JP4497284B2 - 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 in a game board. More specifically, 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, in a ball game machine that uses a game ball as a game medium, such as a pachinko machine, a mechanism set board called a back set board is provided on the back of the game board so that it can be opened and closed. In addition, a ball payout device for paying out game balls according to the winning state on the game board is used. 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 payout device are provided above the ball payout device. A ball payout passage is formed for guiding the game balls paid out from the payout device to a ball tray in front of the gaming machine, 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, the schematic configuration of the ball payout device and the action of payout are such that in recent ball payout control mechanism balls, two rows of guide passages are formed in front and rear to guide the game balls aligned above the payout device 53. The ball feeding rotary body 53r of the ball dispensing device has a front and rear two-stage impeller configuration corresponding to the front and rear guide passages. 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 °, and the front and rear impellers are offset by 60 ° in the angular position of the receiving portion. 15 (a) and FIG. 15 (b), the angular positional relationship of the front and rear row impellers at a certain stop timing and the state of the game balls that are waiting to be aligned in the guide passage are respectively shown in FIG. The front and rear impellers alternately receive the game balls in the receiving portion, and the received game balls are moved one by one from the guide path side to the ball payout path side by the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 53r and are then discharged. . 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.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a back set board attached to cover the back of the game board, a ball storage tank for storing game balls, and a game board provided below the ball storage tank. A ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of game balls according to the winning conditions, and a game ball stored in the ball storage tank provided between the ball storage tank and the ball payout device are aligned to the ball payout device. A guide passage for guiding, a ball payout passage for guiding the game balls paid out from the ball payout device to the ball tray, and a control device for controlling the operation of the ball payout device, the ball payout device being rotated by the control device; A ball payout motor to be controlled and a ball feed rotator driven by the ball payout motor are moved to the ball payout passage side by rotating the ball feed rotator. A motor-driven ball dispenser that dispenses game balls The guide passage has an alignment passage for aligning in the process of flowing down the game balls supplied from the ball storage tank, and a standby passage for receiving the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guiding them to the lower ball dispensing device. The present invention relates to a ball payout control mechanism for a ball game machine. In addition, according to the present invention, a ball receiver rotating body provided rotatably in the standby passage by the pressure of a game ball flowing down the standby guide path, and a ball receiver by the pressure of the game ball without restricting the rotation of the ball receiver rotating body. released state to allow rotation of the rotating body, and the ball receiving a rotation control means causes transition to the pressure receiving state to receive the pressure acting from the gaming balls stored in the upstream side to restrict the rotation of the rotating body, ball receiving rotation The number of game balls that can be paid out at one time according to the winning conditions on the game board is the number of game balls that are parked in the waiting passage between the ball feed rotating body and the ball receiving rotary body of the ball payout device Arranged at the position in the standby passage as described above, the control device operates the rotation control means prior to the rotation start of the ball payout motor to change the ball receiving rotor to the pressure receiving state, and the ball payout motor is started to rotate. Elapses Constituting a ball disbursement control mechanism such that displacing the ball receiving rotating body in a released state to.

In this ball payout control mechanism, among the guide passages connecting between the ball storage tank and the ball payout device, the standby guide passage is connected to a standby passage that receives the game balls aligned in the alignment passage and guides them to the lower ball payout device. A ball receiving rotator that is rotatable by the pressure of the game ball flowing down , and that allows the rotation of the ball receiving rotator by the pressure of the game ball without restricting the rotation of the ball receiving rotator , and the ball There is provided a rotation control means for restricting the rotation of the receiving rotating body and changing the pressure receiving state to receive the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side. In the ball payout control mechanism, the control device operates the rotation control means prior to the start of rotation of the ball payout motor, and changes the ball receiving rotor to the pressure receiving state to reduce the pressure acting on the downstream game ball. Configured as follows.
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 rotation control 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 ball receiving rotating body guides the game balls aligned in the alignment passage among the guide passages connecting the ball storage tank and the ball payout device to the lower ball payout device, that is, the guide. Provided on the downstream side of the entire passage, and when the ball payout motor starts rotating, the pressure acting on the game ball stored in the upstream side is received by the ball receiving rotating body and is received, acting on the downstream game ball The ball dispensing motor is started in a state where the pressure to be reduced is reduced. For this reason, the pressure acting from the game ball at the start of rotation of the ball payout motor depends on the number of game balls stopped between the ball receiving rotary body and the ball feed rotary body of the ball payout device in the standby passage. The weight can be reduced considerably. 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 motor smaller than the conventional one, as well as a ball feed rotating body, a bearing portion, etc. Similarly, it is possible to reduce the size or to use a general material. 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, a ball receiving rotating body that rotates due to the pressure of the game ball flowing down this passage is provided in the standby passage, and the rotational movement of the ball receiving rotating body is released or restricted, so that the game ball is caught or bitten in the released state. Therefore, it is possible to provide a ball payout control mechanism that is less likely to cause ball clogging and that also has the effect of rectifying gaming balls flowing down the standby passage.

  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 lower ball tray 7 is attached to the lower side of the upper ball tray 6 so as to protrude forward, and a launching handle 8 for performing a game ball launching operation is attached to the right side thereof. 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.

  On the other hand, on the back side (rear side) of the front frame 2, a back set board 30 is attached to the back of the front frame 2 so as to be opened and closed laterally and detachable, and is always kept in a closed state covering the back side of the game board 20. Yes. The back set board 30 has a window 32 for receiving the game board symbol display control device 87 at the center, and is formed in a rectangular frame shape slightly smaller than the inner size of the outer frame 1. Based on

  The base frame 31 has a front and rear two-layer structure in which a game-completed ball discharge passage, a ball passage of a ball payout control mechanism, a ball removal passage, and the like are three-dimensionally formed on the front and back sides, and the base frame 31 is divided into front and rear. A game-recovered collection path and a ball removal path that collects game-completed balls discharged mainly on the back side of the game board 20 on the front side of the support surface and guides them to the collection device on the game island are mainly game balls on the back side of the support surface. A ball payout control mechanism for paying out the ball is formed.

  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 passes through the safe ball guide path and the ball approaching cover 29 and is received by the game-completed ball discharge passage on the front side of the base frame 31, and flows down the ball discharge passage and is discharged to the collection device on the game island.

  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. Then, the safe ball won in the start winning tool 24 is detected by the winning ball detection sensor 24s, and flows down the safe ball guide path, the ball gathering cover 29, and the game-completed ball discharge passage and is discharged to the collection device of the game island.

  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 balls that have fallen into the big prize opening are detected by the winning detection sensors 25s and 25t through one of the area openings, It flows down the game-completed ball discharge passage and is discharged to the collection device on the game 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 shows a rear view of the right frame rod (the frame rib portion on the right side of the window in the base frame body 31) 33 of the back set board including the ball payout control mechanism. The main mechanism related to the payout of the game ball is provided on the back side of the base frame 31 having a front and rear two-layer structure, and will be described with reference mainly to the rear view. The left and right directions in the rear view shown will be referred to as the left or right, and 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. Further, the basic configuration and operation of the guide passage and the like for guiding the game ball to the ball payout device 53 are substantially the same as the configuration and operation shown in FIG. 15 referred to in the background art section. explain.

  The ball payout control mechanism is attached to the upper left part of the base frame 31 to store a game ball, and is attached to the lower part of the right frame rod 33 in the base frame 31 to pay out the game ball. Below the ball payout device 53, a guide passage that is connected between the device 53, the ball storage tank 41 and the ball payout device 53, aligns the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 41 and leads to the ball payout device 53. A ball payout for controlling the operation of the ball payout device 53 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 provided and discharged from the ball payout device to the upper and lower ball dishes 6 and 7. A control device 82, a pressure receiving control unit 100 that is provided in the guide passage and reduces the pressure of the game ball that acts on the ball payout device 53 when the payout operation is activated, and the like.

  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. A partition wall 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. The ball leveling tool 44 is vertically arranged, 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 at the deflection outlet opening at the lower end.

  The right frame rod 33 receives the game balls sent from the deflection outlet and waits in an aligned state in the standby passages 52a and 52b, and is attached to the lower side of the S-shaped rail 52 and is attached to the standby passage. The ball payout device 53 for paying out the waiting game ball based on 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 a standby passage of the row is attached. Further, between the deflection outlet and the S-shaped rail 52, there is a ball detection sensor 51 for detecting whether or not sufficient game balls capable of paying out the game balls are held in the standby passages 52a and 52b. Ball counting sensors 54 and 54 are attached between the ball dispensing device 53 and the ball dispensing passage 60 so as to be detachably mounted and detect the game balls that have been paid out and count the actual numbers. It is provided as possible.

  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. 3, and the ball pressure due to the weight of the game ball located on the upstream side is applied on the downstream side so that it does not become excessive pressure. The S-shaped rail 52 is configured separately from the base frame 31 for facilitating cleaning of the passage groove, and is inserted into and supported by a support boss erected on the right frame rod 33, and the lid member 58 from the rear. 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 in alignment with the receiving port of the ball dispensing device 53, and guides the game balls introduced from the deflection outlet to the ball dispensing device 53 in a front-to-back two-row alignment state. When the game stops, the game balls are made to wait in alignment 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. In 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 53r (see FIG. 15). 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.

  In addition, the ball presence detection sensor 51 provided in the upper part of the waiting passages 52a and 52b detects whether or not the game balls are waiting for alignment up to the upper position where the ball presence detection sensor is provided. This is a sensor for determining whether or not a quantity of game balls (for example, about 35 balls) that can be dispensed without any shortage is held, and a detection signal thereof is output to the ball dispensing 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 passages 42a and 42b, and an upper ball removal mechanism is provided in the upstream portion of the standby passages 52a and 52b. The upper ball stop mechanism includes a ball stop member 45 that is positioned above the deflection outlet 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 passages 42a and 42b, the game balls are blocked, and the flow of the game balls located on the upstream side of the hook portion can be regulated.

  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 a support boss of the right frame rod 33 is formed by a support shaft hole formed in an intermediate portion. It is pivotably supported. The ball removal passage 57 is located on the right side of the S-shaped rail 52 and is formed on the back surface side of the base frame 31, and passes through the support surface of the right frame rod 33 below the spare passage 57a. The communication opening 57b is formed, and a lower passage 57c formed downward from the communication opening 57b on the front side of the base frame 31. The front of the descending passage 57c is covered with a front cover 118 attached to the front side of the base frame 31 (see FIG. 7 and the like), and is connected to the above-mentioned game ball discharge passage below the right frame rod 33. Yes.

  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 arranged in two rows Are guided to the ball dispensing device 53 in an aligned state by the standby passages 52a and 52b. 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 ball overflowing from the cutout portion into the preliminary passage 57a flows down from the communication opening 57b to the game island recovery device via the descending passage 57c and the game-completed ball discharge passage.

  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.

  The front frame 2 and the glass door 5 are subjected to maintenance work called a heart key at a position facing the front of the operation lever portion of the operation member 56 in a state where the back set board 30 is closed and held on the front frame 2. The ball removal operation hole 5h is formed through which the operation pin (see the heart key 145 appended to FIGS. 6 and 7) is inserted. The heart key 145 is inserted into the ball removal operation hole 5h from the front side of the pachinko machine PM. By inserting and pressing the operation lever portion, the ball removal operation and the return operation after the ball removal can be performed from the outside of the pachinko machine.

  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. 4 to 13 together. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pressure-receiving control unit 100 as viewed from the right rear side, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are side sectional views in the directions V to VI and VI in FIG. 3, respectively, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view of the pressure receiving control unit 100 viewed from the front side of the right frame rod 33. FIG. 9 is a block diagram mainly showing a control form of the ball payout control mechanism, FIG. 10 is a timing chart showing drive timings of the solenoid and the ball payout motor in the ball payout control mechanism, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are game balls in the pressure receiving state. FIG. 13 is a rear view of the pressure receiving control unit 100 when the ball is stopped by a heart key.

Broadly speaking, the pressure receiving control unit 100 is rotatably supported by a bent portion of the S-shaped rail 52, and is rotatably provided by the pressure of the game balls flowing down the front and rear standby passages 52a and 52b. The front and rear ball receiving rotators 120a and 120b, the released state P _f allowing rotation by the pressure of the game ball without restricting the rotation of these ball receiving rotators 120 (120a and 120b), and the front and rear ball receiving rotations a rotation control mechanism 130 provided to be displaced to the pressure receiving state P _r to receive the pressure acting from the body 120 together regulatory and gaming balls stored in the upstream side of the rotation, the ball receiving rotator 120 spherical stop state P _{It is} composed of a ball stop structure 140 or the like that is locked to _s .

  The ball receiving rotor 120 is a game in which an arcuate ball receiving groove 120u having a receiving radius somewhat larger than the ball radius is connected to the outer peripheral portion of a rotating disk having a thickness about half the ball diameter of the game ball. A plurality of claw wheels are formed at a predetermined angular pitch that matches the pitch of the balls, and a mountain-shaped pressure receiving claw 120t protruding in the outer peripheral direction is formed between adjacent ball receiving grooves 120u and 120u. Specifically, two ball receiving rotating bodies having the same shape are used corresponding to the standby passages 52a and 52b in the two front and rear rows. A boss is formed in the front and rear at the center of the ball receiver rotating body 120, and a shaft hole having an inner diameter slightly larger than the shaft diameter of the pivot shaft 125 on the S-shaped rail side is formed through the front and rear. ing. The ball receiving rotating body 120 is formed integrally with each other by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material having a low coefficient of friction such as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or polyacetal resin.

  In the S-shaped rail 52, hollow cylindrical pivot shafts 125a and 125b are formed projecting back and forth on a partition wall 52w that connects the bent portion above the ball dispensing device 53 up and down, and the pivot shafts 125a and 125b are connected to each other. Pressure receiving claw insertion portions 126a and 126b through which the pressure receiving claws 120t and 120t are inserted are formed in the surrounding right passage wall 52R. The pivot shaft 125 (125a, 125b) and the pressure receiving claw insertion portion 126 (126a, 126b) are formed based on the thickness in the front-rear direction and the rotation trajectory of the ball receiving rotating body 120 (120a, 120b). With the ball receiving rotator 120 supported on the pivot shaft 125, the pressure receiving claws 120t of the respective ball receiving rotators are arranged so as to protrude from the waiting passages 52a and 52b, and the pressure of the game balls flowing down the waiting passages. The ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b are formed so as to be able to rotate independently. The front right passage wall of the front row pressure receiving claw insertion portion 126a is formed on the support surface of the right frame rod 33, and the rear right passage wall of the rear row pressure receiving claw insertion portion 126b is formed on the front side of the lid member 58. The pressure receiving claw insertion portion 126 has a notch shape that is open forward and backward.

  A support boss that pivotally supports the flow path switching member described above and a support boss that removably supports the S-shaped rail 52 protrude rearward on the support surface of the right frame rod 33 in front of the S-shaped rail. A frame-side screw receiving portion 112a is provided which is provided in front of the pivot shaft 125a and receives and screwes the tip screw portion of the pivot shaft fixing screw 128. The lid member 58 is formed with a counterbore screw receiving portion 112b in the form of a counterbore that receives the screw head of the pivot shaft fixing screw 128 in alignment with the rear of the pivot shaft 125b.

  The ball receiver rotator 120 pivots the front and rear ball receiver rotators 120a and 120b on the front and rear pivot shafts 125a and 125b of the S-shaped rail 52, and the ball receiver rotator 120 is pivotally supported in this manner. The figure-shaped rail 52 and the flow path switching member 55 are supported by the support boss of the right frame rod 33, and screws are fastened to the support bosses from the rear of the lid member 58, and the pivot shaft fixing screw 128 is screwed on the lid side screw. By inserting the receiving portion 112b and the pivot shaft 125 and screwing and fastening to the frame side screw receiving portion 112a, it is attached to the right frame rod 33 together with the S-shaped rail 52 and the like. Independently rotatable. The screwing of the lid member 58 is specifically performed together with the mounting of the swinging body 131 described below.

  On the other hand, the rotation control mechanism 130 is adjacent to the ball receiver rotator 120 and is supported so as to be swingable. A return spring 134 that constantly urges the oscillating body 131 clockwise, and a solenoid 135 that oscillates the oscillating body 131 counterclockwise against the spring force of the return spring 134 when the solenoid drive signal is turned on. Configured as the subject.

  The oscillating body 131 includes a plate-like main body plate portion 131a serving as a substrate, a rotation restricting tool mounting portion 131b formed on the upper left side of the main body plate portion in accordance with the shape and size of the rotation restricting tool, and the right side of the main body plate portion. The cam plate part 131c is formed in a rib shape from the upper part to the center part, the spring hook hook 131f is formed in a hook-like shape at the center part on the right side of the main body plate part, and is formed on the lower end part of the main body plate part 131a. A bearing portion 131j, a tongue-like key engaging piece 131k that is projected upward at the upper end of the main body plate portion, a shaft-shaped operation knob 131m that is projected from the main body plate and is projected rearward, and the like. Integration of resin materials such as ABS resin and nylon resin polyacetal resin to which toughness is enhanced by adding glass fiber or carbon fiber by molding means such as injection molding Configured by type.

  The rotation restrictor mounting portion 131b formed at the upper part on the left side of the main body plate portion 131a includes an upper surface support wall that supports the upper surface of the rotation restrictor 132 and a lower surface support wall that supports the lower surface of the rotation restrictor 132 as described below. And a screw insertion hole in the form of a flat hole formed in alignment with the female thread portion formed on the back side of the rotation restricting tool 132, and the rotation restricting tool 132 is fitted between the upper and lower support walls. By fixing with screws, the rotation restricting tool 132 can be detachably supported.

  The rotation restricting tool 132 engages with the pressure receiving claw 120t regardless of the rotational angle position of the ball receiving rotating body 120 with a wider width in the front-rear direction than the arrangement range of the pressure receiving claws 120t of the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies 120. The trapezoidal block is formed in a trapezoidal block shape that has a height in the vertical direction to be obtained and is slightly forward inclined on the left side in accordance with a ball receiving rotating body that is positioned slightly lower left and confronts. On the left surface of the rotation restricting tool 132, a plurality of rows of trapezoidal groove-like claw receiving grooves 132t extending in the front-rear direction and narrowing toward the groove bottom are formed vertically, and the tip ridge portion of the pressure receiving claw 120t is formed. Is received in one of the grooves according to the height position of the claw, and can be engaged by being sandwiched between upper and lower tapered groove surfaces. Further, on the right surface side of the rotation restrictor 132, a screw bush having a female screw portion is embedded at a position aligned with the screw insertion hole of the rocking body 131.

  The rotation restricting device 132 is formed by mold-clamping and vulcanizing a polymer material having wear resistance and impact resilience, such as polyurethane or isoprene rubber, and is formed by embedding a screw bush after insert molding or molding. Is done. The rotation restrictor 132 is supported by inserting the rotation restrictor 132 between the upper and lower support walls of the rotation restrictor mounting portion 131b, and screwing the Saraco screw into the screw bushing of the rotation restrictor from the screw insertion hole on the right side of the oscillator. By tightening, it is attached to the upper part of the rocking body 131.

  The cam plate portion 131c erected on the right surface side of the main body plate portion 131a has a rib shape extending vertically from the upper portion to the central portion of the main body plate portion 131a, and the upper portion gradually increases in height downward. An engaging slope is formed. The spring latching hook 131f is located below the cam plate portion 131c and is projected and molded into an upward saddle shape so that one end of the return spring 134 can be locked. On the other hand, a spring fixing boss for screwing the other end of the return spring 134 is formed on the support surface of the right frame rod 33, and a notch through which the return spring 134 is passed is formed on the left partition wall.

  The bearing portion 131j at the lower end of the main body plate portion is formed in a cylindrical shape that is smoothly connected to the main body plate portion 131a and extends in the front-rear direction, and has an inner diameter that is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the swing shaft 133 at its axis. A bearing hole that has front and rear communication is formed. On the support surface of the right frame rod 33, a frame-side support shaft portion 113a having an inner diameter that is the same as or slightly smaller than the outer diameter of the swing shaft 133 and that fits and supports the front end portion of the swing shaft 133 is formed. On the front side of the lid member 58, there is formed a lid side support shaft portion 113b that is aligned with the frame side support shaft portion 113a and loosely supports the rear end portion of the swing shaft 133. The lid member 58 is formed with an arc-shaped knob insertion hole 117 penetrating the front and back of the lid member 58 in accordance with the swing locus of the operation knob 131m when the swing body 131 is supported on the swing shaft 133. Yes.

  Therefore, as described above, the front end portion of the swing shaft 133 is fitted and attached to the frame side support shaft portion 113a of the right frame rod 33 on which the S-shaped rail 52 is supported, and the rear end of the swing shaft 133 protruding rearward. By inserting the bearing portion 131j of the oscillating body from the side, the oscillating body 131 provided with the rotation restricting tool 132 is swingably supported by the oscillating shaft 133. Next, the other end side of the return spring 134, one end of which is screwed to the spring fixing boss, is hooked to the spring hook 131f of the swing body, and the right frame rod to which the swing body 131 and the return spring 134 are thus attached is attached. 33, the cover member 58 is covered from behind, the operation knob 131m is picked and inserted into the insertion hole 117, and the rear end portion of the swing shaft 133 is fitted into the cover side support shaft portion 113b. The right frame rod 33 is positioned and supported. Then, screws are fastened to the respective support bosses of the right frame rod 33 from the rear surface side of the lid member 58, and the pivot shaft fixing screw 128 is inserted into the frame side screw receiving portion 112a of the right frame rod 33 through the pivot shaft 125. By screwing and fastening, the swinging body 131 including the S-shaped rail 52, the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b, and the rotation restricting tool 132 is disposed on the rear surface side of the right frame rod 33.

  On the other hand, a frame wall 114 for securing the rigidity of the base frame body 31 and increasing the frame body strength is formed on the front side of the right frame rod 33 so as to surround the periphery of the window 32. A solenoid support portion 115 that supports the solenoid 135 of the rotation control mechanism 130 is formed in the lower portion. In addition, a pin insertion hole 116 through which the engagement pin 136b of the drive transmission tool 136 is inserted is formed in the support surface that partitions the right frame rod 33 forward and backward. The solenoid support portion 115 is formed in a parallel wall shape that supports the solenoid case 135a so as to sandwich the solenoid case 135a from the left and right, and among these, screw receiving slits 115s and 115s for receiving the fixing screw 138 from the front end side are provided on the support wall on the window side. Is formed. The pin insertion hole 116 is formed in a long hole shape having an opening width larger than the shaft diameter of the engagement pin 136b and an opening length larger than the drive stroke of the solenoid 135.

  The solenoid 135 includes a metal case 135a, a drive coil 135b housed in the case, a plunger 135c supported by the air core portion of the drive coil so as to be slidable up and down, and a return mounted on the outer periphery of the plunger 135c. The spring 135d is composed of a push rod 135e that is fixed to the lower end of the plunger in the air core and protrudes downward from the case 135a and is supported so as to be slidable up and down. When the solenoid drive signal is applied to the drive coil 135b, the plunger 135c is sucked and the push rod 135e is protruded downward, and when the solenoid drive signal is turned OFF, the plunger 135c is pulled up by the spring force of the return spring 135d and the push rod 135e returns to the reference position. Movement It is an electromagnetic solenoid. The signal line of the drive coil 135b is connected to the ball payout control device 82, and the operation of the solenoid 135 is controlled by the ball payout control device 82. A disc-shaped shaft end flange 135f is fixed to the front end of the push rod 135e, and screw holes for attaching the solenoid 135 are formed in two upper and lower portions on the side surface of the case 135a.

  The drive transmission tool 136 includes a shaft end block 136a and an engagement pin 136b. The shaft end block 136a is formed with a locking slit 136f that receives and locks the shaft end flange 135f at the tip of the push rod. . The engagement pin 136b is a smooth cylindrical pin, and is provided extending in a direction orthogonal to the operation axis of the push rod. The drive transmission tool 136 is integrally formed by a molding means such as injection molding using a resin material such as polyacetal resin or ABS resin, or a shaft end block 136a formed by a similar molding method. The engagement pin 136b is driven in and fixed by press-fitting, or a metal engagement pin 136b is insert-molded on the resin shaft end block 136a.

  The drive transmission tool 136 is fixed to the lower end portion of the push rod 135e by engaging and fixing the shaft end flange 135f to the locking slit 136f of the shaft end block, and the drive transmission tool 136 and the solenoid 135 are integrated. Is done. Then, the fixing screws 138 and 138 are loosely screwed into the screw holes on the case side surface of the solenoid 135 to engage with the screw receiving slits 115s and 115s, and the solenoid 135 is slid rearward (to the support surface direction of the right frame rod) and left and right. Loosely insert between the support walls. Then, the fixing screws 138 and 138 slide rearward in the grooves of the screw receiving slits 115s and 115s, and the engaging pin 136b of the drive transmission tool 136 passes through the pin insertion hole 116 and is arranged obliquely to the upper right of the cam plate portion 131c. The rotation control mechanism 130 is formed by tightening the upper and lower fixing screws 138 in a state where the case rear end surface of the solenoid 135 is engaged and positioned with the support surface of the right frame rod.

  As described above, the ball receiving rotator 120 and the rotation control mechanism 130 are provided to form the pressure receiving control unit 100, and the operation of the pressure receiving control unit 100 is performed by connecting the signal line of the solenoid 135 to the ball payout control device 82. Is controlled by the ball payout controller 82.

  When the pressure receiving control unit 100 is attached, that is, when the solenoid drive signal is OFF, the push rod 135e is accommodated in the case by the spring force of the return spring 135d attached to the outer periphery of the plunger, and the shaft end block of the drive transmission tool 136a is disposed at a reference position in contact with the lower surface of the solenoid case 135a. Further, the rocking body 131 urged clockwise by the return spring 134 is engaged with the engagement pin 136b of the drive transmission tool located obliquely above and to the right of the cam plate portion 131c, and the tilting to the right is restricted. The rotation restricting tool 132 is disposed in a state of being separated from the ball receiver rotating body 120. Therefore, the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b are in a released state in which they can freely rotate without receiving any restriction force from the rotation restricting tool 132, and the game balls flowing down the standby passages 52a and 52b are The ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b flow down toward the ball dispensing device 53 while rotating counterclockwise.

Therefore, in the released state P _f shown in FIG. 3 and FIGS. 5 to 8, the pressure acting from the game ball stored on the upstream side is transmitted to the game ball stopped on the downstream side, and the game ball flowing down the standby passage is It flows down without restriction. In the ball payout control mechanism, before the game ball payout is started, the ball receiving rotator 120 is rotated by the pressure of the game ball flowing down the standby passage without restricting the rotation of the ball receiving rotator 120. Is set to a release state P _f that permits.

  On the other hand, in the ball payout control mechanism, when the game ball payout is started, the rotation control mechanism 130 is operated prior to the rotation start of the ball payout motor 53m, thereby restricting the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body 120. 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. 9 and the timing chart of the solenoid 135 and the ball payout motor 53m shown in FIG. . In addition, each figure of (a) (b) (c) in FIG. 10 illustrated the control timing in the case where payout conditions are different, such as winning conditions on the game board 20 or ball lending by a 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 a no-ball state (for example, when the contact point of the ball detection sensor 51 is open), a ball-out signal is output to the main controller 81, and the main controller 81 displays a ball-out indication on the front surface of the pachinko machine. The lamp is turned on, and an alarm such as outputting a ball-out signal to the management device on the game facility side via the terminal board 85 is generated.

  On the other hand, when the detection signal of the ball presence detection sensor 51 is in a ball presence state (similarly, when the contact point of the ball presence detection sensor 51 is closed), drive signals are output to the pressure receiving control unit 100 and the ball discharge device 53, respectively. Then, the game balls are 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 signals C ₁ , C ₂ , C ₃ , It outputs to the ball payout motor 53m of the ball payout device 53. The ball dispensing control device 82 generates solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ for driving the solenoid 135 of the pressure receiving control unit 100 and outputs the solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ to the solenoid 135.

10 (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 solenoid drive is performed so that the relationship between the motor drive signals M ₁ , M ₂ , and M ₃ and the solenoid drive signals S ₁ , S ₂ , and S ₃ is The 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 rotation is started and turned off after a predetermined time has elapsed after the motor drive signal M is output (after 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. The ball storage tank 41 is stopped in a state of being closely connected from the ball storage device 53 downstream.

  When the solenoid drive signal S is turned ON, the plunger 135c of the solenoid 135 is pulled into the case against the spring force of the return spring 135d, and the push rod 135e is pushed downward to move the drive transmission tool 136 downward. The coupling pin 136b engages with the engaging slope of the cam plate portion 131c and presses the cam plate portion 131c to the left. Therefore, the oscillating body 131 is oscillated counterclockwise about the oscillating shaft 133, and the rotation restricting tool 132 on the upper part of the oscillating body is pressed against the outer periphery of the ball receiving rotator 120.

  Here, the rotation restricting tool 132 is formed so that the width in the front-rear direction is wider than the arrangement range of the pressure receiving claws 120 t of the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies, and regardless of the rotation angle position of the ball receiving rotating body 120. It has a vertical height that can be engaged with any of the pressure receiving claws 120t. On the front side of the rotation restricting device 132, a plurality of trapezoidal groove-like claw receiving grooves 132t whose groove width becomes narrower toward the bottom are formed in a row in the vertical direction. The taper-shaped groove surface engages smoothly and is sandwiched between the upper and lower groove surfaces so that it can be securely locked.

  For this reason, when the rotation restricting tool 132 is pressed against the outer periphery of the ball receiving rotating body 120 by the ON operation of the solenoid 135, the front edge ridges of the pressure receiving claws 120t and 120t in the front and rear rows correspond to the rotation angle positions. The nail receiving grooves 132t and 132t at the height position are smoothly guided and engaged, and are sandwiched and locked between the upper and lower tapered groove surfaces. For example, in FIGS. 11 and 12, the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b are respectively connected to the pressure receiving claws 120t so as to illustrate the locked state of the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b locked at different timings. , 120t are engaged with the nail receiving grooves 132t, 132t at any height according to the rotation angle position, and are sandwiched and locked between the groove surfaces of the nail receiving grooves.

  Therefore, due to the impeller configuration of the ball feed rotating body 53r in the ball dispensing device 53, even if the positions of the game balls are shifted and aligned in the standby passage 52a on the front row side and the standby passage 52b on the rear row side, or stopped in the passage Even if the position of the game ball changes due to the difference in the alignment state of the game balls, the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b can be reliably locked together.

When the front and rear ball receiving rotators 120a and 120b are thus restricted at the rotation angle position, the game balls received in the ball receiving grooves 120u and 120u at that time are located downstream of the ball receiving grooves. The pressure receiving claws 120t and 120t are restrained from flowing down, and the pressure applied from the game balls stored on the upstream side is locked in a state of being received by the ball receiving rotary bodies 120a and 120b in each row. Thus, the pressure acting from the stored game balls to the upstream side of the state where the rotation body 120 is received receiving balls that pressure state P _r.

  Here, a moment acts on the solenoid 135 in the direction of rotating the case counterclockwise as a reaction force. However, because the solenoid support portion 115 has a wall surface structure that supports both the left and right sides of the case, the solenoid itself rotates. There is no such thing as being done. Further, the actual stroke of the direct acting solenoid is defined by an equilibrium point where the generated thrust and the reaction force at the plunger moving position are balanced, and when the tilt angle of the oscillator 131 is small as shown in FIG. Is generated and the reaction force from the rocking body 131 is balanced. Furthermore, since the rotation restricting tool 132 is formed of a polymer material having rebound resilience such as polyurethane, the pressure receiving claw 120t is captured in the claw receiving groove 132t and the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body 120 is reliably restricted, It can be elastically deformed according to the pressing force. For this reason, in any state of FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the game ball is applied to the pressure receiving claws 120t and 120t without applying an excessive load to the solenoid 135, the drive transmission tool 136, the swinging body 131, the ball receiving rotating body 120, and the like. It is elastically locked and held in the received state. Further, since the upper surface support wall for supporting the upper surface of the rotation restricting tool 132 is formed on the upper part of the rocking body 131, the force acting upward from the pressure receiving claw 120t is received and an excessive thrust force is applied to the screw bush of the rotation restricting tool. Is not acted on or the rotation restricting tool is not deformed.

In a state in which the ball receiver rotator 120 is displaced to the pressure receiving position _Pr , the pressure acting on the game ball located on the downstream side of the ball receiver rotator 120 is greatly reduced, and the ball payout motor 53m has the In a state where the pressure is reduced, more specifically, in a state where the weight is reduced to about 15 balls positioned between the pressure receiving claws 120t and 120t and the ball feed rotating body 53r, a motor drive signal from the ball dispensing control device 82. M (M ₁ , M ₂ , M ₃ ) 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 amount to be dispensed. 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 body 53r outputs a motor drive signal M ₁ to be rotated 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 to be rotated 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 push rod 135e is pulled in by the spring force of the return spring 135d, the drive transmission tool 136 returns to the reference position, and the swinging body 131 of the return spring 134 moves with the upward movement of the engagement pin 136b. By swinging clockwise by the spring force, the engagement between the rotation restricting tool 132 and the ball receiving rotating bodies 120a and 120b (engagement between each claw receiving groove 132t and the pressure receiving claw 120t) is released, and the rotation restricting tool 132 is released. Is disposed away from the ball receiver rotating body 120.

Thus, before and after the ball receiving rotator 120a, 120b will be released rotation regulation back to the initial release state _{P f,} it until the pressure receiving pawl 120t, the game ball is a sphere that has been held back on the 120t receiving rotator 120a, The standby passages 52a and 52b flow down while rotating 120b. 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. As for the position of the ball receiver rotating body 120, the quantity paid out according to the winning conditions (about 15 balls corresponding to a lot of payout quantities in this embodiment) can be stopped downstream of the ball receiver rotating body 120. It is configured so that it can be paid out smoothly without interruption.

  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, even if the payout command signal C ₂ is n pieces accumulate, n times one operation corresponding to each payout command signal C ₂ repeatedly performed, a solenoid drive signal S ₂ to each output of the motor drive signal M _2, is output before the rise of the motor drive signal M _2.

  For this reason, when the ball payout motor 53m, which requires the largest rotational torque for the ball payout device 53, starts rotating, the ball receiving rotary body 120 receives the pressure of the upstream game ball and greatly increases the load on the ball payout motor 53m. Thus, an appropriate payout operation can be ensured even with a ball payout device using a small motor. Further, since the load on not only the ball payout motor 53m but also the ball feed rotator 53r, the receiving ports 53a and 53b, etc. can be reduced, even a small ball payout device can be operated stably for a long period of time. Further, a ball receiving rotor 120 having a rectifying effect of the ball flow is provided, and a drive source (solenoid 135) of the rotation control mechanism 130 for controlling the rotation state is provided between the support surface of the base frame 31 and the game board 20. Since it is disposed in between, it is possible to provide a ball payout control mechanism having the above-described effects with a compact configuration that does not increase the thickness of the back set board 30.

A light emitting element 137 such as an LED is provided at a position that can be seen on the back side of the back set board 30, for example, on the side of the ball dispensing device 53 or on the side of the window near the solenoid. In addition, it is also preferable that a light emission control signal for blinking the light emitting element 137 is output from the ball payout control device 82 simultaneously with the solenoid drive signal S so that the light emitting element is turned on when the solenoid 135 is driven. During the operation of the solenoid 135 according to this configuration, i.e. the ball receiving rotator 120 is the light emitting element 137 when it is receiving state P _r is illuminated, the rear 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.

In the above, regardless of whether the payout command signal C or the like input to the ball payout control device 82 is a small number or a large number of ball payout command signals C ₁ , C ₂ or a ball lending request signal C ₃ , Although 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, the operation state is changed according to the type of the input signal, or the number of game balls to be dispensed and the continuous dispensing depending on the situation, etc., 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 operation the pressure control unit only when the first payout operation Etc.) is also possible.

  The ball payout control mechanism is provided with a ball stop function for 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 stopper structure 140 is mainly composed of an operation knob 131m formed on the rocking body 131. When the pressure receiving unit 100 is held in a ball-locking state, the key engaging piece 131k formed on the rocking body 131, the right frame hook The frame side key support hole 141a formed in the support surface 33, the lid side key support hole 141b formed in the lid member 58, and the heart key 145 are used. The heart key 145 is a metal pin having a wire diameter of 1.5 to 2 mm and a length of about 80 to 100 mm, and is always carried by an attendant of the game facility together with the key of the locking device 4 in order to perform the above-described ball removing operation. This is an operation pin.

  As described above, the swinging member 131 is formed with the operation knob 131m projecting rearward from the main body plate portion 131a, while the lid member 58 has an arcuate knob insertion hole 117 that matches the swinging locus of the operation knob 131m. Is formed, and the operation knob 131m is arranged in a state of protruding to the rear surface side of the lid member 58.

For this reason, by placing a finger on the operation knob 131m and pressing it to the left against the spring force of the return spring 134, the rocking body 131 is swung counterclockwise, and the claw receiving groove 132t of the rotation restricting tool is tapped. Can be engaged with the pressure receiving claw 120t of the ball receiving rotating body, and the ball stop state P _s that restricts the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body 120 and the flow of the game ball can be artificially created. . Thereby, the game ball stopped upstream from the ball receiving rotating body is blocked by the pressure receiving claws 120t and 120t of the ball receiving rotating body whose rotation is restricted, and the flow down to the downstream side is restricted.

  Further, the frame side key support hole 141a and the lid side key support hole 141b are formed at an upper right position of the ball receiving rotary body 120 so that the heart key 145 can be inserted. When the rocking body 131 is swung counterclockwise to be in a ball stop state, the rocking body 131 is positioned on the right side of the key engaging piece 131k of the rocking body so as to be aligned on the same axis.

Therefore, a pawl receiving groove 132t of the pressure receiving pawl 120t of the ball receiving rotating member rotation restricting mechanism in engaged thereby sphere stopped state P _s supporting the operation knob 131m, insert a heart key 145 on the lid side key support hole 141b When the leading end is loosely inserted and supported in the frame-side key support hole 141a, the heart key 145 is positioned on the right side of the key engagement piece 131k and is disposed to extend back and forth. Therefore, when the support of the operation knob 131m is loosened, the rocking body 131 is slightly swung by the spring force of the return spring 134, the right side surface of the key engagement piece 131 is engaged with the heart key 145, and the operation knob 131m is released. It is kept at the ball stop state P _s even.

In the sphere fixed state P _s, return oscillator 131 by the spring force of the spring 134 is biased clockwise, also the reaction force by the elastic engagement between the pressure receiving pawl 120t and the claw receiving groove 132t is oscillator 131 clock It acts in the direction of rocking around. For this reason, the heart key 145 is supported by the front and rear key support grooves 141a and 141b in a state in which the engagement portion with the key engagement piece 131k is pressed rightward. or is even or varies the pressure acting from accumulated game balls to the upstream side, the rocking body 131 heart key 145 is disengaged there is no possibility that would go back to the released state P _f.

  Therefore, the attendant at the game facility drops the game ball 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 ball into the big prize opening, or the CR operation panel. By operating the ball payout device 53 by pushing the ball lending request button 92 or the like to pay out the game ball, the game ball stopped between the pressure receiving claw 120t and the ball feed rotating body 53r can be quickly Thus, all the balls can be removed, and in a state in which the game balls in the ball payout device 53 are completely discharged, inspection work and replacement work of the ball payout device 53 can be easily performed.

After completing the inspection work and the like of the ball payout device 53, to release the ball stop state P _s is, by removing the heart key 145 in backward lightly supporting the operation knob 131m, slowly the operation knob 131m which has been supported let go That's fine. Then, the oscillating body 131 is oscillated clockwise by the spring force of the return spring 134, the engagement of the pressure receiving projection 120t and the claw receiving groove 132t is released, the rotation restriction of the ball receiving rotators 120a and 120b is released, and the initial to return to the released state _{P f.}

  Therefore, according to the ball payout control mechanism as described above, it is possible to ensure an appropriate payout operation even with a ball payout device using a small motor, so that the device can be reduced in size and cost, and the load can be reduced. It is possible to provide a payout control mechanism that can be stably operated for a long period of time by reducing. In addition, it is possible to provide a payout control mechanism with good maintenance workability with a simple device configuration in which the rocking body is displaced and locked at the rocking angle position in the pressure receiving state.

  FIG. 14 is a plan view showing another configuration example of the ball receiving rotor in the pressure receiving control unit. In this ball receiving rotating body 220 (220a, 220b), like the ball receiving rotating body 120 described above, arc-shaped ball receiving grooves 120u and mountain-shaped pressure receiving claws 120t are alternately formed on the outer periphery of the rotating disk. A claw wheel form is used, and ball receiving rotors 220a and 220b having the same shape in the front and rear are used corresponding to the front and rear standby passages 52a and 52b. On the other hand, the boss at the center of the ball receiving rotor 220 is formed only on one surface side, and a shaft hole having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support screw 228 is formed through the front and rear through the shaft center. Yes. Further, on the S-shaped rail 52, a shorter support boss having a diameter substantially the same as that of the boss of the ball receiving rotating body 220 is formed to protrude from the front and rear of the partition wall 52w, and the shaft center is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the support screw 228. A shaft hole having a larger inner diameter is formed so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction.

  The ball bearing rotating bodies 220a and 220b are integrally formed with the assembly of the S-shaped rail 52, and the spindle screw 228 is inserted into the lid member 58 so that the tip side protrudes to the front side of the lid member 58. The ball receiving rotator 220b, the support shaft hole of the S-shaped rail 52, and finally the ball receiving rotator 220a on the front row side are sequentially inserted and supported. Then, the S-shaped rail 52 in which the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies are integrally supported in this manner is fitted and supported by the support boss of the right frame rod 33, and is positioned from the rear of the lid member 58 to each support boss. By screwing and fastening the screws and screwing and fastening the spindle screw 228 to the frame side screw receiving portion 112a, the S-shaped rail 52 and the front and rear ball receiving rotating bodies 220a and 220b are attached to the right frame rod 33, Each ball receiving rotating body 220a, 220b is rotatably arranged independently. According to such a configuration, in addition to obtaining the same effect as the above-described ball payout control mechanism, it is possible to form a relatively small-diameter ball receiving rotating body, and to form an S-shaped rail or a ball receiving rotating body. The member configuration such as can be simplified.

  In the above embodiment, a push-type direct acting solenoid 135 is provided on the front side of the right frame rod 33 as a drive source of the rotation restricting tool, and the drive transmitting tool 136 is fitted and fixed to the tip of the push rod 135e. Although the rocking body 131 is rocked and the rotation restricting tool 132 assembled to the rocking body is engaged with the ball receiving rotating bodies 120 and 220 to restrict the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body, the drive source is A suction type direct acting solenoid or a rotary solenoid may be used, and the rotation restricting tool may be directly or indirectly slid or swinged to restrict the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body. The drive source may be provided not only on the front surface side of the right frame rod 33 but also on the rear surface side of the right frame rod 33 or the back surface of the lid member 58.

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 a back set board containing the ball paying-out control mechanism concerning this invention. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the pressure receiving control unit in the said ball paying-out control mechanism from diagonally right backward. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view in the direction of arrow V to arrow in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 3. It is a plane sectional view of the VII-VII arrow direction in FIG. It is a front view of the said pressure receiving control unit seen from the front side of the right frame rod. 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 condition of the game ball in a pressure receiving state. It is a rear view which shows the other locking condition of the game ball in a pressure receiving state. It is a rear view of the said pressure receiving control unit when a ball receiving rotary body is made into a ball stop state. It is a top view which shows the other structural example of the ball receiving rotary body in a pressure receiving control unit. It is a rear view which shows the general | schematic structure of the ball dispensing apparatus in the conventional ball dispensing control mechanism, and the effect | action of dispensing.

Explanation of symbols

PA game area PM Pachinko machine P _f release state P _r pressure receiving state P _s ball stop state 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 1 Outer frame 2 Front frame 3 Hinge mechanism 4 Locking device 5 Glass door (5h ball removal operation hole)
6 Upper ball dish 7 Lower ball dish 8 Launch handle 9 Game ball launcher 20 Game board 21 Dressing plate 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 41 Sphere storage tank 42 Tank rail (42a front row side alignment passage, 42b rear row side alignment passage)
44 Sphere equalizing tool 45 Sphere stop member 51 Sphere detection sensor 52 S-rail (52a Front row side standby passage, 52b Rear row side standby passage, 52w Partition wall,
52R Right side wall, 52L Left side wall)
53 ball dispensing device (53a front row side receiving port, 53b back row side receiving port, 53c left side dispensing port,
53d Right side outlet, 53m ball delivery motor, 53r ball feed rotor,
53r ₁ front row side impeller, 53r ₂ back row side impeller)
54 ball counting sensor 55 flow path switching member (55a passage wall)
56 Operating member 57 Ball passage (57a preliminary passage, 57b communication opening, 57c descending passage)
58 Lid member 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 112a Frame side screw receiving Portion 112b lid side screw receiving portion 113a frame side supporting shaft portion 113b lid side supporting shaft portion 114 frame wall 115 solenoid support portion (115s screw receiving slit)
116 Pin insertion hole 117 Knob insertion hole 118 Front cover 120 Ball receiver rotating body (120a Ball receiver rotating body on the front row side, 120b Ball receiver rotating body on the rear row side,
120t pressure receiving claw, 120u ball receiving groove)
125 pivot shafts (125a front row pivot shaft, 125b rear row pivot shaft)
126 pressure receiving claw insertion portion (126a pressure receiving claw insertion portion on the front row side, 126b pressure receiving claw insertion portion on the back row side)
128 Pivot shaft fixing screw 130 Rotation control mechanism 131 Oscillator (131a body plate portion, 131b rotation restrictor mounting portion, 131c cam plate portion,
131f Spring hook, 131j bearing part, 131k key engaging piece,
131m operation knob)
132 Rotation restriction tool (132t nail receiving groove)
133 Oscillating shaft 134 Return spring 135 Solenoid (135a case, 135b driving coil, 135c plunger,
135d return spring, 135e push rod, 135f shaft end flange)
136 Drive transmission tool (136a shaft end block, 136b engagement pin, 136f locking slit)
137 Light-emitting element 138 Fixing screw 140 Ball stop structure 141a Frame side key support hole 141b Cover side key support hole 145 Heart key 220 Ball bearing rotating body (220a Ball receiving rotating body on the front row side, 220b Ball receiving rotating body on the back row side)
228 spindle screw

Claims (2)

A back set board attached to cover the back of the game board, a ball storage tank for storing game balls, and a predetermined quantity according to winning conditions in the game board provided below the ball storage tank. A ball payout device for paying out game balls; a guide passage provided between the ball storage tank and the ball payout device and arranged to guide the game balls stored in the ball storage tank to the ball payout device; A ball payout passage for guiding the game balls paid out from the ball payout device to a ball tray, and a control device for controlling the operation of the ball payout 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,
A ball receiving rotor provided rotatably in the standby passage by the pressure of a game ball flowing down the standby passage;
A released state in which the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body is allowed by the pressure of the game ball without restricting the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body, and the game ball stored upstream by restricting the rotation of the ball receiving rotating body Rotation control means for changing to a pressure receiving state that receives the pressure acting from,
The ball receiving rotating body has a number of game balls stopped in the standby passage between the ball feeding rotating body and the ball receiving rotating body of the ball dispensing device according to a winning condition in the game board. Arranged at a position in the standby passage that is equal to or greater than the number of game balls that can be paid out at a time,
The control device operates the rotation control means prior to the rotation start of the ball payout motor to change the ball receiving rotating body to the pressure receiving state, and the ball payout motor is rotated and activated after a predetermined time has elapsed. A ball payout control mechanism for a ball game machine, wherein the ball receiving rotating body is changed to the released state . 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 rotation control means and the ball payout motor when it is detected by the ball presence detection sensor that the sufficient game ball is held in the standby passage. Item 2. A ball payout control mechanism according to Item 1.

Images