JPH01232986A - Prize winning ball discharging device in pinball machine type game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To replenish pinballs sufficient to continue a game when prize winning balls are exhausted in a first branch path and a discharging path, by pushing open a switch member when the prize winning balls stored in a storage chamber are released and discharging said balls through an exhausted first discharge path to the upper ball tray side. CONSTITUTION:When prize winning balls stored in a first branch path 44 and a discharge path 46 are diminished by sending out game balls on an upper ball tray 6 as the game proceeds in the process of discharging and storing the prize winning balls, the prize winning balls newly supplied are discharged again from the first branch path 44 in preference to the discharge path 46. When the first discharge path 46 is exhausted of said balls, a switch piece 54 of a storing chamber 50 is released from ball pressure. Under such condition the prize winning balls stored in said chamber 50 push open said switch piece 54 with drift pressure utilizing the inclination of a carrier plate 51 and a movable carrier plate 52 to be replenished onto the upper ball tray 6 side having reduced remaining game balls through the first discharge path 46 and allotted to the game balls needed to continue the succeeding game. Thus, during that time a player can keep his mind on the game while shooting the game balls one by one on the upper ball tray 6.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a prize ball discharging device in a pachinko game machine, and more specifically, to a prize ball discharging device for a pachinko game machine, and more specifically, a system for using pachinko balls (also referred to as game balls) as a game medium. This invention relates to a prize ball discharging device for a game machine in which a fixed number of pachinko balls (also referred to as prize balls) as a prize medium can be won when a prize is won. .

[Technical background]

As is well known, a pachinko machine, which is one of the representative examples of this type of gaming machine, has a gaming board equipped with upper and lower ball trays, a launching device for game balls, various winning devices, and an exit. It is equipped with a back mechanism panel, etc. that can process out balls and safe balls, and feed out prize balls, etc., and launches the game balls in the method tray one by one into the game board according to the operation of the firing device. A game ball that enters the out port in the game board is considered an out ball and is passed out of the machine from the out route of the back mechanism board, while a game ball that enters any winning device is considered a safe ball. After that, the safe ball processing device on the back mechanism panel processes the balls one by one at predetermined time intervals and sends them out of the machine, and in conjunction with this ball processing operation, the prize ball feeding device is activated to deliver a fixed number of prizes. The ball is fed out and then discharged to the ball tray.

[Prior art] Conventional pachinko machines are equipped with two ball trays on the front of the machine, an upper and lower ball tray. On the exit side of the main discharge path formed on the side, a first discharge route communicating with the method dish side and a second discharge route communicating with the lower ball dish side are branched, and the prize ball supply The prize balls fed from the dispensing device to the main discharge path are guided preferentially to the first discharge route and discharged to the method tray side, and the prize balls reaching the first discharge route from the method tray are stored in a full state. After that, the newly fed prize balls are passed through the second discharge path and discharged as they are to the lower ball tray side, so that many prize balls can be stored on both ball tray sides. By the way, the ball storage space is generally relatively small on the side of the construction method pan, but it is considerably larger on the lower ball pan side.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

With the conventional prize ball discharging technique described above, it is possible to discharge the fed prize balls to the method tray side and then to the lower ball tray side.

However, even if a considerable amount of prize balls fills the second ejection path from the lower ball tray side, in subsequent games, the first ejection route may be filled without the player's knowledge due to the use of the game balls in the method tray. The number of prize balls in the path decreases, and when the player who is concentrating on the game notices it, the remaining balls in the method tray are the only ones on hand for playing, and these game balls are used for playing games for a relatively short time. Therefore, if the player wants to continue playing, he must replace the balls stored in the seasoning tray into the method tray, even if only the amount required for the current game.

The above-mentioned replacement of balls must be performed directly by the player himself, and while the game is continuing, he will normally use the side opposite to the game operation, that is, his left hand, to directly grab the stored balls in the seasoning tray and place them into the method tray. However, changing the balls makes you feel very busy and makes it difficult to concentrate on the game. In particular, if the gaming machine has a gaming development condition that is advantageous to the player, for example, a condition commonly referred to as a "winning condition" in which it is possible to easily win a large number of game balls within a predetermined period of time, While we are distracted by the game conditions, we sometimes fail to grasp the ball and the ball falls, or we are so distracted by catching the ball that we neglect the game. Sometimes it is not possible to receive it satisfactorily.

[Purpose of the invention]

The purpose of the present invention is to discharge the prize balls fed from the prize ball feeding device preferentially to the method tray side, and after the device is full, discharge them to the lower ball tray side, and to temporarily store a considerable number of prize balls. The present invention provides a prize ball discharging device that allows players to receive prize balls, and when the number of game balls on the method tray side decreases, the stored prize balls are discharged to the method tray side, and are replenished as game balls that can be used to continue playing for a considerable amount of time. The aim is to eliminate the hassle of replacing the storage bulb with the construction method plate.

[Technology for solving problems]

The present invention relates to a game machine that is equipped with upper and lower ball trays on the front of the machine and uses pachinko balls as game media and prize media, and in which the lower part of the prize ball feeding device in the back mechanism panel that is installed on the back of the machine is provided. A main discharge path for prize balls is formed in the main discharge path, and a first branch path and a second branch path are formed in two directions by a branch guide plate protruding from the exit side of this main discharge path. The channel is communicated with the method dish side via the discharge route, while the second branch route is communicated with the lower ball dish side via the discharge route, and a storage chamber for prize balls is formed below the branch guide plate. A prize ball discharging device in which the entrance of the same chamber is communicated with the middle of the second branching path, the outlet of the same chamber is communicated with the middle of the first branching path, and an opening/closing member is installed at the exit of the storage chamber. be.

[Effect]

The prize ball ejecting device of the present invention allows the prize balls fed from the prize ball feeding device on the back mechanism panel to pass through the first branch path preferentially from the exit of the main ejection path, and then pass through the ejection route. When the prize balls are discharged to the side of the via method tray and the first discharge path is filled with the prize balls up to a predetermined portion in the branch path, the opening/closing member at the outlet of the storage chamber is restrained in the closed position by the stored prize balls.

After this, prize balls that are subsequently dispensed are guided to the second branching path and stored in the storage chamber without being able to pass through the first branching path. After the prize balls in the storage chamber are full, the overflowing prize balls that cannot be passed into the storage chamber are passed through the second discharge path and are discharged directly to the lower ball tray side. In this prize ball storage and discharge state, while the number of game balls in the construction method tray is reduced due to the use of hitting balls, due to the fact that the supply of prize balls to safe balls is small, etc., the first branching path and discharge When the prize balls in the route run out, the stored prize balls in the storage chamber push open the opening/closing member in the released state, pass into the empty first discharge route, and are discharged to the method tray side, The balls are supplied as game balls that can be used to continue playing the game for the time being.

〔Example〕

Before explaining the preferred embodiment of the prize ball discharging device according to the present invention, a brief explanation of the pachinko machine shown schematically in FIG.
It is equipped with a side-opening glass door 3 and a base 4, and a construction plate 6 is installed in front of the base 4, and a lower ball is installed in front of the base 7 fixed to the lower front of the front frame 2. A tray 9 is installed, and an operating section 10 and a driving section 11 of the firing device are installed at the front and back of the lower part of the front frame 2. Further, a game board 13 is detachably installed using a holding frame 12 fixed to the back side of the front frame 2. The support plate 4.7 has a hole 5.8 for prize balls, and each ball tray 6.9 has a built-in ball extraction mechanism. In addition, the game board 13 has various large-sized tools 1.
4 and the winning device 15, etc., there is also an out port 16.
is formed.

On the other hand, in the back mechanism board M which is detachably and openably equipped with respect to the holding frame 12 on the back side of the front frame 2, as shown schematically in FIG. A collection chamber 22 that can receive all the safe balls that have been released is also partitioned into an out path 23 that communicates with the out port 16 inside the center lower part, and the collection chamber 22
A safe ball processing device is housed in a safe ball processing chamber 24 formed at the outlet of the board body 21, that is, at the lower right side of the board body 21 in the figure. Further, above the board body 21, a storage container 25 for holding pachinko balls for prize balls, a diagonal rectifying gutter 26, and an almost S-shaped feed gutter 27 are installed, and a prize ball is placed at the bottom of the feed gutter 27. A feeding device B is installed. Note that the explanation of the remaining configuration will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 3, the safe ball processing device has a semi-circular shape having one ball receiving part 31 at the outer peripheral end, as shown in FIG. The ball feeder 30 is rotated back and forth within a certain angle range. Then, at the starting end position, the ball sending body 30 receives the safe ball passed from the collection chamber 22 into the passageway 32 above the processing chamber 24 into the ball receiving portion 31, and moves clockwise in the figure. The safe ball in the ball receiving part 31 is discharged into the outlet passage 33 in the lower part of the processing chamber 24 at the final moving end position, and then returned to the starting end position. Thereafter, in the same manner, during the operation process of accepting and discharging one safe ball each time the ball sending body 30 reciprocates, the lock lever 34 and then the control lever 35 are pushed by the safe ball, and each time the control lever 35 is operated, the safe ball is pushed. In connection with this, the prize ball feeding device B is activated.

On the other hand, in the above-mentioned prize ball supply device B, pachinko balls from the supply gutter 27 are stored in a fixed number unit as prize balls in a case 36 installed vertically outside the feed gutter 27, and the above-mentioned safe In the ball processing operation of the ball processing device A, each time the operating lever 37 connected to the control lever 35 via the connecting rod 38 is operated in the vertical direction, the first on-off valve 39 and the first on-off valve disposed above and below the case 36 are operated. The two opening/closing valves 40 are alternately opened and closed to perform ball cutting and ball packing operations, that is, delivery of prize balls from the case 36 and storage of prize balls from the feed gutter 27.

In the above-mentioned back mechanism board M, the prize ball ejecting device of this example is as follows:
It is constituted by a path communicating from a main discharge passage 41 formed below the supply gutter 27 to the side of each of the spherical plates 6.9. That is, a branch chamber 42 is connected to the lower end outlet of a main discharge passage 41 that is partitioned on the right side of the panel main body 21 in the figure, and a branch flow guide plate 43 that is approximately in the shape of a U-shape is protruded from the bottom of the chamber 42. Accordingly, the first branch path 44 in the downward direction in FIG.
The 0 branch flow guide plate 43 in which the second branch path 45 in the lower left inclined direction is formed once receives the prize ball fed into the branch chamber 42 and uses its steeply inclined guide surface 43a to Passengers are guided preferentially to the first branch road 44 side, and after the prize balls are full, they can be guided to the second branch road 45 side using the gently sloped guide surface 43b.

A first discharge passage 46 formed below is connected to the discharge passage connected to the first branch passage 44, and an outlet 46a of this discharge passage 46 is connected to a communication port 47 formed in the holding frame 12. is connected to the discharge port 5 on the method plate 6 side through the outlet (see FIG. 4).On the other hand, in the subsequent discharge route connected to the second branch path 45, a discharge route is provided adjacent to the left side of the out route 23. A second discharge passage 48 in the hanging direction is connected to the discharge passage 48, and the entrance 48a of this discharge passage 48 is communicated with the second branch passage 45, and the lower part of the discharge passage 48 is fixed directly in front of the front frame 2. It communicates with the discharge port 8 on the lower spherical plate 9 side through a discharge container 49 (see FIG. 5).

A prize ball storage chamber 50 is formed below the branch chamber 42 and divided by the branch streams vi and 43. This storage chamber 5
0, a movable light cantilevered with a receiving plate 51 protruding below the diversion guide plate 43 is constructed with a plate 52 at the bottom and has a considerable storage area, and the diversion guide plate 43 The opening between the flow guide plate 43 and the side wall of the first discharge passage 46 serves as an inlet 50a and communicates with the middle of the second branch passage 45, and the opening between the branch guide plate 43 and the side wall of the first discharge passage 46 serves as an outlet 50b. It communicates with the side surface of the discharge path 46. The receiving plate 51 is
The upper end of the second discharge passage 48 extends in an appropriately inclined manner to partially partition the entrance 50a of the storage chamber 50 and the entrance 48a of the discharge passage 48. The movable light plate 52 also has the functions of sensing the prize balls stored in the chamber 50 and guiding them out.
Its upper end is pivotally connected by a pin 53, and normally it is in a nearly horizontal state due to the biasing force from a detection switch 57, which will be described later, but when it receives a stored prize ball, it changes to an inclined state that is continuous with the receiving plate 51. It is possible.

An opening/closing piece 54 is attached to the outlet 50b of the storage chamber 50,
Further, a detection switch 57 is installed below the plate 52 for the movable light. The opening/closing piece 54 is pivoted at its upper end by a pin 55 so that it can freely tilt, and is normally held in a closed position in a hanging state, and is not allowed to open to the second discharge path 48. However, opening to the storage chamber 50 side is restricted.A weight 56 is attached to the lower part of the moon 54 as necessary.On the other hand, the detection switch 57 is configured to operate the movable light using the plate 51. The movable light is always in contact with the plate 51 as the detection piece 57b receives the upward biasing force applied to the contact rod 57a, and the detection piece 57b When the movable light is pushed in by the plate 51, a "ball presence state" is detected (ON). In addition, when the switch 57 detects the detection operation, an indicator lamp 63 (
(see Figure 1) is lit.

Note that 58 and 59 are inside the main discharge passage 41 and the second discharge passage 48.
Acoustic bells 60 are installed in the second discharge path 48 to detect when the prize balls are full. The detection switch 62 installed outside the discharge path 48 is operated by changing its tilt. Note that when the switch 62 is turned on, the drive section 11 of the firing device is temporarily stopped. Reference numeral 64 is a lid that covers the entire discharge path.

Therefore, in the prize ball discharging device of this example configured as described above, the prize balls are dispensed in a fixed number unit for each safe ball that enters the winning tool 14 or winning device 15 on the game board 13 of the pachinko machine. It can be discharged as follows. That is, the prize balls fed from the case 36 of the prize ball feeding device B fall in the main discharge path 41, are hit by the branch guide plate 43 in the branching chamber 42, and utilize the first guide surface 43a. and is guided preferentially to the first branch road 44 side, and thereafter is guided to the first side discharge road 45 side.
It is passed through the communication port 47 and discharged into the method tray 6 via the discharge port 5. After the method tray 6 side is full, it is stored in the order from the communication port 47 to the discharge channel 46, and finally the upper part of the first branch channel 44, that is, a part of the branch chamber 43 is filled. In this prize ball storage process, the opening/closing piece 54 of the storage chamber 50 is pressed by the stored prize balls in the first discharge path 46 and is restrained in the closed position (see FIG. 3).

After the first branch path 44 is filled with the prize balls described above, the newly dispensed prize balls are dropped from the main discharge path 41 into the branch chamber 42 and are passed through the branch guide plate 43 without entering the first branch path 44. The receiver plate 51 and the movable light are guided along the second guide surface 43b into the second branch path 45, and pass through the entrance 50a of the storage chamber 50. The receiving plate 51 and the movable light are guided by the plate 52 and are restrained in the closed state. They are sequentially stored in the chamber 50 by the opening/closing piece 54. In this prize ball storage state, the movable light is on the plate 5.
2 is tilted downward against the biasing force on the detection switch 57 side after receiving a considerable number of prize balls, and is restrained at almost the same inclination as the receiving plate 51. As a result, in the switch 57, the detection piece 57b and The contact rod 57a is pushed to detect the "ball presence state" (ON), and accordingly, the display lamp 63 of the game board 13 is lit to display to the player that balls are stored.

After the prize balls in the storage chamber 50 are full, the newly dispensed prize balls are guided to the second branch path 45 and overflow into the population 50a without being able to pass through the storage chamber 50. 2
It passes through the entrance 48a of the discharge passage 48, and thereafter is discharged from the discharge container 49 through the discharge port 8 into the lower spherical tray 9, and after filling the same 9, it reaches the discharge container 49 and the second discharge passage 48 in sequence. Fill up.

In the above-described prize ball ejection and storage process, if the number of stored prize balls in the first branch path 44 and the discharge path 46 decreases due to the game balls in the method tray 6 being passed out as the game continues, new The fed prize balls are again discharged from the first branch path 44 with priority to the discharge path 46. When the inside of the first discharge passage 46 becomes empty, the opening/closing piece 54 of the storage chamber 50 is released from the ball pressure. In this state, the stored prize balls in the chamber 50 push open the opening/closing piece 54 using the flow pressure using the slope of the provisional 52 and the receiving plate 51 and the movable light into the first discharge path 46.
The remaining game balls are supplied to the method tray 6 side where there are few remaining game balls, and are used as game balls necessary for continuing the game.When the storage chamber 50 becomes empty, the balls are released from the storage prize balls. The movable light is returned to its original horizontal state by the urging force from the detection switch 57 on the plate 52, and accordingly, the switch 57 releases the detection piece 57a and the contact rod 57b, turning it into the OFF state. is turned off and the message ``Stored Prize Ball Discharge'' is displayed to the player.

In this way, according to the prize ball discharging device of this example, the prize ball feeding device B
Regarding the prize balls fed from the first ball connected to the method plate 6 side,
The second branch path 45 and the discharge path 48 connected to the lower ball tray 9 side can be respectively passed through and stored in the branch path 44 and discharge path 46 side, and can be stored separately in the storage chamber 50. A considerable number of prize balls can be stored. By the way, it is possible to secure at least 60 prize balls stored in the same room 50, and if you use this stored prize balls, you can equip it with an electric launcher (with a firing performance of 100 balls per minute or less). In the current pachinko machine, it is possible to maintain a state in which the game can be continued for 35 seconds or more. Therefore, during this period, the player can concentrate on the game by hitting the game balls in the construction method tray 6 one by one, and during the game, the game board 13
Calmly check the display lamp 63 on the side and lower the ball plate 9.
The storage bulb on the side can be replaced in the method tray 6.

Regarding the prize balls stored in the zero-example ball ejecting device,
All the stored balls from the country 9 to the second branch road 45 can be extracted out of the country by opening the ball extraction mechanism of the lower ball tray 9, which can be extracted by the same operation as in the previous case. In addition, by opening the ball extracting mechanism of the construction method tray 6, all the stored balls from the container 6 to the first branching path 44 can be discharged to the lower ball tray 9 via the discharge container 49 and extracted from the container 9. . When the first discharge path 46 becomes empty, the storage bulbs in the storage chamber 50 are pushed open to open the opening/closing piece 54 and are discharged to the same discharge path 46, after which they are lowered via the upper ball tray 6. All balls are discharged into the ball tray 9.

[Example of change]

Other technical examples are also recommended for the prize ball ejecting device that is the object of the present invention. For example, the bottom surface of the storage chamber 50 may be configured with a single inclined light plate, and the opening/closing piece 54 of the same chamber 50 may be opened and closed using electrical means, that is, it may be placed on the way from the construction method plate 6 to the first branching path 44. When the detection switches for the lower limit and upper limit of the stored prize ball amount are activated, the opening/closing piece 54 is opened and closed using an electromagnetic solenoid. Note that the prize ball full detection means (including the sensing member 60 and switch 62) disclosed in the embodiment may be installed above the second ejection path 48. Of course, the prize ball ejecting device of the present invention The invention can also be applied to other gaming machines that use pachinko balls as prize media.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the prize ball discharging device of the present invention, the prize balls discharged from the 6-ball supply device side of the back mechanism board in response to winnings generated in the gaming machine are preferentially sent to the first branch path. The balls can be guided and discharged from the discharge route to the method tray side, and after the first route is full, the balls are guided to the second branch route branched from the first branch route and entered from the entrance on the way to the storage chamber. A considerable number of prize balls can be stored separately, and once the prize balls in the storage chamber are full, they can be discharged from the second branch path to the lower ball tray side via the discharge path. When the number of stored prize balls in the first discharge route decreases as the game continues, the stored prize balls in the storage chamber are automatically delivered to the first discharge route by opening the opening/closing member at the exit. The ball can be returned to the method tray side, and by adding this stored prize ball, it is possible to maintain a state in which the game can be continued for a suitable period of time.

Therefore, while the stored prize balls in the storage chamber are being discharged, the player can concentrate on the current game by hitting the game balls in the method tray one by one. In particular, when game development conditions that are advantageous to the player occur, the prize balls returned from the storage chamber can be used as game balls to continue the game without compromising the game development conditions, and during the game. The stored balls on the lower ball tray side can be slowly replaced in the construction method pan according to the decreasing number of game balls in the construction method tray, and the problem explained at the beginning can be solved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The figures show embodiments of the present invention, and Fig. 1 is a front view schematically showing a pachinko machine, Fig. 2 is a blue side view schematically showing the back side of the pachinko machine, particularly the back mechanism panel, and Fig. 3 is a zero-example pass-through. The front view of the ball ejection device with the lid open, FIGS. 4 and 5 are X-XM in FIG. 3,
A plan sectional view and a side sectional view taken along the Y-Y line, and FIG. 6 are explanatory diagrams showing the state of ejecting and storing prize balls by the device of this example. P. Pachinko machine 5. Discharge port 6, method dish 8. Discharge port 9, lower ball plate 13. Game board M, II: Mechanism board 21. Board body 22, gathering room 23. Out route A, safe ball processing device B, prize ball feeding device 41, discharge main path 420 branch chamber 43, branch flow guide plate 44. first branch road 45,
2nd branch road 46. 1st discharge path 4B, 2nd y# exit path 50. Storage chamber 51, receiving plate 52
．． Movable receiving plate 54, opening/closing piece 57. Detection switch 63, indicator lamp 64. Lid patent applicant Toyomaru Sangyo Co., Ltd. Figure 2 Figure 1 4δ Figure 5 Figure 4

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1) A game machine that is equipped with upper and lower ball trays on the front of the machine and uses pachinko balls as game media and prize media, wherein the prize ball is fed on a back mechanism panel that is installed on the back of the machine. A main discharge path for prize balls is formed below the output device, and a first branch path and a second branch path are formed in two directions by a branch guide plate protruding from the exit side of this main discharge path. , a first branch path communicates with the upper ball tray side via a discharge route, a second branch path communicates with the lower ball bowl side via a discharge route, and a prize ball is provided below the branch guide plate. A storage chamber is formed and the entrance of the same chamber is connected to the second
While it is connected to the branch road, the exit of the same room is connected to the above-mentioned first
A prize ball ejecting device for a pachinko game machine, which is connected to a branch path and has an opening/closing member installed at the exit of a storage chamber. 2) The storage chamber is formed inside a space between the diversion guide plate and a receiving plate that projects downwardly from the guide plate, and has an upper opening between the diversion guide plate and the receiving plate. A surface thereof serves as an inlet and communicates with the middle of the second branch path, and a lower opening surface of the branch guide plate and the receiving plate serves as an outlet and communicates with the middle of the discharge path on the first side. A prize ball ejecting device in a pachinko game machine according to claim 1. 3) The opening/closing member has an upper end pivotally connected at the outlet of the storage chamber to be held in a free hanging state, and is normally restrained in a closed position and is allowed to open to the discharge path on the first side. A prize ball ejecting device in a pachinko game machine according to claim 1.