JPH08141175A - Prize ball dispensing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a prize ball dispensing device to expell prize balls, which does not require an alignment passage, by ataching to a prize ball tank, for example. CONSTITUTION: In this prize ball expelling device, a rotary body 30 forming plural holding holes 35 to receive prize balls from a ball entrance 21 is made rotatable, an expelling hole 12 of prize balls is formed at the position corresponding to the locus of the holding holes 35 of the rotary body 30, and an expelling prohibiting member 22 to prohibit to lead prize balls on the rotary body 30 other than the balls held in the holding holes 35 to the expelling hole 12 is also provided, and prize balls are expelled from the expelling hole 12 by rotating the rotary body 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prize ball dispensing device for dispensing prize balls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an example of a conventional pachinko machine, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-7514, a prize ball dispenser is installed below a prize ball tank mounted on the upper side of the back side of the pachinko machine. In addition, an alignment passage for aligning the prize balls is arranged obliquely between the prize ball tank and the prize ball dispensing device. Therefore, the prize balls stored in the prize ball tank are aligned in the process of flowing down the alignment passage, and then,
After the coins are paid out by the prize ball payout device, they are discharged to the upper plate through the discharge passage.

[0003]

In the conventional pachinko machine, it is necessary to provide an inclined alignment passage at the bottom of the prize ball tank in order to align the prize balls, resulting in an increase in equipment cost. Also, if the prize balls whose diameters have become smaller due to wear due to long-term use are mixed, the prize balls may form a bridge in the alignment passage, which may lead to a situation where the prize balls cannot be dispensed smoothly. there were. Furthermore, in the conventional prize ball payout device, when it is necessary to pay out a large amount of prize balls in a short time such as when a big hit, the prize balls are not paid in time, and therefore, even after the big hit ends, there is a delay. The prize balls were paid out as a result, and there were problems such as giving the player a feeling of strangeness. Therefore, the present invention provides a means for solving such a problem.

[0004]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a prize ball dispensing device, wherein a rotating body having a plurality of holding holes for receiving a prize ball from a ball entrance is rotatable, and the holding hole of the rotating body is moved. A prize ball payout opening is formed at a position corresponding to the locus, and a payout prohibiting member is provided for prohibiting guiding the prize ball on the rotating body other than the prize ball held in the holding hole to the payout opening. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a prize ball payout device in which the holding hole according to claim 1 is formed on a rotating body on two or more different circles, and the payout outlets corresponding to the holding holes are provided to avoid simultaneous payout of prize balls. It is formed at the position where According to a third aspect of the present invention, the rotating body according to the first or second aspect of the present invention can be rotated normally and reversely.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the prize ball dispensing device according to the third aspect, the ball outlet communicating with the collecting passage for the prize ball is formed at a position corresponding to the movement path of the holding hole, and the prize ball other than the prize ball dropped in the holding hole. A ball removal prohibiting member that prohibits guiding the prize ball on the rotating body to the ball removing port is provided.

[0005]

In the prize ball dispensing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a part of the prize ball from the ball entrance is held by each holding hole of the rotating body, while the payout prohibiting member prevents the prize ball from being discharged from the payout outlet. There is. Then, during the operation of the prize ball payout device, the prize ball is rotationally moved in accordance with the rotation operation of the rotating body while being held in the holding hole, and the holding hole of the rotating body reaches a position where it coincides with the payout opening. At this time, the prize balls are paid out from the payout opening, but the other prize balls are prevented from being discharged by the payout prohibiting member. According to claim 2, since the prize balls can be held in the respective holding holes formed on two or more different circles and sequentially paid out from the respective payout openings, the payout of the prize balls can be speeded up, and the odd number can be used. It is also possible to discharge individual pieces. Claim 3
When the prize balls form a bridge, the rotating body is alternately rotated in the forward direction and the reverse direction to swing the prize balls in the prize ball payout device to break the bridge formation. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a part of the prize ball from the ball entrance is held in each holding hole of the rotating body, while the ball pull-out prohibiting member prevents the prize ball from being discharged from the ball pull-out port. Then, when the rotating body is rotated in the reverse direction, the prize ball is rotationally moved with the rotation operation of the rotating body while being held in the holding hole, and when the holding hole of the rotating body matches the ball outlet, the prize ball is The balls are paid out from the ball outlet and collected, but the other prize balls are prevented from being discharged by the ball removal prohibiting member.

[0006]

【Example】

(First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine, and a game board 10 formed on the front of the pachinko machine.
1, a plurality of winning holes 102 are provided, and when a game ball launched by operating the firing handle 103 wins in any of the winning holes 102, it is detected by a winning ball detector (not shown). In addition, 133 is an upper plate, 134 is a lower plate, 162
Is an operation hole for a recovery ball removal switch which will be described later. On the other hand, a prize ball tank 120 for storing prize balls is attached to the upper part of the machine frame 110 on the back surface of the pachinko machine, and the prize ball dispensing device 1 for counting and discharging the prize balls to the bottom of the prize ball tank 120. Is provided. Below the prize ball dispensing device 1, a discharge passage 131 connected to the guide path 130 is formed in a meandering manner to reduce the downward pressure of the prize ball.
It communicates with the upper plate 133 and further to the lower plate 134 via the outlet 132.

A main controller 141 for controlling the pachinko machine, a payout controller 142 for controlling the prize ball dispensing device 1, and a relay board 143 are installed on the back surface, and the main controller 141, the relay board 143, and The main controller 141 and the payout controller 142 are connected to each other by a well-known connector coupling method or a board-to-board coupling method for easy connection. Incidentally, 151
Is a winning ball discharging device that counts and discharges the winning balls that have won the winning hole 102, and 152 is a limit switch type fill detector that detects when the prize balls in the lower plate 134 have accumulated above a predetermined level.

Next, the prize ball payout device 1 arranged at the bottom of the prize ball tank 120 will be described. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the prize ball payout device, FIG. 4 is a front sectional view, and FIG. 5 is a plan view. In the prize ball payout device 1, a bottom plate 10 and a circular receptacle 20 are provided in a screw hole 2 vertically provided at a corner and a screw 3 is provided.
The rotor 30 is assembled by fixing the rotating body 30 between the bottom plate 10 and the receiving body 20. Then, the shaft rod 5 is inserted into the shaft holes 4 formed at the respective central positions of the partitioning frame 22 provided laterally on the bottom plate 10, the rotating body 30, and the receiving body 20, and the rotating body 30 mounts the shaft rod 5 on the shaft hole 5. It is rotatable around the center. In addition, in order to make the rotation of the rotating body 30 smooth, it is desirable to use a bearing. In addition, the bottom portion 22a of the partition frame 22 has the rotating body 3
The height is set so that the prize balls that have fallen into the holding hole 35 formed to be 0 can pass and the prize balls on the other rotating bodies 30 cannot pass, and the partition frame 22 and the inclined plate 121 pay out the prize balls. The prohibition member 23 and the ball removal prohibition member 24 are configured. The inclined plate 121 of the prize ball tank 120 is formed so as to be slightly inclined with respect to the bottom plate 121a so that as many prize balls as possible can be retained, and the inclined plate 121 is formed so as to be inclined toward the receptacle 20. The prize balls flow out through the frame 22 to the formed semicircular ball inlet portion 21. The semicircular surface of the receiving body 20 opposite to the ball inlet 21 is closed by the extension of the inclined plate 121.

A transmission gear 31 is formed on the peripheral portion of the rotating body 30, while a drive source 32 such as a pulse motor or the like capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions is provided on a side frame 11 vertically provided at one end of the bottom plate 10. A drive gear 34 that meshes with the transmission gear 31 at a right angle is attached to the motor shaft 33 of the pulse motor 32. Therefore, the rotating body 30 is rotationally operated with the rotation of the drive gear 34 that meshes with the transmission gear 31. Further, the rotating body 30 is formed with six holding holes 35 at a constant interval on a predetermined radius circumference, and each of these holding holes 35 is formed to be slightly larger than the diameter of the prize ball Y, and one holding hole 35 is formed. The prize ball is ready to pass.

On the bottom plate 10 provided at the lower part of the rotating body 30, a prize ball payout opening 12 is formed at a position corresponding to the movement locus of the holding hole 35 of the rotary body. Be communicated to. In addition, since the prize balls are placed and supported on the bottom plate 10 and can be smoothly moved,
A guide rail 13 is provided so as to project toward the payout opening 12 while gradually lowering downward while facing the holding hole 35. In order to ensure that the prize balls in the holding holes 35 can be discharged from the payout opening 12, a stopper 19 is provided on the bottom plate 10 at the position where the payout opening 12 passes. Further, with respect to the holding hole 35,
It is adjacent to the counterclockwise side of the rotating body 30 and has a holding hole 3 for the rotating body.
A ball outlet 15 is formed at a position corresponding to the movement trajectory of the guide rail 5, and the guide rail 13 is inclined in the direction of the ball outlet 15.
a is protruding. In addition, the holding hole 35 formed in the rotating body 30.
In order to allow only the prize balls that have fallen into the box to be discharged, the partition frame 22 and the inclined plate 121 constitute a ball removal prohibiting member.
In addition, the ball outlet 15 communicates with the recovery passage 160,
A collection ball detector 161 such as a proximity switch type is provided in the collection passage 160. At the time of starting the recovery,
An operating hole 162 for a ball-removing switch operated by a wire or the like is provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine (FIG. 1). In addition, outlet 1
2 is provided with a pay-out ball detector 14 of a photoelectric tube type or a proximity switch type, for the purpose of confirming discharge of prize balls and counting.
In this example, as shown in the rear view of FIG. 6, an optical sensor type payout ball detector 14 including a light emitting element and a light receiving element is mounted. Then, the number of prize balls paid out from the payout outlet 12 is counted by the detection signal of the payout ball detector 14.

Next, the operation of the prize ball payout device 1 having the above-described structure will be described. First, when the prize ball payout device 1 is not in operation, as shown in FIG. Part of the prize balls Y stored is the receptacle 20.
It is held in a state of being dropped from the ball inlet portion 21 into each holding hole 35 of the rotating body 30. Therefore, when a game ball is won in the winning opening 102 installed on the game board 101, a predetermined number, for example, seven prize balls are paid out by the prize ball payout device 1. That is, a pulse signal is sent from the payout control device 142 to the pulse motor 32 in response to a signal from the winning ball detector that detects the winning of the game ball, and the rotating body 30 moves counterclockwise in FIG. 5 via the pulse motor 32. When the rotation starts, the prize balls Y held in the respective holding holes 35 rotate and move with the rotation of the rotating body 30, and when the prize balls Y held in the holding holes 35 reach the payout opening 12, The game balls on the rotating body 30 other than that are sequentially delivered to the discharge passage 131 through the guide passage 130, but are prevented from being conveyed by the partition frame 22. The prize balls Y paid out from the payout opening 12 are detected and counted by the payout ball detector 14, and when a predetermined number (7) of payouts are detected, pulse transmission to the pulse motor 32 is stopped, and Accordingly, the rotating body 30 stops operating. In addition, in the holding hole 35 that has been emptied by dispensing from the dispensing outlet 12,
The prize balls Y are replenished one after another when they face the ball entrance 21 of the socket 20 as the rotating body 30 rotates.

Next, when the pachinko machine is removed from the installation island, it is necessary to collect the prize balls from the prize ball tank 120. Therefore, when the prize ball tank 120 is emptied, a wire or the like is inserted through the hole 162 for operating the ball removal switch, and a ball removal switch (not shown) is turned “ON”. The rotating body 30 rotates in the clockwise direction shown in FIG. 5 via the motor 32. The prize balls held in the holding holes 35 can pass only the prize balls that have fallen into the holding holes 35 by the partition frame 22, and when they reach the position matching the ball outlet 15, they successively flow out, It is recovered via the recovery passageway 160. And
After the collection ball detector 161 stops detecting prize balls, the pulse motor 32 is stopped and controlled after a predetermined time, and the operation of the rotating body 30 is stopped. By rotating the rotating body 30 clockwise in this manner, the prize balls in the prize ball tank 120 can be easily collected from the ball outlet 15. As described above, since the prize ball dispensing device 1 for holding and dispensing the prize balls in the holding hole 35 is arranged at the bottom of the prize ball tank 120, it is not necessary to align the prize balls as in the conventional case, and the alignment passage is eliminated. Is unnecessary, and the back surface of the game board can be enlarged.

Next, when the prize balls form a bridge in the prize ball dispensing device 1, it can be dealt with as follows. That is, when the payout ball detector 14 does not detect the payout of the prize balls from the payout opening 12 even by the rotation operation of the rotating body 30, it is determined that the bridge is formed, and the payout control device 1
In response to a command from 42, the rotating body 30 is alternately rotated in the counterclockwise direction and in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 a predetermined number of times via the pulse motor 32. As a result, the rotating body 3
0 rotates alternately forward and backward, and the prize balls in the prize ball dispensing device 1 can be rocked by the movement of the prize balls held in the holding holes 35, so that the bridge formation can be broken. . On the other hand, if the payout ball detector 14 does not detect the payout from the payout opening 12 even if the rotating body 30 operates a predetermined number of times, it is determined that the bridge formation cannot be resolved, and the alarm lamp blinks and an alarm sound is emitted. It is notified by means of notification of occurrence or the like, or is notified to the management room of the game hall.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing another example of the payout prohibiting member and the ball withdrawing prohibiting member. The ball inlet 21 is the entire surface of the receiving body 20 with respect to the bottom plate 121a and the bottom plate 121a. A prize ball can be received from an inclined plate 121 that extends slightly in a slanted shape, and a payout prohibiting member and a payoff blocking member 2 as a payout prohibiting member are provided on both the payout opening 12 and the ball exit opening 15.
3'is a system in which the prize blocking balls 23 held in the holding holes 35 reach the payout opening 12 and the ball outlet 15 by the payoff blocking member 23 ', and other prizes on the rotating body 30. The ball cannot be ejected. The pay-off blocking member 23 'faces toward the shaft hole 4 in order to prevent the prize balls from staying on it.
It is desirable to install it in an inclined shape. 8 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing another pay-out prohibiting member and a ball pulling-out prohibiting member in which the ball inlet portion 21 is the entire surface of the receiving body 20, as in FIG.
Directly above the payout opening 12 and the ball outlet 15, a bar-shaped payout prohibiting member 23 and a ball prohibiting member 24, which are vertically provided from a support portion (not shown), are separately provided, and are retained in a holding hole 35. Only the prize ball Y can be discharged from the outlet 12 and the ball outlet 15. In this manner, the payout prohibiting member 23 and the ball withdrawal prohibiting member 24 are provided directly above the payout openings 12 and the ball withdrawing openings 15, and only the prize balls Y held in the holding holes 35 are paid out with the payout opening 12.
7 and FIG. 8 in consideration of the frictional resistance between the prize ball Y held in the holding hole 35 and other prize balls in the course of transportation. From the configuration shown, the ball inlet 21 and the outlet 12 (ball outlet 1 shown in FIG.
5) and 5 are preferably partitioned and formed via a partition frame 22 or the like. The inclined plate 121 may have the same inclination as the bottom plate 121a, and may be formed toward the inlet portion 21 together.
Further, the payout opening 12 and the ball outlet 15 are provided on the lower side of the movement path of the holding hole 35 so that the prize balls can be smoothly discharged by gravity falling. It may be provided on the side portion so that it can be discharged laterally.

(Second Embodiment) Next, a prize ball payout device of another example will be described with reference to the plan view of FIG. 9 and the rear view of FIG. The configuration and operation of the prize ball payout device are almost the same as those in FIGS. 4 to 6, and the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals and only different points will be described. In order to increase the payout speed of the prize balls, the rotating body 30 has holding holes on two or more different radius circles, in this example, the outer holding holes 35a and the inner holding holes 35b.
6 are formed at regular intervals. Also,
The bottom plate 10 is formed with an outer outlet 12a at a position corresponding to the movement trajectory of the outer holding hole 35a and an inner outlet 12b at a position corresponding to the movement trajectory of the inner holding hole 35b. Then, the outer outlet 12a and the inner outlet 12
The b is formed in a position that avoids simultaneous dispensing from the holding holes 35a and 35b, for example, by shifting to a position where the dispensing is possible alternately.

Further, in this example, the pay-out ball detector 14 is provided as the first
In order to confirm and detect the existence of the prize balls held in the holding holes 35a and 35b, which are at positions different from those of the embodiment, a mechanical switch of a switch type (detected by the weight of the prize balls is detected immediately before each payout opening 12a and 12b. Discharge ball detector 14 such as a rod type which moves up and down), a reflection type photocell type, a proximity switch, etc.
Put on each. In this example, a mechanical switch is used, 14a is a detection rod of the mechanical switch, and a detection hole 14b in which the detection rod 14a can be projected and retracted is formed in the rotating body 30. Further, in order to prevent the prize balls from directly flowing out from the payout openings 12a, 12b through the holding holes 35a, 35b, the payout prohibiting member 23 is lowered above the rotating body 30 and downward in the direction shown in FIG. Install at an angle, and pay out 12
The a and 12b are shielded to prevent the prize balls from staying. In addition, the bottom plate 10 shown in FIG.
The counterclockwise side of 12b is provided with a fan-shaped ball outlet 15 having a size through which a plurality of prize balls can pass at the same time, and the prize ball is directly passed through the holding holes 35a and 35b. In order to prevent the ball from flowing out from the ball, a ball removal prohibiting member 24 is attached to the upper side of the rotating body 30 with a lower inclination to the lower side to prevent the prize balls from staying.

When the game ball wins the winning opening 102, a signal is sent from the payout controller 142 to the pulse motor 32, and the rotating body 30 starts rotating counterclockwise in FIG. 9 via the pulse motor 32. The prize balls Y held in the respective holding holes 35a and 35b are rotationally moved in accordance with the rotation operation of the rotating body 30 and are alternately paid out from the payout openings 12a and 12b, respectively. The payout prohibiting member 23 prohibits the prize balls from being discharged. Then, one of the payout ball detectors 14 mounted immediately before the payout openings 12a and 12b detects a predetermined number (for example, the seventh ball) of prize balls.
At the time of counting, the payout opening 1 corresponding to the seventh prize ball
The payout control device 1 determines the number of pulses that can be paid out from 2a and 12b.
When it is sent to the pulse motor 32 via 42, the rotating body 30 rotates and moves by a predetermined angle, and after the seventh prize ball is paid out, the rotating body 30 is deactivated. Thus, even if the payout number counting method is different from that of the first embodiment, a predetermined number of prize balls can be paid out. As mentioned above,
In the prize ball discharging device 1 of this example, the rotating body 30 has a holding hole 35.
Since a and 35b are formed on the circumference of two or more different radii, the prize balls can be swiftly paid out, the player does not feel uncomfortable, and the balls can be discharged alternately. Therefore, an odd number of prize balls can be discharged.

Further, when collecting the prize balls from the prize ball tank 120, as in the first embodiment, a wire or the like is inserted from the hole 162 for operating the ball removing switch, and a ball removing switch (not shown) is turned on. When the rotary body 30 is rotated clockwise through the pulse motor 32 in FIG.
Only the prize balls held by a and 35b are the ball removal prohibiting member 2
When it reaches a position that coincides with the ball outlet 15, it flows out from there one after another, is recovered through the recovery passage 160, and stops the pulse motor 32 via the recovery ball detector 161. Then, the operation of the rotating body 30 is stopped. In addition, since the ball-removing port 15 has a fan shape having a size that allows a plurality of prize balls to pass through simultaneously, the ball-removing process can be performed quickly. Further, it goes without saying that the prize ball payout device of the present invention can be applied not only to the discharge of the prize balls in the prize ball tank 120, but also to the prize ball discharging device 151 for counting and discharging the prize balls winning in the prize hole 102. Nor.

[0019]

According to the present invention, a prize ball dispensing device for holding and dispensing prize balls in a holding hole formed in a rotating body is installed at the bottom of a prize ball tank, thereby aligning the prize balls. Is unnecessary, the equipment cost can be reduced, and the back surface of the game board can be enlarged. Further, since the holding holes are formed on two or more different circles, it is possible to discharge an odd number of prize balls, and it is possible to swiftly dispense the prize balls without giving the player a feeling of strangeness. Further, since the rotating body can be alternately rotated in the forward and reverse directions to swing the prize balls in the prize ball dispensing device, the bridge formation can be destroyed, and the rotating body can be rotated in the reverse direction. The prize balls in the prize ball tank can be easily collected from the ball outlet.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a front surface of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a back surface of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a prize ball dispensing device.

FIG. 4 is a front sectional view of a prize ball dispensing device.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a prize ball payout device.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 7 is a view showing another payout prohibiting member and a ball expulsion prohibiting member.

FIG. 8 is a view showing another payout prohibiting member and a ball withdrawal prohibiting member.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the prize ball payout device.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the prize ball payout device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 prize ball dispensing device 10 bottom plate 12 dispensing outlet 12a outer dispensing outlet 12b inner dispensing outlet 15 ball dispensing outlet 23 'dispensing blocking member 23 dispensing inhibiting member 24 ball dispensing inhibiting member 30 rotating body 32 pulse motor 35 holding hole 35a outer holding hole 35b Inner holding hole 120 Prize ball tank 131 Discharge passage 160 Recovery passage

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A prize ball dispensing device having a ball entrance for receiving a plurality of prize balls and a payout opening for discharging a prize ball, wherein a plurality of holding holes for receiving the prize balls from the ball entrance are formed. The rotating body is rotatable, and a prize ball payout opening is formed at a position corresponding to the movement trajectory of the holding hole of the rotating body.
A prize ball payout device, comprising: a payout prohibiting member that prohibits guiding a prize ball on a rotating body other than the prize ball held in the holding hole to a payout opening. 2. A rotating body is provided with holding holes on two or more different circumferences, and each of the payout openings corresponding to the holding holes is provided with:
The prize ball payout device according to claim 1, wherein the prize ball payout device is formed at a position where simultaneous payout of prize balls is avoided. 3. The prize ball payout device according to claim 1, wherein the rotating body is capable of rotating in the forward and reverse directions. 4. A ball outlet communicating with the prize ball collecting passage is formed at a position corresponding to the movement path of the holding hole, and the prize balls on the rotating body other than the prize balls held in the holding hole are balls. 4. The prize ball payout device according to claim 3, further comprising a ball removal prohibiting member for prohibiting guiding to the outlet.