JP5397812B2 - Ball dispenser for gaming machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball dispensing device for a gaming machine for dispensing balls sent from an upstream ball tank one by one as prize balls.

  A mechanism board is provided on the back surface of the pachinko machine, and a ball tank for storing prize balls is disposed on the upper part of the mechanism board. A ball alignment rail is connected below the ball tank. Conventionally, the balls are arranged in one step by the ball aligning rail and then discharged by a ball dispensing device. However, ball biting occurs at the part that is aligned from the second level to the first level, so the ball biting is eliminated by hanging a swinging weight on that part (Patent Document 1) or vibrating (Patent Documents 2 and 3). Was. However, there is a problem that the former lacks certainty and the latter requires a separate driving force.

  In view of this, it is considered that the latter ball breaking power is supplied by the dispensing power, that is, the ball is arranged and broken from the unaligned ball tank directly by the ball dispensing device. (Patent Document 4). However, there is a problem that an arc-shaped (tunnel-shaped) ball biting as shown in FIG.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-031719 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-96077 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-141176 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-189618

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention does not require the balls that flow down to be lined up in a row, thereby preventing ball clogging and dispensing the balls one by one downstream. It is an object to provide a ball dispensing apparatus.

  In the present invention, the balls are not aligned in a single row by the ball passage rods, but are arranged in two or more rows, two rows or more and less than three rows and three rows, so as not to cause arch (tunnel) ball biting. A structure in which the balls are paid out one by one while breaking the ball rows. Here, the two-tier means a state in which two balls are stacked one above the other, and the second row means a state in which two balls are arranged side by side. Also, less than 3 tiers means that the balls are not stacked vertically but some balls are shifted laterally and 3 balls are stacked in a zigzag shape. Less than 3 rows means 3 balls horizontally. This is a state in which some balls are shifted upward and three balls are connected.

  A ball dispensing apparatus for a gaming machine according to the present invention made to solve the above-described problems includes a rotating body provided with a plurality of ball receiving recesses, and a housing that supports the shaft of the rotating body in a horizontal state. A ball dispensing device for a gaming machine provided with a ball introduction path through which a ball of 2 stages 2 rows or more and less than 3 stages 3 rows can flow in at the top of the housing, and a ball counting sensor at the bottom of the housing In addition, the ball that has flowed into the ball introduction path in a state of 2 stages 2 rows or more and less than 3 stages 3 rows by interposing the rotating body between the ball introduction path and the ball delivery path The upper clearance space for taking in the balls receiving recesses of the rotating rotating body and discharging the balls one by one to the ball discharging path, and for releasing the pressure of the flowing balls above the ball introducing path Is provided. In the present invention, a side clearance space for releasing the pressure of the ball can be provided on one side of the ball introduction path.

The ball dispensing device for a gaming machine according to the present invention is a ball dispensing device for a gaming machine comprising a rotating body provided with a plurality of ball receiving recesses and a housing for supporting the shaft of the rotating body in a horizontal state. In addition, the upper part of the housing is provided with a ball introduction path through which balls of 2 steps 2 rows or more and less than 3 steps 3 rows can flow, and the lower part of the housing is provided with a ball dispensing path equipped with a ball counting sensor. The ball receiving concave portion of the rotating body that rotates the rotating body by interposing the rotating body between the ball introducing path and the ball paying path, in a state where the ball is introduced into the ball introducing path in a state of 2 to 2 rows and less than 3 rows and 3 rows. The ball is discharged to the ball delivery path one by one, and the side clearance for releasing the pressure of the ball on one side of the ball introduction path on the side where the ball receiving recess of the rotating body descends is provided. It is characterized by providing a space.
In the above-described invention, it is desirable that the side surface of the ball introduction path on the side where the ball receiving recess of the rotating body rises is formed as a vertical flat surface, and the width of the rotating body in the axial direction is 12 mm with the width of the ball discharge path. It is desirable that the thickness is less than 20 mm.

  The ball dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 can cause the balls to flow into the housing in a state of two to two rows and less than three to three rows and rotate the rotating body to take the balls into the ball receiving recesses of the rotating body. Therefore, it is not necessary to arrange the balls one by one, thereby preventing the occurrence of clogging. Further, the balls can be taken into the ball receiving recess one by one and paid out to the ball payout path. Furthermore, since the upper clearance space is provided above the ball introduction path, the curved ball train collides with the ceiling of the ball introduction passage, and the load of the motor that rotates the rotating body is increased by the pressure from the ball train. Can be prevented.

In the inventions according to claims 2 and 3, since the side clearance space is provided on one side of the ball introduction path on the side where the ball receiving recess of the rotating body descends, the ball pressure applied to the rotating body can be released.
In the invention according to claim 4, since the side surface of the ball introduction path on the side where the ball receiving recess of the rotating body rises is formed as a vertical flat surface, the balls enter the ball receiving recess of the rotating body and vibrate. The ball can be prevented from being obstructed, and the ball payout rate can be improved to reliably pay out the ball.
In the invention according to claim 5, since the width of the ball payout path is set to be greater than 12 mm and less than 20 mm in the axial direction, the decrease in the drop speed of the ball is reduced, and two balls are sandwiched simultaneously. This can prevent clogging.

It is a front view of a ball passage device. It is a top view of a ball passage device. It is front sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus of FIG. It is front sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus which made the inflow of the ball the direction orthogonal to a rotating shaft. It is side surface sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus of FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus which rotates a rotary body counterclockwise. It is front sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus before improvement. It is side surface sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus of FIG. It is explanatory drawing of an arch-shaped ball chewing. It is side surface sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus which provided only the upper relief space. It is side surface sectional drawing of the ball dispensing apparatus which provided only the side part escape space. It is the sectional view on the AA line of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
1 and 2 are views showing a ball passage device 2 including a ball passage rod 3 and a ball dispensing device 4, and the ball passage device 2 is connected to a ball tank 1.

  The ball passageway 3 is formed in a concave groove shape, and has a lateral width of 2 balls or more and less than 3 balls (22 mm to less than 33 mm when the ball diameter is 11 mm). Moreover, the height of the side surface 31 is also set to be more than two balls and less than three. Since the width and height of the ball passage 3 are larger than two balls, it is possible to completely prevent clogging caused by two balls arranged side by side in the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. The bottom surface of the ball passage rod 3 is formed with angle-shaped ridges 32 that are high in the center and low on both sides and extend in the longitudinal direction, and ball guide grooves 33 are formed on both sides of the ball passage rod 3.

  The ball payout device 4 is arranged at the downstream end of the ball passageway 3, and a ball guiding path (not shown) for paying out the prize balls is connected to the lower side. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ball dispensing device 4 includes a rotating body 5 that is rotated by a motor 9 and a housing 6 that supports both ends of a rotating shaft 51 of the rotating body 5 in a horizontal state.

  The housing 6 has a ball inlet 61 that takes in the balls from the ball passageway 3 in the upper portion, and communicates with this to form a ball introduction path 62 (FIG. 3). Below the ball introduction path 62, a ball payout path 63 having a ball counting sensor 8 is formed close to one side surface of the housing 6. Between the ball introduction path 62 and the ball payout path 63, the rotating body 5 provided with the two sprockets 7 on the rotating shaft 51 is interposed in the horizontal state. Reference numeral 64 denotes a ball removal path for removing balls in the pachinko machine for maintenance or the like, and is not used during the game. When the ball is removed, the motor 9 is rotated in the reverse direction. Moreover, the width | variety of the ball delivery path 63 and the ball removal path 64 is formed in the dimension which one ball can pass.

  The ball entrance 61 has a width and a height that are equal to or more than two balls and less than three balls, as in the ball passageway 3, and prevents clogging by two balls. The ball introduction path 62 has a horizontal cross-sectional shape of a square or a rectangle, and its vertical width (width in the axial direction of the rotating body 5) is set to be equal to or more than two balls and less than three as shown in FIG. It prevents clogging.

  In addition, the ball inlet 61 is provided with a downward-facing ridge 43 to prevent the ball row described later from rising and press the ball row downward. The eaves 43 are formed to have a gentle downward slope, whereby an upper escape space 41 for releasing ball pressure can be provided between the lower end of the eaves 43 and the upper ceiling of the ball introduction path 62. it can. The upper clearance space 41 preferably has a margin (E dimension shown in FIG. 3) of 1/2 ball or more and 2 or less balls from the lower end of the basket 43 to the upper ceiling.

  The ball that has flowed into the ball introduction path 62 from the ball inlet 61 is sent out toward the lower rotating body 5. The distance between the bottom of the ball inlet 61 and the rotating shaft 51 of the rotating body 5 (H dimension shown in FIG. 3) is within 100 mm so that the rotating body 5 can reliably hold the next ball.

  Further, the lateral width of the lower portion of the ball introduction path 62 (the width directly above the rotating body 5 and the width in the direction perpendicular to the rotation shaft 51) is equal to or more than two balls and less than three (see FIG. 4). Clogging by two balls is prevented. A side clearance space 42 for releasing the ball pressure is provided adjacent to the ball introduction path 62.

  The rotating body 5 has two sprockets 7a and 7b arranged on the rotating shaft 51 at a required interval. This space | interval is set as the space | interval which can receive one ball between the housing | casing 6 side surfaces which the sprockets 7a and 7b oppose. The sprockets 7a and 7b have three ball receiving recesses 71 on the outer periphery. As shown in FIG. 4, the positions of the ball receiving recesses 71 of the sprockets 7a and 7b are shifted so that the flange 72 of the other sprocket 7b is positioned in the ball receiving recess 71 of one sprocket 7a. When a ball enters the ball receiving recess 71 of the sprocket, for example, 7a, the ball is placed on the outer edge of the flange 72 of the sprocket 7b in the other sprocket 7b, so that the ball does not enter the ball receiving recess 71. (Figure 3).

  Since the chamfered portion 73 is formed obliquely inward at the tip of the collar portion 72 of the sprocket 7a, 7b (FIG. 3), when there is no ball in the ball receiving recess 71 of the sprocket 7a, the collar of the other sprocket 7b A ball on the outer edge of the portion 71 enters the ball receiving recess 71 of the sprocket 7a. Accordingly, the ball receiving recess 71 of the sprocket 7a and the ball receiving recess 71 of the sprocket 7b can alternately receive and discharge balls.

The reason why the upper clearance space 41 is provided will be described below.
FIG. 8 is a view showing a ball dispensing device having a ball introduction path 62 in which the upper clearance space 41 is not provided. In this case, pressure is applied to the ball row by being pushed from behind, and the ball row is moved to the ball. A downward pressure is applied to the rotating body 5 by being supported by the ceiling of the introduction path 62. As a result, the rotational resistance of the rotating body 5 increases, and an excessive load is applied to the motor 9 to shorten the life or use the motor 9 having a large driving force. Therefore, an upper clearance space 41 is provided to prevent the ball train from hitting the ceiling so that the motor 9 is not loaded. For this purpose, the height of the upper clearance space 41 (the dimension of E in FIG. 3) is desirably equal to or more than ½ balls. This is because the ball train may hit the ceiling if it is not more than 1/2. Two or more are not necessary.

The reason why the side clearance space 42 is provided is as follows.
FIG. 9 is a view showing a ball dispensing device having a ball introduction path 62 in which the side clearance space 42 is not provided. When the rotating body 5 rotates clockwise, the ball that has entered the ball receiving recess is B Since the ball is rotated while pushing up the ball in position, the ball on the B side in the figure where the ball receiving recess 71 descends (B ball) is applied with a rising force, and the rotating body 5 is loaded as a reaction force. ing. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the side relief space 42 is provided on one side of the ball introduction path 62 on the side where the ball receiving recess 71 of the rotating body 5 descends so as to release the pressure applied to the balls. The width of the side clearance space 42 (dimension F in FIG. 4) is preferably not less than 1/2 ball and not more than 2 balls. This is because if the number of balls is less than 1/2, the pressure relief effect is small, and more than 2 balls are not necessary.

  3 and 4, in the ball dispensing device provided with the upper relief space 41 and the side relief space 42, the balls that have flowed into the ball introduction path 62 from the ball inlet 61 enter the ball receiving recess 71 of the sprocket 7. Get in. The B ball in the drawing is pushed up by the rotation of the sprocket 7 and the ball (C ball) escapes into the side clearance space 42. Further, when there are a large number of balls in the ball introduction path 62, the balls can escape to the upper escape space 41, and the pressure of the balls can be lost.

  The ball dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 11 is provided with only the upper relief space 41 above the ball introduction path 62 without providing the side relief space 42, but is introduced into the ball introduction path 62 from the ball inlet 61. The ball enters the ball receiving recess 71 of the sprocket 7. The pressure of the ball flowing in from the ball inlet 61 side and the pressure of the ball by pushing up the ball B in the figure due to the rotation of the sprocket 7 can be lost to the upper escape space 41, causing the arch-shaped clogging shown in FIG. And can easily enter the sprocket 7. With the mechanism as described above, the one shown in FIG. 11 can reliably dispense balls with high accuracy.

  The ball dispensing apparatus shown in FIG. 12 is provided with only the side clearance space 42 on the side surface of the ball introduction path 62 without providing the upper clearance space 41, but this is also shown in the figure by the rotation of the sprocket 7. The B ball is pushed up and the C ball escapes into the side clearance space 42, and the ball pressure can be dissipated in the same manner as shown in FIG.

  In the ball dispensing device shown in FIG. 4, the side surface of the ball introduction path 62 on the side where the ball receiving recess 71 of the rotating body 5 rises (the ball A side in FIG. 4) is formed on the vertical flat surface 65. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the presence of a space in which the ball rolls due to vibration, so that the ball can easily enter the ball receiving recess 71 and the ball can be discharged more reliably.

Furthermore, the width of the ball delivery path 63 in the axial direction of the rotator 5 (G dimension in FIG. 3) is changed from 12 mm in the past to less than 20 mm in excess of 12 mm. It is possible to reduce the decrease and completely prevent the two balls from being sandwiched. Moreover, since this width is set to be more than 12 mm and less than 20 mm, there is no obstacle from the rotating body 5 to the ball counting sensor 8, and the passing of balls can be counted quickly, and the number of balls dispensed can be accurately determined. Can be counted. If it is 20 mm or more, clogging will occur.

  In what is configured as described above, the ball delivered from the ball tank 1 flows down in the ball passageway 3 downstream. The balls are not neatly distributed into the two guide grooves 33 by the Yamagata ridges 32, but are present at the top of the Yamagata ridges 32, and the inside of the ball passage ridge 3 is stunned in two steps and two rows. It flows down in the state. Then, the balls flow into the housing 6 from the ball inlet 61 and flow into the ball introduction path 62 in two or more rows and less than three or three rows. In the ball dispensing state, the sprockets 7a and 7b rotate to break the ball train while being agitated. Therefore, the ball introduction path 62 may have a play space that is not completely filled with the ball and can be agitated and moved. is necessary. By providing the upper clearance space 41 and the side clearance space 42, a play space can be secured. Then, the sprockets 7A and 7b are rotated so that the balls alternately enter the ball receiving recesses 71 of the two sprockets 7a and 7b, and are sent to the ball dispensing path 63 below one ball at a time.

  As described above, the height and width of the ball introduction path 62 are not reduced to less than two balls until the balls are taken into the sprockets 7a and 7b, and the upper clearance space 41 and the side clearance space 42 Since the ball pressure can be released, ball dispensing can be continued without causing clogging. Then, the number of balls passing through the ball counting sensor 8 is counted, and when the predetermined number is reached, the rotation of the sprockets 7a and 7b is stopped. Since the present invention does not require the balls to be arranged in a line, there is an advantageous effect that the risk of causing clogging is greatly reduced.

  FIGS. 5 and 6 are views showing a ball dispensing device in which the inflow direction of the balls is a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 51. Also in this case, the upper escape space 41 is provided above the ball introduction path 62, and the side of the ball introduction path 62 on the side where the ball receiving recess 71 of the rotating body 5 descends (the side of the ball B in FIG. 6) Since the part escape space 42 is provided, it is possible to prevent the ball pressure from being applied to the rotating body 5.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing a ball dispensing device in which the ball inflow direction is a direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 51 as in FIG. 5, and the rotation of the rotating body 5 is counterclockwise and the upper clearance space 7 is a view showing that the side surface of the ball introduction path 62 on the side where the ball receiving recess 71 of the rotating body 5 rises (the ball A side in FIG. 7) is formed on the vertical flat surface 65. In this case, the ball that has flowed into the ball introduction path 62 from the ball inlet 61 enters the ball receiving recess 71 by the rotation of the sprocket 7. When the A ball enters the ball receiving recess 71, the ball B is pushed upward. The pushed up ball B escapes in the direction of the ball inlet 61 because no side escape space is provided. That is, the ball entrance 61 part also serves as a side clearance space, so that the pressure is lost to prevent clogging.

  Further, FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, in which vibration transmitted from the ball B to the ball D in contact with the side surfaces 65 to 67 formed on the vertical flat surface on the ball A side is reduced and the ball of the ball A is reduced. It does not hinder entry into the receiving recess 71, and the balls can surely enter into the plurality of ball receiving recesses 71, thereby enabling easy payout. In addition, since there is an upper clearance space, the arch-shaped clogging shown in FIG. 10 does not occur. With the above mechanism, the one shown in FIG. 7 is the most accurate and can reliably dispense balls.

  As described above, by providing the upper clearance space 41 and the side clearance space 42, the load applied to the sprocket can be reduced, and the ball can be reliably discharged without causing the ball engagement with a small motor torque. it can. In addition, the balls can be reliably held in the ball receiving recesses 71 of the rotating body 5 provided with a plurality of ball receiving recesses. Only the upper clearance space shown in FIG. 7 described above was provided, and the side clearance space that was also used as the ball inlet resulted in the best ball payout rate. Therefore, the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention has a great advantage that the ball can be dispensed at high speed and the ball can be measured with high accuracy without generating the ball biting.

5 rotating body, 6 housing, 8 ball counting sensor, 41 upper clearance space, 42 side clearance space, 62 ball introduction path, 63 ball delivery path,

Claims (5)

  A ball dispensing device for a gaming machine comprising a rotating body provided with a plurality of ball receiving recesses and a housing for supporting the shaft of the rotating body in a horizontal state, wherein the upper portion of the housing has two or more rows and two rows A ball introduction path into which balls of less than 3 rows and 3 rows can flow is provided, and a ball dispensing path equipped with a ball counting sensor is provided at the lower part of the housing, and the ball introduction path is disposed between the ball introduction path and the ball dispensing path. The ball that has flowed into the ball introduction path in a state of 2 rows and 2 rows or more and less than 3 rows and 3 rows with a rotating body is taken into the ball receiving recess of the rotating rotating body, and each ball is thrown out one by one. The ball dispensing device for a gaming machine is characterized in that an upper clearance space is provided above the ball introduction path for releasing the pressure of the ball that has flowed in.   The ball dispensing device for a gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a side clearance space for releasing the pressure of the ball is provided on one side of the ball introduction path on the side where the ball receiving recess of the rotating body descends.   A ball dispensing device for a gaming machine comprising a rotating body provided with a plurality of ball receiving recesses and a housing for supporting the shaft of the rotating body in a horizontal state, wherein the upper portion of the housing has two or more rows and two rows A ball introduction path into which balls of less than 3 rows and 3 rows can flow is provided, and a ball dispensing path equipped with a ball counting sensor is provided at the lower part of the housing, and the ball introduction path is disposed between the ball introduction path and the ball dispensing path. The ball that has flowed into the ball introduction path in a state of 2 rows and 2 rows or more and less than 3 rows and 3 rows with a rotating body is taken into the ball receiving recess of the rotating rotating body, and each ball is thrown out one by one. The ball of the gaming machine is characterized in that a side clearance space for releasing the pressure of the ball is provided on one side of the ball introduction path on the side where the ball receiving recess of the rotating body descends. Dispensing device.   The ball dispensing device for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a side surface of the ball introduction path on the side where the ball receiving recess of the rotating body rises is formed as a vertical flat surface.   The ball payout device for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the width of the ball payout path in the axial direction of the rotating body is greater than 12 mm and less than 20 mm.

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