JPH052221Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a constant supply mechanism that can be incorporated into a ball lending machine, for example, a pachinko ball lending machine, and can supply a predetermined number of balls.

(Prior art) In a pachinko ball rental machine, when coins or magnetic cards are inserted into a predetermined slot, an internal constant supply mechanism counts the corresponding number of balls and drops them into the slot. ing.

This constant supply mechanism generally forms an area in the path of pachinko balls that stores a predetermined number of balls, and installs a separation valve above the storage area and a release valve below, and opens both valves alternately. It is true.

However, this type of mechanism has the disadvantage that it is necessary to accurately time the operation of both valves, and as the number of times the valve is used increases, the operation timing shifts and clogging occurs.

For this reason, in the invention of Utility Model Application Publication No. 49-76695, as shown in FIG. , by rotating the measuring tube 3 to the dotted line position using the motor 5 and the eccentric cam 6, the pachinko ball 1 is
The structure is such that receiving and discharging to the outlet 7 can be performed alternately. Further, the measuring tube 3 that has finished discharging the pachinko balls 1 returns to its original position by the tensile force of the coil spring 8. Reference numerals 9a and 9b are a light emitting element and a light receiving element, respectively, which perform a ball breakage detection function.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the above-mentioned mechanism has a drawback in that it takes a long time from when coins or magnetic cards are inserted into the ball lending machine until the pachinko balls fall into the outlet.

The present invention was developed in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to provide a constant supply mechanism for a ball rental machine that can supply a predetermined number of balls to a target position in a short period of time.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above object, the constant supply mechanism of the ball lending machine in the present invention is arranged so as to be able to communicate alternately with the ball passage exit of the ball lending machine, and each of the constant supply mechanisms can supply a predetermined number of balls. A plurality of measuring tubes that receive the measuring tubes, a support shaft that swingably supports the measuring tubes, a stopper that closes the outlet of the measuring tubes communicating with the ball passage, and a plurality of measuring tubes that swing together. It is comprised of a swinging means for alternately receiving and discharging balls from each measuring tube.

(Function) With these configurations, when the constant supply mechanism is in the standby state, one measuring tube communicates with the outlet of the ball passage, and the outlet of the measuring tube is closed by the stopper, so that balls from the ball passage are not allowed to flow. are received in the measuring tube in a certain number. Further, the other measuring cylinder does not communicate with the ball passage, and its outlet side is open in an empty state.

Next, when a magnetic card, coin, etc. is inserted into the ball lending machine, the swinging means rotates the measuring cylinder by a predetermined angle, and the connection state of each measuring cylinder with the ball passage and the position of the lower stopper are switched. . Therefore, the balls received in the measuring cylinder come off the stopper and are ejected downward, and the empty measuring cylinder is connected to the ball passage and the lower part is closed by the stopper, so that a certain number of new balls are released. be accommodated. These operations are repeated until the number of balls reaches the specified number, depending on the number of coins and the command from the magnetic card.

(Example) FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of a magnetic card type pachinko ball lending machine 10 incorporating the constant supply mechanism of the present invention, with the right side in the figure being the front.

This ball rental machine 10 is covered with a frame 11 on the outside, and a ball passage 12 is installed inside the frame 11 above. The ball passage 12 has an inclined bent shape with an inlet 12a at the upper end, an inlet 12b at the lower end, and an outlet 12.
A constant supply mechanism for pachinko balls 13 is installed on the b side.

The constant supply mechanism is comprised of a pair of measuring tubes 14 and 15, a support shaft 16, stoppers 17 and 18, and a swing mechanism 19, as shown in an enlarged view in FIG. The measuring tubes 14 and 15 are shaped like an integrated elongated pipe, the inner diameter of which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the pachinko balls 13, and the length thereof is set so that a certain number of balls can be received. Furthermore, the measuring tube 14,
At the center of the ball 15, curved parts 14a and 15a are formed so as to bulge outward from each other, thereby alleviating the impact of the falling pachinko balls 13.

A support shaft 16 is provided between each curved portion 14a, 15a, and the measuring tubes 14, 15 rotate by a predetermined angle around this support shaft 16, so that the upper end of one of them is connected to the outlet 12b of the ball passage 12. We are now able to communicate. An angle 20 is fixed below the measuring tubes 14 and 15, and two stoppers 1 are attached to the upper surface of the angle 20.
7, 18 and a through hole 21 are formed.

The swing mechanism 19 is composed of a solenoid 22, three links 23a, 23b, 23c, a support plate 24, a clamp 25, and a coil spring 26. There is. A link 23a is attached to the other end of the clamp 25.
are connected with a pin, a link 23b is connected with a pin to the link 23a, and the end of the link 23b is connected to the support plate 24.
is connected to the pin. Furthermore, a link 23c is pin-coupled to the middle of the link 23b.
The end of the solenoid 22 is connected to the movable head 22a of the solenoid 22.

On the other hand, one end of a coil spring 26 is locked to the upper ends of the measuring tubes 14 and 15, and the other end of the coil spring 26 is locked to a support plate 27 on the frame 11 side. The coil spring 26 constantly tensions and biases the measuring tubes 14 and 15 clockwise, and returns the rotated measuring tubes 14 and 15 to their original positions.

Below the angle 20 is an inclined chute 2.
8 is arranged, and the through hole 21 is inserted from the measuring tubes 14 and 15.
The pachinko balls 13 that have fallen through the passageway are sent to the outlet 29. Further, a door 30 that can be opened and closed is installed inside the outlet 29.
A ball stock portion 31 is formed by the chute 28 and the chute 28.

A magnetic card reader 32 is installed above the solenoid 22 so that pachinko balls 13 can be purchased with a magnetic card. Of course, if a coin detection device (not shown) is installed like the conventional product,
You can purchase 13 pachinko balls with coins.

A micro switch 33 for detecting the supply state of pachinko balls 13 is installed above the ball lending machine 10, and its lever 33a extends into the ball passage 12. The micro switch 33 has a normally open contact 33b, and when the ball passage 12 is filled with pachinko balls 13, the lever 33a closes the normally open contact 33b due to ball pressure.

Further, above the chute 28, a micro switch 34 is installed to detect the full state of pachinko balls 13 in the ball stock section 31, and its lever 34a extends downward. This micro switch 34 has a normally closed contact 34b, and when a full pachinko ball 13 pushes the lever 34a, the normally closed contact 34b is opened.

FIG. 4 shows a control circuit diagram for operating the ball lending machine 10, and this control circuit includes a microcomputer 35, a magnetic card reader 32, a normally open contact 33b of each microswitch 33, 34, and a normally open contact 33b of each microswitch 33, 34. It is composed of a closed contact 34b, a detection circuit 36, a drive circuit 37, and a solenoid 22. The microcomputer 35 has a built-in timer 38 and a magnetic card reader 32 and a detection circuit 36.
The solenoid 22 is operated for a certain period of time via the drive circuit 37 based on the detection signal from the drive circuit 37.

The operation of the ball lending machine 10 configured as described above will be explained according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the ball rental machine 10 is in a standby state, the first
As shown in the figure, the measuring tube 14 is located at the outlet 1 of the ball passage 12.
2b, and the lower outlet of the measuring cylinder 14 is closed by a stopper 17. Therefore, the pachinko balls 13 supplied from the entrance 12a of the ball passage 12 are fed into the measuring cylinder 14 through the ball passage 12, and the inside of the ball passage 12 is also filled with pachinko balls 13. Therefore, a certain number of pachinko balls 13 are stored in the measuring cylinder 14.
is accommodated, and the pachinko balls 13 in the ball passage 12 push the lever 33a, so the normally open contact 33b of the micro switch 33 is closed. On the other hand, since the upper end of the measuring cylinder 15 does not communicate with the ball passage 12, the pachinko balls 13 are not supplied, and the lower end communicates with the through hole 21 in an empty state.

Next, when the purchaser inserts a magnetic card (not shown) into the insertion slot of the ball lending machine 10, the magnetic card reader 32 reads it (S1), as shown in FIG.
It is determined whether it is OK (S2). Next, the micro switch 33 moves the pachinko balls 13 to the measuring tube 14.
(S3) and the micro switch 34 determines whether or not the pachinko balls 1 in the ball stock section 31 are being supplied.
3 is not full (S4), and if the answer is negative, the process returns to step S1, and if the answer is yes, the process proceeds to the next step S5.

In step S5, an activation signal is sent to the solenoid 22, which causes the movable head 22a to retract as shown by the imaginary line in FIG.
3c, 23b, 23a and the clamp 25 to rotate the measuring cylinders 14, 15 counterclockwise. Therefore, the outlet of the measuring cylinder 14 communicates with the through hole 21, and a certain amount of pachinko balls 13 move through the chute 28 to the ball stock part 31. Also, at the same time, the upper end of the measuring tube 15 is connected to the ball passage 12, and the lower end is closed by the stopper 18.
A fixed number of pachinko balls 13 are supplied to the measuring tube 15.

The operating time of the solenoid 22 is determined by the timer 38 (FIG. 4) in the microcomputer 35 (S6), and when the set time has elapsed, the solenoid 22 is turned off (S7). For this reason, measuring cylinder 1
4 and 15 are returned to their original positions by the tensile force of the coil spring 26, and the lower end of the measuring tube 15 communicates with the through hole 21 to release a certain amount of pachinko balls 13. At the same time, the upper end of the measuring cylinder 14 communicates with the ball passage 12 again, and the pachinko balls 13 are accommodated in the measuring cylinder 14.

Thereafter, the microcomputer 35 is initialized, its memory is updated (S8), and it operates to add up the number of times the magnetic card has been used. Ball stock part 3
The pachinko balls 13 stored in one can be taken out all at once by the purchaser opening the door 30.

Therefore, in the ball lending machine 10 of this embodiment, two units of pachinko balls 13 are discharged in one operation, and while one measuring tube 14 is discharging balls, the other measuring tube 14 is discharged.
Since balls are supplied at step 5, the time from insertion of the magnetic card to supply of pachinko balls is shortened.

In addition, if the upper and lower opening ends of the measuring tube 15 are closed with caps (not shown) such as resin, the measuring tube 15
Since the only part operates effectively, pachinko balls can be supplied in units of one unit. Furthermore, the coil spring 26 for return is omitted and the measuring tube 14,
Even if the shaft 15 is rotated separately in the forward and backward directions, it is possible to feed pachinko balls in units of one unit.

As a drive source for the swing mechanism 19, the solenoid 2
In addition to 2, pulse motors, air cylinders, etc. can also be used. In addition, the constant supply mechanism of the present invention can be applied to various devices for conveying spherical objects other than pachinko balls.

(Effects of the invention) As described in detail above, the constant supply mechanism of the ball dispensing machine of the present invention is composed of a plurality of measuring tubes which are arranged to be alternately connected to the ball passage outlet of the ball dispensing machine, each of which receives a predetermined number of balls, a support shaft which supports the measuring tubes so that they can swing, a stopper which closes the outlet of the measuring tube which communicates with the ball passage, and a swinging means which swings the multiple measuring tubes together to alternately receive and release balls in each measuring tube.Therefore, while one measuring tube is releasing balls, balls are contained in the other measuring tube, thereby having the effect of being able to supply the predetermined number of balls in a short period of time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an internal side view of a ball lending machine incorporating the constant supply mechanism of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of a conventional product, Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the constant supply mechanism, and Fig. 4 is The control circuit diagram of the ball lending machine, FIG. 5, is a flowchart showing the operating sequence of the ball lending machine by the microcomputer. 10... Ball lending machine, 12... Ball passage, 13... Pachinko balls, 14, 15... Measuring cylinder, 14a, 15
a...Bending portion, 16... Support shaft, 17, 18... Stopper, 19... Rocking mechanism, 21... Through hole, 2
2...Solenoid, 26...Coil spring, 29...
...Takeout port, 31... Ball stock section, 32... Magnetic card reader, 33... Micro switch for ball supply detection, 34... Micro switch for ball full detection.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) A plurality of measuring cylinders arranged alternately in communication with each other at the exit of a ball passage of a ball lending machine and each receiving a predetermined number of balls, and a plurality of measuring cylinders that are swingably supported. A support shaft, a stopper for closing an outlet of a measuring cylinder communicating with a ball passage, and a swinging means for swinging a plurality of measuring cylinders together to alternately receive and release balls from each measuring cylinder. , the constant supply mechanism of the ball lending machine. (2) The swinging means includes a clamp that grips one end of the measuring cylinder, a link mechanism connected to the clamp, a drive means that swings the measuring cylinder via the link mechanism, and a mechanism that returns the measuring cylinder to its original position. Utility model registration claim No. (1) consisting of a return spring for returning
The constant supply mechanism of the ball lending machine described in . (3) The constant supply mechanism for a ball lending machine according to claim (2), wherein the driving means is a solenoid. (4) The constant supply mechanism for a ball lending machine according to claim (2), wherein the driving means is a pulse motor. (5) The constant supply mechanism for a ball lending machine according to claim (2), wherein the driving means is an air cylinder.