JP4340359B2 - Ball payout device in pachinko machines - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball payout device in a pachinko gaming machine that pays out a predetermined number of pachinko balls to a payout passage by rotating a lead screw.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There have been various forms of ball payout devices in pachinko gaming machines, and there are also devices configured to rotate the lead screw by a pulse motor and control the number of rotations to pay out the desired number of pachinko balls. One of them.
[0003]
By the way, generally, the ball payout device of the pachinko gaming machine is generally configured so that ball moving baskets are provided in two rows so that a large number of pachinko balls can be paid out in a short time so that winnings can be concentrated. .
[0004]
Therefore, in the conventional ball dispensing device, it is necessary to provide a sensor such as a proximity sensor for counting pachinko balls and an optical sensor for each ball moving basket. However, when a plurality of sensors are provided, there are problems such as high cost and complicated signal processing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above, the present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems by making it possible to detect pachinko balls of two rows of ball moving rods with a single counting sensor.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this purpose, the ball payout device in the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention supports the lead screw rotated by the pulse motor substantially vertically, and forms a rod-shaped ball moving rod at the asymmetric positions on both sides of the lead screw. A ball counting sensor comprising a projector and a light receiver is provided so that its optical axis passes over both the ball moving rods outside the lead screw, and the inner surface of the side wall of the ball moving rod is provided for both ball moving rods. It is characterized in that the time required for the pachinko spheres passing through both ball moving cages to block the optical axis is set to be substantially equal by forming them in steps.
Further, the present invention is characterized in that in the above-mentioned ball dispensing device, the diameter of the thread of the lead screw is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3, 1 is a lead screw, 2 is a pulse motor, and the lead screw 1 is vertically supported by a rotating shaft of the pulse motor. The lead screw 1 is formed so that the diameter of the thread 1a is about 7 mm and smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 3 (about 11 mm). Reference numeral 4 denotes a plastic case fixed to the pulse motor 2, and a pair of rod-shaped ball moving rods 5a and 5b are formed at the asymmetric positions on both sides of the lead screw. In addition, the passages 6a and 6b are bent in a crank shape above the ball moving baskets 5a and 5b, and the pachinko balls 3 are aligned in a line from the premium ball tank (not shown) through the straightening baskets. Will flow down under its own weight. Further, the lower ends 7a and 7b of the ball moving baskets 5a and 5b are opened and communicated with the prize ball paying basket.
[0008]
A ball counting sensor 9 is provided on a U-shaped mounting frame fixed to the outside of the case 4. A light projector 10 and a light receiver 11 made of semiconductor are provided opposite to each other at both ends of the mounting frame. 12 is provided outside the lead screw 1 so as to straddle both ball moving rods 5a and 5b. Then, the pachinko balls 3 passing through the both ball moving rods 5a and 5b are counted as the pachinko balls 3 block the optical axis 12.
[0009]
The rotation and stop of the pulse motor 2 are controlled by a ball delivery control circuit (not shown). By rotating the lead screw 1, the pachinko balls in the both ball moving cages 5a and 5b are caused to flow down, and the prize ball delivery cage is provided from the lower ends 7a and 7b. To discharge. The pachinko balls passing through the both ball moving cages 5a and 5b block the optical axis 12, so that an electric signal obtained from the light receiver 11 is input to the ball dispensing control circuit, and the rotation of the pulse motor 2 is controlled. As a result, a predetermined number of pachinko balls can be discharged into the prize ball payout basket. In addition, the ball counting sensor 9 can detect a pachinko ball by blocking light so that it can be detected with higher accuracy than a proximity sensor that detects the proximity of a metal and has high reliability.
[0010]
The lead screw 1 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 3, and the pachinko ball 3 flowing down the ball moving rod 5a contacts the inner surface of one side wall 4a of the case 4 by its own weight, and the other ball moving rod 5b. The pachinko spheres 3 flowing down are brought into contact with the inner surface of the other side wall 4b of the case 4 by their own weights, and at this time, the depths at which the respective pachinko spheres 3 block the optical axis 12 are denoted by g1 and g2, respectively. By forming the inner surfaces of the side walls 4a and 4b in steps so as to always satisfy g1 = g2, the time for the pachinko sphere 3 flowing down the ball moving rod 5a to block the optical axis 12 as shown in FIG. It is possible to make t1 approximately equal to the time t2 when the pachinko ball 3 flowing down the ball moving cage 5b blocks the optical axis 12. For this reason, electric signals having substantially equal pulses are input to the ball payout control circuit, and pachinko balls flowing down both ball moving rods can be reliably counted by one sensor without causing a detection error.
[0011]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the ball payout device for the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention provides both balls by providing only one sensor composed of a light projecting / receiving device by providing the two rows of ball moving rods so that the optical axis extends over them. Detects pachinko balls that pass through the moving cage, because the manufacturing cost is reduced compared to the provision of multiple sensors, and the optical axis blocking time by the pachinko balls flowing down both spherical moving cages is approximately equal. There is no risk of mistakes, and there is an effect that the pachinko balls can always be counted and dispensed accurately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a ball dispensing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a pachinko ball detection signal by a ball counting sensor.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lead screw 1a Thread 2 Pulse motor 3 Pachinko ball 4a, 4b Side wall 5a, 5b Ball moving rod 9 Ball counting sensor 10 Light projector 11 Light receiver 12 Optical axis

Claims (2)

A lead screw that is rotated by a pulse motor is supported substantially vertically, and a cylindrical ball moving rod is formed at each asymmetrical position on both sides of the lead screw. A ball counting sensor comprising a projector and a light receiver A pachinko that passes through both ball moving rods by forming the shaft so as to pass over both ball moving rods outside the lead screw, and forming the inner surface of the side wall of the ball moving rod in a stepped manner with respect to both ball moving rods. A ball payout device for a pachinko gaming machine, characterized in that the time for the ball to block the optical axis is set to be approximately equal. 2. The ball payout device for a pachinko gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the thread of the lead screw is smaller than a diameter of the pachinko ball.

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