JPH0871229A - Ball leveling member and ball leveling device using it - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a ball leveling member capable of exerting a good ball leveling action even when the ball pressure from a ball feed section is large and capable of being manufactured with a simple structure at a low cost and to provide a ball leveling device using it. CONSTITUTION: This ball leveling member 16 is provided on a ball rectifying passages 19, 20 aligning multiple balls fed from the upstream side and sending them to the downstream side. The ball leveling member 16 is provided with upward inclination sections 26 inclined upward on the upstream side of the ball rectifying passages 19, 20 when it is fitted above the ball rectifying passages 19, 20, downward inclination sections 28 inclined downward on the downstream side of the ball rectifying passages 19, 20, and a flat section 24 facing the ball rectifying passages 19, 20 at the middle section between the upward inclination sections 26 and the downward inclination sections 28.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention corrects an irregularity of balls in a ball commutation path of a gaming machine such as a pachinko machine, a smart ball, a pitching machine or the like, that is, an even ball for aligning irregular balls. TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a rolling member and a ball leveling device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a pachinko machine, a predetermined number of balls are discharged and provided to a player as a reward for a prize generated during a game. As a mechanism for this, a storage tank that is located at the uppermost position on the back side of the pachinko machine and stores a considerable number of balls, a straightening trough that aligns and sends out a plurality of balls received from this storage tank, and this straightening gutter. A delivery gutter is provided for delivering the balls delivered from the gutter to a downstream ball ejection device. Downstream of this ball ejector,
A discharge path is formed that connects to the upper and lower bowls installed on the front of the pachinko machine.

With respect to the discharge mechanism having such a structure, it is required to avoid clogging of the balls, defective distribution of the balls, etc., and to always send the balls smoothly. That is, the sphere outlet of the storage tank is set to have an opening size corresponding to its capacity so that the sphere can be easily distributed. In contrast,
In the flow straightening gutter, a ball receiving part with a size matching the ball outlet of the storage tank is formed on the upstream side in order to receive as many spheres that naturally flow out from the storage tank as possible (by gravity) and then to naturally flow down Has been done. Also, in order to prevent excessive ball pressure from acting on the downstream side, a plurality of ball rectifying paths are formed in parallel from the ball receiving part to the downstream side, and a gentle gradient is applied from the upstream side to the downstream side for the next delivery gutter. The ball is smoothly fed in the double row state.

In many cases, the ball straightening paths formed in the straightening trough as described above are in two rows. In each ball rectification path, the irregularly arranged and irregular balls sent from the ball outlet of the storage tank are stacked in a bale stack. The irregular balls are laterally regulated by the inner wall of the straightening gutter and aligned in two rows, but are not aligned in the height direction and cannot be regularly rectified. If the ball is sent out as it is, there is a possibility that the ball may be clogged at the outlet of the straightening gutter or near the inlet of the sending gutter.

Therefore, conventionally, as a means for correcting the unevenness of the spheres in the rectifying trough, two pendulum-like sphere equalizing members swingably supported by a common shaft above a plurality of sphere rectifying paths. Equipped with a weight (practical reference No. Sho 52-15899), or a pendulum-like ball leveling member with which a weight can be fitted to change the angle of the hanging state so that the leveling action can be changed. 53-35027). However, in such a mechanism, when the ball pressure from the prize ball tank is large, the ball leveling function may not function effectively. Furthermore, when there are two or more rows of sphere rectifying paths, it is necessary to provide a sphere leveling member for each row, which makes the entire mechanism large.

Further, an eccentric disc for guiding the spheres to the respective ball rectifying paths and a eccentric roller for preventing the spheres from overlapping in the height direction are provided above the ball aligning passage consisting of a plurality of sphere rectifying paths. There is also known one (actual fair 5-10847).
However, this mechanism requires a drive source such as a motor and a solenoid and a control mechanism therefor. Therefore, if this mechanism is adopted, the cost of the entire pachinko machine rises, the backside structure becomes complicated, and the cause of failure increases. There is a problem.

Further, a rectifying strip plate is provided above the rectifying gutter so that the tip thereof is curved upward and upward, and the height from the rectifying gutter is gradually decreased toward the downstream side (Actual Publication No. 52- 50865) and guide members (actual flat 6-467)
78) is known. However, even with these means, it is necessary to provide a plurality of flow straightening strips and guide members for a plurality of ball flow straightening paths, and it is not necessary to use the flow straightening trough in which two or more rows of ball flow straightening paths are formed as described above. Is complicated and cumbersome to install.

Also, in a game machine other than a pachinko machine, there is a similar problem regarding the structure for aligning and supplying the balls.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a good ball leveling action even when the ball pressure from the ball supply portion is large, as compared with the conventional ball leveling member or mechanism. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball leveling member which has a simple structure and can be manufactured at low cost, and a ball leveling device using the same.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sphere straightening member provided in a sphere rectifying path for aligning a plurality of spheres supplied from an upstream side and sending the spheres to a downstream side, the sphere rectifying member comprising: When attached above the road, the upper sloped portion that slopes upward on the upstream side of the ball straightening path, the lower sloped portion that slopes downward on the downstream side of the ball straightening path, and the upper sloped portion and the downward sloped surface. A flattening member having a flat portion facing the ball straightening path at an intermediate portion between the flat portion and the flat portion.

In the ball leveling member of the present invention, the flat portion preferably has a length corresponding to 2 to 3 times the diameter of the ball.

Further, it is preferable that the ball leveling member is formed of an elastic body.

Further, according to the present invention, a sphere rectifying path inclined so as to align a plurality of spheres supplied from the upstream side and send the spheres to the downstream side, and when mounted above the sphere rectifying path, An upper sloping portion that slopes upward on the upstream side of the ball rectifying path, a lower sloping portion that slopes downward on the downstream side of the sphere rectifying path, and a sphere rectifying path at an intermediate portion between the upper sloping portion and the lower sloping portion. There is provided a ball leveling device including a ball leveling member having a flat portion facing the ball, and a supporting means for installing the ball leveling member above a ball flow regulating path.

In the ball leveling device of the present invention, when the ball straightening paths are provided in a plurality of rows, the ball leveling member has an upper slope portion and a lower slope portion for each row of the ball straightening paths. Is preferred.

Further, in a preferred embodiment of the ball leveling device, the inclination angle of the upper sloping portion of the ball leveling member is larger than the inclination angle of the sphere rectifying path, and the inclination angle of the lower sloping portion is 30 degrees to the inclination angle of the sphere rectifying path. It is configured so that the inclination angle is less than or equal to +.

[0016]

The spheres supplied from the upstream side to the sphere rectifying path are aligned by regulating the stacked state in the height direction by the upper inclined portion, the flat portion and the lower inclined portion of the ball leveling member. , It is possible to move to the downstream side without causing ball clogging in the ball rectifying path.

In a preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned ball leveling member, the flat portion has a length corresponding to 2 to 3 times the diameter of the sphere, so that the sphere pressure in the delivery direction is increased while the sphere moves on the flat portion. Less variability. Therefore, ball clogging is less likely to occur, and the effect of aligning the balls is enhanced.

Further, when the ball leveling member is made of an elastic material, even if the number of spheres sent in suddenly increases or the ball abuts on the ball leveling member with a considerable ball pressure, Due to the elasticity of the leveling member, a good leveling function can be achieved, and damage to the leveling member can be prevented.

In the ball leveling device of the present invention, since the ball leveling member is installed above the ball rectifying path by the supporting means, the ball leveling member is placed at an arbitrary position above the ball rectifying path. Can be placed.

Even if a plurality of sphere rectifying paths are provided, the sphere smoothing member is composed of one member having an upper sloping portion and a lower sloping portion for each row of the sphere rectifying paths. The leveling member can be easily manufactured and installed, and the cost of the ball leveling device can be reduced.

Further, according to a preferable aspect of the ball leveling device, since the upper inclined portion and the lower inclined portion of the ball leveling member are installed at a constant angle with respect to the surface of the ball rectifying path, the balls are aligned. When this is done, ball clogging becomes even less likely to occur.

[0022]

As described above, according to the ball leveling member of the present invention,
With a member having a simple structure, it is possible to smoothly and surely perform ball leveling. In particular, the spheres stacked in the height direction on the sphere rectifying path can be leveled in stages on the upper sloping portion, the flat portion, and the lower sloping portion of the sphere smoothing member, so Without applying unnecessary load to the formed gutter,
It is possible to prevent ball clogging at the outlet of the ball flow regulating path.

Further, for a game machine such as a pachinko machine, it is not necessary to install any other control-related parts only by attaching the ball leveling member of the present invention, so that the other mechanism of the game machine can be used. It can be easily manufactured without any influence.

Further, according to the ball leveling device of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the ball leveling member, the ball leveling member is provided by the supporting means at any position between the upstream side and the downstream side of the ball straightening path. Can be installed in

[0025]

EXAMPLE FIG. 1 shows a part of the back surface of a pachinko machine using the ball leveling plate of the example. A storage tank 4 for storing a considerable number of pachinko balls (hereinafter simply referred to as “balls”) supplied from a ball replenishing device (not shown) is arranged above the back surface 2. The bottom surface of the storage tank 4 is provided with a sphere outlet 6 at the left end of the storage tank 4 for allowing a plurality of spheres to flow out.

Below the storage tank 4, a rectifying gutter 8 is arranged so as to be gently inclined downward to the right. At the left end of the flow straightening gutter 8 in the drawing, a ball receiving portion 10 for receiving a ball from the ball outlet 6 of the storage tank 4 is provided. At the right end of the flow straightening gutter 8 in the drawing, a downward delivery path 12 for one ball is provided. A passage is formed, the lowermost end of which is connected to the delivery gutter 14.

The rectifying gutter 8 has a ball leveling plate 16 made of an elastic thin plate in the substantially center thereof, and a ball feed control member 18 (described later) arranged immediately above the delivery path 12 described above. Among these, the ball leveling plate 16 levels out the balls in the rectifying gutter 8 from the irregular state to the regular state, and the ball feed control member 18 causes the delivery gutter 1 to move.
4 to send one sphere regularly.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rectifying gutter 8 is horizontally long and has a gutter shape with an open upper surface. The interior of the flow straightening gutter 8 is divided into two rows by a partition wall 22 provided in the center of the bottom surface along the ball delivery direction, and two ball flow straightening paths 19, 20 are formed. A ball receiving portion 1 is provided in each of the ball rectifying paths 19, 20.
Straightening grooves 62 and 64 are provided from 0 to the delivery path 12, whereby the ball straightening path 1 is provided.
The spheres are arranged in rows in the lateral direction in rows 9 and 20 so that they can be easily delivered. Since the rectifying grooves 62 and 64 extend over substantially the entire length of the rectifying gutter 8, by disposing a plurality of reinforcing plates 60 on the outer bottom surface of the rectifying gutter 8 at predetermined intervals, the bottom portion of the rectifying gutter 8 can be formed. Are reinforced.
This straightening gutter 8 has a gentle gradient (inclination from the horizontal direction) from the above-mentioned ball receiving portion 10 to the delivery passage 12,
The sphere rolls from the sphere receiving portion 10 side to the delivery path 12 side by its own weight.

The ball leveling plate 16 is supported on the overhanging portions 3 and 5 projecting outward from the upper edges of both side walls 9 of the straightening gutter 8. Below the protruding portions 3 and 5, mounting portions 7 and 11 having female threads formed therein are integrally provided (see FIG. 4). Therefore, from above the ball leveling plate 16, the screws 44, 45
It is possible to fix the ball leveling plate 16 so as to bridge over the two ball rectifying paths 19 and 20 by screwing into the female screws of the mounting portions 7 and 11. In this embodiment, the overhanging portions 3 and 5 of the rectifying gutter 8 and the mounting portions 7 and 11 and the screws 44 and 45 as fixing tools constitute the supporting means of the ball leveling plate 16. Not limited to this, any configuration may be used as long as the ball leveling member can be fixed above the ball rectifying path.

The shape of the ball leveling plate 16 is substantially H-shaped when viewed from above, and has a flat portion 24 facing the ball rectifying paths 19 and 20 in a central portion thereof and facing in parallel to each other. The flat portion 24 is provided upstream of the flat portion 24 (on the ball receiving portion 10 side of the straightening gutter 8).
From there extends an upwardly inclined portion 26 which is bifurcated and has an inclination angle greater than the slope of the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20 and is arranged above each of the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20. Downstream of the flat portion 24 (on the side of the delivery path 12),
Similarly to the upper inclined portion 26, the lower inclined portion 28 is formed so as to be bifurcated and inclined downward.

The ball leveling plate 16 is formed of an elastic thin plate, which means that when the upper sloped portion 26 and the lower sloped portion 28 come into contact with the sphere delivered through the ball rectifying paths 19, 20. This is to prevent ball clogging due to elasticity. Therefore, the shape is not limited to the thin plate as long as it has elasticity, and the material may be metal or synthetic resin. The upper sloping portion 26 and the lower sloping portion 28 are not limited to the bifurcated shape as shown in FIG. 2, and may be formed by a single continuous plate. In this case, in the partition wall 22, a portion that interferes with the upper inclined portion 26 and the lower inclined portion 28 in the height direction is cut out.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing the relation between the sphere equalizing plate 16 attached to the flow straightening gutter 8 and the sphere. The spheres are regulated so as to form one row in the lateral direction for each of the sphere rectifying paths 19 and 20, but the spheres are overlapped in a plurality of stages at a portion (left side in the drawing) upstream of the upper inclined portion 26 of the sphere equalizing plate 16. . As shown in FIG.
In each of the ball straightening paths 19 and 20, the balls are arranged in a single row in the height direction on the downstream side of the lower inclined portion 28. In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the spheres are rectified by the sphere equalizing plate 16 in the height direction in a single row in the process from the upstream side to the downstream side of the sphere equalizing plate 16. To be done.

The operation of the sphere equalizing plate 16 which brings the spheres from the vertically stacked state into the aligned state will be described. The spheres in the storage tank 4 fall from the sphere outlet 6 due to the weight of the spheres, and are temporarily stored in the sphere receiving portion 10 in the rectifying gutter 8. From here, the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20 are formed by the gradient of the rectifying gutter 8.
Go into either. At this time, the spheres are arranged in the rectifying gutter 8 in two rows laterally with respect to the sphere delivery direction, and are sectioned and aligned in one row in each of the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20. However, it has a bales-like irregular state in the height direction.

When the above-mentioned irregular balls reach the upper inclined portion 26 of the ball leveling plate 16, as shown in FIGS. First, they are arranged in two rows in the height direction. The spheres aligned in these two rows are maintained in this aligned state by the flat portion 24. The spheres move to the lower side of the downward sloping portion 28 extending from the flat portion 24 to the downstream side while maintaining the two rows. If the flat portion 24 is not present or is short, the ball may be clogged at this portion. Therefore, the length of the flat portion 24 should be set to 2 to 3 times the diameter of the sphere. desirable. The downward sloping portion 28 is for making the spheres in the two rows in the height direction into one row. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the spheres are aligned in the height direction toward the downstream side. Has been rectified.

The inclination angles of the upper sloping portion 26 and the lower sloping portion 28 from the horizontal state are set in order to obtain a desired rectifying effect.
A range larger than the gradient (angle to the horizontal direction) of the flow straightening gutter 8 itself and not exceeding 30 degrees from the horizontal direction is preferable.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing desirable inclination angles of the upper inclined portion 26 and the lower inclined portion 28. In FIG. 6, the upper inclined portion 26 and the lower inclined portion 28 are the same as those of
It must be greater than the inclination of the row of balls abutting 6,28. Here, when the inclination angle of the straightening gutter 8 is A, the inclination of the sphere array is also A. Further, the inclination angle of the upper inclined portion 26 and the lower inclined portion 28 is an angle B formed with the horizontal direction of the normal line EF with respect to the line segment CD connecting the center of the sphere 50 in the upper row and the center of the sphere 52 in the lower row. Must be: Since the angle B is (A + 30) degrees, it means that the angles of the upper sloped portion 26 and the lower sloped portion 28 are within 30 degrees with respect to the ball rectifying paths 19 and 20.

In the illustrated example, the ball rectifying path 1 in the rectifying trough 8
9, 20, the ball leveling plate 16, and the supporting means constitute a ball leveling device. In this embodiment, the balls in an irregular state are first aligned in a row in the height direction by the ball leveling plate 16 and the ball rectifying paths 19 and 20, and the balls are fed from the horizontal two rows to the first row by the ball feed control member 18. The flow is changed into a straight line and sent out from the outlet of the flow straightening gutter 8 to the delivery passage 12.

As shown in FIG. 8, the two rows of ball straightening paths 19, 20 are divided by the side walls 9 of the straightening gutter 8 and the central partition wall 22 inside the straightening gutter 8 with the same width and slope. Has been formed. The spheres of the respective ball rectification paths 19 and 20 are aligned and delivered in a beaded state to the sphere feed control member 18 on the downstream side of the rectification gutter 8.

The ball feed control member 18 is provided in the ball storage portion 21 formed in the flow straightening gutter 8 above the delivery path 12 at the right end of the flow straightening gutter 8 in the two rows of the ball flow straightening paths 19, 20. Sphere 1
It is for alternately sending each one with a predetermined timing difference.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ball feed control member 18
Is integrally formed with a shaft 30 which is inclined on both side walls 9 with respect to a perpendicular line orthogonal to the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20 and whose both ends are fixed to both side walls 9, and a cylindrical shaft portion 36 which is rotatably fitted on the shaft 30. And a pair of ratchet-shaped straightening vanes 32 and 34 formed in the above. The shaft 30 penetrates the shaft hole 38 (FIG. 10) of the cylindrical shaft portion 36.

The straightening vanes 32 and 34 integrally formed by the tubular shaft portion 36 have the same shape when viewed from the side as shown in FIG. That is, the two straightening vanes 32 and 34 do not have a difference in angular displacement in their respective rotation directions. These rectifiers 3
2, 34 are rotatably installed by receiving a ball pressure from the upstream side of the rectifying gutter 8. In each of the straightening vanes 32 and 34, the same number of ratchet-shaped ball feed teeth 40 and ball receiving portions 4 are provided.
2 are formed at the same intervals. As shown in FIG. 9, each of the ball feed teeth 40 has a constant angle α with respect to the axis 30.
It is installed with. Also, as described above, the shaft 3
The reference numeral 0 is attached to the two sphere rectifying paths 19 and 20 at a predetermined angle (angle formed by a line segment perpendicular to the direction of the sphere rectifying paths 19 and 20 and the axis 30) β. Where angle β and
The feed dogs 40 of the straightening vanes 32 and 34 and the angle α formed by the shaft 30 are equal to each other. The reason is that in order for the sphere flowing through the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20 to be optimally received by the sphere receiving portion 42, the sphere feed tooth 40 that first comes into contact with the sphere is perpendicular to the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20. Because it needs to be.

In each of the straightening vanes 32 and 34, each sphere feed tooth 40 takes in and sends out one sphere at a time, and in the illustrated case, six teeth are the same in the rotation direction at an angular interval suitable for one sphere. It is arranged in the direction of. In addition, the ball receiving portion 42
Are opened between the ball feed teeth 40 to hold one ball at a time.

Next, the operation of the ball feed control member 18 will be described. The two straightening vanes 32 and 34 are obliquely attached to the ball straightening passages 19 and 20, respectively.
There is no angular displacement difference in the direction of rotation between the 2, 34 ball feed teeth 40. Further, the feed dog 40 and the shaft 30 of the two straightening vanes 32 and 34 have a predetermined angular displacement difference. This angular displacement difference is formed so that the ball feed tooth 40 that first comes into contact with the sphere flowing through the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20 is at a right angle to the sphere rectifying paths 19, 20. Therefore, the ball can be smoothly received, and one of the straightening vanes 32 is located closer to the delivery path 12 than the other straightening vane 34 is.
The spheres in the two-row state can be rectified into the one-row state and fed into the delivery passage 12 at a predetermined timing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an upper back surface of a pachinko machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a ball leveling device.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a ball leveling plate attached to a straightening gutter.

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

5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an inclination angle required for an upper inclined portion.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an inclination angle required for a lower inclined portion.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a ball feed control member and a delivery path.

9 is a top view of FIG.

10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 ... Back surface, 3 ... Overhang portion, 4 ... Storage tank, 5 ... Overhang portion,
6 ... Ball outlet, 7 ... Mounting part, 8 ... Straightening trough, 9 ... Side wall, 10
... ball receiving part, 11 ... mounting part, 12 ... sending path, 14 ... sending gutter, 16 ... ball leveling plate, 18 ... ball sending control member, 19, 2
0 ... Sphere straightening path, 21 ... Sphere reservoir, 22 ... Partition wall, 24 ...
Flat part, 26 ... Upward sloping part, 28 ... Downward sloping part, 30 ...
Shafts, 32, 34 ... Current plate, 36 ... Cylindrical shaft portion, 38 ... Shaft hole,
40 ... Ball feed tooth, 42 ... Ball receiving portion, 44, 45 ... Screw,
60 ... Reinforcement plate, 62, 64 ... Straightening groove.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A ball leveling member provided in a ball rectifying path for aligning a plurality of spheres supplied from an upstream side and sending the spheres to a downstream side, the ball leveling member being mounted above the sphere rectifying path, The upper sloping portion that slopes upward on the upstream side of the sphere rectifying path, the lower sloping portion that slopes downward on the downstream side of the sphere rectifying path, and the sphere at an intermediate portion between the upper sloping portion and the lower sloping portion. A ball leveling member having a flat portion facing the flow regulating path. 2. The ball leveling member according to claim 1, wherein the flat portion has a length corresponding to 2 to 3 times the diameter of the ball. 3. The ball leveling member according to claim 1, wherein the ball leveling member is formed of an elastic body. 4. A ball rectifying path inclined so that a plurality of spheres supplied from the upstream side are aligned and delivered to the downstream side, the ball rectifying path is mounted above the sphere rectifying path, and is provided on the upstream side of the sphere rectifying path. An upper sloping portion that slopes upward, a lower sloping portion that slopes downward on the downstream side of the sphere rectifying path, and a flat portion that faces the sphere rectifying path at an intermediate portion between the upper sloping portion and the lower sloping portion. A ball leveling device comprising: a ball leveling member having: and a supporting means for installing the ball leveling member above the ball straightening path. 5. The ball leveling device according to claim 4, wherein the ball straightening paths are provided in a plurality of rows, and the ball leveling member is provided with the upper sloping portion and the lower sloping portion for each row of the ball rectifying paths. A sphere leveling device having: 6. The ball leveling device according to claim 4, wherein an inclination angle of an upper inclined portion of the ball leveling member is larger than an inclination angle of the ball rectifying path, and an inclination angle of the lower inclined portion is the ball rectifying member. A sphere leveling device characterized in that it is configured so as to be less than or equal to the angle obtained by adding 30 ° to the inclination angle of the road.