JPH084655B2 - Game ball distribution mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is mounted on a gaming machine, such as a pachinko machine, which discharges a game ball out of the machine when a prize is won, and distributes the game ball to upper and lower trays and discharges the game ball. Regarding distribution mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a gaming machine using a steel game ball, such as a pachinko machine or an arrange-ball type gaming machine (alepachi), is provided with two saucers, an upper saucer and a lower saucer. The gaming balls discharged by winning are first guided to the upper tray, and when the upper tray is saturated, are guided to the lower tray. Of these, the upper tray communicates with the game ball launching position of the launching device that launches the game ball into the game area, and also serves as a supply dish for supplying the game ball to the launching device.

Conventionally, a game ball distributing mechanism 200 for distributing game balls to upper and lower trays is discharged from a prize ball discharging mechanism (not shown) provided on the back side of a game board 202, as illustrated in FIG. Award ball gutter 20 that guides the played game balls
4. Sloping plate 20 installed across the prize ball gutter 204
6. Opening 20 facing the tip of the inclined plate 206
An upper tray passage 210 which has 8 and communicates with an upper tray (not shown),
A lower tray passage 212 is provided below the inclined plate 206 and communicates with a lower tray (not shown). The bottom portion 208a of the opening 208 is inclined in substantially the same direction as the inclined plate 206, and the edge thereof is connected to the lower plate passage 212.

In this game ball distribution mechanism 200, when the upper tray is not filled with game balls, the game ball B
Is guided to the upper tray through the route of a → b → c shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 11, when a large amount of game balls B are stored in the upper tray and the opening 208 is filled with the game balls B (e), when a new game ball B is supplied (f, g), since the game ball B cannot enter the upper plate passage 210, it falls to the lower plate passage 212 (h,
i). In this way, the game balls are distributed to the upper and lower trays according to the storage state of the upper tray.

[0005]

However, as shown in FIG.
Even when there is a room to receive the upper tray like, the game ball B flowing down from the inclined plate 206 jumps due to a collision with the upper plate passage 210, a collision between the game balls B, and the like, to the lower plate passage 212. It may have fallen (d).

[0006] When the game balls B fall like this, if the game balls remaining in the upper tray as the supply tray are small, the player does not move the game balls B from the lower tray to the upper tray. It was not annoying to the player. Further, this annoyance not only spoils the interest of the game, but also disadvantages the player. For example, depending on the content of the game, if you have to win a game ball to a specific winning opening within a certain time, the game ball that should originally be in the upper saucer goes to the lower saucer and shoots the game ball within a certain time. When the player cannot play the game, the player cannot receive the profit that he or she originally should receive.

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems As means for solving the above-mentioned problems, a game ball distribution mechanism of the present invention is an upper plate introducing path leading to an upper tray of a game machine using a game ball and a lower plate of the game machine. It has a lower plate introduction path leading to a saucer and a prize ball discharge port for discharging game balls to the upper plate introduction path side when a prize is won, and the lower plate when the upper plate introduction path is blocked by a game ball. In a game ball distribution mechanism for guiding a game ball to a plate introduction path, a barrier member is provided between the upper plate introduction path and the lower plate introduction path to prevent passage of the game ball, and a game ball above the barrier member. By providing an overflow passage formed so that can pass through, when a predetermined amount or more of game balls are accumulated in the upper tray introducing passage, the upper tray introducing passage side through the overflow passage, Game balls can overflow to the lower plate introduction road side.

[0008]

In the game ball distribution mechanism having the above structure, when a prize is won, the game ball is discharged from the prize ball discharge port to the upper plate introduction path side. The game balls discharged to the upper plate introducing path side flow out from the upper plate introducing path to the upper tray. At this time, the barrier member prevents the game balls from passing from the upper plate introducing passage side to the lower plate introducing passage side, so that the game balls are prevented from flowing into the lower receiving tray.

On the other hand, if a large number of game balls are stored in the upper tray by repeating winning, for example, the game balls will eventually overflow into the upper tray introducing path. When a certain amount or more of game balls are accumulated in the upper plate introduction path and a new game ball is further discharged from the prize ball discharge port, the game balls pass from the upper plate introduction path side to the lower plate introduction path side through the overflow path. Overflow. The overflowing game ball flows out from the lower plate introduction path to the lower tray.

In this way, the game balls are distributed to the upper and lower trays according to the storage state of the upper tray. In a state where the game balls can be received in the upper tray, the game balls flow from the upper plate introduction path to the upper tray, and the game balls are not discharged to the lower tray. Therefore, it is not necessary for the player to move the game balls discharged to the lower tray to the upper tray in such a situation.

[0011]

Next, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine 10 as a game machine of the present invention, which includes a well-known game board 12. The front side of the game board 12 is covered with a double glass 16 attached to the front frame 14 via a glass frame (not shown), and the game board 1
A game area 18 is formed between 2 and the glass 16. On the upper part of the front frame 14, a big hit lamp 20 which is turned on when a so-called big hit state occurs is assembled. Further, the front frame 14 is a lock 2 provided on the right side portion 22.
By operating 4, it is possible to open and close by using a hinge (not shown) mounted on the back surface side of the left side portion 26 as an axis.

A lower member 32 made of plastic and integrally provided with an upper tray 28 and a lower tray 30 is disposed below the front frame 14. The upper tray 28 and the lower tray 30 are respectively provided with an upper tray outlet 34 and a lower tray outlet 36 for ejecting game balls from the inside of the pachinko machine 10. Further, the lower member 32 is provided with a speaker surface 38 formed of a plurality of small holes, and a speaker (not shown) that emits sound according to a game state is mounted on the back side of the speaker surface 38. Further, the lower member 32 is provided with the game balls supplied from the upper tray 28.
A launch handle 40 for operating a motor (not shown) for launching and a stop switch 42 for temporarily stopping the launch of the game ball are installed.

The lower member 32 can be opened and closed by using a hinge (not shown) mounted on the left back side as a shaft, but is kept closed by a locking mechanism (not shown) provided on the right back side during normal use. Has been done. In addition, during normal use, the lower member 32 is prevented from being opened by pressing the upper side portion by the front frame 14. Therefore, in order to open the lower member 32, it is necessary to open the front frame 14 and release the lock by the locking mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the back side of the pachinko machine 10, an outer frame 44 that supports each member of the pachinko machine 10 and is also a member for mounting on a game machine installation island (hereinafter, simply called an island). The front frame 14 and the lower member 32 described above are connected to the outer frame 44 via hinges. Attached to the outer frame 44 is a game board 12, and a back pack 46 for supporting a control board (not shown) in which electric components such as an LSI for carrying out operation control and modification of game conditions are mounted. Has been.

At the upper end of this back pack 46, a prize ball tank 48 for storing game balls supplied from a ball supply path (not shown) installed at the upper part of the island is installed, and at the bottom of the prize ball tank 48. Is provided with a prize ball outlet 50 through which game balls can flow out. The prize ball outlet 50 is connected to a prize ball discharge device 54 via a prize ball guide gutter 52 that allows the game balls to flow down while being aligned. The prize ball discharging device 54 is provided with a flight screw driven by a stepping motor 56 as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-42248, but a photo installed on the front side of the discharge port 58. The passage of the game ball can be detected by the sensor 60.

As shown in FIG. 3, this photosensor 60
Signal is input to the counter 62. The counter 62 is
The number of discharged game balls is counted based on the signal SP of the photo sensor 60, and the drive signal S is sent to the motor control circuit 64 until the set number (for example, 15) of game balls are counted.
When K is output and the set number of game balls is counted, the output of the drive signal SK is stopped and the count number is reset to 0. In addition, the winning signal SN from the winning signal generating circuit 66 which issues the winning signal SN when the winning is detected is input to the motor control circuit 64. When the winning signal SN is input, the motor control circuit 64 causes the stepping motor 5 to eject the game ball during the time when the drive signal SK continues.
6 is rotated at a pitch corresponding to the discharge of one game ball.
Therefore, the stepping motor 56 accurately discharges the set number of game balls and stops.

However, for some reason, the prize ball discharging device 5
When the supply of game balls to 4 is insufficient, the stepping motor 56 will idle, so the motor control circuit 6
4, even if the drive signal SK of the counter 62 is input, for example, the stepping motor 56 is rotated by a predetermined pitch number corresponding to the discharge of 30 game balls and stopped.
In such a case, for example, when the clerk repairs the defect and then turns on the reset switch 68, the winning signal S
The motor control circuit 64 rotates the stepping motor 56 in the same manner as when N is input. In this case, the discharge of the set number of game balls has not been completed, so the counter 62 continues to count to the count number at the time of occurrence of the above malfunction. Therefore, for example, when the above-mentioned trouble occurs,
If the individual game balls have been discharged, the counter 62 will count 11 to 15. Therefore, the five game balls that have not been discharged due to the occurrence of the problem are discharged, and the stepping motor 56 is stopped. In this way, the prize ball discharging device 54 additionally discharges the number of uncompleted discharges after the malfunction is resolved, so that the game balls corresponding to the number of winnings are accurately discharged.

As shown in FIG. 2, a prize ball discharge gutter 70 is connected below the discharge port 58 of the prize ball discharge device 54. The prize ball discharge gutter 70 includes a bent portion 72 for controlling the falling speed of the game ball and an oblique portion 74 continuous to the bent portion 72. The oblique portion 74 is connected to the game ball distribution mechanism 78 via the prize ball discharge port 76. Therefore, the game balls discharged from the prize ball discharging device 54 are guided to the game ball sorting mechanism 78 via the prize ball discharging gutter 70.

Further, to the prize ball discharge gutter 70, a ball drop gutter 82 is connected at a skewed portion 74 via a damper 80 driven by a solenoid (not shown). This gutter 82
For example, when removing the pachinko machine 10 from the island, it is a path for discharging the game balls stored in the prize ball tank 48, the prize ball guide gutter 52, etc. to the outside of the machine, and a ball drop switch (not shown). When the switch is turned on, the damper 80 is driven in the direction of the arrow A to block the oblique portion 74 and to connect the prize ball discharge gutter 70 and the ball drop gutter 82. At the same time, the prize ball discharging device 54 operates to discharge the game balls from the prize ball tank 48. The discharged game balls are discharged to the outside of the machine through the prize ball discharge gutter 70 and the ball gutter 82.

In the conventional gaming machine, since the damper installed on the upstream side of the prize ball discharging device is mechanically operated by the operation pin to perform the punching operation, the operation pin is used for the damper operation. It was necessary to provide an operation hole near the damper for inserting the. For this reason, the degree of freedom of the installation position of the damper and the installation position of the operation hole is low, which sometimes limits the configuration of the entire gaming machine.

However, in the pachinko machine 10 of this embodiment,
Since the damper 80 and the prize ball discharging device 54 are electrically operated as described above, the installation positions of the damper 80 and the ball drop switch are not practically limited, and the degree of freedom in mechanism arrangement is increased. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the game ball distribution mechanism 78 has a front wall 84 and a rear wall 86, front and rear walls 84, 86, which are arranged substantially in parallel with each other with a predetermined gap therebetween.
It is provided with a pair of side walls 88 and 90 and a bottom plate 92 which are provided substantially perpendicular to. On the front wall 84, an upper plate introducing port 96, which is an inlet of the upper plate introducing route 94, is opened just below the prize ball discharging port 76, and a lower plate introducing route 98 arranged substantially parallel to the upper plate introducing route 94. The lower plate introducing port 100 communicating with the above is opened adjacent to the upper plate introducing port 96. The upper plate introducing passage 94 and the lower plate introducing passage 98 are separated from each other by a partition wall 102. A part of the partition wall 102 has a height that can prevent the horizontal movement of the game ball between the upper plate introducing port 96 side and the lower plate introducing port 100 side, and the upper plate introducing port 96 and the lower plate introducing port 100.
It is a barrier 104 that extends between and to the rear wall 86. Therefore, the game ball B dropped from the prize ball discharge port 76 is the barrier 1
By 04, the horizontal movement from the side of the upper plate introducing port 96 to the side of the lower plate introducing port 100 is blocked, and the liquid is guided to the upper plate introducing path 94 in the order of p → q → r.

By the way, if there is a succession of prizes, a large amount of game balls B are accumulated in the upper tray 28, and as shown in FIG. The game ball B may not be able to enter the plate introduction path 94. The game ball B discharged from the prize ball discharge port 76 in such a state is blocked by the game ball B staying in the vicinity of the upper plate introduction port 96 from passing through the upper plate introduction path 94.
After passing through the overflow passage S as a space above the barrier 104, it overflows to the side of the lower plate introducing passage 98, and is guided to the lower plate introducing passage 98, for example, u → v → w.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom plate 92 is divided by a barrier 104 into an upper plate side bottom plate 92a and a lower plate side bottom plate 92b. The upper plate side bottom plate 92a and the barrier 1
The upper plate introduction port 96 side of 04 and the lower portion of the side wall 88 are covered with a metal impact prevention plate 106 for protecting the plastic bottom plate 92 and the like from the impact of the game ball B falling from the prize ball discharge port 76. There is.

As shown in FIG. 6, the upper plate introducing path 94 is composed of two parts, a pack side introducing path 94a formed on the back pack side and a plate side introducing path 94b formed on the upper receiving tray side.
The upper plate discharge port 34 which penetrates the back pack 46
Is communicated to. The pack-side introduction passage 94a and the dish-side introduction passage 94b are connected to the pack-side outlet 108 and the dish-side inlet 110, respectively.
, But they can be separated from each other when the lower member 32 is opened.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, the bottom portion 112 of the dish side introduction passage 94b is inclined toward the upper dish discharge port 34 side, and a rising portion 114 is provided at the dish side inlet 110 portion. Has been. A lower plate bypass passage 116 is provided so as to pass below the bottom portion 112. Further, on the lower surface side of the pack side introduction passage 94a, a pair of U-shaped portions 118, 11 are provided in the rising portion 114 and the lower plate bypass passage 116.
A spring member 120 for contacting each one side of 8 is arranged. The spring member 120 has a shape in which the U-shaped portions 118, 118 are connected by a bar 120a.
A string winding part 122 is formed at each end of the, and a hook-shaped engaging part 124 is formed at the end. The string winding part 122 is housed in a box-shaped storage part 126 provided below the pack-side introduction path 94 a, and the engagement part 124 projects outward from the through hole 126 a of the storage part 126 and the storage part 126. The wall 126
engaged with b.

In the state shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 (a), the spring member 120 is pressed by the lower tray bypass passage 116 in the direction to close the U-shaped portion 118, but the lower member 32 is opened to open the pack side introduction passage. When the plate 94a and the dish-side introduction passage 94b are separated from each other, the spring member 120 elastically deforms in the direction to open the U-shaped portion 118, and as shown in FIGS. So as to traverse the pack side outlet 108 and the outlet 98a of the lower plate introducing passage 98 of
It is possible to prevent the game ball B from passing. At this time, the rising portion 114 of the plate-side introduction path 94b can prevent the game ball B from flowing out from the plate-side inlet 110. Therefore, a large amount of game balls B are accumulated in the upper tray 28, and the game balls B even in the upper plate introduction path 94.
Even if the lower member 32 is opened and the pack side introduction path 94a and the dish side introduction path 94b are separated in a state filled with, the game ball B falls from the pack side outlet 108 and the dish side inlet 110 to the outside of the machine. Is prevented. Similarly, it is possible to prevent the game ball B from dropping from the lower plate introducing path 98.

As shown in FIG. 9, the lower plate bypass passage 116 installed below the plate-side introduction passage 94b is made of transparent plastic having a substantially parallelogram shape, and has a rear surface 32 of the lower member 32.
It is attached to a with screws. On the upper side of the lower plate bypass passage 116, a drop opening 116a for passing the game ball B dropped from the outlet 98a of the lower plate introduction passage 98 is provided. The back surface 32a of the lower member 32 and the outlet 98
A space through which the game ball B can pass is secured between a and a. The game ball B that has fallen into the lower plate bypass passage 116 from the drop port 116a opens at the lower side of the lower plate bypass passage 116 and is discharged from the discharge port 116b. Lower member 3
2 includes an internal passage 3 communicating with the lower plate discharge port 36 from an internal passage inlet 36a opening facing the discharge port 116b.
6b is provided. Therefore, the game ball B is guided to the drop port 116a → the discharge port 116b → the internal passage 36b → the lower plate discharge port 36. Further, in the lower plate bypass passage 116, a game ball (foul ball) B which has been launched from the launch device slightly above the discharge port 116b and has not reached the game area 18.
Is provided with a recovery port 116c. With such a configuration including the lower plate bypass passage 116, the game ball B flowing into the lower plate introduction path 98 in the game ball distribution mechanism 78 is
It is discharged to the lower tray 30 through the lower tray bypass passage 116.

With the above configuration, in the pachinko machine 10 having the game ball distribution mechanism 78 of this embodiment, the upper tray 2
When the game ball B can be received in the upper plate introducing path 94 leading to 8, the game ball B dropped from the prize ball discharge port 76 is moved from the upper plate introducing port 96 side to the lower plate introducing port by the barrier 104. It is guided to the upper plate introducing path 94 by the path of p → q → r in FIG.
On the other hand, when a large amount of game balls B are accumulated in the upper tray 28 due to continuous winning, and the upper plate introduction path 94 is also filled with the game balls B, the game balls discharged from the prize ball discharge port 76. B is the barrier 1 because the passage to the upper plate introducing path 94 is blocked by the game ball B staying near the upper plate introducing port 96.
04 through the overflow passage S to the side of the lower plate introducing passage 98, and for example, the route of u → v → w in FIG.
Guided to 8.

In the pachinko machine 10 having the game ball distribution mechanism 78 as described above, the game balls B are distributed to the upper and lower trays 28 and 30 according to the storage state of the upper tray 28.
In a state in which the game ball B can be received in the upper tray 28, the game ball B surely flows from the upper plate introduction path 94 to the upper tray 28, and the game ball B is not discharged to the lower tray 30. Therefore, it is not necessary for the player to move the game ball B discharged to the lower tray 30 to the upper tray 28 in such a situation.

In addition, for example, when the game ball B has to be won in a specific winning opening within a certain time period depending on the content of the game, the game ball B which should originally be in the upper tray 28 goes to the lower tray 30. Inconveniences such as the inability to shoot the game ball B within a certain time period is avoided, and in such a case, the player is not able to receive the benefits that he or she originally should receive.

[0031]

As described above, in the game ball distributing mechanism of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the game balls from being discharged to the lower tray even though the upper tray has room for receiving the game balls. Therefore, the player does not need to move the game ball from the lower tray to the upper tray, and the annoyance for the player is eliminated.

In addition, a game ball that should originally be placed in the upper tray goes to the lower tray to give a disadvantage to the player. For example, depending on the content of the game, the game ball is won in a specific winning opening within a certain time. When it is necessary, the game ball that should originally come into the upper saucer goes to the lower saucer and can not shoot the game ball within a certain time, so that the player can not receive the profit that he or she originally should receive, etc. Is also avoided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a mechanism related to control of a stepping motor of the prize ball discharging device mounted on the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the game ball distribution mechanism of the pachinko machine of the embodiment, FIG. 4 (a) is an enlarged rear view of the vicinity of the game ball distribution mechanism, and FIG. 4 (b) is a cross-sectional view of the upper plate introduction path. is there.

5 is an explanatory view of a state in which the upper plate introduction path is closed by a game ball in FIG. 4, and FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) correspond to FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b), respectively.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view in the vicinity of the upper plate introducing path of the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the spring member of the pachinko machine of the embodiment, FIG. 7A is a state in which the pack side introduction path and the dish side introduction path are connected, and FIG. 7B is a pack side introduction. The state where the path and the dish side introduction path are separated is shown.

8 is a front view of the vicinity of the pack-side outlet in the state of FIG. 7 (b).

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view of a lower plate bypass passage of the pachinko machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a conventional game ball distribution mechanism.

11 is an explanatory view of a state in which the upper bowl passage is closed by a game ball in the game ball distribution mechanism of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: Pachinko machine, 28: Upper saucer, 30 ...
・ Lower tray, 34 ... Upper tray outlet, 36 ... Lower tray outlet, 76 ... Prize ball outlet, 78 ... Game ball distribution mechanism, 94 ... Upper tray introduction path, 98 ... Lower plate introduction path, 104 ... Barrier (barrier member), B ... Game ball,
S: overflow passage.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An upper plate introducing path leading to an upper tray of a gaming machine using a game ball and a lower plate introducing path leading to a lower tray of the gaming machine, and discharging a game ball to the upper dish introducing path side when a prize is won. In a game ball distribution mechanism for guiding a game ball to the lower plate introduction path when the upper plate introduction path is blocked by the game ball, the upper plate introduction path and the lower plate introduction By providing a barrier member installed between the passage and the passage of the game ball, and an overflow passage formed above the barrier member so that the game ball can pass, the upper plate introducing passage A game ball distribution mechanism capable of overflowing the game balls from the upper plate introducing passage side to the lower plate introducing passage side through the overflow passage when a predetermined amount or more of the game balls are accumulated.