JPH0419875B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pachinko machine, and more particularly to a prize ball counting device that is improved so as to count the number of prize balls at the end of a game and print it out.

In conventional pachinko machines, after a player finishes playing, it is necessary to transfer the pachinko balls that have been obtained up to that point, that is, prize balls, from the ball tray of the pachinko machine to a box and transport them to a prize exchange center. This type of work is extremely time-consuming, even if there are only a few prize balls, but if there are a large number of prize balls, they must be carefully transported, paying attention not only to their weight but also to other players who are playing. It's complicated. Furthermore, the reality is that only a limited number of prize ball counters are available at the prize exchange place, so if there are many players who have completed the game, the number of prize balls brought by the first person to complete the game will be counted. There is also the problem of having to wait until the process is finished.

Such problems can be solved, for example, by the prize ball counting device described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 14373/1983. This counting device is configured to guide prize balls in a saucer through a guide tube to a counter, count the number of prize balls with the counter, and then collect them in a ball collection gutter.The counted number of prize balls is printed on a card. It is designed to be printed on. Therefore, at the end of the game, open the opening at the bottom of the saucer, let the prize balls flow down the guide tube, print after counting all the prize balls, and then exchange prizes using only the printed cards. This eliminates the need for transporting prize balls, which is convenient.

However, in the counting device described in the above publication, if, for example, a printing operation is performed by mistake during the counting of prize balls, the prize balls cannot be counted while the printing device is in operation, but once the prize balls have flowed down from the tray. There is a problem in that accurate counting is not possible because the prize balls that have been collected pass through the counter and reach the ball collection gutter. In particular, since the prize balls in the counter and guide tube cannot be easily seen from the outside, there is a risk that the printing device may be activated even though the prize balls remain in the guide tube.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional technology, and it is possible to count the number of prize balls on the spot after finishing a game and print out the number with a printer, and if the printer is operated by mistake during the counting. However, the object of the present invention is to provide a prize ball counting device that accurately counts prize balls.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention is designed to provide prize balls between a ball-removing opening formed in a prize ball holder and a counter provided for counting prize balls in a discharge passage connected to the ball-removing opening. The configuration is such that the printer is allowed to operate only after confirming that no balls are present.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on illustrated embodiments.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are an external front view and a schematic cross-sectional view of a main part of a pachinko machine to which the present invention is applied, respectively. In FIGS. 1 and 2, 1 is a pachinko machine, which is fitted into a mounting part 2 called an island stand. The island stand 2 is normally a part that is installed immovably, and when replacing the pachinko machine 1 with a new one, the island stand 2 part is to be replaced. As is well known, the pachinko machine 1 has a decorative plate, a glass plate, etc. fitted in its central front part. 11 is an upper tray for storing prize balls that are paid out according to safe balls;
If it exceeds the storage limit, it will be discharged to the lower tray 15. Reference numeral 12 denotes a ball drop lever, which is operated, for example, to the left in the figure at the end of the game, so that all the prize balls in the upper tray 11 are transferred to the lower tray 15. As will be described later, the lower tray 15 is provided with an opening/closing window at its bottom, which is opened and closed by operating the opening/closing lever 16. A ball tray 18 is connected to the above-mentioned opening/closing window, and is adapted to receive prize balls discharged from the opening/closing window when the opening/closing window is opened. 30 is a pachinko ball discharge passage provided in the pachinko machine;
One end is connected to the aforementioned ball sinking tray 18, and the other end is connected to the pachinko ball recovery path 50. This recovery path 50 is generally used in common for each pachinko machine,
The pachinko balls are collected in a concentrated manner, guided to a storage tank and a ball polisher, and then circulated to the prize ball storage section of each pachinko machine in order to be used again as prize balls for each pachinko machine.

Sensors 5A and 5B each detect the presence or passage of a pachinko ball, such as a photo sensor, magnetic sensor, or micro switch. Of these sensors, 5A is provided for the discharge passage 50 through which pachinko balls pass one by one in line, and outputs a detection signal for each prize ball passing therethrough. Further, the sensor 5B is provided close to the ball sinking tray 18 and has a function of detecting whether or not prize balls remain in the ball sinking tray 18. Reference numeral 6 denotes a digital display unit composed of, for example, a 7-segment LED, which is driven via the CPU in accordance with the counting output of a counter (see Fig. 6) that sequentially counts signals from the sensor 5A, and which passes through the discharge passage 30. Digitally displays the number of prize balls. Reference numeral 7 denotes a printer, such as a discharge printer, which, when a printer start button 8 is turned on, prints out the number of pitches and other information displayed on the display section 6 at that time.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the lower tray 15 in FIG. 1, and the same reference numerals are used for parts common to those already described. An opening/closing window 152 provided at the bottom of the lower tray 15 is opened as shown in the figure by operating the opening/closing lever 16. The opening/closing plate 154, which is integrated with the opening/closing lever 16, is slidably provided at the bottom of the saucer 15 and is biased to the right in the figure by a coil spring or the like (not shown), so the opening/closing lever 16 should not be operated. Sometimes opening/closing window 1
52 is closed.

According to the above configuration, when the player operates the opening/closing lever 16 after finishing the game, the prize balls accumulated up to that time are transferred to the opening/closing window 152 and the ball sink tray 1.
8. The prize balls are returned to the collection path 50 via the sensors 5A, 5B and the discharge path 30, but during this process, the prize balls are counted one by one by the sensor 5A and the number is digitally displayed on the display section 6. Ru. If there are prize balls remaining in the upper tray 11, they can be moved to the lower tray 15 by the ball dropping lever 12.

In this way, all the prize balls in the lower tray 15 are counted by the sensor 5A and
displayed on the LED display section 6, and also on the sensor 5B.
When the printer detects that there are no prize balls remaining in the ball sink tray 18, the printer 7 becomes ready for operation, and when the printer start button 8 is operated, the printer 7 displays, for example, the number of prize balls counted and the number of prize balls of that pachinko machine. Print out the machine number and time. In addition, the pachinko balls after counting are returned to the collection path 50.
Instead of returning the ball to the prize ball storage part of the Pachinko machine, it may be returned to the prize ball storage part of the Pachinko machine in order to use it again as a prize ball for the Pachinko machine.

Figure 5 is a flowchart showing the above-mentioned processing steps, and the symbols in parentheses indicate the first
In the drawings and FIG. 2, the components that have already been described are indicated. Note that when this processing flow is completed, the counter count value and the LED display section are reset.

By the way, in the embodiment explained in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sensors 5A and 5 are installed in the pachinko machine itself.
B. An LED display unit 6 and a printer 7 are installed, but since pachinko machines are frequently replaced, taking this into consideration, incorporating these parts into each individual pachinko machine will increase the cost of the pachinko machine. As a result, it is not a good idea. As a measure to deal with this, the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is effective. That is, the above-mentioned ball sinking tray 18 and sensor 5 are installed on the island stand 80 on which the pachinko machine 70 is attached.
A and 5B are arranged, and a discharge passage 30, a printer 7, and its start button 8 are also provided. Also,
Of course, an LED display section can be provided on this island stand 80 if necessary. With this configuration, the pachinko machine 70 is almost the same as the conventional one, and an increase in the cost of the pachinko machine due to implementation of the present invention can be avoided. Even in such a configuration, the processing flow is the fifth one.
It can be similar to the figure.

FIG. 6 shows a functional block diagram for executing each process in the present invention, and the operations within the broken line block T in the figure are controlled by the CPU. Further, when the count value of the counter is "0", even if the AND signal of the sensor 5B and the printer start button 8 is generated, the printer operation control section is not energized and the printer 7 is not driven.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of the electrical circuit of the present invention. In Figure 7, CPU200
is operated by a clock pulse from a clock generator 215, a ROM 205 stores the above-mentioned processing program, the machine number of the pachinko machine, etc., and a RAM 210 is used to store the above-mentioned prize ball count. . Signals from the sensors 5A and 5B that output the counting signal of prize balls or detect whether or not there are remaining prize balls are sent to the CPU 200 via the input port, stored in the RAM 210 in the counting storage section, and the counted value is is CPU2
00, an output port, and is digitally displayed via an LED driver 220, for example, by a 7 segment LED 6. By operating the printer start button 8, the motor drive is started via the output port while referring to the counted value stored in the RAM 210.
The discharge drive circuit 225 is driven, and the discharge printer 230 is operated for one cycle. The operation of the discharge printer 230 is monitored by the motor rotation sensor 235, and one operation signal is input to the CPU 200 via the input port, and a predetermined process is completed. In addition, the deep switch 240
is used, for example, as a reset switch for the digital watch 250.

As explained above, according to the prize ball counting device of the present invention, when counting the number of prize balls on the spot so that the player does not have to carry the prize balls when exchanging prizes, the prize ball receiver is The system is configured to allow the printer to operate after confirming that there are no prize balls in the discharge path from the ball extraction opening to the counter, so even if the printer is operated incorrectly, the prize balls will still be counted. The printer is not operated during the process, and the prize balls that the player drops from the prize ball receiver through the ball removal opening are always accurately counted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an example of a front external view of a pachinko machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a schematic side sectional view showing a main part of the pachinko machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an example of the lower tray used in the present invention. FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view of a pachinko machine to which another embodiment of the present invention is applied and a main part of the island stand. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the processing performed by the apparatus of the present invention. 6th
The figure is a functional block diagram for executing the processing performed by the apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a circuit block diagram of the present invention. 1... Pachinko machine, 2... Island stand, 5A, 5B...
...Sensor, 6...LED display section, 7...Printer, 8...Printer start button, 11...Upper saucer, 15...Lower saucer, 16...Open/close lever, 18...Ball sink tray, 30... discharge passage,
50...Recovery path, 152...Openable window, 154...
Opening/closing board.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A prize ball holder that stores prize balls dispensed from a pachinko machine installed on an island stand and has a ball extraction opening that can be opened and closed at its bottom, and a discharge passageway that guides the prize balls discharged from the ball extraction opening to a collection path. and,
A counter provided on the island stand or the pachinko machine to count the prize balls passing through the discharge passage, a printer that prints out the number of prize balls counted by the counter, and a combination of the ball extraction opening and the counter. 1. A prize ball counting device for a pachinko machine, comprising: printing control means that detects that there are no prize balls between the two and allows the printer to operate.