JPH0673571B2 - Control device for ball discharge device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system of a ball ejecting device used in a prize ball ejecting device, an automatic ball lending machine, a ball replenishing device, etc. of a pachinko game machine or a slot game machine arranged in a pachinko game shop. Related to effective technology.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, a prize ball ejecting device for a pachinko gaming machine or a ball ejecting device such as an automatic ball lending machine arranged in a game store can reliably eject a preset number of pachinko balls. Required. Therefore, the pachinko ball ejection device that requires reliable ball ejection has a counting function for counting the pachinko balls ejected to the saucer or the storage tank,
It is necessary to have a stopper function for stopping the discharge of pachinko balls when a predetermined number of pachinko balls are discharged.

As a discharging device having a ball counting function which has been conventionally used conventionally, a pachinko ball flowing down in the middle of a pachinko ball passing path from a supply chute forming a part of an island facility to a pachinko ball discharging port. 1 due to the weight of the ball
There is one in which a ratchet wheel that rotates by one pitch for each individual piece is faced, and the rotation is stopped when the ratchet wheel rotates by a predetermined angle. In addition, although it does not have a ball counting function, a swingable ball sheath that can store a predetermined number of pachinko balls is arranged on the top of the device, and the ball sheath described above is inserted every time a coin is inserted or each pachinko ball wins. There is also one in which a predetermined number of pachinko balls stored in the ball sheath are discharged by rocking.

[0004]

However, the conventional ball discharging device having the above counting function has a sufficiently high accuracy when only looking at the counting function, but the number of mechanical parts is large. , Its storage space increases,
There are also inconveniences and drawbacks such as complicated assembly and troublesome maintenance and inspection. On the other hand, the conventional ball discharging device using a ball sheath mechanically limits the number of discharged balls per one operation, so that changing the number of discharged balls makes the adjustment complicated. Hold.

Therefore, as in Japanese Patent Publication No. 58-22783, for example, a seesaw type in which two downflow paths having different lengths are provided, and both ends are swingably provided so as to face different positions of these downflow paths, respectively. There has also been proposed a prize ball ejecting device that is composed of a stopper and a pair of solenoids that can independently drive each stopper, and that can eject different numbers of prize balls. However, this prize ball discharging device can discharge prize balls of three kinds of prize balls, but cannot discharge an arbitrary number of prize balls, and the balls are completely separated between the claws at both ends of the stopper. Continuous discharge is difficult because the next discharge operation cannot be performed until the charge is accumulated in, and high-speed discharge cannot be performed. In addition, since it does not have a falling ball detector, accurate prize ball discharge cannot be performed in the event of a ball cut or ball clogging in the taxiway or a failure of one discharge system. There is a problem) because it works with the prediction that there will be a ball to be ejected between the nails.

An object of the present invention is to provide a ball ejecting device capable of ejecting an arbitrary number of pachinko balls at high speed. Another object of the present invention is to provide a ball ejecting device capable of reliably ejecting an accurate number of pachinko balls and continuing ejection even if one of the ejecting systems fails.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, one pachinko ball is directed so that each pachinko ball before discharge crosses each of the two flow-down paths that are guided in a row. Face the first and second actuating members that can flow down,
In addition, the first can be independently driven corresponding to each actuating member
And a second electric drive source are provided, and first and second falling ball detectors for detecting discharged balls are provided in the middle of each of the downflow paths, and the operation member allows passage of a pachinko ball. In a ball discharging device configured to discharge pachinko balls by blocking or blocking, based on a discharge request signal, first and second setting means for setting the number of discharged balls by the operation of each operating member. Discharge starting means for selectively starting driving of each of the electric drive sources, and first and second counting means for counting the number of discharged balls on the basis of signals from the first and second falling ball detectors. And the first and second electric drive sources are brought into a stopped state when the count values of the respective counting means and the set values of the first and second setting means coincide with each other. The discharge control device is configured by the drive stopping means of the.

[0008]

[Operation] By allowing or blocking passage of pachinko balls by operating members provided so as to intersect with the downflow route, one pachinko ball is discharged to one side, and the downflow route is two-way and continuous discharge is possible. Therefore, any number of pachinko balls can be discharged at high speed and accurately. Further, since the operating member, its driving source, and the detecting means are independently provided for each of the flow-down paths, even if one discharge system fails, the discharge can be continued by the other discharge system.

[0009]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of a main part of a ball discharging device according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a gutter component 1 that constitutes the main part of the pachinko ball ejection path and a ball ejection device 2 for blocking or releasing the flow of pachinko balls that flow down in the pachinko ball ejection path are held. The holding body 3 is integrally formed. A solenoid 21 which is a driving means of the ball discharging device 2 is fixed to the holding body 3. The gutter component 1 includes a gently inclined alignment gutter 11, a flow control gutter 13 extending substantially vertically downward from a lower end of the alignment gutter 11, and a connection between the alignment gutter 11 and the flow control gutter 13. Adjusting section 12 for changing the direction of the flowing ball down by about 90 degrees, a guide trough 14 extending obliquely downward about 45 degrees from the lower end of the adjusting trough 13, and the guide trough 14
And a discharge gutter 15 extending substantially vertically downward from the end of the.

A pair of support pieces 16 are projected from the outer wall of the gutter component 1 in the vicinity of the boundary between the guide gutter 14 and the discharge gutter 15, and the support shaft 4 is laid horizontally between the support pieces 16. There is. Although not particularly limited, in this example,
Two pachinko ball discharge paths are formed, and a pair of fan-shaped downflow prevention members 22 as actuating members are rotatably attached to the support shaft 4 in correspondence with the two discharge paths. . A pair of solenoids 21 is provided corresponding to the flow-down prevention member 22. Then, the tip end portion of the flow-down prevention member 22 enters through the slit provided in the inner wall portion of the gutter component member 1 and projects into the guide gutter 14.
The rear end of the downflow prevention member 22 is connected to the front end of the plunger 21a of the solenoid 21 via a link member 23. As the plunger 21a expands and contracts, the downflow prevention member 22 moves around the support shaft 4. It is reciprocally rotated so that the tip of the tip moves into or out of the guide gutter 14.

Further, the side wall of the guide trough 14 is bulged to the outside to form an accommodating portion 17, into which the falling ball detector 5 composed of a transmissive optical sensor is inserted. Details of the storage section 17 are shown in FIG.
Further, FIG. 6 shows a slit 19 for advancing the downflow prevention member 22 which is formed continuously with the housing portion 17. It should be noted that the solenoid 2 is provided above the holder 3.
1 and the connector 6 for concentrating the lead wires pulled out from the falling ball detector 5 at one place and connecting the wiring for connecting with the control device of the pachinko gaming machine from the front all together It is arranged.

Further, in this embodiment, the ball discharging device 2 unitized as described above and the upper end of the gutter component 1, that is, the inlet of the alignment gutter 11 which constitutes the beginning end of the discharge path,
As shown by the chain line A in FIG. 2, a pachinko ball storage tank 7
The end portions of the supply gutters 10 for guiding the balls inside are connected. A pressure reducing portion 18 having a step is formed near the terminal end of the supply gutter 10.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the supply gutter 10 having the pressure reducing portion 18 is unitized with the gutter component 1 and the ball discharging device 2. In this embodiment, each of the gutter members forming the two flow-down paths in the above-described embodiment, the flow-down blocking member 22 corresponding to each flow-down path, and the solenoid 21 as a driving means thereof are held between a pair of parallel plates 24. ing. The two sets of parallel plates 24 are integrally connected to each other by a connecting rod 25. Further, the supply gutter 10 is mounted on a connecting rod 25 arranged at the rear end of the parallel plate 24. As a result, the gutter component 1, the ball discharging device 2 and the supply gutter 10 are integrally held between the two sets of parallel plates 24,
It can be installed in a pachinko gaming machine or a ball lending machine around it as a ball discharging device with one touch,
The entire device can be made compact.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the flow-down prevention member 2
A stopper pin 26 is projectingly provided on the side portion of the second plate 2, and the stopper pin 26 is supplied to an arc-shaped guide hole 24a formed in the parallel plate 24 to regulate the turning range of the flow-down blocking member 22. In addition, a spring 28 is stretched between the pin 27 extending horizontally below the front end of the parallel plate 24 and the front end of the flow-down prevention member 22, so that the return spring 21 inside the solenoid 21 is closed.
The rotation of the downflow prevention member 22 by b is assisted, and the downflow prevention member 22 can be quickly rotated at the end of the discharge to prevent the discharge of the downflow ball. However, spring 2
8 is provided, the return spring 21b is provided in the solenoid 21.
It is also possible not to provide. In the above embodiment, the supply gutter 10 and the alignment gutter 11 can be considered as one alignment gutter. In that case, the decompression unit 18 is provided in the middle of the alignment gutter.

Next, the operation of the downflow path (1) and the ball discharging device configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When the fan-shaped downflow prevention member 22 enters the guideway 14 as shown by the solid line in FIG. 4, the pachinko balls B aligned in the downflow path (1) are the balls B ₁ at the front end.
Is stopped by coming into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the downflow prevention member 22. At this time, two balls B ₁ , B in the guide trough 14
_2, also, the three balls B _3, B _4, B ₅ to control flow trough 13 to be received, the dimensions of the induction gutter 14 DOO adjusting flow trough 13 is determined respectively. Moreover, the uppermost ball B in the adjusting trough 13
₅ is pushed by the balls B ₆ , B ₇ ... In the alignment gutter 11 to come into contact with the tapered adjusting portion 12. The sphere B ₅ receives a repulsive force from the adjusting unit 12 by being pressed toward the adjusting unit 12, and the repulsive force is transmitted to the sphere B ₅ and the balls B ₄ , B ₃ ... Acts as if pushed up. As a result, when the downflow prevention member 22 is retracted from inside the guide trough 14 as shown by a broken line c in FIG. B _{1 to} B ₅ start to flow down promptly.

When the balls B _{1 to} B ₅ flow down, the balls B ₆ , B ₇ ... In the alignment trough 11 start to flow down subsequently. And
At the exit of the alignment gutter 11, first, it collides with the adjusting part 12 to reduce the downflow speed, and the downflow direction is converted by approximately 90 ° from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction, and then enters the flow adjusting part 13. Since the vehicle is accelerated by its own weight there, a space between the ball and the subsequent ball that is decelerated by the adjusting unit 12 is secured. Therefore, the output waveform of the detector 5 becomes as shown in FIG. 5, and compared with the detection interval t ₁ of the spheres B _{3 to} B ₅ in the adjusting trough 13, the detection intervals of the following spheres B ₆ , B ₇ ... t ₂ becomes wider. As a result, for example, if the solenoid 21 is demagnetized at the time when the ball B ₇ is detected, even if the operation of the downflow prevention member 22 is delayed, the ball B
You will be able to block the flow before ₇ passes.

On the other hand, since the alignment gutter 11 is provided with the pressure reducing portion 18, the balls B ₁₁ , B ₁₂ , ... On the upstream side of the pressure reducing portion 18.
Since the ball pressure due to the weight of the ball on the upstream side, which is transmitted through, acts in the horizontal direction, a considerable part is absorbed by the decompression unit 18. As a result, the ball pressure transmitted to the ball B ₁₁ in the stopped (standby) state is adjusted by the diversion gutter 13 and the guide gutter 14.
Since it is hardly transmitted to the inner balls B _{1 to} B ₅ , the pressure acting on the downflow prevention member 22 is also small. As a result, the flow-down prevention member 22 can be retracted with a comparatively small force. The inclination angle of the alignment gutter 11 is preferably about 7 °. Further, in the downflow path, the center 0 ₅ of the sphere B ₅ located at the uppermost position of the diversion trough 12 in a state where the downflow is blocked by the downflow prevention member 22 is a ball B ₆ aligned in the alignment gutter 11. as will be positioned below the extension line of the center line connecting the centers 0 _{6-0 10} .about.B _10, the dimensions of the induction gutter 14 and adjusting flow trough 13 is determined.

Therefore, the pressure transmitted from the waiting balls B _{6 to} B ₁₀ to B ₅ produces a component force that pushes down the ball B ₅ .
As a result, when the downflow prevention member 22 is retracted, the uppermost ball B ₅ of the diversion gutter 13 is sandwiched between the succeeding ball B ₆ and the outer wall 13a of the diversion gutter 13, and the balls B ₁ to It never is prevented from trying to flow down to follow the stream of B _4. The falling ball detector 5 provided in the middle of the guide trough 14 is arranged so that its detection optical axis F is located slightly off the center of the sphere flowing down in the trough. When the detection optical axis F is positioned so as to pass through the center of the sphere, when a plurality of spheres continuously flow down, the pulse interval of the detection signal becomes narrow and accurate counting may not be possible. . However, in this embodiment, as described above, by shifting the detection optical axis F from the center of the sphere, accurate counting becomes possible.

Further, in the above embodiment, the downflow blocking member 22 is attached so that the surface of rotation of the fan-shaped downflow blocking member 22 matches the downflow locus of the center of the downflowing sphere, and the guide trough 1 is provided.
It moves so as to enter the trough from the upper side of 4 to the lower side, and stops the flowing ball. Therefore, a stopper portion (for example, an end portion of the guide hole 24a or the downflow blocking member 22 in FIG. 3) that restricts the rotation range of the downflow blocking member 22 receives an impact force that acts on the downflow blocking member 22 when the downflowing ball stops. Since it can be received by the slit end portion of the guide gutter 14, it is possible to easily give strength enough to withstand the impact that acts at the time of stop.

Moreover, since the sphere B _{1 at the} lowermost end comes into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fan-shaped downflow prevention member 22 and is stopped, the sphere B _{1 at the} lowest end is the outer peripheral surface of the downflow prevention member 22 and the wall surface of the guide trough 14. Even if it is stopped in such a manner as to bite in between, the sphere B ₁ is separated while rotating the sphere B ₁ on its outer peripheral surface when the downflow preventing member 22 is retracted. Therefore, the downflow prevention member 22 can be retracted with a comparatively small force, and the sphere is not pinned between the downflow prevention member 22 and the wall surface of the guide gutter 14 and does not move. Further, the line connecting the center of rotation of the flow-down prevention member 22 and the center 0 ₁ of the lowermost sphere B ₁ in the guide trough 14 is arranged so as to be horizontal. Therefore, immediately ball B ₁ is enabled under a stream when the end of the falling-blocking member 22 is disengaged from the outer periphery of the ball B _1, blocking force from ball B ₁ is lowered slightly shear with the rotation of the flow-down preventing member 22 is outside And there is no such thing as starting the flow.

In the above embodiment, the angle α formed between the flow control trough 13 and the guide flow gutter 14 may be in the range of 0 to 90 °, but if the angle α is set to about 45 °, the flow will be controlled within the flow control trough 13. It is possible to reduce the load applied to the downflow prevention member 22 at the time of stopping without greatly reducing the speed of the accelerated downflow ball. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the sphere B _{1 at} the lowermost end in the downflow prevention member 22 and the guide trough 14 is in a state where the downflow of the sphere is blocked by the downflow prevention member 22.
The distance d between the vertical line G passing through a point separated by the diameter of the sphere from the contact point with and the wall surface 15a of the discharge gutter 15 is smaller than the radius r of the sphere and larger than r-rcosα (r
-Rcos α <d <r) as shown in FIG.
The position of has been determined. As a result, when the downflow blocking member 22 enters the guide trough 14 and blocks downflow of the ball, the last discharged ball is the end surface 22 of the downflow blocking member 22.
Guide gutter 1 when discharged by being pushed by a.
When it reaches the end 14a of No. 4, it can flow down into the discharge gutter 15 and escape from the downflow prevention member 22. Therefore, the final discharge ball remains in the guide gutter 15 indefinitely and does not hinder the entry of the flow-down prevention member 22, and quick discharge can be stopped.

However, the guide gutter 14 may be extended like the chain line E. When a spring 28 is used as a means for giving a force to cause the downflow prevention member 22 to enter the guide trough 14, the spring 28 is indicated by a broken line C in FIG. As described above, it is preferable that the line of action D of the spring 28 is arranged so as to be substantially perpendicular to the end face 22 a of the downflow prevention member 22 when the end of the downflow prevention member 22 starts to enter the guiding trough 14. As a result, the flow-down prevention member 22 moves the guide gutter 1
When it comes into contact with the sphere inside 4, the rotation speed is maximized, and the falling sphere can be stopped in a smooth manner.

By constructing the flow-down path of the ball discharging device as in the above-described embodiment, it is possible to impart a stable speed and ball interval to the flowing-down balls. As a result, the downflow time T from the position where the downflow sphere is detected by the detector 5 to the downflow blocking position by the downflow blocking member 22 can be experimentally accurately known. Therefore, if the solenoid 21 is actuated to cause the downflow prevention member 22 to enter the downflow path in accordance with the downflow time T, when the last ball detected by the detector 5 has just reached the downflow prevention position. To
You can stop the flow of the ball. However, in this case, it is necessary to consider the displacement time X required for the downflow prevention member 22 to actually move to the position at which the downflow ball is blocked after the demagnetization signal is applied to the solenoid 21. Since the velocity of the falling ball is stable in the above embodiment, the downflow time T is also constant, and therefore the mounting position of the detector 5 is set so that the downflow time T and the displacement time X of the downflow blocking member 22 match. You should decide.

However, although the velocity of the downflow sphere is stable in the downflow route of the above embodiment, it is conceivable that the downflow velocity varies from product to product when the gutter forming member 1 is formed of plastic or the like. Further, the restoring force of the return springs of the downflow prevention member 22 is not uniform due to variations in the manufacturing process and changes over time, so that the rotational speed of the downflow prevention member 22 varies depending on the product, and the downflow prevention timing is different. There is a possibility that it may deviate slightly. Therefore, in the present invention, the deviation between the downflow time T from the detection position of the downflow ball to the blocking position and the displacement time X of the downflow blocking member 22 is interpolated by setting a delay time by electrical control. .

Next, an embodiment of a control device for controlling the ball discharging device configured as described above to discharge a predetermined number of balls and for interpolating the displacement time will be described with reference to FIG. . In this embodiment, the control of the ball discharging device is controlled by the CPU.
It is designed to be performed using a (microcomputer). The discharge request signal S0 is input to the CPU 200. When the above ball ejecting device is used as a prize ball ejecting device of a pachinko gaming machine, the signal from the winning ball detector, when the ball ejecting device is used as a ball lending machine, the signal from the coin detector is In addition, when it is used as a replenishing device for a spare ball storage tank of a pachinko game machine or a ball lending machine, a replenishment request signal is output from the CPU 2 as the discharge request signal S0.
00 is input.

Further, in the CPU 200, the discharge ball detection signals S1 and S2 from the pair of detectors 5 provided in the flow path 1 of the ball discharge device 2 are sent to the waveform shaping circuits 211 and 21.
After the waveform is shaped by 2, the filters 213, 21
Only the regular detection signal is extracted and input by 4. Further, the CPU 200 is input with delay time data from the delay time setting means 210 which can be adjusted by a volume or up / down type digital setting device. The CPU 200 is internally provided with a ROM 201, which is a read-only memory, and a RAM 202, which is a memory that can be read and written at any time. Of these, the ROM 201 stores two data in the ball ejection device 2 in response to a program to be executed by the CPU 200 to control the ball ejection device and the like and one ejection request signal S0.
Number of spheres to be discharged through one downflow route (radix 1 and 2)
Stores fixed data such as and wait time (discharge interval).

On the other hand, the RAM 202 stores the cumulative number of balls discharged from each of the flow-down paths based on the discharge ball detection signals S1 and S2, a register area for forming a soft timer, and a work area (work area for the CPU 200). ) Is provided. Further, the CPU 22 includes a driver 22
1, 222, 223 are connected, and the discharge request signal S
When 0 is input, the driver 221 is driven to light the emission display lamp LMP, and the driver 222,
223 is driven to excite the solenoids SOL ₁ and SOL ₂ (21) which are a pair of discharge driving means in the ball discharging device.
As a result, the downflow prevention member 22 is retracted from the downflow path 1, and a predetermined number of balls are discharged. 230 is CP
It is a power supply unit of U200.

Next, an example of a control procedure for operating the sphere ejecting device by the above control device to accurately eject a desired number of spheres will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 9 to 11. Note that FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the register area in the CPU 200 when the discharging process is performed according to the flow of FIGS. 9 to 11. When the CPU is started, ROM2 is first
The access is started from 01, and the instructions of the program stored therein are sequentially read and executed. As a result,
~ A series of discharge processes shown in Fig. 11 is started. When the discharge process is started, first, the discharge request signal S0 is read (routine R1), and it is determined whether there is a rising edge of the signal, that is, whether the discharge request signal S0 has changed to a high level (routine R2). ). Then, when there is an edge, the value of the instruction register (see FIG. 8) in the RAM 202 is set to 1
Is added (routine R3), the routine proceeds to routine R4.
When there is no signal edge, the routine jumps from Routine 2 to R4.

In the routine R4, the mode register in the RAM 202 is checked to determine whether or not the mode related to the two discharge paths of the discharge system 1 and the discharge system 2, that is, the ball discharge device is "0". Here, if the mode is "0", the process shifts to the process of the discharge system 1. Then, when the system starts to operate, the registers are temporarily set to "0", so that the determination result in the first routine R4 is YES (Y) and the routine proceeds to the routine R5. In the routine R5, it is determined whether or not the value of the instruction register in the RAM 202 is "0". If it is "0", the process proceeds to the process of the discharge system 1. If it is not "0", that is, if ≠ 0. Go to routine R6. Therefore,
When 1 is added to the instruction register in the above routine R3,
Be sure to move to routine R6.

In routine R6, two solenoids of the discharge system 1 and the discharge system 2 in the ball discharge device are excited to start discharge. Then, a lamp L indicating that the discharge is in progress
After turning on MP (routine R7), the mode set in the mode registers of the discharge systems 1 and 2 in the RAM 202 is changed from "0" to "1", and the next process of the discharge system 1 (routine R11) is performed. ~ R27). In the processing of the discharge system 1, first, the mode register 1 of the discharge system 1 is checked to determine whether the mode is "1" (routine R1
1). If the mode is "1", the routine proceeds to the next routine, the signal of the discharge ball detector is read, and it is determined whether or not there is an edge of the signal (R12, R13). Here, if there is no signal edge, the processing of the discharge system 1 is terminated and the processing of the discharge system 2 is started. If there is a signal edge,
Add 1 to the value of the discharge register 1 in the RAM. That is,
The number of discharged balls is increased by one (routine R14).

Then, it is judged whether or not the value of the discharge register 1 has become a predetermined radix 1 (the set number of balls of the discharge system 1) (routine R15), and if it has not reached, the process of the discharge system 2 ( The routine moves to routines R31 to R47). In the process of the discharge system 2, with respect to the discharge system 2 of the ball discharge device, the mode determination (R31) and the check of the discharge ball detection signal (R3) are performed in the same procedure as the process in the discharge system 1 described above.
2, R33), addition of the discharge register (R34) and check of the number of discharged balls (R35) are performed, and if the number does not reach the predetermined number, the process proceeds to post-processing (routines R51 to R56).

In the post-processing, first, by looking at the mode registers of the discharge systems 1 and 2, it is determined whether the modes are both "3". If the modes are not "3", the process jumps to R53, where It is determined whether the modes are both "4". If the mode is not "4", the process returns to the discharge process consisting of the routines R1 to R8. While repeating the above procedure, the discharge system 1 of the ball discharge device
When the number of discharged balls in 1 reaches a predetermined number (base 1), the discharge system 1
In the processing routine R15, it is determined to be yes, the routine proceeds to the routine R16, and the delay timer 1 of the discharge system 1 in the RAM
After setting, the mode 1 in the mode register 1 is changed to the mode 2 (routine R17). Similarly, when the number of discharged balls in the discharge system 2 reaches a predetermined number (base 2), the routine R35 of the discharge system 2 process determines YES and advances to the routine R36, where the delay timer of the discharge system 2 in the RAM. After setting 2, the mode 1 in the mode register 2 is changed to the mode 2 (routine R37).

When the process shifts to the post-processing, it is determined in the routine R51 whether the modes of the exhaust systems 1 and 2 are both "3". At this time, however, since it is still "2", the routine R
The process jumps to 53, where it is also determined to be no (no), and the process returns to the first discharging process (R1 to R8). When this discharge process is executed, the mode is already "2", and therefore the routine directly jumps from the routine R4 to the discharge system 1 process. Then, when the process for the discharge system 1 is reached, the routine jumps from the routine R11 to the routine R18 this time, a positive determination is made here, the routine proceeds to the next routine R19, and the delay timer 1 is decremented by one. Then, it is determined whether or not the delay timer 1 has become "0", and if it has not become "0", the process of the discharge system 2 is entered. In the discharge system 2 process, the same process as described above is performed on the discharge system 2 and then the post-process is performed.

In this way, the delay timer 1 is sequentially decreased by repeating the above procedure, and when the preset delay time for displacement time interpolation elapses, the delay timer becomes "0". Then, routines R20 to R21
Then, the discharge solenoid 1 is turned off to stop the discharge.
After setting the wait timer 1 in preparation for the next discharge (routine R22), the mode of the mode register 1 is changed from "2" to "3" (routine R23), and then the discharge system 2 process is performed. . Even in the discharge system 2 processing, when it is determined that the delay timer 2 has reached “0”,
After turning off the discharge solenoid 2, the wait timer 2 is set and the mode register 2 is changed from "2" to "3" (R41 to R43). After that, when the process shifts to the post-processing, it is determined in the routine R51 that the modes of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are both "3", so the routine R52 is performed.
Then, after the lamp LMP indicating that the discharge is being performed is turned off, the process returns to the first process.

When the next discharge request signal comes in during discharge processing in the ball discharge device, the number of discharge requests is stored by reading the signal edge in routine R2 and adding the instruction register (routine R3). After returning to the discharge process (R1 to R8) after turning off the discharge solenoid, the modes of the discharge systems 1 and 2 are “3” at that time.
The routine directly jumps from the routine R4 to the discharge system 1 processing. Then, the routine proceeds from routine R11 to R18, where it is determined to be NO and jumps to the next routine R24, where it is determined that YES, that is, the mode is "3",
After proceeding to routine R25 and subtracting "1" from wait timer 1, it is determined whether wait timer 1 has become "0" (routine R26). If the wait timer 1 is not "0", the process shifts to the discharge system 2 process and R31 to R38 →
The process proceeds from R44 to R45, the same process is performed for the wait timer 2, and the process proceeds to the post process.

When a predetermined time elapses while repeating the above procedure, it is judged in the routine R26 for the discharge system 1 processing and the routine R46 for the discharge system 2 processing that the wait timers have become "0". The routine proceeds to the next routine R27 and R47, respectively, to change the mode of the mode registers 1 and 2 from "3" to "4" and shift to the post-processing. Then, in the post-processing, it is determined to be yes in the routine R53,
The routine proceeds to the next routine R54 to subtract the instruction register.
That is, the number of stored discharge request signals is reduced by "1" after a lapse of a fixed time after the end of one discharge process. Then, after clearing the values of the discharge registers 1 and 2 that store the number of discharge balls in each discharge route, the mode of the mode registers 1 and 2 is changed from "3" to "0" again, and then the first The process is returned to (routine R55, 56).

By repeating the above procedure, a predetermined number of balls are discharged by the ball discharging device as many times as the number of discharge request signals. The CPU interrupts, for example, once every 2 msec, and executes the discharging process according to the above flow. Therefore, timer management becomes possible by counting the number of interrupts. If it is desired to change the number of balls to be discharged once by the ball discharging device, it can be easily realized by rewriting the radix 1 and the radix 2 of the fixed data in the ROM 201. If the number of balls to be discharged is small (for example, 5 balls), set the radix only to one of the discharge registers,
By setting the value of the other discharge register to "0", it is possible to execute the discharge of the sphere using only one of the flow paths. Further, when one of the discharge systems cannot discharge or cannot discharge a predetermined number of balls due to a ball clogging, a solenoid failure, or the like, the number of undischarged remaining balls or the sum of radix 1 and radix 2 is set to the other. It is also possible to set it as the radix of the discharge system so that a predetermined number of spheres can be discharged using only one downflow path.

[0038]

Industrial Applicability As described above, the pachinko balls are set so that the pachinko balls before discharge cross each path corresponding to the two flow-down paths that are guided in a row.
The first and second actuating members that can flow down to the individual are faced, and the first and second actuable members can be independently driven corresponding to the actuating members.
Electrical drive sources are provided, and first and second falling ball detectors that detect discharged balls are provided in the middle of each of the above-mentioned flow paths, and the operation member allows or blocks passage of a pachinko ball. Thus, in the ball discharging device configured to discharge the pachinko balls, the first and second setting means for setting the number of discharged balls by the operation of each operating member, and each of the above-mentioned electric devices based on the discharge request signal. Discharge starting means for selectively starting the driving of the dynamic drive source, first and second counting means for counting the number of discharged balls based on the signals from the first and second falling ball detectors, and First and second drive stoppages for respectively stopping the first and second electric drive sources when the count value by each counting means and the set values by the first and second setting means match. Since the discharge control device is constituted by the means, It is possible to discharge any number of pachinko balls at high speed and accurately by being capable of continuous discharge, and an operating member, its drive source and control means are provided independently for each downflow path. Therefore, even if one discharge system fails, another discharge system can continue to discharge, and it is possible to efficiently operate the gaming machine without playing it. Further, when the number of balls to be discharged is small, the number of total operation of the driving source can be reduced by executing the discharge of the balls by using only the one-way flow-down path, thereby reducing the occurrence of malfunction or noise.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a ball discharging device according to the present invention,

2 is a side view of the ball discharging device of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the ball discharging device,

4 is an explanatory view showing the action of a downflow path and a downflow prevention member of the ball discharging device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showing an output waveform of a falling ball detector,

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of the downflow route,

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a control device for a ball discharging device according to the present invention,

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a configuration example of a register area of a RAM in a CPU,

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a control procedure of a ball discharging device by a CPU,

10 is a flowchart showing an example of the control procedure of the ball discharging device by the CPU, showing the continuation of FIG. 9;

11 is a flowchart showing an example of the control procedure of the ball discharging device by the CPU, showing the continuation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Downflow path (gutter component member) 2 Ball discharge device 5 Downflow ball detector 11 Alignment gutter 13 Adjusting gutter 14 Induction gutter 15 Discharge gutter 21 Solenoid 22 Downflow blocking member (operating member) 26 Stopper pin

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A first pachinko ball capable of flowing down one pachinko ball so that each pachinko ball before discharge crosses each path corresponding to the two flow-down paths guided in a row. The first and second electric drive sources which face the respective operating members and can be driven independently corresponding to the respective operating members are provided, and the discharged sphere is detected in the middle of each of the downflow paths. A ball discharging device configured to discharge pachinko balls by providing first and second falling ball detectors and allowing or blocking passage of the pachinko balls by the operating members. First and second setting means for setting the number of discharged balls, discharge starting means for selectively starting driving of each of the electric drive sources based on a discharge request signal, and the first and second Count the number of discharged balls based on the signal from the falling ball detector When the count values of the first and second counting means and the counting means and the set values of the first and second setting means coincide with each other, the first and second electric drive sources are stopped, respectively. A control device for a sphere ejecting device, comprising: a first and a second drive stopping means for bringing the state into a state.