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Thread: Simple ball recycler idea

  1. #1
    Fever Hunter topper's Avatar
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    Default Simple ball recycler idea

    Just got my first Nishijin Type C machine. I've been spoiled by my single shot that almost never discharges balls out the back unless you're emptying the machine.

    I'd like to wall mount this Type C, but with as often as you have to retrieve balls from the back I don't see how that would be practical.

    Looking at the back of the machine, it seems like it would be super simple to rig it so the balls are always routed out the front. I figure I can't be the first one to think of this. So thought I'd ask here first.

    Winning balls just need to roll right and losing balls need to roll left and they'd all come out into the lower front foul return tray.

    It would require cutting some holes in the foul chute and building some small custom chutes.

    Has anyone done something like that? Can you think of any reason not to do this? I know it would irreparably damage the foul return chute, but it's not as if these machines are super rare right?

    15589817001941.jpg15589817104542.jpg15589816895120.jpg

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    Blind Shooter Mr.Lazo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    I recently acquired a Nishijin B that’d been modified to return balls.
    http://www.pachitalk.com/forums/show...o-return-balls
    It’s a pretty simple mod, and would be applicable to a C, as well.

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    Fever Hunter topper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    Yeah, something like that is what I was thinking of.

    I like the spring. That looks a lot simpler than building a new chute out of plastic or aluminum. Can you tell how it's held in place where it meets the overflow chute?

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    Blind Shooter Mr.Lazo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    Looks like it’s just glued in place at both ends.
    The hole in the side of the overflow chute that it feeds into looks pretty precise, so it doesn’t need much.
    302C04B7-AF2E-4B6D-A11C-875517C38D8B.jpeg

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    Fever Hunter topper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    Ok, I'm not exactly proud of this but it gets the job done. I took a scrap of some decorative metal screen sort of thing we had laying around, bent it to a z shape, trimmed it to fit, and secured it with some tape.

    I drilled a 1/2" hole in the ball return chute and voila, missed balls now come out to the front lower tray. It isn't pretty, but it gets the job done and is reversible (except for the hole). If nothing else it's a good prototype and when it fails I'll put together something better.

    I hope to do something similar to the winning ball chute. But for now this means a lot less shuttling balls from the back to the top of the machine. You still have to manually move them from the bottom tray to the top hopper, but that's fine. It'll make this much more usable when wall mounted.

    BTW, in the photo below, I have the chute open so you can see it. But when in use this is closed so balls don't bounce out the back. The little metal screen is angled slightly so ball will always roll to the front and out the hole.

    15595111795230.jpg
    Last edited by topper; 06-02-2019 at 05:43 PM.

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  9. #6
    Blind Shooter Mr.Lazo's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    Looks sound!

    My only advice would be that the metal screen should be angled to channel balls down a trough to the hole. As it looks, it might allow enough room for balls to get hung-up next to the hole. Or cut a wider hole so balls can pass through towards the front or back — in for a penny, in for a pound!

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    Fever Hunter topper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    It's angled as you suggest. Just slightly, but enough. I think making it out of solid sheet metal or aluminum and holding it in place with a couple screws would be better and look more in keeping with the rest of the machine. If done well it'd be hard to tell it wasn't part of the original machine design.

    To do the same to the winning ball side I'm going to have to make a chute or find a tube or spring (like yours Mr.Lazo) that'll fit. I'm considering making my own spring/chute. We'll see.
    Last edited by topper; 06-02-2019 at 07:35 PM.

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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    Here's what I rigged up for the winning ball return. I made the "chute" by wrapping some baling wire I had around a sharpie. Then it was just a matter of bending and stretching it to a shape that the pachinko balls pass through without getting stuck. I used a 1/2" pvc plumbing fitting (painted green) to attach the spring/chute to the return tray.

    I think it blends in with the rest of the machine nicely. Now all balls are returned to the front of the machine. I can wall mount this with no worries.

    15600483761576.jpg15600483761927.jpg15600483762048.jpg15600484092609.jpg
    Last edited by topper; 06-08-2019 at 10:58 PM.

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    Kungishi CarlW's Avatar
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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    What you end up with is a "semi cyclic" machine, pachinko balls returned to the bottom tray.

    Pachinko balls returned to the shooting tray is full cyclic.

    I like your handy work!

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    Default Re: Simple ball recycler idea

    Ok, well it's been bothering me that the foul/gutter ball return side was pretty slapdash. The metal didn't look right and it was held in place with tape. After a couple tries, I got it just right. Looks almost like it could have come from the factory like this! Plus now it's easy to remove and replace this "ramp" when I need to empty the machine.

    15609854914392.jpg
    15609854599270.jpg
    A few of the trials:
    15609854914673.jpg
    Looks right at home with the winning ball recycler:
    15609854599691.jpg
    Last edited by topper; 06-19-2019 at 07:20 PM.

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