JP6446017B2 - Game ball introduction device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball introducing device for aligning game balls flowing in from a collection path and sending them to an entrance of a game ball polishing device on a game machine island.

  In gaming machine islands in which game machines such as pachinko machines are accommodated side by side, game balls for use in games are circulated and repeatedly used in the gaming machine islands. Specifically, the used game balls discharged from the lower part of each gaming machine are collected at the collection path, and the collected game balls are taken into the game ball polishing device standing in the center of the gaming machine island. Send it to the mouth. The game balls lifted to the upper storage tank of the gaming machine island while being polished by the game ball polishing apparatus are supplied again to each game machine from the upper storage tank through a basket or the like.

  Between the outlet of the recovery path and the entrance of the game ball polishing apparatus, a game ball introduction apparatus that arranges the game balls flowing from the recovery path into a plurality of rows and sends them to the entrance of the game ball polishing apparatus (see, for example, Patent Document 1) ) Is installed. In the game ball introduction device, a plurality of parallel movements that receive the dropped game ball and transfer it to the entrance direction of the game ball polishing device below the introduction member having a plurality of introduction ports for dropping the game ball flowing in from the recovery path. Arranged guide passages are provided, and the game balls are aligned while flowing down the guide passage inclined downward toward the entrance of the game ball polishing apparatus.

  In addition, there is a gaming machine island that switches and controls the game ball polishing apparatus between an operating state and a stopped state in order to reduce power consumption and prevent overload on the motor (see Patent Document 2).

JP 2009-226083 A JP 2010-51653 A

  When a large amount of game balls are transferred from the collection path, a large amount of game balls may accumulate on a plurality of guide passages arranged in parallel in the game ball introduction device, causing a bridge or the like.

  In addition, in order to save power, etc., when the game ball polishing apparatus is controlled to be switched between an active state and a pause state while the game store is in operation, the game ball is placed in the guide passage while the game ball polishing apparatus is stopped. As a result, the ball is clogged and a ball is clogged, and even when the game ball polishing apparatus is activated, the game ball is not introduced into the game ball polishing apparatus.

  The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problem, and a game that can eliminate clogging of game balls on a guide passage that aligns the game balls flowing in from the collection path and guides them to the game ball polishing apparatus. It aims at providing a ball introduction device.

  The gist of the present invention for achieving the object lies in the inventions of the following items.

[1] An introduction member provided at an exit of a collection path for transferring and collecting game balls in the gaming machine island, and having a plurality of introduction ports for dropping game balls flowing from the collection path;
A plurality of guide passages arranged in parallel to receive the game balls dropped from the introduction port below the introduction member, align the game balls, and flow down toward the game ball intake port of the game ball polishing device;
A clog elimination unit that applies a force to the game balls accumulated on the guide passage to eliminate clogs,
The clogging canceling unit pauses the off period of the control signal that repeats on / off at a predetermined cycle, and the on period of the control signal performs an operation of continuously applying force to the game ball over the predetermined period. It repeats intermittently at a period where multiple periods fall within the ON period,
A game ball introducing device characterized by that.

In the above invention, the game ball arriving from the recovery path falls downward through the introduction port of the introduction member, is received by the guide passage, and then rolls toward the game ball intake port of the game ball polishing apparatus along the guide passage. Move. A large amount of game balls may arrive from the collection path, or the game ball polishing apparatus may be temporarily stopped, so that game balls may accumulate on the guide passage and a bridge or the like may occur. However, the clogging can be eliminated by the clogging elimination unit. The clog elimination unit applies a force to the game ball by hitting (striking), pushing up, vibrating, swinging, and the like to eliminate the clog. Moreover, in the said invention, since the clog elimination part is act | operated intermittently, durability of a clog elimination part improves compared with the case where it operates continuously.

[ 2 ] The game ball introducing device according to [1] , wherein when the starting condition of the game ball polishing device is satisfied, the clogging elimination unit is operated.

  In the above-described invention, when the starting condition of the game ball polishing apparatus is satisfied, that is, when the condition that a large number of game balls arrive from the collection path is satisfied, the clog elimination unit is operated. The starting conditions of the game ball polishing apparatus include, for example, that the upper storage tank of the gaming machine island is empty and the discharge port of the lower storage tank is opened. This control acts to prevent clogging.

  According to the game ball introducing device according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate clogging of the game balls on the guide passage that aligns the game balls flowing in from the collection path and guides them to the game ball polishing device.

It is a figure which shows the internal structure of game machine island provided with the game ball introduction apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view of a game ball polish device. It is a front view of a game ball polish device. It is sectional drawing of the conveyance path | route of a game ball grinding | polishing apparatus. It is a front view which shows a game ball introduction apparatus and its peripheral part. It is a top view which shows a game ball introduction apparatus and its peripheral part. It is sectional drawing which shows a game ball introduction apparatus and its peripheral part. It is a top view of an introduction member. It is a perspective view of a channel | path part. It is a top view of a channel | path part. It is a front view of a channel | path part. It is a side view of a channel | path part. It is a perspective view of a clogging elimination part. It is a side view of a clogging elimination part. It is a perspective view which shows the clogging elimination part of the state which removed the reinforcement member. It is a front view which shows a game ball introduction apparatus and its peripheral part including the game ball collect | recovered. It is sectional drawing which shows the game ball introduction apparatus and its peripheral part including the game ball collect | recovered. It is a timing chart which shows a grinding | polishing request signal, a hammer gate signal, and the ON / OFF control signal of a drive part. It is a state transition diagram regarding ON / OFF of a grinding | polishing request signal and ON / OFF of a hammer gate signal.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 shows an internal structure of a gaming machine island 2 provided with a game ball introduction device 30 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The gaming machine island 2 accommodates a large number of gaming machines 3 and gaming ball lending machines 4 arranged in parallel as gaming machines. Here, the gaming machine 3 is a pachinko machine, and the game ball lending machine 4 is a device that lends a game ball (pachinko ball) to a player.

  The gaming machine island 2 is configured to be used repeatedly by circulating the game balls used for the game in the gaming machine island 2. Specifically, the used game balls discharged from the lower part of each game machine 3 and the game balls counted through the ball receiving tray 5a and the ball counter 5b are located below the game machine 3 at the gaming machine island. A game ball polishing device (lifting polishing machine) 20 that is collected by a collection path 6 (6L, 6R) installed so as to be inclined downward from both ends of 2 and installed in the center of the gaming machine island 2 Is sent to the lower part of the game via the game ball introducing device 30. The game ball polishing device 20 lifts the game ball taken in from the game ball introduction device 30 to the upper storage tank 7 of the gaming machine island 2 while polishing the game ball. It is supplied to the gaming machine 3.

  Further, game balls and spare game balls overflowing from the upper storage tank 7 are stored in a plurality of lower storage tanks 9A to 9C arranged at the lower part of the gaming machine island 2, and the storage amount of the upper storage tank 7 is reduced. When the game balls are discharged from the lower storage tanks 9 </ b> A to 9 </ b> C to the collection path 6, the game balls that are circulated in the gaming machine island 2 are controlled to maintain an appropriate amount. Since the recovery path 6 is inclined downward from both ends of the gaming machine island 2 toward the center, in the lower storage tanks 9A disposed at both ends of the gaming machine island 2, the game balls stored therein are placed below the It is lifted by the storage tank lift 10 and discharged to the collection path 6. In the lower storage tanks 9 </ b> B and 9 </ b> C arranged near the center of the gaming machine island 2, the shutter 11 that opens and closes the discharge port is opened to discharge the game balls to the collection path 6.

  Further, between the upper storage tanks 7 of the adjacent gaming machine islands 2, there is a reciprocating game ball transfer path, so that the storage amount of the gaming balls in each gaming machine island 2 is balanced. The game balls are transferred between the game machine islands 2 through the transfer path. For this delivery, the upper storage tank 7 has a ball outlet 12 that can be controlled to open and close to send out game balls to other gaming machine islands 2 and an opening and closing for receiving game balls from other gaming machine islands 2. A controllable ball receiving port 13 is provided, and game balls are transferred between the gaming machine islands 2 by controlling the opening and closing thereof. The upper storage tank 7 is provided with a storage amount sensor 14 for detecting the storage amount of game balls in the upper storage tank 7.

  In addition, in the gaming machine island 2, the banknote transport device 16 that transports the banknotes thrown into the gaming ball lending machine 4 to the banknote safe 15 provided at one end of the gaming machine island 2 and the gaming ball lending machine 4. In addition, a money transfer device 18 for transferring the coins to a money safe 17 provided below the banknote safe 15 is provided. In addition, a prize ball counter 19 for counting game balls acquired by the player is provided on the island end opposite to the banknote safe 15. The game balls counted by the premium ball counter 19 are discharged to a lower storage tank 9A provided on the back side of the premium ball counter 19.

  2 is a side view of the game ball polishing apparatus 20, FIG. 3 is a front view, and FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a lifting path of the game ball polishing apparatus 20. As shown in FIG. 4, the game ball polishing apparatus 20 has a polishing cloth 23 stretched on a feeding rail 22 in which a plurality of grooves 22a matching the diameter of the game ball are formed in parallel, and a motor as shown in FIG. A flat belt-like lifting belt 27 and a lifting rail 22 that are looped around a lower driving roller 25 and an upper driven roller 26 that are driven by a roller 24 are arranged to face each other, and a game ball introducing device 30 is provided. Cloth lifting polishing in which the game ball taken in from the game ball take-in port 21 is fed to the upper storage tank 7 while being sandwiched between the feeding belt 27 and each groove 22a of the feeding rail 22 via the polishing cloth 23. Machine.

  The collection path 6 is extended along the longitudinal direction of the gaming machine island 2, and the game ball intake port 21 of the game ball polishing apparatus 20 is opened so as to face the direction orthogonal to the collection path 6. Therefore, the game ball introduction device 30 changes the course of the game ball flowing from the end of the recovery path 6 toward the game ball intake port 21 of the game ball introduction device 30 by approximately 90 degrees, and the game ball polishing device 20 The game balls are arranged in a plurality of rows so as to correspond to the respective grooves 22 a of the lifting rail 22 and discharged to the game ball intake port 21.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the game ball introduction device 30 will be described in detail.

  5 is a front view showing the game ball introducing device 30 and its peripheral portion, FIG. 6 is a top view showing the game ball introducing device 30 and its peripheral portion, and FIG. 7 is a cross section showing the game ball introducing device 30 and its peripheral portion. FIG. FIGS. 16 and 17 are views showing the flow of game balls from the collection path 6 through the game ball introduction device 30 to the game ball intake port 21 of the game ball polishing device 20.

  The game ball introduction device 30 is provided at the outlets (between the ends) of the left and right collection paths 6 (6L, 6R) for transferring and collecting the game balls from both longitudinal ends of the gaming machine island 2 toward the center. Thus, a plurality of introduction ports 31 through which the game balls flowing in from the respective collection paths 6 are dropped are provided. Furthermore, the game ball introduction device 30 is arranged below the introduction member 32, receives the game balls dropped from the introduction port 31, aligns the game balls, and faces the game ball intake port 21 of the game ball polishing device 20. A passage portion 40 including a plurality of guide passages 41 arranged in parallel to flow down, and a clog elimination portion 50 that applies a force to the game balls accumulated on the guide passage 41 below the introduction port 31 to eliminate clogging are provided. ing.

Between the exit side of the passage portion 40 and the game ball take-in port 21 of the game ball polishing device 20, the game balls discharged from the respective guide passages 41 of the passage portion 40 are arranged in an aligned state. A communication unit 70 is provided for guiding the game ball intake port 21 of the apparatus 20 by an independent route for each guide passage 41 (see FIGS. 6 and 7). As shown in FIG. 6, the passages of the communication portion 70 are partitioned by an alignment plate 71. The game ball intake port 21 includes a plurality of introduction paths 21 a corresponding to the grooves 22 a of the lifting rail 22. The guide passage 41, the passages partitioned by the alignment plate 71 of the communication portion 70, the introduction passage 21 a of the game ball intake port 21, and the groove 22 a of the lifting rail 22 correspond to each other one to one.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 7, a restriction plate 75 that is controlled to be able to enter and exit is provided at the connection boundary between the passage portion 40 and the communication portion 70. When the restriction plate 75 is advanced to the connection boundary between the passage portion 40 and the communication portion 70, the inflow of game balls from the passage portion 40 to the communication portion 70 can be prevented.

  FIG. 8 shows the top surface of the introduction member 32. A number of inlets 31 are opened in the introduction member 32. Each inlet 31 is circular, and its diameter is larger than the diameter of the game ball and smaller than twice the diameter of the game ball. The introduction member 32 has a large number of introduction ports 31 so that the game balls arriving from the collection path 6 are equally distributed to the guide passages 41 of the passage portion 40 disposed below the introduction member 32 and fall. Is arranged.

  9 is a perspective view showing the passage portion 40, FIG. 10 is a top view of the passage portion 40, FIG. 11 is a front view of the passage portion 40, and FIG. 12 is a side view of the passage portion 40. The passage portion 40 includes a bottom plate 42 and a plurality of partition plates 43 that stand on the bottom plate 42 and partition a space on the bottom plate 42 into a plurality of guide passages 41. The partition plate 43 serves as a side wall of each guide passage 41 and has a height from the bottom plate 42 to the back surface of the introduction member 32. The partition plate 43 prevents a game ball that has fallen from the introduction port 31 to any one of the guide passages 41 from moving to another guide passage 41.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the partition plate 43 is actually divided into a partition plate 43 </ b> A provided on the passage portion 40 side and a partition plate 43 </ b> B extending downward from the back surface of the introduction member 32. When the introduction member 32 is correctly set on the passage portion 40, the partition plate 43A and the partition plate 43B are connected as a single partition plate.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, an elongated hole 44 is formed in the bottom portion (bottom plate 42) of each guide passage 41 of the passage portion 40 along the extending direction of the guide passage 41. The width of the long hole 44 is, for example, about four-fifths of the diameter of the game ball, and is wide in a range where the game ball does not fall. Through the elongated hole 44, small dust and dirt fall down below the passage portion 40.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the clog eliminating unit 50, and FIG. 14 is a side view of the clog eliminating unit 50. As shown in FIG. 7, the clogging eliminating portion 50 allows game balls in the guide passage 41 to be drawn from below by the flange portion 51 through a long hole 44 provided in the bottom portion (bottom plate 42) of each guide passage 41 of the passage portion 40. By hitting (striking), a function of eliminating or preventing clogging of game balls caused by a large number of game balls accumulating on the guide passage 41 is achieved.

  The collar portion 51 is a resin disc having a thickness of about 5 mm and a diameter of about 28 mm that is rotatably supported at the center. The flange 51 is preferably formed of a member that is slippery and does not easily lose its shape, such as polyacetal (POM).

  The eaves portion 51 protrudes from the elongated hole 44 into the guide passage 41 by several millimeters (for example, 5 mm) so as to collide with a game ball in the guide passage 41 (the eaves portion indicated by a solid line in FIG. 7). 51) and a retreat position R (a position of the collar 51 shown by a chain line in FIG. 7) retracted below the guide passage 41 so as not to contact the game ball in the guide passage 41.

  The collar portion 51 is biased by the spring 52 so as to return to the retracted position R, and the drive portion 53 formed of a solenoid moves the collar portion 51 to the advanced position F against the spring 52.

  A stopper 54 that contacts the lower end of the flange 51 at the retracted position is provided so that the flange 51 biased by the spring 52 stops at the retracted position. A protective member 54a having elasticity such as rubber is provided at a portion of the stopper 54 that comes into contact with the lower portion of the flange portion 51 in order to alleviate the impact and reduce noise.

  FIG. 5 and FIG. 14 (a) show a state in which the collar portion 51 is in the advanced position F. FIG. 14B shows a state in which the flange 51 is in the retracted position R.

  More specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, the clogging eliminating portion 50 has a base plate 56 made of a flat rectangular steel plate, and a collar portion 51, a drive portion 53, a stopper 54, and the like are provided on the base plate 56. It is attached. The base plate 56 is provided with a plurality of holes 57 through which dust and dust that have fallen through the long holes 44 of the passage portion 40 are further dropped below the base plate 56.

  FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the clogging eliminating portion 50 with the reinforcing member 58 removed. The configuration of the clog eliminating unit 50 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.

  The base plate 56 is provided with a pedestal portion 61 formed by bending a steel plate into a U-shape when viewed from above, and between the arms 61a on both sides of the U-shape of the pedestal portion 61, and at the base of the arm 61a. A rotary shaft 62 is spanned at a position near the top and is pivotally supported.

  Further, two second ends extending at both ends of the rotation shaft 62 and inside the both arms 61 a of the pedestal portion 61 are orthogonal to the rotation shaft 62 and extend in the same direction as the both arms 61 a of the pedestal portion 61. One arm portion 63 is attached.

  A support shaft 65 is spanned between the distal end portions of the two first arm portions 63 and is pivotally supported. A plurality of flange portions 51 are attached to the support shaft 65 so as to be rotatable about the support shaft 65 at a predetermined interval (a position corresponding to the long hole 44 provided in the parallel guide passage 41). A reinforcing shaft 66 is stretched between the two first arm portions 63 slightly closer to the rotating shaft 62 than the flange portions 51 that are pivotally supported by the support shaft 65. One end of the spring 52 is locked to the reinforcing shaft 66, and the other end of the spring 52 is locked to the base plate 56.

  A position regulating member 67 protruding outward is provided at the tip of the first arm portion 63. The position restricting member 67 abuts on the distal end portion of the arm 61 a of the pedestal portion 61, thereby restricting the advance position F of the flange portion 51.

  On the inner side near one of the two first arm parts 63, a second arm part 64 extending in the direction opposite to the first arm part 63 is attached to the rotation shaft 62. The solenoid actuator 53a which is the drive unit 53 is locked to the tip of the second arm portion 64. When the drive unit 53 is turned on, the tip of the second arm portion 64 is pulled down by the drive unit 53, and the flange portion 51 is moved. It is displaced to the advance position F.

  The first arm portion 63 and the second arm portion 64 are attached to the rotation shaft 62 via a pin 68 inserted into a hole penetrating the rotation shaft 62 in the diameter direction. In order to reduce the force applied to the pin 68 and prevent fatigue of the pin 68, the U-shaped reinforcing member 58 sandwiches the base portions of the first arm portion 63 and the second arm portion 64. It is attached.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, a ball clogging sensor 35 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet of the collection path 6 to detect that a large number of game balls are stopped at that location. In addition, a ball cushioning member 37 is provided on a part of the upper surface of the introduction member 32 to soften the impact caused by the game ball flowing from the outlet of the collection path 6. The ball cushioning member 37 has a sheet shape made of elastic rubber or the like.

  Next, the operation and action of the game ball introduction device 30 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the balls collected and transferred by the collection path 6 flow into the introduction member 32 of the game ball introduction device 30 from the exit of the collection path 6, and each guide of the passage unit 40 from the introduction port 31. Drop into the passage 41. The game ball dropped from the introduction port 31 enters and is received by one of the guide passages 41 of the passage portion 40, flows down along the guide passage 41 inclined downward, and is played by the game ball polishing device 20 through the communication portion 70. It is sent to the ball take-in port 21.

  Since the space between the guide passages 41 is partitioned by the partition plate 43 to a height from the road surface to the back surface of the introduction member 32, the game ball that has fallen from the introduction port 31 to any one of the guide passages 41 rolls in the guide passage 41. It moves and does not move to the other guide passage 41 after dropping. Further, since the communication portion 70 is also partitioned by the alignment plate 71, the game balls are guided to the introduction path 21 a of the game ball intake port 21 by the guide path 41.

  When the ball is not clogged normally, the game balls sent from the game ball introduction device 30 are sequentially taken in by the game ball polishing device 20, lifted while being polished, and discharged to the upper storage tank 7. Therefore, a large amount of game balls do not stop in the game ball intake port 21 of the game ball polishing device 20 or the inside of the game ball introduction device 30.

  However, when a large number of game balls exceeding the processing capacity of the game ball polishing apparatus 20 arrive at the collection path 6 at once, or when the game ball polishing apparatus 20 is temporarily stopped for power saving or the like, the collection path 6 The game ball that arrives from fills up the game ball inlet 21 and the game ball introduction device 30 and overflows and stays near the exit of the recovery path 6.

  In such a state, the game balls are easily bridged inside the game ball introducing device 30 to cause a ball clogging. Therefore, in the gaming ball introduction device 30 of the present embodiment, the clogging elimination unit 50 is operated to eliminate the above-mentioned ball clogging or prevent (prevent) the occurrence of the ball clogging.

  Specifically, the clogging unit 50 hits (hits) the game balls accumulated in the guide passage 41 from below with the eaves portion 51 through the long hole 44 formed in the bottom of the guide passage 41. The game ball moves slightly due to the impact of the hit, and the balance of the accumulation state is lost, and the bridge and the ball clogging are eliminated.

  FIG. 17A shows a state in which the collar 51 is moved to the advance position F and the game ball is hit from below. FIG. 17B shows a state where the collar portion 51 is retracted to the retracted position R. By performing the operation of hitting with the collar 51 one or several times, bridges and clogging of balls are eliminated. In particular, when the game ball polishing apparatus 20 is paused for power saving and is operated only when necessary, the game balls accumulate in the game ball introduction apparatus 30 during the pause to cause a bridge, and then the game balls Even if the polishing apparatus 20 is operated, the game balls do not flow and ball clogging easily occurs. However, since the clogging can be eliminated by the clogging eliminating unit 50, a temporary stop for power saving or the like can be performed without any problem.

  Further, since the collar portion 51 forms a circular shape, the collar portion 51 rotates when the collar portion 51 advances to the advance position F and pushes up the game ball, and the game ball is taken into the downstream game ball intake port 21. It can go smoothly in the direction of.

  Moreover, since the collar part 51 is formed with resin, the collision sound when colliding with the game ball is reduced as compared with the case where it is formed with metal or the like. In addition, the game ball is not damaged. In addition, since the protective member 54a formed of elastic rubber or the like is provided at the contact portion of the stopper 54, the hook portion 51 is damaged even if the hook portion 51 returning to the retracted position R collides with the protective member 54a. There is no deterioration. In addition, the collision sound is reduced, and a quiet sound is ensured.

  In addition, since small dust and dirt that have fallen from the collection path 6 through the elongated hole 44 of the guide passage 41 fall further downward through the hole portion 57 provided in the base plate 56 of the clogging elimination portion 50, the passage portion 40 Even if the clogging eliminating portion 50 is attached to the lower side, dust or dust does not accumulate in the clogging eliminating portion 50.

  Next, operation and stop control of the game ball introduction device 30 will be described.

<Clogging prevention control>
In the ball clogging prevention control, when there is a possibility of ball clogging, the game ball introducing device 30 is operated to prevent (prevent) ball clogging. Specifically, the clogging eliminating unit 50 is operated when a predetermined activation condition of the game ball polishing apparatus 20 is satisfied. The activation condition is a condition in which a polishing request signal for requesting activation of the game ball polishing apparatus 20 is turned ON.

  FIG. 18 shows a relationship between the polishing request signal, the control signal of the clogging eliminating unit 50 (referred to as a hammer gate signal), and the actual on / off control of the driving unit 53. While the polishing request signal is ON, the hammer gate signal is repeatedly turned on for 1 minute and then turned off for 1 minute. The driving unit 53 repeatedly performs an operation of hitting 5 times (repeat ON / OFF) and resting 10 seconds (continuing OFF) while the hammer gate signal is ON.

  As described above, by intermittently turning on the drive unit 53 and performing the hitting operation with the collar unit 51, the power consumption can be reduced and the clogging unit 50 can be prevented from deteriorating.

  FIG. 19 is a state transition diagram regarding ON / OFF of the polishing request signal and ON / OFF of the hammer gate signal.

  The polishing request signal is ON (with a polishing request) when any of the following conditions is satisfied, and is OFF (no polishing request) when all of the following conditions are not satisfied.

(1) The upper storage tank 7 is empty (detected by the storage amount sensor 14)
(2) The shutters 11 of the lower storage tanks 9B and 9C are opened (when the game balls are discharged from the lower storage tanks 9B and 9C to the collection path 6)
(3) Activating the lower storage tank lift 10 (when discharging game balls from the lower storage tank 9A to the collection path 6)
(4) The ball receiving port 13 of the upper storage tank 7 is opened (when a game ball transferred from another gaming machine island 2 is received by the upper storage tank 7).
(5) The ball discharge port 12 of the upper storage tank 7 is opened (when the game ball transferred to another gaming machine island 2 is discharged from the upper storage tank 7).
(6) The ball clogging sensor 35 is ON (when game balls are accumulated near the exit of the collection path 6)

  When there is a polishing request (polishing request signal ON) during standby, the operation state is shifted to, and the hammer gate signal is turned ON. After that, when 1 minute elapses, the hammer gate signal is turned off and a transition is made to a resting state. When 1 minute elapses after entering the resting state, the hammer gate signal is turned ON and the operation state is shifted. When there is no polishing request (polishing request signal OFF) in the operating state or the resting state, the hammer gate signal is turned OFF and the state shifts to a standby state. Due to such state transition, while the polishing request signal is ON (polishing is requested), the hammer gate signal repeats the state change that is turned ON for one minute and then turned OFF for one minute.

<Clogging elimination control>
In the ball clogging elimination control, the game ball introducing device 30 is operated when a ball clogging occurs. Specifically, when the ball clogging sensor 35 detects a ball clogging even though the game ball polishing apparatus 20 is in operation, the clogging eliminating unit 50 is operated.

  While ball clogging is occurring (while the ball clogging sensor 35 is ON), the hammer gate signal is continuously turned ON, and it is struck 5 times (repeating ON / OFF of the drive unit 53) for 10 seconds ( The operation of continuing OFF) is repeated. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 18, while the ball clogging is occurring (while the ball clogging sensor 35 is ON), the change of turning off the hammergate signal for 1 minute and then turning off for 1 minute may be repeated. .

  The above control may be performed by providing a control unit mainly including a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like inside the game ball introducing device 30, or the control unit that controls the entire gaming machine island 2 is a game ball. The drive unit 53 of the introduction device 30 may be controlled.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to that shown in the embodiment, and there are changes and additions within the scope of the present invention. Are also included in the present invention.

  In the embodiment, the circular rotating collar portion 51 is used. However, it may not be a circle, and may have another shape or a non-rotating shape. Alternatively, the game unit 51 may be configured to strike the game ball from the side or from behind. For example, it may be configured such that a hook portion that advances downstream is provided at the upstream end of the guide passage 41 and the game ball is hit from the upper end of the guide passage 41 toward the downstream.

  The mechanism and the drive part 53 which the collar part 51 drives are not limited to what was illustrated in embodiment. For example, the collar 51 may be moved up and down by a mechanism that converts the rotational motion of the motor into a reciprocating motion.

  Further, the clogging of the game balls may be prevented or eliminated by applying a force to the game balls accumulated on the guide passage 41 by a method other than hitting with the collar 51. For example, the ball clogging may be eliminated by applying force to the game ball by operations such as vibrating the entire passage portion 40 including the guide passage 41, swinging, or slowly pushing up the game ball with the collar portion 51.

  In the embodiment, the ball clogging sensor 35 is provided in the vicinity of the outlet of the collection path 6, but it may be provided on the side surface of the game ball introduction device 30 (side surface of the passage portion 40) or the like. The ball clogging sensor 35 may be an optical sensor in addition to a magnetic sensor that detects iron pachinko balls. The position and type of the ball clogging sensor 35 can be installed as long as it can be detected that the ball clogging has occurred in the game ball introducing device 30.

  The starting conditions of the game ball polishing apparatus 20 are not limited to those exemplified in the embodiment.

  In the embodiment, the game ball introducing device 30 corresponding to the two collection paths 6 on the left and right is shown, but a configuration corresponding to only one collection path 6 may be used. For example, in the case of a game ball introducing device that sends a game ball to a game ball polishing device provided at an end portion in the longitudinal direction of the game machine island 2, it is only necessary to correspond to one collection path.

  The delivery destination of the game balls by the game ball introduction device 30 is not limited to the cloth polishing machine, but the game ball introduction device 30 is suitable for a type of game ball polishing device that takes in the game balls in a plurality of rows. is there.

2 ... gaming machine island 3 ... gaming machine 4 ... gaming ball lending machine 5a ... incoming ball tray 5b ... incoming ball counter 6 (6L, 6R) ... collection path 7 ... upper storage tank 8 ... supply tank 9A-9C ... lower storage Tank 10 ... Lower storage tank lift 11 ... Shutter 12 ... Sphere discharge port 13 ... Sphere receiving port 14 ... Storage amount sensor 15 ... Banknote safe 16 ... Banknote transport device 17 ... Money safe 18 ... Money transport device 19 ... Premium ball counter 20 ... Game ball polishing device 21 ... Game ball intake port 21a ... Introduction path 22 ... Feeding rail 22a ... Groove 23 ... Polishing cloth 24 ... Motor 25 ... Drive roller 26 ... Following roller 27 ... Feeding belt 30 ... Game ball introduction device 31 ... inlet 32 ... introducing member 35 ... ball clogging sensor 37 ... ball cushioning member 40 ... passage 41 ... guide passage 42 ... bottom plate 43 (43A, 43B) ... partition plate 44 ... long hole 50 ... clogging elimination DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 51 ... Butt part 52 ... Spring 53 ... Drive part 53a ... Actuator 54 ... Stopper 54a ... Protection member 56 ... Base plate 57 ... Hole part 58 ... Reinforcement member 61 ... Base part 61a ... Arm 62 ... Rotating shaft 63 ... First arm part 64 ... second arm portion 65 ... support shaft 66 ... reinforcing shaft 67 ... position restricting member 68 ... pin 70 ... communication portion 71 ... alignment plate 75 ... regulating plate F ... advance position R ... retracted position

Claims (2)

An introduction member provided at an exit of a collection path for transferring and collecting game balls in the gaming machine island, and a plurality of introduction ports for dropping the game balls flowing in from the collection path;
A plurality of guide passages arranged in parallel to receive the game balls dropped from the introduction port below the introduction member, align the game balls, and flow down toward the game ball intake port of the game ball polishing device;
A clog elimination unit that applies a force to the game balls accumulated on the guide passage to eliminate clogs,
The clogging canceling unit pauses the off period of the control signal that repeats on / off at a predetermined cycle, and the on period of the control signal performs an operation of continuously applying force to the game ball over the predetermined period. It repeats intermittently at a period where multiple periods fall within the ON period,
A game ball introducing device characterized by that. The game ball introducing device according to claim 1, wherein when the starting condition of the game ball polishing device is satisfied, the clogging elimination unit is operated.

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