JP5277437B2 - Ball game island equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption by preventing a motor overloading from occurring by the start/stop control of a pumping-polishing apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The ball game island apparatus includes: a stored ball quantity-estimating means for a lower tank 34 by a ball sensing means S3 of a ball introducing passage 35a; a storage means in which starting/stopping conditions consisting of a stand-by period of time from the power source shutting off point to the power source supply starting point to a pumping motor 35f, and a preparation period of time from the sensing point of no ball in the lower tank 34 to the power source shutting off point to the pumping motor 35f are preset and stored as determination criterion corresponding to a section for each predetermined range of the stored ball quantity; a means for determining to which one of the determination criterion the stored ball quantity by the estimating means corresponds; a means for reading the starting/stopping condition corresponding to the corresponding determination criteria from the storage means; a power source turning on/off controlling means which outputs a power source supply command signal and a power source shutting off command signal based on the specified stand-by period of time and the preparation period of time conforming to the starting/stopping conditions; and a power saving apparatus 200 which has a turning on/off switch for the pumping motor power source. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an amusement island apparatus such as a pachinko amusement island apparatus using a small ball such as a pachinko sphere (in the present application, this is referred to as a sphere), and more particularly, to an apparatus having a lifting and polishing apparatus designed to reduce power consumption. .

  As shown in a typical example in FIG. 10, the pachinko game island apparatus 10 includes a single ball circulation device 30 with respect to a plurality of pachinko machines 20 arranged adjacent to each other. It has the form of an island. Then, the ball circulation device 30 replenishes each pachinko machine 20 with the balls stored in the upper tank 31 via the replenishment pipe 32, and removes the detached balls discharged from each pachinko machine via the recovery pipe 33 into the lower tank. The ball is collected and stored in 34, and the sphere flowing out from the lower tank 34 is polished while being lifted by the lift polishing apparatus 35, and is stored in the upper tank 31 again. The ball outlet of the upper tank 31 and the ball outlet of the lower tank 34 are provided with shutters 36 and 37 that are opened when the store is opened and closed when the store is closed, and a drive unit (not shown) for opening and closing each shutter. .

  The lift polishing apparatus 35 introduces a sphere from the sphere outlet of the lower tank 34 to the lower end portion of the cylinder of the lift polishing apparatus 35 through a sphere introduction path 35a, and is provided by upper and lower pulleys 35b and 35c and a tension pulley 35d. The conveyor belt 35e stretched around the conveyor belt 35e is rotated by a motor 35f, and the ball fed by the conveyor belt 35e is rubbed against a polishing cloth 35g fixed so as to face the rising surface of the conveyor belt. This removes foreign matter such as oils and fats during manufacture attached to the sphere, wear powder of each part, player's hand dirt, or rust, and the lifted and polished sphere is moved to the upper end of the lift and polishing apparatus 35. It is comprised so that it may discharge to the upper tank 31 from the discharge port 35h provided in.

  In addition to the belt conveyor type (or cloth polishing type) using the conveyor belt shown in the figure, the lifting and polishing apparatus uses a ball conveyor mixed with pellets of abrasive material to lift the inside of the feeding cylinder by a screw conveyor. There is a screw conveyor type (or pellet polishing type) for polishing by feeding. Also in this case, a motor for rotationally driving the screw conveyor is used. Then, the sphere from the lower tank is introduced into the lower end of the lifting cylinder, and the mixture of the sphere and the abrasive overflowing from the upper end of the lifting cylinder is separated by a basket-like separator, and the sphere is stored in the upper tank. The abrasive is collected and used repeatedly.

  The conventional lifting and polishing apparatus was continuously operated without turning off the power so that the shortage of ball supply to the pachinko machine 20 would not occur during business. The average daily business hours of pachinko parlors are about 13 hours. Considering the clean-up of ball supply preparations before opening and collection of balls after closing, the power is supplied to the lift polishing machine for about 15-20 hours per day. It was thrown continuously.

  And since the lifting and polishing apparatus always rotates the motor that is the driving means during power supply, the power consumption is enormous, and the electricity bill is 1 million yen per year at one store. It has become. While reduction of global warming gas emissions is demanded by the entire industry, reduction of power consumption is also desired for the lift polishing apparatus.

In the past pachinko amusement island equipment, power saving has never been taken into consideration, so the motor has always been driven even when the lift polishing apparatus does not need to operate.
A ball detecting means is provided in the ball circulation path, and when the number of balls is larger than a predetermined amount, driving of the lift polishing apparatus is stopped according to a signal from the ball detecting means, and when the number is less than the predetermined amount, the lift polishing is performed. Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose cost reduction by starting the driving of the apparatus without always driving the lifting and polishing apparatus.
When the lifting section is divided into the lower half of the lifting and polishing section and the upper half of the lifting section, a secondary discharge port is provided at the lower end of the lifting section. Patent Document 3 discloses a technique that achieves reduction in energy required for pumping and sufficient polishing by opening a discharge port and short-circuiting a ball to the lower end suction part of the pumping and polishing section. ing.
Also, the operation of the lifting and polishing apparatus is started by the output signal from the upper limit sensor of the ball holding amount provided in the auxiliary tank, and the operation of the lifting and polishing apparatus is stopped by the output signal from the lower limit sensor in the tank. Is described in Patent Document 4.
Furthermore, the upper tank is provided with a lower limit detection sensor and an upper limit detection sensor. When the lower limit detection sensor detects that the amount of stored balls has fallen below the lower limit, the lifting and polishing apparatus is activated to lift the balls from the lower tank to the upper tank. Patent Document 5 describes that when the upper limit detection sensor of the upper tank detects that the storage amount has exceeded the upper limit, the operation of the lifting and polishing apparatus is stopped.
JP-A-9-173607 [0015] [0016] [0028] JP-A-9-239136 [Summary] [0005] [0014] [0019] [0020] JP 2005-66099 A [Summary] FIG. JP, 2000-279920, A [0007] [0014] JP-A-2000-354679 [0005] [0034]

In any of the above documents, it is recognized that there is a common idea of reducing power consumption and reducing costs by detecting the presence or absence of a sphere in the sphere circulation path and controlling the driving of the lifting and polishing apparatus. It is done.
However, in the above-described conventional lift polishing apparatus, the control unit uniquely stops or starts the drive of the lift polishing apparatus based on a preset standard based on a detection signal from a ball detecting means provided in the ball circulation path. Alternatively, the power was turned on / off (on / off).
On the other hand, the lifting and polishing device has a lifting capacity that can respond to the most ball supply requests from pachinko machines in the store, but the frequency and quantity of ball supply requests are the number of players, the winning rate or the number of winnings, etc. Because of the variety.
Furthermore, in case the number of stored balls in the pachinko game island device is reduced and there is a risk of shortage in ball supply, the ball is interchanged from one pachinko game island device in the store to another adjacent pachinko game island device. System (sometimes referred to as a crossover system) is employed.
Therefore, in the case of the prior art in which the control unit uniquely controls the driving of the lifting and polishing apparatus based on the detection signal from the ball detecting means, the frequency of driving and stopping the lifting and polishing apparatus is high. Thus, there is a problem that an overload is applied to the motor that is the drive source.

The applicant of the present invention is that, in the conventional lift polishing apparatus, regardless of the number of balls to be polished, the use of an induction motor having a rotational torque that can correspond to the maximum number of balls is also the cause of the increase in power consumption. In the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-112285, if the motor load or the number of balls fluctuates when the balls are lifted and polished, this is detected at an early stage to operate stably. Lifting and polishing equipment that can reduce power consumption, that is, depending on the situation, not only start and stop, but also intermediate speed control to avoid pauses as much as possible, and polishing that allows flexible control Disclose the problem of providing a device, and as a means for solving the problem, a motor monitoring means for constantly monitoring the rotation of the motor using a motor whose rotation speed can be controlled by an external signal, A situation detection means for detecting the status of the sphere before the polishing apparatus or introduced, based on information from the motor monitoring device and status detecting means, and a motor control means for controlling start and stop of the motor, the rotational speed, etc. A pachinko game island device was proposed.
However, in this proposal, a servo motor or a brushless DC motor whose rotational speed can be controlled by an external signal is used instead of the conventional induction motor as the motor of the lift polishing apparatus. Instead of using it, a new problem arises in that the cost is increased by replacing or newly installing the motor.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and the problem to be solved is to use an existing lift polishing apparatus using an induction motor as it is, and to start and stop the lift polishing apparatus (lift polishing apparatus). It is intended to prevent overloading of the motor and to obtain a greater power consumption reduction effect by appropriately controlling the power on / off of the motor.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides (A) a stored ball number estimating means for estimating the number of stored balls in a lower tank based on a detection signal from a ball detecting means provided in a ball introduction path of a lifting and polishing apparatus. And (B) the power supply standby time from the time when the power supply to the lift motor is turned off until the next time when the supply of power is to be started, and the time when the absence of a ball in the lower tank is detected. A storage means that stores in advance a preset stop condition as a criterion for each segment of a certain range of the number of stored balls; C) a determination unit that determines which of the determination criteria the number of stored balls estimated by the storage ball number estimation unit corresponds to, and (D) a start / stop condition corresponding to the determination criterion from the storage unit Reading means for reading, and (E) reading (F) a power on / off control means for outputting a power supply command signal and a power cut command signal based on a predetermined power supply standby time and a power cut preparation time in accordance with the issued start / stop condition; When the power supply command signal is input from the power-off control means, the power source is connected to the lifting motor, and when the power-off command signal is input from the power-on / off control means, the power source is disconnected from the lifting motor. A power on / off switch,
It is characterized by having a power-saving device having (claim 1).

  The invention of the subordinate concept that implements the invention of the superordinate concept is as follows: (a) a flow rate detecting means for detecting a sphere flow rate per unit time of the sphere introduction path of the lift polishing apparatus in real time; The power supply standby time from the time when the presence of a ball is detected to the time when the power supply to the lifting motor is started and the time when the power supply to the lifting motor is stopped after the absence of a ball on the ball introduction path is detected (C) storage means for presetting and storing the start / stop condition comprising the power-off preparation time until the determination criterion corresponding to the division for each fixed range of the sphere flow rate per unit time of the sphere introduction path; ) A determination unit that determines which of the determination criteria the spherical flow rate per unit time detected by the flow rate detection unit corresponds to, and (d) a start / stop condition corresponding to the corresponding determination criterion from the storage unit (E) a power on / off control means for outputting a power supply command signal and a power-off command signal based on a predetermined power supply time or power-off preparation time according to the read start / stop condition; and (f) When the power supply command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected to the lifting motor, and when the power cut command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected. A power saving device having a power on / off switch for disconnecting the power from the lifting motor is provided (claim 2).

  The flow rate detecting means analyzes the detection frequency of the presence / absence of a sphere of the sphere detecting means provided in the sphere introduction path of the lift polishing apparatus, and estimates the sphere flow rate. ).

  The present invention is preferably characterized in that an auxiliary control circuit including a forced disconnection switch and a protection circuit is added between the power on / off switch and the lifting motor.

  Furthermore, the present invention is adapted to adapt a ball system to a ball game island device adjacent to an upper tank of the ball game island device in response to adopting a crossing system that accommodates a ball to an adjacent ball game island device. In the case where a ball interchangeable tube and a shutter for opening and closing the ball interchangeable tube are provided, the start / stop condition of the power saving device is set to the content taking into account the ball interchange to the adjacent ball game island device, and the activation / stop condition read out The means is configured to read a start / stop condition in consideration of the ball interchange information when the ball interchange information output by the adjacent ball game island device is received (claim 5). .

  Furthermore, there are two types of lift polishing apparatuses: a cloth polishing type lift polishing apparatus and a pellet polishing type lift polishing apparatus. Storing the data in which the start / stop conditions are set corresponding to each type or handling the stored memory separately may cause problems due to confusion. In order to prevent this, the present invention preferably applies power to the lifting motor of the lifting and polishing apparatus from the time when the ball detecting means detects the presence of a ball in advance according to each of the predetermined flow ranges in the storage means. The power supply standby time until the power is turned off and the power supply preparation time until the power supply to the lifting motor is cut off from when the ball detecting means detects the absence of a ball Select the start / stop conditions to be used depending on whether the lifting / polishing device is a cloth polishing type or a pellet polishing type. The present invention is characterized in that a selection means is provided for this purpose (claim 6).

  Furthermore, in a preferred example of the present invention, a calculation means for measuring a cutting time when the power supply to the lifting motor of the lifting polishing apparatus is disconnected is added to the power saving device (Claim 7).

  Furthermore, in the ball game island apparatus, there is a dust collector that captures dust generated from the lifting and polishing apparatus, in addition to the lifting motor, which generally consumes power. Therefore, in order to reduce power consumption in the ball game island device, in a preferred example of the present invention, in the ball game island device, (f) a dust collector is connected to the power saving device, and (b ′) the storage means has a predetermined value. The power supply waiting time from when the ball detecting means detects the presence of a ball in advance to the time when the lifting motor and the dust collector are turned on according to each flow rate range, and the ball detecting means A start / stop condition that sets a power-off preparation time from when the absence is detected until the power to the lifting motor and the dust collector is turned off is stored. (D ′) The power on / off control means When the power supply standby time data read by the reading unit is received, a power supply command signal to the lifting motor and the dust collector is output after the power supply standby time has elapsed, and the start / stop condition reading unit reads the power supply standby time data. (E ′) a power on / off switch configured to output a power off command signal to the lifting motor and the dust collector when the power off preparation time data is received Is connected to a power source, and when the power supply command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected to the lifting motor, and the power cutoff command signal is supplied from the power on / off control means. A power on / off switch that disconnects the power from the lifting motor when input, and connected to the power, and when the power supply command signal is input from the power on / off control means, connects the power to the dust collector And a power on / off switch that disconnects the power from the dust collector when the power off command signal is input from the power on / off control means. And that (claim 8).

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, unlike the conventional case, the power supply is supplied only when the lifting and polishing apparatus needs to be driven without always turning on the power to the lifting motor, and the power is supplied when unnecessary. Is stopped, so that power consumption can be reduced as much as possible. In addition, the power consumption can be reduced simply by retrofitting a power-saving device using a conventional lift polishing apparatus using an induction motor as it is, so that the cost is not increased.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, power supply or power off is performed after elapse of a predetermined power supply standby time or power-off preparation time from the time point when the presence or absence of the ball is detected by the ball detection means. It is possible to prevent an overload on the lifting motor that occurs when the power is turned on or off immediately after the detection means detects the presence or absence of a ball.
In addition, the actual ball flow rate in the ball introduction path of the lifting and polishing apparatus is compared with the flow rate range set by experiment etc. to determine whether or not the lifting and polishing apparatus needs to be driven. In addition to being not required, reliable and stable power on / off control can be performed.

  According to the invention of claim 3, if it is determined that the operation of the lift polishing apparatus is unnecessary when the sphere flow rate is less than the prescribed amount, the number of operations / pauses of the lift polishing apparatus can be reduced. Therefore, overloading of the lifting motor can be prevented. And the reduction of power consumption is realizable only by adding the power-saving apparatus, using the conventional lift polishing apparatus using an induction motor as it is.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, even when power on / off is automatically controlled, when a trouble or the like occurs in the lifting / polishing apparatus and the temporary opening of the maintenance / inspection door is required, the lifting motor is used. Can be forced to stop and the door can be opened.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to perform appropriate power on / off control corresponding to the decrease in the amount of balls held in the ball game island device by the ball interchange to the adjacent ball game island device. Thereby, useless power consumption of the lifting and polishing apparatus can be reduced as much as possible.

  According to the invention of claim 6, there is no need to select and store the start / stop condition data depending on the type of the lifting polishing apparatus (cloth polishing type or pellet polishing type), and one set of any kind is available. By storing start / stop condition data and only operating the selection means, it is possible to handle any type. Therefore, it is possible to prevent confusion of the start / stop condition data.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, it is possible to know the power consumption saving effect by the power saving device when the power supply to the lifting motor of the lifting polishing apparatus is cut off.

  According to the eighth aspect of the invention, since the power supply for the dust collector as well as the power supply for the lifting motor is controlled according to the detected ball flow rate, the power consumption reduction effect of the ball amusement island device is further improved. growing.

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a lifting and polishing apparatus of a pachinko game island apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a control system for controlling the apparatus, FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a power saving apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a chart showing an example in which the start / stop conditions are set according to the type of the lifting and polishing apparatus, and FIG. 5 is the present invention. The flowchart explaining the ball quantity detection process which is one of the processing contents by the power saving apparatus which is the principal part of the lifting polishing apparatus of the pachinko game island apparatus according to the embodiment, FIG. 6 also explains the start / stop condition generation process 7 is a flowchart for explaining the power on / off processing for the lifting motor, FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the power on / off processing for the dust collector, and FIG. 9 is a method for setting the start / stop condition. (A) is a chart showing the relationship between the ball flow rate per unit time in the ball introduction path when starting the lifting motor, the experimental value of the time required to detect no ball, and the mode definition. FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of the estimated flow rate of the ball introduction path in each mode, the power supply standby time and the power-off preparation time at the estimated flow rate.

  In FIG. 1, 35 is the same lift polishing apparatus as the known lift polishing apparatus described with reference to FIG. Although a cloth polishing type lift polishing apparatus is shown in FIG. 1 for convenience, a pellet type lift polishing apparatus may be used. The balls discharged from the discharge port 35h at the upper end of the lifting and polishing apparatus 35 are stored in the upper tank 31, and the balls stored in the upper tank 31 are supplied to each pachinko machine (not shown) via the supply pipe 32. The detached balls discharged from the pachinko machine are collected and stored in the lower tank 34 common to each pachinko machine via the collection pipe 33. In some cases, one end of the accommodation pipe 36 is coupled to the upper tank 31 in order to accommodate the ball to the adjacent pachinko game island apparatus. In this case, a shutter (not shown) that opens and closes the other end of the accommodation pipe 36 is provided, and the shutter is opened and closed based on a ball accommodation request signal output by the adjacent pachinko game island apparatus. Configured as follows.

  It is to be noted that an overflow ball recovery pipe 39 is provided between the upper tank 31 and the lower tank 34 for recovering the overflowed ball to the lower tank 34 when the balls accommodated in the upper tank 31 are full. It is. The spheres collected and stored in the lower tank 34 are configured to flow into the sphere introduction path 35a of the lifting and polishing apparatus 35 when the shutter 37 is opened by the shutter drive unit 37d. It is the same as a well-known technique.

  And as a ball | bowl detection means provided in a ball | bowl circulation path | route, the lower limit sensor S1 for detecting the sky of a stored ball is provided in the upper tank 31, and the lower tank 34 is used for detecting the sky of a stored ball. A lower limit sensor S2 is provided, and a ball entrance sensor S3 for detecting the presence or absence of a sphere in the sphere introduction path or the passage thereof is provided in the sphere introduction path 35a. Further, when the lifting and polishing apparatus is a cloth polishing type as in the example shown in FIG. 1, an open door for detecting that a door (not shown) is opened at the time of maintenance and replacement of the polishing cloth. A sensor S4 is provided. Among the detection signals of these sensors S1, S2, S3, and S4, the detection signals of S1, S2, and S4 are input to the existing tank control unit 100, and also to the power saving device 200 newly provided by the present invention. It is comprised so that it may input, and the detection signal of entrance sensor S3 is comprised so that it may input into the power saving apparatus 200. FIG.

[Tank control unit]
The tank control unit 100 constantly monitors the number of stored balls in the upper tank 31 and the lower tank 34 and the open / closed state of the pumping and polishing apparatus by detection signals from the sensors S1, S2, and S4. When a no-ball detection signal (more precisely, a near empty signal) is received from the lower limit sensor S 1 of the upper tank 31, the lifting request signal a is output to the power saving device 200. Further, when the door opening sensor S4 does not detect the door opening, it is configured to output a stop permission signal b for permitting the stop of the lifting motor, which will be described later, to the power saving device 200. Further, the tank control unit 100 is configured to give a control signal for opening the ball discharge shutter 37 of the lower tank 34 to the shutter drive unit 37d when outputting the lifting request signal a. . Further, the tank control unit 100 is configured to receive an error signal c output from a power saving device 200 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko game island apparatus is connected to an island control unit IC, which is a host device for monitoring and controlling all pachinko game island apparatuses, as in the prior art. Input the detection signals of the ball detection means S1, S2, S3 of the pachinko game island device and the error signal c output from the power saving device 200 to balance the ball amount of the whole island or display the island where the error occurred. Or

[Power saving device]
The power saving device 200, which is the main component of the present invention, is basically provided between the tank control unit 100, the lifting motor 35f, and the dust collector 500, and is connected to, for example, a commercial power supply PWS of AC200V for driving them. Has been.
In the preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an auxiliary control circuit 300, 400 is provided at the rear stage of the power saving device 200 to enable and protect the emergency stop of the lifting motor 35f or the dust collector 500. Is provided.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the power saving apparatus 200 is mainly configured by a computer, and includes an input unit 201, a storage unit 202, an operation unit 203, a CPU 204, a calculation unit 204 a, a determination unit 204 b, a reading unit 204 c, a control Part 204d and power on / off switches 205A and 205B.

  The input unit 201 inputs a detection signal from each of the sensors S1, S2, S3, and S4, a lift request signal a and a stop permission signal b from the tank control unit 100 via an interface (not shown). .

  The storage unit 202 includes a ROM that stores system program data and a RAM that stores working data, as well as criteria for determining whether to drive the lifting motor 35f and the dust collector 500, and timing for starting or stopping (starting / stopping conditions). A memory (storage medium such as a ROM) storing data to be stored is included. The memory may be replaced by an external storage device.

  A setting method and setting contents of the start / stop condition stored in the storage unit 202 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Assuming that the time (power supply standby time) from the time when the ball sensor S3 detects the presence of a ball (the time when the ball is detected) tx to the start of power supply to the dust collector 500 is t1 seconds, the lift from the ball presence detection time tx. The time (power supply standby time) until the power supply to the feed motor 35f is started is set to (t1 + α) after a predetermined time, for example, α seconds after the power supply standby time t1 seconds to the dust collector 500. . Further, if the time from when the ball sensor S3 detects the absence of a ball (the time when no ball is detected) ty until the power supply to the lifting motor 35f is stopped (power-off preparation time) is t2 seconds, the presence of a ball is detected. The time from the time ty until the power supply to the dust collector 500 is stopped (power-off preparation time) is set to a predetermined time (t2 + α) after the power-off preparation time t2 seconds to the lifting motor 35f.

The power supply standby time (t1, t1 + α) and the power-off preparation time (t2 + α, t2) may be set to appropriate values according to the number of stored balls in the lower tank, respectively. It is desirable to prevent an increase in the feed motor load and a shortage of ball supply to the pachinko machine.
More specifically, when the power supply standby time and the power-off preparation time are set uniformly regardless of the number of stored balls in the lower tank, depending on the set value, the power supply standby time and the power-off preparation time are started early even though the number of stored balls is small. Therefore, it is conceivable that the frequency of starting and stopping of the dust collector and the lifting motor is increased, power consumption is increased, and the lifting motor is overloaded. Depending on the set value, the start-up may be slow despite the large number of stored balls, the upper tank will run out, the ball will not be replenished to the pachinko machine, and the overflow time from the upper tank will be prolonged. There is a risk of In other words, there is a risk that the number of balls to be transported to the upper tank, or the ball supply to the pachinko machine, may be inadequate.

  Therefore, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the detection signal input from the incoming ball sensor S3 is analyzed to experimentally detect the ball flow rate per unit time in the ball introduction path, and the ball flow rate per unit time. From this, the number of stored balls in the lower tank was estimated, and appropriate power supply standby time (t1) and power-off preparation time (t2) were preset according to the estimated number of balls for each predetermined range. Then, a ball number determination standard comprising a stepped predetermined range of the sphere flow rate per unit time and an estimated number of balls corresponding to each predetermined range, a power supply standby time and a power cut preparation set in advance corresponding to each determination standard The time is stored in the memory 202 of the power saving device 200.

  FIG. 4 is a chart showing the start / stop conditions stored in the memory, that is, the relationship between the ball number criterion, the power supply standby time, and the power-off preparation time. The sphere detection condition based on the sphere detection signal of the incoming sensor S3 is a sampling period of, for example, 10 ms, and the condition for determining the sphere flow rate per unit time is, for example, a sampling period of, for example, 10 seconds (10 ms × 1000). The number of detection signals (ON) is divided into stages for each predetermined range. In the example shown in the figure, the determination criteria are divided into predetermined ranges in which the ratio of the number of ball detection signals ON for 10 seconds is 0 to 0%, x1 to x2%, x3 to x4%, ... x9 to 100%, for example. The estimated number of balls in the predetermined range is set to 0, C1 to C2, C3 to C4, and C9 to C10. An appropriate power supply standby time t1 and power supply preparation time t2 are set for each estimated number of balls.

The values of t1 and t2 differ depending on the type of lift polishing apparatus (cloth polishing type, pellet polishing type), the type of lower tank (number of connections and / or length or capacity), and the like. Therefore, in a preferred embodiment, the start / stop conditions having different power supply standby time t1 and power-off preparation time t2 corresponding to the type of the lift polishing apparatus and the type of the lower tank are stored in the memory 202, respectively. They are stored in setting table 1, setting table 2,. For example, the setting table 1 corresponds to each estimated number of balls as a start / stop condition (power supply standby time t1 and power supply preparation time t2) in the case of the first type lower tank of the cloth polishing type lift polishing apparatus. , T101, t201; t102, t202;... T110, t210 are set and registered. Further, for example, the setting table 2 includes t301, t401; t302, corresponding to each estimated number of balls as the start / stop conditions (t1 and t2) in the case of the first type lower tank of the pellet type lifting and polishing apparatus. t402;... t310, t410 are set and registered.
The estimated number of spheres in FIG. 4 is not necessarily required as a criterion. If at least the predetermined range of the ratio of the number of ball detection signals ON is clearly divided, the start / stop conditions (t1 and t2) corresponding to each division can be set.

  The operation unit 203 inputs a predetermined control signal to the CPU 204 via an interface (not shown) by an operator operation, and includes a forced drive switch SW1 and a dip switch SW2. The forcible drive switch SW1 is used to forcibly drive the lifting motor 35f and / or the dust collector 500 of the lifting polishing apparatus when starting the operation of the lifting polishing apparatus, during a test operation or maintenance inspection. The dip switch SW2 corresponds to the type of the lifting and polishing apparatus and the type of the lower tank among the start / stop conditions (setting table) stored in the storage unit (the setting table 1 and the setting table 2). , Any one of the setting tables 3).

  The calculation unit 204a, which is one of the function realizing means constituted by the CPU, counts the sphere flow rate (ON number) per unit time in the sphere introduction path based on the detection signal input from the entrance sensor S3, Processing for obtaining the ratio (%) is performed. Further, the determination unit 204b compares the ratio obtained by the calculation unit 204a with the ratio range stored in the memory 202, determines which one corresponds to the ratio range, and determines the estimated number of balls corresponding to the ratio range. To get. That is, the current number of stored balls in the lower tank is estimated. Then, the reading unit 204c sets the start / stop conditions (power supply standby time and power-off preparation time) selected by the DIP switch SW2 corresponding to the corresponding determination criterion (ratio range, estimated number of balls) in a predetermined setting table. This is read from (setting table 1, setting table 2 or setting table 3).

  Based on the detection signal from the incoming ball sensor S3 and the predetermined start / stop condition read by the reading unit 204c, the control unit 204d starts the power supply waiting time t1, (t1 + α) and the power-off preparation time ( When t2 + α) and t2 have passed, a power supply command signal and a power-off command signal, which are control signals, are supplied to the power-on / off switches 205A and 205B. That is, the power supply command signal is input to the power on / off switch 205B after t1 seconds from the ball detection time tx by the ball sensor S3, and to the power on / off switch 205A after (t1 + α) seconds. Yes. Further, a power-off command signal is inputted to the power on / off switch 205A after t2 seconds from the time point ty when no ball is detected by the ball entering sensor S3, and to the power on / off switch 205B after (t2 + α) seconds. Yes.

  A power source PWS is connected to the power on / off switches 205A and 205B. When a power supply command signal is input from the power saving device 200, the power is supplied to the lifting motor 35f side and the dust collector 500 side, and the control unit When a power-off command signal is input from 204d, a known ON / OFF circuit (not shown) for cutting off the power supply is provided.

[Auxiliary control circuit]
Preferably, between the power on / off switch 205A and the lifting motor 35f of the power saving device 200 and between the power on / off switch 205B and the dust collector 500, the same assistance as that provided in the conventional pachinko game island device. Control circuits 300 and 400 are provided. These auxiliary control circuits 300 and 400 are provided with a forced disconnection switch, a protection circuit (both not shown), and the like.

  For example, when the emergency state such as ball clogging, belt cutting, or screw cutting occurs in the cloth polishing type or pellet type lifting and polishing device 35, the power saving device 200 is used as the forced cutting switch of the auxiliary control circuit 300. Therefore, the power supply that has been turned on is forcibly disconnected by manual operation of the staff to stop the rotation of the lifting motor. This is to protect the lifting motor from electric current. The forcible disconnect switch of the auxiliary control circuit 400 is for forcibly turning off the power supply when the dust collector 500 is out of order and stopping the operation of the dust collector 500, for example.

[Lifting motor] [dust collector]
As in the conventional example, an induction motor having a rated voltage of AC 200V is used for the lifting motor 35f. In addition, as the dust collector 500, an AC 200V rated voltage is used as an example.

[Description of action]
Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.
When the power-saving device starts operation, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a ball number detection process for detecting the number of stored balls in the lower tank 34 using the detection signal from the ball entering sensor S3, A start / stop condition generating process for generating a start / stop condition corresponding to the result of detecting the number of balls, and a power on / off process for controlling power on / off to the lifting motor and the dust collector based on the generated start / stop condition are executed. . Hereinafter, each process will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the ball number detection process, it is determined based on the detection signal from the incoming ball sensor S3 whether or not there is no ball number in the set time, that is, for example, for 10 seconds described above (step). 11. Hereinafter, the step is represented by P). When it is determined that there is no ball, the activation flag is turned off (P12). When it is not determined that there is no ball, it is determined whether or not there is a ball in the next set time, that is, for example, 10 seconds described above. (P13). If it is determined that there is a ball, the activation flag is turned on (P14). The ON / OFF information of the start flag is used for the power-on / off process of the lifting motor shown in FIG. 7 and the power-on / off process of the dust collector shown in FIG. If it is not determined in P13 that the number of balls is present, the process returns to P11.

  As shown in FIG. 6, in the start / stop condition generation process, following the start of operation of the power saving device, the presence or absence of a sphere is monitored based on the detection signal from the lower limit sensor S1 of the upper tank 31 (P21). If detected, the on-timer A configured in the CPU 202 is set to t11 seconds (P22). The on-timer A is for setting a margin time until the operation shifts to the subsequent operation so that no trouble occurs when the lifting motor is suddenly stopped. After the on-timer A is set for t11 seconds or when no ball is detected in P21, it is determined whether or not the incoming sensor S3 is ON or whether or not the lifting motor is being activated (P23). If the determination result at P23 is affirmative, an on-timer B similar to the on-timer A is set at t12 (P24). Moreover, when the judgment result in P23 is negative, it is monitored whether the pumping request signal a is input from the tank control unit 100 (P25). When the lifting request signal a is input, the on-timer C similar to the on-timers A and B is set to t13 seconds (P26). After the on-timer C is set for t13 seconds or when the transfer request signal a is not input at P25, it is checked whether or not all the on-timers A, B, and C are in operation (P27). Turn on. After turning on the start flag or when all the on-timers A, B, C are not operating, the process returns to P21.

  As shown in FIG. 7, in the power on / off processing of the lifting motor, following the start of operation of the power saving device, the control unit 204d checks whether the forced drive switch SW1 is turned on (P31) and is turned on. If the power supply waiting time registered in the currently selected setting table of the storage unit 202, that is, (t1 + α) seconds (P32), the power supply command signal is given to the power on / off switch 205A. The power supply PWS is supplied to the lifting motor 35f (P33). Next, it is checked whether or not the operation signal from a sensor (not shown) for detecting the operation state of the lifting motor 35f is OFF (not operating) (P34). (C in FIG. 1) is turned ON (P35), and the process proceeds to P37. When the power supply PWS is supplied to the lifting motor 35f and the operation signal is not OFF, the lifting motor error signal is turned OFF (P36), and then the process proceeds to P37. In P37, it is checked again whether or not the forcible drive switch SW1 is ON. If ON, the process returns to P34. If not, the power supply to the transport motor 35F is stopped (P38), and the process proceeds to P39. .

  In P31, if the forcible drive switch SW1 is not turned ON, the process proceeds to P39. In P39, it is checked whether or not the start flag is ON. If ON, after waiting for (t1 + α) seconds (P310), a power supply command signal is given to the power ON / OFF switch 205A, and the power supply PWS is supplied to the lifting motor. It is made to supply to 35f (P311). Subsequently, after a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, t15 seconds (P312), it is checked whether or not the operation signal from the sensor that detects the operation state of the lifting motor 35f is OFF (not operating) (P313). If it is OFF, the lifting motor error signal is turned ON (P314), then it is checked whether the operation signal is ON (P315). If it is not ON, the operation signal is monitored until it is ON. Then, after the feed motor error signal is turned off (P316), the process returns to P31. In P313, when the operation signal is not OFF (operating), it is subsequently checked whether or not the activation flag is OFF (P317). If it is not OFF, the state of the activation flag is changed until OFF. When the monitoring is turned off, the supply of the power PWS to the lifting motor 35F is stopped when the power-off preparation time t2 registered in the currently selected setting table of the storage unit 202 has elapsed (P318). (P319), the process returns to P31.

  As shown in FIG. 8, in the dust collector power on / off process, a process substantially similar to the case of the lifting motor power on / off process is performed. That is, following the start of operation of the power saving device, the control unit 204d checks whether or not the forcible drive switch SW1 is turned on (P41), and if it is turned on, the currently selected setting table in the storage unit 202 is checked. After waiting for the power supply standby time registered in (1), that is, t1 seconds (P42), a power supply command signal is given to the power on / off switch 205B to supply the power PWS to the dust collector 500 (P43). Next, it is checked whether or not the operation signal from a sensor (not shown) for detecting the operation state of the dust collector 500 is OFF (not operating) (P44). If it is OFF, the dust collector error signal is turned ON. (P45), the process proceeds to P47. Further, when the power supply PWS is supplied to the dust collector 500 and the operation signal is not OFF (in the case of N in P44), the dust collector error signal is turned OFF (P46), and then the process proceeds to P47.

  In P47, it is checked again whether the forcible drive switch SW1 is ON. If ON, the process returns to P44. If not, the power supply to the dust collector 500 is stopped (P48), and the process proceeds to P49. Also in P41, when the forcible drive switch SW1 is not turned on, the process proceeds to P49. In P49, it is checked whether or not the activation flag is ON. If it is ON, after waiting for t1 seconds registered in the currently selected setting table in the storage unit 202 (P410), the power supply command signal is turned on / off. The power is supplied to the switch 205B and the power PWS is supplied to the dust collector 500 (P411). Subsequently, after a lapse of a predetermined time, for example, t16 seconds (P412), it is checked whether or not an operation signal from a sensor (not shown) for detecting the operation state of the dust collector 500 is ON (not operating) (P413). If it is OFF, the dust collector error signal is turned ON (P414), then it is checked whether the operation signal is ON (P415). If it is not ON, the operation signal is monitored until it is ON. After turning off the dust collector error signal (P416), the process returns to P41. In P413, when the operation signal is not OFF (operating), it is subsequently checked whether or not the activation flag is OFF (P417). If it is not OFF, the status of the activation flag is monitored until it is turned OFF. Then, when the power-off preparation time (t2 + α) registered in the selected setting table in the storage unit 202 has elapsed (P418), the supply of the power PWS to the dust collector 500 is stopped (P419). Return to P41.

[Another example of how to set start / stop conditions]
In the first embodiment described above, the number of balls stored in the lower tank is estimated in real time based on the detection signal from the ball entry sensor S3 provided in the ball introduction path provided in the lower part of the lift polishing machine, The power supply of the lifting motor and the dust collector is controlled using the preset start / stop conditions corresponding to the category in which the estimated number of balls corresponds, but the start / stop conditions are set as follows: As described in the second embodiment, the number of stored balls is based on the time until the ball after the lifting motor is stopped accumulates to the rear part of the lower tank (until the lower limit sensor S2 detects the presence of the ball). This is a method of setting a start / stop condition corresponding to the expected number of balls.

In general, when the lifting motor is stopped, the ball is accumulated up to the entrance sensor S3. After the lifting motor is operated, the ball accumulated on the incoming sensor S3 disappears by the polishing machine lifting the ball.
According to this embodiment, in order to predict how much the sphere will flow to the polishing machine, it is measured how long the sphere has been lost on the incoming sensor S3 when restarting from the stop. For example, if the polishing machine is stopped for 1 minute and only 100 balls are flowing per minute, when the machine is restarted, there are only 100 balls upstream from the entrance sensor S3 and the machine is restarted. For example, in less than 5 seconds, the sphere disappears.
However, in the case where 3000 balls flowed every minute, it takes about 15 seconds, for example, from the start of the polishing machine until there are no more balls on the incoming sensor S3. The basic idea of the second embodiment is to measure this time and determine how much the ball flow rate is currently in the upper tank and how much the ball supply can be made in time even if the polishing machine is stopped. .

Based on FIG. 9, the setting method of the start / stop condition based on 2nd embodiment is demonstrated.
(A) in FIG. 9 shows various ball flow rates per unit time counted from the detection signal of the incoming ball sensor S3 and the number of stored balls in the lower tank in the case of each of the ball flow rates until reaching a specified value. Data obtained by experiment showing time (specified value arrival time) and time (specified discharge value) required to discharge the number of balls of the specified value to the ball introduction path are shown. The specific value of the data varies depending on the lifting capacity and the number of ball outlets of the lower tank (whether it is provided on one side or on both sides).

The rightmost modes A, B, C, and D in FIG. 9 (a) each represent a certain range of the spherical flow rate to which the start / stop conditions having different set values are preferably applied as one mode. Is.
(B) of FIG. 9 shows the estimated flow rate in each mode, the ON / OFF initial value of the incoming ball sensor S3, and the time from when the number of stored balls reaches the specified value to the time when the lifting motor should be activated ( The relationship between the power supply standby time st) and the time from when the incoming sensor S3 detects that the lower tank is empty to the time when the lifting motor should be stopped (power supply preparation time et) is conceptually shown. The storage unit 202 of the power saving apparatus 200 includes estimated flow rates 1N to 5N, 5N to 10N,... 18N to 30N, power supply standby times st1, st2,. The estimated flow rate at that time is calculated based on the detection signal stored in the setting table corresponding to the mode and input from the entrance sensor S3 by the calculation unit 202a, and the estimated flow rate obtained by the determination unit 202c is stored in any of the setting tables. The control unit 202d uses the setting conditions (power supply standby time st and power-off preparation time et) corresponding to the determined mode to determine the power on / off switches 205A and 205B. Power supply or disconnection.

  The idea of using the specified value is based on the fact that it is ideal to increase the power saving effect by starting up the lifting motor and the dust collector with the number of stored balls always at the specified value. Therefore, it is desirable to start up so that the time from the start point to the empty detection point is always a specified discharge value (for example, 33 to 37 seconds).

In the above-described invention, the number of balls is detected by the ball entering sensor S3 provided in the ball introduction path provided in the lower part of the lift polishing machine. However, in the case of adopting a ball interchange system that controls the balance between the adjacent pachinko game island and the number of balls, the shutter of the ball interchange tube 36 that discharges the ball from the upper tank 31 to the adjacent island is controlled by the adjacent island. The ball is opened to move the ball to the next island. In such a case, if it is determined whether or not the lifting is necessary only by the detection signal from the ball entering sensor S3, it takes time to determine that the ball is supplied from the ball interchangeable pipe 36. The timing to turn on the power will be delayed.
Therefore, in the third preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ball feeding information from the adjacent island is input to the power saving device 200, and the start / stop condition is set by taking this into consideration, thereby raising and lowering the polishing machine. Smooth control is possible.

The block diagram which shows the lifting polishing apparatus of the pachinko game island apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, and the control system which controls this. FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the power saving device in FIG. 1. The time chart which shows the relationship between the detection signal which the ball | bowl detection means provided in the lower tank outputs, and the power on / off timing by an auxiliary control circuit. The chart which shows an example which set up start stop conditions according to the kind of pumping polisher. The flowchart explaining a ball amount detection process. 7 is a flowchart for explaining start / stop condition generation processing; The flowchart explaining the power supply ON / OFF process with respect to a feeding motor. Flowchart explaining power on / off processing for dust collector The figure explaining another example of the setting method of a start / stop condition. The schematic block diagram of the conventional pachinko game island apparatus.

31 Upper tank 34 Lower tank 35 Lifting polishing device 35a Ball introduction path 35f Lifting motor S1 Upper tank lower limit sensor S2 Lower tank lower limit sensor S3 Entrance sensor 200 Power saving device 300, 400 Auxiliary control circuit 500 Dust collector

Claims (8)

A stored ball number estimating means for estimating the number of stored balls in the lower tank based on a detection signal from a ball detecting means provided in a ball introduction path of the lifting and polishing apparatus;
The power supply standby time from the time when the power supply to the lifting motor is turned off until the next time when the power supply should be started, and the power supplied to the lifting motor from the time when the absence of a ball in the lower tank is detected. A storage means that stores in advance a start / stop condition consisting of the power-off preparation time up to the point of disconnecting the power as a determination criterion corresponding to each segment of a certain range of the number of stored balls;
Determining means for determining which of the determination criteria the stored ball number estimated by the stored ball number estimating means;
Read means for reading from the storage means the start / stop condition corresponding to the relevant criterion,
Power on / off control means for outputting a power supply command signal and a power-off command signal based on a predetermined power-supply standby time and a power-off preparation time according to the read start / stop condition;
When the power supply command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected to the lifting motor, and when the power cut command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected. A power on / off switch for disconnecting from the lifting motor;
A ball game island device comprising a power saving device having A flow rate detecting means for detecting in real time the ball flow rate per unit time of the ball introduction path of the lift polishing apparatus;
The power supply standby time from the time when the presence of a ball in the ball introduction path is detected to the time when the power supply to the lifting motor is started and the power supply to the lifting motor from the time when no ball is detected in the ball introduction path A memory in which a start / stop condition including a power-off preparation time until the supply is stopped is set and stored in advance as a determination criterion corresponding to a certain range of the sphere flow rate per unit time of the sphere introduction path. Means,
A determination unit that determines which of the determination criteria the spherical flow rate per unit time detected by the flow rate detection unit corresponds to;
Read means for reading from the storage means the start / stop condition corresponding to the relevant criterion,
Power on / off control means for outputting a power supply command signal and a power-off command signal based on a predetermined power supply time or power-off preparation time according to the read start / stop condition;
When the power supply command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected to the lifting motor, and when the power cut command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected. A power on / off switch for disconnecting from the lifting motor;
A ball game island device comprising a power saving device having   3. The flow rate detection means estimates the sphere flow rate by analyzing the detection frequency of the presence or absence of a sphere of the sphere detection means provided in the sphere introduction path of the lift polishing apparatus. Ball game island equipment.   4. The ball game island apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary control circuit including a forced disconnection switch and a protection circuit is added between the power on / off switch and the lifting motor.   When the upper tank of the ball game island device is provided with a ball interchange tube for accommodating a ball to the adjacent ball game island device and a shutter for opening and closing the ball interchange tube, the start / stop condition of the power saving device is When the ball suspension information read out from the adjacent ball game island apparatus is received, the start / stop condition reading means sets the ball interchange information to the adjacent ball game island apparatus. 5. The ball amusement island apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the start / stop condition is taken into consideration.   The storage means includes a power supply waiting time from when the ball detecting means detects the presence of a ball in advance to turning on the power to the lifting motor of the lifting and polishing apparatus according to each of the predetermined flow ranges, and the ball detection. The start / stop condition that sets the power-off preparation time from when the means detects the absence of a ball to when the power is turned off to the lifting motor is defined as the cloth polishing type lifting polishing apparatus and the pellet polishing type lifting polishing apparatus. In addition, a selection means for selecting start / stop conditions to be employed is added depending on whether the lifting and polishing apparatus is a cloth polishing type or a pellet polishing type. The ball game island apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5.   7. The power saving device according to claim 1, further comprising means for measuring and displaying a cutting time when the power to the lift motor of the lift polishing apparatus is cut off. Ball game island equipment. In the ball game island device according to any one of claims 2 to 6,
A dust collector is connected to the power-saving device,
In the storage means, according to each of the predetermined flow ranges, the power supply waiting time from when the ball detection means detects the presence of a ball in advance until the power is supplied to the lifting motor and the dust collector of the lifting polishing apparatus, Stored is a start / stop condition that sets a power-off preparation time from when the ball detection means detects the absence of a ball until the power to the lifting motor and the dust collector is turned off,
The power on / off control means, when receiving the power supply standby time data read by the start / stop condition reading means, outputs a power supply command signal to the lifting motor and the dust collector after the power supply standby time has elapsed, When receiving the power-off preparation time data read by the start / stop condition reading means, the power-off preparation time data is configured to output a power-off command signal to the lifting motor and the dust collector after the elapse of the power-off preparation time,
The power on / off switch is connected to a power source, and when the power supply command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is connected to the lifting motor, and the power on / off control means is turned off from the power on / off control means. A power on / off switch that disconnects the power source from the lift motor when a command signal is input, and connected to the power source, and when the power supply command signal is input from the power on / off control means, the power source is A ball amusement island apparatus comprising: a power on / off switch that is connected to a dust collector and disconnects the power from the dust collector when the power off command signal is input from the power on / off control means.

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