JPH11347187A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a player from getting disadvantageous by interrupting a game even when ball clogging occurs in the state of great success. SOLUTION: This machine is provided with a ball collecting part 13a for collecting game balls distributed over a play panel 6, first passage for guiding the game balls collected by the ball collecting part 13a to the outside of the machine, second passage 24 for guiding the game balls collected by the ball collecting part 13a to a shooting ball supplying part, and switching means for switching the passage of game balls to these first passage and second passage 24, and the switching means performs switching operation based on prescribed switching conditions.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a pachinko machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a launching ball in a launching ball storage section provided on a pachinko machine installation island is guided to an automatic hitting ball supply device.
Furthermore, there is an island circulation type pachinko machine in which a winning ball and an out ball are discharged to a pachinko machine installation island and the pachinko balls are circulated in the pachinko machine installation island. Japanese Patent Application No. 2-139093, which is a patent application filed by the present applicant, is related to the island circulation type pachinko machine.

[0003]

When the pachinko ball is clogged in the middle of the circulating route, the pachinko ball to be fired is not supplied to the automatic hit ball feeding device. Even pachinko games have to be interrupted. If such a ball clogging occurs, for example, when the large winning device is in the state of a big hit, the game cannot be continued even in the state of the big hit, and a great disadvantage is given to the player.

[0004] In addition, in the island circulation type pachinko machine, since the pachinko balls are supplied directly from the pachinko machine installation island to the automatic ball hitting supply device of the pachinko machine, only one pachinko machine in the pachinko machine installation island is provided. Even when only the pachinko balls are operating, the pachinko ball polishing lift must be operated to circulate the pachinko balls. For this reason, even during a time period when the number of customers is small, a considerable operating cost is required, which is uneconomical.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a method of converting a pachinko ball into a pachinko machine such as "launch of a pachinko ball → winning and out balls → automatic ball hitting device → launch of a pachinko ball”. An in-machine circulation path for circulating within 2,
Pachinko ball installed island including pachinko machine 2 Pachinko machine installed island 1 as in “Pachinko machine installed island → automatic hit ball feeding device → Pachinko ball launch → Winning ball and out ball → Pachinko machine installed island”
The present invention is to provide a pachinko machine 2 having a configuration capable of coping with any of the island circulation paths circulating within the apparatus, and having a switching means 26 for switching between the two circulation paths.

In a normal state, a pachinko game is performed using the island circulation path (or the in-machine circulation path). For example, when a ball is clogged in the island circulation path (or the in-machine circulation path), the switching means 26 is immediately executed. Activate to switch to the in-machine circulation path (or island circulation path).

In addition, when the number of customers is small, the in-flight circulation route is used, and only when the number of customers is large, switching to the island circulation route is performed, and the pachinko balls are circulated while cleaning and drying the pachinko balls. Accordingly, it is also possible to use the island circulation route and the in-machine circulation route properly to reduce the operating cost.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The pachinko machine installation island 1 has a large number of pachinko machines 2, 2... The pachinko machine installation island 1 has a pachinko ball polishing lift 3 in the center.
A ball supply gutter 4 is connected to an upper end of the pachinko ball polishing lift 3 and a ball collection gutter 5 for collecting pachinko balls discharged from the pachinko machine 2 is provided at a lower end of the pachinko ball polishing lift 3. 5 are connected.

The pachinko ball polishing lift 3 has a ball lifting coil (not shown) provided in a vertical lifting cylinder 3a, and the coil is rotated by a lifting motor 3b to mix the ball polishing pellet with the ball polishing pellet. It is a well-known thing which lifts a pachinko ball while making it go.

The ball supply gutter 4 is an upward U-shaped gutter which is inclined downward toward both ends of the pachinko machine installation island 1, and has diversion gutters 4a, 4a,.
Is installed.

The pachinko machine 2 is a so-called card type pachinko machine that records the number of balls held by a player on a magnetic card instead of releasing pachinko balls to the player. The pachinko machine 2
Is a front frame 2b provided on the outer frame 2a so as to be openable and closable as shown in FIG. 4, a glass door frame 2d provided on a window hole 2c formed on the front frame 2b so as to be openable and closable, And a front plate 2e provided to be openable and closable below the frame 2d.

The game section 6a of the game board 6 faces behind the glass door frame 2d. A large number of winning ball receivers 6b, 6b,... For receiving pachinko balls, windmills 6c, 6c for changing the falling path of the pachinko balls, and the like are attached to the game section 6a. An out ball opening 6d is provided.

The front frame 2b has a card processing device 7 provided with a magnetic card insertion slot 7a and a discharge slot 7b, a ball count display section 8 for displaying the number of balls held by the player, Amount select buttons 9, 9, 9 for selecting the amount to be used from the magnetic card, and a clearing button 10 for inputting the end of the game
And an operation handle 11 for adjusting the firing force of the hit ball.

On the back side of the pachinko machine 2, a mechanism is provided so as to overlap with the back side of the game board 6, and is hinged to the game board 6 so as to be freely opened and closed like a door. A board 13 and a hit ball launching device 14 for launching a pachinko ball to the game section 6a are provided.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hitting ball launching device 14 automatically feeds pachinko balls one by one to the launching portion 15a of the launching rail 15 and is fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 11a of the operating handle 11. Pulley 11b
Hammer 17 pivotally supported, and hammer 17
Motor 1 for reciprocating swing through cam 18a
8 and a spring 19 for pulling the hitting hammer 17 in the hitting direction
A spring force adjusting member 20 for locking one end of the spring 19
And a string 21 connecting the spring force adjusting member 20 and the pulley 11b are collectively installed on a single mounting base 22.

The automatic hitting ball supply device 16 includes a mounting base 2
Upper plate portion 22 formed by bending 2 in a crank shape
a, which is disposed on the game board 6 side with the firing rail 15 interposed therebetween. The automatic ball hitting supply device 16 has a box-shaped cover 16a in which a ball supply port 16b and a delivery port 16c for pachinko balls are formed. The internal structure of the automatic hitting ball supply device 16 is arbitrarily selected from those currently implemented. In the present embodiment, a ball feeding solenoid (which operates in synchronization with the swinging motion of the hitting ball 17) is used. (Not shown). In order to synchronize the solenoid with the swinging operation of the hitting hammer 17, the optical sensor 23 which is turned on immediately after the cam 18a is separated from the hitting hammer 17 is set to the cam 1
What is necessary is just to install on the mounting base 22 so as to face 8a, and to operate the solenoid by the ON signal of the sensor 23. In addition to the above-described ball-feeding solenoid, a ball-feeding member that is pivotally supported in a ball-shooting automatic supply device 16 so as to be able to perform a seesaw operation, which is the most commonly used hitherto, is used. Mechanically linked with the mallet 17,
Activate the ball feed member with the swing of the ball hammer 17;
One that sends out pachinko balls in advance, or one that uses an electric motor is conceivable.

On the other hand, the mechanism plate 13 has a ball collecting gutter 13a for collecting a winning ball and an out ball and discharging the pachinko ball out of the machine, and a ball supply port 16b of the automatic hit ball supplying device 16.
Is provided with a launching ball supply gutter 24 for guiding a pachinko ball, a control device C, and the like.

The launch ball supply gutter 24 is connected to the ball supply gutter 4 on the pachinko machine installation island 1 side via a pipe 25 formed by connecting a square pipe 25b to a lower end of a spiral pipe 25a, and a ball collection gutter. The recess 13 provided in a part of the flow path 13a
b. Then, the intersection of the ball collecting gutter 13a, the launch ball supply gutter 24, and the pipe 25 (square pipe 25b) is concentrated at one place, and the ball collection gutter 13a, the launch ball supply gutter 24, and the pipe 25 (square pipe 25b) A switching valve 26 serving as a switching means is provided at the intersection.

The switching valve 26 is formed by turning a through hole 26b through which a pachinko ball can pass and a lid piece 26c for closing the opening upper surface of the concave portion 13b of the ball collecting trough 13a by turning the cylindrical body 26a by approximately 90 degrees. It is formed in. This switching valve 2
Numeral 6 is fixed to the output shaft 27a of the motor 27, the pipe 25 communicates with the launching ball supply gutter 24 through the through hole 26b, and the discharge passage 13c (FIG. 5)
(See island circulation path) and the body 26a
In which the pipe 25 is closed by the peripheral surface and the flow path of the ball collecting gutter 13a is opened to the firing ball supply gutter 24 side (in-machine circulation path).
It switches to rotate.

The motor 27 is controlled by a microswitch S1 provided on the side of the square pipe 25b and a microswitch S2 provided on the side of the body 26a of the switching valve 26 so as to face each other.

The micro switch S1 is a square pipe 25b
The actuator piece S11 faces the inside of the square pipe 25b from the slit 28 formed on the side surface of the motor, detects the presence or absence of a pachinko ball, and outputs a start signal of the motor 27 when the absence of the pachinko ball is detected.

On the other hand, the micro switch S2 has a function of stopping the motor 27 at a predetermined position. The micro switch S2 makes the actuator piece S21 slidably contact the body 26a of the switching valve 26, and a recess provided at an end of the body 26a. 29a, 2
9b, and outputs a stop signal of the motor 27. In addition, the depression 29a corresponds to the island circulation path, and the depression 2
9b is set so as to correspond to the internal circulation path.

Next, the operation will be described. When the player inserts the magnetic card into the card processing device 7, the ball holding data recorded on the magnetic card is read into the control device C. Then, when the player selects the amount select button 9, the held ball corresponding to the amount is withdrawn from the magnetic card, and the number of fireable balls is displayed on the ball number display section 8.

Then, when the player touches the operation handle 11, the firing motor 18 is operated, and the hitting hammer 17 swings repeatedly. In synchronization with the swing of the hitting hammer 17, the automatic hitting ball supply device 16 operates to send out pachinko balls one by one to the firing unit 15a. The ball feeding solenoid of the automatic hit ball supply device 16 is controlled by the control device C, and stops when the ball holding data of the player becomes "0".

The pachinko ball sent out from the automatic hitting ball supply device 16 is hit by a hitting hammer 17 and sent to the game section 6a of the game board 6 along the guide rail. At this time, the pachinko ball is detected by the optical sensor 30 provided in the firing unit 15a, and “1” is subtracted from the ball holding data of the control device C.

When the pachinko ball wins one of the prize ball receivers 6b, the value of the number of prize balls is converted into a value of the control device C by a signal from a detector 31 individually provided in the prize ball receiver 6b. Add to the ball data. The winning ball thus won and the out ball that did not win are the ball collecting gutter 13
a and merges.

The normal switching valve 26 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in 0 (a), the pipe 25 and the through-hole 26b are in alignment with each other, such as “Pachinko machine installation island → automatic ball hitting device → pachinko ball launch → winning ball and out ball → pachinko machine installation island”. The island circulation route is used.

That is, the pachinko balls in the ball supply gutter 4 of the pachinko machine installation island 1 flow into the shooting ball supply gutter 24 through the pipe 25 and the through hole 26b, and the pachinko balls are supplied to the automatic ball hitting supply device 16, The shooting device 14 fires the game units 6a one by one.

On the other hand, the cover piece 26c of the switching valve 26 closes the concave portion 13b of the ball collecting gutter 13a as shown in FIG.
All of the winning balls and out balls flowing to the ball collecting gutter 13a are discharged from the discharge port 13c of the ball collecting gutter 13a to the ball collection gutter 5 of the pachinko machine installation island 1. Then, the recovered pachinko balls are pumped to the ball supply gutter 4 by the pachinko ball polishing lift 3 and circulate in such a manner.

If the ball is clogged in the circulation path of the pachinko machine 2 during the circulation of the pachinko ball as described above due to contamination of the circulation path or contamination of foreign matter, etc. Is no longer supplied,
The micro switch S1 detects the ball clogging. Then, a start signal of the motor 27 is output, and the motor 27 is rotated. As a result, the switching valve 26 can
The pipe 25 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow (a), and the pipe 25 is closed on the peripheral surface of the body 26a. The switching valve 26 stops when the actuator piece S21 of the microswitch S2 fits into the recess 29b. At the stop position of the switching valve 26, the lid piece 26c rises as shown in FIG. 10B to open the concave portion 13b of the ball collecting gutter 13a, and at the same time closes the flow path of the ball collecting gutter 13a to the discharge port 13c side. Therefore, the winning balls and the out balls gathering in the ball collecting gutter 13a pass through the concave portion 13b, and the firing ball supply gutter 4
And is supplied to the automatic hit ball supply device 16 to play the game section 6a.
Fired at

As described above, when the switching valve 26 detects a ball clogging in the island circulation path, the switching valve 26 immediately transmits the pachinko ball as in “launch of pachinko ball → winning ball and out ball → automatic ball hitting device → launch of pachinko ball”. The pachinko game can be continued without interruption by switching to the in-machine circulation path for circulating the game. Then, the occurrence of such a ball clog is notified to the manager of the game arcade, and appropriate measures may be taken at a time when the game is not hindered.

Thus, the clogging of the ball is eliminated and the pipe 25
When the pachinko ball is supplied to the motor, the micro switch S1 detects this and outputs a start signal of the motor 27, and the motor 27 rotates to rotate the switching valve 26. This rotation stops when the actuator piece S21 of the microswitch S2 fits into the depression 29a of the switching valve 26, and the switching valve 26 returns to the state of using the island circulation path of FIG.

The motor 27 is preferably a forward / reverse rotation motor for the purpose of shortening the switching time. However, since a forward / reverse rotation motor may increase costs, a motor that rotates only in one direction may be used.

Further, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the microswitch S1 may not be provided on the square pipe 25b but may be provided on the side of the diversion gutter 4a. Further, the switching valve 26 may have various configurations such as a door-shaped switching of a flow path by a solenoid, for example.

The switching valve 26 is designed to stop the pachinko ball polishing lift 3 intentionally in addition to switching only due to the ball clogging trouble, or to forcibly switch the pachinko ball polishing lift by remote control or manual control, etc. The route and the in-machine circulation route can be properly used. This way,
Use the in-flight circulation route to reduce operating costs during times of low patronage, and use the island circulation route to clean and dry pachinko balls while circulating pachinko balls during periods of high patronage. Sales become possible.

[0036]

As described above, the pachinko machine 2 of the present invention is
Since a configuration is provided that can be used for both the island circulation path and the in-machine circulation path, and both circulation paths can be switched by the switching unit 26, for example, when pachinko balls are circulated in the island circulation path, ball clogging may occur. Even if this occurs, the switching means 26 can immediately switch to the internal circulation path. For this reason, even if the ball clogging occurs in the state of the big hit, the game is not interrupted, and there is no possibility of giving a disadvantage to the player.

Further, by using the switching means 26, for example, during a time period when the number of customers is small, the operation is economical using the in-machine circulation route, and only during a time period when the number of customers is large, the operation is switched to the island circulation route to clean and dry the pachinko balls. If the pachinko balls are circulated while performing, there are many effects such as a large reduction in the operating expenses of the game arcade.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part showing a switching unit.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a pachinko machine installation island shown partially cut away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a main part showing a switching unit.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a switching means.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 7;

10A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line ZZ in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a hit ball firing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko machine installation island 2 ... Pachinko machine 16 ... Automatic hit ball supply device 26 ... Switching means

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 25, 1999

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Full text

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Document Name] Statement

[Title of the Invention] Gaming machine

[Claims]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a game machine .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a launching ball in a launching ball storage section provided on a pachinko machine installation island is guided to an automatic hitting ball supply device.
Furthermore, there is an island circulation type pachinko machine in which a winning ball and an out ball are discharged to a pachinko machine installation island and the pachinko balls are circulated in the pachinko machine installation island. Japanese Patent Application No. 2-139093, which is a patent application filed by the present applicant, is related to the island circulation type pachinko machine.

[0003]

Problems to be Solved by the Invention Pachinko of the island circulation type
The machine is to supply the pachinko balls directly from the pachinko machine installation island to the automatic ball hitting machine of the pachinko machine, so even if only one pachinko machine in the pachinko machine installation island is operating, the pachinko ball is The grinding lift must be activated to circulate the pachinko balls. For this reason, even during a time period when the number of customers is small, a considerable operating cost is required, which is uneconomical.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an in-machine circulation path for circulating game balls in the machine.
And an island circulation route that circulates gaming balls on the gaming machine installation island
In-flight circulation route and island circulation
A game in a game hall with switching means for switching a route
Switching control of the switching means in consideration of factors of the number of customers
Provide a game machine that has been deployed .

[0005] Using the flight circulation path in customer numbers less state circulates the game ball while performing cleaning of game ball and drying by switching in number of customers often state island circulation path. so
By doing so, operating costs can be reduced.

[0006]

Game Embodiments of the present invention in the following DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A pachinko machine will be described with reference to the drawings . The pachinko machine installation island 1 has a large number of pachinko machines 2, 2... The pachinko machine installation island 1 has a pachinko ball polishing lift 3 erected at the center thereof, and ball supply gutters 4 and 4 are connected to the upper end of the pachinko ball polishing lift 3,
The lower end of the pachinko ball polishing lift 3 is connected to the lower ends of the ball collecting troughs 5 and 5 for collecting pachinko balls discharged from the pachinko machine 2.

The pachinko ball polishing lift 3 has a ball lifting coil (not shown) inside a vertical lifting cylinder 3a, and the coil is rotated by a lifting motor 3b to mix the ball polishing pellet with the ball polishing pellet. It is a well-known thing which lifts a pachinko ball while making it go.

The ball supply gutter 4 is an upward U-shaped gutter which is inclined downward toward both ends of the pachinko machine installation island 1 and has diversion gutters 4a, 4a,.
Is installed.

The pachinko machine 2 is a so-called card type pachinko machine that records the number of balls held by a player on a magnetic card instead of releasing pachinko balls to the player. The pachinko machine 2
Is a front frame 2b provided on the outer frame 2a so as to be openable and closable as shown in FIG. 4, a glass door frame 2d provided on a window hole 2c formed on the front frame 2b so as to be openable and closable, And a front plate 2e provided to be openable and closable below the frame 2d.

A game section 6a of the game board 6 faces behind the glass door frame 2d. A large number of winning ball receivers 6b, 6b,... For receiving pachinko balls, windmills 6c, 6c for changing the falling path of the pachinko balls, and the like are attached to the game section 6a. An out ball opening 6d is provided.

The front frame 2b has a card processing device 7 provided with a magnetic card insertion port 7a and a discharge port 7b, a ball number display section 8 for displaying the number of balls held by the player, Amount select buttons 9, 9, 9 for selecting the amount to be used from the magnetic card, and a clearing button 10 for inputting the end of the game
And an operation handle 11 for adjusting the firing force of the hit ball.

A mechanism mounted on the back of the pachinko machine 2 so as to overlap with the back of the game board 6 and hinged to the game board 6 so as to be openable and closable like a door. A board 13 and a hit ball launching device 14 for launching a pachinko ball to the game section 6a are provided.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hitting ball launching device 14 is provided with an automatic hitting ball supplying device 16 for supplying pachinko balls one by one to the launching portion 15a of the launching rail 15, and is fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 11a of the operating handle 11. Pulley 11b
Hammer 17 pivotally supported, and hammer 17
Motor 1 for reciprocating swing through cam 18a
8 and a spring 19 for pulling the hitting hammer 17 in the hitting direction
A spring force adjusting member 20 for locking one end of the spring 19
And a string 21 connecting the spring force adjusting member 20 and the pulley 11b are collectively installed on a single mounting base 22.

The automatic hitting ball supply device 16 includes a mounting base 2.
Upper plate portion 22 formed by bending 2 in a crank shape
a, which is disposed on the game board 6 side with the firing rail 15 interposed therebetween. The automatic ball hitting supply device 16 has a box-shaped cover 16a in which a ball supply port 16b and a delivery port 16c for pachinko balls are formed. The internal structure of the automatic hitting ball supply device 16 is arbitrarily selected from those currently implemented. In the present embodiment, a ball feeding solenoid (which operates in synchronization with the swinging motion of the hitting ball 17) is used. (Not shown). In order to synchronize the solenoid with the swinging operation of the hitting hammer 17, the optical sensor 23 which is turned on immediately after the cam 18a is separated from the hitting hammer 17 is set to the cam 1
What is necessary is just to install on the mounting base 22 so as to face 8a, and to operate the solenoid by the ON signal of the sensor 23. In addition to the above-described ball-feeding solenoid, a ball-feeding member that is pivotally supported in a ball-shooting automatic supply device 16 so as to be able to perform a seesaw operation, which is the most commonly used hitherto, is used. Mechanically linked with the mallet 17,
Activate the ball feed member with the swing of the ball hammer 17;
One that sends out pachinko balls in advance, or one that uses an electric motor is conceivable.

On the other hand, the mechanism plate 13 has a ball collecting gutter 13a for collecting a winning ball and an out ball and discharging the pachinko ball out of the machine, and a ball supply port 16b of the automatic hit ball supplying device 16.
Is provided with a launching ball supply gutter 24 for guiding a pachinko ball, a control device C, and the like.

The launch ball supply gutter 24 is connected to the ball supply gutter 4 on the pachinko machine installation island 1 side via a pipe 25 formed by connecting a square pipe 25b to a lower end of a spiral pipe 25a, and a ball collection gutter. The recess 13 provided in a part of the flow path 13a
b. Then, the intersection of the ball collecting gutter 13a, the launch ball supply gutter 24, and the pipe 25 (square pipe 25b) is concentrated at one place, and the ball collection gutter 13a, the launch ball supply gutter 24, and the pipe 25 (square pipe 25b) A switching valve 26 serving as a switching means is provided at the intersection.

The switching valve 26 has a through hole 26b through which a pachinko ball can pass, and a lid piece 26c which closes the upper surface of the opening of the recess 13b of the ball collecting trough 13a. It is formed in. This switching valve 2
Numeral 6 is fixed to the output shaft 27a of the motor 27, the pipe 25 communicates with the launching ball supply gutter 24 through the through hole 26b, and the discharge passage 13c (FIG. 5)
(See island circulation path) and the body 26a
In which the pipe 25 is closed by the peripheral surface and the flow path of the ball collecting gutter 13a is opened to the firing ball supply gutter 24 side (in-machine circulation path).
It switches to rotate.

The motor 27 is controlled by a microswitch S1 provided on the side of the square pipe 25b and a microswitch S2 provided on the side of the body 26a of the switching valve 26 so as to face each other.

The micro switch S1 is a square pipe 25b
The actuator piece S11 faces the inside of the square pipe 25b from the slit 28 formed on the side surface of the motor, detects the presence or absence of a pachinko ball, and outputs a start signal of the motor 27 when the absence of the pachinko ball is detected.

On the other hand, the microswitch S2 has a function of stopping the motor 27 at a predetermined position. The microswitch S2 slides the actuator piece S21 against the body 26a of the switching valve 26, and forms a recess provided at an end of the body 26a. 29a, 2
9b, and outputs a stop signal of the motor 27. In addition, the depression 29a corresponds to the island circulation path, and the depression 2
9b is set so as to correspond to the internal circulation path.

Next, the operation will be described. When the player inserts the magnetic card into the card processing device 7, the ball holding data recorded on the magnetic card is read into the control device C. Then, when the player selects the amount select button 9, the held ball corresponding to the amount is withdrawn from the magnetic card, and the number of fireable balls is displayed on the ball number display section 8.

When the player touches the operation handle 11, the firing motor 18 is operated, and the hitting hammer 17 is repeatedly swung. In synchronization with the swing of the hitting hammer 17, the automatic hitting ball supply device 16 operates to send out pachinko balls one by one to the firing unit 15a. The ball feeding solenoid of the automatic hit ball supply device 16 is controlled by the control device C, and stops when the ball holding data of the player becomes "0".

The pachinko ball sent out from the automatic hitting ball supply device 16 is hit by a hitting hammer 17 and sent to the game section 6a of the game board 6 along the guide rail. At this time, the pachinko ball is detected by the optical sensor 30 provided in the firing unit 15a, and “1” is subtracted from the ball holding data of the control device C.

When the pachinko ball wins one of the prize ball receivers 6b, a signal corresponding to the number of prize balls is obtained by a signal from the detector 31 provided in each of the prize ball receivers 6b. Add to the ball data. The winning ball thus won and the out ball that did not win are the ball collecting gutter 13
a and merges.

The normal switching valve 26 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in 0 (a), the pipe 25 and the through-hole 26b are in alignment with each other, such as “Pachinko machine installation island → automatic ball hitting device → pachinko ball launch → winning ball and out ball → pachinko machine installation island”. The island circulation route is used.

That is, the pachinko balls of the ball supply gutter 4 of the pachinko machine installation island 1 flow into the launch ball supply gutter 24 through the pipe 25 and the through-hole 26b, and the pachinko balls are supplied to the automatic ball hitting supply device 16, The shooting device 14 fires the game units 6a one by one.

On the other hand, the cover piece 26c of the switching valve 26 closes the concave portion 13b of the ball collecting gutter 13a as shown in FIG.
All of the winning balls and out balls flowing to the ball collecting gutter 13a are discharged from the discharge port 13c of the ball collecting gutter 13a to the ball collection gutter 5 of the pachinko machine installation island 1. Then, the recovered pachinko balls are pumped to the ball supply gutter 4 by the pachinko ball polishing lift 3 and circulate in such a manner.

If the ball is clogged in the circulation path of the pachinko machine 2 due to the contamination of the circulation path or the entry of foreign matter while the pachinko balls are circulating as described above, the pachinko ball is inserted into the pipe 25. Is no longer supplied,
The micro switch S1 detects the ball clogging. Then, a start signal of the motor 27 is output, and the motor 27 is rotated. As a result, the switching valve 26 can
The pipe 25 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow (a), and the pipe 25 is closed on the peripheral surface of the body 26a. The switching valve 26 stops when the actuator piece S21 of the microswitch S2 fits into the recess 29b. At the stop position of the switching valve 26, the lid piece 26c rises as shown in FIG. 10B to open the concave portion 13b of the ball collecting gutter 13a, and at the same time closes the flow path of the ball collecting gutter 13a to the discharge port 13c side. Therefore, the winning balls and the out balls gathering in the ball collecting gutter 13a pass through the concave portion 13b, and the firing ball supply gutter 4
And is supplied to the automatic hit ball supply device 16 to play the game section 6a.
Fired at

As described above, when the switching valve 26 detects the clogging of the ball in the island circulation path, the switching valve 26 immediately transmits the pachinko ball as in "launch of the pachinko ball → winning ball and out ball → automatic ball hitting device → launch of the pachinko ball”. The pachinko game can be continued without interruption by switching to the in-machine circulation path for circulating the game. Then, the occurrence of such a ball clog is notified to the manager of the game arcade, and appropriate measures may be taken at a time when the game is not hindered.

Thus, the clogging of the ball is eliminated and the pipe 25
When the pachinko ball is supplied to the motor, the micro switch S1 detects this and outputs a start signal of the motor 27, and the motor 27 rotates to rotate the switching valve 26. This rotation stops when the actuator piece S21 of the microswitch S2 fits into the depression 29a of the switching valve 26, and the switching valve 26 returns to the state of using the island circulation path of FIG.

The motor 27 is preferably a forward / reverse rotating motor for the purpose of shortening the switching time. However, since a forward / reverse rotation motor may increase costs, a motor that rotates only in one direction may be used.

Further, needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the microswitch S1 may not be provided on the square pipe 25b but may be provided on the side of the diversion gutter 4a. Further, the switching valve 26 may have various configurations such as a door-shaped switching of a flow path by a solenoid, for example.

The switching valve 26 is not only switched due to the ball clogging trouble, but also stops the pachinko ball polishing lift 3 systematically, or is forcibly switched by remote control or manual control to perform island circulation. The route and the in-machine circulation route can be properly used. This way,
Use the in-flight circulation route to reduce operating costs during times of low patronage, and use the island circulation route to clean and dry pachinko balls while circulating pachinko balls during periods of high patronage. Sales become possible.

[0034]

As described above, the gaming machine of the present invention has a structure which can be adapted to both the island circulation route and the in-machine circulation route, and the two circulation routes are added to the factor of the number of gamers in the game hall.
Because it is switched by the switching means, it operates economically using the in-flight circulation route during the time when the number of customers is small, while switching to the island circulation route only during the time when the number of customers is large, cleaning and drying the pachinko balls Ru to circulate the pachinko balls,
It is possible to use properly. By doing so games
The operating cost of the place can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part showing a switching unit.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a pachinko machine installation island shown partially cut away.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a back view of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a main part showing a switching unit.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a switching means.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 7;

10A is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ZZ in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view corresponding to the line ZZ in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a hit ball firing device.

[Description of Signs] 1 ... Pachinko machine installation island 2 ... Pachinko machine 16 ... Automatic ball hitting supply device 26 ... Switching means

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A ball collecting section for collecting game balls released on a game board, a first passage for guiding game balls collected on the ball collecting section to the outside of the machine, and a ball collecting section on the ball collecting section. A second path for guiding the game ball to the launching ball supply unit, and switching means for switching the path of the game ball to the first path and the second path, wherein the switching means is based on a predetermined switching condition. A gaming machine characterized by switching operation.