JPH1076051A - Ball shooting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set the distance which a ball moves to a predetermined distance by controlling the number of balls on the same rail to become one. SOLUTION: This device includes a control part 7, a current controlling part 9, a coil driving part 4, driving coils 2a, 3a, a yoke 5, a rail 6, a ball locking part 32, a ball rejecting part 30, a ball supply part, a wall 31, and a detecting part 13. If an output from the detecting part 13 is obtained within a predetermined time after electricity has been transmitted to the driving coils 2a, 3a, the electricity transmitted to the driving coils 2a, 3a is interrupted by the next output from the detecting part 13, and the supply of the balls 1 from the ball supply part 33 is inhibited.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a ball launching device used for a pachinko machine or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a type in which a ball is fired on a pachinko board surface by a firing device using a drive coil has been proposed. And a ball supply unit for supplying a ball to be fired is provided upstream of the rail provided in this launching device,
Each time a ball is fired from the launch device, the next ball to be fired is supplied.

[0003]

The problem with the above-mentioned conventional example is that some abnormalities may occur and a plurality of balls may remain on the rail. In such a case, the distance between the ball to be fired and the attraction magnetic field generated by the drive coil is shorter than the predetermined distance, so that the energization time to the drive coil is short, and the planned firing distance cannot be obtained. Further, in the case of such a launching device, after the launching operation of the ball, a plurality of balls are continuously present on the rail in order to supply the next launching ball unconditionally. In such a case, the flight distance of the shot ball is different from the expected flight distance as described above.

[0004] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method in which the number of balls on the same rail is one.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ball launching device that automatically returns a flight distance of a ball to a predetermined distance.

[0005]

In order to achieve this object, a sphere launching apparatus according to the present invention comprises an operation section, a current control section connected to the operation section, and a coil connected to the current control section. A driving unit, a driving coil connected to the coil driving unit, a yoke to which the driving coil is mounted and having a gap, a rail provided through the gap of the yoke, and a bottom surface of the rail. A ball locking portion provided at the upstream portion thereof while being flat, a ball rejection portion provided at the downstream end of the rail, a ball supply portion for supplying a ball from one of the upstream side surfaces of the rail, A wall provided on the other side surface of the rail, and a detection unit for detecting that a ball fired at a predetermined position in the gap of the yoke has arrived, and after energizing the drive coil, a predetermined time has elapsed. Within the detector If the output is obtained, as well as to cut off the power supply to the drive coil in the next output from the detection unit, in which a structure for inhibiting the supply of balls from the ball supply portion.

Accordingly, when a plurality of balls remain on the rail, the supply of the next ball is prohibited, so that the number of balls on the rail is reduced to one, and the flight distance of the shot ball is as expected. It can be automatically returned to.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation unit, a current control unit connected to the operation unit,
A coil drive unit connected to the current control unit, a drive coil connected to the coil drive unit, a yoke to which the drive coil is mounted and having a gap, and a yoke having a gap provided through the gap of the yoke are provided. A rail, a bottom surface of the rail which is flat, a ball locking portion provided at an upstream portion thereof, a ball exclusion portion provided at a downstream end of the rail, and a sphere from one side upstream of the rail. And a wall provided on the other side of the rail,
A detection unit for detecting that a ball fired at a predetermined position in the gap of the yoke has arrived, and an output from the detection unit is obtained within a predetermined time after the drive coil is energized. In the case, the power supply to the drive coil is cut off by the next output from the detection unit, and the ball launching device is configured to prohibit the supply of the ball from the ball supply unit,
For example, when two spheres remain on the rail, the first sphere at a position close to the detection unit first obtains a magnetic force and fires when the drive coil is energized, and the first sphere is placed on the side surface of the rail. It collides with the provided wall and is reflected. If the drive coil is still energized at this point, the first ball is attracted toward the center of the magnetic field. At this time, the second ball locked by the ball locking portion is also attracted toward the center of the magnetic field.
The second spheres collide and repel each other, and the first sphere fired earlier is eliminated from the sphere elimination section provided at the distal end of the rail downstream. On the other hand, the second ball is returned to the ball locking portion and stops. After this operation, the supply of the next ball is prohibited, so that the ball on the rail becomes one second ball and the ball is in a normal state. It can be restored.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the ball launching apparatus according to the first aspect, the output of the detecting section is output after recognizing that the output of the detecting section continuously rises for a predetermined time. Even if noise or the like enters the part, the duration of the noise is extremely short compared to the change due to the entry of the sphere, so that it is possible to distinguish between the noise and the arrival of the sphere.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the distance between the wall provided on the other side surface of the rail and the center of the magnetic field generated by the drive coil is defined as the distance between the center of the magnetic field and the distance to the ball locking portion. 2. The ball launching device according to claim 1, wherein the ball is not more than half, and when the first ball hit earlier hits the wall and returns to the center of the magnetic field again, the ball is shot later. The first ball can be eliminated from the ball exclusion section by colliding with the second ball to be fired.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the distance from the center of the magnetic field to the center of the residual sphere is shorter than the distance from the center of the magnetic field to the center of the sphere locked by the locking portion. The sphere launching device according to claim 3, wherein the sphere remaining on the rail is set at a different distance from the center of the magnetic field to launch the remaining sphere first and eliminate the remaining sphere.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a ball such as a pachinko ball made of a magnetic material. Reference numerals 2 and 3 denote first and second electromagnets for generating magnetic force, which have first and second drive coils (hereinafter referred to as coils) 2a and 3a, respectively, and these first and second coils 2a , 3a are controlled via the coil drive unit 4. Reference numeral 5 denotes a yoke made of a magnetic core material having a high magnetic permeability, and forms a magnetic path of the first and second electromagnets 2 and 3. The magnetic pole 2b of the first and second electromagnets 2 and 3 is different from the south pole and the magnetic pole 3b is different from the north pole. Reference numeral 6 denotes a rail made of a non-magnetic material, which is provided through a gap between the opposed magnetic poles 2b and 3b so as to strike the ball 1 in a predetermined direction. Further, a ball exclusion unit 3 is provided in the firing direction of the rail 6, that is, at the downstream end.
0, and a ball locking portion 32 is provided upstream thereof. Reference numeral 7 denotes an operation unit operated by the player. The rotation angle is transmitted to the current control unit 9 by a mechanically linked angle sensor (7b in FIG. 6). , The value of the current supplied to the second coils 2a and 3a is increased.

That is, when the player (operator) rotates the angle sensor 7b by a predetermined angle via the operation unit 7 in such a configuration, a signal corresponding to the rotation angle is transmitted to the current control unit 9, and From the coil driving unit 4 based on the signal,
The amount of power to the second coils 2a and 3a is determined. Due to this energization, a magnetic force is generated in the first and second electromagnets 2 and 3, whereby a magnetic flux flows from the magnetic pole 3 b of the second electromagnet 3 to the magnetic pole 2 b of the first electromagnet 2. A magnetic field is generated as shown in FIG. As a result, a magnetic force acts on the spheres 1 supplied one by one from the sphere supply unit 33 (FIG. 7) to the rail 6 as shown by the b line in FIG. As a result, the ball 1 travels on the rail 6 between the magnetic poles 2b and 3b, and the ball 1 moves to the magnetic poles 2b and 3b.
The point B in FIG. 3 is detected by the detector 13 at a point in time when the current (or voltage) supplied to the first and second coils 2a and 3a obtained when approaching the center of the point b decreases. The signal is transmitted from the detection unit 13 to the coil driving unit 4 and the first and second signals are transmitted.
Of the coils 2a and 3a are cut off. Then, the ball 1 travels on the rail 6 to the left (downstream) in FIG.
Will be fired. First ball 1 is on magnetic pole 2 on rail 6
The ball 1 is drawn downward, and the ball 1 is attracted downward, so that the launching device of the present invention is configured so that the magnetic force of the magnetic pole 3b provided below is increased. When the current flowing through the second coils 2a and 3a is cut, the rails 6 are released and vibrate, and the vibrations are transmitted to the ball 1 traveling on the rails 6. However,
In the present embodiment, since the rail 6 is formed only up to the vicinity of the ball launch direction of the second coil 3a, the ball 1 immediately goes away from the rail 6 after the current supply to the ball 1 is cut off. Therefore, the influence of the vibration of the rail 6 is eliminated, and the dispersion of the firing distance is reduced. 2c is the ball speed,
d indicates a current flowing through the first and second coils 2a and 3a. FIG. 3 shows the waveform of the drive current flowing through the drive coils 2a and 3a, and shows the respective waveforms in the absence of sphere and in the sphere launch state as viewed from the magnetic field center point 15. When the ball 1 approaches the magnetic poles 2b and 3b in the ball firing state, the magnetic permeability between them increases, and as a result, the magnetic flux tends to increase, so that a back electromotive force is generated, thereby reducing the driving current. In the absence of the ball, the driving current is supplied until a predetermined time (point A). In the ball firing state, the point B at which the driving current decreases as described above is detected by the detection unit 13, and this signal is output. From the detection unit 13 to the coil driving unit 4 to cut off the current flowing through the first and second coils 2a and 3a.

FIG. 4 shows the driving current waveforms when the ball 1 is locked on the ordinary rail 6 and when the two balls 1 are locked on the rail 6 as an example. Thus, the time from when the drive current is supplied to when the ball 1 enters is detected is clearly different. Therefore, in order to determine the time difference between the different inrush times, a determination value H is provided by a determination time setting unit (35 in FIG. 6) connected to the coil driving unit 4. Ball 1 by the supply unit 33
Prohibit the supply of Note that the determination value H must be set to a time length shorter than the shortest time length when the driving current is large in a normal firing operation, that is, when the inrush time is short.

As described above, since the ball supply section 33 is controlled by the preset judgment value H, when a plurality of balls 1 are locked on the rail 6, the next supply of the balls 1 is prohibited. Therefore, the number of the balls 1 on the rail 6 is one, and the flying distance of the fired ball 1 can be automatically returned to a predetermined one.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the output of the detecting unit 13 is output after recognizing that the output rises for a predetermined time, so that the sphere 1 shown in FIG.
As can be seen from the reversal and enlargement of the drive current change obtained when passing through the gap, when the ball 1 enters the magnetic field center point 15, a change level that rises for a certain time is always observed. This is stored in the reference value setting unit 13A of FIG.
Thus, even if there is a change level in a time shorter than the time criterion G, it is regarded as noise, and the sphere 1
Is not considered to be the change level at launch. Therefore, even if noise enters the detection unit 13, the output of the detection unit 13 is not erroneously output, and the drive current is not interrupted by the noise.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a ball launching apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 6, the handle 7a constituting the operation unit 7 includes, in addition to the angle sensor 7b, a touch sensor 7c that operates when the handle 7a is touched with a hand, and a start switch 7d that operates when the handle 7a is rotated.

A current control unit 9 constituting the coil driving unit 4 is connected to the angle sensor 7b, and the output is supplied to the coil driving unit 4.

That is, in this embodiment, a pulse current is supplied to the first and second coils 2a and 3a as shown in FIG. 3, but the larger the amount of rotation of the handle 7a, the larger the pulse current. Conversely, the pulse width is made smaller.

Since the initial velocity of the sphere 1 to be fired is increased as the current is increased, the sphere 1 which blocks the magnetic field is reduced by the magnetic poles 2b and 2b.
It quickly reaches the direction of the magnetic field center point 15 of 3b.

Reference numeral 35 in FIG. 6 denotes a determination time setting section for setting the determination value H. The determination value H set here is compared with the time until a current change appearing after the coil drive unit 4 supplies power to the first and second coils 2a and 3a. Then, the power supply to the first and second coils 2a and 3a is interrupted by the next output from the controller, and the supply of the ball 1 from the ball supply unit 33 is prohibited.

Further, since the mounting portion of the rail 6 is formed above the bobbin 3c constituting the second coil 3a, it has a function of suppressing the vibration of the rail 6.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, the wall 31 provided on the other side of the rail 6 and the center point 15 of the magnetic field generated by the drive coils 2a and 3a are provided. Is less than half the distance K between the magnetic field center point 15 and the ball locking portion 32, so that the first ball 1 fired first collides with the wall 31. Then, when it returns to the center point 15 of the magnetic field again, it is possible to collide with the second ball 1a which is fired later.

In addition, a distance L from the center point 15 of the magnetic field to the center of the residual sphere 1a is shorter than a distance M from the center point 15 of the magnetic field to the center of the sphere 1 locked by the locking portion 32. Since the two spheres have a distance to the distance from the center point 15 of the magnetic field, they can be prevented from being simultaneously fired.

[0024]

As described above, the ball launching apparatus according to the present invention comprises an operating section, a current control section connected to the operating section, a coil driving section connected to the current controlling section, and a coil driving section. A drive coil connected to the yoke, a yoke having a gap in which the drive coil is mounted, a rail penetrating through the gap of the yoke, and a flat bottom surface of the rail, and a rail provided at an upstream portion thereof. A ball locking portion, a ball rejection portion provided at the downstream end of the rail, a ball supply portion for supplying a ball from one of the upstream side surfaces of the rail, and a ball supply portion provided on the other side surface of the rail. A wall, and a detecting unit provided in the coil driving unit that detects that a ball fired at a predetermined position in the gap of the yoke has arrived, and after energizing the driving coil, within a predetermined time. The output from the detector is If was, in which block the energization of the drive coils at the output from the next of the detector, and configured to prohibit the supply of the sphere by the spherical supply.

With this configuration, for example, when two balls remain on the rail, the first ball at a position close to the detection unit first obtains a magnetic force and fires when the drive coil is energized. Ball hits a wall provided on the side surface of the rail and is reflected. If the drive coil is still energized at this point, the first ball is attracted toward the center of the magnetic field. At this time, since the second ball locked by the ball locking portion is also attracted toward the center of the magnetic field, the first ball and the second ball collide at substantially the center position of the magnetic field. Then, the first balls that have been fired in opposition to each other are eliminated from the ball exclusion section provided at the tip of the rail. On the other hand, the second ball is returned to the ball locking portion and stops. After this operation, the supply of the next ball is prohibited, so that the ball on the rail is the second ball 1
As a result, the flying distance of the shot ball can be automatically returned to a predetermined one.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a ball launching device showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform chart showing a magnetic field and the like.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram showing a normal drive current.

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram showing a drive current when two balls are locked on the rail.

FIG. 5 is an internal waveform diagram of the detection unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the entire electric circuit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the rail.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 ball 2a first drive coil 3a second drive coil 4 coil drive unit 5 yoke 6 rail 7 operation unit 9 current control unit 13 detection unit 30 ball rejection unit 31 wall 32 ball lock unit 33 ball supply unit

Claims (4)

[Claims] An operation unit, a current control unit connected to the operation unit, a coil drive unit connected to the current control unit, a drive coil connected to the coil drive unit, and the drive coil A yoke that is mounted and has a gap, a rail that is provided through the gap of the yoke, a bottom surface of the rail that is flat, and a ball locking portion that is provided at an upstream portion thereof, A ball rejection unit provided at the downstream end, a ball supply unit for supplying a ball from one side surface upstream of the rail, a wall provided on the other side surface of the rail, and a predetermined position in a gap of the yoke. A detection unit for detecting that the ball to be fired has reached, and after energizing the drive coil, if an output from the detection unit is obtained within a predetermined time, the detection unit Next output to drive coil And cut off the current
A ball launching device for inhibiting the supply of a ball from the ball supply unit. 2. The ball launching device according to claim 1, wherein the output of the detection unit is output after recognizing that the output rises continuously for a predetermined time. 3. A wall provided on the other side of the rail,
The ball launching device according to claim 1, wherein a distance between the center of the magnetic field generated by the drive coil and a distance between the center of the magnetic field and the ball locking portion is equal to or less than half. 4. The sphere according to claim 3, wherein the distance from the center of the magnetic field to the center of the residual sphere is shorter than the distance from the center of the magnetic field to the center of the sphere locked by the locking portion. Launcher.