JP5728697B2 - Game machine launcher - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a launching device for a gaming machine used for supplying a game ball from a ball supply path to a launch position provided at a lower end of a launch rail.

  Conventionally, in a gaming machine, for example, a pachinko machine, a game ball in a supply tray provided at the lower surface of the pachinko machine is sent to a launch position provided at the lower end of the launch rail via a ball supply path, and the launch position The game ball sent to is struck with a striking ball that advances and retreats with respect to the launch position by the operation of the drive unit, and is sent out from the launch rail to the game board. In this case, in order to prevent a plurality of game balls from being supplied to the launch position at a time, one game ball is brought to the launch position via the ball supply path with respect to one advance and retreat of the hitting ball. A game machine launching device having a supply mechanism is used (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this ball launching device (launching device), a ball delivery cam that sends a pachinko ball in the ball supply path to the launch position by moving forward and backward with respect to the exit of the ball supply path in the main body case, and advances and retreats with respect to the launch position. Thus, the ball launching rotor for launching the pachinko ball received at the launch position by the receiving member is incorporated. A cam groove is formed on the ball launching rotor, and an engagement pin is formed on the ball delivery cam. By engaging the engagement pin with the cam groove, the ball launching rotor and the ball delivery cam have the same rotational axis. It is connected in a rotatable state as a center.

  The cam groove includes three portions, two arc-shaped portions having different radii around the rotation axis, and a portion connecting the two arc-shaped portions. That is, the three parts are: a part that keeps the ball delivery cam stationary at the outlet of the ball supply path with respect to the rotation of the ball launching rotor; It consists of a part that moves the pachinko ball to the launch position by moving it from the exit of the road, and a part that keeps the ball delivery cam moved from the exit of the ball supply path with respect to further rotation of the ball launch rotor Yes.

  As a result, until the striking rod of the ball launching rotor advances from the retracted position and launches the pachinko ball, the ball delivery cam stays at the exit of the ball supply path, and the striking rod of the ball launching rotor is less than the firing position. When further advanced, the ball delivery cam begins to move from the exit of the ball supply path. When the striking rod of the ball launching rotor is in a further advanced position, the ball delivery cam is maintained in a state of being moved from the exit of the ball supply path, and the pachinko ball is sent out to the firing position.

JP 2002-346067 A

  In a game machine launching device, in order to stably launch a game ball, it is necessary for the game ball to be stationary at the launch position when the ball hitting the game ball. However, in the ball launching device described above, since the ball feeding is started after the hitting ball hits the game ball, the time from the supply of the game ball to the launch position until the hitting ball hits the game ball is shortened. . For this reason, there is a possibility that the trajectory of the launched game ball may vary due to the game ball supplied to the launch position being hit by the hitting ball before it stops.

  In addition, in the launching device of the gaming machine, in order to stably launch the game ball, it is preferable to avoid applying a force other than the force for hitting the game ball as much as possible. However, in the above-described ball launching device, the ball delivery cam always moves following the movement of the ball launching rotor or is stationary, so that an extra force is applied to the ball launching rotor from the ball delivery cam and the ball launching cam is stabilized. It is difficult to launch game balls, and there is a risk of variations in the trajectory of the launched game balls.

  The present invention has been made to address the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a launching device for a gaming machine that can stably launch a game ball. In the description of each constituent element of the present invention below, the reference numerals of corresponding portions of the embodiment are shown in parentheses in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention. The present invention should not be construed as being limited to the configurations of the corresponding portions indicated by the reference numerals of the forms.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a structural feature of the launching device of the gaming machine according to the present invention is that a ball that supplies the game ball (B) to the launch position (12a) provided at the lower end of the launch rail (12). A supply path (11), a striking ball rod (21) which is arranged rotatably about a rotation axis and which moves forward and backward with respect to the firing position by a forward and reverse rotation, and a hitting ball The ball supply path of the ball supply path is rotated in a predetermined range around the support shaft (31) and the drive unit (22) for hitting the hitting unit with the game ball supplied to the launch position by rotating the basket forward and backward. It is arranged in the vicinity and consists of a rotating body with a ball transport recess that can hold one game ball in the ball supply path side part. The game ball sent from the upstream side of the ball supply path is held by the ball transport recess and rotated. By rotating in one direction, the game ball can be A spherical feeding member to send to the firing position (30), the firing device of the gaming machine that includes a resilient member (37) for biasing the ball feeding member in one rotational direction (A), the edge of the sphere feed member to form a sphere conveying recess along, the portion facing the definitive hitting hammer the edge of the sphere the feed member, when the ball feed member is rotating in the opposite rotational direction against the elasticity of the elastic member An arcuate engagement curved surface (34) is formed along the rotation trajectory of a predetermined portion of the hitting ball rod, and the engagement curved surface is pressed against the predetermined portion of the hitting ball rod so that the ball feeding member rotates in the other direction of rotation. A pressing pin (26) is provided, and before the striking ball is rotated to the other side and the striking part reaches the firing position, the pressing pin is separated from the engagement curved surface and the ball feeding member is rotated in one direction of rotation. It is in.

  In the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the present invention, the ball feeding member is formed with an arcuate engagement curved surface having the same radius as the radius of the rotation trajectory of the predetermined portion of the hitting ball, and a pressing pin is provided on the predetermined portion of the hitting ball. It is provided so that when the pressing pin is engaged with the engagement curved surface, the ball feeding member is maintained in the other direction in the rotational direction against the elasticity of the elastic member. That is, since the engagement curved surface is formed in an arc shape along the rotation trajectory of the pressing pin, when the pressing pin is engaged with the engagement curved surface, the hitting basket is used to launch the game ball at the firing position. Even if it rotates, the ball feeding member remains stationary.

  When the hitting ball is rotated by a certain angle, the pressing pin is separated from the engagement curved surface, and the ball feeding member is rotated to one side by the urging force of the elastic member. Thereby, the game ball sent to the ball transport recess from the upstream side of the ball supply path is sent to the launch position. In addition, before this game ball is sent to the launch position, another game ball is sent to the launch position, and the spinning ball hits the game ball. Further, the ball feeding member can be rotated by changing the direction between a predetermined angle range, that is, between one and the other in the rotation direction. In the present invention, for example, if the rotation in one direction is the counterclockwise direction, the ball feeding member is moved to the other. Is rotated clockwise.

  Further, in the present invention, by making the length along the arc shape in the engagement curved surface an arbitrary length, the timing at which the ball feeding member starts to rotate, in other words, the timing at which the ball feeding starts can be changed. This timing is set before the hitting portion reaches the launch position after the hitting ball starts to rotate in the other direction. According to this, since the time from when the game ball is sent to the launch position until it is fired by the hitting ball is long, the game ball becomes stationary when it is shot by the hitting ball, and the trajectory of the launched game ball is It will be stable.

  In addition, by shortening the length of the engagement curved surface along the arc shape, the game ball in the ball transport recess is launched in a short time from the time when the hitting basket starts rotating to launch the game ball. Can also be sent to. According to this, since the time from when the game ball is sent to the launch position until it is fired by the hitting ball is longer, the game ball at the launch position can be more securely stopped, and the trajectory of the launched game ball Can be stabilized.

  In addition, by increasing the length along the arc shape in the engagement curved surface, from when the hitting ball basket starts rotating to launch the game ball, until the game ball in the ball transport recess starts to be sent to the launch position. You can also lengthen the time. According to this, when the ball hitting ball hits the game ball and then reverses and returns to the original position, the timing at which the ball feed member rotates to the other side becomes earlier, and a plurality of game balls are sent to the ball transport recess. Can be prevented. In addition, the ball feeding member is rotated by the elastic member, and when the hitting ball fires the game ball, the hitting ball is affected by the operation of the ball feeding member because the pressing pin is separated from the engagement curved surface. Absent.

  Another structural feature of the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the present invention is that a ball is adjacent to a portion adjacent to the ball transport recess when the ball feed member rotates in one direction of rotation in a direction parallel to the support shaft. A downstream portion (11c) of the supply path is formed and its downstream end is set to the firing position, and a concave portion is provided on the downstream side of the ball receiving portion (36) that forms the ball conveying concave portion to be a support shaft of the ball receiving portion. The width in the parallel direction is less than the diameter of the game ball.

  According to the present invention, since the downstream portion of the ball supply path is formed adjacent to the ball conveyance recess when the ball feed member is rotated and positioned on one side, and the downstream end thereof is at the firing position, When the ball is rotated, the game ball is sent from the ball transport recess to the launch position via the downstream portion of the ball supply path. And since the width | variety of a ball receiving part is made small by providing a recessed part in the downstream part side part in a ball receiving part, even when the timing which rotates a ball feeding member to the other is early, the game ball which goes to a launch position is ball receiving Interference with the part can be prevented.

  That is, when the width of the portion facing the downstream portion in the ball receiving portion is reduced, the time for the game ball to leave the ball receiving portion is shorter than when the width of the portion of the ball receiving portion is large. The timing of rotating the divided ball feeding member to the other can be advanced. Further, the width of the ball receiving portion is equal to or smaller than the diameter of the game ball, but is preferably equal to or smaller than half the diameter of the game ball. According to this, for example, even if the ball feeding member is rotated to the other side immediately after the ball feeding member rotates and reaches one side and the game ball starts to be sent out from the ball receiving portion, the game ball interferes with the ball receiving portion. It is hard to happen. Moreover, the recessed part provided in a ball | bowl receiving part may just form the space by making the width | variety of the lower part of a ball | bowl receiving part smaller than the width | variety of another part.

  Still another structural feature of the launching device of the gaming machine according to the present invention is that the pressing pin has a shaft portion (26a) parallel to the support shaft and an outer peripheral portion (26b) rotatably installed around the shaft portion. ). According to this, when the pressing pin moves with respect to the engagement curved surface, the outer peripheral portion rotates about the shaft portion, so that the friction between the engagement curved surface and the outer peripheral portion is reduced, and the engagement The pressing pin can move smoothly with respect to the curved surface.

  Still another structural feature of the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the present invention is to stop the rotation of the hitting ball after the hitting portion of the hitting ball rotates in the other direction and hits the game ball at the launch position. A stopper (23a) made of a low rebound rubber. When the stopper is made of high resilience rubber, there is a risk that a plurality of game balls may be sent to the launch position during the time when the hitting ball hits the game ball and then stops until it stops. Although this occurs, such a situation can be prevented by configuring the stopper with a low-rebound rubber.

It is the perspective view which showed the launcher which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the front view which showed the launcher which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which showed the state which opened the launch cover of the launcher. It is the perspective view which showed the back surface of the launch cover. FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in FIG. It is the front view which showed the inside of the launching device in the state where the hitting ball was retracted. It is the perspective view which showed the inside of the launching device in the state where the hitting ball was retracted. It is the front view which showed the inside of the launching device in the state immediately before the engagement with an engagement curved surface part and a press pin is cancelled | released. It is the perspective view which showed the inside of the launching device in the state just before the engagement with an engagement curved-surface part and a press pin is cancelled | released. It is the front view which showed the inside of the launching device in the state which the hitting ball hit the game ball and contacted the stop. It is the perspective view which showed the inside of the launcher in the state where the hitting ball hits the game ball and is in contact with the stop.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a launching apparatus A according to the embodiment. This launching device A is incorporated in a lower part of a gaming machine main body (not shown) via a case 10 for installation, and a game ball B (FIG. 6 to FIG. 6) in a supply tray provided on the surface of the gaming machine main body. 9) is supplied to the launch position 12a provided at the lower end of the launch rail 12 shown in FIG. The launcher A is configured by installing a ball striking device 20 and a ball feeding member 30 in an installation case 10.

  The installation case 10 has a square plate-like launch base 10a as a base portion according to the present invention that is disposed with the surface facing forward, and an edge on the right side of the launch base 10a (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2). A substantially box-shaped launch cover 10b as an opening and closing member according to the present invention, which is attached in a possible manner and opens and closes the surface of the launch base 10a. Hereinafter, the left and right and front and rear directions will be described based on FIG. 1 and FIG. At the right edge of the firing base 10a, a connecting portion 10c having a substantially U-shaped side view with the front side opened is formed, and support holes are formed in the upper and lower portions of the front portion. The firing cover 10b has a shape in which a peripheral wall portion is provided at a predetermined portion in the peripheral portion of the square plate-like body, and a shaft portion that is inserted into the support hole of the connecting portion 10c is provided on the right edge portion thereof. A connecting portion 10d is formed. The firing cover 10b is rotatably assembled to the firing base 10a by inserting the shaft portion of the connecting portion 10d into the support hole of the connecting portion 10c.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a lower guide wall 13 that extends from the upper left to the lower right is formed at the lower left portion of the launch base 10a, and corresponds to the upper portion of the lower guide wall 13 in the launch cover 10b. An upper guide wall 14 is formed in the portion. When the installation case 10 is closed, the lower guide wall 13 and the upper guide wall 14 are in a parallel positional relationship with a vertical spacing. The launch rail 12 is installed at the lower part of the lower guide wall 13. The cross-sectional shape of the firing rail 12 is formed in a substantially M shape, and a shallow groove having a V-shaped cross section along the longitudinal direction is formed on the upper surface. The firing rail 12 is fixed to the lower guide wall 13 by screws 13a.

  The upper guide wall 14 is formed between the lower guide wall 13 and the firing rail 12 with a space that allows the game ball B to pass therethrough with a margin, and above the lower end of the firing rail 12 in the firing base 10a. In addition, a ball stop portion 14a protruding downward is provided. That is, between the lower guide wall 13 and the firing rail 12 and the upper guide wall 14 constitutes a ball launch path through which the game ball B is launched toward the game board, and the vertical width of the lower end thereof is The stop portion 14a is narrowed by protruding downward, and has a length that prevents the game ball B from passing therethrough. A launch position 12a is formed at a portion where the game ball B in the vicinity (slightly above the lower end) between the lower end of the launch rail 12 and the lower end of the ball stop portion 14a cannot pass.

  In addition, a peripheral wall portion is not formed in a portion corresponding to the upper end of the ball launch path in the launch cover 10b, and a spherical launch path is formed between the launch base 10a and the launch cover 10b by a portion where the peripheral wall portion is not provided. The outlet 13b is formed. A fitting protrusion 14b that protrudes forward is formed in the upper front portion of the ball stop portion 14a, and a fitting cylinder portion 14c that can be fitted with the fitting protrusion 14b is formed in the vicinity of the lower end of the upper guide wall 14 in the firing cover 10b. Is formed. When the fitting protrusion 14b and the fitting cylinder portion 14c are fitted, the firing base 10a and the firing cover 10b are assembled at an appropriate position.

  A notch hole is formed in the center in the left-right direction at the front lower portion of the firing cover 10b, and a box-like convex portion 15 protruding forward is provided at the notch hole portion. The spherical supply path 11 passes from the front surface of the box-shaped convex portion 15 through the inside of the box-shaped convex portion 15, and its downstream end communicates with the firing position 12 a. Further, the upstream side of the ball supply path 11 communicates with the supply tray of the pachinko machine body. The box-shaped convex portion 15 accommodates a supply path forming portion 15a that is provided from the upper portion to the lower left portion and forms the ball supply passage 11, and a ball feeding member 30 that is provided from the lower side to the right side of the supply passage forming portion 15a and is described later. Storage portion 15b. The sphere supply path 11 communicates with the inside of the box-shaped convex portion 15 through an inlet 11a formed on the front surface of the box-shaped convex portion 15, and between the front surface of the box-shaped convex portion 15 and the front surface of the launch cover 10b. It is comprised by the channel | path in the supply path formation part 15a which curves from the left and extends to the lower left part.

  An exit 11b is formed in a portion corresponding to the lower part of the supply path forming portion 15a in the front surface portion of the firing cover 10b, and the lower edge portion of the outlet 11b descends from the inner side of the box-shaped convex portion 15 toward the outer side. An inclined sphere discharge surface 11c is provided. And the launch position 12a is located in the front end side of this ball | bowl discharge | release surface 11c. Further, an engagement protrusion 16 having an inclined surface 16a formed at the tip is formed on the upper portion of the ball stop portion 14a in the firing base 10a, and an engagement portion is formed on the portion of the firing cover 10b facing the engagement protrusion 16. An operation unit 17 is provided. The engagement operation unit 17 includes a main body 17b that is rotatably assembled to the launch cover 10b within a range of a predetermined angle with the operation unit 17a protruding from the front surface of the launch cover 10b, and the main body 17b from the front surface of the launch cover 10b. And a spring 17c that urges counterclockwise when viewed.

  An engagement piece 17e having an inclined surface 17d (see FIG. 4) is formed in a portion of the main body 17b facing the inclined surface 16a of the engaging protrusion 16. When the surface of the firing base 10a is closed by the firing cover 10b, the inclined surface 16a and the inclined surface 17d are in contact with each other, and the main body 17b is rotated in the clockwise direction against the elasticity of the spring 17c, so that they are in contact with each other. The inclined surface 17d advances backward while shifting the position. When the inclined surface 17d reaches the rear of the inclined surface 16a, the main body 17b rotates counterclockwise by the elasticity of the spring 17c, and the engaging piece 17e engages with the engaging protrusion 16. When opening the firing cover 10b, the operation unit 17a is rotated clockwise to pull the firing cover 10b forward. In addition, insertion holes 18 are formed in the four corners of the launch base 10a to allow screws to pass therethrough when the installation case 10 is fixed to the gaming machine body. A hole 18a is formed.

  The hitting device 20 includes a hitting ball 21, a rotary solenoid 22 (see FIG. 5) that rotationally drives the hitting ball 21, an upper stopper 23 that regulates the position of the hitting side of the hitting ball 21, and a standby side of the hitting ball 21. The rotary solenoid 22 is provided with a magnet for attracting the hitting ball 21 to the lower stopper 24 side. When the electromagnet provided in the rotary solenoid 22 is not energized, the hitting ball 21 is urged to the standby side by the attractive force of the magnet and the electromagnet, and when the electromagnet is energized, the magnet and the electromagnet repel each other and strike the ball Move to. The rotary solenoid 22 provided with this magnet constitutes the drive unit according to the present invention.

  The hitting ball 21 is composed of a lever composed of a plate-like metal main body 21a that is curved and extended so that the right edge becomes a convex curve, and a coating layer 21b that covers the right edge on the convex side of the metal main body 21a. Has been. The metal main body 21a includes an upper piece 25a that extends substantially linearly on the left and right sides on the upper side, a lower piece 25b that is bent from the right side portion of the upper piece 25a and extends downward, and a length that is longer than the upper piece 25a. And a pressing piece 25c that is slightly shorter than the upper piece 25a extending toward the lower left from the recess side portion where the lower piece 25b intersects. A hitting portion 21c is formed at the lower end of the hitting ball 21, and a pressing pin 26 is attached to the front surface of the end of the pressing piece 25c.

  The pressing pin 26 includes a shaft portion 26a that extends forward from the front end of the pressing piece 25c, and a cylindrical roller portion 26b that is rotatably attached to the outer periphery of the shaft portion 26a. The shaft portion 26a includes a thin rod-shaped portion fixed to the pressing piece 25c and a conical cone portion provided at the tip of the rod-shaped portion, and the diameter of the rear portion of the conical portion is the diameter of the rod-shaped portion. Is bigger than. For this reason, a step is formed at the boundary portion between the rod-shaped portion and the conical portion. And the roller part 26b is attached to the outer periphery of a rod-shaped part in the state stopped by the cone part.

  Further, a shaft hole is formed at a portion where the upper piece 25a, the lower piece 25b and the pressing piece 25c intersect in the metal main body 21a, and the front end portion of the rotating shaft connected to the rotary solenoid 22 is fixed to the shaft hole. ing. The rotary solenoid 22 is installed on the back surface of the firing base 10a. A rotating shaft coupled to the rotary solenoid 22 extends through the firing base 10a to the surface side of the firing base 10a, and an upper portion of the hitting ball 21 is coupled to the front end portion through a shaft hole. When the rotary solenoid 22 is energized, the rotation shaft rotates, whereby the hitting ball 21 rotates in the clockwise direction.

  At this time, the hitting portion 21c provided at the lower end of the hitting basket 21 moves to the launch position 12a and hits the game ball B supplied to the launch position 12a. Thereafter, when the energization of the rotary solenoid 22 is stopped, the hitting ball 21 returns to the standby position by the attractive force of the magnet. The upper stopper 23 is configured by attaching a stop portion 23a made of a low-resilience material made of nitrile rubber to an attachment portion 23b formed on the launch base 10a, and the upper portion of the hitting ball 21 after hitting the game ball B is formed. By receiving at the stopping part 23a, the clockwise rotation of the hitting ball 21 is stopped. The lower stopper 24 is configured by attaching a restraining portion 24a made of a thermoplastic elastomer low-rebound material to an attachment portion 24b formed on the firing base 10a, and moves to a standby position 21. Is received by the restraining portion 24a to stop the counterclockwise rotation of the hitting ball 21.

  6 to 11 show the positional relationship between the ball feeding member 30, the firing position 12a and the hitting ball 21 except for the firing cover 10b from the launching apparatus A shown in FIGS. As shown in these drawings, the ball feeding member 30 is disposed between the firing position 12a and the pressing pin 26 of the hitting ball 21 when viewed from the front side. Further, when viewed from the side, the ball feeding member 30 can rotate within a range of a predetermined angle around a support shaft 31 spanned between the front surface of the firing cover 10b and the front surface of the box-shaped convex portion 15. In this state, it is arranged from the inside of the accommodating portion 15b to the inside of the launch cover 10b.

  The ball feeding member 30 includes a cylindrical bearing 32 rotatably supported by a support shaft 31, a vertical wall 33 that extends from the outer periphery of the cylindrical bearing 32 to the left and right and is longer than the upper and lower sides, and an upper edge of the vertical wall 33. Are formed of an engagement curved surface portion 34, a ball feed convex portion 35, and a ball receiving portion 36, which are formed in order from right to left. The engaging curved surface portion 34 has a curved surface having the same curvature as the track of the outer peripheral tip portion of the pressing pin 26 when the hitting ball 21 rotates, and a concave portion on the outer side, and the roller of the pressing pin 26 from the vicinity of the front surface of the housing portion 15b. It consists of a plate-like part having a width in the front-rear direction that is wider than the arc direction with a width extending to a position where it can contact the part 26b. The ball feed convex portion 35 includes a curved surface having a convex portion on the outer side, and includes a plate-like portion having a width in the front-rear direction that is narrower than the arc direction having a width that can be accommodated in the accommodating portion 15b. For this reason, a step is formed between the rear portion of the engagement curved surface portion 34 and the rear portion of the ball feeding convex portion 35, and the rear portion protrudes into the firing cover 10 b from the step of the engagement curved surface portion 34.

  The ball receiving portion 36 includes a substantially flat vertical plate portion 36a that is bent from the left end portion of the ball feed convex portion 35 and extends downward, and a curved portion 36b that is formed at the center in the front-rear direction on the lower outer surface of the vertical plate portion 36a. It consists of and. The vertical plate portion 36a extends downward with the same width as that of the ball feed convex portion 35, and is longer in the vertical direction than in the front-rear direction. The curved portion 36b is formed of a rod-shaped portion that protrudes to the left from the vertical plate portion 36a and has a curved surface on which one game ball B can be placed. The width of the bending portion 36b in the front-rear direction is set to be less than half of the diameter of the game ball B, for example, 1/3. The concave portions formed on the upper surfaces of the vertical plate portion 36a and the curved portion 36b constitute the spherical transport concave portion according to the present invention. Further, a spring 37 as an elastic member according to the present invention is attached to the outer periphery of the cylindrical bearing 32, and the ball feeding member 30 is urged counterclockwise by the spring 37.

  In addition, a guide projection 33a that protrudes forward is formed in the vicinity of the engagement curved surface portion 34 on the front surface of the vertical wall 33, and an arc-shaped portion is formed on a portion corresponding to the guide projection 33a on the front surface of the box-shaped convex portion 15. A guide groove 15c is formed. The guide protrusion 33a is located in the guide groove 15c, and when the ball feeding member 30 rotates about the support shaft 31, the guide protrusion 33a moves along the guide groove 15c. As a result, the trajectory when the ball feeding member 30 rotates becomes constant. The left end of the guide groove 15c is one side according to the present invention, and the right end of the guide groove 15c is the other side according to the present invention.

  Further, when the launch cover 10b is brought close to the surface of the launch base 10a in order to close the launch base 10a from the state in which the launch base 10a is opened, the engagement curved surface portion 34 is gradually pushed by the conical portion of the shaft portion 26a. The ball feeding member 30 rotates in the clockwise direction against the elasticity of the spring 37. Then, when the fitting protrusion 14b and the fitting cylinder portion 14c are fitted and the engagement piece 17e and the engagement protrusion 16 are engaged, as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. The roller portion 26b comes into contact with the right side portion of the engagement curved surface portion 34. Further, a bottom surface portion of the back side portion of the inlet 11 a in the supply path forming portion 15 a is located above the engagement curved surface portion 34, and the ball supply path 11 communicates with the upper surface side of the ball feed convex portion 35. ing. 6 and 7, the ball supply path 11 is inclined upward at the portion of the ball feed convex portion 35.

  In addition, since the curvature of the engagement curved surface portion 34 and the curvature of the trajectory of the outer peripheral tip portion of the pressing pin 26 when the hitting ball 21 rotates, even if the hitting ball 21 rotates, While the roller portion 26b is in contact with the engagement curved surface portion 34, that is, while changing from the state of FIGS. 6 and 7 to the state of FIGS. 8 and 9, the ball feeding member 30 is kept stationary. When the roller portion 26b moves beyond the left end of the engagement curved surface portion 34, the ball feeding member 30 is released from the pressing of the pressing pin 26, and rotates counterclockwise by the elasticity of the spring 37. 10 and the state of FIG. At this time, the portion of the ball feed convex portion 35 in the ball supply path 11 is inclined downward.

  In addition, a sphere discharge surface 11c is located at the rear of the upper surface of the curved portion 36b in this state, and the portions of the sphere receiving portion 36 and the sphere discharge surface 11c in the sphere supply path 11 communicate with each other. In addition, although the recessed part (space) is formed in the rear part of the curved part 36b, when the front part of the bulb | ball discharge | release surface 11c is extended in the inside of the box-shaped convex part 15, the curved part 36b and the ball | bowl discharge | release surface 11c There is almost no gap between them. Moreover, the downstream part of the bulb | ball supply path which concerns on this invention is comprised by the bulb | ball discharge | release surface 11c.

  When using a gaming machine equipped with the launching device A configured as described above, first, a predetermined amount of gaming balls B are placed in a ball tray. As a result, the game balls B that have previously entered the ball tray flow down the ball supply path and proceed from the inlet 11 a to the ball supply path 11 in the box-shaped convex portion 15. Then, the top game ball B comes into contact with the front surface of the launch cover 10b on the back side of the entrance 11a, and stops because the ball feeding convex portion 35 that is inclined upward is located in the traveling direction on the left side. Next, the rotary solenoid 22 is operated by rotating the operation unit (not shown). As a result, the hitting ball 21 rotates in the clockwise direction from the state of FIGS. 6 and 7 to the state of FIGS. 10 and 11 through the states of FIGS. 8 and 9. 6 and 7, the game ball B is located at the launch position 12a. However, in the initial state, the game ball B has not yet reached the launch position 12a.

  In the states of FIGS. 6 and 7 to FIGS. 8 and 9, the striking ball 21 rotates, and the striking portion 21c starts to move toward the firing position 12a, but the engaging curved surface portion 34 has the pressing pin 26. Therefore, the ball feeding member 30 is kept stationary. For this reason, the top game ball B maintains the state stopped at the back side of the entrance 11a. When the hitting ball 21 further rotates and the pressing pin 26 exceeds the left end portion of the engagement curved surface portion 34, the ball feeding member 30 rotates counterclockwise, and the ball feeding convex portion 35 is shown in FIG. 9 changes to the downward inclination state shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 from the upward inclination state shown in FIG.

  Thereby, the game ball B stopped at the back side of the entrance 11 a falls from the upper surface of the ball feed convex portion 35 to the ball receiving portion 36. Meanwhile, the striking portion 21c reaches the firing position 12a, and the operation of the rotary solenoid 22 stops. After that, the hitting ball 21 collides with the stop portion 23a of the upper stopper 23 and stops rotating in the clockwise direction. At this time, the impact of the hitting ball 21 that collides with the stop 23a is absorbed by the stop 23a, and the hitting rod 21 is prevented from colliding with the stop 23a many times due to repulsion. In this case, since there is no game ball B at the launch position 12a, the hitting ball 21 is in an idle state.

  Thereafter, the striking ball 21 rotates counterclockwise by the attractive force of the magnet and moves toward the standby position. While the hitting ball 21 returns to the standby position, the pressing pin 26 reaches the left end portion of the engagement curved surface portion 34, and then presses the engagement curved surface portion 34 downward to rotate the ball feeding member 30 in the clockwise direction. To do. As a result, the ball receiving portion 36 changes from the state where the left side portion shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 is positioned downward to the state where the left side portion shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 is raised, and the first game ball B is , Held in the ball transport recess of the ball receiver 36. Further, the ball feeding convex portion 35 changes from the downward inclination state shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 to the upward inclination state shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the next game ball B is located on the back side of the entrance 11a. Stop at. When the hitting ball 21 reaches the standby position, it collides with the stop portion 24a of the lower stopper 24 and stops rotating counterclockwise.

  When the hitting ball 21 rotates again in the clockwise direction and the pressing pin 26 exceeds the left end portion of the engagement curved surface portion 34, the ball feeding member 30 rotates in the counterclockwise direction. As a result, the ball receiving portion 36 rotates so that the left side portion is positioned below the right side portion, and the first game ball B held in the ball carrying recess moves down on the ball discharge surface 11c. Pass through the outlet 11b. And it moves to the launch position 12a from the downstream end of the ball | bowl discharge | release surface 11c. Further, the ball feed convex portion 35 changes from the upward inclined state to the downward inclined state, and the next game ball B falls from the upper surface of the ball feed convex portion 35 to the ball receiving portion 36.

  At this time, the hitting part 21c of the hitting ball 21 reaches the launch position 12a before the first game ball B reaches the launch position 12a. For this reason, also in this case, the hitting ball 21 is in an idle state. Then, when the hitting ball 21 is directed to the standby position, the next game ball B is held in the ball transport recess of the ball receiving portion 36, and the third game ball B stops at the back side of the entrance 11a. Further, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first game ball B is in a stationary state at the launch position 12a. 6 and 7 again, when the striking ball 21 rotates again in the clockwise direction and the striking portion 21c of the striking ball 21 reaches the firing position 12a, the first game ball B at the firing position 12a is hit. It is hit by the part 21c.

  The hit game ball B passes through the ball launch path and enters the game board provided on the surface of the game machine main body. Meanwhile, the next game ball B reaches the launch position 12a, the third game ball B is held in the ball transport recess of the ball receiving portion 36, and the fourth game ball B is located at the back side of the entrance 11a. Stop. By repeating such an operation, the game balls B are sent one by one from the supply tray to the ball supply path 11, passed through the ball feed member 30 arranged in the ball supply path 11, and supplied to the launch position 12 a. The Then, the game ball B that has reached the launch position 12 a is hit by the hitting ball 21.

  In this way, the game ball B that has reached the back side of the entrance 11a proceeds to the ball receiving portion 36 when the striking ball 21 makes one rotation, proceeds to the launch position 12a by the next rotation, and further proceeds by the next rotation. Be blown. Further, when the ball feeding member 30 is rotated in the clockwise direction by being pressed by the pressing pin 26, even if the game ball B is positioned at the outlet 11b, the bending portion 36b that rises because the width of the bending portion 36b is small. And the game ball B is sandwiched between the upper part of the outlet 11b and cannot be lowered.

  As described above, in the launching device A according to the present embodiment, the ball feeding member 30 is formed with the arc-shaped engaging curved surface portion 34 having the same radius as the radius of the rotation track of the pressing pin 26 of the hitting ball 21 and pressing. When the pin 26 is engaged with the engagement curved surface portion 34, the ball feeding member 30 is maintained in a state of being rotated in the clockwise direction against the elasticity of the spring 37. When the striking ball 21 is rotated by a certain angle in order to fire the game ball B, the pressing pin 26 is separated from the engagement curved surface portion 34, and the ball feeding member 30 is rotated counterclockwise by the elasticity of the spring 37. . As a result, the game ball B located on the back side of the entrance 11a proceeds to the ball receiving portion 36, and the game ball B held by the ball receiving portion 36 proceeds to the firing position 12a. Each advances to the position where the previous game ball was located.

  In this case, before the hitting portion 21c of the hitting ball 21 reaches the firing position 12a, the pressing pin 26 is separated from the engagement curved surface portion 34, and the ball feeding member 30 is rotated counterclockwise, whereby the ball receiver The sending of the game ball from the portion 36 to the launch position 12a is started. According to this, since the time from when the game ball B is sent to the launch position 12a until it is fired by the striking ball 21 is longer, when the game ball B is fired by the striking ball 21, the game ball B becomes stationary and fired. The trajectory of the game ball B becomes stable. Further, every time the striking portion 21c of the striking ball 21 advances or retreats with respect to the firing position 12a, the distance and time of the game ball B moving toward the launch position 12a are very small. The time for stopping at the far side, the ball receiving portion 36 and the launch position 12a is increased, and the game ball B does not move to the next position while jumping.

  Further, since the width of the curved portion 36b of the ball receiving portion 36 is set to 1/3 of the game ball B, the game ball B that falls from the back side of the entrance 11a by rotating the ball feeding member 30 clockwise. Even when the timing at which the ball receiving portion 36 is held is early, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from the ball receiving portion 36 toward the launch position 12a from interfering with the ball receiving portion 36. Further, when the ball feeding member 30 rotates counterclockwise, a ball feeding convex portion 35 is formed which causes the game ball B to fall from the back side of the entrance 11a to the ball receiving portion 36 as it descends from the ascending inclination. doing. For this reason, the flow of the game ball B sent from the upstream side of the ball supply path 11 is temporarily stopped, the ball feed member 30 is rotated, and the game ball B of the ball receiving portion 36 is directed to the launch position 12a. Sometimes, the next game ball B is sent to the ball receiver 36. For this reason, the supply of the game balls B becomes smooth, and a plurality of game balls B are not clogged in the vicinity of the ball receiving portion 36.

  Further, the tip end portion of the shaft portion 26a of the pressing pin 26 is formed in a conical shape, and when the firing base 10a is closed by rotating the firing cover 10b from the state in which the firing base 10a is opened, the push pin 26 is automatically engaged. Since the combined curved surface portion 34 is engaged, an operation for engaging the pressing pin 26 and the engaging curved surface portion 34 becomes unnecessary. Further, since the roller portion 26b is provided on the pressing pin 26, when the pressing pin 26 moves with respect to the engaging curved surface portion 34, the friction between the engaging curved surface portion 34 and the roller portion 26b is reduced, and the engagement is reduced. The pressing pin 26 can move smoothly with respect to the joint surface portion 34. In addition, since the restraining portion 23a of the upper stopper 23 is made of low-elasticity rubber, the hitting ball 21 collides with the upper stopper 23 many times before hitting the game ball B and stops, and a plurality of games It is possible to prevent the ball B from being sent to the launch position 12a.

  Further, the launching ball supply device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed as appropriate. For example, in the embodiment described above, the width in the front-rear direction of the bending portion 36b is ３ of the diameter of the game ball B, but this width may be ½. Further, when the bending portion 36b is formed on the front side rather than the center in the front-rear direction of the vertical plate portion 36a, the width in the front-rear direction of the bending portion 36b is set to 1/2 or more of the diameter of the game ball B. Also good. In addition, the launching device for a gaming machine according to the present invention can be implemented by appropriately changing the configuration of portions other than the bending portion 36b within the technical scope of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10a ... Launch base, 10b ... Launch cover, 11 ... Ball supply path, 11c ... Ball discharge surface, 12 ... Launch rail, 12a ... Launch position, 21 ... Hitting ball, 21c ... Hitting part, 22 ... Rotary solenoid, 23a ... Stop Part, 25c ... pressing piece, 26 ... pressing pin, 26a ... shaft part, 26b ... roller part, 30 ... ball feeding member, 31 ... support shaft, 34 ... engagement curved surface part, 35 ... ball feeding convex part, 36 ... ball A receiving part, 36b ... curved part, 37 ... spring, A ... launching device, B ... game ball.

Claims (4)

A ball supply path for supplying a game ball to a launch position provided at the lower end of the launch rail;
A striking ball that is disposed so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis and in which a striking part provided at the tip by forward and reverse rotation advances and retreats with respect to the firing position;
A driving unit for causing the hitting unit to hit the game ball supplied to the launch position by rotating the hitting ball forward and backward;
It is arranged in the vicinity of the ball supply path so as to be rotatable within a predetermined range around a support shaft, and comprises a rotating body in which a ball transport recess capable of holding one game ball is formed in the ball supply path side portion, A ball feeding member that holds the game ball sent from the upstream side of the ball supply path in the ball conveyance recess and rotates the game ball to one of the rotation directions to send the game ball from the ball conveyance recess to the launch position;
In a gaming machine launcher comprising an elastic member that biases the ball feed member in one direction of rotation,
Thereby forming the ball transporting recess along the edge of the ball feeding member, in a portion opposed to said ball striking hammer which definitive the edge of the front Symbol ball feeding member, wherein the ball feed member is the elasticity of the elastic member When rotating against the other in the rotational direction, forming an arcuate engagement curved surface along the rotation trajectory of the predetermined portion of the hitting ball,
A pressing pin that presses the engagement curved surface is provided at the predetermined portion of the hitting ball so that the ball feeding member rotates in the other direction of rotation,
Before the hitting basket is rotated in the other direction and the hitting portion reaches the firing position, the pressing pin is separated from the engagement curved surface, and the ball feeding member is rotated in one direction of rotation. A game machine launcher.   A downstream portion of the ball supply path is formed in a portion adjacent in the direction parallel to the support shaft with respect to the ball conveyance recess when the ball feed member rotates in one of the rotation directions, and the downstream end thereof is The launch position and a recess provided on the downstream portion side of the ball receiving portion forming the ball transport recess so that the width of the ball receiving portion in the direction parallel to the support shaft is equal to or less than the diameter of the game ball. The launching device of the gaming machine according to 1. The gaming machine launching device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pressing pin includes a shaft portion that is parallel to the support shaft and an outer peripheral portion that is rotatably installed around the shaft portion. Wherein the after hitting portion of the hitting hammer has struck the game ball of the firing position by rotating in the other direction, claims 1 provided with a stopper made of foam rubber for stopping the rotation of the hitting hammer 3 A launching device for a gaming machine according to any one of the above.

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