JPH05103869A - Device for returning ball - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a device for returning balls which does not cause a disturbance in the case of replacement of a pinball machine. CONSTITUTION:A return storage 21, a connection passage 34, a ball measuring device 35, etc., constituting a ball returning device 20 are incorporated in a counter base 3 protruding outwardly from a pinball island base 1 below a row position of pinball machines 10 of the pinball island base 1. As a result, the ball returning device 20 does not protrude upwardly from the counter base 3 in comparison with conventional devices, so that no disturbance is produced in the case of replacement of pinball machines 10.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball returning device for returning a prize ball obtained by a pachinko machine to the inside of a pachinko island stand.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a prize ball that has been won by a game player is generally returned to a ball returning device provided in a prize exchange place for exchanging a prize ball and a prize. In such a ball returning device, a returning device for returning balls from the prize exchange to the pachinko island stand and an equalizing device for equalizing the balls returned between the pachinko island stands are required, and the construction and There is a drawback that it takes a lot of time to maintain, and in order to solve this, the present applicant previously provided a ball returning device individually corresponding to each pachinko machine in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-271480 (hereinafter,
Prior art) was proposed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the ball returning device is formed entirely separately from the pachinko machine, and is placed on the counter stand of the pachinko island stand below the lower plate of the pachinko machine. Since it was fixed, it had the drawback that it would be an obstacle when changing pachinko machines. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a ball returning device that does not interfere when a pachinko machine is replaced.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a ball returning device for returning a prize ball obtained by a pachinko machine to the inside of a pachinko island stand, wherein the ball returning device is: Return storage part provided at a position corresponding to each pachinko machine lined up on the pachinko island stand, a communication passage connecting the return storage part and the inside of the pachinko island stand, and through the communication passage A ball counter that counts the returned balls, and is configured to include the return storage unit, which is below the pachinko machine row installation position of the pachinko island stand and is directed toward the outside of the pachinko island stand. It is characterized by being built into a protruding counter stand. In addition, a guide cylinder that connects the lower tray of the pachinko machine and the return storage unit is installed on the counter base so that it can slide in the vertical direction, so that you can directly touch the pachinko island stand without touching the prize balls obtained with the pachinko machine. It may be returned inside the.

[0005]

[Operation] By throwing the prize balls obtained by the pachinko machine into the return storage part built in the counter, the return storage part is returned to the inside of the pachinko island stand through the communication passage. At this time, the returned balls are counted and stored in the ball counter. Thus, the ball returning device according to the present invention,
Since the elements that make up the ball returning device are built-in inside the counter stand projecting toward the outside of the pachinko island stand below the position where the pachinko island stand is lined up, The ball returning device does not project upwards from the counter stand, so it does not interfere when replacing the pachinko machine. In addition, a guide cylinder that connects the lower tray of the pachinko machine and the return storage unit is installed on the counter base so that it can slide in the vertical direction, so that you can directly touch the pachinko island stand without touching the prize balls obtained with the pachinko machine. Not only can it be returned inside, but the balls to be returned will not overflow outside. Also in this case, if the guide tube is set in the lowered position, the guide tube does not interfere when the pachinko machine is replaced.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the configuration of the pachinko island stand 1 to which the ball returning device 20 according to the embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pachinko island stand 1. In the figure, the pachinko island stand 1 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped whose interior is long in the left and right of the cavity by using members such as vertical crosspieces and horizontal crosspieces as well known, and a waist plate 2 is attached to the lower part of the longitudinal surface thereof. A counter base 3 protruding outward from the upper part of the waist plate 2
Is provided. A plurality of pachinko machines 10 are arranged in a row on the upper part of the counter stand 3, and a curtain plate 4 which also serves as a decorative plate is attached to the upper part of the position where the pachinko machines 10 are arranged. A column gap 5 that can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction is provided on the upper portion of 4. A calling device 6 is attached to the curtain plate 4 so as to correspond to each pachinko machine 10. Then, the counter stand 3 has a built-in ball returning device 20 which constitutes a main part of the present embodiment. Further, on the pachinko island stand 1, an inter-mountain ball lending machine that borrows balls from each pachinko machine 10 is also installed.

[0007] By the way, inside the pachinko island stand 1 described above, although not shown, a storage tank is provided in the lower part thereof. The storage tank stores used balls discharged from each pachinko machine 10 and returned balls returned from the ball returning device 20, and in principle, the pachinko machines arranged in line on the pachinko island stand 1 concerned. It is designed to store enough balls to be used in 10. In addition, inside the pachinko island stand 1, a ball pumping device for pumping balls stored in the storage tank while polishing the balls to the upper part, and balls pumped by the ball pumping device for each pachinko machine 10 A supply path for distributing and supplying to each of the pachinko machines and a recovery path for guiding the used balls discharged from each pachinko machine 10 and the returned balls returned from the ball returning device 20 to the storage tank are provided.

By the way, as is well known, the pachinko machines 10 lined up on the pachinko island stand 1 cover the front of the game board with the glass provided on the glass door, and the front plate provided below the glass door. The upper plate 11 and the lower plate 14 are fixed to the surface. Further, an operation handle 19 for adjusting the resilience of the hit ball is provided on the side of the lower plate 14. In addition,
The upper plate 11 and the lower plate 14 shown in the figure are provided on one front plate which is fixed to the front surface of the pachinko machine 10, but two front plates to which the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 14 are respectively fixed are provided. It may be divided into face plates and at least the front plate to which the upper plate 11 is fixed may be designed to be openable and closable.

Detailed structures of the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 14 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view showing a lower portion of the pachinko machine 10. In the figure, the upper plate 11 is provided with a storage portion 12 for storing a prize ball, which is discharged from a prize ball outlet formed at an upstream end thereof on the basis of a prize. This reservoir 1
2 is to supply the stored prize balls as hit balls,
The prize balls are aligned in a row and flow down toward the downstream side, and the lower end of the prize ball faces the firing position of the hit ball. Further, a ball drop button 13 that is operated at the time of causing the prize balls stored in the upper plate 11 to flow out to the lower plate 14 is provided in the downstream portion of the upper plate 11. As will be described later, not only the prize balls discharged based on the winning, but also the ball return buttons 38a, 38b are provided on the upper plate 11.
Returned balls that flow out when is operated are also stored.

The lower plate 14 has a storage portion 15 for storing the surplus excess prize balls when the upper plate 11 is full of prize balls and more prize balls are discharged. The surplus prize ball flows out from the surplus prize ball outlet that is opened on the rear surface. Further, a ball drop opening 16 is formed on the bottom surface of the storage section 15, and the ball drop opening / closing valve 17 (see FIG. 1) is provided in the ball drop opening 16. This ball on-off valve 1
7 always closes the ball dropout port 16 and opens when the ball dropout button 18 provided on the upper surface of one side of the lower plate 14 is opened to lower the prize balls stored in the storage section 15. It can be pulled out. In addition, 1
6, the return storage unit 2 of the ball returning device 20 as described later.
Since the upper end of the guide cylinder 26 that communicates with 1 is abutted, the prize balls extracted from the lower plate 14 are surely guided to the ball returning device 20 without overflowing to the outside and also acquired by the pachinko machine. You can return the prize balls directly to the Pachinko Islanddai without touching them.

Next, a ball returning device 20 which constitutes a main part of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Figure 1
4 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the ball returning device 20, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ball returning device 20, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the ball returning device 20, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of the ball returning device 20. Therefore, the ball returning device 20 in the present embodiment is built in the counter stand 3 which is provided below the pachinko machine stand 1 on the pachinko island stand 1 and protruding toward the outside of the pachinko island stand 1. And a return storage unit 21 provided at a position corresponding to each pachinko machine 10, and the return storage unit 2
Communication path 34 that connects 1 and the inside of the Pachinko island stand 1
And a ball counter 35 that counts the balls returned through the communication passage 34, and also includes a printer device 22 provided on the side of the return storage unit 21. There is.

Therefore, first, the structure of the return storage unit 21 will be described. The return storage part 21 is formed as a recess inside the counter base 3, and is covered with a transparent cover plate 23 through which the upper surface can be seen through. Further, inside the return storage unit 21, a guide bottom plate 24 that vertically divides the return storage unit 21 is lying down. The guide bottom plate 24 is
A guide plate portion 24a inclined from a discharge port 28 portion of a guide cylinder 26 described later to the periphery, a guide trough portion 24b provided in a step shape on the outer periphery of the guide plate portion 24a, and the guide trough portion 24.
A discharge port portion 24c formed by cutting open the front center portion of b
It consists of and. Then, in the discharge port portion 24c,
A return valve 25 that opens and closes the discharge port 24c is provided. The return valve 25 always closes the discharge port 24c, and when the settlement button 37 described later is operated,
The outlet part 24c is opened. The guide trough portion 24b is provided around the guide plate portion 24a so as to be inclined toward the discharge port portion 24c as a whole.

The transparent cover plate 23 and the guide bottom plate 2 described above.
4 and the bottom of the return storage part 21 are penetrated in the up-down direction, and a guide tube 26 slidable in the up-down direction is provided. The guide tube 26 is formed in a rectangular tube shape, and has an upper end that serves as a receiving portion 26a that is open to the left, right, front, and rear, and a lower portion that serves as a cage-shaped bottom surface 27 with a gap formed therein. The upper part of the child-shaped bottom surface 27 of the cage is cut out to form a discharge port 28 except the rear surface, and an overflow port 29 is formed on the rear surface of the guide cylinder 26 above the discharge port 28. Overflow mouth 2
9 communicates with the communication passage 34 via an overflow passage 33 and a communication branch passage 34a described later. Further, an obstruction projection 29a is provided on the upper edge of the opening of the overflow port 29 so that balls falling in the guide tube 26 do not directly enter the overflow port 29.
In addition, at the lower edge of the opening of the overflow port 29, a guiding protrusion 29b for guiding the balls stored up to the discharge port 28 portion to the overflow port 29.
Is projected. Further, below the guide tube 26, a rear surface is extended to form a locking arm 30, and a locking claw 31 is formed at a lower end of the locking arm 30. This locking claw 31
Engages with a locking portion 32 formed on the bottom surface of the counter base 3 in a state where the guide cylinder 26 moves upward.

Explaining the relationship between the guide cylinder 26, the return storage part 21 and the lower tray 14 formed as described above, the guide cylinder 26 slides vertically with respect to the return storage part 21 as described above. When the guide tube 26 is moved upward and the locking claw 31 of the locking arm 30 is engaged with the locking portion 32, the receiving portion 26a of the guide tube 26 is moved as shown in FIG. While being in contact with the lower plate 14, the child-shaped bottom surface 27 of the cage is substantially flush with the guide plate portion 24a of the guide bottom plate 24. Therefore, by operating the punching button 18 of the lower plate 14, the punching on-off valve 1
When 7 is driven and the ball ejection port 16 is opened, the lower plate 14
As shown in FIG. 5, the prize balls stored in the storage portion 15 of the above are guided by the guide tube 26 and reach the childlike bottom surface 27 of the cage. The prize ball reaching the child-bottom bottom 27 of the cage is discharged from the discharge port 28 to the guide plate portion 24a of the guide bottom plate 24 and flows down the guide trough portion 24b, but when the discharge port portion 24c is closed by the return valve 25. , Is stored in the return storage unit 21 as it is. It should be noted that dust and the like falling along with the prize balls that drop from the lower plate 14 will drop downward from the gap of the child-like bottom surface 27 of the cage.

On the other hand, the locking claw 31 of the locking arm 30 and the locking portion 3
When the guide tube 26 is moved downward by releasing the engagement state with the guide tube 26, as shown in FIG.
Is in contact with the transparent cover plate 23. Therefore, on the surface of the counter base 3, the receiving portion 26 of the guide tube 26 is provided.
Since only a is protruding, pachinko machine 1
When the 0 is removed from the pachinko island stand 1 and replaced, there is no obstacle, and the pachinko machine 10 can be replaced very efficiently.

By the way, on the downstream side of the discharge port 24c, a passage is formed which passes through the lower portion of the guide bottom plate 24 and communicates with the communication passage 34 formed in the pachinko island stand 1. Therefore, when the return valve 25 opens the discharge port 24c, the prize balls stored in the return storage 21 are
As shown in FIG. 6, it is guided from the outlet 24c through the lower portion of the guide bottom plate 24 to the communication passage 34 shown in FIG. In addition, as a matter of course, the discharge port portion 24c and the communication passage 34
The passage connecting to and is formed so as to avoid the vertically sliding portion of the guide cylinder 26.

When the return valve 25 closes the discharge port 24c and the prize balls in the lower plate 14 are continuously removed, the return storage unit 21 stores the prize balls.
The state can be seen through the transparent cover plate 23. Then, when the prize balls stored in the return storage unit 21 reach the discharge port 28 portion and the ball removal from the lower plate 14 is still continuing, as shown in FIG. After passing through 33, it is led to a connecting branch passage 34a formed in the pachinko island stand 1. Since the end of the connecting branch passage 34a communicates with the connecting passage 34, the overflow passage 3
The ball passing through 3 will be finally guided to the communication passage 34. The communication passage 34 is connected to the storage tank or the recovery passage provided inside the pachinko island stand 1. Further, a ball counter 35 for detecting in order to count the balls flowing down the connecting passage 34 is provided in the connecting passage 34 downstream of the connection point of the connecting branch passage 34a.

There is a printer device 22 arranged on the side of the return storage unit 21 for displaying or printing the number of balls detected and stored by the above-mentioned ball counter 35. The printer device 22 in the present embodiment is a display device 36 for displaying the number of balls counted by the ball counter 35.
And by operating at the end of the game, the ball counter 3
It is stored by operating the settlement button 37 for printing the number of balls detected and stored by 5 and the balls returned from the lower plate 14 inside the pachinko island stand 1 are stored. Ball return buttons 38a, 38b capable of obtaining a predetermined number of return balls within the range of return balls,
A receipt discharge port 39 through which a receipt with the number of balls printed is discharged when the settlement button 37 is operated. Then, these constituent elements are provided so as to hardly protrude from the surface of the counter base 3.

When the settlement button 37 of the printer device 22 is operated, the return valve 25 is also driven to start returning the balls stored in the return storage section 21. Printer device 2
It is necessary to set a certain time interval until 2 is driven. Also, there are two ball return buttons 38a, 38b.
Are set so that the number of balls to be returned is different. For example, when the ball return button 38a is operated, 25 balls are returned, and when the ball return button 38b is operated, 50 balls are returned. Be done. Then, the ball return button 38
The balls returned by the operations of a and 38b are pachinko machines 1
The return ball discharging device (which may also serve as the prize ball discharging device, or a dedicated device may be provided) provided on the back surface of 0 is directly returned to the upper plate 11. Therefore, when the number of hit balls stored in the upper plate 11 is reduced while continuing the game, the hit balls are operated by operating the ball return buttons 38a and 38b on the assumption that there are stored return balls. Will be replenished,
Furthermore, the game can be continued.

Although the configuration of the ball returning device 20 according to the embodiment has been described above, according to the present embodiment, the prize balls obtained by the pachinko machine 10 are stored in the return storage section 21 built in the counter base 3. Return storage part 2 by throwing in
1 is returned to the inside of the pachinko island stand 1 through the communication passage 34. At this time, the returned balls are counted and stored in the ball counter 35. As described above, the ball returning device 20 according to the present embodiment has the inside of the counter stand 3 which is provided below the pachinko machine stand 1 on the pachinko island stand 1 so as to project toward the outside of the pachinko island stand 1. Since the elements that make up the ball returning device 20 are built in, the ball returning device does not project upward from the counter stand as in the conventional case, and the pachinko machine 10
It doesn't get in the way of the replacement. Further, since the guide cylinder 26 that connects the lower tray 14 of the pachinko machine 10 and the return storage section 21 is provided on the counter base 3 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, the prize ball obtained by the pachinko machine 10 can be touched by hand. Not only can it be returned directly to the inside of the pachinko island stand 1, but the balls to be returned will not overflow outside. Further, in the present embodiment, the ball returning device 20 is configured to include the ball returning buttons 38a and 38b. Therefore, by operating the ball returning buttons 38a and 38b, the number of balls within the range stored as the above count is stored. It is directly returned to the pachinko machine 10. Therefore, the player can continue the game with the pachinko machine 10 again without inserting a new coin and borrowing the ball.

Although the ball returning device 20 is provided with the slidable guide tube 26 in the above-described embodiment, the return storage portion 21 is provided from the lower tray 14 without the guide tube 26. The prize ball may be dropped directly into the box, or the guide tube corresponding to the guide tube 26 may be inserted into the ball outlet 16 of the lower plate 14 and used to remove the guide tube when the pachinko machine is replaced. You can Also, the description has been given of the type in which the ball lending to be borrowed for playing a game on the pachinko machine is borrowed from the inter-pallet ball lending machine sandwiched by the pachinko machine 10. It is also possible to discharge the rental balls to 10. In this case, the card device may be provided in the pachinko machine 10, or the ball returning device 2
It may be built in 0 beforehand.

[0022]

As is clear from the above description, the ball returning device according to the present invention is provided below the pachinko machine row of the pachinko island stand and protrudes toward the outside of the pachinko island stand. Since the elements that make up the ball returning device are built inside the counter stand, the ball returning device does not project upward from the counter stand as in the past, and it will be an obstacle when replacing the pachinko machine. There is no. In addition, a guide cylinder that connects the lower tray of the pachinko machine and the return storage unit is installed on the counter base so that it can slide in the vertical direction, so that you can directly touch the pachinko island stand without touching the prize balls obtained with the pachinko machine. Not only can it be returned inside
There is no overflow of balls to return. Also in this case, if the guide tube is set in the lowered position, the guide tube does not interfere when the pachinko machine is replaced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an internal structure of a ball returning device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ball returning device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal structure of the ball returning device.

FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of the ball returning device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a ball storage state of the ball returning device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the balls stored in the ball returning device are returned.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a pachinko island stand to which the ball returning device is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko Island Stand 3 Counter Stand 10 Pachinko Machine 20 Ball Return Device 21 Return Storage 26 Guide Tube 34 Communication Passage 35 Ball Counter

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ball returning device for returning a prize ball obtained by a pachinko machine inside a pachinko island stand, wherein the ball returning device is located at a position corresponding to each pachinko machine lined up on the pachinko island stand. A return storage unit provided,
The return storage unit and a communication passage that connects the inside of the pachinko island stand, and a ball counter that counts the balls returned through the communication passage, and the return storage unit, A ball returning device, characterized in that the pachinko island stand is built into a counter stand below the lined position of the pachinko machine and projecting toward the outside of the pachinko island stand. 2. A ball returning device for returning a prize ball obtained by a pachinko machine inside a pachinko island stand, wherein the ball returning device corresponds to a lower plate of each pachinko machine lined up on the pachinko island stand. A return storage unit provided at a position, a communication passage that connects the return storage unit and the inside of the pachinko island stand, and a ball counter that counts the balls returned through the communication passage. It is configured, the return storage unit is built in a counter stand projecting toward the outside of the pachinko island stand below the lined position of the pachinko machine stand of the pachinko island stand, and the pachinko machine A ball returning device, characterized in that a guide tube that connects the lower plate and the return storage section is provided on the counter base so as to be vertically slidable.