JPH0220266B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a winning ball device disposed on a game board of a pinball game machine typified by a pachinko game machine, etc.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a winning ball device for a pinball game machine that is provided with a ball receiving member that guides a hit ball into a winning area when opened.

[Prior Art] Conventionally known winning ball devices for this type of pinball game machine include, for example,
There was a monster called Chulip. When a predetermined gaming state is reached, a pair of ball receiving members on the left and right sides of the ticket are opened, making it easier for balls to be hit into prizes, thereby increasing the interest in the game.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the winning ball device of this type of pinball game machine, the opening amount of the ball receiving member is constant and does not change, so the winning probability when the ball receiving member is opened is uniform. This has the disadvantage that the game is very fixed, there is little variation in gameplay, and players tend to get bored with it.

In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a winning ball device for a pinball game machine that can provide a variety of games by making it possible to change the winning probability when the ball receiving member is opened. shall be.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A winning ball device for a pinball game machine according to the present invention includes a mounting board in which a winning area is formed, and a mounting board provided on the surface side of the mounting board so as to be openable and closable. The ball receiving member includes a ball receiving member that receives and guides the ball into the winning area, and a ball receiving member driving means for opening and closing the ball receiving member, and the ball receiving member driving means is configured to open and close the ball receiving member. The ball receiving member is characterized by including a variable opening amount ball receiving member driving means capable of changing the receiving area of the driven balls by changing the amount of opening.

[Operation] In the present invention, the ball receiving member, which is driven by the ball receiving member driving means and is in the open state, receives the balls and guides them to the winning area. By the action of the variable opening amount ball receiving member driving means, the opening amount of the ball receiving member at the time of opening is changed, and the ball receiving area can be changed.

[Embodiments of the Invention] Next, specific embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a pachinko game machine will be described as an example of a pinball game machine.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine equipped with a winning ball device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a pachinko machine 10 is constructed by attaching a front frame 11 so as to be freely openable and closable, and having a game board 12 detachably attached to the front frame 11. The game area surrounded by the guide rails of the game board 12 includes Yakumono (chulips) 13a, 13b, winning areas 14, 15a, 1
5b, and an out ball inlet 16 are formed. When there is a winning ball or passing ball in the winning area 14,
The conditions under which the arm members and left and right ball receiving pieces included in the winning ball device 20, which will be described later, can be opened are defined. Furthermore, a winning ball device 30 (described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3A to 4), which is a feature of this embodiment, is mounted approximately in the center of the game board 12. A front plate 111 is attached to the lower front frame 12 of the game board 12 so as to be openable and closable. Front plate 11
1 is provided with a batted ball waiting gutter 17. The batted ball waiting gutter 17 functions as an upper ball tray that stores the balls released from the prize ball discharge port 171, and also functions to line up the stored balls one by one and guide them to a batted ball supply mechanism (not shown). do. A ball hitting handle 18 and a ball tray 19 are provided below the front frame 11.
The ball tray 19 is used as a lower ball tray for storing balls overflowing in the batted ball supply gutter 17 and released from the prize ball discharge port 191.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. In the figure, the back side of the game board 12 has a plurality of routes 211 to 211.
216 is provided. The path 211 guides the winning balls into the winning hole 32 included in the winning ball device 30 to the ball detection switch 22. Path 222 guides the ball detected by ball detection switch 22 to path 213 below. A path 213 leads the winning balls to the winning ball processing device.
The path 214 guides the winning ball into the winning hole 34a (see FIG. 3A) included in the winning ball device 30 to the ball detection switch 23. Route 215 is winning hole 34b
(See Figure 3A)
Leads to 4. The balls detected by ball detection switches 23 and 24 are guided to path 213 via path 216. Here, the ball detection switch 22 is used as a first condition detection means to detect a ball that has won a winning hole 32 in which conditions are set for opening the arm member included in the winning ball device 30. . The ball detection switch 23 detects a ball that has entered the winning hole 35a. The ball detection switch 24 is for detecting a ball that has entered the winning hole 35b.
These ball detection switches 23 and 24 are connected to a winning hole 35 which is defined to open a ball receiving piece, which will be described later.
It works as a second condition detection means for detecting balls that have passed through a and 35b. Ball detection switch 25
By detecting winning balls entering the winning area 14, it is detected that the conditions are such that a pair of arm members and a pair of ball receiving pieces included in the winning ball device 30 can be simultaneously opened. .

3A to 3C are illustrative views of a winning ball device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in particular, FIG. 3A is a front view of the winning ball device, FIG. 3B is a rear view thereof, and FIG. 3C is a longitudinal section thereof. Show the front view.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of each member included in the winning ball device.

Next, the specific configuration of the winning ball device 30 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 3A to 4.
The winning ball device 30 includes a mounting board 31. A winning hole 32 and a winning hole 33, which is an example of a winning area, are formed in the upper and lower parts of the mounting board 31. When a winning ball is received, the winning hole 32 is inserted into the arm member 3, which will be described later.
The conditions under which 6a and 36b can be opened are defined. At the bottom of the winning hole 33, the ball is inserted into the winning hole 33.
A plate-shaped protrusion 331 is provided protruding toward the front for receiving into. On both sides of the winning hole 33,
A pin 311 for rotatably supporting the arm members 36a, 36b is formed to protrude from the front. A guide hole 312 is provided in a protruding manner at the diagonally upper portion of the left and right pins 311 . This guide hole 312 is formed in an arc shape centered on the corresponding pin 311. A guide hole 313 for guiding the moving direction of pins 562 of levers 56a and 56b, which will be described later, is bored at a position slightly below the pin 311 of the mounting board 31. A through hole 314 is formed on both sides of the mounting board 31 for inserting a light emitting diode 39, which will be described later. At appropriate locations around the mounting board 31,
A mounting hole 315, which is an example of a mounting portion, is drilled for screwing the mounting board 31 to the game board 12. On the back side of the mounting board 31 and slightly above the formation position of the winning hole 33, levers 44a and 44, which will be described later, are installed.
A pin 316 is formed to support b. A projection 317 for stopping the upper ends of springs 46a and 46b, which will be described later, is formed at a position slightly above the position where the pin 316 is formed.

A winning area 34 is located approximately in the center of the mounting board 31.
is formed. The winning area 34 includes winning holes 34a and 34b formed in the mounting board 31. A guide wall 341 is formed to protrude from the surface of the mounting board 31 around the winning holes 34a, 34b except for the upper part thereof. Guide protrusions 342, which are an example of a guide member, are formed on the left and right sides of the upper part of the guide wall 341 at an interval that allows a ball to pass through. Prize holes 34a and 3
4b, a pin 343 is formed to protrude. A distribution piece 344 is rotatably supported by this pin 343 .

An upper decorative member 35 is provided between the prize entry hole 32 and the prize winning area 34. Upper decorative member 35
forms a ball receiving wall 351 at the bottom of the winning hole 32,
A decorative plate 352 is fixed to the front surface thereof. A window 353 is formed below the decorative plate 352. On the back side of the window 353, arm members 36a, 36
A lamp or light emitting diode 354 is provided to indicate the open state of b.

The arm member 36a has a shaft hole 361 formed at its lower end, and an engagement pin 3 slightly above the shaft hole 361.
62 is formed to protrude toward the back surface, and a shaft hole 363 is formed at its upper end. Note that the arm member 36b has the same structure as the arm member 36a except that it has a laterally symmetrical shape, so the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals as the arm member 36a. A corresponding ball receiving piece 37 is provided in each shaft hole 363 of the arm members 36a, 36b.
A, 37b pins 371 can be inserted. With this, the ball receiving pieces 37a, 37b are connected to the arm member 36a,
It is rotatably supported at the tip of 36b. The ball receiving pieces 37a, 37b and the arm members 36a, 36b are provided on the surface side of the mounting board so as to be openable and closable, and when opened, the ball receiving member receives the balls and guides them into the awarding area. It is configured. The shaft holes 361 of the arm members 36a, 36b are rotatably supported by corresponding pins 311. Arm member 3
The pins 362 of 6a and 36b are connected to the corresponding guide holes 3.
12 is inserted. A pin 372 is formed slightly below the pin 371 on the back surface of the ball receiving piece 37a. The pin 372 of each ball receiving piece 37a, 37b is inserted into a shaft hole 561 formed at the upper end of the corresponding operating lever 56a, 56b, and is rotatably supported. The pins 562 formed at the lower ends of the operating levers 56a, 56b are inserted into guide holes 313 bored on both left and right sides sandwiching the winning hole 33.

The arm members 36a, 36b and the ball receiving piece 37
A front cover 38, which is an example of a front plate, is mounted on the front surface of the mounting board 31 on which the mounting boards 37a and 37b are mounted. A see-through hole 381 is formed in the front cover 38 at a position corresponding to the winning area 34. Transparent hole 38
1, the ball that entered the winning area 34 is sorted by the distribution piece 344 to either the left or right winning hole 34a, 34.
This is provided so that it can be confirmed from the outside whether it has been allocated to B. Front cover 3
Spacers 382 to 3 are placed at appropriate locations on the back surface of 8.
84 is formed. The spacers 382 to 384 are
A screw hole is formed in the direction perpendicular to the mounting board 31, and the mounting board 31 is screwed into the mounting board 31 from the back surface thereof.

Arm members 36a, 36 are provided on the back surface of the mounting board 31.
An arm member driving means 40 for rotating the ball bearing pieces 37a and an arm member driving means 50 for rotating the ball bearing pieces 37a and 37b are mounted. More specifically, the arm member driving means 40 includes a mounting plate 41 . A solenoid 42 is fixed to the mounting plate 41. This mounting plate 41 is attached to the back surface of the mounting board 31. A connecting member 43 is fixed to the plunger 421 of the solenoid 42 . The front side of the connecting member 43 is bent, and the engagement hole 4 is formed in the bent part.
31 is formed. Engagement hole 431 of connecting member 43
is engaged with a pin 441 that connects levers 44a and 44b. Levers 44a and 44b
A hole 442 is provided at approximately the center of each of the holes 442.
is formed. A corresponding pin 316 is inserted into each hole 442 of the levers 44a, 44b. As a result, the levers 44a and 44b are rotated by using the respective holes 442 as fulcrums, and the pin 4 of the connecting portion.
By the vertical movement of 41, each open end rotates downward or upward. A pin 443 is formed at the open end of each of the levers 44a, 44b to protrude from the back surface. A pin 443 of the lever 44a is formed at the upper end of the plate 45a and is engaged with a hole 451. A pin 362 of the arm member 36a inserted through the guide hole 312 is engaged with the engagement hole 452 formed at the lower end of the plate 45a. Similarly, the pin 443 of the lever 44b is engaged with an engagement hole 451 formed in the upper end of the plate 45b. The pin 362 of the arm member 36b is engaged with the engagement hole 452 formed at the lower end of the plate 45b. A hole 444 is formed in the open end of each of levers 44a and 44b. And lever 44a,
A hole 444 in 44b is linked to the lower ends of springs 46a, 46b. As a result, the levers 44a, 44
b usually has each open end directed upwardly by a spring 46.
a, 46b, the state is elastically biased.

The ball receiver piece driving means 50 drives the ball receiver piece 37 on the left side.
The first ball support piece drive mechanism 50 for rotating a
a and a second ball holder piece drive mechanism 50b for rotating the ball holder piece 37b on the right side. The first and second ball bearing piece drive mechanisms 50a, 50b are each attached to a common attachment member 51. To explain more specifically, a passage 510 is formed in the upper central portion of the mounting member 51 for guiding the winning ball downward into the winning hole 33. On both left and right sides of the passage 510, fan-shaped openings 511 are formed for inserting pins 562 of corresponding ones of the operating levers 56a and 56b. Holding portions 512 for holding the solenoids 52a and 52b are provided on both left and right sides of the mounting member 51 across the passage 510.
is formed. Projections 513 are formed on the left and right sides of the mounting member 51 sandwiching the passage 510 . These projections 513 are engaged with engagement holes 411 formed in the mounting plate 41, so that the mounting member 51 is provided in relation to the mounting plate 41. Pins 414 are formed on both sides of the back surface of the mounting member 51, sandwiching the passage 510. Ball passages 515 and 516 are formed in the upper part of the mounting member 51 and are inclined to the left and right sides with the passage 510 in between. ball passage 51
5 guides the winning ball into the winning hole 34a to the path 241. The ball passage 516 guides the winning ball into the winning hole 34b to the path 215.

The first ball receiving piece opening/closing mechanism 50a includes a solenoid 5
Contains 2a. Plunger 52 of solenoid 52a
1 (on the right side in FIG. 4) is a disk 522.
is formed. A portion of the front and rear of this disc 522 is inserted into a hole 531 formed in each plate 53a, 54a so that it is sandwiched between the plates 53a, 54a. A long hole 532 is bored on one side (the right side in the figure) of the plate 53a. Plate 5
A pin 551 of the L-shaped lever 55a is inserted into the long hole 532 of the L-shaped lever 55a. The tip of the pin 551 is C
It can be stopped with a ring. A shaft hole 552 is bored at the upper end of one side of the L-shaped lever 55a. Shaft hole 5
52 is a pin 514 formed on the left side of the passage 510
is inserted into and supported rotatably. The tip of the other side of the L-shaped lever 55a (front in the illustration)
is bent, and an engagement hole 553 is formed in the bent part.
is formed. The other side of this L-shaped lever 55a is inserted into the opening 510. The pin 562 of the operating lever 56a is engaged with the engagement hole 553 of the L-shaped lever 55a.

The second ball rest drive mechanism 50b has the same structure as the first ball rest drive mechanism 50a except that it has a symmetrical shape, so its explanation will be omitted and the corresponding structure will be omitted. The part is indicated by b instead of a. The arm member driving means 40 and the ball receiving piece driving means constitute a ball receiving member driving means for driving the ball receiving member to open and close. The ball receiving member may be one that slides horizontally instead of rotating, or may have a ball receiving area that changes in the height direction.

5A and 5B are illustrative views of the arm member of the winning ball device in an open state, particularly FIG. 5A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 5B is a rear view thereof.

6A and 6B are illustrative views of the winning ball device in a state where the arm member and the ball receiving piece are opened, and in particular, FIG. 6A is a front view thereof, and FIG. 6B is a rear view thereof.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a drive control circuit for explaining the operation of a winning ball device according to an embodiment of the invention. Next, the operation of the winning ball device 20 of this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. first,
A case will be described in which the pair of arm members 36a and 36b are opened. When a hit ball enters the winning hole 32, the ball detection switch 22 derives a winning ball detection output and provides it to the arm member drive circuit 61. In response, arm member drive circuit 61 energizes solenoid 42 . In response, the solenoid 42 sucks the plunger 421 upward, so that the connecting member 43 is pulled upward. For this reason, the levers 44a and 44
Since the pin 441 of the connecting portion b is pulled upward, the open ends of the levers 44a and 44b are rotated downward. In conjunction with the rotation of levers 44a and 44b, arm members 36a and 36b rotate outward, respectively. At this time, the forward moving lever 56
The pins 562 of a and 56b are the solenoids 52a and 5
Since 2b is not biased, it is not slid within the guide hole 313. As a result, when only the solenoid 42 is energized, only the pair of arm members 36a and 36b are in the open state, and the ball receiving pieces 37a and 37b are in the upright state. This situation is shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.

In this state, the reason why the hit ball enters the winning hole 33 is because the hit ball is connected to the guide wall 342 and the ball receiving piece 37.
This is the case when the object passes through the area or space between the upper end of the object a or the upper end of the object 37b. For this reason, the probability that the ball will enter the winning hole 33 is slightly higher than when the arm members 36a and 36b are closed, or the ball receiving piece 37a,
37b is opened. Then, the driven ball is connected to the guide wall 342 and the ball receiving piece 37a or 37.
When the ball passes through the space between the upper end of the arm member 36a or 36b, the ball is guided to the winning hole 33 while rolling on the upper surface of the arm member 36a or 36b.

In the state where the pair of arm members 36a and 36b are open as described above, the arm member drive circuit 61
An activation signal is sent from the ball receiving piece drive circuits 62 and 63.
is given to. In this state, when a ball hits the winning hole 34a, the ball detection switch 23
detects it and supplies it to the ball receiving piece drive circuit 62.
The ball receiver piece drive circuit 62 energizes the solenoid 52a in response to being given an activation signal from the arm member drive circuit 61 and the presence of the output from the ball detection switch 23. The solenoid 52a moves the plunger 521 toward the center, that is, toward the L-shaped lever 55a, in response to electrical bias. Therefore, the L-shaped lever 55a is rotated toward the center, and the pin 562 of the operating lever 56a is rotated toward the center (toward the winning hole 33 side).
Move to. At this time, the ball receiving piece 37a is
Since the arm member 36a that pivotally supports the actuating lever 56a remains fixed, the pin 372 is pulled toward the center in conjunction with the movement of the lower end of the actuating lever 56a using the pin 371 as a fulcrum. Therefore, the ball receiving piece 37a
rotates counterclockwise to the open state. This state is the state shown in FIG. 6A (that is, the ball receiving piece 37a
is open and the ball receiving piece 37b is in a closed state as shown by the two-dot chain line). In this state, the ball falling from the upper left direction of the winning hole 33 is placed on the ball receiving piece 37.
a and is received by the winning hole 3 through the arm member 36a.
Leads to 3.

In addition, when a ball enters the winning area 34 and is distributed to the winning hole 34b by the distribution piece 334, the winning ball is detected by the ball detection switch 24. In this case, the ball holder drive circuit 63 responds to the output of the ball detection switch 24 by controlling the solenoid 5.
2b to open the ball receiving piece 37b. Note that if the arm members 36a and 36b are not opened, the ball may be hit in the winning hole 34a or 3.
4b, the activation signal is not given from the arm member drive circuit 61, so the ball receiver piece drive circuit 62 or 63 activates the solenoid 52a or 52b.
Do not energize.

On the other hand, when the hit ball passes through the winning area 14, the ball detection switch 25 detects each ball. The output of the ball detection switch 25 is given to an arm member drive circuit 61 and ball support piece drive circuits 62 and 63. In this case, the pair of arm members 36a, 36b are opened, and the ball receiving pieces 37a, 37b are opened, in the same manner as the above-mentioned operation. In other words, the ball receiving member driving means can change the receiving area of the driven balls by the ball receiving member, and therefore the ball receiving member driving means can change the opening amount of the ball receiving member. It includes a variable opening amount ball receiving member driving means that can change the receiving area of balls by changing the opening amount. In addition, since the receiving area of the hit ball is changed depending on which winning area the hit ball wins, the variable opening amount ball receiving member driving means is controlled by a plurality of ball receiving areas provided on the game board. It includes a winning hole compatible type opening amount variable drive means that changes the opening amount depending on which of the winning holes the ball has won. Note that the conditions for closing the arm members 36a and 36b are as follows:
to 63 are appropriately selected depending on the circuit configuration.
For example, the conditions for closing the pair of arm members 36a, 36b and the ball receiving pieces 37a, 37b are such that a certain number of balls enter the winning hole after a certain period of time has elapsed since the arm members were opened.
They will be selected before reaching 3rd place. Further, during the opening period of the ball receiving member, the ball receiving area may be configured to change between the first half and the second half.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the arm member and the ball receiving piece operate in two stages, there is an advantage that there are many changes in the state in which it is easy to win a prize into the winning hole 33. In addition, compared to a device in which the ball holder piece is directly rotated instead of the arm member, the storage space for the arm member and ball holder piece in the closed state is smaller, but when the arm member and the ball holder piece are opened, It has the advantage of being able to receive balls over a large area, greatly increasing the winning probability, and greatly improving the service provided to players.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, when opening only one pair of arm members as a condition for opening the arm members and ball receiver pieces, with one pair of arm members opened, either one of the left and right ball receiver pieces is opened. Three cases have been described, in which the pair of arm members and the left and right ball receiving pieces are opened at the same time. However, the technical concept of this description is not limited to these conditions, and open driving may be performed under other conditions. For example, 1
In the state where the pair of arm members are opened, the left and right ball receiving pieces may be simultaneously opened based on a predetermined gaming state.

[Effect of the Invention] In the present invention having the above configuration, the opening amount of the ball receiving member at the time of opening is changed and the receiving area of the ball can be changed, so the winning probability when the ball receiving member is opened is different. It has now been possible to provide a winning ball device for a pinball game machine that can provide a wide variety of games.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine equipped with a winning ball device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine. Figures 3A to 3C
The figure is an illustrative view of a winning ball device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the winning ball device.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are illustrative views of the winning ball device in a state where the arm member is opened. FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are illustrative views of the winning ball device in a state where the arm member and the ball receiving piece are opened. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a drive control circuit for explaining the operation of the winning ball device. In the figure, 10 is a pachinko machine, 12 is a game board, 30 is a winning ball device, 31 is a mounting board, 32,
33, 34a, 34b are prize holes, 35 is an upper decoration member, 36a, 36b are arm members, 37a, 37b
38 is a front cover, 40 is an arm member driving means, 50 is a ball holder driving means, and 50a and 50b are first and second ball holder driving mechanisms.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A winning ball device disposed on a game board of a pinball game machine, comprising: a mounting board in which a winning area is formed; a ball receiving member that receives and guides the ball into the award winning area; and ball receiving member driving means for driving the ball receiving member to open and close; A winning ball device for a pinball game machine, comprising a variable opening amount ball receiving member driving means capable of changing the receiving area for balls hit by changing the opening amount of the member. 2. The variable opening amount ball receiving member driving means is a winning opening variable opening amount driving means that changes the opening amount depending on which of the plurality of winning openings provided on the game board a ball has won. A winning ball device for a pinball game machine according to claim 1, comprising: