JPH07213718A - Discharge control device for game medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the excessive stay of the game medium discharged to a discharge part, and surely prevent a satisfactory discharging motion from being arrested. CONSTITUTION:The discharge of pachinko balls 30 directed to a pachinko ball storing part 38 through a pachinko gall passage 34 is controlled. The discharge state and non-discharge state are switched by the rotation permission and rotation arresting of a rotor 50 provided in the course of the pachinko ball passage 34. A stay detecting sensor 66 is provided in a stay detecting position lower than a pass detecting sensor 64 for detecting the discharge number. This control device 20 is constituted in such a manner that the rotation of the rotor 50 is arrested to forcedly stop the discharge when a fixed quantity or more of the presence of the pachinko balls in the stay detecting position is detected by the stay detecting sensor 66.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling the ejection of game media such as pachinko balls and medals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a device for discharging a game medium as described above, one disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-56907 is known. This device rotates a sprocket or the like by a motor to drop the pachinko balls above the sprocket or the like one by one to the discharge part such as a saucer below, as the sprocket rotates, and at the same time, the discharge ball detector. The discharge of pachinko balls is detected by, and when the detected discharge number reaches a predetermined target number of balls, the rotation drive of the sprocket etc. is stopped, and thereby the number of discharged pachinko balls is accurately obtained. It is a thing.

[0003]

In the above device, if the pachinko balls discharged to the discharge part such as the tray are not taken out, but the pachinko balls are continuously discharged, the trace goes back from the discharge part to the discharge passage side. Pachinko balls may accumulate and block this discharge passage. In particular, when the retained pachinko balls reach the vicinity of the sprocket, the retained pachinko balls face the detection area of the ejection detector and cause an erroneous detection of the number of ejected particles, or the retained pachinko balls directly contact the sprocket. There is a risk that the rotation will be disabled.

In view of such circumstances, it is an object of the present invention to provide a game medium discharge control device capable of preventing inconvenience caused by staying of the game medium on the discharge side.

[0005]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is directed to an ejecting part in an apparatus for controlling ejection of a game medium from an accommodating part to an ejecting part through an ejecting passage. And a discharge operation means for switching the discharge state of discharging the game medium and a non-discharge state of the game medium, and the game medium discharged to the discharge portion reaches a preset stay detection position on the downstream side of the discharge operation means. A staying detection means for detecting whether or not staying, and when the staying detection means detects that the game medium is staying up to the staying detection position, the discharge actuating means is forced to the non-discharge state. The discharge stop control means is provided (Claim 1).

In the case where the above-mentioned apparatus is provided with a discharge number detecting means for detecting the number of discharged game media by detecting the passage of the game medium at the passage detecting position on the downstream side of the discharge actuating means, the passage detecting position is provided. It is preferable to set the staying detection position at a position on the downstream side (claim 2).

Also, after the forced stop of the discharge, the forced stop of the discharge of the game medium is continued only when this non-detection state continues for a predetermined time after it is no longer detected that the game medium stays at the stay position. It is more preferable to configure the discharge stop control means so as to release (Claim 3).

In the above device, the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage is set so that only one game medium can pass through the discharge passage, and the staying detection position is set at a position in the middle of the discharge passage. Thereby, a more excellent effect as described later can be obtained (claim 4).

More specifically, as the stay detecting means, a game medium detecting means for detecting whether or not a game medium exists at the stay detecting position, and the presence of the game medium by the game medium detecting means are continuous. It is preferable that the game medium is provided with retention determination means for determining that the game medium is retained up to the retention detection position when a predetermined time is detected and outputting a retention detection signal (claim 5). As the medium detection means, a detection rotation member which is rotatably provided at the staying detection position and whose rotation end is held at a reference angle position facing the discharge passage in a state of not contacting the game medium, It is preferable that the detection rotation member is provided with rotation detection means for detecting whether or not the rotation end portion has rotated from the reference angle position in the game medium discharge direction by a predetermined angle or more (claim 6). Is.

In the above device, the discharging portion is provided at a position lower than the accommodating portion, and the game medium accommodated in the accommodating portion is discharged to the discharging portion by dropping.
As the discharge actuating means, fall restricting means capable of switching between a permitting state in which the game medium is allowed to fall from the accommodating portion to the ejecting portion and a preventive state in which the game medium is prevented, and the fall restricting means in the permitting state and the preventive state And a discharge switching means for switching the drop restriction means to the permissible state from the start of discharge, and the number detected by the discharge number detecting means at this time is a number smaller than the target number and is determined in advance. When the set number is reached, the fall restricting means is switched to the restricting state, and then the fall restricting means is alternately switched to the allowable state and the blocking state to eject the game media one by one, and the total ejected number is And a discharge number control means for controlling the switching operation of the discharge switching means so as to maintain the fall restricting means in the blocking state when the target number is reached. Ri, more excellent effects as described below can be obtained (Claim 7).

In the apparatus according to the present invention, the number of game media which can accommodate the distance from the passage detection position to the stay detection position between both positions is larger than the difference between the target number and the predetermined number. When it is detected that the game medium stays at the staying detection position only during a period until the number of discharged game media detected by the discharged number detecting means reaches the predetermined number. Further, it is further preferable that the discharge stop control means is configured to forcibly bring the discharge operation means into the non-discharge state (claim 8).

[0012]

According to the apparatus of the first aspect, during the discharge of the game medium by the discharging operation means, it is detected that the already discharged game medium stays at the staying detection position on the downstream side of the discharging operation means. In this case, since the discharge of the game medium by the discharge operation means is forcibly stopped, the progress of the accumulation of the game medium after that is prevented, and the inconvenience such as the clogging of the passage due to such accumulation is caused. Avoided.

Further, in the apparatus according to the second aspect, the passage number of the game medium is detected by detecting the passage of the game medium at the passage detecting position on the downstream side of the discharge operating means, and the passage detecting position is also detected. By setting the staying detection position at a position further downstream than that, the staying of the game medium up to the passage detection position is prevented, and erroneous detection of the discharged number due to this staying is prevented.

After the forced stoppage of the discharge as described above, the discharge may be restarted immediately when the retention of the game medium to the retention detection position is no longer detected. In the device, the forced stop of the discharge of the game medium is released only when the non-detection state continues for a predetermined time. Therefore, when the retention detection is temporarily lost due to a minute movement of the retained game medium. It is possible to prevent a situation where the ejection of the game medium is accidentally restarted.

Further, in the apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage is limited so that the game media can pass through the discharge passage only one by one. Since the stay detection position is set, the presence or absence of stay can be accurately grasped by detecting whether or not the game medium is present at the stay detection position.

More specifically, in the apparatus according to claim 5,
Whether or not the game medium is present at the staying detection position is detected, and when the presence of the game medium is continuously detected for a predetermined time, it is determined that the game medium is staying at the staying detection position. By detecting the game medium being ejected, that is, the game medium passing through the staying detection position instantly, it is possible to prevent erroneously determining that staying has occurred.

Here, an optical sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like may be used as the game medium detecting means, but if the arrangement position is slightly deviated, the light beam of the optical sensor is actually generated even if retention occurs. Since there is a possibility that the etc. may pass through the gap between the staying game media and stop the staying detection, precise setting of the disposition position is required. On the other hand, in the apparatus according to claim 6, a detection rotating member is provided at the stay detecting position as the game medium detecting means, and the reference angular position of the detection rotating member is the rotation of the detection rotating member. Whether or not the end portion is set at the reference angular position facing the discharge passage, and whether the rotation end portion of the detection rotation member has rotated from the reference angle position in the discharge direction of the game medium by a predetermined angle or more, That is, the presence of the game medium can be reliably detected based on whether or not the rotating end portion is in contact with the game medium.

Various types of means for ejecting the game medium may be used. According to the apparatus of claim 7, the game medium is continuously dropped to the ejecting section in an unregulated state at the beginning of ejection. As a result, many game media are quickly ejected. Then, the number of ejected game media at this time is detected, and when the detected number is smaller than the target number and reaches a predetermined set number, the prevention of the drop of the game medium is started. After the completion of blocking, even if the number of already discharged game media varies due to the response delay of the machine or the like, thereafter, the game media are ejected one by one by repeating the drop allowance and the fall arrest of the game media. As a result, the total number of ejected products is finally accurately adjusted to the target number.

Here, in the apparatus according to the eighth aspect, since the forced ejection stop is performed only during the period until the ejected number of the game medium detected by the ejected number detecting means reaches the predetermined number, the eject is performed. Ejection is not interrupted just before completion. Moreover, the distance from the passage detection position to the retention detection position is set to be large until the number of game media that can be accommodated between the positions exceeds the difference between the target number and the predetermined number, and the predetermined number. After reaching, the game media will surely be ejected one by one until the target number is reached.
After the discharge number reaches a predetermined number, the game medium does not stay at the passage detection position even if the discharge is continued up to the target number regardless of the stay detection of the game medium.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Although the device for ejecting the pachinko balls 30 is shown in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this and can be effectively applied to a device for ejecting other game media such as coins and medals.

The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a housing 10, and a coin insertion opening 12 is provided on an upper portion of a front wall (right wall in FIG. 1) of which a coin passage 14 is provided.
Are connected. A coin detector 16 is provided below the discharge end of the coin passage 14, coins in the coin detector 16 are stored in a coin storing portion (not shown) through the coin passage 18, and the coin detector 16 detects the coin. The information signal of the cash result is input to the control device 20 built in the device.

A supply port 32 for a pachinko ball 30 is formed on the upper surface of the housing 10, and the pachinko ball supply port 3 is provided.
The outlet of a pachinko ball hopper (not shown) is connected to 2. The pachinko ball passage 34 extends downward from the pachinko ball supply port 32 toward the inside of the housing 10, and
It reaches the pachinko ball storage section (discharging section) 38 at the bottom of 0.

The bottom wall of the pachinko ball storage portion 38 is inclined in a direction in which it decreases as it goes forward (to the right in FIG. 1). A vertical cylinder portion 40 is formed at the front end of the pachinko ball storage portion 38, and a discharge cylinder 42 that opens downward is loaded in the cylinder portion 40 so as to be vertically movable. A communication hole 44 is provided at the back of the side wall (left side in FIG. 1) of the discharge cylinder 42, and stoppers 45 and 46 are provided at the upper end and the lower end of the discharge cylinder 42, respectively. Normally, the discharge cylinder 42 is held at a position (lowermost position; solid line position in FIG. 1) where the stopper 45 on the upper side of the discharge cylinder 42 comes into contact with the upper surface of the cylinder portion 40 due to its own weight.
The stopper 46 on the lower side of the discharge tube 42 is attached to the tube portion 4 described above.
It is possible to push it up to a position (the uppermost position; the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in the figure) that comes into contact with the lower surface of 0. And
At the lowermost position, the inside of the discharge pipe 42 inside the pachinko ball storage portion 38 is almost cut off, and the pachinko balls 30 cannot flow between them, while at the uppermost position, inside the pachinko ball storage portion 38. The inside of the discharge tube 42 is opened through the communication hole 44, and the pachinko balls 30 in the pachinko ball storage portion 38 are dropped (that is, discharged) downward through the discharge tube 42.

An opening 36 is provided in the middle portion of the side wall of the pachinko ball passage 34, and a rotor 50 is provided at a position where a part of the pachinko ball passage 34 faces the passage 34 through the opening 36. The rotor 50 is attached to the housing 10 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal shaft 48, and a plurality (eight in the illustrated example) of locking claws 52 are radially arranged at equal intervals on the outer peripheral portion of the rotor 50 along the circumferential direction of rotation. It is projected. Each locking claw 52 is formed in a shape that locks the pachinko ball 30 in the pachinko ball passage 34 in a state of protruding into the pachinko ball passage 34 and prevents the pachinko ball 30 from falling. The pachinko ball passage 34 on the upper side of the above and the pachinko ball hopper (not shown) form an accommodating portion for the pachinko ball 30, and the pachinko ball passage 34 on the downstream side of the locking claw 52 forms a discharge passage. .

A rotation regulating lever 56 is provided beside the rotor 50 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal shaft 54. The rotation restricting lever 56 is in an upper position (a solid line position in FIG. 1; hereinafter referred to as a blocking position) in which a rotating end of the rotation restricting lever 56 can abut the locking claw 52 of the rotor 50 in accordance with the rotation.
And a lower position where the rotating end portion is sufficiently separated from the locking claw 52 (position indicated by a chain double-dashed line in the figure; hereinafter referred to as a release position).
The rotation of the rotor 50 (that is, the rotation in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1) due to the drop of the pachinko ball 30 is prevented while the pachinko ball 30 is held in the blocking position.

The rotation restricting lever 56 has a tension spring 58.
The plunger 6 of the solenoid 60 fixed to the housing 10 while being connected to the housing 10 side via the
The two ends are rotatably connected by a pin 59.
This solenoid 60 is not excited (OFF state)
When the plunger 62 projects upward, the rotation restricting lever 56 is raised to the blocking position together with the tension of the tension spring 58, and in the oppositely excited state (on state), the plunger 62 is depressed downward. Thus, the rotation restricting lever 56 is configured to be pulled down to the release position against the tensile force of the tension spring 58.

That is, the rotation restricting lever 56 and the solenoid 60 switch between a blocking state in which the locking claw 52 is locked to block the rotation of the rotor 50 and a release state in which the rotor 50 is released.

In the pachinko ball passage 34, a passage detection is made at a position on the way of the fall path between the rotor 50 and the pachinko ball storage portion 38 (a position immediately below the rotor 50 in the illustrated example; a passage detection position). A sensor 64 is provided, and a stay detection sensor (game medium detection means) 66 is provided at a predetermined stay detection position below the passage detection sensor 64 (that is, on the downstream side) in the fall path. These sensors 64 and 66 detect whether or not the pachinko balls 30 are present at the positions where they are arranged. For example, when the pachinko balls 30 pass by one, pulse signals are output accordingly. However, an optical sensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, a magnetic sensor, or the like can be applied. Detection signals of these sensors 64 and 66 are input to the control device 20, and switching control of the solenoid 60 is performed by an output signal from the control device 20.

More specifically, the control device 20 includes a pulse counting means 21, a stop judging means 22, and a like shown in FIG.
A solenoid control means 23 and a timer 24 are provided.

The pulse counting means 21 counts the number of pulses of the pulse signal output from the passage detecting sensor 64, and constitutes the discharge number detecting means together with the passage detecting sensor 64.

In the stop judging means 22, the number of pulses counted by the pulse counting means 21 is smaller than a predetermined number of pachinko balls ejected once (target number; 50 in this embodiment). At the time when a predetermined set number (45 in this embodiment) is reached, a discharge temporary stop signal is output to the solenoid control means 23, and when the count pulse number reaches the target number (50), the solenoid is released. It is configured to output a complete discharge stop signal to the control means 23.

In this embodiment, an apparatus in which the target number is always constant is shown, but the target number may be freely changed according to the amount of money detected by the coin checker 16, for example.

The stay determination means 25 includes a stay detection sensor 66.
The detection signal of is on for a certain period of time (50
ms), if it is determined that the discharged pachinko balls 30 have accumulated up to the position where the retention detection sensor 66 is provided (retention detection position), a forced stop signal (retention detection signal) is output to the solenoid control means 23. It is a thing.

The solenoid control means 23 includes a timer 24.
The stop determination means 22 and the timer 2 are connected to each other and actually execute switching control of the solenoid 60 in response to the discharge temporary stop signal and the discharge complete stop signal.
4 and the discharge number control means. Further, when the solenoid control means 23 receives the forced stop signal from the stay determination means 25 before receiving the discharge temporary stop signal, the solenoid control means 23 interrupts the discharge regardless of the number of discharged pieces, and thereafter, at a predetermined time (described later). It also plays the role of discharge stop control means for restarting the discharge.

In FIG. 1, the distance (passage length) between the passage detecting sensor 64 and the staying detecting sensor 66 is the number of pachinko balls that can be accommodated in the area between the sensors 64 and 66. Is set to be long enough to exceed the difference (5 in this embodiment) from the predetermined number.

Next, the switching control operation of the solenoid 60 by the solenoid control means 23 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

This solenoid control means 23 normally keeps the solenoid 60 off. The protrusion of the plunger 62 of the solenoid 60 keeps the rotation restricting lever 56 in the upper blocking position, and the tip end of the lever 56 abuts on the locking claw 52 at the lowermost end of the rotor 50, so that the rotor 50 moves. Clockwise rotation is blocked. For this reason, the pachinko balls 30
Is regulated to prevent the pachinko ball 30 from being discharged.

From this state, when the discharge request signal is input from the operation unit (not shown) (YES in step S1), the solenoid control means 23 switches the solenoid 60 to the on state (step S2). As a result, the rotation regulating lever 56
Is switched from the blocking position to the lower releasing position, and the rotation restriction of the rotor 50 is released. For this reason, the pachinko balls 30 in the pachinko ball passage 34 are successively moved downward while the rotor 50 is freely rotating.
8 and the total pulse number n of the pulse signal output from the passage detection sensor 64 in response to the passage of the pachinko ball 30 is counted by the pulse counting means 21 (step S3).

Incidentally, when the pachinko ball 30 passes, a pulse signal equivalent to the pulse signal from the passage detection sensor 64 is also output from the retention detection sensor 66. However, as shown in the left part of FIG. The pulse width (that is, the time during which the detection signal of the staying detection sensor 66 is continuously kept on) is less than 50 ms (N in step S9).
O), the solenoid control means 23 continues the discharge.

While the pachinko balls 30 are continuously ejected and the pulse count is advanced, when the total pulse number n reaches the set number (45 in this embodiment) (step S).
4), the stop determination means 22 outputs a discharge temporary stop signal, and the solenoid control means 23 receiving this signal turns off the solenoid 60 to block the rotation of the rotor 50 (step S5), and the pachinko ball. Stop the discharge once.

There is a response delay from the passage detection sensor 64 detecting the passage of the 45th pachinko ball to the actual execution of the temporary suspension of discharge by the rotation prevention of the rotor 50. The actual number of discharged pieces is 45
There is a possibility that it will slightly exceed the (set number), but even if the actual discharged number exceeds the set number by 2 or 3, it will not reach the target number of 50, so the number that exceeds the target number is overpowered. The pachinko ball 30 of is surely prevented from being discharged.

After the discharge is temporarily stopped, the solenoid 6
When 0, the solenoid 60 is switched to the ON state only for a predetermined time set in advance based on the signal of the timer 24 (step S6). This “predetermined time” is the time required to discharge only one pachinko ball 30, and in the example of FIG. 1, the time required for the rotor 50 to rotate by 45 ° is set. The solenoid 60 is turned on only for such a predetermined time, that is, the rotation of the rotor 50 is allowed by 45 °, so that only one pachinko ball 30 falls into the pachinko ball storage portion 38 and the total pulse number n is reached. 1 is added (step S7).

In this way, the operation of discharging only one pachinko ball 30 is repeated, and when the total number of pulses n reaches 50 (YES in step S8), the stop determination means 22 outputs a discharge complete stop signal. In response to this, the solenoid control means 23 maintains the solenoid 60 in the OFF state to completely stop the discharge. As a result, exactly 50 pachinko balls 30 have been discharged into the pachinko ball storage portion 38. After that, the pachinko ball purchaser uses the discharge tube 4
By pushing up 2 from the lowermost position of the solid line in FIG. 1 to the uppermost position of the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1, the pachinko ball 30 in the pachinko ball storage portion 38 can be taken out through the discharge tube 42.

On the other hand, when the count pulse number n is less than 45, the pachinko ball retention level in the pachinko ball storage section 38 rises due to continuous ejection of the pachinko balls 30, and reaches the detection position of the retention detection sensor 66 ( That is, when the uppermost pachinko ball 30 of the staying pachinko balls 30 reaches the detection position), the detection signal of the staying detection sensor 66 is turned on from the pulse signals up to that time, as shown in the central portion of FIG. It changes into a signal that maintains the state. Then, when this ON state continues for 50 ms (YES in step S9)
S), the staying determination means 25 determines that staying has occurred, and outputs a forced stop signal to the solenoid control means 23, and the solenoid control means 23 receiving this switches off the solenoid 60 regardless of the count pulse number n. Then, pachinko ball ejection is forcibly stopped (step S10).

After this forced stop, the user lifts the discharge tube 42 and takes out the pachinko ball 30 in the pachinko ball storage portion 38, so that the pachinko ball retention level is rapidly lowered from the retention detection position, and the right side of FIG. As shown in, the detection signal of the staying detection sensor 66 is switched to the signal which keeps the OFF state this time. Therefore, when the off state of the detection signal continues for 50 ms or more (YES in step S11), the forced stop signal from the stay determination unit 25 is released, and the solenoid control unit 23 performs the continuous discharge operation in steps S2 to S4. Resume.

As described above, in this apparatus, the staying detection sensor 66 is provided at the staying detection position on the downstream side of the passage detection sensor 64, and the staying detection sensor 66 and the staying determination means 2 are provided.
The pachinko ball 30 that reaches the stay detection position by 5
When the retention of the pachinko balls is detected, the discharge of the pachinko balls 30 is forcibly stopped.
4 is prevented from advancing to the disposition position, and adverse effects due to this retention, for example, erroneous detection of the number of ejected particles by the passage detection sensor 64 due to the presence of the retained pachinko balls 30, and the sprocket 50 and the retained pachinko balls 30. It is possible to surely avoid the contact and the like. Further, since excessive retention can be prevented in advance, the volume of the pachinko ball storage portion 38 can be reduced, and the discharge device as a whole can be further downsized accordingly.

The staying detection position may be set on the downstream side of the passage detecting sensor 64, whereby erroneous detection of the passage detecting sensor 64 can be prevented. Therefore, the staying detection position may be set, for example, not in the middle of the pachinko ball passage 34 but in the middle of the pachinko ball storage portion 38. However, as in this embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the pachinko ball passage 34 is set to the pachinko ball passage 34. If the inside of the pachinko balls 30 is limited to a cross-sectional area through which only one pachinko ball 30 can pass, and the stay detection position is set in the middle of the pachinko ball passage 34, the presence or absence of the pachinko balls 30 at the stay detection position is detected. It is possible to surely detect the stay with a simple configuration that is only required. Particularly, in this embodiment, the stay detection sensor 66
Of the pachinko ball 30 is being discharged or dropped when the retention detection sensor 66 is switched on, because the detection signal of is continuously turned on. It is possible to accurately determine whether it is due to retention.

After the discharge is forcibly stopped, the discharge may be restarted immediately after the stay detection sensor 66 is switched off. However, as described above, until the predetermined time elapses after the switch is switched off. By not restarting the discharge, if the pachinko ball 30 at the uppermost end slightly moves and the stay detection sensor 66 is temporarily switched off even while the player is staying, the discharge is mistakenly restarted. It is possible to more surely prevent the situation that causes it.

The discharging device is not limited to the free fall of the pachinko ball 30 as in the above embodiment,
For example, as shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2-56907, even if the pachinko balls are positively driven to the discharge side, the retention can be prevented, but basically the same as in the above embodiment. If free discharge of the pachinko ball 30 is used and discharge control is performed only by switching between allowance and prevention of the fall of the pachinko ball 30, that is, switching between release and rotation prevention of the rotor 50, a motor for discharging drive as in the prior art. A compact and inexpensive structure for a pachinko ball 30 without special equipment.
Can be discharged. Moreover, the rotor 50 is released to continuously discharge the pachinko balls 30 in an unregulated state until the total number of discharged pachinko balls 30 reaches a set number, which is smaller than the target number, and after reaching the set number, the target number is reached. Since the rotor 50 is intermittently released until the pachinko balls 30 are ejected one by one, the required time is shortened by continuously ejecting the pachinko balls 30 at the stage before the set number is reached. After reaching the number of pachinko balls 30, it is possible to accurately match the actual number of ejected balls to the target number by intermittently ejecting the pachinko balls 30.

Further, in this embodiment, since the forced stop is executed only during the period before the number of discharged sheets reaches the predetermined number (45 in the embodiment), the forced discharge is stopped just before the completion of discharging. And the discharge efficiency is increased accordingly. Moreover, regarding the passage length from the passage detection sensor 64 to the retention detection sensor 66, the number of pachinko balls stored in the area corresponding to the passage length is the difference between the target number and the predetermined number (5 in this embodiment). Since it has been set to be long enough to exceed the specified number, even if retention is detected, even if discharge is continued until the target number is reached after the number of discharges reaches the specified number and complete discharge is started. The inconvenience that the pachinko ball 30 stays at the position where the passage detection sensor 64 is disposed does not occur.

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the stay detecting sensor 66 is used.
Instead of this, the detection rotation member 70 is arranged at a position substantially the same as this. The detection turning member 70 includes a contact piece 72.
And a piece 74 to be detected, which has a substantially square shape.
The housing 1 is such that the middle part of 4 is rotatable about a horizontal axis 68.
0 is attached to the pachinko ball 30, and in the state where it does not come into contact with the pachinko ball 30, the position shown by the solid line in FIG.
When the pachinko ball 30 passes the staying detection position in the pachinko ball passage 34, the contact piece 72 is retained by the contact piece 72 as shown by the two-dot chain line in the figure, while the reference angle position 2 is largely projected into the pachinko ball passage 34. The detection rotating member 70 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure by being pushed in the discharging direction by the ball 30.

Then, in a state in which the detection rotation member 70 is rotated from the reference angle position in the same direction by a predetermined angle or more, the rotation detection sensor (rotation detection sensor (rotation) A detection means) 76 is provided. Similar to the passage detection sensor 64 and the retention detection sensor 66, a well-known sensor such as an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor can be applied to the rotation detection sensor 76, and the detection signal thereof is as shown in FIG.
It is adapted to be input to the stay determination means 25 shown in FIG.

Even in such a structure, until the pachinko ball 30 stays at the staying detection position, every time the discharged pachinko ball 30 passes through the staying detecting position (that is, every time it comes into contact with the contact piece 72). While the detection rotation member 70 rotates intermittently and a pulse signal is output from the rotation detection sensor 76, when the pachinko ball 30 stays at the stay detection position, the pachinko ball 30 stays at this stay detection position. Since the detection rotation member 70 is fixed at the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 5 and the detection signal of the rotation detection sensor 76 remains in the ON state, the stay detection can be performed based on this.

Moreover, when an optical sensor or the like is used as the staying detection sensor 66 as in the first embodiment, the light beam emitted from the optical sensor is staying unless the arrangement position is precisely set. Although there is a possibility that the pachinko balls 30 pass through the gaps between the pachinko balls 30 and the retention is not detected, if the detection rotation member 70 is used as in this embodiment, when the pachinko balls 30 are present at the retention detection position. Since the detection rotation member 70 always contacts with this and rotates, it is possible to reliably detect the pachinko ball 30 with a simpler configuration.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but the following modes can be adopted as examples.

(1) In the above embodiment, the pachinko ball 30 is dropped vertically, but the present invention can also be applied to a device for dropping a game medium while rolling it on a slope, for example.

(2) In the present invention, the pachinko ball passage 34 is directly connected to a saucer instead of the pachinko ball storage part 38 provided with the discharge tube 42 as described above, regardless of the specific structure of the discharge part. The present invention can also be applied to such a device.

(3) In the above embodiment, the number of ejected particles is detected by detecting the passage of the pachinko balls 30.
The rotor 5 that rotates in conjunction with the fall of the pachinko ball 30.
Even if the rotational displacement amount of 0 is detected by a potentiometer, a rotary encoder, or the like, the discharged number can be indirectly detected. In this case, the distance between the position of the locking claw 52 that locks the pachinko ball 30 in the rotor 50 and the stay detection position is set such that the number of pachinko balls that can be accommodated between both positions is the difference between the target number and the set number. By setting so as to exceed the above, it becomes possible to omit the forced stop after reaching the predetermined number without any inconvenience, as in the above-described embodiments.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

In the apparatus according to the first aspect, when it is detected that the already ejected game medium is staying at the staying detection position on the downstream side of the discharge actuating means during the discharge of the game medium by the ejecting actuating means. Since the discharge of the game medium by the discharge operation means is forcibly stopped, the progress of the accumulation of the game medium thereafter is prevented, and the favorable discharge operation is hindered due to such accumulation. There is an effect that can be prevented. In addition, since the progress of staying can be quickly avoided in this way, it is possible to reduce the storage volume of the game medium in the discharge section, and thereby to further reduce the size of the entire device.

In the apparatus according to the second aspect, since the passage detection position by the discharged number detecting means is set at a position downstream of the discharge operating means and the staying detection position is set at the downstream side thereof, the passage is performed. It is possible to prevent the game medium from staying at the detection position, and to prevent erroneous detection of the number of discharged media.

In the device according to the third aspect, the forced stop of the discharge of the game medium is canceled only when the non-detected state continues for a predetermined time after the forced stop, so that the game that is staying is retained. It is possible to prevent a situation in which the discharge of the game medium is mistakenly restarted when the stay detection is temporarily stopped due to a minute movement of the medium, and the discharge can be reliably restarted from the time when the stay is actually canceled. effective.

In the apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the cross-sectional area of the discharge passage is limited so that only one game medium can pass through the discharge passage, and the staying detection position is located in the middle of the discharge passage. Since the setting is made, there is an effect that the presence or absence of the stay can be accurately grasped by detecting whether or not the game medium exists at the stay detection position.

In the apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the discharge is forcibly stopped when the presence of the game medium at the staying detection position is continuously detected for a predetermined time. Therefore, the game medium being discharged is discharged. That is, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent the game medium that instantaneously passes the stay detection position from being mistakenly detected as a staying game medium, and prevent the discharge from being forcibly stopped.

Further, in the apparatus according to the sixth aspect, a detection turning member is provided at the staying detection position as a means for detecting the game medium, and a turning end portion of the detection turning member is fixed in the game medium discharging direction. Since the game medium is detected depending on whether or not it has rotated by an angle or more, that is, whether or not the above-mentioned rotating end portion is in contact with the game medium, detection is performed as in the case of using an optical sensor or a magnetic sensor. There is no possibility that the gap will be detected between the game media that are staying at the position and the stay will not be detected, and there is an effect that the stay can be detected more reliably.

In the device according to the seventh aspect, the free fall of the game medium is used, and the discharge control is performed only by switching between the allowance and the stop of the drop of the game medium. The game medium can be discharged with a compact and inexpensive structure without using a motor or the like. Moreover, until the total number of ejected game media reaches the set number, which is less than the target number, the drop is allowed and the game medium is continuously ejected in an unregulated state, and after the set number is reached, the drop is allowed until the target number is reached. Since the game media are ejected one by one by alternately repeating and the fall prevention, the required time is shortened by the continuous ejection of the game media at the stage before reaching the set number, while after the set number is reached. From the above, there is an effect that the actual number of discharged pieces can be accurately matched with the target number by intermittently discharging the game medium.

In the device according to the eighth aspect, the forced ejection stop is performed only during the period until the ejected number of the game media detected by the ejected number detecting means reaches the predetermined number, so that the ejection is almost completed. There is an effect that it is possible to improve the discharge efficiency by preventing the discharge from being interrupted. Moreover, the distance from the passage detection position to the retention detection position is set large until the number of game media that can be accommodated between the positions exceeds the difference between the target number and the predetermined number, and the predetermined number After reaching the target number, the game media are surely ejected one by one, so
After the discharge number reaches a predetermined number, even if the discharge to the target number is continued irrespective of the detection of the stay of the game medium, the problem that the game medium stays at the position where the drop restricting means is disposed does not occur.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of a pachinko ball ejection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device incorporated in the discharging device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a discharge control operation by the discharge device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a detection signal of a staying detection sensor in the discharging device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view showing a main part of a pachinko ball ejection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Reference Signs] 20 Control Device 21 Pulse Counting Means 22 Stop Judging Means (Constitutes Ejection Quantity Controlling Means) 23 Solenoid Control Means (Measures Emission Quantity Controlling Means and Emission Stopping Means) 24 Timer (Measures Emission Quantity Controlling Means) ) 25 retention determination means 30 pachinko balls (game medium) 34 pachinko ball passages (constituting accommodating portion and discharge passage) 38 pachinko ball storage portion (discharge portion) 50 rotor (fall control means) 60 solenoid (discharge switching means) 64 passage Detection sensor (passage detection means) 66 Retention detection sensor (game medium detection means) 70 Detection rotation member 76 Rotation detection sensor (rotation detection means)

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A device for controlling the discharge of a game medium from a storage portion to a discharge portion through a discharge passage, the state being switched between a discharge state in which the game medium is discharged toward the discharge portion and a non-discharge state in which the game medium is not discharged. Ejection operation means, retention detection means for detecting whether or not the game medium ejected to the ejection part is retained at a preset retention detection position on the downstream side of the ejection operation means, and the retention detection means By the discharge stop control means for forcibly setting the discharge operation means to the non-discharged state when it is detected that the game medium is staying up to the staying detection position. Emission control device. 2. The game medium discharge control device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge number for detecting the number of discharged game media by detecting the passage of the game medium at a passage detection position downstream of the discharge operation means. A discharge control device for a game medium, comprising a detection means, wherein the staying detection position is set at a position downstream of the passage detection position. 3. The game medium discharge control device according to claim 1, wherein after the discharge of the game medium is forcibly stopped, it is no longer detected that the game medium stays at the stay position. A discharge control device for a game medium, wherein the discharge stop control means is configured to release the forced stop of the discharge of the game medium only when the non-detection state continues for a predetermined time. 4. The game medium discharge control device according to claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional area of the discharge passage is set so that only one game medium can pass through the discharge passage. At the same time, the game medium discharge control device is characterized in that the stay detection position is set at a position in the middle of the discharge passage. 5. The game medium ejection control device according to claim 4, wherein the staying detecting means detects a game medium at the staying detecting position, and the game medium detecting means. When the presence of the game medium is continuously detected by the means for a predetermined time, it is determined that the game medium is retained up to the retention detection position, and retention determination means for outputting a retention detection signal is provided. Emission control device for game media. 6. The game medium discharge control device according to claim 5, wherein the game medium detection means is rotatably provided at the staying detection position, and has a rotating end portion in a state where the game medium does not come into contact with the game medium. Whether the detection rotation member held at the reference angle position facing the discharge passage and the rotation end portion of the detection rotation member have rotated from the reference angle position in the discharge direction of the game medium by a predetermined angle or more. And a rotation detection means for detecting the. 7. The game medium ejection control device according to claim 2, wherein the ejecting portion is provided at a position lower than the accommodating portion, and the game medium accommodated in the accommodating portion falls. Is configured to be discharged to the discharge section by
As the discharge actuating means, fall restricting means capable of switching between a permitting state in which the game medium is allowed to fall from the accommodating portion to the ejecting portion and a preventive state in which the game medium is prevented, and the fall restricting means in the permitting state and the preventive state. And a discharge switching means for switching the drop restriction means to the permissible state from the start of discharge, and the number detected by the discharge number detecting means at this time is a number smaller than the target number and is determined in advance. When the set number is reached, the fall restricting means is switched to the restricting state, and then the fall restricting means is alternately switched to the allowable state and the blocking state to eject the game media one by one, and the total ejected number is Discharge number control means for controlling the switching operation of the discharge switching means so as to maintain the fall restricting means in the blocking state when the target number is reached. Emission control device of game media to symptoms. 8. The game medium ejection control device according to claim 7, wherein the number of game media that can accommodate the distance from the passage detection position to the stay detection position is the target number and a predetermined number. Is set to be larger than the difference of the above, and the game medium stays at the staying detection position only during a period until the number of discharged game media detected by the discharged number detecting means reaches the predetermined number. A discharge control device for a game medium, wherein the discharge stop control means is configured so as to force the discharge operation means into the non-discharge state when it is detected.