AU600382B2 - Pinball machine - Google Patents

Description

By: Registered Patent Attorney REPRINT OF RECEIPT S00o 1662 -1 e e To: The Commissioner of Patents 'COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA 1 1 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patent Act 1952 3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION C

PLE

(ORIGINAL)

Class Int. Class Application Number Lodged Complete Specification Lodged Accepted nZ;- 4 r~Nir rS U i 4 Published Priority 5 October 1987 Related Art Name of Applicant Address of Applicant Actual Inventor/s Address for Service KABUSHIKI KAISHA SOPHIA 201, Sakainocho 7-chome, Kiryu-shi, Gunma-ken, japan Kichihei Niiyama Hiroshi Ito F.B. RICE CO., Patent Attorneys, 28A Montague Street, BALMAIN 2041.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: PINBALL MACHINE The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us/Irr:- I i _i i, -2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a pinball machine (Pachinko machine) which puts out prize balls according to a preset betting rate when a ball enters a specific prize-winning hole provided on the game board (a play board) and, more particularly, to a pinball machine which is provided with a changeable-state prize-winning device having movable ball accepting members which are movable between a first state where balls are not accepted by the device and a second state where balls are easily accepted.

In pinball machines, various contrivances are used for the prize-winning device for accepting a hit ball in order to increase interest in the game. As one example, there is a machine provided with a changeable-state prize-winning device having movable ball accepting members which are movable between a first state where balls are not accepted and a second state where balls are easily accepted for a predetermined time period or a predetermined number of times, if a ball wins a specific prize-winning hole, and moreover, which is so constituted that if a ball enters a special prize-winning hole inside the device a special game right, which is favorable to the player, is generated.

Generation of the special game causes the second state, where balls are easily accepted by the movable ball accepting members, to be maintained for a longer predetermined time period or for a greater number of times, compared with the time or number of balls accorded when the specific prize-winning hole is won. Further, in the special game the balls are also very easily accepted by an ordinary prize-winning hole provided separately from the special prize-winning hole inside the changeable-state prize-winning device, and therefore, many prize balls can be obtained according to the prescribed betting rate.

35 Further, the special game state is continuously maintained -3provided that balls enter the special prize-winning hole during any period when the special game state is occurring, at least up until a predetermined number of special games have been won. The above arrangement is attractive for the players because of the number of extra chances allowed for winning prize balls.

However, the possibility of the balls' entering the special prize-winning hole is generally low in the conventional prior art changeable-state prize-winning device. Even if the movable ball accepting members are in the second state it is still rather hard for the balls having passed the movable ball accepting members to enter the special prize-winning hole. Because of this, it is difficult to obtain the special game right, and even if the special game is generated, it is difficult to continue it, and it often happens that the special game is finished withouZ obtaining enough advantage thereof.

In the prior art therefore, the changeable-state o prize-winning device falls short of the player's 20 expectation and reduces interest in the game.

Did. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a pinball machine oil comprising: o4 a game board. having a game area defined thereon and a guard barrier about the game area; a delivery device for delivering a ball to the game area; o4°° a changeable-state prize-winning device mounted in 0054 ocg the game area and having an entrance via which balls may enter the prize winning device; o a movable ball accepting member located proximate said entrance and being movable between a first position where the member prevenlts balls from entering the device or allows them to enter only with difficulty and a second position where balls are allowed to enter the device 5:~36 *1 i -4easily; an ordinary prize-winning hole located within the prize-winning device; a special prize-winning hole located within the prize-winning device and having detector means for detecting when a ball has entered therein; a movable leading member located within the prize-winning device and being arranged to guide balls accepted into the prize-winning device towards the special prize-winning hole; a specific prize-winning hole mounted in the game area outside the prize-winning device and having detector means for detecting when a ball has entered therein; a special game trigger control means responsive to detection of a ball within the specific prize-winning hole to cause the movable ball accepting member to move from the first to the second position; and a special game control means responsive to detection of a ball within the special prize-winning hole to instigate commencement of a special game, wherein movement of the movable ball accepting member is caused between the first and second positions and, at the same time, periodic motion of the leading member is caused.

An advantage of the present invention is that it is easy for a player to obtain generation of the special game.

A further advantage is that more elaborate contrivances may be included order to increase excitement with regard to the possibility of generation of the special game.

A further advantage is that generation of the special game may also generate an increased probability of being able to score prizes in prize-winning holes other than those contained in the changeable-state prize-winning device.

The leading member is operable to steer any ball reaching it towards the special prize-winning hole. This means that the chances of generating the special game are increased. Enjoyment of the game is therefore increased because the special game right can be generated more easily.

When the special game is occurring, a thrill may be added to the possibility of its continuance by operation of the leading member periodically so as to vary the chances of balls entering the special prize-winning hole.

The present invention is preferably further provided with movable ball guiding members for controlling the flow of balls inside the changeable-state prize-winning device. These movable ball guiding members are operated at the generation of the special game to direct fallen balls towards the special prize-winning hole and the ordinary prize-winning hole.

Moreover, the movable ball guiding members are preferably operable to open special ball flow passages located below the changeable-state prize-winning device, the specific prize-winning hole being preferably located below the passages.

Therefore, the ball which has entered the device at the generation of the special game may be guided to flow p into either the special prize-winning hole or the ordinary prize-winning hole, increasing the enjoyment of the game.

Further, the possibility of balls which do not enter the changeable-state prize-winning device still entering another prize-winning hole may be increased by virtue of the special ball flow passages guiding these balls towards o 30 a prize-winning hole.

C Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of an embodiment thereof by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 35 Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing a game board of a 6 preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a changeable-state prize-winning device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the changeable-state prize-winning device of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the changeable-state prize-winning device of Figs. 2 and 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a "doll" arranged to be mounted within the devices of Figs. 2 to 4 and mounting the leading member.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the drive arrangement of the movable ball guiding members of the changeable-state prize-winning device of Figs. 2 to 4; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the changeable-state prize-winning device of Figs. 2 to 4; Fig. 8 is a, schematic block diagram showing a control device for the present invention; and Fig. 9 is a flow chart showing a control operation of I'i 20 the changeable-state prize-winning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS On the surface of the game board 1 of a pinball .machine (Pachinko machine), as shown in Fig. 1, a game Sarea 3, surrounded by a guide rail 2, is formed, and a changeable-state prize-winning device 4 is arranged almost at the center of the game area 3. A first specific prizewinning hole 5 which is of the twice opening tulip type is j formed below the- changeable-state prize-winning device 4.

,Second specific prize-winning holes 6 and 6 are formed below and to the, right and left respectively of the first i specific prize-winning hole 5. Between the changeablestate prize-winning device 4 and the first specific prizewinning hole 5, special ball flow passages 8 are formed a 3 with entrance parts 8a facing movable ball guiding members (see later) and 'exit parts 8b located proximate the -7entrance of the first specific prize-winning hole 5. The passages 8 are constituted by a predetermined arrangement 7 of obstacle nails.

The changeable-state prize-winning device 4 is constituted as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, an opening part 10 opens on a base plate 9 mounted on the surface of the game board 1. A lateral armor part 11 is projectingly arranged on the surface above. A pair of movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are rotatively mounted to the right and left of the opening part 10 by first supporting axes 13. The ball accepting members 12 are rotatable between a first state where the entrances to the prize-winning device 4 are closed and balls are not accepted thereby and a second state, where the entrances are opened (see ghost-line representations in Fig. 2) and balls are accepted into the prize-winning device. Between these right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12, a shelf plate 15 is mounted for guiding a ball accepted by the prize-winning device 4 to a recessed chamber 14. The shelf plate 15 is inclined downwardly from the opening part 10 towards the recessed chamber 14.

Ball flow preventing walls 16 and 16 are projectingly Sarranged below the axes mounted base ends of the movable ball accepting members 12. Ordinary prize-winning holes 18 and 18 are formed at the right and left of a special prize-winning hole 17, between the lower ends of ball flow preventing walls 16 and 16. At the entrances to the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 there are arranged respective movable ball guiding members 21 and 21, which are rotatably mounted on supporting axes 20 and 20 which are proximate dividing parts 19 and 19 which divide the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 from the special prize-winning hole 17.

The construction of the movable ball guiding members 21 and the drive mechanism therefore is as follows.

t-i .Iru*xl---~ 8 o o ooj~ 000 04.)0 0 00<00 0 D 0 I0 0 0 0000 0 0 0 0 Ot 0 0 c~aa O 0 00 2 0 006 li o o 0 0 1 00 0 0 00 0 0 0 C 0 uoa t With reference to Fig. 6, the ball guiding members 21 comprise ball guiding plates 23, decoration plates 22 representing "loaches" in front of the guiding plates 23 and ball interrupting parts 24 extend.ing downwardly from the outer edges of the ball guiding plates 23 and the opposite ends of the ball interrupting parts 24 being fastened to the ends of the supporting axes 20. Cranks are connected to the opposite ends of the supporting axes 20 projecting from the back of the recession chamber 14. Pins of the cranks 25 are freely engaged in a slot 27 of communicating member 26. The communicating member 26 is connected to a plunger of a first driving source 28, such as a solenoid, for example, provided at the back of the recession chamber 14.

Accordingly, when the first driving source 28 is off the right and left movable ball guiding members 21 are stopped in a first state where the ball guiding plates 23 are almost as horizontal as the bottom parts of the ordinary prize-winning holes 18, by the applied force of a 20 spring for example (shown by the solid line in Fig. 6).

When the movable ball guiding members 21 are stopped in the first state, the ball interrupting parts 24 shut the entrances 8a of special ball flow passages 8 (Cf. Fig. 1) so that balls, cannot pass into the ball flow passages 8.

25 Incidentally, the first state can be set in such a manner that the movable ball guiding members 21 are arranged such that balls hardly pass the entrances 8a of the special ball flow passages 8 because of the ball interrupting parts 24, though the entrances 8a are not completely 30 shut. When the first driving source 28 is excited, the plunger raises the communicating member 26, and the cranks 25 rotate the supporting axes 20 and thereby the right and left movable ball guiding members 21 and 21 are rotated to the second state where the ball guiding 35 plates 23 are; inclined downwardly towards the special v 1 -9prize-winning hole 17. The possibility of prize-winning in the special prize-winning hole 17 is increased with the ball guiding members 21 in this second state, as a ball which has dropped towards either of holes 18 may bounce back from the inclined ball guiding plates 23 towards the special prize-winning hole 17. When the movable ball guiding members 21 are changed to the second state, as the ball interrupting parts 24 are removed from the entrances 8a of the special ball flow passages 8, there appears the state where the balls which flow down in the game part 3 can easily flow down to the special ball flow passages 8. Incidentally, when the first driving source 28 is turned off, the right and left movable ball guiding members 21 and 21 are returned to the first state by the applied force of a spring or the like.

Also, to change the state of the abovementioned movable ball accepting members 12, as shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, second driving sources 29 and 29 of solenoids and the like are provided at the back of the recession oo' 20 chamber 14. Cranks 30 are fixed to the ends of supporting '0 axes 13 projecting from the back of the recession pl chamber 14. Pins of the cranks 30 are freely engaged in holes 32 of operating members 31 connected to the plungers sources 29 are in the off-state, the movable ball i: accepting members 12 are biassed into the first state by the applied force of a spring or the like. In this first i state balls are not accepted into the prize-winning device 4. When the second driving sources 29 are excited by a signal from an electric control device, the plungers raise the operating members 31 by the length of a stroke, the cranks 30 rotate the first supporting axes 13 and the upper ends of the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are rotated in the outward direction, 35 opening the entrances to the prize-winning device 4.

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2s (V~ Accordingly, the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 2 which is furthest away from the position of the members 12 in the first state (solid line), changed to the second state where balls are accepted and guided via the shelf plate 15 into the recession chamber 14. In this second state the members 12 are rotated away from the first state through quite a large angle. The entrances to the prize-winning device 4 are thus "wide open" and balls are easily accepted therethrough. When the second driving sources 29 are turned off, the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are rotated in the returning direction by the applied force of a spring or the like and returned to the first state where balls are not accepted.

In this way, the movable ball accepting members 12 can be changed to the first state where balls are not accepted and to the second state where balls are easily accepted by the operation of the second driving sources 29.

In the present preferred embodiment, the mechanism is oO0, 20 arranged such that the members 12 can also be positioned o in a third state where balls are accepted, but not as easily as they are accepted when the members 12 are in the second state. For this purpose, at the back of the recession chamber 14, as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7, a 04 window 34 is present in an installing base 33 on which the second driving sources 29 are mounted, and a pivotably mounted stroke adjusting member 36 having a spacer part projecting into the above window 34 is provided. A 0 Ot oo,, solenoid is arranged for actuation of a pressure part of °o t 30 the stroke adjusting member, which is arranged on the opposite side of the pivot point to the spacer part o e The solenoid constitutes a third driving source 37. When the third driving source 37 is not in operation the stroke adjusting member 36 is, as shown by the dotted line in 3 Fig. 7, biassed by its own weight to the state where the -11spacer part is removed from window 34.

As mentioned above, the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are standing straight and in the first state where balls are not accepted when the second driving sources 29 are in the turned-off state, and when the second driving sources 29 are excited, the right and left movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are opened to the second state where balls are easily accepted. However when the third driving source 37 is excited, the stroke adjusting member 36 is rotated as shown by the solid line in Fig. 7 and causes the spacer part 35 to project through the window 34. When the driving sources 24 are actuated the effective stroke of the operating member 31 is now shortened because a projecting part 38 thereof abuts the end of the spacer part 35 partway through the solenoid stroke. In this case, therefore, the cranks 30 and axes 13 are only rotated partway.

Accordingly, the right and left movable ball 064 Oc: 20 accepting members 12 and 12 are rotated only to the oo position shown by the two-dot and two dash lines in Fig. 2 0 (approximately midway between the first and second o states). This position constitutes a third state, where balls may be accepted into the prize-winning device 4, but not as easily as when in the second state.

A doll 40, mounting a leading member 39 is provided in the recession chamber 14 to assist a ball towards the coal special prize-winning hole 17, as well as to increase decoration effect.

o 30 As shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5 and Fig. 7, the doll comprises a trunk part 41 mounted on a wall of the recession chamber 14, a head part 42 equipped with an axis on the trunk part 41 for nodding up and down, and a protruding member 43 mounted on the back part of the head, 35 and the communicating member 26 being connected to each 35 and the communicating member 26 being connected to each 12 other by a communicating rod 44. Right and left arm parts mounting the leading member 39 at their hand ends, are mounted to the right and left ends of a pivoting member 46. The member 46 is mounted on an axis on the wall of the recession chamber 14 for pivoting to the right and left. The arms extend through "sleeves" in the trunk part 41. A cam follower 47 extends from one side of the pivoting member 46 towards the rear. The end of the cam follower 47 abuts the upper surface of a cam 48 having an uneven upper surface, the cam 48 being mounted at the back of the recession chamber 14. A spring 49 is connected to the other side of the pivoting member 46, acting to bias the cam follower 47 towards the upper surface of the cam 48. A leg member 50 comprises right and left leg parts and is pivotably mounted on the wall of the recession chamber 14 within the trunk part 41. A projection 51 projects from the leg member 50 proximate the pivotal axis thereof and engages with a projection 52 which extends from the pivoting member 46. The preferred o 20 embodiment of the leading member 39, as shown in Fig. 4, is formed in the shape of a "winnow", and comprises a hollow recession part 53 which is wider than the special prize-winning hole 17 and follows the depth direction of the recession chamber 14, the inclined lower end of the recession part 53 facing toward the special prize-winning hole 17 and the ordinary prize-winning hole 18. A position detector 54, such as a photosensor or the like, is provided at the back of the recession chamber 14 and a member 56 positioned to actuate the position detector 54 is mounted at the end of an axis of a motor 55 with decelerator for rotating the cam 48. The leading member 39 is normally positioned in the state where the inclined lower end of the recession part 53 is faced toward the special prize-winning hole 17 with almost even S 35 heights at the right and the left as shown in Fig. 2 and S13 Fig. 5. When the motor with the decelerator 55 is operated, the cam 48 is rotated and the cam follower 47 touching the upper surface of the cam 48 is actuated by the cam 48 upper surface and the height of the cam follower 47 is varied as the cam 48 is rotated. This causes the pivoting member 46 to fluctuate the arms and legs, in opposite directions to each other, and if the first driving source 28 repeats excitement and turn off, the up and down movement of the communicating member 26 is transmitted to the head part 42 through the communicating rod 44, to cause the head to nod. The resultant motion gives the impression that the doll 40 is dancing a "loach scooping" dance. Also, when the right and left arms are fluctuated, the leading member 39 at their tip ends is fluctuated right and left as shown by the chain line in Fig. 5. Accordingly, the leading member 39 accepts balls which are dropping from the shelf plate 15 in a wider range and leads the above balls in the direction of the special prize-winning hole 17 or the ordinary prize-winning 20 holes 18. Incidentally, after the doll 4Q has been moved in this way by the drive means it is halted in the initial position where the leading member 39 is faced toward the r special prize-winning hole 17 by operation of the position detector 54 detecting the position of the cam 48 and sending a signal to the electric control device.

Next, the game operation of the Pachinko machine provided with the changeable-state prize-winniig device 4 as described above will be described.

In the initial state, each movable ball accepting G 30 member 12 of the changeable-state prize-winning device 4 is usually in the first state where balls are not raccepted, and each movable ball guiding member 21 is usually stopped in the first state where the ball guiding 44' plate 23 is stopped almost horizontally with respect to S 35 the bottom part of each ordinary prize-winning hole 18 by 4Z A -r S14 the applied force of the spring or the like and the entrances 8a of the special ball flow passages 8 are shut by the ball interrupting part 24.

When a ball shot by the hit ball shooting device (not shown in Figures) flows down in the game part 3 and enters a second specific prize-winning hole 6, a second specific prize-winning detector 57 detects this ball and sends a signal to the electric control device (as shown in Fig. 8).

Also, if a ball enters the first specific prize-winning hole 5, ball accepting pieces 59 and 59 of the above first specific prize-winning hole 5 are opened to the right and left and it is changed to the state where balls are easily accepted, and the first specific prize-winning detector detects this ball and sends a signal to the electric control device 58 (Incidentally, in either case, prize balls based on the prescribed betting rate are put out apart from the output operation of each signal).

When the electric control device 58 receives a signal o 4 from the second specific prize-winning detector 57, the °ooe third driving source 37 is excited for 0.7 second after a waiting time of 0.6 second as shown in Fig. 9, and the od second driving sources 29 are excited for 0.5 second after c a waiting time of 0.8 second. Accordingly, when a ball o06" enters the second specific prize-winning hole 6, the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed from the first state where balls are not accepted by the prizewinning device 4 to the third state where balls are o04 accepted by a narrow opening only for 0.5 second.

Incidentally, in this case, a special prize-winning oo detector 61 provided at the flow passage arranged extended 00 ofrom the special prize-winning hole 17 of the changeablestate prize-winning device 4 becomes effective for 3.3 seconds.

0 When the electric control device 58 receives a signal from the first specific prize-winning detector 60, the z It

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4 15 third driving source 37 is excited for 1.0 second after 0.6 second and turned off for 0.2 second and then, excited for 1.0 second again, and the second driving sources 29 are excited for 0.8 second after 0.8 second and turned off for 0.8 second and then, excited for 0.8 second.

Accordingly, when a ball enters the first specific prizewinning hole 5, the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed from the first state where balls are not accepted to the third state where balls are capable of being accepted in a narrow opening for 0.8 second, returned to the first state for 0.8 second, changed to the third state for 0.4 second and then changed to the second state where balls are accepted in a wide opening for 0.4 second. In this case, the special prize-winning detector 61 becomes effective for 5.2 seconds.

Incidentally, even if a ball enters the first specific prize-winning hole 5 or the second specific prize-winning hole 6 and the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed from the first state where balls are not accepted to the second or the third state where balls are accepted as mentioned above, the movable ball guiding members 21 and 21 maintain the first state.

If a ball flows down in the game area 3, it may flow down onto the movable ball accepting members 12 when the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 of the changing prize-winning device 4 are changed from the first state to the second or the third state as mentioned above. The ball will then enter the opening part 10 and roll on the shelf plate 15 and enter the recession chamber 14. The ball which has entered the recession chamber 14 may drop onto the leading member 39 or onto the bottom surface of the recession chamber 14. Any ball which drops onto the leading member 39 is guided toward the special prizewinning hole 17 by the recession part 53, and it is relatively easy for the ball to enter the special prize-

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16 winning hole 17. In case the ball does not enter the special prize-winning hole 17, it enters the adjacent ordinary prize-winning hole 18. Any ball which has dropped on the bottom surface of the recession chamber 14 rolls due to the downward inclination of the bottom surface and enters the special prize-winning hole 17 or the ordinary prize-winning hole 18. If the ball enters the ordinary prize-winning hole 18, this ball flows out to the back of the game board 1 and becomes a prize-winning ball and prize balls are discharged according to this, but there is no change to the game state.

On the other hand, if a ball enters the special prize-winning hole 17, the special prize-winning detector 61 provided at the flow passage arranged extended from the above special prize-winning hole 17 detects this ball and sends a signal that the right for a special game is generated to the electric control device 58.

Incidentally, the ball having worked on the special prize-winning detector 61 flows out to the back of the game board 1 and becomes a prize-winning ball, and prize balls are also discharged by this.

When the electric control device 58 receives a signal from the special prize-winning detector 61, the special game is started.

The special game in this preferred embodiment is so constituted that after the waiting time of 2.9 seconds, one special game cycle is initiated. In a game cycle the second driving sources 29 of the changing prize-winning device 4 are repeatably excited for 0.8 second and turned off for 0.8 second for a prescribed number of times 18 times). That is, the movable ball accepting members 12 are arranged to repeat the first state where balls are not accepted and the second state where balls are easily accepted for 0.8 second 18 times. Further, the cycle is renewed for a prescribed number of times 8 17 cycles at the maximum) on condition that a ball enters the special prize-winning hole 17 during a cycle. However, in the case where a ball does not enter the special prizewinning hole 17 at all while the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed from the first state to the second state up to the 18th time in a special game cycle, the special game is finibhed in the concerned cycle regardless of the number of cycles left.

When the first cycle of the special game is started, the first driving source 28 is excited for 0.3 second after the waiting time of 0.3 second by a signal from the electric control device 58 and after being turned off for 0.3 second, it is excited till the concerned cycle is finished. Accordingly, the movable guiding members 21 are changed from the first state where the fallen balls are capable of entering the ordinary prize-winning hole 18 without being guided to the special prize-winning hole 17 to the second state where the fallen bars are capable of being guided to the special prize-winning hole 17 by bouncing back, for 0.3 second after the waiting time of 0.3 second and returning to the first state for 0.3 second, and then changed to the second state till the concerned cycle is finished. Therefore, when the balls accepted by the movable ball accepting members 12 drop from the shelf plate 15 to the entrance parts of the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 through the leading member 39 or on the bottom surface of the recession chamber 14, most of these balls just enter the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 when the movable ball guiding members 21 are stopped in the first state. However, if the balls drop to the entrance parts of the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 when the movable ball guiding members 21 are changed to the second state, some of them hit the inclined ball guiding plates 23 of the movable ball guiding members 21 and bounce back, and they can

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1- 18 enter the special prize-winning hole 17.

Accordingly, if the movable ball guiding members 21 are changed to the second state, the possibility of entering the special prize-winning hole 17 is increased compared with the first state, and the abovementioned renewal of cycle becomes easier.

Further, if the movable ball guiding members 21 are changed from the first state to the second state as mentioned above, the ball interrupting parts 24 formed at the movable ball guiding members 21 are removed from the entrances 8a of the special ball flow passages 8.

Accordingly, the balls which have passed outside and in the neighborhood of the changing prize-winning device 4 but could not enter the recession chamber 14 from the movable ball accepting members 12, or the balls which flow down the right or the left of the changing prize-winning device 4 particularly when the movable ball accepting members 12 have just returned from the second state to the first state, can easily enter the special ball flow passages 8 from the entrances 8a released by the ball interrupting parts 24 of the movable ball guiding members 21, and these balls flow to the exits 8b guided by the restricting parts 7. These exits 8b of the special ball flow passages 8 are located above the first specific iI prize-winning hole 5 and directly connected to the flow down route where balls which win the first specific prize-winning hole 5 will pass.

Accordingly, the possibility of entering the first specific prize-winning hole 5 for the balls which have passed the special ball flow passages 8 as mentioned above is very high. As the restricting parts 7 in the present preferred embodiment are constituted of a plurality of obstacle nails, the entrances 8a and the exits 8b of the special ball flow passages 8 can be set as desired by 'bending these nails right, left, up or down and changes 19 can be given to the prize-winning possibility in the first specific prize-winning hole Incidentally, the restricting parts 7 are not limited to the constituting by obstacle nails, but can be constituted as desired as far as the flow direction of balls can be restricted. Also, the special ball flow passages 8 can be constituted as desired as far as they are provided with the function that the entrances are opened and closed by the ball interrupting parts 24 formed at the ball guiding members 21 and the balls are guided so that they can easily enter the prize-winning holes.

In this way, if balls pass through the special ball flow passages 8 during the special game and win the first specific prize-winning hole 5 and the ball accepting pieces 59 and 59 are changed to the state where balls are easily accepted, even if the special game is finished, 0ooo balls can still easily win the first specific prize-winning hole 5 soon, and the movable ball accepting members 12 may oo5 o0 easily be changed one or twice to the first state or the second state and the third state. Accordingly, the jpossibility of generating the right of the special game next time is heightened.

Moreover, if the first driving source 28 is excited and the movable ball guiding members 21 are changed from o 25 the first state to the second state, the up and down o~t o. movement of the communicating member 26 is transmitted to the head part 42 through the communicating rod 44, and the head part 42 of the doll 40 in the recession chamber 14 is moved up and down.

Further, when the special game is started, the electric control device 58 starts the motor with decelerator 55. Accordingly, the arms and legs of the doll 40 in the recession chamber 14 are fluctuated and the leading member 39 is fluctuated to right and left at the same time. If the leading member 39 is fluctuated to the A 1:0 20 right and left, the balls dropping from the shelf plate can be accepted in a wide range. In this way, the ball having dropped on the leading member 39 may enter the special prize-winning hole 17 or the ordinary prize-winning holes 18.

If a prescribed condition is established in a certain cycle without balls entering the special prize-winning hole 17, for example, if the movable ball accepting members 12 and 12 are changed to the second state 8 times or if the number of prize-winning balls in the ordinary prize-winning holes 18 in the concerned cycle reaches a prescribed number the operation of the motor with decelerator 55 is stopped and the leading member 39 is stopped in a state facing the special prize-winning hole 17.

If the leading member 39 is stopped facing the special prize-winning hole 17 as mentioned above and the balls accepted by the movable ball accepting members 12 enter the recession part 53 of the leading member 39, the possibility of winning the special prize-winning hole 17 is heightened so that renewal of the cycle may easily be carried out. Incidentally, to stop the leading member 39 in a state facing the special prize-winning hole 17, the position of the cam 48 is detected by the position detector 54 and the operation of the motor with decelerator 55 is stopped by the electric control device 58 at the time when the cam 48 is rotated to the Acorrect position.

Incidentally, if balls enter the ordinary prizewinning holes 18 and the special prize-winning hole 17 in a particular cycle, a detector for calculation 62 detects these balls one by one and sends a signal to the electric control device 58 and the electric control device 58 counts a prescribed number 10) of balls. When the prescribed number of balls has been counted the special -7 A -21 game is finished regardless of the number of cycles left.

Further, in the present preferred embodiment, a continuous indicator 63 consisting of LED and the like, prize-winning number indicators 64 consisting of LED and the like are provided on the right and left of the recession chamber 14. The first indicators 65 consist of lamps and the like arranged in the neighborhood of the prize-winning number indicators 64, the second indicators 66 and the third indicators 67 on the back of the recession chamber 14, and the fourth indicators 68 in the neighborhood of the movable ball accepting members 12 are respectively provided. If balls enter the first and the second specific prize-winning holes 5 and 6, the second indicators 66 and the third indicators 67 are flashed alternately, and if the special game is started, the first and the third indicators 65 and 67 and the second and the fourth indicators 66 and 68 are flashed alternately, and thereby decoration effect is heightened and the effect is visually indicated to the players. And the renewal of cycle of the special game is visually indicated by the continuous indicator 63, and the number of prize-winning balls accepted and won by the movable ball members 12 is visually indicated by the prize-winning number indicators 64.

25 Incidentally, the movable ball accepting members 12 o, in the present invention can be constituted as desired, not limited in the shape of a wing piece which reciprocates as 2 in the abovementioned preferred embodiment, as far as they can be changed to the first state where flowing balls are not accepted and to the second state where balls are easily accepted. For example, they can be constituted by shutters which are arranged to slide back and forth.

It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the abovementioned preferred embodiment, but modification and improvements can be made within the scope of technical ideas of the present invention.

C. 1 II2I

Claims (7)

1. A pinball machine comprising: a game board having a game area defined thereon and a guard barrier about the game area; a delivery device for delivering a ball to the game area; a changeable-state prize-winning device mounted in the game area and having an entrance via which balls may enter the prize winning device; a movable ball accepting member located proximate said entrance and being movable between a first position where the member prevents balls from entering the device or allows them to enter only with difficulty and a second position where balls are allowed to enter the device easily; an ordinary prize-winning hole located within the prize-winning device; a special prize-winning hole located within the prize-winning device and having detector means for o detecting when a ball has entered therein; o0o a movable leading member located within the prize-winning device and being arranged to guide balls accepted into the prize-winning device towards the special prize-winning hole; o 0 a specific prize-winning hole mounted in the game area outside the prize-winning device and having detector means for detecting when a ball has entered therein; a special game trigger control means responsive to detection of a ball within the specific prize-winning hole to cause the movable ball accepting member to move from the first to the second position; and a special game control means responsive to detection of a ball within the special prize-winning hole to instigate commencement of a special game, wherein movement of the movable ball accepting member is caused between the tT a rII o o 0; o 44064 44 23 first and second positions and, at the same time, periodic motion of the leading member is caused.

2. A pinball machine in accordance with claim i, wherein the special game control means is arranged to instigate periodic motion of the leading member at commencement of the special game but motion thereof is ceased prior to finishing the special game and the leading member is held in a stop position.

3. A pinball machine according to claim 2, wherein the leading member is so constituted that the stop position is regulated by a cam mechanism so that balls are guided toward the special prize-winning hole when the leading member is held at the stop position.

4. A pinball machine according to any preceding claim, wherein there are provided movable ball guiding members for guiding the flow of balls inside the changeable-state prize-winning device.

A pinball machine according to claim 4, wherein the movable ball guiding members are operated at the generation of a special game and guide fallen balls into the special prize-winning hole and the ordinary prize-winning holes.

6. A pinball machine according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the movable ball guiding members are operable to open special ball flow passages provided on the game area adjacent the prize-winning device and being arranged to guide balls towards the specific prize-winning hole.

7. A pinball machine substantially as described herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 3rd day of May 1990 KABUSHIKI KAISHA SOPHIA Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: F.B. RICE CO. A