JPH0829177B2 - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a ball game machine represented by a pachinko game machine and the like, and more specifically, a ball in which a ball is hit in a game area to perform a game. Regarding gaming machines.

[Prior Art] Among the ball game machines of this type, one generally known in the past has been described in, for example, JP-A-60-12084. This conventional ball game machine is configured so that a given number of prize balls are paid out to the player by the prize ball payout means when a hit ball hit in the game area is won in the winning area. .

And when you replace the mechanical plate etc. of the ball game machine with a new one at the amusement hall, remove the prize ball still remaining in the prize ball flow path, replace it with a new one without the prize ball. There is a request to do so, in this conventional ball game machine, the flow path switching means is provided, and the flow path of the prize ball on the downstream side of the prize ball paying means is switched,
The prize balls are configured so that they can be switched to a state in which they can be discharged to the outside of the machine, and are configured to meet the demand of the amusement hall.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in this conventional ball game machine, the flow path switching means does not have any electric drive source, and the flow path switching operation is artificially performed by the staff at the game arcade. It was configured to mechanically switch the flow path by using various operating forces. As a result, the staff at the game arcade must be configured to be able to input an operating force for switching the flow path from outside the game machine, and in order to restore the switched flow path to its original state, The clerk had to perform a manual operation again to restore. If it is designed so that it can be automatically restored, there is a disadvantage that the flow path switching mechanism becomes too complicated.

Further, in this conventional technique, a winning ball processing mechanism is provided which mechanically processes one winning ball in the winning area, and the winning ball processing mechanism processes one winning ball. A swing lever that swings by its own weight and an interlocking rod that interlocks and connects the swing lever and the prize ball payout means are provided, and the prize ball payout means is mechanically operated by these interlocking mechanisms. It was configured to give out prize balls. As a result, not only is a connecting mechanism required to interlock the prize ball processing device and the prize ball payout means, but also a swing lever for processing one prize ball and swinging the prize ball by its own weight. Since the prize ball processing mechanism consisting of is linked and linked with the prize ball payout means, the prize ball processing mechanism has to be installed at a place where it can be linked and linked by a mechanical link mechanism with the prize ball payout means. There is a drawback that the arrangement position of the mechanism is limited and the degree of freedom in designing the arrangement position of the winning ball processing mechanism is reduced.

Therefore, instead of this winning ball processing mechanism, a winning ball detector for electrically detecting the winning ball is provided, and the prize ball payout means is operated based on the detection signal of the winning ball by the winning ball detector. Therefore, it is conceivable that the mechanical interlocking mechanism is unnecessary. In this case, if a winning area such as a starting winning opening is won, it is general that a gaming device such as a variable display device is drive-controlled, and therefore, a winning ball detection for electrically detecting the winning ball is performed. It is conceivable that not only the prize ball payout means is operated based on the detection signal of the bowl, but also the game apparatus is driven and controlled, and the winning ball detector is also used. However, when driving and controlling the gaming device based on the winning balls that have won in the winning area, it takes too long time before the driving control of the gaming apparatus is started after the ball has hit the winning area. If a ball hits the winning area, it is preferable to detect the winning ball with a winning ball detector as soon as possible, as a result of inconvenience such as frustration of the player. Must be provided as close to the winning area as possible. Then, as described above, when the prize ball detector for paying out prize balls is also configured as the prize ball detector for controlling the game machine drive, the combined prize ball detector is located as close as possible to the prize area. However, the same disadvantage as described above occurs that the mounting position of the prize ball detector for paying out prize balls is restricted.

The present invention has been conceived in view of such circumstances,
The purpose is to facilitate the automatic return of the flow path after removing the prize balls remaining inside the ball game machine, and the placement position of the prize ball detector for paying out prize balls is restricted. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball game machine that can prevent inconvenience as much as possible.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention is a ball game machine in which a ball is hit in a game area to play a game, and a winning area is provided in the game area, in which a ball can be won. , A first winning ball detector that detects a winning ball that has won in the winning area and electrically outputs a detection signal, and the detection signal is used for drive control of a game device; and the first winning ball detection Second prize ball detector provided at a position where a prize ball detected by the container can be detected, and which electrically detects the prize ball and electrically outputs a detection signal, and a prize ball by the second prize ball detector If there is a detection signal of, a prize ball payout means capable of paying out a predetermined number of prize balls to the player, and an electric drive source, and a flow path of the prize balls on the downstream side of the prize ball payout means. It is possible to pay out prize balls to the player by switching using the driving force of the electric drive source. The prize ball payout means includes an electric drive source and one prize ball using the driving force of the electric drive source. The present invention is characterized by including a prize ball discharging means capable of discharging and paying out to a destination.

[Operation] According to the present invention, when a hit ball is won in the winning area, the winning ball is detected by the first winning ball detector and a detection signal is electrically output, and the detection signal of the gaming device is detected. Used for drive control. Then, a second winning ball detector is provided at a position where the winning ball detected by the first winning ball detector can be detected, and a detection signal is electrically sent from the second winning ball detector. When it is output, the prize ball payout means is activated to allow a predetermined number of prize balls to be paid out to the player.
Further, by the function of the flow path switching means having an electric drive source, the flow path of the prize ball on the downstream side of the prize ball payout means is switched by using the driving force of the electric drive source,
The prize balls can be switched between a state in which they can be paid out to the player and a state in which they can be discharged to the outside of the machine. Further, by the function of the prize ball discharging means in the prize ball paying means, it becomes possible to discharge and pay out one prize ball by utilizing the driving force of the electric drive source.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, a pachinko game machine will be described as an example of a ball game machine.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine 10 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. Pachinko machine 10 is a game board
Regular prize areas 14a, 14b, 14c, 16a, 16b arranged above 12
It has. Further, a variable display device 18 is provided in the center of the game board 12, and start winning holes 20a, 20b, 20c for starting the variable display device 18 are provided. further,
When the display on the variable display device 18 becomes a constant state, for example, when three displays such as "7", "7", and "7" are complete, it is easy to win a pachinko ball, and in other states, it is opened. A variable winning area 22 in which a pachinko ball cannot win in the state is provided. An out-ball entrance 24 for receiving a pachinko ball that has not won a winning area or a winning opening is provided in the lowermost central portion of the game board 12.

Further, in FIG. 8, 26 is a prize ball outlet, 28 is a hit ball supply plate, and 30 is a surplus ball outlet, and when the ball hitting supply plate 28 is full of pachinko balls, prize balls etc. are discharged. , 32 are surplus ball trays. Further, 34 is a hit ball handle.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a back surface structure of a pachinko gaming machine 10 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 36 denotes a prize ball storage tank for storing prize balls, and the tank 36 is supplied with prize balls from a supply pipe (not shown). The feature of this embodiment is that a prize ball payout device for paying out the prize balls stored in the prize ball storage tank 36 includes a first prize ball payout device 38 and a second prize ball payout device 40. That is what is being done.
Here, the first prize ball payout device 38 is a conventionally known prize ball payout device, which is driven in response to the operation of the prize winning ball processor 42 or the like. The prize balls paid out by the first prize ball payout device 38 are from the first prize ball exit 44 and the second prize ball.
The prize balls dispensed from the prize ball dispensing device 40 are dispensed from the hit ball supply tray outlet 48 to the hit ball supply tray described above through the prize ball guide passages 46 and 47. Further, when the pachinko balls overflow the hitting ball supply tray, they are paid out to the surplus ball receiving tray through the surplus ball receiving tray outlet 50.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 52 is a prize ball collecting gutter, and as will be described later, among the prize areas, a predetermined prize area (in this embodiment, all prize areas other than the starting prize hole 20a) has been prized. Pachinko balls are collected by the winning ball collecting gutter 52 and sent to the winning ball processing device 42 one by one, and are used to drive the first prize ball payout device 38. Further, when the second prize ball payout device 40 detects a pachinko ball that has won a specific winning area (start winning hole 20a in this embodiment) different from the predetermined winning area among the winning areas,
It is driven by the detection output. The detected pachinko ball is processed as an out ball, and the winning ball set gutter described above is processed.
52 is not guided.

In this embodiment, the prize balls collected by the prize ball collecting gutter 52 are given one by one to the known prize ball processing device 42, and the first prize is given by the prize ball processing device 42 and the connecting mechanism connected thereto. Although it has been stated that the ball payout device 38 is driven, the second
As shown in the figure, in place of the winning ball processing unit 42, a winning ball detector 54 is provided, the solenoid 56 is driven in response to the output signal of the detector 54, and the first prize ball payout device 38 is It may be operated.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view showing the configuration of the second prize ball payout device 40, and in order to explain its internal structure, it is drawn with the cover member on the surface removed. Further, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second prize ball payout device 40 and a portion related thereto. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4,
The second prize ball payout device 40 includes a mounting board 58 mounted on the back surface side of the game board 12, and a cover member 60 arranged in parallel to the mounting board 58. The width between the mounting substrate 58 and the cover member 60 is, for example, slightly wider than the diameter of one pachinko ball so that one pachinko ball can pass through. Between the mounting substrate 58 and the cover member 60,
A transport belt 62 for transporting pachinko balls is provided. The conveyor belt 62 is stretched between a main rotary pulley 64 and a sub rotary pulley 66. The main rotary pulley 64 is driven by a drive motor 68, while the sub rotary pulley 66 is rotatably mounted between the mounting substrate 58 and the cover member 60.

On the outer surface of the conveyor belt 62, that is, the outer surface opposite to the inner surface that abuts or engages with the peripheral surfaces of the main rotary pulley 64 and the sub rotary pulley 66, the prize balls are evenly spaced in the length direction. A mounting recess 70 is formed so that the prize balls can be conveyed one by one. Further, the inner surface of the conveyor belt 62 is formed with irregularities, and engages with the irregularities formed on the surfaces of the main rotary pulley 64 and the sub-rotary pulley 66 so that the conveyor belt 62 does not slip on each pulley. It is supposed to be moved. When the conveyor belt 62 is made of a material having a large friction coefficient such as rubber,
In some cases, it is not necessary to form unevenness on the inner surface. As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor belt 62 is arranged from the side of the sub-rotating pulley 66 to the side of the main rotating pulley 64 such that the upper part thereof is gently inclined upward, so that the pachinko balls fall naturally. This prevents the conveyor belt 62 from rolling from the sub-rotating pulley 66 side to the main rotating pulley 64 side.

The prize balls rolled out from the prize ball communication port 72 formed on the mounting substrate 58 are mounted on the prize ball mounting recesses 70 of the conveyor belt 62 one by one, and along with the movement of the conveyor belt 62, the main rotation pulley is moved.
Sent to the 64 side. A prize ball detector near the main rotating pulley 64
74 is attached, and it is possible to detect the conveyed prize balls one by one. Therefore, the rotation of the drive motor 68 is started based on a prize ball payout start signal described later, and the drive motor 68 is stopped when the number of prize balls paid out by the prize ball detector 74 reaches a predetermined number. By doing so, it is possible to pay out an arbitrary number of prize balls. The dispensed prize ball falls downward through the prize ball outlet 76. Reference numeral 78 is a prize ball rectifying protrusion for leveling the ball, so to speak, that the number of prize balls sent by the conveyor belt 62 is restricted to one per recess ball mounting recess 70. is there. Referring to FIG. 4, the prize ball exit 76
The prize ball that falls through the drop through the prize ball guide gutter 46,
It usually runs down toward the prize ball guide gutter 47.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 80 is a prize ball supply gutter for supplying pachinko balls from the prize ball storage tank 36 to both the first prize ball payout device and the second prize ball payout device 40.

5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. From these FIGS. 5 and 6, the structure of the second prize ball payout device 40 will be more clearly understood. In addition, in FIG. 5, 82 is a prize ball supply port,
It is connected to a prize ball supply device (not shown). The second prize ball payout device 40 constitutes a prize ball payout means capable of paying out a predetermined number of prize balls to a player when a second prize ball detector (described later) detects a prize-winning ball detection signal. Has been done. The drive motor 68 constitutes an electric drive source. The main rotary pulley 64, the sub rotary pulley 6
6b and the conveyor belt 62 constitute a prize ball discharging means that can discharge and pay out one prize ball by using the driving force of the electric drive source.

FIG. 7 is a pachinko game machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of pachinko balls (prize balls) in the principal part on the back surface side of 10. In FIG. 7, 84 and 86 are
A prize ball supply gutter and a bent gutter for supplying a prize ball to the first prize ball payout device 38. The bending gutter 86 is connected to a ball pulling gutter 88 extending downward. The ball drop gutter 88 is used to remove the prize ball from the prize ball storage tank 36 at the end of business hours, etc.
The 86 prize balls are designed to flow down to the pulling gutter 88 side.

Further, a ball drop passage 92 is also connected to the prize ball guide passage 47. As shown in the enlarged view on the left side of FIG. 7, the beading passage 92 is normally closed by a switching valve 94,
The prize ball that has flowed down the prize ball guide gutter 46 is a prize ball guide gutter
It is designed to flow down to the 47 side, and at the time of ball drop operation such as at the end of business, the switching valve 94 is opened by turning on the solenoid 96, and the prize ball flowing down the prize ball guide trough 46 is discharged to the ball drop passage 92 side. It is designed to fall. A solenoid 96, which is an example of an electric drive source, has a switching valve 94, has an electric drive source, and uses the driving force of the electric drive source in the flow path of the prize ball on the downstream side of the prize ball payout means. The flow path switching means is configured to switch between the state in which the prize balls can be paid out to the player and the state in which the prize balls can be discharged outside the machine. The solenoid 96 may be turned on / off in conjunction with the punching lever 90 so that the passage is switched by operating the punching lever 90. In addition to the ball removal, the flow path may be switched when the second prize ball payout device 40 fails and the payout cannot be stopped.

Since the other configurations have already been described, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted here.

In the pachinko gaming machine 10, the second prize ball payout device 40 is used only when a pachinko ball hit in the game area formed on the front surface of the game board 12 wins the start winning hole 20a, which is an example of the winning area. A relatively small number of prize balls are paid out,
When a pachinko ball is won in another prize area or a winning opening, a relatively large number of prize balls are paid out by the first prize ball payout device 38. The reason for doing this is that the start winning opening 20a is a starting winning opening where pachinko balls are easy to win, and the variable display device 18 is frequently started by frequently winning pachinko balls to this starting winning opening 20a, This is to facilitate the interest of the player. In that case, if the starting winning opening 20a is simply set as a starting winning opening that allows the pachinko balls to easily win, the pachinko balls frequently enter there and the winning rate of the entire pachinko gaming machine 10 increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, the starting winning opening 20a is made a winning opening for pachinko balls to easily win, and the number of prize balls paid out by winning the pachinko balls is determined by the second prize ball payout device 40. It was paid out and limited to a relatively small number.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining the position of a detection switch for detecting a pachinko ball that has won the start winning hole 20a and the flow of a pachinko ball that has won another winning area. As shown in FIG. 9, the pachinko balls that have won the starting winning opening 20a are guided by the winning ball guide gutters 98 and 100,
Treated as an out ball. On the other hand, the pachinko balls that have won in other winning areas or winning openings fall along the back surface of the game board 12, are received by the winning ball collecting gutter 52, and are guided to the winning ball processor as described above. .

Two winning ball detectors 102 in connection with winning ball guiding trough 98
And 104 are provided. The winning ball detector 102 is a variable display device as an example of a game device by detecting a winning ball.
This is for deriving 18 start command signals. The winning ball detector 102 detects a winning ball that has won in the winning area, electrically outputs a detection signal, and the detection signal is used as a first winning ball detector for drive control of the game device. Has been done. On the other hand, the winning ball detector 104 is for giving a drive signal to the second prize ball payout device 40.
The winning ball detector 104 is provided at a position where the winning ball detected by the first winning ball detector can be detected.
A second winning ball detector that outputs an electrical detection signal by detecting a winning ball is configured.

The second prize ball payout device 40 provided in the pachinko gaming machine 10 described above is provided with the conveyor belt 62, the main rotary pulley 64, and the sub rotary pulley 66, as described in FIG. 3 and FIG. However, as shown in FIG. 10, for example, a disc 106 capable of transporting pachinko balls one by one, and a detection switch 108 for detecting one prize ball to be paid out are included. Good. In short, the second prize ball payout device is provided with at least a detector for detecting the prize balls to be paid out one by one, and also includes a conveying means for feeding the paid prize balls one by one. Good. In FIG. 10, 110 is a motor for driving the disc 106.

In each of the above explanations, it is described that the prize ball payout device is driven by the pachinko ball winning in the winning area. As a winning mode of the pachinko gaming machine 10 shown in FIG. 8, when the display of the variable display device 18 is aligned with, for example, “7”, “7”, and “7”, the prize ball payout device is immediately driven, and the predetermined amount is set. A number of pachinko balls may be paid out.

Also, in other ball game machines, the prize ball payout means may be driven when the prize mode becomes a predetermined mode (even if there is no game ball prize).

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the flow path switching means has the electric drive source, and the flow path is switched using the driving force of the electric drive source. When the flow path is returned to the original state, the electric drive source in the drive state is switched to the non-drive state, whereby the automatic return can be performed with a relatively simple configuration. Further, the second prize ball detector detects a prize ball and outputs an electrical detection signal, and when there is the detection signal, the prize ball payout means is activated and the prize ball is paid out. Therefore, it is not necessary to mechanically interlock the second winning ball detector and the prize ball paying-out means, and there is no restriction on the arrangement position of the second winning ball detector due to the mechanical interlocking connection. did. Moreover, since the game device is driven and controlled by the detection signal of the first prize-winning detector, it is desirable to provide it at a position as close as possible to the winning area. It is possible to dispose a prize winning ball detector, and it is desirable to dispose the second prize winning ball detector without being constrained by the disposition position of the first prize winning ball detector, which is preferably provided at a position as close as possible to the prize winning area. It is possible to install the second prize-winning ball detector, and the restrictions on the position of the second prize-winning ball detector are further reduced. Further, since the prize ball payout means is configured by the one that can discharge one gift ball, it is possible to change and adjust the number of prize balls to be paid out in units of one.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a back surface structure of a pachinko gaming machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a view showing a modified example of the back surface structure of FIG. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the second prize ball payout device. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the second prize ball payout device and its related parts. FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VV in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the structure of the main part of the back side of a pachinko gaming machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied and the flow of prize balls. FIG. 8 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a detection structure of a pachinko ball that has won a winning area in a pachinko gaming machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 10 is an illustrative view showing another embodiment of the second prize ball payout device. In the figure, 10 is a pachinko game machine, 12 is a game board, and 14a, 14
b, 14c, 16a, 16b are normal winning areas, 18 is a variable display device, 20
a, 20b, 20c are start winning openings, 22 is a variable winning area, 24 is an out ball entrance, 36 is a prize ball storage tank, 38 is a first prize ball payout device, 40 is a second prize ball payout device, 42 Is a prize ball processor, 58 is a mounting substrate, 60 is a cover member, 62 is a conveyor belt,
Reference numeral 64 is a main rotary pulley, 66 is a secondary rotary pulley, 68 is a drive motor, and 70 is a prize ball mounting recess.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A ball-ball game machine in which a ball is hit in a game area to play a game, wherein a prize area in which the ball is placed is provided in the game area, and a prize which is won in the prize area. A ball is detected and a detection signal is electrically output, and the detection signal is used for the first winning ball detector used for driving control of the game device and the winning ball detected by the first winning ball detector. When there is a second prize winning ball detector which is provided at a detectable position and detects a prize winning ball and electrically outputs a detection signal, and a second prize winning ball detector detects a prize winning ball detection signal. It has a prize ball payout means capable of paying out a predetermined number of prize balls to the player and an electric drive source, and the flow path of the prize ball on the downstream side of the prize ball payout means has a driving force of the electric drive source. Use the to switch the state so that the prize balls can be paid out to the player and discharged from the machine. The prize ball payout means is capable of discharging and paying out one prize ball by using the electric drive source and the driving force of the electric drive source. Ball game machine characterized by including various prize ball discharging means. 2. The prize ball discharging means includes a plurality of mounting portions on which the prize balls can be mounted one by one, and the conveying means conveys the prize balls while being mounted on the mounting portions. The ball game machine according to claim 1, characterized in that.