JP4799648B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball storage tank that can store game balls, a ball alignment path that allows game balls from the ball storage tank to flow down while being aligned, and a ball discharge that can discharge the game balls aligned by the ball alignment path This relates to a gaming machine in which a department is connected in series.

There is a pachinko game machine as a typical game machine that uses a game ball to play a game. A rear portion of a display device for displaying a game effect display is arranged on the back side of the pachinko gaming machine, and a ball storage tank for storing game balls is provided above the display device. When the game ball wins the winning opening, the ball discharge unit is activated and the game ball stored in the ball storage tank is discharged as a prize ball to the upper plate on the front surface of the pachinko gaming machine. In addition, when a ball lending operation is performed, the ball discharge unit operates to discharge the game balls in the ball storage tank to the upper plate.
The ball discharge portion is generally provided on the downstream side of the ball alignment path extending below the ball storage tank. However, in order to reduce the number of parts and reduce the arrangement space and cost, for example, a ball storage in which a ball storage tank, a ball alignment path (alignment section), and a ball discharge section (ball dispensing device) are arranged on the same inclined path. A unit (pachinko ball hopper) has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The pachinko gaming machine provided with the ball storage unit having such a configuration can secure a wide space below the ball storage tank on the back surface side, and can easily arrange the rear portion of the enlarged display device.

JP 2004-283317 A

  By the way, in the pachinko gaming machine described in the above-mentioned patent document, in order to fit the ball storage unit within the lateral width of the pachinko gaming machine, the tank length in the longitudinal direction of the ball storage tank (the length along the lateral direction of the pachinko gaming machine). )) Must be set shorter than the conventional ball storage tank. Therefore, in the ball storage tank, the width of the downstream portion connected to the ball alignment path (the width along the longitudinal direction of the pachinko game machine) is extended to the width of the ball alignment path (for example, about the width of two game balls) ) It must be extremely narrowed down. Accordingly, the game balls flowing down in the ball storage tank are likely to be densely formed at the connecting portion between the ball storage tank and the ball alignment path, and the ball is easily clogged. As a result, the game balls in the ball storage tank are quickly discharged. There is a possibility that the game balls cannot be discharged smoothly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, an object thereof is intended to provide a gaming machine which can be discharged smoothly game balls in ball storage tank.

The present invention has been proposed in order to achieve the above object, and according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a bottomed box-shaped ball storage tank capable of storing a game ball supplied from outside, A ball alignment path that communicates with the downstream side of the ball storage tank and that allows the game balls to flow down while being aligned is arranged in the left-right direction and continuously connected in the same downward inclination direction. It is a gaming machine that can be discharged by the discharging unit, and is installed on the gaming machine installation island facility in an inclined posture in which the upper end is shifted rearward from the lower end ,
The ball storage tank is provided with a ball detection switch, and the width of the communication space portion is gradually narrowed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the communication space portion communicating with the ball alignment path in the ball storage tank. And forming a narrowing portion for aligning the game balls flowing down the ball storage tank into two rows,
The ball alignment path includes a first flow path and a second flow path that allow the game balls aligned in the narrowing portion to flow separately into one line, and a partition wall that partitions the first flow path and the second flow path. With
The first flow path and the second flow path are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine, and the bottom of the ball storage tank is inclined downwardly in a state where the gaming machine is installed on the gaming machine installation island facility. The inlet of the first flow path is set to be lower than the inlet of the second flow path,
The partition wall is set so as to gradually increase from the upstream end facing the communication space portion toward the downstream side of the spherical alignment path, and the upper end of the partition wall is inclined downward toward the first flow path side. Set to a state that is tapered and tapered upward,
The narrowing portion is composed of a first narrowing portion located on the rear side of the ball storage tank and a second narrowing portion located on the front side of the ball storage tank,
The ball detection switch detects a tread that changes from a first state that protrudes from the bottom of the ball storage tank to a second state that is substantially flush with the bottom when the game ball is placed, and a state change of the tread With possible detection sensors,
The tread is close to the ball alignment path at the bottom of the ball storage tank so that game balls flowing down along the lower edge of the first narrowing portion pass above the tread , and the first It is a gaming machine characterized by being arranged at a location located on an extension line of a flow path.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the downstream end portion of the first narrowing portion is disposed on the side of the upstream portion of the first flow path that is on the side of the upstream end portion of the partition wall, and the first 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a downstream end portion of the two narrowing portions is arranged closer to an upstream side of a bottom portion of the ball storage tank than a downstream end portion of the first narrowing portion .

According to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
According to the invention described in claim 1, the upstream end of the partition wall, i.e. at the inlet of the first and second channels, while gradually game balls divided into the first flow path and second flow path Can flow down. Therefore , it is possible to suppress the clogging of the balls, and the game balls in the ball storage tank can be discharged smoothly .

Further, it is possible to quickly detect that a game ball is being supplied into the ball storage tank by the ball detection switch. In addition, even when game balls in the ball storage tank have decreased, it is possible to detect that game balls remain in the ball storage tank, and suppress frequent repetition of on / off of the ball detection switch. Can do.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is easier for the game balls flowing down from the ball storage tank to be taken into the first flow path than the second flow path . Thus, it is possible to prevent the trouble that the game balls are balanced and blocked in the upstream portion of the ball alignment path .

It is a rear perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine. (A) is a top view of a sphere storage unit, (b) is an AA sectional view of (a). (A) is BB sectional drawing of FIG. 2, (b) is CC sectional drawing of FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of a ball storage unit. (A) is a perspective view of a communication space part, (b) is a top view of a communication space part. (A) is a cross-sectional view of the ball supply switch, (b) is a state diagram in which one game ball is distributed by a protrusion and a tread board, and (c) is a state diagram in which two game balls are distributed by a protrusion and a tread board. . It is explanatory drawing when a game ball is replenished to a ball storage unit, (a) is a state diagram immediately after replenishment, (b) is a state diagram in which game balls are stored in a ball alignment path, and (c) is a first diagram. It is a state diagram in which game balls are sufficiently stored in the flow path. It is explanatory drawing when the game ball in a ball | bowl storage unit decreases, (a) is a state figure by which the game ball | bowl is stored by the ball | bowl storage tank, (b) is a state figure from which the tread has been exposed, (c). FIG. 4 is a state diagram in which most of the game balls in the ball storage tank flow down to the ball alignment path.

Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking a pachinko gaming machine as a typical gaming machine as an example. FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of a pachinko gaming machine.
The pachinko gaming machine 1 is attached to an outer frame (machine frame or main body frame) 2 so that one side of a frame-shaped front frame (inner frame) 3 having a large opening can be opened and closed, and the back side of the front frame 3 The back mechanism unit 4 is attached to the front. The back mechanism unit 4 is fitted with a display device (not shown) such as a liquid crystal display device from the front, and the front side of this display device is exposed to the front (player side) from the opening opened in the game board (not shown). Not. Also, below the back mechanism unit 4, a game control device 7, a discharge control device 8, a power supply device 9, a relay board 10, and the like that control the game in an integrated manner are arranged. Furthermore, a ball storage unit 15 is disposed above the back mechanism unit 4, and a game ball discharged from the ball storage unit 15 is placed on the side of the back mechanism unit 4 (right side in FIG. 1). The ball flow channel 16 is provided to flow down to the upper plate on the front of the ball or to the ball collecting bowl (not shown) in the lower part of the gaming machine island facility. Above the ball storage unit 15, a replenishment device (not shown) is provided in the game machine installation island facility and replenishes the game ball from the game machine installation island facility to the ball storage unit 15 of the pachinko gaming machine 1. ) Is arranged.

Next, the sphere storage unit 15 will be described.
The ball storage unit 15 is a device capable of storing the game balls replenished from the replenishing device and discharging the stored game balls. As shown in FIG. 2, the ball storage unit 15 includes a ball storage tank 21 that can store game balls, a ball alignment path 22 that allows the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 21 to flow down while aligning, and the balls And a ball discharge section 23 that can discharge game balls aligned by the alignment path 22, arranged in the left-right direction of the pachinko gaming machine 1 in the order of the ball storage tank 21, the ball alignment path 22, and the ball discharge section 23 from the upstream side. They are arranged in a state of being connected in the same downward inclination direction.

  The ball storage tank 21 is for storing game balls supplied (supplemented) from the outside of the pachinko gaming machine 1, specifically, from the replenishment device of the gaming machine installation island facility. The ball storage tank 21 is formed in a horizontally-bottomed bottomed box shape having an open upper surface, and is disposed on one side of the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (left side in FIG. 1). In addition, the front-rear width of the ball storage tank 21 (the width along the front-rear direction of the pachinko gaming machine 1) is set to a width corresponding to approximately eight game balls (see FIG. 8), and the bottom of the ball storage tank 21 is on one side. A communication space portion 25 is provided to incline downward from the left side (left side in FIG. 2) toward the other side (right side in FIG. 2), and communicate with the ball alignment path 22 and the ball storage tank 21 at the lower inclined side of the bottom. ing. Further, in the communication space portion 25, the width of the communication space portion 25 is extended from the upstream side to the left and right sides in the downward inclination direction of the ball storage tank 21 (in other words, both the front and rear sides of the inclined lower end portion of the ball storage tank 21). A narrowing portion 26 that is gradually narrowed toward the downstream side is arranged, and the narrowing portion 26 is configured so that the game balls flowing down in the ball storage tank 21 can be aligned in two rows. The configuration of the narrowing unit 26 will be described in detail later.

  The sphere alignment path 22 is a bowl-shaped passage that communicates with the downstream end of the sphere storage tank 21 and has an open upper surface. From the middle portion of the sphere storage tank 21 in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2A). It extends along the left-right direction of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and is arranged in a state of being inclined downward from the inclined lower end side of the ball storage tank 21 toward the side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (right side in FIG. 2). Further, the width of the ball alignment path 22 is set to be narrower than the front and rear width of the ball storage tank 21, specifically, the width of approximately two game balls, and a narrowing portion is provided inside the ball alignment path 22. 26, a first flow path 28 and a second flow path 29 for flowing down the game balls aligned in a single line, and a partition wall 30 for partitioning the first flow path 28 and the second flow path 29. Yes. The first flow path 28 and the second flow path 29 are arranged in the front-rear direction of the pachinko gaming machine 1.

  The first flow path 28 is disposed on the rear side of the ball alignment path 22 (lower side in FIG. 2A), that is, on the rear side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 with respect to the second flow path 29. It is a flow path that can flow side by side. In the bottom portion of the first flow path 28, a dust-dropping groove portion 31 that is set narrower than the game ball is provided in a downward inclination direction at a portion near the partition wall 30 and a portion near the rear side wall of the ball alignment path 22. It is established along. In addition, the second flow path 29 is disposed on the front side of the ball alignment path 22 (upper side in FIG. 2A), that is, closer to the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1 than the first flow path 28, and the number of game balls is one. It is a flow path that can flow side by side. In the bottom portion of the second flow path 29, a dust-dropping groove portion 32 set narrower than the game ball is provided in a downward inclination direction on a portion near the partition wall 30 and a portion near the front side wall of the ball alignment path 22. It is established along.

The partition wall 30 is a flat plate-like wall portion that is erected substantially at the center in the width direction (front-rear direction) of the spherical alignment path 22 and extends along the longitudinal direction of the spherical alignment path 22. As shown in FIGS. 2B and 5A, the partition wall 30 has an upper end portion located on the upstream side (left side in FIG. 2B) of the ball alignment path 22 at the upper end portion of the ball alignment path 22. Is set so as to gradually increase from the upstream side (in other words, the upstream end facing the communication space 25) toward the downstream side. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the entire upper end of the partition wall 30 is inclined downward toward the first flow path 28 side (left side in the figure) to have a tapered shape upward . The side wall facing the first flow path 28 is set to be lower than the side wall facing the second flow path 29.

  Then, in the middle of the spherical alignment path 22 in the longitudinal direction, the first sphere leveling member 35 and the second sphere leveling member 36 are faced above the first flow path 28 and the second flow path 29. It is arranged. The first ball leveling member 35 is a member for eliminating the stacked state of the game balls flowing into the ball alignment path 22. The first sphere leveling member 35 is disposed above the middle portion of the first flow path 28 and above the middle portion of the second flow path 29, and swings the upper end portion of the first sphere leveling member 35. The first flow path 28 is supported by a shaft 37 so as to be swingable along the extending direction of the ball alignment path 22, and the lower end portion of the first sphere leveling member 35 is in a suspended state where it is not in contact with the game ball. Alternatively, the second flow path 29 is configured to be disposed at a position lower than the height of one game ball from the bottom surface. Therefore, when the first flow path 28 or the second flow path 29 flows down in a state where a plurality of game balls are stacked, the first ball leveling member 35 swings with the game ball in contact with the lower portion thereof, The game ball can be pressed and leveled by the weight of the first ball leveling member 35. Thereby, it is possible to flow down to the downstream side of the ball alignment path 22 without the game balls being stacked.

  The second ball leveling member 36 is a member for leveling the unevenness of the arrangement of the game balls that could not be leveled by the first ball leveling member 35. The fastening member 38 is fastened and fixed. The width of the second sphere leveling member 36 is set to be approximately equal to the front-rear width in the sphere alignment path 22 (that is, the width across the first flow path 28, the partition wall 30, and the second flow path 29). In addition, an inclined surface inclined downward toward the downstream side of the ball alignment path 22 is formed at the lower part of the second ball leveling member 36, and the distance between the lower end of the inclined surface and the bottom surface of the ball alignment path 22 is determined by the game. The distance is set slightly wider than the diameter of the sphere. Accordingly, when the game ball flows down below the second ball leveling member 36, the second ball leveling member 36 contacts the game ball protruding upward at the lower part thereof, and the unevenness of the arrangement of the game balls (in detail) The unevenness in the vertical direction) can be leveled, and the game balls can flow down in a line along the bottom surface of the first channel 28 or the bottom surface of the second channel 29.

  The ball discharge unit 23 is for discharging the game balls flowing down the ball alignment path 22 to the ball flow path 16. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the ball discharge portion 23 includes a casing portion 40 disposed on the side of the downstream end portion of the ball alignment path 22 (right side in the drawing), and an inner side of the casing portion 40. A sprocket (holding rotator) 41 accommodated in a rotatable state and a discharge drive motor 42 that rotationally drives the sprocket 41 are configured.

  The casing portion 40 is erected in a state in which the partition wall portion 43 is positioned on the extension line of the partition wall 30, and the space in the casing portion 40 is partitioned into a first space portion 44 and a second space portion 45. The first space portion 44 is disposed behind the pachinko gaming machine 1 with respect to the second space portion 45, the first space portion 44 is communicated with the downstream portion of the first flow path 28, and the second space portion 45 is It communicates with the downstream portion of the second flow path 29. In addition, a first communication port 46 communicating with the spherical flow channel 16 is opened below the first space portion 44, and a second communication port 47 communicating with the spherical flow channel 16 is formed below the second space portion 45. And the first communication port 46 is opened more behind the pachinko gaming machine 1 than the second communication port 47. In the spherical flow path 16 disposed below the casing portion 40, a spherical detection sensor 50 is disposed at a spherical inlet located below the first communication port 46 and below the second communication port 47, respectively. The detection sensor 50 is configured to detect a game ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 23 (that is, the ball storage unit 15).

  The sprocket 41 is accommodated in the first space portion 44 and the second space portion 45, respectively, in a posture in which the rotation shaft is disposed sideways. In addition, the outer peripheral edge of the sprocket 41 is provided with a plurality (6 in this embodiment) of ball holding portions 52 that can receive and hold game balls. The ball holding portion 52 is configured by an arc-shaped notch that follows the outer shape of the game ball in a rear view (see FIG. 2B), and can hold the game balls one by one, along the circumferential direction of the sprocket 41. Are formed at regular intervals.

  Further, the sprocket 41 (first sprocket 41 a) accommodated in the first space 44 has the tip end portion of the ball holding portion 52, that is, the outer peripheral edge portion of the sprocket 41, the downstream portion of the first flow path 28 and the first communication port. It is arranged in a state of facing 46. In addition, the sprocket 41 (second sprocket 41b) accommodated in the second space portion 45 has the tip end portion of the ball holding portion 52, that is, the outer peripheral edge portion of the sprocket 41, the downstream portion of the second flow path 29 and the second communication port. It is arranged in a state where it can face 47. The first sprocket 41a and the second sprocket 41b are fixed to the output shaft 42a of the discharge drive motor 42 in a state in which the phases are shifted from each other by a half of the sphere holding portion 52, and the phases are shifted by a half of the game balls. It is configured to rotate and shift. Therefore, the first sprocket 41a and the second sprocket 41b rotate integrally and move the ball holding portion 52 toward the ball alignment path 22 downward (the discharge rotation direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2B). , The game ball is discharged from the first communication port 46 and the game ball is discharged from the second communication port 47 alternately. Thereby, the game balls aligned in the first flow path 28 and the second flow path 29 can be discharged to the ball flow path 16 one by one.

  The discharge drive motor 42 is fixed to the front side wall (upper side in FIG. 2A) of the casing 40 by a fixing member 53, and the output shaft 42 a is inserted into the insertion hole 54 formed in the partition wall 43. In this state, the sprocket 41 is fixed, and the tip end portion of the output shaft 42a is supported by a bearing portion 55 provided on the side wall portion on the rear side (lower side in FIG. 2A) of the casing portion 40.

Next, the narrowing part 26 of the ball storage tank 21 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 5, the narrowing portion 26 includes a first narrowing portion 58 located on the rear side (one side in the front-rear direction) of the ball storage tank 21 and a second narrowing portion located on the front side (the other side in the front-rear direction). Part 59. The first narrowing portion 58 is disposed from the downstream portion on the rear side of the sphere storage tank 21 to the opposite side of the partition wall 30 of the first flow path 28 (in other words, the rear side wall of the sphere alignment path 22). It is formed in a state where it bulges into the tank 21. In addition, a first narrowing upper edge 58 a formed from the bottom of the sphere storage tank 21 to the upper edge of the sphere storage tank 21 and positioned at the upper edge of the sphere storage tank 21 is positioned at the bottom of the sphere storage tank 21. 1 is arranged at a position shifted from the lower edge 58b toward the ball alignment path 22 side. Further, the inner surface of the first narrowing portion 58 is formed so as to bend gradually toward the spherical alignment path 22 as it goes upward.

  The second narrowing portion 59 is disposed from the downstream portion on the front side of the sphere storage tank 21 to the opposite side of the partition wall 30 of the second flow path 29 (in other words, the front side wall of the sphere alignment path 22). It is formed in a state where it bulges toward 21. In addition, a second narrowing upper edge 59 a that is formed from the bottom of the sphere storage tank 21 to the upper edge of the sphere storage tank 21 and is located at the upper edge of the sphere storage tank 21 is positioned at the bottom of the sphere storage tank 21. 2 is arranged at a position shifted to the ball alignment path 22 side from the narrowed lower edge portion 59b. Further, the inner side surface of the second narrowing portion 59 is formed so as to bend gradually toward the spherical alignment path 22 as it goes upward.

In addition, the end (downstream end) 58c of the first narrowing portion 58 on the side of the ball alignment path 22 is more spherical than the end (downstream end) 59c of the second narrowing portion 59 on the side of the ball alignment path 22 (downstream end). Further, the downstream end 58c of the first narrowing portion 58 is located on the side of the upstream portion of the first flow path 28 (in other words , on the side of the upstream end of the partition wall 30). disposed laterally) of the upstream portion of the first flow path 28 constitutes a middle portion of the first refining unit 58 so as to be positioned on the side of the upstream end of the first flow path 28. Accordingly, the upstream end serving as the inlet of the first flow path 28, specifically, the upper portion of the upstream end of the first flow path 28 is set wider than the width of the bottom of the first flow path 28, and further the second flow path 29 The width is set wider than the width (see FIGS. 3A and 5B). Further, the downstream end portion 59 c of the second narrowing portion 59 is disposed closer to the upstream side of the bottom portion of the ball storage tank 21 than the downstream end portion 58 c of the first narrowing portion 58.

  A ball replenishment switch 61 (a ball in the present invention) that can detect the presence or absence of a game ball in the ball storage tank 21 (whether or not the ball is in a shortage state) is located near the ball alignment path 22 at the bottom of the ball storage tank 21. (Corresponding to a detection switch). The ball replenishment switch 61 includes a tread 62 that faces the ball storage tank 21 and a detection sensor 63 that can detect the state change of the tread 62. More specifically, between the narrowed portion 59 and the extension line L on the upstream side of the first flow path 28.

  The tread plate 62 is an octagonal plate member that has a flat upper surface and is horizontally long along the longitudinal direction of the ball storage tank 21. Further, the first narrowing lower edge portion of the first narrowing portion 58 is formed so as to fit into the horizontally long octagonal opening 65 formed at the bottom of the ball storage tank 21 so as to close the opening 65. A distance X narrower than the radius of the game ball is arranged from 58b to the front side of the ball storage tank 21 (see FIG. 6B). And the shape which inclined the edge part 62a which faced the upstream of the ball storage tank 21 among the treads 62 with respect to the flow-down direction of a game ball, specifically, gradually toward the downstream of the ball storage tank 21 is gradually increased. It forms in the state which approaches the 1 narrowing-down part 58 or the 2nd narrowing-down part 59, and is set to the state which expands the width | variety of the upstream of the tread 62 gradually toward the downstream. Further, the downstream edge 62b of the tread 62 is formed so as to gradually approach the central portion of the inlet of the first flow path 28 toward the downstream of the ball storage tank 21, and the width on the downstream side of the tread 62 is set to the first width. The state is set so as to gradually narrow toward the flow path 28 side. In the present embodiment, the upstream edge 62a and the downstream edge 62b of the tread 62 are formed in a straight line, but the present invention is not limited to this and may be formed in a curved shape.

  In addition, a bearing portion 67 is formed at an end portion (left end portion in the figure) located on the upstream side of the ball storage tank 21 in the tread plate 62, and the ball storage tank 21 is interposed via the bearing portion 67 and the shaft member 68. A tread plate 62 is pivotally attached to the lower part of the base plate in a rotatable state. Further, a spring 69 as an urging member is provided on the shaft member 68, and the downstream end portion (right end portion in the figure) of the tread plate 62 is rotated upward by the spring 69, that is, in the ball storage tank 21. It is biased in the direction of movement. Further, a claw-shaped rotation restricting portion 70 is extended outward at the rear side edge portion of the tread plate 62. A detection piece 71 that can be detected by the detection sensor 63 projects downward from the downstream end of the tread 62. When the game ball in the ball storage tank 21 is placed, the tread 62 having such a configuration is disposed in the opening 65 and is in a state (first state) substantially flush with the bottom of the ball storage tank 21. When converted and the game ball comes off, it is rotated by the spring 69 and converted to a state protruding from the bottom (second state). In the second state, the rotation restricting portion 70 is engaged with the edge of the opening 65 to restrict the rotation of the tread 62.

  Further, the tread 62 converted to the first state is configured to form a groove 73 between the opening 65 and guide the game ball through the groove 73 (see FIG. 8). More specifically, the groove 73 formed by the upstream edge 62a of the tread 62 and the upstream edge of the opening 65 gradually becomes the first narrowing portion 58 or the first narrowing portion 58 toward the downstream side of the ball storage tank 21. 2 It extends in a state approaching the narrowing part 59 and is configured to flow down while the game ball is directed toward the narrowing part 26. In addition, the groove 73 formed by the downstream edge 62b of the tread 62 and the downstream edge of the opening 65 gradually moves toward the center of the inlet of the first flow path 28 toward the downstream of the ball storage tank 21. It extends in the approaching state and is configured to guide the game ball to the first flow path 28.

  The detection sensor 63 is a sensor that can detect the state change of the tread 62 depending on whether or not the detection piece 71 of the tread 62 is detected. The detection sensor 63 is stored in the sensor holder 75 at the downstream edge of the opening 65. It arrange | positions at the lower part (refer Fig.6 (a)). Then, when the tread 62 converts to the first state and detects the detection piece 71, a ball storage detection signal is sent to inform that the game ball has been stored in the ball storage tank 21, and the ball storage detection signal is transmitted. Based on this, the replenishment request for the game ball is stopped at the replenishment device of the game machine installation island facility. Moreover, when the tread 62 is converted to the second state and the detection of the detection piece 71 is released, transmission of the detection signal is stopped, and based on the stop of transmission of the detection signal, the replenishment device of the gaming machine installation island facility is stopped. Supply of game balls is required.

  Further, in the vicinity of the upstream edge 62 a of the tread plate 62 in the bottom of the ball storage tank 21, a protrusion 77 is provided that can change the flow direction of the game ball. The protrusion 77 functions as a sorting member that distributes the game balls flowing down from the upstream side of the ball storage tank 21 to the left and right with respect to the downward inclination direction of the ball storage tank 21. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the front end portion is formed in a substantially bowl shape arranged on the upstream side of the sphere storage tank 21, and both left and right sides of the projection 77 as viewed from the upstream side of the sphere storage tank 21. The ball guiding part 78 capable of guiding the game ball to the first narrowing part 58 or the second narrowing part 59 is arranged in an upwardly inclined state. Further, the base end portion (lower edge portion) of the ball guiding portion 78 is disposed on the extension line of the upstream edge portion of the tread plate 62.

When the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment is installed in the gaming machine installation island facility, the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed in an inclined posture in which the upper end portion is slightly shifted rearward from the lower end portion, and is vertically disposed on the front side of the front frame 3. The game board arranged in the direction and the game area (both not shown) formed on the front surface of the game board are slightly inclined downward. This is because the rolling time of the game ball flowing down the game area is lengthened so that the game ball easily hits the planted nail on the game area, and the game ball flows down in a complicated manner to enhance the interest of the game. Due to the slanting posture of the pachinko gaming machine 1 (so-called fake), the ball storage unit 15 is arranged in a posture in which the rear side is positioned slightly below the front side. Therefore, the ball storage tank 21 is not only inclined in the left-right direction, but also inclined in the front-rear direction, specifically in the downward direction toward the rear side. As a result, the bottom of the sphere storage tank 21 is inclined downward (inclined downward in the direction indicated by the white arrow in FIG. 2 (a)) from the front side of the upstream portion to the rear side of the downstream portion. It is configured so that the game ball inside can easily flow down toward the tread 62 of the ball supply switch 61. Further, the upstream portion (inlet) of the first flow path 28 is disposed below the upstream portion (inlet) of the second flow path 29.

Next, the operation of the ball storage unit 15, particularly the flow of the game ball in the ball storage tank 21 will be described.
First, when the game balls are supplied to the ball storage tank 21 in a state where no game balls are stored, the game balls roll along the inclination direction of the bottom of the ball storage tank 21 as shown in FIG. Then, it approaches the tread board 62 or reaches the narrowing portion 26.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 (b) and 6 (c), the game balls that have approached the tread 62 from the upstream side are distributed to the right and left sides in the flow-down direction by the projection 77, specifically, the ball guiding portion 78 of the projection 77. And reaches the entrance of the ball alignment path 22. Therefore, the flow direction of the game ball can be changed on the upstream side of the tread plate 62, and the game ball can be prevented from being concentrated at the entrance of the ball alignment path 22 while flowing down in the same direction. Further, it is possible to suppress the inconvenience that the game ball is caught by the upstream side of the tread board 62 and stopped.

  Since the game ball is not placed on the tread board 62 in a state where the game ball is not stored, the tread board 62 is converted to the second state, and the edge of the tread board 62 is disposed above the bottom of the ball storage tank 21. For this reason, the edge of the tread 62 can come into contact with the game ball flowing down from the ball storage tank 21 to the ball alignment path 22. Further, since the upstream edge 62a of the tread 62 facing the upstream side of the ball storage tank 21 is inclined with respect to the flow direction of the game balls, of the game balls flowing down toward the ball alignment path 22 The flow direction of the game ball that has reached the upstream edge 62a of the tread 62 can be changed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the concentration of the game balls at the entrance of the ball alignment path 22 while flowing down in the same direction, and it is possible to make it difficult to cause a problem that the game balls are clogged at the entrance of the ball alignment path 22. . In addition, since the downstream side width of the tread plate 62 is set to be gradually narrowed toward the first flow path 28 side, the game ball trying to flow down to the first flow path 28 is not disturbed, and the game ball Can smoothly flow down to the first flow path 28.

  On the other hand, the game balls that have reached the narrowing portion 26 (the first narrowing portion 58 or the second narrowing portion 59) flow down along the narrowing portion 26 while approaching the central portion in the front-rear direction of the ball storage tank 21 to align the balls. Reach the entrance of the path 22.

  The game balls that have reached the entrance of the ball alignment path 22 in this manner further flow down and flow down the ball alignment path 22. At this time, since the upper end portion of the partition wall 30 is set to be gradually increased from the upstream side to the downstream side of the ball alignment path 22, the upstream end portion of the partition wall 30, that is, the first flow path 28 and the first flow path 28 At the entrance of the two flow paths 29, the game ball can flow down while being gradually divided into the first flow path 28 and the second flow path 29. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game ball from being caught by the partition wall 30 at the entrance of the ball alignment path 22 and causing the ball to be clogged, and the game ball can be quickly flowed down to the ball discharge portion 23. Further, the end of the first narrowing portion 58 on the side of the ball alignment path 22 is arranged closer to the downstream side of the ball alignment path 22 than the end of the second narrowing portion 59 on the side of the ball alignment path 22, and the upper end of the partition wall 30 Is inclined downward toward the first flow path 28, so that the inlet of the first flow path 28 is set wider than the inlet of the second flow path 29. Therefore, it is easier for the game balls flowing down from the ball storage tank 21 to be taken into the first flow path 28 than the second flow path 29. Further, the flow resistance received by the game ball from the first flow path 28 can be suppressed to be smaller than the flow resistance received from the second flow path 29, and the game ball flowing into the first flow path 28 can be kept in the second flow path 29. It is possible to move faster than the game ball flowing into the. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the trouble that the game balls are balanced and clogged in the upstream portion of the ball alignment path 22. Thereby, the game ball in the ball storage tank 21 can be quickly sent to the ball discharge unit 23, and the game ball can be discharged smoothly.

  Furthermore, since the end of the first narrowing portion 58 on the side of the ball alignment path 22 is disposed on the side of the upstream portion of the first flow path 28, the inlet of the first flow path 28 can be set wider. Therefore, it becomes easier to take the game ball flowing down from the ball storage tank 21 into the first flow path 28 (see FIG. 7B). And since the tread board 62 is arrange | positioned on the extension line L of the 1st flow path 28, the means to detect a game ball can be arrange | positioned in the location where the game ball supplied from the outside is easy to pass. It is possible to quickly detect that game balls are being supplied into the ball storage tank 21.

  Also, the first flow path 28 and the second flow path 29 are arranged in the front-rear direction of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and the first flow path 28 is arranged behind the pachinko gaming machine 1 with respect to the second flow path 29. By doing so, the upper part of the pachinko gaming machine 1 can be inclined rearward so that the inlet of the first flow path 28 can be arranged at a position lower than the inlet of the second flow path 29. Therefore, it is possible to easily collect the game balls in the first flow path 28 with a simple configuration.

  When the game balls are sufficiently stored in the ball alignment path 22, particularly in the first flow path 28, and started to be stored in the vicinity of the entrance of the first flow path 28, the game balls are placed on the tread board 62, and the tread board 62 is The state is converted (see FIG. 7C). Then, the detection sensor 63 detects the detection piece 71 and detects that the tread 62 has been converted to the first state, that is, a state in which the game ball has started to be stored in the ball storage tank 21, and a storage detection signal is transmitted to the control device (for example, To the discharge control device 8). The control device that has received the ball storage detection signal transmits a replenishment request signal to the replenishment device after a predetermined time (for example, a time until the game ball is sufficiently replenished in the ball storage tank 21) has elapsed. Stop.

  The game balls are stored in the ball storage tank 21 and the ball alignment path 22, and the sprocket 41 is rotated in the discharge rotation direction in this state, whereby the game balls are discharged from the ball discharge unit 23. When the storage amount decreases, the ball storage tank 21 is inclined downward from the front side of the upstream part to the rear side of the downstream part, in other words, the vicinity of the first narrowing part 58. Therefore, the game balls in the ball storage tank 21 can be easily brought to the vicinity of the tread plate 62 of the ball replenishment switch 61 and the vicinity of the inlet of the first flow path 28 located on the downstream side of the tread plate 62 (FIG. 8A ), (B)). Moreover, since the groove part 73 is formed between the step board 62 converted into the 1st state, and the opening part 65, the game ball arrange | positioned on this groove part 73 can be guided. Specifically, the game ball on the groove portion 73 located on the upstream side of the tread plate 62 can be caused to flow down toward the narrowing portion 26, and the game ball on the groove portion 73 located on the downstream side of the tread plate 62 is moved to the first. It can be made to flow down on the extended line of the inlet of the flow path 28. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the game balls stored in the ball storage tank 21 from concentrating at the entrance of the ball alignment path 22 while flowing down in the same direction, thereby making it difficult to cause a ball clogging in the ball storage tank 21. Can do. Furthermore, it is possible to easily guide the game ball to the first flow path 28 having a wide entrance, and it is possible to smoothly discharge the game ball while suppressing the occurrence of clogging.

  The sprocket 41 is continuously rotated to discharge the game ball from the ball discharge unit 23, and when the game ball remaining in the ball storage tank 21 approaches the ball alignment path 22, the game ball approaches the first narrowing unit 58. However, it is easy to flow down and is guided by the first narrowing portion 58 and easily reaches the upstream side of the inlet of the first flow path 28, that is, the extension line L of the first flow path 28. At this time, the tread 62 is disposed on the extension line L of the first flow path 28 and is narrower than the radius of the game ball from the first narrowing lower edge 58b of the first narrowing portion 58 to the front side of the ball storage tank 21. Since the distance X is arranged at a distance, even when the number of game balls in the ball storage tank 21 decreases, it is possible to keep the tread board 62 in the first state by placing the game ball on the tread board 62 and passing it. It is possible to detect that a game ball remains in the ball storage tank 21. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the replenishment signal is transmitted despite the remaining game balls. Further, it is possible to suppress a problem that the ball supply switch 61 is repeatedly turned on and off frequently (so-called chattering occurs) due to a game ball being placed or not placed on the tread board 62. From this, it is possible to eliminate the complication that the replenishment signal is frequently transmitted to the game machine installation island facility and the game ball is replenished each time.

  When the last game ball in the ball storage tank 21, in other words, the game ball located on the most upstream side among the game balls remaining in the ball storage unit 15 (in the ball storage tank 21) is removed from the tread 62. The tread board 62 changes from the first state to the second state. Then, the detection of the detection piece 71 by the detection sensor 63 is canceled and the tread 62 is converted to the second state, that is, the state where the game balls in the ball storage tank 21 are insufficient, specifically, the ball storage unit. 15 detects a state in which it is not possible to confirm that the number (for example, 13) discharged by one discharge operation of the ball discharge unit 23 is reliably stored in the ball 15 and detects a shortage detection signal by a control device (for example, discharge control). To device 8). The control device that has received the shortage detection signal transmits a supply request signal to the supply device. Based on the replenishment request signal, the replenishment device of the game machine installation island facility is requested to replenish game balls.

  In the present embodiment, it is set so that a total of 15 game balls can be stored in the first flow path 28 and between the entrance of the first flow path 28 and the tread board 62. Is placed and the tread 62 is converted to the first state, the number of game balls discharged in one discharge operation is the ball storage unit even if no game balls remain in the second flow path 29. 15 can be detected. Therefore, the ball supply switch 61 of the present embodiment can also function as a half-end sensor that detects whether or not the number discharged in one discharge operation is stored in the ball storage unit 15.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the narrowing part 26 which aligns the game ball which flows down the ball | bowl storage tank 21 in two rows, and the ball | bowl alignment path 22 provided with the 1st flow path 28 and the 2nd flow path 29 are provided, and a game The ball is configured to be discharged in a state where the balls are arranged in two rows, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which the game balls are arranged in two or more rows, for example, a game ball flowing down the ball storage tank 21 is provided. You may provide the narrowing part 26 arranged in the some strip, and the ball | bowl alignment path 22 provided with the several flow path in the state parallel between the 1st flow path 28 and the 2nd flow path 29. FIG.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the pachinko gaming machine 1 which is a typical gaming machine has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a ball storage tank that stores gaming balls and a gaming ball are aligned. Any gaming machine may be used as long as the gaming machine has a ball alignment path that is allowed to flow down and a ball discharge portion that can discharge the game balls aligned by the ball alignment path in the same downward inclination direction. It may be a gaming machine such as an arrangement ball type gaming machine or a sparrow ball type gaming machine.

  It should be understood that the above-described embodiment is illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The present invention is not limited to the above description, but is defined by the scope of the claims, and includes all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko machine 15 Sphere storage unit 21 Sphere storage tank 22 Sphere alignment path 23 Sphere discharge part 25 Communication space part 26 Narrowing part 28 First flow path 29 Second flow path 30 Partition wall 58 First narrowing part 58a First narrowing top Edge portion 58b First narrowing lower edge portion 58c Downstream end portion 59 Second narrowing portion 59a Second narrowing upper edge portion 59b Second narrowing lower edge portion 59c Downstream side end portion 61 Ball supply switch 62 Tread plate 62a Upstream side edge portion 62b Downstream edge 63 Detection sensor 65 Opening 67 Bearing portion 68 Shaft member 69 Spring 70 Rotation restricting portion 71 Detection piece 73 Groove portion 77 Projection portion 78 Ball guiding portion

Claims (2)

A bottomed box-shaped ball storage tank that can store game balls supplied from the outside, and a ball alignment path that communicates with the downstream side of the ball storage tank and flows down while aligning the game balls are arranged in the left-right direction. The game balls arranged in the same downward slope direction can be discharged by the ball discharge section , and the upper end of the gaming machine installation island facility is shifted backward from the lower end. A gaming machine installed in an inclined posture ,
The ball storage tank is provided with a ball detection switch, and the width of the communication space portion is gradually narrowed from the upstream side to the downstream side in the communication space portion communicating with the ball alignment path in the ball storage tank. And forming a narrowing portion for aligning the game balls flowing down the ball storage tank into two rows,
The ball alignment path includes a first flow path and a second flow path that allow the game balls aligned in the narrowing portion to flow separately into one line, and a partition wall that partitions the first flow path and the second flow path. With
The first flow path and the second flow path are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine, and the bottom of the ball storage tank is inclined downwardly in a state where the gaming machine is installed on the gaming machine installation island facility. The inlet of the first flow path is set to be lower than the inlet of the second flow path,
The partition wall is set so as to gradually increase from the upstream end facing the communication space portion toward the downstream side of the spherical alignment path, and the upper end of the partition wall is inclined downward toward the first flow path side. Set to a state that is tapered and tapered upward,
The narrowing portion is composed of a first narrowing portion located on the rear side of the ball storage tank and a second narrowing portion located on the front side of the ball storage tank,
The ball detection switch detects a tread that changes from a first state that protrudes from the bottom of the ball storage tank to a second state that is substantially flush with the bottom when the game ball is placed, and a state change of the tread With possible detection sensors,
The tread is close to the ball alignment path at the bottom of the ball storage tank so that game balls flowing down along the lower edge of the first narrowing portion pass above the tread , and the first A gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is arranged at a location on an extension line of a flow path. The downstream end portion of the first narrowing portion is disposed on the side of the upstream portion of the first flow path, which is lateral to the upstream end portion of the partition wall, and the downstream end portion of the second narrowing portion is The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is disposed closer to an upstream side of a bottom portion of the ball storage tank than an end portion on a downstream side of the first narrowing portion .

Images