JPH11206965A - Pachinko ball counter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide pachinko ball counter which do not cause errors in pachinko ball count even when the counters are arranged closely to each other. SOLUTION: A coil bobbin 10 with a passage hole 3 for pachinko balls inside is arranged in a case 2. Tow detecting coils L1 , and L2 are wound around the bobbin 10. Magnetic shielding materials S1 and S2 with high a.c. magnetic permeability are adhered to the inner surfaces of a pair of opposed walls 20a and 20b of the case 2. In the case that detectors 1 are arranged in a line, as high frequency electromagnetic waves emitted from the detecting coils L1 and L2 are suppressed by the magnetic shielding materials S1 and S2 , adjacent detectors 1 are not affected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a detector for detecting the number of pachinko balls.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko machine, it is necessary to control replenishment and recovery of pachinko balls, or to accurately count the number of balls when cashing out balls. For this reason, detectors generally include a proximity switch type using a high-frequency oscillation circuit and a detection coil, and a photoelectric switch type that detects optically.

However, in a photoelectric switch type detector, a pachinko ball is usually charged with static electricity.
In many cases, dust and dirt adhere to the pachinko balls, and the dust and dirt adhere to and accumulate on the detector (especially the detection window), thereby causing the detector to malfunction. Therefore, at present, it is common to use an inexpensive proximity switch type detector with a simple configuration. This proximity switch type detector is
In general, a high-frequency oscillation signal is supplied to one detection coil disposed in a path of a pachinko ball, and the number of pachinko balls is counted based on a change in oscillation output of the pachinko ball passing through the detection coil.

[0004]

In recent years, pachinko-related equipment has become extremely expensive as its various functions increase. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the profit by speeding up the operation and increasing the rotation speed of the equipment in terms of management, and there is a need for space saving due to the lack of space in connection with the increase in the functions.

[0005] Due to this need for increased profit and space saving,
A number of proximity switch type detectors need to be mounted close to the narrow space of the pachinko machine. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, a large number of pachinko balls are calculated by arranging a large number of detectors in a line, counting the detectors independently and simultaneously, and summing up the respective count values. However, the proximity switch type detector uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves, and is therefore affected by the high frequency of other (adjacent) detectors.
For example, FIG. 14 shows that two detectors 70a and 70b are arranged in a row, and the coil bobbin 7 of each detector 70a and 70b is arranged.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which detection coils La and Lb are wound around 1a and 71b, respectively.
The magnetic fluxes φ ₁ , φ ₄ generated on the opposite sides of Oa, 70b opposite to each other do not affect, but the magnetic fluxes φ ₂ , φ ₃ generated on the opposite sides affect each other.

On the other hand, there is a detector as shown in FIG.
This is based on the applicant's prior application (Japanese Patent Application No. 8-251218).
The detector described in this prior application is shown in FIG.
As is clear from FIG. 2, the two detection coils La ₁ and La ₂
(Lb ₁ , Lb ₂ ) are characterized in that they are arranged in parallel at regular intervals in the direction in which the pachinko balls pass, so that the rotation, spinning, A ball counting error is not caused by reciprocating vibration or the like. Also in this detector, the magnetic fluxes φ ₁ , φ ₂ , φ ₇ , φ ₈ on the side opposite to the opposite side do not affect, but the magnetic fluxes φ ₃ , φ ₄ , φ ₅ , φ ₆ on the opposite side do. Fit. Note that the magnetic flux φ ₁ , φ ₂ and the magnetic flux φ ₇ , φ
₈ indicates each of the detection coils La ₁ and La ₂ and the detection coil Lb.
_{Since the} high-frequency oscillation signals flowing through ₁ and Lb ₂ differ in height from each other, they do not affect each other.

In both cases shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, as a result of the mutual influence of the magnetic fluxes on the opposite sides, the high frequencies flowing through the detection coils of the respective detectors are mixed with each other, generating beats and causing chattering. Or, even though the oscillation of one of the detectors is stopped or decreased, one of the detectors receives the frequency of the adjacent other detector and causes mutual interference, as if there is no pachinko ball. State
Counting becomes impossible. Due to these phenomena, a problem arises in that pachinko balls are not accurately counted.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and provides a pachinko ball counting detector which does not cause a pachinko ball counting error even if the detectors are arranged close to each other in parallel. The purpose is to do.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a pachinko ball counting detector according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises:
A case and a detection coil disposed in the case and through which a high-frequency oscillation signal flows, wherein the pachinko ball counts pachinko balls based on a change in oscillation output due to the passage of the pachinko ball through the detection coil. Is characterized in that a magnetic shield material having a high AC magnetic permeability is provided at least inside a wall facing an adjacent case when the detectors are arranged in a line.

When the detectors are arranged in parallel in a row, a magnetic shield material having a high AC permeability is interposed between the detection coils of the detectors adjacent to each other. Opposite magnetic fluxes from both detectors are both shielded by the magnetic shield material and do not affect each other. That is, assuming that the magnetic shield material is arranged inside the opposing wall of the case in one of the detectors, the magnetic flux on the opposite side of the case is shielded by its own magnetic shield material, and the other (adjacent) detector It does not reach inside the detection coil. The magnetic flux on the opposite side of the case of the other detector reaches the case of one (adjacent) detector, but does not reach the detection coil because it is shielded by the magnetic shield material. Therefore, the magnetic fluxes on both sides do not interfere with each other.

Thus, even if the detectors are closely contacted and arranged in parallel, the high-frequency electromagnetic waves from other (adjacent) detectors do not reach the inside of the detection coil (passage path of the pachinko balls). Can be accurately counted.
In the present invention, the AC permeability of the magnetic shield material may be several hundreds to several tens of thousands, which is sufficient to prevent high-frequency electromagnetic waves from other detectors.
It is about 00. Ferrite and permalloy are examples of such a shield material having a high AC magnetic permeability. Ferrite is the most suitable in consideration of the fact that high-frequency loss due to eddy current is small and the workability is high.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on embodiments. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which pachinko ball counting detectors according to an embodiment are closely arranged in a line. Here, four detectors 1 (A to D) are arranged in parallel,
There are also about 12 stations in addition to 4 stations. The plurality of detectors are arranged and integrated to be mounted at a predetermined position on a pachinko machine. Each detector 1 (A to D) has an L-shaped case 2 (a to d) as shown in the figure, and each case 2 (ad).
Is a passage hole 3 (ad) through which pachinko balls pass in the direction of the arrow.
Having.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the detector 1, FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG.
A cross-sectional view at B is shown in FIG. This detector 1
Has an L-shaped case 2 and a cover 10 detachably attached to the case 2. A cylindrical passage hole 3 through which pachinko balls pass is provided inside the case 2, and a pipe-shaped ball feed guide is provided on both sides of the passage hole 3 of the case 2 when the detector 1 is mounted on the pachinko machine. (Not shown) is positioned so that the pachinko ball passing through the ball feed guide passes through the passage hole 3 of the detector 1.

In the case 2, an annular coil bobbin 10 as shown in the figure is disposed, and the inside of the bobbin 10 becomes the passage hole 3 (that is, the passage for the pachinko balls). Bobbin 1
At approximately the center of 0, two detection coils L ₁ and L ₂ are wound side by side at a fixed interval. At the left end of the bobbin 10 (the entrance of the passage hole 3), tens of thousands of pachinko balls are charged.
In order to remove static electricity of several hundred thousand V, a shield plate 14 preferably made of a copper plate is arranged. Detection coil L
_1, L ₂ and the shield plate 14, various electronic components 15 is connected to the printed circuit board 16 which is mounted on both sides, a portion 16 of the printed circuit board 16 'is projected as terminals for external circuit connection from the case 2.

The high-frequency oscillation frequency flowing in the detection coil L _1, L ₂ is a number 100k~ number MHz, since the detection coil L _1, L ₂ are very close, the detection coil L _1, L _The frequencies near the upper limit and the lower limit of the oscillation frequency flow through one and the other detection coils, respectively, so that the high frequencies generated in ₂ do not cause mutual interference. In practice, the shield plate 14 lower the oscillation frequency in the detection coil L ₁ is applied close to the high oscillation frequency in the detection coil L ₂ is applied.

The detector of this embodiment is characterized in that the magnetic shield materials S ₁ and S ₂ having a high AC magnetic permeability are provided inside the wall 20a facing the adjacent case and on the opposite wall facing the wall 20a. The point is that they are arranged in parallel with the passing direction of the pachinko balls, respectively, inside 20b. Here, the magnetic shield materials S ₁ and S ₂ are flat, and each wall 20a,
It is fixed to the inner surface of 20b with an adhesive, for example. As a result, the magnetic shielding materials S ₁ and S ₂ are respectively provided in the case 2
Between the bobbins 10 and the walls 20a, 20b of the bobbin.

Various arrangements other than those described above are conceivable for the arrangement and shape of the magnetic shield materials S ₁ and S ₂ . For example, FIG.
In (a), four flat magnetic shield materials S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , and S ₄ are arranged so as to surround the bobbin 10. That is, in addition to the magnetic shield materials S ₁ and S ₂ , the magnetic shield material S
₃ is fixed, and a magnetic shield material S ₄ is also provided on the upper side of the printed circuit board 16. In this case, bobbin 1
Since 0 is surrounded by the magnetic shield materials S ₁ , S ₂ , S ₃ , and S ₄ , the detection accuracy is further improved as compared with the detector of the above embodiment.

In FIG. 4B, the walls 20a,
Inside of 20b, curved plate-shaped magnetic shielding material S ₅ respectively, S ₆ are disposed. The effect in this case is
It is equivalent to the one shown in FIG. Of course, the bobbin 10 may be surrounded by a curved plate-shaped magnetic shield material. Further, the arrangement of the magnetic shield material when the above-described detectors are arranged in a row will be described with reference to FIGS. However, FIGS. 5 to 7 simply show detectors using only one detection coil. This detector is conventionally used generally, and has a magnetic shielding material disposed in a case thereof. The structure other than the magnetic shield material may be the same as the conventional one, or may be the structure shown in FIG. 3B with only one detection coil.

First, in FIG. 5, a plurality of detectors 40a, 40
are closely arranged in the downward direction in the drawing. The magnetic shield material Sa is disposed only inside the wall of the detector 40a (that is, the wall of the case) facing the adjacent detector 40b,
Similarly, the other detectors 40b,.
Is arranged. That is, the magnetic shield material Sa is interposed between the bobbins 41a and 41b of the detectors adjacent to each other.

In this case, the magnetic flux on the opposite side of the detectors 40a and 40b (particularly not shown) does not affect, but the magnetic flux on the opposite side is also shielded by the magnetic shield material Sa, so that the magnetic flux is not affected. Does not affect each other. That is, the magnetic flux on the opposite side of the detector 40a is shielded by the magnetic shield material Sa and does not reach the adjacent detector 40b.
The magnetic flux from 0b is also shielded by the magnetic shield material Sa and does not reach the bobbin 41a of the detector 40a. As a result, both high-frequency electromagnetic waves do not interfere with each other,
Each of the detectors 40a and 40b can accurately detect pachinko balls.

FIG. 6 shows that the detector 40a is mounted on the wall 5 of the pachinko machine.
This is the case when approaching zero. Since the wall 50 of the pachinko machine is often made of iron, even when the detector 40a approaches the iron wall 50, the detector 4a facing the wall 50 as it is remains.
The magnetic flux from 0 a is affected by the wall 50. Therefore, FIG.
Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, each of the detectors 40a, 40b,... Has a pair of cases in the parallel direction of the detector, so that there is no problem even if the detector approaches the iron wall 50. Magnetic shield material S arranged inside the opposing wall of
a ₁ , Sa ₂ , Sb ₁ , Sb ₂ ,...

In FIG. 6, the detector 40a detects
The magnetic flux on the side facing the wall 50 of the U base is the magnetic shielding material S
a₁And does not affect the wall 50.
Of course, the magnetic flux on the opposite side of the detectors 40a and 40b is
Magnetic shield material Sa _Two, Sb₁Shielded with
And do not interfere with each other. In this case, high-frequency electromagnetic waves
Counting accuracy is further improved due to more reliable shielding
You.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the detector 40a approaches the iron wall 50, but the magnetic shielding members Sa, Sb,... Of the detectors 40a, 40b,. ing. FIGS. 5 to 7 show the case of a normal detector having one detection coil, but a detector having two detection coils as shown in FIGS. In this case, the arrangement of the magnetic shield material may be the same as that shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and the same effect can be obtained for the magnetic shield.

Next, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration of the detector 1 using the two detection coils. The detection coils L ₁ and L ₂ are respectively connected to the oscillation circuit (1) 3
1 _-1 and (2) 31 _-2 constitute a high-frequency oscillation circuit.
2 _-1 , (2) 32 _{-2 The} detection and smoothing are performed, and the level discrimination circuits (1) 33 _-1 and (2) 33 _-2 discriminate the change in the oscillation output due to the presence or absence of a ball, and the amplified output circuit (1) 34 _-1 , (2) 3
4 through _-2, the output of the detection signal of the balls _{(1) DO 1, (2} )
It is output as DO _2. The shield plate 14 is connected to a circuit ground (GND) to release static electricity.
Waveform of the output DO ₁ output DO ₂ becomes to have a phase difference by the passage time difference of the ball.

As a logic circuit for logically processing a signal having two phase differences from the detection coils L ₁ and L ₂ , for example, a circuit as shown in FIG. 9 is used. The logic circuit shown here is an addition / subtraction discrimination circuit using a general D-type flip-flop, and its principle is exactly the same as the discrimination using a microcomputer or the like. In FIG. 9, the output DO ₁ is
NOT circuit NOT1, and CL ₁ terminal of the D-type flip-flop D-FF1 through the NOT circuit NOT2, is connected to one end of the input of the NOR circuit NOR2, NOT circuit NOT1
Output is connected to the CL ₂ terminal of the D-type flip-flop D-FF2, to one end of the input of the NOR circuit NOR1 of.
The output DO ₂ is connected to the D ₁ input terminal of the D-type flip-flop D-FF1 and the D-type input terminal of the D-type flip-flop D-FF2.
Connected to ₂ input terminals, D-type flip-flop D-FF
1 for Q ₁ bar output end is connected to one end of the other input of the NOR circuit NOR1, Q ₂ of the D-type flip-flop D-FF2
The bar output terminal is connected to one end of another input of the NOR circuit NOR2.

The detection coil L ₁ (in FIG. 9, the detector output DO
_{When 1} ) is used as a clock and the detection coil L ₂ (detector output DO _{2 in} FIG. 9) is used as data, the logic is as shown in the time chart of FIG. 10 and the truth table of FIG. At this time, if the output DO ₁ are progressed electrically phase from the output DO _2, i.e. when the pachinko ball is a pass count when moving in the right direction in FIG. 1, the output NO ₁ of NOR1 is subtracted signal L (Low), the output NO ₂ of NOR2 sum signal is H (High), and the output NO ₂ added signal NOR2 is output, the count is added.

Conversely, when the pachinko ball moves to the left in FIG. 1, the output DO ₂ is electrically advanced in phase from the output DO ₁ . FIG. 12 shows a time chart at this time.
FIG. 13 shows a truth table. In this case, the subtraction signal NOR
1 output NO ₁ is H, outputs NO ₂ addition signal NOR2 becomes L, the output NO ₁ of the subtraction signal NOR1 is outputted,
The count is subtracted.

As described above, the number of pachinko balls passing through can be subtracted from the number of passing pachinko balls, and the true number can be counted. Note that the detector 1 shown in FIG. 1 has an L-shaped case 2, but can be similarly applied to a case 2 having a rectangular shape. In addition, a circuit, a counting logic, and the like in the case of a normal detector having one detection coil may be constructed according to the contents shown in FIGS.

[0029]

Since the pachinko ball counting detector of the present invention is configured as described above, even if the detectors are closely arranged in parallel, high-frequency electromagnetic waves from other (adjacent) detectors are not affected. Since it does not reach the inside of the detection coil (passing path of the pachinko balls), it is possible to accurately count the pachinko balls. Moreover, since the magnetic shield material can be obtained simply by cutting it into a flat plate, processing is easy, low cost, and a detector provided with the magnetic shield material can be provided at low cost.

In addition to this effect, by adopting the configuration of claim 8, various passing states of the pachinko ball (rotation, spinning,
Regardless of the reciprocating vibration, etc., the pachinko balls can be accurately counted without errors, and the counting accuracy is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a state in which detectors according to one embodiment (those having two detection coils) are arranged in a line.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the detector of FIG.

3A is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of a detector according to another embodiment taken along line AA, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of a detector according to another embodiment taken along line AA.

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of an arrangement of a magnetic shield material in a detector (having one detection coil) according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing another example of an arrangement of a magnetic shield material in a detector (having one detection coil) according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing still another example of an arrangement of a magnetic shield material in a detector (having one detection coil) according to another embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration of a detector having two detection coils.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a detection logic processing circuit of the detector.

FIG. 10 is a time chart when the pachinko ball continuously moves in the positive direction (count passing direction) in the detector.

FIG. 11 is a truth table in the case of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a time chart when the pachinko ball continuously moves in the opposite direction (return direction) in the detector.

FIG. 13 is a truth table in the case of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a schematic sectional view showing a magnetic flux generated in a detector (having one detection coil) according to a conventional example.

FIG. 15 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a magnetic flux generated in a detector (having two detection coils) according to the earlier application of the present applicant.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 pachinko ball counter detector 2 Case 3 passing holes 10 coil bobbin 40a, 40b pachinko ball counter detector 41a, 41b coil bobbin L _1, L ₂ detection coils La, Lb detection coil S _(1-6) magnetic shield material Sa, Sb magnetic Shield material

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A case, and a detection coil disposed in the case and through which a high-frequency oscillation signal flows, wherein the number of pachinko balls is counted based on a change in oscillation output caused by the passage of the pachinko balls through the detection coil. In the pachinko ball counting detector, the case has a magnetic shield material having a high AC permeability at least inside a wall facing an adjacent case when the detectors are arranged in a line. Ball counting detector. 2. The magnetic shield material is disposed inside a wall facing the adjacent case and inside a wall opposite to the wall in parallel with the passing direction of the pachinko balls. The pachinko ball counting detector according to claim 1, wherein 3. The pachinko ball counting detector according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic shield material is arranged only inside the wall facing the adjacent case and in parallel with the direction in which the pachinko balls pass. . 4. A pachinko ball counting detector according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic shield material is ferrite. 5. A pachinko ball counting detector according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic shield material is in the form of a flat plate. 6. A pachinko ball counting detector according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic shield material is in the shape of a curved plate. 7. The magnetic shield material according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic permeability of the magnetic shield material is several hundreds to several tens of thousands. A pachinko ball counting detector as described. 8. The case according to claim 1, wherein the case includes two detection coils arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval in a direction in which the pachinko balls pass.
The pachinko ball counting detector according to claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7.