JP5495380B2 - Ball feeder for gaming machine and gaming machine having the same - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a ball feeder for a gaming machine and a gaming machine including the same.

  In gaming machines such as pachinko machines, generally, a game area where game balls can flow down is formed on the front side of the game board, and a ball tray in which game balls are temporarily stored below the game area. And a ball launcher that launches the game ball toward the game area. Then, the ball tray guides the stored game balls to the launch position of the ball launcher. Further, the ball launcher is operated by operating a launch handle provided on the front side of the gaming machine.

  By the way, in recent years, there has been a demand for expanding the game area because of a tendency to increase the size of effect devices such as a center accessory provided in the game area in order to enhance the gaming interest. On the other hand, in order to secure a wide game area, when adopting a configuration in which the ball tray and the ball launching device are arranged on the lower side, the launch position at which the ball launching device launches the game ball is related to the placement with the ball saucer There is a limit (limit) to lowering the height position. Therefore, there is a demand for development of a technique for sending a game ball upward from a ball tray to a launch position higher than the ball tray.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for lifting a game ball sent from a saucer of a pachinko machine and sending it to a launch position using a motion conversion mechanism that converts a rotary motion into a reciprocating motion. In FIG. 7 of Patent Document 1, a link mechanism is employed as the motion conversion mechanism, and the lower end of the swing lever (2) having the ball receiving portion (4) formed on the upper end is unidirectionally driven by the motor (1). By rotating or reciprocating at a predetermined angle, the upper end of the swing lever (2) slides up and down repeatedly, and when the swing lever (2) is lowered, the tension coil spring (51) is stretched and accumulated. A configuration is described in which the generated force is released when the swing lever (2) is raised and the game ball is sent out to the delivery port (6).

JP 2003-33480 A (see paragraph “0011”, FIG. 7)

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the rocking lever (2) moves up and down by the link mechanism disposed on the lower side of the rocking lever (2). May tilt and cause problems such as malfunction, damage, and deterioration. Further, since the tension coil spring (51) that is compressed when the swing lever (2) is lowered is extended, the swing lever (2) is lifted. Therefore, the elastic force of the tension coil spring (51) is reduced. Since the swing lever (2) is likely to become unstable because it is difficult to adjust to a constant level, the game ball riding on the upper end of the swing lever (2) may not be stable, and the game ball may not be sent out smoothly.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and can smoothly send out the game ball supplied from the ball receiving tray side to the launch position of the ball launching device located higher than the ball receiving tray. The purpose is to provide a configuration.

The present invention is a ball feeding device for a gaming machine that feeds game balls supplied through an upstream flow path that continues from the ball receiving tray side toward a ball striking device, and a take-in port that takes in the game balls from the upstream flow path side; A ball feeding member having a housing portion for housing the game ball taken in from the take-in port, and a feed-out port for feeding out the game ball housed in the housing portion; A support member supported from the side and a drive means for driving the support member, and the support member is displaced by the drive means, whereby the ball feeding member is reciprocated between the upper side and the lower side in the vertical vertical direction. Reciprocating means for moving.
Further, the ball feeding member takes a game ball from the taking-in port and stores it in the receiving portion when the taking-in port reaches a predetermined taking-in position communicating with the upstream flow path, and the sending-out port is when a predetermined delivery position above than capture position, the game balls housed in the housing portion, with which is configured to deliver toward the ball striking device through the feed port, given Arranged side by side in the direction,
The plurality of the ball feeding members are configured such that the storage portions of the ball feeding members adjacent to each other can communicate with each other, the upstream flow channel side is a front stage side, and the ball striking device side is a rear stage side. It is configured to flow down,
The support member supports a plurality of ball feeding members so that the rising and lowering timings of the adjacent ball feeding members are shifted when displaced by driving of the driving means,
The foremost ball feed member on the upstream flow path side of the plurality of ball feed members takes in the game ball from the upstream flow path at the take-in position, and receives the game ball at the feed position above the take-in position. Send out,
The ball feeding member on the rear stage side with respect to the ball feeding member in the foremost stage is a game sent out from the ball feeding member on the front stage side when the adjacent ball feeding member on the front stage side is in the feeding position and the game ball is sent out. It is configured to be a take-in position so as to take in the ball, and to send out the game ball at a send-out position above the take-in position.

In the present invention, the plurality of ball feeding members are a first ball feeding member configured as a ball feeding member in the foremost stage, and a second ball feeding member disposed adjacent to the first ball feeding member, It may be constituted by.
In this case, the second ball feeding member is in the taking-in position so as to take in the game ball sent out from the first ball feeding member when the first ball feeding member is in the feeding position, and the taking-in position. It is desirable that the taken-in game ball is sent out to a downstream flow path following the hitting device at a higher delivery position.

  Further, in the present invention, the bottom surface of the accommodating portion of the ball feeding member may be configured as an inclined surface that is inclined so as to become a lower position from the intake port side toward the delivery port side.

  Further, in the present invention, when a plurality of ball feeding members are provided as described above, the bottom surface of each housing portion in the plurality of ball feeding members is positioned downward from the intake port side to the delivery port side. You may be comprised as an inclined surface inclined so that it may become. In this case, the angle formed between the bottom surface of the housing portion and the horizontal surface in the rear-stage side ball feeding member is configured to be smaller than the angle formed between the bottom surface of the housing portion and the horizontal surface in the front-stage side ball feeding member. It is desirable.

  Further, in the present invention, the ball feeding member may have a configuration in which the first member and the second member are assembled to each other, and may be connected to the support member in a form sandwiched between the first member and the second member. Good. And in this case, the dividing position that separates the first member and the second member after the assembly of the first member and the second member on the bottom wall of the housing portion is a position deviated from the center in the width direction of the bottom wall. It is desirable that

In the present invention, a case for accommodating the ball feeding member may be further provided.
A guide rib that protrudes in a rib shape on the predetermined guide wall side of the case and extends along the vertical vertical direction is formed on the predetermined side wall portion of the ball feeding member, and along with the reciprocating motion of the ball feeding member, The guide rib may be configured to move up and down along the guide wall.

  Further, in the present invention, the ball feeding member is formed with a collision rib extending on a lower side along a vertical vertical direction from a position lower than a bottom wall of the housing portion on an outer wall portion on the intake port side. Also good. In this case, it is desirable that the collision rib is arranged so that a game ball from the upstream side of the ball feeding member can collide when the ball feeding member reaches the delivery position.

  In addition, by providing the gaming machine with a ball feeding device for gaming machines according to the present invention, a characteristic gaming machine having the same effects as described above can be realized.

The present invention provides a ball feeding member having a take-in port for taking in game balls from the upstream flow path side, a containing portion for containing game balls taken in from the take-in port, and a delivery port for sending out game balls accommodated in the containing portion And a support member that supports the ball feed member from above in the vertical vertical direction, and a drive means that drives the support member, and the support member is displaced by the drive means so that the ball feed member is moved upward in the vertical vertical direction. Reciprocating means for reciprocating between the side and the lower side is provided.
Further, the ball feeding member takes in the game ball from the take-in port and stores it in the receiving portion when the take-in port reaches a predetermined take-up position communicating with the upstream flow path, and the send-out port has a predetermined position above the take-in position. When the delivery position is reached, the game ball accommodated in the accommodation portion is delivered to the ball striking device through the delivery opening.
In this configuration, the ball feed member is stably supported by the support member suspended from the vertical upper side, and the support member is driven by the driving means in such a support state. The blurring of the member is less likely to occur. In particular, since the weight of the ball feeding member itself can always be used to stabilize the behavior of the ball feeding member, blurring of the ball feeding member can be effectively suppressed when the ball feeding member is reciprocated. Therefore, the behavior of the game ball carried by the ball feeding member at the time of taking-in or sending-out hardly becomes unstable, and the game ball supplied from the ball receiving tray side can be smoothly sent out to a higher position. Further, in order to realize the function as described above, there is no need to provide a spring member or the like, and the number of parts can be reduced.

Further, in the present invention, a plurality of ball feeding members are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction, and the plurality of ball feeding members are configured such that the receiving portions of the ball feeding members adjacent to each other can communicate with each other, and the upstream flow channel side is the front side. In addition, a configuration in which the game ball is allowed to flow down in a configuration in which the ball striking device side is the rear stage side may be used. In this case, it is desirable that the support member is configured to support a plurality of ball feeding members so that the rising and lowering timings of the adjacent ball feeding members are shifted when displaced by driving of the driving means.
In this way, a plurality of ball feeding members are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction, and each ball feeding member raises the game ball between the take-in position and the send-out position, thereby increasing the overall lift-up amount. Can do.
In addition, since it is possible to ensure a large lift-up amount as a whole even if the movement amount of each ball-feeding member is not so large, each ball-feeding member is compared with a configuration that ensures the same lift-up amount with a single member. It becomes easy to suppress the amount of movement. Therefore, the reciprocating motion of each ball feeding member can be easily repeated at short time intervals, and a series of operations from taking in to feeding out can be quickly completed in each ball feeding member.
The rear-stage ball feed member is in the take-in position so as to take in the game ball sent out from the front-stage ball feed member when the adjacent front-stage ball feed member is in the feed position and the game ball is sent out. The game ball is sent out at a delivery position above the take-in position. In this way, the next game ball can be prepared in the front stage ball feeding member during the series of operations from taking in to the sending out in the rear stage ball feeding member. When the take-in position is reached again, the game ball can be quickly supplied to the ball feeding member on the rear stage side. Therefore, it is easy to efficiently feed the game balls while maintaining the reciprocating motion of each ball feeding member smoothly.

Further, in the present invention, the plurality of ball feeding members are constituted by a first ball feeding member configured as the frontmost ball feeding member and a second ball feeding member arranged adjacent to the first ball feeding member. May be.
In this case, the second ball feeding member is in the take-in position so as to take in the game ball sent out from the first ball feed member when the first ball feed member is in the send-out position, and above the take-in position. It is desirable that the taken game ball is sent out to the downstream flow path following the ball hitting device at the delivery position.
If it does in this way, a game ball can be lifted up to some extent by the 1st ball feed member, and since it can be further lifted up by the 2nd ball feed member, the amount of lift-up as a whole can be enlarged more. Further, since the number of ball feeding members intervening in the ball feeding does not increase so much, the time required for ball feeding can be suppressed.

  Moreover, in this invention, you may comprise as the inclined surface which inclined so that the bottom face of the accommodating part of a ball | bowl feeding member may become a downward position as it becomes the delivery port side from the intake port side. When the ball feeding member is configured in this way, it becomes easy to take in the game ball from the outside into the housing portion when it is in the take-in position, and smoothly when the play position is reached, the game ball housed in the housing portion is smoothly passed from the feed-out port. It can be sent out.

Further, in the present invention, when a plurality of ball feeding members are provided as described above, the bottom surface of each housing portion in the plurality of ball feeding members is positioned downward from the intake port side to the delivery port side. You may be comprised as an inclined surface inclined so that it may become. In this case, the angle formed between the bottom surface of the housing portion and the horizontal surface in the rear-stage side ball feeding member is configured to be smaller than the angle formed between the bottom surface of the housing portion and the horizontal surface in the front-stage side ball feeding member. It is desirable.
In this way, the game ball can be moved more smoothly to the delivery port side in the front-stage-side ball feed member housing portion, and further, the front-stage-side ball feed member housing portion and the rear-stage-side ball feed member can be moved. When the housing portion communicates with the housing portion, the bottom side intake port side of the housing portion of the ball feeding member on the rear stage side is easily placed at a low position. Therefore, when the game ball is sent from the front-stage side ball feed member to the rear-stage side ball feed member, it is difficult for the game ball to be caught on the bottom surface of the rear-stage side accommodating portion, and the game ball can be moved more smoothly to the rear stage side. it can.

In the present invention, the ball feeding member may be configured by assembling the first member and the second member, and may be coupled to the support member in a form of being sandwiched between the first member and the second member. In this case, the dividing position that separates the first member and the second member after the assembly of the first member and the second member on the bottom wall of the housing portion is a position that is deviated from the center in the width direction of the bottom wall. It is desirable that
If it does in this way, a ball feeding member and a support member can be connected by simple composition. Further, when the game ball flows into the housing portion, the game ball is less likely to contact the vicinity of the division position (division line) of the bottom wall of the housing portion, so that the vicinity of the division position is difficult to inhibit the flow of the game ball. . For example, since the degree of assembly (assembly accuracy) between the first member and the second member hardly affects the flow of the game ball, the game ball can easily flow down stably.

  In the present invention, a case for accommodating the ball feeding member may be further provided. A guide rib that protrudes in a rib shape on the predetermined guide wall side of the case and extends along the vertical vertical direction is formed on a predetermined side wall portion of the ball feed member, and the guide rib is guided by the reciprocation of the ball feed member. You may be comprised so that it may move up and down along a wall. In this way, when the ball feed member moves up and down, it becomes easy to slide smoothly along the guide wall, and therefore unstable behavior (blurring in the horizontal direction, etc.) occurs when the ball feed member moves up and down. It becomes difficult. Accordingly, the ball feeding member is stably reciprocated in the determined direction without fluttering, and the game ball smoothly enters and exits when the game ball is taken in and delivered.

Further, in the present invention, the ball feeding member may be formed with a collision rib extending on the lower side along the vertical vertical direction from a position lower than the bottom wall of the accommodating portion on the outer wall portion on the intake port side. In this case, it is desirable that the collision rib be arranged so that the game ball from the upstream side of the ball feeding member can collide when the ball feeding member reaches the delivery position.
In this way, the ball pressure of the next game ball (the game ball on standby) can be received by the collision rib when the ball feed member is at the delivery position. Therefore, even if the ball pressure from the next game ball is applied to the ball feeding member, the ball feeding member can smoothly slide with respect to the next game ball while receiving the ball pressure by the collision rib. Thus, the reciprocating motion of the ball feeding member is less likely to be hindered by the next game ball. Furthermore, wear of the ball feeding member due to the next game ball collision can be effectively prevented.

  Further, by providing the gaming machine ball feeder in a gaming machine, it is possible to realize a gaming machine having the same effects as the gaming machine ball feeder.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating a gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the front frame is opened in the gaming machine of FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the gaming machine ball launcher according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeder for the gaming machine of FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeder for a gaming machine viewed from a direction different from that in FIG. 6 is a front view of the gaming machine launching apparatus of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view of the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the first embodiment, and shows a state when the hitting ball is in the hitting position. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the accommodating portion of the ball feeding member of FIG. FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating a ball feeder for a gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view seen from a different direction from FIG. 11A. FIG. 12 (A) is a front view of the gaming machine ball feeder of FIG. 11, and FIG. 12 (B) is a right side view of the gaming machine ball feeder of FIG. These are the back views of the ball feeder for game machines of FIG. 13 is a partially exploded perspective view of the gaming machine ball feeder of FIG. FIG. 14A is a perspective view of the first ball feeding member, and FIG. 14B is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 14A. FIG. 15A is a front view of the first ball feeding member, and FIG. 15B is a rear view of the first ball feeding member of FIG. 15A. FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the second ball feeding member, and FIG. 16B is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 16A. FIG. 17A is a front view of the second ball feeding member, and FIG. 17B is a rear view of the second ball feeding member of FIG. 17A. 18A is a perspective view showing a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG. 11, and FIG. 18B is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 18A. . FIG. 19A is a front view of the state of FIG. 18A, and FIG. 19B is a rear view of the state of FIG. FIG. 20 is a left side view of a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG. FIG. 21A is a perspective view showing a state when the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member are in the first position, and FIG. 21B is a diagram showing the first ball feeding member and the second ball. It is a perspective view which shows a state when a feed member exists in a 2nd position. 22A is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 21A, and FIG. 22B is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 21B. FIG. 23A is a side view of the state of FIG. 21A, and FIG. 23B is a side view of the state of FIG. FIG. 24A is an explanatory view showing a state when the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member are in the first position, and FIG. 24B is a diagram showing the first ball feeding member and the second ball. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when a feed member exists in a 2nd position. FIG. 25A is an explanatory view showing a state when the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member are in the first position, and FIG. 25B is a diagram showing the first ball feeding member and the second ball. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when a feed member is displaced to the 2nd position from the state of FIG. 25 (A), FIG.25 (C) is a 1st ball | bowl feed member and a 2nd ball | bowl feed member in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when displaced to the 1st position from the state of ().

[First embodiment]
Hereinafter, a ball feeder for gaming machines according to the present invention and a gaming machine equipped with the same will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Outline of the gaming machine)
First, an outline of the gaming machine will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating the gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a state in which the front frame is opened in the gaming machine of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gaming machine 1 is configured as a pachinko machine and includes a frame-shaped outer frame 2 that forms an outline. On the front side of the outer frame 2, the inner frame 3 is pivotally supported via hinges 2a and 2a provided on one side of the inner frame 3 in the left-right direction, and can be opened one side toward the front side. It is supported. A game board 5 having a game area 5a formed by guide rails 8 is mounted on the inner frame 3, and a ball striking device 12 is provided below the game board 5. Further, a front frame 4 is attached to the inner frame 3 on the front side of the inner frame 3 through hinges 2b and 2b so as to be freely opened and closed. In the front frame 4, a transparent plate 6 such as glass is disposed in a window portion for visually recognizing the game area 5 a, and a ball tray 9 is provided on the lower front side thereof. Further, on the back side of the front frame 4, a ball feeder for gaming machine (hereinafter also simply referred to as a ball feeder) 11 is assembled corresponding to the ball tray 9, and the figure is shown in a state where the front frame 4 is closed. 2 is arranged at a position indicated by an imaginary line, and a delivery hole 94 (described later) of the ball feeder 11 is configured in the vicinity of a game ball holding portion 26 (described later) of the ball striking device 12 ( (See FIGS. 7 and 9). The ball hitting device 12 provided in the inner frame 3 and the ball feeding device 11 provided in the front frame 4 constitute a ball launching device 10 for gaming machine (hereinafter also simply referred to as the launching device 10). In addition, the ball tray 9 provided in the front frame 4 is configured to store game balls, rectify the stored game balls, and supply them to the launching device 10. Is provided with a launch handle 19 for adjusting the launch force of the game ball.

  In the present specification, the vertical direction in the gaming machine 1 means the direction in which the game ball flows down the game area 5a in a manner along the board surface of the game board 5 (vertical direction in the representative example shown in FIG. 1 and the like). Further, the left-right direction means a direction (horizontal direction in the representative example shown in FIG. 1 and the like) orthogonal to the up-down direction in a mode along the board surface of the game board 5. Further, the front-rear direction means a direction orthogonal to the board surface of the game board 5 (horizontal direction in the representative example shown in FIG. 1 and the like), the player side of the game board 5 is the front side, and the back side of the game board 5 ( The opposite side of the game area 5a) is the rear side.

(Configuration of launcher)
Next, the launcher 10 will be described in detail.
First, the configuration of the launching apparatus 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the launching apparatus according to the first embodiment of the invention. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeder for the gaming machine of FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ball feeder for a gaming machine viewed from a direction different from that in FIG. 6 is a front view of the gaming machine launching apparatus of FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. FIG. 8 is a front view of the gaming machine launching apparatus according to the first embodiment, and shows a state when the hitting ball is in the hitting position. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of the accommodating portion of the ball feeding member of FIG. FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating a ball feeder for a gaming machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11B is a perspective view seen from a different direction from FIG. 11A. FIG. 12 (A) is a front view of the gaming machine ball feeder of FIG. 11, and FIG. 12 (B) is a right side view of the gaming machine ball feeder of FIG. These are the back views of the ball feeder for game machines of FIG. 13 is a partially exploded perspective view of the gaming machine ball feeder of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the launching device 10 according to the present embodiment includes a ball striking device 12 and a ball feeding device 11. The ball feeder 11 is supplied from upstream through an upstream flow path 100 (FIGS. 7 and 9) configured to supply game balls from the ball tray 9 (FIG. 1) to the ball feeder 11. The game balls are taken in one by one and sent out one by one toward the hitting device 12. The hitting device 12 hits the game balls sent out one by one by the ball feeding device 11 one by one. It fires toward 5a (FIG. 1).

(Configuration of hitting device)
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the ball striking device 12 includes a game ball holding portion 26 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) having an M-shaped cross section for holding game balls fed one by one by a ball feeding device 11 described later. A ball hitting ball 24 for hitting a game ball held by the game ball holding unit 26 and a motor 20 for rotating the ball hitting ball 24 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, the game ball holding unit 26 is configured as a rail inclined with respect to the vertical direction, and is arranged along the board surface direction of the game board 5. The game ball holding portion 26 is formed with a groove portion 26 a into which a part of the game ball is fitted in the center portion in the front-rear direction, and the groove portion 26 a is arranged so as to be inclined along the board surface direction of the game board 5. Yes. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a rearward projecting portion 17 projecting rearward from the ball feeder 11 supports an oblique upper side of the game ball B placed on the game ball holding portion 26, and these game ball holding portions. The game ball B is held at the firing position by the support of the rear projections 17 and 26.

  The striking ball 24 is formed in an arm shape as shown in FIGS. 3 to 8, and one end side portion 24 c is fixed to the drive shaft (rotary shaft portion 20 a) of the motor 20 by a nut 97. Further, an extended portion 24a extending along the rotational radius direction of the motor 20 is connected to the one end side portion 24c, and a collision portion 24b that collides with a game ball is formed on the distal end side of the extended portion 24a. ing. The collision portion 24b protrudes along the circumferential direction from the vicinity of the tip portion of the extension portion 24a, and is configured to rotate so as to move to the protruding direction side by driving a motor 20 described later. 6 and 7 show a state when the hitting ball 24 is at the initial rotation position, and FIGS. 8 and 9 show a state when the hitting ball 24 is at the hitting position. .

  The motor 20 is configured by, for example, a known stepping motor, and is configured to rotationally drive a drive shaft (rotating shaft portion 20a) upon receiving power supply from a motor drive circuit (not shown). The motor 20 is controlled by, for example, a motor drive circuit and a control circuit (both not shown) so as to rotate at a speed corresponding to the rotation angle (operation angle) of the firing handle 19 (FIG. 1 and the like). As described above, the striking ball 24 is fixed to the drive shaft (rotary shaft portion 20a) of the motor 20 using the nut 97, and is configured to rotate integrally in response to the drive of the rotary shaft portion 20a. Has been.

(Configuration of ball feeder)
Next, the ball feeder 11 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 2, 7, 9, and 10, the ball feeding device 11 sends out the game balls supplied from the ball receiving tray 9 through the upstream flow path 100 toward the ball striking device 12. It is configured. As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 11 to 13, the ball feeding device 11 includes a ball feeding member 30 and a reciprocating motion that causes the ball feeding member 30 to reciprocate between the upper side and the lower side in the vertical direction. The apparatus 70 mainly includes a case 90 that accommodates the ball feeding member 30 and the reciprocating device 70.

  As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 13, the ball feeding member 30 mainly includes a first ball feeding member 32 and a second ball feeding member 52, and as shown in FIGS. 7 and 9. Are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. 14A is a perspective view of the first ball feeding member, and FIG. 14B is a perspective view as seen from a direction different from FIG. 14A. FIG. 15A is a front view of the first ball feeding member, and FIG. 15B is a rear view of the first ball feeding member of FIG. 15A. FIG. 16A is a perspective view of the second ball feeding member, and FIG. 16B is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 16A. FIG. 17A is a front view of the second ball feeding member, and FIG. 17B is a rear view of the second ball feeding member of FIG. 17A. 18A is a perspective view showing a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG. 11, and FIG. 18B is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 18A. . FIG. 19A is a front view of the state of FIG. 18A, and FIG. 19B is a rear view of the state of FIG. FIG. 20 is a left side view of a configuration in which a part of the case is removed in the state of FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first ball feeding member 32 is mainly composed of a first member 35 and a second member 36. The first member 35 and the second member 36 are formed in a vertically long shape, and are arranged so that the longitudinal directions of the first member 35 and the second member 36 are along the longitudinal direction of the case 90 described later. The first member 35 and the second member 36 are fixed by fastening members 79a and 79b such as screws with a connecting member 75 inserted through the connecting shaft 75a interposed therebetween. A support member 72 of a reciprocating device 70 described later is fixed to the connecting member 75 by a fixing member 76 and fastening members 78a and 78b such as screws. As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the first ball feeding member 32 accommodates the intake port 40 for taking in the game ball B from the upstream flow channel 100 side and the game ball B taken in from the intake port 40. A portion 41 and a delivery port 42 for delivering the game ball B accommodated in the accommodation portion 41 are provided. The accommodating part 41 includes a bottom wall 41a, a ceiling wall 41b, and side walls 41c and 41d. The accommodating portion 41 is formed to be about the size of one game ball or slightly larger than one game ball. The distance between the intake port 40 and the delivery port 42 is the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. 7, 9, and 10, the delivery port 42 is provided at a position lower than the intake port 40, and the bottom wall 41 a is inclined downward from the intake port 40 to the delivery port 42. An inclined surface S1 is formed. Accordingly, the game ball B that has flowed into the intake port 40 of the first ball feed member 32 can be smoothly flowed down to the feed port 42 without staying in the accommodating portion 41. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 10, the inclined surface S <b> 1 of the first ball feeding member 32 is configured to have a larger inclination angle with respect to the horizontal plane than the inclined surface S <b> 2 of the second ball feeding member 52 described later. Thereby, when the game ball B is sent from the first ball feed member 32 to the second ball feed member 52, the game ball B can flow more smoothly without the ball speed being weakened. In the present embodiment, the first ball feed member 32 corresponds to an example of a “front ball feed member”, and the second ball feed member 52 corresponds to an example of a “back ball feed member”.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the first ball feeding member 32 has a direction (left and right) in which the first member 35 and the second member 36 intersect the flow-down direction (front-rear direction) of the game ball in the housing portion 41. Direction). In other words, the first ball feeding member 32 has the first member 35 and the second member 36 assembled in the above-described direction to form the intake port 40, the accommodating portion 41, and the delivery port 42. The dividing line D between the first member 35 and the second member 36 (the boundary where the first member 35 and the second member 36 are divided) is the bottom wall 41a of the bottom wall 41a of the accommodating portion 41. Is provided at a position deviated from the center in the width direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 15, the division line D of the bottom wall 41 a is provided at a position where it is difficult to contact the game ball B when the game ball B flows into the housing portion 41. The dividing line D is also provided at a position off the center in the width direction of the bottom wall 41 a in the lower portion of the accommodating portion 41 of the first ball feeding member 32. With this configuration, a collision rib 38, which will be described later, can be formed on one of the first member 35 and the second member 36 corresponding to the center position of the bottom wall 41a of the accommodating portion 41, and the first ball feed member 32 is vertically When reciprocating in the direction, the ball pressure of the game ball waiting in the upstream flow path 100 can be received efficiently. In the first ball feeding member 32, the first member 35 and the second member 36 are formed so that the dividing line D is at the center position in the upper portion of the accommodating portion 41.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the first ball feeding member 32 includes an outer wall 37a provided with an intake port 40, an outer wall 37b provided with a delivery port 42 opposite to the outer wall 37a, and an outer wall 37a. And outer walls 37c and 37d connected to both ends of the outer wall 37b. The game ball is configured to flow down from the outer wall 37a side to the outer wall 37b side. Collision ribs 38 are formed in the outer wall 37a where the intake port 40 is provided along the vertically downward direction from the center of the bottom wall 41a. It is configured to be received by the rib 38. Further, guide ribs 39 are provided on the outer walls 37c and 37d along the vertical vertical direction so as to slide on guide walls 92 provided on a case 90 described later. The collision rib 38 is provided to face a front wall 91a of a case 90 described later, and the collision rib 38 is configured to move up and down along the front wall 91a. In this configuration, the front wall 91a also functions as a guide wall, and the collision rib 38 also functions as a guide rib.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second ball feeding member 52 is mainly composed of a first member 55 and a second member 56. The first member 55 and the second member 56 are formed in a vertically long shape, and are arranged so that the longitudinal directions of the first member 55 and the second member 56 are along the longitudinal direction of the case 90 described later. The first member 55 and the second member 56 are fixed by fastening members 79c and 79d such as screws with a connecting member 75 inserted through the connecting shaft 75a interposed therebetween. Further, a support member 72 of a reciprocating device 70 described later is fixed to the connecting member 75 by a fixing member 76 and fastening members 78c and 78d such as screws. As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the second ball feeding member 52 accommodates the intake port 60 for taking in the game ball B from the upstream flow channel 100 side and the game ball B taken in from the intake port 60. A part 61 and a delivery port 62 for delivering the game ball B accommodated in the accommodation part 61 are provided. The accommodating part 61 includes a bottom wall 61a, a ceiling wall 61b, and side walls 61c and 61d. The accommodating part 61 is formed to be about the size of one game ball or slightly larger than one game ball. The distance between the intake port 60 and the delivery port 62 is the same as or slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball. 7, 9, and 10, the delivery port 62 is provided at a position lower than the intake port 60, and the bottom wall 61 a is inclined downward from the intake port 60 to the delivery port 62. An inclined surface S2 is formed. As a result, the game ball B that has flowed into the intake port 60 of the second ball feed member 52 can smoothly flow down to the delivery port 62 without staying in the accommodating portion 61.

As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the second ball feeding member 52 has a direction (left and right) in which the first member 55 and the second member 56 intersect the flow direction (front-rear direction) of the game ball in the housing portion 61. Direction). That is, the second ball feeding member 52 is similar to the first ball feeding member 32 in that the first member 55 and the second member 56 are assembled in the above direction, and the intake port 60, the accommodating portion 61, and the delivery port 62 are provided. Forming. The dividing line D (the boundary between the first member 55 and the second member 56) between the first member 55 and the second member 56 is the center in the width direction of the bottom wall 61a in the bottom wall 61a of the accommodating portion 61. It is provided at a position that is out of the range. That is, as shown in FIG. 17, the division line D of the bottom wall 61 a is provided at a position where it is difficult to contact the game ball B when the game ball B flows into the housing portion 61. The dividing line D is also provided at a position off the center in the width direction of the bottom wall 61 a in the lower portion of the accommodating portion 61 of the second ball feeding member 52. With this configuration, a collision rib 58, which will be described later, can be formed on one of the first member 55 and the second member 56 corresponding to the center position of the bottom wall 61a of the accommodating portion 61, and the second ball feeding member 52 can be moved vertically. When reciprocating in the direction, the game ball accommodated in the accommodating portion 41 of the first ball feeding member 32 can be received efficiently. In the second ball feeding member 52, the first member 55 and the second member 56 are formed so that the dividing line D is at the center position in the upper portion of the accommodating portion 61.
Here, the second ball feeding member 52 is formed with substantially the same length (height) as the first ball feeding member 32, and the accommodating portions 41 and 61 are formed with different height positional relationships. . Specifically, the intake port 60 of the second ball feed member 52 is formed at a position higher than the feed port 42 of the first ball feed member 32, and the first ball feed member 32 is moved by a reciprocating device 70 described later. When the second ball feed member 52 is moved from a first position (described later) to a second position (described later), the delivery port 42 of the first ball feed member 32 and the intake port 60 of the second ball feed member 52 are moved. It is configured to communicate.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 17, the second ball feeding member 52 includes an outer wall 57a provided with an intake port 60, an outer wall 57b provided with a delivery port 62 opposite to the outer wall 57a, and an outer wall 57a. And outer walls 57c and 57d connected to both ends of the outer wall 57b. The game ball is configured to flow from the outer wall 57a side to the outer wall 57b side. Collision ribs 58 are formed in the outer wall 57a provided with the intake port 60 along the vertically downward direction from the center of the bottom wall 61a. When the game ball B is sent out, the ball pressure from the subsequent ball is affected by this collision. It is configured to be received by the rib 58. Furthermore, the outer walls 57c and 57d are each provided with a guide rib 59 that slides on a guide wall 92 provided in a case 90 described later along the vertical vertical direction.

Next, the reciprocating device 70 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 13, and 18 to 20, the reciprocating device 70 drives the support member 72 that supports the ball feeding member 30 from above in the vertical vertical direction, and the support member 72. The motor 71 is mainly provided, and the support member 72 is displaced by the motor 71 so that the ball feeding member 30 is reciprocated between the upper side and the lower side in the vertical vertical direction. In the present embodiment, the reciprocating device 70 corresponds to an example of “reciprocating means”.

  The motor 71 is constituted by, for example, a known stepping motor, and is configured to rotationally drive the drive shaft (rotating shaft portion 70a) upon receiving power supply from a motor drive circuit (not shown). In the present embodiment, the motor 20 corresponds to an example of “driving means”.

  The support member 72 is constituted by a crankshaft or the like, is rotatably supported by the rotary shaft portion 70a and the case 90 via a bearing 74, and converts the rotational drive of the motor 71 into the reciprocating motion of the ball feed member 30. Is. The support member 72 has a crank pin 72a formed at a position spaced a predetermined distance in the radial direction from the rotation shaft. The support member 72 is disposed above the first ball feed member 32 and the second ball feed member 52, and the connecting member 75 and the fixing member 76 are attached to the crankpin 72a so as to be swingable (turnable). Then, the connecting member 75 and the fixing member 76 to which the first ball feeding member 32 is fixed and the connecting member 75 and the fixing member 76 to which the second ball feeding member 52 is fixed are supported with a predetermined phase difference. , The rising and lowering timings of the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52 are shifted. In the present embodiment, the support member 72 has two crank pins 72a formed at an interval of 180 degrees.

Next, the case 90 will be described.
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 11 to 13, the case 90 is configured to cover most of the ball feeding member 30 and the reciprocating device 70, and the first case 90a and the second case 90b. And is assembled by fastening members 95a, 95b, 95c, and 95d such as screws. The first case 90 a accommodates the first member 35 of the first ball feeding member 32 and the first member 55 of the second ball feeding member 52, and the second case 90 b is the first member 55 of the second ball feeding member 52. The second member 56 of the second ball feeding member 52 is accommodated. In the first case 90a and the second case 90b, a guide wall 92 that slides with the guide rib 39 of the first ball feed member 32 and the guide rib 59 of the second ball feed member 52 is formed on the inner wall along the vertical vertical direction. Has been. When the driving force of the reciprocating device 70 is transmitted to the ball feeding member 30, the ball feeding member 30 is configured to reciprocate along the guide wall 92.
Further, an intake hole 93 is formed in the front wall 91a of the case 90, and a delivery hole 94 is formed in the rear wall 91b of the case 90. The take-in hole 93 feeds the game ball supplied from the upstream flow path 100 continuing from the ball receiving tray 9 to the take-in port 40 of the ball feed member 30, and the feed-out hole 94 sends the game ball sent from the ball feed member 30 to the ball striking device 12. It is configured to discharge toward As in the case of the first ball feed member 32 and the second ball feed member 52, the case 90 has a dividing line between the first case 90 a and the second case 90 b from the center position in the intake hole 93 and the feed hole 94. It is formed at a position away from it.
Further, as described above, the rear wall 91b of the case 90 is provided with the rear projecting portion 17 projecting rearward adjacent to the delivery hole 94, and holds the game ball placed at the launch position. It is comprised so that it may support with the part 26. FIG.

Next, a mechanism for reciprocating the ball feeding member 30 by the reciprocating device 70 will be described.
21A is a perspective view showing a state when the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member are in the first position, and FIG. 21B is a diagram showing the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member. It is a perspective view which shows a state when a 2 ball | bowl feeding member exists in a 2nd position. 22A is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 21A, and FIG. 22B is a perspective view seen from a direction different from FIG. 21B. FIG. 23A is a side view of the state of FIG. 21A, and FIG. 23B is a side view of the state of FIG. FIG. 24A is a perspective view showing a state when the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member are in the first position, and FIG. 24B is a diagram showing the first ball feeding member and the second ball. It is a perspective view which shows a state when a feed member exists in a 2nd position.

  As described above, the first ball feed member 32 and the second ball feed member 52 are supported by the connecting member 75 on the support member 72 in the form of a crankshaft, and the drive operation of the support member 72 by the motor 71 is performed. The connecting member 75 supporting the first ball feeding member 32 and the connecting member 75 supporting the second ball feeding member 52 rotate with a predetermined phase difference, whereby the first ball feeding member 32 is rotated. Is configured to be executable at a time different from that of the second ball feeding member 52. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 24, the reciprocating device 70 is configured to reciprocate the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52 alternately on the upper and lower sides in the vertical vertical direction. The second ball feeding member 52 is lowered when the first ball feeding member 32 is raised, and the second ball feeding member 52 is raised when the first ball feeding member 32 is lowered. In FIG. 21A, FIG. 22A, FIG. 23A, and FIG. 24A, the first ball feed member 32 is at the lowest position (lowest point), and the second ball feed member 52 is the most. A state at a high position (highest point) is shown (corresponding to a “first position” described later). 21B, FIG. 22B, FIG. 23B, and FIG. 24B, the first ball feed member 32 is at the highest position (the highest point), and the second ball feed member 52 is shown. Is in the lowest position (lowest point). In this state, the feed port 42 of the first ball feed member 32 and the take-up port of the second ball feed member 52 are configured to communicate with each other. (This corresponds to a “second position” to be described later).

(Ball feeding operation)
Next, the ball feeding operation by the ball feeding device 11 will be described.
FIG. 25A is an explanatory view showing a state when the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member are in the first position, and FIG. 25B is a diagram showing the first ball feeding member and the second ball feeding member. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when a 2 ball | bowl feeding member is displaced to the 2nd position from the state of FIG. 25 (A), FIG.25 (C) is a 1st ball | bowl feeding member and a 2nd ball | bowl feeding member in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a state when displaced to the 1st position from the state of (B).

  In the ball feeding device 11 configured as described above, first, as shown in FIG. 25A, the first ball feeding member 32 is at the lowest position (lowest point) as the initial position of the ball feeding device 11. The second ball feeding member 52 is at the highest position (the highest point). This initial position is the first position. And it waits in the state (intake position) where the intake port 40 of the 1st ball feeding member 32 is connected with the intake hole 93 of the case 90 and the upstream flow path 100, and it is game from the intake port 40 in this intake position. The sphere B1 is taken in and accommodated in the accommodating portion 41. By the reciprocating device 70, the support member 72 fixed to the rotating shaft portion 70a is rotated, and the first ball feed member 32 is raised and the second ball feed member 52 is lowered. At this time, the game ball B1 accommodated in the accommodation portion 41 rises while being supported by the collision rib 58 of the second ball feed member 52, and the game ball B2 of the subsequent ball is raised by the collision rib 38 of the first ball feed member 32. In the upstream flow path 100 in a state where it has been received.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 25B, when the first ball feed member 32 moves to the highest point and the second ball feed member 52 moves to the lowest point (second position), the second ball feed member 52 is taken in. The mouth 60 is displaced so as to be at the same height as the delivery port 42 provided in the first ball delivery member 32, and the delivery port 42 and the intake port 60 communicate with each other and the game ball accommodated in the accommodation part 41. B1 moves from the delivery port 42 to the intake port 60.

  Further, when the support member 72 is rotated, the first ball feed member 32 that has been moved to the highest point is lowered and moved to the lowest point, and the second ball feed member 52 that has been moved to the lowest point is raised. 25B to the state of FIG. 25C, and the first ball feed member 32 and the second ball feed member 52 are displaced from the second position to the first position. Then, the game ball B1 housed in the housing portion 61 of the second ball feeding member 52 is sent out from the delivery port 62 to the launch position (that is, the downstream flow path) of the ball striking device 12 through the delivery hole 94. At this time, the game ball B <b> 2 that has been waiting in the upstream flow path 100 is taken into the housing portion 41 from the take-in port 40. Further, the game ball B3 as the succeeding ball waits in the upstream flow path 100 while being received by the collision rib 38 of the first ball feeding member 32. Then, the reciprocating motion of the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52 by the reciprocating device 70 is repeated, so that the game balls B are sent out from the upstream flow channel 100 to the launching device 10 one by one. .

(Main effects of the first embodiment)
The ball feeding device 11 according to the first embodiment includes intake ports 40 and 60 that take in game balls from the upstream flow path 100 side, and accommodation units 41 and 61 that accommodate game balls taken in from the intake ports 40 and 60, The ball feeding member 30 (the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52) provided with the delivery ports 42 and 62 for delivering the game balls accommodated in the accommodation units 41 and 61, and the ball feeding member 30 vertically and vertically. And a motor 71 (driving means) for driving the support member 72. The motor 71 displaces the support member 72, thereby moving the ball feeding member 30 upward in the vertical vertical direction. Reciprocating means for reciprocating between the side and the lower side is provided.
Further, the ball feeding member 30 (the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52) is a game when each of the intake ports 40, 60 reaches a predetermined intake position communicating with the upstream flow path 100. The balls are taken in from the respective intake ports 40, 60 and are accommodated in the respective accommodating portions 41, 61. When the respective delivery ports 42, 62 are at a predetermined delivery position above the intake position, the respective accommodating portions 41, 61 are accommodated. The game balls accommodated in the ball are sent out toward the ball striking device 12 through the delivery ports 42 and 62.
In this configuration, the ball feeding member 30 (the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52) is stably supported in a configuration in which the ball feeding member 30 is suspended from the vertical upper side by the support member 72. Since the support member 72 is driven by the motor 71 (driving means), the ball feeding member 30 is less likely to be shaken when the driving force is transmitted. In particular, since the weight of the ball feeding member 30 can always be used to stabilize the behavior of the ball feeding member 30, the blurring of the ball feeding member 30 can be effectively suppressed when the ball feeding member 30 is reciprocated. Become. Therefore, the behavior of the game ball carried by the ball feeding member 30 at the time of taking-in or sending-out hardly becomes unstable, and the game ball supplied from the ball receiving tray 9 side can be smoothly sent out to a higher position. Further, in order to realize the function as described above, there is no need to provide a spring member or the like, and the number of parts can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of ball feeding members 30 are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction. Then, when the support member 72 is displaced by the drive of the motor 72, the first ball feed member 32 and the second ball are arranged so that the rising and lowering timings of the first ball feed member 32 and the second ball feed member 52 are shifted. The feed member 52 is supported.
In this way, a plurality of ball feeding members 30 are arranged side by side in a predetermined direction, and in each ball feeding member 30, the game ball is raised between the take-in position and the send-out position, thereby increasing the overall lift-up amount. can do.
In addition, since the overall lift-up amount can be ensured even if the movement amount of each ball-feed member 30 is not increased so much, each ball-feed is compared with a configuration in which the same lift-up amount is secured with a single member. It becomes easy to suppress the movement amount of the member 30. Therefore, it is easy to repeat the reciprocating motion of each ball feeding member 30 at short time intervals, and a series of operations from taking in to feeding out can be quickly completed in each ball feeding member 30.
In addition, the ball feeding member 30 on the rear stage side (second ball feeding member 52) is used when the game ball is sent out with the adjacent ball feeding member 30 on the front stage side (first ball feeding member 31) as the feeding position. It is configured to be a take-in position so as to take in a game ball sent out from the ball feed member 30 (first ball feed member 31) on the front stage side, and to send out the game ball at a send-out position above the take-in position. . In this way, during the series of operations from taking-in to sending-out in the rear-stage side ball-feeding member 30 (second ball-feeding member 52), the next game is performed in the front-stage-side ball-feeding member 30 (first ball-feeding member 31). A ball can be prepared, and when the rear-stage ball feeding member 30 (second ball-feeding member 52) is in the take-in position again, the rear-stage side ball feeding member 30 (second-ball feeding member 52). ) Can quickly supply gaming balls. Accordingly, it becomes easy to efficiently feed the game balls while maintaining the reciprocating motion of each ball feeding member 30 smoothly.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plurality of ball feeding members 30 are a first ball feeding member 32 configured as the frontmost ball feeding member, and a second ball feeding arranged adjacent to the first ball feeding member 32. The member 52 is comprised. Then, the second ball feeding member 52 is in the taking-in position so as to take in the game ball sent out from the first ball feeding member 32 when the first ball-feeding member 32 is in the sending-out position, and above the taking-in position. The taken game ball is sent out to the downstream flow path following the ball striking device 12 at the delivery position.
In this way, the game ball can be lifted to some extent by the first ball feed member 32 and can be further lifted by the second ball feed member 52, so that the overall lift-up amount can be further increased. . Further, since the number of ball feeding members intervening in the ball feeding does not increase so much, the time required for ball feeding can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the inclined surface S1 that is inclined so that the bottom surfaces of the accommodating portions 41 and 61 of the respective ball feeding members 30 are positioned downward from the intake ports 40 and 60 side toward the delivery ports 42 and 62 side. , S2. When the ball feeding member 30 is configured in this way, it becomes easy to take in a game ball from the outside into the housing parts 41 and 61 when the take-in position is reached, and is housed in the housing parts 41 and 61 when the send-out position is reached. The game ball can be smoothly delivered from the delivery ports 42 and 62.

Further, in the present embodiment, the bottom surfaces of the storage portions 41 and 61 in the plurality of ball feeding members 30 (the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52) are connected to the feeding ports 42 and 60 from the intake ports 40 and 60 side. The bottom surfaces (inclined surface S2) of the accommodating portion 61 in the rear-stage side ball feed member 30 (second ball feed member 52) are configured as the inclined surfaces S1 and S2 that are inclined so as to become the lower position as it becomes the 62 side. And the horizontal plane is configured to be smaller than the angle formed between the bottom surface (inclined surface S1) of the accommodating portion 41 and the horizontal plane in the front-stage ball feed member 30 (first ball feed member 32). .
In this way, the storage portion 41 of the front-stage ball feed member 30 (first ball-feed member 32) can move the game ball more smoothly toward the delivery port 42, and further, the front-stage ball feed member. When the housing portion 41 of the 30 (first ball feeding member 32) and the housing portion 61 of the rear ball feeding member 30 (second ball feeding member 52) communicate with each other, the rear ball feeding member 30 (second In the accommodating portion 61 of the ball feeding member 52), the bottom of the intake port 60 side can be easily placed at a low position. Accordingly, when the game ball is sent out from the front-stage ball feed member 30 (first ball-feed member 32) to the rear-stage ball feed member 30 (second ball-feed member 52), the bottom surface of the rear-stage side accommodating portion 61 is provided. Thus, the game ball is not easily caught, and the game ball can be moved to the subsequent stage side more smoothly.

In the present embodiment, each ball feeding member 30 has a configuration in which the first members 35 and 55 and the second members 36 and 56 are assembled to each other, and the first member 35 and 55 and the second member 36 and The support member 72 may be connected in a form sandwiched between the support members 72. And the division | segmentation position (division line) which divides | segments the 1st members 35 and 55 and the 2nd members 36 and 56 after the assembly | attachment of these 1st members 35 and 55 and the 2nd members 36 and 56 is the accommodating parts 41 and 61. It is the position which deviated from the width direction center of the bottom wall.
In this way, the ball feeding member 30 and the support member 72 can be connected with a simple configuration. Furthermore, when the game ball flows into the housing portions 41 and 61, the game ball is less likely to contact the vicinity of the division position (division line) on the bottom wall of the housing portions 41 and 61. It becomes difficult to inhibit the flow of For example, since the degree of assembly (assembly accuracy) between the first members 35 and 55 and the second members 36 and 56 hardly affects the flow of the game ball, the game ball can easily flow down stably.

  In the present embodiment, a case 90 that houses the ball feeding member 30 is provided. Guide ribs 39 and 59 are formed on the predetermined side wall portion of the ball feeding member 30 so as to protrude in a rib shape toward the predetermined guide wall 92 side of the case 90 and extend along the vertical vertical direction. The guide ribs 39 and 59 are configured to move up and down along the guide wall 92 with the movement. In this way, when the ball feeding member 30 moves up and down, it becomes easy to slide smoothly along the guide wall 92. Therefore, when the ball feeding member 30 moves up and down, an unstable behavior (such as a horizontal blur) ) Is less likely to occur. Therefore, the ball feeding member 30 is stably reciprocated in a determined direction without fluttering, and the game ball smoothly enters and exits when the game ball is taken in and delivered.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ball feeding member 30 is provided on the outer wall portion on the intake port 40, 60 side, and at least a collision rib extending downward along the vertical vertical direction from a position lower than the bottom wall of the housing portions 41, 61. 38 and 58 are formed. The collision ribs 38 and 58 are arranged so that the game balls from the upstream side of the ball feeding member 30 can collide when the ball feeding member 30 reaches the delivery position.
In this way, the ball pressure of the next game ball (standby game ball) can be received by the collision ribs 38 and 58 when the ball feeding member 30 is in the delivery position. Therefore, even if a ball pressure from the next game ball is applied to the ball feeding member 30, the ball feeding member 30 receives the ball pressure by the collision ribs 38 and 58 and smoothly applies to the next game ball. It becomes possible to slide, and the reciprocating motion of the ball feeding member 30 is less likely to be hindered by the next game ball. Furthermore, the wear of the ball feeding member 30 due to the next game ball collision can be effectively prevented.

[Other Embodiments]
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the ball feeding device 11 for gaming machines includes two ball feeding members (the first ball feeding member 32 and the second ball feeding member 52), but even if only one ball feeding member is provided. Alternatively, three or more may be provided.

  In the above embodiment, the angle formed between the inclined surface S2 of the bottom wall 61a of the second ball feed member 52 and the horizontal plane is smaller than the angle formed between the inclined surface S1 of the bottom wall 41a of the first ball feed member 32 and the horizontal plane. However, the angle formed between the inclined surface S2 and the horizontal plane may be larger than the angle formed between the inclined surface S1 and the horizontal plane, and the angle formed between the inclined surface S2 and the horizontal plane. And the angle formed by the inclined surface S1 and the horizontal plane may be the same angle.

1 ... Pachislot machines (Pachinko machines)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 9 ... Ball tray 10 ... Launching device for gaming machines 11 ... Ball feeding device for gaming machines (ball feeding device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Ball hitting device 30 ... Ball feed member 32 ... 1st ball feed member 52 ... 2nd ball feed member 35, 55 ... 1st member 36, 56 ... 2nd member 37a-37d, 57a-57d ... Outer wall 38, 58 ... Ribs 39, 59 ... Guide ribs 40, 60 ... Intake ports 41, 61 ... Accommodating portions 41a, 61a ... Bottom walls 42, 62 ... Delivery ports 70 ... Reciprocating device (reciprocating means)
71: Motor (driving means)
72 ... support member 90 ... case 92 ... guide wall 93 ... intake hole 94 ... delivery hole 100 ... upstream flow path B ... game ball D ... dividing line (dividing position)
S1, S2 ... Inclined surface

Claims (8)

A ball feeding device for a gaming machine that feeds a game ball supplied through an upstream flow path continuing from a ball receiving tray toward a ball striking device,
A take-in port for taking in game balls from the upstream flow path side, a containing unit for containing game balls taken in from the take-in port, and a delivery port for sending the game balls contained in the containing unit to the hitting device side A ball feeding member,
A support member for supporting the ball feed member from above in the vertical vertical direction; and a drive means for driving the support member; and by moving the support member by the drive means, the ball feed member is vertically moved up and down. Reciprocating means for reciprocating between the upper side and the lower side of the direction;
With
The ball feeding member is
When the intake port is at a predetermined intake position communicating with the upstream flow path, the game ball is taken in from the intake port and stored in the storage unit,
When the delivery port becomes a predetermined delivery position above the take-in position, the game ball accommodated in the accommodation unit is configured to be delivered to the hitting device via the delivery port. And arranged side by side in a predetermined direction,
The plurality of the ball feeding members are configured such that the storage portions of the ball feeding members adjacent to each other can communicate with each other, the upstream flow channel side is a front stage side, and the ball striking device side is a rear stage side. It is configured to flow down,
The support member supports a plurality of ball feeding members so that the rising and lowering timings of the adjacent ball feeding members are shifted when displaced by driving of the driving means,
The foremost ball feed member on the upstream flow path side of the plurality of ball feed members takes in the game ball from the upstream flow path at the take-in position, and receives the game ball at the feed position above the take-in position. Send out,
The ball feeding member on the rear stage side with respect to the ball feeding member in the foremost stage is a game sent out from the ball feeding member on the front stage side when the adjacent ball feeding member on the front stage side is in the feeding position and the game ball is sent out. A ball feeding device for a gaming machine, wherein the game ball is fed at a feeding position so as to fetch the ball and at a feeding position above the loading position . The plurality of ball feeding members are composed of a first ball feeding member configured as the ball feeding member in the foremost stage, and a second ball feeding member arranged adjacent to the first ball feeding member,
The second ball feed member is in the take-in position so as to take in the game ball sent from the first ball feed member when the first ball feed member is in the send-out position, and is above the take-in position. 2. The ball feeding device for a gaming machine according to claim 1 , wherein the game ball taken in at the feeding position is sent to a downstream flow path following the ball hitting device. The ball feeding bottom surface of the receiving portion of the member, the claim 1 or claim, characterized in that as the inlet side becomes the delivery port side is constructed as an inclined surface inclined so that the lower position 2 A ball feeder for a gaming machine according to 1. The bottom surface of each accommodating portion in the plurality of ball feeding members is configured as an inclined surface that is inclined so as to become a lower position from the intake port side to the delivery port side,
The angle formed between the bottom surface of the housing portion and the horizontal plane in the ball feeding member on the rear stage side is configured to be smaller than the angle formed between the bottom surface of the housing section and the horizontal surface in the ball feeding member on the front stage side. for gaming machines ball feeding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized. The ball feeding member has a configuration in which the first member and the second member are assembled to each other, and is connected to the support member in a form sandwiched between the first member and the second member, and the bottom wall of the housing portion The division position which divides the 1st member and the 2nd member after the assembly | attachment of these 1st members and 2nd members in this is the position which remove | deviated from the width direction center of the said bottom wall. The ball feeder for gaming machines according to any one of claims 1 to 4 . A case for accommodating the ball feeding member;
A guide rib that protrudes in a rib shape on the predetermined guide wall side of the case and extends along the vertical vertical direction is formed on the predetermined side wall portion of the ball feeding member,
The ball feeding device for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 , wherein the guide rib moves up and down along the guide wall as the ball feeding member reciprocates. The ball feeding member is
Collision ribs extending downward along the vertical vertical direction from a position at least lower than the bottom wall of the housing portion are formed on the outer wall portion on the intake port side,
The said collision rib is arrange | positioned so that the game ball from the upstream of the said ball feeding member may collide when the said ball feeding member will be in the said delivery position. Item 7. A ball feeder for a gaming machine according to any one of Items 6 . A gaming machine comprising the ball feeder for a gaming machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7 .

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