JPH0330384B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a prize ball dispensing device for dispensing a predetermined number of prize balls to winning balls in a pachinko game machine. This invention relates to a small and high-speed prize ball dispensing device capable of separating and ejecting balls one after another.

As is well known, in a pachinko game machine, when a player drives balls into the game board one by one using a firing device installed at the bottom of the game board, they collide with obstacle nails and randomly change direction as they fall. A predetermined number of prize balls are awarded to the player by entering the winning area with a certain probability.

Conventionally, a device using a sprocket as shown in Fig. 1 has been proposed as a device for dispensing prize balls (Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-35670
issue). This prize ball dispensing device has a ratchet wheel (sprocket) 32' having a plurality of recesses 32a on its outer periphery facing into a guiding pipe 8' through which balls supplied from an upper storage section flow down. A stopper 37 that prevents rotation of the ball 32' is removed by a solenoid 38 driven by a winning ball detection signal to dispense a predetermined number of prize balls.

However, in the prize ball dispensing device as described above, the ball flowing down inside the guide pipe 8' is passed through the ratchet wheel 3.
2' and the rotation of the ratchet wheel 32' is prevented by the stopper 37 and the protrusion 39 on the side of the ratchet wheel 32'. A large ball pressure is applied to the ball.
Therefore, the ratchet wheel 32' is easily worn out and the protrusion 39 is easily damaged, and as a result, due to wear of the pawl or damage to the protrusion 39, it becomes impossible to prevent the balls from flowing down, and the dispensing device goes out of control. There is a risk. Furthermore, in the prize ball dispensing device, the number of prize balls that can be dispensed at one time is limited by the number of claws on the outer periphery of the ratchet wheel 32'. However, for current pachinko machines, depending on the model, 13
Since the number of prize balls that are paid out at one time is different, such as 15 balls or 15 balls, there is an inconvenience that a ratchet wheel with a different number of teeth must be prepared and installed for each model. In addition, if it is possible to pay out different numbers of prize balls using the same prize ball payout device, it will be possible to change the number of prize balls for each winning area, providing a highly interesting pachinko game machine. This is convenient because it allows you to do so.

This invention was made against the background as described above, and includes providing a sprocket at the downstream end of a guideway so that its rotational axis substantially coincides with the outflow direction of the balls in the guideway. By configuring this sprocket to be rotated by a motor or the like, the pressure of the ball in the guideway is not directly applied to the sprocket, thereby making it difficult for the dispensing device to run out of control due to wear or damage. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a prize ball dispensing device capable of dispensing an arbitrary number of prize balls.

The present invention will be specifically explained below using the drawings.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an example of the configuration of a back mechanism panel of a pachinko gaming machine equipped with a prize ball payout device according to the present invention.

A game board 1 having a plurality of winning areas and obstacle nails on the front side is rotatably attached to a box-shaped machine frame 2, and a back mechanism board 3 is attached to the back side of the game board 1. This back mechanism board 3 is a back setting board 3 that is attached to the entire back surface of the game board 1 at a certain interval so that winning balls can flow down from the winning area.
It is constructed by setting various mechanisms constituting the back mechanism panel 3 in a superimposed manner on the back side of a.

At the lower part of the back setting board 3a, there is provided a collecting shelf section 4 which is formed so as to be inclined downwardly toward the center. A winning ball ejection path 5 is formed in communication with the space between the winning balls and the winning balls that enter the space on the back of the game board 1 from the winning area provided on the game board 1 are collected by the collecting shelf 4. The balls are collected and discharged out of the machine through the above-mentioned prize ball discharge path 5.

A winning ball detector 6 is provided in the middle of the winning ball discharge path 5, and winning balls passing through this are electrically detected by the winning ball detector 6, and each winning ball is given a prize ball as described below. The payout device 30 is operated to payout a predetermined number of prize balls.

Further, in the upper part of the back setting board 3a, there is a preliminary storage section 7 for storing balls before being paid out by the prize ball dispensing device 30, and from this preliminary storage section 7 to the prize ball dispensing device 30. A guide path 8 that automatically aligns and guides the prize balls; and a prize ball guide path 10 that guides the prize balls paid out by the prize ball payout device 30 to a saucer 9 provided on the front surface of the game board.
and a diversion gutter 1 that diverts prize balls to an auxiliary tray 11 below the front surface of the game board 1 when the tray 9 is full.
2nd class is provided.

In this embodiment, as will be described in detail later, an electric prize ball dispensing device 30 consisting of a pulse motor 31 and a separation sprocket 32 rotationally driven by the pulse motor 31 is provided, and the prize ball discharging path 5 is The prize ball payout device 30 is operated for each winning ball by the control device 40 based on the winning detection signal from the winning ball detector 6 provided on the way, and a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out. There is.

Further, the prize ball dispensing device 30 and the prize ball outlet path 10 are mounted so as to be offset to one side with respect to the back setting board 3a. As a result, a relatively wide space A is formed at the center of the back of the back set board 3a, and a large variable winning device 25 that protrudes to the back of the game board can be attached thereto. In addition, a ball pulling path 13 is provided on the side of the prize ball lead-out path 10.
are arranged in parallel, and the ball pulled out by the ball pulling mechanism 14 provided at the bending part of the guideway 8 is transferred to the back mechanism board 3.
It is designed to be guided to the bottom and discharged.

In the back mechanism panel 3 shown in FIG. 3, reference numeral 15 denotes a step lever that is tiltably provided at the starting end of the guideway 8, and 16 is tilted by the weight of the spare ball in the preliminary storage section 7. A ball shortage detector detects the presence or absence of spare balls by detecting the tilting state of the treadle lever 15, and 17 and 18 are a ball guide and a ball holding plate provided in the middle of the guideway 8 to assist in rectifying the prize balls. It is. Further, 19 is ejected from the prize ball dispensing device 30, and is ejected from the prize ball delivery path 1.
A bell 20 is used to generate an exhilarating sound when the prize balls flowing down the hole collide, and 20 is an out ball gutter that allows the out balls collected from the out hole 21 to flow down.

Next, FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing an embodiment of the prize ball dispensing device 30 according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, the guideway 8 has a partition wall 8d that gradually rises in the horizontal part, and is completely formed into two strips in the vertical part. Further, as shown in the figure, the terminal end portion is bent diagonally downward and provided with two exit portions 8a and 8b. A separating sprocket 32 is disposed to face the outlet portions 8a and 8b, and the sprocket 32 is fixed to the rotating shaft 31a of the pulse motor 31.
A blocking plate 33 is fixed at an appropriate interval. Further, on the outer periphery of the sprocket 32, there are, for example, six recesses 3 into which pachinko balls can engage.
2a and six claw portions 32b are formed. The outlet portions 8a and 8b at the end of the guide path 8 are constructed such that when one side faces the concave portion 32a of the sprocket 32, the other side faces the claw portion 32b.

Then, the blocking plate 33 and the outlet portions 8a, 8b
It is positioned so as to have a distance of approximately one ball from the end of the ball, and below it is provided a discharge gutter 22 connected to the upper end of the prize ball outlet path 10.
The prize ball B that has come into contact with the claw 32b is locked by the claw so that it does not flow out, and the prize ball B' that has engaged with the recess 32a comes into contact with the blocking plate 33 and is prevented from flowing out. When the sprocket 32 rotates, the sprocket 32 is separated by the claws 32b, and is allowed to flow down into the discharge gutter 22 below.

FIG. 9 shows the ejecting action in the prize ball dispensing device 30. As shown in FIG. 1, the ball _B1 , which first engages with the recess _32a1 of the sprocket 32, displaces the claw 32b as the sprocket rotates. When the ball B ₃ following the ball B ₁ comes into contact with the claw portion 32b ₁ as shown in FIG. 2, the ball B ₂ engages with the recess _{32a 3 .} The ball B ₂ is then sent downward by the claw portion 32b ₂ and separated. Then, the ball B ₄ following the ball B ₂ is attached to the claw portion 32.
When it comes into contact with b ₂ , the ball B ₃ is engaged with the recess 32 a ₂ and separated by the claw 32 b ₂ . In this way, the prize balls aligned in the exit portions 8a and 8b of the guideway 8 are alternately taken out one by one by the separating action accompanying the rotation of the sprocket 32 and are discharged into the discharge gutter 22. Go.

A ratchet 31b is formed at the base of the rotating shaft 31a of the motor 31, and by engaging a locking piece having spring properties with the ratchet 31b, positioning and when the motor is not in operation are performed. It is designed to act as a stopper.

However, in this case, instead of providing a locking piece that engages with the ratchet 31b, the pulse motor is energized in the normal state and the sprocket 32 is fixed so that it does not rotate by electromagnetic force, or the sprocket 32 is fixed so that it does not rotate. A pawl (stopper) that engages with the ratchet 31b may be provided and operated by a solenoid to prevent and release the rotation of the sprocket 32.

Although not particularly limited, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the motor 3
1 is mounted with its rotating shaft 31a inclined at about 15 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction, so that the blocking plate 33 is tilted upward. This makes it possible to suppress the movement of the ball engaged with the recess 32b of the sprocket 32 from sliding downward due to its own weight.
However, in this case, only the blocking plate 33 can be tilted and the motor 31 can be fixed in a horizontal state.

Moreover, in this embodiment, the center line C-C of the outlet portions 8a and 8b of the guideway 8 is aligned with the rotating shaft 31 of the motor 31, which is fixed in an inclined state.
It is formed to be tilted further upward by about 15 degrees with respect to the axis of a. As a result, the balls in the guide path 8 enter the rotating surface of the sprocket 32 not from a perpendicular direction but from slightly above. That is, the ball pressure of the reserve ball in the guide path 8 does not act on the sprocket 32 or the blocking plate 33 at right angles, but acts obliquely from above to below. the result,
The frictional force between the ball immediately before ejection, on which a large ball pressure is applied, and the sprocket 32 and blocking plate 33 becomes smaller, and the force due to the ball's own weight acts in the direction of ejecting the ball, resulting in a relatively small force. This makes it possible to separate and discharge the balls inside the recess 32a. Therefore, the driving force of the sprocket 32 can be reduced, and the motor 31 can be made smaller.

Further, an L-shaped notch is formed in the blocking plate 33, and as shown in FIG. 8, an ejected ball detector 35 including a plurality of sensors 35a to 35d is provided in this notch. . The above sensor 35
Among a to 35d, 35a and 35b are the outlet part 8a
The sensors 35c and 35d are used to detect whether or not there is a ball to be ejected next in and 8b, and the sensors 35c and 35d are used to confirm whether or not that ball has been ejected.
It can be configured using an optical sensor or a proximity switch.

In the prize ball payout device 30, when the winning detection signal outputted from the entered prize ball detector 6 is supplied to the control device 40, the motor 31 is driven by the drive signal outputted from the control device 40, and the prize ball is ejected. Start. At this time, the control device 40 determines whether the spare ball is on the taxiway 8 based on the detection signal from the ejected ball detector 35.
After confirming that the balls are present at the exit, ejection is started, and the ejection state is detected by receiving the ejection confirmation signal output from the ejection ball detector 35 for each ejected ball, and the number of ejected balls reaches a predetermined number. determines that the ball has been reached and outputs a payout end signal to the prize ball payout device 30;
The rotation of the motor 31 is stopped.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an example of a control system for the prize ball payout device 30 by the control device 40.

A winning detection signal (pulse) generated corresponding to each winning ball from the winning ball detector 6 is supplied to a memory circuit 41 as a storage means such as a counter, and is counted, thereby determining the number of winning balls. is memorized. The control circuit 42 includes a prize ball dispensing device 30.
A detection signal from an ejected ball detector 35 is inputted therein, and when the stored value in the memory circuit 41 becomes "1" or more, a drive start signal for driving the motor 31 of the prize ball payout device 30 is output. Then, the motor 31 rotates and starts ejecting the prize balls, and a detection signal (pulse) is sent from the detector 35 to the control circuit 42 for each ejected ball. The control circuit 42 counts this detection signal using, for example, an internal counter, and when the count value reaches a value preset in the setting device, it determines that a predetermined number of prize balls have been ejected, and stops driving the motor. The dispensing operation is completed by outputting a signal or by stopping the output of a motor drive signal.

In addition, taxiway 8
When the detector 35 detects that there are no balls discharged to the terminal exit portions 8a, 8b,
Upon receiving the output, the control circuit 42 immediately controls the motor 3.
1 is stopped, the value of the counter is held as it is, and when prize balls enter the exit parts 8a, 8b, the motor 31 is operated again to pay out the remaining prize balls. When one payout is completed, the control circuit 42 sends a signal to the storage circuit 41 to decrement (reduce) the stored contents.

The control circuit 42 monitors the ball's flow abnormality based on the signal from the flow abnormality detector 44 provided in the middle of the guideway 8, and when an abnormal signal is received, the winning detection signal is activated. It is possible to prevent the prize ball dispensing device 30 from operating even if the ball enters the ball. It is preferable that the downstream abnormality detector 44 be provided for each row of balls flowing down in two lines in the guideway 8.

As described above, even if the payout of prize balls is stopped, the number of winning balls is retained in the memory circuit 41, and if there is a new winning during that time, it is detected, counted up, and stored. When the abnormality is resolved, the payout of prize balls is restarted by a control signal from the control circuit 42.

Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, by changing the setting value of the setting device in the control circuit 42, it is possible to pay out an arbitrary number of prize balls at one time.

Moreover, a plurality of setters are provided in the control circuit 42 of the above embodiment to set different set values, and a winning detector is provided for each of the plurality of winning areas on the game board, and a memory circuit is provided to distinguish the types of winnings. 41, and the number of prize balls to be paid out can be changed depending on the type (characteristic) of winnings.

Although an example of the prize ball putting-out device and its control device according to the present invention has been described above, the prize ball putting-out device is not limited to the structure of the embodiment.

For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the guideway 8 is configured with two lines, but it goes without saying that it may be configured with one line. In this case, the sprocket 32 is arranged so that the exit portion of the guideway 8 faces a position horizontally shifted by the radius thereof, that is, the exit portion 8b and the sprocket 32 are placed in the position shown in FIG. It is better to configure By doing so, the ball engaged with the sprocket 32 is pushed downward, that is, in the direction in which its own weight acts, so less force is required for separation, and the motor can be made smaller.

Further, in the prize ball dispensing device of the embodiment, one of the exit portions of the guide path 8 formed in two strips is opposed to the recessed portion 32a of the sprocket 32, and the other is opposed to the claw portion 32b.
However, both outlets may be arranged to face the recess 32a of the sprocket 32 at the same time. In this case, it becomes difficult to control the payout of the odd number of prize balls, but since all the pressure of the spare balls in the guideway 8 can be received by the blocking plate 33, the sprocket 32
It is possible to significantly reduce the ball pressure applied to the rotary shaft 3 of the motor 31, thereby reducing the driving force.
1a, the lower end of the guideway (outlet portions 8a, 8
b) is formed so as to be inclined by about 15 degrees, but it is also possible to configure the rotation axis of the motor 31 to substantially coincide with the direction in which the balls flow from the guide path.
Furthermore, instead of providing the blocking plate 33, a part of the housing of the motor 31 may receive the pressure of the reserve ball.

As explained above, the prize ball dispensing device according to the present invention arranges a sprocket at the downstream end of the guideway so that the rotation axis substantially coincides with the outflow direction of the spare balls in the guideway, and rotates the sprocket. A driving motor is provided, and by driving the motor and rotating the sprocket by a predetermined angle in accordance with the winning balls, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out, so that the prize balls are aligned in a superimposed manner within the taxiway. The pressure of the ball due to the load of the spare ball no longer acts directly on the sprocket, or instead acts on the side of the sprocket along the axial direction of the motor's rotating shaft, reducing wear on the sprocket pawl. Further, a strong stopper to prevent rotation of the sprocket is not required. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the balls flowing into the device from flowing down by gravity, and it is possible to prevent the dispensing device from running out of control due to wear and damage of parts.

In addition, since the sprocket can be driven by a small motor to perform payout, high-speed payout is possible, and the sprocket can be rotated by any angle by controlling the motor, so the prize balls that are paid out can be The number can also be changed easily. As a result, the hassle of preparing and replacing multiple sprockets depending on the model of the pachinko game machine is eliminated, and the number of prize balls can be determined in accordance with the multiple winning areas provided on the game board. Changes can be made easily, making it possible to provide pachinko machines with a high level of interest.

In the above embodiment, the sprocket is rotated in sections using a pulse motor, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the sprocket can be rotated to a predetermined angle using an ordinary motor or a solenoid. Alternatively, a predetermined number of prize balls may be paid out.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an electric prize ball dispensing device in a conventional pachinko game machine, and Fig. 2 is a back mechanism panel on the back of the game board of a pachinko game machine to which the prize ball dispensing device of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration example, FIG. 3 is a rear view thereof, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a - line sectional view in FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line, FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the prize ball dispensing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an example of mounting the ejected ball detector. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the dispensing action of the prize ball dispensing device, FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the relationship between the lower end of the guiding path and the mounting angle of the prize ball dispensing device, and FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a control system for a back mechanism panel to which the prize ball dispensing device of FIG. 1... Game board, 3... Back mechanism board, 6... Winning ball detector, 7... Preliminary storage section, 8... Taxiway, 8
a, 8b... Taxiway flow lower end (exit part), 10...
... Prize ball lead-out path, 21 ... Out hole, 30 ... Prize ball payout device, 31 ... Drive means (motor), 3
1a... Rotating shaft, 32... Sprocket, 32a
... recessed portion, 32b... claw portion, 33... blocking member (blocking plate), 40... control device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. At the downstream end of the guideway that automatically rectifies and guides the spare balls supplied from above, the rotating shaft is arranged so that the axis of rotation substantially coincides with the outflow direction of the spare balls in the guideway. A sprocket having a plurality of concave portions is disposed on the sprocket, and a means for rotationally driving the sprocket is provided, and a predetermined number of prize balls can be won by rotating the sprocket by a desired angle by the driving means according to the winning balls. A prize ball payout device for a pachinko game machine, characterized in that the prize ball payout device is configured to pay out. 2. In a pachinko game machine in which the guideway is formed in a single line, the sprocket is arranged so that the axis of rotation of the sprocket and the center line of the downstream end of the guideway are shifted in the horizontal direction by approximately half of the sprocket. The sprocket is characterized in that the balls flowing out of the guide path are made to engage with the recesses on the outer periphery of the sprocket on the sides of the sprocket, and the sprocket is rotated so as to push the balls that have engaged with the recesses downward. A prize ball dispensing device according to claim 1. 3. The receiving surface of the blocking member that prevents the free flow of the balls that have flowed out of the guideway and engaged with the recess on the outer periphery of the sprocket is slightly tilted upward with respect to the center line of the lower flow end of the guideway. A prize ball dispensing device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that: 4. A patent characterized in that the lower end of the guideway is formed so that the flow direction of the spare balls supplied from the guideway toward the sprocket is slightly tilted upward with respect to the rotation axis of the sprocket. A prize ball dispensing device according to claims 1, 2, and 3.