JPH07144062A - Ball supply device of japanese pinball game (pachinko) machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To optimize the ball replenishment timing by forming a ball detecting position of a ball sensing part of a ball detection switch by deflecting it in the left and the right directions from the center, inverting the position of the ball detection switch by using the same fitting hole, and varying an arranged height position of the ball sensing part on the inclined bottom face so as to vary the number of stagnant balls. CONSTITUTION:A base part 21 is provided by fixing it to the case 20, and in the base part 21, one end of a ball sensing piece 22 is supported so as to be tiltable by a shaft 23. In the base body part 21, a limit switch 24 is provided, a detecting tongue 25 is allowed to abut on the lower face of the ball sensing piece 22, and the ball sensing piece 22 is inclined by an energizing action of the detecting tongue 25. Also, this device is constituted so that by a load onto the sensing piece 22, the ball sensing piece 22 turns minutely in the horizontal direction centering around the shaft 23 and the limit switch 24 is turned on. In such a way, a state that the ball detecting position is deflected from the center to the left and the right is formed. By inverting this detection switch S into the left and the right into the fitting hole 15 as indicated with an arrow, the ball sensing position is made different on the left and the right.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball supply device for supplying balls to each pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Ball supply to each pachinko machine is carried out by feeding a pachinko ball to a supply gutter 3 installed inside a pachinko island stand 1 by a reducing machine as shown in FIGS.
The pachinko balls stored in 1 are divided from the main stream by the separators 5 provided for each pachinko machine 2, and flow out from the bellows pipe 4 to the replenishment tank 10 of the pachinko machine 2 as replenishment balls. In this case, a so-called drip method and a ball-slicing method in which a predetermined number of particles are discharged from the separator 5 to the bellows pipe 4 by a signal from a ball detection switch fixedly attached to the supply tank 10 (usually 400 pieces are cut). ) There is.

[0003]

By the way, in the run-off method, since the ball supply to the pachinko machine 2 is not interrupted, the ball detection switch is unnecessary, but the number of balls held by the island stand 1 as a whole is large. There is a problem that the number becomes uneconomical and that the balls constantly flow, so that static electricity easily causes noise on the pachinko machine.

On the other hand, in the ball breaking method, when the number of balls in the supply tank 10 is reduced and the ball detection switch is turned off, the ball stopping member (normally solenoid) of the separator 5 is operated, and a predetermined number of balls are operated. Since it is counted by the counter 6 and flows out to the replenishment tank 10, compared to the above-mentioned running-off method,
There are advantages that the number of balls possessed by the island stand 1 as a whole is reduced and noise is less likely to occur. However, a pachinko machine 2 that derives a large amount of prize balls has recently been installed, and therefore, when a plurality of pachinko machines 2 are simultaneously in the special prize state on the same island stand 1, ball replenishment is provided. There is a problem that it doesn't fit.

The present invention intends to eliminate the above-mentioned problems by enabling ball replenishment at an appropriate timing depending on the type of pachinko machine even in the ball cutting system.

[0006]

A first means of a ball replenishing device of the present invention is that a replenishing tank of a pachinko machine is provided with a fitting hole formed in an inclined bottom surface which is inclined in the left-right direction toward a ball downflow opening. A ball detection switch having a ball detection unit whose detection position is deviated from the center in the left-right direction is mounted in the fitting hole so that the ball can be reversed in the right and left directions, and the ball detection switch uses the ball detection switch mounted in the fitting hole. A ball is supplied to the replenishment tank by detecting a ball breakage by the section.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of fitting holes are formed along a slanting bottom surface of a replenishing tank of a pachinko machine, the slanting bottom surface sloping in the left-right direction toward the ball outlet.
A ball detection switch equipped with a ball detection unit on the upper surface is selected and installed in any of the fitting holes, and balls are supplied to the replenishment tank by the ball detection of the ball detection switch of the ball detection switch installed in the fitting hole. It is something that is done.

A third means of the present invention is to form a long groove-shaped mounting groove portion along the inclination direction at the lower part of the inclined bottom surface of the supply tank of the pachinko machine which is inclined in the left-right direction toward the ball outlet. Further, a long hole for detection is formed on the groove portion, and a ball detection switch having a ball sensing portion on the upper surface is slidably mounted in the mounting groove portion in the longitudinal direction, and the ball sensing portion is fitted into the ball receiving bottom surface from the long hole. A ball is projected to the upper side, and a ball is supplied to the replenishment tank by detecting a ball breakage by the ball detection unit.

[0009]

In each of the above-mentioned configurations, the position of the ball sensing portion of the ball detection switch provided in the replenishment tank is variable. That is, in the first means, since the ball detection position of the ball detection unit is deviated in the left-right direction from the center, by using the same fitting hole, by reversing the position of the ball detection switch, The ball sensing position is different on the left and right. For this reason, the height position where the ball sensing unit on the inclined bottom surface is changed,
The number of staying balls (minimum staying ball number) at the time of detecting a ball breakage by the ball sensing unit changes. That is, the higher the ball sensing position corresponding to the inclined surface,
The minimum number of retained balls increases. Then, in addition to this staying ball, a predetermined number of pachinko balls stored in the supply gutter are supplied to the supply tank.

In the second means, the height at which the ball sensing portion is arranged can be changed by selecting the fitting hole.

In the third means, by moving the ball detection switch in the mounting groove portion, it is possible to change the protruding position of the ball detection portion from the elongated hole. Therefore, it becomes possible to arbitrarily adjust the ball supply time (minimum staying ball number).

Therefore, the number of staying balls when a predetermined number of pachinko balls are replenished changes only by adjusting the position of the ball detection switch, and even if a large number of prize balls are generated in a short time, the number of staying balls can be changed. By setting a large number, it becomes possible to supply the balls properly, and it is possible to supply the balls at an appropriate timing according to the model of the pachinko machine.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 3, the replenishment tank 10 has a ball flow outlet 11 formed at one side edge thereof, and an inclined bottom surface 12 inclined in the left-right direction toward the ball flow outlet 11 at the bottom thereof. Has been done.

5 to 8 show such a replenishing tank 10 in which a rectangular fitting hole 15 is formed at a position in front of the ball drop opening 11 on the inclined bottom surface 12. A rectangular mounting frame body 16 is formed continuously on the bottom of the fitting hole 15.

A ball detection switch S shown in FIG. 4 is fitted in the fitting hole 15 and held by the mounting frame body 16, and the ball detection piece 22 (ball detection portion) is moved upward from the inclined bottom surface 12. It is designed to project.

The structure of the ball detection switch S will be described with reference to FIG.

A base portion 21 fixed to the case 20 is provided in the case 20, and one end of a ball sensing piece 22 is tiltably supported by the shaft 23 on the base portion 21.
Further, a limit switch 24 is provided on the base portion 21, the detection tongue piece 25 is brought into contact with the lower surface of the ball sensing piece 22, and the ball sensing piece 22 is inclined by the urging action of the detection tongue piece 25. . Then, when a load is applied on the ball sensing piece 22, the ball sensing piece 22 slightly rotates horizontally about the shaft 23, and the detection tongue piece 25 of the limit switch 24 is pressed to be turned on. Since this ball detection switch S is turned on when a load is applied to the front end of the ball detection piece 22 that tilts upward, the ball detection position is deviated from the center in the left-right direction. .

As shown in FIG. 5, the ball detection switch S having such a structure can be attached to and detached from the fitting hole 15,
Moreover, it can be installed by reversing left and right like an arrow.
That is, the front end of the ball sensing piece 22 can be positioned so as to be located below the inclined bottom surface 12 as shown in FIG. 6, or it can be positioned so as to be located above it as shown in FIG. Then, in the fitting mode of FIG. 6, the ball detection position of the ball detection piece 22 becomes low. Further, in the fitting mode of FIG. 7, the ball detection position of the ball detection piece 22 becomes high, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 8, even if the balls are considerably retained below the inclined bottom surface 12, the ball detection switch S Will be returned to the off position, and a predetermined number of balls counted by the counter 6 will be supplied from the supply gutter 3. Therefore, the balls are replenished early and added to the number of retained balls (minimum retained ball number) when the ball breakage is detected, and the number of retained balls increases.

In FIG. 9, two fitting holes 15a and 15b are formed in the inclined bottom surface 12 along the inclination direction of the inclined bottom surface 12. Therefore, the minimum number of staying balls can be changed by selecting the fitting hole 15a and the fitting hole 15b. Further, if the ball detection switch S in which the ball detection position is deviated from the center in the left-right direction as in the above-mentioned configuration is used, by selecting the left-right direction,
It is possible to set four types of ball detection positions, increasing options and improving variability. For example, if the earliest ball replenishment is desired, the fitting hole 15b may be used and the mounting form in which the end of the ball sensing piece 22 is located on the right side in the drawing may be adopted. The unused fitting holes 15a and 15b are covered with the lid 1
It is necessary to put on 8.

10 to 16 show another structure. Here, a slender elongated hole 30 is formed on the slanted bottom surface 12 along the slanted surface, and the holding side plates 32, 32 connected to the slanted bottom surface 12 are formed directly below the slender hole 30.
Thus, a long groove-shaped mounting groove portion 31 is formed. Then, the ball detection switch S is mounted in the mounting groove portion 31,
The ball sensing piece 22 is projected from the long hole 30 to the upper side of the inclined bottom surface 12.

In order to hold the ball detection switch S in this manner, the fitting groove 3 is formed on the inner surfaces of the holding side plates 32, 32 facing each other.
3 and 33 are formed, and the locking projections 3 are fitted to the fitting grooves 33, 33 on both side surfaces of the case 20 of the ball detection switch S.
4, 34 are formed. Then, the locking projections 34, 34 are fitted into the fitting grooves 33, 33 from the open end of the mounting groove portion 31 to hold the ball detection switch S, and the inclined bottom surface 12 is inclined along the fitting groove 33. It can slide in any direction.

Therefore, by moving the ball detection switch S along the elongated hole 30 and the fitting groove 33, it is possible to select the ball supply timing (minimum staying ball number) steplessly. Therefore, there is an advantage that the selection can be performed easily and delicately by the sliding operation.

13 and 14 show the structure of the second holding means of the ball detection switch S for continuously selecting the ball supply timing (the minimum number of retained balls).

Here, guide racks 35 having linearly formed engaging teeth are formed on the inner surfaces of the holding side plates 32, 32 facing each other. The case 20 of the ball detection switch S supports an idle pinion 36 that engages with the guide rack 35. Thereby, the guide rack 3
The engagement of 5 and the idle pinion 36 allows the ball detection switch S to move in the mounting groove 31 in a stepless manner.

This structure has the advantage that the guide action of the gear 35 makes it possible to move in steps and facilitate position adjustment.

In addition, the ball detection switch S is mounted in the mounting groove portion 31.
Various means for holding the stepless movable inside are proposed.

15 and 16 show a third holding means of the ball detection switch S in the mounting groove portion 31. That is, the holding projections 40 are provided at predetermined intervals on the holding side plates 32, 32.
A large number of protrusions are formed, and pressure-sensitive protrusions 41, 41 are formed on both surfaces of the case 20 of the ball detection switch S at intervals equal to the intervals of the sandwiching protrusions 40.

As clearly shown by the chain line in FIG. 16, the pressure projections 41, 41 are provided with an elastic member 42 such as a rubber sheet or sponge between them and the case 20. Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 16, when the pressure-sensitive projections 41, 41 are pushed between the required clamping projections 40, 40, due to the elastic contraction of the elastic member 42 and the elastic bending of the holding side plates 32, 32, The pressed protrusions 41, 41 receive a clamping force from the clamping protrusions 40, 40,
Thereby, the ball detection switch S is held at a predetermined position in the mounting groove portion 31. As the elastic member 42, various structures such as a spring are proposed. Furthermore, the pressure-applied protrusion 41 may have a continuous shape irrelevant to the interval between the sandwiching protrusions 40.

In this structure, by pushing the ball detection switch S from below the fitting groove 33, the position of the ball detection switch S can be arbitrarily held and the holding position can be selected by the sandwiching projection 40. It is possible to adjust the position of the ball detection switch S in each pachinko machine 2 by specifying the sandwiching projection 40 to be used, and thus it is easy to perform the same operation according to the model. There are advantages.

In each of the above-mentioned configurations, the ball supply timing can be set according to the type of the pachinko machine 2. Therefore, in the pachinko machine 2 that derives a large number of prize balls in a short time, the ball detection position of the ball detection switch S is set to the upper side to increase the minimum retained ball number, and the retained ball causes the next ball to move. Since you can earn enough time to replenish, even if a big hit occurs on multiple pachinko machines 2 on the same island stand 1 at the same time and the ball supply from the replenishment gutter 3 is not in time, it will stay It is possible to supply prize balls with balls. Further, on the other hand, in a model in which a large amount of prize balls are not generated in such a short time, by delaying the replenishment timing setting by the ball detection switch S, it is possible to prevent the number of balls in the pachinko machine 2 from becoming excessive. , Balls can be used effectively.

[0032]

According to the present invention, as described above, the replenishment tank 10 is used.
Since the setting of the ball detection position of the ball detection switch S is made variable along the inclination direction of the inclined bottom surface 12, in a pachinko machine that derives a large number of prize balls in a short time, By increasing the minimum number of retained balls, it is possible to prevent lack of prize balls, and for other pachinko machines, prevent excessive ball retention, etc. There is an excellent effect that the time can be selected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view of a pachinko island stand 1.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing a ball supply mechanism.

3 is a perspective view of the supply tank 10. FIG.

4 is an exploded perspective view of a ball detection switch S. FIG.

FIG. 5 is a supply tank 1 in which a ball detection switch S is shown separately.
It is a notch perspective view of 0.

6 is a cutaway perspective view of the supply tank 10 showing a fitting mode of the ball detection switch S. FIG.

7 is a cutaway perspective view of the supply tank 10 showing another fitting mode of the ball detection switch S. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway perspective view of the replenishment tank 10 showing a state where balls accumulate.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway perspective view of a replenishment tank 10 having another configuration, in which a ball detection switch S is shown separately.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway perspective view of a replenishment tank 10 having still another configuration.

11 is a cutaway perspective view of the replenishment tank 10 showing the configuration of the mounting groove portion 31 used for the first holding means of the ball detection switch S. FIG.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a ball detection switch S used for the first holding means.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a ball detection switch S used as a second holding unit.

14 is a perspective view of a second holding means of the ball detection switch S. FIG.

15 is a perspective view showing a third holding means of the ball detection switch S. FIG.

16 is a cross-sectional plan view showing a third holding means of the ball detection switch S. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko Island Stand 2 Pachinko Machine 10 Replenishment Tank 11 Ball Flow Outlet 12 Inclined Bottom 15, 15a, 15b Fitting Hole 22 Ball Sensing Piece 30 Long Hole 31 Mounting Groove 32 Holding Side Plate 33 Fitting Groove 35 Guide Rack 36 Free Spinning Pinion 40 Clamping protrusion 41 Pressured protrusion S Ball detection switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mounting hole is formed in an inclined bottom surface of a replenishing tank of a pachinko machine, which is inclined in the left-right direction toward a ball outlet.
A ball detection switch equipped with a ball detection unit whose ball detection position is deviated from the center in the left-right direction is mounted in the fitting hole so that the ball can be reversed, and the ball of the ball detection switch mounted in the fitting hole. A ball replenishing device for a pachinko machine, wherein a ball is supplied to the replenishing tank by detecting a ball breakage by a sensing unit. 2. A replenishing tank of a pachinko machine, a plurality of fitting holes are formed along an inclined bottom surface which is inclined in the left-right direction toward a ball outlet, and a ball sensing portion is provided on the upper surface. Select and install the ball detection switch in any of the fitting holes,
A ball supply device for a pachinko machine, wherein balls are supplied to the supply tank by ball break detection by a ball detection unit of a ball detection switch mounted in the fitting hole. 3. A long groove-shaped mounting groove is formed in the lower part of the inclined bottom surface of the supply tank of the pachinko machine, which is inclined in the left-right direction toward the ball outlet, and is detected on the groove. A ball detection switch having a ball-sensing portion on the upper surface is mounted in the mounting groove so as to be slidable in the longitudinal direction, and the ball-sensing portion is projected from the slot into the ball receiving bottom surface. A ball replenishing device for a pachinko machine, wherein a ball is supplied to the replenishing tank by detecting a ball breakage by a sensing unit.