JPH10118308A - Pachinko ball feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a clogged state, in which pachinko balls are caught between a ball feeding device and a passage with a result of hampering ball feeding, and to facilitate the adjustment of a space between the ball feeding device and the passage. SOLUTION: The ball feeding device 10 (e.g. for pachinko balls 50) is constituted of a nearly disk-shaped member that is projected into a passage 60 where pachinko balls 50 can be moved, that is capable of forcing the balls 50 forward by rotating, and that is made of an elastic material. In this case, the outer circumferential surface of the member is provided with projections (e.g. rippled projections 22) protruding radially outward, with a distance between the tip end of the projection 22 and the inner wall of the ball passage 60 to be set less than the diameter of the ball 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for feeding game balls such as pachinko machines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 2 and 3 show a conventional ball-feeding device for a game machine. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sprocket-shaped ball-feeding device, and FIG. Each figure is shown. Conventionally, in a gaming machine using a game ball 50 such as a pachinko machine,
In a game ball returning machine or the like for returning the game balls 50 formed along with the game machine to the game device, it was necessary to send the game balls 50 upward. In such a case, the conventional ball-feeding device for the game ball 50 has a sprocket-like overall shape projecting into the middle of the ball passage of the game ball 50 guided from the storage portion of the game ball 50, and the material is metal or hard. It was a disk-shaped one made of resin. This sprocket-shaped throwing device 70 has a sprocket convex portion 72 that is arranged at a predetermined interval on the outer peripheral surface and protrudes radially outward,
A sprocket concave portion 71 which is a concave portion between the sprocket convex portions 72 and which is recessed is provided. And
The ball passage 60 around the sprocket-shaped ball-feeding device 70 has a supply passage 30 inclined obliquely downward from the upper right of the sprocket-shaped ball-feeding device 70 toward the lower side of the sprocket-shaped ball-feeding device 70.
And a delivery passage 40 which is continuous with the supply passage 30 and extends upward. Then, by rotating the sprocket-shaped ball feeding device 70, the pachinko balls 50 flowing from the supply passage 30 are retained inside the sprocket concave portions 71 between the sprocket convex portions 72, and are sent upward along the delivery passage 40. I was And the pachinko ball 50 is sent out
By successively sending the pachinko balls 50 upward, the pachinko balls 50 sent out later are pushed upward from below, and as a result, the pachinko balls 50 can be continuously sent upward.

[0003] However, this sprocket-shaped ball feeder 70
Is normal when the inflow of the pachinko balls 50 from the supply passage 30 is continuous, but as shown in FIG.
When the inflow of the ball is interrupted, the newly flowing pachinko ball 50 is caught between the tip of the sprocket convex portion 72 of the rotating sprocket-shaped ball-feeding device 70 and the ball passage 60, and the rotation of the sprocket-shaped ball-transmitting device 70 Was sometimes inhibited. In such a case, the rotation of the sprocket-shaped ball feeding device 70 was stopped, and the pachinko ball 50 was stopped from being sent to the sending passage 40, that is, a so-called jamming state was attained.

In order to improve this drawback, a disc-shaped ball feeder 80 made of rubber is used instead of the sprocket type ball feeder 70.
Has been used. 4 and 5 show a conventional ball-throwing device of a game machine, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a disc-shaped ball-throwing device, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a pachinko ball of the disc-shaped ball-throwing device is not properly engaged. It is each showing a schematic diagram.

The conventional disc-shaped ball-feeding device 80 is formed of a disc-shaped material made of rubber. When the disc-shaped ball feeding device 80 is rotated, the friction between the disc-shaped ball feeding device 80 and the pachinko ball 50 causes the pachinko ball 50 to rotate.
Is pressed against the inner wall of the ball passage 60, and the pachinko ball 50 is sandwiched between the ball and the inner wall of the ball passage 60. And a disc-shaped throwing device
The pachinko ball 50 is moved along the ball path 60 with the rotation of 80. Accordingly, the disc-shaped ball throwing device 80 is ready to receive the pachinko balls 50 at any time, regardless of whether the pachinko balls 50 supplied from the supply passage 30 are in a continuous state or a discontinuous state, and It is possible to avoid a clogged state as in the device 70.

[0006]

However, in order to apply a stable driving force to the pachinko ball 50 in the above-described conventional ball-throwing device 10, which is the conventional ball-throwing device 10, it is necessary to use the disc-shaped ball-throwing device 80. It was necessary to maintain the distance between the ball path 60 and the ball passage 60 with high precision. That is, the disc-shaped ball feeding device 80 and the supply passage
If the distance from the ball 30 is too large, the frictional force between the disc-shaped ball feeding device 80 and the pachinko ball 50 becomes small, and the force for pushing the pachinko ball 50 toward the delivery passage 40 becomes insufficient. On the other hand, if the distance between the disc-shaped ball feeding device 80 and the supply passage 30 is too small, the pachinko balls 50 will not enter between them. For this reason, it is necessary to always maintain the interval between the disc-shaped ball feeding device 80 and the supply passage 30 with high accuracy, and the measurement and adjustment work for that is very difficult,
There was a first problem that it was troublesome.

Further, a large amount of oil or the like adheres to the surface of the pachinko balls 50 flowing from the supply passage 30 and becomes dirty.
If the surface of the pachinko ball 50 is slippery, as shown in FIG. 5, the pachinko ball 50 itself rotates and stays at that position immediately before the pachinko ball 50 enters the disc-shaped ball feeding device 80. Thus, the driving force due to the friction of the disc-shaped throwing device 80 is not applied. That is, the pachinko ball 50 and the disc-shaped throwing device 80
The frictional force between the ball and the ball passage 60 becomes too small, and the pachinko balls 50 run idle between their surfaces. For this reason, the thickness of the oil film on the surface of the pachinko ball 50 has to be adjusted to an appropriate thickness, and there is a second problem that the work for that is very troublesome.

Therefore, the invention of claim 1 has been made in view of the first and second problems of the above-mentioned prior art, and an object of the invention is to provide a ball feeding device, a ball passage, and the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball-feeding device which can suppress a ball-jamming state in which pachinko balls are not inserted between the ball-feeding device and the ball-feeding device, and the distance between the ball-feeding device and the ball passage can be easily adjusted.

In addition to the above, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the ball passage is formed in an arc shape along the ball feeding device, the area in which the ball feeding device can apply a driving force to the pachinko ball is not shortened. Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball-sending device that can be downsized.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is to achieve the above object. The invention according to claim 1 is
Ball path (60) to which game balls (for example, pachinko balls 50) can move
A ball-throwing device (1) made of a substantially disc-shaped elastic material that protrudes into the inside of the
0), the outer peripheral surface of which is provided with a convex portion (for example, a corrugated convex portion 22) protruding outward in the radial direction, and the convex portion (2
The distance between the tip of (2) and the inner wall of the ball passage (60) is
The length is set to be equal to or less than the diameter of 0).

Here, the "elastic material" is a game ball.
(50) is a material having elastic properties that can be easily deformed by contact with it, and means, for example, rubber, soft resin and the like. Further, here, the `` game ball '' means, for example, a pachinko ball (50) made of metal, but is not particularly limited to a pachinko machine,
It can be used for gaming machines using other spherical gaming balls. Further, the present invention can be applied as a ball-throwing device for disc-shaped medals other than spherical game balls.

Here, the "convex portion (22)" is located on the outer peripheral surface of the throwing device (10) and protrudes outward in the radial direction. Tip and ball passage (60)
The distance from the inner wall of the game ball is less than the diameter of the game ball (50) "
Is set, the shape of the “convex portion (22)” is not particularly limited. For example, any shape such as a wavy shape, a triangular shape, and a gear shape may be used as the vertical cross-sectional shape.

The throwing device (10) according to the present invention has a protruding portion (22) protruding in the radial direction formed on a rotatable disk-shaped outer peripheral surface. For this reason, when the ball feeding device (10) rotates, the distance between the outer peripheral surface of the ball feeding device (10) and the inner wall of the ball passage (60) does not become constant but changes. And
When the surface of the game ball (50) comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the ball feeding device (10), the contact position and the contact pressure between the ball feeding device (10) and the game ball (50) also change. Along with this, the frictional force between the ball sending device (10) and the game ball (50) also changes. And the ball throwing device (10) and the game ball
When the frictional force between (50) and (5) becomes appropriate,
0) enters between the ball feeding device (10) and the ball passage 60. At that time, the distance between the tip of the convex portion (22) of the throwing device (10) and the inner wall of the ball passage (60) is set to be equal to or less than the diameter of the game ball (50). The game ball (50) passes through the space between the tip of the projection (22) and the inner wall of the ball passage (60), and the ball passage (60)
Without turning back, with the rotation of the throwing device (10),
It is pushed by the tip of the projection (22) and is sent out along the inside of the ball passage (60). In other words, when the distance between the ball feeding device (10) and the ball passage (60) is constant, in order to send out the game balls (50) stably, the distance is always maintained constant by measurement or adjustment. However, in the present invention, such measurement and adjustment work can be made unnecessary by changing the interval.

Further, even when dirt such as oil adheres to the surface of the game ball (50) and the surface of the game ball (50) is slippery, that is, the frictional force is reduced, the ball feeding device ( The distance between the ball (10) and the ball passage (60) changes, and the game ball (50) and the ball throwing device (1)
0), the game ball (50) enters between the ball feeder (10) and the ball passage (60) at a predetermined frictional force. This allows the game ball (50) itself to be
It is possible to ensure stable feeding of the game ball without spinning before (10) and staying at that position. And the trouble of adjusting the thickness of the oil film of the game ball (50) can be reduced.

[0015] The invention according to claim 2 is the above-described claim 1.
In addition to the features described above, the ball passage (60) is characterized in that it is formed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the ball feeding device (10). In order for the throwing device (10) to apply a driving force to the game ball (50), the throwing device (10) must send out the game ball (50) over a certain distance along the ball path (60). Although it is necessary, the present invention is based on the case where the ball passage (60) is formed in a straight line because the ball passage (60) is formed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the ball sending device (10). In comparison, the diameter of the throwing device (10) can be reduced. This allows the game ball (5
It is possible to reduce the size of the ball-sending device (10) without deteriorating the ability to send out (0).

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a ball-throwing device for a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a wave-shaped ball-throwing device. First, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described.

The ball feeding apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is used for sending a pachinko ball 50 upward in a pachinko machine using a pachinko ball 50 as a metal ball. Although not shown, the ball feeding device 10 is formed in the middle of a ball passage 60 that is guided from a storage unit in which the pachinko balls 50 are stored. This ball passage 60
A supply passage 30 inclined obliquely downward from the upper right toward the lower side of the ball-sending device 10 and a delivery passage 40 continuous with the supply passage 30 and extending upward. And, the spherical passage 60 between the supply passage 30 and the delivery passage 40,
The ball sending device 10 is formed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface. In any of the ball passages 60, the diameter of the inner wall of the ball passage 60 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball 50, and one pachinko ball 50 can pass through the inside thereof. It is formed as follows.

The ball-sending device 10 protrudes into the ball passage 60 in which the pachinko balls 50 can move, and the ball-sending device 10 itself rotates, thereby forcing the pachinko balls 50 flowing from the supply passage 30 into force. It is formed in a substantially disk shape that can be sent out toward the sending passage 40. The material of the ball feeding device 10 is made of an elastic material made of rubber. On the outer peripheral surface of the ball throwing device 10, a wave-shaped wave-shaped convex portion 22 that periodically protrudes outward in the radial direction, and is located between the wave-shaped convex portions 22 so as to be concave in a radially inward direction. And a corrugated concave portion 21. The distance between the tip of the corrugated projection 22 and the inner wall of the ball passage 60 is set to be shorter than the diameter of the pachinko ball 50. In addition, the wavy convex portion 22 is
The pachinko balls 50 are arranged along the outer peripheral surface at intervals of substantially the length of the diameter of the pachinko balls 50.

Next, the operation and effect of the above embodiment will be described. The throwing device 10 according to the present embodiment,
A wavy convex portion 22 protruding in the radial direction is formed on a rotatable disk-shaped outer peripheral surface. Therefore, when the ball throwing device 10 rotates, the outer peripheral surface of the ball throwing device 10 and the ball passage 60
The distance between the inner wall and the inner wall does not become constant but changes. When the surface of the pachinko ball 50 comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the ball feeding device 10, the contact position and the contact pressure between the ball feeding device 10 and the pachinko ball 50 also change. Along with this, the ball sending device 10 and pachinko balls
The friction force between 50 and 50 also varies. Then, the pachinko ball 50 enters between the ball feeding device 10 and the ball passage 60 at a position where the magnitude of the frictional force between the ball feeding device 10 and the pachinko ball 50 is appropriate.
At that time, since the distance between the tip of the corrugated projection 22 of the ball throwing device 10 and the inner wall of the ball passage 60 is set to be equal to or less than the diameter of the pachinko ball 50, the pachinko ball 50 has a wavy shape. The ball does not pass through the space between the tip of the convex portion 22 and the inner wall of the ball passage 60 and returns to the supply passage 30 side.
And, the pachinko ball 50, with the rotation of the throwing device 10,
It is pushed by the tip of the corrugated convex portion 22 and is delivered toward the delivery passage 40 along the inside of the spherical passage 60. That is, when the interval between the ball sending device 10 and the ball passage 60 is constant, in order to stably transmit the pachinko balls 50, it is necessary to constantly maintain the interval by measuring and adjusting the interval, In the present embodiment, such measurement and adjustment work can be made unnecessary by changing the interval.

Further, even when a large amount of dirt such as oil adheres to the surface of the pachinko ball 50 and the surface of the pachinko ball 50 is slippery, that is, the frictional force is reduced, the outer periphery of the ball feeding device 10 The distance between the surface and the inner wall of the ball passage 60 changes,
By changing the frictional force between the pachinko ball 50 and the ball feeding device 10, the pachinko ball 50 can be taken in between the ball feeding device 10 and the ball passage 60 at a predetermined frictional force. That is, even if the oil film thickness on the surface of the pachinko ball 50 changes, a predetermined frictional force capable of taking the pachinko ball 50 between the ball feeding device 10 and the ball passage 60 can be obtained. This prevents the pachinko ball 50 itself from spinning in front of the ball-sending device 10 and staying at that position, and secures stable transmission of the pachinko ball 50. Further, it is possible to reduce trouble such as adjusting the thickness of the oil film of the pachinko ball 50, and it is possible to easily maintain and manage the gaming machine.

In order to apply a driving force to the pachinko ball 50 so that the ball throwing device 10 can successively send the pachinko ball 50 toward the sending passage 40, the outer peripheral surface of the ball throwing device 10 must have a ball passage 60. It is necessary to extrude the pachinko ball 50 for a certain distance or more along. In the present embodiment, since the ball passage 60 is formed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the ball sending device 10, compared to the case where the ball passage 60 is formed linearly, The diameter can be reduced. Thereby, the size of the ball throwing device 10 can be reduced without reducing the ability of the ball throwing device 10 to send out the pachinko balls 50.

The above-mentioned ball-sending device 10 is installed inside a pachinko machine, but the ball-sending device 10 is installed in association with such a game machine as a pachinko machine or the like, and the game ball 50 is provided to the game machine. It can be installed and used inside a game ball reduction machine for returning.

[0023]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects. Claim 1
According to the described invention, it is possible to suppress a situation in which a ball is jammed between the ball-sending device and the ball passage and the ball cannot be thrown due to being pinched between the ball-sending device and the ball passage, and the distance between the ball-sending device and the ball passage can be adjusted. An easy throwing device can be provided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the ball passage is formed in an arc shape along the ball feeding device, the ball feeding device does not shorten the area where the driving force can be applied to the pachinko ball, and is compact. It is possible to provide a ball throwing device that can be made into a ball.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a wave throwing device of a gaming machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, which shows a wave-shaped throwing device.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a conventional ball-sending device of a gaming machine, which is a sprocket-shaped ball-sending device.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a ball-sending device of a conventional gaming machine, showing a sprocket-shaped ball-sending device in a clogged state.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a conventional ball-sending device of a gaming machine, showing a disc-shaped ball-sending device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a ball-sending device of a conventional gaming machine, showing a state in which pachinko balls of a disc-shaped ball-sending device are not properly meshed.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Ball-feeding device 20 Wave-shaped ball-feeding device 21 Wave-shaped concave portion 22 Wave-shaped convex portion 30 Supply passage 40 Delivery passage 50 Pachinko ball 60 Ball passage 70 Sprocket-shaped ball-feeding device 71 Sprocket-shaped concave portion 72 Sprocket-shaped protrusion 80 Disk-shaped ball-feeding device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ball-sending device comprising a substantially disc-shaped elastic material for forcibly sending out a game ball by rotating the game ball by protruding into a movable ball passage and rotating the ball. Has a protrusion protruding outward in the radial direction, and the distance between the tip of the protrusion and the inner wall of the ball passage is set to be shorter than the diameter of the game ball. The throwing device. 2. The ball feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the ball passage is formed in an arc shape along the outer peripheral surface of the ball feeding device.