JP5437002B2 - Sprocket-type ball lifting device and sprocket-type ball lifting method - Google Patents

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pachinko ball lifting device provided on a pachinko island in a pachinko game hall, and more particularly to a sprocket ball lifting device and a sprocket ball lifting method for facilitating self-propelled pachinko balls on pachinko islands. .

  In the pachinko game hall, for example, a plurality of pachinko machines are arranged in the horizontal direction and the back surfaces thereof are arranged in two rows so as to form a pachinko machine group called pachinko islands. This pachinko island is usually arranged in parallel at a plurality of locations in the pachinko game hall.

  As one of the pachinko ball circulation devices on Pachinko Island, a mini-lift, which is a ball lifting device, is often employed. This mini-lift is used as a means for facilitating the self-running of pachinko balls on pachinko islands. The mini-lift is provided, for example, as a self-propelled road height adjusting means in the middle of a transport rod for collecting out balls, which are pachinko balls driven by a player into a pachinko machine, to a lifting and polishing apparatus.

  In the conventional sprocket type lifting device for pachinko balls, the lower pachinko ball pushes the upper pachinko ball up by the rotation of the sprocket while the pachinko ball is sandwiched between the guide surface and the ball receiving portion of the sprocket (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  Moreover, in the conventional pachinko ball lifting device, for example, there is also a device that lifts the pachinko ball by a conveyor belt (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3417894 Japanese Patent No. 2754961

  However, in the conventional pachinko ball lifting device, since the upper pachinko ball is lifted so that the lower pachinko ball is pushed up, a large load is applied to, for example, a sprocket provided at the lowermost portion. There was a problem that it took. In addition, since pachinko balls are lifted in a continuous state on the lifting path, the longer the lifting distance, the greater the number of pachinko balls present in the lifting path, which will affect the bottom of the procket etc. There were problems such as increased load.

  Further, in the conventional pachinko ball lifting device, the pachinko balls are lifted while sliding on the guide member of the lifting path in a state where the pachinko balls are continuously connected in the lifting path, so that the pachinko balls are lifted. There were also problems such as increased frictional resistance.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can reduce the frictional resistance when the pachinko balls are lifted, and can reduce the load on the lifting means for lifting the pachinko balls. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sprocket ball lifting apparatus and a sprocket ball lifting method that can be reduced.

In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, a ball lifting passage having an arcuate arc guide surface and including a lifting path extending upward from one end of the arc guide surface; A sprocket that is provided at a position facing the arc guide surface, has a plurality of ball receiving portions on an outer peripheral edge, holds a pachinko ball between the ball receiving portion and the arc guide surface, and a direction of feeding the pachinko ball Drive means for rotating the sprocket, and a sprocket type ball lifting device for rotating the sprocket and sequentially lifting pachinko balls from the other end of the arc guide surface to the lifting path. In addition to the sprocket, at least one sprocket is provided in the pumping path, the number of ball receiving portions of each sprocket is the same, and the ball pumping is performed as it goes downstream of the ball pumping passage. In the passage Sprocketed ball pumped and wherein the rotational speed of the obtained the sprocket is set higher is provided.

  According to the sprocket ball lifting device, the sprocket that holds the pachinko ball between the arc guide surface and feeds the pachinko ball, and the feed path downstream (upward) from the position where the sprocket is provided In addition, by providing at least one sprocket, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the sprocket that holds the pachinko ball between the arc guide surface and sends out the pachinko ball.

In addition, according to this sprocket type ball lifting device, as the speed of the sprocket is set higher as it goes downstream of the ball lifting passage, the pachinko balls that are stacked and transported on each sprocket Between the pachinko ball stacking groups consisting of, the pachinko balls can have portions separated without contacting each other. Therefore, the load can be reduced by laminating a plurality of pachinko balls on one sprocket.

  Moreover, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sprocket-type ball feeding device characterized in that a plurality of rows of ball feeding passages provided with the sprocket are arranged in parallel.

Furthermore, according to one aspect of the present invention, a ball lifting path having a circular arc guide surface and including a lifting path extending upward from one end of the circular arc guide surface; and A sprocket provided at a position facing each other, provided with a plurality of ball receiving portions on an outer peripheral edge, holding a pachinko ball between the ball receiving portion and the arc guide surface, and rotating the sprocket in a direction of feeding the pachinko ball A sprocket-type ball lifting method for a sprocket-type ball lifting device, wherein the sprocket is rotated to sequentially lift the pachinko balls from the other end side of the arc guide surface to the lifting path. there are, apart from the sprocket, comprising at least one sprocket on the lifting feed path, the same as those of the number of受玉portion of each said sprocket, the rotational speed of each of said sprockets, said ball pumped passage Sprocketed ball pumped wherein it is set to be higher toward the downstream side is provided.

  According to the sprocket ball lifting method, the sprocket that holds the pachinko ball between the arc guide surface and feeds the pachinko ball, and the downstream (upper side) lifting path from the position where the sprocket is provided In addition, by providing at least one sprocket, it is possible to reduce the load applied to the sprocket that holds the pachinko ball between the arc guide surface and sends out the pachinko ball. Also, each sprocket can rotate at a different number of rotations to lift the pachinko balls.

Also, according to this sprocket type ball lifting method, as the speed of the sprocket is set higher as going to the downstream side of the ball lifting passage, the pachinko balls stacked and transported on each sprocket Between the pachinko ball lamination group consisting of, the pachinko balls can have a part separated without contacting each other. Therefore, the load can be reduced by laminating a plurality of pachinko balls on one sprocket.

  According to the sprocket ball lifting apparatus and the sprocket ball lifting method of the present invention, it is possible to reduce the frictional resistance with the lifting path when lifting the pachinko ball and to lift the pachinko ball. The load applied to the sending means can be reduced.

It is a figure for demonstrating the pachinko ball circulation apparatus of the pachinko island provided with the ball lifting apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which showed the cross section of the ball | bowl lifting path of the ball | bowl lifting apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a pachinko ball circulation device of pachinko island 1 equipped with a ball lifting device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko island 1 includes a plurality of pachinko machines 21 arranged on the left and right sides of the lifting and polishing apparatus 20. In the pachinko island 1, a plurality of pachinko machines 21 are also arranged in a row on the back side of the pachinko machines 21 at a predetermined interval back to back. Below each pachinko machine 21, a conveyance basket 22 is provided so as to be inclined toward the downstream side. The transport basket 22 receives a pachinko ball PB (out ball) that is dropped from each pachinko machine by a player and makes the pachinko ball PB self-propelled along an inclined surface. It arrange | positions so that it may collect on both sides of the lower part of the grinding | polishing apparatus 20. FIG.

  The pachinko balls PB collected at the lower part of the lift polishing apparatus 20 are taken into the lift polishing apparatus 20 from the supply ports provided on both sides of the lower part of the lift polishing apparatus 20. The pachinko balls PB taken into the lift polishing apparatus 20 are simultaneously polished while being transported to the top of the pachinko island 1. The lifted pachinko balls PB are once stored in the upper storage tank 23 and then supplied to each pachinko machine 21 through a replenishment rod 24 provided on the upper part of the pachinko island 1.

  Further, the pachinko balls PB that have reached the downstream end of the replenishing basket 24 without being supplied from the replenishing basket 24 to the pachinko machine 21 are stored in the lower storage tank 25 by a bypass pipe (not shown). In the lower storage tank 25, the conveying basket 25a is provided to be inclined to the downstream side, and the pachinko balls PB are configured to gather on the downstream side by self-propelling.

  A ball lifting device 10 is provided at the downstream end of the lower storage tank 25. The ball lifting device 10 functions as a mini-lift provided to facilitate the self-running of the pachinko balls. The pachinko balls PB that have been lifted from the downstream end of the lower storage tank 25 by the ball lifting device 10 are sent out from the upper portion of the ball lifting device 10 onto the conveying basket 22. As described above, the pachinko balls PB sent out onto the conveying basket 22 self-propel the conveying basket 22 to both sides of the lower part of the lifting and polishing apparatus 20.

  The ball lifting device 10 is not limited to being provided at the downstream end of the lower storage tank 25 described above. For example, when there are a large number of pachinko machines 21 lined up on the pachinko island 1, when trying to collect on one side of the lower part of the lifting and polishing apparatus 20 in the center of the pachinko island 1 with one transport rod 22 The inclination of 22 may not be taken to the extent that a pachinko ball can self-propel. In this case, a plurality of conveying rods 22 are provided, and the ball lifting device 10 can be provided between the downstream end portion of one conveying rod 22 and the upstream end portion of the conveying rod 22 adjacent thereto. . By providing the ball lifting device 10 in this way, the pachinko balls PB gathered at the downstream end of one transport rod 22 can be transported to the upstream end of the transport rod 22 adjacent thereto. In addition, the ball lifting device 10 may be provided in the middle of the replenishing rod 24 or may be used as a substitute for the lifting and polishing device 20.

  Next, the configuration of the ball lifting device 10 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a view showing a cross section of the ball feeding passage of the ball feeding device 10. FIG. 3 is a view showing a cross section taken along the line AA of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball lifting device 10 has an arc-shaped arc guide surface 31, and a ball constituting a feed path 32 extending upward from one end of the arc guide surface 31. A plurality of rows of feed passages 30 are provided.

  In addition, a lower sprocket 40 is provided at a position facing the arc guide surface 31 of the ball lifting passage 30 with a predetermined distance so as to hold the pachinko ball PB between the arc guide surface 31 and the ball guide path 31. A plurality of ball receiving portions 40 a are formed on the outer peripheral edge of the lower sprocket 40 to hold and send the pachinko balls PB between the arc guide surface 31.

  As shown in FIG. 3, each lower sprocket 40 provided for each ball lifting passage 30 can be configured to be connected by one rotating shaft 41, for example. Then, a rotational force is given by a rotation drive unit (not shown) connected to one end of the rotation shaft 41, and each lower sprocket 40 rotates around the rotation shaft 41 in a direction in which the pachinko balls PB are sent out. Here, for example, an AC (alternating current) motor, a DC (direct current) motor, or the like can be used as the rotation driving unit.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the feed path 32 is provided so as to face the vertical wall 33 and a vertical wall 33 having a wall surface 33 a extending upward from one end of the arc guide surface 31. The vertical wall part 34 which has the wall surface 34a facing the wall surface 33a is provided. In addition, in order to prevent the pachinko balls PB to be transported from entering the other transporting path 32 arranged adjacent to each other, a partition member 35 is provided so as to be orthogonal to the vertical wall portions 33 and 34. ing. That is, the lifting path 32 is configured to be surrounded on all sides by the wall surface 33 a of the vertical wall portion 33, the wall surface 34 a of the vertical wall portion 34, and the partition member 35.

  Further, the transport path 32 is provided with a first sprocket 50 and a second sprocket 60. As shown in FIG. 2, the second sprocket 60 is provided at a predetermined distance on the downstream side of the first sprocket 50. In addition, a plurality of pachinko balls PB for holding the pachinko balls PB between the outer peripheral edges of the first sprocket 50 and the second sprocket 60 and the wall surface 33a constituting the lifting path 32 are provided in the same manner as the lower sprocket 40 described above. The ball receiving portions 50a and 60a are formed. Then, the first sprocket 50 and the second sprocket 60 hold the pachinko balls PB between the first sprocket 50 and the second sprocket 60 and the wall surface 33a constituting the lifting path 32 so that they can be lifted. A part of the sprocket 60 is disposed so as to protrude into the feed path 32 from a slit-shaped opening 34 b formed in the vertical wall portion 34.

  Here, an example is shown in which the transport path 32 includes two sprockets (first sprocket 50 and second sprocket 60), but if the transport path 32 includes at least one sprocket. Good. For example, the lifting path 32 may include, for example, one or more sprockets. Note that the number of sprockets provided can be set as appropriate based on the lifting distance or the like.

  In addition, each first sprocket 50 and each second sprocket 60 provided for each ball lifting passage 30 is not shown, but, as with each of the lower sprockets 40 described above, a single rotating shaft. It can be configured to be coupled. Then, a rotational force is applied by a rotation drive unit (not shown) connected to one end of the rotation shaft, and each first sprocket 50 and each second sprocket 60 is pachinko around the respective rotation shaft. It rotates in the direction of lifting the ball PB. Here, for example, an AC (alternating current) motor, a DC (direct current) motor, or the like can be used as the rotation driving unit.

  Further, the ball lifting device 10 is formed with a receiving port 36 for receiving the pachinko ball PB into the ball lifting device 10. The receiving port 36 is formed to a height that cannot be entered when the pachinko balls PB overlap two or more stages (for example, about 1.5 to 1.8 times the diameter of the pachinko balls PB). The passage from the receiving port 36 to the lower sprocket 40 is inclined downward toward the lower sprocket 40 side. Thereby, the pachinko ball PB received from the receiving port 36 self-travels on the inclined surface toward the lower sprocket 40 side.

  Further, the passage from the receiving port 36 to the lower sprocket 40 is partitioned by an alignment guide 37 corresponding to each lower sprocket 40 so that the pachinko balls PB are aligned and self-propelled in each lower sprocket 40. That is, an alignment guide 37 that forms a lane for aligning and guiding the pachinko balls PB from the receiving port 36 to each lower sprocket 40 is provided in the passage from the receiving port 36 to the lower sprocket 40. Here, between one end of each alignment guide 37 and the corresponding one end of each partition member 35 that partitions the above-described feed path 32 so that the pachinko balls PB do not enter the adjacent ball feed path 30. The gap is set. For example, it is preferable that one end of each alignment guide 37 is configured to come into contact with one end of each corresponding partition member 35. Furthermore, the alignment guides 37 and the partition members 35 corresponding to the alignment guides 37 may be integrally formed.

  In addition, a discharge port 38 for discharging the pachinko ball PB that has been transported through the transport path 32 to the outside is provided at the top of the ball transporting apparatus 10. The bottom surface constituting the discharge port 38 is inclined downward toward the outside. Therefore, the pachinko ball PB that has reached the discharge port 38 self-propels on the inclined surface toward the outside.

  Here, in the lower sprocket 40, the first sprocket 50, and the second sprocket 60 described above, the rotation speed of the lower sprocket 40 is the lowest, and the second sprocket provided on the downstream side of the ball lifting passage 30 is the lowest. The sprocket 60 is controlled to have the highest rotation speed. That is, the sprocket provided in the ball lifting passage 30 is set so that the rotational speed of the sprocket increases as it goes downstream of the ball lifting passage 30.

  Next, the operation of lifting the pachinko balls PB when the rotational speeds of the lower sprocket 40, the first sprocket 50, and the second sprocket 60 are controlled as described above will be described.

  The pachinko balls PB guided between the alignment guides 37 that form lanes for aligning and guiding the pachinko balls PB to the lower sprockets 40 from the receiving ports 36 flow down the inclined surface as shown in FIG. It is held between the ball receiving portion 40 a of the sprocket 40 and the arc guide surface 31. The pachinko ball PB held between the ball receiving portion 40 a and the arc guide surface 31 is sent out to the feed path 32 by the rotation of the lower sprocket 40.

  The pachinko balls PB sent out to the transport path 32 are pushed up from below by the pachinko balls PB to be transported next. In this way, the pachinko balls PB sent out from the lower sprocket 40 are sequentially pushed up from below, and the plurality of pachinko balls PB are stacked and connected, and the feed path 32 is lifted. Here, the plurality of pachinko balls PB existing between the first sprocket 50 and the lower sprocket 40 are referred to as a first pachinko ball stacking group 70. As shown in FIG. 2, the load of the pachinko balls PB in the first pachinko ball stacking group 70 existing in a stacked state existing between the first sprocket 50 and the lower sprocket 40 is applied to the lower sprocket 40. .

  Furthermore, between the 1st pachinko ball lamination | stacking group 70 and the 2nd pachinko ball lamination | stacking group 71 mentioned later, it has the part spaced apart without the pachinko balls PB contacting. Therefore, the frictional resistance generated between the pachinko balls PB and the inner wall surface of the feed path 32 when the pump is lifted by the lower sprocket 40 is the same as that of the pachinko balls PB and the feed path 32 in the first pachinko ball stacking group 70. It becomes only the frictional resistance generated between the wall surfaces.

  Subsequently, the pachinko ball PB lifted between the ball receiving portion 50 a of the first sprocket 50 and the wall surface 33 a of the vertical wall portion 33 is further lifted by the rotation of the first sprocket 50. At this time, since the rotation speed of the first sprocket 50 is set higher than the rotation speed of the lower sprocket 40, the first sprocket ball PB existing between the first sprocket 50 and the lower sprocket 40 has the first speed. The pachinko ball stacking group 70 constitutes the second pachinko ball stacking group 71 of the separated pachinko balls PB between the second sprocket 60 and the first sprocket 50. In addition, the load of the pachinko balls PB in the second pachinko ball stacking group 71 in a state of being stacked and connected between the second sprocket 60 and the first sprocket 50 is applied to the first sprocket 50.

  Furthermore, between the 2nd pachinko ball lamination | stacking group 71 and the 3rd pachinko ball lamination | stacking group 72 mentioned later, the pachinko ball PB has the part spaced apart without contacting. Therefore, the frictional resistance generated between the pachinko ball PB and the inner wall surface of the feed path 32 when being lifted by the first sprocket 50 is the pachinko ball PB and the feed path 32 in the second pachinko ball stacking group 71. Only the frictional resistance generated between the inner wall surface and the inner wall surface is obtained.

  Subsequently, the pachinko ball PB lifted between the ball receiving portion 60 a of the second sprocket 60 and the wall surface 33 a of the vertical wall portion 33 is further lifted by the rotation of the second sprocket 60. At this time, since the rotation speed of the second sprocket 60 is set higher than the rotation speed of the first sprocket 50, the second pachinko ball stacking group 71 is separated from the pachinko ball PB in a separated state. A third pachinko ball stack group 72 is formed between the discharge port 38 and the second sprocket 60. In addition, the load of the pachinko balls PB in the third pachinko ball stacking group 72 that is stacked and connected between the discharge port 38 and the second sprocket 60 is applied to the second sprocket 60.

  Furthermore, the frictional resistance generated between the pachinko ball PB and the inner wall surface of the feed path 32 when it is lifted by the second sprocket 60 is the pachinko ball PB and the feed path 32 in the third pachinko ball stacking group 72. Only the frictional resistance generated between the inner wall surface and the inner wall surface is obtained.

  The pachinko balls PB that have been lifted by the second sprocket 60 and have reached the discharge port 38 flow down the inclined surface from the discharge port 38 and are discharged to the outside.

  As described above, according to the ball lifting device 10 according to the embodiment, the rotation speed of the first sprocket 50 is higher than the rotation speed of the lower sprocket 40, and the second rotation speed is higher than that of the first sprocket 50. The number of revolutions of the sprocket 60 is set to be high. That is, the sprocket provided in the ball lifting passage 30 is set so that the rotational speed of the sprocket increases as it goes downstream of the ball lifting passage 30.

  In this way, by controlling the rotation speed of each sprocket provided in the ball feeding passage 30, between the pachinko ball stacking group on each sprocket and the pachinko ball stacking group on the sprocket immediately downstream thereof. Has a portion where the pachinko balls PB are not in contact with each other. Therefore, only the load of the pachinko balls PB constituting the pachinko ball stacking group on each sprocket is applied to each sprocket, so the load of the pachinko balls PB applied to one sprocket can be reduced.

  In addition, between the pachinko ball stacking group on each sprocket and the pachinko ball stacking group on the sprocket immediately downstream thereof, the pachinko ball PB has a portion separated without contact with each other, so that the pachinko ball PB The frictional resistance generated between the pachinko ball PB and the inner wall surface of the lifting path 32 is only the frictional resistance generated between the pachinko ball PB and the inner wall surface of the lifting path 32 on the sprocket. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the load due to frictional resistance applied to one sprocket. Thereby, for example, even when the lift distance is long, the load due to the frictional resistance applied to one sprocket can be reduced.

  Although the present invention has been specifically described above with reference to the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Pachinko island, 10 ... Ball lifting apparatus, 20 ... Lifting polishing apparatus, 21 ... Pachinko machine, 22, 25a ... Conveyance basket, 23 ... Upper storage tank, 24 ... Replenishment basket, 25 ... Lower storage tank, 30 ... Ball feeding path, 31 ... circular guide surface, 32 ... feeding path, 33, 34 ... vertical wall portion, 33a, 34a ... wall surface, 34b ... opening portion, 35 ... partition member, 36 ... receiving port, 37 ... alignment guide , 38 ... discharge port, 40 ... lower sprocket, 40a, 50a, 60a ... ball receiving portion, 41 ... rotating shaft, 50 ... first sprocket, 60 ... second sprocket, 70 ... first pachinko ball stacking group, 71: Second pachinko ball stacking group, 72: Third pachinko ball stacking group, PB: Pachinko ball.

Claims (3)

A ball feeding passage having an arcuate arc guide surface and having a feeding path extending upward from one end of the arc guide surface;
A sprocket that is provided at a position facing the arc guide surface, includes a plurality of ball receiving portions on an outer peripheral edge, and holds a pachinko ball between the ball receiving portion and the arc guide surface;
Drive means for rotating the sprocket in the direction of feeding out the pachinko ball, and rotating the sprocket to sequentially lift the pachinko ball from the other end side of the arc guide surface to the feed path. A lifting device,
Aside from the sprocket, at least one sprocket is provided in the transport path, the number of ball receiving portions of each sprocket is the same, and the ball transport path is moved to the downstream side of the ball transport path. A sprocket-type ball lifting device , wherein the number of rotations of the sprocket provided is set high . 2. The sprocket ball feeding apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a plurality of rows of ball feeding passages provided with the sprocket are arranged side by side . A ball feeding passage having an arcuate arc guide surface and having a feeding path extending upward from one end of the arc guide surface;
A sprocket that is provided at a position facing the arc guide surface, includes a plurality of ball receiving portions on an outer peripheral edge, and holds a pachinko ball between the ball receiving portion and the arc guide surface;
Drive means for rotating the sprocket in the direction of feeding out the pachinko balls;
A sprocket-type ball lifting method for a sprocket-type ball lifting device that sequentially lifts pachinko balls from the other end side of the arc guide surface to the lifting path by rotating the sprocket,
Aside from the sprocket, at least one sprocket is provided in the pumping path, the number of ball receiving portions of each sprocket is the same, and the number of rotations of each sprocket increases toward the downstream side of the ball pumping passage. A sprocket type ball lifting method characterized by being set to be high.

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