JP3143025B2 - Award ball payout apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prize ball payout apparatus mounted on a game machine using a game ball such as a pachinko machine and a control method thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in a game machine using a game ball such as a pachinko machine, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out in accordance with the type of winning that has occurred. In order to execute the payout of the prize balls, the game machines are equipped with a prize ball payout device that counts and discharges the game balls supplied from the prize ball tank installed on the upper rear surface of the game machine. Due to the nature of games such as pachinko machines, it is natural that the prize ball payout device is required to be accurate, but it is also required to be quick enough to follow a continuous prize or a plurality of prizes.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-42248 proposes a prize ball payout device provided with a flight screw driven by a stepping motor. This device has a simple structure, can freely set the number of payout balls and the payout speed, has sufficient accuracy and quickness of payout, and has a performance required as a prize ball payout device. Was sufficiently satisfied.

[0004]

However, in the prize ball dispensing device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-42248, if the supply of game balls from the prize ball tank becomes irregular or discontinuous, In this case, the timing of the inflow of the game ball and the biting of the flight screw may be shifted, so that a driving failure may occur in rare cases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a prize ball payout apparatus which has a high degree of freedom in setting the number of payouts, enables accurate and quick payout, and is particularly excellent in preventing a driving failure due to biting.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a prize ball dispensing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein game balls supplied from a prize ball tank of a gaming machine are arranged in a line and gravity is applied. A prize ball passage to flow down, and an upper sprocket that allows a part of a rotating surface to protrude into the prize ball passage, and allows the game ball to pass through the prize ball passage by rotating by biting the game ball into a tooth bottom. A portion of the rotating surface protruding into the prize ball passage on the downstream side of the prize ball passage with respect to the upper sprocket
And, a lower sprocket to permit passage of the prize ball passage of the recreation sphere by a game ball that is separated from the upper sprocket rotates Nde bite the tooth bottom, and the upper sprocket
An upper gear having a common shaft and connected to the upper sprocket
And the lower sprocket having a common shaft with the lower sprocket.
A lower gear connected to the upper gear and meshing with the upper gear; and a passage cut-off which protrudes and disappears into the prize ball passage on the downstream side of the lower sprocket and prevents or allows passage of the game ball in accordance with the emergence. A member and a solenoid for driving the passage blocking member are provided.

[0007] The prize ball payout device according to the second aspect is the first aspect.
In the prize ball payout device described above, a passage detection sensor for detecting a game ball passing through the prize ball passage is provided downstream of the upper sprocket and upstream of the passage disconnecting member. The prize ball payout device according to claim 3 is the same as claim 2.
In the prize ball payout device described above, the output of the passage detection sensor is sampled twice at a preset time interval,
A determination means for determining an output state of the passage detection sensor based on a coincidence between the two samplings is provided.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a prize ball dispensing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a plurality of pulse currents are supplied for one operation of the solenoid in operating the prize ball dispensing apparatus. It is characterized by.

[0009]

In the prize ball dispensing device according to the first aspect of the present invention, the prize ball passage aligns the game balls supplied from the prize ball tank of the gaming machine in a line and causes them to flow down by gravity.
The upper sprocket allows the game ball to pass through the prize ball passage by rotating the game ball flowing down the prize ball passage while biting into the tooth bottom. The lower sprocket allows the game ball that has separated from the upper sprocket to bite into the tooth bottom and rotate, thereby allowing the game ball to pass through the prize ball path. However, the upper sprocket
Is connected to the upper gear with a common shaft, and the lower sprocket
And the lower gear connected to the lower sprocket with the same shaft
Because it meshes with the upper gear, the upper sprocket
The load applied to the lower sprocket is transmitted through the upper and lower gears.
The load transmitted to the lower sprocket and the lower sprocket
It is transmitted to the upper sprocket via the lower gear. Toes
The upper and lower sprockets load the game ball.
Rotated in conjunction with weight. That is, the game ball flows down the prize ball path while rotating the upper and lower sprockets by the load, but the falling speed is suppressed by the rotational resistance of the upper and lower sprockets and the like.

When the passage cutoff member driven by the solenoid protrudes into the prize ball passage downstream of the lower sprocket, it blocks the game ball from passing through the prize ball passage and retreats from the prize ball passage. Allow the game ball to pass through the prize ball path.
Therefore, the number of game balls passing through the prize ball passage = the number of game balls to be paid out as prize balls depends on the timing of the passage passage member coming and going, so that by adjusting this timing the payout number can be reduced. Can be set arbitrarily.

By adjusting the rotational resistance and the like of the upper and lower sprockets, the falling speed of the game balls, that is, the payout speed, can be set arbitrarily. Moreover, since the upper and lower sprockets are rotated by the load of the game ball, the timing of the inflow of the game ball and the timing of the engagement of the upper and lower sprockets do not shift, and no obstacle due to such timing shift occurs.

[0012] In the prize ball payout device according to claim 2,
A passage detection sensor provided on the downstream side of the upper sprocket and on the upstream side of the passage cutting member detects a game ball passing through the prize ball passage between the upper sprocket and the passage cutting member. The game ball that has left the upper sprocket falls to the lower sprocket side, but the following game ball is bitten by the upper sprocket, so that the preceding game ball and the following game ball are separated from each other. For this reason, the passage detection sensor can accurately detect the passage of the game balls one by one.

When the number of game balls detected by the passage detection sensor reaches the number corresponding to the set payout number, the passage cutting member is made to protrude into the prize ball path, and the set payout number is reduced. The prize balls can be paid out accurately and the payout can be stopped.
Therefore, by changing the setting of the number of payouts, an arbitrary number of prize balls can be accurately paid out.

[0014] In the prize ball payout device according to claim 3,
The passage determination unit samples the output of the passage detection sensor twice at a preset time interval, and determines the output state of the passage detection sensor based on a coincidence between the two samplings. With such a configuration, even if the game balls supplied from the prize ball tank include foreign matters such as dust and screws, counting these foreign matters as game balls can be avoided. Therefore, the number of prize balls paid out is accurate.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of pulse currents are supplied for one operation of the solenoid in operating the prize ball dispensing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects. The power consumption of the solenoid can be suppressed and the temperature of the solenoid can be prevented from rising, so that the deterioration of the solenoid is reduced. Along with this, the service life of the prize ball payout device also becomes longer.

[0016]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the prize ball dispensing apparatus 1 includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped case 1a, and is mounted on a pachinko machine (not shown) via a screw (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the prize ball payout device 1 is provided with a prize ball passage 2 penetrating the center. The prize ball passage 2 has a substantially square cross-sectional shape, and can pass the game balls in one row as shown in the figure. The inflow port 3 of the prize ball passage 2 is connected to a prize ball tank (not shown) of the pachinko machine via a prize ball supply path 4, so that game balls supplied from the prize ball tank flow in. . Also,
The outlet 5 of the prize ball passage 2 is connected to a prize tray (not shown) of the pachinko machine via a path (not shown).

An upper sprocket 6 and a lower sprocket 7 having six roots 6a, 7a of a shape matching the game ball B protrude from the prize ball passage 2 with a part of a rotating surface. The upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7 are rotatably supported by shafts 8 and 9 erected on the case 1a, respectively. The distance between both shafts 8 and 9 along the longitudinal direction of the prize ball passage 2 is a game. Exceeds the diameter of sphere B. Note that FIG.
In, in order to distinguish the position of the game ball B, B1, B
Numbers are added as in 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 2 (3), when the tooth bottom 6a of the upper sprocket 6 and the tooth bottom 7a of the lower sprocket 7 are opposed to each other,
The game ball B can freely fall from the tooth bottom 6a of the upper sprocket 6 toward the tooth bottom 7a of the lower sprocket 7.

As shown in FIG. 1, a gear 10 is rotatably fitted on the shaft 8, and the upper sprocket 6 and the gear 10
Are connected to each other. Similarly, a gear 11 connected to the lower sprocket 7 is externally fitted to the shaft 9, and the gear 10 and the gear 11 are in mesh with each other. Therefore, the upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7 rotate in conjunction with each other in opposite directions.

With such a structure, the upper sprocket 6
Is loaded by the game ball B bitten by the tooth bottom 6a and the game ball B continuing above the game ball B. The load of the game balls B acts as a force for rotating the upper sprocket 6 in a direction in which the game balls B pass to the discharge port 5 side. Similarly, the load of the game ball B detached from the upper sprocket 6 and bitten by the lower sprocket 7 acts as a force for rotating the lower sprocket 7. The load applied to the upper sprocket 6 is transmitted to the lower sprocket 7 via the gears 10 and 11, and the load applied to the lower sprocket 7 is transmitted to the upper sprocket 6 via the gears 10 and 11. That is, the upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7 are configured to be rotated by the load of the game ball B.

For this reason, the mass of the gears 10 and 11 and the gear 1
By adjusting the coefficient of friction between 0, 11, the upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7 and the shafts 8 and 9, the rotation speed of the upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7 can be adjusted. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the prize ball payout device 1 is provided with a lever 13 having a hook portion 12 at a tip. Here, the lever 13, especially the hook portion 1,
Reference numeral 2 corresponds to the passage blocking member in the present invention. The lever 13 is connected to a shaft 15 passing through the base end portion 14 and is rotatable with the shaft 15. As shown in FIG.
The shaft 15 is connected to a rotary type solenoid 16, and is turned according to ON / OFF of the solenoid 16, and the lever 13 is swung. Specifically, when the solenoid 16 is turned off, the lever 13 is moved to the position shown in FIGS.
As shown in (1), when the hook portion 12 is projected into the inside of the prize ball passage 2 and the solenoid 16 is turned on, the lever 13 is moved to the hook portion 12 as shown in FIG. From the prize ball path 2.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first optical sensor 18 is provided in the prize ball passage 2 slightly below the upper sprocket 6, and a second optical sensor 19 is provided slightly above the trajectory of the hook portion 12. Is installed. The first optical sensor 18 and the second optical sensor 19 are arranged along the axial direction of the prize ball passage 2, and the interval between them is slightly smaller than the diameter of the game ball B (FIG. 2 (4)). reference).

As shown in FIG. 3, the solenoid 16, the first
The optical sensor 18 and the second optical sensor 19 are connected to a controller 20 for controlling the operation of various accessories of the pachinko machine, the operation of the solenoids and motors of the winning device, the blinking of lamps, the output of various sounds, and the like. . The controller 20 has a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, etc.
A control unit 22 capable of executing various arithmetic processes according to a program stored in M is incorporated. The first optical sensor 18 and the second optical sensor 19 are connected to the control unit 22 via the input interface 23, and control the detection signal H1 of the first optical sensor 18 and the detection signal H2 from the second optical sensor 19. The configuration is input to the unit 22. Further, the solenoid 16 is connected to the control unit 22 via the drive circuit 24.
The supply of power to the solenoid 16 is controlled by a command signal from the control unit 22 to the drive circuit 24. Signals from sensors provided in the pachinko machine are input to the control unit 22, and signal lines and the like for controlling operation of a solenoid, a motor, an audio device, an image device, and the like are connected. Since they follow well-known techniques, their illustration and description are omitted.

Next, the operation of the prize ball payout apparatus 1 will be described together with the prize ball control routine executed by the control unit 22. The prize ball control routine is repeatedly executed throughout the operation of the pachinko machine by a time interruption at a preset timing.

As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 22 that has started the prize ball control routine receives a prize from one of a plurality of prize sensors (not shown) provided at a plurality of prize holes (not shown). The presence or absence of a signal is determined (S100). The control unit 22 once ends the prize ball control routine if no winning signal has been input, and proceeds to the next step S110 if a winning signal has been input. In S110, the control unit 22 determines the winning type in accordance with the input winning signal, reads the winning type and the number of prize balls from the prize ball table stored in the ROM in advance, and sets the count value N. Remember.

Next, the control unit 22 determines whether N = 1 (S120). Here, if N = 1, the process proceeds to S130 to execute the one-cut subroutine, and N ≠ 1, that is, N is 2
If so, the flow proceeds to S140 to execute the continuous subroutine. First, the single cut subroutine will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the one-cut subroutine is started, the control unit 22 determines whether the detection signal H2 of the second optical sensor 19 is on (S200). Here, the level (ON / OFF) of the detection signal H1 of the first optical sensor 18 and the detection signal H2 of the second optical sensor 19 by the control unit 22 is determined.
OFF) The determination will be described. The control unit 22 is controlled to about 1.0
Two samplings are performed at millisecond intervals, and if the results of the two samplings match, it is determined to be on or off,
If they do not match, it is determined to be at the same level as the previous determination processing.
For example, even if a level change (from off to on or from on to off) of the detection signals H1 and H2 is detected in the first sampling, if no level change is detected in the second sampling, it is determined that there is no level change. . By performing such a determination process, it is possible to avoid the influence of noise and chattering, and it is also possible to prevent foreign substances such as dust and screws flowing into the prize ball path 2 from being detected as game balls.

If the control unit 22 determines that the detection signal H2 is ON, the process proceeds to the next step S210. On the other hand, the detection signal H
If 2 is off, the control unit 22 repeats S200 and waits until the detection signal H2 is turned on. As shown in FIG. 2A, if the detection signal H2 of the second optical sensor 19 is on, the game ball B1 exists on the hook portion 12 of the lever 13, and if the detection signal H2 is off, The game ball B does not exist at this position. That is, the control unit 22
Proceeds to S210 if there is a game ball B1 on the hook portion 12, but if there is no game ball B, the game ball B
And waits until it reaches the hook portion 12.

In S210, the control unit 22 controls the driving circuit 2
By instructing the solenoid 4 to drive the solenoid 16, the solenoid 16 is turned on (excited). Thereby, lever 1
3 is displaced as shown in FIG.
Withdraws from the award ball passage 2. The game ball B1, which has been prevented from falling by the hook portion 12 until then, falls along the prize ball passage 2 to the discharge port 5 side as the hook portion 12 retreats.

Here, in the state shown in FIG. 2A, the load of the game balls B2, B3 and the game balls B above the upper sprocket 6 is applied to the upper sprocket 6.
The hooks 12 protrude into the prize ball passage 2 via the lower sprocket 7 and the lower sprocket 7 and the game ball B1. For this reason, the hook portion 12 is required to move against this load when retreating from the prize ball passage 2. However, since the game ball B1 functions as a bearing ball, the retreat operation of the hook portion 12 is quick. Become.

Subsequently, the control unit 22 determines whether the detection signal H1 of the first optical sensor 18 is on (S220).
If the detection signal H1 is on, as shown in FIGS. 2 (2) and (3), the game ball B2 following the dropped game ball B1
However, this means that the upper sprocket 6 has been separated and moved to the lower sprocket 7 side. In addition, the movement of this game ball B2,
Since the upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7 are accompanied by a rotational displacement, both of them also rotate normally. Here, the normal rotation displacement of the lower sprocket 7 means that the game ball B1 has dropped normally.

If it is determined in step S220 that the detection signal H1 is on, the control section 22 proceeds to step S230 to turn off (demagnetize) the solenoid 16. As a result, the lever 13 is
As shown in (4), since the hook portion 12 is protruded into the prize ball path 2 by the return displacement, the subsequent fall of the game ball B2 is prevented (see FIGS. 2 (4) and (1)).

On the other hand, if the detection signal H1 is not determined to be on in S220, the control section 22 proceeds to S240 and determines whether the detection signal H2 is off. Here, the detection signal H
If 2 is off, the preceding game ball B1 has fallen, so the control unit 22 proceeds to S230 and demagnetizes the solenoid 16 to return the lever 13 as described above.
If the detection signal H2 is not determined to be off in S240, the control unit 22 proceeds to S250 and determines whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the excitation command of the solenoid 16 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S220. If a timeout has occurred, the control unit 22 determines that the first optical sensor 18, the second optical sensor 19, or the solenoid 16 is abnormal and performs an error process (S
260).

At S270 following S230, the control unit 22
Determines again whether the detection signal H2 is off. This is in preparation for the case where the processing of S220 → S230 is performed in the above-described processing. If the detection signal H2 is not turned off here, the preceding game ball B1 has not yet fallen. The unit 22 proceeds to S280 and determines whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the demagnetization command of the solenoid 16 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S270. If it is timed out, the control unit 22 performs an error process assuming that a clog has occurred on the discharge port 5 side of the award ball passage 2 (S290).

If it is determined in step S270 that the detection signal H2 is off, the control unit 22 proceeds to the next step S300 assuming that the preceding game ball B1 has fallen normally. The control unit 22
In S300, it is determined that there is a new game ball B1 that has arrived on the hook 12 based on whether the detection signal H2 is on.

Next, the control unit 22 determines whether the detection signal H2 has been turned off (S310). Here, the detection signal H
When 2 is turned off, it means that a new game ball B1 has fallen, and the control unit 22 proceeds to S320 and executes an error process of exceeding the number of discharged balls. On the other hand, if the detection signal H2 is not off at S310, the control unit 22 proceeds to S330 and determines whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the processing at S300 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S310. If a timeout has occurred, the control unit 22 ends this subroutine. This S31
In the processing of 0 to 330, the hook portion 12 is normally
This is a process for checking whether the game ball B protrudes inward and blocks the fall of the game ball B. If there is an abnormality, the error process (S
320), the excess number of ejected balls is minimized.

Next, N ≠ in S120 of the prize ball control routine.
A case will be described in which it is determined to be 1 and the control unit 22 proceeds to the process of S140. As shown in FIG. 6, when the continuous subroutine is started, the control unit 22
It is determined whether the detection signal H2 is ON (S40).
0). The determination of the level (on / off) of the detection signal H1 of the first optical sensor 18 and the detection signal H2 of the second optical sensor 19 by the control unit 22 is the same as that described in the single-cut subroutine.

If the control unit 22 determines that the detection signal H2 is ON, the process proceeds to the next step S410. On the other hand, the detection signal H
If 2 is off, the control unit 22 repeats S400 and waits until the detection signal H2 is turned on. As shown in FIG. 2A, if the detection signal H2 of the second optical sensor 19 is on, the game ball B1 exists on the hook portion 12 of the lever 13, and if the detection signal H2 is off, The game ball B does not exist at this position. That is, the control unit 22
Proceeds to S410 if there is a game ball B1 on the hook portion 12, but if there is no game ball B, the game ball B
And waits until it reaches the hook portion 12.

In S410, control unit 22 determines whether or not count value N = 2, and proceeds to S510 if YES, and proceeds to S420 if NO. In S420, the control unit 22 turns on (excitation) the solenoid 16 by instructing the drive circuit 24 to drive the solenoid 16.

The pattern of the current supplied to the solenoid 16 will now be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the drive current to the solenoid 16 is supplied with a pulse width of about 30 milliseconds immediately after the start of the drive. This is because the time required for the solenoid 16 used in this embodiment to pull out and stabilize is approximately 30 milliseconds. After the solenoid 16 is stabilized, a pulse current having a pulse width of about 5 ms is repeatedly supplied at intervals of about 5 ms. In this manner, the solenoid 16 is stabilized in a short time by supplying a pulse current having a long pulse width at the beginning of driving. Thereafter, by intermittently supplying a pulse current having a short pulse width, the power consumption of the solenoid 16 can be suppressed, and the temperature rise of the solenoid 16 can be prevented, so that the deterioration of the solenoid 16 is reduced. Along with this, the useful time of the prize ball payout device 1 also becomes longer.

When the solenoid 16 is driven, the lever 13 is displaced as shown in FIG. 2 (2), and the hook portion 12 retreats from the prize ball passage 2. Until then hook 1
The game ball B <b> 1, which has been prevented from falling by the hook 2, falls down the prize ball passage 2 to the discharge port 5 side with the retreat of the hook portion 12.

The control unit 22 determines in step S430 that the detection signal H
It is reconfirmed that the game ball B1 is located at the position indicated by B1 in FIGS. 2 (1) and 2 (2) immediately after the solenoid 16 is driven, depending on whether 2 is on. If the detection signal H2 is not determined to be ON in S430, the control unit 22 proceeds to S440 and determines whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the excitation command of the solenoid 16 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S430. If a timeout has occurred, the control unit 22 proceeds to S45
At 0, the solenoid 16 is once demagnetized, and waits for a new game ball B to flow down the prize ball path 2 and reach the hook portion 12 (ball wait).

If it is determined in S430 that the detection signal H2 is on, the control unit 22 proceeds to S460 and determines that the detection signal H2 is off. If it is not determined in step S460 that the detection signal H2 has been turned off, the control unit 22 proceeds to step S470, and determines whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the processing in step S430 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S460. If it is timed out, the control unit 22 performs an error process assuming that the game ball B does not fall = clogging has occurred on the discharge port 5 side of the prize ball passage 2 (S480).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S460 that the detection signal H2 is off, it means that one game ball B has passed in front of the second optical sensor 19, together with the determination in step S430. The control unit 22 determines in step S490 that the count value N
Is decremented by one. Next, the control unit 22 determines whether the count value N = 2 (S500). Control unit 2
2 returns to S430 if N ≠ 2, and N = 2
When the determination is made, the process proceeds to the next S510.

In S510, the control unit 22 outputs the detection signal H
It is determined whether there is a new game ball B1 that has reached the hook portion 12 based on whether the flag 2 is on. If the detection signal H2 is not determined to be ON in S510, the control unit 22 proceeds to S520 and determines whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the processing of S500 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S510.
If it is timed out, the control unit 22 proceeds to S530, and temporarily demagnetizes the solenoid 16 and waits for a new game ball B to flow down the prize ball path 2 and reach the hook unit 12 (ball waiting).

If it is determined in step S510 that the detection signal H2 is on, the control unit 22 proceeds to the process in step S540 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 22
At 0, it is determined whether the detection signal H1 of the first optical sensor 18 is on. Here, if the detection signal H1 is on, FIG.
As shown in (3), the game ball B2 that has separated from the upper sprocket 6 and falls to the lower sprocket 7 is detected.

If it is not determined in S540 that H1 is ON, the control unit 22 proceeds to S550 and determines whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the processing in S510 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S540. If a timeout has occurred, the control unit 22 proceeds to S56.
At 0, the solenoid 16 is once demagnetized to wait for a new game ball B to flow down the prize ball passage 2 and reach the hook portion 12 (ball wait).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S540 that H1 is on, the control unit 22 proceeds to step S570 where the solenoid 16 is turned on.
Command of demagnetization. As a result, the lever 13 is
(3), the hook 12 is displaced as shown in (4).
Projecting into the prize ball passage 2, the game ball B <b> 2 detected in S <b> 540 as having passed the first optical sensor 18 ahead is prevented from falling. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 (3) and (4), the preceding game ball B1 almost falls freely. on the other hand,
In order for the succeeding game ball B2 to pass near the lower sprocket 7, the rotation of the lower sprocket 7 and the upper sprocket 6 interlocked with the lower sprocket 7 is essential. Therefore, the falling speed of the game ball B2 is reduced by the rotational resistance of the lower sprocket 7, the upper sprocket 6, and the like. Therefore, the falling speed of the succeeding game ball B2 is suppressed, and a sufficient interval is secured between the preceding game ball B1 that falls and the succeeding game ball B2. For this reason, there is no fear that the entry of the hook portion 12 into the prize ball passage 2 is obstructed by the game balls B1 and B2.

In S580 following S570, the control unit 22
Determines whether the detection signal H2 is off. this is,
As shown in FIGS. 2 (3) and (4), it is to confirm whether the preceding game ball B1 has fallen without fail. If the detection signal H2 is not determined to be OFF here, the preceding game ball B1 is determined.
1 is not normally dropped, the control unit 22
Proceeds to S590, from the demagnetization command of the solenoid 16 to 20
It is determined whether 0 ms has elapsed (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S580. If the timeout has occurred, the control unit 22 determines that the prize ball path 2
An error process is performed assuming that a clogging has occurred on the side of the discharge port 5 (S600).

If it is determined in step S580 that the detection signal H2 is off, the preceding game ball B1 has fallen normally, and the control unit 22 proceeds to step S610 and decrements the count value N by one. Subsequently, the control unit 22 determines whether the detection signal H2 is on. This corresponds to S540 described above.
This corresponds to checking whether the game ball B2 detected to pass through newly occupies the position of the game ball B1 shown in FIG. 2A (however, the hook portion 12 is retracted). Next, the control unit 22 determines again that the detection signal H2 is turned off (S63).
0). Here, if it is determined that the detection signal H2 is off, S
The game ball B1 confirmed at 620 is shown in FIGS.
, The control unit 22 proceeds to S640 and decrements the count value N by one.

On the other hand, if it is not determined in step S630 that the detection signal H2 has been turned off, the control unit 22 proceeds to step S650, and proceeds to step S62.
It is determined whether 200 milliseconds have elapsed since the processing of 0 (timeout). If the timeout has not occurred, the control unit 22 returns to S630. If the time is out, the hook unit 12 surely protrudes into the prize ball passage 2 to prevent the game ball B1 from dropping, and the control unit 22 proceeds to S660.
Then, the above-described one-cut subroutine is executed to discharge only one game ball B.

Next, the control unit 22 decrements the count value N by one (S670). Subsequently, the control unit 22
Determines whether the count value N is positive, negative, or 0 (S680). Here, if the count value N is positive, it means that the payout of the set number of prize balls has not been completed, and the control unit 22 executes the processes of S660 and S670 again. On the other hand, if the count value N is negative, it means that the payout is excessive, and the control unit 22 executes a process of exceeding the number of ejected balls in S690. Also, the count value N =
If it is 0, it means that the normal payout has been executed, and the control unit 22 ends this continuous subroutine.

As is clear from the above process, if all the processes are executed normally, S640 or S6
Although the count value N should have been set to 0 by 70, in order to further enhance the reliability of the payout of the prize ball, this S6
Step 80 is performed. The processing in the continuous subroutine is as described above. However, when the game ball B continuously flows down the prize ball path 2 with the processing of the continuous subroutine, the flowing speed gradually increases. The protrusion of the hook portion 12 cannot fully correspond to the falling speed of the game ball B, and the number of ejected balls may become excessive. Therefore, the control unit 22 determines that the excitation of the solenoid 16 in S420 =
From the departure of the hook part 12 to the demagnetization of the solenoid 16 in S570 = projection of the hook part 12, the following discharge speed is also monitored.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the output interval of the detection signal H2 of the second optical sensor 19 is reduced to 15 milliseconds or less due to an increase in the falling speed of the game ball B, the control unit 22 once activates the solenoid 16. Degauss the hook part 12 to the prize ball path 2
And the falling and discharging of the game ball B are temporarily stopped.
Thereafter, after an interval of 200 milliseconds, the control unit 22 re-energizes the solenoid 16 and restarts discharge of the prize ball.

As described above, when the flowing speed of the game ball B is excessively increased, the discharge of the game ball B is temporarily stopped,
The falling speed of the game ball B is reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent the game balls B from flowing down at an excessively high speed that the protrusion of the hook portion 12 cannot cope with, and it is possible to prevent excessive payout due to this.

The prize ball dispensing apparatus 1 of this embodiment operates as described above. As is clear from this description, the prize ball dispensing apparatus 1 ranges from one to an arbitrary number of balls according to the setting. You can pay out freely. The upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7 are passively rotated by the load of the game ball B, but do not actively rotate and bite the game ball B. The timing of the engagement of the sprockets 6 and 7 does not shift, and no trouble occurs due to such timing shift. In addition, the mass of the gears 10, 11 and the gears 10, 1,
1. Upper sprocket 6 and lower sprocket 7 and shaft 8,
9, the rotational speed of the upper sprocket 6 and the lower sprocket 7, that is, the game ball B
The flow rate of the water can be adjusted.

Further, the detection signal H1 of the first optical sensor 18
Also, when determining the level (on / off) of the detection signal H2 of the second optical sensor 19, two samplings are executed at intervals of about 1.0 millisecond, and if the results of the two samplings match, the signal is turned on or off. If it does not match, it is determined that the level is the same as the previous determination processing, so that the influence of noise and chattering can be avoided, and foreign substances such as dust and screws flowing into the prize ball passage 2 can be detected as game balls. Is prevented.

In driving the solenoid 16, immediately after the start of driving, a current is supplied with a pulse width of about 30 milliseconds.
After the solenoid 16 is pulled down and stabilized, a pulse current having a pulse width of about 5 ms is repeatedly supplied at intervals of about 5 ms. As described above, the solenoid 16 can be stabilized in a short time by supplying a pulse current having a long pulse width in the initial stage of driving, and thereafter, by intermittently supplying a pulse current having a short pulse width, the solenoid 16 is supplied. Power consumption and the temperature rise of the solenoid 16 can be prevented, so that the deterioration of the solenoid 16 is reduced.
Along with this, the useful time of the prize ball payout device 1 also becomes longer.

When the hook portion 12 retreats, the retreat movement is required against the load of the game ball B in the prize ball passage 2, but since the game ball B1 functions as a bearing ball,
The retreat operation of the hook portion 12 becomes quick. In projecting the hook portion 12 into the prize ball path 2, the falling speed of the succeeding game ball B2 is suppressed by the rotational resistance of the lower sprocket 7, the upper sprocket 6, and the like, and the game ball B1 that falls first And a succeeding game ball B2, a sufficient space is secured between the game ball B2 and the winning ball passage 2 of the hook portion 12.
There is no possibility that the entry to the game ball will be hindered by the game balls B1 and B2.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments, and it goes without saying that various embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above-described example, a rotary solenoid is used as the solenoid, but a reciprocating solenoid may be used. Also, by projecting and retreating the hook portion by swinging a lever having a hook portion as a passage cutting member, the passage cutting member reciprocates along a direction crossing the prize ball passage. It is also possible.

As is clear from the above description of the embodiment, the control section 22 also functions as a passage determining means.

[0062]

As described above, according to the prize ball payout apparatus of the first aspect, the number of game balls to be paid out as prize balls can be set arbitrarily. Further, by adjusting the rotational resistance and the like of the upper and lower sprockets, the falling speed of the game balls, that is, the payout speed, can be arbitrarily set. Moreover, since the upper and lower sprockets are rotated by the load of the game ball, the timing of the inflow of the game ball and the timing of the engagement of the upper and lower sprockets do not shift, and no obstacle due to such timing shift occurs.

According to the prize ball payout device according to the second aspect, by changing the set number, an arbitrary number of prize balls can be correctly paid out. According to the prize ball dispensing device of the present invention, even if the game balls supplied from the prize ball tank contain foreign matters such as dust and screws, counting these foreign substances as game balls can be avoided. . Therefore, the number of prize balls paid out is accurate.

According to the control method of the prize ball payout device, a plurality of pulse currents are supplied for one operation of the solenoid. The power consumption of the solenoid can be suppressed and the temperature of the solenoid can be prevented from rising, so that the deterioration of the solenoid is reduced. Along with this, the service life of the prize ball payout device also becomes longer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prize ball dispensing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the operation of the award ball payout device of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the award ball payout device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a prize ball control routine executed in the prize ball payout apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a single cut subroutine executed in the award ball payout apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a continuous subroutine executed in the award ball payout apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a continuous subroutine executed in the award ball payout apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a solenoid drive current in the award ball payout device of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a falling velocity of a game ball and a timing of driving a solenoid in the prize ball payout apparatus of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Prize ball payout apparatus, 2 ... Prize ball passage, 6 ... Upper sprocket, 7 ... Lower sprocket, 12 ... Hook part (passage cutting member), 13 ... Lever ( Passage passage member), 16 ... solenoid, 18 ... first optical sensor (passage detection sensor), 19 ... second optical sensor (passage detection sensor), 22 ... control unit (passage determination means) ),
B, B1, B2 ... game balls.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-90780 (JP, A) JP-A-4-51983 (JP, A) JP-A-5-237243 (JP, A) JP-A-7-303746 (JP) , A) Japanese Utility Model Hei 5-82478 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A63F 7/02

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A prize ball passage for arranging game balls supplied from a prize ball tank of a gaming machine in a line and flowing down by gravity, a part of a rotating surface protruding into the prize ball passage, and forming the game balls in teeth. An upper sprocket for allowing the game ball to pass through the prize ball path by rotating by biting into the bottom; and a part of the rotating surface on the downstream side of the prize ball path with respect to the upper sprocket, the prize ball path. the project, and a game ball that is separated from said upper sprockets and lower sprockets for allowing passage of the prize ball passage of the recreation sphere by rotating Nde bite the tooth bottom, commonly said on sprocket and shaft upper sprocket
And the lower sprocket having the same shaft as the lower sprocket.
A lower gear connected to the upper gear and meshing with the upper gear; and a passage cut-off member that protrudes and retracts into the prize ball passage on the downstream side of the lower sprocket and prevents or allows the game ball to pass according to the protruding and retracting. A prize ball dispensing device, comprising: a solenoid for driving the passage disconnecting member. 2. The prize according to claim 1, wherein a passage detection sensor for detecting a game ball passing through the prize ball passage is provided downstream of the upper sprocket and upstream of the passage disconnecting member. Ball dispensing device. 3. A determination means for sampling the output of the passage detection sensor twice at a preset time interval, and judging the output state of the passage detection sensor based on a coincidence between the two samplings. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein
The prize ball payout device as described. 4. A method for controlling a prize ball payout device, comprising: supplying a plurality of pulse currents for one operation of the solenoid when operating the prize ball payout device according to claim 1.