JP3540258B2 - Variable winning device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention belongs to the technical field of ball and ball game machines, and more particularly, to a variable winning device mounted on a game board.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There are various variable prize devices mounted on a game board of a ball game machine represented by a pachinko machine, and a well-known variable prize device is a tulip type (for example, JP-A-8-278755). ), An attacker type (for example, JP-A-7-275452) and a blade (sometimes referred to as a hikiki, for example, JP-A-7-163712).
[0003]
Not limited to these, in the variable winning device, an electric type using a solenoid or an electromagnet as a drive source of a movable member is mainly used. Note that there is also a mechanical type using a load of a winning ball as a drive source in the tulip type.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the conventional variable winning device, since a solenoid or an electromagnet is used as a drive source, only two states of fully open and closed corresponding to ON / OFF of the solenoid can be taken.
In addition, it is necessary to energize a solenoid or an electromagnet serving as a drive source during the time when the movable member is opened and displaced, which causes a large power consumption and a problem of heat generation.
[0005]
Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
The variable winning device according to claim 1 for solving the above problem includes a movable member, and a drive mechanism for displacing the position of the movable member between a closed position and a fully open position, and the movable member is moved to the closed position. In a variable prize winning device which is in a state where it is difficult to win or when it is impossible to win when the movable member is in the fully open position and a winning is easily achieved, the driving mechanism includes:
An electric linear actuator for reciprocating an output member along a straight line, wherein the output member can be stopped at least at three positions intermediate between both ends of the stroke, and the position of the output member when the output member is turned off. A linear actuator that does not change the position of the movable member, a transmission member that transmits a force received from an output member of the linear actuator to the movable member to change the position of the movable member, and the movable member that moves only in a direction in which the movable member is in the fully open position. A spring for urging the member, wherein a force exerted by the output member of the linear actuator on the transmission member acts in a direction to push the transmission member against the urging force of the spring .
[0006]
Since the linear actuator serving as a drive source can stop the output member at least at three positions between and at both ends of the stroke, the force received by the transmission member from the output member is transmitted to the movable member to change the position of the movable member. This allows the movable member to assume three positions corresponding to the three stop positions of the output member.
[0007]
For example, the movable member can be in the closed position when the output member is at one end of the stroke, the fully open position when the output member is at the other end, and the intermediate position when the output member is at the intermediate position. Note that the fully open position is a displacement limit or a maximum displacement position of the movable member determined by design, and does not mean, for example, a position where the winning opening is maximally opened. Further, the middle position of the stroke at which the output member can be stopped is not a position of 1/2 of the stroke but a position other than both ends (a position of 1/2 of the stroke may be used).
[0008]
Since the movable member can be at least in the closed position, the fully open position, and the intermediate position between them, for example, it is not possible with the conventional variable winning device, such as the fully open position in the case of the big hit and the intermediate position in the small hit. It can be used at
In particular, as described in claim 2,
As the linear actuator, a main body that is a stepping motor, a front bearing provided with a female screw, and a male screw that matches the female screw, is inserted through the front bearing and corotates with a rotor of the stepping motor. If a linear stepping actuator including a shaft (corresponding to the output member) that moves back and forth according to the rotation direction of the rotor is employed , the output member can be stopped at both ends of the stroke and at any position between them , and the movable member can be stopped. Can be set to more various positions, so that a better effect can be obtained.
[0009]
Moreover, since the position of the output member does not change when the linear actuator is turned off, power can be cut off when the movable member is in the fully open position or in the intermediate position.
In general, the variable winning device is closed when a set number of winnings are made, but when the winning does not reach the set number, the open state is maintained for a long time, for example, about 5 seconds to 30 seconds. That is, it is necessary to keep energizing the solenoid or the electromagnet for such a long time, and accordingly, power consumption and heat generation are large.
[0010]
However, since the linear actuator of claim 1 does not change the position of the output member when it is turned off, even if it is necessary to energize while displacing the movable member from the closed position to the fully open position, for example, the linear member is moved to the fully open position. No electricity is required to maintain it. Therefore, power consumption can be significantly reduced and heat generation can be suppressed.
[0011]
Further, the variable winning device according to claim 1 includes a spring that biases the movable member only in a direction in which the movable member is set to the fully opened position, and a force exerted on the transmission member by the output member of the linear actuator is Since the transmission member is configured to act in a direction to push the transmission member against the urging force of the spring, it is not necessary to pull the transmission member with the output member.
In order to apply the force in the pulling direction, it is necessary to connect and lock the two members, and the structure is accordingly complicated. However, according to the configuration of the first aspect, such a complication can be avoided.
The spring may act directly on the movable member, or may act via another member such as a transmission member.
[0012]
3. The variable prize winning device according to claim 2, wherein the linear actuator includes a main body that is a stepping motor, a front bearing provided with a female screw, and a male screw matching the female screw, and the stepping motor is inserted through the front bearing. And a shaft (corresponding to the output member) that rotates back and forth in accordance with the rotation direction of the rotor, and that rotates with the transmission member during rotation of the shaft. However, if a steel ball is embedded in the tip of the shaft as described in claim 5, the friction during rotation of the shaft can be significantly reduced.
[0013]
The variable winning device according to claim 3 is the variable winning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upright position where the guide surfaces face each other is the closed position, and when the movable winning device is displaced to the fully open position, one of the upright positions is the same as the variable open device. A pair of the movable members displaced clockwise from the standing position and the other is displaced counterclockwise from the standing position, one linear actuator, and the transmission member that displaces the pair of movable members synchronously. It is characterized by having.
[0014]
The configuration including such a pair of movable members and using a single linear actuator as a drive source to synchronously displace the pair of movable members by the transmission member is suitable for a tulip type or a blade. Note that “synchronously” means that the motions are aligned to an extent that is not unnatural, and does not require strict synchronization.
[0015]
A variable winning device according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the variable winning device according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein when the pair of movable members are at the upright position, a passage through which a game ball can pass is formed on the guide surface. It is characterized by being formed between them, and is particularly suitable for a tulip-type variable winning device.
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to examples of the present invention.
[0017]
【Example】
First, the structure of the variable winning device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is an exploded perspective view, FIG. 2 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), a side view (c), an AA sectional view (d), a BB sectional view (e), and an anti-B FIG. 3 is a perspective view (a) and a sectional perspective view (b) taken along line AA of FIG. 2.
[0018]
As shown in these figures, the variable winning device 10 has a form known as a tulip type, and includes a pair of opening / closing members corresponding to a front cover 20 and a movable member from the near side (the player side when mounted on a game board). 30a, 30b, a base block 40, a lever block 60, and a back block 70 are arranged in this order, and a coil spring 85 is stretched between the lever block 60 and the back block 70 in a stretched state. It holds a passage sensor 87 for detecting a sphere and a linear stepping actuator 90 corresponding to a linear actuator. The front cover 20, the opening / closing members 30a and 30b, the base block 40, the lever block 60, and the back block 70 are all injection-molded products of synthetic resin.
[0019]
A pair of swing shafts 21a, 21b are provided upright on the back surface of the front cover 20, and are provided on the board portion 41 of the base block 40 through the bearing holes 31a, 31b of the opening / closing members 30a, 30b, respectively. It has reached the receiving hole 42. The two opening / closing members 30a and 30b are rotatable around the swing shafts 21a and 21b, respectively.
When the opening / closing members 30a and 30b are in the upright position where the guide surfaces 33a and 33b face each other as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a guide passage 34 is formed between the guide surfaces 33a and 33b. The guide passage 34 has a size that allows a game ball to pass through.
[0020]
In addition, on the rear surface of the front cover 20, a rear projection 24 including a guide rib 22 and a connecting portion 23 is provided. The front cover 20 and the base block 40 are connected by screwing a screw (not shown) penetrating the screw hole 43 of the board portion 41 into the connection portion 23.
[0021]
Drive shafts 32a and 32b for swinging the opening and closing bodies 30a and 30b are provided on the back surface thereof. The drive shafts 32 a, 32 b reach the substrate 41 through the through holes 44 and reach the rear of the substrate 41, and are fitted into a C-shaped holding portion 61 provided on the lever block 60.
[0022]
A gate 45 is formed to protrude above the substrate portion 41 of the base block 40. The gate 45 is sized to allow game balls to pass through, and the game balls passing through the gate 45 fall into the guide passage 34 when the opening / closing members 30a and 30b are at the upright position. Further, a screw hole is provided in the mounting portion 52 which extends to the left and right of the substrate portion 41, and the mounting portion 52 is fixed to the game board by a screw penetrating this hole.
[0023]
The central portion of the through hole 44 is sized to allow game balls to pass through, and a floor portion 46 and a ceiling portion 47 are provided on the back side thereof. A wall 62 of a lever block 60 is located on the left and right sides of the floor 46 and the ceiling 47, and forms a discharge passage 48 in cooperation with them. The discharge passage 48 reaches the edge of the detection hole 87a of the passage sensor 87, and the game ball that has passed through the discharge passage 48 falls into the detection hole 87a.
[0024]
A pair of fulcrum shafts 64 are provided at the lower rear end of the lever block 60, and the tip ends thereof are inserted into the fulcrum holes 49 of the base block 40. Thus, the lever block 60 is connected to the base block 40 and can swing up and down around the fulcrum shaft 64. However, since the roof part 65 of the lever block 60 is located above the ceiling part 47, it cannot be displaced below the position shown in FIGS.
[0025]
A hole 66 for a hook is provided at the upper end of the lever block 60, and one hook 85a of the coil spring 85 is locked here. The other hook 85 b of the coil spring 85 is locked in a hook hole 72 provided in the rear wall 71 of the back block 70.
[0026]
The upper portion 73 of the rear block 70 has a box shape, and accommodates the linear stepping actuator 90 therein. In this embodiment, the linear stepping actuator SPS10 of Nidec Copal Corporation is used as the linear stepping actuator 90. As shown in FIG. 1, the linear stepping actuator 90 includes a main body 91 as a stepping motor, a fixing plate 92, a front bearing 93, a shaft 94 corresponding to an output member, and the like.
[0027]
The structure of the main body 91 of the linear stepping actuator 90 is almost the same as that of a known stepping motor.
However, the shaft 94 penetrates a rotor (not shown) and rotates together with the rotor, but the relative position with respect to the rotor can be changed along the axial direction, that is, the shaft 94 can move back and forth. A certain point is different from a normal stepping motor. Further, the step bearing motor is different from a normal stepping motor in that a female screw is provided on the front bearing 93 and a male screw matching the shaft is provided on the shaft 94.
[0028]
Due to these features, when the rotor rotates, the shaft 94 moves back and forth according to the direction of rotation. At this time, the mechanical stroke of the shaft 94 is 7 mm, and the effective stroke is 6 mm. In the present embodiment, it is used within the range of the effective stroke. When the shaft 94 is retracted, the rear end of the shaft 94 contacts the rear wall 71 within a range that does not reach the mechanical stroke. Can be set as the origin position. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a limit switch, an optical sensor, or the like for detecting the origin, and the size can be reduced accordingly.
[0029]
The linear stepping actuator 90 is fixed to the front wall 74 of the rear block 70 via the plate 92, and the tip of the shaft 94 is in contact with the rear surface 67 of the lever block 60. Since a steel ball is embedded at the tip of the shaft 94, friction with the back surface 67 during rotation of the shaft 94 is extremely small.
[0030]
A side rail 75 and a locking claw 76 for holding a passage sensor 87 are provided at a lower portion of the rear block 70, and a game ball that has passed through the discharge passage 48 passes above the passage sensor 87. A drop guide rib 77 for guiding the sensor 87 in the direction of the detection hole 87a is provided.
[0031]
Further, screw holding portions 78 are provided on the left and right sides of the rear block 70, and screws (not shown) which penetrate through the screw holding portions 78 and are screwed into the screw receivers 51 of the base block 40 are provided. And are connected.
Next, the operation of the variable winning device 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIGS. 4 and 5, reference numerals are omitted to the extent that the correspondence with FIGS.
[0032]
FIGS. 2 and 3 show a state in which the opening and closing bodies 30a and 30b are in the upright position (closed position), and the shaft 94 of the linear stepping actuator 90 is at the forward end (within the range of the effective stroke). At this time, the shaft 94 supports the lever block 60 against the urging force of the coil spring 85, and the lever block 60 is at the lower end of the vertical swing range around the fulcrum shaft 64. At this time, the drive shafts 32a and 32b of the open / close bodies 30a and 30b held by the holding unit 61 are also at the lower end, and the open / close bodies 30a and 30b having the swing shafts 21a and 21b as swing axes are in the standing position. Have been. The linear stepping actuator 90 is turned on to move the shaft 94 to the above position, but is turned off in the state shown in FIGS. Even if an external force (here, the force of the coil spring 85 acting via the lever block 60) acts on the shaft 94 in the off state, the shaft 94 does not rotate and the position shown in the figure is maintained.
[0033]
In this state, when the linear stepping actuator 90 is turned on and the rotor is rotated in a direction to retreat the shaft 94, the lever block 60 is displaced upward with the retraction of the shaft 94. As a result, the holding portion 61 is displaced upward, so that the drive shafts 32a, 32b of the opening / closing members 30a, 30b are also displaced upward. As a result, the opening / closing body 30a around the swinging shaft 21a is displaced in the counterclockwise direction in FIGS. 2B and 4D from the standing position, and the opening / closing body 30b around the swinging shaft 21b becomes It is displaced in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 2B and 4D from the standing position, and the distance between the upper ends of the opening / closing bodies 30a and 30b gradually increases.
[0034]
At an appropriate position in this process, for example, if the distance between the tip of the opening / closing body 30a, 30b and the gate 45 is slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball, and the linear stepping actuator 90 is turned off in a state where the game ball can pass therethrough, The opening / closing bodies 30a and 30b can be set to a half-open state, that is, an intermediate position. As described above, the opening / closing members 30a and 30b can be maintained in this state even when the linear stepping actuator 90 is turned off.
[0035]
Further, when the linear stepping actuator 90 is operated and the shaft 94 is further retracted, the lever block 60 is eventually displaced up to the limit, and the opening / closing members 30a and 30b are tilted to the maximum as shown in FIG. It becomes. Here, if the linear stepping actuator 90 is turned off, the opening and closing members 30a and 30b can be maintained at the fully open position.
[0036]
Note that the opening / closing bodies 30a and 30b can be displaced at a stretch to the fully open position without stopping at the half open position. Further, the opening / closing bodies 30a and 30b can be stopped at a plurality of positions between the standing position and the fully open position. Alternatively, the degree of opening of the opening / closing bodies 30a, 30b can be changed stepwise by operating the linear stepping actuator 90 intermittently.
[0037]
Then, for example, when the shaft 94 is advanced from the position shown in FIG. 5, the lever block 60 is gradually lowered and displaced, and the opening / closing bodies 30a and 30b are gradually erected accordingly. Also in this process, the linear stepping actuator 90 can be turned off before the opening / closing members 30a and 30b reach the upright position, so that the linear stepping actuator 90 can be half-opened. Further, the opening / closing members 30a and 30b can be displaced to the standing position at once without stopping at half open, or can be changed in multiple stages.
[0038]
As described above, the variable winning device 10 according to the present embodiment employs the linear stepping actuator 90 as a drive source of the opening / closing members 30a and 30b corresponding to the movable members, so that the opening / closing members 30a and 30b are in the standing position and the fully open position. In addition, it can be stopped at an arbitrary position between both positions.
[0039]
Moreover, since the position of the shaft 94 is not changed when the linear stepping actuator 90 is turned off, it can be turned off when the opening / closing members 30a and 30b are at desired positions. Therefore, the linear stepping actuator 90 does not need to be turned on for a long time (since it only needs to be turned on when driving the opening / closing members 30a and 30b), power consumption can be significantly reduced, and heat generation can be suppressed.
[0040]
In addition, since the coil spring 85 that urges the opening / closing members 30a, 30b (more precisely, the lever block 60) is provided only in the direction in which the opening / closing members 30a, 30b are set to the fully open position, the shaft 94 of the linear stepping actuator 90 can It only needs to act in the direction of pressing, and it is not necessary to pull it. Therefore, it is not necessary to connect or lock the shaft 94 and the lever block 60 in order to apply a force in the pulling direction, and it is possible to avoid a complicated structure.
[0041]
As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described according to the examples. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to such examples, and can be variously implemented without departing from the gist of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a variable winning device according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a plan view (a), a front view (b), a side view (c), an AA sectional view (d), a BB sectional view (e) and an anti-B- view of the variable winning device of the embodiment. Explanatory drawing which consists of B sectional drawing (f).
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view including a perspective view (a) and a sectional perspective view (b) of the variable winning device of the embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a BB sectional view (a), an anti-BB sectional view (b), a perspective view (c), a front view (d), and an AA when the variable winning device of the embodiment is half-opened. Explanatory drawing which consists of sectional drawing (e).
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB (a), a cross-sectional view taken along line BB (b), a perspective view (c), a front view (d), and AA when the variable winning device of the embodiment is fully opened. Explanatory drawing which consists of sectional drawing (e).
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Variable winning device 21a, 21b Swing shaft 30a, 30b Opening / closing body (movable member)
32a, 32b Drive shafts 33a, 33b Guide surface 34 Guide passage 40 Base block 60 Lever block (transmission member)
61 Holder 64 Support shaft 70 Back block 85 Coil spring 87 Passage sensor 90 Linear stepping actuator (linear actuator)
94 shaft (output member)

Claims (5)

A movable member, and a drive mechanism for displacing the position of the movable member between a closed position and a fully open position, wherein when the movable member is in the closed position, the movable member is in a state where it is difficult to win or cannot win. In the variable winning device which is in a state where it is easy to win when in the position,
In the drive mechanism,
An electric linear actuator for reciprocating an output member along a straight line, wherein the output member can be stopped at least at three positions intermediate between both ends of the stroke, and the position of the output member when the output member is turned off. Linear actuator that does not change
A transmitting member for transmitting a force received from an output member of the linear actuator to the movable member to change a position of the movable member ,
A spring for biasing the movable member only in a direction in which the movable member is set to the fully open position;
With
A variable winning device, wherein a force exerted on the transmission member by the output member of the linear actuator acts in a direction to push the transmission member against a biasing force of the spring . The variable winning device according to claim 1,
The linear actuator,
A main body that is a stepping motor;
A front bearing with female threads,
A shaft (corresponding to the output member) that has a male screw that matches the female screw, is inserted into the front bearing, and rotates back and forth with the rotor of the stepping motor according to the rotation direction of the rotor.
A variable winning device characterized by being a linear stepping actuator . The variable winning device according to claim 1 or 2,
The upright position where the guide surfaces face each other is the closed position, and when displacing to the fully open position, one of the pair is displaced clockwise from the upright position and the other is displaced counterclockwise from the upright position. A movable member,
One said linear actuator;
A variable winning device comprising: the transmitting member that synchronously displaces the pair of movable members. The variable winning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
When the pair of movable members are in the upright position,
A variable winning device, wherein a passage through which a game ball can pass is formed between the guide surfaces. The variable winning device according to claim 2 ,
A variable winning device, wherein a steel ball is embedded in a tip of the shaft .

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