JPH07289727A - Pachinko ball averaging device on Pachinko Island - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Construction] When the storage amount of pachinko balls in the tanks 31, 32 reaches the second upper limit amount, the prize ball counting speed in the jet counter 20 is made slower than the normal speed. Collecting prize balls is rarely done until the amount reaches the middle level. Therefore, the player causes another pachinko island with a relatively small pachinko ball storage amount to collect the prize balls until the pachinko ball storage amount becomes an intermediate amount. On the other hand, in Pachinko Island where the amount of pachinko balls stored is relatively small, the prize ball counting speed is the normal speed or a speed higher than the normal speed, so that a relatively large amount of prize balls can be collected. [Effect] The amount of pachinko balls stored in each pachinko island can be averaged. Therefore, there is no shortage of prize balls to be awarded and the counting operation in the jet counter is not prohibited, so that the player can continue the game.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for averaging pachinko balls on a pachinko island in which a predetermined number of pachinko machines are lined up.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a plurality of so-called pachinko islands in which a predetermined number of pachinko machines are lined up are arranged in a pachinko parlor. The pachinko machine has an out hole and a safe hole. When a hit ball hit by the player into the safe hole wins, a plurality of prize balls predetermined by the player are awarded by this safe action. When the player exchanges the prize balls that have been acquired and accumulated, the prize balls that have been awarded are counted by the prize ball counter at the prize exchange site, and the prize balls corresponding to the counted number are exchanged and collected. The prize balls collected at the gift exchange are returned to each pachinko island.

In the above-mentioned pachinko islands, the amount of pachinko balls possessed by each pachinko island is unevenly distributed due to the difference in the operating rate or the payout rate of the pachinko machines on each pachinko island.
In other words, on one pachinko island, there is a shortage of pachinko balls and it is not possible to supply pachinko balls to the pachinko machine, and on the other pachinko island, on the other hand, there are too many pachinko balls, causing the pachinko machine to malfunction. To do.

Therefore, conventionally, there has been proposed a device for keeping the amount of pachinko balls held in each pachinko island constant and averaging the amount of pachinko balls held in each pachinko island. This type of averaging device is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 62-24110. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a simplified configuration of the averaging device disclosed in the above publication.
1 is a pachinko island in which pachinko machines 11 to 16 are arranged in a row. At an appropriate place on the pachinko island 1, a prize ball counter 2 for counting and collecting prize balls is provided. Further, below the pachinko island 1, a hitting ball storage tank 3 for collecting and storing hitting balls discharged from the respective pachinko machines 11 to 16,
Above each, a prize ball storage tank 4 for storing the prize balls for distributing the prize balls to the respective pachinko machines 11 to 16 is provided.

The hit balls discharged from the respective pachinko machines 11 to 16 are collected and stored in the hit ball storage tank 3.
The stored shot-in balls are pumped to the prize ball storage tank 4 by a predetermined pumping means 5 and stored in the prize ball storage tank 4. The stored prize balls are distributed to the respective pachinko machines 11 to 16 via the supply path 6. On the other hand, the prize balls counted by the prize ball counter 2 are also collected in the driving ball storage tank 3.
It is stored and pumped to the prize ball storage tank 4.

[0006]

In the above averaging device, when the payout rate of the pachinko machines 11 to 16 on the pachinko island 1 is high and the amount of prize balls to be awarded is relatively large, this large amount is used. In order to prepare for the prize ball prize, a large amount of prize balls are stored in advance above the pachinko island 1 including the prize ball storage tank 4. On the other hand, the prize ball counter 2 is loaded with a large amount of prize balls awarded to the player in order to exchange the prize balls. Therefore, a relatively large amount of prize balls are thrown into the prize ball counter 2 of the pachinko island 1 having a high payout rate.

In such a case, since a large amount of prize balls are stored in advance above the pachinko island 1, the prize ball counter 2
The prize balls collected from the hit ball storage tank 3 cannot be sent to the prize ball storage tank 4. Therefore, the prize balls collected from the prize ball counter 2 are stored in the hit ball storage tank 3 and finally become full. When the hit ball storage tank 3 is full, the shutter provided in the prize ball counter 2 is closed and the introduction of the prize balls is prohibited.

On the other hand, when the payout rate is low and the amount of prize balls to be awarded is relatively small, it is sufficient to prepare for the award of a small amount of prize balls. A relatively small amount of prize balls is stored in advance above the pachinko island 1 including. Further, since the amount of prize balls to be awarded is small, a relatively small amount of prize balls is put into the prize ball counter 2 of the pachinko island 1 having a low payout rate. Therefore, the hit ball storage tank 3 of the pachinko island 1 having a low payout rate is rarely filled, and the prize ball counter 2 is rarely closed.

Therefore, the player who has been playing on the pachinko island 1 with a high payout rate is assigned to the prize ball counter 2 on the pachinko island 1 with a low payout rate in which the shutter of the prize ball counter 2 is not closed. There are many cases of throwing in prize balls. As a result, the following problems occur. That is, on the pachinko island 1 with a high payout rate, since the prize ball is highly prized even though the counting operation of the prize ball counter 2 is prohibited, the prize before the counting operation is released. There is a high possibility of running out of balls. Therefore, the player cannot continue the game.

On the other hand, on Pachinko Island 1, which has a low payout rate, the amount of prize balls collected increases as the prize balls are thrown in from other islands, although the prize balls are rarely awarded. The number of pachinko balls becomes excessive sooner or later, and the counting operation of the prize ball counter 2 is prohibited. Therefore, the prize balls that have been awarded cannot be loaded. At this time, the counting operation of the prize balls is prohibited even on the pachinko island 1 having a high payout rate, and as a result, the player cannot continue the game.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for averaging the pachinko balls on the pachinko islands so that the player can continue the game for a long time.

[0012]

A pachinko ball averaging device for a pachinko island of the present invention for achieving the above object is provided at an appropriate place on a pachinko island where a predetermined pachinko machine is lined up, and is put in by a player. A prize ball counting means for counting the number of prize balls, and a first prize provided above Pachinko Island for storing the prize balls and distributing the stored prize balls to the respective pachinko machines.
A storage means and a shot ball provided below the pachinko island, which is used for a game and collects and stores the prize balls counted by the prize ball counting means, the pachinko ball storage amount is higher than that of the first storage means. A sufficiently large second storage means, a pumping means for pumping the pachinko balls stored in the second storage means to the first storage means according to the prize ball storage amount of the first storage means, and a second storage means
Based on the output signals from the pachinko ball storage amount detection means for detecting the pachinko ball storage amount of the storage means and the pachinko ball storage amount detection means, the pachinko ball storage amount of the second storage means is determined, and the pachinko ball storage amount is intermediate. When it is determined that it is the amount, the counting speed in the prize ball counting means is set to the normal speed,
When it is determined that the pachinko ball storage amount has reached the upper limit amount, the prize ball counting speed in the prize ball counting means is made slower than the normal speed, and when it is determined that the pachinko ball storage amount has decreased to the lower limit amount, the prize ball Counting speed control means for increasing the prize ball counting speed in the counting means above the normal speed.

[0013]

In the above structure, the pachinko balls stored in the second storage means are pumped according to the amount of prize balls stored in the first storage means. For example, when the pachinko balls stored in the second storage means are not pumped to the first storage means, the pachinko balls collected in the second storage means are stored as they are. As a result, the amount of pachinko balls stored in the second storage means increases,
Finally, the upper limit is reached. In response to this, the counting speed control means makes the prize ball counting speed in the prize ball counting means slower than the normal speed. As a result, most of the players who have won a prize ball on this pachinko island will go to the prize ball counting means on another pachinko island with a relatively small amount of pachinko ball storage, and this pachinko ball The prize balls are rarely collected on the island.

In this state, when the pachinko balls stored in the second storage means come to be sent to the first storage means, the amount of pachinko balls stored in the second storage means decreases.
When the pachinko ball storage amount becomes the intermediate amount, the counting speed control means sets the prize ball counting speed in the prize ball counting means to the normal speed. Therefore, most of the players who have won a prize ball on this pachinko island can put the prize ball into the prize ball counting means of this pachinko island. That is, the prize balls can be charged as usual.

If the prize ball counting speed in the prize ball counting means is set to the normal speed, the prize balls are not thrown in so much,
When the amount of pachinko balls stored in the second storage means decreases to the lower limit amount, the prize ball counting speed is set to a speed higher than the normal speed. That is, since a large number of gift balls can be counted in a short time, a large amount of gift balls can be collected in a short time.

As described above, according to the above configuration, after the pachinko ball storage amount of the second storage means once reaches the upper limit amount, the prize balls are not collected much until the pachinko ball storage amount reaches the intermediate amount. Not done That is, the player collects the prize balls on another pachinko island where the pachinko ball storage amount is relatively small until the pachinko ball storage amount becomes the intermediate amount. On the other hand, in other Pachinko islands where the amount of pachinko balls stored is relatively small, the prize ball counting speed is the normal speed or a speed higher than the normal speed, so that a relatively large amount of the prize balls can be collected. Therefore, the amount of pachinko balls stored on each pachinko island can be set to an approximately intermediate amount. That is, they can be averaged. Therefore, there is no shortage of prize balls to be awarded and the counting operation in the prize ball counting means is not prohibited, so that the player can continue the game.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a pachinko ball averaging device (hereinafter, simply referred to as “averaging device”) on a pachinko island of one embodiment of the present invention in a simplified manner by omitting the middle of the number. This averaging device is provided with a predetermined number of pachinko machines P11 to P1n and P21 to P2n.
(Hereinafter, when collectively referred to as "pachinko machine P".) Pachinko balls are averaged on the pachinko island 10 in which the prize balls counting means counts the number of prize balls thrown by the player. Jet counter 20 that functions as
And pool tanks 31 and 32 corresponding to the second storage means for collecting and storing the hit balls used in the game discharged from the pachinko machine P and the prize balls counted by the jet counter 20, and the prize balls. Each pachinko machine P11-P1
n, P21 to P2n, the prize ball storage tank 40 corresponding to the core of the first storage means, and the pachinko balls stored in the pool tanks 31 and 32 are pumped to the prize ball storage tank 40. A pachinko island 1 including a pumping device 50 corresponding to a pumping means and a prize ball storage tank 40.
Each of the pachinko machines P11
~ P1n, P21 ~ P2n without pool tank 3
1 and 32 are provided with prize ball collecting devices 61 and 62 that are directly moved.

Pachinko island 10 has a jet counter 2
0, with the prize ball storage tank 40 and the lifting device 50 as the center, the respective pachinko machines P11 to P1n, P21 to P2n,
Prize ball collecting devices 61, 62 and pool tanks 31, 3
2 are arranged on both left and right sides. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the pachinko machine P. The pachinko machine P
On the rear side of the game board 70, there is provided a simple tank 71 for storing the prize balls in order to give the prize balls to the player, and on the front side of the game board 70, a driven-in ball saucer 72 and a prize ball saucer 73.
Is equipped with. Then, when the hit ball hit by the player enters the safe hole 70a on the game board 70, the safe action causes the prize ball from the simple tank 71 to be a prize ball award passage 74.
It is awarded to the driven-in ball saucer 72 through. Driving ball saucer 72
When is full, a prize ball is awarded to the prize ball tray 73 below. On the other hand, the hit balls that have entered the out holes 70b and the safe holes 70a on the game board 70 are discharged from the discharge passage 75 to the pool tanks 31 and 32 one by one.

Returning to FIG. 1, the jet counter 20 is provided with distribution passages 21 and 22 for distributing prize balls thrown into a predetermined slot into the left and right pool tanks 31 and 32. The prize balls thrown into the jet counter 20 are distributed right and left through the distribution passages 21 and 22, and are collected and stored in the pool tanks 31 and 32.
Further, the jet counter 20 has a count number display section for displaying the count number of prize balls to the player, a print section for printing out the count number, and the count of prize balls for the player and the clerk is being suppressed. A warning display unit or the like for displaying whether or not is provided. The counting speed of the prize balls in the jet counter 20 is controlled by a control mechanism described later.

The pool tanks 31 and 32 are arranged below the pachinko island 10. Pool tank 31, 32
Are provided along the direction in which the pachinko machines P are arranged in a row, and are inclined so as to descend toward the jet counter 20, and are divided into a plurality of rooms corresponding to the number of the pachinko machines P. There is. Therefore, pool tank 3
In the Nos. 1 and 32, the hit balls are sequentially collected and stored from the partition sections 311 and 321 on the jet counter 20 side toward the partition sections 31n and 32n at the ends. The prize balls collected from the jet counter 20 are mainly collected and stored in the partition sections 311 and 321 on the jet counter 20 side.

The pool tanks 31 and 32 are pool tanks for judging whether or not there is enough room to receive a predetermined amount of prize balls stored in the upper portion of the pachinko island 10 including the prize ball storage tank 40. Sensors C and D for detecting whether or not the pachinko ball storage amount of 31, 32 has decreased to the first lower limit amount (for example, 70% of the storable amount), and the pachinko ball storage amount of the pool tanks 31, 32 are Sensors E and F are provided for detecting whether or not the first upper limit amount (for example, 100% of the storable amount) has been reached.

Further, in the pool tanks 31 and 32, a second lower limit amount (for example, a storable amount of 40) in which the pachinko ball storage amount of the pool tanks 31 and 32 is larger than the first lower limit amount described above.
%), The sensors a, a ′ for detecting whether or not the pachinko ball storage amount is larger than the second lower limit amount and is smaller than a second upper limit amount described later (for example, of the storable amount). 65%), a sensor b for detecting whether or not
b ', and sensors c, c'for detecting whether or not the pachinko ball storage amount is a second upper limit amount smaller than the first upper limit amount (for example, 90% of the storable amount). There is.

In this embodiment, the sensors C, D, E,
F, a, a ', b, b', c, c'correspond to the pachinko ball storage amount detecting means. In addition, the sensors C, D, E, F,
An optical sensor, for example, can be applied to a, a ', b, b', c, c '. The prize ball storage tank 40 is provided above the pachinko island 10. The prize ball storage tank 40 is connected with supply passages 81 and 82 for distributing and supplying prize balls to the pachinko machine P. This supply passage 81,
82 is a simple tank 71 of the pachinko machine P (see FIG. 2).
Distribution passages 911 to 91n, 921 to distribute prize balls to
92n is connected. The prize balls stored in the prize ball storage tank 40 are distributed from the distribution passages 911 to 91n, 921 to 92n to the simple tanks 71 of the respective pachinko machines P11 to P1n and P21 to P2n through the supply passages 81 and 82. . Further, a sensor A for detecting whether or not the prize ball storage amount has reached the third upper limit amount is provided in an upper part of the prize ball storage tank 40, and a prize ball storage part is provided in a lower part. A sensor B is provided for detecting whether the amount has decreased to the third lower limit amount.

An optical sensor, for example, can be applied to these sensors A and B. In addition, in this embodiment, the prize ball storage tank 40, the supply passages 81 and 82, and the distribution passage 9 are provided.
11-91n and 921-92n correspond to the 1st storage means. The lifting device 50 includes a lifting tank 51 that stores pachinko balls to be pumped to the prize ball storage tank 40, and a lift 52 that polishes the pachinko balls and lifts them to the prize ball storage tank 40. The upper part of the lift 52 is connected to the prize ball storage tank 40, and the lower part is connected to the lifting tank 51. Further, the feeding device 50 is connected with introduction passages 53, 54 for guiding the pachinko balls from the pool tanks 31, 32 to the feeding tank 51, and the introduction passages 53, 54 are opened and closed at this connection portion. A magnet type lifting shutter 55 is attached. Introduction passage 53,5
One end of 4 is the partition part 311 of the pool tanks 31 and 32.
321 is connected. Therefore, the pachinko balls are sent from the pool tanks 31, 32 to the lifting tank 51 via the introduction passages 53, 54 when the lifting shutter 55 is opened, and the lift 52 lifts the lifting tank 51.
Is sent to the prize ball storage tank 40 from. On the other hand, when the lifting shutter 55 is closed, the pachinko balls are not lifted.

When the pachinko balls are sent from the pool tanks 31 and 32 to the lifting tank 51 via the introduction passages 53 and 54, first, the pachinko balls stored in the partition parts 311 and 321 are sent to the partition part 311. , 321 after most of the pachinko balls stored in
Pachinko balls stored in 2,322 are sent. That is, the pachinko balls stored in the section closer to the center of the pachinko island 10 are sequentially sent.

The prize ball collecting devices 61 and 62 directly move the prize balls stored in the upper portion of the pachinko island 10 without using the pachinko machine P to collect the prize balls.
3,64 and a supply gutter 6 for guiding the prize balls directly collected in the prize ball collecting passages 63,64 to the pool tanks 31,32.
7, 68 and. The prize ball collecting passages 63, 64 and the supply gutters 67, 68 are connected via collecting shutters 65, 66. The collection shutters 65, 66 are of a magnet type and open / close the prize ball collection passages 63, 64. The prize balls stored above the pachinko island 10 are pooled through the prize ball collecting passages 63 and 64 and the supply gutters 67 and 68 only when the collecting shutters 65 and 66 are open. 32 is directly collected and stored.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic electrical construction of the averaging device of this embodiment. In the figure, 100 is a microcomputer for controlling the operation of each part of the averaging device. This microcomputer 100
Has a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like (not shown), and controls according to a program stored in the ROM in advance. That is, the microcomputer 100 is provided with sensor outputs from the sensors A, B, C, D, E, and F, and the sensor outputs control the lifting shutter 55 and the recovery shutters 65 and 66.

Specifically, the microcomputer 100
Is the prize ball storage tank 4 based on the output from the sensor A.
If it is determined that the prize ball storage amount of 0 has reached the third upper limit amount,
The lifting shutter 55 is closed. When the microcomputer 100 determines that the prize ball storage amount has decreased to the third lower limit amount based on the output from the sensor B, the microcomputer 100 opens the lifting shutter 55.

Further, the microcomputer 100, based on the outputs from the sensors C and D, pool tanks 31 and 3
If it is determined that there is enough room to receive a predetermined amount of prize balls stored in the upper part of the pachinko island 10 including the prize ball storage tank 40 in 2, the collection shutters 65 and 66 are opened. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining the control mechanism of the counting speed of the prize balls in the jet counter 20. This control mechanism functions as a counting speed control means for controlling the count speed of the prize balls in the jet counter 20, and the counter 11 for counting the number of prize balls thrown into the jet counter 20.
It has 0. The counter 110 is provided with the distribution passages 21 and 22 extending from the jet counter 20 to the left and right.
(In the figure, for convenience, only the distribution passage 21 is shown). Further, in the middle of the distribution passages 21 and 22 and on the downstream side of the counter 110, a pachinko ball passing through the distribution passages 21 and 22 is provided with a pool tank 31 via a gear 111 having a plurality of teeth. , 32 to 1
Notches 112 are formed so that they can be collected one by one. The gear 111 is rotated by the driving force given by the motor 113. Therefore, the distribution passage 21,
The prize balls passing through 22 are sandwiched one by one between the teeth of the gear 111 by the above rotation, and are pool tanks 31, 32.
Will be collected.

The motor 113 has sensors a, a ', b,
A sequencer 114 to which sensor outputs from b ′, c, c ′ are given is connected, and the rotation speed of the motor 113 is controlled by this sequencer 114. Next, this specific method will be described. In the following description, ON means that the pachinko balls are stored up to the position where the sensors a, a ', b, b', c, c'are arranged, and OFF means the sensors a, a ', b, b ', c, c'
It means that the pachinko balls are not stored up to the position where is placed.

The sequencer 114 includes a pool tank 31,
When the pachinko ball storage amount of 32 reaches the second upper limit amount, that is, when the sensors a, a ', b, b', c, c'are all ON, the rotation speed of the motor 113 is set to be lower than the normal rotation speed. Is also reduced (for example, 187 (rpm)). As a result, the gear 1 to which the driving force is applied from the motor 113
The rotation of 11 is slower than the normal rotation, and as a result, the collection speed of the prize balls passing through the distribution passages 21 and 22 is also slower than the normal speed (for example, 12000 pieces / minute).

From this state, when the pachinko ball storage amount decreases to an intermediate amount, that is, the sensors a, a ',
When only b and b'are turned off, the sequencer 114
Is the normal rotation speed (eg 28
1 (rpm)). Accordingly, the rotation of the gear 111 becomes a normal rotation, and as a result, the collection speed of the prize balls passing through the distribution passages 21 and 22 becomes a normal speed (for example, 1800).
0 / minute).

Further, when the pachinko ball storage amount decreases to the second lower limit amount from such a state, that is, when the sensors a, a ', b, b', c, c'are all turned off, the sequencer 114. Causes the rotation speed of the motor 113 to be higher than the normal rotation speed (for example, 375 (rpm)
). Thereby, the rotation of the gear 111 becomes faster than the normal rotation, and as a result, the collection speed of the prize balls passing through the distribution passages 21 and 22 becomes faster (for example, 24000 pieces /
Minutes).

Next, conversely, when the pachinko ball storage amount increases and returns to the intermediate amount, that is, the sensors a and a'are OF
When only the sensors b, b ', c, c'are turned ON while the F is still maintained, the rotation speed of the motor 113 is set to the normal rotation speed as in the above, and as a result, the collection speed of the prize ball is normal. Returned to speed. In addition, the amount of pachinko balls stored has increased
When the upper limit amount is reached, that is, the sensors a, a ′, b,
When b ′, c, and c ′ are all turned on, the rotation speed of the motor 113 is made lower than the normal rotation speed, as a result, and as a result, the collection speed of the prize ball becomes slow.

In addition to the control processing of the count speed, the sequencer 114 displays a warning display section provided on the jet counter 20 when the pachinko ball storage amount of the pool tanks 31 and 32 reaches the second upper limit amount. A suppression signal is output to display that the counting speed of the prize ball is being suppressed. Further, when the pachinko ball storage amount decreases from the second upper limit amount to the intermediate amount, the sequencer 114 outputs a cancellation signal to the warning display unit to cancel the display indicating that the suppression is being performed.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing the basic processing operation of the averaging apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the recovery processing operation when directly collecting the prize balls. The operation flow of the averaging device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, the flow of the basic processing operation will be described with reference to FIG. It is determined whether or not the number of prize balls to be supplied to the pachinko machine P has reached the third upper limit amount of the prize ball storage tank 40 (step S1). As a result, when it is determined that the prize ball storage amount of the prize ball storage tank 40 has reached the third upper limit amount based on the output from the sensor A, the lifting shutter 55 is closed (step S2). That is, the lifting of the pachinko balls from the pool tanks 31, 32 is stopped.

Next, it is judged whether or not the amount of free gift balls stored in the free gift ball storage tank 40 has decreased to the third lower limit amount (step S3). As a result, when it is determined that the prize ball storage amount has decreased to the third lower limit amount based on the output from the sensor B, the lifting shutter 55 is opened (step S).
4). Then, the lifting of the pachinko balls in the pool tanks 31, 32 is started.

That is, in the basic processing operation, the opening / closing of the lifting shutter 55 is controlled according to the amount of free gift balls stored in the free gift ball storage tank 40, and this is repeated. Next, with reference to FIG. 6, a flow of a collection processing operation for directly collecting the prize balls will be described. In this operation, the upper portion of the Pachinko island 10 including the prize ball storage tank 40 is almost full of prize balls, the lifting shutter 55 is closed, and the jets are mainly stored in the partition parts 311 and 321 of the pool tanks 31 and 32. This is performed when the prize balls collected from the counter 20 cannot be pumped to the prize ball storage tank 40.

That is, it is determined whether or not the free gift ball storage amount in the free gift ball storage tank 40 has reached the third upper limit amount, in other words, whether the lifting shutter 55 is closed (step P1), and as a result thereof. When it is determined that the lifting shutter 55 is closed, the pool tank 3
Pachinko Island 10 including a prize ball storage tank 40 in 1, 32
It is determined whether or not there is enough room to receive a predetermined amount of prize balls stored in the upper part of the table, that is, whether the sensors C and D are OFF (step P2). As a result, when it is determined that the sensors C and D are OFF, the recovery shutters 65 and 66 are opened (step P3). As a result, the prize balls stored above the pachinko island 10 are directly collected in the pool tanks 31, 32 from the prize ball collection passages 63, 64 and the supply gutters 67, 68 without passing through the pachinko machine P. The moving speed at this time is sufficiently higher than the speed at which the hit balls are collected from the pachinko machine P in normal times.

Along with this, the amount of free gift balls stored in the free gift ball storage tank 40 decreases. When it is determined that the prize ball storage amount has decreased to the third lower limit amount based on the output from the sensor B, the lifting shutter 55 is opened and the pachinko balls are transferred from the pool tanks 31, 32 to the prize ball storage tank. 40
It is possible to pump to (step P1). Then, the collection shutters 65 and 66 are closed and the direct collection is stopped. (Step P4).

As described above, according to the averaging device of the present embodiment, once the amount of pachinko balls stored in the pool tanks 31 and 32 reaches the upper limit, the amount of prizes until the amount of pachinko balls stored reaches an intermediate amount. Balls are rarely collected. That is,
The player, until the pachinko ball storage amount becomes the intermediate amount,
Collect prize balls on other Pachinko islands where the amount of pachinko balls stored is relatively small. On the other hand, in Pachinko Island where the amount of pachinko balls stored is relatively small, the prize ball counting speed is the normal speed or a speed higher than the normal speed, so that a relatively large amount of prize balls can be collected. Therefore, the pachinko balls on each pachinko island can be averaged. Therefore, there is no shortage of prize balls to be awarded and the counting operation in the jet counter 20 is not prohibited, so that the player can continue the game.

Further, even if the amount of pachinko balls stored in the pool tanks 31, 32 reaches the second upper limit amount, the prize ball counting operation of the jet counter 20 is not prohibited, so that the player mistakenly wins the prize balls. Even if you throw it in
The counting operation can be performed reliably. Further, unlike the conventional case, since the shutter for prohibiting the counting operation is not provided, the configuration of the jet counter 20 can be simplified.

In the above embodiment, the sensors a,
Although the count speed in the jet counter 20 is controlled only by the sensor outputs of a ', b, b', c, c ', for example, in addition to the above sensor outputs,
The count speed may be controlled based on the sensor outputs of the sensors A and B. That is, the sensors a, a ′,
When b, b ', c, c'and the sensor A are all ON, the count speed is slowed down and the sensors a, a', b, b ',
The count speed may be increased when c, c ′ and sensor B are all OFF.

The description of the present embodiment is as described above.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the above embodiment, the pachinko machines P11 to P1n, P21 to P2n, the prize ball collecting devices 61 and 62, and the pool tanks 31 and 32 are mainly provided around the jet counter 20, the prize ball storage tank 40, and the lifting device 50. Although an example in which the pachinko machine P is arranged on the entire surface, the pachinko machine P is provided on the entire surface, the prize ball storage tank, the jet counter, and the lifting device are provided at one end of the pachinko island, and the prize ball collecting device is provided at the other end. May be provided. With this configuration, the same operational effect as the above embodiment can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the opening / closing of the lifting shutter 55 is controlled based on the sensor outputs of the sensors A and B provided in the prize ball storage tank 40. Lifting shutter 5 with various configurations
The opening and closing of 5 may be controlled. That is, the prize ball storage tank 40 is provided only with the sensor B for detecting whether or not the prize ball storage amount has decreased to the third lower limit amount. Then, a sensor is provided for counting the number of pachinko balls to be lifted in the middle of the lift 52. In this configuration, when the sensor B detects that the prize ball storage amount has decreased to the third lower limit amount, the lifting shutter 55 is opened and the pachinko balls are lifted from the pool tanks 31 and 32 by the lift 5.
It is pumped to the prize ball storage tank 40 via 2. At this time, the number of pachinko balls to be pumped by the sensor is counted. Then, when the counted value reaches a predetermined value (for example, the upper limit amount of the prize ball storage amount of the prize ball storage tank 40), the lifting shutter 55 is closed.

Further, in the above embodiment, the distribution passage 2
1, 22 and the number of pachinko balls passing through the discharge passage 75 are respectively counted to obtain the sum, and the sum is stored in the pool tanks 31 and 32 at the upper portion of the pachinko island 10 including the prize ball storage tank 40. The collection shutters 65 and 66 may be opened when it is determined that there is enough room to receive a predetermined amount of present prize balls. In this case, it is not necessary to provide the sensors C and D in the pool tanks 31 and 32, but they may be provided in the distribution passages 21 and 22 and the discharge passage 75.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sensors a and a '.
It is detected that the amount of pachinko balls stored in the pool tanks 31 and 32 has reached the second upper limit amount, and that the amount of pachinko ball storage in the pool tanks 31 and 32 has decreased to the second lower limit amount by the sensors c and c '. Although it is detected, for example, the sensor a,
Pachinko ball storage amount is second with sensors E and F instead of a '
It is also possible to detect that the upper limit amount has been reached, and instead of the sensors c and c ′, the sensors C and D may detect that the pachinko ball storage amount has decreased to the second lower limit amount. With this configuration, the number of sensors can be reduced.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the sequencer 114 controls the rotation speed of the motor 113 based on the outputs from the sensors a, a ', b, b', c, c '. For example, sensors a, a ', b, b', c,
A limit switch may be used instead of c '. Further, in the above embodiment, the rotation speed of the motor 113 is directly controlled by the sequencer 114. However, for example, the motor 113 is a motor which always rotates at a constant rotation speed, and a predetermined distance is provided between the motor 113 and the gear 111. The rotation speed varying means may be inserted and the sequencer 114 may control this rotation speed varying means.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the case where the control mechanism for controlling the count speed in the jet counter 20 includes the gear 111 and the motor 113 has been described, but the control mechanism has a structure as shown in FIG. 7, for example. Good. That is, in the sequencer 114,
An electromagnet 121 around which a signal wire is wound is connected in the circumferential direction of a cylindrical iron core 120. The electromagnet 121 is provided below the distribution passages 21 and 22 so that the magnetic force lines 122 generated by the current flowing through the signal lines affect the prize balls passing through the distribution passages 21 and 22. Therefore, by controlling the current flowing through the signal line, the prize balls passing through the distribution passages 21 and 22 are strongly attracted by magnetic force to delay the collection speed, or the magnetic attraction is weakened to increase the collection speed. be able to.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sequencer 11
Although the counting speed of the prize ball is controlled by so-called sequence control using 4, the counting speed may be controlled using, for example, a hall computer or a CPU. Other various design changes can be made within the scope described in the claims.

[0051]

As described above, according to the pachinko ball averaging device of the pachinko island of the present invention, the prize ball counting speed in the prize ball counting means is changed according to the pachinko ball storage amount of the second storage means. Therefore, the amount of pachinko balls stored in each pachinko island can be averaged. Therefore, there is no shortage of prize balls to be awarded and the counting operation in the prize ball counting means is not prohibited, so that the player can continue the game.

Even when the amount of pachinko balls stored in the second storage means reaches the upper limit, since the prize ball counting operation in the prize ball counting means is not prohibited, the player mistakenly throws in the prize balls. However, the counting operation can be performed reliably. Further, since the shutter for prohibiting the counting operation is not provided, the structure of the prize ball counting means can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a simplified configuration of a pachinko ball averaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a pachinko machine that constitutes a part of the pachinko ball averaging device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a basic electrical configuration of the pachinko ball averaging device.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a counting speed control mechanism of a prize ball in a jet counter which constitutes a part of the pachinko ball averaging device.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a basic processing operation of the pachinko ball averaging device.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a collection processing operation when directly collecting prize balls in the pachinko ball averaging device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram for explaining a modified example of the count speed control mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional pachinko ball averaging device.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Pachinko Island 20 Jet Counter 31,32 Pool Tank 40 Premium Ball Storage Tank 50 Lifting Device 52 Lift 55 Lifting Shutter 61,62 Premium Ball Collecting Device 63,64 Premium Ball Collecting Passage 65,66 Collecting Shutter 81,82 Supply Passage 911 to 91n, 921 to 92n Distribution passage 100 Microcomputer 111 Gear 113 Motor 114 Sequencer 120 Iron core 121 Electromagnet A, B, C, D, E, F, a, a ', b, b', c,
c'sensor P, P11 to P1n, P21 to P2n Pachinko machine

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A prize ball counting means, which is provided at an appropriate position on a pachinko island where a predetermined number of pachinko machines are lined up and which counts the number of prize balls thrown by a player, is provided above the pachinko island, and is a prize ball. The first storage means for storing and distributing the stored prize balls to the respective pachinko machines, and the driving balls provided below the pachinko island and provided for the game and the prize balls counted by the prize ball counting means. According to the amount of pachinko balls stored in the first storage means, the second storage means for collecting and storing the pachinko balls having a storage capacity sufficiently larger than that of the first storage means, depending on the amount of prize ball storage of the first storage means. Based on an output signal from the pumping means for pumping to the first storage means, the pachinko ball storage amount detection means for detecting the pachinko ball storage amount of the second storage means, and the output signal from the pachinko ball storage amount detection means. Determine the amount of pachinko balls stored However, when it is determined that the pachinko ball storage amount is an intermediate amount, the counting speed in the prize ball counting means is set to the normal speed, and when it is determined that the pachinko ball storage amount reaches the upper limit amount, the prize ball in the prize ball counting means is determined. When the counting speed is slower than the normal speed and it is determined that the pachinko ball storage amount has decreased to the lower limit amount, the counting speed control means for increasing the prize ball counting speed in the prize ball counting means higher than the normal speed is included. A pachinko ball averaging device for Pachinko islands, which is characterized in that