Electrostatic build up on metal balls due to sliding contact with insulating materials, and how to reduce it with carbon-fiber reinforced plastics-electrostatic discharge in pachinko parlors

In a pachinko (a vertical pinball game) parlor, a few million steel balls are circulated on and through various parts made from different materials, which causes electrostatic build up, dissipation and discharge. We have developed two carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics that dissipated static electricity gradually in order to reduce ESD malfunctions there. Their effects in pachinko systems are investigated in terms of equipment malfunction, and electric shock to the players caused by electrostatic discharge from the steel balls.