JP3701561B2 - Pachinko ball lifting device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for lifting a pachinko ball from a low position to a high position, that is, a pachinko ball lifting apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a “lifting apparatus”), and in particular, a lifting spiral housing a lifting spiral body. The present invention relates to a lifting device configured to remove dust generated in a tower.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a known lifting device, there is a lifting device disclosed by the present applicant in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-114199 (hereinafter referred to as “conventional lifting device”). The conventional lifting device includes a rotating spiral body (helical body) in which a spiral groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface, a lifting tower for storing the rotating spiral body, and the spiral body for introducing pachinko balls into the spiral groove group. Introducing means disposed around the lower end, and a polishing sheet disposed inside the lifting tower for polishing pachinko balls introduced into the spiral groove.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Although the conventional lifting apparatus configured as described above operates well, there is an unavoidable problem even with such a conventional lifting apparatus. The problem is removal of dust generated in the lifting tower. The pachinko balls to be transported are contaminated with machine oil, dirt, etc., and the dirt is removed by the polishing action of the abrasive sheet, and this removed dirt is the main dust generated in the transport tower. It was the cause. If the generated dust is left as it is, the dust will adhere to the surface of the pachinko balls again. As a result, the polishing efficiency of the lifting device will be reduced, and dirty pachinko balls will contaminate the transport path and pachinko machine, etc. Therefore, an improvement for removing the fear has been desired.
[0004]
In this regard, a dust collector is connected to the lifting tower of the conventional lifting device described above, and the dust in the lifting tower is sucked and removed by the action of the dust collector.
However, since this suction removal was performed only through the dust collection holes provided in the upper or lower part of the pumping tower, the dust near the dust collection holes was separated from the dust collection holes even if it was efficiently removed. The dust generated at the place was not necessarily efficiently removed because the suction force did not reach. The first problem to be solved by the present invention is to efficiently remove dust generated in the pumping tower.
[0005]
The second problem to be solved by the present invention is about the processing of purified air discharged from the dust collector. That is, the dust collector is often installed inside the island, which is an assembly of pachinko machines, together with the lifting device, but the purified air in this case is discharged as it is into the island. For this reason, the exhausted purified air blows up dust and the like existing in the island, which may cause the blown-up dust to flow out from the gap between the islands into the pachinko game hall. If dust flows out, it goes without saying that this outflow is undesirable for the players, employees, etc. in the pachinko game hall. To prevent such a situation from occurring, it is a second problem to be solved by the present invention to prevent the purified air discharged from the dust collector from being discharged into the island.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The inventor who tried to solve the first problem and the second problem described above at once improved the structure of the spiral body and returned the purified air discharged from the dust collector to the inside of the lifting tower. These issues were solved by circulating the system. The detailed configuration will be described later. It should be noted that the definitions of terms used in the description of the invention of any claim shall be applied to the inventions of other claims as far as possible in nature.
[0007]
(Structure of the invention described in claim 1)
A lifting device according to the invention described in claim 1 (hereinafter referred to as “lifting device of claim 1”) includes a helical body for receiving and lifting a pachinko ball in a spiral groove formed on a surface thereof, and A helical drive structure for rotating the helical body in the lifting tower, a ball sending unit attached to the upper part of the lifting tower, and a pachinko ball received in the spiral groove of the helical body for applying a frictional force A friction material, and is configured to lift pachinko balls by the rotation of the helical body and the frictional force of the friction material. Features of pumped apparatus according to claim 1, as the helical body, a ventilation passage extending in the longitudinal direction formed inside the helix, communicating with said vent passage from the spiral surface and pachinko ball A plurality of dust collecting holes formed in a shape that cannot pass through, and further, the spiral drive structure includes a hollow drive shaft that protrudes downward from a lower end portion of the spiral body, and an upper end portion of the hollow drive shaft is The hollow drive shaft is fixed to the spiral body so that the hollow portion communicates with the air passage, and the lower end portion of the hollow drive shaft removes dust generated in the pumping tower from the dust collection hole and the air vent. A dust collecting device for sucking and removing through the passage and the hollow portion of the hollow drive shaft can be connected through the ventilation structure ;
The dust collector has an air discharge path for discharging purified air from which dust has been removed by suction, and the purified air discharged from the air discharge path is passed through the ball delivery unit in a spiral body in a pumping tower. It is configured to be returned to the outside. The dust collection hole may be provided in the peak portion of the spiral body or in the valley portion (groove surface). You may provide in parts other than a peak part and a trough part.
[0008]
(Operational effect of the invention described in claim 1)
When the lifting apparatus of claim 1 is used, the spiral body rotates in the lifting tower by the action of the spiral body driving structure. The pachinko ball received in the spiral groove is lifted by this rotation and the frictional force of the friction material. The dirt adhering to the pachinko ball is peeled off by the frictional force of the friction material, thereby generating dust in the lifting tower. The generated dust passes through the dust collection hole to the air passage and is sucked and removed from the inside of the lifting tower by the dust collector. The suction action of the dust collector reaches the ventilation path from the ventilation structure through the hollow portion of the hollow section moving shaft, passes through the dust collection hole, and reaches the inside of the lifting tower. That is, the dust in the lifting tower is sucked and removed from the dust collection hole to the ventilation path, from the ventilation path to the ventilation structure through the hollow portion of the hollow drive shaft, and then by the dust collector. In addition, since dust is sucked and removed using the hollow drive shaft, dust collection via the rotating spiral body can be realized with a simple structure. Then, the purified air discharged through the air discharge passage of the dust collector is returned to the outside of the spiral body in the lifting tower via the ball delivery unit . By such air circulation, the temperature rise of the spiral body due to accumulation of frictional heat or the like generated between the pachinko balls can be mitigated. The purified air that has been returned is re-suctioned by the dust collector along the route together with newly generated dust. By returning the purified air and sucking air containing dust, the air pressure inside the spiral body becomes lower than the external air pressure, and dust suction is efficiently performed by this pressure difference.
[0009]
(Structure of the invention described in claim 2)
In the lifting device according to the invention described in claim 2 (hereinafter referred to as “lifting device of claim 2”), the configuration of the lifting device of claim 1 is limited, and the spiral body is formed of the spiral groove. It includes a crest formed along both sides, and all or part of the dust collection hole is formed in the crest.
[0010]
(Effects of the invention described in claim 2)
When the lifting device according to claim 2 is used, in addition to the effects of the lifting device according to claim 1, the mountain portion is thicker than other parts, so that it is easy to ensure strength. For this reason, if it forms in a peak part, since many intensity | strengths are easy to ensure, many dust collection holes can be formed. If the number of dust collection holes is large, the dust collection efficiency can be improved accordingly.
[0011]
(Structure of the invention described in claim 3)
The lifting device according to the invention described in claim 3 (hereinafter referred to as “lifting device of claim 3”) is a more specific configuration of the lifting device of claim 1 or 2, The spiral body includes a rotating shaft protruding from an upper end, and the rotating shaft is formed with a hollow portion communicating with the ventilation path, and a dust collector is connected to the upper end portion of the rotating shaft via a ventilation structure. Thus, the purified air discharged from the dust collector is returned to the inside of the pumping tower through a return pipe attached to the dust collector .
[0012]
(Operation and effect of the invention described in claim 3)
When the lifting device of claim 3 is used, in addition to the effects of the lifting device of claim 1 or 2, purified air discharged from the dust collector through a return pipe attached to the dust collector. Can be returned to within. As a result, the dust in the lifting tower can be efficiently removed.
[0013]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “the present embodiment”) will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lifting device of the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inside of the lifting tower. FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of the spiral body, and FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing the spiral body drive structure and the ventilation structure. FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the present embodiment.
[0014]
(Basic structure of the lifting device)
First, the basic structure of the lifting device of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The lifting device 1 basically includes a lifting tower 5 standing from a base portion 3, a spiral body 11 surrounded by the lifting tower 5, and a drive motor 9 for rotating the spiral body 11. . A short cylindrical body 7 is disposed around the lower end portion of the spiral body 11. The short cylinder 7 is provided with a plurality of introduction holes (not shown) provided in the circumferential direction, and a pachinko ball is introduced into the inside through these introduction holes. The short cylinder 7 is rotated in the same direction as the spiral 11 and at a lower speed than the spiral 11 by a cylinder rotating structure (not shown) connected to the drive motor 9.
[0015]
(Configuration of the lift tower)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting tower 5 includes a lifting tower body 21 and an opening / closing door 25 hinged to the lifting tower body 21, and the lifting tower body 21 is opened and closed by opening / closing the opening / closing door 25. Is opened so that the spiral body 11 is exposed. In order to facilitate manufacture and transportation, the open / close door 25 of the present embodiment is divided into three in the longitudinal direction of the lifting tower 5. A ball delivery unit 31 is attached to the upper part of the lifting tower 5. The ball delivery unit 31 includes a discharge port 32 for discharging the lifted pachinko balls and a bearing 33 for supporting the rotating shaft 12 protruding from the upper end of the spiral body 11.
[0016]
(Composition of friction material)
A friction material 15 is arranged inside the lifting tower 5 so as to surround the periphery of the spiral body 11. The friction material 15 is a member for applying a frictional force to the pachinko ball P received in the spiral groove 13 of the spiral body 11 and for lifting the pachinko ball P by this frictional force and rotation of the spiral body 11. As the main material constituting the friction material 15, a non-woven fabric is generally used.
[0017]
(Structure of the spiral)
The spiral body 11 can be made of a metal such as aluminum, but in this embodiment, the spiral body 11 itself is made as light as possible, the price is made as low as possible, and the processing is made as easy as possible. It is made of synthetic resin material. A spiral groove 13 for receiving a pachinko ball to be lifted is cut and formed on the outer peripheral surface of the spiral body 11. As shown in FIG. 2, a ventilation path 27 extending substantially in the length direction of the center is formed inside the spiral body 11, and a spiral body drive structure 41 described later is provided at the lower end portion thereof. The spiral body 11 is rotationally driven by the drive motor 9 through the spiral body drive structure 41.
[0018]
Due to the formation of the spiral groove 13, a plurality of dust collecting holes 29 communicating with the air passage 27 are provided on the surface of the mountain portion 13 m formed along both sides of the spiral groove 13. The dust collection hole 29 is formed in a shape (dimension) in which dust generated in the lifting tower 5 can pass but pachinko balls cannot pass. The dust collecting hole 29 can also be provided on the groove surface 13g of the spiral groove 13. However, since the mountain portion 13m is thicker between the air passage 27 and the dust collection hole 29, the spiral body 11 is provided in the mountain portion 13m. It is preferable for maintaining the strength of the.
[0019]
As shown in FIG. 3, the spiral body 11 may be configured by stacking and connecting a plurality of (for example, 2 to 5) short spiral bodies 11p and 11p. If comprised in this way, since each short elongate body 11p is shorter than the elongate helical body 11, it has the advantage that it is easier to process than the helical body 11, and handling, assembly, etc. become easier. can get. In this case, the short spiral bodies 11p are, for example, fastened and fixed by connecting bolts 11b with a connecting plate 11f screwed to the lower end of one short helical body 11p and a connecting plate 11f screwed to the upper end of the other short helical body 11p. It is good to make it connect by doing. Further, a plurality of vent holes 11h, 11h are formed through each connecting plate 11f in the thickness direction so as to remove dust between the vent path 27 of one short spiral body 11p and the vent path 27 of the other short spiral body 11p. Ensure ventilation. Reference numeral 11t denotes a positioning pin that is inserted into a positioning hole 11t formed on the end surface of the other short spiral body 11p and serves to position the short spiral bodies when the short spiral bodies 11p are connected to each other. .
[0020]
(Structure of the spiral drive structure)
The spiral drive structure 41 will be described with reference to FIGS. The helical body drive structure 41 includes a fixed driven plate 43 fixed to the lower end portion of the helical body 11 (short helical body 11p), and a drive plate 45 for driving the fixed driven plate 43 from below through drive pins 44 and 44. A hollow drive shaft 46 whose upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the drive plate 45, a bearing 47 for supporting the hollow drive shaft 46, and a driven gear 49 fixed to the hollow drive shaft 46. In addition, it is driven by a drive motor 9 (see FIG. 1) through a chain (not shown) hung on the driven gear 49. A vent hole 43h is formed in the fixed follower plate 43, and a vent hole 45h is formed through the drive plate 45 in the thickness direction. The vent hole 43h and the vent hole 45h communicate with the vent path 27 of the spiral body 11 when connected, and also communicate with the hollow portion 46h of the hollow drive shaft 46. Yes. As a result, a dust collection ventilation route is formed from the inside of the lifting tower 5 to each dust collection hole 29, the ventilation path 27, the ventilation hole 43h, the ventilation hole 45h, and the hollow portion 46h.
[0021]
(Configuration of ventilation structure)
The lower end portion of the hollow drive shaft 46 is connected to the dust collecting device 62 through a ventilation structure 61 described below. That is, the ventilation structure 61 includes a dust collection box 63 provided at the lower end of the hollow drive shaft 46, a dust collection pipe 65 having one end connected to the side surface of the dust collection box 63, and the dust collection box 63. In order to keep secret between the lower end of the hollow drive shaft 46, a seal member 67 disposed between the two is included. The other end of the dust collection pipe 65 is connected to the dust collection device 62. The dust collecting pipe 65 is connected to the side surface of the dust collecting box 63 and arranged in the horizontal direction. By arranging the dust collecting pipe 65 in such a manner, the height of the ventilation structure 61 itself is made as low as possible. This is to make the overall height as low as possible. Therefore, when the installation status of the lifting device 1 permits or for other reasons, a ventilation structure other than the above-described ventilation structure 61 can be employed.
[0022]
(Configuration of dust collector)
A detailed configuration of the dust collector 62 will be described with reference to FIGS. The dust collector 62 includes a dust collection box 81 to which the other end of the dust collection pipe 65 is connected, a dust collection filter 82 housed in the dust collection box 81, and suction for suction through the dust collection filter 82. A motor 83, an air discharge path 84 for discharging air from which dust has been removed through the dust collection filter 82 (hereinafter referred to as “purified air”), an exhaust filter 85 attached to the air discharge path 84, and A return pipe 86. The other end of the return pipe 86 is connected to the upper end of the ball delivery unit 31 by a joint 87, whereby the purified air is supplied to the outside of the spiral body 11 in the lifting tower 5 via the ball delivery unit 31, that is, the inner wall of the lifting tower 5. And the outer wall of the spiral body 11 are returned. The return pipe 86 may be formed of a hard pipe, but may be formed of a flexible pipe. When a flexible pipe is used, when various instruments and devices are installed in the place where the dust collector 62 is installed, the purified air can be returned while bypassing these instruments and devices. It is convenient because it can.
[0023]
(Operational effect of this embodiment)
The effect of this embodiment is demonstrated referring FIGS. Pachinko ball P discharged from the pachinko gaming machine or counting machine (not shown) is received in part by a spiral groove group 13 of the spiral 11 through the introduction hole of the short cylindrical body 7. The accepted pachinko balls are polished while being lifted by the rotation of the spiral body 11 while receiving a frictional force from the friction material 15. The pachinko balls that have been lifted and polished are discharged from the discharge port 32 of the ball sending unit 31 to the outside of the lifting device 1.
[0024]
On the other hand, the spiral body 11 is rotated by the drive motor 9 via the spiral body drive structure 41. That is, the rotation of the drive motor 9 is transmitted to the hollow drive shaft 46 through a gear box (not shown), and further transmitted from the drive plate 45 to the fixed driven plate 43 through the drive pins 44 and 44. As a result, the spiral body 11 rotates in the pumping tower 5.
[0025]
On the other hand, dust (dirt) adhering to the pachinko balls P to be transported is peeled off by contact with the friction material 15 or the like, and floats in the transport tower 5. The floating dust passes through the dust collecting holes 29 to the ventilation path 27 by driving the dust collecting device 62, and is further sucked into the dust collecting box 63 through the vent holes 43h, the vent holes 45h, and the hollow portion 46h. . Dust in the dust collection box 63 passes through the dust collection pipe 65 and is removed by the dust collector 62. This will be described in the next section. The seal member 67 is disposed between the two so that the outside air does not flow from between the outer wall surface of the rotating hollow drive shaft 46 and the inner wall surface of the upper end of the dust collection box 63 that does not rotate and the confidentiality in the dust collection box 63 is not impaired. To seal.
[0026]
Air containing dust that has passed through the dust collection pipe 65 (hereinafter referred to as “dust air”) passes through the dust collection filter 82 in the dust collection box 81 by the suction action of the suction motor 83 and is included at this time. Dust is removed. The purified air from which the dust has been removed passes through the suction motor 83 and is discharged to the air discharge path 84. The exhausted purified air passes through the exhaust filter 85 and is sent to the return pipe 86. The purified air sent to the return pipe 86 passes through the joint 87, passes through the ball delivery unit 31, and returns to the outside of the spiral body 11 in the lifting tower 5. The purified air that has returned to the pumping tower 5 through the air circulation route described above is re-suctioned by the dust collector 62 through the circulation route together with newly generated dust.
[0027]
As described above, the purified air discharged from the dust collector 62 is returned to the inside of the lifting tower 5 and thus is not discharged outside the dust collector 62. That is, the dust collector 62 does not exhaust. Thereby, dust, dust, etc. around the dust collector 62 are not blown up. Further, the purified air returns to the outside of the spiral body 11 and the dust air inside the spiral body 11, that is, in the ventilation path 27 is sucked by the dust collector 62, so that the atmospheric pressure in the ventilation path 27 is greater than the atmospheric pressure outside the spiral body 11. Lower. Due to this pressure difference, dust air outside the spiral body 11 is efficiently sucked into the air passage 27 through the dust collection hole 29. When the dust suction efficiency is improved, there is almost no possibility that dust will re-adhere to the pachinko balls being transported, so that the polishing efficiency is improved. Even if the efficiently polished pachinko balls are supplied again to a pachinko machine (not shown) or the like, they are not soiled. Furthermore, by circulating air, the temperature rise of the spiral body 11 due to accumulation of frictional heat or the like generated between the pachinko balls can be mitigated. By relaxing the temperature rise, the thermal expansion of the synthetic resin-made spiral body 11 can be suppressed, and by this suppression, distortion of the spiral body 11 itself can be prevented.
[0028]
(Modification of this embodiment)
In the present embodiment described above, the dust in the lifting tower 5 is sucked and removed through the hollow drive shaft 46, but is sucked and removed through the rotary shaft 12 together with the hollow drive shaft 46. It can also be configured. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a hollow portion 12 h communicating with the air passage 27 is formed on the rotating shaft 12, and the dust collecting action of the dust collector 79 is lifted through the hollow portion 12 h and the air vent structure 71. 5 can be configured to affect the dust inside. Collecting vent structure 71 has the same structure as the venting structure 61 described above, the dust collecting box 73 provided at an end portion on a rotating shaft 12, one end of which is connected to the side surface of the dust collecting box 73 It includes a dust pipe 75 and a seal member 77 disposed between the dust collecting box 73 and the hollow portion of the rotating rotating shaft 12 in order to keep secret. The other end of the dust collecting pipe 75 is connected to a dust collecting device 79. The dust collector 79 may be configured in the same structure as the dust collector 62, and the purified air may be returned to the outside of the spiral body 11 in the pumping tower 5 through a return pipe 80. Further, if the dust collector 62 or the dust collector 79 has a surplus capacity, either one may be omitted and the dust collector pipe 65 and the dust collector pipe 75 may be connected to the other dust collector. Good.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
When the lifting apparatus according to the present invention is used, dust generated in the lifting tower can be efficiently removed. Furthermore, since exhaust gas is not discharged from the dust collector, dust or dust around the dust collector is not blown up.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lifting and polishing apparatus of an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a side view showing the inside of a pumping tower.
FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a structure of a spiral body.
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a helical body drive structure and a ventilation structure.
FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a modification of the present embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lifting apparatus 3 Base part 5 Lifting tower 7 Short cylindrical body 11 Spiral body 11m Mountain part 13 Spiral groove 15 Friction material 27 Ventilation path 29 Dust collection hole 41 Helical body drive structure 46 Hollow drive shaft 62 Dust collector 79 Dust collector

Claims (3)

A spiral body for receiving and lifting pachinko balls in a spiral groove formed on the surface;
A helical body drive structure for rotating the helical body in a pumping tower;
A ball delivery unit attached to the upper part of the lifting tower;
A friction material for applying a friction force to the pachinko balls received in the spiral groove of the spiral body,
In the pachinko ball lifting device configured to lift the pachinko ball by the rotation of the spiral and the frictional force by the friction material,
The spiral is
An air passage extending in the longitudinal direction formed inside the spiral body;
So as to communicate with the air passage from the spiral surface and comprising a plurality of dust collecting holes formed in a shape pachinko ball can not pass, and further,
The spiral drive structure includes a hollow drive shaft that protrudes downward from a lower end of the spiral,
The upper end portion of the hollow drive shaft is fixed to the spiral body so that the hollow portion of the hollow drive shaft communicates with the air passage,
The lower end portion of the hollow drive shaft has a ventilation structure for a dust collection device for sucking and removing dust generated in the pumping tower through the dust collection hole, the ventilation path, and the hollow portion of the hollow drive shaft. Configured to be able to connect via
The dust collector has an air discharge path for discharging purified air from which dust is sucked and removed;
The pachinko ball lifting device is configured to return the purified air discharged from the air discharge path to the outside of the spiral body in the lifting tower via the ball delivery unit . The helical body includes ridges formed along both sides of the spiral groove;
2. The pachinko ball lifting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all or part of the dust collecting holes are formed in the mountain portion. The spiral includes a rotation axis protruding from an upper end;
The rotating shaft is formed with a hollow portion communicating with the air passage,
By connecting a dust collecting device to the upper end of the rotating shaft through a ventilation structure, purified air discharged from the dust collecting device is returned to the inside of the lifting tower through a return pipe attached to the dust collecting device. The pachinko ball lifting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the device is configured as described above.

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