JPH11128478A - Ball game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To improve the degree of freedom of arrangement and size of a center accessory and the like. SOLUTION: A ball game machine according to the present invention receives a plurality of game balls supplied from a tank on an inclined alignment rail 13, and sets the plurality of game balls in a state where they do not overlap in a process of flowing the game balls to the alignment rail 13. In the ball game machine which is aligned to the prize ball payout device section, the alignment rail 13 is bent and formed into a vertically long shape while maintaining a predetermined inclination, and is arranged beside the game board. It is characterized by having. For this reason, the alignment rail 13 does not interfere with the center role and the like regardless of where the center role and the like are arranged on the game board.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of receiving a plurality of game balls supplied from a tank on an inclined alignment rail, and aligning the plurality of game balls until they do not overlap with each other in the process of flowing the game balls on the alignment rail. And a ball game machine for guiding to a prize ball payout device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional ball game machine, as shown in FIG. 13, a tank 2 for storing game balls is mounted on an upper portion of the back of a ball game machine 1 and discharged from the bottom of the tank 2. A game ball (not shown) is guided to the prize ball payout device 4 by the alignment rail 3. The alignment rail 3 is a groove-type rail that aligns the supplied game balls to a non-overlapping state (a single-stage state) in the process of leading the supplied game balls to the prize ball payout device 4, and is formed in a linear shape. I have. Further, the alignment rail 3 is provided with a predetermined inclination so that the game ball can flow slowly on the alignment rail 3 by its own weight. In addition, the alignment rail 3 has a necessary and sufficient length so that the game balls can be aligned until they do not overlap in the course of the flow of the game balls. A pendulum-shaped ball leveler 9 is provided for breaking and aligning overlapping game balls. As described above, since the alignment rail 3 requires a predetermined inclination and a sufficient length, the alignment rail 3 is disposed under the tank 2 at a position crossing the rear surface of the ball game machine 1.

[0003]

However, since the center role 6 and the like of the game board 8 protrude from the back of the ball game machine 1, the alignment rail 3 and the center role 6 and the like are provided. Interference is a problem. For this reason, at present, the alignment rail 3 is disposed at the uppermost position on the back surface of the ball game machine 1 to prevent interference with the center accessory 6 and the like.
However, when it is desired to arrange the center role 6 or the like of the game board 8 further upward, or to increase the size of the center role 6 or the like, the alignment rail 3 becomes an obstacle.

[0004] Therefore, claims 1 and 2 of the present invention.
According to the invention, the shape of the alignment rail is changed to be vertically long so that the alignment rail does not interfere with the center role and the like, and the degree of freedom of arrangement and size of the center role 6 and the like is improved. It is assumed that. The invention described in claim 3 has the object of claim 1 and claim 2,
It is an object of the present invention to smoothly guide a game ball from a tank to a prize ball payout device without being clogged, and to shorten a distance required for aligning the game ball. Further, the invention described in claim 4 aims to improve the degree of freedom of arrangement of the tank in addition to the objects of the inventions described in claim 1 and 2.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned problem is solved by a ball game machine having the following features. That is, the ball game machine according to claim 1 receives a plurality of game balls supplied from the tank on the inclined alignment rail, and aligns the game balls until they do not overlap in the process of flowing the game balls to the alignment rail. And in the ball game machine leading to the prize ball payout device section, the alignment rail is bent in a state where a predetermined inclination is secured, formed into a vertically long shape, and is arranged beside the game board. It is characterized by.

According to the present invention, since the alignment rail is formed in a vertically elongated shape and is arranged beside the game board, the alignment rail and the center role can be arranged regardless of the position of the center role at the game board. There is no interference with objects. For this reason,
The degree of freedom of arrangement and size of the center officials etc. is improved.

[0007] The invention described in claim 2 is the first invention.
Wherein the alignment rail is formed in a spiral shape. According to the present invention, since the alignment rail is formed in a spiral shape, the bending radius is substantially constant at all points, and the game balls can flow stably. Furthermore, the installation space becomes compact, and the degree of freedom in the arrangement of the game boards and the like is further improved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the ball game machine according to the first or second aspect, the alignment rail has a large inclination on the tank side and has a large inclination on the prize ball payout device side. It is characterized in that the height of the ceiling is reduced to a height at which the game balls do not overlap on the prize ball payout device side.

According to the present invention, since the alignment rail has a large inclination on the tank side, the supplied game balls are less likely to be clogged. Further, since the inclination of the bottom surface is small on the side of the prize ball payout device, the momentum of the game balls supplied to the prize ball payout device can be suppressed. In addition, since the height of the game balls is regulated by the ceiling of the alignment rail and the game balls can be arranged so as not to overlap, it is necessary to align the game balls as compared with the conventional method of aligning the game balls. The distance can be shortened to some extent,
Eliminate the need for a leveling mechanism for game balls.

[0010] Further, the invention according to claim 4 is based on claim 2.
Wherein the upper portion of the alignment rail constitutes the tank. According to the present invention, since the space of the tank is reduced, the degree of freedom in arranging the tank is improved, and the degree of freedom in arranging the game board and the center role is also improved.

[0011]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[First Embodiment] A ball game machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The ball game machine 10 according to the present embodiment has a tank 12
Prize ball payout unit 1 by arranging game balls supplied from
4 is an exploded perspective view and a detailed view of the alignment rail 13 shown in FIGS.
FIG. 9 is an assembly diagram of the alignment rail 13, and FIG.
0 is shown.

As shown in FIG. 9, the ball game machine 10 has a tank 12 for storing game balls (not shown) at the upper portion of the back surface thereof. The tank 12 is a rectangular container having an open top (see FIG. 11), and an opening 12h for discharging game balls is formed at an end (right end in the figure) of the floor plate 12f. The tank 12
The floor surface 12f is provided with an inclination such that the opening 12h is the lowest, and a plurality of slit-like narrow openings 12s are formed in the inclined portion of the floor surface 12f. Thus, while the game ball moves on the narrow opening 12s, dust attached to the game ball is dropped out of the tank 12, and the game ball free of dust can be sent to the alignment rail 13. . For this reason, ball clogging in the alignment rail 13 and the prize ball payout device 14 can be prevented. A ball detection switch 12z for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball in the tank 12 is mounted near the opening 12h for discharging the game ball in the tank 12.

The aligning rail 13 is formed in a vertically long spiral shape so as to secure a rail length required for aligning the game balls without taking up space, and a game board is provided immediately below the opening 12h of the tank 12. 18 (see FIGS. 8 and 9). The alignment rail 13 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper helical rail 23, the middle helical rail 33, and the lower helical rail 43 are formed, and the helical rails 23, 33, 43 are formed in a spiral shape by being connected in series. The alignment rail 13 is formed of a transparent resin so that the flow of the game ball can be confirmed from outside.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper helical rail 23 has a substantially U-shaped cross section and a virtual center axis O.
And a flat rectangular receiving portion 23u for receiving the game ball R discharged from the opening 12h of the tank 12 is formed at the uppermost portion. The receiving part 23u
The bottom surface of the helical rail 23 is provided with a gentle slope so that the game balls can be paid out, and the upper helical rail 23 extends from the end of the receiving portion 23u to the lower end portion 23y (the tip portion).
Bent around 270 °. Further, a steep slope from the bottom of the receiving portion 23u is provided between the end of the receiving portion 23u of the upper helical rail 23 and the lower end 23y. That is, the height difference of the dimension A is provided in the height direction in the process of bending the upper helical rail 23 by 270 ° as described above. Here, FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the upper helical rail 23, FIG. 2B is a plan view of the same, and FIG.
FIG. 3A is a view taken in the direction of arrow A, and FIG.
FIG. 3C is a view as viewed in the direction of the arrow CC in FIG. 2, FIG. 3D is a view as viewed in the direction of the arrow D in FIG. 2, and FIG.

The upper helical rail 23 has an inner wall 23a.
And a bottom plate 23d stretched between the outer wall 23b and the side walls 23a, 23b, and is formed into a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the center of the bottom plate 23d divides the inside of the upper helical rail 23 into two in the width direction. A plate 23t is provided. The height of the partition plate 23t is set slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball R (see FIGS. 3B and 3D).
The height of 3a and the outer wall 23b is set slightly lower than the height of the game balls R stacked in three stages. Also, the inner wall 2
The space between 3a and the partition plate 23t and the space between the outer side wall 23b and the partition plate 23t are set so as to allow one game ball R to pass therethrough.

Further, the bottom plate 23d has an inner wall 23
a and the partition plate 23t, and between the outer wall 23b and the partition plate 2
An elongated opening 23k is formed between the opening 3k and 3t, so that when the game ball R moves on the bottom plate 23d, dust attached to the game ball R can be dropped from the opening 23k.
A rib 23r is formed around the opening 23k so as to protrude downward by a predetermined thickness.
Serves as a ceiling for the middle helical rail 33. That is, the height of the game ball R moving on the middle helical rail 33 is regulated by the rib 23r.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the middle helical rail 33 is formed by bending a rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section at the same inclination as the upper helical rail 23 by 360 ° around a virtual center axis O. The upper end 33x is connected to the lower end 23y of the upper helical rail 23. Also,
The upper end 43x of the lower helical rail 43 is connected to the lower end 33y of the middle helical rail 33. Here, FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the middle helical rail 33, and FIG.
FIG. 5B is a plan view of the same, FIG.
FIG. 5B is a view taken in the direction of arrows BB in FIG. 4, FIG. 5C is a view taken in the direction of arrows CC in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5D is a view taken in the direction of arrow D in FIG.

The middle helical rail 33 has an inner wall 33a.
And a bottom plate 33d stretched between the outer side wall 33b and both side walls 33a, 33b, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a partition for dividing the inside of the middle helical rail 33 into two in the width direction at the center of the bottom plate 33d. A plate 33t is formed. The height of the partition plate 33t is set slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball R, and the height of the inner side wall 33a and the outer wall 33b is set slightly lower than the height of the game balls R stacked in three stages. Have been. In addition, the interval between the inner wall 33a and the partition plate 33t and the interval between the outer wall 33b and the partition plate 33t are set to allow one game ball R to pass through.

Further, the bottom plate 33d has an inner wall 33.
a and the partition plate 33t, and between the outer wall 33b and the partition plate 3
3t, an elongated opening 33k is formed, and a rib 33r protruding downward by a certain thickness is formed around the opening 33k. And the rib 33
r serves as a ceiling for the lower helical rail 43. That is, the height of the game ball R moving on the lower helical rail 43 is regulated by the rib 33r.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower helical rail 43 is formed by bending a rail having a substantially U-shaped cross section 360 ° around a virtual center axis O at a constant inclination.
The upper end 43x is the lower end 3 of the middle helical rail 33.
3y. The lower end 43y of the lower helical rail 43 is disposed in parallel with the game board 18 and directly above the direction changing unit 54 of the prize ball payout device 14 (FIG. 9).
reference). Further, the lower helical rail 43 is provided with a gentler inclination than the upper and middle helical rails 23 and 33 so as to suppress the momentum of the flow of the game balls R.
Here, FIG. 6 (A) is a perspective view of the lower helical rail 43, FIG. 6 (B) is a plan view of the same, and FIG. 7 (A) is AA of FIG.
FIG. 7B is an arrow view, and FIG. 7B is an arrow view of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows CC in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7D is a view as viewed in the direction of arrows D in FIG.

The lower helical rail 43 has an inner wall 43a.
And a bottom plate 43d stretched between the outer wall 43b and the side walls 43a, 43b, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and a partition for dividing the inside of the lower helical rail 43 into two parts in the width direction at the center of the bottom plate 43d. A plate 43t is formed. The height of the partition 43t is set slightly larger than the diameter of the game ball R. Also, the inner wall 43a
And the height of the outer wall 43b are substantially equal to the heights of the inner wall 33a and the outer wall 33b of the middle helical rail 33 at the position of the upper end 43x, and gradually lower from that position, and in the vicinity of the lower end 43y. The height is substantially equal to the height of the partition plate 43t (see FIGS. 6, 7B and 7D). further,
The distance between the inner wall 43a and the partition plate 43t, and the outer wall 43
The interval between b and the partition plate 43t is set to an interval through which one game ball R can pass. The bottom plate 43d has an elongated opening 43k formed between the inner side wall 43a and the partition plate 43t and between the outer side wall 43b and the partition plate 43t for removing dust from the game balls R.

When the alignment rail 13 is assembled by the upper helical rail 23, the middle helical rail 33 and the lower helical rail 43 as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, the bottom plate 23 of the upper helical rail 23 is assembled.
A gap of a certain size is formed between the center line d and the side walls 43a and 43b of the middle helical rail 33. Similarly, the bottom plate 33d of the middle helical rail 33 and the lower helical rail 43
A constant gap is also formed between the side walls 43a and 43b. For this reason, if the game ball R
Even if clogging occurs, the clogging can be eliminated by inserting a thin pin or the like through the gap.

Since the upper helical rail 23 does not have a ceiling and the height of the side walls 23a and 23b is sufficiently higher than the height of the stacked game balls R, the game balls R can be stacked up to about three steps. It is possible. However, in the middle helical rail 33, the bottom plate 23 of the upper helical rail 23
Since d is the ceiling, and the height of the side walls 33a and 33b is lower than the height of the three stacked game balls R, the game balls R
Can only overlap up to two tiers. Further, in the lower helical rail 43, the bottom plate 33d of the middle helical rail 33 serves as a ceiling, and the heights of the side walls 43a and 43b also gradually decrease to a height substantially equal to the diameter of the game ball R near the lower end 43y. As a result, the game balls R are aligned from the two-tiered state to the non-overlapping state while the game balls R pass through the lower helical rail 43.

Further, the game ball R is a lower helical rail 4
The third partition plate 43t, the inner wall 43a, and the outer wall 43b are arranged in two rows. Here, the lower helical rail 4
As described above, since the lower end 43y of the third 3 is positioned so as to be parallel to the game board 18, the two rows of game balls R released from the lower helical rail 43 are also arranged in the width direction of the game board 18. Can be

Below the alignment rail 13, a direction changing unit 54 of the prize ball payout unit 14 is arranged. The direction changing unit 54 is a part that turns two game balls R arranged in the width direction of the ball game machine 10 by 90 ° in the front-rear direction of the ball game machine 10, and FIG. Directional changing part 5
4 is a front view, FIG. 10 (A) is an AA arrow view, and FIG.
The CC view is shown.

The direction changing section 54 is composed of a first passage 54a and a second passage 54b arranged in the width direction of the ball game machine 10, and a third passage 54c and a fourth passage 54d arranged in the front-rear direction. The second passage 54b communicates with the third passage 54c. Also, the first passage 54a communicates with the fourth passage 54d. Therefore, the two game balls R supplied from the alignment rail 13 are turned 90 ° by the direction changing unit 54 and are supplied to the prize ball payout device unit 14. Note that, in the ball game machine 10 according to the present embodiment, the direction changing unit 5 is formed due to the structural cause of the alignment rail 13 and the prize ball payout unit 14.
The direction changing unit 54 is unnecessary if the game ball R can be directly supplied from the alignment rail 13 to the prize ball payout unit 14.

Next, the ball game machine 10 according to the present embodiment
Will be described. First, the game ball R is stored in the tank 12.
Is supplied. At this time, trash is dropped out of the tank 12 in the process of passing the game ball R supplied into the tank 12 over the slit-shaped narrow opening 12s of the tank 12. The game balls R supplied to the tank 12 are aligned from the opening 12h of the tank 12 in the alignment rail 1
3 is received by the receiving portion 23u.

The receiving portion 23u of the aligning rail 13 and the upper helical rail 23 are provided with an inclination, and since there is no ceiling at this portion, the game balls R can be placed in an upper helical rail in a state close to a three-tier stack. 23, and is guided to the middle helical rail 33. Middle helical rail 3
Since 3 has the same inclination as the upper helical rail 23, the game ball R guided to the middle helical rail 33 flows on the middle helical rail 33 by its own weight. Furthermore, since the rib 23r of the bottom plate 23d of the upper helical rail 23 serves as a ceiling in the middle helical rail 33,
The height of the game balls R is regulated in the process of flowing on the middle helical rail 33, and the game balls R are arranged from a state close to a three-stage stack to a state of a two-stage stack.

Thus, the middle helical rail 33
The game ball R flowing upward is guided to the lower helical rail 43. Since the lower helical rail 43 is provided with a gentler inclination than the upper and middle helical rails 23 and 33, the flow of the game balls R is weakened in the course of flowing through the lower helical rail 43.

Further, since the rib 33r of the bottom plate 33d of the middle helical rail 33 serves as a ceiling in the lower helical rail 43, the height of the game ball R is regulated in the process of flowing on the lower helical rail 43, and the two-stage stacking is performed. Are aligned from the state of to the state of not overlapping. The game balls R are arranged in two rows in the width direction by the inner side wall 43a, the outer side wall 43b, and the partition plate 43t, and two prize ball payout units 14 are provided.
Is supplied to the direction changing unit 54. Then, the direction changing unit 54 changes the direction of the ball game machine 10 by 90 ° in the front-rear direction from the width direction and is stored in the prize ball payout device unit 14.

As described above, according to the ball game machine 10 according to the present embodiment, since the alignment rail 13 is formed in a vertically long spiral shape, the alignment rail 13 is provided beside the game board 18 on the rear surface of the ball game machine 10. Can be arranged. Therefore, the center role 1
No matter where the 6 or the like is placed on the game board 18, the alignment rail 13 and the center role 16 or the like do not interfere. For this reason, the degree of freedom of arrangement and size of the center role 16 and the like is improved.

Since the alignment rail 13 has a large inclination on the tank 12 side, the supplied game balls R are less likely to be clogged. Further, the prize ball payout device 14
Since the inclination is small on the side, the momentum of the game balls R supplied to the prize ball payout device 14 can be suppressed. Further, since the height of the game balls R is regulated by the ceiling of the alignment rails 13 so that the game balls R can be aligned without overlapping,
Compared with the conventional method of arranging the game balls R, the distance required for arranging the game balls R can be shortened, and a leveling mechanism for the game balls R is not required.

Further, since the aligning rail 13 is made of a transparent resin, it is possible to easily find clogging of the ball and the like, and a gap between the upper helical rail 23 and the middle helical rail 33, the middle helical rail 33, and the like. By using the gap of the lower helical rail 43, the clogging can be easily eliminated by the thin pin. In the ball game machine 10 according to the present embodiment, an example in which the alignment rail 13 is formed in a spiral shape is shown, but the invention is not particularly limited to the spiral shape, and for example, a shape bent in a substantially Z-shape. It is possible.

[Second Embodiment] In the ball game machine 20 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the capacity of the receiving portion 53u of the spirally formed alignment rail 53 is increased. This portion is used as a tank 52, and the other structure is the same as that of the ball game machine 10 according to the first embodiment. Thus, the tank 52 is aligned with the alignment rail 53.
, The space of the tank is reduced, the degree of freedom in arranging the tank is improved, and the degree of freedom in arranging the game board and the center role is further improved.

[0035]

According to the present invention, since the alignment rails can be arranged beside the game board, it is not necessary to consider interference between the alignment rails and the center role of the game board.
The degree of freedom of arrangement and size of the center officials etc. is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an alignment rail of a ball game machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view (A) and a plan view (B) of an upper helical rail of an alignment rail of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a view (A) of the upper helical rail of the alignment rail of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the arrow AA.
They are a BB view (B), a CC view (C), a DD view (D), and an E view (E).

FIG. 4 is a perspective view (A) and a plan view (B) of a middle helical rail of an alignment rail of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an AA view (A) of a middle helical rail of the alignment rail of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention,
They are a BB view (B), a CC view (C), and a DD view (D).

FIG. 6 is a perspective view (A) and a plan view (B) of the rear helical rail of the alignment rail of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view (A) of the rear helical rail of the alignment rail of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line AA.
They are a BB view (B), a CC view (C), and a DD view (D).

FIG. 8 is an overall perspective view (A) and a mounting view (B) of an alignment rail of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a rear view of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view (A), a front view (B), and a front view (BB) of the direction changing unit of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
It is an arrow view.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a tank of the ball game machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a rear view of the ball game machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a rear view of a conventional ball game machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 R Game ball 12 Tank 13 Alignment rail 14 Prize ball payout unit 16 Center role 23 Upper helical rail 33 Middle helical rail 43 Lower helical rail

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of game balls supplied from a tank are received by an inclined alignment rail, and the game balls are aligned until they do not overlap with each other in a process of flowing the game balls to the alignment rail. The alignment rail is bent in a state where a predetermined inclination is secured and formed into a vertically long shape, and is arranged beside a game board, . 2. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the alignment rail is formed in a spiral shape. 3. The ball game machine according to claim 1, wherein the alignment rail has a large inclination on the tank side and a gentle inclination on the side of the prize ball payout device, and furthermore, the height of the ceiling is high. A ball game machine characterized in that the game ball is lowered to a height where the game balls do not overlap on the side of the prize ball payout device. 4. The ball game machine according to claim 2, wherein an upper portion of the alignment rail constitutes the tank.