JPH0576317B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a pachinko ball return machine used in pachinko game parlors.

[Prior art] Pachinko game halls have traditionally adopted an automatic pachinko ball circulation system that automatically transports a large number of pachinko balls using a power source to create a supply route for pachinko balls, thereby saving labor at the game hall. We are trying to make this happen.

The pachinko ball return machine forms part of the pachinko ball automatic return system, and plays the role of supplying pachinko balls to the reinforcing tank. Here, the replenishment tank is used to reinforce pachinko balls through a gutter in equipment that uses pachinko balls, such as pachinko machines and ball rental machines. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly replenish the supply tank with pachinko balls depending on the operating state of the equipment that uses the pachinko balls, so as not to interfere with the operation of the equipment, and when the supply tank becomes empty. The functions of the pachinko game hall will stop. Therefore, pachinko balls are transported from a tank or the like that stores a large amount of pachinko balls using a pachinko ball return machine, and are replenished into a replenishment tank. In this sense, the supply tank performs a buffer-like function.

However, in such pachinko ball return machines, pachinko balls are constantly supplied to the replenishment tank so that the reinforcement tank does not become empty, so when the operating rate of the equipment receiving replenishment is low, etc. In some cases, the number of pachinko balls newly supplied from the pachinko ball return machine exceeded the number of pachinko balls in the supply tank, which decreased due to the number of pachinko balls in the supply tank, and the capacity of the supply tank was exceeded. Conventionally, an overflow hole was provided at the top of the replenishment tank, and even if pachinko balls were supplied to a height higher than this hole, the balls would fall through the hole.

However, with the above configuration, not only the action of the pachinko ball return machine is wasted, but also the movable parts of the pachinko ball return machine wear out, which shortens the product life.
It would also go against recent energy conservation policies. Moreover, in order to avoid the supply tank becoming empty, the pachinko ball return machine must be supplied assuming that the supply amount from the supply tank is at its maximum, and the pachinko ball return machine is always at its maximum capacity. It is being operated nearby.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 52-7268, an on/off switch is provided on the upper side of the replenishment tank and the ball outlet, so that the pachinko balls in the replenishment tank are A device has been proposed that operates a pachinko ball return machine when the number of pachinko balls has decreased to the exit, and stops the pachinko ball return machine when the number of pachinko balls has been reinforced to the top of the supply tank.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, in the device proposed as described above, the operation of the pachinko ball return machine stops when the pachinko balls in the supply tank run out, so it is difficult to improve the product life. Although energy saving can be achieved to some extent, it is still not sufficient due to the following problems.

In other words, in order to improve equipment efficiency, generally in pachinko parlors, a supply tank is connected to a plurality of so-called island stands, each of which has a plurality of machines that use pachinko balls installed side by side, through a gutter. An automatic pachinko ball circulation system is configured to replenish pachinko balls. The frequency of use of pachinko balls at each island varies.For example, there are pachinko machines (hereinafter referred to as pachinko machines) where the probability of winning is low, but once you win, the probability of winning increases and a large number of pachinko balls are used continuously. There are islands with machines installed side by side, and there are islands with machines that have a high probability of winning but only use a small number of pachinko balls.

Therefore, in the conventional device proposed as described above, when one of the island stands uses pachinko balls and the pachinko balls in the reinforcing tank run out, the pachinko ball return machine is activated immediately. The gutter that supplies pachinko balls to the island, which is only used by the island, is now constantly filled with pachinko balls, which means that the pachinko ball return machine has to be started and stopped repeatedly, causing wear and tear on the mechanical parts of the machine. This was expected to lead to a reduction in product life.

The present invention was created in view of the above problems, and the number of operations is minimized by operating optimally according to the frequency of use of pachinko balls at each island stand that receives pachinko balls from a supply tank. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a pachinko ball return machine that can reduce the number of balls and prolong the product life.

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the present invention, which has been made to achieve the above object, supplies pachinko balls to a plurality of islands each having a plurality of machines that use pachinko balls installed in parallel through a gutter. In a pachinko ball return machine that supplies pachinko balls to a replenishment tank, the remaining amount detection means is provided at a predetermined position of each gutter and detects whether or not pachinko balls remain in the gutter up to the predetermined position. , a determining means for determining that the pachinko balls in at least one gutter do not remain at the predetermined position based on the detection result of each of the remaining amount detecting means; a filling detection means for detecting a filling degree; and when it is determined by the determining means that no pachinko balls in at least one gutter remain up to the predetermined position, the pachinko ball return machine is operated, and the filling detection means is configured to operate the pachinko ball return machine; When it is detected that the supply tank is filled with pachinko balls,
control means for stopping the operation of the pachinko ball return machine, and a predetermined position of each gutter in which the remaining amount detection means is provided is adjusted according to the frequency of use of pachinko balls at each island stand. The gist of the pachinko ball return machine is that the gutter is set such that the volume of the gutter from the predetermined position to the island becomes larger as the gutter corresponds to the island with higher frequency.

[Function] The pachinko ball return machine of the present invention configured as described above has a replenishment tank that replenishes pachinko balls through a gutter to a plurality of islands each having a plurality of devices that use pachinko balls installed in parallel. The remaining amount detecting means provided at a predetermined position of each gutter detects whether or not pachinko balls remain in the gutter up to the predetermined position, and the determining means Based on the detection result of the remaining amount detection means, it is determined that the pachinko balls in at least one gutter do not remain up to the above-mentioned predetermined position. Further, a filling detection means provided in the replenishment tank detects the degree of filling of pachinko balls in the replenishment tank.

The control means operates the pachinko ball return machine when the determination means determines that the pachinko balls in at least one gutter do not remain at the predetermined position, and the filling detection means causes the pachinko balls to be placed in the supply tank. To stop the operation of a pachinko ball return machine when it is detected that balls are filled.

Here, in the pachinko ball return machine of the present invention, the remaining amount detection means is provided in each gutter, and its installation position is determined depending on the frequency of use of pachinko balls at each island stand. The gutter is set so that the higher the island is, the larger the volume of the gutter from that position to the island is.

Therefore, in the pachinko ball return machine of the present invention, the more pachinko balls are stored in the gutter that supplies pachinko balls to the island stand where pachinko balls are used more frequently, the more pachinko balls can be stored in the island stand. can be supplied.

Also, for example, an island platform where pachinko balls are frequently used (island platform A) where machines that use a large number of pachinko balls in succession are installed in parallel, where the probability of winning is low, but once you win, the probability of winning increases. and an island platform where pachinko balls are rarely used (island platform B), which is equipped with equipment that has a high probability of winning but uses only a small number of pachinko balls, then the pachinko balls are sent to island platform B. In the gutter that supplies pachinko balls, the volume of the gutter from the installation position of the remaining amount detection means to the island stand is set small, so when pachinko balls are not used much on island stand A, the pachinko ball return machine is , it will not start operating until the number of pachinko balls in the gutter of island stand B has decreased to the minimum necessary amount,
The number of operations can be minimized. In this state, there are enough pachinko balls stored in the gutter that supplies pachinko balls to island stand A, so even if the equipment on island stand A starts using pachinko balls all at once, the number of pachinko balls that will be supplied to island stand A will be increased. There is no shortage of balls.

In other words, according to the pachinko ball return machine of the present invention,
This makes it possible to supply the optimal amount of pachinko balls to each island with a minimum number of operations.

[Examples] Hereinafter, in order to explain the present invention more specifically, Examples will be given and described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram schematically showing a part of an automatic pachinko ball circulation system equipped with a pachinko ball return machine according to an embodiment.

In the figure, 10 is a replenishment tank, and the lower part thereof is provided with an outlet pipe 12 for pachinko balls. A plurality of gutter 14 branches and extends from this outflow pipe 12, and each gutter 14 is connected to each island formed by installing pachinko ball-using equipment such as a pachinko machine or a ball changing machine (not shown) in parallel. It is provided. The pachinko balls T flowing out from the outflow pipe 12 roll through this gutter 14 and are supplied to each device using pachinko balls constituting each island stand.

A floor switch 16 as a remaining amount detection means is provided on the floor at a predetermined position of each gutter 14, and each output is sent to a control circuit via a well-known OR circuit 35 shown in FIG. 5 as a determination means. 30 is input.

Here, the installation position of each floor switch 16 in each gutter 14 is set according to the frequency of use of pachinko balls on each island stand. In other words, the probability of winning a prize is low, but once a prize is won, the probability of winning increases, and the gutter supplies pachinko balls to an island where pachinko balls are frequently used, where equipment that uses a large number of pachinko balls in succession is installed side by side. 14, by installing the floor switch 16 at a position close to the supply tank 10, that is, at a position away from the island stand, the volume of the gutter 14 from the installation position of the floor switch 16 to the island stand is increased. On the other hand, the floor switch 16 is supplied to the gutter 14 that supplies pachinko balls to an island stand where pachinko balls are used less frequently, where equipment that has a high probability of winning but uses only a small number of pachinko balls is installed side by side. By installing the floor switch 16 at a position away from the tank 10, that is, at a position close to the island stand.
The volume of the gutter 14 from the installation position to the island is made small.

Further, a green switch 18 as a filling detection means is screwed to the edge of the opening of the replenishment tank 10, and the output thereof is directly inputted to the control circuit 30. The control circuit 30 controls the electric motor 20 that provides the driving force for the pachinko ball return machine based on the output from the OR circuit 35 and the edge switch 18, and drives the electric motor 20 to collect pachinko balls from a storage tank (not shown). Pachinko balls are transferred to the supply tank 10.

Next, FIGS. 2 and 3 are structural explanatory diagrams showing detailed structures of the floor switch 16 and edge switch 18, respectively.

The floor switch 16 consists of two main members as shown in FIG. The lower member 16A is the switch body 16
The upper member 16C is supported movably in the direction of the arrow in the figure using the locking portion 16D as a fulcrum.
A rubber plate 16E is attached to the surface of the upper member 16C, and serves to weaken the impact between it and the pachinko balls. The upper member 16 of such a floor switch 16
When a pachinko ball exists on C, the upper member 16C sinks downward as shown by the arrow due to its own weight, and presses the switch body 16B to turn it into the "OFF" state.
Furthermore, when the pachinko balls no longer exist on the upper member 16C, they float upwards as shown by the arrow, turning the switch body 16B "ON".

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the structure of the green switch 18.
After attaching the locking part 18A shown in the figure to the green color of the supply tank 10, rotate the knob 18B with your fingers to clamp the box of the supply tank 10 between the screw 18C and the fixing plate 18D and attach the edge switch 18. are doing. 18E is a movable plate that protrudes into the interior of the supply tank 10 after being installed. In this state, the switch main body 18F is in the "OFF" state, but when the supply tank 10 is sufficiently filled with pachinko balls, the pachinko balls ride on the movable plate 18E, and the movable plate 18E moves in the direction of the arrow due to its own weight. to turn the switch body 18F into the "ON" state.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an electric circuit centered around the control circuit 30. As shown in the figure, when the control circuit 30 receives the signals from the OR circuit 35 and the edge switch 18, it activates monostable multivibrators 31 and 32 at the rising edge of the signals, and outputs the signals to S and R, respectively.
R-S flip-flop circuit 33 input to the terminal
and a switching transistor 34 which is turned ON/OFF by its output. Note that R represents a current limiting resistor that limits the armature current of the motor 20.

The control circuit 30 configured as described above operates as follows.

First, the equipment using pachinko balls on one of the island stands is operated frequently, and the number of pachinko balls in the gutter 14 installed on that island table decreases. When it does not exist, it is natural that the edge switch 1 is not refilled since there is no replenishment from the replenishment tank 10 at this time.
8 is in the "OFF" state. In this state, the floor switch 16 turns "ON" as soon as there are no more pachinko balls on the floor switch 16, so a High signal is output from the OR circuit 35, and a high signal is output in synchronization with the rising signal. One pulse generated from the stable multivibrator 31 is input to the S terminal of the R-S flip-flop 33. Therefore, the output Q is applied to the base of the switching transistor 34, and an armature current determined by the resistor R flows through the motor 20, and the operation of the pachinko ball return machine is started. When the operation of the pachinko ball return machine is started in this manner, the pachinko balls gradually fill up each gutter 14, and eventually fill the supply tank 10 as well. When the supply tank 10 is filled with enough pachinko balls to reach the edge switch 18, the edge switch 18 is turned "ON" and the R-S flip-flop 3 is activated by the output from the monostable multivibrator 32.
3 is reset and the switching transistor 3
4 is “OFF”. Therefore, the armature current of the electric motor 20 is cut off, and the supply of pachinko balls to the supply tank 10 is terminated.

In the pachinko ball return machine of this embodiment configured as described above, if a large number of pachinko balls still exist in the gutter 14 even after the supply tank 10 is empty, the pachinko ball return machine does not operate, and furthermore, the pachinko ball return machine does not operate. When the supply of balls to each island progresses and the number of pachinko balls in at least one gutter 14 becomes less than a predetermined amount determined by the volume of the gutter 14 from the installation position of the floor switch 16 to the island, This is the first time that the pachinko ball return machine is working. The operation of the pachinko ball return machine automatically stops when the pachinko balls are filled to the point where the edge switch 18 of the supply tank 10 is turned "ON".

In particular, in the pachinko ball return machine of this embodiment, although the probability of winning a prize is low, once a prize is won, the probability of winning increases. In the gutter 14 that supplies pachinko balls, the volume from the installation position of the floor switch 16 to the island is set to be large, and conversely, equipment that has a high probability of winning but uses only a small number of pachinko balls is installed side by side. In the gutter 14 that supplies pachinko balls to the island stand where the pachinko balls are used, the volume of the gutter 14 from the installation position of the floor switch 16 to the island stand is set small. When the machine does not use many pachinko balls, the pachinko ball return machine will not start operating until the floor switch 16 installed in the gutter 14 for the latter island platform where pachinko balls are used less frequently is turned on. , the number of activations is minimized. In this state, there are enough pachinko balls stored in the gutter 14 for the former island, so even if the equipment on that island starts using pachinko balls all at once, there will be no shortage of pachinko balls. .

In this way, the pachinko ball return machine of this embodiment is
It is possible to operate optimally according to the amount of pachinko balls to be supplied to each island.

Moreover, by adjusting the position of the floor switch 16 to the side of the supply tank 10 of the gutter 14 or to a place away from the supply tank 10, the operating conditions of the pachinko ball return machine can be easily adjusted. It is also possible to change. For example, if there is an island stand where equipment that uses a large amount of pachinko balls is installed in parallel, the floor switch 16 installed in the gutter 14 of the island stand should be installed near the supply tank 10. It is also possible to operate the pachinko ball return machine with this island as the top priority.

Next, FIG. 6 shows an example in which the control circuit 30 is mechanically configured, using a self-holding relay as described above.
This realizes the same operation as shown in the figure.
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 36 denotes an OR circuit as a determining means formed by connecting all the floor switches 16 in parallel, as shown in FIG. The edge switch 18' is the edge switch 18 mentioned above.
This is a type of switch that generates an output opposite to the one shown in FIG.

First, when the number of pachinko balls in the supply tank 10 gradually decreases, the green switch 18' for detecting the degree of filling is turned "ON", that is, closed. However, at this point, both contacts J1 and J2 are open, relay R2 is not activated, and therefore electric motor 20 remains stopped. Furthermore, the use of pachinko balls has progressed, and at least one
When there are no more pachinko balls on the floor switch 16 provided in one gutter 14, the floor switch 16 is turned "ON", that is, closed. This activates relay R1 and closes contact J1. Then, the excitation current also flows through relay R2, thereby closing both contacts J2 and J3. Since the excitation current of relay R2 continues to flow through contact J2 thereafter, relay R2 continues to operate even if all the floor switches 16 are "OFF", that is, in the open state (self-holding). Since this contact J3 constitutes a circuit that supplies the base current of the switching transistor 34, the switching transistor 34 remains "ON" as long as the relay R2 continues to operate.
The electric motor 20, which is the power source of the pachinko ball return machine, continues to operate in the same manner. For this purpose, the supply tank 10 is gradually filled with pachinko balls, and when the pachinko balls are finally transferred until the edge switch 18' is turned "OFF", that is, opened, the excitation current of the relay R2 is cut off, and the contacts J2, J3 is also released and the operation of the pachinko ball return machine ends.

In this way, the control circuit 30 may have an electrical or mechanical configuration. Even with such a configuration, the same effects as those of the above-mentioned embodiments can be achieved.

In the two embodiments described above, a mechanical switch that performs binary detection is used as the floor switch 16, but a switch that performs optical binary detection may also be used. Even in this case, the operating conditions of the pachinko ball return machine can be adjusted by simply changing the installation position of the floor switch 16 with respect to the gutter 14. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a mechanical switch that performs binary detection is used as the edge switch 18, but it is also possible to use a mechanical switch that performs optical detection, and it is also possible to use a mechanical switch that performs optical detection. A sensor or the like that outputs a corresponding output may also be used. In addition, when using a sensor, the control circuit 30
may be configured to have a threshold value for determining whether or not a predetermined amount of pachinko balls have been filled based on the signal level from the sensor.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the pachinko ball return machine of the present invention, pachinko balls are supplied to a plurality of islands formed by a plurality of devices that use pachinko balls installed side by side through the respective channels. Pachinko balls are supplied to the tank, and the position of the remaining amount detection means in each gutter that determines the timing at which the pachinko ball return machine starts operating depends on the frequency of use of pachinko balls at each island stand. The gutter corresponding to the island stand where pachinko balls are used more frequently is set so that the volume of the gutter from that position to the island stand becomes larger.

Therefore, according to the pachinko ball return machine of the present invention,
When supplying pachinko balls from one supply tank to each island through the gutter, it is possible to reliably supply pachinko balls to the islands that are frequently used for pachinko balls. If there is an island platform that is used frequently and another island platform that uses pachinko balls less frequently, if the island platform that uses pachinko balls is frequently used and pachinko balls are not used very often, the pachinko ball return machine will Since the operation does not start until the number of pachinko balls in the gutter reaches the minimum required amount on the island stand where the balls are used less frequently, the number of operations of the pachinko ball return machine can be minimized. In this state, there will be enough pachinko balls stored in the gutter that supplies pachinko balls to the island where pachinko balls are frequently used, so the equipment on that island will start using pachinko balls all at once. It is possible to supply a sufficient number of pachinko balls even when

In other words, according to the pachinko ball return machine of the present invention,
The optimal amount of pachinko balls can be supplied to each island with the minimum number of operations depending on the frequency of use of pachinko balls at each island, reducing wear and tear on the mechanical parts of the machine itself. This allows the product life to be extended.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the floor switch, FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the edge switch, and FIG. 4 is an example of this control circuit. 5 is an electrical circuit diagram of the floor switch multiple connection, FIG. 6 is an electrical circuit diagram showing another example of the control circuit, and FIG. 7 is an electrical circuit diagram of the floor switch multiple connection. . 10... Supply tank, 14... Gutter, 16... Floor switch, 18, 18'... Edge switch, 20...
...Electric motor, 30... Control circuit, 35, 36...
OR circuit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A pachinko ball return machine that supplies pachinko balls to a supply tank that replenishes pachinko balls to a plurality of island stands each having a plurality of devices that use pachinko balls installed in parallel through a gutter, comprising: a remaining amount detecting means provided at a predetermined position of each gutter and detecting whether or not pachinko balls remain in the gutter up to the predetermined position; and based on the detection result of each remaining amount detecting means, at least one gutter a determination means for determining that no pachinko balls remain at the predetermined position; a filling detection means provided in the replenishment tank for detecting the degree of filling of pachinko balls in the replenishment tank; When it is determined that the pachinko balls in the gutter do not remain at the predetermined position, the pachinko ball return machine is operated, and when the filling detection means detects that the supply tank is filled with pachinko balls,
control means for stopping the operation of the pachinko ball return machine, and a predetermined position of each gutter in which the remaining amount detecting means is provided is adjusted according to the frequency of use of pachinko balls at each island stand. A pachinko ball return machine, characterized in that the gutter is set such that the volume of the gutter from the predetermined position to the island becomes larger as the gutter corresponds to the island with higher frequency.