JP5691945B2 - Gaming machine launch ball feeder - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a launch ball supply device for a game machine such as a pachinko machine, which supplies a game ball to a ball launch device that launches a game ball.

  A gaming machine such as a pachinko machine that plays a game ball by playing a ball, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a ball launching device that is operated by a player to fire a ball, and this ball launching A firing ball supply device is provided for supplying balls to the device.

  As shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the shot ball supply device supplies the balls continuously guided by the ball guide rails one by one to the launch position of the ball launch device by the ball supply member. Specifically, the ball supply member reciprocates by a predetermined angle in the vertical direction around the axis, thereby taking the balls one by one from the ball guide rail and supplying them one by one to the launch position of the ball launcher. Hereinafter, an example of a conventional fired ball supply device will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 14A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 101 in a state in which one ball 111 is discharged (a state in which it is supplied to a ball launching device (not shown)), and FIG. 14B is a launch in the same state. It is a front view which shows the ball supply apparatus 101. FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b), the firing ball supply device 101 includes a ball guide rail 112, a ball supply member 113, and a solenoid 114.

  The ball guide rail 112 has a gentle slope downward toward the ball supply member 113, and continuously supplies the plurality of balls 111 to the ball supply member 113.

  The ball supply member 113 has a concave ball storage portion 121 that stores only one ball 111 supplied from the ball guide rail 112, and a shaft 122 provided at a position opposite to the ball storage portion 121. It can be rotated in the vertical direction around the center. The upper part of the ball housing part 121 is a convex ball locking part 123, and the lower surface of the ball housing part 121 is a ball discharge slope 124. A ball discharged from the ball receiving portion 121 is received at a position below the ball receiving portion 121, and the side of the shot ball supplying device 101 (downward in FIG. 1 (a), forward direction in FIG. 1 (b)). ) Is formed.

  The ball supply member 113 is attracted to the solenoid 114 and rotates upward by the ON operation (energization ON operation) of the solenoid 114. In addition, the solenoid 114 is turned off by the turning-off operation of the solenoid 114 (the turning-off operation), and the solenoid 114 rotates downward due to natural fall. The upper limit position of the rotation range of the ball supply member 113 is a position where the upper edge portion of the ball supply member 113 contacts the solenoid 114, and the lower limit position is the lower limit stopper 126 of the lower surface of the ball receiving guide portion 125 of the ball supply member 113. It is a position which contacts. The lower limit stopper 126 is provided below the ball receiving guide portion 125 of the ball supply member 113.

  An opening is formed in a position below the side wall 127 on the ball discharge side in the shot ball supply device 101, and this opening serves as a ball discharge port 128 of the shot ball supply device 101. Thereby, in a state where the ball supply member 113 rotates downward and is locked to the lower limit stopper 126, one ball is discharged from the shot ball supply device 101 to the side of the shot ball supply device 101 through the ball discharge port 128. It has come to be. The balls discharged from the firing ball supply device 101 are supplied to the ball launching device.

Next, an operation in which the shot ball supply device 101 discharges balls one by one will be described.
FIG. 15A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 101 in a state in which the ball supply member 113 is rotated to the upper limit position from the state of FIG. 14A, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the device 101. FIG. 16A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 101 in a state where one ball enters the ball housing portion 121 of the ball supply member 113 from the state of FIG. 15A, FIG. FIG. 3 is a front view showing a firing ball supply device 101 in the same state. FIG. 17A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 101 in a state in which the ball supply member 113 rotates downward from the state of FIG. 16A, and FIG. 17B shows the firing ball supply device in the same state. FIG. 18A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 101 in a state in which the ball supply member 113 is rotated to the lower limit position from the state of FIG. 17A, and FIG. 2 is a front view showing the device 101. FIG.

  In the state shown in FIGS. 14 (a) and 14 (b), one ball is discharged from the shot ball supply device 101. In this state, the solenoid 114 is turned off, and the ball receiving portion 121 is rotated to the lower limit position. Further, the foremost ball 111 on the ball guide rail 112 is locked by a ball locking portion 123 so as not to enter the ball housing portion 121 of the ball supply member 113.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the solenoid 114 is turned on, and the ball supply member 113 is attracted by the solenoid 114 and rotated to the upper limit position. As a result, the locking of the ball locking portion 123 with respect to the frontmost ball 111 on the ball guide rail 112 is released.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), the foremost ball 111 on the ball guide rail 112 is released from the ball supply member 113 by releasing the lock of the ball lock 123. Enter the housing part 121.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, when the solenoid 114 is turned off, the ball supply member 113 is released from suction by the solenoid 114 and starts to rotate downward due to its own weight and the weight of the ball 111. To do.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, the ball supply member 113 rotates to the lower limit position where the lower surface of the ball receiving guide portion 125 contacts the lower limit stopper 126. In this state, the foremost ball 111 on the ball guide rail 112 is locked by the ball locking portion 123 so as not to enter the ball housing portion 121 of the ball supply member 113. Further, the balls in the ball housing portion 121 of the ball supply member 113 are guided by the ball discharge slope 124, discharged from the ball housing portion 121, and reach the ball receiving guide portion 125. Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B, the balls 111 are discharged from the shooting ball supply device 101 to the side of the shooting ball supply device 101 and supplied to a ball shooting device (not shown).

  The on / off operation of the solenoid 114 and the operation of firing the ball 111 from the ball launching device are performed at predetermined time intervals as time elapses.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-228786 (released on October 09, 1991) JP 2007-229257 A (released on September 12, 2007)

  However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the balls 111 are intermittently flowing on the ball guide rail 112, and the balls 111 to be taken into the ball receiving portion 121 of the ball supply member 113 next are the ball supply members 113. In the state where the ball is not locked on the ball guide rail 112 by the ball locking portion 123, the following problem occurs.

  FIG. 19A shows a shot ball supply device 101 in a state in which the delayed ball 111 is about to enter the ball housing portion 121 while the ball supply member 113 is rotating downward, and the ball 111 is bitten. FIG. 19B is a front view showing the projecting ball supply device 101 in the same state. FIG. 20A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 101 in a state in which the ball 111 enters the ball receiving portion 121 after a predetermined timing from the state of FIG. 19A, and FIG. It is a front view which shows the firing ball supply apparatus 101 of the same state.

  For example, in a state where the ball 111 is not locked to the ball locking portion 123, even if the solenoid 114 is turned on and the ball supply member 113 rotates upward, the ball 111 immediately becomes the ball supply member 113. It is not taken into the ball housing part 121. After that, as shown in FIGS. 19A and 19B, when the solenoid 114 is turned off and the ball supply member 113 is rotating downward, the delayed ball 111 tries to enter the ball receiving portion 121. The ball 111 is caught between the ball locking portion 123 of the ball supply member 113 and the ball guide rail 112. After that, as shown in FIGS. 20A and 20B, when the ball 111 being bitten is pushed by the subsequent ball 111 and enters the ball accommodating portion 121, the ball supply member 113 is rotated downward. The discharge of the ball 111 from the launch ball supply device 101, that is, the supply of the ball 111 to the ball launch device is delayed from a predetermined timing.

  Here, in the ball launching device, the ball 111 supplied from the launching ball supply device 101 is stably positioned with a sufficient rest time at the launch position, and then is hit with a launcher, so that the accuracy is high. Stable launch is possible.

  On the other hand, when the supply of the ball 111 to the ball launcher is delayed, there occurs a situation in which the ball of the ball launcher operates before the ball 111 is sufficiently stationary at the launch position. In this case, there arises a problem that the firing force of the ball 111 becomes weak, or the ball 111 is not fired and remains in the launching part (ball remaining). In addition, when a ball remaining is generated, the next ball 111 is subsequently supplied and two balls 111 remain in the launching unit, and even if the ball launching operation is performed, the ball 111 reaches the board surface of the game table. It becomes a useless ball.

  In addition, when the supply of the ball 111 to the ball launching apparatus is delayed, there may be a situation in which the kite operates before the ball 111 reaches the firing position. In this case, similarly, the firing power of the ball 111 is weak, and the fired ball 111 returns without reaching the board surface of the game surface, collides with the fired subsequent ball 111, and the subsequent ball 111 May return to the launch position.

  As described above, in a configuration in which the ball 111 is supplied to the ball launching device with a delay from a predetermined timing, it is difficult to stably and accurately launch the ball 111 with the ball launching device. Further, the above-mentioned ball rest and ball return in the ball launching device due to a delay in supplying the balls 111 to the ball launching device significantly impairs the player's feeling of game.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fired ball supply device capable of preventing a supply delay when supplying a ball.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a launch ball supply device for a gaming machine according to the present invention has a ball locking portion, a ball receiving portion, and a ball restricting projection, and is between an upper limit position and a lower limit position about an axis. A ball supply member capable of reciprocating rotation, and a drive means for rotating the ball supply member, and by rotating the ball supply member to the upper limit position, the ball locking portion causes the ball supply member to Release the locking of the foremost first ball among the balls arranged in a row in the supply ball supply path, the ball housing portion captures and holds the first ball, and the ball regulating protrusion is , Projecting to the ball supply path, preventing movement of the balls after the second ball following the first ball in the direction of the ball housing portion, and by rotating the ball supply member to the lower limit position, The ball locking portion locks the second ball of the ball supply path so that a ball does not enter the ball housing portion, Serial ball accommodating portion, said first ball holding discharged, the ball restricting protrusion is characterized by regression from the ball supply passage.

  According to said structure, by the rotation to the upper limit position of a ball | bowl supply member, a ball | bowl latching | locking part is the 1st ball | bowl of the foremost part of the balls arranged in a line in the ball | bowl supply path which supplies a ball | bowl to a ball | bowl supply member. Release the lock. Thereby, the foremost ball of the ball supply path, that is, the first ball can be moved to the ball receiving portion of the ball supply member. Further, the ball container captures and holds the first ball. In addition, the ball restricting protrusion protrudes into the ball supply path and prevents movement of the balls after the second ball following the first ball in the direction of the ball housing portion.

  Further, by the rotation of the ball supply member to the lower limit position, the ball locking portion locks the second ball of the ball supply path so that the ball does not enter the ball housing portion. Further, the ball container discharges the first ball held. Thereby, the supply of the ball from the shooting ball supply device to the ball shooting device is performed. Further, the ball restricting protrusion retreats from the ball supply path. Thereby, the balls after the second ball whose movement has been prevented by the ball restricting projection can be moved toward the ball housing portion. Accordingly, the second ball is locked by the ball locking portion as the next first ball.

  Therefore, the ball following the second ball pushes the first ball taken into the ball housing portion of the ball supply member while the ball supply member is descending, or the ball locking portion of the ball supply member is being lowered. Can be prevented from colliding with the second ball and hindering the lowering operation of the ball supply member, resulting in unstable supply of the ball from the shot ball supply device to the ball launch device.

  Further, when the ball supply member rotates to the upper limit position, for example, the first ball (the frontmost ball) already locked by the ball locking portion does not exist in the ball supply path, and flows after a delay. When the ball (delayed ball) tries to enter the ball housing portion, the delayed ball is prevented from moving in the direction of the ball housing portion by the ball restricting protrusion. This prevents a situation in which a delayed ball is caught between a ball supply member and a ball supply path that are in the process of descending, resulting in a delay in the supply of the ball to a predetermined supply timing from the shot ball supply device to the ball launch device. can do.

  In the above-described game ball supply device of the gaming machine, the ball restricting protrusion is configured to push the first ball in a direction of moving to the ball receiving portion by rotation of the ball supply member to the upper limit position. It is good also as composition which has.

  According to the above configuration, the ball restricting projection is configured to push the first ball in the direction of moving to the ball receiving portion by rotating the ball supply member to the upper limit position. Even when dust is present and the flow of the ball is hindered by the dust, the ball can be reliably and quickly moved to the ball housing portion.

  In the above-described game ball supply device of the gaming machine, the ball restriction protrusion protrudes upward by rotation of the ball supply member to the upper limit position with respect to a surface through which the ball of the ball supply path passes, and the ball supply It is good also as a structure which retreats downward by rotation to the said minimum position of a member.

  According to said structure, the ball supply member provided with the ball | bowl control protrusion part is realizable by the simple structure by which the ball | bowl control protrusion part was directly provided in the ball | bowl supply member.

  In the above-described game ball supply apparatus for a gaming machine, the driving means is energized when the ball supply member is rotated to the upper limit position, and is de-energized when the ball supply member is rotated to the lower limit position. When the ball supply member rotates to the lower limit position, the ball restricting protrusion is pressed by a ball on the ball supply path in a direction of retreating downward from the surface through which the ball of the ball supply path passes. It is good also as a structure which is adapted.

  According to said structure, a ball supply member will rotate to a minimum position with the weight of the ball | bowl currently hold | maintained in own weight and a ball | bowl accommodating part, when the electricity supply to an electromagnet is interrupted | blocked. In this case, the ball restricting protrusion is pushed by the ball on the ball supply path in a direction of retreating downward from the surface through which the ball of the ball supply path passes. Thereby, the descent of the ball supply member is promoted, and the descent operation of the ball supply member can be performed quickly and reliably.

  In the above-described launching ball supply device of a gaming machine, a portion of the ball restricting protrusion that protrudes from the surface of the ball supply path through the rotation of the ball supply member to the upper limit position is a portion of the ball supply path. It is good also as a structure which inclines in the said ball | bowl accommodation part direction with respect to a state perpendicular | vertical to an upper surface.

  According to said structure, a ball | bowl supply path by the operation | movement which a ball | bowl control protrusion part pushes in the direction which moves a 1st ball | bowl to a ball | bowl accommodation part by rotation to the upper limit position of a ball supply member, and the ball | bowl on a ball | bowl supply path It is possible to appropriately perform an operation in which the ball restricting protrusion is pushed in a direction of retreating downward from the surface through which the ball passes.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, the ball following the second ball pushes the first ball taken into the ball housing portion of the ball supply member while the ball supply member is descending, or the ball is being lowered. Prevents the situation where the ball locking part of the member collides with the second ball and the lowering operation of the ball supply member is hindered, and the supply of the ball from the shot ball supply device to the ball launch device becomes unstable. can do.

  Further, when the ball supply member rotates to the upper limit position, for example, the first ball (the frontmost ball) already locked by the ball locking portion does not exist in the ball supply path, and flows after a delay. When the ball (delayed ball) tries to enter the ball housing portion, the delayed ball is prevented from moving in the direction of the ball housing portion by the ball restricting protrusion. This prevents a situation in which a delayed ball is caught between a ball supply member and a ball supply path that are in the process of descending, resulting in a delay in the supply of the ball to a predetermined supply timing from the shot ball supply device to the ball launch device. can do.

FIG. 1 (a) shows a state in which one ball is discharged in the firing ball supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and the next ball is locked on a ball guide rail by a ball supply member. The top view which shows a state, FIG.1 (b) is a front view which shows the projecting ball supply apparatus of the same state. FIG. 2A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device in a state in which the ball supply member is rotated to the upper limit position from the state of FIG. 1A, and FIG. FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device in a state where the ball supply member is rotated to the lower limit position from the state of FIG. 2A, and FIG. FIG. FIG. 4 (a) is a shot ball supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention. When the ball supply member rotates to the upper limit position, the ball flow on the ball guide rail is delayed, and the ball supply member. FIG. 4B is a front view showing the firing ball supply device in the same state. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device in a state where the ball supply member is rotating to the lower limit position from the state of FIG. 4A, and FIG. It is a front view which shows an apparatus. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing the shot ball supply device in a state where the ball supply member is rotated to the lower limit position in the shot ball supply device of the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a shot in the same state. It is a front view which shows a ball supply apparatus. Fig.7 (a) is a top view of the ball | bowl supply member shown to Fig.1 (a), FIG.7 (b) is a front part of the ball | bowl supply member shown in FIG.1 (b). Explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the position of the ball | bowl of the foremost part on the ball | bowl guide rail in the shot ball supply apparatus shown in FIG. It is. FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the operation of the ball restricting protrusion when the ball supply member rotates to the upper limit position from the state of FIG. 8 in the fired ball supply device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a pressing operation by a ball on a ball guide rail against a ball restricting protrusion of a ball supplying member that descends in the shot ball supplying device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 11A is a plan view showing a ball launching device and a ball launching device in a state where one ball is fed from the shot ball feeding device shown in FIG. 1 to the ball launching device, and FIG. It is a front view which shows the launching ball supply apparatus and ball launching apparatus of a state. 12 (a) is a plan view showing the ball launching device and the ball launching device in a state where the ball fed from the ball launching device shown in FIG. 1 is launched from the ball launching device, and FIG. 12 (b) is the same. It is a front view which shows the launching ball supply apparatus and ball launching apparatus of a state. FIG. 13 (a) is a perspective view showing a state in which the front door is opened in the pachinko machine provided with the launch ball supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 (b) is a diagram showing the state in which the front door is closed in the pachinko machine. FIG. FIG. 14A is a plan view showing a state where one ball is discharged in a conventional fired ball supply device, and FIG. 14B is a front view showing the fired ball supply device in the same state. Fig.15 (a) is a top view which shows the shot ball supply apparatus of the state which the ball supply member rotated to the upper limit position from the state of Fig.14 (a), FIG.15 (b) shows the shot ball supply apparatus of the same state. FIG. FIG. 16A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device in a state where one ball enters the ball housing portion of the ball supply member from the state of FIG. 15A, and FIG. FIG. FIG. 17A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device in a state where the ball supply member rotates downward from the state of FIG. 16A, and FIG. 17B shows the firing ball supply device in the same state. It is a front view. FIG. 18A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device in a state where the ball supply member has been rotated to the lower limit position from the state of FIG. 17A, and FIG. 18B shows the firing ball supply device in the same state. FIG. FIG. 19A shows a state in which, in a conventional fired ball supply device, a delayed ball tries to enter the ball housing portion while the ball supply member is rotating downward, and the ball is bitten. FIG. 19B is a front view showing the firing ball supply device in the same state. FIG. 20A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device in a state in which the balls enter the ball receiving portion after a predetermined timing from the state of FIG. 19A, and FIG. 20B is the same state. It is a front view which shows a firing ball supply apparatus.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The launch ball supply device of the present embodiment is provided in a pachinko machine as a gaming machine shown in FIGS. FIG. 13A is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine 1 with the front door 2 open, and FIG. 13B is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine 1 with the front door 2 closed. As shown in FIG. 13A, the firing ball supply device 11 is provided on the front door 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B and FIGS. 12A and 12B, the pachinko machine 1 includes a firing ball supply device 11 and a ball firing device 12. FIG. 11A is a plan view showing the shot ball supply device 11 and the ball shot device 12 in a state where one ball 13 is supplied from the shot ball supply device 11 to the ball shot device 12. FIG. 11B is a front view showing the shot ball supply device 11 and the ball shot device 12 in the same state. FIG. 12A is a plan view showing the ball launching device 11 and the ball launching device 12 in a state where the ball 13 fed from the ball launching device 11 is fired from the ball launching device 12. FIG. 12B is a front view showing the shot ball supply device 11 and the ball shot device 12 in the same state.

  The shot ball supply device 11 supplies the balls 13 continuously guided by the ball guide rail (ball supply path) 21 one by one to the launch position 53 of the ball launch device 12 by the ball supply member 22. The ball launching device 12 launches the ball 13 supplied to the firing position 53.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b), the firing ball supply device 11 includes a ball guide rail 21, a ball supply member 22, and a solenoid (drive means, electromagnet) 23. FIG. 1A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 11 in a state in which one ball is discharged and the next ball 13 is locked on the ball guide rail 21 by the ball supply member 22. FIG.1 (b) is a front view which shows the projecting ball supply apparatus 11 of the same state.

  The ball guide rail 21 has a gentle slope downward toward the ball supply member 22, and continuously supplies a plurality of balls 13 to the ball supply member 22. The ball supply member 22 reciprocally rotates a predetermined angle around the shaft 31 to take in the balls 13 one by one from the ball guide rail 21 and supply them one by one to the firing position 53 of the ball launching device 12.

  Specifically, the ball supply member 22 has a configuration shown in FIGS. FIG. 7A is a plan view showing the ball supply member 22, and FIG. 7B is a front view showing the ball supply member 22.

  As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the ball supply member 22 has a concave ball storage portion 32 that stores only one ball 13 supplied from the ball guide rail 21, and this ball storage portion. It can be rotated in the vertical direction about a shaft 31 provided at a position opposite to 32. The upper portion of the ball housing portion 32 is a convex ball locking portion 33, and the lower surface of the ball housing portion 32 is a ball discharge slope 34. A ball receiving guide portion 35 is formed at a position below the ball housing portion 32. The ball receiving guide unit 35 receives the ball discharged from the ball receiving unit 32 and guides it to the side of the firing ball supply device 11 (downward in FIG. 1A and forward in FIG. 1B). . Further, a ball restricting protrusion 36 that protrudes upward is formed at the tip of the ball supply member 22, that is, the end opposite to the shaft 31 side.

  When the ball supply member 22 rotates to the upper limit position, the ball restricting protrusion 36 protrudes on the ball guide rail 21 and moves the ball 13 following the ball 13 taken into the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 to the ball The guide rail 21 is held at a predetermined position. Further, when the ball supply member 22 rotates to the lower limit position, the ball 13 retreats from the ball guide rail 21 so as to allow the movement of the ball 13 following the ball 13 taken into the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22. It has become. The ball restricting protrusion 36 is formed to have a width narrower than the width of the ball supply member 22, and on one side in the width direction of the ball guide rail 21, the ball restricting protrusion 36 moves forward and backward with respect to the upper surface (the surface through which the ball 13 passes). To do.

  When the solenoid 23 is turned on, the ball supply member 22 is attracted by the solenoid 23 and rotates upward. Further, when the solenoid 23 is turned off, the suction of the solenoid 23 is released, and the solenoid 23 rotates downward due to natural fall. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the upper limit position of the rotation range of the ball supply member 22 is a position where the upper edge of the ball supply member 22 contacts the solenoid 23, and the lower limit position is a ball supply member. 22 is a position where the lower surface of the ball receiving guide portion 35 contacts the lower limit stopper 24. The lower limit stopper 24 is provided below the ball receiving guide portion 35 of the ball supply member 22.

  An opening is formed at a position below the ball discharge side wall 25 in the shot ball supply device 11, and the opening serves as a ball discharge port 26 of the shot ball supply device 11. Thereby, in a state where the ball supply member 22 rotates downward and is locked to the lower limit stopper 24, one ball is discharged from the shot ball supply device 11 to the side of the shot ball supply device 11 through the ball discharge port 128. It has come to be. The balls discharged from the firing ball supply device 101 are supplied to the ball launching device 12.

  The ball launcher 12 includes a launch rail 51 and a launcher 52, as shown in FIGS. The launch rail 51 receives the ball 13 supplied from the launch ball supply device 11 and guides the ball 13 launched from the ball launch device.

  The launch rail 51 is provided so as to be inclined so that the direction toward the tip of the launch rod 52 is downward, and the end that is inclined and becomes the lowest portion is a launch position 53. The launch position 53 is provided with a wedge-shaped positioning block 54 at a predetermined interval from the launch rail 51. By this positioning block 54, the ball 13 supplied to the firing position 53 is stably held on the firing rail 51.

  When the handle of the pachinko machine 1 is operated by the player, the launcher 52 is driven by a motor and rotates at a constant period, and hits and fires the ball 13 held at the launch position 53. The number of shots is, for example, 100 / min. In the figure, reference numeral 55 denotes a stopper.

  In the above configuration, the operation in which the firing ball supply device 11 ejects balls one by one will be described in detail.

  FIG. 2A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 11 in a state in which the ball supply member 22 is rotated to the upper limit position from the state of FIG. 1A, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing the device 11. FIG. FIG. 3A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 11 in a state where the ball supply member 22 is rotated to the lower limit position from the state of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing the device 11. FIG.

  The state shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is the same as the state shown in FIGS. 14A and 14B in a state where one ball 13 is supplied from the shot ball supply device 11 to the ball launch device 12. is there. In this state, the solenoid 23 is turned off, and the ball receiving portion 32 is rotated to the lower limit position. Further, the foremost ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is locked by a ball locking portion 33 so as not to enter the ball housing portion 32 of the ball supply member 22.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the solenoid 23 is turned on, the ball supply member 22 is attracted by the solenoid 23 and rotated to the upper limit position. As a result, the locking of the ball locking portion 33 with respect to the frontmost ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is released, and the frontmost ball 13 enters the ball housing portion 32 of the ball supply member 22. Further, the ball restricting protrusion 36 of the ball supply member 22 protrudes from the upper surface of the ball guide rail 21, and the ball 13 following the ball 13 that has entered the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 (at this time, on the ball guide rail 21). It contacts the front surface of the ball 13) present at the forefront of the lens. Therefore, the ball restricting protrusion 36 prevents the ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 from moving in the direction of the ball supply member 22, and the foremost ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is positioned at a predetermined position on the ball guide rail 21. Retained.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, when the solenoid 23 is turned off, the ball supply member 22 is released from the suction by the solenoid 23 and rotates to the lower limit position by its own weight and the weight of the ball 13. In this case, in the ball supply member 22, the lower surface of the ball receiving guide portion 35 contacts the lower limit stopper 24. In this state, the foremost ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is locked by the ball locking portion 33 so as not to enter the ball housing portion 32 of the ball supply member 22. Further, the balls in the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 are guided by the ball discharge slope 34, discharged from the ball receiving portion 32, and reach the ball receiving guide portion 35. Thereafter, the ball 13 is discharged from the ball discharge port 26 and supplied to the ball launching device 12.

  The ball 13 supplied to the ball launcher 12 from the shotball feeder 11 is held at the launch position 53 of the ball launcher 12 as shown in FIGS. 11 (a) (b) and 12 (a) (b). Is done. This ball 13 is struck by a launcher 52 of a ball launcher and fired to the board surface.

  Next, the operation of the shot ball supply device 11 when the flow of the balls 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is delayed and the balls 13 do not enter the ball housing portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 will be described.

  4A, when the ball supply member 22 rotates to the upper limit position, the flow of the ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is delayed, and the ball 13 does not enter the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22. FIG. FIG. 4B is a front view showing the launched ball supply device 11 in the same state. FIG. 5A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 11 in a state where the ball supply member 22 is rotating to the lower limit position from the state of FIG. 4A, and FIG. It is a front view which shows the ball supply apparatus 11. FIG. FIG. 6A is a plan view showing the firing ball supply device 11 in a state where the ball supply member 22 is rotated to the lower limit position, and FIG. 6B is a front view showing the firing ball supply device 11 in the same state.

  When the solenoid 23 is turned on, the ball supply member 22 is attracted by the solenoid 23 and rotated to the upper limit position as shown in FIGS. In this state, when the flow of the ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is delayed and the ball 13 does not enter the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22, the frontmost ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is The movement of the ball supply member 22 in the direction of the ball supply member 22 is prevented by the ball restriction projection 36 of the ball supply member 22 protruding from the upper surface of the ball guide rail 21 and is held at a predetermined position on the ball guide rail 21.

  Thereafter, when the solenoid 23 is turned off, the ball supply member 22 rotates to the lower limit position as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B through the states of FIGS. In the state of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the ball restricting protrusion 36 retreats from the ball guide rail 21 to below the ball guide rail 21. Accordingly, the foremost ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21 is released from the locked state by the ball restricting protrusion 36 and moves to the foremost portion of the ball guide rail 21, and the ball locking portion 33 of the ball supply member 22. It is locked by. Thereafter, the foremost ball 13 locked by the ball locking portion 33 of the ball supply member 22 is taken into the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 when the solenoid 23 is turned on next time.

  By such an operation, the ball 13 does not enter the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 with a delay from a predetermined timing, and between the ball locking portion 33 of the ball supply member 22 and the ball guide rail 21. The ball 13 is not bitten. Further, there is no supply delay of the ball 13 from the shot ball supplying device 11 to the ball launching device 12, and there is a shortage of the flying distance of the ball 13 due to the supply delay of the ball 13 or two hits of the ball 13 due to the remaining ball. , It is possible to prevent defective firing in the ball launching device 12.

  Here, the configuration of the ball supply member 22 provided with the ball restricting protrusion 36 will be described in more detail.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the position of the foremost ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21, the locking state of the foremost ball 13 by the ball locking portion 33, and the position of the ball restricting protrusion 36. It is. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the ball restricting protrusion 36 when the ball supply member 22 rotates to the upper limit position from the state of FIG. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a pressing operation by the balls 13 on the ball guide rails 21 against the ball restricting protrusions 36 of the ball supply member 22 that descends.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the solenoid 23 is turned off after the ball 13 is taken into the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22, the ball supply member 22 starts to descend due to its own weight and the weight of the ball 13. In this case, the ball restricting protrusion 36 protruding on the ball guide rail 21 is pressed by the ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21. Therefore, the descent of the ball supply member 22 is promoted and is performed quickly and reliably.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the tip of the ball restricting protrusion 36 is lowered from the upper surface of the ball guide rail 21, the opposing surface of the ball locking portion 33 that faces the frontmost ball 13 is the frontmost ball 13. It is in contact. If the contact position C in this case is below the AA ′ line connecting the axis 31 of the ball supply member 22 and the center of the frontmost ball 13, the frontmost ball 13 enters the ball housing portion 32 of the ball supply member 22. Absent.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 9, when the ball supply member 22 rotates to the upper limit position, the ball accommodation portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 is opened and the frontmost ball 13 enters the ball accommodation portion 32. In this case, the ball restricting protrusion 36 protrudes on the ball guide rail 21 and assists the ball 13 from entering the ball receiving portion 32 by pushing the foremost ball 13 locked to the ball locking portion 33 from behind. To do. Therefore, for example, even when dust is present on the ball guide rail 21 and the flow of the ball 13 is hindered by the dust, the ball 13 can be reliably and quickly moved to the ball housing portion 32. Become.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when the ball supply member 22 is rotated to the upper limit position so that the operation of pushing the frontmost ball 13 from the back by the ball restriction projection 36 can be appropriately performed, the ball restriction projection 36. The portion protruding from the ball guide rail 21 is inclined toward the ball supply member 22 with respect to a state perpendicular to the upper surface of the ball guide rail 21.

  Further, as described above, the movement of the succeeding ball 13 relative to the frontmost ball 13 in the direction of the ball housing portion 32 is restricted by the ball restricting protrusion 36 protruding from the ball guide rail 21. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ball 13 from being caught by the ball engaging portion 33 when the ball supply member 22 is lowered.

On the other hand, when the ball restricting protrusion 36 rises, the ball restricting protrusion 36 may bite the ball 13. However,
(1) Since the ball supply member 22 is rising and not at the timing of supplying the ball 13 to the ball launching device 12, the biting in this case does not directly affect the firing timing of the ball launching device 12.
(2) Even when the ball restricting protrusion 36 bites the ball 13 for a certain time and the ball 13 moves forward, the ball receiving portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 is opened and the ball to the ball receiving portion 32 is opened. Since the timing is waiting for the inflow of 13, the inflow of the balls 13 in the ball housing portion 32 has a time margin. Therefore, it does not lead to a problem of launch delay in the ball launcher 12.

  Moreover, since the ball | bowl control protrusion part 36 protrudes between the ball | bowl 13 of the forefront part on the ball | bowl guide rail 21, and its succeeding ball | bowl 13, when the ball | bowl regulation protrusion part 36 raises, the ball | bowl 13 of a succeeding part is the ball | bowl 13 of the foremost part. There is no pressing.

  In the fired ball supply device 11 of the present embodiment, the ball 13 enters the ball housing portion 32 of the ball supply member 22 at a position where the ball supply member 22 has risen 6 degrees from the lower limit position. In this case, the tip of the ball restricting projection 36 has already protruded from the upper surface of the ball guide rail 21 by 3 mm or more, and the succeeding balls can be completely separated by the ball restricting protrusion 36. On the ball guide rail 21, the ball 13 is covered with a wall serving as a guide on the left and right sides, and the gap between the ball 13 and the wall is a minimum gap into which the ball 13 can flow, for example, 1 to 2 mm. Yes. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7A, the ball restricting protrusion 36 is thin with respect to the width of the ball guide rail 21, but when the ball restricting portion 36 protrudes on the ball guide rail 21, the ball 13 is surely formed. Can be prevented.

  As described above, when the ball supply member 22 is rotated to the upper limit position, the portion of the ball restricting protrusion 36 that protrudes from the ball guide rail 21 is supplied to the ball perpendicular to the upper surface of the ball guide rail 21. By inclining in the direction of the member 22, the ball restricting protrusion 36 protruding on the ball guide rail 21 is easily pressed by the ball 13 on the ball guide rail 21.

  However, when the ball supply member 22 exists at the upper limit position, this position is the maximum point of the attracting force by the solenoid 23, so that the ball restricting protrusion 36 is lowered by being pressed by the ball on the ball guide rail 21. Absent.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be used for a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine that uses balls as game balls, cuts the balls one by one and supplies them to the ball launcher at a fixed timing.

1 Pachinko machine (game machine)
11 Ball launching device 12 Ball launching device 13 Ball 21 Ball guide rail (ball supply path)
22 Ball supply member 23 Solenoid (drive means, electromagnet)
24 Lower limit stopper 25 Side wall 26 Ball discharge port 32 Ball receiving portion 33 Ball engaging portion 34 Ball discharge slope 35 Ball receiving guide portion 36 Ball restricting projection portion 51 Launch rail 52 Launch rod 53 Launch position 54 Positioning block

Claims (5)

A ball supply member that has a ball locking portion, a ball housing portion, and a ball restricting projection, and is capable of reciprocating rotation between an upper limit position and a lower limit position around an axis,
Drive means for rotating the ball supply member,
Due to the rotation of the ball supply member to the upper limit position, the ball locking portion is locked to the first ball of the foremost portion of the balls arranged in a row in the ball supply path for supplying the ball to the ball supply member. The ball receiving portion captures and holds the first ball, and the ball restricting protrusion protrudes into the ball supply path, and the second ball and the subsequent balls after the first ball. Preventing the movement of the balls in the direction of the ball receiving portion,
By the rotation of the ball supply member to the lower limit position, the ball locking portion locks the second ball of the ball supply path so that no ball enters the ball storage portion, and the ball storage The unit discharges the first ball held, and the ball restricting projection retreats from the ball supply path.   The ball restricting protrusion is configured to push the first ball in a direction of moving to the ball receiving portion by rotation of the ball supply member to the upper limit position. A launching ball supply device for the gaming machine described.   The ball restricting protrusion protrudes upward by rotation of the ball supply member to the upper limit position with respect to a surface through which the balls of the ball supply path pass, and moves downward by rotation of the ball supply member to the lower limit position. The retreating ball supply device for a gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the retreating device retreats. The drive means is an electromagnet that is energized when rotating the ball supply member to the upper limit position, and is de-energized when rotating the ball supply member to the lower limit position;
When the ball supply member rotates to the lower limit position, the ball restricting protrusion is pushed by a ball on the ball supply path in a direction of retreating downward from the surface through which the ball of the ball supply path passes. The launching ball supply device for a gaming machine according to claim 3, wherein:   Due to the rotation of the ball supply member to the upper limit position, the portion of the ball restriction projection that protrudes from the surface of the ball supply path through which the ball passes is in a state perpendicular to the upper surface of the ball supply path. The game ball supply device for a gaming machine according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the game ball supply device is inclined in the direction of the housing portion.

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