JP2005168595A - Game ball feeder for game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game ball feeder for the game machines which facilitates the intake of one and many units of the game balls or more by the continued feeding action. <P>SOLUTION: A sprocket, in which recessed parts between the teeth receiving the game balls one at a time are so endlessly arranged continuously on the outer circumference thereof facing a feeding path of the game balls as to let the recessed parts between the teeth receive and pass the game balls one at a time sequentially with the rotation is rotatably installed and a stepping motor is connected to the sprocket. The sprocket is rotated by controlling the stepping cycle with the stepping motor and also provided with a detector for detecting one or both of the number of revolutions and the number of game balls passing. The rotation of the stepping motor is started by the feeding signal from the operation of the feeding switch and stopped by the detection signal of the detector. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a game ball throwing device in a gaming machine using a pachinko ball capable of playing a game with a predetermined plurality of game balls (hereinafter also referred to as pachinko balls) as one unit.

  Conventionally, as a slot machine, a gaming machine has been proposed in which a predetermined plurality of pachinko balls are inserted into a gaming machine as a unit instead of a medal (also referred to as a coin) (see, for example, Patent Document 1). To make it possible to play slot machines using pachinko balls, it is possible to use pachinko balls in common with pachinko machines that have been widely used so far, such as pachinko ball supply devices, counting devices and centralized control devices in game stores. Since the apparatus can be used as it is, pachinko machines and slot machines can be mixed in the same game store and the same island facility.

Conventionally, for example, since one medal is 20 yen and one pachinko ball is 4 yen, one medal corresponds to five pachinko balls. Therefore, for example, if one medal is taken as one unit, the number of pachinko balls corresponding to this is five. In addition, the betting rate of one game by a gaming machine (slot machine) can be selected from 1 to 3. When the betting rate is 1, there is one medal, and therefore there are five pachinko balls. Similarly, when the betting rate is 2, there are 2 medals, and therefore, there are 10 pachinko balls, and when the betting rate is 3, there are 3 medals and therefore 15 pachinko balls.
In a gaming machine in which a predetermined number of pachinko balls are thrown into a gaming machine as a unit to play a game, it is desirable that a plurality of units of pachinko balls can be taken in from the throwing device at one time. As a result, the betting rate of the game can be changed and the game can be developed, and the player's ball can be stored in the credit mechanism.

Conventionally, as a game ball throwing device in a gaming machine in which such a predetermined number of balls are thrown as one unit, a down flow from an upper plate provided on the entire surface of the gaming machine, A connected take-in basket is provided inside the gaming machine, and the ball take-in device is operated by an electric drive means to take in balls for the number of unit balls, and a betting rate of 1 to 3 per game Has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2).
Also, the throwing device has a rotating body that holds a predetermined number of game balls in the groove and takes them in at once. The throwing state of the game balls is monitored by a program, and the throwing switch is pushed down when the predetermined number of balls is thrown. In this state, a charging device (for example, see Patent Document 3) that automatically starts the next predetermined number of acquisitions has been proposed.
Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-108326 Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 7-55246 JP 2000-189556 A

These techniques are preferable because a plurality of units of pachinko spheres can be taken in from the input device at a time. However, there are also points to be improved as follows.
The betting rate of one game by a gaming machine (slot machine) can be selected from 1 to 3, but at this time, it has three selection input buttons corresponding to the betting rates 1 to 3 of one game, By selecting and pushing down, any unit of pachinko spheres can be taken in. Therefore, the structure is more complicated than when operating with one button, and many pachinko spheres are combined. Sometimes it cannot be used to store credits.
In addition, a device equipped with a throwing device having a rotating body that holds a predetermined number of pachinko balls in the groove and takes in at a time can hold a predetermined number of balls (for example, five balls) determined by the groove of the rotating body. Therefore, it can only deal with a predetermined number of balls and cannot be used when the number of balls changes. Therefore, if the predetermined number of balls of one unit is changed, it must be replaced with a throwing device having a corresponding rotating body, which lacks versatility and is uneconomical.

The present invention has been proposed to solve such a conventional problem, and a first object of the present invention is to easily take one or more pachinko balls into a gaming machine by a continuous throwing operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a game ball throwing device in a gaming machine that can store a large number of pachinko balls in credits at a time and can cope with a change in the predetermined number of balls per unit.
The second purpose is not only that the game can be played by inserting a predetermined number of pachinko balls, but also that all the pachinko balls that pass through the device can be managed, and it is possible to manage fewer pachinko balls than the predetermined number. Another object of the present invention is to provide a game ball throwing device in a gaming machine capable of playing with pachinko balls other than a predetermined number.

In the gaming machine according to the present invention, the game ball throwing device faces the game ball throwing path, and the outer periphery has a recess for receiving one ball of the game ball between the claws. A sprocket that rotatably accepts one ball of each ball in the recess between the claws and allows it to pass is provided rotatably.
A stepping motor is connected to the sprocket, and the sprocket is rotated with a step period controlled by the stepping motor. The sprocket detects either one or both of the number of rotations and the number of passing balls. A detecting device is provided,
The stepping motor starts rotating by a closing signal by operating a closing switch, and stops rotating by a detection signal of the detection device.
As a result, pachinko balls (game balls) can pass if the sprocket rotates in the insertion passage, and are blocked from passing if the rotation stops. Therefore, pachinko balls can be thrown in by the rotation of the sprocket. Since the rotation of the sprocket is controlled by the stepping motor, the throwing ball per unit time is controlled by controlling the step period of the sprocket with the stepping motor. You can determine the number. That is, the number of thrown balls within a predetermined time can also be determined. Therefore, even if the number of pachinko balls to be inserted is increased to a plurality of units, it can be easily and reliably inserted.
Further, since the stepping motor is driven by the input signal by operating the input switch to rotate the sprocket and stops at the detection signal, the number of input balls can be made accurate.

Further, the game ball throwing device in the gaming machine according to the present invention is such that the upstream of the gaming ball throwing passage is connected to the receiving bowl of the gaming ball, and the throwing passage is located upstream or downstream of the sprocket in the throwing passage. The return side passage is branched, and this branch passage is provided with passage switching means. Normally, the introduction side passage is opened and the return side passage is closed, but when the clearing switch is pressed, the introduction passage is closed. The return side passage is opened.
Thereby, even if game balls remain in the tray when it is desired to liquidate, the return side passage can be opened and taken out.

The game ball throwing device in the gaming machine according to the present invention is provided with a sprocket that faces the throwing path of the pachinko ball (game ball) and allows or stops the pachinko ball from passing by rotation and stop. Between the nail and the pawl, the pachinko ball is continuously connected to the recess for receiving each ball, and by rotating, the pachinko ball is successively received in the recess between the nail and the pawl to allow passage. Therefore, the number of pachinko balls to be thrown in can be determined by the number of sprocket revolutions. Since the stepping motor is connected to the sprocket and the step period can be controlled, it can be set so that a predetermined number of pachinko balls can be quickly thrown in in a short time. As a result, pachinko balls to be thrown at once can be set arbitrarily, and can be thrown easily and quickly even if the number of balls to be thrown is large.
In other words, in a gaming machine in which a predetermined number of pachinko balls are thrown into a gaming machine as a unit, one unit of pachinko balls or multiple units of pachinko balls can be arbitrarily set and thrown from the throwing device at once. Thus, the game can be changed accordingly, and the betting rate of the game can be arbitrarily changed. Further, if the betting rate of the game can be changed, the game can be developed with great taste.

In order to explain the present invention in more detail, it will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1 is a schematic front view illustrating an example of a gaming machine, FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is an embodiment of the present invention. The principal part expansion perspective view which shows a form, FIG. 5: is a principal part top view which shows embodiment of this invention.
A gaming machine 10 according to the present invention is a slot machine in which a plurality of predetermined pachinko balls are inserted as a unit instead of medals to play a game. As shown in FIG. Display unit 11 provided with rotating drums 11a, 11b, and 11c on which images are displayed, input switch 13 that inputs predetermined pachinko balls, rotating drums 12a, 12b, and 12d to match the patterns of rotating drums 12a, 12b, and 12c, A push button 15 operated to stop the rotation of 12c and a tray 16 for a paid-out pachinko ball are provided. When a predetermined number of pachinko balls are inserted by the input switch 13, the rotary drums 12a, 12b, 12c are rotated by the operation lever 14, and then the rotation of the rotary drums 12a, 12b, 12c is stopped by the push button 15. The game is performed based on the combination result of the patterns of the rotating drums 12a, 12b, and 12c displayed on the winning establishment line in the display unit 11.

On the back side of the gaming machine 10, a pachinko ball throwing device 1 that can throw a predetermined number of pachinko balls by operating the throwing switch 13 is provided.
This pachinko ball throwing device 1 faces the pachinko ball throwing passage 2, and the recess 4 for receiving one ball of the pachinko ball B between the claws 4a and the claws 4a on the outer periphery continuously and endlessly rotates. A sprocket 3 that sequentially accepts each pachinko ball B into the recess 4 between the claws 4a and 4a and allows it to pass therethrough is rotatably provided. A stepping motor 5 (see FIG. 5) is connected to the sprocket 3. The sprocket 3 is rotated with the step period controlled by the stepping motor 5, and the sprocket 3 is provided with a detection device 6 for detecting either or both of the rotation speed and the number of passing pachinko balls. The stepping motor 5 starts rotating by a closing signal generated by operating the closing switch 13 and stops rotating by a detection signal of the detecting device 6. It has become way.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the upstream side of the charging passage 2 is connected to the outlet 16 a of the tray 16, and the pachinko ball B is introduced into the charging passage 2 from the tray 16 and stopped by the sprocket 3. This sprocket 3 is a device that pays out (injects) the pachinko ball B that travels downstream along the input passage 2 downstream by rotation, and restores it by stopping. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sprocket 3 A pachinko sphere B is formed between the nail 4a and the recess 4 to receive the pachinko sphere one by one. In the stopped state, the pachinko sphere B from the upstream to the downstream is stopped. It is the structure which accepts one by one in the recessed part 4 between nail | claws 4a, and permits passage. Since only one ball is received in one recess 4, the number of pachinko balls that pass through can be determined by the number of rotations of the sprocket 3. Although there is no restriction | limiting in particular in the shape of the recessed part 4 of this sprocket 3, The semicircular arc shape corresponding to the spherical arc of a pachinko sphere can be mentioned as a preferable example.

  A stepping motor 5 is connected to the shaft 5a to which the sprocket 3 is fixed, and the sprocket 3 is rotationally driven by the stepping motor 5 with a step period controlled. That is, as described above, the sprocket 3 is formed between the claw 4a and the claw 4a in the recess 4 for receiving one pachinko ball, and by rotating, the pachinko ball is sequentially received in the one recess 4. Since it is configured to allow passage, the number of pachinko spheres that pass through can be known from the number of rotations of the sprocket 3, and the number of pachinko spheres that pass through is also determined from the number of rotations. Therefore, it can be seen that how many pachinko balls are allowed to pass by how long depending on the rotational speed of the sprocket 3, so the number of pachinko balls inserted and the required time are determined by setting the rotational speed of the sprocket 3 by the stepping motor 5. it can.

Further, the sprocket 3 is provided with a detection device 6 for detecting the number of rotations and the number of pachinko balls passing through. In this example, as the detection device 6, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the rotary encoder 7 is provided on the shaft 5 a on which the sprocket 3 is fixed, and the rotational speed is detected. A passing ball sensor 22 is provided in the passage 2 to detect a passing ball.
For example, the same number of slits (holes) 7a of the rotary encoder 7 as the recesses 4 of the sprocket 3 are provided, and a light emitting element is provided on one side of the rotary encoder 7 and a light receiving element is provided on the other side. The count sensor 8 is provided, and the light emitted from the light emitting element is detected by the light receiving element from the slit 7a, and the number of the spheres is detected by detecting (measuring) the number of the slits 7a that have passed through when rotating.
Therefore, the pachinko ball throwing device 1 is driven by the throwing signal generated by the operation of the throwing switch 13 to drive the stepping motor 5 to rotate the sprocket 3 and throw a predetermined number of pachinko balls B into the rotary encoder. The stepping motor 5 is stopped based on one or both of the detection signals of the rotation number of the sprocket 3 at 7 and the number of passing balls at the passing ball sensor 22, and at the same time, the rotation of the sprocket 3 is also stopped.

Further, the charging passage 2 is branched into a charging side passage 2a and a return side passage 2b downstream of the sprocket 3, and a passage switching means 9 is provided on this branching passage, and the charging side passage 2a is normally opened. The return side passage 2b is closed, but when the clearing switch is pressed, the input side passage 2a is closed and the return side passage 2b is opened.
In this example, as the passage switching means 9, an opening / closing plate 9a for opening and closing the opening 2c is provided at the opening 2c (see FIG. 4) where the input side passage 2 branches into the return side passage 2b. The structure which opens and closes with the solenoid 9b is shown. Accordingly, the opening 2c of the return side passage 2b is normally closed by the opening / closing plate 9a, and the closing side passage 2a is opened. However, when the clearing switch (also referred to as a closing / returning switch) is pressed, the solenoid 9b is activated. The opening 2c of the return side passage 2b is opened, and the pachinko ball flows out to the return side passage 2b.

Thus, according to the pachinko ball throwing device 1 of the present invention, the pachinko ball that flows from the receiving tray 16 and goes downstream in the throwing passage 2 is stopped by the sprocket 3, but a throwing signal is generated by operating the throwing switch 13. Then, the stepping motor 5 is driven by this input signal and the sprocket 3 is rotated, so that the pachinko ball stopped by this is passed and input.
The number of pachinko balls thrown in by the rotation of the sprocket 3 (the number of passages) is such that the sprocket 3 is rotated so that each pachinko ball is successively received in the recess 4 between the claws 4a and 4a. Therefore, it is determined by the number of rotations of the sprocket 3, and the sprocket 3 is rotated with the step period controlled by the stepping motor 5, so that the input time and the input amount (the number of balls) can be set by the stepping motor 5. Therefore, the number of balls to be thrown can be arbitrarily set, and a predetermined number of pachinko balls can be set to be thrown quickly in a short time.
In other words, in a gaming machine in which a predetermined number of pachinko balls are thrown into a gaming machine as a unit, one unit of pachinko balls or multiple units of pachinko balls can be arbitrarily set and thrown from the throwing device at once. The game can be played and the betting rate of the game can be arbitrarily changed.
The above-described embodiment does not limit the present invention, and various modifications are allowed without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the receiving ball sensor 21 or the credit function can be freely provided upstream of the sprocket 3 in the charging passage 2.

It is a schematic front view explaining an example of a gaming machine. It is a front view which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part expansion perspective view which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a principal part top view which shows embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game ball | bowl (pachinko ball) insertion device 2 Pachinko ball insertion passage 2a Input side passage 2b Return side passage 2c Opening 3 Sprocket 4 Sprocket recess 4a Sprocket claw 5 Stepping motor 6 Detection device 7 Rotary encoder 7a Slit (hole)
8 Count sensor 9 Passage switching means 9a Opening / closing plate 9b Solenoid 10 Game machine 12 Input switch 16 Saucer

Claims (2)

Faced with a game ball throwing path, a recess that accepts one ball of the game ball between the claws and the claw is continuously connected to the outer periphery, and the ball between the claws and the claws is rotated to rotate. Sprockets that are sequentially received and allowed to pass are provided rotatably,
A stepping motor is connected to the sprocket, and the sprocket is rotated with a step period controlled by the stepping motor. The sprocket detects either one or both of the number of rotations and the number of passing balls. A detecting device is provided,
The stepping motor starts to rotate by an input signal generated by operating an input switch, and stops rotating by a detection signal from the detection device.   The upstream of the game ball charging passage is connected to a receiving tray for the game ball, and is branched into a loading side passage and a return side passage upstream or downstream of the sprocket in the charging passage. 2. A switching means is provided, wherein the input side passage is normally opened and the return side passage is closed, but when the clearing switch is pressed, the input side passage is closed and the return side passage is opened. A game ball throwing device in the game machine described.

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