【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、所定の駆動力を受けて回転する接続部材と、この接続部材に連結された回転部材とを有する弾球遊技機の回転装置に関し、さらに詳しくは、回転部材と接続部材との連結構造に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
上記のような回転装置を備えた弾球遊技機の代表例としてパチンコ機がある。パチンコ機は、多数本の遊技釘や風車、種々の入賞装置等が所定のゲージ設定で配設された遊技盤を有して構成される。そして、このようなパチンコ機には、例えば、所定の振り分け位置に達した入賞球を複数の球通路へ選択的に振り分けたり、入賞球を一定時間保留したのち遊技盤の裏面側へ誘導したりするための回転装置が設けられている。
【０００３】
回転装置は、所定の駆動力を受けて回転する接続部材と、この接続部材に連結された回転部材とを備えて構成され、回転部材が接続部材とともに回転するようになっている。回転部材は、例えば、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形により一体的に形成され、この回転部材を所定位置、方向で接続部材にはめ込んだ後、ネジ等の固定手段により回転部材を接続部材に固定して回転部材の接続部材に対する回転軸方向への移動を規制することで、回転部材が接続部材と一体回転するように連結される。
【０００４】
【特許文献１】
特開平５−１０３８５５号公報
【特許文献２】
特開平５−２３７２２２号公報
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
しかしながら、回転部材および接続部材が小さい場合には、回転部材と接続部材との連結に小型のネジが使用されるため、回転部材と接続部材との連結作業は煩雑となるのに加え、連結作業中にネジを紛失し易くなり、さらに、誤ったネジの締め付けにより樹脂製の回転部材が割れて破損するおそれがあった。また、ネジを使用せずに固定剤を用いて回転部材と接続部材とを連結すると、部品交換等のときに回転部材と接続部材とを分離するのが大変困難となっていた。
【０００６】
本発明はこのような問題に鑑みてなされたものであり、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材と接続部材とを簡潔に連結固定することができる弾球遊技機の回転装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
このような目的達成のため、本発明に係る弾球遊技機の回転装置（例えば、実施形態における回転体３００）は、軸方向前後に延びる棒状の接続部材軸（３２３）を一体に有し所定の回転駆動力を受けて回転する円盤状の樹脂製の接続部材（３２０）と、前記接続部材軸（３２３）の前端形状に合わせた嵌合穴を有して軸方向に延びる筒状に形成された接続部材軸嵌合部（３３３）を有し、前記接続部材軸（３２３）を前記嵌合穴に嵌合させて前記接続部材（３２０）と連結するように構成された樹脂製の回転部材（３３０）とを備え、前記回転部材（３３０）は、前記接続部材軸嵌合部（３３３）の外周面に径方向に突出する回転部材嵌合突起（３３７）を備え、前記接続部材（３２０）は、前記接続部材軸（３２３）の径方向外側に位置して軸方向前方に延びるとともに先端において径方向内側に曲がって突出する弾性変形可能な接続部材嵌合突起（３２４）を備え、前記接続部材軸（３２３）を前記嵌合穴に嵌入して前記接続部材（３２０）と前記回転部材（３３０）とを連結したときに、前記接続部材嵌合突起（３２４）はその先端の径方向内側に曲がった部分が弾性変形して前記回転部材嵌合突起（３３７）を乗り越えてこれと係合し、前記接続部材（３２０）と前記回転部材（３３０）との軸方向の相対移動を規制するように構成され、前記接続部材軸嵌合部（３３３）の後端側には、少なくとも２箇所に内外周を貫通して軸方向に延びるスリット（３３５）が形成されて径方向に弾性変形し易くなっているとともに、前記嵌合穴が、前記接続部材軸嵌合部（３３３）の後端側から前端側へ向かうにつれて径が小さくなる円錐状に形成されており、前記接続部材軸（３２３）の外周面には、前記接続部材軸（３２３）を前記嵌合穴に嵌入して前記接続部材（３２０）と前記回転部材（３３０）とを連結したときに、前記スリット（３３５）内に入り込んで嵌合するスリット嵌合リブ（３２３ａ）が径方向外側且つ前方に延びて形成されており、前記接続部材軸（３２３）を前記嵌合穴に嵌入することにより、前記接続部材嵌合突起（３２４）と前記回転部材嵌合突起（３３７）とを係合させて軸方向の相対移動を規制し、且つ、前記スリット嵌合リブ（３２３ａ）を前記スリット（３３５）内に入り込こませて相対回転を規制して前記接続部材（３２０）と前記回転部材（３３０）とを連結するように構成される。
【０００８】
このような構成の弾球遊技機の回転装置によれば、回転部材に形成された接続部材軸嵌合部と接続部材に形成された接続部材軸との嵌合に加え、回転部材に形成された回転部材嵌合突起と接続部材に形成された接続部材嵌合突起との嵌合により回転部材の接続部材に対する回転方向及び回転軸方向への移動がともに規制されるため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材と接続部材とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
なお、本発明において、接続部材嵌合突起は、接続部材軸の径方向外側に位置して前後に延びる突起状に形成され径方向に弾性変形可能であることが好ましい。
また、接続部材軸の外周面には、嵌合穴に接続部材軸を圧入したときにスリットと嵌合するスリット嵌合リブが前後に延びて形成されることが好ましく、回転部材には、接続部材軸嵌合部の径方向外側に位置して接続部材軸嵌合部と繋がり周方向に延びる強化リブが形成されることが好ましい。
【０００９】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の好ましい実施形態について添付図面を参照しながら説明する。実施例では本発明に係る弾球遊技機の代表例としてパチンコ機を採り上げて説明する。まず、本発明が適用されるパチンコ機ＰＭについてその概要構成を図１および図２を参照して要約説明する。ここで、図１はパチンコ機ＰＭを正面から見た正面図、図２はパチンコ機ＰＭを裏面から見た背面図である。
【００１０】
パチンコ機ＰＭは、外郭方形枠サイズに構成されて縦向きの固定保持枠を成す外枠１の開口前面に、これに合わせた方形枠サイズに構成されて開閉搭載用の前枠２が互いの正面左側上下に配設されたヒンジ部材３ａ，３ｂにより横開き開閉および着脱可能に取り付けられ、正面右側に設けられた施錠装置４を利用して外枠１と係合された閉鎖状態で遊技に供される。
【００１１】
前枠２の正面側には、前枠２の前側面域に合わせた方形状のガラス扉５、および遊技球を貯留して整列させる上球皿６が、ともに横開き開閉および着脱が可能に組付けられており、常には施錠装置４および図示しないロック機構を利用して前枠２の前面を覆う閉止状態で保持される。前枠２の下部には下球皿７および遊技球の発射操作を行う操作ハンドル８が取り付けられている。
【００１２】
ガラス扉５の背後に位置する前枠２の裏面上部には、図示省略する方形枠状の収容枠が前枠２と一体に成形されており、この収容枠に所定のゲージ設定で構成された遊技盤２０が複数の係合レバー１７，１７…により着脱交換可能にセット保持されその前面域をガラス扉５に臨ませている。
【００１３】
遊技盤２０は、表面にセルが貼り付けられた化粧板２１の前面側に、帯状の外レール２２ａおよび内レール２２ｂが円弧状に固設され、この内側に遊技領域ＰＡが区画される。遊技領域ＰＡには多数本の遊技釘とともに、複数の風車２３，２３，…、一般入賞口２４や開閉型入賞装置２５並びに大入賞口２６や回転体２００などの入賞具、遊技球の通過により開閉型入賞装置２５を拡開作動させる通過口２７、所定の装飾が施されたセンター役物３０、センター役物３０に取り付けられた複数の表示装置３１，３１，…、センター役物３０から流下した遊技球を複数の球通路へ振り分ける振り分け装置２８などが設けられ、遊技領域ＰＡの下端には入賞具に入賞せずに落下した遊技球を排出させるアウト口２９が設けられている。
【００１４】
一般入賞口２４および大入賞口２６に落入した遊技球は、各入賞具に設けられた入賞球検出センサで検出され、化粧板２１を貫通するセーフ球通路孔を通って遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。また、アウト口２９に集められた遊技球は化粧板２１を貫通するアウト球通路孔を通って遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。なお、開閉型入賞装置２５および回転体２００に落入した遊技球については後述する。
【００１５】
前枠２の裏面下部には打球発射装置９が取り付けられており、打球発射装置９と遊技盤２０との間には、打球発射装置９によって打ち出された遊技球を遊技盤２０の外レール２２ａに向けて案内する発射レールや、効果音を発生させるスピーカ等が取り付けられている。発射レールやスピーカ等は上球皿６の裏側に位置する前枠２の中間領域（「遊技補助盤」と称される）に取り付けられており、常には閉鎖状態に保持される上球皿６によりその表面側が覆われている。
【００１６】
また、前枠２の裏側には、裏セット盤ＢＳＰが上下のヒンジ１８，１８で横開き開閉および着脱が可能に装備され、常には閉鎖レバー１９，１９…を利用して遊技盤２０の裏面を覆うように閉鎖保持される。裏セット盤ＢＳＰは、全体として収容枠の背面外郭サイズよりも大きめの縦長方形形状を成し、中央に窓口４１を有して一体成形された基枠体４０をベースとして構成される（図２を参照）。
【００１７】
裏セット盤ＢＳＰには、窓口４１の上部に装備されて遊技球の貯留・供給処理を行う球貯留供給機構５０や、窓口４１の右側方に装備されて球貯留供給機構５０から導かれる遊技球の払い出し処理を行う賞球払出機構６０などの賞球機構が設けられるとともに、賞球払出機構６０の下方に位置して同機構６０から払い出された遊技球を上・下の球皿６，７に排出するための賞球払出経路７０、窓口４１の下方に位置して遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される遊技球を集合させ、遊技施設側の回収バケットに排出させる遊技済み球排出経路（図示せず）などが形成されている。
【００１８】
また、裏セット盤ＢＳＰの裏面側には、このパチンコ機の作動を統括的に制御するメイン基板９１や、賞球の払出制御を行う球払出基板９２、効果照明や効果音の作動制御を行うランプ・音声制御基板９３、各制御基板や電子部品に所定の電力を供給する電源基板９４、複数のコネクタが取り付けられて制御信号や電力の中継等を行う中継基板９５、遊技機の作動状態を遊技施設側に出力するためのターミナル基板９６などの各種回路基板や、賞球払出装置６３などの電子部品が取り付けられ、各機器が図示しないワイヤーハーネスで接続される。
【００１９】
パチンコ機ＰＭは、上球皿６およびガラス扉５が閉止施錠された状態（図１に示す状態）で遊技に供され、上球皿６に遊技球を貯留させて操作ハンドル８を回動操作することにより遊技が開始される。操作ハンドル８の操作レバーが回動操作されると、上球皿６に貯留した遊技球がこの球皿に装備された球送り装置によって１球ずつ発射レール上に送出され、打球発射装置９のハンマーに打ち出されて遊技盤２０の遊技領域ＰＡに導かれ、以降パチンコゲームが展開される。
【００２０】
次に、開閉型入賞装置２５に落入した遊技球の流れについて図３を参照しながら説明する。ここで、図３は開閉型入賞装置２５およびセンター役物３０の取付部付近を示す拡大正面図である。開閉型入賞装置２５は、遊技盤２０の前面に取り付けられたベース部材２５ａと、ベース部材２５ａに拡開自在に取り付けられた左右の可変翼部材２５ｂ，２５ｂとを主体として構成され、遊技球が通過口２７を通過すると、図示しないソレノイド装置により可変翼部材２５ｂが拡開作動を行うようになっている。
【００２１】
ベース部材２５ａの上部には入賞入口２５ｃが設けられるとともに、ベース部材２５ａの下部には入賞出口２５ｄが設けられ、入賞入口２５ｃを通過してベース部材２５ａの内部へ落入した遊技球は、ベース部材２５ａの内部を流下した後、入賞出口２５ｄを通過してセンター役物３０へ流下するようになっている。なお、開閉型入賞装置２５の内部へ落入した遊技球は、図示しない入賞球検出センサで検出されるようになっている。
【００２２】
センター役物３０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等により一体的に形成された種々の構成部品からなり、遊技盤２０の中央前面側に取り付けられる。センター役物３０の中央上部および左右には、表示装置３１，３１，…が取り付けられている。センター役物３０の中央上端部には球入口３２が形成されており、開閉型入賞装置２５の入賞出口２５ｄを通過した遊技球が、この球入口３２を通過してセンター役物３０の内部へ流下するようになっている。
【００２３】
センター役物３０の内部には、球入口３２と繋がる球流下通路３３が設けられており、球入口３２を通過した遊技球が球流下通路３３を流下するようになっている。球流下通路３３は、センター役物３０の左右内周部に沿って形成されており、図３の二点鎖線で示すように、球入口３２を通過して球流下通路３３に達した遊技球は、球流下通路３３の左右いずれか一方を流下してセンター役物３０の下部中央へ達するようになっている。
【００２４】
センター役物３０の下部中央には回転振り分け器１００が設けられており、センター役物３０の下部中央に達した遊技球を、回転振り分け器１００に形成された複数の球通路１６５，１６６，１６７へ選択的に振り分けるようになっている。
【００２５】
【第１の実施形態】
以上のように概略構成されるパチンコ機ＰＭにあって、回転振り分け器１００や回転体２００は、本発明に係る弾球遊技機の回転装置として用いられている。まず図４〜図７を参照しつつ、本発明に係る弾球遊技機の第１の回転装置である回転振り分け器１００について説明する。なお、図４は回転振り分け器１００の分解斜視図、図５は回転振り分け器１００の分解側面図（部分断面図）、図６は回転振り分け器１００の平面図、そして図７は回転振り分け器１００の斜視図である。
【００２６】
回転振り分け器１００は、図４および図５に示すように、所定の電力により回転作動する電気モータ１１０と、電気モータ１１０に連結された接続部材１２０と、接続部材１２０に連結された回転部材１３０と、回転部材１３０に取り付けられた飾り部材１４０と、接続部材１２０の回転を検出する基準位置検出装置１５０と、複数の球通路が形成された振り分け板１６０とから構成される。
【００２７】
電気モータ１１０は、所定の電力により回転作動するモータ本体１１１と、モータ本体１１１に駆動されて回転するモータ軸１１２とを主体に構成される。モータ本体１１１の一端側周部には、モータ取付部１１３，１１３が取付穴１１３ａ，１１３ａを有して設けられており、振り分け板１６０に取付固定されるようになっている。モータ軸１１２は、金属材料を用いて一端側の断面形状がＤ字形である棒状に形成され、断面がＤ字形に形成された一端側がモータ本体１１１の一端から突出した状態でモータ本体１１１に配設される。
【００２８】
接続部材１２０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段によりコマ形状に一体的に形成される。接続部材１２０の裏面側中央部には、図５に示すように、モータ軸嵌合穴１２２を有するモータ軸嵌合部１２１が筒状に形成されており、モータ軸嵌合穴１２２がモータ軸１１２の一端側と嵌合して接続部材１２０がモータ軸１１２と連結されると、モータ軸嵌合部１２１の中心を回転軸として（モータ軸１１２の中心を回転軸として）、接続部材１２０がモータ軸１１２と一体回転するように構成されている。
【００２９】
モータ軸嵌合穴１２２は、断面形状がモータ軸１１２の一端側の断面形状と整合したＤ字形となるようにモータ軸嵌合部１２１の中央部に形成され、モータ軸１１２の一端側をモータ軸嵌合穴１２２に位置整合させて圧入することにより、モータ軸１１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴１２２とが嵌合するように構成されている。
【００３０】
これにより、モータ軸１１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴１２２の断面形状がＤ字形であるため、モータ軸１１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴１２２とを嵌合させると、接続部材１２０のモータ軸１１２に対する回転方向への移動が規制されるとともに、モータ軸１１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴１２２との圧入嵌合により接続部材１２０のモータ軸１１２に対する回転軸方向への移動が規制された状態となって、接続部材１２０がモータ軸１１２と一体回転するように連結される。そのため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに接続部材１２０とモータ軸１１２とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【００３１】
なお、モータ軸１１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴１２２の断面形状は、Ｄ字形に限らず、例えば、多角形や、スプライン形状等、モータ軸１１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴１２２との嵌合により接続部材１２０のモータ軸１１２に対する回転方向への移動を規制することが可能な形状であればよい。
【００３２】
接続部材１２０の前面側中央部には、接続部材軸１２３が、断面形状がＤ字形である棒状に形成されており、回転部材１３０の接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２と嵌合するように構成されている。さらに、接続部材１２０の前面側には、回転部材１３０の回転部材嵌合突起１３３と嵌合する接続部材嵌合突起１２４が形成されている。接続部材嵌合突起１２４は、接続部材１２０の回転軸方向へ突出した突起状に形成され、弾性変形可能となっている。
【００３３】
接続部材１２０の周部裏面側には、遮光円周部１２５が筒状に形成されており、常には基準位置検出装置１５０に構成される検出センサ１５２の検出光を遮るようになっている。遮光円周部１２５には、切り込み１２６が接続部材１２０の回転軸方向へ延びて形成されており、接続部材１２０の回転により切り込み１２６が検出センサ１５２に位置すると、検出センサ１５２の検出光が切り込み１２６を通過するようになっている。これにより、遮光円周部１２５における切り込み１２６の形成位置を回転基準位置として、接続部材１２０すなわち回転振り分け器１００の回転検出を行うことができる。
【００３４】
回転部材１３０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段によりコマ形状に一体的に形成される。回転部材１３０の中央部には、接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２を有する軸本体１３１が筒状に形成されており、接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２が接続部材１２０の接続部材軸１２３と嵌合して回転部材１３０が接続部材１２０と連結されると、軸本体１３１の中心を回転軸として（モータ軸１１２の中心を回転軸として）、回転部材１３０が接続部材１２０（およびモータ軸１１２）と一体回転するように構成されている。
【００３５】
接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２は、断面形状が接続部材１２０における接続部材軸１２３の断面形状と整合したＤ字形となるように軸本体１３１の中央部に形成され、接続部材軸１２３を接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２に位置整合させて嵌入することにより、接続部材軸１２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２とが嵌合するように構成されている。
【００３６】
これにより、接続部材１２０の接続部材軸１２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２の断面形状がＤ字形であるため、接続部材軸１２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２とを嵌合させると、回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転方向への移動が規制された状態となる。
【００３７】
なお、接続部材軸１２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２の断面形状は、Ｄ字形に限らず、例えば、多角形や、スプライン形状等、接続部材軸１２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２との嵌合により回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転方向への移動を規制することが可能な形状であればよい。
【００３８】
軸本体１３１の一端側周部には、接続部材１２０の接続部材嵌合突起１２４と嵌合する回転部材嵌合突起１３３が形成されている。回転部材嵌合突起１３３は、接続部材嵌合突起１２４と同程度の幅を有して回転部材１３０の回転軸と垂直な方向へ突出した突起状に形成される。
【００３９】
そして、接続部材軸１２３を接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２へ嵌入して接続部材１２０を回転部材１３０側へ押し込むと、接続部材嵌合突起１２４が回転部材嵌合突起１３３に当接して弾性変形し、さらに接続部材１２０を回転部材１３０側へ押し込むと、接続部材嵌合突起１２４が弾性力により元の形状に戻って回転部材嵌合突起１３３と嵌合するようになっている。
【００４０】
これにより、接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材嵌合突起１３３とを嵌合させることで、回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転軸方向への移動が規制された状態となる。そのため、接続部材軸１２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２とを嵌合させるとともに、接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材嵌合突起１３３とを嵌合させることにより、回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転方向および回転軸方向への移動が規制された状態となって、回転部材１３０が接続部材１２０（およびモータ軸１１２）と一体回転するように連結される。
【００４１】
このようにすることで、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材１３０と接続部材１２０とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。また、ネジ等の固定手段を使用しないため、回転部材１３０と接続部材１２０との連結に要する工数を低減させることができる。さらに、ネジ等の固定手段を使用しないため、接続部材１２０および回転部材１３０を樹脂材料により製造することが可能となるため、回転振り分け器１００（回転装置）をより容易に大量生産することができる。
【００４２】
また、接続部材嵌合突起１２４を弾性変形させて接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材嵌合突起１３３との嵌合を解除し、接続部材１２０と回転部材１３０とを分離させることが可能であるため、回転部材１３０等の部品交換をより容易に行うことができ、また回転振り分け器１００（回転装置）の分解をより容易に行うことができる。さらに、このような嵌合手段を備えた接続部材を用いることにより、電気モータ等の回転駆動装置は回転部材の形状によらず汎用品を用いることができる。
【００４３】
また、接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材嵌合突起１３３との嵌合により、回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転軸方向への移動が規制されるため、接続部材軸１２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２とを圧入嵌合させて回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転軸方向への移動を規制する必要がなくなり、接続部材軸１２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２の寸法公差を緩和することができる。すなわち、接続部材１２０および回転部材１３０の射出成形に用いる成型金型の寸法公差を緩和することが可能となり、樹脂製の接続部材１２０および回転部材１３０をより容易に大量生産することができる。
【００４４】
さて、軸本体１３１の他端側周部には、振り分けアーム１３４が形成されている。振り分けアーム１３４は、４本の第１振り分けアーム１３４ａ，１３４ａ，…と、第１振り分けアーム１３４ａよりもアーム長さが短い４本の第２振り分けアーム１３４ｂ，１３４ｂ，…とからなり、軸本体１３１の中心を回転軸として回転するように構成される。
【００４５】
第１振り分けアーム１３４ａ，１３４ａ，…は、軸本体１３１の他端側周部に回転方向へ等間隔（９０度間隔）に形成され、第１振り分けアーム１３４ａ，１３４ａ，…のひとつが回転して振り分けアーム１３４の下端付近に位置すると、振り分け板１６０に形成された中央球通路１６５を塞ぐように構成される（図３も参照）。
【００４６】
第２振り分けアーム１３４ｂ，１３４ｂ，…は、軸本体１３１の他端側周部における第１振り分けアーム１３４ａ，１３４ａ，…と４５度だけ回転方向へずれた位置で等間隔（９０度間隔）に形成される。そして、第２振り分けアーム１３４ｂは、第１振り分けアーム１３４ａよりも短いアーム長さを有しており、第２振り分けアーム１３４ｂ，１３４ｂ，…のひとつが回転して振り分けアーム１３４の下端付近に位置しても、振り分け板１６０に形成されたいずれの球通路１６５，１６６，１６７も塞がないようになっている。
【００４７】
飾り部材１４０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段により図示する形状に一体的に形成され、飾り部材取付ネジ１４１により軸本体１３１の他端に取り付けられている。
【００４８】
基準位置検出装置１５０は、種々の電子部品が配設された実装基板１５１と、実装基板１５１に配設された検出センサ１５２とを備えて構成され、振り分け板１６０の裏面側に取付固定される。検出センサ１５２は、所定の検出光を発光する発光部１５２ａと、発光部１５２ａからの検出光を検出する受光部１５２ｂとを備えたビームセンサであり、図５に示すように、発光部１５２ａと受光部１５２ｂとの間に接続基板１２０の遮光円周部１２５が位置するように配設される。
【００４９】
そして、常には発光部１５２ａからの検出光が遮光円周部１２５に遮られた状態となり、接続部材１２０の回転により遮光円周部１２５の切り込み１２６が発光部１５２ａと受光部１５２ｂとの間に位置すると、検出光が切り込み１２６を通過して受光部１５２ｂに達し、この検出光を受光部１５２ｂが検出するようになっている。このようにして、基準位置検出装置１５０は、遮光円周部１２５における切り込み１２６の形成位置を回転基準位置として、接続部材１２０すなわち回転振り分け器１００の回転を検出するようになっている。
【００５０】
振り分け板１６０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段により図示する形状に一体的に形成され、センター役物３０の下部中央に取り付けられる。なお、振り分け板１６０の前面側には、所定形状の飾り板１６９が取り付けられている。振り分け板１６０の中央部には通し穴１６１が形成されており、回転部材１３０の軸本体１３１が通過するようになっている。また、通し穴１６１の下方に延びて逃げ穴１６１ａが形成されており、軸本体１３１を通し穴１６１に挿通させるときに回転部材嵌合突起１３３が通過できるようになっている。
【００５１】
振り分け板１６０の裏面側には、モータ取付ボス１６２，１６２がネジ穴（図示せず）を有して形成されており、このモータ取付ボス１６２，１６２に電動モータ１１０におけるモータ取付部１１３，１１３の位置を合わせ、モータ取付ネジ（図示せず）をモータ取付部１１３の取付穴１１３ａに通過させてモータ取付ボス１６２のネジ穴にネジ固定することにより、電動モータ１１０が振り分け板１６０の裏面側に取付固定されるようになっている。
【００５２】
なお、モータ取付ボス１６２の周部には、複数のガイドリブ１６２ａ，１６２ａ，…が形成されており、モータ取付ボス１６２の強度を向上させるとともに、ガイドリブ１６２ａの先端がモータ取付部１１３の形状に合わせたガイド状に形成されて、電動モータ１１０をモータ取付ボス１６２に取り付け易くしている。
【００５３】
振り分け板１６０の上部前面側には、上部板取付部１６３が形成されている。上部板取付部１６３は、振り分け板取付ネジ（図示せず）が通過する取付穴１６３ａと、振り分け板１６０をセンター役物３０の所定取付位置に合わせるための取付ガイド部１６３ｂとからなり、振り分け板１６０をセンター役物３０の所定取付位置に合わせ、振り分け板取付ネジを取付穴１６３ａに通過させてセンター役物３０のネジ穴（図示せず）にネジ固定することにより、振り分け板１６０がセンター役物３０に取付固定されるようになっている。
【００５４】
振り分け板１６０の下部前面側には、下部板取付部１６４が取付穴１６４ａを有して形成されており、上部板取付部１６３と同様に、振り分け板１６０をセンター役物３０の所定取付位置に合わせ、振り分け板取付ネジ（図示せず）を取付穴１６４ａに通過させてセンター役物３０のネジ穴（図示せず）にネジ固定することにより、振り分け板１６０がセンター役物３０に取付固定されるようになっている。
【００５５】
また、振り分け板１６０の下部には、中央球通路１６５と、中央球通路１６５の左側に位置する左球通路１６６と、中央球通路１６５の右側に位置する右球通路１６７とが形成されており、センター役物３０の下部中央に達した遊技球がこれらの球通路１６５，１６６，１６７のうちいずれか一つを流下するようになっている。
【００５６】
中央球通路１６５は、振り分け板１６０の下部中央に形成されており、中央球通路１６５へ流下した遊技球は、振り分け装置２８へ導かれるようになっている。左球通路１６６は、中央球通路１６５の左側に隣接して形成されており、左球通路１６６へ流下した遊技球は、遊技盤２０の裏面側へ導かれるようになっている。そして、右球通路１６７は、中央球通路１６５の右側に隣接して形成されており、右球通路１６７へ流下した遊技球は、左球通路１６６と同様に、遊技盤２０の裏面側へ導かれるようになっている。
【００５７】
このように構成される回転振り分け器１００において、まず、飾り部材取付ネジ１４１を用いて飾り部材１４０を回転部材１３０に取付固定する。次に、モータ軸１１２の一端側と接続部材１２０のモータ軸嵌合穴１２２とを嵌合させて、接続部材１２０をモータ軸１１２と一体回転するように連結する。
【００５８】
続いて、回転部材１３０の軸本体を振り分け板１６０の通し穴１６１に通過させた後、接続部材１２０の接続部材軸１２３と回転部材１３０の接続部材軸嵌合穴１３２とを嵌合させるとともに、接続部材１２０の接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材１３０の回転部材嵌合突起１３３とを嵌合させることにより、回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転方向および回転軸方向への移動を規制し、図６および図７に示すように、回転部材１３０を接続部材１２０およびモータ軸１１２と一体回転するように連結する。これにより、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材１３０と接続部材１２０とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【００５９】
次に、電気モータ１１０のモータ取付部１１３，１１３を振り分け板１６０のモータ取付ボス１６２，１６２にネジ固定して、接続部材１２０および回転部材１３０がモータ軸１１２と連結した電動モータ１１０を振り分け板１６０の裏面側に取り付ける。続いて、検出センサ１５２の発光部１５２ａと受光部１５２ｂとの間に接続基板１２０の遮光円周部１２５が位置するように基準位置検出装置１５０を振り分け板１６０の裏面側に取り付ける。
【００６０】
そして、振り分け板１６０の上部板取付部１６３および下部板取付部１６４をセンター役物３０にネジ固定して、振り分け板１６０をセンター役物３０に取り付ける。これにより、図３に示すように、回転振り分け器１００がセンター役物３０の下部中央に取り付けられる。
【００６１】
さらに、電気モータ１１０に電力を供給して電気モータ１１０を作動させ、モータ軸１１２を回転させる。そうすると、図３に示すように、接続部材１２０（およびモータ軸１１２）と連結された回転部材１３０がパチンコ機ＰＭの前面側から見て反時計回りに回転し、この状態でパチンコゲームが行われる。
【００６２】
そして、センター役物３０の球流下通路３３を流下してセンター役物３０の下部中央に達した遊技球は、球流下通路３３に形成されたガイド板（図示せず）により振り分け板１６０の中央球通路１６５の入口まで導かれる。このとき、回転部材１３０の第１振り分けアーム１３４ａ，１３４ａ，…のひとつが振り分けアーム１３４の下端付近に位置して中央球通路１６５を塞いでいるときには、遊技球は第１振り分けアーム１３４ａに当接して振り分け板１６０の左球通路１６６もしくは右球通路１６７のいずれか一つへ流下し、遊技盤２０の裏面側へ向かう。
【００６３】
一方、第１振り分けアーム１３４ａ，１３４ａ，…のひとつが振り分けアーム１３４の下端付近に位置せずに、回転部材１３０の第２振り分けアーム１３４ｂ，１３４ｂ，…のひとつが振り分けアーム１３４の下端付近に位置するときには、遊技球はそのまま中央球通路１６５へ流下し、振り分け装置２８へ向かう。このようにして、回転振り分け器１００による遊技球の複数の球通路１６５，１６６，１６７への振り分けが行われる。
【００６４】
なおこのとき、基準位置検出装置１５０により、接続部材１２０の遮光円周部１２５における切り込み１２６の形成位置を回転基準位置として、接続部材１２０すなわち回転振り分け器１００の回転検出が行われる。
【００６５】
このため、以上のような構成の回転振り分け器１００（回転装置）によれば、回転部材１３０に形成された回転部材嵌合突起１３３と接続部材１２０に形成された接続部材嵌合突起１２４との嵌合により回転部材１３０の接続部材１２０に対する回転軸方向への移動を規制することができるため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材１３０と接続部材１２０とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【００６６】
なお、本実施形態において、接続部材１２０の接続部材嵌合突起１２４が回転部材１３０の回転部材嵌合突起１３３と同程度の幅を有して形成されているが、これに限られる物ではなく、図６に示すように、接続部材嵌合突起１２４の幅を回転部材嵌合突起１３３の幅より小さくしてもよく、また、接続部材嵌合突起１２４の幅を回転部材嵌合突起１３３の幅より大きくしてもよい。このようにすれば、接続部材嵌合突起１２４および回転部材嵌合突起１３３の位置精度によらず、より容易に接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材嵌合突起１３３とを嵌合させることができる。
【００６７】
また、本実施形態において、接続部材１２０の接続部材嵌合突起１２４が弾性変形可能に形成されているが、これに限られる物ではなく、接続部材嵌合突起１２４および回転部材１３０の回転部材嵌合突起１３３の両方とも弾性変形可能に形成してもよい。このようにすれば、接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材嵌合突起１３３とを嵌合させるときに接続部材嵌合突起１２４および回転部材嵌合突起１３３の両方とも弾性変形するため、より容易に接続部材嵌合突起１２４と回転部材嵌合突起１３３とを嵌合させることができる。
【００６８】
さらに、本実施形態において、接続部材１２０に切り込み１２６を有する遮光円周部１２５を形成し、切り込み１２６の形成位置を回転基準位置として、基準位置検出装置１５０による接続部材１２０の回転検出を行っているが、これに限られる物ではなく、接続部材に検出センサの検出光を遮る遮光突起部を形成し、遮光突起部の形成位置を回転基準位置として接続部材の回転検出を行うようにしてもよい。
【００６９】
【第２の実施形態】
次に、本発明に係る弾球遊技機の第２の回転装置である回転体２００について図８〜図１０を参照して説明する。ここで、図８は回転体２００の分解斜視図、図９は回転体２００に構成される回転部材２３０の背面図、そして図１０は回転部材２３０の平面図（部分断面図）である。
【００７０】
回転体２００は、図８に示すように、所定の電力により回転作動する電動モータ２１０と、電気モータ２１０に連結された回転部材２３０と、電気モータ２１０および回転部材２３０とともに遊技盤２０に取り付けられるベース体２４０とから構成される。
【００７１】
電動モータ２１０は、所定の電力により回転作動するモータ本体２１１と、モータ本体２１１に駆動されて回転するモータ軸２１２とを主体に構成される。モータ本体２１１の一端側周部には、モータ取付部２１３，２１３が取付穴２１３ａ，２１３ａを有して設けられており、ベース体２３０に取付固定されるようになっている。モータ軸２１２は、金属材料を用いて一端側の断面形状がＤ字形である棒状に形成され、断面がＤ字形に形成された一端側がモータ本体２１１の一端から突出した状態でモータ本体２１１に配設される。
【００７２】
回転部材２３０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段によりコマ形状に一体的に形成される。回転部材２３０の周部には、回転部材２３０の周部および裏面側が開口した球受け部２３１が設けられており、図３に示すように、ベース体２４０の入賞球停留口２４１を通過した遊技球を受け止めて内部に受容し、受容した遊技球を回転部材２３０とともに回転させるとともに、回転部材２３０の回転により球受け部２３１がベース体２４０の入賞球誘導口２４３に達すると、受容した遊技球を排出して入賞球誘導口２４３に通過させるようになっている。
【００７３】
球受け部２３１の底部には球受けリブ２３２が形成されており、ベース体２４０の入賞球停留口２４１を通過して球受け部２３１の内部に達した遊技球を受け止めるとともに、球受け部２３１の内部に受容された遊技球がベース体２４０の入賞球誘導口２４３へ排出され易いようになっている。
【００７４】
回転部材２３０の裏面側中央部には、図９および図１０に示すように、モータ軸嵌合穴２３４を有するモータ軸嵌合部２３３が筒状に形成されており、モータ軸嵌合穴２３４がモータ軸２１２の一端側と嵌合して回転部材２３０がモータ軸２１２と連結されると、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の中心を回転軸として（モータ軸２１２の中心を回転軸として）、回転部材２３０がモータ軸２１２と一体回転するように構成されている。
【００７５】
モータ軸嵌合穴２３４は、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の先端側から基端側へ向かうにつれて径が小さくなる円錐状であって、断面形状がモータ軸２１２の一端側の断面形状と整合したＤ字形となるように形成され、モータ軸２１２の一端側をモータ軸嵌合穴２３４に位置整合させて圧入することにより、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４とが嵌合するように構成されている。なお、モータ軸嵌合穴２３４の断面積は、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の先端側においてモータ軸２１２の一端側の断面積と同程度であり、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の基端側へ向かうにつれてモータ軸２１２の一端側の断面積より小さくなるようになっている。すなわち、モータ軸嵌合穴２３４は、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の基端側へ向かうにつれてモータ軸嵌合部２３３の中心に向けて傾斜する勾配２３４ａを有している。
【００７６】
これにより、モータ軸２１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴２３４の断面形状がＤ字形であり、さらに、モータ軸嵌合穴２３４の断面積がモータ軸嵌合部２３３の基端側へ向かうにつれてモータ軸２１２の一端側の断面積より小さくなるため、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４とを嵌合させると、回転部材２３０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転方向への移動が規制されるとともに、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４との圧入嵌合により回転部材２３０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転軸方向への移動が規制された状態となって、回転部材２３０がモータ軸２１２と一体回転するように連結される。
【００７７】
そのため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材２３０とモータ軸２１２とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。また、ネジ等の固定手段を使用しないため、回転部材２３０とモータ軸２１２との連結に要する工数を低減させることができる。さらに、ネジ等の固定手段を使用しないため、回転部材２３０を樹脂材料により製造することが可能となり、回転体２００（回転装置）をより容易に大量生産することができる。
【００７８】
また、回転部材２３０とモータ軸２１２とを容易に分離させることが可能であるため、回転部材２３０の部品交換をより容易に行うことができ、また回転体２００（回転装置）の分解をより容易に行うことができる。
【００７９】
なお、モータ軸２１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴２３４の断面形状は、Ｄ字形に限らず、例えば、多角形や、スプライン形状等、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４との嵌合により回転部材２３０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転方向への移動を規制することが可能な形状であればよい。
【００８０】
モータ軸嵌合部２３３の周部２箇所には、スリット２３５，２３５が形成されている。スリット２３５，２３５は、図９に示すように、モータ軸嵌合部２３３（モータ軸２１２）の回転軸に対して対称に位置し、それぞれモータ軸嵌合部２３３（モータ軸２１２）の回転軸方向へ延びて形成される。
【００８１】
これにより、モータ軸嵌合部２３３が弾性変形し易くなり、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４との圧入嵌合時に、モータ軸２１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴２３４の形状に応じてモータ軸嵌合部２３３が外方に向けて弾性変形するため、モータ軸嵌合穴２３４の寸法公差を緩和することができる。すなわち、回転部材２３０の射出成形に用いる成型金型の寸法公差を緩和することが可能となり、樹脂製の回転部材２３０をより容易に大量生産することができる。
【００８２】
また、スリット２３５，２３５がモータ軸嵌合部２３３（モータ軸２１２）の回転軸に対して対称に位置することで、モータ軸嵌合部２３３が均等に分割されるため、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４との圧入嵌合時にモータ軸嵌合部２３３に作用する力を均等にすることができる。
【００８３】
回転部材２３０の裏面側におけるモータ軸嵌合部２３３の側方には、強化リブ２３６，２３６が形成されている。強化リブ２３６，２３６は、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の周部と繋がって形成され、モータ軸嵌合部２３３が外方へ変形するのを防止するように構成される。これにより、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の繰り返し変形による疲労や、割れを防止することができる。
【００８４】
ベース体２４０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段により図示する形状に一体的に形成される。ベース体２４０の上部には、遊技球とほぼ同じ幅を有する入賞球停留口２４１が形成されており、遊技球がこの入賞球停留口２４１に落入すると、回転部材２３０の球受け部２３１が入賞球停留口２４１の直下に位置しないときには、遊技球が回転部材２３０の周部に当接して回転部材２３０に支持された状態で入賞球停留口２４１に停留し、球受け部２３１が回転して入賞球停留口２４１の直下に位置するときには、遊技球が入賞球停留口２４１を通過して球受け部２３１へ流下するようになっている（図３も参照）。
【００８５】
ベース体２４０の右方には、入賞球通路２４２が入賞球誘導口２４３および入賞球排出口（図示せず）を有して形成されている。入賞球誘導口２４３は、図３に示すように、ベース体２４０の右方前面に形成され、回転部材２３０の球受け部２３１に受容された遊技球が自重により排出されて入賞球誘導口２４３を通過するようになっている。
【００８６】
入賞球通路２４２は、一端が入賞球誘導口２４３に繋がって遊技盤２０の前面側と裏面側とに跨るように形成され、入賞球誘導口２４３を通過した遊技球が入賞球通路２４２を流下すると遊技盤２０の裏面側（入賞球通路２４２の他端）に達するようになっている。
【００８７】
入賞球排出口（図示せず）は、入賞球通路２４２の他端において鉛直下方に向けて開口され、入賞球通路２４２の他端に達した遊技球が入賞球排出口を通過して遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出されるようになっている。入賞球排出口（図示せず）の下方には、入賞球検出センサ２４４が設けられており、入賞球排出口を通過して遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出された遊技球を検出するようになっている。
【００８８】
ベース体２４０の裏面側には、モータ取付ボス２４５がネジ穴（図示せず）を有して形成されており、このモータ取付ボス２４５に電動モータ２１０におけるモータ取付部２１３の位置を合わせ、モータ取付ネジ（図示せず）をモータ取付部２１３の取付穴２１３ａに通過させてモータ取付ボス２４５のネジ穴にネジ固定することにより、電動モータ２１０がベース体２４０の裏面側に取付固定されるようになっている。
【００８９】
ベース体２４０の左右には、ベース取付穴２４６，２４６が形成されており、ベース体２４０を遊技盤２０の所定取付位置に合わせ、ベース体取付ネジ（図示せず）をベース取付穴２４６に通過させて遊技盤２０のネジ穴（図示せず）にネジ固定することにより、ベース体２４０が遊技盤２０の右方に取付固定されるようになっている。
【００９０】
このように構成される回転体２００において、モータ軸２１２をベース体２４０に形成された通し穴（図示せず）に通過させた後、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４とを嵌合させることにより、回転部材２３０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転方向および回転軸方向への移動を規制し、回転部材２３０をモータ軸２１２と一体回転するように連結する。これにより、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材２３０とモータ軸２１２とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【００９１】
次に、電気モータ２１０のモータ取付部２１３をベース体２４０のモータ取付ボス２４５にネジ固定して、回転部材２３０がモータ軸２１２と連結した電動モータ２１０をベース体２４０の裏面側に取り付ける。そして、ベース体２４０のベース取付穴２４６，２４６を用いてベース体２４０を遊技盤２０にネジ固定することにより、図３に示すように、回転体２００が遊技盤２０の右方に取り付けられる。
【００９２】
さらに、電気モータ２１０に電力を供給して電気モータ２１０を作動させ、モータ軸２１２を回転させる。そうすると、図３に示すように、モータ軸２１２と連結された回転部材２３０がパチンコ機ＰＭの前面側から見て反時計回りに回転し、この状態でパチンコゲームが行われる。
【００９３】
そして、遊技球がベース体２４０の入賞球停留口２４１に落入すると、回転部材２３０の球受け部２３１が入賞球停留口２４１の直下に位置しないときには、遊技球が回転部材２３０の周部に当接して回転部材２３０に支持された状態で入賞球停留口２４１に停留し、球受け部２３１が回転して入賞球停留口２４１の直下に位置するときには、遊技球が入賞球停留口２４１を通過して球受け部２３１へ流下する。
【００９４】
球受け部２３１へ流下した遊技球は、球受け部２３１に受容された状態で回転部材２３０とともに回転し、回転部材２３０の回転により球受け部２３１がベース体２４０の入賞球誘導口２４３に達すると、球受け部２３１に受容された遊技球は自重により球受け部２３１から排出されて入賞球誘導口２４３を通過する。そして、入賞球誘導口２４３を通過した遊技球は、入賞球誘導口２４３と繋がる入賞球通路２４２を流下して、入賞球排出口から遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。すなわち、回転体２００に流下した遊技球は、回転部材２３０の球受け部２３１により一定時間保持された後、遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。
【００９５】
このため、以上のような構成の回転体２００（回転装置）によれば、回転部材２３０にスリット２３５および円錐状のモータ軸嵌合穴２３４を有して形成されたモータ軸嵌合部２３３とモータ軸２１２との嵌合により回転部材２３０のモータ軸に対する回転軸方向への移動を規制することができるため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材２３０とモータ軸２１２とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【００９６】
なお、回転部材２３０のモータ軸嵌合穴２３４は、モータ軸嵌合部２３３の先端側から基端側へ向かうにつれて径が小さくなる円錐状であって、モータ軸嵌合穴２３４の断面積がモータ軸嵌合部２３３の基端側へ向かうにつれてモータ軸２１２の一端側の断面積より小さくなるように形成されているため、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴２３４との圧入嵌合により回転部材２３０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転方向への移動を規制する機能も有している。そのため、モータ軸２１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴２３４の断面形状を円形にしてもよい。このようにすれば、モータ軸２１２およびモータ軸嵌合穴２３４を備えた回転部材２３０をより容易に製造することができる。
【００９７】
【第３の実施形態】
次に、回転体の第二実施形態について図１１を参照して説明する。ここで、図１１は第二実施形態における回転体３００の分解斜視図である。なお、本実施形態の回転体３００に構成される電動モータおよびベース体は、上述した第一実施形態の回転体２００に構成される電動モータ２１０およびベース体２４０と装置構成が同様であるため、同一部位に同一番号を付して重複説明を省略する。
【００９８】
回転体３００は、図１１に示すように、所定の電力により回転作動する電動モータ２１０と、電気モータ２１０に連結された接続部材３２０と、接続部材３２０に連結された回転部材３３０と、電気モータ２１０、接続部材３２０および回転部材３３０とともに遊技盤２０に取り付けられるベース体２４０とを主体として構成される。
【００９９】
接続部材３２０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段によりコマ形状に一体的に形成される。接続部材３２０の裏面側中央部には、回転振り分け器１００の接続部材１２０と同様に、モータ軸嵌合穴（図示せず）を有するモータ軸嵌合部（図示せず）が筒状に形成されており、モータ軸嵌合穴がモータ軸２１２の一端側と嵌合して接続部材３２０がモータ軸２１２と連結されると、モータ軸嵌合部の中心を回転軸として（モータ軸２１２の中心を回転軸として）、接続部材３２０がモータ軸２１２と一体回転するように構成されている。
【０１００】
モータ軸嵌合穴は、回転振り分け器１００の接続部材１２０と同様に、断面形状がモータ軸２１２の一端側の断面形状と整合したＤ字形となるようにモータ軸嵌合部の中央部に形成され、モータ軸２１２の一端側をモータ軸嵌合穴に位置整合させて圧入することにより、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴とが嵌合するように構成されている。
【０１０１】
これにより、モータ軸２１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴の断面形状がＤ字形であるため、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴とを嵌合させると、接続部材３２０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転方向への移動が規制されるとともに、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴との圧入嵌合により接続部材３２０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転軸方向への移動が規制された状態となって、接続部材３２０がモータ軸２１２と一体回転するように連結される。そのため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに接続部材３２０とモータ軸２１２とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【０１０２】
なお、回転振り分け器１００の接続部材１２０と同様に、モータ軸２１２の一端側およびモータ軸嵌合穴の断面形状は、Ｄ字形に限らず、例えば、多角形や、スプライン形状等、モータ軸２１２の一端側とモータ軸嵌合穴との嵌合により接続部材３２０のモータ軸２１２に対する回転方向への移動を規制することが可能な形状であればよい。
【０１０３】
接続部材３２０の前面側中央部には、接続部材軸３２３が、断面形状がＤ字形である棒状に形成されており、回転部材３３０の接続部材軸嵌合穴３３４と嵌合するように構成されている。なお、図１１の二点鎖線に示すように、接続部材軸３２３の周部２箇所に回転部材３３０のスリット３３５と嵌合するスリット嵌合リブ３２３ａを形成してもよい。このようにすれば、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴３３４との嵌合時に回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転方向への移動をより確実に規制することができる。
【０１０４】
さらに、接続部材３２０の前面側には、回転部材３３０の回転部材嵌合突起３３７と嵌合する接続部材嵌合突起３２４が形成されている。接続部材嵌合突起３２４は、接続部材３２０の回転軸方向へ突出した突起状に形成され、弾性変形可能となっている。
【０１０５】
接続部材３２０の周部裏面側には、遮光突起部３２５が突起状に形成されており、接続部材３２０の回転を検出する基準位置検出装置（図示せず）に構成される検出センサ（図示せず）の検出光を遮るようになっている。そして基準位置検出装置により、接続部材３２０における遮光突起部３２５の形成位置を回転基準位置として、接続部材３２０すなわち回転体３００の回転検出を行うようになっている。
【０１０６】
回転部材３３０は、樹脂材料を用いて射出成形等の成形手段によりコマ形状に一体的に形成される。回転部材３３０の周部には、回転部材３３０の周部および裏面側が開口した球受け部３３１が設けられており、第一実施形態の回転体２００と同様に、ベース体２４０の入賞球停留口２４１を通過した遊技球を受け止めて内部に受容し、受容した遊技球を回転部材３３０とともに回転させるとともに、回転部材３３０の回転により球受け部３３１がベース体２４０の入賞球誘導口２４３に達すると、受容した遊技球を排出して入賞球誘導口２４３に通過させるようになっている。
【０１０７】
球受け部３３１の底部には球受けリブ（図示せず）が形成されており、ベース体２４０の入賞球停留口２４１を通過して球受け部３３１の内部に達した遊技球を受け止めるとともに、球受け部３３１の内部に受容された遊技球がベース体２４０の入賞球誘導口２４３へ排出され易いようになっている。
【０１０８】
回転部材３３０の裏面側中央部には、図１１に示すように、接続部材軸嵌合穴（図示せず）を有する接続部材軸嵌合部３３３が筒状に形成されており、接続部材軸嵌合穴が接続部材軸３２３と嵌合して回転部材３３０が接続部材３２０と連結されると、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の中心を回転軸として（モータ軸２１２の中心を回転軸として）、回転部材３３０が接続部材３２０と一体回転するように構成されている。
【０１０９】
接続部材軸嵌合穴（図示せず）は、第一実施形態の回転体２００と同様に、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の先端側から基端側へ向かうにつれて径が小さくなる円錐状であって、断面形状が接続部材軸３２３の断面形状と整合したＤ字形となるように形成され、接続部材軸３２３を接続部材軸嵌合穴に位置整合させて圧入することにより、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴とが嵌合するように構成されている。なお、接続部材軸嵌合穴の断面積は、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の先端側において接続部材軸３２３の断面積と同程度であり、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の基端側へ向かうにつれて接続部材軸３２３の断面積より小さくなるようになっている。すなわち、モータ軸嵌合穴は、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の基端側へ向かうにつれて接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の中心に向けて傾斜する勾配を有している。
【０１１０】
これにより、接続部材軸３２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴の断面形状がＤ字形であり、さらに、接続部材軸嵌合穴の断面積が接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の基端側へ向かうにつれて接続部材軸３２３の断面積より小さくなるため、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴とを嵌合させると、回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転方向への移動が規制されるとともに、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴との圧入嵌合により回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転軸方向への移動が規制された状態となる。
【０１１１】
なお、接続部材軸３２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴の断面形状は、Ｄ字形に限らず、例えば、多角形や、スプライン形状等、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴との嵌合により回転部材２３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転方向への移動を規制することが可能な形状であればよい。
【０１１２】
接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の周部２箇所には、スリット３３５，３３５が形成されている。スリット３３５，３３５は、第一実施形態の回転体２００と同様に、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３（モータ軸２１２）の回転軸に対して対称に位置し、それぞれ接続部材軸嵌合部３３３（モータ軸２１２）の回転軸方向へ延びて形成される。
【０１１３】
これにより、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３が弾性変形し易くなり、接続部材軸３２３の一端側と接続部材軸嵌合穴との圧入嵌合時に、接続部材軸３２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴の形状に応じて接続部材軸嵌合部３３３が外方に向けて弾性変形するため、接続部材軸３２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴の寸法公差を緩和することができる。すなわち、接続部材３２０および回転部材３３０の射出成形に用いる成型金型の寸法公差を緩和することが可能となり、樹脂製の接続部材３２０および回転部材３３０をより容易に大量生産することができる。
【０１１４】
また、スリット３３５，３３５が接続部材軸嵌合部３３３（モータ軸２１２）の回転軸に対して対称に位置することで、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３が均等に分割されるため、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴との圧入嵌合時に接続部材軸嵌合部３３３に作用する力を均等にすることができる。
【０１１５】
回転部材３３０の裏面側における接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の側方には、強化リブ３３６，３３６が形成されている。強化リブ３３６，３３６は、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の周部と繋がって形成され、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３が外方へ変形するのを防止するように構成される。これにより、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の繰り返し変形による疲労や、割れを防止することができる。
【０１１６】
一方の強化リブ３３６の周部には、接続部材３２０の接続部材嵌合突起３２４と嵌合する回転部材嵌合突起３３７が形成されている。回転部材嵌合突起３３７は、接続部材嵌合突起３２４と同程度の幅を有して回転部材３３０の回転軸と垂直な方向へ突出した突起状に形成される。
【０１１７】
そして、接続部材軸３２３を接続部材軸嵌合穴（図示せず）へ嵌入して接続部材３２０を回転部材３３０側へ押し込むと、接続部材嵌合突起３２４が回転部材嵌合突起３３７に当接して弾性変形し、さらに接続部材３２０を回転部材３３０側へ押し込むと、接続部材嵌合突起３２４が弾性力により元の形状に戻って回転部材嵌合突起３３７と嵌合するようになっている。
【０１１８】
これにより、接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７とを嵌合させることで、回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転軸方向への移動がさらに規制された状態となる。そのため、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴（図示せず）とを嵌合させるとともに、接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７とを嵌合させることにより、回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転方向および回転軸方向への移動が規制された状態となって、回転部材３３０が接続部材３２０（およびモータ軸２１２）と一体回転するように連結される。
【０１１９】
このようにすることで、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材３３０と接続部材３２０とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。また、ネジ等の固定手段を使用しないため、回転部材３３０と接続部材３２０との連結に要する工数を低減させることができる。さらに、ネジ等の固定手段を使用しないため、接続部材３２０および回転部材３３０を樹脂材料により製造することが可能となるため、回転体３００（回転装置）をより容易に大量生産することができる。
【０１２０】
また、接続部材嵌合突起３２４を弾性変形させて接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７との嵌合を解除し、接続部材３２０と回転部材３３０とを分離させることが可能であるため、回転部材３３０等の部品交換をより容易に行うことができ、また回転体３００（回転装置）の分解をより容易に行うことができる。さらに、このような嵌合手段を備えた接続部材を用いることにより、電気モータ等の回転駆動装置は回転部材の形状によらず汎用品を用いることができる。
【０１２１】
また、接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７との嵌合により、回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転軸方向への移動が規制されるため、接続部材軸３２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴（図示せず）の寸法公差をさらに緩和することができ、樹脂製の接続部材３２０および回転部材３３０をより容易に大量生産することができる。
【０１２２】
このように構成される回転体３００において、接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴（図示せず）とを嵌合させるとともに、接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７とを嵌合させることにより、回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転方向および回転軸方向への移動を規制し、回転部材３３０を接続部材３２０と一体回転するように連結する。これにより、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材３３０と接続部材３２０とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【０１２３】
次に、電気モータ２１０のモータ取付部２１３をベース体２４０のモータ取付ボス２４５にネジ固定して、回転部材３３０および接続部材３２０がモータ軸２１２と連結した電動モータ２１０をベース体２４０の裏面側に取り付ける。そして、ベース体２４０のベース取付穴２４６，２４６を用いてベース体２４０を遊技盤２０にネジ固定することにより、第一実施形態の回転体２００と同様に、回転体３００が遊技盤２０の右方に取り付けられる。
【０１２４】
さらに、電気モータ２１０に電力を供給して電気モータ２１０を作動させ、モータ軸２１２を回転させる。そうすると、第一実施形態の回転体２００と同様に、接続部材３２０およびモータ軸２１２と連結された回転部材３３０がパチンコ機ＰＭの前面側から見て反時計回りに回転し、この状態でパチンコゲームが行われる。
【０１２５】
そして、遊技球がベース体２４０の入賞球停留口２４１に落入すると、回転部材３３０の球受け部３３１が入賞球停留口２４１の直下に位置しないときには、遊技球が回転部材３３０の周部に当接して回転部材３３０に支持された状態で入賞球停留口２４１に停留し、球受け部３３１が回転して入賞球停留口２４１の直下に位置するときには、遊技球が入賞球停留口２４１を通過して球受け部３３１へ流下する。
【０１２６】
球受け部３３１へ流下した遊技球は、球受け部３３１に受容された状態で回転部材３３０とともに回転し、回転部材３３０の回転により球受け部３３１がベース体２４０の入賞球誘導口２４３に達すると、球受け部３３１に受容された遊技球は自重により球受け部３３１から排出されて入賞球誘導口２４３を通過する。そして、入賞球誘導口２４３を通過した遊技球は、入賞球誘導口２４３と繋がる入賞球通路２４２を流下して、入賞球排出口から遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。すなわち、回転体３００に流下した遊技球は、回転部材３３０の球受け部３３１により一定時間保持された後、遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出される。
【０１２７】
なおこのとき、基準位置検出装置（図示せず）により、接続部材３２０における遮光突起部３２５の形成位置を回転基準位置として、接続部材３２０すなわち回転体３００の回転検出が行われる。
【０１２８】
このため、以上のような構成の回転体３００（回転装置）によれば、回転部材３３０に形成された回転部材嵌合突起３３７と接続部材３２０に形成された接続部材嵌合突起３２４との嵌合に加え、回転部材３３０に形成された接続部材軸嵌合部３３３と接続部材３２０に形成された接続部材軸３２３との嵌合により回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転軸方向への移動を規制することができるため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材３３０と接続部材３２０とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。
【０１２９】
なお、回転部材３３０の接続部材軸嵌合穴（図示せず）は、接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の先端側から基端側へ向かうにつれて径が小さくなる円錐状であって、接続部材軸嵌合穴の断面積が接続部材軸嵌合部３３３の基端側へ向かうにつれて接続部材軸３２３の断面積より小さくなるように形成されているため、接続部材３２０の接続部材軸３２３と接続部材軸嵌合穴との圧入嵌合により回転部材３３０の接続部材３２０に対する回転方向への移動を規制する機能も有している。そのため、接続部材軸３２３および接続部材軸嵌合穴の断面形状を円形にしてもよい。このようにすれば、接続部材３２０および回転部材３３０をより容易に製造することができる。
【０１３０】
また、本実施形態において、接続部材３２０の接続部材嵌合突起３２４が回転部材３３０の回転部材嵌合突起３３７と同程度の幅を有して形成されているが、これに限られる物ではなく、接続部材嵌合突起３２４の幅を回転部材嵌合突起３３７の幅より小さくしてもよく、また、接続部材嵌合突起３２４の幅を回転部材嵌合突起３３７の幅より大きくしてもよい。このようにすれば、接続部材嵌合突起３２４および回転部材嵌合突起３３７の位置精度によらず、より容易に接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７とを嵌合させることができる。
【０１３１】
さらに、本実施形態において、接続部材３２０の接続部材嵌合突起３２４が弾性変形可能に形成されているが、これに限られる物ではなく、接続部材嵌合突起３２４および回転部材３３０の回転部材嵌合突起３３７の両方とも弾性変形可能に形成してもよい。このようにすれば、接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７とを嵌合させるときに接続部材嵌合突起３２４および回転部材嵌合突起３３７の両方とも弾性変形するため、より容易に接続部材嵌合突起３２４と回転部材嵌合突起３３７とを嵌合させることができる。
【０１３２】
また、本実施形態において、接続部材３２０に検出センサの検出光を遮る遮光突起部３２５を形成し、接続部材３２０における遮光突起部３２５の形成位置を回転基準位置として、基準位置検出装置による接続部材３２０の回転検出を行っているが、これに限られる物ではなく、接続部材に切り込みを有する遮光円周部を形成し、切り込みの形成位置を回転基準位置として、基準位置検出装置による接続部材の回転検出を行うようにしてもよい。
【０１３３】
さらに、上述の各実施形態において、電気モータによりモータ軸を回転駆動軸として回転駆動しているが、これに限られた物ではなく、例えば、ソレノイド等の回転駆動装置を用いて回転駆動軸や接続部材を回転駆動させるようにすればよい。
【０１３４】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明による弾球遊技機の回転装置によれば、回転部材に形成された接続部材軸嵌合部と接続部材に形成された接続部材軸との嵌合に加え、回転部材に形成された回転部材嵌合突起と接続部材に形成された接続部材嵌合突起との嵌合により回転部材の接続部材に対する回転方向及び回転軸方向への移動がともに規制される構成のため、ネジ等の固定手段を用いずに回転部材と接続部材とを簡潔に連結固定することができる。なお、接続部材嵌合突起が、接続部材軸の径方向外側に位置して前後に延びる突起状に形成され径方向に弾性変形可能であるような構成によれば、接続部材嵌合突起を弾性変形させることで回転部材等の部品交換を容易に行うことができる。また、接続部材軸の外周面に回転部材側のスリットと嵌合するスリット嵌合リブが形成されるような構成によれば、回転部材の接続部材に対する回転方向への移動をより確実に規制することができる。さらに、回転部材に接続部材軸嵌合部と繋がって周方向に延びる強化リブが形成されるような構成によれば、接続部材軸嵌合部の繰り返し変形による疲労や、割れを防止することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る回転装置を備えた弾球遊技機の一例として示すパチンコ機の正面図である。
【図２】上記パチンコ機の裏面側を示す背面図である。
【図３】上記パチンコ機に構成される開閉型入賞装置およびセンター役物の取付部付近を示す拡大正面図である。
【図４】本発明に係る第１の回転装置である回転振り分け器の分解斜視図である。
【図５】回転振り分け器の分解側面図（部分断面図）である。
【図６】回転振り分け器の平面図である。
【図７】回転振り分け器の斜視図である。
【図８】本発明に係る第２の回転装置である回転体の分解斜視図である。
【図９】回転体に構成される回転部材の背面図である。
【図１０】回転部材の平面図（部分断面図）である。
【図１１】回転体の第二実施形態を示す分解斜視図である。
【符号の説明】
ＢＳＰ 裏セット盤
ＰＡ 遊技領域
ＰＭ パチンコ機
１ 外枠
２ 前枠
３ａ，３ｂ ヒンジ部材
４ 施錠装置
５ ガラス扉
６ 上球皿
７ 下球皿
８ 操作ハンドル
９ 打球発射装置
１７ 係合レバー
１８ ヒンジ
１９ 閉鎖レバー
２０ 遊技盤
２１ 化粧板
２２ 案内レール（２２ａ 外レール、２２ｂ 内レール）
２３ 風車
２４ 一般入賞口
２５ 開閉型入賞装置
２６ 大入賞口
２７ 通過口
２８ 振り分け装置
２９ アウト口
３０ センター役物
３１ 表示装置
３２ 球入口
３３ 球流下通路
４０ 基枠体
４１ 窓口
５０ 球貯留供給機構
６０ 賞球払出機構
６３ 賞球払出装置
７０ 賞球払出経路
９１ メイン基板
９２ 球払出基板
９３ ランプ・音声制御基板
９４ 電源基板
９５ 中継基板
９６ ターミナル基板
１００ 回転振り分け器
１１０ 電気モータ
１１１ モータ本体
１１２ モータ軸
１１３ モータ取付部（１１３ａ 取付穴）
１２０ 接続部材
１２１ モータ軸嵌合部
１２２ モータ軸嵌合穴
１２３ 接続部材軸
１２４ 接続部材嵌合突起
１２５ 遮光円周部
１２６ 切り込み
１３０ 回転部材
１３１ 軸本体
１３２ 接続部材軸嵌合穴
１３３ 回転部材嵌合突起
１３４ 振り分けアーム
（１３４ａ 第１振り分けアーム、１３４ｂ 第２振り分けアーム）
１４０ 飾り部材
１４１ 飾り部材取付ネジ
１５０ 基準位置検出装置
１５１ 実装基板
１５２ 検出センサ（１５２ａ 発光部、１５２ｂ 受光部）
１６０ 振り分け板
１６１ 通し穴（１６１ａ 逃げ穴）
１６２ モータ取付ボス（１６２ａ ガイドリブ）
１６３ 上部板取付部（１６３ａ 取付穴、１６３ｂ 取付ガイド部）
１６４ 下部板取付部（１６４ａ 取付穴）
１６５ 中央球通路
１６６ 左球通路
１６７ 右球通路
１６９ 飾り板
２００ 回転体
２１０ 電気モータ
２１１ モータ本体
２１２ モータ軸
２１３ モータ取付部（２１３ａ 取付穴）
２３０ 回転部材
２３１ 球受け部
２３２ 球受けリブ
２３３ モータ軸嵌合部
２３４ モータ軸嵌合穴（２３４ａ 勾配）
２３５ スリット
２３６ 強化リブ
２４０ ベース体
２４１ 入賞球停留口
２４２ 入賞球通路
２４３ 入賞球誘導口
２４４ 入賞球検出センサ
２４５ モータ取付ボス
２４６ ベース取付穴
３００ 回転体（回転体の第二実施形態）
３２０ 接続部材
３２３ 接続部材軸（３２３ａ スリット嵌合リブ）
３２４ 接続部材嵌合突起
３２５ 遮光突起部
３３０ 回転部材
３３１ 球受け部
３３３ 接続部材軸嵌合部
３３５ スリット
３３６ 強化リブ
３３７ 回転部材嵌合突起[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a rotating device for a ball game machine having a connecting member that rotates in response to a predetermined driving force and a rotating member connected to the connecting member, and more particularly, a connection between the rotating member and the connecting member. Concerning structure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is a pachinko machine as a typical example of a ball game machine equipped with the rotating device as described above. A pachinko machine has a game board on which a large number of game nails, windmills, various winning devices, etc. are arranged with a predetermined gauge setting. In such a pachinko machine, for example, a winning ball that has reached a predetermined distribution position is selectively distributed to a plurality of ball passages, or the winning ball is held for a certain time and then guided to the back side of the game board. A rotating device is provided.
[0003]
The rotating device includes a connecting member that rotates in response to a predetermined driving force and a rotating member that is coupled to the connecting member, and the rotating member rotates together with the connecting member. The rotating member is integrally formed by injection molding using, for example, a resin material. After the rotating member is fitted into the connecting member at a predetermined position and direction, the rotating member is fixed to the connecting member by a fixing means such as a screw. By restricting the movement of the rotation member relative to the connection member in the direction of the rotation axis, the rotation member is coupled to rotate integrally with the connection member.
[0004]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-103855 [Patent Document 2]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-237222
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, when the rotating member and the connecting member are small, a small screw is used to connect the rotating member and the connecting member. Therefore, the connecting operation between the rotating member and the connecting member becomes complicated, and the connecting operation It is easy to lose the screw inside, and there is a possibility that the resin rotating member may be broken and damaged due to incorrect tightening of the screw. Further, when the rotating member and the connecting member are coupled using a fixing agent without using a screw, it is very difficult to separate the rotating member and the connecting member at the time of component replacement or the like.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and provides a rotating device for a ball game machine capable of simply connecting and fixing a rotating member and a connecting member without using fixing means such as screws. For the purpose.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, a rotating device for a ball game machine according to the present invention (for example, the rotating body 300 in the embodiment ) integrally has a rod-like connecting member shaft (323) extending in the axial direction and extending in a predetermined direction. A disk-shaped resin-made connecting member (320) that rotates in response to the rotational driving force and a cylindrical shape that extends in the axial direction with a fitting hole that matches the front end shape of the connecting member shaft (323). A resin-made rotation having a connecting member shaft fitting portion (333) that is configured to fit the connecting member shaft (323) into the fitting hole and to be coupled to the connecting member (320). The rotating member (330) includes a rotating member fitting protrusion (337) projecting in a radial direction on an outer peripheral surface of the connecting member shaft fitting portion (333), and the connecting member (330). 320) is located on the radially outer side of the connecting member shaft (323). And an elastically deformable connecting member fitting protrusion (324) that extends forward in the axial direction and protrudes radially inward at the tip, and the connection member shaft (323) is fitted into the fitting hole and connected. When the member (320) and the rotating member (330) are coupled together, the connecting member fitting protrusion (324) is elastically deformed at the distal end of the connecting member fitting protrusion (324) in the radial direction, and the rotating member fitting protrusion ( 337) and is engaged therewith to restrict relative movement in the axial direction between the connecting member (320) and the rotating member (330), and the connecting member shaft fitting portion (333) On the rear end side, slits (335) extending in the axial direction through the inner and outer peripheries are formed in at least two locations to facilitate elastic deformation in the radial direction, and the fitting hole is connected to the connecting member shaft. Fitting part (333) It is formed in a conical shape whose diameter decreases from the rear end side toward the front end side, and the connection member shaft (323) is fitted into the fitting hole on the outer peripheral surface of the connection member shaft (323). When the connecting member (320) and the rotating member (330) are connected, a slit fitting rib (323a) that enters and fits into the slit (335) is formed to extend radially outward and forward. By inserting the connecting member shaft (323) into the fitting hole, the connecting member fitting projection (324) and the rotating member fitting projection (337) are engaged with each other in the axial direction. The movement is restricted, and the slit fitting rib (323a) is inserted into the slit (335) to restrict relative rotation so that the connection member (320) and the rotation member (330) are connected. Is configured to The
[0008]
According to the rotating device of the ball game machine having such a configuration, in addition to the fitting between the connecting member shaft fitting portion formed on the rotating member and the connecting member shaft formed on the connecting member , the rotating device is formed on the rotating member. rotating member for moving the by fitting of the fitting protrusion and formed connecting member fitting projection to the connecting member to the rotation direction and the rotation axis direction with respect to the connection member of the rotary member are both restricted, fixing means such as screws The rotating member and the connecting member can be simply connected and fixed without using the.
In the present invention, it is preferable that the connection member fitting protrusion is formed in a protrusion shape that is located on the radially outer side of the connection member shaft and extends in the front-rear direction and is elastically deformable in the radial direction.
In addition, it is preferable that a slit fitting rib that fits with the slit when the connecting member shaft is press-fitted into the fitting hole is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting member shaft so as to extend back and forth. It is preferable that a reinforcing rib that is located on the radially outer side of the member shaft fitting portion and is connected to the connecting member shaft fitting portion and extends in the circumferential direction is formed.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the embodiment, a pachinko machine will be described as a representative example of the ball game machine according to the present invention. First, the outline structure of the pachinko machine PM to which the present invention is applied will be described briefly with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine PM viewed from the front, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine PM viewed from the back.
[0010]
The pachinko machine PM is configured to have a rectangular frame size and a rectangular frame size corresponding to the opening front of the outer frame 1 that forms a vertically fixed holding frame. The hinge members 3a and 3b disposed on the upper left and right sides of the front face are attached to be opened and closed and detachable, and the game is performed in a closed state engaged with the outer frame 1 using the locking device 4 provided on the right side of the front face. Provided.
[0011]
On the front side of the front frame 2, a rectangular glass door 5 adapted to the front side area of the front frame 2 and an upper ball tray 6 for storing and aligning game balls can be opened and closed sideways and attached and detached. It is assembled and is always held in a closed state that covers the front surface of the front frame 2 using the locking device 4 and a lock mechanism (not shown). A lower ball tray 7 and an operation handle 8 for performing a game ball launching operation are attached to the lower part of the front frame 2.
[0012]
A rectangular frame-shaped storage frame (not shown) is formed integrally with the front frame 2 on the upper surface of the rear surface of the front frame 2 located behind the glass door 5, and the storage frame is configured with a predetermined gauge setting. The game board 20 is set and held by a plurality of engaging levers 17, 17... So as to be detachable and replaceable, and the front area thereof faces the glass door 5.
[0013]
The game board 20 has a belt-like outer rail 22a and an inner rail 22b fixed in a circular arc shape on the front side of a decorative board 21 with cells attached to the surface, and a game area PA is defined on the inner side. The game area PA includes a large number of game nails, a plurality of windmills 23, 23,... A flow opening 27 that opens and closes the open / close winning device 25, a center accessory 30 with a predetermined decoration, a plurality of display devices 31, 31,. A distribution device 28 that distributes the game balls to a plurality of ball paths is provided, and an out-port 29 is provided at the lower end of the game area PA to discharge the game balls that have fallen without winning the winning tool.
[0014]
The game balls dropped into the general prize opening 24 and the big prize opening 26 are detected by a winning ball detection sensor provided in each winning tool, and pass through a safe ball passage hole penetrating the decorative board 21 to the rear surface of the game board 20. Discharged to the side. Further, the game balls collected at the out port 29 are discharged to the back side of the game board 20 through the out ball passage hole penetrating the decorative board 21. Note that the open ball winning device 25 and the game ball dropped into the rotating body 200 will be described later.
[0015]
A hitting ball launching device 9 is attached to the lower part of the rear surface of the front frame 2. Between the hitting ball launching device 9 and the game board 20, a game ball launched by the hitting ball launching device 9 is placed on the outer rail 22 a of the game board 20. A launch rail that guides the camera toward the sound source, a speaker that generates sound effects, and the like are attached. The launching rail, the speaker, and the like are attached to an intermediate region (referred to as “game assisting board”) of the front frame 2 located on the back side of the upper ball tray 6 and are always held in a closed state. The surface side is covered by.
[0016]
Also, on the back side of the front frame 2, a back set board BSP is equipped so that it can be opened / closed and attached / removed by upper and lower hinges 18, 18, and the rear face of the game board 20 is always used by using the closing levers 19, 19. It is kept closed so as to cover. The back set board BSP as a whole has a vertical rectangular shape that is larger than the rear outline size of the housing frame, and is configured with a base frame body 40 integrally formed with a window 41 at the center (FIG. 2). See).
[0017]
The back set board BSP is equipped with a ball storage and supply mechanism 50 that is mounted on the top of the window 41 and stores and supplies game balls, and a game ball that is mounted on the right side of the window 41 and is guided from the ball storage and supply mechanism 50. A prize ball mechanism such as a prize ball payout mechanism 60 for performing a payout process is provided, and the game balls that are located below the prize ball payout mechanism 60 and are paid out from the mechanism 60 are placed in the upper and lower ball trays 6, 6. 7 is a prize ball payout path 70 for discharging the game balls, and a game ball discharge path for collecting the game balls that are located below the window 41 and discharged to the back side of the game board 20 and discharging them to the collection bucket on the game facility side. (Not shown) and the like are formed.
[0018]
Further, on the back side of the back set board BSP, a main board 91 for comprehensively controlling the operation of the pachinko machine, a ball payout board 92 for controlling the payout of prize balls, and operation control of effect lighting and sound effects are performed. Lamp / voice control board 93, power supply board 94 for supplying predetermined power to each control board and electronic components, relay board 95 for attaching a plurality of connectors to relay control signals and power, etc., and operating state of the gaming machine Various circuit boards such as a terminal board 96 for output to the game facility side and electronic parts such as a prize ball payout device 63 are attached, and each device is connected by a wire harness (not shown).
[0019]
The pachinko machine PM is used for a game in a state where the upper ball tray 6 and the glass door 5 are closed and locked (the state shown in FIG. 1), and the operation ball 8 is rotated by storing the game ball in the upper ball tray 6. By doing so, the game is started. When the operation lever of the operation handle 8 is turned, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 6 are sent one by one onto the firing rail by the ball feeding device equipped on the ball tray, and the ball hitting device 9 A hammer is driven into the game area PA of the game board 20, and a pachinko game is developed thereafter.
[0020]
Next, the flow of the game ball dropped into the open / close winning device 25 will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing the vicinity of the attaching portion of the open / close winning device 25 and the center accessory 30. The open / close winning device 25 is mainly composed of a base member 25a attached to the front surface of the game board 20 and left and right variable wing members 25b, 25b attached to the base member 25a so as to be expandable. When passing through the passage port 27, the variable wing member 25b is expanded by a solenoid device (not shown).
[0021]
A winning entrance 25c is provided at the upper portion of the base member 25a, and a winning exit 25d is provided at the lower portion of the base member 25a. A game ball that passes through the winning entrance 25c and falls into the base member 25a is After flowing down inside the member 25a, it passes through the prize winning exit 25d and flows down to the center accessory 30. Note that the game ball dropped into the openable winning device 25 is detected by a winning ball detection sensor (not shown).
[0022]
The center accessory 30 is composed of various components integrally formed by injection molding or the like using a resin material, and is attached to the center front side of the game board 20. Display devices 31, 31,... Are attached to the center upper part and the left and right sides of the center accessory 30. A ball entrance 32 is formed at the center upper end portion of the center accessory 30, and a game ball that has passed through the winning exit 25 d of the open / close type winning device 25 passes through the ball entrance 32 and enters the center accessory 30. It is designed to flow down.
[0023]
A ball flowing down passage 33 connected to the ball inlet 32 is provided inside the center accessory 30, and a game ball that has passed through the ball inlet 32 flows down through the ball flowing down passage 33. The ball lowering passage 33 is formed along the left and right inner peripheral portions of the center accessory 30, and as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, the game ball that has passed the ball inlet 32 and reached the ball lowering passage 33. Is configured to flow down one of the left and right sides of the ball flow down passage 33 and reach the lower center of the center accessory 30.
[0024]
A rotation sorter 100 is provided at the center of the lower portion of the center accessory 30, and a plurality of ball paths 165, 166, 167 formed in the rotation sorter 100 are used for the game balls that have reached the center of the lower portion of the center accessory 30. It is designed to be distributed selectively.
[0025]
[First Embodiment]
In the pachinko machine PM schematically configured as described above, the rotary sorter 100 and the rotating body 200 are used as a rotating device of a ball game machine according to the present invention. First, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 7, a rotation distributor 100 which is a first rotating device of a ball game machine according to the present invention will be described. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the rotary sorter 100, FIG. 5 is an exploded side view (partial sectional view) of the rotary sorter 100, FIG. 6 is a plan view of the rotary sorter 100, and FIG. FIG.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rotation distributor 100 includes an electric motor 110 that is rotated by predetermined electric power, a connection member 120 that is connected to the electric motor 110, and a rotation member 130 that is connected to the connection member 120. And a decorative member 140 attached to the rotating member 130, a reference position detecting device 150 for detecting the rotation of the connecting member 120, and a sorting plate 160 in which a plurality of spherical passages are formed.
[0027]
The electric motor 110 is mainly composed of a motor main body 111 that is rotated by predetermined electric power and a motor shaft 112 that is driven by the motor main body 111 to rotate. Motor mounting portions 113 and 113 are provided with mounting holes 113a and 113a on one end side peripheral portion of the motor main body 111, and are fixedly attached to the sorting plate 160. The motor shaft 112 is formed in a rod shape having a D-shaped cross section on one end side using a metal material, and is arranged on the motor main body 111 with one end side having a D-shaped cross section protruding from one end of the motor main body 111. Established.
[0028]
The connecting member 120 is integrally formed in a frame shape by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material. As shown in FIG. 5, a motor shaft fitting portion 121 having a motor shaft fitting hole 122 is formed in a cylindrical shape at the center of the back surface side of the connecting member 120, and the motor shaft fitting hole 122 is formed on the motor shaft. When the connecting member 120 is coupled to the motor shaft 112 by fitting with one end side of the 112, the connecting member 120 is connected to the motor shaft fitting portion 121 with the center of the motor shaft fitting portion 121 as the rotating shaft (with the center of the motor shaft 112 as the rotating shaft) It is configured to rotate integrally with the motor shaft 112.
[0029]
The motor shaft fitting hole 122 is formed in the central portion of the motor shaft fitting portion 121 so that the cross-sectional shape is a D-shape aligned with the cross-sectional shape on one end side of the motor shaft 112, and the motor shaft 112 is connected to the motor shaft 112 at one end side. By press-fitting the shaft fitting hole 122 in position alignment, one end side of the motor shaft 112 and the motor shaft fitting hole 122 are fitted.
[0030]
Thereby, since the cross-sectional shape of the one end side of the motor shaft 112 and the motor shaft fitting hole 122 is D-shaped, when the one end side of the motor shaft 112 and the motor shaft fitting hole 122 are fitted, the connecting member 120 Movement in the rotational direction with respect to the motor shaft 112 is restricted, and movement of the connection member 120 in the rotational axis direction with respect to the motor shaft 112 is restricted by press-fitting between one end of the motor shaft 112 and the motor shaft fitting hole 122. In this state, the connecting member 120 is coupled so as to rotate integrally with the motor shaft 112. Therefore, the connecting member 120 and the motor shaft 112 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws.
[0031]
The cross-sectional shapes of the motor shaft 112 and the motor shaft fitting hole 122 are not limited to the D-shape, but may be, for example, polygonal or spline shapes, and the like. Any shape that can regulate the movement of the connecting member 120 in the rotational direction with respect to the motor shaft 112 by the fitting.
[0032]
A connecting member shaft 123 is formed in a bar shape having a D-shaped cross section at the center of the front side of the connecting member 120, and is configured to fit with the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 of the rotating member 130. ing. Further, on the front side of the connection member 120, a connection member fitting protrusion 124 that fits with the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 of the rotating member 130 is formed. The connection member fitting protrusion 124 is formed in a protrusion shape protruding in the direction of the rotation axis of the connection member 120 and can be elastically deformed.
[0033]
A light-shielding circumferential portion 125 is formed in a cylindrical shape on the rear surface side of the peripheral portion of the connection member 120 so that the detection light of the detection sensor 152 configured in the reference position detection device 150 is always blocked. A notch 126 is formed in the light-shielding circumferential portion 125 so as to extend in the direction of the rotation axis of the connection member 120. When the notch 126 is positioned on the detection sensor 152 by the rotation of the connection member 120, the detection light of the detection sensor 152 is notched. 126 is passed through. Thereby, the rotation detection of the connection member 120, that is, the rotation distributor 100, can be performed using the formation position of the notch 126 in the light shielding circumferential portion 125 as the rotation reference position.
[0034]
The rotating member 130 is integrally formed in a frame shape by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material. A shaft body 131 having a connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 is formed in a cylindrical shape at the center of the rotating member 130, and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 is fitted with the connecting member shaft 123 of the connecting member 120. When the rotating member 130 is coupled to the connecting member 120, the center of the shaft main body 131 is set as the rotating shaft (the center of the motor shaft 112 is set as the rotating shaft), and the rotating member 130 is integrated with the connecting member 120 (and the motor shaft 112). It is configured to rotate.
[0035]
The connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 is formed in the center portion of the shaft body 131 so that the cross-sectional shape is a D-shape that matches the cross-sectional shape of the connecting member shaft 123 in the connecting member 120, and the connecting member shaft 123 is connected to the connecting member shaft. The connection member shaft 123 and the connection member shaft fitting hole 132 are configured to be fitted by being fitted in the fitting hole 132 in position alignment.
[0036]
Thereby, since the cross-sectional shapes of the connecting member shaft 123 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 of the connecting member 120 are D-shaped, when the connecting member shaft 123 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 are fitted, the rotating member The movement of the connecting member 120 in the rotational direction with respect to the connecting member 120 is restricted.
[0037]
The cross-sectional shapes of the connecting member shaft 123 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 are not limited to the D-shape, and for example, the fitting between the connecting member shaft 123 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 such as a polygon or a spline shape is possible. Any shape that can regulate the movement of the rotation member 130 in the rotation direction with respect to the connection member 120 may be used.
[0038]
A rotating member fitting protrusion 133 that fits with the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 of the connecting member 120 is formed on the peripheral end portion of the shaft main body 131. The rotating member fitting protrusion 133 is formed in a protruding shape having a width comparable to that of the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and protruding in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member 130.
[0039]
Then, when the connecting member shaft 123 is inserted into the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 and the connecting member 120 is pushed into the rotating member 130, the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 comes into contact with the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 and elastically deforms. When the connecting member 120 is further pushed into the rotating member 130 side, the connecting member fitting projection 124 returns to its original shape by the elastic force and is fitted with the rotating member fitting projection 133.
[0040]
Thereby, the connection member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 are fitted to each other, whereby the movement of the rotating member 130 in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the connecting member 120 is regulated. Therefore, the connecting member shaft 123 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 are fitted together, and the connecting member fitting projection 124 and the rotating member fitting projection 133 are fitted, whereby the rotating member 130 is connected to the connecting member 120. The rotation member 130 is coupled to rotate integrally with the connection member 120 (and the motor shaft 112) in a state where movement in the rotation direction and the rotation axis direction is restricted.
[0041]
By doing in this way, the rotation member 130 and the connection member 120 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws. In addition, since no fixing means such as a screw is used, the man-hour required for coupling the rotating member 130 and the connecting member 120 can be reduced. Further, since no fixing means such as a screw is used, the connecting member 120 and the rotating member 130 can be manufactured from a resin material, so that the rotary sorter 100 (rotating device) can be easily mass-produced. .
[0042]
Further, the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 can be elastically deformed to release the fitting between the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133, and the connecting member 120 and the rotating member 130 can be separated. Therefore, parts such as the rotating member 130 can be replaced more easily, and the rotary sorter 100 (rotating device) can be disassembled more easily. Furthermore, by using a connection member provided with such a fitting means, a rotary drive device such as an electric motor can use a general-purpose product regardless of the shape of the rotation member.
[0043]
Further, since the movement of the rotating member 130 with respect to the connecting member 120 in the rotation axis direction is restricted by the fitting of the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133, the connecting member shaft 123 and the connecting member shaft fit. It is not necessary to press-fit and fit the fitting hole 132 to restrict the movement of the rotating member 130 in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the connecting member 120, thereby reducing the dimensional tolerance of the connecting member shaft 123 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132. Can do. That is, it becomes possible to reduce the dimensional tolerance of the molding die used for injection molding of the connection member 120 and the rotation member 130, and the resin connection member 120 and the rotation member 130 can be easily mass-produced.
[0044]
A sorting arm 134 is formed on the other end side periphery of the shaft body 131. The distribution arm 134 includes four first distribution arms 134a, 134a,... And four second distribution arms 134b, 134b,... That are shorter than the first distribution arm 134a. Is configured to rotate about the center of the rotation axis.
[0045]
The first sorting arms 134a, 134a,... Are formed at equal intervals (90-degree intervals) in the rotation direction on the other end side periphery of the shaft body 131, and one of the first sorting arms 134a, 134a,. When located near the lower end of the sorting arm 134, the central ball passage 165 formed in the sorting plate 160 is closed (see also FIG. 3).
[0046]
The second sorting arms 134b, 134b,... Are formed at equal intervals (90-degree intervals) at positions shifted in the rotational direction by 45 degrees from the first sorting arms 134a, 134a,. Is done. The second sorting arm 134b has a shorter arm length than the first sorting arm 134a, and one of the second sorting arms 134b, 134b,... However, none of the spherical passages 165, 166, and 167 formed in the sorting plate 160 is blocked.
[0047]
The decorative member 140 is integrally formed in a shape shown in the figure by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material, and is attached to the other end of the shaft main body 131 by a decorative member mounting screw 141.
[0048]
The reference position detection device 150 includes a mounting substrate 151 on which various electronic components are disposed, and a detection sensor 152 disposed on the mounting substrate 151, and is attached and fixed to the back side of the sorting plate 160. . The detection sensor 152 is a beam sensor including a light emitting unit 152a that emits predetermined detection light and a light receiving unit 152b that detects detection light from the light emitting unit 152a. As shown in FIG. The light shielding circumferential portion 125 of the connection substrate 120 is disposed between the light receiving portion 152b and the light receiving portion 152b.
[0049]
The detection light from the light emitting part 152a is always blocked by the light shielding circumferential part 125, and the notch 126 of the light shielding circumferential part 125 is interposed between the light emitting part 152a and the light receiving part 152b by the rotation of the connecting member 120. When positioned, the detection light passes through the notch 126 and reaches the light receiving unit 152b, and the light receiving unit 152b detects the detection light. In this way, the reference position detection device 150 detects the rotation of the connection member 120, that is, the rotation distributor 100, with the formation position of the notch 126 in the light shielding circumferential portion 125 as the rotation reference position.
[0050]
The distribution plate 160 is integrally formed in the shape shown in the figure by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material, and is attached to the lower center of the center accessory 30. A decorative plate 169 having a predetermined shape is attached to the front side of the sorting plate 160. A through hole 161 is formed in the central portion of the sorting plate 160 so that the shaft main body 131 of the rotating member 130 passes therethrough. Further, an escape hole 161a is formed extending below the through hole 161 so that the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 can pass when the shaft main body 131 is inserted into the through hole 161.
[0051]
Motor mounting bosses 162, 162 are formed with screw holes (not shown) on the rear surface side of the sorting plate 160, and motor mounting portions 113, 113 in the electric motor 110 are formed on the motor mounting bosses 162, 162. , The motor mounting screw (not shown) is passed through the mounting hole 113a of the motor mounting portion 113 and fixed to the screw hole of the motor mounting boss 162, so that the electric motor 110 is attached to the rear surface side of the distribution plate 160. It is designed to be attached and fixed to.
[0052]
A plurality of guide ribs 162 a, 162 a,... Are formed on the peripheral portion of the motor mounting boss 162 to improve the strength of the motor mounting boss 162, and the tip of the guide rib 162 a matches the shape of the motor mounting portion 113. The electric motor 110 is easily attached to the motor mounting boss 162.
[0053]
An upper plate attachment portion 163 is formed on the upper front side of the distribution plate 160. The upper plate attachment portion 163 includes an attachment hole 163a through which a distribution plate attachment screw (not shown) passes, and an attachment guide portion 163b for adjusting the distribution plate 160 to a predetermined attachment position of the center accessory 30. 160 is aligned with a predetermined mounting position of the center accessory 30, and the distribution plate mounting screw is passed through the mounting hole 163a and fixed to the screw hole (not shown) of the center accessory 30, so that the distribution plate 160 is centered. It is attached and fixed to the object 30.
[0054]
On the lower front side of the distribution plate 160, a lower plate attachment portion 164 is formed with an attachment hole 164a. Like the upper plate attachment portion 163, the distribution plate 160 is placed at a predetermined attachment position of the center accessory 30. In addition, the distribution plate 160 is attached and fixed to the center accessory 30 by passing a distribution plate attachment screw (not shown) through the attachment hole 164a and fixing it to the screw hole (not shown) of the center accessory 30. It has become so.
[0055]
In addition, a central sphere passage 165, a left sphere passage 166 located on the left side of the central sphere passage 165, and a right sphere passage 167 located on the right side of the central sphere passage 165 are formed below the sorting plate 160. The game ball reaching the lower center of the center accessory 30 flows down any one of these ball passages 165, 166, and 167.
[0056]
The central ball passage 165 is formed at the lower center of the sorting plate 160, and the game ball flowing down to the central ball passage 165 is guided to the sorting device 28. The left sphere passage 166 is formed adjacent to the left side of the central sphere passage 165, and the game ball flowing down to the left sphere passage 166 is guided to the back side of the game board 20. The right sphere passage 167 is formed adjacent to the right side of the central sphere passage 165, and the game ball that has flowed down to the right sphere passage 167 is guided to the back side of the game board 20 in the same manner as the left sphere passage 166. It has come to be.
[0057]
In the rotary sorter 100 configured as described above, first, the decoration member 140 is attached and fixed to the rotation member 130 using the decoration member attachment screw 141. Next, one end side of the motor shaft 112 and the motor shaft fitting hole 122 of the connecting member 120 are fitted, and the connecting member 120 is coupled to rotate integrally with the motor shaft 112.
[0058]
Subsequently, after passing the shaft main body of the rotating member 130 through the through hole 161 of the sorting plate 160, the connecting member shaft 123 of the connecting member 120 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 132 of the rotating member 130 are fitted, By fitting the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 of the connecting member 120 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 of the rotating member 130, the movement of the rotating member 130 in the rotation direction and the rotation axis direction with respect to the connecting member 120 is restricted, As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rotating member 130 is coupled to rotate integrally with the connecting member 120 and the motor shaft 112. Thereby, the rotation member 130 and the connection member 120 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws.
[0059]
Next, the motor mounting portions 113 and 113 of the electric motor 110 are fixed to the motor mounting bosses 162 and 162 of the distribution plate 160 with screws, and the electric motor 110 in which the connecting member 120 and the rotating member 130 are connected to the motor shaft 112 is distributed. Attached to the back side of 160. Subsequently, the reference position detection device 150 is attached to the rear surface side of the sorting plate 160 so that the light shielding circumferential portion 125 of the connection substrate 120 is positioned between the light emitting unit 152a and the light receiving unit 152b of the detection sensor 152.
[0060]
Then, the upper plate attachment portion 163 and the lower plate attachment portion 164 of the distribution plate 160 are fixed to the center accessory 30 with screws, and the distribution plate 160 is attached to the center accessory 30. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotary sorter 100 is attached to the lower center of the center accessory 30.
[0061]
Furthermore, electric power is supplied to the electric motor 110 to operate the electric motor 110 and rotate the motor shaft 112. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotating member 130 coupled to the connecting member 120 (and the motor shaft 112) rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the front side of the pachinko machine PM, and the pachinko game is performed in this state. .
[0062]
Then, the game balls that have flowed down the ball lowering passage 33 of the center accessory 30 and reached the lower center of the center accessory 30 are centered on the sorting plate 160 by a guide plate (not shown) formed in the ball lowering passage 33. Guided to the entrance of the ball passage 165. At this time, when one of the first sorting arms 134a, 134a,... Of the rotating member 130 is located near the lower end of the sorting arm 134 and closes the central ball passage 165, the game ball comes into contact with the first sorting arm 134a. Then, it flows down to one of the left sphere passage 166 and the right sphere passage 167 of the sorting plate 160 and moves toward the back side of the game board 20.
[0063]
On the other hand, one of the first sorting arms 134a, 134a,... Is not located near the lower end of the sorting arm 134, and one of the second sorting arms 134b, 134b,. When doing so, the game balls flow down to the central ball passage 165 as they are and go to the sorting device 28. In this manner, the game balls are distributed to the plurality of ball paths 165, 166, and 167 by the rotary distributor 100.
[0064]
At this time, the reference position detection device 150 detects the rotation of the connection member 120, that is, the rotation distributor 100, with the formation position of the notch 126 in the light shielding circumferential portion 125 of the connection member 120 as the rotation reference position.
[0065]
For this reason, according to the rotation sorter 100 (rotating device) having the above-described configuration, the rotation member fitting protrusion 133 formed on the rotation member 130 and the connection member fitting protrusion 124 formed on the connection member 120. Since the movement of the rotating member 130 in the direction of the rotation axis with respect to the connecting member 120 can be restricted by the fitting, the rotating member 130 and the connecting member 120 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws. it can.
[0066]
In the present embodiment, the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 of the connecting member 120 is formed to have the same width as the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 of the rotating member 130. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 6, the width of the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 may be smaller than the width of the rotating member fitting protrusion 133, and the width of the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 may be made smaller than that of the rotating member fitting protrusion 133. It may be larger than the width. In this way, the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 can be more easily fitted regardless of the positional accuracy of the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133. .
[0067]
Further, in the present embodiment, the connection member fitting protrusion 124 of the connection member 120 is formed to be elastically deformable. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connection member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotation member 130 of the rotation member 130 are fitted. Both joint protrusions 133 may be formed to be elastically deformable. In this way, both the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 are elastically deformed when the connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 are fitted, so that it is easier. The connecting member fitting protrusion 124 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 133 can be fitted.
[0068]
Further, in the present embodiment, the light shielding circumferential portion 125 having the notch 126 is formed in the connection member 120, and the rotation of the connection member 120 is detected by the reference position detection device 150 with the formation position of the notch 126 as the rotation reference position. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the connection member may be formed with a light-shielding projection that blocks the detection light of the detection sensor, and the rotation of the connection member may be detected using the formation position of the light-shielding projection as the rotation reference position. Good.
[0069]
[Second Embodiment]
Next, a rotating body 200 that is a second rotating device of the ball game machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the rotating body 200, FIG. 9 is a rear view of the rotating member 230 included in the rotating body 200, and FIG. 10 is a plan view (partial sectional view) of the rotating member 230.
[0070]
As shown in FIG. 8, the rotating body 200 is attached to the game board 20 together with the electric motor 210 that rotates by predetermined power, the rotating member 230 connected to the electric motor 210, and the electric motor 210 and the rotating member 230. And a base body 240.
[0071]
The electric motor 210 is mainly composed of a motor main body 211 that is rotated by predetermined electric power and a motor shaft 212 that is driven by the motor main body 211 to rotate. Motor attachment portions 213 and 213 are provided on the one end side peripheral portion of the motor main body 211 with attachment holes 213a and 213a, and are attached and fixed to the base body 230. The motor shaft 212 is formed in a rod shape having a D-shaped cross section on one end side using a metal material, and is arranged on the motor main body 211 with one end side having a D-shaped cross section protruding from one end of the motor main body 211. Established.
[0072]
The rotating member 230 is integrally formed in a frame shape by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material. In the periphery of the rotating member 230, a ball receiving portion 231 having an opening on the periphery and the back side of the rotating member 230 is provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the game that has passed through the winning ball stop 241 of the base body 240 is provided. The ball is received and received inside, and the received game ball is rotated together with the rotating member 230. When the ball receiving portion 231 reaches the winning ball guiding port 243 of the base body 240 by the rotation of the rotating member 230, the received game ball is received. Is discharged and passed through the winning ball guiding port 243.
[0073]
A ball receiving rib 232 is formed on the bottom of the ball receiving portion 231. The ball receiving portion 231 receives the game ball that has passed through the winning ball stop 241 of the base body 240 and reached the inside of the ball receiving portion 231. The game balls received inside the game are easily discharged to the winning ball guiding port 243 of the base body 240.
[0074]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, a motor shaft fitting portion 233 having a motor shaft fitting hole 234 is formed in a cylindrical shape in the central portion on the back surface side of the rotating member 230, and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 is formed. Is fitted to one end of the motor shaft 212 and the rotating member 230 is coupled to the motor shaft 212, the center of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 is set as the rotation axis (the center of the motor shaft 212 is set as the rotation axis). The member 230 is configured to rotate integrally with the motor shaft 212.
[0075]
The motor shaft fitting hole 234 has a conical shape with a diameter that decreases from the distal end side to the proximal end side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233, and the cross-sectional shape matches the cross-sectional shape on one end side of the motor shaft 212. The motor shaft 212 is formed so as to have a letter shape, and the one end side of the motor shaft 212 is press-fitted with the motor shaft fitting hole 234 being aligned, so that the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 are fitted. It is configured. Note that the cross-sectional area of the motor shaft fitting hole 234 is approximately the same as the cross-sectional area of one end side of the motor shaft 212 at the distal end side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233, and goes toward the base end side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233. As a result, the cross-sectional area of one end side of the motor shaft 212 becomes smaller. That is, the motor shaft fitting hole 234 has a gradient 234 a that is inclined toward the center of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 as it goes toward the base end side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233.
[0076]
Thereby, the cross-sectional shape of the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 is D-shaped, and further, as the cross-sectional area of the motor shaft fitting hole 234 moves toward the base end side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233. Since the cross-sectional area of the motor shaft 212 is smaller than that of the motor shaft 212, when the motor shaft 212 is fitted to the motor shaft fitting hole 234, the movement of the rotating member 230 with respect to the motor shaft 212 is restricted. In addition, the movement of the rotating member 230 in the direction of the rotating shaft relative to the motor shaft 212 is restricted by the press-fitting of the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234. The shaft 212 is connected to rotate integrally.
[0077]
Therefore, the rotating member 230 and the motor shaft 212 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws. In addition, since no fixing means such as a screw is used, the number of steps required to connect the rotating member 230 and the motor shaft 212 can be reduced. Furthermore, since fixing means such as screws are not used, the rotating member 230 can be manufactured from a resin material, and the rotating body 200 (rotating device) can be mass-produced more easily.
[0078]
In addition, since the rotating member 230 and the motor shaft 212 can be easily separated, the parts of the rotating member 230 can be easily replaced, and the rotating body 200 (rotating device) can be easily disassembled. Can be done.
[0079]
The cross-sectional shape of one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 is not limited to the D-shape, but, for example, one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 such as a polygon or a spline shape. Any shape that can regulate the movement of the rotating member 230 relative to the motor shaft 212 in the rotational direction by the fitting.
[0080]
Slits 235 and 235 are formed at two locations around the motor shaft fitting portion 233. As shown in FIG. 9, the slits 235 and 235 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 (motor shaft 212), and each of the rotation shafts of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 (motor shaft 212). It is formed extending in the direction.
[0081]
As a result, the motor shaft fitting portion 233 is easily elastically deformed, and at the time of press-fitting between the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234, the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 Since the motor shaft fitting portion 233 elastically deforms outward depending on the shape, the dimensional tolerance of the motor shaft fitting hole 234 can be relaxed. That is, it becomes possible to relax the dimensional tolerance of the molding die used for the injection molding of the rotating member 230, and the mass production of the resin rotating member 230 can be performed more easily.
[0082]
Further, since the slits 235 and 235 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 (motor shaft 212), the motor shaft fitting portion 233 is evenly divided. The force acting on the motor shaft fitting portion 233 at the time of press-fitting between the side and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 can be made uniform.
[0083]
Strengthening ribs 236 and 236 are formed on the side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 on the back surface side of the rotating member 230. The reinforcing ribs 236 and 236 are formed so as to be connected to the peripheral portion of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 and are configured to prevent the motor shaft fitting portion 233 from being deformed outward. Thereby, fatigue and cracking due to repeated deformation of the motor shaft fitting portion 233 can be prevented.
[0084]
The base body 240 is integrally formed in the shape shown in the figure by molding means such as injection molding using a resin material. A winning ball stop 241 having substantially the same width as the game ball is formed in the upper part of the base body 240. When the game ball falls into the win ball stop 241, the ball receiving portion 231 of the rotating member 230 is When the game ball is not located directly below the winning ball stop 241, the game ball contacts the peripheral portion of the rotating member 230 and is supported by the rotating member 230 and stops at the winning ball stopping port 241, and the ball receiving portion 231 rotates. When the game ball is positioned directly below the winning ball stop 241, the game ball passes through the winning ball stop 241 and flows down to the ball receiving portion 231 (see also FIG. 3).
[0085]
On the right side of the base body 240, a winning ball passage 242 is formed having a winning ball guiding port 243 and a winning ball discharge port (not shown). As shown in FIG. 3, the winning ball guiding port 243 is formed on the right front surface of the base body 240, and the game ball received in the ball receiving portion 231 of the rotating member 230 is discharged by its own weight and the winning ball guiding port 243 is formed. Is supposed to pass through.
[0086]
The winning ball passage 242 is formed so that one end is connected to the winning ball guide port 243 and straddles the front side and the back side of the game board 20, and the game ball that has passed through the winning ball guide port 243 flows down the winning ball passage 242. Then, it reaches the back side of the game board 20 (the other end of the winning ball passage 242).
[0087]
A winning ball discharge port (not shown) is opened vertically downward at the other end of the winning ball passage 242, and the game ball that has reached the other end of the winning ball passage 242 passes through the winning ball discharge port to play the game board. 20 is discharged to the back surface side. A winning ball detection sensor 244 is provided below the winning ball discharge port (not shown) so as to detect the game ball discharged through the winning ball discharge port to the back side of the game board 20. It has become.
[0088]
A motor mounting boss 245 is formed with a screw hole (not shown) on the back surface side of the base body 240, and the motor mounting 213 in the electric motor 210 is aligned with the motor mounting boss 245 so that the motor By passing a mounting screw (not shown) through the mounting hole 213a of the motor mounting portion 213 and screwing it into the screw hole of the motor mounting boss 245, the electric motor 210 is mounted and fixed on the back side of the base body 240. It has become.
[0089]
Base mounting holes 246 and 246 are formed on the left and right sides of the base body 240. The base body 240 is aligned with a predetermined mounting position of the game board 20, and a base body mounting screw (not shown) is passed through the base mounting hole 246. The base body 240 is fixedly attached to the right side of the game board 20 by screwing it into a screw hole (not shown) of the game board 20.
[0090]
In the rotating body 200 configured as described above, after the motor shaft 212 is passed through a through hole (not shown) formed in the base body 240, one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 are connected. By fitting, the rotation member 230 is connected to the rotation direction of the motor shaft 212 and the movement of the rotation member 230 in the rotation axis direction so that the rotation member 230 rotates together with the motor shaft 212. Thereby, the rotation member 230 and the motor shaft 212 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws.
[0091]
Next, the motor mounting portion 213 of the electric motor 210 is screwed to the motor mounting boss 245 of the base body 240, and the electric motor 210 in which the rotating member 230 is connected to the motor shaft 212 is mounted on the back side of the base body 240. Then, by fixing the base body 240 to the game board 20 using the base mounting holes 246 and 246 of the base body 240, the rotating body 200 is attached to the right side of the game board 20 as shown in FIG.
[0092]
Further, electric power is supplied to the electric motor 210 to operate the electric motor 210 and rotate the motor shaft 212. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotating member 230 connected to the motor shaft 212 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the front side of the pachinko machine PM, and a pachinko game is played in this state.
[0093]
When the game ball falls into the winning ball stop 241 of the base body 240, the game ball is placed on the peripheral portion of the rotating member 230 when the ball receiving portion 231 of the rotating member 230 is not located directly below the winning ball stop 241. When the ball receiving portion 231 rotates and is positioned immediately below the winning ball stopping port 241, the game ball enters the winning ball stopping port 241 when the ball receiving portion 231 rotates and is positioned immediately below the winning ball stopping port 241, while being supported by the rotating member 230. Pass through and flow down to the ball receiver 231.
[0094]
The game ball that has flowed down to the ball receiving portion 231 rotates together with the rotating member 230 while being received in the ball receiving portion 231, and the ball receiving portion 231 reaches the winning ball guiding port 243 of the base body 240 by the rotation of the rotating member 230. Then, the game ball received by the ball receiving portion 231 is discharged from the ball receiving portion 231 by its own weight and passes through the winning ball guiding port 243. The game balls that have passed through the winning ball guiding port 243 flow down the winning ball passage 242 connected to the winning ball guiding port 243 and are discharged from the winning ball discharge port to the back side of the game board 20. That is, the game ball that has flowed down to the rotating body 200 is held for a certain time by the ball receiving portion 231 of the rotating member 230 and then discharged to the back side of the game board 20.
[0095]
Therefore, according to the rotating body 200 (rotating device) having the above-described configuration, the motor shaft fitting portion 233 formed with the slit 235 and the conical motor shaft fitting hole 234 in the rotating member 230, and Since the movement of the rotating member 230 relative to the motor shaft in the direction of the rotating shaft can be restricted by fitting with the motor shaft 212, the rotating member 230 and the motor shaft 212 are simply connected without using fixing means such as screws. Can be fixed.
[0096]
The motor shaft fitting hole 234 of the rotating member 230 has a conical shape whose diameter decreases from the front end side to the base end side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233, and the cross-sectional area of the motor shaft fitting hole 234 is the same. Since it is formed so as to become smaller than the cross-sectional area of one end side of the motor shaft 212 as it goes toward the base end side of the motor shaft fitting portion 233, the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 are press-fitted. Accordingly, it has a function of restricting the movement of the rotating member 230 in the rotational direction relative to the motor shaft 212. Therefore, the cross-sectional shape of one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 may be circular. In this way, the rotating member 230 provided with the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole 234 can be manufactured more easily.
[0097]
[Third Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the rotating body will be described with reference to FIG. Here, FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of the rotating body 300 in the second embodiment. The electric motor and base body configured in the rotating body 300 of the present embodiment have the same device configuration as the electric motor 210 and base body 240 configured in the rotating body 200 of the first embodiment described above. The same number is attached to the same part, and the duplicate description is omitted.
[0098]
As shown in FIG. 11, the rotator 300 includes an electric motor 210 that rotates by predetermined power, a connection member 320 connected to the electric motor 210, a rotation member 330 connected to the connection member 320, and an electric motor. 210, the connection member 320, and the rotation member 330, and the base body 240 attached to the game board 20 as a main component.
[0099]
The connecting member 320 is integrally formed in a frame shape by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material. A motor shaft fitting portion (not shown) having a motor shaft fitting hole (not shown) is formed in a cylindrical shape in the central portion on the back surface side of the connecting member 320, similarly to the connecting member 120 of the rotary distributor 100. When the motor shaft fitting hole is fitted to one end of the motor shaft 212 and the connecting member 320 is coupled to the motor shaft 212, the center of the motor shaft fitting portion is used as the rotation shaft (of the motor shaft 212). The connecting member 320 is configured to rotate integrally with the motor shaft 212 with the center as the rotation shaft.
[0100]
The motor shaft fitting hole is formed in the central portion of the motor shaft fitting portion so that the cross-sectional shape is a D-shape aligned with the cross-sectional shape on one end side of the motor shaft 212, similarly to the connection member 120 of the rotary distributor 100. The motor shaft 212 is configured such that the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole are fitted by press-fitting one end side of the motor shaft 212 with the motor shaft fitting hole.
[0101]
Thereby, since the cross-sectional shape of the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole is D-shaped, when the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole are fitted, the motor shaft of the connecting member 320 The movement in the rotational direction relative to the motor shaft 212 is restricted, and the movement of the connecting member 320 in the rotational axis direction relative to the motor shaft 212 is restricted by press-fitting between one end of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole. Thus, the connection member 320 is coupled so as to rotate integrally with the motor shaft 212. Therefore, the connecting member 320 and the motor shaft 212 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws.
[0102]
As with the connection member 120 of the rotary distributor 100, the cross-sectional shape of the one end side of the motor shaft 212 and the motor shaft fitting hole is not limited to the D-shape, and for example, the motor shaft 212 such as a polygon or a spline shape. Any shape that can regulate the movement of the connecting member 320 in the rotational direction relative to the motor shaft 212 by fitting the one end side of the motor to the motor shaft fitting hole may be used.
[0103]
A connection member shaft 323 is formed in a bar shape having a D-shaped cross section at the center of the front side of the connection member 320, and is configured to be fitted to the connection member shaft fitting hole 334 of the rotating member 330. ing. Note that, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 11, slit fitting ribs 323 a that fit into the slits 335 of the rotating member 330 may be formed at two places on the peripheral portion of the connecting member shaft 323. In this way, when the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole 334 are fitted, the movement of the rotating member 330 in the rotational direction relative to the connecting member 320 can be more reliably regulated.
[0104]
Further, on the front side of the connection member 320, a connection member fitting protrusion 324 that fits with the rotating member fitting protrusion 337 of the rotating member 330 is formed. The connection member fitting protrusion 324 is formed in a protrusion shape protruding in the rotation axis direction of the connection member 320 and can be elastically deformed.
[0105]
A light shielding protrusion 325 is formed in a protruding shape on the rear surface side of the peripheral portion of the connection member 320, and a detection sensor (not shown) configured in a reference position detection device (not shown) that detects the rotation of the connection member 320. )) Is blocked. The reference position detection device detects the rotation of the connection member 320, that is, the rotating body 300, with the formation position of the light shielding protrusion 325 in the connection member 320 as the rotation reference position.
[0106]
The rotating member 330 is integrally formed in a frame shape by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material. A ball receiving portion 331 having an opening on the peripheral portion and the back surface side of the rotating member 330 is provided on the peripheral portion of the rotating member 330. Like the rotating body 200 of the first embodiment, the winning ball stopping port of the base body 240 is provided. The game ball that has passed through 241 is received and received inside, and the received game ball is rotated together with the rotating member 330, and when the ball receiving portion 331 reaches the winning ball guiding port 243 of the base body 240 by the rotation of the rotating member 330. The received game balls are discharged and passed through the winning ball guide port 243.
[0107]
A ball receiving rib (not shown) is formed at the bottom of the ball receiving portion 331, and receives the game ball that has passed through the winning ball stop 241 of the base body 240 and reached the inside of the ball receiving portion 331, The game ball received in the ball receiving portion 331 is easily discharged to the winning ball guiding port 243 of the base body 240.
[0108]
As shown in FIG. 11, a connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 having a connecting member shaft fitting hole (not shown) is formed in a cylindrical shape at the center of the rear surface side of the rotating member 330. When the fitting hole is fitted to the connecting member shaft 323 and the rotating member 330 is coupled to the connecting member 320, the center of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 is used as the rotating shaft (the center of the motor shaft 212 is used as the rotating shaft). The rotation member 330 is configured to rotate integrally with the connection member 320.
[0109]
The connecting member shaft fitting hole (not shown) has a conical shape whose diameter decreases from the distal end side to the proximal end side of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333, as in the rotating body 200 of the first embodiment. Thus, the cross-sectional shape is formed in a D shape that matches the cross-sectional shape of the connecting member shaft 323, and the connecting member shaft 323 is press-fitted with the connecting member shaft fitting hole aligned with the connecting member shaft 323. The connecting member shaft fitting hole is configured to be fitted. Note that the cross-sectional area of the connection member shaft fitting hole is approximately the same as the cross-sectional area of the connection member shaft 323 on the distal end side of the connection member shaft fitting portion 333, and goes toward the base end side of the connection member shaft fitting portion 333. Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the connecting member shaft 323 becomes smaller. That is, the motor shaft fitting hole has a gradient that inclines toward the center of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 toward the proximal end side of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333.
[0110]
Thereby, the cross-sectional shape of the connection member shaft 323 and the connection member shaft fitting hole is D-shaped, and further, the connection member shaft 323 is connected as the cross-sectional area of the connection member shaft fitting hole moves toward the proximal end side of the connection member shaft fitting portion 333. Since the cross-sectional area of the member shaft 323 is smaller, when the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole are fitted, the movement of the rotating member 330 in the rotational direction with respect to the connecting member 320 is restricted, and the connecting member Due to the press-fitting of the shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole, the movement of the rotating member 330 relative to the connecting member 320 in the rotating shaft direction is restricted.
[0111]
Note that the cross-sectional shapes of the connection member shaft 323 and the connection member shaft fitting hole are not limited to the D shape, but, for example, a polygonal shape, a spline shape, or the like is obtained by fitting the connection member shaft 323 and the connection member shaft fitting hole. Any shape that can regulate the movement of the rotation member 230 in the rotation direction relative to the connection member 320 may be used.
[0112]
Slits 335 and 335 are formed at two locations around the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333. The slits 335 and 335 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 (motor shaft 212), similarly to the rotating body 200 of the first embodiment, and are respectively connected to the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 ( It is formed extending in the direction of the rotation axis of the motor shaft 212).
[0113]
As a result, the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 is easily elastically deformed, and when the one end side of the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole are press-fitted and fitted, the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole Since the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 is elastically deformed outward depending on the shape, the dimensional tolerance of the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole can be relaxed. That is, it becomes possible to relax the dimensional tolerance of the molding die used for injection molding of the connection member 320 and the rotation member 330, and the mass production of the resin connection member 320 and the rotation member 330 can be performed more easily.
[0114]
Further, since the slits 335 and 335 are positioned symmetrically with respect to the rotation axis of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 (motor shaft 212), the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 is evenly divided. The force acting on the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 at the time of press fitting between the H.323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole can be equalized.
[0115]
Reinforcing ribs 336 and 336 are formed on the side of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 on the back surface side of the rotating member 330. The reinforcing ribs 336 and 336 are formed so as to be connected to the peripheral portion of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333, and are configured to prevent the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 from being deformed outward. Thereby, fatigue and cracking due to repeated deformation of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 can be prevented.
[0116]
A rotating member fitting protrusion 337 that fits with the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 of the connecting member 320 is formed on the peripheral portion of one reinforcing rib 336. The rotating member fitting protrusion 337 is formed in a protruding shape having a width comparable to that of the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 and protruding in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating member 330.
[0117]
When the connecting member shaft 323 is inserted into a connecting member shaft fitting hole (not shown) and the connecting member 320 is pushed into the rotating member 330, the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 comes into contact with the rotating member fitting protrusion 337. When the connecting member 320 is further pushed into the rotating member 330 side, the connecting member fitting projection 324 returns to its original shape by the elastic force and is fitted with the rotating member fitting projection 337.
[0118]
Thereby, the connection member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337 are fitted to each other, whereby the movement of the rotating member 330 relative to the connecting member 320 in the rotation axis direction is further restricted. Therefore, the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole (not shown) are fitted, and the connecting member fitting projection 324 and the rotating member fitting projection 337 are fitted to each other. The rotating member 330 is coupled to rotate integrally with the connecting member 320 (and the motor shaft 212) in a state where movement in the rotating direction and the rotating shaft direction with respect to the connecting member 320 is restricted.
[0119]
By doing in this way, the rotation member 330 and the connection member 320 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws. In addition, since no fixing means such as a screw is used, the number of steps required to connect the rotating member 330 and the connecting member 320 can be reduced. Furthermore, since no fixing means such as screws are used, the connecting member 320 and the rotating member 330 can be manufactured from a resin material, so that the rotating body 300 (rotating device) can be easily mass-produced.
[0120]
Further, the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 can be elastically deformed to release the fitting between the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337, and the connecting member 320 and the rotating member 330 can be separated. Therefore, parts such as the rotating member 330 can be replaced more easily, and the rotating body 300 (rotating device) can be disassembled more easily. Furthermore, by using a connection member provided with such a fitting means, a rotary drive device such as an electric motor can use a general-purpose product regardless of the shape of the rotation member.
[0121]
Further, since the movement of the rotating member 330 in the direction of the rotation axis relative to the connecting member 320 is restricted by the fitting of the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337, the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fit. The dimensional tolerance of the joint hole (not shown) can be further reduced, and the resin connection member 320 and the rotation member 330 can be more easily mass-produced.
[0122]
In the rotating body 300 configured as described above, the connecting member shaft 323 and the connecting member shaft fitting hole (not shown) are fitted, and the connecting member fitting projection 324 and the rotating member fitting projection 337 are fitted. By combining, the movement of the rotation member 330 in the rotation direction and the rotation axis direction with respect to the connection member 320 is restricted, and the rotation member 330 is coupled to rotate integrally with the connection member 320. Thereby, the rotation member 330 and the connection member 320 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws.
[0123]
Next, the motor mounting portion 213 of the electric motor 210 is screwed to the motor mounting boss 245 of the base body 240, and the electric motor 210 in which the rotating member 330 and the connecting member 320 are connected to the motor shaft 212 is connected to the back side of the base body 240. Attach to. Then, by fixing the base body 240 to the game board 20 using the base mounting holes 246 and 246 of the base body 240, the rotary body 300 is placed on the right side of the game board 20 in the same manner as the rotary body 200 of the first embodiment. It is attached to the direction.
[0124]
Further, electric power is supplied to the electric motor 210 to operate the electric motor 210 and rotate the motor shaft 212. Then, like the rotating body 200 of the first embodiment, the rotating member 330 coupled to the connecting member 320 and the motor shaft 212 rotates counterclockwise when viewed from the front side of the pachinko machine PM, and in this state, the pachinko game Is done.
[0125]
When the game ball falls into the winning ball stop 241 of the base body 240, the game ball is placed on the periphery of the rotating member 330 when the ball receiving portion 331 of the rotating member 330 is not located directly below the winning ball stop 241. When the ball receiving portion 331 rotates and is positioned directly below the winning ball stopping port 241, the game ball enters the winning ball stopping port 241 when the ball receiving portion 331 rotates and is positioned immediately below the winning ball stopping port 241, while being supported by the rotating member 330. Pass through and flow down to the ball receiver 331.
[0126]
The game ball that has flowed down to the ball receiving portion 331 rotates together with the rotating member 330 while being received in the ball receiving portion 331, and the rotation of the rotating member 330 causes the ball receiving portion 331 to reach the winning ball guiding port 243 of the base body 240. Then, the game ball received by the ball receiving portion 331 is discharged from the ball receiving portion 331 by its own weight and passes through the winning ball guiding port 243. The game balls that have passed through the winning ball guiding port 243 flow down the winning ball passage 242 connected to the winning ball guiding port 243 and are discharged from the winning ball discharge port to the back side of the game board 20. That is, the game ball that has flowed down to the rotating body 300 is held for a certain time by the ball receiving portion 331 of the rotating member 330 and then discharged to the back side of the game board 20.
[0127]
At this time, the reference member detection device (not shown) detects the rotation of the connecting member 320, that is, the rotating body 300 using the formation position of the light shielding protrusion 325 in the connecting member 320 as the reference rotation position.
[0128]
Therefore, according to the rotating body 300 (rotating device) having the above-described configuration, the rotation member fitting protrusion 337 formed on the rotating member 330 and the connection member fitting protrusion 324 formed on the connection member 320 are fitted. In addition, the connection of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333 formed on the rotating member 330 and the connecting member shaft 323 formed on the connecting member 320 allows the rotating member 330 to move relative to the connecting member 320 in the direction of the rotating shaft. Since it can regulate, the rotation member 330 and the connection member 320 can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws.
[0129]
The connecting member shaft fitting hole (not shown) of the rotating member 330 has a conical shape whose diameter decreases from the distal end side to the proximal end side of the connecting member shaft fitting portion 333, and the connecting member shaft fitting portion Since the cross-sectional area of the joint hole is formed to become smaller than the cross-sectional area of the connection member shaft 323 toward the proximal end side of the connection member shaft fitting portion 333, the connection member shaft 323 of the connection member 320 and the connection member shaft It also has a function of restricting movement of the rotating member 330 relative to the connecting member 320 in the rotational direction by press-fitting with the fitting hole. Therefore, the cross-sectional shapes of the connection member shaft 323 and the connection member shaft fitting hole may be circular. In this way, the connection member 320 and the rotation member 330 can be manufactured more easily.
[0130]
In the present embodiment, the connection member fitting protrusion 324 of the connection member 320 is formed to have the same width as the rotation member fitting protrusion 337 of the rotating member 330, but is not limited to this. The width of the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 may be smaller than the width of the rotating member fitting protrusion 337, and the width of the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 may be larger than the width of the rotating member fitting protrusion 337. . In this way, the connection member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337 can be more easily fitted regardless of the positional accuracy of the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337. .
[0131]
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the connection member fitting protrusion 324 of the connection member 320 is formed to be elastically deformable, but is not limited to this, and the connection member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotation member fitting of the rotation member 330 are fitted. Both joint protrusions 337 may be formed to be elastically deformable. In this way, both the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337 are elastically deformed when the connecting member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337 are fitted, so that it is easier. The connecting member fitting protrusion 324 and the rotating member fitting protrusion 337 can be fitted.
[0132]
Further, in the present embodiment, the connection member 320 is formed with the light shielding protrusion 325 that blocks the detection light of the detection sensor, and the connection member by the reference position detection device is set with the formation position of the light shielding protrusion 325 in the connection member 320 as the rotation reference position. Although the rotation detection of 320 is performed, the present invention is not limited to this. The light shielding circumferential portion having a cut is formed in the connection member, and the connection position of the connection member by the reference position detection device is set with the cut formation position as the rotation reference position. You may make it perform rotation detection.
[0133]
Furthermore, in each of the embodiments described above, the motor shaft is driven to rotate by the electric motor as a rotational drive shaft. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the rotational drive shaft or the The connection member may be driven to rotate.
[0134]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the rotating device for a ball game machine according to the present invention, in addition to the fitting between the connecting member shaft fitting portion formed on the rotating member and the connecting member shaft formed on the connecting member , the rotation Due to the configuration in which the rotation of the rotating member relative to the connecting member in the rotational direction and the rotational axis direction is regulated by the fitting of the rotating member fitting protrusion formed on the member and the connecting member fitting protrusion formed on the connecting member. The rotating member and the connecting member can be simply connected and fixed without using fixing means such as screws. According to the configuration in which the connecting member fitting protrusion is formed in a protruding shape that is located on the radially outer side of the connecting member shaft and extends forward and backward, the connecting member fitting protrusion is elastically deformable. By deforming, parts such as a rotating member can be easily replaced. Further, according to the configuration in which the slit fitting rib that fits with the slit on the rotating member side is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting member shaft, the movement of the rotating member in the rotating direction with respect to the connecting member is more reliably regulated. be able to. Furthermore, according to the configuration in which the rotating member is connected to the connecting member shaft fitting portion and the reinforcing rib extending in the circumferential direction is formed, fatigue and cracking due to repeated deformation of the connecting member shaft fitting portion can be prevented. it can.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine shown as an example of a ball game machine equipped with a rotating device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the back side of the pachinko machine.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view showing an opening / closing type winning device configured in the pachinko machine and the vicinity of a mounting portion of a center accessory.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a rotary sorter which is a first rotating device according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an exploded side view (partial cross-sectional view) of the rotary sorter.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of a rotary sorter.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a rotary sorter.
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a rotating body which is a second rotating device according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a rear view of a rotating member configured in a rotating body.
FIG. 10 is a plan view (partial sectional view) of a rotating member.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing a second embodiment of the rotating body.
[Explanation of symbols]
BSP Back set board PA Game area PM Pachinko machine 1 Outer frame 2 Front frames 3a and 3b Hinge member 4 Locking device 5 Glass door 6 Upper ball tray 7 Lower ball tray 8 Operation handle 9 Hitting ball launcher 17 Engaging lever 18 Hinge 19 Closed Lever 20 Game board 21 Decorative plate 22 Guide rail (22a outer rail, 22b inner rail)
23 Windmill 24 General prize opening 25 Opening / closing type prize winning device 26 Large prize winning port 27 Passing port 28 Sorting device 29 Out port 30 Center accessory 31 Display device 32 Ball inlet 33 Ball flow down passage 40 Base frame 41 Window 50 Ball storage and supply mechanism 60 Prize ball payout mechanism 63 Prize ball payout device 70 Prize ball payout route 91 Main board 92 Ball payout board 93 Lamp / voice control board 94 Power supply board 95 Relay board 96 Terminal board 100 Rotation distributor 110 Electric motor 111 Motor body 112 Motor shaft 113 Motor mounting part (113a mounting hole)
120 connecting member 121 motor shaft fitting portion 122 motor shaft fitting hole 123 connecting member shaft 124 connecting member fitting protrusion 125 light shielding circumferential portion 126 notch 130 rotating member 131 shaft body 132 connecting member shaft fitting hole 133 rotating member fitting Projection 134 Sorting arm (134a first sorting arm, 134b second sorting arm)
140 Decorative Member 141 Decorative Member Mounting Screw 150 Reference Position Detection Device 151 Mounting Board 152 Detection Sensor (152a Light Emitting Unit, 152b Light Receiving Unit)
160 Sorting plate 161 Through hole (161a escape hole)
162 Motor mounting boss (162a guide rib)
163 Upper plate mounting part (163a mounting hole, 163b mounting guide part)
164 Lower plate mounting part (164a mounting hole)
165 Central sphere passage 166 Left sphere passage 167 Right sphere passage 169 Decorative plate 200 Rotating body 210 Electric motor 211 Motor body 212 Motor shaft 213 Motor attachment portion (213a attachment hole)
230 Rotating member 231 Sphere receiving portion 232 Sphere receiving rib 233 Motor shaft fitting portion 234 Motor shaft fitting hole (234a gradient)
235 Slit 236 Reinforcement rib 240 Base body 241 Winning ball stop 242 Winning ball passage 243 Winning ball guide port 244 Winning ball detection sensor 245 Motor mounting boss 246 Base mounting hole 300 Rotating body (second embodiment of rotating body)
320 Connection member 323 Connection member shaft (323a slit fitting rib)
324 Connection member fitting protrusion 325 Shading protrusion 330 Rotating member 331 Sphere receiving part 333 Connection member shaft fitting part 335 Slit 336 Reinforcement rib 337 Rotating member fitting protrusion
