JPS63292Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a ball supply device for a pinball game machine.
In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement in a ball supply device that supplies pachinko balls to a ball hitting position in a pinball game machine such as a pachinko game machine or a metal game machine in which games are played by hitting pachinko balls.

As is well known, in recent pinball gaming machines such as pachinko gaming machines and metal gaming machines that use pachinko balls to play, the pachinko balls stored in the ball waiting gutter, which also serves as a ball storage tray, are automatically removed. An automatic ball feeding device is used to feed the balls one by one to the hitting position. The conventional automatic ball feeding device has a ball inlet at the end of the ball waiting trough, and the pachinko balls that flow in through the ball inlet are fed by a see-saw-like ball intermittent feed lever provided at the upper front of the ball hitting position. Pachinko balls are supplied to the ball outlet, a through hole is drilled in the bottom of the passage on the front side of the ball outlet, and a ball pushing piece is inserted into the through hole by rotating the ball hitting rod. The ball is supplied to the ball hitting position via the ball outlet. However, providing a seesaw-like intermittent ball feed lever has the disadvantage that the shape is complicated and expensive.

Therefore, the applicant of the present invention previously proposed an automatic ball supply device as a device with a relatively simple structure and low cost as No. 13881/1983. According to this hitting ball supply device, pachinko balls supplied from the ball inlet located at the exit of the ball waiting gutter are guided to the ball outlet through an inclined path, and are oscillated by the rotation of the ball hitting rod at the end of the inclined path. By pushing up the pachinko balls with a ball pusher piece formed at the upper end of the swinging lever, the balls are fed from the ball outlet to the ball hitting position. However, although the previously proposed automatic ball supply device has a simplified structure and is inexpensive, it has the following problems.
That is, since pachinko balls get dirty easily, it is necessary to periodically clean the inclined passageways through which dirty pachinko balls pass tens of thousands of times a day. However, since the conventional type has a cover fixed to the front of the inclined passageway, it is necessary to wrap a cloth around the end of a thin stick and roll it through a small gap to wipe it, making it difficult to clean. It was difficult to clean properly. For this reason, dirt adhering to the inclined passageway sometimes impeded the smooth flow of pachinko balls.

Therefore, this device has a relatively simple structure and is inexpensive, allows easy and quick cleaning of the inclined path, reduces the labor required for cleaning, and allows pachinko balls to be smoothly supplied to the ball hitting position at all times. The object of the present invention is to provide a ball supply device for a pinball game machine.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing the relationship between the front structure of a pachinko game machine and a ball supply device, which is an example of a pinball game machine to which this invention is applied. In the figure, on the left side of the game board 11 of the pachinko game machine 10, a ball guide rail 11a is formed in an arc shape. Below this game board 11, there is a ball waiting gutter 1 which also serves as a ball storage tray.
2 is fixed to the front frame of the pachinko machine. The ball waiting gutter 12 is formed so that the upstream part is wide enough to store a large amount of pachinko balls, and the downstream part is formed as a narrow path 121 through which one pachinko ball can pass. A prize ball payout opening 13 is formed at the rear of the upstream portion of the batted ball standby gutter 12 to pay out a predetermined number of prize balls according to winning balls. A ball outlet 122 through which one pachinko ball can pass is formed at the end of the path 121 of the ball waiting gutter 12. The ball inlet 21 of the batted ball supply device 20, which is a feature of this invention, faces the rear of the ball outlet 122.

FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are illustrative views of the batted ball supply device 20 according to an embodiment of this invention, and in particular, FIG. 2A and FIG.
The figure shows a perspective view thereof, and FIG. 2B shows an exploded perspective view thereof. Moreover, FIG. 2C is an exploded perspective view of the batted ball supply device 20 of another embodiment of this invention, and FIG. 2D is a partial sectional view taken along line A-A' in FIG. 2C.

Figures 3A and 3B are front views of the ball supply device according to an embodiment of this invention in different operating states, and in particular, Figure 3A shows the ball supply completed state (that is, the initial state), and Figure 3B shows the ball supply device. A state in which the swinging member is rotated most counterclockwise and the cone upper piece is pulled out (that is, a state immediately before the cone cone is lifted) is shown.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view showing details of the stepped portion of the ball supply passage.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the ball supply passage, in particular, a is a plan view thereof, b is a vertical cross-sectional view along b-b' of a portion related to the ball outlet 24 in FIG. It is a longitudinal sectional view taken along c-c' of a portion related to the protrusion 237, and d is a detailed view of the obstacle wall 241 seen from the direction of arrow d.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 2A to 5, the specific structure of the ball supply device of this embodiment will be explained. A slanted protrusion 22 is formed in relation to the ball inlet 21 of the ball supply device 20 that faces the ball outlet at the end of the ball waiting channel 12 . The end surface of the inclined protrusion 22 is inclined downwardly and rearward in order to make it easier for the pachinko balls flowing in through the outlet 122 at the end of the ball waiting gutter 12 to flow down into the ball supply passage 23 provided below the ball inlet 21. And the distance between the two is selected to be smaller than the diameter of one pachinko ball. A first inclined passage 231 of the ball supply passage 23 is provided below the ball inlet 21, and the terminal end side of this inclined passage 231 forms a step shape with the second inclined passage 232. Second inclined passage 2
A through hole 233 smaller than the diameter of one pachinko ball is bored in the bottom surface of the terminal end of the ball 32. and,
On the back side of the terminal end of the inclined passage 232, there is a ball outlet 24.
is formed. An obstacle wall 241 is formed on the back surface of the ball outlet 24, which is slightly higher than the bottom surface of the inclined passage 232 and slightly lower than the radius of the pachinko balls. As shown in FIG. 5D, this obstacle wall 241 is a "h"-shaped plate, and is fixed to the back side wall 234 with the side facing the ball outlet 24 horizontal. When forming such an obstacle wall 241, a metal plate is integrated with the back side wall 234 by caulking or the like in order to prevent pachinko balls made of a metal material from being worn out by passing over the obstacle wall 241 many times. stick to the target. A rear side wall 234 is formed on the rear side of the inclined passages 231 and 232. On the front side thereof, a front side wall (hereinafter referred to as a front cover) 25, which is a feature of this invention, is formed so as to be openable and closable.

The front cover 25 has a cylindrical shaft 251 extending vertically downward at one end (the ball inlet 21 side in the figure), a ball receiver protrusion 252 at a portion facing the ball inlet 21, and other features. Engagement part 2 on one end
Form 53. On the other hand, a bearing plate 254 is fixed to the side surface of the ball supply passage 23 on the side of the ball inlet 21, which is formed by rolling a metal plate and forming a hole for fitting into the shaft 251. By fitting the shaft 251 of the front cover 25 into the fitting hole of the bearing plate 254, the front cover 25 is attached so as to be openable and closable. Furthermore, an engaged portion 255 is formed on the terminal side wall of the ball supply passage 23 . The engaged portion 255 engages with the engaging portion 253 when the front cover 25 is closed, and
It works to lock 5 in the closed state. In addition,
As another example of mounting the front cover 25 on the front surface of the ball supply passage 23, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, a semicircular engagement portion 256 is formed in place of the shaft 251, and A cylindrical holding rod 25 is integrally formed with the back plate 281 on the side of the ball entrance 21 side.
7, and by engaging the semicircular engaging portion 256 and the holding rod 257, and engaging the engaging portion 253 on the other side and the engaged portion 255, it can be attached and detached and opened and closed. You may. Although not shown, as another example, a hook-shaped portion may be formed in place of the shaft 251,
A groove into which the hook-shaped portion is caught is formed on the outside of the side wall portion of the ball entrance 21 of the inclined passage 231, and the groove and the hook-shaped portion are engaged, and the engaging portion 253 and the engaged portion 255 on the other side
It may also be detachably attached by engaging the two.

The upper end of the vertical plate 235 at the stepped portion between the inclined passage 231 and the inclined passage 232 is chamfered at approximately 45 degrees along the inclined direction. Inclined passage 231
The cover 236 that covers the upper surface of the cover 236 is steeply sloped at the stepped portion. In addition, a back side wall 234 in front of the exit 24
A slanted protrusion 237 is formed on the slanted protrusion 237 that is slanted and protruded along the passing direction of the pachinko balls. A notch 238 having a width slightly longer than the diameter of a pachinko ball is formed on the inside of the front cover 25 facing the inclined protrusion 237.

Further, the inclined passages 231 and 232 are made of a resin material such as plastic, but since they are softer than pachinko balls, they are easily damaged by the engraved parts of pachinko balls. Therefore, preferably, metal plates 26a and 26b are provided on the bottom surfaces of the inclined passages 231 and 232.
Attach. This metal plate (e.g. stainless steel plate)
26a forms a bent portion 261 facing the thickness portion on the front side along the longitudinal direction of the inclined passageway 231;
Engagement pieces 262 are formed on both sides corresponding to the back side. On the other hand, a hole 239 through which the engagement piece 262 can be inserted is formed in the back wall of the inclined passage 231. The engagement piece 262 of the metal plate 26a is inserted into the hole 239, the free end of the engagement piece 262 is bent, and the bent part 261 and the end face of the inclined passage 231 fit together, thereby causing the metal plate 26a is attached to the inclined passageway. Further, the metal plate 26b to be attached to the inclined passage 232 may be formed in the same manner as the metal plate 26a, or the engagement piece 262 may be formed on the inclined passage 231 side and on the terminal end side of the inclined passage 232 as shown in the figure. A bent portion 263 may be formed.

A ball supply swinging member 27 is provided below the terminal end of the inclined passage 232. This ball supply swinging member 27 is formed by making a swinging lever 271 swingable around a fulcrum 272, and having a ball press upper piece 273 protruding upward from an upper side corresponding to the through hole 233 on one side of the swinging lever 271. do. The upper surface of this ball pusher piece 273 is smaller than the shape of the through hole 233 and the ball outlet 2
It is formed so as to be inclined downward toward the fourth side. Preferably, the end face of the cone upper piece 273 on the side of the inclined passage 232 is formed into an arc shape with a radius L around the fulcrum 272. At one end of the singing lever 271, a pin 31 of an engagement lever 31, which will be described later, is attached.
An elongated hole 274 that is loosely fitted with 2 is bored. A balance weight 275 is fixed to the other end of the swing lever 271.

An L-shaped lever 31 for interlocking the ball supply swinging member 27 with the rotation of the ball hitting rod 32 is connected to a fulcrum 31.
1, and a pin 312 is formed at one end of the short piece to loosely fit and engage with the elongated hole 274. This L
The other end 313 of the long piece of the letter-shaped lever 31 is suspended. A triangular mounting fitting 33 is fixed to a ball hitting rod 32 for hitting pachinko balls. At the top of the mounting bracket 33, there is an L-shaped lever 31.
An engagement pin 332 is screwed in with a screw 331 for engaging the ball by rotation of the ball hitting rod 32. Mounting bracket 3
A cylindrical pin 333 is provided on the right side of 3 to protrude. The pin 333 engages with or disengages from the arcuate portion of the wing-like portion of the ball-hitting cam 34, which is rotationally driven by a ball-hitting motor (not shown). On the left side of the mounting metal 33,
A through hole 343 is formed, and the ball hitting spring 35 is engaged with the through hole 334 .

A launch point rail 36 for launching the pachinko balls is provided at an incline below the rear side of the ball outlet 24. The lower end of the inclined direction of the launch point rail 36 is bent upward to form a ball hitting position 37.

With the above-described configuration, in the normal state, the ball-striking spring 35 tensions and biases the ball-striking rod 32 to the left, and the ball-striking cam 34 is rotated by the ball-striking cam 34.
When the pin 333 is pushed down at the arc-shaped part of the
2 rotates clockwise. Accordingly, the engagement pin 33
2 engages with the L-shaped lever 31 and the L-shaped lever 3
1 in the counterclockwise direction, the swing lever 271 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction, and the cone upper piece 2 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction.
73 is pulled out from the through hole 233. At this time,
The pachinko balls stored in the ball supply path 23 move to the position of the through hole 233 at the end of the inclined path 232. Then, the arc-shaped portion of the ball hitting cam 34 and the pin 3
33 is released, the ball hitting rod 32 is pulled by the tension of the ball hitting spring 35,
The pachinko balls that have been previously supplied to the ball hitting position 37 of the launch point rail 36 are hit with the pestle-shaped part 321 at the tip thereof. The pachinko balls hit in this way are delivered to the launch point rail 36 and the launch ball guide rail 11.
The player is guided to the game board 11 through a. At this time,
Since the engagement between the L-shaped lever 31 and the engagement pin 332, which had been pulled by the engagement pin 332, is released, the L-shaped lever 31 rotates clockwise. At the same time, the swing lever 27
1 is rotated clockwise by the weight of the balance weight 275, and at this time, the cone upper piece 273 is inserted into the through hole 233.
and push up the pachinko ball B1. Therefore, until then, the through hole 233 at the end of the inclined passage 232
The pachinko ball B1, which has been stopped at the position , is pushed up, passes over the obstacle wall 241, falls onto the launch point rail 36, and is supplied to the ball hitting position 37.

By the way, when controlling the pachinko machine to stop, it is necessary to prevent pachinko balls from flowing into the ball supply passage 23. Therefore, a ball inlet shutter 28 is provided. This ball entrance shutter 28 has a shaft 282 fixed to the back plate 281, a pivot hole 284 of an L-shaped lever 283 is fitted into the shaft 282, and a shutter lever 286 is inserted into the elongated hole 285 of the L-shaped lever 283.
The engagement pin 287 is inserted therethrough. Then, the shutter lever 286 is fitted into the sliding groove 289 and slid by rotation of the L-shaped lever 283. A shielding plate 28 is provided at the tip of the shutter lever 286.
8 is formed, and the ball inlet 21 is selectively shielded by the shielding plate 288 by sliding of the shutter lever 286.

Next, the reason why a smooth feeding operation of pachinko balls can be achieved by configuring the inclined passage in a step-like manner as in this embodiment will be discussed.

For example, if the inclined passage 231 and the inclined passage 232 are connected on the same plane, the weight of one pachinko ball is the force r1 directed downward and the direction of the inclined passage (i.e., passing direction). The force r2 of one pachinko ball applied in the direction of passing and the force (r2×n) corresponding to the number of pachinko balls (n) applied in the R direction expressed by vector composition of the force r2 along the ball are applied to the upper ball pusher piece 2.
The circular arc portion on the inclined passage side of 73 or the inclined passage 23
It will be added to the final movement side wall of No.2. Therefore, the longer the inclined passages 231 and 232, the more force (r2×n) due to the weight of the stored pachinko balls will be applied to the arcuate portion of the ball pusher upper piece 273. The swing lever 271 is no longer rotated even by the rotation of the ball, and thereby the ball cannot be fed smoothly.

On the other hand, an inclined passage 23 whose length is about several pachinko balls (approximately 3 in the figure) from the ball outlet 24.
2, and since the part that is four or more pachinko balls away from the ball outlet 24 is stepped, only the force r2 in the passing direction of the two pachinko balls B2 and B3 shown in FIG. 4 is applied to the swing lever. 271 ball pusher piece 273
It will be added to the end of. The sum total of the force r2 applied in the passing direction of the third or more pachinko balls (n×r2 if the number of balls stored in the inclined path 231 is n) is the downward force r1. The force applied in the direction of the force R (that is, the direction tilted by 45 degrees) due to the combined vector with the force r2 in the passing direction, and the force of the third pachinko ball B3 is the force applied to the second pachinko ball B
It mainly applies in the 45 degree downward direction of 2, and the cone upper piece 2
Nothing is applied to the path side end of 73. Therefore, even if the passage path 231 is selected to be long, there is an advantage that the balls can be fed smoothly.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, an inclined protrusion 237 is formed on the back side wall 234 in front of the ball outlet 24, and a front cover 25 is formed opposite to the inclined protrusion 237.
By forming the notch 238 on the inside of the slanted protrusion 237, the passage direction of the pachinko balls is bent toward the front side by an angle α at the second part from the end of the inclined passage 232, and by an angle β at the end part. It can be bent towards the ball exit side. Therefore, as a result, the passing locus of the pachinko balls bends in an arc shape before the ball exit 24, and the force r2 applied from the ball exit 24 in the passing direction of the second pachinko ball B2 is applied to the ball exit. The pachinko ball B1 in the front position is pushed diagonally from behind, and when the pachinko ball B1 is pushed up by the ball pushing upper piece 273, the force r2 of the pachinko ball B2 is
is gradually added to the pachinko ball B1, and the pachinko ball B1 can be smoothly pushed to the ball hitting position, which has the advantage that the pachinko balls can be smoothly supplied.

As described above, according to this invention, since the front side wall of the inclined passage is configured to be openable, the inclined passage can be wiped easily and quickly.
It is possible to easily prevent the flow of balls from becoming poor due to dirt in the inclined passageway, reduce labor for wiping and cleaning, and provide unique effects such as smooth supply of balls.

It should be noted that it will be easily understood that the ease of wiping can be achieved even if the inclined passage is made straight, as long as the front side wall is configured to be openable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an illustrative view showing the relationship between a ball supply device and a pinball game machine to which a ball supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIGS. 2A and 2B are illustrative views of one embodiment of this invention. FIGS. 2C and 2D are illustrative views showing other embodiments of this invention. FIGS. 3A and 3B are front views of the ball supply device of this embodiment in different ball supply operation states. FIG. 4 is an enlarged front view showing details of the ball supply passage and the ball supply swinging member. FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the ball supply passage. In the figure, 20 is a batted ball supply device, 21 is a ball inlet, 23 is a ball supply passage, 231, 232 are inclined passages, 233 is a through hole, 234 is a back side wall, 24 is a ball outlet, 25 is a front side wall, 26a, 26b 2 is a metal plate, 27 is a ball supply swinging member, 271 is a swing lever, 273 is a ball pushing upper piece, 31 is an L-shaped lever, 3
2 is the batting rod, 34 is the batting cam, 35 is the batting spring,
36 is a launch point rail, and 37 is a ball hitting position.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A system for supplying pachinko balls stored in the ball waiting gutter to the ball hitting position one by one, which is provided between the ball waiting gutter and the ball hitting position of a pinball game machine. A batted ball supply device, which has a ball inlet opposite to the ball outlet at the end of the batted ball waiting trough, and has a ball outlet on the upper front side of the ball batting position, and guides pachinko balls from the ball inlet to the ball outlet. a ball supply passage forming an inclined passage for the purpose of the present invention; a front side wall mounted so as to be able to open the front surface of the inclined front passage; A batted ball supply device for a pinball game machine, comprising a ball supplying member that supplies pachinko balls from a ball outlet to a batting position in conjunction with the operation of a batting rod. (2) The hit ball supply device for a pinball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the front side wall is supported on one side of the inclined passage so as to be openable and closable. (3) The hit ball supply device for a pinball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the front side wall is detachably attached to the front surface of the inclined passage. (4) The front side wall and the ball supply passage are provided with a locking member on the other side of the inclined passage for locking the front side wall in a state where the front side wall is attached to the ball supply passage. A ball supply device for a pinball game machine according to any one of items 1 to 3.