JP4290371B2 - Ball dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball payout device used for a ball game machine, and more particularly to a ball payout device capable of accurately detecting the number of game balls to be paid out.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a ball game machine such as a pachinko machine has a ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of game balls. A so-called CR machine equipped with a card reader / writer and capable of lending a predetermined number of game balls by inserting a prepaid card can lend game balls using this ball payout device. It has become.
[0003]
In a typical ball payout device, a sprocket for causing game balls to flow down one by one by rotating in mesh with a game ball in a ball passage through which game balls flow down, and a game ball flowing down in mesh with the sprocket The number of game balls to be paid out as prize balls or rental balls is counted based on the detection signal from the detection sensor, and the sprocket is rotated and stopped every predetermined number. I have control.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the detection sensor provided in the above-described conventional ball dispensing device is disposed in the flow-down passage located near the sprocket, it is constituted by a relatively small photosensor so as not to obstruct other members. In general, the detection range of game balls is narrow.
[0005]
The sprocket is a device for dividing and flowing down a predetermined number of game balls. For example, five game balls flow down continuously in one operation. For this reason, the game ball may flow down continuously from the upstream side of the ball passage to the position of the detection sensor, and the game ball directly above may collide with the game ball located on the downstream side. When the game balls collide in this way, the game balls collided from above are rebounded toward the upstream side of the ball passage, and the detection sensor having a narrow detection range of the game balls detects the game balls in duplicate. There is a fear.
For this reason, there was a shortage in the number of prize balls to be paid out and the number of balls lent out, and there was a possibility that unnecessary troubles would occur with the player.
[0006]
The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a ball payout device that can accurately detect a game ball to be paid out and reliably pay out a predetermined number of game balls. .
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The ball payout device according to the present invention has the following features in order to achieve the above-described object.
[0008]
That is, the ball payout device according to the present invention is a ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of game balls,
Detection by a sprocket for causing the game balls to flow down one by one by rotating in mesh with the game balls in the ball passage where the game balls flow down, and detection by a photo sensor for detecting the game balls that are engaged with the sprockets and flow down. While arranging the sensor,
The game balls meshed with the sprocket are moved backward toward the upper side of the ball path at two positions on the upstream side and the downstream side along the flow direction of the ball path facing the sprocket in the ball path. Providing a first protrusion and a second protrusion to prevent,
The sensor is characterized in that from the first projection is disposed on the upstream side of the second protrusion at the downstream side.
[0009]
Moreover, it is preferable that the said protrusion part has a shape along the periphery centering on the rotation center of the said sprocket.
[0010]
In addition, a plurality of sensors for detecting a game ball are arranged in the ball passage, but the detection sensor in the ball payout device according to the present invention particularly detects a game ball that meshes with a sprocket and flows down. This is a sphere separation control sensor.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a ball payout device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
[0012]
<Pachinko machine>
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine provided with the ball dispensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
Although not shown, the pachinko machine 10 has a game board attached to the front side thereof, and a game part surrounded by a pair of guide rails is provided on the surface of the game board. Also, in the game part, obstacle members such as obstacle nails and windmills, a plurality of winning holes for receiving game balls, and an out for discharging game balls that could not be received in any of the winning parts from the game part Mouth etc. are provided. Also, below the game board, there are an upper plate for receiving game balls for use in games, a lower plate for receiving game balls overflowing from the upper plate, and a launch handle for performing the launch operation of the game balls Etc. are provided.
[0013]
On the back side of the pachinko machine 10, as shown in FIG. 2, a ball tank 20 is provided at the upper portion for storing a game ball that is lent to a player and paid out as a prize ball. A ball passage 30 is provided between the upper plate and the lower plate, and a ball separation device 40 is provided in the middle of the ball passage 30 for separating and paying out game balls by a predetermined number. The ball separating device 40 is a main component of the ball dispensing device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
In addition, the ball passage 30 located below the ball delimiter 40 is paid out when a game ball wins a winning ball passage 31 for flowing down a game ball to be lent to a player, or at any winning opening. It branches off to a prize ball passage 32 for flowing down the prize ball. Furthermore, a flow path switching member 50 is provided at the branch portion of the ball passage 30 to switch the flow direction of the game ball between the rental ball passage 31 and the prize ball passage 32.
[0015]
<Spherical separator>
Based on FIG. 3, the ball separator 40 and the flow path switching member 50 will be described in more detail.
FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the structure of the ball separation device 40 and the flow path switching member 50, FIG. 3 (a) is a rear view showing a state in which game balls are lent, and FIG. 3 (b) is a prize. It is a rear view which shows the state at the time of paying out a ball. In FIG. 3, in order to explain the structures of the ball separation device 40 and the flow path switching member 50, a part of the members is shown as a cross section.
[0016]
As described above, the ball passage 30 branches into the rental ball passage 31 and the prize ball passage 32 along the way. Ball separator device 40 of game balls provided above the bifurcation of the ball passageway 30, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), (b) , temporarily damming a game ball that has flowed down the ball passage 30 Thus, a sprocket 41 for dividing and flowing down every predetermined number, a regulating piece 42 for regulating the rotation of the sprocket 41, and a ball-separating control solenoid 43 for driving the regulating piece 42 are provided.
[0017]
In the state where the game ball is not paid out, the ball separating device 40 is in contact with the sprocket 41 to regulate the rotation of the sprocket 41. In the state where the game ball is paid out, the restriction piece 42 is The sprocket 41 can be rotated away from the sprocket 41. Then, when paying out a prize ball or lending a game ball to a player, the ball separation control solenoid 43 operates based on a signal from a control device (not shown), and the sprocket 41 is operated by the regulating piece 42. A predetermined number of game balls are paid out by restricting or allowing the rotation.
[0018]
<Flow path switching member>
The flow path switching member 50 provided below the branch portion of the ball passage 30 selects either the rental ball passage 31 or the prize ball passage 32 as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). The flapper 51 for switching the ball passage 30, the flow path switching solenoid 52 for driving the flapper 51, and the connecting member 53 for connecting the flapper 51 and the flow path switching solenoid 52. I have. Then, when paying out a prize ball or lending a game ball to a player, the flow path switching solenoid 52 is operated based on a signal from a control device (not shown), via the connecting member 53. By changing the position of the flapper 51, the flow path of the game ball is switched between the rental ball path 31 and the prize ball path 32.
[0019]
That is, when lending a game ball to a player, the award ball passage 32 is closed by the flapper 51 so that the game ball flows down to the lending ball passage 31 side. The rental ball passage 31 is closed by 51 so that the game ball flows down to the prize ball passage 32 side.
[0020]
<Game ball detection sensor>
In addition, a ball separation control sensor 60 for detecting a game ball flowing down in the ball passage 30 is attached to the ball passage 30 located above the branching portion, and the rental ball passage 31 is provided in the rental ball passage 31. A ball lending detection sensor 70 for detecting a game ball flowing down is attached, and a prize ball detection sensor 80 for detecting a game ball flowing down the prize ball passage 32 is attached to the prize ball passage 32.
[0021]
The sphere delimiter control sensor 60 is composed of a photosensor having a relatively small size, and detects a light beam from a sphere delimiter control light emitting device (not shown) provided to face the sphere delimiter control sensor 60. The number of passing game balls is detected.
[0022]
The ball lending detection sensor 70 and the prize ball detection sensor 80 are proximity sensors.
[0023]
<Protrusions>
In the vicinity of the sprocket 41 in the ball passage 30, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the game ball P meshed with the sprocket 41 is located above the ball passage 30 at a position facing the sprocket 41. A protrusion 90 is provided to prevent the retrograde operation. The protrusion 90 includes a first protrusion 90a positioned on the upstream side along the flow-down direction of the game ball P and a second protrusion 90b positioned on the downstream side.
[0024]
Further, both the protrusions 90 a and 90 b have a shape protruding from the inner wall surface of the spherical passage 30 along the circumference centering on the rotation center of the sprocket 41.
The game ball P flowing down the ball passage 30 passes through the ball separation device 40 while meshing with the sprocket 41. At this time, the game ball P meshed with the sprocket 41 is downstream along the outer peripheral surfaces of the protrusions 90a and 90b. Move to the side. For this reason, even when the game ball continuously flows down from the upstream side and collides with the game ball P meshed with the sprocket 41, the game ball P meshed with the sprocket 41 is splashed upward. Without any problem, it flows down toward the downstream side without fail.
[0025]
Therefore, in the process in which the game ball P flows down while meshing with the sprocket 41, the game ball P is detected only once by the ball separation control sensor 60, and the number of game balls passing through can be reliably counted without causing an error. it can.
[0028]
<Other embodiments>
In the embodiment described above, a pachinko machine has been described as an example of a representative ball game machine, but the ball payout device according to the present invention may be any game machine that emits a game ball and plays a game. It can also be applied to various gaming machines, for example, it can be applied to arrange ball gaming machines.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
Since the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention has the above-described configuration, the following effects can be obtained.
[0030]
That is, the ball payout device according to the present invention is a case where the game ball that has flowed down continuously from the upstream side collides with the game ball that meshes with the sprocket by providing a protrusion in the ball passage. Even if it exists, there is no possibility that the game ball meshed with the sprocket will rebound and go backward in the ball passage.
For this reason, the game balls that mesh with the sprocket and flow down are accurately counted without being redundantly detected by the detection sensor, and a predetermined number of game balls can be reliably paid out.
[0031]
Further, by providing protrusions at two locations on the upstream side and the downstream side along the flow direction of the game ball, it is possible to prevent the game ball from rebounding more reliably, and the game ball at the reading position of the detection sensor can be prevented. Stabilization can be achieved.
[0032]
In addition, by making the shape of the protrusion along the circumference centered on the rotation center of the sprocket, the game ball meshed with the sprocket can flow smoothly.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B show a ball delimiter that is a main component of a ball dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball delimiter, and FIG. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a pachinko machine provided with a ball dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a ball separation device as a main component of the ball dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear view which shows the structure of a path switching member, (a) is a rear view which shows the state at the time of rental of a game ball, (b) is a rear view which shows the state at the time of payout of a prize ball
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pachinko machine 20 Ball tank 30 Ball passage 31 Loan ball passage 32 Prize ball passage 40 Ball division device 41 Sprocket 42 Restriction piece 43 Ball division control solenoid 50 Channel switching member 51 Flapper 52 Channel switching solenoid 53 Connecting member 60 Ball segment control Sensor 70 Ball lending detection sensor 80 Prize ball detection sensor 90 Protrusion 90a First protrusion 90b Second protrusion P Pachinko ball

Claims (2)

A ball payout device for paying out a predetermined number of game balls,
Detection by a sprocket for causing the game balls to flow down one by one by rotating in mesh with the game balls in the ball passage where the game balls flow down, and a photo sensor for detecting the game balls flowing down by engaging with the sprockets While arranging the sensor,
The game balls meshed with the sprocket are moved backward toward the upper side of the ball path at two positions on the upstream side and the downstream side along the flow direction of the ball path facing the sprocket in the ball path. Providing a first protrusion and a second protrusion to prevent,
The detection sensor is a sphere dispensing apparatus being characterized in that disposed upstream of the second protrusion on the downstream side of the first protrusion. The first protrusion and the second protrusion, ball dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it has a shape along the circumference around the rotational center of the sprocket.

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