JP4682306B2 - Game ball entry device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention is a game ball ball entrance device pinball game machine, relating to a game ball ball entrance device, especially a ball detection sensor which is detachably provided inside the apparatus main body and can be replaced with a dummy sensor.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 12, the ball game machine is provided with a pair of game ball passing gates 1 and 1 on the left and right sides of the special image display device 91 located at the center of the game board 9, and these pass gates 1 , 1 when the normal symbol of the normal symbol display device 92 changes and a predetermined symbol is displayed when the game ball passes through, the normal electric role as a starting port for starting the change of the special image of the special image display device 91 There is something that opens the object 93.

  As shown in FIG. 13, the game ball passage gate 1 is detachably mounted with a ball detection sensor 4, and the ball detection sensor 4 detects the presence or absence of a game ball passing through the passage gate 1. The passage gate 1 made of a synthetic resin molded part is formed by integrally molding a substantially U-shaped frame portion 11 that opens rearward and a fixing plate 12 that projects to the left and right sides of the frame portion 11. A entrance 10 is formed that is surrounded by the plate 12 and through which a game ball can pass. An insertion portion 13 for mounting the ball detection sensor 4 is formed on the inner periphery of the frame portion 11, and a hook-shaped locking claw 14 is provided on one side of the rear end of the frame portion 11.

  The sphere detection sensor 4 is a block body having a rectangular shape in the front-rear direction, and an electric wire 40 is connected to the rear end. The first half is provided with a detection hole 41 through which the game ball passes corresponding to the entrance 10, and when the game ball passes through the detection hole 41, a detection signal is output. The ball detection sensor 4 is inserted into the insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1 from the rear side, the front surface is brought into contact with the inner periphery of the front edge of the frame portion 11, and one corner of the rear end is locked to the locking claw 14. At least worn.

  By the way, the launched game ball is sent to the board from the upper left part of the game board, and the one with a weaker momentum at the time of launch enters the start opening 93, the passing gate 1, the other winning openings 94, 95, etc. Since the ball rate tends to be good, most of the game balls launched flow down the left half of the game board. In this case, the right pass gate 1 does not function so much. For this reason, the sphere detection sensor 4 may not be attached to the right pass gate 1. In this case, if the ball detection sensor 4 is simply removed, the inside of the game board 9 is exposed from the inside of the entrance 10 and the appearance is bad, or the game ball fits inside the entrance 10 and causes a ball jam. Become. Therefore, a dummy sensor is attached instead of the ball detection sensor 4.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the dummy sensor 2 is a synthetic resin block body having substantially the same shape and the same size as the ball detection sensor 4, and an opening 21 through which a game ball is passed is formed in the front half. Similar to the ball detection sensor 4, the dummy sensor 2 is inserted into the insertion portion 13 of the passing gate 1 and is attached to the engaging claw 14.

Conventionally, even in a normal winning opening, a dummy sensor is used instead of a ball detection sensor for detecting a game ball that has entered the entrance, in a substantially bag-shaped molded part having a entrance, similar to a passing gate. Attachment is performed (for example, refer patent document 1 below).
JP-A-11-123260 (FIGS. 10 and 12)

However, in the conventional structure, when a dummy sensor is mounted instead of a ball detection sensor on a passing gate made of molded parts or a normal winning opening, the dummy sensor is a rectangular block body, and the dummy sensor is like a ball detection sensor. Since the wires are not connected, they can be inserted in the reverse direction in the front-rear direction, and there is a risk that the assembly operator will accidentally attach the dummy sensor in the reverse direction in the front-rear direction while assembling many molded parts and dummy sensors. If it is installed in the opposite direction, it will block the entrance gate of the passing gate and the regular winning entrance. The present invention provides a game ball ball entrance device for regulating the inserting longitudinal opposite the dummy sensor when inserting the dummy sensor to the molded part of the game ball ball entrance device forming a passgate and ordinary winning holes, etc. It was made as an issue.

According to the present invention, a molded part having a entrance for allowing a game ball to pass through is provided on a game board of a ball game machine, and the molded part detects a game ball passing through the entrance from the rear end side. In a game ball entrance device in which a ball detection sensor or a dummy sensor instead of the ball detection sensor is detachably inserted into a molded part, the molded part is provided with an insertion portion that opens backward, The dummy sensor protrudes from the outer periphery of the dummy sensor and restricts the insertion of the dummy sensor by contacting the peripheral edge of the insertion port of the insertion part when the dummy sensor is to be inserted into the insertion part in the reverse direction in the front-rear direction. ( Claim 1 ). The insertion of the dummy sensor in the reverse direction in the front-rear direction can be restricted by the restriction means. Further, since the restricting means is provided on the dummy sensor side, there is no problem in inserting the ball detection sensor into the molded part.

When the dummy sensor is inserted into the insertion portion in a normal direction in the front-rear direction, the restricting means can be attached to the insertion portion regardless of whether the dummy sensor is face-up or face-down ( Claim 2). The restrictions on the insertion direction are loose and the dummy sensor mounting workability is good.

The molded part is provided with a locking means that is held when the ball detection sensor or the dummy sensor is inserted at a vertical intermediate position on one side edge of the insertion port, and the restricting means is provided on both sides of the dummy sensor. Along the upper and lower edges of the side surfaces on both sides that are not in contact with the locking means when the dummy sensor is inserted into the insertion part of the molded part in a normal direction in the front-rear direction at an asymmetrical position on the side surface. In addition, a guide rib extending in the front-rear direction is provided, and a guide groove fitted to the guide rib is provided at an asymmetrical position on both side surfaces of the inner periphery of the insertion portion corresponding to the guide rib . If the dummy sensor is to be inserted in the reverse direction, the guide ribs on both sides come into contact with the peripheral edge of the insertion port to restrict the insertion.

According to the present invention, when inserting the dummy sensor to the molded part of the game ball ball entrance device forming a passgate and ordinary winning holes, etc., it can be prevented by inserting a dummy sensor in the front-rear direction reversed by the regulating means, In addition, the insertion workability is improved.

Based on FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. 3, 1st Embodiment which applied this invention to the passing gate which is a game ball entrance apparatus is described. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a passing gate 1 made of a synthetic resin molded part penetrates a fixing plate 12 having a through hole in the center and a through hole in the center in the front-rear direction. Thus, a substantially U-shaped frame portion 11 opening rearward is integrally formed. As a result, the passing gate 1 is formed with a rectangular entrance 10 that is surrounded by the fixed plate 12 and the front half of the frame 11 projecting to the front side thereof and through which a game ball can pass in the vertical direction. .

  The rear ends of the left and right side portions of the frame portion 11 protrude to the back side of the fixed plate 12, and an insertion portion 13 for inserting a ball detection sensor or a dummy sensor from the rear is formed on the inner peripheral portion of the frame portion 11. It is. The insertion portion 13 is formed in a substantially U shape with a shallow cross section where the left and right sides of the frame portion 11 face each other, and slides and guides both sides of the ball detection sensor or dummy sensor inserted into the insertion portion 13. A rail shape that can be held together. A locking claw 14 is formed on the rear edge of one side portion of the frame 11 so as to protrude rearward from the upper and lower intermediate positions and project in a hook shape into the insertion portion 13 at the tip.

  The passing gate 1 inserts the rear end of the frame portion 11 into the mounting hole formed in the game board 9 from the front side of the game board 9 and superimposes the fixing plate 12 on the periphery of the mounting hole, A plurality of screw member game boards 9 are fastened and installed via left and right screw through holes.

  The dummy sensor 2 is a block body made of a synthetic resin having a rectangular shape in the front-rear direction. The width of the dummy sensor 2 is substantially the same as the inner diameter width of the insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1. In a state where the front surface of the dummy sensor 2 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the front side portion of the frame portion 11, the rear end corner angle of the dummy sensor 2 is locked by the locking claw 14. It is slightly longer than the longitudinal length of the left and right sides.

  In the first half of the dummy sensor 2, a rectangular opening 21 through which a game ball can pass in the vertical direction is formed corresponding to the entrance 10 of the passing gate 1. In addition, the front end portion of the dummy sensor 2 has notches in the left and right corners so that the width of the front end is narrowed, so that the workability of inserting the dummy sensor 2 into the insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1 is improved.

  At the rear end of the dummy sensor 2, the side surface of the dummy sensor 2 serves as a restricting means of the present invention that restricts the front-rear direction when inserted into the insertion portion 13 at a position opposite to the locking claw 14 of the passage gate 1. A protrusion 22 projecting in a block shape from the rear end portion in the lateral direction is integrally formed, whereby the lateral width of the rear end of the dummy sensor 2 is larger than the inner diameter lateral width of the insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1. The front-rear length of the protrusion 22 is substantially the same as the difference length of the front-rear length of the dummy sensor 2 that is longer than the front-rear length of the side portion of the frame 11.

  The dummy sensor 2 faces the insertion part 13 of the passage gate 1 in a state where the opening part 21 faces forward and the projection 22 at the rear end is located on the opposite side of the locking claw 14 of the passage gate 1. With the front surface of the dummy sensor 2 in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the front side portion of the frame portion 11, the rear end corner angle of the dummy sensor 2 is locked to the locking claw 14 and attached. . In this case, the protrusion 22 is located behind the other side portion of the frame portion 11 and does not interfere with insertion. In addition, when the projection 22 is in the mounted state in which the rear end corner angle of the dummy sensor 2 is locked to the locking claw 14 and is brought into contact with the rear edge of the other side portion, the dummy sensor at the time of mounting is used. The backlash of 2 can be prevented. When the dummy sensor 2 is mounted, the opening 21 matches the entrance 10 of the passing gate 1 so that a game ball can pass in the vertical direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3A, the dummy sensor 2 has a rear end in a front-facing and back-facing state (in the figure, a black dot pattern is provided on the back side of the dummy sensor 2). Since the projection 22 is on the side of the locking claw 14, the projection 22 hits the locking claw 14 and the insertion is restricted, so that it cannot be mounted. Further, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the dummy sensor 2 has a protrusion 22 with respect to the inner side width of the insertion portion 13 regardless of whether the dummy sensor 2 is to be inserted backward or face up. Since the width of the dummy sensor 2 including is wide, insertion into the insertion portion 13 is restricted.

  Accordingly, the dummy sensor 2 can be mounted only in the forward and front-facing state, and the mounting operator does not erroneously mount it in the reverse direction as in the conventional structure.

  Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. The basic structure of the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and differences will be mainly described. In the drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, as a restricting means for restricting the front-rear direction when the dummy sensor is inserted, a thin plate-like protrusion that protrudes laterally from the rear edge of the upper edge of the left and right side surfaces at the left and right side positions of the rear end of the dummy sensor The lateral width of the rear end of the dummy sensor 2 is made larger than the inner diameter lateral width of the insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1 by the left and right protrusions 23 and 23. The plate thicknesses of both protrusions 23 and 3 correspond to the upper space of the locking claw 14 which is thinner than the upper and lower thicknesses of the frame portion 11, and are not thick enough to interfere with the locking claw 14 during insertion. The length is substantially the same as the difference between the front and rear lengths of the dummy sensor 2 which is longer than the side portion of the frame portion 11.

  Since the dummy sensor 2 configured in this manner has protrusions 23 and 23 formed at both left and right positions of the rear end and is formed into a thin plate shape, the protrusions 23 and 23 are shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B when inserted forward. As shown in FIG. 5, the projection 23 can be inserted and mounted without interfering with the locking claw 14 regardless of whether it is face-up or face-down, and the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the present embodiment, since the projections 23 are formed on both the left and right sides, if they are forward, they can be mounted in the reverse direction, and the directionality is limited compared to the first embodiment, which is limited to mounting in the forward and front direction. Is loose and mounting workability is improved.

  Although illustration is omitted, if the dummy sensor 2 is to be inserted in the reverse direction, the protrusions 23 and 23 abut against the left and right rear edges of the frame portion 11 to restrict insertion.

  Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 show a third embodiment of the present invention. The basic structure of the pass gate 1 and the dummy sensor 2 used in the third embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, and the differences will be mainly described. In the drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals. The dummy sensor 2 of the present embodiment has a thin ridge that protrudes in the lateral direction over the entire length in the front-rear direction along the upper edge of the other side surface located on the opposite side of the locking claw 14. Guide ribs 24 are integrally formed.

  On the other hand, the insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1 has a front-rear direction along the upper edge of the inner peripheral surface corresponding to the guide rib 24 of the dummy sensor 2 on the inner peripheral surface on the opposite side of the locking claw 14. A guide groove 15 is formed which extends to the above and into which the guide rib 24 can be fitted. The guide groove 15 has a concave groove shape in the front half of the front side of the fixed plate 12 and is formed in a slit shape in the rear half of the rear side of the fixed plate 12.

  The dummy sensor 2 of the present embodiment is mounted by being inserted into the insertion portion 13 while fitting the guide rib 24 into the guide groove 15 in a forward and front-facing state. On the other hand, when the dummy sensor 2 is reversed in the front-rear direction or inserted in the reverse direction, the guide rib 24 is positioned on the locking claw 14 side, and the guide rib 24 is locked to the locking claw 14 at the rear end of the frame portion 11. The insertion is restricted by hitting the side edge. Furthermore, even if the dummy sensor 2 is reversed in the front-rear direction and facing backward, the guide rib 24 is positioned on the lower surface side of the dummy sensor 2 and cannot be fitted into the guide groove 15, and insertion is restricted. Although the above-described guide rib 24 has a thin protrusion, the present invention is not limited to this, and the guide rib can be appropriately set within a range in which the thickness does not exceed the upper and lower thicknesses of the dummy sensor 2. In this case, the guide groove also has a groove width and depth corresponding to the guide rib.

                                                            8 and 9 show a fourth embodiment. The basic structure of the present embodiment is almost the same as that of the third embodiment, and differences will be mainly described. In the drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals. In the dummy sensor 2, a guide rib 25 extending in the front-rear direction is integrally formed on the other side surface located on the opposite side to the locking claw 14. The guide rib 25 is formed in a tapered shape that gradually tapers from the rear end toward the front end.

  On the other hand, the insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1 has a front-rear direction on the inner peripheral surface on the opposite side of the locking claw 14 corresponding to the guide rib 25 of the dummy sensor 2 in the vertical center position of the inner peripheral surface. An extending guide groove 16 is formed. The guide groove 16 is formed in a taper shape with a gradually decreasing groove width from the rear end toward the front end.

  The dummy sensor 2 of the present embodiment is mounted by being inserted into the insertion portion 13 while fitting the guide rib 25 into the guide groove 16 in a forward and front-facing state, and has the same operational effects as the third embodiment. . Further, by forming the guide rib 25 in a tapered shape, it becomes easier to fit the guide rib 25 into the guide groove 16 than in the case where the guide rib 25 is not tapered, and the mounting workability is improved.

                                                            10 and 11 show a fifth embodiment, and the basic structure of this embodiment is almost the same as that of the third embodiment. The dummy sensor 2 has a protrusion extending in the front-rear direction at a position along the lower edge of one side surface (on the side of the locking claw 14) and a position along the upper edge of the other side surface (opposite side of the locking claw 14). The guide ribs 26, 26 are integrally formed.

  The insertion portion 13 of the passage gate 1 has a lower edge of the inner peripheral surface on the side of the locking claw 14 and an upper edge of the inner peripheral surface on the opposite side of the locking claw 14 respectively corresponding to the guide ribs 26, 26. Guide grooves 17 and 17 are formed.

  The dummy sensor 2 of the present embodiment is mounted by being inserted into the insertion portion 13 while fitting both the guide ribs 26 and 26 into the both guide grooves 17 and 17 in a forward and front-facing state, as in the third embodiment. The same effect is produced. Further, by providing the guide ribs 26, 26 provided on the left and right side surfaces of the dummy sensor 2 at positions along the different edges (upper edge and lower edge), both the guide ribs 26, The position 26 is the same as in the case of facing up, and it can be mounted even in a forward-facing and back-facing state, and the insertion direction is less restricted than in the third embodiment, and the mounting workability is good.

The above-described embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention includes various modifications and changes to the above-described embodiments. For example, the protrusions and the guide ribs are not limited to the side surfaces of the dummy sensor, but may be formed on the front surface or the back surface, and when inserted in the reverse direction, the reverse insertion may be restricted by contacting the peripheral edge of the opening of the fixing plate 12. . Not limited to the pass gate may be applied to a ball entrance device comprising a molded part with a sphere detection sensor or bag-shaped inlet ball port forming a removable ordinary winning holes like the dummy sensor.

It is a disassembled perspective view of the molded component and dummy sensor of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a horizontal cross section which shows the state which mounted | worn with the said dummy sensor to the said molded component forward and face up. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the insertion of the dummy sensor into the molded part is restricted corresponding to FIG. 2, and FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the state in which the dummy sensor is restricted forward and backward, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view in a state where the dummy sensor is regulated rearward and face-up, and FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view in a state where the dummy sensor is regulated rearward and face-down. It is a disassembled perspective view of the molded component and dummy sensor of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 5 (A) shows a state in which the dummy sensor is mounted on the molded part, FIG. 5 (A) is a horizontal section in which the dummy sensor is mounted forward and face up, and FIG. 5 (B) is a front and back mounting state. It is the horizontal cross section of the state made . It is a disassembled perspective view of the molded component and dummy sensor of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 7A is a plan view, FIG. 7B is a side view, and FIG. 7C is a rear view as seen from the rear. FIG. The dummy sensor used for the 4th Embodiment of this invention is shown, FIG. 8 (A) is a top view, FIG.8 (B) is a side view. FIG. 9A shows a state in which a dummy sensor is mounted on a molded part of the fourth embodiment. FIG. 9A is a plan view, FIG. 9B is a side view, and FIG. 9C is FIG. It is sectional drawing which follows the IX-IX line. It is a disassembled perspective view of the molded component and dummy sensor of the 5th Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 11A shows a state where a dummy sensor is mounted on a molded part of the fifth embodiment. FIG. 11A is a plan view, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. is there. It is a front view which shows the game board of the ball game machine to which this invention is applied. FIG. 13A is an exploded perspective view of a conventional molded part and a sphere detection sensor, and FIG. 13B is a horizontal section showing a state where the sphere detection sensor is mounted on the molded part. FIG. 14A is an exploded perspective view of a conventional molded part and a dummy sensor, and FIG. 14B is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing a state where the dummy sensor is attached to the molded part forward and face-up.

Explanation of symbols

1 Passing gate (molded part)
10 Entrance 13 Inserting part 14 Locking claw (locking means)
15, 16, 17 Guide groove 2 Dummy sensor 22, 23 Protrusion (regulating means)
24, 25, 26 Guide rib (regulation means)
9 Game board

Claims (3)

A ball detection sensor for detecting a game ball passing through the entrance from the rear end side of the molded part provided with a molded part having a entrance for allowing the game ball to pass through the game board of the ball game machine; Or in a game ball entrance device in which a dummy sensor is detachably inserted into a molded part instead of the ball detection sensor,
The molded part is provided with an insertion portion that opens backward,
The dummy sensor protrudes from the outer periphery of the dummy sensor and restricts the insertion of the dummy sensor by contacting the peripheral edge of the insertion port of the insertion part when the dummy sensor is to be inserted into the insertion part in the reverse direction in the front-rear direction. A game ball entrance device characterized by comprising: When the dummy sensor is inserted into the insertion portion in the normal direction in the front-rear direction, the restricting means can be attached to the insertion portion regardless of whether the dummy sensor is face-up or face-down. The game ball entrance device according to claim 1. The molded part is provided with a lock means that holds the ball detection sensor or the dummy sensor at the intermediate position between the side edges on one side of the insertion port when the ball detection sensor or the dummy sensor is inserted,
As the restricting means, when the dummy sensor is inserted into the insertion part of the molded part in a normal direction in the front-rear direction at the asymmetric positions on both sides of the dummy sensor, the lock means is not in contact with the locking means. Guide ribs extending in the front-rear direction along the upper and lower edges of the side surfaces on both sides are provided, and corresponding to the guide ribs, guide grooves that fit the guide ribs are provided at asymmetric positions on both side surfaces of the inner periphery of the insertion portion. The game ball entrance device according to claim 1 or 2 .

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