JPH08252371A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To surely prevent a ball clogging which is apt to occur in a part where the lateral width of an upper tray is gradually narrowed. CONSTITUTION: This device is formed of a prize ball intake hole 45 formed on the lower side of a game machine body and an upper tray capable of discharging game balls onto a lower tray side through a discharge hole after receiving the game balls from the prize ball intake hole 45. The prize ball intake hole 45 and the discharge hole are positioned with lateral distances from the upper tray, and the upper tray is gradually narrowed in width from the center toward the discharge hole so as to guide game balls of substantially one line. In about the center of the upper tray, a rib 51 is fitted in a position where the upper tray is laterally partitioned, and the lower end has a space slightly larger than the diameter of at least one game ball from the bottom surface 41 of a game bait housing part. A flange 53 protruded to the prize ball intake hole 45 side while it is inclined down is formed on the lower end of the rib 51.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine provided with a game ball borrowed for money and an upper plate containing a prize ball obtained as a result of winning.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a gaming machine drives a game ball launching device by operating a handle to launch the game ball into a game area surrounded by an outer rail, so that the game ball wins a predetermined winning device. A predetermined number of prize balls can be obtained from the prize ball receiving port provided on the lower side of the gaming machine to the upper plate. When the discharge port on the downstream side of the upper plate is opened by performing a predetermined operation, the game balls stored in the upper plate pass through the discharge port and are supplied to the lower plate. The prize ball receiving port and the discharge port are arranged at positions separated from each other on the left and right of the upper plate.

Generally, as shown in the top view of FIG. 8, the shape of the upper plate has the widest width from the vicinity of the upstream side (the prize ball receiving port 1 side) to the downstream side, and from the middle of the downstream side of that position. Further, it has a shape in which the lateral width becomes gradually narrower toward the downstream side, and the width is such that a row of game balls can be rolled. The one row of game balls located at the position on the most downstream side is sequentially guided to a game ball launching device (not shown).
When is opened, the game ball is supplied to the lower plate.

Since the section shown by A in FIG. 8 has a lateral width capable of completely rolling a row of gaming balls, pressure is not applied from the lateral direction and ball clogging is unlikely to occur, but the lateral width gradually narrows. As shown in the top view of FIG. 9, the section B of 8 pushes or naturally rolls the game ball against the side wall 3 as a result of which lateral pressure and friction are generated between the adjacent game balls. It is likely to occur, and if the game balls overlap and pressure from above is applied, ball clogging may occur due to this.

As a conventional upper plate for preventing ball clogging, as shown in the top view of FIG. 10 and the sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 11, it is slightly downstream from the vicinity of the upstream side (the prize ball receiving port 5 side). The width is widest on the side, and the width gradually narrows from the middle of the downstream side of that position to the further downstream side, so that a row of game balls can be rolled, the so-called crescent moon storage tray 7
The storage tray 7 is configured to have a narrower width, and a side wall is vertically provided up to the height of the game ball to form a supply passage 9, and the supply passage 9 is provided on the tip side of the supply passage 9. Of the auxiliary tray 11 having a substantially rectangular shape that is located at the upper portion of the storage tray 7 and is slightly inclined toward the storage tray 7. The supply passage 9 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, the inclined guide wall 13 is provided at a deep position, and the supply passage 9 and the auxiliary saucer 11 are connected by the inclined auxiliary guide passage 15.

When the storage tray 7 is filled with the game balls, the upper tray stores the game balls in the auxiliary receiving tray 11 through the guide wall 13 and the inclined auxiliary guide path 15. At this time, the guide wall 1
Since 3, the supply passage 9 is formed almost at the height of the game ball, so-called bridge is not formed.

On the other hand, as a conventional upper plate for eliminating ball clogging, as shown in the perspective view of FIG. 12, a wall at the leading edge of the passage for sequentially guiding a row of game balls to a game ball launching device (not shown). A ball movement restricting member 23 arranged so that one end is installed on the upper surface 21 of the member and the other end side is a free end so as to cover a passage for sequentially guiding a row of game balls to a game ball launching device (not shown).
There are things that make up.

[0008] This upper plate, when a game ball is clogged in a passage for sequentially guiding a row of the game balls to a game ball launching device (not shown), pressurizes the ball movement restricting member 23 from the upper surface to cause the passage of the passage. The idea is to clear the ball clogging.

[0009]

In the former conventional example, in the portion where the lateral width is gradually narrowed toward the downstream side of the storage tray 7, the lateral pressure and friction are generated between the adjacent game balls. It is easy, and even if game balls overlap and pressure from above is applied, ball clogging may occur, but since no measures have been taken, the ball clogging that occurs in the part where the lateral width gradually narrows Cannot be prevented.

In the latter conventional example as well, since there is a case where ball clogging occurs in a portion where the horizontal width becomes gradually narrower toward the downstream side of the upper plate, no measure is taken, so this horizontal width is It is not possible to prevent the ball clogging that occurs in the gradually narrowing portion, and moreover, the ball movement restricting member 2
Since 3 is not formed so as to reach a portion where the width is gradually narrowed, it is not possible to eliminate the ball clogging at that portion.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming machine capable of reliably preventing a ball clogging that tends to occur in a portion where the horizontal width of the upper plate is gradually narrowed. And

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
From the prize ball intake provided on the lower side of the gaming machine main body, and the upper plate that can discharge this game ball to the lower plate side through the discharge port after receiving the game ball from this prize ball intake Consists of
The prize ball intake port and the discharge port are located apart from each other on the left and right sides of the upper plate, and the upper plate has a game ball accommodating portion whose width gradually narrows from the center toward the discharge port, so that there is almost one row. In the gaming machine formed so as to guide the game ball, the upper plate is partitioned into the left and right at approximately the center of the upper plate, and the lower end is slightly smaller than the diameter of at least one game ball from the bottom surface of the game ball accommodating portion. The feature is that ribs are provided at positions with a large interval. The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that a flange is provided on the lower end side of the rib so as to project toward the prize ball intake port.

[0013]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the game ball borrowed for money or the game ball taken in from the prize ball inlet is supplied to the upper plate, the game ball rolling on the bottom surface of the upper plate is a rib. Although it passes through the bottom and rolls to the outlet side, when the number of game balls taken in is large and overlaps in several stages, the game balls overlapping in the second and above stages of the upper plate are interrupted by going to the ribs and temporarily stopped. After this, when the number of game balls on the upper plate is reduced, the game balls blocked by the ribs descend as the game balls roll on the bottom surface of the upper plate to become the game balls that roll on the bottom plate of the upper plate, and are discharged. It can be discharged to the outlet.

When the rib is provided at the substantially center of the upper plate, that is, slightly upstream of the portion where the ball clogging is likely to occur, the rib is at the widest position in the upper plate (that is, not at the position where the horizontal width gradually narrows). Therefore, the game ball supplied upstream from the position of the rib does not receive the pressure from the lateral direction, so even if the game balls are stacked in several stages at that position, the ball is blocked. Without awakening, with the decrease in the number of game balls rolling on the bottom of the upper plate, the game balls that are obscured by the ribs and overlap on top will always descend down and be able to roll under the ribs.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since a flange projecting toward the prize ball intake port is provided on the lower end side of the rib, when the game balls overlapping in several stages flow toward the rib,
The tip of the flange will scoop up the game ball overlapping the second stage, eliminating the possibility of ball clogging.

[0016]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an essential part of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an upper plate, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing an essential part of the upper plate. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 31 is a veneer, 33 is a prize ball set, 35 is an upper plate, and 37 is a lower plate. The upper plate 35 is in communication with the lower plate 37 through a discharge port (not shown) (on the back side of the most downstream side of the upper plate 35) and a game ball (not shown), and the lower plate 37 is opened on the bottom surface. The opening is opened and closed by a predetermined operation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper plate 35 has a bottom surface 41 at a predetermined depth position, and the outer periphery of the bottom plate 41 is a upper plate lens 43.
It is covered with. The bottom surface 41 and the inner peripheral surface of the upper plate lens 43 constitute a game ball housing portion. On the back side (the surface on the side of the game area) of the upper plate 35, the prize ball intake port 45 is on the most upstream side.
And a discharge port (not shown) is formed on the most downstream side.

The bottom 41 of the upper plate 35 and the opening side of the upper surface of the upper plate 35 have the widest widths slightly downstream from the vicinity of the upstream side (the prize ball intake port 45 side), and further from the middle of the downstream side of that position. The width is gradually reduced toward the downstream side, and the width is such that a row of game balls can be rolled.

At the center of the upper plate 35, that is, on the upstream side of the portion where the width gradually narrows toward the downstream side, the upper plate is partitioned left and right and the lower end is at least one game ball from the bottom surface 41. A rib 51 is provided at a position (a position where one game ball is lifted) with a space slightly larger than the diameter of the rib 51.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rib 51 is provided at its lower end with a flange 53 which is inclined downward and projects toward the prize ball intake port 45. The tip of the flange 53 is also inclined downward to form an acute angle. The upper end surface of the rib 51 is rounded so that the player will not be injured when touched.

Next, the operation will be described. When the bottom surface 41 of the upper plate 35 is filled with the game balls, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, thereafter, the game balls borrowed for money or the game balls taken in from the prize ball taking-in port 45 are ribbed. The game balls on the left side of the bottom 51 on the bottom surface 41 are doubled or tripled, and the leading game balls come into contact with the ribs 51 and stop.
In particular, the first game ball among the game balls overlapping the second stage from the bottom surface 41 rides on the flange 53 of the rib 51 and contacts the rib 51.

After that, when the number of game balls on the upper plate 35 decreases, the game balls blocked by the ribs 51 come down with the discharge of the game balls rolling on the bottom surface 41 of the upper plate 35 and the upper plate 35 It becomes a game ball rolling on the bottom surface 41 and can be discharged to the discharge port 49.

In the case where the rib 51 is provided substantially in the center of the upper plate 35, that is, slightly upstream of the portion where ball clogging is likely to occur,
Since the ribs are arranged at the position where the horizontal width of the upper plate 35 is the widest (that is, the upstream side from the position where the horizontal width gradually narrows), the game balls supplied upstream of the position of the ribs 51 are horizontal. There is no pressure from the direction, so even if the game balls overlap at that position several times, there is no ball clogging, and as the number of game balls rolling on the bottom surface 41 of the upper plate 35 decreases, it is blocked by the ribs 51. It is possible for the game ball that overlaps the top to always descend downward and roll under the rib 51.

In the present embodiment, the rib 51 is provided substantially in the center of the upper plate 35, that is, slightly upstream of the position where the lateral width gradually narrows.
Since the above is provided, it is possible to reliably prevent the ball clogging that has occurred at the position where the lateral width is gradually narrowed.

Of course, the ribs 51 may be integrally formed with the upper plate 35 in advance, or may be screwed or attached later by an adhesive or the like.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a main part of a game machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The rib 61 in this case is provided with a flange 63 projecting toward the prize ball intake port 45 while inclining downward at one end on the lower end side. Although not provided, a flange 65 is provided on the most downstream side and protrudes toward the discharge port. The larger the total length of the flange 65, that is, the larger the total length covering the downstream side of the position of the rib 61 of the upper plate 35 (approximately the center of the upper plate 35), the lateral width of the upper plate 35 becomes gradually narrower. It is easy to prevent the ball clogging that can occur at a position and / or the ball clogging that can occur at the downstream side thereof. In that case, it is desirable that the shape of the flange 65 is a shape that follows the shape of the upper plate 35.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a main part of a game machine according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this case, the rib 71 is curved toward the downstream side of the upper plate 35. Flange 7 that inclines below rib 71 and projects toward prize ball intake port 45
3 does not necessarily have to have a shape that follows the curve of the rib 71 main body. The installation position of the rib 71 is similar to that in the above-mentioned embodiment. When this rib 71 is used, a larger number of game balls can be stored as compared with the case where the rib 51 is used.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view showing a main part of a game machine according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In this case, a transparent window 85 that can be opened and closed via a hinge 83 is provided with one end of the upper dish lens 81 on the prize ball intake port 45 side as a fulcrum, and the tip of the transparent window 85 is locked at the upper end of the rib 51. It is configured. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the left side of the rib 51 from overflowing with game balls.

[0029]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the rib is provided at the center of the upper plate, that is, at a position slightly upstream of the position where the lateral width gradually narrows, the rib occurs at the position where the lateral width gradually narrows. It is possible to reliably prevent ball clogging. In the invention according to claim 2, since the flange projecting toward the prize ball intake port is provided on the lower end side of the rib, the tip of the flange is the second step when the game balls overlapping in several stages flow toward the rib. It is possible to scoop up the game ball that overlaps with, and it is possible to eliminate the possibility of ball clogging at this position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of a gaming machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an upper plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of the upper plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view showing a state in which game balls are stored in the upper plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of an upper plate according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view showing a configuration of a main part of an upper plate according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a main part of an upper plate according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view showing a normal state of a conventional upper plate.

FIG. 9 is a top view showing a state where a conventional upper plate is clogged.

FIG. 10 is a top view showing a configuration of a conventional upper plate for preventing ball clogging.

11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a structure of a conventional upper plate that eliminates ball clogging.

[Explanation of symbols]

 35 Upper Plate 37 Lower Plate 41 Bottom 45 Prize Ball Intake 49 Outlet 51, 61, 71 Ribs 53, 63, 65, 73 Flange 83 Hinge 85 Transparent Window

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. After receiving a prize ball inlet provided on the lower side of the gaming machine main body and a game ball from this prize ball inlet, the game ball is discharged to the lower plate side through the discharge port. It consists of an upper plate to obtain, the prize ball intake port and the discharge port are located apart from each other on the left and right of the upper plate, and the upper plate has a game ball accommodating portion, and the width gradually increases from the center toward the discharge port. In the gaming machine formed so as to narrow the row of the game balls, the upper plate is partitioned into the left and right in the approximate center of the upper plate, and the lower end is at least the game ball from the bottom surface of the game ball housing portion. A game machine characterized in that ribs are provided at positions with a distance slightly larger than the diameter of one piece. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a flange protruding toward the prize ball intake port is provided on a lower end side of the rib.