JP2003135670A - Control method of ball intake device in pachinko type slot machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure the intake of the prescribed number of pachinko balls by eliminating the simultaneous implementing of the operations of taking in and withdrawing pachinko balls. SOLUTION: A ball feeding body 86 which is rotated or stopped by the magnetization or demagnetization of the first solenoid 18 to take pachinko balls into the game machine is arranged in a case body 16. A path opening-closing valve 102 which opens an opening part 46 by the magnetization of the second solenoid 116 to withdraw the pachinko balls out of the machine is also arranged in the case body 16. During the ball intake operation in which the ball feeding body 86 for taking the prescribed number of pachinko balls into the machine is rotated or stopped, a control is performed to disable the operation of switching the path opening-closing valve 102 to the opening position. During the ball withdrawal operation with the path opening-closing valve 102 shifted to the opening position, a control is performed to disable the operation of switching the ball feeding body 86 to the rotary opening position.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for controlling a ball capturing device in a pachinko-type slot machine, and more specifically, a ball capturing operation for capturing a predetermined number of pachinko balls into a machine when starting a game, and a game. The present invention relates to a control method of a ball capturing device capable of performing a ball removing operation for removing a pachinko ball remaining in a passage at the time of completion or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pachinko-type slot machine uses a pachinko ball used as a game medium of a pachinko gaming machine.
A slot machine used in place of coins, which is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 9, the symbol display device 140 is arranged in the substantially central portion on the front side of the housing that forms the main body of the slot machine, and the upper bowl plate 1 similar to a pachinko gaming machine is provided below the symbol display device 140.
42 and the lower ball dish 144 are arranged respectively. The symbol display device 140 is a game device capable of displaying the symbol combination condition, and various types of symbol display devices such as a drum type symbol display device, a belt type symbol display device and a liquid crystal type symbol display device are suitable. Adopted. For example, if a belt-type symbol display device is installed, a plurality of (generally, three columns in the left column, middle column, and right column) symbol display units 146 are accommodated in parallel in one main body case. Is configured.

Each of the symbol display units 146 is provided with a rotary drive means provided on a set plate which also serves as a drive board, and is stretched and hung on each pulley constituting the rotary drive means, and its outer surface is color-coded with numbers and alphabets. An endless pattern belt on which various patterns such as characters and other figures and marks are arranged, and a unit including a position detecting means, an illuminating means and the like are unitized. Then, in the main body case in which these three symbol display units 146 are accommodated and set in parallel, the symbol belts of the respective symbol display units 146 are arranged side by side in the symbol display portion opened on the front side. Further, in the symbol display device 140, the symbols for three frames are set so as to face the front side of the casing for each symbol belt, whereby a total of 9 (3
The design of (row x 3 rows) will be stopped and displayed.

The pachinko-type slot machine provided with the symbol display device 140 is installed in a vertical posture on an installation frame base (commonly called "island") in a game hall and provided for games.
When the symbol combination game by the symbol display unit 146 developed in the machine is established (that is, when there is a score due to the symbol combination), a ball container or a rectifying path and a ball delivery provided inside the housing Pachinko spheres (also called spheres) stored in the sphere storage and discharge route part consisting of roads, etc.
Under the operation control of a ball payout device disposed below the ball delivery outlet in the ball delivery path, a predetermined number of prize balls are appropriately supplied to the upper bowl plate side or the lower bowl plate side of the front surface of the casing. It is supposed to be released.

A predetermined number of pachinko balls supplied to the upper bowl plate side by the ball dispensing device are taken into the pachinko type slot machine by a ball take-in device arranged on the downstream side of the upper ball dish. This ball taking-in device is arranged at a predetermined position on the back side of an upper ball dish in a pachinko-type slot machine, and has a ball passage communicating with a ball delivery passage portion for guiding and guiding a pachinko ball. And inside it,
A ball feeder, a regulating member, a pachinko ball detecting means, and the like are provided. Of these, the ball feeder is configured to discharge a pachinko ball to the outside of the ball take-in device by causing a plurality of ball receiving portions formed on the outer periphery to face the ball passage and rotating the balls one by one. Further, the restricting member is switched and operated according to the excitation / demagnetization conditions of the electromagnetic solenoid that is operation-controlled on the basis of the ball take-in signal, and restricts the ball feeder to the state of rotation stop and rotatable release. The detection means is
It is for detecting that the pachinko ball taken into the machine has passed through the ball passage of the ball taking-in device.

When the game of the above-mentioned pachinko-type slot machine is started, after a predetermined number of pachinko balls (for example, 5) are taken into the machine via the ball taking-in device,
Each symbol display unit 14 arranged in the symbol display device 140 is operated by the player operating the start lever.
6 respectively rotate in the same direction. On the front side of the housing, stop buttons are provided respectively corresponding to the three symbol display units 146 in the left column, the middle column, and the right column, and after the symbol display unit 146 rotates, the player By pressing the corresponding stop button sequentially to stop, it is possible to combine the symbols. Further, the pachinko ball remaining on the upper bowl plate when the player finishes the game can be pulled out to the lower bowl plate side by operating the ball pulling means provided at an appropriate position on the front surface of the housing. Has been done.

[0007]

In the pachinko-type slot machine, it is controlled to take in the machine after confirming that a prescribed number of pachinko balls are present (stopped) in the ball taking-in device. The pachinko balls already stopped in the ball capturing device could not be discharged only by operating the ball removing means. Therefore, a ball removing mechanism is provided in the ball capturing device, and the pachinko balls in the ball capturing device are removed by operating the mechanism.

In this case, when the ball take-in operation and the ball take-out operation are performed at the same time due to an erroneous operation of the player, etc., the number of pachinko balls less than the specified number has been taken into the machine,
There is a possibility that the remaining pachinko balls may be pulled out to the lower dish side. In other words, the game is not started because the number of pachinko balls taken in the aircraft is less than the specified number required to start the game, and further, the pachinko balls taken in the aircraft cannot be returned to the player. Occur.

Further, when the ball removing mechanism is operated and the ball removing operation is continuously performed for a predetermined time or more, there is a problem that the service life of the electric parts in the mechanism is shortened or a failure is caused.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned problems inherent in the above-mentioned conventional techniques, and is proposed in order to suitably solve the problems. The method of controlling the ball taking-in device in the pachinko-type slot machine that can prevent the pachinko balls from being returned to the player and can be prevented from being taken into the machine while ensuring that the specified number of pachinko balls are taken in simultaneously The purpose is to provide.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] Overcoming the above-mentioned problems,
In order to preferably achieve the intended purpose, the control method of the ball capturing device in the pachinko-type slot machine according to the present invention,
A ball passage that communicates with a ball delivery path for guiding and guiding a pachinko ball supplied from an upper ball dish, and a plurality of ball receiving portions formed on the outer circumference face the ball passage to feed the balls one by one. A state in which the ball feed body that can eject a pachinko ball by rotation and the ball feed body that is rotationally stopped and released by being switched according to the excitation / demagnetization conditions of an electromagnetic solenoid that is operation-controlled based on a ball take-in signal A regulating member for regulating the pachinko balls from the ball feeding body, and a detection sensor for detecting that a prescribed number of pachinko balls are retained in the ball passage, and the ball passage. An opening provided upstream of the ball feeder in communication with the ball passage, a passage opening / closing valve arranged so as to be movable between an open state and a closed state with respect to the opening, and the passage. Open and close the on-off valve A ball taking-in device of a pachinko type slot machine including a driving means for switching to a chain state, wherein the ball feeding body is rotated / stopped by excitation / demagnetization of the electromagnetic solenoid to take a pachinko ball into the machine. During the taking-in operation, control is performed so that the switching operation of the passage opening / closing valve from the closed state to the open state by the driving means is disabled.

In order to overcome the above-mentioned problems and preferably achieve the intended purpose, the control method of the ball capturing device in the pachinko type slot machine according to another invention of the present application is supplied from an upper ball dish. A ball passage communicating with a ball delivery passage for guiding the pachinko ball through, and a plurality of ball receiving portions formed on the outer periphery are faced to the ball passage, and the pachinko balls are discharged by rotating the balls one by one. A ball feed body to be obtained, and a regulating member which is operated to be switched in accordance with the excitation / demagnetization conditions of an electromagnetic solenoid whose operation is controlled based on a ball take-in signal, and which regulates the ball feed body to a state of rotation stop and rotatable release. Arranged upstream from the pachinko ball discharge position from the ball feeder,
A detection sensor for detecting that a prescribed number of pachinko balls are retained in the ball passage, an opening provided upstream of the ball feed member in the ball passage and communicating with the ball removal passage, and this opening. Of the pachinko-type slot machine provided with a passage opening / closing valve arranged so as to be movable between an open state and a closed state, and a drive means for switching the passage opening / closing valve between an open state and a closed state. The operation of switching the passage opening / closing valve to the open state by the driving means during the ball removing operation to switch the regulation member from the rotation stop state for the ball feed body to the rotation release state by the electromagnetic solenoid. It is characterized in that it is controlled to disable.

[0013]

[Function] The ball feeder is rotated / stopped by the excitation / demagnetization of the electromagnetic solenoid, and the pachinko ball in the ball passage is taken into the machine. During this ball taking-in operation, the switching operation from the closed state to the open state by the drive means of the passage opening / closing valve for opening / closing the opening communicating with the ball removing passage is disabled. That is, since the ball removing operation cannot be performed during the operation of taking the pachinko balls into the machine, the specified number of pachinko balls are surely taken into the machine.

By switching the passage opening / closing valve to the open state by the driving means, the pachinko ball in the ball passage is extracted from the machine through the opened opening. During the ball removing operation, the switching operation of the regulating member, which is stopping the rotation of the ball feeding body, to the rotation release state by the electromagnetic solenoid is disabled. That is, since the ball take-in operation cannot be performed during the ball removing operation of the pachinko balls to the outside of the machine, the pachinko balls that should be returned to the player are not taken into the machine or the pachinko balls that are less than the specified number are not taken into the machine. .

When the ball removing operation is continuously performed for a predetermined time, the passage opening / closing valve is switched to the closed state by the driving means to temporarily stop the ball removing operation. As a result, the service life of the drive means is extended and the occurrence of failures is suppressed.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, a control method of a ball take-in device in a pachinko type slot machine according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings with reference to preferred embodiments. It should be noted that the gist of the present application is to control so as not to simultaneously perform the ball loading operation of the pachinko ball from the ball loading device into the aircraft and the ball removal operation from the ball loading device to the outside of the aircraft. In order to contribute to the above, first, the overall configuration of the ball capturing device will be described.

In this embodiment, in the substrate 12 on which the upper ball plate 142 of the pachinko type slot machine 148 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 12, the ball delivery port of the ball delivery passage portion 14 formed on the back side thereof. The ball capturing device 10 used for capturing the pachinko ball T is arranged in a state of being inclined at a predetermined angle, and the ball capturing device 10 operates a ball capturing switch (not shown) (ON). By doing so, the operation is controlled by the output signal (ball capture signal) output from the capture control device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the basic structure of the ball capturing device 10 is an electromagnetic solenoid 18 that constitutes a ball capturing mechanism in a synthetic resin case body 16 formed in a rectangular box shape. The sphere control board 20 and the like are housed, and can be handled as a unit body of the case body 16 unit. In the following description of the ball capturing device 10, front and rear, left and right, and top and bottom are referred to by the positional relationship when the device 10 is arranged on the substrate 12 as shown in FIG.

(Regarding Case Body) The case body 16 is
As shown in FIG. 2, the base member 22 has a rectangular rear wall 22a formed therein, and as shown in FIG. 1, the cover member 24 has a front wall 24a having substantially the same size as the rear wall 22a formed therein. It Of these, the base member 22 is the rear wall 2
An upper surface wall 22b extending forward from the upper edge portion of 2a, a lower surface wall 22c extending forward from the lower edge portion of the rear surface wall 22a, a left surface wall 22d extending rearward from the left edge portion of the rear surface wall 22a, and a rear portion. Right surface wall 22 extending forward from the right edge of the surface wall 22a
It is formed in a box shape that is opened forward by each wall surface of e. The cover member 24 includes a top wall 24b extending rearward from an upper edge of the front wall 24a, a bottom wall 24c extending rearward from a lower edge of the front wall 24a, and a rear edge extending from a left edge of the front wall 24a. The left side wall 24d (see FIG. 13) extending and the right side wall 2 extending rearward from the right edge of the front wall 24a.
It is formed in a box shape that opens rearward by each wall surface 4e. Then, the base member 22 and the cover member 24 are removably assembled by the screws 42 to form a rectangular box body as shown in FIG.

Open ends of the upper wall 22b, the lower wall 22c, the left wall 22d and the right wall 22e of the base member 22.
A fitting convex portion 26 is formed at the (front end), and the upper surface wall 24b, the lower surface wall 24c, and the left surface wall 24d of the cover member 24 are formed.
Also, a fitting concave portion 28 (see FIG. 13) is formed at the open end (rear end) of the right side wall 24e, and both members 22, 24 are fitted with the fitting convex portion 26.
It is positioned by a seal structure in which the fitting concave portion 28 is fitted in. In addition, a positioning support post 29 is provided in the vicinity of the right side of the rear wall 22a of the base member 22 so as to project toward the front side. Positioning can also be performed by inserting the holes into holes of bosses (not shown) provided at corresponding positions of the front wall 24a of 24.

Further, a fixing support column 30 is provided in a substantially central portion of the rear wall 22a of the base member 22 so as to project forward, and a small-diameter boss 32 having a screw hole 32a formed at the tip of the support column 30. Is projected. Also, the rear wall 2
On the lower left side of 2a, another fixing column 34 is provided so as to project forward, and a small-diameter boss 36 having another screw hole 36a formed at the tip thereof is provided so as to project. On the other hand, the front wall 24a of the cover member 24 has a through hole 38 formed at a position corresponding to the boss 32, and another through hole 40 formed at a position corresponding to another screw hole 36a. The screw 42 is screwed into the screw hole 32a and the other screw hole 36a from the outer side (front side) of the cover member 24 through the through hole 38 and the other through hole 40, and as shown in FIG. The member 22 and the cover member 24 are positioned and fixed.

Incidentally, the rear wall 22a of the base member 22.
As shown in FIG. 2, an inner side wall 44 is formed at a position slightly apart from the lower surface wall 22c upward. The inner side wall 44 is a portion that is formed in parallel with the width of the lower surface wall 22c that protrudes forward, and while the inner side wall 44c extends, the pachinko ball T is moved from a ball passage 52 described later. A recess 48 that forms an opening 46 (described later) for pulling out is formed. In addition, the case body 16
The bottom wall 22c corresponding to the recess 48 (opening 46),
24c, provided on the substrate 12 and the lower bowl 144
A discharge port 25 that communicates with a ball discharge path (not shown) that communicates with the above is formed, and the pachinko ball T dropped from the opening 46 is configured to flow through the discharge port 25 to the ball discharge path.

(About Ball Passage Member) The Base Member 22
A ball passage member 50 for defining the ball passage 52 is detachably accommodated and installed therein. This ball passage member 50 is
As shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface is a synthetic resin member having a gate-shaped longitudinal cross section, and the length of the base member 22 is such that the left side wall 22d and the right side wall 22e are separated from each other. The dimensions are set to be approximately the same as the inner diameter. Then, the ball passage member 50 is detachably accommodated and installed on the upper surface of the inner side wall 44 from the front surface direction of the base member 22, thereby defining the ball passage 52 extending in the left-right direction and at the same time, forming the recess 48. The opening 46 that opens downward is formed at a position corresponding to.
As shown in FIG. 12, the case body 16 (the ball take-in device 10) in which the ball passage member 50 is arranged is provided on the back surface side of the substrate 12 in which the upper ball dish 142 is arranged, and the ball delivery passage portion 14 is provided.
In the state where the passage of the ball passage 52 is aligned with the passage of the ball passage 52 and the passage of the ball passage 52 is aligned with the intake passage 55 into the machine, the passage 52 moves from the passage side to the passage side. It is arranged so as to incline downward (see FIG. 13). In this state, the discharge port 25 opened in the lower surface walls 22c and 24c of the case body 16 communicates with the ball removing path to the lower ball tray 144, and the take-in passage 55 of the pachinko ball T from the ball taking-in device 10 concerned. Alternatively, it is configured so that the vehicle can smoothly pass through the ball-removing path.

As shown in FIG. 2, rectangular cutouts 53, 53 that open to the front side are formed in the left wall 22d and the right wall 22e of the base member 22, and the ball passage of the ball passage member 50 is formed. By fitting and inserting the protrusions 54, 54 formed at the left and right ends corresponding to 52 into the corresponding notches 53, 53, the ball passage member 50 is positioned and installed in the proper position with respect to the base member 22. Configured. The front wall 50a, which functions as the first installation portion of the ball passage member 50, has a positioning piece 56 extending a predetermined length above the ball passage 52 and away from the ball passage 52, and the through hole 5 formed in the positioning piece 56.
The boss 32 of the fixing column 30 is fitted into the 6a to be positioned.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the front wall 50a of the ball passage member 50 is provided with a pair of left and right first front abutting portions 58a, 58b which are adjacent to each other at a position close to the right end thereof. The second front abutment portions 60, 60 are provided near the center portion and the left end portion of the front wall 50a.
It is provided at the same height as a and 58b. The pair of left and right first front abutting portions 58a, 58b are located on both sides of a pachinko ball discharging position by a ball feeding body 86, which will be described later, and the right first front abutting portion 58b has a ball passage member 50. The inner side wall 44 and the inner side wall 44 are located downstream of the opening 46. Further, a front positioning pin 62 as a first positioning portion projects at a predetermined height from the front end of each of the second front contact portions 60 and the intermediate portion where the pair of first front contact portions 58a, 58b are adjacent to each other. The positioning piece 56 also has a boss portion 56b as a first positioning portion projecting from the outer periphery of the through hole 56a.

Then, the first front contact portions 58a, 58b,
The second front contact portion 60 and the positioning piece 56 come into contact with the rear surface of the ball control board 20 on which various electronic components for controlling the electromagnetic solenoid 18 (hereinafter referred to as the first solenoid) are mounted, and The front positioning pins 62, 62 and the boss portion 56b correspond to the ball control board 20 and serve as a first positioning target front positioning hole 20a.
The ball control board 20 is positioned with respect to the ball passage member 50 by being fitted in (see FIG. 1). The front wall 50a of the ball passage member 50 is provided with front hooks 64, 64 as a pair of first engaging portions, which are spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions, and both hooks 64, 64 are attached to the left and right edges of the ball control board 20. The ball control board 20 is engaged and retained in a positioned state with respect to the ball passage member 50 by being removably engaged with the portion.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the rear wall 50b, which functions as the second installation portion of the ball passage member 50, is located at a position corresponding to the first front contact portions 58a, 58b of the front wall 50a. Abutting portions 66a and 66b are provided in a protruding manner, and a rear positioning pin 68 as a second positioning portion is formed in a protruding manner from the front end between the abutting portions 66a and 66b. The left and right sensors 70, 71 described later are attached to the pair of rear contact portions 66a, 66b.
The front surface of the sphere sensor board 72 on which is arranged is abutted, and the rear positioning pin 68 serves as the second positioning portion 72 corresponding to the sphere sensor board 72.
The sphere sensor substrate 72 is positioned with respect to the sphere passage member 50 by being fitted into a.

Further, on the rear wall 50b of the ball passage member 50, rear hooks 74, 74 as a pair of second engaging portions are provided at positions separated left and right with the rear contact portions 66a, 66b interposed therebetween. The hooks 74, 74 are removably engaged with the left and right edge portions of the ball sensor substrate 72, whereby the ball passage member 50
With respect to the ball sensor substrate 72, the ball sensor substrate 72 is configured to be engaged and held in a positioned state. Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the outer edge of the rear wall 50b is provided with a rising portion 75 extending rearward from the rear surface of the sphere sensor substrate 72 that is positioned and fixed, and the sphere passage member 50 is supported. When positioned and installed on the base member 22, the rear end of the rising portion 75 contacts the rear surface wall 22a of the base member 22 to protect the ball sensor substrate 72.

(Regarding Sensors Arranged on Sphere Control Board and Sphere Sensor Board) The sphere control board 20 and the sphere sensor board 72 serve as detection means capable of detecting a pachinko ball T passing through the sphere passage 52. The left sensor 70 and the right sensor 71 are provided. Both sensors 70,71
Is an example where both optical sensor types are used,
Light emitting diodes 70a, 7 arranged on the sphere control board 20
1a and phototransistors 70b and 71b arranged corresponding to the sphere sensor substrate 72 form a set. The light emitting diodes 70a, 71a are connected to the first front contact portion 5
A through hole 5 formed in 8a, 58b and communicating with the ball passage 52.
The phototransistors 70b, 71b are inserted from the front side into the 9, 59 and the rear side, and the phototransistors 70b, 71b are inserted from the rear side into the through holes 67, 67 formed in the rear contact portions 66a, 66b and communicating with the ball passage 52. The optical axes of the phototransistors 70b and 71b corresponding to the respective light emitting diodes 70a and 71a are spherical paths 52.
The pachinko balls T passing through the ball passage 52 are set so as to be coincident with each other. The sensors 70 and 71 are located on both sides of the pachinko ball discharging position by a ball feeding body 86 described later, and the right sensor 7
1 is disposed downstream of the opening 46. Further, the left sensor 70 and the right sensor 71 are arranged at a detection interval for one ball, and the left sensor 70 is a pachinko that is retained in the ball passage 52 before being discharged (before being taken into the machine). The presence of the sphere T is detected, and the right sensor 71
It is configured to detect the pachinko balls T discharged from the ball capturing device 10 and taken into the machine by the rotation of the ball feeder 86.

(Regarding Sphere Passage of Sphere Circulation Member) The inner upper wall surface of the sphere passage member 50 defining the sphere passage 52 is formed inside the base member 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4. It is formed of a first guide surface 76a parallel to the side wall 44 and second guide surfaces 76b, 76b located on both front and rear sides of the first guide surface 76a and inclined at a predetermined angle toward the front and rear inner wall surfaces. The spherical passage 52 has a hexagonal shape in a vertical cross section. Further, on the inner upper wall surface, a through hole 78 is formed at a position corresponding to the through holes 59 and 67 for the sensor so that a ball feeding body 86 (described later) can face the inside of the ball passage 52 (FIG. 6 and FIG. 9). The first
The guide surface 76a and the second guide surfaces 76b, 76b guide the pachinko ball T passing through the ball passage 52 so that the pachinko ball T does not float upward (in a direction away from the sensor through holes 59, 67) from the through hole 78. The dimensions, angles, etc. are set so that

Here, in a state where the pachinko balls T are continuously retained in the ball passage 52, since the pachinko balls T are in contact with each other in the left-right direction, the through holes 59, 67 for the sensor are provided. Is provided substantially at the center of the ball passage 52 in the vertical direction, the passage of the pachinko ball T by the sensors 70 and 71 may not be detected (because the detection light of the light emitting diode continues to be blocked). Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the through holes 59 and 67 for the sensor are provided below the center of the ball passage 52 in the up-down width direction, and the left and right sides which continuously face the inside of the ball passage 52. It is set so that the cut of the pachinko ball T can be reliably detected by the sensors 70 and 71 (see FIG. 9).

(Regarding the Specified Number Detection Sensor Arranged in the Sphere Flowing Member) At the position close to the left end (upstream end) of the sphere passage member 50, as shown in FIG.
A recess 79 is formed in the shape of a gate across a, the rear wall 50b, and the inner upper wall surface. Then, a predetermined number detection sensor (detection sensor) that detects that a predetermined number of pachinko balls T set in advance in the concave portion 79 (the number necessary for playing one game) are retained in the ball passage 52. The ball passage member 50 is attached from below, which opens. That is, the specified number detection sensor 80 is formed in a vertically long rectangle, and a passing hole 80a having a diameter that allows the pachinko ball T to pass is formed in a portion that reaches a position corresponding to the ball passage 52 when mounted. . As shown in FIG. 9, the specified number detection sensor 80 is arranged at the upstream side (from the ball feed body 86) of the leading (downstream side) pachinko ball T where passage is restricted by the ball feed body 86. In the embodiment, it is set to a position where the fifth pachinko ball T can be detected toward the pachinko ball ejection position (upstream side). When the game of the pachinko type slot machine 148 is started, the specified number detection sensor 80 detects that the specified five pachinko balls T are surely present in the ball passage 52, as described later. Based on this, the pachinko ball T is configured to be taken into the aircraft.

(Regarding Sphere Feeder Installed on Base Member) On the rear wall 22a of the base member 22, the ball passage member 50 is installed on the base member 22 as shown in FIGS. At this time, a large-diameter mounting boss 82 is erected at a required height at a position corresponding to the through hole 78, and a sprocket is inserted through a spindle 84 that is inserted and arranged in alignment with the axis of the boss 82. A ball-shaped feeding body 86 is rotatably supported. The ball feeding body 86 is made of a relatively hard synthetic resin such as polyacetal, and has the ball receiving portions 86b partitioned by a plurality of (six in the embodiment) partition claws 86a formed on the outer periphery of the ball passage member. The ball receiving portion 86b allows the pachinko balls T flowing down in the ball passage 52 to be rotated and discharged while receiving the ball pressure one by one. . And
The opening 46 is set so as to be positioned immediately upstream of the ball feeding body 86, as shown in FIG. The opening 46 is located downstream of the position where the specified number detection sensor 80 is provided.

(Regarding Restricting Member Arranged on Base Member) Above the ball passage member 50, the first solenoid serving as a switching operation source of the restricting member 88 for restricting rotation / stop of the ball feeding body 86. 18 are accommodated and arranged. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the first solenoid 18 is, for example, a flapper type, and includes a frame 90 formed by bending a thick metal plate into a U shape, and an upper surface of the frame 90. It is basically configured by a magnetic force generating portion (also referred to as a bobbin) 92 arranged inside the portion 90a. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the first solenoid 18 is arranged in the base member 22 in a posture in which the open side where the frame 90 is bent is directed to the ball feeding body 86, and is generated when electricity is applied. Magnetically attracted portion 1 in which the exciting force is directed to the ball feeding body 86
It can act on 8a intensively.

The restricting member 88 is, for example, a metal lever-like member, and is tiltably supported in the vicinity of the open end of the left side surface 90b of the frame 90, and the restricting portion 88a is provided at a position facing the magnetically adhering portion 18a. It is extended in the horizontal direction, and in the operating state when the power is turned on (the demagnetization state of the first solenoid 18), the partitioning claw portion 86a of the ball feeding body 86 is always locked by the tension spring 94 as the biasing means. It is configured to be biased and held in the direction to hold the ball feeding body 86 in a state in which the rotation is stopped (see FIG. 14B). On the other hand, when a magnetic force is generated in the magnetic force generation unit 92 due to the excitation operation by energization of the first solenoid 18, the regulation member 88 resists the urging force of the tension spring 94 by the magnetic force and the regulating member 88 divides the partition claw portion 86a. The magnetic field is attracted to the magnetically adhering portion 18a so that the ball feeding body 86 can be rotated and released (see FIG. 14A).

Here, in the left and right sensors 70 and 71,
In a state where the ball feed body 86 is restrained by the restriction member 88, and the pachinko ball T of the most preceding (rightmost end) stopped in the ball passage 52 is received in the ball receiving portion 86b, As shown in FIG. 9, the left sensor 70 is set to directly detect the pachinko ball T. Further, when the regulation member 88 magnetically attracted to the magnetically attached portion 18a is tilted by the excitation of the first solenoid 18 and the ball feeding body 86 is released, the ball feeding body 86 rotates by the weight of one ball received and the same. In releasing the sphere, when the left sensor 70 located upstream does not detect the emitting sphere, the first
The solenoid 18 is demagnetized and restored. Then, the right sensor 71 is set to count and detect the emission ball.

(Regarding the base member of the portion in which the regulating member and the like are housed) The inner surface of the rear wall 22a of the base member 22 of the case body 16 (the inner surface of the case body 16) has the shape shown in FIG.
As shown in, the frame 90 of the first solenoid 18
One of the left positioning protrusion 96 and the right side surface 90c with which one (rear side) side edge portion of the left side surface 90b comes into contact
The right positioning protrusions 97 with which the side edge portions on the (rear side) come into contact are projected at a predetermined height and extend in the vertical direction, respectively, and one (rear side) of the upper surface portion 90a of the frame 90 is provided. A horizontal protrusion 98 with which the side edge portion abuts is provided at a predetermined height and extends in the left-right direction. The left and right positioning protrusions 9
6, 97 and the horizontal projection 98 are both the frame 90.
It is set so as to come into contact with the side edge portion that is separated from the bent portion. That is, in a state in which the corresponding side edge portions of the frame 90 are brought into contact with the respective protrusions 96, 97, 98 and positioned, the bent portion that causes the bulging portion of the frame 90 is
It is set so as not to contact the inner surface of the rear wall 22a, and is configured to prevent the occurrence of rattling in the assembled state of the first solenoid 18.

On the inner surface of the rear wall 22a of the base member 22, as shown in FIG. 8, the open end of the left side surface portion 90b of the frame 90 is held to restrict the movement to the left and right and downward (ball passage side). U-shaped left holding portion 99 for performing
Also, an L-shaped right holding portion 100 that holds the open end of the right side surface portion 90c of the frame 90 and regulates the rightward and downward movement is provided at a predetermined height. Further, in the vicinity of the left positioning protrusion 96, a fixed hook 101 that is detachably engaged with a notch (not shown) formed in the left side surface 90b of the frame 90 is provided on the rear wall 22a. While the frame 90 is positioned and held by the projections 96, 97, 98 and the holding parts 99, 100, the fixing hook 101 prevents the frame 90 from slipping out toward the opening side.

(Regarding Passage Opening / Closing Valve Arranged in Base Member and Driving Means) As shown in FIG. 9, the inner side wall is provided at a position substantially opposite to the ball feeding body 86 with the ball passage member 50 interposed therebetween. A passage opening / closing valve 102 is rotatably supported in a predetermined range at a position corresponding to the recess 48 formed in the shaft 44. That is, this passage opening / closing valve 102 is
Is a rectangular plate-like member having an outer diameter dimension slightly smaller than the lateral width of, and as shown in FIG.
The short first shaft body 104 and the second shaft body 110 are integrally formed with their axes aligned. The first shaft body 104 and the second shaft body 110 are provided on the rear wall 22 a of the base member 22.
The support plate members 112, 112 (described later) that are separated from each other in the left-right direction are mounted from the front and are rotatably supported. That is, the passage opening / closing valve 102 includes the first shaft body 104 aligned in the flow direction of the pachinko ball T in the ball passage 52.
The second shaft 110 is used as a rotation support shaft to tilt in a predetermined range in a direction intersecting the flow direction of the pachinko ball T. Also, one end of a crank rod 106 is connected to the open end of the first shaft body 104, and
The engaging portion 108 provided in 06 extends in the direction opposite to the first shaft body 104.

The engaging portion 108 is connected and connected to a driving means 118 composed of a connecting member 114 and a second solenoid 116. That is, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the connecting member 114 is a member formed so that the shape observed from the front has an inverted L shape, and the long first piece 114a of them is in the vertical direction. And the short second piece 114b is arranged in the direction of extension of the ball passage member 50.
It is arranged along (the left-right direction of the base member 22). An engaging piece 114c is integrally formed on the lower end of the first piece portion 114a so as to face the front of the base member 22. The engagement piece 114c is formed with a first groove 114d that allows the engagement portion 108 to pass rearward from a substantially intermediate position in the vertical direction. The engaging portion 108 is configured to be inserted and engaged in a substantially orthogonal direction from the plate surface direction of 114c. The second piece 11
An inverted T-shaped second groove 114e is formed in the 4b from the front to the rear, and the engaging plate 126 of the second solenoid 116 is removably inserted into the second groove 114e. It is supposed to be arranged.

As shown in FIG. 10, the second solenoid 116 has a frame 120 formed by bending a thick metal plate into a gate shape so that its open end is directed downward, and a flange 122a at one end. And the magnetic force generating section 122 in which the lower end portion of the frame 120 is fixed to the corresponding position from above the magnetic force generating section 122 with the flange 122a positioned below. I am doing it. In addition, the magnetic force generator 122 has a rod 1 having a required diameter inside.
24 is arranged so as to be vertically movable, and a circular engagement plate 126 is arranged at the lower end portion of the rod 124 extending downward from the flange 122a. And this engaging plate 12
By inserting 6 from the front into the second groove 114e formed in the second piece portion 114b of the connecting member 114, the second piece portion 114b is engaged with the second piece portion 114b. In addition,
The rod 1 is provided between the engagement plate 126 and the flange 122a.
An elastic member 128 such as a spring is wound around 24, and in a state where the second solenoid 116 is not energized, the engagement plate 126 is always below the elastic member 128 (in a direction away from the flange 122a). Is urged by.

(Regarding the base member of the portion where the passage opening / closing valve and the driving means are accommodated) The inner side wall 44 is formed on the inner surface of the rear surface wall 22a of the base member 22 of the case body 16 as shown in FIGS. At the position where the concave portion 48 is formed, two support plate members 112, 112 are integrally formed in a parallel state with a separation width capable of accommodating the passage opening / closing valve 102. Each support plate member 112 has an engagement groove 112a provided in the passage opening / closing valve 102 for allowing the insertion of the first shaft body 104 or the second shaft body 110, and is recessed from the front side of the base member 22 toward the rear side. Are provided in the engaging grooves 112a, 112a.
The shaft 110 is adapted to be engaged correspondingly. Further, on the inner surface of the rear wall 22a of the base member 22, two vertically-supported supporting plates 130, 130 are formed on the left side of the left positioning protrusion 96 so that the horizontal width of the frame 120 can be reduced. Are arranged in parallel with substantially the same separation width, and latching claws 132 for latching the frame 120 are formed at the approximately middle portions in the vertical direction of the supporting plates 130 so as to project in the opposite direction. ing.
Then, the frame 120 is inserted from the front between the supporting plates 130, 130, and the front ends thereof are hooked by the hooking claws 132, 132, whereby the second solenoid 116 is positioned on the base member 22. It

Further, from below the left holding portion 99 formed on the base member 22, as shown in FIG. 8, two support plates 134 which intersect the inner side wall 44 and extend below the rear wall 22a. , 134 are integrally formed with a slight gap. The width of the gap is set to be slightly larger than the thickness of the first piece portion 114a of the connecting member 114, and the first piece vertically extends behind the ball passage member 50 with respect to the gap. The part 114a is engaged with the part 114a so as to be vertically movable (see FIG. 11). Then, the engagement piece 1 located below the ball passage member 50.
In the first groove 114d of 14c, the crank rod 106
The engaging portion 108 is engaged. That is, the passage opening / closing valve 102 is closed and opened (FIG. 13 (a)) with respect to the opening 46 by moving the connecting member 114 up and down within a predetermined range according to the excitation / demagnetization conditions of the second solenoid 116. (FIG. 13 (b)) is tilted (moved). In this case, the passage opening / closing valve 102 is in a direction intersecting the flow direction of the pachinko balls T in the ball passage 52, that is, in a direction in which the ball pressure of the pachinko balls T continuously passing through the ball passage 52 is not directly applied. It is set so as to tilt between the closed state and the open state, and a large load is not applied to the passage opening / closing valve 102 when the tilting is performed. The second solenoid 116
Operates a ball-removing means such as a ball-removing switch (not shown)
When it is turned on, it is energized and excited, and the passage opening / closing valve 102 is switched to the open state and operated.

Here, as shown in FIG. 11, the upper end portion of the passage opening / closing valve 102 has the spherical passage member 50 and the recess 48.
13 is set to have a width dimension capable of covering a region approximately half or more of the inner diameter of the opening portion 46 formed by the above, and when the connecting member 114 is at the bottom dead center position, FIG.
As shown in (a), the passage opening / closing valve 102 stands up, the upper end of the passage opening / closing valve 102 faces below the opening 46, and the pachinko ball T passing through the ball passage 52 moves downward from the opening 46. It can pass through the ball passage 52 without falling off. On the other hand, when the connecting member 114 is at the top dead center position, as shown in FIG.
Is inclined rearward of the case body 16 and its upper end is retracted from below the opening 46, whereby the lower end of the opening 46 is completely opened, and the pachinko ball T that has passed through the ball passage 52 is opened. It is configured to drop from the portion 46 and be discharged from the discharge port 25 to the outside of the case body 16.

The upper end surface 102 with which the pachinko ball T of the ball passage 52 contacts in the closed state of the passage opening / closing valve 102.
As shown in FIG. 11, a is formed so as to be curved with a required curvature along the front-rear direction that is the tilting direction of the on-off valve 102, and the pachinko ball T that is retained in the ball passage 52 is the passage. Even when it is mounted on the on-off valve 102,
The passage opening / closing valve 102 can be smoothly tilted.

(Regarding Control by Game Control Board) On a game control board (not shown) provided in the pachinko type slot machine 148, a prescribed number (5) of pachinko balls T necessary for starting a game of the slot machine 148 are provided. Ball passage 52
That the specified number detection sensor 80
Is set to enable the game to start under the conditions detected by. That is, when this condition is satisfied and the ball take-in switch is turned on, the excitation / demagnetization of the first solenoid 18 is repeated to repeat the ball feed body 86.
By rotating and stopping, the set number of pachinko balls T is set to be taken into the aircraft. Further, when the ball removal switch is turned on, the second solenoid 116 is controlled so as to be energized and excited, and the passage opening / closing valve 102 is set to be opened and operated. However, in the case of turning on the ball removing switch during the ball taking-in operation of rotating and stopping the ball feeding body 86 to take in a specified number of pachinko balls T into the machine, the signal from the switch is canceled, The passage opening / closing valve 102 is controlled so that the switching operation from the closed state to the open state is disabled without energizing and exciting the second solenoid 116. Further, when the ball intake switch is turned on during the ball removing operation with the passage opening / closing valve 102 in the open state, the signal from the switch is canceled and the regulating member is energized and excited without energizing the first solenoid 18. The control for disabling the switching operation of the ball feeding body 86 of 88 from the rotation stopped state to the rotation released state is performed.

The game control board is provided with a timer (not shown) that starts counting when the energization of the second solenoid 116 is started by turning on the ball removing switch, and the timer is preset. Set time (eg 30 seconds)
When has passed, the second solenoid 116 is set to automatically stop energization. When the left sensor 70 no longer detects the pachinko ball T before the timer counts the set time, the energization of the second solenoid 116 is automatically stopped even before the set time elapses. Is set.

[0047]

Next, a method of controlling the ball take-in device in the pachinko type slot machine according to the present embodiment having the above-described structure will be described.

(Regarding uptake of pachinko balls) The ball uptake device 10 handled in units of the case body 16 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, in the substrate 12 on which the upper bowl plate 142 of the pachinko type slot machine 148 is arranged, the upper bowl plate 1
In the state where the passage of the ball passage 52 is aligned with the ball delivery outlet of the ball delivery passage portion 14 communicating with 42, and the passage of the ball passage 52 is aligned with the intake passage 55 into the machine, the passage side It is arranged so that it may incline downward toward the passage opening side.
Further, the discharge port 25 opened in the lower surface walls 22c and 24c of the case body 16 communicates with the ball removing passage to the lower ball dish 144.
At this time, the first solenoid 18 is not energized, and as shown in FIG.
8 is held in a restrained state by the urging force of the tension spring 94, so that the ball feeding body 86 is in a rotation stopped state. Further, the second solenoid 11 of the driving means 118
6 is not energized, and as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the connecting member 114 is held at the bottom dead center position by the urging force of the elastic member 128, so that the passage opening / closing valve is opened. 102 is held in a closed state to close the opening 46.

In this state, when the player supplies a pachinko ball T to the upper ball plate 142, the pachinko ball T is delivered to the ball delivery passage section 1.
4 into the ball passage 52 of the ball take-in device 10 and the rotation thereof is stopped by the regulating member 88.
The first pachinko ball T comes into contact with the ball receiving portion 86b of 6,
After that, the pachinko balls T will be sequentially stopped on the upstream side. The pachinko ball T at the most downstream position is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Light emitting diode 70a and phototransistor 7
A control circuit (not shown) electrically connected to the sensor 70 detects the presence of the pachinko ball T in order to block the optical axis between the sensor 70 and 0b. From this state, the pachinko balls T are sequentially supplied, and the fifth pachinko ball T from the most downstream pachinko ball T arrives at the passage hole 80a of the specified number detection sensor 80 and is detected. It is determined that the specified number (5) of pachinko balls T necessary for starting the game of the slot machine 148 are stopped in the ball passage 52, and the game can be started.

On the premise that the left sensor 70 is in the sphere presence detection condition (ON), when the sphere take-in signal is transmitted from the take-in control device by turning on the sphere take-in switch, the first solenoid 18 is sent. The magnetic force is generated in the magnetic force generating portion 92 by being energized, and as shown in FIG. 14A, the restricting member 88 is magnetically attracted to the magnetically adhering portion 18a, whereby the ball feeding body 86 is released from the rotation stopped state. To be done. As a result, the ball feeding body 86 is rotated while receiving the pachinko ball T in the ball passage 52 in the ball receiving portion 86b, and the pachinko ball T flows downstream. Then, when the first solenoid 18 is demagnetized and returned under the condition that the left sensor 70 does not detect the pachinko ball T, as shown in FIG.
The regulating member 88 stops the rotation of the ball feed body 86 by the urging force of the tension spring 94, and the pachinko ball T discharged from the ball feed body 86 to the downstream side is detected by the right sensor 71. . When this operation is repeated and the specified number (five) of pachinko balls T are detected by the right sensor 71, the first solenoid 18 is held in the demagnetized state and necessary for one game. The operation of taking in the pachinko ball T is completed. The pachinko ball T flowing to the downstream side of the ball feeder 86 is introduced into the intake passage 55 from the passage outlet of the ball passage 52 and is taken into the machine. In this case,
Since the ball passage 52 is inclined downward from the entrance side toward the exit side, the pachinko ball T can be smoothly passed from the ball passage 52 to the intake passage 55.

(Regarding ball removal of pachinko ball) When the game is finished and the ball of the pachinko ball T is removed from the upper ball plate 142, the driving means 118 is operated based on turning on of the ball removal switch. . That is, the second solenoid 116 is energized and excited, and the rod 124 inserted through the solenoid 116 is moved inward of the magnetic force generating portion 122 against the elastic force of the elastic member 128. Thereby, the connecting member 1 connected via the engaging plate 126.
14 is moved toward the top dead center position and the first
The first groove 11 of the engaging piece 114c formed in the piece 114a
The engaging portion 108 slidably engaged with 4d is moved upward. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13B, the passage opening / closing valve 102 has the first shaft body 104 and the second shaft body 11
The case body 16 is inclined rearward with 0 as a fulcrum, and the lower end of the opening 46 is completely opened. Therefore,
The pachinko ball T that enters the ball passage 52 from the ball delivery path portion 14 drops from the opening 46 and is withdrawn to the lower ball dish 144 via the discharge port 25 and the ball removal passage.

When the passage on-off valve 102 tilts from the closed state to the open state, a plurality of pachinko balls T (two as shown in FIG. 9 in the embodiment) are mounted on the upper end surface of the on-off valve 102. However, since the upper end surface is curved in the tilting direction, smooth tilting of the passage opening / closing valve 102 is achieved.

Since the opening 46 is provided on the upstream side of the position where the right sensor 71 is provided, the pachinko balls T counted and detected by the sensor 71 will not be pulled out to the lower ball plate 144. That is, even if the player attempts to play the game while illegally switching the passage opening / closing valve 102 to the open state with, for example, a celluloid plate or a wire, the pachinko ball T passing through the ball passage 52 is detected by the sensor 7.
Since it is returned to the lower ball dish 144 before being detected by 1, the fraudulent activity that the game is started even though the specified number of pachinko balls T are not taken into the machine is prevented. obtain. In other words, it is possible to prevent the player from trying to make an illegal act, and it is possible to prevent the game store from being disadvantaged. Further, since the opening can be directly connected to the ball-removing passage leading to the outside of the machine, it is not necessary to separately provide a passage switching device or the like, and effective use of space and cost reduction can be achieved.

Further, since the opening 46 is provided immediately upstream of the ball feeding body 86 for stopping the pachinko ball T in the ball passage 52, all the pachinko balls T stopped in the ball passage 52 are provided. Can be extracted, and there is no disadvantage to the player. Furthermore, since the passage opening / closing valve 102 is configured to operate independently of the ball feed body 86 and its operating means (first solenoid 18), even if the ball feed body 86 or the first solenoid 18 fails. , There is no possibility that the ball cannot be removed.

When either the condition that the timer that started counting when the ball removal switch is turned ON counts the set time or the left sensor 70 stops detecting the pachinko ball T is satisfied. In the second
When the solenoid 116 is de-energized and demagnetized, the elastic force of the elastic member 128 lowers the rod 124, and the connecting member 114 moves toward the bottom dead center position accordingly. As a result, as shown in FIG. 13 (a), the passage opening / closing valve 102 tilts forward of the case body 16 with the first shaft body 104 and the second shaft body 110 as a pivot.
A closed state is established in which the lower end of the opening 46 is closed. Therefore, the pachinko balls T passing through the ball delivery passage 14 into the ball passage 52 are sequentially stopped by the ball feeder 86 without dropping from the opening 46.

In this case, since the passage opening / closing valve 102 tilts in the direction in which the ball pressure of the pachinko ball T continuously passing through the ball passage 52 is not directly applied as described above, the opening / closing valve 102 is When tilting from the open state to the closed state,
Even if the pachinko ball T is flowing out from the opening 46, a large load is not applied. More specifically, with respect to the outflow direction of the pachinko balls T flowing out from the opening 46, the passage opening / closing valve 102 tilts in a direction traversing from one side intersecting the flow direction of the pachinko balls T in the ball passage 52. To do. On the other hand, the ball pressure of the pachinko ball T flowing out of the opening 46 after entering the ball passage 52 is
When the pachinko ball T is placed on the upper end surface of the passage opening / closing valve 102 while the passage opening / closing valve 102 closes the opening 46, the pachinko ball T is placed on the path 46 because the passage opening / closing valve 102 closes the opening 46. In addition, the ball pressure acts in the flow direction in the ball passage 52 and does not act in the direction that prevents the on-off valve 102 from tilting. Therefore, the passage opening / closing valve 102 and its driving means 118
It is possible to prevent a failure from occurring due to a large load applied to the device, and to increase the rigidity and output more than necessary to suppress an increase in size and cost.

(Regarding Malfunction Prevention Control of Ball Sucking Device) Next, with regard to taking in and removing a pachinko ball, FIG.
~ With reference to the flow chart of FIG. 18, a description will be given in relation to the malfunction prevention control for preventing simultaneous execution of the ball capturing operation and the ball removing operation.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the basics of the malfunction prevention control. In S (step) 11, it is judged whether or not the ball take-in switch is turned on, and the result is negative (NO) here. If so, the process proceeds to S14, and it is determined whether the ball removal switch is turned on. Then, if the result is negative (NO), the process proceeds to RET and the flow is repeated.

If the result in S11 is affirmative (YES), that is, if the player has turned on the ball take-in switch, the process proceeds to S12, in which it is determined whether the ball removal control flag is "1". If the flag is not "1" here, it is determined that the ball removing operation is not in progress (NO), and the flow advances to S13 to set the ball uptake control flag to "1" so that the ball uptaking operation is recognized. After that, the process proceeds to S14. Also S1
If the result in 2 is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S14 without setting the ball capture control flag to "1". That is, if the ball removal control flag is "1", it means that the ball removal operation is in progress. In this case, the ball intake switch is turned on.
Even if it is operated, the ball uptake control flag is not set to "1".

When the result in S14 is affirmative (YES), that is, when the player turns on the ball take-in switch, the process proceeds to S15, in which it is determined whether the ball take-in control flag is "1". If the flag is not "1" here, it is determined that the ball is not in the ball taking-in operation (NO), and the process proceeds to S16 to set the ball-removing control flag to "1" so that the ball-removing operation is recognized. After that, the process moves to RET and the flow is repeated. If the result in S15 is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to RET without setting the ball removal control flag to "1". That is, if the ball take-in control flag is "1", the ball take-in operation is being performed. In this case, therefore, the ball take-out control flag is not set to "1" even if the ball take-out switch is turned ON. .

(Regarding Ball Intake Control) FIG. 17 shows a flowchart of the ball uptake control. In S21, it is determined whether or not the in-ball uptake control flag is "1", and this flag is "1". If YES, the determination is affirmative (YES), the flow proceeds to S22, and sphere uptake control processing is performed. That is, as described above, the first solenoid 18 is energized and excited to bring the ball feeding body 86 into a rotatable release state, and the ball passage 5
Only one pachinko ball T in 2 is taken into the machine, and then the first solenoid 18 is demagnetized. Next, S2
Moving to 3, it is determined whether or not the number of pachinko balls T taken in the machine is the preset specified number (5 in the embodiment), and if it does not reach the specified number.
(NO), shift to RET, and the ball capture control process of S22 is repeated until S23 is affirmative (YES). Then, when a specified number (5) of pachinko balls T are taken into the machine from the ball taking-in device 10 and S23 is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S24 and the ball taking-in control flag is set to "0". After recognizing that the ball is not being taken in, the operation shifts to RET.

If S21 is negative (NO),
It is determined that the ball is not in the ball-taking-in operation, and the process proceeds to RET without performing the ball-taking-in control process.

(Regarding Ball Removal Control) FIG. 18 shows a flowchart of ball removal control. In S31, it is determined whether or not the ball removal control flag is "1". Is affirmative (YES), the process proceeds to S32, and it is determined whether or not the timer is set. Here, if the timer has started counting by the ON operation of the ball removing switch, affirmative (YES) in S32.
Then, the process proceeds to S34, and it is determined whether or not the count value of the timer is a preset set time (30 seconds in the embodiment). If the set time has not been reached (NO), the process proceeds to S35. . When the result in S32 is negative (NO), the timer is set (count is started) in S33, and then the process proceeds to S35.

In S35, it is determined whether or not the left sensor 70 detects the pachinko ball T (ON). If the result is affirmative (YES), the pachinko ball T in the ball passage 52 is determined.
When it is determined that the vehicle is stopped, the process proceeds to S39 and the ball removal control process is performed. That is, the second solenoid 116 is energized and excited, and the passage opening / closing valve 102 is connected to the first shaft body 104.
Also, the pachinko ball T in the ball passage 52 is slid toward the rear of the case body 16 with the second shaft body 110 as a fulcrum so as to open the opening portion 46, so that the pachinko ball T in the ball passage 52 is opened and the discharge port 25. It is taken out of the machine via. And
After shifting to RET and repeating the above-mentioned flow, S34
When the timer counts the set time in (YES) or the left sensor 70 no longer detects the pachinko ball T in S35 (NO), either of the conditions is satisfied,
The process moves to S36.

In step S36, the ball removal control flag is set to "0" to recognize that the ball removal operation is not in progress.
Next, in S37, by turning off the power supply to the second solenoid 116, the passage opening / closing valve 102 is tilted from the open state to the closed state to close the opening 46. Furthermore,
After resetting the timer in S38, the process proceeds to RET. When the result in S31 is negative (NO), the process proceeds to RET without performing the flow described above.

That is, as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 16, the game control board controls to set only one of the ball take-in control flag and the ball take-out control flag to "1". . Then, as shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, in both the ball uptake control and the ball removal control, it is first determined whether or not the ball uptake control flag or the ball removal control flag is “1”. . Therefore, even if the ball removal switch is turned on during ball removal after the ball uptake switch is turned on, or if the ball uptake switch is turned on during ball removal after the ball removal switch is turned on, Since the taking-in operation and the ball removing operation are not performed at the same time, it is possible to prevent a situation in which the number of pachinko balls T taken in from the ball taking-in device 10 into the machine does not reach the prescribed number, and the pachinko ball to be returned to the player. It is possible to prevent T from being taken into the cabin.

Further, in the ball removal control, when the second solenoid 116 is continuously energized for the preset time set in the timer, the solenoid 116 is automatically deenergized. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of problems such as burn-in due to the energized state of the second solenoid 116 being continued for a long time.

In the embodiment, the case has been described in which the specified number detection sensor is provided inside the ball take-in device, but it may be provided in the ball delivery passage portion communicating with the ball passage of the device. Further, the specified number detected by the detection sensor is not limited to five in the embodiment, and may be any other number. Therefore, if the specified number detection sensor is arranged at the upstream side of the ball feeding body. It can be set at any position. Further, the passage opening / closing valve for opening / closing the opening is not limited to the tilting system, but may be configured to slide in the front / rear direction to open / close the opening. Furthermore,
The drive source of the drive means for switching the passage opening / closing valve is not limited to the solenoid of the embodiment, and may be a motor or other type.

[0069]

As described above, according to the control method of the ball taking-in device in the pachinko type slot machine of the present invention, the ball removing operation cannot be performed during the ball taking-in operation of the pachinko ball. Therefore, the specified number of pachinko balls can be reliably taken into the machine. In addition, since it was made impossible to perform the ball loading operation during the ball removal operation of the pachinko balls to the outside of the machine, the pachinko balls that should be returned to the player are taken into the machine, or the number of pachinko balls less than the specified number is taken into the machine. It can be prevented. Further, when the ball removing operation is continuously performed for a certain period of time, the ball removing operation is once stopped, so that the service life of the drive means can be extended and the occurrence of failure can be suppressed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a ball take-in device according to an embodiment in which a control method of the present invention is carried out, with a cover member removed from a base member.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing each component removed from the base member of the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a ball capturing device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a ball passage member arranged in the ball take-in device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a ball passage member arranged in the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of a ball passage member arranged in the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing a base member of the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view showing a state in which each component is removed from the base member of the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing a state in which a pachinko ball is supplied to the ball capturing device according to the embodiment, with the cover member removed.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing a passage opening / closing valve and a drive means thereof according to the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a base member of the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a front view showing a state in which the ball capturing device according to the embodiment is arranged on a substrate.

FIG. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing a relationship between a ball passage and a pachinko ball in the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a front view showing a relationship between a ball passage and a pachinko ball in the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a front view showing a state in which a pachinko ball is pulled out from the opening of the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a malfunction prevention control of the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of a ball uptake control of the ball uptake device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of ball removal control of the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a front view of a pachinko type slot machine including the ball capturing device according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

14 Ball delivery path 18 1st solenoid (electromagnetic solenoid) 46 opening 52 ball passage 80 Specified number detection sensor (detection sensor) 86 ball feeder 86b Ball receiver 88 Control member 102 Passage valve 118 Drive means 142 Upper bowl T pachinko ball

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hiroshi Aida             2-9-4 Kayabacho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo               Newgin Tokyo Building (72) Inventor Kazunori Yanagisawa             2-9-4 Kayabacho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo               Newgin Tokyo Building

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A pachinko ball supplied from an upper ball plate (142).
(T) Sphere passage (52) communicating with the sphere delivery passage portion (14) for guiding through, and a plurality of sphere receiving portions (86b) formed on the outer circumference face the sphere passage (52). Excitation of a ball feed body (86) that can eject pachinko balls (T) by ball feed rotation of each ball and an electromagnetic solenoid (18) that is operated and controlled based on a ball take-in signal.
A restricting member that is switched according to the degaussing condition and restricts the ball feeding body (86) into a state in which the rotation is stopped and a rotatable release is performed.
(88), and is arranged upstream of the pachinko ball discharging position from the ball feeder (86), and detects that a specified number of pachinko balls (T) are retained in the ball passageway (52). Detection sensor (8
0), an opening (46) provided upstream of the ball feed body (86) in the ball passage (52) and communicating with the ball removal passage, and an open state and a closed state with respect to the opening (46). A pachinko type slot machine including a passage opening / closing valve (102) arranged so as to be movable between and a drive means (118) for switching the passage opening / closing valve (102) between an open state and a closed state. In the ball taking-in device, the drive is performed during the ball taking-in operation in which the ball feeding body (86) is rotated / stopped by the excitation / demagnetization of the electromagnetic solenoid (18) to take the pachinko ball (T) into the machine. A method for controlling a ball intake device in a pachinko-type slot machine, characterized in that the passage opening / closing valve (102) is controlled so as to be disabled from being switched from a closed state to an open state by means (118). 2. A pachinko ball supplied from an upper ball plate (142).
(T) Sphere passage (52) communicating with the sphere delivery passage portion (14) for guiding through, and a plurality of sphere receiving portions (86b) formed on the outer circumference face the sphere passage (52). Excitation of a ball feed body (86) that can eject pachinko balls (T) by ball feed rotation of each ball and an electromagnetic solenoid (18) that is operated and controlled based on a ball take-in signal.
A restricting member that is switched according to the degaussing condition and restricts the ball feeding body (86) into a state in which the rotation is stopped and a rotatable release is performed.
(88), and is arranged upstream of the pachinko ball discharging position from the ball feeder (86), and detects that a specified number of pachinko balls (T) are retained in the ball passageway (52). Detection sensor (8
0), an opening (46) provided upstream of the ball feed body (86) in the ball passage (52) and communicating with the ball removal passage, and an open state and a closed state with respect to the opening (46). A pachinko type slot machine including a passage opening / closing valve (102) arranged so as to be movable between and a drive means (118) for switching the passage opening / closing valve (102) between an open state and a closed state. In the ball taking-in device, the driving means (118) switches the passage opening / closing valve (102) to an open state during a ball removing operation, and the restriction member (88) of the electromagnetic solenoid (18) A method for controlling a ball take-in device in a pachinko-type slot machine, characterized by performing control so as to disable a switching operation from a rotation stop state to a rotation release state for a ball feeder (86). 3. When the ball removing operation is continuously performed for a predetermined time, the passage opening / closing valve (102) is switched to a closed state by the driving means (118) to temporarily perform the ball removing operation. The control method for a ball capturing device in a pachinko slot machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control is performed so as to stop the ball capturing device.