JP4916705B2 - Lifting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lifting device that is installed in a game hall and lifts a game ball.

  In an island facility where game machines such as pachinko machines and swing-type game machines (slot machines using pachinko balls) are installed in the amusement hall, the game balls provided for the game are circulated in the island facilities. It is designed to be used. When the game balls are circulated, the game balls discharged from each game machine are collected at a predetermined position below the interior of the island facility, and are lifted by a lifting device to an island tank disposed above the interior of the island facility. Is common. Then, the game balls stored in the island tank are replenished to the ball tank provided at the upper back of the game machine according to the use situation of each game machine by a supply basket extending horizontally in the upper part of the island facility. It has become so.

  As the lifting device, a pair of upper and lower sprockets are arranged in a case body installed inside the island facility, a chain is wound around, and a game ball is lifted by arranging buckets at predetermined intervals on the chain. Things are common. For example, in the lifting device shown in Patent Document 1, a game ball is introduced from the front side of a bucket (raised board) formed in a mountain shape and stored between upper and lower buckets, and the stored game ball is stored in the bucket. It is configured to discharge from both sides. However, in the lifting device of Patent Document 1, in order to discharge the game balls from both sides of the bucket, it is necessary to install inclined hooks for receiving the game balls discharged from the bucket on both sides of the lifting device, There was a problem that the size of the whole island facility would increase.

Therefore, in order to reduce the size of the island facility, a lifting device has been proposed that allows game balls to be introduced and discharged from the bucket in the same direction. For example, Patent Document 2 discloses a lifting device in which an opening is formed on the front side of a bucket formed in a box shape, and game balls can be introduced and discharged from the opening.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 51-6227 JP 2002-177606 A (paragraph number [0031], FIG. 6)

  However, in the lifting device described in Patent Document 2, in order to close the opening portion of the upper bucket, a tongue piece must be provided on the top plate portion of each bucket, resulting in an increase in the number of parts. . In addition, the bucket of Patent Document 2 must be formed in an inclined shape with the inside facing the opening in order to reliably introduce and discharge the game ball, and the effective volume of the bucket that can store the game ball is: There was a problem that the total volume was reduced. Therefore, the amount of game balls that can be stored in each bucket is reduced, and it is necessary to increase the movement (circulation) speed of the bucket in order to secure the amount of game balls to be lifted. That is, in order to increase the rotation speed of the sprocket, a large motor must be used, leading to an increase in motor introduction cost and operation cost. Furthermore, it is necessary to improve the durability of other parts such as chains, and it is pointed out that the cost increases.

  Further, when the moving speed of the bucket is increased, in order to introduce and discharge a predetermined amount of game balls to and from the bucket, it is necessary to expand the inlet and outlet on the lifting device side in the vertical direction. In particular, when the discharge port is enlarged in the vertical direction, the height of the lifting device itself becomes large, which becomes a factor of narrowing the field of view of a monitoring device or the like installed for crime prevention. Furthermore, when a game ball is introduced into a bucket that rises at a high speed, there is a problem that a collision sound becomes loud when the game ball collides with a bucket or another game ball. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the driving noise increases due to the increase in the size of the motor.

  Further, in the lifting device of Patent Document 2, since the game balls are discharged with the bucket posture reversed, the game balls collide with each other at the time of reversal, or the game balls collide with the bucket. There is also the difficulty that the collision sound is repeated.

  In view of the above-described problems inherent in the conventional lifting device, the present invention has been proposed to suitably solve this problem, and by increasing the storage amount of game balls, efficient lifting is achieved. An object of the present invention is to provide a lifting device that can realize the above.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, a lifting device according to claim 1 comprises:
A case body that surrounds a plurality of buckets (22) provided at predetermined intervals on a winding body (20) wound around a pair of rotating bodies (18) that are vertically spaced apart, and a path through which the bucket (22) rises (16), an opening opening (12) which is opened on the opening surface (16a) of the case body (16) and introduces a game ball, and is opened above the introduction opening section (12) in the case body (16). A discharge opening (14) that is opened on the surface (16a) and discharges the game ball, and stores the game ball introduced from the introduction opening (12) in the bucket (22), and the bucket (22 In the lifting device configured to discharge the game ball lifted in) from the discharge opening (14),
The bucket (22)
A first inclined portion (26) formed in a mountain shape at the center of the bucket (22) and defining a first region (30) for storing a game ball on the upper side;
Wherein both sides of the first inclined portion (26) is a formed to be positioned below the second inclined portion defining a second region (32) on the upper side for housing the game ball (28),
The case in the first region (30) is defined between the first inclined portion (26) and an outer bottom portion (58) corresponding to the first inclined portion (26) in the upstream bucket (22). The body (16) is formed on the opening surface (16a) side of the body (16) with substantially the same width as the introduction opening (12) so that the whole can face the introduction opening (12) , and the introduction opening (12) An introduction part (34) for introducing game balls into the first area (30) via
The game balls formed on the opening surface (16a) side of the case body (16) in the second region (32) and discharged in the second region (28) through the discharge opening (14) are discharged. A discharge section (36),
The first inclined portion (26) is inclined downward toward the second inclined portion (28), and there is a difference in height in the depth direction from the introduction portion (34) side in the ascending process of the bucket (22). A wall portion that is formed so as not to occur and protrudes upward at a height larger than the radius of the game ball at the edge of the first inclined portion (26) on the opening surface (16a) side of the case body (16) ( 62) is formed,
The second inclined portion (28) is formed to be inclined downward toward the opening surface (12a) of the case body (16),
The outer bottom portion (58) corresponding to the first inclined portion (26) in the bucket (22) is formed so that the center is recessed upward, and is open to the lower side and the opening surface (16a) side (40) To define
When the bucket (22) arrives at the introduction opening (12), the whole of the introduction part (34) faces the introduction opening (12) and the game ball passes through the introduction part (34). While being introduced into the area (30), the game balls introduced into the first area (30) are sequentially stored in the second area (28) via the first inclined part (26), while the discharge part (36) is blocked by the opening surface (16a) of the case body (16) and the introduction of the game ball into the second region (32) through the discharge part (36) is restricted,
When the bucket (22) arrives at the discharge opening (14), the game ball stored in the second area (32) with the discharge portion (36) facing the discharge opening (14) is discharged to the discharge portion. The game ball is discharged through (36), and the game ball stored in the first region (30) moves to the second region (28) through the first inclined portion (26). And
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to store the game ball in substantially the entire space defined in the bucket, and it is possible to realize efficient lifting of the game ball. Further, since a large number of game balls can be stored, there is no need to increase the rotating speed of the bucket, and a small motor can be employed as a drive source for the lifting device. Therefore, the introduction cost and operation cost of the motor can be reduced, and noise during operation can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the game ball rolls on the first inclined portion and the second inclined portion at the time of introduction or discharge, the game ball can be efficiently introduced and discharged. Further, since it is not necessary to reverse the posture of the bucket at the time of discharging, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of unpleasant collision sound due to the collision between game balls and the collision between the game ball and the bucket. When introducing the game balls, the game balls are introduced into the bucket only from the introduction part, and the game balls are sequentially stored from the second area to the first area, so that the game balls can be introduced efficiently and the first The game balls can be stored in substantially the entire first and second areas.
In addition, since the second inclined portions are formed on both sides of the mountain-shaped first inclined portion, the introduced game balls can be stored in the second regions on both sides substantially equally via the first inclined portion. It becomes. Furthermore, since the game balls are discharged from two discharge portions that are separated by a predetermined interval, the number of game balls that collide can be reduced, the collision sound can be reduced, and the game balls can be discharged efficiently. Become.
In addition, since the first inclined portion is formed so as not to cause a height difference in the depth direction from the introduction portion side in the raising process of the bucket, the introduced game ball can be immediately moved to the second region, There is no such thing as a game ball stagnating in one inclined part and preventing quick storage. In addition, the game balls introduced into the first area can be evenly distributed in the front-rear direction of the second area via the first inclined portion, and the game balls are not stored in an unbalanced manner. Can be secured. Furthermore, since the game balls stored in the first area are immediately moved to the second area even at the time of discharge, efficient discharge can be realized.
And since the area | region open | released below and the said opening surface side was formed in the outer bottom part corresponding to the 1st inclination part in a bucket, even if buckets adjoin, a sufficient introduction part can be ensured. And since the wall part was provided in the 1st inclination part of the bucket, it can suppress that a game ball is discharged | emitted from an introduction part at the time of discharge | emission of a game ball.

  According to the lifting device of the present invention, it is possible to increase the storage amount of game balls, and to achieve efficient introduction and discharge of game balls.

  Next, a preferred embodiment of the lifting device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side view showing a lifting device 42 according to the present embodiment. This lifting device 42 is arranged on the side of an island facility where a plurality of gaming machines are provided, It is to lift the out ball provided to. The lifting device 42 is a case body 16 standing in an island facility and formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a storage body that is housed in a space defined in the case body 16 to lift a game ball. The feed mechanism 44 is basically configured. The lifting mechanism 44 includes a pair of sprockets (rotating bodies) 18 and 18 disposed above and below the case body 16, a roller chain (wound body) 20 wound between the sprockets 18 and 18, and It comprises a plurality of buckets 22 provided at predetermined intervals on the outer periphery of the roller chain 20. The sprockets 18 and 18 are driven to rotate by a driving source (not shown), whereby the roller chain 20 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. In the following description, a path along which the bucket 22 moves vertically upward (a path on the left side in FIG. 1) will be referred to as an ascending path C. That is, the rising path C indicates a path corresponding to the rising side in the linear portion of the roller chain 20.

  In the lower part of the island facility installed in the amusement hall etc., there is arranged a sluice basin 46 for collecting used out balls so as to incline downward toward the lifting device 42, as shown in FIG. The lower end is connected to a collective raft 48 installed on the side of the island facility. The collecting rod 48 faces an introduction opening (described later) 12 of the case body 16, and the game balls transferred by the flow rod 46 are stored in the collecting rod 48 and sequentially lifted by the lifting device 42. It has become so. In addition, the width of the collecting rod 48 is formed in a bottom trapezoidal shape that expands on the downstream rod 46 side and decreases toward the case body 16 side. Further, the bottom surface of the collective basket 48 is inclined downward toward the case body 16, so that the game balls stored inside move toward the lifting device 42 by its own weight.

  In addition, an island tank (not shown) for storing game balls is installed above the island facility, and the island tank and the lifting device 42 are connected via a discharge basket 50 extending inside the island facility. Communicate. That is, the game ball lifted by the lifting device 42 is transferred to the island tank via the discharge basket 50 and stored in the tank. Note that the game balls stored in the tank on the island are sequentially supplied to each gaming machine via a supply rod (not shown) extending from the tank so that the ball amount of the entire island can be automatically controlled. Yes.

  The case body 16 constituting the outer surface of the lifting device 42 is, for example, a casing that is installed vertically to the side of the island facility, and a game ball is bucketed below one side surface (the opening surface 16a). An introduction opening 12 for introduction into the opening 22 is opened. The introduction opening 12 is connected to the collecting rod 48, and as shown in FIG. 2A, the introduction opening 34 (described later) located at the center of the bucket 22 has a width dimension that is substantially the same. Is set. That is, the introduction opening 12 is set so as to face only the introduction part 34 of the bucket 22, and a game ball can be introduced into the bucket 22 from the introduction part 34. Further, the upper and lower opening dimensions of the introduction opening 12 are set to, for example, the height of 2 to 4 buckets (in the embodiment, about 150 mm, and the height of the bucket 22 is about 47 mm). . Furthermore, the opening position of the introduction opening 12 is set to a position facing the ascending path C of the bucket 22, thereby preventing the game ball from being spilled without being stored in the bucket 22. In the state shown in FIG. 2, the opening surface 16a of the case body 16 is referred to as a front side, and both sides thereof are referred to as side portions 16b and 16b. Further, with respect to the bucket 22 in the ascending path C, the opening surface 16a side is referred to as a front side, and the roller chain 20 side is referred to as a rear side.

  Above the opening surface 16 a, a discharge opening 14 for discharging the game ball lifted by the bucket 22 is opened in a state of being connected to the discharge basket 50. As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the discharge opening 14 is formed over substantially the entire width direction of the opening surface 16 a so as to be slightly larger than the width dimension of the bucket 22. The opening position of the discharge opening 14 on the opening surface 16a is set so as to face the rising path C.

  A pair of sprockets 18, 18 are rotatably disposed at a predetermined distance in the space defined inside the case body 16, and an endless roller chain 20 is disposed between the sprockets 18, 18. Is wrapped around. As shown in FIG. 3, the roller chain 20 is formed by alternately connecting inner links 52 and outer links 54, and an attachment 56 for attaching the bucket 22 to both links 52, 54 is provided. Yes. For example, the buckets 22 are correspondingly fixed to the respective outer links 56 via the attachments 56, and the sprockets 18 and 18 are rotated by a drive source such as a motor, whereby the plurality of buckets 22 are moved around.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the buckets 22 provided on the roller chain 20 at a predetermined interval are formed in a box-like body whose upper surface and front side are open. As shown in FIG. 2, the width of the bucket 22 is set to be slightly smaller than the width of the opening surface 16 a of the case body 16, and the bucket 22 circulates without contacting the case body 16. Is done. The gap between the bucket 22 and the case body 16 is set smaller than the diameter of the game ball so that the game ball does not fall from the gap. Further, the bottom of the bucket 22 is formed from a first inclined portion 26 and second inclined portions 28 and 28. The first inclined portion 26 is formed in a mountain shape that inclines downward from the central position in the width direction of the bucket 22 toward both sides, and the game balls introduced into the bucket 22 are left and right through the first inclined portion 26. The second regions 32 and 32 (described later) can be dispersedly moved.

  In the posture when the bucket 22 is in the ascending path C, the first inclined portion 26 is set so as not to cause a height difference in the depth direction (the roller chain 20 side) from the opening surface 16a side. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the ridge line 26 a formed at the top of the first inclined portion 26 is formed to be horizontal when the bucket 22 is lifted, so that the game ball introduced into the bucket 22 is It is made to flow immediately through the first inclined portion 26. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a region 40 opened downward and on the opening surface 16a side (front side) is formed on the outer bottom 58 of the bucket 22 corresponding to the first inclined portion 26. That is, the outer bottom portion 58 of the bucket 22 is formed in a concave shape at the center and the front surface and the lower surface side are opened so that the opening area of the introduction portion 34 (described later) of the bucket 22 located below is not reduced. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the second inclined portions 28, 28 formed on both sides of the first inclined portion 26 are positioned below the first inclined portion 26 and from the rear of the bucket 22. It inclines downward toward the front side (opening surface 16a). Then, the game balls stored in the bucket 22 roll on the second inclined portions 28 and 28 and are discharged to the discharge basket 50. Note that the inclination angles of the first and second inclined portions 26, 28, 28 with respect to the horizontal plane are set to be substantially the same. 3 and 5, the height d from the lower end (front end) of the second inclined portions 28, 28 to the lower end of the first inclined portion 26 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. It is set small. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, a step 60 having a size slightly smaller than the diameter of the game ball is formed between the first inclined portion 26 and the second inclined portions 28 and 28. Further, when the bucket 22 is lifted, the distance between the front end of the bucket 22 and the opening surface 16a of the case body 16 is also set smaller than the diameter of the game ball.

  A first area 30 that can store a game ball is defined above the first inclined portion 26 in the bucket 22, and the game ball is introduced to the opening surface 16 a side of the case body 16 in the first area 30. An introduction part 34 is formed. As described above, as shown in FIG. 2A, the introduction portion 34 is set to a size that substantially matches the width of the introduction opening 12 of the case body 16, and the game ball is introduced to the introduction portion 34. It is introduced into the bucket 22 only via Note that a front wall portion 62 is formed below the introduction portion 34 so as to cut upward from the front end of the first inclined portion 26, so that the game ball once introduced is difficult to be discharged from the introduction opening portion 12. The protruding height of the front wall 62 is set to be larger than the radius of the game ball.

  On the upper side of the second inclined portions 28, 28, a second region 32 is defined, and a discharge portion 36 for discharging game balls is formed on the opening surface 16 a side in each second region 32. As shown in FIG. 2A, the discharge portion 36 is set so as to avoid the opening portion 12 when the bucket 22 reaches the introduction opening portion 12. That is, both the discharge portions 36 and 36 are formed on the front side of the bucket 22 so as to be separated from each other by the width dimension of the introduction opening 12, and when the bucket 22 reaches the introduction opening 12, the game ball is discharged to the discharge portion 36, 36. In addition to being prevented from being introduced from 36, the game ball once stored is prevented from being discharged from the discharge portions 36, 36. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, when the bucket 22 reaches the discharge opening 14 of the case body 16, both the discharge portions 36 and 36 face the discharge opening 14 and are accommodated. The game balls can be discharged.

  A wall portion 38 standing from the rear ends of the first and second inclined portions 26, 28, 28 is formed at the rear portion of the bucket 22, and the attachment 56 of the roller chain 20 is attached to a required portion of the wall portion 38. Mounting holes 64, 64 are provided. Further, the spacing interval between the wall portions 38 of the buckets 22 adjacent vertically is set smaller than the diameter dimension of the game ball. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum separation between the upper edge portion of the wall portion 38 of the lower bucket 22 and the central portion recessed along the first inclined portion 26 of the wall portion 38 of the upper bucket 22. The interval L is set smaller than the diameter dimension of the game ball so that the game ball does not fall from the gap. Further, the spacing between the lower edge portions on both sides of the wall portion 38 of the upper bucket 22 and the upper edge portion of the wall portion 38 of the lower bucket 22 is set to be smaller than the diameter of the game ball.

  The side wall portions 66, 66 constituting the side of the bucket 22 are formed in a substantially triangular shape inclined downward from the upper edge portion of the wall portion 38 toward the lower end portion of the second inclined portion 28.

(Operation of Example)
Next, the operation of the lifting device 42 according to the embodiment will be described. A game ball used in a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine flows down a downcomer 46 provided in the lower part of the island facility, and is stored in a collecting base 48 provided at a downstream end of the downcomer 46. The game balls stored in the collective basket 48 are moved toward the introduction opening 12 side of the case body 16 along the bottom inclined portion of the collective basket 48. Then, the game balls facing the introduction opening 12 are sequentially introduced into the first region 30 via the introduction part 34 of the bucket 22 that has reached the introduction opening 12. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2 (a), the introduction opening 12 opens to the introduction portion 34 and does not face the discharge portion 36, so that the game ball is introduced into the bucket 22 only from the introduction portion 34. Become. In addition, since the outer bottom portion 58 of the bucket 22 is recessed and the region 40 is formed below the bucket 22, the introduction portion 34 of the bucket 22 on the lower side is widened to realize efficient introduction of game balls. Can do. The game ball that has collided with the front wall portion 62 of the bucket 22 is not stored in the bucket 22 but is introduced into the lower bucket 22. Further, the gap between the front end portion (front wall portion 62) of the bucket 22 and the opening surface 16a of the case body 16 is small, and the game ball does not fall from the gap.

  The game balls introduced into the first area 30 through the introduction part 34 roll on the first inclined part 26 and are distributed and moved to the left and right second areas 32 and 32. At this time, since the first inclined portion 26 is set so as not to cause a height difference in the depth direction (front-rear direction), the game ball on the first inclined portion 26 is immediately moved to the second regions 32 and 32. The Rukoto. That is, for example, when the ridge line 26a of the first inclined portion 26 is inclined downward from the front to the rear when the bucket 22 is raised, the game ball on the first inclined portion 26 detours to the rear side. However, it will flow down to the second areas 32 and 32, which may prevent efficient introduction, and game balls may concentrate on the rear side of the second areas 32 and 32. However, since the ridge line 26a of the first inclined portion 26 according to the embodiment is set to be horizontal, the game ball is immediately moved to the second area 32, 32 without detouring, and the second area 32, 32 is not biased.

  The game balls that have moved to the second regions 32, 32 flow forward along the downward inclination of the second inclined portions 28, and are stored in contact with the opening surface 16 a of the case body 16. The game balls introduced later also move from the first area 30 to the second areas 32, 32 in the same manner as described above, and as shown in FIG. 6 (a), the lowermost layers of the second areas 32, 32 are moved. Game balls are stored in the. When the game balls are further introduced and the lowermost layers of the second regions 32 and 32 are filled, the subsequent game balls are deposited on the lowermost game balls, and the second layer, the third layer It accumulates efficiently (FIG. 6B). That is, since the ridge line 26a of the first inclined portion 26 is set horizontally and the second inclined portions 28 and 28 are inclined downward, the game balls are evenly distributed in the depth direction of the second regions 32 and 32. Since the second areas 32 and 32 are sequentially stored from the front side, the game balls are accumulated in a layered manner without being biased. Since the inclination angles of the first inclined portion 26 and the second inclined portions 28, 28 with respect to the horizontal plane are set to be substantially the same, the flow velocity of the game ball flowing down the inclined portions 26, 28, 28 is substantially constant. Become. Thereby, the collision of game balls is further suppressed, the storage efficiency of the game balls is improved, and an unpleasant collision sound is hardly generated.

  Further, when the introduction of the game balls proceeds and the height of the game balls stored in the second areas 32 and 32 starts to exceed the first inclined portion 26, the game balls together with the second areas 32 and 32 are in the first area 30. It is also housed (Fig. 6 (c)). Then, when the first and second areas 30, 32, 32 are almost full, the introduction of the game ball is stopped (see FIG. 5, bucket 22 on the lower side, and the game in the collective basket 48). If the ball runs out, the introduction of the game ball is also stopped). At this time, since the game ball is stored up to the region 40 formed in the outer bottom 58 of the bucket 22, the storage space in the bucket 22 can be used efficiently. That is, in the lifting device 42 according to the embodiment, the game ball can be stored over substantially the entire storage space of the bucket 22, so that a sufficient lift amount of the game ball can be obtained without increasing the circulation speed of the bucket 22. Can be secured. The bucket 22 that has become full rises without any game balls being introduced and passes through the introduction opening 12, and the game balls in the collective basket 48 are sequentially stored in the bucket 22 that continues downward. Go.

  The game balls stored in the bucket 22 are lifted while being covered with the opening surface 16a and the side surface portions 16b and 16b of the case body 16 as the bucket 22 rises. When the bucket 22 reaches the discharge opening 14 and both the discharge portions 36 and 36 face the discharge opening 14, the game balls stored in the second regions 32 are discharged through the discharge portions 36. The In other words, the game balls stored in both the second regions 32 and 32 flow down along the second inclined portions 28 and 28 that are inclined downward toward the opening surface 16 a, and to the discharge basket 50 through the discharge opening 14. Discharged. At this time, the game balls stored in the first region 30 are hardly stopped by the front wall portion 62 and discharged from the introduction portion 34, and both the second regions 32 sequentially along the first inclined portion 26. , 32. That is, at the time of discharge, first, the game balls stored in the second areas 32 and 32 are discharged, and the game balls in the first area 30 move to the second areas 32 and 32 and then the second area. It flows down the inclined portions 28 and 28 and is discharged from the discharge portions 36 and 36. With such a game ball discharge structure, collision between game balls is suppressed as much as possible and smooth discharge is performed, and collision between game balls is suppressed as much as possible. Moreover, since both the discharge parts 36 and 36 are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance, the collision between the game balls at the time of discharge is further reduced. Furthermore, since it is not necessary to reverse the posture of the bucket 22 at the time of discharge, collision between game balls and collision between the game ball and the bucket 22 can be suppressed.

  As described above, in the lifting device 42 according to the embodiment, the second regions 32 and 32 of the bucket 22 are formed below the first region 30, and the game balls introduced from the introduction part 34 are first inclined. The second region 32 and the second region 32 can be moved through the portion 26 so that they can be sequentially stored. Accordingly, the introduction of the game ball becomes extremely efficient, and the game ball can be accommodated over substantially the entire first area 30 and the second areas 32 and 32. That is, since a sufficient amount of lift can be secured without increasing the circumferential speed of the bucket 22, a small motor can be employed as a drive source for the lift device 42. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the introduction cost and operation cost of the motor, and to suppress the driving noise during operation. In addition, since the lifting device 42 according to the embodiment suppresses the collision of the game balls as much as possible during the introduction and discharge of the game balls, it is possible to suppress the generation of the collision sound. Note that game balls discharged from the bucket 22 to the discharge basket 50 flow down the discharge basket 50 and are stored in the island tank, and are supplied to each gaming machine.

(Example of change)
In the embodiment, the case where the bucket 22 is attached in a direction (forward) in which the introduction portion 34 and the discharge portions 36 and 36 are orthogonal to the circumferential surface of the roller chain 20 is shown. , 36 may be installed in a direction (lateral direction) facing the circumferential surface. Further, the location where the lifting device 42 is installed in the island facility is not necessarily provided at the side end portion of the island facility as in the embodiment, and may be installed in the center of the island facility, for example. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the case where the lifting device 42 is erected in the vertical direction is shown. However, for example, the lifting device 42 may be inclined backward from the introduction opening 12 to the discharge opening 14. Furthermore, although the case body 16 in the embodiment accommodates the entire lifting mechanism 44, it only needs to surround at least the bucket 22 in the ascending path C.

  As for the shape of the bucket 22 in the embodiment, the first inclined portion 26 is provided in the central portion, and the second inclined portions 28 and 28 are formed on both sides thereof. However, for example, the first inclined portion 26 may be provided on one side of the bucket 22 and one second inclined portion 28 may be provided on the other side. Further, in the embodiment, the case where the inclination angles of the first inclined portion 26 and the second inclined portions 28 and 28 with respect to the horizontal plane are substantially the same is shown, but the inclination angle is not necessarily the same, and the second inclined portion is not necessarily provided. The inclination angle of the portions 28 and 28 may be set larger (steeply) than the first inclined portion 26. In this way, the game balls on the second inclined portions 28, 28 roll faster than the first inclined portions 26, so that the game balls can be stored and discharged more quickly. Furthermore, although the discharge opening 14 is formed so as to face the entire width direction of the bucket 22, it may be opened so as to correspond only to the discharge portion 36 of the bucket 22. Furthermore, the configurations of the sprockets 18 and 18 and the roller chain 20 shown in the embodiment are not limited to this, and a conventionally known mechanism such as a combination of a pulley and an endless belt can be adopted.

It is a vertical side view which shows the conveying apparatus which concerns on an Example. It is a principal part enlarged front view which shows a lifting apparatus, Comprising: (a) shows an introductory opening part, (b) shows a discharge | emission opening part. It is a side view which expands and shows the bucket which concerns on an Example. It is a perspective view which shows the bucket which concerns on an Example. It is a front view which expands and shows the bucket which concerns on an Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode that a game ball is accommodated in a bucket, Comprising: (a) shows the state in which the game ball was accommodated in the lowest layer of 2nd area | region, (b) is a game ball 2nd A state where the second layer of the area is stored is shown, and (c) shows a state where the game ball has started to be stored in the first area.

Explanation of symbols

12 Introducing opening 14 Discharging opening 16 Case body 16a Opening surface 18 Sprocket (Rotating body)
20 Roller chain (wrapping body)
22 Bucket 26 First inclined portion 28 Second inclined portion 30 First region 32 Second region 34 Introducing portion 36 Discharging portion 38 Wall portion 40 region
62 Front wall (wall)

Claims (1)

A plurality of buckets provided at predetermined intervals around a pair of rotating bodies that are spaced apart from each other vertically, a case body that surrounds a path through which the bucket ascends, and an opening surface of the case body An opening for introducing a game ball, and a discharge opening for discharging the game ball that is opened on the opening surface above the introduction opening in the case body, and the game ball introduced from the introduction opening is placed in the bucket In the lifting device configured to store and discharge the game ball lifted by the bucket from the discharge opening,
The bucket is
A first inclined portion that is formed in a mountain shape at a central position of the bucket and that defines a first region that houses a game ball on the upper side;
Are formed to be located below the both sides of the first inclined portion, and the second inclined portion defining a second region for accommodating a game ball to the upper,
Defined between the first inclined portion and the outer bottom portion corresponding to the first inclined portion in the upstream bucket, and substantially the same width as the introduction opening portion on the opening side of the case body in the first region An introduction portion that is formed with a size and can entirely face the introduction opening , and that introduces the game ball into the first region through the introduction opening;
A discharge portion that is formed on the opening surface side of the case body in the second region and discharges the game ball stored in the second region through the discharge opening,
The first inclined portion is inclined downward toward the second inclined portion , and is formed so as not to have a height difference in the depth direction from the introduction portion side in the ascending process of the bucket . A wall portion that protrudes upward at a height larger than the radius of the game ball is formed at the edge of the case body on the opening surface side,
The second inclined portion is formed to be inclined downward toward the opening surface of the case body,
The outer bottom portion corresponding to the first inclined portion in the bucket is formed so that the center is recessed upward, and defines an area opened downward and on the opening surface side,
When the bucket arrives at the introduction opening , the whole introduction portion faces the introduction opening, and the game ball is introduced into the first area through the introduction section, and the game introduced into the first area The balls are sequentially stored in the second area via the first inclined part, while the discharge part is blocked by the opening surface of the case body and the game ball is introduced into the second area via the discharge part. Is regulated,
When the bucket arrives at the discharge opening, the game ball stored in the second area with the discharge section facing the discharge opening is discharged through the discharge section and stored in the first area. A lifting device characterized in that a game ball moves to the second region via the first inclined portion.

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