JPH0591773U - Pachinko ball ejection device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] While reducing the material cost of parts, it reliably prevents damage to parts and improves the reliability of operation.
Prevents the discharge of pachinko balls when the store is closed. A sprocket 11 having a plurality of ball receiving concave portions 11a for receiving a pachinko ball 2 is rotatably provided, and ball supply paths 9 and 10 for supplying the pachinko ball 2 from just above a rotating shaft 12 of the sprocket 11 are provided. Installation, sprocket 1
A stepping motor 15 for ejecting the pachinko ball 2 by rotationally driving 1 is provided, a lock lever 16 for preventing the rotation when the sprocket 11 is engaged is provided, and the lock lever 16 is provided when energized. Is provided with an electromagnetic solenoid 18 for driving the lock lever 16 in the engaging direction when the electric power is cut off.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a pachinko ball discharging device suitable for, for example, a ball lending machine or a prize ball discharging device.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 As an example of the prize ball discharging device which is a pachinko ball discharging device of this type, there is a configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-111071. In this configuration, a ball supply path for supplying a pachinko ball from a ball tank, which is a ball supply source, is provided so as to extend in the vertical direction, and at the same time, a rotatably provided ball receiving member such as a sprocket tooth is provided. A solenoid is provided that allows the portion to project in the middle of the ball supply path and allows and blocks the rotation of the sprocket.

In the case of this configuration, by allowing the sprocket to rotate by the solenoid, the pachinko ball spontaneously falls from the top to the bottom of the ball supply path and is discharged to the ball discharge port side. Then, by blocking the rotation of the sprocket by the solenoid, the natural fall of the pachinko ball is stopped by the teeth of the sprocket, so that the discharge of the pachinko ball is stopped.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the above conventional configuration, when the pachinko ball is discharged, the pachinko ball naturally falls and hits the tooth portion of the sprocket, so that the tooth portion of the sprocket may be chipped due to the load of the pachinko ball. For this reason, the sprocket must be made of a highly durable material, which increases the material cost, and even if it is made of such a material, the fine particles that have peeled off due to the lack of teeth on the sprocket will move. There is a problem that the reliability of the operation is low because there is a risk of staying in the main part.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a pachinko ball ejecting device capable of reliably preventing damage to parts and improving operation reliability while reducing the material cost of the parts.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The pachinko ball ejecting device of the present invention includes a ball receiving member that is rotatably provided and has a plurality of ball receiving concave portions for receiving the pachinko ball on the outer peripheral portion, and receives the pachinko ball from the ball supply source of the ball receiving member. The ball receiving member is provided with a ball supply path which is supplied almost directly above the moving shaft, and the ball receiving member is provided with a stepping motor for rotating the ball receiving member to eject the pachinko ball from the ball receiving member to the ball ejection port side. Is provided so as to be engageable with the ball receiving member and prevents the rotation of the ball receiving member when the ball receiving member is engaged with the ball receiving member. It is characterized in that it is provided with an electromagnetic solenoid for driving in a direction for releasing the engagement and for driving the rotation preventing member in a direction for engaging with the ball receiving member when the electricity is cut off.

[0007]

[Action]

 According to the above means, the pachinko ball from the ball supply source is supplied almost directly above the rotation shaft of the ball receiving member, and the ball receiving member is rotationally driven by the stepping motor, so that the pachinko ball is discharged from the ball discharging port. Since the pachinko balls are ejected to the side, when the pachinko balls are ejected, the pachinko balls come into contact with the upper surface of the ball receiving recess of the ball receiving member, and most of the load of the pachinko ball rotates. Act on the axis.

Therefore, the load acting on the tooth portion of the ball receiving member is reduced, so that the tooth portion of the ball receiving member can be reliably prevented from being chipped. Therefore, since it is not necessary to form the ball receiving member with a material having such high durability, the material cost can be reduced, and the tooth portion of the ball receiving member is not chipped, so that the operation reliability is improved.

By the way, when the ball receiving member is rotationally driven by the stepping motor, the stepping motor is energized and excited even when the ball receiving member is stopped. Due to the excitation of the stepping motor, the stopped state of the ball receiving member is maintained, so that the pachinko balls can be prevented from being discharged. However, when the power is turned off to close the store, the stepping motor is cut off and is in a non-excited state, so that the ball receiving member can freely rotate. As a result, the ball receiving member is no longer held in a stopped state, so that there is a drawback that pachinko balls cannot be discharged.

On the other hand, according to the above-mentioned means, the rotation preventing member is driven in the direction of releasing the engagement with the ball receiving member when energized, and is rotated when the electricity is cut off. Since the electromagnetic solenoid is provided to drive the ball in the direction in which it engages with the ball receiving member, when the power is off, the electromagnetic solenoid is cut off and the rotation blocking member engages with the ball receiving member. Therefore, since the stopped state of the ball receiving member is maintained, discharge of the pachinko ball is prevented.

[0011]

【Example】

 An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a prize ball discharging device will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, in FIG. 2 showing the back side of the entire pachinko machine, a ball tank 3 which is a ball supply source for storing a large number of prize balls, that is, pachinko balls 2, is arranged above the back side of the machine body 1. The pachinko balls 2 are supplied into the ball tank 3 from a pachinko ball supply mechanism (not shown).

At the lower part of the ball tank 3, a ball downflow passage 4 is arranged, and the pachinko balls 2 flowing out from the bottom of the ball tank 3 flow down inside the ball downflow passage 4. The inside of the ball flow-down passage 4 is configured so as to be divided into two branch passages 5 (only one of which is shown) in the front and rear by ribs. On the lower right side of the branch passages 5, a prize ball discharging device 6 is arranged. The pachinko balls 2 discharged from the prize ball discharging device 6 flow down in the ball flow-down passage 7 and are then stored in a ball tray (not shown) provided in the lower portion on the front side of the machine body 1. Has been done.

Now, the prize ball discharging device 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. In FIG. 1, in a case 8, first and second sphere supply paths 9 and 10 are provided side by side in the front-rear direction so as to extend in the vertical direction. The first sphere supply passage 9 is composed of an upper straight line portion 9a and a substantially semicircular arc portion 9b extending from the lower end of the upper straight line portion 9a to the left in FIG. The second ball supply path 10 is an upper straight part (not shown, but has the same shape as the upper straight part 9a of the first ball supply path 9), and extends from the lower end of this upper straight part to the left in FIG. It also comprises a substantially semicircular arc portion 10b (shown by a broken line in FIG. 1).

In the first sphere supply passage 9, the upper end opening of the upper straight portion 9 a communicates with one branch passage 5 of the sphere flow-down passage 4, and the lower end opening of the arc portion 9 b is on the sphere outlet side. It communicates with the ball passage 7. In the second sphere supply passage 10, the upper end opening of the upper straight portion communicates with the other branch passage of the sphere flow-down passage 4, and the lower end opening of the arc portion 10b is connected to the sphere discharge passage 7 on the sphere outlet side. It is in communication.

Further, on the inner peripheral side of the arc portion 9b of the first ball supply path 9, for example, a first sprocket 11 which is a first ball receiving member is rotated around the rotary shaft 12 as a fulcrum. It is designed to be movable. A plurality of, for example, six ball receiving concave portions 11a are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the first sprocket 11, and tooth portions 11b are formed between the respective ball receiving concave portions 11a. In this case, instead of forming the inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral portion of the sprocket 11 is arranged in the arc portion 9b of the first sphere supply passage 9 in correspondence with the position of the inner peripheral wall. Then, the pachinko ball 2 is configured to be supplied from almost directly above the rotation shaft 12 of the first sprocket 11.

On the other hand, on the inner peripheral side of the arc portion 10b of the second ball supply path 10, for example, a second sprocket 13 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which is a second ball receiving member, is provided as a rotating shaft. It is provided so as to be rotatable around 12 as a fulcrum. The outer peripheral portion of the second sprocket 13 is also formed with the same number of ball receiving recesses 13a as the ball receiving recesses 11a of the first sprocket 11, and the tooth portions 13b are formed between the respective ball receiving recesses 13a. In this case, instead of forming the inner peripheral wall, the outer peripheral portion of the second sprocket 13 is arranged in the arc portion 10b of the second sphere supply passage 10 in correspondence with the position of the inner peripheral wall. Then, the pachinko ball 2 is configured to be supplied almost directly above the rotary shaft 12 of the second sprocket 13.

Further, the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13 are fixed to the rotating shaft 12 by screws, and are connected to each other by 12 connecting rods 14 as shown in FIG. Has been done. As a result, the sprockets 11 and 13 are integrally rotated by the stepping motor 15 (see FIG. 3) via the rotary shaft 12.

Here, the lower end side of the arc portion 10b of the second sphere supply path 10 is provided so as to be close along the outer periphery of the second sprocket 13, as shown by the broken line in FIG. As a result, when the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13 rotate integrally, the timing at which the pachinko ball 2 is discharged from the lower end opening of the arc portion 9b of the first ball supply path 9 and the second ball The pachinko ball 2 is discharged from the lower end opening of the arc portion 10b of the supply path 10 at a different timing. In the case of the present embodiment, the deviation of the discharge timing is set so that the rotation angle of the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13 is 30 degrees.

The stepping motor 15 can control the rotation angles of the sprockets 11 and 13 in units of 30 degrees (1/12 rotation unit). In this case, the stepping motor 15 is configured to rotate the rotary shaft 12, and thus the sprockets 11 and 13, in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. The stepping motor 15 is energized and excited even in the rotation stopped state, and has a function of holding the first and second sprockets 11 and 13 so as not to rotate from the rotation stopped position. There is.

Now, above the connecting portion of the sprockets 11 and 13, a rotation preventing member, for example, a lock lever 16 is provided so as to be rotatable around a shaft 17 as a fulcrum. An engaging portion 16a that engages with a connecting rod 14 that connects the sprockets 11 and 13 is formed at the left end portion of the lock lever 16 in FIG. The lock lever 16 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 1 and its engaging portion 16a engages the connecting rod 14 to prevent rotation of the sprockets 11 and 13 and rotate clockwise. The engagement with the connecting rod 14 is released by the movement.

The right end of the lock lever 16 in FIG. 1 is connected to the upper end of the plunger 19 of the electromagnetic solenoid 18, and the plunger 19 and the mounting plate 20 for mounting and fixing the electromagnetic solenoid 18 are fixed. A coil spring 21 is provided therebetween, and the spring force of the coil spring 21 urges the plunger 19 to move upward.

When energized, the electromagnetic solenoid 18 suction-drives the plunger 19 to move it downward, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, to rotate the lock lever 16 clockwise in FIG. .. As a result, the engagement between the engaging portion 16a of the lock lever 16 and the connecting rod 14 is released, and the rotation of the sprockets 11 and 13 is allowed. When the electromagnetic solenoid 18 is cut off, the plunger 19 is moved upward by the spring force of the coil spring 21 to move the lock lever 16 counterclockwise in FIG. Rotate in the direction. As a result, the engagement portion 16a of the lock lever 16 engages with the connecting rod 14, and the rotation of the sprockets 11 and 13 is blocked.

A first upper sphere detection sensor 22 for detecting the presence or absence of the pachinko ball 2 is provided on the outer peripheral wall at the lower end of the upper linear portion 9 a of the first sphere supply path 9. The first upper sphere detection sensor 22 is composed of, for example, a transmissive optical sensor, and has a light projecting element and a light receiving element. In this case, a through hole (not shown) is formed on the side wall of the first sphere supply path 9 so as to correspond to each of the above-mentioned elements, and light emitted from the light projecting element is emitted from the first sphere supply path 9 The light is received by the light receiving element through the through hole in the side wall.

Further, on the outer peripheral wall at the lower end of the arc portion 9b of the first ball supply passage 9, there is a first pachinko ball 2 that passes through the arc portion 9b and falls into the ball flow-down passage 7. A lower sphere detection sensor 23 is provided. The first lower sphere detection sensor 23 is composed of, for example, a transmissive optical sensor, and has a light projecting element and a light receiving element. A through hole (not shown) is formed in the side wall of the first sphere supply path 9 corresponding to each element.

On the other hand, a second upper sphere detection sensor 24 is provided on the upper outer peripheral wall of the upper linear portion of the second sphere supply path 10, and the second upper sphere detection sensor 24 is, for example, It is composed of a transmissive optical sensor and has a light projecting element and a light receiving element. Then, a through hole (not shown) is formed in the side wall of the second sphere supply path 10 so as to correspond to each element described above.

Further, on the outer peripheral wall of the arc portion 10b of the second ball supply path 10, there is provided a second lower portion for detecting the presence or absence of a pachinko ball 2 passing through the arc portion 10b and falling into the ball downflow passage 7. A ball detection sensor 25 is provided. The second lower sphere detection sensor 25 is also composed of, for example, a transmissive optical sensor, and has a light projecting element and a light receiving element. Then, a through hole (not shown) is formed in the side wall of the second sphere supply path 10 so as to correspond to each element described above.

A reflective optical sensor 26 (see FIG. 5) for detecting the rotational position is arranged near the first sprocket 11 or the second sprocket 13. The reflection type optical sensor 26 is configured to detect the original position of the first sprocket 11 and thus the second sprocket 13.

In FIG. 5 showing the electrical configuration, the control circuit 27 is configured to include a microcomputer and has a function of controlling the overall operation of the pachinko machine and the operation of the prize ball discharging device 6. Have a control program. The control circuit 27 detects a prize from a prize detecting circuit 28 for detecting that the pachinko ball 2 has won a prize opening (not shown), a detection signal from a reflective optical sensor 26, a first upper ball detecting sensor 2 2, receiving the respective detection signals from the first lower sphere detection sensor 23, the second upper sphere detection sensor 24 and the second lower sphere detection sensor 25. Further, the control circuit 27 is configured to drive and control the stepping motor 15 and the electromagnetic solenoid 18 by giving a drive control signal to the drive circuits 29 and 30.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. When the power is just turned on, the electromagnetic solenoid 18 is energized, and the plunger 19 is pulled down as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 so that the lock lever 16 moves clockwise in FIG. The rotation causes the engagement between the engagement portion 16a of the lock lever 16 and the connecting rod 14 to be released, and the rotation of the sprockets 11 and 13 is allowed. In this state, when the prize ball ejecting device 6 is not ejecting the pachinko balls 2, the stepping motor 15 is energized and excited, and its rotation stopped state is maintained. The sprockets 11 and 13 are held so as not to rotate from their rotation stop positions.

In the above state, it is assumed that the first and second sprockets 11 and 13 are stopped at the position shown in FIG. At this time, on the first sprocket 11 side, the two pachinko balls 2 are stopped in a state of being stored in the two ball receiving recesses 11 a of the sprocket 11. Also, on the side of the second sprocket 13, three pachinko balls 2 are stopped in a state of being stored in the ball receiving recesses 13 a at three positions of the sprocket 13. The difference in the number of storages occurs due to the difference between the lower end side shape of the arc portion 9b of the first sphere supply path 9 and the lower end side shape of the arc portion 10b of the second sphere supply path 10. It is like this.

In such a state, when a pachinko ball 2 hit into the game section (not shown) wins a prize, the prize ball ejecting device 6 ejects, for example, a total of 15 pachinko balls 2 as prize balls. Specifically, the stepping motor 15 is energized to drive the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13 together 1/12 rotations (that is, a rotation angle of 30 degrees) 15 times, that is, 15/12. By rotating, 15 pachinko balls 2 are passed one by one through the first ball supply path 9 and the second ball supply path 10 and discharged to the ball downflow path 7 side.

In this case, when the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13 are integrally rotated 1/12 from the state shown in FIG. 1, that is, when they are rotated by 30 degrees, the second sprocket 13 side From, one pachinko ball 2 is discharged downward. At this time, the pachinko ball 2 is not discharged from the first sprocket 11 side. Subsequently, when the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13 are further rotated together by 1/12 (30 degree rotation), one pachinko ball 2 is ejected downward from the first sprocket 11 side. Will be issued. At this time, the pachinko ball 2 is not discharged from the second sprocket 13 side.

Subsequently, by successively rotating the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13 together by 1/12 rotation each, the pachinko ball 2 is alternated from the first sprocket 11 and the second sprocket 13. One by one is discharged.

When the stepping motor 15 is energized, the rotational position (that is, the origin) of the first sprocket 11 (and thus the second sprocket 13) is detected based on the detection signal from the reflective optical sensor 26. Control while detecting the position). At the same time, based on the detection signals from the first upper sphere detection sensor 22 and the second upper sphere detection sensor 24, the pachinko balls in the first sphere supply path 9 and the second sphere supply path 10 are detected. The stepping motor 15 is controlled while detecting whether or not 2 is present. In addition, based on each detection signal from the first lower sphere detection sensor 23 and the second lower sphere detection sensor 25, the sphere passes through the first sphere supply path 9 and the second sphere supply path 10. It is configured to control while detecting the number of pachinko balls 2 falling into the downflow passage 7.

When the power is turned off to close the store, the stepping motor 15 is cut off and is in a non-excited state, so that the sprockets 11 and 13 can freely rotate and the pachinko ball 2 is prevented from being discharged. It may disappear. On the other hand, in the above embodiment, when the power is turned off, the electromagnetic solenoid 18 is cut off and the plunger 19 is moved upward by the spring force of the coil spring 21 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Thus, the lock lever 16 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. As a result, the engaging portion 16a of the lock lever 16 engages with the connecting rod 14 and the rotation of the sprockets 11 and 13 is blocked, so that the pachinko ball 2 can be reliably prevented from being discharged.

According to the present embodiment having such a configuration, the pachinko balls 2 from the ball tank 3 are moved to the first and second sprockets 11 and 13 by the first and second ball supply paths 9 and 10. It is configured so that it is supplied almost directly above the rotating shaft 12 of the pachinko ball 2 by rotating the first and second sprockets 11 and 13 integrally by the stepping motor 15. The balls are discharged one by one into the ball flow passage 7 on the ball discharge port side. Therefore, when the pachinko ball 2 is discharged, as shown in FIG. 1, the load of the pachinko ball 2 is exerted on the rotating shaft 12 via the sprockets 11 and 13, respectively.

Therefore, the load acting on the teeth 11b and 13b of each sprocket 11 and 13 is smaller than that of the conventional structure, so that it is ensured that the teeth 11b and 13b of each sprocket 11 and 13 are chipped. It can be prevented. Since it is not necessary to form each sprocket 11 and 13 with a material having such a high durability, the material cost can be reduced, and the tooth portions 11b and 13b of each sprocket 11 and 13 can be eliminated, so that the operation can be improved. The reliability of is greatly improved.

In addition, when the power is turned off to close the store, even if the electromagnetic solenoid 18 is cut off, the plunger 19 moves upward and the lock lever 16 moves, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. The engaging portion 16a of the above engages with the connecting rod 14, and rotation of the sprockets 11 and 13 is blocked. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the pachinko balls 2 from being discharged when the store is closed.

In the above embodiment, 15 pachinko balls 2 are ejected at the time of winning, but the number of pachinko balls 2 to be ejected may be an odd number or an even number such as 8 or 10 if appropriate. good. Further, although the two sprockets 11 and 13 are provided in the above-described embodiment, the number of sprockets is not limited to this, and one sprockets may be provided. Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the present invention is applied to the prize ball discharging device, but of course, it may be applied to a ball lending machine instead.

[0040]

[Effect of the device]

 As is apparent from the above description, the present invention is provided with a rotation preventing member that is engageable with the ball receiving member and that prevents the rotation when the ball receiving member is engaged, and is electrically energized. An electromagnetic solenoid is provided for driving the rotation blocking member in a direction to release the engagement with the ball receiving member, and for driving the rotation blocking member in a direction to be engaged with the ball receiving member when the power is cut off. Because of the configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent damage to the parts and improve the operation reliability while reducing the material cost of the parts, and also to reliably prevent the discharge of the pachinko ball when the store is closed. It has an excellent effect that

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional rear view of a prize ball discharging device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Rear view of the pachinko machine

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the prize ball discharging device.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of first and second sprockets, a lock lever, and an electromagnetic solenoid.

FIG. 5: Block diagram

[Explanation of symbols]

1 is a machine body, 2 is a pachinko ball, 3 is a ball tank (ball supply source), 4 is a ball downflow passage, 6 is a prize ball discharge device, 7 is a ball downflow passage, 8 is a case, 9 is a first ball supply A passage, 10 is a second ball supply passage, 11 is a first sprocket (ball receiving member), 1
1a is a ball receiving recess, 11b is a tooth portion, 12 is a rotating shaft, 13 is a second sprocket (ball receiving member), 13a is a ball receiving recess,
13b is a tooth portion, 14 is a connecting rod, 15 is a stepping motor, 16 is a lock lever (rotation preventing member), and 18 is an electromagnetic solenoid.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A ball receiving member which is rotatably provided and has a plurality of ball receiving concave portions for receiving a pachinko ball on an outer peripheral portion thereof, and a pachinko ball from a ball supply source almost directly above a rotation axis of the ball receiving member. A sphere supply path for supplying, a stepping motor for rotatably driving the sphere receiving member to eject the pachinko sphere from the sphere receiving member to the sphere discharge port side, and the sphere provided so as to be engageable with the sphere receiving member. A rotation blocking member that blocks the rotation of the ball receiving member when it is engaged with the receiving member, and drives the rotation blocking member in the direction to release the engagement with the ball receiving member when energized, and disconnects the power. A pachinko ball ejecting device, comprising: an electromagnetic solenoid that drives the rotation preventing member in a direction in which the rotation preventing member engages with the ball receiving member.