JP4740643B2 - Game ball moving device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention belongs to the technical field of a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, and particularly relates to a game ball moving device for controlling the movement of a game ball.

In general, a ball game machine is equipped with a payout device for paying out, for example, prize balls or rental balls.
Among the payout devices, there is a type in which a game ball is captured by a sprocket tooth root, the game ball is moved when the sprocket is rotated, and the movement of the game ball is blocked when the sprocket is stopped.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-081265 (Patent Document 1) discloses a payout device that sends out a game ball captured in a tooth root of a sprocket by rotating the sprocket with a motor. Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-135780 (Patent Document 2) discloses a payout device that rotates a sprocket with the load of a game ball.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-081265 JP 2003-135780 A

  By the way, when the sprocket that has captured the game ball in the tooth root is rotated, the game ball moves while contacting the inner surface of the bag or the like, so that the frictional force accompanying this contact acts as a force for rotating the game ball. That is, since the game ball tries to rotate in the tooth root, a frictional force is generated between the game ball and the inner surface of the tooth root. This frictional force resists the rotation of the sprocket, but no countermeasure has been taken.

The game ball moving device according to claim 1, wherein the game ball moving device includes a sprocket that captures the game ball in a tooth root and moves the game ball as the wheel rotates, and a side surface of the game ball captured in the tooth root. A free roller that contacts the sprocket is attached to the sprocket so that its rotational axis is parallel to the rotational axis of the sprocket, and the free roller 7 is a round bar that passes through a holding hole provided in the tooth root. The holding hole can be rotated as a bearing, and the holding hole is provided with a slit, and the side surface of the free roller protrudes from the slit to the inside of the tooth root. When the game ball is rotated in the tooth root when it is rotated, the free roller whose side surface is in contact with the game ball rotates. Thereby, the frictional force generated between the game ball and the sprocket can be alleviated, and the sprocket can be smoothly rotated. In addition, a tooth root is a recessed part between teeth.

  This game ball moving device moves the game ball when the sprocket rotates, and prevents the game ball from moving when the sprocket stops, so that the flow of the game ball can be interrupted according to the rotation and stop of the sprocket, and the game ball as a prize ball Can be used for a payout device for paying out a game ball or a ball lending device for paying out a game ball as a rental ball.

  As long as the free roller is brought into contact with the game ball captured by the tooth root, that is, a part of the side surface protrudes from the inner surface of the tooth root, the installation position and the number of the free rollers are not limited.

  However, even if the number of free rollers is increased too much, the effect does not vary greatly, and it is difficult to place a large number of free rollers in a limited space. The degree is preferred.

  In the case where one free roller is disposed for one tooth root, a configuration in which the free roller is disposed at the bottom of the tooth root as described in claim 2 is preferable. Moreover, after arranging one on the bottom part of a tooth root, you may distribute a total of two or more free rollers for every tooth root.

The sprocket may be rotationally driven by a motor as described in claim 3, or may be rotationally driven by a load of a game ball captured in a tooth root as described in claim 4.
In the case of a configuration in which the sprocket is rotationally driven by the load of the game ball captured by the tooth root, it is necessary to provide variable stopper means in a state that allows the sprocket to rotate and a state that prevents the rotation. Even when the sprocket is rotationally driven by a motor, it may be desirable to provide similar stopper means.
As for the free roller, as described in claim 5, both ends of the free roller are hemispherical, and are preferably located between the opposing sprocket and the inner wall surface of the housing.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to the following examples and the like, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[Example]
In this embodiment, the game ball moving device is embodied as a payout device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the payout device 1 includes a sprocket 2, a housing 3 that houses the sprocket 2, a game ball introduction rod 4 and a game ball discharge rod 5 that are connected to the housing 3.
The sprocket 2 is a molded product of synthetic resin (for example, nylon resin). The sprocket 2 is provided with eight tooth roots 6, and a free roller 7 is attached to the bottom of each tooth root 6.

  A rotation shaft 8 is provided at the center, and the rotation shaft 8 is connected to an output shaft of a motor (not shown). For this reason, when the motor is operated, the sprocket 2 rotates in the housing 3 around the rotation shaft 8.

  The free roller 7 is a round bar made of a metal or a synthetic resin (for example, POM) having excellent wear resistance, and passes through a holding hole 9 provided in the root 6 as shown in FIG. Can be rotated as a bearing. A slit 9 a is provided in the holding hole 9, and the side surface 7 a of the free roller 7 protrudes from the slit 9 a to the inside of the tooth root 6. The free roller 7 is only inserted through the holding hole 9 in parallel with the rotary shaft 8, but its axial movement is restricted when both ends thereof are in contact with the inner wall surface 3 a of the housing 3. There is no risk.

  The length of the free roller 7 is designed to be slightly shorter than the interval between the inner wall surfaces 3a located at both ends thereof (because there is a clearance), and both ends of the free roller 7 are hemispherical. Therefore, rotational friction between both ends and the inner wall surface 3a of the housing 3 does not occur or is extremely small even if it occurs.

  The game ball introduction basket 4 is connected to a game ball tank (the game ball tank and the route are not shown), and the game ball T flowing out of the game ball tank is guided into the housing 3 through the game ball introduction basket 4. The

  When the sprocket 2 is rotated and the tooth root 6 reaches a position facing the opening end 4a of the game ball introduction rod 4, one game ball T flows from the game ball introduction rod 4 into the tooth valley 6 and is captured. The operation in which the game ball T is captured by the tooth root 6 is repeated every time the sprocket 2 rotates and the next tooth root 6 comes.

  The game ball T captured by the tooth root 6 moves in the housing 3 as the sprocket 2 rotates, and when it reaches the opening end 5a of the game ball discharge rod 5, it is detached from the tooth root 6 and is played from the opening end 5a. It falls into the ball discharge basket 5. The game ball discharge basket 5 is connected to a tray (the tray and the path are not shown), and the game ball T that has flowed out to the game ball discharge basket 5 is guided to the tray.

  Since the game ball T captured by the tooth root 6 moves while contacting the inner wall surface 3a of the housing 3 as the sprocket 2 rotates, the frictional force accompanying this contact acts as a force for rotating the game ball T. . That is, the game ball T tries to rotate within the tooth root 6.

  When the game ball T tries to rotate in the tooth root 6, the free roller 7 contacting the side surface 7 a with the game ball T rotates, so that the space between the game ball T and the sprocket 2 (the inner surface of the tooth root 6). Thus, the frictional force generated on the sprocket 2 can be relaxed and the sprocket 2 can be rotated smoothly.

Explanatory drawing of the payout apparatus of an Example. Explanatory drawing of the attachment state of a free roller.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Dispensing device,
2 ... sprocket,
3 ... Housing,
4 ... Game ball introduction cage,
5 ... Game ball discharge bowl,
6 ... tooth root,
7 ... Free roller,
7a ... side,
8 ... rotating shaft,
9: Holding hole,
T: A game ball.

Claims (5)

In a game ball moving device comprising a sprocket that captures a game ball in a tooth root and moves the game ball with rotation,
A free roller that makes a side contact with the game ball captured by the tooth root, the rotation axis of which is parallel to the rotation axis of the sprocket, and attached to the sprocket ,
The free roller is a round bar that passes through a holding hole provided in the tooth root and is rotatable with the holding hole as a bearing. The holding hole is provided with a slit, and the side surface of the free roller is A game ball moving device characterized in that it protrudes from the slit to the inside of the tooth root . The game ball moving device according to claim 1,
A game ball moving device, wherein the free roller is arranged at the bottom of the tooth root. The game ball moving device according to claim 1 or 2,
A game ball moving device comprising a motor for rotationally driving the sprocket. The game ball moving device according to claim 1 or 2,
A game ball moving device according to claim 1, wherein the sprocket is rotationally driven by a load of the game ball captured by the tooth root.   The game ball moving device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
  A housing for housing the sprocket;
  The housing is formed with a pair of inner wall surfaces that are perpendicular to the rotation axis of the sprocket and in which the sprocket is accommodated,
  Both ends of the free roller are respectively positioned between the opposing sprocket and the inner wall surface,
  Both ends of the free roller are hemispherical
A game ball moving device characterized by that.

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