JP4733425B2 - Pachinko ball launcher and pachinko machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pachinko ball launcher suitable for use in a pachinko gaming machine in which a player can select a play fee per pachinko ball. More specifically, the present invention relates to a pachinko ball launching device having a function that can change the number of pachinko balls to be fired according to the number of balls to be fired according to the selected play fee without changing the firing interval of the pachinko balls. Is.

  In general, the ball lending rate in pachinko games is fixed at 25 per 100 yen. Therefore, a game is played at a play fee equivalent to 4 yen per pachinko ball, and the winning ball payout rate is determined according to the ball lending rate. When the play fee per pachinko ball is increased, the ball lending rate is lowered, so that the winning ball payout rate is increased accordingly, and it is possible to enjoy a play with more gambling.

However, as described in Patent Document 1, the pachinko ball launching device of the pachinko gaming machine has a constant firing interval. Therefore, if the gambling property is increased to reduce the number of balls, the probability that the balls will be lost in a short time increases. For general players who want to enjoy the game slowly, it is desirable that the game can be played for a longer time with low gambling. This is also desirable for the expansion of the pachinko gaming population.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-204324

  Therefore, the applicant can select the converted play fee per pachinko ball by the player in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-297236, and when the play fee is selected, A pachinko game method has been proposed in which the number of pachinko balls actually fired from the ball launcher is increased or decreased so as to be a play fee. In addition, a method of changing the payout rate of winning balls according to the selected play fee is proposed.

  In this method, when a cheap play fee is selected, the number of pachinko balls launched from the pachinko ball launcher increases even if the number of possession balls is the same. Since the ball firing speed of the pachinko ball launching device is constant, the game time becomes long as a result. In addition, since more pachinko balls are fired, the winning probability also increases. Therefore, a game with low gambling can be enjoyed slowly. Conversely, when a high play fee is selected, the number of pachinko balls launched from the pachinko ball launching device is reduced even if the number of possession balls is the same. In this case, the game time is shortened and the winning probability is also reduced. Therefore, a highly gambling game can be enjoyed.

  Here, the applicant proposes a pachinko ball launcher suitable for carrying out such a pachinko game method and a pachinko game machine equipped with the pachinko ball launcher in the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-16920. is doing.

  An object of the present invention is to propose a pachinko ball launching apparatus suitable for use in a pachinko game method and the like in which a play fee can be selected as in the case of the patent application.

  Another object of the present invention is to propose a pachinko gaming machine equipped with this new pachinko ball launcher.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a pachinko ball launcher according to the present invention includes a ball pocket capable of receiving one pachinko ball from above and a predetermined angle passing through the first position to the fourth position. A drive mechanism that reciprocates along an arcuate horizontal movement path that stretches, a launch ball supply port that receives a pachinko ball held in the ball pocket in the first position as a launch ball, and the second position An additional ball supply port capable of supplying an additional ball to the ball pocket, a ball supply port capable of supplying a player's ball to the ball pocket in the third position, and the ball in the fourth position It has a ball collection port for collecting the pachinko balls held in the pocket without firing, and an opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the additional ball supply port and the ball collection port .

The present invention having the above structure, the ball pocket, and through holes or through grooves formed in a portion of the outer peripheral side of definitive horizontal rotary circular plate arranged horizontally in a rotatable state to the vertical central axis, the horizontal rotary It is defined by the upper surface of the horizontal fixed plate placed horizontally on the lower side of the disk ,

Also, before Symbol horizontal fixing plate, a pachinko balls dropping hole as the firing ball supply port, forming a pachinko balls dropping hole as the retention balls recovery port, further, the retention balls supply port to said third position Arranged just above the ball pocket, the additional ball supply port is located directly above the ball pocket in the second position ,

Further, as the opening / closing mechanism, a rotating member that can rotate around the rotation center of the horizontal rotating disk, a detecting unit for detecting a rotating position of the horizontal rotating disk, and the rotating member based on an output of the detecting unit And a second power source for closing the upper end opening of the holding ball recovery port. It is characterized by having a lever.

Further, in the present invention, it is possible to swing at a predetermined cycle between a launch position where a pachinko ball falling from the launch ball supply port is struck and fired toward the pachinko board surface and a retreat position retracted from the launch position. In the case of having a firing arm, the ball pocket is moved from the first position by using the movement of the firing arm that moves from the firing position of the firing arm to the retracted position as the drive mechanism. What was comprised so that the said horizontal rotation disk may be rotated to the rotation position which reaches a 4th position can be used.

  Next, the present invention relates to a pachinko gaming machine, a selection button for selecting a play fee per pachinko ball, a pachinko ball launching device for firing pachinko balls at a predetermined interval, and a selection by the selection button. A ball launch controller that controls a ball launch operation by the pachinko ball launcher based on the play fee, and the pachinko ball launcher configured as described above is used as the pachinko ball launcher. The pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in any one of the following first mode, second mode and third mode, or a combination mode thereof according to the selection by the selection button. It is said.

(a) First mode: The ball pocket is reciprocated once along the movement path with both the additional ball supply port and the holding ball collection port closed, and the ball pocket is moved to the ball pocket at the third position during forward movement. Accept the ball and supply the ball to the firing ball supply port.
(b) Second mode: When the ball pocket moves forward, the additional ball supply port is opened while the ball pocket is moved from the first position to the second position, and the additional ball is received in the ball pocket at the second position. After that, the holding ball collection port is closed, and the received additional ball is supplied to the firing ball supply port.
(c) Third mode: The additional ball supply port is closed when the ball pocket moves forward, the ball is received in the ball pocket in the third position, and the ball collection port is moved before moving to the fourth position. And the ball in the ball pocket is discharged from the ball collection port at the fourth position, and the next ball is received in the ball pocket at the third position when the ball pocket is moved backward. Is supplied to the firing ball supply port.

  If the first mode is adopted, only one player's possession ball is supplied to the launching ball supply port during one round of the ball pocket, so only the player's possession ball is used at a certain ball firing interval. Can play games. If the second mode is adopted, only one additional ball is supplied to the launch ball supply port while the ball pocket makes one round trip, so that it is possible to play a game using only the additional ball at a fixed ball launch interval. it can. In addition, if the third mode is adopted, one of the player's possession balls is collected without being fired during one round of the ball pocket, and one is supplied to the firing ball supply port. The game can be played using half of the balls at the ball launch interval.

  When the selection button can select at least a standard play fee, a first play fee that is lower than the standard play fee, and a second play fee that is higher than the standard play fee, the ball launching controller When a play fee is selected, if the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in the first mode, a standard game using only the possession ball can be performed. Further, when the first play fee is selected, if the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in the combination mode of the first mode and the second mode, the game can be played using more balls than the possession balls. It can be carried out. Conversely, when the second play fee is selected, if the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in the combination mode of the first mode and the third mode, the game can be played using fewer balls than the possession balls. It can be carried out.

  Here, the fired ball in the game becomes effective only when it reaches the pachinko board surface, but sometimes it returns without reaching the board surface. Such invalid return balls are returned to the player again via a predetermined return ball passage. That is, the return ball is used again as a holding ball. As a result, in the case where the play fee is the first or second play fee different from the standard fee, the play fee substantially fluctuates as the number of returned balls increases.

  For example, in the case of the first play fee that is lower than the standard fee, the number of balls obtained by adding an additional ball to the possessed ball can be used. If the return ball is used as a holding ball as it is, the additional number of additional balls will increase, and the number of balls that can be used will increase according to the number of return balls, which is even lower than the first play fee. Will end up playing.

  On the other hand, in the case of the second play fee that is higher than the standard fee, only a smaller number of balls can be used. If the return ball is used again as a holding ball, the holding ball will be reduced more than necessary, and the player will play at a higher fee than the second play fee.

To avoid such adverse effect, without reaching the pachinko stand board after being fired from the pachinko ball launcher, for detecting return ball returned to the player via a predetermined return ball passage A return ball passage sensor is arranged, and when the first play fee is selected, the ball launch controller performs an interrupt process in the third mode according to the number of the return balls, When the second play fee is selected, an interrupt process in the first mode may be performed according to the number of return balls.

  Next, a pachinko gaming machine is generally configured to include a pachinko machine and a machine between the pachinko machine that lends the player's ball to the pachinko machine at a ball rental fee equal to the standard play fee. Yes. The pachinko machine may be equipped with the pachinko ball launcher and the ball launch controller, and the selection button may be disposed on the pachinko machine or the inter-machine.

In a typical pachinko game, the ball rental fee by the above-mentioned machine is 4 yen. By the selection button, at least 4 yen, when the three play charge of 2 and ¥ 6 ¥ selectable, pre Symbol ball firing controller, when the play charge of 4 yen is selected, the first mode The pachinko ball launcher may be driven and controlled in a mode that repeats the above. In addition, when the play fee of 2 yen is selected, if the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in a combination mode in which the first mode and the second mode are repeated, a game with twice the number of balls is held. It can be performed. On the other hand, if the play fee of 6 yen is selected, 2/3 of the number of possession balls can be achieved by driving and controlling the pachinko ball launcher in the combination mode in which the first mode and the third mode are repeated. You can play games.

In this case, in order to not to play charge varies by return balls back again player to not reach the pachinko machine board, pachinko stand board after being fired from the pachinko ball launcher A return ball passage sensor that detects a return ball that is returned to the player via a predetermined return ball path without being reached, and the ball launch controller has selected the play fee of 2 yen In this case, every time the number of return balls reaches two or more, the third mode interrupt processing is performed (that is, the increase in the number of possessed balls due to the return balls is suppressed), and the play fee of 6 yen is When selected, every time the number of return balls reaches three or more, the interruption process in the first mode is repeated three times (that is, the excessive decrease in possession balls caused by the return balls is suppressed). Like It is sufficient.

  Here, when the number of balls that can be played is changed, it is desirable to increase or decrease the number of balls to be paid out at the time of winning based on the ball rental fee and the selected play fee.

  In the pachinko ball launching apparatus of the present invention, a ball pocket capable of receiving one pachinko ball is reciprocated at a predetermined cycle via a launch ball supply port, an additional ball supply port, a ball supply port, and a ball collection port. I try to let them. Therefore, if the additional ball supply port and the holding ball collection port are opened and closed appropriately according to the movement position of the ball pocket, only the holding ball, a larger number of pachinko balls, or a smaller number of holding balls. Pachinko balls can be supplied to the launch ball supply port.

  In addition, the ball pocket draws a horizontal arc-shaped movement trajectory, and pachinko balls are supplied from above. Therefore, compared with the case of reciprocating along a linear movement trajectory, it is advantageous for downsizing and compacting of the mechanism. In addition, the pachinko ball is supplied to the ball pocket, and the launching ball supply port is held from the ball pocket. It can be carried out easily and smoothly using the pachinko balls delivered to the ball collection port and the natural fall of the pachinko balls.

  Further, the horizontal fixing plate is disposed below the horizontal rotating disk in which the through hole or the through groove is formed, and the firing ball supply port and the holding ball collection port are formed in the horizontal fixing plate, thereby the first configuration. Or the ball | bowl pocket which reciprocates along the circular-arc-shaped movement locus | trajectory which goes through 4th position is easily realizable.

  Further, the horizontal rotating disk is rotated by using the movement of the firing arm that swings at a constant cycle. Further, the additional ball supply port and the ball discharge port can be sealed by a rotating member that is rotated by a common drive source. Such a configuration is advantageous for reducing the size and size of the pachinko ball launcher.

  In addition to this, in the present invention, an operation mode for each play fee is determined in consideration of a return ball that is returned to the player again without reaching the pachinko ball surface. Therefore, it is possible to avoid or suppress the actual play fee from fluctuating due to the return ball.

  A pachinko gaming system to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(overall structure)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a pachinko gaming system. The pachinko gaming system 1 is the same as a commonly used system, and a plurality of sets of pachinko gaming machines 4 are arranged in units of pachinko gaming machines 4 including pachinko machines 3 arranged adjacent to the pachinko machine 2. The game islands 5 are arranged in a shape, and a plurality of game islands 5 having this configuration are arranged. The pachinko gaming system 1 is connected to a management computer 6 for controlling and monitoring the driving of each pachinko gaming machine 4, a POS terminal 7 installed in a prize exchange, and the POS terminal 7. It has a ball counter 8. Furthermore, it has a pachinko ball supply / recovery mechanism 9 that supplies pachinko balls to each pachinko machine 2 and collects pachinko balls discharged from each pachinko machine 2. The inter-machine 3 in this example performs a pachinko ball lending process with a lending rate of 25 per 100 yen. Therefore, the ball rental fee per pachinko ball is 4 yen.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a characteristic part in the pachinko machine 2. Since the basic configuration of the pachinko machine 2 is the same as that of a popular pachinko machine, the description thereof will be omitted. The pachinko machine 2 of this example has a pachinko ball launcher 10 that launches pachinko balls at a predetermined interval. The pachinko ball launcher 10 includes a ball upper plate 11 disposed on the lower front side of the pachinko machine 2. A ball supply path 12 for supplying the player's own balls P1 supplied to the player is connected, and the balls P1 are supplied through this path. The ball P1 supplied to the pachinko ball launching device 10 is fired toward the pachinko board surface at a constant firing interval when the ball launching handle 13 disposed in the lower right part of the front surface of the pachinko platform 2 is operated. When the launched pachinko ball wins, a predetermined number of winning balls are paid out to the ball top plate 11 under the control of the winning ball payout controller 14.

  Here, an additional pachinko ball (additional ball) P <b> 2 can be supplied to the pachinko ball launching device 10 from the pachinko ball supply / recovery mechanism 9 side via the additional ball supply path 15. Further, the pachinko ball launching apparatus 10 is connected to a ball collection path 16 for discharging the player's possession balls P1 supplied here to the pachinko ball supply / recovery mechanism 9 side without firing them. The operation of adding the additional ball P2 to the pachinko ball launching apparatus 10 and the operation of collecting the possessed ball P1 are controlled by the ball launch controller 17.

  On the other hand, a play mode selection button 30 is arranged on the operation unit arranged on the front surface of the pachinko machine 2. The play mode selection button 30 includes three types of selection buttons 31 to 33. In the figure, the selection button 31 displayed as “4 yen” in the switch frame is a 4 yen button for selecting a play mode (4 yen play) at a standard play fee converted to 4 yen per pachinko ball. is there. The button 32 displayed as “2 yen” in the switch frame is a 2-yen button for selecting a play mode (2-yen play) with a 2-yen-converted play fee. "33" is a 6-yen button for selecting a play mode (6-yen play) at a 6-yen equivalent play fee.

  The ball launch controller 17 drives and controls the pachinko ball launcher 10 so that the play mode selected based on the selection signal from the play mode selection button 30 is set. The selection signal is also supplied to the winning ball payout controller 14 via the ball launch controller 17. The winning ball payout controller 14 performs payout control for winning balls at a payout rate according to the selected play mode.

(Pachinko ball launcher)
FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing the main part of the pachinko ball launching apparatus 10, and FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are schematic views showing the part of the horizontal rotating disk and one cycle of the horizontal rotating disk. It is explanatory drawing which shows operation | movement.

  The pachinko ball launcher 10 includes a mounting plate 41 arranged vertically, and a vertical rotation shaft 42 is supported in a freely rotatable state on the upper half portion. A horizontal rotating disk 43 is fixed to the middle part of the vertical rotating shaft 42 in the vertical direction in a coaxial state. The horizontal rotating disk 43 has substantially the same thickness as the diameter of the pachinko ball. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the horizontal rotating disk 43 is cut into a substantially circular shape inward in the radial direction, and a through groove 44 through which one pachinko ball can pass is formed. Is formed.

  A horizontal fixing plate 45 fixed to the mounting plate 41 is disposed below the horizontal rotating disk 43. Therefore, the lower opening of the through groove 44 is sealed by the horizontal fixing plate 45 and functions as a ball pocket capable of holding one pachinko ball. Therefore, in the following description, the through groove 44 is described as a ball pocket 44 as necessary. As shown in FIG. 4B, the ball pocket 44 is rotated by approximately 180 ° from the first position 44 (1) which is the initial position as the horizontal rotating disk 43 rotates. Draw an arcuate movement trajectory leading to

  A pachinko ball drop hole 47 that functions as a firing ball supply port is formed in a portion of the horizontal fixing plate 45 that is located immediately below the through groove 44 at the first position 44 (1). The pachinko ball dropped from the pachinko ball drop hole 47 is fired toward the game board surface. In addition, a pachinko ball dropping hole 16a that functions as a holding ball collection port is formed in a portion of the horizontal fixing plate 45 that is located immediately below the through groove 44 at the fourth position 44 (4). The pachinko balls dropped from the pachinko ball drop hole 16 a are collected through the ball collection path 16.

  The holding ball supply path 12 is attached to one side of the upper part of the horizontal rotating disk 43 in the mounting plate 41, and the additional ball supply path 15 is attached to the other side. The downward holding ball supply port 12a formed at the tip of the holding ball supply path 12 is located directly above the ball pocket 44 at the third position 44 (3). Further, the downward additional ball supply port 15a formed at the tip of the additional ball supply path 15 is positioned directly above the ball pocket 44 at the second position 44 (2).

  Next, the mounting plate 41 is assembled with an opening / closing mechanism for opening / closing the additional ball supply port 15a and the pachinko ball dropping hole 16a (handball collection port). The opening / closing mechanism includes a rotation member 51 attached to the vertical rotation shaft 42 in a rotatable state, a detection unit 53 for detecting the rotation position of the vertical rotation shaft 42, and a plunger 54 for rotating the rotation member 51. ing. The rotating member 51 includes a first lever 55 extending radially from the center above the horizontal rotating disk 43, a second lever 56 extending radially from the center below the horizontal rotating disk 43, and It has a shape including a third lever 51a extending in the radial direction from the center thereof on the lower side of the horizontal rotating disk 43 and a connecting portion 57 for connecting them.

  When the rotating member 51 having this configuration is rotated to a predetermined angular position, the additional lever supply port 15a is blocked by the first lever 55, and the circular through hole 16a (the holding ball collection port) is blocked by the second lever 56. it can. Further, the third lever 51a can form a state in which only the pachinko ball dropping hole 47 functioning as a firing ball supply port is sealed.

The detecting unit 53 includes a fan-shaped rotating plate 58 fixed to an upper end portion of the vertical rotating shaft 42 and a pair of photosensors 59 and 60 for detecting the rotational position of the rotating plate 58. In this example, the time when the rotating plate 58 is detected by the photosensor 59 is the time when the ball pocket 44 reaches the second position 44 (2), and the time when the rotating plate 58 is detected by the photosensor 60 is the ball. It is assumed that the pocket 44 reaches the fourth position 44 (4).

  Next, a firing arm 61 is attached to a portion of the attachment plate 41 below the horizontal rotating disk 43. The firing arm 61 can swing between a firing position 61A indicated by a solid line in FIG. 3 and a retracted position 61B indicated by an imaginary line with a support shaft 62 fixed to the mounting plate 41 as a center. The firing arm 61 is driven by a drive motor 64 such as a stepping motor via a cam mechanism 63. In this example, the firing arm 61 is always pulled toward the firing position 61A by the coil spring 65, and when the drive motor 64 is driven, the rotating cam 63a rotates and is fired by the outer cam surface of the involute curved shape. The cam follower pin 66 at the tip of the arm attached to the arm 61 is pushed, and the firing arm 61 is forcibly pulled to the retracted position 61B. When the retracted position 61B is reached, the cam follower pin 66 is detached from the outer peripheral cam surface of the rotating cam 63a, and the firing arm 61 vigorously returns toward the firing position 61A by the spring force. The firing arm 61 reciprocates once for each rotation of the rotating cam 63a.

  On the upper end side of the firing arm 61, a firing rail 67 is disposed in an inclined manner. The launching ball supply port 47 is located directly above the launching rail 67, and the pachinko ball P falling from here is slid down along the launching rail 67 to the launching arm 61 side by its own weight. The movement of the launch arm 61 and the fall of the pachinko ball P from the launch ball supply port 12 a are synchronized with each other. The pachinko ball P that falls and slides along the launch rail 67 is hit by the launch rail 61. Thus, it fires toward the surface of the pachinko machine along the launch rail 67.

  In this example, a drive mechanism for reciprocating the ball pocket 44 along an arcuate path passing through the first to fourth positions is incorporated using such a movement of the launch arm 61. That is, the lower pulley 71 is fixed coaxially to the lower end portion of the vertical rotating shaft 42 to which the horizontal rotating disk 43 is fixed. One end of a wire 72 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the pulley 71 and is wound around the outer peripheral surface by a predetermined length. The portion of the wire 72 drawn from the pulley 71 is drawn downward via a guide pulley 73 attached to the attachment plate 41 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, and then connected to the swivel plate 74. ing.

  The swivel plate 74 can swivel up and down around the lower end portion supported by a horizontal pin 75 fixed to the mounting plate 41. An engaging pin 76 projects from the upper end of the swivel plate 74, and the firing arm 61 that moves from the firing position 61 </ b> A toward the retracted position 61 </ b> B is engaged with the engaging pin 76. When the firing arm 61 is engaged with the engagement pin 76, the turning plate 74 is pushed by the firing arm 61 and turns downward. When the turning plate 74 turns, the wire 72 is pulled, and the lower pulley 71 connected to the wire 72 rotates. As a result, the vertical rotating shaft 42 rotates clockwise, and the horizontal rotating disk 43 fixed thereto rotates integrally, so that the ball pocket 44 also rotates.

  Here, the upper pulley 77 is also coaxially fixed to the upper end of the vertical rotating shaft 42. One end of a wire 78 is also connected to the outer peripheral surface of the upper pulley 77. The wire 78 is drawn downward via a guide pulley 79 supported so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis, and a weight 80 is suspended from the lower end thereof.

  When the firing arm 61 is retracted from the state shown in FIG. 3 toward the retreat position 61B, the firing arm 61 hits the revolving plate 74, revolves the revolving plate 74 downward, the wire 72 is pulled, and the vertical rotation axis. 42 rotates clockwise. As a result, the upper wire 78 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the pulley 77, and the weight 80 is raised accordingly. When the firing arm 61 reaches the retreat position 61A, the swivel plate 74 and the weight 80 move to a position indicated by an imaginary line in FIG.

  When the firing arm 61 is opened and pulled forward vigorously by the spring force of the coil spring, the vertical rotary shaft 42 returns to the initial position by the counterclockwise rotational force of the weight 80. That is, the ball pocket 44 returns to the first position 44 (1).

  In FIG. 3, a ball passage sensor 81 is disposed below the horizontal fixing plate 44, and the number of pachinko balls to be fired is counted based on the detection signal from here. . Further, a weight 82 is attached directly above the ball pocket 44 at the first position 44 (1) so as to be movable up and down. The pachinko ball in the ball pocket 44 is pushed by the weight 82. , And immediately falls from the launch ball supply port 12a.

(action mode)
The pachinko ball launcher 10 of this example configured as described above includes three different operation modes (first to third modes) as a one-cycle operation in which the ball pocket 44 reciprocates once in the first to fourth positions. Yes. 5 to 7 are explanatory views showing the first to third modes, respectively.

  In the first mode shown in FIG. 5, the ball pocket 44 is moved to the first position 44 (with the first ball 55 and the second lever 56 of the rotating member 51 closed together with the additional ball supply port 15a and the ball collection port 16a. 1) A reciprocation is made along the movement route passing through the fourth position 42 (4). When the ball pocket 44 moves forward, the ball P1 is received in the ball pocket 44 at the third position 44 (3), and the ball P1 is supplied to the firing ball supply port 47. The rotation of the rotary disk 44 is controlled so that the ball pocket 44 is positioned at the first position 44 (1) immediately after the launch of the pachinko ball. This is the same in the following modes. Therefore, if the first mode is adopted, only one player's possession ball P1 is supplied to the firing ball supply port 47 while the ball pocket 44 reciprocates once. A game can be played using only the possession ball P1.

  In the second mode of FIG. 6, when the ball pocket 44 moves forward, the additional ball supply port 15a is opened while being moved from the first position 44 (1) to the second position 44 (2), and the second position 44 (2). The additional ball P2 is received in the ball pocket 44. Therefore, in the third position 44 (3), the pachinko balls are already contained in the ball pocket 44, so that the possessed ball P <b> 1 is not supplied to the ball pocket 44. After this, the possessed ball collection port 16a is closed (therefore, the additional ball supply port 15a is also closed). As a result, the received additional ball P2 is supplied to the firing ball supply port 47 by the ball pocket 44 without being discharged from the ball collection port 16a. Therefore, if the second mode is adopted, only one additional ball P2 is supplied to the firing ball supply port 47 while the ball pocket 44 reciprocates once, so only the additional ball P2 is used at a constant ball firing interval. Can play games.

  In the third mode of FIG. 7, when the ball pocket 44 moves forward, the additional ball supply port 15a is closed, and the ball P1 (1) is received in the ball pocket 44 at the third position 44 (3), and the fourth position 44 (4 ), The ball collection port 16a is opened, and the ball P1 (1) held in the ball pocket 44 at the fourth position 44 (4) is discharged from the ball collection port 16a. When the ball pocket 44 moves backward, the next holding ball P1 (2) is received in the ball pocket 44 at the third position 44 (3), and the holding ball P1 (2) is supplied to the firing ball supply port 47. Therefore, if the third mode is adopted, one of the player's possessed balls P1 is collected without being fired while the ball pocket 44 reciprocates once, and one of the possessed balls P1 is recovered. Therefore, it is possible to play a game using half of the possessed balls at a fixed ball firing interval.

(Description of game operation)
A gaming operation by the pachinko gaming machine 4 configured as described above will be described. First, FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the selection operation of each play mode. In this example, as a play mode of the pachinko machine 2, a 4-yen play that is a play mode at a standard play fee is initially set. Therefore, when none of the play mode selection buttons 31 to 33 is operated at the time when the game is started by operating the ball launching handle 13, an operation by 4-yen play is performed (step ST1 → FIG. 8). ST2->ST3-> ST4). This 4-yen play operation is an operation of repeatedly driving the pachinko ball launcher 10 in the first mode described above, and is the same as in the case of the existing pachinko machine, with lending loaned at 25 lending rate at 100 yen. The balls P1 are sequentially fired at a predetermined interval in the pachinko ball launching apparatus 10. Therefore, the number of balls to be fired from the pachinko ball launcher 10 for one possessed ball P1 is one, and the play is converted to 4 yen (100 yen / 25 balls). In this case, the payout rate in the winning ball payout controller 14 is the reference payout rate.

  When the 2-yen button 32 is operated, the pachinko ball launching operation is controlled so that the play fee (converted play fee per pachinko ball) is 2 yen, which is half of the 4-yen play fee. (Steps ST1 → ST2 → ST5 in FIG. 8).

  In this case, the pachinko ball launcher 10 is driven in a combination mode in which the first mode and the second mode are alternately repeated. In the first mode, one possessed ball P1 is supplied to the ball launching device 10 and fired. In the next second mode, one additional ball P2 is supplied via the additional ball supply path 15, and the additional ball P2 is supplied. Is fired. Therefore, two pachinko balls are fired from the pachinko ball launching device 10 while one possessed ball P1 is lost. Therefore, twice as many pachinko balls are fired as compared to when playing 4 yen, and as a result, the play fee is 2 yen at half price, and twice as many pachinko balls are fired. The game can be played over twice the game time as compared to the yen play. Further, the winning ball payout controller 14 controls the winning ball payout rate to be halved in accordance with double the additional ratio of the additional pachinko balls P2. Therefore, when 2-yen play is selected, gambling is lower than 4-yen play, and the game can be enjoyed for a long time.

  On the other hand, when the 6-yen button 33 is operated, the pachinko ball is fired so that the play fee (converted play fee per pachinko ball) is 6 yen, which is 1.5 times the charge of 4-yen play. The operation is controlled (steps ST1-> ST2-> ST3-> ST6 in FIG. 8).

  In this case, the pachinko ball launcher 10 is basically driven in a combination mode in which the first mode and the third mode are alternately repeated. That is, the ball P1 is fired in the first mode, and in the next third mode, one ball P1 is discharged without being fired and one ball P1 is actually fired. Therefore, every time three holding balls P1 are supplied to the pachinko ball launching apparatus 10, one holding ball is collected by the pachinko ball supply and recovery mechanism 9 through the holding ball collection port 16a without firing.

  In this way, only 2/3 of the holding balls P1 are fired, and two pachinko balls are fired from the pachinko ball shooting device 10 while the three holding balls P1 disappear. Therefore, compared to 4 yen play, only 2/3 pachinko balls are fired, resulting in a play fee of 6 times 1.5 times that of 4 yen play, and 2/3 shorter time. You can only play. In this case, the winning ball payout controller 14 controls the winning ball payout rate to be increased 1.5 times in accordance with 2/3, which is the decrease rate of the possessed ball P1. Therefore, when 6-yen play is selected, a game with high gambling characteristics can be enjoyed as compared to 4-yen play.

  Next, when any of the buttons 31 to 33 is operated during the game, the interrupt routine of FIG. 8 is activated and the play mode is changed to the selected mode. After the change, the operation according to the selected play mode is started.

  In this example, buttons 31 to 33 are provided to set three kinds of play modes. As shown in FIG. 9, various play modes such as 1 yen play to 8 yen play are provided. It is possible to set the amount. For example, in the case of a three-yen play, four additional pachinko balls are fired every time three possessed balls P1 are fired. Various play modes can be realized by combining the first to third modes of the pachinko ball launcher 10. If the calculation of the number of balls to be paid out at the time of winning a prize is not divisible, for example, payout control may be performed such that one less is paid out at the first winning and one more is paid out at the next winning.

(Play mode with return ball taken into account)
Here, the fired ball in the game becomes effective only when it reaches the pachinko board surface, but sometimes it returns without reaching the board surface. Such an invalid return ball is generally returned to the player again via a predetermined return ball path. That is, the return ball is used again as a holding ball. As a result, if the play fee is different from the standard fee, the play fee will fluctuate substantially as the number of return balls increases.

  For example, in the case of a play fee of 2 yen which is lower than the standard fee (4 yen), the number of balls obtained by adding additional balls to the possessed balls can be used. If the return ball is used as a holding ball as it is, the additional number of additional balls will increase, and the number of balls that can be used will increase according to the number of return balls, which is even cheaper than the 2 yen play fee It will be possible to play with.

  Conversely, in the case of a 6-yen play fee that is higher than the standard fee, only a smaller number of balls can be used. If the return ball is used again as a holding ball, the holding ball will be reduced more than necessary, and the player will play at a higher fee than the play fee of 6 yen.

  In order to avoid such an adverse effect, a return ball passage sensor (not shown) is arranged in the return ball passage, and based on the output of this sensor, the firing ball controller 17 performs 2 yen of step ST5 in FIG. It is desirable to execute the process shown in FIG. 10 as the play mode of FIG. 10, and to execute the process shown in FIG. 11 as the 6-yen play mode of step ST6 in FIG. In the 2-yen play mode shown in FIG. 10, every time there are two or more return balls, an interrupt process is performed in the third mode (that is, an increase in the number of possessed balls due to the return balls is suppressed). In the 6-yen play mode shown in FIG. 11, every time the number of return balls reaches three or more, the interrupt process in the first mode is repeated three times (that is, the excessive decrease in possession balls caused by the return balls is suppressed. ).

  That is, in the 2-yen play mode shown in FIG. 10, every time the first mode and the second mode are repeated twice (steps ST51, 52, 53, 54), the presence / absence and number of invalid return balls are confirmed (step ST55, 56). When the number of invalid return balls becomes two or more, the process proceeds to step ST57, where an interrupt process in the third mode is performed to reduce the number of possessed balls by one. Thereafter, “2” is subtracted from the count value of the counter that counts the number of invalid return balls (step ST58), the process returns to step ST56, and the count value is 2 or more (that is, the number of invalid return balls is 2 or more) is determined. When the number is less than 2, the normal mode is restored. When the number is 2 or more, the interrupt processing of steps ST57 and ST58 is performed again.

  Next, in the 6-yen play mode of FIG. 11, after the first mode, the first mode, and the third mode are executed (steps ST61, 62, 63), the presence / absence and number of invalid return balls are confirmed (step ST64). 65). When the number of invalid return balls reaches three or more, an interrupt process is performed in which the first mode is repeated three times (steps ST66, 67, 68), and the ball is fired without being reduced by three times. Thereafter, “3” is subtracted from the count value of the counter counting the number of invalid return balls (step ST69), and the process returns to step ST65 to determine whether or not the count value is 3 or more. If it is less than 3, the normal mode is restored, and if it is still 3 or more, the interrupt processing of steps ST66 to ST69 is repeated again.

(Other embodiments)
In the above example, the play mode selection buttons 30 (31 to 33) are arranged on the pachinko machine 2. Instead, as shown in FIG. 12, play mode selection switches 30 (31 to 33) may be arranged in the operation unit 35 of the intermediary machine 3. In this case, when the play mode selection button 30 is operated, a selection signal may be supplied to the ball launch controller 17 (see FIG. 2) via the control unit 36 on the pedestrian side, or the play mode A selection signal may be supplied directly to the ball launch controller 21 from the selection button 30.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of a pachinko gaming system to which the present invention is applied. It is a functional block diagram which shows the characteristic part of the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a schematic front view which shows the pachinko ball launcher of FIG. (a) is a schematic diagram which shows the part of a horizontal rotating disk, (b) is explanatory drawing which shows the movement position of a ball pocket. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the 1st mode of the pachinko ball launcher of FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the 2nd mode of the pachinko ball launcher of FIG. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the 3rd mode of the pachinko ball launcher of FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the play mode selection operation | movement in the pachinko machine of FIG. It is explanatory drawing for showing operation | movement in each play mode in the pachinko machine of FIG. It is a schematic flowchart which shows the 2 yen play mode which considered the invalid return ball. It is a schematic flowchart which shows 6 yen play mode which considered the invalid return ball. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example which has arrange | positioned the play mode selection button to the side of a pedestal machine.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko game system 2 Pachinko machine 3 Standing machine 4 Pachinko machine 5 Yugi island 9 Ball supply and recovery mechanism 10 Pachinko ball launcher 11 Ball upper plate 12 Ball supply path 12a Ball supply port 13 Ball launch handle 14 Controller 15 Additional ball supply path 15a Additional ball supply port 16 Owned ball collection path 16a Owned ball collection port 17 Ball launch controller 30 Play mode selection buttons 31-33 Button 35 Inter-machine operation unit 36 Inter-machine control unit 42 Vertical Rotating shaft 43 Horizontal rotating disk 44 Through groove (ball pocket)
45 Horizontal fixing plate 44 (1) Ball pocket first position 44 (2) Ball pocket second position 44 (3) Ball pocket third position 44 (4) Ball pocket fourth position 47 Launch ball supply port 61 Firing arm 63 Cam mechanism 65 Coil springs 71, 73, 77, 79 Pulley 72, 78 Wire 80 Weight P Pachinko ball P1 Holding ball P2 Additional ball

Claims (9)

A ball pocket that can accept one pachinko ball from above,
A drive mechanism for reciprocating the ball pocket along an arcuate horizontal movement path extending a predetermined angle via the first position to the fourth position;
A firing ball supply port for receiving a pachinko ball held in the ball pocket in the first position as a firing ball;
An additional ball supply port capable of supplying additional balls to the ball pocket in the second position;
A ball supply port capable of supplying a player's ball to the ball pocket in the third position;
A ball recovery port for recovering the pachinko balls held in the ball pocket in the fourth position without firing;
An opening and closing mechanism for opening and closing the additional ball supply port and the possession ball collection port ,
The ball pocket
A through hole or a groove formed in a portion on the outer peripheral side of a horizontal rotating disk that is horizontally arranged around a vertical central axis, and an upper surface of a horizontal fixing plate that is horizontally disposed below the horizontal rotating disk; Stipulated by
The horizontal fixing plate is formed with a pachinko ball drop hole as the launch ball supply port and a pachinko ball drop hole as the holding ball collection port,
The bead supply port is disposed directly above the ball pocket in the third position;
The additional ball supply port is disposed directly above the ball pocket in the second position;
The opening and closing mechanism is
A rotating member rotatable around the rotation center of the horizontal rotating disk;
A detecting unit for detecting the rotational position of the horizontal rotating disk;
A drive source that rotates the rotating member to a predetermined position based on the output of the detection unit;
The rotating member includes a first lever for blocking the upper end opening of the additional ball supply port, a second lever for blocking the upper end opening of the holding ball recovery port, and an upper end opening of the firing ball supply port. A pachinko ball launcher comprising a third lever for sealing . In claim 1,
It has a launch arm that can swing at a predetermined cycle between a launch position for hitting a pachinko ball falling from the launch ball supply port and launching it toward the pachinko board surface, and a retreat position retracted from the launch position. ,
The drive mechanism uses the movement of the firing arm that moves from the firing position to the retracted position of the firing arm, so that the ball pocket moves to a rotational position from the first position to the fourth position. A pachinko ball launcher characterized in that it is adapted to rotate . A selection button for selecting a play fee per pachinko ball,
A pachinko ball launcher that fires pachinko balls at predetermined intervals;
Based on the play fee selected by the selection button, a ball launch controller that controls the ball launch operation by the pachinko ball launcher,
The pachinko ball launcher is the pachinko ball launcher according to claim 1 or 2,
The ball launch controller drives the pachinko ball launcher in any one of the following first mode, second mode, and third mode, or a combination mode thereof according to the selection by the selection button. Pachinko machines to be controlled.
(A) First mode: The ball pocket is reciprocated once along the movement path with both the additional ball supply port and the possession ball collection port closed, and the ball pocket is moved to the ball pocket at the third position during forward movement. Accept the ball and supply the ball to the firing ball supply port.
(B) Second mode: When the ball pocket moves forward, the additional ball supply port is opened while the ball pocket is moved from the first position to the second position, and the additional ball is received in the ball pocket at the second position. After that, the holding ball collection port is closed, and the received additional ball is supplied to the firing ball supply port.
(C) Third mode: The additional ball supply port is closed when the ball pocket moves forward, the ball is received in the ball pocket at the third position, and the ball collection port is moved before moving to the fourth position. And the ball in the ball pocket is discharged from the ball collection port at the fourth position, and the next ball is received in the ball pocket at the third position when the ball pocket is moved backward. Is supplied to the firing ball supply port. In claim 3 ,
The selection button can select at least a standard play fee, a first play fee that is lower than the standard play fee, and a second play fee that is higher than the standard play fee,
The ball launch controller
When the standard play fee is selected, the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in the first mode,
When the first play fee is selected, the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in a combination mode of the first mode and the second mode,
When the second play fee is selected , the pachinko gaming machine is controlled to drive the pachinko ball launcher in the third mode or a combination mode of the first mode and the third mode. . In claim 4,
It has a return ball passage sensor that detects a return ball returned to the player via a predetermined return ball path without reaching the pachinko board surface after being fired from the pachinko ball launch device,
The ball launch controller
When the first play fee is selected, an interrupt process according to the third mode is performed according to the number of the return balls,
When the second play fee is selected, the pachinko gaming machine causes an interruption process in the first mode to be performed in accordance with the number of return balls . In claim 4 ,
A pachinko machine, and a pachinko machine that lends the player's ball to the pachinko machine with a ball rental fee equal to the standard play fee,
The pachinko machine comprises the pachinko ball launcher and the ball launch controller,
The pachinko gaming machine , wherein the selection button is arranged on the pachinko machine or the machine between the machines. In claim 6,
The ball lending fee by the pedestal machine is 4 yen, and the selection button can select at least three kinds of play fees of 4 yen, 2 yen and 6 yen,
The ball launch controller
When the play fee of 4 yen is selected, the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in the repetition mode of the first mode,
When the play fee of 2 yen is selected, the pachinko ball launcher is driven and controlled in a combination mode in which the first mode and the second mode are repeated.
When the play charge of 6 yen is selected, pachinko Yu technique machines and drives controlling the pachinko ball launcher in combination mode for repeating the third mode and the first mode. In claim 7 ,
It has a return ball passage sensor that detects a return ball returned to the player via a predetermined return ball path without reaching the pachinko board surface after being fired from the pachinko ball launch device,
The ball launch controller
When the play fee of 2 yen is selected, every time the return ball reaches 2 or more, the interruption process by the third mode is performed,
When the play fee of 6 yen is selected, each time the number of return balls reaches three or more, the pachinko gaming machine causes the interrupt process in the first mode to be repeated three times . In claim 7 or 8,
A pachinko gaming machine having a winning ball payout controller that increases or decreases the number of payout balls at the time of winning based on the ball lending fee and the selected play fee .

Images