JPH0889647A - Game ball replenishment system for game parlor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a game ball replenishment system for a game parlor, having the capability of storing a large amount of game balls in a game island, requiring only one installation position for a game ball counting device, and obviating the need of lifting all counted balls upward. CONSTITUTION: A game ball counting device 7 is laid at one end of a game machine row, and the downstream passage 17 of an overflow passage 4 for guiding game balls P overflowing from an upward ball loading device 5 is formed at the other end of the row. Long box type game ball storage devices 1a and 1b are installed under a game ball storage circuit 2 approximately over the entire length thereof. Also, lift devices 6a and 6b are attached respectively to the ends of the devices 1a and 1b for feeding balls P to the device 5 therefrom, and balls P in the circuit 2 are fed to the device 5 in preference to balls P in each of the devices 1a and 1b.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game ball supply system in a game arcade having a plurality of game machines arranged side by side, and more specifically, a game ball counting device and an out ball from each game machine. A game ball collecting path for collecting the game balls, a hoisting device for hoisting the collected game balls, a game ball replenishing path for supplying the hoisted game balls to each gaming machine and ball lending machine, and a control device. It relates to a game ball supply system in a game hall.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a game ball supply system in a game arcade having a plurality of gaming machines and ball lending machines arranged side by side, approximately the center of each row of the gaming machines and ball lending machines arranged side by side. There is known an example in which a game ball counting device is arranged in the vicinity, and a game ball storage device is arranged behind or above a game machine and a ball lending machine row (for example, see JP-A-5-137845). In the game ball supply system in such a type of game arcade, the out balls generated from each game machine and the game balls thrown into the game ball counting device are once lifted to the upper back of the game machine row by a lifting device or the like. Then, the game balls are once stored in the game ball storage device, and are supplied to each game machine from the game ball supply path according to the game status of each game machine.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional game ball supply system in the game arcade, if the game ball counting device is provided near the center of each line, the number of game machine lines becomes two.
1 in the case of amusement islands where the backs of the rows face each other
Two game ball counting devices are installed for each game ball supply system in one game hall, and the cost of the game ball supply system itself in the game hall becomes considerably high. Further, since the capacity of the game ball storage device is also limited, the amount of game balls held is small and an increase in the storage amount has been required. Furthermore, it is an improvement in terms of power cost and proper placement of game balls that all of the game balls (hereinafter referred to as “counting balls”) thrown into the game ball counting device are lifted to the game ball storage device or the like above. There was room. The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can store a large amount of game balls in a game island, and set the game ball counting device to any one place, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a game ball supply system in a game hall that does not need to be pumped up.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, a game ball supply system in a game arcade according to the present invention has a plurality of game machines and ball lending machines arranged in a row, and a game ball counting. A device, a game ball collection path for collecting out balls from the game machine, a pumping device for pumping the game balls collected by the game ball collecting path, and a game ball pumped by the pumping device In a game ball replenishing system in a game arcade, which includes a game ball replenishing path for replenishing the plurality of game machines and a ball lending machine, and a control device, the game ball counting device is provided at one end of the game machine and the ball lender row In addition, at the other end of the row of the game machine and the ball lending machine, the downflow path of the overflow path for guiding the game balls overflowing from the lifting device is arranged, and at the bottom of the game ball collection path. Is a long box-shaped first and second game balls over almost the entire length A retaining device is provided, and at one end of the first game ball storage device, a receiving port for receiving a game ball flowing out from the game ball counting device is provided, and at the one end of the second game ball storage device, the flow-down device is provided. A receiving device for receiving the game balls guided from the road is provided, and a lift device is provided at each of the other end portions of the first and second game ball storage devices, and the game balls in each of the game ball storage devices are described above. It is configured to supply to the lifting device and to supply the game balls in the game ball collection path to the lifting device with priority over the game balls in the respective game ball storage devices. In the above, the game ball collection path and each of the game ball storage devices may be integrally formed. Further, in the above, the control device sets the game ball of the first game ball storage device to the second game ball.
It may be configured to control the lift device to supply to the lifting device in preference to the gaming ball storage device.

[0005]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, the first and second long box-shaped first and second substantially entire lengths are provided in the lower portion of the game ball collection path which has not been used conventionally and which is a dead space. Since the game ball storage device is provided, it is possible to effectively utilize the unused space inside the game island formed by one or two rows of the game machine and the ball lending machine. In addition, since a space for almost the entire length of the game ball collection path can be secured in the lower part of the game ball collection path, a larger amount of game balls can be stored than in the conventional game ball storage device, and a game machine that constitutes a game island If the number of games balls increases, the number of game balls stored can be increased in proportion to it. In addition, the structure of the back of the gaming machine may be exactly the same as the conventional gaming island, there is no need to widen the width of the gaming island, and there is no problem in maintenance of various conveyors etc. arranged inside the island. . Since the game ball counting device is arranged at one end of the game machine and the ball lending machine row, it is only necessary to arrange one game ball counting device per one game island, and the game ball counting device for each game island is arranged. When placed on the same end of the island, the player can walk a short distance even if the game ball counting device on the gaming island with his / her gaming machine becomes unusable due to a failure or other reason. It is possible to easily use the game ball counting device of one adjacent game island. Furthermore, since the game balls in the game ball collection path are supplied to the lifting device in preference to the game balls in each game ball storage device, the out balls generated from each game device are given priority to the flow down and lift. It can be sent, replenished, and circulated in the game island, and when the game ball supply path is full or when the game ball is thrown into the game ball counting device, the game ball is stored in each game ball storage device. Can be stored. In the above, if the game ball collection path and each game ball storage device are integrally formed, it is possible to have two functions with one structure, and it is advantageous in strength as compared with the case where they are manufactured separately, The manufacturing process such as assembling can be simplified, or one support can be shared. Also, in the above,
The control device controls the lift device to supply the game balls of the first game ball storage device on the side of the game ball counting device to the lifting device in preference to the second game ball storage device on the side of the descending road. By doing so, first, a large amount of game balls that are thrown into the game ball counting device can be efficiently pumped and supplied to each game machine or ball lending machine as a supply ball. Then, the game balls stored in the second game ball storage device on the downflow side flow in after the game ball supply path is full, so the first game ball storage device on the game ball counting device side is set. There is no problem if the pumping process is given priority.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing the overall configuration of a game ball supply system 100 in a game hall which is an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, a game ball supply system 100 in a game arcade includes a plurality of gaming machines 8, ..., 8 arranged in a row and a ball lending machine 28 arranged in the middle of these gaming machines. A game ball counting device 7 and a game ball collecting path 2
Lifting device 5 for game ball P, upper storage tank 26, game ball supply path 3, control device 30, overflow path 4 and downflow path 17, first game ball storage device 1a, and second game. The ball storage device 1b and the lift devices 6a and 6b are provided.

The above-mentioned gaming ball counting device 7 is arranged at one end of either the gaming machine or the ball lending machine row which constitutes the gaming ball replenishing system 100 in the game hall. The game ball collection path 2 is formed in the shape of two oblique paths that are downwardly inclined toward the center of the gaming machine row at a position lower than each gaming machine 8 in the space on the back surface of each gaming machine row. Out balls from the gaming machine 8 are collected and collected in the center of the gaming machine row.

The hoisting device 5 includes a spiral member (not shown) and is connected to the game ball collecting path 2 to rotate the spiral member to collect the game balls P collected by the game ball collecting path 2. The game ball P is polished by an abrasive material while being lifted up. The upper part of the lifting device 5 is an upper storage tank 26, and the game ball P is lifted up by a spiral member.
Temporarily store.

The game ball supply path 3 is connected to the upper storage tank 26, and the game balls P pumped by the pumping device 5 are loaded into a plurality of game machines 8, ..., 8 and ball lending machines 28 ,. Supply to. The overflow path 4 is connected to the upper storage tank 26, the downflow path 17 is connected to the overflow path 4,
The game ball P overflowing from the upper storage tank 26 is guided to the game ball storage device 1b.

The game ball storage devices 1a and 1b are arranged below the game ball collection path 2 and are formed in two elongated box-like shapes which form a downwardly inclined slope toward the center of the row of game machines. A game ball counting device 7 is connected to one end of the game ball storage device 1a which forms the upper end of the ramp, and a lift device is provided at the other end of the game ball storage device 1a side of the game ball storage device 1a which forms the bottom end of the slope. 6a is connected, and this lift device 6a is connected to the lifting device 5. A lift device 6b is connected to the other end of the game ball storage device 1b on the side of the downflow path 17 which forms the lower end of the oblique path, and the lift device 6b is also connected to the lifting device 5.

The lift devices 6a and 6b are composed of a conveyor belt with crosspieces stretched between a driving vehicle and a driven vehicle (not shown), and the rotational movement of the driving vehicle causes the transportation belt to move upward from below. The game balls P are loaded near the lower part of the conveyor belt and are lowered near the upper part of the conveyor belt to lift the game balls P by a very small height.

The game ball storage devices 1a and 1b are shown in FIG. 2 (C).
As shown in FIG. 3, it has an elongated box shape, the upper plate constitutes the game ball collection path 2, and the internal space serves as a storage space for the game balls P. Also, this game ball storage device 1a,
Inside the 1b, an intermediate flow path 22 as shown in FIG.
Is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the overflow path 4 is arranged in parallel with the game ball supply path 3, and an intermediate flow path 21 is provided therein.

Between the lift devices 6a, 6b and the lifting device 5, inclined plates 23, 23, a confluence pipe 24, and distribution sloping paths 25, 25 are provided. Therefore, with this structure, as shown in FIG. 3, the game ball P that has rolled down the upper surfaces of the game ball collection paths 2 and 2 is guided directly into the lifting device 5 from the lower end of the game ball collection path and is moved upward. Be pumped.

On the other hand, the game balls P stored in the game ball storage devices 1a, 1b are lifted upward by a small height when the lift devices 6a, 6b are operated, and are lowered onto the inclined plate 23. The sloping plate 23 is inclined downward toward the merging pipe 24 at the center, and the game ball P rolls down on the sloping plate 23 and falls into the merging pipe 24. Game ball P that entered the confluence pipe 24
Are sorted to the left and right by the sorting ramp 25, and the sorting ramp 2
At the lower end of 5, wrap around to the lower end side of the above-mentioned game ball collection path 2,
The game balls P that have rolled downward on the upper surfaces of the game ball collection paths 2 and 2 merge with each other and are guided into the lifting device 5 and are lifted upward. Therefore, at the confluence of the game ball collection path 2 and the distribution oblique path 25, the balls on the game ball collection path 2 side preferentially flow into the lifting device 5.

Further, various sensors are provided in each of the above parts. As shown in FIG. 2, a first ball clogging sensor 9 is provided on the upper portion of the lift device 6a on the game ball counting device side,
A second ball clogging sensor 10 is provided above the lift device 6b on the downstream side. These ball clogging sensors 9, 10
Sends a ball jam detection signal to the control device 30 when a ball jam occurs near the sensor position.

Further, a first ball amount sensor 11 is provided at the entrance position to the lift device 6a near the lower end of the first game ball storage device 1a on the side of the game ball counting device 7, and the center of the oblique path of the game ball storage device 1a. At a position closer to the lower end, the second ball amount sensor 12 is
Third ball amount sensors 13 are provided near the upper end of the oblique road of the first game ball storage device 1a. Each of these ball amount sensors 11 to 13 is turned on if the game ball P exists at the sensor position, and sends a game ball detection signal to the control device 30,
It is a sensor that turns off if the game ball P does not exist at the sensor position.

Then, a first ball amount sensor 14 is located at the entrance position to the lift device 6b near the lower end of the second game ball storage device 1b on the side of the flow-down path 17 and the lower end from the center of the oblique path of the game ball storage device 1b. The second ball amount sensor 15 is located at a position close to
A third ball amount sensor 16 is provided near the upper end of the oblique road of the game ball storage device 1b. Each of these ball amount sensors 14 to 16 is turned on when the game ball P is present at the sensor position and sends a game ball detection signal to the control device 30, and is turned off when the game ball P is not present at the sensor position. It is a sensor.

Inside the upper storage tank 26, the lifting device sensor 18, the full sensor 19, and the outlet abnormality sensor 2 are provided.
0 is provided. The lifting device sensor 18 is turned on when the game ball P is present in the lifting device 5 and sends a game ball detection signal to the control device 30, and is turned off when the game ball P is not present in the lifting device 5. It is a sensor that does. The full sensor 19 is a sensor that is turned on when the upper storage tank 26 is full to stop the lifting device 5, and is turned off when the inside of the lifting device 5 is not full of the game balls P. The outlet abnormality sensor 20 is a sensor for preventing the game ball P from overflowing when some abnormality occurs in the lifting device 5.

The control device 30 includes a CPU (Cent) (not shown).
ral Processing Unit: Central processing unit) and ROM (Read
Only Memory: Read-only memory) and RAM (Random)
An access memory: a memory for writing and reading as needed) and the like, and is configured by a microcomputer, and controls the entire game ball supply system 100 in this game hall.

Next, the operation of the game ball supply system 100 in the above-mentioned playground will be described with reference to FIG. Out balls generated in each game machine 8 in the game ball supply system 100 in the game hall are discharged onto the game ball collection path 2. Since the game ball recovery path 2 forms a downwardly inclined slant toward the central lifting device 5, the gaming ball P rolls toward the lower end of the slant and flows into the central lifting device 5. To do. The lifting device 5 lifts the inflowing game balls P upward (see FIG. 4 (A)).

On the other hand, the game balls P put into the game ball counting device 7 are the first game ball storing device 1 on the side of the game ball counting device 7.
It flows into a and is stored. At the same time, a part thereof is lifted up by the lift device 6a by a very small height, and the inclined plate 2
3, the merging pipe 24, and the distribution ramp 25 flow into the pumping device 5, and the pumping device 5 pumps it upward. The game ball P thus pumped above the game ball supply system 100 in the game hall is poured into the respective game ball supply paths 3 and 3 via the upper storage tank 26, and then the respective game machines 8 and ball lending. It is supplied to the machine 28 (see FIG. 4 (B)). In the above,
Since the intermediate flow path 22 is provided in the game ball storage device 1a on the side of the game ball counting device, it is possible to prevent the game balls P from being extremely concentrated near the receiving port of the game ball storage device 1a. . That is, many game balls P are the intermediate flow path 22.
As it rolls on the upper surface of the container and disperses away from the receiving port, it can be uniformly stored in a wide range.

The game ball P is filled in the game ball supply path 3 due to a large number of game balls P thrown into the game ball counting device 7 or a large amount of out balls from each game machine 8. When full, the game ball P flows into the overflow path 4 from the overflow outlet in the upper storage tank 26. As a result, the game ball P moves from the overflow path 4 to the downflow path 17
After passing through, it flows into the second game ball storage device 1b on the side of the downflow path 17 and is stored (see FIG. 4C).

In the above, in the overflow path 4, an intermediate flow path 21 is provided in order to process a large amount of game balls P in a narrow space. Further, since the intermediate flow path 22 is also provided in the game ball storage device 1b, it is possible to prevent the game balls P from being extremely concentrated near the receiving port of the game ball storage device 1b. That is, since many game balls P are dispersed on the upper surface of the intermediate flow path 22 and far from the receiving port while rolling, they can be evenly stored in a wide range.

Normally, as described above, the game balls P that have been pumped by the lifting device 5 from the game ball collection path 2 and stored in the upper storage tank 26 are supplied to the game ball supply path 3. However, when the number of game balls P in the upper storage tank 26 becomes small for some reason, a pumping device internal ball reduction detection signal is sent from the pumping device sensor 18 in the upper storage tank 26 to the control device 30. Thereby, the control device 30 confirms the amount of stored balls of the game ball storage devices 1a and 1b and operates the lift device 6a or 6b to lift the stored balls in the game ball storage device 1a or 1b. It is guided to and pumped and supplied to the game ball supply path 3 (see FIG. 4 (D)). In this case, the game ball P in the first game ball storage device 1a is preferentially sent to the lifting device 5.

When each of the above-mentioned game ball supply paths 3 and 3 is filled with the game ball P and both of the game ball storage devices 1a and 1b are filled with the game ball P, the third ball amount sensor 16 And 13 send the tank full detection signal to the controller 30. As a result, the control device 30 issues a control signal to operate the shutter device (not shown) in the game ball counting device 7 to close the flow path to the first game ball storage device 1a and to close the game ball P. In addition to blocking the inflow of the first game ball storage device 1a, as shown in FIG.
The display section 31 of the game ball counting device 7 is caused to display "counting stopped".

FIG. 5 shows an example in which the control device 30 and the game ball counting device 7 are integrated, and 27 shows a ball level indicator. As shown in FIG. 5B, the left side column in the figure is a game ball. The state of each sensor on the counting device side and the state of each sensor on the downflow side are shown in the right column in the figure. The lamp at the top of each row is an error lamp, and the ball clogging in the lift device 6 is detected by the first ball clogging sensor 9 or the second ball clogging sensor 10.
Is detected, or the outlet abnormality sensor 20 detects clogging of a ball in the upper storage tank 26, or when an abnormality occurs in each sensor, a signal from each sensor is received and blinking is displayed.

Further, the lamps in each row described as "1" in the above-mentioned ball level indicator 27 are described as "2" in the first ball amount sensors 11 and 14 on the game ball counting device side and the downflow side. The lamps in each row are the second ball amount sensors 12 and 15 on the game ball counting device side and the downflow side, and the lamps in each column described as "3" are the third ball amounts on the game ball counting device side and the downflow side. It corresponds to the sensors 13 and 16, respectively. Further, 29 in FIG. 5 (A) indicates an alarm display,
It lights up according to the blinking display of the error lamp above.

A game ball supply system 1 in this game hall
The flow of the game ball P at 00 and the control of the lift device 6 by the control device 30 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows the control of the lift device 6a on the side of the game ball counting device, and FIG. 7 shows the control of the lift device 6b on the side of the downflow path.

Regarding the control of the lift device 6a on the side of the game ball counting device, first, the control device 30 determines whether or not the first ball clogging sensor 9 is ON (step S1).
When the first ball clogging sensor 9 is ON, it indicates that the ball clogging has occurred near the upper end of the lift device 6a, so the control device 30 executes "error processing",
At the same time that the error lamp on the left side of the sphere level indicator 27 of the gaming sphere counting device 7 is blinkingly displayed, the alarm indicator 29 is turned on (step S7). After that, the control device 30 sends a control signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6a to stop its operation (step S8).

On the other hand, if the first ball clogging sensor 9 is OFF in step S1, it means that the ball clogging has not occurred near the upper end of the lift device 6a on the game ball counting device side. From this, the control device 30 executes the "error canceling process" to stop the blinking display of the error lamp in the left column on the ball level indicator 27 of the gaming ball counting device 7 and at the same time turn off the alarm indicator 29. (Step S2).

Next, the control device 30 controls the game ball counting device 7
It is determined whether or not the first ball amount sensor 11 on the side is turned on (step S3). When the first ball amount sensor 11 is OFF, it means that there is no game ball P near the lower end of the lift device 6a on the game ball counting device side, and there is no ball to be lifted by the lift device 6a. Therefore, in order to save power, the control device 30 sends a control signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6a to stop the operation thereof (step S8).

On the other hand, in step S3, when the first ball amount sensor 11 is ON, the game ball P exists near the lower end of the lift device 6a on the game ball counting device side and is lifted by the lift device 6a. Since it indicates that there is a sphere to be sent, the control device 30 executes the next step S4.

In step S4, the controller 30
Determines whether the lifting device sensor 18 is ON. When the lifting device sensor 18 is OFF, the gaming ball P does not exist at the position of the lifting device sensor 18 in the upper storage tank 26, and the supply of the gaming ball P to the gaming ball supply path 3 is insufficient. Therefore, the control device 30 sends a control signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6a on the side of the game ball counting device 7 to start its operation, and counts the game balls. The stored balls in the first game ball storage device 1a on the device side are caused to flow into the lifting device 5 and be supplied to the game ball supply path 3 (step S6).

On the other hand, in step S4, when the pumping device sensor 18 is turned on, the game ball P exists at the position of the pumping device sensor 18 in the upper storage tank 26, and the game ball supply path 3 Since it is shown that the supply of the game ball P to the player is not likely to run short, the next step S5 is executed.

In step S5, the controller 30
Determines whether or not the third ball amount sensor 16 on the downstream side is on. When the third ball amount sensor 16 on the downflow side is ON, the second game ball storage device 1b on the downflow side
The game ball P exists up to the position of the third ball amount sensor 16 inside,
Since the second game ball storage device 1b on the downflow side is shown to be full, the lift device 6a on the game ball counting device side
If the valve is further operated, the overflow path 4 will be full, so the control device 30 sends a control signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6a to stop the operation (step S8).

On the other hand, in step S5, when the third ball amount sensor 16 on the downflow side is off, the position of the third ball amount sensor 16 in the second downhill side game ball storage device 1b is set. Indicates that there is no game ball P and there is still a storage space in the second game ball storage device 1b on the downflow side, so even if the lift device 6a on the game ball counting device side is operated further. Since there is no possibility that the overflow path 4 will be full, the control device 30 sends a control signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6a to start or continue the operation (step S6).

Regarding the control of the lift device 6b on the downstream side, first, in the control device 30, the second ball clogging sensor 10 is turned off.
It is determined whether or not it is N (step S11). Second
When the ball clogging sensor 10 is ON, it indicates that the ball clogging is occurring near the upper end of the lift device 6b on the downflow side. Therefore, the control device 30 executes "error processing", Ball level indicator 27 of the above-mentioned gaming ball counting device 7
At the same time that the error lamp on the right side of the column is blinked, the alarm indicator 29 is turned on (step S1).
7). After that, the control device 30 sends a control signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6b to stop its operation (step S18).

On the other hand, in step S11, the second
When the ball clogging sensor 10 is OFF, it indicates that the ball clogging has not occurred near the upper end of the lift device 6b on the downflow side. Therefore, the control device 30 executes the "error cancellation process". , The alarm indicator 29 is turned off at the same time as the blinking display of the error lamp in the right column on the ball level indicator 27 of the gaming ball counting device 7 is stopped (step S12).

Next, the control device 30 controls the first flow path 7 on the first side.
It is determined whether or not the ball amount sensor 14 is ON (step S13). When the first ball amount sensor 14 is OFF, it means that the game ball P does not exist near the lower end of the lift device 6b on the downstream side, and there is no ball to be lifted by the lift device 6b. , Controller 3 to save power
0 sends a control signal to the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6b to stop its operation (step S1).
8).

On the other hand, in step S13, the first
When the ball amount sensor 14 is ON, it indicates that the game ball P exists near the lower end of the lift device 6b on the downflow side and there is a ball to be lifted by the lift device 6b. 30 performs the following step S14.

In step S14, the controller 30
Determines whether the lifting device sensor 18 is ON. When the pumping device sensor 18 is ON, the game ball P exists at the position of the pumping device sensor 18 in the upper storage tank 26, and the supply of the game ball P to the game ball supply path 3 is insufficient. Since it indicates that there is no fear, the control device 30
Sends a control signal to a drive motor (not shown) of the downstream side lift device 6b to stop its operation (step S18).

On the other hand, in step S14, if the lifting device sensor 18 is OFF, there is no gaming ball P at the position of the lifting device sensor 18 in the upper storage tank 26, and the gaming ball supply path 3 indicates that there is a possibility that the supply of the game balls P to 3 will be insufficient, so the next step S1
Execute 5.

In step S15, the controller 30
Determines whether or not the lift device 6a on the game ball counting device side is stopped. Lift device 6a on the side of the game ball counting device
If it is not stopped, it is not necessary to operate the lift device 6b on the downflow side further, so the control device 30 controls the drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6b on the downflow side. A signal is sent to stop the operation (step S18).

On the other hand, in step S15, if the lift device 6a on the side of the game ball counting device is stopped,
If the lift device 6b on the downflow side is not operated, the supply ball to the game ball supply path 3 may run short, so the control device 30 sends a control signal to a drive motor (not shown) of the lift device 6b on the downflow side. It is sent to start or continue the operation (step S16).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The above-mentioned embodiment is an exemplification, has substantially the same configuration as the technical idea described in the scope of the claims of the present invention, and has any similar effect to the present invention. It is included in the technical scope of the invention.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention having the above-described structure, a long box is provided at the lower portion of the game ball collecting path which has not been utilized conventionally and which is a dead space, over substantially the entire length thereof. Since the first and second gaming ball storage devices are provided, the unused space inside the gaming island formed by one or two rows of the gaming machine and the ball lender row can be effectively utilized. Therefore, there is an advantage that it is possible to construct a gaming island with high economic efficiency in the gaming hall, which greatly contributes to the gaming hall management. Also, at the bottom of the game ball collection path,
Since a space for almost the entire length of the game ball collection path can be secured, a larger amount of game balls can be stored than the conventional game ball storage device, and if the number of game machines that make up the game island increases, the game balls will increase proportionately. The number of stored water can be increased. Therefore, even if some game balls are thrown into the game ball counting device, the game ball storage device does not become full, and therefore, the number of times the game ball counting device is suspended is reduced, which is convenient for giving to the player. There is an advantage that the player's trust in the game hall increases. In addition, the structure of the back of the gaming machine may be exactly the same as the conventional gaming island, there is no need to widen the width of the gaming island, and there is no problem in maintenance of various conveyors etc. arranged inside the island. . Therefore, as a game hall, there is no need to re-lay out the game hall to increase the amount of game balls stored, the period for facility construction can be shortened, the initial investment amount is low, and running after starting use There is an advantage that the cost is also low. Since the game ball counting device is arranged at one end of the game machine and the ball lending machine row, it is only necessary to arrange one game ball counting device per one game island, and the game ball counting device for each game island is arranged. When placed on the same end of the island, the player can walk a short distance even if the game ball counting device on the gaming island with his / her gaming machine becomes unusable due to a failure or other reason. It is possible to easily use the game ball counting device of one adjacent game island. Therefore, there are advantages that services to the player are increased, trust in the game hall is increased, and evaluation of the game hall is improved. Furthermore, since the game balls in the game ball collection path are supplied to the lifting device in preference to the game balls in each game ball storage device, the out balls generated from each game device are given priority to the flow down and lift. It can be sent, replenished, and circulated in the game island, and when the game ball supply path is full or when the game ball is thrown into the game ball counting device, the game ball is stored in each game ball storage device. Can be stored. Therefore, it is possible to rationally circulate the game balls in the game island, and prevent problems such as uneven distribution of the game balls in the game island and concentration of the game balls in one place, which is convenient for the player. There is an advantage that it can contribute to the management of the amusement park by providing it and improving the evaluation of the amusement park. In the above, if the game ball collection path and each game ball storage device are integrally formed, it is possible to have two functions with one structure, and it is advantageous in strength as compared with the case where they are manufactured separately, The manufacturing process such as assembly is simplified,
Alternatively, one support can be shared. Therefore, there is an advantage that the game ball supply system in the game arcade can be economical without waste. Further, in the above, the control device lifts the game balls of the first game ball storage device on the side of the game ball counting device to the feeding device in preference to the second game ball storage device on the downflow side. By controlling, a large amount of game balls to be loaded into the game ball counting device can first be efficiently pumped, and can be supplied to each gaming machine or ball lending machine as a supply ball. Then, the game balls stored in the second game ball storage device on the downflow side flow in after the game ball supply path is full, so the first game ball storage device on the game ball counting device side is set. There is no problem if the pumping process is given priority. Therefore, the situation in which the game ball counting device is frequently stopped due to the insertion of a large number of counting balls is eliminated, and it is possible to provide a lot of convenience to the player, and it is also advantageous in that it greatly contributes to the management of the game hall. Have

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a game ball supply system in a game hall which is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing a configuration of a game ball supply system in the game hall shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration around a lift device and a lifting device in a game ball supply system in the game arcade shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the game ball supply system in the game arcade shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration around a game ball counting device in the game ball supply system in the game arcade shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the lift device 6a shown in FIG.

7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the lift device 6b shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a First game ball storage device 1b Second game ball storage device 2 Game ball collection path 3 Game ball supply path 4 Overflow path 5 Lifting device 6a, 6b Lift device 7 Game ball counting device 8 Game machine 9 First ball Clog sensor 10 2nd ball clogging sensor 11,14 1st ball amount sensor 12,15 2nd ball amount sensor 13,16 3rd ball amount sensor 17 Downflow path 18 Lifting device sensor 19 Full sensor 20 Outlet abnormality sensor 21,22 Intermediate flow path 23 Inclined plate 24 Confluence pipe 25 Sorting oblique road 26 Upper storage tank 27 Ball level indicator 28 Ball lender 29 Alarm indicator 30 Control device 31 Display 100 Game ball supply system at a game hall P Game ball

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of gaming machines and ball lending machines arranged side by side in a row, a gaming ball counting device, a gaming ball collecting path for collecting out balls from the gaming machine, and the gaming ball collecting path. A game including a pumping device for pumping the collected game balls, a game ball supply path for supplying the game balls pumped by the pumping device to the plurality of gaming machines and ball lenders, and a controller In the game ball supply system in the field, the game ball counting device is arranged at one end of the game machine and the ball lender row, and the other end of the game machine and ball lender row overflows from the lifting device. An overflow path is provided for guiding the exiting game balls, and first and second game ball storage devices in the shape of a long box are provided in the lower part of the game ball collection path for substantially the entire length. A game that flows out from the game ball counting device at one end of the first game ball storage device. A receiving port for receiving the game ball guided from the downflow path is provided at one end of the second game ball storage device, and a receiving port for receiving the first and second game ball storage device is provided. A lift device is provided at each of the end portions to supply the game balls in each of the game ball storage devices to the hoisting device, and the game balls in the game ball collection path are more than the game balls in each of the game ball storage devices. A game ball supply system in a game hall, characterized in that it is configured to preferentially supply the lifting device. 2. The game ball supply system in a game arcade according to claim 1, wherein the game ball collection path and each of the game ball storage devices are integrally formed. 3. The control device controls the lift device to supply the game balls of the first game ball storage device to the lifting device in preference to the second game ball storage device. A game ball supply system in a game hall according to claim 1 or 2.