JPH0548142B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an automatic pachinko ball circulation machine employed in pachinko game parlors.

[Conventional technology] Conventionally, pachinko game halls have adopted automatic pachinko ball circulation machines that automatically transport a large number of pachinko balls using a power source to form a supply path for pachinko balls, thereby saving labor in the game halls. We are trying to

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration diagram of this automatic pachinko ball circulating machine. In the figure, S1, S
Number 2 is called an island, and a large number of pachinko machines P are lined up on its side wall. These islands S1 and S2 are parts of a pachinko game hall, and a large number of these islands are arranged side by side to form a pachinko game hall. Each island S1, S2 is equipped with a replenishment tank T1, T2 on its upper part, which is used by the pachinko machine P placed inside the island, and the pachinko balls flowing downward are transported by a lifting machine (not shown). It is lifted and returned to the supply tanks T1 and T2. Then, the pachinko balls are supplied from the supply tanks T1 and T2 to each pachinko machine P on the island, thereby forming an island pachinko ball circulation system.

In addition, each supply tank T1, T2 is connected to each other by an island exchange route R, so that the pachinko machine P on the own island is sufficiently supplied, and the pachinko balls lifted by the lifting machine gradually accumulate. and supply tank T
1, T2 is configured to be transferred to a supply tank on another island from an island exchange channel R that opens at the top of T2. When the supply tanks T1 and T2 on other islands have sufficient supply to their own island and are filled with pachinko balls to be lifted from the transport machine, that is, the interior of the island exchange route R has already been filled. When filled with pachinko balls, excess pachinko balls lifted from the lifting machine are removed through overflow escape holes O1 provided at the top of supply tanks T1 and T2.
It flows out from the O2 and returns to the loading port of the transporter.

Note that the above-mentioned island exchange route R does not always need to be used to transfer pachinko balls between islands, and may be used as a passage for supplying pachinko balls to a ball rental machine or the like.

In the case of an automatic pachinko ball circulation machine with the above configuration, once an employee of the pachinko game hall starts its operation, the pachinko balls in the pachinko game hall are transferred to a supply tank, etc., which is always in short supply. Therefore, an automatic circulation system for pachinko balls is formed without any human intervention, greatly contributing to labor savings.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned automatic pachinko ball circulating machine also has the following problems, and is still not satisfactory.

That is, the conventional automatic pachinko ball circulation machine constantly supplies pachinko balls to the replenishment tank in order to prevent the replenishment tank from becoming empty. Therefore, when the operating rate of the equipment receiving replenishment is low and the island exchange is sufficient, the number of pachinko balls newly supplied from the transport machine is higher than the number of pachinko balls in the replenishment tank that decreases due to replenishment. There were times when the capacity of the supply tank was exceeded. Therefore, conventionally, as mentioned above, a relief hole for overflow was provided at the top of the supply tank, and even if pachinko balls were supplied to a height higher than this relief hole, the pachinko balls would fall through the relief hole. -ing

However, with this configuration, not only is the operation of the lifting machine that lifts and transports pachinko balls completely meaningless, but also the product life is shortened due to accelerated wear of the moving parts of the lifting machine. This would also go against the policy. Moreover, in order to prevent the supply tank from becoming empty, the lift machine must supply supplies assuming that the supply amount from the supply tank is at its maximum, and the lift machine is always near its maximum capacity. It is being activated.

The present invention was made in view of the above problems, and
To provide an excellent automatic pachinko ball circulation machine that has a long product life and can operate with low power consumption by operating appropriately according to the usage status of pachinko balls in the supply tank and the pachinko ball circulation status on each island. That is its purpose.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the means configured in the present invention is as follows. In addition to circulating it by pumping it internally to a supply tank,
In an automatic pachinko ball circulation machine that transfers pachinko balls filled to a predetermined value or more in the replenishment tank to another island and exchanges between the islands, the pachinko ball circulation machine controls lifting inside the island and transfers the pachinko balls to the replenishment tank. An island circulation means for keeping the filling rate of pachinko balls within a predetermined range; an island total amount detection means for detecting the total amount of pachinko balls existing on the island; and an island total amount detection means for detecting the total amount of pachinko balls existing on the island. When the total amount of pachinko balls existing on the detected island falls below a predetermined value, in order to transfer the pachinko balls to the island,
The gist of the present invention is an automatic pachinko ball circulation machine characterized by comprising an island exchange control means for carrying out transfer of another island serving as a transfer source, giving priority to control of the intra-island circulation means.

[Function] In the present invention having the above-described configuration, the island circulation means controls the lifting inside the island to keep the filling rate of pachinko balls into the supply tank within a predetermined range,
In addition, the island's total amount of pachinko balls detection means detects the total amount of pachinko balls existing on the island.

When the total amount of pachinko balls on the island detected by the total amount of pachinko balls on the island falls below a predetermined value, the pachinko balls are transferred to that island, giving priority to the control of transport within the island by the island circulation means. , the island exchange control means executes the transfer of another island that is the transfer source.

The intra-island circulation means in the present invention controls the amount of pachinko balls transported to the replenishment tank so that the filling rate of the replenishment tank is within a predetermined range. Here, the filling rate within a predetermined range means that the lower limit is a filling rate that does not interfere with the operation of the pachinko machine on the island where the replenishment tank is installed, and the filling rate is the one that does not interfere with the operation of the pachinko machine on the island where the replenishment tank is installed. This is within a range where the upper limit is the filling rate that reaches the opening of the island exchange channel through which pachinko balls are transferred. In other words, pachinko ball circulation is achieved within the island where the supply tank is provided with a filling rate within this predetermined range. Therefore, as an island circulation means, a sensor for detecting the filling rate of the replenishment tank as described above, for example, a sensor for detecting how many pachinko balls are present based on their weight, or a sensor that detects how far the pachinko balls are present is used. It is comprised of a device that detects by non-contact detection using light or the like, and controls the pachinko balls carried into the replenishment tank by stopping or restarting the conveyance according to the detection result.

The in-island pachinko ball total amount detection means is provided for each island and detects the total amount of pachinko balls existing on that island. The number of pachinko balls on the island does not remain constant; the number of pachinko balls that are ejected from the pachinko machine as prize balls decreases, and conversely, the number of pachinko balls that are rented from the ball lending machine and is driven into the pachinko machine increases. Therefore, we monitor the total amount of pachinko balls on the island, which fluctuates in this way. The detection accuracy of this means for detecting the total amount of pachinko balls on the island does not need to be very high, and it is necessary to check whether the total amount of pachinko balls on the island is at a level that does not interfere with the operation of the pachinko machines installed in the island. Any device that provides a detection output sufficient for determination may be used. Therefore, it is necessary to determine whether two conditions are met: the filling rate has fallen to the extent that the replenishment tank requires pachinko balls to be brought in, and the amount of pachinko balls that should be transferred to the replenishment tank is insufficient. It may be something to detect.

The island exchange control means means that the total amount of pachinko balls detected by the island total amount detection means is
When the value falls below a predetermined value, lifting is executed with priority over control of the pachinko ball circulation means of the island to which pachinko balls are transferred. Here, the predetermined value or less indicates that the total amount of pachinko balls has decreased to the extent that the operation of the pachinko machines on the island is hindered. When such an abnormal decrease in the total amount of pachinko balls is detected, the island exchange control means controls the island circulation means of other islands that transfer pachinko balls to the detected island, that is, the island that performs island exchange. This gives priority to control and allows transport within the island to be carried out.

In addition, if the above-mentioned means for detecting the total amount of pachinko balls in an island considers a device that uses pachinko balls, such as a ball lending machine, as one island, the total amount of pachinko balls in the ball lending machine etc. becomes such that it becomes a hindrance to performing ball lending, etc. It may also be something that detects a decrease. At this time, the island exchange control means carries out the transfer of other islands that are transferring pachinko balls to the ball rental machine or the like.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, in order to explain the present invention more specifically, the present invention will be described in detail by giving examples.

[Example] FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram schematically showing the configuration of one island that is a part of an automatic pachinko ball circulation machine of an example.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a replenishment tank that is provided at a higher location than the pachinko machine P on each island and supplies pachinko balls to the pachinko machine P through a gutter 12. The lifting machine 20 has an electric motor 22 as a driving force source, and a belt 26 for lifting and transporting pachinko balls is stretched around a pulley 24 that rotates by the driving force. The pachinko balls are lifted between the belt 26 and the side wall of the lifting machine 20, and are carried into the replenishment tank 10 through the lifting port 27. Further, the lifting and feeding inlet 28 of the lifting machine 20 is connected to a collection gutter 30 that collects the out balls of each pachinko machine P, so that the out balls are lifted by the lifting machine 20 and returned to the pachinko machine P.
As a result, a circulatory system is formed within the island. Reference numeral 32 denotes a well-known out ball tank provided at a connection position between the collection gutter 30 and the lifting inlet 28. When the amount of out balls is larger than the amount of pumped balls, the excess amount is temporarily stored and pumped out. When the supply of out balls is insufficient for the transport, the extra out balls that have been stored until then are transferred to the transport inlet 28.
This enables stable circulation of pachinko balls.

In addition, when pachinko balls exceeding the capacity of the supply tank 10 are carried in by the lifting machine 20, the excess amount flows out through the AC outlet hole 13A provided at a high place on the side wall of the supply tank 10. The hole used for this purpose communicates with the AC inlet hole provided in the supply tank on the upper part of the adjacent island, allowing the surplus balls to be effectively used on other islands. Similarly, the AC inlet hole 13B provided in the side wall of the replenishment tank 10 is an inlet into which excess balls flowing from the AC outlet hole of another adjacent replenishment tank on the upper island roll into.

The control system of the above embodiment includes three electronic non-contact circuits 40A, 40B, and 40C, which will be described later, and a control circuit 50 that drives the electric motor 22 in response to the output thereof. In the lifting machine 20 of the automatic pachinko ball circulation machine configured as described above, the power supply to the electric motor 22 is controlled by the action of the control circuit 50, and the lifting amount is automatically adjusted.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing in detail a portion related to the supply tank 10. As shown in the figure, the supply tank 10 is divided by two shelves, upper and lower. On the surface of the lower shelf 14, an opening that directly connects to the gutter 12 installed at an angle is provided through the wall of the supply tank 10. It is formed with a slope so that the balls above 14 gather together. The volume formed between the lower shelf 14 and the upper shelf 15 is large enough to store the minimum number of pachinko balls required to replenish the pachinko machine that receives the supply from the gutter 12, including the balls in the gutter 12. It is said to have sufficient volume.

The upper shelf 15 is provided with a central hole 16 that penetrates to the lower shelf 14, and a switch path 17 is dug in an inclined manner from the lifting outlet 27 of the lifting machine 20 toward the central hole 16.
is formed. The surface of the upper shelf 15 has a center hole 16
The center hole 16 is concave in shape, and auxiliary holes 16C are provided on both sides of the center hole 16, which communicate with the lower shelf. Further, at the starting end of the switch path 17, one of the electronic non-contact circuits 40 is provided.
40A is buried.

This electronic non-contact circuit 40 is a proximity sensor made of a high magnetic permeability material that utilizes a known change in magnetic field.
Disturbing the magnetic flux distribution produces an output.
In addition, in the case of the electronic non-contact circuit 40 of this embodiment, an output is not generated when a pachinko ball is simply detected for a short period of time as it passes, and the pachinko ball continues to exist in the magnetic field for a predetermined period of time, for example, several seconds. It is equipped with an internal timer circuit so that the output is produced only when the This allows the electronic non-contact circuit 40 to accurately detect the presence of pachinko balls even though it is non-contact.

An electronic non-contact circuit 4 is also provided on the floor of the gutter 12, which is the outlet of the pachinko balls from the supply tank 10 detailed above.
0B is provided, and the output is produced when there are enough pachinko balls supplied from this supply tank 10 for the pachinko machine P and even the gutter 12 serving as a supply route is full. Further, the floor surface of the out-ball tank 32 portion of the gathering gutter 30 shown in FIG. 1 is also equipped with an electronic non-contact circuit 40C that detects the presence of pachinko balls in a non-contact manner. This is to determine whether or not there are pachinko balls accumulated in the out ball tank 32 that should be lifted by the lifting machine 20. When the lifting machine 20 is performing the lifting operation,
That is, it is determined whether or not pachinko balls are actually being transported while the electric motor 22 is being driven.

In this way, three electronic non-contact circuits 40A, 40
Control circuit 5 inputting the detection results of B and 40C
0 is an adjacent island and an AC exit hole 13A,
It communicates with an island control circuit 50' that includes another supply tank 10' (not shown) that communicates with the AC inlet hole 13B. In other words, in the automatic pachinko ball circulation machine of this embodiment, the control circuit provided on each island is in communication with the supply tank of that island and the control circuits of other islands with which the island communicates, so that necessary information can be exchanged. This is what we are doing. Figure 1 shows the communication between the typical control circuits.
Similarly, the control circuit 50' of the other island that performs the island exchange is the electronic non-contact circuit 40A', 40B', 40 of the own island.
The detection result of C' is inputted to control the drive of the electric motor 22'.

Figure 3 shows the three electronic non-contact circuits 40A, 4.
0B, 40C and island control circuit 50' for island exchange
It is an electric circuit diagram of the control circuit 50 which drives the electric motor 22 of the lift machine 20 based on the detection result. This control circuit 50 has two main functions. One is an adjustment function that adjusts the amount of pachinko balls supplied, and the other is an adjustment function that adjusts the amount of pachinko balls supplied.
One is the insular exchange function that takes precedence over the regulatory function. These two functions are accomplished by circuits 51 or 52, respectively. In other words, the circuit 51 functions as an in-island circulation means together with the electronic non-contact circuits 40A and 40B, and the circuit 52 operates based on the detection signals from the electronic non-contact circuits 40B' and 40C', which function as in-island pachinko ball total amount detection means. It functions as an island exchange control means. First, the circuit 51 that achieves the regulatory function
The operation will be explained. The two switching transistors TrA and TrB respectively receive the detection outputs from the electronic non-contact circuits 40A and 40B in their respective islands as their base signals. First, when the supply tank 10 is filled with pachinko balls and the number of pachinko balls gradually decreases, the electronic non-contact circuit 40 provided in the switch path 17
The output of A will disappear when there are no more pachinko balls on the switch path 17, and TrA will turn "ON". However, at this point, contact J1,
Both J2 are open and relay R2 is not activated.
Therefore, the electric motor 22 remains stopped. Furthermore, as the use of pachinko balls progresses and there are no more pachinko balls on the electronic non-contact circuit 40B buried in the floor of the gutter 12, the output from the electronic non-contact circuit 40B disappears, and TrB becomes "ON". "do. This activates relay R1 and closes contact J1. Then, the excitation current also flows through relay R2, thereby closing both contacts J2 and J3. Thereafter, the excitation current of relay R2 continues to flow through contact J2, so even if electronic non-contact circuit 40B outputs again and TrB is in the "OFF" state, relay R2 continues to operate (self-maintains). This contact J3 constitutes a circuit that supplies the base current of the switching transistor 53, so as long as the relay R2 continues to operate, the switching transistor 53
continues to be in the "ON" state, and the electric motor 22, which is the power source of the lift machine, continues to operate in the same way. For this purpose, the supply tank 10 is gradually filled with pachinko balls, and when the pachinko balls are finally filled to the top of the switch path 17, the electronic non-contact circuit 40A
The output of is generated again and TrA is turned "OFF". Therefore, the excitation current of relay R2 is cut off, contacts J2 and J3 are also opened, and the operation of lifting machine 20 is completed.

As described above, the circuit 51 that achieves the adjustment function of the control circuit 50 prevents the lifting machine 20 from operating when there are still a large number of pachinko balls in the gutter 12 even when the replenishment tank 10 is empty, and further replenishment is performed. Go on,
When there are no more pachinko balls in the gutter 12, the electronic non-contact circuit 40B is activated and the pachinko ball return machine is activated for the first time. The operation of the pachinko ball return machine automatically stops when the supply tank 10 is filled until the electronic non-contact circuit 40A turns "ON".

Therefore, the operation of the lifting machine 20 is suppressed to the necessary minimum, and its operating rate can be maximized. Moreover, by adjusting the location of the electronic non-contact circuit 40B to the supply tank 10 side of the gutter 12 or to a location further away from the supply tank 10, the operating state of the transporter 20 can be easily controlled. It is also possible to change. For example, gutter 12 that supplies pachinko balls to equipment where pachinko balls are frequently used.
If the electronic non-contact circuit 40B is placed closer to the replenishment tank 10 in order to quickly activate the pachinko ball return machine 20, the supply of pachinko balls to the machine will not be interrupted.

Next, the circuit 52 that achieves the island AC function will be described. This circuit is connected to the adjacent island's gutter 12' and the out ball tank 3 which are communicated from the control circuit 50'.
Electronic non-contact circuit 40B', 40 buried in 2'
It is composed of two switching transistors TrC and TrD that are turned ON and OFF depending on the presence or absence of an output from C', and a relay R3 having a time-limited return contact J4. As is clear from the figure, this circuit 52 is activated when both the electronic non-contact circuits 40B' and 40C' are not producing an output, that is, when the replenishment tank 10' is empty and there are also pachinko balls in the out-ball tank 32. When not, both TrC and TrD are in the "ON" state, energizing relay R3. As a result, the time-limited return contact J4 is closed, the transistor 53 is turned "ON", and the electric motor 22 starts operating. In this state, electronic non-contact switches 40B', 4
The operation continues until a predetermined time period determined by the delay characteristic of the time-limited return contact J4 has elapsed from the point at which either one of the terminals 0C' generates an output. That is, when the island (not shown) monitored by the control circuit 50' has no pachinko balls in either the replenishment tank 10' or the out-ball tank 32', the lifting machine 20 of the control circuit 50, which performs island exchange, is forcibly activated, and the replenishment tank 10 is filled until the pachinko balls run out. As a result, extra pachinko balls existing on the island monitored by the control circuit 50 are removed from the AC outlet hole 1.
They communicate with other islands through 3A. Then, when the pachinko balls that have been exchanged have accumulated in the gutter 12' of the supply tank 10' or the out ball tank 32' of the other island, the exchange is continued for a predetermined delay time and the lifting machine 20 is stopped. be.

According to the automatic pachinko ball circulation machine of this embodiment that is controlled in this way, all the islands operate the lifting machine 20 independently to the minimum necessary level, so there is less wear on the lifting machine 20, etc., and the product can be improved. Lifespan can be extremely long. Furthermore, power consumption and noise can also be kept low.

In this embodiment, only one gutter 12 is installed so that the water can flow out from the replenishment tank 10, but it may be possible to have a plurality of gutters, and in this case, all of the plurality of electronic non-contact circuits 40B are A circuit configuration in which they are connected in parallel may be used.

4 and 5 are a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment in which a circuit 54 having a pachinko machine protection function is added to the above embodiment, and an electric circuit diagram of the control circuit 50.

As shown in Fig. 4, here the electronic non-contact circuit 40D
1 has been added to detect cases where out balls accumulate abnormally. That is, in order to operate the lifting machine 20 to the minimum necessary level, out balls discharged from the pachinko machine P may gradually accumulate. but,
If even the collection gutter 30 is filled with out balls, it will be impossible to discharge the out balls from the pachinko machine P, and there is a possibility that the pachinko machine P will not be able to be played. Therefore, in such cases, the out balls are forcibly transported, and if the pachinko balls are not needed on the island, they are transferred to another island through island exchange.

FIG. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of a control circuit 50 equipped with this pachinko machine protection function. As is clear from the figure, a pachinko machine protection function circuit 54 is added in parallel to the island AC function circuit 52 in the electrical circuit of the above-described embodiment, which includes a transistor TrE that is turned ON/OFF by an electronic non-contact circuit 40D. It is something. In this way, when the electronic non-contact circuit 40D detects an abnormal accumulation of out balls in priority over the operation of the adjustment function circuit 51, the transistor TrE becomes "ON" and energizes the relay R3, as described above. It performs a similar operation. In this way, excess out-of-ball balls within one's own island will always be transferred to other islands, and all islands will have an average number of pachinko balls, and thereafter internal circulation will be carried out by the island's own adjustment function. It becomes possible.

In addition, in the embodiment described above, the operation of the pachinko ball return machine is stopped after a certain period of time by using a time-limited return contact as the island AC function and the pachinko machine protection function. Other methods may be used, such as stopping the operation of the pachinko ball return machine when no more pachinko balls exist. Further, the control circuit 50 may be constructed using a sequential circuit such as a flip-flop instead of using mechanical parts such as a relay.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail with reference to embodiments, the automatic pachinko ball circulating machine of the present invention is capable of circulating pachinko balls in an island group in which a plurality of islands on which pachinko machines are arranged side by side is arranged side by side. In addition to circulating it by pumping it to a supply tank internally,
In an automatic pachinko ball circulation machine that transfers pachinko balls filled to a predetermined value or more in the supply tank to another island and exchanges between the islands, lifting inside the island is carried out when the filling rate of the supply tank is set to a predetermined value. an island circulation means for controlling the total amount of pachinko balls within the island; an island total amount detection means for detecting the total amount of pachinko balls existing on the island, which is provided for each island; and a total amount of pachinko balls detected by the island total amount detection means. and island exchange control means for executing the lifting with priority over the control of the intra-island circulation means of other islands to which pachinko balls are transferred to the island when the total amount of pachinko balls falls below a predetermined value. That is.

Therefore, all the pachinko balls in the pachinko game hall circulate automatically, and there is no need for any employees or the like to operate them. Moreover, since the circulation is carried out to the minimum extent necessary for each island, it is possible to suppress the wear and tear of the equipment that carries out the lifting, and to achieve effective use of electric power and the like. Additionally, given the total amount of pachinko balls that an island owns, exchanges with other islands are only carried out when there is a problem with the operation of pachinko machines on the island, so the noise caused during exchanges is extremely low. This makes it an extremely excellent automatic pachinko ball circulation machine that also improves the environment of the gaming hall.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of its replenishment tank, Fig. 3 is an electric circuit diagram of its control circuit, and Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment. , FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram of the control circuit, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional island AC. 10... Supply tank, 12... Gutter, 22... Electric motor, 40A, 40B, 40C, 40D... Electronic non-contact circuit, 50, 50'... Control circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Pachinko balls in an island group in which a plurality of islands with pachinko machines are arranged in a row are circulated by being transported to a supply tank within each of the islands, and In an automatic pachinko ball circulation machine that transfers pachinko balls filled in excess of a specified value to other islands and exchanges between the islands, the filling rate of pachinko balls into the supply tank is controlled by controlling the lifting inside the island. within a predetermined range; a total amount of pachinko balls on the island detected by the total amount of pachinko balls present on the island; and a total amount of pachinko balls on the island detected by the total amount of pachinko balls on the island When the total amount of pachinko balls that exist falls below a predetermined value, in order to transfer the pachinko balls to the island,
An automatic pachinko ball circulation machine characterized by comprising: island exchange control means for carrying out transfer from another island serving as a transfer source, giving priority to control of the intra-island circulation means.