JP5062004B2 - Pachinko machine ball launcher - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a game ball launching device provided in a pachinko machine for launching a game ball.

  As is well known, a pachinko machine guides a game ball stored in an upper plate or the like to a launcher and operates the launcher with a handle to launch the game ball into a game area. To do.

  Such a game ball launching device is generally configured by providing a guide rail having a guide surface for guiding a game ball on a plate-like mounting base attached to the pachinko machine body, for example, As shown in Patent Document 1, in addition to the guide rail, a driving ball such as a stepping motor or a rotary solenoid for driving the ball and the driving solenoid for driving the ball is provided on the mounting base. Has been.

  By the way, in the pachinko machine, the accuracy of the launch position of the game ball is highly required. For example, if the player holds the handle without moving it at a certain position, but the position at which the game ball is launched varies, the game is aimed at the target position such as the start winning opening. It becomes difficult to launch a ball, and the interest of the game is impaired.

  The launch position of the game ball is determined by the launch direction and strength. The direction and strength of launching depends on the operational stability of the driving means that drives the hitting ball, but also depends on the shape of the guide rail and the assembly angle. That is, it goes without saying that the launch direction of the game ball is almost determined by the inclination angle of the guide surface, but the guide rail is easily deformed by the impact of the launch due to the low rigidity of the guide rail, or the relative position with respect to the hit ball basket If it changes easily, it becomes difficult to ensure the launch strength of the game ball with high accuracy.

  Therefore, it is preferable that the guide rail has a large rigidity so as not to be easily deformed. In order to ensure the rigidity of the guide rail, it is conceivable to form the guide rail with a highly rigid block structure, or to integrally press-mold the guide rail on the mounting base. However, if the guide rail has a block structure, the manufacturing cost increases and the weight increases. Further, if the guide rail is integrally press-formed on the mounting base, it is difficult to adjust the inclination angle of the guide surface, and it is difficult to cope with a slight positional deviation. Furthermore, in order to integrally press-mold the guide rail on the mounting base, the mounting base is required to be made of a material having a friction coefficient suitable for the guide rail. However, in order to fully demonstrate the function as the mounting base, it is necessary to install it to the main body of the pachinko machine stably without rattling, or to fix the solenoid that drives the hitting ball with screws etc. to some extent. It is preferable that the material has a coefficient of friction. On the other hand, in order to fully exhibit the function as the guide rail, it is preferable that the material has a low friction coefficient in order to smoothly guide the game ball. It is difficult to make these conflicting characteristics compatible.

  Therefore, conventionally, as shown in Patent Document 1, for example, a mounting base that can be securely attached to the main body of the pachinko machine and has sufficient strength is formed separately from the mounting base. A structure in which a guide rail is formed as a press-formed product of a metal plate is employed.

  And in order to ensure the rigidity as a guide rail, in patent document 1, the edge part is bend | folded over the full length, it is set as the reinforcement rib structure, and the part of the reinforcement rib is screwed and fixed with respect to the attachment base. Is adopted. In addition, at the tip of the guide surface where shape stability is particularly required, a block-shaped reinforcing base is assembled on the surface opposite to the guide surface to ensure rigidity and ease of adjustment. .

  However, in the conventional structure as described in Patent Document 1, a member such as a reinforcing base is required in addition to the metal plate to constitute the guide rail, and the structure becomes complicated due to an increase in the number of parts. There was a problem. Moreover, in such a conventional structure, although the reinforcement is made by the reinforcing base and the reinforcing rib, it is difficult to say that the possibility of deformation can be sufficiently prevented because the guide rail is a press-formed product made of a metal plate. In particular, since the reinforcing rib is formed in a large size over the entire length of the guide surface and is formed to extend vertically downward so as to face the operator, tools such as the operator's hand and driver are provided. It is easy to hit the reinforcing rib from the front. And since the reinforcement rib was integrally formed with the guide surface, there was a possibility that the impact upon hitting the reinforcement rib would propagate to the guide surface and deform the guide surface.

JP 2005-152477 A

  Here, the present invention has been made in the background as described above, and the problem to be solved is to secure the launching position accuracy of the game ball more stably with a simpler configuration. An object of the present invention is to provide a game ball launcher having a novel structure.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention made to solve the above-described problems will be described. In addition, the component employ | adopted in each aspect as described below is employable by arbitrary combinations as much as possible.

  That is, the first aspect of the present invention is a pachinko machine game ball that is attached to a plate-shaped mounting base that is fixed to a guide rail pachinko machine body that forms a guide surface that guides the game ball obliquely upward. In the launching device, the guide rail is formed of a metal plate having a predetermined length dimension, and a back surface opposite to the guide surface from one end edge in the width direction orthogonal to the length direction of the metal plate. A mounting piece projecting toward the side is integrally formed, and the metal plate is fixed to the mounting base by overlapping and fixing the mounting piece to a mounting portion protruding from the mounting base. The bent portion extending downward is integrally formed at the tip portion located on the opposite side of the firing position in the length direction of the guide surface, and the mounting piece is also formed at the formed portion of the bent portion. , Removing the mounting piece The angle of inclination in the length direction at the tip end portion of the guide surface can be set at the fixed portion to the portion, and the guide surface is exposed to the outside by being superimposed on the mounting base. And the cover member which covers the edge part on the opposite side to this attachment base in this metal plate and this attachment piece is assembled | attached to this attachment base so that removal is possible, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the game ball launcher for a pachinko machine structured according to this aspect, the number of parts can be reduced because the guide rail is formed of a single metal plate. As a result, the structure can be simplified, and the weight can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, by making it possible to set the inclination angle at the tip portion of the guide surface at the fixing portion of the mounting piece formed on the bent portion with respect to the mounting portion, for example, the game board and the game ball launching device are attached to the main body of the pachinko machine Even when a slight misalignment occurs between them when assembled, the misalignment can be corrected by adjusting the inclination angle of the guide surface after assembling. Further, even when the inclination angle of the guide surface is changed due to repeated launching of game balls, it can be easily corrected. In particular, according to this aspect, by adjusting the inclination angle of the bent portion that continues from the front end portion of the guide surface, the inclination angle of the front end portion of the guide surface that greatly affects the launch angle of the game ball can be adjusted. It is possible to adjust the launch angle of the game ball effectively.

  In this aspect, the guide rail is formed of a metal plate, and is attached to the attachment base in a substantially cantilevered support state via an attachment piece formed at one end edge in the width direction. Therefore, the rigidity of the guide rail itself is not necessarily high. Then, according to this aspect, by covering the edge part of the guide surface opposite to the mounting base with the cover member, the collision of the operator's hand or tool from the front of the pachinko machine to the edge part is performed. Can be prevented. Thereby, the deformation of the guide rail, particularly the guide surface, can be suppressed, and the launch position accuracy of the game ball can be more stably ensured with a simple configuration. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to the guide surface, the mounting piece formed on the bent portion is also protected by the cover member, so that the hand is inadvertently touching the mounting piece and the inclination angle of the guide surface is changed. It is possible to more effectively reduce the risk of being played, and it is possible to more stably secure the launch position accuracy of the game ball. In addition, in this aspect, in addition to the attachment piece formed in the bending part, it is also possible to cover other attachment pieces with a cover member. In this way, the shape stability of the guide rail can be more advantageously ensured.

  Therefore, particularly in this embodiment, the cover member is assembled with the guide surface exposed to the outside. As a result, the guide surface can be easily cleaned, and the guide surface can be protected without impairing maintainability. In addition, since the guide surface is not covered with the cover member, the possibility of ball clogging can be avoided.

  The game ball launching device for a pachinko machine in this aspect is provided with only a launch rail on the mounting base, and a driving ball for driving the gaming ball and a driving means for driving the hitting ball are provided separately from the mounting base. However, as a second aspect of the present invention, in the game ball launcher of the pachinko machine according to the first aspect, the hitting ball is attached so as to be capable of reciprocating in a direction parallel to the mounting base. In addition, driving means for exerting a driving force on the hitting ball is attached to the mounting base, and hitting means for hitting a game ball including the hitting ball and the driving means is configured. On the other hand, the reciprocating region of the hitting ball A mode in which the cover member is attached to the attachment base so as to cover the entire surface can also be suitably employed.

  If it does in this way, a launch rail, a hitting ball, and a drive means can be provided in a mounting base, and these can be handled integrally. Then, by covering the entire reciprocating region of the hitting ball with the cover member, it is possible to reduce the possibility that dust or the like enters the reciprocating region of the hitting ball and hinders the driving of the hitting ball. As a result, the hitting ball can be driven stably, and the accuracy of the launch position of the game ball can be secured more stably. In this aspect, the driving means may or may not be covered by the cover member.

  Hereinafter, in order to clarify the present invention more specifically, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the up and down direction and the left and right direction are, in principle, the up and down direction and the left and right direction as viewed from the player, and the front, back, front, and rear surfaces are also viewed from the player in principle. Front surface, back surface, front surface, and rear surface.

  FIG. 1 shows a pachinko machine 11 including a launch unit 10 according to a game ball launcher as an embodiment of the present invention. The pachinko machine 11 includes an outer frame 12 that is formed in a vertically long rectangular frame. The outer frame 12 is assembled with a middle frame 14 (see FIG. 2) as a main body in which almost all of the main components of the pachinko machine are provided in a state where the outer frame 12 is pivotally supported so as to be freely opened and closed. Yes. Further, on the front side of the middle frame 14, a glass frame 18 provided with a glass plate for protecting the game board 16 attached to the middle frame 14 from the back side, and an upper dish plate 22 provided with an upper dish 20. A lower plate 24 provided below the upper plate 20 and a lower plate plate 27 having a firing handle 26 projecting to the right of the lower plate 24 are pivotally supported on one side of the middle frame 14 so as to be freely opened and closed. It is assembled in the state that was done. Then, when the player rotates the launch lever 28 that is rotatably attached to the launch handle 26, the game balls stored in the upper plate 20 are passed through a ball feeding mechanism (not shown). After being sent to the launch unit 10, it is fired toward the game area 30 formed on the game board 16. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to be described later, for example, a liquid crystal display device, a center accessory, and a large number of nails provided in the game area 30 are omitted.

  FIG. 2 shows the pachinko machine 11 in which the glass frame 18 and the upper and lower dish plates 22 and 27 are removed from the middle frame 14. The game board 16 includes a game board 32 having a substantially rectangular plate shape, and a guide rail 34 is fixed to the surface side of the game board 32 as shown in FIG. The guide rail 34 has a structure in which a plate-like member such as a thin metal plate is rolled into a substantially arc shape, and the width direction of the guide rail 34 stands upright with respect to the spreading direction of the surface of the game board 32. The game board 32 is fixed. Thereby, a substantially circular game region 30 is partitioned and formed on the surface side of the game board 32 by the guide rail 34 in front view. Furthermore, an inclined surface 36 is formed at the lower end portion of the guide rail 34 by bending the guide rail 34 slightly downward. Further, a wall member 38 that rises from the end of the guide rail 34 on the surface side in the width direction over a predetermined dimension in the extending direction of the guide rail 34 from the base end of the inclined surface 36 and prevents the game ball from dropping is provided. It is provided by being attached to the game board 32.

  The launch unit 10 is attached to the lower right part of the front side of the middle frame 14. 3 and 4 show the firing unit 10. The launch unit 10 has a structure in which substantially the entire surface side of the launching device 40 that launches a game ball is covered with a cover member 42. The cover member 42 is a transparent member, and each member disposed in the cover member 42 such as screws 66 and 68 for attaching a firing rail 46 to be described later and a hitting ball 48 is a cover member. Although it is visible from the outside through 42, in order to facilitate understanding, these are not shown in FIGS.

  5 to 7 show the launch device 40. FIG. The launch device 40 is launched as a guide rail for guiding a game ball against a front surface 45 constituting one plate surface of a plate-like mounting base 44 formed of a metal such as aluminum or an appropriate resin material, for example. A rail 46, a hitting ball 48 for launching a game ball, a rotary solenoid 50 as a driving means for driving the hitting ball 48, and the like are provided.

  The mounting base 44 has a plate shape including a protruding portion 52 that protrudes obliquely upward from the side, and a plurality of body screw holes 54a and a plurality of cover screw holes 54b are provided in the thickness direction at appropriate locations. It is penetrated by.

  The launch rail 46 is attached to the attachment base 44 having such a structure. The firing rail 46 is formed by bending a thin metal plate having a predetermined longitudinal dimension and a substantially constant width dimension formed of, for example, aluminum or the like, and extends in a substantially straight line over the predetermined dimension. While having a guide surface 56 as a traveling region of a sphere, a locking wall portion 58 that is bent so as to rise vertically from the guide surface 56 is formed at the base end portion 57 of the guide surface 56, while the guide surface 56 is guided. In the extending direction of the surface 56, the distal end portion 59 opposite to the base end portion 57 is bent continuously downward from the distal end portion 59 to form a depression angle with respect to the extending direction of the guide surface 56. A stopper portion 60 as a portion is formed. The game ball is caused to travel on the guide surface 56 from the base end portion 57 of the guide surface 56 toward the tip end portion 59. Thus, in this embodiment, the base end part 57 is set as the launch position of the game ball.

  Furthermore, the guide surface 56 is formed with a guide recess 61 that is bent and formed in a V shape with a concave central portion in the width direction. The guide recess 61 extends from the base end portion 57 of the guide surface 56 and is formed with an extension dimension slightly smaller than the extension dimension of the guide surface 56, and the guide surface 56 has a guide surface on the base end portion 57 side. In addition to having a width dimension over substantially the entire width 56, it has a substantially triangular top view shape in which the width dimension is gradually reduced toward the front end 59 of the guide surface 56. The guide recess 61 allows the game ball to run on the guide surface 56 without blurring in the width direction. In addition, the hitting wall portion 58 is formed with a hitting ball window 63 that rises from a connecting portion with the guide surface 56 with a predetermined width dimension. At least one of the width dimension and the height dimension of the hitting window 63 is slightly smaller than the diameter dimension of the regular game ball and is as large as possible within a range in which the regular game ball can be prevented from passing. It is said. In the present embodiment, the width dimension of the hit ball window 63 is slightly smaller than the diameter dimension of the regular game ball. As a result, when an illegal game ball having a smaller diameter than the regular game ball is guided on the guide surface 56, the game ball is discharged from the guide surface 56 through the hitting ball window 63 and launched into the game area 30. It is made not to be done.

  In addition, the firing rail 46 is substantially in the width direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5) from one end edge 65 toward the back side opposite to the guide surface 56 with respect to the spreading direction of the guide surface 56. A plurality of mounting pieces 62 rising vertically are integrally formed. These mounting pieces 62 are formed by integrally bending the widthwise end edge 65 of the firing rail 46 and projecting outwardly in the width direction so that the guide surface 56 faces outward. Each attachment piece 62 is formed with one screw insertion hole penetrating in the thickness direction. In particular, in the present embodiment, there are one attachment piece 62 at each of the distal end portion of the stopper portion 60 and the distal end portion of the locking wall portion 58, and an appropriate position in the guide surface 56 in the extending direction of the guide surface 56. A total of four pairs are formed at intervals. Thus, the rigidity of the firing rail 46 is improved by forming a plurality of rib structure attachment pieces 62.

  On the other hand, a cylindrical member having a screw hole formed on the inner peripheral surface is attached to the attachment base 44, so that a plurality of projections (in the present embodiment, substantially perpendicular to the spreading direction of the front surface 45) are provided. Are formed with boss portions 64 as four attachment portions. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the mounting piece 62 of the firing rail 46 is superimposed on the protruding front end surface of the boss portion 64 and fixed with a screw 66 or an adjusting screw 68, so that the firing rail 46 is attached to the mounting base. 44 is fixed. As a result, the launch rail 46 rises from the front surface 45 with the width direction of the launching base 46 being substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the front surface 45 of the mounting base 44 extends, and the extending direction of the guide surface 56 is attached. The base 44 is attached so as to extend in parallel with the front surface 45 of the base 44 so as to extend the upper end surface of the protrusion 52. As is clear from this, the firing rail 46 in this embodiment is assembled to the mounting base 44 by fixing the mounting piece 62 formed at one end edge 65 in the width direction to the mounting base 44. The mounting piece 62 is attached to the mounting base 44 in a substantially cantilevered state. Therefore, in the present embodiment, since the attachment piece 62 is partially formed without extending over the entire length of the firing rail 46, the attachment piece 62 is formed on the boss portion 64 of the attachment base 44 when attached to the attachment base 44. The screw holes thus made can be easily visually confirmed, and the assembling work can be easily performed. As shown in FIG. 6, a substantially L-shaped notch 70 is formed through the mounting base 44 in the thickness direction, and a mounting piece 62 is formed on the guide surface 56 of the firing rail 46. A part of the edge in the width direction opposite to the side and the edge in the width direction of the locking wall portion 58 are inserted into the notch 70. Thereby, the amount of elastic deformation of the firing rail 46 is limited, and plastic deformation of the firing rail 46 is prevented.

  In such an assembled state, the stopper portion 60 of the firing rail 46 continuously extends from the tip edge portion of the guide surface 56 and slightly protrudes from the protruding tip edge portion 72 of the protrusion portion 52 of the mounting base 44. I'm hurt. Here, the mounting piece 62 provided on the stopper portion 60 is superimposed on a boss portion 64 formed at the protruding tip portion of the protruding portion 52 and fixed by an adjusting screw 68 such as a flanged screw. Accordingly, by turning the adjusting screw 68 in the fastening direction or in the opposite direction, the mounting piece 62 is rotated, and the stopper portion 60 extends to the guide surface 56 that is continuous therewith, particularly the tip portion of the guide surface 56. The inclination angle of 59 with respect to the horizontal direction can be adjusted. For example, in this embodiment, when the adjustment screw 68 in FIG. 5 is tightened (in FIG. 5, it is screwed clockwise), the mounting piece 62 is rotated clockwise, and the stopper portion 60 extends to the guide surface. 56 tip portions 59 are displaced upward. On the other hand, when the adjustment screw 68 is loosened (in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 5), the mounting piece 62 is rotated counterclockwise, and the stopper portion 60 and the leading end portion 59 of the guide surface 56 are displaced downward. To be harassed. Thus, in this embodiment, the adjustment part is comprised including the adjustment screw 68. FIG. Thereby, even after the mounting base 44 is assembled to the middle frame 14, the inclination angle of the guide surface 56 can be adjusted. Then, the inclination angle of the tip portion 59 that has a great influence on the launch direction of the game ball can be advantageously adjusted by adjusting the inclination angle of the stopper portion 60 directly connected to the tip portion 59.

  Further, a positioning member 74 is disposed above the base end portion 57 of the guide surface 56. The positioning member 74 is preferably formed of a relatively hard member such as a resin material mixed with metallic powder, and has a block shape in which one surface is an inclined surface 76. The positioning member 74 is formed with a screw hole 78 penetrating in the width direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 5), and the screw hole 78 is formed through the mounting base 44 in the thickness direction. They are superposed and attached to the attachment base 44 with screws (not shown). In such an attachment state, the positioning member 74 is configured such that the protruding end edge 80 is a base of the guide surface 56 so that the bottom surface 82 having one side in common with the protruding end edge 80 of the inclined surface 76 overlaps the locking wall portion 58. The end portion 57 is positioned to face the end portion 57 with a predetermined distance in the extending direction of the locking wall portion 58. Note that the separation distance in the extending direction of the locking wall portion 58 between the protruding end edge 80 and the base end portion 57 of the guide surface 56 is slightly larger than the diameter dimension of the game ball, and the guide surface 56. The game ball guided upward is positioned between the protruding end edge portion 80 and the guide surface 56 and is locked by the locking wall portion 58.

  Further, a rotary solenoid 50 as drive means is attached to the attachment base 44. A mounting plate 84 is attached to the end surface of the rotary solenoid 50 on the rotating shaft (not shown) side by bonding or the like. The mounting plate 84 is attached to a boss portion 86 formed on the mounting base 44 with a flanged screw. By being fixed at 88, the rotary solenoid 50 is attached to the attachment base 44 in a state where the rotation axis is directed vertically. The rotary solenoid 50 is electrically connected to the firing lever 28 via a firing control board (not shown), and an excitation current is supplied when the firing lever 28 is rotated.

  On the other hand, the hitting ball 48 is a substantially L-shaped member made of a relatively hard material such as iron, for example, and a tip spring 90 slightly protrudes from one end portion in an exterior state. At the same time, the other end is directly attached to the rotary shaft of the rotary solenoid 50. Thereby, the hitting ball 48 is attached to the front surface 45 of the mounting base 44 via the rotary solenoid 50, and in a direction parallel to the front surface 45 of the mounting base 44 with the rotation axis of the rotary solenoid 50 as the swing axis. It can be reciprocally swung.

  Then, when the firing lever 28 is rotated and the exciting current is supplied to the rotary solenoid 50, the hitting ball 48 is directed from the return position shown by the solid line in FIG. 5 toward the firing rail 46 (in this embodiment). 5 (counterclockwise in FIG. 5), and is rotated to a firing position indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 5 by being stopped by a firing position stopper 92 provided integrally with the mounting base 44. To be harassed. The tip spring 90 of the hit ball 48 is projected from the hit ball window 63 onto the base end portion 57 of the guide surface 56, and the tip spring 90 is hit against the game ball guided to the base end portion 57. As a result, the game ball is launched toward the tip portion 59. Note that the hitting ball 48 hits the upper part of the game ball slightly at the launch position with a predetermined inclination angle at which the tip spring 90 approaches the guide surface 56. Further, the rotation speed of the hitting ball 48, that is, the launching strength, is determined by the rotation of the firing lever 28 by, for example, a variable resistor (not shown) provided on the electrical connection path from the firing lever 28 to the rotary solenoid 50. It is adjusted by changing the exciting current to the rotary solenoid 50 according to the amount of movement. After the game ball is fired, the torque of the rotary solenoid 50 disappears, and the hitting ball 48 is moved in the reverse direction by the reaction and the self-weight due to the collision with the firing position stopper 92 (in this embodiment, in FIG. It is rotated (in the clockwise direction) and stopped at the return position by a return position stopper 94 provided integrally with the mounting base 44. In this way, the hitting ball 48 is reciprocally swung between the return position and the launch position, and the region from the return position to the launch position is a movable region 96 as the reciprocating region of the hit ball 48. It is said that. In addition, a hitting means for hitting a game ball is configured including the hitting ball 48 and the rotary solenoid 50. In this embodiment, the hitting means is attached to the mounting base 44 together with the firing rail 46.

  The cover member 42 is attached to the launching device 40 having such a structure. The cover member 42 is shown in FIGS. The cover member 42 is formed of a transparent hard resin material such as polycarbonate (PC), for example, and has a shape substantially equal to a region surrounded by the firing rail 46 and the mounting base 44 in the launching device 40 in a front projection view. And a peripheral wall 100 rising from the top plate 98 at the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 98 are integrally formed, and the overall shape is a substantially box shape opening to one side. Thus, the cover member 42 is formed with a protruding portion 102 that protrudes outward in a front view and has a shape in front view that is substantially equal to the protruding portion 52 of the mounting base 44. Further, the top plate 98 has a direction opposite to the protruding direction of the peripheral wall 100 in a position where it overlaps with the screws 66, 68, 88 when attached to the mounting base 44 in order to avoid interference with these screws 66, 68, 88. A screw avoidance protrusion 103 that slightly protrudes is formed. Further, a circular insertion hole 104 having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the rotary solenoid 50 as viewed in the axial direction is provided in the top plate 98 in the thickness direction.

  On the other hand, the peripheral wall 100 is formed with a certain protruding dimension at the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 98. A notch 106 is formed at a portion of the peripheral wall 100 that overlaps the firing rail 46. In other words, the peripheral wall 100 is not formed at a portion overlapping the firing rail 46 at the outer peripheral edge of the top plate 98. Further, a reinforcing rib 108 having a projecting dimension smaller than that of the peripheral wall 100 is formed in a projecting manner at a position slightly inward from the outer peripheral edge portion of the top plate 98 at the portion where the notch 106 is formed.

  Further, a notch-shaped discharge hole 110 is provided in the thickness direction at an appropriate portion of the peripheral wall 100 that constitutes the bottom surface of the cover member 42. Here, the size of the discharge hole 110 is not particularly limited, but is preferably formed to be larger than the size through which the game ball can pass.

  The cover member 42 is integrally formed with an attachment boss 112 and an insertion boss 114 that project substantially perpendicularly to the direction in which the surface of the top plate 98 expands. The mounting boss 112 has a stepped cylindrical shape in which the front end side in the protruding direction is smaller in diameter than the top plate 98 side, and its axial dimension is substantially equal to the protruding size of the peripheral wall 100 from the top plate 98. Yes. A thread groove is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the portion of the mounting boss 112 having a small diameter. The mounting boss 112 is formed at a position that overlaps the cover screw hole 54 b of the mounting base 44 when the cover member 42 is mounted on the mounting base 44. On the other hand, the insertion boss 114 has a cylindrical shape having a constant inner diameter, and its axial dimension is substantially the same as the protruding dimension of the peripheral wall 100 from the top plate 98. The insertion boss 114 is formed at a position overlapping the main body screw hole 54 a of the attachment base 44 in the attachment state of the cover member 42 to the attachment base 44.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the cover member 42 having such a structure is overlapped from the front surface 45 side of the mounting base 44 with the protruding direction of the mounting boss 112 facing the mounting base 44. As a result, the cover screw hole 54 b formed in the mounting base 44 and the mounting boss 112 formed in the cover member 42 are overlapped. Then, the cover fixing screw 116 is screwed into the mounting boss 112, and is projected from the mounting boss 112 and screwed into the cover screw hole 54b, whereby the mounting boss 112 and the cover screw hole are inserted. 54 b are fixed to each other by a cover fixing screw 116. Thereby, the cover member 42 is fixed to the attachment base 44, and the firing unit 10 is configured.

  In the launch unit 10, the surface opposite to the front surface 45 where the launch rail 46 and the hitting ball 48 are provided in the mounting base 44 is overlapped with the inner frame 14 of the pachinko machine 11. Although detailed illustration is omitted, screw holes 118 are formed in the middle frame 14, and the mounting base 44 is attached to the middle frame 14 by overlapping the main body screw holes 54 a of the mounting base 44 with the screw holes 118. Is positioned with respect to. The main body fixing screw 120 is inserted into the insertion boss 114 and screwed into the main body screw hole 54 a of the mounting base 44 and the screw hole 118 of the inner frame 14, so that the mounting base 44 is attached to the inner frame 14. It is done. Thereby, the launch unit 10 is attached to the middle frame 14.

  In the state of being attached to the middle frame 14, as shown in FIG. 2, the guide surface 56 in the firing rail 46 engages the tip portion 59 with the tip portion 59 facing the guide rail 34 provided on the game board 32. It is arranged with a predetermined inclination angle positioned vertically above the stop wall portion 58. Such an inclination angle is preferably an angle at which an extension line in the extending direction of the guide surface 56 is connected to a connection portion of the guide rail 34 provided on the game board 32 with the inclined surface 36. Furthermore, the front end portion 59 of the guide surface 56 and the front end edge portion of the inclined surface 36 of the guide rail 34 are positioned at a predetermined distance in the extending direction of the guide surface 56. A foul ball discharge hole 122 is formed between the front end edge of the inclined surface 36 and the inclined surface 36. Thereby, the game ball given sufficient launch strength is caused to run obliquely upward on the guide surface 56 and obliquely upward from the tip portion 59 toward the guide rail 34 (in this embodiment, obliquely) (Upward left) and after jumping over the foul ball discharge hole 122, it is guided to the guide rail 34 and driven into the game area 30, while the launch strength is insufficient and the guide rail does not reach the game area 30. The game ball that has been caused to flow back through 34 falls into the foul ball discharge hole 122. The game ball that has fallen into the foul ball discharge hole 122 is returned to the lower plate 24 through a guide path (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 13, the launch unit 10 having such a structure has a width direction end edge 65 on the opposite side of the mounting base 44 in the guide surface 56 in the mounting state of the cover member 42, in other words, The top plate 98 of the cover member 42 is positioned in front of the widthwise edge 65 located on the front side (front side) of the pachinko machine 11, and is covered from the front side (front side) of the pachinko machine 11. . Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the operator's hand or tool from hitting the guide surface 56 from the front, and the shape of the guide surface 56 can be stably held.

  In addition, the top plate 98 of the cover member 42 is also superimposed on the head of the adjustment screw 68 and the mounting piece 62 provided on the stopper portion 60 fixed by the adjustment screw 68. The attachment piece 62 provided on the stopper 60 is also covered by the cover member 42 from the front side (front side) of the pachinko machine 11. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the operator's hand or tool from hitting the attachment piece 62 provided on the adjustment screw 68 or the stopper portion 60 from the front, and the adjustment screw 68 or the stopper portion 60 is provided. The possibility that the mounting piece 62 is moved carelessly and the inclination angle of the guide surface 56 is changed is also reduced. In particular, in the present embodiment, all the mounting pieces 62 are protected by the cover member 42 so that the shape stability of the firing rail 46 is maintained to a higher degree.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, one end edge portion 65 in the width direction of the guide surface 56 and the adjustment screw 68 and the attachment piece 62 fixed thereto are covered with the cover member 42 from the front side of the pachinko machine 11. It is protected, and the shape and the inclination angle of the guide surface 56 can be stably maintained in an intended state. Thereby, the accuracy of the launch angle and launch strength of the game ball can be held more stably.

  Further, particularly in the present embodiment, the cover member 42 covers substantially the entire movable region 96 of the hitting ball 48 from the front side (front side) of the pachinko machine 11. Thus, the hitting ball 48 can be protected by the cover member 42, and the position of the hitting ball 48 with respect to the guide surface 56 can be held more stably. As a result, the accuracy of the launch angle and launch strength of the game ball can be maintained more stably.

  In particular, the pachinko machine 11 according to this embodiment can open the lower plate 27 in addition to the upper plate 22, so that when the upper and lower plates 22 and 27 are opened, the guide surface 56 The width direction edge 65, the adjusting screw 68, the mounting piece 62 fixed thereto, and substantially the entire movable region 96 of the hitting ball 48 can be exposed to the front side of the pachinko machine 11. However, in the launch unit 10 in the present embodiment, the width direction edge portion 65 of the guide surface 56, the adjustment screw 68, and the movable region 96 of the hitting ball 48 are covered with the cover member 42 from the front side of the pachinko machine 11. All of these can be protected. At the same time, since the cover member 42 is transparent, the inside of the firing unit 10 can be easily visually recognized even when the cover member 42 is attached.

  In addition, particularly in the firing unit 10 in the present embodiment, the guide rail 56 is positioned at the upper end portion of the cover member 42 by disposing the firing rail 46 in the notch 106 formed in the cover member 42. The cover member 42 is exposed above. Thereby, maintenance such as cleaning of the guide surface 56 can be easily performed. Further, since the guide surface 56 is exposed, the cover member 42 does not obstruct the running of the game ball on the guide surface 56, and the possibility of a ball clogging is avoided.

  Furthermore, the positioning member 74 is also disposed outside the cover member 42. As a result, it is possible to easily adjust the position of the positioning member 74 and replace the positioning member 74 that is easily damaged due to repeated hitting of the game ball.

  Further, in the attached state of the cover member 42, a discharge area 124 (see FIG. 3) that connects the hit ball window 63 and the discharge hole 110 is formed in the cover member 42. Here, it is preferable that the discharge area 124 is formed with a gap dimension larger than at least the diameter dimension of the regular game ball from the hitting ball window 63 to the discharge hole 110. Thereby, for example, an illegal game ball having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball is discharged from the hit hole window 63 through the discharge area 124 and out of the cover member 42 through the discharge hole 110. As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to guide an illegal game ball to a specific place where the discharge hole 110 is formed, and the illegal game ball is scattered to various places in the pachinko machine 11. It is possible to prevent illegal gaming balls from being collected easily and to reduce the possibility that the operation of each device in the pachinko machine 11 is hindered due to the scattering of illegal gaming balls. It is possible to do. The illegal game balls discharged from the discharge hole 110 may be collected by a bowl-shaped member disposed below the discharge hole 110, or may be discharged through a different flow path from the regular game ball. I can do it. In addition, it is possible to discharge regular game balls and garbage that have entered the cover member 42 for some reason from the discharge hole 110.

  Further, in the firing unit 10 in the present embodiment, the rotary solenoid 50 is exposed to the outside of the cover member 42 through the insertion hole 104 penetrating the cover member 42. Thereby, heat dissipation of the rotary solenoid 50 is also advantageously performed.

  Further, in the firing unit 10 in the present embodiment, a main body screw hole 54 a for attaching the attachment base 44 to the middle frame 14 and a cover screw hole 54 b for attaching the cover member 42 to the attachment base 44 are formed separately. The main body fixing screw 120 screwed into the main body screw hole 54a fixes the mounting base 44 and the inner frame 14 to each other, while the cover fixing screw 116 screwed into the cover screw hole 54b is fixed to the mounting base 44. The cover member 42 is fixed. Thus, if only the main body fixing screw 120 is removed, the firing unit 10 can be removed from the middle frame 14 with the cover member 42 attached, and if only the cover fixing screw 116 is removed, the mounting base 44 can be removed from the middle frame 14. Only the cover member 42 can be removed from the middle frame 14 while being attached to the inner frame 14. That is, it is possible to remove the entire launch unit 10 or only the cover member 42 from the middle frame 14 as necessary, and excellent maintainability can be obtained. In addition, it is possible to transport only the firing unit 10 with the cover member 42 attached to the mounting base 44, and the cover rail 42 can be used to transport the firing rail 46 attached to the mounting base 44 at the time of transportation. It is also possible to protect 48 from contact with other members.

  As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this is an illustration to the last, Comprising: This invention is not limited at all by the specific description in this Embodiment.

  For example, the shape of the cover member is not limited. In the above embodiment, the cover member covers only the end piece 65 in the width direction of the guide surface 56 of the firing rail 46 and the mounting piece 62 provided on the stopper portion 60. But it ’s okay. Therefore, the game ball launching device according to the present invention may be one in which the mounting base is provided only with the adjusting portion of the launch rail and the guide surface, and the driving means for driving the hitting ball and the hitting ball is provided separately from the mounting base. May be. Furthermore, although the discharge hole 110 is not necessarily required, the position of the discharge hole 110 is not limited, and may be opened to the side of the cover member 42. In addition, the peripheral wall 100 is not always necessary. For example, the cover member is configured only by the top plate 98 and the mounting boss 112 and the insertion boss 114 protruding from the top plate 98 without including the peripheral wall 100. You may do it. Furthermore, the cover member does not necessarily need to be formed from a single member. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the cover member that covers one end edge 65 of the guide surface 56 in the width direction and the adjustment screw 68, and the hitting ball 48 The cover member covering the movable region 96 may be divided into separate structures.

  In addition, the cover member and the mounting base are preferably fixed so that the cover member can be removed from the mounting base, but is not necessarily limited to screwing. A locking claw or the like may be formed, and the cover member may be detachably locked to the mounting base for mounting. Further, in the above embodiment, the cover fixing screw 116 and the main body fixing screw 120 are separately provided so that the attachment base 44 and the cover member 42 can be attached and detached independently. The fixing base 116 may protrude from the mounting base 44, and the mounting base 44 and the cover member 42 may be attached to the middle frame 14 only by the cover fixing screw 116.

  Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the rotary solenoid 50 is used as a driving means for driving the hitting ball 48, but the driving means is not limited. For example, a stepping motor or the like is used as the driving means. An electric motor is used, and a hitting basket is rotatably provided on the mounting base at a position different from the electric motor, and is biased to a firing position by a coil spring or the like, and is rotated in a direction opposite to the biasing direction via a cam. After that, by releasing the contact between the cam and the hitting ball cage, the game ball is launched by operating to the firing position by the elasticity of the coil spring, or the plunger type solenoid is used as the driving means, Directly attach the hitting ball and move the hitting ball back and forth on a straight line by linear movement of the movable iron core. Good.

The preferred technical idea of the present invention that can be understood from the above embodiment will be described below.

(1) The pachinko machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a main body attachment portion for attaching the attachment base to the main body of the pachinko machine and a cover attachment portion for attaching the cover member to the attachment base are provided separately. Game ball launcher.

  If it does in this way, each of an attachment base and a cover member can be attached or detached independently. As a result, for example, only the cover member can be removed with the attachment base attached to the middle frame of the pachinko machine, or the entire firing unit can be removed from the middle frame with the cover member provided, and the maintainability can be improved. Further, the launch unit can be transported with the cover member attached to the attachment base. In the above-described embodiment, the main body mounting portion is configured including the main body screw hole 54a and the insertion boss 114, while the cover mounting portion is configured including the cover screw hole 54b and the mounting boss 112. .

(2) The game ball launcher for a pachinko machine according to claim 1 or 2, or the technical idea (1), wherein the cover member is formed with a discharge hole penetrating in the thickness direction.

  In this way, the screw or game ball that has entered the cover member for any reason can be discharged from the discharge hole, and the screw or game ball stays in the cover member and obstructs the operation of the launch unit. In addition to being able to reduce the risk of playing, screws and game balls can be collected in the discharge holes and easily collected. More preferably, the usable game ball is locked to the base end portion in the traveling direction of the game ball on the guide surface, and the unusable game ball is passed through and guided to the internal space of the cover member. A mode in which a locking portion is provided and a discharge region that communicates the locking portion and the discharge hole is formed in the internal space of the cover member is employed. In this way, when an illegal game ball having a smaller diameter than a regular game ball is guided on the guide surface by a ball feed mechanism or the like, it passes through the locking portion and is launched into the game area. Without discharge, it can be discharged from the discharge hole to the outside of the launch unit through the discharge area. In this way, by using the cover member, it is possible to configure an illegal ball discharge channel that guides an illegal game ball to a specific place provided with an exhaust hole without requiring a special member. Incorrect game balls can be easily collected. In the above-described embodiment, the locking portion is constituted by the locking wall portion 58, and the discharge hole 110 penetrating the locking wall portion 58 and the peripheral wall 100 at the bottom of the cover member 42 communicates with the discharge region 124. It has been.

The front view of the pachinko machine provided with the game ball launcher as one embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view which shows the state which removed the glass door and the top-and-bottom plate from the pachinko machine. The front view of the game ball launcher as one embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view of the game ball launcher. The front view of the launching device which comprises the game ball launching device. The rear view of the launching device. The perspective view of the launching device. The front view of the cover member which comprises the game ball | bowl launching apparatus shown in FIG. The rear view of the cover member. The perspective view of the cover member. The bottom view of the cover member. Explanatory drawing for demonstrating the attachment structure of the game ball | bowl launching apparatus shown in FIG. The principal part expanded sectional view equivalent to the XIII-XIII cross section in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10: Launch unit, 11: Pachinko machine, 14: Middle frame, 40: Launching device, 42: Cover member, 44: Mounting base, 46: Launch rail, 56: Guide surface, 60: Stopper, 62: Mounting piece, 65: edge part, 68: adjustment screw

Claims (2)

In a pachinko machine, a guide rail that forms a guide surface for guiding a game ball obliquely upward from a launch position over a predetermined distance in a pachinko machine is attached to a plate-like mounting base fixed to the pachinko machine body. In the game ball launcher,
The guide rail is formed of a metal plate having a predetermined length dimension, and toward the back surface side opposite to the guide surface at one end edge in the width direction orthogonal to the length direction of the metal plate. A protruding mounting piece is integrally formed, and the metal plate is fixed by overlapping and fixing the mounting piece to a protruding tip surface of a mounting portion protruding on one plate surface of the mounting base. Fixed to the mounting base, the guide surface rises on the one plate surface of the mounting base in the width direction and extends parallel to the one plate surface of the mounting base in the length direction. On the other hand, a bent portion extending downward with a depression angle with respect to an extension line in the length direction of the guide surface at a tip portion located on the opposite side of the firing position in the length direction of the guide surface of the metal plate Is integrally formed In addition, the attachment piece is also formed in the formation portion of the bent portion, and the attachment portion of the attachment piece formed in the bent portion is fixed to the attachment portion at the tip portion of the guide surface of the metal plate. The angle of inclination in the length direction can be set, and the guide surface of the metal plate is exposed to the outside by being overlapped with the mounting base from the one plate surface side. In this state, a cover member that covers the edge of the metal plate opposite to the mounting base and the mounting piece formed at the bent portion is removably assembled to the mounting base. A game ball launcher for a pachinko machine characterized by   A hitting ball for launching a game ball is attached to the mounting base so as to be able to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the one plate surface, and driving means for applying a driving force to the hitting ball to reciprocate the mounting base. The ball striking means is configured to hit the game ball held at the launch position on the guide surface in the direction in which the guide surface extends, including the ball striking rod and the driving means. 2. The game ball launcher for a pachinko machine according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is attached to the attachment base so as to cover the entire reciprocating region of the hitting ball on the one plate surface of the base.

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