JPH06277355A - Portable ball counter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow free transport to and installation at the arbitrary position of each island or a prize counter in a game room, enable the quick adjustment of a quantitative balance to be made among pachinko balls at each island via a direct ball feed thereto or the prize counter, and further allow installation in such a way as capable of counting the balls not only at the island but also at the counter for improving services to players. CONSTITUTION:This portable ball counter 30 can freely be moved to the arbitrary ball supply introduction inlet 20 of each island 11 or a prize counter 10 in a play room A, and fitted thereto with a lock means 38. In addition, even when a lifter section 37 is not actuated, pachinko balls can be directly fed to the island 11 or the prize counter 10 via a ball introduction passage 33. Also, the counter 30 after fed with pachinko balls from the prize counter 10 to the ball tank 35 thereof, can be mounted on the island 11 short of balls for feeding the balls thereto.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an inside of a game arcade where an island formed by juxtaposing a large number of game machines using pachinko balls and a prize counter for exchanging balls obtained in the game for prizes are installed. , A mobile ball counter that can be moved freely.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As conventional techniques of this kind, for example,
There is one as shown in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 62-24110. In other words, a counter that can automatically issue receipts or cards is installed on a part of an island consisting of multiple pachinko machines installed side by side, and the pachinko balls acquired from the pachinko machines on that island are counted by the counter on that island. Then, the issued receipt or card is brought to a prize exchange place to exchange the prize.

[0003]

However, in such a conventional technique, since the pachinko balls obtained from an island are returned to the island through a counter, the balls on the island should be balanced in quantity. Actually, since customers freely bring pachinko balls to counters on other islands or bring counters to vacant places, there is a problem that the quantitative balance of pachinko balls on the island is lost. .

When the pachinko machine on a particular island is in good condition, the customer has a lot of pachinko balls,
The ball amount level on the island will decrease, and the ball amount level on the island will constantly fluctuate, increasing or decreasing, and in fact, there will be a shortage of balls on the island. Was present.

Therefore, the applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-8379.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-288185 proposes a mobile ball counter. You can count the number of pachinko balls by connecting to the counters for issuing cards, which are provided for each island, but the installation location is limited to the island counter (usually one), Also, when supplying the pachinko balls in the ball counter to the island,
The pachinko balls stored in the tank must be lifted to the counter without fail.

As described above, since the pachinko balls in the ball counter are supplied to the island through the counter, electric power for driving the lifter is always required. Therefore, when the island is frequently replenished with pachinko balls, the cost is low. However, it was necessary to secure a place for the ball counter when it was not connected to the counter.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a conventional problem, and can be freely moved and attached to each island in a game arcade or an arbitrary place of a prize counter, and the island can also be attached. The ball can be directly replenished to the or gift counter, and the quantitative balance of the pachinko balls on each island can be quickly adjusted while suppressing the cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile ball counting machine which can also improve the service for the.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The gist of the present invention for achieving such an object is: 1 An island (11) formed by juxtaposing a large number of gaming machines (13) using pachinko balls; In the mobile ball counter (30) that can be freely moved inside the game hall (A) in which the prize counter (10) for exchanging balls acquired in the game for prizes etc. is installed, it is received from outside the machine. The ball counting unit (32) for detecting the number of pachinko balls and the ball counting unit (32) are connected to communicate with the ball counting unit (32) to flow down the pachinko balls after the number is detected, and the downstream end projecting to the side of the machine, The island (1
1) and the prize counter (10), a ball introduction path (33) that can be arbitrarily connected to any one of the ball supply introduction ports (20, 70) provided at a plurality of locations, and the ball introduction path (33). ) Is attached to or detached from the island (11) or the prize counter (10) with the downstream end connected to the island (11) or the ball supply introduction port (20, 70) of the prize counter (10). Locking means to attach freely (38)
And a pachinko ball that is provided on the downstream side of the ball introduction path (33) so as to be openable and closable and guides a pachinko ball to the downstream end of the ball introduction path (33) when opened, and a ball introduction path (33) when closed. Switching shutter (34) that closes the ball and drops the pachinko ball downward
And a ball tank (35) for receiving and storing the pachinko balls that have fallen downward when the switching shutter (34) is closed, and the pachinko balls stored in the ball tank (35) are pumped upward and again. Lifter part (3) leading to the ball counting part (32)
7) and casters (40) for movement arranged at the lower part of the fuselage
A mobile ball counter (30) characterized by having:

2 When the aircraft is attached to the island (11) by the lock means (38), when the number of pachinko balls in the island (11) is insufficient, the supply request signal output by the island (11) By inputting, the first control unit (51) for instructing to drive the lifter unit (37) with opening of the switching shutter (34) and the number of pachinko balls in the island (11) have reached a predetermined amount. At this time, the second control unit (52) for inputting the lift stop signal output from the island (11) to instruct the lifter unit (37) to stop driving and the pachinko balls in the island (11). When a sufficient amount is reached, an introduction refusal signal output from the island (11) is input to the switching shutter (3
4) The mobile ball counting machine (30) according to 1, further comprising a control device (50) having a third control unit (53) for instructing to close.

3 With the machine body attached to the prize counter (10) by the lock means (38),
A ball supply path (7) provided in the prize counter (10)
The downstream end of 7) is connected and has a ball receiving port (39) for receiving the pachinko balls discharged from the ball supply path (77) and guiding the ball to the ball counting section (32) 1 or 2. A mobile ball counter (30) according to 2.

4 With the machine body attached to the island (11) or the prize counter (10) by its locking means (38), a power outlet (provided on the island (11) and the prize counter (10) ( 22) A mobile ball counting machine (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has a connector (41) which is detachably connected to the (22).

5 With the airframe attached to the island (11) or the prize counter (10) by the locking means (38), an optical signal is transmitted between the island (11) and the prize counter (10). Transmitter / Receiver (4
2) A mobile ball counter (30) according to any one of 1, 2, 3 or 4 characterized in that

[0013]

The mobile ball counter (30) can be freely moved within the game arcade (A), and is installed so as to be attached to an arbitrary location on the island (11) or the prize counter (10). In this case, the mobile ball counter (30) has a locking means (3
8) Depending on the island (11) or the prize counter (1
0) is attached immovably. Mobile ball counting machine (3
0) is attached to the island (11), the downstream end of the ball introduction path (33) of the mobile ball counter (30) is connected to the ball supply introduction port (20) provided on the island (11). To do.

The pachinko balls, the number of which has been detected by the ball counting unit (32), then flow through the ball introduction path (33) and are directly supplied to the island (11). However, when the pachinko balls in the island (11) are full, the switching shutter (34) provided in the middle of the ball introduction path (33) is closed to supply the pachinko balls to the island (11). Instead, it can be stored in the ball tank (35) of the mobile ball counter (30).

On the other hand, when the number of pachinko balls inside the island (11) becomes small and it becomes necessary to replenish the pachinko balls from the outside, the switching shutter (3) in the middle of the ball introduction path (33).
By opening 4), the counted pachinko balls can be sent as they are into the island (11) via the ball introduction path (33).

Further, when it is urgent to replenish the pachinko balls, the lifter section (37) in the mobile ball counter (30) is used.
It is also possible to pump the pachinko balls in the ball tank (35) to flow them to the ball introduction path (33), and from there to send them to the island (11) via the ball introduction path (33). Island (1
When the number of pachinko balls in 1) reaches a predetermined amount, if the operation of the lifter section (37) is stopped, the supply of balls from the ball tank (35) to the island (11) is completed.

When the amount of pachinko balls in the island (11) is full and the amount of pachinko balls in the mobile ball counter (30) is also full, the clerk is in charge of the island (11).
The mobile ball counter (30) can be detached from, moved to the prize counter (10), and attached to the prize counter (10). This secures a place for the mobile ball counting machine (30) that is not attached to the island (11), and the player can count his or her own balls also at the prize counter (10).

Similar to the case where the pachinko ball is mounted on the island (11), the pachinko balls flow through the ball introduction path (33) and are directly attached to the prize counter (1).
0) is replenished. On the other hand, mobile ball counter (30)
Is the ball supply path (7) provided in the prize counter (10)
7) and has a ball inlet (39) capable of receiving the pachinko balls from the ball supply path (77), the pachinko balls stored in the prize counter (10) are used as mobile balls. It can be transferred to the ball tank (35) of the counter (30).

As described above, the mobile ball counting machine (30), which has been sufficiently replenished with pachinko balls at the prize counter (10), is moved to be mounted on the island (11) where the pachinko balls are insufficient, and the pachinko balls are attached. If you try to replenish the island (11),
It is possible to eliminate the phenomenon of pachinko balls being too small or too small between the islands (11) that change over time in the entire game arcade (A). Therefore, the quantitative balance of the pachinko balls in each island (11) can be quickly adjusted.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 4 show an embodiment of the invention. Figure 4
As shown in, the ball lending machine 1
There are a number of pachinko machines (gaming machines) 13 placed back to back side by side on two islands 11, 11, 11 are installed, and in the center on the wall side, the pachinko machines won by the game players. A prize counter 10 for exchanging balls for prizes is installed. Each of the islands 11 and the prize counter 10 is provided with a plurality of mobile ball counting machines 30 that can freely move in the game arcade A at arbitrary locations.

The island 11 has the same structure as the conventional structure so that it can be managed while polishing the pachinko balls inside and circulating it to each pachinko machine 13. The flow of the pachinko balls in the island 11 is the central information. It is centrally managed by a processing device (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a ball replenishment introduction port 2 with a damper 21 is provided at an upper portion of the waist plate 15 located below the top plate 14 of the island 11.
0 is open. Further, in the lower part of the top plate 14, there is formed a locking groove 14a in which a hook 38 which is a locking means for fixing the movable ball counter 30 to the island 11 is locked.

The ball replenishment inlet 20 is provided for each pachinko machine 13
It is located below the center of the and is arranged so as to correspond to each pachinko machine 13. The ball supply inlet 20 is
Basically, you can open it at any place on Island 11, but Island 11
May be limited to only a predetermined location. Inside the island 11, an in-island introduction path 17 for slanting the pachinko balls replenished from the ball replenishment introduction port 20 to the collection gutter 16 is obliquely provided.

A power outlet 22 is provided below the ball supply introduction port 20 in the waist plate 15. The outlet 22 is for supplying power to the ball counting unit 32, the lifter unit 37, the recording medium issuing unit 60, and the like of the mobile ball counting machine 30 described later. Also, outlet 2
Beside 2 is an island side transmitter / receiver 2 for transmitting and receiving various optical signals.
3 is provided.

The island side transmission / reception unit 23 is connected to a central information processing unit for centrally managing the island 11, and for example, the island 11
Supply request signal that is output when the number of pachinko balls inside is insufficient,
Various signals such as a lifter stop signal output when the number of pachinko balls on the island 11 reaches a predetermined amount, and an introduction refusal signal output when the number of pachinko balls on the island 11 reach a sufficient amount are transmitted as optical signals. To do.

Casters 40, 40, for moving are attached to the corners of the bottom of the body of the movable ball counter 30 which can be freely attached to and detached from the island 11 and the prize counter 10 described later. The mobile ball counting machine 30 includes a ball counting section 32 for detecting the number of pachinko balls received from outside the machine body, and a ball counting section 3
2 has a ball introduction path 33, etc., which allows the pachinko balls after the quantity detection to flow down and to connect the downstream end 33a protruding to the side of the machine to the ball supply introduction port 20 of the island 11. ing.

The ball counting unit 32 is a general ball counting machine and comprises a plurality of rows of rails for aligning pachinko balls and a counting sensor attached to the end of each rail. A switching shutter 34 is provided on the downstream side of the ball introducing path 33 so as to be openable and closable. When the switching shutter 34 is opened (the ball introduction path 33
The pachinko ball is placed in a state parallel to
While guiding to 3a, it closes the ball introduction path 33 when it is closed (standing up from the ball introduction path 33) and drops the pachinko balls downward, and the switching operation is controlled by the control device 50.

A ball tank 35 for receiving and storing pachinko balls is arranged below the ball introduction path 33 in the body of the mobile ball counting machine 30. A tamper 36 is provided on the inner wall of the ball tank 35 to reduce the impact when a pachinko ball falls.
Is provided. In addition, the ball tank 35 has a sensor 35 for detecting the capacity of a pachinko ball such as an upper limit and a lower limit.
When a and 35b are attached and the upper limit sensor 35a is activated, "pause" is displayed next to the ball insertion port 31 so that pachinko balls cannot be counted any more, so that pachinko balls cannot be inserted. Is configured.

The upper limit sensor 35a turns on or blinks the display lamp 31a below the ball insertion port 31 and sends a ball insertion prohibition signal in order to notify the prohibition of pachinko ball insertion at the same time as the display of "stop". Is set. Such a ball throw-in prohibition signal is received by the island 11 to instruct a display at the island edge or the prize exchange place to notify the occurrence of the pachinko ball throw-in prohibition.

Next to the ball tank 35, there is provided a lifter section 37 for lifting the pachinko balls stored in the ball tank 35 upward and guiding them to the ball counting section 32 again. Lifter part 3
The lower end side of 7 is open to the deepest part of the ball tank 35, while the discharge port 37a on the upper end side is arranged so as to face the ball counting section 32 from above.

The mobile ball counting machine 30 is provided with a hook 38 which is a locking means detachably attached to the island 11 or the prize counter 10. When the handle 38a provided on the front side of the machine body is raised upward, the hook 38 is lowered downward via the motion transmission member 38b, and the lock with the locking groove 14a of the top plate 14 is released, while the handle 38a is lowered downward. When lowered, it is a member that rises upward through the motion transmitting member 38b and is locked and locked in the locking groove 14a of the top plate 14.

On the rear side of the mobile ball counter 30, the island 1 is attached to the island 11 with the hooks 38.
A connector 41 that is detachably connected to one power outlet 22 and a transmission / reception unit 42 that transmits / receives an optical signal to / from the island-side transmission / reception unit 23 are provided. In addition, the mobile ball counter 30 includes a control device 5 for controlling input / output of various signals.
0 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 50 controls the island 1
First, a replenishment request signal from 1 is input to instruct the switching shutter 34 to open and the lifter unit 37 to drive.
It has a control unit 51. Further, the control device 50 controls the island 1
The second control unit 52 which inputs the lifter stop signal from 1 to instruct to stop the driving of the lifter unit 37 and the introduction refusal signal from the island 11 to instruct to close the switching shutter 34 3 control section 53.

As shown in FIG. 3, a recording medium processor 60 is provided on the upper front side of the movable ball counter 30.
A display unit 61 and a recording medium payout port 62 are provided on the front surface of the recording medium processor 60. The display unit 61 is configured by a 7-segment LED or the like so as to digitally display the counted number of balls to the outside according to an instruction from the control device 50 when the counting of the pachinko balls by the ball counting unit 32 is completed. .

The recording medium payout port 62 is a recording medium such as a receipt or a card in which the number of balls shown in the display section 61 is recorded by the operation of the printer or the card reader / writer by the switch operation after the counting by the ball counting section 32 is completed. This is where it comes out. The payout of the recording medium is also set based on an instruction from the control device 50.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of mobile ball counters 3 are provided on the front face portion 10a of the prize counter 10 facing the customer.
0, 30 ... Can be attached. As shown in FIG. 3, the prize counter 10 is equipped with an inlet 70 with a damper 71 having the same configuration as the island 11, a power outlet 72, a counter side transmitter / receiver 73, a locking groove 74, and the like. . A ball tank 75 and a lifter unit 76 are provided inside the prize counter 10.

The ball tank 75 is for adjusting the phenomenon of pachinko balls being too small or too large between the islands 11 which varies with time in the entire game arcade A. Moreover, the player who has brought the pachinko balls to the prize counter 10 can count the pachinko balls here, and the pachinko balls counted here flow down the introduction path 78 in the counter,
It is introduced into the ball tank 75 of the prize counter 10.

A ball receiving port 39 is provided on the upper rear side of the mobile ball counting machine 30. The ball receiving port 39 is connected to the downstream end of a ball supply passage 77 provided in the prize counter 10 while the mobile ball counter 30 is attached to the prize counter 10, and is discharged from the ball supply passage 77. This is for receiving a pachinko ball and guiding it to the ball counting section 32. The upstream end of the ball supply path 77 is at the discharge port 76 of the lifter section 76.
It is continuously connected to a.

Next, the operation will be described. Mobile ball counting machine 30
Can be freely moved by the casters 40, 40, and is installed so as to be attached to any place of each island 11 and the prize counter 10 in the game arcade A. As shown in FIG. 1, when installing the mobile ball counter 30, first, the handle 38a of the mobile ball counter 30 is lifted up and moved to a predetermined position on the island 11.

Next, the connector 4 of the mobile ball counter 30
1 is connected to the power outlet 22 of the island 11, and then the handle 38a is tilted downward to raise the hook 38 and the top plate 1
4 and the movable ball counter 30 is fixed to the island 11 below the pachinko machine 13. In this case, the pachinko machine 13 located directly above the mobile ball counting machine 30 becomes unplayable.

When the mobile ball counter 30 is attached to the island 11, the downstream end 3 of the ball introduction path 33 of the mobile ball counter 30.
3a is connected to the ball supply inlet 20 formed in the waist plate 15 of the island 11. At this time, the downstream end 33a of the ball introduction path 33
However, by pushing open the damper 21 of the ball supply introduction port 20, the ball counting unit 32 to the ball introduction path 33 to the switching shutter 3
A series of routes from 4 to the island introduction path 17 to the recovery gutter 16 is formed.

The player pours a pachinko ball (prize ball) into the ball insertion opening 31 of the mobile ball counting machine 30, and the ball counting section 32.
Lets detect the number of pachinko balls. The signals counted here are sent to the control device 50 and temporarily stored. Continuing,
According to an instruction from the control device 50, the counted number of balls is digitally displayed on the display unit 61 of the recording medium issuing unit 60.

After the counting is completed, the printer or the card reader / writer built in the recording medium issuing unit 60 is operated by the switch operation of the player, and the recording medium such as a receipt or a card in which the number of balls is recorded is discharged as the recording medium. Exit 6
It is paid out from 2. The player takes the recording medium such as the receipt or the card to the prize counter 10,
It can be exchanged for a desired prize.

The control device 50 may be set so as to send a data signal by light to the island 11 via the transmitting / receiving unit 42, and then send the data signal from the island 11 to the prize counter 10. In this case, transmission and reception of various signals between the island 11 and the prize counter 10 may be wired. The free gift counter 10 has a POS and a counting computer, and a data signal can be sent to the free counter to count the number of free gift balls.

Transmission and reception of various signals between the island 11 and the mobile ball counter 30 are carried out by the island side transmitter / receiver 23 which is in close contact with each other when the mobile ball counter 30 is attached to the island 11.
It is performed by lighting with the transmitting / receiving unit 42 of the mobile ball counting machine 30. This is because if the replenishment request signal is transmitted from the upper part of the island 11 all at once by radio waves, the mobile ball counters 30 installed on the adjacent islands may also perform the same operation, so this is prevented. This is because

The above-mentioned introduction refusal signal transmitted from the island 11,
Various signals such as a supply request signal and a stop signal are sent to the control device 50 in the mobile ball counting machine 30 via the transmission / reception unit 42, and the control device 50 in the mobile ball counting machine 30 based on these signals. ON / OFF of the lifter section 37 and opening / closing control of the switching shutter 34 are performed. This will be described later each time.

The pachinko balls, the number of which has been detected by the ball counting unit 32, flow through the ball introduction path 33 and are introduced into the island 11. However, when the introduction refusal signal is output from the island 11, the switching shutter 34 provided midway on the downstream side of the ball introduction path 33 is closed based on an instruction from the third control unit 53 of the control device 50, and as a result, Pachinko balls are ball tanks 35
Will be replenished to. When the pachinko balls in the ball tank 35 are full and the upper limit sensor 35a in the ball tank 35 is activated, a "stop" is displayed beside the ball insertion port 31 of the ball counting unit 32 so that the number of pachinko balls cannot be counted any more. And, it becomes impossible to insert pachinko balls. At this time, at the same time, the display lamp 31
At the same time as turning on or blinking a, a ball insertion prohibition signal is transmitted by an optical signal.

When a ball throw-in prohibition signal is received by the island 11,
It may be set to display an indication that the pachinko ball insertion prohibition has occurred on the island edge or the prize counter 10. In this case, the clerk who confirms the signal is the mobile ball counter 3
Come to 0, check, and exchange with the mobile ball counter 30 in the prize counter 10.

When the number of balls inside the island 11 becomes small and it becomes necessary to supply pachinko balls from the outside, a supply request signal is output from the island 11, and the first control section 51 of the control device 50 which receives the signal requests the supply request signal. Based on the instruction, the switching shutter 34 in the middle of the ball introduction path 33 is opened, and as a result, the pachinko balls flow down on the ball introduction path 33 as they are, and then pass through the island introduction path 17 in the island 11 to the collection trough 16. be introduced.

Further, when the island 11 outputs the supply request signal, it is determined that it is urgent, and based on the instruction from the first control unit 51 of the control device 50, the lifter unit 37 in the mobile ball counting machine 30 is operated. The motor 37b starts driving. As a result, the lifter unit 37 operates, and the pachinko balls in the ball tank 35 are pumped and flown into the ball introduction path 33, and the pachinko balls are introduced into the ball counting section 32 to the ball introduction path 33 to the switching shutter 34 to the island. The island 11 is replenished through a route from the road 17 to the collection gutter 16.

On the other hand, when the number of pachinko balls on the island 11 reaches a predetermined amount, a lift stop signal is output from the island, and the mobile type is sent based on the instruction from the second control unit 52 of the control device 50 which receives the lift stop signal. Motor 3 of lifter section 37 in ball counter 30
7b stops. As a result, the ball tank 35 to the island 11
The replenishment of balls to is completed. However, since the switching shutter 34 is still in the open state, the player can move the mobile ball counter 3
Pachinko balls thrown at 0 are supplied to the island as they are after counting.

When the amount of pachinko balls in the island 11 is full and the amount of pachinko balls in the mobile ball counter 30 is also full, a signal is sent to the central information processing unit of the island 11 by the transmitting / receiving unit 42 or the like. Sent. Then, the central information processing device lights or blinks the display lamp at the island end and sends a signal to the prize counter 10. Upon seeing these signals, the clerk can immediately respond.

The amount of balls in the ball tank 35 of the mobile ball counter 30 is constantly notified to the island 11 side by an optical signal.
When the number of pachinko balls in 1 decreases and it becomes necessary to replenish, the ball tank 35 in the mobile ball counter 30
If there is no pachinko ball, the island 11 may send a ball shortage signal to the prize counter 10 and the island end display lamp may be turned on or blinked.

Further, when a trouble occurs in the mobile ball counter 30 or a shortage of a recording medium such as a receipt or a card, it can be sent to the island 11 side by an optical signal so that the indicator lamp at the island end can be turned on or blinked. . If these various phenomena occur and the indicator lamp on the island edge is turned on or blinks, the place where the phenomenon is transmitted can be immediately set by setting the lamp to turn on or blink on the upper part of the mobile ball counter 30. Can be recognized.

A mobile ball counter 30 fixed on the island 11
When detaching from the island 11 and moving it, the handle 38
Lift a. When the handle 38a goes up, the hook 38 goes down via the motion transmitting member 38b, and the top plate 1
The lock with the locking groove 14a of No. 4 is released. Therefore, if the mobile ball counter 30 is pulled forward of the island 11,
The connector 41 is detached from the power outlet 22 and the transmitter / receiver 42 is detached from the island side transmitter / receiver 23, so that the mobile ball counter 30 can freely move. The damper 21 pushed by the downstream end 33a of the ball introduction path 33 returns to the original position where the ball supply introduction port 20 is closed by the urging force of the spring.

As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of movable ball counters 30, 3 are also provided on the front of the prize counter 10 facing the customer.
0 ... can be attached. As a result, a place for the mobile ball counting machine 30 that is not attached to the island 11 is secured, and also at the prize counter 10, the player can count his own balls. The attachment / detachment of the mobile ball counter 30 to / from the prize counter 10 is the same as the attachment / detachment to / from the island 11.

The pachinko balls counted by the movable ball counter 30 attached to the prize counter 10 flow down the counter introduction passage 78 as they are, and are introduced into the ball tank 75 of the prize counter 10. The ball tank 75 is for adjusting the under-and-over phenomenon of pachinko balls between the islands 11 that change with time in the entire game arcade A.

The mobile ball counting machine 30 installed on the prize counter 10 has only two types, the ball tank 35 inside the mobile ball counting machine 30 is full or empty, and the pachinko ball is halfway in the movement. There is no formula ball counter 30. If the pachinko balls in the island 11 are full and you have replaced the empty mobile ball counter 30 and want to empty the mobile ball counter 30 again, Lifter part 37
Is activated to move the pachinko balls in the ball tank 35 of the mobile ball counter 30 to the prize counter 10 via the ball introduction path 33.
Transfer to the inner ball tank 75.

On the contrary, the ball tank 35 of the mobile ball counter 30
When you want to fill up the pachinko balls, the lifter unit 76 on the prize counter 10 side is activated to pump the pachinko balls from the ball tank 75 in the prize counter 10, and the pachinko balls discharged from the discharge port 76a of the lifter unit 76 are , Free gift counter 1
It flows through the 0 ball supply path 77 and is supplied to the ball tank 35 from the ball receiving port 39 of the mobile ball counting machine 30.

In this case, when the sensor 35a provided in the ball tank 35 of the mobile ball counter 30 outputs a full signal, the signal is transmitted to the prize counter 10 side through the transmitting / receiving unit 42, and the inside of the prize counter 10 is sent. The lifter unit 76 is stopped so that the supply of balls to the mobile ball counting machine 30 is stopped.

As described above, the movable ball counter 30 in which the pachinko balls are sufficiently replenished by the prize counter 10 is moved to be mounted on the island 11 where the amount of pachinko balls is insufficient, and the pachinko balls are replenished. By doing so, it is possible to solve the phenomenon that the number of pachinko balls is too small or too small between the islands 11 that varies with time in the entire game arcade A. Therefore, the quantitative balance of the pachinko balls in each island 11 can be quickly adjusted.

[0061]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION According to the mobile ball counting machine of the present invention, it can be freely moved and attached to any place of each island or prize counter in the game arcade, and can be attached to the island or prize counter. On the other hand, even when the lifter unit is not driven, the pachinko balls can be directly supplied through the ball introduction path, so that it is possible to suppress the consumption of extra power and reduce the cost. Also, by installing not only on the island but also on the prize counter, a storage place can be secured, and the player can count pachinko balls at the prize counter, which improves the service for the player.

Furthermore, if the mobile ball counting machine is supplied with pachinko balls from the prize counter, then the mobile ball counting machine is attached to an island where the pachinko balls are insufficient, and the pachinko balls are supplied. It is possible to solve the phenomenon of pachinko balls being too small or too small between islands, which fluctuates with time throughout the amusement park. As a result, the quantitative balance of the pachinko balls on each island can be adjusted quickly, and the distribution management of the pachinko balls on each island can be performed inexpensively and quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which a mobile ball counter according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to an island, and FIG.
It is a -I line sectional view.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a state where a mobile ball counter according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to an island.

3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which a mobile ball counter according to an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a prize counter, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows a model.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a game arcade equipped with an island to which a plurality of mobile ball counters according to an embodiment of the present invention are attached and a prize counter.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A ... Game hall 10 ... Gift counter 11 ... Island 20, 70 ... Ball supply inlet 30 ... Mobile ball counter 41 ... Connector 42 ... Transmitter / receiver 50 ... Control device

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A free movement within a playground equipped with an island formed by arranging a large number of game machines using pachinko balls in parallel and a prize counter for exchanging balls obtained in the game for prizes. In a mobile ball counting machine that can perform, a ball counting unit that detects the number of pachinko balls received from outside the machine, and a pachinko ball after the quantity detection that is connected in communication with the ball counting unit and flows down to the side of the machine. The projecting downstream end of the ball and the ball and the prize counter can be arbitrarily connected to any one of the ball supply introduction port provided in a plurality of places, respectively, the downstream end of the ball introduction path, Locking means for detachably attaching the aircraft to the island or prize counter in a state of being connected to the ball supply inlet of the island or prize counter, and openable and provided in the middle of the downstream side of the ball introduction path. When pachinko A switching shutter that guides the ball to the downstream end of the ball introduction path and closes the ball introduction path when the ball closes to drop the pachinko ball downward, and receives and stores the pachinko ball that drops downward when the switching shutter closes. A ball tank, a lifter section for pumping up the pachinko balls stored in the ball tank upward, and guiding the ball to the ball counting section again, and a caster for movement arranged at a lower portion of the machine body. Mobile ball counting machine. 2. When the machine is attached to the island by the locking means, when the number of pachinko balls on the island is insufficient, a supply request signal output by the island is input to open the switching shutter and A first control unit that instructs the lift unit to drive, and an instruction to stop the drive of the lifter unit by inputting a lifter stop signal output by the island when the number of pachinko balls on the island reaches a predetermined amount. Control including a second control unit for controlling and a third control unit for inputting an introduction refusal signal output by the island and instructing the switching shutter to close when the number of pachinko balls on the island reaches a sufficient amount. The mobile ball counting machine according to claim 1, further comprising a device. 3. A pachinko ball discharged from the ball supply path is connected to a downstream end of a ball supply path provided in the prize counter while the machine body is attached to the prize counter by its locking means. The mobile ball counting machine according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a ball receiving opening for receiving and guiding the ball to the ball counting section. 4. A connector which detachably connects to a power outlet provided on the island and the prize counter in a state where the machine body is attached to the island or the prize counter by its locking means. Item 1. A mobile ball counter according to item 1, 2 or 3. 5. A transmission / reception unit for transmitting / receiving an optical signal to / from the island and the prize counter in a state where the machine body is attached to the island or the prize counter by its locking means. The mobile ball counter according to 1, 2, 3 or 4.