JP4671377B2 - Enclosed ball game machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an encapsulated ball type gaming machine in which a hit ball encapsulated in a gaming machine is repeatedly shot and shot into a game area to play a game.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in this type of encapsulated ball type gaming machine, a game is performed by repeatedly firing and hitting a ball (encapsulated ball) encapsulated inside the game machine into the game area, and a prize provided in the game area When winning in the area, a score (referred to as a holding ball or a holding point) is given to the player instead of a prize ball.
[0003]
In such an enclosed ball type gaming machine, a circulation passage for circulating the hit ball inside the gaming machine is provided. In this circulation path, winning balls (safe balls) that have won the winning area, out balls that have been driven into the gaming area but have not won the winning area, and foul balls that have not reached the gaming area are naturally flowing down. Respectively, and finally merge. And this is also the one where the hitting ball is guided to the hitting ball launching device by the launching ball guiding passage included in the circulation passage, and is shot again.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in a conventional enclosed ball type gaming machine, for example, as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-31223, an out ball and a safe ball are stored in a substantially U-shaped storage portion, and a firing ball guide passage is provided by a lowermost gear. Therefore, the load due to the hitting ball applied to the motor that drives the gears was large. Further, since the gear motor is driven when there is no hit ball in the shot ball guiding passage, a hit ball detector is required in the shot ball guiding passage. On the other hand, when driving the motor with this detector, if there is no hitting ball in the storage part, the hitting ball is not lifted, so there is also a problem that a detector for detecting the ball breakage in this storage part is also required. .
[0005]
Further, unlike these out balls and winning balls, the foul balls are directly guided to the firing ball guide passage by the foul ball passage for guiding the foul balls. For this reason, there has been a problem that the shape of the passage is complicated.
[0006]
The present invention was made to solve the conventional technical problems, and facilitated circulation of the hit ball in the circulation passage inside the gaming machine having the ball feeding section, and the passage shape was also simplified. An object is to provide an enclosed ball type gaming machine.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The encapsulated ball type gaming machine of the present invention is a game in which a hit ball enclosed inside is repeatedly fired and driven into a game area, and a circulation path for circulating the hit ball inside the game machine, A ball circulation portion that forms a part of the circulation passage and guides the shot ball to be fired, and a ball circulation portion that has a ball lifting portion and a ball polishing portion for feeding the shot ball to the shot ball guidance passage And the ball lifting section communicates with the lifting drive body with a gentle inclination to receive the hit balls from the game area, and is driven as a single line. It has a receiving hook part to be fed into the body, and a predetermined amount of hit balls are stored in the receiving hook partThis is detected by the detecting means provided in the receiving part.Sometimes the lift drive is driven,The circulation passage is meandering by receiving a prize ball that is guided in the winning area of the game area and guiding the prize ball in the direction of the receiving saddle portion while meandering and receiving an out ball that is not won in the prize area. However, an out ball passage that is guided in the direction of the receiving collar, the winning ball passage, the out ball passage, and the hitting balls from the out ball passage that are located between the receiving collar and the winning ball passage merge. A confluence passage that guides the hitting ball to the receiving hook portion, and the inclination of the winning ball passage and the out ball passage and the passage inclination of the confluence passage are the inclination of the passage of the confluence passage. Is configured with a gentler slopeIt is characterized by that.
[0008]
  According to the present invention, in an enclosed ball type gaming machine in which a ball hit inside is repeatedly fired and driven into a game area to play a game, a circulation path for circulating the ball inside the game machine, and the circulation path A ball circulating portion having a ball feeding portion and a ball polishing portion for feeding a shot ball to the shot ball guiding passage, The ball lifting section is connected to the lifting drive body that lifts the hit ball, and communicates with the lifting drive body at a gentle inclination, accepts the hit ball from the game area, and is arranged in a row to the lifting drive body. Having a receiving collar part to send in,The circulation passage is meandering by receiving a prize ball that is guided in the winning area of the game area and guiding the prize ball in the direction of the receiving saddle portion while meandering and receiving an out ball that is not won in the prize area. However, an out ball passage that is guided in the direction of the receiving collar, the winning ball passage, the out ball passage, and the hitting balls from the out ball passage that are located between the receiving collar and the winning ball passage merge. A confluence passage that guides the hitting ball to the receiving hook portion, and the inclination of the winning ball passage and the out ball passage and the passage inclination of the confluence passage are the inclination of the passage of the confluence passage. Is configured with a gentler slopeTherefore, it becomes possible to reduce the load caused by the load of the hitting ball applied to the lifting drive body, and it is possible to smooth the lifting of the hitting ball by the lifting drive body.In addition, it becomes possible to reduce the collision / repulsion effect of hitting balls at the time of merging by suppressing the flow speed of winning balls and out balls going to the receiving part in the winning ball path and out ball path. This will facilitate smooth circulation of balls. Further, it becomes possible to alleviate the collision / repulsion effect of the hit ball after joining, and further smooth the hit ball circulation.
[0009]
  In addition, a predetermined amount of hit balls was stored in the receiving cageThis is detected by the detecting means provided in the receiving part.Since the lifting drive is sometimes driven, as long as the hitting ball is received in the receiving hook, the hitting ball is always supplied to the firing ball guiding passage. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a switch for detecting a ball breakage at the receiving hook portion in addition to the gear driving switch as in the prior art, and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the structure. It will be.
[0014]
  Claim2The encapsulated ball type gaming machine of the invention is characterized in that the foul balls that have not reached the game area in the above are merged into the merging passage.
[0015]
  Claim2According to the invention, in addition to the above, since the foul balls that have not reached the game area are merged into the merge passage, the foul balls fall into the merge ball and fall through the winning ball passage and the out ball passage. Balls can also be merged, there is no need to specially guide the foul balls to be fired, the passage configuration is simplified, and no special device is required to transport the foul balls separately. It will be.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a gaming machine 1 according to an embodiment of the enclosed ball type gaming machine of the present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the gaming machine 1 with an upper front frame 3A and a lower front frame 3B opened. ing.
[0017]
The gaming machine 1 includes a vertically long rectangular outer box 2 having an opening 2A on the front surface, and a pivotable support that can be turned up and down on one side (left side) of the opening 2A of the outer box 2 so as to be freely detachable. The upper front frame 3A in which almost all of the main components of the gaming machine 1 are gathered together, and the upper front frame 3A is positioned below the upper front frame 3A and can be turned up and down to one side of the outer box body 2. And a lower front frame 3B that is detachably supported. The upper front frame 3A and the lower front frame 3B constitute a front frame of the gaming machine 1 and close the opening 2A of the outer box 2 so that it can be opened and closed. In the present invention, the upper front frame 3A and the lower front frame 3B are not limited to those separated as in the embodiment, and a single front frame in which these are integrated may be used.
[0018]
The upper front frame 3A and the lower front frame 3B are separated from each other, and one side upper part of the lower front frame 3B and one side lower part of the upper front frame 3A can be rotated and attached to the outer box body 2 at the same position. Is pivotally supported. A game board 4 is detachably attached to the upper front frame 3A, and an openable / closable transparent plate holding frame 5 is also detachably attached to the upper front frame 3A on the front side of the game board 4 as shown in FIG. It has been.
[0019]
Further, a holding point display unit 6 having a holding point display unit 49 on the upper front side is pivotally supported on the lower front frame 3B so as to be detachable and openable as shown in FIG. A display unit 7 including an operation display unit 55 for settlement and a handle set 8 that functions as a hitting ball operation unit are detachably attached. Further, a card unit device 10 as a recording medium processing device is attached to the lower front frame 3B, and is arranged in the display unit 7. The card insertion slot 13 faces forward from the opening 11 of the display unit 7. It is out.
[0020]
The upper front frame 3A is provided on the upper side of the lower front frame 3B provided with the card unit device 10 so as to be opened and closed and attached / detached. A ball hitting device 106 corresponding to the handle set 8 is attached to the lower front frame.
[0021]
The game board 4 is formed of a substantially square plywood. A guide rail 14 is attached to the front surface of the game board 4 in a circular spiral shape, and the inside of the guide rail 14 is a game area 15. In this embodiment, the game area 15 is provided with a drum-type variable display device 16 protruding rearward, a start winning opening 17 that allows variable display of the drum-type variable display device 16, a variable winning ball device 18, and the like. (Both are electrical gaming devices) are also provided.
[0022]
When the display result derived to the drum-type variable display device 16 becomes a jackpot symbol, the game content is a specific game state that accompanies this and controls the variable winning ball apparatus 18 to be released in a predetermined manner. The specific game state (specific game value) according to the present invention is not limited to the above, and any one of the controls (1) to (4) or a combination thereof is controlled as shown below. Any state is acceptable.
[0023]
That is, (1). Continuously or intermittently for a predetermined time with respect to a variable winning ball apparatus that can be changed between a first state that facilitates winning of a hit ball and a second state in which the hit ball cannot win or is difficult to win. Control to the first state.
(2). Variable winning that can be changed between a first state that makes it easy to win a hitting ball and a second state that makes it difficult or difficult to win Control for setting the ball device to the first state continuously or intermittently for a predetermined time.
(3). Control that directly gives a predetermined number of premium balls or points regardless of the winning of a hit ball.
(4). Control that adds the number of valuable values to recording media (cards, receipts, etc.) with valuable values.
[0024]
The transparent plate holding frame 5 is provided with a circular see-through window 19 through which the game area 15 of the game board 4 can be seen, and the see-through window 19 is detachably attached with a transparent plate 20 made of multi-layer glass. It is installed. On the outer periphery of the see-through window 19, a decoration LED 21 is provided at the top thereof, and a decoration lamp 22 is provided on both the left and right sides. The decoration LED 21 and the decoration lamp 22 are lit or blinked in accordance with the gaming state, and are configured to notify the player of the occurrence of a specific gaming state and to increase the gaming atmosphere.
[0025]
A prize ball LED 24 for notifying that a predetermined number of points has been awarded based on the occurrence of winning balls is provided on the upper part of the transparent plate holding frame 5 on the pivot support side. Are provided with sound effect speakers 25, 25 that generate sound effects according to the progress of the sound. In addition, an opening 31 is formed on the other side (right side) of the transparent plate holding frame 5 so as to visually recognize a certificate (not shown) attached to the front surface of the game board 4.
[0026]
A hinge plate 41 is provided below the center of one side of the outer box body 2, and a hinge plate 33 is attached to the upper corner of one side of the outer box body 2. The bearing fittings 39, 39 mounted on one side of the upper front frame 3A are pivotally supported by the hinge plates 33 and 41 so as to be detachable. Further, an engaging piece 34 is provided on the other side of the upper front frame 3A to hold the closed state with respect to the outer box body 2.
[0027]
A hinge plate 38 is attached to one lower portion of the outer box body 2, and one upper and lower sides of the lower front frame 3 </ b> B are pivoted and detachably supported by hinge plates 41 and 38. And the engaging piece 42 which hold | maintains the obstruction | occlusion state with respect to the outer case body 2 is provided in the other side of the lower front frame 3B.
[0028]
With this configuration, the upper front frame 3A can be opened and closed by rotating the upper front frame 3A in a state in which the support piece 34 is detached from the outer box 2. Moreover, the lower front frame 3B can also be opened and closed by removing the supporting piece 42 from the outer box body 2 with the upper front frame 3A being opened and rotating it. Further, when the support pieces 34 and 43 are detached from the outer box 2, the upper front frame 3A and the lower front frame 3B can be opened and closed together as shown in FIG.
[0029]
As described above, since it is possible to select a state in which only the upper front frame 3A is opened and closed, and a state in which the upper front frame 3A and the lower front frame 3B are opened and closed, maintenance of each device provided in each of them becomes extremely easy. Further, since only the upper front frame 3A can be replaced while leaving the lower front frame 3B, the recyclability is improved. In the above description, the upper front frame 3A is opened and then the lower front frame 3B is opened. However, the upper front frame 3A may be opened and closed completely independently.
[0030]
The holding point display unit 6, the display unit 7, the handle set 8 and the cover member 44 made of hard synthetic resin are detachably attached to the front surface of the lower front frame 3B. Is done. Accordingly, the holding point display unit 6, the display unit 7, and the handle set 8 also function as a cover member. A similar cover member 45 is also detachably attached to the lower side of the opening 2A of the outer box body 2. The display unit 7 and the cover members 44 and 45 are positioned and attached to the lower front frame 3A so as to be detachable from the front by screws or nuts.
[0031]
Thus, since the holding point display unit 6, the display unit 7, the handle set 8, and the cover member 44 that cover the front surface of the lower front frame 3B and the cover member 45 of the outer box body 2 are detachably attached, the gaming machine In the case of changing the design of 1, it is possible to replace only these, and it is possible to reduce the cost required for the pattern change.
[0032]
The holding point display unit 6 includes a cover member 48, and a holding point display unit 49 (first display unit, electrical display unit) composed of, for example, a dot matrix type LED or LCD is obliquely above the cover member 48. A holding point display board 104, which is a circuit board of the holding point display section 49, is also attached to the back surface thereof.
[0033]
The score display section 49 displays the score that the player has acquired as a result of the game (a game possession ball as a valuable value for gaming described later). The holding point display section 49 displays a display when calling a store clerk when a ball is jammed, for example, in a format such as “CALL”, or can display “suspended” or the like when sitting. It is configured as follows.
[0034]
Further, the holding point display section 49 is located above the display unit 7 and, as shown in FIG. 1, a data display section (second display section) 64 of an operation display section 55 described later of the display unit 7. The display area is about three times the vertical / horizontal dimension.
[0035]
The lower front frame 3B is provided with locking devices 52 and 53. When the locking device 52 is turned, for example, to the right with a key, the engagement between the transparent plate holding frame 5 and the upper front frame 3A is released. The plate holding frame 5 can be opened. Further, when the locking device 52 is turned counterclockwise, the engagement between the engaging piece 34 of the upper front frame 3A and the outer box 2 is released, so that the upper front frame 3A can be opened. Further, when the locking device 53 is turned with a key, the engagement between the engaging piece 42 of the lower front frame 3B and the outer box body 2 is released, whereby the lower front frame 3B can be opened (FIG. 2, FIG. 3 shows this state).
[0036]
The display unit 7 includes a cover member 54 that protrudes forward from the lower center of the holding point display unit 6. On the upper surface of the cover member 54, various switches (operations for drop / settlement operations described later) ) And an electrical display unit are arranged in an integrated manner, and an ashtray 56 is formed on the side thereof. The cover member 54 is detachably attached with a nut on the lower front frame 3B side.
[0037]
In the cover member 54 of the display unit 7, each switch of the operation display unit 55 and an operation display unit substrate 103 to be described later, which is a circuit substrate of an electrical display unit, are attached, and these are integrated as a lower front frame 3B. Is detachably attached. As described above, the card unit device 10 is arranged in the display unit 7, and the portion excluding the card insertion slot 13 is concealed by the cover member 54 provided with the opening 11 for the card insertion slot 13.
[0038]
The handle set 8 includes an operation handle 57 having a handle ring 57A and a cover member 58 for detachably attaching the operation handle 57 to the lower front frame 3B. The cover member 58 is integrally provided with a mounting bolt (not shown) for detachably mounting and fixing the handle set 8 to a mounting hole formed in the lower front frame 3B. The locking device 53 is located in the upper right part of the handle set 8.
[0039]
On the other hand, the outer box body 2 is configured in a box shape in which the front surface is opened (2A) from the top wall 26, the bottom wall 27, the left and right side walls 28, 28, and the back wall 29. A window hole 30 is formed in the top wall 26, and a ventilation grill 35 having a plurality of punching holes is fitted in the window hole 30. In addition, a transport handle member 40 that is recessed to fit a finger is embedded and attached to the upper part of the left and right side walls 28, 28.
[0040]
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the operation display unit 55 configured on the upper surface directed obliquely upward of the display unit 7 described above. The operation display unit 55 includes, for example, a data display unit 64 as a second display unit configured by a multi-digit 7-segment LED (or LCD) display, and various operation switches (a settlement switch 66, an interruption) as an operation unit. Switch 67, ball lending switch 68, automatic ball lending switch 69, display changeover switch 71), various LEDs (card balance (remaining balance) LED 72, replay (remaining) number of times LED 73), free gift holding LED 75, storage ball LED 76, automatic ball lending LED 77 , Interruption LED 78, ball lending LED 70, checkout LED 74) are provided in an integrated manner.
[0041]
These data display section 64, settlement switch 66, interruption switch 67, ball lending switch 68, automatic ball lending switch 69, display changeover switch 71, card balance LED 72, replay count LED 73, free gift LED 75, storage ball LED 76, automatic ball lending LED 77 The interruption LED 78, the ball lending LED 70, and the settlement LED 74 are electrically connected to the operation display unit substrate 103 provided in the display unit 7.
[0042]
The operation display unit board 103 and the score display board 104 of the score display unit 49 of the score display unit 6 together with a game control board 81 and a card unit control board 10A of the card unit 10 which will be described later in the gaming machine 1. It is electrically connected to a game information processing device 111, which will be described later, outputs pressing operation signals of the various operation switches to the game control board 81 and the card unit control board 10A, and receives various signals from these control boards, The lighting control of the data display unit 64 and each LED is executed.
[0043]
In order to play a game with such a gaming machine 1, first, a point card (game recording medium) made of an IC card is inserted into the card insertion slot 13 of the card unit device 10. This point card can be purchased, for example, with a card vending machine installed in a game hall. The score card issued from the card vending machine includes a game hall code that can identify the game hall where the card is issued, identification information that can identify the score card from a plurality of score cards, and a score The card balance etc. in which the upper limit is determined according to the amount paid by the player at the time of card purchase are recorded.
[0044]
When the point card is inserted into the card insertion slot 13 of the card unit device 10, the recorded information is read by the internal card reader / writer and displayed on the data display unit 64 provided in the operation display unit 55. The card balance of the point card is displayed (default). In this case, the card balance LED 72 is lit. In this case, as shown in FIG. 4, it is displayed that 10000 (yen) exists as a card balance (game value that can be withdrawn).
[0045]
When a player plays a game using a stored ball (a game field holding point as a game value that can be withdrawn), the display changeover switch 71 is pressed once from the state shown in FIG. When the display changeover switch 71 is pressed once, the number of replays (times) of the stored ball is displayed on the data display section 64, the card balance LED 72 is turned off, and the replay number LED 73 is turned on instead. When the display changeover switch 71 is pressed again from this state, the number of stored balls is displayed on the data display section 64, and the replay count LED 73 is turned off and the stored ball LED 76 is turned on instead.
[0046]
Further, when the display changeover switch 71 is pressed again from that state, the prize display ball (game value that cannot be withdrawn) is displayed on the data display section 64, the storage LED 76 is turned off, and the prize maintenance ball is replaced. LED75 lights up. Then, if the display changeover switch 71 is pressed again from that state, the balance display is restored (the card balance LED 72 is lit).
[0047]
Next, when the automatic ball lending switch 69 is not pressed, the gaming machine 1 enters the value deduction mode from the point card, that is, the lending mode is the ball lending mode, and the automatic ball lending LED 77 is turned off. Yes. When this lending mode is set to the ball lending mode, the card balance is withdrawn based on the player's operation of pushing the ball lending switch 68, and the available points for the game are lent. Lending LED 70 lights up.
[0048]
In addition to the ball lending mode, the value withdrawal mode includes an automatic ball lending mode, a replay mode, and an automatic replay mode. When the automatic ball lending switch 69 is pressed while the card balance LED 72 is lit, the automatic ball lending mode is entered and the automatic ball lending LED 77 is lit. When the automatic ball lending switch 69 is not pressed while the replay number LED 73 is lit, the replay mode is entered, and the automatic ball lending LED 77 is turned off and the automatic ball lending switch 69 is pressed in that state. The automatic replay mode is entered, and the automatic ball lending LED 77 is lit.
[0049]
In the ball lending mode, when the ball lending switch 68 is pressed, the ball lending LED 70 is turned on, and a predetermined number of card balances are deducted from the card balance of the holding card, and the data balance 64 is subtracted and updated. The On the other hand, a predetermined number of points are given to the player in exchange for debiting the card balance, and the given points are added and displayed on the point display unit 49 of the point display unit 6. Since the score in this case is displayed large on the score display unit 49, the player's visibility becomes good and the appeal of the score is improved.
[0050]
If the operation handle 57 is operated in the state that the holding point display portion 49 has a point, the hit ball enclosed in the gaming machine 1 is hit by the hitting hammer 108 (FIG. 3) of the hitting ball launcher 106 (FIG. 3). And it is driven into the game area 15 one by one through the guide rail 14. The shot balls hit are detected one by one by the shot ball detector 114 described later, and the number of points on the score display unit 49 is subtracted and updated one by one each time there is a detection.
[0051]
The hit ball whose launch momentum is too weak to reach the game area 15 is recovered from a foul ball entrance 130 of a foul ball path member 131 (described later) formed between the hit ball launch rail 110 and the guide rail 14 and the like. It is detected by a foul ball detector 116 shown after being provided on the back surface of the board 4. Each time a foul ball is detected, the score display unit 49 adds and displays the score one by one. Thereby, the points updated by subtraction can be effectively used again without obtaining an opportunity for the player's hit ball to reach the game area 15.
[0052]
If the hit ball wins the start winning opening 17 or the variable winning ball apparatus 18, a predetermined number of points are awarded to the player in accordance with the winning. The score given to the player is added and updated on the score display section 49. In addition, hit balls that have not won any winning opening are collected from the out opening 132 formed in the lowermost center of the game area 15 of the game board 4.
[0053]
When the hit ball that has been driven into the game area 15 wins the start winning opening 17, variable display of symbols is started by the drum type variable display device 16. And if the variable display result of the drum type variable display device 16 becomes a specific display mode (for example, 777) determined in advance, a so-called big hit occurs. If a big hit occurs, the variable winning ball apparatus 18 is opened and becomes a first state advantageous to the player. The first state is that a predetermined number (for example, 10) of winning balls to the variable winning ball apparatus 18 or a predetermined period (for example, 30 seconds), whichever comes first, is satisfied. The second state that is unfavorable to the player is completed, that is, the variable winning ball apparatus 18 is closed.
[0054]
The hit ball that has entered the variable winning ball device 18 during the period in which the variable winning ball device 18 is in the first state is detected by the winning number detector 117 or the specific winning ball detector 118 described later. If a hitting ball is detected by the specific winning ball detector 118, the variable winning ball device 18 is controlled to the first state again after waiting for the end of the first state of the variable winning ball device 18 of that time. Continuous control is performed. The upper limit number of the repeated continuation control is set to 16 times, for example.
[0055]
When all the repeated continuation control is finished and the so-called big hit state is finished, all the points displayed on the point display section 49 at that time are all prize exchange points for prize exchange (the game value that cannot be withdrawn). ) And stored in the operation display unit board 103 or the like until the player finally finishes the game. Then, when the player performs a game ending operation and the score card is ejected from the card unit device 10, the prize exchange score is accumulated and stored in the score card.
[0056]
Note that the display of the score display section 49 is cleared to “0” at the same time that the score displayed on the score display section 49 is converted into a free gift exchange score. Therefore, after the jackpot is over, in order to continue the game, the card balance must be withdrawn again. Also, the prize exchange points that are temporarily accumulated can not be withdrawn and used for games, and even if there are already prize exchange points already recorded on the points card, they can be directly withdrawn. And cannot be used in games.
[0057]
This is because the prize exchange points are determined as points exclusively for prize exchange in principle. Note that the points that are displayed on the point display section 49 and can be used directly in the game are called game points in order to distinguish them from the prize exchange points. The holding point display section 49 always displays the number of game balls. On the other hand, in the state where the prize holding LED 75 is lit, the prize exchange holding point is displayed on the data display section 64. This is called a premium gift.
[0058]
In the above description, the game-possible points displayed on the score display unit 49 at the time when the big hit state is finished (game value used directly in the game; game possession balls) are prize exchange points ( In the case where the symbol stopped on the drum-type variable display device 16 when the big hit is established matches the predetermined lucky number, the big hit state based on this After the end, “point game” that allows the player to continue using the available points without executing the above-described conversion process of points is allowed. Then, a predetermined unlucky number is stopped and displayed on the drum-type variable display device 16, and on the condition that the big hit has occurred, the allowance state of the point game is canceled, and after the big hit is finished, the above-described score conversion processing Is executed.
[0059]
Here, if the remaining number of points (game holding balls) decreases according to the gaming situation in the gaming machine 1, the ball balance switch 68 is pressed again to update the card balance, and the points (game) Mochitama) can be added and updated. However, if such a withdrawal operation of the card balance is troublesome, the automatic ball lending switch 69 may be pressed to change to the automatic ball lending mode described above. As a result, the card balance is automatically withdrawn when the number of points available for gaming falls below a predetermined number, and a predetermined number of points are added and displayed on the point display section 49. When the mode is the automatic ball lending mode, the automatic ball lending LED 77 is lit and displayed to that effect.
[0060]
Next, when it is desired to suspend the game for the purpose of eating a meal or the like, the game can be interrupted with the right to resume the game from the middle of the suspension by pressing the suspension switch 67. During this interruption, the interruption LED 78 is turned on, and a character display “suspending” is greatly displayed on the holding point display portion 49. Further, when the interruption is performed, the score card is once ejected from the card unit device 10 and a game using a card other than the score card inserted in the card unit device 10 is rejected.
[0061]
To end the game, the settlement switch 66 may be pushed. As a result, the checkout LED 74 is turned on and the card balance displayed on the data display unit 64 and the possible game points (game balls) displayed on the score display unit 49 are stored as updated information. Recorded on a point card. Further, when there is a free gift exchange point (a free gift ball), this is recorded on the free point card.
[0062]
In the case where the prize exchange points acquired in the previous game are already recorded on the score card, the prize exchange points are added and updated. In the above, in addition to the card balance, a possible game score (game ball) and a prize exchange score (prize score) are recorded in the score card. The score card whose information has been rewritten is discharged from the card insertion slot 13 of the card unit device 10.
[0063]
In the embodiment described above, the prize exchange points are displayed on the data display unit 64 while the prize holding LED 75 is lit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. You may make it display the score which added the game possible score (the game ball displayed on the score display part 49).
[0064]
The prize exchange points (prize points) and playable points (game balls) recorded on such points cards are valid points only for the day of possession of the respective points. is there. Therefore, if gameable points are not used for the game during the day, or if the prize exchange points and gameable points are not used for the prize exchange during the day, those points will be treated as invalid after the next day. . Therefore, a conversion processing device is provided in the game hall for converting these points into “storage balls” that are valuable values that can be used effectively for exchanging prizes after the day.
[0065]
For example, this type of conversion processing apparatus is often configured to be used in combination with a prize exchange processing apparatus for performing a prize exchange operation in order to effectively use a space in a game arcade. If you want to convert free points or points that can be played to "save balls", insert the score card with those points recorded into the conversion processing device and type of points you want to convert to a game (game) It is only necessary to execute the operation by specifying the possible points, prize exchange points) and the number of points. As a result, the designated score is converted to “save ball” and recorded on the score card. In addition, you may make it memorize | store in a hall computer, a member management computer, etc. instead of recording directly on a point card.
[0066]
In the case where “save ball” already exists based on the past conversion operation before the operation, it is accumulated and updated. Here, if “save ball” is defined, the “save ball” is the value of the game that can be withdrawn and stored cumulatively with the score as a game hall deposit. By converting the points to “save balls”, the points earned in the past as well as the day of the game act can be stored cumulatively. The player can acquire a prize with a large amount of prize exchange that is difficult to acquire by one game by repeatedly storing balls. In addition, various services can be provided for each amusement hall according to the amount of “stored balls”.
[0067]
On the other hand, there is a need for a player who wants to play a game using a stored ball without using the card balance recorded on the score card and the possible game points. In such a case, the display changeover switch 71 of the operation display unit 55 is pushed as described above to select or change the withdrawal mode, whether to do this from the card balance or from the storage ball when deducting the holding points. It is configured to be able to.
[0068]
That is, when the display changeover switch 71 provided on the operation display unit 55 is pressed, the lending mode determines the number of replays from the stored balls (the number of stored balls / the number of balls withdrawn once = the allowable number of replays calculated by holding points, Each time replay is performed, the replay mode or automatic replay mode in which the number of stored balls corresponding to one replay is subtracted) is set.
[0069]
If the lending mode is set to the replay mode, the number of replays is deducted from the stored ball based on the pressing operation of the ball lending switch 68, and the lending mode is selected to the automatic replay mode. The player is configured such that a predetermined number of replays are automatically deducted from the stored ball when the player's score is below a predetermined number.
[0070]
When the lending mode is set to the replay mode or the automatic replay mode, the data display unit 64 displays the number of replays that can be used for the game. In this case, the replay count LED 73 is lit. Here, “replay (replay)” refers to playing a game using a stored ball or the state thereof. The number of stored balls can be displayed on the data display unit 64 by further pressing the display changeover switch 71 as described above.
[0071]
Next, in FIG. 2, a mechanism plate 88 is provided in the center of the game board 4 on the back of the upper front frame 3A, and the drum type variable display device (electric game device) 16 is provided in the center. It is attached. On the other hand, on the inner side (front surface) of the back wall 29 of the outer box body 2, the game control board 81 comprising a microcomputer for controlling game contents of the gaming machine 1 such as the variable winning ball device 18 and the drum type variable display device 16. Is detachably screwed. The game control board 81 is provided with a connector 81A to which wirings for inputting / outputting signals (the wirings in the gaming machine 1 are indicated by 82 in the drawing) are connected.
[0072]
In addition, a connection terminal plate 89 is detachably screwed to the upper left side of the outer wall 2 toward the inside of the back wall 29. The connection terminal board 89 is connected to a terminal for connecting a signal line (wiring) 83 between the outside (for example, a hall computer) and the gaming machine 1 and a power socket, a power switch, a connector, etc. to which an external power supply line is connected. Is provided. In this case, a through hole (communication portion) 84 for inserting the signal line 83 is formed through the top wall 26 of the outer box body 2, and the signal line 83 connected to the connection terminal plate 89 is formed in this through hole. It is drawn out of the outer box body 2 from 84, or is drawn into the outer box body 2 from the through hole 84.
[0073]
An electrical decoration control board 91 is detachably screwed inside the back wall 29 below the connection terminal plate 89. This electric decoration control board 91 is electrically connected to the game control board 81 and controls lighting of decorative light emitting members (electric decorations) such as the decorative LED 21 and the decorative lamp 22. A sound control board (indicated by 112 in the circuit diagram to be described later) for controlling the sound effect speaker 25 and a card unit speaker 109 to be described later is also provided separately from the game control board 81, and the outer box as with the electric decoration control board 91. You may attach to the body 2 so that attachment or detachment is possible.
[0074]
Here, the hitting ball (winning ball) that entered the start winning port 17 and the variable winning ball device 18 of the gaming machine 1, the hit ball collected at the out port (out ball), and the hit ball that entered the foul ball entrance The (foul ball) is led to the back side of the game board 4 and circulated. Hereinafter, a ball circulation path in the gaming machine 1 will be described. A circulation path member 133 for constituting the main part of the circulation path is attached to the back side of the lower front frame 3B below the back surface of the game board 4, and a base plate 85 is disposed on the rear side of the circulation path member 133. The circulation passage member 133 is detachably attached. The circulation passage member 133 is detachably attached to the lower front frame 3B. In this case, the circulation passage member 133 has a bearing portion (not shown) at one end and is pivotally supported in the same manner as the front circulation unit 156 described later, and a locking lever (not shown) at the other end. Is locked by this lever. As a result, the inside of the circulation passage member 133 can be freely opened and closed to facilitate maintenance of internal clogging.
[0075]
The base plate 85 is also provided with a ball circulation unit (ball circulation portion) 97 that constitutes a part of a ball circulation path in the gaming machine 1. The ball circulation unit 97 is provided with a ball lifting unit 99 and the like which will be described later, and a cassette type ball polishing unit 98 is detachably mounted on the ball polishing unit mounting portion of the ball lifting unit 99. (Fig. 2).
[0076]
The method of polishing the balls is not limited to the cassette method, and other methods such as a method of wiping off the dirt of the hit balls with a brush or a method of cleaning with a cleaning liquid may be used. Further, as a method of making the ball polishing portion 98 detachable, screw fixing or a locking claw, a rotary lever or the like can be considered, and it is not particularly limited. A ball lifting part 99 provided in the ball circulation unit 97 is provided with a receiving hook part 101 and a gear 102 as a lifting drive for lifting the hit ball received by the receiving hook part 101. . The gear may be a belt conveyor or the like. The catching portion 101 has a gentle slope substantially the same as a merging passage 141 described later, and is communicated with the gear 102 while detouring to the left as viewed from the rear as shown in FIG. Are arranged so as to be aligned with each other and fed to the gear 102 (a dimension through which one hit ball can pass). Further, a lifting control detector 150 included in a lift control circuit 123 described later is attached to the bent portion 101A which is the vertical direction of the receiving hook portion 101.
[0077]
Next, FIG. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the circulation passage member 133 and members attached thereto, and FIG. 6 shows a rear view thereof. 7 is a rear view of the circulation passage member 133, FIG. 8 is a front view thereof, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are longitudinal side views of the circulation passage member 133.
[0078]
The circulation passage member 133 is formed of a transparent hard resin, and is formed in a bowl shape on the upper part thereof so as to communicate with the start winning port 17 and the variable winning ball device 18 (winning port) of the game board 4. An upper ramp 134A is formed. The upper inclined path 134A is inclined downward to the right as viewed from the rear, the lowermost part descends substantially vertically, and a connection port 136 is formed at the lower end thereof. The aforementioned winning number detector 117 is attached to a vertical passage portion in front (upper side) of the connection port 136. In the lower part of the circulation passage member 133, a foul ball merge port 137, an out ball merge port 138 and a safe ball merge port 139 are arranged in parallel from the left at a position on the right side from the center when viewed from the rear. A confluence passage 141 is formed.
[0079]
This confluence passage 141 has a passage cross-sectional area through which one hitting ball can pass, and extends while inclining so as to gradually decrease to the right (lateral direction) when viewed from the rear, and is formed at the right end. A confluence ball outlet 142 is formed. The foul ball merging port 137, the out ball merging port 138, and the safe ball merging port 139 all open in the merging passage 141 toward the rear so as to be orthogonal to the inclination direction (right direction) of the merging passage 141, Further, they are formed in order and independently from the higher side in the inclination direction of the merge passage 141 in the order of the foul ball merge port 137, the out ball merge port 138, and the safe ball merge port 139.
[0080]
Further, an out ball passage member 144 is attached to the lower front side on the right side of the circulation passage member 133 as viewed from the rear side of the upper inclined passage 134A. As shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the out ball passage member 144 is formed with an upper inclined path 146 </ b> A that is inclined downward in the right direction when viewed from the rear side from a portion located substantially at the center of the circulation passage member 133. The upper ramp 146A is located on the front side of the upper ramp 134A and overlaps with the front and rear, and the upper portion communicates with the out port 132 formed in the game board 4, and the upper ramp 146A is connected to the top of the upper ramp 146A. The lower part descends substantially vertically and a connection port 147 is formed at the lower end thereof, and an out ball detector 119 is attached to a vertical passage portion in front (upper side) of the connection port 147.
[0081]
The connection ports 147 and 136 of the upper slopes 146A and 134A are arranged side by side as shown in FIG. 6, and the connection passage member 151 made of a transparent hard resin is located below the circulation passages. It is attached to the front side of the member 133. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 17, the connecting passage member 133 is formed with a meandering lower inclined path 134B on the right side when viewed from the rear side, and the left side thereof meanders while being inclined to the left. An extending lower ramp 146B is formed. That is, the lower slopes 134B and 146B are formed to meander on the same vertical plane (the connecting passage member 151 itself).
[0082]
The upper end 134BA of the lower slope 134B communicates with the connection port 136, and the lower end 134BB communicates with the safe ball junction 139. A series of winning ball paths 134 (constituting a part of the circulation path) are constituted by the upper slopes 134A and the lower slopes 134B. That is, the safe ball junction 139 serves as an outlet of the lower slope 134B of the winning ball passage 134. Further, the upper end 146BA of the lower ramp 146B communicates with the connection port 147, and the lower end 146BB communicates with the out ball junction 138. These upper ramp 146A and lower ramp 146B constitute a series of out ball passages 146 (which constitute a part of the circulation passage). That is, the out ball junction 138 serves as an outlet of the lower ramp 146 </ b> B of the out ball passage 146.
[0083]
In addition, the inclination of the merge passage 141 is made slower than the inclination of each winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146. Further, the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 138 serve as a collection path for collecting the winning balls and the out balls. In the embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the confluence passage 141 is equivalent to one hitting ball. However, the cross-sectional area is not limited to this and may be larger. However, by using one hit ball as in the embodiment, the safe balls, out balls, and foul balls described later can be easily aligned. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the inclination direction of the upper slopes 134A, 146A is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be inclined in the opposite direction. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the out ball passage member 144 is provided on the front side of the circulation passage member 133, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the out ball passage member 144 may be provided on the rear side.
[0084]
A guide passage 152 is formed in the lower portion of the connecting passage member 151. The guide passage 152 is gradually inclined downward in the left direction when viewed from the rear side. An inlet 152A (positioned on the upper side) of the guide passage 152 communicates with the merging ball outlet 142, and an outlet 152B (positioned on the lower side) opens to the rear at the lower end of the circulation passage member 133. It communicates with the ball outlet 153. The inclination of the guide passage 152 is equivalent to the inclination of the merging passage 141, whereby the guide passage 152 constitutes a part of the merging passage 141. That is, the merging passage 141 has a meandering shape as a whole.
[0085]
The hitting ball outlet 152 communicates with the receiving hook portion 101 of the ball feeding unit 99 of the ball circulation unit 97. The ball polishing unit 98 of the ball circulation unit 97 is communicated with the inlet 156A of the front circulation unit 156. 18 shows a perspective view of the front circulation unit 156, and FIG. 19 shows a front view of the front circulation unit 156 portion of the gaming machine 1. The exit of the ball polishing unit 98 of the ball circulation unit 97 is communicated with an inlet 156A via a communication path member 155 attached to the lower front frame 3B, and the outlet 155A of the communication path member 155 is connected to the front circulation unit 156. It corresponds to the upper side of the inlet 156A (FIG. 19).
[0086]
The front circulation unit 156 is also formed of a transparent hard resin, and is located on the upper front side of the lower front frame 3B on the rear side of the holding point display unit 6, and as shown in FIG. Similarly, one side is pivotally supported by the lower front frame 3B so as to be detachable and openable. Inside the front circulation unit 156, a shot ball guiding passage 157 (which constitutes a part of the circulation passage of the gaming machine 1) is formed so as to be inclined to the right (left-right direction) from the front. The upper end (the left end toward the left) of the projecting ball guiding passage 157 is the entrance 156A. In addition, the lower end (right end toward the right) of the shot ball guiding passage 157 communicates with a predetermined hit ball launch position on the front side of the hit ball hammer 108. Reference numeral 158 denotes a stopper which is attached to the non-axial support side of the front circulation unit 156 and is detachably engaged with the lower front frame 3B to maintain the closed state of the front circulation unit 156.
[0087]
The foul ball passage member 131 is attached to the upper front surface of the lower front frame 3B at a position corresponding to the rear side of the front circulation unit 156. 20 to 22 show a front view, a longitudinal side view, and a plan view of the foul ball passage member 131, respectively. A foul ball inlet 130 is formed at the center upper edge of the foul ball passage member 131 and opens at the end of the hit ball launch rail 110. A foul ball passage 161 that constitutes a part of the circulation passage of the gaming machine 1 is formed below the foul ball entrance 130.
[0088]
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the foul ball passage 161 is largely bent in a hairpin shape in the left direction (left-right direction) toward the rear side of the firing ball guide passage 157. The tip of the bent portion of the foul ball passage member 161 is a vertical passage portion (vertical passage) 161A, and the foul ball detector 116 is attached to the passage portion 161A.
[0089]
Further, the lower end 161B of the foul ball passage 161 passes through the lower front frame 3B and faces the rear side, and communicates with the foul ball confluence 137. That is, the foul ball junction 137 serves as an outlet of the foul ball passage 161.
[0090]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 19, the hit ball circulation in the gaming machine 1 will be described. The hit ball (winning ball) that has entered the start winning port 17 and the variable winning ball device 18 of the gaming machine 1 is received by the upper inclined path 134A of the winning ball path 134, as indicated by arrows in FIGS. After naturally flowing down and detected by the winning number detector 117, it enters the lower ramp 134B. And after flowing down in the lower ramp 134B in a meandering manner, it reaches the safe ball junction 139.
[0091]
On the other hand, the hit ball (out ball) collected at the out port 132 is received by the upper inclined path 146A of the out ball passage 146 and naturally flows down as shown by the arrows in FIGS. After being detected at 119, it enters the lower ramp 146B. And after flowing down the inside of the lower ramp 146B, it reaches the out ball junction 138.
[0092]
On the other hand, hitting balls (foul balls) that have entered the foul ball inlet 130 naturally flow down in the foul ball passage 161 as indicated by arrows in FIG. 19 and are detected by the foul ball detector 116, and then the lower front frame 3B. It flows down to the back side and reaches the foul ball junction 137. At this time, since the foul ball detector 116 is provided in the vertical passage portion 161A of the foul ball passage 161, the foul ball detector 116 detects a hit ball falling in the vertical direction. Thereby, detection accuracy improves compared with the case where the hit ball (foul ball) which flows down the inclined surface one after another is detected.
[0093]
Then, hit balls (foul balls, out balls, and winning balls) that have reached the junctions 137, 138, and 139 flow into the junction passage 141 and merge. At this time, the hitting ball (winning ball) coming out from the safe ball junction 139, the hitting ball (out ball) coming out from the outball junction 138, and the hitting ball (foul ball) coming out from the foul ball junction 137 The ball hits the flow of hitting balls flowing down in the passage 141 one after another and flows down in the inclination direction of the joining passage 141 (right direction in FIG. 6).
[0094]
As a result, the inconvenience that hit balls that have flowed down as winning balls, out balls, and foul balls collide and repel at the merged portion is suppressed, and the flow direction is uniquely determined (right direction in FIG. 6). Therefore, the circulation of the hit ball in the circulation passage of the gaming machine 1 is remarkably facilitated. In addition, since the upper slopes 134A and 146A of the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146 are overlapped in the front-rear direction, there is room in the passage design in the vertical direction, and the lower slopes 134B and 146B are vertical. Since they are formed on the same plane in the direction, connection to each of the junctions 138 and 139 opening to the junction passage 141 inclined in the right lateral direction is facilitated, and the passage design as a whole can be facilitated.
[0095]
In particular, the foul ball joining port 137, the out ball joining port 138, and the safe ball joining port 139 are arranged in parallel in the inclination direction (right direction) of the joining passage 141, so that the flow of hitting balls in the joining passage 141 is performed. As a result, it becomes possible to join the hit balls that have become winning balls, out balls, and foul balls along the line, and the merging / circulation of the hit balls in the circulation passage is further facilitated.
[0096]
The hitting balls (foul balls, out balls and winning balls) that have joined in the joining passage 141 in this way enter the guide passage 152 from the entrance 152A to the front side, flow down in the guide passage 152, and hit the exit. From 153 to the catching part 101 of the ball circulation unit 97.
[0097]
At this time, since the inclination of the confluence passage 141 is slower than the inclination of the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146, the winning ball and the out ball from the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146 constituting the circulation passage. This makes it possible to reduce the impact speed and impact of the hit ball at the time of merging, and to further smooth the hit ball circulation. Can be planned.
[0098]
The hit balls collected in the receiving hook 101 in this way are fed into the gear 102 and are pumped up to the ball polishing unit 98 by driving the gear 102 as will be described later. At this time, the receiving hook 101 aligns the hitting balls in a line and feeds the hitting balls into the gear 102 with a gentle inclination, so that the load due to the hitting ball applied to the gears 102 is reduced. On the other hand, the ball polishing unit 98 is provided with a tape-like abrasive paper stretched between the unwinding reel and the take-up reel, and this abrasive paper is applied to the hitting ball fed to the ball polishing unit 98. Pressed and polished.
[0099]
The hit ball polished by the ball polishing unit 98 then passes through the communication path member 155 and reaches the inlet 156A of the front circulation unit 156. Then, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 19, the ball flows down in the shooting ball guiding passage 157 and is finally led to a predetermined hitting ball shooting position. The hit ball thus led to the hitting ball launch position is shot toward the hitting ball launching rail 110 by the hitting hammer 108.
[0100]
In this case, when the operation handle 57 of the handle set 8 is operated, the hitting motor 107 is driven, and the hit balls supplied one by one to the hitting ball launching position as described above are fired toward the hitting ball launching rail 110. Then, the hit ball that has moved up the hit ball launch rail 110 is guided to the guide rail 14 and driven into the game area 15. As described above, the hit ball enclosed in the gaming machine 1 is repeatedly circulated and used in the gaming machine 1.
[0101]
As shown in FIG. 19, the foul ball passage 161 and the firing ball guide passage 157 are inclined in the left-right direction and overlapped in the front-rear direction, so that there is room for the passage design in the up-down direction. In addition to facilitating simplification, the space occupied by the foul ball passage member 131 and the front circulation unit 156 can be reduced to be compact.
[0102]
Further, since the front circulation unit 156 is openable and closable, even when clogging occurs in the foul ball passage 161, the front circulation unit 156 is opened as shown in FIG. 3 for maintenance of the foul ball passage 161. Will be able to do. In addition, the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146 flow down and join at the joining passage 141, and the hit ball that has become a foul ball can be joined to the flow of the hitting ball flowing down in the joining passage 141. Further, the merger of the foul ball (hit ball) with the winning ball and the out ball (hit ball) is also facilitated. In particular, in this case, it is not necessary to transfer the hit ball, which has become a foul ball, to a predetermined hitting ball launching position, so that the passage configuration is simplified and it is not necessary to separately attach a transfer device or the like.
[0103]
A card unit speaker 109 (FIG. 23) is attached to the center of the lower front frame 3B in the vicinity of the card unit device 10. Further, a polishing control board 93 having a polishing control circuit and a lift control circuit, which will be described later, for controlling the ball circulation unit 97 is attached to the base plate 85 on the back side of the lower front frame 3B along with the ball circulation unit 97. ing. Further, a table control unit 94 to which the game control board 81 and the sound control board 112 are connected is attached to the back side of the lower front frame 3B.
[0104]
Further, the game information processing apparatus 111 is attached to the upper part of the outer wall 2 inside the back wall 29. Various game information from the card unit control board 10A of the card unit device 10 is input to the game information processing apparatus 111, and game information from the game control board 81 is input via the table control unit 94. . In addition, it receives operation information of various switches from the operation display unit board 103 in the display unit 7 and executes the above-described control of ball lending, display control of the holding point display unit 49, and the like. In addition, information is exchanged with a hall computer or the like via the connection terminal plate 89.
[0105]
Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the card unit control board 10A is also attached to the lower part (below the game control board 81) inside the back wall 29 of the outer box 2. 2 is a ball display board for controlling an analog ball display device to be described later, and is attached to the upper side of the game information processing device 111 inside the back wall 29 of the outer box 2.
[0106]
Furthermore, board components such as the game control board 81, the game information processing apparatus 111, the card unit control board 10A, and the ball display board 95 are each housed in a board box as a board covering made of hard transparent plastic, It is attached in a state covered with it. The substrate covering body is not limited to a box shape, and any substrate covering body may be used as long as each substrate component is attached.
[0107]
Next, FIG. 23 shows a block diagram of an electric circuit of the gaming machine 1. As described above, the game information processing apparatus 111 is connected to the card unit control board 10A through the serial communication line, and is connected to the game control board 81 and the voice control board 112 via the table control unit 94 (serial communication). The game information processing apparatus 111 is connected to the detectors, the operation display unit board 103, and the holding point display board 104, and the connection terminal board 89, the electric decoration control board 91, and the gear 102 of the ball lifting unit 99. Overload of the lift control circuit 123 for controlling the lift motor 102M for driving the roller, the polishing control circuit 124 for controlling the take-up motor 98M for the abrasive paper of the cassette type ball polishing unit 98, and the take-up motor 98M An overload detection circuit 126 for detecting the state, a firing control circuit 127 for controlling the hitting motor 107 of the hitting ball launching apparatus 106, and the like are connected. Each of the detectors (out ball detector 119, foul ball detector 115, winning number detector 117, lift control detector 150, etc.) is configured by a normal passing type proximity switch. You may comprise with a switch.
[0108]
Further, in this embodiment, as described above, the sound control board 112 is separated from the game control board 81 and is provided in the vicinity of the table control unit 94, and the sound effect speakers 25, 25 are connected to the game control board 81 to control the sound. A card unit speaker 109 is electrically connected to the substrate 112.
[0109]
Since each control of the game information processing device 111 and each board, such as ball hitting, card processing, light emission / display control, game control and the like, is as described above, the description is omitted here, but the lift control circuit 123 Is collected in the receiving hook 101 and stored from the gear 102 to the portion of the lifting control detector 150, and when the lifting control detector 150 detects the stored hit ball, the lift motor 102M is driven. (The drive of the lift motor 102M is stopped after a certain time). As a result, a hit ball stored in a predetermined amount in the receiving rod 101 is fed to the ball polishing unit 98 and finally sent to the shot ball guiding passage 157.
[0110]
As described above, when a predetermined amount of hitting balls is stored in the receiving hook portion 101 of the ball circulation unit 97, the hitting balls are lifted to the firing ball guide passage 157 by the gear 102, so that the receiving hook portion 101 As long as the hit ball is collected, the shot ball guiding passage 157 is always supplied with the hit ball. Therefore, it is not necessary to separately provide a switch for detecting a ball breakage at the receiving hook portion in addition to the control switch for the lift motor as in the prior art.
[0111]
Here, regarding the ball polishing, the game information processing apparatus 111 updates the polishing paper by a predetermined amount at a predetermined interval by the take-up motor 98M. Furthermore, the game control board 81 generates sound effects (including BGM) from the sound effect speakers 25, 25 according to the progress of the game. The voice control board 112 responds by voice (message) from the card unit speaker 109 when the ball lending switch 68 or the settlement switch 66 is pressed. For example, when the ball lending switch 68 is pressed, the voice synthesis circuit built in the voice control board 112 says “Please do your best.” When the checkout switch 66 is pressed, “Thank you.” Say.
[0112]
When a card error such as inability to read the holding card occurs, the voice control circuit 112 generates a voice message such as “Please call an attendant”.
[0113]
In this way, in the enclosed ball type gaming machine 1 in which a ball hit inside is repeatedly fired and driven into the game area 15 to play a game, a circulation passage for circulating the ball inside the gaming machine 1; A projecting ball guiding passage 157 that constitutes a part of the circulation passage and guides the hitting ball to be fired, and a ball feeding unit 99 and a ball polishing unit 98 for lifting the shot ball into the projecting ball guiding channel 157 A ball circulating unit 97, and a ball lifting unit 99 communicates with the gear 102 that lifts the hit ball and the gear 102 at a gentle inclination, accepts the hit ball from the game area 15, and the gear as a row. Since it has the receiving hook part 101 sent to 102, it becomes possible to reduce the load by the load of the hitting ball applied to the gear 102, and it becomes possible to smooth the lifting of the hitting ball by the gear 102.
[0114]
In addition, since the gear 102 is driven when a predetermined amount of hitting ball is stored in the catching rod part 101, the shot ball guiding passage 157 is always provided as long as the hitting ball is received in the catching hook part 101. The ball will be supplied. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a switch for detecting a ball breakage at the receiving hook portion in addition to the gear driving switch as in the prior art, and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the structure. It will be.
[0115]
Furthermore, a part of the circulation path is formed, and a prize ball path 134 that guides the winning ball received in the winning area of the game area 15 and guides it in the direction of the receiving bowl 101 while meandering, and a part of the circulation path. Since the out ball passage 146 that guides the out ball that did not win the winning area and guides it in the direction of the receiving collar while meandering is provided, the flow rate of the winning ball and the out ball flowing toward the receiving collar 101 is determined as the winning ball. By suppressing by the passage 134 and the out ball passage 146, the collision / repulsion action of the hit ball at the time of merging can be eased, and the hit ball circulation can be facilitated.
[0116]
Further, a confluence passage 141 that constitutes a part of the circulation passage and is located between the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146 and the receiving collar portion 101 and the hit balls from the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146 join together. The joining passage 141 receives the hitting ball while being meandered and guides it to the hook portion 101. Therefore, the collision / repulsion action of the hitting ball after joining can be reduced, and Further smoothing can be achieved.
[0117]
Further, since the foul balls that have not reached the game area 15 are merged into the merge passage 141, the foul balls also merge with the hit balls that have flowed down the winning ball passage 134 and the out ball passage 146 and merged in the merge passage 141. As a result, it becomes unnecessary to guide the foul ball to be fired, and the passage structure is simplified, and a special device for separately transferring the foul ball is not required.
[0118]
Reference numeral 128 denotes the aforementioned analog ball indicator, and the ball display board 95 obtains ball information from the game information processing apparatus 111 and controls lighting of a plurality of lamps constituting the analog ball indicator 128. To do. That is, when the number of balls is large, many lamps are lit, and when the number of balls is small, the number of lamps lit is small. In addition, when the card unit device 10 has a function of adding and updating the points by cash to the point card, the currency discriminator 129 and the like are also connected to the card unit control board 10A.
[0119]
In the embodiment, the ball circulation unit (ball circulation unit) 97 and the polishing control board 93 are indirectly attached to the circulation passage member 133 via the base plate 85. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the ball circulation unit 97 and the polishing control board are not limited thereto. 93 may be directly attached to the circulation passage member 133. Further, the handle unit 8 and the hitting ball launching device 106 may be configured as separate units, and the handle set 8 may be attached from the front of the lower front frame 3B and the hitting ball hitting device 106 from the back. In addition to the gears of the embodiment, a belt conveyor or the like may be used as the lifting drive body of the ball lifting unit 99, and is not particularly limited. However, the present invention is particularly effective with respect to one that moves balls in contact with each other. is there. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the upper front frame 3A and the lower front frame 3B are separated from each other.
[0120]
In the above embodiment, the present invention has been described by taking an IC card as a point card. However, the point card can be implemented by both a contact type and a non-contact type IC card, and a magnetic stripe, bar code, etc. Alternatively, a recording medium using a recording method such as a mark sheet may be used.
[0121]
【The invention's effect】
  As described in detail above, according to the present invention, in a sealed ball type gaming machine in which a ball hit inside is repeatedly fired and driven into a game area, a circulation path for circulating the ball inside the game machine. And a projecting ball guiding passage that constitutes a part of the circulation passage and guides the hitting ball to be fired, and a ball lifting portion and a ball polishing portion for lifting the hitting ball into the firing ball guiding passage. A ball circulating unit, and the ball lifting unit is a lifting drive unit that lifts the hit ballTheIt has a receiving hook part that communicates with the lifting drive body, accepts a hit ball from the game area, and sends it to the lifting drive body as a row,The circulation passage is meandering by receiving a prize ball that is guided in the winning area of the game area and guiding the prize ball in the direction of the receiving saddle portion while meandering and receiving an out ball that is not won in the prize area. However, an out ball passage that is guided in the direction of the receiving collar, the winning ball passage, the out ball passage, and the hitting balls from the out ball passage that are located between the receiving collar and the winning ball passage merge. A confluence passage that guides the hitting ball to the receiving hook portion, and the inclination of the winning ball passage and the out ball passage and the passage inclination of the confluence passage are the inclination of the passage of the confluence passage. Is configured with a gentler slopeTherefore, it becomes possible to reduce the load caused by the load of the hitting ball applied to the lifting drive body, and it is possible to smooth the lifting of the hitting ball by the lifting drive body.In addition, it becomes possible to reduce the collision / repulsion effect of hitting balls at the time of merging by suppressing the flow speed of winning balls and out balls going to the receiving part in the winning ball path and out ball path. This will facilitate smooth circulation of balls. Further, it becomes possible to alleviate the collision / repulsion effect of the hit ball after joining, and further smooth the hit ball circulation.
[0122]
  In addition, a predetermined amount of hit balls was stored in the receiving cageThis is detected by the detecting means provided in the receiving part.Since the lifting drive is sometimes driven, as long as the hitting ball is received in the receiving hook, the hitting ball is always supplied to the firing ball guiding passage. Therefore, there is no need to separately provide a switch for detecting a ball breakage at the receiving hook portion in addition to the gear driving switch as in the prior art, and it is possible to reduce the number of parts and simplify the structure. It will be.
[0125]
  Claim2According to the invention, in addition to the above, since the foul balls that have not reached the game area are merged into the merge passage, the foul balls fall into the merge ball and fall through the winning ball passage and the out ball passage. Balls can also be merged, there is no need to specially guide the foul balls to be fired, the passage configuration is simplified, and no special device is required to transport the foul balls separately. It will be.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosed ball type gaming machine according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.
2 is a perspective view of the gaming machine of FIG. 1 with an upper front frame and a lower front frame opened.
3 is a perspective view of the lower part of the gaming machine of FIG. 1 with the front circulation unit opened. FIG.
4 is a plan view of an operation display unit of the gaming machine of FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a perspective view of a state in which an out ball passage member and a connection passage member are attached to a circulation passage member constituting the circulation passage of the gaming machine of FIG. 1. FIG.
6 is a rear view of a state in which an out ball passage member and a connection passage member are attached to a circulation passage member constituting the circulation passage of the gaming machine of FIG. 1;
7 is a rear view of the circulation passage member of the gaming machine of FIG. 1. FIG.
8 is a front view of the circulation passage member of FIG. 7. FIG.
9 is a longitudinal side view of the circulation passage member of FIG. 7;
10 is another longitudinal side view of the circulation passage member of FIG. 7; FIG.
11 is a rear view of the out ball passage member of the gaming machine of FIG. 1;
12 is a plan view of the out ball passage member of FIG. 11. FIG.
13 is a front view of the out ball passage member of FIG. 11. FIG.
14 is a rear view of a connection passage member of the gaming machine of FIG. 1. FIG.
15 is a front view of the connecting passage member of FIG. 14;
16 is a plan view of the connecting passage member of FIG. 14. FIG.
FIG. 17 is a vertical side view of the connecting passage member of FIG. 14;
18 is a perspective view of a front circulation unit of the gaming machine of FIG.
19 is a front view of the gaming machine of the front circulation unit and the foul ball passage member portion of FIG. 18;
20 is a front view of a foul ball passage member of the gaming machine of FIG. 1. FIG.
21 is a side view of the foul ball passage member of FIG. 20. FIG.
22 is a plan view of the foul ball passage member of FIG. 20;
FIG. 23 is a block diagram of an electric circuit of the gaming machine of FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 gaming machine
3A Upper front frame
3B Lower front frame
4 Game board
6 points display unit
7 Display unit
8 Handle set
10 Card unit device
10A card unit control board
13 Card insertion slot
14 Guide rail
15 Game area
16 drum type variable display device
17 Start prize opening
18 Variable winning ball equipment
97 ball circulation unit
98 Tamaki Club
99 Ball lifting section
101 Receiving part
102 Gear (lifting drive)
102M lift motor
108 Hammer
110 hitting rail
116 foul ball detector
123 Lift control circuit
130 foul ball entrance
132 Out mouth
133 Circulation passage member
134 prize ball passage
134A, 146A Upper ramp
134B, 146B Lower ramp
137 Faltama meeting point
138 Out Tamaki (exit)
139 Safe Tamaki Exit (Exit)
141 Junction passage
146 Out ball passage
150 Lifting control detector
156 Front circulation unit
157 Launching ball guidance passage
161 Foul ball passage

Claims (2)

In the enclosed ball type gaming machine in which the hit ball enclosed inside is repeatedly fired and driven into the game area,
A circulation path for circulating the hit ball inside the gaming machine, a shot ball guiding path that forms a part of the circulation path and that guides the shot ball to be fired, and a hit ball is raised to the shot ball guiding path A ball circulation unit having a ball lifting unit and a ball polishing unit,
The ball lifting unit communicates with a lifting drive body that lifts the hit ball, and the lifting drive body at a gentle inclination, accepts a hit ball from the game area, and is placed in a row in the lifting drive body. The feeding driver is driven when the detecting means provided in the receiving hook part detects that a predetermined amount of hitting balls has been stored in the receiving hook part .
The circulation path includes a winning ball path that guides in the direction of the receiving saddle portion while meandering by receiving a winning ball that has won a prize in the winning area of the gaming area, and a meandering by receiving an out ball that has not won the winning area. However, the out ball passage that is guided in the direction of the receiving collar, the winning ball passage, the out ball passage, and the hitting balls from the winning ball passage that are located between the receiving collar and the receiving ball passage are joined together. A confluence passage that guides the hitting ball to the receiving rod portion while meandering, and the passage inclination of the winning ball passage and the out ball passage and the passage inclination of the confluence passage are the inclination of the passage of the confluence passage. An enclosed ball type gaming machine characterized in that the side is constructed with a gentle inclination . Sealed ball type game machine of claim 1, wherein the for combining the foul ball did not reach the game area in the merge path.

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