JP2799295B2 - Game ball launcher for ball game machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game ball launching device for various types of ball game machines such as a pachinko machine, an arrangement ball machine and the like. It is something to do.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a ball-and-ball game machine such as a pachinko machine, a launching means shoots a game ball along a guide rail toward an upper side of a game board, and the ball enters while falling along the game board. When a player enters a chucker, a prize winning device, or the like, a prize ball is paid out in accordance with the prize ball and returned to the player as profit.

Conventionally, a game ball launching device for a ball game machine has a hitting hammer for hitting a game ball on a firing rail in a firing direction and a spring for biasing the hitting hammer in a firing direction on a main body of the game machine. A firing motor that drives a hammer against the spring,
It has everything with an operation handle to adjust the spring pressure of the spring,
When the player grips the operation handle and turns around the handle axis, the firing motor is activated, and the spring pressure changes according to the operation amount of the operation handle, and the hammer strikes the game ball on the firing rail. The striking force at the time of striking can be adjusted arbitrarily.

[0004]

In a conventional game ball launching device for a ball-and-ball game machine, a launching motor operates when a player operates an operating handle, and a spring pressure changes. During the game, it is necessary for the player to always operate by holding the operation handle. For this reason, not only is the gripping of the operation handle troublesome, but also when playing the game for a long time, there is a disadvantage that the degree of fatigue of the player is significantly increased, for example, the grip strength of the hand holding the operation handle is extremely reduced. .

In recent years, in a ball game machine called a so-called right, when a jackpot is reached, a large number of prize balls are paid out from the upper plate to the lower plate, so that the game balls in the lower plate become full. Before that, it is necessary to take out the lower game ball into another container. However, in the past, during the game, you must always hold one hand on the operation handle,
It is necessary to take out the game ball of the lower plate with one hand, and if it cannot be taken out with one hand, it is necessary to interrupt the game.

Further, if the player is a physically handicapped person, the game cannot be performed because the operation handle cannot be grasped. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a game ball launching device for a ball game machine in which a game ball can be launched without using a hand by operating an operation means with a foot. And

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a game machine main body.
In the game ball launching device of the ball game machine provided with a launching means 11 for launching the game ball B on the launching rail 15 and an operating means 12 for operating the launching means 11, Island structure below and to which the gaming machine body 5 is attached
On one side, a foot-operated operating means 12 is arranged, and the firing means 11 is pivotally supported by a mounting plate 20 fixed to the game machine main body 5 and hits the game ball B on the firing rail 15 in the firing direction. A hammer 16 and a spring 17 for urging the hammer 16 in the striking direction
And a firing motor 23 attached to the mounting plate 20 and driving the hammer 16 against the spring 17, and an adjusting motor 32 for adjusting the spring pressure of the spring 17 according to the amount of depression of the operating means 12 is attached. The electric wiring 54 on the side of the firing motor 23 and the adjusting motor 32 and the electric wiring 53 on the side of the operation means 12 are detachably connected on the back side of the island structure 1 via connectors 55 and 56 provided on the plate 20.

The operating means 12 includes a foot pedal 13 and a striking force command means 44 for outputting an electric signal corresponding to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13, and is adjusted by the electric signal from the striking force command means 44. The striking force of the firing means 11 is adjusted by the motor 32.

A mounting plate is provided on the back side of the front frame 7 of the gaming machine body 1.
20 and a firing motor 23 is mounted on the back side of the mounting plate 20 via a boss portion 31.
An adjusting motor is attached to the mounting plate 20 between the motor 20 and the firing motor 23.
32 is installed.

There is provided a gear 35 to which the spring 17 is connected, and a forward / reverse rotating motor 32 for driving the gear 35 forward / reverse.

[0011]

The player activates the launching means 11 while operating the operating means 12 disposed below the gaming machine body 5 with his / her feet, and the playing means 11 launches the game ball B on the launching rail 15. Therefore, the player can fire the game ball B without using his / her hand.

The operating means 12 includes a foot pedal 13 and a striking force command means 44 for outputting an electric signal according to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13. When the player depresses the foot pedal 13, The striking force command means 44 outputs an electric signal in conjunction with the foot pedal 13 to control the striking force of the firing means 11. Accordingly, the striking force of the firing means 11 can be controlled according to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13.

[0013]

When the operating means 12 is operated by a foot, an adjusting motor
35 rotates in the forward and reverse directions to drive the gear 35 in the forward and reverse directions, and the spring 17
Adjust the spring pressure of. For this reason, the striking force of the hammer 16 can be easily adjusted by the adjusting motor 32.

[0015]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 5 show an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a pachinko machine. 1 and 2, 1 is an island structure,
A large number of rectangular mounting frames 3 are formed on the upper side of the receiving base 2 in the horizontal direction, and a cover plate 44 is mounted on the lower side of the receiving base 2. 5 is a gaming machine body, each mounting frame 3 of the island structure 1
It is attached detachably from the front side.

The gaming machine body 5 has an outer frame 6 and a front frame 7 which is attached to the outer frame 6 via a pair of upper and lower hinges so as to be openable and closable, and a game board 8 is provided on the front frame 7 side. , Upper plate 9,
A lower plate 10 and the like are attached, and a motor-driven firing means 11 is provided on the back side of the lower right side of the front frame 7. In addition, game board
Various game parts such as guide rails 8a, obstacle nails, winning prize holes, prize winning means, and the like are mounted on 8.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a foot-operated operating means, which is provided with a foot pedal 13 and is provided below the cover plate 4 under each game machine main body 5 so that the foot pedal 13 projects forward from behind the cover plate 4. Is provided in the vicinity of the floor surface 14 at the lower end portion. Launch means 11
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the firing rail 15 fixed to the front frame 7 side to be continuous with the lower end side of the guide rail 8a.
And a hammer 16 for hitting the game ball B on the firing rail 15 in the firing direction, and a spring for biasing the hammer 16 in the firing direction.
17 and driving means 18 for driving the hammer 16 against the spring 17
And adjusting means 19 for adjusting the striking force of the hammer 16 by changing the spring pressure of the spring 17.

The hammer 16 is pivotally supported by a mounting plate 20 via a support shaft 21 so as to be swingable. A spring ring 22 is fixed to the support shaft 21. The spring is wound around the spring hook ring 22, and one end of the spring is locked to the spring hook ring 22.

The driving means 18 includes a firing motor 23 and a cam mechanism 24. The firing motor 23 is mounted on a mounting plate 25. The cam mechanism 24 includes a cam body 27 fixed to a rotation shaft 26 of a firing motor 23 and a bracket 28 on the base side of the hammer 16.
A cam roller 30 pivotally mounted via
By rotating the hammer 16 via the cam roller 30, the hammer 16 is configured to rotate against the spring 17. The mounting plates 20 and 25 are integrally fixed by screws via a boss portion 31, and the mounting plate 20 is mounted to the lower portion of the front frame 7 from the rear.

The adjusting means 19 includes an adjusting motor 32 such as a stepping motor with a brake, and a rotating shaft of the adjusting motor 32.
A driving gear 34 that rotates integrally with the driving gear 33 and a driven gear 35 that meshes with the driving gear 34 and to which the other end of the spring 17 is connected. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 33 of the adjusting motor 32 rotates forward and reverse around its axis, the driving gear 34 and the driven gear 35 rotate, and the spring pressure of the spring 17 can be adjusted arbitrarily and steplessly.

The driving gear 34 and the driven gear 35 are accommodated in a gear case 36, and are rotatably supported by bearings 39, 40 on both sides of the gear case 36 via shafts 37, 38 on both sides thereof. I have. The gear case 36 is mounted on the mounting plate 20 from the front side in an opening 41 formed in the front frame 7, and the adjustment motor 32 is fixed to the rear side of the gear case 36.

The opening 41 is covered from the front side by a decorative plate 42 integral with the lower plate 10 mounted on the front frame 7. The adjusting motor 32 is provided with detecting means 43 for detecting the rotation angle of the adjusting motor 32, and the detecting means 43 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the rotating angle of the adjusting motor 32.

The operating means 12 comprises a foot pedal 13 and a striking force command means 44 for outputting a command signal corresponding to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13. The foot pedal 13 is pivotally supported by a bracket 45 fixed to the back side of the cover plate 4 via a support shaft 46 so as to be freely rotatable up and down, and a player sitting on a chair 47 in front of the gaming machine body 5. Is projected forward through a pedal hole 47 at the lower part of the cover plate 4 so that the foot can be depressed by the foot. Note that the foot pedal 13 is urged upward by a return spring (not shown).

The striking force commanding means 44 is constituted by a variable resistor or the like, and is mounted on the side of the bracket 45 so as to interlock with the foot pedal 13 via a support shaft 46. FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the control system. Reference numeral 48 denotes a comparing means, which compares the command signal of the striking force command means 44 with the detection signal of the detecting means 43, and rotates the adjusting motor 32 forward or reverse according to the deviation. It is made to let.

Reference numeral 49 denotes operation detecting means, which is used by the player to depress the foot pedal.
When the pedal 13 is operated, the depression operation is detected in conjunction with the foot pedal 13, and the firing motor 23 is operated only during the detection. The operation detecting means 49 constitutes the operating means 12 together with the striking force command means 44 and the like.

Reference numeral 50 denotes display means for displaying the striking force of the hammer 16 in which a large number of light emitting diodes 51 are arranged in a line, and are relatively easy to see by a player such as one side of the front edge of the upper plate 9. Is located in the position. Each light emitting diode of this display means
51 is connected to the striking force command means 44 via a conversion driving circuit 52, and converts a command signal from the striking force command means 44 into a conversion driving circuit.
The light emitting diodes 51 at predetermined positions are turned on so as to be converted at 52 and have a band shape having a length proportional to the command signal.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control system of the striking force commanding means 44 and the operation detecting means 49 of the operating means 12 and the control motor 32 and the firing motor 23 of the firing means 11 are electrically connected by electric wires such as cables. They are detachably connected via 53,54 and connectors 55,56. Then, the electric wiring 53 on the operation means 12 side
The connector 55 at the tip of
The fixed connector 55 is connected to the fixed connector 55 so as to be detachably connected to a connector 56 at the tip end of an electric wiring 54 extending from the gaming machine body 5.

In the pachinko machine having the above-described structure, when playing a game, the player sitting on the chair 47 after putting the game ball B on the upper plate 9 uses the foot pedal 13 of the operating means 12 with his / her foot. Operate while depressing appropriately. Then, the firing motor 23 and the adjusting motor 32 of the firing means 11 are operated, and the game balls B supplied one by one on the firing rail 15 are hit by the hitting hammer 16 with a predetermined hitting force, so that the guide rails 8a Can be sequentially fired on the upper side of the game board 8.

Therefore, the player only needs to operate the foot pedal 13 of the operation means 12 with his or her feet during the game, so that it is not necessary to hold and operate the operation handle as in the prior art. While eliminating the hassle of manual operation,
Even for a long game, the degree of fatigue can be reduced as compared to manual operation.

In the case of a jackpot or the like, a game ball is placed from the lower plate 10.
When taking out B, the game ball B can be taken out easily without interrupting the game because it is foot-operated and both hands are empty. In addition, even a physically handicapped person with a handicap can easily play the game. That is, when the foot pedal 13 is depressed around the support shaft 46 in the direction indicated by the arrow a, the striking force command means 44 outputs a command signal corresponding to the depressed amount. Is compared with the detection signal from the detection means 43 to determine the deviation.

Now, if the adjusting motor 32 is stopped at the original position before the operation, the command signal from the striking force commanding means 44 is large. When a command is input, the adjustment motor 32 rotates in the normal rotation direction. Therefore, the rotating shaft 33 of the adjusting motor 32 and the driving gear 34
The driven gear 35 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow b through the arrow, and pulls one end of the spring 17 in proportion to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13, so that the spring pressure of the spring 17 increases in proportion to the amount of depression. Go.

When the adjusting motor 32 rotates, the detecting means 43 detects the rotation angle. Then, since the detection means 43 outputs a detection signal proportional to the rotation angle of the adjustment motor 32,
The command signal of the striking force commanding means 44 and the detecting means 43
When the adjustment motor 32 rotates to an angle corresponding to the command signal, the command signal and the detection signal match, and the adjustment motor 32 stops. Therefore, the spring pressure of the spring 17 can be easily and arbitrarily adjusted steplessly according to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13.

On the other hand, when the foot pedal 13 is depressed, the operation detecting means 49 detects the operation, so that the firing motor 23 operates and the cam 27 fixed to the rotating shaft 26 is c.
Rotating in the direction indicated by the arrow, the cam body 27 comes into contact with the cam roller 30 to rotate the hammer 16 around the support shaft 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow d against the spring 17. When the cam body 27 comes off the cam roller 30, the hammer 16 is pulled back by the spring 17 around the support shaft 21 in the firing direction (the direction indicated by the arrow d), and the striking force corresponding to the spring pressure of the spring 17 at that time. Hits game ball B on firing rail 15 with
The game ball B is fired toward the guide rail 8a.

When the foot pedal 13 is operated, the conversion drive circuit 52 converts the command signal from the striking force command means 44 and drives the display means 50. For this reason, among the respective light emitting diodes 51 of the display means 50, the number of light emitting diodes 51 corresponding to the command signal is turned on, so that the display means 50 has the light emitting diodes 51 in a strip shape with a length substantially proportional to the command signal. Lights to indicate the spring pressure at that time, that is, the striking force.

Therefore, the player can easily grasp the striking force at that time by looking at the display on the display means 50. Can be adjusted as appropriate. When adjusting the spring pressure, if the depression amount of the foot pedal 13 is reduced, the command signal from the striking force command means 44 becomes smaller than the detection signal from the detection means 43. The adjustment motor 32 rotates in the reverse direction until both signals coincide, and the spring pressure is reduced.

When the operating force of the foot pedal 13 is released, the foot pedal 13 is returned by the return spring, and the command signal of the striking force command means 44 disappears. It returns to the position and stops with the spring pressure reduced. Further, the operation detecting means 49 detects that the operation of the foot pedal 13 is released, and the firing motor 23 stops.

When replacing the gaming machine body 5, the gaming machine body 5 is removed from the mounting frame 3 of the island structure 1. In this case, first, the front frame 7 is opened, the connector 56 on the gaming machine main body 5 side is disconnected from the connector 55 on the cradle 2 side, and then the entire gaming machine main body 5 is removed from the mounting frame portion 3. Then, after the new gaming machine body 5 is mounted on the mounting frame section 3, the front frame 7 is opened and the connector 56 on the gaming machine body 5 side may be connected to the connector 55 on the receiving stand 2 side.

Accordingly, although the operating means 12 is located below the island structure 1 away from the gaming machine main body 5, the striking force commanding means 44 and the operation detecting means 49 of the operating means 12 and the firing means 11 are provided. Wiring between the adjustment motor 32 and the launching motor 23
53 and 54 can be easily connected, and the gaming machine body 5 can be easily replaced.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention. If the foot pedal 13 is kept depressed for a predetermined time, the command signal of the striking force command means 44 is automatically fixed, and the command signal at that time is fixed. When the striking force is maintained and the foot pedal 13 is depressed again, the fixing of the command signal is released.

That is, a change degree detecting means 60 for detecting the presence or absence of a change in the command signal of the striking force command means 44, and a timer means 61 which operates when the change degree detecting means 60 determines that there is no change in the command signal. Holding means 62 which keeps the command signal of the striking force command means 44 after the timer means 61 has counted a predetermined time, and releases the keep when the change degree detecting means 60 detects a change in the command signal after the keeping. Are provided.

In this case, if the foot pedal 13 is depressed to achieve the optimum striking force, the depressed state is maintained, and the change degree detecting means 60 detects that the command signal has not changed. Then, when the timer means 61 is operated and a predetermined time has elapsed, the output from the timer means 61 activates the holding means 62 to keep the command signal at that time. Therefore, it is possible to automatically set and fix the optimal impact force.

Thereafter, when the foot pedal 13 is depressed again,
The holding means 62 is released by the output from the change degree detecting means 60, the command signal changes according to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13, and the striking force can be adjusted. The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the driving means 18 may use a solenoid, in which a hitting hammer 16 is fixed to the tip of a movable iron core of the solenoid, and the hitting hammer 16 hits and fires the game ball B.

In the embodiment, the adjusting means 19 using the adjusting motor 32 is employed. However, the end of the spring 17 is connected to a swing arm, and the swing arm and the foot pedal 13 are connected to each other. If mechanical connection is made via a flexible wire cable or the like, the spring pressure can also be adjusted mechanically by depressing the foot pedal 13.

The display means 50 may be a light-emitting stationary type such as a dot display or a segment display, a mechanical movable type in which a needle moves or swings in proportion to an electric signal, or a mounting position thereof. May be anywhere as long as it is easy for the player to see. In addition, in the embodiment, the pachinko machine has been exemplified, but the present invention can be similarly applied to an arrangement ball machine and other various ball game machines.

[0045]

According to the present invention, in the gaming machine main body 5,
A launching means 11 for launching the game ball B on a launching rail 15 and a game ball launching device for a ball game machine provided with an operating means 12 for operating the launching means 11 are provided below the gaming machine body 5 and On the island structure 1 side where the gaming machine body 5 is mounted,
A foot-operated operating means 12 is arranged, and a firing means 11
Is a hammer 1 pivotally supported by a mounting plate 20 fixed to the gaming machine body 5 and hitting the game ball B on the firing rail 15 in the firing direction.
6, a spring 17 for urging the hammer 16 in the striking direction, and a hammer 16 attached to the mounting plate 20 and opposed to the spring 17.
And an adjustment motor 32 for adjusting the spring pressure of the spring 17 in accordance with the amount of depression of the operating means 12 on the mounting plate 20, and an electric wiring 54 on the side of the emission motor 23 and the adjustment motor 32. Island structure with electric wiring 53 on the operation means 12 side
Since it is detachably connected via connectors 55 and 56 on the back side of 1, the player can fire the game ball B without using his hands.

Therefore, it is not necessary to hold the operation handle by hand as in the conventional case, and it is not necessary to operate the operation handle. The degree of fatigue of the player can be reduced. In addition, in the case of big hits, lower plate 10
When the game ball B is taken out of the game, the game ball B can be easily taken out without interrupting the game because the foot is of a foot-operated type and both hands are empty. In addition, even a physically handicapped person with a handicap can easily play the game.

The operating means 12 includes a foot pedal 13 and a striking force command means 44 for outputting an electric signal corresponding to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13. The electric signal from the striking force command means 44 Since the striking force of the firing means 11 is controlled by the adjusting means 19, the striking force of the firing means 11 can be controlled according to the amount of depression of the foot pedal 13.

[0048]

Further, since a gear 35 to which the spring 17 is connected and a forward / reverse rotation type adjusting motor 32 for driving the gear 35 forward / reversely are provided, the spring pressure of the spring 17 can be easily and continuously adjusted by the adjusting motor 32. Can be adjusted.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall front view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall sectional view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of the launching means showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the launching means showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a control system showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of sign]

 1 Island structure 5 Game machine body 11 Launching means 12 Operating means 13 Foot pedal 16 Impact hammer 17 Spring 18 Driving means 19 Adjusting means 23 Launching motor 32 Adjusting motor 43 Detecting means 44 Striking force command means 48 Comparing means 49 Operation detecting means

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A firing rail (15) in a gaming machine main body (5).
In a game ball launching device of a ball game machine provided with a launching means (11) for launching the upper game ball (B), and an operating means (12) for operating the launching means (11), a game machine body ( 5), a foot-operated operating means (12) is arranged on the side of the island structure (1) on which the gaming machine body (5) is mounted, and the launching means (11) is mounted on the gaming machine body. A hitting hammer (16) pivotally supported by a mounting plate (20) fixed to (5) and hitting the game ball (B) on the firing rail (15) in the firing direction; and And a firing motor (23) attached to the mounting plate (20) and driving a hammer (16) against the spring (17).
And a spring (17) according to the amount of depression of the operating means (12).
The mounting plate (20) is provided with an adjusting motor (32) for adjusting the spring pressure of the motor, and the electric wiring on the side of the firing motor (23) and the adjusting motor (32) is provided.
(54) and the electric wiring (53) on the operation means (12) side with the island structure (1)
A game ball launching device for a ball game machine, which is detachably connected via connectors (55) and (56) on the back side of the game ball. The operating means (12) includes a foot pedal (13) and a striking force command means (44) for outputting an electric signal according to the amount of depression of the foot pedal (13). Force command means (44)
Firing means by means of an adjustment motor (32) by means of an electric signal from
2. The game ball launching device for a ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the hitting force of (11) is adjusted. 3. A mounting plate (20) is mounted on the back side of the front frame (7) of the gaming machine main body (1), and a firing motor (23) is mounted on the back side of the mounting plate (20) via a boss (31). ), And an adjusting motor (32) is mounted on the mounting plate (20) between the mounting plate (20) and the firing motor (23). A game ball launcher for a ball game machine. 4. A gear (35) to which a spring (17) is connected, and a forward / reverse adjusting motor (3) for driving the gear (35) forward / reverse.
4. The game ball launching device for a ball game machine according to claim 1, further comprising (2).