JP4497279B2 - Ball delivery control mechanism for ball game machines - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball game machine including a ball storage tank that stores game balls, and a motor-driven ball payout device that pays out game balls guided from the ball storage tank according to winning conditions. The present invention relates to a payout control mechanism for a ball payout device that operates while receiving pressure from a game ball stored upstream of the ball payout device.

  Conventionally, ball ball game machines that use game balls as game media, such as pachinko machines, have used a ball payout device that pays out game balls according to the winning state, above the ball payout device. A ball storage tank that stores a large number of game balls and a guide passage that aligns the game balls stored in the ball storage tank and guides them to the ball dispensing device are provided, and the ball dispensing device is paid out from the ball dispensing device below. A ball payout passage for guiding the game ball to the ball tray in front of the gaming machine is formed, and a control device for controlling the operation of the ball payout device is provided to constitute a ball payout control mechanism.

In recent ball payout devices, the number of game balls to be paid out at the time of a single winning (referred to as the number of payout winning balls) can be arbitrarily set, and according to winning conditions such as the type and timing of the winning equipment won. A motor-driven ball payout device is generally used so that a plurality of types of payout winning ball numbers can be set, and furthermore, payout at the time of lending a ball in a so-called CR machine can be supported. The motor-driven ball payout device includes a ball payout motor whose rotation is controlled by a control device, and a ball feed rotating body driven by the ball payout motor. It is configured to move out to the ball payout passage side by turning the feed rotating body and pay out the game ball (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-164626 (pages 24 to 25, FIG. 28)

Here, as shown in FIG. 15, a specific configuration example of the ball payout device in the ball payout control mechanism has a guide passage that guides the game balls by aligning them above the payout device 53 in the recent ball payout control mechanism balls. Two rows are formed, and the ball feeding rotating body 53r of the ball dispensing device has a front and rear two-stage impeller configuration corresponding to the front and rear guide passages 52a and 52b. The front row side impeller 53r ₁ and the back row side impeller 53r ₂ are each provided with three receiving portions for receiving game balls at a pitch of 120 degrees, and the angular positions of the receiving portions in the front and rear impellers are offset by 60 degrees. The front and rear impellers are shown as (a) and (b), respectively, showing the angular positional relationship between the front and rear row impellers at a certain stop timing and the state of the game balls waiting to be aligned in the guide passage. Are configured to alternately receive the game balls in the receiving portion, and move the received game balls one by one from the guide path side to the ball payout path side by the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 53r. For this reason, by controlling the rotation angle of the ball payout motor 53m and setting the rotation angle of the ball feed rotating body 53r to n times 60 degrees (n = 1, 2, 3,...), The impeller is single-staged. In any case, an arbitrary number of game balls can be paid out regardless of whether the number is an odd number or an even number. In addition, by switching the rotation direction of the ball payout motor clockwise or counterclockwise, for example, the payout of the prize ball and the lending of the ball are divided according to the rotation direction of the motor, or the ball path to be paid out is divided into different paths. It is also possible to do.

  By the way, in the payout control mechanism, the ball storage tank is disposed at the upper side and the ball payout device is disposed at the lower side so that the game balls stored in the ball storage tank flow down to the ball payout device by the weight of the game balls themselves. The guide passage is formed with a large drop between them. For this reason, pressure based on the own weight of a large number of game balls stored on the upstream side acts on each part of the ball dispensing device that comes into contact with the game ball, and the ball feed rotator and the bearing unit that supports the ball feed rotator A ball payout motor or the like for rotating the ball feed rotating body is required to have strength and rotational torque corresponding to the magnitude of the acting pressure. In particular, a large starting torque is required at the time of rotation starting to rotate the ball feeding rotating body from a stopped state where the storage balls are closely connected, and a high torque motor that satisfies this is required, and the ball feeding rotating body and the bearing portion In addition, it is necessary to have a strength that does not cause damage or shaft run-off against the reaction force acting at the start of rotation.

  For this reason, in addition to the problem that the ball payout motor itself becomes large and expensive, the ball feed rotating body, the bearing portion that supports the ball feed rotating body, the support portion that supports the ball payout motor, and the like are similarly increased in size. There has been a problem that the use of materials has been advanced, and the entire ball dispenser has become larger and more expensive. In addition, even if a relatively large ball dispensing device as described above is used, each part and bearing part of the ball-feed rotating body that receives strong pressure from the game ball is likely to wear with long-term use, and stable for a long time. There has been a need for a payout control mechanism that can be activated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the circumstances as described above, and even with a ball dispensing device using a relatively small motor, an appropriate dispensing operation is possible, which contributes to downsizing and cost reduction of the device, and for a long time. It is an object to provide a payout control mechanism that can be stably operated.

To achieve the above object, the present invention includes a ball storage tank that stores game balls, a ball payout device that is provided below the ball storage tank and that pays out a predetermined number of game balls according to winning conditions, A guide passage that is connected between the ball storage tank and the ball payout device and that aligns the game balls stored in the ball storage tank and guides the ball to the ball payout device, and the game ball paid out from the ball payout device A ball payout path that leads to the ball payout path, and a control device that controls the operation of the ball payout device. The ball payout device has a ball payout motor whose rotation is controlled by the control device, and a ball feed rotation driven by the ball payout motor. A motor-driven ball payout device that moves a game ball, which is aligned and waiting in the guide passage, to the ball payout passage side by rotation of the ball feed rotating body, and pays out the game ball. , To flow down the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank And aligning passage aligning with extent, to a ball dispensing control mechanism of the waiting path and comprising a ball-shooting game machine receives the aligned game ball in an aligned passage leading to a sphere dispenser lower. In the present invention Sonouede, in the waiting path, receiving position for exemption the pressure on the downstream side of the game ball with receiving a pressure acting from the gaming balls stored in the upstream side, and a game ball that is stored on the upstream side A pressure receiving member provided to be displaceable at a release position where the pressure receiving member is allowed to flow down to the downstream side; and a pressure receiving member driving means for displacing the pressure receiving member to the pressure receiving position or the release position. The pressure receiving member is received by the pressure receiving member driving means. In the standby passage where the number of game balls stopped in the standby passage between the pressure receiving member and the ball feed rotating body located at the position equal to or greater than the number of game balls that can be paid out at once according to the winning conditions in the game board is disposed at a position, the control device, prior to starting rotation of the ball disbursement motor actuates the pressure receiving member drive means to position the pressure receiving member to the pressure receiving position, ball disbursement motor is rotated activated predetermined Constituting a ball disbursement control mechanism so as to position the pressure receiving member to the release position after elapse between.

In this ball payout control mechanism, the guide passage connecting the ball storage tank and the ball payout device is stored upstream in a standby passage that receives the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guides them to the lower ball payout device. The pressure receiving position that receives the pressure acting on the game ball and reduces the pressure acting on the downstream game ball and the release position that allows the game ball stored on the upstream side to flow down to the downstream side are provided so as to be displaceable. And a pressure receiving member driving means for displacing the pressure receiving member to a pressure receiving position or a release position. Here, “reducing pressure” means reducing or excluding pressure acting on the downstream game ball from the game ball stored on the upstream side, and acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side. When the pressure receiving member receives a part of the pressure to reduce the pressure acting on the downstream game ball, and when the pressure receiving member receives all the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side, the downstream game ball It is a concept that includes both cases of exempting the pressure acting on the. In the ball payout control mechanism, the control device operates the pressure receiving member driving means prior to the rotation start of the ball payout motor so that the pressure acting on the downstream game ball is reduced by placing the pressure receiving member in the pressure receiving position. Composed.

The ball payout control mechanism includes a ball presence detection sensor for detecting whether or not a sufficient amount of game balls capable of paying out game balls are held in the standby passage. It is preferable that the pressure receiving member driving means and the ball payout motor are operated when it is detected by the sensor that sufficient game balls are held in the standby passage.

  According to the above configuration, the pressure receiving member is a standby passage for guiding the game balls aligned in the alignment passage to the lower ball payout device among the guide passages connecting the ball storage tank and the ball payout device, that is, the entire guide passage. When the rotation of the ball payout motor is started, the ball payout motor is started in a state in which the pressure receiving member is disposed at the pressure receiving position and the pressure acting on the downstream game ball is reduced, and the ball feed rotating body Is rotated. For this reason, the pressure acting from the game ball at the time of starting the rotation of the ball payout motor is reduced to a weight corresponding to the number of game balls stopped between the pressure receiving member and the ball feed rotating body in the standby passage. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to greatly reduce the starting torque at the time of starting the rotation, which requires the largest rotational torque, thereby enabling the use of a smaller motor than the conventional one, and also for the ball feed rotating body and the bearing portion, etc. Similarly, it can be miniaturized or constructed using general materials. Accordingly, even a ball dispensing device using a relatively small motor can ensure an appropriate dispensing operation, and the device can be reduced in size and cost, and can be stably operated for a long time by reducing the load. A payout control mechanism can be provided.

  In addition, when the pressure receiving member is positioned at the pressure receiving position, the number of game balls stopped between the pressure receiving member and the ball feed rotating body can be paid out at a time according to winning conditions on the game board. By providing the pressure receiving member at a position where the number of balls is equal to or greater than the number of balls, it is possible to realize a quick and stable dispensing operation while reducing the ball pressure load acting on the ball dispensing device.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a front view and a rear view of a pachinko machine as an example of a ball game machine to which a payout control mechanism according to the present invention is applied. First, referring to these figures, the pachinko machine PM The overall configuration will be described briefly.

  In the pachinko machine PM, the front frame 2 for opening and closing mounted on the front surface of the outer frame 1 that is configured to have a rectangular frame size and forms a vertically fixed holding frame is arranged on the front surface of the opening and closing mounted to each other. A hinge mechanism 3 arranged on the upper left and right sides of the front side is attached to the front so as to be openable and detachable and detachable, and is always engaged and connected to the outer frame 1 using a locking device 4 provided on the right side of the front side. Kept in a state.

  On the front side (front side) upper part of the front frame 2, a glass door 5 is attached to the front so that it can be opened / closed and detached detachably, and the front side of the front frame 2 is always fixed using a locking device 4 provided on the right side of the front. The cover is kept closed. An upper part of the front frame located behind the glass door 5 is provided with an accommodation frame for detachably accommodating the game board 20, and the game board 20 latched and held in this accommodation frame in a standing posture is provided on the glass door. 5 is visible.

  The game board 20 has a decorative board 21 in which cells are pasted on the surface of a laminated plywood having a predetermined thickness and a router processing as a substrate, and inner and outer guide rails 22 are fixed on the front side in a circular arc shape so as to have a substantially circular game area. PA is partitioned. In the game area PA, there are a large number of game nails and game components such as a windmill, various prize-winning devices 23, 24, 25, a symbol display device 27 for displaying symbols according to the game development status, and left and right side lamps. It is attached and an out port 28 is formed at the lower end of the game area PA. A symbol display control device 87 for controlling the operation of the symbol display device 27 is attached to the center of the back side of the decorative plate 21, and a winning tool is dropped around the guide plate control device 87 and guided to the back side of the decorative plate 21. The safe balls and the out balls (collectively referred to as “played balls”) guided to the back side of the decorative plate 21 through the out port 28 are connected to the back set board 30 along the back surface of the decorative plate 21. A ball gathering cover 29 that leads to the game-completed ball discharge passage is attached.

  An auxiliary mechanism portion called a game auxiliary board is provided at the front side intermediate portion of the front frame 2, and an upper ball tray 6 is attached to the front side of the front frame 2 so that it can be opened and closed laterally and attached detachably. It is always kept in a closed state that covers the front surface of the game assisting board by using the ball tray locking device. A game ball launching device 9 is attached to the lower part of the rear surface of the front frame 2, and a game rail that guides the game ball hit by the hammer of the game ball launching device 9 and launches it toward the outer rail on the game assisting board. In addition, a speaker for generating sound effects according to the game development status is provided.

  A lower ball tray 7 is attached to the front lower portion of the front frame 2 so as to protrude forward, and a launching handle 8 for performing a game ball launching operation is attached to the right side thereof.

  On the other hand, on the back side (rear side) of the front frame 2, a game-completed ball discharge passage that collects the game balls guided along the back surface of the decorative plate 21 and flows down to the game island recovery device, A back set board 30 having a ball processing mechanism such as a ball payout control mechanism for paying out game balls according to the payout conditions is attached to the rear of the front frame 2 so as to be opened and closed laterally and detachable. It is held in a closed state covering the back surface.

  The back set board 30 has a base frame 31 formed in a rectangular frame shape somewhat smaller than the inner size of the outer frame 1 having a window 32 for receiving the game board symbol display control device 87 at the center. The base has a front and back two-layer structure in which a ball passage such as a ball discharge passage, a ball payout control mechanism, and a ball removal mechanism are three-dimensionally formed on the front and back. In addition, on each rear part of the base frame 31, a main control device 81 that comprehensively controls the operation of the pachinko machine PM, a ball payout control device 82 that controls the payout operation of the game ball, and operation control of effect lighting and sound effects Various control devices such as a lamp / voice control device 83, a power supply unit 84 for supplying power to each control device and electronic components, a terminal board 85 for inputting / outputting signals and power to / from the game facility side, a ball payout Electronic parts such as the device 53 are attached, and these are connected by a connector cable (not shown) so that the pachinko machine PM can be operated.

  The pachinko machine PM is provided to the game with the upper ball tray 6 and the glass door 5 closed and locked, and the game is started by storing the game ball in the upper ball tray 6 and rotating the launch handle 8. The When the firing handle 8 is turned, the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 6 are sent one by one to the launch rail by the ball feeding device mounted on the back of the upper ball tray, and the game ball launching device 9 It is launched by a hammer and fired into the game area PA, and then a pachinko game is developed.

  Now, in the pachinko machine PM generally configured as described above, regarding the payout process of the game ball when the game ball launched into the game area PA falls into each winning tool, the configuration of each related part is a little more detailed explain. There are various types of prizes provided on the game board, including the appearance design and actions at the time of winning, and any type of prizes may be used depending on the gauge setting. For example, the gaming board 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 shows an example in which three types of prizes are provided: a general prize 23, a start prize 24, and an attacker device 25.

  The general winning tool 23 is a fixed winning tool having a winning opening into which a game ball can drop, and a winning detection sensor 23s for detecting the gaming ball is attached to the inside of the winning hole. A safe ball guiding path for guiding the dropped safe ball to the back side of the decorative board 21 is provided at the rear portion of the general winning device 23, and the safe ball that has dropped into the general winning device 23 is detected by the winning detection sensor 23s. Then, it is discharged to the collection device on the game island through the safe ball guide path and the game-completed ball discharge path.

  The starting prize-winning tool 24 is a so-called electric tulip-type movable prize-winning tool, and can open and close the left and right tulip blades to enlarge / reduce the winning opening. A safe ball guiding path for guiding the winning safe ball to the back side of the decorative board 21 is provided at the rear of the start winning tool 24, and a winning detection sensor 24s for detecting a game ball flowing down the guiding path is attached. The safe ball won in the start winning tool 24 is detected by the winning ball detection sensor 24s, and is discharged to the collection device on the game island through the safe ball guide path and the played ball discharge path.

  The attacker device 25 is a so-called attacker-type movable winning tool, and an open / close door that covers a horizontal rectangular large winning opening is attached to be openable and closable. The open / close door is normally closed, and when a special game state is established under predetermined winning conditions during the game, the upper part of the open / close door is tilted forward approximately 90 degrees to open the large winning opening. The left and right area openings are provided inside the big winning opening, and winning detection sensors 25 s and 25 t are provided respectively, and on the rear side of the attacker device 25, the two opening areas are connected to penetrate the decorative plate 21. Two safe ball guide paths are provided, and the safe ball that has entered the big winning opening is detected by the winning detection sensors 25s and 25t through one of the area openings, and the safe ball guide path and the game-completed ball discharge path It is discharged to the collection device on the amusement island.

  Detection signals from the winning detection sensors 23s, 24s, 25s, and 25t are output to the main control device 81, and the main control device 81 controls the operation of the pachinko machine PM based on the input detection signals. For example, when a game ball falls into the start winning opening 24 and a winning detection signal is output from the winning detection sensor 24s, the main controller 81 determines that the gaming ball has dropped into the winning tool from the input signal. It is detected that the winning tool is the start winning opening 24, and a game program corresponding to the winning conditions is called and executed. Specifically, the symbol combination lottery is performed in the main control device, the lottery result is output to the symbol display control device 87, and the symbols displayed on the symbol display device 27 are controlled to fluctuate and stop. For example, a blinking display of a side lamp or generation of a sound effect by a speaker is performed via the lamp / voice control device 83. Further, the ball payout control device 82 outputs a payout command signal corresponding to the winning condition, and operates the ball payout device 53 to perform the game ball payout operation.

  On the other hand, a ball payout control mechanism that performs a payout operation of game balls is provided on the back set board 30 that is always located behind the game board 20 and held closed. FIG. 3 is a rear view of the right frame rod 33 portion of the back set board including the ball payout control mechanism, and FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the state of the ball passage inside the right frame rod. FIG. The basic configuration such as the guide passage and the operation of the ball dispensing device will be described with reference to FIG. The main part of the ball payout mechanism is provided on the back side of the back set board 30 and will be described with reference mainly to the rear view. Hereinafter, the left and right directions in the rear view shown in FIG. The other side (pachinko machine front side) in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface will be referred to as the front, and the front side (the back side) will be referred to as the rear.

  The ball payout control mechanism is attached to the lower left portion of the base frame body 31 in the back set board 30 and stores a game ball, and is attached to the lower portion of the right frame rod 33 of the base frame body 31 to store the game ball. A ball payout device 53 for paying out, a guide passage provided between the ball storage tank 41 and the ball payout device 53 and arranged to guide the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 41 and lead to the ball payout device 53, ball payout An operation of the ball payout device 53 is provided below the device 53 and attached to the lower part of the rear surface of the base frame 31 and the ball payout passage 60 for guiding the game balls discharged from the ball payout device to the upper and lower ball dishes 6 and 7. And a pressure receiving control unit 100 that adjusts the pressure of the game ball that is provided in the guide passage and acts on the ball paying device 53.

  The ball storage tank 41 is a box-shaped body with an open top surface, and can store about 500 to 800 game balls inside the tank. The bottom surface of the sphere storage tank 41 is gently inclined leftward and forwardly, and an opening communicating with the upper and lower sides is formed in the front left and connected to the lower guide passage. The guide passage includes an alignment passage that aligns the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank 41 in the process of flowing down, and a standby passage that receives the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guides them to the lower ball dispensing device 53. The passage is formed in a tank rail 42 attached immediately below the ball storage tank, and the standby passage is formed before and after the S-shaped rail 52 attached to the right frame rod 33.

  The tank rail 42 has a hook-like body surrounded by front and rear wall surfaces in the mounting posture screwed to the base frame body 31 above the window 32, and has a rib-like shape whose height increases toward the right on the bottom surface. The partition wall 42w is erected to form two rows of alignment passages 42a and 42b in the front and rear. The tank rail 42 is attached at an inclination angle of about 4 degrees from the upper left ball storage tank 41 side toward the lower right standby passage side, and the game balls stacked in the vertical direction are leveled in the middle of the passage. A ball leveling tool 43 is suspended, and the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank 41 are aligned in the process of flowing down toward the downstream side of the slope. It flows down to the standby passage side in a state of being aligned with 42b. The inclined end portion of the tank rail 42, that is, the end portions of the alignment passages 42 a and 42 b are smoothly bent downward and connected to the standby passage by a deflection outlet 42 e opened at the lower end.

  An S-shaped rail 52 that receives the game balls sent from the deflection outlet 42e and waits in an aligned state in the standby passages 52a and 52b, and a standby passage that is attached to the lower side of the S-shaped rail 52 are attached to the right frame rod 33. The ball payout device 53 for paying out the game balls waiting on the basis of a predetermined payout condition and the rear of the S-shaped rail 52 supported by the right frame rod 33 are attached to the front and rear surfaces of the S-shaped rail 52. A lid member 58 or the like for forming two rows of standby passages is attached. Further, between the deflection outlet 42e and the S-shaped rail 52, a ball detection sensor 51 for detecting whether or not sufficient game balls capable of paying out game balls are held in the waiting passages 52a and 52b. Are attached detachably, and between the payout outlet of the ball payout device 53 and the ball payout passage 60, ball counting sensors 54 and 54 for detecting the paid game balls and counting their real numbers are associated. It is provided so that it can be removed.

  The S-shaped rail 52 has a partition wall 52w formed in the middle, and a passage wall 52L erected in parallel on the left and right sides with a space slightly larger than the ball diameter of the game ball on the front and rear surfaces sandwiching the partition wall. A concave passage groove surrounded by passage walls 52L and 52R is formed on the front and rear sides of the partition wall 52w. The front and rear passage grooves are bent as shown in FIG. 4 so that the ball pressure due to the weight of the game ball located on the upstream side is loaded on the downstream side and does not become excessive pressure. The S-shaped rail 52 is configured separately from the base frame 31 for easy cleaning of the passage groove, etc., and is inserted into a support boss 34 erected on the right frame rod 33 so as to be positioned and supported. The member 58 is fixed to the right frame rod 33 by screwing.

  When the S-shaped rail 52 is fixed to the right frame rod 33, the opening portions of the front and rear passage grooves are covered with the support surface of the front right frame rod 33 and the rear lid member 58, and the front and rear two rows of standby passages 52a. , 52b are formed. A part of the upper passage wall in the S-shaped rail 52 is notched, and is always closed by a flow path switching member 55 in which a passage wall 55a corresponding to the notch is formed. The lower end portion of the S-shaped rail 52 is formed so as to be aligned with the receiving port of the ball dispensing device 53, and guides the game balls introduced from the deflection outlet 42e to the ball dispensing device 53 in a two-row alignment state. When the apparatus is stopped, the game balls are placed on standby in the standby passages 52a and 52b.

The ball payout device 53 is formed with receiving ports 53a and 53b for receiving game balls by communicating with standby passages 52a and 52b in front and rear of the upper center, and payout ports 53c and 53d for paying out game balls on the left and right sides of the lower part. Inside the case, there are provided a ball feed rotating body 53r having two front and rear impellers, and a ball payout motor 53m for rotating the ball feed rotating body. The front row side impeller 53r ₁ and the back row side impeller 53r ₂ of the ball feed rotating body 53r are each provided with three U-groove shaped receiving portions for receiving game balls at intervals of 120 degrees, and the front and rear impellers are respectively The angular position of the receiving part is offset by 60 degrees. For this reason, the game balls supplied from the receiving ports 53a and 53b are alternately received by the receiving portions of the front and rear impellers 53r ₁ and 53r ₂ with the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 53r. One by one is moved to the right or left passage in the cassette and is paid out to the ball payout passage 60 from either the left or right payout outlets 53c, 53d.

  The ball payout control device 82 receives a payout command signal corresponding to the winning conditions in the game board 20 from the main control device 81, and the ball payout control device 82 responds to the payout command signal input from the main control device 81. The motor driving signal is output to the ball paying device 53. The ball paying device 53 operates the ball paying motor 53m based on the input motor driving signal, and the ball feeding rotary body 53r is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise. The amount of game balls corresponding to the motor drive signal is paid out to the ball payout passage 60 from the right or left payout ports 53d and 53c.

  In the so-called CR machine to which the prepaid card unit 90 is connected, a CR operation panel 92 having a ball lending request button is provided on the front side of the upper ball tray 6, and an output signal thereof is input to the ball payout control device 82. The ball payout control device 82 outputs a motor drive signal corresponding to the ball lending request signal input from the CR operation panel 92 to the ball payout device 53, and the ball payout device 53 is based on the input motor drive signal. The ball payout motor 53m is actuated to rotate the ball feed rotating body 53r counterclockwise or clockwise by a required rotation angle, and the number of game balls corresponding to the motor drive signal are left or right payout outlets 53c, 53d. To the ball payout passage 60.

  The game balls paid out from the ball payout outlets 53c and 53d are detected by the ball counting sensors 54 and 54, and the ball payout control device 82 receives the game balls paid out from the detection signal input from the ball counting sensor. The quantity is counted and compared with the target quantity related to the motor drive signal, and the operation of the ball dispensing device 53 is controlled. As a result, a number of game balls corresponding to the payout command signal input from the main controller 81 or the ball lending request signal input from the CR operation panel 92 are paid out to the ball payout passage 60, and the ball payout passage 60 is switched. It moves down and is paid out to the upper ball tray 6 or the lower ball tray 7.

  The ball presence detection sensor 51 provided at the upper portion of the standby passage detects whether or not the game balls are waiting for alignment up to the upper position where the ball presence detection sensor is disposed, thereby paying out the game balls. Is a sensor for determining whether or not a sufficient quantity (for example, about 35) of game balls can be held, and a detection signal thereof is output to the ball payout control device 82. The ball payout control device 82 restricts the operation of the ball payout device 53 and generates a predetermined alarm when the detection signal input from the ball presence detection sensor 51 is in the absence of a ball.

  Further, an upper ball stop mechanism is provided in the downstream portion of the alignment passage, and an upper ball removal mechanism is provided in the upstream portion of the standby passage. The upper ball stopper mechanism includes a ball stopper member 45 that is positioned above the deflection outlet 42e and pivotally supported in a plane parallel to the support surface of the base frame 31. The ball stopper member 45 is formed with a hook-shaped hook portion in accordance with the arrangement positions of the front and rear alignment passages 42a and 42b. The ball stopper member 45 is swung counterclockwise to remove the front and rear hook portions. By projecting into the alignment passage, it is possible to stop the flow of game balls located upstream from the hook portion.

  The upper ball removing mechanism includes a flow path switching member 55 pivotally supported on the back side of the right frame rod 33 in a plane parallel to the support surface of the right frame rod, and a right side on the front side of the right frame rod 33. The operation member 56 is mounted so as to be swingable in a direction orthogonal to the support surface of the frame cage, and a ball removal passage 57 that guides a game ball that overflows when the standby passage is opened to a collection device on the game island.

  A passage wall 55a having a wall shape corresponding to a notch portion of the S-shaped rail 52 is formed in the lower portion of the flow path switching member 55, and the pivot shaft 35 of the right frame rod is formed by a pivot hole formed in the middle portion. It is pivotally supported by the rocker. The flow path switching member 55 is always held at a closed position where the notch portion of the S-shaped rail is closed by the engagement with the engagement protrusion of the operation member 56, and the game balls supplied from the upstream side are in standby in two rows. The balls 52a and 52b are guided to the ball dispensing device 53 in an aligned state. On the other hand, when the operation lever portion of the operation member 56 is swung backward, the engagement between the engagement protrusion and the flow path switching member is released, and the flow path switching member 55 is swung counterclockwise to be released. The game balls overflowing from the cut-out portion thus made flow down to the game island collection device via the ball removal channel 57.

  For this reason, the game ball stored in the ball storage tank 41 or the tank rail 42 is removed by restricting the flow of the game ball using the upper ball stop mechanism and performing the ball removal operation using the upper ball removal mechanism. Without removing all the balls, only the game balls located in the vicinity of the detection sensor 51 with a sphere are extracted, and the maintenance inspection and replacement work of the detection sensor 51 with a sphere can be performed.

  Now, a pressure receiving control unit is provided in an intermediate portion of the standby passages 52a and 52b in the payout mechanism configured as described above, thereby constituting a ball payout control mechanism. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the pressure receiving control unit 100 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pressure-receiving control unit 100 as viewed from the diagonally left rear side, FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view as seen in the direction of arrows VI-VI in FIG. 4, and FIG. 7 is VII-VII in FIG. It is the sectional side view seen in the arrow direction. 8 is a block diagram mainly showing the control mode of the ball payout control mechanism, FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing the drive timing of the solenoid and the ball payout motor in the ball payout control mechanism, and FIGS. 10 and 11 show the pressure receiving member at the pressure receiving position. FIG. 12 is a rear view of the pressure receiving control unit 100 when the ball is stopped by the ball stop key.

Broadly speaking, the pressure receiving control unit 100 is supported by the S-shaped rail 52 so as to be swingable, receives pressure acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side, and applies pressure acting on the game ball on the downstream side. The pressure receiving position P _r to be reduced or released, the release position P _f to transmit the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side to the downstream game ball as it is without reducing the pressure, and the game ball stored on the upstream side are dammed A pressure receiving member 120 that is displaceably provided at a ball stop position that restricts the game ball from flowing down to the downstream side, and a pressure receiving member drive mechanism that is attached to the lid member 58 to displace the pressure receiving member 120 to a pressure receiving position or a release position. 130, and a ball stop structure 140 for locking the pressure receiving member 120 at the ball stop position. In this embodiment, a form (common form) in which the pressure receiving position _Pr and the ball stop position at the rocking angle position of the pressure receiving member 120 are set to the same rocking angle position is shown.

  The pressure receiving member 120 as a whole has a tongue-like shape extending to the left and right, a cylindrical bearing 121 formed on the right end side of the main body plate portion in the front-rear direction, and a pressure receiving pressure described below on the left end side of the main body plate portion. Two pressure-receiving projections 122a and 122b that are formed to project downward in a bowl shape in accordance with the formation position of the projecting insertion portion, a tapered spring column 123 that is molded to project downward at the center of the lower surface of the body plate portion, and the main body It consists of an operation knob 124 etc. that extends to the left by extending the central part on the left end side of the plate part, and injects resin materials such as ABS resin and nylon resin polyacetal resin to which toughness is enhanced by adding glass fiber or carbon fiber It is formed by integral molding by molding means such as molding. The pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are formed to have a height that can protrude to the standby passages 52a and 52b with a protrusion amount of about 10 to 30% of the ball diameter of the game ball, while the main body plate portion can be elastically deformed to the same extent in the vertical direction. It is configured as follows.

  The S-shaped rail 52 has a support boss 111 that supports the front and rear bearings 121 via the support shaft 125, and front and rear pressure receiving openings formed in the passage wall 52L in accordance with the positions where the front and rear standby passages 52a and 52b are formed. The protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b, and a column receiving hole 113 formed so as to be able to receive the column tip portion while supporting the return spring 126 at the periphery of the opening at the wall surface position facing the spring column 123 of the pressure receiving member. Note that the rear portion of the passage wall of the standby passage 52b on the rear row side is formed on the lid member 58 side (see FIGS. 6 and 7), and therefore the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portion 112b on the rear row side is a notch opened rearward. It is in the shape.

  The pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b are formed in the bent portion of the S-shaped rail 52 so as to match the center of the front and rear standby passages 52a and 52b, on the downstream side of the standby passage, and between the pressure receiving protrusion and the ball feed rotating body 53r. The game balls that satisfy the quantity of game balls to be paid out in accordance with the winning conditions (maximum payout quantity of 15 prize balls in this embodiment) can be stopped.

  The pressure receiving member 120 is positioned in the front and back of the support boss 111 and coaxially aligned, and the support 125 is inserted into the support boss 111 from the front or the rear of the bearing 121 to be S-shaped. It is pivotally supported on the rail 52 so as to swing up and down. Then, the return spring 126 is fitted to the base end portion of the spring column 123 and supported on the periphery of the column receiving hole 113, whereby the pressure receiving member 120 is urged upward (clockwise), and the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are formed. The pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b are disposed so as to be retracted.

  On the other hand, the pressure receiving member drive mechanism 130 includes a rotary-type solenoid 131 that rotates the rotor shaft 131a by a solenoid drive signal, and a cam-type drive transmission tool 132 that is fixed to the tip of the rotor shaft 131a.

  The solenoid 131 includes a case, a drive coil and a yoke housed in the case, a rotor shaft rotatably supported by the case, a return spring and a stopper for returning the rotor shaft 131a to a reference angular position, and the like. When the solenoid drive signal is energized (turned on), the rotor shaft 131a is rotated within a predetermined angle counterclockwise in the rear view, and when the solenoid drive signal is turned OFF, the rotor shaft 131a is rotated clockwise. Thus, the self-returning rotary solenoid returns to the reference angular position. At the tip of the rotor shaft 131a, a flat chamfered portion (not shown) is formed for fitting and supporting the drive transmission tool 132 to transmit the rotational driving force.

  On the other hand, the drive transmission tool 132 is an egg-shaped cam as shown in each figure, and a shaft hole having the same shape as the shaft end shape of the rotor shaft 131a and having a slightly smaller dimension passes through the front and rear of the cam shaft. A cam protrusion 132t protruding in the outer peripheral direction is formed on the peripheral surface. The drive transmission tool 132 is formed by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material having a small friction coefficient and high wear resistance such as polyacetal resin or high-molecular polyethylene.

  In the case of the solenoid 131, two flange portions 131b projecting in the outer peripheral direction are provided in two axially symmetrical positions, and screw insertion holes for fixing the solenoid 131 are formed in the flange portion 131b. The lid member 58 is formed with a rotor shaft insertion hole 58a through which the solenoid rotor shaft 131a is inserted, and a solenoid support boss 58b that receives the solenoid fixing screw 138 and fixes and supports the solenoid 131 at a predetermined angular position. Further, shaft receiving holes 39 and 59 for receiving and supporting the front and rear ends of the support shaft 125 are formed on the support surface of the right frame rod 33 and the front surface of the lid member 58.

  The solenoid 131 inserts the rotor shaft 131a into the rotor shaft insertion hole 58a, supports the flange 131b on the solenoid support boss 58b, and is screwed to the solenoid support boss 58b through the solenoid fixing screw 138 from the rear of the screw insertion hole. Thus, the lid member 58 is fixedly supported at a predetermined angular position. Further, the drive transmission tool 132 is attached to the solenoid 131 by press-fitting the drive transmission tool 132 into the tip end portion of the rotor shaft 131 a protruding to the front side of the lid member 58.

  Thus, the lid member 58 to which the solenoid 131 and the drive transmission tool 132 are attached is disposed so as to cover the rear side of the S-shaped rail 52, and the rear end portion of the support shaft 125 whose front end portion is supported by the shaft receiving hole 39 is provided. The pressure receiving member drive mechanism 130 is engaged with the shaft receiving hole 59 on the front surface side of the lid member, and is screwed to the support boss 34, the pivot shaft 35, etc. from the rear surface side of the lid member 58, so that the pressure receiving member drive mechanism 130 is 33 is positioned and attached. When the pressure receiving member driving mechanism 130 is attached, the drive transmission tool 132 is disposed at a predetermined angular position where the cam protrusion 132t faces obliquely downward to the left, and the pressure receiving member 120 engages with the drive transmission tool 132 so that the pressure receiving control unit 100 is engaged. It is formed. The operation of the pressure receiving control unit 100 is controlled by the ball payout control device 82 by connecting the signal line of the solenoid 131 to the ball payout control device 82.

  When the pressure receiving control unit 100 is attached, that is, when the solenoid drive signal is OFF, the pressure receiving member 120 is urged clockwise by the spring force of the return spring 126 so that the upper surface of the main body plate portion is in contact with the cam side surface of the drive transmission tool 132. The front and rear pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are engaged and held at a moving angle position retracted above the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b (see a partially enlarged view in FIG. 4). Therefore, the game balls flowing down the standby passages 52a and 52b do not contact the pressure receiving projections 122a and 122b, and flow down as they are toward the ball dispensing device 53.

Accordingly, at the swing angle position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pressure receiving control unit 100 transmits the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side of the pressure receiving member 120 to the game ball on the downstream side as it is. In this way, the swing angle position at which the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side is directly transmitted to the downstream game ball without being reduced or released is referred to as a release position _Pf . The ball dispensing control mechanism, in before the payout of game balls is started, the pressure receiving member 120 is disposed in the release position P _f in principle.

  On the other hand, in the ball payout control mechanism, the pressure receiving member driving mechanism 130 is operated to swing the pressure receiving member 120 when the game ball payout is started. Hereinafter, the operation of the ball payout control mechanism will be mainly described with reference to the block diagram of the control configuration in the ball payout control mechanism shown in FIG. 8 and the timing chart of the solenoid 131 and the ball payout motor 53m shown in FIG. . In addition, each figure of (a), (b), and (c) in FIG. 9 has illustrated the control timing when payout conditions differ, such as winning conditions in the game board 20, or ball lending by the ball lending request button on the CR operation panel 92. Is.

The main control device 81 receives detection signals from the winning detection sensors 23s, 24s, 25s, and 25t of the winning devices, and the main control device 81 receives the winning detection signals from the winning detection sensors. The winning condition is determined from the winning detection signal, and a payout command signal based on the winning condition is output to the ball payout control device 82. For example, when the winning detection signal is input from the winning detection sensor 23 s of the general winning tool 23 or the winning detection sensor 24 s of the start winning tool 24, the main controller 81 pays out when winning the winning tools 23, 24. quantity is determined from a small number (e.g., four or eight) table that corresponds to the set stored in the internal memory, and outputs a payout command signal C ₁ corresponding to the small number to a sphere payout controller 82. Similarly, when a winning detection signal is input from the winning detection sensors 25s and 25t of the attacker device 25, the main control device 81 corresponds to a large number (for example, 15) of payout quantities when winning a big winning opening. It determines, and outputs a payout command signal C ₂ corresponding to the large number to the ball dispensing control device 82.

In addition to the payout command signals C ₁ and C ₂ input from the main controller 81, a ball lending request signal C ₃ is input from the CR operation panel 92 to the ball payout control device 82. Ball lending is generally performed in units of 25, and the ball lending request signal is a signal for requesting the 25 payouts.

  When these signals are input to the ball payout control device 82, the ball payout control device 82 first refers to the detection signal of the ball presence detection sensor 51, and a sufficient number of game balls for paying out are placed in the standby passage. It is determined whether or not the storage is waited up to the top. When the detection signal is in the absence of a ball (for example, when the contact point of the ball detection sensor 51 is open), a ball break signal is output to the main control device 81, and the main control device 81 operates the ball payout device 53. The ball break indicator lamp on the front surface of the pachinko machine is turned on, and an alarm such as outputting a ball break signal to the management device on the game facility side is generated via the terminal board 85.

  On the other hand, when the detection signal of the ball presence detection sensor 51 is in a ball presence state (when the contact of the ball presence detection sensor 51 is closed), drive signals are output to the pressure receiving control unit 100 and the ball payout device 53, respectively. The game ball is paid out.

By the way, the payout command signals C ₁ and C ₂ and the ball lending request signal C ₃ input to the ball payout control device 82 are signals for requesting different numbers of payouts. Therefore, the ball payout control device 82 generates motor drive signals M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ corresponding to the quantity to be paid out (payout conditions) from the input payout command signal C (C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ ). It is generated and output to the ball payout motor 53m of the ball payout device 53. The ball payout control device 82 generates solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ for driving the solenoid 131 of the pressure receiving control unit 100 and outputs the solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ to the solenoid 131.

9 (1), (2), and (3), when the ball payout quantity is a small number (1), a large number (2), and a ball lending (3), and each of them is continuously operated multiple times (a plurality of payout commands). As shown in the timing chart, the relationship between the motor drive signals M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ and the solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ (when the signal C is accumulated and in the continuous payout state) is shown in the timing chart. The drive signal S (S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ ) is synchronized with the motor drive signal M (M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ ) immediately before the motor drive signal M is output (in other words, the ball payout motor 53m). This is a pulse-like drive signal that is turned on before the rotation of the motor is turned on and turned off after the motor drive signal M is output and a predetermined time has elapsed (after the rotation of the ball payout motor 53m is started).

  That is, when the solenoid drive signal S is turned on, the ball payout motor 53m has not yet rotated, and the game balls are aligned in two rows in the front and rear in the alignment passages 42a and 42b and the standby passages 52a and 52b. Is stored in a state of being closely connected from the ball storage tank 41 to the downstream ball dispensing device 53.

  When the solenoid drive signal S is turned ON, the rotor shaft 131a of the solenoid 131 rotates counterclockwise to rotate the drive transmission tool 132, and the cam protrusion 132t presses the main body plate portion of the pressure receiving member 120 downward. Therefore, the pressure receiving member 120 is swung counterclockwise about the support shaft 125, and the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b project to the standby passages 52a and 52b through the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b (FIG. 4 to FIG. 10). ).

  Therefore, in many cases, the game balls stopped in alignment in the standby passages 52a and 52b are hooked and locked by the pressure receiving protrusions 122b (122a) as shown in FIG. 11, the pressure receiving protrusion 122b (122a) is sandwiched between the distal end portion of the pressure receiving protrusion 122b (122a) and the passage wall 52R so as to be locked and held. As described above, the pressure receiving member 120 is configured such that the main body plate portion can be elastically deformed up and down to the same extent as the protruding amount of the pressure receiving protrusion. Even when the game ball is held as described above, the solenoid 131 The game ball is elastically locked and held in a state in which the game ball is frictionally engaged with the tip portions of the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b without exerting an excessive load on the drive transmission tool 132, the pressure receiving member 120, and the like. The pressure receiving member 120 may be formed of a metal plate by being balanced and elastically held at an equilibrium point with the rotational torque generated by the solenoid.

As a result, the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side is received by the pressure receiving member 120, and the pressure from the upstream side does not act on the downstream game ball. In this way, the pressure receiving member 120 receives the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side, and the swing angle position where the pressure to the game ball located on the downstream side is reduced or released (in this embodiment, the swing to be released). the dynamic angular position) of the pressure-receiving position _{P r.} Note that the pressure receiving member 120 is directly attached to the rotor shaft of the solenoid 131 by an indirect operation mode in which the body plate portion of the pressure receiving member 120 supported so as to be swingable is pressed by the cam-type drive transmission tool 132 to swing. Compared with the direct operation mode to be oscillated, it can be configured using a small rotary solenoid.

In a state where the pressure receiving member 120 is moved to the pressure-receiving position P _r, is reduced greatly the pressure acting on the game ball than the pressure receiving member 120 is aligned stand downstream, the ball disbursement motor 53m, thus pressure A motor drive signal from the ball payout control device 82 in a reduced state, more specifically, in a state where the weight is reduced to the weight of 15 to 18 balls positioned between the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b and the ball feed rotating body 53r. M is output.

The motor drive signals M ₁ , M ₂ , and M ₃ are signals that rotate the ball feed rotator 53r clockwise or counterclockwise by a rotation angle corresponding to the dispensed quantity. For example, a small number of dispense command signals C 240 ° ball disbursement motor when ₁ is four, 480 degrees in the case of eight, to rotate the ball feeding rotary member 53r outputs a motor drive signal M ₁ for rotating clockwise, right Pays out to the ball payout passage 60 from the payout exit 53d. The same applies to the case of a large number of payout signal, 15 a ball disbursement motor 900 degrees with respect to the payout command signal C ₂ (2.5 rotations) by outputting a motor drive signal M ₂ for rotating clockwise The ball feed rotator 53r is rotated and paid out to the ball payout passage 60 from the right payout port 53d. Further, in the case of the ball lending request signal C ₃ (25), a motor drive signal M ₃ for rotating the ball payout motor counterclockwise by 1500 degrees (4 rotations and 60 degrees) is output and the ball feed rotating body 53r. Is rotated to pay out to the ball payout passage 60 from the left payout port 53c.

When the motor drive signal M is output and a predetermined time (for example, a time of about 50 to 200 ms) elapses, the ball payout controller 82 turns off the solenoid drive signal S. When the solenoid drive signal is turned OFF, the rotor shaft 131 a is rotated clockwise by the elastic force of the return spring built in the solenoid 131, the drive transmission tool 132 returns to the reference angular position, and the pressure receiving member 120 is returned to the return spring 126. is swung clockwise by the elastic force receiving projections 122a, 122b are pressure-receiving projection insertion portion 112a, retracted above the 112b returns to the release position P _f, the game balls stand which has been locked to the pressure receiving projection far It flows down the passages 52a and 52b. As the ball feed rotating body 53r starts to rotate, the waiting ball 52a, 52b catches up with the game ball moving down first and is smoothly paid out.

  The game balls paid out from the ball payout outlets 53 c and 53 d are detected by the left and right ball counting sensors 54 and 54, and the ball payout control device 82 is paid out from the detection signal input from the ball counting sensor 54. The actual number of the game balls is counted and compared with the target quantity related to the motor drive signal M to control the operation of the ball payout motor 53m. As a result, a number of game balls according to the winning conditions on the game board 20 and the payout conditions such as the ball lending request input from the CR operation panel 92 are paid out to the ball payout passage 60 and flow down the ball payout passage 60. Then, it is paid out to the upper ball tray 6 or the lower ball tray 7.

Payout operation of the game ball, when paying command signal C is more accumulated, for example, when the payout command signal C ₂ is the n accumulation by one operation corresponding to each payout command signal C ₂ n performed repeatedly times, solenoid drive signal S ₂ to each output of the motor drive signal M _2, it is output before the rise of the motor drive signal M _2. For this reason, the pressure receiving member 120 receives the pressure of the upstream game ball and reduces the load on the ball payout motor 53m at the time of the rotation start that requires the largest rotational torque for the ball payout device 53, thereby reducing the load on the ball payout motor 53m. Even a ball dispensing device using a small motor can ensure an appropriate dispensing operation. Further, not only the ball payout motor 53m but also the load on the ball feed rotator 53r, the receiving port and the like can be greatly reduced, so that it can be stably operated for a long time.

For example, a light emitting element 137 such as an LED is provided in the vicinity of the solenoid 131, and a light emission control signal for blinking the light emitting element 137 is output simultaneously with the solenoid drive signal S from the ball payout control device 82. It is also preferable that the lamp is turned on. During the operation of the solenoid 131 according to this arrangement, i.e. the pressure receiving member 120 is lit the light emitting element 137 when it is swung to the pressure receiving position P _r, the back of the operating condition of the pressure-receiving control unit 100 of the back set Release 30 It can be easily visually confirmed from the side.

Further, in the above, depending on whether the payout command signal C or the like input to the ball payout control device 82 is a small or large number of ball payout command signals C ₁ and C ₂ or a ball lending request signal C _3. First, the control mode for controlling the operation of the pressure receiving control unit for all the operations of the ball dispensing device 53 is illustrated. However, the operation state is changed according to the type of the input signal, or the number of the game balls to be dispensed and the dispensing depending on the continuous status, etc., can be configured by changing the operating state appropriate (e.g., in the case that a small number of payout command signal C ₁ is more accumulation time of the first payout operation only pressure control unit It is also possible to configure the device to operate.

  The ball payout control mechanism is provided with a ball stop function capable of artificially stopping the flow of the game ball in addition to the pressure control function for reducing the load when the rotation of the ball payout motor 53m is started as described above. This function is realized by the ball stop structure 140. For example, it is not necessary to remove all the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 41 as in the inspection work or replacement work of the ball payout device 53, and the upper ball. This is used when a game ball in a waiting passage that cannot be removed by the removal mechanism is removed.

  The ball stop structure 140 includes an operation knob 124 formed in the pressure receiving member 120, a key receiving hole 141 formed in the side wall of the right frame rod 33, a ball stop key 145 for locking and holding the pressure receiving member 120 at the ball stop position, and the like. Consists of

The key receiving hole 141 is formed such that a part of the side wall of the right frame rod 33 located on the left side of the pressure receiving member 120 is notched so that the operation knob 124 can be inserted. FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 and FIG. as shown, it is somewhat formed with a large opening height than the elevation range of the operation knob 124 when to oscillate the pressure receiving member 120 between the release position P _{f ~} receiving position P _r. The operation knob 124 is positioned above the key receiving hole 141 at the release position _Pf , and is arranged with the tip slightly protruding from the opening.

As shown in FIG. 12, the ball stopper key 145 includes a key block portion 145 a and a knob portion 145 m, and the key block portion 145 a is formed to have a thickness that is about half of the front and rear width of the operation knob 124. Tip of the key block portion 145a is in accordance with the tilt angle of the operating knob when the positions the pressure receiving member 120 to the pressure receiving position P _r is formed in a tapered shape, and a flat engagement surface 145b is formed. Also on the upper surface of the key block portion 145a, the operation member 120 is positioned at the receiving position P _r, when engaging the engagement surface 145b on the upper surface of the operation knob 124, the opening on the edge of the key receiving hole 141 A stepped lock portion 145c is formed in accordance with the position.

Further, as described above, the pressure receiving member 120 is urged clockwise by the spring force of the return spring 126 at the release position P _f , and the upper surface of the main body plate portion is engaged with the cam side surface of the drive transmission tool 132, 122a and 122b are elastically held at the swing angle position retracted above the pressure receiving protrusion insertion portions 112a and 112b.

Therefore, when the finger is put on the operation knob 124 and pressed downward against the spring force of the return spring 126, the pressure receiving member 120 can be swung counterclockwise, and the pressure receiving protrusions 122a and 122b are connected to the standby passage. 52a, it can be displaced to the pressure receiving position _{P r} protruding 52b. Therefore, the pressure receiving member 120 is swung to a certain extent, and the ball stopper key 145 is inserted into the key receiving hole 141, and the distal end side of the key block portion 145a is loosely inserted into the key receiving hole 141. Then, the pressure receiving member 120 is swung counterclockwise, the engagement surface 145b on the lower surface side of the key block is engaged with the upper surface of the operation knob 124, and the lock portion 145c on the upper surface side of the key block is the upper edge of the opening of the key receiving hole 141. sphere keyed 145 engages is engaged, the pressure receiving member 120 is locked held on the pressure receiving position P _r and. Thereby, the flow of the game ball stopped on the upstream side to the downstream side is restricted by the pressure receiving projection.

In this state, the ball stopper key 145 is sandwiched between the upper surface of the operation knob 124 and the upper edge of the opening of the key receiving hole 141, and further, the engagement of the lock portion 145c is held by receiving the spring force of the return spring 126. Therefore, for example, even if the back set board 30 is shaken or the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side fluctuates, the pressure receiving member 120 does not return to the release position _Pr side. . Therefore, a clerk at the game facility drops a plurality of game balls into the general prize device 23 or the start prize device 24, or opens the opening / closing door of the attacker device 25 to insert the game balls into the big prize opening, or performs CR operation. The game ball stopped between the pressure receiving projections 122a and 122b and the ball feed rotating body 53r is shortened by operating the ball payout device 53 by pressing the ball lending button on the panel 92 to cause the game ball to be paid out. The entire amount of balls can be removed in time, and the inspection and replacement of the ball dispensing device 53 can be easily performed without scattering these stationary balls.

In order to release the ball-stopping state after the inspection work of the ball dispensing device 53 is completed, the ball-stopping key 145 is rotated clockwise or counterclockwise as viewed from the insertion / removal direction, and the lock portion 145c and the key receiving port are opened. The engagement with the upper edge of 141 is released, and the ball stopper key 145 may be removed as it is. Then swung clockwise by the spring force of the pressure receiving member 120 return spring 126, the body plate portion is returned to the release position P _f for engagement with the cam side face of the drive transmission member 132.

  Therefore, according to the ball payout control mechanism as described above, it is possible to achieve an appropriate payout operation even with a ball payout device using a relatively small motor, so that the device can be reduced in size and cost. It is possible to provide a payout control mechanism that can be operated stably for a long period of time by reducing the load, and a payout control mechanism with good maintenance workability with a simple device configuration that displaces the pressure receiving member using a ball stop key. Can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the pressure receiving position for reducing or reducing the pressure acting on the downstream game ball and the ball stop position for restricting the flow of the game ball are made the same swing angle position and shared. However, for example, the two may be configured as different positions by providing a difference in the protruding amount of the pressure receiving protrusion (that is, the rocking angle position of the pressure receiving member). According to such a configuration, a quick operation can be ensured with a small swing displacement amount at the pressure receiving position, and a reliable ball stop can be realized with a large protrusion amount at the ball stop position.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another configuration example of the pressure receiving portion in the pressure receiving member 120. In this configuration example, a circular hole is formed in the front end portion of the pressure receiving member in accordance with the front and rear standby passage positions, and a pressure receiving pin 127 having a hemispherical tip is fixed to the circular hole by press-fitting or bonding or the like. Forming. According to such a configuration, a pressure receiving pin 127 can be formed by selecting a more suitable material as a member that engages and disengages with the game ball. For example, by forming the pressure receiving pin 127 using a rubber material such as urethane rubber, isoprene rubber, or silicon rubber that is difficult to use as a pressure receiving member, the game ball is elastically made using the rubber elasticity of the pressure receiving pin itself. Can be retained. On the other hand, by forming the pressure receiving pin 127 by applying hard chrome plating or the like to a high hardness alloy steel, it is possible to provide a ball payout control mechanism that has high wear resistance and does not require replacement of parts over a long period of time.

  FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view showing another configuration example related to the support mechanism portion of the pressure receiving member 120, another configuration example related to the drive mechanism 130, and the like. First, in the above-described embodiment, the rear portion of the passage wall in the standby passage 52b on the rear row side is formed on the lid member 58, but in this configuration example, both the front and rear passage walls are formed on the S-shaped rail 52, Accordingly, the front and rear surfaces sandwiching the partition wall 52w can be configured symmetrically, and the front form of the lid member 58 can be simplified. In addition, the support shaft portion 111 'on the S-shaped rail side is formed in a flange shape at the front and rear edges, and the configuration of the swing support mechanism is simplified by forming the bearing portion 121' of the swing member 120 'into a single cylindrical shape. It has become. As indicated by a two-dot chain line in the drawing, the drive mechanism 130 may be configured by using a direct drive type drive mechanism 130 ′ that raises and lowers the drive transmission tool 132 ′. The drive source such as a solenoid may be provided on the front side of the back set panel 30.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine shown as an example of a bullet ball game machine provided with the ball discharge control mechanism concerning the present invention. It is a rear view of the pachinko machine. It is a rear view of the right frame collar part of the back set board in the said pachinko machine. It is a rear view which shows the state of the ball path inside a right frame cage. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the pressure receiving control unit in a ball | bowl paying-out control mechanism from diagonally backward. It is the plane sectional view seen in the VI-VI arrow direction in FIG. It is the sectional side view seen in the VII ~ direction in FIG. It is a block diagram which mainly shows the control form of a ball payout control mechanism. It is a timing chart which shows the drive timing of the solenoid and ball payout motor in a ball payout control mechanism. It is a rear view which shows the latching state of a game ball when a pressure receiving member is displaced to a pressure receiving position. It is a rear view which shows the other latching state of a game ball when a pressure receiving member is displaced to a pressure receiving position. It is a rear view of a pressure receiving control unit when it is made into a ball stop state by a ball stop key. It is a perspective view which shows the other structural example of the pressure receiving part in a pressure receiving member. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the other structural example regarding the support mechanism part of a pressure receiving member, the other structural example regarding a drive mechanism, etc. It is a rear view which illustrates the composition and operation of the ball dispensing device in the conventional ball dispensing control mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

PA game area PM Pachinko machine P _f release position P _r pressure receiving position C ₁ , C ₂ payout command signal C ₃ ball lending request signal M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ motor drive signal S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ solenoid drive signal DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outer frame 2 Front frame 3 Hinge mechanism 4 Locking device 5 Glass door 6 Upper ball dish 7 Lower ball dish 8 Launch handle 9 Game ball launcher 20 Game board 21 Dressing board 22 Guide rail 23 General prize (23s prize detection sensor)
24 start prize tool (24s prize detection sensor)
25 Attacker device (25s, 25t winning detection sensor)
27 Symbol display device 28 Out port 29 Ball gathering cover 30 Back set panel 31 Base frame body 32 Window 33 Right frame rod 34 Support boss 35 Pivot shaft 39 Shaft receiving hole 41 Ball storage tank 42 Tank rail (42a Alignment passage on the front row side) 42b Alignment passage on the rear row side,
42e deflection outlet, 42w partition wall)
43 Sphere equalizing tool 45 Sphere stop member 51 Sphere presence detection sensor 52, 52 'S-shaped rail (52a Front row side standby passage, 52b Rear row side standby passage, 52L, 52R passage wall,
52w partition wall)
53 Ball dispenser (53a Front row side receiving port, 53b Rear row side receiving port, 53c, 53d Left and right payout ports,
53m ball delivery motor, 53r ball feed rotor, 53r ₁ front row impeller,
53r ₂ rear side of the impeller)
54 ball counting sensor 55 flow path switching member (55a passage wall)
56 Operation member 57 Ball passage 58 Lid member (58a rotor shaft insertion hole, 58b solenoid support boss)
59 Shaft receiving hole 60 Ball payout passage 81 Main controller 82 Ball payout control device 83 Lamp / voice control device 84 Power supply unit 85 Terminal board 87 Symbol display control device 90 Prepaid card unit 92 CR operation panel 100 Pressure receiving control unit 111 Support shaft boss 111 'Support shaft portion 112a Pressure receiving protrusion insertion portion 112b on the front row side Pressure receiving protrusion insertion portion 113 on the rear row side Column receiving hole 120, 120' Pressure receiving member 121, 121 'Bearing portion 122a Pressure receiving protrusion 122b on the front row side Pressure receiving protrusion 123 on the rear row side Spring strut 124 Operation knob 125 Support shaft 126 Return spring 127 Pressure receiving pin 130, 130 'Pressure receiving member drive mechanism 131 Solenoid (131a rotor shaft, 131b flange)
132, 132 'drive transmission tool (132t cam projection)
137 Light emitting element 138 Solenoid fixing screw 140 Ball stop structure 141 Key receiving hole 145 Ball stop key (145a Key block portion, 145b Engagement surface, 145c Lock portion,
145m knob)

Claims (2)

A ball storage tank that stores game balls, a ball payout device that is positioned below the ball storage tank and that pays out a predetermined number of game balls according to winning conditions, the ball storage tank, and the ball payout device And a guide passage for aligning game balls stored in the ball storage tank and leading to the ball payout device, and ball payout for guiding game balls discharged from the ball payout device to a ball tray A passage and a control device for controlling the operation of the ball dispensing device,
The ball payout device includes a ball payout motor whose rotation is controlled by the control device, and a ball feed rotating body driven by the ball payout motor. A motor-driven ball payout device that moves to the ball payout passage side by turning the ball feed rotating body and pays out a game ball;
The guide passage includes an alignment passage that aligns the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank in the process of flowing down, and a standby passage that receives the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guides them to the ball dispensing device below. In the ball game machine you have,
In the standby passage, a pressure receiving position for receiving pressure acting on the game ball stored on the upstream side and reducing pressure acting on the downstream game ball, and the game ball stored on the upstream side flow down to the downstream side as it is A pressure receiving member provided to be displaceable at a release position to be moved, and pressure receiving member driving means for displacing the pressure receiving member to the pressure receiving position or the release position,
In the pressure receiving member, the number of game balls stopped in the standby passage between the pressure receiving member positioned at the pressure receiving position and the ball feed rotating body by the pressure receiving member driving means is a winning condition in the game board. Depending on the number of game balls that can be paid out at a time, it is arranged at a position in the standby passage that is equal to or more than
Wherein the controller, the sphere prior to starting rotation of the payout motor actuates said pressure member driving means to position the pressure receiving member to the pressure receiving position, the pressure receiving said ball dispensing motor is rotated started after a predetermined time has elapsed A ball payout control mechanism for a ball game machine , wherein the member is configured to be positioned at the release position . A ball presence detection sensor for detecting whether or not sufficient game balls capable of paying out game balls are held in the standby passage;
The control device operates the pressure receiving member driving means and the ball payout motor when the ball detection sensor detects that the sufficient game ball is held in the standby passage. The ball payout control mechanism according to claim 1.

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