JP5312980B2 - Amusement machine island - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game machine island capable of feeding an appropriate quantity of game balls without excess or shortage to a game machine according to the quantity of game balls stored in a storage part without excessively driving a feeding means, and capable of enhancing the durability by preventing concentration of excessive loads at the feeding means. <P>SOLUTION: The game machine island 1 includes two lifting/polishing devices 100A and 100B for independently feeding game balls stored in the storage part 30 to the game machine 10 side and a control means 300 for controlling the driving of the lifting/polishing devices 100A and 100B. The control means 300 feeds an appropriate quantity of game balls stored in the storage part 30 to the game machine 10 side by controlling the driving of either lifting/polishing device 100A or 100B according to the quantity of game balls stored in the storage part 30. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine island that includes a plurality of gaming machines and a storage unit that stores gaming media used in the gaming machines.

  In conventional gaming machine islands, the game balls discharged from each gaming machine are collected and stored in a lower storage tank provided at the lower part of the gaming machine island, and then transported to the upper part of the gaming machine island by a polishing lifting device. It was replenished to each gaming machine with a replenishment basket. In such a gaming machine island, only a necessary and sufficient amount of gaming balls are circulated and used in the gaming machine island. Therefore, how efficiently the gaming balls stored in the lower storage tank are transported to each game An important issue is whether to supply the machine without excess or deficiency.

  Here, regarding the drive of the polishing and lifting apparatus, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in the polishing and lifting apparatus provided only one in the gaming machine island formed by arranging a plurality of gaming machines, A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the passing of balls in each of the ball trains fed along the ball path is provided at the top, and a detection signal from the sensor is input to the control circuit, and the ball is detected based on the detection signal of the sensor. There is known a technique capable of knowing the situation of each row of passages.

  According to the polishing and lifting apparatus, at the end of business, by operating the operation switch, the supply of the game ball to the polishing and lifting apparatus is stopped, and a predetermined time after the sensor no longer detects the passing of the game ball. By stopping the driving, the game ball does not remain in the polishing and lifting apparatus (see paragraph 0022). Further, by knowing the count value of the game balls lifted per unit time based on the detection signal of the sensor, it can be determined whether or not the proper lifting ability is exhibited (see paragraph 0023).

JP-A-9-038314

  However, the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1 can only know the situation of the game balls in the polishing and lifting device, and how efficiently the game balls stored in the lower storage tank are transferred. From this point of view, it is not intended to control the driving of the polishing and lifting device, and in particular, there is no disclosure regarding the specific driving control of the polishing and lifting device in relation to the amount of game balls stored in the lower storage tank. It was.

  Therefore, although there are few game balls in the lower storage tank and there are enough game balls on the gaming machine side, the polishing and lifting device is excessively driven, or conversely, there are many game balls in the lower storage tank. Even though there is a lack of game balls on the machine side, the polishing and lifting device is not driven sufficiently. For example, the polishing and lifting device is driven appropriately (lifting force) according to the amount of game balls to be lifted. There was a problem that could not be controlled.

  In addition, if it is configured to appropriately control the driving of the polishing and lifting apparatus, there is only one polishing and lifting apparatus to be controlled, and this single polishing and lifting apparatus is actually used. Concerning the motor to be controlled, it is expected that the overload accompanying the control such as ON / OFF switching is concentrated, and there is a risk that the durability of the driving portion of the polishing and feeding apparatus is impaired.

The present invention has been made paying attention to the problems of the prior art as described above, and there are a plurality of independent ones depending on the amount of game media stored in the storage section and the malfunction between the storage section and the supply means . By controlling the driving of any of the supply means, an appropriate amount of game balls can be supplied to the gaming machine without excessively driving the supply means, and the drive of the supply means can be controlled. An object of the present invention is to provide an amusement machine island that can be distributed in a plurality without being biased to one, so that concentration of overload in the supply means is eliminated and durability can be improved.

The gist of the present invention for achieving the above-described object resides in the invention of the following section.
[1] In a gaming machine island (1) comprising a plurality of gaming machines (10) and a storage unit (30) for storing gaming media used in the gaming machines (10).
A plurality of lift polishing apparatuses (100A, 100B) for feeding the game media in the storage unit (30) while polishing them independently of each other and supplying them to each gaming machine (10) again,
The storage unit (30) includes a guide rod (31) for receiving the out game medium discharged from the gaming machine (10), and a passage portion (33, 34) provided on the terminal side of the guide rod (31). And a pair of recovery baskets (35A, 35B) for sending out game media distributed by the passage portions (33, 34), corresponding to each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses (100A, 100B),
Each of the pair of recovery baskets (35A, 35B) is provided with storage detection means (40A, 40B) for detecting the storage amount of the game medium in the recovery basket (35A, 35B),
The lower part (122) of the main body of the lifting and polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) is provided with detecting means (41A, 41B) for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball to be lifted,
Although the storage detection means (40A, 40B) detects the game medium in the collection basket (35A, 35B), the lift polishing apparatus (100A) corresponding to the collection basket (35A, 35B). , 100B) when the detection means (41A, 41B) does not detect the game medium to be lifted and no game medium is supplied, the recovery basket (35A, 35B) and the lift polishing apparatus ( 100A, 100B), the gaming machine island (1), characterized in that it is determined that a problem has occurred and the drive of the lift polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) is stopped.

The present invention operates as follows.
The gaming machine island (1) described in [1] is formed by arranging a plurality of gaming machines (10), and is used by the plurality of gaming machines (10) and the gaming machines (10). A storage unit (30) for storing game media. Here, the game media in the storage section (30) are lifted while being polished by a plurality of independent lift polishing apparatuses (100A, 100B) and supplied to the respective gaming machines (10) again.

  Here, according to the storage amount of the game medium in the storage unit (30), by controlling the driving of each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses (100A, 100B), the game medium in the storage unit (30) is played. An appropriate amount may be supplied to the machine (10) side. Thereby, an appropriate amount of game media can be supplied to the gaming machine (10) without being excessive or deficient without excessively driving the lift polishing apparatus (100A, 100B). Specifically, for example, when the storage amount of the game medium in the storage unit (30) is large, there is a possibility that the game medium (10) side is insufficient, so that more lift polishing apparatuses (100A) , 100B).

  Of course, “controlling the driving” is not limited to only the selection of ON / OFF of the individual polishing apparatus (100A, 100B), but the driving speed and timing, and the driving time. Adjustments are also included. In addition, the lifting polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) is arranged in parallel so that a part thereof can be driven independently from each other in a series of paths from the storage part (30) to the gaming machine (10) side. It is not arranged independently of each other over all routes.

  Thus, since there are not only one lift polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) that is a drive control target, but there are a plurality of lift polishing apparatuses (100A, 100B), the drive control of the lift polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) is biased to one. It will be distributed to multiple. Therefore, concentration of overload in each of the lift polishing apparatuses (100A, 100B) is eliminated, and each durability can be improved.

  The storage unit (30) includes a guide rod (31) for receiving the out game medium discharged from the gaming machine (10), and a passage portion (33, 33) provided on the terminal side of the guide rod (31). 34) and a pair of recovery baskets (35A, 35B) for sending out game media distributed by the passage portion (33, 34) corresponding to each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses (100A, 100B) Therefore, it is possible to store an out game medium that is generally highly contaminated in a state of being separated from other game media. Accordingly, it is possible to preferentially polish out game media separated from other game media, for example.

  Here, each recovery basket (35A, 35B) is provided with storage detection means (40A, 40B) for detecting the stored game media. And based on the detection signal output from each storage detection means (40A, 40B), what is necessary is just to judge the storage amount of the game medium in a storage part (30). As a result, the out-game media can be quickly processed (polished or supplied) or processed from other game media (polished or supplied) based on the accumulation of the out-game media to be preferentially polished. It becomes possible.

Further, detection means (41A, 41B) for detecting the presence / absence of a game ball to be lifted is provided in the lower part (122) of the main body of the lift polishing apparatus (100A, 100B). Based on the detection signal output from the detection means (41A, 41B), it can be determined whether or not the game medium to be transported is supplied to the transport polishing apparatus (100A, 100B).
And although the said storage detection means (40A, 40B) has detected the game medium in the said collection baskets (35A, 35B), that is, although a game medium is stored by the storage part (30), it is lifted. When the detection means (41A, 41B) in the feeding / polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) does not detect the game medium to be lifted and no game medium is supplied, the recovery basket (35A, 35B) and this it is determined that the pumped polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) corresponding bug sphere clogging between the occurred, the pumped polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) thereby locked stop the driving of the.

As a result, when troubles such as clogging of game media occur between the storage unit (30) and the lift polishing apparatus (100A, 100B), the drive polishing apparatus (100A, 100B) is wasted. Ru can be automatically stopped.

According to the gaming machine island according to the present invention, it comprises a plurality of pumping and polishing devices for feeding and re-feeding each gaming machine while polishing the game media in the storage section independently of each other, the storage section, Outlet game medium distributed by the passage unit for receiving the out game medium discharged from the gaming machine, the passage unit provided on the terminal side of the guide rod, and the lift polishing apparatus And a pair of collection baskets are arranged, and each of the pair of collection baskets is provided with a storage detection means for detecting a storage amount of game media in the collection basket, and the storage detection means is provided in the collection basket. Even though the game medium is detected, the detection means provided in the lifting and polishing apparatus corresponding to the collection basket does not detect the game medium to be transported and no game medium is supplied. Stop the lifting and polishing apparatus and lift the other Since the polishing apparatus is driven, it becomes possible to control the driving of each of the lift polishing apparatuses according to the amount of game media stored in the storage section, and the lift polishing apparatus is driven excessively. Accordingly, an appropriate amount of game media can be stably supplied to the gaming machine without excess and deficiency, and the drive control of the lift polishing apparatus is distributed to a plurality without being biased to one. The concentration of load is eliminated, and durability can be improved.

  In addition, it is possible to store out game media having a high degree of dirt generally in a state of being separated from other game media, and for example, preferentially polishing the out game media separated from other game media. Is also possible.

  Furthermore, when troubles such as clogging of the game medium between the storage unit and the lifting and polishing apparatus occur, it is possible to automatically stop useless driving of the lifting and polishing apparatus, The other lift polishing apparatus in which such an abnormal situation does not occur can be driven.

It is a front view which shows the internal mechanism of the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the internal mechanism of the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the internal mechanism in the lower part of the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the internal mechanism in the upper stage part of the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the gaming machine which comprises the gaming machine island which relates to the 1st execution form of this invention. It is a front view which shows the raising apparatus main body of the raising polishing apparatus with which the gaming machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was equipped. In the lift polishing apparatus equipped on the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a part of the upper surface of the storage case is broken to show the inside, and the drive gear in the cylinder is orthogonal to the cylinder axis. It is principal part sectional drawing shown fractured | ruptured in the direction to do. It is principal part sectional drawing which fractured | ruptured the cylinder and the drive gear of the raising polishing apparatus with which the gaming machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was equipped along the cylinder axis. It is a top view which shows the drive gear of the raising polishing apparatus with which the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a front view which shows the drive gear of the raising polishing apparatus with which the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a top view which shows the cylinder of the raising polishing apparatus equipped in the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention with an imaginary line. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the lower cylinder body of the lifting polishing apparatus with which the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a top view which shows the inside of the storage case of the lifting polishing apparatus with which the gaming machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a side view which shows the state which connected the transfer path lower end and the communication channel | path in the backflow prevention mechanism of the lifting polishing apparatus with which the game machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a front view which shows the state which removed the transfer path from the communication channel | path of the lifting polishing apparatus in the backflow prevention mechanism of the lifting polishing apparatus equipped on the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control means of the gaming machine island which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart for explaining drive control of the lifting and polishing apparatus by the control means in the gaming machine island according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view which shows the internal mechanism in the lower stage part of the game machine island which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows the shutter apparatus with which the gaming machine island which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a side view which shows the shutter apparatus with which the gaming machine island which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is a block diagram which shows the control means of the gaming machine island which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. 7 is a flowchart illustrating control of driving of a shutter device by a control unit in a gaming machine island according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, various embodiments representing the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 17 show a first embodiment of the present invention.
The gaming machine island 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as a relatively small gaming machine island including a total of four gaming machines 10 in two rows in the front and rear, and is used in the gaming machine 10. A storage unit 30 for storing a game ball (hereinafter also simply referred to as a “ball”) that is a game medium to be stored is provided.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of the gaming machine island 1, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing the internal structure of the gaming machine island 1. FIG. 5 is an enlarged front view showing the gaming machine 10. The game balls used in each gaming machine 10 are collected and stored in the storage unit 30 and then polished by the lifting and polishing apparatuses (lifting apparatuses) 100A and 100B, which are two supply units that are driven independently of each other. Then, it is lifted and supplied to each gaming machine 10 again. The driving of each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B is controlled by the control means 300 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the gaming machine island 1 is constructed by assembling each gaming machine 10 in the middle part of the island frame 2 constructed on the floor, and in the lower part of the gaming machine island 1, a tank type The storage unit 30 is disposed, and a replenishment bar 51 for replenishing each gaming machine 10 with the raised game balls is disposed in the upper part. Further, on one end side of the gaming machine island 1, two lift polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B and a premium ball counter 3 are disposed. The prize ball counter 3 is a device that counts the game balls thrown from the slot, displays the counting results, and pays out printed receipts.

  The gaming machine 10 includes a gaming machine main body 11 in which a player launches a gaming ball and plays a game, and a card unit (CR ball lending machine) 20 that lends a gaming ball by inserting a valuable card. As shown in FIG. 5, the gaming machine main body 11 has a glass frame 12 formed in a frame shape, a game board 13 to which components for moving the fired ball and advancing the game are attached.

  On the lower surface of the glass frame 12, there are an upper tray 14 for storing rental balls and prize balls, a lower tray 15 for storing balls overflowing from the upper tray 14, and a handle 16 for a player to perform a ball launching operation. Etc. are provided. Further, in the vicinity of the upper tray 14, a frequency display unit 22 for displaying the remaining frequency of the valuable card, a rental button 23 for performing a game ball rental operation, a return button 24 for performing a return operation of the valuable card, and the like are provided. It has been.

  On the game board 13, in addition to a number of nails that change the flow of the struck ball, various winning holes for receiving the ball, a variable display device 17 for variably displaying identification information, and without entering any winning hole An out port or the like for discharging the dropped ball is provided. The various winning awards include a start opening 18 that secures the right to variably display the identification information on the variable display device 17 by winning a ball, and a large winning opening 19 that produces a special prize state that increases the winning rate. When a ball wins at each winning opening, the winning ball is detected by a switch attached to each winning opening, and a predetermined number of winning balls assigned to each winning opening are paid out.

  The variable display device 17 is provided with a plurality of display areas capable of variably displaying various symbols as identification information on the screen, and is composed of a liquid crystal unit, but adopts a CRT display, a drum unit, a 7-segment display, etc. You may do it. When a ball wins the start opening 18, the right of variable display in the variable display device 17 is acquired and variable display is executed. In the variable display, a scroll display of the identification information that is considered as a symbol matching game in the slot machine is developed as a whole.

  When the display result of the variable display is determined to be a jackpot that is a specific combination of identification information (for example, when “555” is aligned), the special winning opening 19 is repeatedly opened and closed up to a predetermined number of times. A special prize state is formed. In addition, when the display result of the variable display game is determined to be a probable jackpot that is aligned with any of the probability variation symbols (for example, odd numbers “1”, “3”, “5”, etc.) of the identification information, the probability variation state is displayed. A special prize state will occur. That is, when the probability variation jackpot is confirmed, the probability that the display result of the variable display is confirmed to the jackpot will change to a high probability until the next special prize state occurs after the special prize state generated based on this is completed, and the variable display of the variable display A time shortening state in which the variation time is shortened is obtained.

  The card unit 20 has a card insertion slot 21 for inserting a valuable card such as a prepaid card. By inserting a valuable value card into the card insertion slot 21 and specifying the amount to be inserted by the lending button 23, a predetermined number of balls are paid out to the upper tray 14. Although not shown, control boards for various functions are arranged on the back side of the gaming machine main body 11, and these control boards are connected to control means 300 described later via signal lines.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a tank-type reservoir 30 is disposed in the lower part of the gaming machine island 1, and the reservoir 30 has a large opening at the top and a bottom at the bottom. It is provided in a tank shape inclined downward toward one end side of the gaming machine island 1. In the vicinity of the upper surface portion of the storage unit 30, an out ball guide bar 31 that receives an out ball (out game medium) discharged from the gaming machine main body 11, a game ball discharged from an overflow hose 52 described later, and a prize ball count The common basket 32 that receives the game balls thrown into the machine 3 via the hopper 53 overlaps with each other in two upper and lower stages, and is arranged so as to incline downward toward the other end of the gaming machine island 1. .

A passage portion for dropping the game ball downward is provided on the end side of each basket 31, 32, and this passage portion communicates with the end of the out-ball guide rod 31 as shown in FIGS. Then, an out-ball passage 33 that guides the game balls that have flowed down to the distribution passage 34 described below, and a pair of out-ball collection baskets (collection baskets) that communicate with the lower end of the out-ball passage 33 and that describe the dropped game balls ) A distribution passage 34 that leads to 35A and 35B. Here, the distribution passage 34 is designed so that more balls are distributed more preferentially to the out ball collection basket 35A than to the out ball collection bowl 35B due to the structure of the gradient.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of out ball collection baskets 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B that receive the out balls dropped from the out ball passage 33 and the game balls dropped from the common basket 32 are disposed near the bottom surface of the storage unit 30. The storage ball cages 36 to be received are arranged so as to incline downward toward one end side of the gaming machine island 1 so as to be lined up on the left and right respectively. Here, each out ball collection basket 35A, 35B is set to be steeper than the storage ball basket 36, and the ball on each out ball collection basket 35A, 35B is more than the ball on the storage ball basket 36. Is set to flow faster.

  Further, on the end side of each of the out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B and the storage ball basket 36, there is provided a bowl-like foreign substance removal section 37 that removes foreign substances mixed in the game balls by dropping them through the gaps. Further, an alignment plate 38 is provided above the foreign substance removal unit 37 for aligning the spheres that have flowed down the respective cages 35A, 35B, and 36 in a vertical direction. The foreign matter removing section 37 following each of the rods 35A, 35B, 36 is connected to the lower end sides of the two lift polishing apparatuses 100A, 100B via a junction rod 39, respectively.

  In the merge basket 39, when the game balls flow down from the two out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B and the one storage ball basket 36, they are distributed almost equally to the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B on both sides. However, in FIG. 3, on both sides of the merging rod 39, the balls distributed from the out-ball collecting rods 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B are more lifted and polished on both sides than the balls distributed from the storage ball rod 36. , 100B, it is designed so that more spheres are distributed with higher priority (the flow of the priority sphere in FIG. 3 is indicated by a thick arrow).

  As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, in the storage unit 30, an out-of-storage detection unit that detects the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30 is upstream of each of the out-ball collection baskets 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B. Ball sensors 40A and 40B are provided, respectively. Each of the out-ball sensors 40A and 40B includes, for example, a proximity sensor such as a photo sensor that operates according to the distance from the game ball that is the object to be detected, a magnetic sensor that detects the approach of the game ball, and the like. The ball collection baskets 35A and 35B are arranged so as not to come into direct contact with the game balls below the bottom surface of the ball collection baskets 35A and 35B.

  Specifically, the out ball sensors 40A and 40B are turned on when the game ball is on the side, turned off if the game ball is not on the side, and the game ball is turned on when the ON state continues for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) or more. Is configured to output a detection signal indicating that the water is stored. In each out ball collection basket 35A, 35B in the storage unit 30, game balls are sequentially stored from the downstream side to the upstream side. When the game balls are stored up to a position where each out ball sensor 40A, 40B is stored, Detection signals are output from the ball sensors 40A and 40B.

  The level of the amount of game balls stored in the out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B can be known by determining which one of the out ball sensors 40A and 40B is continuously in the ON state and outputs a detection signal. Each of the out sphere sensors 40A and 40B is connected to the control means 300 described later via a signal line, and the control means 300 stores the signals based on the detection signals from the out sphere sensors 40A and 40B. It is set so that the amount of game balls stored in the unit 30 can be determined.

  Next, the details of the lift polishing apparatus 100A, 100B will be described. Here, since the two lift polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B have the same configuration, the lift polishing apparatus 100A will be described below as a representative. The lift polishing apparatus 100A lifts the sphere supplied from the confluence rod 39, and also includes a polishing means for polishing the sphere as the sphere is driven to lift. As shown in FIG. 1, the lifting polishing apparatus 100 </ b> A includes a lifting apparatus main body 101 disposed at a lower end on one end side of the gaming machine island 1, and a lifting pipe 170.

  As shown in FIG. 6, various related mechanisms are integrally incorporated in a housing 102 that forms an outline of the lifting apparatus main body 101, in addition to driving means that is driven by power and lifts a game ball while paying out. Here, the driving gear 110 and the electric motor 130 correspond to the driving means. The drive means is set so that the drive is controlled by the control means 300 in accordance with the amount of game balls stored in the storage section 30, and will be described in detail later.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the lifting device main body 101 is arranged along a driving gear 110 capable of holding a game ball in a tooth gap and transporting it in the rotation direction, and along an outer periphery of the driving gear 110. And a polishing tape 150 which is a polishing means for polishing in contact with the substrate. The drive gear 110 is made of resin and is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and has a space inside. A fitting portion 111 is provided in the inner space of the driving gear 110 in the axial direction of the cylinder, and a plurality of ribs 112 are extended from the fitting portion 111 toward the inner peripheral wall.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the fitting portion 111 of the driving gear 110 is integrally fixed to a rotating shaft 134 that is a main shaft. The drive gear 110 is arranged so that the direction of the rotation shaft 134 is substantially vertical. A cap 113 is fixed to the upper opening of the internal space of the driving gear 110. The cap 113 constitutes an upper surface portion of the driving gear 110 and is formed in a substantially conical shape so that the game ball flows down from the top portion 113a toward the outer peripheral edge 113b. As shown in FIG. 9, guide teeth 114 of the driving gear 110 are formed along the outer peripheral edge 113 b of the cap 113.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the upper portion of the substantially cylindrical driving gear 110 is a large diameter portion 110a, and the guide teeth 114 of the cap 113 are also formed on the column surface bus bar on the outer periphery of the large diameter portion 110a. It is formed to extend along. The tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 is formed in an arcuate cross-sectional shape so as to embrace more than half of the game ball, and the groove opening of the tooth groove 114a cannot remove the game ball from the tooth groove 114a to the polishing tape 150 side. As such, the width is set narrower than the maximum diameter of the game ball.

  The tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 can guide the game ball entered from the upper end side of the tooth groove 114a to the lower end side, and a plurality of game balls are sequentially stacked in the groove of the tooth groove 114a. Be contained. Further, the polishing tape 150 is routed so as to be in contact with the game ball guided from the upper end side to the lower end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114.

  The lower side of the large-diameter portion 110a of the driving gear 110 is a reduced-diameter portion 110b whose outer diameter gradually decreases. Locking teeth 115 are formed on the outer periphery of the reduced diameter portion 110b so as to extend along the generatrix of the column surface continuously to the guide teeth 114. The pitch of each locking tooth 115 is gradually narrower than the wider pitch of each guide tooth 114, and a game ball received from the tooth groove 114 a of the guiding tooth 114 between the tooth grooves 115 a of the locking tooth 115. It is set so that they come close to each other and come into contact with each other.

  The lower side of the reduced diameter portion 110b is a small diameter portion 110c that extends to the same outer diameter as the minimum outer diameter of the lower end of the reduced diameter portion 110b. Locking teeth 116 extending along the generatrix of the column surface are formed continuously to 114. Between the tooth spaces 116a of the locking teeth 116, the game balls guided from the tooth spaces 114a of the guide teeth 114 are set to be kept in contact with each other.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 6, the driving gear 110 is accommodated in a resin cylinder 120. The cylindrical shaft of the cylindrical body 120 has the rotation shaft 134 of the driving gear 110 as the same axis. The cylinder 120 is formed by integrally combining an upper upper cylinder 121 and a lower lower cylinder 122. The upper cylinder 121 receives the non-aligned game balls discharged from the merging rod 39 and guides them to the tooth groove 114 a of the driving gear 110. The lower cylinder 122 is formed so as to be able to receive polished game balls from the upper cylinder 121 and to send the game balls to the outside in an optimal alignment state when the game balls are received.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 6, the upper cylinder 121 has a diameter that matches the outer diameter of the large-diameter receiving port 121 a connected to the downstream end of the junction rod 39 and the guide teeth 114 of the driving gear 110. And a small-diameter outlet 121b. A polishing window 123 is opened across the cylinder wall of the upper cylinder 121 and the cylinder wall of the lower cylinder 122. The polishing window 123 can be routed along the outer periphery of the guide teeth 114 of the driving gear 110 by allowing the polishing tape 150 to enter the cylinder 120 from the outside to the inside.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the lower end side of the lower cylindrical body 122 is a small-diameter portion 122 a that is tapered in accordance with the small-diameter portion 110 c (see FIG. 10) of the driving gear 110, and this small-diameter portion 122 a. The inner peripheral wall is set along the outer periphery of the locking tooth 116 of the small-diameter portion 110c. A bearing portion 122b for the rotating shaft 134 is attached to the center of the bottom portion of the small diameter portion 122a of the lower cylindrical body 122.

  On the inner peripheral wall of the lower cylindrical body 122, a spiral convex portion 124 protruding toward the locking tooth 116 is provided. The spiral convex portion 124 abuts on the game ball received in the tooth groove 116 a of the locking tooth 116 from below, and is formed so that the game ball can be gradually guided to the bottom portion of the lower cylindrical body 122. The spiral convex portion 124 is formed corresponding to a trajectory drawn by the game ball when the game ball is spirally rotated about ¼ along the inner peripheral wall of the lower cylindrical body 122. The starting end of the spiral convex portion 124 is formed at a position facing the entrance of the communication passage 125 described below from above.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, a communication passage 125 is provided in the cylindrical wall of the lower cylindrical body 122 to guide the game ball guided to the bottom of the small diameter portion 122 a to the lifting pipe 170. . The lifting pipe 170 and the communication passage 125 are established on a tangential direction line drawn with respect to the circular locus of the game ball moving along the cylindrical wall of the lower cylindrical body 122.

  Further, a remaining ball sensor 41A (see FIG. 1) for detecting the presence / absence of a game ball to be lifted is provided at an appropriate position of the lower cylindrical body 122. The remaining ball sensor 41A is configured by a proximity switch, a magnetic sensor, or the like that operates according to the distance from the game ball that is the object to be detected, similarly to the above-described out ball sensors 40A and 40B, and the control means 300 via a signal line. It is connected to the. Note that a remaining ball sensor 41B that detects the presence or absence of a game ball to be lifted is also disposed in the other lift polishing apparatus 100B.

  As shown in FIG. 6, an electric motor 130 is attached to the upper plate end of the housing 102 of the lifting apparatus main body 101. A gear head 131 and a drive shaft 131a are integrally assembled with the electric motor 130. The reduction ratio of the gear head 131 is, for example, 1:25. The drive shaft 131a is arranged with its axial direction in the vertical direction, and a spur gear 132 is fixed to the lower end portion. Specifically, for example, a motor with a brake is optimal as the electric motor 130. Here, the motor with a brake is a general general-purpose motor provided with a brake mechanism, and has an excellent characteristic that the motor drive can be suddenly stopped. Since the configuration of the motor with brake itself is general, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  A bearing 133 is disposed at the center of the housing 102 and is fixed to the inner surface side of the upper plate. The shaft 133 is rotatably supported by the bearing 133. The rotary shaft 134 has its axis in the vertical direction, and two spur gears 135 and 136 are fixedly provided. A timing belt 137 is wound around the spur gear 136 on the rotating shaft 134 side and the spur gear 132 on the drive shaft 131a side. In addition, an interlocking mechanism 140 is disposed at an end in the housing 102. The interlocking mechanism 140 interlocks the driving of the polishing tape 150 with the driving gear 110. The interlocking mechanism 140 includes three shafts 141 to 143 and a support bracket 144 for rotatably supporting the three shafts 141 to 143.

  The rotation of the shaft 141 is transmitted to the shaft 142 via the worm gear 141a and the spur gear 142a, and further transmitted to the shaft 143 via the worm gear 142b and the spur gear 143a. A spur gear 141 b is fixed to the shaft 141. A timing belt 145 is wound around a spur gear 141b on the shaft 141 side and a spur gear 135 on the rotating shaft 134 side. Further, a tape roller 146 for feeding the polishing tape 150 is fixed to the shaft 143. On the outer peripheral surface of the tape roller 146, knurled stitches for preventing slippage and other notches are formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 6, the tape roller 146 is set to be interlocked with the rotation shaft 134 of the driving gear 110 by the interlocking mechanism 140. Further, the tape roller 146 feeds the polishing tape 150 from the storage case 151 at a speed corresponding to the moving speed of the game ball by the guide teeth 114 of the driving gear 110 and moves along the outer periphery of the driving gear 110. It is configured. The direction in which the tape roller 146 moves the polishing tape 150 is opposite to the direction in which the game ball moves by the guide teeth 114 of the driving gear 110.

  On the upper plate of the housing 102, a cassette guide 152 capable of fitting / removing the storage case 151 is provided. As shown in FIG. 13, the storage case 151 can store the polishing tape 150. The polishing tape 150 is a nonwoven fabric having a width of 34 mm, a thickness of 0.4 mm, and a roll of 4.5 m. The polishing tape 150 is accommodated in a state of being wound around a winding shaft. Not limited to this, the polishing tape 150 may be stored in the storage case 151 in a folded state. The front surface portion of the storage case 151 is formed in an arc-shaped cross-sectional shape so as to follow the outer periphery of the driving gear 110 when mounted.

  A cushion member 153 is attached to the front surface of the storage case 151. The cushion member 153 is formed of an elastic material such as felt. The polishing tape 150 is fed to one end side of the cushion member 153 through the guide groove 154 of the storage case 151, and the guide teeth 114 are pressed while the game ball on the driving gear 110 side can be pressed by the elastic force of the cushion member 153. Along the outer periphery, the cushion member 153 extends from one end side to the other end side, and is further routed from the other end side of the cushion member 153 through the guide groove 155 of the storage case 151. Yes.

  A capstan roller 156 is provided at the tip of the guide groove 155. A capstan roller 156 elastically contacts the tape roller 146. The used polishing tape 150 that has been retracted passes through the gap between the capstan roller 156 and the tape roller 146 so as to enter the collection cylinder 157 (see FIG. 7) standing on the storage case 151. It has been routed. A guide member 158 for guiding the polishing tape 150 to the recovery cylinder 157 is provided on the front side of the recovery cylinder 157.

  The polishing tape 150 that has passed through the collection cylinder 157 is collected at a predetermined position. In this embodiment, the used polishing tape 150 is not wound, but a bobbin or the like for winding the polishing tape 150 may be provided. The cassette guide 152 is also provided with a lock mechanism 159 (see FIG. 7) for restraining and releasing the storage case 151.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a backflow prevention mechanism 160 is disposed between the communication passage 125 of the lower cylindrical body 122 and the feed pipe 170. The backflow prevention mechanism 160 includes an arm 161, an urging means 162, and a shutter member 163. A base end portion 161 a of the arm 161 is pivotally attached to a lower end portion 171 of the lifting pipe 170 by a pivot 164 so as to be swingable. A shutter member 163 is provided at an intermediate portion between the base end portion 161 a and the tip end portion 161 b of the arm 161. A winding spring which is a biasing means 162 is wound around the pivot 164. The shutter member 163 is recessed with a wedge-shaped gate portion 163a.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the shutter member 163 moves the tip 161 b of the arm 161 against the lower cylinder 122 against the urging force of the urging means 162 when the transport pipe 170 is connected to the communication passage 125. By riding on the contact portion 122c and swinging the arm 161 about the pivot 164, as shown in FIG. 15, the gate portion 163a of the shutter member 163 is raised, and the passage on the lower end portion 171 side of the feed pipe 170 is moved. Swings to the open open position. On the other hand, when the lifting pipe 170 is removed from the communication passage 125, the distal end portion 161b of the arm 161 is removed from the contact portion 122c, and the arm 161 is swung around the pivot 164 in the opposite direction by the urging force of the urging means 162. By moving, the gate portion 163a of the shutter member 163 is lowered to swing to the closed position where the passage on the lower end portion 171 side of the feed pipe 170 is closed.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a lifting pipe 170 having a lower end portion 171 connected to the lifting device main body 101 is gently curved from the lower cylindrical body 122 and extends upward. Specifically, the structure of the lifting pipe 170 itself is constituted by, for example, a pipe member that has an inner diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the game balls and transfers the game balls in a row, Further, two groove-like cross-sectional members extending narrowly in the longitudinal direction may be formed as transfer pipes that can pass the game ball by matching the grooves and joining the flanges.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lifting pipe 170 extends straight upward, and the tip discharge port of the upper end portion 172 is connected to the upper tank 50 disposed in the upper stage portion on one end side in the gaming machine island 1. (See FIG. 4). A lifting ball sensor 42 </ b> A for detecting a game ball lifted to the position is provided at a substantially intermediate height portion of the lifting pipe 170.

  The lift ball sensor 42A can detect the balls passing through the part one by one, and operates according to the distance from the game ball as the detected object, like the above-described out ball sensors 40A and 40B. It is configured by a proximity switch, a magnetic sensor, and the like, and is connected to the control means 300 via a signal line. The other lifting / polishing apparatus 100B is also provided with a lifting ball sensor 42B for detecting a similarly lifted game ball.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the upper tank 50, the replenishment rod 51, and the like are disposed in the upper part of the gaming machine island 1. To the bottom surface of the upper tank 50, the upstream discharge port of the upper end 172 of the above-mentioned feed pipe 170 is connected, and the upstream end of the replenishment rod 51 is connected. In addition, the bottom of the upper tank 50 is also connected to a ball inlet of an overflow hose 52 that drops an extra ball downward when the replenishment basket 51 is full of game balls. The overflow hose 52 hangs downward as it is, and its ball outlet communicates with a hopper 53 that delivers a ball to the upstream end of the common rod 32.

  The replenishment basket 51 is disposed so as to incline downward toward the other end of the gaming machine island 1, and in the middle of the replenishment basket 51, a game ball corresponding to the gaming machine 10 located directly below is provided. A chute 54 is provided for dropping in an aligned state. The chute 54 and the gaming machine 10 communicate with each other by a bellows 55 that guides a falling game ball. Further, a full sensor 43 is provided on the upstream end side of the replenishing basket 51 for detecting balls that have not been replenished to each gaming machine 10 and have accumulated up to the upstream end side of the replenishing bowl 51. The full sensor 43 is configured by a proximity switch, a magnetic sensor, or the like that operates according to the distance from the game ball that is the object to be detected, similar to the above-described out ball sensors 40A and 40B, and is connected to the control means 300 via a signal line. It is connected.

  Next, the control means 300 of the gaming machine island 1 will be described. The control means 300 centrally manages the operations of the above-described lift polishing apparatuses 100A, 100B, etc. included in the gaming machine island 1, and specifically includes an interface, a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. It consists of a built-in microcomputer. The control means 300 is housed in a dedicated case, and is disposed at a suitable location inside the gaming machine island 1 in a state protected from static electricity and electrical noise in addition to dust from the outside.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the control means 300 can display the above-described various sensors 40A, 40B, 41A, 41B, 42A, 42B, 43 and various information in addition to the two lift polishing apparatuses 100A, 100B. A display unit 310 that is a display is connected to each other via a signal line. Although not shown, the control means 300 may also be connected to a hall computer or the like managed by a person related to the game hall, and the display unit 310 may be a peripheral device of the hall computer.

  Such a control means 300 controls the driving of each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B in accordance with the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30, thereby allowing the game balls in the storage unit 30 to be used as gaming machines. The function of supplying an appropriate amount to the 10 side, the function of sequentially driving each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B according to the respective priorities, and the number of game balls lifted by each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B When a predetermined number of replacement times is reached, it has a function of notifying that effect via the display unit 310 serving as notification means.

  Further, when the game ball is stored in the storage unit 30 and the game ball is not supplied to the driving and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B that are being driven, the control unit 300 is configured to perform the lifting and polishing apparatus 100A, The function of stopping the driving of 100B and warning the situation via the display unit 310 which is also a warning means, the lifting polishing apparatus 100A, even though the lifting polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B are being driven. , 100B, when the game ball is not lifted, the driving and polishing apparatuses 100A, 100B are stopped and the function of warning such a situation via the display unit 310 is also provided. Have. Details of these functions realized by the control means 300 will be described later.

Below, the effect | action in the gaming machine island 1 is demonstrated.
First, an outline of the flow of game balls in the gaming machine island 1 will be described. In FIG. 5, when a player inserts a valuable card into the card insertion slot 21 of the card unit 20 and designates an insertion amount with the lending button 23, a predetermined number of balls according to the amount are paid out to the upper tray 14. . When the player rotates the handle 16, the game balls in the upper tray 14 are launched one by one on the game board 13. When a hit ball wins various winning holes, a predetermined number of winning balls assigned to each winning hole are similarly paid out to the upper tray 14.

  The game balls launched on the game board 13 are collected on the back side of the game board 13 and counted, and then discharged onto the out ball guide bar 31 and collected in the storage unit 30 as out game balls. The out ball passage 33 connected to the downstream end of the ball guide rod 31 is dropped and distributed to the pair of out ball collection rods 35A and 35B by the distribution passage 34 and flows down. By the distribution passage 34, more balls are distributed and flowed down in preference to the out ball collection basket 35A than to the out ball collection basket 35B.

  The game balls overflowing from the upper tank 50 and falling on the overflow hose 52 are introduced into the shared basket 32 through the hopper 53, fall on the shared basket 32, and are introduced into the storage ball basket 36 and flow down. . Each of the out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B is steeper than the storage ball basket 36, and the spheres on the out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B are more than the balls on the storage bulb basket 36. It flows down quickly.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the spheres that have flowed down the out ball collection baskets 35 </ b> A and 35 </ b> B and the storage bulb basket 36 are removed by the foreign substance removal unit 37, and then are transferred to the two through the junction basket 39. It is distributed and supplied almost evenly to the polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B. On both sides of the confluence basin 39, the spheres distributed from the respective out sphere collection basins 35A and 35B have priority over the feeding and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B on both sides, rather than the spheres distributed from the storage spheres 36 respectively. Supplied.

  In this way, the out balls are gradually stored from the downstream end to the upstream end side of each out ball collection basket 35A, 35B. When the sphere stays at the position of the out sphere sensors 40A and 40B, detection signals are output from the out sphere sensors 40A and 40B. The control means 300 determines the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30 based on the detection signals from the out-ball sensors 40A and 40B, and controls the driving of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B.

  Next, the control of the game ball lifting operation by the control means 300 will be described. FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining processing related to the lifting of a game ball. In FIG. 17, the control means 300 first determines the amount of balls stored in the upper part of the gaming machine island 1 based on the presence / absence of a detection signal from the full sensor 43 in the replenishment basket 51 (S101). Here, when the detection signal from the full sensor 43 is input (S101; YES), subsequently, out of the out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B, the out ball collection basket 35A on which the ball flows down preferentially. Based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from a certain out-ball sensor 40A, the amount of balls stored in the storage unit 30 is determined (S102).

  When there is no detection signal input from the out-sphere sensor 40A (S102; NO), the control unit 300 stops driving the lifting and polishing apparatus 100A that mainly receives the sphere from the out-sphere sensor 40A (S103). ) And return to the first process. Thus, when there is already a sufficient amount of game balls in the upper part of the gaming machine island 1 and the balls are not so much stored in the out-ball collecting basket 35A in the storage unit 30, the lift polishing apparatus Unnecessary driving of 100A can be prevented.

  Further, when there is no detection signal input from the full sensor 43 (S101; NO), or when there is a detection signal input from the out-ball sensor 40A (S102; YES), this time the lift polishing is performed. Based on the presence / absence of a detection signal from the remaining ball sensor 41A in the apparatus 100A, the presence / absence of a ball to be lifted in the lifting and polishing apparatus 100A is determined (S106).

  When there is no input of a detection signal from the remaining ball sensor 41A (S106; NO), the control unit 300 stops driving the lift polishing apparatus 100A, and the game ball is not supplied to the lift polishing apparatus 100A. Then, an error display on the display unit 310 warns the people involved in the game hall (S113), and the process returns to the first process. In addition to the display unit 310 or in place of the display unit 310, a warning by the error display may be given by a display unit on the hall computer side, or a warning may be given by printing or voice.

  When a detection signal is input from the remaining ball sensor 41A (S106; YES), the control means 300 drives the lift polishing apparatus 100A (S107). Subsequently, based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from the lifted ball sensor 42A in the lifted pipe 170, it is determined whether or not the game ball is actually lifted without any problem as the lift polishing apparatus 100A is driven (S108). ).

  When no detection signal is input from the lifted ball sensor 42A (S108; NO), the control means 300 stops driving the lifted polishing apparatus 100A, and the game ball is not moved even if the lifted polishing apparatus 100A is driven. The display unit 310 warns the abnormality of the electric motor 130 to the person concerned at the game hall about the situation where it is not lifted (S114). At this time, since the process proceeds to the process related to driving of the lift polishing apparatus 100B described later without returning to the first process, even if a problem occurs in one lift polishing apparatus 100A, the other lift polishing apparatus 100B can supplement the lifting of the game ball.

  The warning regarding the abnormality of the electric motor 130 of the lifting and polishing apparatus 100A may be warned by the display unit on the hall computer side together with the display unit 310 or in place of the display unit 310, or by printing or voice. When a detection signal is input from the lift ball sensor 42A (S108; YES), it is determined that the lift polishing apparatus 100A is normally driven.

  Subsequently, the control means 300 detects the number of game balls that have been lifted so far in the lift polishing apparatus 100A (S104). When the detected count value reaches a predetermined number (for example, 4 million) determined in advance as the replacement time of the polishing tape 150 in the lift polishing apparatus 100A (S104; YES), the polishing tape 150 is consumed. A notice to the effect is given to the person concerned at the game hall by an alarm display on the display unit 310 (S105). Further, it may be notified together with the display unit 310 or instead of the display unit 310 by a display unit on the hall computer side, or may be notified by printing or voice.

  Next, the control means 300, apart from the processing relating to the detection of the number of lifted game balls, out ball sensor 40B in the other out ball collection basket 35B out of each of the out ball collection baskets 35A, 35B. The amount of stored spheres in the storage unit 30 is determined based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from (S109). If there is no detection signal input from the out-sphere sensor 40B (S109; NO), the control means 300 stops driving the lifting and polishing apparatus 100B that mainly receives the sphere from the out-sphere sensor 40B. (S115), the process returns to the first process. As a result, when a sufficient amount of game balls can be lifted only by driving the lift polishing apparatus 100A, or when there is a sufficient amount of game balls already in the upper part of the gaming machine island 1, Unnecessary driving of the polishing apparatus 100B can be prevented.

On the other hand, when a detection signal is input from the out-ball sensor 40B (S109; YES), this time, the presence or absence of a detection signal from the remaining ball sensor 41B in the lifting and polishing apparatus 100B determines whether the detected signal is in the lifting and polishing apparatus 100B. It is determined whether or not there is a ball to be lifted (S110).
Here, when no detection signal is input from the remaining ball sensor 41B (S110; NO), the control means 300 stops driving the lift polishing apparatus 100B and no game ball is supplied to the lift polishing apparatus 100B. The situation is warned by the error display on the display unit 310 to the people in the game hall (S116), and the process returns to the first process. Further, a warning may be given with a display unit on the hall computer side together with the display unit 310 or in place of the display unit 310, or a warning may be given by printing or voice.

  When a detection signal is input from the remaining ball sensor 41B (S110; YES), the control means 300 drives the lift polishing apparatus 100B (S111). Subsequently, based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from the lifted ball sensor 42B in the lifted pipe 170, it is determined whether or not the game ball is actually lifted without any problem as the lift polishing apparatus 100B is driven (S112). ).

If no detection signal is input from the lifted ball sensor 42B (S112; NO), the control means 300 stops driving the lifted polishing apparatus 100B, and the game ball is not moved even if the lifted polishing apparatus 100B is driven. The display unit 310 warns the abnormality of the electric motor 130 to the person concerned at the game hall about the situation that the vehicle is not lifted (S117). At this point, the process is temporarily terminated. This is because the failure of the electric motor 130 may worsen if the process continues and automatic recovery is performed. The warning regarding the abnormality of the electric motor 130 of the lifting and polishing apparatus 100B may be warned by a display unit on the hall computer side together with the display unit 310 or in place of the display unit 310, or by printing or voice.
On the other hand, when a detection signal is input from the lifted ball sensor 42B (S112; YES), it is determined that the lift polishing apparatus 100B is operating normally.

  Subsequently, the control means 300 detects the number of game balls that have been lifted so far in the lift polishing apparatus 100B (S104). When the count value detected here reaches a predetermined number (for example, 4 million) determined in advance as the replacement time of the polishing tape 150 in the lift polishing apparatus 100B (S104; YES), the lift polishing apparatus 100A. In the same manner as in the case of the above, the person concerned in the game hall is notified by an alarm display by the display unit 310 that the polishing tape 150 is consumed (S105). Further, it may be notified together with the display unit 310 or instead of the display unit 310 by a display unit on the hall computer side, or may be notified by printing or voice.

  As described above, the control unit 300 controls the driving of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B (S103, S107, S111) according to the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30 (S102, S109). , S115), an appropriate amount of game balls in the storage unit 30 are supplied to the gaming machine 10 side. As a result, an appropriate amount of game balls can be supplied to the gaming machine 10 without excess or deficiency without excessively driving the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B. In particular, the lifting force of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B can be accurately controlled according to the amount of game balls to be lifted.

  Thus, since the control object of the control means 300 is not only one but two lift polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B, a plurality of drive controls of the lift polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B are not biased to one. Therefore, the overload concentration in each of the lift polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B is eliminated, and the durability can be improved. In addition, as described above, even if a problem occurs in one lifting and polishing apparatus 100A, the other lifting and polishing apparatus 100B can compensate for the lifting of the game ball.

  Moreover, each of the lift polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B has a predetermined priority order for driving order, and the control means 300 first drives and controls the lift polishing apparatus 100A, and then lift polishing. Since the driving of the apparatus 100B is controlled, the driving of each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B is not biased to a specific one, and the game ball stays longer in each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B that are not driven. Such a situation can also be prevented.

  Further, the control means 300 determines that when the number of game balls lifted by the lifting / polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B reaches a predetermined number (for example, 4 million) determined in advance as the replacement time of the polishing tape 150. (S104; YES), the fact is notified via the display unit 310 (S105), so that the degree of contamination of the polishing tape 150 can be accurately grasped in association with the number of game balls that have been lifted and polished. In addition, by automatically notifying the display unit 310, the dirty polishing tape 150 can be reliably and easily replaced with a new one without passing the replacement time of the polishing tape 150.

  Further, the control means 300 is used when the game balls are not stored in the storage unit 30 (S102; YES, S109; YES), but no game balls are supplied to the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B. (S106; NO, S110; NO), it is determined that a defect such as a ball clogging has occurred between the storage unit 30 and the lift polishing apparatus 100A, 100B, and wasteful driving of the lift polishing apparatuses 100A, 100B is automatically performed. In addition, by automatically warning the occurrence of an abnormal situation (S113, S116), it is possible to promptly notify related parties such as employees of the game hall.

  Further, the control means 300, when the lifting and polishing apparatus 100A, 100B is being driven (S107, S111), when the game ball is not being lifted (S108; NO, S112; NO) For example, it is determined that an abnormality in the operation of the electric motor 130 has occurred in the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B, and the driving of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B can be automatically stopped, and the occurrence of an abnormal situation is automatically performed. By warning (S114, S117), it is possible to promptly inform relevant parties such as game hall employees.

  In addition, the storage unit 30 receives the out game balls discharged from the gaming machine 10 in the respective collection baskets 35A and 35B, thereby storing the out game balls that are generally highly contaminated in a state of being separated from the other game balls. It becomes possible to leave. Thereby, it is possible to preferentially polish out game balls separated from other game balls. In particular, in the present embodiment, the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30 is determined based on detection signals from the out ball sensors 40A and 40B provided in the collection baskets 35A and 35B. The out-game balls can be quickly ground or lifted based on the amount of game balls stored.

  Next, details of the lifting or polishing operation in the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B will be described. Hereinafter, the lift polishing apparatus 100A will be described as a representative. In FIG. 3, the game balls supplied from the storage unit 30 via the junction rod 39 flow into the receiving port 121a of the upper cylindrical body 121 of the lifting and polishing apparatus 100A shown in FIG. 8, and the outlet 121b of the upper cylindrical body 121. It will flow further down. Then, the game ball flows into the cap 113 of the driving gear 110 located at the center of the outlet 121b. Since the cap 113 is formed in a substantially conical shape, the game ball flows down from the top 113a of the cap 113 to the outer peripheral edge 113b.

  As shown in FIG. 9, since the guide teeth 114 of the driving gear 110 are arranged along the outer periphery of the cap 113, the game ball flows down toward the upper end side of the tooth groove 114 a of the guide teeth 114. If the upper end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 is in a concave state where no game ball is inserted, the game ball can enter the upper end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 in the concave state. The game ball that has entered the upper end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 moves to the lower end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 by its own weight. When the game ball moves to the lower end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114, the upper end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 becomes concave. A new game ball can enter the upper end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 in the concave state.

  Since the polishing tape 150 is routed so as to come into contact with the game ball guided along the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114, the game ball is moved from the upper end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 to the other tooth groove 114a. The polishing tape 150 can polish the game ball in the moving range until it moves to the end side. If the game ball rotates a plurality of times while the game ball moves in the moving range, the polishing tape 150 polishes the game ball a plurality of times.

  As shown in FIG. 8, within the range of movement of the game ball and within the range in which the polishing tape 150 can polish the game ball, a plurality of game balls are vertically moved in the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114. It exists in an aligned state. The game ball moves in the rotation direction by the driving gear 110, and the game ball is polished by the polishing tape 150 at the uppermost position, and is polished by the polishing tape 150 at the middle position in the next rotation, and further In rotation, it is in the lowest position and is polished by the polishing tape 150. That is, while the game ball moves in the moving range, the polishing tape 150 can polish the game ball three times.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 9, since the groove opening of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 is narrower than the maximum diameter of the game ball, the game ball moving along the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 is guided. The tooth 114 does not leave the tooth groove 114a toward the polishing tape 150. Accordingly, even when the polishing tape 150 is separated from the game ball in the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 during maintenance inspection of the lift polishing apparatus 100A or replacement of the polishing tape 150, the game ball is in the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114. No spilling out of the cylindrical body 120 from the groove opening, and processing such as keeping the game ball from spilling during work such as replacing the polishing tape 150 becomes unnecessary.

  The game ball in the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 is guided to the lower end side of the tooth groove 114a after being polished. As long as the game ball is sufficiently supplied to the receiving port 121a shown in FIG. 8, the game ball is received without interruption from the lower end side of the tooth groove 114a of the guide tooth 114 shown in FIG. . In such a state, the game balls can be pushed up to the lifting pipe 170 through the communication passage 125 without the feeding of the locking teeth 116.

  More specifically, in FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the game ball received in the tooth groove 116a of the locking tooth 116 is lowered from the bottom side of the lower cylindrical body 122 to a position higher by one game ball and is used for communication. When rotating above the entrance of the passage 125, it comes into contact with the starting end of the spiral convex portion 124 and is supported from below by the spiral convex portion 124, and gradually draws a spiral along the spiral convex portion 124. Then, it moves toward the bottom side of the lower cylindrical body 122.

  Thereby, the game ball smoothly moves to the bottom side of the lower cylindrical body 122, and is guided by the spiral convex portion 124 to rotate about ¼ along the inner peripheral wall of the lower cylindrical body 122. Move down one piece. The game ball guided to the bottom side rotates about 3/4 along the inner peripheral wall of the lower cylinder 122 on the bottom side of the lower cylinder 122 and then enters the entrance of the communication path 125 to enter the communication path 125. Enters the lower end 171 of the lifting pipe 170 from the outlet and is transported through the lifting pipe 170.

  In FIG. 6, the rotation of the spur gear 132 by the electric motor 130 is transmitted to the spur gear 136 via the timing belt 137, the rotating shaft 134 rotates, and the driving gear 110 rotates in the cylindrical body 120. When the rotating shaft 134 is rotated by the electric motor 130, the tape roller 146 is also rotated. As shown in FIG. 7, the polishing tape 150 sandwiched between the tape roller 146 and the capstan roller 156 is fed out from the storage case 151. It is.

  Thus, when the game ball is lifted, the unused polishing tape 150 can be automatically drawn out from the storage case 151 and used, and the operator does not need to replace the unused polishing tape 150. . Since the storage case 151 is configured to be detachable from the lifting apparatus main body 101 of the lifting polishing apparatus 100A, the storage case 151 is lifted when all the polishing tapes 150 in the storage case 151 are used. What is necessary is just to remove from the feeder main body 101, and to install the new storage case 151 in an apparatus main body, and the replacement | exchange operation | work of the polishing tape 150 becomes easy.

  Further, since the tape roller 146 of the interlocking mechanism 140 is interlocked with the rotation shaft 134 of the driving gear 110, the driving of the tape roller 146 of the interlocking mechanism 140 stops when the driving gear 110 stops rotating. As a result, only when the driving gear 110 is rotated to lift the game ball, the tape roller 146 rotates and the polishing tape 150 is fed out from the storage case 151, so that the useless polishing tape 150 is not fed out.

  In FIG. 7, when the tape roller 146 rotates, the polishing tape 150 sandwiched between the tape roller 146 and the capstan roller 156 passes through the guide groove 154 of the storage case 151 and is fed to one end side of the cushion member 153. The fed polishing tape 150 extends to the other end side of the cushion member 153 through the gap between the cushion member 153 and the driving gear 110. At this time, the polishing tape 150 is in a state where the game ball in the guide tooth 114 can be pressed by the elastic force of the cushion member 153.

  The polishing tape 150 is fed between the tape roller 146 and the capstan roller 156 from the other end side of the cushion member 153 through the guide groove 155 of the storage case 151. The used polishing tape 150 that has been used enters the collection cylinder 157 that is erected on the storage case 151. At this time, the polishing tape 150 is guided to the collection cylinder 157 by the guide member 158.

  As described above, the game balls pushed into the lower end portion 171 of the lifting pipe 170 while being polished are sequentially lifted in a state in which the inside of the lifting pipe 170 is connected in a row. The game ball that has reached the upper end 172 of the lifting pipe 170 is discharged into the upper tank 50. Thus, the game balls lifted up to the upper part of the gaming machine island 1 are supplied to each gaming machine 10.

  That is, in FIG. 1, the game balls supplied from the upper tank 50 to the replenishment basket 51 as needed are supplied to each gaming machine 10 through the chute 54 and the bellows 55 while flowing down on the replenishment basket 51. In addition, when a game ball that cannot enter the upper tank 50 is lifted, the overflow ball falls to the lower part of the gaming machine island 1 through the overflow hose 52, and enters the storage unit 30 through the hopper 53. It is introduced to the shared tub 32 of

18 to 20 show a second embodiment of the present invention.
In the present embodiment, a plurality of supply means for supplying the game balls in the storage unit 30 to the gaming machine 10 side independently from each other, and a passage 39A for guiding the game balls in the storage unit 30 to the lifting and polishing apparatus 100, The shutter devices 200A and 200B are provided at 39B and open and close the passages 39A and 39B.

  The lift polishing apparatus 100 has the same configuration as the lift polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B, but in the present embodiment, only one is provided instead of two. The lifting and polishing apparatus 100 is provided with a remaining ball sensor 41 similar to the remaining ball sensors 41A and 41B and a lifting ball sensor 42 similar to the lifted ball sensors 42A and 42B. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the site | part of the same kind as 1st Embodiment, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 18, a foreign matter removing section 37 is provided on each of the end sides of the two out-ball collecting baskets 35A and 35B, and each foreign matter removing section 37 is provided via a separate passage 39A and 39B, respectively. It is connected in communication with the lower end side of the lift polishing apparatus 100. In addition, a foreign matter removing portion 37 is also provided on the terminal end side of the storage ball cage 36, and this foreign matter removing portion 37 is also connected to the lower end side of the lifting and polishing apparatus 100 through another passage 39C.

  As shown in FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, each shutter device 200A, 200B has a shutter 201 projecting in a vertical direction from a narrow groove provided in each passage 39A, 39B, and a rotary solenoid 202 as a driving means. It consists of The shutter 201 is held so as to be slidable (openable and closable) in the vertical direction by a holding bracket 204 fixed below the passages 39A and 39B. An idle groove 201a is formed on the lower edge of the shutter 201. ing.

  A pin portion 203 a projecting from an eccentric portion of the rotary plate 203 of the rotary solenoid 202 is inserted into the idle groove 201 a of the shutter 201, and the pin portion 203 a extends in the vertical direction drilled in the holding bracket 204. The guide groove 204a extending in an arc shape is also movably inserted.

  When the shutter devices 200A and 200B are in the normal state, the shutter 201 protrudes upward (indicated by a two-dot broken line in FIG. 20), and closes the passages 39A and 39B to the lift polishing apparatus 100. Although the supply of the game ball is blocked, when each shutter device 200A, 200B is activated, the pin portion 203a moves downward along the guide groove 204a as the rotary solenoid 202 is driven, and this pin portion The shutter 201 through which 203a is inserted into the play groove 201a is pushed downward (shown by a solid line in FIG. 20), and the respective passages 39A and 39B are opened to supply game balls to the lifting and polishing apparatus 100.

  As shown in FIG. 21, in addition to the two shutter devices 200A and 200B, the control unit 300 includes the above-described various sensors 40A, 40B, 41, 42, and 43, and a display unit 310 that is a display capable of displaying various information. Are connected via signal lines. Although not shown, the control means 300 may also be connected to a hall computer or the like managed by a person related to the game hall, and the display unit 310 may be a peripheral device of the hall computer.

  Such a control means 300 controls the drive of each shutter device 200A, 200B according to the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30, thereby removing the game balls in the storage unit 30 on the gaming machine 10 side. The function of supplying an appropriate amount to the camera, the function of sequentially driving the shutter devices 200A and 200B in accordance with the respective priorities, and the number of game balls lifted by the lifting and polishing apparatus 100 are determined in advance as the replacement time of the polishing tape 150. When the predetermined number is reached, it has a function of notifying that effect via the display unit 310 serving as notification means.

  Further, when the game ball is stored in the storage unit 30 and the game ball is not supplied to the driving and polishing apparatus 100 that is being driven, the control unit 300 drives the lift and polishing apparatus 100. A function to stop and warn such a situation through the display unit 310 which is also a warning means, a game supplied to the lift polishing apparatus 100 even though the lift polishing apparatus 100 is being driven When the ball is not lifted, the driving and polishing apparatus 100 is stopped, and a function of warning such a situation via the display unit 310 is also provided. Details of these functions realized by the control means 300 will be described later.

  Next, control of the operation of the shutter devices 200A and 200B by the control means 300 will be described. In FIG. 22, the control means 300 first determines the amount of balls stored in the upper part of the gaming machine island 1 based on the presence / absence of a detection signal from the full sensor 43 in the replenishment basket 51 (S201). Here, when the detection signal from the full sensor 43 is input (S201; YES), subsequently, out of each of the out-ball collection baskets 35A and 35B, the out-ball collection bowl 35A on which the ball flows down preferentially. Based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from a certain out-ball sensor 40A, the amount of balls stored in the storage unit 30 is determined (S202).

  When the detection signal is not input from the out ball sensor 40A (S202; NO), the control unit 300 stops the operation of the shutter device 200A on the terminal side of the out ball sensor 40A, and the shutter device 200A passes the passage. 39A is closed (S203), and the process returns to the first process. Thus, when there is already a sufficient amount of game balls in the upper part of the gaming machine island 1 and the balls are not so much stored in the out-ball collecting basket 35A in the storage unit 30, the lift polishing apparatus The supply of unnecessary spheres to 100 can be stopped.

  Further, when no detection signal is input from the full sensor 43 (S201; NO), or when a detection signal is input from the out-ball sensor 40A (S202; YES), this time, lift polishing is performed. The presence / absence of a detection signal from the remaining ball sensor 41 in the apparatus 100 determines whether or not there is a ball to be lifted in the lifting and polishing apparatus 100 (S206).

  When there is no detection signal input from the remaining ball sensor 41 (S206; NO), the control means 300 stops the driving and polishing apparatus 100, and the game ball is not supplied to the lifting and polishing apparatus 100. Then, the error is displayed on the display unit 310 to warn the people in the game hall (S211), and the process returns to the first process. In addition to the display unit 310 or in place of the display unit 310, a warning by the error display may be given by a display unit on the hall computer side, or a warning may be given by printing or voice.

  When a detection signal is input from the remaining ball sensor 41 (S206; YES), the control unit 300 drives the shutter device 200A (S207). That is, in FIG. 19, the rotary solenoid 202 is driven, and the shutter 201 is lowered in the holding bracket 204 as a result. As a result, the passage 39 </ b> A is opened, and the balls that have flowed down the out-ball collecting bowl 35 </ b> A are introduced into the lifting and polishing apparatus 100. Subsequently, based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from the lift ball sensor 42 in the lift pipe 170, it is determined whether or not the game ball is actually lifted without any problem as the lift polishing apparatus 100 is driven (S208). ).

  When there is no detection signal input from the lifted ball sensor 42 (S208; NO), the control means 300 stops driving the lifted polishing apparatus 100, and the game ball is not driven even if the lifted polishing apparatus 100 is driven. The display unit 310 warns the abnormality of the electric motor 130 such as a failure of the electric motor 130 to the person concerned at the game hall (S212), and terminates the process once at this time.

  The warning regarding the abnormality of the electric motor 130 of the lifting and polishing apparatus 100 may be warned by a display unit on the hall computer side together with the display unit 310 or in place of the display unit 310, or by printing or voice. When a detection signal is input from the lifted ball sensor 42 (S208; YES), it is determined that the lift polishing apparatus 100 is operating normally.

  Subsequently, the control means 300 detects the number of game balls that have been lifted so far in the lift polishing apparatus 100 (S204). When the detected count value reaches a predetermined number (for example, 4 million pieces) determined in advance as the replacement time of the polishing tape 150 in the lift polishing apparatus 100 (S204; YES), the polishing tape 150 is consumed. A notice to the effect is given to the people in the game hall by an alarm display on the display unit 310 (S205). Further, it may be notified together with the display unit 310 or instead of the display unit 310 by a display unit on the hall computer side, or may be notified by printing or voice.

  Next, the control means 300, apart from the processing relating to the detection of the number of lifted game balls, out ball sensor 40B in the other out ball collection basket 35B out of each of the out ball collection baskets 35A, 35B. The amount of stored spheres in the storage unit 30 is determined based on the presence or absence of a detection signal from (S209).

  Here, when the detection signal is not input from the out ball sensor 40B (S209; NO), the control unit 300 stops the operation of the shutter device 200B on the terminal side of the out ball sensor 40B, and the shutter 201 performs the operation. The passage 39B is closed (S213), and the process returns to the first process. Thereby, a sufficient amount of game balls can be supplied to the lift polishing apparatus 100 only by operating (driving) the shutter device 200A, or there is already a sufficient amount of game balls in the upper part of the gaming machine island 1. In this case, unnecessary supply of spheres from the out sphere collection basket 35B can be prevented.

  On the other hand, when the detection signal is input from the out ball sensor 40B (S209; YES), the control means 300 drives the shutter device 200B on the terminal side of the out ball sensor 40B (S210). As a result, the shutter 201 is lowered to open the passage 39B, and the sphere that has flowed down the out-ball collecting rod 35B is introduced into the lifting and polishing apparatus 100.

  Subsequently, as described above, the control means 300 detects the number of game balls that have been lifted up to now in the lift polishing apparatus 100 (S204). Although omitted in the flowchart of FIG. 22, following the process of step S <b> 210, the presence or absence of a detection signal from the lifting ball sensor 42 in the lifting pipe 170 actually causes the driving and polishing apparatus 100 to be driven. You may set so that it may be judged whether the game ball is lifted without a problem.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, the control means 300 controls the driving of the shutter devices 200A and 200B according to the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30 (S202, S209) ( S203, S207, S210, S213), an appropriate amount of gaming balls in the storage unit 30 can be supplied to the gaming machine 10 side.

  Thereby, only one lift polishing apparatus 100 can be provided to reduce the equipment cost, and the amount of game balls supplied to the lift polishing apparatus 100 can be accurately adjusted to an appropriate value. The lift polishing apparatus 100 may be continuously driven while the gaming machine 10 is operating, or may be driven based on a detection signal from the remaining ball sensor 41.

  As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and the present invention can be modified or added without departing from the scope of the present invention. Included in the invention. For example, although the case where the gaming machine 10 is applied to a pachinko machine has been described in each of the above embodiments, the gaming machine 10 is not limited to a pachinko machine, and other games such as a smart ball game machine and an arrangement ball game machine that are program-controlled. It may be a machine.

Further, the gaming machine 10 is not limited to a game ball that is a game ball, and a slot machine or the like that uses medals or coins as a game medium may be adopted as a gaming machine. In this case, the lifting and polishing apparatus 100, 100A, 100B is configured as an apparatus for polishing or lifting medals and coins.
In each of the above embodiments, the number of gaming machines 10 constituting the gaming machine island 1 is four. However, the number of gaming machines constituting the gaming machine island 1 is not limited to this, and one gaming machine island 1 is provided. The game machine 10 may be a so-called single island, or a small-scale game machine island made up of two to three game machines 10, or five or more game machines 10 may be arranged in a row.

In the first embodiment, the two polishing polishing apparatuses 100A and 100B are provided as a plurality of supply means, but the number of the lifting polishing apparatuses is not limited to two. You may make it install 3 or more according to a scale. Similarly, the shutter devices 200A and 200B in the second embodiment are not limited to two.
In addition, the lifting device as the supply means in each of the above embodiments is configured as the lifting and polishing device 100, 100A, 100B that doubles as the polishing device and the lifting device. For example, a game ball separate from the lifting device A polishing apparatus may be disposed at an appropriate place on the gaming machine island 1.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100, 100A, and 100B illustrated as the lifting apparatus have been described. However, for example, the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100, 100A, and 100B extend upward from the lower end side that is connected to the bottom of the storage unit 30. A lifting cylinder, a spiral body that lifts the inside of the lifting cylinder while stirring a mixture of a game ball and an abrasive taken from the lower end of the lifting cylinder, and an upper end of the lifting cylinder A separation supply unit for supplying the sphere to the discharge outlet side while separating the mixture discharged from the sphere and the abrasive material, and circulating the abrasive material again to the lower end side of the lifting cylinder unit. It is good also as the structure which did. Further, the game ball may be lifted and lifted by a pair of polishing belts extending vertically.

  In each of the above embodiments, the polishing means is the cassette-like polishing tape 150 stored in the storage case 151. However, for example, a cylindrical body that is detachably interposed in the middle of the feeding pipe 170 is used. It is good also as what comprised the abrasives which contact a game ball and adsorb | suck dirt on an inner wall. Here, the abrasive is made of, for example, 6 nylon or 66 nylon as a main component, and is molded by mixing with a static eliminating material or a polishing enhancing material, or is molded by other synthetic resin, fiber material, or the like. is there.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the control means 300 selectively selects ON / OFF of driving of each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A, 100B, etc. according to the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30. Although it is set to be controlled, the control of the driving of each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses 100A, 100B, etc. by the control means 300 is not limited to only the selection of ON / OFF. You may set so that timing and drive time can also be adjusted suitably. The same applies to the drive control of the shutter devices 200A and 200B, and the opening time, the opening width, and the like may be set so as to be appropriately adjusted.

  Further, the specific arrangement positions of the out ball sensors 40A and 40B in the out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B are not limited to the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the out ball collection baskets 35A and 35B are not limited thereto. Is changed along the longitudinal direction of the out-ball sensors 40A and 40B, it becomes possible to adjust the amount of game balls stored in the storage unit 30 to be detected.

  Furthermore, in each of the above-described embodiments, the notification unit and the warning unit are described as the display unit 310 directly connected to the control unit 300. However, the notification unit and the warning unit are not limited to the display unit 310. For example, a printer as a print output device and a speaker or an income as an audio output device may be used. Of course, the notification means and the warning means may be realized by different devices, and are not limited to those directly connected to the control means 300 as described above, and may be configured as peripheral devices of the hall computer. .

  The present invention can be applied to a small-scale gaming machine island 1 composed of two to three gaming machines 10 or to a gaming machine island 1 configured by arranging five or more gaming machines 10 in a row.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Game machine island 2 ... Island frame 3 ... Premium ball counter 10 ... Game machine 11 ... Game machine main body 12 ... Glass frame 13 ... Game board 14 ... Upper tray 15 ... Lower tray 16 ... Handle 17 ... Variable display device 18 ... Start port 19 ... Large winning port 20 ... Card unit 21 ... Card insertion port 22 ... Frequency display unit 23 ... Lending button 24 ... Return button 30 ... Reserving unit 31 ... Out ball guide rod 32 ... Shared ball 33 ... Out ball passage 34 ... Distribution passage 35A ... Out ball collection bowl 35B ... Out ball collection bowl 36 ... Storage ball bowl 37 ... Foreign matter removal part 38 ... Alignment plate 39 ... Junction bowl 39A ... Path 39B ... Path 39C ... Path 40A ... Out ball sensor 40B ... Out ball Sensor 41 ... Residual ball sensor 41A ... Residual ball sensor 41B ... Residual ball sensor 42 ... Lifting ball sensor 42A ... Lifting ball sensor 42B ... Lifting ball sensor 43 ... Full sensor 50 ... Upper tank 51 ... Supply tank 52 ... Overflow hose 53 ... Hopper 54 ... Chute 55 ... Bellows 100 ... Lifting polishing apparatus 100A ... Lifting polishing apparatus 100B ... Lifting polishing apparatus 101 ... Lifting apparatus main body 102 ... Housing 110 ... Drive gear 111 ... Fitting part 112 ... Rib 113 ... Cap 114 ... Guide tooth 115 ... Locking tooth 116 ... Locking tooth 120 ... Cylinder 121 ... Upper cylinder 122 ... Lower cylinder 123 ... Polishing window 124 ... Helical convex part 125 ... Communication passage 126 ... Empty detection means 130 ... Electric motor 131 ... Gear head 132 ... Spur gear 133 ... Bearing 134 ... Rotating shaft 137 ... Timing belt 140 ... Interlocking mechanism 141 to 143 ... Shaft 144 ... Support bracket 146 ... Tape roller 150 ... Abrasive tape 160 ... Backflow prevention mechanism 170 Pumped pipes 200A ... shutter unit 200B ... shutter device 201 ... shutter 201a ... play grooves 202 ... rotary solenoid 203 ... rotary plate 203a ... pin portion 204 ... holding bracket 204a ... guide groove 300 ... control unit 310 ... display unit

Claims (1)

In a gaming machine island comprising a plurality of gaming machines and a storage unit for storing gaming media used in the gaming machines,
A plurality of lifting and polishing devices for lifting and feeding the game media in the storage unit independently to each other and supplying them to each gaming machine again,
The storage portion includes a guide rod that receives the out game medium discharged from the gaming machine, a passage portion provided on a terminal side of the guide rod, and the passage portion corresponding to each of the lifting and polishing apparatuses. A pair of collection baskets for sending the distributed out game media are arranged,
Each of the pair of collection baskets is provided with storage detection means for detecting the storage amount of the game medium in the collection basket,
A detection means for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball to be lifted is provided at the lower part of the main body of the lift polishing apparatus,
Despite the storing detection means has detected the game media of the recovery in the trough, the game does not detect the game medium said detecting means to be pumped in the pumped polishing device corresponding to the collection trough If the medium is not supplied, it is determined that a malfunction between the said collecting trough and the pumped polishing apparatus has occurred, the gaming machine islands, characterized in that make stops driving of the pumped polishing apparatus.

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