JPH0910420A - Pachinko ball counter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a PACHINKO ball counter capable of dealing with various kinds of abnormality such as ball blocking, unfair action, etc., by setting a ball counting means not to actuate counting action when a magnet sensor is actuated and an abnormality detecting means detected abnormality. CONSTITUTION: A control circuit 20 with functions as a ball counting means and an abnormality detecting means is mounted on a printed circuit board 19 set in a ball counting device 11. The control circuit 20 counts the number of PACHINKO balls passed through a ball passage based on detecting signals from a first and a second magnetic sensors 17 and 18 and judges blocking of the ball passage and generation of unfair action. Here, the control circuit 20 does not perform counting when the abnormality detecting means judged abnormal even in a case the magnetic sensors are in the detecting state. Thereby various kinds of abnormality such as PACHINKO ball blocking, unfair action, etc., can be quickly dealt with.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pachinko ball counting device which is provided for each pachinko game machine and is suitable for counting the number of pachinko balls stored in a ball tray of the pachinko game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in pachinko halls,
A pachinko ball counting device is installed at the edge of the island or at a prize exchange place, and a player who wants to exchange the acquired pachinko balls for prizes stores the pachinko balls in a ball box and sends it to the pachinko ball counting device. I try to carry it and put it in.
Therefore, since the pachinko ball counting device issues a deposit ticket in which the number of inserted pachinko balls is stored, the pachinko balls obtained by submitting the deposit ticket to the prize exchange place can be exchanged for a desired prize. You can

However, it is troublesome and labor-intensive to store a large number of acquired pachinko balls in a ball box and transport them individually to a pachinko ball prize apparatus. In recent years, therefore, a pachinko ball counting device for each pachinko game machine has been developed. It is considered to install. According to the configuration in which the pachinko ball counting device is installed for each pachinko game machine as described above,
It is possible to count the pachinko balls acquired with a pachinko game machine without carrying them.

In this case, the pachinko ball counting device is provided with, for example, a magnetic sensor for detecting passage of the pachinko ball passing through the ball passage, and can count the pachinko balls based on the detection state of the magnetic sensor.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, since the pachinko balls passing through the ball passage are simply detected and counted, it is not possible to deal with the case where the pachinko balls are clogged in the ball passage. In addition, there is a drawback that it cannot deal with fraud by a player.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko ball counting device capable of promptly dealing with jamming or fraud of a pachinko ball.

[0007]

The pachinko ball counting device of the present invention is provided with a ball passage through which the supplied pachinko balls pass in an aligned state, and a counting detection means for detecting the pachinko balls passing through the ball passage. Provided is ball counting means for counting the pachinko balls that have passed through the ball passage when the counting detection means is in a detection state, and the ball passage is arranged on the upstream side of the ball passage with respect to the counting detection means. First detecting means and second detecting means for detecting a pachinko ball passing through are provided, and abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormal passage of the pachinko ball based on the detection states of the first and second detecting means. In addition, the ball counting means does not execute the counting operation when the abnormality detecting means determines that the magnetic sensor is in an abnormal state when the magnetic sensor is in the detection state (claim 1).

In the above structure, the second detecting means is arranged at a predetermined distance from the first detecting means on the downstream side of the ball passage, and the abnormality detecting means is the second detecting means.
It may be determined that the detection means is abnormal if the detection means is in the detection state before the first detection means (claim 2).

Further, the second detecting means is arranged at a predetermined distance from the first detecting means on the downstream side of the ball passage, and the abnormality detecting means is not detected by the first detecting means. When the second detection means is in the non-detection state at the timing of the state, it may be judged as abnormal (claim 3).

Further, there is provided a third detecting means arranged at a predetermined distance from the center position of the ball passage so as to be symmetrical with the first detecting means, and the abnormality detecting means is When one of the first and third detection means is in the detection state and the other is in the non-detection state, it may be determined to be abnormal (claim 4).

Further, the abnormality detecting means may determine that the magnetic sensor is abnormal if the non-detection state of the magnetic sensor continues for a set time after the first or second detection means enters the detection state. Good (Claim 5).

Further, passage prohibiting means for prohibiting passage of pachinko balls may be provided at the entrance of the ball passage, and the abnormality detecting means may activate the passage prohibiting means when it is determined that there is an abnormality ( Claim 6).

[0013]

In the pachinko ball counting device according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the supplied pachinko ball passes through the ball passage, the counting detection means is in the detection state as the pachinko ball passes. Then, the ball counting means counts the pachinko balls that have passed through the ball passage based on the detection state of the counting detection means.

On the other hand, when a pachinko ball passes through the ball passage,
Since the first detection means and the second detection means are in the detection state, the abnormality detection means detects the abnormality of the pachinko ball based on the detection states of the first and second detection means.

Here, since the ball counting means does not perform the counting operation when the abnormality detecting means determines that the magnetic sensor is in the detection state, the ball counting means does not perform the counting operation. It is possible to prevent the balls from being miscounted.

In the pachinko ball counting device according to the second aspect, when the pachinko ball passes through the ball passage, the first detecting means becomes the detection state as the pachinko ball passes, and then the second state.
The detection means of becomes the detection state. Therefore, the abnormality detecting means can determine that the pachinko balls have passed when the second detecting means is in the detection state before the first detecting means.

In the pachinko ball counting device according to the third aspect of the present invention, when the pachinko ball passes through the ball passage, the first detecting means becomes the detection state as the pachinko ball passes and then the second state.
The detection means of becomes the detection state. At this time, by setting the distance between the first detection means and the second detection means to a predetermined distance, the second detection means is in the detection state at the timing when the first detection means is in the non-detection state. The first and second detection means can be arranged so that Therefore, the abnormality detection means can determine that the pachinko ball has passed when the second detection means is in the non-detection state at the timing when the first detection means is in the non-detection state.

In the pachinko ball counting device according to the fourth aspect, when the pachinko ball passes through the ball passage, the first and third detecting means are simultaneously in the detection state as the pachinko ball passes. Therefore, the abnormality detecting means can determine that the pachinko ball has passed when one of the first and third detecting means is in the detection state and the other is in the non-detection state.

In the pachinko ball counting device according to the fifth aspect, when the pachinko ball passes through the ball passage, the magnetic sensor detects the pachinko ball after the first or second detecting means enters a detection state. It becomes a state. Therefore, when the non-detection state of the magnetic sensor continues for a set time after the first or second detection means enters the detection state, the abnormality detection means can determine that the pachinko ball has passed.

In the pachinko ball counting device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the abnormality detecting means prohibits the intrusion of the pachinko balls by operating the passage prohibiting means when it is judged that there is an abnormality.
As a result, the supply of pachinko balls to the ball passage is prohibited, and it is possible to prevent the abnormal state from further expanding.

[0021]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 shows a pachinko game machine. In FIG. 2, the pachinko game machine 1 has an upper ball tray 2 and a lower ball tray 3, and the lower ball tray 3 is provided with a ball ejection hole 3a for ejecting a pachinko ball. A shelf board 4 is installed below the pachinko game machine 1 so as to cross the island. The inter-lens ball rental machine 5 and the pachinko ball counting unit 6 are arranged between the pachinko game machines 1 in an integrated manner.

The inter-mountain ball lending machine 5 is provided with a ball discharging arm 7, and a magnetic card is inserted into the card insertion slot 8a provided below the pachinko game machine 1 or a coin is inserted into the coin slot 9. When the amount of money is instructed by the selection button group 10 in this state, the pachinko balls corresponding to the instructed amount of money are discharged through the ball discharging arm 7.

3 to 5 show a pachinko ball counting unit 6
The front, side, and plane of are shown respectively. 3 to 5, the outer diameter of the ball counting device 11 is set to have a width of 37.5 mm, a height of 115 mm, and a depth of 150 mm. The width dimension is set to 5 or less. A first ball passage 12 and a second ball passage 13 are formed side by side on the bottom surface of the ball counting device 11, and these ball passages 12 and 13 are covered with a semitransparent cover 14.

A sprocket gear 15 is rotatably supported at an intermediate portion between the first and second ball passages 12 and 13, and pachinko balls passing through the ball passages 12 and 13 are spaced from each other at regular intervals. It is designed to be sent by. here,
As shown in FIG. 6, the sprocket gear 1 is provided in the ball passages 12 and 13 below the sprocket gear 15.
The inclined surface portion 16 is formed along the rotation locus of No. 5. In this case, the inclined surface portion 16 is set so that the pachinko ball is located at the tilt start position when the pachinko ball comes into a positional relationship in which the pachinko ball is in contact with the rotation locus of the sprocket gear 15. Therefore, when the pachinko balls traveling in the first and second ball passages 12 and 13 travel to the position where they come into contact with the rotation locus of the sprocket gear 15, thereafter, the inclined surface portion 1
6, the pachinko ball can proceed smoothly without receiving resistance from the sprocket gear 15, as shown in FIG.

Returning to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, a photoelectric sensor unit 17 and a magnetic sensor 18 as a counting detecting means are provided in a predetermined portion of the first and second ball passages 12, 13 behind the sprocket gear 15. They are arranged one after another in a state of being separated by a distance. These photoelectric sensor units 17
The magnetic sensor 18 detects a pachinko ball passing through the ball passages 12 and 13, and outputs a detection signal only during the detection state.

Here, the photoelectric sensor unit 17 includes a first photoelectric sensor 17a serving as a first detecting means, a second photoelectric sensor 17b serving as a second detecting means, and a third photoelectric sensor serving as a third detecting means. It is composed of a sensor 17c. In this case, the detection point of the first photoelectric sensor 17a is set to the position of arrow A in FIG. 9, the detection point of the second photoelectric sensor 17b is set to the position of arrow B, and the third photoelectric sensor 17b is set to the third position.
The detection point of the photoelectric sensor 17c is set at the position of arrow C. That is, the detection point of the first photoelectric sensor 17a and the detection point of the second photoelectric sensor 17b are separated from each other by 5.5 mm which is the radius of the pachinko balls along the passing direction of the pachinko balls in the ball passages 12 and 13. It is set. Further, the detection point of the first photoelectric sensor 17a and the detection point of the third photoelectric sensor 17c are the same as the ball passage 1
The diameters of 6 mm, which are smaller than the diameter of the pachinko balls, are set to be symmetrical with respect to the center positions of 2 and 13.

In FIG. 1 showing the pachinko ball counting unit 6 in a disassembled state, a printed wiring board 19 is provided in the ball counting device 11, and the printed wiring board 19 serves as a ball counting means and an abnormality detecting means. A control circuit 20 is mounted. The control circuit 20 controls the ball passage 12, based on the detection signals from the first and second magnetic sensors 17, 18.
The number of pachinko balls that have passed through 13 is counted, and the occurrence of ball clogging or fraud in the ball passages 12 and 13 is determined as described later.

The printed wiring board 19 has a solenoid 21
Is mounted, and the shutter 22 is attached to the tip of the plunger 21a of the solenoid 21. The shutter 22 projects into the first and second ball passages 12 and 13 when the solenoid 21 is not driven, and prohibits passage of pachinko balls. Here, a micro switch 23 is mounted on the printed wiring board 19 and is turned on when the shutter 22 is at a position where passage of pachinko balls is prohibited. A group of LEDs 24 (see FIG. 4) is mounted on the printed wiring board 19.

A reset lever 25 corresponding to the shutter 22 is provided on the upper surface of the cover 14 that covers the first and second ball passages 12 and 13, and the shutter 22 is forced according to the position of the reset lever 25. Can be moved to the open position. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the base end portion of the reset lever 25 is pivotally supported on the upper surface of the cover 14, and the intermediate portion is pulled by the tension coil spring 26 toward a predetermined portion of the cover 14. Therefore, when the reset lever 25 is pulled up to a position beyond the pulling direction of the tension coil spring 26, the pulling force is further applied to the reset lever 25 by the tension coil spring 26. 25
The shutter 22 engaged with can be forcibly moved to the upper open position.

Here, as shown in FIG. 6, an inclined surface portion 27 is formed at a position below the shutter 22 in the first and second ball passages 12 and 13, and the shutter 22 allows the pachinko balls to pass. In the prohibited state, the pachinko ball stopped by the shutter 22 is positioned at the tilt start position of the tilted surface portion 27. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, when the pachinko ball pass prohibition state is released by the shutter 22, the pachinko ball immediately rolls on the inclined surface portion 27 and passes through the ball passages 12 and 13.

FIG. 9 schematically shows the electrical construction of the pachinko ball counting device 11. In FIG. 9, the control circuit 20 appropriately energizes the solenoid 21 and the LED 24 based on the detection states of the first to third photoelectric sensors 17a to 17b and the magnetic sensor 18 and the detection state of the micro switch 23, and at the same time, count signals. Host computer 28
Output.

Also, the pachinko balls that have passed through the first and second ball passages 12 and 13 of the ball counting device 11 fall into a ball collection passage (not shown) and are automatically collected by a ball supply device installed in the island. It has become so.

On the other hand, in FIGS. 1 and 3 to 5, a supporting member 29 is fixed to the front surface of the ball counting device 11, and a fixing member 30 is attached to a portion above the supporting member 29. And the fixing member 30 and the supporting member 2
A base end portion of the ball guide arm 31 is rotatably held between the base plate 9 and the ball guide arm 9. That is, as shown in FIG.
A cylindrical portion 32 is formed on the upper surface of the base end portion 31 of the, and the cylindrical portion 32 is formed in the hole 33 formed in the fixture 30.
The base end portion of the ball guide arm 31 is sandwiched between the support member 29 and the fixing bracket 30 in such a manner that the ball guide arm 31 does not come off. In this case, the ball guide arm 31 is sandwiched between the support member 29 and the fixing fitting 30 so as to have a predetermined rattling.

A leaf spring 34 is fixed to the fixing metal fitting 30, and a shaft 35 attached to the tip of the leaf spring 34.
Is a cylindrical portion 32 provided at the base end of the ball guide arm 31.
Is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of. Here, an inwardly projecting protrusion 32a is formed at a predetermined position on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11, the ball guide arm 31
Is rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the support member 29, the shaft 3
Since 5 gets over the projection 32a of the cylindrical portion 32, it is possible to impart a moderation to the ball guide arm 31. A decorative cover 36 is mounted on the front surface of the ball counting device 11 so as to cover the entire support member 29 and the fixing bracket 30.

The ball guiding arm 31 is formed by partitioning a first ball passage 37 and a second ball passage 38 by a partition wall 39, and the respective ball passages 37,
A transparent cover 40 is attached to the upper portion of 38. Here, the first and second ball passages 37, 3 of the ball guiding arm 31
One end of a coil spring 40 is fitted to the outlet of the coil spring 8, and the other end of the coil spring 40 is attached to the support member 2
After passing through the inside of the ball counting device 9, the ball counting device 11 is fitted into the inlet portions of the first and second ball passages 12 and 13, respectively. Therefore, the ball guide arm 31 and the ball counting device 11 are in communication with each other via the support member 29 by the coil spring 40.

At the tip of the ball guide arm 31, a container-shaped ball receiving portion 41 is integrally provided. In this ball receiving part 41,
A first ball guide groove portion 42 and a second ball guide groove portion 43 are formed so as to cross the entire inner bottom surface thereof. in this case,
The first and second ball guide groove portions 42 and 43 are the ball guide arm 3
It is partitioned by a partition wall 44 continuing from 1. Further, a step portion 45 having substantially the same height as the partition wall 44 is formed on both sides of each ball guide groove portion 42, 43.

The first and second ball guide groove portions 42, 43
The depth dimension of is set smaller than the diameter dimension of the pachinko ball. Further, the step portion 45 is slightly inclined toward the first and second ball guide groove portions 42 and 43. Further, the partition wall 44 is formed with a rising portion 44a whose end portion is inclined within a predetermined range of the outlet portion of each ball guide groove portion 42, 43.
Further, a step portion 46a is formed on the peripheral wall 46 surrounding the inner bottom surface of the ball receiving portion 41, and the step wall 46a forms the peripheral wall 4a.
6 is formed in a narrow stepwise shape along the pachinko ball ejection direction. In this case, the length dimension of the step portion 46a in the peripheral wall 46 is set smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball. A protective cover 47 is attached to the outlet of the ball receiving portion 41 to prevent the pachinko balls discharged from the ball receiving portion 41 from floating. In this case, the distance between the bottom surfaces of the first and second ball guide groove portions 42 and 43 of the ball receiving portion 41 and the inner surface of the protective cover 47 is set to be smaller than the diameter of two pachinko balls.

On the other hand, a pair of legs 48 having different heights are provided on the lower surface of the ball receiving portion 41. This leg 4
In FIG. 8, three pairs of insertion holes 49 having different depths are formed, and height adjusting legs 50 are attached to the insertion holes 49. That is, the height adjusting leg portion 50 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of mounting rod portions 51 are formed to project. By inserting the mounting rod portion 51 into a predetermined insertion hole portion 49 of the leg portion 48, the height dimension of the ball receiving portion 41 is adjusted. Can be adjusted. Further, by fixing the height adjusting leg portion 50 with respect to the leg portion 48 with screws in this manner, they can be integrated. Such adjustment is performed when the pachinko ball counting unit 6 having the above configuration is installed on an island.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When a player plays a game on the pachinko game machine 1, a prize is generated on the pachinko game machine 1 as the game progresses, and a predetermined number of pachinko game balls are released to the upper ball saucer 2 of the pachinko game machine 1 and When the ball tray 2 is full of pachinko balls, it is discharged to the lower tray 3.

When the lower tray 3 of the pachinko game machine 1 is also filled with pachinko balls, the pachinko game machine 1
Will no longer properly release pachinko balls. In such a case, the player operates the knob provided on the lower ball tray 3 to drop the pachinko balls stored in the lower ball tray 3 from the ball discharge hole 3a. Then, lower ball saucer 3
The pachinko balls that fall from the
And, it comes to fall into the second ball guide groove portions 42 and 43. At this time, in the ball receiving portion 41, each ball guide groove portion 42,
The step portion 45 located on the side of 43 is provided with the ball guide groove portions 42, 43.
The peripheral wall 46 of the ball receiving portion 41 is inclined toward
Is formed so as to become narrower in a stepwise manner according to the flow direction of the pachinko balls, so that the pachinko balls received by the step portion 45 are gradually moved toward the center side along the peripheral wall 46 and finally the first position. It falls into the first and second ball guide groove portions 42 and 43.

Further, in the partition wall 44, each ball guide groove portion 4
Since the rising portions 44a are formed in a predetermined range of the outlets of the ball holes 2, 43, the pachinko balls passing through the ball guide groove portions 42, 43 can be guided to the ball guide arm 31 in two rows. . At this time, since the front end of the rising portion 44a is inclined, the pachinko ball can be smoothly guided to the ball guiding arm 31 even when the pachinko ball collides with the rising portion 44a from the front.

Then, as described above, the ball guide arm 3
The pachinko balls that have invaded 1 are the first and second ball passages 3
After advancing through 7, 38, the balls are discharged from the ball guide arm 31.

Here, the first and second ball guide arms 31
Since the ball passages 37, 38 of the ball counting device 11 are connected to the first and second ball passages 12, 13 of the ball counting device 11, the pachinko balls discharged from the ball guiding arm 31 are Is guided by the ball counting device 11 through the inside of the support member 29.

Now, the pachinko balls guided to the ball counting device 11 as described above have the first and second ball passages 12,
You will pass 13. At this time, each ball passage 12,
Since the sprocket gear 15 is provided in the middle of 13, the pachinko balls passing through the ball passages 12 and 13 are aligned in a predetermined interval in accordance with the rotation of the sprocket gear 15, and the first and second magnetic sensors. It will pass 17 and 18. Then, the magnetic sensor 18 outputs a detection signal to the control circuit 20 when detecting passage of a pachinko ball.

Here, the control circuit 20 includes a solenoid 21
When a detection signal is input from the magnetic sensor while the shutter 22 is opened by driving, the host computer 29 outputs a pulse signal to the host computer 29. Therefore, the host computer 29 counts the pulse signal from the ball counting device 11. The number of pachinko balls counted by the ball counting device 11 can be counted.

On the other hand, the control circuit 20 detects various abnormalities as follows (see FIGS. 11 and 12). (1) Sensor error determination: When the power is turned on, the output is at a high level (non-detection state) in the non-detection state of the first to third photoelectric sensors 17a to 17c and the magnetic sensor 18, 1st-3rd photoelectric sensor 17a-17
By detecting the initial output signals from the magnetic field sensor c and the magnetic sensor 18, it is possible to determine an abnormality of the sensors 17a to 17c, 18 (connector unconnected or contact failure).

(2) Judgment of ball reverse running: When the pachinko ball passes through the ball passages 12 and 13 in the normal direction, the pachinko ball passes the detection points of the first and third photoelectric sensors 17a and 17b. Then, the pachinko ball passes the detection point of the second photoelectric sensor 17c. Therefore, the first and third
It is possible to determine the passage abnormality of the pachinko ball based on the fact that the second photoelectric sensor 17b is in the detection state before the photoelectric sensors 17a and 17c are in the detection state.

(3) Judgment of ball shape (a) Judgment of ball width ... When the lateral width dimension of the pachinko ball passing through the ball passages 12 and 13 is normal, the first and third photoelectric sensors 17a , 17c, the pachinko balls pass substantially at the same time. Therefore, when the first and third photoelectric sensors 17a and 17c are not in the detection state at the same time, it can be determined that the pachinko ball has passed.

(B) Judgment of ball length: When the length of the pachinko balls passing through the ball passages 12 and 13 along the passing direction is normal, the detection of the first and third photoelectric sensors 17a and 17c is performed. At the timing when the pachinko ball passes the point,
A pachinko ball has passed through the second photoelectric sensor 17b.
Therefore, at the timing when the first and third photoelectric sensors 17a and 17c are in the non-detection state, the second photoelectric sensor 17b is
When is not detected, it can be determined that there is a pachinko ball passage abnormality.

(4) Judgment of ball passing speed ... Ball passage 12, 1
When the passing speed of the pachinko ball passing through 3 is normal, the pachinko ball is the first and third photoelectric sensors 17a and 17c.
1) or the detection point of the second photoelectric sensor 17b, and then passes through the magnetic sensor 18 within a fixed time. Therefore, the first and third photoelectric sensors 17a,
When the non-detection state of the magnetic sensor 18 continues for a set time after the detection state of 17c or the second photoelectric sensor 17b becomes the detection state, it can be determined that the pachinko ball has passed.

(5) Judgment of ball material: When a regular pachinko ball normally passes through the ball passages 12 and 13, the above detection conditions (1) to (4) are satisfied at the detection timing of the magnetic sensor 18. doing. Therefore, when the detection conditions described in (1) to (4) above are not satisfied when the magnetic sensor 18 is in the detection state, it can be determined that the pachinko ball material is abnormal.

Then, the control circuit 20 turns on the LED 24 based on the detection states of the first to third photoelectric sensors 17a to 17c and the magnetic sensor 18. Control circuit 2
0 outputs an abnormality signal to the host computer 28 when it determines that an abnormality has occurred. Further, the control circuit 20
Opens and closes the shutter 22 by driving the solenoid 21 in response to a command from the host computer 28, and when an abnormality or irregularity is detected, the shutter 22
To close.

When the abnormality is notified, the host computer 28 displays on the monitor the pachinko ball counting device in which the abnormality is issued by a monitoring camera (not shown). Further, the host computer 28 constitutes a ball storage system, and when the identification number of the inserted magnetic card is notified from the card reader 8, it is judged whether or not the notified identification number is valid, and it is valid. In this case, the number of stored coins stored corresponding to the magnetic card is read, and pachinko balls are released in accordance with the operation of the inter-mountain ball lending machine 5 by the player within the range of the stored coin number. . At this time, the host computer 28 stores a number obtained by subtracting the number of released pachinko balls from the number of stored coins stored corresponding to the identification number stored in the magnetic card, as a new number of stored coins.

When the player who has finished counting the pachinko balls pulls out the magnetic card from the card insertion slot 8a, the output state of the shutter open signal output from the card reader 8 is released, so that the control circuit 20 Ends ball counting. In this case, the unmeasured pachinko ball is the magnetic sensor 1 for a fixed time (about 500 ms) after the shutter 22 is closed.
8 may pass through the magnetic sensor 1 when the shutter 22 is closed.
The number of pachinko balls is counted by the detection signal from 8.

Also, the control circuit 20 releases the energization of the solenoid 21 to shut off the shutter 22 when the power is cut off.
Thus, the first and second ball passages 12 and 13 are closed.

According to the above structure, the ball passages 12, 1
3, the first to third photoelectric sensors 17a to 17c for detecting the pachinko balls passing through the ball passages 12 and 13 and the magnetic sensor 18 are provided.
Since various abnormalities due to the passage of the pachinko balls passing through the ball passages 12 and 13 are determined based on the detection states of the 17c and the magnetic sensor 18, a configuration in which the number of pachinko balls passing through the ball passage is simply counted. Differently, it is possible to normally deal with various abnormalities such as clogging of pachinko balls or fraud.

In this case, the magnetic sensor 18 for counting the pachinko balls has the first to third photoelectric sensors 17a ...
Since it can be configured only by adding 17c, the overall configuration can be implemented without complication.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but can be modified or expanded as follows. The ball counting device 11 and the inter-mountain ball lending machine 5 may be unitized. The ball counting device 11 and the card reader 8 may be unitized, and the position of the card reader 8 can be set arbitrarily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a pachinko ball counting unit showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pachinko game machine.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional front view of a pachinko ball counting unit.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional side view of a pachinko ball counting unit.

FIG. 5: Cross-sectional view of pachinko ball counting unit

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing a ball passage of a ball counting device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 6 showing a state in which pachinko balls pass continuously.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of essential parts showing a shutter structure of the ball counting device.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement relationship of each sensor.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an electrical configuration of a ball counting device.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing a normal detection state.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart showing an abnormal detection state.

[Explanation of symbols]

6 is a pachinko ball counting unit, 11 is a ball counting device, 17
a is a first photoelectric sensor (first detecting means), 17b is a second photoelectric sensor (second detecting means), 17c is a third photoelectric sensor (third detecting means), and 18 is a magnetic sensor ( Detecting means for counting), 20 is a control circuit (ball counting means, abnormality detecting means).

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A ball passage through which the supplied pachinko balls pass in an aligned state, a detecting unit for detecting a pachinko ball passing through the ball passage, and when the counting detecting unit is in a detection state. A ball counting means for counting the pachinko balls that have passed through the ball passage, a first detecting means and a second detecting means that are arranged on the upstream side of the ball passage with respect to the counting detecting means and that detect pachinko balls passing through the ball passage. And an abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality in the passage of a pachinko ball based on the detection states of the first and second detecting means, wherein the ball counting means detects the counting detecting means. The pachinko ball counting device is characterized in that the counting operation is not executed when the abnormality detecting means determines that there is an abnormality in the state. 2. The second detecting means is arranged downstream of the first detecting means by a predetermined distance from the ball passage, and the abnormality detecting means is arranged such that the second detecting means is the second detecting means. The pachinko ball counting device according to claim 1, wherein when the detection state is detected before the detection means of 1, the abnormality is determined. 3. The second detecting means is arranged downstream of the first detecting means in a predetermined distance from the ball passage, and the abnormality detecting means does not detect the first detecting means. The pachinko ball counting device according to claim 1, wherein when the second detection means is in a non-detection state at the timing of the state, it is determined to be abnormal. 4. The first passage with respect to the center of the ball passage.
The third detection means is arranged so as to be symmetric to the detection means described above in a state of being separated by a predetermined distance, and the abnormality detection means is provided at a timing when one of the first and third detection means is in the detection state. The pachinko ball counting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the other is in a non-detection state, it is determined to be abnormal. 5. The abnormality detecting means determines an abnormality when the non-detection state of the magnetic sensor continues for a set time after the first or second detection means enters the detection state. The pachinko ball counting device according to claim 1. 6. A passage prohibiting means for prohibiting passage of pachinko balls is provided at an entrance of the ball passage, and the abnormality detecting means operates the passage prohibiting means when it is determined that there is an abnormality. The pachinko ball counting device according to any one of Items 1 to 5.