JP2000342815A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothen the processing of un-discharged prize balls at the time of restoring from service interruption by avoiding outputting of prize ball requesting information in spite of forming a prize ball condition in a prescribed period after restoration from the interruption of a power source and outputting prize ball requesting information after finishing a prescribed period in a game machine capable of storing information on the number of un-discharged prize service balls even at the time of the service interruption. SOLUTION: At the time of processing a prize-winning ball signal at a main substrate 31 during a game by a pachinko game machine, whether a one-minute timer is under operation or not is confirmed and at the time of not operating, whether processing of a prize-winning ball signal is executed or not is first judged after supplying a power source. This judgment is executed for judging whether a CPU 371 for controlling prize balls starts un-discharged prize balls at the time of restoring from the service interruption and when the judgment is YES, the one-minute timer is started. Thus, prize ball discharging check and sending starting processing of a discharging number designating command based on new prize winning is prohibited for a period (one minute) required for completing new prize winning to progress the game without generating a fault.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine such as a pachinko game machine or a coin game machine in which a game is played in response to a player's operation. It relates to a gaming machine in which a game is performed.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a gaming machine, a game medium such as a game ball is launched into a game area by a launching device, and when a game medium wins a winning area such as a winning opening provided in the game area, a predetermined number of prize balls are obtained. Are paid out to players.
The payout of the game medium is performed by a payout mechanism. The payout mechanism is generally controlled by prize ball control means mounted on a prize ball control board. Since the progress of the game is controlled by the game control means mounted on the main board, the number of prize balls based on the winning is determined by the game control means and transmitted to the prize ball control board.

The prize ball control means drives the payout mechanism when the number of prize balls according to the winning is instructed from the game control means,
The number of game media according to the instruction is paid out as prize balls. Since the number of prize balls for each prize is determined in advance for a prize port provided on the game board, the game control means detects which prize port has a prize.

As described above, it is the game control means mounted on the main board that determines the number of prize balls according to the winning in the winning opening, and the payout control is performed on a different board from the main board. This is a prize ball control means installed in the prize ball. Further, since the prize ball processing operation by the prize ball control means takes a certain amount of time, the timing of completing the payout of the number of prize balls corresponding to the prize is delayed with respect to the prize detection time. Then, if a power failure occurs between the time of detecting the winning and the time of completing the prize ball, there is a problem that the prize ball is not paid out even though the prize is awarded, resulting in disadvantage to the player.

In order to solve such a problem, some gaming machines have a battery backup RAM mounted on a prize ball control board. That is, the prize ball control means:
The information on the number of winning balls instructed by the game control means is stored in the battery backup RAM, and when the power is restored after a power failure occurs, if the information on the number of winning balls is stored in the battery backup RAM, the information is based on the information. Perform prize ball payout.

[0006]

However, when the prize ball controlling means restores the power supply, the battery backup RAM
Is configured to pay out the prize balls based on the stored content of the game, the game control means cannot detect that such processing is being performed. If the prize ball control board is configured to notify the game control board that such processing is being performed, the game control means can recognize that such processing is being performed. In view of the above, inputting a signal from a board on which a microcomputer is mounted (generally, the prize ball control means is realized as including a microcomputer) to the game control board should be avoided. The control board cannot notify the game control board. Then, since the game control means cannot recognize the prize ball processing after the power is restored by the prize ball control means, the game control by the game control means after the power is restored and the prize ball processing by the prize ball control means after the power is restored. Simultaneous progress may hinder the progress of the game.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a gaming machine capable of storing information on the number of unpaid prize balls even at the time of a power outage, in which the unpaid prize balls at the time of restoration from the power failure are smoothly performed and hinder the progress of the game. It is intended to provide a gaming machine without any.

[0008]

A gaming machine according to the present invention comprises:
A game machine in which a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out from a prize ball payout device in accordance with the establishment of a prize ball condition, a game control means for outputting prize ball request information in accordance with the establishment of a prize ball condition, and a game control means Prize ball control means for driving a prize ball payout device in accordance with prize ball request information from the player to perform prize ball payout, prize ball detection means for detecting a prize ball paid out from the prize ball payout device, Memory holding means for holding the memory of the scheduled prize ball indicated by the ball request information at the time of unexpected power cutoff, wherein the prize ball control means performs a prize ball related to the planned prize ball memory at the time of restoration from power cutoff The game control means includes a prize ball executing means, and the game control means inputs a prize ball number information storage means for storing the number of prize balls paid out in connection with the prize ball request information outputted by itself, and a detection output of the prize ball detection means. Detection input means, and the storage and detection of the prize ball number information storage means. Excessive prize ball error detecting means for detecting an error related to excessive prize balls based on the detection information input to the input means, and inactive for inactivating the prize ball excess error detecting means for a predetermined period after restoration from power-off. Means for outputting the prize ball request information after a predetermined period of time without outputting the prize ball request information even if the prize ball condition is satisfied during a predetermined period after the recovery from the power interruption. .

The inactivating means may be configured to inactivate the prize ball excess error detecting means for a predetermined period when detecting that the returning prize ball executing means has started operation.

[0010] The game control means detects a predetermined period by, for example, measuring the time from when the power is turned on.

[0011] The game control means further includes a prize ball possible state detecting means for detecting whether or not the prize ball payout device is in a state in which a prize ball can be performed. The detection period may be excluded from the predetermined period during which the deactivating means operates.

The winning ball possible state detecting means detects, for example, whether or not there is a game ball which can be paid out by the winning ball payout device.

The prize ball possible state detecting means includes, for example,
It is detected whether or not there is a predetermined amount or more of game balls in the receiving tray for receiving the prize balls.

[0014] Even if the game control means is configured to output to the prize ball control means information for stopping the prize ball operation when the prize ball possible state detecting means detects that the prize ball is not possible. Good.

[0015]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of a pachinko gaming machine, which is an example of a gaming machine, will be described. 1 is a front view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the front, FIG. 2 is an overall rear view showing the internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine 1, and FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the back. Here, a pachinko gaming machine is shown as an example of a gaming machine, but the present invention is not limited to a pachinko gaming machine, and may be, for example, a coin gaming machine.

As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 1 comprises:
It has a glass door frame 2 formed in a frame shape. On the lower surface of the glass door frame 2, there is a hit ball supply tray 3. Below the hitting ball supply tray 3, a surplus ball receiving tray 4 for storing premium balls overflowing from the hitting ball supply tray 3 and a hitting operation handle 5 for firing a hitting ball are provided. A game board 6 is detachably mounted behind the glass door frame 2. A game area 7 is provided on the front of the game board 6.

In the vicinity of the center of the game area 7, a variable display section 9 for variably displaying a plurality of types of symbols and a 7-segment L
A variable display device 8 including a variable display 10 using an ED is provided. On the side of the variable display device 8, a passing gate 11 for guiding a hit ball is provided. The hit ball that has passed through the passing gate 11 is guided to the starting winning opening 14 via the ball exit 13. In a passage between the passage gate 11 and the ball outlet 13, there is a gate switch 12 for detecting a hit ball that has passed through the passage gate 11.

The winning ball entered into the starting winning port 14 is
It is guided to the back of the game board 6 and is detected by the starting port switch 17. In addition, a variable winning ball device 15 that performs opening and closing operations is provided below the starting winning port 14. The variable winning ball device 15 is opened by the solenoid 16.

An opening / closing plate 20 opened by a solenoid 21 in a specific game state (big hit state) is provided below the variable winning ball device 15. Opening / closing plate 20
The winning ball that has entered one (V zone) of the winning balls guided to the back of the game board 6 is detected by the V count switch 22. The winning ball entering the opening / closing plate 20 is detected by the count switch 23. In the lower part of the variable display device 8,
A start winning prize storage display 18 having four display sections for displaying the number of winning spheres entering the start winning port 14 is provided.
In this example, with a maximum of four, every time there is a starting prize,
The start prize memory display 18 increases the number of lit display units one by one. Then, each time the variable display of the variable display unit 9 is started, the number of the lit display units is reduced by one.

The game board 6 is provided with a plurality of winning ports 19 and 24. Decorative lamps 25 are provided around the left and right sides of the game area 7 so as to blink during the game.
There is an out port 26 for absorbing a hit ball that does not win. In addition, two speakers 27 that emit sound effects are provided at upper left and right sides outside the game area 7. A game effect LED 28a and a game effect lamp 2
8b and 28c are provided.

In this example, one of the speakers 27
Is provided with a prize ball lamp 51 which is turned on when a prize ball is paid out, and near the other speaker 27, a cutout lamp 52 which is turned on when a supply ball is cut out is provided. Further, FIG. 1 also shows a card unit 50 that is installed adjacent to the pachinko gaming table 1 and enables lending of balls by inserting a prepaid card.

The card unit 50 has a usable indicator lamp 151 for indicating whether or not the card is in a usable state. When there is a fraction (a number less than 100 yen) in the balance information recorded in the card, the fraction is displayed. Fraction display switch 1 for displaying on a frequency display LED provided near hit ball supply tray 3
52, a connecting stand direction indicator 15 indicating which side of the pachinko gaming machine 1 the card unit 50 corresponds to
3. Card insertion indicator 154 indicating that a card has been inserted into card unit 50, card insertion slot 155 into which a card as a recording medium is inserted, and a card reader provided on the back of card insertion slot 155 A card unit lock 156 is provided to release the card unit 50 when checking the mechanism of the writer.

The hit ball fired from the hitting ball launching device enters the game area 7 through the hitting rail, and thereafter, the game area 7
Come down. When a hit ball is detected by the gate switch 12 through the passing gate 11, if the change of the symbol can be started, the display number of the variable display 10 that normally displays the symbol variably changes. . If it is not in a state where the fluctuation of the symbol can be normally started, the gate passage memory is increased by one.

When a hit ball enters the starting winning opening 14 and is detected by the starting opening switch 17, the three symbols in the variable display section 9 start rotating. The rotation of the image in the variable display unit 9 is as follows.
Stops after a certain period of time. If the combination of the symbols at the time of stop is the combination of the big hit symbols, the game shifts to the big hit game state. That is, the opening / closing plate 20 is opened until a predetermined time elapses or until a predetermined number (for example, 10) of hit balls is won. Then, when a hit ball wins in the specific winning area while the opening and closing plate 20 is opened and is detected by the V count switch 22, a continuation right is generated and the opening and closing plate 20 is opened again. The generation of the continuation right is permitted a predetermined number of times (for example, 15 times).

If the combination of images in the variable display section 9 at the time of stoppage is a combination of big hit symbols with probability fluctuation, the probability of the next big hit increases. That is, a high probability state, which is more advantageous for the player, is obtained. Also, when the stop symbol on the variable display 10 is a predetermined symbol (hit symbol), the variable winning ball device 15 is opened for a predetermined time. Further, in the high probability state, the probability that the stop symbol on the variable display 10 hits the symbol is increased, and the opening time and the number of times the variable winning ball device 15 is opened are increased.

Note that the game area 7 is also provided with a display for displaying the gate passage memory, but is omitted in FIG. In addition, a 7-segment LED or the like for performing a round display in a big hit game state and a ten count display during each round, or an LED for performing a V winning display may be provided.

Next, the structure of the back surface of the pachinko gaming machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. On the back side of the pachinko gaming machine 1, as shown in FIG. 2, a ball tank 38 is provided above the mechanism plate 36, and when the pachinko gaming machine 1 is installed on the gaming machine installation island, a prize ball comes from above. It is supplied to a tank 38. The prize ball in the ball tank 38 reaches the ball payout device 97 through the guide gutter 39.

A terminal board 160 provided with a terminal, a power connector, a power switch, and the like for outputting various information in the pachinko gaming machine 1 to the outside is provided on the upper portion of the mechanism board 36. In addition, on the back surface of the terminal board 160, a power board on which a power circuit for generating a voltage used in various boards is mounted is installed.

The ball tank 38 is screwed to a predetermined position of the upper base unit 161 (at this position, a concave portion is formed along the side surface shape of the ball tank 38) by mounting pieces provided on the left and right sides. Installed with. The ball tank 38 is formed in a box shape having an open upper surface, and a drop port 1 connected to a guiding gutter 39 downstream of the bottom surface.
68 are formed. A ball break detection lever 166 pivotally supported on the inclined bottom surface above the drop port 168.
Is provided.

Below the ball-break detection lever 166, a ball-break detection switch 167 is provided. When the shortage detection switch 167 detects a shortage of replenishment balls in the ball tank 38, a replenishment ball request signal is output to a hall computer installed in the game arcade, and a shortage lamp provided on the game board 6. 52 is lit. The out-of-ball detection lever 166 turns off the out-of-ball detection switch 167 when replenishment balls are present in the ball tank 38, and the out-of-ball detection switch 167 when there is no more replenishment balls in the ball tank 38. Is turned on.

The guide gutter 39 disposed downstream of the ball tank 38 is attached to the upper base unit 161 at an angle from one end to the other end. A partition wall 39a is installed at the center of the inside of the guide gutter 39, and the partition wall 39a is
The replenishing balls flowing out of the falling port 168 are installed gradually higher in order to surely arrange the replenishing balls in two rows on the left and right. A ball leveling member 170 is installed in the upper part on the downstream side of the guide gutter 39.
It acts so that the supply balls that flow in stages become one stage.
On the downstream side of the ball leveling member 170, a ball stopper 171 and a ball leveling metal 172 are provided. Ball stopper 1
Reference numeral 71 is for temporarily stopping the supply balls stored in the guide gutter 39 at the time of failure or inspection. The ball leveling fitting 172 is for finally aligning the supply balls in one stage.

On the further downstream side of the guide gutter 39, an inverted "ku"
A curved gutter 174 forming a U-shaped passage is connected. The curved gutter 174 is moved in the front-rear direction 2 by the guiding gutter 39.
The supply balls flowing down in a row are changed in direction so as to drop toward the ball payout device 97 in three rows in the left-right direction.
A bead opening is formed at the bent portion of the curve gutter 174, and the bead opening is closed by a bead removal valve 175. The ball removal valve 175 is opened by inserting a ball removal pin from the front of the pachinko gaming machine 1. In addition, a ball removal passage 176 is formed below the ball removal valve 175.

At the lower left and right sides of the curve gutter 174, the connecting projection 1 is provided.
77 are provided. The connecting protrusion 177 has a connecting concave protrusion 1 formed at the upper end of the intermediate base unit 162.
82 is inserted. In this state, screws are fixed from above the connecting concave protrusion 182, and the intermediate base unit 162 is fixed to the upper base unit 161. The passage body through which the supply ball passing through the curve gutter 174 passes and the ball payout device 97 are fixed to the intermediate base unit 162. The configurations of the intermediate base unit 162 and the ball payout device 97 will be described later in detail. I do.

A lower base unit 163 is provided below the mechanism plate 36. A prize ball collecting gutter 203 is provided at an approximately middle position on the front side (the game board 6 side) of the lower base unit 163. The winning ball collecting gutter 203 receives the winning ball that has won each of the winning devices of the game board, and guides it to the winning ball exit 221. Therefore, the downstream side of the prize ball gathering gutter 203 is a prize ball guide passage 205 for causing the prize balls to flow down one by one. The prize ball guiding passage 205 is provided with a collective detector 115 which is a switch for detecting a prize ball passing therethrough. In addition, an out ball guiding passage 206 for guiding out balls from the out port 26 of the game board 6 is also formed. Out ball guidance passage 206
Is formed so as to join the ball-drop lower passage 207.

On the rear side of the lower base unit 163 (farther from the game board 6), a prize ball payout passage 208 is formed. An upper plate communication port 210 is formed at the lower end of the prize ball payout passage 208. Upper plate communication port 210
Is for guiding a prize ball to the hitting ball supply tray 3 installed on the front of the gaming machine. In addition, on the side of the prize ball payout passage 208, the ballless lower passage 2 communicating with the ballless passage 176.
07 is formed. The ballless lower passage 207 communicates with the prize ball payout passage 208 and the winning ball exit 221 on the way,
Eventually, it merges with the out ball guiding passage 206.

Below the lower base unit 163, a board box 149 attached to the prize ball control circuit board storage section 148 is installed. The board box 149 houses a prize ball control board 37. The prize ball control board 37 includes the ball payout device 97 and the card unit 5.
A connector 153 for connecting wiring from 0 is provided.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the gaming board of the pachinko gaming machine 1 as viewed from the rear. As shown in FIG. 3, on the back surface of the gaming board 6, there is provided a winning ball set cover 40 for guiding a winning ball that has won each winning port and a winning ball device along a predetermined winning route. Of the winning balls guided to the winning ball collecting cover 40, a winning ball entering one side (V zone) from the opening / closing plate 20 is detected by the V count switch 22, and a winning ball entering the opening / closing plate 20 is counted by the count switch 23. Is detected by Then, the winnings through the other winning ports 19 and 24 and the winning ball device are collectively detected by the winning port switch 19a or the winning port switch 24a. Note that FIG. 3 illustrates the relay board 33 as an example.

To perform the prize ball payout control, the set detector 1
15, starting port switch 17, winning port switch 19a, 2
Signals from 4 a and the count switch 23 are sent to the main board 31. When the starting port switch 17 is turned on, a prize ball control command indicating the number of prize balls “6” is output from the main board 31 to the prize ball control board, and when the count switch 23 is turned on, the prize ball control board is sent from the main board 31 to the prize ball control board. Number of balls "1
A prize ball control command indicating "5" is output. When the winning opening switches 19a and 24a are turned on, the main board 31 is turned off.
Outputs a winning ball control command indicating the number of winning balls “10” to the winning ball control board.

As described above, in this embodiment, a prize is detected by the prize port switches 19a and 24a for detecting the prize balls which have won several prize ports at once and switches provided for the prize apparatus. Then, the main board 31
Sends a prize ball control command to the prize ball control board to instruct prize ball payout. Note that after a prize is detected by a switch provided for each prize port and a prize device (not necessarily 1: 1), a prize ball is not detected by the set detector 115 even after a predetermined time has elapsed. In this case, the gaming machine is placed in an error state as if an illegal prize has occurred or a ball has been jammed in the prize ball collecting gutter 203 or the prize ball guide path 205.

Next, the configurations of the intermediate base unit 162 and the ball payout device 97 installed on the mechanism plate 36 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the intermediate base unit 162
Are formed on the upper and lower sides of the connector. The connection concave protrusion 182 connects and fixes the intermediate base unit 162 to the upper base unit 161 and the lower base unit 163. The upper connection concave protrusion 182 is connected and fixed to the connection protrusion 177 of the upper base unit 161. Then, the lower connecting concave protrusion 182 is connected and fixed to the connecting protrusion 202 of the lower base unit 163.

A passage 184 is fixed on the upper part of the intermediate base unit 162. The ball dispensing device 97 is fixed to a lower portion of the passage body 184. Passage body 184
Is a prize ball passage 186a, 1 for flowing down three rows of prize balls whose downflow direction has been changed by the curve gutter 174 in the left-right direction.
86b and 186c. Premium ball path 186a, 18
6b and 186c, a ball-break switch 187 is provided.
a, 187b and 187c are installed. The cutout switches 187a, 187b, 187c are connected to the prize ball passage 18
6A, 186B, and 186C are used to detect the presence or absence of a prize ball. When the ball cutout switches 187a and 187b no longer detect a prize ball, the prize ball motor (not shown in FIG. 4) in the ball payout device 97 is detected. The rotation is stopped and the prize ball payout is immobilized.

When the ball-out switch 187c does not detect a prize ball, the rotation of the ball-lending motor (not shown in FIG. 4) in the ball payout device 97 is stopped, and the ball lending is immobilized. It should be noted that the burnout switches 187a, 187
b, 187c are prize ball paths 186a, 186b, 18
It is locked by a locking piece 188 at a position where it can be detected that 27 to 28 prize balls are present in 6c.

The central portion of the passage body 184 is formed in a shape curved right and left so as to reduce the ball pressure of the prize ball flowing down inside. And, prize ball passages 186a, 186b
A stop hole 189 is formed therebetween. The mounting boss provided on the intermediate base unit 162 is fitted into the back surface of the stop hole 189. In this state, the set screw is screwed, and the passage body 184 is fixed to the intermediate base unit 162. Before being screwed, the positioning of the passage body 184 can be performed by a locking projection 185 provided on the intermediate base unit 162.

A ball payout device 97 is provided below the passage body 184.
The prize ball is supplied to the ball and a ball payout device 9 is provided in the event of a failure or the like.
7 is provided with a ball stopping device 190 for stopping the supply of the premium ball to the ball 7. The ball payout device 97 installed below the ball stopping device 190 is housed inside a rectangular parallelepiped case 198. Protrusions are provided at four places on the left and right of the case 198. In a state where each projection is related to the positioning projection 200 provided on the intermediate base unit 162, the elastic engagement piece 2 provided below the intermediate base unit 162 is provided.
01 is fitted with the lower end of the case 198.

Next, the structure and operation of the ball payout device 97 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a prize ball mechanism portion 97A which is a left portion of the ball payout device 97 shown in FIG.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.
7A is a partial cross-sectional view of the prize ball mechanism portion 97A of the ball dispensing device 97 viewed from the side (a direction parallel to the mechanical plate 36). It is.

In the prize ball mechanism portion 97A, FIGS.
The stepping motor (prize ball motor) 289A rotates the screw 288A to pay out prize balls based on the prize ball one by one.

As shown in FIG. 5, the prize ball mechanism portion 97A of the ball payout device 97 has two cases 198a and 198b. The ball payout device 9 is provided at two places on the left and right of the case 198a.
7 are provided with engaging projections 280a and 280b that come into contact with positioning projections 200 (see FIG. 4) provided above the installation position. In addition, each case 198a, 19
8b, ball supply paths 281a and 281b are formed. The ball supply paths 281a, 281b are curved surfaces 282a, 282.
The ball feeding horizontal paths 284a and 284b are formed below the ends of the curved surfaces 282a and 282b. Further, ball discharge paths 283a and 283b are formed at the ends of the ball feed horizontal paths 284a and 284b. Ball supply paths 281a, 281b, ball feed horizontal paths 284a, 284
b and the ball discharge paths 283a, 283b
a and 198b are partition walls 295 that partition the front and rear, respectively.
a, 295b.

Further, in front of the partition walls 295a and 295b, the ball pressure buffering member 285A is connected to the cases 198a and 195b.
8b. The ball pressure buffering member 285A distributes the prize balls supplied to the prize ball mechanism portion 97A of the ball payout device 97 to the left and right sides and guides them to the ball supply paths 281a and 281b. Further, below the ball pressure buffering member 285A, a prize ball motor position switch 300A including a light emitting element (LED) 286A and a light receiving element 287A is provided. The light emitting element 286A and the light receiving element 287A are provided at a predetermined interval. The distal end of the screw 288A is inserted into the space. Note that the ball pressure buffering member 285A is connected to the cases 198a and 198.
When b is attached, it is completely stored and fixed therein.

The ball feed horizontal paths 284a, 284b have a screw 2 rotated by a payout motor 289A.
88A are arranged. The payout motor 289A is fixed to a motor fixing plate 290A, and the motor fixing plate 290A is
Fixing groove 2 formed behind partition walls 295a and 295b
91a and 291b are fitted. In this state, the motor shaft of the dispensing motor 289A projects forward of the partition walls 295a and 295b.
A is fixed. On the outer periphery of the screw 288A, the ball feed horizontal path 284a,
A spiral projection 288a for moving the prize ball placed on 284b forward is provided.

At the tip of the screw 288A,
A concave portion is formed to accommodate the light emitting element 286A, and two notches 292A are formed on the outer periphery of the concave portion to each other.
It is formed 0 degrees apart. Therefore, screw 288
During one rotation of A, light from the light emitting element 286A is detected twice by the light receiving element 287A via the cutout 292A. The wires 293A from the light emitting element 286A, the light receiving element 287A, and the payout motor 289A are collectively pulled out to the outside through drawer holes formed below the rear portions of the cases 198a, 198b, and connected to the connector 294A.

The prize balls are moved on ball feed horizontal paths 284a, 284b.
When the payout motor 289A rotates in a state where the prize ball is placed, the prize ball moves forward on the ball feed horizontal paths 284a and 284b by the spiral projection 288a of the screw 288A. Finally, the ball discharge passages 283a, 283a, 28
3b. At this time, the left and right ball feed horizontal paths 284
a, 284b fall alternately. That is,
Each time the screw 288A makes a half turn, one prize ball falls from one side. Therefore, the light receiving element 28
If the control of stopping the driving of the payout motor 289A is performed when the number of signals output from the 7A reaches a predetermined number of prize balls corresponding to one prize, the prize corresponding to the prize correctly can be obtained. You can pay out the number of balls.

Below the ball feed horizontal paths 284a and 284b, there are provided prize ball counting switches 301A and 301B, for example, using proximity switches. Each time one prize ball falls from the ball feed horizontal path 284a, 284b, the prize ball count switches 301A, 301B are turned on. Therefore, the award ball count switches 301A and 301B
, The number of prize balls actually paid out can be counted.

In this embodiment, the prize ball mechanism portion 97A has a two-row configuration, but may have a single-row configuration.
The ball lending mechanism shown on the right side of the prize ball mechanism 97A in FIG. 6 has a single-line configuration, but the configuration is the same as that of the prize ball mechanism 97A. Therefore, detailed description is omitted.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the circuit configuration of the main board 31. FIG. 8 also shows a prize ball control board 37, a lamp control board 35, a sound control board 70, a launch control board 91, and a display control board 80. On the main board 31, a basic circuit 53 for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 according to a program, a gate switch 12,
Starting port switch 17, V count switch 22, count switch 23, set detector 115, full tank switch 402 for detecting the full tank of surplus ball tray 4, winning port switches 19 a and 24 a, ball out detection switch 167, ball out Switch 1187 and prize ball count switch 301
A, a switch circuit 58 for supplying signals from the A and 301B to the basic circuit 53; a solenoid circuit 59 for driving the solenoid 16 for opening and closing the variable winning ball device 15 and the solenoid 21 for opening and closing the open / close plate 20 according to instructions from the basic circuit 53; , A lamp / LED circuit 60 for driving the decorative lamp 25.

According to the data supplied from the basic circuit 53, jackpot information indicating the occurrence of a jackpot, effective start information indicating the number of start winning balls used to start displaying an image on the variable display section 9, and probability fluctuation have occurred. And an information output circuit 64 that outputs probability change information or the like indicating the fact to a host computer such as a hall management computer.

The basic circuit 53 includes a ROM 54 for storing a game control program and the like, a RAM 55 used as a work memory, a CPU 56 for performing a control operation in accordance with the control program, and an I / O port unit 57. The ROM 54 and the RAM 55 may be built in the CPU 56 in some cases.

Further, the main board 31 has an initial reset circuit 65 for resetting the basic circuit 53 when the power is turned on.
A periodic reset circuit 66 for periodically (eg, every 2 ms) giving a reset pulse to the basic circuit 53 to re-execute the game control program from the beginning, and decode an address signal given from the basic circuit 53. I
Address decode circuit 67 for outputting a signal for selecting any I / O port in I / O port unit 57
Are provided.

A hit ball launching device that hits and fires a game ball is driven by a drive motor 94 controlled by a circuit on a launch control board 91. Then, the driving force of the driving motor 94 is adjusted according to the operation amount of the operation knob 5. That is, the circuit on the firing control board 91 is controlled so that the hit ball is fired at a speed corresponding to the operation amount of the operation knob 5.

As shown in FIG. 8, in this embodiment,
Game effect LED 28a, game effect lamps 28b, 28
c, prize ball lamp 51, ball out lamp 52, variable display 1
The blinking and display of the 0 and the start winning storage display 18 are controlled by the lamp control CPU mounted on the lamp control board 35 performing a control operation according to a lamp control command from the main board 31.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the prize ball control board 37 and its related components. As shown in FIG. 9, the detection signal from the full tank switch 402 is input to the I / O port 57 of the main board 31 via the relay board 71. In addition, detection signals from the cutout detection switch 167 and the cutout switch 187 are input to the I / O port 57 of the main board 31 via the relay board 72 and the relay board 71.

The CPU 56 has a burnout detection switch 167.
Alternatively, if the detection signal from the out-of-ball switch 187 indicates that the ball is out, or if the detection signal from the full switch 402 indicates the full state, a prize ball instructing to prohibit lending a ball and prohibit award ball. The control command is output to the winning ball control board 37. CP for prize ball control of prize ball control board 37
U371 stops the ball lending process and the award ball process in response to the award ball control command.

The cut-out switch 187 corresponds to the cut-out switch 187a, 187b, 187c shown in FIG. That is, when all of the burnout switches 187a, 187b, and 187c are turned on, the detection signal is output from the burnout switch 187. Furthermore, the prize ball count switches 301A, 30
1B, the relay board 72 and the relay board 7
1 is input to the I / O port 57 of the main board 31.

A prize ball control command is input to the prize ball control board 37 from the main board 31. The award ball control command is input to the I / O port 372 via the buffer circuit 373A. Further, an INT signal indicating that the award ball control command has been output is transmitted to the I / O via the buffer circuit 373B.
Input to port 372. Buffer circuits 373A, 3
Each buffer in 73B can pass a signal only in a direction from the main board 31 to the prize ball control board 37. Therefore, there is no room for a signal to be transmitted from the award ball control board 37 side to the main board 31 side. Even if the circuit in the prize ball control board 37 is tampered with, the signal output by the tampering is not transmitted to the main control board 31 side.

In the main board 31, the output port 5
A prize ball control signal is output to the terminal board 160 via 7B, and each input signal is input via the input port 57A. Further, an output buffer circuit 63A is provided at the subsequent stage of the output port 57C for outputting the award ball control command,
An output buffer circuit 63B is provided downstream of the output port 57D that outputs the NT signal. Each buffer in each of the output buffer circuits 63A and 63B can pass a signal only in a direction from the main board 31 to the prize ball control board 37. Therefore, there is no room for a signal to be transmitted from the outside to the inside of the main board 31, and even if an unauthorized board or the like is connected to the outside of the main board 31, a signal output from the unauthorized board or the like will not be transmitted to the main board 31 side. .

The CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball outputs a lending ball number signal indicating the lending ball number to the terminal board 160 and a buzzer driving signal to the buzzer board 75 via the I / O port 372. A buzzer is mounted on the buzzer board 75. In addition, an error signal is output to the error display LED 374 via the I / O port 372. Information indicating the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the RAM 377 backed up by the battery 378. In this embodiment, the RAM 377 backed up by the battery 378 is used.
77 may be used. Further, a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory may be used. Alternatively, a power supply board or the like for producing all the power to be supplied to the gaming machine 1 is provided outside the prize ball control board 37, and the power supply board is provided with a backup battery or a capacitor, and receives the power to back up. You may.

Further, the award ball count switches 301A and 301 are connected to the award ball control board 37 via the relay board 72.
The detection signal of B and the detection signal of the ball lending count switch 301C are input. Further, detection signals of the prize ball motor position sensors 300A and 300B and the ball lending motor position sensor 300C are input via the prize ball sensor board 73. Drive signals from the prize ball control board 37 to the prize ball motor 289A and the ball lending motor are transmitted to the prize ball motor 289A and the ball lending motor via the relay board 72.
That is, in the ball payout device 97, the prize ball mechanism portion 97A
And a ball lending mechanism are provided as independent mechanisms, but they are collectively driven by a prize ball control board 37 provided separately from the main board 31. Therefore, even if the number of mechanical parts of the ball payout device 97 increases, the load on the means for performing game control does not increase.

The card unit 50 is equipped with a card unit control microcomputer. Also,
The card unit 50 is provided with a fraction display switch 152, a connection board direction indicator 153, a card insertion indicator lamp 154, and a card insertion slot 155 (see FIG. 1). The balance display board 74 is connected to a frequency display LED, a ball lending switch, and a return switch provided near the hit ball supply tray 3.

From the balance display board 74 to the card unit 50
In response to the player's operation, a ball lending switch signal and a return switch signal are provided via the prize ball control board 37. In addition, the balance display board 74 is provided from the card unit 50.
, A card balance display signal indicating the balance of the prepaid card and a ball lending possible display signal are given via the prize ball control board 37. Between the card unit 50 and the prize ball control board 37, a unit operation signal (BRDY signal), a ball lending request signal (BRQ signal), a ball lending completion signal (EXS signal)
And a pachinko machine operation signal (PRDY signal) are exchanged.

When the power of the pachinko gaming machine 1 is turned on,
The prize ball control CPU 371 of the prize ball control board 37 outputs a PRDY signal to the card unit 50. When the card is accepted in the card unit 50 and the ball lending switch is operated to input a ball lending switch signal, the microcomputer for controlling the card unit outputs a BRDY signal to the prize ball control board 37. When a predetermined delay time elapses from this point, the microcomputer for controlling the card unit outputs a BRQ signal to the prize ball control board 37. The CPU 37 for controlling the prize ball on the prize ball control board 37
1 drives the ball lending motor 289C and pays out a predetermined number of lending balls to the player. Then, when the payout is completed, the prize ball controlling CPU 371 outputs an EXS signal to the card unit 50.

As described above, all the signals from the card unit 50 are input to the prize ball control board 37. Therefore, regarding the ball lending control, the card unit 5
No signal is input from 0 to the main board 31, and there is no room for a signal to be incorrectly input from the card unit 50 side to the basic circuit 53 of the main board 31.

Next, the operation of the gaming machine will be described. FIG.
0 is a flowchart showing the operation of the basic circuit 53 on the main board 31. As described above, this processing is performed by the reset pulse generated by the periodic reset circuit 66.
For example, it is activated every 2 ms. When the basic circuit 53 is started, the basic circuit 53 first sets a clock monitor register incorporated in the CPU 56 to a clock monitor enable state in order to make the clock monitor control operable (step S1). Note that the clock monitor control is a control in which a reset is automatically generated inside the CPU 56 when a decrease or stop of an input clock signal is detected.

Next, the CPU 56 performs a stack setting process for setting the designated address of the stack pointer (step S2). In this example, 00FFH is set in the stack pointer. Then, a system check process is performed (step S3). In the system check process, the CPU 56 determines whether or not the RAM 55 contains an error.
Processing such as initializing 5 is performed. When power is turned on, RA
The contents of M55 are undefined. Therefore, when the power is turned on,
The contents of the RAM 55 are initialized.

Next, after processing for setting command data sent to the display control board 80 in a predetermined area of the RAM 55 is performed (display control data setting processing: step S
4), a process of outputting command data as display control command data is performed (display control data output process: step S5).

Next, processing for outputting the contents of the storage area for various output data to each output port is performed (data output processing: step S6). Further, the lamp timer is decremented by one, and when the lamp timer times out (when it becomes 0), the lamp data pointer is updated and a new value is set in the lamp timer (lamp timer processing: step S7).

Further, output data setting processing for setting output data such as data at the address indicated by the lamp data pointer, jackpot information, start information, and probability variation information output to the hole management computer in the storage area is performed (step S8). ). Further, various abnormality diagnosis processes are performed by a self-diagnosis function provided inside the pachinko gaming machine 1, and an alarm is issued if necessary according to the result (error process: step S9).

Next, a process of updating each counter indicating each random number for determination such as a random number for big hit determination used in game control is performed (step S10).

Next, the CPU 56 performs a special symbol process (step S11). In the special symbol process control, a corresponding process is selected and executed according to a special symbol process flag for controlling the pachinko gaming machine 1 in a predetermined order according to a gaming state. Then, the value of the special symbol process flag is updated during each processing according to the gaming state. Further, a normal symbol process is performed (step S12). In normal symbol processing, 7 segments L
A corresponding process is selected and executed according to a normal symbol process flag for controlling the variable display 10 by the ED in a predetermined order. Then, the value of the normal symbol process flag is updated during each process according to the gaming state.

Further, the CPU 56 includes a switch circuit 58
, And performs necessary processing according to the switch state (switch processing: step S1).
3). Further, the audio timer is decremented by one, and when the audio timer times out (when it becomes 0), the audio data pointer is updated and a new value is set in the audio timer. Then, the data at the address indicated by the audio data pointer is transmitted to the audio control board 70 (audio processing:
Step S14).

The CPU 56 further performs a process of updating the display random number (step S15). That is, the counter for generating the symbol determining random number and the counter for generating the reach determining random number are counted up (addition is performed by 1).

The CPU 56 performs signal processing between the CPU 56 and the award ball control board 37 (step S16). That is,
When a predetermined condition is satisfied, a prize ball control command indicating the number of prize balls and the like is output to the prize ball control board 37. Award ball control board 37
The prize ball control CPU mounted on the CPU drives the ball payout device 97 according to the received prize ball number. After that, the basic circuit 53 repeats the display random number updating process in step S17 until the next reset pulse is given from the periodic reset circuit 66.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a special symbol processing program in the basic circuit 53. The special symbol process process shown in FIG. 11 is a specific process of step S11 in the flowchart of FIG. When performing the special symbol process processing, the CPU 56 of the basic circuit 53 performs any one of steps S300 to S309 shown in FIG. 11 according to the value of the special symbol process flag. In each process, the following processes are performed.

Special symbol change waiting process (step S30)
0): The start winning port 14 (in this embodiment, the winning port of the variable winning ball device 15) is hit and the start port sensor 17 is turned on. When the starting port sensor 17 is turned on, the starting winning memory number is increased by + if the starting winning memory number is not full.
1 and a big hit determination random number is extracted. Special symbol determination processing (step S301): When a state in which the variable display of the special symbol can be started, the number of start winning prizes is confirmed. If the starting prize storage number is not 0, it is determined whether to make a big hit or a non-big hit according to the value of the extracted big hit determination random number. Stop symbol setting process (step S302): A stop symbol for the left and right middle symbols is determined.

Reach operation setting processing (step S30)
3): Whether or not the reach operation is performed is determined according to the value of the reach determination random number, and the variation mode of the reach operation is determined according to the value of the reach random number.

All symbols change start processing (step S30)
4): In the variable display section 9, control is performed so that all symbols start to change. At this time, with respect to the display control board 80,
The left and right middle final stop symbols and information instructing the variation mode are transmitted. When a background or a character is also displayed on the variable display unit 9, control is performed so that display control command data corresponding to the background or character is transmitted to the display control board 80.

All symbols stop waiting processing (step S30)
5): Control is performed so that all symbols displayed on the variable display section 9 are stopped after a predetermined time has elapsed. Also, control is performed so that the left and right symbols are stopped at a predetermined timing until the timing of stopping all symbols.

Big hit display processing (step S306): When the stop symbol is a combination of big hit symbols, control is performed so that the display control command data of the big hit display is sent to the display control board 80 and the internal state (process flag) ) Is updated so as to shift to step S307. Otherwise, the internal state is changed to step S309.
Update to move to. The combination of the big hit symbols is a combination in which the right and left middle symbols are aligned. Also,
The display control CPU 101 of the game control board 80 displays a big hit on the variable display unit 9 according to the display control command data. The jackpot display is made to notify the player of the occurrence of the jackpot.

Opening process of opening the special winning opening (step S30)
7): Control for opening the special winning opening is started. Specifically, the counter and the flag are initialized, and the solenoid 21 is driven to open the special winning opening.

Processing during opening of the special winning opening (step S30)
8): Control for transmitting display control command data of the special winning opening round display to the display control board 80, processing for confirming establishment of the closing condition of the special winning opening, and the like are performed. If the closing condition of the special winning opening is satisfied, the internal state is updated to shift to step S307 unless the end condition of the big hit gaming state is satisfied. If the jackpot gaming state end condition is satisfied, the internal state is updated to shift to step S309.

Big hit end processing (step S309):
A display for notifying the player that the jackpot gaming state has ended is performed. When the display is completed, the internal flags and the like are returned to the initial state, and the internal state is updated so as to shift to step S300.

In accordance with the processing in each of the above steps, the module (step S5 in FIG. 10) that performs processing for transmitting the display control command in the game control program outputs the corresponding display control command data to the output port.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the switch processing (step S13) in the main processing shown in FIG. In the switch processing, the CPU 56
When it is detected that the gate switch 12 has been turned on, a gate switch ON flag is set (steps S121, S121).
122), when it is detected that the starting port switch 17 has been turned on, a starting port switch ON flag is set (step S).
123, S124), when it is detected that the count switch 23 is turned on, the count switch ON flag is set (steps S125, S126), and when it is detected that the V count switch 22 is turned on, the V count switch ON flag is set (step S123). S127, S12
8).

The gate switch ON flag is detected in the ordinary symbol process (step S12 of the main process), and the starting port switch ON flag is detected in the special symbol process (step S11 of the main process). The count switch ON flag and the V count switch ON flag are detected in the special symbol process.

Further, the CPU 56 sets a full state flag when the full state switch 402 for detecting the full state of the surplus ball tray 4 for storing the prize balls overflowing from the hit ball supply tray 3 is turned on (steps S129 and S130). When the full tank switch 402 is turned off, the full tank state flag is reset (steps S129 and S131). When the winning opening switches 19a and 24a are turned on, a winning opening ON flag is set (steps S132 and S133), and when it is detected that the set detector 115 is turned on, the set detector ON flag is set (steps S134 and S135). . In this embodiment, the full state flag and the winning opening O
The N flag and the set detector ON flag are referred to in the winning ball signal processing.

When the cut-out detection switch 167 or the cut-out switch 187 is turned on, a cut-out state flag is set (steps S136 and S137). When the cut-out detection switch 167 and the cut-out switch 187 are turned off, the cut-out state flag is set. Reset (Step S13)
6, S138). Also, the prize ball count switch 301
When it is detected that A and 301B have been turned on, a winning ball count switch ON flag is set (steps S139 and S139).
140), when the award ball count switches 301A and 301B are turned off, the award ball count switch ON flag is reset (step S141). In this embodiment, the ball-out state flag and the prize ball count switch are turned on.
The flag is referred to in the winning ball signal processing.

FIG. 13 shows the main board 31 to the prize ball control board 3.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a bit configuration of a prize ball control command transmitted to No. 7; As shown in FIG.
The bits are used as an area indicating the number of prize balls, and the lower 4 bits are used as control designation.

In the control specification, bits 3, 2, 1, 0
Is "0,0,0,0", it indicates a payout number designation command, and "0,0,1,0" indicates a prize ball prohibition designation, and "0,0,1,1""Indicates that the prize ball prohibition has been canceled.

The prize ball prohibition is specified when the out-of-ball detection switch 167 or the out-of-ball switch 187 is turned on (when the out-of-ball state flag is turned on) and when the surplus ball tray 4 becomes full. When the tongue switch 402 is turned on (when the full state flag is turned on), the main board 3
Sent from 1. Then, when those switches are turned off, a prize ball prohibition release designation is transmitted.

The prize ball control command is transmitted from the main board 31 to the prize ball control board 37, as shown in FIG.
7C. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, when the prize ball control command data is output from the main board 31, the signal indicating the data output (INT signal) is at the low level for 4 ms.

Note that the command configuration shown in FIG. 13 is an example, and another configuration may be used. For example, the upper and lower bits in one byte may be reversed from the configuration shown in FIG. In this embodiment, all the prize ball control commands sent from the main board 31 to the prize ball control board 37 are:
The data is transferred by the same eight signal lines (B0 to B7). Therefore, the number of wires does not increase even if the number of commands increases. And
As shown in FIG. 13, one display control command includes an area indicating the number of winning balls and an area designated for control. Therefore, the CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball of the prize ball control board 37 can recognize immediately what kind of control command has been received upon receiving the command.

Hereinafter, processing of the game control means and the prize ball control means when a hit ball wins a winning area provided on the game board 6 will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 15 shows a counter used by the game control means in the winning ball signal processing, and FIGS. 16 to 18 are flowcharts showing the processing of the CPU 56 of the basic circuit 53 on the main board 31. FIG. 19 shows the CPU 56 of the basic circuit 53.
It is a flowchart which shows the data output process of the prize ball control command which is performed. 20 to 27 are flowcharts showing the operation of the prize ball control CPU 371 of the prize ball control board 37. FIG. 28 is a timing chart for explaining prize ball processing at the time of a power failure and at the time of recovery.

First, the winning ball signal processing in the main board 31 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. As described above, the winning ball signal processing is executed once every 2 ms.

In this embodiment, 15 prize balls are paid out for a prize passing through the special winning opening, 6 prize balls are paid out for a prize passed through the starting winning opening 14, and the other prize opening 24 and the prize winning ball are paid out. It is assumed that ten prize balls are paid out for a winning through the device. Therefore, the count switch 2
When 3 is on, 15 counters are incremented by 1 (steps S201 and S202). The ON of the count switch 23 is recognized by the count switch ON flag set in the switch processing shown in FIG.

If the starting port switch 17 is on, the six counters are incremented by 1 (step S20).
4, S205). In addition, the turning on of the starting port switch 17
It is recognized by the start port switch ON flag set in the switch processing shown in FIG.

When the winning opening switches 24a and 24b are turned on, the ten counters are incremented by 1 (steps S207 and S208). In addition, winning opening switch 1
ON of 9a and 24a is recognized by the winning opening switch ON flag set in the switch processing shown in FIG. The winning opening switch ON flag is reset when ON is detected in step S207.

Next, the CPU 56 checks whether or not the out-of-ball flag has been set (step S211).
When it is set (when it changes from the off state to the set state), the prize ball control command data indicating the prize ball prohibition is stored in the data storage area, and the transmission request flag of the prize ball control command is set (step S212). ). The request is referred to in the data output processing (step S6) in the main processing. Note that, specifically, the CPU 56
Sets the award ball control command in a predetermined storage area (RAM) and sets a transmission request flag of the award ball control command. When the transmission request flag of the prize ball control command indicating prize ball prohibition is set, it is confirmed whether or not the one-minute timer is operating (step S281), and if it is, the operation is interrupted (step S281). S28
2).

When the out-of-ball state flag is reset (step S213), prize ball control command data indicating release of prize ball prohibition is stored in the data storage area, and a transmission request flag of the prize ball control command is set (step S214). ). When the transmission request flag of the prize ball control command indicating the release of the prize ball prohibition is set, the state of the one-minute timer is checked (step S283), and if it is not the initial value or the maximum value, that is, if it is in the interrupted state, It is restarted (step S284). Step S281-
If a situation occurs in which the prize ball cannot be performed during the one-minute timer operation by the process of S284, the operation of the one-minute timer is temporarily suspended until the prize ball becomes possible.

When the full state flag is set (changed from the off state to the on state) (step S215), prize ball control command data indicating prize ball inhibition is stored in the data storage area and the prize ball control is performed. The command transmission request flag is set (step S212).
When the full tank state flag is turned off (step S216), the prize ball control command data indicating the release of the prize ball prohibition is stored in the data storage area, and the transmission request flag of the prize ball control command is set (step S21).
4).

Next, it is confirmed whether or not the one-minute timer is operating (step S271). If it is operating, the process ends. If it is not in operation, it is checked whether or not the winning ball signal processing has been performed for the first time after the power is turned on. That is, it is confirmed whether or not the state is immediately after the power is turned on (Step S).
272). Whether the status is immediately after power-on is determined by RA
The determination is made by checking the internal flag formed in M55. For example, after the end of the determination processing in step S272, the internal flag is set to “1”. System check processing of the main processing (see FIG. 10) (step S
In 3), the RAM 55 is initialized (cleared to 0) only when the power is turned on. Therefore, if the value is “0”, it means that the power supply has just been turned on, and if the value is “1”, it is not.

If the power is on, it is checked whether or not the award ball count switch 301A or 301B has been turned on (step S273). If it is turned on, the 1-minute timer is started and the process is terminated (step S274).

If the prize ball payout operation is performed immediately after the power is turned on by the processing of steps S271 to S274, 1
The minute timer is started, and the processing after step S222 is not performed until the one-minute timer times out. The fact that the prize ball payout operation is performed immediately after the power is turned on will be described later in detail, but the prize ball control CPU 371 of the prize ball control board 37 at the time of recovery from the power failure stores information stored in the battery backup RAM. This means that unpaid prize balls have been started. Therefore, only the time required for such prize ball processing to be surely completed (1 in this example)
Minute), award ball payout check (particularly step S25 described later)
4) and a transmission start process of a payout number designation command based on a new winning (steps S225, S229, S
232) is not performed.

Therefore, the confirmation processing in step S273 is
Since this is a process for determining whether or not the prize ball control CPU 371 has started an unpaid prize ball when the power is restored, the erroneous determination must be made. Therefore, for example, the confirmation process in step S273 is configured to be performed several times continuously, or a delay of about several seconds after the power is turned on (the power is turned on when an unpaid prize ball is performed in the prize ball control means). It is desirable that the processing is executed after a time interval (equivalent to a delay time from the time until the first ball payout is started).

In this embodiment, the CPU 56
Is to start the one-minute timer when it is detected that the prize ball payout operation is being performed by the prize ball control means immediately after the power is turned on. A minute timer may be started.

After the time-up when the one-minute timer operates, or when the one-minute timer is not started, the processing after step S222 is performed. Step S222
In, the CPU 56 checks whether or not all of the 15 counters, 10 counters and 6 counters are 0. If all are 0, the process proceeds to the payout number confirmation processing in step S241 and subsequent steps. If any of the counters is not 0, the process proceeds to the payout number designation command sending process from step S223.

At step S223, the CPU 56
Checks whether the 15 counters are other than zero. If the 15 counter is not 0, 15 is added to the payout number monitoring counter (step S224), and the payout number designation command in which the number of 15 awarded balls is set is transmitted to the award ball control board 37. Request (Step S22)
5). The request is referred to in the data output processing (step S6) in the main processing. Note that, specifically, C
The PU 56 sets the payout number designation command in which the number of 15 prize balls is set in a predetermined storage area (RAM), and sets the transmission request flag of the prize ball control command.
Then, the value of the 15 counter is decremented by one (step S2).
26).

If the 15 counters are 0, the CPU 56
Checks whether or not the ten counters are other than 0 (step S227). If the ten counter is not 0, 10 is added to the number-of-payouts monitoring counter (step S228) so that the number-of-payouts designation command setting the number of ten award balls is transmitted to the award ball control board 37. A request is issued (step S229). Then, the value of the ten counters is decremented by one (step S230).

If the ten counters are 0, the CPU 56
Adds 6 to the number-of-payouts monitoring counter (step S
231), a request is issued so that the payout number designation command in which the number of winning balls is set to six is transmitted to the winning ball control board 37 (step S232). Then, the value of the six counters is
1 (step S233).

15 counters, 10 counters and 6 counters
In the processing of steps S201 to S208, the value of the individual counter is incremented by one when there is a corresponding prize. Therefore, the payout number designation command indicating the number corresponding to the winning is transmitted to the winning ball control board 37 by the processing of steps S223 to S233. In this example, regardless of the winning order, the payout number designation command indicating 15 prize balls is transmitted in preference to the payout number designation command indicating 10 and 6 prize balls, and the 10 prize balls are transmitted. The payout number designation command shown is sent prior to the payout number designation command showing six prize balls, but the payout number designation command corresponding to the winning order may be sent out.

In this example, the number of prize balls that have won a prize and have not been paid out is managed in total by the payout number monitoring counter. But CPU
56 may manage the number of prize balls that have not been paid out yet, based on the number of winning prizes. For example, management may be performed such that n prizes corresponding to 15 prize balls are unpaid or m prizes corresponding to 10 prize balls are unpaid.

If it is confirmed in step S222 that all counters are 0, or if step S2
When the processing of steps S23 to S233 is completed, the CPU 56 performs the payout number confirmation processing after step S241. In the payout number confirmation processing, the prize ball count switches 301A, 30A
When 1B turns on and then turns off, it is assumed that one prize ball payout is completed. Therefore, here, it is confirmed that the award ball count switches 301A and 301B are turned on within a predetermined time, and that if turned on, they are turned off within a predetermined time. In addition,
The predetermined time period is a time period in which the operation time in the normal state in which no obstacle (such as clogging) occurs in the prize ball device has a margin. The states of the award ball count switches 301A and 301B are determined by a switch process in the main process (step S).
13) is detected by the award ball count switch ON flag which is turned on and off.

More specifically, the CPU 56 first checks whether or not the award ball count SW off waiting flag is set (step S241). If it is not set, it is confirmed whether or not the award ball count SW ON waiting flag is set (step S242). If the prize ball count SW ON wait flag is not set, the prize ball count SW ON wait flag is set (step S243), and the prize ball count switch 301 is set.
A, a monitoring timer for monitoring ON of 301B is started (step S244). If the award ball count SW ON waiting flag has been set, the process immediately proceeds to step S245.

Then, the award ball count switch 301A,
It is checked whether 301B is on (step S245).
If it is not turned on, it is checked whether or not the monitoring timer has timed out (step S249). If the timeout has not occurred, the process ends. When a timeout occurs, error processing is performed. In the error processing, for example, the display control data setting processing (step S
4) In the display control data output process (step S5), control is performed so that an error is displayed on the display unit, or the speaker 2 is controlled in the audio process (step S14).
7 is controlled to generate an error notification sound.

If it is confirmed in step S245 that the award ball count switches 301A and 301B are on, the CPU 56
Resets the award ball count SW on wait flag (step S246), sets the award ball count SW off wait flag (step S247), and sets a monitoring timer for monitoring off of the award ball count switches 301A and 301B. The process starts (step S248).

When the award ball count SW off waiting flag is set, the award ball count switch 301A,
It is checked whether 301B is off (step S251).
If it has not been turned off, it is checked whether or not the monitoring timer has timed out (step S257). If the timeout has not occurred, the process ends. When a timeout occurs, error processing (step S258) is performed.

If it is confirmed in step S251 that the award ball count switches 301A and 301B are off, the CPU 56
Resets the award ball count SW off wait flag (step S252), and determines that one award ball has been paid out, and sets the payout number monitoring counter to-
1 (step S253).

Then, it is checked whether or not the number-of-payouts monitoring counter has become negative (step S254). Being negative means that more payouts have been made than instructed to the award ball control board. That is, some error has occurred. Therefore,
When the payout number monitoring counter becomes negative,
Error processing is performed (step S255).

Note that the prize ball control board 3
7 is the battery backup R
When an unpaid prize ball is started based on the information left in the AM, the CPU 56
Will be paid out more than the number instructed by the user.
Since processing such as 254 is not performed, no error processing is performed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the CP
When detecting that the prize ball is started when the power is turned on, the U56 does not perform the prize ball payout check for a predetermined period (for one minute in this example). Therefore, the inconvenience that the game control means performs error processing even though the prize ball control means performs normal processing is avoided.

In this embodiment, even if there is a new prize, the payout number designation command corresponding to the prize is not transmitted to the prize ball control board 37 until the above-mentioned predetermined period ends. If the payout number designation command is configured to be able to be sent to the prize ball control board 37 even during that period, the prize ball payout based on the information remaining in the battery backup RAM and the prize ball payout based on the new winning are set. Are mixed, and a correct prize ball payout check cannot be performed in the game control means. However, such an inconvenience does not occur in this embodiment.

Further, before starting the one minute timer when the power is turned on, it is determined in steps S211 to S214 whether or not a winning ball is possible. Then, when the winning ball is in the impossible state, the processing for starting the one-minute timer is performed after the state is canceled. In other words, the period in which the prize ball is in the impossible state is excluded from the predetermined period in which the prize ball payout check is not performed, and the game control unit performs error processing even though the prize ball control unit performs a normal process. The inconvenience of performing is surely avoided.

In the award ball payout check, if it is detected that the actual number of payouts is smaller than the number instructed to the award ball control board 37, the CPU 56 corrects the shortage. The command may be sent to the winning ball control board 37.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a winning ball control command output portion of the data output process (step S6) in the main process shown in FIG. In the data output processing related to the prize ball control command output, the CP
U56 determines whether the output request of the award ball control command is set or not (step S621). If the award ball control command output request is set, the award ball control command output request is reset (step S622),
The content of the data storage area is output to an output port that outputs data to the prize ball control board 37 (step S62)
3). Further, the signal line (INT) indicating the data output is turned on (step S624). Then, the output counter is incremented by 1 (step S625), and a data output flag is set (step S626).

If the award control command output request has not been set, it is determined whether or not the value of the output counter is 0 (step S627). If the value of the output counter is not 0, it is checked whether the value of the output counter is 2 (step S628). If the value of the output counter is not 2, that is, it is 1, the value of the output counter is increased by 1 (step S629).

If the value of the output counter is 2, the value of the output counter is cleared (step S63).
0), the signal line indicating the data output is turned off (step S631). Since the processing shown in FIG. 19 is activated once every 2 ms, the prize ball control command is transmitted to the prize ball control board 37 at the timing shown in FIG.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the main processing of the award ball control CPU 371. In the main processing,
The winning ball control CPU 371 first initializes the RAM, the I / O port, the VDP 103, and the like (step S70).
1). Thereafter, in this embodiment, the CPU for controlling the prize ball
Reference numeral 37 denotes a prize ball payout control in an interruption process by a timer interruption generated every predetermined period. In the timer interrupt processing, FIG.
As shown in (5), the prize ball control CPU 371 executes a prize ball payout control process.

The CPU 37 for controlling the prize ball includes, for example,
The reception processing of the prize ball control command transmitted from the main board 31 in another timer interruption processing is performed. FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a prize ball control command receiving process by the 100 μ timer interrupt process.

In the process of receiving the award ball control command, the award ball control CPU 37 reads 1-byte data from the input port assigned to the input of the control command data (step S321). Next, the state of the INT signal is read from the input port assigned to the input of the INT signal (step S322). As shown in FIG. 14, the INT signal is set to a low level when the CPU 56 of the main board 31 outputs new control command data.

If the INT signal is off, the communication counter is cleared (step S326). The communication counter is used to count the number of control command data receptions when the INT signal is on.

If the INT signal is on, it is checked whether the received control command data is the same as the command data received immediately before (100 μs before) (step S).
323). If they are not the same, the communication counter is cleared (step S326). If they are the same, it is checked whether the communication counter has reached a predetermined maximum value (MAX) (step S324).

If it has not reached the maximum value, the value of the communication counter is incremented by 1 (step S325). Here, the maximum value is a value larger than a value (3 in this example) that determines that control command data has been received reliably, and is used for the purpose of counting the number of receptions within 800 μs, for example. .

Next, the CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball checks whether or not the value after the communication counter has become "3" (step S327). If the value is "3", it is confirmed whether the received data is the first byte (CMD1) or the second byte (CMD2) of the control command (step S328). If it is the first byte, the received data is stored in the received command storage area (first byte) (step S329), and the command receiving flag is set (step S330). Then, the received data is stored in the work area (step S334).

If the received data is the second byte of the control command, the received data is stored in the received command storage area (second byte) (step S331), and the command receiving flag is reset (step S332).
Then, the communication end flag is set (step S33).
3). Further, the received data is stored in the work area (step S334). If it is not "3", the read data is stored in the work area without setting the communication end flag (step S334). The data stored in the work area is used in the next interrupt processing in step S323.

By the above processing, the prize ball control command sent from the main board 31 is read into the prize ball control CPU 371. Here, the prize ball control command is fetched by a 100 μs timer interrupt.
The NT signal may be connected to the interrupt terminal of the CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball, and the prize ball control command may be received by hardware interrupt processing.

FIGS. 23 to 27 show the CPU 37 for controlling the prize ball.
It is a flowchart which shows the prize ball payout control processing which 1 performs. In this embodiment, the award ball payout control process is configured to be executed by a timer interrupt process.
Instead of such a configuration, it may be configured to be executed by a normal process (not an interrupt process).

In the award ball payout control process, the award ball control C
The PU 371 checks whether or not the initial payout flag is set (Step S591). If it is not set, it is checked whether the power has just been turned on (step S592). If it is immediately after the power is turned on, a predetermined delay time (wait time) is set (step S59).
3) The values of the 15 counter, 10 counter, 6 counter, number counter and initial payout counter are all 0
(Step S594). These counters are stored in the battery backup RAM.
And is preserved even during a power outage. The reason for putting the waiting time immediately after power-on is that the
This is in consideration of a case where a predetermined security check is performed before U56 starts the game control. Therefore,
The waiting time is set to a value corresponding to the time required for a security check or the like.

If any one of the counters is not 0, the value of the number counter is subtracted from the sum of the 15 counters, 10 counters, 6 counters, number counter and initial payout counter. The value is set in the initial payout counter (step S595). Here, the sum of each counter is not a simple sum of count values but 15
For the individual counter, the ten counter and the six counter, the sum is (counter value × 15, 10, or 6). For example, when the counter value of the 15 counters is “2”, “30” is added to the initial payout counter.

In this embodiment, the CPU 3 for controlling the prize ball
The number 71 does not manage the number of prize balls to be paid out by the total number, but manages how many times the 15, 10, and 6 prize balls should be performed. When the payout of 15 prize balls is completed, the value of the 15 counter is decremented by one. In addition, while the payout of 15 balls is not completed, the value of the number counter is incremented by one every time the payout of one winning ball is completed. For example, the value of the 15 counter is “2”, the value of the 10 counter is “1”, the value of the 6 counter is “0”, and the value of the number counter is “6”. in case of,
It is stored that the payout of (15 × 2 + 10 × 1) should be paid out, indicating that the payout of six of them has been completed. Therefore, if a power failure occurs in this state and the power is restored, the initial payout counter indicates (40-6).
= 34 is set.

As described above, by the processing of step S595, the number of unpaid prize balls before the power failure is set in the initial payout counter. In addition, the reason why the initial payout counter itself is also included in the sum target is to take into account that a power outage has occurred again when a prize ball was paid out for an unpaid payout before the power outage.

After performing the processing in step S595, the CPU for controlling award ball control 371 clears the 15 counter, 10 counter, 6 counter and number counter (step S596), and turns on the initial payout flag (step S596). ), The process proceeds to the award ball payout process from step S531.

If the initial payout flag is not set and the power is not turned on immediately, the CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball.
Checks whether a prize ball control command has been received (step S501). If no prize ball control command has been received, it is checked whether or not prize ball processing is being performed, that is, 1
It is checked whether all of the five counters, the ten counters, and the six counters are set to 0, and if the prize ball processing is being performed, the process proceeds to step S531 and subsequent steps (step S50)
2).

If the award ball control command has been received, the type of the command is confirmed. If the prize ball prohibition instruction has been received (step S503), the internal state is set to the prize ball prohibition state (step S504). In the prize ball prohibited state, the prize ball control CPU 371 does not perform ball lending and prize ball control. If a prize-ball prohibition cancel instruction has been received (step S505), the prize-ball prohibition state is released (step S506).

If a payout number instruction command indicating the number of fifteen prize balls has been received (step S511), the battery 378
In step S512, 15 counters provided in the RAM 377 backed up are incremented by one. If a payout number instruction command indicating the number of awarded balls has been received (step S513), the value of the ten counter provided in the RAM 377 backed up by the battery 378 is incremented by one (step S514). And 6
If the payout number instruction command indicating the number of winning balls has been received (step S515), the value of the six counter provided in the RAM 377 backed up by the battery 378 is incremented by one (step S516).

As described above, the prize ball control CPU 371 mounted on the prize ball control board 37 is
The number of winning balls included in the number-of-payouts instruction command sent from 6 is stored in the RAM 377 backed up by the battery 378. Specifically, the number of winning balls of 15, 10, and 6 is stored.

In the processing during the prize ball payout, the prize ball control C
The PU 371 first turns on the award ball motor 289A (step S531). At this time, it may already be on, but there is no problem even if an on command is issued further. Next, a state check is performed (step S532).

The prize ball control CPU 371 checks whether the prize ball payout is normally performed by monitoring the prize ball motor position sensors 300A and 300B and the prize ball count switches 301A and 301B. The status check means that the prize ball motor position sensors 300A, 300
This is a process of determining whether B is being monitored for ON or OFF, or whether the prize ball count switches 301A and 301B are being monitored for ON or OFF. The prize ball motor position sensors 300A and 300B and the prize ball count switches 301A and 301B are turned on alternately, and specifically, on or off is checked alternately.

In this embodiment, the following timer is used for monitoring them. (1) Timer T11: prize ball motor position sensor 300A,
(2) Timer T12: prize ball motor position sensor 300A,
(3) Timer T13: prize ball count switch 301A,
(4) Timer T13: award ball count switch 301A,
For monitoring off of 301B

Here, a state check is performed by confirming that these timers are operating. That is, when the timer T11 is operating, the process proceeds to the waiting process for the winning ball motor position sensors 300A and 300B (step S534), and when the timer T12 is operating, the winning ball motor position sensors 300A and 300B are turned off. The process proceeds to the waiting process (step S542). Also,
When the timer T13 is in operation, the waiting process for turning on the award ball count switches 301A and 301B (step S
The process proceeds to 551), and when the timer T14 is operating, the process proceeds to an off waiting process for the award ball count switches 301A and 301B (step S556). When none of the timers is operating, the timer T11 is started (step S533).

In step S534, the prize ball control C
PU 371 is a prize ball motor position sensor 300A, 300
Wait for B to turn on. If the timer T11 times out before turning on, the process proceeds to error processing (step S5).
35, S536). Award ball motor position sensor 300A, 3
When 00B is turned on, the timer T11 is stopped (step S537), and the timer T12 is started (step S5).
41). Thereafter, the CPU 371 for award ball control waits for the award ball motor position sensors 300A, 300B to be turned off (step S542). If the timer T12 times out before turning off, the processing shifts to error processing (step S5).
43, S545).

Prize ball motor position sensors 300A, 300B
Turns off, the timer T12 is stopped (step S5).
46), and starts the timer T13 (step S54).
7). Then, the prize ball count switches 301A, 301
Wait for B to turn on (step S551). If the timer T13 times out before the outputs of the winning ball count switches 301A and 301B are turned on, the process proceeds to error processing (steps S552 and S553).

Award ball count switches 301A, 301B
When the output is turned on, the timer T13 is stopped (step S554), and the timer T14 is started (step S555). And award ball count switch 301
Wait for A, 301B to turn off (step S55)
6). If the timer T14 times out before the winning ball count switches 301A and 301B are turned off, the process proceeds to error processing (steps S557 and S558). Timer T
Prize ball count switch 30 before 14 times out
When 1A and 301B are turned off, the timer T14 is stopped (step S559). At this stage, the completion of one prize ball payout is detected.

Then, the CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball checks whether or not the initial payout flag is turned on (step S).
561). If it is turned on, the initial payout counter value
1 (step S571), and the value of the initial payout counter is 0
If it is (step S572), the initial payout flag is reset (step S573). The fact that the value of the initial payout counter has become 0 indicates that the payout of the prize balls that have not been paid out at the time of the power failure has been completed.

If the initial payout flag is not turned on, the winning ball control CPU 371 increments the number counter by one (step S564). Then, if the value of the 15 counter is not 0, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the number counter has reached 15. If the value of the 15 counter is 0 and the value of the 10 counter is not 0, it is confirmed whether or not the value of the number counter has reached 10. If both the value of the 15 counter and the value of the 10 counter are 0, it is checked whether or not the value of the number counter has reached 6 (step S563). If any one of the conditions is satisfied, the number counter is cleared (step S564),
The value of the corresponding counter (15 counters, 10 counters or 6 counters) is decremented by 1 (step S56).
5).

Therefore, in this embodiment, the prize ball control CPU 371 processes the 15 prize balls in preference to the 10 and 6 prize balls, and the 10 prize balls are changed to the 6 prize balls. The prize ball payout process may be performed in the order corresponding to the payout number designation command reception order.

In this embodiment, the prize ball motor 289A
If the prize ball motor position sensor does not turn on or off within a predetermined time while driving, it is determined that an error has occurred. This is because if the prize ball motor position sensor does not turn on or does not turn off, a ball jam may occur.

Further, when the output of the prize ball motor position sensor is normal but the prize ball count switch provided below the sensor is not turned on,
Since it is considered that the prize ball count switches 301A and 301B may be out of order, it is also determined that an error has occurred. If the prize ball count switch is not turned off, it is considered that an error has occurred because a ball may be jammed in the ball guide path near the prize ball count switch.

FIG. 27 shows the error processing (step S53).
6, S545, S553, and S558). In this embodiment, in error processing, first, retry processing is performed. If the error is not recovered even after the retry, an error is displayed.

In the error processing, the CPU 3 for controlling the prize ball
In step 71, the prize ball motor 289A is once turned off (step S701). And a timer T10 for monitoring retry.
Is started (step S702), and the prize ball motor 28
9A is turned on again (step S703). Error # 1
In the case of (step S536), it is monitored that the prize ball motor position sensor is turned on (step S705), and when it is turned on, the process returns to step S541. If the sensor does not turn on and a timeout occurs (step S706), step S7
Move to 21. In the case of error # 2 (step S
In step 545), it is monitored that the prize ball motor position sensor is turned off (step S708).
Return to 7. If the sensor does not turn off and a timeout occurs (step S709), the process proceeds to step S721.

In the case of error # 3 (step S553), it is monitored that the winning ball count switch is turned on (step S711), and when it is turned on, the process returns to step S555. If the switch is not turned on and a timeout occurs (step S712), the process proceeds to step S721. In the case of error # 4 (step S558), it is monitored that the winning ball count switch is turned off (step S713).
When turned off, the process returns to step S561. If the switch is not turned off and a timeout occurs (step S714), the process proceeds to step S721.

At step S721, the prize ball control C
The PU 371 displays a code corresponding to the error type on the error display LED 374, and issues an instruction to sound the buzzer to the buzzer board 75 (step S72).
2).

As described above, the CPU 56 of the basic circuit 53 on the main board 31 monitors the output of the winning ball count switch. As described above, the prize ball control board 37
The prize ball control CPU 371 also introduces and monitors the output of the prize ball count switch, but by monitoring both, the payout control of the prize ball becomes more reliable. For example, even if an error occurs in the output of the prize ball count switch due to noise on the cable from the prize ball count switch to the prize ball control board 37, the payout control can be executed correctly.

When an error occurs, the CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball performs a retry. If the error is not resolved by the retry, an error is displayed. Therefore, an error that has occurred temporarily can be eliminated by retrying.

FIG. 28 is a timing chart showing an example of prize ball control by the game control means and the prize ball control means. When a prize ball is being played normally, the game control means, that is, the CPU 56 of the main board 31, detects a winning and immediately sends out a payout number instruction command to the prize ball control means (FIG. 2).
8 (a)).

Even if a power failure occurs before the prize balls are completed, information on the number of unpaid prize balls is stored in the RAM 37 backed up by the battery 378 on the prize ball control board.
7 is stored. Therefore, even if an unexpected power failure occurs, the prize ball control means, that is, the prize ball control CPU 371, restores the 15 counters in the RAM 377,
The number of unpaid prize balls can be specified based on the values of the individual counter, the six counter and the number counter. Then, the prize ball control means starts the prize ball for the unpaid amount. The start of such prize ball processing is detected by the game control means based on the output of the prize ball count switch. Therefore, the game control means starts a timer for measuring a predetermined period (one minute in this example).

Before the timer expires, the payout number instruction command is not transmitted to the winning ball control means even if a winning is detected. Such winnings are stored in the game control means, and when the timer times out, a corresponding payout number instruction command is transmitted to the prize ball control means (see FIGS. 29B and 29C). Before the timer expires, as described above, the game control means does not perform the prize ball payout check.

Here, the RAM 377 backed up by the battery 378 has been exemplified as a means for storing information on the number of unpaid prize balls, but other types of non-volatile memory may be used. The ball control board itself may be configured to be backed up.

In this embodiment, the program executed by the CPU 56 of the main board 31 determines the number of prize balls to be paid out.
The program executed by the CPU 371 for controlling the prize ball to notify the prize ball control board for each number of different types of prize balls stores the number of prize balls paid out as the number of prize balls to be performed for each number of different types of prize balls. However, in addition to the case where the number of prize balls differs according to the winning opening or the winning device, the control is also performed when the number of winning balls differs according to predetermined conditions even with the same winning opening or the winning device. It is possible. For example, there is a case where six prize balls are paid out at a normal winning opening and 15 prize balls are paid out at a big hit. In such a case, the CPU 56 of the main board 31 uses an appropriate one of the 15 counter, the 10 counter, and the 6 counter according to the conditions.

The prize ball control CPU 371 may store the total number of prize balls in the RAM 377 instead of storing the number of prize balls to be performed for each different number of prize balls. In this case, each time the detection-time command is received from the CPU 56 of the main board 31, the prize ball control CPU 371 adds the number of prize balls included in the command to the total number of prize balls. When it is detected that one payout ball has been paid out, the total winning ball count is decremented by one.

[0177]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, the game machine includes the prize ball control means including the return prize ball executing means for performing the prize ball relating to the planned prize ball memory at the time of recovery from the power-off. The game control means deactivates the prize ball excess error detection means for a predetermined period after restoration from the power cutoff, and the prize ball request information is obtained even if the prize ball condition is satisfied in the predetermined period after restoration from the power cutoff. Since the prize ball request information is output after the predetermined period without being output, the unpaid prize balls at the time of restoration from power failure are smoothly performed, and there is an effect that the progress of the game is not hindered. .

If the deactivating means is configured to deactivate the prize-ball excess error detecting means for a predetermined period when detecting that the return-time prize-ball executing means has started operation, the power supply is shut off. When there is no memorized scheduled prize ball at the time of recovery from, the normal control processing can be started immediately.

When the game control means is configured to detect a predetermined period by measuring the time from the power-on, there is an effect that the predetermined period can be easily set.

The game control means further includes a prize ball possible state detecting means for detecting whether or not the prize ball payout device is in a state in which a prize ball can be performed. When the prize ball control unit is configured to perform the normal prize ball execution process at the time of return, the game control There is an effect that the inconvenience that the means detects an excessive prize ball error is more reliably avoided.

When the prize ball possible state detecting means is configured to detect whether there is a game ball that can be paid out by the prize ball payout device, a predetermined period of time until the payout game ball is replenished. The setting can be postponed, and as a result, the inconvenience that the game control means performs the prize ball excess error detection even though the prize ball control means performs the normal return prize ball execution processing. Avoided reliably.

When the prize ball possible state detecting means is configured to detect whether or not there is a predetermined amount or more of game balls in a tray for receiving a prize ball, the prize ball can be accepted. It is possible to postpone the setting of the predetermined period until the state is reached, and as a result, the game control means detects the excessive prize ball error even though the prize ball control means is performing the normal return prize ball execution processing. The inconvenience of performing is reliably avoided.

When the game control means is configured to output to the prize ball control means information for stopping the prize ball operation when the prize ball possible state detecting means detects that the prize ball is impossible. In this case, it is possible to prevent the payout operation from being started until the prize ball can be normally performed, and as a result, it is possible to perform the prize ball execution process upon return.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine viewed from the front.

FIG. 2 is an overall rear view showing the internal structure of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the gaming board of the pachinko gaming machine as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a configuration of an intermediate base unit of a mechanism plate and a ball payout device.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a prize ball mechanism portion in the ball payout device.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view showing a prize ball mechanism in the ball payout device.

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view showing a prize ball mechanism in the ball payout device.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a circuit configuration on a main board.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a prize ball control board and components related thereto.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing main processing of a basic circuit of a main board.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a special symbol process processing program.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a switch process.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a bit configuration of a winning ball control command.

FIG. 14 is a timing chart showing how the award ball control command data is output.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a counter used in winning ball signal processing.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing winning ball signal processing.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing winning ball signal processing.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing winning ball signal processing.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a prize ball control command output processing portion of the data output processing.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a main process of a winning ball control CPU.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a timer interrupt process of a winning ball control CPU.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing a prize ball control command receiving process of the prize ball control CPU.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a prize ball control process of a prize ball control CPU.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing a prize ball control process of a prize ball control CPU.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing a prize ball control process of a prize ball control CPU.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart showing a prize ball control process of a prize ball control CPU.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart showing an error display process in the winning ball signal process.

FIG. 28 is a timing chart showing an example of prize ball control by game control means and prize ball control means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 Game control board (main board) 37 Prize ball control board 53 Basic circuit 56 CPU 97 Ball payout device 97A Prize ball mechanism part 289A Prize ball motor 300A, 300B Prize ball motor position switch 301A, 301B Prize ball count switch 371 Prize ball control CPU

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] June 10, 1999 (1999.6.1
0)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claim 6

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Procedure amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0173

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

Before the timer expires, the payout number instruction command is not transmitted to the winning ball control means even if a winning is detected. Such winnings are stored in the game control means, and when the timer times out, a corresponding payout number instruction command is transmitted to the prize ball control means (see FIGS. 28 (b) and (c)). Before the timer expires, as described above, the game control means does not perform the prize ball payout check.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A game machine in which a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out from a prize ball payout device in accordance with establishment of a prize ball condition, wherein game control means for outputting prize ball request information in accordance with establishment of a prize ball condition. And a prize ball control means for driving the prize ball payout device in accordance with the prize ball request information from the game control means to perform a prize ball payout, and detecting a prize ball paid out from the prize ball payout device. Prize ball detection means, and storage means for holding the memory of the expected prize balls indicated by the prize ball request information at the time of unexpected power cutoff, wherein the prize ball control means at the time of restoration from power cutoff A return prize ball executing means for performing a prize ball relating to a planned prize ball memory; wherein the game control means stores a prize ball number information storage means for storing a prize ball number to be paid out in relation to the prize ball request information output by itself. And the detection output of the winning ball detection means is input. Detection input means, prize ball excess error detection means for detecting an error relating to excess prize balls based on the memory of the prize ball number information storage means and the detection information input to the detection input means, and recovery from power interruption And a deactivating means for deactivating the prize-ball excess error detecting means for a predetermined period thereafter, and outputting prize-ball request information even if the prize-ball condition is satisfied during a predetermined period after restoration from power-off. A game machine that outputs the prize ball request information after a predetermined period of time. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the deactivating means deactivates the prize ball excess error detecting means for a predetermined period when detecting that the returning prize ball executing means has started operation. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the game control means detects a predetermined period by measuring a time from a power-on time. 4. The game control means further comprises a prize ball possible state detecting means for detecting whether or not the prize ball payout device is in a state in which a prize ball can be performed. 4. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein a period in which the detection is performed is excluded from a predetermined period in which the deactivating means operates. 5. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the prize ball possible state detecting means detects whether there is a game ball that can be paid out by the prize ball payout device. 6. The gaming machine according to claim 4, wherein the prize ball possible state detecting means detects whether or not a receiving ball receiving the prize ball has a predetermined amount or more of gaming balls. The gaming machine according to claim 4. 7. The game control means outputs information to stop the prize ball operation to the prize ball control means when the prize ball possible state detecting means detects that the prize ball cannot be won. The gaming machine described.