JPH10314432A - Pachinko ball carrying method and its device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a pachinko ball carrying method and its device which is provided with large transporting capacity, functions also as a pachinko ball cleaner and is provided with large cleaning capacity at the time of functioning as the pachinko ball cleaner. SOLUTION: On the inner peripheral side of a fixed spiral coil 1, a roller 2 with a groove 21 in an axial direction is rotate-driven at an outer peripheral to put the pachinko balls 15 into the groove 21 of the roller 2 from a gap between the pitches of the coil 1 and the pachinko balls 15 within the groove 21 are transported along the groove 21 and the coil 1 by the rotary driving of the roller 2. A part of the balls 15 are projected outward from the gap between pitches of the coil 1 and a cleaning member is brought into contact with the projected balls 15 to clean the balls 15 while transporting.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transporting pachinko balls, and more particularly to a method and an apparatus for transporting pachinko balls which can easily function as a pachinko ball cleaner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a pachinko game arcade, there is a pachinko island in which a plurality of pachinko gaming machines are arranged in a row, and pachinko balls used for playing in each of the pachinko gaming machines are collected in pachinko island units. The pachinko machines are fed to the supply tanks located at the top of each pachinko island, and are supplied from the supply tanks to the respective pachinko machines. Alternatively, each pachinko machine is collected and one pachinko game is collected. It is designed to be circulated in the machine, or to be collected in units of a plurality of pachinko machines and circulated in units of the plurality of pachinko machines. Therefore, many pachinko ball conveying devices are installed in the pachinko game hall.

[0003] A conventional pachinko ball transporting apparatus uses, for example, a bucket conveyor or the like to lift pachinko balls into a supply tank installed at a somewhat high position, and from the supply tank, utilize a position energy to generate an inclined gutter or the like. The pachinko ball is conveyed to a target position by its own weight via the. However, a pachinko ball conveying device using a bucket conveyor or the like has a drawback in that if a predetermined conveying capability is to be provided, the pachinko ball conveying device is bulky and occupies a large space.

[0004] The applicant of the present invention has proposed a spiral coil that is rotated by a driving source, a spiral coil holding portion that holds the outer peripheral side of the spiral coil, and a pachinko machine that inserts a gap between the spiral coil pitches from the outer peripheral side of the spiral coil. A pachinko ball moving guide formed outside the spiral coil holding portion in the radial direction so that the pachinko ball can be transported by a part of the ball entering therein, and a rotational drive of the spiral coil by a driving source. Proposed a pachinko ball conveying device that conveys pachinko balls along the above-mentioned pachinko ball moving guide section. That is the invention according to the application of Japanese Patent Application No. 8-246157.

According to the invention according to the above-mentioned application, pachinko balls can be conveyed in the horizontal direction or can be conveyed while drawing a curve, and the occupied space is small and the degree of freedom in design is high. A pachinko ball conveying device can be obtained. Further, a pachinko ball cleaner can be configured by utilizing the invention according to the above-mentioned application. In the invention according to the application of Japanese Patent Application No. 9-45481, a string-shaped cleaning member pressed against a pachinko ball to be conveyed is arranged in a pachinko ball moving guide portion in a pachinko ball conveying direction. As described above, Japanese Patent Application No. Hei 8-2
According to the invention according to the application of No. 46157, a unique effect can be obtained, and it can also function as a pachinko ball cleaner.

[0006]

The present invention also conveys pachinko balls using a helical coil. However, the idea is changed and the helical coil is fixed, and a member different from the helical coil is rotationally driven. A pachinko ball is conveyed in this way, and has a large carrying capacity, and can also function as a pachinko ball cleaner, and provides a pachinko ball conveying method and apparatus having a large cleaning ability when functioning as a pachinko ball cleaner. The purpose is to do.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pachinko ball conveying method for rotating a roller having an axial groove on an outer periphery on an inner peripheral side of a fixed spiral coil. Then, a pachinko ball is inserted into the groove of the roller from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil, and the pachinko ball in the groove is conveyed along the groove and the spiral coil by rotating the roller. As in the second aspect of the present invention, a part of the pachinko ball is projected outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil, and the cleaning member is brought into contact with the projected pachinko ball, thereby conveying the pachinko ball. You may want to clean it.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pachinko ball conveying apparatus having a roller having a groove formed in the outer periphery in the axial direction and rotationally driven by a driving source, and a spiral coil fixed to the outer periphery of the roller. The spiral coil allows the pachinko ball to enter the groove of the roller from the gap between the pitches, and the pachinko ball is conveyed along the groove and the spiral coil by rotating the roller. And
As in the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the helical coil can receive the pachinko ball so that the pachinko ball that has entered the groove of the roller does not spill outside. As in the fifth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of grooves of the roller may be formed. Further, as in the invention according to claim 6, the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil is larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball at the pachinko ball introduction portion, and changes as the distance from the pachinko ball introduction portion becomes smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball. It is good to let.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the depth of the groove of the roller and the outer diameter of the spiral coil are set so that a portion of the pachinko ball protrudes outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil, By arranging the cleaning member capable of contacting the pachinko balls protruding outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil, the pachinko ball transport device according to the present invention can be used as a pachinko ball cleaner. In this case, the distance between the center of rotation of the roller and the bottom of the groove is gradually increased as the distance from the pachinko ball introduction section in the direction of the pachinko ball conveyance increases, thereby reducing the pitch between the spiral coils. Part of the pachinko ball can be made to protrude outward from the gap. The cleaning member may be a string-shaped cleaning member stretched in the length direction of the roller, as in the ninth aspect of the present invention. Also,
As in the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is only necessary to have a driving device for moving the string-shaped cleaning member in the pachinko ball conveying direction. If the groove of the roller is formed by drawing a gentle spiral, the pachinko balls conveyed along the groove can sequentially contact the cleaning member.

[0010] As in the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the helical coil is preferably held on its outer peripheral side by a helical coil holder. As in the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the width of the groove of the roller is a width that can receive one or a plurality of pachinko balls.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pachinko ball conveying method and apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a vertical frame 16 is fixed on a flat box-shaped base 3, and the shaft of the roller 2 is fixed by bearings 8 and 9 attached to the base 3 and the frame 16. The roller 2 is supported vertically and supported rotatably about a vertical axis. The lower bearing 8 also functions as a thrust receiver that supports a thrust load applied to the roller 2. A motor 4 as a drive source is fixed vertically on the base 3, and a pulley 5 is fixed to a rotating shaft of the motor 4 protruding below the base 3. The lower shaft of the roller 2 also projects below the base 3, and the pulley 7 is also fixed to the projecting shaft.
A belt 6 is hung between the pulleys 5 and 7, and the rotational force of the motor 4 is transmitted to the shaft of the roller 2 via the pulley 5, the belt 6 and the pulley 7, so that the roller 2 is rotated by the motor 4. It is designed to be driven.

A spiral coil 1 is fixed to the outer peripheral side of the roller 2. The lower end of the spiral coil 1 is fixed to the base 3 or the like by an appropriate fixing means, and the upper end is fixed to the frame 16 by an appropriate fixing member 18 as shown in FIG. 4, for example. As also shown in FIGS. 2 to 5,
On the outer circumference of the roller 2, grooves 21 having a semicircular cross-sectional shape are formed at regular intervals in a plurality of circumferential directions and in the axial direction of the roller 2. Each groove 21 has a width larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15 and a depth smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15. The inner diameter of the spiral coil 1 is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the roller 2 and is set to such an extent that a slight gap is formed between the inner periphery of the spiral coil 1 and the outer periphery of the roller 2. The roller 2 is driven to rotate by the motor 4 on the circumferential side.

In FIG. 1, a hopper 12 is arranged on the outer peripheral side near the lower end of the spiral coil 1, and the pachinko balls are introduced into the hopper 12 through the pachinko ball introduction gutter 11. The vicinity of the lower end of the spiral coil 1 is a pachinko ball introducing portion 10, and a gap between the pitches of the spiral coils 1 of the pachinko ball introducing portion 10 to allow the pachinko ball 15 to enter each groove 21 of the roller 2 from the hopper 12. Figure 3,
As shown in FIG. 5, L larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15
It is 1. Here, the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 is a gap between adjacent coil pitches, and is different from a so-called coil pitch including the thickness of the coil. As described above, the depth of each groove 21 of the roller 2 is smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15, and the spiral coil 1 is opposed to the outer peripheral surface of the roller 2 with a small gap. The pachinko ball 15 that has entered 21 is received by the spiral coil 1 so as not to spill outside. Further, since the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 changes to L2 smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15 as the distance from the pachinko ball introduction portion 10 increases, the groove 21 and the spiral coil 1 The pachinko balls 15 conveyed upward along the line (the conveying operation will be described in detail later) do not spill out from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1.

In the vicinity of the upper end of the spiral coil 1, a pachinko ball 15 is provided.
The pachinko ball 15 conveyed along the groove 21 of the roller 2 is released from the discharge unit 13 by the release of the restraint by the spiral coil 1 at the upper end of the spiral coil 1. Spill out. In order to transfer or store the spilled pachinko balls 15 to another place, a transfer gutter 14 following the discharge section 13 is provided. Since the position of the pachinko ball 15 spilling out in the rotation direction of the roller 2 has not been determined, FIG.
It is desirable that the end of the transfer gutter 14 be routed around the upper end of the spiral coil 1 as shown by A.

Next, a pachinko ball conveying operation by the pachinko ball conveying method or the pachinko ball conveying apparatus according to the embodiment will be described. A roller 2 having a plurality of axial grooves 21 on its outer periphery on the inner peripheral side of the fixed spiral coil 1 is rotationally driven by a motor 4 as a driving source,
The pachinko balls 15 are introduced into the hopper 12 through the guide gutter 11. The pachinko balls 15 in the hopper 12 enter the respective grooves 21 of the roller 2 from the gaps between the pitches of the spiral coils 1 in the pachinko ball introducing section 10 and are received by the spiral coils so that the pachinko balls 15 do not spill outside. The pachinko balls 15 that have entered the respective grooves 21 move in the circumferential direction of the rollers 2 in a state where the pachinko balls 15 have entered the respective grooves 21 as the rollers 2 are driven to rotate.
Is conveyed upward along the spiral. The pachinko balls 15 enter one groove 21 of the roller 2 one by one at every pitch of the spiral coil 1, and the pachinko balls 15 are conveyed in a row in each groove 21 of the roller 2.

Each time the roller 2 makes one rotation, the pachinko balls 15
Is transported upward by one pitch of the spiral coil 1. The pachinko ball 15 conveyed upward in this manner is released from the restraint by the spiral coil 1 by reaching the upper end of the spiral coil 1, spills outward from the discharge unit 13, and passes through the transfer gutter 14 to an appropriate location. Is transferred to

According to the embodiment described above, the roller 2 having the groove 21 in the axial direction on the outer periphery is rotationally driven on the inner peripheral side of the fixed helical coil 1, and the roller 2 is driven through the gap between the pitches of the helical coil 1. The pachinko ball 15 is inserted into the groove 21 of the roller 2, and the pachinko ball 15 in the groove 21 is conveyed along the groove 21 and the helical coil 1 by the rotation of the roller 2, so that the pachinko ball 15 is smoothly moved. Can be transported. Further, since a plurality of grooves 21 are formed in the roller 2 and the pachinko balls 15 are conveyed along each groove 21, a large number of pachinko balls can be conveyed per rotation of the roller, and the efficiency is high. A pachinko ball conveying method and a pachinko ball conveying device having a large conveying capacity can be provided.

In the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5,
In the entire path of the pachinko ball conveyance, the pachinko balls 15 are in the outer periphery of the spiral coil 1 and do not protrude from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1. However, the spiral coil 1
The depth of the groove 21 of the roller 2 and the spiral coil 1 are adjusted so that a portion of the pachinko ball 15 protrudes outward from the gap between the pitches.
May be set. If a part of the pachinko ball 15 projects outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1, a function as a pachinko ball cleaner can be added, as will be described later in detail.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show specific examples for projecting a part of the pachinko ball 15 outwardly from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1. FIG. In FIG. 6A, the diameter of the roller 2 and the depth of each groove 21 do not change in the vertical direction, whereas the diameter of the spiral coil 1 is
And gradually decreases as the distance from the pachinko ball introduction unit 10 in the pachinko ball conveyance direction decreases, becomes minimum around the 5th to 6th pitches of the spiral coil 1 from the pachinko ball introduction unit 10, and is the same as the minimum diameter thereafter. It has become. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6D, the distance S1 from the bottom of the groove 21 of the roller 2 to the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 in the pachinko ball introducing portion 10 is larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15 and As FIG. 15 is conveyed, FIG.
As shown by S2, the distance from the bottom of the groove 21 of the roller 2 to the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 becomes small, and at the position where the diameter of the spiral coil 1 is minimum, as shown by S3 in FIG. The distance from the bottom of the groove 21 of the roller 2 to the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 changes until it becomes smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15. As a result, at the position where the diameter of the spiral coil 1 is the minimum, a part of the pachinko ball 15 projects outward from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 6, as the outer diameter of the spiral coil 1 gradually decreases, the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 also gradually decreases. At a position where a part protrudes outward from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1, the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 is smaller than the diameter of the pachinko balls 15, and the pachinko ball 15 spills out of the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1. It does not come out.

In the example shown in FIG. 7, a part of the pachinko ball 15 is projected outward from a gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 by sequentially changing the depth of each groove 21 of the roller 2. It is. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the diameter of the roller 2 and the diameter of the spiral coil 1 do not change in the vertical direction, whereas the depth of each groove 21 is the deepest in the pachinko ball introduction part 10 and the pachinko ball As the distance from the introduction unit 10 in the pachinko ball conveyance direction increases, the depth becomes shallower, from the pachinko ball introduction unit 10 to the shallowest around the fifth to sixth pitches of the spiral coil 1, and from there upward, the depth is the same as the shallowest depth. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 7D, the distance S1 from the bottom of the groove 21 of the roller 2 to the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 in the pachinko ball introducing portion 10 is larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15, and As 15 is transported,
As shown by S2 in FIG. 7C, the distance from the bottom of the groove 21 of the roller 2 to the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 becomes small, and at the position where the diameter of the spiral coil 1 is the smallest, S3 in FIG. As shown by, the distance from the bottom of the groove 21 of the roller 2 to the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 is changed until it becomes smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15. As a result, at the position where each groove 21 is the shallowest, a part of the pachinko ball 15 projects outward from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1.

In the example shown in FIG. 7 as well, as the depth of the groove 21 gradually decreases, the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 also gradually decreases, and a part of the pachinko ball 15 is removed from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1. At a position protruding outward from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1, the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 is smaller than the diameter of the pachinko balls 15, and the pachinko balls 15 do not spill out of the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1. It has become.

The helical coil 1 may be deformed or tilted due to load fluctuations or unbalanced loads. Therefore, it is desirable to add a helical coil holder so that the helical coil 1 is not deformed or tilted due to a change in load or the like. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show an example in which a cylindrical spiral coil holder 30 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the spiral coil 1. The outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the spiral coil holder 30. The spiral coil 1 may be integrally fixed to the spiral coil holder 30 by bonding, welding, or other appropriate means, or may not be intentionally fixed. If the pachinko ball 15 does not partly project from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1, the pachinko ball 15 extends over the entire range of the pachinko ball transporting process except for the pachinko ball introduction unit 10 and the discharge unit 13. The spiral coil holder 30 can be arranged.
Since the position of the outer periphery of the spiral coil 1 is regulated by the spiral coil holder 30, the deformation and inclination of the spiral coil 1 are regulated even if the load fluctuates or the load becomes unbalanced.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show another example of the spiral coil holder. In FIGS. 10 and 11, reference numeral 31 denotes a plate-shaped spiral coil holder. A plurality of spiral coil holders 31 (four in the illustrated example) are used, and the respective spiral coil holders 31 are arranged on the outer peripheral side of the spiral coil 1 at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. Each of the spiral coil holders 31 may be integrally fixed to the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 by bonding, welding, or other appropriate means, or may only be in contact with the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1. Also in the case of this example, if the pachinko ball 15 does not partly project from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 through the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1, the pachinko ball except for the pachinko ball introduction portion 10 and the discharge portion 13 is provided. The spiral coil holder 31 can be arranged over the entire range of the transport stroke.
Also in this example, the same operation and effect as those in the examples shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 can be obtained.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a part of the pachinko ball 15 projects outwardly from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1. In the case of, the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 is widened due to a change in load, and the pachinko balls 15 may spill out of the gap between the pitches. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a regulating member for preventing this. FIGS. 12 and 13 show examples in which the regulating member is provided. In FIGS. 12 and 13, a cylindrical regulating member 32 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the spiral coil 1. Inner peripheral surface of regulating member 32 and spiral coil 1
There is an appropriate gap between the pachinko balls 1 and the pachinko balls 1 projecting from the gaps between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 while moving in the circumferential direction in the gaps.
5 is conveyed along the groove 21 of the roller 2. Further, a part of the pachinko balls 15 protruding from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the regulating member 32, whereby the position of the roller 2 on the radially outer peripheral side is regulated. The pachinko balls 15 are prevented from spilling out.

In a configuration in which a part of the pachinko ball 15 projects outward from the outer peripheral end of the spiral coil 1 from a gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1, a part of the projecting pachinko ball 15 By contacting the cleaning member,
A function as a pachinko ball cleaner can be added. For example, the regulating member 32 in the embodiment shown in FIGS.
By attaching a cleaning member to the inner peripheral surface of the pachinko ball, dirt, dust, fingerprints, and the like on the surface of the pachinko ball 15 are wiped off by the cleaning member when the pachinko ball 15 comes into contact with the cleaning member. Hereinafter, various specific examples to which a function as a pachinko ball cleaner is added will be described.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, a string-shaped cleaning member 33 is arranged at an appropriate position outside the spiral coil 1. The cleaning member 33 is hung on a suitable holding means such as a pulley (not shown) and stretched in the length direction of the roller 2, that is, the direction parallel to the direction of the groove 21 of the roller 2. The cleaning member 33 also contacts a step 34 a formed on the slide member 34. This step 34a
Extends in the stretching direction of the cleaning member 33. When the roller 2 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 14, the stepped portion 34 a moves the pachinko ball 15 by moving the pachinko ball 15 moving in an arc with the roller 2 against the cleaning member 33. It is formed in a direction that can receive the cleaning member 33 that is going to move in the direction. The slide member 34 is an L-shaped guide member 3.
6, and is movably biased toward the roller 2 by a compression spring 35 disposed between the bent portion of the guide member 36 and the slide member 34. I have. The urging force allows the cleaning member 33 to come into contact with the pachinko balls 15 that move with the rotation of the roller 2. The movement of the slide member 34 due to the urging force is restricted by a part of the slide member 34 contacting the outer periphery of the spiral coil 1 or by an appropriate stopper.

As the string-like cleaning member 33, for example, a thick thread such as a thick kite thread or a thick cotton thread, a thick thread obtained by twisting the thread several times, a rope, an artificial fiber, or any other appropriate material can be used. You can choose to use. Further, a small amount of fats and oils, rust preventives, and brighteners are added to the cleaning member 33 to give pachinko balls luster and lubricity,
Rust may be prevented. The cleaning member 33 is moved in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the pachinko balls 15 along the groove 21 of the roller 2 by a driving device described in detail later. Is added.

As described above, according to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the pachinko ball 15 conveyed along the groove 21 of the roller 2 and the spiral coil 1 is cleaned while moving in an arc with the roller 2. By contacting the member 33, dirt, dust, fingerprints, and the like on the surface of the pachinko ball 15 are cleaned.
3 and will also function as a pachinko ball cleaner. Moreover, since the string-shaped cleaning member 33 extends over a plurality of pitches of the spiral coil 1 in parallel with the groove 21 of the roller 2, one pachinko ball 15 being conveyed comes into contact with the cleaning member 33 a plurality of times. ,
Cleaning is performed efficiently. Further, since the pachinko ball 15 rotating and moving together with the roller 2 comes into contact with the cleaning member 33, there is an advantage that stubborn dirt and the like can be removed by an impact at the time of contact. In addition, the string-shaped cleaning member 33 moves continuously or intermittently at a low speed, and a clean cleaning member 33 without dirt is supplied and provided for cleaning. Since the direction of movement of the member 33 is opposite to the direction of conveyance of the pachinko balls 15, the conveyed pachinko balls 15 first begin to contact the relatively dirty portion of the cleaning member 33 and gradually become dirty. Then, the cleaning is finished by touching a clean and clean part at the end, so that the cleaning effect can be further enhanced. However, the direction of movement of the cleaning member 33 is arbitrary, and the cleaning member 33 may be moved in the same direction as the direction of conveyance of the pachinko balls 15.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 16 corresponds to FIGS.
This is a mode in which a regulating member 37 is added to the outer peripheral side of the spiral coil 1 in the embodiment shown in FIG. The regulating member 37 is basically the same as the regulating member 32 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, but a part of the pachinko ball 15 protruding outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1. A difference is that a slit 37a is formed as an escape for the slide member 34 and the guide member 36 in order to bring the cleaning member 33 into contact with the cleaning member 33.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 17, of an overall embodiment of a pachinko ball conveying method having a function as a pachinko ball cleaner and a device therefor. FIG.
7, the pachinko ball conveying device itself is configured similarly to the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. Fig. 1 shows the basic configuration of a pachinko ball cleaner.
4. The configuration is the same as that of the cleaner shown in FIG. FIG.
7, a driving device for moving the string-shaped cleaning member 33 in the pachinko ball conveying direction is disclosed. Hereinafter, the driving device for the cleaning member will be described.

In FIG. 17, rollers 2 arranged vertically so as to be able to convey a pachinko ball 15 upward from below.
In addition, beside the spiral coil 1, the above-mentioned string-shaped cleaning member 33, slide member 34, ridge 35 and guide member 3 are provided.
6 is disposed. The cleaning member 33 is unreeled from a supply reel 40 disposed at a position above the pachinko ball conveying device, is moved along one side surface of the slide member 34 via the guide roller 41, and is cleaned from the lower end of the slide member 34. The member 33 is guided between a pair of a driving roller 44 and a pressing roller 45 via a pair of guide rollers 42 and 43. The drive roller 44 is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 17 by a motor 46, and pulls the cleaning member 33 downward in cooperation with the pressing roller 45. This pulling force causes the cleaning member 33 to move from top to bottom. A container 47 is disposed below the roller pair 44, 45, and the cleaning member 33 is pulled.
Are stored in a container 47.

As described with reference to FIG. 14, the slide member 34 has a stepped portion for receiving the cleaning member 33 formed over the entire length of the slide member 34 in the vertical direction. The cleaning member 33 extends vertically along the slide member 34 over a length of about 20 pitches of the spiral coil 1,
The pachinko ball 15 being transported can contact the cleaning member 33 within the range of the vertical length of the slide member 34. The length of the guide member 36 is also substantially the same as the length of the slide member 34 in the vertical direction.
An appropriate number of springs 35 according to the lengths of the guide member 36 and the slide member 34 are used. The motor 46 moves the cleaning member 33 at a low speed. Alternatively, the cleaning member 33 is intermittently moved at fixed time intervals. An appropriate rotation resistance is applied to the supply reel 40, and an appropriate tension is applied to the cleaning member 33. When the cleaning member 33 to be supplied from the supply reel 40 has been consumed, a new supply reel 40 is set and a new cleaning member 33 is supplied. The cleaning member 33 which has been subjected to cleaning and becomes dirty may be discarded, or may be washed and reused.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG.
4. The same effects as those described in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15 can be obtained. Note that a flat belt-shaped cleaning member may be used instead of the string-shaped cleaning member 33 shown in FIG. When a flat belt-shaped cleaning member is used, FIG.
A driving device having the same configuration as the cleaning member driving device shown in FIG.

FIGS. 18 to 21 show various modifications of the pachinko ball cleaning apparatus which can be added to the present invention. The example shown in FIG. 18 is one of examples in which a flat belt-shaped cleaning member 50 is used as a cleaning member, and the cleaning member 50 is held by a flat U-shaped holding member 48 in a groove. Is biased by a spring 49 so that the cleaning member 50 is pressed against the pachinko ball 15 that rotates with the roller 2. According to this example, there is an advantage that the contact area between the cleaning member 50 and the pachinko balls 15 increases, and the efficiency of cleaning increases. Also in the case of this embodiment, the belt-shaped cleaning member 50 may be moved in the transport direction of the pachinko balls 15 (a direction parallel to the groove 21 of the roller 2). It is even better if it is moved in the direction.

The example shown in FIG. 19 is a roller-shaped cleaning member 5.
This is an example using No. 1. The roller-shaped cleaning member 51 moves the pachinko ball 15 in the transport direction (the direction parallel to the groove 21 of the roller 2).
And has a certain length, and is arranged in the direction parallel to the groove 21 of the roller 2 in the vicinity of the spiral coil 1. In the pachinko ball 15 that moves while drawing an arc with the rotation of the roller 2, a portion protruding from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 can come into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the cleaning member 51, thereby performing cleaning. Will be Cleaning member 5
1 may be driven to rotate so that the contact portion with the pachinko ball 15 is opposite to the direction of movement of the pachinko ball 15. However, it is not always necessary to rotationally drive the cleaning member 51, and the cleaning member 51 may be configured to be rotatable by contact with the pachinko balls 15. In this case, if a resistance is given to the rotation of the cleaning member 51, a force of the cleaning member 51 rubbing the surface of the pachinko ball 15 acts, so that efficient cleaning can be performed.

The example shown in FIG.
This is an example using. The cleaning member 52 is a flat plate-shaped member having a certain length in a direction parallel to the groove 21 of the roller 2 which is a conveying direction of the pachinko balls 15 and in a direction orthogonal to the groove 21. The portion of the pachinko ball 15 that moves while drawing is projected from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1 and contacts the cleaning member 52 having a flat shape, whereby the cleaning is performed. The cleaning member 52 is moved in a tangential direction with the pachinko balls 15. In this case, it may be moved back and forth at a relatively high speed, or may be moved very slowly or intermittently little by little, or even only in one direction.

The example shown in FIG. 21 is a modification of the example using the cleaning member 53 in the form of a flat belt, and the pachinko ball 15 which moves while drawing an arc with the rotation of the roller 2 is formed of the spiral coil 1. The portion projecting from the gap between the pitches comes into contact with the folded portion of the cleaning member 53 folded in an arc shape along the outer periphery of the pulley 54, whereby the pachinko ball 15 is cleaned. . The flat belt-shaped cleaning member 53 has a dimension, that is, a width dimension in a direction parallel to the groove 21 of the roller 2 that is the conveying direction of the pachinko balls 15,
The spiral coil 1 is formed so as to extend over a plurality of pitches. Further, the cleaning member 53 is moved by rotational driving of the pulley 54 or another pulley (not shown). In this case, it may be moved back and forth at a relatively high speed, or may be moved very slowly or intermittently little by little, or even only in one direction.

The pachinko ball cleaning apparatus shown in FIGS. 18 to 21 described above can also obtain the same effects as those described in the embodiments shown in FIGS.

The cross-sectional shape of the groove of the roller that can be used in the present invention is not limited to the semicircular shape as in the embodiments described above. For example, as in the example shown in FIG. 22, a groove 22 having a square cross-sectional shape may be formed in Rom et al. The grooves 22 are formed in the roller 2 so as to extend in parallel with the central axis of the roller 2 at equal intervals in a plurality of circumferential directions. The width of each groove 22 may be slightly larger than the diameter of one pachinko ball, so that pachinko balls may enter one row in one groove 22, or multiple rows of pachinko balls may be formed in one groove 22. You may make it enter.

FIG. 23 shows an example in which pachinko balls enter the grooves of the roller 2 in a plurality of rows. In FIG. 23, four grooves 23 are formed in the roller 2, and the width of each groove 23 is formed such that pachinko balls can enter each groove 23 in two rows. Also in this example, the pachinko balls 15 can be transported in the same manner as in the above-described embodiments, and can also function as a pachinko ball cleaner by adding a cleaning member.

In the embodiments described so far, the pachinko balls are transported in the vertical direction. However, the pachinko ball transport method and the pachinko ball transport device according to the present invention are designed to transport the pachinko balls in the horizontal direction. It can also be transported diagonally up and down. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 24, pachinko balls can be transported in the horizontal direction. In FIG. 24, a spiral coil 1 and a roller 2 having a plurality of grooves 21 are configured similarly to the embodiment shown in FIG.
The embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. The rollers 2 are rotatably supported at their ends by bearings 58 and 59.
The bearings 58 and 59 are fixed to a frame (not shown) and other appropriate fixing members. A cylindrical regulating member 57 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the spiral coil 1.

An output shaft of a motor 60 as a drive source is directly connected to a shaft on one end side (right end side in the figure) of the roller 2 outside the bearing 58. As an example of the motor 60, a deceleration motor or the like can be used so as to rotate the roller 2 at an appropriate rotation speed. In the spiral coil 1, the gap between the pitches on the right end side in the drawing is larger than the diameter of the pachinko ball 15, and this portion serves as a pachinko ball introducing portion 10. The pachinko ball 15 to be conveyed through the pachinko ball introduction gutter 15 is introduced into the pachinko ball introduction section 10, and the introduced pachinko ball 15 enters the groove 21 of the roller 2 from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil 1, and is regulated. The spill-out is regulated by the member 57. Pachinko ball 15 that has entered groove 21 of roller 2
The roller 2 is conveyed from right to left in the figure while being guided by the grooves 21 and the helical coil 1 when the roller 2 is rotationally driven by the motor 60. Spiral coil 1
Is smaller than the diameter of the pachinko balls 15 except for the pachinko ball introduction part 10 and the discharge part 13, so that the pachinko balls 15 do not spill out of the gaps between the pitches during transportation. Even if it spills out, it is regulated by the regulating member 57. Spiral coil 1
The pachinko ball 15 that has reached the left end of the line falls from the discharge unit 13 and is transferred or stored in a predetermined place by the transfer gutter 62.

The upper side of the regulating member 57 is cut out in the longitudinal direction, and a pachinko ball cleaner is arranged in this cutout. This pachinko ball cleaner is basically the same as that added to the embodiment shown in FIG. 17, and includes a string-shaped cleaning member 33, a slide member 34, a ridge 35, a guide member 36, a supply reel 40, and a guide. It has rollers 41 and 42. Since the spiral coil 1 and the roller 2 are mounted in the horizontal direction, the cleaning member 33 and the slide member 34 are also disposed in the horizontal direction, and the pachinko ball 15 is conveyed in the horizontal direction while rotating and moving together with the roller 2. Comes into contact with the cleaning member 33, and FIG.
The pachinko balls 15 are cleaned as in the embodiment shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 24, a reel 56 for winding up the cleaning member 56 is provided. Take-up reel 56
Is driven by a motor (not shown) to wind up the cleaning member 33 supplied from the supply reel 40 and used for cleaning the pachinko balls 15. The winding of the cleaning member 33 by the winding reel 56 may be performed continuously at an extremely low speed or may be performed intermittently.

By moving the cleaning member 33, the effect as described above can be obtained. Also,
The cleaning member 33 is automatically supplied from the supply reel 40,
After being provided for cleaning, it is automatically taken up by the take-up reel 56, so that it is possible to obtain substantially the same effect as automatically replacing the dirty cleaning member 33 without requiring any manual operation. Labor saving can be achieved. The direction of movement of the cleaning member 33 may be reversed.

The groove formed in the roller for receiving the pachinko balls is not necessarily a linear groove parallel to the central axis of the roller, but is formed by being slightly inclined with respect to the central axis of the roller. , A gentle spiral may be drawn. When adding a function as a pachinko ball cleaner to the present invention, it is preferable to form a groove having a gentle spiral as described above. This is because a large number of pachinko balls do not simultaneously contact the cleaning member, but the pachinko balls sequentially contact the cleaning member along the spiral, so that the impact is small and the noise is small. In each of the illustrated embodiments to which the cleaning member is added, the number of the cleaning member is one. However, if a plurality of cleaning members are added, the cleaning capability is further increased, and the range of contact of the cleaning member can be shortened. Therefore, when the present invention is used exclusively as a pachinko ball cleaner, it can be made compact.

[0047]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a roller having an axial groove on the outer periphery is rotationally driven on the inner peripheral side of the fixed helical coil, and the roller is driven through a gap between the pitches of the helical coil. The pachinko balls are inserted into the grooves, and the pachinko balls in the grooves are conveyed along the grooves and the spiral coil by rotating the rollers, so that the pachinko balls can be smoothly conveyed, and a plurality of pachinko balls are provided. Since the pachinko balls can be conveyed while being arranged in a row, a pachinko ball conveying method capable of efficiently conveying pachinko balls can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a part of the pachinko ball is projected outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coils, and a cleaning member is attached to the projected pachinko ball. By contacting, the pachinko balls are cleaned while being transported, so that the pachinko balls can be cleaned while being transported. Further, if the cleaning member extends over a plurality of pitches of the spiral coil, one pachinko ball being transported comes into contact with the cleaning member a plurality of times, so that cleaning can be performed efficiently.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a roller having a groove formed in the outer periphery in the axial direction and rotationally driven by a driving source, and a spiral coil fixed to the outer periphery of the roller. The spiral coil allows the pachinko ball to enter the groove of the roller from the gap between the pitches,
Since the pachinko balls are conveyed along the grooves and the helical coil by the rotation of the rollers, a pachinko ball conveying device capable of efficiently and smoothly conveying the pachinko balls can be obtained. In particular, as in the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is easy to form a plurality of grooves in the roller, whereby the pachinko balls can be efficiently transported.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the depth of the groove of the roller and the outer diameter of the spiral coil are set so that a portion of the pachinko ball protrudes outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coil, Since the cleaning member capable of contacting the pachinko balls protruding outward from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coils is arranged, it is possible to obtain a pachinko ball conveying device capable of cleaning while conveying the pachinko balls. Further, if the cleaning member is arranged so as to straddle a plurality of pitches of the spiral coil, one pachinko ball being transported comes into contact with the cleaning member a plurality of times, so that cleaning can be performed efficiently. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing an embodiment of a pachinko ball conveying method and apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a spiral coil and a roller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the spiral coil and the roller.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the vicinity of a discharge section of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the spiral coil and the roller according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modified example of a spiral coil and a roller applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another modified example of the spiral coil and the roller applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional plan view showing an example in which a spiral coil holder is added to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the same.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing another example in which a spiral coil holder is added to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the same.

FIG. 12 is a partial cross-sectional plan view showing another example in which a spiral coil holder is added to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the same.

FIG. 14 is a plan view showing an example in which a pachinko ball cleaner is added to the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a partially sectional front view of the same.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing another example of adding a pachinko ball cleaner to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a partially sectional front view showing another embodiment of the pachinko ball conveying method and the pachinko ball conveying method according to the present invention to which a pachinko ball cleaner is added.

FIG. 18 is a plan view showing still another example of the pachinko ball cleaner that can be added to the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a plan view showing still another example of the pachinko ball cleaner that can be added to the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing still another example of the pachinko ball cleaner that can be added to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a plan view showing still another example of the pachinko ball cleaner that can be added to the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a modified example of a roller applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a plan view showing another modified example of the roller applicable to the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing still another embodiment of the pachinko ball conveying method and apparatus according to the present invention to which a pachinko ball cleaner is added.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 spiral coil 2 roller 4 motor as drive source 10 pachinko ball introduction part 15 pachinko ball 21 groove 22 groove 23 groove 30 spiral coil holder 31 spiral coil holder 33 cleaning member 50 cleaning member 51 cleaning member 52 cleaning member 60 driving source Motor as

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A roller having an axial groove on its outer circumference is rotationally driven on the inner peripheral side of a fixed spiral coil, and a pachinko ball is inserted into the groove of the roller from a gap between pitches of the spiral coil. A pachinko ball conveying method, wherein a pachinko ball in the groove is conveyed along the groove and the helical coil by rotation of a roller. The pachinko ball can be cleaned while being transported by projecting a part of the pachinko ball outward from a gap between the pitches of the spiral coil and bringing a cleaning member into contact with the projected pachinko ball. The pachinko ball conveying method according to claim 1. 3. A roller having a groove formed in the outer periphery in the axial direction and rotationally driven by a drive source, and a spiral coil fixed to the outer periphery of the roller, wherein the spiral coil comprises: A pachinko ball conveying device, wherein a pachinko ball can be inserted into the groove of the roller from a gap between the pitches, and the pachinko ball is conveyed along the groove and the spiral coil by rotating the roller. 4. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the spiral coil can receive the pachinko balls so that the pachinko balls that have entered the groove of the roller do not spill outside. 5. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of grooves are formed in the roller. 6. The gap between the pitches of the spiral coil at the pachinko ball introduction portion is changed to be smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball as it leaves the pachinko ball introduction portion. Pachinko ball conveyor. 7. The depth of the groove of the roller and the outer diameter of the spiral coil are set so that a portion of the pachinko ball protrudes outward from the gap between the spiral coil pitches. 4. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 3, wherein a cleaning member capable of contacting the pachinko ball protruding outward is arranged and also serves as a pachinko ball cleaner. 8. By gradually increasing the distance from the center of rotation of the roller to the bottom of the groove as it moves away from the pachinko ball introduction section in the pachinko ball conveyance direction, a part of the pachinko ball is removed from the gap between the pitches of the spiral coils. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 7, wherein the pachinko ball conveying device protrudes outward. 9. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 7, wherein the cleaning member is a string-shaped cleaning member stretched in a length direction of the roller. 10. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 9, further comprising a driving device for moving the string-shaped cleaning member in the pachinko ball conveying direction. 11. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the groove of the roller is formed by drawing a gentle spiral. 12. The pachinko ball conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the spiral coil has an outer peripheral side held by a spiral coil holder. 13. The width of the groove of the roller is a width capable of receiving one or a plurality of pachinko balls.
The pachinko ball conveying device as described in the above.