JP6895855B2 - A game ball guidance mechanism in a game machine, and a game machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention comprises a gaming board having a gaming area that realizes a game by changing the falling locus of a gaming ball launched from a launching unit, and a gaming ball guiding mechanism that guides a gaming ball launched from a launching unit to the gaming area. Regarding a gaming machine equipped with. Specifically, the gaming ball guiding mechanism directs the first guiding rail member having the first seating position at which the gaming ball launched from the launching unit first collides with the gaming ball and the gaming ball passing through the first seating position toward the gaming area. The present invention relates to a gaming machine including a second guide rail member for guiding the ball.

Conventionally, in game machines such as pachinko machines and slot machines that realize games using game balls, game ball guidance mechanisms having various configurations have been proposed as game ball guidance mechanisms that guide the game balls to the game area. .. For example, the game ball guiding mechanism described in Patent Document 1 includes an outer guiding rail that is divided into a lower rail body and an upper rail body, and three frame members. Each frame member has a pair of connecting pieces, and the pair of connecting pieces are press-fitted into the mounting holes of the game board to be attached to the game board. In order to support the lower rail body and the upper rail body, one of the three frame members has a rail support surface curved in an arc shape and a rail holding edge formed along the rail support surface. , Have. Each rail body of the lower rail body and the upper rail body is fitted into the rail groove of the rail holding edge, and is sandwiched between the rail holding edge and the game board surface of the game board. With this frame member, the lower rail body and the upper rail body are attached to the game board surface of the game board.

Further, the gaming machine described in Patent Document 2 includes an outer frame that surrounds the periphery of the gaming machine, a front frame that is attached to the outer frame by a hinge so that it can be opened and closed forward, and a rail unit as a gaming ball guiding mechanism. To be equipped. A game board having a game area is attached to the front frame. The front frame has an opening so that the player can visually recognize the game area of the game board from the front. The rail unit is attached to the front frame along the inner peripheral surface that defines the opening. The rail unit includes a first rail member having a first seating position at which the game ball launched from the launching unit first collides, and a second rail member that guides the game ball passing through the first seating position toward the game area. And, including. The first rail member includes a plate portion along the inner peripheral surface, a flange portion that abuts on the front frame, and a screw portion. The first rail member is fixed to the front frame from the front by a screw portion, and the second rail member is attached to the front frame from the rear by a fixture along the inner peripheral surface.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-155092 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2011-11325

In the game ball guiding mechanism described in Patent Document 1, both the lower rail body and the upper rail body are attached to the game board. Since the game board is designed according to the specifications of the game machine, the lower rail body and the upper rail body are replaced together with the game board as the specifications of the game machine are changed. When the game board is replaced, it is necessary to adjust the position of the lower rail body attached to the new game board according to the position of the launch unit arranged in the support machine frame of the game machine.

In the gaming ball guiding mechanism described in Patent Document 2, both the first rail member and the second rail member are attached to the front frame of the gaming machine. On the game board, a large number of game parts such as game nails, fixed prize tools, and movable prize tools are arranged according to the specifications of the game machine. The second rail member is often designed to guide the game ball according to the arrangement position of the game component attached to the game board. When the game board is replaced due to a change in the specifications of the gaming machine, it is often necessary to replace the front frame and the second rail member as well.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and when the specifications of the gaming machine are changed, the change of the support machine frame to which the gaming board is attached is suppressed to a small scale, and the gaming ball launched from the launching unit is the first. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming ball guiding mechanism in a gaming machine capable of reducing the position adjusting work of the first guiding rail member colliding with the first guiding rail member.

The first aspect of the invention according to claim 1 is a support machine frame, a launch unit arranged in the support machine frame and launching a game ball, a game board attached to the support machine frame and having a game area, and launching. In a gaming machine provided with a game ball guiding mechanism for guiding a game ball launched by a unit toward a game area, a support housing attached to a support machine frame and a support housing supported by the support housing and launched from the launch unit. A game area includes a first guide rail member that has a first seating position where the game balls first collide and extends in a strip shape in a predetermined longitudinal direction, and a game ball that is supported by a game board and passes through the first guide rail member. It is a game ball guiding mechanism including a second guiding rail member for guiding toward. In the embodiment of the present invention, the first guide rail member has a contact surface that comes into contact with the game ball launched from the launch unit and a surface opposite to the contact surface, and the contact surface of the first guide rail member is The support housing has an edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction of the first guide rail member, and the support housing is orthogonal to the housing substrate portion and the plane forming the game area of the game board attached to the support machine frame. The first rail support portion that projects from the housing substrate portion in the direction and supports the first guide rail member by contacting the opposite surface of the first guide rail member, and the first guide portion that projects from the housing substrate portion in the orthogonal direction. A second rail support portion that supports the first guide rail member in cooperation with the first rail support portion by contacting an end edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction of the contact surface of the rail member is included.

In the aspect of the present invention, the gaming machine may have any configuration as long as it is configured to realize the game by using the gaming ball. Further, the support machine frame may be an outer frame that surrounds the periphery of the gaming machine, a front frame that can be opened and closed attached to the outer frame, or a configuration that includes the outer frame and the front frame. May be good. The outer frame may be configured to include a middle frame that can be opened and closed.

In the aspect of the present invention, the launching unit may be supported by the front frame or may be supported by the outer frame.

In the aspect of the present invention, the support housing may be attached to the front frame or may be attached to the outer frame.

In the aspect of the present invention, the second guide rail member may be composed of a combination of a plurality of rail portions, or may be composed of one rail component. As a configuration in which the second guide rail member is supported by the game board, various configurations using known fixing means can be considered.

In the aspect of the present invention, the first rail support portion may be configured to be in contact with the entire region of the opposite surface of the first guide rail member in a predetermined longitudinal direction, or may be a part of the opposite surface of the first guide rail member. It may be configured to be in contact.

In the aspect of the present invention, the second rail support portion may be configured to come into contact with the entire area of the edge portion of the contact surface of the first guide rail member in a predetermined longitudinal direction, or may be in contact with the first guide rail member. It may be configured to come into contact with a part of the edge portion of the surface.

In the specific aspect according to claim 2, the housing substrate portion includes a first substrate portion, a second substrate portion, an intermediate substrate portion arranged between the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, and the like. The first substrate portion is arranged at a position closer to the arrangement position of the launch unit than the second substrate portion, and the second substrate portion is located closer to the arrangement position of the second guide rail member than the first substrate portion. The arranged and intermediate substrate portion has a region including a first seating position where the game ball launched from the launch unit first collides with the first guide rail member, and has a first rail support portion and a second rail support portion. Projects in the orthogonal direction from the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, and the first rail support portion and the second rail support portion are not arranged on the intermediate substrate portion.

In the specific aspect according to claim 3, the length of the intermediate substrate portion is set to be longer than the length of any of the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion in the predetermined longitudinal direction.

In this specific aspect, the length of the first substrate portion and the length of the second substrate portion may be set to be the same length or may be set to different lengths.

In the specific aspect of claim 4, the first guide rail member has a bent portion at an end close to the placement position of the launch unit, and the support housing is a housing for locking the bent portion. It has a locking protrusion that protrudes in the orthogonal direction from the substrate portion.

In this specific aspect, the first guide rail member may have a bent portion even at an end portion far from the arrangement position of the launch unit.

In the specific aspect according to claim 5, the first guide rail member is an end portion opposite to an end portion having a bent portion in a predetermined longitudinal direction, and an end portion far from the arrangement position of the launch unit is formed. It is supported by a first rail support portion and a second rail support portion so that it can move freely in a predetermined longitudinal direction.

In the specific aspect of claim 6, the first rail support includes a plurality of columnar supports that are spaced apart in a predetermined longitudinal direction.

In this specific aspect, the distance between two adjacent columnar support portions of the plurality of columnar support portions may be equal or different.

In the specific aspect according to claim 7, the first rail support portion includes a plurality of columnar support portions arranged at intervals in a predetermined longitudinal direction, and the plurality of columnar support portions are the first. The maximum distance between the two adjacent columnar support portions of the plurality of columnar support portions arranged on the substrate portion and the second substrate portion and arranged on the first substrate portion is the second. It is set to be smaller than the maximum distance between two adjacent columnar support portions of the plurality of columnar support portions arranged on the substrate portion.

In the specific aspect of claim 8, the support machine frame includes a vertical frame portion extending in the vertical direction and a horizontal frame portion extending in the horizontal direction and connected to the vertical frame portion, and the support housing comprises. At the corner where the vertical frame and the horizontal frame are connected, the first guide rail member is attached to the support machine frame, and the end of the first guide rail member far from the placement position of the launch unit is parallel to the vertical frame in a predetermined longitudinal direction. It is supported by the first rail support portion and the second rail support portion so as to extend to.

The second aspect of the invention according to claim 9 is a support machine frame, a launch unit arranged in the support machine frame and launching a game ball, a game board attached to the support machine frame and having a game area, and launching. It is a gaming machine including a gaming ball guiding mechanism that guides a gaming ball launched by a unit toward a gaming area. In the aspect of the present invention, the game ball guidance mechanism has a support housing attached to the support machine frame and a first seating position supported by the support housing and first colliding with the game ball launched from the launch unit. A first guide rail member extending in a strip shape in a predetermined longitudinal direction and a second guide rail member supported by a game board and guiding a game ball passing through the first guide rail member toward a game area are provided. The 1-lead rail member has a contact surface in contact with the game ball launched from the launch unit and an opposite surface on the opposite side to the contact surface, and the contact surface of the 1st guide rail member is a 1st guide rail member. The support housing has an edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction, and the support housing is a housing substrate portion in a direction orthogonal to the surface forming the game area of the game board attached to the support machine frame. from projecting a first rail support for supporting the first guide rail member by contacting the opposite side of the first guide rail member, in the orthogonal direction from the housing substrate portion protrudes, the contact surface of the first guide rail member It includes a second rail support portion that supports the first guide rail member in cooperation with the first rail support portion by coming into contact with an edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction.

Each component of the second aspect of the invention is embodied in various aspects, as in the first aspect of the invention and its specific aspects.

In the first aspect of the invention according to claim 1, the first guide rail member is supported by a support housing attached to a support machine frame, and a first seating position where a game ball launched from a launch unit first collides. And extends in a strip shape in a predetermined longitudinal direction. The second guide rail member is supported by the game board and guides the game ball passing through the first guide rail member toward the game area. The first guide rail member has a contact surface that comes into contact with the game ball and a surface opposite to the contact surface. The contact surface of the first guide rail member has an edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction of the first guide rail member. The first rail support portion protrudes from the housing substrate portion in a direction orthogonal to the surface forming the game area of the game board attached to the support machine frame, and comes into contact with the opposite surface of the first guide rail member. Supports the induction rail member. The second rail support portion cooperates with the first rail support portion by protruding from the housing substrate portion in the orthogonal direction and contacting the edge portion extending in the predetermined longitudinal direction of the contact surface of the first guide rail member. Supports the first guide rail member. As a result, the first guide rail member is supported by the support machine frame via the support housing, and the second guide rail member is supported by the game board. Therefore, the game board is attached when the specifications of the game machine are changed. It is possible to reduce the change of the support machine frame to be performed on a small scale, and to reduce the position adjustment work of the first guide rail member with which the game ball launched from the launching unit first collides.

In the specific aspect according to claim 2, the housing substrate portion includes a first substrate portion, a second substrate portion, an intermediate substrate portion arranged between the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, and the like. Has. The first substrate portion is arranged at a position closer to the arrangement position of the launch unit than the second substrate portion, and the second substrate portion is arranged at a position closer to the arrangement position of the second guide rail member than the first substrate portion, and is intermediate. The substrate portion has a region including a first seating position where the game ball launched from the launch unit first collides with the first guide rail member. The first rail support portion and the second rail support portion project in the orthogonal direction from the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion. The first rail support portion and the second rail support portion are not arranged on the intermediate substrate portion. As a result, since the two ends of the first guide rail member in the predetermined longitudinal direction are located on the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, respectively, the first rail support portion and the second rail support portion are used. Both ends of the first guide rail member can be reliably held. Further, since the first guide rail member is not supported by the first rail support portion and the second rail support portion in the intermediate substrate portion having the region including the first seating position, the game ball is the first guide rail member. When colliding with, the impact is mitigated. By mitigating this impact, the collision noise can be reduced, and the positional relationship between the support housing supporting the first guide rail member and the support machine frame is displaced regardless of repeated collisions due to long-term games. Can be reduced.

In the specific aspect according to claim 3, the length of the intermediate substrate portion is set to be longer than the length of any of the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion in the predetermined longitudinal direction. As a result, the probability that the game ball launched from the launching unit first collides with the first guide rail member in the intermediate substrate portion increases, so that the collision noise is reduced and the positions of the support housing and the support machine frame are reduced. It is possible to more reliably reduce the deviation of the relationship.

In the specific aspect of claim 4, the first guide rail member has a bent portion at an end close to the placement position of the launch unit. The support housing has a locking protrusion that protrudes in the direction orthogonal to the housing substrate portion in order to lock the bent portion. As a result, the first guide rail member can be reliably held at a predetermined position of the support housing in a predetermined longitudinal direction regardless of repeated collisions with the game ball.

In the specific aspect according to claim 5, the first guide rail member is an end portion opposite to an end portion having a bent portion in a predetermined longitudinal direction, and an end portion far from the arrangement position of the launch unit is formed. It is supported by a first rail support portion and a second rail support portion so that it can move freely in a predetermined longitudinal direction. As a result, since the far end of the first guide rail member can move freely, it is possible to reduce the deformation that occurs in the first guide rail member regardless of repeated collisions with the game ball.

In the specific aspect of claim 6, the first rail support includes a plurality of columnar supports that are spaced apart in a predetermined longitudinal direction. As a result, since the opposite surface of the first guide rail member is in line contact with the plurality of columnar support portions, each of the first guide rail members is supported as compared with the case where the opposite surface of the first guide rail member is supported by surface contact. It can be stably supported by reliably contacting the columnar support portion.

In the specific aspect according to claim 7, the plurality of columnar support portions are arranged on the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, respectively, and are adjacent to the plurality of columnar support portions arranged on the first substrate portion. The maximum spacing between the two matching columnar supports is the maximum spacing between the two adjacent columnar supports of the plurality of columnar supports arranged on the second substrate portion. Is set smaller than the interval of. As a result, the positional relationship between the first guide rail member and the launch unit can be reliably maintained at a constant positional relationship in the first substrate portion close to the arrangement position of the launch unit.

In the specific aspect of claim 8, the support machine frame includes a vertical frame portion extending in the vertical direction and a horizontal frame portion extending in the horizontal direction and connected to the vertical frame portion, and the support housing comprises. At the corner where the vertical frame and the horizontal frame are connected, the first guide rail member is attached to the support machine frame, and the end of the first guide rail member far from the placement position of the launch unit is parallel to the vertical frame in a predetermined longitudinal direction. It is supported by the first rail support portion and the second rail support portion so as to extend to. As a result, since the support housing is attached to the corner portion of the support machine frame, the positional relationship between the first guide rail member and the launching unit can be reliably maintained at a constant positional relationship, and the first game ball can be used. The seating position and flight path can be stabilized. Further, since the far end of the first guide rail member extends parallel to the vertical frame portion, the game ball can be smoothly guided to the second guide rail member in the vertical direction.

In the second aspect of the invention according to claim 9, the first guide rail member is supported by a support housing attached to the support machine frame, and the first seating position where the game ball launched from the launch unit first collides. And extends in a strip shape in a predetermined longitudinal direction. The second guide rail member is supported by the game board and guides the game ball passing through the first guide rail member toward the game area. The first guide rail member has a contact surface that comes into contact with the game ball launched from the launch unit, and a surface opposite to the contact surface. The contact surface of the first guide rail member has an edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction of the first guide rail member. The first rail support portion protrudes from the housing substrate portion in a direction orthogonal to the surface forming the game area of the game board attached to the support machine frame, and comes into contact with the opposite surface of the first guide rail member. Supports the induction rail member. The second rail support portion cooperates with the first rail support portion by protruding from the housing substrate portion in the orthogonal direction and contacting the edge portion extending in the predetermined longitudinal direction of the contact surface of the first guide rail member. Supports the first guide rail member. As a result, the first guide rail member is supported by the support machine frame via the support housing, and the second guide rail member is supported by the game board. Therefore, the game board is attached when the specifications of the game machine are changed. It is possible to reduce the change of the support machine frame to be performed on a small scale, and to reduce the position adjustment work of the first guide rail member with which the game ball launched from the launching unit first collides. In addition, since the change of the support machine frame is suppressed to a small scale and the position adjustment work is reduced, it is possible to easily change the specifications of the gaming machine at low cost.

It is a front view of the game ball guidance mechanism 1 which is the game ball guidance mechanism 1 which is an embodiment of this invention, and guides a game ball PB to a game area of a game board 12 in a game machine such as a pachinko machine and a slot machine. .. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the lower rail unit 100 of the game ball guidance mechanism 1 and the game board 12 are removed from the support machine frame 10. It is a front view of the support machine frame 10. It is an exploded perspective view of the game ball guidance mechanism 1. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the lower rail 184 of the lower rail unit 100 is assembled to the housing body 180. It is a front view of the housing body 180 to which the lower rail 184 is assembled. It is a right side view of the housing body 180 to which the lower rail 184 is assembled. It is a rear view of the cover body 182 of the lower rail unit 100. It is a right side view of a cover body 182. It is a perspective view of the lower rail unit 100 in the state which the cover body 182 and the lower rail 184 are assembled to the housing body 180. It is a right side view of the lower rail unit 100 shown in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the flight locus of a game ball PB launched from a launching unit 14.

[Embodiment]
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is a game ball guidance mechanism for guiding a game ball to a game area in a game machine such as a pachinko machine or a slot machine that realizes a game using the game ball. FIG. 1 is a front view of the game ball guidance mechanism 1. The game ball guidance mechanism 1 is attached to the support machine frame 10 of the game machine. The two directions indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 are defined as the vertical direction and the horizontal direction, the direction orthogonal to these two directions is defined as the front-rear direction, and the directions thus determined are indicated by arrows in the drawings of FIGS. 2 and later. Indicated by.

<Structure of game ball guidance mechanism 1 and support machine frame 10>
In FIG. 1, the gaming machine includes a support machine frame 10, a gaming board 12, and a launching unit 14. The game ball guidance mechanism 1 includes a lower rail unit 100, an upper rail assembly 102, and an inner rail 104. The lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support machine frame 10. The upper rail assembly 102 and the inner rail 104 are attached to the front surface of the game board 12. Since the basic configuration of the launch unit 14 is described in Patent Document 2 and the like and is known, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

<< Detailed configuration of support machine frame 10 >>
The detailed configuration of the support machine frame 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower rail unit 100 and the game board 12 are removed from the support machine frame 10. FIG. 3 is a front view of the support machine frame 10. The support machine frame 10 includes a right vertical frame portion 106, a left vertical frame portion 108, an upper horizontal frame portion 110, a lower horizontal frame portion 112, an intermediate horizontal frame portion 114, and a back plate portion 116. Be prepared. The upper horizontal frame portion 110 connects the upper end portion of the right vertical frame portion 106 and the upper end portion of the left vertical frame portion 108. The lower horizontal frame portion 112 connects the lower end portion of the right vertical frame portion 106 and the lower end portion of the left vertical frame portion 108. The intermediate horizontal frame portion 114 is erected between the intermediate portion of the right vertical frame portion 106 and the intermediate portion of the left vertical frame portion 108. A glass door frame (not shown) is attached to the support machine frame 10 so as to cover the front surface of the game board 12 so as to be openable and closable.

The game board accommodation space SP1 is defined by a right vertical frame portion 106, a left vertical frame portion 108, an upper horizontal frame portion 110, and an intermediate horizontal frame portion 114. The lower accommodation space SP2 is defined by a right vertical frame portion 106, a left vertical frame portion 108, an intermediate horizontal frame portion 114, and a lower horizontal frame portion 112. The launch unit 14 is attached to the back plate portion 116 in the lower accommodation space SP2.

The upper horizontal reinforcing portion 118 is arranged below the upper horizontal frame portion 110 in a state of extending in the left-right direction. The upper corner reinforcing portion 120 is arranged at the upper left corner portion where the left vertical frame portion 108 and the upper horizontal frame portion 110 are connected. The locking member 122 is arranged so as to project to the right from the upper portion of the left vertical frame portion 108. The locking member 122 is arranged in the front-rear direction with a predetermined gap from the upper angle reinforcing portion 120. When the game board 12 is attached to the support machine frame 10, the upper left corner portion 12A of the game board 12 is inserted into a predetermined gap between the upper corner reinforcing portion 120 and the locking member 122. The intermediate horizontal reinforcing portion 124 is arranged above the intermediate horizontal frame portion 114 in a state of extending in the left-right direction. The support reinforcing portion 126 is arranged at a connecting corner portion where the left vertical frame portion 108 and the intermediate horizontal frame portion 114 are connected. The support reinforcing portion 126 has the same shape as the lower rail unit 100 in the shape seen from the front in order to support the lower rail unit 100. Each of the four reinforcing portions 118, 120, 124, and 126 has a large number of partitioned portions that are divided into smaller portions by a vertical partition member and a horizontal partition member. In order to position the game board 12 in the left-right direction and the up-down direction, the support machine frame 10 has a positioning protrusion (not shown). When the game board 12 is attached to the support machine frame 10, the positioning protrusion fits into the positioning hole formed in the game board 12.

The upper clamp 128 is arranged close to the right end of the upper horizontal reinforcing portion 118. The lower clamp 130 is arranged on the right side of the intermediate horizontal reinforcing portion 124. When the game board 12 is attached to the support machine frame 10, the upper clamp 128 holds the upper right portion 12B of the game board 12, and the lower clamp 130 holds the lower right portion 12C of the game board 12. Each of the two clamps 128 and 130 is configured to be manually displaceable between a holding position for holding the game board 12 and a releasing position for releasing the holding.

Five screw holes 132 to 140 are arranged in the support reinforcing portion 126. The five mounting screws 142-150 shown in FIG. 2 are screwed into the five screw holes 132-140, respectively, in order to fix the lower rail unit 100 to the support reinforcing portion 126.

<< Detailed configuration of the game ball guidance mechanism 1 >>
The detailed configuration of the game ball guidance mechanism 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. The inner rail 104 of the game ball guiding mechanism 1 is formed of a synthetic resin material having excellent impact resistance such as polycarbonate. The inner rail 104 has a mounting collar (not shown). This mounting collar is mounted on the front surface of the game board 12 with mounting screws or the like.

The upper rail assembly 102 of the game ball guidance mechanism 1 includes a first upper rail 160 and a second upper rail 162. The first upper rail 160 includes an outer rail portion 164 and a mounting collar portion 166. The mounting collar 166 has five mounting holes. The second upper rail 162 includes an outer rail portion 168 and a mounting collar portion 170. The mounting flange 170 has four mounting holes. The outer rail portion 164 of the first upper rail 160 and the outer rail portion 168 of the second upper rail 162 are formed with substantially the same radius of curvature. Each outer rail portion of the outer rail portions 164 and 166 includes a contact surface and a side edge portion. The contact surface of each outer rail portion extends forward from each mounting collar portion and is a surface that can come into contact with the game ball. The side edge portion of each outer rail portion projects from the contact surface in a direction orthogonal to the contact surface and in a direction toward the center of curvature of each outer rail portion. Each upper rail of the first upper rail 160 and the second upper rail 162 is formed of a synthetic resin material having excellent impact resistance such as polycarbonate. As shown in FIG. 2, the first upper rail 160 and the second upper rail 162 play games so that the contact surfaces of the outer rail portions 164 and 168 form a continuous arcuate rail surface. It is attached to the front surface of the board 12. Each of the upper rails of the first upper rail 160 and the second upper rail 162 is attached to the front surface of the game board 12 by inserting and screwing the mounting screws into the mounting holes of the outer rail portions.

If the game board 12 is changed to a game board with new specifications due to a change in the specifications of the game machine, the upper rail assembly 102 and the inner rail 104 are also replaced according to the new game board. Be done.

(Detailed configuration of the lower rail unit 100 of the game ball guidance mechanism 1)
The detailed configuration of the lower rail unit 100 of the game ball guiding mechanism 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 11. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the lower rail unit 100 and the upper rail assembly 102 in a disassembled state of the lower rail unit 100. As shown in FIG. 4, the lower rail unit 100 includes a housing body 180, a cover body 182, and a lower rail 184.

(Detailed configuration of the housing body 180)
The detailed configuration of the housing body 180 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the lower rail 184 of the lower rail unit 100 is assembled to the housing body 180. FIG. 6 is a front view of the housing body 180 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a right side view of the housing body 180 shown in FIG. The housing body 180 includes a housing substrate portion 190, an outer peripheral wall portion 192, four lower support pins 194 to 200, four upper support pins 202 to 208, a lower support ridge 210, and an upper support ridge. A 212 and a locking protrusion 214 are provided. The housing body 180 is molded from a synthetic resin material having excellent impact resistance such as polycarbonate.

As shown in FIG. 6, the housing substrate portion 190 is formed in a flat plate shape and has a left end edge portion extending in the vertical direction, a lower end edge portion extending in the horizontal direction, and a curved end edge portion. .. The curved edge extends from the right end of the lower edge to the upper edge of the left edge. As shown in FIG. 5, the outer peripheral wall portion 192 is formed so as to project forward from the housing substrate portion 190. The outer peripheral wall portion 192 includes a left wall portion 216 extending along the left end edge portion of the housing substrate portion 190, a lower wall portion 218 extending along the lower end edge portion of the housing substrate portion 190, and a housing. It has a curved wall portion 220 extending along a curved end edge portion of the substrate portion 190.

As shown in FIG. 4, the four lower support pins 194 to 200 are formed in a columnar shape and are arranged along the curved wall portion 220 upward from the lower end of the curved wall portion 220. The distance between the lower support pin 194 and the lower support pin 196 is set to be substantially the same as the distance between the lower support pin 198 and the lower support pin 200. The distance between the lower support pin 196 and the lower support pin 198 is set to be smaller than the distance between the lower support pin 194 and the lower support pin 196.

As shown in FIG. 4, the four upper support pins 202 to 208 are formed in a columnar shape and are arranged along the curved wall portion 220 from the upper end of the curved wall portion 220 to the lower side. The distance between the upper support pin 202 and the upper support pin 204 is set to be substantially the same as the distance between the upper support pin 206 and the upper support pin 208. The distance between the upper support pin 204 and the upper support pin 206 is set to be smaller than the distance between the upper support pin 202 and the upper support pin 204. The distance between the upper support pin 204 and the upper support pin 206 is set to be larger than the distance between the lower support pin 196 and the lower support pin 198.

In the present embodiment, the distance on the straight line from the upper support pin 202 to the upper support pin 208 is set to be larger than the distance on the straight line from the lower support pin 194 to the lower support pin 200. The distance on the straight line from the lower support pin 200 to the upper support pin 202 is set to be larger than the distance on the straight line from the upper support pin 202 to the upper support pin 208, and the distance from the upper support pin 202 to the upper support pin 208 is set. The distance is set to about 1.8 times the distance on the straight line.

The lower support ridge 210 is formed so as to project forward from the housing substrate portion 190 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and is formed along the curved end edge portion of the housing substrate portion 190. It extends upward from the lower end. The lower support ridge 210 is arranged with a predetermined gap between the four lower support pins 194 to 200. The predetermined gap is set to a gap corresponding to the rail thickness of the lower rail 184. The upper support ridge 212 is formed so as to project forward from the housing substrate portion 190 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and is formed along the curved end edge portion of the housing substrate portion 190. It extends downward from the upper end. The upper support ridge 212 is arranged with a predetermined gap between the four upper support pins 202 to 208. The predetermined gap is set to a gap corresponding to the rail thickness of the lower rail 184. The upper end of the upper support ridge 212 extends slightly above the upper support pin 208, as shown in FIG.

The locking protrusion 214 is formed so as to project forward from the housing substrate portion 190 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The locking protrusion 214 is connected to the lower end of the lower support ridge 210 and extends in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the lower support ridge 210 extends, that is, is bent downward to the left in FIG. The locking protrusion 214 is arranged with a predetermined gap from the lower support pin 194. The predetermined gap is set to a gap corresponding to the rail thickness of the lower rail 184.

Five mounting through holes 222-230 are formed in the housing substrate portion 190 so that the five mounting screws 142-150 are inserted. Six screw holes 232 to 242 are formed in the housing substrate portion 190.

(Detailed configuration of cover body 182)
The detailed configuration of the cover body 182 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. FIG. 8 is a rear view of the cover body 182 of the lower rail unit 100. FIG. 9 is a right side view of the cover body 182. The cover body 182 includes a cover plate portion 244, four lower fitting holes 246 to 252, four upper fitting holes 254 to 260, a lower support ridge 262, and an upper support ridge 264. The cover body 182 is molded from a synthetic resin material having excellent impact resistance such as polycarbonate.

The cover plate portion 244 is formed in a flat plate shape and has a left end edge portion extending in the vertical direction, a lower end edge portion extending in the horizontal direction, and a curved end edge portion as shown in FIG. The curved edge extends from the right end of the lower edge to the upper edge of the left edge.

The four lower fitting holes 246 to 252 are arranged upward from the lower end of the curved end edge portion along the curved end edge portion of the cover plate portion 244. The four upper fitting holes 254 to 260 are arranged along the curved end edge portion of the cover plate portion 244 from the upper end to the lower side of the curved end edge portion. Two adjacent lower sides of the four lower fitting holes 246 to 252 so that the front ends 194A to 200A of the lower support pins 194 to 200 of the housing body 180 fit into the lower fitting holes 246 to 252, respectively. The spacing between the fitting holes is set. Two adjacent upper sides of the four upper fitting holes 254 to 260 so that the front ends 202A to 208A of the upper support pins 202 to 208 of the housing body 180 fit into the upper fitting holes 254 to 260, respectively. The spacing between the fitting holes is set.

The lower support ridge 262 is formed so as to project rearward from the cover plate portion 244 as shown in FIG. 9, and extends upward from the lower end of the curved end edge portion along the curved end edge portion of the cover plate portion 244. .. The lower support ridge 262 is arranged with a predetermined gap between the four lower fitting holes 246 to 252. The predetermined gap is set to a gap corresponding to the rail thickness of the lower rail 184. The upper support ridge 264 is formed so as to project rearward from the cover plate portion 244 as shown in FIG. 9, and extends downward from the upper end of the curved end edge portion along the curved end edge portion of the cover plate portion 244. .. The upper support ridge 264 is arranged with a predetermined gap between the four upper fitting holes 254 to 260. The predetermined gap is set to a gap corresponding to the rail thickness of the lower rail 184. The upper end of the upper support ridge 260 extends to a position slightly above the upper fitting hole 260, as shown in FIG.

Five mounting through holes 266 to 274 are formed in the housing substrate portion 190 so that the five mounting screws 142 to 150 are inserted. Six screw insertion holes 276 to 286 are formed in the cover plate portion 244.

(Detailed configuration of lower rail 184)
The detailed configuration of the lower rail 184 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6. The lower rail 184 extends long in a strip shape and is formed in a curved shape. The lower rail 184 is formed from an elastically deformable metal material such as stainless steel. The lower rail 184 has substantially the same rail width as the contact surface of the outer rail portions 164 and 168 of the upper rails 160 and 162. The lower rail 184 has a contact surface 288 that comes into contact with the game ball, an opposite surface 290 on the opposite side of the contact surface, and a bent portion 292. The contact surface 288 and the opposite surface 290 extend in the longitudinal direction in which the lower rail 184 extends. The bent portion 292 is formed by bending at the lower end of the lower rail 184 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and on the side on which the opposite surface 290 is arranged.

(Assembly and installation of lower rail unit 100)
The assembly and installation of the lower rail unit 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2, 4, 10, and 11. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lower rail unit 100 in a state where the cover body 182 and the lower rail 184 are assembled to the housing body 180. FIG. 11 is a right side view of the lower rail unit 100 shown in FIG.

First, the lower rail 184 is assembled to the housing body 180. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the operator inserts the bent portion 292 of the lower rail 184 from the front into a predetermined gap between the lower support pin 194 and the locking protrusion 214. insert. When inserting the bend 292, the operator inserts the rear edge of the lower portion of the lower rail 184 into a predetermined gap between the four lower support pins 194-200 and the lower support ridge 210. At the same time, the rear edge of the upper portion of the lower rail 184 is inserted into a predetermined gap between the four upper support pins 202 to 208 and the upper support ridge 212.

In a state where the lower rail 184 is assembled to the housing body 180, the bent portion 292 of the lower rail 184 is locked between the lower support pin 194 and the locking protrusion 214. This locking restricts the lower end of the lower rail 184 from moving in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 184. The lower portion of the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184 is supported in contact with the four lower support pins 194 to 200, respectively, and the upper portion of the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184 is supported by the four upper support pins 202 to 208, respectively. Contact and support. However, the intermediate portion of the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184 is not supported and is in a state of being elastically deformed and displaceable in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, that is, in the direction of the rail thickness.

The cover body 182 is assembled to the housing body 180 in a state where the lower rail 184 is assembled to the housing body 180. Specifically, the operator performs the cover body so that the lower support ridge 262 of the cover body 182 cooperates with the four lower support pins 194 to 200 to sandwich the front edge of the lower portion of the lower rail 184. The lower portion of the 182 is aligned with the housing body 180. The operator also moves above the cover body 182 so that the upper support ridge 264 of the cover body 182 cooperates with the four upper support pins 202 to 208 to sandwich the front edge of the upper portion of the lower rail 184. The portion is aligned with the housing body 180.

With the cover body 182 aligned with the housing body 180, the operator inserts the front ends 194A to 200A of the four lower support pins 194 to 200 into the four lower fitting holes, as shown in FIG. The front ends 202A to 208A of the four upper support pins 202 to 208 are fitted into the four upper fitting holes 254 to 260, respectively, while being fitted into the 246 to 252, respectively. In this mating state, the operator inserts the six assembly screws 294 to 304 shown in FIG. 4 into the six screw insertion holes 276 to 286 of the cover body 182, respectively, and then the six screws of the housing body 180. Screw into holes 232 to 242, respectively. By screwing in the assembling screw, the lower rail 184 and the cover body 182 are assembled to the housing body 180. By this assembly, the lower rail unit 100 is assembled as one unit.

In the assembled lower rail unit 100, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower portion of the lower rail 184 is supported by four lower support pins 194 to 200 and both lower support ridges 210 and 262, and is supported by the lower support ridges 210 and 262. The upper portion of the lower rail 184 is supported by four upper support pins 202-208 and both upper support ridges 212 and 264. Further, the bent portion 292 of the lower rail 184 is sandwiched and locked by the lower support pin 194 and the locking protrusion 214.

After inserting the five mounting screws 142 to 150 shown in FIG. 2 into the five mounting through holes 266 to 274 of the cover body 182 and the five mounting through holes 222 to 230 of the housing body 180, the operator inserts them. , Screw into the five screw holes 132 to 140 of the support reinforcement portion 126. By this screwing, the assembled lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support machine frame 10. In this mounted state, the lower rail 184 of the lower rail unit 100 is arranged in a fixed positional relationship with the launch unit 14 mounted on the back plate portion 116 of the support machine frame 10.

After the lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support machine frame 10, the inner rail 104 and the game board 12 to which both upper rails 160 and 162 are attached are supported by the locking member 122 and both clamps 128 and 130. It is held in a predetermined position of the frame 10.

As shown in FIG. 11, the upper end portion of the lower rail 184 extends slightly upward from the upper end portion of the housing substrate portion 190 and the cover plate portion 244. In a state where the lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support machine frame 10, the upper end portion of the lower rail 184 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the left vertical frame portion 108 of the support machine frame 10. It is supported by pins 202 to 208 and both upper support ridges 212 and 264. In a state where the game board 12 is held by the support machine frame 10, the upper end portion of the lower rail 184 is arranged with a slight gap from the lower end portion of the first upper rail 160. This slight gap is set so that the lower end of the first upper rail 160 does not interfere with the upper end of the lower rail 184 when the game board 12 is attached to the support machine frame 10.

<Operation and action of game ball guidance mechanism 1>
The operation and operation of the game ball guidance mechanism 1 will be described mainly with reference to FIG. FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the flight trajectory of the game ball PB launched from the launch unit 14. The line TP1 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 12 shows the flight trajectory from the launch of the game ball PB from the launch unit 14 to the first collision with the lower rail 184 of the lower rail unit 100. The line TP2 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 12 is a flight from the first collision of the game ball PB with the lower rail 184 until it is reflected by the lower rail 184 and flies, and then collides with the lower rail 184 for the second time. Shows the trajectory. The line TP3 shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 12 is reflected by the lower rail 184 after the game ball PB collides with the lower rail 184 for the second time, and is directed toward the outer rail portion 164 of the first upper rail 160. Shows the flight trajectory to fly.

In the present embodiment, the first seating position of the lower rail 184 on which the game ball PB first collides is set to the central position of the lower rail 184 located between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202. The lower rail 184 located between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202 is curved in an arc shape having a center point CT shown in FIG. At the first seating position, the angle θ1 formed by the tangent line CL passing through the center of the game ball PB and the line TP1 which is the tangent line of the arc is the incident angle of the game ball PB. The angle θ2 formed by the tangent CL and the line TP2 is the reflection angle of the game ball PB. In the present embodiment, the reflection angle θ2 is set to an angle smaller than the incident angle θ1.

In the present embodiment, the second seating position of the lower rail 184 on which the game ball PB collides for the second time is a position near the upper support pin 204 on the lower rail 184, as shown in FIG.

When the game ball PB first collides with the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 located between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202, the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 is not supported by the support pin. Therefore, the lower rail is elastically deformed and displaced in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 184, that is, in the lower left in FIG. Due to this elastic deformation, the impact force applied from the game ball PB to the housing body 180 and the lower rail 184 is relaxed or absorbed, so that the housing body 180 and the lower rail 184 are impacted from the game ball PB. The time of initial vibration can be shortened by force.

Immediately before the game ball PB collides with the lower rail 184 for the second time, the flight trajectory of the game ball PB indicated by the line TP2 is directed in a direction close to the vertical direction. Further, the extending direction of the lower rail 184 at a position near the upper support pin 204 is also a direction close to the vertical direction. As a result, when the game ball PB collides with the lower rail 184 for the second time, the impact force applied by the game ball PB to the housing body 180 and the lower rail 184 becomes smaller. Since the time for the housing body 180 and the lower rail 184 to vibrate first due to the first collision of the game ball PB is short, the direction in which the game ball PB is reflected after the second collision is the housing body 180 and the lower rail 184. Determined by the tilt angle of the lower rail 184 as defined by the upper support pins 202-206 and both upper support ridges 212 and 264, at a position near the upper support pin 204, almost unaffected by the initial vibration of. It goes in a certain direction. Since the direction in which the game ball PB is reflected becomes a constant direction after the second collision, the flight path of the game ball PB can be stabilized to a constant path.

As shown in FIG. 1, the game ball PB flying on a fixed path after the second collision includes the inner rail 104, the outer rail portion 164 of the first upper rail 160, and the outer side of the second upper rail 162. The rail portion 168 guides the player to the game area of the game board 12.

<Effect of embodiment>
In the present embodiment, the lower rail unit 100 including the lower rail 184 is unitized and supported by the support machine frame 10. The upper rail assembly 102 is supported by the game board 12. As a result, when the specifications of the gaming machine 12 are changed, the change of the support machine frame 10 to which the gaming board 12 is attached is suppressed to a small scale, and the lower rail 184 on which the gaming ball PB launched from the launching unit 14 first collides. The position adjustment work between the and the launch unit 14 can be reduced, or the position adjustment work can be eliminated.

In the present embodiment, the lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support reinforcing portion 126 of the support machine frame 10. The support reinforcing portion 126 is arranged at a connecting corner portion where the left vertical frame portion 108 and the intermediate horizontal frame portion 114 are connected. The support reinforcing portion 126 has a large number of partition portions partitioned by a vertical partition member and a horizontal partition member. As a result, since the lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support reinforcing portion 126 arranged at a relatively strong position of the support machine frame 10, the positional relationship between the launch unit 14 and the lower rail 184 is set to a constant positional relationship. You can definitely keep it.

In the present embodiment, the lower rail unit 100 including the lower rail 184 is attached to the support reinforcing portion 126 arranged at a relatively strong position of the support machine frame 10. The upper rail assembly 102 is attached to the game board 12. The game board 12 is held by the support machine frame 10 by clamps 128, 130 and the like. As a result, even when the lower rail 184 vibrates significantly due to the first collision with the game ball PB, the support reinforcing portion 126 has a relatively strong structure, so that the support reinforcing portion 126 is vibrated by the large vibration of the lower rail 184. It hardly vibrates. Further, since the upper rail assembly 102 is attached to the game board 12 which is a member separate from the support machine frame 10 including the support reinforcing portion 126, the large vibration of the lower rail 184 is also caused by both of the upper rail assembly 102. It is hardly transmitted to the upper rails 160 and 162. Since the vibrations of the upper rails 160 and 162 are hardly transmitted when the lower rail 184 first collides with the game ball PB, the game board 12 has a stable and constant flight path for the game ball PB. You can be guided to the game area of.

In the present embodiment, the lower portion of the lower rail 184 is supported by four lower support pins 194 to 200 and both lower support ridges 210 and 262, and the upper portion of the lower rail 184 is supported by four upper support pins 202. It is supported by ~ 208 and both upper support ridges 212 and 264. The intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 is arranged between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202, and is not supported by the support pin or the like, so that the lower rail 184 is displaceably arranged in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 184. .. The game ball PB launched from the launch unit 14 first collides with the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184. As a result, when the game ball PB first collides with the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184, the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 is not restricted in any movement in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and the lower left in FIG. It can be elastically deformed and displaced. Due to this elastic deformation, the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 absorbs the impact from the game ball PB, and it is possible to reduce the repeated collision of the game ball PB between the inner rail 104 and the lower rail 184. By reducing this collision, the flight path of the game ball PB can be stabilized.

In the present embodiment, the distance on the straight line from the upper support pin 202 to the upper support pin 208 is set to be larger than the distance on the straight line from the lower support pin 194 to the lower support pin 200. The distance on the straight line from the lower support pin 200 to the upper support pin 202 is set to be larger than the distance on the straight line from the upper support pin 202 to the upper support pin 208. As a result, since the area of the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 in the longitudinal direction is wide, the game ball PB launched from the launch unit 14 can surely collide with the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 first, and the lower rail can be surely first collided. The middle portion of 184 can reliably absorb the impact of this first collision.

In the present embodiment, in the state where the lower rail 184 is assembled to the housing body 180, the bent portion 292 of the lower rail 184 is locked between the lower support pin 194 and the locking protrusion 214. This locking restricts the lower end of the lower rail 184 from moving in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 184. As a result, the lower rail 184 can be reliably held at a predetermined position of the housing body 180 in the longitudinal direction thereof, despite frequent collisions with the game ball PB.

In the present embodiment, the upper end portion of the lower rail 184 extends slightly upward from the upper end portion of the housing substrate portion 190 and the cover plate portion 244, as shown in FIG. The upper portion of the lower rail 184 includes four upper support pins 202-208 and both upper support ridges 212, so that the upper end of the lower rail 184 can move freely in the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 184. Supported by 264. As a result, since the upper end portion of the lower rail 184 can move freely, it is possible to reduce the plastic deformation that occurs in the lower rail 184 despite frequent collisions with the game ball PB.

In the present embodiment, the four lower support pins 194 to 200 and the upper support pins 202 to 208 have a columnar shape in order to contact and support the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184. As a result, since the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184 is in line contact with each columnar support pin, the lower rail 184 is supported by each columnar support pin as compared with the case where the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184 is supported by surface contact. Can be reliably contacted with and stably supported.

In the present embodiment, the maximum distance between two adjacent lower support pins among the four lower support pins 194 to 200, for example, the distance between the lower support pin 194 and the lower support pin 196 is four. The maximum distance between the two adjacent upper support pins 202 to 208 is set to be smaller than the distance between the upper support pin 202 and the upper support pin 204, for example. As a result, in the lower portion of the lower rail 184 near the arrangement position of the launch unit 14, the positional relationship between the lower rail 184 and the launch unit 14 can be reliably maintained at a constant positional relationship.

In the present embodiment, when the lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support machine frame 10, the upper end portion of the lower rail 184 extends in a direction substantially parallel to the left vertical frame portion 108 of the support machine frame 10. It is supported by four upper support pins 202-208 and both upper support ridges 212 and 264. In the state where the game board 12 is held by the support machine frame 10, the portion near the upper end of the lower rail 184 and the portion near the lower end of the first upper rail 160 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown, they are arranged in a nearly vertically extending state. As shown in FIG. 12, after the game ball PB collides with the upper portion of the lower rail 184 for the second time, the game ball PB flies in a substantially vertical direction in which the upper end portion of the lower rail 184 extends. The game ball PB flies in a substantially vertical direction and collides with a lower portion of the first upper rail 160. Since the portion near the lower end of the first upper rail 160 extends in the substantially vertical direction, when the game ball PB flying in the substantially vertical direction collides with the lower portion of the first upper rail 160, the first The component of the impact force from the game ball PB in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the lower portion of the upper rail 160 of the above rail 160 extends becomes smaller. Since the component of this impact force is small, even if the first upper rail 160 is formed of a synthetic resin material, it is possible to reduce wear or damage to the lower portion of the first upper rail 160.

In the present embodiment, the operator removes the six assembly screws 294 to 304 and removes the cover body 182 from the housing body 180, so that the lower rail 184 can be removed without removing the housing body 180 from the support machine frame 10. Can be exchanged. This replaceable configuration facilitates the replacement of the lower rail 184, which is worn or plastically deformed due to frequent collisions with the game ball PB, and even after the replacement, the new lower rail 184 and the launching unit 14 The positional relationship of can be kept constant.

In the present embodiment, the lower rail 184 is molded from a metal material such as stainless steel, and the first upper rail 160 and the second upper rail 162 are molded from a synthetic resin material having excellent impact resistance such as polycarbonate. .. As a result, the upper rails 160 and 162 having a small impact force applied from the game ball PB can be manufactured at low cost while ensuring the durability of the lower rail 184 to which a large impact force is applied from the game ball PB.

<Correspondence of configuration>
The game ball guidance mechanism 1 is an example of the game ball guidance mechanism of the present invention. The support machine frame 10 is an example of the support machine frame of the present invention. The left vertical frame portion 108 and the intermediate horizontal frame portion 114 are examples of the vertical frame portion and the horizontal frame portion of the present invention. The launch unit 14 is an example of the launch unit of the present invention. The game board 12 is an example of the game board of the present invention. The combination of the housing body 180 and the cover body 182 is an example of the support housing of the present invention. The housing substrate portion 190 is an example of the housing substrate portion of the present invention. The lower rail 184 is an example of the first guide rail member of the present invention. The upper rail assembly 102 is an example of the second guide rail member of the present invention. The combination of the four lower support pins 194 to 200 and the four upper support pins 202 to 208 is an example of the first rail support portion of the present invention. The combination of the lower support ridge 210 and the upper support ridge 212 is an example of the second rail support portion of the present invention. The contact surface 288 and the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184 are examples of the contact surface and the opposite surface of the first guide rail member of the present invention. The bent portion 292 of the lower rail 184 is an example of the bent portion of the first guide rail member of the present invention. The locking protrusion 214 of the housing body 180 is an example of the locking protrusion of the support housing of the present invention. The four downward support pins 194 to 200 and the four upward support pins 202 to 208 are examples of a plurality of columnar support portions of the present invention. The lower portion of the housing substrate portion 190 in which the four lower support pins 194 to 200 are arranged is an example of the first substrate portion of the present invention. The upper portion of the housing substrate portion 190 in which the four upper support pins 202 to 208 are arranged is an example of the second substrate portion of the present invention. The intermediate portion of the housing substrate portion 190 existing between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202 is an example of the intermediate substrate portion of the present invention. The position where the game ball PB shown in FIG. 12 first collides with the lower rail 184 is an example of the first seating position of the present invention.

[Modification example]
The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. An example of the modification will be described below.

(1) In the present embodiment, the support machine frame 10 is composed of one machine frame, but is not limited to this structure. For example, the support machine frame may have a configuration including an outer frame and an inner frame that is openably and closably attached to the outer frame. In this modification, the game board, the launch unit, and the lower rail unit may be attached to the inner frame.

(2) In the present embodiment, in order to support the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184, columnar lower support pins 194 to 200 and columnar upper support pins 202 to 208 are arranged on the housing body 180. However, the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, instead of at least one set of support pins of the lower support pins 194 to 200 and the upper support pins 202 to 208, a support wall portion extending continuously along the longitudinal direction of the lower rail 184 is a housing body. It may be formed so as to project forward from the housing substrate portion 190 of 180. In this modification, the opposite surface 290 of the lower rail 184 is supported in surface contact with the support wall portion.

(3) In the present embodiment, the first seating position of the lower rail 184 on which the game ball PB first collides is located between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202, as shown in FIG. It is preferable to set it at the center position of the lower rail 184, but the setting method is not limited to this. For example, the first seating position is the linear distance between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202, the radius of curvature of the lower rail 184 arranged between the lower support pins 200, 202, and the launch unit 14. It may be set to a position away from the central position or downward depending on factors such as the arrangement position of the.

(4) In the present embodiment, the distance between the two adjacent support pins among the lower support pins 194 to 200 is different, and the distance between the two adjacent support pins among the upper support pins 202 to 208 is also different. However, the distance between two adjacent support pins may be set to the same distance.

(5) In the present embodiment, in the state where the lower rail 184 is assembled to the housing body 180, the bent portion 292 of the lower rail 184 is locked between the lower support pin 194 and the locking protrusion 214. It is a configuration, but is not limited to this configuration. For example, a locking hole is formed at the lower end of the lower rail 184, and a locking projection is formed at a portion extending forward from the housing substrate portion 190. The lower end portion of the lower rail 184 may be locked by engaging the locking hole with the locking projection. However, considering the ease of replacement of the lower rail 184, the configuration of the present embodiment is preferable to the modified example.

(6) In the present embodiment, the lower rail unit 100 includes a housing body 180, a cover body 182, and a lower rail 184. The lower rail unit 100 is formed by inserting the six assembly screws 294 to 304 into the six screw insertion holes 276 to 286 of the cover body 182 and then screwing them into the six screw holes 232 to 242 of the housing body 180, respectively. Is unitized. After inserting the five mounting screws 142-150 into the five mounting through holes 266 to 274 of the cover body 182 and the five mounting through holes 222 to 230 of the housing body 180, the five screws of the support reinforcing portion 126 The lower rail unit 100 is attached to the support machine frame 10 by screwing into the holes 132 to 140. However, the configuration of the lower rail unit 100 is not limited to the configuration of the embodiment. For example, the lower rail unit includes a housing having a storage space for accommodating the lower rail 184, and the storage space of the housing is formed so as to open rearward. The housing in which the lower rail 184 is housed may be attached to the support reinforcing portion 126 by five mounting screws 142 to 150.

(7) In the present embodiment, the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 arranged between the lower support pin 200 and the upper support pin 202 is not supported by the support pin and the support ridge. Not limited. For example, the intermediate portion of the lower rail 184 may be supported by a support pin and a support ridge. In this modification, the impact force when the game ball PB first collides with the lower rail 184 cannot be relaxed, but when the specifications of the game machine are changed, the support machine frame 10 to which the game board 12 is attached is changed. Can be kept on a small scale, and the positional relationship between the launch unit 14 and the lower rail 184 can be maintained at a constant positional relationship.

1 Game ball guidance mechanism 10 Support machine frame 12 Game board 14 Launch unit 100 Lower rail unit 102 Upper rail assembly 108 Left vertical frame 114 Intermediate horizontal frame 180 Housing body 182 Cover body 184 Lower rail 190 Housing board 194 to 200 4 lower support pins 202 to 208 4 upper support pins 210 Lower support ridge 212 Upper support ridge 214 Locking protrusion 288 of housing body 180 Contact surface of lower rail 184 290 Opposite surface of lower rail 184 292 Bending part PB game ball of lower rail 184

Claims (9)

A support machine frame, a launch unit arranged in the support machine frame and launching a game ball, a game board attached to the support machine frame and having a game area, and a game ball launched by the launch unit toward the game area. In a gaming machine equipped with a gaming ball guiding mechanism for guiding
A support housing that can be attached to the support machine frame and
A first guide rail member that is supported by a support housing, has a first seating position at which a game ball launched from a launching unit first collides, and extends in a strip shape in a predetermined longitudinal direction.
It is provided with a second guide rail member which is supported by the game board and guides the game ball passing through the first guide rail member toward the game area.
The first guide rail member has a contact surface that comes into contact with the game ball launched from the launch unit, and a surface opposite to the contact surface.
The contact surface of the first guide rail member has an edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction of the first guide rail member.
The support housing is
With the housing board
The first guide rail member is supported by protruding from the housing substrate portion in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the surface forming the game area of the game board attached to the support machine frame and coming into contact with the opposite surface of the first guide rail member. 1 rail support and
By projecting from the housing substrate portion in the orthogonal direction and contacting the edge portion extending in the predetermined longitudinal direction of the contact surface of the first guide rail member , the first guide rail member cooperates with the first rail support portion to form the first guide rail member. A game ball guidance mechanism in a game machine including a second rail support portion to support. The housing substrate portion has a first substrate portion, a second substrate portion, and an intermediate substrate portion arranged between the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion.
The first substrate portion is arranged at a position closer to the arrangement position of the launch unit than the second substrate portion, and the second substrate portion is arranged at a position closer to the arrangement position of the second guide rail member than the first substrate portion.
The intermediate board portion has a region including a first seating position where the game ball launched from the launch unit first collides with the first guide rail member.
The first rail support portion and the second rail support portion project in the orthogonal direction from the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion.
The gaming ball guiding mechanism in the gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the first rail supporting portion and the second rail supporting portion are not arranged on the intermediate substrate portion. The gaming ball guiding mechanism in a gaming machine according to claim 2, wherein the length of the intermediate substrate portion is set longer than the length of either of the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion in a predetermined longitudinal direction. The first guide rail member has a bent portion at an end close to the placement position of the launch unit.
The game ball guiding mechanism in a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support housing has a locking protrusion that protrudes in a direction orthogonal to the housing substrate portion in order to lock the bent portion. The first guide rail member is an end portion opposite to the end portion having a bent portion in a predetermined longitudinal direction, and the end portion far from the arrangement position of the launch unit can freely move in the predetermined longitudinal direction. The game ball guidance mechanism in the gaming machine according to claim 4, which is supported by the first rail support portion and the second rail support portion so as to be possible. The game ball guiding mechanism in a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first rail support portion includes a plurality of columnar support portions arranged at intervals in a predetermined longitudinal direction. The first rail support includes a plurality of columnar supports arranged at intervals in a predetermined longitudinal direction.
The plurality of columnar support portions are arranged on the first substrate portion and the second substrate portion, respectively.
The maximum distance between two adjacent columnar support portions of the plurality of columnar support portions arranged on the first substrate portion is the maximum interval of the plurality of columnar support portions arranged on the second substrate portion. The gaming ball guiding mechanism in the gaming machine according to claim 2 or 3 , which is set to be smaller than the maximum interval among the intervals between two adjacent columnar supports. The support machine frame includes a vertical frame portion extending in the vertical direction and a horizontal frame portion extending in the horizontal direction and connected to the vertical frame portion.
The support housing is attached to the support machine frame at the corner where the vertical frame and the horizontal frame are connected.
A claim that the first guide rail member is supported by a first rail support portion and a second rail support portion so that an end portion distant from the arrangement position of the launch unit extends in parallel with the vertical frame portion in a predetermined longitudinal direction. The game ball guidance mechanism in the game machine according to any one of 1 to 7. A support machine frame, a launch unit arranged in the support machine frame and launching a game ball, a game board attached to the support machine frame and having a game area, and a game ball launched by the launch unit toward the game area. A gaming machine equipped with a gaming ball guiding mechanism for guiding,
The game ball guidance mechanism is
A support housing that can be attached and detached to the support machine frame,
A first guide rail member that is supported by a support housing, has a first seating position at which a game ball launched from a launching unit first collides, and extends in a strip shape in a predetermined longitudinal direction.
It is provided with a second guide rail member which is supported by the game board and guides the game ball passing through the first guide rail member toward the game area.
The first guide rail member has a contact surface that comes into contact with the game ball launched from the launch unit, and a surface opposite to the contact surface.
The contact surface of the first guide rail member has an edge portion extending in a predetermined longitudinal direction of the first guide rail member.
The support housing is
With the housing board
The first guide rail member is supported by protruding from the housing substrate portion in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the surface forming the game area of the game board attached to the support machine frame and coming into contact with the opposite surface of the first guide rail member. 1 rail support and
By projecting from the housing substrate portion in the orthogonal direction and contacting the edge portion extending in the predetermined longitudinal direction of the contact surface of the first guide rail member , the first guide rail member cooperates with the first rail support portion to form the first guide rail member. A gaming machine that includes a second rail support that supports it.

Images