JPH0576652A - Pachinko machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a pachinko game machine having the capability of receiving prize balls returned through a ball return device. CONSTITUTION:Prize balls shifted from the lower tray of a Pachinko machine 10 are stored in a return box 31. Then, the balls are returned to the inside of a pachinko island seat via a communication passage. In this process, the number of the balls is counted and saved in a ball counter 47. When a player operates ball return switches 37a to 37c in this state, balls corresponding to the number within a range counted and saved are returned from a prize ball delivery device 23 directly to the machine 10. According this construction, the player can again continue to play with the machine 10 without newly giving a coin for borrowing balls.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a prize ball discharging device for discharging a predetermined number of prize balls on the basis of a winning hit ball, and a prize ball discharged from the prize ball discharging device for returning to the inside of a pachinko island stand. The present invention relates to a pachinko machine equipped with a ball returning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a prize ball that has been won by a game player is generally returned to a ball returning device provided in a prize exchange place for exchanging a prize ball and a prize. In such a ball returning device, a returning device for returning balls from the prize exchange to the pachinko island stand and an equalizing device for equalizing the balls returned between the pachinko island stands are required, and the construction and There is a drawback that it takes a lot of time to maintain, and in order to solve this, the present applicant previously provided a ball returning device individually corresponding to each pachinko machine in Japanese Patent Application No. 2-271480 (hereinafter,
Prior art) was proposed.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, after returning the obtained prize balls to the ball returning device, when a player wants to continue playing with the pachinko machine, a new coin is added. It was necessary to put in and borrow game balls from the ball lending machine, which was a drawback that the players were dissatisfied. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a pachinko machine capable of returning a prize ball returned by a ball returning device.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, a prize ball discharging device for discharging a predetermined number of prize balls based on winning of a hit ball, and a discharge from the prize ball discharging device. In a pachinko machine provided with a ball returning device for returning the prize ball that is inside the pachinko island stand, in the pachinko machine, the ball returning device, a return box provided at a position corresponding to the lower side of the lower plate of the pachinko machine, The pachinko machine or the ball returning device is configured by including a communication passage that connects the return box and the inside of the pachinko island stand, and a ball counter that counts the balls returned through the communication passage. When the ball return switch provided in is operated, the prize ball discharging device is driven within the range of the number of balls counted by the ball counter to discharge the balls.

[0005]

[Operation] The prize balls transferred from the lower plate of the pachinko machine are stored in the return box and then returned to the inside of the pachinko island stand through the communication passage. Then, in the returning process, the returned balls are counted and stored by the ball counter. Then, when the player operates the ball returning switch, the number of balls within the counted and stored range is directly returned from the prize ball discharging device to the pachinko machine. For this reason,
The game can be continued with the pachinko machine again.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the relationship between the pachinko machine according to the embodiment and the pachinko island stand on which the pachinko machines are lined up is shown in FIG.
Will be described. FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of the pachinko island stand 1 with the interior omitted. In the figure, a large number of pachinko machines 10 are arranged in a back row on a pachinko island stand 1 along the longitudinal direction, and a counter stand 2 that projects laterally is provided below the pachinko machines 10. This counter stand 2
Is a ball returning device 30 that constitutes a part of the main part of this embodiment.
Are provided so as to correspond to the respective pachinko machines 10.
Further, below the counter table 2, a box placing section 3 is provided on which a box 4 for carrying the prize balls that have been obtained can be placed. The box placing section 3 is also provided so as to correspond to each pachinko machine 10 and the ball returning device 30.

Inside the pachinko island stand 1 described above, a storage tank 5 is provided below the pachinko island stand 1 as shown in FIG. The storage tank 5 stores used balls discharged from each pachinko machine 10 and returned balls returned from the ball returning device 30, and in principle, the pachinko island stand 1 concerned.
Sufficient balls can be stored so that they can be used in the pachinko machines 10 arranged in line. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the storage tank 5 and the ball returning device 30 are connected by a return passage 6, and the return balls returned to the ball returning device 30 are guided into the pachinko island stand 1. There is. In addition,
FIG. 6 also shows a drop passage 7 that connects the ball box 4 and the ball returning device 30. The return of the balls to the return passage 6 or the drop passage 7 will be described in detail later.

Next, the structure of the pachinko machines 10 arranged in line on the pachinko island stand 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a pachinko machine 10 and a ball returning device 30.
4 is a partial perspective view showing the relationship with FIG. 4, and FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the rear structure of the pachinko machine 10. In the figure, as is well known, the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 1 are provided on the front surface of the pachinko machine 10.
3 is provided, and an operation handle 12 for adjusting the resilience of the hit ball is attached to the side of the lower plate 13.

The upper plate 11 is designed to store the prize balls by discharging the prize balls discharged from the prize ball outlet 11a formed at the upstream end thereof on the basis of winning. Further, although not shown, the downstream side of the upper plate 11 is arranged in a line to flow down the supplied prize balls as a hit ball and flows down, and faces the firing position of the hit ball. Further, a ball drop button 11 b that is operated at the time of causing the prize balls stored in the upper plate 11 to flow out to the lower plate 13 is provided in the downstream portion of the upper plate 11. As will be described later, not only the prize balls discharged based on the winning, but also the return balls to be paid out when the ball return buttons 37a to 37c are operated flow out to the upper plate 11. ..

The lower tray 13 is for storing excess overflowing prize balls when the upper tray 11 is full of prize balls and more prize balls are discharged. The extra prize ball flows out from the prize ball outlet 13a. Further, on one side upper part of the lower plate 13, a ball drop button 13b is provided for removing a prize ball stored in the lower plate 13 downward. The prize balls that have been ball-downed by operating the ball-pushing button 13b are received in the first storage portion 33 of the ball-returning device 30.

The front structure of the pachinko machine 10 has approximately the above-mentioned structure. Next, the structure of the back surface will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, on the back surface of the pachinko machine 10, a winning ball processing mechanism for processing winning balls generated on the game board, and a predetermined number of prize balls based on the winning balls processed by the winning ball processing mechanism. A mechanism plate 20 provided with a prize ball discharging mechanism for discharging the is attached.
A prize ball 21 for storing a large amount of prize balls is provided on the upper rear surface of the mechanism plate 20, and a prize ball guide gutter 22 for finally aligning the prize balls flowing out from the prize ball tank 21 in one row is a prize. It is provided below the ball tank 21 in an inclined shape. Further, at the end of the prize ball guide gutter 22, a prize ball discharging device 23 for discharging a predetermined number of prize balls based on the generation of winning balls is provided. The prize balls discharged from the prize ball discharging device 23 pass through the discharge gutter and the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 1
Guided by 3. Although not shown, the mechanism plate 20 includes
A winning ball detector 28 (shown in the block diagram of FIG. 2) for detecting the generated winning balls is provided, and the prize ball discharging device 23 is driven based on the winning signal of the winning ball detector 28. In this embodiment, the prize ball discharging device 23 not only discharges the prize balls as will be described later, but also discharges the return balls.

The structure of the prize ball discharging device 23 will be described below. The prize ball discharging device 23 passes through the sprocket 25 facing the end of the prize ball guide gutter 22, a stepping motor 24 connected to the sprocket 25 via a gear mechanism 26 and controlling the rotation thereof, and the sprocket 25. It is composed of a discharged ball detector 27 for detecting a ball.

The prize ball discharging device 23 having the above structure
Describing the action of, the balls that flow down with the prize ball guide trough 22 aligned in one row are in a state in which the leading ball is stopped at the position of the sprocket 25. When the discharge command signal is derived in such a state, the stepping motor 24 is turned on to allow the sprocket 25 to rotate and cause the balls to flow downward. Then, the falling balls are detected by the discharge ball detector 27 and then discharged to the upper plate 11. When the number of balls detected by the discharged ball detector 27 reaches the number determined according to the type of the discharge command signal, the stepping motor 24 is turned off to stop the rotation of the sprocket 25 and stop the flow of the balls. Let

As described above, the prize ball discharging device 23 can discharge a predetermined number of balls according to the kind of the discharge command signal. In the present embodiment, there are four kinds of discharge command signals. It is supposed to be derived. Specifically, when the winning ball detector 28 is turned on, a prize ball discharge command signal is derived, and thereby a predetermined number (for example, 13) of balls are discharged as prize balls. Further, when any one of the ball return buttons 37a to 37c described later is operated, different types of return ball discharge command signals are derived, whereby a predetermined number (for example, 25, 50,
75 balls are discharged as return balls. However, as a premise that the returned balls are discharged, the ball returning device 3 placed below the lower plate 13 and placed on the counter base 2
In 0, it is necessary that more than the above-mentioned predetermined number of return balls are taken in.

Therefore, the structure of the ball returning device 30 will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 is a perspective view of the ball returning device 30, FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the ball returning device 30 and the pachinko island stand 1, and FIG.
It is a partially broken perspective view showing a main part of the ball returning device 30,
FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the ball returning device 30. In the figure,
The ball returning device 30 stores the prize balls discharged from the lower plate 13 and takes them into the pachinko island stand 1 in the return box 3.
1 and a printer 32 that prints out the number of returned balls taken in the pachinko island stand 1 when a settlement button 36 described later is operated. Therefore, the printer 32 is provided with a receipt discharge port 32a.

By the way, the return box 31 has a first storage portion 33 for storing the prize balls removed from the lower tray 13, and a see-through cover through which the inside can be seen to the side of the front surface of the first storage portion 33. 34 are provided. In addition, the transparent cover 34
A display device 35, a settlement button 36, and ball return buttons 37a to 37c are provided on the side of. The display 35 displays the number of returned balls taken in the pachinko island stand 1, and is composed of a 4-digit 7-segment LED. Further, the settlement button 36 is operated at the end of the game to print the number of returned balls by the printer 32 and eject it, as described above. Also, ball return buttons 37a-3
As described above, 7c is also operated when obtaining a predetermined number of return balls within the range of stored return balls.
The settlement button 36 and the ball return buttons 37a to 37c are
Both are in switch form.
It may be called a ball return switch.

In the return box 31, the first storage section 3 is provided.
The 2nd storage part 38 which connects with 3 via the communication opening 39 is also formed. The second storage section 38 has a small storage volume, and the balls stored can be scooped by hand. Then, when both the second storage section 38 and the first storage section 33 are filled with the dispensed prize balls, the second storage section 38 and the first storage section 33 start to flow into the overflow gutter 40 formed behind the first storage section 33. There is. As shown in FIG. 8, the overflow gutter 40 is connected to a communication passage 42 formed inside the rear of the second storage section 38.

On the other hand, at the lower part of the rear surface of the second storage section 38, an outlet 41 is formed which communicates the second storage section 38 with the communication passage 42, and the return valve 4 which moves the outlet 41 up and down.
It is designed to open and close at 3. The bottom surface of the outflow port 41 is a drop valve 44 that swings around the rear end.
Below the drop valve 44 is a space communicating with the drop passage 7. The return valve 43 and the drop valve 44 described above are provided with the switching lever 4 projecting forward of one side (left side) of the return box 31.
5 is operated.

The operation of the return valve 43 and the drop valve 44 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The front portion of the switching lever 45 has a rotating rod 45a and a pulling rod within the return box 31. 45b and is formed in a bifurcated shape,
The support member 46 rotatably supports the shaft. Moreover, the whole including the support member 46 can be moved in the front-rear direction. Further, a horizontal elongated hole is formed at the tip of the rotating rod 45a, and an engaging projection 43a protruding laterally of the return valve 43 is engaged with the elongated hole, while the pulling rod 45a is engaged.
An oblong hole is formed at the tip of b, and an engaging projection 44a protruding laterally from the drop valve 44 is engaged with the elongated hole.

When the switching lever 45 is pulled toward the front side, the engaging protrusion 43a and the pivoting rod 45a slide in the same state as they are, but the engaging protrusion 44a and the pulling rod 45b have a V-shape. Since it slides along the elongated hole, the drop valve 44a is rotated downward. Therefore, the second
The prize balls stored in the storage section 38 and the first storage section 33 are guided to the ball box 4 placed on the box placing section 3 through the drop passage 7. On the other hand, when the switching lever 45 is pressed downward, both the rotary rod 45a and the pull-out rod 45b rotate about the support member 46. At this time, since the pull-out rod 45b and the engaging protrusion 44a act to avoid the pivotal movement due to the V-shaped elongated hole, the pivot rod 45a and the engaging protrusion 43a are in the engaged state. It acts so as to lift the return valve 43. Therefore, the second
The prize balls stored in the storage part 38 and the first storage part 33 flow into the communication passage 42 from the outlet 41 and are taken into the pachinko island stand 1 through the return passage 6.

The communication passage 42 communicates with the return passage 6, but a ball counter 47 is adjacent to the end of the communication passage 42. Therefore, all the returned balls taken into the pachinko island stand 1 are detected by the ball counter 47, and the detected count value is displayed on the display 35.

The configuration of the pachinko machine 10 including the ball returning device 30 and the prize ball discharging device 23 has been described above. The ball returning device 30 and the prize ball discharging device 23, as shown in FIG. The operation is controlled by the control circuit board 50 provided in the device 30. As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit board 50 includes a control circuit 51, an arithmetic circuit 52, an input circuit 53, and an output circuit 54. Then, the input circuit 53 has a ball return button 37a ...
37c, a settlement button 36, a winning ball detector 28 (displayed as a count sensor 1), a discharged ball detector 27 (displayed as a count sensor 2), and a ball counter 47 (displayed as a count sensor 3) are connected to each other. Various arithmetic operations and controls are executed by the arithmetic circuit 52 and the control circuit 51 according to the input signal, and the display 35 and the printer 3 are output via the output circuit 54.
2, and the stepping motor 24 (denoted as a motor) is drive-controlled.

The operation controlled by the control circuit of the control circuit board 50 described above will be explained. When a player operates the operation handle 12 and a hit ball wins a winning opening or a winning device of a game board, the winning ball detector 28 A winning signal is emitted from (count sensor 1). Then, the stepping motor 24 is turned on and the sprocket 25 rotates to let the balls flow down, and the balls are discharged to the upper plate 11 as prize balls. Then, when the discharged ball detector 27 detects a predetermined number (for example, 13) of balls that have passed through the sprocket 25, the stepping motor 24 is turned off and the sprocket 25 is turned off.
The rotation of the is stopped and the ejection of balls is stopped. By this operation, the operation of discharging the predetermined number of prize balls based on the winning is completed.

By repeating the above-mentioned operation, the prize balls are paid out based on the winning, and when the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 13 are full with a large amount of prize balls, the balls of the lower plate 13 are filled. By operating the pull-out button 13b, the prize balls stored in the lower plate 13 are dropped and stored in the first storage section 33 of the ball returning device 30. The balls that have entered the first storage portion 33 immediately flow out to the second storage portion 38, but when both the return valve 43 and the drop valve 44 are closed, the balls are directly stored in the second storage portion 38 and the first storage portion 38. The prize balls are stored in the storage unit 33. When the first storage portion 33 is filled with the prize balls by continuing the ball removing operation from the lower plate 13, the overflow gutter 40 passes through the communication passage 42 and the return passage 6 and the pachinko island stand 1 It is returned to the internal storage tank 5. At this time, the returned balls are counted by the ball counter 47 (count sensor 3), the count value is stored in the storage area in the control circuit 51, and the stored value is displayed on the display unit 35.

In this way, when the ball-pulling button 13b is operated to carry out the ball-punching operation from the lower plate 13, the ball-free gift ball is returned even if the drop of the ball is not paid attention to.
Since it does not overflow from 1 and is automatically returned to the inside of the pachinko island stand 1 as a return ball, it is possible to carry out the ball removing operation while concentrating on the game. When all the prize balls are removed from the lower plate 13, the switching lever 4
5 is pushed down and the return valve 43 is opened, so that the prize balls stored in the second storage section 38 and the first storage section 33 of the return box 31 are passed through the communication passage 42 and the return passage 6 to the pachinko island. It can be returned to the storage tank 5 inside the table 1. As a result, all the prize balls obtained by the player can be returned to the inside of the pachinko island stand 1 as return balls, and the number of return balls is stored and displayed on the display 35. Further, by operating the settlement button 36 at the time of this return, the receipt discharge port 3 of the printer 32 is
The receipt printed with the number of returned balls is discharged from 2a, and the stored value of the returned balls is cleared.

If the player wants to play a game again on the pachinko machine 10 before operating the settlement button 36, he or she may operate any of the ball return buttons 37a to 37c. Specifically, for example, by operating the ball return button 37a, the stepping motor 24 is turned on and the sprocket 2
5 rotates to let the balls flow down, and discharges them to the upper plate 11 as return balls. Then, the ejected ball detector 27 is connected to the sprocket 25.
When a predetermined number (for example, 25) of balls that have passed through is detected, the stepping motor 24 is turned off, the rotation of the sprocket 25 is stopped, and the discharging of the balls is stopped.
By this operation, the discharge operation of the predetermined number of return balls based on the return command is completed. Hereinafter, similarly, by operating the ball return button 37b, a predetermined number (for example, 50) of return balls are discharged, and by operating the ball return button 37c,
A predetermined number (for example, 75) of return balls are discharged. However, as a premise that returned balls are discharged, it is necessary for the ball returning device 30 to take in a predetermined number or more of returned balls.

As described above, in this embodiment, the prize balls transferred from the lower plate 13 of the pachinko machine 10 are returned to the return box 31.
After being stored in
In the process of being returned to the inside of the, the returned balls are counted by the ball counter 47 and stored. Then, the player returns the ball return switch (button) 37a-37.
When c is operated, the number of balls within the counted and stored range is directly returned from the prize ball discharging device 23 to the upper plate 11 of the pachinko machine 10. Therefore, the player newly inserts a coin to play the game ball. Even without borrowing, the player can continue playing the game with the pachinko machine 10 again, and can be satisfied.

In the above-described embodiment, the structure of the return box 31 of the ball returning device 30 has the structure having the drop valve 44 and transferring from the return box 31 to the ball box 4. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the return box 31 having only the return valve 43 may be used. In this case, the return valve 43 may be opened by the switching lever 45, but when the adjustment button 36 is operated, the return valve 43 may be raised by a drive source such as a solenoid (not shown). .. Furthermore, in this case, the settlement button 3
It is necessary to perform the operation at a certain time interval from when the printer 6 is operated until the printer 32 is driven. This is because the total number of returned balls cannot be accurately printed unless all the balls stored in the return box 31 have passed through the ball counter 47.

In the above embodiment, the ball returning buttons 37a to 37c are provided on the ball returning device 30, but they may be provided on the pachinko machine 10. Further, the number of ball return buttons and the number of return balls returned by the operation may be set arbitrarily. Further, the structure of the ball returning device 30 does not necessarily need to integrally include the printer 32.
Alternatively, they may be separately configured and mounted on the counter base 2. Further, the structure of the return box 31 may be a structure in which the prize balls removed from the lower plate 13 are immediately stored in the pachinko island stand 1 without being stored.

[0030]

As is apparent from the above description, in the present invention, the prize balls transferred from the lower plate of the pachinko machine are stored in the return box, and then the pachinko island stand passes through the communication passage. Is counted and stored by the ball counter in the process of being returned to the inside, and when the player operates the ball return switch in that state, the number of balls within the counted and stored range is directly transferred from the prize ball discharging device to the pachinko machine. Since it is configured to be returned, the player can continue the game with the pachinko machine again without inserting a new coin and borrowing the game ball.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a wiring diagram showing a relationship between a control circuit board for controlling operations of a ball returning device and a prize ball discharging device and electric parts.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control circuit formed on the control circuit board of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing the relationship between the pachinko machine and the ball returning device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the rear structure of the pachinko machine.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a ball returning device.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a ball returning device and a pachinko island stand.

FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a main part of the ball returning device.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a ball returning device.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a pachinko island stand with the interior omitted.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a ball returning device according to another embodiment.

11 is a sectional view of the ball returning device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pachinko island stand 6 Return passage 10 Pachinko machine 13 Lower plate 23 Prize ball discharging device 24 Stepping motor 25 Sprocket 27 Discharge ball detector 28 Prize winning ball detector 30 Ball returning device 31 Return box 37a-37c Ball return button (ball return switch ) 42 communication passage 47 ball counter

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A prize ball discharging device for discharging a predetermined number of prize balls based on the winning of a hit ball, and a ball returning device for returning the prize balls discharged from the prize ball discharging device to the inside of a pachinko island stand. In a pachinko machine provided with, the ball returning device, a return box provided at a position corresponding to the lower side of the lower plate of the pachinko machine, a connection passage that connects the return box and the inside of the pachinko island stand, A ball counter for counting the balls returned through the communication passage, and, when the ball return switch provided in the pachinko machine or the ball returning device is operated, by the ball counter A pachinko machine characterized in that the prize ball discharging device is driven within a range of the counted number of balls to discharge the balls.