JP3201742B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of dropping a ball and selectively taking the ball into one of a plurality of ball receiving portions.
The present invention relates to a ball game machine that advances a bingo game or the like based on the position of the captured game.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a game machine of this kind, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-71010, a transparent spherical basket is rotated to stir a large number of balls housed therein. In some cases, a predetermined number of balls are sequentially taken into a ball receiving portion installed in a basket one by one, and attributes such as preset numbers are read from the taken-in balls to determine a lottery result. In the terminal installed on the player side, the lottery result is compared with the bingo card,
The bingo card squares are sequentially filled based on the control result. According to this game machine, the process of stirring the ball is shown to the player, so that the eye catch effect of the game machine (the effect of attracting the player's gaze to the game machine is compared with a case where only the ball selection result is shown to the player) ) Can be increased.

[0003] However, in such a stirring type game machine, since the ball is selected almost instantly from the state where the ball is stirred without any prior notice, the player enjoys watching the movement of the ball and predicting the lottery result. Can not give to. Therefore, the movement of the ball only enhances the decorative effect of the game machine.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 7-265492 and 7-265493, a rail extending vertically in a spiral shape is installed at the center of a game machine, and balls are sequentially sent out from the upper end thereof. There is disclosed a game machine in which a ball reaching the lower end of a rail is dropped on a funnel-shaped field portion, and the ball is rolled along the field portion and fed into a central winning pocket or an invalid pocket. In this game machine, the destination of the ball is gradually narrowed as the ball moves, so that the player's line of sight is attracted to the falling ball. However, the falling motion of the ball is almost uniform, and it is difficult to provide the player with delightful pleasure according to the irregular movement of the ball.

[0005] Japanese Patent Nos. 2579738 and 257
No. 9739 discloses a ring-shaped wheel having a large number of pockets rotatably provided along a vertical plane, a ball guide provided on an inner periphery of the wheel, and a ball guide provided while rotating the wheel. There is disclosed a game machine in which a ball is supplied from an upper end of a ball and a ball falling from a lower end of a ball guide portion is taken into a pocket fed to a lower end of a wheel at the time of the drop.

[0006] In this game machine, the ball guide portion is constituted by providing a pin or a windmill between a pair of acrylic plates arranged at an interval slightly larger than the diameter of the ball, as if it were a pachinko board. . Therefore,
Irregularities occur in the movement from the delivery of the ball to the pocket, and the number of uncertainties in predicting the destination of the ball increases as compared with the above-described method using the spiral rail. Thereby, the player's interest is more strongly attracted to the movement of the ball itself, and the enjoyment of the game is enhanced.

[0007]

However, since the above-described ball guide only moves the ball two-dimensionally in the vertical plane, there is a limit to the irregularities that can be given to the ball dropping operation. . Therefore, as you get used to the game, you can predict the destination of the ball early in the fall, and if the prediction result is clearly unexpected, the player will be disappointed in the middle of the game .

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball game machine capable of increasing the irregularity of the falling motion of the ball before the lottery and giving the player a deeper enjoyment.

[0009]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the ball (B) is dropped and taken into one of the plurality of ball receiving portions (40...), And the attribute set in the ball receiving portion into which the ball (B) is taken is set. The ball game machine determines the lottery result in accordance with the following. The ball input means (103), and the time from when the ball (B) is input by the input means (103) to when the ball reaches the ball receiving portion (40) ; and a guide means for varying the time (7), guide means (7) includes means (141) for irregularly movement in a direction crossing fall during the ball (B) and a vertical plane, the ball ( B) intersects the vertical plane
Means (141) for irregular movement in the direction
A pivot axis (14) that can pivot around an axis inclined with respect to the
4) and attached to its pivot (144) so as to be integrally rotatable.
And a plurality of stages (146...
The ball (145) receives the ball and receives the pivot (14).
Drop holding unit (147) that moves in a plane orthogonal to 4)
And drop the ball from the drop holding section (147).
An opening (147a) is provided, and a pair of vertically adjacent
Open the upper stage of the stages (146, 146)
The mouth (147a) is connected to the drop holding portion (14) of the lower stage.
7) and the stage (14)
6,146) in the circumferential direction (147a, 147a)
Each of the multiple stages is rotated so that it is shifted
The above-mentioned problem is solved by a ball game machine characterized by being attached to (144) .

According to the present invention, since the ball (B) falls while performing an irregular motion in a direction intersecting the vertical direction, the ball (B) moves irregularly only in the vertical plane as compared with the conventional example. The movement of the ball (B) until it is taken into the ball receiving portion (40) becomes complicated. Therefore,
The destination of the ball cannot be easily predicted just before and after the ball is thrown, thereby increasing the enjoyment of the game.

[0012]

Further , the ball (B) is moved to the drop holding section (14).
7) and falls to the above means (14).
The position of the center of gravity of 1) changes, and in order to keep a balance with the change, the turning shaft (144) and each stage (146) attached thereto turn around the axis of the turning shaft (141). Due to the synergistic effect of this turning motion and the rolling motion of the ball (B), the ball (B) is moved to the drop holding section (14).
7) Move irregularly on. By repeating such irregular movement in each stage (146), the time until the ball (B) falls to the ball receiving portion (40) changes variously, and the destination of the ball (B) changes. The difficulty of prediction increases. Moreover, the eye catching effect of the game machine is enhanced by showing the player that the drop holding section (147) and the turning axis (144) are turning left and right irregularly.

[0014] According to a second aspect of the invention, the ball game machine according to claim 1, a rotary support member for rotatably supporting the upper and lower ends of the pivot shaft (144) (142), the axis of the rotary support member vertically Rotation driving means (1)
20).

According to the present invention, the rotation supporting member (14)
By turning the 2), the turning axis (144) and the drop holding portion (147) supported by the turning are rotated to intentionally change the balance, and the falling motion of the ball (B) is made more irregular. Can be changed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ball game machine of the first aspect, a wheel means (6) for turning around the guide means (7) is provided, and a plurality of ball receiving portions (40 ...) are provided.
Are provided on the wheel means (6) side by side in the circumferential direction.

According to the present invention, by turning the wheel means (6) to change the ball receiving portion (40) which is fed out to the drop position from the guide means (7), the destination of the ball (B) is reached. The difficulty of prediction increases even more.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the ball game machine of the third aspect , means (21) for arbitrarily changing an attribute of each ball receiving portion (40) provided in the wheel means (6).
0,26).

According to the present invention, the difficulty in predicting the lottery result (for example, the winning number) is further increased by the combination of the turning motion of the wheel means (6) and the change in the attribute of each ball receiving portion (40). Increase.

[0020]

1 and 2 show the overall structure of a ball game machine to which the present invention is applied. As shown in these figures, the ball game machine 1 has a game execution unit 2 and a game operation unit 3. The game execution unit 2 is a unit that performs a lottery process using a ball.
And a wheel portion 6 supported by the main body portion 5 and a ball guide portion 7 arranged on the inner periphery of the wheel portion 6. During the execution of the game, six balls per game are sequentially thrown from the upper end of the ball guide unit 7 while the wheel unit 6 is turned in a vertical plane. Then, the ball reaching the lower end of the ball guide 7 is inserted into the pocket 40 of the wheel 6.
(See FIGS. 4 and 6), and the winning numbers and the like are determined sequentially. Details will be described later.

On the other hand, the game operation section 3 is a section in which the player plays a bingo game or the like in accordance with the result of the lottery by the game execution section 2, and includes a plurality of terminals 8 arranged so as to surround the main body section 5. Have. Each terminal 8 has a display device 8a for displaying a game screen, operation guidance, and the like.
A control panel 8b having a medal insertion slot, a button for betting operation, and the like, a medal payout port 8c for paying out medals and the like obtained by the player, and a display device 8
and a control device (not shown) for controlling the progress of the game performed via the control unit (a). The basic configuration of these terminals 8 is the same as the conventional one.

The main body 5 of the game execution unit 2 is a floor surface FL.
The main body 10 is provided with a wheel support 11 at the center of the upper surface of the housing 10. FIG. 3 schematically shows the game execution unit 2 above the wheel support unit 11.

A pair of rod-shaped frames 13, 13 extending in an arc along the vertical plane are attached to the wheel support 11 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Wheel support wheels 15 are mounted via. A plurality of roller guides 16 are provided on the wheel support wheel 15 at appropriate intervals in the circumferential direction.
(Only a part is shown in FIG. 3), and the wheel portion 6 is mounted inside the roller guides 16. As is apparent from FIG. 1, a decorative portion 17 using a fluorescent tube, a neon tube or the like is provided on the outer peripheral side of the frame 13, but FIG. 3 shows only a part thereof.

As is apparent from FIG. 4 showing a cross section of the wheel portion 6, the wheel portion 6 includes a ring-shaped wheel body 20, and control units 21 and 21 attached to both side surfaces 20a of the wheel body 20. And
The wheel body 20 has a pair of annular frame plates 22 and 22 connected in parallel with each other by a connecting member (not shown), and an end plate 23 attached to the inner peripheral side of the frame plates 22. The outer peripheries of the frame plates 22, 22 abut against the rollers 16a of the roller guide 16, respectively, so that the wheel body 20 is supported so as to be pivotable along the vertical plane.

The end plate 23 has 25 ball passage holes 23a.
Are formed at the same pitch in the circumferential direction (see FIG. 2). Between the frame plates 22, 25 pockets 40 as ball receiving portions are mounted so as to be aligned with the ball passage holes 23 a in the circumferential direction. Details of the pocket 40 will be described later.

The control unit 21 includes a control board 25 mounted on both side surfaces 20a of the wheel body 20.
And a display unit 26 mounted on the control board 25
And As shown in FIG. 5, the control board 25 has 5 blocks on one side of the wheel body 20 and 10 blocks on both sides.
Provided in blocks. The wheel-side CPU 210 for controlling various electronic components mounted on the wheel unit 6 is mounted on the control board 25 of one block, and the control board 25 of the other nine blocks is mounted on the CPU 2.
10 are connected via a communication cable 29 to a control board 25 on which the device 10 is mounted.

Each control board 25 has five display units 26.
They are attached individually. That is, the display unit 2
6 are provided on one side of the wheel body 20 in the same number as the number of the pockets 40, and a total of 50 on both sides. And
Each display unit 26 is mounted so as to be aligned with the corresponding pocket 40 in the circumferential direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 26
A display panel 27 for displaying a lottery number or the like assigned to each pocket 40;
And a panel control board 28 on which a drive circuit for controlling the display of the display panel 27 in accordance with an instruction from 210 is mounted. As shown in FIG. 6, a single dot dt is formed on the display panel 27 by combining, for example, a plurality of LEDs (light emitting diodes) having different colors, and the dots dt are arranged vertically and horizontally in a matrix. A matrix type is used. In FIG. 6, the display panel 27 has
Although a state is shown in which any of the integers up to 25 is displayed at random, the present invention is not limited to this, and various displays can be performed by controlling the blinking of each dot dt. For example, by changing the combination of lighting and extinguishing of a plurality of LEDs constituting the dot dt, a plurality of colors can be displayed in dot units.

As shown in FIG. 4, a pocket sensor 30 for detecting the presence or absence of a ball B in each pocket 40 is attached to the control unit 21 in a one-to-one correspondence with each pocket 40. Pocket sensor 30
Has a light emitting unit 30A attached to the control board 25 on one side of the wheel body 20, and a light receiving unit 30B attached to the control board 25 on the opposite side. During the execution of the game, a predetermined detection light is emitted from each light emitting unit 30A to the light receiving unit 30B through the through hole 31 provided through the wheel body 20 and the pocket 40. When the ball B is taken into the pocket 40, the detection light is blocked, and the output signal from the light receiving unit 30B changes. The CPU 210 determines the presence or absence of the ball B in each pocket 40 based on the output signal.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, five blocks of control board 2 arranged on one side of wheel body 20 are provided.
5 includes a transmission / reception head 212a of an infrared communication unit 212 (see FIG. 25) for performing communication with the main body side CPU 200 provided in the main body portion 5 on one substrate 25.
A total of five are attached to each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, an electrode ring 35a is provided on one side of the wheel body 20. A brush holder 36b is attached to the wheel support wheel 15 via a support member 36a, and a brush 36c slidably in contact with the electrode ring 35 is attached to a tip of the brush holder 36b. The electrode ring 35a rotates while being in contact with the brush 36c with the rotation of the wheel portion 6, whereby the electrode ring 35a and the cable 3
Power is supplied to the control board 25 of the wheel unit 6 via 5b.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
Is provided with a wheel cover 18 for hiding the configuration on the outer peripheral side of the wheel portion 6 from the player. Translucent covers 37, 37 are attached to both sides of the wheel portion 6, respectively. With these covers 37, when the game machine 1 is observed from the outside, only the display contents of the display unit 26 can be visually recognized on the side surface of the wheel unit 6, and the details of the display unit 26 and the control board 25 are hidden. further,
Between the wheel body 20 and the control board 25, covers 38, 38 that cover the inner peripheral side of the control unit 21 are attached.

7 to 10 show details of the pocket 40. FIG. The pocket 40 has a pocket board 41 fixed to the inner surface side of one frame plate 22 of the wheel body 20 using fixing means (not shown) such as a bolt, and a pocket B for accommodating the ball B in cooperation with the pocket board 41. A frame plate 43 defining a space 42 and a bottom plate 4 fixed to the frame plate 43 so as to prevent the ball B from dropping to the outer peripheral side of the pocket 40 (downward in FIG. 8).
And 4. A notch 43b is formed in one side wall 43a of the frame plate 43, and the movable plate 4 is formed in the notch 43b.
6 are arranged. The movable plate 46 is rotatably connected to the side wall 43a via a hinge 47. A torsion coil spring 48 is attached to the rotation shaft 47 a of the hinge 47.
Due to the restoring force of the spring 48, the movable plate 46 is rotated by the rotating shaft 47.
8, is urged clockwise in FIG. 8, and is abutted against a stopper (not shown) to be held substantially flush with the side wall 43a.

Holders 49, 49 are attached to the movable plate 47 and the side wall 43c of the frame plate 43 facing the movable plate 47, and the holders 49 are provided with claws 51 as opening / closing members.
It is attached so that it can rotate around 0. Each nail 51
Is mounted on the holder 4 by urging means (not shown) using a spring or the like.
9 against the locking surface 49a and the side walls 43a, 43c.
8 is held at a position substantially perpendicular to the position (solid line position in FIG. 8).
When the ball B falls from the pocket 40 toward the accommodation space 42, the claws 51 are pushed into the accommodation space 42 against the urging means as shown by the imaginary line L1 in FIG. 42.

When the ball B is taken into the accommodating space 42, the claw 51 returns to the solid line position in FIG. 8 by the force of the urging means, and the distance between the claws 51, 51 becomes smaller than the diameter of the ball B. For this reason, even if the pocket 40 is turned upside down, the ball B is held in the pocket 40 without falling from the storage space 42.

A drive lever 52 as an operation member for operating the claw 51 is fixed to the movable plate 46. The tip 52 a of the drive lever 52 is connected to the end plate 23 of the wheel body 20.
It protrudes beyond the inner periphery of the wheel body 20 (see FIG. 4). As shown by the imaginary line L2 in FIG.
When the second end portion 52a is pushed in a direction away from the pocket 40, the movable plate 46 is opened against the spring 48 of the hinge 47, and the one claw 51 is retracted. Thereby, the accommodation space 42
From the ball B can be taken out.

The rotation axis 47a of the hinge 47 is
1 and is connected to the damper 53 fixed at 1. Damper 5
Reference numeral 3 functions as a buffer for giving a certain resistance to the return operation of the hinge 47 due to the restoring force of the spring 48. Due to the buffering action of the damper 53, the return operation of the claw 51, that is, the operation of returning from the state shown by the imaginary line L2 to the solid line position in FIG. Is less likely to be caught between the claws 51, 51. Note that the frame body 43 includes the wheel body 20.
A detection rod 54 for detecting the pocket 40 is attached from the outer peripheral side.

As shown in FIG. 3, a wheel drive mechanism 60 for rotating the wheel 6 is provided on the wheel support 11 of the main body 5. Wheel drive mechanism 60
Controls the rotation of the output shaft of the wheel drive motor 61 by the belt 6.
The wheel portion 6 is transmitted to the roller 16a of the roller guide 16 via the second member 2 to rotate the wheel portion 6 in a vertical plane. Wheel part 6
Is determined by detecting the passage of the detection rod 54 of the pocket 40 by the wheel rotation sensor 62 provided on the wheel support 11. A pair of transmission / reception heads 202a and 202b for performing infrared communication with the transmission / reception head 212a of the wheel unit 6 are provided on both sides of the sensor 62 (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame 1
A unit mounting board 65 is fixed to the upper end of 3.
The unit mounting board 65 includes a release unit 80 (FIGS. 11 to 14) for collecting the ball B from the pocket 40 of the wheel unit 6 and a supplier unit 100 (FIGS. 17)
And an object driving unit 120 (see FIG. 18) as means for rotating and driving the object 141 of the ball guide portion 7.
To FIG. 21). The unit mounting board 65 and the units 80, 100, and 120 are hidden by the top cover 66 (see FIG. 1).

As shown in FIGS. 11 to 14, the release unit 80 includes a base plate 81 fixed to the mounting board 65.
And a slider 83 attached to the base plate 81 via a linear guide unit 82 so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a release motor 85 attached to the base plate 81 via a bracket 84. A roller 87 is rotatably attached to an output shaft 85a of the motor 85 via a roller holder 86. The roller 87 is a slider 83
Into the square hole 83a. When the output shaft 85a of the motor 85 rotates, the roller 87 rotates around the output shaft 85a while being fitted to the square hole 83a, whereby the slider 83 is reciprocated in the vertical direction.

A release roller 8 is provided at the upper end of the slider 83.
8 is rotatably mounted. The drive lever 52 (see FIG. 8) of the pocket 40 is driven by the release roller 88, and the ball B is taken out of the pocket 40. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the release roller 88 is attached so as to face the movement route R1 (hatched area in the figure) of the drive lever 52 at the upper end of the wheel portion 6. In the state of FIG. 12A in which the slider 83 has risen, the release roller 88 has entered the movement path R1, and in the state of FIG. 12B in which the slider 83 has moved down, the release roller 88 has moved below the movement path R1. fall back.

Accordingly, when the slider 83 is stopped with the release roller 88 raised, and the wheel body 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow RW in this state, the drive lever 52 of the pocket 40 extended to the upper end of the wheel portion 6 is moved. The nail 51 of the pocket 40 comes into contact with the release roller 88,
Is opened as shown by the imaginary line L2. Thereby, the ball B falls from the pocket 40 reaching the upper end of the wheel portion 6.

A pair of upper and lower roller position detecting sensors 90, 90 are attached to the base plate 81 via a bracket 89. These sensors 90 are composed of, for example, transmission type optical sensors. The detection plate 91 attached to the slider 83 selectively enters the slit 90s of one of the sensors 90 according to the rise or fall of the slider 83, and blocks the detection light of the sensor 90. Change. Thus, it is determined whether the release roller 88 has moved to its rising end or its descending end.

As shown in FIGS. 15 to 17, the supplier unit 100 includes a side wall 65 of the unit mounting board 65.
a (see FIG. 2), a collection wheel 103 as a rotating body rotatably mounted inside the box 101 via a drive shaft 102,
The guide cylinder 10 surrounding the outer periphery of the collection wheel 103
4 and a lid 105 for closing the box 101. The drive shaft 102 is installed perpendicular to the rotation surface of the wheel unit 6, and both ends of the drive shaft 102 are mounted on the bearing unit 10.
6 and 106, it is rotatably supported by the box 101 and the lid 105.

The distal end of the drive shaft 102 projects from the lid 105, and a pulley 107 is attached to the projected portion so as to be integrally rotatable. A supplier motor 110 is mounted on the upper surface of the box 101 via a bracket 108, and a pulley 111 mounted on its output shaft 110a is provided.
Between the pulley 107 on the drive shaft 102 and the belt 112
Is wrapped around.

On the outer periphery of the collection wheel 103, blades 113 as protrusions are provided at a constant pitch (360 /
7 °). The number of blades 113 is set to seven, one more than the number of balls B used in the game. Vertical wall 10 provided at the back of box 101
1a has a ball inlet 101b and a ball outlet 101c.
Are respectively formed. The ball inlet 101b is connected to a ball collecting path 67 provided on the unit mounting board 65, and the ball outlet 101c is disposed directly above a ball drop port 65c formed on the bottom plate 65b of the unit mounting board 65.

The distance between the inlet 101b and the outlet 101c substantially corresponds to the pitch of the blade 113. That is, the blade 11
When one of the accommodating spaces 114 of the balls B formed between the balls 3 and 113 overlaps with the entrance 101b, the interval between the entrance 101b and the exit 101c is set such that the accommodation space 114 adjacent thereto overlaps with the exit 101c. ing.

The release unit 8 is connected to the ball collection path 67.
With 0, the ball B taken out of the pocket 40 is guided. The guided ball B moves from the ball entrance 101b into the box 101 and moves to the blade 11 of the collection wheel 103.
It is taken into the accommodation space 114 between 3 and 113.
By rotating the collection wheel 103 by the pitch of the blades 113a by the supplier motor 110, empty accommodation spaces 114 can be sequentially fed out before the ball entrance 101b, and a total of six balls can be sequentially taken in.

When the ball B is taken in from the ball entrance 101b, the detection light emitted from the light projecting portion 115A of the ball collecting sensor 115 using the transmission type optical sensor toward the light receiving portion 115B is cut off and the light is received from the light receiving portion 115B. Output signal changes. Based on this output signal, it is determined whether or not the ball B has been captured.

In order to rotate the collection wheel 103 by the pitch of the blades 113a, a slit disk 116 having seven slits 116a is attached to the drive shaft 101 so as to be integrally rotatable. 11
6 is a collection wheel indexing sensor 117 using a transmission type optical sensor for detecting the slits 116a.
18 attached.

The blade 113 is inclined obliquely with respect to the axial direction of the drive shaft 102. The inclination direction is the drive shaft 1
02 from the lid 105 side along the axial direction of the box 101
15 is displaced in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 15, in other words, toward the back side (the side where the vertical wall 101 a is provided) of the cover 10.
5 from the front end 113a of the blade 113,
13b is set so as to shift counterclockwise.

Accordingly, when the collection wheel 103 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction (the direction of the arrow CCW) in FIG. 15, the ball B taken in from the ball inlet 101b is pushed toward the lid 105 according to the inclination of the blade 113 while the drive shaft is driven. 102
And after passing through the upper end of the guide tube 104, the vertical wall 101 of the box 101 follows the inclination of the blade 113.
It descends around the drive shaft 102 while rolling to the a side. The ball B that has reached the ball outlet 101c is discharged out of the box 101 so as to roll down from the blade 113, and is thrown into the ball guide 7 from the ball drop port 65c.
In this way, the collection wheel 103 for containing the ball B can function as a means for throwing the ball. Note that since the number of accommodation spaces 114 is one more than the number of balls, the ball B
There is no risk of falling from 01c.

As shown in FIGS. 18 to 21, the object driving unit 120 includes a base 121 fixed to the unit mounting board 65, and a bracket 12 attached to the base 121.
2 has an object driving motor 123 fixed via the motor 2 and a reduction mechanism 124 for reducing the rotation of the output shaft 123a of the motor 123.

The speed reduction mechanism 124 is mounted on a pair of brackets 125, 125 fixed to the base 121.
6 and 126, an intermediate drive shaft 128 having one end connected to the motor output shaft 123a via a coupling 127, and a worm mounted on the outer periphery of the intermediate drive shaft 128 so as to be integrally rotatable. A shaft 129, a worm wheel 130 meshing with the worm shaft 129,
An object drive shaft 131 is fitted to the center of the worm wheel 130 so as to be integrally rotatable. The object drive shaft 131 is supported by a housing 1212 attached to the base 121 via a thrust bearing 133A, and is rotatable around a vertical axis. The upper end of the object drive shaft 131 is fitted with a radial bearing 133B, and the bearing 133B is attached to the upper surface of a bracket 134 fixed on the base 121 via a housing 135. And the object drive shaft 1
The lower end of 31 projects downward through the base 121, and the projecting portion is provided with an object fitting portion 131a having female screw portions 131b, 131b.

An object rotation sensor 136 using a transmission type optical sensor is attached to the bracket 134 via a holder 138, and a detection plate 137 is attached at one position on the outer periphery of the object drive shaft 131. Each time the object drive shaft 131 makes one rotation, the detection plate 137
6 passes once, whereby the output of the sensor 136 changes and the rotation of the object drive shaft 131 is detected.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball guide 7 comprises a transparent spherical dome cover 140 attached to the inner periphery of the wheel body 20 and the dome cover 1.
40 and an object 141 provided inside. The dome cover 140 is fixed to the bottom plate 65 b of the unit mounting board 65, and the lower end thereof is
7 are overlapped with a predetermined gap therebetween (see FIG. 4). The dome cover 140 prevents the ball B from jumping out, and ensures that the ball B falls into the pocket 40, and prevents the artificial operation on the ball B during the fall.

As shown in FIGS.
Reference numeral 41 denotes an irregularly changing drop time of the ball B from the ball drop port 65c to the pocket 40. The main frame (rotation support member) 142 is curved in an arc shape, and the main frame 142 has And a revolving unit 143 attached thereto. The turning unit 143 includes upper and lower ends 142a of the main frame 142,
The pivot 144 spanned between the pivots 142b and 142b
A hopper 145 coaxially attached to the upper end of 44;
A plurality of (five in the figure) stages 146... Connected to the turning shaft 144 below the hopper 145.

At the upper end 142a of the main frame 142, a socket 142c is provided as connecting means to the object driving unit 120. This socket 14
2c is the object fitting portion 131a of the object drive shaft 131
Of the object fitting portion 131 from the outside.
a of the internal thread portions 131b, 131b (FIGS. 18 and 19)
The object 141 is hung on the object drive shaft 131 by screwing a bolt (not shown) toward the object drive shaft 131.

The pivot shaft 144 has its axis lined with the socket 142.
The main frame 142 is supported by the main frame 142 in a state of being inclined with respect to the axis direction of c (the vertical direction in FIG. 23), and is rotatable around the inclined axis. Hopper 145
Is for receiving the ball B thrown from the supplier unit 100 through the drop port 65c and guiding it to the upper part of the stage 146. The whole is formed in a substantially funnel shape, and an opening through which the ball B passes is formed at the bottom. 145a is formed.

The stage 146 has a disc-shaped bottom plate 147 as a drop holding section, and a holding frame 148 surrounding the outer periphery thereof.
Each of the bottom plates 147 has an opening 147a for allowing the ball B to pass therethrough. Stage 1 at the top
46, the opening 145a of the hopper 145 overlaps the bottom plate 147 in the vertical direction, and the openings 145a, 147
a is provided so as to be shifted in the circumferential direction. The second stage or lower stage 146 is also the opening 1 of the upper stage 146.
The opening 47a is connected to the rotating shaft 144 such that the opening 47a overlaps the bottom plate 147 of the lower stage 146 and the openings 147a do not overlap in the vertical direction.

In the above object 141, the ball B falls as follows. First, the ball B thrown into the hopper 145 from the supplier unit 100 is moved from the opening 145 a of the hopper 145 through the bottom plate 147 of the uppermost stage 146.
And rolls on the bottom plate 147. Ball B
The position of the center of gravity of the turning unit 143 changes due to the falling and rolling motion of the turning unit 143, and the turning unit 143 turns around the axis of the turning shaft 144 in order to keep a balance with the change. Due to the synergistic effect of the turning motion and the rolling motion of the ball B, the ball B moves irregularly on the bottom plate 147. As a result, after the ball B is received by the bottom plate 147, the ball B moves from the opening 147a until the ball B falls. Time changes irregularly. This irregular movement causes each stage 14
5, the supplier unit 10
The time from when the ball B is thrown into the pocket 40 until the ball B is taken into the pocket 40 changes variously, and as a result, the pleasure of predicting which pocket 40 the ball B is taken into is increased.

When the object drive shaft 131 is driven by the object drive unit 120 to rotate the main frame 142 around a vertical axis, the main frame 1
A certain amount of rotational force is also transmitted to the swivel unit 143 rotatably supported by 42, and the balance around the swivel shaft 144 is disturbed. By adding this operation, the ball B
Can be given a more complicated operation to vary the time required for the fall.

In order to increase the unbalance when the ball B is thrown into the object 141 and to increase the irregularity of the rotation of the turning unit 143, an imbalance generating means is added to an appropriate position of the turning unit 143. Is also good. For example, the imbalance can be enlarged by adding a weight locally to the periphery of the stage 146.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the game machine 1. As shown in FIG. As is clear from this figure, the control system of the game machine 1 includes a main body controller C1 and a wheel controller C1.
And 2.

The main body control section C1 is provided with a main body side CPU 200 mainly composed of a microprocessor. The CPU 200 performs various calculations and operation controls necessary for the progress of the game according to programs and data stored in the storage device 201. For example, the CPU 20
0 indicates a wheel rotation sensor 62 and a roller position sensor 9
0, the ball collection sensor 115, the collection wheel index sensor 117, and the object rotation sensor 136 are connected. The CPU 200 controls the wheel drive motor 61 and the release motor 8 based on output signals from these sensors.
5. Control the operations of the supplier motor 110 and the object drive motor 123, respectively. As the storage device 201, a device including a semiconductor element such as a RAM and a ROM is used. Further, the CPU 200 communicates with the wheel control unit C2 via the infrared head 202a (see FIGS. 3 and 5) of the infrared communication unit 202 and communicates with the terminal 8 via the input / output interface 203. Each terminal 8 is also equipped with a unique control device including a CPU, but details thereof are omitted.

The wheel controller C2 is provided with a wheel CPU 210 mainly composed of a microprocessor. As described above, the wheel-side CPU 21
0 is mounted on one of 10 blocks of control boards 25... Provided on the wheel section 6 (see FIG. 5).
In accordance with a program and data written in a storage device 211 composed of a semiconductor storage element such as an M or a ROM, control of display on the display unit 26, control of communication with the main body control unit C1 using the infrared unit 212, etc. Do.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure of the game executed in the game machine 1. The left side in the figure shows the processing executed by the main body CPU 200, and the right side shows the processing executed by the wheel side CPU 210. Are respectively shown. When a predetermined start-up operation (power-on or operation of a start-up switch) is performed on one game, the CPU 20
0, 210 execute a predetermined activation process, and thereafter,
Start the process.

First, the CPU 200 of the main body determines whether or not the betting by the terminal 8 has been completed (step S).
1) When the bet is over, a predetermined game start signal is output to the wheel CPU 210 (step S).
2). The end of the bet is determined by, for example, providing a fixed time limit from the start of the game and determining whether the time has elapsed. The determination may be made based on whether or not an end signal according to the player's bet end operation is output from the terminal device 8.

Next, the wheel drive motor 61 is activated to rotate the wheel unit 6 (step S3), and thereafter the ball B is transferred from the supplier unit 100 to the ball guide unit 7.
Is performed (step S4). As shown in FIG. 27, in this subroutine process, first, the supplier motor 110 is activated to rotate the collection wheel 103 in the counterclockwise direction (the direction of the arrow CCW) in FIG. 15 (step S101). It is determined whether or not the collection wheel 103 has rotated by an angle corresponding to one ball (corresponding to the pitch of the blade 113) based on the signal (step S102), and the motor 110 is stopped at the time of the rotation. As described above, since the blade 113 is inclined obliquely with respect to the axis of rotation, one ball B is surely thrown from the supplier unit 100 into the ball guide 7 by this processing.

When the throwing of the ball B is completed, the object driving motor 123 is activated to rotate the object 131 and rotate the main frame 142 of the object 141. As a result, the ball B thrown into the ball guide section 7 passes through the stages 146 of the object 141 sequentially and falls to the lower end side of the wheel section 6. After rotating the object 141, it is determined whether or not a predetermined lottery result has been received from the wheel-side CPU 210 (step S6).

On the other hand, the wheel-side CPU 210 first determines whether or not a game start signal has been received from the main-body-side CPU 200 after the end of the startup processing (step S11). When this signal is not received, a process of performing a predetermined effect display using the display unit 26 is executed (step S1).
2). In this effect display, for example, various graphics, symbols, and the like are displayed on the display unit 26, and blinking and display colors of the graphics and the like are changed to provide an eye-catching effect (effect of attracting the player's eyes) of the game machine 1. To enhance.

When the CPU 210 receives the game start signal, any one of integers from 1 to 25 is randomly assigned to each pocket 40 of the wheel unit 6, and the assigned number is displayed on the display unit 26 (step S13).

Next, based on the signal from the pocket sensor 30, it is determined whether or not the ball B has been taken into any of the pockets 40 (step S14). When the ball B is taken in, the blue and red lottery for the pocket 40 is performed, and the display color of the display unit 26 corresponding to the pocket 40 in which the ball B is taken is set to blue or red according to the lottery result. (Step S1
5). Subsequently, as a result of the lottery, the winning number (the number assigned to the pocket 40 into which the ball B is taken) and the winning number of blue or red are transmitted to the main body CPU 200 (step S16). Then, the main body CPU 20
From 0, it is determined whether or not a predetermined game end signal has been received (step S17).
4, if it has been received, the process returns to step S11. Note that, by the processing of step S13 and step S15, a means for arbitrarily changing the attribute of the pocket 40 is realized.

When the wheel side CPU 210 transmits the lottery result, step S6 of the main body side CPU 200 makes an affirmative decision, and the CPU 200 further transmits the received lottery result to the terminal 8
(Step S7). The game is advanced for each terminal 8 according to the lottery result. The lottery result is typically used for bingo games, but since there is a red or blue distinction for the winning number, it is not limited to a simple counting game, for example, the color multiplied by the player and the color of the winning number A variety of games can be realized by adding various elements such as paying out a bonus when they match.

After transmitting the lottery result, it is determined whether or not all six balls B have been inserted (step S8), and if not completed, the process returns to step S4. When the insertion of the six balls is completed, a game end signal is output to the wheel side CPU 210 (step S9). Subsequently, a subroutine process for collecting the ball B from the pocket 40 to the supplier unit 100 is executed (Step S10), and thereafter, the process returns to Step S1.

As shown in FIG. 28, in the ball collecting process, first, the CPU 200 stops the rotation of the wheel drive motor 61 (step S111), and drives the release motor 85 of the release unit 80 to move the release roller 88 upward. (Step S112). Thereafter, based on the output signal from the roller position sensor 90, the roller 88
Is reached (step S113), and when it reaches the upper end, the release motor 85 is stopped (step S114).

Subsequently, the wheel drive motor 61 is started to rotate the wheel unit 6 at a low speed (step S11).
5). The rotation speed at this time is set to be lower than the rotation speed in step S3 in FIG. 26 and the like, and the rotation direction is adjusted so that the pocket 40 moves in the arrow RW direction in FIG. At this point, the release roller 88 is at the upper end position (the position shown in FIG.
The release roller 88 and the drive lever 52 of the pocket 40 come into contact with each other, so that the claw 51 of each pocket 40 is opened each time the. Therefore, pocket 4
When the ball B taken into 0 reaches the upper end of the wheel portion 6, it falls from the pocket 40 to the supplier unit 100.

After the rotation of the wheel unit 6 is started, it is determined whether or not the ball collection sensor 115 of the supplier unit 100 has reacted to indicate the collection of the ball B (step S116). If there is no response, the process returns to step S115, and if there is a response, the rotation of the wheel unit 6 is stopped. Next, the supplier motor 110 of the supplier unit 100
To rotate the collection wheel 103 in the counterclockwise direction (the direction of the arrow CCW) in FIG. 15 (step S118),
Based on the signal from the collection wheel index sensor 115, it is determined whether or not the collection wheel 103 has rotated by an angle corresponding to one ball (corresponding to the pitch of the blades 113) (step S119). Due to this rotation, the ball B rotates while being reliably taken into the supplier unit 100, and an empty accommodation space 114 is fed out to the ball entrance 101b.

When the collecting wheel 103 rotates by one ball, the rotation of the collecting wheel 103 is stopped (step S120), and thereafter, it is determined whether or not all the six balls B have been collected (step S121). The number of collections is determined, for example, in step S1 after the processing in FIG. 26 is started.
The number of times 19 is judged affirmatively is determined by counting.

When all six balls B have been collected, the release motor 85 of the release unit 80 is driven to move the release roller 88 downward (step S12).
2). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the roller 88 has reached the lower end based on the output signal from the roller position sensor 90 (step S123).
Is stopped (step S124). With the above, the process for collecting the ball is completed.

The present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to the above embodiments. For example, the number of balls is 6
Not limited to individual. The wheel portion 6 is not limited to the one that turns in the vertical plane, and may be one that turns in a horizontal plane or a plane inclined obliquely to the horizontal plane. Instead of the wheel portion 6, a plurality of ball receiving portions may be fixedly provided in a range where the ball falls from the object 141.

[0082]

As described above, according to the present invention, the ball is dropped while being moved irregularly in a direction intersecting the vertical plane, so that the ball is irregularly formed only in the vertical plane. The movement of the ball until it is taken into the ball receiving portion becomes more complicated than in the conventional example in which the ball is moved, and the destination of the ball cannot be easily predicted before and after the ball is thrown. Therefore, it is possible to give the player a sense of expectation and improve the enjoyment of the game until immediately before the ball is taken into the ball receiving portion.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a ball game machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the ball game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a wheel portion and its periphery of the ball game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a wheel unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an arrangement of control system components in a wheel unit.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a display unit provided on a side surface of a wheel unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a pocket as a ball receiving portion provided in the wheel portion.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the pocket when viewed from the direction of arrow IX in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a pocket.

FIG. 11 is a side view of a release unit.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an operation of a release unit.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a release unit.

FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of a release unit.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an internal configuration of a supplier unit.

16 is a sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI in FIG.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a supplier unit.

FIG. 18 is a vertical sectional view of the object driving unit.

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line XIX-XIX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line XX-XX in FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of the object driving unit,
(A) is a perspective view of the whole unit, (b) is an exploded perspective view of a worm shaft side, and (c) is an exploded perspective view of a worm wheel side.

FIG. 22 is a plan view of an object driven by the object driving unit.

FIG. 23 is a front view of an object.

FIG. 24 is a rear view of the object.

FIG. 25 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the game machine in FIG. 1;

26 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a game executed by the control system shown in FIG. 25.

27 is a flowchart showing a subroutine processing procedure for inserting a ball, which is executed in the processing of FIG. 26;

FIG. 28 is a flowchart showing a subroutine processing procedure for ball collection executed in the processing of FIG. 26;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ball game machine 2 Game execution part 3 Game operation part 6 Wheel part (wheel means) 7 Ball guide part (guide means) 8 Terminal 26 Display unit 40 Pocket (ball receiving part) 103 Collection wheel (input means) 120 Object driving Unit (rotation driving means) 141 Object 142 Main frame (rotation support member) 144 Revolving shaft 146 Stage 147 Bottom plate (fall retaining part) 147a Opening 200 Main body side CPU 210 Wheel side CPU B Ball C1 Main body control section C2 Wheel control section

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-8-84803 (JP, A) JP-A-8-84804 (JP, A) JP-A-7-289685 (JP, A) JP-A-7-265492 (JP, A) , A) JP-A-7-265493 (JP, A) JP-A-7-51466 (JP, A) JP 4-29651 (JP, Y2) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB A63F 5/02 A63F 3/06

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A ball game machine which drops a ball and takes it into one of a plurality of ball receiving portions, and determines a lottery result according to an attribute set in the ball receiving portion into which the ball is taken. And a guiding means for changing the time from when the ball is thrown by the throwing means to when the ball reaches the ball receiving portion, wherein the guiding means vertically moves the falling ball. Means for irregularly moving the ball in a direction intersecting the plane , wherein the ball is irregularly moved in a direction intersecting the vertical plane.
Means can rotate around an axis that is tilted with respect to the vertical direction.
Slewing shaft and the slewing shaft
And a plurality of stages,
Moves in a plane perpendicular to the pivot axis upon receiving the ball
And the ball from the drop holding section
An opening for dropping is provided, and a pair of vertically adjacent
The opening of the upper stage of the stage is
Vertically overlap with the drop holding section and the stages
The plurality of stages so that the openings of the plurality of stages are shifted in the circumferential direction.
Are mounted on the turning shaft . 2. A rotary support member for rotatably supporting upper and lower ends of said pivot shaft, and a rotary drive means for rotating said rotary support member about a vertical axis. 2. The ball game machine according to 1 . 3. The ball game according to claim 1, further comprising a wheel means for turning around the guide means, wherein the plurality of ball receiving portions are provided on the wheel means in a circumferential direction. Machine. 4. The ball game machine according to claim 3, further comprising means for arbitrarily changing an attribute of each of said ball receiving portions provided on said wheel means.