JPS5988180A - Winning ball discharge method and apparatus of pinball game - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for discharging prize balls in a pachinko machine, and in particular, when a player ends a game, the number of prize balls that have been stored as a result of electronic calculation is ejected. The present invention relates to a method and device for ejecting prize balls effective for use in pachinko machines, which ejects prize balls all at once.

In the classic pachinko machines that have been the mainstream to this day, when a player throws a rental ball into the machine, the ball actually shoots out and jumps across the board. If the pachinko parlor goes out, it is taken to the pachinko parlor, and if it is safe, a predetermined safe ball - a predetermined number of prize balls per ball (for example, 15 to 15 balls) is sent to the player each time. It is designed to be discharged.

As a result, the flow system for pachinko balls is complicated and large-scale, and dirty balls traveling around the outside pass through the board surface and the gutter inside each machine, making cleaning and other maintenance inspections of each pachinko machine labor-intensive. There is also the problem that foreign objects can easily enter the cabin.

In view of these points, the idea is to use enclosed balls enclosed inside the machine as the game balls that move around the board, and to use separate systems for rental balls that players insert into the machine and prize balls provided to players. be. In this context, a particularly rational option is to have prizes that were previously stored and displayed electronically only when the player intentionally operated the checkout switch in an attempt to stop playing on the machine. A device that attempts to eject a number of real balls to the player corresponding to the number of balls (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 52-150
No. 731).

Although such pachinko machines are considered to be a very promising direction for the future, there are still some problems that need to be solved.

One of them is how to eject prize balls as real balls all at once.

For example, if a game with this type of pachinko machine reaches the set number of balls to be played on the machine, the number of prize balls stored or displayed will be extremely large, such as 3,000 or 5,000 balls. If you try to eject the same number of real balls at once according to such a large number, as is the case with conventional pachinko machines, each time a safe ball wins, you will only receive at most a dozen prize balls. It is impossible to deal with this with an ejection device that does not eject, but even if you use multiple ejectors in parallel, it will take a long time to finish ejecting all the prize balls, and if you increase the number of balls in parallel, it will take a long time. There is a strong possibility that the ejection device will become large and impractical.

There is also a method that relies on the weight of the prize balls falling, for example, a method in which a large number of prize balls are stored in advance in a tank, etc., and when the payment switch is activated, the bottom of the tank or the outflow lid is opened and the balls are dropped all at once. If , it satisfies the requirement of speeding up the ejection, but there is a strong possibility that it cannot satisfy the other basic requirement of ejecting the exact number of real balls equal to the number of memory prize balls.

The number of balls falling at high speed and with a large amount of dead weight can be counted using a high-speed photoelectric switch, etc., but if this ejection number measuring section detects the same number as the predetermined number of memory prize balls, the ejection stop command is immediately issued. Even if it does, there is an unavoidable time lag between the time when the outflow lid is closed in response to this signal and a mechanical system is involved, so there is a strong possibility that an excess amount will be ejected.

Since an uncontrollable gravity drop method is undesirable in any case, a high-speed discharge method using a controllable motor may be considered instead. This method has good braking performance in principle since the moment the motor stops, future ball ejection is reliably prevented, but from a practical standpoint, another problem arises. In other words, by suddenly braking the motor or its rotating shaft that was rotating at high speed, there is a problem that a large stress is applied to the prize ball ejecting element and the rotating shaft rotated by the motor, and such machines The problem is that overrunning cannot be prevented even if sudden braking is applied because the inertia of the driving elements is greater than at high speeds.

To summarize the above, a device that ejects a large amount of prize balls at once has two functions: 1) Finishing the ejection in as short a time as possible, that is, a high-speed ejection function 2) A function to accurately eject a predetermined number of prize balls. Although human functions are required, it has been found that it is extremely difficult or impossible to satisfy both of these two functions with conventional ejection devices.

The present invention has been made in view of this point, and aims to provide a prize ball discharging device that can satisfy both of the above two functions 1) and 2).

As will be apparent from the following description, the device of the present invention is suitable for use in pachinko machines that eject a large amount of prize balls at once, for example, the prize ball ejecting device for the pachinko machine disclosed in JP-A No. 52-150731 mentioned above. Since this type of pachinko machine is suitable as an apparatus, an outline of this type of pachinko machine is shown in FIG. 1, and embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

In the electronic arithmetic and memory type pachinko machine shown in Figure 1, when a player throws the balls he or she has into the throwing tray, the balls are collected by the pachinko parlor through the gutter 3, and the ball detector detects the number of balls thrown in or the number of balls played. The number of pitches thrown is detected in the control unit on the back of the machine, and the number of pitches thrown is stored in an electronic storage unit inside the control unit. will be displayed.

At the same time, when the display number A is zero, the blocking device 7 that has stopped the function of the firing device f (often of the electric type these days) is released, and firing becomes possible.

As the player operates the firing device ♂ to fire the enclosed ball inside the machine, the electronic calculation system (generally integrated with the storage unit) in the control unit provided in each machine ) performs the following calculation on the number of memories in the storage unit.

1) The shot ball detector 10 detects each ball that hits the firing section, and each time, S (1/7) is subtracted from the number of stored balls.

11) If the shot ball does not jump normally on the game board surface/a and returns toward the shooting position for some reason, check the foul ball in the foul gutter using the foul ball detector/3. Detect and add tt1 back to the number of memories.

111) The ball that jumped onto the game board was lucky to land in the safe section/≠・
...If you win a prize, each safe ball is detected by the safe ball detector IR, and the predetermined winning ball to prize ball conversion ratio, that is, winning ball - D hit balls - awards. If it is specified, such as a ball, add the corresponding % BI to the number of memories.

In the above, an out ball to the out hole /6 is detected and I
In the case of subtracting S 1 //, this operation replaces i) and ii) above.

In this way, the number of balls stored or the number displayed on the display unit at that time becomes the number of balls held by the player or the number of prize balls at that time.

When the player wants to stop playing at that machine and receive the prize ball, he operates the payment switch/7. Then, the prize ball discharging device KO operates via the control unit 1/, and a chute 2:1. The real balls that have been accumulated over time are provided to the player via the discharge gutter 23, saucer, 2IA, etc.

As mentioned above, as this prize ball ejecting device 20, conventionally,
In view of the fact that there is no one that satisfies both the high-speed ejection function and the number of balls, the present invention discloses a desirable method and structure for such a prize ball ejection device.

In the present invention, the prize ball ejection speed mode is divided into at least two stages or more, and ejection is allowed in the highest speed mode at the beginning of the prize ball ejection, and when at least a number close to the predetermined number of prize balls has been ejected. The mode is set to a sufficiently low speed that even if sudden braking is applied to the ejection mechanism, excessive stress is not applied to each mechanical part, and sudden braking can be easily applied at the same time as the ejection of the predetermined number of prize balls is completed.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 2 and subsequent figures, an example of the configuration of the apparatus will be described as an embodiment in which the speed mode is set to two stages, that is, a high speed mode and a low speed mode.

This device consists of a prize ball ejecting mechanical system 0 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, this mechanical system provided in a control device, and an electronic control circuit 30 of 20, and the mechanical system 2θ is a first It is provided at a location shown as a discharge device 20 in the figure.

In this case, the ejection mechanical system shown in 2nd A and B is shown! 0, there is a sprocket 26 which is preferably rotated by an alternating current drive motor suitable for speed control, and a sprocket 26 that is rotated by a sprocket 26, and real balls as prize balls are placed on the circumferential surface of the sprocket 26 at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction. A plurality of receiving recesses 27 are formed.

A part of this tin rocket is pushed into the ejection gutter 23, and the portion of the ejection gutter above the position of this sprocket becomes a waiting gutter λ for real balls to be ejected as prize balls. , the lower part becomes the actual prize ball outlet gutter 2 that leads to the saucer J etc.

In the prize ball waiting gutter 2f, real balls 3/... as prize ball preparation balls are falling from the chute 22 due to their own weight in a negative row. When the sprocket 2 is not rotating and the sprocket 2 is stopped, the leading ball is held in one of the receiving recesses 7 of the tin rocket that is fitted into the discharge gutter 23 and is sent to the outlet gutter 22. Prevented from falling.

When the sprocket 2B is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, the recess 27 that was holding the leading ball of the waiting ball group rotates to a position with its opening facing downward, causing the leading ball to fall. The next ball is bitten into the succeeding depression 27, and when the next ball is dropped, the next ball enters the next depression. In other words, the ejection is performed according to the rotational speed of the motor or sprocket. Prize balls are ejected at speed.

When motor 2t stops, sprocket 2 also stops,
In order to reliably prevent overrunning due to inertia and the weight of the ball group after the power to the motor 2.5' is turned off, the sprocket island can be mechanically braked suddenly. 1 In this embodiment, three stopper gears are provided coaxially with the sprocket island, and when the striped rocket lock release solenoid 33 is energized, the claw 3 at the tip of the control rod 3 touches the teeth 36 of the three stopper gears. However, when the solenoid 33 is demagnetized, the control rod 3 is rotated back around the fulcrum 3 by the restoring spring 37, and the pawl 3 at the tip is rotated around the stopper gear 32 as shown in the figure. adjacent teeth 31. ,．． 31. By inserting it in between, the rotation of sprocket 2 is forcibly stopped and locked.

Note that, since this illustrated state is a steady state, the solenoid 33 is not energized in this steady state to suppress power consumption, but it may of course be configured to be locked when energized.

As is clear from this mechanical system, if the stopper pawl 3 engages with the stopper gear 3.2 even during inertial rotation (or conversely, even if the sprocket tries to continue turning due to the weight of the ball 3), at that point 1. In order to keep the stress to a minimum even if the mechanical system is suddenly braked,
The control for switching the motor 2 to the low speed mode in advance near the end of discharging the predetermined number of prize balls is performed by the circuit configuration shown in FIG.

The circuit configuration shown in FIG. 6 includes an arithmetic storage section ≠O that performs arithmetic processing based on the above-mentioned shot balls, foul balls, and safe balls and stores the number of balls held by the player or prize balls at each point in time; Although the display part ≠l is shown, the present invention does not directly specify the configuration of the display part, but it may be of any kind as long as a numerical signal can be extracted from the necessary digits. Also good. For the sake of explanation, referring to the arithmetic storage section≠O shown in Figure 6, the maximum number of digits stored is 4 digits, that is, it is possible to process up to the thousands digit, and each digit is 10°, 10',
Decimal up/down counters ≠2°, lA2', and 1122.4'23 are assigned to 102.103, respectively. The output of each counter is a 4-bit binary display, and each decoder driver'/-3°~1l-33
A 7-segment display ≠≠0 to ≠≠3 corresponding to each digit in the display section G/f is displayed.

Each up/down counter 2' (j=1.2.3) is expressed as the lower counter 21-1 in decimal number XX
XX11 with carry signal when incremented to 01
7 T, ke incremented from % 0 // to 9
It is coupled so that when it is decremented, it is decremented by N1.

Therefore, if the signal pulses from each detector are distributed and inputted according to their contents to the up input and down input of the lowest (-) counter ≠ 2 degrees, the desired calculation described above can be performed. .

That is, as described with reference to FIG. When the lower up/down counter≠, 2° is inputted, the detection pulse of the safe ball detector/j is converted into one ball via the frequency multiplier circuit or multiplier circuit 17 according to the conversion rate n to the number of prize balls mentioned above. Similarly, n pulses per winning ball are added to the up input via the OR circuit ≠ 6, while the detection pulses of the shot ball detector 10 are applied to the corresponding counter ≠, 2° via the OR circuit ≠. A down input has been added.

This down input also receives a detection pulse from the detector snoring of the ejected ball ejected as a prize ball at the time of payment to the player via the OR circuit ≠r (this will be described later).

Although not shown for simplicity, in order to prevent simultaneous input of each input, an appropriate parallel-to-serial conversion circuit and up/down priority determination are necessary.

It is common knowledge in this type of digital asynchronous manual processing technology that an interface such as a circuit may be provided.

In addition, as mentioned above, when the memory number is negative zero, this kind of dick machine does not allow the enclosed ball to fire, so the zero detection circuit SO in this case ~≠2
An OR circuit ro is provided which takes the OR of all bits of output of 3, and only when this output is at a high level IH'', that is, only when the stored number is a decimal number and is not negative zero, an appropriate Draino (7) is provided. ' The bullet prevention device 2 is released via the bullet prevention device 2.The bullet prevention device 2 has various functions such as locking the firing rod and locking the pumping device υ that sends each ball to the firing position. Since the power is well known, description of specific examples will be omitted.

As described above, the OR circuit j0 detects zero as a low level output when all bit outputs of all counters are binary 0, that is, when the number of memories or the number of balls held by the player is zero. This zero detection output also applies to this embodiment of the present invention.
It is used to invalidate the signal of the payment switch/7.

In other words, when the payment switch 17 is operated, a high level of Qi H is generated.
Since the settlement command signal issued as is ANDed with the output of the zero detection circuit O by the first AND gate 3/, even if the settlement switch 17 is operated when the number of memories is zero,
The settlement command signal cannot pass through this AND gate and does not affect the subsequent signal system of the main control circuit 30.

When the number of memories is a significant value other than zero, the zero detection circuit soh
Conversely, in order to detect non-zero and output 1%H#, the payment command signal from the payment switch/7 operated at this time is
It effectively passes through the first AND gate j/ and sets the flip-flop taro.

The positive output Q by this set is the first AND gate 3/
AND is taken with the output of the ball shortage detector Jj. The ball shortage detector Tata detects whether or not there are real balls to be ejected. For example, as shown in Fig. 28, an actuator is protruded into the prize ball waiting gutter 2, and the waiting ball is detected. When there is no waiting bulb, it turns on and sends the NH level signal, and when there is no waiting bulb (
In other words, when there is a shortage of balls), it can be configured with a microswitch or a photoelectric switch that emits a low-level NLl signal.

When there is a waiting ball, the Q output of the flip-flop Taro passes through this first AND gate 3/, and the appropriate driver j
7i, the previously mentioned sprocket lock release solenoid 33 is energized to enable the sprocket to rotate, and the third AND gate 3. Sent to the fourth and gate j≠'s single power.

For the low input of the third AND gate 3, there is a comparator 5 which detects this when the number of balls remaining to switch from the high-speed discharge mode to the low-speed discharge mode is reached and makes the output xHtt as described later. Inverting circuit or inverter? It is given through me.

Here, assuming that the number remaining for switching from high-speed discharge mode to low-speed discharge mode is 50, and if there is now more than this number of memories, the output of this inverter j2 will be XXH.
”, so the output of the third AND gater 3 is ttHt
t, and the high-speed discharge mode control relay 6/ is energized via an appropriate driver 0.

The basic configuration of the speed control circuit 700 for the AC motor 2 is completely well known, and includes a triac 7/diac 7.
2 and a CR circuit 73 for controlling the conduction angle.The smaller the time constant of the CR circuit, the larger the rising edge of the charging curve of the capacitor C. The time it takes to reach the break voltage of 2 becomes shorter, and the conduction period of the triac 7 becomes longer.
Therefore, the motor 2 rotates at a high speed, and conversely, the larger the CR time constant, the slower the speed becomes due to the opposite mechanism. If the motor speed can be varied by switching a resistor or capacitor, the control of the present invention described below can be applied to other motors, such as those using SIRISK.

Here, we assume a two-stage prize ball ejection speed mode, so two resistances r1 + r with a relationship of resistance value rI < r2
2 is prepared, and as mentioned earlier, when the relay 6/ for high-speed discharge mode is energized, its contact O/α closes, and the resistor TI with the smaller value is inserted into the circuit system as the resistor circuit R. be done.

As a result, the motor 2j starts rotating in a high speed mode, and the waiting real ball 3/ is forcibly ejected by the mechanism already explained with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Although it is desirable that the ejection speed at this time be as fast as possible, the speed at which the real ball falls under its own weight through the waiting gutter 2g to the sprocket column B is the limit. Even if you turn the sprocket faster than that, the balls may not fit into all of the recessed cores, resulting in a mechanical loss.

Specifically, in this high-speed ejection mode, if the number of recesses in the sprocket rim is 10, that is, 10 prize balls are ejected per rotation, then the rotational speed is BOr.
pm, so it is desirable to set the prize ball ejection speed to 800 balls per minute. This results in a fairly high speed discharge.

On the other hand, as stated in advance, if a resistor r2 with a larger value is inserted as a resistor circuit R instead of resistor r1 with the excitation of the relay for low-speed discharge mode, For example, about 10 rprI'L, so 10 rprI'L per minute.
It is preferable to determine the value of the resistance r2 so that the prize ball ejection speed is about 0. At this speed, the motor,
Even though sprocket 2 was locked when the power was cut off on the 2nd night,
A sudden stop can be made without putting strain on the mechanical system.

Therefore, the motor tacho due to the excitation of relay 6/! , When the real ball 3/ as a prize ball starts to be ejected due to the high-speed rotation of the subrockets, each ejected ball is detected by the ejected ball detector 4'!
i' is detected, and N1 is decremented from the storage unit by the signal line via the OR circuit gy described above for each - sphere.

In the illustrated case, the ejected bulb detector includes a light emitting element getter α such as a light emitting diode, and a light receiving element 1 such as a phototransistor facing each other with an ejection gutter in between, as shown in FIG. 2B.
1. yb, and is installed in a position where one recess 27 of the sprocket engages the leading ball in the waiting gutter in a steady state, and the optical axis is blocked in a steady state, but the ejection When the ball that was blocking the movement moves downward and the optical axis can be seen, the relevant -
It is designed to detect the ejection of balls.

Among the counters constituting the storage section, the data lines (4-bit output lines) of the thousands and hundreds counters 113'' and 1122 are all inverted and connected to the fifth AND gate 741.
Added to 4. Therefore, when both the thousands digit and the hundreds digit return to zero in the process of decrementing the contents of the counter accompanying the ejection operation, in other words, even if there are initially a predetermined number of prize balls of several hundred to several thousand, the number of prize balls due to the motor operation When less than 100 balls remain in the process of being ejected as real balls and provided to the player in the first mode of high-speed ejection, this AND gate 7I1. The output becomes U'H" and is applied to the other input of the fourth AND gate tag, which was previously given the \\H output from the second AND gate tacho.

This fourth AND gate tag is a three-input type, and the output from the zero detection circuit 0 is given to the remaining one, and at this point, this output is ttHtt, so in the end, the remaining 9 The output of the detection circuit 7≠of less than 100 is inverted to 'H1/', and the fourth gate output becomes 'IH/'.

The output of this fourth ant game is the digital comparator
Since the enable input or the comparison start input is applied to the comparator, the comparator can only be set up by Aa and signal input B. -B3
Start numerical comparison with.

Here, as mentioned earlier, when the remaining number of prize balls to be ejected is 50 and k, we are trying to switch to the low speed mode, so signal B is manually operated. -B is the 4-bit output of the tens digit counter l' in the storage section, and the comparison is made using the number ts5y as a reference.

Setting human power A. -n, the tens digit number XX5 corresponding to the predetermined set number 50 is input using the setting device 7j (for example, in binary display, it becomes rololJ, so this can be realized by turning on and off the switch. If the number from the counter remaining 1 in the tens place is XX6〃 or more in decimal notation, there is no change, but the moment it reaches 5〃, that is, the number of balls left to eject is 50. From the time when the discharge is completed, that is, until the value becomes \\0, the 'H' level appears at the 'A2B' output of the comparator 5'g.

Then, the third AND gate 33 is connected via the inverter.
The signal applied to the single force becomes "L", so the high-speed mode control relay 61 is demagnetized and the resistor τ1 is removed from the circuit system.

At the same time, the low-speed mode control relay B is energized via the driver 76, and the resistor r2 with the value determined above enters the circuit system via its contact O2α, causing the motor to operate at low speed. In this case 1 in the sprocket as rotation mode
0 rpm), the ejection speed of the prize ball is low.

As a result of continuing discharging in this low speed mode, when discharging is completed and the number of memories becomes NO〃, the fourth ant game) 5≠ is closed by the zero detection %L〃 level signal of the zero detection circuit SO. Then, the comparator 5g stops operating and the [A2B] output becomes SS I, //, so the relay O is demagnetized, the contact O is opened, and the motor 2j is stopped.

At the same time, even if the sprocket 2 attempts to continue rotating due to its mechanism and the inertia of the ball, the sprocket lock release solenoid 33 is demagnetized, so it is immediately locked and no more balls are ejected. Also, as mentioned above, a bullet prevention device? also exhibits a deterrent function.

In addition, this zero detection bottom L〃level signal is transmitted to the inverter 7.
Flip-flop through 7! Reset B.

In this way, the entire system is brought to its initial state. As is clear from the above configuration, when a ball shortage occurs in the discharge gutter 23 during the prize ball discharge operation, that is, the output of the ball shortage detector Tata is ''.
When it reaches L l, prize ball ejection will be interrupted, but if balls are replenished, it can be resumed and continued. This is because, although the detection of ball shortage closes the third AND gate 332, stops the motor, and locks the sprocket, the flip float switch O is not reset.

In the above embodiment, setting the number of balls remaining to be ejected to which the prize ball ejection speed mode should be switched is an arbitrary matter, and it is also possible to set the number of remaining balls to be ejected to change the prize ball ejection speed mode. It should be extremely easy for a person skilled in the art to gradually reduce the amount of noise and the circuit thereof, now that the present invention has been disclosed.

In any case, according to the present invention, under the condition that the prize balls are ejected as fast as possible, when the remaining number of balls to be ejected becomes small, the ejection mechanical system is operated at a low speed so that the ejection mechanical system can be suddenly braked or suddenly stopped. Therefore, the number of real balls corresponding to the predetermined number of prize balls can be ejected accurately and without applying undue stress.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of a pachinko machine into which the prize ball ejecting device of the present invention can be incorporated, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the mechanical part of the prize ball ejecting device of one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a circuit configuration diagram of an electronic circuit control system according to another embodiment. In the figure, / is the pachinko machine, ≠ is the thrown ball detector, y is the display unit for the number of balls held by the player or electronically stored, r is the bullet device, ri is the bullet prevention device, and IO is the shot ball detector , // is the electronic control device, /3 is the foul ball detector, /j is the winning ball detector, /7 is the payment switch, θ is the mechanical system of the prize ball ejecting device,
23 is the discharge gutter, 2 is the motor, and the roller is the sprocket) 1.
if is the prize ball waiting gutter in the discharge gutter, 30 is the electronic control system of the prize ball ejecting device, 32 is the stopper gear, 33 is the solenoid for releasing the Suge rocket lock, 3 is the stopper claw, and <10 is the calculation of the number of balls. Memory part, Kuko is up/down counter, ≠2
is an ejected ball detector, 0 is a detector with a memory count of zero, jj is a ball shortage detector, j is a digital comparator, O/, 6 is a relay, and 70 is a motor control circuit. Patent Applicant Sophia Co., Ltd. Patent Attorney Fuku 1) Shingyo Agent Patent Attorney Fuku 1) Budo-ゝ＼

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Prize balls of a pachinko machine that electronically stores the number of prize balls to be ejected from the player's possession, and ejects real balls equal to the number of memorized prize balls in response to a settlement command operated by the player. A pachinko game machine having a discharging method that counts the number of actual balls to be discharged, and when the remaining number of balls to be discharged becomes a predetermined number or less, reduces the speed of discharging prize balls up to that point. How to eject prize balls from the machine. (2) The number of prize balls to be ejected from the player's possession is electronically stored, and in response to a settlement command operated by the player, real balls corresponding to the number of prize balls are delivered via a mechanical system driven by a motor. A prize ball ejecting device for a pachinko machine that ejects, the ejecting ball detector detecting the actual number of ejected balls, and subtracting the stored number of prize balls according to the detection pulse of the ejecting ball detector. The circuit compares the remaining number of prize balls to be subtracted with a preset remaining number, and when the remaining number is equal to or less than the set remaining number, causes the motor control circuit to rotate the motor at a low speed. A prize ball ejecting device for a pachinko machine, comprising: a comparator that issues a command;