JP6462279B2 - Game ball sorting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball sorting device for a gaming machine that plays a game by driving a game ball into the front of a game board.

  Conventionally, a game ball is driven into the front of the game board, and after the taken game ball is taken in from the entrance, a drop passage formed in the main body of the device is dropped, and a mechanism that does not use electric power is used from either the left or right exit. There is a gaming machine provided with a ball sorter that discharges to the front of the game board again. Many ball sorting apparatuses are configured so that the distribution ratio from the left and right outlets is substantially equal (1/2), but in recent years, the distribution ratio is a predetermined value other than one-half. A ball sorter that sorts by ratio has also been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2014-124363 A

  The ball sorting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above includes a sprocket-like feed gear 15 provided with a plurality of ball housing portions 18 provided at the upper portion of the drop passage 12 and receiving a game ball entered from the entrance 3. A left second gear 37 and a right second gear 38 that are respectively meshed with the left first gear 35 and the right first gear 36 that are integrally formed on both side surfaces of the feed gear 15 are disposed separately on the left and right sides. The left lever 16 that opens and closes the left outlet 4 and the right lever 17 that opens and closes the right outlet 5 are rotated by the rotation of the second left gear 37 and the right second gear 38 in conjunction with the rotation of the feed gear 15 based on the reception. The game balls are distributed at a distribution ratio other than half by changing the state, and the left and right first gears 35 and 36 constituting the mechanism unit 11 for mechanically determining the distribution ratio and the left and right second gears. Gear 37, 3 And the engagement between the left and right second gears 37 and 38 and the left and right levers 16 and 17, especially for the configuration of the engagement between the left and right first gears 35 and 36 and the left and right second gears 37 and 38. However, the game ball is easily worn out in the situation in which the feed gear 15 is rotated, is not durable, and is prone to failure. In addition, since the number of parts constituting the mechanism unit 11 is large, the ball sorting apparatus is increased in size, and there is a disadvantage that the installation position of the game board is restricted and the degree of freedom in designing the gaming machine is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a gaming ball sorting device that is durable and that can distribute gaming balls without reducing the degree of freedom in designing gaming machines.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the invention according to claim 1 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS.
In a game ball sorting device (ball sorting device 10) that receives a game ball that has been driven into the game area (game area 3) and distributes it to either the left or right path (left guide path 17, right guide path 18),
An entrance (accepting entrance 12) capable of accepting game balls;
A downflow passage (downflow passage 16) through which the game ball received at the reception port flows down;
A plurality of depressions (depressions 21e) for receiving the game balls flowing down the downflow passage are provided, and the weight of the game balls received by the depressions at the receiving position in the downflow passage among the plurality of depressions. A rotating member (ball feeding member 21) that rotates over a predetermined angle to guide the game ball below the downflow passage,
A rotation restricting member (weight retaining member 24) that is held in a recessed portion at a predetermined position different from the receiving position among the plurality of recessed portions of the rotating member and restricts the rotation of the rotating member by its own weight; ,
Permissible state provided in each of the left and right passages and allowing the game ball guided from the rotating member to enter the passage (the upper edge portion of the first restricting portion 22c and the upper end portion of the left guide passage 17) And the lower position of the left restricting member 22 with the gap (the gap at the entrance of the left guide passage 17) equal to or greater than the outer dimensions of the game ball, the upper edge of the second restrictor 23c and the upper end of the right guide passage 18 A gap (a lower position of the right regulating member 23 having a gap at the entrance of the right guide passage 18) equal to or larger than the outer dimensions of the game ball) and an obstructing state (first regulating portion) that inhibits the entry of the game ball into the passage. The upper position of the left restricting member 22 where the gap between the upper edge of 22c and the upper end of the left guide passage 17 (the gap at the entrance of the left guide passage 17) is less than the outer dimensions of the game ball, the second restricting portion 23c A gap between the upper edge and the upper end of the right guide passage 18 (the right guide passage 18 An upper position) and allows the change of the right and left of the regulating member of the right regulating member 23 to the inlet portion of the gap) smaller than outer dimensions of the game ball (left regulating member 22, the right regulating member 23), provided with,
The rotation restricting member allows rotation of the rotating member until it is held in a hollow portion adjacent to the hollow portion at the predetermined position when one game ball is received in the receiving port,
In the rotating member, one of the right and left restricting members is changed to the permissible state with respect to the rotation state by the recessed portion excluding one recessed portion among the plurality of recessed portions, and the other A first changing portion (right restricted state changing portion 21c) capable of changing the restricting member to the inhibition state, and a rotation state of the left and right restricting members with respect to a rotation state by the one recessed portion among the plurality of recessed portions. A second changing portion (left restricted state changing portion 21b) capable of changing the other restricting member to the allowed state and changing the one restricting member to the inhibited state is integrally formed. To do.

  In the invention which concerns on Claim 1, while rotating a rotation member over a predetermined angle with the weight of the game ball received by the hollow part, one hollow part is made among several hollow parts of a rotation member. A first changing part capable of changing one of the right and left restricting members to an allowable state and changing the other restricting member to an obstructed state with respect to the rotation state by the recessed part, and among the plurality of recessed parts A second changing unit that can change one of the right and left restricting members to an allowable state and change one restricting member to an obstructed state with respect to the rotational state of one recess, and is integrally formed with the rotational member. Because it is formed, it is possible to distribute the game balls to any one of the left and right passages at a ratio other than one-half without using an electric drive source, and it is durable because the mechanism by meshing between gears is eliminated As the performance improves Facilitates the compactness of the game ball sorter by lower goods number, the degree of freedom regarding the installation position of the ball sorting apparatus 10 can be enhanced and thus the degree of freedom in the gaming machine design.

It is a front view of a game board. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the ball distribution device from the diagonally upper left direction. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of distribution of the game ball by a ball distribution apparatus. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of distribution of the game ball by a ball distribution apparatus.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a front view of the game board 1. In the figure, a game board 1 is provided with a guide rail 2 for guiding a game ball launched by a launching device, and a substantially circular range surrounded by the guide rail 2 constitutes a game area 3 as is well known. ing. In the game area 3 of the game board 1, a center accessory 4 provided in the game area 3 for restricting the entry of game balls, a symbol display device 5, an electric chew type winning device 6, a winning mouth 7, a gate 8, There are provided an openable winning device 9, a ball sorting device 10, an obstacle nail (not shown) for dropping the game ball irregularly, and the like.

  The center accessory 4 moves into the game area 3 again from the center accessory 4 by rolling the game ball that has entered the inner area from the warp path 4a that allows the game ball to enter the inner area. The stage 4b, the groove 4c provided on the stage 4b for guiding the game ball to the discharge port 4d described later, and the game ball guided from the groove 4c are discharged from substantially right above the electric chew type winning device 6. A discharge port 4d for entering the chew type winning device 6 with a high probability is provided.

  The ball sorting device 10 guides a game ball that has entered the ball to one of a first guide port 13 and a second guide port 14 to be described later. The second guide port 14 enters the warp passage 4a. It is connected. That is, when a game ball enters the ball sorting apparatus 10, the center role is provided via the first guide port 13 for entering the game area 3 again without entering the inner area of the center object 4 and the warp passage 4a. The second guide port 14 that enters the inside region of the object 4 is distributed to one of the two.

  In addition, the center accessory 4 has a space with a width that allows only one game ball to circulate between the approximate center of the upper side in the left-right direction and the inner peripheral surface of the game area 3 (the inner surface of the guide rail 2). It is arranged to be formed. For this reason, when the game ball is driven along the guide rail 2 to the left in front view rather than the center in the left-right direction at the upper part of the center accessory 4 (so-called left-handed), the center accessory 4 in the game area 3 is viewed from the front. While the game ball flows down in the game area 3 on the left side, the game ball is driven along the guide rail 2 to the right in the front view from the center in the left-right direction at the upper part of the center accessory 4 (so-called right hit). Then, the game balls flow down into the game area 3 on the right side of the center accessory 4 in the game area 3.

  Only a game ball that is driven to the right of the front view from the center in the left-right direction in the upper part of the center accessory 4 can pass through the gate 8 and can enter the openable winning device 9. . On the other hand, only a game ball that is driven to the left of the front view from the center in the left-right direction at the top of the center accessory 4 can enter the inner region of the center accessory 4 via the warp passage 4a. In addition, a game ball that has been driven to the left in the front view from the center in the left-right direction at the top of the center accessory 4 and a game ball that has been driven to the right in the front view from the center in the left-right direction at the top of the center accessory 4 Both of these can enter the electric-chu winning device 6.

  Further, in the gaming machine of this example, all the game balls thrown into the left of the front view from the center in the left-right direction at the upper part of the center accessory 4 enter the ball sorting device 10, and the ball sorting is performed. The game balls received in the device 10 are distributed to the first guide port 13 and the second guide port 14 at a ratio determined in advance by the mechanism unit 20 that does not use electric power. Hereinafter, the ball sorting apparatus 10 will be described in detail. The placement positions of the electric chew type winning device 6, the winning port 7, the gate 8, the open / close type winning device 9, the ball sorting device 10 and the like shown in FIG. It can arrange | position in the position of.

  FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the ball sorting apparatus 10 as viewed from the front left obliquely upward direction. As shown in FIG. 2, the ball sorter 10 has a base member 11 having a through-hole 11 a that is hollowed in the front-rear direction at a central portion, and a mechanism portion 20 attached to the base member 11 from the back side. The back box 19 (back box left 19a, back box right 19b) is attached to the front surface of the back box 19 and inserted into the through-hole 11a of the base member 11 so as to protrude forward of the base member 11, and The front decoration 15 forms an inverted Y-shaped passage through which the game ball flows down on the front surface.

  The base member 11 has a receiving port 12 for receiving a game ball at an upper position thereof, a first guide port 13 for allowing the game ball received in the receiving port 12 below the receiving port 12 to enter the game area 3 again, and And a second guide port 14 for allowing a game ball received in the receiving port 12 to enter the warp passage 4a below the receiving port 12. In addition, by installing the detection means 27 at the receiving port 12, it is possible to grasp that the game ball has been received by the ball sorting apparatus 10 and the number of game balls received by the ball sorting apparatus 10. Thus, by installing the detection means 27 at the first guide port 13, the game ball has entered the game area 3 again, and the game ball of the game balls received by the ball sorting apparatus 10 has entered the game area 3 again. It becomes possible to grasp the number of game balls and the like, and by installing the detection means 27 at the second guide port 14, the game ball has entered the warp passage 4a and has been received by the ball sorting apparatus 10. It becomes possible to grasp the number of game balls that have entered the warp passage 4a among the game balls.

  In addition, based on the detection of the game ball by the detection means 27 installed in the receiving port 12, the first induction port 13, and the second induction port 14, a predetermined effect is produced by the symbol display device 5, a light emitting means such as a lamp, LED, or the like. Or the detection result (number, etc.) may be output to the hall management computer outside the gaming machine for management. The detection means 27 is not required to be installed, but it is possible to collect necessary information when the detection means 27 is installed for the purpose of reflecting the detection result in the production or managing by the hall management computer. May be installed as appropriate at any position, and any one or more (or all) of the receiving port 12, the first guide port 13, and the second guide port 14 may be installed.

  The front decoration 15 is connected to the receiving port 12 of the base member 11 to flow down the game ball received at the receiving port 12 (see FIGS. 3 and 4), and the game ball flowing down the flow down channel 16 is the first A left guide passage 17 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that leads to one guide port 13, a right guide passage 18 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) that guides a game ball that has flowed down the flow-down passage 16 to the second guide port 14, The back portion is partitioned so as to form a reverse Y-shaped passage in the front portion of the base member 11. The front decoration 15 has a shape with an opening at the back, and is attached to the front surface of the back box 19 so that the back box 19 closes most of the opening (a part of the back box 19 excluding a notch 19c described later). Thus, the game balls received at the receiving port 12 are prevented from coming out of the ball sorting apparatus 10.

  The back box 19 is formed by fitting the back box left 19a and the back box right 19b, and the mechanism unit 20 is disposed therein. Further, the back box left 19a and the back box right 19b are each formed with a notch 19c in the front part, and a part of later-described regulating members 22 and 23 of the mechanism part 20 protrude from the notch 19c. It has become. Further, inside the back box left 19a and the back box right 19b, a plurality of shaft pin holding holes 19d to 19f for holding a plurality of shaft pins 25 (shaft pins 25a to 25c) described later of the mechanism unit 20, respectively, A weight member holding hole 19g for holding a weight member 26 to be described later is formed. The shaft pin 25a is a shaft pin holding hole 19d, the shaft pin 25b is a shaft pin holding hole 19e, and the shaft pin 25c is a shaft pin holding hole. The shaft box 25 and the weight member 26 are connected to the back box 19 by fitting the back box left 19a and the back box right 19b so that the weight member 26 is inserted into the weight member holding hole 19g. The mechanism portion 20 is held inside the back box 19 by being sandwiched between the two. The weight member holding hole 19g has a substantially oval shape obtained by extending a circular hole in a predetermined direction, and allows the weight member 26 to slide in a predetermined direction.

  The mechanism unit 20 distributes the game balls received at the receiving port 12 to the first guide port 13 and the second guide port 14 according to the weight of the game ball without using electric power, and a part of the game unit flows down. The game balls arranged so as to protrude into the passage 16 and received by the receiving port 12 are received by the flow-down passage 16, and then rotated by a predetermined angle depending on the weight of the game balls and sent to the downstream side of the flow-down passage 16. A ball feeding member 21 that sends out to either the left guide passage 17 or the right guide passage 18 and a left guide passage 17 of a game ball that is arranged on the left side of the ball feed member 21 in front view and sent out from the ball feed member 21 A left restricting member 22 that restricts entry of the game ball, and a right restricting member 23 that is disposed on the right side of the ball feeding member 21 in front view and restricts entry of the game ball sent from the ball feeding member 21 into the right guide passage 18. In the downflow passage 16 A weight holding member 24 that is provided at the upper rear of the ball feeding member 21 so as not to hinder the flow of the technical ball and restricts the rotation of the ball feeding member 21, and supports the ball feeding member 21 in the shaft pin holding hole 19 d. A shaft pin 25a inserted and sandwiched between the back box 19 and a shaft pin 25b that pivotally supports the left restricting member 22 and the right restricting member 23 and is inserted into the shaft pin holding hole 19e and sandwiched between the back box 19 and A shaft pin 25c that pivotally supports the weight holding member 24 and is inserted into the shaft pin holding hole 19f and is sandwiched by the back box 19, and is held by the weight holding member 24 and is slidable within the weight member holding hole 19g. And a weight member 26 sandwiched between the back box 19 and the back box 19.

  The ball feed member 21 has a shaft hole 21a into which the shaft pin 25a is inserted, a shaft hole 21a formed in a part thereof, and is integrally formed on the left side of the ball feed part 21 as viewed from the front, and is convex in a part of a circle. (Left regulation state changing part 21b formed to have a (convex part), and a shaft hole 21a is formed in part, and is integrally formed in the right side part of the ball feeding part 21 as viewed from the front and recessed in part of the circle. A right regulation state changing portion 21c formed to have a shape (concave portion), a plurality of partition portions 21d formed at equal intervals on the peripheral edge, and one game ball between each of the plurality of partition portions 21d A plurality of indentations 21e formed so as to accommodate (hold) a part thereof. Further, a part of the ball feeding member 21 protrudes forward from the notch 19 c of the back box 19 in front view, and a part of the ball feeding member 21 is attached to the base member 11 of the back box 19. Projecting into the flow-down passage 16 formed in front of the base member 11 from the penetrating portion 11a, a clearance in the front-rear direction of the flow-down passage 16 is provided to be less than the outer diameter of the game ball. The game ball that flows down always comes into contact with the ball feeding member 21.

  Further, in this example, eight partition portions 21d are formed at the peripheral edge portion of the ball feeding member 21, and a recess portion 21e is formed between each of the eight partition portions 21d. That is, eight partition portions 21 d and eight recess portions 21 e are formed on the peripheral portion of the ball feeding member 21. Then, when the game ball flowing down the flow-down passage 16 by being received in the receiving port 12 is received by the ball feeding member 21, the ball pin 21a into which the ball feeding member 21 is inserted into the shaft hole 21a is loaded by the weight of the game ball. It rotates in the forward direction of the front view (downward direction of the front view) as a rotation axis. Thus, in the ball sorting apparatus 10 of this example, the game ball itself received in the receiving port 12 can enter the lower part of the ball feeding member 21 in the flow-down passage 16 by rotating the ball feeding member 21 with its weight. It is like that.

  The left restricting member 22 is formed in an L shape having a short side direction in the front view, and is formed in a short portion of the rear part in the front view, and the shaft hole 22a into which the shaft pin 25b is inserted, and the shaft hole 22a. A first protruding portion 22b that protrudes diagonally upward from the front view from the front to form a short portion of the left restricting member 22, and a first restricting portion 22c that is formed at the front end portion of the left restricting member 22 in the longitudinal direction. ,have. The left restricting member 22 has a part (mainly the first restricting portion 22 c) that protrudes forward from the notch 19 c of the back box 19 in a front view and is attached to the base member 11 of the back box 19. A part of 22 (mainly the first restricting portion 22 c) is provided so as to protrude from the penetrating portion 11 a of the base member 11 into the flow-down passage 16 formed in front of the base member 11. Further, in the assembled state of the ball sorter 10, the tip portion of the first projecting portion 22b is provided so as to contact the left restricted state changing portion 21b formed on the left side of the ball feeding portion 21 when viewed from the front. It is provided so as to regulate the flow direction of the game ball by changing the contact position of the first projecting portion 22b in the left restricted state changing portion 21b according to the rotation operation of the feed member 21. Specifically, the first restricting portion 22c is provided so as to be swingable in the vertical direction when viewed from the front with the shaft pin 25b inserted into the shaft hole 22a as the left restricting member 22, and the left end of the first projecting portion 22b and the left Left guide by rotating the first restriction portion 22c upward in front view by rotating in the front view upward direction with the shaft pin 25b inserted into the shaft hole 22a by contact with the convex portion of the restriction state changing portion 21b. A gap between the upper edge of the first restricting portion 22c and the upper end of the left guide passage 17 (a gap at the entrance portion of the left guide passage 17) so as to inhibit the entry of the game ball into the passage 17 is the outer shape of the game ball. The shaft pin 25b to be inserted into the shaft hole 22a by the contact between the upper position of the left restricting member 22 that is less than the size, the tip portion of the first projecting portion 22b, and the portion other than the convex portion of the left restricting state changing portion 21b. The first restricting portion 22 rotates as a shaft in a downward direction in front view. Is moved downward in front view to allow the game ball to enter the left guide passage 17 so that the gap between the upper edge portion of the first restricting portion 22c and the upper end portion of the left guide passage 17 (the left guide passage 17 Can be changed to a lower position of the left restricting member 22 in which the clearance of the entrance portion of the game ball is equal to or larger than the outer dimensions of the game ball.

  The right restricting member 23 is formed in an L shape having a short side direction in the front view, and is formed in a short portion of the rear portion in the front view, and the shaft hole 23a into which the shaft pin 25b is inserted, and the shaft hole 23a. A second protruding portion 23b that protrudes obliquely upward from the front side of the front view to form a short portion of the right regulating member 23, and a second regulating portion 23c that is formed at the front end portion of the right regulating member 23 in the longitudinal direction. ,have. The right restricting member 23 has a part (mainly the second restricting portion 23 c) that protrudes forward from the notch 19 c of the back box 19 in the front view and is attached to the base member 11 of the back box 19. A part of 23 (mainly the second restricting portion 23 c) is provided so as to protrude from the penetrating portion 11 a of the base member 11 into the flow-down passage 16 formed in front of the base member 11. Further, in the assembled state of the ball sorter 10, the tip portion of the second projecting portion 23b is provided so as to abut on a right restricted state changing portion 21c formed on the right side portion of the ball feeding portion 21 when viewed from the front. By changing the contact position of the second projecting portion 23b in the right restricted state changing portion 21c according to the rotation operation of the feed member 21, the flow direction of the game ball is regulated. Specifically, the second restricting portion 23c is provided so that the right restricting member 23 can swing in the vertical direction when viewed from the front with the shaft pin 25b inserted into the shaft hole 23a as an axis. By rotating the second restricting portion 23c upward in front view by rotating the shaft pin 25b inserted into the shaft hole 23a as a shaft by contact with a portion other than the concave portion of the restricting state changing portion 21c. A game ball is formed in a gap between the upper edge portion of the second restricting portion 23c and the upper end portion of the right guide passage 18 (a gap at the entrance of the right guide passage 18) so as to inhibit the entry of the game ball into the right guide passage 18. When viewed from the front, the shaft pin 25b is inserted into the shaft hole 23a as a result of the contact between the upper position that is less than the outer dimension of the second protrusion 23b and the recess of the right restricting state changing portion 21c. Rotate to move the second restricting portion 23c downward in the front view The gap between the upper edge portion of the second restricting portion 23c and the upper end portion of the right guide passage 18 (gap at the entrance portion of the right guide passage 18) so as to allow the game ball to enter the right guide passage 18 by being moved. ) Can be changed to a lower position that is equal to or larger than the outer dimensions of the game ball.

  It should be noted that the left restricting member 22 and the right restricting member 23 operate separately, and the right restricting member 22 is placed in the upper position to obstruct the entry of the game ball into the left guide passage 17. The member 23 is in the lower position to allow the game ball to enter the right guide passage 18, and the left restricting member 22 is in the lower position to allow the game ball to enter the left guide passage 17. If so, the right restricting member 23 is in the upper position, and the entry of the game ball into the right guide passage 18 is inhibited. That is, in the state where the tip portion of the first protrusion 22b and the convex portion of the left restriction state changing portion 21b are in contact, the tip portion of the second protrusion 23b and the concave portion of the right restriction state changing portion 21c are in contact. In a state where the tip portion of the first protruding portion 22b and the portion other than the convex portion of the left restricted state changing portion 21b are in contact with each other, the tip portion of the second protruding portion 23b and the concave portion of the right restricted state changing portion 21c The left restricted state changing portion 21b and the right restricted state changing portion 21c are formed on the left and right sides of the ball feed member 21 so as to have a positional relationship in which the portion is in contact with each other.

  The weight holding member 24 has a shape in which two cylindrical members having different outer diameters are connected in the front-rear direction and a shaft hole formed in a cylindrical portion in the rear part of the front view and into which the shaft pin 25c is inserted. 24a and a weight holding hole 24b that is formed in the cylindrical portion of the front portion in a front view and into which the weight member 26 is inserted. In this example, the cylindrical portion into which the shaft pin 25c is inserted is formed with an outer diameter smaller than the cylindrical portion into which the weight member 26 is inserted, and the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion into which the weight member 26 is inserted is substantially the same as that of the game ball. Similar (or slightly smaller). The weight holding member 24 is housed (held) in the recess 21e of the ball feeding member 21, and the ball feeding member 21 is pressed by the weight of the weight member 26 inserted into the weight holding hole 24b to rotate the ball feeding member 21. And the single rotation operation of the ball feeding member 21 based on the fact that one game ball is received in the receiving port 12 is a portion of the recess 21e formed at equal intervals on the peripheral edge of the ball feeding member 21. The weight holding member 24 is allowed to be accommodated (held) in the adjacent hollow portion 21e. In other words, one rotation operation of the ball feeding member 21 based on the reception of one game ball at the receiving port 12 holds the weight among the eight recesses 21e formed at the peripheral edge of the ball feeding member 21. Only 45 degrees until the weight holding member 24 is accommodated (held) in another recess 21e adjacent to the recess 21e in which the member 24 is accommodated (held) is allowed.

  In this example, when the weight holding member 24 is accommodated (held) in one predetermined hollow portion 21e among the eight hollow portions 21e formed on the peripheral edge portion of the ball feeding member 21. Only the front end portion of the first projecting portion 22b and the convex portion of the left restricting state changing portion 21b are in contact with each other, and the front end portion of the second projecting portion 23b and the concave portion of the right restricting state changing portion 21c are in contact with each other. The entrance of the game ball into the right guide passage 18 is inhibited and the weight holding member 24 is accommodated (held) in the seven recessed portions 21e other than the predetermined one recessed portion 21e. In this case, the tip portion of the first projecting portion 22b and a portion other than the convex portion of the left restricted state changing portion 21b abut, and the tip portion of the second projecting portion 23b and the portion other than the recessed portion of the right restricting state changing portion 21c The advancing game ball to the right guide passage 18 It is adapted to induce the left guide channel 17 to inhibit. That is, most (7/8) of the game balls received by the ball sorting apparatus 10 are guided to the left guide passage 17, and one game ball is received every eight game balls received by the ball sorting apparatus 10 ( 1/8) of the game ball is guided to the right guide passage 18.

  Further, as described above, the recess 21e of the ball feeding member 21 is formed to have a size that can accommodate (hold) only one game ball, and a plurality of game balls are placed in the receiving port 12 in a short period of time. Even when it is received, the ball feeding member 21 feeds those game balls one by one downward. That is, the ball feeding member 21 is rotated once (45 degrees) with respect to one game ball received in the receiving port 12, and eight game balls are received in the receiving port 12. Thus, the ball feeding member 21 is rotated once when the rotating operation is performed eight times. The weight of the weight member 26 in this example is set to be lighter than the weight of one game ball. However, the weight of the weight member 26 is not limited to this, and the rotation of the ball feeding member 21 described above. What is necessary is just to set suitably so that regulation of this may be implement | achieved. Further, the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion into which the weight member 26 is inserted is not limited to substantially the same as that of the game ball, but may be an outer diameter that can be accommodated in the recessed portion 21e of the ball feeding member 21.

  Assembling of the ball sorting apparatus 10 composed of the above-described plural types of members is performed as follows. First, the shaft pin 25 a is inserted into the shaft pin holding hole 19 d of the ball feed member 21, the shaft pin holding hole 19 e is inserted into the shaft hole 22 a of the left restricting member 22 and the shaft hole 23 a of the right restricting member 23, and the shaft hole of the weight holding member 24. With the shaft pin 25c inserted in the weight holding member 24 and the weight member 26 inserted in the weight holding hole 24b of the weight holding member 24, the shaft pin 25a is inserted into the shaft pin holding hole 19d, the shaft pin 25b is inserted into the shaft pin holding hole 19e, 25c is inserted into the shaft pin holding hole 19f, and the back box left 19a and the back box 19b are fitted together so that the weight member 26 is inserted into the weight member holding hole 19g. Hold.

  Next, the front decoration 15 is assembled on the front surface of the back box 19, and the front decoration 15 is inserted into the penetration portion 11 a of the base member 11 from the back of the base member 11 to the back box 19 with the front decoration 15 assembled. The ball sorting apparatus 10 is assembled by protruding forward and fixing the back box 19 to the base member 11. The ball sorting apparatus 10 assembled in this manner is fixed to the game board 1 with screws, screws or the like, and guides the received game ball to either the first guide port 13 or the second guide port 14. .

  A plurality of positioning holes 19h are formed on the front surface of the back box 19, and a plurality of positioning protrusions 15a are formed on the back surface of the front decoration 15 so as to correspond to the plurality of positioning holes 19h. That is, the front decoration 15 is assembled to the back box 19 by inserting the plurality of positioning protrusions 15 a of the front decoration 15 into the corresponding positioning holes 19 among the plurality of positioning holes 19 formed on the front surface of the back box 19. Further, since the front decoration 15 and the back box 19 are assembled only by inserting the positioning projections 15a into the positioning holes 19, the front decoration 15 can be easily removed from the back box 19 in the state as it is. A fixing projection 11b is formed below the front surface of the base member 11 so as to contact the lower front portion of the front decoration 15 and prevent the front decoration 15 from moving in the front direction. Since the mounting portion 11c that contacts the lower rear portion 19 and prevents the base member 11 from falling off is formed, the front decoration 15 is assembled in front of the back box 19, and then these are mounted on the base member 11. Thus, the front decoration 15 is prevented from falling off the back box 19.

  Also, a sensor holding portion 12a that is formed in each of the receiving port 12, the first guide port 13, and the second guide port 14 so that a detecting means 27 such as a sensor or a switch that detects the passage of the game ball can be installed. 13a and 14a are comprised so that the detection means 27 can be attached or detached in the assembly | attachment state (state which assembled | attached without disassembling the ball sorting apparatus 10).

  Next, referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the operation state of the mechanism unit 20 when the game ball received by the ball sorting device 10 is released from the first guide port 13 and the game ball is released from the second guide port 14. The operation state of the mechanism unit 20 in the case of FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an operation state of the mechanism unit 20 when the game ball received by the ball sorting apparatus 10 is guided to the left guide passage 17 and released from the first guide port 13. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state of the mechanism part 20 in the case of guide | inducing the game ball accepted by the ball distribution apparatus 10 to the right guide path 18, and discharge | releases it from the 2nd guide port 14. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the ball sorter 10 is connected to a lower passage 16 formed at the center in the left-right direction of the front view so as to extend from the receiving port 12 in the vertical direction of the front view, and a lower portion of the lower passage 16. The left guide passage 17 formed from the position extending from the downflow passage 16 in the left direction in the front view to the first guide port 13 positioned in the vertical direction in the front view is connected to the lower portion of the downflow passage 16 and is connected to the lower flow passage 16. A right guide passage 18 formed from a position extending in the right direction in the front view to the second guide port 14 positioned in the vertical direction in the front view. Further, in the ball sorting apparatus 10, the ball feeding member 21 flows down from a predetermined position at an upper portion not connected to the left guide passage 17 and the right guide passage 18 of the flow down passage 16 and is connected to the left guide passage 17 and the right guide passage 18. It is provided at the central portion of the flow-down passage 16 in the left-right direction in the front view so as to inhibit the entry of the game ball into the lower portion of the passage 16, and is provided so as to be able to rotate in the vertical direction in the front view.

  The left restricting member 22 is held so that the first restricting portion 22c is in the lower position, while the right restricting member 23 is held so that the second restricting portion 23c is in the upper position. The game ball received in (FIG. 3 (A)) first flows down the flow-down passage 16 and is received by the ball feeding member 21, and is accommodated (held) in the recess 21e (FIG. 3 (B)). When the ball feeding member 21 is stopped without rotating, at least one of the plurality of partition portions 21d provided on the peripheral edge protrudes into the flow-down passage 16 and protrudes into the flow-down passage 16. Since the gap between the front end portion of the partition portion 21d that protrudes to the forefront in front of the partition portion 21d and the front edge portion of the flow-down passage 16 is less than the outer dimension of the game ball, The game balls that are received and flow down the flow-down passage 16 are always received by the ball feed member 21.

  The game ball received in the receiving port 12 and flowing down the flow-down passage 16 is received by the ball feeding member 21 and is temporarily blocked from entering the lower portion of the flow-down passage 16, but the game ball is accommodated (held) in the recess 21e. As a result, the gravity of the game ball is added to the hollow portion 21e and the partition portion 21d, whereby the ball feeding member 21 is rotated in the downward direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 3B) (see FIG. 3). 3 (B), (C)). That is, the ball feeding member 21 receives the game ball at a predetermined position (position shown in FIG. 3B) and stores (holds) the game ball in the recess 21e, and then rotates the ball feeding member 21 by the weight of the game ball itself. It is like that. Thus, the ball feeding member 21 rotates by the weight of the game ball, so that the game ball flowing down the flow-down passage 16 can enter the lower portion of the flow-down passage 16 connected to the left guide passage 17 and the right guide passage 18. (FIG. 3C).

  As shown in FIG. 3C, the game balls that have entered the lower part of the flow-down passage 16 connected to the left guide passage 17 and the right guide passage 18 come into contact with the upper ends of the first restricting portion 22c and the second restricting portion 23c. . At this time, in FIG. 3C, the left restricting member 22 is held so that the first restricting portion 22c is in the lower position and allows the game ball to enter the left guide passage 17, while the second restricting portion 23c. The right restricting member 23 is held such that the upper limit position of the first restricting portion 22c and the second restricting portion 23c is in contact with the right restricting member 23 so that the right restricting member 23 is held and the right restricting member 23 is blocked. The sphere is guided into the left guide passage 17 and discharged from the first guide port 13 (FIGS. 3D and 3E).

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, even after the rotation operation of the ball feeding member 21, the tip portion of the first projecting portion 22 b is still in contact with the portion other than the convex portion of the left restricted state changing portion 21 b. Since the tip part of the two projecting parts 23b and the part other than the concave part of the right regulation state changing part 21c are in contact with each other, the holding state of the left regulation member 22 and the first regulation part 22c are in the lower position. The holding state of the right restricting member 23 such that the second restricting portion 23c is in the upper position is continued to allow the game ball to enter the left guide passage 17, while the game ball enters the right guide passage 18. Inhibits. That is, the state of the ball sorter 10 is continuously controlled so that the game ball is guided into the left guide passage 17 and released from the first guide port 13.

  On the other hand, the front end portion of the first projecting portion 22b and the left end from the state where the front end portion of the first projecting portion 22b abuts the portion other than the convex portion of the left restricted state changing portion 21b before and after the rotational movement of the ball feeding member 21. The second projecting portion changes from the state in which the tip of the second projecting portion 23b and the portion other than the concave portion of the right regulated state changing portion 21c are in contact with the convex portion of the restricted state changing portion 21b. When the tip portion of 23b and the concave portion of the right restricting state changing portion 21c are in contact with each other, the first restricting portion 22c is changed from the lower position to the upper position and the second restricting portion 23c is changed from the upper position. The game ball changed to the lower position and received by the ball sorter 10 is guided into the right guide passage 18 and released from the second guide port 14. That is, the state of the ball sorter 10 is changed from the state in which the game ball is guided into the left guide passage 17 and released from the first guide port 13 to the right guide passage 18 and is then released from the second guide port 14. Change to a release state.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the left regulating member 22 is held so that the first regulating portion 22c is in the upper position, while the right regulating member 23 is held so that the second regulating portion 23c is in the lower position. The game ball received in the receiving port 12 in the state (FIG. 4A) first flows down the flow-down passage 16 and is received by the ball feed member 21 and is accommodated (held) in the recess 21e (FIG. 4 ( B)).

  Next, the ball feeding member 21 is rotated in the downward direction in the figure (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4B) by the gravity of the game ball accommodated (held) in the recess 21e, and is connected to the left guide passage 17 and the right guide passage 18. The game ball that has entered the lower portion of the downflow passage 16 comes into contact with the upper ends of the first restricting portion 22c and the second restricting portion 23c (FIG. 4C). At this time, in FIG. 4C, the left restricting member 22 is held so that the first restricting portion 22c is in the upper position and the entry of the game ball into the left guide passage 17 is inhibited, while the second restricting portion 23c. The right restricting member 23 is held such that the right restricting member 23 is in the lower position and the game ball is in contact with the upper ends of the first restricting portion 22c and the second restricting portion 23c in order to allow the game ball to enter the right guide passage 18. The sphere is guided into the right guide passage 18 and discharged from the second guide port 14 (FIGS. 4D and 4E).

  In the example shown in FIG. 4, the front end of the first protrusion 22b is changed from the state in which the front end portion of the first protrusion 22b and the convex portion of the left restricting state changer 21b contact each other before and after the rotation of the ball feeding member 21. The state changes from the state in which the tip portion of the second projecting portion 23b and the concave portion of the right restricted state changing portion 21c are in contact with each other and the portion other than the convex portion of the left restricted state changing portion 21b. The tip part of the two protruding parts 23b and the part other than the concave part of the right restriction state changing part 21c are in contact with each other, the first restriction part 22c is changed from the upper position to the lower position, and the second restriction part 23c is changed. The game ball that is changed from the lower position to the upper position and is received by the ball sorter 10 is guided into the left guide passage 17 and discharged from the first guide port 13. That is, the state of the ball sorter 10 is changed from a state in which the game ball is guided into the right guide passage 18 and released from the second guide port 14 to the left guide passage 17 and is then passed through the first guide port 13. Change to a release state.

  In addition, as described above, the ball sorting apparatus 10 receives one game ball to the right guide passage 18 and discharges it from the second guide port 14 and then receives the ball feeding member 21 until the rotation operation is performed seven times. The game ball is guided to the left guide passage 17 and released from the first guide port 13. Then, after rotating the ball feeding member 21 seven times, only one game ball received by the ball sorting apparatus 10 is guided to the right guide passage 18, and thereafter the ball feeding member 21 is rotated seven times again. The game ball received up to is guided to the left guide passage 17 and released from the first guide port 13. That is, in the gaming machine of this example, every time eight game balls are received by the ball sorter 10, only the last one received is entered into the inner area of the center accessory 4 through the warp passage 4a. The other seven game balls are released from the first guide port 13 that reenters the game area 3 without entering the inner area of the center accessory 4.

  In the ball sorting apparatus 10 of the present example, every time eight game balls are received, only the last one game ball received enters the inner region of the center accessory 4 through the warp passage 4a. The other seven game balls are released from the guide port 14 and released from the first guide port 13 that enters the game area 3 again without entering the inner area of the center accessory 4, in other words, ball distribution The game balls received in the device 10 are discharged from the second guide port 14 that enters the inner region of the center accessory 4 through the warp passage 4a at a rate of 1/8. The ratio of discharging from the second guide port 14 and the ratio of discharging from the second guide port 14 are not limited to those described above, and the number of partitioning portions 21d and depressions 21e formed on the peripheral edge of the ball feeding member 21 and the sphere Formed on the side of the feed member 21 By changing the shape of the left restricting state changing portion 21b and the right restricting state changing portion 21c, the shape of the first protruding portion 22b of the left restricting member 22, the shape of the second protruding portion 23b of the right restricting member 23, and the like, (For example, a ratio of three quarters (the ball feeding member 21 is formed so as to have four recesses 21e, and the right guide passage 18 is corresponding to each recess 21e out of the four recesses 21e. The left restricted state changing portion 21b and the right restricted state changing portion 21c of the ball feeding member 21 are formed so as to guide the game ball, or the right corresponding to the two recessed portions 21e out of the eight recessed portions 21e. The left restriction state changing portion 21b and the right restriction state changing portion 21c of the ball feeding member 21 are formed so as to guide the game ball to the guide passage 18), and the ratio is 1/4. To be discharged from the second induction port 14). Possible it is. That is, according to the distribution ratio between the first guide port 13 and the second guide port 14, the number of the partition portions 21 d and the recess portions 21 e formed on the peripheral portion of the ball feed member 21, or the side of the ball feed member 21. The shape of the left restricting state changing portion 21b and the right restricting state changing portion 21c formed in the portion, the shape of the first protruding portion 22b of the left restricting member 22, the shape of the second protruding portion 23b of the right restricting member 23, and the like are changed. do it.

  Further, in this example, since the left regulation state changing unit 21b and the right regulation state changing unit 21c that change the regulation state by the left regulation member 22 and the right regulation member 23 are integrally formed on both side portions of the ball feeding member 21, the left regulation It is not necessary to provide a member for changing the restriction state by the member 22 and the right restricting member 23 separately from the ball feeding member 21, and the durability is improved and the mechanism portion 20 of the ball sorting apparatus 10 can be easily made compact. . Further, by making the mechanism unit 20 compact, it becomes easy to make the ball sorting apparatus 10 itself compact, so that the degree of freedom related to the installation position of the ball sorting apparatus 10 on the game board 1 and the degree of freedom of game machine design can be increased. The design of the gaming machine can be facilitated.

  The ball sorting apparatus 10 of the present invention has been described above. However, the above-described ball sorting apparatus 10 is an example, and does not depart from the technical idea of sorting the game balls received in the ball sorting apparatus 10 at a predetermined ratio. The change can be made within the range.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game board 10 Ball distribution apparatus 11 Base member 12 Entrance 13 First guide port 14 Second guide port 15 Front decoration 16 Downflow passage 17 Left guide passage 18 Right guide passage 19 Back box 20 Mechanism part 21 Ball feed member 22 Left Restriction member 23 Right restriction member 24 Weight holding member 25 Shaft pin 26 Weight member

Claims (1)

In a game ball sorting device that accepts game balls that have been driven into the game area and distributes them to either the left or right passage,
An entrance that can accept game balls,
A downflow passage through which the game balls received at the receiving port flow down;
A plurality of depressions for receiving the game balls flowing down the downflow passage are provided , and a predetermined angle is determined by the weight of the game balls received by the depressions at the receiving position in the downflow passage among the plurality of depressions. A rotating member that rotates over and guides the game ball below the downflow passage;
A rotation regulating member which is held so as to regulate rotation of the rotating member by its own weight in a depressed portion at a predetermined position different from the receiving position among the plurality of depressed portions of the rotating member;
Provided in each of the left and right passages, an allowed state in which a game ball guided from the rotating member is allowed to enter the passage, and an inhibited state in which the game ball is prevented from entering the passage. A right and left control member that can be changed,
The rotation restricting member allows rotation of the rotating member until it is held by a recess adjacent to the rear in the rotation direction of the recess at the predetermined position when one game ball is received at the receiving port. And
In the rotating member, one of the right and left restricting members is changed to the permissible state with respect to the rotation state by the recessed portion excluding one recessed portion among the plurality of recessed portions, and the other A first changing portion capable of changing the restricting member to the inhibition state; and the other restricting member of the left and right restricting members with respect to a rotation state by the one recessed portion among the plurality of recessed portions. A game ball sorting device, characterized in that a second changing unit capable of changing the one regulating member to the inhibited state by changing to an allowable state is integrally formed.