JP4986446B2 - Ball dispenser for gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball dispensing device for a gaming machine capable of accurately attaching a relay rod to a correct position.

In the ball payout device of the gaming machine, the payout mechanism discharges the ball from the back side of the gaming machine frame to the ball tray on the front surface of the gaming machine frame through the vertical gutter. 2. Description of the Related Art A ball payout device having a structure in which balls stored in a tank provided on the back side of a gaming machine frame are supplied to a payout mechanism via an alignment rail is known. However, the case part for attaching the alignment rail is formed separately from the tank and the dispensing mechanism, the case part is attached directly below the tank, and the alignment rail is attached to the pair of claws of the case part from the rear side of the case part. The alignment rail is attached to the case part so as to be connected to the tank and the dispensing mechanism by being pushed in between and supporting the alignment rail so as to hold the alignment rail from the outside. Since the rail is pulled from the front side to the rear side and removed from between the two pairs of claws, there is a drawback that the alignment rail cannot be accurately attached to the correct position or falls off.
JP 2002-85793 A

  The problem to be solved by the invention is that the parts forming the relay rod of the ball dispensing device such as the alignment rail cannot be accurately attached to the correct position or fall off.

A ball payout device for a gaming machine according to the present invention includes a tank structure for storing a refilled ball on the back surface of a game main body storage structure of a gaming machine frame, and a ball payout while separating the balls one by one from the tank structure. A tank structure in a ball dispensing device for a gaming machine comprising: a dispensing mechanism for dispensing; a relay rod for guiding a ball dispensed from the dispensing mechanism downward; and a vertical rod for ejecting the ball discharged from the relay cage downward And the vertical hook are attached to the game main body storage structure, the payout structure of the payout mechanism is inserted into the tank structure from the side, and the set screw is connected to the tank from the outside of the payout mechanism via the mechanism housing. By being fastened to the structure , the mechanism housing is attached to the side surface of the tank structure , the mechanism housing includes a lower engagement portion, the lower engagement portion of the mechanism housing includes an engagement groove and an engagement hole, The relay rod is provided with an upper engagement portion and a lower engagement portion. The joint portion includes an insertion piece inserted into the engagement groove, a leaf spring piece, and an engagement protrusion provided on the leaf spring piece and engaged with the engagement hole by urging by the leaf spring piece. The insertion piece is inserted into the engagement groove of the mechanism housing, and the engagement protrusion of the relay rod is engaged with the engagement hole of the mechanism housing by the urging force of the leaf spring piece, so that the dispensing mechanism and the relay rod are connected to each other. The lower engaging portion of the relay rod is connected to the outer side of the outer periphery of the lower end edge of the ball outlet portion of the relay rod, and the coupling cylinder that is provided so that the relay rod is passed through the tube hole and can be moved up and down outside the relay rod. A lower stopper provided to protrude from the upper edge of the coupling cylinder, and an upper stopper provided to project from the upper edge of the coupling cylinder to engage with the upper surface of the lower stopper. The upper stopper is locked to the upper surface of the lower stopper, and the coupling cylinder surrounds the outer periphery of the upper part of the vertical shaft. By being positioned such, characterized in that the sphere inlet of the sphere outlet and downpipe relay gutter are connected to each other in the vertical direction.

According to the ball dispensing device of the gaming machine according to the present invention, the relay rod is positioned at a correct position below the mechanism housing in the dispensing mechanism by the engagement coupling between the lower engaging portion of the mechanism housing and the upper engaging portion of the relay housing. It is attached accurately and the relay rod does not fall off the mechanism housing. That is, the lower engaging portion of the mechanism housing includes an engaging groove and an engaging hole, and the upper engaging portion of the relay rod is inserted into the engaging groove, the leaf spring piece, and the leaf spring piece. Since the engagement protrusions that engage with the engagement holes of the mechanism housing are provided by the urging force, the lower engagement portion of the mechanism housing and the upper engagement portion of the relay rod are easily engaged, and the mounting operation is easy. It becomes .

Best form 1
1 to 4 and 7 show the best mode 1. FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a ball dispensing device. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the lower engaging portion of the mechanism housing and the upper engaging portion of the relay rod of the ball dispensing device. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the relay rod. FIG. 4 shows a pachinko gaming machine equipped with a ball dispensing device as seen from the back side. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the ball dispensing device. In this specification, the directions of “front”, “rear”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “upper”, “lower” indicate the tank structure 2 of the ball dispensing device 1 in the state shown in FIG. And it is the direction specified when placing the downpile 30 and viewing from the front side indicated by the arrow A. “Back” and “back” are in the same direction.

  A ball payout device 1 of a pachinko machine as a gaming machine will be described with reference to FIG. The ball dispensing device 1 includes a tank structure 2, a dispensing mechanism 3, a relay rod 31, and a vertical rod 30. The dispensing mechanism 3 and the tank structure 2 are connected to each other. That is, the payout structure 4 of the payout mechanism 3 is inserted into the tank structure 2 from the side, and the set screw 7 (see FIG. 7) is routed from the outside of the mechanism case 6 of the payout mechanism 3 via the mechanism case 6. The mechanism housing 6 is attached to the side surface of the tank structure 2 by being fastened to the tank structure 2. The mechanism housing 6 and the relay housing 31 of the payout mechanism 3 are connected to each other. That is, the relay rod 31 is attached to the lower portion of the payout mechanism 3 by the upper engagement portion 34 of the relay rod 31 being fitted into the lower engagement portion 37 of the mechanism housing 6 from the outside of the mechanism housing 6. The relay rod 31 and the vertical rod 30 are connected to each other. That is, when the lower engagement portion 35 of the relay rod 31 is fitted into the upper portion of the vertical rod 30 from above the vertical rod 30, the relay rod 31 is attached above the vertical rod 30.

  The configuration of the tank structure 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The tank structure 2 is attached to the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29. The tank structure 2 stores a ball called a pachinko ball discharged from a supply mechanism of an unillustrated game machine installation structure called an “island”. The tank structure 2 includes a sphere storage unit 10 and a substrate storage unit 15. In the arrangement of the sphere storage unit 10 and the substrate storage unit 15, the sphere storage unit 10 is on the rear side, and the substrate storage unit 15 is on the front side. The sphere storage unit 10 is a room for storing spheres, and is configured as a box-shaped room opened upward. On the bottom wall of the ball storage unit 10, a supply port 11, a payout storage unit 12, and a basket 16 are provided. The bottom surface of the bottom wall of the sphere storage unit 10 that comes into contact with the sphere forms a slope in which the sphere flows from the periphery of the sphere storage unit 10 toward the supply port 11. The supply port 11 is located on the right side at the center in the front-rear direction, and is formed in a rectangular shape that penetrates in the up-down direction and is long in the left-right direction. The payout accommodating portion 12 forms a space that is recessed downward from the supply port 11. The cage 16 closes the right side of the supply port 11, so that the sphere stored in the sphere storage unit 10 does not interfere with the sphere that has been taken into the payout structure 4 and has reached the right side. 11 to prevent the inflow of the sphere. A payout bearing hole 17 is provided on the left side wall of the payout receiving portion 12. A payout escape hole 18 and a foreign matter discharge hole 19 are provided at the bottom of the payout accommodating portion 12. The right side wall 99 of the tank structure 2 is provided with a mechanism mounting portion 9, an upper opening 21, and a lower opening 22. The mechanism attachment portion 9 is configured as a cylindrical shape that protrudes to the right from the two upper corners of the right side wall 99 of the tank structure 2. The upper opening 21 has a form in which the entire portion corresponding to the right side wall 99 of the payout accommodating portion 12 is removed. The upper opening 21 is configured as a through hole in the left-right direction, and forms a lead-out port for supplying balls one by one to the dispensing mechanism 3 before and after the dispensing structure 4 by inserting the dispensing structure 4. The lower opening 22 is configured as a through hole in the left-right direction so as to take in the dispensing ball detector 5.

  A replenishment detection mechanism 24 and a ball breakage detection mechanism 25 are mounted on the partition wall 23 between the ball storage unit 10 and the substrate storage unit 15. The supply detection mechanism 24 detects that the number of balls stored in the ball storage unit 10 is small and outputs a supply signal. When the supply signal is output to the hall computer that manages the store sales of the game store, the hall computer drives the supply mechanism of the gaming machine installation structure, and the supply mechanism replenishes the ball storage unit 10 with the ball. The ball break detection mechanism 25 detects that the number of balls stored in the ball storage unit 10 is smaller than the number detected by the replenishment detection mechanism 24 and outputs a ball break signal. Notification processing that informs the store clerk of the amusement store that the ball computer does not replenish the ball from the replenishment mechanism to the ball storage unit 10 by outputting a ball-out signal to the hall computer that manages the store operation of the amusement store. I do. The substrate accommodating portion 15 is configured as a box-shaped room opened upward. A relay substrate 26 is attached to the bottom wall of the substrate housing portion 15 from above with a set screw (not shown) such as a tapping screw. The relay board 26 intensively connects all the wirings of the electrical components related to the ball dispensing device 1 and has a structure in which a plurality of connectors 27 are mounted on the upper surface of a circuit board such as a printed wiring board. . The connector 27 is a thin wiring such as a printed wiring attached to the relay board 26 and is connected to each other so as to constitute an electric circuit.

  The dispensing mechanism 3 will be described with reference to FIG. The payout mechanism 3 includes a mechanism housing 6, a payout structure 4, a payout motor 13, a relay board 41, a switching structure 94, and a detection structure 144. The mechanism housing 6 has a box shape whose left side is open. The payout structure 4 is rotated by the payout motor 13. The payout structure 4 includes a payout shaft 82 and a spiral body 85. The spiral body 85 has a structure in which a sphere having a diameter of 11 mm is separated one by one in a direction parallel to the axial center of the payout shaft 82 and protrudes in a spiral shape radially outward from the outer peripheral surface of the payout shaft 82. The payout structure 4 that protrudes to the left from the intake port 151 of the base 150 of the payout mechanism 3 is accommodated in the payout housing portion of the tank structure 2 through the upper opening 21 formed on the right side surface of the tank structure 2. A state in which the shaft detector 86 of the body 4 is rotatably inserted into the payout bearing hole 17 and protrudes to the left from the base 150 is positioned below the payout escape hole 18 via the lower opening 22. Then, a set screw 7 such as a tapping screw is fastened to the mechanism attaching portion 9 of the tank structure 2 from the outside of the mechanism housing 6 of the dispensing mechanism 3 via the housing attaching portion 8 of the mechanism housing 6 ( 7), the dispensing mechanism 3 and the tank structure 2 are assembled so as to be integrated with each other. In a state where the set screw 7 is fastened to the mechanism mounting portion 9, the base 150 and the right side wall 99 come into contact with each other.

  The spiral body 85 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the dispensing shaft 82 from the left end portion 83 which is one end portion of the dispensing shaft 82 to the position of the left surface 155 of the base 150 in the mechanism housing 6 of the dispensing mechanism 3. That is, the spiral body 85 is located on the left end 83 side, which is one end side of the payout shaft 82 with respect to the prize ball passage 153 so that it does not exist directly above the entrance 156 of the prize ball passage 153 and just above the entrance 157 of the extraction ball passage 100. Placed in. A driven gear 44 is provided on the right end side of the payout shaft 82. A shaft portion 86 that is thinner than the payout shaft 82 protrudes coaxially at the left end portion 83 that protrudes to the left of the spiral body 85 of the payout shaft 82. The box bottom 57 of the mechanism housing 6 is provided with a bearing portion 72 that rotatably holds the right end portion 84 of the payout shaft 82. The relay board 41 is attached to the board attaching part 51 erected from the box bottom 57. The relay board 41 is configured by a circuit board such as a printed wiring board. On the left surface of the relay board 41, electrical components (not shown) such as connectors, resistors and capacitors, a position detector 66, and a ball extraction detector 67 are mounted, and the right end portion 84 of the payout shaft 82 is connected to the bearing hole of the bearing portion 72. A clearance hole 65 is formed for insertion into 73. Therefore, the right end portion 84 of the payout shaft 82 of the payout structure 4 is rotatably held in the bearing hole 73 of the bearing portion 72 via the escape hole 65.

  The payout motor 13 such as a step motor is attached to a motor attachment portion 50 erected from the box bottom 57. A drive gear 43 is fixed to a drive shaft 81 such as a motor shaft of the payout motor 13, and the drive gear 43 and the driven gear 44 of the payout shaft 82 are engaged with each other. Accordingly, the rotational driving force by the payout motor 13 is transmitted to the payout shaft 82 via the drive gear 43 and the driven gear 44, whereby the payout shaft 82 rotates. On the left surface of the driven gear 44, a protrusion 88 is integrally provided as a disk centered on the payout shaft 82. The detected body 45 is integrally provided on the right surface of the driven gear 44. The detected object 45 is configured as an annular wall with the payout shaft 82 as the center. The detected body 45 is provided with a detected portion (not shown). The detected portions are a pair that are positioned on the diameter line of the detected body 45 and face each other, and are recessed inward from the right surface to the left side of the detected body 45, and open to the right side, the inner side, and the outer side of the detected body 45. It is configured as a groove. In a state where the position detector 66 is supplied with power, and the detection light is irradiated from the light emitting portion forming one side of the concave portion of the position detector 66 to the light receiving portion forming the other side of the concave portion, the detected object 45 is driven. When rotating integrally with the gear 44, the detection light of the position detector 66 blocked by the detected object 45 passes through the detected part every half rotation of the detected object 45 and is received by the light receiving part. Is done. As a result, the position detector 66 detects the rotational position of the driven gear 44 once every half rotation of the driven gear 44 and outputs a rotational position signal to a control device (not shown). The control device inputs a rotational position signal and controls the dispensing motor 13 so that the number of rotations of the dispensing structure 4 becomes a set value.

  A switching structure 94 is provided on the left side of the relay substrate 41, and a detection structure 144 is provided on the left side of the switching structure 94. The switching structure 94 is attached to an attachment portion 95 erected from the box bottom 57. In the base 90 of the switching structure 94, a relief hole 91 for passing the payout shaft 82 of the payout structure 4 is formed. On the right side of the base 90, a gear receiving portion 92 having a recess around the escape hole 91 is provided, and a projection 88 of the driven gear 44 is rotatably inserted so that the driven gear 44 of the payout shaft 82 is inserted. Is held rotatably.

  A ball extraction passage 100 is formed on the left side of the base 90, and a switching valve 97 and a switching drive source 96 (see FIG. 7) such as a solenoid for driving the switching valve 97 are provided. The hollow passages 100 are formed in two rows so as to be lined up in the front and rear directions. On the right side of the base 90, a ball extraction detector 126 for detecting a ball passing through the ball extraction passage 100 is provided. In the detection structure 144, the base 150 is engaged and fixed to the peripheral wall 146 around the opening 145 of the mechanism housing 6 like a lid that closes the opening 145 of the mechanism housing 6 (see FIG. 7). The base 150 of the detection structure 144 is formed with a take-in port 151 through which the payout structure 4 passes and which is connected to the upper opening 21 to take the ball into the payout mechanism 3. A sphere detector holder 152 that protrudes to the left from the base 150 is provided below the intake port 151, and the dispensing ball detector 5 is held by the sphere detector holder 152. A prize ball passage 153 is provided on the right side of the base 150 and below the intake port 151. The prize ball passages 153 are formed in two rows so as to be arranged in the front-rear direction, and are connected to the left side of the ball extraction passage 100. Therefore, the ball passages 100; 100 provided in two rows in the front and rear and the prize ball passages 153; 153 provided in the two rows in the front and rear are provided with four passages provided on the left and right so as to be adjacent to each other. . In other words, two sets of a pair of ball passages 100 and prize ball passages 153 provided so as to be adjacent to each other on the left and right are provided in such a manner that they are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction.

  With reference to FIG. 1, an operation of paying out a ball from the payout storage unit 12 of the ball storage unit 10 to the prize ball passage 153 will be described. In a state where the control device (not shown) cuts off the power supply to the switching drive source 96 and the switching valve 97 protrudes vertically above the valve shaft 118 and intersects the dispensing shaft 82 of the dispensing structure 4. The control device drives the payout motor 13 in one direction by the prize ball payout process, and the payout motor 13 rotates the payout structure 4 in the circumferential direction of the payout shaft 82. As a result, the sphere captured in the gap of the spiral body 85 moves toward the payout mechanism 3 from the payout housing portion 12 through the upper opening 21 and the intake port 151 as the payout structure 4 is driven in one direction. It becomes a sphere P. The sphere P falls off the spiral body 85 and falls by its own weight. The falling ball P is blocked by the switching valve 97 projecting vertically as shown by an arrow X1 so as not to go in the direction of the ball extraction passage 100, and is guided to the prize ball passage 153. Will be paid downward. The ball P falling on the winning ball passage 153 is detected by the payout ball detector 5. The payout ball detector 5 outputs a payout detection signal to the control device every time the ball P is detected. The control device counts up or down the payout detection signal to manage the number of balls to be paid out as prize balls from the ball payout device 1 and stops the payout motor 13. In the case of counting up, when the counted up value coincides with the number of prize balls paid out that triggered the payout motor 13 in one direction, the control device stops the payout motor 13. In the case of the countdown, the prize ball payout number that triggered the payout motor 13 in one direction is subtracted for each input of the payout detection signal, and when the prize ball payout number becomes zero, the control device stops the payout motor 13. .

  With reference to FIG. 1, an operation in which the ball P is paid out from the payout housing portion 12 of the ball storage portion 10 to the ball extraction passage 100 will be described. The control device supplies electric power to the switching drive source 96, and the switching valve 97 rotates around the valve shaft 118 toward the tank structure 2 as shown by the phantom line and is more than the dispensing shaft 82 of the dispensing structure 4. In the state of being disposed at the lower part, the control device drives the payout motor 13 in one direction by the ball discharge process, and the payout motor 13 rotates the payout structure 4 in the circumferential direction of the payout shaft 82. As a result, the sphere captured in the gap of the spiral body 85 moves toward the payout mechanism 3 from the payout housing portion 12 through the upper opening 21 and the intake port 151 as the payout structure 4 is driven in one direction. It becomes a sphere P. The sphere P falls off the spiral body 85 and falls downward due to its own weight. The falling ball P is blocked by the switching valve 97 projecting obliquely toward the tank structure 2 so as not to go in the direction of the prize ball passage 153 and is guided to the ball removal passage 100 as indicated by an arrow X2. Then, it is paid out from the ball extraction passage 100 downward. The sphere P falling in the extraction passage 100 pushes the extraction detection body 126 toward the relay board 41. The lower part of the ball extraction sensor 126 rotates in the direction of the ball extraction detector 67 around the sensing axis 132, and the detected part 135 is detected by the ball extraction detector 67. The ball extraction detector 67 outputs a ball extraction detection signal to the control device every time the detected part 135 is detected. The control device manages whether or not a ball dispensed as a ball from the ball dispensing device 1 exists in the tank structure 2 according to the time interval when the ball removal detection signal is input, and stops the dispensing motor 13. When a ball to be dispensed as a ball is present in the tank structure 2, if the rotation speed of the dispensing motor 13 is constant, the time interval for inputting the ball removal detection signal is the axis of the dispensing shaft 82 in the spiral 85. It becomes constant depending on the interval (pitch) in the direction parallel to. When a ball dispensed as a ball removal is absent from the tank structure 2, the time interval during which the ball removal detection signal is input becomes equal to or greater than the predetermined time interval. Therefore, when the time interval at which the ball removal detection signal is input becomes equal to or longer than a certain time interval, the control device stops the payout motor 13.

  The structure of the lower part of the mechanism housing 6 and the relay housing 31 will be described with reference to FIG. The lower part of the mechanism housing 6 includes an opening 101 serving as a ball outlet of the winning ball passage 153 and the ball extraction passage 100 and a lower engagement portion 37 for attaching the relay rod 31. The lower engagement portion 37 includes engagement grooves 38 and 39 and an engagement hole 40. The engaging grooves 38; 39 are formed by protrusions 103 provided on both opening edges 102 that face each other before and after the opening 101. The protrusion 103 is formed by a vertical piece 104 that extends downward from the opening edge 102 and a horizontal piece 105 that extends from the lower end of the vertical piece 104. The lateral piece 105 of the engaging groove 38 and the lateral piece 105 of the engaging groove 39 extend in a direction approaching each other. The engagement hole 40 is formed by a through hole that vertically penetrates a plate portion that forms the lower surface of the mechanism housing 6. The engagement hole 40 is formed in the plate portion on the right side of the right edge 106 of the opening 101.

  The relay bowl 31 includes a prize ball passage 32 connected to the prize ball passage 153, a ball extraction passage 33 connected to the ball extraction passage 100, an upper engagement portion 34, and a lower engagement portion 35. The upper engagement portion 34 includes engagement pieces 47; 48 and an engagement protrusion 49 as an engagement body. The engagement piece 47 includes an insertion piece 52 and an overhanging piece 53. The insertion piece 52 protrudes rearward from the rear edge of the ball entrance of the rear extraction passage 33 and is inserted into the engagement groove 38. The overhanging piece 53 is provided at the right end of the insertion piece 52, protrudes rearward from the insertion piece 52, and engages with the vertical piece 104 of the engagement groove 38. The engagement piece 48 includes an insertion piece 54 and an overhanging piece 55. The insertion piece 54 protrudes forward from the front edge of the ball entrance of the front extraction passage 33 and is inserted into the engagement groove 39. The overhanging piece 55 is provided at the right end of the insertion piece 54, protrudes forward from the insertion piece 54, and engages with the vertical piece 104 of the engagement groove 39. The engagement protrusions 49 are formed so that the left and right central portions of the leaf spring pieces 58 projecting rightward from the center portion of the right edge of the ball inlet of the front and rear ball passages 33; Are formed by protrusions formed so as to be raised, and are urged by the elasticity of the leaf spring pieces 58 to fit into the engagement holes 40. In other words, the engaging hole 40 of the lower engaging portion 37 and the engaging protrusion 49 of the upper engaging portion 34 are formed by concavities and convexities, and the upper engaging portion 34 is formed by the leaf spring piece 58 and the leaf spring piece 58. The engagement protrusion 49 is engaged with the engagement hole 40 by the urging force by the leaf spring piece 58 to be engaged with the engagement hole 40 of the lower engagement portion 37. Been formed.

  According to the best mode 1, the relay rod 31 is correctly positioned at the lower portion of the mechanism housing 6 in the payout mechanism 3 by the engagement coupling between the lower engagement portion 37 of the mechanism housing 6 and the upper engagement portion 34 of the relay housing 31. The relay rod 31 does not fall off from the mechanism housing 6 unless the leaf spring piece 58 is moved downward and the engagement projection 49 and the engagement hole 40 are released from fitting. Since the engagement protrusion 49 of the upper engagement portion 34 is formed to engage with the engagement hole 40 of the lower engagement portion 37 by urging by the leaf spring piece 58, the leaf spring piece 58 is moved downward. In this state, the insertion piece 52; 54 is inserted into the engagement groove 38; 39, so that the engagement protrusion 49 is easily engaged with the engagement hole 40, so that the mounting operation is facilitated. Since the engagement groove 38; 39 is provided, the engagement groove 38; 39 serves as an insertion guide for the insertion piece 52; 54. Therefore, the insertion piece 52; 54 can be easily inserted into the engagement groove 38; The relay rod 31 is accurately attached at the correct position below the mechanism housing 6.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lower engaging portion 35 of the relay rod 31 includes an upper stopper 59, a lower stopper 60, and a coupling cylinder 61. The lower stopper 60 projects outward from the outer periphery of the lower end edge of the ball outlet 74 in the relay rod 31. The coupling cylinder 61 is a cylindrical body provided on the outside of the relay rod 31 so as to be vertically movable. The upper stopper 59 is provided so as to protrude inward from the upper edge of the coupling cylinder 61 and engages with the upper surface 62 of the lower stopper 60. When the coupling cylinder 61 moves downward and the upper stopper 59 is locked to the upper surface 62 of the lower stopper 60, the coupling cylinder 61 is positioned so that the outer periphery of the upper part of the vertical rod 30 surrounds the outer periphery of the upper part. Thus, the ball outlet portion 74 of the relay rod 31 and the ball inlet portion 75 of the vertical rod 30 are connected to each other in the vertical direction.

  According to the best mode 1, since the relay rod 31 includes the lower engaging portion 35, the relay rod 31 is accurately attached to the correct position on the upper portion of the vertical rod 30, and the coupling cylinder 61 moves upward. As long as the engagement between the upper stopper 59 and the lower stopper 60 is not released, the relay rod 31 does not fall off the mechanism housing 6.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the structure of the relay rod 31 is demonstrated. The relay rod 31 is formed by combining an outer member 63 and an inner member 64. The outer member 63 has a structure in which an upper portion, a right end, and a lower portion are open, and is coupled in a state where the right end lower portion 202 of the front wall 201 and the right end lower portion 204 of the rear wall 203 facing each other are bent in a direction approaching each other. By passing through the cylindrical hole 205 of the cylindrical body 61, the coupling cylindrical body 61 is positioned outside the outer member 63, and the inner member 64 is fitted between the front wall 201 and the rear wall 203 from above to stop A screw 206 is inserted from the outside into a through hole 207 formed in the front wall 201 and the rear wall 203 of the outer member 63 and fastened to a mounting hole 208 formed in the inner member 64. As a result, the relay rod 31 is formed on the outside of the ball outlet portion 74 so that the coupling cylinder 61 is movable in the vertical direction. The coupling cylinder 61 is attached so that it does not come out below the relay rod 31 when the upper stopper 59 and the lower stopper 60 provided at the lower end of the relay rod 31 collide with each other. That is, after the outer member 63 is passed through the cylindrical hole 205 of the annular coupling cylinder 61, the inner member 64 is fitted into the outer member 63, and the outer member 63 and the inner member 64 are coupled by the set screw 206. By forming the relay rod 31, the coupling cylinder 61 is attached to the outside of the lower end portion of the relay rod 31 so as to be vertically movable. That is, the cylindrical coupling cylinder 61 can be assembled to the outside of the lower end portion of the relay rod 31 so as to be movable up and down so as not to fall off from the lower end portion of the relay rod 31.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the downboard 30 is attached to the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29. The vertical rod 30 includes a prize ball passage 42 connected to the prize ball passage 32 of the relay rod 31 and a ball extraction passage 46 connected to the ball extraction passage 33 of the relay rod 31.

  The gaming machine frame of the pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIG. The gaming machine frame 173 of the pachinko machine includes a movable frame 175 that can be opened and closed on the front side of the fixed frame 174. The fixed frame 174 is also referred to as an outer frame attached to the gaming machine installation structure. The movable frame 175 is also called a front frame for attaching parts necessary for a game such as a game board and a control device (not shown) as a game main body, and includes the game main body storage structure 29. The movable frame 175 can be opened halfway around the hinge 176 located on the left side so that the movable frame 175 can be opened frontward and closed rearward of the fixed frame 174. The movable frame 175 is provided with an opening 177 as a through hole in the front-rear direction. The opening 177 is inserted through a back side part such as a ball guide structure or a control device (not shown) attached to the back side of the game board from the front side to the back side of the movable frame 175, or attached to the front side of the game board. The front parts such as guide rails and winning parts are made to penetrate from the back side of the movable frame 175 to the front side.

  The assembly of the ball dispensing device 1 of the pachinko machine will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7. First, the tank structure 2 and the vertical rod 30 are attached to the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29. The tank structure 2 is attached to the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29 from the back side of the game main body storage structure 29 with a fixing tool such as a screw so as to be positioned above the opening 177. The vertical rod 30 is attached to the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29 from the back side of the game main body storage structure 29 with a fixing tool such as a screw so as to be positioned on the right side of the opening 177. Next, the payout mechanism 3 is attached to the right end of the tank structure 2 with a set screw 7. The relay rod 31 is attached so as to connect the lower end of the payout mechanism 3 and the upper end of the vertical rod 30. That is, after the coupling cylinder 61 is moved upward, the upper engagement portion 34 of the relay rod 31 is engaged with the lower engagement portion 37 of the payout mechanism 3 from the right side of the gaming machine frame 173 and then coupled. By moving the cylinder 61 downward, the upper stopper 59 and the lower stopper 60 are engaged, and the coupling cylinder 61 is positioned so as to surround the outer periphery of the upper part of the vertical rod 30. In other words, in a state where the ball outlet portion 74 of the relay rod 31 and the ball inlet portion 75 of the vertical rod 30 face each other in the vertical direction, the coupling cylinder 61 is dropped downward, so that the coupling cylinder 61 is attached to the relay rod 31. The outer cylinder 74 covers the outer side of the ball outlet portion 74 and the ball inlet portion 75 of the vertical rod 30, and the upper stopper 59 and the lower stopper 60 collide with each other. Instead, the ball outlet portion 74 and the ball inlet portion 75 are coupled. As described above, as shown in FIG. 4, the ball dispensing device 1 is attached to the back surface of the pachinko machine. When the relay rod 31 is removed, it can be easily removed by pulling the relay rod 31 to the right in a state where the coupling cylinder 61 is moved upward and the elastic piece 58 is bent downward.

  In the ball dispensing device 1, the ball is received by the receiving rod 181 through the tank structure 2, the prize ball passage 153 of the dispensing mechanism 3, the prize ball passage 32 of the relay rod 31, and the prize ball passage 42 of the vertical rod 30. It is done. The receiving rod 181 is attached to the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29 from the back side of the game main body storage structure 29 with a fixing tool such as a screw so as to be positioned below the opening 177. The ball received by the receiving rod 181 is discharged from the receiving rod 181 to the receiving tray portion of the dish structure not shown. The dish structure is attached to the front surface of the game main body storage structure 29. The saucer part of the dish structure is a part into which a player uses a ball used for the game. Then, when the player operates the firing operation mechanism provided on the front surface of the dish structure in a state where the ball is present in the tray portion, the front surface of the game main body storage structure 29 is positioned so as to be located on the back side of the dish structure. The launching mechanism attached to the launcher launches the balls supplied from the saucer one by one toward the inner game area surrounded by the guide rails of the game board. The ball is discharged to the collection mechanism of the gaming machine installation structure via the tank structure 2, the ball extraction passage 100 of the payout mechanism 3, the ball extraction passage 33 of the relay rod 31, and the ball extraction passage 46 of the vertical rod 30. The The balls discharged to the collection mechanism are returned to the supply mechanism of the gaming machine installation structure.

Best form 2
5 to 7 show the best mode 2. FIG. FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the ball dispensing device. FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the lower engaging portion of the mechanism housing and the upper engaging portion of the relay rod of the ball dispensing device. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the ball dispensing device. As shown in FIG. 7, the payout mechanism 3 of the ball payout device 1 according to the best mode 2 has the valve shaft 123 as the center of rotation in a direction perpendicular to the direction along the payout shaft 82 on the front and rear sides of the payout structure 4. Switching valves 121; 122 that rotate in directions close to each other, and in the front-back direction of the lower part, a ball outlet of the ball extraction passage 100, a ball outlet of the prize ball passage 153, a ball outlet of the prize ball passage 153, The ball outlets of the four ball passages are arranged in a straight line in the order of the ball outlets of the extraction passage 100. The relay rod 31 has four balls in the order of the ball entrance of the ball passage 33, the ball entrance of the prize ball passage 32, the ball entrance of the prize ball passage 32, and the ball entrance of the ball passage 33 in the front-rear direction of the upper part. The ball entrances of the passages are arranged in a straight line, and in the front, rear, left, and right directions, a pair of ball exits 33 and a ball exit of the prize ball passage 32 are adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction. Two sets are provided to fit. Therefore, according to the ball dispensing device 1 of the best mode 2, in addition to the effects obtained by the ball dispensing device 1 of the best mode 1, the four ball outlets of the dispensing mechanism 3 are arranged in a straight line at the front and rear. For this reason, the width in the left-right direction of the payout mechanism 3 is shortened, so that an effect of widening the right part arrangement space of the payout mechanism 3 can be obtained.

  The structure of the lower part of the mechanism housing 6 and the relay housing 31 of the best mode 2 will be described with reference to FIG. The lower part of the mechanism housing 6 includes an opening 101 serving as a ball outlet of the winning ball passage 153 and the ball extraction passage 100 and a lower engagement portion 37 for attaching the relay rod 31. The lower engagement portion 37 includes engagement grooves 38 and 39 and an engagement protrusion 400. The engaging grooves 38; 39 are formed by protrusions 103 provided on both opening edges 102 that face each other before and after the opening 101. The protrusion 103 is formed by a vertical piece 104 that extends downward from the opening edge 102 and a horizontal piece 105 that extends from the lower end of the vertical piece 104. The lateral piece 105 of the engaging groove 38 and the lateral piece 105 of the engaging groove 39 extend in a direction approaching each other. The engagement protrusion 400 protrudes downward from the lower surface on the right side of the right edge 106 of the opening 101.

  The relay bowl 31 includes a prize ball passage 32 connected to the prize ball passage 153, a ball extraction passage 33 connected to the ball extraction passage 100, an upper engagement portion 34, and a lower engagement portion 35. The upper engagement portion 34 includes engagement pieces 47; 48 and an engagement protrusion 490. The engagement piece 47 includes an insertion piece 52 and an overhanging piece 530. The insertion piece 52 protrudes rearward from the rear edge of the entrance of the extraction passage 33 and is inserted into the engagement groove 38. The overhanging piece 530 is provided at the right end of the insertion piece 52, protrudes downward from the insertion piece 52, and engages with the vertical piece 104 of the engagement groove 38. The engagement piece 48 includes an insertion piece 54 and an overhanging piece 550. The insertion piece 54 protrudes forward from the front edge of the entrance of the extraction passage 33 and is inserted into the engagement groove 39. The overhanging piece 550 is provided at the right end of the insertion piece 54, protrudes downward from the insertion piece 54, and engages with the vertical piece 104 of the engagement groove 39. The engagement protrusion 490 is formed by projecting the left end of the leaf spring piece 580 upward over the front and rear edges of the leaf spring piece 580 so that the upper wall of the ball passage 33; The protrusion is formed by a protrusion, and the engagement protrusion 400 is overcome from the right by the elasticity of the leaf spring piece 580 and is locked to the left surface 401 of the engagement protrusion 400. Therefore, the mechanism housing 6 and the relay rod 31 are connected to each other by engaging the upper engagement portion and the lower engagement portion, and the relay is performed by engaging the lower engagement portion and the upper portion of the vertical rod. The kite and the vertical kite are connected to each other. When the relay rod 31 is removed, it can be easily removed by pulling the relay rod 31 to the right in a state where the coupling cylinder 61 is moved upward and the leaf spring piece 580 is bent downward.

  As with the best mode 1, the base 150 and the right side wall 99 are connected to each other in a state in which the dispensing mechanism 3 is attached to the right end of the tank structure 2 with a set screw 7 and the set screw 7 is fastened to the mechanism attaching portion 9. Contact. The relay rod 31 is attached so as to connect the lower end of the payout mechanism 3 and the upper end of the vertical rod 30. That is, after the coupling cylinder 61 is moved upward, the upper engagement portion 34 of the relay rod 31 is engaged with the lower engagement portion 37 of the payout mechanism 3 from the right side of the gaming machine frame 173 and then coupled. When the cylinder 61 is moved downward, the upper stopper 59 and the lower stopper 60 are engaged with each other, and the coupling cylinder 61 is positioned so as to surround the outer periphery of the upper portion of the vertical rod 30 (see FIG. 5). . According to the best mode 2, the relay rod 31 is correctly positioned at the lower portion of the mechanism housing 6 in the payout mechanism 3 by the engagement coupling between the lower engagement portion 37 of the mechanism housing 6 and the upper engagement portion 34 of the relay housing 31. The relay rod 31 does not fall off from the mechanism housing 6 unless the leaf spring piece 580 is moved downward and the engagement locking between the engagement protrusion 490 and the engagement protrusion 400 is released. Further, the engaging protrusion 400 of the lower engaging portion 37 and the engaging protrusion 490 of the upper engaging portion 34 are formed by unevenness, and the upper engaging portion 34 has the leaf spring piece 580 and the leaf spring piece 580. The engagement protrusion 490 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 400 by the urging force of the engagement member 400, and the engagement protrusion 490 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 400 of the lower engagement portion 37 by the urging force of the leaf spring piece 580. Thus, the engagement protrusion 490 is easily engaged with the engagement protrusion 400 by inserting the insertion piece 52; 54 into the engagement groove 38; 39 with the leaf spring piece 580 moved downward. As a result, the mounting operation becomes easy.

Best form 3
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the tank structure 2 includes a right side wall 99, as a structure that enables connection between the tank structure 2 and the two types of delivery mechanisms 3; 3 in the best mode 1; 2. A mechanism mounting portion 9, an upper opening 21, and a lower opening 22 are provided, and both the payout mechanisms 3; 3 include a housing mounting portion 8. As a structure that enables connection between the vertical rod 30 and the two types of relay rods 31; 31 in the best mode 1; 2, the relay rods 31; 31 are each provided with a lower engaging portion 35, and the vertical rod 30 is a lower link. An upper shape that engages with the joint portion 35 is provided. Therefore, the tank structure 2 and the vertical rod 30 attached to the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29 are connected to the payout mechanism 3 and relay rod 31 of the best mode 1 or the payout mechanism 3 and relay rod 31 of the best mode 2. Can be selected and attached, and two types of ball dispensing devices 1; 1 can be formed. That is, when the model of the pachinko machine is different, the arrangement of components mounted on the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29 is different. Therefore, the payout mechanism 3 and the relay basket 31 can be selected and attached in order to avoid interference such as collision with a part mounted on the back surface of the game main body storage structure 29 or excessive approach.

  That is, the ball outlets of the prize ball passage 153 and the ball extraction passage 100 of the payout mechanism 3 of the best mode 2 are formed in four lines in a straight line in the front and rear, and the balls of the prize ball passage 32 and the ball extraction passage 33 of the relay rod 31 are formed. The entrances are formed in four lines in a straight line in the front-rear direction, and the ball outlets 32 of the relay ball 31 and the ball outlets 33 are both formed in the front-rear two-row left-right two-row. Therefore, since the left-right width of the payout mechanism 3 is shortened, the payout mechanism 3 and the relay rod 31 of the best mode 2 are attached to a model in which a large part is mounted on the payout mechanism 3 on the right side of the installation location. Thus, interference between the payout mechanism 3 and the parts can be avoided. Further, since the length of the passage extending downward from the ball entrance of the winning ball passage 32 and the ball extraction passage 33 of the relay rod 31 of the best mode 2 is short, a large part below the ball entrance of the relay rod 31 is large. In the case of a model in which is mounted, the interference between the payout mechanism 3 and parts can be avoided by attaching the payout mechanism 3 and the relay rod 31 of the best mode 2.

  Further, the ball outlets of the award ball passage 153 and the ball extraction passage 100 of the payout mechanism 3 of the best mode 1 and the ball inlets of the prize ball passage 32 and the ball extraction passage 33 of the relay rod 31 are formed in two rows on the front and rear and two rows on the left and right sides. Since the front and rear widths of the payout mechanism 3 and the relay rod 31 are shortened, the payout mechanism of the best mode 2 is used in the case of a model in which large parts are mounted on the payout mechanism 3 on the front side or the rear side of the installation place. By attaching 3 and the relay rod 31, it is possible to avoid interference between the payout mechanism 3 and the relay rod 31 and parts. That is, the tank structure 2 includes a right side wall 99, a mechanism attachment portion 9, an upper opening 21, and a lower opening 22 as a dispensing connection portion that enables the tank structure 2 to be coupled to a plurality of dispensing mechanisms 3, and the vertical rod 30 has a plurality of relays Since the outer peripheral portion 110 of the upper ball inlet portion 75 formed in a shape that engages with the lower engaging portion 35 is provided as a relay connecting portion that enables connection with the basket 31, the game main body storage structure 29 The payout mechanism 3 and the relay rod 31 can be attached so as to avoid interference with components mounted on the back surface. The base 150 and the right side wall 99 are in contact with each other when the set screw 7 is fastened to the mechanism mounting portion 9 in the two types of payout mechanisms 3;

  The ball payout device of the present invention can be applied to a slot machine using a ball as a game medium in addition to a pachinko machine.

Sectional drawing of a ball paying apparatus (best form 1). The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the lower engaging part of the mechanism housing of a ball dispensing apparatus, and the upper engaging part of a relay rod (the best form 1). FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the relay rod (best mode 1). The figure which looked at the pachinko game machine provided with the ball dispensing device from the back side (best mode 1). Sectional drawing (best form 2) of a ball dispensing apparatus. The disassembled perspective view which shows the structure of the lower engaging part of the mechanism housing of a ball dispensing apparatus, and the upper engaging part of a relay rod (best form 2). Exploded perspective view of a ball dispensing device (best mode 1; 2; 3). FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram (best mode 3) showing a connectable relationship between a tank structure and a vertical rod of a ball dispensing device, a plurality of dispensing mechanisms, and a plurality of relay rods.

Explanation of symbols

1 ball dispensing device, 2 tank structure, 3 dispensing mechanism, 4 dispensing structure, 6 mechanism housing,
9 mechanism mounting portion (payout connecting portion), 29 game subject storage structure, 30 downspout,
31 relay rod, 34 upper engagement portion, 35 lower engagement portion, 37 lower engagement portion, 40 engagement hole,
49 engagement protrusion, 58 leaf spring piece, 110 outer peripheral part (relay connection part), 173 gaming machine frame.

Claims (1)

A tank structure for storing balls to be replenished, a payout mechanism for paying off the balls one by one from the tank structure, and a payout mechanism paid out on the back surface of the gaming machine storage structure of the gaming machine frame In a ball payout device for a gaming machine comprising a relay rod for guiding the ball downward and a vertical rod for discharging the ball discharged from the relay rod downward,
The tank structure and downpipe are attached to the game main storage structure,
The delivery structure of the delivery mechanism is inserted into the tank structure from the side, and the set screw is fastened to the tank structure from outside the mechanism housing of the delivery mechanism via the mechanism chassis. Attached to the side of the structure,
The mechanism housing includes a lower engagement portion, the lower engagement portion of the mechanism housing includes an engagement groove and an engagement hole, and the relay rod includes an upper engagement portion and a lower engagement portion. The joint portion includes an insertion piece inserted into the engagement groove, a leaf spring piece, and an engagement protrusion provided on the leaf spring piece and engaged with the engagement hole by urging by the leaf spring piece. The insertion piece is inserted into the engagement groove of the mechanism housing, and the engagement protrusion of the relay rod is engaged with the engagement hole of the mechanism housing by the urging force of the leaf spring piece, so that the dispensing mechanism and the relay rod are connected to each other. And
The lower engagement portion of the relay rod protrudes outward from the outer periphery of the lower end edge of the ball outlet portion of the relay rod, and the coupling cylinder body that is provided so that the relay rod is passed through the tube hole and can be moved up and down outside the relay rod. A lower stopper provided so as to project and an upper stopper provided so as to protrude inward from the upper edge of the coupling cylinder and to be engaged with the upper surface of the lower stopper, and the coupling cylinder moves downward and the upper stopper Is engaged with the upper surface of the lower stopper, and the coupling cylinder is positioned so that the outer periphery of the upper part of the vertical fence surrounds the outer periphery of the upper part. A ball dispenser for a gaming machine, which is connected to each other in the vertical direction .

Images