JP2022033358A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an enclosed type game machine which allows a player or the like who is not accustomed to the game machine to confirm an approximate game method and which can create atmosphere where a hall is full of energy.

SOLUTION: A demonstration game is started if a start condition set in advance is satisfied and is terminated if a termination condition set in advance is satisfied. Through the demonstration game, a player or the like who is not accustomed to a game machine can confirm an approximate game method, and atmosphere where a hall is full of energy is created. During the demonstration game, game information including a demonstration game signal is outputted from an external terminal board 133. A hall computer determines an on-state of the demonstration game signal and thereby does not count the game information during the demonstration game. As the result, no influence is given to the business data of the hall. Since the demonstration game is performed in a standby state, the demonstration game does not become a hindrance against the will of the hall side intending to maintain business operation rate of game machines.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 108

COPYRIGHT: (C)2022,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention accommodates a predetermined number of game balls in a gaming machine, launches the predetermined number of game balls into a game area by a launching device to play a game, collects the game balls that have finished the game, and collects the predetermined number of game balls. It is related to a game machine that circulates and uses the game ball of.

There is an enclosed ball-type gaming machine that allows a player to play a game without touching the gaming ball.
Patent Document 1 describes a trial striking mode, an explanatory mode A, and an explanatory mode B. The trial hit mode is a trial hit, and you can check the contents of the variable effect by the trial hit. In the explanation mode A, the operator performs a predetermined operation such as using his / her hand to win a prize in the game ball, inputs the effect number, and executes the variable effect. In the explanation mode B, the gaming machine is equipped with an external controller. It is described that it is connected and the variable effect is executed by the operation.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-223752

A player who is not accustomed to a gaming machine may look at the state of the game and the production from behind the player who is actually playing, become interested in the production, and confirm the approximate game method. However, some players may find it unpleasant to see their game from behind. In addition, when there are few pachinko players in the amusement park, the number of pachinko machines waiting for customers increases, giving the visiting pachinko and pachinko machines a quiet impression, and it is possible that they will not be connected to the game there.

In view of such circumstances, the present invention is to provide a gaming machine in which a player can easily grasp the characteristics of the gaming machine and can reduce the impression that the playing field is quiet.

Means 1:
A game board with a game area where the game ball rolls,
A launching device that launches the game ball toward the game area in response to an operation on the hitting handle is provided.
The game board is provided with a winning opening and a game ball collection opening.
The launching device launches the gaming ball into the gaming area, and the launched gaming ball is collected from the winning opening or the gaming ball collecting opening after rolling in the gaming area, and is conveyed to the launching device. As a result, in the enclosed ball-type gaming machine in which the gaming ball is closedly circulated to play the game.
A main control board that controls the game and outputs a prize ball command at least based on the acceptance of the game ball into the winning opening.
A ball information control board that controls the number of balls held based on the prize ball command is provided.
The sphere information control board is
A non-gaming state detecting means for detecting a non-gaming state in which a game is not performed,
A demonstration game in which the game ball is launched into the game area by automatically operating the launcher without operating the ball striking handle on condition that the non-game state is detected. Means and
A demo game signal output means for outputting a demo game signal to an external terminal board, indicating that the demo game is in progress while the demo game is being performed.
An enclosed ball-type gaming machine characterized by being equipped with.

According to the present invention, the player can enjoy watching the game machine automatically playing without worrying about the line of sight from behind the player as in the past, so that the chances of becoming more interested are increased and the actual game is played. Can guide you to. In addition, it is possible to provide an environment in which a player can comfortably play a game for a player who feels uncomfortable to be able to see the state of the game from behind.
Further, the gaming machine in which the demo game is set to be executable in advance starts the demo game under a predetermined condition, so that a lively atmosphere can be created.

It is a front view which shows the pachinko gaming machine which is one Embodiment of the gaming machine which concerns on this invention, and the settlement machine attached to the pachinko gaming machine. It is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine shown by removing the door frame. It is a front perspective view which shows the main body frame which constitutes a pachinko game machine. It is a rear perspective view which shows the main body frame and the game board which make up a pachinko game machine. It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching apparatus, a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit, and a sphere assembly part. It is a right side view which shows the upper launching apparatus, a ball supply path member, and a ball lifting apparatus. It is a perspective view by the line of sight looking up at the upper part of the game board from the front lower part of the game board showing the upper launch device and the launch area. It is a front view which shows the upper launching apparatus (hammer hitting position for launching). It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching apparatus as seen from the front left side. It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching apparatus as seen from the rear left. It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching apparatus viewed from the rear left side with the ball feed unit cover removed. It is a figure which shows the open state of the upper launching apparatus in the pachinko gaming machine which shows with the door frame removed. It is the right side figure which shows the vertical cross section of the pachinko gaming machine which shows with the door frame removed. It is a figure which shows the part of the cross-sectional view view along AA of FIG. 2 schematicly. It is a perspective view which showed the state which the joint part with the base plate in the upper launching apparatus, and the protruding part of a panel holder in a game board are in contact with each other. It is a perspective view which shows the upper launching apparatus as seen from the front right side. It is a front view which shows the upper launching apparatus (hammer waiting position for launching). It is a right side view which shows the upper launching apparatus (ball feed solenoid non-excitation, ball feed member holding position and return ball blocking position). It is sectional drawing of the upper launching apparatus (ball feed solenoid non-excitation, ball feed member hold position and return ball stop position) shown by breaking in the arrow BB line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the ball feed member, the ball feed shaft, and the ball feed sheet metal in a ball feed device diagonally from the rear. It is a right side view which shows the upper launching apparatus (ball feed solenoid excitation, ball feed member supply position and permissible position). It is sectional drawing of the upper launching apparatus (ball feed solenoid excitation, ball feed member supply position and permissible position) shown by breaking in the arrow BB line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which cut | cut the main body frame in the vertical direction as shown to show the upper launching apparatus, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting apparatus. It is a time chart which shows the drive timing of a ball feed solenoid and a firing solenoid. It is a front perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit. It is a rear perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between the upper firing unit and the ball outlet opening / closing unit in a main body frame. It is an external perspective view explaining a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating the magnetic ball discharge portion cover separated and turned inside out. It is a top view of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a rear view of a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the base plate of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit separately into the deformed sphere discharge unit and the magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the path which a deformed sphere and a magnetic sphere are discharged in a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. It is a figure explaining the situation that a magnetic sphere is separated from a circulation path and discharged. It is a figure explaining the state which the magnetic sphere reached the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface. It is a front left perspective view of a ball collecting part and a ball lifting device. It is a front view of the ball collecting part and the ball lifting device. It is a front view which shows the state which the ball polishing cartridge is removed in the ball gathering part. It is a rear perspective view which shows the state which the case of a ball collecting part and the cover of a ball lifting device are removed. It is an enlarged rear perspective view of the sphere assembly part in FIG. 40. FIG. 41 is a further enlarged view. It is a top view which removed the case of a sphere assembly part. It is a rear perspective view which shows the state which the upper gearbox and the lower gearbox are removed. It is a right side view which shows the state which the cover of the ball lifting apparatus was removed. It is an enlarged view of (A) in FIG. 45. It is a figure which shows the state which disassembled a screw. It is a perspective view which shows the upper part of the ball lifting apparatus. It is a figure which shows the fitted / non-fitting state of a screw and a fitting member. It is a left side view which shows the state which the ball polishing cartridge is attached. It is a perspective view explaining the mechanism which fixes a ball polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the state in the middle of mounting a ball polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the ball polishing cloth of a game ball and a ball polishing cartridge is pressed against each other. It is a left side view which shows the state which the ball polishing cloth of a game ball and a ball polishing cartridge is pressed against each other. FIG. 54 is a left side view showing a state in which the left side cover of the ball polishing cartridge is removed. FIG. 55 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the ball polishing cartridge is attached. FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which only the right outer side cover is removed for explanation. FIG. 58 is an upper perspective view showing a state in which the right side cover is opened. It is a perspective view of a ball polishing cartridge. It is a front view of the ball polishing cartridge. It is a side view of a ball polishing cartridge. FIG. 62 is a side view showing a state in which the left side cover is removed. It is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge mounting part. It is a perspective view which shows the relationship between the ball polishing cartridge and the ball polishing cartridge mounting part. It is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge of FIG. 39. It is a side view which shows the 2nd Embodiment in the lifting slope member. It is a perspective view which shows the 2nd Embodiment in the lifting slope member. It is a top view which shows the state which removed the upper gearbox in a lifting apparatus. It is a rear view which shows the state which removed the cover of a lifting part in a lifting apparatus. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which the inserted game balls are less than a predetermined number when the game balls are sealed in the enclosed ball type game machine (pachinko game machine). It is a schematic diagram which shows the state which the inserted game ball is a predetermined number when the game ball is sealed in the enclosed ball type game machine (pachinko game machine). It is a schematic diagram which shows the behavior of the game ball when the inserted game ball exceeds a predetermined number when the game ball is enclosed in the enclosed ball type game machine (pachinko game machine). It is a perspective view which shows the state which the game ball introduction member in a game panel protrudes. It is a perspective view which shows the state which stored the game ball introduction member in a game panel. It is a block diagram which shows the main part in embodiment of the main control board deployed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine). It is a block diagram which shows the main part of the ball information control board deployed in the enclosed ball type gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine). It is a block diagram which shows each element connected to the settlement machine. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of power-on of the main control side which the main control MPU of a main control board executes. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation of the process at the time of power-on of the main control side of FIG. 79. It is a flowchart which shows the timer interrupt process of the main control side executed by the main control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the process at the time of power-on of the ball information control side executed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation of the process at the time of power-on of the ball information control side of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the continuation of the process at the time of power-on of the ball information payout control side following FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the ball information control power-off processing executed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the timer interrupt processing on the sphere information control side. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball lending process performed by a ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the hitting possibility determination processing performed by a ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the number of possession count processing performed by a ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball feed / firing drive processing performed by a ball information control MPU. It is a continuation of the flowchart of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the launch ball detection process performed by the ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the possession number subtraction processing performed by a ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the lifting drive processing performed by a ball information control MPU. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the ball jam notification processing performed by a ball information control MPU. It is a figure which showed the cushion and the follow-up member provided on the back surface side of a door frame, and the cushion receiving plate provided in the upper launching apparatus. The perspective view which shows the main body frame substantially from the front side (hereinafter, Example 2). Front view of the game board. A perspective view showing the main body frame and the game board. (A) is a perspective view of the upper guide member viewed from below, (b) is a perspective view of the lower guide member viewed from above, and (c) is a perspective view of the slider. (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 97, and (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 97. Top view outlined to show the operation. (A) is a plan view outlined to explain the mechanism, and (b) is an enlarged plan view of the main part. Perspective view (partially disassembled) showing the connection point between the ball lifting device and the upper launching device. A perspective view showing a state after the operation of removing the game board from the main body frame is started. The perspective view which shows the state which the game board is attached to the main body frame. (A), (b), and (c) are cross-sectional views showing the communication state between the ball sending gutter and the lifting communication gutter. It is a transition diagram of the demo game state. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the demo game condition determination process. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the non-gaming state detection processing. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the demo game processing. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the end processing. It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of the example which used RTC for the non-gaming state detection processing. This is an example of a screen explaining the production during the demo game.

[Overview of gaming machines]
Hereinafter, the enclosed ball type gaming machine (pachinko gaming machine) will be taken up, and Examples 1 and 2 of the present invention will be described.
The present invention can be applied to gaming machines other than the enclosed ball-type gaming machines.
[Example 1]
The pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment can be installed in the current island equipment in the hall (pachinko gaming ground), and the game content is the same as that of the well-known pachinko gaming machine. However, it is an enclosed ball-type gaming machine that does not use the ball supply mechanism or ball discharge mechanism of the island equipment. That is, in the enclosed ball-type pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment, a predetermined number of gaming balls formed of a non-magnetic material (for example, stainless steel) are accommodated in the gaming machine, and the predetermined number of gaming balls are played by a launching device. A game is played using a game ball pre-enclosed in the game machine so that the game ball is fired into an area to play a game, the game ball that has finished the game is collected, guided to the launcher, and the game ball is circulated and used. It is supposed to be done. Then, the game ball can be launched corresponding to the number of game balls (data of the number of possessed balls) based on the data of the number of loaned balls input from the storage medium such as a card via the settlement system or the like, and the game ball is launched. Then, the data of the number of possessed balls is subtracted according to the number of the fired game balls.

In addition, when the launched game ball wins a prize in the winning opening in the game area and a prize ball (game ball) is generated, the actual game ball is not paid out, and the number of prize balls is included in the data of the number of balls held. Is added. Further, when the data of the number of balls held becomes "0", the game ball cannot be launched. In this state, if a numerical value (number of balls rented) is added to the data of the number of balls held based on the data of the amount of money stored in the storage medium such as a card or the data of the stored balls, the game ball can be launched again. It becomes. Further, the launched game ball is collected in the game machine, sent to the launch position again, and circulates in the game machine. That is, the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to the present embodiment is an enclosed ball-type gaming machine that collects the gaming balls launched in the gaming area and supplies them to the game again.

First, the main body frame 2 (FIG. 3) and the door frame 3 (FIG. 1) constituting the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The pachinko gaming machine 1 of FIG. 1 is provided with a payment machine 4 as an external device.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 is configured in a rectangular frame shape and is pivotally supported by an outer frame 1a (FIG. 12) installed in an island facility on the hall side and the outer frame 1a so as to be openable and closable, and a gaming board 5 (FIG. 2). It is configured to include a main body frame 2 to which the main body frame 2 can be mounted, and a door frame 3 pivotally supported by the main body frame 2 so as to be openable and closable.
A decorative cover 6 is attached to the front surface of the outer frame 1a at a position below the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3, and the front surface of the outer frame 1a is completely closed by the door frame 3 and the decorative cover 6. It has become. Further, the outer frame 1a, the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3 are arranged so that the upper ends are substantially aligned, and the main body frame 2 can be rotated by the hinge 7 (FIG. 3) provided on the left side of the outer frame 1a. It is pivotally supported, and the main body frame 2 is opened by moving the right side of the main body frame 2 to the front side with respect to the outer frame 1a. The door frame 3 is rotatably attached to the main body frame 2 with a pin, and is opened by moving the right side of the door frame 3 to the front side.

[Door frame 3]
The door frame 3 has a game window 9 in which the player can visually recognize the game area 8 in which the game ball of the game board 5 is driven, and the door frame 3 is arranged below the game window 9 and in the game area 8 based on the operation of the player. It has a hitting ball handle 10 for hitting a game ball. A transparent plate 11 is attached to the game window 9 so as to visually cover the front surface (game area 8) of the game board 5 mounted on the main body frame 2 side in a state where the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2. Has been done. The hitting handle 10 drives the firing solenoid 13 (see FIG. 5) of the hitting ball launching device (referred to as the upper launching device 12) attached to the upper left side of the main body frame 2 based on the rotation operation of the player. The game ball is driven into the game area 8. The ball striking handle 10 includes a micro switch (not shown) that turns ON when the ball is rotated, a launch stop switch that turns the micro switch OFF when the micro switch is pressed while the micro switch is ON, and a ball striking handle 10. It is provided with a touch switch that detects the contact of the player with the hitting handle 10 through the conductive plating applied to the outer peripheral surface of the ball. The upper launcher 12 will be described later.

The door frame 3 and the main body frame 2 open the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 2 by inserting a key into a key device arranged in the lower right corner of the door frame 3 and rotating it in one direction. Can be done.

[Touch panel unit 14]
The door frame 3 is provided with a touch panel portion 14 formed horizontally in a lower portion of the game window 9 (a portion corresponding to an upper plate of a well-known pachinko gaming machine that is a non-encapsulated ball type). The touch panel unit 14 displays the remaining power, the number of balls held by the gaming machine, and the number of end balls.

Here, the remaining number is a value corresponding to the amount of money stored in the card used in the checkout machine 4, and the player's number of balls is lent to the player by lending the ball. It is the sum of the number of balls and the number of prize balls won by the player as a result of playing the game.

On the touch panel unit 14, a ball lending button as a ball lending command input means that can be operated by the player and a settlement button as a settlement command input means that can be operated by the player are displayed. The ball lending button is for instructing the lending of a ball for playing a game. In addition, the settlement button is for ending the pachinko game and instructing the settlement.

Further, the touch panel unit 14 further displays an end ball number display button as an end ball number display command input means that can be operated by the player. Here, the number of end balls is the number of surplus balls when the number of balls possessed by the player is divided by the number of balls corresponding to one special prize at the time of prize exchange. When the touch panel unit 14 instructs the display of the number of end balls by the button for displaying the number of end balls, the touch panel unit 14 can also display a message such as "Do you want to hit only the end balls?". A dialogue question format message is displayed together with the end ball number display button, and a YES button and a NO button are displayed for the player to input a selection for answering either yes or no.

[Main body frame 2]
The main body frame 2 has a box shape having a frame-shaped fitting frame 15 and a peripheral wall portion 16 so as to fit within the rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 1a (FIGS. 3 and 4). The fitting frame 15 has a rectangular fitting opening 17 for fitting and accommodating the game board 5 on the front surface side thereof. An overhanging wall 18 overhanging inward is integrally formed at the back of the accommodation opening 17 (FIGS. 3 and 12). The back is closed with a back cover. When the door frame 3 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the front surface (game area 8) of the game board 5 housed in the main body frame 2 can be seen through the game window 9 of the door frame 3.

A deformed sphere / magnetic ball discharge unit accommodating portion 19 is formed below the accommodating opening 17, and a deformed sphere / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 is arranged in the deformed sphere / magnetic ball discharge unit accommodating portion 19. .. Then, as will be described later, the discharge ball receiving box 234 for accommodating the deformed ball or the magnetic ball having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball discharged from the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 is a gaming machine. It can be attached and detached from the front.

Further, FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the main body frame 2 cut in the vertical direction so that the upper launching device, the ball supply path member, and the ball lifting device are shown. As seen in FIGS. 3, 5, 6, and 23, the main body frame 2 is provided with an upper launching device 12, a ball collecting unit 21, a ball lifting device 22, and a ball supply path member 24. The ball collecting portion 21 is a portion that receives a game ball that has passed through the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20 and guides it to the base of the ball lifting device 22 (FIG. 5), and includes a ball polishing device and the like.

The hitting ball launching device 29 for launching the gaming ball toward the gaming area 8 is arranged on one side portion (left side portion) of the front portion and the upper portion of the main body frame 2 (FIGS. 3 and 23). Further, the ball feeding device 28 for sending the game balls arranged and stored in the guidance passage (ball feeding guiding gutter 69 described later, see FIG. 11) one by one to the launching position of the hitting ball launching device 29 is the hitting ball launching device 29. It is arranged so as to overlap in the front-rear direction behind the above (FIGS. 6 and 23). In the present embodiment, the ball striking device 29 and the ball feeding device 28 form an upper launching device 12 as an upper launching unit.

In this embodiment, the ball lifting device 22 uses a screw 25 driven by a ball lifting motor 150 (see FIG. 24), and the game balls that have reached the base are separated from each other by the rotation of the screws 25. It is opened and transported from below to the upper part of the main body frame 2. The ball lifting device 22 is attached to the rear surface of the main body frame 2 behind the upper launching device 12, and the upper end portion of the ball lifting device 22 is arranged above the ball feeding device 28 (FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 23).

Between the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper part of the upper launching device 12, a ball is supplied in the front-rear direction for feeding the game ball lifted by the ball lifting device 22 from above to the ball feeding device 28. A path member 24 is provided (FIGS. 3, 4, 23). Further, in the present embodiment, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end portion of the ball lifting device 22 and is gently inclined downward toward the front, so that the lifted game ball is moved from above to the front. It is composed of a ball sending gutter 23 to be sent out, and a lifting gutter 65 formed at the rear upper part of the upper launching device 12, connected to the ball sending gutter 23, and having a gentle downward slope toward the front. The game ball lifted by the ball lifting device 22 is sent out to the ball delivery gutter 23. The ball delivery gutter 23 of the ball supply path member 24 is provided with a launch standby ball detection switch 26 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball flowing down the ball delivery gutter 23 (see FIG. 6).

[Upper launcher]
FIG. 8 is a front view showing the upper launching device, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the upper launching device as viewed from the front left side. FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the upper launcher as viewed from the rear left, and FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the upper launcher as viewed from the rear left with the ball feed unit cover removed.

Further, FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an open state of the upper launching device in the gaming machine shown with the door frame removed, and FIG. 13 is a right view showing a vertical cross section of the gaming machine shown with the door frame removed. FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing a part of a cross-sectional perspective view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which the joint portion of the upper launcher with the base plate and the protruding portion of the panel holder in the game board are in contact with each other.

The upper launching device 12 receives a metal plate-shaped base plate 39 for attaching and fixing the upper launching device 12 to the main body frame 2 and a game ball arriving from the ball supply path member 24, and launches the hit ball launching device 29. A ball feeding device 28 that reliably feeds a game ball one by one by a ball feeding solenoid 31 (FIG. 11) and a ball feeding member 32 to a ball feeding position of a hammer 30 (FIG. 8), and launching a game ball toward a game area 8. It is provided with a ball launching device 29 (see FIGS. 8 to 11).

The ball feeding device 28 receives a game ball arriving from the ball supply path member 24 (FIG. 6), and one game ball is thrown by the ball feeding member 32 to the launching position of the launching hammer 30 (FIG. 8) of the hitting ball launching device 29. It is a device for surely sending out one by one.

As shown in FIG. 9, the hitting ball launching device 29 includes a launching hammer 30, a launching solenoid 13, a rail member 33, a launching stopper 34, a returning stopper 35, a launching ball confirmation switch 36, an upper launching device hinge 37, and a launching port. Has 38. These members are attached to a base plate 39 (a metal plate in this embodiment) as a substrate. The launch port 38 is formed so as to face the tip end portion of the launch hammer 30, and the rail member 33 is attached to this portion. The rail member 33 is a member that the rail portion 332 holds one game ball sent out to the launch position (ball striking position) by the ball feed member 32. The game ball launched by the launching hammer 30 is launched from the launch port 38 into the game area 8.

The launch ball confirmation switch 36 is arranged with respect to the rail portion 332 of the rail member 33, detects the presence or absence of a game ball driven by the launch hammer 30, and does not detect the game ball by the launch ball confirmation switch 36. By switching, it is detected that one game ball has been fired by the firing hammer 30.

The base plate 39 is attached to the main body frame 2 so as to be openable and closable by a hinge 37 for the upper launcher in the vertical direction arranged on the front left side of the base plate 39 in order to move the upper launcher 12. The base plate 39 can open the base plate 39 toward the front with the hinge 37 for the upper launcher as an axis (FIGS. 9 and 12).

The arrangement position of the hinge 37 for the upper launcher is when the game board 5 is attached to and detached from the main body frame 2 with respect to the hinge 7 which rotatably connects the main body frame 2 and the door frame 3. The upper launcher 12 is in a position where the game board 5 can be opened to an angle that does not interfere with the insertion (for example, 120 degrees).

As shown in FIG. 5, the circulation path of the game ball includes the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20, the ball collecting unit 21, the ball lifting device 22, the ball supply path member 24, the upper launching device 12, and the game area 8. It goes through. The game ball launched from the upper launch device 12 into the launch area 40 (FIG. 7) of the game area 8 flows down the game area from above to below, and passes through the winning opening 41 or the out opening 42 to discharge the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20. Return to.

[Game board]
The game board 5 is mounted on the fitting frame 15 of the main body frame 2. In this embodiment, the game board 5 has a structure in which a transparent panel plate 44 is attached to a panel holder 43, a front component 45 is attached to the front surface thereof, and the transparent panel plate 44 is fixed (FIG. 12). The game board 5 does not correspond to the conventional inner rail, and the upper part of the inner peripheral surface of the front component 45 is the game ball running surface 46 (FIG. 7).

The electrical connection of the game board 5 to the main body frame 2 is made by a drawer connector. Drawer connectors are provided on the game board 5 and the main body frame 2, respectively. By fitting the game board 5 into the main body frame 2, the drawer connector on the game board side is inserted into the drawer connector on the main body frame side, and electricity is obtained. Can be connected. This makes it possible to perform electrical communication between the game board 5 and the main body frame 2.

A notch 47 (FIG. 12) is formed in the upper left corner of the game board 5 according to the form of the upper launcher 12. The notch 47 reaches a part of the transparent panel plate 44 of the game area 8 from the front component 45. The launch port 38 of the upper launch device 12 faces the portion where the transparent panel plate 44 is cut out, and as shown in FIG. 7, the vicinity of the launch port 38 along the game ball running surface 46 above the launch port 38. The game area 8 of the above is the launch area 40. Therefore, the game ball launched by the launching hammer 30 of the upper launcher 12 is guided to the game ball traveling surface 46 of the front component 45 in the launch area 40.

In the notch 47, the notch of the panel holder 43 is smaller than the notch of the front component member, and a part of the panel holder 43 is a protruding portion 48 protruding inward of the notch 47 when viewed from the front. (Figs. 12 and 15). A fixture 49 is attached to the base plate 39 of the upper launcher 12 so as to penetrate in the front-rear direction, and the tip of the fixture 49 is attached to the overhanging wall 18 of the main body frame 2 when the upper launcher 12 is closed. It is detachably attached to the screw receiving member 50 (FIGS. 13, 14, and 15). The fixing tool 49 has a screw at the tip and has a relatively large head, so that the fixing tool 49 can be attached and detached without using a tool (using a simple member such as a coin). Also good). The screw receiving member 50 has, for example, a structure in which a nut is welded to a metal flat plate, and is fixed to the overhanging wall 18 with screws or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15, when the fixture 49 is attached to the screw receiving member 50 through the upper launching device 12, the game board is fixed to the main body frame 2 by the base plate 39. At this time, the contact portion 39a (FIG. 13) of the base plate 39 abuts on the protrusion 48 protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5, and presses the protrusion 48 toward the main body frame 2 to fix it. do.

As a result, the positional relationship between the launch port 38 of the upper launch device 12 and the game area 8 is fixed without play, and there is a step or the like that becomes an obstacle when the game ball runs between the launch port 38 and the game area 8. Does not occur. Further, if the fixture 49 is removed from the screw receiving member 50, the base plate 39 can be opened toward the front centering on the hinge 37 for the upper launcher, and when the game board 5 is fitted into the fitting frame 15 of the main body frame 2. Does not get in the way. Further, maintenance work such as ball shavings in the ball feeding device 28 and the hitting ball launching device 29 can be easily performed.

As a method of fixing the upper launcher, a cushion may be placed on the back side of the door frame, and the game board and the upper launcher may be pressed and fixed when the door frame is closed. This will be described below.
A cushion 51 is provided at a position on the back surface side of the door frame 3 in contact with the upper launching device 12, and by closing the door frame 3, the cushion 51 presses the cushion receiving plate 52 arranged on the upper launching device 12 against the main body frame. Fix it on the 2 side. At this time, the plate 39 abuts on the protruding portion 48 (see FIG. 12) protruding from the notch 47 of the game board 5, and presses the protruding portion 48 toward the main body frame 2 to fix the plate 39. As a result, the positional relationship between the launch port 38 of the upper launch device 12 and the game area 8 is determined to be constant without play. Further, even if vibration occurs due to the launching operation of the launching hammer 30, the positional relationship between the launching port 38 and the game area 8 is fixedly fixed by pressing with the cushion 51.

As described above, by adopting the fixing method using a cushion instead of the screw type, the game board 5 can be easily attached to the main body frame 2. The details will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 96, the back surface of the door frame 3 and the upper launching device 12 are connected by a following member 500 (a spring in this embodiment). When the door frame 3 is opened when the game board is replaced due to the installation of a new platform or the like, the upper launcher 12 connected to the follower member 500 is pulled by the follower member 500 and rotates so as to follow the door frame 3. do. As a result, since the upper launching device 12 moves from the same surface of the game board 5, it is possible to take a large space for fitting the game board 5 into the main body frame 2, and the game board can be easily fitted. be able to. In addition, the possibility of damage due to collision between the game board 5 and the launching device can be reduced as much as possible.

Further, even if the upper launching device 12 follows and moves when the door frame 3 is opened by the following member 500, if the cushion 51 is arranged on the back surface of the door frame 3, the door frame 3 has the momentum of following movement. Since it does not collide with the door frame 3, damage to the door frame 3 and the following member 500 can be prevented.

In the present embodiment, the following member 500 is a spring, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the upper launching device 12 may be moved to follow the door frame 3. For example, various methods such as elastic rubber (rubber band, etc.), string-shaped member, engagement pulling member, and the like can be selected.

In the game area 8 of the present embodiment, a large number of obstacle nails (not shown), various winning openings such as winning openings, and the like are provided, and a predetermined number of prize balls are given according to the winning of various winning openings. It has become like. Since this embodiment is an enclosed ball-type gaming machine, "1" is subtracted from the data on the number of balls held according to the hitting of one gaming ball, while the number of winning balls according to the winning of various winning openings. Is added to the data of the number of balls held, and the number of balls held corresponding to this is displayed on the touch panel unit 14.

In addition, since it is an enclosed ball-type pachinko game machine, prize balls are not paid out, and the number of balls released, the number of balls entered, the number of difference balls, the number of balls held, etc. are not the actual number of game balls, but are numerical values on the data. .. That is, the number of game balls actually used is limited to a predetermined number (for example, 50 or 75) that is circulated and used, and the number of possessed balls detects, for example, the game balls fired in the game area 8. From the numerical values such as the number of fired balls counted in the game, the number of collected balls counted by detecting the game balls fired and collected in the game area 8, the number of prize balls when winning, the number of balls rented from the hall side, etc. The number of balls entered, the number of balls released, the number of difference balls, and the number of balls held can be obtained.

That is, unless there is a problem such as opening the door frame 3 and the game ball going out, the number of fired balls = the number of collected balls. Then, the number of balls entered = the number of collected balls = the number of launched balls, the number of balls released = the number of prize balls (integrated value) = the number of balls entered-the number of balls rented (the number of replayed balls) + the number of balls held, and the number of balls held = the number of balls rented. Number of balls (or number of replayed balls) + number of balls released-number of balls entered, number of balls released-number of balls entered-number of difference balls, number of balls held = number of balls rented (or number of balls replayed) + number of difference balls Will be. In this way, the game by the pachinko gaming machine 1 is completely performed as a numerical value on the data, and there is no error due to spilling the gaming ball or leaving the gaming ball on the lower plate or the upper plate. , It becomes possible to manage reliably in integer units. In the structure of the upper launcher 12, which will be described later, basically no foul ball is generated.

Further, in the above embodiment, the front component 45, the panel holder, and the transparent panel plate 44 are composed of separate members, but these are integrated or integrally molded by, for example, bonding to form one member. You can also do it. In this way, when the front component 45, the panel holder 43, and the like are integrally formed on the transparent panel plate 44, the front component 45, the panel holder 43, and the like have the front component 45 and the panel holder 43 because the notch 47 is provided in the game board 5. It is possible to prevent the structural weakening of these members due to the cutting of the frame structure (the four sides are connected).

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing the upper launcher as viewed from the front right side, FIG. 17 is a front view showing the upper launcher (launching hammer standby position), and FIG. 18 is a right side view showing the upper launcher. Is.

[Striking ball launcher 29]
The hitting ball launching device 29 can hit the game ball supplied from the ball feeding device 28 into the game area 8 of the game board 5 with a strength corresponding to the rotation operation of the hitting ball handle 10. The hitting ball launching device 29 includes a launching solenoid 13 attached so that the rotary drive shaft 60 projects forward on the upper rear surface of the base plate 39, and a launching hammer 30 rotatably fixed to the rotary drive shaft 60 of the launch solenoid 13. A mallet 61 fixed to the tip of the launching hammer 30, a rail member 33 attached to the front surface of the base plate 39 with a predetermined position on the movement trajectory of the mallet 61 as the launch position, and a rail member 33 at the launch position. The launching stopper 34 that regulates the rotation of the mallet 61 in the counterclockwise direction from the hitting position where the stopped game ball can be hit, and the launching hammer 30 are in the standby position (initial position) in the rotation operation. A return stopper 35, a launch ball confirmation switch 36 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball stopped at the launch position, a hinge 37 for an upper launcher, and a launch opened facing the game area 8. It is provided with a mouth 38 (see FIGS. 8, 9, 16 and 18).

Although detailed illustration is omitted, the firing solenoid 13 in the hitting ball launching device 29 is configured such that the rotation drive shaft 60 reciprocates with a strength (speed) corresponding to the rotation operation angle of the hitting ball handle 10. The launching hammer 30 of the hitting ball launching device 29 extends from the fixed portion 301 fixed to the rotary drive shaft 60 of the launch solenoid 13 and the fixed portion 301 in a gentle arc shape, and the tip thereof is at the axis of the rotary drive shaft 60. On the other hand, a stopper that faces the normal direction and extends to the opposite side of the rod portion 302 with the mallet tip 61 fixed to the tip and the fixed portion 301 with respect to the rod portion 302, and can come into contact with the stopper 34 at the time of launch. It is provided with a contact portion 303. When the stopper contact portion 303 of the firing hammer 30 comes into contact with the stopper 34 at the time of firing, rotation in the counterclockwise direction in the front view is restricted (see FIG. 8).

Further, a ball supply port 63 formed on the ball feed unit base (described later) of the ball feed device 28 is arranged directly above the rail member 33 of the ball launch device 29. The rail member 33 stops one game ball sent out from the ball supply port 63 by the ball feeding operation of the ball feeding member 32 of the ball feeding device 28 described later at the launch position.

The rail member 33 is formed by bending and molding a metal plate, and has a mounting plate portion 331 that is mounted and fixed to the base plate 39 and a rail portion 332 that is bent forward from the mounting plate portion 331. (See FIG. 8). The rail portion 332 for setting the launch position has a substantially L-shape tilted 45 degrees to the left when viewed from the front, and the left rail plate 333 forming the left side of the rail portion 332 and the right side of the rail portion 332. It is composed of a right rail plate 334 forming the above (see FIG. 8). The left rail plate 333 is formed with a through hole 335 through which the tip 61 passes during the hitting operation of the launching hammer 30 (see FIGS. 9 and 21).

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when viewed from the front, a portion extending from the center to the lower end in the vertical direction of the right side of the hitting ball launching device 29 of the upper launching device 12 is exposed and arranged so as to face the game area 8. ing. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 16, a launch port decoration member 64 is disposed on the front right side portion of the base plate 39, and the launch port decoration member 64 is attached to the base plate 39 and the ball feed unit base 67 described later. ing.

As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 16, the launch port decoration member 64 is arranged so that the right side surface portion and the lower side surface portion are exposed facing the game area 8, and therefore the right side surface portion of the launch port decoration member 64 is exposed. The face portion and the lower side surface portion are formed on the ball entry prevention wall 51 that prevents the game ball launched into the game area 8 from entering the inside of the hit ball launching device 29. The launch port 38 is formed on the ball entry prevention wall 51 on the right side surface of the launch port decorative member 64, and the ball entry prevention wall 51 surrounds the launch port 38 from substantially the same surface as the rear end surface of the game area 8. It has an arch shape that rises toward the front.

The launch port 38 is located diagonally to the upper right and upward in front view with respect to the rail portion 332, as will be understood with reference to FIGS. 8 and 16. As can be understood from FIGS. 8 and 17, the distance between the rail portion 332 (launch position) and the launch port 38 is short (about twice the diameter of the game ball P), and therefore, the launch distance is short. It is possible to reliably drive the launched game ball into the game area 8 without generating a foul ball.

The launch ball confirmation switch 36 detects the presence or absence of a game ball stopped at the launch position, and the detection of the game ball is not detected because the game ball at the launch position is driven by the launch hammer 30 and launched. By switching to, it is detected that one game ball has been fired by the firing hammer 30.

The launch ball confirmation switch 36 is composed of a transmissive photo sensor, and a light projecting section and a light receiving section are arranged so as to straddle the rail portion 332 that sets the launch position in the front-rear direction. The launch ball confirmation switch 36 is arranged with respect to the launch position by being supported by the photo bracket 361, and the photo bracket 361 is attached and fixed to the lower front surface of the base plate 39.

The hitting ball launching device 29 has a stopper cover 62 that covers the front surface of the launching stopper 34 that can regulate the rotation end of the launching hammer 30 toward the hitting position side, and a position separated from the hitting position of the launching hammer 30. It is provided with a return stopper 35 that regulates a rotating end (a rotating end in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front). The surfaces of the stoppers 34 and 35 are covered with rubber so that the impact when the firing hammer 30 comes into contact can be absorbed and the generation of noise due to the contact can be suppressed. ..

Further, in the hitting ball launching device 29, the launching solenoid 13 is driven by the ball information control unit described later with a driving strength corresponding to the rotation operation of the hitting ball handle 10, and the ball feeding device 28 is driven by the ball feeding device 28. With respect to the drive timing of the solenoid 31, the ball is driven so as to hit the ball by the drive timing described later (see FIG. 24). Specifically, in the ball feeding device 28 that supplies the game ball to the hitting ball launching device 29, when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is driven (ON), the game ball received by the ball feeding member 32 is sent to the hitting ball launching device 29, and the state thereof. When the drive of the ball feed solenoid 31 is released (OFF), the ball feed member 32 receives the game ball.

In the hitting ball launching device 29, when the hitting ball handle 10 is launched, the firing solenoid 13 is repeatedly energized and cut off at a voltage corresponding to the operation amount. Due to the excitation / non-excitation of the firing solenoid 13 due to this, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 17, the firing hammer 30 rotates from the initial position (FIG. 17) in the firing direction (counterclockwise direction) to the firing position. After launching the stopped game ball with the mallet 61 (FIG. 8), the firing operation of rotating clockwise and returning to the initial position is repeated.

[Ball feeding device 28]
Next, the ball feeding device 28 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the ball feed device 28 is mainly configured as a unit, and has a ball inlet 66 connected to the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 of the ball supply path member 24 shown in FIG. A ball feed port 63 that is connected to the gutter 65 and the lifting continuous gutter 65 and for supplying the game ball that has entered from the lifting continuous gutter 65 to the hitting ball launching device 29, and the rear is open. The unit base 67, the ball feed unit cover 68 that closes the rear end of the ball feed unit base 67 and is open at the front, the ball feed solenoid 31 disposed at the bottom of the ball feed unit base 67, and the ball feed solenoid 31. It is provided with a ball feeding member 32 that simultaneously realizes a ball feeding operation and a return ball blocking operation described later by driving the ball feeding member 32.

The transport communication gutter 65 is gently inclined downward from the rear end to the front end where the ball entrance 66 is formed. The ball feed unit base 67 is attached to the left side of the rear surface of the base plate 39, and the front end of the lifting gutter 65 is connected to the upper right side, and is connected to the front end of the lifting gutter 65 in the rear view. From the right side of the upper part to the center in the vertical direction, a gentle downward slope is applied to the left in the left-right direction, and the ball feed guide gutter 69 is bent downward in the middle, and the lower end of the ball feed guide gutter 69. Has a ball supply port 63 penetrating in the front-rear direction (see FIG. 11).

Further, on the rear surface of the ball feed unit cover 68, which is below the bent portion of the ball feed guide gutter 69 and faces the upper portion of the ball supply port 63, the game ball waiting in the ball feed guide gutter 69 is provided. A launch standby ball detection switch 70 for detecting the presence or absence is provided (see FIG. 10). The launch standby ball detection switch 70 is composed of a flat type proximity switch that detects a game ball as a metal body by changing the impedance of the detection coil of the high frequency oscillation circuit.

The ball feed solenoid 31 of the present embodiment is composed of an electromagnet, and is arranged at the lower part of the ball feed unit base 67 in a posture in which the suction portion that exerts the suction function by excitation is directed downward. Further, the ball feed member 32 is arranged below the ball feed unit base 67 adjacent to the left side of the ball feed solenoid 31. The ball feed member 32 in the present embodiment is an allowable position that allows the ball to pass through without interfering with the ball launched from the launch position by the ball striking operation of the ball launch device 29 due to the excitation / non-excitation of the ball feed solenoid 31. And, a return ball blocking portion that is movable between the game area 8 and the return ball blocking position that blocks the entry of the returning ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38 is integrally provided.

[Ball feed member 32]
Hereinafter, the ball feed member 32 will be described. FIG. 18 is a right side view showing the upper launching device 12 (the ball feed solenoid 31 is non-excited, the ball feed member 32 takes a holding position and a return ball blocking position), and FIG. 19 is an arrow view B of FIG. -It is a cross-sectional view of the upper launching apparatus 12 shown by breaking along line B (the ball feeding solenoid 31 is non-excited, the ball feeding member 32 takes a holding position and a return ball blocking position), and FIG. 20 is a ball feeding device 28. It is a perspective view which shows the ball feed member 32, the ball feed shaft, and the ball feed sheet metal diagonally from the rear.

21 is a right side view showing the upper launching device 12 (the ball feed solenoid 31 is excited, and the ball feed member takes a supply position and an allowable position), and FIG. 22 is a view BB of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the upper launching apparatus shown by breaking by a line (the ball feed solenoid 31 is excited, and the ball feed member 32 takes a supply position and an allowable position).

As shown in FIG. 20, a shaft hole 75 is formed in the middle of the ball feed member 32 in the vertical direction in the horizontal direction. A ball feed shaft 76 is inserted into the shaft hole 75 with both ends protruding, and both ends of the ball feed shaft 76 in the left-right direction are supported by the ball feed unit base 67. As a result, the ball feed member 32 is rotatably supported in the front-rear direction with the ball feed shaft 76 as the center of rotation.

Further, an arm portion 77 is stretched and formed in the middle of the ball feed member 32 toward the rear, and at the lower end of the arm portion 77, as shown in FIG. 11, an operation of extending downward of the ball feed solenoid 31 is performed. A rod portion 72 is formed, a sheet metal accommodating portion 73 is formed in the operating rod portion 72, and a ball feed sheet metal 71 made of a metal material attracted by a magnet is housed in the sheet metal accommodating portion 73.

Immediately below the sheet metal accommodating portion 73, a sheet metal locking claw 78 for projecting rearward to prevent the ball feed sheet metal 71 from falling off is formed, whereby the ball feed member 32 unexpectedly operates. It prevents the ball feed sheet metal 71 from falling off from the sheet metal accommodating portion 73.

As shown in FIG. 20, a hooking protrusion 79 is formed at the end of the operating rod portion 72, and one end of the tension spring 52 shown in FIG. 19 is hooked on the hooking protrusion 79. Further, as shown in FIG. 19, the other end of the tension spring 52 is hooked on a spring locking portion 53 formed on the lower bottom surface of the ball feed unit base 67.

Further, as shown in FIG. 20, above the shaft hole 75 of the ball feeding member 32, a roof-shaped ball feeding portion 74 is formed integrally with the ball feeding member 32 toward the lower edge of the ball feeding port 63. There is. The ball feeding portion 74 is formed in a mountain shape in which the center of the upper surface is raised upward, and is formed in a mountain shape from the center to the front, that is, the ball feeding port 63 formed at the lower end of the ball feeding guide gutter 69 in FIG. An arc convex toward the ball feed guide surface 80 inclined downward toward the lower edge and the ball feed unit cover 68 that closes the rear end of the ball feed guide gutter 69 in FIG. 19 from the center to the rear. It is provided with a ball holding surface 81, which is inclined so as to be lowered. Further, a hanging piece 82 hanging downward is formed at the rear end of the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeding portion 74.

Further, the upper portion of the ball feed member 32 in the vertical direction penetrates the ball feed unit base 67 toward the front, and as shown in FIGS. 18, 20, and 21, the rail portion 332 (launch position) in the side view. A rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 stretched toward the hitting path from the ball is formed, and a hitting ball passing port 85 opened in a rectangular shape is formed in the center of the return ball blocking portion 83.

As shown in FIGS. 16 to 17, the frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 integrally formed with the ball feeding member 32 is arranged adjacent to the launch port 38 in the launch position direction. Further, on the launch position direction side of the portion of the return ball blocking portion 83 located on the front side of the frame, a ball stopping portion 84 having a horizontal bottom portion protruding in a triangular shape toward the rail portion 332 is formed. The ball stop portion 84 is arranged in front of the ball feed portion 74 and above the launch position so as to face the ball feed portion 74.

Further, the ball feed unit cover 68 is formed with a ball guide protrusion 54 having a "dogleg" vertical cross section toward the front at a position facing the ball supply port 63 behind the ball supply port 63. A front guide surface 55 having an arc concave shape facing the ball supply port 63 is formed on the upper portion of the ball guide protrusion 54 facing forward. The lower portion of the ball guide protrusion 54 is formed to be convexly curved toward the rear, and in the space below the lower portion of the ball guide protrusion 54, the front-back direction of the ball feed member 32 centered on the ball feed shaft 76. In the rotation operation, the ball feed portion 74 can be retracted. Further, a stopper piece 56 is formed so as to project forward toward the lower end of the ball guide protrusion 54.

[Ball feeding operation and return ball blocking operation of the ball feeding member 32]
The ball feeding operation and the return ball blocking operation by the ball feeding member 32 of the ball feeding device 28 configured as described above will be described. When the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the non-excited state, it is hooked on the hooking protrusion 79 at the end of the operating rod portion 72 of the ball feed member 32 and the spring locking portion 53 formed on the lower bottom surface of the ball feed unit base 67. Due to the tensile force of the stopped tension spring 52, the lower end portion of the ball feed member 32 is pulled toward the ball feed unit base 67.

As shown in FIG. 18, in the normal state (when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the non-excited state), the ball feed member 32 has a rectangular frame-shaped return ball in a rotational posture centered on the ball feed shaft 76. The blocking portion 83 takes an inclined posture toward the rear, and the launch port 38 is immediately launched in the lateral view from the game area 8, that is, in the ball striking path from the launch position of the ball launch device 29 to the launch port 38. At the position on the position direction side, the portion located in front of the frame of the return ball blocking portion 83 is in a posture intersecting the launch port 38, and the hit ball passage port 85 with respect to the launch port 38 in the ball striking path. Is in a position shifted to the rear, and it is impossible for the ball to pass through the hitting ball passing port 85 in the hitting path. That is, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes a return ball blocking position that blocks the entry of the returning ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38 in this posture.

After the hit ball is launched, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the return ball blocking position, so that the game ball launched in the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the launch port 38, which is blocked by the return ball blocking unit 83. Since the return ball can be blocked, it is possible to prevent the return ball from deteriorating the interest in the game.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19, in the ball feeding member 32, in the normal state (when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is in the non-excited state), the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feeding portion 74 has a ball guide protrusion of the ball feeding unit cover 68. Retreating to the space below the portion 54, the hanging piece 82 formed at the lower end of the ball feed portion 74 abuts on the stopper piece 56, and in a rotational posture centered on the ball feed shaft 76 of the ball feed member 32. , It is regulated by the holding position in the ball feed operation.

In the holding position, the ball feed guide surface 80 of the ball feed portion 74 is located in front of the lower end of the front guide surface 55 of the ball guide protrusion 54, and is located on an extension line in the tangential direction of the front guide surface 55. Further, the ball stop portion 84 approaches the ball supply port 63, the game ball P1 is fitted into the gap between the lower end portion of the ball supply port 63 and the ball stop portion 84, and the game ball P1 stays. It becomes.

[Excitation of ball feed solenoid 31]
When excited by energizing the ball feed solenoid 31, the ball feed sheet metal 71 is attracted upward by the electromagnet function, and the operating rod portion 72 of the ball feed member 32 moves upward against the tensile force of the tension spring 52. The ball feed member 32 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 19 with the ball feed shaft 76 as the center of rotation, and as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, the ball feed member 32 has a supply position in the ball feed operation and the passage of the hit ball. Move to an acceptable position.

As a result, the ball stop portion 84 moves forward from the position close to the ball supply port 63, and at the same time, the ball feed portion 74 moves forward and sends out the game ball P1 remaining in the holding position to the launch position (FIG. 22). reference).

As shown in FIG. 21, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the excited state, the rectangular frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 takes an upright posture in a rotational posture centered on the ball feed shaft 76, and the game area. In the lateral view seen from 8, that is, at the position on the launching position direction side of the launching port 38 in the hitting path from the launching position of the hitting ball launching device 29 to the launching port 38, with respect to the launching port 38 in the hitting path. The hitting ball passing port 85 is in the same position, and the ball is allowed to pass through the hitting ball passing port 85 in the hitting path. That is, in this posture, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes an allowable position that allows the hit ball to pass without interfering with the hit ball launched from the launch position.

As shown in FIG. 22, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is in the excited state, the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feed unit 74 is positioned in front of the ball guide protrusion 54 of the ball feed unit cover 68 at the supply position in the ball feed operation. Then, the succeeding game ball P2 is fitted into the gap between the upper end portion of the ball supply port 63 and the ball holding surface 81 of the ball feed portion 74, and the succeeding game ball P2 stays in the state. By the ball feeding operation described above, the ball feeding member 32 sends the game balls aligned and stored in the ball feeding guide gutter 69 to the launching position of the hitting ball launching device 29 one by one.

Further, FIG. 24 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feed solenoid 31 and the launch solenoid 13. The firing solenoid 13 is turned on when the period A has elapsed from the time when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, and the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off when the period B has elapsed from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when the period C has elapsed from the time when the solenoid 31 is turned off.

In the present embodiment, the period A is 300 ms, the period B is 30 ms, and the period C is 50 ms. When the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, the launch ball is fed to the launch position (rail portion 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the launch ball is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36. In the present embodiment, when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time (the period D is set to 30 ms), it is determined that there is a launch ball. do.

In this way, if it is determined that there is a launch ball when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined predetermined time, it is due to noise. It is possible to eliminate the false ball count of the launch ball and increase the certainty in the detection of the launch ball.

According to the drive timing of the ball feed solenoid 31 and the launch solenoid 13 shown in FIG. 24, the operation control is performed by the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control unit 118 described later. That is, when the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball feeding member 32 is in the allowable position, the hitting ball launching device 29 is operated to perform the hitting operation by the launching hammer 30, which is predetermined from the time when the hitting ball launching device 29 is activated. After the specified time has elapsed (after 30 ms has elapsed), the return ball is blocked by the return ball blocking unit 83 by releasing the excitation of the ball feed solenoid 31 and moving the return ball blocking unit 83 to the return ball blocking position. It controls to.

According to this, when the return ball blocking unit 83 takes an allowable position, the ball is allowed to pass without interfering with the ball launched from the launch position, so that the ball does not interfere with the launch ball. It is possible to prevent feeling distrust of hitting the ball at the target position, and it is possible to prevent the interest in the game from diminishing.

After the hit ball is launched, the return ball blocking unit 83 takes the return ball blocking position, so that the game ball launched in the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the launch port 38, which is blocked by the return ball blocking unit 83. Since the return ball can be blocked, it is possible to prevent the return ball from deteriorating the interest in the game.

In the present embodiment, if the return ball blocking portion 83 is integrally formed with the ball feed member 32, the ball to the launch position is generated by the excitation / non-excitation of one electric drive source (ball feed solenoid 31). Feeding and return ball prevention can be realized at the same time. That is, when the ball feed member 32 takes the supply position, the hit ball passage port 85 is located on the hit path through which the game ball launched from the launch position passes, while when the ball feed member 32 takes the holding position, it deviates from the hit path. A frame-shaped return ball blocking portion 83 is provided so that the hit ball passing port 85 is located at the retracted position.

When the ball feed member 32 takes the supply position, the return ball blocking portion 83 takes an allowable position and does not interfere with the hit ball launched from the launch position. It is possible to prevent distrust and prevent the interest in the game from diminishing.

Further, when the ball feed member 32 moves to the holding position, the return ball blocking portion 83 moves to the return ball blocking position at the same time, so that the game ball launched in the game area 8 becomes a return ball and enters the launch port 38. Since it is possible to block the ball and prevent the return ball, it is possible to prevent the return ball from deteriorating the interest in the game.

Further, the gaming machine described in Patent Document 1 described above has a structure in which a return ball prevention valve blocking a launch port is forcibly opened by a launch ball to launch or push it into a gaming area. For this reason, it is necessary to have an electric drive source that is large and powerful enough to make the ball hitting operation, and it is necessary to supply a large current to obtain the hitting force, and the power consumption is large. be.

On the other hand, in the upper launching device 12 of this example, when the launching hammer 30 performs a ball striking operation, the return ball blocking portion 83 of the ball feeding member 32 allows the launching ball to pass through the allowable position (the striking ball passing port 85). Since the launch port 38 and the launch port 38 are in the same state on the hitting path) and do not interfere with the launching ball, it is sufficient if the hitting force enough to launch the hitting ball can be provided to the game area 8, so that the power is small. Adopting an electric drive source is sufficient. Therefore, the electric drive source can be made smaller and thinner, and the power consumption required for the drive can be suppressed to a low level.

Further, as shown in FIG. 24, the firing solenoid 13 is excited for a period C from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on, and the mallet tip 61 protrudes through the through hole 335 of the rail portion 332 (FIG. 9). If so, the game ball can be prevented from being stopped at the rail portion 332, the return ball can be prevented, and the error count of the launch ball can be made more reliable.

The return ball blocking portion 83 of the present embodiment is shown to have a rectangular frame shape and a hitting ball passing port 85 in the center, but the shape of the return ball blocking portion 83 is not limited to this, for example. , It may be in the shape of a piece or a rod, and it may not be provided with a ball hitting passage port 85. That is, on the hitting path from the launching position to the launching port 38, an allowable position is provided adjacent to the launching position direction of the launching port 38 and allows the hitting ball to pass without interfering with the hitting ball launched from the launching position. And the return ball blocking position that blocks the entry of the return ball returning from the game area 8 to the launch port 38 may be movable.

In the enclosed ball-type gaming machine of the present embodiment described above, the ball lifting device 22 is the rear surface of the main body frame 2 behind the upper launcher 12 arranged at the front portion of the main body frame 2 and on one side of the upper portion. The upper end of the ball lifting device 22 is located above the ball feeding device 28, and the ball lifting device 22 is located between the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 and the upper portion of the upper launching device 12. A ball supply path member 24 extending in the front-rear direction for feeding the lifted gaming ball from above to the ball feeding device 28 is provided.

If the above configuration is used, various members (movable body, power transmission mechanism for driving the movable body (for example, gear train)), in which the ball supply path member 24 is attached to the rear portion of the game board 5. At the rear of the gaming machine, there is no obstacle to the slide rail for guiding in the left-right direction, the drive motor as the drive source, the position detection sensor for detecting the position of the movable body, the LED board, the relay board, etc.) The game ball lifted to the upper part of the main body frame 2 by the ball lifting device 22 can be smoothly sent to the upper launching device 12.

Further, since the ball supply path member does not interfere with various members attached to the rear part of the game board, the space formed behind the upper launcher 12 can be taken to the rear part of the game board 5. It can be applied to the placement space of each member.

Further, the upper launching device 12 shown in FIG. 23 employs an electric drive source that is smaller and thinner than the conventional one for the reason described above. As shown in FIG. 23, since the electric drive source (launch solenoid 13) of the hitting ball launcher can be made smaller and thinner, the electric drive source does not protrude behind the upper launcher 12. Therefore, it is possible to secure a wide space 57 for arranging each member attached to the rear portion of the game board 5.

Further, since the upper launcher 12 of the present embodiment can be rotated by the hinge 37 for the upper launcher and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 2 (FIG. 12), the left end of the game board is mounted. Since the upper launch unit can be rotated and placed at a position deviating from the movement path when the portion is inserted, the operation of attaching the game board to the main body frame is easy.

In this case, when the upper launching device 12 is opened with respect to the main body frame 2, the ball sending gutter 23 is prevented from spilling even if the game ball remains in the ball sending gutter 23. It is advisable to provide a spill ball preventing means for blocking the ball outlet 58 of the ball.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the spill ball prevention means (ball outlet opening / closing unit) will be described. FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit, and FIG. 26 is a rear perspective view of the ball outlet opening / closing unit. Further, FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the upper launch unit and the ball outlet opening / closing unit.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 23, the ball supply path member 24 is formed at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and is a ball delivery gutter 23 that sends the lifted game ball from above to the front, and an upper launch unit. It is composed of a lifting gutter 65 formed in the upper part of the rear part of the rear portion 12 and connected to the ball sending gutter 23, and when the upper launching unit 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the front end of the ball sending gutter 23 By opening the ball outlet 58, the ball outlet 58 and the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting gutter 65 are communicated with each other, and the game ball can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

The ball feeding device of the upper launching device 12 is provided with an opening / closing actuating piece 426 for operating the opening / closing shutter 412 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 on the right side portion of the ball feeding unit cover (FIG. 27). When the upper launching device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the opening / closing actuating piece 426 abuts on the spherical contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 in the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 to rotate the opening / closing crank 413. The open / close shutter 412 can be opened.

[Ball exit opening / closing unit]
The ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 in the main body frame 2 of the present embodiment is attached to a mounting member 407 attached to the lower surface of the ball delivery gutter 23 of the ball lifting device 22, and is launched upward with respect to the main body frame 2. When the device 12 is opened, the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 in the ball lifting device 22 is closed to allow the flow of the game ball from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball feeding device 28 of the upper launching device 12. It can be blocked.

The ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 has a shutter base 411 mounted on a hanging wall 408 facing in the vertical direction of the mounting member 407, a plate-shaped opening / closing shutter 412 held slidably in the vertical direction on the shutter base 411, and opening / closing. It includes an opening / closing crank 413 that slides the shutter 412 in the vertical direction, and an opening / closing spring 414 that urges the opening / closing shutter 412 to rise via the opening / closing crank 413.

The shutter base 411 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 includes a pair of vertically extending slide grooves 415 for holding the opening / closing shutter 412 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction so as to project upward from the upper end of the shutter base 411. A rectangular opening 416 that penetrates in the front-rear direction between the pair of slide grooves 415, and a crank that is arranged in front of the left end in front view and rotatably supports the open / close crank 413 around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. A support portion 417 and a spring locking portion 418 for locking one end (upper end) of the opening / closing spring 414 are provided. The crank support portion 417 of the shutter base 411 is arranged on the left side of the opening 416 in the front view, and the spring locking portion 418 is arranged in the vicinity of the upper portion on the left side from the center in the left-right direction in the front view.

Further, the opening / closing shutter 412 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 is a pair of sliding protrusions (not shown) that project from the front surface of the flat shutter body 419 and the shutter body 419 and slide in the slide groove 415 of the shutter base 411. ), And a horizontally long rectangular drive hole 420 arranged at a position facing from the opening 416 of the shutter base 411 between the pair of sliding protrusions and penetrating in the front-rear direction.

The opening / closing crank 413 of the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 has a shaft portion 421 that is rotatably supported around an axis extending in the front-rear direction by a crank support portion 417 of the shutter base 411, and a right outer circumference on the right side of the front view of the shaft portion 421. A drive rod 422 that extends outward and has a tip extending to the vicinity of the center in the left-right direction of the opening 416, and a drive rod 422 that protrudes rearward from the tip of the drive rod 422 and is slidably inserted into the drive hole 412b of the opening / closing shutter 412. Drive pin 423, a contact portion 424 extending downward from the lower outer periphery of the shaft portion 421 and having a spherical tip, and the other end of the opening / closing spring 414 formed on the middle upper surface of the drive rod 422. It is provided with a spring locking portion 425 for locking (lower end).

In the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410, the opening / closing crank 413 rotates around an axis extending in the front-rear direction, so that the drive pin 423 of the opening / closing crank 413 rotates in the vertical direction in an arc shape, and at the same time, the drive pin 423 is inserted. The opening / closing shutter 412 slides in the vertical direction via the drive hole 420.

In the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410, when the upper launching device 12 is closed with respect to the main body frame 2, the contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 comes into contact with the opening / closing actuating piece 426 of the upper launching device 12, and the contact portion The 424 rotates in the clockwise direction in the front view against the urging force of the opening / closing spring 414, and the drive pin 423 rotates in the clockwise direction in the front view together with the contact portion 424. The opening / closing shutter 412 is lowered so that the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 can be opened. That is, the ball outlet 58 and the ball inlet 66 at the rear end of the lifting gutter 65 are communicated with each other, and the game ball can be supplied from the ball outlet 58 to the ball inlet 66.

When the upper launching device 12 is opened with respect to the main body frame 2 from this state, the contact between the contact portion 424 of the opening / closing crank 413 and the opening / closing actuating piece 426 in the upper launching device 12 is released, and the opening / closing crank 413 is released from the opening / closing spring. At the same time as the opening / closing shutter 412 is raised by the urging force of the 414 to rotate in the counterclockwise direction in the front view, the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 can be closed (FIG. 27). ).

In this way, the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 can automatically open / close the ball outlet 58 at the front end of the ball delivery gutter 23 in the ball lifting device 22 according to the opening / closing of the upper launching device 12 with respect to the main body frame 2. Even if the upper launching device 12 is opened with the game ball remaining in the ball delivery gutter 23, it is possible to prevent the game ball from spilling from the ball outlet 58.

[Deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit]
FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 29 is a diagram for explaining the magnetic ball discharge portion cover separated and turned inside out in FIG. 28. FIG. 30 is a plan view of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 31 is a rear view of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a base plate of a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit separately as a deformed sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 34 is a diagram illustrating a path through which the deformed sphere and the magnetic sphere are discharged in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit. FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a situation in which the magnetic sphere is separated from the circulation path and discharged. FIG. 36 is a diagram illustrating a state in which the magnetic sphere reaches the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface.

As shown in FIG. 28, the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 has a deformed sphere discharge function and a magnetic sphere discharge function. The deformed sphere is a spherical object such as a bearing having a diameter smaller than that of a regular game sphere. The deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 is a transparent resin molded product, which is arranged in the lower part of the game machine main body (deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit accommodating portion 19), and the front side is a front plate (not shown) and the rear side. It has a structure in which the side is covered with a rear surface plate (ball gutter base 201). At the top, as a safe ball that flows down the safe ball discharge route by winning the out ball that flowed down without winning in various winning openings (special variable winning slot, general winning opening, normal variable winning device) and various winning openings. A collection port 202 for collecting the game balls of the above is provided. The out ball flows into the collection port 202 through the out port 42 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). The safe ball flows into the collection port 202 through the winning port 41 (see FIG. 5).

The circulation path in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 communicating with the collection port 202 is formed by meandering left and right in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 and folding up and down, and the recovery sphere is formed in the middle of the circulation path. It includes a detection switch 203, a deformed ball discharge unit 204, a magnetic ball discharge unit 205, a ball path full tank detection switch 206, and a ball appropriate amount detection switch 207. The game balls that have flowed into the collection port 202 move in a row in a circulation path in the deformed sphere / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 to reach the ball collecting portion 21 connected to the deformed sphere / magnetic ball discharge unit 20. However, the deformed sphere and the magnetic sphere are separated from the circulation path of the regular game ball in the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 and discharged to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 so as not to move to the sphere collecting portion 21. Ru.

Next, the movement of the game ball collected in the collection port 202 in the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20 will be described step by step. The number of game balls collected in the collection port 202 is counted one by one by the collection ball detection switch 203. The game ball that has passed through the recovery ball detection switch 203 reaches the deformed ball discharge unit 204. When the difference in the number of game balls detected by the recovery ball detection switch 203 and the launch ball detection means increases, it is possible to detect that an abnormality has occurred in the game machine.

The deformed ball discharging part 204 consists of two pieces fixed to the deformed ball discharging part base 208 and the deformed ball discharging part base 208, which are fixed to the deformed ball discharging part base mounting part 212 provided on the ball gutter base 201. It is composed of deformed sphere separation shafts 209 and 210.

As shown in FIGS. 31 and 32, the deformed ball discharge portion base mounting portion 212 is a rectangular opening provided in the ball gutter base 201. As shown in FIG. 28, the deformed ball discharge portion base mounting portion 212 is provided so as to be inclined to the ball gutter base 201 so that the side on the collection port 202 side is higher. As a result, since the deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 are arranged in an inclined manner, the game ball can move from the upstream side 213 (see FIG. 30) toward the downstream side 214.

FIG. 33 is a diagram illustrating a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging unit separately as a deformed sphere discharging unit and a magnetic sphere discharging unit. FIG. 33 (a) shows the deformed ball discharging portion 204. FIG. 33 (b) shows the magnetic ball discharging unit 205.

The irregular sphere ejection unit 204 uses the difference in diameter between the regular game ball and the illegal sphere to eliminate an illegal sphere having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball from the circulation path in the irregular sphere / magnetic ball ejection unit 20. .. As shown in FIG. 30, the deformed sphere discharge portion 204 includes two deformed sphere separation shafts 209, 210 having a circular cross section arranged side by side from the upstream side 213 to the downstream side 214 of the circulation path. In order to exclude the irregular sphere, that is, the asymmetric sphere having a diameter smaller than that of the regular game ball from the circulation path in which the regular game ball circulates, the gap distance between the two irregular sphere separation shafts 209 and 210 is set on the upstream side 213. Deformed ball separation shaft so that it is narrower than the diameter of the regular game ball and wider than the diameter of the regular game ball on the downstream side 214, that is, the distance between the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 gradually increases. The 209 and 210 are fixed to the deformed ball discharge portion base 208.

The game balls that flow down one by one to the deformed ball discharge unit 204 via the collection port 202 and the recovery ball detection switch 203 flow down while rolling so as to straddle the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210. do. On the upstream side, the gap distance between the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 is narrower than the diameter of the regular game ball, so that the regular game ball does not fall from between the deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210.

On the other hand, an illegal ball, which is a deformed ball having a diameter smaller than that of a regular game ball, falls from between the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210. As shown in FIG. 33A, the dropped deformed sphere is discharged to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the deformed sphere discharge port 216 via the deformed sphere discharge path 215. The deformed ball discharge path 215 is formed by a deformed ball discharge path forming member 217 which is on the front side of the ball gutter base 201 and is attached to the lower side of the deformed ball discharge portion base 208. The deformed ball discharge path forming member 217 is also integrally provided with a connecting path 218 that guides a ball having the same diameter as a regular game ball to the magnetic ball discharge unit 205.

A game ball of a regular size that rolls and flows down the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 falls from between the two deformed ball separation shafts 209 and 210 on the downstream side 214 and enters the connecting path 218. It reaches the circulation path 219 formed in the magnetic ball discharging portion 205.

The magnetic ball discharge unit 205 is fixed to the ball gutter base 201 as shown in FIG. 28. FIG. 33 shows a state in which the magnetic ball discharging portion 205 is removed from the ball gutter base 201. An inclined surface 220 connected to the connecting path 218 is formed in the magnetic ball discharging portion 205, and a falling surface 221 that descends steeply is connected to the downstream side of the inclined surface 220, and a portion where the inclined surface 220 is extended is connected. , The magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 is formed. A gap of the discontinuous portion 223 is provided so that the inclined surface 220 and the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 are not continuous. In the magnetic ball discharging portion 205, a magnet is attached to at least one of the side wall 224 or the ceiling wall 225 at least on the front surface, the back surface thereof, or the inside thereof.

FIG. 35 shows an example in which the magnet 229 is mounted in the magnet accommodating space 230 on the back surface of the ceiling wall 225. The magnet accommodating space 230 is formed as a space having a rectangular cross section arranged along the back surface side of the ceiling wall 225. The magnet 229 is a flat plate magnet, and is a permanent magnet having an N pole or an S pole on one side surface and an S pole or an N pole on the other side surface. The magnetic force of the magnet is not so strong that the game ball (magnetic ball 232) made of a magnetic material is attracted and the rolling is hindered, and it flows down the region of the inclined surface 220 and falls from the discontinuous portion 223. It suffices as long as it can reach the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222. The magnet to be attached may be a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

The regular game ball 233 flowing from the connecting path 218 rolls down the inclined surface 220, and flows down from the inclined surface 220 while rolling down the falling surface 221. The non-magnetic regular game ball 233 falls down the discontinuous portion 223, passes through the circulation path 219, and reaches the ball collecting portion 21 connected to the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit 20.

On the other hand, the illegal sphere (magnetic sphere 232) made of a magnetic material is attached to the inner wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 by the attractive force of the magnet 229 housed in the magnet accommodating space 230, and the circulation path 219 is upstream of the inclined surface 220. It flows down from the side to the downstream side while rolling due to the action of gravity. Then, as shown in FIG. 35, the magnetic sphere 232 reaches the region of the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface 222 (see FIG. 28) as shown in FIG. 36 without falling from the discontinuous portion 223. An illegal sphere made of a magnetic material that has reached the region of the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface 222 is discharged to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the magnetic sphere discharge port 227 via the magnetic sphere discharge path 226 (see FIG. 34). ).

The portion of the ceiling wall 225 above the magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 222 is configured as a magnetic force adjusting portion 231. The magnetic force adjusting unit 231 is formed so that the distance between the magnet accommodating space 230 and the magnetic ball discharge path 226 increases toward the downstream side of the magnetic ball discharge path 226. In FIG. 35, the magnetic ball discharge path 226 has a curved portion, and this curved portion functions as the magnetic force adjusting portion 231. As a result, the distance between the magnetic sphere 232 and the magnet 229 becomes longer toward the downstream of the magnetic sphere discharge path 226. Then, the magnetic force (attractive force) of the magnet 229 acting on the magnetic sphere 232 gradually decreases. Therefore, the magnetic sphere 232 that has been attached to the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and has moved in the downstream direction separates from the wall surface of the ceiling wall 225 and falls on the magnetic sphere discharge inclined surface 222. Then, it is discharged from the magnetic ball discharge port 227 via the magnetic ball discharge path 226.

The deformed sphere and the illegal sphere of the magnetic material are discharged to the outside of the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 from the deformed sphere discharge port 216 and the magnetic sphere discharge port 227, respectively (FIG. 34). The deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharged from the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 is collected in the discharge ball receiving box 234 (see FIGS. 2, 3, and 5). In this way, by using the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20, an illegal sphere composed of a deformed sphere and a magnetic material can be excluded from the circulation path 219 of a regular game ball. In the present embodiment, the configuration can be simplified by using gravity for discharging the deformed sphere and the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 to the outside. The deformed sphere discharge path 215 is arranged along the side surface of the magnetic sphere discharge portion 205, and the deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 can be compactly configured.

The deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharge unit 20 can eliminate an illegal sphere made of a deformed sphere or a magnetic material from the circulation path 219 of a regular gaming ball without stopping the game, which reduces the interest of the player. On the other hand, it is possible to reduce the chances that the employees of the gaming hall are called to each gaming machine to deal with the illegal ball and deal with the malfunction of the gaming machine. The deformed sphere discharge unit 204 and the magnetic sphere discharge unit 205 may be configured independently. That is, when the ejection of the deformed sphere is executed by another component in the game machine, the magnetic sphere ejection unit 205 may be configured independently.

Then, in one embodiment of the enclosed ball-type gaming machine of the present invention, a gaming board in which a gaming area is formed, a main body frame into which the gaming board is fitted and accommodated, and an upper portion of the main body frame are arranged. A hitting ball launching device that launches a game ball toward the game area and a game ball launched by the hitting ball launching device are collected as enclosed balls on the back surface side of the game board, and an illegal ball is eliminated and the hitting ball launching device is again. The enclosed spheres are arranged and stored in a circulation path including a deformed sphere / magnetic sphere discharging means and an array passage formed in a part of the circulation path based on the drive of an electric drive source. The ball feeding device that feeds the ball to the launching position of the hitting ball launching device one by one, the main control board that performs the game control processing related to the pachinko game, and the main control board are connected to each other so that bidirectional data communication is possible, and the game control processing is performed. Control of increase / decrease in the number of balls held based on the prize ball command transmitted from the main control board and the ball number information of the launching ball launched by the hitting ball launching device, and the launching control of the gaming ball by the hitting ball launching device. A ball information control board for controlling the feeding of the gaming ball to the launching position by the ball feeding device is provided, and a predetermined number of gaming balls are closedly circulated without paying out the gaming ball. The hitting ball launching device performs a hitting operation based on the launch rail for stopping the game ball at the launching position and the drive of an electric drive source, and the launching position is performed. The ball information control board is provided with a launching member for launching a game ball stopped at the launching ball and a launching ball confirmation means for detecting the gaming ball parked at the launching position, and the ball information control board is provided at a predetermined time. When the launch ball confirmation means detects a gaming ball parked at the launch position, the launch ball detection determination means for determining that the launch ball is present and the launch ball detection determination means for the launch ball are present. On condition that the determination is made, when the game ball is not detected by the launch ball confirmation means, it is determined that the game ball stopped at the launch position has been launched, and the number of possessed balls is subtracted by one. Consists of means and.

According to the above embodiment, when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation means for a predetermined predetermined time, the launch ball detection determination means for determining that the launch ball is present. , On the condition that the launch ball detection determination means determines that there is a launch ball, if the launch ball confirmation means does not detect the game ball, it is determined that the game ball stopped at the launch position has been launched, and the number of balls possessed. Since the number is reduced by one, when noise enters the launch ball confirmation means, it is possible to eliminate the false ball count of the launch ball due to the noise, increase the certainty in the detection of the launch ball, and the deformed ball. And magnetic balls can be excluded from the circulation path in which regular game balls circulate.

[Sphere gathering part 21]
37 is a front left perspective view of the ball collecting portion and the ball lifting device, FIG. 38 is a front view of the ball collecting portion and the ball lifting device, and FIG. 39 is a state in which the ball polishing cartridge in the ball collecting portion is removed. It is a front view which shows. Further, FIG. 40 is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the case of the ball collecting portion and the cover of the ball lifting device are removed, and FIG. 41 is an enlarged rear perspective view of the ball collecting portion in FIG. 40. FIG. 42. FIG. 41 is a further enlarged view of FIG. 41, and FIG. 43 is a plan view in which the case of the sphere assembly portion is removed.

The ball collecting portion 21 (FIG. 41) has a ball feeding passage 275, a ball polishing cartridge 251, a ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 (FIG. 39), and a lifting port switch 156. The ball feeding passage 275 has a groove structure having walls on both sides arranged at the lower part of the entire ball collecting portion 21, and has a ball receiving port 275a connected to a ball outlet (not shown) of the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20. It has a ball feed port 275b that opens into the ball feed rotating body 350 (described later) (FIGS. 41, 42, 43).

The ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 is an opening provided in the ball collecting portion 21 for attaching / detaching the ball polishing cartridge 251 described later (FIG. 39). The ball polishing cartridge 251 is removable from the front side of the gaming machine to the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273, and the ball polishing cloth 263 is attached to the portion of the ball polishing cartridge 251 facing the ball lifting device 22 described later. It is arranged (Fig. 41). The lift inlet switch 156 is provided on the outside of one of the walls constituting the ball feed passage 275, and detects the presence or absence of a game ball passing through the ball feed passage 275 (FIG. 41).

[Ball lifting device 22]
FIG. 44 is a rear perspective view showing a state in which the upper gearbox and the lower gearbox are removed. FIG. 45 is a right side view showing a state in which the cover of the ball lifting device is removed, and FIG. 46 is an enlarged view of the portion (A) in FIG. 45. Further, FIG. 47 is a view showing a state in which the screw is disassembled, FIG. 48 is a perspective view showing the upper part of the ball lifting device, and FIG. 49 is a view showing the fitted / non-fitted state of the screw and the fitting member. It is a figure which shows.

The ball lifting device 22 includes a screw 25 (FIG. 40), a ball lifting motor 150 (FIGS. 38 and 48), a lifting guide rail 282 (FIGS. 40 and 44), and an upper gearbox 356 (FIG. 37). , FIG. 40), lower gearbox 357 (FIG. 37, FIG. 40), ball feed rotating body 350 (FIG. 40), ball feed inclined portion 351 and (FIG. 40, FIG. 41), lifting portion cover 353 (FIG. 40). It has a spiral base cover 352 (FIG. 37), a lifting slope member 354 (FIG. 46), and a ball delivery trough 23 (FIG. 44, 46, 48).

The spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 are cover members 368 arranged so as to surround the screw 25, and are made of a transparent resin (acrylic resin). The spiral base cover 352 is provided with an opening 281 at an angle in a portion of the ball collecting portion 21 that opposes the ball polishing cartridge 251 (FIG. 39).
Further, the upper surface of the cover member 368 is formed with a protrusion for installing the lower surface of the upper gearbox 356, which will be described later (FIG. 69).

The screw 25 is vertically arranged inside the square tubular cover member 368 from the base to the upper end of the ball lifting device 22. The cover member 368 is arranged so as to assemble the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 and surround the screw 25. The screw 25 is composed of a screw shaft 25a, two small pitch ridge members 25b located above and below, and four large pitch ridge members 25c located at the center (FIG. 45). .. These are fitted in the screw shaft 25a.

The small pitch ridge member 25b is composed of a cylindrical portion 25e and a spiral ridge 25d (FIG. 45). As shown in FIG. 47, the small pitch ridge member 25b is formed by assembling a half-split body 25bR divided into two by a vertical surface including the screw shaft 25a and a half-split body 25bL with the screw shaft 25a interposed therebetween. It is united. A pair of concave portions 25g and convex portions 25h for assembling the half-divided bodies 25bR and 25bL on both sides is formed vertically on the cut surface of the cylindrical portion 25e, which can be integrated by these. can.

Further, an upper edge recess 25j opened upward is formed on the upper edge 25i of the half-split bodies 25bR and 25bL, and a lower edge convex portion 25m protruding downward is formed on the lower edge 25k. The upper edge concave portion 25j and the lower edge convex portion 25m are for connecting the small pitch ridge member 25b and the large pitch ridge member 25c in the vertical direction and transmitting rotation to each other.

The same applies to the large-pitch ridge member 25c, which has the same reference numerals and a specific description thereof, but the pitch of the spiral ridge 25d is larger than that of the small-pitch ridge member 25b. The pitch of the portion where the spiral ridge 25d of the small pitch ridge member 25b and the spiral ridge 25d of the large pitch ridge member 25c are continuous changes in pitch, but is smoothly continuous. The large-pitch ridge member 25c is composed of a half-split body 25cR and a half-split body 25cL.

The pitch is an interval of spiral ridges 25d along a straight line. The pitch of the spiral ridge 25d of the small pitch ridge member 25b is smaller than that of the spiral ridge 25d of the large pitch ridge member 25c. For example, the pitch of the small pitch ridge member 25b is 25 mm, and the pitch of the large pitch ridge member 25c is 43.2 mm.

The screw shaft 25a shown in FIG. 47 is the rotation shaft of the screw 25, and as shown in FIG. 44, the upper lifting gear 360 (spur gear) is fixed to the upper end portion, and the lower lifting gear 362 (lower lifting gear 362) is fixed to the lower end portion. Spur gear) is fixed.

Further, as shown in FIG. 49, in the small pitch ridge member 25b at the lower part of the screw 25, the lower edge convex portion 25 m and the fitting recess 366a of the fitting member 366 integrally formed with the lower lifting gear 362. It is fitted using uneven fitting, and is driven and rotated integrally with the screw shaft 25a and the lower lifting gear 362.

The ball lifting motor 150 is a motor for driving the screw 25, and is attached to the lower surface of the upper gearbox 356 in the ball lifting device 22 (FIGS. 38 and 48).

The upper gearbox 356 is arranged at the upper end of the ball lifting device 22, and houses and supports the ball lifting motor gear 358, the idle gear 359, and the upper lifting gear 360 (FIGS. 40 and 44). .. The ball lifting motor gear 358 is fixed to the drive shaft of the ball lifting motor 150 and meshes with the idle gear 359. The idle gear 359 is a two-stage gear that integrates an upper gear with a large number of teeth and a lower gear with a small number of teeth on the lower surface thereof. It meshes with the upper lifting gear 360. These gears are spur gears with lower vertical dimensions of the upper gearbox. The upper lifting gear 360 is fixed to the upper end of the screw shaft 25a. With these gear configurations, the screw 25 is driven and rotated by the ball lifting motor 150.

The lower gearbox 357 is arranged from the lower end of the ball lifting device 22 to the lower end of the ball collecting portion 21, and houses and supports the lower lifting gear 362 and the ball feed rotating body gear 363 (FIG. FIG. 44). The lower lifting gear 362 is fixed to the lower end of the screw shaft 25a and meshes with the ball feed rotating body gear 363. The gear ratio of the ball feed rotating body gear 363 and the lower lifting gear 362 is 2: 1.

A ball feed rotating body 350 is fixed to the gear shaft 363a of the ball feed rotating body gear 363, and the ball feed rotating body 350 is driven and rotated by the ball feed rotating body gear 363. The ball-feeding rotating body 350 is arranged corresponding to the ball-feeding port 275b of the ball-feeding passage 275 in the ball-collecting portion 21, and is a low columnar member. A ball engaging recess 350a for accommodating the ball is provided. The ball engaging recess 350a has a depth that accommodates about half of the game ball (FIG. 43).

The ball feed inclined portion 351 (FIG. 42) is a member formed around the ball feed rotating body 350 and having a slope for lifting a game ball. In the range where the ball feed inclined portion 351 exists, the ball feed rotating body 350 screws the game ball from the position of the ball feed port 275b which is the exit on the ball feed rotating body side of the ball feed passage 275 with respect to the rotation direction of the ball feed rotating body 350. It is the range up to the delivery position to 25.

As described above, the ball feed inclined portion 351 has an arc shape along the outer circumference of the ball feed rotating body 350 from the ball feed port 275b to the delivery position, and is 7 mm (about 5 to 8 mm) upward from the position of the ball feed port 275b. ) It has an inclined surface 351a that rises to a high delivery position, and a top inclined portion 351b that protrudes from the top thereof in the direction of the screw 25 and inclines downward. The width of the inclined surface 351a is 4 mm (about 3 to 5 mm), and the top inclined surface 351b is formed in a range larger than the diameter of the game ball in the direction of rotation of the ball feed rotating body 350 before and after the transfer position.

The positional relationship between the ball feed rotating body 350 and the screw 25 in a plan view is a positional relationship in which a game ball dropped from the top inclined surface 351b can be received between the pitches of the spiral ridge 25d. A cover member 368 (not shown) is arranged along the outer circumference of the ball feed inclined portion 351 to the vicinity of the delivery position to prevent the game ball from falling from the inclined surface 351a.

A guide block 365 (FIGS. 42 and 43) is arranged on the upper surface of the lower gearbox 357 in the vicinity of the lower front surface side of the screw 25. The guide block 365 has an arcuate spherical guide surface and 365a close to the spiral ridge 25d of the screw 25, followed by a stopper surface 365b. The sphere guide surface 365a is formed from the vicinity of the top inclined surface 351b to the opening 281 provided in the spiral base cover 352, and the tip thereof is the stopper surface 365b (FIG. 43).

Two lifting guide rails 282 are arranged adjacent to each other in parallel with the screw 25, and have a diameter of about 5 mm, which serves as a guide for linearly guiding the game ball to be lifted by the screw 25 upward. It is a round bar-shaped guide member. The lifting guide rail 282 is located on the side substantially opposite to the ball feed rotating body 350 with respect to the rotation direction of the screw 25, and is from a position corresponding to the upper end portion of the opening 281 (FIG. 39) diagonally provided in the spiral base cover 352. It is arranged vertically upward and its upper end is fixed to the lower surface of the upper gearbox 356. The distance between the two adjacent lifting guide rails 282 is a width that the game ball (diameter 11 mm) cannot pass through (the distance between the inside of the lifting guide rails 282 is 5 to 8 mm).
Further, when the game ball is lifted, it is lifted while being in contact with the guide rail 282. Therefore, the lift guide rail 282 has a low coefficient of friction and is guided from the game ball generated by the rotation of the screw 25. It shall be rigid enough not to be deformed by the pressing force on the rail 282. It is preferable to use stainless steel as the material.

The support member 367 is a cushion member that prevents deformation of the lifting guide rail 282 and absorbs vibration transmitted between the game ball and the lifting guide rail 282 and to the upper launching device 12, and is a lifting guide rail. It is provided with a portion that maintains the 282 in its original position, and has a thickness sufficient to fit between the cover member 368 composed of the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 and the lifting guide rail 282. A plate-shaped block member having a flat surface on the side in contact with the cover member 368 and a recess on the side supporting the lifting guide rail 282.
The lifting guide rail 282 has a rigidity that does not deform due to the pressing force from the game ball generated by the rotation of the screw 25 to the guide rail 282, but the pressing force from the game ball is applied over a long period of time. Then, the lifting guide rail 282 is gradually deformed in the pressing direction, and the game ball may be disengaged from the guidance by the lifting guide rail 282. Therefore, the deformation is restricted.

Further, since the design is made with a clearance mainly in the portion where the game ball passes, such as the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282, the vibration generated by driving the ball lifting motor 150, for example, is a screw. It conducts to the lifting guide rail 282 and the lifting guide rail 282, and there is a possibility that an abnormal noise may be generated between the lifting guide rail 282 and the game ball. Is surrounded, and if an abnormal noise is generated in the lifting device 22, it resonates and the sound becomes loud. However, by arranging the support member 367, it is possible to absorb the vibration generated in the gaming machine and suppress the generation of abnormal noise.
The number of support members 367 is arranged between the cover member 368 and the lifting guide rail 282 so that the deformation of the guide rail 282 can be regulated and abnormal noise due to vibration is not generated.

The lifting slope member 354 shown in FIG. 46 is a block member having a slope facing the upper end of the screw 25 and formed on the lower surface of the upper gearbox 356, and the slope intersects the path to which the game ball is fed. The game ball, which is arranged vertically and is vertically lifted by the screw 25, is guided to the ball delivery gutter 23 by turning the moving direction in the horizontal direction.

The ball delivery gutter 23 is a passage provided at the upper end of the spiral base cover 352 and having an inclination for sending the game ball guided from the lifting slope member 354 to the upper launching device 12. Further, on the side surface of the ball delivery gutter 23, a ball removing member 355 for discharging the game ball inside the game machine to the outside of the game machine is provided (FIGS. 44 and 48). The ball removing member 355 is a removable lid member, and can be removed from the side wall of the ball delivery gutter 23 by operating a knob at the bottom to open an opening provided in the side wall. The ball delivery gutter 23 is provided with a slanted portion, and a ball pulling member 355 is arranged on a wall on the tip end side of the slanted portion (FIG. 44).

Further, a launch ball standby ball detection switch 26 for detecting the presence or absence of a game ball is arranged on the outer surface of the ball delivery gutter 23 (FIG. 45). When the launch standby ball detection switch 26 does not detect the game ball, the screw 25 is driven and new game balls are supplied from the ball lifting device 22 to the upper launch device 12 one by one.

[Operation of ball collecting unit 21 and ball lifting device 22]
The game ball sent from the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20 forming a part of the circulation path is sent to the ball feeding rotating body 350 in the ball lifting device 22 through the ball feeding passage 275 of the ball collecting unit 21. Be done. On the other hand, by driving the ball lifting motor 150, the screw 25 is rotated via the gear trains 358, 359, 360, and the ball feed rotating body 350 is rotated via the screw shaft 25a and the lower gear trains 362 and 363. Since the gear ratio between the lower lifting gear 362 and the ball feed rotating body gear 363 is 2: 1, the ball feeding rotating body 350 makes one rotation with two rotations of the screw 25. The ball feed rotating body 350 receives a game ball one by one from the ball feed passage 275 into the ball engagement recess 350a and rotates counterclockwise (FIG. 43).

After that, the game ball is engaged with the ball engaging recess 350a by the rotation of the ball feed rotating body 350 and moves, and the remaining outer half moves along the inclined surface 351a of the ball feed inclined portion 351 and the top inclined surface. Reach 351b. Then, if the top inclined surface 351b is inclined downward, the game ball is sent from that position to the spiral ridge 25d of the small pitch ridge member 25b. At this time, the game balls sent from the slightly raised top inclined surface 351b have a large distance from the subsequent game balls, and are surely separated one by one.
In addition, in order to carry out stable feeding of the game ball, it is conceivable that the end portion of the top inclined surface 351b and the delivery position of the game ball of the small pitch ridge member 25b are set to substantially the same height.
Further, when the game ball is sent from the top inclined surface 351b to the small pitch ridge member 25d, the downward inclination is not limited to use, and for example, a rail may be used to guide the game ball to the small pitch ridge member 25d. ..
Further, if the step between the end of the inclined surface 351a and the small pitch ridge member 25d at the lower part of the screw 25 that receives the game ball is small, the game ball may be dropped directly from the inclined surface 351a to the small pitch ridge member 25d. It is possible.

Next, the game ball moves along the ball guide surface 365a of the guide block 365 with the rotation of the small pitch ridge member 25b and collides with the stopper surface 365b. During this time, the game ball rises with the rotation of the screw 25 and reaches the lower end of the opening 281 provided in the spiral base cover 352. In this case, the ball feed rotating body 350 is provided with a ball engaging recess 350a every 180 degrees as described above, and since it rotates at a speed of half that of the screw 25, one ball is provided every half rotation. The game ball will be supplied to the screw 25. Since one-half rotation of the ball feed rotating body corresponds to one pitch of the small pitch ridge member 25b, the game ball sent from the ball feed rotating body 350 is always one ball between the pitches of the small pitch ridge member 25b. It is sent one by one and continuously. (Fig. 41).
That is, it is prevented that the game balls are connected in a string in the ball lifting device 22.

It comes into contact with the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 through the opening 281. That is, as the game ball is lifted by the screw 25 of the ball lifting device 22, the game ball is rubbed against the ball polishing cloth 263 through the opening 281 to clean and polish the game ball (FIG. 39). Then, by being guided diagonally upward, the area of the ball polishing cloth 263 can be effectively utilized.

After passing through the opening 281, the game ball is lifted to the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 as the screw 25 rotates, and at that time, the game ball is lifted to the lifting guide rail 282 arranged in parallel. Guided and move in a straight line. The guide rail 282 allows the game ball to be lifted by the screw 25 in the vertical direction and restricts the movement in the horizontal direction. During this period, the game ball is lifted relatively slowly due to the small pitch at the lower small pitch ridge member 25a so as not to interfere with the ball receiving from the ball feed rotating body 350. There is. Further, even at the position of the small pitch ridge member 25b on the upper part, the movement of the game ball is relatively slowed down due to the small pitch, so that the ball is not hindered from being sent to the upper launching device 12.
On the other hand, in the middle portion of the screw 25, there is no particular problem even if the lifting speed of the game ball is increased, so that the large pitch ridge member having a large pitch is used. The number of game balls circulated in the ball lifting device 22 can be reduced. Further, this makes it possible to reduce the burden due to the weight of the game ball applied to the screw 25 (FIG. 45).
Further, the term "lifting" in this embodiment is used to mean that the gaming ball is continuously carried from the lower part to the upper part of the gaming machine.

The game ball that has reached the upper end of the ball lifting device 22 abuts on the slope of the lifting slope member 354 from below, so that the moving direction of the game ball lifted by the screw 25 is substantially horizontal from the vertical direction. The ball is turned and the game ball is smoothly fed from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball delivery gutter 23. Then, the game ball sent to the ball delivery gutter 23 rolls on the gentle slope of the ball delivery gutter 23 and is sent to the upper launching device 12 (FIG. 46).
In this case, when the lifted game ball comes into contact with the slope portion of the lifted slope member 354, the guide of the lifted guide rail 282 is removed and the ball naturally flows down to the floor surface of the ball sending gutter 23. , The lifting guide rail 282 and the screw 25 are not subject to ball pressure, and can be smoothly fed.

When it is necessary to take out the circulating game ball from the game machine for maintenance or the like, the ball removal member 355 provided on the outer surface of the ball delivery gutter 23 can be operated to easily discharge the ball to the outside of the game machine ( 37 and 48).

In this embodiment, the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 are made of a transparent resin (acrylic resin), and by using the transparent resin in this way, the state inside the ball lifting device 22 Is preferable because it can be easily visually confirmed without disassembling, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 may be made of an opaque resin, metal, or the like.

Further, the small pitch ridge member 25b and the large pitch ridge member 25c are configured to be joined by being split in half, but may be a cylindrical one integrally molded from the beginning. Further, by making full use of the synthetic resin molding technology, the entire screw 25 excluding the screw shaft 25a can be integrally molded.

Further, the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 are made of a material having good slipperiness and rigidity enough not to be deformed by the pressing force from the game ball generated by the rotation of the screw 25 to the lifting guide rail 282. Preferably, it may be a metal such as aluminum or a synthetic resin. Further, for the spiral ridge 25d, it is conceivable to use a hardened silicon material or the like at least in the portion where the game ball is received from the ball feed rotating body 350. As a result, it is possible to absorb the impact generated when the game ball falls on the spiral ridge 25d.

The lifting guide rail 282 in the present embodiment guides the game ball in the vertical direction by two rails, but is not limited to the two rails, for example, the lifting guide rail 282 is used as one, and the other one. The guide may be configured to guide the game ball by extending the inner wall of the cover member 368 so as to be adjacent to the lifting guide rail 282 in parallel.

Further, the support member 367 is arranged between the cover member 368 composed of the spiral base cover 352 and the lifting portion cover 353 and the lifting guide rail 282, but the cover is limited to absorbing vibration. Not limited to the member 368, for example, as shown in FIG. 70, the support member 367 may be arranged so as to cover both ends of the lifting guide rail 282. As a result, the player operates the vibration generated by the operation of an electric drive source such as a movable accessory (not shown) or a motor arranged on the game board, and the touch panel unit 14 arranged on the door frame 3. Since various vibrations generated in the gaming machine, such as vibrations caused by the impact generated during the operation, are absorbed, the gaming ball may come off the guide of the guide rail and cannot be lifted, or the launching of the gaming ball may be caused by the vibration. It is possible to suppress the instability.

Further, in this embodiment, the game balls are continuously sent out and lifted one by one at one pitch of the spiral ridge 25d over the entire length of the screw 25, but the game balls are lifted at all pitches of the screw 25. The configuration is not limited to this as long as the game ball is continuously lifted even if it is not sent.

The lifting slope member 354 may have a structure that allows the game ball vertically lifted by the screw 25 and the lifting guide rail 282 to be smoothly fed to the ball delivery gutter 23, and is integrally molded with the upper gearbox 356. Or, as shown in FIGS. 67 and 68, the upper surface of the ball delivery path 23 may be extended to the lifting path of the game ball to form a slope on the lower surface of the extended portion.

Further, the ball lifting device 22 of the present invention has a configuration in which the game ball is lifted by using the screw 25, but if the ball is lifted so as to vertically guide and carry the game ball, the screw can be used. Not limited to this, various methods such as a belt conveyor capable of continuously carrying a game ball can be selected.

[Ball polisher]
Next, a ball polishing device for cleaning and polishing the game balls enclosed in the game machine will be described. FIG. 38 described above is a front view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is attached to the ball polishing device, and FIG. 39 described above is the outside of the ball polishing cartridge for the ball polishing device. It is a front view which shows the state which was done.

Further, FIG. 50 is a left side view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is attached, and FIG. 51 is a perspective view illustrating a mechanism for fixing the ball polishing cartridge. FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a state at the time of mounting the ball polishing cartridge.

53 and 54 are diagrams showing a state in which the ball polishing cloth of the game ball and the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other, and FIG. 53 is a state in which the ball polishing cloth of the game ball and the ball polishing cartridge is pressed against each other. 54 is a left side view showing a state in which the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other, and FIG. 55 is a left side cover of the ball polishing cartridge removed in FIG. 54. It is a left side view which shows the state which was done. Further, FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 55.

Next, FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is attached, and FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which the right outer side cover is removed for the purpose of explaining the inside of the right side cover in FIG. 57. FIG. 59 is an upper perspective view showing a state in which the right side cover is opened in FIG. 58. 60 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge, FIG. 61 is a front view of the same, FIG. 62 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 63 is a side view showing a state in which the left side cover is removed in FIG. 62.

As shown in FIGS. 38 and 50, a ball collecting portion 21 is provided at the lower part of the ball lifting device 22, and a ball polishing cartridge 251 is provided on a part of the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 of the ball collecting portion 21. Is said to be mountable. Here, the outside of the ball lifting device 22 is formed of a transparent plastic member, and even if a game ball is clogged in the ball lifting device 22, the location where the clogging occurs can be easily visually recognized. It has become like. As shown in FIG. 51, the ball polishing cartridge 251 mounted on the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 is provided on the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 with one end supported on an axis and the other end rotated. By hooking the other end of the enabled ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 on the ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 272 also provided in the ball collecting portion 21, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is pressed in the back direction and the left direction. It has a structure. In addition, in FIG. 51, in order to make it easy to understand the movement mode of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271, both the open state and the closed state of the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 are shown together.

FIG. 39 is a front view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge 251 is removed. As shown in FIG. 39, the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 has a ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 having a hollow portion so that the ball polishing cartridge 251 can be mounted. In FIG. 39, the mounting sensor 291 and the drive shaft 290, which are provided inside the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 271 and the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 and can be visually recognized from the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 for easy viewing. The description is omitted.

FIG. 66 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 of FIG. 39. At the back of the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 inside the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270, below the surface on the right side, coaxial with the second drive gear 257 shown in FIG. 59, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is the first. A drive shaft 290 that fits into the gear shaft 261 of 1 is provided, and a mounting sensor 291 with a pushable button 292 is provided above the surface on the right side. The mounting of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is detected by pushing the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 by a series of mounting operations of the ball polishing cartridge 251. The specific mode of the mounting operation will be described later.

Further, in the innermost portion of the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 facing the ball lifting device 22, the ball lifting device 22 has a long side thereof, which is the progress of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 described later. An opening 281 having an angle different from the direction is provided. As a result, the lifting direction of the game ball and the traveling direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 are deviated from each other. Therefore, it is not necessary to use only a part of the ball polishing cloth 263 in the width direction having a predetermined width, and the ball polishing cloth is not used. It is possible to effectively utilize the width of 263 to clean and polish the game ball.

Further, the width between the long sides of the opening 281 allows at least a part of the peripheral edge of the game ball to be lifted by the ball lifting device 22 to protrude to the outside of the ball lifting device 22 at the opening position. The width is configured to be smaller than the diameter of the game ball. In this embodiment, the width between the long sides of the opening 281 is set to 8.4 mm with respect to the diameter of the game ball of 11 mm. The game ball is configured to protrude from the opening 281 toward the ball polishing cloth 263 by about 1.5 mm.

As a result, during the game period, the game ball to be lifted in the ball lifting device 22 has a part of the peripheral edge protruding to the outside of the ball lifting device 22 at the position of the opening 281 to polish the ball. The ball polishing cloth 263 of the cartridge 251 and the game ball can come into contact with each other. In particular, when the ball polishing cartridge 251 has an elastic member and the ball polishing cloth 263 is pressed against the game ball, the ball polishing cloth 263 can be more reliably brought into contact with the game ball. Reliable ball polishing is possible.

Further, even if the ball polishing cartridge 251 is removed while the game ball remains in the ball lifting device 22 during a time zone outside the game period, the width of the opening 281 is smaller than the diameter of the game ball. The game ball remaining in the ball lifting device 22 does not spill on the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 273 side of the ball polishing cartridge 251.

FIG. 52 is a perspective view showing a state in the middle of mounting the ball polishing cartridge 251 from the state of FIG. 39. As can be seen from FIGS. 39 and 52, in the present embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is configured to be inserted and mounted from the front of the main body frame 2.

60 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge 251, FIG. 61 is a front view of the same, FIG. 62 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 63 is a side view showing a state in which the left side cover is removed in FIG. 62. Here, 259 is a take-up roller, 260 is a driven roller, 261 is a first gear shaft, 262 is a second gear shaft, and the first gear shaft 261 is a take-up roller 259, which will be described later. It is configured to be coaxial with the drive gear 257, and the second gear shaft 262 is configured to be coaxial with the driven roller 260. Further, 268 is a contact mark of the game ball, and as shown in FIG. 39, the direction of lifting the game ball by the ball lifting device 22 and the winding direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 are set. Since the angles are different with respect to the vertical direction, the game ball contact mark 268 is formed with an inclination with respect to the long side direction of the ball polishing cloth 263.

53 and 54 are diagrams showing a state in which the ball polishing cloth of the game ball and the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other, and FIG. 53 is a state in which the ball polishing cloth of the game ball and the ball polishing cartridge is pressed against each other. FIG. 54 is a left side view showing a state in which the game ball and the ball polishing cloth of the ball polishing cartridge are pressed against each other.

As shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, the game ball is lifted by the screw 25 provided in the ball lifting device 22, and the ball lifting device 22 and the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 are used. At the facing portion, the game ball comes into contact with the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 through the opening 281 of the ball lifting device 22, and the game ball is lifted by the screw 25 of the ball lifting device 22. It is rubbed against the ball polishing cloth 263 to clean and polish the game ball.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 53 and 54, the screw 25 in the ball lifting device 22 has a different shape in the upper portion and the lower portion and in the intermediate portion. In the upper part and the lower part, the inclination angle of the spiral of the screw 25 (spiral ridge 25d in FIG. 47) is made small to narrow the pitch, while in the middle part, the inclination angle of the spiral of the screw is made large to make the pitch. Is also wide. In the middle part, it is not necessary to spend time for lifting, so by increasing the inclination angle of the spiral and increasing the lifting speed, the game ball can be lifted in a short time, and the intermediate part can be lifted. It is possible to reduce the number of game balls included in the game machine, and it is possible to reduce the number of game balls enclosed in the game machine.

Further, by narrowing the pitch interval at the lower part, the lifting speed of the game ball at the portion where the game ball faces the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is reduced, so that the game ball and the ball polishing cloth 263 are reduced. By prolonging the contact time with the game ball, it is possible to reliably clean and polish the game ball. Further, by narrowing the pitch interval in the upper part, the lifting speed of the game ball at the lifting end portion of the ball lifting device 22 can be reduced, and the ball is sent from the ball lifting device 22 to the ball sending gutter 23. It is possible to smoothly feed the game ball to the ball delivery gutter 23 by eliminating the occurrence of troubles such as ball biting during delivery.

Further, as shown in FIG. 54, the ball lifting device 22 is provided with two guide rails 282 for guiding the lifting of the game ball. The distance between the two guide rails is set to be about the same as the diameter of the game ball, but adjustments are also made to stabilize the part where the behavior of the game ball to be lifted may become severe. be able to. In this way, the game ball is lifted in the ball lifting device 22 so that both guide rails can support both sides.

FIG. 55 is a left side view showing a state in which the left side cover of the ball polishing cartridge is removed in FIG. 54. Further, FIG. 56 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the ball polishing cartridge in FIG. 55. Here, 259 is a take-up roller and 260 is a driven roller, and the driving force from the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, which will be described later, is transmitted. The take-up roller 259 is rotated by the rotation of the second drive gear 257 configured to be coaxial with the take-up roller 259, and the frictional force between the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260 causes the ball polishing cloth. 263 is wound up.

Further, a ball polishing cloth 263 is arranged at a portion of the ball polishing cartridge 251 facing the ball lifting device 22, and a tensioner 267 having a function of pressing the ball polishing cloth 263 is provided behind the ball polishing cloth 263. Behind the tensioner 267, two coil-shaped ball polishing cloth holding springs 264 having a function of pressing the tensioner 267 and the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game ball are provided. Further, behind the ball polishing cloth holding spring 264, a spring holding 266 for supporting the ball polishing cloth holding spring 264 is provided. Further, a leaf spring 265 is provided on the upper part of the ball polishing cartridge, and the ball polishing cloth 263 is lightly pressed and aligned by the leaf spring 265, and the ball polishing cloth 263 is placed on a portion facing the ball lifting device 22. It plays the role of aligning before sending.

The ball polishing cloth 263 wound up by the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260 is housed in the ball polishing cartridge 251. In FIGS. 55 and 56, the take-up roller 259 and the driven roller 260 are used. The description of the ball polishing cloth 263 inside the ball polishing cartridge after being wound is omitted.

FIG. 57 is a perspective view showing a state in which the ball polishing cartridge is attached, and FIG. 253 is a right side cover, which is composed of a right outer side cover 253a and a right inner side cover 253b and is integrated. Reference numeral 258 is a second drive gear case that covers the second drive gear 257 described later. FIG. 58 is a perspective view showing a state in which only the right outer side cover 253a is removed from the right side cover 253 for explanation in FIG. 57, 253b is the right inner side cover, and 155 is a ball polishing ribbon. It is a feed motor and serves as a drive source for winding the ball polishing cloth 263 in the ball polishing cartridge 251. Further, the rear end of the right side cover 253 is provided with a hinge 255 that engages with the hinge receiving portion 254, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable around the hinge 255 as a fulcrum. In this embodiment, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 includes a stepping motor. The specific drive mode of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 will be described later.

FIG. 59 is an upper perspective view showing a state in which the right side cover 253 is opened in FIG. 58, and the right side cover 253 is rotatable about the hinge 255 engaged with the hinge receiving portion 254 as a fulcrum. .. A first (not shown) rotated between the right outer side cover 253a and the right inner side cover 253b of the right side cover 253 by driving the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 coaxially with the rotation axis of the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155. A drive gear is provided, and in this embodiment, a gear having 16 teeth is used. Similarly, between the right outer side cover 253a and the right inner side cover 253b, a second drive gear that is coaxial with the drive shaft 290 and meshes with the first drive gear is also provided. In this embodiment, the number of teeth is 32. I'm using the gear.

Next, the mounting operation and mounting detection of the ball polishing cartridge 251 will be described. FIG. 64 is a perspective view of the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270, and FIG. 65 is a perspective view showing the relationship between the ball polishing cartridge 251 and the ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270. The ball polishing cartridge mounting portion 270 is configured so that the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 expands with the hinge portion as a fulcrum by rotating the right side cover 253 with the hinge 255 as a fulcrum (direction A in FIG. 64). There is.

In that state, as shown in FIG. 65, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is inserted into the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 from the front direction. At the time of insertion, the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 is widened by the rotation of the right side cover 253, so that the drive shaft 290 and the mounting sensor 291 do not interfere with the insertion. After inserting the ball polishing cartridge 251, rotate the ball polishing cartridge 251 in the direction opposite to A in FIG. 64 so that the ball polishing cartridge mounting port 273 returns to its original width, and then the ball polishing cartridge fixing lever. By engaging 271 with the ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 272, the drive shaft 290 engages with the first gear shaft 261 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 and the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is pushed in so that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is pushed. It is detected that it is attached.

When the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is pressed while the power of the gaming machine is being turned on, it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is normally mounted and the notification is not performed, but the power is turned on. Nevertheless, when the button 292 of the mounting sensor 291 is not pushed in, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is notified as if it is not normally mounted. As a mode of notification, it is possible to notify by displaying that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not attached in a display device (not shown) which is usually provided in a gaming machine and displays an effect according to the mode of the game. .. Further, as another mode of notification, it is also possible to notify by lighting or blinking a decorative lamp for effect or a dedicated lamp indicating the mounting state of the ball polishing cartridge 251 in a predetermined mode.

Further, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine as in the present embodiment, since the gaming ball enclosed in the gaming machine is circulated to play the game, the gaming is continued for too long without cleaning the gaming ball. Then, the dirt on the game ball may accumulate and the rolling of the game ball may become worse. Therefore, it is preferable to clean the game ball with a ball polishing device somewhere in the middle of the circulation path of the game ball. However, this does not mean that the game cannot be played without the ball polishing device, so even if it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge is not installed, the game can be continued by simply notifying with the display device or the lamp. can.

Further, the game time by the player is cumulatively measured by a measuring means (not shown) by detection by a touch switch 87 provided on the handle. In this embodiment, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 is fed one step every time the cumulative measurement time by the measuring means reaches one minute. In this embodiment, since the winding roller 259 has a diameter of 25 mm, the circumference has a circumference of about 78.5 mm (= 25 × 3.14), and the first drive gear 256 and the second drive gear 257. Considering that the gear ratio of the ball polishing cloth 263 is 1/2, the feed amount of the ball polishing cloth 263 per step is 0.11 mm (= 78.5 / 360/2).

In this embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is pressed and fixed by hanging the lever on the stopper, but the fixing method is not limited to this method and is not limited to this method. The method can also be used.
Further, in this embodiment, a coil-shaped ball polishing cloth holding spring 264 is used as a means for pressing the ball polishing cloth 263 against the game ball, but the holding means is not limited to this, and other means. Shaped springs, other elastic members, and the like can also be used.

In this embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 is arranged at the bottom of the gaming machine, but the arrangement position of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not limited to this position, and is located in the middle or upper part of the gaming machine. It can also be placed. In that case, the opening provided in the portion of the ball lifting device 22 facing the ball polishing cartridge 251 may be changed to a position corresponding to the arrangement position of the ball polishing cartridge 251.

Further, in the present embodiment, as a method of differentiating the lifting direction of the game ball by the ball lifting device 22 and the winding direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 as the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251. Is transported in the vertical direction, and the game ball of the ball lifting device 22 at the portion facing the ball polishing cloth 263 is transported in a direction tilted from the vertical direction. The transport direction of the game ball of the ball lifting device 22 is not limited to the vertical direction, and the transport direction of the ball polishing cloth 263 of the ball polishing cartridge 251 is tilted from the vertical direction, or both are tilted. Various methods can be selected, such as the direction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the ball polishing cartridge 251 has a pushable button 292 as the mounting sensor 291. The button 292 is pushed by the mounting operation of the ball polishing cartridge 251 to mount the ball polishing cartridge 251. Although it has been detected, the aspect of the mounting sensor 291 is not limited to these sensors, and other forms of sensors such as an optical sensor and a magnetic sensor can also be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, even if it is detected by the mounting sensor 291 that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not correctly mounted, the game can be continuously performed only by giving a notification. If it is detected that the ball polishing cartridge 251 is not correctly mounted, it is possible to prevent the game from being performed.

[Encapsulation of game balls]
Next, we will explain the encapsulation operation of enclosing a predetermined number of gaming balls in the enclosed ball-type gaming machine when a new enclosed ball-type gaming machine is installed or when a dirty gaming ball is once taken out and cleaned. do. The encapsulation operation is performed when the power of the encapsulation ball type gaming machine is not turned on. Therefore, the ball lifting device 22 and various sensors in the enclosed ball type game machine are not operating.

In the enclosed ball-type gaming machine, the gaming ball is launched into the gaming area by the launching device, and after rolling in the gaming area, the winning device is won or the gaming ball is collected from the out port 42, and the collected gaming ball is It is transported to the launching device again, and is launched again into the game area in the launching device to play the game. That is, the circulation path of the game ball is formed as a whole.
To introduce the game ball in the encapsulation operation, the game ball may be inserted in this circulation path, and in this embodiment, the game ball is introduced from the out port 42. As a result, it is not necessary to separately provide an encapsulation port for enclosing the game ball in the enclosed ball-type gaming machine, and the configuration of the enclosed ball-type gaming machine can be simplified. Further, instead of the out opening 42, the game ball may be introduced from the winning opening 41 of the winning device. Since the game ball that has entered the winning opening 41 of the winning device also joins the game ball that has entered the out opening 42 and is then transported to the launching device, the game ball is conveyed from the winning opening 41 of the winning device. Even if the game ball is introduced, the game ball can be put into the circulation path as in the case where the game ball is introduced into the out port 42. In either case, when introducing the game ball, care must be taken not to hit the game ball, hands, or the like with the nail. When the game ball is introduced into the out port 42, the game ball introduction member 427, which will be described later, is provided to prevent the game ball from hitting the nail at the time of insertion. The out opening 42 and the winning opening 41 correspond to the game ball collection opening.

FIG. 71 is a schematic view showing a state in which the number of gaming balls is less than a predetermined number when the gaming balls are enclosed in the enclosed ball-type gaming machine. As described above, at the time of the filling operation of the gaming ball, the ball lifting device 22 is not driven because the power is not yet turned on to the enclosed ball type gaming machine. Therefore, the game balls thrown in from the out port 42 and the winning port 41 enter through the collection port 202, pass through the inside of the deformed ball / magnetic ball discharging unit 20, and then are aligned with the front of the ball lifting device 22 at the head.

FIG. 72 shows a state in which a predetermined number of game balls are reached by further inserting game balls from the state of FIG. 71. As shown in FIG. 72, when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the game ball 233 thrown in last is a discontinuous portion 223 at a position where the magnetic ball discharge path 226 and the path of the regular game ball branch off. It is located at and is configured to block the discontinuity portion 223.

FIG. 73 shows a state in which a game ball is further thrown in from the state of FIG. 72, and a game ball exceeding a predetermined number is thrown in. As described above, when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed, the game balls 233 thrown in last are configured to block the discontinuous portion 223, so that the number of game balls thrown in is a predetermined number. The game ball 235 exceeds the above, and the discontinuous portion 223 cannot enter the path of the regular game ball 233, and is guided from the magnetic ball discharge path 226 to the magnetic ball discharge chestnut 227 and collected.

In this embodiment, in the magnetic ball discharging section, the discontinuous portion 223 to which the regular game ball 233 is guided when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed is closed, and a predetermined number or more of the game balls are magnetic balls. Although it is configured to be collected at the discharge section, similarly, in the deformed ball discharge path, the path through which the regular game ball 233 is guided when a predetermined number of game balls are enclosed is blocked and collected at the deformed ball discharge section. You can also do it.

Further, in order to improve efficiency when the game ball is thrown into the out port 42, the game ball introduction member 427 is provided on the rail portion of the front component 45 located at the lower edge of the out port 42 (FIG. 74, FIG. 75). When the game ball is placed on the upper surface of the game ball introduction member 427, the game ball is poured toward the out port 42, so that the game ball can be efficiently enclosed. In addition, the game ball can be thrown in without hitting a nearby nail.

FIG. 74 is a perspective view showing a state in which the game ball introduction member 427 is projected. The game ball introduction member 427 can be projected by opening the door frame 3 and sliding it toward the front.

FIG. 75 is a perspective view showing a state in which the game ball introduction member 427 is housed. Since the game ball introduction member 427 can be stored by pushing it inward from the state shown in FIG. 74, the game is not hindered.

In this embodiment, the game ball introduction member 427 has a structure that can be moved forward and backward by manually sliding it, but the door frame is not limited to the above method and a urging member such as a spring spring is used. Various methods can be selected, such as automatically advancing and retreating by opening and closing 3.

Next, the outline of the control of the pachinko gaming machine 1 and the settlement machine 4 as an external device arranged adjacent to the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described. FIG. 76 is a block diagram showing a main part in an embodiment of a main control board provided in an enclosed ball-type pachinko gaming machine and provided with an RTC. The control of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is roughly divided between the main board group and the peripheral board group. Of these, the main board group controls the game operation, and the peripheral board group controls the production operation (liquid crystal display panel,). It controls the lamp, body frame lamp, door frame lamp, sound). The main board group is composed of the main control board 100 and the sphere information control board 110, and the peripheral board group is composed of the peripheral control board 130.

[Main control board 100]
The main control board 100 controls the pachinko game. The main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 described later are connected so as to enable bidirectional data communication. As shown in FIG. 76, the main control board 100 that controls the progress of the game is a main control MPU 101 that is a microprocessor having a built-in ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands, a RAM for temporarily storing data, and the like. The main control I / O port 102 as an input / output device (I / O device), the main control input circuit 103 to which detection signals from various detection switches are input, and the main control solenoid for driving various solenoids. It includes a drive circuit 104 and a RAM clear switch 105 for completely erasing the information stored in the RAM (hereinafter, referred to as “main control built-in RAM”) built in the main control MPU 101.

In addition to its built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as "main control built-in ROM") and main control built-in RAM, the main control MPU 101 has a watchdog timer for monitoring its operation (system) and for preventing fraud. Functions etc. are also built-in. In addition, the main control MPU 101 has a built-in non-volatile RAM, and this non-volatile RAM has a unique code for identifying an individual by the manufacturer of the main control MPU 101 (a code that exists only once in the world). ) Is stored in advance as a unique ID code. Since the ID code once attached is stored in the non-volatile RAM, it cannot be rewritten even if an external device is used. The main control MPU 101 can take out the ID code from the non-volatile RAM and refer to it.

[RTC control unit]
Further, the main control MPU 101 of the embodiment includes an external real-time clock (hereinafter referred to as “RTC”) 107 capable of acquiring time information as a time information acquisition means. Although not shown, the RTC 107 includes a register circuit, a clock input circuit, a clock output circuit, an interrupt output circuit, a data input / output circuit, and a control circuit.

The RTC107 has a clock / calendar function. The clock / calendar function is a function that counts the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second. Further, if necessary, a device that counts up to the day of the week may be used. The RTC control unit 106 is provided with a battery 108 for driving the RTC 107 and the RTC 107. By providing the battery 108, the RTC 107 does not interrupt the timekeeping and calendar functions even when the power supply of the power supply board (not shown) is cut off.

The battery 108 may be a primary battery (for example, a button battery), or a rechargeable secondary battery, which eliminates the need to arrange a backup power source and avoids complicating the configuration of the main control board 100. Can be done. The battery 108 is also used as a backup power source for the RAM 109.

The main control MPU 101 is provided with an RTC 107 to have a function of specifying a year, month, day, hour, minute, and second (calendar information and time information). The main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 acquires time information (hours, minutes, seconds) from the RTC 107 when the power of the gaming machine is turned on.

The upper start port detection switch 90 for detecting the game ball winning in the upper start port (not shown) arranged in the game area 8 of the game board 5, and the game ball winning in the lower start port (not shown) are detected. The detection signals from the lower start port detection switch 91 and the general winning port detection switch 93 that detects the game ball that has won a prize in the general winning port (not shown) are first input to the main control input circuit 103, and then the main control I / It is input to the main control MPU 101 via the O port 102.

Further, a gate switch 92 for detecting a game ball that has passed through a gate portion (not shown), a general winning opening detection switch 94 for detecting a game ball that has won a prize in a general winning opening (not shown), and a large winning opening (not shown). The detection signal from the count switch 98 that detects the winning game ball is first input to the main control input circuit 103 via the panel relay terminal plate 140 attached to the game board 5, and then the main control I / O port. It is input to the main control MPU 101 via 102.

The main control MPU 101 outputs a control signal from the main control I / O port 102 to the main control solenoid drive circuit 104 based on these detection signals, so that the start port solenoid 96 and the large are connected via the panel relay terminal plate 140. A drive signal is output to the winning port solenoid 97, and the upper special symbol display 142, lower special symbol display 143, and upper special are output from the main control I / O port 102 via the panel relay terminal board 140 and the function display board 141. A drive signal is output to the symbol storage display 144, the lower special symbol storage display 145, the normal symbol display 146, the normal symbol storage display 147, the game status display 148, and the round display 149.

Further, the main control MPU 101 serially transmits various information related to the game (game information) and various commands related to the prize ball according to the winning to the ball information control board 110, or a pachinko game from the ball information control board 110. It receives various commands related to the status of the machine 1 in a serial manner. Further, the main control MPU 101 transmits various commands related to the control of the game effect and various commands related to the state of the pachinko gaming machine 1 to the peripheral control board 130.

[Sphere information control board 110]
FIG. 77 is a block diagram showing a main part of a ball information control board 110 mainly installed in an enclosed ball-type pachinko gaming machine. The ball information control board 110 includes a ball information control unit 118 that manages a holding ball, controls a ball lifting device 22, a launch solenoid 13, a ball feed solenoid 31, a ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the like. Further, the main control board 100 and the sphere information control board 110 are connected so as to enable bidirectional data communication.

[Sphere information control unit 118]
As shown in FIG. 77, the ball information control unit 118 includes a ball information control MPU 111, which is a microprocessor having a built-in ROM for storing various processing programs and various commands, a RAM for temporarily storing data, and I / O. A ball information control I / O port 112 as an O device and an external watch dock timer 116 (hereinafter referred to as "external WDT 116") for monitoring whether or not the ball information control MPU 111 is operating normally. , A ball lifting motor drive circuit 114 for outputting a drive signal to the ball lifting motor 150 of the ball lifting device 22 that performs ball lifting, and a ball information control input circuit for inputting detection signals from various detection switches. A CR unit input / output circuit 115 for exchanging various signals with the payment machine 4 and a ball polishing ribbon feed motor drive circuit 119 for outputting a drive signal to the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155 are provided. There is. In addition to the built-in ROM (hereinafter referred to as "sphere information control built-in ROM") and RAM (hereinafter referred to as "ball information control built-in RAM"), the ball information control MPU 111 is fraudulent. It also has built-in functions to prevent it.

The ball information control MPU 111 receives various information (game information) related to the game from the main control board 100 and various commands related to the prize ball serially via the ball information control I / O port 112, or from the main control board 100. The operation signal (detection signal) of the RAM clear switch 105 of the above is input via the ball information control I / O port 112.

The detection signals from the door frame opening switch 131 for detecting the opening of the door frame 3 with respect to the main body frame 2 and the main body frame opening switch 132 for detecting the opening of the main body frame 2 with respect to the outer frame are first input to the ball information control input circuit 113. It is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I / O port 112. Further, a touch detection signal (on signal) by the touch switch 87 that detects whether or not the palm or finger is touching the hitting ball handle 10 is input to the ball information control board 110 via the handle relay terminal plate 123, and further touched. The detection signal is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I / O port 112.

Further, the ball information control MPU 111 is connected to the launch solenoid 13 through the launch solenoid drive circuit 120, is connected to the ball feed solenoid 31 through the ball feed solenoid drive circuit 122, and is connected to the ball feed solenoid 31 through the ball feed solenoid drive circuit 122. And the ball feed solenoid 31 is driven. In addition, there are game balls supplied to the launch standby ball detection switches 26 and 70, the launch ball confirmation switch 36, the recovery ball detection switch 203, the ball path full tank detection switch 206, the ball appropriate amount detection switch 207, and the ball lifting device 22. The lifting inlet switch 156 for detecting the above, the lifting motor sensor (photo sensor) 157 for detecting the rotation speed of the ball lifting motor 150, and the ball polishing cartridge containing the ball polishing cloth ribbon shall be installed. The detection signal from the cassette detection switch 158 for detecting is input to the ball information control input circuit 113 via the sensor relay board 124, and is input to the ball information control MPU 111 via the ball information control I / O port 112. There is. The ball information control MPU 111 sends drive signals for driving the ball lifting motor 150, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, the launch solenoid 13, and the ball feed solenoid 31 to each drive element via the ball information control I / O port 112. Output to.

Further, the touch panel unit 14 is connected to the ball information control MPU 111 so as to be displayable by the control output from the ball information control I / O port 112. The ball information control board 110 relays the electrical connection between the main control board 100 and the external terminal board 133, and also includes the door frame opening switch 131, the main body frame opening switch 132, and the external terminal board 133. Relays the electrical connection between. The external terminal board 133 is electrically connected to a hall computer installed in the amusement park (hall).

Detection signal from the touch switch 87 that detects whether or not the palm or finger is touching the hitting ball handle 10, and the firing stop switch 86 that detects whether or not the launching of the game ball is forcibly stopped by the player's will. Is first input to the ball information control input circuit 113 via the handle relay terminal plate 123. Further, when the settlement machine 4 and the ball information control board 110 are electrically connected, they are input to the CR unit input / output circuit 115 as a CR connection signal.

A DC power supply of + 24V, + 12V, and + 5.2V is supplied from the power supply board (not shown) to the ball information control board 110. Further, DC power supplies + 24V, + 12V, and + 5.2V are supplied to the main control board 100 via the ball information control board 110.

The power failure monitoring circuit 117 compares and monitors the voltage V1 based on + 24V and the reference voltage, and the voltage V2 based on + 12V and the reference voltage, respectively, and when a sign of a power failure or a momentary power failure is detected, that is, the voltage V1 or V2 is the reference. When the voltage becomes smaller than the voltage, a power failure warning signal is output as a power failure warning. The power failure warning signal output from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 is supplied to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 and also to the main control MPU 101. Although not shown, the power failure warning signal is also input to the peripheral control board 130.

[Payment machine 4]
FIG. 78 is a block diagram showing each element mainly connected to the checkout machine 4. The settlement machine 4 and the sphere information control board 110 are connected so that data communication can be performed in both directions. Although not shown, the control unit of the checkout machine 4 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, an input / output interface, a communication interface, and the like.

The operation input signals of the ball lending button and the settlement button arranged on the touch panel unit 14 of the enclosed ball-type gaming machine 1 are connected to the settlement machine 4 so as to be inputtable, for example, through an interface. Further, the remaining frequency display unit and the operable notification lamp arranged on the touch panel unit 14 of the enclosed ball-type pachinko gaming machine 1 are connected so as to be displayable by the control output from the settlement machine 4. Further, the payment machine 4 is provided with a card processing machine 402 behind the card insertion slot of FIG. 1.

[Card 403]
The card 403 used in the embodiment is composed of, for example, a magnetic card, an IC card, or the like, and is issued by a card issuing machine (not shown) and provided to the player when the player pays a predetermined amount. FIG. 78 shows the data structure stored in the card 403.

The card 403 has an ID storage unit 404 in which an ID number (hereinafter, simply referred to as an ID) as identification information individually assigned to the card 403 is stored, and corresponds to the amount paid when purchasing the card 403. Remaining number storage unit 405 in which the remaining number as valuable information is stored, and the number of balls stored in the player (game machine) stored as a result of the game played. Is set. When the card 403 is issued, the ID is stored in the ID storage unit 404, and the remaining frequency storage unit 405 has a remaining frequency corresponding to the amount paid when the card 403 is purchased (for example, the amount paid is 5000 yen). If so, "5000") is stored as the remaining number of balls, but "0" is stored as the initial value of the number of balls held in the ball holding number storage unit 406.

The card processor 402 has been well known in the past, and is a card sensor that detects a card 403, a card reader / writer that reads data stored in the card 403 and writes data to the card 403, and data reading of the card 403. It is provided with a card transporting means for feeding the card 403 to the writing position and discharging the card 403 to the card insertion slot. When the card 403 is inserted into the card insertion slot, the card processing machine 402 sends the card 403 to a predetermined data reading / writing position, and the data stored by the card reader / writer, that is, the ID, the remaining number, and the possession. The number of balls is read and output to the checkout machine 4. Further, in response to the writing command from the settlement machine 4, the ID, the remaining frequency, and the number of balls held are written (stored) in each of the above-mentioned storage units.

The checkout machine 4 stores the ID, the remaining frequency, and the number of balls held from the card 403 through the card processing machine 402 in the RAM.

[Ball rental by card 403]
When the settlement machine 4 reads the data of the card 403, the remaining frequency stored in the RAM is displayed on the residual frequency display unit. When the card 403 can be used, the settlement machine 4 lends the ball according to the operation of the ball lending button. In this ball lending, for example, a ball lending number of 125 (ball unit price is 4 yen) is lent for each operation of the ball lending button. In ball lending, if there is a number of balls held and the number of balls held is less than 125, the total number of balls held is used as the number of balls to be rented. The checkout machine 4 transmits the number of balls to be rented to the ball information control board 110. Further, the settlement machine 4 obtains the consideration for the ball lending by multiplying the set ball unit price by the number of balls lent, and subtracts the obtained consideration (the consideration corresponding to the ball lending is the remaining frequency) from the current remaining frequency. If there is a number of balls held and the ball is lent from the number of balls held, the number of balls lent is subtracted from the current number of balls held. The settlement machine 4 displays this result on the remaining frequency display unit. Further, the remaining frequency is written in the remaining frequency storage unit 405 of the card 403.

[Start game]
When the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 receives the number of rented balls transmitted from the checkout machine 4, it adds to the number of balls held by the gaming machine and displays the addition result on the touch panel unit 14. The upper launching device 12 can be launched and the game becomes playable.

[During the game]
When the player operates the hitting handle 10 to operate the hitting ball launching device 29 and the launching hammer 30 launches the game ball at the ball launching position into the game area 8, this is used to detect the ball of the launching ball confirmation switch 36. Based on this, it is detected that each game ball is driven into the game area 8. Then, the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 sequentially "1" from the game machine possession number data stored in the game machine possession number storage area in response to the hit detection of each game ball. Is subtracted and the number of balls held is displayed on the touch panel unit 14.

On the other hand, the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 has a gate switch 92 arranged at a gate (not shown) that allows the game ball to pass through on the five sides of the game board, and a normal winning opening (not shown). The general winning opening detection switches 93 and 94 arranged for the large winning opening (not shown), the count switch 98 arranged for the large winning opening (not shown), and the starting opening (not shown) as the upper starting opening. Based on the detection signals from the upper and lower start port detection switches 90 and 91, processing related to the game is performed, and the commands and signals as the processing results are sent to the ball information control board 110, peripheral control board 130, upper and lower special symbols. Outputs to indicators 142, 143, upper and lower special symbol storage indicators 144, 145, ordinary symbol indicators 146, ordinary symbol storage indicators 147, starting port solenoid 96, large winning opening solenoid 97, and the like.

When a game ball launched by the upper launching device 12 wins a prize in various winning openings (starting winning opening, large winning opening, etc.) in the game area 8, the game ball is provided with various winning detection switches for each winning opening. It is detected by (upper start opening detection switch 90, lower start opening detection switch 91, general winning opening detection switch 93, general winning opening detection switch 94, count switch 98).

The main control MPU 101 responds to the detection signal of the detection switch provided for each winning opening (corresponding to the general winning opening detection switches 93, 94, the count switch 98, and the upper and lower starting opening detection switches 90, 91). , A prize ball command indicating the number of prize balls set according to the winning opening where the game ball has won is output to the ball information control board 110 as needed.

Further, the main control MPU 101 periodically outputs a game state signal (status) indicating the type of the current game state to the peripheral control board 130. In the game state, for example, a winning lottery is performed due to winning a prize in the starting port and the starting port, and a special symbol is variably displayed based on the lottery result to stop the symbol, and the lottery result is won. In the case of the first-class pachinko gaming machine that shifts to the special gaming state (big hit gaming state) in the case of, the normal gaming state (the probability of winning by lottery is the normal probability, and the variable display time of the normal symbol is normal), the time is shortened. Game state (normal symbol variable display time is shorter than usual, time saving medium information output signal), big hit game state (15 round big hit information output signal, or 2 round big hit information output signal), high probability game State (state where the probability of winning by lottery is higher than usual, information output signal during probability fluctuation), state during special symbol change (special symbol display information output signal), state where there is a hold based on the start opening prize (start) There is a winning information output signal).

The peripheral control board 130 includes a liquid crystal display panel (not shown), a accessory decorative board (not shown), a board decoration board (not shown), and a frame decoration based on a command output from the main control board 100. By outputting a control signal to the board (not shown), the lighting display of various decorative LEDs is controlled, and the sound (voice, sound, sound effect, etc.) output from the speaker (not shown) is also controlled. , The liquid crystal display panel (not shown) controls the design to be displayed.

The ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110 displays the number of balls held by the firing solenoid 13, the ball feed solenoid 31, the ball lifting motor 150, the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the touch panel unit 14 based on various input signals. And output a signal to the checkout machine 4.

A game status signal and a prize ball command output from the main control board 100 are input to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110.

In response to receiving such a prize ball command, the ball information control MPU 111 has a value of the number of prize balls preset for each winning opening in the game machine possession ball number data stored in the game machine ball number storage area. Is added and this is displayed on the touch panel unit 14.

[End of game, settlement]
After that, when the settlement button is operated by the player to end the game, the settlement machine 4 transmits a game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110.

When the settlement machine 4 transmits the game end command to the ball information control MPU 111 in response to the operation of the settlement button, the ball information control MPU 111 receives the game end command sent from the settlement machine 4, and the ball information control The MPU 111 transmits "end possible" to the checkout machine 4. Next, the ball information control MPU 111 stops the launch solenoid 13 and the ball feed solenoid 31 to stop the game. The current number of balls held by the gaming machine stored in the storage area for the number of balls held by the gaming machine is transmitted to the settlement machine 4.

Then, when the processing of the settlement machine 4 corresponding to the number of balls possessed by the gaming machine transmitted from the ball information control MPU 111 is completed, the settlement machine 4 transmits the processing completion, so that the ball information control MPU 111 receives the processing completion. Then, the game machine holding number storage area of the RAM is cleared to 0, and the processing is completed.

On the other hand, after the settlement machine 4 receives "end possible" as a response to the game end command about the end state, the ball information control MPU 111 transmits the number of balls held by the game machine to the settlement machine 4, so that the settlement machine 4 is a game. When the number of balls possessed by the machine is received, the number of balls possessed by the pachinko machine received is added to the number of balls possessed by the pachinko machine stored in the RAM when the card is inserted, and the addition result is stored as the number of balls possessed by the settlement machine. As a result, all the number of balls held as a result of the game played by the player is stored as the number of balls held by the checkout machine. Then, the processing end is transmitted to the ball information control MPU 111, the number of balls held by the checkout machine is written in the ball holding number storage unit 406 of the card 403, the card 403 is ejected from the card insertion slot, and the processing is completed. As a result, the card 403 rewritten by adding the number of balls held by the gaming machine as a result of the game is returned to the player.

[Various control processes of the main control board]
First, various control processes performed by the main control board 100 shown in FIG. 76 according to the progress of the game of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 79 to 81. FIG. 79 is a flowchart showing the main control side power-on processing executed by the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100, and FIG. 80 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the main control-side power-on processing of FIG. 79. Is a flowchart showing the main control side timer interrupt process executed by the main control MPU 101.

[Processing when the power is turned on on the main control side]
When the power is turned on to the pachinko gaming machine 1, the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the main control MPU) of the main control board 100 performs the main control side power-on processing as shown in FIGS. 79 and 80. .. When the main control side power-on processing is started, the main control MPU sets the stack pointer (step S10). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address stacked on the stack for temporarily storing the contents of the storage element (register) in use, or temporarily returns the return address of this routine when the subroutine is terminated and returned to this routine. It indicates the address stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S10, the initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the contents of the register, the return address, and the like are pushed onto the stack from this initial address.
Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by reading in order from the last stacked stack to the first stacked stack.

Following step S10, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S12), and it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal is input (step S14). The voltage does not rise immediately from the time the power is turned on until the specified voltage is reached. On the other hand, when a power failure or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the power supply is suddenly stopped) occurs, the voltage drops, and when the voltage becomes smaller than the power failure warning voltage, the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110 gives a power failure notice as a power failure notice. The signal is output and input to the main control MPU. Similarly, when the voltage becomes smaller than the power failure warning voltage between the time when the power is turned on and the voltage rises to a predetermined voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110.

Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S12 is a process for waiting until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and stabilizes after the power is turned on. In this embodiment, 200 ms is set as the waiting time (wait timer). ing. The determination in step S14 is performed based on the power failure warning signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 of the ball information control board 110. After the power is turned on, when the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and stabilizes, the power failure warning signal from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 becomes no output, and the main control MPU proceeds to step S16.

Proceeding to step S16, the main control MPU determines whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 (FIG. 76) is operated (step S16). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 of the main control board 100 is operated and the operation signal (detection signal) is input to the main control MPU. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated, while when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is not operated.

When it is determined in step S16 that the RAM clear switch 105 is being operated, the value 1 is set in the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG (step S18), and the process proceeds to step S30, while the RAM clear switch 105 is set in step S16. When it is determined that the operation has not been performed, the value 0 is set in the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG (step S19), and the process proceeds to step S30.

This RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is a game related to games such as probability fluctuations and unpaid prize balls stored in a RAM built in the main control MPU 101 (hereinafter, referred to as "main control built-in RAM"). It is a flag indicating whether or not to delete the information, and is set to a value 1 when the game information is deleted and a value 0 when the game information is not deleted. The values of the RAM clear notification flags RCL-FLG set in steps S18 and S19 are stored in the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the main control MPU.

When the main control MPU shifts to step S30, the wait timer process 2 is performed (step S30). In this wait timer process 2, the system waits until the system that controls the drawing of the liquid crystal display device (not shown) by the liquid crystal control unit of the peripheral control board 130 starts (boots). In this embodiment, 2 seconds (s) is set as the time until booting (boot timer).

Following step S30, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG has a value of 0 (step S32). As described above, the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is set to a value of 1 when the game information is erased and a value of 0 when the game information is not erased. When it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG has a value of 0, that is, when the game information is not erased, the checksum is calculated (step S34). This checksum regards the game information stored in the main control built-in RAM as a numerical value and calculates the total.

Following step S34, whether or not the calculated checksum value (sum value) matches the checksum value (sum value) stored in the main control side power cutoff process (power cutoff) described later. (Step S36). If they match, it is determined whether or not the backup flag BK-FLG has a value of 1 (step S38). The backup flag BK-FLG stores and holds backup information such as game information, checksum value (sum value), and backup flag BK-FLG value in the main control built-in RAM in the main control side power cutoff process described later. It is a flag indicating whether or not, and is set to a value 1 when the main control side power supply cutoff process is normally completed, and a value 0 when the main control side power supply cutoff process is not normally completed.

When the backup flag BK-FLG has a value of 1 in step S38, that is, when the main control side power cutoff process is normally completed, the work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as the time of power recovery (step S40). For this setting, in addition to setting the value 0 to the backup flag BK-FLG, the power recovery information is read from the ROM built in the main control MPU (hereinafter referred to as "main control built-in ROM"), and this power recovery is performed. The time information is set in the work area of the main control built-in RAM. In addition, "recovery" means that the power is turned on from the state where the power is cut off, the state where the power is restored after the power failure or momentary power failure, and the state where high frequency is irradiated is detected and reset. The state of returning after that is also included.

Following step S40, a power-on command creation process is performed (step S42). In this power-on command creation process, game information is read from backup information and various commands corresponding to the game information are stored in a predetermined storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S32 that the RAM clear notification flag RCL-FLG is not a value 0 (value 1), that is, when the game information is erased, or in step S36, the checksum values (sum values) match. When it is not set, or when it is determined in step S38 that the backup flag BK-FLG is not a value 1 (value is 0), that is, when the main control side power cutoff process is not normally completed, the main control built-in RAM Clear all areas (step S44). Specifically, the value 0 is written to the main control built-in RAM (note that a predetermined value may be read from the main control built-in ROM as an initial value and set). Further, the random number for determining the initial value for determining the jackpot to be used for determining the initial value of the random number for determining the jackpot is used when the RAM clear switch 105 is operated to erase the game information, when the sum values do not match, or when the sum values do not match. When the main control side power off processing is not completed normally, the unique ID code stored in advance in the non-volatile RAM of the main control MPU is taken out, and the random number for jackpot judgment is updated based on the taken out ID code. The initial value derivation process for always deriving the same fixed value from the fixed numerical value range of the counter is executed, and this fixed value is set as the initial value.

Following step S44, the work area of the main control built-in RAM is set as an initial setting (step S46). This setting reads the initial information from the main control built-in ROM and sets this initial information in the work area of the main control built-in RAM.

Following step S46, RAM clear notification and test command creation processing are performed (step S48). In this RAM clear notification and test command creation process, a power-on command classified into power-on for clearing the main control built-in RAM and notifying that the initial setting has been performed is created, and various peripheral control boards 130 are used. Create test commands classified as test-related for performing inspection, and store them as transmission information in the transmission information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

Following step S42 or step S48, interrupt initial setting is performed (step S50). This setting sets the interrupt cycle when the main control side timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 4 ms.

Following step S50, interrupt enable setting is performed. (Step S52). With this setting, the main control side timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed every 4 ms, that is, the interrupt cycle set in step S50. The processing of steps S10 to S52 is referred to as "main control side power-on processing".

Following step S52, the value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S54). The watchdog timer is set to clear by setting the value A, the value B, and the value C in order in the watchdog timer clear register WCL.

Following step S54, it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal has been input (step S56). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is sent to the ball information control board 110 as a power failure monitoring circuit. It is input from 117. The determination in step S56 is performed based on this power failure warning signal.

When there is no input of the power failure warning signal in step S56, the non-winning random number update process is performed (step S58). In this non-winning random number update process, for example, a reach determination random number, a variable display pattern random number, a big hit symbol initial value determination random number, a small hit symbol initial value determination random number, and the like are updated. In this way, in the non-winning random number update process, random numbers that are not related to the winning determination (big hit determination) are updated. The random number for determining the normal symbol hit, the random number for determining the initial value for determining the normal symbol hit, the random number for the normal symbol variation display pattern, and the like are also updated by this non-winning random number update process.

Following step S58, the process returns to step S54 again, the value A is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, it is determined in step S56 whether or not there is a power failure warning signal input, and this power failure warning signal must be input. For example, the non-winning random number update process is performed in step S58, and steps S54 to S58 are repeated. The processing of steps S54 to S58 is referred to as "main control side main loop processing".

On the other hand, when the power failure warning signal is input in step S56, the interrupt prohibition setting is set (step S60). With this setting, the timer interrupt process on the main control side, which will be described later, is not performed, writing to the main control built-in RAM is prevented, and rewriting of game information is protected.

Following step S60, the starting port solenoid 96, the winning opening solenoid 97, the upper special symbol display 142, the lower special symbol display 143, the upper special symbol storage display 144, and the lower special symbol storage display shown in FIG. 76 are shown. The drive signal output to the device 145, the normal symbol display 146, the normal symbol storage display 147, the game status display 148, the round display 149, etc. is stopped (step S62).

Following step S62, the checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S64). This checksum calculates the total of the game information in the work area of the main control built-in RAM, excluding the storage area of the checksum value (sum value) and the backup flag BK-FLG value described above, as numerical values.

Following step S64, the value 1 is set in the backup flag BK-FLG (step S66). This completes the storage of backup information.

Following step S66, the watchdog timer is cleared (step S68). As described above, this clear setting is performed by setting the value A, the value B, and the value C in order in the watchdog timer clear register WCL.

Following step S68, a loop process of repeating a state in which nothing is executed is entered. The processing of steps S60 to S68 and the loop processing are referred to as "main control side power supply cutoff processing". In this loop processing, the value A, the value B, and the value C are not set in order in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, so that the watchdog timer is not set to clear. Therefore, the watchdog timer times out and outputs a time-out signal, the main control MPU is reset by the time-out signal, and then the main control MPU performs the main control side power-on processing from the beginning again.

The pachinko gaming machine 1 (main control MPU 101) is reset when there is a power failure or when there is a momentary power failure, and when the power is restored thereafter, the main control side power-on processing is performed.

In step S36, it is inspected whether the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM is normal, and then in step S38, it is checked whether or not the main control side power cutoff process is normally completed. Inspecting. In this way, by double-checking the backup information stored in the main control built-in RAM, it is inspected whether or not the backup information is stored by fraudulent activity.

[Main control side timer interrupt processing]
Next, the timer interrupt processing on the main control side will be described. This main control side timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed every interrupt cycle (4 ms in this embodiment) set in the main control side power-on time process shown in FIGS. 79 and 80.

When the main control side timer interrupt process is started, the main control MPU of the main control board 100 sets the value B in the watchdog timer clear register WCL as shown in FIG. 81 (step S70). At this time, the value B is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value A set in step S54 of the main control side main loop processing.

Following step S70, the interrupt flag is cleared (step S72). When this interrupt flag is cleared, the interrupt cycle is initialized, and the next interrupt cycle is clocked from the initial value.

Following step S72, switch input processing is performed (step S74). In this switch input process, various signals input to the input terminal of the main control I / O port 102 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the main control built-in RAM.

Following step S74, timer subtraction processing is performed (step S76). In this timer subtraction process, for example, the time during which the upper special symbol display 142 and the lower special symbol display 143 are lit according to the fluctuation display pattern determined by the special symbol and the special electric accessory control process described later, the normal symbol described later, and the normal symbol In addition to the time when the normal symbol display 146 lights up according to the normal symbol variation display pattern determined by the normal electric accessory control process, the ball information control board 110 sends various commands transmitted by the main control board 100 (main control MPU). When determining whether or not the ball information main ACK signal indicating that the signal has been received normally has been input, time management such as the ACK signal input determination time set as the determination condition is performed. Specifically, when the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is 5 seconds, if the timer interrupt cycle is set to 4 ms, the fluctuation time is set to 4 ms each time the timer subtraction process is performed. By subtracting and the subtraction result becomes a value of 0, the fluctuation time of the fluctuation display pattern or the normal symbol fluctuation display pattern is accurately measured.

In this embodiment, the ACK signal input determination time is set to 100 ms. Each time this timer subtraction process is performed, the ACK signal input determination time is subtracted by 4 ms, and the subtraction result becomes a value of 0, so that the ACK signal input determination time is accurately measured. These various times and the ACK signal input determination time are stored in the time management information storage area of the main control built-in RAM as time management information.

Following step S76, the winning random number update process is performed (step S78). In this winning random number update process, the above-mentioned big hit determination random number, big hit symbol random number, and small hit symbol random number are updated. Further, in addition to these random numbers, the random number for determining the initial value for the jackpot symbol, which is updated by the non-winning random number update process in step S58 in the main control side power-on processing (main control side main process) shown in FIG. And the random number for determining the initial value for the small hit symbol is also updated. These random numbers for determining the initial value for the big hit symbol and the random numbers for determining the initial value for the small hit symbol are updated in the main control side main process and the main control side timer interrupt process, respectively, to further enhance the randomness. .. On the other hand, since the big hit judgment random number, the big hit symbol random number, and the small hit symbol random number are random numbers related to the winning judgment (big hit judgment), the respective counters are used only each time the winning random number update process is performed. Counts up. For example, as described above, the counter that updates the random number for jackpot determination is an initial value update type counter, and has a predetermined fixed numerical range from the minimum value to the maximum value (in the present embodiment, the value is set as the minimum value). It is updated within the value 32767) from 0 to the maximum value, and the range from the minimum value to the maximum value is counted up by adding a value of 1 each time the main control side timer interrupt process is performed. The random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is counted up toward the maximum value (value 32767), and then the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is counted up from the minimum value (value 0). When the counter for updating the big hit determination random number finishes counting up in the range from the minimum value to the maximum value of the big hit determination random number, the big hit determination initial value determination random number is updated by this winning random number update process. At this time, the updated value is always the same from the fixed numerical range of the counter that the main control MPU extracts the ID code from the built-in non-volatile RAM and updates the random number for jackpot determination based on the extracted ID code. The initial value derivation process for deriving the fixed value of is executed, and the derived fixed value is set as the initial value. That is, the random number for determining the initial value for jackpot determination is always overwritten and updated with the same fixed value derived based on the ID code by executing the initial value derivation process as the initial value. The above-mentioned random number for determining the normal symbol hit and the random number for determining the initial value for determining the normal symbol hit are also updated by this winning random number update process. The normal symbol hit determination random number and the like are the same as the above-mentioned method for updating the big hit determination random number, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Following step S78, prize ball control processing is performed (step S80). In this prize ball control process, a prize ball command for reading input information from the above-mentioned input information storage area and transmitting it to the ball information control board 110 based on this input information can be created, or the main control board 100 and ball information can be created. A self-check command for confirming the connection state between the control board 110 and the board is created. Then, the created prize ball command and self-check command are transmitted to the ball information control board 110 as main ball information serial data. For example, when one game ball enters the large winning opening, a prize ball command representing 15 balls as the number of prize balls is created and transmitted to the ball information control board 110, or this prize ball command is transmitted to the ball information control board. Create a self-check command to check the connection status between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 when the ball information main ACK signal telling that the reception of 110 has been completed normally is not input within a predetermined time. It may be transmitted to the ball information control board 110.

Following step S80, frame command reception processing is performed (step S82). The ball information control board 110 transmits various 1-byte (8-bit) commands classified into status displays. In the frame command reception process of step S82, when these various commands are normally received as the ball information main serial data, the information to convey the fact to the ball information control board 110 is transmitted to the output information storage area of the main control built-in RAM as output information. Remember. Further, the command normally received as the sphere information main serial data is formatted into a 2-byte (16-bit) command and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area described above.

Following step S82, fraud detection processing is performed (step S84). In this fraud detection process, an abnormal state related to the prize ball is confirmed. For example, when the input information is read from the above-mentioned input information storage area and the detection signal from the count switch 98 is input when the game is not in the big hit game state (when the game ball enters the big winning opening), etc. A winning abnormality display command classified as a notification display as an abnormal state is created and stored in the above-mentioned transmission information storage area as transmission information.

Following step S84, special symbol and special electric accessory control processing is performed (step S86). In this special symbol and special electric accessory control process, the value of the counter that updates the above-mentioned random number for jackpot determination is taken out, and it is determined whether or not it matches the jackpot determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM (big hit). It is determined whether or not to generate a game state (referred to as "special lottery"), and the value of the counter that updates the random number for the jackpot symbol is taken out and used as the probability variation hit determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM. It is determined whether or not they match (determination of whether or not a probability fluctuation is generated). Here, the "probability fluctuation" means that the probability of a big hit changes to a high probability (probability change time) set higher than that in the normal time (low probability). In the present embodiment, the value 32668 to the value 32767 are set as the range of the above-mentioned jackpot determination value (big hit determination range) with a low probability, and are read from the normal time determination table, whereas the value 32438 with a high probability. A value of 32767 is set, and the value is read from the probability change determination table. As described above, in the special symbol and special electric accessory control process in step S86, whether or not the value of the counter for updating the random number for jackpot determination and the jackpot determination value stored in advance in the main control built-in ROM match. When determining whether or not, the value of the counter that updates the random number for jackpot determination is included in the jackpot determination range.

When these determination results are based on the upper start port detection switch 90, various commands related to the synchronization effect are created, while when the lottery result is based on the lower start port detection switch 91, special features are created. FIG. 2 Various commands related to the synchronization effect are created and stored as transmission information in the transmission information storage area, and the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 is turned on according to the determined variation display pattern of the special symbol. The output of the lighting signal to the upper special symbol display 142 or the lower special symbol display 143 is set and stored in the output information storage area described above as output information.

In addition, depending on the game state to be generated, for example, when a big hit game state is reached, various commands classified as related to the big hit are created and stored in the transmission information storage area as transmission information, or the opening / closing member is opened / closed. The output of the drive signal to the winning opening solenoid 97 is set and stored in the output information storage area as output information, or when the number of times (round) that the large winning opening is changed from the closed state to the open state is 2 times, a round display is displayed. Set the output of the lighting signal to the 2-round indicator lamp so that the 2-round indicator lamp of the device 149 is turned on, and store it in the output information storage area as output information. When the round is 15 times, the round indicator 149 The output of the lighting signal to the 15-round display lamp is set to light the 15-round display lamp, and it is stored in the output information storage area as output information, or the presence or absence of probability fluctuation is lit in a predetermined color in the gaming state. The output of the lighting signal to the display 148 is set and stored in the output information storage area as output information.

Following step S86, a normal symbol and a normal electric accessory control process are performed (step S88). In this ordinary symbol and ordinary electric accessory control process, input information is read from the above-mentioned input information storage area, and gate winning processing is performed based on this input information. In this gate winning process, it is determined from the input information whether or not the detection signal from the gate switch 92 has been input to the input terminal. Based on this determination result, when the detection signal is input to the input terminal, the value of the counter that updates the above-mentioned normal symbol hit determination random number is extracted and used as gate information in the gate information storage area of the main control built-in RAM. Remember in.

Following step S88, port output processing is performed (step S90). In this port output process, output information is read from the output information storage area described above from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 102, and various signals are output based on this output information. For example, when various commands from the ball information control board 110 are normally received from the output terminal of the main control I / O port 102 based on the output information, the main ball information ACK signal may be output to the ball information control board 110. , When in the big hit game state, a drive signal is output to the big prize opening solenoid 97 that opens and closes the opening and closing member of the big winning opening, and a drive signal is output to the starting opening solenoid 96 that opens and closes the movable piece. In addition, 15 round big hit information output signal, 2 round big hit information output signal, probability fluctuation information output signal, special symbol display information output signal, normal symbol display information output signal, time saving medium information output information, start opening winning information output signal Various information (game information) signals related to the game such as, etc. are output to the ball information control board 110.

Following step S90, peripheral control board command transmission processing is performed (step S92). In this peripheral control board command transmission process, transmission information is read from the transmission information storage area described above, and this transmission information is transmitted to the peripheral control board 130 as main peripheral serial data. This transmission information is classified into various commands classified in the special figure 1 tuning effect-related, various commands classified in the special figure 2 tuning effect-related, and jackpot-related, which are created by the main control side timer interrupt processing of this routine. Various commands to be executed, various commands to be classified as power-on, various commands to be classified to the normal electric function production, various commands to be classified to the notification display, and status display. Various commands to be classified, various commands to be classified for testing, and various commands to be classified for others are stored. One packet of the main peripheral serial data is composed of 3 bytes.

Specifically, the main peripheral serial data has a status indicating the type of a command having a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), a mode indicating a variation of an effect having a storage capacity of 1 byte (8 bits), and a status. And the sum value calculated by regarding the mode as a numerical value and the sum, and this sum value is created at the time of transmission. The process of steps S74 to S92 is referred to as "game control process".

Following step S92, the value C is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL (step S94). By setting the value C in the watchdog timer clear register WCL in step S94, the value C is set in the watchdog timer clear register WCL following the value B set in step S70. As a result, the value A, the value B, and the value C are set in order in the watchdog timer clear register WCL, and the watchdog timer is set to clear.

Following step S94, register switching (returning) is performed (step S96), and this routine is terminated. Here, when the main control side timer interrupt process, which is this routine, is started, the main control MPU stacks the contents of the general-purpose register on the stack and saves them. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose register used in the main processing on the main control side from being destroyed. In step S96, the contents stacked on the stack and saved are read and written to the original register. The main control MPU sets interrupt enable after returning by step S96.

[Various control processes of the ball information control board]
Next, various control processes performed by the ball information control board 110 shown in FIG. 77 will be described with reference to FIGS. 81 to 86. FIG. 82 is a flowchart showing the ball information control side power-on processing executed by the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110, and FIG. 83 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the ball information control-side power-on processing of FIG. 82. FIG. 84 is a flowchart showing the continuation of the ball information control side power-on processing following FIG. 83, and FIG. 85 shows the ball information control power-off processing executed by the ball information control MPU 111 of the ball information control board 110. It is a flowchart which shows, and FIG. 86 is a flowchart which shows an example of the timer interrupt processing on the ball information control side.

[Processing when the power is turned on on the ball information control side]
When the power is turned on to the pachinko gaming machine 1, the ball information control MPU 111 (hereinafter, simply referred to as the ball information control MPU) of the ball information control unit 118 in the ball information control board 110 is as shown in FIGS. 82 to 83. Sphere information control side Performs power-on processing. When the power-on processing on the ball information control side is started, the ball information control MPU sets the interrupt mode (step S500). This interrupt mode sets the priority of interrupts of the ball information control MPU. In the present embodiment, the ball information control unit timer interrupt process, which will be described later, is set to the highest priority, and when an interrupt of the ball information control unit timer interrupt process occurs, the process is preferentially performed.

Following step S500, input / output settings (I / O input / output settings) are performed (step S502). In this I / O input / output setting, the input / output setting of the I / O port of the ball information control MPU is performed.

Following step S502, the output of the power failure clear signal to the power failure monitoring circuit 117 shown in FIG. 77 is started (step S504). The power failure monitoring circuit 117 includes a voltage comparison circuit and a D-type flip-flop IC. The voltage comparison circuit outputs the comparison result by comparing the voltage of + 24V and the reference voltage or comparing the voltage of + 12V and the reference voltage. This comparison result becomes HI when no power failure or momentary power failure occurs and is input to the PR terminal which is a preset terminal of the D type flip-flop, while when a power failure or momentary power failure occurs, the comparison result is input. The logic becomes LOW and is input to the PR terminal which is a preset terminal of the D type flip-flop. In step S504, the output of the power failure clear signal is started to the CLR terminal which is the clear terminal of the D type flip-flop. This power failure clear signal is input to the clear terminal with its logic set to LOW via the ball information control I / O port 112 of the ball information control unit 118. As a result, the ball information control MPU can release the latch state of the D-type flip-flop, and inverts the logic input to the PR terminal, which is the preset terminal of the D-type flip-flop, until the latch state is set. Then, it is possible to output from the 1Q terminal which is an output terminal, and the signal from the 1Q terminal can be monitored.

Following step S504, wait timer processing 1 is performed (step S506), and it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal is input (step S508). The voltage does not rise immediately from the time the power is turned on until the specified voltage is reached. On the other hand, when a power failure or a momentary power failure (a phenomenon in which the power supply is suddenly stopped) occurs, the voltage drops, and when the voltage becomes smaller than the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as a power failure warning. Similarly, when the voltage becomes smaller than the power failure warning voltage between the time when the power is turned on and the voltage rises to a predetermined voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117. Therefore, the wait timer process 1 in step S506 is a process for waiting until the voltage becomes larger than the power failure warning voltage and stabilizes after the power is turned on. In this embodiment, 200 ms is set as the waiting time (wait timer). ing. In the determination of step S508, it is determined whether or not the power failure warning signal is input. This determination is performed based on the signal output from the 1Q terminal, which is the output terminal of the above-mentioned D type flip-flop, as the power failure warning signal.

Following step S508, the output of the power failure clear signal to the CLR terminal, which is the clear terminal of the D type flip-flop, is stopped (step S510). By stopping the output of this power failure clear signal, the logic becomes HI via the ball information control I / O port 112 and is input to the CLR terminal which is the clear terminal. As a result, the ball information control MPU can set the D type flip-flop to the latch state. The D-type flip-flop outputs a power failure warning signal from the 1Q terminal, which is an output terminal, when the state in which the logic is LOW and is input to the PR terminal, which is the preset terminal, is latched.

Following step S510, it is determined whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 is operated (step S512). This determination is made based on whether or not the RAM clear switch 105 of the main control board 100 is operated and the operation signal (detection signal) is input to the ball information control MPU. When the detection signal is input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is operated, while when the detection signal is not input, it is determined that the RAM clear switch 105 is not operated.

If it is determined in step S512 that the RAM clear switch 105 is being operated, the value 1 is set in the ball information RAM clear flag (step S514), and the process proceeds to step S518, while the RAM clear switch 105 is operated in step S512. If it is determined that the value is not set to 0, the value 0 is set in the ball information RAM clear (step S516), and the process proceeds to step S518.

This ball information RAM clear flag is stored in a RAM built in the ball information control MPU (hereinafter, referred to as "ball information control built-in RAM"), for example, various flags and various information storage areas. It is a flag indicating whether or not to erase various ball information, and is set to a value 1 when the ball information is erased and a value 0 when the ball information is not erased. The ball information RAM clear flag set in step S514 and step S516 is stored in the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) of the ball information control MPU.

Following step S514 or step S516, a setting is made to allow access to the ball information control built-in RAM (step S518). With this setting, it is possible to access the ball information control built-in RAM, and for example, it is possible to write (store) or read out ball information.

Following step S518, the stack pointer is set (step S520). The stack pointer indicates, for example, the address stacked on the stack for temporarily storing the contents of the storage element (register) in use, or temporarily returns the return address of this routine when the subroutine is terminated and returned to this routine. It indicates the address stacked on the stack for storage, and the stack pointer advances each time the stack is stacked. In step S520, the initial address is set in the stack pointer, and the contents of the register, the return address, and the like are pushed onto the stack from this initial address. Then, the stack pointer returns to the initial address by reading in order from the last stacked stack to the first stacked stack.

Following step S520, the ball information control MPU proceeds to step S527. In step S527, it is determined whether or not the ball information RAM clear flag has a value of 0 (step S527). As described above, the ball information RAM clear flag is set to a value of 1 when the ball information is erased and a value of 0 when the ball information is not erased.

When the ball information RAM clear flag has a value of 0 in step S527, that is, when the ball information is not erased, the checksum is calculated (step S528). This checksum regards the ball information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM as a numerical value and calculates the total.

Following step S528, it is determined whether or not the calculated checksum value matches the checksum value stored in the ball information control unit power cutoff process (when the power is turned off), which will be described later (step S530). ). If they match, it is determined whether or not the ball information backup flag has a value of 1 (step S532). This sphere information backup flag is a flag indicating whether or not the sphere information backup information such as the sphere information and the checksum value is stored and held in the sphere information control built-in RAM in the sphere information control unit power cutoff process described later. The value is set to 1 when the power-off processing of the ball information control unit is normally completed, and to 0 when the power-off processing of the ball information control unit is not normally completed.

When the ball information backup flag has a value of 1 in step S532, that is, when the ball information control unit power cutoff process is normally completed, the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM is set as the time of power recovery (step S534). In this setting, in addition to setting the value 0 to the ball information backup flag, the information at the time of power recovery is read from the ROM built in the ball information control MPU (hereinafter, referred to as "ball information control built-in ROM"), and this setting is performed. The information at the time of power recovery is set in the work area of the ROM with built-in ball information control. As a result, information used for various processes is set based on various flags, various information stored in various information storage areas, etc., which are the above-mentioned ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM. .. The term "recovery" includes not only the state in which the power is turned on from the state in which the power is cut off, but also the state in which the power is restored after the power failure or momentary power failure.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S527 that the ball information RAM clear flag is not a value 0 (value 1), or when the checksum values do not match in step S530, or when the ball information backup flag is a value in step S532. When it is determined that the value is not 1 (value is 0), that is, when the ball information control unit power cutoff process is not normally completed, the entire area of the ball information control built-in RAM is cleared (step S536). As a result, the ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM is cleared.

Following step S536, the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM is set as an initial setting (step S538). This setting reads the initial information from the sphere information control built-in ROM and sets this initial information in the work area of the sphere information control built-in RAM.

Following step S534 or step S538, interrupt initial setting is performed (step S540). This setting sets the interrupt cycle when the ball information control unit timer interrupt processing, which will be described later, is performed. In this embodiment, it is set to 2 ms.

Following step S540, interrupt enable setting is performed (step S542). With this setting, the ball information control unit timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed every 2 ms, that is, the interrupt cycle set in step S540.

Following step S542, it is determined whether or not a power failure warning signal has been input (step S544). As described above, when the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is cut off, a power failure or a momentary power failure occurs, when the voltage becomes equal to or lower than the power failure warning voltage, a power failure warning signal is input from the power failure monitoring circuit 117 as a power failure warning. The determination in step S540 is performed based on this power failure warning signal.

When there is no input of the power failure warning signal in step S544, it is determined whether or not the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has a value of 1 (step S546). This 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag for timing 2 ms by the timer interrupt process of the ball information control unit, which is processed every 2 ms, which will be described later. Each is set.

When it is determined in step S546 that the value of the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is 0, that is, when 2 ms has not elapsed, the process returns to step S544 to determine whether or not the power failure warning signal has been input.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S546 that the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has a value of 1, that is, when 2 ms has elapsed, the value 0 is set in the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S547), and the process proceeds to step S550. , Output the external WDT clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 (ON, step S550). The external WDT 116 monitors the operation (system) of the ball information control MPU, and when the external WDT clear signal is not stopped at the clear signal release time, a reset signal is sent to the ball information control MPU and the ball information control I / O port 112. Is output and reset (the system of the ball information control MPU is regularly diagnosed whether it is out of control).

Following step S550, port output processing is performed (step S552). In this port output process, various information is read from the output information storage area of the ball information control built-in RAM, and various signals are output from the output terminal of the ball information control I / O port 112 based on the various information.

In the output information storage area, for example, the ball information main ACK information indicating that various commands (prize ball command and self-check command) related to the prize ball from the main control board 100 have been normally received, to the ball lifting device 22 Various information such as drive information for driving control is stored, and when the prize ball command from the main control board 100 is normally received from the output terminal of the ball information control I / O port 112 based on this output information. The ball information main ACK signal is output to the main control board 100, and the drive signal is output to the firing solenoid 13.

Following step S552, port input processing is performed (step S554). In this port input process, various signals input to the input terminal of the ball information control I / O port 112 are read and stored as input information in the input information storage area of the ball information control built-in RAM. For example, door frame opening switch 131, main body frame opening switch 132, launch standby ball detection switch 26, 70, launch ball confirmation switch 36, recovery ball detection switch 203, ball path full tank detection switch 206, ball appropriate amount detection switch 207, Lifting inlet switch 156, lifting motor sensor (photo sensor) 157, cassette detection switch 158, launch stop switch 86, touch switch 87, BRQ signal, BRDY signal and CR connection signal from the checkout machine 4, command transmission processing described later. The main ball information ACK signal and the like from the main control board 100 that conveys that the main control board 100 has normally received the various commands transmitted in the above are read and stored in the input information storage area as input information.

Following step S554, timer update processing is performed (step S556). The various determination times are stored in the time management information storage area of the ball information control built-in RAM as time management information. In the timer update process, it is determined whether or not the timer values of various timers are set, and if the timer values are set, the timer values are subtracted by 1. For example, when "1000" is set in the timer as a value corresponding to 2 seconds (2000 ms), if the timer interrupt cycle is set to 2 ms, the timer value is 1 every time the timer subtraction process is performed in the 2 ms cycle. It is subtracted one by one, and when the subtraction result becomes a value of 0, the time is up and the time is accurately measured.

Following step S556, the settlement machine communication process is performed (step S558). In the settlement machine communication process, whether or not various signals (BRQ signal, BRDY signal and CR connection signal) from the settlement machine 4 are input based on the input information read from the above-mentioned input information storage area. Is determined. The sphere information control MPU exchanges various signals with the settlement machine 4 based on various signals from the settlement machine 4. When the ball information control MPU receives, for example, the number of loaned balls transmitted from the settlement machine 4, the ball information control MPU adds the number of balls to be rented to the number of balls held by the gaming machine.

Following step S558, command reception processing is performed (step S560). In this command reception process, various commands (prize ball command and self-check command) related to the prize ball from the main control board 100 are received. When these various commands are normally received, the ball information main ACK information to that effect is stored in the above-mentioned output information storage area. On the other hand, when various commands cannot be received normally, a connection indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the connection between the main control board 100 and the ball information control board 110 (an abnormality has occurred in various command signals). Abnormal information is stored in the above-mentioned state information storage area.

Following step S560, command analysis processing is performed (step S562). In this command analysis process, the command received in step S562 is analyzed, and the analyzed command is stored in the received command information storage area of the ball information control built-in RAM as received command information.

Following step S562, the main operation setting process is performed (step S564). In this main operation setting process, the ball information control MPU sets the operation of the launch solenoid 13, the ball feed solenoid 31, the ball lift device 22 (ball lift motor 150), the ball polishing ribbon feed motor 155, and the like. Further, the ball information control MPU sequentially "1" from the game machine possession number data stored in the game machine possession number storage area in response to the hit detection of each game ball based on the ball detection of the launch ball confirmation switch 36. Is subtracted. Further, when the prize ball command is stored in the received command information storage area, the number of prize balls corresponding to this prize ball command is added to the game machine possession ball number data stored in the game machine possession number storage area.

Following step S564, LED display data creation processing is performed (step S566). In this LED display data creation process, for example, the game machine possession number data stored in the game machine possession number storage area described above is read out, and display data for displaying the number of possessed balls on the touch panel unit 14 is created and the LED is used. It is stored in the output information storage area described above as display information.

Following step S566, command transmission processing is performed (step S568). In this command transmission process, various information is read from the above-mentioned state information storage area, various commands classified into status displays are created based on the various information, and the commands are transmitted to the main control board 100.

Following step S568, the output of the external WDT clear signal to the external watchdog timer (external WDT) 116 is stopped (turned off, step S570). As a result, the external WDT 116 is cleared so that the ball information control MPU and the ball information control I / O port 112 are not reset. Further, when the output of the external WDT clear signal is stopped, the external WDT 116 starts timing the clear signal release time.

Following step S570, the process returns to step S544 again to determine whether or not a power failure warning signal has been input. If this power failure warning signal is not input, the 2ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has a value of 1 in step S546. When it is determined whether or not the 2ms elapsed flag HT-FLG has a value of 1, that is, when 2 ms has elapsed, the value 0 is set in the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG in step S547, and the value 0 is set in the external WDT4120c in step S550. The WDT clear signal is output (ON), the port output process is performed in step S552, the port input process is performed in step S554, the timer update process is performed in step S556, the settlement machine communication process is performed in step S556, and the checkout machine communication process is performed in step S560. Command reception processing is performed, command analysis processing is performed in step S562, main operation setting processing is performed in step S564, LED display data creation processing is performed in step S566, command transmission processing is performed in step S568, and external WDT116 is performed in step S570. The output of the external WDT clear signal is stopped (OFF), and steps S544 to S570 are repeated. The processing of steps S544 to S570 is referred to as "sphere information control main processing".

On the other hand, when the power failure warning signal is input in step S544, the interrupt prohibition setting is set (step S572). By this setting, the timer interrupt process of the ball information control unit described later is not performed, the writing to the ball information control built-in RAM is prevented, and the above-mentioned rewriting of the ball information is protected.

Following step S572, the power failure clear signal is output to the CLR terminal, which is the clear terminal of the D type flip-flop of the power failure monitoring circuit 117, via the spherical information control I / O port 112 (step S574). As a result, the D-type flip-flop can release the latch state by outputting the power failure clear signal.

Following step S574, the output of the drive signal to the firing solenoid 13 is stopped (step S576). As a result, the launch of the game ball is stopped. Following step S576, the output of the drive signal to the ball feed solenoid 31 is stopped (step S578). As a result, the feeding of the game ball to the hit ball launching device 29 side is stopped.

Following step S578, an external WDT clear signal is output to the external WDT 116 and the output is stopped (ON / OFF, step S580). This clears the external WDT116. Following step S580, a checksum is calculated and the calculated value is stored (step S582). For this checksum, the ball information in the work area of the ball information control built-in RAM, excluding the storage area of the checksum value calculated in step S528 and the value of the ball information backup flag HBK-FLG, is regarded as a numerical value and the total is calculated. do. Following step S582, the value 1 is set in the ball information backup flag (step S584). This completes the storage of the ball information backup information. Following step S584, the setting for prohibiting access to the ball information control built-in RAM is performed (step S586). By this setting, access to the ball information control built-in RAM is prohibited, writing and reading become impossible, and the ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM is protected.

Following step S586, a loop process of repeating the state of doing nothing is entered. In this loop processing, the clear signal is not turned ON / OFF to the external WDT116. Therefore, the external WDT 116 outputs a reset signal to the ball information control MPU and the ball information control I / O port 112 to perform a reset. After that, the ball information control MPU performs this ball information control side power-on processing again from the beginning. The processing and loop processing of steps S572 to S586 are referred to as "sphere information control power supply cutoff processing".

The pachinko gaming machine 1 (ball information control MPU) is reset when there is a power failure or when there is a momentary power failure, and when the power is restored thereafter, the ball information control side power-on processing is performed.

In step S530, it is inspected whether or not the ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM is normal, and then in step S532, the ball information control unit power cutoff process is normally terminated. We are inspecting whether or not it is. In this way, by double-checking the ball information backup information stored in the ball information control built-in RAM, it is inspected whether or not the ball information backup information is stored by fraudulent activity.

[Timer interrupt processing on the ball information control side]
Next, the timer interrupt processing on the ball information control side will be described. This ball information control side timer interrupt process is repeatedly performed every interrupt cycle (2 ms in this embodiment) set in step S540 of the ball information control side power-on process shown in FIG.

When the timer interrupt process on the ball information control side is started, the ball information control MPU of the ball information control unit 118 in the ball information control board 110 sets the timer interrupt to disabled and switches the register (as shown in FIG. 86). Evacuation) (step S590). Here, the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register) used in the above-mentioned sphere information control unit main processing is switched to the auxiliary register. By using this auxiliary register in the timer interrupt processing on the spherical information control side, the value of the general-purpose register is not overwritten. This prevents the contents of the general-purpose register used in the main processing on the sphere information control side from being destroyed.

Following step S590, the value 1 is set in the 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG (step S592). This 2 ms elapsed flag HT-FLG is a flag that clocks 2 ms every time the ball information control unit timer interrupt process is performed, that is, every 2 ms, and the value is 1 when 2 ms has elapsed and 0 when 2 ms has not elapsed. Is set to each. Following step S592, register switching (returning) is performed (step S594). This return switches from the auxiliary register used in the timer interrupt processing on the ball information control side to the general-purpose storage element (general-purpose register). By using this general-purpose register in the main processing on the spherical information control side, the value of the auxiliary register will not be overwritten. This prevents the contents of the auxiliary register used in the timer interrupt processing of the ball information control unit from being destroyed. Following step S594, interrupt enable setting is performed (step S596), and this routine is terminated.

[Each process to be executed in the sphere information control main process]
Next, each process executed by the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110 every 2 ms in the ball information control main process of FIG. 84 will be described. First, the ball lending process will be described, and then the ball hitting possibility determination process, the ball number counting process, the ball feed / launch drive process, the launch ball detection process, and the ball possession number subtraction process will be described. It should be noted that the ball hitting possibility determination process, the possessed ball number count process, the ball feed / launch drive process, the launch ball detection process, the possession number subtraction process, and the lift drive process are one of the main operation setting processes of step S564. It is executed in the order of hitting possibility determination processing, holding ball number counting processing, ball feeding / launching driving processing, launching ball detection processing, holding ball number subtraction processing, and lifting drive processing.

When the card 403 is inserted into the card insertion slot by the player, the insertion of the card 403 is detected by the checkout machine 4, and the data stored in the card 403 is read through the card processing machine 402. That is, the ID stored in the ID storage unit 404 of the card 403 of FIG. 78, the remaining frequency stored in the remaining frequency storage unit 405, and the number of held balls stored in the ball holding number storage unit 406 are read and stored in the RAM. Is stored in a predetermined storage area (ID storage area, remaining frequency storage area, ball holding number storage area).

Next, the checkout machine 4 determines whether the inserted card 403 is usable or unusable. In this embodiment, when the remaining frequency read is 0 and the number of balls held is 0, it is determined that the card 403 cannot be used, and the card 403 is ejected from the card insertion slot. Therefore, when it is determined that the card 403 cannot be used, each of the ball holding number counting process, the ball feed / firing drive process, and the ball holding number subtraction process described below is not executed.

On the other hand, if the remaining frequency read is not 0, or if the remaining frequency read is 0 but the number of balls read is not 0, the checkout machine 4 determines that the card can be used and the ball information. The card usable information is transmitted to the control board 110.

When the player presses the ball lending button to play the game, the operation signal of the ball lending button is input to the checkout machine 4. In response to the operation signal of the ball lending button, the settlement machine 4 performs ball lending processing, for example, transmits a specified number of ball lending to the ball information control MPU of the ball information control board 110, and then from the ball information control MPU. Wait until you receive the end of the ball lending sent.

[Ball rental processing]
Here, the ball lending process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 87 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of ball lending processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball lending process is executed as one of the settlement machine communication processes of step S558, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the ball lending process, it determines whether or not the card usable information transmitted from the checkout machine 4 is received (step S600). When the card usable information transmitted from the checkout machine 4 is received in step S600, the process proceeds to step S601, and the number of balls held counter (game machine holding) which is a part of the storage area set in the built-in RAM. The ball number storage area) is cleared to 0 (step S601), and the process proceeds to step S602. On the other hand, if the card usable information transmitted from the checkout machine 4 is not received in step S600, the process directly proceeds to step S602. The initial value of the number of balls held counter is set to "0" by the setting at the time of power recovery in the RAM work area in step S534.

When the ball information control MPU proceeds to step S602, it determines whether or not the number of loaned balls transmitted from the checkout machine 4 is received (step S602). When the number of loaned balls transmitted from the checkout machine 4 is received in step S602, the process proceeds to step S603, the received number of loaned balls is added to the value of the ball number counter (step S603), and the ball is played. The end of lending is transmitted to the settlement machine 4 (step S604), and the subroutine of ball lending processing is exited.

On the other hand, if the number of ball lendings transmitted from the checkout machine 4 is not received in step S602, the process does not proceed to step S603 and step S604, and the subroutine of the ball lending process is directly exited.

In this way, the card usable information is transmitted to the ball information control board 110 only when the newly usable card 403 is inserted into the checkout machine 4. Further, only when the operation signal of the ball lending button is input to the checkout machine 4 after the card usable information is received, the ball lending number is transmitted to the ball information control MPU. Then, when the number of rented balls is received, the number of rented balls is added to and stored in the value of the number of balls held counter for the first time.

[Demonstration process for determining whether or not a ball can be hit]
Next, the ball hitting possibility determination process executed by the ball information control MPU will be described. FIG. 88 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the ball hitting possibility determination process performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball hitting possibility determination process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the ball hitting possibility determination process, it determines whether or not the number of balls held is 0, that is, whether or not the value of the number of balls held counter is 0 (step S710). If it is determined in step S710 that the value of the ball possession counter is not 0, that is, if step S710 is determined to be NO, the process proceeds to step S711, and the launch standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10). ) Is on, that is, whether or not there is a standby ball in the ball feeding device 28 (step S711).

If it is determined in step S711 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 (see FIG. 10) is on, the launchable flag is set to 1 (launchable) (step S712), and the ball hitting possibility determination process is performed. Exit the subroutine of. On the other hand, when it is determined in step S710 that the value of the number of balls held counter is 0, and when it is determined in step S711 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is not on (off), the launch is performed. Set 0 (cannot fire) to the possible flag (step S713), and exit the subroutine of the ball hitting possibility determination process.

As described above, when the value of the ball feed counter is not 0 and the ball feed device 28 has a standby ball, the launch solenoid 13 and the ball feed solenoid 31 can be driven, and the game area 8 of the game ball is substantially driven. It is in a playable state where it can be driven into. Further, when the value of the ball holding counter is 0, or when the ball feeding device 28 does not have a standby ball, the firing solenoid 13 cannot be driven and the game ball is substantially driven into the game area 8. It is in a state where it is impossible to play. At the same time, the ball feed solenoid 31 cannot be driven.

[Number of balls held]
Next, the ball holding number counting process corresponding to the ball information processing during the game will be described assuming that the game is substantially possible. FIG. 89 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the ball holding number counting process performed by the ball information control MPU. The number of balls held is counted as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564, which is executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the ball holding number counting process, it determines whether or not there is a prize ball command analyzed in the command analysis process of step S562 (step S720). That is, it is determined whether or not the prize ball command is stored in the received command information storage area. If the prize ball command is stored, it is determined that step S720 is present, and the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize ball command stored in the received command information storage area is added and stored in the value of the ball number counter (step S722). ), Exit the subroutine for counting the number of balls. On the other hand, if there is no memory of the prize ball command, it is determined that step S720 is none, and the subroutine of the ball holding number counting process is exited.

For example, when a prize is awarded in the winning opening set to the number of prize balls "4", the number of prize balls "4" is added and stored in the value of the number of balls held counter, for example, the number of prize balls "15". When a prize is generated in the winning opening (large winning opening) set in, the number of winning balls "15" is added and stored in the value of the number of balls held counter.

[Ball feed / launch drive processing]
Next, the ball feed / launch drive process will be described. 90 to 91 are flowcharts showing an example of a subroutine of ball feed / launch drive processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball feed / launch drive process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

Further, FIG. 24 is a time chart showing the drive timing of the ball feed solenoid 31 and the launch solenoid 13. The firing solenoid 13 is turned on when the period A has elapsed from the time when the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned on, and the ball feeding solenoid 31 is turned off when the period B has elapsed from the time when the firing solenoid 13 is turned on. The firing solenoid 13 is turned off when the period C has elapsed from the time when the solenoid 31 is turned off.

In the present embodiment, the period A is 300 ms, the period B is 30 ms, and the period C is 50 ms. When the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, the launch ball is fed to the launch position (rail portion 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the launch ball is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36. In the present embodiment, when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined time (the period D is set to 30 ms), it is determined that there is a launch ball. do.

In this way, if it is determined that there is a launch ball when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined predetermined time, it is due to noise. It is possible to eliminate the false ball count of the launch ball and increase the certainty in the detection of the launch ball.

Then, when the launch solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball stopped at the launch position is launched into the game area 8 by the launch hammer 30, and the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. As a result, the number of balls held is reduced by -1.

When the ball information control MPU starts the ball feed / launch drive process, it first determines whether or not the launchable flag is 1 (launchable) (step S730). When it is determined that the ball can be fired in the ball hitting possibility determination process described above, the fireable flag is set to 1 (fireable). If it is determined in step S730 that the launchable flag is not 1 (launchable), that is, if the launchable flag is 0 (launchable), the subroutine of ball feed / launch drive processing is exited. In this case, the substantial ball feed / launch drive process is not executed.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S730 that the launchable flag is 1 (launchable), the process proceeds to step S731, and it is determined whether or not the processing flag is 0 (step S731).

Here, the processing flag is a flag for identifying whether the ball information control MPU branches to any of the processes in the ball feed / launch drive process described later, in other words, the control in the ball feed / launch drive. It is a flag for identifying the state, "0" means the initial setting, and "1" specifies the period from turning on the ball feed solenoid 31 to turning on the firing solenoid 13. Yes, it defines the period from turning on the firing solenoid 13 with "2" to turning off the ball feed solenoid 31, and turning off the firing solenoid 13 after turning off the ball feed solenoid 31 with "3". It defines the period until.

At the time when the ball feed / launch drive process is started, the value of the process flag is 0. Therefore, it is determined that step S731 is YES, the process proceeds to step S732, a timer value corresponding to the period A (see FIG. 24, 300 ms) is set in the timer (step S732), and the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on (step S733). , Set the processing flag to 1 (step S734), and exit the ball feed / firing drive processing subroutine. The timer value set in the timer is decremented by 1 in a 2 ms cycle in the timer update process in step S556 of FIG. 84.

The next processing cycle of the ball feed / launch drive process is after 2 ms. As a result of setting 1 in the processing flag, in the ball feed / firing drive processing in the next cycle, it is determined as step S730YES, step S731 is determined as NO, and the process proceeds to step S735. In step S735, it is determined whether or not the value of the processing flag is 1 (step S735). In this case, since 1 is set in the processing flag, it is determined that step S735 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S736 to determine whether or not the timer has timed up (step S736). If the timer is not timed up, step S736 is determined to be NO, and the ball feed / fire drive processing subroutine is exited.

Hereinafter, until the timer for which the period A is set is timed up, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be YES, and the step is determined based on the value 1 of the processing flag. The processing routine for determining S736 as NO is repeated.

Then, when the timer times out, it is determined that step S736 is YES, and it is assumed that the period A has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S737, and the timer value corresponding to the period B (see FIG. 26, 30 ms) is set in the timer. (Step S737), the firing solenoid 13 is turned on (step S738), the processing flag is set to 2 (step S739), and the ball feed / firing drive processing subroutine is exited.

As a result of setting 2 in the processing flag, in the next cycle of ball feed / firing drive processing, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be NO, and the process proceeds to step S740. .. In step S740, it is determined whether or not the value of the processing flag is 2 (step S740). In this case, since 2 is set in the processing flag, it is determined that step S740 is YES, and the process proceeds to step S741 to determine whether or not the timer has timed up (step S741). If the timer is not timed up, step S741 is determined to be NO, and the ball feed / fire drive processing subroutine is exited.

Hereinafter, until the timer for which the period B is set is timed up, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be NO, and the step is determined based on the value 2 of the processing flag. The processing routine in which S740 is determined to be YES and step S741 is determined to be NO is repeated.

Then, when the timer times out, it is determined that step S741 is YES, and it is assumed that the period B has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S742, and the timer value corresponding to the period C (see FIG. 24, 50 ms) is set in the timer. (Step S742), the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned off (step S743), the processing flag is set to 3 (step S744), and the ball feed / launch drive processing subroutine is exited.

As a result of setting 3 in the processing flag, in the next cycle of ball feed / firing drive processing, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be NO, and step S740 is determined to be NO. The determination is made, and the process proceeds to step S745. In step S745, it is determined whether or not the timer has timed up (step S745). If the timer is not timed up, step S745 is determined to be NO, and the ball feed / fire drive processing subroutine is exited.

Hereinafter, until the timer for which the period C is set is timed up, step S730 is determined to be YES, step S731 is determined to be NO, step S735 is determined to be NO, and the step is determined based on the value 3 of the processing flag. The processing routine in which S740 is determined to be NO and step S745 is determined to be NO is repeated.

Then, when the timer times out, it is determined that step S745 is YES, the process proceeds to step S746, the firing solenoid 13 is turned off (step S746), and the processing flag is set to 0, assuming that the period C has elapsed. It returns to the initial value (step S747) and exits the subroutine of ball feed / launch drive processing.

[Launch ball detection process]
Next, the launch ball detection process will be described. FIG. 92 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the launch ball detection process performed by the ball information control MPU. The launch ball detection process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the launch ball detection process, it first determines whether or not the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is on (step S750). As described above, when the ball feed solenoid 31 is turned on, the launch ball is fed to the launch position (rail portion 332) by the ball feed member 32. That is, the launch ball is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36.

When it is determined that the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is on, the value of the timekeeping counter, which is a counter for measuring the time in the on state, is incremented by 1 (step S751), and the process proceeds to step S753.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is not on, that is, when the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is off, 0 is set in the timekeeping counter (step S752), and the process proceeds to step S753.

Proceeding to step S753, it is determined whether or not the value of the timekeeping counter has reached a predetermined predetermined time D (30 ms in this example) (step S753). If the value of the timekeeping counter does not reach the predetermined time D, the step S753 is determined to be NO, and the subroutine of the launch ball detection process is exited.

Since the launch ball detection process is executed every 2 ms, if the game ball stopped at the launch position by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 continues to be detected for a predetermined time D, the timekeeping counter will be displayed every 2 ms. The value increases by 1, and the value of the clock counter reaches a predetermined time D (30 ms, count value 15 in this example). In this case, step S753 is determined to be YES, it is considered that the launch ball has been detected, 1 (with detection) is set in the launch ball detection flag (step S754), and the subroutine of the launch ball detection process is exited.

On the other hand, when noise enters the launch ball confirmation switch 36, the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is momentarily turned on, but then the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. Therefore, since the value of the timekeeping counter is set to 0 when the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off, the value of the timekeeping counter is set to a predetermined time D (30 ms in this example, count value 15). Never reach.

In this way, if it is determined that there is a launch ball when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined predetermined time, it is due to noise. It is possible to eliminate the false ball count of the launch ball and increase the certainty in the detection of the launch ball.

[Number of balls subtraction process]
Next, the ball holding number subtraction process will be described. FIG. 93 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the ball holding number subtraction process performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball number subtraction process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the ball holding number subtraction process, it first determines whether or not the launch ball detection flag is 1 (with detection) (step S760). If it is determined that the launch ball detection flag is not 1 (with detection), that is, if step S760 is determined to be NO, the subroutine of the ball holding number subtraction process is exited. In this case, the number of balls held is not subtracted.

If it is determined in step S760 that the launch ball detection flag is 1 (with detection), that is, if step S760 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S761 and whether the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is off. It is determined whether or not (step S761). If it is determined in step S761 that the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is not off, that is, if it is determined that step S761 is NO, the subroutine of the ball holding number subtraction process is exited.

As described above, when the launch solenoid 13 is turned on, the game ball stopped at the launch position is launched into the game area 8 by the launch hammer 30, and the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is turned off. As a result, the number of balls held is reduced by -1. If it is determined in step S761 that the launch ball confirmation switch 36 is off, that is, if it is determined that step S761 is YES, the value of the ball holding number counter is decremented by -1 (step S762), and the launch ball detection flag is set. Set 0 (no detection) (step S763), and exit the subroutine of the ball holding number subtraction process.

In this way, when the game ball stopped at the launch position is detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36 for a predetermined predetermined time, it is determined that there is a launch ball, and it is determined that there is a launch ball. When the game ball is not detected by the launch ball confirmation switch 36, it is determined that the game ball stopped at the launch position has been launched, and the number of balls held is reduced by one, so the launch ball confirmation switch When noise enters 36, it is possible to eliminate the false ball count of the launch ball due to the noise, and it is possible to increase the certainty in the detection of the launch ball.

[Ball lifting drive processing]
Next, the lifting drive process will be described. FIG. 94 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the lifting drive processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The lifting drive process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process.

When the ball information control MPU starts the lifting drive process, it first determines whether or not the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on (step S770). If it is determined in step S770 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is off, that is, if step S770 is determined to be NO, the process proceeds to step S771 and it is determined whether or not the pumping inlet switch 156 is on. (Step S771). If it is determined in step S771 that the unloading inlet switch 156 is on, that is, if it is determined that step S771 is YES, the ball unloading motor 150 is driven (step S772), and the subroutine of the unloading drive process is driven. Exit.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S770 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is ON, that is, when it is determined that step S770 is YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S773), and the lifting drive process is performed. Exit the subroutine.
Further, when it is determined in step S771 that the lifting inlet switch 156 is off, that is, when it is determined that step S771 is NO, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S773), and the lifting drive process is performed. Exit the subroutine.

In this way, when the game ball is not detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26, it is determined that the number of game balls required in the ball supply path member 24 is not satisfied, and the ball feed passage is determined by the lift inlet switch 156. When a game ball waiting to be aligned is detected in 275, a ball lifting motor is driven on condition that it is determined that there is a game ball, and a launch standby ball detection switch 26 is used to enter the ball supply path member 24. On condition that the game balls waiting to be aligned are detected, the ball lifting device 22 is driven and stopped, and the game balls are stopped to be lifted. Therefore, the game balls are excessively lifted in the ball supply path member 24. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of ball clogging. As a result, since the game ball is pumped up, the game ball can be sent to the ball supply path member 24 without excess or deficiency.

Further, compared with the firing cycle of the game ball of the hitting ball launching device 29 in the upper launching unit 12 and the ball feeding cycle of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28, the game to the ball supply path member 24 by the ball lifting device 22. The ball delivery cycle is set short. In this embodiment, the firing cycle of the game ball of the hitting ball launching device 29 and the ball feeding cycle of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots are fired per minute), and the ball supply path member by the ball lifting device 22. The delivery cycle of the game ball to 24 is 384 ms.
As a result, during the game, the operation of the upper launch unit 12 causes the game ball to be launched into the game area by the hitting ball launching device 29 and the game ball to be sent to the launching position by the ball feeding device 28. In addition, since the cycle of feeding the game ball to the ball supply path member 24 by the ball lifting device 22 is shorter than the cycle of feeding the game ball to the launch position, the game waits before being lifted by the lifting inlet switch 156. When the state in which the game balls are satisfied is maintained, the game balls in the ball supply path member 24 are not detected by the launch standby ball detection switch 26 while the game balls are being driven. Then, the ball lifting device 22 is driven to start lifting the game ball, and the game ball is sent out to the ball supply path member 24 at a pace faster than the driving pace of the game ball. When the detection switch 26 detects a game ball waiting to be aligned in the ball supply path member 24, the ball lifting device 22 is driven and stopped, and the lifting of the game ball is stopped. That is, during the game, the ball lifting operation of the ball lifting device 22 is performed intermittently, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of ball clogging, and the game is efficiently and stably lifted. It is possible to efficiently supply balls and supply a stable number of game balls to the upper launch unit.

In this embodiment, the firing cycle of the game ball of the hitting ball launching device 29 and the ball feeding cycle of the game ball of the ball feeding device 28 are 600 ms (100 shots are fired per minute), and the ball is supplied by the ball lifting device 22. The delivery cycle of the game ball to the path member 24 is 384 ms, but the method is not limited to this, and the launch cycle and the ball feed cycle of the game ball and the delivery cycle of the game ball to the ball supply path member 24 are not limited to this. Various methods can be selected, such as setting 600 ms to each other.

[Ball jam notification processing]
Next, the ball jam notification process will be described. FIG. 95 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of ball jam notification processing performed by the ball information control MPU. The ball jam notification process is executed as one of the main operation setting processes of step S564 executed every 2 ms in the ball information control main process. Further, the ball jam notification process is performed after the ball hitting possibility determination process shown in FIG. 88. The launch standby ball detection switch 26 corresponds to the first launch standby ball detection means, and the launch standby ball detection switch 70 corresponds to the second launch standby ball detection means.

When the ball information control MPU 111 starts the ball jam notification process, it first determines whether or not the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on (step S780). If it is determined in step S780 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is on, that is, if step S780 is determined to be YES, the ball lifting motor 150 is stopped (step S782), the process proceeds to step S786, and the launch standby is performed. It is determined whether or not the ball detection switch is on (step S786). If it is determined in step S786 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is off, that is, if step S786 is determined to be NO, the abnormality detection flag is set to 1 (step S788), and the notification means is turned on. (Step S789) Exit the subroutine of the ball jam notification process.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S786 that the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is on, that is, if step S786 is determined to be YES, the process proceeds to step S787, and it is determined whether or not the abnormality detection flag is 1. Step S787). When the abnormality detection flag is determined to be 1 in step S787, that is, when the abnormality detection flag is determined to be YES, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0 (step S790), the abnormality notification means is turned off (step S792), and the recovery notification means is restored. Is turned on (step S794) to exit the subroutine of ball jam notification processing.

If it is determined in step S780 that the launch standby ball detection switch 26 is off, that is, if step S780 is determined to be NO, the ball lifting motor 150 is driven (step S784), and the abnormality detection flag is set. It is determined whether or not it is 1 (step S787). If it is determined that the abnormality detection flag is 0 in step S787, that is, if it is determined that step S787 is NO, the subroutine of the ball jam notification process is exited.

In this way, the ball supply path member 24 and the ball feeding device 28 are provided with sensors for detecting the game ball, the game ball in the ball supply path member 24 is detected, and the game ball in the ball feeding device 28 is detected. It is determined that the abnormal state is caused by the ball clogging on the condition that the ball is not jammed, and the abnormality notification means (not particularly shown, for example, the touch panel unit 14 is notified that the ball is jammed) is used for notification. As a result, for example, it is possible to reliably notify the staff of the game hall that a ball jam has occurred.

Further, since the upper launching device 12 of the present embodiment can be rotated by the hinge 37 for the upper launching device and can be opened and closed with respect to the main body frame 2 (FIG. 12), the staff member who received the notification due to the ball clogging After opening the door frame 3, the state of the upper launching device 12 can be immediately grasped, and the ball clogging can be easily cleared. When the ball jam is cleared, the abnormality detection flag is cleared to 0, and the abnormality notification means is stopped. After that, the recovery notification means (for example, the touch panel unit 14 displays to the extent that the staff in the game hall can recognize that the ball has been recovered from the jammed state (for example, 5 to 10 seconds)), so that the notification is surely performed. It can be recognized that the ball clogging has been cleared.

Further, the position of the launch standby ball detection switch 70 is attached so as to detect a game ball near the launch position in the path of the ball feed device 28, but the game ball passing through the path of the ball feed device 28 is detected. Various arrangement positions can be selected as long as they can be arranged.
[Example 2]

In the pachinko gaming machine 1 of the first embodiment, in order to avoid a collision between the gaming board 5 and the upper launching device 12 when the gaming board 5 is attached to and detached from the main body frame 2, the upper launching device 12 follows the opening and closing of the door frame 3. A structure that opens and closes is adopted, but unlike this, in the second embodiment, the upper launching device 12 is attached to the gaming board 5, and the structure is such that the upper launching device 12 is attached to and detached from the gaming board 5 while being attached to the gaming board 5, and the gaming board 5 and the upper launching device are launched. Avoid collisions with device 12.
The upper launch device 12 is a game ball launcher arranged on the upper left side of the game board 5, and launches a game ball into the game area of the game board 5.

[Game board 5]
The upper launching device 12 is fixed to the upper left portion of the gaming board 5 when viewed from the front of the gaming machine 1 (FIG. 98). A square notch 47 is formed in the upper left corner of the game board 5 when viewed from the front, and an upper launcher 12 is attached to the square notch 47. It may be fixed or detachable, but it can be securely attached to the game board 5 so that it does not rattle.
The structure of the upper launching device 12 itself is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the ball feeding device 28 and the hitting ball launching device 29 are provided (FIG. 6), and the game ball is launched into the game area of the game board 5. As in the case of the first embodiment, the ball feeding device 28 includes a lifting communication gutter 65 that receives a game ball from the ball lifting device 22. The lifting communication gutter 65 is a part of the ball supply path member 24 together with the ball sending gutter 23.

A launcher guard member 12a is attached to the outer shell of the upper launcher 12, that is, the surface of the upper launcher 12 facing the inner surface of the main body frame in a state where the game board 5 is mounted on the main body frame 2. Figures 98 and 99). In this embodiment, since the left side surface 12b and the upper surface surface 12c are provided, the launcher guard member 12a constitutes a part of the game board contour (indicated by a chain line) as shown in FIG. 98 in the front view of the game board 5. The launcher guard member 12a securely fixes the lower end of the left side surface 12b and the right end of the upper surface 12c to the panel holder 43 of the game board 5 by screwing or the like, and the corner portion connecting the left side surface 12b and the upper surface 12c is inside the upper launcher. It is supported by a stay 12d coupled to the base plate 39 of the twelve. Further, in this embodiment, the cushion member 12e is further attached to the outer surface of the left side surface 12b of the launcher guard member 12a so that the impact can be further mitigated even if there is a collision. As a result, the launching mechanism located inside the launching device guard member 12a is protected from impact.

[Main body frame 2]
The main body frame 2 (FIG. 97) has a box shape having a frame-shaped fitting frame 15 and a peripheral wall portion 16 so as to fit within the rectangular frame-shaped outer frame 1a (FIG. 99). Although the main body frame 2 has been described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 97 and FIG. 99 will be used again in order to make the main points of the second embodiment easy to understand.
The fitting frame 15 has a rectangular fitting opening 17 for fitting and accommodating the game board 5 on the front surface side thereof. The portion of the lower side of the front surface of the accommodation opening 17 having a constant width in the front-rear direction is the lower leading edge 600b of the main body frame 2, and the portion of the upper side facing this having a constant width in the front-rear direction is the main body frame. 12 upper leading edge 600a.

A lower guide member 601b is attached to the lower leading edge 600b, and a slider A and a slider B are attached to the lower guide member 601b so as to be movable in the left-right direction. The slider A is arranged on the left side of the slider B. Further, an upper guide member 601a is attached to the upper leading edge 600a, and a slider C is attached to the upper guide member 601a so as to be movable in the left-right direction (shown by a broken line in FIG. 97).

In this embodiment, the upper and lower guide members 601a and 601b are sturdy members (FIG. 100a) in which the cross section formed by forming the steel plate is basically a C-shaped channel, and both of them are the bottom 602 and the front. It is composed of front and rear ribs 604a and 604b, which are portions folded back from the upper ends of the rear rising portions 603a and 603b and the rising portions 603a and 603b in the opposite directions (FIGS. 100b and 101).
The lower guide member 601b has substantially the same length as the lower front edge 600b of the accommodation opening 17 of the main body frame 2, and the upper guide member 601a has substantially the same dimensions as the upper front edge 600a (FIG. 97). Further, the stoppers 605a and 605b are attached to the upper and lower guide members 601a and 601b at positions slightly to the left of the distance d1 corresponding to the left-right dimension of the upper launcher 12 from the left end. The stoppers 605a and 605b are fixed to the front ribs 604a of the upper and lower guide members 601a and 601b, and at this position, the game board 5 is gradually moved as shown as a-1, a-2 ... In FIG. 102. The arrangement is such that the tip portion of the game board 5 cannot be passed toward the left peripheral wall portion unless it is rotated in a direction parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2 (rotated to the right in the figure).

As shown in FIG. 100, the sliders A, B, and C are all piece members, and are fitted between the front and rear rising walls 603a and 603b of the guide members 601a and 601b. The sliders A, B, and C are prevented from falling off from the guide members 601a and 601b by the front and rear ribs 604a and 604b (FIG. 101b) having the width d2, and the guide members 601a and 601b can slide left and right. It is attached to. The width d2 is a dimension that can prevent the slider A from coming out of the guide member 601b even when a large force is applied in the direction in which the slider A comes out upward due to the weight of the game board 5. As shown in FIGS. 101 (a) and 101 (b), the sliders A, B, and C are all provided with sliding legs 606 to lighten the sliding, and are provided with the bottom portions 602 of the guide members 601a and 601b. It has a space 607 in between. In order to reduce sliding, the sliders A, B, and C may be made of synthetic resin that has good slipperiness with respect to the steel surface, or the sliders A, B, and C may come into contact with the bottoms 602 of the guide members 601a and 601b. Install roller bearings.

At the center of the slider A, a receiving hole 609 (FIG. 100b) for receiving the pivot shaft 608 (FIGS. 98 and 99) provided in the front portion of the lower surface of the game board 5 is provided. The depth of the receiving hole 609 from the surface of the slider A is d3 (FIG. 101a). Engagement protrusions 610b and 610a are formed on the upper surface of the slider B and the lower surface of the slider C in the upper guide member 601a, respectively. As shown in FIG. 101 (b), the engaging protrusions 610b and 610a are made to be bolt-shaped and sturdy with a head portion 610c protruding rearward. These heads 610c are accommodated on the upper and lower surfaces of the game board 5, and escape recesses are formed so as not to hinder the rotation of the game board 5.

The pivot shaft 608 is fixed to the bottom surface of the game board 5 at the front (FIG. 103a), and one end of the lower lever 611b is horizontally rotatably attached to the bottom of the game board 5 at a position distant from this by dimension d4 (about 100 mm). (Fig. 103b). The length of the pivot shaft 608 is shorter than the depth d3 (FIG. 100) of the receiving hole 609. Further, a washer-608a having a thickness slightly larger than the thickness dimension d5 of the upper and lower levers 611a and 611b is fixed to the base of the pivot shaft 608. This is to create a gap of dimension d5 between the upper surface of the lower guide member 601b and the lower surface of the game board. The lower lever 611b has a hook recess 613b that opens laterally at the other end, and the dimension between the shaft 612b and the center of the hook recess 613b is substantially equal to the dimension d4.
A shaft 612a is attached to the upper surface of the game board 5 at a position corresponding to the shaft 612b on the lower surface, and one end of the upper lever 611a is horizontally rotatably attached by the shaft 612a. The upper lever 611a has a hook recess 613a opened laterally at the other end, and the dimension between the shaft 612a and the center of the hook recess 613a is substantially equal to the dimension d4.

A ball lifting device 22 is arranged on the back side of the main body frame 2 on the left side (FIGS. 97, 99, 5), and the game ball is fed from the lower ball collecting portion 21 to the upper ball supply path member 24. It has become like. As described above, the ball supply path member 24 (FIG. 6) is composed of a lifting gutter 65 on the upper launching device 12 side and a ball sending gutter 23 on the ball lifting device side, and the game board 5 is mounted on the main body frame 2. In this state, the ball outlet 23a of the ball delivery gutter 23 and the ball reception port 65a of the lifting gutter 65 are joined, and the game passes through the inside of these gutters from the ball lifting device 22 side to the upper launching device 12 side. The ball can be moved.

At this time, the ball outlet 23a of the ball delivery gutter 23 is provided with a receiving portion 23b on the outside in the left-right direction (FIG. 104), and the slide shutter 23c is slidably arranged in the left-right direction. The slide shutter 23c has a guide piece 23d on the lower surface side, and is fitted into the guide slit 23e provided in the receiving portion 23b to be guided in the left-right direction. A spring 23f is attached to the guide piece 23d so as to urge the guide piece 23d to the right with the receiving portion 23. When the guide piece 23d moves the guide slit 23e to the right end, the slide shutter 23c shields the ball outlet 23a of the ball delivery gutter 23. When moving to the left end, the ball outlet 23a is opened.

When the game board 5 is removed from the main body frame 2, as shown in the state immediately after the operation in FIG. 105, the lifting gutter 65 is separated from the ball sending gutter 23 to the right, so that the slide shutter 23c is a spring. The 23f slides on the receiving portion 23b to the right end to shield the ball outlet 23a. The slide shutter 23c corresponds to the opening / closing shutter 412 in the ball outlet opening / closing unit 410 (FIG. 27) of the first embodiment.
The lower side of the ball receiving port 65a of the lifting communication gutter 65 on the upper launching device 12 side is substantially the same height as the upper surface of the receiving portion 23b on the ball lifting device 23 side.
In the work of attaching the game board 5 to the main body frame 2, when the game board 5 is moved to the left just before the end, the ball receiving port 65a is placed on the receiving portion 23b as shown in FIG. 106. While pressing the slide shutter 23c, it moves from right to left to open the ball sending outlet 23a of the ball sending gutter 23, and at the same time, the ball sending gutter 23 and the ball receiving entrance 65a communicate with each other.

At this time, both the floor surface 65b of the lifting device communication gutter 65 and the floor surface 23g of the ball sending gutter 23 are inclined toward the launching device 28 side (FIG. 6), and as shown in FIG. 107, The floor surface 65b is lower than the floor surface 23g, and at the end of the ball delivery outlet 23b, the floor surface 23g of the ball delivery gutter 23 is formed in an inclined or arc shape in a cross section toward the floor surface 65b. Therefore, when the slide shutter 23c is opened and the ball feeding port 23b and the ball receiving port 65a communicate with each other, the game ball of the ball sending gutter 23 is lifted as shown in FIGS. 106 (a), (b), and (c). Smoothly moves to the transmission device communication gutter 65.

Further, the ball receiving port 65a of the lifting device communication gutter 65 is formed to be larger than the ball sending port 23b of the ball sending gutter 23, and when the game board 5 is attached to the main body frame 2, the ball feeding port is formed. Even if the ball receiving port 65a is slightly displaced in the left-right direction or the up-down direction with respect to the 23b, the game ball can be reliably delivered. To the extent that the ball receiving port 65a is formed larger than the ball feeding port 23b, the gap generated when the ball receiving port 65a and the ball feeding port 23b communicate with each other is in a range narrower than the diameter of the game ball.

[Accommodation of game board]
The door frame 3 is opened to expose the front surface of the main body frame 2.
A square accommodating opening 17 can be seen on the front surface of the main body frame 2, and a lower guide member 601b is attached to a lower leading edge 600b thereof, and an upper guide member 601a is attached to an upper leading edge 600a. The game board 5 is lifted, the board surface is maintained vertically, and the game board 5 is vertically rotated clockwise so that the left end of the game board 5 is rearward, so that the posture is a-1 in FIG. Then, first, the pivot shaft 608 on the left side is inserted into the receiving hole 609 of the slider A, and the load on the left side of the game board is supported by the main body frame 2 through the slider A. The length of the pivot shaft 608 is shorter than the depth d3 of the receiving hole 609, and the lower end does not reach the bottom portion 602 of the guide member. The slider A is moved to the right side of the lower guide member 601b in advance.

The game board 5 is rotated slightly to the left around the pivot shaft 608, and the right end of the game board 5 is brought closer to the main body frame 2 to be in the a-2 posture of FIG. Then, the lower lever 611b on the lower surface of the game board 5 is rotated to engage the hook recess 613b at the tip with the engaging protrusion 610b of the slider B. Similarly, the upper lever 611a on the upper surface of the game board 5 is rotated to engage the hook recess 613a at the tip with the engaging protrusion 610a of the slider C in the upper guide member 601a.

As a result, most of the load of the game board 5 is supported by the main body frame 2, so that the operator supports the right end portion of the game board 5 and pivot shaft 608 so that the left end of the game board 5 approaches the upper launcher 12. Move the slider A to the left inside of the main body frame 2.
At this time, if the heads 610c and 610c (FIG. 100b) of the engaging protrusions 610b and 610a project rearward as described above, the lower lever 611b and the upper lever 611a engaged with them are played on the front end side. Even if the lower lever 611b, the hook recess 613b of the upper lever 611a, and the hook recess 613a are flipped upward by the weight of the board 5, the hook recess 613b and the hook recess 613a are pushed downward. Is hard to come off from the heads 610c and 610c, and the game board 5 can be moved stably.
Returning to the above, the slider A is moved to the left inner side of the main body frame 2 by the pivot axis 608 so that the left end of the game board 5 approaches the left inner side of the main body frame 2, and at the same time, the right end of the game board 5 is moved to the main body frame 2 side. Try to push it in. As for the degree of pushing, when the game board 5 rotates to the left with respect to the pivot shaft 608, the control board box or the like projecting and attached to the back side of the game board 5 is the edge of the accommodation opening 17 of the main body frame 2. The left movement and rotation along the lower guide member 601b of the pivot shaft 608 are combined so as not to collide with the pivot shaft 608. When moving along the upper and lower guide members 601a and 601b of the game board 5, the sliders A, B and C move the guide members 601a and 601b in the same direction, and when the game board 5 is rotated to the left, the sliders. The interval between A and B increases. That is, the triangle ABD changes so as to be flat with the axis 612b of the lower lever 611b as the point D.

When the game board 5 is moved to the left, it can be moved with the right end facing forward (for example, a-1) until the game board 5 comes into contact with the stoppers 605a and 605b. However, after the game board 5 comes into contact with the stoppers 605a and 605b, the game board 5 cannot be moved in that posture, and the game board 5 is brought into contact with the stoppers 605a and 605b to the left. It is necessary to move by combining movement and rotation to the left.
Finally, as shown in a-3 of FIG. 102, the front surface of the game board 5 is placed in a posture parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2 and pushed to the left. The lower lever 611b fits in the gap between the game board 5 and the lower guide member 601b, and the upper lever 611a fits in the gap between the game board 5 and the upper guide member 601a.
The game board 5 pushed to the left is connected to the connector on the main body frame 2 side by a drawer type connector. The housed game board 5 is maintained in a housed state by a fixture 614 attached to the main body frame 2 side.

In this way, when the game board 5 is housed in the main body frame 2, the lower part of the game board 5 on the upper launching device 12 side is supported by the lower front edge of the main body frame 2 so as to be able to move in the left-right direction and to rotate horizontally. Since most of the weight of the game board 5 is supported by the main body frame 2 and the operator can lightly move the game board 5 with respect to the main body frame 2 by using the slider and the pivot, the operator can perform the accommodation operation of the game board 5. It can be done carefully under generous control.
Further, since the stoppers 605a and 605b are provided, even if the game board 5 moves in a state where it is not parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2, it comes into contact with the stoppers 605a and 605b to prevent the movement, and the game board 5 is prevented from moving. Since the positions of the stoppers 605a and 605b cannot be passed unless the posture is rotated in a direction parallel to the front surface of the main body frame 2, the game board 5 is inevitably accommodated in the correct arrangement.
Then, when the game board 5 is moved to the left just before the end of the work of mounting the game board 5 on the main body frame 2, the ball receiving port 65a is placed on the receiving portion 23b as shown in FIG. 106. While pressing the slide shutter 23c, it moves from right to left to open the ball sending outlet 23a of the ball sending gutter 23, and at the same time, the ball sending gutter 23 and the ball receiving entrance 65a communicate with each other.
Even if the upper launcher 12 fixed to the game board 5 in the middle of the work of mounting the game board 5 to the main body frame 2 collides with the main body frame 2, the left side surface 12b of the upper launcher 12 If the upper surface 12c is protected by the launcher guard member 12a and the cushion member 12e, the mechanism of the launcher will not be damaged.

[Removal of game board]
The door frame 3 is opened to expose the front surface of the main body frame 2. The fixture 614 is operated to release the game board 5 from being fixed to the main body frame 2. The game board 5 is initially pulled out to the right, then the right side of the game board 5 is pulled out toward the front, and the game board 5 is rotated to the right around the pivot shaft 608, and the game board 5 is pulled out from the main body frame 2. In that state, the hook recesses 613a and 613b at the tips of the upper and lower levers 611a and 611b are removed from the engaging protrusions 610a and 610b. Then, after moving the lower tip of the game board 5 to the right along the guide member 601b, the game board 5 is lifted and the pivot shaft 608 is pulled out from the slider A. As a result, the game board 5 can be separated from the main body frame 2 together with the upper launcher 12 and taken out.

By sliding the game board 5 in the housed state once to the right and pulling it out, the lifting gutter 65 on the upper launching device 12 side is separated from the ball sending gutter 23 on the ball lifting device 22 side, and then the game board 5 is pulled out. Take out while rotating to the right around the pivot shaft 608. When the lifting gutter 65 is pulled away from the ball delivery gutter 23, the slide shutter 23c is closed by the spring 23f, so even if a game ball is present in the ball delivery gutter 23, the ball supply path (ball supply path member 24). It does not fall from the outside.
Since the upper launcher 12 is taken out integrally with the game board 5, no collision occurs with the upper launcher 12.

Although the second embodiment has been described above by taking a gaming machine provided with the upper launching device 12 as an example, in the present invention, the position of the launching device is not limited to the upper portion, and the position of the launching device is not limited to the upper portion, but is on either side of the front surface of the main body frame in the left-right direction. Applicable if it is an arrangement.
Since the other configurations of the second embodiment are not particularly different from those of the first embodiment, the description of the first embodiment is incorporated.

[Demo game]
The demonstration game performed in the pachinko gaming machine 1 (hereinafter, also referred to as a gaming machine), which is the enclosed ball type gaming machine, will be described. The demo game starts when the preset start condition is satisfied, and ends when the preset end condition is satisfied.

The processing of the demo game is performed in the main operation setting processing S564 of FIG. 84 before the hitting possibility determination processing shown in FIG. 88.

FIG. 108 is a state transition diagram for explaining the concept of the demo game executed by the ball information control MPU 111 (FIG. 77) of the ball information control board 110. When the power is turned on to the gaming machine, the normal gaming state S800 (waiting for customers or before the start of the game) is set after the power-on processing. In this state, if the conditions (1) and (2) described later are satisfied, the game shifts to the non-gaming state S802. Each gaming machine is provided with a demo setting switch (not shown) for making it possible to select whether or not to perform a demo game.

This demo setting switch is an effective demo game while saving power by selecting one for multiple machines by considering the time and date selection, the installation position of the game machine, etc. when performing the demo game. Is provided so that the hall clerk can set each game machine so that all the non-game machines do not play the demo game.

The condition for shifting to the non-gaming state S802 is
(1) The demo setting switch is set to on and
(2) It means that the result of the determination that the card can be used in the communication process with the checkout machine 4 is "none", that is, the card 403 is not inserted in the card processor 402 (see FIG. 78). Both conditions.

The non-gaming state S802 is a state in which the player is not playing a game, and is waiting for the demo game start condition to be satisfied. The demo game start condition includes, for example, 1: when the value of the non-game timer (subtraction type) becomes zero, which means that the non-game state has continued for a predetermined time, or RTC107 provided on the main control board 100. When the calendar information / time information (hereinafter also referred to as RTC information) (see Fig. 76) from the above reaches the date and time specified in advance and 2: RTC information = start time, or when the demo game starts. By operating a switch (not shown, hereinafter also referred to as a demo game start / end switch) that gives an instruction to end and can be operated only by a clerk in the hall 3: When the start is instructed, the demo game state S804 is entered.

On the other hand, when the card 403 is inserted into the card processor 402 in the non-gaming state S802, the communication process with the checkout machine 4 is performed, so that the result of the card usable reception presence determination result is "Yes". It is determined that the player starts the game, the process shifts to the end processing state S806, and after the end processing, the game returns to the normal game state S800. Further, when the stop instruction is given by the operation of the demo game start / end switch, the process also shifts to the end processing state S806, and after the end processing, the process returns to the normal game state S800.

When the state shifts to the demo game state S804, the demo game is started and continued until a predetermined end condition is reached. The condition for shifting from the demo game state S804 to the end processing state S806 is, for example, that the demo game has been executed for a predetermined time 1: when the value of the demo game timer (subtraction type) becomes zero, or 2 : When the number of balls held becomes zero, or when the calendar information / time information (see FIG. 76) from the RTC 107 provided on the main control board 100 reaches the date and time specified in advance, 3: RTC When information = end time, the process shifts to the end processing state S806, and after the end processing, the game returns to the normal game state S800.

On the other hand, when the card 403 is inserted into the card processor 402 in the demo game state S804, the communication process with the checkout machine 4 is performed, so that the result of the card usable reception presence determination result is "Yes". It is determined that the player starts the game, the process shifts to the end processing state S806, and after the end processing, the game returns to the normal game state S800. Further, when the stop instruction is given by the operation of the demo game start / end switch, the process also shifts to the end processing state S806, and after the end processing, the process returns to the normal game state S800.

In the end processing state S806, after resetting the value of the counter set for executing the demo game and each flag, the process returns to the normal game state S800.

[Demo game condition judgment processing]
FIG. 109 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of the demo game condition determination process that manages each process of the demo game. Each flag set by the subroutine of the non-gaming state detection process shown in the flowchart in FIG. 110 and the subroutine of the demo game process shown in the flowchart in FIG. 111 is determined, and the subroutines that perform the corresponding processes are executed. Hereinafter, each step in FIG. 109 will be described. The initial value of each flag is zero.

First, in step S810, the setting of the demo setting switch provided on the gaming machine to enable selection of whether or not to perform the demo game is determined, and if it is set to ON, the next step S812 is performed. move on. On the other hand, if the demo setting switch is set to off, the subroutine is exited as it is without processing the demo game.

In step S812, the result of the card usable reception presence determination is determined, and if "none", it is determined that the card 403 is not inserted in the card processor 402, and the process proceeds to the next step S814. On the other hand, if "Yes", it is determined that the card 403 is inserted in the card processing machine 402, the process proceeds to the termination process S824, the subroutine of the termination process is executed, and the subroutine of the demo game condition determination process is exited.

In step S814, one of the conditions of 1: demo game timer = 0 or 2: number of balls held = 0 or 3: RTC information = end time, which is a condition for shifting from the demo game in-progress state S804 exemplified in FIG. 108. Is determined, the end flag set to 1 is determined, and if the end flag is not set to 1, the process proceeds to the next step S816. On the other hand, if the end flag is set to 1, the process proceeds to step S824 end processing, the subroutine of end processing is executed, and the subroutine of demo game condition determination processing is exited.

In step S816, the demo in-game flag set to 1 when shifting to the demo in-game state S804 shown in FIG. 108 is determined, and if the demo in-game flag is not set to 1, the next step S818 is performed. move on. On the other hand, if the demo game in-progress flag is set to 1, the process proceeds to step S822, the demo game processing subroutine is executed, and the demo game condition determination processing subroutine is exited.

In step S818, any of the conditions of 1: non-gaming state timer = 0 or 2: RTC information = start time or 3: start instruction, which is the condition for shifting from the non-gaming state S802 exemplified in FIG. 108, is satisfied. In this case, the demo game flag set to 1 is determined, and if the demo game flag is not set to 1, the process proceeds to the next step S820. If the demo game in-progress flag is set to 1, the process proceeds to step S822, the demo game processing subroutine is executed, and the demo game condition determination processing subroutine is exited.

In step S820, the subroutine of the non-gaming state detection process for determining the condition for shifting from the non-gaming state S802 to another state shown in FIG. 108 is executed, and the subroutine of the demo game condition determination process is exited.

[Non-gaming state detection processing]
In this embodiment, among the conditions for shifting from the non-gaming state S802 shown in FIG. 108 to the demo gaming state S804, in the case of 1: non-gaming state timer = 0, the non-gaming state detection process S820 shown in FIG. A flowchart showing a subroutine will be described.

First, in step S830, it is determined whether or not the non-gaming state flag is set to 1. This flag means that a non-gaming state is being detected. At the time of transition from the normal gaming state S800 to the non-gaming state S802, the non-gaming state flag is not yet set to 1, so the process proceeds to step S832 as it is, the non-gaming state flag is set to 1, and the non-gaming state flag is set to 1. For example, 10 minutes is set in the variable W indicating the value corresponding to the detection time in the game state timer (subtraction type), and the subroutine of the non-game state detection process is exited.

After that, after the card usable reception presence determination is performed in the timer update process (timer subtraction) in step S556 of the ball information control main process of FIG. 84 and the settlement machine communication process of step S558 executed in the next cycle. The subroutine of the non-game state detection process S820 is executed after the determination of steps S810 to S818 of the flowchart showing the subroutine of the demo game condition determination process. In the subroutine of the non-game state detection process, it is always determined in step S830 whether the non-game state flag is set to 1, and the non-game state flag is set to 1 in the previous execution of the subroutine of the non-game state detection process. If so, the process proceeds to step S836, and it is determined whether or not the non-gaming state timer is zero. The non-gaming state timer is set to 10 minutes immediately after the execution of the previous non-gaming state detection processing subroutine, and if it is not zero, the non-gaming state detection processing subroutine is exited as it is. After the timer update process of step S556, the determination of step S830 and step S836 is repeated for 10 minutes by the subroutine of the non-gaming state detection process of step S820.

When 10 minutes have elapsed from the detection of the non-gaming state, the non-gaming state timer becomes zero, and the process proceeds to step S838 based on the determination of step S836. In step S838, the demo game start flag is set to 1 and the subroutine of the non-game state detection process is exited.

When the demo game start flag is set to 1, the non-game state S802 in FIG. 108 shifts to the demo game in progress S804, and as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 109, step S818 is determined to be YES and the demo game condition determination process is performed. Execute the subroutine.

[Demo game processing]
In this embodiment, among the conditions for shifting from the demo game in-progress state S804 shown in FIG. 108 to the end processing state S806, the subroutine of the demo game process S822 shown in FIG. 111 is shown for the case where the demo game timer = 0. This will be explained with a flowchart.

In step S840, it is determined whether or not the demo game in-game flag is set to 1. This flag means that a demo game is in progress. At the time of transition from the non-gaming state S802 to the demo game in progress state S804, the demo game in progress flag is still set to 1, so the process proceeds to the next step S842 as it is, and the following settings necessary for the demo game are made.

In step S842, the demo game flag is set to 1. Next, in step S844, the demo game timer (subtraction type) is set to, for example, 5 minutes in the variable D indicating the time corresponding to the duration of the demo game. Next, in step S846, for example, 500 shots are set in the ball holding counter and the variable P corresponding to the number of balls held at the start of the game. The set voltage of the firing solenoid drive circuit 120 (see FIG. 77) is set to a predetermined value for the demonstration game (not shown). Further, in step S848, the ball information control board 110 of FIG. 76 notifies the main control board 100 of the start of the demo game, and the main control board 100 sends a command to start the demo game to the peripheral control board 130. This completes the demo game setting, turns on the demo game signal of the external terminal board 133 in step S850, and exits from the demo game processing subroutine.

Then, as a result of the value (500) of the number of balls held counter being set in the ball hitting disposability process (see FIG. 88) executed after the demo game condition determination process, step S710 is determined to be YES, and step S713 is determined. Proceed to, 1 (can be fired) is set in the fireable flag, and the ball hitting impossible processing is exited. Then, as a result of setting 1 (launchable) to the launchable flag, the subsequent ball feed / launch drive process (FIGS. 90 to 91) is substantially executed, so that the ball launching device in the upper launching device 12 is substantially executed. A demonstration game is performed by driving the 29 and the ball feeding device 28 (see FIG. 23), and the game ball is launched into the game area 8.

During the demonstration game, the ball holding number counting process of FIG. 89, the launch ball counting process of FIG. 92, and the ball holding number subtraction processing of FIG. 93 are executed, and the value of the ball holding number counter is increased or decreased. Further, of course, the lifting drive process of FIG. 94 and the ball jam notification process of FIG. 95 are also executed.

When the subroutine of the demo game process is executed again in the next cycle of the ball information control main process, the demo game in-progress flag is set to 1 in step S840, and as a result, the process proceeds to step S852. After setting the demo game timer for 5 minutes, if the value subtracted by the timer update process S556 is held, the process proceeds to the next step S854. In step S854, it is determined whether or not the number of balls held is zero, and if 500 shots are set in the previous step S846, the subroutine of the demo game processing is exited as it is.

After the timer update process (timer subtraction) in step S556 of the ball information control main process of FIG. 84 and the settlement machine communication process of step S558 determine that the card can be used and received, the demo game is performed in the main operation setting process of step S564. The subroutine of condition judgment processing is executed. The subroutine of the demo game condition determination process determines whether or not the demo game in progress flag is 1 in step S816, and as a result of being set to 1, the subroutine of the demo game process S822 is executed.

In the subroutine of the demo game processing in step S822, it is determined again in step S840 whether or not the demo game in-progress flag is set to 1. As a result of the demo game in-progress flag being set to 1 when the subroutine of the previous demo game process is executed, the process proceeds to step S852. Next, in step S852, it is determined whether or not the demo game timer is zero. If the demo game timer is not zero, it is determined in the next step S854 whether or not the number of balls held is zero. If the number of balls held is not zero, exit the demo game processing subroutine.

After that, the game returns to the subroutine of the main operation setting process S564 of the ball information control main process, and the game ball is launched in the same manner as in the normal game through processes such as ball hitting possibility determination process, ball number counting process, and ball feed / launch drive process. It is launched into the game area 8 by the hammer 30. As for the value of the number of possessed balls counter, the value of the number of possessed balls counter is decremented by the subtraction process of the number of possessed balls in FIG. 93 each time the game ball is launched.

The prize balls are controlled based on the balls actually won, and the value corresponding to the prize ball command transmitted from the main control board in response to the winning to the winning opening is added to the value of the number of balls counter. Will be done. The value of the number of balls held counter is displayed on the touch panel unit 14 (see FIG. 1) as the number of balls held by the gaming machine.

Further, in step S848 (see FIG. 111), the ball information control board 110 of FIG. 76 notifies the main control board 100 of the start of the demo game, and the main control board 100 notifies the peripheral control board 130 of the start of the demo game. Is sent.

Upon receiving the command to start the demo game, the peripheral control board 130 randomly selects a variation effect and starts the variation of the decorative symbol 701 shown in FIG. 114, for example, in the liquid crystal display device (not shown). The effect is displayed, the explanation is displayed, and after the predetermined time is displayed, the fluctuation is stopped.

FIG. 114 (a) shows how the decorative pattern 701 starts to fluctuate from "669" and the ladybugs fly around. In this state, for example, when a game ball enters the upper start opening, a top start opening winning command is sent from the main control board 100 to the peripheral control board 130, and the peripheral control board 130 is as shown in FIG. 114 (a). Hold display for one item.

The hold display may be performed independently by the peripheral control board 130 regardless of the entry of the ball into the upper starting port, and the hold display shown in FIGS. 114 (a) and 114 (b) is performed.

During the demo game, the text explanation "Turn the handle to the right to launch the ball on the board" is displayed at the bottom of the screen of the display device by scrolling from the right side of the screen so that even beginners can understand the game. The method will be guided.

When the variation effect is completed, the peripheral control board 130 randomly selects another variation effect, starts the variation of the decorative pattern on the liquid crystal display device (not shown) again, and displays the effect. The explanation is displayed, and if the hold display is displayed, the hold display is reduced by one, and after the predetermined time is displayed, the fluctuation is stopped. In this way, this variable effect is randomly executed during the demo game.

As another form, the start of the variable effect is triggered by the entry of the game ball into the upper start opening provided on the game board, and the upper start opening prize is detected by the upper start opening switch 90 in FIG. Thereby, the main control board 100 can transmit the upper start opening winning command to the peripheral control board 130, and the peripheral control board 130 can receive the upper starting opening winning command to execute the variation effect.

As the demo game progresses in the demo game in progress state S804 illustrated in FIG. 108, the demo game timer is subtracted by the timer update process S556 of the ball information control main process. When the subroutine of the demo game process S822 is executed and the demo game timer becomes zero, the process proceeds from the judgment of step S852 to step S856 and the end flag is set to 1. Alternatively, when the number of balls held becomes zero, the process proceeds from the judgment of step S854 to step S856, the end flag is set to 1, and the subroutine of the demo game processing is exited.

If the end flag is set to 1 in the subroutine of the demo game condition determination process of FIG. 109, the process proceeds from step S814 to step S824, the subroutine of the end process S824 is executed, and the subroutine of the demo game condition determination process is exited. .. The end flag is a flag for shifting from the demo game in-game state S804 of FIG. 108 to the end processing state S806.

[End processing]
FIG. 112 is a flowchart showing the subroutine of the termination process S824. In the termination processing subroutine, the card 403 is inserted into the above-mentioned card processing machine 402, and in step S812 of FIG. 109, the result of the card usable reception presence determination result is "Yes", and it is determined that the player starts the game. If, or if a stop instruction is given by operating the demo game start / end switch, or if the demo game timer becomes zero or the number of balls held becomes zero and the end flag is set to 1, the end process S824 The subroutine is executed.

In the subroutine of the end process S824, the number of balls held counter is set to zero in step S860. Next, in steps S862 to S868, each flag of the end flag, the demo game in progress flag, the demo game start flag, and the non-game state flag is cleared (zero is set).

Next, in step S870, the ball information control board 110 of FIG. 76 notifies the main control board 100 of the end of the demo game, and the main control board 100 sends a command to end the demo game to the peripheral control board 130. The peripheral control board 130 returns to the display screen in the normal gaming state.

In step S872, the demo game signal of the external terminal board 133 is turned off, and the subroutine is exited.

During the demo game, game information including the demo game signal is output from the external terminal board 133 to the hall computer (not shown). Since the hall computer determines the ON state of the demo game signal, the game information during the demo game is not aggregated. Therefore, it does not affect the sales data of the hall. In addition, since the demonstration game is performed while waiting for customers, it does not hinder the intention of the hall side to maintain the operating rate of the game machine.

[Non-gaming state detection process R]
In this embodiment, among the conditions for shifting from the non-gaming state S802 shown in FIG. 108 to the demo game in progress state S804, the case of 2: RTC information = start time will be described. In step S820 of the demo game condition determination process, the non-game state detection process (see FIG. 109) was executed under the condition of 1: non-game state timer = 0, but in this embodiment, the demo game condition determination process is performed. In step S820, the non-gaming state detection process R subroutine shown in the flowchart in FIG. 113 is executed.

In step S880, RTC information is provided by requesting the main control MPU 101 of the main control board 100 from the ball information control board of FIG. 76 to provide calendar information / time information (hereinafter, also referred to as RTC information) from the RTC 107 of the main control board. Send the command.

The RTC information is received in step S882, and the RTC information received in step S884 is stored in the variable C. The received RTC information is, for example, "YYYY.MM.DD.hh.mm.ss". Next, in step S886, in order to extract a field specified in advance from the RTC information, a calculation is performed with mask data, and for example, only the hour and minute fields are stored as processed RTC information. The mask data at this time is "0000.00.00.11.11.00".

Steps S888 to S894 are processes for comparing a plurality of demo game start times (not shown) stored in the table in advance with the processed RTC information to determine a match. When it is determined in step S890 that the processed RTC information and one of the start times Tn stored in the table match, the demo game start flag is set to 1 and the subroutine of the non-game state detection process R is exited.

When the demo game start flag is set to 1, the non-game state S802 in FIG. 108 shifts to the demo game in progress S804. Subsequent processes are the same as those of the demo game process S822 and the end process S824.

Condition 3: Transition from the non-gaming state S802 to S804 during the demo game in FIG. 108: Start instruction (by operating the demo game start / end switch) and Condition 3: Transition from the demo game state S804 to the end processing state S806: The description of RTC information = end time will be omitted. Further, the condition for shifting from the non-game state S802 to the demo game state S804 and the condition for shifting from the demo game state S804 to the end processing state S806 in FIG. 108 can be set by a combination of 1 to 3 respectively.

1 Pachinko game machine 1a Outer frame 2 Main body frame 3 Door frame 4 Settlement machine 5 Game board 6 Decorative cover 7 Hinge 8 Game area 9 Game window 10 Hitting ball handle 11 Transparent plate 12 Upper launcher (upper launch unit)
12a Launcher guide member 12b Left side surface 12c Top surface 12d Stay 12e Cushion member 13 Launch solenoid 14 Touch panel part 15 Fitting frame 16 Peripheral wall part 17 Accommodation opening 18 Overhanging wall 19 Deformed ball / magnetic ball discharge unit accommodating part 20 Deformed ball / Magnetic ball discharge unit 21 Ball collecting part 22 Ball lifting device 23 Ball sending gutter 23a Ball outlet 23b Receiving part 23c Slide shutter 23d Guide piece 23e Guide slit 23f Spring 23g Floor surface 24 Ball supply path member 25 Screw 25a Screw shaft 25b Small pitch Lump member 25bL Half-split body 25bR Half-split body 25c Large-pitch ridge member 25cL Half-split body 25cR Half-split body 25d Spiral ridge 25e Cylindrical part 25g Concave 25h Convex 25i Upper edge 25j Upper edge Concave 25k Lower edge 25m Lower edge Convex part 26 Launching standby ball detection switch 28 Ball feeding device 29 Hitting ball launching device 30 Launching hammer (launching member)
301 Fixed part 302 Sake part 303 Stopper contact part 31 Ball feed solenoid 32 Ball feed member 33 Rail member 331 Mounting plate part 332 Rail part 333 Left rail plate 334 Right rail plate 335 Through hole 34 Launch stopper 35 Return stopper 36 Launch Ball confirmation switch 361 Photo bracket 37 Upper launcher hinge 38 Launch port 39 Base plate 39a Abutment part 40 Launch area 41 Winning port 42 Out port 43 Panel holder 44 Transparent panel plate 45 Front component 46 Game ball running surface 47 Notch 48 Solenoid 49 Fixture 50 Screw receiving member 51 Ball entry prevention wall 52 Tension spring 53 Spring locking part 54 Ball guide protrusion 55 Front guide surface 56 Stopper piece 57 Arrangement space 58 Ball outlet 60 Rotating drive shaft 61 Headpiece 62 Stopper Cover 63 Ball supply port 64 Launch port decorative member 65 Lifting communication trough 65a Ball receiving port 65b Floor surface 66 Ball inlet 67 Ball feeding unit base 68 Ball feeding unit cover 69 Ball feeding guiding trough 70 Launching standby ball detection switch 71 Ball feeding sheet 72 Acting rod 73 Sheet metal accommodating part 74 Ball feed part 75 Shaft hole 76 Ball feed shaft 77 Arm part 78 Sheet metal locking claw 79 Hook protrusion 80 Ball feed guide surface 81 Ball holding surface 82 Hanging piece 83 Return ball blocking part 84 Ball Stop 85 Hitting ball passage port 86 Launch stop switch 87 Touch switch 90 Upper start port detection switch 91 Lower start port detection switch 92 Gate switch 93 General winning port detection switch 94 General winning port detection switch 96 Starting port solenoid 97 Large winning port solenoid 98 Count switch 100 Main control board 101 Main control MPU
102 Main control I / O port 103 Main control input circuit 104 Main control solenoid drive circuit 105 RAM clear switch 106 RTC control unit 107 RTC
108 Battery 109 RAM
110 Sphere Information Control Board 111 Sphere Information Control MPU
112 Ball information control I / O port 113 Ball information control input circuit 114 Ball lifting motor drive circuit 115 CR unit input / output circuit 116 External WDT
117 Power failure monitoring circuit 118 Ball information control unit 119 Ball polishing ribbon feed motor drive circuit 120 Launch solenoid drive circuit 122 Ball feed solenoid drive circuit 123 Handle relay terminal board 124 Sensor relay board 130 Peripheral control board 131 Door frame open switch 132 Main body frame open Switch 133 External terminal board 140 Panel relay terminal board 141 Function display board 142 Upper special symbol display 143 Lower special symbol display 144 Upper special symbol storage display 145 Lower special symbol storage display 146 Normal symbol display 147 Normal symbol storage display Instrument 148 Game status display 149 Round display 150 Ball lifting motor 155 Ball polishing ribbon feed motor 156 Lifting inlet switch 157 Lifting motor sensor 158 Cassette detection switch 201 Ball receiving base 202 Collection port 203 Collection ball detection switch 204 Variant Ball discharge part 205 Magnetic ball discharge part 206 Ball path full tank detection switch 207 Ball proper amount detection switch 208 Deformed ball discharge part base 209 Deformed ball separation shaft 210 Deformed ball separation shaft 212 Deformed ball discharge part Base mounting part 213 Upstream side 214 Downstream Side 215 Deformed ball discharge route 216 Deformed ball discharge port 217 Deformed ball discharge route forming member 218 Communication path 219 Circulation route 220 Inclined surface 221 Falling surface 222 Magnetic ball discharge inclined surface 223 Discontinuous part 224 Side wall 225 Ceiling wall 226 Magnetic ball discharge route 227 Magnetic ball discharge port 228 Magnetic ball discharge part cover 229 Magnet 230 Magnet accommodation space 231 Magnetic force adjustment part 232 Magnetic ball 233 Regular game ball 234 Discharge ball receiving box 251 Ball polishing cartridge 252 Left side cover 253 Right side cover 253a Right outer side Cover 253b Right inner side cover 254 Hinge receiver 255 Hinge 258 Second drive gear case 259 Take-up roller 260 Driven roller 261 First gear shaft 262 Second gear shaft 263 Ball polish cloth 264 Ball polish cloth holding spring 265 Leaf spring 266 Spring retainer 267 Tensioner 268 Game ball contact mark 270 Ball polishing cartridge mounting part 271 Ball polishing cartridge fixing lever 272 Ball polishing cartridge fixing stopper 273 Ball polishing cartridge mounting port 275 Ball feed through Road 275a Ball receiving port 275b Ball feeding port 281 Opening 282 Lifting guide rail 290 Drive shaft 291 Mounting sensor 292 Button 350 Ball feeding rotating body 350a Ball engaging recess 351 Ball feeding inclined part 351a Inclined surface 351b Top inclined surface 352 Spiral base Cover 353 Lifting part cover 354 Lifting slope member 355 Ball pulling member 356 Upper gearbox 357 Lower gearbox 358 Ball lifting motor gear 359 Idle gear 360 Upper lifting gear 362 Lower lifting gear 363 Ball feed rotating body gear 363a Gear shaft 365 guide block 365a sphere guide surface 365b stopper surface 366 fitting member 366a fitting recess 367 support member 368 cover member 402 card processor 403 card 404 ID storage unit 405 remaining degree storage unit 406 ball holding number storage unit 407 mounting member 408 Hanging wall 410 Ball outlet opening / closing unit 411 Shutter base 412 Open / close shutter 413 Open / close crank 414 Open / close spring 415 Slide groove 416 Opening 417 Crank support 418 Spring locking part 419 Shutter body 420 Drive hole 421 Shaft 422 Drive pin 423 Drive pin 424 Contact part 425 Spring locking part 426 Opening / closing actuating piece 427 Game ball introduction member 500 Following member 600a Upper front edge 600b Lower front edge 601a Upper guide member 601b Lower guide member 602 Bottom 603a Front rising part 603b Rear rising part 604a Front rib 604b Rear rib 605a stopper (top)
605b stopper (bottom)
606 Sliding leg 607 Space 608 Pivot shaft 609 Receiving hole 610a Engagement protrusion (top)
610b Engagement protrusion (bottom)
610c Head 611a Upper lever 611b Lower lever 612a Axis (upper)
612b axis (bottom)
613a Hook recess (top)
613b Hook recess (bottom)
614 Fixture 701 Decorative pattern

Claims (1)

A game board with a game area where the game ball rolls,
A launching device that launches the game ball toward the game area in response to an operation on the hitting handle is provided.
The game board is provided with a winning opening and a game ball collection opening.
The launching device launches the gaming ball into the gaming area, and the launched gaming ball is collected from the winning opening or the gaming ball collecting opening after rolling in the gaming area, and is conveyed to the launching device. As a result, in the enclosed ball-type gaming machine in which the gaming ball is closedly circulated to play the game.
A main control board that controls the game and outputs a prize ball command at least based on the acceptance of the game ball into the winning opening.
A ball information control board that controls the number of balls held based on the prize ball command is provided.
The sphere information control board is
A non-gaming state detecting means for detecting a non-gaming state in which a game is not performed,
A demonstration game in which the game ball is launched into the game area by automatically operating the launcher without operating the ball striking handle on condition that the non-game state is detected. Means and
A demo game signal output means for outputting a demo game signal to an external terminal board, indicating that the demo game is in progress while the demo game is being performed.
An enclosed ball-type gaming machine characterized by being equipped with.

Images