JP4227759B2 - Ball dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、モータと、このモータによって駆動される球送り部材とを備え、所定条件に基づいてモータを作動させることで受容口に供給される遊技球を払出口から払い出す球払出装置に関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
上記のような球払出装置の一例として、パチンコ機に用いられる球払出装置（賞球カセットとも称される）がある。パチンコ機は、多数本の遊技釘や風車とともに種々の入賞具が所定のゲージ設定で配設された遊技盤を有しており、球払出装置は遊技盤における入賞状態等に基づいて出力される指令信号を受けて指令信号に応じた数量の遊技球を払い出す。
【０００３】
このような球払出装置は、一般に、装置の上・下面に遊技球を受容する受容口と遊技球を払い出す払出口とが設けられるとともに、装置内部にモータとこのモータによって垂直面内に回転駆動される球送り部材とを有し、受容口から受容通路を通して球送り部材に導かれる遊技球を球送り部材の外周に形成された球受容部に受容し、球送り部材が回転されたときに受容した遊技球を当該回転方向（右または左）に移動させて、移動方向に形成された案内通路に流下させて案内通路下端の払出口から払い出すように構成されている。
【０００４】
球払出装置の作動は、例えば球払出制御基板等の制御装置によって制御され、入賞条件に基づいた回転角度（例えば払出数量１５球に相当する回転角度）の指令信号が球払出装置に入力され、この指令信号に応じた回転角度分モータを回転作動させて遊技球を払い出す。モータの回転停止角度位置は、球送り部材の球受容部が受容通路に対峙して配設され球受容部に遊技球を受容した状態（前後２段構成の球送り部材を有する球払出装置にあっては前後いずれかの球受容部に遊技球を受容した状態）で停止するように設定されている。
【０００５】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
ところが、従来の球払出装置では、球受容部に受容した遊技球を球受容部の底部で支持し、モータ停止時に遊技球から作用する荷重を球送り部材が支持する構成となっていた。一方、受容口の上方にはタンク部材に貯留された遊技球を受容口に導くとともに所定数量の遊技球を上下方向に整列状態で待機させる球通路（「賞球待機通路」という）が形成されており、球送り部材が支持する荷重は、単に球受容部に受容された遊技球の重量のみならず、受容口よりも上方に待機保持された多数の遊技球から作用する荷重をも加えたものであった。
【０００６】
このため、従来の球払出装置では、このような荷重を支持するために球送り部材およびこの球送り部材の回転軸を支持する軸支部等を強固に構成する必要があり、球払出装置が大型化する要因になっていた。またこのような荷重が作用した状態のもとで球送り部材を回転駆動し、停止状態を保持させる必要があるため、起動トルクおよび停止保持力が大きい大型のモータを用いる必要があり、装置の大型化に加えて消費電力やコストが増大するという問題もあった。
【０００７】
一方、上記荷重に対抗する手段として、受容通路の下方に凹状の球受け座を設けるとともに、この球受け座に球送り部材の外周領域を突出させるスリット状の溝部を設け、遊技球からの荷重を球受け座で支持するように構成した球払出装置が考案されている。このような球払出装置では、モータの作動停止時に球送り部材に直接的に遊技球の荷重が作用しないという利点がある反面、払出作動時には上方からの荷重が作用して凹状の球受け座に安定支持されている遊技球を、荷重に抗して球受け座を乗り越えるように移動させる必要があり、このときのトルクは従来にも増して大きなトルクが必要であるため、モータおよび装置が大型化し、また消費電力やコスト等についても従来の問題を解決できるものではなかった。
【０００８】
本発明は上記のような課題に鑑みて成されたものであり、遊技球から球送り部材に作用する荷重を低減させるとともに、モータに求められるトルクを極力低減させてモータを含む装置全体を小型化し、消費電力やコストを低減可能な球払出装置を提供することを目的とする。
【０００９】
【課題を解決するための手段】
上記目的達成のため、本発明は、遊技球を上下方向に一列に整列した状態で下方に導くように形成され、下端が開口した受容通路と、前記受容通路の下端開口の下側に位置するとともに前記下端開口と上下に対向して設けられ、前記受容通路を通って前記下端開口から送り出される遊技球を支持する支持面を有した球受けベース部材と、前記支持面の左右方向端部に繋がって下方に延びて形成され、前記支持面上を左右端部まで転動移動した遊技球を下方の払出口に流下させる案内通路と、前記球受けベース部材の前記支持面の下側に回転軸が前後に延びて位置して配設され、前記回転軸上に設けられた円盤状のインペラの外周部が前記支持面に左右に延びて形成されたスリット部を通って上方に突出するように配設された球送り部材と、前記球送り部材を前記回転軸を中心として回転駆動するモータとを備えて構成される。前記インペラに、外周端面から内周側に凹んで一個の遊技球を受容可能なＵ字状の受容溝が形成されており、前記受容溝を有する前記インペラの外周部が前記スリット部を通って前記支持面から上方に突出した状態で、前記受容溝の底部が前記支持面より下方に位置するように前記球受けベース部材に対して前記球送り部材が設けられ、前記受容通路の前記下端開口部を形成する左右の壁部は前記支持面に対して上方に離れて位置して前記支持面上を遊技球が左右方向に転動移動するのを阻害しないように設定され、前記下端開口部を形成する前後の壁部は前記左右の壁部より下方に突出して前記支持面上に載置された遊技球が前後に移動するのを阻止して左右に転動移動させるガイドを行うように設定されており、前記支持面は平坦且つ水平に延びて形成されている。そして、所定の指令信号に基づいて前記モータを作動させて前記球送り部材を前記回転軸を中心として回転駆動させて、前記受容溝を有する前記インペラの外周部が前記スリット部を通って前記支持面から上方に突出する位置に回転移動させ、前記受容通路の前記下端開口から送り出される遊技球を前記受容溝内に入り込ませるとともに前記支持面上に載置させ、この遊技球を前記受容溝により左右から保持するとともに前記前後の壁部により前後から保持して前記支持面上において保持し、さらに、前記球送り部材を回転させて、前記受容溝内に入り込んだ前記遊技球を前記インペラの回転に応じて前記支持面上を転動させて前記支持面の左右側端部から前記案内通路内に流入させて前記払出口に流下させるように構成されており、さらに、前記球受けベース部材の前記支持面上に、前記受容通路の前記下端開口から送り出された遊技球を受け止めて左右いずれか一方の方向にのみ前記遊技球を転動移動させることができるように他方の方向への転動移動を阻止する球受け座部材が設けられている。
なお、前記インペラの外周部に複数の前記受容溝が周方向に等間隔で形成されているのが好ましい。
また、前記球受け座部材が前記支持面上に着脱自在に設けられ、前記球受け座部材の前記支持面上への取付方向を逆転させて前記遊技球を転動移動させることができる方向を左右逆転させることができるのが好ましい。
【００１０】
このような構成の球払出装置では、受容通路の下方に球受容部に受容された遊技球を支持する球受け部材が設けられているため、受容通路の上方に位置する遊技球から作用する荷重が直接球送り部材に作用することがない。また、球受け部材における遊技球の支持部は、球受容部に受容された遊技球が移動される方向に平坦に形成されているため、遊技球を移動させるときに過大なトルクを要することがなく、小型のモータを利用することができる。従って上記構成の払出装置によれば、装置全体を小型化することができ、消費電力やコストを低減させた球払出装置を提供することができる。
【００１１】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の好ましい実施形態について図面を参照しながら説明する。本発明に係る球抜き機構を備えた弾球遊技機の代表例として、図１および図２にパチンコ機ＰＭを例示しており、まず、両図を参照しながらパチンコ機ＰＭの全体構成について要約説明する。なお、図１はパチンコ機ＰＭを正面側から見た正面図、図２はパチンコ機ＰＭを裏面側から見た背面図である。
【００１２】
パチンコ機ＰＭは、外郭方形枠サイズに構成されて縦向きの固定保持枠をなす外枠１の開口前面に、これに合わせた方形枠サイズに構成されて開閉搭載枠をなす前枠２が互いの左側縁に配設された上下のヒンジ部材３ａ，３ｂにより横開き開閉および着脱可能に取り付けられ、常には右側縁に設けられた施錠装置４を利用して外枠１に閉鎖施錠された状態で保持される。
【００１３】
前枠２の正面側には、前枠２の前側面域に合わせた方形状のガラス扉５、および遊技球を貯留して整列させる上球皿６が、ともに左側縁に内蔵された図示しないヒンジ機構により横開き開閉および着脱が可能に組付けられており、常には施錠装置４および図示しないロック機構を利用して前枠２の前面を覆う閉止状態で保持される。前枠２の下部には遊技球を貯留する下球皿７設けられ、この下球皿７と並んで遊技球の発射操作を行う操作ハンドル８が取り付けられている。
【００１４】
前枠２の裏面上部には、方形枠状の収容枠が前枠２と一体に成形されており、この収容枠に所定のゲージ設定で構成された遊技盤２０が着脱交換可能にセット保持され、その前面域をガラス扉５に臨ませている。遊技盤２０は厚さ１９mm程度の積層合板の表面に所定意匠のセルを貼り付けた化粧板（ベニヤとも称される）２１を基板として構成される。化粧板２１の前面側には、帯状の外レール２４ａおよび内レール２４ｂが円弧状に固設され、これらの案内レール２４ａ，２４ｂで囲まれた内側に遊技領域ＰＡが区画される。
【００１５】
遊技領域ＰＡには、多数本の遊技釘とともにランプ風車２５ａや一般風車２５ｂ等の風車２５、一般入賞具２６ａや始動入賞具２６ｂ並びに大入賞口を備えたアタッカー２６ｃ等の入賞具２６、および遊技の進行状況に応じて所定の図柄を表示させる図柄表示装置２８などが取り付けられ、遊技領域ＰＡの下端には入賞具２６に入賞せずに落下した遊技球を遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出させるアウト口２７が設けられている。
【００１６】
前枠２の裏面下部には、遊技球を外レール２４ａに向けて発射する打球発射装置９、および操作ハンドル８からの操作信号を受けて打球発射装置９の作動を制御する発射装置制御基板Ｂ２が取り付けられる。前枠２における上下中間領域は遊技補助盤と称され、その前面側に打球発射装置９によって打ち出された遊技球を外レール２４ａに向けて案内する発射レールや、遊技領域ＰＡに到達できずに打球発射装置９側に戻ってきたファール球を下球皿７に排出させるファール球回収経路部材、遊技の展開状況に応じた効果音を発生させるスピーカなどが取り付けられている。遊技補助盤は上球皿６の背後に位置しており、常には閉鎖保持される上球皿６によりその前面側が覆われている。
【００１７】
前枠２の背後に位置して、裏セット盤３０が取り付けられる。裏セット盤３０は、外枠１の内寸サイズよりも幾分小さめの方形状をなし中央に表裏貫通する窓口３１ｗを有して一体成形された基枠体３１をベースとして構成される。基枠体３１の側縁部には上下に所定間隔をおいて裏セット盤揺動ヒンジ部材３２，３３が固定されており、この上下の裏セット盤揺動ヒンジ部材３２，３３を、前枠２側に固定された上下の固定ヒンジ部材１２，１３に係合させて揺動させあるいは係脱させることで、裏セット盤３０が前枠２の背後に横開き開閉および着脱可能に装備され、常には３カ所の閉鎖レバー３４を利用して前枠２の背面を覆うように閉鎖保持される。
【００１８】
裏セット盤３０には、窓口３１ｗを取り囲むようにして賞球を払い出すための賞球装置や遊技球の処理経路が設けられる。すなわち、基枠体３１の裏面側には、遊技球の貯留・供給を行うタンク部材４１、タンク部材４１の下部に緩い傾斜姿勢で取り付けられタンク部材４１から供給された遊技球を流下させる過程で前後二列に整列させる整列樋部材４２、整列樋部材４２の偏向出口４２ａから供給される遊技球を受けて下方の賞球カセット５０に導くとともに所定数量の遊技球を通路内に前後二列の整列状態で待機保持させる賞球待機通路４３、賞球待機通路４３に待機された遊技球を上部の受容口から受け入れ所定の指令信号に基づいて下部の払出口から払い出す賞球カセット５０、賞球カセット５０から払い出された遊技球を上下の球皿６，７に導く賞球払出経路７５などが設けられている。
【００１９】
また、基枠体３１の前面側には、窓口３１ｗの下方に位置して遊技盤２０の裏面側に排出されたアウト球およびセーフ球、賞球待機通路４３の上部に設けられた球抜き機構によって賞球待機通路から排出された抜き球、などを集合させて流下させる集合経路が形成され、基枠体３１の裏面側には集合経路と繋がって集められた遊技球を基枠体の下端部から遊技施設側の回収バケットに排出させる球排出経路が形成されている。
【００２０】
裏セット盤３０の裏面各部には、パチンコ機ＰＭの作動を統括的に制御するメイン基板Ｂ１や、メイン基板Ｂ１からの制御信号に基づいて賞球カセット５０に指令信号を出力し賞球カセット５０の作動を制御する球払出制御基板Ｂ３、遊技展開状況に応じて効果照明や効果音の作動制御を行うランプ・音声制御基板Ｂ４、これらの制御基板や各種電子機器等に電力を供給する電源基板Ｂ５などの回路基板が着脱交換可能に取り付けられ、各回路基板や電子機器が図示しないワイヤーハーネスで接続されてパチンコ機ＰＭが構成される。
【００２１】
パチンコ機ＰＭは、ガラス扉５、上球皿６、裏セット盤３０等がそれぞれ閉鎖され、前枠２が外枠１に閉鎖施錠された状態で遊技に供される。遊技は上球皿６に遊技球を貯留させて操作ハンドル８を回動操作することにより開始され、上球皿６に貯留された遊技球が１球ずつ打球発射装置９に送られ操作ハンドル８の回動操作角度に応じた強度で遊技領域ＰＡに打ち出されてパチンコゲームが開始される。そしてゲームの展開中に遊技領域ＰＡを落下する遊技球が入賞具２６に落入すると、入賞条件に応じた指令信号が球払出制御基板Ｂ３から賞球カセット５０に出力され、この指令信号を受けた賞球カセット５０がタンク部材４１から整列樋部材４２および賞球待機通路４３を介して供給される遊技球を指令信号に基づいて賞球払出経路７５に払い出し、この経路を通して上下の球皿６，７に排出させる。
【００２２】
以上のように概要構成されるパチンコ機ＰＭにあって、賞球待機通路４３を介して供給される遊技球を上部の受容口から受け入れて球払出制御基板Ｂ３の指令信号に基づいて下部の払出口から払い出す賞球カセット５０に本発明に係る構成が備えられている。以下、図３から図６の各図を参照しつつ賞球カセット５０の構成について説明する。ここで、図３は賞球カセット５０の主要側断面図（図４中に矢印III−IIIを付記する方向に見た側断面図）、図４は図３中の矢印IV−IV方向に見た賞球カセット５０の断面図、図５は賞球カセット５０を分解した状態で示す平面図、図６は賞球カセット５０を分解した状態で図５中の矢印VI方向から見た分解斜視図である。
【００２３】
なお、以降、賞球カセット５０の内部構造を説明するにあたり、各方向から見た図面を用いて説明するが、原則として裏セット盤３０を裏面側から見た図２における左右方向を左方または右方と称し、紙面直交方向の向こう側（パチンコ機ＰＭの前面側）を前方、手前側（同裏面側）を後方と称して説明する。また各図中に付記する球受け座５９は本願発明の特徴構成に該当するが、以下に説明する第１実施例に係る賞球カセット５０では球受け座５９は取り付けられておらず、下記に説明する第２実施例の賞球カセット５０′に付設されるものである。この球受け座を有する本願発明に係る賞球カセット５０′については第１実施例の説明の後に詳述する。すなわち、下記第２および第３実施例が本願発明に係る実施例であり、第１実施例は本願発明の範囲には属さない実施例である。
【００２４】
賞球カセット５０は、前ケース５１および後ケース５２からなるカセットケースに納められて矩形箱状のモジュールをなし、待機通路４３の直下に位置して基枠体３１の賞球カセット取付部３６に着脱可能に取り付けられる。賞球カセット５０の上部中央部には、この賞球カセット５０の上方に配設される前後二列の賞球待機通路４３ａ，４３ｂから供給される予備賞球を受け入れる受容口５０ａ，５０ｂが設けられ、賞球カセット５０の下部左右には遊技球を払い出す払出口５０ｅ，５０ｆが設けられている。
【００２５】
カセットケース（前ケース５１，後ケース５２）の内部には、受容口５０ａ，５０ｂの直下に配設されて賞球待機通路４３ａ，４３ｂに対応した前後二列の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂを形成する受容通路部材５３、前後の受容通路に対応する前後二段のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂを有して回動自在に支持された球送り部材５４、カセットケースの内部を前後に仕切り前方に球通路を形成させる球受ベース５５、球送り部材５４を正・逆方向に回転駆動するステッピングモータ５６、および回路基板５７を支持する基板ベース５８などが配設されている。
【００２６】
前ケース５１には、そのケース上面の左右中央部に受容口５０ａ，５０ｂが形成されるとともに、ケース下面の左右に払出口５０ｅ，５０ｆが形成される。前ケース５１の内部には、受容口の下方に位置して受容通路部材５３を位置決め支持する支持ピン５１ｐが前方壁から突出成型され、支持ピン５１ｐの下方にはそれぞれ左右の側壁に繋がる円弧状の外ガイド壁５１Ｌ，５１Ｒが立設され、その内周側にアーチ状の前方通路壁５１ｃ，５１ｄが形成される。左右の前方通路壁５１ｃ，５１ｄは上部前方から下部後方に向けて緩く傾斜し、それぞれケース下端の払出口５０ｅ，５０ｆの前縁部に繋がっている。
【００２７】
受容通路部材５３は、支持ピン５１ｐに位置決め支持される平板状の仕切壁５３ｗと、この仕切壁５３ｗの前後面に立設された左右の通路壁５３Ｌ，５３Ｒとを有し、仕切壁５３ｗの前後にＶ字状の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂを形成する。受容通路の下端部では仕切壁５３ｗが舌片状に下方に延出されて突出片部５３ｓが形成されており、賞球カセット５０の組立状態において、受容通路の下端に位置する遊技球が前後方向に移動しないように規制する。一方、左右の通路壁５３Ｌ，５３Ｒは仕切壁よりも短く、球送り部材５４の回転によって左右方向に移動される遊技球の移動を阻害しないようになっている。受容通路部材５３は支持ピン５１ｐに支持され、後方から嵌挿される球受けベース５５と前ケース５１との間に挟持保持される。
【００２８】
球受けベース５５は、賞球カセット５０の内部を前後に仕切るフランジ部５５Ｆを中心とし、このフランジ部５５Ｆから前方に突出するサドル状の球受け部５５Ｘと、フランジ部５５Ｆから後方に突出する円弧壁面状のフォトケース部５５Ｙとから構成される。
【００２９】
フランジ部５５Ｆから前方に突出する球受け部５５Ｘは、支持面５５ｓと、この支持面５５ｓの左右に上下に延びる内ガイド壁５５Ｌ，５５Ｒ、および前ケース５１の前端面と係合可能な前面壁とを有し、これらの壁面で囲まれた外郭サドル状に形成されている。支持面５５ｓは前後方向および左右方向に平坦に形成されるとともに、左右の内ガイド壁５５Ｌ，５５Ｒと円筒状の曲面で滑らかに繋がっている。
【００３０】
支持面５５ｓには左右方向に直線状に延びるスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂが形成されており、この前後のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂから球送り部材５４の前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂをそれぞれ上方に突出させるようになっている。また、前面壁には前ケース５１から後方に突出成形された軸受部５１ｉを受容してその外周面と嵌合する嵌合軸穴５５ｉが形成され、球受け部前端側の位置決めをするとともに、球送り部材５４の先端の支軸部５４ｉを挿通させて前ケース５１の軸受部５１ｉに支持させることができるようになっている。
【００３１】
一方、球受け部５５Xの下方に収容される球送り部材５４は、全体として回転軸の形態をなし、中心となる軸部５４ｊの前端側に前ケース５１に支持される支軸部５４ｉ、後端側にステッピングモータ５６のカップリング５６ｋと嵌合する嵌合孔５４ｋが形成され、これらの間に前後の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂに対応して形成された前後二段のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂ、および円筒外周部にスリットが設けられたフォトフランジ５４ｃが形成されている。
【００３２】
前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂは、全体として所定外径および厚さの円盤形態をなし、それぞれのインペラに遊技球を受容するＵ字状の受容溝５４ｕが１２０度間隔で三カ所ずつ形成されている。前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂはその受容溝の角度位置が相互に６０度ずるようにオフセット成形されており、球送り部材５４を軸まわりに回転させたときに前後のインペラの受容溝が６０度の回転角度ごとに前後交互に上方を向くように（受容通路に対峙するように）なっている。
【００３３】
なお、各受容溝５４ｕの溝深さは、この球送り部材５４が球受け部５５Ｘの下部に位置して取り付けられたときに、受容溝５４ｕの溝部底面が支持面５５ｓよりも下方に位置するように形成されており、受容溝５４ｕに受容された遊技球が直接溝部底面に当接しないように構成されている。またフォトフランジ５４ｃのスリットは、この前後のインペラにおける受容溝５４ｕの形成位置に合わせて同一方位角の角度位置に形成されており、本実施例では６０度間隔で６カ所のスリットが形成されている。
【００３４】
フランジ部５５Ｆの前面側の壁面形状は、対峙する前ケース５１と前後対称に形成されており、球受け部５５Ｘの外周を取り囲むようにアーチ状の後方通路壁５５ｃ，５５ｄが形成されている。左右の後方通路壁５５ｃ，５５ｄは上部後方から下部前方に向けて緩く傾斜し、賞球カセットの組立状態においてそれぞれの壁面下端部が左右の払出口５０ｅ，５０ｆの後縁部と位置整合して配設されるように形成されている。なお、フランジ部５５Ｆの上端部には上方に突出する係合突起５５ｅ，５５ｅが形成され前ケース５１の上部壁に形成された位置決め溝５１ｅ，５１ｅと係脱可能に構成されている。
【００３５】
フランジ部５５Ｆから後方に突出するフォトケース部５５Ｙは、フォトフランジ５４ｃの外周を覆う円弧壁面状に形成され、周囲からの外乱光の進入を防止するとともに、その上部壁面が所定幅だけ切り欠かれて、回路基板５７に実装されたフォトセンサ５７ｃを配設可能に構成されている。また、フォトケース部５５Ｙの左右には後方に突出する円柱状の支持ピン５５ｐが立設されており、基板ベース５８に形成された左右のピン孔およびステッピングモータ５６の取付フランジに形成された取付穴（ともに不図示）と係合して、基板ベース５８およびステッピングモータ５６を位置決め支持可能に構成されている。
【００３６】
基板ベース５８には、フォトセンサ５７ｃが実装された回路基板５７が固定配設されている。回路基板５７にはフォトセンサ５７ｃへの入出力信号およびステッピングモータ５６への指令信号を中継する回路パターンが形成され、その上端部に球払出制御基板Ｂ３と信号伝達を行うコネクタ５７ｄが実装されている。フォトセンサ５７ｃは、賞球カセットの組立状態においてフォトフランジ５４ｃと位置整合して軸部５４ｊの直上部（上記フォトケースの切り欠き部）に配設され、このフォトセンサ５７ｃの投光部と受光部との間にフォトフランジ５４ｃの円筒外周部が位置して配設される。これにより回転変位するフォトフランジ５４ｃの回転角度位置、すなわちインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂに形成された受容溝５４ｕの角度位置が検出可能になっている。
【００３７】
以上のように形成される各部材が組み立てられて賞球カセット５０が構成される。組立にあたっては、まず前ケース５１の後方から受容通路部材５３を挿入し、前ケース５１の支持ピン５１ｐに受容通路部材５３を位置決め支持させる。また、球送り部材５４の前端側を球受けベース５５の後方から球受け部５５Xに挿入し、前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂを前後のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂから上方に突出させるとともに、支軸部５４ｉを嵌合軸穴５５ｉ内に位置させる。そして後方から回路基板５７が固定された基板ベース５８およびステッピングモータ５６を装着し、フォトケース部５５Ｙの左右の支持ピン５５ｐを利用してこれらを位置決め支持させる。このとき、ステッピングモータ５６の軸端のカップリング５６ｋと球送り部材５４の軸端の嵌合孔５４ｋとの角度位置を整合させ、カップリング５６ｋを嵌合孔５４ｋに圧入して、ステッピングモータ５６と球送り部材５４とを連結させる。
【００３８】
次いで、このようにして係合された球送り部材５４、球送りベース５５、ステッピングモータ５６、回路基板５７および基板ベース５８を、受容通路部材５３が支持された前ケース５１に嵌挿し、球送り部材５４前端の支軸部５４ｉを前ケースの軸受部５１ｉの軸穴に支持させ、その外側で軸受部５１ｉの外周部と嵌合軸穴５５ｉとを嵌合させる。このとき、フランジ部５５Ｆの上部では２カ所の係合突起５５ｅが前ケース上部の位置決め溝５１ｅと係合し、球受けベース５５とともに上記各部材５３，５４，５６，５７，５８が前ケース５１内に位置決めされる。
【００３９】
そしてステッピングモータ５６の後方から後ケース５２をかぶせ、後ケース５２を前ケース５１にねじ止めする。後ケース５２には、ステッピングモータ５６の後方に位置する後壁面がＵ字状に切り離されて前後に弾性変形可能な付勢アーム５２ａが３カ所形成されており、各付勢アームの先端部に前方に突出成形された突起部がステッピングモータ５６の背面と係合してこのモータを前方に付勢する。このため、カセットケース内に収容された各構成部材はステッピングモータ５６を介して前方に付勢されケース内の所定位置に係止保持される。
【００４０】
こうして賞球カセット５０が組み立てられると、球受け部５５Ｘの支持面５５ｓの上方に受容口５０ａ，５０ｂと繋がる前後二列の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂが形成される。また、球受け部５５Ｘの周囲には、支持面５５ｓの上部で受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂと繋がり、内外のガイド壁５１Ｌ，５１Ｒ，５５Ｌ，５５Ｒおよび前後の通路壁５１ｃ，５１ｄ，５５ｃ，５５ｄに囲まれて左右の払出口５０ｅ，５０ｆに繋がる背面視アーチ状、側面視テーパ状の案内通路５０ｃ，５０ｄが形成される。
【００４１】
球受け部５５Ｘの支持面５５ｓの下方には、球送り部材５４の軸部５４ｊが前後に延びて回転可能に配設され、支持面５５ｓに形成されたスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂから前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂが上方の球通路に突出して配設される。球送り部材５４は、後に説明するように前後いずれかのインペラの受容溝が受容通路と対峙するように停止角度位置が制御され、例えば、図３、図４および図８に示すように、後列側のインペラ５４ｂの受容溝５４ｕが後列側の受容通路５３ｂと対峙して配設され、前列側のインペラ５４ａの扇状の外周面が前列側の受容通路５３ａと対峙して配設される。なお、図８は図３中の矢印VIII−VIII方向に見た断面図であり、前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂの角度位置関係および遊技球の保持状態を示す説明図である。
【００４２】
以上のように構成される賞球カセット５０は、基枠体３１における賞球カセット取付部３６に図示省略する着脱機構を利用して着脱可能に取り付けられる。賞球カセット取付部３６は、その取付面が前ケース５１の厚さに合わせて前方にオフセット成形されており、賞球待機通路４３ａ，４３ｂとこれに対応する賞球カセット内の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂとが段差なく繋がるようになっている。
【００４３】
賞球待機通路４３ａ，４３ｂを流下する遊技球は、受容開口５０ａ，５０ｂから滑らかに受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂに入り、この受容通路を流下して前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂの直上に導かれる。そして、例えば上記図３等に示すように、後列側受容通路５３ｂの最下端に位置する遊技球が後列側インペラ５４ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受容されて支持面５５ｓのスリット部５５ｂ上に支持され、前列側受容通路５３ａの最下端に位置する遊技球が前列側インペラ５４ａの扇状の外周縁部に支持された状態で待機保持される。
【００４４】
ところで、上記のように支持面またはインペラの外周面の上方には、受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂおよび賞球待機通路内４３ａ，４３ｂが上下方向に延びて形成され、これらの球通路内に遊技球が上下に繋がった状態で停留している。このため、これら球通路の下流側に位置する遊技球には、当該遊技球よりも上流側に位置する遊技球から自重による荷重が順次作用する。しかし、本構成の賞球カセット５０では受容通路の左右の通路壁５３Ｌ，５３ＲがＶ字状に屈曲して形成されており、上流側から作用する荷重をこれら屈曲した通路壁の壁面で受けとめ、前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂや支持面５５ｓ（スリット部５４ａ，５４ｂ）に直接作用することがないようになっている。また、前述したように受容溝５４ｕの溝部底面は支持面５５ｓよりも下方のスリット内に位置して配設され、上記通路壁により軽減された荷重でも受容溝５４ｕの底面や軸部５４ｊに作用しないようになっている。
【００４５】
さて、賞球カセット５０における遊技球の払出作動は、所定条件のもと球払出制御基板Ｂ３から出力される指令信号に基づいて行われる。賞球カセット５０はコネクタ５７ｄを介して回路基板５７に入力される指令信号に基づいてステッピングモータ５６を作動させ、指令信号に応じた回転方向（時計回りまたは反時計回り）に、指令信号に対応した回転角度（例えば、払い出される賞球数で５，１０，１３，２５球等に相当する回転角度）で球送り部材５４を回転させ、左払出口５０ｅまたは右払出口５４ｆから遊技球を払い出す。
【００４６】
例えば、図３等に示す遊技球の待機保持状態で、入賞具２６（２６ａ，２６ｂ，２６ｃ等）に遊技球が入賞すると、球払出制御基板Ｂ３はステッピングモータ５６を背面視における時計回りに入賞条件に応じた回転角度分回転させる指令信号を出力し、賞球カセット５０は球払出制御基板Ｂ３から入力される指令信号に基づいてステッピングモータ５６を回転作動させてカップリング５６ｋで連結された球送り部材５４を時計回りに回転させる。
【００４７】
球送り部材５４が時計回りに回転されると前後インペラ５４ａ，５４ｂの回転に伴って各受容溝５４ｕが軸部５４ｊを中心として回転移動され、後列側インペラ５４ｂの受容溝に受容された遊技球がこの受容溝５４ｕの左側端面に押圧されて右動され、支持面５５ｓのスリット部５５ｂをあたかもガイドレールとしてその上縁部を右方向に転動する（図９を参照）。
【００４８】
こうして右動される遊技球が平坦な支持面５５ｓから下方に向かう曲面領域まで来ると、遊技球はその自重により右下方に移動して受容溝５４ｕの右側端面と係合し、さらにインペラ５４ｂが回転して受容溝５４ｕとの係合が解除されたときに右側の案内通路５０ｄを落下し、右払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００４９】
このとき、後列側インペラ５４ｂの回転とともに回転される前列側のインペラ５４ａでは、インペラ５４ａの外周縁部に支持された遊技球が左右の通路壁５３Ｌ，５３Ｒに挟まれてインペラの外周縁部を滑り、インペラ５４ａの受容溝５４ｕが上方に向けて開く角度位置まで回転されたときに、その受容溝５４ｕ内に流下して支持面５５ｓの前方のスリット部５５ａ上に支持される。
【００５０】
そして、今度は前列側インペラ５４ａの受容溝５４ｕに受容された遊技球が、インペラ５４ａの回転に伴って受容溝５４ｕの左側端面に押圧され、前方のスリット部５５ａをガイドレールとしてその上縁部を右方向に移動される。そして右動される遊技球が平坦な支持面５５ｓから下方に向かう曲面領域に至り、受容溝５４ｕとの係合が解除されたときに右側の案内通路５０ｄを落下し右払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００５１】
以降同様にして、前後の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂに待機保持された遊技球が球送り部材５４の回転に伴って交互に１個ずつ前後列のインペラ５３ａ，５３ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受け入れられ、この受容溝５４ｕの回転移動に従って前後のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂの上縁を右側の案内通路５０ｄに移動され、この案内通路５０ｄを落下して右払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００５２】
球送り部材５４は、ステッピングモータ５６への指令信号に応じた回転角度分回転され、これにより指令信号に対応した数量（例えば１３球）の遊技球が賞球として右払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００５３】
また、いわゆるＣＲ機において球貸し操作が行われその操作信号がパチンコ機に入力されたときに、球払出制御基板Ｂ３はステッピングモータ５６を背面視における反時計回りに所定回転角度回転させる指令信号を出力し、賞球カセット５０は球払出制御基板Ｂ３から入力される指令信号に基づいて球送り部材５４を反時計回りに回転作動させる。受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂに待機保持された遊技球は、球送り部材５４の回転に伴って交互に１個ずつ前後列のインペラ５３ａ，５３ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受け入れられ、この受容溝５４ｕの回転移動に従って支持面５５ｓ上を左側の案内通路５０ｃに移動され、この案内通路５０ｃを落下して左払出口５０ｅから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される（冒頭で述べたように本願発明の範囲に属さない第１実施例の賞球カセット５０では球受け座５９は付設されていない）。
【００５４】
球送り部材５４は、ステッピングモータ５６への指令信号に応じた回転角度分回転され、指令信号に対応した数量（例えば、２５球）の遊技球が貸し球として左払出口５４ｅから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００５５】
なお、指令信号に含まれるステッピングモータ５６の回転角度は、払い出される遊技球の数量に対応した回転角度であるとともに、モータの回転作動を停止したときに前後いずれかのインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂの受容溝が受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂと対峙し軸部５４ｊの直上方向に開く角度位置となるように設定されている。具体的には、払出数量が奇数のときには払出作動前と異なる列（前列→後列、後列→前列）のインペラの受容溝が受容通路と対峙する角度位置で停止し、払出数量が偶数のときには払出作動前と同一の列（前列→前列、後列→後列）のインペラの受容溝が受容通路と対峙する角度位置で停止するように、原則として６０度単位の回転角度に対応するステップパルス数の指令信号が出力される。
【００５６】
一方、フォトセンサ５７ｃでは、フォトフランジ５４ｃの角度位置検出を行っており、その検出信号が球払出制御基板Ｂ３に出力されている。既述したようにフォトフランジ５４ｃには前後のインペラの受容溝５４ｕと同一方位角の角度位置にスリットが形成されており、前後いずれかの受容溝５４ｕが軸部５４ｊの直上方向に開いた角度位置で、投光部から射出された光がスリットを通過して受光部に受光される状態となる。
【００５７】
球払出制御基板Ｂ３はフォトセンサ５７ｃから入力される検出信号を監視し、ステッピングモータ５６の停止時に前後いずれかのインペラの受容溝が受容通路と対峙し上方に開いた角度位置で停止するようにステッピングモータ５６の停止角度位置を補正制御する。これにより、球送り部材５４は、ステッピングモータ５６の停止時に前後いずれかのインペラの受容溝が受容通路と対峙しその受容溝に遊技球を受け入れた待機状態に保持される。
【００５８】
また、賞球カセット５０と賞球払出経路７５との間には、基枠体３１に対して横開き開閉可能なセンサホルダ７１を介して球検出センサ７２，７２が着脱可能に取り付けられており、左右の払出口５０ｅ，５０ｆから払い出された遊技球が球検出センサ７２の検出孔部７２ａを通過したときにその遊技球が検出されるようになっている。球検出センサ７２の検出信号は球払出制御基板Ｂ３に出力されており、球払出制御基板Ｂ３は入力される検出信号から払い出された遊技球の実数をカウントし、この計数値に基づいて賞球カセット５０の作動をフィードバック制御する。これにより常に正確な数量の遊技球が賞球または貸し球として払い出され、公正な遊技に供することができる。
【００５９】
以上のように構成される賞球カセット５０では、順次払い出される遊技球が支持面５５ｓに形成されたスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂの上縁部に支持され、回転移動される受容溝５４ｕの側壁面に押圧されたときに、スリット部をガイドレールとしてその上縁部を転動し、移動方向の案内通路を落下して払出口から払い出される。遊技球が支持されるスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂの上縁部は支持面５５ｓの上面であり、遊技球が移動される方向に平坦に形成されているため、遊技球を移動させるために必要なモータトルクが小さく小型のステッピングモータを用いることができる。また、この遊技球の移動過程における負荷変動幅も小さくすることができるため、ステッピングモータ５６の長寿命化をはかり長期信頼性を向上させることができる。
【００６０】
次に、本発明に係る球払出装置の第２実施例の賞球カセットについて、既に説明した図３〜図６および図８に加えて、図７、図９および図１０の各図を参照しながら説明する。本実施例の賞球カセット５０′は上述した賞球カセット５０と同様の機構構成を備え、さらに球受け部５５Ｘの支持面５５ｓに球受け座５９を付設した形態の球払出装置であり、例えば、非ＣＲ機や、賞球であるか貸し球であるかの払出種別によらず同一の払出口から払い出すパチンコ機のように、賞球カセット内の遊技球の払出方向が一方向の場合に好適な構成として例示するものである。
【００６１】
なお、図７は本実施例の賞球カセット５０′に用いられる球受け座５９単体の斜視図、図９は賞球カセット５０′における払出作動時の遊技球の移動状態を示す説明図（図３中の矢印IX−IXに沿った断面図）、図１０は図９中の矢印X−Xに沿った断面図である。また、球受け座５９を除く賞球カセット本体の構成は既に説明した賞球カセット５０と同一であるため、既述した各図に球受け座５９を付記するとともに重複説明を省略し、ここでは球受け座５９の構成および球受け座５９を有する賞球カセット５０′の作用について簡潔に説明する。
【００６２】
球受け座５９は、支持面５５ｓに支持される基部５９ｓと、この基部から下方に突出成形された係止突起５９ｈと、基部５９ｓから上方に延びて形成された立設部５９ｔとからなり、支持面５５ｓに形成された前後のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂの間に収まる小型のブロック状に形成されている。
【００６３】
基部５９ｓの底面には平坦な被支持面が形成されており、球受け座５９が支持面５５ｓ上に取り付けられたときに、支持面５５ｓと面接触して支持面上に支持される。基部５９ｓは球受け座面５９ａ，５９ｂの背後の方向に立設部５９ｔよりも延びて形成されており、被支持面の面積を拡大して応力を低減させるとともに、立設部５９ｔを横倒しさせる方向に作用するモーメントに抗して球受け座５９を安定支持させる。係止突起５９ｈは平坦な被支持面の中央部に、この被支持面から下方に突出して矩形柱状に形成されている。
【００６４】
一方、支持面５５ｓには、平面視における球送り部材５４の軸線（すなわち前後の受容通路下端部の中心線）を中心として、左右対称の位置に矩形孔状の係止孔５５ｈが２カ所形成されており、左右いずれかの係止孔５５ｈに係止突起５９ｈを受容して球受け座５９を係止保持する。
【００６５】
球受け座５９における立設部５９ｔの前後には、遊技球の球面に合わせた凹面形状の球受け座面５９ａ，５９ｂが形成されている。この前後の球受け座面５９ａ，５９ｂは前後方向の中心に立てた立設面に対して面対称に形成されるとともに、係止突起５９ｈおよび係止孔５５ｈとの位置関係において、球受け座５９が左右いずれの係止孔５５ｈに取り付けられた場合でも、受容通路直下のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂ上に遊技球を待機保持させたときに、その待機保持された遊技球の球面位置および形状と合致するように形成されている。
【００６６】
球受け座５９は、この賞球カセット５０′の払出作動を左右いずれの払出口から行うかに応じて右または左の係止孔に取り付けられ、例えば、右払出口５０ｆから払い出しを行う形態の場合には、各図に示すように左側の係止孔を利用し、この係止孔５５ｈに係止突起５９ｈの先端部を係合させて立設部５９ｔを上方から押圧し、基部５９ｓの被支持面が支持部５５ｓの上面に当接するまで圧入することで、支持部５５ｓに係止される。
【００６７】
このように構成された賞球カセット５０′では、払出作動が停止して前後いずれかの受容通路の最下端に位置する遊技球がインペラの受容溝５４ｕに受け入れられた停止状態において、この遊技球がスリット部の上縁部のみならず球受け座５９の球受け座面にも支持される。例えば、図３、図４および図８に示す停止状態において、後列側の受容通路５３ｂの最下端に位置する遊技球は後列側インペラ５４ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受容され、後列側スリット部５５ｂの上縁部に支持されるとともに、遊技球の左前方下部が球受け座面５９ｂに支持され、このような支持状態で払出作動まで待機保持される。
【００６８】
このような待機保持状態で所定の入賞条件が成立すると、球払出基板Ｂ３はステッピングモータ５６を時計回りに入賞条件に応じた回転角度分回転させる指令信号を出力し、賞球カセット５０′は球払出制御基板Ｂ３から入力される指令信号に基づいてステッピングモータ５６を回転作動させて球送り部材５４を時計回りに回転させ、受容部５４ｕに受容された遊技球を右動させて右払出口５０ｆから払い出させる。
【００６９】
球送り部材５４が回転されると、図９および図１０に前列側のインペラ５４ａによる球送り状況を示すように、前列側インペラ５４ａの受容溝５４ｕに受容された遊技球が、インペラ５４ａの回転に伴って受容溝５４ｕの左側端面に押圧され、球受け座面５９ａから離れて前方のスリット部５５ａをガイドレールとしてその上縁部を右方向に移動される。そして右動される遊技球が平坦な支持面５５ｓから下方に向かう曲面領域に到達し、受容溝５４ｕとの係合が解除されたときに右側の案内通路５０ｄを落下し右払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００７０】
このとき、後列側のインペラ５４ｂでは、インペラ５４ｂの外周縁部に支持された遊技球が左右の通路壁５３Ｌ，５３Ｒに挟まれてインペラの外周縁部を滑り、インペラ５４ｂの受容溝５４ｕが上方に向けて開く角度位置まで回転されたときに、その受容溝５４ｕに流下して支持面５５ｓの後方のスリット部５５ｂ上に支持されるとともに、遊技球の左後方下部が球受け座面５９ｂに支持される。インペラ５４ｂがさらに回転されて受容溝５４ｕの左側端面に押圧されると、遊技球は球受け座面５９ｂから離れてスリット部５５ｂの上縁部を右方向に転動移動し、平坦な支持面５５ｓから下方に向かう曲面領域にまで移動されて受容溝５４ｕとの係合が解除されたときに、右側の案内通路５０ｄを落下して右払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００７１】
以降同様にして、前後の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂに待機保持された遊技球が球送り部材５４の回転に伴って交互に１個ずつ前後列のインペラ５３ａ，５３ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受け入れられて球受け座面５９ａ，５９ｂに支持され、受容溝５４ｕの回転移動に従って前後のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂの上縁を右側の案内通路５０ｄに移動され、この案内通路５０ｄを落下して右払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００７２】
従って、以上のように構成される賞球カセット５０′によれば、前述したと同様の効果を得ることができる。また本実施例の賞球カセット５０′では、払出作動が停止して待機状態となったときに上方の遊技球から作用する荷重をスリット部のみならず球受け座５９で分散して受ける構成のため、スリット部上縁の変形を軽減させることができ、さらに、インペラを駆動方向と反対方向（実施例では反時計回り）に回転させようとする荷重が作用しないため、ステッピングモータへの負荷を軽減して長寿命化を図ることができる。また、本実施例の賞球カセット５０′では、球受け座面５９ａ，５９ｂが前後対称に形成されるとともに、係止孔５５ｈが左右対称に形成されているため、球受け座５９を左右いずれの係止孔５５ｈに取り付けるかを選択するだけで、賞球カセットを右払出口から払い出す作動形態と左払出口から払い出す作動形態とのいずれにも適用させることができる。
【００７３】
なお、実施例では係止突起５９ｈおよび係止孔５５ｈをともに矩形形状に構成し係止突起５９ｈを圧入して球受け座５９を係止させる例を示したが、例えば、係止突起５９ｈを前後方向に弾性変形するロック爪とし係止孔５５ｈに係合させて固定する構成としてもよく、また所定ロットについて予め球送り方向が規定されているような場合には接着や融着等の手段を用いて固着させてもよい。また、両者の断面形状を矩形ではなく台形等のように方向性をもたせた形状にすること、あるいは所定方向に相互に係合可能なピンとピン孔等を設けることなどにより、球受け座面が必ず受容通路側に向けて取り付けられるように構成することもでき、これにより組立作業者の過誤取付を防止することができる。
【００７４】
次に、本発明に係る球払出装置の第３実施例の賞球カセットについて、図１１および図１２を参照して説明する。本実施例の賞球カセット６０は、その全体構成を概説すれば、上述した第２実施例の賞球カセット５０′における球受け座５９に相当する支持構造を、球受けベース５５における球受け部５５Ｘの上面に一体成形したものであり、遊技球の払出方向が予め一方向に規定されている場合に好適な構成を例示するものである。ここで、図１１は球受け部６５Ｘ（第１および第２実施例における球受け部５５Ｘに相当する部分）を上方から見た平断面図、図１２は図１１中の矢印XII−XIIに沿った側断面図である。
【００７５】
なお、本実施例の賞球カセット６０は、球受け部上面の構成および左側の払出経路（５０ｃ，５０ｅ等）を削除して小型化した構成であることを除き、ステッピングモータ５６や球送り部材５４等の基本構成は既述した賞球カセット５０と概ね同様であり、当業者であれば容易に理解できるため、同様の部材に同一番号を付して重複説明を省略し、ここでは球受け部６５Ｘの構成および賞球カセット６０の作用を中心として説明する。
【００７６】
賞球カセット６０における球受け部６５Ｘは、賞球カセット６０の内部を前後に仕切るフランジ部６５Ｆから前方に突出して外郭サドル状に形成されており、上部の支持面６５ｓは軸部５４ｊ直上部よりも右側の領域が平坦に形成され、円筒面を介して下方に延びる内ガイド壁と滑らかに繋がっている。支持面６５ｓには左右方向に直線状に延びる前後２列のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂが形成され、この前後のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂから前後のインペラ５４ａ，５４ｂが上方に突出して配設される。
【００７７】
球受け部６５Ｘの前面壁には前ケースに形成された軸受部５１ｉを受容してこの外周面と嵌合する嵌合軸穴５５ｉが形成され、球受け部６５Ｘの前端側の位置決めをするとともに、球送り部材５４の先端の支軸部５４ｉを挿通させて前ケース５１の軸受部５１ｉに支持させる。
【００７８】
フランジ部６５Ｆには、球受け部６５Ｘの右側外周部に前述同様の傾斜した後方通路壁５５ｄが形成され、対峙する前ケースにはこれと対称な前方通路壁５１ｄが形成されており、これらの壁面に挟まれて下方の払出口５０ｆに繋がる背面視半アーチ状、側面視テーパ状の案内通路５０ｄが形成される。フランジ部６５Ｆには後方に延びて前述同様のフォトフランジ部が形成されており、基板ベース、ステッピングモータ等が順次組み付けられ、カップリング５６ｋと嵌合孔５４ｋとが連結されて球送り部材５４が軸部５４ｊまわりに回転可能に配設される。
【００７９】
以上のように概要構成される賞球カセット６０にあって、球受け部６５Ｘの上面に球受け座部６９が一体に成形されている。球受け座部６９は、軸部５４ｊの直上部よりも左側の領域に平坦な支持面６５ｓから上方に突出して形成されており、前後スリット部５５ａ，５５ｂの間に遊技球の球面に合わせた凹面形状の球受け座面６９ａ，６９ｂが形成されている。球受け座面６９ａ，６９ｂは受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂ直下のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂ上に遊技球が待機保持されたときに、その待機保持された遊技球の球面位置および形状と合致するように形成されている。なお前後の球受け座面６９ａ，６９ｂの間には、球受け座部の肉厚を均一化して成形性を良好化させるための切り込み部６９ｓが形成されている。
【００８０】
このように構成された賞球カセット６０では、払出作動が停止して前後いずれかの受容通路の最下端に位置する遊技球がインペラの受容溝５４ｕに受け入れられた停止状態において、この遊技球がスリット部の上縁部のみならず球受け座部６９の球受け座面にも支持される。例えば、図１２に示す停止状態では、後列側の受容通路５３ｂの最下端に位置する遊技球が後列側インペラ５４ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受容され、後列側スリット部５５ｂの上縁部に支持されるとともに、遊技球の左前方下部が球受け座面６９ｂに支持され、このような支持状態で払出作動まで待機保持される。
【００８１】
そして所定の入賞条件が成立して球払出基板Ｂ３から入賞条件に応じた指令信号が入力されると、賞球カセット６０は球払出制御基板Ｂ３から入力される指令信号に基づいてステッピングモータ５６（不図示）を回転作動させて球送り部材５４を時計回りに回転させ、受容部５４ｕに受容された遊技球を右動させて払出口５０ｆから払い出させる。
【００８２】
球送り部材５４が回転されると、後列側インペラ５４ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受容された遊技球が、インペラ５４ｂの回転に伴って受容溝５４ｕの左側端面に押圧され、球受け座面６９ｂから離れて後方のスリット部５５ｂをガイドレールとしてその上縁部を右方向に移動される。そして右動される遊技球が平坦な支持面５５ｓから下方に向かう曲面領域に到達し、受容溝５４ｕとの係合が解除されたときに案内通路５０ｄを落下し払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００８３】
このとき、前列側のインペラ５４ａでは、インペラ５４ａの外周縁部に支持された遊技球がインペラ５４ａの外周縁部を滑り、インペラ５４ａの受容溝５４ｕが上方に向けて開く角度位置まで回転されたときに、その受容溝５４ｕに流下して支持面６５ｓの前方のスリット部５５ａ上に支持されるとともに、遊技球の右後方下部が球受け座面６９ａに支持される。インペラ５４ａがさらに回転されて受容溝５４ｕの左側端面に押圧されると、遊技球は球受け座面６９ａから離れてスリット部５５ａの上縁部を右方向に転動移動し、平坦な支持面６５ｓから下方に向かう曲面領域にまで移動されて受容溝５４ｕとの係合が解除されたときに、案内通路５０ｄを落下して払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００８４】
以降同様にして、前後の受容通路５３ａ，５３ｂに待機保持された遊技球が球送り部材５４の回転に伴って交互に１個ずつ前後列のインペラ５３ａ，５３ｂの受容溝５４ｕに受け入れられて球受け座面６９ａ，６９ｂに支持され、受容溝５４ｕの回転移動に従って前後のスリット部５５ａ，５５ｂの上縁を案内通路５０ｄに移動され、この案内通路５０ｄを落下して払出口５０ｆから賞球払出経路７５に払い出される。
【００８５】
従って、以上のように構成される賞球カセット６０によれば、前述した賞球カセット５０と同様の効果を得ることができる。また本実施例の賞球カセット６０では、払出作動が停止して待機状態となったときに上方の遊技球から作用する荷重をガイドレール部と球受け座部６９とで分散して受ける構成のため、ガイドレール部上縁の変形を軽減させることができ、さらに、インペラを駆動方向と反対方向（実施例では反時計回り）に回転させようとする荷重が作用しないためステッピングモータへの負荷を軽減して長寿命化を図ることができる。また、本実施例の賞球カセット６０では、球受け座部６９を球受け部６５Ｘと一体に形成しているため、球受け座面６９ａ，６９ｂの配設位置精度を高めることができるとともに、部品点数および組立工数を低減させることができる。
【００８６】
なお、本実施例のように予め球払出方向が規定され、球受け座部を支持面と一体に形成するような賞球カセットにおいては、支持面６５Ｘは遊技球の移動方向（実施例では右方向）にわずかに登り勾配となる平坦面としてもよい。このような構成によれば、ステッピングモータの負荷トルクをほとんど増大させることなく、また払出作動中の負荷変動幅を増大させることもなく、待機状態において遊技球を球受け座面に安定支持させることができ、これによりステッピングモータに作用する駆動方向へのモーメントを低減させ保持トルクを減少させることができる。また、本実施例では前後スリット部の内側に球受け座面を形成した例を示したが、スリット部の外側に設けてもよく、あるいはスリット部を挟む両側に半球状に設けてもよい。
【００８７】
さて、以上第１から第３実施例まで、遊技球を払い出す賞球カセットの例として、遊技球を受け入れる受容溝を有したインペラが垂直面内に回転駆動される例を開示したが、インペラは他の角度面内に回転するものであっても良く、また遊技球を受容する球受容部は溝形状でなくてもよい。例えば、同一半径上に遊技球よりも幾分大きめの径の受容孔を複数形成したインペラを水平面内に回転駆動するとともに、インペラの下側に平坦な支持面を設けて受容孔に受け入れた遊技球を支持させ、インペラを正逆方向に回転させることで受容孔に受容した遊技球を円弧軌跡をもって左右方向に移動させ、右側または左側に設けた案内通路に落下させて払い出す形態とすることも可能である。
【００８８】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明は、所定の指令信号に基づいてモータを作動させ受容通路の下端に位置する遊技球を球受容部に受容して移動させることで払出口から遊技球を払い出す球払出装置において、受容通路の下方に球受容部に受容された遊技球を支持する球受け部材を設けるとともに、この球受け部材における遊技球の支持部を球受容部に受容された遊技球が球受容部の変位に伴って移動される方向に平坦に形成して球払出装置を構成する。このため、受容部に受容された遊技球が球受け部材に支持され、これより上方に連続して繋がる遊技球の荷重が球送り部材に作用することがない。また、球受け部材における遊技球の支持部が遊技球の移動方向に平坦に形成されているため、払出作動時に過大なトルクを要することがなく、小型のモータを利用することができる。従って本構成の払出装置によれば、装置全体を小型化することができ、消費電力やコストを低減させた球払出装置を提供することができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る球払出装置を備えた弾球遊技機の一例として示すパチンコ機の正面図である。
【図２】上記パチンコ機の裏面側を示す背面図である。
【図３】本発明に係る球払出装置のうち、第１実施例および第２実施例の球払出装置の内部構造を示す側断面図（図４中の矢印III−IIIに沿った断面図）である。
【図４】図３中の矢印IV−IVに見た断面図である。
【図５】上記球払出装置を分解した状態で示す平面図である。
【図６】図５中の矢印VI方向から見た分解斜視図である。
【図７】第２実施例の球払出装置に用いられる球受け座を拡大して示す斜視図である。
【図８】図３中の矢印VIII−VIII方向に見た断面図を中心とし、その左右に前後列インペラの配設位置関係を付記する説明図である。
【図９】払出作動時の遊技球の移動状態を示す説明図（図３中の矢印IX−IXに沿った断面図）である。
【図１０】図９中の矢印X−Xに沿った断面図である。
【図１１】第３実施例の球払出装置における球受け部を上方から見た平断面図である。
【図１２】図１１中の矢印XII−XIIに沿った側断面図である。
【符号の説明】
Ｂ１ メイン基板
Ｂ２ 発射装置制御基板
Ｂ３ 球払出制御基板
Ｂ４ ランプ・音声制御基板
Ｂ５ 電源基板
ＰＡ 遊技領域
ＰＭ パチンコ機
１ 外枠
２ 前枠
３ａ,３ｂ ヒンジ機構
４ 施錠装置
５ ガラス扉
６ 上球皿
７ 下球皿
８ 操作ハンドル
９ 打球発射装置
１２,１３ 固定ヒンジ部材
２０ 遊技盤
２１ 化粧板
２４ 案内レール（２４ａ 外レール、２４ｂ 内レール）
２５ａ,２５ｂ 風車
２６ 入賞具
（２６ａ 一般入賞具、２６ｂ 始動入賞具、２６ｃ アタッカー）
２７ アウト口
２８ 図柄表示装置
３０ 裏セット盤
３１ 基枠体（３１ｗ 窓口）
３２,３３ 裏セット盤揺動ヒンジ部材
３４ 閉鎖レバー
４１ タンク部材
４２ 整列樋部材（４２ａ 偏向出口）
４３ 賞球待機通路
５０ 賞球カセット（第１実施例）
５０′ 賞球カセット（第２実施例）
（５０ａ,５０ｂ 受容口、５０ｃ,５０ｄ 案内通路、５０ｅ,５０ｆ 払出口）
５１ 前ケース
（５１ａ ベース部、５１ｂ 位置決め部、５１ｃ,５１ｄ 前方通路壁、５１ｅ 位置決め溝、５１ｉ 軸受部、５１Ｌ,５１Ｒ 外ガイド壁、５１ｐ 支持ピン）
５２ 後ケース（５２ａ 付勢アーム）
５３ 受容通路部材
（５３ａ,５３ｂ 受容通路、５３Ｌ,５３Ｒ 通路壁、５３ｓ 突出片部、５３ｗ 仕切壁）
５４ 球送り部材
（５４ａ,５４ｂ インペラ、５４ｃ フォトフランジ、５４ｉ 支軸部、５４ｊ 軸部、５４ｋ 嵌合孔、５４ｕ 受容溝）
５５ 球受けベース
（５５Ｆ フランジ部、５５Ｘ 球受け部、５５Ｙ フォトケース部、５５ａ,５５ｂ スリット部、５５ｃ,５５ｄ 後方通路壁、５５ｅ 係合突起、５５ｈ 係止孔、５５ｉ 嵌合軸穴、５５ｐ 支持ピン、５５ｓ 支持面、５５Ｌ,５５Ｒ 内ガイド壁、）
５６ ステッピングモータ（５６ｋ カップリング）
５７ 回路基板（５７ｃ フォトセンサ、５７ｄ コネクタ）
５８ 基板ベース
５９ 球受け座（５９ａ,５９ｂ 球受け座面、５９ｈ 係止突起、５９ｓ 基部、５９ｔ 立設部）
６０ 賞球カセット（第３実施例）
６５ 球受けベース
（６５Ｆ フランジ部、６５Ｘ 球受け部、６５ｓ 支持面、）
６９ （６９ａ,６９ｂ 球受け座面、６９ｓ 切り込み部）
７１ センサホルダ
７２ 球検出センサ（７２ａ 検出孔部）
７５ 賞球払出経路[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ball payout device including a motor and a ball feeding member driven by the motor, and paying out a game ball supplied to a receiving port from a payout opening by operating the motor based on a predetermined condition.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an example of the ball payout device as described above, there is a ball payout device (also referred to as a prize ball cassette) used in a pachinko machine. The pachinko machine has a game board in which various prizes are arranged with a predetermined gauge setting together with a large number of game nails and windmills, and the ball payout device is output based on the winning state on the game board, etc. In response to the command signal, a number of game balls corresponding to the command signal are paid out.
[0003]
Such a ball payout device is generally provided with a receiving port for receiving a game ball and a payout port for paying out the game ball on the upper and lower surfaces of the device, and a motor inside the device and rotation in a vertical plane by the motor. When the ball feeding member is rotated by receiving a game ball guided to the ball feeding member from the receiving port through the receiving passage to the ball feeding member formed on the outer periphery of the ball feeding member. The game ball received in the movement direction is moved in the rotation direction (right or left), and is caused to flow down to a guide passage formed in the movement direction and paid out from a payout outlet at the lower end of the guide passage.
[0004]
The operation of the ball payout device is controlled by a control device such as a ball payout control board, for example, and a command signal for a rotation angle based on the winning condition (for example, a rotation angle corresponding to a payout quantity of 15 balls) is input to the ball payout device. The motor is rotated by the rotation angle corresponding to the command signal to pay out the game ball. The rotation stop angle position of the motor is such that the ball receiving portion of the ball feeding member is disposed opposite to the receiving passage and the game ball is received in the ball receiving portion (in a ball dispensing device having a ball feeding member having two-stage front and rear configurations) In this case, the game ball is set to stop in a state where the game ball is received in any one of the front and rear ball receiving portions.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional ball dispensing device, the game ball received in the ball receiving portion is supported by the bottom portion of the ball receiving portion, and the ball feeding member supports the load acting from the game ball when the motor is stopped. On the other hand, a ball passage (referred to as “prize ball waiting passage”) is formed above the receiving port for guiding the game balls stored in the tank member to the receiving port and waiting for a predetermined number of game balls in an aligned state in the vertical direction. The load supported by the ball feeding member is not only the weight of the game ball received by the ball receiving portion, but also the load acting from a large number of game balls held on standby above the receiving port. It was a thing.
[0006]
For this reason, in the conventional ball dispensing device, in order to support such a load, it is necessary to firmly configure the ball feeding member and the shaft support portion that supports the rotation shaft of the ball feeding member. It became a factor to become. Further, since it is necessary to rotate and move the ball feeding member under a state where such a load is applied, it is necessary to use a large motor with a large starting torque and stopping holding force. In addition to the increase in size, there was a problem that power consumption and cost increased.
[0007]
On the other hand, as a means to counter the above-mentioned load, a concave ball receiving seat is provided below the receiving passage, and a slit-like groove portion for projecting the outer peripheral region of the ball feeding member is provided on the ball receiving seat so that the load from the game ball Has been devised to support the ball with a ball seat. Such a ball payout device has an advantage that the load of the game ball does not act directly on the ball feeding member when the motor stops operating, but the load from above acts on the concave ball receiving seat during the payout operation. It is necessary to move the stably supported game ball so as to get over the ball seat against the load, and the torque at this time is larger than before, so the motor and device are large. In addition, the conventional problems with respect to power consumption and cost cannot be solved.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and reduces the load acting on the ball feeding member from the game ball and reduces the torque required for the motor as much as possible to reduce the size of the entire apparatus including the motor. An object of the present invention is to provide a ball payout device that can reduce power consumption and cost.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is configured to guide the gaming balls downward in a state of being aligned in a line in the vertical direction, and is positioned below the receiving passage with the lower end opened and the lower end opening of the receiving passage. And a ball receiving base member having a support surface that is provided vertically opposite to the lower end opening and supports a game ball sent out from the lower end opening through the receiving passage, and a left and right end portion of the support surface. A guide passage formed to be connected and extending downward and rolling down the support surface to the left and right ends to the lower payout opening, and rotated to the lower side of the support surface of the ball receiving base member A shaft is disposed to extend in the front-rear direction, and an outer peripheral portion of a disk-like impeller provided on the rotating shaft protrudes upward through a slit portion formed to extend left and right on the support surface. A ball feed member disposed in the front and Constituted a motor for rotating the ball feed member about said axis of rotation. The impeller is formed with a U-shaped receiving groove that is recessed from the outer peripheral end surface to the inner peripheral side and can receive one game ball, and the outer peripheral portion of the impeller having the receiving groove passes through the slit portion. The ball feeding member is provided with respect to the ball receiving base member so that the bottom of the receiving groove is positioned below the supporting surface in a state of protruding upward from the supporting surface, and the lower end opening of the receiving passage is provided. The left and right wall portions forming the portion are positioned so as to be spaced apart upward with respect to the support surface and set so as not to prevent the game ball from rolling and moving on the support surface in the left-right direction. The front and rear wall portions that form the upper and lower wall portions project downward from the left and right wall portions to prevent the game balls placed on the support surface from moving back and forth and to guide the rolling movement to the left and right. The support surface is flat and water Extends is formed on. Then, based on a predetermined command signal, the motor is operated to rotate the ball feeding member around the rotation shaft, and the outer peripheral portion of the impeller having the receiving groove passes through the slit portion and supports the support member. Rotating and moving to a position protruding upward from the surface, the game ball sent out from the lower end opening of the receiving passage enters the receiving groove and is placed on the support surface, and the gaming ball is moved by the receiving groove. Holding from the front and back by the front and rear wall portions and holding on the support surface, and further rotating the ball feeding member to rotate the impeller into the receiving groove by rotating the game ball. In response to this, it is configured to roll on the support surface and flow from the left and right end portions of the support surface into the guide passage and flow down to the payout outlet.In addition, the game ball sent from the lower end opening of the receiving passage is received on the support surface of the ball receiving base member, and the game ball rolls and moves only in either the left or right direction. A ball seat member that prevents rolling movement in the other direction is provided so as to be able to.
  In addition, it is preferable that the plurality of receiving grooves are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral portion of the impeller.
  MaBeforeA ball bearing seat member is detachably provided on the support surface, and the direction in which the game ball can roll and move by reversing the mounting direction of the ball seat member on the support surface is reversed left and right. It is preferable that it can be made.
[0010]
In the ball dispensing device having such a configuration, since a ball receiving member that supports the game ball received by the ball receiving portion is provided below the receiving passage, a load acting from the game ball located above the receiving passage is provided. Does not directly act on the ball feeding member. In addition, since the game ball support portion of the ball receiving member is formed flat in the direction in which the game ball received by the ball receiving portion is moved, excessive torque may be required when moving the game ball. And a small motor can be used. Therefore, according to the payout device having the above-described configuration, the entire device can be reduced in size, and a ball payout device with reduced power consumption and cost can be provided.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As a representative example of a ball game machine equipped with a ball removing mechanism according to the present invention, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a pachinko machine PM. First, the overall configuration of the pachinko machine PM is summarized with reference to both drawings. explain. 1 is a front view of the pachinko machine PM viewed from the front side, and FIG. 2 is a rear view of the pachinko machine PM viewed from the back side.
[0012]
In the pachinko machine PM, a front frame 2 configured to have a rectangular frame size and an open / close mounting frame is formed on the front surface of the outer frame 1 that is configured to have an outer rectangular frame size and forms a vertically fixed holding frame. The upper and lower hinge members 3a and 3b disposed on the left edge of the frame are attached so as to be opened and closed laterally and detachable, and are always locked and locked to the outer frame 1 using the locking device 4 provided on the right edge. Held in.
[0013]
On the front side of the front frame 2, a rectangular glass door 5 adapted to the front side area of the front frame 2 and an upper ball tray 6 for storing and aligning game balls are both built in the left edge, not shown. The hinge mechanism is assembled so that it can be opened / closed and attached / detached sideways, and is always held in a closed state covering the front surface of the front frame 2 using the locking device 4 and a lock mechanism (not shown). A lower ball tray 7 for storing game balls is provided at the lower part of the front frame 2, and an operation handle 8 is mounted along with the lower ball tray 7 for performing a game ball launch operation.
[0014]
A rectangular frame-shaped storage frame is integrally formed with the front frame 2 on the upper surface of the back surface of the front frame 2, and a game board 20 configured with a predetermined gauge setting is set and held in the storage frame so as to be detachable and replaceable. The front area of the glass door 5 is faced. The game board 20 includes a decorative board (also referred to as veneer) 21 in which cells of a predetermined design are attached to the surface of a laminated plywood having a thickness of about 19 mm. On the front side of the decorative plate 21, a belt-like outer rail 24a and an inner rail 24b are fixed in an arc shape, and a game area PA is defined on the inner side surrounded by the guide rails 24a and 24b.
[0015]
In the game area PA, a large number of game nails, a windmill 25 such as a lamp windmill 25a and a general windmill 25b, a general prize-winning tool 26a, a start prize-winning tool 26b, and a prize-winning tool 26 such as an attacker 26c having a big prize-winning hole, and a game A symbol display device 28 that displays a predetermined symbol according to the progress of the game is attached, and the game ball that has fallen without winning the prize-winning tool 26 is discharged to the back side of the game board 20 at the lower end of the game area PA. An out port 27 is provided.
[0016]
In the lower part of the rear surface of the front frame 2, a ball-striking device 9 that launches a game ball toward the outer rail 24a, and a launcher control board B2 that controls the operation of the ball-striking device 9 in response to an operation signal from the operation handle 8. Is attached. The upper and lower middle area in the front frame 2 is called a game auxiliary board, and it cannot reach the launch rail for guiding the game ball launched by the hit ball launcher 9 toward the outer rail 24a or the game area PA. A foul ball collection path member that discharges the foul ball returned to the hitting ball launching device 9 side to the lower ball tray 7, a speaker that generates sound effects according to the game development status, and the like are attached. The game assisting board is located behind the upper ball tray 6, and the front side is covered with the upper ball tray 6 that is always kept closed.
[0017]
A back set board 30 is attached behind the front frame 2. The back set board 30 is configured on the basis of a base frame body 31 that has a rectangular shape that is somewhat smaller than the inner size of the outer frame 1 and has a window 31w that penetrates the front and back at the center and is integrally formed. Back set board swing hinge members 32 and 33 are fixed to the side edge portion of the base frame body 31 at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction. The upper and lower back set board swing hinge members 32 and 33 are attached to the front frame. By engaging with the upper and lower fixed hinge members 12, 13 fixed on the two sides and swinging or disengaging, the back set board 30 is equipped with a laterally open / closed and detachable behind the front frame 2, Normally, the three closing levers 34 are used to close and hold the back of the front frame 2.
[0018]
The back set board 30 is provided with a prize ball apparatus and a game ball processing path for paying out prize balls so as to surround the window 31w. That is, on the back side of the base frame 31, a tank member 41 that stores and supplies game balls, and a lower part of the tank member 41 that is attached to the lower part of the tank member 41 in a loosely inclined posture and flows down the game balls supplied from the tank member 41. An alignment rod member 42 to be aligned in two front and rear rows, a game ball supplied from a deflection outlet 42a of the alignment rod member 42 is received and guided to a lower prize ball cassette 50, and a predetermined number of game balls are inserted into the passage in two rows in the front and rear direction. A prize ball waiting passage 43 to be held in a waiting state in an aligned state, a game ball waiting in the prize ball waiting passage 43 is received from an upper receiving port, and a prize ball cassette 50 to be paid out from a lower payout port based on a predetermined command signal, a prize A prize ball payout path 75 for guiding the game balls paid out from the ball cassette 50 to the upper and lower ball dishes 6 and 7 is provided.
[0019]
Further, on the front side of the base frame 31, an out ball and a safe ball that are positioned below the window 31w and discharged to the back side of the game board 20, and a ball removal mechanism provided above the prize ball waiting passage 43 As a result, a collective path is formed to collect and drain the balls discharged from the winning ball waiting passage, and the game balls collected in connection with the collective path are arranged on the back side of the base frame 31 at the lower end of the base frame. A ball discharge path is formed to be discharged from the section to the collection bucket on the game facility side.
[0020]
A command signal is output to each part of the back surface of the back set board 30 to the prize ball cassette 50 based on a control signal from the main board B1 and the main board B1 that comprehensively controls the operation of the pachinko machine PM. Ball payout control board B3 for controlling the operation of the lamp, lamp / voice control board B4 for controlling the operation of the effect lighting and the sound effect according to the game development status, and the power supply board for supplying power to these control board and various electronic devices A circuit board such as B5 is detachably attached and each circuit board and electronic device are connected by a wire harness (not shown) to constitute a pachinko machine PM.
[0021]
The pachinko machine PM is used in a game with the glass door 5, the upper ball tray 6, the back set board 30 and the like closed, and the front frame 2 closed and locked to the outer frame 1. The game is started by storing the game balls in the upper ball tray 6 and rotating the operation handle 8, and the game balls stored in the upper ball tray 6 are sent one by one to the hitting ball launcher 9 and are operated. The pachinko game is started by being struck into the game area PA with the strength corresponding to the rotation operation angle. Then, when a game ball that falls in the game area PA falls into the winning device 26 during the development of the game, a command signal corresponding to the winning conditions is output from the ball payout control board B3 to the winning ball cassette 50, and this command signal is received. The game balls supplied by the prize ball cassette 50 from the tank member 41 through the alignment rod member 42 and the prize ball standby passage 43 are paid out to the prize ball payout path 75 based on the command signal, and the upper and lower ball dishes 6 are passed through this path. , 7 is discharged.
[0022]
In the pachinko machine PM generally configured as described above, a game ball supplied via the prize ball standby passage 43 is received from the upper receiving port, and the lower payout is performed based on the command signal of the ball payout control board B3. The prize ball cassette 50 paid out from the outlet is provided with the configuration according to the present invention. Hereinafter, the configuration of the prize ball cassette 50 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. Here, FIG. 3 is a main side sectional view of the prize ball cassette 50 (side sectional view seen in the direction indicated by arrows III-III in FIG. 4), and FIG. 4 is seen in the direction of arrows IV-IV in FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the prize ball cassette 50, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the prize ball cassette 50 in an exploded state, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the prize ball cassette 50 as seen from the direction of arrow VI in FIG. It is.
[0023]
  In the following description, the internal structure of the prize ball cassette 50 will be described with reference to the drawings viewed from each direction. In principle, the left-right direction in FIG. In the following description, the right side is referred to as the right side, and the other side (front side of the pachinko machine PM) in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface is referred to as the front, and the near side (the back side) is referred to as the rear. In addition, the ball seat 59 added in each figure isAlthough it corresponds to the characteristic configuration of the present invention, it relates to the first embodiment described below.In the prize ball cassette 50The ball seat 59Not attached,Explained belowThis is attached to the prize ball cassette 50 'of the second embodiment. With this ball seatAccording to the present inventionFor the prize ball cassette 50 'FirstThis will be described in detail after the description of the embodiments.That is, the following second and third embodiments are embodiments according to the present invention, and the first embodiment is an embodiment not belonging to the scope of the present invention.
[0024]
The prize ball cassette 50 is housed in a cassette case made up of a front case 51 and a rear case 52 to form a rectangular box-like module, and is positioned directly below the standby passage 43 and is attached to the prize ball cassette mounting portion 36 of the base frame 31. Removably attached. In the upper central portion of the prize ball cassette 50, receiving ports 50a and 50b for receiving preliminary prize balls supplied from the two front and rear rows of prize ball waiting passages 43a and 43b disposed above the prize ball cassette 50 are provided. Discharge outlets 50e and 50f for paying out game balls are provided on the left and right sides of the prize ball cassette 50.
[0025]
Inside the cassette case (the front case 51 and the rear case 52), two front and rear receiving passages 53a and 53b corresponding to the prize ball waiting passages 43a and 43b are formed immediately below the receiving ports 50a and 50b. A receiving passage member 53, a ball feeding member 54 having two front and rear impellers 54a and 54b corresponding to the front and rear receiving passages and rotatably supported, and the inside of the cassette case is divided forward and backward to form a spherical passage in front. A ball receiving base 55 to be rotated, a stepping motor 56 that rotationally drives the ball feeding member 54 in the forward and reverse directions, a substrate base 58 that supports the circuit board 57, and the like are disposed.
[0026]
In the front case 51, receiving ports 50a and 50b are formed at the left and right central portions of the upper surface of the case, and payout ports 50e and 50f are formed at the left and right of the lower surface of the case. Inside the front case 51, a support pin 51p positioned below the receiving port and positioning and supporting the receiving passage member 53 is projected from the front wall, and below the support pin 51p is an arc shape connected to the left and right side walls, respectively. Outer guide walls 51L and 51R are erected, and arch-shaped front passage walls 51c and 51d are formed on the inner peripheral side thereof. The left and right front passage walls 51c and 51d are gently inclined from the upper front toward the lower rear and are connected to the front edge portions of the outlets 50e and 50f at the lower end of the case, respectively.
[0027]
The receiving passage member 53 includes a flat partition wall 53w that is positioned and supported by the support pin 51p, and left and right passage walls 53L and 53R that are erected on the front and rear surfaces of the partition wall 53w. V-shaped receiving passages 53a and 53b are formed in the front and rear. At the lower end portion of the receiving passage, the partition wall 53w extends downward in a tongue-like shape to form a protruding piece portion 53s. In the assembled state of the prize ball cassette 50, the game balls positioned at the lower end of the receiving passage are front and rear. Regulate not to move in the direction. On the other hand, the left and right passage walls 53L, 53R are shorter than the partition wall, and do not hinder the movement of the game ball moved in the left-right direction by the rotation of the ball feeding member 54. The receiving passage member 53 is supported by the support pin 51p, and is held between the ball receiving base 55 and the front case 51 which are inserted from behind.
[0028]
The ball receiving base 55 has a saddle-shaped ball receiving portion 55X protruding forward from the flange portion 55F and an arc protruding backward from the flange portion 55F. It is comprised from the wall-shaped photo case part 55Y.
[0029]
The ball receiving portion 55X protruding forward from the flange portion 55F includes a support surface 55s, inner guide walls 55L and 55R extending vertically to the left and right of the support surface 55s, and a front wall engageable with the front end surface of the front case 51. And is formed in an outer saddle shape surrounded by these wall surfaces. The support surface 55s is formed flat in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, and is smoothly connected to the left and right inner guide walls 55L, 55R by cylindrical curved surfaces.
[0030]
The support surface 55s is formed with slit portions 55a and 55b that linearly extend in the left-right direction, and the front and rear impellers 54a and 54b of the ball feeding member 54 protrude upward from the front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b, respectively. It has become. In addition, the front wall is formed with a fitting shaft hole 55i that receives a bearing portion 51i that protrudes rearward from the front case 51 and fits with the outer peripheral surface thereof, and positions the front end side of the ball receiving portion, The support shaft portion 54 i at the tip of the ball feeding member 54 can be inserted and supported by the bearing portion 51 i of the front case 51.
[0031]
On the other hand, the ball feeding member 54 accommodated below the ball receiving portion 55X is in the form of a rotating shaft as a whole, and the support shaft portion 54i supported by the front case 51 on the front end side of the shaft portion 54j as the center, the rear A fitting hole 54k for fitting with the coupling 56k of the stepping motor 56 is formed on the end side, and front and rear two-stage impellers 54a and 54b formed between the front and rear receiving passages 53a and 53b, and A photo flange 54c having a slit provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder is formed.
[0032]
The front and rear impellers 54a and 54b have a disk shape with a predetermined outer diameter and thickness as a whole, and three U-shaped receiving grooves 54u for receiving game balls are formed at intervals of 120 degrees on each impeller. . The front and rear impellers 54a and 54b are offset so that the angular positions of the receiving grooves are shifted from each other by 60 degrees. When the ball feed member 54 is rotated around the axis, the receiving grooves of the front and rear impellers are 60 degrees. For each rotation angle, the front and back are alternately turned upward (to face the receiving passage).
[0033]
The groove depth of each receiving groove 54u is such that the bottom surface of the receiving groove 54u is positioned below the support surface 55s when the ball feeding member 54 is mounted at a lower position of the ball receiving portion 55X. The game ball received in the receiving groove 54u is configured not to directly contact the bottom surface of the groove. Further, the slits of the photo flange 54c are formed at the same azimuth angle positions in accordance with the formation positions of the receiving grooves 54u in the front and rear impellers. In this embodiment, six slits are formed at intervals of 60 degrees. Yes.
[0034]
The wall surface shape of the front surface side of the flange portion 55F is formed symmetrically with the front case 51 facing each other, and arched rear passage walls 55c and 55d are formed so as to surround the outer periphery of the ball receiving portion 55X. The left and right rear passage walls 55c and 55d are gently inclined from the upper rear toward the lower front, and the lower end portions of the respective wall surfaces are aligned with the rear edges of the left and right payout outlets 50e and 50f in the assembled state of the prize ball cassette. It is formed to be disposed. Engagement protrusions 55e and 55e projecting upward are formed at the upper end of the flange portion 55F, and are configured to be detachable from positioning grooves 51e and 51e formed on the upper wall of the front case 51.
[0035]
The photo case portion 55Y that protrudes rearward from the flange portion 55F is formed in an arc wall surface covering the outer periphery of the photo flange 54c, and prevents the entry of ambient light from the surroundings, and the upper wall surface is cut out by a predetermined width. Thus, the photo sensor 57c mounted on the circuit board 57 can be disposed. Further, columnar support pins 55p projecting rearward are provided on the left and right sides of the photo case portion 55Y, and are mounted on the left and right pin holes formed in the substrate base 58 and the mounting flange of the stepping motor 56. The base plate 58 and the stepping motor 56 can be positioned and supported by engaging with holes (both not shown).
[0036]
A circuit board 57 on which a photosensor 57c is mounted is fixedly disposed on the board base 58. The circuit board 57 is formed with a circuit pattern for relaying the input / output signal to the photo sensor 57c and the command signal to the stepping motor 56, and the connector 57d for signal transmission with the ball payout control board B3 is mounted on the upper end portion thereof. Yes. The photo sensor 57c is aligned with the photo flange 54c in the assembled state of the prize ball cassette and is disposed directly above the shaft portion 54j (the cutout portion of the photo case). The cylindrical outer peripheral portion of the photo flange 54c is positioned between the two portions. As a result, the rotational angular position of the photo flange 54c that is rotationally displaced, that is, the angular position of the receiving groove 54u formed in the impellers 54a and 54b can be detected.
[0037]
Each member formed as described above is assembled to constitute a prize ball cassette 50. In assembling, first, the receiving passage member 53 is inserted from the rear of the front case 51, and the receiving passage member 53 is positioned and supported by the support pins 51p of the front case 51. Further, the front end side of the ball feeding member 54 is inserted into the ball receiving portion 55X from the rear of the ball receiving base 55, and the front and rear impellers 54a and 54b are projected upward from the front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b, and the support shaft portion 54i. Is positioned in the fitting shaft hole 55i. Then, the substrate base 58 to which the circuit board 57 is fixed and the stepping motor 56 are mounted from the rear, and these are positioned and supported by using the left and right support pins 55p of the photo case portion 55Y. At this time, the angular positions of the coupling 56k at the shaft end of the stepping motor 56 and the fitting hole 54k at the shaft end of the ball feed member 54 are aligned, and the coupling 56k is press-fitted into the fitting hole 54k. And the ball feeding member 54 are coupled.
[0038]
Next, the ball feeding member 54, the ball feeding base 55, the stepping motor 56, the circuit board 57, and the board base 58 engaged in this manner are inserted into the front case 51 on which the receiving passage member 53 is supported, and the ball feeding is performed. The support shaft portion 54i at the front end of the member 54 is supported by the shaft hole of the bearing portion 51i of the front case, and the outer peripheral portion of the bearing portion 51i and the fitting shaft hole 55i are fitted outside. At this time, two engaging protrusions 55e are engaged with the positioning groove 51e at the upper part of the front case at the upper part of the flange part 55F, and the members 53, 54, 56, 57, 58 together with the ball receiving base 55 are connected to the front case 51. Positioned within.
[0039]
Then, the rear case 52 is covered from behind the stepping motor 56 and the rear case 52 is screwed to the front case 51. The rear case 52 is formed with three urging arms 52a that are elastically deformed in the front and rear direction by separating the rear wall surface located behind the stepping motor 56 into a U shape, and at the tip of each urging arm. A projection portion protruding forward is engaged with the back surface of the stepping motor 56 to urge the motor forward. For this reason, each component housed in the cassette case is biased forward via the stepping motor 56 and is held in a predetermined position in the case.
[0040]
When the prize ball cassette 50 is assembled in this way, the front and rear two receiving passages 53a and 53b connected to the receiving ports 50a and 50b are formed above the support surface 55s of the ball receiving portion 55X. In addition, the ball receiving portion 55X is connected to the receiving passages 53a and 53b at the upper portion of the support surface 55s, and is surrounded by the inner and outer guide walls 51L, 51R, 55L, and 55R and the front and rear passage walls 51c, 51d, 55c, and 55d. Thus, guide passages 50c and 50d having a back-side arched shape and a side-view tapered shape connected to the left and right discharge outlets 50e and 50f are formed.
[0041]
Below the support surface 55s of the ball receiving portion 55X, a shaft portion 54j of the ball feeding member 54 extends in the front-rear direction so as to be rotatable, and the front and rear impellers 54a extend from the slit portions 55a and 55b formed on the support surface 55s. , 54b project from the upper ball passage. As will be described later, the stop angle position of the ball feeding member 54 is controlled so that the receiving groove of one of the front and rear impellers faces the receiving passage. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 8, The receiving groove 54u of the side impeller 54b is disposed so as to face the receiving line 53b on the rear row side, and the fan-shaped outer peripheral surface of the impeller 54a on the front row side is arranged to face the receiving passage 53a on the front row side. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view seen in the direction of arrows VIII-VIII in FIG. 3, and is an explanatory view showing the angular positional relationship between the front and rear impellers 54a and 54b and the holding state of the game balls.
[0042]
The prize ball cassette 50 configured as described above is detachably attached to the prize ball cassette attachment portion 36 of the base frame 31 using an attachment / detachment mechanism (not shown). The award ball cassette mounting portion 36 has an attachment surface that is offset forward in accordance with the thickness of the front case 51. The award ball waiting passages 43a and 43b and the corresponding reception passages 53a and 43a in the award ball cassette are provided. 53b is connected with no step.
[0043]
The game balls flowing down the prize ball standby passages 43a and 43b smoothly enter the reception passages 53a and 53b from the reception openings 50a and 50b, flow down the reception passages, and are guided directly above the front and rear impellers 54a and 54b. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, the game ball located at the lowermost end of the rear row side receiving passage 53b is received by the receiving groove 54u of the rear row side impeller 54b and supported on the slit portion 55b of the support surface 55s. The game ball located at the lowermost end of the front row side receiving passage 53a is held on standby in a state where it is supported by the fan-shaped outer peripheral edge portion of the front row side impeller 54a.
[0044]
By the way, as described above, the receiving passages 53a and 53b and the prize ball waiting passages 43a and 43b are formed in the upper and lower directions above the outer peripheral surface of the support surface or impeller, and the game balls are placed in these ball passages. Stopped in a connected state. For this reason, to the game balls located on the downstream side of these ball passages, a load due to its own weight sequentially acts from the game balls located on the upstream side of the game balls. However, in the prize ball cassette 50 of this configuration, the left and right passage walls 53L and 53R of the receiving passage are formed in a V shape, and the load acting from the upstream side is received by the wall surface of the bent passage wall, It does not directly act on the front and rear impellers 54a and 54b and the support surface 55s (slit portions 54a and 54b). Further, as described above, the bottom surface of the receiving groove 54u is disposed in the slit below the support surface 55s, and even the load reduced by the passage wall acts on the bottom surface of the receiving groove 54u and the shaft portion 54j. It is supposed not to.
[0045]
The game ball payout operation in the prize ball cassette 50 is performed based on a command signal output from the ball payout control board B3 under a predetermined condition. The prize ball cassette 50 operates the stepping motor 56 based on the command signal input to the circuit board 57 via the connector 57d, and responds to the command signal in the rotation direction (clockwise or counterclockwise) according to the command signal. Rotate the ball feeding member 54 at the rotation angle (for example, the rotation angle corresponding to 5, 10, 13, 25 balls to be paid out) and pay the game ball from the left payout outlet 50e or the right payout outlet 54f. put out.
[0046]
For example, when a game ball wins a winning device 26 (26a, 26b, 26c, etc.) in the waiting state of the game ball shown in FIG. 3 etc., the ball payout control board B3 wins the stepping motor 56 clockwise in the rear view. A command signal for rotating by a rotation angle according to the conditions is output, and the winning ball cassette 50 rotates the stepping motor 56 based on the command signal input from the ball payout control board B3 and is connected by the coupling 56k. The feed member 54 is rotated clockwise.
[0047]
When the ball feed member 54 is rotated clockwise, each receiving groove 54u is rotated about the shaft portion 54j along with the rotation of the front and rear impellers 54a, 54b, and the game ball received in the receiving groove of the rear row side impeller 54b. Is pressed to the left end face of the receiving groove 54u and moved to the right, and the slit 55b of the support surface 55s is rolled to the right as if it were a guide rail (see FIG. 9).
[0048]
When the game ball to be moved rightward comes to the curved surface region that is directed downward from the flat support surface 55s, the game ball moves to the lower right by its own weight and engages with the right end surface of the receiving groove 54u, and the impeller 54b is further moved. When the engagement with the receiving groove 54u is released by rotation, the right guide passage 50d falls and is paid out to the winning ball payout path 75 from the right payout outlet 50f.
[0049]
At this time, in the front row impeller 54a rotated with the rotation of the rear row side impeller 54b, the game balls supported by the outer peripheral edge portion of the impeller 54a are sandwiched between the left and right passage walls 53L and 53R and the outer peripheral edge portion of the impeller is moved. When the receiving groove 54u of the impeller 54a is rotated to an angular position where the sliding groove 54u opens upward, it flows down into the receiving groove 54u and is supported on the slit portion 55a in front of the support surface 55s.
[0050]
Then, this time, the game ball received in the receiving groove 54u of the front row side impeller 54a is pressed against the left end surface of the receiving groove 54u as the impeller 54a rotates, and the upper edge portion of the front slit portion 55a serves as a guide rail. Is moved to the right. When the game ball to be moved right reaches the curved surface area that goes downward from the flat support surface 55s, the right guide passage 50d falls when the engagement with the receiving groove 54u is released, and the prize ball is released from the right payout port 50f. The payout route 75 is paid out.
[0051]
Thereafter, in the same manner, the game balls held in standby in the front and rear receiving passages 53a and 53b are alternately received one by one in the receiving grooves 54u of the front and rear rows of impellers 53a and 53b as the ball feeding member 54 rotates. According to the rotational movement of the receiving groove 54u, the upper edges of the front and rear slit portions 55a, 55b are moved to the right guide passage 50d, fall down the guide passage 50d and paid out to the winning ball payout route 75 from the right payout outlet 50f.
[0052]
The ball feeding member 54 is rotated by a rotation angle corresponding to a command signal to the stepping motor 56, whereby a number of game balls (for example, 13 balls) corresponding to the command signal are paid out from the right payout outlet 50f as prize balls. It is paid out to the route 75.
[0053]
  Also, when a ball lending operation is performed in a so-called CR machine and the operation signal is input to the pachinko machine, the ball payout control board B3 gives a command signal for rotating the stepping motor 56 by a predetermined rotation angle counterclockwise in the rear view. The prize ball cassette 50 rotates the ball feeding member 54 counterclockwise based on a command signal input from the ball payout control board B3. The game balls held on standby in the receiving passages 53a and 53b are alternately received one by one in the receiving grooves 54u of the front and rear impellers 53a and 53b as the ball feeding member 54 rotates, and the receiving grooves 54u rotate. Is moved to the left guide passage 50c on the support surface 55s, falls down the guide passage 50c, and is paid out from the left payout outlet 50e to the winning ball payout path 75 (as described at the beginning).First not belonging to the scope of the present inventionIn the prize ball cassette 50 of the embodiment, the ball receiving seat 59 is not attached).
[0054]
The ball feeding member 54 is rotated by a rotation angle according to a command signal to the stepping motor 56, and a number of game balls (for example, 25 balls) corresponding to the command signal are lent as lent balls from the left payout outlet 54e. 75 is paid out.
[0055]
The rotation angle of the stepping motor 56 included in the command signal is a rotation angle corresponding to the number of game balls to be paid out, and the receiving grooves of the front and rear impellers 54a and 54b when the rotation of the motor is stopped. Is set so as to be opposed to the receiving passages 53a and 53b and to be opened at a position directly above the shaft portion 54j. Specifically, when the dispensed quantity is an odd number, the impeller receiving groove in a row different from that before the dispensing operation (front row → back row, rear row → front row) stops at an angular position facing the receiving passage, and when the dispensed amount is an even number Step pulse number command corresponding to a rotation angle of 60 degrees as a rule so that the receiving groove of the impeller in the same row as before operation (front row → front row, rear row → back row) stops at an angular position facing the receiving passage. A signal is output.
[0056]
On the other hand, the photo sensor 57c detects the angular position of the photo flange 54c, and the detection signal is output to the ball payout control board B3. As described above, a slit is formed in the photo flange 54c at the same azimuth angle as the receiving grooves 54u of the front and rear impellers, and the angle at which one of the front and rear receiving grooves 54u opens in the direction directly above the shaft portion 54j. At the position, the light emitted from the light projecting unit passes through the slit and is received by the light receiving unit.
[0057]
The ball payout control board B3 monitors the detection signal input from the photo sensor 57c, and when the stepping motor 56 is stopped, the receiving groove of either the front or rear impeller faces the receiving passage and stops at an angular position opened upward. The stop angle position of the stepping motor 56 is corrected and controlled. Thereby, the ball feeding member 54 is held in a standby state in which the receiving groove of either the front or rear impeller faces the receiving passage when the stepping motor 56 is stopped and the game ball is received in the receiving groove.
[0058]
Further, between the prize ball cassette 50 and the prize ball payout path 75, ball detection sensors 72, 72 are detachably attached via a sensor holder 71 that can be opened and closed laterally with respect to the base frame 31. When the game balls paid out from the left and right payout openings 50e, 50f pass through the detection hole 72a of the ball detection sensor 72, the game balls are detected. The detection signal of the ball detection sensor 72 is output to the ball payout control board B3. The ball payout control board B3 counts the actual number of game balls paid out from the input detection signal, and awards based on the counted value. The operation of the ball cassette 50 is feedback controlled. Thus, an accurate amount of game balls are always paid out as prize balls or rental balls, and can be used for fair games.
[0059]
In the prize ball cassette 50 configured as described above, the game balls to be sequentially paid out are supported on the upper edge of the slit portions 55a and 55b formed on the support surface 55s, and are rotated on the side wall surface of the receiving groove 54u that is rotated. When pressed, the upper edge portion of the slit portion rolls as a guide rail, falls down the guide passage in the moving direction, and is discharged from the payout opening. The upper edges of the slit portions 55a and 55b on which the game balls are supported are the upper surfaces of the support surfaces 55s, and are formed flat in the direction in which the game balls are moved. Therefore, the motor necessary for moving the game balls A small stepping motor with a small torque can be used. Further, since the load fluctuation range in the process of moving the game ball can be reduced, the life of the stepping motor 56 can be extended and the long-term reliability can be improved.
[0060]
Next, with respect to the winning ball cassette of the second embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, refer to FIGS. 7, 9 and 10 in addition to FIGS. While explaining. The prize ball cassette 50 'of the present embodiment is a ball dispensing device having a mechanism configuration similar to that of the prize ball cassette 50 described above, and further having a ball receiving seat 59 attached to the support surface 55s of the ball receiving portion 55X. When the payout direction of the game balls in the prize ball cassette is one-way, such as a non-CR machine or a pachinko machine that pays out from the same payout port regardless of whether it is a prize ball or a rental ball It is illustrated as a preferred configuration.
[0061]
7 is a perspective view of a ball receiving seat 59 used in the prize ball cassette 50 ′ of the present embodiment, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the movement state of the game ball during the payout operation in the prize ball cassette 50 ′. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow XX in FIG. 9. Since the configuration of the prize ball cassette main body excluding the ball receiving seat 59 is the same as that of the already-described prize ball cassette 50, the ball receiving seat 59 is added to each of the above-described drawings, and a duplicate description is omitted here. The structure of the ball receiving seat 59 and the operation of the prize ball cassette 50 'having the ball receiving seat 59 will be briefly described.
[0062]
The ball seat 59 includes a base portion 59s supported by the support surface 55s, a locking projection 59h that is formed to project downward from the base portion, and a standing portion 59t that is formed to extend upward from the base portion 59s. It is formed in a small block shape that fits between the front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b formed on the support surface 55s.
[0063]
A flat supported surface is formed on the bottom surface of the base 59s, and when the ball seat 59 is mounted on the support surface 55s, it comes into surface contact with the support surface 55s and is supported on the support surface. The base portion 59s is formed to extend from the standing portion 59t in the direction behind the ball receiving seats 59a and 59b, and expands the area of the supported surface to reduce stress and causes the standing portion 59t to lie down. The ball seat 59 is stably supported against a moment acting in the direction. The locking projection 59h is formed in a rectangular column shape at the center of the flat supported surface and projecting downward from the supported surface.
[0064]
On the other hand, on the support surface 55s, two rectangular hole-shaped locking holes 55h are formed at symmetrical positions around the axis of the ball feeding member 54 in plan view (that is, the center line of the front and rear receiving passage lower ends). The ball receiving seat 59 is locked and held by receiving the locking projection 59h in the locking hole 55h on either the left or right side.
[0065]
In front of and behind the standing portion 59t of the ball receiving seat 59, concave ball receiving seat surfaces 59a and 59b that match the spherical surface of the game ball are formed. The front and rear ball bearing seat surfaces 59a and 59b are formed symmetrically with respect to the standing surface standing at the center in the front-rear direction, and in the positional relationship between the locking projection 59h and the locking hole 55h. Even when 59 is attached to either the left or right engaging hole 55h, when the game ball is held on the slits 55a, 55b immediately below the receiving passage, the spherical position and shape of the game ball held on standby It is formed to match.
[0066]
The ball receiving seat 59 is attached to the right or left locking hole according to whether the payout operation of the prize ball cassette 50 'is performed from the left or right payout opening, and for example, payout is performed from the right payout opening 50f. In this case, as shown in each drawing, the left side locking hole is used, the leading end portion of the locking projection 59h is engaged with the locking hole 55h, the standing portion 59t is pressed from above, and the base 59s By press-fitting until the supported surface comes into contact with the upper surface of the support portion 55s, the support surface is locked to the support portion 55s.
[0067]
In the prize ball cassette 50 'configured as described above, the game ball is stopped in a stopped state in which the payout operation is stopped and the game ball located at the lowermost end of the receiving passage is received in the receiving groove 54u of the impeller. Is supported not only by the upper edge of the slit portion but also by the ball receiving surface of the ball receiving seat 59. For example, in the stopped state shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, the game ball located at the lowermost end of the rear-row-side receiving passage 53b is received in the receiving groove 54u of the rear-row-side impeller 54b and above the rear-row-side slit portion 55b. While being supported by the edge portion, the lower left front portion of the game ball is supported by the ball receiving seat surface 59b, and in such a supported state, the game ball is held on standby until the payout operation.
[0068]
When a predetermined winning condition is established in such a standby holding state, the ball payout board B3 outputs a command signal for rotating the stepping motor 56 clockwise by the rotation angle corresponding to the winning condition, and the winning ball cassette 50 ' Based on the command signal input from the payout control board B3, the stepping motor 56 is rotated to rotate the ball feeding member 54 clockwise, and the game ball received in the receiving portion 54u is moved rightward to the right payout outlet 50f. To pay out.
[0069]
When the ball feed member 54 is rotated, the game balls received in the receiving grooves 54u of the front row side impeller 54a are rotated by the impeller 54a, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. As a result, it is pressed against the left end surface of the receiving groove 54u, and is moved away from the ball receiving seat surface 59a, with the front slit portion 55a serving as a guide rail, and its upper edge portion moved rightward. When the game ball to be moved right reaches the curved surface area that is directed downward from the flat support surface 55s and is disengaged from the receiving groove 54u, the right guide passage 50d is dropped and the right payout port 50f is awarded. It is paid out to the ball payout route 75.
[0070]
At this time, in the rear row side impeller 54b, the game balls supported by the outer peripheral edge of the impeller 54b are sandwiched between the left and right passage walls 53L and 53R and slide on the outer peripheral edge of the impeller, and the receiving groove 54u of the impeller 54b is moved upward When it is rotated to an angular position that opens toward the end, it flows down into the receiving groove 54u and is supported on the slit portion 55b behind the support surface 55s, and the lower left rear portion of the game ball is placed on the ball receiving seat surface 59b. Supported. When the impeller 54b is further rotated and pressed against the left end surface of the receiving groove 54u, the game ball moves away from the ball receiving seat surface 59b and rolls to the right on the upper edge of the slit portion 55b, and the flat support surface. When the engagement with the receiving groove 54u is released by moving from 55s to the curved surface area, the right guide passage 50d is dropped and paid out from the right payout outlet 50f to the prize ball payout path 75.
[0071]
Thereafter, in the same manner, the game balls held in standby in the front and rear receiving passages 53a and 53b are alternately received one by one in the receiving grooves 54u of the front and rear rows of impellers 53a and 53b as the ball feeding member 54 rotates. The upper edges of the front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b are moved to the right guide passage 50d according to the rotational movement of the receiving groove 54u. The guide passage 50d drops and falls from the right payout outlet 50f. It is paid out to the winning ball payout route 75.
[0072]
Therefore, according to the prize ball cassette 50 'configured as described above, the same effects as described above can be obtained. Further, the prize ball cassette 50 'of the present embodiment is configured to receive the load acting from the upper game ball when the payout operation is stopped and the standby state is distributed not only in the slit portion but also in the ball receiving seat 59. Therefore, the deformation of the upper edge of the slit portion can be reduced, and further, the load to rotate the impeller in the direction opposite to the driving direction (counterclockwise in the embodiment) does not act, so the load on the stepping motor is reduced. It can be reduced and the life can be extended. Further, in the prize ball cassette 50 'of the present embodiment, the ball receiving seat surfaces 59a, 59b are formed symmetrically in the front-rear direction and the locking holes 55h are formed symmetrically in the left-right direction. It is possible to apply to either the operation mode of paying out the prize ball cassette from the right payout port or the operation mode of paying out from the left payout port by simply selecting whether to attach to the locking hole 55h.
[0073]
In the embodiment, the locking protrusion 59h and the locking hole 55h are both formed in a rectangular shape, and the locking protrusion 59h is press-fitted to lock the ball receiving seat 59. A locking claw that is elastically deformed in the front-rear direction may be configured to be engaged with and fixed to the locking hole 55h, and when a ball feeding direction is prescribed in advance for a predetermined lot, means such as adhesion or fusion You may fix using. In addition, by making the cross-sectional shape of both of them a directional shape such as a trapezoid instead of a rectangle, or by providing a pin and a pin hole that can be engaged with each other in a predetermined direction, the ball seating surface is It can also be configured so as to be always mounted toward the receiving passage side, thereby preventing erroneous installation by an assembly worker.
[0074]
Next, a prize ball cassette according to a third embodiment of the ball dispensing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The overall structure of the prize ball cassette 60 according to the present embodiment is outlined. The support structure corresponding to the ball receiving seat 59 in the prize ball cassette 50 ′ according to the second embodiment described above is used as a ball receiving portion in the ball receiving base 55. This is integrally formed on the upper surface of 55X, and illustrates a preferred configuration when the payout direction of the game ball is defined in one direction in advance. Here, FIG. 11 is a plan sectional view of the ball receiving portion 65X (a portion corresponding to the ball receiving portion 55X in the first and second embodiments) as viewed from above, and FIG. 12 is taken along arrows XII-XII in FIG. FIG.
[0075]
The prize ball cassette 60 of the present embodiment has a stepping motor 56 and a ball feeding member, except that the configuration of the upper surface of the ball receiving portion and the left payout path (50c, 50e, etc.) are reduced in size. 54 and the like are almost the same as the above-described prize ball cassette 50, and can be easily understood by those skilled in the art. The configuration of the portion 65X and the operation of the prize ball cassette 60 will be mainly described.
[0076]
The ball receiving portion 65X of the prize ball cassette 60 protrudes forward from a flange portion 65F that divides the inside of the prize ball cassette 60 forward and backward, and is formed in an outer saddle shape. An upper support surface 65s is formed directly above the shaft portion 54j. The right region is formed flat and is smoothly connected to the inner guide wall extending downward through the cylindrical surface. Two rows of front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b that extend linearly in the left-right direction are formed on the support surface 65s, and front and rear impellers 54a and 54b are disposed so as to protrude upward from the front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b.
[0077]
The front wall of the ball receiving portion 65X is formed with a fitting shaft hole 55i that receives the bearing portion 51i formed in the front case and fits to the outer peripheral surface, and positions the front end side of the ball receiving portion 65X. The support shaft portion 54 i at the tip of the ball feeding member 54 is inserted and supported by the bearing portion 51 i of the front case 51.
[0078]
In the flange portion 65F, a rear passage wall 55d that is inclined similar to the above is formed on the right outer peripheral portion of the ball receiving portion 65X, and a front passage wall 51d that is symmetrical to the front passage wall 51d is formed in the front case that faces the flange portion 65F. A guide passage 50d that is sandwiched between the wall surfaces and connected to the lower discharge outlet 50f is formed in a semi-arched shape in a rear view and a tapered shape in a side view. The flange portion 65F has a photo flange portion that extends rearward and is similar to the above-described one. A substrate base, a stepping motor, and the like are sequentially assembled, the coupling 56k and the fitting hole 54k are connected, and the ball feeding member 54 is connected. It is rotatably arranged around the shaft portion 54j.
[0079]
In the prize ball cassette 60 schematically configured as described above, a ball receiving seat portion 69 is integrally formed on the upper surface of the ball receiving portion 65X. The ball seat portion 69 is formed to project upward from the flat support surface 65s in the region on the left side of the portion directly above the shaft portion 54j, and is aligned with the spherical surface of the game ball between the front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b. Concave ball receiving seat surfaces 69a and 69b are formed. The ball receiving seats 69a and 69b are formed so as to match the spherical position and shape of the waiting game ball when the game ball is held on the slits 55a and 55b immediately below the receiving passages 53a and 53b. Has been. In addition, between the front and rear ball receiving seat surfaces 69a and 69b, cut portions 69s are formed for making the thickness of the ball receiving seat portion uniform and improving the moldability.
[0080]
In the prize ball cassette 60 configured as described above, in a stopped state in which the game ball located at the lowermost end of the receiving passage before or after the payout operation is received in the receiving groove 54u of the impeller, It is supported not only on the upper edge of the slit portion but also on the ball receiving surface of the ball receiving seat 69. For example, in the stop state shown in FIG. 12, the game ball located at the lowermost end of the rear-row-side receiving passage 53b is received in the receiving groove 54u of the rear-row-side impeller 54b and supported by the upper edge of the rear-row-side slit portion 55b. At the same time, the lower left front portion of the game ball is supported by the ball receiving seat surface 69b, and in this supported state, the game ball is held on standby until the payout operation.
[0081]
When a predetermined winning condition is satisfied and a command signal corresponding to the winning condition is input from the ball payout board B3, the winning ball cassette 60 is set to the stepping motor 56 (on the basis of the command signal input from the ball payout control board B3. (Not shown) is rotated to rotate the ball feeding member 54 clockwise, and the game ball received in the receiving portion 54u is moved rightward to be paid out from the payout outlet 50f.
[0082]
When the ball feeding member 54 is rotated, the game ball received in the receiving groove 54u of the rear row side impeller 54b is pressed against the left end surface of the receiving groove 54u as the impeller 54b rotates, and is separated from the ball receiving seat surface 69b. The rear slit portion 55b is used as a guide rail and the upper edge portion is moved rightward. When the game ball to be moved to the right reaches the curved surface region that is directed downward from the flat support surface 55s and is disengaged from the receiving groove 54u, the guide ball 50d falls and the prize ball payout path is discharged from the payout outlet 50f. 75 is paid out.
[0083]
At this time, in the impeller 54a on the front row side, the game balls supported by the outer peripheral edge portion of the impeller 54a slide on the outer peripheral edge portion of the impeller 54a, and are rotated to an angular position where the receiving groove 54u of the impeller 54a opens upward. Sometimes, it flows down to the receiving groove 54u and is supported on the slit portion 55a in front of the support surface 65s, and the lower right rear portion of the game ball is supported on the ball receiving seat surface 69a. When the impeller 54a is further rotated and pressed against the left end face of the receiving groove 54u, the game ball moves away from the ball receiving seat surface 69a and rolls to the right on the upper edge of the slit portion 55a, and the flat support surface. When the engagement with the receiving groove 54u is released by moving from 65s to the curved surface area downward, the guide passage 50d is dropped and paid out to the prize ball payout path 75 from the payout outlet 50f.
[0084]
Thereafter, in the same manner, the game balls held in standby in the front and rear receiving passages 53a and 53b are alternately received one by one in the receiving grooves 54u of the front and rear rows of impellers 53a and 53b as the ball feeding member 54 rotates. Supported by the receiving seat surfaces 69a and 69b, the upper edges of the front and rear slit portions 55a and 55b are moved to the guide passage 50d according to the rotational movement of the receiving groove 54u. It is paid out to the route 75.
[0085]
Therefore, according to the prize ball cassette 60 configured as described above, the same effect as the prize ball cassette 50 described above can be obtained. In addition, the prize ball cassette 60 of the present embodiment is configured to receive the load applied from the upper game ball when the payout operation is stopped and is in a standby state in the guide rail portion and the ball receiving seat portion 69. Therefore, the deformation of the upper edge of the guide rail can be reduced, and further, the load to rotate the impeller in the direction opposite to the driving direction (counterclockwise in the embodiment) does not act, so the load on the stepping motor is reduced. It can be reduced and the life can be extended. Further, in the prize ball cassette 60 of the present embodiment, since the ball receiving seat portion 69 is formed integrally with the ball receiving portion 65X, the placement position accuracy of the ball receiving seat surfaces 69a and 69b can be improved, The number of parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced.
[0086]
In the prize ball cassette in which the ball payout direction is defined in advance as in the present embodiment and the ball receiving seat portion is formed integrally with the support surface, the support surface 65X is the moving direction of the game ball (right in the embodiment). It may be a flat surface with a slight upward gradient in the direction. According to such a configuration, it is possible to stably support the game ball on the ball receiving seat surface in the standby state without substantially increasing the load torque of the stepping motor and without increasing the load fluctuation range during the payout operation. Thus, the moment in the driving direction acting on the stepping motor can be reduced and the holding torque can be reduced. Moreover, although the example which formed the ball | bowl receiving seat surface inside the front-and-back slit part was shown in the present Example, you may provide in the outer side of a slit part, or you may provide hemispherical in the both sides which pinch | interpose a slit part.
[0087]
In the above first to third embodiments, as examples of prize ball cassettes for paying out game balls, an example in which an impeller having a receiving groove for receiving a game ball is rotationally driven in a vertical plane has been disclosed. May rotate in another angle plane, and the ball receiving portion for receiving the game ball may not have a groove shape. For example, a game in which an impeller having a plurality of receiving holes having a diameter slightly larger than a game ball on the same radius is rotationally driven in a horizontal plane, and a flat support surface is provided below the impeller to be received in the receiving hole. By supporting the ball and rotating the impeller in the forward and reverse directions, the game ball received in the receiving hole is moved left and right with an arc trajectory, and dropped into the guide passage provided on the right side or the left side to be paid out. Is also possible.
[0088]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the present invention pays out a game ball from a payout opening by operating a motor based on a predetermined command signal and receiving and moving the game ball located at the lower end of the receiving passage into the ball receiving portion. In the ball dispensing device, a ball receiving member that supports the game ball received by the ball receiving portion is provided below the receiving passage, and the game ball received by the ball receiving portion is the support portion of the game ball in the ball receiving member. A ball payout device is formed by forming it flat in the direction of movement in accordance with the displacement of the ball receiving portion. For this reason, the game ball received by the receiving portion is supported by the ball receiving member, and the load of the game ball continuously connected above the ball does not act on the ball feeding member. In addition, since the support portion of the game ball in the ball receiving member is formed flat in the moving direction of the game ball, an excessive torque is not required during the payout operation, and a small motor can be used. Therefore, according to the payout device of this configuration, the entire device can be reduced in size, and a ball payout device with reduced power consumption and cost can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko machine shown as an example of a bullet ball game machine equipped with a ball payout device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a rear view showing the back side of the pachinko machine.
3 is a side sectional view showing the internal structure of the ball dispensing device according to the first embodiment and the second embodiment of the ball dispensing device according to the present invention (cross-sectional view taken along the arrow III-III in FIG. 4). It is.
4 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrows IV-IV in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the ball dispensing device in an exploded state.
6 is an exploded perspective view seen from the direction of arrow VI in FIG.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view showing a ball receiving seat used in the ball dispensing device of the second embodiment.
8 is an explanatory view in which the positional relationship between the front and rear row impellers is added to the left and right of the sectional view as viewed in the direction of arrows VIII-VIII in FIG.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view (a cross-sectional view taken along arrows IX-IX in FIG. 3) showing a moving state of the game ball at the time of payout operation.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along arrow XX in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional plan view of the ball receiving portion of the ball dispensing apparatus of the third embodiment as viewed from above.
12 is a side sectional view taken along arrow XII-XII in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
B1 Main board
B2 Launcher control board
B3 Ball delivery control board
B4 lamp / voice control board
B5 Power supply board
PA game area
PM Pachinko machine
1 outer frame
2 Front frame
3a, 3b Hinge mechanism
4 Locking device
5 Glass door
6 Upper ball dish
7 Lower ball dish
8 Operation handle
9 Hitting ball launcher
12,13 Fixed hinge member
20 Game board
21 Decorative plate
24 guide rails (24a outer rail, 24b inner rail)
25a, 25b windmill
26 prizes
(26a general prizes, 26b start prizes, 26c attackers)
27 Out mouth
28 Symbol display device
30 Back set board
31 Base frame (31w window)
32,33 Back set panel swing hinge member
34 Closing lever
41 Tank members
42 alignment rod member (42a deflection outlet)
43 prize ball waiting passage
50 prize ball cassette (first embodiment)
50 'prize ball cassette (second embodiment)
(50a, 50b receiving port, 50c, 50d guide passage, 50e, 50f payout port)
51 Front case
(51a base part, 51b positioning part, 51c, 51d front passage wall, 51e positioning groove, 51i bearing part, 51L, 51R outer guide wall, 51p support pin)
52 Rear case (52a biasing arm)
53 Receiving passage member
(53a, 53b receiving passage, 53L, 53R passage wall, 53s protruding piece, 53w partition wall)
54 Ball feed member
(54a, 54b impeller, 54c photo flange, 54i support shaft, 54j shaft, 54k fitting hole, 54u receiving groove)
55 Ball base
(55F flange part, 55X ball receiving part, 55Y photo case part, 55a, 55b slit part, 55c, 55d rear passage wall, 55e engagement protrusion, 55h engagement hole, 55i fitting shaft hole, 55p support pin, 55s support Surface, 55L, 55R inner guide wall,)
56 Stepping motor (56k coupling)
57 Circuit board (57c Photosensor, 57d connector)
58 Substrate base
59 ball seat (59a, 59b ball seat surface, 59h locking projection, 59s base, 59t standing part)
60 prize ball cassette (third embodiment)
65 ball holder base
(65F flange, 65X ball receiver, 65s support surface)
69 (69a, 69b ball bearing surface, 69s cut section)
71 Sensor holder
72 Sphere detection sensor (72a detection hole)
75 prize ball payout route

Claims (3)

遊技球を上下方向に一列に整列した状態で下方に導くように形成され、下端が開口した受容通路と、
前記受容通路の下端開口の下側に位置するとともに前記下端開口と上下に対向して設けられ、前記受容通路を通って前記下端開口から送り出される遊技球を支持する支持面を有した球受けベース部材と、
前記支持面の左右方向端部に繋がって下方に延びて形成され、前記支持面上を左右端部まで転動移動した遊技球を下方の払出口に流下させる案内通路と、
前記球受けベース部材の前記支持面の下側に回転軸が前後に延びて位置して配設され、前記回転軸上に設けられた円盤状のインペラの外周部が前記支持面に左右に延びて形成されたスリット部を通って上方に突出するように配設された球送り部材と、
前記球送り部材を前記回転軸を中心として回転駆動するモータとを備え、
前記インペラに、外周端面から内周側に凹んで一個の遊技球を受容可能なＵ字状の受容溝が形成されており、
前記受容溝を有する前記インペラの外周部が前記スリット部を通って前記支持面から上方に突出した状態で、前記受容溝の底部が前記支持面より下方に位置するように前記球受けベース部材に対して前記球送り部材が設けられ、
前記受容通路の前記下端開口部を形成する左右の壁部は前記支持面に対して上方に離れて位置して前記支持面上を遊技球が左右方向に転動移動するのを阻害しないように設定され、前記下端開口部を形成する前後の壁部は前記左右の壁部より下方に突出して前記支持面上に載置された遊技球が前後に移動するのを阻止して左右に転動移動させるガイドを行うように設定されており、
前記支持面は平坦且つ水平に延びて形成されており、
所定の指令信号に基づいて前記モータを作動させて前記球送り部材を前記回転軸を中心として回転駆動させて、前記受容溝を有する前記インペラの外周部が前記スリット部を通って前記支持面から上方に突出する位置に回転移動させ、前記受容通路の前記下端開口から送り出される遊技球を前記受容溝内に入り込ませるとともに前記支持面上に載置させ、この遊技球を前記受容溝により左右から保持するとともに前記前後の壁部により前後から保持して前記支持面上において保持し、
さらに、前記球送り部材を回転させて、前記受容溝内に入り込んだ前記遊技球を前記インペラの回転に応じて前記支持面上を転動させて前記支持面の左右側端部から前記案内通路内に流入させて前記払出口に流下させるように構成されており、
前記球受けベース部材の前記支持面上に、前記受容通路の前記下端開口から送り出された遊技球を受け止めて左右いずれか一方の方向にのみ前記遊技球を転動移動させることができるように他方の方向への転動移動を阻止する球受け座部材が設けられていることを特徴とする球払出装置。A receiving passage that is formed to guide the game balls downward in a state of being aligned in a line in the vertical direction, and has a lower end opened;
A ball receiving base that is located below the lower end opening of the receiving passage and is vertically opposed to the lower end opening, and has a support surface that supports a game ball delivered from the lower end opening through the receiving passage. Members,
A guide passage that is formed to extend downward and connected to the left and right end portions of the support surface, and to flow down the game ball that has rolled on the support surface to the left and right end portions to the lower payout opening;
A rotating shaft extends in the front-rear direction and is disposed below the support surface of the ball receiving base member, and an outer periphery of a disc-shaped impeller provided on the rotating shaft extends to the left and right on the support surface. A ball feeding member disposed so as to protrude upward through the slit portion formed by
A motor that rotationally drives the ball feeding member about the rotation axis;
The impeller is formed with a U-shaped receiving groove that is recessed from the outer peripheral end surface to the inner peripheral side and can receive one game ball,
In the state where the outer peripheral portion of the impeller having the receiving groove protrudes upward from the support surface through the slit portion, the ball receiving base member is positioned so that the bottom portion of the receiving groove is positioned below the support surface. On the other hand, the ball feeding member is provided,
The left and right wall portions forming the lower end opening of the receiving passage are positioned above the support surface so as not to prevent the game ball from rolling and moving in the left-right direction on the support surface. The front and rear wall portions that form the lower end opening protrude downward from the left and right wall portions and prevent the game balls placed on the support surface from moving back and forth to roll left and right. Set to guide the move,
The support surface is formed to extend flat and horizontally,
Based on a predetermined command signal, the motor is actuated to rotationally drive the ball feeding member about the rotation axis, and the outer peripheral portion of the impeller having the receiving groove passes through the slit portion from the support surface. Rotating and moving to a position protruding upward, the game ball sent out from the lower end opening of the receiving passage enters the receiving groove and is placed on the support surface, and the gaming ball is moved from the left and right by the receiving groove. Holding and holding on the support surface by holding from the front and back by the front and rear walls,
Further, by rotating the ball feeding member, the game ball that has entered the receiving groove rolls on the support surface in accordance with the rotation of the impeller, and from the left and right ends of the support surface, the guide path Configured to flow into and flow down to the outlet .
The other side of the ball receiving base member is configured to receive the game ball sent out from the lower end opening of the receiving passage so that the game ball can roll and move only in one of the left and right directions. A ball payout device characterized in that a ball receiving seat member for preventing rolling movement in the direction is provided . 前記インペラの外周部に複数の前記受容溝が周方向に等間隔で形成されていることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の球払出装置。  The ball dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the receiving grooves are formed at equal intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer peripheral portion of the impeller. 前記球受け座部材が前記支持面上に着脱自在に設けられ、前記球受け部材座の前記支持面上への取付方向を逆転させて前記遊技球を転動移動させることができる方向を左右逆転させることができることを特徴とする請求項１もしくは２に記載の球払出装置。The ball receiving seat member is detachably provided on the support surface, and the direction in which the game ball can roll and move by reversing the mounting direction of the ball receiving member seat on the support surface is reversed left and right. The ball payout device according to claim 1 , wherein the ball payout device can be used.

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