JP5066036B2 - Ball dispenser for a ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball payout device for a ball game machine that pays out game balls stored in a storage tank by rotation of a lead screw, and more particularly to a payout passage and a ball discharge passage for game balls paid out from a storage tank. The present invention relates to a path switching mechanism that distributes to any one of the above.

  A ball game machine represented by a pachinko machine is provided with a ball payout device for paying out game balls stored in a storage tank. As a conventional example of such a ball payout device, It is known that a game ball is paid out one by one along the outer peripheral surface of the lead screw by rotating the lead screw arranged at the bottom in one direction using a motor as a driving source (for example, patents). Reference 1).

Such a conventional ball payout device is provided with a payout passage that guides the game ball paid out from the storage tank as a prize ball, and a ball discharge passage that guides the game ball paid out from the storage tank as a ball removal. A switching valve is disposed at a branch portion between the payout passage and the ball passage. This switching valve is operated using a solenoid as a drive source. During normal ball dispensing, the power supply to the solenoid is cut off, so that the switching valve is held at a position where the ball discharge passage is closed and the dispensing passage is opened. When the game ball stored in the storage tank is discharged to the outside, power is supplied to the solenoid, so that the switching valve rotates to a position where the payout passage is closed and the ball removal passage is opened.
JP 2007-175316 A

  As described above, in the conventional ball dispensing device disclosed in Patent Document 1, when the ball for discharging the game ball stored in the storage tank is discharged to the outside, the switching valve is automatically switched by energizing the solenoid. Therefore, the operability can be remarkably improved as compared with the case where the switching valve is manually operated. On the other hand, however, since an expensive solenoid is required as a drive source for the switching valve, there is a problem that the total cost of the ball dispensing device increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the actual situation of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide a ball payout device for a ball game machine that does not require a dedicated drive source for operating a switching valve for path switching. There is to do.

  In order to achieve the above object, a ball payout device for a ball game machine according to the present invention includes a lead screw for paying out game balls stored in a storage tank one by one, and a game paid out from the storage tank. A switching valve that distributes the ball to either the discharge passage or the ball passage, a valve switching mechanism that controls the switching valve, a motor that drives the lead screw and the valve switching mechanism, and a first one-way clutch 1 power transmission path, a second power transmission path having a second one-way clutch, and a third power transmission path having a third one-way clutch, wherein the first power transmission path is the motor and the valve. And a gear coupling of one end of the second power transmission path to the first power transmission path downstream from the first one-way clutch, The other end of the second power transmission path is connected to the lead screw, and both ends of the third power transmission path are connected to the first power transmission path and the second one way upstream of the first one-way clutch. The gears are coupled to the second power transmission path on the downstream side of the clutch.

  In the ball payout device of the ball game machine configured as described above, when the motor rotates in one direction (for example, normal rotation), the rotation is transmitted from the first power transmission path to the second power transmission path via the third power transmission path. Therefore, the lead screw connected to the second power transmission path rotates in the same direction as the motor (forward rotation direction). At this time, since the rotation transmission from the first power transmission path to the valve switching mechanism and the second power transmission path is interrupted by the first one-way clutch, the valve switching mechanism does not perform the switching operation of the switching valve. The valve maintains a position where the ball passage is closed and the dispensing passage is opened. On the other hand, when the motor rotates in the other direction (reverse rotation), the rotation is transmitted from the first power transmission path to the valve switching mechanism via the first one-way clutch, so that the switching valve closes the discharge path and opens the ball removal path. Switching to the open position is performed. Further, since the rotation of the motor in the other direction is transmitted from the first power transmission path to the second power transmission path via the first one-way clutch, and then transmitted to the lead screw via the second one-way clutch, the lead The screw rotates in the opposite direction to the motor (that is, the forward direction). In this case, rotation of the motor in the other direction is transmitted from the first power transmission path to the third power transmission path, but rotation transmission from the third power transmission path to the second power transmission path is third. It is cut off with a one-way clutch. In this way, the switching valve for switching the passage can be selectively operated according to the rotation direction of the motor, and the lead screw can be rotated in the same direction regardless of the rotation direction of the motor. A dedicated drive source (solenoid or the like) to be operated becomes unnecessary, and an inexpensive ball dispenser for a ball game machine can be realized.

  A ball payout device for a ball game machine according to the present invention includes a first power transmission path having a first one-way clutch between a motor and a valve switching mechanism, and a second power transmission having a second one-way clutch. One end of the path is gear-coupled to the first power transmission path downstream from the first one-way clutch, the other end of the second power transmission path is connected to the lead screw, and a third one-way clutch is provided. Since both ends of the third power transmission path are gear-coupled to the first power transmission path upstream of the first one-way clutch and the second power transmission path downstream of the second one-way clutch, respectively, The switching valve for switching the passage can be selectively operated according to the rotation direction, and the lead screw can be rotated in the same direction regardless of the rotation direction of the motor. . Therefore, a dedicated drive source such as a solenoid for operating the switching valve is not required, and an inexpensive ball dispenser for a ball game machine can be realized.

  An embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a ball payout device of a ball game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a power transmission provided in the ball payout device. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission path when the power transmission mechanism is ball-dispensed, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a transmission path when the power transmission mechanism is ball-extracted, and FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the valve switching mechanism when the ball is paid out, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the operation of the valve switching mechanism when the ball is removed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a ball dispensing device 1 for a ball game machine according to the present embodiment includes a storage tank 2 having a rectangular box structure with an open upper surface, and a drive integrated on one side of the storage tank 2. The storage tank 2 and the drive unit 3 are mainly arranged on the back upper portion of a bullet ball game machine (not shown). Game balls supplied from island facilities of the game hall are sequentially replenished in the storage tank 2, and a lead screw 4 is disposed on the inner bottom surface of the storage tank 2. A spiral groove 4 a is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the lead screw 4, and the game ball stored in the storage tank 2 is spiraled by rotating the lead screw 4 in one direction using a motor described later as a drive source. One by one is discharged from an outlet (not shown) along the groove 4a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the drive unit 3 includes a motor 5 as a drive source, a first power transmission path 8 having a first gear 6 and a first one-way clutch 7, and a second power transmission path 8. A second power transmission path 11 having a gear 9 and a second one-way clutch 10 and a third power transmission path 14 having a third gear 12 and a third one-way clutch 13 are provided. The first gear 6 of the first power transmission path 8 is connected to the rotating shaft of the motor 5, and the first one-way clutch 7 is coaxially arranged on the downstream side of the first gear 6. The first one-way clutch 7 is a known clutch that transmits rotational force only in one direction and idles in the other direction. For example, the inner ring of a double-structured ring has a sawtooth shape, and a spring is provided between the inner ring and the outer ring. It has a configuration with an energized ratchet. The outer ring of the first one-way clutch 7 is a gear having teeth on the outer peripheral surface, and the outer ring of the first one-way clutch 7 is connected to a valve switching mechanism 15 described later.

  The second gear 9 of the second power transmission path 11 is coaxially arranged on the downstream side of the second one-way clutch 10, and the above-described lead screw 4 is connected to the downstream side of the second gear 9. The second one-way clutch 10 is configured in the same manner as the first one-way clutch 7, and the outer ring of the second one-way clutch 10 meshes with the outer ring of the first one-way clutch 7. The third gear 12 of the third power transmission path 14 meshes with the first gear 6, and the third one-way clutch 13 is coaxially disposed on the downstream side of the third gear 12. The third one-way clutch 13 is configured similarly to the first and second one-way clutches 7 and 10, and the outer ring of the third one-way clutch 13 is engaged with the second gear 9.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a payout passage 16 and a ball discharge passage 17 are provided inside the drive unit 3, and the discharge passage 16 and the ball discharge passage 17 communicate with the outlet port of the storage tank 2. . In addition, a pair of switching valves 18 are rotatably provided at the upper ends of the payout passage 16 and the ball discharge passage 17, and these switch valves 18 are connected to the payout passage 16 and the ball discharge passage as the opening / closing link 19 moves up and down. It rotates to the position which closes any one of 17. The opening / closing link 19 is provided with a rectangular cam hole 19a, and the opening / closing link 19 is moved up and down by rotating an elliptical cam body 20 inserted into the cam hole 19a. The cam body 20 is connected to the output shaft of the first power transmission path 8, and the valve switching mechanism 15 described above is configured by the opening / closing link 19 and the cam body 20.

  In the ball dispensing device 1 configured as described above, the motor 5 rotates in one direction during normal ball dispensing (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as normal rotation), but the motor 5 rotates in the other direction during ball removal. (Reverse rotation).

  First, the ball payout operation will be described. As indicated by hatching in FIG. 3, the forward rotation of the motor 5 is transmitted to the reverse rotation of the third gear 12 through the meshing portion with the first gear 6, and then Since the rotation is input to the inner ring of the third one-way clutch 13, the outer ring of the third one-way clutch 13 rotates in the reverse direction. Since the second gear 9 that meshes with the outer ring of the third one-way clutch 13 rotates in the forward direction, the lead screw 4 connected to the output shaft of the second power transmission path 11 rotates in the same direction as the motor 5. As a result, the game balls P stored in the storage tank 2 are sequentially transferred along the spiral groove 4a of the lead screw 4 and discharged one by one to the drive unit 3 side. At that time, forward rotation is input from the output shaft of the first gear 6 to the inner ring of the first one-way clutch 7, and the first one-way clutch 7 does not transmit the rotational force of the motor 5 to the downstream side. The outer ring is in a non-rotating state. Further, looking at the second one-way clutch 10 that is gear-coupled to the first one-way clutch 7, the inner ring only rotates forward as the second gear 9 rotates, and the outer ring does not rotate. The outer ring of the second one-way clutch 10 that meshes with the outer ring is also non-rotating. Further, since the rotational force of the motor 5 is interrupted by the first one-way clutch 7 and is not transmitted to the valve switching mechanism 15, the cam body 20 of the valve switching mechanism 15 does not rotate and the opening / closing link 19 does not rotate as shown in FIG. At the lowered position, the switching valve 18 is held in the standing posture. As a result, the switching valve 18 is maintained at a position where the ball discharge passage 17 is closed and the discharge passage 16 is opened, so that the game balls P sequentially paid out from the storage tank 2 with the rotation of the lead screw 4 After being distributed to the payout passage 16 side by 18, it is guided to the payout passage 16 and finally paid out in a tray (not shown) provided at the lower front part of the ball game machine.

  Next, the ball removal operation will be described. In this case, when a switch (not shown) disposed at an appropriate position on the back side of the ball game machine is turned on to rotate the motor 5 in the reverse direction, the reverse rotation of the motor 5 occurs as shown by hatching in FIG. Since it is input from the output shaft of the first gear 6 to the inner ring of the first one-way clutch 7, the first one-way clutch 7 transmits the reverse rotation of the motor 5 from the inner ring to the outer ring. As a result, the outer ring of the second one-way clutch 10 that meshes with the outer ring of the first one-way clutch 7 rotates forward, and the rotational force is transmitted to the second power transmission path 11 via the inner ring of the second one-way clutch 10. Therefore, the second gear 9 and the lead screw 4 provided on the downstream side of the second one-way clutch 10 rotate forward. At this time, the third gear 12 meshed with the reversely rotating first gear 6 rotates in the forward direction, and the forward rotation is input to the inner ring of the third one-way clutch 13, so the third one-way clutch 13 Therefore, the outer ring of the third one-way clutch 13 that meshes with the second gear 9 rotates backward without affecting the forward rotation of the inner ring. . That is, since the lead screw 4 rotates in the forward direction even when the motor 5 is rotated in the reverse direction, the game ball P stored in the storage tank 2 is stored in the spiral groove 4a of the lead screw 4 in the same manner as in the above-described ball dispensing. Are sequentially transferred to the drive unit 3 and discharged one by one.

  Further, as described above, when the reverse rotation of the motor 5 is transmitted from the inner ring of the first one-way clutch 7 to the outer ring, the reverse rotation is transmitted to the valve switching mechanism 15 connected to the downstream side of the first power transmission path 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the cam body 20 connected to the output shaft of the first power transmission path 8 rotates in the arrow A direction. In this case, first, the opening / closing link 19 rises in the direction of the arrow B1 while the cam body 20 rotates 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow A, and accordingly, the switching valve 18 rotates in the direction of the arrow C1 to move from the standing posture to the horizontal posture. Therefore, the ball removal passage 17 that has been closed is opened and the dispensing passage 16 is closed. When the timing is set so that the game ball P is paid out from the storage tank 2 along the spiral groove 4a of the lead screw 4 immediately before the switching valve 18 rotates to the position where the payout passage 16 is closed, this game ball is set. P is distributed to the ball removal passage 17 side by the switching valve 18, then guided to the ball removal passage 17 and finally discharged outside the ball game machine. When the cam body 20 is further rotated 90 degrees in the direction of arrow A, the opening / closing link 19 is lowered in the direction of arrow B2 and the switching valve 18 is rotated in the direction of arrow C2 during that time. The extraction passage 17 is closed, and thereafter, one game ball P is guided to the ball extraction passage 17 every time the cam body 20 is rotated halfway (180 degrees) in the direction of arrow A.

  As described above, the ball payout device 1 of the ball game machine according to this embodiment is configured so that the first power transmission path 8 having the first gear 6 and the first one-way clutch 7 is connected to the motor 5 and the valve switching mechanism 15. Between the outer ring of the second one-way clutch 10 provided on the upstream side of the second power transmission path 11 having the second gear 9 and the second one-way clutch 10 and the first one-way clutch 7. Of the third power transmission path 14, which is coupled to the outer ring and connected to the lead screw 4 on the downstream side of the second gear 9 and has the third gear 12 and the third one-way clutch 13, the upstream side Since the third gear 12 is meshed with the first gear 6 and the outer ring of the third one-way clutch 13 on the downstream side is meshed with the second gear 9, depending on the rotation direction (forward rotation or reverse rotation) of the motor 5 Through With the switching valve 18 for switching can be selectively operated, the lead screw 4 regardless of the rotational direction of the motor 5 can be rotated in the same direction. Therefore, a dedicated drive source such as a solenoid for operating the switching valve 18 becomes unnecessary, and an inexpensive ball dispenser for a ball game machine can be realized.

  In the above embodiment, teeth are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the outer ring, which is a constituent member of the first to third one-way clutches 7, 10, and 13, and this outer ring meshes with the outer ring and gear of the counterpart one-way clutch. In the above description, the first to third power transmission paths 8, 11, 14 are gear-coupled to each other, but each power transmission path is separated from the first to third one-way clutches 7, 10, 13. It is also possible to gear-couple between 8,11,14. For example, another gear is disposed in the first power transmission path 8 located on the downstream side of the first one-way clutch 7, and this gear is engaged with a tooth portion carved on the outer ring of the second one-way clutch 10. May be. Alternatively, another gear is disposed in the third power transmission path 14 located on the downstream side of the third one-way clutch 13, and this gear is engaged with the second gear 9 of the second power transmission path 11. Also good.

1 is a perspective view showing a ball dispensing device for a ball game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the power transmission mechanism with which this ball delivery apparatus is equipped. It is explanatory drawing which shows the transmission path | route at the time of the ball | bowl discharge of this power transmission mechanism. It is explanatory drawing which shows the transmission path | route at the time of ball extraction of this power transmission mechanism. It is explanatory drawing of the valve switching mechanism with which this ball dispensing apparatus is equipped. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of ball | bowl discharge | payout of this valve switching mechanism. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of ball removal of this valve switching mechanism.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sphere delivery apparatus 2 Storage tank 3 Drive unit 4 Lead screw 4a is helical groove 5 Motor 6 1st gear 7 1st one-way clutch 8 1st power transmission path 9 2nd gear 10 2nd one-way clutch 11 2nd power Transmission path 12 Third gear 13 Third one-way clutch 14 Third power transmission path 15 Valve switching mechanism 16 Discharge path 17 Ball extraction path 18 Switching valve 19 Opening / closing link 19a Cam hole 20 Cam body

Claims (1)

A lead screw for paying out game balls stored in the storage tank one by one; a switching valve for distributing the game balls paid out from the storage tank to one of a payout passage and a ball discharge passage; and A valve switching mechanism to be controlled, a motor for driving the lead screw and the valve switching mechanism, a first power transmission path having a first one-way clutch, a second power transmission path having a second one-way clutch, A third power transmission path having three one-way clutches,
The first power transmission path is interposed between the motor and the valve switching mechanism, and one end of the second power transmission path is the first power transmission path downstream of the first one-way clutch. And the other end of the second power transmission path is coupled to the lead screw, and both ends of the third power transmission path are connected to the first upstream side of the first one-way clutch. A ball payout device for a bullet ball game machine, wherein a gear transmission is coupled to each of a power transmission path and the second power transmission path downstream of the second one-way clutch.

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