JP4372055B2 - Game ball supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball supply device that supplies game balls to each game device such as a pachinko machine housed in a game machine island.

  On a gaming machine island that houses a plurality of gaming machines such as pachinko machines, a replenishment basket is installed over the gaming apparatus with a downward slope. Game balls were supplied to each gaming device. Since such a replenishment method needs to earn a gradient, the height of the gaming machine island is inevitably increased. In particular, in large game machine islands, it is difficult to reduce the height of the game machine islands because the supply baskets are provided in two upper and lower stages.

  Therefore, various game ball replenishing devices that transport the game ball horizontally with power have been proposed. In order to replenish game balls to each game device, it is necessary not only to transport the game balls but also to distribute the game balls to the game devices during the transport. For example, in the gaming ball supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a plurality of horizontal rotating disks are arranged in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island to form a conveyance path. It is sequentially conveyed to adjacent rotating disks and diffused to the periphery. By diffusing to the periphery, the game ball rolls toward a game ball take-in port provided for each game device.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a game ball replenishing device that conveys a game ball by circulating a horizontal conveyance belt stretched between a driving roller and a driven roller. In this apparatus, a barrel-shaped tension roller and a plate-shaped belt support member are alternately arranged between the driving roller and the driven roller, and the belt is inclined in a cross-sectional mountain shape at each barrel-shaped tension roller portion. The game balls are conveyed while being distributed to the intakes provided on both sides.

  In addition, in an apparatus for transporting and supplying discoidal bodies such as medals and coins used in slot machines, etc., two sets of belt conveyors are arranged in parallel or substantially in parallel so that the transport directions are opposite to each other. A disk-shaped body supply device comprising a special mechanism driven by a solenoid for discharging the disk-shaped body to a specific supply position, and a guide member for guiding the transition from one belt conveyor to the other belt conveyor. (For example, refer to Patent Document 3).

JP 2004-275670 A Japanese Patent No. 2518490 Japanese Patent No. 3126822

  In the case of using a rotating disk, the number of rotating disks increases as the length of the gaming machine island increases, and the weight increases accordingly, increasing the cost for increasing the strength of the gaming machine island. In addition, since a large number of rotating disks are combined, there is a problem that construction and maintenance are troublesome.

  Even in the case where the horizontal conveyance belt is hung on the one in which the barrel-like tension roller and the plate-like belt support member are alternately arranged, the number of tension rollers increases as the length of the gaming machine island increases. Due to the increased weight, problems similar to those described above have occurred.

  In addition, in the case of transporting a disk-shaped body with two sets of belt conveyors arranged in parallel or substantially in parallel so that the transport directions are opposite to each other, a game ball was used instead of the disk-shaped body. In this case, there is a problem that the structure of the original game ball replenishing device is complicated because there are unnecessary special mechanisms and guide members.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and can reduce the height of the gaming machine island, and can be used for horizontal transportation of gaming balls with a simple structure that is lightweight and does not require labor and maintenance. It is an object of the present invention to provide a game ball replenishment device that can replenish each game device during transportation.

The invention according to claim 1 includes a supply transport path (51a, 51b) for transporting a game ball along the longitudinal direction of a gaming machine island (10) that houses a plurality of gaming devices (2, 3) side by side. In addition, an intake port (61, 62) for taking in a game ball to be supplied to each gaming device (2, 3) from the supply transport path (51a, 51b) of the supply transport path (51a, 51b). In a plurality of game ball replenishment devices arranged along both edges in the longitudinal direction,
The replenishment transport path (51a, 51b) is configured by arranging two belt conveyors (51a, 51b) in parallel in the transport direction in parallel, and the game balls transported in the reverse direction are connected to each other. Game ball replenishment characterized in that the transported game balls are taken into the take-in ports (61, 62) due to collision at the boundary between two belt conveyors (51a, 51b) Device.

  According to the above invention, the game balls are transported in the opposite directions by the two belt conveyors (51a, 51b) juxtaposed in parallel, and collide at the boundary between the two belt conveyors (51a, 51b) during the transport. To do. The game balls being transported change their course due to this collision, and some of the game balls are taken in along the edges of the belt conveyors (51a, 51b) (61, 62). Is taken in.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a plurality of partition walls (80) are provided along the longitudinal direction of the belt conveyors (51a, 51b) at the boundary between the two belt conveyors (51a, 51b). 2. The game ball supply device according to claim 1, wherein the game ball supply device is installed with an interval (81) corresponding to (61, 62).

  According to the above-described invention, in the place where the partition wall (80) is provided, there is no collision between the game balls transported in the opposite directions, and the game balls collide in the place (81) spaced apart. Since the place (81) with a gap is provided to correspond to the inlet (61, 62), the game ball is taken into the inlet (61, 62) due to a collision occurring at the place (81). Is taken in. On the other hand, useless collision does not occur at a place where the partition wall (80) exists, and noise is reduced.

Invention, the gaming ball is to be circulated along a plurality of said inlet (61, 62) by traffic between the conveying surface of the two belt conveyors (51a, 51b) according to claim 3 The game ball replenishing device according to claim 1 or 2.

  According to the above invention, the game balls are transported so that the game balls circulate along the plurality of intakes (61, 62) by moving between the transport surfaces of the two belt conveyors (51a, 51b). Is done.

In the invention according to claim 4, the first location where the game ball moves from the one belt conveyor (51a) to the other belt conveyor (51b) at the end or in the middle of the conveying direction of one belt conveyor (51a) And a game ball moves from the other belt conveyor (51b) to the one belt conveyor (51a) at a position upstream of the first belt conveyor (51a) in the transport direction with respect to the first location. The two locations are provided, and the game balls can be circulated along the plurality of intakes (61, 62) between the first location and the second location. It is a game ball supply device described in 1.

  According to the above invention, the game ball is transferred from the one belt conveyor (51a) to the other belt conveyor (51b) at the first location provided at the end of the conveying direction of the one belt conveyor (51a) or in the middle. The game ball is transferred from the other belt conveyor (51b) to the one belt conveyor (51a) at a second position provided upstream of the first belt conveyor (51a) in the transport direction. The Thereby, a circulation path of game balls is formed between the first place and the second place, and the game balls are conveyed so as to circulate along the plurality of intakes (61, 62) between the two places. The

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the game ball that has reached the end of the belt conveyor (51a) or at the middle of the belt conveyor (51a) is retained, and the retained game ball overflows to the other belt conveyor (51b). The game ball replenishing device according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, further comprising a set retaining portion (65, 66).

  According to the said invention, a game ball is made to stay by the terminal part (65, 66) provided in the terminal end or the middle of one belt conveyor (51a), and the overflowing game ball transfers to the other belt conveyor (51b). In addition to overflowing when the staying portions (65, 66) become full, it may be configured to sequentially shift to the other belt conveyor (51b) before becoming full, as long as the game balls can stay.

  According to the game ball replenishing device according to the present invention, two belt conveyors whose transport directions are opposite to each other are arranged in parallel, and the game balls transported in opposite directions are bounded by the boundary between the two belt conveyors. The game ball is taken into the intake port due to this collision, so that the height of the gaming machine island can be lowered, and each game during the horizontal transfer and transfer of the game ball Replenishment of the apparatus can be realized with a simple configuration without providing a special mechanism driven by a solenoid or the like, the apparatus can be reduced in weight, and installation and maintenance are facilitated.

  In the case where a plurality of partition walls are installed along the longitudinal direction of the belt conveyor at intervals between the two belt conveyors so as to correspond to the inlets, useless collisions occur at locations where the partition walls are located. Thus, it is possible to reduce the sound generated by the game ball supply device while ensuring the game ball is taken into the take-in port.

  In the case of transporting game balls so as to circulate along a plurality of intake ports, game balls are taken into one of the intake ports while circulating and transporting, so excess game balls can be removed from the supply transport path. A special mechanism for discharging becomes unnecessary, and the apparatus configuration is simplified.

  A guide member is provided in a case where a retaining ball set so that the game ball that has reached the location is retained at the end or in the middle of one belt conveyor and the accumulated game ball overflows to the other belt conveyor is provided. The transition of the game ball can be realized with a simple configuration. Further, even if the amount of game balls reaching the staying portion varies, the change can be absorbed by staying in the staying portion, so that a smooth transition from one belt conveyor to the other belt conveyor can be ensured.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an internal structure of a gaming machine island 10 provided with a game ball supply device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the internal structure of the gaming machine island 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the gaming machine island 10 accommodates a large number of gaming machines 2 and inter-ball ball lending machines 3 arranged in parallel as gaming machines. In addition, various incidental facilities for circulating and repeatedly using game balls for gaming in the gaming machine island 10 are accommodated. Here, the gaming machine 2 is a pachinko machine, and the platform ball lending machine 3 is a device that lends a game ball (pachinko ball) to a player.

  The gaming machine island 10 is constructed by constructing island frames and island pillars 11 on the floor of the game hall, attaching gaming devices 2 and 3 and incidental facilities to them, and providing an exterior not shown in other necessary places. The In the center of the gaming machine island 10, there is a lifting device 12 that lifts the game ball while polishing it from the lower part to the upper part of the island. A large number of ball lending machines 3 are set back and forth on both sides of the gaming machine island 10 (see FIG. 2).

  A gaming ball replenishing device 50 is installed above the gaming machine 2 and the inter-ball ball lending machine 3 so as to be horizontally extended from one end to the other end of the gaming machine island 10. Further, an upper storage tank 70 for storing the game balls lifted by the lifting device 12 and supplying them to the game ball supply device 50 is installed at the upper center of the gaming machine island 10. The game ball replenishment device 50 is a belt conveyor type transfer device, which horizontally transfers the game balls received from the upper storage tank 70 to each game device (the game machine 2 and the inter-ball ball rental machine) in the game machine island 10. 3) fulfills the replenishment function. The game balls being transported are appropriately taken in and aligned with the chutes 61 arranged along both edges in the longitudinal direction of the transport path, and then replenished to each gaming machine 2 and the interbank ball lending machine 3. . A chute 61 serving as a game ball take-in port is installed for each gaming machine 2 and each inter-ball ball lending machine 3 corresponding to the installation location of the gaming machine 2 and the inter-ball ball lending machine 3.

  A plurality of lower storage tanks 15 for storing game balls are installed below the gaming machines 2 and the inter-ball ball lending machines 3 housed side by side on the gaming machine island 10. The bottom of each lower storage tank 15 is inclined downward from the left and right ends toward the center, and an opening / closing device 16 that opens and closes a game ball outlet is provided at the bottom. The lower storage tank 15 is configured such that a waist plate attached to the lower part of the island pillar 11 also serves as a side wall of the container, so that a larger volume can be gained in a narrow lower space of the gaming machine island 10. .

  A recovery conveyor 18 is disposed below the plurality of lower storage tanks 15 provided so as to extend along these. The recovery conveyors 18 are provided on the left and right sides of the lifting device 12 disposed in the center of the gaming machine island 10, and the game balls are directed from the island end toward the ball inlet 12 a at the lower portion of the lifting device 12. It is the conveying apparatus which conveys.

  The collection conveyor 18 collects the game balls discharged from each gaming machine 2 as out balls and collects the game balls discharged from the lower storage tank 15. As shown in FIG. 2, the game balls discharged from the gaming machine 2 as an out ball are collected by a collection basket 19 that is hung below the gaming machine 2 and then between adjacent lower storage tanks 15. It discharges | emits on the collection conveyor 18 through the provided channel | path apparatus 20 (refer FIG. 1).

  The upper storage tank 70 is provided with an overflow pipe 21 for allowing excess game balls to escape. The game balls flowing down the overflow pipe 21 are discharged and stored in the lower storage tank 15. Further, the surplus game balls in the game ball replenishing device 50 are guided from the dedicated chute 61a through the overflow pipe 22 to be stored in the lower storage tank 15 disposed therebelow.

  In addition, between the backs of the gaming machines 2 arranged side by side on the front and back sides of the gaming machine island 10, a banknote transport device 23 that transports the banknotes taken into the interbank ball lending machine 3 to the island edge, A coin transport device 24 that transports coins taken into the ball lending machine 3 to the end of the island is disposed so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 10 apart from each other. At one end of the gaming machine island 10 (the right end in FIG. 1), a bill safe 25 for sorting and storing bills transported by the bill transport device 23, and a coin safe for sorting and storing coins transported by the coin transport device 24. 26 are installed.

  Also, at the other end of the gaming machine island 10, a prize ball counter 28 is installed for collecting and collecting the game balls acquired by the player. Further, a control unit 29 for performing various controls related to circulation and storage of game balls in the island is installed at the upper end of the island where the prize ball counter 28 is located. The control unit 29 is connected to and managed by a hall management computer (not shown) that manages and manages the entire game hall.

  Next, the configuration of the game ball supply device 50 and the upper storage tank 70 will be described.

  3 shows a front view of the game ball supply device 50 and the upper storage tank 70, and FIG. 4 shows a plane of the game ball supply device 50 and the upper storage tank 70, respectively. Note that the internal structure of the upper storage tank 70 is illustrated. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of one end of the game ball supply device 50.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the game ball replenishing device 50 includes a first belt conveyor 51a and a second belt conveyor 51b that are arranged in parallel as the replenishment conveyance path for conveying the game ball in opposite directions. . Here, the first belt conveyor 51a conveys game balls in the direction B in the figure, and the second belt conveyor 51b conveys game balls in the direction C. Thus, since it is not necessary to use many rotating disks and tension rollers in the replenishment conveyance path, even in the case of a large gaming machine island, it is not necessary to place a heavy weight on the gaming machine island 10. In addition, there is an effect that the installation work is simple and the burden of maintenance management is small.

  The game ball replenishing device 50 includes a transport rail 52 that has substantially the entire length in the longitudinal direction. The first belt conveyor 51a includes a first drive pulley 54a pivotally supported at one end of the transport rail 52, a first driven pulley 55a pivotally supported at the other end of the transport rail 52, and a first drive pulley 54a. A pair of endless first conveyor belts 56a spanned between the first driven pulley 55a, a first motor 58a as a drive source, and a pair of parts arranged near both ends to take up the slack of the first conveyor belt 56a. 1st tension roller 59a.

  The second belt conveyor 51b includes a second drive pulley 54b that is pivotally supported on the other end of the transport rail 52, a second driven pulley 55b that is pivotally supported on the one end of the transport rail 52, and a second drive pulley. 54b and the second driven pulley 55b, an endless second conveyance belt 56b, a second motor 58b serving as a driving source, and the second conveyance belt 56b arranged in the vicinity of both ends to remove slack. And a pair of second tension rollers 59b.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, a first driving pulley 54a of the first belt conveyor 51a and a second driven pulley of the second belt conveyor 51b are provided on a first support shaft 53a provided at one end of the transport rail 52. 55b and a transmission pulley 57a around which a transmission belt for transmitting the power of the first motor 58a is stretched are pivotally supported. The first drive pulley 54a of the first belt conveyor 51a is connected to the transmission pulley 57a and rotates together, and the second driven pulley 55b of the second belt conveyor 51b is configured to rotate independently of these.

  Similarly, the second drive shaft 54b of the second belt conveyor 51b, the first driven pulley 55a of the first belt conveyor 51a, and the second motor 58b are connected to the second support shaft 53b provided at the other end of the transport rail 52. A transmission pulley 57b around which a transmission belt for transmitting power is stretched is pivotally supported. The second drive pulley 54b of the second belt conveyor 51b rotates with the transmission pulley 57b, and the first driven pulley 55a of the first belt conveyor 51a rotates independently of these.

  The first conveyor belt 56a of the first belt conveyor 51a circulates in the direction of arrow B under the power of the first motor 58a, and the second conveyor belt 56b of the second belt conveyor 51b receives the power of the second motor 58b under the arrow. It goes around in the C direction.

  As shown in FIG. 5, at the end of the game ball supply device 50, the game ball that has reached the vicinity of the end in the transport direction is retained, and the retained game ball is set to overflow to the other belt conveyor. A staying portion 65 is provided. The staying portion 65 has a contact member 65a with which the game ball that has reached the end in the transport direction comes into contact, and forms a region where the game ball in contact with the contact member 65a can stay in front thereof. The stay portions 65 are provided at both ends of the game ball supply device 50.

  FIG. 6 shows a cross section taken along line AA in FIG. As shown in the figure, the transport rail 52 of the game ball replenishing device 50 includes a horizontal support surface 52a wider than the first transport belt 56a and the second transport belt 56b juxtaposed, and the width direction of the horizontal support surface 52a. It has a side wall 52b erected vertically at both ends, and a substantially U-shaped pedestal portion 52c that supports the horizontal support surface portion 52a from the back surface. The horizontal support surface portion 52a functions to support the tension side T (side for transporting game balls) of the first transport belt 56a and the second transport belt 56b from the back so as to withstand the weight of the game balls. The slack side L (the side on which no game ball is transported) of the first transport belt 56a and the second transport belt 56b is protected through the pedestal 52c.

  The first conveyor belt 56a and the second conveyor belt 56b are stretched side by side so that their end faces are substantially in contact with the center in the width direction of the horizontal support surface portion 52a. There is no barrier at the boundary between the first conveyor belt 56a and the second conveyor belt 56b, so that the game ball can freely travel around the boundary. The horizontal support surface portion 52a has ball receiving spaces 52d that are slightly wider than one game ball on both the left and right sides of the transport belts 56a and 56b.

  The chute 61 is attached to the outer wall surface of the left and right side walls 52b, and has a game ball intake 62 on the attachment surface side. The part corresponding to each intake port 62 of the side wall 52b is notched for passing the game ball. Further, in the vicinity of the intake port 62, a guide portion 52 f is formed in which the road surface of the ball receiving space 52 d is slightly inclined downward toward the intake port 62. As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the game ball replenishing device 50 has two shoots 61 on each side with respect to a distance D that combines the lateral widths of the gaming machine 2 and the inter-ball ball lending machine 3. Attached along both longitudinal sides of 50.

  FIG. 7 shows the internal structure of the upper storage tank 70. Inside the upper storage tank 70, a separation plate 71 that receives and distributes the game balls lifted by the lifting device 12 to the left and right, and a relay plate that relays the game balls distributed by the separation plate 71 to the inclined plate 72. 74, after receiving the game ball falling from the end of the relay plate 74, the inclined plate 72 that guides to the middle of the upper storage tank 70 with a downward gradient, and the game ball falling from the lower end of the inclined plate 72 Thereafter, a supply unit 73 for guiding the game ball so as to flow out to the game ball supply device 50 is provided. Through the inclined plate 72, the game ball falls near the center of the supply unit 73.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. In FIG. 8, the supply unit 73 and the game ball supply device 50 below the supply unit 73 are shown, and the other components are not shown. FIG. 9 shows the supply unit 73 and the game ball supply device 50 as viewed from above. The supply unit 73 is installed right above the game ball supply device 50, and has a substantially box shape in which an upper surface is opened and a bottom surface 75 is inclined toward one side of the game ball supply device 50. A discharge hole 76 through which a game ball passes is formed in a part of the side wall at the lower inclined end of the bottom surface 75. The bottom surface 75 inclined downward is narrower in a C shape toward the discharge hole 76 when viewed from above (see FIG. 9), and the outer portion 77 of the C shape is inclined upward toward the left and right corners. is doing. Thereby, the game ball is directed toward the discharge hole 76 efficiently.

  On the side wall 52b of the transport rail 52 of the game ball supply device 50, an inflow port 52g is opened at a position almost directly below the discharge hole 76. A guide path 78 is formed outside the discharge hole 76 to receive the game ball dropped from the discharge hole 76 and align and guide it to the inlet 52g of the game ball supply device 50. By aligning the game balls in the guide path 78 or the like, the amount of game balls supplied per unit time from the inflow port 52g to the game ball supply device 50 is regulated. Further, as shown in FIG. 9, the upper storage tank 70 is formed with a discharge port 79 to which an overflow pipe 21 for discharging excess game balls is connected.

  Next, a game ball transport operation by the game ball supply device 50 will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the game balls lifted and polished by the lifting device 12 are discharged onto the separation plate 71 of the upper storage tank 70, via the relay plate 74, the inclined plate 72 and the supply unit 73. And supplied to the game ball supply device 50. The supply amount to the game ball replenishing device 50 is regulated to an appropriate amount by the supply unit 73 and the guide path 78, and when excessive game balls are generated in the upper storage tank 70, the discharge port 79 passes through the overflow pipe 21 to the lower storage tank 15. Collected.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the game balls supplied to the game ball supply device 50 are conveyed in the direction of arrow B by the first belt conveyor 51a, and in the direction of arrow C opposite to the direction by the second belt conveyor 51b. Be transported. Since the first belt conveyor 51a and the second belt conveyor 51b have no steps or barriers at the boundary and the game balls are formed so that they can freely come and go, the collision of the game balls conveyed in the opposite directions This occurs at the boundary between the belt conveyors 51a and 51b.

  For example, as shown by an arrow F in the figure, the path of the game ball that has collided is changed obliquely. The game sphere whose course has been changed in this way is more likely to collide with other game spheres. Collisions occur in various places, and the game sphere being transported takes a course in various directions. For example, a certain game ball changes its course due to a collision at the boundary, and is directly taken into the intake port 62 of the chute 61. In addition, various collisions occur in a chain due to the collision occurring at the boundary, so that the game ball being conveyed is taken into the intake port 62 of the chute 61. The game balls in the ball receiving space 52d are also transported and taken into the take-in port 62 by being dragged by the game balls transported by the first belt conveyor 51a or the second belt conveyor 51b.

  As described above, the game balls collide at the boundary between the first belt conveyor 51a and the second belt conveyor 51b whose transport directions are reversed, and thereby the game balls are transported along the transport direction, and the game balls are replenished. The function of distributing and replenishing game balls to the intake ports 62 of the chute 61 arranged along both longitudinal edges of the device 50 is realized. Further, since the game balls are transported horizontally, it is not necessary to provide a gradient as in the conventional replenishment basket, and the height of the gaming machine island 10 can be reduced accordingly. Furthermore, since the course of the game ball is changed due to a collision at the boundary, it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for directing the course to the side, and the configuration of the game ball supply device 50 is simplified. be able to.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the vicinity of the end of the game ball supply device 50, the game ball P1 conveyed to one belt conveyor contacts the contact member 65a and stays in the stay portion 65, and eventually overflows. And move to the other belt conveyor. Thus, the transition of the game ball can be realized with a simple configuration without providing a guide member. Further, since the staying portions 65 are provided at both ends of the game ball supply device 50, the game balls are conveyed so as to circulate there between. That is, the game balls can be circulated along the respective chutes 61 arranged along both longitudinal edges of the game ball supply device 50, and the game balls can be transported and supplied efficiently. Furthermore, even if the amount of game balls reaching the staying portion varies, the change can be absorbed by staying in the staying portion, so that a smooth transition from one belt conveyor to the other belt conveyor can be ensured.

  In addition, since the game balls are circulated in the game ball supply device 50, each game ball is eventually taken into one of the shoots 61. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide the overflow pipe 22 for discharging surplus game balls from the game ball supply device 50.

  The ball receiving space 52d increases the amount of game balls that can be stored on the game ball replenishing device 50, and the ball receiving space 52d can be provided with a guiding portion 52f. The played game balls can be efficiently taken toward the take-in port 62 of the chute 61.

  FIG. 11 shows a game ball replenishing device 50a in which a plurality of partition walls 80 are installed at intervals at the boundary between the first belt conveyor 51a and the second belt conveyor 51b. The game balls being conveyed in the opposite directions by the first belt conveyor 51 a and the second belt conveyor 51 b can collide with each other in the gap 81 that forms the interval between the partition walls 80. The gap portion 81 is provided in association with the intake port 62 of the chute 61, and a game ball whose course has been changed due to a collision occurring in the gap portion 81 or a game ball that has collided in a chain manner can be successfully input to the intake port 62. The position and width of the gap 81 are set so as to be captured. The gap 81 is set to the upstream side in the transport direction to some extent with respect to the target inlet 62. For example, in FIG. 11, the gap 81 </ b> A is provided so as to correspond to the intake port 62 </ b> A and the diagonally opposite intake port 62 </ b> B.

  The game balls transported in the opposite directions collide with each other at a portion where there is a gap 81 provided corresponding to the intake port 62 and do not collide at a portion where the partition wall 80 exists. A useless collision at a location that does not contribute is prevented by the partition wall 80, and the amount of sound generated from the game ball supply device 50a can be reduced.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  For example, the contact member 65a for forming the stay part 65 is not limited to the shape illustrated in FIG. As in the contact member 66a shown in FIG. 12, the contact surface of the one belt conveyor 51a may be inclined toward the other belt conveyor 51b on the downstream side in the transport direction. That is, it is only necessary to narrow the area of the staying portion 66 so that the game balls can be quickly transferred from one belt conveyor 51a to the other belt conveyor 51b.

  Further, the transition point where the contact balls 65a, 66a, etc. are provided to transfer the game ball from one belt conveyor to the other belt conveyor is not limited to the vicinity of the end in the transport direction, and is provided at an arbitrary position in the middle of the transport path. May be. If transition points are provided at the end of the transfer path or at two points along the way, the game balls can be circulated and transferred between them.

  In the embodiment, the first belt conveyor 51a and the second belt conveyor 51b are arranged close to each other so as to be substantially in contact with each other, but may be arranged with a certain gap therebetween. In this case, it is only necessary that the gap portion forms a road surface that is substantially flush with the conveyor belt so as to allow free traffic. When the partition wall 80 is provided, the first belt conveyor 51a and the second belt conveyor 51b may be separated from each other by the thickness of the partition wall 80.

  It is preferable to provide the gap 81 between the partition walls 80 in correspondence with the intakes 62 of the chute 61. However, the gaps 81 need not be provided in correspondence with all of the intakes 62, and are caused by a collision. If the game ball is taken into the take-in port 62 of each chute 61 by the continuous course change, the gap 81 may be provided at an appropriate place.

  In the embodiment, the transport loop that circulates and transports game balls from one end to the other end in the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 10 is provided with one game ball replenishing device 50. However, the transport loop corresponding to the left half and the right half of the island Thus, a game ball supply device having a plurality of transport loops may be installed.

It is a front view which shows the internal structure of the game machine island provided with the game ball supply apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the internal structure of the game machine island provided with the game ball supply apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the game ball supply apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the game ball supply apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is the top view which expanded and showed the edge part of the game ball supply apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is AA arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of an upper storage tank. It is EE arrow sectional drawing of FIG. It is a top view which shows the replenishment part vicinity of an upper storage tank. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the behavior of the game ball conveyed in the reverse direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the behavior of the game ball in the game ball supply apparatus which provided the some partition wall in the boundary part. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of the retention part which crosses a belt conveyor diagonally.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Game machine 3 ... Platform machine lending machine 10 ... Game machine island 11 ... Island pillar 12 ... Lifting device 12a ... Ball introduction port 15 ... Lower storage tank 16 ... Opening and closing device 18 ... Collection conveyor 19 ... Collection basket 20 ... Passage Device 21 ... Overflow tube 22 ... Overflow tube 23 ... Bill transport device 24 ... Coin transport device 25 ... Bill safe 26 ... Coin safe 28 ... Premium ball counter 29 ... Control unit 50, 50a ... Game ball replenishment device 51a ... First belt Conveyor 51b ... second belt conveyor 52 ... conveying rail 52a ... horizontal support surface 52b ... side wall 52c ... pedestal 52d ... ball receiving space 52f ... guide 52g ... inlet 53a ... first support shaft 53b ... second support shaft 54a ... 1st drive pulley 54b ... 2nd drive pulley 55a ... 1st driven pulley 55b ... 2nd driven pulley 56a ... 1st conveyance belt 56b ... 2nd conveyance 57a, 57b ... transmission pulley 58a ... first motor 58b ... second motor 59a ... first tension roller 59b ... second tension roller 61 ... chute 61a ... overflow chute 62 ... intake 65 ... stay 65a ... contact Member 66 ... Retaining portion 66a ... Contact member 70 ... Upper storage tank 71 ... Separation plate 72 ... Inclined plate 73 ... Supply portion 74 ... Relay plate 75 ... Bottom surface 76 ... Discharge hole 77 ... Inclined bottom surface 78 ... Guide path 79 ... Exhaust Exit 80 ... Partition wall 81 ... Gap

Claims (5)

A replenishment transport path for transporting game balls along the longitudinal direction of a gaming machine island that houses a plurality of gaming devices arranged side by side, and for taking in game balls to be replenished to each gaming device from the replenishment transport path In a game ball replenishing device in which a plurality of intakes are arranged along both edges in the longitudinal direction of the replenishment conveyance path,
The replenishment transport path is configured by parallelly arranging two belt conveyors whose transport directions are opposite to each other, and game balls transported in opposite directions collide at the boundary between the two belt conveyors. The game ball replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the game ball to be transported is taken into the take-in port. The plurality of partition walls are installed at a boundary portion between the two belt conveyors along the longitudinal direction of the belt conveyor with an interval corresponding to the intake port. Game ball supply device. Game ball supply device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that to allow the circulation along a plurality of the inlet by the game ball to traffic between the conveying surfaces of the two belt conveyors. A first location where the game ball is transferred from the one belt conveyor to the other belt conveyor is provided at the end or in the middle of the conveyance direction of one belt conveyor, and the one belt conveyor is conveyed to the first location. the second places game balls to the position of the upstream side is shifted to the one of the belt conveyor from the other belt conveyor provided, the inlet game ball of the plurality between said second location and said first location The game ball supply device according to claim 1, wherein the game ball supply device can be circulated along the line. The retention part which set so that the game ball which reached the location may be retained and the retained game ball may overflow to the other belt conveyor is provided at the end or in the middle of one belt conveyor. The game ball supply device according to 1, 2, 3, or 4.

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