JP5116530B2 - Ball sorting and sorting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a specific type of game balls (hereinafter referred to as “target balls”) from a group of game balls in which game balls having different exchange rates are mixed, and game balls normally used on the game island (hereinafter referred to as “non-target balls”). ) And a ball sorting and sorting device.

  Conventionally, in game halls, the game balls that a player has placed in the ball box are counted as prize balls by throwing them into a ball counter provided at the end of the game island, etc. Has been done.

  By the way, in recent game halls and the like, a plurality of types of game balls with different exchange rates, which are distinguished by materials and colors, are prepared, and a player selects a specific game ball and plays a game. A system for counting spheres at a predetermined exchange rate has been proposed. However, if game balls having different exchange rates are counted in a state where they are mixed with game balls having other exchange rates, damage occurs in either the game hall or the player. In addition, if the player intentionally puts a game ball with a low exchange rate into a ball counter and makes it count together with a game ball with a high exchange rate, it is necessary to prevent such fraud. Arise.

  Therefore, as such an example, referring to “Game Ball Sorting Device” described in Patent Document 1, this device is a device for inspecting and sorting a specific type of game ball from a plurality of types of game balls. An injecting unit for injecting the balls to be inspected into the apparatus, an array unit for arraying the inspected balls in the input unit in a plurality of inspection lanes, and an array in each inspection lane. An inspection unit having a sensor for detecting a specific type of game ball, a sorting unit that is actuated by the sensor and that sorts the specific type of game ball detected by the sensor into a sorting unit different from the arrangement unit, and the sorting And a general discharge unit that discharges game balls other than the specific type from the arrangement unit to the outside of the apparatus.

However, the apparatus of Patent Document 1 described above has two sensors arranged in the inspection section of the inspection lane, and is provided with first and second stoppers, and the inspected balls that pass sequentially are stopped at the first stopper. Further, since the subsequent game balls are stopped and stopped by the second stopper, the inspection and selection are surely performed, so that inspection and selection time is required, and there is a disadvantage that quick inspection and selection cannot be performed. For this reason, there is a possibility that the player waiting for the inspection result may be inconvenienced.
JP 2004-194799 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and from a group of game balls in which game balls having different exchange rates are mixed, a specific type of game balls (target balls) and game balls (usually used on the game island) An object of the present invention is to provide a ball sorting and sorting apparatus that quickly sorts non-target balls) and performs sorting work.

  In order to solve the above problem, claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a ball sorting vibration that selects and distributes a target ball and a non-target ball as a target ball from a plurality of types of game balls. In the sorting device, the ball sorting and sorting device is configured to sort and sort target balls and non-target balls, and to return the non-target balls sorted by the ball sorting and sorting unit to the game island. The ball sorting and sorting unit, a guide unit for aligning and transferring a large number of game balls, an identification sensor for identifying the type of game ball transferred from the guide unit, a sprocket that is driven to rotate, A ball feeding unit that transfers game balls at regular intervals by the sprocket, and a ball that distributes game balls transferred from the ball feeding unit into target balls and non-target balls according to the identification result of the identification sensor A ball sorting unit, wherein the ball sorting unit is dropped from the ball feeding unit. A collision part where game balls transferred in a state collide, a non-target ball guide path that guides the non-target ball to the lifting part, and a target ball guide path that guides the target ball to the target ball storage part, When the game ball transferred from the guide unit is transferred to the ball distribution unit in a fall state by the ball feeding unit, and the identification result of the game ball detected by the ball feeding unit is a non-target ball, When the game ball is transferred to the target ball guide path and the identification result of the game ball is the target ball, the target ball is transferred to the target ball guide path by switching the falling direction of the target ball at the collision part.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the guide portion includes a plurality of inclined passages partitioned by a guide plate.

  According to the present invention, the game balls transferred from the guide unit can be transferred from the ball feeding unit to the ball distribution unit at regular intervals, so that there is no interference between the preceding game ball and the subsequent game ball. Each game ball can be sent to the ball distribution unit. Also, the game ball is identified by an identification sensor provided in the ball feeding unit, and when the game ball is identified as a non-target ball by this identification result, the game ball is transferred to the non-target ball guide path, and the game ball is When the ball is identified as the target ball, the target ball can be switched to the target ball guide path by switching the falling direction of the target ball at the collision part, and thereby the game balls can be distributed without stopping. It becomes possible to perform a quick sorting and sorting operation.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  The ball sorting and distributing apparatus S according to the present invention uses a specific type of game ball as a target ball UB, a game ball normally used on the game island 6 as a non-target ball PB, and a game ball group in which these game balls are mixed. The target ball UB and the non-target ball PB are sorted and distributed. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the ball sorting and sorting apparatus S is sorted by the ball sorting and sorting unit 1 that sorts and sorts the target ball UB and the non-target ball PB, and the ball sorting and sorting unit 1. It consists of a lifting part (lifting lift 8) that returns the non-target balls PB to the game island 6, and the ball sorting and sorting part 1 transfers the game balls from the guide part 2 for arranging and transferring a large number of game balls. A ball feeding unit 3 that has an identification sensor 16 for identifying the type of the game ball that has been played, and a sprocket 14 that is rotationally driven, and that transports the game ball at regular intervals by the sprocket 14; A ball distribution unit 4 that distributes the game balls to the target ball UB and the non-target ball PB according to the identification result of the identification sensor 16, and the ball distribution unit 4 is transferred from the ball feeding unit 3 in a fall state. The collision part 5 where the game balls collide and the non-target ball PB are guided to the lifting part (lifting lift 8). A non-target ball guide path 13 and a target ball guide path 12 that guides the target ball UB to the target ball storage unit 21 are provided, and the game balls transferred from the guide unit 2 are dropped into a drop state by the ball feed unit 3. When the game ball identification result transferred to the branch unit 4 and detected by the ball feeding unit 3 is the non-target ball PB, the game ball is transferred to the non-target ball guide path 13 and the game ball identification result is the target ball UB. At this time, the colliding unit 5 switches the falling direction of the target ball UB and transfers the target ball UB to the target ball guide path 12.

  The above-described configuration will be described in detail. The ball sorting and sorting apparatus S shown in FIG. 1 is provided inside a substantially box-shaped housing 1a provided at an end of the game island 6, and the upper portion of the housing 1a. The counter 7 is installed, and the game balls thrown into the ball receiver 7a in the counter 7 pass through the drop passage 7b provided in the ball receiver 7a of the counter 7, as shown in FIG. Then, it passes through the ball passage 1b in the housing 1a and is transferred to the guide unit 2 of the ball sorting and distributing unit 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the ball sorting and sorting apparatus S includes a ball sorting and sorting unit 1 that sorts the target ball UB and the non-target ball PB, and the non-target ball PB sorted by the ball sorting and sorting unit 1. It consists of a lifting part (lifting lift 8) returning to the amusement island 6 (see FIG. 1). Further, the ball sorting and sorting unit 1 aligns and transfers the game balls (see FIG. 4) sent from the counter 7, and an identification for identifying the type of game ball transferred from the guide unit 2. The game ball is moved to the target ball UB (FIG. 4) according to the identification result of the sensor 16, the ball feeding unit 3 that transfers the game ball transferred from the guide unit 2 to the ball distribution unit 4 in a falling state at regular intervals. And a ball distribution unit 4 that distributes the non-target balls PB (see FIG. 4). The ball distribution unit 4 includes a target ball guide path 12 that guides the target ball UB distributed by the ball distribution unit 4 and a non-target ball guide path 13 that guides the distributed non-target ball PB. I have.

  In the above configuration, as shown in FIG. 3, the guide portion 2 includes an inclined passage 10 partitioned by a plurality of guide plates 9, and each inclined passage 10 faces an opening 11 provided at each end portion. And having a downward slope. Therefore, the game balls sent from the counter 7 are made to line up in one of the inclined passages 10 in the guide portion 2 and roll toward the respective opening portions 11.

  Each inclined passage 10 has a structure in which the ball feeding unit 3, the ball distribution unit 4, the target ball guide path 12, the non-target ball guide path 13, and the like are shared. Therefore, in the following description, one route will be described with reference to FIG. 4 or FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).

  In FIG. 4, a guide plate 9 is provided at a predetermined height above the downstream end of each inclined passage 10, and the guide plate 9 has a height that allows one game ball to pass through the opening 11 gently. Due to the restriction, the gaming balls stacked in the height direction in the respective inclined passages 10 can be arranged at a height of one by the opening 11 and fed into the ball feeding unit 3.

  The ball feeding unit 3 includes a sprocket 14 provided in the vicinity of the inclined passage 10. The sprocket 14 has a plurality of semicircular grooves 14a on its outer periphery, and is rotated by a motor (not shown) in a direction of a falling inclined plate 18 (counterclockwise direction in FIG. 4) to be described later. The game balls that are rolled through the openings 11 are accommodated one by one in each groove 14a and transferred at regular intervals in the rotational direction.

  A ceiling member 15 is provided on the top of the sprocket 14. The ceiling member 15 is adjusted in height to the lower surface of the guide plate 9, has an arc shape with a constant interval around the outer periphery of the sprocket 14, and further is an upper portion of a falling inclined plate 18 fixed in the vicinity of the sprocket 14. Are formed in a shape having a constant height. Note that the sprocket 14 is provided between the inclined passage 10 and the falling inclined plate 18 as described above, and does not come into contact with each inclined passage 10 and the falling inclined plate 18 and between them, It is arranged with a gap that does not bite.

  An identification sensor 16 is provided on the ceiling member 15 in the vicinity of the sprocket 14. As the identification sensor 16, a sensor capable of discriminating each difference according to the material and color of the game ball, the ID chip embedded therein, and the like, such as an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, or an image sensor can be used. . The detection result of the identification sensor 16 is sent as an electric signal to the solenoid 17 provided in the ball distribution unit 4 through a control device (not shown), thereby controlling the operation of the solenoid 17.

  The game balls released along with the rotation of the sprocket 14 roll along the descending slope of the falling inclined plate 18, and after being released from the falling inclined plate 18, are released while drawing a parabolic falling trajectory. Further, as described above, the operation of the solenoid 17 controlled by the detection result of the identification sensor 16 causes the operation piece 19 provided on the solenoid 17 to rotate about the rotation shaft 19 a and is provided at the tip of the operation piece 19. As shown in FIG. 5 (b), the colliding part 5 can be lowered onto the fall trajectory of the game ball falling from the falling inclined plate 18 while drawing a parabola as shown in FIG. 5 (b). When 5 rises, the game ball is dropped in a parabolic shape without colliding with the game ball falling from the falling inclined plate 18.

  In such a configuration, when the identification sensor 16 provided in the vicinity of the sprocket 14 identifies the game ball stored in the groove 14a of the sprocket 14 as a non-target ball PB, as shown in FIG. The solenoid 17 does not operate and the collision unit 5 maintains the rising position, and the non-target ball PB rolling on the falling inclined plate 18 falls in a parabola as it is (goes to the left in FIG. 4). On the other hand, when the identification sensor 16 identifies the game ball stored in the groove portion 14a of the sprocket 14 as the target ball UB, as shown in FIG. 5 (b), the solenoid 17 operates to lower the collision portion 5, By colliding with the target ball UB that draws a parabolic fall trajectory, the target ball UB switches the falling direction (goes to the right in FIG. 4).

  In addition, by bending the plate-like member 20 below the falling inclined plate 18, the non-target ball PB is parabolic with the top 20a formed near the lower portion of the collision portion 5 as a boundary. A non-target ball guide path 13 having a downward slope in the direction of falling and a target ball guide path 12 having a downward slope in a direction in which the target ball UB collides with the collision portion 5 and falls.

  With such a configuration, when the game ball is the non-target ball PB, as shown in FIG. 5A, the game ball directly falls on the non-target ball guide path 13 while drawing a parabola. It rolls on the road 13, passes through the communication passage 23, is lifted by the lift 8 shown in FIG. 2, and is returned to the game island 6 (see FIG. 1). Further, when the game ball is the target ball UB, as shown in FIG. 5B, the target ball UB collides with the lowered collision portion 5, switches the falling direction, and falls to the target ball guide path 12. As shown in FIG. 2, it rolls down and is stored in the target ball storage portion 21 provided below the target ball guide path 12.

  The ball sorting and distributing apparatus of the present invention has a simple configuration, and a specific type of game balls (target balls) from a group of game balls having different exchange rates, and game balls (usually used on the game island) It can be used as a ball sorting and sorting device that quickly sorts non-target balls) and performs sorting work.

It is a perspective view which shows the condition where the counter was installed in the ball sorting distribution apparatus by this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the counter in this invention, and a ball sorting distribution apparatus. It is the perspective view which looked at the ball sorting distribution device in the present invention from the upper part. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the ball selection distribution apparatus in this invention. It is a principal part enlarged view which shows the internal structure of the ball selection distribution apparatus in this invention, (a) shows the state which the collision part raised, (b) shows the state which the impact part fell.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ball sorting distribution part 1a Case 1b Ball path 2 Guide part 3 Ball feed part 4 Ball distribution part 5 Collision part 6 Game island 7 Counting machine 7a Ball receiving part 7b Falling path 8 Lifting lift 9 Guide plate 10 Inclined path DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Opening part 12 Target ball guide path 13 Non-target ball guide path 14 Sprocket 14a Groove part 15 Ceiling member 16 Identification sensor 17 Solenoid 18 Falling inclination board 19 Actuating piece 19a Rotating shaft 20 Plate-like member 20a Top part 21 Target ball storage part 23 Communication path S Ball Sorting Device UB Target Ball PB Non Target Ball

Claims (2)

In the ball sorting and sorting device that sorts and sorts the target ball and the non-target ball as a target ball from a plurality of types of game ball group,
The ball sorting and sorting apparatus is a ball sorting and sorting unit that sorts and sorts target balls and non-target balls;
A non-target ball distributed by the ball sorting and distribution unit and a return unit that returns to the amusement island,
The ball sorting and distribution unit
A guide section for arranging and transferring a large number of game balls;
An identification sensor for identifying the type of game ball transferred from the guide unit, and a sprocket that is rotationally driven, and a ball feeding unit that transfers the game ball at regular intervals by the sprocket;
A ball distribution unit that distributes the game balls transferred from the ball feeding unit into target balls and non-target balls according to the identification result of the identification sensor;
The ball distribution unit is
A collision part where a game ball transferred in a fall state from the ball feeding part collides,
A non-target ball guideway that guides the non-target ball to the lifting section;
A target ball guide path for guiding the target ball to the target ball storage unit;
When the game ball transferred from the guide unit is transferred to the ball distribution unit in a fall state by the ball feeding unit, and the identification result of the game ball detected by the ball feeding unit is a non-target ball, Transferred to the target ball guideway,
A ball sorting and distribution device, wherein when a game ball identification result is a target ball, the target ball is switched to a target ball guide path by switching a falling direction of the target ball at a collision unit. The ball sorting and sorting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the guide portion includes a plurality of inclined passages partitioned by a guide plate.