JPH07313699A - Ball discharger of pachinko game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a ball discharger from racing and to make it possible to discharge balls accurately, by providing a discharge operation forbidding means for forbidding the ball discharger to operate if the presence of spare balls is not confirmed on the basis of the signal from a spare ball detecting means, when a sensing signal from a winning ball detecting means is inputted. CONSTITUTION:A pachinko game machine is equipped with a spare ball detector C for detecting whether spare balls are present or not in the guide path, and a winning ball detector 5 for detecting a ball put in a winning hole. The output signals of the detectors C, 5 are inputted into a controller 50 for controlling an electrically powered ball discharger 20, which is positioned at the lower end of the guide path for aligning and guiding the spare balls to be discharged and is able to discharge balls one by one. When a winning ball is detected, the ball discharger 20 is operated if the presence of spare balls is confirmed on the basis of the signal from the spare ball detector C, whereas when a winning is detected, the ball dicharger 20 is controlled so that the operation is forbidden if the presence of spare balls is not confirmed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball payout method for paying out a predetermined number of balls based on a discharge command signal in a pachinko game machine, and particularly to a high speed and payout based on a signal from a prize ball detector. The present invention relates to a method for controlling a prize ball dispensing device, which is capable of accurately dispensing a predetermined number of prize balls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known in pachinko gaming machines, when a player hits a ball into the gaming board one by one with a launching device provided at the bottom of the gaming board, it collides with an obstacle nail and changes direction at random. A predetermined number of prize balls are given to the player by entering the winning area with a certain probability while falling. Conventionally, such prize ball payout is generally configured by a mechanical prize ball payout device which is attached to the back surface of the game board and operates by transmitting the physical force generated by the prize ball.

[0003]

Therefore, in the conventional pachinko game machine, the structure of the back mechanism board attached to the back surface of the game board becomes complicated, the assembly is troublesome, and the occupied space becomes large, so that the back side of the game board is sufficient. Cannot have a clear void. In other words, there is a drawback in that the effective use space of the back of the game board is narrowed, and maintenance and inspection of the back mechanism board are difficult.

On the other hand, in recent pachinko machines, those having a large-scale variable winning device called "Lucky Seven" that creates a state in which a large amount of prize balls are given have become popular among gamers, and most models have a large size. The variable prize winning device is being installed. However, since such a large-scale variable winning device is often extended to the back mechanism board through the game board, in the back mechanism board equipped with the conventional mechanical prize ball payout device, There will be insufficient space to extend the variable prize winning device. Therefore, a small prize ball dispensing device has been demanded.

Further, with the adoption of such a large-scale variable winning apparatus, there are many opportunities for simultaneous or continuous winning balls. Moreover, in the conventional mechanical prize ball dispensing apparatus, one payout operation takes about 1.5 seconds, whereas in the current electric launching apparatus, nearly 100 shots are shot per minute. That is, since a hit ball is launched into the game board every 0.6 seconds, a large number of prize balls may occur in a short time, and a high-speed prize ball payout device is desired. However, in the conventional mechanical prize ball payout device which is operated by the transmission of the physical force generated by the winning ball, there is a limit to the speedup due to the friction of each mechanism.

The present invention has been made under the above background, and an object of the present invention is to enable accurate sphere payout.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs an electric ball-discharging device composed of a rotary sprocket and a pulse motor as a ball-discharging device and capable of discharging a single ball. This makes it possible to perform continuous, small-sized, high-speed payout of balls, and to output a signal such as a winning ball detection signal generated by detecting a hit ball (winning ball) that has entered the winning area. As a control device for controlling the pulse motor is received, as a drive control signal of the number of pulses necessary for paying out a predetermined number of balls based on the discharge command signal is formed in the control device and supplied to the pulse motor, A detector is provided to detect the discharge of the balls while performing the discharge operation. Based on the signal from this detector, it is determined whether or not the discharge number has reached a predetermined number, and it has not been reached. Case was a driving signal such as to discharge the sphere one by one to reach to operate and supplies to the pulse motor.

[0008]

With the characteristic of the pulse motor that it rotates exactly by an angle corresponding to the number of supplied pulses, accurate ball payout can be performed. Further, based on the discharge command signal, the control device forms a drive control signal of the number of pulses necessary for paying out a predetermined number of balls, supplies the pulse motor with the drive control signal, and causes the discharge operation to be performed. Since the discharge operation for one individual ball is repeated until the number of discharged balls reaches the predetermined number based on the signal of (1), the set predetermined number of balls can be discharged without fail, and more accurate discharge of the balls can be performed.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of a back mechanism board of a pachinko gaming machine equipped with a prize ball payout device to which the present invention is applied.

In the center of the back surface of the game board 1 provided with a plurality of winning areas and obstacle nails on the front side, a cover-2 is provided with a certain interval so that a hit ball (winning ball) won from the front winning area can flow down. By attaching, the winning ball downflow space and a set space of various winning devices (yakumono) are formed. In the lower part of the cover 2 which constitutes the winning ball flow-down space,
A collecting shelf 2a is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the center. In addition, a back surface set substrate 3 is provided from the upper part of the back surface of the game board to the side portion (right side portion in the drawing) so as to surround the cover 2, and the prize balls are paid out to the back surface set substrate 3. The back mechanism board is formed together with the cover 2 that constitutes the winning ball flow-down space by superimposing various devices and parts constituting the mechanism and the winning ball processing mechanism.

Further, in the center of the collecting shelf portion 2a, an approximately S
A winning ball deriving path 4 that is curved in a letter shape is connected, and the winning balls that have entered the winning ball flow-down space on the back of the game board 1 from the winning area provided on the front surface of the game board 1 are gathered together. 2a, and the balls are discharged to the outside of the machine through the winning ball lead-out path 4. A prize winning ball detector 5 and a prize winning ball separator 6 are provided in the middle of the prize winning ball derivation path 4, and the prize winning balls passing therethrough are separated one by one by the prize winning ball separator 6 and flow down. It is electrically detected by the winning ball detector 5. In this way, the prize ball payout device 20 to be described later is operated based on the prize ball detection signal detected for one prize ball, and a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out.

Further, on the upper surface of the back set substrate 3,
A preliminary storage unit 7 for storing balls (spare balls) before being dispensed by the prize ball dispensing device 20, and the spare balls are automatically aligned and guided from the spare storage unit 7 to the prize ball dispensing device 20. A taxiway 8 and a saucer 9 provided with prize balls dispensed by the prize ball dispenser 20 on the front of the game board.
A prize ball outlet path 11 for guiding to (see FIG. 4), a diversion gutter 13 for diverting the prize ball to the auxiliary tray 12 when the tray 9 is full, and the like are provided.

In this embodiment, as will be described later in detail, an electric prize ball payout device 20 comprising a pulse motor 21 and a sprocket 22 rotatably driven by the pulse motor 21 is provided, and the prize ball deriving path 4 is provided on the way. The control device 50 forms a drive signal based on the winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detector 5 provided in the above, and operates the prize ball payout device 20 for each winning ball to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls. I am supposed to do it.

Further, the prize ball payout device 20 and the prize ball lead-out path 11 are attached so as to be offset to one side on the back surface of the game board, so that a relatively large empty space A is formed in the center of the back mechanism board.
Has been formed. This empty space A makes the prize ball paying-out device compact by using an electric one composed of a sprocket and a pulse motor as the prize ball paying-out device 20, and the prize ball paying-out device 20 is provided on the back set substrate 3. It is realized by arranging it side by side with the ball drop passage 31 and concentrating it on one side.

In the back mechanism board of FIG. 1, 14a and 14b are tread plates which are provided to face the outflow port 7a of the preliminary storage section 7 and to be tilted midway between the starting end portion and the horizontal portion of the guide path 8. The levers 15a and 15b are tilted by the weights of the spare balls in the preliminary storage section 7 and the guide path 8, respectively. By detecting the tilted states of the tread levers 14a and 14b, the presence or absence of balls is detected. A ball shortage detector 1 which is a detector and there are no balls in the preliminary storage unit 7.
When 5a is turned on, a signal is sent to a control chamber (not shown) to replenish the balls in the preliminary storage portion 7, and the ball replenishment detector 15a malfunctions or the ball replenishing device malfunctions. By not being done, the second
When the ball shortage detector 15b is turned on, the operation of the prize ball payout device 20 is stopped. Reference numerals 16 and 17 denote a ball seal and a ball retainer plate which are provided in the middle of the guide path 8 and assist in rectifying the prize balls.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a structural example of the electric prize ball dispensing device 20.

As shown in the drawing, the end of the vertical portion of the guide path 8 formed in a substantially inverted L shape composed of a horizontal portion and a vertical portion is as follows.
It is bent obliquely downward and has two outlets 8a,
8b is provided. A sprocket 22 is arranged so as to face the outlets 8a and 8b, and the sprocket 22 is attached by a mounting frame 23 to the rear set substrate 3
It is fixed to the tip of the rotary shaft 21a of the pulse motor 21 fixed to. As shown in FIG. 6, a lock gear 24 is fixed to the rear end of the rotary shaft 21a, and a lock solenoid 25 is attached to the mounting frame 23 corresponding to the lock gear 24. Is installed. The tip of the locking rod 26 integrated with the actuator inserted in the locking solenoid 25 is arranged so that it can engage with the locking gear 24. The locking rod 26 is pushed out by the force, and the tip of the locking rod 26 engages with the locking gear 24 to prevent the motor 21 from rotating. Also,
When the solenoid 25 is energized, the locking rod 26 retreats and disengages from the locking gear 24, the locked state of the motor 21 is released, and the rotary shaft 21a becomes rotatable.

On the outer periphery of the sprocket 22, for example, six concave portions 22a and six claw portions 22b which can engage with a pachinko ball are formed, and the outlet portion 8 at the end of the guide path 8 is formed.
One of a and 8b is the recess 22a of the sprocket 22.
The other side is configured so as to face the claw portion 22b. Further, at the terminal end portion of the guide path 8, a discharge ball downflow path 18 having a blocking plate portion 18a at a position separated from the ends of the outlet portions 8a and 8b of the guide path 8 by one ball.
However, a discharge gutter 19 which is formed integrally with the guide path 8 and is connected to the upper end of the prize ball outlet path 11 is provided below the guide path 8.

The blocking plate portion 18a of the discharge ball flow-down passage 18 is disposed so as to contact the front surface of the mounting frame 23 of the motor 21. Therefore, in the state where the motor 21 is attached, as shown in FIG. 7, the sprocket 22 is located between the outlet portions 8a, 8b of the guideway 8 and the blocking plate portion 18a.

Therefore, the ball that has flowed down to the outlets 8a, 8b of the guideway 8 has the claw portion 22 of the sprocket 22 at the outlet.
When b comes, it comes into contact with the claw portion 22b in a state where only half of the face is exposed from the exit. On the other hand, when the recesses 22a of the sprocket 22 face the outlets 8a and 8b, the prize balls come out of the guide path 8 and enter the recesses 22a to contact and be held by the blocking plate 18a.

In other words, the prize ball B that has come into contact with the claw portion 22b of the sprocket 22 cannot flow out because it has not completely come out of the guide path 8, but the prize ball B'engaged with the recess 22a does not come into contact with the blocking plate portion 18a. When the sprocket 22 rotates, the sprocket 22 is pushed and separated by the claw portion 22b and is made to flow down to the discharge gutter 19 below. In the above case, the ball sandwiched between the blocking plate portion 18a and the following ball is prevented from being naturally dropped by the claws of the sprocket 22 on the outlet portion 8b side. On the other hand, a support piece 18b is provided in the flow-down passage 18 in order to prevent the sphere that flows out from the outlet portion 8a and engages with the recess 22a from spontaneously dropping. Moreover, the spheres flowing out from the outlet portion 8b pass through the outside of the cylindrical discharge sphere flow-down passage 18 and directly drop onto the discharge gutter 19 therebelow, and the outlet portion 8b
The ball flowing out from a passes through the discharge ball flow-down passage 18 and drops onto the discharge gutter 19 through the opening 18c at the lower end.

FIG. 8 shows the discharging action of the prize ball payout device 20. As shown in FIG. 8, the ball B ₁ engaged with the recess 22a _{1 of the} sprocket 22 _first causes the claw portion associated with the rotation of the sprocket. be separated is fed by movement of 22b _1, then the subsequent ball B ₃ spheres B ₁ is in contact with the claw portion 22b ₁ as in FIG. 9, ball B ₂ in the recess 22a ₃ that time
Are engaged and sent downward by the claw portion 22b ₂ to be separated. The pawl subsequent ball B ₄ sphere B ₂ is part 22b ₂
Sphere B ₃ engages with the concave portion 22a ₂ and contacts the claw portion 22a.
separated by b ₂ . In this way, the prize balls aligned in the outlets 8a and 8b are alternately taken out one by one and discharged to the discharge gutter 19 by the separating action accompanying the rotation of the sprocket 22.

An L-shaped cutout is formed in the upper portion of the blocking plate portion 18a, and the motor 2 is formed in this cutout.
By attaching the first rotating shaft 21a so that it is positioned, the prize balls that have flowed out of either of the exit portions 8a and 8b of the guideway once come into contact with the blocking plate portion 18a.

The control system for controlling the prize ball payout device 20 can be constructed as shown in FIG. 10, for example.

In this system, the control device 50 is, for example, a control circuit including a microcomputer (CPU) having a setter 51 such as a register for setting the number of prize balls to be paid out for one winning ball. It is configured.

When there is a winning ball, that is, when a winning ball detection signal is input from the winning ball detector 5, the control device 50 drives the solenoid 25 to release the locked state of the pulse motor 21 and then the prize. A driving signal of a predetermined number of pulses is sent to the pulse motor 21 that constitutes the ball payout device 20 to rotate the pulse motor 21 by a predetermined angle, and the number of prize balls set in the internal setter is paid out. To perform.

More specifically, the pulse motor 21 is configured to rotate once in 48 steps, for example. Therefore, the controller 50 controls the pulse motor 21.
On the other hand, by supplying the drive signal of 4 pulses, the rotating shaft 21a can be rotated by 30 degrees.
The sprocket 22 has six claws, and the prize balls are alternately separated and discharged from the guide path 8 formed in two rows. Therefore, when the sprocket 22 is rotated by 30 degrees, the prize is obtained. One ball will be ejected.

The control device 50 forms and outputs a drive signal having a predetermined number of pulses according to the number of prize balls preset in the setter 51. That is, in the above case, if the set number of prize balls is 15, the control device 50 forms a drive signal of 15 × 4, that is, 60 pulses for one winning ball and supplies it to the pulse motor 21. Then, the pulse motor 21 is driven and the sprocket 22 is rotated by 450 degrees. At this time, when the prize balls smoothly flow out from the guide path 8, the 15 prize balls are discharged by the rotation of 450 degrees.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the above control procedure. That is, first, in step S1, when the winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detector 5 is input and it is detected that there is a winning ball, the process proceeds to step S2 to drive the solenoid 25 to drive the pulse motor 21. By releasing the lock state of No. 1 and sending a drive signal consisting of the number of pulses required to discharge a predetermined number of prize balls to the pulse motor 21 to drive it, the prize ball payout process is executed and then wait It shifts to the state and waits until the next winning ball is detected.

Even if the control procedure is relatively simple as described above, the pulse motor has the characteristic that it is rotated very accurately and surely by the number of pulses of the control drive signal, so that an accurate prize ball is obtained. Can be paid out.

In the above case, in step S2 according to the embodiment, the solenoid 25 constituting the locking means provided for the rotary shaft of the pulse motor 21 is driven to release the locked state, and then the discharging process is performed. However, instead of forming the locking means using a solenoid, when the motor is not operating, a smaller current is applied to the motor than during the discharging operation, so that the electromagnetic motor rotates the pulse motor 21. Can be suppressed. Alternatively, it is possible to omit the locking means since it is not absolutely necessary.

Next, the control method according to the present invention will be described. In applying this control method, a sphere ejection detecting means for detecting spheres to be ejected is required. Therefore, as an example, as shown in FIG.
Discharge ball detector 3 consisting of a Hall element etc. in the middle of the vertical part of the
5 is provided. It is preferable that the discharge ball detectors 35 are provided corresponding to the respective rows of the vertical portion of the guide path 8 having the two inner rows, so that the prize balls arranged in the respective rows are provided. It is possible to form a discharge ball detection signal by detecting a phenomenon of downward movement accompanying the discharge operation.

As described above, when the discharge ball detector 35 provided in the middle of the guideway 8 is used, for example, the control device 50 is operated according to the flow shown in FIG. Can be done.

That is, first, in step S11,
When it is detected that there is a winning ball by inputting a winning ball detection signal from the winning ball detector 5, step S1
Move to 2. In step S12, a driving signal including the number of pulses required to eject a predetermined number of prize balls is sent to the pulse motor 21 to drive the pulse motor 21 to execute a payout process of a predetermined number of prize balls. Then, step S1
The process proceeds to 3 and the value of the internal counter that counts the signal from the discharge ball detector 35 is read to confirm the actual number of discharge balls. Then, in the next step S14, it is determined whether or not the read number of discharged balls matches the predetermined number of prize balls set in the setter 51.

If it is determined that the number of discharged balls matches the number of prize balls, the process shifts to the standby state and waits until the next prize ball is detected, and when the next prize ball occurs, step S1
Return to 1 and repeat the above operation.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the number of discharged balls does not match the number of prize balls (in this case, the number of discharged balls is always <the number of prize balls due to the configuration of the apparatus), step S1
Go to 5. In step S15, in order to cause the pulse motor 21 to rotate the sprocket 22 by 30 degrees and discharge only one prize ball, a driving signal consisting of four pulses is sent to execute one discharge process. Next, in step S16, it is determined again whether or not the number of discharged balls matches the predetermined number of prize balls. If they do not match, the process returns to step S15. In this way, one discharging operation is repeated until the two match, and when the two match, the standby state is entered.

According to the above control method, for example, the taxiway 8
Accurate payout can be made even if the prize balls have stopped flowing in only one or both of the two guideways due to a ball clogging or the like. That is,
According to the control method shown in FIG. 11 in which a drive signal of a predetermined number of pulses is generated in advance to drive the pulse motor 21, a predetermined number of prize balls may not be accurately paid out due to a ball jam or the like. On the other hand, according to the control method of FIG. 12, since the one-by-one discharge is continued until the discharge number reaches the predetermined number, more accurate payout is possible.

If the number of ejected sheets does not reach the predetermined number even if the above-mentioned one-piece delivery is repeated several times, the ejecting operation may be stopped and an error message may be displayed. As a result, it is possible to prevent the ball payout device 20 from idling and avoid heating the motor.

Next, another control method of the ball payout device 20 will be described.

In applying this control method, in order to detect whether or not there is a spare ball at the exits 8a, 8b at the end of the guideway 8, the openings are opposed to the exits 8a, 8b. As described above, a detector such as an optical sensor is attached to the blocking plate portion 18a (position shown by arrow C in FIG. 7), for example. By performing control according to the flow shown in FIG. 13 based on the detection signal from this detector, accurate payout can be made.

First, when it is detected in step S21 that there is a winning ball, the process proceeds to step S22, and based on the signal from the discharged ball detector, the exit portions 8a, 8 at the end of the taxiway.
It is determined whether or not there is a spare ball to be discharged next in b. If it is determined that there is a spare ball in at least one of the outlets, the process proceeds to step S23, the pulse motor 21 is driven, and the sprocket 22 is rotated by one step (30 degrees).

As a result, normally only one spare ball is discharged, but it may not be discharged. Therefore, in the next step S24, it is confirmed whether or not the balls are discharged by determining whether or not the balls in the outlet portions 8a and 8b confirmed in step S22 are gone. Step S
If it is determined at 24 that the sphere is not exhausted, or if the sphere does not originally exist at the outlet on the discharge side (the side where the recess of the sprocket 22 is facing), the process returns to step S23 and the pulse mode is resumed. Rotate the motor again for one step. As a result, the balls are discharged, and when it is determined in step S24 that the balls are exhausted, the process proceeds to the next step S25, the counter in the control device 50 is incremented by "1", and 1 is added to the number of discharged balls. To step S26.

In step S26, it is determined whether or not the count value of the counter coincides with the number of prize balls set in the setter 51 in the control device 50. If it is determined that they do not match, the process returns to step S22 again to confirm the existence of the discharged balls, and then proceeds to steps S23 and S24 to discharge another prize ball. In this way, a predetermined number of prize balls are discharged, and when it is determined in step S26 that the number of discharged balls has reached the number of prize balls, the discharge is ended and the process shifts to the standby state, and the next prize ball. Wait until is detected. If it is determined in step S22 that there is no spare ball at any of the outlets 8a and 8b at the end of the taxiway 8, the process jumps to step S27 to stop the discharging operation and display an error message. As a result, the prize ball payout device 20 can be prevented from idling and an unfair operation can be avoided.

The error display can be performed by, for example, turning on an alarm lamp provided on the upper part of the front of the game board. In addition, the discharging operation stop state in step S27 can be released by, for example, a pachinko parlor staff inspecting and normalizing the back mechanism board, and then pressing a restart switch (not shown) provided on the back set board or the like. In this way, the normal processing state is restored. By executing the above control method, more accurate and reliable payout of prize balls can be performed.

In the above embodiment, by changing the set value of the setter 51 in the control device 50, it is possible to dispense an arbitrary number of prize balls at one time. In addition, a plurality of setting devices 51 in the control device 50 of the above embodiment are provided to make the set values different, and a winning ball detector is provided for each of a plurality of winning regions provided on the front surface of the game board to determine the kind of winning. It is also possible to distinguish the number of prize balls and change the number of prize balls to be paid out according to the type (characteristic) of the prize. Further, a memory circuit such as a counter for holding the number of winning balls by counting the winning detection ball signals is provided, and the prize balls are paid out while the content of the memory circuit is "1" or more. The number of winning balls in the storage circuit may be decremented by 1 for each payout.

Next, a supplementary description will be given of the structure around the prize ball payout device 20. Aligning the balls in the preliminary storage unit 7 and guiding the balls to the prize ball dispensing device 20, the curved portion from the horizontal portion to the vertical portion of the guide path 8,
A bent portion 8c that is deeply curved in a U-shape is formed, and a ball drop mechanism 30 is arranged in this bent portion 8c, and a receiving opening of the ball drop passage 31 is exposed. The bent portion 8c is provided with a peripheral wall portion 32 capable of opening and closing a part of the outer peripheral surface, a swinging rod 33 for swingably holding the peripheral wall portion 32, and a tilting actuating rod 34 above the swinging rod 33. By operating the operating rod 34 from the outside, the swing rod 33 is rotated outward as shown by the broken line to open the peripheral wall portion 32 and guide the spare ball in the guide passage 8 to the ball pulling passage 31. I am doing it.

The ball drop passage 31 is provided in parallel with the guide passage 8,
The lower part of the flow path is bent and buried toward the space between the prize ball lead-out path 11 and the back set substrate 3 on the way,
It is extended to the center of the lower part of the game board 1 and merges with the out ball discharge path, so that the spare ball can be pulled out of the machine.

An open / close door 41 is rotatably hung between the discharge gutter 19 provided below the prize ball payout device 20 and the upper end of the prize ball payout path 11, and the prize ball payout device 20 is provided. The prize balls that have been discharged from the discharge gutter 19 and have fallen apart on the discharge gutter 19 collide with the opening / closing door 41, are rectified, and flow down into the prize ball outlet path 11. Further, since the opening / closing door 41 is provided, the piano wire is inserted from the outlet of the saucer 9 or the like below the game board, reaches the prize ball payout device 20 through the lead-out path 11, and illegally rotates the sprocket. It is possible to prevent fraudulent acts that attempt to do so.

The prize ball delivery path 11 is provided with a prize ball payout device 20.
Is bent almost vertically from below, and is bent toward the center side. A bell 42 is arranged at the lower end of the vertical portion so that about one-fourth of the circumference faces the lead-out path. There is. The prize balls discharged from the prize ball payout device 20 are accelerated in the vertical portion of the outlet path 11 and collide with the bell 42 below to generate a refreshing sound, and then change directions to the flow path conversion portion 43. Moving.

The flow channel converting unit 43 has approximately 9 flow channels for prize balls.
Communication port 44 that is converted to 0 ° and communicates with the saucer 9 on the front of the game board 1, and the auxiliary saucer 1 provided below the front of the game board
A diversion gutter 13 communicating with 2 is connected to form a branch point of two flow paths that are directed forward and downward. At the boundary between the flow path converting portion 43 and the diversion gutter 13, the restriction piece 4 protruding upward is provided.
5 is provided, and the prize ball that has flowed down the prize ball lead-out path 11 collides with the restriction piece 45, changes its direction, and flows toward the saucer 9 in the front. Then, from the saucer 9 to the communication port 4
When the space up to 4 is filled with the prize balls, the succeeding prize balls pass over the restriction piece 45 and overflow into the diversion gutter 13 and flow toward the auxiliary tray 12 below.

When the inside of the auxiliary tray 12 is filled with the prize balls, the connecting portion with the auxiliary tray 12 at the bottom of the branch gutter 13 is filled with
An overflow detector 46 for detecting this is provided, and the operation of the hitting ball launching device or the prize ball dispensing device 20 is stopped by the detection signal, and the space from the diversion gutter 13 to the prize ball derivation path 11 is a prize ball. It is possible to prevent the prize ball payout device 20 from becoming full and hindering the normal operation of the prize ball payout device 20.

Further, the collecting shelf 2a and the winning ball lead-out path 4
An out hole 47 is provided so as to penetrate the game board 1 at a position almost at the same height as the connection part with the out hole 47.
Below, the out gutter 48 is arranged in the space formed by scooping the frame board 10 supporting the game board 1. The outflow trough of this out gutter 48 is, as shown in FIG.
It is bent to the rear of the game board 1 and joined with the lower end of the ball drop passage 31 arranged so as to be located between the diversion gutter 13 and the back surface of the frame board 10, and the out ball is out of the machine. Can be collected.

Therefore, the space in which the above out gutter 48 is provided, the space in which the winning ball lead-out path 4 and the lower part of the ball pull-out path 31 are provided, and the space in which the diversion gutter 13 is provided are as shown in FIG.
As shown in Figure 3, it is designed to form a three-layered laminated space structure,
The passages are provided in the spaces of the layers in the laminated space structure. As a result, the plurality of passages can be housed in a limited space in an orderly and compact manner without interfering with each other. Further, in order to form a space for arranging the above out gutters 48, in a portion where the frame board 10 supporting the game board 1 is scooped out, in order to prevent the rigidity of the board from decreasing, as shown in the figure, a grid shape is formed. An eggplant reinforcing member 49 is formed.

The prize winning ball separator 6 provided in the middle of the prize winning ball deriving path 4 is constructed as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. That is, the winning ball deriving path 4 having an almost S-shape
At the curved portion, a cylindrical rotary separator 61 is arranged so as to partially project into the passage, and is rotatably supported by a support shaft 62. A concave portion 61a capable of engaging one ball is formed on the outer periphery of the rotary separator 61, and a weight (weight) 63 having a slightly lighter weight than a pachinko ball is formed at an axially symmetrical position with respect to the concave portion 61a. Is stuck. Further, a set of stoppers 64a, 64b is provided on the member forming the winning ball deriving path 4 at a position where the stopper 64a, 64b can come into contact with the wall portion of the rotary separating body forming the concave portion 61a. The stoppers 64a and 64b are provided on the weight 63.
The rotation separating body 61 rotates due to its own weight, and the concave portion 61a becomes upwardly dented as shown in FIG.
In a state of facing the entrance of the concave portion 61a, the rotation separating member 61 is rotated counterclockwise by abutting against the wall surface forming the concave portion 61a to prevent the clockwise rotation. At this time, the recess 61a is positioned so as to contact the wall surface of the recess 61a at a position facing the exit of the winning ball lead-out path 4 and prevent rotation.

Therefore, when the moment generated by the winning ball engaged with the recess 61a overcomes the rotation moment of the weight 63 and the rotary separator 61 is rotated as shown in FIG. 16, the succeeding balls are the outer peripheral surface of the rotary separator 61. This prevents the flow down. When the winning ball separates from the recess 61a by its own weight and flows down toward the winning ball detector 5 below, the rotary separator 61 is rotated by the rotation moment of the weight 63 and returns to the state of FIG. In this way, the winning balls are separated one by one by the rotary separator 61 and flowed down at an appropriate time interval, so that the prize ball payout device 20 even when a large number of winning balls are continuously generated. In the time required for detecting the winning balls and counting the number of winning balls or paying out the prize balls once, two or more winning balls do not flow down the lead-out path 4. As a result, it is possible to accurately pay out the prize balls corresponding to the number of winning balls.

In the above embodiment, the case where the present invention is applied to the prize ball discharge control in the pachinko gaming machine has been described, but the present invention uses the prize ball discharging device of the embodiment and is adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine. The present invention can also be applied to the case of performing control such that the rental balls are discharged based on the discharge command signal from the ball lending machine provided in the above.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, by adopting the electric ball discharging device which is composed of the rotary sprocket and the pulse motor as the ball discharging device and is capable of discharging each ball individually, it is possible to reduce the size. In addition, it is possible to perform high-speed and continuous payout of balls, and for example, a signal such as a winning ball detection signal generated by detecting a hit ball (winning ball) that has entered the winning area is received as an ejection command signal. A control device for controlling the pulse motor is provided, and a drive control signal having the number of pulses necessary for paying out a predetermined number of balls based on the discharge command signal is formed in the control device and supplied to the pulse motor to perform the discharging operation. Since it is possible to do so, it is possible to accurately dispense the sphere by the characteristic of the pulse motor that it rotates exactly by an angle according to the number of supplied pulses. Achieve the cormorant effect.

In addition, a drive control signal having the number of pulses necessary for paying out a predetermined number of balls based on the discharge command signal is formed in the control device and is supplied to the pulse motor to perform the discharging operation, and at the same time, the ball is discharged. Based on the signal from the detection means, the discharge operation for one ball is repeated until the number of discharged balls reaches the predetermined number, so that the set number of balls set is always discharged, and more accurate ball payout can be performed. It has the effect of being able to perform.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a rear view showing an example of the configuration of the entire back mechanism board on the back of the game board of a pachinko gaming machine, which is equipped with a prize ball payout device suitable for applying the ball payout method according to the present invention;

2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a ball payout device,

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the ball dispensing device,

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional explanatory view of a ball dispensing device,

FIG. 8 is an operation explanatory view showing a payout operation in the ball payout device,

FIG. 9 is an operation explanatory view showing a payout operation in the ball payout device,

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a control system of the ball payout device,

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a procedure of a control method for a ball payout device according to the present invention,

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an embodiment of a ball payout method according to the present invention,

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the ball payout method according to the present invention,

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing an example of a structure such as a winning ball lead-out path under the back mechanism board;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory sectional view showing an example of the configuration of a winning ball separator.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the operation of the winning ball separator.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 game board 2a collecting shelf 3 back set substrate 4 winning ball derivation path 5 winning ball detector 6 winning ball separator 7 reserve storage 8 taxiway 11 prize ball derivation path 15a, 15b ball shortage detector 20 prize ball payout device 21 pulse motor 22 sprocket 24 locking gear 25 solenoid 26 locking rod 30 punching mechanism 31 punching passage 35 discharge ball detector 41 opening / closing door 43 flow path converting unit 45 restricting piece 47 out hole 50 control device 60 winning ball separator 61 rotary separator 63 weight (weight)

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] August 4, 1992

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Title of invention

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Title of Invention] Ball payout device in pachinko gaming machine

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure amendment 4]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0001

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0001]

The present invention relates to a ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of prize balls based on a prize detection signal to a prize opening provided on the front of a game board in a pachinko game machine. With regard to, especially in the guideway that guides the reserve ball before being discharged
The present invention relates to a prize ball payout device capable of accurately paying out a predetermined number of prize balls even when a ball jam occurs .

[Procedure Amendment 5]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0005

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Then, to the winning opening provided on the front of the game board
Electricity that pays out a predetermined number of prize balls based on the winning detection signal of
A prize-type prize dispenser has been proposed. However,
The conventional electric prize ball dispensing device stores spare balls.
Automatic when the tank is empty by detecting the presence of a ball in the tank
Although there are some that are designed to replenish the ball,
When it is detected, the prize balls will be immediately discharged.
I was there. Therefore, the spare balls in the prize ball tank are loaded with the prize balls.
If a ball jam occurs in the taxiway that guides you to the
The ball dispenser spins idle and accurately dispenses a specified number of prize balls
There was a problem that I could not do it .

[Procedure correction 6]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0006

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The present invention has been made under the above-mentioned background, and the purpose thereof is to predict before discharge.
An object of the present invention is to provide a ball dispensing device that can accurately dispense a ball even if a ball is clogged in a guide path that guides a ball.

[Procedure Amendment 7]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0007

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is directed to aligning and guiding spare balls before being discharged.
Electric that can discharge one ball placed at the lower end of the flow path
Type ball dispensing device and a system for electrically controlling the ball dispensing device.
Control device and whether there is a spare ball in the taxiway
Spare sphere detection means for storing, and an input provided on the front of the game board.
Winning ball detection means that detects the ball that has won the prize hole, and the game
Or a display for visually displaying the control status to the outside.
In a pachinko gaming machine including a step, the control device described above.
When the detection signal from the winning ball detecting means is input,
Of the spare sphere based on the signal from the spare sphere detection means.
Check the existence and operate the above-mentioned ball dispensing device.
The detection signal from the winning means and the winning ball detecting means is input.
If the sphere is hit, the
Operation of the above-mentioned ball dispensing device when the presence of a ball is not confirmed
And a payout operation prohibiting means for prohibiting
I did .

[Procedure Amendment 8]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0008

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0008]

[Operation] Inside the taxiway based on the signal from the preliminary sphere detection means
After confirming the existence of the spare ball, the above ball dispensing device is activated,
If the existence of the spare ball is not confirmed, the operation of the above ball dispensing device is performed.
Since the movement is prohibited, it is possible to prevent the ball dispensing device from idling.
You will be able to stop and make accurate ball payouts.

[Procedure Amendment 9]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0032

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

Accuracy of payout by the prize ball payout device 20
It is good to confirm the number of discharges in order to expect. This confirmation
In order to do so, a ball ejection detecting means for detecting the ejected balls is necessary. Therefore, as an example, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a discharge ball detector 35 including a Hall element is provided in the vertical portion of the guide path 8. This discharge ball detector 35
Is preferably provided corresponding to each column of the vertical portion of the taxiway 8 whose inside is formed in two columns.
It is possible to form a discharge ball detection signal by detecting a phenomenon that the prize balls arranged in each row move downward in accordance with the discharging operation.

[Procedure Amendment 10]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0044

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

The error display can be performed by, for example, turning on an alarm lamp provided on the upper part of the front of the game board. In addition, the discharging operation stop state in step S27 can be released by, for example, a pachinko parlor staff inspecting and normalizing the back mechanism board, and then pressing a restart switch (not shown) provided on the back set board or the like. In this way, the normal processing state is restored. By executing the above control method, more accurate and reliable payout of prize balls can be performed. In addition, due to ball clogging in taxiway 8
In case of error due to
The presence of the spare sphere is confirmed by the detector in the sphere dispensing device 20.
It can be configured to automatically return by
Can .

[Procedure Amendment 11]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0057

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, the discharge
At the lower end of the guideway that aligns and guides the preliminary balls before
An electric ball payout device capable of discharging one placed ball,
A control device for electrically controlling the ball dispensing device;
Spare ball inspection to detect whether there is a spare ball in the guideway
A means of winning and a ball that has won a prize on the front of the game board
Winning ball detection means to detect the game or its control state
With a display means for visually displaying the state to the outside.
In the NCO gaming machine, the control device is used to detect the winning ball.
When the detection signal from the means is input, the above preliminary ball detection
The presence of the reserve sphere is confirmed based on the signal from the means and
The payout operation executing means for operating the ball payout device, and the above winning
When the detection signal from the sphere detection means is input,
The presence of a spare sphere is confirmed based on the signal from the sphere detection means.
Payout operation to prohibit the operation of the above ball dispensing device
Since it is configured to include prohibition means,
Idling the location is prevented, and can be performed payout accurate sphere
Both avoid the heating of the electric drive source such as the motor, and eliminate it.
This has the effect of reducing power consumption .

[Procedure Amendment 12]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be corrected] 0058

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

In addition, the game or its control state is external
In a pachinko gaming machine equipped with display means for visual display
In the control device, the payout operation prohibiting means is used.
If the operation of the ball dispensing device is prohibited,
Display drive signal that drives the stage to display its operation prohibited state
To include a payout operation stop display drive means for outputting
As a result, the player and the staff at the game store are
This has the effect of being able to know that the operation has stopped .

[Procedure Amendment 13]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Name of item to be corrected] Fig. 10

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Figure 10]

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A rotary sprocket having a plurality of recesses on its outer periphery, which are arranged so as to face a guide path that aligns and guides the preliminary balls before being discharged, and has a plurality of recesses capable of engaging one ball. An electric ball dispensing device having a pulse motor for discharging a preliminary ball by rotating a rotary sprocket by a predetermined angle,
Sphere discharge detection means for detecting the discharge of the ball, and a control means for operating the pulse motor of the ball payout device based on the discharge command signal, when the discharge command signal occurs,
A drive signal having a pulse number for ejecting a predetermined number of balls from the ball dispensing device is formed by the control means and supplied to the pulse motor of the ball dispensing device to dispense the predetermined number of balls. At the same time, it is determined whether or not the number of discharged balls has reached a predetermined number based on the signal from the above-mentioned ball discharge detection means. A ball payout method in a pachinko gaming machine, which is characterized in that