Ball feed system for 3 pachinkos

[compirate]

Here are some drawings I've done (shows what you can accomplish when your bored!) for my system to feed 3 pachinkos and 3 ball loaners.
Some of this design is gleened from Japanese Patents.

I've tried to keep it simple (minimal tools), yet reflect what the parlors do.

The upper trough and individual trough feeders will be 2B stainless (22 guage). Thats the dull silvery stuff. I think the parlors used mirror finish stainless, but that's really expensive. The feeders in the parlors are plastic, but I don't have an injection machine so metal will suffice.

The upper hopper is 1/4 ply. It's small so the weight up high is kept to a minimum. The main supply hopper will be on the floor (on casters so it can be rolled out if need be).

All the angles of the troughs are only 2 degrees (gathered from the patents). It takes very little for the balls to move well.

The machine feeders I haven't figured out what to make the blocks out of yet. A hard wood or cast them out of resin (if one piece, use the 'lost wax' process for the ball path).

The tubes from the trough feeders to the machine/ball loaners are springs, 1/2" ID. Might have to make those too.

I realize some of the pics are 'busy'.

Let me know what you think

http://gibisans.com/BallFeedSystem/

[MrGneiss]

Oooook, after staring for awhile I finally got how it all works....cool!

[fhagar]

Looks like you've put a lot of thought into this already. Some great ideas. I'm hoping to build something to handle just 2 machines. I've found on the single ones I've put together that gravity feeding the balls requires a large tube or they jam up. I use 2 inch diameter or larger.
Look forward to seeing a prototype!

[arbycoffee]

ComP. I checked the draft of the two machine one I got and the draft is less than one degree. I think just enough for the balls to roll.

[JVCJr26]

Thanks Compirate! That looks great. Keep us up to date on the progress. I would love to do something like this for my room.

[mr. fixx]

Thanks Compirate!
Indeed, keep us informed, and plenty of piccy's!
Would help for us who have LOTS of machines...

Fixx

[tornadoclaw]

Any progress on the ball feed system?

[compirate]

Any progress on the ball feed system?

Can't find the time! Just home long enough to open a few packages, play a few rounds then back on the road. Lots of time to do design work though!