JP4405010B2 - Game ball taxiway - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a game ball guiding path that guides used game balls that flow in from both the left and right directions through a collection basket toward a lifting device that has an introduction port in a direction orthogonal to the collection basket.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Traditionally, on pachinko islands where a large number of pachinko machines are housed side-by-side, used game balls discharged from the bottom of each pachinko machine are collected with a collection basket and placed in a lifting and polishing machine located in the center of the island. A game ball automatic circulation system has been constructed in which game balls are gathered through a collection basket, the game balls are lifted from the lower part of the island to the upper part by a lifting and polishing device, and supplied again to a pachinko machine through a supply basket.
[0003]
In such an automatic circulation system, the game balls collected at the center of the lower part of the island through the right and left recovery rods are usually changed in the direction perpendicular to the recovery cage at the lower center of the island, and then the game balls are aligned and aligned. Is guided to the inlet of the lift polishing machine.
[0004]
In order to make the game ball flow smoothly when the direction of the flow of the game ball is greatly changed in the lower center of the pachinko island, for example, the one disclosed in JP-A-6-254250 has the following improvements. Has been. That is, the opening edge of the drop opening provided in the center of the recovery rod is formed in an arc shape so as to spread toward the lifting polishing machine side, and the positions of the start ends of the plurality of partition walls of the alignment path are The separation distance from the opening edge is made uniform, the game balls are dropped almost evenly in the width direction of the alignment path, and the game balls are uniformly flown into the alignment paths.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned, there is a problem that the structure for changing the direction of the flow of the game ball at the lower center of the pachinko island becomes complicated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made paying attention to such problems of the prior art, and the path of the game balls gathered at the lower center of Pachinko Island through the recovery basket is directed in the orthogonal direction where the inlet of the lifting and polishing apparatus exists. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a simple game ball guide path that can be changed smoothly.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.
[ 1 ] The used game balls flowing in from both the left and right directions through the collection basket (3) are guided toward the lifting device (10) having the introduction port (31) in a direction perpendicular to the collection basket (3). In the game ball taxiway,
An inflow path (110) for receiving the game balls collected by the collection basket (3) from both ends, a drop opening (111) established at the approximate center of the inflow path (110), and a position below the drop opening (111) And an outflow path (120) for receiving a game ball falling from the drop opening (111), which is perpendicular to the inflow path (110) and inclined downward toward the introduction opening (31). ,
A surface of the inflow channel (110) that contacts the game ball is formed by the first resistance member (113),
A surface of the outflow path (120) that contacts the game ball is formed by the second resistance member (123),
Said first resistance member (113) is much larger than the friction coefficient of the second resistor element (123) between said game ball,
A game in which a coefficient of friction between the second resistance member (123) and the game ball is larger than a coefficient of friction between the alignment path (32) following the outflow path (120) and the game ball. Ball taxiway.
[0010]
[ 2 ] The game ball guiding path according to [1 ], wherein the first resistance member (113) is natural rubber, and the second resistance member (123) is canvas.
[0011]
[3] The inlet channel (110) and the outlet channel (120) and game ball guideway according to [1], wherein the supported integrally with the frame (130).
[0012]
The present invention operates as follows.
The used game balls flow into the inflow path (110) from both the left and right directions through the recovery basket (3), and these form a step below the drop port (111) provided in the center of the inflow path (110). It falls to the arranged outflow passage (120), and is guided to the introduction port (31) of the lifting device (10) according to the inclination of the outflow passage (120), and is aligned in the alignment passage (32) in the middle of the introduction rod. And taken into the lifting device (10).
[0013]
At this time, the friction coefficient between the first resistance member (113) that forms a surface that contacts the game ball in the inflow channel (110) and the game ball is a surface that contacts the game ball in the outflow channel (120). Since the friction coefficient between the second resistance member (123) that forms the game ball and the game ball is set to be larger than the friction coefficient in the deceleration direction applied to the game ball in the inflow channel (110), the outflow channel (120) It will be bigger than that. As a result, the game balls are not accumulated too much in front of the alignment path (32) and the flow into the alignment path (32) is not hindered, and the course of the game balls is smoothly changed to change the alignment path (32) and the lift path. The speed at which the game ball is taken into the feeding device (10) can be increased.
[0014]
In the entrance portion of the alignment path (32), the flow of the game balls is inevitably deteriorated to distribute the game balls to the alignment paths (32), but the coefficient of friction with the game balls in the outflow path (120) is reduced. ) If the size is larger than that inside, the flow of game balls toward the alignment path (32) is limited to some extent, and after entering the alignment path (32), the game balls flow smoothly. It is possible to prevent the game ball from being excessively stopped at the entrance portion 32), and to further increase the game ball take-in speed.
[0015]
If the first resistance member (113) is made of natural rubber and the second resistance member (123) is made of canvas (flax cloth), an appropriate difference in coefficient of friction can be obtained, and a smooth flow can be ensured. . For example, a desired friction coefficient difference can be obtained by simply attaching a natural rubber sheet to the surface of the inflow channel (110) and a canvas to the surface of the outflow channel (120). No complicated structure is required for change.
[0016]
Further, in the case where the inflow path (110) and the outflow path (120) are supported and integrated by the frame (130), the connection and separation to the recovery tank (3) and the alignment path (32) can be easily performed.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Each figure shows an embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2, the gaming ball guiding path 100 according to the present embodiment is arranged at a substantially lower center of a gaming machine island 1 in which a plurality of pachinko machines 2 are arranged in parallel. In the center of the gaming machine island 1, a game ball lifting and polishing device 10 extending from the lower stage to the upper stage in the gaming machine island 1 is erected and arranged. Below the pachinko machine 2, a collection basket 3 that is inclined downward from the left and right ends of the gaming machine island 1 toward the center is arranged. The used game balls (pachinko balls) discharged from each pachinko machine 2 are collected by the collection basket 3.
[0018]
The lower end of the collection basket 3 communicates with the lower tank 4 disposed on both sides of the game ball guiding path 100 at the bottom of the lower stage of the gaming machine island 1. The game balls collected through the collection basket 3 are temporarily stored in the lower tank 4 and taken into the game ball lifting and polishing apparatus 10 from the lower tank 4 through the game ball guide path 100. The game ball lifting and polishing apparatus 10 polishes a game ball taken in from a lower introduction port while pumping it to an upper tank 5 disposed on the upper stage of the gaming machine island 1.
[0019]
The upper tank 5 is connected to a supply basket 7 for supplying a game ball to the gaming machine 2, and the supply basket 7 extends so as to incline downward toward both ends of the gaming machine island 1. ing. The replenishment rod 7 is lowered almost directly toward the lower stage of the gaming machine island 1 at both ends of the gaming machine island 1, and is connected to the end of the collection basket 3. A bellows for communicating with each gaming machine 2 individually and replenishing the gaming balls 2 flowing down in the supply basket 7 is attached to the supply basket 7.
[0020]
The game balls are arranged inside the game machine island 1 in the order of the upper tank 5, the supply basket 7, the pachinko machine 2, the collection basket 3, the lower tank 4, the game ball guide path 100, the game ball lifting and polishing device 10, and the upper tank 5. The game ball is lifted and polished by the game ball lifting and polishing device 10 and repeatedly reused.
[0021]
FIG. 1 shows the upper surface of the game ball guiding path 100 and the lower cross-section of the game ball lifting and polishing apparatus 10 to which the game ball guiding path 100 is attached, FIG. 3 shows the side of the game ball lifting and polishing apparatus 10, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the state in which the introduction rod 30 of the ball lifting and polishing apparatus 10 is connected to the game ball guiding path 100, and FIG. 5 illustrates the state of the lower part of the game ball lifting and polishing apparatus 10 as viewed from the front side of the introduction port 31. Each is shown.
[0022]
As shown in the figure, the game ball lifting and polishing apparatus 10 includes a main body portion 20 and a guide frame portion 50. The main body 20 includes an upright frame 22 that is vertically provided on a base member 21, a drive roller 23 that is rotatable and horizontally supported at the lower end of the upright frame 22, and an upright frame 22. A driven roller 24 that is rotatably and horizontally supported at the upper end of the installation frame 22, and an endless feeding belt 25 that spans between the driving roller 23 and the driven roller 24 are provided. The drive roller 23 is rotationally driven by a motor 23a (see FIG. 5).
[0023]
At several locations between the driven roller 24 and the driving roller 23, backup rollers 26 are arranged at predetermined intervals. The backup roller 26 is disposed so as to be in contact with the back surface of the ascending side 25 a of the lifting belt 25. By supporting the back surface by the backup roller 26, the feeding belt 25 is raised while maintaining a substantially flat surface. The tension mechanism for applying tension to the lifting belt 25 is divided into a main tension adjustment unit 95 disposed at the upper part of the standing frame 22 and a fine tension adjustment unit 96 disposed at the lower part of the standing frame 22.
[0024]
The lower end of the main body 20 is provided with an introduction rod 30 for arranging and introducing game balls, and receives the game balls from the game ball guide path 100 from an introduction port 31 that forms the entrance of the introduction rod 30. It is like that. A discharge port 40 for discharging the lifted game ball to the upper tank 5 is provided at the upper end of the main body 20.
[0025]
The guide frame part 50 is attached to the main body part 20 so that it can be opened and closed like a door by a hinge provided on one side surface. The other end side of the guide frame portion 50 is locked to the main body portion 20 by a detachable locking device 70 having a spring inside. In the vicinity of each locking device 70, a gap adjusting mechanism 80 for moving the shaft forward and backward by a screw feed mechanism is provided.
[0026]
A guide rail (not shown) formed of rubber having elasticity is housed inside the guide frame portion 50, and a polishing cloth for polishing the game ball is stretched on the front surface thereof. One end of the polishing cloth (not shown) is fixed by a fixed clamper 91 attached to the lower back of the guide frame 50, goes around the lower end of the guide frame 50, and extends from the lower end to the upper end along the front of the guide rail. To the back of the guide frame 50, and the end of the back and forth of the guide frame 50 is held by a movable clamper 92 provided at the upper back of the guide frame 50. To be fixed.
[0027]
A plurality of ball guide paths having a semicircular concave cross section and extending vertically are formed in parallel on the front surface of the guide rail facing the lifting belt 25. The game ball is sandwiched between the polishing cloth supported on the back by the guide rail and the rising surface of the lifting belt 25 and is transported while rotating, and the game ball is finely polished by the polishing cloth. ing. The gap between the guide frame 50 and the main body 20 is increased / decreased by the gap adjusting mechanism 80 to adjust the holding force of the game ball by the transport belt 25 and the polishing cloth.
[0028]
The game ball guide path 100 is arranged with an inflow path 110 that receives the game balls collected by the collection basket 3 from both ends, a drop opening 111 that is opened at the approximate center of the inflow path 110, and a step below the drop opening 111. The outflow path 120 catches the game ball falling from the drop port 111, and the inflow path 110 and the frame 130 that integrally supports the outflow path 120. The outflow channel 120 is orthogonal to the inflow channel 110 and is inclined downward toward the introduction port 31 of the introduction rod 30.
[0029]
Each of the inflow path 110 and the outflow path 120 includes a bottom plate and a side wall that guides the game ball and prevents falling off the path. Further, both ends of the inflow channel 110 are connected to the ball outlets of the lower tank 4 disposed on the left and right sides, and are slightly inclined downward from both ends toward the central drop port 111.
[0030]
A sheet-like first resistance member 113 made of natural rubber is affixed to the surface of the bottom plate of the inflow channel 110 that comes into contact with the game ball. A second resistance member 123 made of flax cloth (canvas) is affixed to the surface of the bottom plate of the outflow passage 120 that contacts the game ball. The friction coefficient between the first resistance member 113 made of natural rubber and the game ball is larger than the friction coefficient between the second resistance member 123 and the game ball. Further, the friction coefficient between the second resistance member 123 and the game ball is larger than the friction coefficient between the introduction basket 30 and the game ball.
[0031]
The introduction rod 30 that partially overlaps and communicates with the lower end side of the outflow passage 120 has a configuration in which a lower introduction rod 32 and an upper introduction rod 33 are integrated. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the lower introduction rod 32 has a bottom plate 34 inclined at the same angle as the outflow passage 120, left and right side walls 35, and a plurality of threshold walls 36 erected from the bottom plate 34. ing. The threshold walls 36 extend in parallel to each other in the inclination direction of the bottom plate 34, and the lower introduction rod 32 functions as an alignment path for aligning the game balls.
[0032]
In use, about half of the drop port 111 is closed with a lid (not shown) so as to cover the upper part of the introduction rod 30. Similar to the outflow path 120, this lid is arranged with a step difference downward with respect to the inflow path 110.
[0033]
Next, the operation will be described.
The game balls collected through the collection basket 3 are once stored in the lower tank 4 and then flow into the inflow path 110 from the ball outlet of the lower tank 4. The game ball rolls on the first resistance member 113 from the left and right ends of the inflow path 110 toward the center drop port 111 and falls from the drop port 111. In the portion without the lid described above, the game ball falls directly onto the outflow path 120 from the left and right edges of the drop opening 111, and in the portion with the lid, once falls on the lid and then the edge of the lid. To the outflow channel 120. Therefore, the game ball falls from the edge of the drop port 111 near the left and right ends in the width direction of the outflow path 120, and the game ball falls from the edge of the lid to the portion from the center in the width direction of the outflow path 120. Thereby, the game balls that have arrived from the inflow path 110 are distributed substantially evenly in the width direction of the outflow path 120.
[0034]
The game balls received by the outflow passage 120 then roll on the second resistance member 123 toward the introduction port 31 of the introduction rod 30 according to the inclination of the outflow passage 120 and are aligned and driven in the process of passing through the introduction rod 30. It is taken into the lower part of the roller 23.
[0035]
At this time, since the coefficient of friction between the first resistance member 113 made of natural rubber and the game ball is relatively large, the speed of the game ball rolling on the inflow path 110 is reduced to some extent, and falls to the drop port 111 per unit time. The number of game balls to be played is reduced compared to the case without the first resistance member 113. On the other hand, the coefficient of friction between the second resistance member 123 stretched on the outflow path 120 and the game ball is smaller than the coefficient of friction between the first resistance member 113 and the game ball. The game balls are fed into the inlet 31 relatively quickly. Therefore, the game ball does not stop excessively on the outflow path 120 and the flow is not hindered.
[0036]
Note that the flow at the entrance portion of the alignment path is inevitably deteriorated because the game balls are distributed to the alignment paths. Therefore, in order to avoid excessively stopping the game balls at the entrance portion of the alignment path, the second resistance member 123 made of canvas is laid on the outflow path 120. That is, by laying the second resistance member 123, the flow of game balls toward the alignment path is limited to some extent. Further, since the friction coefficient inside the introduction rod 30 is smaller than the friction coefficient between the second resistance member 123 and the game ball, the game ball smoothly flows into the lower portion of the drive roller 23 after entering the alignment path. As a result, it is reduced that the game balls are excessively gathered at the entrance portion of the alignment path and obstruct the flow.
[0037]
In this way, by making a difference in the coefficient of friction between the bottom surface of each flow path and the game ball, and making the flow of game balls different at each location, the part where the course direction changes and the entrance part to the alignment path The game ball is prevented from being excessively stopped at a place where the flow of the game ball is deteriorated, and the like, and a smooth flow of the game ball is ensured. It is early.
[0038]
In the embodiment described above, natural rubber is used for the first resistance member 113 and flax cloth (canvas) is used for the second resistance member 123. However, an appropriate difference is made in the coefficient of friction with the game ball. As long as it can be used, the resistance member is not limited to those illustrated. In the embodiment, the first resistance member 113 is laid on the entire surface of the bottom plate of the inflow passage 110. However, the first resistance member is only applied to a part from the inflow from the recovery rod 3 side to the drop port 111. 113 may be laid.
[0039]
【The invention's effect】
According to the game ball guiding path according to the present invention, the coefficient of friction between the game ball in the inflow path portion that receives the used game balls collected through the collection basket from both the left and right directions, and the center of the inflow path. The difference in the coefficient of friction with the game ball at the outflow path that receives the game ball that has fallen from the provided drop port and leads to the introduction port of the lifting device, and the ease of flow of the game ball is different at each location As a result, it is possible to prevent the game balls from stopping excessively in places where the flow of the game balls deteriorates, such as the part where the course direction changes or the entrance to the alignment path, and the smooth flow of the game balls is secured and transported. The speed at which game balls are taken into the apparatus can be increased.
[0040]
Furthermore, if the coefficient of friction with the game ball in the outflow path is greater than the coefficient of friction with the game ball in the alignment path, the flow of the game ball toward the alignment path is limited to some extent. In addition, since the flow after entering the alignment path becomes smooth, the game balls do not stop excessively at the entrance portion of the alignment path, and the speed at which the game balls are taken in can be further increased.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a top view showing a game ball guiding path according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an installed state of a game ball guiding path according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a side view showing a game ball lifting and polishing apparatus connected to a game ball guiding path according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a lower part of the game ball guiding path and the game ball lifting and polishing apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the game ball lifting and polishing apparatus is viewed from the side of the introduction cage.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine island 2 ... Pachinko machine 3 ... Collecting bowl 4 ... Lower tank 5 ... Upper tank 7 ... Replenishing bowl 10 ... Game ball lifting polishing apparatus 20 ... Main-body part 22 ... Standing frame 23 ... Drive roller 23a ... Motor 24 ... driven roller 25 ... lifting belt 26 ... backup roller 30 ... introduction rod 31 ... introduction port 32 ... lower introduction rod 33 ... upper introduction rod 34 ... bottom plate 35 ... side wall 36 ... threshold wall 40 ... discharge port 50 ... guide frame portion 70 ... locking mechanism 80 ... clearance adjustment mechanism 91 ... fixed clamper 92 ... movable clamper 95 ... tension main adjustment part 96 ... tension fine adjustment part 100 ... game ball guiding path 110 ... inflow path 111 ... drop port 113 ... first resistance member 120 ... outlet passage 123 ... second resistance member 130 ... frame

Claims (3)

In the game ball guiding path for guiding the used game balls flowing in from both the left and right directions through the recovery rod toward the lifting device having the introduction port in the direction orthogonal to the recovery rod,
An inflow path for receiving the game balls collected by the collection basket from both ends, a drop opening opened at a substantially center of the inflow path, and an outflow path for receiving the game balls that are arranged below the drop opening and fall from the drop opening And comprising the one that is orthogonal to the inflow channel and that is inclined downward toward the introduction port,
A surface that contacts the game ball in the inflow path is formed by a first resistance member,
A surface that contacts the game ball in the outflow path is formed by a second resistance member,
It said first resistor element is much larger than that of the friction coefficient and the second resistance member between the game balls,
A game ball guide path, wherein a friction coefficient between the second resistance member and the game ball is larger than a friction coefficient between an alignment path following the outflow path and the game ball. The game ball guiding path according to claim 1, wherein the first resistance member is natural rubber and the second resistance member is a canvas. The game ball guiding path according to claim 1, wherein the inflow path and the outflow path are integrally supported by a frame.

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