 is connected to the mounting member provided on the back side of the front frame body 130 and on the right side when viewed from the back side of the gaming machine 100. From the state where the upper half of the opening formed in the front frame main body 130 and into which the game board 1 is fitted is covered from the back side so as to face the back side of the game board 1, it is rearwardly shaped like a door. It is possible to rotate between a state where the back side of the game board 1 is opened.

The main body 161 has a display unit disposition portion 163 that is a rectangular box-shaped recess opening on the front side (side facing the back surface of the game board 1) when the back mechanism frame 160 faces the back surface of the game board 1. Is formed.
The display unit arrangement portion 163 forms a display unit storage portion 168 that stores the display unit 170 together with the guide portion 162.
In addition, the lower peripheral wall 167 of the peripheral wall 167 that forms the upper, lower, left, and right peripheral surfaces of the display unit disposing portion 163 that is a rectangular box-shaped concave portion was cut away leaving a part continuous to the corner portion. It is in a state.
Further, guide portions 162 are attached to the front sides of the left and right peripheral walls 167 so as to extend the left and right peripheral walls 167 to the front side. The left peripheral wall 167 of the left and right peripheral walls 167 of the back mechanism frame 160 as viewed from the front side of the gaming machine that is pivotally supported by the front frame main body 130 is described later. A chute 240 is attached.

Similarly, a left guide portion 162 that is pivotally supported by the front frame main body 130 is rotatably attached to the front frame main body 130 so that the back mechanism frame 160 can be opened and closed.
In the state where the guide portion 162 is attached to the main body portion 161, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inner peripheral surface of the guide portion 162 is the main inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 167 of the display unit disposing portion 163. The left and right inner peripheral surfaces are formed on substantially the same plane, and a part of the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall 167 is extended forward by the guide portion 162. A rectangular concave chamber-shaped space (a space surrounded by at least the back surface and the left and right side surfaces) having a predetermined depth and opened to the front side, which is formed by the display unit arrangement portion 163 and the guide portion 162, is the display unit 170. Is a display unit storage portion 168 for storing.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the display unit 170 has a display frame unit 172 formed in a rectangular box shape (frame shape) with an open front side, and the front side of the display frame unit 172 is opened by the opening. The liquid crystal display unit 173 is disposed in an internal space, and a transparent front cover (not shown) that covers the front side of the internal space on the front side of the display frame unit 172.
The display frame unit 172 has a guided portion 17a, which will be described later, and is movable back and forth within the display unit storage portion 168 of the back mechanism frame 160 as will be described later. Further, the internal space of the display frame unit 172 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with a narrow front-rear width, that is, a rectangular plate shape.

  The liquid crystal display unit 173 is formed in a rectangular plate shape so as to fit in the internal space of the display frame unit 172. Further, the liquid crystal display unit 173 includes a box-shaped liquid crystal display unit case 174 having an open front side for housing a liquid crystal display panel 175 (including a backlight), and a liquid crystal display panel housed in the liquid crystal display unit case 174. The front surface having the image display surface 171 of the liquid crystal display panel 175 is exposed from the front surface side of the case 174. Further, the front-rear width of the liquid crystal display unit 173 is slightly shorter than the front-rear width of the internal space closed by the front cover of the display frame unit 172, but the liquid crystal display unit 173 is almost front-rear in the display frame unit 172. It cannot be moved.

  In addition, the vertical width and the horizontal width of the liquid crystal display unit 173 are shorter than the vertical width and the horizontal width of the internal space of the display frame unit 172. Thus, the liquid crystal display unit 173 can be slightly moved up and down and left and right within the internal space of the display frame unit 172 to such an extent that the image display surface 171 of the liquid crystal display unit 173 (liquid crystal display panel 175) can be aligned. Note that a plurality of balls (for example, game balls) are in contact with the back surface of the liquid crystal display unit 173 at a portion facing the back surface of the liquid crystal display unit 173 on the back surface portion of the display frame unit 172 so as to be separated from each other and roll freely. Arranged to be possible.

  In addition, on the left and right side edge portions, which are the outer peripheral edge portion on the front side of the liquid crystal display unit 173, front sliding members 176 having a front portion made of a member having a low friction coefficient are provided on the back surface of the front cover. It is provided so that it can contact. As a result, the liquid crystal display unit 173 in which the front and back are substantially sandwiched between the back surface portion and the front cover of the display frame unit 173 can be smoothly moved vertically and horizontally in the internal space by the sphere and the front sliding member 176. It has become. Further, the liquid crystal display unit 173 is provided with position-adjusted members 17b and 17c, which will be described later, and the positions of the position-adjusted members 17b and 17c are adjusted by position-adjusting members 137 and 138 which will be described later. The image display surface 171 of the liquid crystal display unit 173 (liquid crystal display panel 175) can be aligned with the unit 12.

The left and right inner surfaces of the back mechanism frame 160 formed by the left and right peripheral walls 167 and the guide portions 162 extending from the left and right peripheral walls 167 are on the left and right sides of the display frame unit 172 constituting the outer peripheral portion of the display unit 170. The guide parts 17a (only the upper and lower two on the right are shown in the figure) projecting forward and backward from four places, including the upper and lower parts of the left and right side parts. A substantially groove-shaped guide portion 169 is provided for guiding freely. Two guide portions 169 are provided on the left and right inner peripheral surfaces (only the right inner peripheral surface is illustrated) corresponding to the four guided portions 17a and extending in the front-rear direction. The upper guide portion 169 is formed at the upper portion thereof, and the lower guide portion 169 is formed at the lower portion thereof with protrusions extending in the front-rear direction projecting on the guide rails. The vertical movement is restricted and guided back and forth.
The front end of the guide portion 169 is slightly behind the front end portion of the guide portion 162, and the front end portion of the guide portion 169 is closed to the front end portion of the groove-shaped guide portion 169. A front position restricting member 180 that restricts the movement of the display unit 170 (guided portion 17a) to the front side is formed.

  In the display unit storage section 168, the display unit 170 is arranged so that the image display surface 171 is on the front side (open side). As shown in FIG. 1, by arranging the back mechanism frame 160 so as to face the back surface of the game board 1, the image display surface 171 of the display unit 170 faces the back surface side of the game board 1. When the back mechanism frame 160 faces the back surface of the game board 1, the display unit 170 is arranged at a position separated from the back surface of the game board 1 to the rear side. In addition, the vertical width and the horizontal width of the display unit storage portion 168 are larger than the vertical width and the horizontal width of the display unit 170 (excluding the guided portion 17a protruding to the left and right). It is assumed that there was a space in the room. As a result, the display unit 170 can be easily moved in the front-rear direction, and the display unit 170 can be slightly tilted in the display unit storage portion 168. Basically, as will be described later. In the state where the display unit 170 is urged forward by the urging means, the positions of the position adjusting members 17b and 17c are determined by the position adjusting members 137 and 138, whereby the display unit 170 (liquid crystal display unit 173). Is also determined.

Further, the display unit 170 is urged toward the front side by the urging means made of an elastic member such as a spring. The display unit 170 is in a state where the back mechanism frame 160 is opened or the game board 1 is placed in the front frame. In a state of being removed from 120, the front end portion of the guided portion 17 a of the display unit 170 is in contact with the above-described front position regulating member 180. As will be described later, when the back mechanism frame 160 is closed, the position adjustment members 137 and 138 formed on the back surface of the game board 1 attached to the front frame body 130 shown in FIG. The position adjustment members 17b and 17c of the liquid crystal display unit 173 move rearward against the urging force of the urging means, so that the display unit 170 moves rearward and is at a position regulated by the position adjustment members 137 and 138. It is almost fixed by the urging force of the urging means. This substantially fixed position is the position of the display unit 170 in use after setting.
Note that the position of the display unit 170 is a position where the front surface (the front cover) of the display unit 170 is substantially in contact with the rear end portion around the display window portion 12 of the front structural member 11.

The position adjustment members 137 and 138 are provided corresponding to the position adjustment members 17b and 17c as shown in FIG. The position adjusting members 17b and 17c are provided on the upper edge and the left edge of the liquid crystal display unit case 174 of the liquid crystal display unit 173, and extend outward from the upper edge and the left edge of the display frame unit 172. It is attached to the upper side and the left side outside the display frame unit 172 by a hook-shaped attachment member. The position adjusting members 17b and 17c are rollers that are rotatably supported at both ends by mounting members. The position-adjusting members 17 b and 17 c are arranged at an interval between the inner periphery of the display unit storage portion 168 of the back mechanism frame 160 and the outer periphery of the display unit 170.
The position adjustment member 137 (138) is positioned above and below the position adjustment member 17b (17c) provided on the upper side (left side) of the display unit 170 in parallel with the front surface of the display unit 170 and substantially horizontally (vertically). It is provided corresponding to the left and right positions) and is attached to the upper side (left side) of the front structural member 11 on the rear surface of the game board 1. The position adjusting member 137 (138) is formed to extend rearward from the back surface of the game board 1 to substantially the same front and rear position as the rear end portion of the front structural member 11, and the guide guide portion 13a (13c) is formed on the rear end surface. Has been. The guide guide portion 13a (13c) has a V-shaped cross section and a groove shape extending left and right (up and down). Further, the guide guide portion 13a (13c) is further grooved and fixed in a semicircular cross section at the center portion of the top and bottom (left and right) A portion 13b (13d) is formed.

  The guidance guide portions 13a and 13c are used when the back mechanism frame 160 is closed from the open state with the game board 1 attached to the front frame body 130, or when the back mechanism frame 160 is closed. When the panel 1 is attached to the front frame body 130 from the front side, the position adjusting member 17b disposed substantially horizontally on the display unit 170 (the position adjusting member disposed substantially vertically to the left of the display unit 170). 17c) is engaged with the engagement fixing portion 13b (13d) while guiding the position adjusting member 17b (17c) in the vertical direction (left-right direction) by the guide guide portion 13a (13c) having a V-shaped cross section. It moves and guides, and it positions by inserting the columnar to-be-positioned adjustment member 17b (17c) in the engagement fixing | fixed part 13b (13d) which is a groove | channel with a semicircular cross section.

Here, since the position-adjusting member 17b is attached to the liquid crystal display unit 173, the vertical / left / right positions of the liquid crystal display unit 173 that can be moved vertically and horizontally within the display frame unit 172 as described above are the position adjusting members 137. , 138. Further, since the liquid crystal display unit 173 is almost sandwiched between the back surface portion of the display frame unit 172 and the front cover, when the front and rear positions of the liquid crystal display unit 173 are determined by the position adjusting members 137 and 138, the liquid crystal display unit 173 is correspondingly supported. The front and rear positions of the display frame unit 172 are also determined, and the front and rear positions of the entire display unit 170 are determined.
With the position adjusting members 137 and 138 engaged with the position adjusting members 137 and 138 as described above, the front, rear, left, right, top and bottom positions of the liquid crystal display panel 175 of the display unit 170 are accurately determined. Thus, the position of the image display surface 171 (image display area) of the liquid crystal display panel 175 exposed from the 11 display windows 12 is accurately determined. As a result, the position of the image displayed on the image display surface 171 and the position of the display window portion 12 is not shifted, and an image with no positional deviation can be viewed from the display window portion 12.

  The liquid crystal display panel 175 is housed in a housing such that an image display surface 171 capable of displaying an image is disposed on the front side, and further on the front side is a transparent front cover that protects the liquid crystal display panel 175. Is attached. Therefore, the image display surface of the liquid crystal display panel 175 is visible from the front side of the display unit 170 through the front cover. As shown in FIG. 2, the area of the image display surface 171 is an area that can cover the upper half of the game board 1 fitted in the opening formed in the front frame body 130 from the back side. It is wider than the display window portion 12 formed by the front structural member 11. In other words, the area of the image display surface 171 is at least larger than that of the display window portion 12, so that even if the size of the display window portion 12 changes, it can cope with it. As described above, the image display surface 171 of the liquid crystal display panel 175 covers the back side of the game board 1 widely, so that various game contents of the gaming machine 100 can be changed by replacing the game board 1. It can be adapted to the display window 12 of the game board 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the display unit 170 has an effect display ROM so that an image is displayed in an area exposed from the display window 12 because the area of the image display surface 171 is larger than that of the display window 12. It is controlled by the board 32 and the effect control board 33. Information regarding the size and position of the display window 12 of the game board 1 that determines the area for displaying the image is stored in the effect ROM board 32, but the effect ROM board 32 is attached to the game board 1. The effect ROM board 32 is also exchanged together with the game board 1. Therefore, with the replacement of the game board 1, for example, the image display area corresponding to the display window part of the game board so far can be changed to the image display area corresponding to the display window part 12 of the new game board 1. It is like that.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper wall 16 a of the peripheral wall 167 of the main body portion 161 of the back mechanism frame 160 corresponds to the inclination of the bottom wall 22 a described later of the storage tank 220 from the front surface of the gaming machine. An inclined fixing plate 16b that is inclined downward from the right to the left when viewed is formed. As shown in FIG. 3, the storage tank 220 is fixed in a state of being placed on the inclined fixing plate 16b.
Further, the upper surface of the right end portion of the main body portion 161 and the upper surface of the right guide portion 162 are flat at the same height and higher than the inclined fixing plate 16b formed on the left side of the right end portion of the main body portion 161. A first step 16d is formed on the right side of the inclined fixed plate 16b.

  On the step surface of the first step portion 16d, a restriction recess 16e is formed between the upper surface of the inclined fixing plate 16b and the upper end portion, and the upper side of the restriction recess 16e, that is, the upper edge of the step surface has a bowl shape. It is in a protruding state. The upper edge portion of the first step portion 16d protruding in a bowl shape contacts the right side surface of the storage tank 220, positions the storage tank 220, and protrudes from the lower portion of the right side surface of the storage tank 220 to the right side. The restricting protrusion 222 is inserted into the fixing recess 16e, thereby restricting the upward movement of the storage tank 220.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper part on the back side of the main body part 161 of the back mechanism frame 160 has a shape cut out further lower than the inclined fixing plate 16b on the lower side of the first step part 16d. The inclined fixing plate 16b is formed so that the rear side thereof is lowered by one step, thereby forming the second stepped portion 16f. The mounting plate 221 formed at the lower part on the back side of the storage tank 220 is fixed to the step surface of the second step portion 16f so that the storage tank 220 is fixed to the main body portion 161 of the back mechanism frame 160. It has become.

An attachment recess 16h surrounded by a semicircular curved wall 16g is formed in the upper part of the left end of the main body 161, and the lower end of the discharge device 200 provided on the left side of the storage tank 220. Is accommodated in the mounting recess 16h.
In the mounting recess 16h, although not shown, a discharge lead-out portion 20a and a ball discharge lead-out portion 20b, which will be described later, of the discharge device 200 are arranged so that the game ball can flow downward.

Further, an attachment notch 16i extending from the lower side to the lower end of the curved wall 16g is formed on the left side surface of the main body 161, and the chute 240 is attached to the attachment notch 16i. Yes.
As shown in FIG. 4, the chute 240 includes a flow path component member 241 having two grooves that form the flow paths of two game balls, and a flow that serves as a lid for the groove-shaped flow path of the flow path component member 241. A road cover 242.
The flow path component 241 is provided with a front wall portion 244 and a rear wall portion 245 vertically at a right angle with respect to the side wall portion along the front edge portion and the rear edge portion of the side wall portion 243 that is elongated vertically. A partition wall portion 246 is provided between the front wall portion 244 and the rear wall portion 245 at a right angle to the side wall portion 243.
When a game ball discharged as a prize ball or a rental ball flows from the discharge device 200 to the upper plate, the flow path surrounded by the front wall portion 244, the partition wall portion 246, the side wall portion 243, and the flow path cover 242 flows down. The discharge channel 248 is a part of the channel.

  In addition, a game ball in the storage tank 220 in order that the flow path surrounded by the rear wall part 245, the partition wall part 246, the side wall part 243, and the flow path cover 242 empty the storage tank 220 for maintenance, for example. It is made into the bulb | ball extraction flow path 247 used as a part of flow path for extracting. The discharge flow path 248 and the ball discharge flow path 247 are generally along the vertical direction, but bent portions 24a and 24b for weakening the downward flow of the game ball are formed at two upper and lower positions in the middle. ing.

Further, the upper end portion of the chute 240 is formed so as to protrude to the right side, so that the left and right widths are wider than the lower side thereof, so that the left and right widths of the discharge flow path 248 and the ball discharge flow path 247 are also on the right side. Has been extensively extended.
The upper end opening of the discharge channel 248 extended to the right side is disposed at a position that overlaps with the discharge derivation portion 20a of the discharge device 200, and receives a game ball discharged from the discharge derivation portion 20a. It flows down below the frame 160.
Further, the upper end opening of the ball removal channel 247 extended to the same right side is arranged at a position overlapping with the ball removal lead-out portion 20b of the discharge device 200 so that the game balls discharged from the ball removal lead-out portion 20b can be removed. It is received and made to flow down below the back mechanism frame 160.
In addition, below the chute 240 arranged in the back mechanism frame 160, a game channel (not shown) that receives the game ball that has flowed down the discharge flow channel 248 and guides it to the upper plate, and a game that has flowed down the ball discharge channel 247 A flow path (not shown) for guiding the ball to the collection position of the game ball which has been removed is formed on the front frame body side.
In addition, by arranging the two flow paths in the front and rear two rows rather than the left and right two rows with respect to the gaming machine 100, the left and right width of the chute 240 is made narrower, and the chute 240 is displayed on the side thereof. The arrangement of the unit 170 and the back-and-forth movement are not disturbed.

From the above configuration, the storage tank 220 integrally provided with the discharge device 200 is disposed at the upper part on the back side of the front frame main body 130 (main body frame) to which the game board 1 is detachably attached. On the back side of the main body 130, a back mechanism frame 160 is provided as a support means for supporting the display unit 170 for executing a display game in the required area of the game board 1 on the front frame main body 130 side. Thereby, since the display unit 170 is disposed not on the game board 1 but on the front frame main body 130 side, the display unit 170 can be commonly used even when the game board 1 is replaced with a new one. . Moreover, since the discharge device 200 is provided integrally with the storage tank 220 and disposed above the front frame main body 130, the problem of the arrangement space of the display unit 170 and the back mechanism frame 160 that supports the display unit 170 is solved. Can do. In this example, the display unit 170 is supported on the front side of the back mechanism frame 160, and the discharge device 200 is integrated with the upper part of the back mechanism frame 160 which is above the same height as the upper end of the game board 1. A storage tank 220 is provided.
A chute 240 is provided on one side of the back mechanism frame 160, that is, on the side of the display unit 170 to cause the game balls discharged from the discharge device 200 to flow downward. However, the chute 240 has a structure that allows the game ball to flow down, and can be configured to have a width that is slightly wider than the diameter of the game ball, for example. However, the display unit 170 can be wide so as to correspond to the left and right width of the game board 1.

Next, the storage tank 220 and the discharge device 200 of the game ball discharge mechanism according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the storage tank 220 and the discharge device 200 are attached to the upper part of the back mechanism frame 160 in the state assembled integrally.
That is, the gaming ball discharge mechanism of the gaming machine 100 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape having an open top surface, and stores a storage tank 220 that stores game balls supplied from the outside (island equipment supply device), and the storage tank 220 A discharge device 200 is provided on the inclined downstream side of the bottom wall 22a of the tank 220 and provided integrally with the storage tank 220 and capable of discharging a predetermined number of game balls stored in the storage tank 220.

The integrally assembled storage tank 220 and discharge device 200 are attached to the back mechanism frame 160 so as to extend laterally along the back side of the storage tank 220 while projecting downward from the lower end surface of the storage tank 220. The mounting plate 221 (shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6) and a restricting protrusion 222 (shown in FIG. 6) that protrudes to the right from the lower end of the right end of the storage tank 220 when viewed from the front.
As described above, the storage tank 220 integrated with the discharge device 200 is brought into a state in which the bottom surface of the storage tank 220 is placed on the inclined fixing plate 16b of the upper wall 16a of the back mechanism frame 160, and the lower portion of the discharge device 200. The side is accommodated in the mounting recess 16h.
Furthermore, it is set as the state inserted in the control recessed part 16e formed in the level | step difference surface of the above-mentioned 1st level | step-difference part 16d in the state which followed the control protrusion part 222 along the upper surface of the inclination fixing plate 16b.

  Further, the front surface of the mounting plate 221 is brought into contact with the step surface of the second step portion 16f described above, and the mounting plate 221 is fixed to the step surface on the main body portion 161 side of the back mechanism frame 160 with screws or the like. Thereby, the storage tank 220 integrated with the discharge device 200 is positioned and fixed to the back mechanism frame 160.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the storage tank 220 and the discharge device 200 that are integrally formed have a cylindrical body portion 201 that serves as a housing (main body 203 described later) of the storage tank 220 and the discharge device 200. Are integrally formed, a stepping motor 204 as a drive source of the discharge device 200, a drive source mounting member 206 for attaching the stepping motor 204 to the integral molding portion 223, and a game in the storage tank 220 A sprocket 210 as a rotating body including a plurality of (for example, about 10) ball receiving portions 208,... For receiving the sphere and moving it to the discharge derivation portion 20a or the ball extraction derivation portion 20b; Rotating body upper member 214 disposed on the central portion, and a game ball in the discharge device 200 (in the storage portion 203) are supported from below. A plate-shaped bottom portion 216, a bottom member 218 that is fixed to the lower end portion of the cylindrical body portion 201 to support the bottom portion 216, supports a discharge ball detection sensor 217 that detects a discharged game ball, and a storage tank 220 The height of the game balls stacked from the bottom wall 22a (introducing portion 202) is limited to the discharge device 200 side portion, and the height limiting member 260 according to the present invention is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 12, the integrally molded portion 223 corresponds to a storage tank 220 extending in the left-right direction and a discharge device 200 formed on one end side in the left-right direction of the storage tank 220. The cylindrical portion 201 is opened to the lower side.
And the storage tank 220 comprises the bottom of the storage tank 220 extended to right and left, and the left and right which inclines downward from the other edge part side of the left-right direction toward the one edge part side in which the discharge apparatus 200 is provided. A long bottom wall 22a having a substantially rectangular shape, a right side wall 22b standing substantially vertically from the right edge when viewed from the front of the bottom wall 22a, and a front side standing substantially vertically from the front edge of the bottom wall 22a A wall 22c, a rear wall 22d erected substantially vertically from the rear edge of the bottom wall 22a, and an arc plate erected substantially vertically from the left arc-shaped side edge as viewed from the front of the bottom wall 22a Left side wall 22e.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the bottom wall 22a is disposed so as to be inclined downward from right to left as viewed from the front, and further, as shown in FIGS. 14B and 14C, It slopes down from the front towards the front. Note that the inclination of the bottom wall 22a from right to left causes the game ball stored in the storage tank 220 to flow from the other end to the one end where the discharging device 200 is provided on the upper surface of the bottom wall 22a. It is for forming the inclined part 22h for making it. As a result, the inclined portion h on the bottom wall 22a has a width within the front and rear that is equivalent to a plurality of game balls (for example, about 5 to 10 times the diameter of the game ball) on the bottom wall 22a due to the inclination from right to left. Thus, a plurality of game balls can flow down toward the discharge device 200. Note that the inclined portion 22h is not a game flow channel but a bottom portion of the storage tank 220 in which game balls are stacked one above the other, so the game balls do not necessarily flow linearly, but flow irregularly. That is, the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 is inclined downward toward one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine 100, and an inclined portion 22h in which game balls flow irregularly with a plurality of widths is formed.

  Further, the downward inclination from the rear side toward the front side of the bottom wall 22a is along the forward rotation direction of the sprocket 210 as will be described later. In addition, the inclination of the bottom wall 22a is basically described later in the left end portion where the discharge device 200 is provided in both the long side direction (downward inclination from right to left) and the short side direction (downward inclination from rear to front). The annular guide portion 22g, which is the front end (right side) of the annular guide portion 22g, is the end of the bottom wall 22a on the discharge device 200 side, and is inclined downward from the outer peripheral side toward the center side. It has become. Accordingly, the inclined portion 22h of the bottom wall 22a extends to the front of the guiding portion 22g.

The sprocket 210 is arranged inside the guide portion 22g. The forward rotation direction of the sprocket 210 is clockwise (clockwise), and the inclined portion of the bottom wall 22a on the right side of the sprocket 210 is provided. In 22h, the rotation direction of the sprocket 210 is from the rear side to the front side. Therefore, the game ball is guided in the rotational direction of the sprocket 210 by tilting the bottom wall 22a downward and forward from the rear.
That is, the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 is formed with an inclined portion 22h that is inclined downward to one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine 100, and a guiding portion 22g that is inclined downstream of the inclined portion 22h. Corresponding to the rotation direction of the sprocket 210, the game machine 100 is inclined downward toward the one side in the front-rear direction. The entire inclined portion 22h inclined from right to left does not need to be inclined downward from the rear to the front, and only the left side of the inclined portion 22h (discharge device 200 side) may be inclined downward from the rear to the front. .

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 14C, the bottom wall 22a is formed with a guide step 22i that is higher on the rear side and lower on the front side at the left end when viewed from the front of the inclined portion 22h. Has been. The guide step 22i is formed obliquely toward the front side toward the left side (the discharge device 200 side). The step of the guide step 22i is substantially the left and right of the rear edge of the bottom wall 22a. It is formed along a line segment from the central portion toward the approximate center of the annular ring of the annular guiding portion 22g.
That is, a guide step portion 22 i that guides a game ball flowing down to the guide portion 22 g to one side in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 is provided on the inclined portion 22 h corresponding to the rotational direction of the sprocket 210. The guide step 22i is also for guiding the flow of the game ball in the storage tank 220 so as to follow the forward rotation of the sprocket 210.

  Further, the bottom wall 22a is formed in an arc shape in which the side edge on the left end side where the discharge device 200 is disposed is a substantially semicircular shape, and further, the left end portion of the arc shaped bottom wall 22a has an arc shape. The above-described cylindrical cylindrical portion 201 is disposed on the lower surface side of the bottom wall 22a so as to be concentric with the center of the circle, with the axial direction being up and down. A circular opening 22f having an outer periphery along the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 201 is formed at a portion where the upper end of the cylindrical portion 201 of the bottom wall 22a and the bottom wall 22a are joined.

  In other words, an opening 22f having a smaller diameter than the circle is formed on the end of the bottom wall 22a on the side of the discharge device 200 where the side edge of the bottom wall 22a has an arc shape. Yes. In addition, an annular guide portion 22g having a width that is an interval between the opening portion 22f and the arc-shaped side edge is formed outside the periphery of the opening portion 22f. In addition, the (outer circumference) diameter of the guide portion 22g is equal to the interval between the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d of the storage tank 220 (for example, the front-rear width of the inclined portion 22h), and the gaming machine 100 inside the storage tank 220 A guiding portion 22g is formed over the entire width along the front-rear direction. That is, the length of the inclined portion 22h in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 and the length of the outer diameter of the guide portion 22g are configured to be substantially the same. As will be described later, when the guide portion 22g is also included in the introduction portion 202, the introduction portion 202 is also formed over the entire width along the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 inside the storage tank 220. .

  As described above, the guide portion 22g is inclined downward from the outer peripheral portion toward the center, and guides the game ball to fall into the opening 22f. In addition, the sprocket 210 is disposed in the opening 22f, and the ball receiving portions 208,... Are formed in a state aligned with the outer peripheral portion of the sprocket 210 in the circumferential direction at a position on the inner side of the guide portion 22g. The guiding portion 22g guides the game ball to the ball receiving portions 208,... In the opening 22f. Further, the above-described ball receiving portions 208,... Are arranged at an annular interval from the inner peripheral side of the guiding portion 22g to the rotation guiding portion 21f described later, and this interval is the ball receiving portion 208,. The game ball that is received in is introduced portion 202 that is introduced from storage tank 220 into discharge device 200.

Therefore, due to the relationship between the guide portion 22g and the inclined portion 22h, the introduction portion 202 is formed on the inclined downstream side of the inclined portion 22h.
In addition, the width (difference between the outer diameter and the inner diameter) between the outer circumference and the inner circumference of the guide portion 22g corresponds to the diameter of the game ball. For example, the width is equal to or greater than the diameter of the game ball. It is supposed to be 2 times or less. In addition, the outer peripheral portion that is the highest position in the guide portion 22g is lower than the end portion on the discharge device 200 side that is the lowest position of the inclined portion 22h that is inclined downward toward the discharge device 200 side of the bottom wall 22a. A step having a steep inclination is formed between the inclined portion 22h and the guiding portion 22g.

  That is, the guide portion 22g that surrounds the outer periphery of the sprocket 210 and is formed in a circular shape with a width of approximately one game ball and that is inclined downward toward the sprocket 210 and guides the game ball to the ball receiving portions 208,. 22a.

A front wall 22c is joined to the front edge side of the right side wall 22b, and a rear wall 22d is joined to the rear edge side so as to surround the front and rear and the right side, and the bottom wall is closed below. The upper side edges of the right side wall 22b, the front wall 22c, and the rear wall 22d are arranged flush with each other in a substantially horizontal plane. Therefore, the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d are in a state where the upper edge is horizontal and the lower edge is inclined in the same manner as the bottom wall 22a. Accordingly, the storage tank 220 has a depth that increases from the other end toward the one end on the discharge device 200 side when only the portion that becomes the inclined portion 22h of the bottom wall 22a is viewed. It is configured.
Note that the height of the end portions of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d on the discharge device 200 side is lowered by one step. And the height of the said edge part of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d is about 1/2 or less of the height of the part near the level | step difference before a level | step difference.

Also, the front edge of the arc-shaped left side wall 22e is joined to the front wall 22c, and the rear edge is joined to the rear wall 22d. The height of the left side wall 22e is the level difference between the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d. The height on the lower side is the same. Note that the upper edge of the semicircular arc plate-like left side wall 22e and the lower edge of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d on the lower step side are arranged in a substantially horizontal plane (arranged flush with each other).
As described above, the diameter of the guide portion 22g is made substantially equal to the distance between the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d, and the diameter of the arc plate-like left side wall 22e is made substantially equal to the diameter of the guide portion 22g. And the left side wall 22e is arrange | positioned so that the one side half of the guidance | induction part 22g may be enclosed along the outer periphery of the one side (left side) of the outer periphery of the guidance | induction part 22g. That is, the (left) side wall 22e on the guide portion 22g side of the storage tank 220 is formed in a semicircular shape along the outer periphery of the guide portion 22g.

  As a result, the semicircular portion opposite to the inclined portion 22h of the guiding portion 22g is surrounded by the left side wall 22e, so that the game ball flowing down the inclined portion 22h may flow down to the opposite side beyond the guiding portion 22g. The game ball can be securely guided to the introduction unit 202 (ball receiving unit 208,...) By holding the game ball inside the guide unit 22g. Further, since a space such as a corner is not formed on the opposite side of the inclined portion 22h of the guiding portion 22g, when the game ball that has flowed down the inclined portion 22h stays at the corner around the guiding portion 22g and the ball is removed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the game ball from remaining in the storage tank 220.

The bottom wall 22a, the right side wall 22b, the front wall 22c, the rear wall 22d, and the left side wall 22e described above form a substantially rectangular box (the left side is an arcuate surface) having an open top surface. It becomes the storage tank 220.
As shown in FIGS. 13, 14, 17, etc., the cylindrical portion 201 has an inner periphery that is substantially the same diameter as the opening 22 f of the bottom wall 22 a and serves as a storage portion 203 main body that stores the sprocket 210. . The cylindrical body portion 201 includes a cylindrical first cylindrical body 21a that is an upper portion of the cylindrical body portion 201 connected to the bottom wall 22a, and a lower portion of the cylindrical body portion 201 that has an inner diameter that is larger than that of the first cylindrical body 21a. The second cylindrical body 21b, which is smaller than the first cylindrical body 21b, is disposed between the first cylindrical body 21a and the second cylindrical body 21b, and is disposed in a state in which the first cylindrical body 21a and the second cylindrical body 21b are connected. It has an intermediate cylinder 21c.

  The 1st cylinder 21a is formed in the cylindrical shape of the same diameter over the up-down direction. As described above, the second cylinder 21b has a smaller diameter than the first cylinder 21a and is formed in a cylindrical shape having the same diameter in the upward direction. However, the second cylinder 21b is provided on the bottom 216 having the discharge outlet 20a. A notch 21d is formed in a portion corresponding to a later-described lead-out convex portion 21i. The intermediate cylinder 21c has an upper end formed continuously with the first cylinder 21a and the same diameter as the first cylinder 21a, and a lower end formed continuously with the second cylinder 21b. It has the same diameter as the two cylinders 21b and is formed in a cylindrical shape and a truncated cone shape so that the diameter decreases from the upper end toward the lower end. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate cylinder 21c is an inclined surface that is inclined downward from the outside to the inside.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, 21, etc., the ball discharge lead-out portion 20 b is formed from the discharge lead-out portion 20 a formed at the boundary between the second cylinder 21 b and the intermediate cylinder 21 c and at the bottom 216. Ribs 21e are formed along the inner periphery protruding toward the center side of the cylindrical body portion 201 (in the direction of the center of the sprocket 210). This is when the lowest game ball of the game balls received in the upper and lower stages by the ball receiving portions 208,... Is led downward from the discharge derivation portion 20a or the ball removal derivation portion 20b. The ribs 21e prevent the game balls from being led out together. That is, as will be described later, the game ball arranged between the outer peripheral portion of the sprocket 210 and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 201 does not have much play, so that it cannot flow downward by the slightly protruding rib 21e. .
That is, in the required range above the outlets (the discharge outlet 20a and the ball outlet outlet 20b) in the side wall (tubular body 201) of the storage part 203, one step higher than the lowermost stage in the ball receivers 208,. A rib 21e for preventing the upper game ball from flowing down to the discharge outlet 20a and the ball outlet 20b (to hold the game ball in the ball receiver 208,...) In the center of the sprocket 210. It is protruding.

Further, as described later, when the sprocket 210 rotates in the forward direction, the game ball is derived from the discharge derivation unit 20a, and when rotated in the reverse direction, the game ball is derived from the ball removal derivation unit 20b. When the sprocket 210 rotates in the direction, the game ball is not led out from both the discharge lead-out portion 20a and the ball discharge lead-out portion 20b. This is because the rib 21e is formed over a range from the discharge lead-out portion 20a to the ball discharge lead-out portion 20b. That is, for example, the sprocket 210 rotates forward, and the lowermost game ball of the ball receiving portion 208 is led out at the discharge lead-out portion 20a. At this time, the upper game ball is lowered by the rib 21e. Movement to is restricted.
Thereby, there is no game ball in the lowermost part of the ball receiving unit 208. In this state, when the ball receiving portion 208 moves from the discharge lead-out portion 20a to the ball discharge lead-out portion 20b, the game ball above the bottom is still restricted from moving downward by the rib 21e. Therefore, there is no game ball at the bottom of the ball receiving unit 208,...

Then, when the ball receiving portions 208,... Pass through the portion of the ball removal lead-out portion 20b, the second and subsequent gaming balls move down one step from the bottom in the ball receiving portions 208,. When the game ball is arranged at the bottom and again moves to the discharge derivation unit 20a, the game ball can be derived. Also, there is no game ball in the uppermost stage of the ball receivers 208,..., And a new game ball can be received.
In addition, when the sprocket 210 is rotated in the reverse direction, the discharge derivation unit 20a and the ball extraction derivation unit 20b are switched, and the game ball is derived from the ball extraction derivation unit 20b, and the discharge derivation unit The game ball is not derived from 20a.

  A half-end sensor 22k is disposed on the front side of the lower portion of the storage tank 220 and on the front side of the discharge device 200 side. This half-end sensor 22k basically does not reach the number of discharges at one time when the remaining amount of game balls in the storage tank 220 is less than the maximum number of game balls to be paid out at one time. This prevents the odd number of game balls from being paid out. The half-end sensor 22k prevents the discharge device 200 from operating even when there is no game ball in the storage tank 220. The half-end sensor 22k is composed of a sensor that detects a game ball, such as a proximity sensor that detects the game ball in a non-contact manner, and the signal for detecting the game ball from the half-end sensor 22k is interrupted (no game ball is detected). Until the signal indicating that the game ball is supplied from the island facility side and the game ball is detected from the half-end sensor 22k is input. Control to stop the discharge of the ball.

  Further, the supply of game balls to the storage tank 220 is controlled by a game ball supply device provided in the island facility, and a sensor for detecting the amount of game balls stored in the storage tank 220 is: For example, when the gaming machine 100 is installed, it is set corresponding to the storage tank 220 when connected to the game ball supply device side.

  In the storage tank 220, among the walls surrounding the bottom wall 22a, the discharge device 200 side end portion and the left side wall 22e of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d are lowered as described above. If the game balls are replenished so that the tank 220 is almost full, the game balls overflow from the end of the storage tank 220 on the discharge device 200 side. On the other hand, the driving ball mounting member 206 for fixing the stepping motor 204 serving as the drive source of the discharge device 200 to the storage tank 220 is a game ball from the end of the discharge device 200 where the height of the storage tank 220 is lowered. Acts as a lid to prevent leakage.

The drive source mounting member 206 has a shape obtained by extending a semi-circular plate body with a thin plate having a width of the semi-circular diameter, and the semi-circular portion is disposed on the semi-circular left side wall 22e. The extended thin plate portion is disposed on the lowered end portions of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d.
The drive source mounting member 206 is an end on the discharge device 200 side that is one step lower among the walls (the right side wall 22b, the front wall 22c, the rear wall 22d, and the left side wall 22e) surrounding the bottom wall of the storage tank 220. The part is blocked.

Further, a step of the front wall 22c is formed on a side edge of the drive source mounting member 206 that is in contact with the stepped portions of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d, that is, a side edge opposite to the arcuate side edge. In addition, a dam wall 207 erected up and down along the step of the rear wall 22d is attached.
The dam wall 207 prevents the game ball from flowing out from the stepped portion of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d to the drive source mounting member 206 side. In this example, the height restricting member 260 is disposed on the right side (the other end side) of the dam wall 207, and the height restricting member 260 dams the game ball, so the dam wall 207 dams the game ball. Although it is not necessary, if the game ball repels and rests on the height limiting member 260, the game ball can be prevented from falling.

Further, the dam wall 207 is provided on the drive source mounting member 206, thereby functioning as a reinforcement member of the drive source mounting member 206 and function as a reinforcement member for joining the drive source mounting member 206 and the storage tank 220. Have
Further, the drive source mounting member 206 has a flat bottom surface, and a reinforcing rib, a mounting member for the stepping motor 204, and the like are formed on the top surface side. Further, a through-hole penetrating the rotation shaft of the stepping motor 204 is formed at the center of the circle of the semicircular portion of the drive source mounting member 206.
That is, the drive source mounting member 206 is configured to support the stepping motor 204 on the upper side thereof, for mounting the stepping motor 204 as a drive source for driving the sprocket 210 as a rotating body above the sprocket 210. Is.

Further, the side edge portion of the drive source mounting member 206 on the side where the dam wall 207 is provided, that is, the side edge portion facing the end side opposite to the end portion where the discharge device 200 of the storage tank 220 is provided. As will be described later, the mounting portion 261 of the height limiting member 260 is rotatably mounted.
Further, the drive source mounting member 206 is formed with a fixed piece 20x projecting outward at a plurality of positions on the outer peripheral portion with a space between each other. Then, the fixed piece 20x is screwed to the boss 20y formed so as to protrude from the end of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d, which are lowered by the step, and the left side wall 22e so as to be outside the storage tank 220. By being stopped, the drive source mounting member 206 is fixed to the storage tank 220.

As shown in FIGS. 12 to 14, at the side edge of the drive source mounting member 206 on the side of the dam wall 207, a height that limits the stacking height of game balls flowing down the inclined portion 22 h and flowing into the introduction portion 202. A restriction member 260 is provided across the storage tank 220 in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100. In addition, the width along the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 of the height restriction member 260 is substantially equal to the width along the front-rear direction at the position of the introduction portion 202 inside the storage tank 220.
The height restricting member 260 is inclined to the upstream side of the inclined portion 22h from the mounting portion 261, which is rotatably attached to the storage tank 220 by an attachment shaft 268 extending in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100. An extending portion 262 that extends so as to increase the distance between the upper surface of the portion 22h and the surface facing the upper surface, a curved portion 263 that curves upward from the distal end portion of the extending portion 262, and And an interlocking portion 269 extending from the attachment portion 261 to the rotating shaft 20z side.
Note that the attachment portion 261, the extension portion 262, and the bending portion 263 are not necessarily separated from each other by a clear boundary, and each comb tooth portion of the height limiting member 260 that is formed into a comb tooth shape as described later. 264,... Are integrally formed with a mounting portion 261, an extending portion 262, and a bending portion 263.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 14, slits are provided at intervals from each other in the front-rear direction along the inclination in the left-right direction of the inclined portion (the left-right direction of the gaming machine) from the attachment portion 261 to the tip of the bending portion 263. (Notch) is formed, so that the height restricting member 260 is separated from the curved portion 263 and the extending portion 262 completely at each comb tooth portion 264... By the notches 265. It has a comb-like shape.
Further, the gap between the notches 265,... In the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine 100 or the width of the comb teeth portions 264,... In the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine 100 is substantially equal to the diameter of the gaming ball.
The height restricting member 260 is made of a synthetic resin having elasticity, and can be bent by being elastically deformed for each comb tooth portion 264... When an external force is applied.

That is, the height limiting member 260 includes an attachment portion 261 attached to the storage tank 220 on the inclined downstream side of the inclined portion 22h, an extending portion 262 extending from the attaching portion 261 to the inclined upstream side of the inclined portion 22h, A curved portion 263 that curves upward from the extended portion 262, and is formed into a plurality of comb teeth from the attachment portion 261 to the distal end of the curved portion 263, and each comb tooth The parts 264,... Are configured to bend by the pressure of the game ball flowing down the inclined part 22h.
Further, the height limiting member 260 is provided with notches (notches 265,...) Corresponding to the approximate diameter of the game ball.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the mounting portion 261 of the height limiting member 260 is provided by a drive source mounting member 206 and is mounted by a mounting shaft 268 that extends in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine. The extending portion 262, the bending portion 263, and the like of the height limiting member 260 are rotatably attached to the drive source attaching member 206 so as to move up and down. Further, the height limiting member 260 is provided with an interlocking portion 269 extending from the attachment portion 261 in the direction of the rotation axis 20z of the stepping motor 204.

  The mounting shaft 268 is a round bar-shaped (cylindrical) shaft that is fixed to a side edge portion of the drive source mounting member 206 that faces the upstream side of the inclined portion 22 h of the inclined portion. The mounting shaft 268 is formed on the side edge of the drive source mounting member 206, extends in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100, and is provided with a plurality of cylindrical bodies (circular pipes) spaced from each other in the front-rear direction. ) Is supported by the drive source mounting member 206. On the other hand, the mounting portion 271 of the height limiting member 260 is integrally provided with a cylindrical (circular tubular) bearing portion on the upper surface side thereof. A plurality of the bearing portions extend in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 and are provided at intervals in the front-rear direction, and are provided so as not to overlap the cylindrical body of the drive source mounting member 206.

  Then, in a state where the cylindrical body and the bearing portion are arranged in a line in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100, the mounting shaft 268 is inserted through the cylindrical body and the bearing portion, so that the mounting shaft The height limiting member 260 is rotatable with respect to the storage tank 220 via 268. That is, the attachment portion 261 is rotatably attached to the drive source attachment member 206 in a hinge (hinge) shape by the attachment shaft 268.

  Further, since the mounting portion 261 of the height limiting member 260 is mounted on the drive source mounting member 206, vibration due to the rotation of the stepping motor 204 is transmitted to the height limiting member 260 via the drive source mounting member 206, and the height The thickness limiting member 260 vibrates due to the vibration of the stepping motor 204.

  The tip of the interlocking portion 269 is not in contact with the rotating shaft 20z of the stepping motor 204, but is formed on the upper surface of the extending portion 21g of the rotating body upper member 214 provided around the rotating shaft 20z. The length is in contact with the portion 271.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13A, the rotation range of the height limiting member 260 is the position at which the interlocking portion 269 contacts the lower surface of the drive source mounting member 206 (the extended portion 262 and the curved portion 263 are the lowest). 13B, and the position where the interlocking portion 269 contacts the contact portion 271 on the upper surface of the extending portion 21g (the position where the extending portion 262 and the bending portion 263 are highest). , The upper state). Therefore, the height limiting member 260 can be converted into an upper state in which the extending portion 262 moves upward and a lower state in which the extended portion 262 moves downward about the attachment shaft 268.
Further, the height limiting member 260 that can be rotated is provided with an urging member 272 made of an elastic member (spring) such as a torsion spring attached to the attachment shaft 268, for example. The bending portion 263 is urged in a direction in which the bending portion 263 is lowered, that is, in a direction in which the interlocking portion 269 moves upward and comes into contact with the lower surface of the drive source mounting member 206. It is comprised so that it may urge to a down state. As a result, the height limiting member 260 is in the lowest position (lower state) and is not in contact with the interlocking portion 269 unless the height limiting member 260 is loaded from a game ball stored in the storage tank 220 as will be described later. It is in contact with the lower surface of the drive source mounting member 206 without contacting the portion 271.

  When the amount of game balls that are stacked higher than the height limiting member 260 flows into the storage tank 220, the curved portion 263 that curves upward from the substantially horizontal direction (diagonally upward direction) and the attachment portion 261 to the inclined portion 22h An extending portion 262 extending so as to increase the distance between the upper surface of the inclined portion 22h and the upper surface of the inclined portion 22h is stacked vertically from the upper inclined side of the bottom wall 22a (inclined portion 22h) of the storage tank 220. It is configured to move upward against the urging force of the urging member 272 by the ball pressure of the inflowing game ball, and the interlocking portion 269 contacts the contact portion 271 on the upper surface of the extending portion 21g.

  Further, the interlocking portion 269 has a lateral width narrower than that of the height limiting member 260, and extends from the center portion of the mounting portion 261 of the height limiting member 260 in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 to the upper surface side of the extending portion 21g. It is designed to extend. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, the lower surface of the interlocking portion 269 (at least the portion that can come into contact with the contact portion 271) is formed in an inverted triangular shape with a cross section that is lowest at the center and highest at the left and right side edges. ing.

  On the other hand, on the upper surface (contact surface 271a) of the contact portion 271, a plurality of convex portions 273,. In addition, the cross-sectional shape of the convex portions 273 may be any shape such as a quadrangle and a triangle. Accordingly, when the rotating member upper member 214 is rotated integrally with the sprocket 210 by the rotation of the rotating shaft 20z of the stepping motor 204 in a state in which the distal end portion of the interlocking portion 269 is lowered downward and is in contact with the contact portion 271, the upper portion of the rotating body upper member 214 is rotated at the upper portion. A certain contact portion 271 also rotates, and the convex portions 273 move below the pointed portion of the lower surface of the distal end portion of the interlocking portion 269, whereby the interlocking portion 269 moves up and down (vibrates up and down). As a result, the height limiting member 260 connected to the interlocking portion 269 also vibrates up and down.

  That is, the height restricting member 260 is attached to the attachment portion 261 by the attachment shaft 268 extending in the left-right direction of the gaming machine 100, and the curved portion 263 and the extension portion 262 are moved upward about the attachment shaft 268. And an urging member 272 that urges the height restricting member 260 downward. The interlocking portion 269 extends from the attachment portion 261 in the axial direction of the sprocket 210. And provided with a contact part 271 having a contact surface 271a that is formed in a concavo-convex shape that rotates around the rotation axis and can contact the interlocking part 269, on the rotation axis 20z of the sprocket 210 (stepping motor 204), When the height limiting member 260 is in the lower state, the interlocking portion 269 does not contact the contact portion 271, and the height limiting member 260 is in the upper state and the interlocking portion 269 is in the contact portion 271. It has been in contact.

  Thereby, when the height limiting member 260 is in the upper state in the storage tank 220 as described above, the interlocking portion 269 can rotate integrally with the sprocket 210 and has a large number of convex portions 273,. When the sprocket 210 rotates by contacting the contact portion 271 (contact surface 271a), the height limiting member 260 vibrates. Accordingly, even if the game balls are meshed with each other between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 to form a bridge so that the game balls are difficult to flow, the height limiting member The bridge is broken by the vibration of 260, and the game ball can flow.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the interlocking portion 269 is positioned above the sprocket 210 serving as a rotating body and can contact a game ball positioned above the sprocket 210. As a result, when the sprocket 210 rotates, the game ball on the sprocket 210 that is moved by the rotation of the sprocket 210 collides with the interlocking portion 269, and the height limiting member 260 having the interlocking portion 269 is vibrated. Together with the vibration due to the uneven shape of the contact surface 271a and the vibration due to the operation of the stepping motor 204, the bridge of the game ball is broken down more reliably and the ball clogged state is eliminated.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, a movement restricting member 275 that prevents the interlocking portion 269 from pressing the contact surface 271a strongly may be provided.
The movement restricting member 275 is a surface facing the upstream side of the inclined portion 22h of the dam wall 207 erected upward from the side edge portion on the upstream side of the inclined portion 22h of the drive source mounting member 206, that is, the drive source mounting member. 206 extends obliquely downward from a substantially central portion of a surface opposite to the stepping motor 204 fixed on the surface 206.

  And as shown to FIG. 16 (A), the base end part of the movement control member 275 is fixed to the approximate center part of the dam wall, and the front-end | tip part is the extension part 262 of the height restriction member 260 which became the lower state. It is arranged slightly above. And the position of the front-end | tip part of the movement control member 275 is the position where the interlocking part 269 of the contact part 271 is shown in FIG. At the same time as contacting the contact surface 271a, the upper surface of the extending portion 262 of the height limiting member 260 is in contact with the tip of the movement restricting member 275. As a result, the height restriction member 260 is in the up state, and even if the interlocking portion 269 contacts the contact surface 271a, the ball pressure of the game ball is further applied, and the extension portion 262 of the height restriction member 260 is lifted upward. When a force is applied, the movement restricting member 275 receives at least a part of this force, and the force applied from the interlocking portion 269 to the contact surface 271a can be reduced based on the ball pressure. As a result, a large force is applied from the interlocking portion 269 to the contact portion 271 that rotates integrally with the sprocket 210, so that a load is applied to the stepping motor 204 and the rotation of the sprocket 210 is suppressed or the rotation speed is reduced. Thus, it is possible to prevent the game ball discharge speed from being lowered.

  In order to surely weaken the force applied to the contact surface from the interlocking portion 269, the interlocking portion 269 contacts the convex portion 273 of the contact surface 271a, but contacts the position that becomes the bottom surface of the concave portion between the convex portions 273. Before extending (that is, with the interlocking portion 269 slightly above the state shown in FIG. 15), it is preferable that the extending portion 262 contacts the movement restricting member 275. That is, when the position of the tip of the portion protruding to the contact surface 271a side of the interlocking portion 269 moves from the upper end of the convex portion 273 to a range slightly ahead of the lower end (bottom surface of the concave portion), the movement restricting member 275 is high. It is preferable that the rotation of the restriction member 260 can be restricted. In this way, the movement restricting member 275 receives most of the above-described ball pressure. Further, even if the movement of the height restriction member 260 is restricted by the movement restriction member 275, the interlocking part 269 contacts at least the convex part 273 of the contact surface 271a, so that the height restriction member 260 is sufficiently vibrated, Ball clogging can be eliminated.

As a basic function of the height limiting member 260, the game balls are stored by the height limiting member 260 so as to be stacked higher than the lower surface of the drive source mounting member 206 on the inclined portion 22 h in the storage tank 220. In this case, the bending portion 263 of the height limiting member 260 and the bending portion 263 side of the extending portion 262 are on the base end side (mounting portion 261 side) of the extending portion 262 that is substantially at the same height position as the drive source mounting member 206. ) Damping the upper game ball and guiding it downward, the extending portion 262 makes the stacking height of the game balls lower than the extending portion 262 on the discharge device 200 side from the curved portion 263, The height at which the game balls are stacked gradually decreases toward the attachment portion 261 side.
Further, at this time, the height restriction member 260 is moved up by the ball pressure of the game ball, the interlocking portion 269 comes into contact with the contact surface 271a, and the extended portion 262 comes into contact with the above-described movement restriction member 275. When the height restricting member 260 cannot move upward, the height restricting member 260 is elastically deformed for each comb tooth portion 264..., And the upper side is restricted by the height restricting member 260 by this elastic force. In addition, the stacked game balls can be prevented from being engaged with each other to form a bridge.

Since the height limiting member 260 is rotatable from the lower state to the upper state, the height limiting member 260 does not necessarily have to bend, and the height limiting member 260 may not be comb-shaped. A single plate extending in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 may be used. That is, a configuration in which the notch 265 is not formed may be employed.
The contact portion 271 does not need to be integrated with the sprocket 210, but is preferably rotated by the rotation of the rotating shaft 20z.
In addition, although the bending portion 263 is formed on the distal end side of the height limiting member 260, the height position of the distal end portion of the extending portion 262 is extended to be the same height position as the distal end portion of the bending portion 263. If the installation part 262 extends obliquely upward, the bending part 263 may not be provided. That is, the height of the distal end portion of the extending portion 262 is increased by increasing the inclination of the extending portion 262 without extending the bending portion 263, extending the extending portion 262 further forward, or combining them. May be increased so as to correspond to the height of the game ball that can be stored in the storage tank 220.

Below, each component which comprises the discharge apparatus 200 with the above-mentioned cylinder part 201 is mainly demonstrated with reference to FIGS.
Here, the discharge device 200 is configured to be rotatable around a rotation axis set in the vertical direction (substantially perpendicular) and receives a game ball from the introduction portion 202 into which the game ball of the storage tank 220 is introduced. Is provided with a sprocket 210 having a plurality of ball receiving portions 208,... And receives the game balls in the ball receiving portions 208,... One unit is led out to the part 20a or the lead-out part 20b for ball removal.

The stepping motor 204 is a motor that rotates by a predetermined angle every time one pulse of drive power is input, and rotates according to the pulse power output from the discharge control board 34. Note that the stepping motor 204 is controlled so as to be able to rotate, for example, by a rotation angle at which one game ball can be paid out, and receives a game ball on the outer peripheral portion of the sprocket 210 as described later. The ball receiving portions 208,... Are arranged side by side in the circumferential direction so that the game balls can be received by the ball receiving portions 208,. Therefore, the stepping motor 204 can rotate by 1/10 rotation. The discharge control board 34 controls to rotate the stepping motor 204 in accordance with the number of game balls to be paid out, and the stepping motor 204 rotates by multiplying the number of game balls to be paid out by 1/10. It will be rotated by a number.
A specific example of control of the stepping motor 204 will be described later.

  Further, as described above, the stepping motor 204 is disposed on the upper side of the drive source mounting member 206 with the rotary shaft 20z directed downward substantially vertically. Then, the sprocket 210 is fixed to the lower side of the stepping motor 204. That is, a stepping motor 204 as a drive source for driving the sprocket 210 as a rotating body is attached above the sprocket 210 by a drive source attachment member 206. Thereby, the stepping motor 204 does not protrude greatly below the storage tank 220 as in the case where the stepping motor 204 is provided below the sprocket 210, and the discharge device 200 can be arranged in a compact manner.

  Further, the drive source mounting member 206 is fixed on the left side wall 22e whose upper edge portion is lower than the upper edge portions of the right side wall 22b, the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d of the storage tank 220. The member 206 is disposed at a position lower than the upper edge of the storage tank 220 by a distance that is about half the vertical width of the deepest portion of the storage tank 220. Therefore, even if the stepping motor 204 is disposed on the drive source mounting member 206, the length of the stepping motor 204 protruding above the storage tank 220 can be made small, and the storage tank 220 and the discharge device can be reduced. The combined size of 200 can be made compact.

A rotating member upper member 214 is attached to the rotating shaft 20z of the stepping motor 204 so as to be rotatable integrally with the rotating shaft 20z. That is, the rotary shaft 20z is inserted into the insertion port provided at the center of the rotating member upper member 214, and the rotating shaft 20z and the rotating member upper member 214 are joined so as not to rotate.
Then, the sprocket 210 is fixed to the lower end of the rotating member upper member 214, and the rotating member upper member 214 and the sprocket 210 rotate integrally around its axis, that is, around the rotating shaft 20z of the stepping motor 204. . Note that the rotation axis of the stepping motor 204 is arranged to be substantially vertical (vertical), and the central axis of rotation of the rotating body upper member 214 and the sprocket 210 is also substantially vertical.
The rotating member upper member 214 has a rotation guide part 21f whose lower part is formed in a disk shape, and an upper part of the rotating body upper member 214 that extends upward from the center part of the rotation guide part 21f. Has been. That is, an extension portion 21g extending upward along the rotation axis 20z is provided inside the rotation guide portion 21f of the sprocket 210.

The rotation guide portion 21f is formed in a disc shape, but since the extension portion 21g is disposed at the center portion thereof, the rotation guide portion 21f has an annular structure, and the upper surface thereof extends from the center side to the outer peripheral side. Inclined down. The width from the inner peripheral edge to the outer peripheral edge of the rotation guiding portion 21f is, for example, not less than the diameter of the game ball and not more than twice the diameter.
And between the induction | guidance | derivation part 22g formed in the discharge apparatus 200 side edge part of the bottom wall 22a of the above-mentioned storage tank 220, and the rotation induction | guidance | derivation part 21f arrange | positioned inside it, it is slightly from the diameter of a game ball. There is a wide gap. This interval is formed in an annular shape between the inner peripheral edge of the annular guide portion 22g and the outer peripheral edge of the annular guide portion 21f. Further, all of the portions opened above the ball receiving portions 208,... Provided on the outer peripheral portion of the upper portion of the sprocket 210 are exposed below the spacing portion.

  Then, the game balls in the storage tank 220 are introduced into the ball receiving portions 208,... Exposed at the interval between the guiding portion 22g and the rotation guiding portion 21f, and are rotated with the guiding portion 22g. An annular space between the guide portion 21 f and the guide portion 21 f is an introduction portion 202 that introduces a game ball into the discharge device 200.

  In the above description, the introduction part 202 is between the guiding part 22g and the rotation guiding part 21f. However, the guiding part 22g and the rotation guiding part 21f are arranged at intervals between them. Since the game ball is to be introduced into the introduction part 202, the introduction part 202 may include the guide part 22g and the rotation guide part 21f.

In this case, the introduction portion 202 is provided on the bottom wall 22a, surrounds the outer periphery of the sprocket 210, is formed in a circle with a width of approximately one game ball, and is inclined downward toward the sprocket 210 side to receive the ball receiving portion 208. ,... Are guided circularly on the upper surface of the sprocket 210, and are inclined downward from the rotating shaft toward the ball receivers 208,... To guide the game balls to the ball receivers 208,. And a rotation guiding portion 21f.
In addition, the height position of the inner peripheral part where the guide part 22g is lowest and the outer peripheral part where the rotation guide part 21f is lowest are substantially the same.

  Here, when a game ball is stored on the guiding portion 22g, the ball receiving portion 208,..., The rotation guiding portion 21f of the storage tank 220 so as to completely cover them, the guiding portion 22g, the ball receiving portion 208, ..., a game ball is arranged on the rotation guiding portion 21f. In addition, in a state where the game balls are fully poured into the ball receiving portions 208,..., The game balls are also accumulated on the ball receiving portions 208,. Accordingly, the introduction unit 202 can wait in three rows of concentric circles on the guiding unit 22g, the ball receiving unit 208,... And the rotation guiding unit 21f.

  As described above, the diameter of the annular guide portion 22g having a width corresponding to the diameter of the game ball and the front-rear width of the storage tank 220, that is, the front-rear width of the bottom wall 22a whose upper surface is the inclined portion 22h are substantially equal. Therefore, the length of the inclined portion 22h in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 and the length of the introduction portion 202 in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 are configured to be substantially the same. Further, all (plural) ball receiving portions 208 of the sprocket 210 face the introduction portion 202 into which the game balls from the storage tank 220 are introduced.

  The extending portion 21g has a height that is about twice or more the diameter of the game ball, and has a diameter that is about the diameter of the game ball at the thinnest upper end portion. Then, by arranging the extending portion 21g on the central portion of the sprocket 210, it is possible to prevent the game ball from staying on the central portion of the sprocket 210, and to rotate the extending portion 21g to the extending portion 21g. The contact of the game balls in contact with each other is broken so that the game balls can smoothly flow toward the introduction portion 202 side.

  The sprocket 210 has a plurality of the above-described ball receiving portions 208,... On its outer peripheral portion, and its vertical height is longer than twice the diameter of the game ball, excluding the rotating shaft portion 20n described later. It is slightly shorter than 3 times. Each of the ball receiving portions 208,... Of the sprocket 210 can receive game balls in three upper and lower stages, and the sprocket 210 has a first rotating body 20p as an upper portion and a second rotating body as a lower portion. 20q, and an intermediate rotating body 20r that is intermediate between the first rotating body and the second rotating body.

  Moreover, the sprocket 210 is in a state of being accommodated in the cylindrical portion 201, and the first rotating body 20p is accommodated in the first cylindrical body 21a having the largest inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 201, and the smallest inner diameter is obtained. The second rotating body 20q is accommodated in the two cylinders 21b, and an intermediate rotating body 20r that is intermediate between the first rotating body 20p and the second rotating body 20q is provided between the first cylinder 21a and the second cylinder 21b. Is accommodated in the intermediate cylinder 21c. Actually, the first rotating body 20p, the intermediate rotating body 20r, and the second rotating body of the sprocket 210 are respectively connected to the lower ends of the first cylinder 21a, the intermediate cylinder 21c, and the second cylinder 21b of the cylinder portion 201. Each lower end of the rotating body 20q is slightly raised, so that the intermediate rotating body 20r of the sprocket 210 and the second rotating body 20q of the second rotating body 20q Each top is a little higher.

In addition, the outer periphery of the sprocket 210 is provided with ball receiving portions 208 along the outer periphery. Each of the ball receiving portions 208,... In addition, the upper and lower sides of the groove are open. Note that the diameter of the arc of the groove having the arcuate cross section is slightly longer than the diameter of the game ball. Further, the distance between the deepest portion (the portion closest to the central axis of the sprocket 210) at each height position of each ball receiving portion 208,... And the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 201 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the game ball. It has been long.
Here, the projecting portions projecting outwardly between the ball receiving portions 208 of the sprocket 210 are referred to as teeth (sprocket teeth). Further, the diameter and radius at the deepest part of the ball receiving portions 208 at the height positions of the sprocket 210 are referred to as a root diameter and a root radius. In addition, the diameter and radius of each height position of the sprocket 210 at the portion with the longest diameter that becomes the tip (tooth tip) of the tooth are referred to as a tip circle diameter and a tip circle radius.

  From the above, between the cylindrical portion 201 and the sprocket 210, a space through which the game ball can pass vertically is formed for each ball receiving portion 208,. Further, since the diameter of the second cylinder 12b is shorter than the diameter of the game ball with respect to the diameter of the first cylinder 21a, the sprocket 210 has a root diameter of the first rotating body 20p of the sprocket 210. On the other hand, the diameter of the root circle of the second rotating body 20q is shortened by about the diameter of the game ball. That is, the root diameter of the second rotary body 20q, which is the lower part of the sprocket 210, is shorter than the diameter of the root circle of the first rotary body 20p, which is the upper part of the sprocket 210. The diameter of the tip circle of the sprocket 210 corresponding to the tip of each height position is also shorter in the second rotating body 20q than in the first rotating body 20p.

Further, the upper end of the intermediate rotator 20r is integrally joined to the first rotator 20p, the root diameter is equal to that of the first rotator 20p, and the lower end is joined to the second rotator 20q. In addition, the diameter of the root circle is made equal to that of the second rotating body 20q. Accordingly, the intermediate rotating body 20r has a substantially truncated cone shape that decreases as the root diameter decreases from the top to the bottom as a shape corresponding to the intermediate cylinder 21c. Thereby, the inner peripheral surface of the intermediate cylinder 21c is an inclined surface.
The tooth length from the root to the tooth tip is the longest in the first rotating body 20p, the shortest in the second rotating body 20q, and the tooth length of the first rotating body 20p in the intermediate rotating body 20r. The tooth length of the second rotating body 20q is shortened from the top to the bottom of the tooth.

  In addition, in each ball receiving portion 208,..., Game balls are arranged in a plurality of upper and lower stages, here, in three upper and lower stages. That is, in each ball receiving portion 208,..., One gaming ball is provided in the first ball receiving portion 211 between the first cylindrical body 21a and the first rotating body 20p, the intermediate cylindrical body 21c and the intermediate rotating body 20r. One is disposed in the intermediate ball receiving portion 213 between the second cylindrical body 21 and one in the second ball receiving portion 212 between the second cylindrical body 21b and the second rotating body 20q. That is, the sprocket 210 is configured to be capable of receiving a plurality of game balls in the vertical direction at each ball receiving portion 208.

  That is, the ball receiving portions 208 of the sprocket 210 are more than the upper first ball receiving portion 211 and the first ball receiving portion 211 that receive the game balls from the introduction portion 202 for introducing the game balls of the storage tank 220. A second ball that is arranged on a lower circumference that is smaller than the circumference of the circumference in which the first ball receiving portion 211 is arranged, and that guides the game ball to the discharge lead-out portion 20a or the ball discharge lead-out portion 20b. The receiving portion 212 is provided with a predetermined vertical dimension between the first ball receiving portion 211 and the second ball receiving portion 212, and the second ball receiving portion 212 is provided from the inner surface of the first ball receiving portion 211. And an intermediate sphere receiving portion 213 having an inclined surface that is continuous with the inner surface.

  Further, each of the ball receiving portions 208,... Is provided from the first rotating body 20p through the intermediate rotating body 20r to the second rotating body 20q, and each of the first rotations having a different diameter (bottom circle diameter). The same number of game balls can be arranged on the outer periphery of the body 20p, the intermediate rotating body 20r, and the second rotating body 20q. Accordingly, since the outer periphery of the first rotating body 20p is longer in circumference than the outer periphery of the second rotating body 20q, the interval between the game balls is less than the outer periphery of the second rotating body 20q. The outer periphery is wider.

  Here, if the area along the circumferential direction of the sprocket 210 of the ball receiving portions 208,... Increases from the bottom to the top, each ball receiving portion 208,. Since there is a possibility that the play of the game ball in the first rotary body 20p becomes too large, the tooth length of the first rotary body 20p is made longer than the radius of the game ball (from the root circle of the first rotary body 20p to the first cylinder). By setting the teeth between the center portions of the game balls (to be longer than ½ of the length to the inner surface of the body 21a), it can function as a spacer between the game balls. ing. Thereby, even if the space | interval of game balls is long, the play of a game ball is prevented from becoming large. If the play of the uppermost game ball of the ball receiving portion 208,... Is too great, the direction of the force applied to the lower game ball is greatly changed due to the large movement of the game ball, and the game ball discharging device 200. May have a negative impact on derivation from

  In addition, it is possible to reliably receive a game ball by making the shape of the first ball receiving portion 211 surround a wide range (a range equal to or greater than the radius) of the game ball. That is, when the protruding amount of the teeth of the ball receiving portions 208,... Is small, there are no teeth between the adjacent game balls, so the receiving area of the game balls is between the adjacent game balls. In this configuration, the receiving area changes due to the movement of the game sphere, and furthermore, due to this change, the position of each game sphere in the introduction unit 202 tends to be random, and the height difference becomes large. Although the game ball bounces greatly and support occurs in receiving the game ball, the above-described problems can be solved by lengthening the teeth in the first ball receiving portion 211 as described above.

On the other hand, in the second rotating body 20q, the interval between the game balls is narrowed so as to be in contact with each other (there is a possibility of contact). It is shorter than the radius (less than half of the length from the root circle of the second rotating body 20q to the inner surface of the second cylinder 21b), and the game ball is pushed by the teeth so that it can move in the circumferential direction. . In addition, by shortening the length of the teeth (projecting portions) constituting the second ball receiving portion 212 of the second rotating body 20q as described above (the contact portion with the game ball is shortened in the radial direction), for example, It is possible to prevent the game ball from being sandwiched between the peripheral edge of the ball extraction / leading portion 20b serving as the outlet and the teeth constituting the second ball receiving portion 212.
From the above, the second ball receiving portion 212 is configured to protrude from the outer peripheral portion of the sprocket 210 so as to protrude outward and the amount of protrusion of the teeth (projecting portion) constituting the first ball receiving portion 211. The protruding amount of the teeth (protruding part) is set small.

  Further, with the above-described configuration, in each of the ball receiving portions 208,..., The game balls on the lower side than the upper game balls are shifted inward so that the load on the upper game ball is on the lower side. This prevents the game ball from hitting in the vertical direction. For example, a part of the load of the upper game ball (the top game ball and the second game ball) is applied to the inner peripheral surface which is the inclined surface of the intermediate cylinder 21c, and the load of the game ball Is distributed, and the load applied to the lowermost game ball is reduced.

  It should be noted that the highest positions of the upper game balls of the ball receiving portions 208,... Are on the inner periphery of the guide portion 22g, the outer periphery of the rotation guide portion 21f (approximately the height of the upper surface of the sprocket 210), and on the teeth of the sprocket 210. The position is substantially the same as the edge (basically the height of the upper surface of the sprocket 210), so that the top of the game ball does not protrude above the upper edge of the ball receiving portion 208. Thus, the sprocket 210 rotates with the upper end of the game ball protruding from the sprocket ball receiving portions 208,... So that the game ball on the sprocket 210 collides with the game ball protruding from the ball receiving portion 208,. It is possible to prevent repelling and applying a large load to the rotation of the sprocket 210. Conversely, the teeth of the sprocket 210 protrude upward from the game balls in the ball receiving portions 208,... And the teeth collide with the game balls, so that the game balls repel or a large load is applied to the rotation of the sprocket 210. Can be prevented.

The lower surface of the second rotating body 20q of the sprocket 210 (the lower surface of the sprocket 210 main body) is a substantially horizontal plane, and is provided with a rotating shaft portion 20n that protrudes downward from the center portion thereof. The rotating shaft portion 20n is a columnar member that is suspended substantially vertically from the center of the lower surface of the second rotating body 20q. Further, a columnar insertion shaft portion 20m formed concentrically with the rotation shaft portion 20n is provided to project downward from the lower end of the rotation shaft portion 20n.
The insertion shaft portion 20m is inserted into a bearing hole 21n described later formed at the center of the bottom portion 216, and stabilizes the rotation of the sprocket 210 rotated by the rotation shaft 20z of the stepping motor 204 provided above. ing.

  Further, the inner diameter of the bearing hole 21n is wider than the diameter of the insertion shaft portion 20m, and is narrower than the diameter of the rotary shaft portion 20n thereon. In other words, the lower rotary shaft that is the lower rotary shaft of the sprocket 210 is formed from the rotary shaft portion 20n and the insertion shaft portion 20m, and the rotary shaft portion 20n that is the upper portion of the lower rotary shaft portion is larger in diameter than the bearing hole 21n. The insertion shaft portion 20m serving as the large diameter portion and the lower portion of the lower rotating shaft is a small diameter portion having a smaller diameter than the bearing hole 21n. As a result, the rotation shaft portion 20n is not inserted into the bearing hole 21n, and the rotation shaft portion 20n allows the interval between the lower surface of the second rotating body 20q (the lower surface of the teeth of the sprocket 210) and the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 to be described later. Thus, it is a spacer that is about the radius of the game ball. Therefore, the vertical length of the rotary shaft portion 20n is the length of the approximate radius of the game ball.

  Here, for example, when a lead-out port (ball lead-out lead part 20b) for leading the game ball is provided at the position of the bottom part 216 that is within the trajectory range of the game ball held at the bottom of the ball receiving part 208,. In addition, before the game ball falls downward from the outlet, the side edge of the sprocket 210 teeth on the rear side of the lowermost game ball 208 in the sprocket 210,. If the distance between the exit and the front side edge of the game ball is equal to the diameter of the game ball, the side edge of the tooth on the rear side of the game ball and the side edge of the outlet on the front side of the game ball There is a possibility that a game ball will be sandwiched between. In particular, in a state where there is almost no vertical distance between the side edge of the tooth and the side edge of the lead-out port, the game ball is easily sandwiched.

  Therefore, as described above, the approximate radius of the game ball is between the lower surface (the lower end of the teeth of the sprocket 210) of the main body of the sprocket 210 (the portion excluding the rotating shaft portion 20n and the insertion shaft portion 20m) and the upper surface of the bottom portion 216. When the game ball reaches the outlet, the sprocket 210 pushes above half of the game ball when the game ball reaches the outlet, and in this case, The place where the side edge of the lower end of the tooth contacts is an inclined surface that rises and inclines in the direction of tooth movement of the sprocket 210, and the game ball is pushed obliquely downward by the teeth of the sprocket 210. Thus, the game ball falls downward from the outlet without being sandwiched between the side edge of the outlet and the side edge of the tooth.

  If the distance between the lower end of the teeth of the sprocket 210 and the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 becomes too larger than the radius of the game ball, the game ball is always pushed obliquely downward while the sprocket 210 is rotating, and the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 is played. A ball is pressed, which is not preferable. On the other hand, as the interval becomes shorter than the radius of the game ball, the possibility that the game ball is pinched increases. Therefore, the interval is preferably approximately the radius of the game ball. Here, the interval between the lower end of the teeth of the sprocket 210 and the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 is slightly shorter than the radius of the game ball.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the bottom portion 216 closes the opened lower end portion of the cylindrical portion 201, and is formed in a substantially disc shape, and the above-described bearing hole 21n is formed in the center portion thereof. ing. And the bottom part 216 becomes a bottom which supports the game ball received in the upper and lower stages (three stages) from the lower side to each of the ball receiving parts 208 of the sprocket 210 as described above, and the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 201 And the arc-shaped inner peripheral surface of the ball receiving portions 208 of the sprocket 210 and the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 hold the game balls received in the ball receiving portions 208,.

Further, in the bottom portion 216, when the sprocket 210 rotates in the forward direction, the game balls received by the ball receiving portions 208,... When the discharge lead-out portion 20a, which is an opening, and the sprocket 210 rotate in the reverse direction, the game balls received by the ball receiving portions 208,. The ball extraction lead-out portion 20b, which is an opening for leading out to 247, is formed.
The discharge lead-out portion 20a and the ball discharge lead-out portion 20b are formed in the bottom 216 close to each other at a position opposite to the inclined portion 22h of the bottom wall 22a.

  The discharge lead-out portion 20a includes a tooth portion between adjacent ball receiving portions 208,... So as to form the ball receiving portions 208,... Of the sprocket 210, and a peripheral portion of an opening serving as the discharge lead-out portion 20a. In order to prevent the game ball from being sandwiched between the two, the game ball along the circumferential direction of the game ball held by the second ball receiving unit 212 which is the lowest step in the ball receiving unit 208,. Are shifted outward from a position completely overlapping the trajectory range of a game ball having a diameter width of.

  Here, in the discharging device 200, when a special game state occurs in the game of the gaming machine 100, a lot of game balls are won within a short period of time, and a large number of prize balls are corresponding to the win. The game ball as a winning ball will be discharged, but in order to avoid a large time interval between winning and discharging the winning ball, The game ball needs to be discharged, and in this case, the sprocket 210 needs to rotate at a high speed.

In this case, as described above, there is an increased possibility that a game ball will be sandwiched between the side edge of the opening serving as the lead-out portion and the side edge of the teeth of the sprocket 210. And a gap about the radius of the game ball between the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 and the game ball is prevented from being pinched. Further, in order to prevent the game ball from being pinched reliably, the discharge derivation portion 20a for discharging the winning ball and the rental ball is provided with a trajectory range having a diameter width of the game ball along the circumferential direction of the game ball. It is arranged outside the position where it completely overlaps.
That is, the discharge outlet 20a, which is the outlet, is formed at a position shifted outward from the circular orbit of the game ball held by the ball receivers 208,... (Second rotary body 20q) of the sprocket 210. .

In order to prevent the game ball from being pinched, it is preferable that the discharge lead-out portion 20a is located outside the addendum circle of the second rotating body 20q, which is the lower part of the sprocket 210. , Outside the tip circle. Moreover, the position of the discharge | emission derivation | leading-out part 20a is made outside the locus | trajectory of the center of the game ball hold | maintained at the 2nd ball receiving part 212 used as the lowest step of the ball receiving part 208, ... of the sprocket 210. FIG. That is, the discharge lead-out part 20a is located outside the locus that does not overlap with the locus of the center of the game ball.
The bottom portion 216 is formed with a lead-out convex portion 21i that protrudes outward from the disc-shaped main body in order to dispose the discharge lead-out portion 20a outside the locus of the center of the game ball.

As shown in FIGS. 18, 19, and 20, the discharge derivation unit 20 a has a game ball along the circumferential direction in which the outer peripheral edge is outside the radius of the game ball from the center trajectory of the game ball described above. The outer edge 301 along the tangential direction from one point of the outer track of the outer circumference, and the inner side in the radial direction of the circle that becomes the track of the game ball from one point of the outer track, and slightly from the track of the center of the game ball An inner edge 302 extending in an arc shape along the trajectory of the center of the game ball slightly outside the trajectory of the center of the game ball from the outer position, and one point side of the outer trajectory of the outer edge 301 And the other end of the outer edge 301. The first edge 303 and the other edge of the outer edge 301 are connected to one end corresponding to the one point of the inner edge 302 by a substantially arcuate curve. And the other end of the inner edge 302 are connected by a substantially arcuate curve. Having shape configured from the end point side edge 304..
Note that the diameter of the circle constituting the arc of the arcuate end-side edge 304 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball.
In addition, the inner edge 302 and the starting point edge 303 of the outer peripheral edge are inclined surfaces that are inclined downward from the outer peripheral side toward the inner peripheral side. Further, these slopes are formed so as to guide the game ball from the start point side edge portion 303 toward the end point side edge portion 304 side. In addition, this slope is at least partially overlapped with the locus of the center of the lowest game ball.

Also, a discharge ball detection sensor 217 is provided below the bottom 216 at a position overlapping the discharge lead-out portion 20a in the vertical direction, as will be described later. That is, a detection sensor 217 (proximity sensor) for counting the number of discharged balls is provided in the discharge outlet 20a as the outlet. This detection sensor 217 is a well-known sensor for a game ball, and has a rectangular plate shape as a whole. A detection hole 306 through which a game ball can pass is formed on one end side, and passes through this detection hole 306. The game ball can be detected without contact.
Then, on the lower side of the bottom portion 216, the detection sensor 217 is arranged at a position overlapping the discharge derivation portion 20a so as to close the discharge derivation portion 20a, and the detection hole 306 of the detection sensor 217 and the discharge derivation The end portion on the end point side edge portion 304 side of the portion 20a overlaps. In addition, the diameter of the detection hole 306 and the diameter of the arcuate (substantially semicircular) end-side edge 304 are substantially equal, and the outer periphery of the detection hole 306 and the end-side edge 304 are substantially overlapped. . Thereby, the game ball guided to the discharge outlet 20a is guided from the start side edge 303 to the end side 304, and flows down from the end on the end 304 side to detect the detection hole. It passes through 306.

  Except for the end on the end side edge 304 side of the discharge outlet 20a, the width of the discharge outlet 20a, that is, the distance between the outer edge 301 and the inner edge 302 is based on the diameter of the game ball. In addition to being shortened, the game ball is spread from the start point side edge portion 303 toward the end point side edge portion 304, whereby the game ball introduced to the start point side of the discharge derivation portion 20a is guided to the end point side. Will flow downward on the end point side.

Further, in a portion other than the detection hole 306 that overlaps the detection hole 306 of the discharge derivation portion 20a, that is, a portion excluding the end portion on the end point side, the detection sensor 217 (portion excluding the detection hole 306) and the discharge derivation portion 20a are provided. The detection sensor 217 is exposed from the discharge outlet 20a, but the distance between the outer edge 301 and the inner edge 302, the distance between the upper surface of the detection sensor 217 and the upper surface of the bottom 216, A game ball moving from the starting point side to the ending point side of the discharge derivation unit 20a from the derivation unit surrounding wall 21k, which will be described later, does not touch the upper surface of the detection sensor 217.
When the lowermost game ball of the ball receiving portions 208,... Is transported to the position of the discharge lead-out portion 20a by the rotation of the sprocket 210 as will be described later, the inner edge portion 302 and the starting point are formed. The slope of the side edge 303 that is inclined downward toward the discharge outlet 20a side and the distance between the outer edge 301 and the inner edge 302 are widened from the starting edge 303 to the ending edge 304. The centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the sprocket 210 and the length from the tooth root to the tooth tip between the ball receiving portions 208 at the bottom of the sprocket 210 are shorter than the diameter of the game ball. Since the rotation shaft side of the sprocket 210 is pushed from the center, the game ball is guided to the discharge lead-out portion 20a outside the center trajectory of the game ball.

Then, the game balls in the lowermost stage (second ball receiving portion 212) of the ball receiving portions 208,... Flow down to the discharge derivation portion 20a. At this time, the above-mentioned rib 21e causes the uppermost game balls (intermediate ball receiving portion 213, first ball receiving portion 211) of the game balls flowing down to the discharge outlet 20a of the ball receiving portions 208,. Although it remains above the lower stage, the game ball in the upper stage from the lowermost stage moves downward by rotating to a portion without the rib 21e. As a result, the game ball in the middle stage (intermediate ball receiver 213) moves to the lowermost stage, and the game ball in the uppermost stage (first ball receiver 211) moves to the middle stage, so the uppermost stage of the ball receivers 208,. Becomes empty, and a game ball can be received at the uppermost stage of the ball receiving portions 208,.
That is, by rotating the sprocket 210, the game balls are received at the top of the ball receiving portions 208,... And the game balls at the bottom are derived.

As described above, the lead-out convex portion 21 i of the bottom portion 216 protrudes outward from the disc-shaped bottom portion 216 body, and is thus exposed to the outside of the cylindrical portion 201.
Moreover, the above-mentioned notch part 21d is formed in the position corresponding to the said protrusion convex part 21i of the 2nd cylinder 21b used as the lower part of the cylinder part 201. As shown in FIG. In addition, the bottom portion 216 is provided with a lead-out portion surrounding wall 21k so as to surround the lead-out convex portion 21i exposed from the notch portion 21d. The lead-out portion enclosing wall 21k is erected on the upper surface of the bottom portion 216, includes the outer periphery of the lead-out convex portion 21i, and excludes the start-side edge portion 303 and the inner edge portion 302 of the discharge lead-out portion 20a. It is formed so as to surround 301 and the end side edge portion 304. That is, the lead-out portion enclosing wall 21k is provided so as to surround the discharge lead-out portion 20a except for the side where the game ball of the discharge lead-out portion 20a flows.

The lead-out enclosure wall 21k surrounds the discharge lead-out portion 20a except for the side where the game ball flows into the discharge lead-out portion 20a, so that the game ball can surely flow down into the discharge lead-out portion 20a. It has become.
Further, a flow-down guide portion 21m that protrudes toward the start point side is provided at a portion that is substantially above the center of the left and right width of the end point side edge portion 304 of the inner peripheral surface of the lead-out portion surrounding wall 21k. The flow-down guide portion 21m is slightly longer than the radius of the end point side edge portion 304 that is substantially semicircular, and protrudes beyond the center of the semicircle of the end point side edge portion 304 of the discharge outlet portion 20a. .

The lower surface of the distal end portion of the flow guide portion 21m has a height from the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 that is slightly higher than the diameter of the game ball. Further, the lower surface of the flow guide portion 21m It is configured to be curved in a substantially arc shape and descend downward as it goes toward the inner peripheral surface side of the part enclosing wall 21k.
As a result, the advancing direction in which the lower surface of the flow guide portion 21m is substantially horizontal in the gaming ball flowing down on the discharge derivation portion 20a is smoothly converted downward, and the game ball is smoothly moved into the discharge derivation portion 20a. It is designed to flow down. As a result, the game ball rebounds at the discharge derivation portion 20a, and the flow of the game ball to the discharge derivation portion 20a is delayed, colliding with the game ball to be discharged next, and hindering the discharge of the game ball. It can be prevented from coming out.

  The lead-out encircling wall 21k covers the periphery of the lead-out convex portion 21i exposed from the notch 21d of the cylindrical body portion 201, but the upper portion of the lead-out convex portion 21i is in an open state. A top plate portion 21h is formed on the outer side of the circumference of the cylindrical body portion 201 (second cylindrical body 21b) from the cutout portion 21d of the cylindrical body portion 201 of the wall 21k.

Further, since the lead-out surrounding wall 21k is formed so as to protrude from the cutout portion 21d of the cylindrical portion 201, it is a concave portion when viewed from the inner peripheral surface side of the cylindrical portion 201, and is guided into this concave portion. The game ball is derived from the discharge deriving unit 20a.
Accordingly, a lead-out concave portion 205 for leading out the game ball is formed by denting a portion corresponding to the second ball receiving portion 212 in the cylindrical body portion 201 serving as the side wall of the storage portion 203 to the outside, and the lead-out concave portion 205 is formed. The discharge lead-out portion 20a (the unclosed portion) is formed at the lower end of the flow-out of the lead-out convex portion 21i serving as the bottom of the discharge lead.

  Here, the portion other than the detection hole 306 that overlaps the detection hole 306 of the discharge outlet 20a, that is, the portion other than the end portion on the end point side, is overlapped with the detection sensor 217 and is closed. The closed portion of the discharge outlet 20a is not necessarily opened, and may be closed at substantially the height position of the upper surface portion of the detection sensor 217. In this case, the closed portion becomes the bottom of the lead-out recess 205. The inclined inner edge portion 302 and outer edge portion 301 of the discharge lead-out portion 20a described above serve as the bottom portion of the lead-out recess portion 205, and the bottom portion of the lead-out recess portion 205 is the upper surface on the inner side of the cylindrical portion 201 of the bottom portion 216, That is, it is one step lower than the bottom of the storage portion 203, and the inclined inner edge portion 302 of the discharge outlet portion 20a is a step portion of these bottom portions. In addition, a portion that overlaps the detection hole 306 of the detection sensor 217 of the discharge derivation unit 20a becomes the discharge derivation unit 20a. Even in the above-described configuration, the portion that does not overlap with the detection hole 306 of the discharge derivation portion 20a is closed by the detection sensor 217, and the portion that substantially overlaps the detection hole 306 vertically with the discharge derivation portion 20a. Become.

  From the above, when a bottom portion that closes a part of the discharge derivation portion 20a is provided, the bottom portion of the lead-out recess portion 205 is formed with a step below the bottom portion of the storage portion 203. An inclined surface (inclined inner edge 302) is formed from the bottom to the bottom of the lead-out recess 205.

  Further, a portion surrounding the end portion on the inner edge portion 302 side of the end point side edge portion 304 of the lead-out portion surrounding wall 21k is integrally joined with a flow guide wall 21p of a ball discharge lead-out portion 20b described later, and this lead-out portion enclosure A part of the wall 21k and the flow guide wall 21p are formed so as to protrude from the outer peripheral portion in the cylindrical portion 201 on the upper surface of the bottom portion 216. Note that at least a part of the protruding portion is included in the range of the movement trajectory of the game ball in the lowermost stage (second ball receiving unit 212) in the ball receiving unit 208,. However, the protruding portion is between the discharge lead-out portion 20a and the ball discharge lead-out portion 20b that are close to each other, and in this portion, the lowermost game ball is discharged by the discharge lead-out portion 20a or the ball discharge lead-out portion by the rib 21e. When it flows down to the derivation unit 20b, the game ball above it is prevented from flowing down to the lowest level, and there is no game ball at the lowest level. Therefore, even if a part of the outlet enclosing wall 21k and the flow guide wall 21p protrude on the movement trajectory of the game ball, the movement of the game ball in the ball receiving unit 208, ... is not affected. Yes.

The ball extraction lead-out portion 20b formed on the bottom portion 216 has a substantially square shape in which each side edge (side) as an outer periphery is substantially parallel to each piece on the outer periphery of the storage tank, and the inclined portion 22h of the bottom wall 22a. Only the side edge (side) on the opposite side is an opening having an arc shape, and has a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball.
The ball removal lead-out portion 20b is entirely moved circumferentially by the rotation of the sprocket 210 of the game ball held by the second ball receiving portion 212 of the second intermediate rotating body 20r, which is the lower portion of the sprocket 210. The trajectory game balls are arranged so as to substantially overlap the range of the diameter width of the game balls. In other words, the locus of the center of the game ball overlaps with the approximate center of the ball removal lead-out portion 20b.

Moreover, the peripheral part of the derivation | leading-out part 20b for ball removal becomes a slope inclined downward toward the inner side, and guides a game ball to the center side of the derivation | leading-out part 20b for ball removal.
Further, the flow guide wall 21p is provided adjacent to the ball removal lead-out portion 20b at the front side of the game ball moving direction when the sprocket 210 of the ball removal lead-out portion 20b is reversely rotated. 216 is erected substantially vertically from the upper surface. Further, the side surface of the flow guide wall 21p has an arcuate surface shape in which the center side is recessed from the left and right side edges. A flow guide portion 21q having the same shape as the flow guide portion 21m described above is formed on the inner side edge of the flow guide wall 21p, and the traveling direction of the game ball is lowered from the horizontal direction in the same manner as the flow guide portion 21m. It is designed to guide in the direction.
The ball removal lead-out portion 20b overlaps the trajectory of the game ball as described above, so that the game ball is more easily sandwiched than the discharge lead-out portion 20a. The speed at which the sprocket is rotated in the reverse direction for discharging the game ball from the ball discharger 20b, as compared to the speed at which the sprocket 210 is rotated in the forward direction for discharging the game ball from the discharge outlet 20a. As described above, the space between the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 and the lower surface of the main body of the sprocket 210 is spaced about the radius of the game ball, so that the game ball is separated from the side edge of the ball removal lead-out portion 20b and the sprocket. It is possible to sufficiently prevent pinching (balling) between the teeth of 210.

  That is, the ball removal lead-out portion 20b serving as the lead-out port is formed on the rotation path of the game ball received by the ball receiving portion 208,... (Second ball receiving portion 212) in the bottom portion 216, and the sprocket 210 is connected to the sprocket 210. A gap is formed between the lower surface of 210 and the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 (for example, for preventing ball balls when guiding a game ball to the outlet).

Further, the game ball removal unit 20b is used for replacement or maintenance of the gaming machine, and it is necessary that the game ball is discharged faster as the game ball is paid out. Absent.
The discharge lead-out portion 20a can have the same configuration as the above-described ball discharge lead-out portion 20b, and the ball discharge lead-out portion 20b can have the same configuration as the above-described discharge lead-out portion 20a. Is possible.
The storage portion 203 is constituted by the bottom portion 216 having the above-described discharge derivation portion 20a and ball discharge derivation portion 20b, and the cylindrical portion 201. That is, the discharge device 200 of the gaming machine 100 houses the sprocket 210 and discharges the game balls from the ball receiving portions 208,... To the bottom portion 216 on the downstream side (the discharge discharge portion 20a and the ball discharger). And a storage portion 203 in which a lead-out portion 20b) is formed.

  In addition, the outlet port is used for extracting the discharge derivation unit 20a provided with the detection sensor 217 for detecting the discharge ball and the game ball of the storage tank 220 to the outside of the gaming machine 100 (collection rod of an island facility not shown). .., So that the game balls of the ball receiving portions 208,... Are derived from either the discharge derivation portion 20a or the ball removal derivation portion 20b. The ball removal lead-out portion 20b is formed on the rotation path of the lowermost game ball of the ball receiving portions 208,.

  The bottom member 218 is generally thin (having a short axial length) and has a bottomed cylindrical shape. The diameter of the bottom member 218 is substantially the same as that of the second cylindrical body 21b serving as the lower end of the cylindrical body 201. Yes. A plurality (three) of fixing pieces 311 are provided on the upper portion of the outer peripheral portion of the bottom member 218 at intervals in the circumferential direction. The fixed piece 311 is formed to correspond to fixed bosses 312 formed on the outer peripheral portion of the lower second cylindrical body 21b at intervals in the circumferential direction. And the bottom member 218 is fixed to the lower end part of the cylindrical part 201 by screwing the fixing pieces 311... To the fixing boss 312. Further, the bottom 216 is positioned and placed on the bottom member 218, and the bottom 216 is fixed to the cylinder body 201 by fixing the bottom member 218 to the cylinder body 201.

The bottom member 218 is provided with a cylindrical fitting cylinder 315 having a fitting hole into which a lower end portion of a cylindrical bearing hole 21n protruding downward from the center part of the bottom surface of the bottom part 216 is fitted. It has been.
In addition, the bottom member 218 is provided with a square cylindrical sensor mounting portion 313 that fixes the detection sensor 217 in a accommodated state. The detection sensor 217 is configured such that the detection hole 306 partially protrudes outward from the cylindrical portion 201 corresponding to the discharge lead-out portion 20a, and the sensor mounting portion 313 is also a cylindrical bottom member 218 main body. A part (a part in which the detection hole 306 of the detection sensor 217 is arranged) protrudes outward.

At a position overlapping the detection hole 306 of the detection sensor 217 on the bottom plate of the bottom member 218, a game ball can pass so as to overlap with the detection hole 306, and a hole having substantially the same diameter as the detection hole 306 is formed. The game ball is caused to flow down from the discharge outlet 20a to the inlet of the discharge channel 248 of the chute 240 via the.
Further, a cylindrical ball removal cylinder portion 314 having an inner periphery of the same shape as the ball removal extraction portion 20 b is formed immediately below the ball removal extraction portion 20 b of the bottom portion 216 of the bottom member 218. The game ball is allowed to flow down from the ball removal lead-out portion 20b to the inlet of the ball removal passage 247 of the chute 240 via the ball removal cylinder portion 314.

In the gaming machine as described above, the storage tank 220 and the discharge device 200 discharge the game balls as follows.
First, a game ball is supplied to the storage tank 220 from an island facility (outside the game machine 100) of the game store where the game machine 100 is installed, and the amount of game balls that do not overflow to the storage tank 220 basically. Is stored.

  The game ball stored in the storage tank 220 is opposed to one end portion of the storage tank 220 provided with the discharge device 200 due to the horizontal inclination of the inclined portion 22h of the upper surface of the bottom wall 22a. It will be in the state which can flow from the other edge part used as a side to one edge part. Further, the inclined portion 22h is also inclined in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 corresponding to the rotation direction of the sprocket 210, and a guiding stage in which a step is provided lower than the upstream side of the inclination. Since the portion 22i is provided, as shown in FIG. 11, in the direction along the rotation direction of the sprocket 210, the portion on the side advanced in the rotation direction of the sprocket 210 from the boundary portion between the inclined portion 22h and the guide portion 22g. A game ball can flow.

  As a result, the outer peripheral guide portion 22g and the inner peripheral side guide portion 22g, which are provided in the bottom wall 22a of one end portion that is in a state of being overlapped with the discharge device 200 of the storage tank 220, are arranged annularly and concentrically with each other. A game ball is supplied from the other end of the storage tank 220 onto the rotation guide portion 21f and the introduction portion 202 disposed between them, and the sprocket 210 is rotated in response to the rotation of the sprocket 210. A game ball is introduced into the ball receiving portions 208,... Exposed from the introduction portion 202 of the outer peripheral portion.

  Further, when the game ball in the storage tank 220 flows from the other end portion to the one end portion side, the above-described guide portion 22g, introduction portion 202, The height of the game balls stacked on the rotation guide portion 21f is lowered. That is, the height limiting member 260 of the storage tank 220 is disposed slightly from the inclined portion 22h side with respect to the boundary portion between the inclined portion 22h and the guide portion 22g, and the above-described curved portion 263 on the distal end side and the extending portion 262 thereafter. Thus, the height of the game balls stacked on one end side is made lower than the height of the game balls stacked on the other end side from one end of the storage tank 220.

  Thereby, the height of the game ball stacked on the guiding portion 22g and the inner portion thereof is lowered, and the ball pressure directed downward by the load of the game ball is reduced in this portion. Further, the height restricting member 260 is formed in a comb-like shape by notches 265,... Arranged approximately at the diameter interval of the game ball, so that each comb-tooth portion 264,. Thus, when the game ball flows between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220, the game ball meshes between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a. It is possible to prevent a bridge from being formed and becoming difficult to flow.

  In addition, since the attachment portion 261 of the height limiting member 260 is attached to the drive source attachment member 206 with the stepping motor 204 placed thereon, when the stepping motor 204 is operated, vibrations generated thereby are driven. Even if the bridge is generated from the source mounting member 206 to the height limiting member 260, it can be broken.

  Then, at the end of the storage tank 220 on the discharge device 200 side, the game balls stored in the storage tank 220 are introduced into the discharge device 200 by the height limiting member 260 and the drive source mounting member 206 as described above. The height of the game balls stacked on the introduction part 202 is limited, and the ball pressure based on the load of the game ball is reduced in the introduction part 202 and its vicinity so that the inside of the discharge device 200 (the ball of the sprocket 210 can be smoothly removed from the introduction part 202. A game ball can be introduced into the receiving portion 208...

  In addition, in the introduction part 202 having substantially the same width as the storage tank 220, ten ball receiving parts 208 provided on the outer peripheral part of the sprocket 210 whose upper surface of the outer peripheral part rotates about a substantially horizontal and substantially vertical rotation axis. ,... Are in a state where all the upper openings face, and further, a guiding portion 22g that is inclined inward from the outer peripheral side of the introducing portion 202 is formed, and a rotation guiding portion 21f is formed on the upper surface of the sprocket 210 inside the introducing portion 202. As a result, the game ball can flow in directly from the introduction portion 202, from the outer guiding portion 22g, and from the inner rotation guiding portion 21f. In addition, since the game ball flows in substantially the same condition regardless of the rotation position of the ball receiving portion 208,... From the above-described configuration, the space where the game ball can flow into the ball receiving portion 208,. If possible, game balls can flow in anytime.

  As a result, the game ball can surely flow into the ball receiver 208. In addition, since the game balls can flow into the ball receiving portions 208,... In the upper and lower three stages, in the unlikely event that the ball receiving portions 208,. Even if the ball does not flow into the ball receivers 208,..., One or two game balls are arranged in the ball receivers 208,..., And the ball receivers 208,. Although there is no game ball in the ball receivers 208,... Despite the movement to the position, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the game ball is not derived.

  Therefore, the game ball can be led out smoothly by the rotation of the sprocket 210. That is, if the game balls are held in the upper and lower three stages in the ball receiving portions 208,..., A situation where the game balls are not led out if the game balls flow in during the three rounds of the sprocket 210 is prevented. Can do. Also, as described above, the game ball can flow into the ball receivers 208,... At any time, so that even if two or more holes are generated in the ball receivers 208,. There is no problem even if there is a ball receiving portion 208,... In which the game ball does not flow in while the sprocket 210 makes one round.

  Further, if the game balls can be held in the upper and lower three stages on the ball receiving portions 208,..., The load of the upper game ball is applied to the lowermost game ball. The game balls on the lower side are arranged obliquely inward with respect to the game balls on the upper side without arranging the game balls in a vertical line. For example, at the position of the intermediate ball receiving portion 213 where the middle game ball among the upper and lower three-stage game balls of the sprocket 210 is arranged, the inner cylinder 21c of the cylinder portion 201 serving as the side wall of the storage portion 203 Since the peripheral surface is an inclined surface that contacts the diagonally lower side of the middle game ball, the inclined surface receives a part of the load of the game ball arranged at the uppermost stage and the middle, and the lowermost game The load applied to the ball by the upper game ball can be reduced, thereby preventing the sprocket 210 from being obstructed.

Then, in the ball receivers 208,..., The game balls received from the uppermost stage are sequentially moved downward and reached the lowermost stage, and then derived from the discharge derivation unit 20a or the ball removal derivation unit 20b. Become.
At this time, if the sprocket 210 rotates at a high speed, the game ball to be derived is sandwiched between the peripheral edge of the outlet and the teeth of the sprocket 210 as described above, and the game ball cannot be derived, and the sandwiched game If the ball is not removed, the rotation of the sprocket 210 cannot be resumed.

Therefore, for example, by providing an interval about the radius of the game ball between the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 of the storage unit 203 in which the sprocket 210 is stored and the lower surface of the sprocket 210 (the lower edge of the teeth), the game ball Is lowered downward at the lead-out port (ball-drawing lead-out part 20b), the state where the teeth of the sprocket 210 press the slope inclined downward from the top above the half height position of the game ball, that is, The game ball is pressed obliquely downward, and the game ball can be prevented from being pinched as described above.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 21 (A), the peripheral portion of the lead-out portion 20b for ball removal is an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the inside, so that the game ball is a peripheral portion of the lead-out portion 20b for ball removal. At the stage where the game ball is lowered, the teeth of the sprocket 210 are on the upper side with respect to the intermediate height of the game ball, and the game ball is pushed obliquely downward before the game ball flows down into the ball outlet lead-out portion 20b. It becomes possible to prevent the game ball from being pinched more reliably.

Further, in the discharge lead-out portion 20a as the lead-out port, the portion serving as the lead-out port is arranged so as to be shifted outward from the tooth tip circle of the second rotating body 20q that is the lowest stage of the sprocket 210, The game ball is not sandwiched between the peripheral edge of the discharge outlet 20a and the teeth of the sprocket 210.
For example, as shown in FIGS. 19 (A) and 20 (A), a game ball adjacent to the discharge derivation unit 20a on the front side of the discharge derivation unit 20a is outside the center locus. In the portion 20a, the centrifugal force at the time of rotation of the sprocket 210 and the inner peripheral edge of the discharge lead-out portion 20a are positioned so as to overlap the locus of the center of the game ball at the time of rotation of the sprocket 210. It is guided by an inclined surface that inclines downward toward the lead-out portion 20a side (outside the center trajectory of the game ball). Then, as shown in FIGS. 19B and 20B, the game ball is further pushed by the teeth of the sprocket 210 and approaches the discharging lead-out portion 20a. At this time, the traveling direction of the game ball is changed. It does not have an arc shape, and is along the tangential extension of the rotation path of the game ball at the time of FIG. 19 (A) and FIG. 20 (A).
Then, as shown in FIGS. 19C and 20C, before the game ball reaches the end of the discharge lead-out portion 20a where the game ball can flow downward, the game ball is disengaged from the teeth of the sprocket 210. When the game ball is completely separated outward and flows down from the discharge lead-out portion 20a, the game ball is sandwiched between the teeth of the sprocket 210 and the end point side edge 304 of the discharge lead-out portion 20a. It becomes impossible.

From the above, in the discharging device 200, the number of game balls corresponding to the rotation angle of the sprocket 210 is surely discharged, and the game ball is sandwiched at the outlet, so that the sprocket 210 does not rotate. Can be prevented. In particular, when the sprocket 210 does not rotate, there is a possibility that work by an attendant may be necessary, but by preventing this reliably, the player becomes unable to play a game while waiting for the attendant's work. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the occurrence of a situation in which the player is dissatisfied with being unable to play the game.
Although it is conceivable to reversely rotate the sprocket 210 in order to eliminate the non-rotatable state, there is a possibility that the game ball may be discharged from the ball removal lead-out portion 20b due to the reverse rotation, and such control is also problematic. There is.

As shown in FIG. 21B, when the sprocket 210 of the ball removal lead-out portion 20b of the bottom portion 216 constituting the bottom surface of the storage portion 203 is rotated reversely, A step portion 209 that is one step lower than the top surface of the bottom portion 216 is provided on the front side of the game ball of the lead-out portion 20b in the traveling direction (during reverse rotation), and the sprocket 210 (sprocket 210 The distance to the lower surface of the tooth) may be longer than the radius of the game ball.
That is, a stepped portion 209 is formed which is an edge portion of the ball extraction leading portion 20b serving as a lead-out port and has a stepped downward from the bottom portion 216 of the storage portion 203 in the direction in which the game ball enters the lead-out port. The dimension between the lower surface of the step and the upper surface of the step portion 209 is set larger than the radius of the game ball.

  Thus, for example, when the distance between the upper surface of the bottom portion 216 serving as the bottom surface of the storage portion 203 and the lower surface of the sprocket 210 is approximately the radius of the game ball, and the game ball is slightly shorter than the radius of the game ball. When moving to the stepped portion 209 in front of the extraction lead-out portion 20b, the stepped portion 209 lowers the position of the game ball by one step. As a result, the contact position between the game ball and the tooth of the sprocket 210 that pushes the game ball in the rotational direction becomes slightly higher than the center of the game ball, and the tooth of the sprocket 210 is inclined downward as described above. It is possible to prevent the game ball from being pinched between the peripheral edge of the outlet and the teeth of the sprocket 210 more reliably.

Further, by making the distance between almost the entire upper surface of the bottom portion 216 serving as the bottom surface of the storage portion 203 and the lower surface of the sprocket 210 slightly larger than the radius of the game ball, a structure in which the game ball is more difficult to be sandwiched can be achieved. However, in this case, a force that is constantly pressed against the bottom 216 side acts on the lowermost game balls of the ball receiving portions 208,... And a load is applied to the rotation of the sprocket 210. However, when the distance between the upper surface of the stepped portion 209 and the lower surface of the sprocket 210 is made slightly larger than the radius of the game ball, only the game ball moved onto the stepped portion 209 is pressed against the bottom 216 side. Therefore, the game ball can be reliably prevented from being caught at the outlet without applying a large load to the rotation of the sprocket 210.
In addition, when the structure of the discharge | emission derivation | leading-out part 20a is made into the structure similar to the derivation | leading-out part 20b for ball removal, also in the derivation | leading-out part 20a for discharge, the above-mentioned level | step-difference part 209 in the front direction of the forward direction of a game ball is also mentioned. May be provided.

In the control of the discharge control board 34 of the discharge device 200 as described above, a game ball won from a sensor of each winning port (including various winning devices) provided in the game area on the front side of the game board 1 during the game. When a signal indicating this is input to the main control board 30, a prize ball command including data on the number of prize balls corresponding to each winning opening is output from the main control board 30 to the discharge control board 34.
On the discharge control board 34, the stepping motor 204 receives a number of pulses corresponding to the above rotation angle so as to rotate the sprocket 210 (the rotation shaft 20z of the stepping motor 204) by the rotation angle corresponding to the number of prize balls. Output sequentially.

  Here, as described above, assuming that ten ball receiving portions 208,... Are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the sprocket 210, 1/10 rotation, that is, 36.0 degrees each. One game ball is derived each time the sprocket 210 rotates. When the game ball is derived, the detection sensor 217 detects the game ball to be discharged and outputs a detection signal to the discharge control board 34. The discharge control board 34 corresponds to the rotation angle of the sprocket 210. Can be detected.

  Further, since the stepping motor 204 of this example has a rotation angle of one step, that is, a rotation angle with respect to one pulse input of 1.8 degrees, for example, it is necessary to pay out one game ball. It is necessary to input 20 pulses to rotate 0 degree. Further, when the sprocket 210 is rotated in the forward direction when the prize ball is paid out, the discharge control board 34 outputs a pulse to the stepping motor every 3 ms (milliseconds). Therefore, when the stepping motor is continuously rotated, pulses are output 20,000 times in 1 minute, that is, 60000 ms, and it rotates 36000 degrees, that is, 100 times. Accordingly, the sprocket 210 can be rotated at 100 revolutions per minute in the forward direction, and is set so that a maximum of 1000 game balls can be discharged per minute.

  Therefore, for example, when a prize ball command indicating that the number of prize balls is 5 is output to the discharge control board 3, in order to rotate the sprocket 210 by 36.0 × 5 degrees, 100 pulses every 3 ms. As a result, the sprocket 210 rotates 180 degrees in 300 ms, that is, 0.3 seconds, and five game balls are sequentially paid out. Then, the discharge control board 34 checks whether or not the number of game balls corresponding to the data of the number of prize balls has been discharged based on the detection signal from the detection sensor, and if the number of game balls actually detected is small Then, the sprocket 210 is rotated again by the number of game balls that are insufficient. That is, each time one game ball is insufficient, the sprocket 210 is rotated again by 36.0 degrees as a rotation angle for discharging one game ball.

  By this control, even if a situation occurs in which the game balls are not discharged from the ball receiving portions 208,... Rotated to the position where the game balls are led out, the game balls having a predetermined number of prize balls can be discharged. . Further, the discharge control board 34 can discharge game balls even based on a ball rental command input from a ball lending machine provided adjacent to the game machine 100. In this case, the control of the payout of the rental balls in the discharge device 200 is basically the same as the payout of the prize balls.

  Further, in the control of the payout of the prize balls and the rental balls, when the game ball detection signal from the half-end sensor 22k is interrupted, that is, a signal indicating that the game ball cannot be detected is input to the discharge control board 34. In such a case, the discharge device 200 is not operated. Thereby, when there is a possibility that there is not enough game balls required for one discharge in the storage tank 220, the game balls are not discharged.

  In addition, a ball removal switch (not shown) is provided on the back side of the front frame 120. The ball removal switch is connected to the discharge control board 34, and an ON signal based on the switch operation is input to the discharge control board 34 from the ball removal switch. In this case, the discharge control board 34 outputs a pulse to the stepping motor 204 so as to rotate the sprocket 210 in the reverse direction. In this case, the pulse interval for rotating the sprocket 210 in the forward direction to discharge the above-mentioned prize balls and rental balls is 3 ms, but the pulse interval is doubled to 6 ms. It has become. As a result, the rotation speed in the forward direction of the sprocket 210 was 100 rotations per minute, whereas the rotation speed in the reverse direction for ball removal is halved to 50 rotations per minute.

By reducing the rotation speed of the sprocket 210, the sprocket 210 rotates in the reverse direction, and the game ball is derived from the ball removal lead-out portion 20b provided so as to overlap the rotation trajectory of the game ball. It can prevent more reliably that it is pinched | interposed between the tooth | gear of the sprocket 210 tooth | gear, and the peripheral part of the derivation | leading-out part 20b for ball removal.
In addition, since all the game balls in the storage tank 220 are basically discharged at the time of ball removal, pulses are continuously output to the stepping motor 204 at predetermined 6 ms intervals when the ball removal switch is on. However, when a signal indicating that a game ball is not detected from the half-end sensor 22k is input to the discharge control board 34, a predetermined time after the signal is input (for example, after several seconds to several tens of seconds have elapsed) ) The pulse output is automatically stopped and the stepping motor 204 is automatically stopped. Thereby, if the storage tank 220 becomes empty during the ball removing operation, the discharge device 200 automatically stops.

Next, a modification of the above-described embodiment will be described. In the modified example described below, only different parts from the above embodiment are described, and the description of the same configuration as the above embodiment is omitted. Therefore, in the modified examples described below, the parts that are not described have basically the same configuration as the above embodiment.
In the modification, as shown in FIG. 22, the height limiting member 260 is fixedly provided, and the height limiting member 260 can be converted between the lower state and the upper state instead of the height limiting member 260. A part of the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 located below 260 is used as a moving bottom wall member 401. Although the position of the moving bottom wall member 401 is different, it is substantially the same as the height limiting member 260 of the above embodiment. In the configuration, it is possible to convert between the upper state and the lower state and to vibrate, so that substantially the same effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.

  That is, the bottom wall 22a is moved upwardly around the mounting shaft 402 extending in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 below the height limiting member 260, and in the downward direction shown in FIG. The movable bottom wall member 401 that can be converted into the lower state shown in FIG. 22B is moved to the upper state, and the movable bottom wall member 401 is urged to the upper state by the urging member 403 and is moved. An interlocking portion 404 extending from the bottom wall member 401 to the rotating shaft 20z side is provided, and a contact portion 406 having an uneven contact surface 405 that can contact the interlocking portion 404 and rotating around the rotating shaft 20z. The interlocking portion 404 is not in contact with the contact surface 405 when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the upper state, and the interlocking portion 404 is in contact with the contact surface 406 when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the lower state.

Here, in substantially the same manner as in the above embodiment, the height of the stacking of game balls flowing down the inclined portion 22h and flowing into the introduction portion 202 is limited to the side edge portion on the dam wall 207 side of the drive source mounting member 206. A height limiting member 260 is provided across the storage tank 220 in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100.
As in the above embodiment, the height limiting member 260 includes an attachment portion 261 attached to the drive source attachment member 206, and an extension portion 262 extending to the upstream side of the inclined portion of the inclined portion of the attachment portion 261. , And a curved portion 263 that curves upward from the tip of the extended portion 262 and extends upward.

  In a manner similar to the above-described embodiment, the slit-like shape is spaced from each other in the front-rear direction along the inclination in the left-right direction of the inclined portion (the left-right direction of the gaming machine) from the attachment portion 261 to the tip of the bending portion 263. Cuts 265,... (Notches) are formed, whereby the height restricting member 260 has the curved portion 263 and the extended portion 262 completely separated by the cuts 265,. It has a comb-like shape.

However, in the modified example, unlike the above embodiment, the interlocking portion 269 is not provided, and the storage tank 220 does not have the mounting shaft 268 and the mounting portion 261 is fixed to the drive source mounting member 206 so as not to move. Has been. In the modification, the height limiting member 260 has the same shape as that of the above embodiment except that the interlocking portion 269 is not provided and is fixed.
Therefore, the effects of being attached to the drive source attaching member 206 and being comb-like are the same as in the above embodiment. In particular, in the modified example, the height limiting member 260 is fixedly provided, and the interlocking portion 269 does not vibrate based on contact with the contact surface 271a. Effects due to elastic deformation and vibration based on attachment to the drive source attachment member 206 are more effective.

And in the bottom wall of the storage tank 220, it opens from the inclination upstream of the inclination part 22h slightly from the front-end | tip of the curved part 263 of the height restriction member 260 to the outer peripheral edge part of the induction part 22g upstream of the inclination part 22h. A portion 407 is provided.
The upstream side edge of the inclined portion 22h of the opening 407 is linear along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine 100, and the introduction portion 202 (guidance portion 22g) that is opposite to the side edge of the opening 407. The side edge on the side is a position that is the most upstream side of the inclination of the inclined portion 22h on the outer peripheral edge of the guide portion 22g, and is linear along the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100. The opening 407 is provided over almost the entire width of the storage tank 220 along the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100.

  A moving bottom wall receiving plate 408 is disposed below the portion of the opening 407 from the upstream side of the inclined portion 22h. The movable bottom wall receiving plate 408 is disposed below the bottom wall 22a with a space from the bottom wall 22a and in parallel with the bottom wall 22a. Further, the end portion of the moving bottom wall receiving plate 408 on the upstream side in the inclined direction of the inclined portion 22h is disposed at a position overlapping with the bottom wall 22a in the vertical direction, and the bottom wall 22a. That is, the bottom wall 22a and the moving bottom wall receiving plate 408 are vertically overlapped on the slightly upstream side of the inclined portion 22h from the opening 407 of the bottom wall 22a, and the bottom wall 22a and the moving bottom are overlapped vertically. The wall receiving plate 408 is connected to the connecting portion 409. The moving bottom wall receiving plate 408 extends from the bottom wall 22a to the opening 407 side and covers the lower side of the upstream portion of the inclined portion 22h of the opening 407.

The moving bottom wall member 401 is provided so as to close the opening 407. The movable bottom wall member 401 has substantially the same shape and size as the opening 407 having the above shape and size, and the width along the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 is the opening 407. It is made slightly narrower. Further, the upper surface of the side edge portion of the moving bottom wall member 401 on the guide portion 22g side is slightly higher than the highest outer peripheral edge of the guide portion 22g, and the storage tank 220 is rotatable by the mounting shaft 402. It is in a state supported by.
Note that both ends of the mounting shaft 402 are supported by the storage tank 220 (for example, the lower ends of the front wall 22c and the rear wall 22d).

That is, the movable bottom wall member 401 can be converted into an upper state and a lower state by being attached to the storage tank 220 so as to be rotatable by the attachment shaft 402.
Note that the side edge of the moving bottom wall member 401 on the side of the guiding portion 22g is maintained higher than the guiding portion 22g as described above even when the moving bottom wall member 401 rotates up and down around the mounting shaft 402. It has become so.
Further, the upstream end portion (front end side end portion) of the inclined portion 22h of the movable bottom wall member 401 is in a state of slightly extending from the opening portion 407 toward the side edge portion on the opening portion 407 side of the bottom wall 22a. It is arranged below the side edge on the opening 407 side of the bottom wall 22a. Then, when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the upper state, the distal end side end portion of the movable bottom wall member 401 comes into contact with the lower surface of the opening portion 407 side end portion of the bottom wall 22a. The upward movement of the movable bottom wall member 401 is restricted. Therefore, the upper state of the movable bottom wall member 401 is a state in which the tip of the movable bottom wall member 401 is in contact with the lower surface of the bottom wall 22a.

  In addition, the moving bottom wall member 401 is disposed at least at the tip end side above the above-described moving bottom wall receiving plate 408. That is, the movable bottom wall member 401 and the movable bottom wall receiving plate 408 are arranged so as to overlap each other so that the movable bottom wall member 401 is on top. Therefore, the position of the movable bottom wall receiving plate 408 is disposed further below the case where the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the lower state. A coil spring is disposed as the biasing member 403 between the movable bottom wall member 401 and the movable bottom wall receiving plate 408, and the biasing member biases the movable bottom wall member 401 upward. Normally, the top end of the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the above-described upper state where it contacts the lower surface of the side edge of the bottom wall 22a on the opening 407 side.

  When a large number of game balls flow between the moving bottom wall member 401 and the height limiting member 260 and the game balls are stacked up and down from the moving bottom wall member 401 to the height limiting member 260, The moving bottom wall member 401 is strongly pressed downward by the ball pressure, and the moving bottom wall member 401 is changed from the upper state to the lower state against the urging force of the urging member 403.

  In addition, a movement restricting member 410 is provided on the upper surface of the moving bottom wall receiving plate 408 so that the interlocking portion 404 does not press the contact surface 406 strongly as will be described later. The moving bottom wall member 410 is longer than the maximum length of the coil spring as the urging member 403 when compressed to the maximum, and protrudes upward from the upper surface of the moving bottom wall receiving plate 408. Due to the ball pressure of the game ball, When the movable bottom wall member 401 moves downward against the urging force of the urging member 403, the movable bottom wall member 401 abuts on the upper end portion of the movable bottom wall member 401 as a stopper, and further down It cannot be moved. Therefore, the state in which the movable bottom wall member 401 is in contact with the upper end of the movement regulating member 410 protruding upward from the movable bottom wall receiving plate 408 is the lower state. Note that the movement restricting member 410 is not necessarily provided, and the state in which the interlocking unit 404 is in contact with the contact surface 405 may be a lower state of the moving bottom wall member 401.

Then, a bar-like interlocking portion 404 is provided so as to extend in the direction of the rotation axis 20z from the center portion in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100 at the edge portion on the side of the guiding portion 22g of the movable bottom wall member 401.
The interlocking portion 404 is a rod-shaped member, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 201 constituting the outer peripheral portion of the discharge device 200 from the side edge portion on the guide portion 22g side of the moving bottom wall member 401 toward the rotation axis 20z. And a main flange 411 extending obliquely downward to a height position of the bottom member 218 of the discharge device 200, and an outer peripheral wall portion of the bottom member 218 from the main flange 411 into the bottom member 218. An extending portion 412 that extends, and a contact rod 413 that extends from the distal end portion of the extending portion 412 through the bottom portion 216 serving as the upper wall of the bottom member 218 toward the lower end surface of the sprocket 210 as a rotating body. .

  The bottom member 218 is formed with a through-hole through which the extension 412 passes in the outer periphery thereof, and a through-hole through which the contact rod 413 passes through the bottom 216. Each through-hole does not restrict the movement of the extension part 412 and the contact rod 413 so as not to restrict the movement of the extension part 412 and the contact rod 413 corresponding to the conversion between the upper state and the lower state of the movable bottom wall member 401. The movement range of the ridge 413 is wider.

  Then, the interlocking portion 404 has a contact rod 403 serving as a tip portion of the interlocking portion 404 on the lower end surface of the sprocket 210 as a rotating body by conversion between an upper state and a lower state due to the rotation of the movable bottom wall member 401. It can be converted into a non-contact state and a contact state. That is, when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the upper state, the contact rod 403 is separated from the lower end surface of the sprocket 210, and when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the lower state, the contact rod 403 contacts the lower end surface of the sprocket 210. It becomes a state.

The lower end surface of the sprocket 210 has an uneven shape similar to the contact surface 271a of the contact portion 271 of the above embodiment, and the contact surface where the contact bar 403 of the sprocket 210 contacts has an uneven shape. The contact portion 406 includes 405.
As a result, the game balls are stacked on the moving bottom wall member 401 so as to reach the height limiting member 260, and the ball pressure by the game balls lowers the moving bottom wall member 401 against the urging force of the urging member 403. In this case, the tip of the interlocking portion 404 comes into contact with the contact surface 405 of the contact portion 406. In this state, when the sprocket 210 rotates for discharging the game ball in the discharging device 200, the interlocking portion 404 vibrates due to the uneven shape formed on the contact surface 405, and thus the movable bottom wall member 401 vibrates. Even if the game ball is clogged between the height limiting member 260 and the movable bottom wall member 401, the clogged ball state can be eliminated by vibration.

  Further, when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the down state and the tip of the interlocking portion 404 comes into contact with the contact surface 405, the movable bottom wall member 401 comes into contact with the movement regulating member 410 and the movable bottom wall member is further moved. By preventing the rotational movement of 401, a large pressure is applied to the contact surface 405 by the interlocking portion 404, affecting the rotation of the sprocket 210, as in the case of the above embodiment, and further due to the rotation of the sprocket 210. It is possible to prevent the game ball from being discharged. The relationship between the movement restriction position by the movement restriction member 410 and the unevenness of the contact surface 405 can be the same as in the above embodiment, for example, the contact surface 405 as in the above embodiment. The moving bottom wall member 401 (the height limiting member 260 in the embodiment) may be in contact with the movement restricting member 410 when the tip of the interlocking portion 404 comes into contact with the upper end of the convex portion.

In the above modification, the downstream end of the inclined portion 22h of the movable bottom wall member 401 is rotatable by the mounting shaft 402 along the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100, but the inclined portion of the movable bottom wall member 401 is The upstream end of 22h may be freely rotatable by a mounting shaft 402 along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine 100. In this case, it is preferable that the downstream end of the inclined portion 22h of the moving bottom wall member 401 is in a lower state than the guiding portion 22g. Further, a moving bottom wall receiving plate 408 is provided below the downstream end of the inclined portion 22h of the moving bottom wall member 401, and an urging member 403 and a movement regulating member 410 may be provided on the moving bottom wall receiving plate 408. .
Further, the contact portion 406 (contact surface 405) does not need to be the lower surface of the sprocket 210, and the shaft may be extended downward from the lower end portion of the rotation center of the sprocket 210, and the contact portion may be formed on this shaft.

The gaming machine 100 of the present embodiment as described above is integrated with the storage tank 220 that is located on the inclined downstream side of the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 and the storage tank 220 that stores game balls supplied from the outside. And a discharge device 200 that can discharge a predetermined number of game balls stored in the storage tank 220.
The discharge device 200 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and has a plurality of ball receiving portions 208,... That receive the game balls from the introduction portion 202 into which the game balls of the storage tank 220 are introduced. A sprocket 210 serving as a rotating body is provided, and in response to the rotation of the sprocket 210, a game ball is received in the ball receiving portion 208,... And the received game ball is transferred to the discharge derivation portion 20a or the ball removal derivation portion 20b. It is configured to be derived for each individual.
In addition, the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 is inclined downward toward one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine 100, and an inclined portion 22h in which game balls flow irregularly with a plurality of widths is formed. The introduction portion 202 is formed, and a height restriction member 260 that restricts the stacking height of the game balls flowing down the inclined portion 22h and flowing into the introduction portion 202 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the storage tank 220 of the gaming machine 100. The height restriction member 260 is provided across the attachment tank 261 so as to be rotatable by an attachment shaft 268 extending in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100, and the inclination portion 22h is inclined from the attachment portion 261. An extended portion 262 extending so as to increase the distance between the upper surface of the inclined portion 22h and the surface facing the upstream side, and a continuous portion extending from the mounting portion 261 toward the rotating shaft 20z. 269, and can be converted into an upper state in which the extended portion 262 moves upward and a lower state in which the extended portion 262 moves downward about the mounting shaft 268. The height restricting member 260 includes a contact portion 271 configured to be biased to a state, having a concavo-convex contact surface 271a that can contact the interlocking portion 269, and rotating about the rotation shaft 20z. In the lower state, the interlocking portion 269 does not contact the contact surface 271a, and the interlocking portion 269 is in contact with the contact surface 271a when the height limiting member 260 is in the upper state.

Therefore, the height of the game balls flowing into the introduction part 202 is limited by the height restriction member 260, and the game balls are stacked at a high level on the introduction part 202, so that the game balls are engaged with each other by the load of the game balls. Thus, the formation of a bridge and a solidified state can prevent clogging of balls.
In addition, a large number of game balls flow in at a time between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 immediately below the height limit member 260. The height restriction member 260 is attached to the storage tank 220 so as to be rotatable by an attachment shaft 268 extending in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine 100, and the height restriction member 260 can be prevented from swinging up and down. it can. That is, when a large number of game balls flow between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 and ball clogging is likely to occur, the height limiting member 260 moves upward. Ball clogging can be prevented by increasing the distance between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220.

  Furthermore, when a ball clogging occurs due to a large amount of game balls flowing between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 at a time, the height limiting member 260 becomes a game ball. When the interlocking portion 269 of the height limiting member 260 is brought into contact with the uneven contact surface 271a of the contact portion 271 that rotates about the rotation axis 20z, and the contact portion 271 rotates, the interlocking portion The entire height limiting member 260 vibrates via the H.269. This vibration eliminates the clogging of the game balls between the height limiting member 260 and the storage tank 220 bottom wall 22a. From the above, in the discharge device 200 formed integrally with the storage tank 220, the game balls flowing from the storage tank 220 into the discharge device 200 are reliably prevented from being affected by the game balls being discharged. can do.

Moreover, since the contact part 271 should just rotate about the rotating shaft 20z of the sprocket 210, it can be set as the structure rotated with the sprocket 210 by the drive source (stepping motor 204) of the sprocket 210. FIG. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a new motor to rotate the contact portion 271, and even if it is configured to reliably prevent clogging of the balls, the mounting operation is complicated and there is no need to increase the number of expensive members. That is, it is possible to reliably prevent the clogging of the balls without complicating the mounting operation and increasing the cost.
The sprocket 210 only needs to rotate when the game ball is discharged, so the rotating body does not always rotate. However, when the game ball is discharged, the above-mentioned ball clogging occurs. In addition, the clogging of the balls is eliminated by the rotation of the sprocket 210.

That is, the game ball received in the ball receiving portion 208 of the sprocket 210 at the time of discharge is led out from the discharge device 200 according to the rotation of the sprocket 210, and when the game ball is drawn out, Since the game ball can be received and the clogging of the ball is eliminated at this timing, the game ball can be smoothly introduced into the discharge device 200 when the game ball is led out from the discharge device 200.
Accordingly, even if no particular control is performed, if the discharge device 200 is not in a state of accepting a game ball when the ball is clogged, the height limiting member 260 will not vibrate, and the height limiting member 260 will be used when not necessary. As a result of the vibration, no load is applied to the height limiting member 260 and the contact portion 271, and the useful life of the height limiting member 260 and the contact portion 271 can be extended.

  Further, when the ball is not clogged, the height restricting member 260 is in the lower state, so that the interlocking portion 269 does not contact the contact surface 271a and the height is restricted even if the sprocket 210 rotates. The member 260 does not vibrate. Therefore, as in the case described above, the height limiting member 260 vibrates when not necessary, so that no load is applied to the height limiting member 260 and the contact portion 271, and the height limiting member 260 and The service life of the contact portion 271 can be extended.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the interlocking portion 269 is located above the sprocket 210 and can come into contact with the game ball located above the sprocket 210, so that when the sprocket 210 rotates, When the game ball above the sprocket 210 that moves with the rotation contacts (collises) the interlocking portion 269, the height limiting member 260 vibrates. That is, not only the interlocking part 269 contacts the unevenness of the contact surface 271a described above, but also the game ball moving by the rotation of the sprocket 210 vibrates the height restricting member 260, and more reliably eliminates the clogging of the ball. Can do.

Further, in the gaming machine 100 of the above-described modified example, the storage tank 220 that stores game balls supplied from the outside, and the storage tank 220 that is located on the inclined downstream side of the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 are integrated with the storage tank 220. And a discharge device 200 that can discharge a predetermined number of game balls stored in the storage tank 220.
The discharge device 200 is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and has a plurality of ball receiving portions 208,... That receive the game balls from the introduction portion 202 into which the game balls of the storage tank 220 are introduced. A sprocket 210 serving as a rotating body is provided, and in response to the rotation of the sprocket 210, a game ball is received in the ball receiving portion 208,... And the received game ball is transferred to the discharge derivation portion 20a or the ball removal derivation portion 20b. It is configured to be derived for each individual.
In addition, the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 is inclined downward toward one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine 100, and an inclined portion 22h in which game balls flow irregularly with a plurality of widths is formed. The introduction portion 202 is formed, and a height restriction member 260 that restricts the stacking height of the game balls flowing down the inclined portion 22h and flowing into the introduction portion 202 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the storage tank 220 of the gaming machine 100. The bottom wall 22a is provided in an upper state in which the bottom wall 22a is moved upward about a mounting shaft 402 extending in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine and a lower state in which the bottom wall 22a is moved downward. A movable bottom wall member 401 that can be converted is provided. The movable bottom wall member 401 is biased to the upper state by a biasing member 403 and extends from the movable bottom wall member 401 to the rotating shaft 20z side. Part 404 is provided, has an uneven contact surface 405 that can come into contact with the interlocking part 404, and includes a contact part 406 that rotates about the rotation axis 20z, and when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the upper state, The interlocking portion 404 is not in contact with the contact surface 405, and the interlocking portion 404 is in contact with the contact surface 405 when the movable bottom wall member 401 is in the down state.

Therefore, the height of the game balls flowing into the introduction part 202 is limited by the height restriction member 260, and the game balls are stacked on the introduction part 202 so that the game balls are engaged with each other by the load of the game balls. Thus, the formation of a bridge and a solid state prevents the ball from becoming clogged.
In addition, a large number of game balls flow in at a time between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 immediately below the height limit member 260. A moving bottom wall member 401 is provided on the bottom wall portion of the storage tank 200 below the height limiting member 260, and the moving bottom wall member 401 is pivoted by a mounting shaft 402 extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine 100. This can be prevented by attaching to the tank 220 and allowing the movable bottom wall member 401 to swing up and down. That is, when a ball clogging is likely to occur due to a large amount of game balls flowing between the height limiting member 260 and the storage tank 220 bottom wall 22a, the moving bottom wall member 401 moves downward, Ball clogging can be prevented by widening the gap between the height limiting member 260 and the bottom wall 22a of the storage tank 220 (moving bottom wall member 401).

  Furthermore, when a ball clogging occurs due to a large amount of game balls flowing in between the height limiting member 260 and the storage tank 220 bottom wall 22a at a time, the moving bottom wall member 401 becomes a game ball. When the interlocking portion 404 of the moving bottom wall member 401 comes into contact with the concavo-convex contact surface 405 of the contact portion 406 that rotates about the rotation axis 20z and the contact portion 406 rotates, the interlocking portion The entire moving bottom wall member 401 vibrates via 404. This vibration eliminates the clogging between the height limiting member 260 and the storage tank 220 bottom wall 22a (moving bottom wall member 401). From the above, in the discharge device 200 formed integrally with the storage tank 220, the game balls flowing from the storage tank 220 into the discharge device 200 are reliably prevented from being affected by the game balls being discharged. can do.

Moreover, since the contact part 405 should just rotate about the rotating shaft 20z of the sprocket 210, it can be set as the structure rotated with the sprocket 210 by the drive source (stepping motor 204) of the sprocket 210. FIG. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a new motor to rotate the contact portion 406, and even if the configuration reliably prevents the ball clogging, the mounting operation is complicated and it is not necessary to increase the number of expensive members. That is, it is possible to reliably prevent the clogging of the balls without complicating the mounting operation and increasing the cost.
The sprocket 210 only needs to rotate when the game ball is discharged, so the sprocket 210 does not always rotate. However, when the above-mentioned ball clogging occurs when the game ball is discharged. In addition, the clogging of the balls is eliminated by the rotation of the sprocket 210.

That is, the game ball received in the ball receiving portion 208 of the sprocket 210 at the time of discharge is led out from the discharge device 200 according to the rotation of the sprocket 210, and when the game ball is drawn out, Although the game ball can be accepted, the ball clogging is eliminated at this timing, so that the game ball can be smoothly introduced into the discharge device 200 when the game ball is led out from the discharge device 200.
Therefore, even if no particular control is performed, the moving bottom wall member 401 does not vibrate if the discharging device 200 is not in a state of accepting a game ball when the ball is clogged. As a result of vibration, no load is applied to the movable bottom wall member 401 and the contact portion 406, and the service life of the movable bottom wall member 401 and the contact portion 406 can be extended.

  In addition, when the ball clogging does not occur, the moving bottom wall member 401 is in the upper state, so that the interlocking portion 404 does not come into contact with the contact surface 405 and the moving bottom wall does not move even if the sprocket 210 rotates. The member 401 does not vibrate. Therefore, as in the case described above, the movable bottom wall member 401 vibrates when it is not necessary, so that no load is applied to the movable bottom wall member 401 and the contact portion 406. The service life of the contact portion 406 can be extended.

Further, in the gaming machine 100 of the above-described embodiment and the modified example, the movement restricting member 275 (410) that prevents the interlocking portion 269 (401) from pressing the contact surface 271a (405) strongly is provided. It is possible to prevent the interlocking portion 269 (404) from coming into strong contact with the contact surface 271a (405) of the contact portion 271 (406) and reducing the rotational speed of the rotary shaft 20z. Thereby, it can prevent that the rotational speed of the sprocket 210 rotated with the rotating shaft 20z falls, and the discharge speed of a game ball falls.
That is, when a large ball pressure is applied to the height limiting member 260 and the movable bottom wall member 401, the interlocking portion 269 (404) strongly presses the contact surface 271a (405), and the rotation of the contact portion 271 (406). Further, it is possible to prevent the rotation of the sprocket 210 from being suppressed.

  In the gaming machine 100 of the above embodiment and the modified example, a stepping motor 204 as a drive source for driving the sprocket 210 is attached above the sprocket 210 by a drive source attachment member 206, and is attached to the drive source attachment member 206. A mounting portion 261 of the height limiting member 260 is attached.

  Therefore, since the attachment portion 261 of the height limiting member 260 is attached to the drive source attachment member 206 to which the stepping motor 204 that drives the sprocket 210 is attached, the stepping motor is activated when the stepping motor 204 is operated when the sprocket 210 is rotated. The vibration accompanying the operation of 204 is transmitted to the height limiting member 260, and the ball clogging can be more reliably eliminated by this vibration.

In addition, it is good also as what uses combining the height limitation member 260 which can rotate freely of the said embodiment, and the movement bottom wall member 401 of a modification.
Further, the gaming machine of the present invention is not limited to the pachinko gaming machine of the above embodiment as a gaming machine, and can be applied to various gaming machines that pay out gaming balls.
Further, it should be considered that the embodiment disclosed this time is illustrative and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a perspective view which shows the back surface side of the game machine concerning embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a perspective view which shows the back surface side of the game machine which open | released the back mechanism frame from the state of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the front side of the said back mechanism frame. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the front side of the said back mechanism frame. It is a perspective view which shows the back side of the storage tank and discharge device which are provided in the said back mechanism frame. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the back side of the said storage tank and discharge apparatus. It is a top view which shows the storage part of the said storage tank and discharge apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the said storage tank and the said accommodating part. It is drawing which shows the said storage tank and the said accommodating part. It is a perspective view which shows the storage part which accommodated the said storage tank, sprocket, and the rotary body upper member. It is a top view for showing the storage part which stored the game ball, the storage part which stored the sprocket, and the rotating body upper member, and explains the flow direction of a game ball. It is drawing which shows the storage tank which stored the game ball, and the discharge device in which the game ball was introduced. It is sectional drawing which shows the height limiting member of the said discharge device and a storage tank. It is drawing for demonstrating the cross-sectional structure of the said storage tank. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the interlocking | linkage part of the said height restriction member, and the contact part of a rotating body upper member. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the movement control member which controls rotation of the said height restriction member. It is sectional drawing which shows the discharge device in which the game ball was introduced. It is a perspective view which shows the bottom part of the said discharge device. It is a top view which shows the bottom part of the discharge device for demonstrating derivation | leading-out of the game ball in the said discharge device. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the discharge device for demonstrating derivation | leading-out of the game ball in the said discharge device. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows the discharge device for demonstrating derivation | leading-out of the game ball in the said discharge device. It is a principal part side view of a storage tank and a discharge device showing a modification of the gaming machine.

Explanation of symbols

100 gaming machine 200 discharge device 202 introduction unit 204 stepping motor (drive source)
206 Drive source mounting member 208 Sphere receiving portion 20a Discharge derivation portion 20b Sphere removal derivation portion 20z Rotating shaft 210 Sprocket (rotating body)
220 Storage tank 22a Bottom wall 22h Inclined portion 260 Height restricting member 261 Mounting portion 262 Extending portion 268 Mounting shaft 269 Interlocking portion 271 Contact portion 271a Contact surface 272 Energizing member 275 Movement restricting member 401 Moving bottom wall member 402 Mounting shaft 403 Energizing member 404 Interlocking portion 405 Contact surface 406 Contact portion

Claims (5)

A storage tank that stores game balls supplied from the outside, and a predetermined number of game balls that are located on the inclined downstream side of the bottom wall of the storage tank and are provided integrally with the storage tank and stored in the storage tank. In a gaming machine equipped with a discharge device capable of discharging,
The discharge device is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and includes a rotating body having a plurality of ball receiving portions for receiving game balls from an introduction portion into which the game balls of the storage tank are introduced, the rotating body In response to the rotation of the ball, the game ball is received in the ball receiving unit and the received game ball is led out to the deriving unit.
The bottom wall of the storage tank is inclined downward toward one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine to form an inclined portion where the game balls flow irregularly with a plurality of widths, and the introduction portion is formed on the inclined downstream side of the inclined portion. A height limiting member that limits the height of the stacked game balls flowing down the inclined portion and flowing into the introduction portion is provided across the front and rear direction of the game machine of the storage tank,
The height limiting member is
An attachment portion attached to the storage tank so as to be rotatable by an attachment shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine;
An extending portion extending from the mounting portion to the inclined portion inclined upstream side so as to increase the distance from the surface facing the inclined portion upper surface;
An interlocking portion extending from the mounting portion toward the rotating shaft;
And can be converted into an upper state in which the extension portion moves upward and a lower state in which the extension portion moves downward about the mounting shaft, and is biased to the lower state by a biasing member. To configure
It has an uneven contact surface that can come into contact with the interlocking portion, and includes a contact portion that rotates with the rotating body around the rotation axis,
The game is characterized in that the interlock portion does not contact the contact surface when the height restricting member is in the down state, and the interlock portion contacts the contact surface when the height restricting member is in the up state. Machine. A storage tank that stores game balls supplied from the outside, and a predetermined number of game balls that are located on the inclined downstream side of the bottom wall of the storage tank and are provided integrally with the storage tank and stored in the storage tank. In a gaming machine equipped with a discharge device capable of discharging,
The discharge device is configured to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and includes a rotating body having a plurality of ball receiving portions for receiving game balls from an introduction portion into which the game balls of the storage tank are introduced, the rotating body In response to the rotation of the ball, the game ball is received in the ball receiving unit and the received game ball is led out to the deriving unit.
The bottom wall of the storage tank is inclined downward toward one side in the left-right direction of the gaming machine to form an inclined portion where the game balls flow irregularly with a plurality of widths, and the introduction portion is formed on the inclined downstream side of the inclined portion. A height limiting member that limits the height of the stacked game balls flowing down the inclined portion and flowing into the introduction portion is provided across the front and rear direction of the game machine of the storage tank,
The bottom wall is a movable bottom wall member that can be converted into an upper state that moves upward about a mounting shaft that extends in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine and a lower state that moves downward, below the height limiting member. With
The moving bottom wall member is biased to the upper state by a biasing member, and an interlocking portion extending from the moving bottom wall member to the rotating shaft side is provided,
It has an uneven contact surface that can come into contact with the interlocking portion, and includes a contact portion that rotates with the rotating body around the rotation axis,
The game is characterized in that the interlocking portion does not contact the contact surface when the movable bottom wall member is in the upper state, and the interlocking portion contacts the contact surface when the movable bottom wall member is in the lower state. Machine.   The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the interlocking unit is located above the rotating body and can contact a game ball located above the rotating body. A movement restricting member is provided that restricts a moving range so that the pressure of the game ball in the storage tank acts on the height restricting member or the moving bottom wall member and the interlocking portion does not press the contact surface too strongly. The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gaming machine is characterized by that. A drive source for driving the rotator is mounted above the rotator by a drive source mounting member,
The gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an attachment portion of the height restriction member is attached to the drive source attachment member.

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