JP4272731B2 - Ball payout device in pachinko machines - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball payout device in a pachinko gaming machine that pays out a predetermined number of pachinko balls to a payout passage by rotating a lead screw.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There have been various forms of ball payout devices in pachinko gaming machines, and there are also devices configured to rotate the lead screw by a pulse motor and control the number of rotations to pay out the desired number of pachinko balls. One of them.
[0003]
By the way, generally, the ball payout device of the pachinko gaming machine is generally configured so that ball moving baskets are provided in two rows so that a large number of pachinko balls can be paid out in a short time so that winnings can be concentrated. .
[0004]
Therefore, in the conventional ball dispensing device, it is necessary to provide a sensor such as a proximity sensor for counting pachinko balls and an optical sensor for each ball moving basket. However, when a plurality of sensors are provided, there are problems such as high cost and complicated signal processing.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In view of the above, the present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned problems by making it possible to detect pachinko balls of two rows of ball moving rods with a single counting sensor.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
For this purpose, the ball payout device in the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention includes a lead screw formed so that the diameter of the screw thread is smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball, a pulse motor that rotates the lead screw, and both sides of the lead screw. 2 rows of ball moving rods, and a light projector and a light receiver provided so that the optical axis extends over both the ball moving rods outside the lead screw, and flows down both ball moving rods. The pachinko balls are counted by blocking the optical axis, and the inner surfaces of the two ball moving rods are shifted in opposite directions perpendicular to the optical axis, and the pachinko balls flowing down the two ball moving rods are When the pachinko sphere flowing down one sphere moving rod blocks the optical axis, the time that the pachinko sphere flowing down the other spherical moving rod blocks the optical axis Remote as always shorter, or pachinko balls signals flowing down any balls moving gutter by the interruption time measurement is characterized in that so as to be discriminated.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3, 1 is a lead screw, and 2 is a pulse motor that rotates the lead screw. The lead screw 1 is formed so that the diameter of the thread 1a is about 7 mm and smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 3 (about 11 mm). Reference numeral 4 denotes a plastic case fixed to the pulse motor 2, and a pair of ball moving rods 5a and 5b are formed in the case so as to sandwich the lead screw from both sides symmetrical positions, the ball moving rods 5a and 5b. The passages 6a and 6b are bent in a crank shape above, and the pachinko balls 3 are lined up from the prize ball tanks (not shown) in a line through the rectifiers and flow down under their own weight. Further, the lower ends 7a and 7b of the pair of ball moving baskets 5a and 5b are opened and communicated with the prize ball paying basket.
[0008]
Reference numeral 9 denotes a U-shaped mounting frame fixed to the outside of the case 4. A light projector 10 and a light receiver 11 made of a semiconductor are provided opposite to each other at both ends of the mounting frame, and the optical axis 12 is disposed outside the lead screw 1. Is provided so as to cross over both ball moving rods 5a and 5b. Then, the pachinko balls 3 passing through the both ball moving rods 5a and 5b are counted as the pachinko balls 3 block the optical axis 12. Reference numeral 13 denotes a bearing formed horizontally between the lower ends 7a and 7b of the case 4. The small shaft 14 formed at the tip of the lead screw 1 is supported on the bearing to support the lead screw 1. Is stabilizing.
[0009]
In this embodiment, the ball moving rods 5a and 5b are formed so as to sandwich the lead screw 1 from the symmetrical positions on both sides, so that the pachinko ball pressure is equally applied to the lead screw 1 from both sides, and the balance is maintained. This eliminates the risk of deforming or deforming the lead screw.
[0010]
The rotation and stop of the pulse motor 2 are controlled by a ball delivery control circuit (not shown). By rotating the lead screw 1, the pachinko balls in the both ball moving cages 5a and 5b are caused to flow down, and the prize ball delivery cage is provided from the lower ends 7a and 7b. To discharge. The pachinko balls passing through the both ball moving cages 5a and 5b block the optical axis 12, so that an electric signal obtained from the light receiver 11 is input to the ball dispensing control circuit, and the rotation of the pulse motor 2 is controlled. As a result, a predetermined number of pachinko balls can be discharged into the prize ball payout basket.
[0011]
In addition, by providing the both ball moving rods 5a and 5b at the symmetrical positions on both sides of the lead screw 1 as described above, the pachinko balls alternately flow down the both ball moving rods 5a and 5b, so that the two pachinko balls overlap. There is no risk of blocking the optical axis, and therefore no risk of counting errors. Further, in the present invention, by using the optical sensor that detects the pachinko sphere by blocking light, it is possible to perform detection with higher accuracy than the proximity sensor that detects the proximity of the metal, and the reliability increases.
[0012]
On the other hand, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 is similar to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 in that the lead screw 1 is formed so that the diameter of the thread 1a is smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball 3. , A pulse motor 2 for rotating the lead screw 1, two rows of ball moving rods 5a and 5b formed on both sides of the lead screw 1, and an optical axis 12 on the outside of the lead screw 1 both ball moving rods 5a, It consists of a projector 10 and a light receiver 11 provided so as to cross over 5b, and the pachinko ball 3 passing through both ball moving cages is counted by blocking the optical axis 12, In the embodiment, the ball moving rods 5a and 5b are formed so that the lead screw 1 is slightly shifted to one side from the symmetrical position on both sides, and the optical axis 12 extends over both ball moving rods 5a and 5b on the shifted side. Floodlight 10 Fine light receiver 11 is provided.
[0013]
For this reason, the distance between the light projector 10 and the light receiver 11 is slightly reduced as compared with the case of the above embodiment, and the light attenuation is reduced, so that there is an advantage that the light receiving sensitivity can be increased. In addition, by providing the projector 10 and the light receiver 11 at the corners of the ball moving rods 5a and 5b as in this embodiment, dust and dirt attached to the case 4 due to contact with the pachinko ball 3 are removed from the optical axis. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dust and dirt from blocking the optical axis and making detection impossible.
[0014]
Further, in the ball dispensing device shown in this embodiment, the lead screw 1 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6, and the pachinko ball 3 flowing down the ball moving rod 5 a has the weight of one side wall 4 a of the case 4. The pachinko sphere 3 that contacts the inner surface and flows down the other ball moving rod 5b comes into contact with the inner surface of the other side wall 4b of the case 4 by its own weight, but at this time, the depth at which each pachinko sphere 3 blocks the optical axis 12 If g1 and g2 are set as shown, if the inner surfaces of the side walls 4a and 4b are always set so that g1 <g2, this relationship is maintained even if the pachinko ball 3 swings. The time t1 when the pachinko sphere 3 flowing down the ball moving rod 5a blocks the optical axis 12 is longer than the time t2 when the pachinko ball 3 flowing down the ball moving rod 5a blocks the optical axis 12 as shown in FIG. Always shorter. For this reason, it is also possible to discriminate which pachinko ball signal flows down which ball moving cage by the time measurement. In this embodiment, the side walls 4a and 4b on the side of the case 4 on which the pachinko balls 3 are always in contact are formed thicker than the other portions, thereby improving the strength against ball pressure, wear, and durability.
[0015]
In these embodiments, the lead screw 1 is provided vertically. However, the lead screw 1 may be provided horizontally or inclined.
[0016]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the ball payout device for the pachinko gaming machine according to the present invention provides both balls by providing only one sensor composed of a light projecting / receiving device by providing the two rows of ball moving rods so that the optical axis extends over them. Pachinko balls that pass through the moving cage can be counted. For this reason, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and the signal processing can be facilitated as compared with the case of providing a plurality of sensors.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a ball dispensing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing another embodiment of the ball dispensing device according to the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a timing chart showing a pachinko ball detection signal by an optical sensor.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lead screw 1a Thread 2 Pulse motor 3 Pachinko ball 5a, 5b Ball moving rod 10 Light projector 11 Light receiver 12 Optical axis

Claims (1)

A lead screw formed such that the diameter of the screw thread is smaller than the diameter of the pachinko ball, a pulse motor for rotating the lead screw, two rows of ball moving rods formed on both sides of the lead screw, and an optical axis Is composed of a projector and a light receiver provided so as to pass over both the ball moving rods outside the lead screw, and the pachinko balls flowing down the ball moving rods are counted by blocking the optical axis. In addition, by shifting the inner surfaces of the two ball moving rods in opposite directions perpendicular to the optical axis, the pachinko balls flowing down the two ball moving rods have a difference in the depth of blocking the optical axis. The time for the pachinko sphere flowing down the ball moving cage to block the optical axis is always shorter than the time for the pachinko ball flowing down the other ball moving cage to block the optical axis. Ball dispensing apparatus in pachinko machines or pachinko balls signals is characterized in that so as to be discriminated flowing down the ball movement gutter Les.

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