JP5681087B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine provided with a ball passage unit having a ball passage for guiding a game ball from a ball reservoir.

  For example, a pachinko machine, which is one of the representative examples of gaming machines, has a gaming board in a holding part that is opened in the front and back on an outer frame installed in a vertical orientation on a game shop installation frame base (commonly called `` island ''). A detachable middle frame is assembled so as to be openable and detachable. And, on the front side of the middle frame, a front frame assembled with a glass plate for perspective protection of the game board, upper and lower ball dishes, a ball hitting device for launching pachinko balls, etc. Various ball processing units, control devices, and the like are provided on the mechanism set board disposed on the back side for use in games. Here, the mechanism set board is formed to have a size substantially aligned with the middle frame, and a ball tank to which pachinko balls from a ball supply facility provided on the installation frame base are supplied is assembled at the upper position. It has been. The mechanism set board is provided with a tank rail for aligning and sending pachinko balls stored in the ball tank, and a ball passage for sending pachinko balls from the tank rail to a downstream ball dispensing device as a ball processing unit. Then, the operation of the ball paying device is configured to pay the pachinko balls in the ball tank to the upper and lower ball dishes as rental balls or prize balls.

  In such a pachinko machine, many techniques for simplifying the assembly work have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for attaching a unit (hereinafter referred to as a payout processing unit) provided with a ball passage, a ball payout device, a control device, and the like connected to the tank rail to a side portion of a mechanism set panel. Yes. That is, the ball passage connected to the tank rail, the ball dispensing device, and the like are unitized, thereby reducing the number of parts to be assembled and simplifying the assembly work of the pachinko machine. Here, the payout processing unit is configured to meander the ball passage in the left-right direction and guide the pachinko ball to flow in the left-right direction, thereby suppressing the flow-down speed of the pachinko ball.

JP 2001-137396 A

  By the way, in recent years, the game board has been enlarged, and a large game part (e.g., a symbol display device or an accessory) is arranged on the game board, thereby diversifying the game effects and improving the impact and force. There is a growing tendency to seek pachinko machines that can increase the fun of games. Here, in order to increase the size of the game board, it is conceivable to use a space behind the game board. However, a payout processing unit including a ball passage and a ball payout device extends on the rear side of the game board held in the middle frame, and there is a limit to expanding the game board to the rear side. It is difficult to further increase the size of the panel.

  That is, the present invention has been proposed in order to suitably solve these problems inherent in gaming machines according to the prior art, and provides a gaming machine in which a large gaming board can be arranged on a main body frame. The purpose is to do.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and achieve the intended purpose, the invention according to claim 1 of the present application provides:
A main body frame (13) for detachably holding the game board (12), a ball storage section (27) for storing game balls provided on the upper portion of the main body frame (13), and a front side of the main body frame (13) A ball passing guide part (28) for guiding a game ball to the provided ball receiving tray (16) and one side part of the ball storing part (27) and the ball passing guide part (28) In a gaming machine comprising a ball path unit (29) having a ball path (52) communicating so as to guide the game ball down from the section (27),
The ball passage unit (29) has a width in accordance with the ball passage (52) in which the width of the passage in the left-right direction is set to a width allowing passage of one game ball, and the side edge of the main body frame (13). The passage forming portion (54, 64) formed in parallel,
In the passage forming portion (54, 64), the spherical passage (52) is formed in a meandering shape that folds up and down along the plane in the front-rear direction from the inlet (52a) to the outlet (52b),
A ball dispensing device (37) in which a ball dispensing passage (61) is formed in the ball passage unit (29), the inlet (61a) of the ball dispensing passage (61) is connected to the outlet (52b) of the ball passage (52). Are arranged in a state of being aligned and communicating in the vertical direction,
The passage forming portion (54, 64) has a ball extraction passage (63) that branches from the upstream side of the communication portion with the ball dispensing device (37) in the ball passage (52) and extends along the plane. , Formed in a positional relationship overlapping with the ball dispensing device (37) in the front-rear direction ,
The spherical passage unit (29) is supported rotatably about an axis extending in the vertical direction with respect to the main body frame (13) via hinge means (39, 46), and the spherical passage (52) The closed position of the ball passage unit (29) communicating with the ball storage section (27) and the ball outlet guide section (28) has a free end side from the center of the body frame (13) with the hinge means (39, 46) as a fulcrum. By rotating in the separating direction, the ball passage (52) moves to an open position where it does not communicate with the ball storage portion (27) and the ball outlet guide portion (28), and the ball passage unit (29) is the main body at the open position. The gist is that it is configured to be detachable from the frame (13) .

According to the invention which concerns on Claim 1, the width | variety of the left-right direction of a channel | path formation part can be formed in the dimension which can pass one ball | bowl to a ball path to the communication part which a ball paying apparatus and a ball path communicate. Therefore, the amount of projection of the passage forming portion to the holding side of the game board in the main body frame can be kept small, and an increase in the size of the game board can be allowed. In addition, since the ball passage is formed in a meandering shape that is folded back and forth and folded up and down, the flow velocity of the game ball flowing down the ball passage can be appropriately reduced while suppressing the lateral expansion of the passage formation portion. Can do. Further, since the ball passage is formed so as to extend along the same plane as the plane along which the ball passage extends, the width in the left-right direction of the passage formation portion does not increase.
In addition, the ball passage unit can be opened and removed without interfering with various game parts arranged on the rear side of the game board, so that the rear side of the game board can be used to open or remove the ball passage unit. There is no restriction on the size of the gaming parts to be arranged.

  According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, a large game board can be installed in the main body frame.

1 is a front view showing a pachinko machine according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view which shows the state which assembled | attached the outer frame and the middle frame of the Example, Comprising: The game board is removed. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the pachinko machine which opened the front frame of an example in the state seen from the front side, Comprising: The game board is removed. It is a schematic perspective view showing the outer frame, the middle frame, and the game board of the embodiment in a state of being disassembled and viewed from the front side. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the state where the middle frame of the example, the front frame, and the game board were assembled from the back side, and the ball passage unit is in a closed position. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the state which assembled | attached the inner frame of the Example, the front frame, and the game board from the back side, Comprising: The ball path unit is made into the open position. It is a schematic perspective view shown in the state which decomposed | disassembled the 1st side frame part and ball passage unit of the middle frame of the Example, and was seen from the rear side. It is a principal part side view which cuts and shows the pachinko machine in the state which made the ball | bowl channel | path unit of the Example into the closed position. It is a rear view which shows longitudinally and shows the relation between the ball passage unit of an example, and a ball storage part, Comprising: The ball passage unit is a closed position. (a) is the principal part cross-sectional top view in the state which made the pachinko machine of an Example the ball path unit a closed position, (b) is an enlarged view of the A section in (a). It is a principal part side view which shows the ball passage unit of an Example. It is the principal part schematic perspective view which looked at the pachinko machine which made the ball passage unit of an example a closed position from the back side. It is the principal part schematic perspective view which looked at the pachinko machine which made the ball passage unit of the example an open position from the back side. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view shown in the state which connected the ball | bowl channel | path unit of the Example, and the ball | bowl out guide part. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the apparatus installation part in the ball path unit of an Example. The apparatus installation part in the ball path unit of an Example is shown, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between a ball paying-out apparatus and a ground member. It is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the positional relationship with a ball | bowl through guide part in the state which made the ball | bowl channel | path unit of the Example closed position. It is the principal part schematic perspective view seen from the front side which shows the positional relationship with a ball | bowl out guide part in the state which made the ball | bowl channel | path unit of the Example into the closed position. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the ball | bowl out guide part of the Example from the front side. It is the schematic perspective view which looked at the ball exit guide part of the Example from the rear side. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the ball | bowl out guide part of an Example in the state seen from the front side.

  Next, the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of preferred embodiments. In the embodiment, a pachinko machine that plays a game using a pachinko ball as a game ball will be described as an example. In the following description, “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” mean that the pachinko machine 10 is viewed from the front side (player side) as shown in FIG. 1 unless otherwise specified. It shall be pointed out in the state.

(About pachinko machine 10)
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the pachinko machine 10 according to the embodiment is formed in a rectangular frame shape that opens forward and backward, and is used as a fixed frame that is installed in a vertically installed posture on an installation frame base (not shown) of a game shop. On the front side of the opening of the outer frame 11, a middle frame 13 as a main body frame for detachably holding the game board 12 is assembled so as to be openable and detachable, and various symbols can be variably displayed on the back side of the game board 12. A simple symbol display device 14 is detachably disposed. In addition, on the front side of the middle frame 13, as an opening / closing member configured to cover the front and rear windows with a transparent member formed of a glass plate or a transparent synthetic resin material that protects the game board 12 from see-through The front frame 15 is assembled to be openable and closable, and a ball tray 16 for storing pachinko balls is assembled to the lower position of the front frame 15 so as to be integrally openable and closable with the front frame 15. The front frame 15 is provided with an operation handle 17 for operating the ball striking device 30 disposed on the middle frame 13 on the side of the ball receiving tray 16, and the ball striking device 30 is operated by rotating the operation handle 17. Is activated, and the pachinko balls stored in the ball tray 16 are fired toward the game board 12. In the embodiment, as the symbol display device 14, a liquid crystal display device in which a liquid crystal panel capable of displaying various symbols is accommodated in an accommodation case is not limited to this. Various conventionally known symbol display devices capable of stopping and variably displaying various symbols such as a device and a dot matrix type symbol display device can be adopted.

(About outer frame 11)
2 and 4, the outer frame 11 includes an upper frame member 31 constituting an upper edge, a lower frame member 32 constituting a lower edge, and a first side constituting a left edge (one edge). The frame member 33 is basically composed of a second side frame member 34 constituting the right edge (the other edge), and the outer frame 11 is assembled by assembling these upper, lower, left and right frame members 31, 32, 33, 34. Is configured as a vertically long rectangular frame. The middle frame 13 with respect to the outer frame 11 is supported by a first side frame portion 25 side, which will be described later, so as to be opened and closed and detachable via a hinge mechanism, and the middle frame 13 is closed with respect to the outer frame 11. Thus, the inner frame 13 is accommodated inside the outer frame 11. Note that the second side frame member 34 of the outer frame 11 is provided with a locking fitting, and the locking device provided on the middle frame 13 is engaged with the locking fitting, whereby the middle frame 13 is held in a closed state. In the embodiment, the upper and lower frame members 31 and 32 are made of wood, and the left and right side frame members 33 and 34 are formed of a metal material such as aluminum.

(About the middle frame 13)
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the middle frame 13 includes an upper frame portion 23 that forms an upper edge, and a lower frame portion 24 that forms a lower edge and functions as an installation member for installing a speaker, a ball hitting device 30, and the like. And a first side frame portion 25 that forms a left edge (one side edge) and a second side frame portion 26 that forms a right edge (the other side edge). When 24, 25, and 26 are assembled, the entirety is formed in a size that matches the opening area of the outer frame 11. As described above, the first frame 25 side of the middle frame 13 is rotatably supported with respect to the outer frame 11 via the hinge mechanism, and the second frame 26 side is locked by the locking device. It is like that. In addition, the middle frame 13 is provided with an opening area 13a that opens in the front-rear direction by assembling the upper, lower, left, and right frame portions 23, 24, 25, and 26, and the game board 12 is installed in the opening area 13a. In the embodiment, the upper and lower frame portions 23 and 24 are formed of a synthetic resin, and the left and right side frame portions 25 and 26 are formed of a metal material such as aluminum, while ensuring the rigidity of the middle frame 13 as a whole. The weight is reduced.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the game board 12 is a plate-like body formed in a substantially rectangular shape with a predetermined thickness from a veneer board, a transparent acrylic board or the like, and the surface (board surface) of the game board 12 A game area 19 in which a pachinko ball can flow down is defined by a guide rail 18 that is curved and formed in a substantially circular shape. Further, an installation member 85 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) to which the symbol display device 14 is attached is disposed on the back surface of the game board 12. The game board 12 is provided with a display opening (not shown) that opens back and forth at a position corresponding to the symbol display portion of the symbol display device 14, and a center with a required decoration according to the display opening. A frame-shaped decorative body 20, which is also called an accessory, is faced. The game board 12 has various game components such as a start winning device 21 that starts changing the symbol of the symbol display device 14 by winning a pachinko ball at a position facing the game area 19 and a special winning device 22 that is released when a big hit occurs. Is arranged. In FIG. 4, the frame-shaped decorative body 20, the start winning device 21, and the special winning device 22 arranged on the surface of the game board 12 are omitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 8, and 9, the middle frame 13 is provided with a ball storage portion 27 capable of storing pachinko balls on the back side of the upper frame portion 23. In addition, a ball outlet guide portion 28 (described later) in which ball flow passages 72 and 73 communicating with the ball tray 16 are formed in the middle frame 13 is disposed on the back side of the lower frame portion 24. The ball storage unit 27 and the ball flow passages 72 and 73 of the ball outlet guide unit 28 are connected to each other by a ball passage unit 29. That is, pachinko balls supplied to the ball storage unit 27 from a ball supply facility (not shown) provided on the installation frame base are supplied to the ball tray 16 via the ball passage unit 29 and the ball outlet guide unit 28. It is supposed to be. The sphere storage unit 27 is disposed on the upper frame portion 23 so as to be located behind the opening region 13a of the middle frame 13, and faces partly overlapping the opening region 13a. That is, the pachinko machine 10 is configured such that the upper part of the game board 12 installed in the opening area 13a of the middle frame 13 and the ball storage part 27 overlap in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 8).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ball storage unit 27 receives a pachinko ball from a ball supply facility, stores a ball tank 35 that stores the pachinko ball, and a tank rail 36 that aligns the pachinko balls stored in the ball tank 35. And. On the bottom surface at the downstream end of the tank rail 36, a ball discharge port 36a that opens downward is opened. The ball discharge port 36a is connected to a ball introduction port (inlet) 52a of a first ball passage 52 (described later) formed in a ball passage unit 29 that connects the tank rail 36 and the ball outlet guide portion 28 (see FIG. 9). As shown in FIG. 14, the ball passage unit 29 is provided with a ball payout device 37 for paying out pachinko balls. The ball payout device 37 is operated based on a predetermined control condition. The pachinko balls that have arrived at the ball passage unit 29 from the 36 ball discharge ports 36 a can be led out to the ball exit guide portion 28. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the ball storage portion 27 is provided with a terminal plate mounting portion 83, and the terminal plate mounting portion 83 is configured such that an external terminal plate 84 is detachably disposed. Via the external terminal board 84, wiring connected to various devices arranged in the pachinko machine 10 and wiring connected to the hall computer of the amusement store are connected.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the lower frame portion 24 is provided with a ball outlet opening 24a that opens in the front-rear direction at a position biased toward the first side frame portion 25, and the rear of the ball outlet opening 24a. The end portion is connected to a ball outlet 72a, which will be described later, of the ball outlet guide portion 28. The front frame 15 is formed with a ball receiving port 15a communicating with the pachinko ball storage portion formed in the ball receiving tray 16 at a position corresponding to the ball outlet opening 24a so as to open in the front-rear direction. When the front frame 15 is closed with respect to the middle frame 13, the ball receiving port 15a communicates with the ball outlet opening 24a. That is, the pachinko balls supplied to the ball delivery guide portion 28 by the operation of the ball dispensing device 37 are transferred to the ball tray 16 via the ball delivery opening 24a of the middle frame 13 and the ball receiving port 15a of the front frame 15. The storage unit is paid out as prize balls or rental balls.

  The ball reservoir 27 is provided with a ball stop member 38 that is displaced between a closed position that restricts the passage of pachinko balls from the ball discharge port 36a and an open position that permits the passage of pachinko balls. (See FIG. 9). The ball stop member 38 is always urged toward the closed position, and the ball stop member 38 is in the closed position when the ball passage unit 29 is in the open position, which will be described later. At the same time, the pachinko ball traffic is regulated. The ball stop member 38 is pushed by the ball passage unit 29 (specifically, the first passage forming portion 54) and displaced from the closed position by setting the ball passage unit 29 to a closed position described later. It is held in the open position and is configured to allow pachinko balls to pass through the ball discharge port 36a.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the first side frame portion 25 of the middle frame 13 includes a bent edge portion 25a whose rear end edge portion is bent inward, and the bent edge portion 25a has a vertical direction. A plurality of hinge fittings 39 are disposed apart from each other. The hinge fitting 39 is formed by forming a hinge hole 39a penetrating in the vertical direction in an extending portion extending horizontally outward from the bent edge portion 25a. Further, by inserting a hinge pin 46b of a hinge tool 46, which will be described later, into the hinge hole 39a from above, the ball path unit 29 can be rotatably supported about the vertical axis with respect to the middle frame 13 and can be detachably supported. Composed. The extending portion of the hinge fitting 39 is set so as not to protrude outward from the outermost surface of the first side frame portion 25. In addition, the bent edge portion 25 a is formed with a notch portion 25 b that allows the hinge tool 46 of the ball passage unit 29 to rotate corresponding to each hinge fitting 39.

(About unit support parts 40, 41, 42)
As shown in FIG. 13, upper unit support portions 40, 41 that support the upper end portion of the ball passage unit 29 are formed on the left side wall portion 27 a of the ball storage portion 27. Here, the upper unit support portions 40 and 41 are provided on the side of the ball discharge port 36a through which the pachinko balls are sent out from the ball storage portion 27, and are provided on the left side of the upper frame portion 23 in the embodiment. The upper unit support portions 40 and 41 are provided at the front and rear positions sandwiching the ball discharge port 36a in the left side wall portion 27a, the first upper unit support portion 40 provided on the front side, and the second upper unit provided on the rear side. The structure with the support part 41 is different. That is, the first upper unit support portion 40 includes a first recess 40a that opens outward, and a first protrusion 40b that protrudes from the lower end of the first recess 40a to the outer edge of the left side wall 27a. And a first upper engagement hole 40c which is opened so as to penetrate vertically through the first protrusion 40b. On the other hand, the second upper unit support portion 41 includes a second recess 41a that is formed on a wall surface 41d that is recessed inward from the left side wall portion 27a, and an outer edge of the left side wall portion 27a from the lower end portion of the wall surface 41d. The second protrusion 41b is formed so as to protrude up to the second protrusion 41b, and the second upper engagement hole 41c is formed so as to penetrate vertically through the second protrusion 41b. Then, upper engagement members 48d and 49c, which will be described later, disposed in the ball passage unit 29 can be inserted into and removed from the upper engagement holes 40c and 41c.

  A pair of lower unit support portions 42 that support the lower end of the ball passage unit 29 are formed on the rear surface of the ball outlet guide portion 28. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 20, the lower unit support portion 42 includes a lower engagement receiving portion 42a that protrudes rearward, and a lower engagement hole 42b that is formed to open upward in the lower engagement receiving portion 42a. The lower engagement member 51b described later disposed in the ball passage unit 29 can be inserted into and removed from the lower engagement hole 42b of the lower engagement receiving portion 42a. In addition, a positioning protrusion 50 that protrudes rearward is provided on the rear surface of the ball passage guide portion 28 between the lower engagement receiving portions 42a and 42a above the lower engagement receiving portions 42a and 42a. When the ball passage unit 29 is set to the closed position, the positioning protrusion 50 is configured to fit into a positioning hole described later.

(About ball passage unit 29)
Next, the ball passage unit 29 that connects the ball storage portion 27 and the ball outlet guide portion 28 in communication will be described. As shown in FIG. 2 or FIGS. 7 to 9, the ball passage unit 29 is detachably attached to the unit main body 43 on a unit main body 43 formed in a substantially rectangular plate shape extending in the vertical direction. The cassette-type ball payout device 37 is provided, and the ball payout device 37 performs a pachinko ball payout operation based on a signal from a payout control device (not shown). The ball passage unit 29 is supported so as to be rotatable about an axis in the vertical direction with respect to the first side frame portion 25 of the middle frame 13, and the plate surface of the unit main body 43 is in a closed position (ball The storage portion 27 and the ball outlet guide portion 28 are in communication with each other (see FIGS. 5 and 12), and the plate surface of the unit main body 43 is in an open position along the left-right direction (the ball reservoir portion 27 and the ball outlet guide). In a non-communication state in which the guide portion 28 is not communicated, the guide portion 28 is configured to rotate between (see FIGS. 6 and 13). The ball passage unit 29 is located between the upper frame portion 23 (specifically, the upper unit support portions 40 and 41) and the lower frame portion 24 (specifically, the lower unit support portions 42 and 42) in the closed position with respect to the middle frame 13. Retained. Here, the ball passage unit 29 is located at the left end portion of the ball storage portion 27 and the ball outlet guide portion 28 in the closed position, and is arranged behind the left side of the opening region 13a of the middle frame 13 (see FIG. 10). . In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the description is based on the state where the ball passage unit 29 is in the closed position. Further, the center side in the opening region 13a of the middle frame 13 is referred to as the inner side, and the side away from the central side is referred to as the outer side with the closed ball passage unit 29 as a reference.

(About the unit body 43)
As shown in FIG. 10, a support wall 44 is provided at the front edge of the unit main body 43 so as to be displaced outward (right side in FIG. 10) so as to extend forward by a predetermined length. Extending walls 44 a extending outward are formed on the front and rear edges of 44, respectively. The support wall 44 and the front and rear extension walls 44a, 44a are formed so that a wiring housing recess (recess) 45 that opens outwardly extends in the vertical direction. The means 66 is disposed in the accommodated state (see FIG. 7). In the closed position of the ball passage unit 29, the wiring housing recess 45 is located on the inner side of the corresponding first side frame member 33 of the outer frame 11 from the extension line T to the rear of the inner edge (on the opening region 13a side of the middle frame 13). Is set to be located at

  As shown in FIG. 7, hinge members 46 are provided on the front extending wall 44 a so as to be spaced apart in the vertical direction corresponding to the hinge fittings 39 of the middle frame 13. The hinge tool 46 includes a base portion 46a extending forward and outward from the extending wall 44a, and a hinge pin 46b projecting downward from the base portion 46a. The ball passage unit 29 is rotatably supported by the middle frame 13 by being inserted into the upper side 39a. In the embodiment, the hinge bracket 39 and the hinge tool 46 constitute a hinge means for rotatably supporting the ball passage unit 29 with respect to the middle frame 13. The upper end of the support wall 44 is provided with a wiring holding portion 47 for engaging and holding various leads, power cables, and the like, and the wiring held by the wiring holding portion 47 enters the wiring receiving recess 45. It is supposed to be drawn. Note that the shape of the wiring holding portion 47 may be set according to the number and shape of the wires drawn into the wiring housing recess 45.

(About unit engagement parts 48, 49, 51)
As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the upper end portion of the unit main body 43 is separated from the front and rear in correspondence with the upper unit support portions 40 and 41 provided on the left side wall portion 27 a of the ball storage portion 27. Upper unit engaging portions 48 and 49 are provided. The first upper unit engaging portion 48 located on the front side is separated from the first upper convex portion 48a projecting inward from the inner side surface of the unit main body 43, and the inner side surface is spaced below the first upper convex portion 48a. A first lower convex portion 48b protruding inward from the first upper convex portion 48a, a first through hole 48c penetrating in the vertical direction on the bottom surface of the first upper convex portion 48a, and an upper side of the first through hole 48c on the outer surface of the unit body 43. And a first upper engagement member 48d arranged to be displaceable in the vertical direction at the position. Further, the second upper unit engaging portion 49 located on the rear side penetrates in the left-right direction on the second convex portion 49a projecting inward from the inner side surface of the unit main body 43 and on the lower side of the second convex portion 49a. The second through hole 49b and a second upper engaging member 49c disposed in the upper side of the second through hole 49b on the outer surface of the unit main body 43 so as to be vertically displaceable. In the closed position of the ball passage unit 29, the first upper convex portion 48a of the first upper unit engaging portion 48 is fitted into the corresponding first concave portion 40a of the first upper unit support portion 40, and the first With the first protrusion 40b of the upper unit support portion 40 fitted and positioned between the first upper protrusion 48a and the first lower protrusion 48b, the first upper engagement member 48d is moved upward to the release position. To the lower engagement position, the lower end of the first upper engagement member 48d is inserted into the first upper engagement hole 40c of the first upper unit support portion 40, and the first upper unit support portion In 40, the first upper unit engaging portion 48 is positioned and held. Further, at the closed position of the ball passage unit 29, the second convex portion 49a of the second upper unit engaging portion 49 is fitted into the corresponding second concave portion 41a of the second upper unit support portion 41, and the second upper portion By moving the second upper engagement member 49c from the upper release position to the lower engagement position with the second protrusion 41b of the unit support portion 41 being inserted and positioned in the second through hole 49b. The lower end of the second upper engagement member 49c is inserted into the second upper engagement hole 41c of the second upper unit support portion 41 so that the second upper unit engagement portion 49 is positioned by the second upper unit support portion 41. Retained.

  As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the lower unit engaging portion is positioned and supported at the lower portion of the unit main body 43 by being detachably engaged with the lower unit supporting portion 42 provided on the ball passing guide portion 28. 51 is provided. The lower unit engaging portion 51 can be displaced in the vertical direction on a rectangular plate-like engaging plate portion 51a extending downward from a second passage forming portion 55 (to be described later) of the unit main body 43 and the rear surface of the engaging plate portion 51a. And a pair of lower engaging members 51b spaced apart in the left-right direction. Then, in the closed position of the ball passage unit 29, the lower engagement receiving portion 42a of the lower unit support portion 42 faces the lower engagement member 51b in the upper release position, and the lower engagement member 51b is positioned on the lower side. The lower engagement member 51b is inserted into the lower engagement hole 42b of the lower engagement receiving portion 42a, and the lower unit engagement portion 51 is positioned by the lower unit support portion 42. It is supposed to be retained. Further, the engaging plate portion 51a is formed with a positioning hole (not shown) that opens in the front-rear direction at a position facing between the lower engaging members 51b, 51b, and when the ball passage unit 29 is in the closed position. Further, the positioning protrusion 50 provided on the ball outlet guide portion 28 is configured to fit into the positioning hole.

(About the passage forming parts 54 and 55)
A first ball passage (ball passage) 52 that connects the ball storage unit 27 and the ball dispensing device 37 to the ball passage unit 29 and a ball dispensing device 37 that communicates with the ball dispensing guide unit 28 are connected to the ball passage unit 29. A two-ball passage 53 is formed. The first spherical passage 52 is formed inside a first passage forming portion (passage forming portion) 54 provided in the unit main body 43, and the second spherical passage 53 is a second passage provided in the unit main body 43. It is formed inside the forming portion 55. The first ball passage 52 and the second ball passage 53 both have a passage width set to a dimension that allows passage of one pachinko ball.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first passage forming portion 54 has an inner side surface (left side surface in FIG. 10) at the rear end portion of the unit body 43 in which the plate surface extends in the front-rear direction at the closed position of the ball passage unit 29. ) And the width in the left-right direction is set in accordance with the first ball path 52 in which the width in the left-right direction is set to allow the passage of each pachinko ball. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the first passage forming portion 54 is located on the left side (right side in FIG. 5) of the symbol display device 14 provided on the rear side of the game board 12 in the closed position of the ball passage unit 29. The middle frame 13 extends in parallel with the first side frame portion (side edge) 25. As shown in FIG. 8, the first passage forming portion 54 has a meandering first spherical passage 52 in which the passage is folded back and forth and folded up and down from a spherical inlet (inlet) 52 a serving as a starting end of the passage 52. Is formed along a plane in the front-rear direction over the sphere outlet (outlet) 52b. That is, the first ball passage 52 is formed so as to meander by using the front and rear spaces on the left side of the symbol display device 14 provided on the rear side of the game board 12. Directional dimensions are kept to a minimum.

  The sphere introduction port 52 a of the first sphere passage 52 is located approximately at the center in the front-rear direction of the unit body 43 at the upper end portion of the first passage formation portion 54 and opens upward. The first ball passage 52 extends rearward as it goes downward from the ball introduction port 52a in a state where the ball passage unit 29 is viewed from the side surface (the state shown in FIG. 8). The ball introduction port 52a communicating with the ball discharge port 36a provided in the section is formed so as to meander in the front-rear range behind the drooping line from the front end edge. As described above, the first ball passage 52 is formed to meander, thereby allowing the pachinko ball coming from the ball storage portion 27 to flow down while being de-energized. Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the ball introduction port 52 a is set to open between the first upper unit engaging portion 48 and the second upper unit engaging portion 49, and the ball passage unit 29 is closed. Since the engaging portions 48 and 49 are positioned and held by the corresponding upper unit support portions 40 and 41 at the positions, the ball introduction port 52a and the ball discharge port 36a of the ball storage unit 27 can be held in an aligned state. It is configured as follows.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the sphere outlet 52b of the first sphere passage 52 opens downward at the lower end portion of the first passage formation portion 54 at a substantially center of the front-rear width where the first sphere passage 52 meanders. Yes. The ball outlet 52b opens at the upper surface of the device installation portion 56 described later, and communicates with an upper opening (inlet) 61a of the ball discharge passage 61 formed in the ball discharge device 37 attached to the device installation portion 56. It is set (see FIG. 14).

  The second passage forming portion 55 is provided below the device installation portion 56, and the second ball passage 53 is formed to communicate the ball dispensing device 37 attached to the device installation portion 56 and the ball outlet guide portion 28. ing. As shown in FIG. 14, the second ball passage 53 has a ball introduction port 53a that opens directly below the ball lead-out port 52b of the first ball passage 52, curves inward from the ball introduction port 53a, and then moves inward. It is formed in the flow path shape which inclines downward. The sphere outlet 53b that is the end of the second sphere passage 53 opens to the right at the right end portion of the second passage formation portion 55, and the sphere outlet 53b is a connection port, which will be described later, of the sphere outlet guide portion 28. It is comprised so that it may communicate with 71c. In addition, the second passage forming portion 55 has a width in the front-rear direction in accordance with the second ball passage 53 in which the passage width in the front-rear direction is set to a width that allows passage of one pachinko ball. The second passage forming portion 55 is provided with a restricting piece 55a extending rightward from the rear surface at a position corresponding to the ball outlet 53b, and the restricting piece 55a is provided on the rear surface of the ball outlet guide portion 28 (specifically Specifically, the ball outlet 53b is positioned in the forward direction by abutting against a covering member 76 described later (see FIG. 12).

(About the device installation unit 56)
As shown in FIGS. 14 to 16, in the unit main body 43, the device installation portion 56 to which a ball dispensing device 37 can be detachably mounted between a first passage formation portion 54 and a second passage formation portion 55. Is provided. In the lower part of the unit main body 43, the device installation portion 56 includes a housing portion 57 that opens rearward and outward to define a housing space for housing the ball dispensing device 37, and rear and outer openings of the housing portion 57. And a lid member 58 that can be opened and closed. The lid member 58 is turnable about the axis in the left-right direction with respect to the housing portion 57 and is detachably supported. The lid member 58 is screwed into the housing portion 57 in a closed state in which the opening of the housing portion 57 is closed. It is fixed. In the device installation portion 56, a sphere outlet 52 b of the first sphere passage 52 is opened at the left end portion of the ceiling surface of the housing portion 57, and the second sphere passage 53 is formed at the left end portion of the bottom surface of the housing portion 57. The sphere introduction port 53a is opened, and the sphere lead-out port 52b of the first sphere passage 52 and the sphere introduction port 53a of the second sphere passage 53 are vertically opposed to each other with the accommodation space interposed therebetween (see FIG. 14).

  The accommodating portion 57 has a ball outlet that is displaced between a closed position that restricts the passage of pachinko balls from the ball outlet 52 b of the first ball passage 52 and an open position that permits the passage of pachinko balls. A regulating member 59 (see FIG. 10) is slidably disposed. The ball passage restriction member 59 is always urged toward the closed position, and the ball passage restriction member 59 is moved to the closed position in a state where the ball dispensing device 37 is not attached to the device installation portion 56. Thus, facing the ball outlet 52b, the pachinko ball is prevented from passing through the ball outlet 52b. The ball delivery regulating member 59 accommodates the ball dispensing device 37 in the accommodation portion 57 of the device installation unit 56, and is pushed by the ball dispensing device 37 to be displaced from the closed position and held in the open position. Thus, the pachinko ball is allowed to pass through the ball outlet 52b.

(About grounding member 60)
A thin metal ground member 60 is disposed in the housing portion 57. As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the ground member 60 is bent at a mounting portion 60a extending in the left-right direction along the ceiling surface of the housing portion 57 and at one end (the left end in FIG. 15) of the mounting portion 60a. A support portion 60b that is formed and extends downward by a predetermined length, and basically includes a first contact portion 60c and a second contact portion 60d provided on the support portion 60b. A fixing portion 60e is bent upward at the other end of the attachment portion 60a, and the fixing portion 60e is fixed to the housing portion 57 with screws. The support portion 60b extends downward from the accommodation portion 57 through a through hole formed in the accommodation portion 57, and is provided with a ground provided in the ball dispensing device 37 at a position facing the accommodation portion 57 in the support portion 60b. A first contact portion 60c capable of contacting a sheet metal 62 (described later) is provided so as to be elastically deformable. Further, a second contact portion 60d that can contact a later-described covering member 76 provided on the ball outlet guide portion 28 is formed at a lower end portion extending downward from the accommodating portion 57 in the support portion 60b.

  As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the second contact portion 60d is formed so as to bend from the closed position toward the open position in the opening / closing direction of the ball passage unit 29 with respect to the middle frame 13. The lower end of the portion 60d is substantially U-shaped. Further, a bent piece 60f that is bent outward is formed at an end of the piece that extends upward after the second contact portion 60d is bent, and the bent piece 60f is formed by the second passage forming portion. It is supported on the upper surface of the end edge of the support piece 55b provided on the front surface of 55, and is configured to restrict the downward displacement of the curved end portion in the second contact portion 60d.

(About the ball dispensing device 37)
As shown in FIG. 14, the ball payout device 37 is formed with a ball payout passage 61 extending vertically, and the upper opening of the ball payout passage 61 is accommodated in the storage space of the device installation portion 56. The (inlet) 61 a is aligned and communicated with the lower side of the ball outlet port 52 b of the first ball passage 52, and the lower opening (outlet) 61 b of the ball discharge passage 61 is located above the ball inlet port 53 a of the second ball passage 53. Configured to communicate with each other. The ball payout device 37 is configured to discharge the pachinko balls flowing from the upper opening 61 a of the ball payout passage 61 through the first ball passage 52 to the second ball passage 53 from the lower opening 61 b of the ball payout passage 61. Is done. That is, the ball dispensing device 37 is configured so that pachinko balls are arranged from the passage restriction position to the upstream first ball passage 52 in a state where the passage restriction of the pachinko balls is performed in the ball dispensing passage 61 by a restriction member (not shown). It has become. The ball dispensing device 37 is provided with a ball pulling operation unit (not shown) that can be operated by inserting a rod-shaped member, a wire, or the like. By being operated, the pachinko ball that has flowed into the ball payout passage 61 can be unconditionally discharged from the lower opening 61b.

  In addition, the ball dispensing device 37 is provided so that the ground sheet metal 62 connected to various electronic components disposed in the device is exposed on the surface facing the inside in a state where the ball dispensing device 37 is mounted on the device installation unit 56 (FIG. 16). The first contact portion 60c of the ground member 60 is configured to elastically contact the ground metal plate 62 in a state where the ball dispensing device 37 is mounted on the device installation portion 56.

(About the ball passage 63)
As shown in FIG. 14, the unit main body 43 is formed with a ball removal passage 63 that branches off from the vicinity of the downstream end portion of the first ball passage 52 (upstream from the communication portion with the ball dispensing device 37). The ball removal passage 63 is provided in a third passage formation portion 64 provided in the unit main body 43 so as to pass through the left end portion on the front side of the device installation portion 56 (the ball dispensing device 37 attached to the device installation portion 56). Is formed. The third passage forming portion 64 is set to have a width in the left-right direction according to the ball passage 63 in which the passage width in the left-right direction is set to a width allowing passage of one pachinko ball. Further, the third passage forming portion 64 forms the first passage in a plan view at the closed position of the ball passage unit 29 so that the ball passage 63 extends along the front-rear direction plane along which the first ball passage 52 extends. It is comprised so that it may extend in alignment with the front side of the part 54 (refer FIG. 10). In other words, in the closed position of the ball passage unit 29, the third passage formation portion 64 is formed without protruding in the left-right direction from the extension line to the lower side of the first passage formation portion 54. Also, the horizontal width is set to the minimum. The discharge port 63a of the ball passage 63 opens downward on the front side of the second passage formation portion 55, and can communicate with an inlet 74a of a ball discharge passage 74 (described later) provided in the ball passage guide portion 28. (See FIG. 14). In the embodiment, a third passage formation portion 64 is formed in series below the first passage formation portion 54, and the first passage formation portion 54 and the third passage formation portion 64 are collectively referred to as a passage formation portion. it can. That is, the third passage forming portion 64 also extends in parallel with the first side frame portion 25 of the middle frame 13 at the closed position of the ball passage unit 29.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the unit main body 43 is provided with a ball removal regulating member 65 that opens and closes the entrance of the ball removal passage 63 at a branch position between the first ball passage 52 and the ball removal passage 63. The ball removal restricting member 65 includes an operation portion 65a (see FIG. 11) exposed to the outside of the unit main body 43 (on the outer surface side in the closed position). The operation portion 65a is operated to operate the ball removal passage 63. Configured to open and close the inlet. That is, in a state where the operation portion 65a is at the lower side, the ball removal restricting member 65 closes the entrance of the ball removal passage 63 and guides the pachinko balls in the first ball passage 52 to the ball dispensing device 37 side. By displacing upward, the entrance of the ball removal passage 63 is opened and the pachinko balls in the first ball passage 52 are configured to be able to enter the ball removal passage 63. In the embodiment in which the ball removal restricting member 65 is slid in the vertical direction as in the embodiment, a rib extending in the sliding direction is provided on the ball removal restricting member 65 and a guide portion for supporting the rib in a guideable manner is provided. The structure formed in the 1 channel | path formation part 54 can be employ | adopted. In this configuration, when the entrance of the ball removal passage 63 is closed by the ball removal restriction member 65 and the pachinko ball is guided to the ball dispensing device 37 side, the rib can be supported by the guide portion, and the pachinko ball is guided. The fluttering of the ball pulling restricting member 65 at the time can be suppressed.

(About the wiring holding means 66)
In the wiring housing recess 45 of the unit main body 43, wiring holding means 66 for housing and holding various lead wires, power cables and the like is disposed. As shown in FIG. 10, the wiring holding means 66 includes a base member 67 having a saucer-like shape that is fixed to the support wall 44 that defines the wiring housing recess 45 and is open to the upper and lower sides and the outer side. A cover member 68 that is provided and capable of closing the outer opening is basically constituted. In the wiring holding means 66, a base member 67 and a cover member 68 are integrally formed of a soft synthetic resin, and the cover member 68 connected to the front end edge of the base member 67 is opened and closed by a flexible connecting portion. It is supposed to be. A plurality of locking pieces 67a are provided at the rear end edge of the base member 67 so as to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and are locked to the rear end edge of the cover member 68 so as to be detachable from the locking piece 67a. A locked piece 68a is provided corresponding to each locking piece 67a. That is, by locking the locked piece 68a to the locking piece 67a, the cover member 68 is held in a state in which the opening on the outer side of the base member 67 is closed. A wiring accommodating space is defined, and openings that allow wiring to be inserted are formed at the upper and lower ends of the wiring holding means 66.

  Note that a metal ground plate 69 is disposed on the outer surface of the support wall 44 that defines the wiring receiving recess 45 between the base member 67 of the wiring holding means 66 and extending substantially vertically. Established. An elastically deformable contact piece 69a protruding below the support wall 44 is provided at the lower end of the ground plate 69 (see FIG. 11). The contact piece 69a is configured to come into contact with the covering member 76 disposed on the ball passage guide portion 28 at the closed position of the ball passage unit 29 (see FIG. 17). The shape of the contact piece 69a is not limited as long as the contact piece 69a comes into contact with the covering member 76.

(About the ball exit guide 28)
The ball outlet guide portion 28 is formed in a size hidden behind the lower frame portion 24, and is set so that the ball outlet guide portion 28 does not protrude upward from the lower frame portion 24. As shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, the ball outlet guide portion 28 includes a saucer body 70 that opens upward and a cover body 71 that closes the upper opening of the saucer body 70. By assembling the body 70 and the cover body 71, a ball outlet 72 is defined inside. The saucer body 70 and the cover body 71 are both made of synthetic resin. A ball outlet 72a communicating with the ball outlet 72 is opened at the front of the ball outlet guide portion 28, and the ball outlet 72a communicates with the ball outlet 24a of the inner frame 13. It is configured as follows. The front surface of the cover body 71 is provided with a protruding portion 71a extending forward from the lower end edge, and the protruding portion 71a defines the upper edge portion of the ball outlet 72a.

  A mouth forming portion that protrudes obliquely from the upper surface of the cover body 71 toward the left side (on the first side frame portion 25 side of the middle frame 13) at the substantially upper center in the left-right direction at the rear end upper portion of the ball outlet guide portion 28. 71b is provided, and the connection port 71c opens leftward in the mouth forming portion 71b. When the ball passage unit 29 is in the closed position, the ball outlet port 53b of the second ball passage 53 communicates with the connection port 71c. In addition, as shown in FIG. 21, a spherical guide path 73 that extends rightward from the connection port 71c and curves toward the left is defined in the spherical guide part 28. The connection port 71c and the ball outlet 72 are in communication with each other. In the embodiment, a ball flow passage is formed from the ball outlet 72 and the ball guide path 73.

  The ball outlet guide portion 28 includes a discharge path forming member 75 which is disposed on the lower surface of the tray body 70 and defines a ball discharge path 74 between the ball tray 70 and the tray body 70. The inlet 74a of the ball discharge path 74 opens upward at the rear left corner of the ball outlet guide portion 28 (see FIG. 21), and communicates with the outlet 63a of the ball discharge passage 63 at the closed position of the ball passage unit 29. Configured to do. That is, the pachinko balls that flow down the ball removal passage 63 when the ball removal restriction member 65 is operated to open the inlet of the ball removal passage 63 pass through the discharge port 63a and the inlet 74a to the ball discharge passage 74. Configured to enter. The pachinko balls inserted into the ball discharge path 74 are collected by a ball collection unit (not shown) on the back side of the machine. In addition, the lower engaging part 42a which comprises the said lower unit support part 42 is provided in the discharge path formation member 75, and the said positioning protrusion 50 is provided in the saucer body 70 (refer FIG. 20).

(About the covering member 76)
A metal covering member 76 is disposed on the ball outlet guide portion 28. As shown in FIG. 21, the covering member 76 includes a top plate portion 77 that can substantially cover the entire top surface of the cover body 71, and a side plate portion 78 that is bent downward from the right edge of the top plate portion 77. A rear plate 79 bent downward at the right side of the mouth forming portion 71 b at the rear edge of the top plate 77 and a front plate bent downward from the front edge of the top plate 77. The unit 80 is basically provided. Then, by attaching the top plate portion 77 of the covering member 76 so as to be placed on the upper surface of the cover body 71, the side plate portion 78 and the rear plate portion 79 cover the outer surface corresponding to the spherical guide path 73. The front plate portion 80 is configured to cover the outer surface of the cover body 71 located above the ball outlet 72a. The covering member 76 is provided with a flange portion 80a bent forward from the lower end edge of the front plate portion 80, and the flange portion 80a covers the upper surface of the overhanging portion 71a of the cover body 71. ing. The covering member 76 pushes the flange portion 80a from above and screws the attachment member 81 covering the front surface of the front plate portion 80 to the cover body 71 so that the flange portion 80a does not float up. It is attached to the guide part 28.

  A metal protective plate 82 is disposed on the ball outlet guide portion 28 at a portion of the rear wall of the tray 70 that defines the rear surface of the ball outlet portion 72 and facing the ball outlet 72a. Yes. The protective plate 82 functions to prevent the piano wire from being pierced by the piano wire when a heated piano wire or the like is inserted from the ball outlet 72a.

  The top plate portion 77 of the covering member 76 is provided with a protruding portion 77a protruding upward at a position close to the mouth forming portion 71b. The protrusion 77a is provided on the track of the second contact portion 60d of the ground member 60 when the ball path unit 29 rotates, and the ball path unit 29 rotates between the closed position and the open position. The second contact portion 60d is configured to come in contact with and separate from the protrusion 77a when moving. Then, at the closed position of the ball passage unit 29, the second contact portion 60d is elastically contacted with the protrusion 77a and can maintain the contact state (see FIG. 18). The protrusion 77a is formed in an arc shape so that the second contact portion 60d is not damaged when the second contact portion 60d comes in contact with or separates from the second contact portion 60d. Further, the top plate portion 77 of the covering member 76 is provided with a connecting portion 77b that is bent upward at the front end of the left end, and when the ball outlet guide portion 28 is assembled to the middle frame 13, the connecting portion The covering member 76 is configured to be electrically connected to the first conducting portion by screwing 77b to the first conducting portion made of metal provided in the middle frame 13. The first conductive portion is electrically connected to a metal second conductive portion provided on the outer frame 11. That is, the ground member 60, the covering member 76, the first conduction portion, and the second conduction portion cause static electricity generated in the ball dispensing device 37 that is electrically connected to the ground member 60 to be the second conduction portion (outer frame 11). A ground path is provided to escape.

  Here, in the embodiment, a metal first conduction part (not shown) is connected to the hinge fitting 39 provided on the metal first side frame part 25, and the connection part is connected to the first conduction part. By connecting 77b, the covering member 76 and the first side frame portion 25 are electrically connected. The first side frame portion 25 is supported by a metal first side frame member 33 constituting the outer frame 11 via a hinge mechanism, and the first side frame portion 25 of the outer frame 11 is interposed via a metal portion of the hinge mechanism. The first side frame member 33 and the first side frame portion 25 of the middle frame 13 are electrically connected. That is, in the embodiment, the metal portion of the hinge mechanism that supports the middle frame 13 with respect to the outer frame 11 and the first side frame member 33 function as the second conduction portion. In addition, what is necessary is just to connect the 1st conduction | electrical_connection part and the 2nd conduction | electrical_connection part so that it may be in a conduction | electrical_connection state by an earth wire or other means.

(Operation of Example)
Next, the operation of the pachinko machine 10 according to the embodiment will be described. With the upper and lower engaging members 48d, 49c, 51b disposed in the ball path unit 29 held at the upper release position, the ball path unit 29 is rotated from the open position to the closed position with respect to the middle frame 13. When moved, the first upper convex portion 48 a of the first upper unit engaging portion 48 provided in the ball passage unit 29 is in the corresponding first upper unit support portion 40 provided in the left side wall portion 27 a of the ball storage portion 27. The first protrusion 40b of the first upper unit support portion 40 is fitted between the first upper protrusion 48a and the first lower protrusion 48b of the first upper unit engagement portion 48 while being fitted into the first recess 40a. And is positioned. Further, the second convex portion 49 a of the second upper unit engaging portion 49 provided in the ball passage unit 29 corresponds to the second of the corresponding second upper unit support portion 41 provided in the left side wall portion 27 a of the ball storage portion 27. The second protrusion 41b of the second upper unit support portion 41 is inserted into the second through hole 49b of the second upper unit engagement portion 49 and positioned while being fitted into the recess 41a.

  Then, the first upper engagement member 48d of the first upper unit engagement portion 48 and the second upper engagement member 49c of the second upper unit engagement portion 49 are moved to the lower engagement positions, respectively. The first upper engagement member 48d and the second upper engagement member 49c are respectively the first upper engagement hole 40c of the corresponding first upper unit support portion 40 and the second upper engagement hole 41c of the second upper unit support portion 41. As a result, the upper portion of the ball passage unit 29 is positioned and held with respect to the ball storage portion 27. As shown in FIG. 13, the upper unit support portions 40, 41 provided in the sphere storage portion 27 are positioned before and after the sphere discharge port 36 a, and the upper unit engaging portions 48, 49 provided in the sphere passage unit 29. Is positioned before and after the ball introduction port 52a of the first ball passage 52, so that the upper unit support portions 40 and 41 and the upper unit engagement portions 48 and 49 are engaged and held respectively. The ball discharge port 36a and the ball introduction port 52a are held in a position where they are aligned and communicated with each other (see FIGS. 8 and 9). That is, the pachinko balls that pass through the ball discharge port 36a can be smoothly inserted into the ball introduction port 52a, and the occurrence of clogging or the like at the communicating portion can be prevented. By rotating the ball passage unit 29 to the closed position, the ball stop member 38 is displaced from the closed position to the open position, and the ball discharge port 36a and the ball introduction port 52a are in communication with each other. There is no need to manipulate member 38.

  Further, when the ball passage unit 29 is rotated to the closed position, the front surface of the engagement plate portion 51a of the lower unit engagement portion 51 provided at the lower portion of the unit 29 is the mouth of the ball passage guide portion 28. While abutting on the rear surface of the saucer body 70 facing the left side of the forming part 71b (see FIG. 14), the positioning protrusion 50 provided on the saucer body 70 is inserted into the positioning hole of the engagement plate part 51a and positioned. . Further, the regulation piece 55a of the second passage forming portion 55 abuts on the rear surface of the rear plate portion 79 of the covering member 76 (see FIG. 12), thereby connecting the connection port 71c formed in the mouth forming portion 71b. The ball outlet port 53b of the second ball passage 53 formed in the second passage forming portion 55 communicates in a state aligned in the left-right direction. In this state, the lower engagement member 51b is moved to the lower engagement position by moving the lower engagement member 51b located above the lower engagement receiving portion 42a in the lower unit support portion 42, so that the lower engagement member 51b receives the lower engagement receiving portion. The portion 42a is inserted into the lower engagement hole 42b. As a result, the lower portion of the ball passage unit 29 is positioned and held in a state where the connection port 71c and the ball outlet port 53b communicate with each other, and the pachinko ball passing through the ball outlet port 53b can smoothly enter the connection port 71c. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of clogging of balls at the communication part.

  As described above, the first ball passage 52 of the ball passage unit 29 communicates with the ball storage portion 27 and the second ball passage 53 communicates with the ball outlet guide portion 28. The pachinko sphere supplied to the sphere reservoir 27 passes through the sphere discharge port 36a opened at the downstream end of the tank rail 36, and enters the first sphere passage 52 from the sphere introduction port 52a. It is temporarily stored inside the passage unit 29. Then, when the ball dispensing device 37 is operated at a predetermined timing, the pachinko balls inside the ball passage unit 29 flow down the second ball passage 53 and serve as a winning ball or a rental ball. The ball is fed to the ball tray 16.

  The first passage forming portion 54 provided in the ball passage unit 29 and forming the first ball passage 52 has a width in the left-right direction communicating with the ball dispensing device 37 at the downstream end from the ball introduction port 52a at the upstream end. Since the ball ball 52 is formed in such a size that one ball can pass through the first ball passage 52 to the ball outlet 52b, as shown in FIG. 10, the holding side of the game board 12 in the middle frame 13 (opening region 13a side) The amount of protrusion of the first passage forming portion 54 to the front can be kept small, and an increase in the size of the game board 12 can be allowed. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, the first spherical passage 52 is formed in a meandering shape that is folded back and forth and folded up and down, so that the first spherical passage 52 is prevented from expanding in the left-right direction while the first spherical passage 52 is suppressed. The flow speed of the pachinko sphere flowing down the passage 52 can be appropriately reduced.

  In the pachinko machine 10 according to the embodiment, when the operation portion 65a of the ball removal restricting member 65 provided in the ball passage unit 29 is operated to open the entrance of the ball removal passage 63 branched from the first ball passage 52, Pachinko balls stored on the upstream side of the branch portion are passed through the ball discharge passage 63 to the ball discharge path 74 of the ball discharge guide portion 28 and discharged to a ball collection portion (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 10 and 17, the third passage forming portion 64 in which the ball removal passage 63 is formed overlaps with the front side of the device installation portion 56 in which the ball dispensing device 37 is disposed, and the first passage. Below the formation portion 54, the first passage formation portion 54 is provided so as to be aligned in the front-rear direction in a plan view. It will never grow.

  The ball passage unit 29 supported by the inner frame 13 is moved from the posture in which the plate surface of the unit main body 43 follows the front-rear direction by the hinge tool 46 provided on the front end edge side in the closed position shown in FIGS. The end edge side (free end side) is configured to rotate outward and move to the open position (see FIG. 6). Then, the ball passage unit 29 is removed from the middle frame 13 by pulling the hinge pin 46b of the hinge tool 46 upward from the hinge hole 39a of the hinge fitting 39 of the middle frame 13 at the open position of the ball passage unit 29. be able to. In other words, the ball path unit 29 is opened and closed by rotating the unit main body 43 in a direction away from the rear side of the game board 12 disposed in the middle frame 13 to the outside, so that the ball path unit 29 is opened and closed. Since it can be attached / detached at the open position completely spaced outward from the rear side, the size of the gaming parts disposed on the rear side of the game board 12 for the opening and removal of the ball passage unit 29 is restricted. There is no.

  In the spherical passage unit 29, as shown in FIG. 10, a wiring housing recess 45 is formed on the outer surface side of the unit main body 43 so as to be spaced forward from the first passage forming portion 54. A wiring holding means 66 is provided. Then, by holding the wiring routed between the upper part and the lower part of the middle frame 13 by the wiring holding means 66, the wiring can be routed without protruding outward in the outer part of the middle frame 13. ing. In the wiring holding means 66, the cover member 68 is opened with respect to the base member 67 to open the outside opening, and the wiring locked to the wiring holding portion 47 formed at the upper end portion of the support wall 44 is provided. The inside of the base member 67 is drawn downward and pulled out downward from the lower end of the base member 67. Then, the cover member 68 is held in a closed state with respect to the base member 67 via the locking piece 67a and the locked piece 68a, so that the housing defined between the base member 67 and the cover member 68 is accommodated. The wiring can be accommodated and held in the space. Since the wiring holding means 66 extends over substantially the entire length in the vertical direction of the ball passage unit 29, the wiring holding means 66 can be routed in the outer portion of the middle frame 13 without the wiring being scattered.

  Further, in the closed position of the ball passage unit 29, the wiring housing recess 45 is located on the inner side of the extension line T extending backward from the inner edge of the corresponding first side frame member 33 of the outer frame 11, as shown in FIG. Since it is located (on the opening region 13a side of the middle frame 13), the wiring holding means 66 housed in the wiring housing recess 45 does not protrude greatly outward. That is, even if the wiring holding means 66 is provided on the outer surface side of the ball passage unit 29, it does not hinder the opening and closing of the middle frame 13 with respect to the outer frame 11. Further, since the wiring housing recess 45 is formed with the support wall 44 provided by being displaced outwardly at the front edge of the unit main body 43 as a bottom surface, the wiring housing recess 45 is provided in the middle position in the closed position. A projecting portion does not occur in the opening region 13a of the frame 13, and the space on the rear side of the game board 12 is not reduced.

(Effect of earth structure)
Next, the operation of the ground structure will be described.
When the ball paying device 37 is attached to the device setting portion 56 of the ball passage unit 29, the ground metal plate 62 provided in the ball paying device 37 faces the accommodation space of the device setting portion 56 as shown in FIG. The first contact portion 60c of the member 60 is contacted and electrically connected. When the ball passage unit 29 equipped with the ball dispensing device 37 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the second contact portion 60d of the grounding member 60 causes the ball passing guidance. The protrusions 77 a provided on the covering member 76 covering the portion 28 are in contact with and electrically connected. That is, the covering member 76 and the ball dispensing device 37 are electrically connected via the ground member 60. The covering member 76 is electrically connected to the second conducting portion of the outer frame 11 via the first conducting portion of the middle frame 13, and the static electricity generated by the ball dispensing device 37 is grounded by the ground member 60 and the covering member. 76, it can escape to the 2nd conduction | electrical_connection part of the outer frame 11 via a 1st conduction | electrical_connection part, and it can prevent the malfunctioning and generation | occurrence | production of a failure of the electronic component with which the ball dispensing apparatus 37 is provided.

  Here, since the ball outlet guide portion 28 communicating with the ball passage unit 29 is a member communicating with the ball dispensing device 37, it is a member that is easily targeted by unauthorized persons, such as a cigarette, a lighter, and a heated one. There is a possibility that an illegal act of making a hole in the ball outlet guide unit 28 with a piano wire or the like to access the ball dispensing device 37 may be performed. However, in the pachinko machine 10 according to the embodiment, as described above, the upper surface and front surface of the ball guide portion 28 made of synthetic resin and the outer surface of the ball guide path 73 communicating with the second ball path 53 of the ball path unit 29 are made of metal. Since it coat | covers with the coating | coated member 76 made from a product, it can suppress that a hole is made in the ball | bowl out guide part 28 by the heated piano wire etc. FIG. Since the ball outlet 72a of the ball outlet guide portion 28 communicates with the ball inlet 15a of the front frame 15 through the ball outlet opening 24a of the middle frame 13, the ball outlet 15a is connected to the ball outlet 15a. An intruded piano wire or the like can access the ball outlet 72 that communicates with the second ball passage 53 via the ball outlet 72a. However, in the ball outlet guide portion 28 of the embodiment, since the metal protection plate 82 is disposed at a position facing the ball outlet 72a in the ball outlet portion 72, the ball outlet 72a has entered the ball outlet 72a. It is possible to prevent the protective plate 82 from making a hole in the ball outlet guide portion 28 with a piano wire or the like.

  In the embodiment, as described above, the covering member 76 having a crime prevention function for preventing an illegal act with respect to the ball passing guide portion 28 is used to allow the static electricity generated by the ball dispensing device 37 to escape to the outer frame 11. It is also used as a member constituting the earth path. That is, it is possible to reduce the number of parts required for countermeasures against static electricity, thereby reducing the cost, simplifying the structure, and reducing the number of assembly steps.

  The second contact portion 60d of the ground member 60 is configured to elastically contact the protrusion 77a of the covering member 76 when the ball passage unit 29 is rotated to the closed position. In the closed position of 29, that is, in the operating state of the pachinko machine 10, the electrical contact state between the ball dispensing device 37 and the covering member 76 can be maintained, and a stable countermeasure against static electricity can be achieved. The protrusion 77 a of the covering member 76 is provided on the track of the second contact portion 60 d when the ball passage unit 29 rotates, and the second contact portion 60 d has a curved end portion of the ball passage unit 29. From the closed position to the open position, that is, the second contact portion 60d is curved so that the open end faces the side away from the protrusion 77a. Accordingly, when the ball passage unit 29 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the curved end portion of the second contact portion 60d is surely and smoothly abutted on the protrusion 77a. Further, when the ball passage unit 29 is rotated from the closed position to the open position, the second contact portion 60d is smoothly separated from the projection 77a without the open end of the second contact portion 60d being caught by the projection 77a. To do. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the second contact portion 60d from being deformed by the opening / closing operation of the ball passage unit 29. Further, the bent piece 60f formed at the open end of the second contact portion 60d is in contact with and supported by the upper surface of the support piece 55b provided in the second passage forming portion 55 as shown in FIGS. Therefore, the curved end portion can be held at a position where the curved end portion can come into contact with the projecting portion 60d, and the curved end portion can be prevented from being caught or contacted with the other part of the covering member 76, so Can be ensured.

  When the ball path unit 29 is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the contact piece 69a of the ground plate 69 disposed in the wiring housing recess 45 comes into contact with and is electrically connected to the covering member 76. (See FIG. 17). As a result, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of noise due to static electricity or the like of the wiring housed and held in the wiring holding means 66 disposed in the wiring housing recess 45.

(Example of change)
The present application is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and other configurations can be appropriately employed.
(1) In the embodiment, the ball passage unit is configured to be rotatable and detachably supported with respect to the inner frame. However, the ball passage unit can be detachably attached to the sphere storage portion and the sphere outlet guide portion via a connector. By connecting to, the structure constructed between a ball storage part and a ball | bowl out guide part may be sufficient.
(2) The means for positioning and holding the ball passage unit in the ball storage portion and the ball outlet guide portion is not limited to the form of the unit support portion and the unit engagement portion of the embodiment, and the ball passage unit is stored in the ball Various types of means that can be positioned and held at appropriate positions of the ball part and the ball outlet guide part can be adopted.
(3) In the embodiment, the outer frame and the inner frame are formed in a frame shape by assembling four frame members and a frame portion, but may be integrally formed as a whole.
(4) In the embodiment, the middle frame is rotatably supported on the left side with respect to the outer frame, but the middle frame is rotatably supported on the right side with respect to the outer frame. In this case, the ball path unit may be rotatably supported on the right side of the middle frame.
(5) In the embodiment, the second contact portion of the ground member is in contact with the protrusion provided on the upper surface of the covering member. However, the second contact portion of the ground member may be in contact with the upper surface and the side surface of the covering member. It only has to be connected to.
(6) Although the embodiment has been described in the case where the covering member and the ball dispensing device are in the conductive state when the ball passage unit is rotated from the open position to the closed position, the ball passage unit is attached to and detached from the inner frame. In the structure arrange | positioned freely, the structure which a coating | coated member and a ball | bowl dispensing apparatus will be in a conduction | electrical_connection state can be employ | adopted when this ball path unit is arrange | positioned in an inner frame.
(7) In the embodiment, the case where the ground member is elastically contacted with the covering member has been described. However, the elastically deformable elastic member provided on the covering member is connected to the ball dispensing device and the ball discharging device by the ball passage unit. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which when the guide portion is in communication with the guide portion, the contact portion is elastically contacted with a ground portion (ground metal plate or the like) that is electrically connected to the ball dispensing device.
(8) In the embodiment, the single-plate type pachinko machine provided with only one ball tray is described, but a two-plate type pachinko machine including two upper and lower ball trays may be used.
(9) The gaming machine is not limited to a pachinko machine, and may be other various gaming machines such as an arrangement ball machine or a slot machine using a pachinko ball.

1 2 Game board 13 Middle frame (main frame)
Reference Signs List 16 Sphere tray 27 Sphere storage portion 28 Sphere passage guide portion 29 Sphere passage unit 37 Sphere dispensing device 39 Hinge fitting (hinge means )
4 6 Hinge (hinge means)
52 1st ball passage (ball passage)
52a Ball inlet (entrance)
52b Sphere outlet (exit)
54 1st passage formation part (passage formation part)
61 Ball discharge passage 61a Upper opening (entrance)
63 Ball passage 64 Third passage forming part (passage forming part )

Claims (1)

A main body frame that detachably holds the game board, a ball storage section that is provided above the main body frame and stores game balls, and a ball outlet guide that guides the game balls to a ball tray provided on the front side of the main body frame A ball passage unit that includes a ball passage unit that has a ball passage that is installed between a portion and a side portion of the ball storage portion and the ball outlet guide portion and communicates so as to guide the game ball down from the ball storage portion.
The ball passage unit has a passage forming portion formed in parallel with the side edge of the main body frame with a width matched to the ball passage, in which the passage width in the left-right direction is set to a width allowing passage of one game ball. Prepared,
In the passage forming portion, the spherical passage is formed in a meandering shape that folds up and down along a plane in the front-rear direction from the entrance to the exit,
A ball dispensing device having a ball dispensing passage formed in the ball passage unit is disposed in a state where the inlet of the ball dispensing passage is aligned and communicated with the outlet of the ball passage in the vertical direction,
In the passage forming portion, a ball extraction passage that branches from the upstream side of the communication portion with the ball dispensing device in the ball passage and extends along the plane is formed in a positional relationship overlapping with the ball dispensing device in the front-rear direction. ,
The spherical passage unit is supported rotatably about an axis extending in the vertical direction with respect to the main body frame via hinge means, and the spherical passage is in a closed position where the spherical passage communicates with the spherical storage portion and the spherical outlet guide portion. In this ball path unit, the free end side rotates in a direction away from the center of the main body frame with the hinge means as a fulcrum, so that the ball path moves to an open position where it does not communicate with the ball storage part and the ball outlet guide part. A gaming machine, wherein the ball path unit is configured to be detachable from the main body frame at a position .

Images