JP5926659B2 - Game machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a gaming machine including an upper sphere reservoir and a lower sphere reservoir that can store game balls.

  A pachinko machine, which is a typical gaming machine, can be attached to and detached from the outer frame, which is a frame member fixed to an installation frame base also called an “island” provided in the game store. The frame is a frame member that is pivotally supported so that the game board can be exchanged, and a transparent frame that is pivotally supported on the front side of the middle frame so that it can be attached and detached and can be opened and closed. And a front frame as a frame member on which the plate is disposed. In the front frame, an upper ball storage tray that can store the game balls paid out from the ball paying portion is disposed below the window where the transparent plate is disposed, and below the upper ball storage tray A lower sphere storage dish capable of storing game balls is provided. In addition, a ball outlet passage extending from the ball payout portion to the lower ball storage tray is formed in the middle frame. Therefore, the pachinko machine first stores the game balls paid out from the ball payout unit in the upper ball storage tray, and when the upper ball storage tray is full of game balls, it cannot be stored in the upper ball storage tray. It is comprised so that a game ball may be stored in a lower ball storage tray via a ball exit path.

  In the pachinko machine, by operating an operation handle disposed on the right side of the lower ball storage tray, the game balls temporarily stored in the upper ball storage tray are transferred from the upper ball storage tray to the ball hitting device. After being supplied to the hitting ball launching device through a ball supply path that is directed toward the player, the hitting ball launching device is operated to hit the game board. Then, when the game ball that has been driven into the game area of the game board wins a start winning device arranged in the game area, the symbol variation on the display unit of the symbol display device arranged in the game board When an effect is started and a special gaming state (e.g., `` big hit '') advantageous to the player is generated by stopping the symbols in a predetermined combination on the display unit, a special winning device provided in the game area of the game board is By opening and winning a large number of game balls, it is configured that a large number of game balls are paid out to the upper ball storage tray or the lower ball storage tray as prize balls from the above-mentioned ball payout unit.

  The upper sphere storage part is provided with a ball removing means, and a second ball outlet passage extending from the upper sphere storage part toward the lower sphere storage part is formed to extend. Thereby, for example, at the end of the pachinko game, the game balls stored in the upper ball storage tray are guided to the lower ball storage tray through the second ball outlet path in accordance with the ball extraction operation by the ball extraction means. To get. Such a second ball exit path is disclosed in Patent Document 1.

JP 2003-144720 A

  By the way, in the pachinko machine disclosed in Patent Document 1, the ball extraction lead-out path corresponding to the second ball outlet path has a ball outlet opening formed in the lower ball storage dish, and the ball is opened from the front side of the pachinko machine. The exit is easily visible. For this reason, it is easy to insert a foreign object such as a wire from the ball outlet, and there is a possibility that the ball extraction lead-out path may be a clue for fraud using the foreign object.

  That is, the present invention has been proposed to solve this problem in view of the above-mentioned problems inherent in the gaming machine according to the prior art, and extends from the upper sphere reservoir to the lower sphere reservoir. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gaming machine configured to prevent fraudulent acts caused by intrusion of a foreign object through the ball passageway.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem and achieve the intended purpose, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides:
An upper ball storage unit (E) that is configured to be able to store game balls paid out from the ball paying unit, and that can supply the stored game balls to the ball hitting device,
A lower sphere reservoir (F) provided below the upper sphere reservoir (E) and capable of storing game balls;
Guide the game ball spilled from the path from the ball payout part to the upper ball storage part (E) through the ball outlet (89B) opened to the lower ball storage part (F) to the lower ball storage part The first ball exit (R1)
A game that is formed so as to communicate with the upper sphere reservoir (E) and the lower sphere reservoir (F), and is stored in the upper sphere reservoir (E) in accordance with the ball removal operation of the ball removal means (60). A second ball exit path (R2) for guiding the ball to the lower sphere storage section (F),
Said second ball passage Detchi (R2), said sphere through first wall portion formed so as to extend to the upstream side of the outlet of the first ball through Detchi from a position spaced laterally from (89B) (R1) (93), an outlet (111) is formed so as to join the first spherical outlet (R1) at a position spaced upstream from the downstream edge of the first wall (93) ,
Between the downstream end edge of the end portion and the first wall portion of the ball passage outlet (89B) (93), said second ball passage Detchi (R 2) a second wall portion to hide the exit (111) The gist is that (97) is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the second wall outlet provided on the downstream side of the outlet is provided with an outlet of the second bulb outlet that is formed to extend from the upper sphere reservoir to the first bulb outlet. Since it is hidden by the part, the position of the outlet cannot be easily confirmed from the ball outlet of the first ball outlet. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the second ball exit path from becoming a clue for fraud in which a foreign object such as a wire is inserted into the second ball exit path through the exit from the ball exit of the first ball exit path. it can.

Also, to solve the above problems, to achieve the intended purpose, inventions relating to a second aspect of the present invention,
An upper ball storage unit (E) that is configured to be able to store game balls paid out from the ball paying unit, and that can supply the stored game balls to the ball hitting device,
A lower sphere reservoir (F) provided below the upper sphere reservoir (E) and capable of storing game balls;
A first ball exit path (R1) for guiding the game balls spilled from the path from the ball payout section to the upper ball storage section (E) to the lower ball storage section (F);
A game that is formed so as to communicate with the upper sphere reservoir (E) and the lower sphere reservoir (F), and is stored in the upper sphere reservoir (E) in accordance with the ball removal operation of the ball removal means (60). A second ball exit path (R2) for guiding the ball to the lower sphere storage section (F),
The second ball outlet path (R2) is located at a position where the first ball outlet path (R1) is spaced upstream of the ball outlet (89B) opened in the lower sphere reservoir (F). An exit (111) is formed to join the exit passage (R1),
On the downstream side of the outlet (111) of the second ball outlet path (R2), a wall portion (97) that protrudes from the inside of the first ball outlet path (R1) and hides the outlet (111) is provided,
On the back surface of the wall (97), a ball guiding portion (100) extending from the outlet (111) toward the end of the ball outlet (89B) is provided ,
The ball guiding portion (100) is composed of a plurality of convex portions (101) which protrude into the first ball outlet path (R1) and are vertically arranged at required intervals, and between the convex portions (101). The gap (103) defined in the above is characterized in that the tip of the foreign matter (120) inserted from the ball outlet (89B) is easily caught .
According to the invention which concerns on Claim 2, the exit of the 2nd bulb | ball exit path extended and formed so that it may join the 1st bulb | ball exit path from the upper sphere storage part was provided in the 2nd wall downstream of this exit Since it is hidden by the part, the position of the outlet cannot be easily confirmed from the ball outlet of the first ball outlet. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the second ball exit path from becoming a clue for fraud in which a foreign object such as a wire is inserted into the second ball exit path through the exit from the ball exit of the first ball exit path. it can.
Then, game balls passed from the ball payout section via the first ball exit path and game balls passed from the upper ball storage section via the second ball exit path into the first ball exit path, The ball guiding portion can smoothly guide the ball to the ball outlet of the first ball outlet.
Furthermore, the tip of a foreign object such as a wire inserted from the ball outlet is likely to be caught on the convex part of the ball guiding part, making it difficult for the foreign object to enter the second ball passageway through the opening. Can do.

In the invention according to claim 3 ,
The second ball exit path (R2) includes a vertical ball exit path (115) extending downward from the upper ball storage section (E), and an exit (111) from a lower portion of the vertical ball exit path (115). It is composed of a horizontal ball exit passage (116) extending in the lateral direction toward the head.
According to the invention of claim 3 , along with the ball removal operation of the ball removal means, the game balls stored in the upper ball storage part can be smoothly passed into the vertical ball passage, and from the vertical ball passage The game ball that has moved to the horizontal ball path can be decelerated and de-energized before being passed to the first ball path. In addition, even if a foreign object inserted from the ball outlet of the first ball outlet passage enters the second bulb outlet passage, the tip of the foreign substance is not bent at the bent portion of the horizontal bulb outlet passage and the vertical ball outlet passage. It becomes caught and it can prevent that this foreign material reaches | attains an upper ball storage part.

  According to the gaming machine according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent an improper act caused by the entry of a foreign object through a ball passage extending from the upper sphere reservoir to the lower sphere reservoir.

It is a front view of the pachinko machine of an example. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the pachinko machine of the embodiment in a state where the front frame is opened from the middle frame and the game area of the game board is omitted. It is a perspective view which shows the lower frame member of the inner frame in which the rear ball passage member and the hit ball launching device which constitute the first ball outlet path are arranged. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the front frame from the front side. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the front frame from the rear side. The upper ball tray, the front decorative member, the lower decorative member, and the front ball passage member arranged on the installation member constituting the front frame, and the ball removal unit arranged on the upper ball plate are disassembled and viewed from the front side. FIG. Disassemble the upper ball tray, the front decorative member, the lower decorative member, and the front ball passage member disposed on the installation member constituting the front frame, and the ball removal unit disposed on the upper ball tray from the rear side. FIG. It is a disassembled perspective view of an upper ball tray and a ball removal unit. (a) is explanatory drawing which shows the non-operation state of a ball removal unit, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state of a ball removal unit. It is a perspective view which shows the lower part of a front frame in the state which removed the front decoration member and the metal base member. (a) is the perspective view which looked at the front sphere passage member from the front upper direction, (b) is the perspective view which looked at the front sphere passage member from the back upper direction. It is a rear view which shows the 2nd ball | bowl passageway provided in the lower frame part in the frame main body of a front frame, and connecting the upper ball tray and the 1st ball | bowl passageway in the state which removed the cover member. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the front frame fractured | ruptured in the XX line position of FIG. FIG. 13 is a plan cross-sectional view of the front frame broken at the position of the YY line in FIG. 12, showing a state in which game balls passing through the first ball passage and the second ball passage are guided by the ball guiding portion. . FIG. 13 is a plan sectional view of the front frame broken at the position of the YY line in FIG. 12, showing a state in which foreign matter inserted from the ball outlet of the front ball passage member is caught by the ball guiding portion.

  Next, the gaming machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings by way of preferred embodiments. In the embodiment, a pachinko machine P that plays a game using a pachinko ball as a game ball will be described as an example. In the following description, “front”, “rear”, “left”, and “right” refer to the pachinko machine P as viewed from the front side (player side) as shown in FIG.

(About schematic configuration of pachinko machine)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the pachinko machine P according to the embodiment has an outer frame as a fixed frame fixed to an installation frame base (not shown) also called “island” provided in the amusement shop. A, a middle frame B as a main body frame pivotally supported so as to be detachable and openable with respect to the outer frame A, and a required game area 27 are defined by being detachably attached to the middle frame B. A game board D, and a front frame C pivotally supported on the front side of the middle frame B so as to be detachable and openable and provided with a transparent plate 29 for seeing and protecting the game board D arranged on the middle frame B are provided. ing. On the front side of the front frame C, an upper ball tray (upper ball storage portion) E capable of storing game balls is disposed below the window 31 where the transparent plate 29 is disposed. A lower ball tray (lower ball storage unit) F capable of storing game balls, a ball striking device J (see FIG. 2) disposed in the middle frame B, and a ball feed disposed in the front frame C A handle unit G for operating the device K is disposed side by side.

  In such a pachinko machine P, the game balls supplied from the upper ball tray E via the ball feeder K to the ball hitting device J and driven into the game area 27 of the game board D by the ball hitting device J are By winning a start winning device (not shown) arranged in the game area 27, the symbol variation effect on the display unit H (see FIG. 1) of the symbol display device arranged on the game board D is achieved. Be started. Then, as a result of the symbol variation effect, the pachinko machine P causes the game on the game board D when a special gaming state (for example, “hit”) advantageous to the player occurs due to the symbols stopped on the display unit H in a predetermined combination. A special winning device (not shown) provided in the area 27 is opened to allow a large number of game balls to be won, and a ball payout portion (located on the rear side of the middle frame B based on the winning of game balls) A large number of game balls are paid out to the upper ball tray E as prize balls from (not shown).

(Inner frame)
As shown in FIG. 2, the middle frame B includes an upper frame portion 10 that forms an upper edge, a lower frame portion 11 that forms a lower edge and on which a ball hitting device J and the like are installed, and a left frame that forms a left edge. It is composed of a portion 12 and a right frame portion 13 that forms a right edge, and is formed in a rectangular frame shape that matches the opening of the outer frame A as a whole. The middle frame B is provided with a game board holding portion 14 on which the game board D can be detachably installed from the front side. The middle frame B is pivotally supported by the outer frame A via hinges 15, 15 provided at the upper left and lower left of the outer frame A. The middle frame B opens and closes with respect to the outer frame A around the left end. It has come to be able to do. The middle frame B may be one in which the upper, lower, left and right frame portions 10, 11, 12, 13 are integrally formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the hitting ball launching device J described above is disposed on the front surface of the lower frame portion 11 of the middle frame B. This ball hitting device J includes a base plate 17 fixed to the front surface of the lower frame portion 11, and a rotary electromagnetic as a ball hitting drive unit attached rearwardly to the front surface of the base plate 17 and projecting the main body forward. A solenoid 18, a hitting ball 19 fixed to the drive shaft of the electromagnetic solenoid 18, and a firing rail 20 attached to the rear surface of the base plate 17 in an upwardly inclined manner are provided. An opening 21 penetrating in the front-rear direction is formed in the upper left corner of the lower frame portion 11, and a ball payout path (not shown) from a ball payout portion (not shown) disposed on the rear side of the middle frame B is formed. ) Aligns with the rear side of the opening 21, and a cylindrical spherical guide tube 41 (see FIGS. 2 and 7) provided in the front frame C aligns with the opening 21 from the front side. Yes. On the left side of the front surface of the lower frame portion 11 is a rear ball passage portion 85 in which a rear ball passage 86 constituting the first ball passage R1 is defined. It is arranged so as to extend downward to the right. The first ball exit path R1 is a ball exit path that guides the game balls overflowing from the middle of the route from the ball payout portion to the upper ball tray E to the lower ball tray F.

(Game board)
As shown in FIG. 2, the game board D has an outer rail 25 and an inner rail 26, which are curved in a substantially circular shape, arranged on the board surface (front surface), and is defined inside the inner and outer rails 25 and 26. In the game area 27, various game parts (not shown in FIG. 2) such as a symbol display device, a start winning device, a special winning device, and a rotation guide are arranged. In addition, the outer rail 25 and the inner rail 26 are configured to be separated by a distance through which a game ball can pass, and a launch passage 28 through which a game ball launched from the hitting ball launcher J and flies along the launch rail 20 passes. Is defined. Then, the game ball that has been driven from the hitting ball launching device J into the game area 27 of the game board D via the launch passage 28 wins a starting winning device, a special winning device, or other winning ports, thereby allowing the ball paying unit to A predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls, and are paid out to the upper ball tray E through the opening 21 and the ball guide tube 41.

(Front frame)
As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 to 7, the front frame C is formed in a plate shape that substantially matches the outer shape of the middle frame B, and a window 31 that opens in the front-rear direction is opened. A frame main body 30 and an installation member 32 fixed to the lower front side of the window 31 in the frame main body 30 are provided. The frame main body 30 is located on the right side of the window 31, the upper frame part 30 </ b> A located above the window 31, the lower frame part 30 </ b> B located below the window 31, the left frame part 30 </ b> C located on the left side of the window 31. It consists of a right frame portion 30D, and the upper, lower, left and right frame portions 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D are integrally formed. On the front side of each of the upper frame portion 30A, the left frame portion 30C, and the right frame portion 30D, the upper decorative member 33, the left decorative member 34, and the right decorative member 35 that constitute the front frame C protrude forward. It is attached with. Light is emitted on the rear side of each of the upper frame portion 30A, the left frame portion 30C, and the right frame portion 30D in a state where a light emitting LED that is a light emitting means faces forward from an opening formed in each frame portion 30A, 30C, 30D. Substrates 36, 37, 38 are provided. Here, the upper decorative member 33, the left decorative member 34, and the right decorative member 35 are configured by attaching decorative parts to transparent resin molded parts, and the corresponding light emitting substrates 36, 37, and 38 are controlled to emit light. The transparent part is brightened. Further, on the front side of the lower frame portion 30B in the frame body 30, a front decorative member 48 that covers the upper ball tray E, the movable effect device M, and the like from the front side, and a lower decorative member 49 that covers the lower ball tray E from the front side are disposed. Has been. The frame main body 30 may be formed by separately forming an upper frame portion 30A, a lower frame portion 30B, a left frame portion 30C, and a right frame portion 30D.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the lower sphere 30B of the frame main body 30 is aligned with the opening 21 provided in the middle frame B from the front side at the upper left corner of the lower frame 30B. The guide tube 41 is formed so as to protrude rearward and penetrate forward and backward. In addition, a circular projecting portion 42 in which the main body of the electromagnetic solenoid 18 of the ball striking device J is accommodated from the rear side is formed so as to bulge forward at the lower center of the front side of the lower frame portion 30B. . A first ball passage opening 43 for allowing game balls supplied from the upper ball tray E to pass through to the rear side of the frame body 30 is formed at the upper center of the lower frame portion 30B. Further, the lower frame portion 30B is formed with a middle sphere passage portion 87 that defines a front sphere passageway ☆ constituting the first sphere passageway R1, and is formed in a cylindrical shape that opens to the front and rear. When the front frame C is closed with respect to the front side, the ball passage 87A opened to the rear side of the middle ball passage portion 87 is configured to align with the ball passage 85B of the rear ball passage portion 85 from the front side. (See FIG. 14). The middle ball passage portion 87 is formed in a state of protruding to the rear side of the lower frame portion 30B.

  On the rear side of the lower frame portion 30B, as shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7, FIG. 12, and FIG. There is provided an installation portion 45 to which a ball feeding device K for feeding game balls that have passed through the ball passage opening 43 one by one toward the ball hitting device J is attached. In addition, a second ball exit path R2 that guides the game balls stored in the upper ball tray E to the lower ball tray F is formed in the center of the lower frame portion 30B.

(Installation material)
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the installation member 32 is a plate-like member formed in substantially the same outer shape as the lower frame portion 30B of the frame body 30, and an opening 39 is formed from the center to the right portion. Then, a plurality of screws are fastened from the rear side of the lower frame part 30B, so that it is firmly fixed to the front side of the lower frame part 30B. An upper ball tray E is attached to the upper left side of the front surface of the installation member 32, a movable effect device M described later is attached to the upper right side of the front surface, and a lower ball is positioned on the lower left side of the front surface (below the upper ball tray E). A dish F is attached and a handle unit G is attached to the lower right side of the front surface (FIG. 6). In addition, a metal base member 80 for attaching the movable effect device M is attached to the upper part of the front surface of the installation member 32 so as to extend left and right and produce the effect forward.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 10, on the upper left side of the installation member 32, a first ball outlet 52 that is aligned with the front opening of the ball guide tube 41 formed in the lower frame portion 30 </ b> B of the frame body 30 opens. Is formed. In addition, a second ball outlet 53 that is aligned with the first ball passage 43 formed in the lower frame portion 30B of the frame body 30 is formed in the upper portion of the opening 39 (see FIG. 13). The game balls stored in E can be guided to the ball feeding device K from the second ball outlet 53 through the first ball passage 43. In the upper right portion of the ball storage portion 70A of the lower ball tray F, a front ball passage portion 89 that defines a front ball passage ☆ constituting the first ball passage R1 and opens forward and backward is disposed. When the installation member 32 is fixed to the front side of the lower frame portion 30B of the frame main body 30, a ball passageway 89A opened to the rear side of the front sphere passage portion 89 is formed on the middle sphere passage portion 87 formed in the lower frame portion 30B. It is comprised so that it may align from the front side with the ball outlet 87B opened to the front side (refer FIG. 10, FIG. 14).

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 6, and 7, the front decoration member 48 is a member formed in a shape that covers the upper ball tray E, the movable effect device M, and the like from the front side. That is, the front decoration member 48 includes a first decoration part 48A located on the front side of the upper ball dish E, a second decoration part 48B located on the front side of the movable effect device M, and a third piece located on the right side of the upper ball dish F. 48C, and the left part of the first decorative part 48A and the right part of the second decorative part 48B are curved backward. On the front surface of the front decorative member 48, a decorative panel that is formed in a required design shape and is subjected to surface treatment such as plating or painting is disposed. Such a front decoration member 48 is firmly fixed to the front surface of the installation member 32 with screws or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 8, and 9, the lower decorative member 49 is formed in a shape extending from the left end of the installation member 32 to the front side of the lower ball dish F and covering the lower ball dish E. It is a member. The lower decorative member 49 includes a decorative panel formed in a required design shape and subjected to a surface treatment such as plating or painting, or a decorative panel formed in a required design shape and having translucency. A lighting board is disposed on the rear side of the decorative panel having translucency, and the decorative panel having translucency is configured to be bright by irradiation of light emitting means such as an LED disposed on the lighting board. Yes.

(Upper ball dish)
As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, the upper ball tray E includes a ball tray main body 55 that protrudes in an arc shape forward and opens upward and rearward. The ball tray main body 55 includes a ball storage portion 55A that can store a large number of game balls, and a ball alignment portion 55B that is connected to the right side of the ball storage portion 55A and extends to the first ball passage port 43. I have. In addition, a ball outlet 57 is formed at the right end of the ball aligning portion 55 </ b> B in the ball tray main body 55 on the front side of the first ball passage port 43. The ball outlet 57 is positioned above the ball inlet 110 of the second ball outlet R2 and is aligned with the ball inlet 110 (see FIG. 12), and the game balls stored in the upper ball tray E To the second ball exit path R2. The ball tray member 55 is formed so that a bottom portion extending from the ball storage portion 55A to the ball alignment portion 55B is inclined downward and the game balls stored in the ball storage portion 55A naturally move to the ball alignment portion 55B. It is configured to The upper ball tray E has a plurality of screws from the front side in a state where the rear end edge of the ball tray main body 55 is in contact with the right side of the front surface of the installation member 32 from the left side to the lower side of the ball guide tube 41. By fastening to the installation member 32, it is firmly fixed to the installation member 32, and can support the weight of the game ball stored in the ball storage portion 55A (see FIGS. 6 and 7). The upper ball tray E is configured so that the game balls stored in the ball storage portion 55A of the ball tray main body 55 can be aligned and supplied toward the ball feeding device K in the process of moving to the ball alignment portion 55B. Has been. In addition, an elongated metal plate 56 having conductivity and connected to the ground side is disposed on the front side of the installation member 32 at the bottom from the sphere storage portion 55A to the sphere alignment portion 55B. Thereby, the game ball moving from the ball storage unit 55A to the ball alignment unit 55B comes into contact with the metal plate 56, so that static electricity charged in the game ball can be removed.

(Lower ball dish)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower ball tray F projects forward and opens upward and rearward, and a ball tray main body formed with a ball storage portion 70 </ b> A capable of storing a large number of game balls. 70. The ball tray main body 70 is fixed to the installation member 32 so that the ball storage portion 70A is positioned below the ball outlet 89B of the first ball outlet passage R1, and from the ball payout portion side via the first ball outlet passage R1. The game balls passed through and the game balls passed through the upper ball tray E via the second ball exit path R2 can be temporarily stored in the ball storage section 70A. A ball outlet 71 is formed at the bottom of the ball tray main body 70, and a shutter member 72 that can open and close the ball outlet 71 is disposed. The game balls stored in the storage unit 70A can be passed out to the front lower side of the pachinko machine P through the ball outlet 71.

(Switch unit)
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a switch unit 75 is disposed in front of the upper ball tray E (on the left side of the movable effect device M). The switch unit 75 includes a game switch 76 that is used in accordance with the contents of the display effect on the display unit H of the symbol display device, a selection switch 77 that selects a predetermined condition, a display unit 78 that displays a predetermined state, and the like. Is arranged. The switch unit 75 is disposed in a state of being placed on the upper surface of the installation portion 82 in the metal base member 80.

(Ball removal unit)
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, a game ball stored in the upper ball tray E is sent to the second ball passage R2 on the installation base portion 58 provided on the ball tray main body 55 of the upper ball tray E. A ball removal unit 60 that can pass through is provided. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the ball removal unit 60 includes an operation member 62 and a slide member 63 that slides by operation of the operation member 62. The operation member 62 is rotatably supported by a support shaft 64 between a support plate 61 attached to the front side of the upper ball tray E and the installation base 58, and an operation portion 62A protruding upward from the upper ball tray E. And an action part 62B extending downward from the operation part 62A. The operation member 62 is located between a non-operation position (FIG. 9 (a)) and an operation position rotated rightward from the non-operation position (FIG. 9 (b)) around a support shaft 64 having an axial line extending forward and backward. Can be rotated.

  As shown in FIGS. 8, 9A and 9B, the slide member 63 is disposed so as to be slidable in the left-right direction with respect to the support plate 61, and extends rearward. And a shutter portion 65 facing below the ball outlet 57. The right end of the slide member 63 is always engaged with the action portion 62B of the operation member 62, and the restriction position where the shutter portion 65 is positioned at the ball outlet 57 and closes the ball outlet 57 (FIG. 9A). When the shutter 65 moves to the left from the restriction position and retracts to the left from the ball outlet 57, the shutter 65 can be slid to the open position (FIG. 9B) that opens the ball outlet 57. It has become. Note that an opening 46 is formed on the lower side of the lower frame portion 30B of the frame main body 30 so as to be horizontally long and into which the shutter portion 65 is inserted from the front side (see FIGS. 12 and 13). . The opening 46 is formed to have a size that allows the left and right movement of the shutter portion 65 accompanying the sliding movement of the slide member 63.

  When the ball pulling unit 60 is not operated, the slide member 63 is moved to the restriction position by the urging of the tension coil spring 66, and the operation member 62 engaged with the slide member 63 is held at the non-operation position (FIG. 9 (a)). Accordingly, when the ball removal unit 60 is not operated, the shutter portion 65 is positioned at the ball removal port 57 and closes the ball removal port 57, so that the game balls in the ball alignment portion 55B of the upper ball dish E are Guided to the ball feeder K side through the outlet 52. On the other hand, when the operation unit 62A of the operation member 62 is pushed from above against the biasing force of the tension coil spring 66, the ball removal unit 60 rotates the operation member 62 from the non-operation position toward the operation position. The slide member 63 pushed by the action portion 62B of 62 slides from the restricting position to the open position (FIG. 9B). Therefore, when the ball removal unit 60 is operated, the shutter portion 65 is retracted from the lower side of the ball removal port 57 and the ball removal port 57 is opened, so that the game balls in the ball alignment portion 55B of the upper ball dish E are provided. Falls downward from the ball outlet 57 without being guided to the ball feeder K side, and flows into the second ball delivery path 46.

(First ball passage)
As shown in FIG. 14, the first ball exit path R1 for guiding the game balls spilled from the middle of the path from the ball payout portion to the upper ball tray E to the lower ball tray F is displayed on the middle frame B side. The rear ball exit path 86 formed and the front ball exit path 90 defined in the front frame C are configured. The rear ball passageway 86 is defined in a rear ball passage portion 85 disposed on the front side of the lower frame portion 11 of the middle frame C. The front ball passage 90 is defined by a middle ball passage portion 87 formed in the lower frame portion 30 </ b> B of the frame body 30 and a front ball passage portion 89 provided in the installation member 32. As shown in FIG. 3, the rear ball passage portion 85 is formed with a ball passage 85A for the rear ball passage 86 at the upper left position below the ball guide tube 41, and at the lower right portion. A ball outlet 85B of the exit path 86 is formed. Then, by closing the front frame C in which the installation member 32 is fixed to the lower frame portion 30B of the frame body 30 to the front side of the middle frame B, the rear ball passage 86 and the middle ball passage defined in the rear ball passage 85 are formed. A first ball outlet path R1 is defined in which the front ball outlet path 90 defined in the portion 87 and the front ball passage section 89 communicates in series. Accordingly, the first ball exit path R1 is configured such that the game ball spilled from the middle of the path from the ball payout portion to the upper ball tray E passes through the rear ball exit path 86 and the front ball exit path 90 to the front ball passage section. The ball guide outlet 89B guides the player to the ball bowl body 70 of the lower ball dish F.

(Front ball passage)
As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 14, the front sphere passage portion 89 includes a cylindrical body portion 91 and a flange portion 92 that extends outward from the front end of the cylindrical body portion 91. When the installation member 32 is fixed to the lower frame portion 30B of the frame body 30 in a state where the front ball passage portion 89 is attached to the installation recess 40 of the installation member 32, the protrusion formed in the lower frame portion 30B. The rear end edge of the front sphere passage portion 89 is disposed in contact with or close to the front surface of the lower frame portion 30B.

As shown in FIGS. 11 (a), 11 (b), and 14, the cylindrical body portion 91 is formed in a rectangular tube shape that becomes wider (becomes widened forward) as it goes forward, and the right wall portion. (First wall portion) 93 is formed to extend in the front-rear direction, whereas the left wall portion 94 is formed to extend obliquely so as to be displaced leftward as it goes forward. Further, the upper wall portion 95 is formed to extend substantially horizontally in the front-rear direction, and the lower wall portion 96 is formed to extend in an inclined shape that slightly falls forward. The ball passage port 89 </ b> A and the ball passage port 89 </ b> B of the front ball passage portion 89 are formed in a rectangular shape having substantially the same opening area, and the ball passage port 89 </ b> B is formed so as to be adjacent to the front edge of the left wall portion 94. ing. Accordingly, the ball outlet 89B is formed to be opened to the left with respect to the ball inlet 89A. The right side of the ball outlet 89B is connected to the front edge of the right wall portion 93 so as to be laterally extended. An extending front wall portion ( second wall portion) 97 is formed. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, when the front ball passage portion 89 is viewed from the front side of the front frame C, the left wall portion 94 is visually recognized through the ball outlet 89B, but the right wall The portion 93 is hidden by the front wall portion 97 and is not visible.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, and 14, the flange portion 92 of the front sphere passage portion 89 is formed in a substantially rectangular outer edge shape, and is installed on the left side of the opening 39 of the installation member 32. 40 from the front side. A plurality of (four in the embodiment) mounting bosses 98 extending rearward are formed on the rear surface of the flange portion 92, and from the rear side of the installation member 32 through the screw insertion holes formed in the installation recess 40. The front ball passage portion 89 is fixed to the installation member 32 by fastening the inserted screw to the rear end of each mounting boss 98. And the right side part of the collar part 92 is comprised integrally with the front wall part 97 mentioned above.

  The right wall 93 of the front sphere passage 89 is aligned with a sphere outlet (exit) 111 of the second ball outlet R2 as shown in FIGS. 11 (a), 11 (b) and 14. An opening 99 is formed. The opening 99 is formed at a position spaced rearward from the rear surface 97 </ b> A of the front wall portion 97, and is formed so as to open at the rear edge of the right wall portion 93. When the installation member 32 to which the front sphere passage portion 89 is attached is fixed to the lower frame portion 30B of the frame main body 30 of the front frame C, the opening 99 is formed at the ball outlet 111 of the second ball passage R2. The second ball outlet path R2 and the first ball outlet path R1 are spatially communicated with each other.

(Ball guide)
On the rear surface (back surface) 97A of the front wall portion 97, as shown in FIGS. 11B, 12 and 14, the right opening end of the ball outlet 89B from the opening 99 (the left end portion of the front wall portion 97). A sphere guiding portion 100 extending toward is provided. In other words, the sphere guiding portion 100 is provided at an inner corner defined by the front inner surface of the opening 99 in the right wall portion 93 and the rear surface 97A of the front wall portion 97. Specifically, the ball guiding portion 100 is composed of a plurality of (in the embodiment, five) plate-like rib pieces (convex portions) 101 that protrude into the front ball passageway 90 that constitutes the first ball passageway R1. ing. Each rib piece 101 is formed integrally with the front ball passage portion 89, and a guide surface 102 capable of receiving a game ball moving in the first ball passageway R 1 is a ball from the front opening end of the opening 99. It extends over the right opening end of the outlet 89B, and the guide surface 102 extends obliquely leftward as it goes forward. That is, each rib piece 101 has a substantially triangular shape when viewed from above (see FIG. 14). And each rib piece 101 is arrange | positioned for every required space up and down, and the groove-shaped clearance gap 103 is defined between the rib pieces 101 and 101 adjacent to the upper and lower sides.

(Second ball route)
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 to 14, the second ball outlet path R <b> 2 is a front ball passage portion that constitutes the first ball outlet path R <b> 1 from below the ball outlet 57 formed in the upper ball tray E. A spherical inflow port 110 formed to extend over the opening 99 formed in the right wall portion 93 of the 89 and located below the ball outlet 57 with the shutter 65 of the ball releasing unit 60 interposed therebetween; And a spherical outlet 111 that matches 99. The second ball passage R2 is formed in the first wall portion 112 formed integrally with the lower frame portion 30B of the frame body 30 constituting the front frame C, and the lid member 113 attached to the rear side of the lower frame portion 30B. The second wall portion 114 is formed. The second ball exit path R2 is formed so as to extend in a substantially L shape when viewed from the rear side, and the vertical ball exit path 115 extending downward from the upper ball tray E and the vertical ball It is comprised from the lower part of the exit path 115 and the horizontal ball exit path 116 extended in the left direction toward the confluence | merging part with 1st ball exit path R1.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 12, the first wall portion 112 protrudes forward from the front surface of the lower frame portion 30B of the frame body 30 and is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape that opens to the rear side of the lower frame portion 30B. Has been. Thereby, the 1st wall part 112 comprises three wall surfaces among the four wall surfaces in 2nd bulb | ball exit path R2 comprised by a rectangular tube shape. Further, as shown in FIG. 12, the second wall portion 114 is formed in a shape that covers a portion of the first wall portion 112 that is open on the rear surface of the lower frame portion 30 </ b> B, and is configured in a rectangular tube shape. The remaining one wall surface is comprised among the four wall surfaces in the ball exit path R2. The lid member 113 includes a screw insertion portion 113A in a flange portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the second wall portion 114, and a screw (not shown) inserted into the screw insertion portion 113A is attached to the bottom of the frame body 30. It is attached to the rear side of the lower frame part 30B by fastening to the tip of the mounting boss 117 protruding rearward from the back side of the frame part 30B.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 12, and 13, the vertical spherical passage 115 in the second spherical passage R <b> 2 extends from directly below the ball outlet 57 formed in the upper ball dish E to above the protruding portion 42. , Extends vertically downward in a straight line. Accordingly, the vertical ball passage 115 is configured so that the game ball dropped from the upper ball tray E through the ball outlet 57 by the ball removal operation of the ball removal unit 60 can be smoothly flowed down by the weight of the game ball. Has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 12, and 14, the horizontal sphere exit path 116 in the second sphere exit path R <b> 2 has an intermediate portion in the left-right direction curved downwardly along the upper edge of the projecting portion 42. The left part off the projecting part 42 is formed in a straight line that slightly falls to the left toward the opening 99. The horizontal ball passageway 116 extends from the lower part of the vertical ball passageway 115 toward the opening 99 so as to be slightly lowered to the left. Accordingly, the horizontal ball passageway 116 is configured to allow the game ball that has fallen vigorously on the vertical ball passageway 115 to pass through the first ball passageway R1 after being appropriately depressurized and decelerated.

(Operation of Example)
The pachinko machine P of the embodiment configured as described above is supplied from the upper ball tray E to the hitting ball launching device J via the ball feeding device K, and driven into the game area 27 of the game board D by the hitting ball launching device J. When the game balls thus won enter the start prize device, special prize device or ordinary prize device arranged in the game area 27, the main control board that comprehensively controls the pachinko machine P is used as a ball in the ball payout unit. The payout device is activated and a predetermined number of game balls are paid out as prize balls. When the upper ball tray E is not full of game balls, the game balls paid out from the ball payout portion are passed into the ball storage portion 55A of the upper ball tray E, and the ball storage portion It is temporarily stored in 55A. When the pachinko game is continued (when the ball removal operation by the ball removal unit 60 is not performed), the game balls stored in the upper ball tray E are guided from the ball alignment unit 55B to the ball feeder K. The ball is fired into the game area 27 of the game board D by the ball hitting device J.

  Then, in the game balls paid out from the ball payout unit during the pachinko game, the game balls that have spilled from the middle of the path from the ball payout unit to the upper ball tray E go to the first ball exit path R1 shown in FIG. You will be guided. The game ball that has moved from the ball payout section to the first ball exit path R1 side passes through the rear ball exit path 86 and the front ball exit path 90 that constitute the first ball exit path R1, and then the ball in the front ball passage section 89. It passes out of the ball storage part 70A of the lower ball tray F from the outlet 89B.

  Here, when the game ball moving in the first ball passageway R1 enters the front ball passageway 90 as shown in FIG. 14, it forms a ball guiding portion 100 provided in the frontball passage portion 89. The rib piece 101 comes into contact with the guide surface 102 as appropriate. Therefore, the game ball that has come into contact with the guide surface 102 of the rib piece 101 in the ball guiding portion 100 is turned to the ball outlet 89B side of the front ball passage portion 89, and to the lower ball tray F through the ball outlet 89B. Go out smoothly.

  On the other hand, when a ball removal operation is performed by the ball removal unit 60 in a state where game balls are stored in the upper ball tray E, the ball discharge port 57 of the upper ball tray E is closed as shown in FIG. When the shutter 65 is retracted leftward from the ball outlet 57, the ball outlet 57 is opened, so that the stored balls in the upper ball tray E are dropped downward from the ball outlet 57. Permissible. The game ball that has fallen from the ball outlet 57 flows down the vertical ball outlet 115 of the second ball outlet R2 through the ball inlet 110 of the second ball outlet R2, and then the second ball outlet. After moving to the left on the horizontal sphere exit path 116 of the exit path R2, the front sphere of the first sphere exit path R1 is passed through the ball outlet 111 of the second sphere exit path R2 and the opening 99 of the front sphere passage portion 89. It goes out into the passage 90. The game balls from the upper ball tray E that have passed into the first ball passage R1 are passed from the ball outlet 89B of the front ball passage portion 89 to the ball storage portion 70A of the lower ball tray F.

  Here, the game balls passed from the second ball exit path R2 into the first ball exit path R1 constitute a ball guiding portion 100 provided in the front ball exit path 90, as shown in FIG. The guide surface 102 of the rib piece 101 can be contacted. Therefore, the game ball that has come into contact with the guide surface 102 of the rib piece 101 in the ball guiding portion 100 is turned to the ball outlet 89B side of the front ball passage portion 89, and to the lower ball tray F through the ball outlet 89B. Go out smoothly.

  Further, in the pachinko machine P of the embodiment, the ball passage outlet 89B of the front ball passage portion 89 is formed to be shifted to the left with respect to the ball passage inlet 89A of the front ball passage portion. The right wall portion 93 is configured to be hidden from the front side by a front wall portion 97 formed on the right side of the ball outlet 89B. Accordingly, the sphere outlet 111 of the second sphere outlet R2 formed so as to merge with the first sphere outlet R1 is formed by the front wall portion 97 provided on the front side (downstream side) of the sphere outlet 111. Since it is hidden, the position of the ball outlet 111 cannot be easily confirmed from the ball outlet 89B. Accordingly, in the pachinko machine P according to the embodiment, the second ball exit path R2 has a foreign object 120 such as a wire from the ball exit 89B of the first ball exit path R1 to the second ball exit path R2 via the ball outlet 111. It can be prevented from being used as a clue to cheating to insert.

  In addition, the ball guiding portion 100 provided on the rear side of the front wall portion 97 is configured by a plurality of rib pieces 101 that are vertically separated, and a groove-like gap 103 is defined between the rib pieces 101 and 101. It is made. As a result, as shown in FIG. 15, the tip of the foreign matter 120 such as a wire inserted from the ball outlet 89B of the first ball outlet path R1 is easily caught on the rib piece 101 in the ball guiding portion 100, and the opening 99 and It is possible to make it difficult for the foreign matter 120 to enter the second ball outlet path via the ball outlet 111.

  In addition, the second ball exit path R2 is inserted from the ball exit 89B of the first ball exit path R1 because the vertical sphere exit path 115 and the horizontal sphere exit path 116 are connected at substantially right angles. Even if the foreign matter 120 enters the second spherical passageway R2 through the opening 99 and the ball outlet 111, the tip of the foreign matter 120 is pulled at the bent portion of the horizontal spherical passageway 116 and the vertical spherical passageway 115. As a result, the foreign matter 120 can be prevented from reaching the upper ball tray E through the vertical ball passage 115.

(Change example)
The gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to the embodiment exemplified in the embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
(1) The second ball passage R2 may be formed in a state of protruding rearward with respect to the lower frame portion 30B of the frame body 30 of the front frame C. That is, the first wall portion 112 bulges behind the lower frame portion 30B, and the lid member 113 is attached to a portion opened to the front side of the lower frame portion 30B, thereby forming the second ball outlet path R2. . Thus, the second ball outlet path R2 protruding to the rear side of the lower frame portion 30B has its ball outlet 111 aligned with the right wall portion of the middle sphere passage portion 87. By providing an opening in the right wall portion that is aligned with the ball outlet 111 of the second bulb outlet R2, the second bulb outlet R2 can be joined to the first bulb outlet R1.
(2) The second ball passage R <b> 2 may be formed in the lower frame portion 30 </ b> B of the frame body 30 so as to merge with the upper wall portion 95 of the front ball passage portion 89. Thus, when it comprises so that 2nd ball | bowl outflow path R2 may join the upper wall part 95 of the front sphere channel | path part 89, the front wall part 97 is provided so that it may adjoin to the upper opening edge of the ball | bowl outlet 89B. Thus, the ball outlet 111 of the second ball outlet R2 opened to the first ball outlet R1 can be hidden by the front wall portion 97.
(3) The 1st wall part 112 which comprises 2nd ball exit path R2 may be comprised separately from the frame main body 30 of the front frame C. FIG. When the second ball passage R2 is separated from the frame main body 30 of the front frame C, the first wall portion 112 and the second wall portion 114 may be assembled to the frame main body 30 or the frame main body 30. It is possible to implement as a form of assembling to the upper ball tray E and the front ball passage portion 89 without assembling.
(4) The cylindrical portion 91 of the front spherical passage portion 89 extends rearwardly through the middle spherical passage portion 87 of the lower frame portion 30B of the frame main body 30, and the rear end edge of the cylindrical portion 91 is rearward. The rear ball passage portion 85 and the front ball passage portion 89 may define the first ball outlet passage R <b> 1 so as to contact the periphery of the ball passage 85 </ b> B of the ball passage portion 85.
(5) Although the pachinko machine as a gaming machine is shown in the embodiment, the gaming machine is not limited to a pachinko machine, and may be an arrangement ball machine, a slot machine, or the like.

60 ball removal unit (ball removal means), 89B ball outlet, 93 right wall (first wall)
97 Front wall portion ( second wall portion), 100 sphere guiding portion, 101 rib piece (convex portion), 103 gap 111 sphere outlet (outlet), 115 vertical sphere outlet, 116 horizontal sphere outlet, 120 foreign matter E Ball tray (upper sphere reservoir), F Lower sphere tray (lower sphere reservoir), R1 1st ball exit path R2 2nd ball exit path

Claims (3)

An upper ball storage unit that is configured to be able to store game balls paid out from the ball payout unit, and that can supply the stored game balls to a ball hitting device,
A lower sphere reservoir that is provided below the upper sphere reservoir and is capable of storing game balls;
A first ball exit path that guides the game balls spilled from the path from the ball payout portion to the upper ball storage portion to the lower ball storage portion through a ball outlet opening in the lower ball storage portion;
The upper sphere storage section and the lower sphere storage section are formed to communicate with each other, and the game balls stored in the upper sphere storage section are guided to the lower sphere storage section in accordance with the ball extraction operation of the ball extraction means. With two ball passages,
It said second ball through Detchi, in the first wall portion formed so as to extend to the upstream side of the first ball through Detchi from a position spaced laterally from the ball through the outlet, downstream of the first wall portion An outlet is formed so as to join the first ball passage at a position spaced upstream from the end edge ,
Gaming machine, characterized in that between the downstream end edge of the end portion and the first wall portion of the bulb through the outlet, the second wall portion to conceal said second ball through Detchi the exit is provided. An upper ball storage unit that is configured to be able to store game balls paid out from the ball payout unit, and that can supply the stored game balls to a ball hitting device,
A lower sphere reservoir that is provided below the upper sphere reservoir and is capable of storing game balls;
A first ball exit path for guiding a game ball spilled from a path from the ball payout portion to the upper ball storage portion to the lower ball storage portion;
The upper sphere storage section and the lower sphere storage section are formed to communicate with each other, and the game balls stored in the upper sphere storage section are guided to the lower sphere storage section in accordance with the ball extraction operation of the ball extraction means. With two ball passages,
The second ball outlet path is formed with an outlet so that the first ball outlet path merges with the first ball outlet path at a position spaced upstream of the ball outlet opening opened in the lower sphere reservoir.
On the downstream side of the outlet of the second ball outlet path, a wall portion that protrudes from the inside of the first ball outlet path and hides the outlet is provided,
On the back surface of the wall portion, a ball guiding portion extending from the outlet toward the end of the ball outlet is provided,
The ball guiding portion includes a plurality of convex portions that protrude into the first ball outlet path and are arranged vertically at predetermined intervals, and a gap defined between the convex portions is defined by the ball outlet and outlet. The tip of a foreign object inserted from the top is easily hooked
A gaming machine characterized by that . The second ball exit path includes a vertical sphere exit path extending downward from the upper sphere reservoir and a horizontal sphere exit path extending laterally from the lower portion of the vertical sphere exit path toward the exit. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

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