JP2000093626A - Game ball circulation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a game ball circulation system which is one executes intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation of game balls in a game parlor with plural rows of game islands equipped with plural numbers of game machines and has few bad influences even when electric operation equipment for intra-island circulation or inter-island circulation is manually operated. SOLUTION: This system is constituted so that, when an instruction to manually operate any of electric operation equipment (for instance, a ball discharging device) is inputted, only electric equipment which is an object of manual operation is actuated or stopped according to the instruction and electric equipment which is not an object of manual operation is made to continue the operation control to realize the intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the circulation of game balls in a game island on which a plurality of game machines (for example, pachinko machines) are installed (intra-island circulation) and the circulation of game balls between game islands (between islands). The game ball circulation system that performs the circulation), specifically, the game ball circulation system that has little adverse effect even when the electric operation device for the island circulation or the island circulation is manually operated, or all the game balls are free of corrosion and dirt. The present invention relates to a game ball circulation system capable of easily polishing a maintenance ball for maintaining a good state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A plurality of gaming machines, such as pachinko machines in a game arcade, are provided side by side on one or both sides of a facility called a gaming island or a gaming machine installation island (hereinafter simply referred to as an island in some cases). In addition, a plurality of the game islands are usually installed in parallel on a game room floor. In recent years, game modes in pachinko machines and the like have become extremely diverse. For this reason,
For example, the jackpot may be a continuous big hit, and a large number of pitches will occur on the gaming island where gaming machines in such a state are installed, so the holding amount of gaming balls will be extremely small, and the premium It is necessary to replenish a large number of game balls paid out as soon as possible. On the other hand, if there is no big hit or if there are few players, the game balls discharged from the game island will be extremely small, and the game balls held on the game island will tend to be too much obtain. Therefore, a large amount of game balls are stored, and the stored game balls are discharged as needed, sent to each game machine on the game island and circulated, and are also paid out as prize balls and collected from the counter. In recent years, the importance of a facility for returning balls to each game island (that is, a game ball circulation system) has been increasing more and more so that the ball quantity of each game island is kept in an appropriate range as much as possible.

[0003] By the way, as this kind of equipment in the previous game arcade, a large tank (so-called ballpark) is provided under the floor of the game arcade hall or the like, and collected from a counter provided in a counter or the like of the game arcade. In general, the collected game balls are once collected in this ballpark and polished, and then supplied from the ballpark to gaming machines on each game island as needed. However, in this case, a large amount of construction cost is required to install a ball path and a circulation path for the game balls in the hall, and it is difficult to quickly supply the game island, which has a shortage of game balls, There are various problems such as the inability to actively discharge game balls from the game island where the game balls have become excessive. For this reason, in recent years, for example, JP-A-9-313714 and
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. -5428, a counter is provided at the end of a game island or the like so that game balls paid out from the game island are directly returned to the game island via the counter. Basically, game balls are circulated within one game island, while exchanging game balls between islands (usually between adjacent game islands) as necessary to keep the amount of game balls on each game island within the appropriate range. Meanwhile, an island circulation system in which a gaming ball held on a gaming island operates each gaming machine on the gaming island has become widespread.

In this system, a game ball used for a game in a game machine and discharged as an out ball or a safe ball, or a game ball paid out as a prize ball and collected from a counter, becomes dirty as it is. Since it easily adheres and corrodes easily, it is usually sent to a device which also serves as a polishing device such as a ball lifting device provided in the island, and is polished while being polished. ) And circulate within or between islands. That is,
The game balls pumped to the upper tank by this ball lifting device are sent to each gaming machine (or ball rental machine) as needed, and are reused as game balls for games or premium balls, and Thing overflows and is stored in a ball storage tank provided in the lower part of the island. In addition, when a part of the game balls circulating in the island (for example, the game balls lifted to the upper tank by the ball lifting device) is sent to another island having a small amount of game balls as needed. There is also.
In addition, the game balls stored in the ball storage tank, if the amount of balls in the upper tank is small, or when game balls are supplied to other islands, etc., if necessary, such as a ball discharge device (or mini-lift) The ball is discharged from the ball storage tank by a device called, and is sent to the ball lifting device to be lifted.

[0005] By the way, electric actuating equipment of each game island for the above-mentioned island circulation or inter-island circulation (for example, the ball discharge device, the ball lifting device, or the inclined gutter for supplying game balls to other islands) The operation control of a shutter or the like has been intensively performed by a system control device usually provided in a control room of a game arcade or the like. That is, information such as the operating state of the electric operating device of each game island and the amount of game balls held and the circulation state of each game island can be transmitted to the system control device as appropriate and displayed. But,
By receiving information from each gaming island and outputting an operation command and an operation command of the electric operating device of each gaming island, the circulation in the island of each gaming island or the circulation between the islands in a group of gaming islands is substantially controlled and managed. I was In addition, the manager of the game store monitors the display of the system control device to grasp the status of each game island, and notifies the staff in the game store of the status, for example. Each game island may be provided with a separate control device (island control device) for executing a part of the control processing of the electric operation device. Processing for determining the operation of each electric operating device based on the analysis result is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-5428.
In general, this is performed by a system control device (system controller), as seen in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. H10-260, 1988.

Conventionally, when a manual operation is performed (for example, in order to eliminate a ball clogging that has occurred in a specific game ball flow path of a specific game island, it is involved in the ball clogged flow path). In the case of unavoidably temporarily and forcibly manually stopping the electrically operated equipment to be operated manually, at least the entire game island on which the manual operation has been performed is subjected to control processing for the intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation (automatic operation Subject) was completely removed. In other words, for example, with regard to inter-island circulation, game islands that have been manually operated are not subject to inter-island circulation, and even if the ball content of that island is extremely low or extremely high compared to other islands However, the game ball was not exchanged with an adjacent island (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an adjacent island) and was left as it was until automatic driving resumed again. Also, regarding the circulation within the island, for example, if one of the plurality of ball discharge devices is manually operated, the game island is not subject to the control of the circulation within the island, so the other ball discharge devices are not. Was not driven automatically, but was left to manual operation.

[0007]

Therefore, the conventional game ball circulation system described above has the following problems. That is, when the electric actuating device related to the circulation of the game balls within the island or the circulation between the islands is manually operated for maintenance work or the like, the circulation of the game balls in the game island or the circulation of the game ball to another island is greatly adversely affected. And the operation of the gaming machine may be hindered in some cases. In addition, the balance of the possession of gaming balls between gaming islands is extremely disrupted, and it takes a long time to return to the original state even after maintenance work is completed, and exchange of gaming balls between gaming islands is performed for a long time In some cases, the noise or vibration may cause the player to feel uncomfortable. In addition, when control processing for intra-island circulation or inter-island circulation is mainly performed by the central system controller, if the system controller fails, it becomes impossible to properly circulate gaming balls across a group of gaming islands. There is a risk that good operations cannot be performed on the entire gaming island. Also, in this case, in order to change the number, arrangement, or combination of gaming islands, it is necessary to modify the control program of the system controller or change the settings. There is also a problem that it is difficult to easily deal with the interiors and layouts of amusement stores that have become increasingly diversified in recent years.

Further, in the conventional game ball circulation system, only the game balls are circulated between the islands so as to keep the game ball reserves of the respective game islands within an appropriate range. Also, the game ball stored in the ball storage tank is discharged by the ball discharge device and circulated only when there is a shortage of game balls that can be immediately supplied to the gaming machine (for example, the game ball in the upper tank described above). Just let it. For this reason, for example, on a game island where the number of players is temporarily low and the lending and prize of the game balls are few, the amount of the game balls in the upper tank and the amount of the game balls in the entire island are maintained in an appropriate range, and the circulation within the island is maintained. It is possible that there will be little inter-island circulation during that time. In addition, even if frequent intra-island circulation or inter-island circulation is performed, the game balls in the ball storage tank will not be discharged all at once, and some parts of the ball storage tank, such as corners, will not be discharged for a long time. There are stagnant game balls (so-called dead balls). For this reason, in the conventional game ball circulation system as described above, all the game balls are corroded or damaged while a device called a ball lifting device or the like, which also serves as a polishing device, is provided in the circulation path of each game island. It is difficult to maintain a good condition free of dirt for a long period of time.In some cases, the stagnation in the ball storage tank may cause excessive corrosion due to moisture in the tank or the dirt may stick firmly. In some cases, such a game ball may be supplied to a game machine without completely removing corrosion and dirt along a circulation path and used in a game.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a game ball circulation system which has a small adverse effect even when an electric actuating device for circulating game balls within an island or between islands is manually operated. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a game ball circulating system in which each game island is controlled in an independent state, and in which game balls can be circulated within an island or between islands without depending on a system controller. A third object of the present invention is to provide a game ball circulation system capable of easily maintaining almost all of the game balls held in each game island in a good condition free from corrosion and dirt. And

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a game ball circulation system according to claim 1 is used for each game machine in a game arcade in which a plurality of game islands on which a plurality of game machines are installed are arranged. In addition to performing island circulation in which game balls are circulated in each game island, the game balls are exchanged between game islands as necessary, and inter-island circulation is performed to appropriately maintain the holding amount of game balls in each game island. A ball circulation system, an island circulation means for circulating the game balls in a game island, an island circulation means for exchanging the game balls between game islands, and an electric operation constituting the island circulation means or the island circulation means Control means for controlling the operation of the device to realize the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation, wherein the control means is any of the electric actuation devices constituting the intra-island circulation means or the inter-island circulation means When a command to manually operate is input, only the electrically operated device that is the target of the manual operation is operated or stopped according to the command, and the electrically operated device that is not the target of the manual operation is described above. It is characterized in that operation control for realizing intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation is continued.

A game ball circulation system according to a second aspect of the present invention provides the game ball circulation system, wherein the control means is provided for each of the game islands, and is connected to a plurality of island control devices so that signals can be exchanged with each other.
These island control devices are configured by a system control device connected so as to be able to exchange signals, and the island control device is configured to perform the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation relating to the game island provided with each island control device. The system control device has a function to take charge of each control process, and the system control device monitors and displays the amount of game balls held in each game island and the operation state of the electric actuation equipment constituting the island circulation means or inter-island circulation means. It has a function. Further, in the game ball circulation system according to claim 3, the island control device and the system control device forcibly activate or stop any of the electric operation devices constituting the island circulation means or the inter-island circulation means by manual operation. Having a function of causing a manual operation control command from the system control device to be effective only when the electric operation device that is the target of the manual operation is not a target of the manual operation by the island control device. It is characterized by becoming.

In a game ball circulation system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in a game arcade in which a plurality of gaming islands in which a plurality of gaming machines are installed are arranged, a gaming ball used by each gaming machine is circulated in each gaming island. A game ball circulation system that performs inter-island circulation and exchanges the game balls between game islands as necessary, and performs inter-island circulation to appropriately maintain the holding amount of game balls on each game island. Ball quantity monitoring means for monitoring the holding amount of game balls, island circulation means for circulating the game balls in the game island, inter-island circulation means for exchanging the game balls between game islands, and the intra-island circulation or inter-island circulation A ball polishing means provided in the circulation path of the above, and a control means for controlling the operation of the intra-island circulation means or the inter-island circulation means to realize the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation. If the start condition of the forced throwing forcibly sending the game balls in the island to the adjacent game island via the ball polishing means is satisfied for any game island, the ball amount monitoring means for the corresponding game island Until the monitoring result of the ball is no ball amount, while only the in-island circulation and inter-island circulation for the applicable gaming island is inactive, and controlling the in-island circulation means and the inter-island circulation means for the applicable gaming island The forced throwing is performed from a corresponding game island to an adjacent game island. Further, in the game ball circulation system according to claim 5, when the control means terminates the forcible throw when the result of monitoring of the ball quantity monitoring means for the corresponding game island becomes no ball quantity, It is characterized in that the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation for the island are returned to an active state.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. A. First, a schematic configuration of the entire facilities of the amusement arcade will be described.
FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the entire equipment, and FIG.
Is a side view of each gaming island viewed from a long direction. In this example, as shown in FIG. 1, three gaming islands 10a, 10b,
10c illustrates a state where it is installed in a parallel state. In each of the gaming islands, gaming machines 11 such as pachinko machines in which a game is played using a gaming ball are arranged side by side in a long direction. Then, a specific gaming island (in this case, gaming islands 10 at both ends)
a, 10c), a counter 12 (intra-island circulation means, inter-island circulation means, electrically operated equipment) is installed.
The counter 12 receives the paid out game balls (that is, prize balls), counts the number, and records and outputs the information of the number on a predetermined medium (receipt, card, etc.) and outputs the information. The game balls received from each counter 12 are directly collected in the game island where each counter 12 is installed. Usually, about one such counter is provided for every two or three gaming islands from the viewpoint of reducing equipment costs and maintenance costs. Needless to say, the arrangement of the gaming islands, the number of arrangements, the arrangement of the counters, and the like are not limited to the embodiment shown in FIG.

A circulation tank 13 (corresponding to a so-called upper tank) is provided on the central upper surface side of each game island for temporarily storing the internally pumped game balls for island circulation or island circulation. The circulation tank 13 (intra-island circulation means, inter-island circulation means) includes a main circulation tank 13a (intra-island circulation means) and an auxiliary circulation tank 13b (inter-island circulation means). Of these, the auxiliary tank for circulation 13b
Is a portion for temporarily storing game balls for a circulation operation (inter-island circulation) for exchanging game balls with adjacent islands, and inclined gutters 14, 15 (inter-island circulation means) communicating between adjacent game islands. ) Is connected to the auxiliary tank for circulation 13b. Note that the inclined gutters 14 and 15 constitute gutters in both the sending and receiving directions in which a game ball is caused to flow down by its own weight and moved from one game island to the other game island.
4 is a gutter for moving the game ball to the left in FIG. 1B (for example, from the island 10b to the island 10a), and the inclined gutter 15 is for the right direction (for example, the island 10b) in FIG.
A gutter for moving the game ball (from a to the island 10b).

A shutter 16 (inter-island circulation means, electrically operated device) for opening and closing the entrance is provided at the game ball entrance at the lower end of the inclined gutters 14, 15 in the receiving direction. The shutter 16 includes an opening / closing body (not shown) for opening and closing the game ball entrance, a motor (not shown) for driving the opening / closing body, and a sensor for detecting whether the opening / closing body is open or closed. (Not shown). In addition, the game ball entrance and the shutter 16 are provided on the auxiliary circulation tank 13 on an island (island 10b in FIG. 1) having adjacent islands on both sides.
b, the islands located at both ends in the group of gaming islands (the islands 10a and 10c in FIG. 1) have only one adjacent island connected by the inclined gutters 14 and 15 on one side. Only one game ball entrance and one shutter 16 are provided on one side.

Next, in FIG.
Reference numerals 0b and 20c denote island control devices (control means) provided on each of the islands.
Normal control of the equipment in each island including the island 6 is performed by these island controllers 20a, 20b, and 20c, respectively. These island control devices 20a, 20b, and 20c are shown in FIG.
Are connected to each other as shown in FIG.
1 is connected to a system control device 22 (control means). Note that the system control device 22 is configured by a personal computer system or the like including a monitor, an input keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and is installed in a control room or the like in a game arcade, and controls the operation and state of all parts of the game island. This is a device for monitoring and controlling (manual operation). The monitor of the system control device 22 includes:
The operation and state of each part of all game islands can be displayed in an easily understandable manner, and by operating this system controller 22, the operation of each part of all game islands can be manually controlled, and maintenance ball polishing ( (Forcibly throwing game balls).

B. Next, the internal configuration of each gaming island will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is a front view (with the gaming machine removed) of the gaming island 10a provided with a counter, and FIG. 3 is a front view simply showing the internal configuration of each gaming island. In addition,
Each of the gaming islands 10a, 10b, and 10c in the case of the present example differs depending on the presence or absence of a counter and the arrangement position (the inclined gutter 1 described later).
4, 15 are connected to both sides).

As shown in FIG. 2, for example, each game island is provided with a ball storage tank 32a, 32b, a ball lifting device 33 (circulation means within the island, electric operation equipment, ball polishing means) with respect to the island frame 31,
In addition to incorporating devices such as ball discharge devices 34a and 34b (intra-island circulation means, electrically operated devices), various flow path members (such as gutters and hoses to be described later) for circulating game balls within the island are incorporated. The game balls circulate on the island as follows. That is, the game balls (e.g., out balls) discharged from each gaming machine are firstly collected by the ball collection gutter 3 provided in a state of being inclined in the left-right direction below the island (under each gaming machine).
5a, 35b (intra-island circulation means) are collected and collected at a position substantially at the bottom of the center of the island. At this position, an entrance on the lower end side of the ball lifting device 33 is arranged, and the game balls collected at this position enter the ball lifting device 33 in an orderly manner by an alignment device (not shown). It is lifted while being polished by the device 33, and is discharged from the outlet at the upper end side of the ball lifting device 33 into the main tank 13a of the circulation tank 13 described above.

The game balls received by the counter 12 also flow down onto the ball collection gutter 35a from a discharge port (not shown) projecting from the back side of the counter 12 (inside the side wall of the island). As long as the ball collection gutter 35a is not filled with game balls, the ball is collected in the same manner as the game balls discharged from the game machine and sent to the ball lifting device 33. When the top of the ball collection gutter 35a is filled with game balls, the game balls received by the counter 12 flow down from an opening (not shown) provided in a part of the side wall of the ball collection gutter 35a. And is directly collected in the ball storage tank 32a. Next, the ball lifting device 3
A portion of the game balls discharged from 3 into the upper portion of the main circulation tank 13a flows into the auxiliary circulation tank 13b, and further flows into the inclined gutters 14 and 15 described above. The remaining game balls flow down downward in the main circulation tank 13a and are distributed substantially evenly to the left and right by a mountain-shaped distribution member (not shown). The ball is supplied to each gaming machine by ball supply gutters 36a and 36b provided in a state of being inclined. Here, in the ball supply gutters 36a and 36b, distributors of game balls called chutes are provided at a plurality of locations corresponding to the respective gaming machines. Game balls are supplied to the rental machine from the ball supply gutter.

If the inside of the auxiliary circulation tank 13b is full of game balls, all of the game balls discharged from the ball lifting device 33 flow down in the main circulation tank 13a. Further, when the upper surface side (that is, the entrance of the ball supply gutter) of the lower distribution member in the main circulation tank 13a is filled with game balls, the main circulation tank 13a is discharged from the ball lifting device 33 and discharged. The game ball flowing down flows down further below the distribution member via an overflow tube (not shown), and is distributed substantially equally to the left and right by another distribution member provided further below the distribution member. , Overflow gutters 37a, 37b (circulation means in the island)
And flows down to the ball storage tanks 32a and 32b via first overflow hoses 38a and 38b (intra-island circulation means) provided at both ends of the island. In addition, the upper surface side of the above-described further lower sorting member (that is, the overflow gutter 37).
When a, 37b) is full of game balls, the game balls flowing down via the above-mentioned overflow tube are the second game balls.
Through the overflow hose 39 (intra-island circulation means) to the inlet of the ball lifting device 33 (downstream end of the ball collection gutter 35a).

The island frame 31 is a skeleton of the island, and is a support member for fixing the plurality of gaming machines 11 in a side-by-side state and for fixing the above-mentioned various devices and flow path members. In addition, the ball lifting device 33 includes, for example, a conveyor belt (not shown) which is arranged in a vertical direction and circulates, a polishing cloth (not shown) arranged to face one side of the conveyor belt, and an outer diameter of the game ball. A guide member (not shown) formed in a vertical direction with a semicircular cross-sectional groove corresponding to the above, and arranged to hold the back side of the polishing cloth, and a drive mechanism such as a motor for driving the transport belt. In a state in which the game balls are sandwiched between the transport belt and the polishing cloth, the game balls are rolled upward while being aligned, whereby the game balls are polished and lifted up in order. . In addition, this ball lifting device 33
(Strictly speaking, the polishing cloth) in this case corresponds to the ball polishing means of the present invention. Also, the ball storage tanks 32a, 32b
Is a tank having an empty space on both sides and below the ball collecting gutters 35a and 35b as its internal space. , A ball falling shelf or a rolling member) are provided inside.

At a plurality of positions of the ball storage tanks 32a and 32b, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a ball amount for detecting the ball amount in the ball storage tank (ie, the amount of game balls held on an island) is provided. Switches 41a to 44a or 41b to 44b
(Sphere quantity monitoring means) is installed. These ball quantity switches are mechanical ball detectors that, when a contact (not shown) is pressed by pressure due to contact of a game ball, an internal contact is activated to output a detection signal.

The ball discharge devices 34a and 34b discharge the game balls in the ball storage tanks 32a and 32b from those collected at the bottom and discharge them onto the ball collection gutters 35a and 35b.
This is a device for sending out to the ball lifting device 33, and its basic structure is the same as that of the ball lifting device 33. In FIG. 3, reference numerals 45 and 46 denote a limit switch and an upper ball quantity switch provided in the main circulation tank 13a. The limit switch 45 and the upper ball quantity switch 46 are connected to the ball storage tanks 32a and 32b described above.
This is a sphere detector that has the same structure in principle as the sphere quantity switch, and also detects the presence of a game sphere. Here, the limit switch 45 is disposed above the circulation main tank 13a (near the upper end discharge port of the ball lifting device 33).
This is for detecting that the inside of the main circulation tank 13a is filled with game balls up to this level. The upper ball quantity switch 46 is located at a position slightly above the above-mentioned sorting member in the main circulation tank 13a (the ball supply gutters 36a, 3a).
6b), and detects that the main circulation tank 13a is full of game balls up to this level.

C. Configuration of Control System Next, the configuration of the control system (mainly the island controller) will be described. The above-mentioned island control devices 20a, 20b, and 20c are connected as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 so that signals can be mutually transmitted and received.
b and 20c are connected via a relay device 21 so that signals can be exchanged with the system control device 22. When there are a large number of game island groups, a relay device is provided for each game island group, and as shown in FIG.
2 can be connected. Note that the present invention is characterized by a control process of a circulating operation for circulating game balls within a game island or between game islands or a facility configuration therefor, and a hardware configuration of a control system is not particularly limited. In the case of this example, the control process for ball circulation by automatic driving is performed for each island control device on its own island (hereinafter referred to as its own island). The control system will be briefly described focusing on a configuration example. The configuration of the island control devices 20a and 20c is basically the same as that of the island control device 20b, and the number and types of input / output devices are different depending on the installation position of the game island and the presence or absence of a counter as described later. Only.

The island controller 20b includes, for example, a CPU 51, a ROM 52, a RAM 53, and an EEPROM as shown in FIG.
The island controller 20 comprises a microcomputer system including an OM 54, a clock oscillation circuit 55, and an I / O interface (input / output interface) 56.
An operation switch (not shown), a setting switch 58, and an operation indicator 5
9 are provided. Here, the EEPROM 54 is
The ROM is a ROM in which data can be electrically written or erased, and is, for example, a nonvolatile memory that stores data set by the setting switch 58. On the other hand, the ROM 52
For example, a mask RO in which a processing procedure (program) of the CPU 51 including a processing of a flowchart described later is recorded in advance.
M. The RAM 53 is a volatile memory that can be read and written at any time for storing data and programs that need to be temporarily stored in the course of the control processing. The clock oscillating circuit 55 is a circuit that outputs a clock (pulse signal having a constant period) necessary for the operation of the CPU 51.

The operation changeover switch 57 is a switch for inputting a command to switch the operation state of the island controller 20b to the normal mode or the setting change mode. The setting switch 58 is a switch for inputting various setting data in the setting change mode, and is a switch for setting a manual operation (or an automatic operation) of various electric operating devices in the island. The operation display 59
Is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display or the like.
It is displayed as needed under the control of U51. When the normal mode is commanded by the operation changeover switch 57, a control process (control process other than setting change) described later is executed,
On the other hand, when the setting change mode is instructed, the setting switch 58
Is a program configuration in which the CPU 51 accepts various setting data input by the CPU 51 and executes a process of writing to a predetermined address of the EEPROM 54. And
The above various setting data includes island equipment information (for example, data such as the number of ball quantity switches, the number of ball storage tanks, the presence or absence of a counter, the presence or absence of an inclined gutter, etc.) indicating the equipment configuration unique to the game island. It is.

As shown in FIG. 4, detection signals of various switches are input to the island control device 20b via the I / O interface 56, and control signals are output to various devices to be controlled. It has become. here,
Various switches for inputting the detection signal include the above-mentioned ball switches 41a to 44a (tank one ball SW) and the above-mentioned ball switches 41b to 44b (tank two ball SW).
And the upper ball amount switch 46, the limit switch 45, and the shutter sensors 61 and 62 (shutter sensor A) for detecting the open / closed state of the shutter 16.
Or B) and a thermal trip 63 for detecting overload of the motor of the ball lifting device 33. Although not shown, a thermal trip for detecting overload of the motor of the ball discharging devices 34a and 34b is also provided.

The object to which the island control device 20b outputs a control signal includes the ball discharge devices 34a and 34 described above.
b (first ball discharging device, second ball discharging device), motors 64 and 65 (shutter motors A or B) for driving the above-described shutter 16, a lift motor 66 for driving the ball lifting device 33, and There is a status indicator 68. The operating state indicator 68 includes, for example, an LED provided near the operation unit on the surface of the island control device 20b. For example, the operating state (operating or Stop), abnormal display, and the like are appropriately displayed under the control of the CPU 51.

In the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, the game island 10b provided with the island control device 20b is provided with the shutters 16 on both sides, and therefore has two shutter sensors and shutter motors. In these, these are distinguished by reference signs A and B. However, game islands 1 located at both ends
In the case of 0a and 10c, there is only one shutter 16 on one side, and in the case of the island controllers 20a and 20c, there is only one shutter sensor as a signal input device.
The gaming islands 10a and 10c are provided with a counter 12, and in the case of the island controllers 20a and 20c, the control unit 67 (counter control unit) of the counter 12 is also controlled.
Each game island illustrated in FIG. 1 has ball storage tanks on both left and right sides, and two types of ball quantity switches and ball discharge devices are provided on both left and right sides correspondingly. For this reason, in FIG. 4 or FIG. 16 described later, the left ball storage tank is represented by tank 1 or T1, and the right ball storage tank is represented by tank 2 or T1.
It is represented by 2. In FIG. 4, the ball discharge device on the left side is shown as a first ball discharge device, and the ball discharge device on the right side is shown as a second ball discharge device.

D. Next, control processing performed by the system control device 22 will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing, in a tabular form, main control information (message) transmitted from the system control device 22 to each island control device. FIGS. It is a figure showing the example of a display of a monitor. In the following description, the system controller 2 will be described with reference to these drawings.
The control process 2 will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a main routine. When the apparatus is started, first, in step S2, processing for initializing various parameters and the like in the control processing is performed. Next, in step S4, a setting process for transmitting the detailed information acquisition message shown in FIG. 11 to each island control device is performed. In step S6, various information (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as island information in some cases) transmitted from each island control device is received and read. Here, the island information includes detection signal or set value data input from each input device to the island controller shown in FIG. Alternatively, the state of the control command is included. Specifically, for example, the following are included. That is, the ball weight switches 41a to 44a
(Or 41b-44b), the input signal from the limit switch 45, the input signal from the limit switch 45, Input signals, input signals from the shutter sensors 61 and 62 (ball capture information),
The information includes the operation information of the ball discharging devices 34a and 34b and the ball lifting device 33 (operating or stopped).

Next, in step S8, an input monitoring / screen output process described later is executed. Then, in step S10, the message to the island control device set in the processing up to that point is actually transmitted. After the process in step S10 is completed, the process returns to step S4, and the above-described series of processes is repeated as long as the system is activated.

FIG. 7 shows an input monitoring / screen output process. First, in step S12, it is determined whether or not an operation input such as a button click on a monitor screen has been performed by, for example, a mouse operation of the system control device 22, and if there is an input, the process proceeds to step S14; . Next, in step S14, it is determined whether or not there is an operation input (main display switching instruction input) for clicking any of the display switching buttons 101 to 109 (shown in FIG. 12) on the monitor screen. Proceed to step S16, otherwise proceed to step S18. Then, in step S16, the main display pattern data selected by the operation input is read from the memory. That is, for example, the display switching button 104 shown in FIG.
When (remote operation) is clicked, basic image data for performing a display as shown in FIG. 12 in the main screen display area 111 on the monitor screen, for example, is read in advance. Alternatively, for example, when the display switching button 103 (island group) shown in FIG. 12 is clicked, the main screen display area 11 on the monitor screen
For example, basic image data for performing a display as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, in step S18, it is determined whether or not a sub-display switching instruction input has been made. If this input has been made, the flow proceeds to step S20; otherwise, the flow proceeds to step S22. Specifically, for example, when the end button 110 (shown in FIG. 12) on the monitor screen is clicked, a sub display for reconfirming with the operator whether or not the system is to be actually ended is displayed on the screen. Although displayed on the upper side, it is determined here whether or not an operation input causing such a sub-display has occurred. In step S20, since it is necessary to perform the sub-display according to the operation input, the image data corresponding to the operation input among the image data of the sub-display registered in advance is read from the memory.

On the other hand, in step S22, it is determined whether or not another screen display switching instruction input has been made. If this input has been made, the flow proceeds to step S24, and if not, the flow proceeds to step S26.
Specifically, for example, the island switching button 112 on the monitor screen
When (shown in FIG. 12) is clicked, the display of the main screen or the island number must be changed to an image of another corresponding island, and whether or not an operation input causing such a screen switching has been performed. Here, it is determined. Then, in step S24, the image data corresponding to the operation input for screen switching is also read from the memory. On the other hand, in step S26, an operation instruction button process described later shown in FIG. 8 is executed.

Next, in step S28, based on the island information received in step S6, the image data of the island information to be displayed on the monitor image is converted into the image data read in step S16 or S20 or step S24. To be added. For example, on the main screen in the display shown in FIG. 12, the ball volume of each ball storage tank (tank 1 and tank 2) is represented by a picture such as a bar graph, and the ball discharge device and the ball lifting device are used. The operating state (operating or stopped) of the electric operating device is represented by a change in color or brightness within a circle, but here, image data based on the latest island information for such display is shown. Is incorporated into the basic image data. Here, image data processing for changing the screen content according to the operation input received in the operation instruction button processing in step S26 is also performed. Next, in step S30, an output process for actually displaying the image data finally processed and formed in step S28 on the monitor screen is performed.

FIG. 8 shows the operation instruction button processing. First, in step S32, the display switching button 1
In a situation where 07 (maintenance) is clicked and a maintenance display as shown in FIG. 15, for example, is performed, it is determined whether or not a button on the main screen has been operated. Otherwise, the process proceeds to step S34. The buttons on the main screen are buttons displayed in the main screen display area 111, and are buttons other than the buttons such as the display switching buttons 101 to 109, the end button 110, and the island switching button 112. Incidentally, in this case (maintenance display), the only button on the main screen is a start button shown in FIG. 15 (a stop button during maintenance execution). Next, in step S34, the display switching button 10
In a situation where 4 (remote operation) is clicked and a remote operation display as shown in FIG. 12, for example, is made, it is determined whether or not a button on the main screen has been operated. Otherwise, to step S36.

Next, in step S36, it is determined whether or not a button on the main screen has been operated in a situation where the display switching button 106 (setting) is clicked and the island control device setting display as shown in FIG. 14, for example, is made. If the operation input is such, the process proceeds to step S46, and if not, the process proceeds to step S38. Next, in step S38, in a situation where the display switching button 109 (print) is clicked and a print display (not shown) is made,
It is determined whether or not a button on the main screen has been operated, and if such an operation input has been made, the process proceeds to step S48; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S40. And step S40
Then, since it is determined that the end button 110 (shown in FIG. 12) has been clicked, a process for ending the application software as the system control device of the game arcade is performed, and the process returns.

On the other hand, in step S42, a maintenance operation process described later shown in FIG. 10 is executed, and the routine returns.
In step S44, a remote operation selection process described later shown in FIG. 9 is executed, and the process returns. In step S46, a setting input process is performed, and the process returns. The setting input process is a process for receiving an operation of a button on the main screen in the setting display. An operation performed in the setting display of the island control device as shown in FIG. 14, for example, is transmitted as the island control device setting message shown in FIG.
0 is transmitted to the island control device and set in the island control device as setting information including island facility information. In step S48, a print selection process is performed, and the process returns. The print selection process means that, in the above-described print display, if a button (not shown) for instructing printing is clicked, printing is executed, and if a button for canceling printing is clicked, printing is stopped and printing is stopped. This is a process for canceling the display.
When a print execution is instructed, the image displayed on the monitor screen at that time (immediately before print display) is printed as it is.

FIG. 9 shows a remote operation selection process. First, in step S52, for example, in the remote operation display shown in FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not a button for instructing manual operation of any of the electrically operated devices has been clicked. If so, the process proceeds to step S54. In the case of FIG. 12, the electric actuating devices for remote control include a ball lifting device, a balance shutter (slope gutter shutter), a ball discharging device, and a counter. Then, by clicking a button displayed as "manual operation" among the buttons below the display of the device name, a setting for manually operating the device is input. FIG. 12 illustrates a state in which automatic operation is set for all devices. Next, in step S54, for example, in the remote operation display shown in FIG. 12, it is determined whether or not a button for instructing manual stop of any electric operation device has been clicked. Step S5
Proceed to 6. In the case of FIG. 12, by clicking a button displayed as “manual stop” among the buttons below the display of each device name, a setting for manually stopping the device is input.

In step S56, it is determined that there has been an input other than manual operation and manual stop (that is, it has been determined that an operation for instructing automatic operation has been performed). A remote operation message (shown in FIG. 11) for setting the automatic driving state is set. On the other hand, in step S58, since the manual operation has been input, a remote control message for manual operation (shown in FIG. 11) for forcibly operating the corresponding device of the corresponding island control device is set. In step S60, since a manual stop is input, a remote operation message (shown in FIG. 11) for manual stop for forcibly stopping the corresponding device of the corresponding island control device is set. These steps S56 and S5
8. The remote control message set in S60 is transmitted to the corresponding island control device in step S10 described above.

FIG. 10 shows a maintenance operation process. First, in step S62, for example, in the maintenance display state shown in FIG. 15, it is determined whether or not the operation is being performed in which the maintenance of the corresponding island control device is being performed. Proceed to S66. In step S64, since the operated button on the main screen is a stop button for instructing to stop maintenance, image data setting for changing the display on the screen to a state indicating the maintenance stop state is executed. At the same time, a message including a content for instructing the corresponding island control device to stop maintenance is set. On the other hand, in step S66, since the operated button on the main screen is a start button for instructing the start of maintenance, setting of image data for changing the display on the screen to the one indicating the maintenance operation state is executed. At the same time, a maintenance setting message (shown in FIG. 11) including contents for instructing the corresponding island control device to execute maintenance is set.

In this case, the maintenance means a game held in a specific game island in order to maintain the game ball in a good condition free from corrosion and dirt even on a game island where the frequency of circulation of the game ball is low. For the purpose of polishing all the balls, it means an operation (maintenance ball polishing) of forcibly sending all the game balls held in a specific game island to the adjacent island once through the inclined gutters 14 and 15 described above. For this reason, in the case of the present example, a message is also sent to a game island adjacent to the specific game island to be maintained, and the shutter on the specific game island is forcibly opened to start ball capture. Processing is required. In addition, in the specific game island, when the maintenance command is issued from the system control device, all the ball discharging devices and the balls are discharged until the ball amount in the storage tank is determined to be zero by a process not shown, for example. The lifting device is forcibly operated. Here, the judgment that the ball weight is zero means that the ball weight switch 41a
44a or 41b to 44b is read as zero. During the maintenance ball polishing, almost all of the game balls on that particular game island (at least the game balls in the ball storage tank) are forcibly sent to the adjacent game island. Normal intra-island circulation of a specific gaming island (such as circulation of gaming balls to supply gaming balls to each gaming machine) and normal inter-island circulation of the specific gaming island (game ball volume of each gaming island) Circulating the game balls to balance the game and properly maintain the holding amount) becomes substantially impossible (including an insufficient state), and the control for that is not performed for the specific game island. .
That is, the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation for the particular game island are inactive as referred to in the present invention. However, also in this case, in all the game islands except for this specific game island, the normal island circulation is performed as necessary, and the game balls realized by step S76 in FIG. The normal inter-island circulation is continuously performed on all gaming islands except for the specific gaming island (that is, intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation for other gaming islands are maintained in an active state). For this reason, even while this maintenance operation is being performed, the holding amount of the game balls on the other game islands is relatively easily maintained, and when the maintenance operation is completed and the specific game island Also when the operation of intra-island circulation or inter-island circulation is resumed (that is,
At the time of returning to the active state according to the present invention), each of the gaming islands easily returns to the balanced state relatively quickly. FIG. 26 is a diagram showing the flow of the maintenance ball polishing operation. Here, the corresponding island is a specific game island for performing the maintenance ball polishing, and the adjacent island is a game island adjacent to the relevant island. When there are a plurality of adjacent islands on both sides of the corresponding island, for example, control may be performed to forcibly open the shutters for all adjacent islands in this maintenance ball polishing operation, or one of the adjacent islands (for example, Alternatively, a control may be performed in which an adjacent island having the least amount of game balls is selected) and the shutter is forcibly opened only for that adjacent island.

E. Next, control processing performed by each of the island control devices 20a, 20b, and 20c will be described with reference to flowcharts in FIGS. First, FIG. 17 shows a main routine. When the device is started, first in step S72,
A process for initializing various parameters in the control process is performed. Next, in step S74, control processing of the ball lifting device 33 is performed. First, when automatic operation is set for the ball lifting device 33, the following control is performed. That is, if the detection signal is not input from the limit switch 45, the game balls are not filled to the level indicating the abnormality of the circulation tank 13 on the island, and the ball lifting device 33 (the motor 66) is operated. If the detection signal is input, the ball lifting device 33 is stopped. Even if the detection signal is not input, if the signal (thermal trip signal) from the thermal trip 63 is input, the ball lifting device 33 is stopped because the motor 66 is overloaded. When the stop is caused by the overload as described above, the stop control state is not restored unless the reset signal is input by the input of the setting switch 58 described above.

The manual operation (manual operation or manual stop) of the ball lifting device 33 is performed based on the operation of the setting switch 58 described above and the control information from the system control device which is received and processed in step S106 described later. Is set, a control process for forcibly operating or stopping the ball lifting device 33 is executed regardless of the state of the detection signal of the limit switch 45. However, this ball lifting device 3
Manual operation of 3 is other electric actuation equipment (other electric actuation equipment of the same island and electric actuation equipment including ball lifting equipment of other islands)
It is executed independently of the control of. In other words, even if the ball lifting device 33 is manually operated, if the other electrically operated devices are set to the automatic operation, the other electrically operated devices are:
It is operated in a normal control process, and a normal circulation operation (intra-island circulation, inter-island circulation) is continued.

Next, in step S76, a balance control process for exchanging game balls between the game islands and appropriately holding the game ball possession amount of each game island (own island evaluation value calculation process described later, adjacent island selection) Processing, processing including ball circulation determination processing and ball circulation execution processing). That is, based on island facility information preset for each game island as information indicating a facility configuration unique to each game island, and ball quantity information detected by the ball quantity switch, evaluation ball quantity information for each game island Is determined, and the circulation means between the islands (the shutter 16 and the inclined gutters 14 and 15) is operated based on the ball quantity information for evaluation to adjust the holding amount of the game balls in each game island. Specifically, first, a self-island evaluation value calculation process is performed. That is, from the set island facility information, the number of ball storage tanks installed on the island (in this case, one or two), or data on the presence or absence of the counter installed on the island, or the quantity, read. Next, from the information input in step S94 to be described later, the number of on (ball quantity information) of the ball quantity switch installed in each ball storage tank on the own island is read.

Next, a first condition value is set based on the read number of ball storage tanks. Specifically, when the number of ball storage tanks is one, the first condition value is set to “2”, and when the number of ball storage tanks is two, the first condition value is “1”. Set. Then, a second condition value (margin value) is set based on the read data of the counter. Specifically, if there is one or more counters, the second condition value is set to “1”, and if there is no counter, the second condition value is set to “0”. Next, temporary ball quantity information is calculated from the above-described first condition value and the read number of ball quantity switch ON (ball quantity information). Specifically, the above-described first condition value is multiplied by the number of ONs of the ball quantity switch, and the value of the result is used as temporary ball quantity information.

Next, it is determined whether the value of the temporary ball amount information calculated as described above is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (for example, 5), and if it is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, the set second condition value (margin value) is determined. The value is added to the value of the ball storage ratio information, and the value of this addition result is used as the evaluation ball amount information of the own island. If the value of the provisional ball amount information is not equal to or more than the predetermined value, the set second condition value is invalidated, and the value of the provisional ball amount information is used as it is as the evaluation ball amount information of the own island. FIG. 16A shows the contents of the above-described own island evaluation value calculation processing in a table format. This FIG.
Numerals (0 to 4) on the vertical axis and horizontal axis in (a) indicate the number of ball switches (ie, ball quantity information) that are turned on in each ball storage tank, and "-" indicates one side. This shows a case where the ball storage tank T2 is not provided. The numbers (0 to 8) in the table indicate provisional sphere amount information.
In the case of this example, the evaluation ball amount information is an integer value of 0 to 9 and is a level value indicating the magnitude of the possession amount of the game ball in ten levels.

Next, an adjacent island selecting process is executed. That is,
Among the adjacent islands on both sides, a game island is selected as a supply side of a circulating operation (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as ball take-in) for taking game balls to the own island. Specifically, the one with the larger ball quantity information for evaluation is selected, and when the ball quantity information for evaluation of both adjacent islands is equal, one of them is selected with a probability of 1/2 using a random number. However, if the adjacent island is a specific island performing the above-described maintenance commanded by the system control device, only that specific island is excluded from the selection. Next, a ball circulation determination process is performed. That is, the evaluation sphere amount information of the adjacent island of the selected circulation partner is compared with the evaluation sphere amount information of the own island, and it is determined whether or not the difference between them is equal to or more than a predetermined value (reference value). If the value is equal to or more than this value, it is determined that the ball should be taken from the target adjacent island to the own island. FIG. 16B summarizes the determination results of the ball capture determined by the above processing in a table format. In this figure, the vertical axis is the ball quantity information for evaluation of the own island (0 to 9).
And the horizontal axis indicates the evaluation sphere amount information (0 to 0) of the target adjacent island.
9) is shown. Further, “「 ”in the table indicates that ball capture is started, and“ − ”indicates that ball capture is not started.

Then, a ball circulation execution process is executed based on these decisions. That is, based on the result of the determination, control for specifically driving the shutter motor to activate or stop the corresponding shutter 16 is performed. Note that the operation of the setting switch 58 described above and the step S1 described later are performed.
When the manual operation (manual operation or manual stop) of the shutter 16 of the self island or the above-mentioned forced operation for maintenance is set by the above-described control information from the system control device received and processed in 06, Independently of the above-described balance control processing for automatic operation, control processing for forcibly operating or stopping the shutter 16 according to the set contents is executed. However, such a shutter 1
The forced operation of 6 is performed independently of the control of other electric actuation devices (other electric actuation devices of the same island and electric actuation devices including shutters 16 of other islands). That is, even if one of the shutters 16 of the island is forcibly operated or stopped, if the other electrically operated devices are set to the automatic operation, the other electrically operated devices are subjected to the normal control processing (ie, And the normal circulation operation (intra-island circulation, inter-island circulation) is continued.

Next, in step S78, a counter control process is executed. The counter control processing of this example is such that when the above-described evaluation ball amount information indicating the virtual holding amount of game balls held on the island is equal to or greater than the set reference value, the acceptance of the game balls is If it is not possible, a control signal for setting the state of the counter 12 to the count stop state is output, and when the ball information for evaluation falls below the set lower limit, acceptance of game balls should be restarted. If there is, this is a process of setting the state of the counter 12 to a countable state. In this case, when the ball information for evaluation becomes, for example, 8 or more, the counter 12 is controlled to the counting stopped state, and when the ball information for evaluation becomes, for example, 4 or less, the counter 12 counts. It is returned to the enabled state. Here, the counting suspended state means a state in which the shutter of the game ball reception port of the counter 12 is closed and counting (reception of game balls) cannot be performed. The operation of the setting switch 58 described above and the above-described control information from the system control device that is received and processed in step S106 described later,
When the manual operation (manual operation or manual stop) of the counter 12 of the own island is set, regardless of the control processing of the automatic operation based on the above-mentioned ball quantity information for evaluation, the operation is performed in accordance with the set contents. A control process for forcibly operating or stopping the counter 12 is executed. However, such a compulsory operation of the counter 12 may be caused by other electric actuation devices (electric actuation devices including other counters 12 on the own island and electric actuation devices including the counters 12 on other islands). Performed independently of control. In other words, even if any of the counters 12 on the island is manually operated, if the other electrically operated devices are set to the automatic operation, the other electrically operated devices are operated by the normal control processing, and The normal circulation operation (intra-island circulation, inter-island circulation) is continued.

Next, in step S80, the ball discharging device 3
Control processing of 4a and 34b (ball discharge device control processing) is performed. This ball discharge device control process is described in FIG.
25 will be described later. Next, in step S82, a trouble monitoring process is performed. That is, for example, step S80
In the (ball discharge device control process), when the ball discharge device 34a or 34b is operated because the detection signal is not input from the upper ball amount switch 46, the detection signal of the upper ball amount switch 46 is monitored and activated. When the time from the start of the detection signal to the input of this detection signal exceeds a preset threshold value, it is estimated that the circulation of the game balls on the island is defective. Output. If a signal from, for example, the thermal trip 63 is input, the lift motor 66 and the like are overloaded.
An abnormality signal indicating the abnormality is output. Here, the abnormal signal is transmitted to the system controller 22 in step S88 described later.
And other island control devices, and, for example, the display of the abnormality on the operation state indicator 68 is performed, for example, in step S9 described later.
2 is executed.

Next, in step S84, a process of receiving a setting change input in the setting change mode by the setting switch 58 and a setting of a manual operation (or automatic operation) by the setting switch 58 are performed. And step S
At 86, display control on the operation display 59 is performed. Next, in step S88, a communication process described below shown in FIG. 18B is executed.
And the above series of processing is repeated as long as the apparatus is activated.

Next, FIG. 18A shows a timer interrupt process periodically performed by a timer interrupt separately from the main routine. First, in step S92, display control on the operation state indicator 68 is performed. Then, in step S94, a process of reading an input signal from each input device (the above-described various switches and sensors shown in FIG. 4) and updating the stored value is performed. Then, a series of timer interrupt processing ends. Normally, the latest data of the input signal read here is used in other processing.

FIG. 18B shows a communication process. First, in step S102, after confirming the timing of transmission to the system control device, island information of the own island (hereinafter, referred to as own island information) is transmitted to the system control device. Next, in step S104, after confirming that it is the transmission timing to the island controller of the adjacent island, the self-island information is transmitted to the island controller. Next, in step S106, control information (the various messages described above) addressed to the own island from the system control device is received and stored. Then, in step S108, it receives and stores the island information addressed to its own island from the adjacent island, and returns to the main routine.

FIG. 19 shows a ball discharge device control process. First, in step S112, a later-described upper tank monitoring process shown in FIG. 20 is performed. Here, as will be described later, the setting and resetting of the ball lifting flag for operating the ball discharging device according to the operation state of the upper ball amount switch 46 are executed. Next, in step S114, FIG.
(A) The shutter monitoring process for the adjacent island and the island shown below, which is described later, is performed, and it is determined whether the adjacent island is taking in the ball. Sphere circulation flag for the island is set.

Next, in step S116, FIG.
The following ball difference condition monitoring process shown in FIG. here,
Substantial ball quantity information (tank ball quantity information to be described later) of each ball storage tank in consideration of the presence or absence of a counter is obtained, and the difference between these tank ball quantity information exceeds a specified value (in this case, “2”). When it is determined that the ball has been discharged, a tank storage ball equalization flag for operating the ball discharge device to equalize the amount of balls in each ball storage tank in the own island is set. And step S1
At 18, a ball discharge device operation setting process described later and shown in FIG. 22 is executed. Here, after confirming that any one of the above-mentioned flags is set (that the operating condition of the ball discharging device is satisfied), different operation according to the holding state of the game ball in each ball storage tank is performed. A setting process for operating the ball discharging device in a pattern is performed. Then step S
At 120, an operation monitoring process described later shown in FIG. 25 is performed.
This process is a setting process for manually operating or manually stopping the ball discharge device that is the target of the operation input by the operation input (manual operation) in the island control device or the system control device.

Next, in step S122, step S1
It is determined whether or not the setting of the ball discharging device determined in the operation monitoring process of step 20 is the automatic operation setting. If the automatic operation setting is set, the process proceeds to step S124. Then, in a step S124, it is determined whether or not any of the above-mentioned flags is set,
If set, the process proceeds to step S134; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S126. Next, step S1
At 26, no flag is set, so
Make settings to stop all ball discharge devices. On the other hand, in step S128, it is determined whether or not the setting of the ball discharging device determined in the operation monitoring process in step S120 is set to manual operation.
Otherwise, to step S132.

Then, in step S130, a setting is made to forcibly operate the ball discharge device for which manual operation has been instructed, while in step S132, the ball discharge device for which manual stop has been instructed is forcibly activated. Perform the setting to stop temporarily. Which of the ball discharging devices is instructed to operate or stop is based on the information read in the operation monitoring process (steps S282 and S284 in FIG. 25 described later). Note that the setting here has priority over the setting for automatic operation of the ball discharge device determined by the ball discharge device operation setting process in step S118 (a series of processes in FIGS. 22 to 24 described later). Here, the setting for forcibly starting or stopping the operation by the manual operation is performed only for the ball discharge device set as the target of the manual operation. Finally, in step S134, a control signal for actually operating or stopping each ball discharge device is transmitted to each ball discharge device according to the setting of operation or stop of each ball discharge device determined in the processing up to this point. The output process is performed, and then the process returns to the main routine.

FIG. 20 shows the upper tank monitoring process. First, in step S142, the latest output signal of the upper ball quantity switch 46 is read. Then step S
In 144, it is determined whether or not the ball lifting flag is set. If it is set, the process proceeds to step S150, and if not, the process proceeds to step S146. Next, in step S146, from the information read in step S142, it is determined whether or not the upper ball quantity switch 46 is on. If it is on, the process returns to the processing in FIG. move on. In step S148, the ball discharging device is operated to set a ball lifting flag for supplying game balls to the circulation tank 13 above the island, and the process returns. On the other hand, in step S150,
From the information read in step S142, it is determined whether or not the upper ball amount switch 46 is on. If it is on, the process proceeds to step S152, and if not, the process proceeds to step S162.

Next, in step S152, it is determined whether or not the ball lifting timer is operating.
Proceed to 54, otherwise proceed to step S164.
Next, in step S154, a value corresponding to one cycle of the processing cycle is added to the value of the ball lifting timer, and the count is incremented. Then, in step S156, step S1
It is determined whether the value of the ball lifting timer counted up at 54 is equal to or greater than a value corresponding to, for example, one minute. If it is equal to or greater than one minute, the process proceeds to step S158; otherwise, the process returns. Next, in step S158, the ball lifting flag is cleared (reset), and further, in step S160, the ball lifting timer is cleared, and the routine returns. Step S
Also at 162, the ball lifting timer is cleared and the routine returns. In step S164, the operation of the ball lifting timer is started, and the process returns.

According to the above upper tank monitoring process, if the detection signal is not inputted from the upper ball quantity switch 46, the predetermined level of the circulation tank 13 above the island is not sufficiently filled with the game balls. A ball lifting flag for operating the discharging device is set. When the upper ball quantity switch 46 is turned on, it is determined that the predetermined level of the circulation tank 13 is sufficiently filled with the game balls, so that the ball lifting flag is reset and the ball discharging device is stopped. A setting process is performed. However, in this case, in order to supply a sufficient amount of game balls with higher reliability, the time elapsed since the upper ball quantity switch 46 was turned on is counted by a ball lifting timer, and the elapsed time is, for example, 1 minute. Until is reached, the ball lifting flag is not reset.

Next, FIG. 21A shows a process of monitoring the shutter on the side of the island on the adjacent island. First, in step S172, information indicating the operating state of the adjacent island's own island side shutter at that time is read. That is, it is read from the information received in step S108 whether or not the shutter 16 on the own island side of the game island adjacent to the own island is open. Next, step S
In 174, if the shutter 16 of the adjacent island is open, the process proceeds to step S176; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S17.
Proceed to 8. Then, in step S176, since the adjacent island is performing ball capture, the ball discharge device is operated to set a ball circulation flag within the island for assisting ball capture, and the routine returns. On the other hand, in step S178, since the adjacent island has not taken the ball (or has stopped taking the ball), the ball circulation flag in the island for operating the ball discharging device is cleared, and the routine returns.

Next, FIG. 21B shows the ball difference condition monitoring process. First, in step S182, step S9
From the information input in step 4, the ball quantity switches 41a to 41b installed in the tank 1 (ball storage tank 32a) of the island.
The number of ONs of 44a (ball quantity information, ball storage ratio information) is read. Next, in step S184, the tank 2 of the own island (the ball storage tank 3) is obtained from the information input in step S94.
The number of ON (ball mass information, ball storage ratio information) of the ball mass switches 41b to 44b installed in 2b) is read.

Next, in step S186, the presence or absence of a counter installed for each ball storage tank is read from the set island facility information. The counter here is:
This is a counter that counts the number of captured game balls and then discharges the counted game balls to the corresponding ball storage tank side. FIG.
In this case, the counter is provided only in the ball storage tank 32a on the left side. Next, in step S188, ball quantity information for evaluation of each ball storage tank (ball quantity information in consideration of the presence / absence of a counter, hereinafter referred to as tank ball quantity information).
Ask for. Specifically, for a ball storage tank having a counter, a predetermined margin value (for example, “1”) is added to the on-number read in steps S182 and S184, and the addition result is used as tank ball quantity information. . For the ball storage tank without the counter, steps S182, S18
The on number read at 4 is used as the tank ball quantity information as it is.

Next, at step S190, step S190
The tank ball quantity information (tank 1 evaluation value) for tank 1 (ball storage tank 32a) obtained in 188 and tank 2
It is compared with the tank ball quantity information (tank 2 evaluation value) for (ball storage tank 32b), and it is determined whether or not the absolute value of these differences is 2 or more. And if it is 2 or more, step S
Proceed to 192, otherwise proceed to step S194. Next, in step S192, the ball discharge device is operated to set a tank storage ball equalization flag for equalizing the ball amount of each ball storage tank, and the process returns. On the other hand, in step S194, the tank stored ball equalization flag is cleared, and the routine returns.

FIG. 22 shows a ball discharge device operation setting process. First, in step S202, storage-related flag information is obtained. That is, information on whether or not the storage-related flags (the above-mentioned ball lifting flag, ball circulation flag in the island, and tank storage ball equalization flag) are set is read. Next, in step S204, the ball ball quantity information of each ball storage tank of the own island obtained in step S188 is read. Then, in step S206, it is determined whether any of the storage-related flags is set. If at least one of the storage-related flags is set, the process proceeds to step S208; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S216.

Next, in step S208, it is determined whether or not the tank stored ball equalization flag is set. If the flag is set, the process proceeds to step S218; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S210. Next, in step S210, a ball discharge device operating time setting process, which will be described later with reference to FIG. To perform the setting process. Then, in step S212, it is determined whether or not the ball quantity information (the number of ON of the ball quantity switch) of each ball storage tank is less than or equal to a reference value (in this case, “1”). Step S22
0, otherwise to step S214.

Next, in step S214, the ball discharging device 3
It is determined whether there is a thermal trip signal input for detecting overload of the motors 4a and 34b, and if there is an input, the process proceeds to step S152, otherwise returns. On the other hand, in step S216, since the operating condition for operating the ball discharging device is not satisfied, both of the operation settings of the ball discharging device are set to "none" (not operated). In step S218, since the absolute value of the difference between the tank ball quantity information of each ball storage tank is 2 or more and the tank storage ball equalization flag is set, the ball storage tank with the larger tank ball quantity information is The setting to operate only the provided ball discharge device is performed.

In step S220, since the ball quantity information of each ball storage tank is equal to or less than the reference value (1), and there are not enough game balls in any of the tanks, the ball discharge devices of both ball storage tanks are used. Are set to operate simultaneously. Note that this setting has priority over the setting of the alternate operation performed in step S210. That is, step S21
The alternate operation of each ball ejection device realized by setting 0 is
It is executed only when the ball quantity information of each ball storage tank exceeds the reference value (1) and each ball storage tank has enough game balls. In step S222, since the thermal trip of the ball discharging device detects overload of the motor, a setting is made to stop the ball discharging device to which the detection signal is output. This setting is performed in step S21.
0, S218, S220 and the operation setting performed in step S130.

Next, FIG. 23 shows a ball discharge device operating time setting process. First, in step S232, FIG.
(B) Tank ball quantity information (tank 1 evaluation value) for tank 1 (ball storage tank 32a) and tank ball quantity information (tank 2 evaluation value) for tank 2 (ball storage tank 32b) obtained in step S188. ) To determine whether or not these differences are zero. If the difference is 0, the process proceeds to step S236; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S23.
Proceed to 4.

Next, in step S234, step S2
As in the case of No. 32, the two tank ball quantity information are compared, and it is determined whether or not the absolute value of the difference between them is 1 or not. Then, if the absolute value of the difference is 1, the process proceeds to step S242; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S248. On the other hand, step S2
In 36, it is determined whether or not the operation time of each ball discharging device when the difference value is 0 (that is, the time set in steps S238 and S240 described later) is set. Proceed to S234, otherwise proceed to step S238. Then, in step S238,
First ball discharging device in alternate operation (ball discharging device 34a)
Is set to, for example, 30 seconds, and then step S
At 240, the operation time of the second ball discharging device (ball discharging device 34b) in the alternate operation is set to, for example, 30 seconds. In other words, when the process proceeds to step S166, since there is almost no substantial difference in the ball quantity between the ball storage tanks, in order to maintain the state, the ball discharging devices are alternately operated with the same operation time. Set the time to activate.

Next, in step S242, the operation time of each ball discharging device when the difference (absolute value) of the above-mentioned tank ball quantity information is 1 (ie, the time set in steps S244 and S246 described later) is set. It is determined whether or not it has been set. If it has been set, the process proceeds to step S248; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S244. Then, in step S244, the operation time in the alternate operation of the ball discharging device having the larger amount of tank ball information is set to, for example, 45 seconds. Then, in step S246, the ball discharging device having the smaller amount of ball ball information is set. Is set to, for example, 30 seconds. That is, when the process proceeds to step S242, the substantial difference in the ball quantity between the respective ball storage tanks is smaller than the specified value (in this case, “2”) but slightly larger (in this case, “1”). This is the case. For this reason, in order to improve the slight difference at an appropriate speed, it is necessary to alternately operate each ball discharging device at a different operating time so that the operating time of the ball discharging device on the side with a large amount of balls is slightly longer. Set the time. Next, step S2
At 48, a ball discharge device alternate operation setting process described below is executed based on the operation time set in the above process.

FIG. 24 shows a process for setting the alternate operation of the ball discharging device. First, in step S252, it is determined whether or not the operation timer of the first ball discharging device is operating. If it is operating, the process proceeds to step S268; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S254. The operation timer of the first ball discharging device is a timer for measuring the operation time of the first ball discharging device (ball discharging device 34a), and the set value (time-up value) is the above-described step S238 or step S244.
It is set in S246, and is described later in step S266 or S2.
At 56, a timing operation is started. Then, in step S254, it is determined whether or not the operation timer of the second ball ejection device is in operation. If the operation is in operation, the process proceeds to step S258; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S256. The operation timer of the second ball discharging device is a timer for measuring the operation time of the second ball discharging device (ball discharging device 34b), and the set value is the above-described step S240 or step S244.
It is set in S246, and is described later in step S276 or S2.
At 56, a timing operation is started. Next, step S
In 256, the operation timer of the ball discharge device provided in the ball storage tank on the side where the above-mentioned tank ball amount information is large is operated. However, when the tank ball quantity information is equal (when the above-mentioned determination in step S232 is affirmative), the operation timer of the first ball discharging device is operated. When the timer of the operation timer of the ball discharging device is started,
In the next processing cycle, the determination in step S252 or S254 becomes affirmative, and step S262 or S2
Step 72 is executed to set the operation of the ball ejection device on the side where the operation timer is operating.

On the other hand, in step S258, a timer calculation process of the second ball discharging device is performed. That is, a process of counting up the value of the operation timer of the second ball discharging device in accordance with the processing cycle is performed. Next, in step S260, it is determined whether or not the value of the operation timer of the second ball ejection device has reached a set value. If it has, the process proceeds to step S264, and if not, the process proceeds to step S262. Then, in step S262, a setting for operating only the second ball discharging device is performed, and the process returns. On the other hand, in step S264, the timer of the operation timer of the second ball discharging device is stopped, and the value is cleared (reset). Next, step S266
Then, the timing operation of the operation timer of the first ball discharging device is started, and the process returns.

On the other hand, in step S268, a timer calculation process of the first ball discharging device is performed. That is, a process of counting up the value of the operation timer of the first ball discharging device in accordance with the processing cycle is performed. Next, in step S270, it is determined whether or not the value of the operation timer of the first ball discharging device has reached a set value. If it has, the process proceeds to step S274, and if not, the process proceeds to step S272. Then, in step S272, a setting for operating only the first ball discharging device is performed, and the process returns. On the other hand, in step S274, the timer of the operation timer of the first ball discharging device is stopped, and the value is cleared (reset). Next, step S276
Then, the timer operation of the operation timer of the second ball discharging device is started, and the process returns. According to the ball discharge device alternate operation setting process described above, the operation setting is performed so that each ball discharge device operates alternately with the set operation time set in the ball discharge device operation time setting process shown in FIG. Will be performed.

FIG. 25 shows the operation monitoring process. First, in step S282, operation setting information of the ball discharge device performed by the island control device itself is acquired. Specifically, the setting state of the manual operation (or automatic operation) of each ball discharging device by the setting switch 58 is read. Next, in step S284, the operation setting information of the ball discharging device performed by the system control device is acquired. Specifically, at least each of the latest control information from the system control device transmitted in the process of step S10 in FIG. 6 and received in step S106 of the communication process in FIG. The command (the above-mentioned message) for manual operation (or automatic operation) of the ball discharge device is read. Next, in step S286, it is determined whether or not the setting of the ball ejection device by the setting switch 58 is set to the automatic operation. If the operation is set to the automatic operation, the process proceeds to step S288.

In step S288, it is determined whether or not the latest control information from the system control device is for instructing automatic operation of the ball discharging device. If it is automatic operation, the process proceeds to step S290; If so, the process proceeds to step S294. Next, in step S290, the automatic operation setting is performed, and the process returns. When the automatic operation setting is set, all the setting of operation or stop of each ball discharge device set in a series of processes (ball discharge device operation setting process and the like) shown in FIGS. Each ball discharge device is automatically operated based on the setting of operation or stop performed by the processing. In other words, by this setting, the above-described step S1 in the ball discharge device control processing of FIG.
In the branching process of 22, the process directly proceeds to step S134 unless all the flags are reset.
A control signal corresponding to the setting determined for each control cycle in the series of processing shown in FIGS. 22 to 24 is output to each ball discharging device, and each ball discharging device operates or stops according to the setting. .

On the other hand, in step S292, it is determined whether or not the setting of any one of the ball discharging devices by the setting switch 58 is set to manual operation (setting to operate manually). Proceed to S296, otherwise proceed to Step S298. In step S294, it is determined whether or not the latest control information from the system control device is for instructing manual operation of any of the ball discharging devices. If the operation is set to manual operation, the process proceeds to step S296, and so on. If not, step S298
Proceed to. Then, in step S296, a setting for manually operating the ball discharge device is performed. By this setting,
Step S12 in the ball discharge device control process of No. 9
In the branch processing of S128 and S128, the processing is performed in step S130.
Will go on. On the other hand, in step S298, a setting for manually stopping the ball discharge device (manual operation stop setting) is performed. That is, when the process proceeds to step S298, the automatic operation setting and the manual operation setting are not commanded (the manual operation stop setting is commanded), so the manual operation stop setting is performed. Note that with this setting,
Step S described above in the ball discharge device control processing of FIG.
In the branch processing of steps S122 and S128, the processing is performed in step S1.
It will go to 32.

F. Operation and effect of the present facility According to the above-described facility configuration or control processing, a characteristic operation is realized and the effect is exhibited as follows. First, each island control device 20a, 20b, 20c
By the above-described processing described with reference to FIG. 17 to FIG. 25 of the (control means), the electric actuation devices (shutter 16, ball lifting device 33, ball discharging devices 34a, 34) of each game island (own island).
b, the counter 12) is automatically operated, and the island is circulated, in which the game balls used in each game machine are circulated in each game island, and the game balls are exchanged between the game islands as necessary. The circulation between islands which appropriately holds the amount of game balls held is performed.

Each of the island control devices and the system control device 22 has a function of forcibly operating or stopping any of the electrically operated devices by manual operation. That is, in the system control device 22, for example, in a remote operation display as exemplified in FIG. 12, when a button for manual operation or manual stop of any electric operating device of any game island is clicked, Through the processing in steps S52 to S60 (FIG. 9) and the like described above, a setting for manually operating or manually stopping the device on the game island is input, and this control information is stored in step S10 (FIG. 6) or step S106 (FIG. 18).
The game is transmitted to the island controller of the game island by the processing of (b)). On the other hand, in each of the island control devices, as the setting input by operating the setting switch 58, the manual operation or the manual stop of each electric operating device in the own island can be set.

In the case of the present embodiment, as described above, when a command for manually operating any of the electric operation devices in the own island is input, each of the island control devices, Only the operating devices are operated or stopped according to the command, and the operation control for realizing the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation is continued for the electric operating devices that are not targeted for the manual operation. For example, for the ball discharge device, steps S122 and S12 in FIG.
As shown in 8 to S134, when the setting of the manual operation or the manual stop is performed, the corresponding ball discharging device is forcibly activated regardless of the setting process for the automatic operation performed in step S118. Or set to stop,
The ball discharge device is operated or stopped according to a manual operation command. However, at this time, the settings for other ball discharge devices and other electric operating devices have not been changed at all, and the settings for automatic operation (the settings made in step S118 and the like) are valid as they are. Thereby, the control of the automatic operation for the normal intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation is continued for the other electric operation devices.

For this reason, even if a specific electric operating device of a specific game island is forcibly activated or stopped by a manual operation, the adverse effect on the entire game island or the entire game hall is significantly reduced. That is, even while a specific electric operating device is manually operated, all other electric operating devices perform the optimal operation for island circulation and inter-island circulation. The possibility of shortage of game balls is reduced, and after manual operation,
The circulation state or the holding state of the game balls including the game island on which the manual operation has been performed is immediately returned to a better state.

In addition, there is an effect that it is not necessary to operate other electric operation devices one by one because some electric operation devices are manually operated. That is, in order to manually operate some of the electric operating devices, the conventional configuration in which all the electric operating devices of the game island including the electric operating devices are not automatically operated collectively, including some of the electric operating devices, In order to manually operate the electric operating device so as not to adversely affect the operation of the playground, it is often necessary to manually operate the other electric operating devices associated therewith. However, as in this example,
If the remaining electric operating devices are configured to be automatically operated as they are, the remaining electric operating devices are controlled so as to be in a more balanced circulation state by the operation of the remaining electric operating devices. It is sufficient to manually operate only the electric working equipment necessary for the operation.

In this embodiment, the control means of the present invention is constituted by a plurality of island control devices 20a, 20b, 20c provided for each game island and connected so as to be able to exchange signals with each other. These island control devices are in charge of control processing on intra-island circulation or inter-island circulation of game balls relating to the own island, respectively. For this reason, the basic operation of each of the game islands is realized without using the system control device, and the problem that all of the group of game islands cannot be driven due to the failure of the system control device is solved. In addition, since each gaming island is in a state of equality and independence from each other, the number, arrangement and combination of gaming islands can be set completely freely, and it is easy to change, and the interior and interior of the gaming store, which has become increasingly diversified in recent years, It has the advantage that it can easily adapt to layout.

In this example, the processing of the system control device shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 and the like described above causes the monitor of the system control device to display the amount of game balls held on each game island, the intra-island circulation or the inter-island circulation. The operation state of the electric operation device that realizes the above is displayed in an easy-to-understand manner by an easy operation. For this reason, intensive monitoring work of the entire game arcade can be performed as before or more easily than before. In addition, in this example, since the manual operation of the electric operation device of each game island from the system control device can be easily performed as described above, the intensive management work of the entire game arcade can be performed as before or more conventionally. It is easily possible.

Further, in this example, as described above, the control information of the manual operation from the system control device is effective only when the target electric operation device is not a target of the manual operation by the island control device. For example, as for the ball discharge device, as can be understood from the processing contents shown in steps S286 to S298 in FIG. 25, the setting of the manual operation from the system control device is performed only when the setting of the island control device is set to the automatic operation. If it is determined that the setting of the island control device is set to manual operation (manual operation setting or manual operation stop setting), it is ignored (the processing of steps S288 and S294 is not executed). In other words, in this example, when a work by a manual operation on the island side (a work of a staff member who operates the island control device and checks or replaces the electric operation device or the like) is performed, the work on the island side is performed. Priority is given to not accepting operation instructions from the system control device side (that is, a distant place) where it is difficult to grasp the state of the island as fully as the island side. For this reason, in such a case, it is possible to reliably prevent the operation instruction from the system control device from giving priority to causing a failure, an accident, or the like. If the setting of the island controller is set to the automatic operation, the circulation state of the game balls related to the electrically operated device is in a relatively good state. With the configuration of the present example that receives a manual operation command from the remote controller, remote operation by the system control device can be realized without any problem.

In the game ball circulation system of the present embodiment, when a maintenance command is input by operating the system controller 22, the above-described maintenance setting message is output, and the above-mentioned maintenance ball polishing is performed for the corresponding game island. When executed, almost all of the game balls on the corresponding game island are automatically sent to the adjacent island once. And at this time
The game balls in the ball storage tank that may have caused corrosion or dirt are reliably sent to the adjacent island through the ball lifting device 33 that is the island circulation means and the ball polishing means, and used for circulation. Since the game balls held in the tank 13 (upper tank) are also game balls that have passed through the ball lifting device 33 in the first place, all game balls that are eventually sent to the adjacent island are polished to remove corrosion and dirt. Removed and no dirt or corrosion is introduced to adjacent islands. Therefore, for example, by performing such an operation input periodically for each game island, it is ensured that the game ball stays in any place on the game island (especially in the ball storage tank) for a long period of time without fail. Thus, it is easy to maintain almost all the game balls held in each game island in a good condition free from corrosion and dirt. In addition, even while the maintenance ball polishing is being performed, the inter-island circulation described above is continuously performed on all game islands except the corresponding game island. For this reason, even while this maintenance ball polishing is being performed, the holding amount of the game balls is easily maintained relatively appropriately for other game islands,
In addition, when the maintenance ball polishing is completed, the entire gaming islands can easily return to a balanced state relatively quickly. Also, when maintenance ball polishing is completed, the normal inter-island circulation is resumed for the applicable gaming islands as well, so in this regard, the entire gaming islands return to a balanced state more quickly. Easy to do. I mean,
After the forced throwing of the game ball, the empty island (the game island where the holding amount of the game ball becomes almost zero) may be conversely forcibly taken in from the adjacent island, In this case, the amount of game balls on the adjacent island will temporarily decrease sharply, so eventually trying to balance on all the islands will result in an island with a large number of game balls and an island with a small amount, and it will take time to balance. May be overwhelmed. However, if the configuration is such that the maintenance ball polishing is restored by normal inter-island circulation without performing such forced capture, the game ball is captured on the empty island while balancing each island, so compare The amount of game balls on the empty island can be restored to an appropriate range in a very short time, and the balance of each game island can be restored to an appropriate state relatively quickly.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and applications are possible. For example, the system control device 22 controls the operation of each game island (ball lifting device, ball discharge device, etc.) and the circulation means (inclined gutter shutter) via each island control device, and thereby all game islands are involved. The circulation operation (intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation) may be performed. In this case, the system control device 22 may perform the above-described control processing described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 25 for each game island from the viewpoint of each game island. However, in this case, as described above, there is a problem that the free arrangement and combination of the game islands cannot be easily performed. In this respect, the above-described embodiment in which each island control device is in charge of controlling the circulation operation, respectively. The example configuration is excellent.

Further, in the above embodiment, the maintenance ball polishing (forcibly sending game balls from a specific game island to an adjacent island)
Is executed only with the operation input from the system control device 22 as a start condition, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control may be started by an operation input from each island control device, or may be started at regular intervals (for example, every month) by a timer setting by automatic control by the system control device or the island control device. You may.
In addition, the system control device or the island control device monitors the circulation state of the game balls (for example, the operation state of the ball discharge device) and automatically determines that the circulation of the game balls has been stagnated for a long time. Alternatively, the maintenance ball polishing may be performed. The following configuration is also effective as a means for maintaining the game balls in each game island in a cleaner state. That is, since the ball is usually polished by a ball lifting device provided on each island, if the operation of the game machine is poor, the ball may not be polished for a long period of time. Therefore, when there is no operation (or when the number is small), that is, when the circulation of the game balls is not sufficiently performed, the shutters and the ball discharging device are randomly operated to forcibly circulate the game balls at least in the island. An operation mode (ball polishing mode) may be provided. In addition, as a specific mode of the start and end of the ball polishing mode, for example, there is no circulation of the game ball, monitoring of the upper ball amount switch in the upper tank or the ball amount switch in the ball storage tank, ball discharge. Judgment is made by monitoring the operation state of the apparatus, monitoring the operation state of the shutter, and the like. If the result of the determination that there is no operation for a long time is obtained, the mode shifts to the ball polishing mode and the predetermined end condition is satisfied (elapse of the set time, There may be a mode in which the process is terminated by insufficient ball supply, occurrence of trouble, and the like. As another mode, as a processing function in the ball polishing mode, a function of monitoring a circulation state and a function of forcibly circulating a game ball for a predetermined period according to the monitoring result are provided, and the ball polishing is performed. As long as the mode setting is not canceled by a manual operation input or the like, such a mode of the ball polishing mode may be continued.

FIG. 1 shows an example in which three game islands having two ball storage tanks are arranged. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Even if a larger number of game islands are arranged in groups. Good, a plurality of groups of game islands may be installed at appropriate intervals, or different types, for example, a game island having only one ball storage tank and a game island having two ball storage tanks It goes without saying that gaming islands may be mixed. Further, the gaming machine according to the present invention is not limited to a pachinko machine, but may be any machine that uses a game ball.

[0092]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the control means includes:
When a command to manually operate any of the electric operating devices constituting the island circulating means or the inter-island circulating means is input, only the electric operating device that is the target of the manual operation is operated or stopped according to the command, The operation control for realizing the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation is continued with respect to the electrically operated devices that are not subjected to the manual operation.

Therefore, even if the specific electric operating device of the specific game island is forcibly operated or stopped by the manual operation, the adverse effect on the entire game island or the entire game hall is significantly reduced. That is, even while a specific electric operating device is manually operated, all other electric operating devices perform the optimal operation for island circulation and inter-island circulation. The possibility of shortage of game balls is reduced, and after manual operation,
The circulation state or the holding state of the game balls including the game island on which the manual operation has been performed is immediately returned to a better state.

[0094] In addition, there is an effect that it is not necessary to operate each of the other electric actuating devices because each electric actuating device is manually operated. That is, in order to manually operate some of the electric operating devices, the conventional configuration in which all the electric operating devices of the game island including the electric operating devices are not automatically operated collectively, including some of the electric operating devices, In order to manually operate the electric operating device so as not to adversely affect the operation of the playground, it is often necessary to manually operate the other electric operating devices associated therewith. However, as in the present invention, when the remaining electric operating devices are configured to be automatically operated as they are, the remaining electric operating devices are controlled so as to be in a more balanced circulation state by the operation of the remaining electric operating devices. Therefore, only the electric work equipment necessary for maintenance work or the like needs to be manually operated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the control means is provided for each game island and connected to each other so that signals can be transmitted and received between the plurality of island control devices. A system controller connected so as to be able to send and receive signals, the island controller is in charge of control processing for intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation relating to the self-island, and the system controller is provided for each game island. Of the game balls and the operation state of the electric operation device are monitored and displayed.

Therefore, the basic operation of each game island as a whole is
It will be realized without depending on the system controller,
The problem that all of a group of gaming islands cannot be driven due to a failure of the system control device is solved. In addition, since each gaming island is in a state of equality and independence from each other, the number, arrangement and combination of gaming islands can be set completely freely, and it is easy to change, and the interior and interior of the gaming store, which has become increasingly diversified in recent years, It has the advantage that it can easily adapt to layout. Also, in this example, the system control device displays the amount of game balls held on each game island and the operation state of the electric operation devices, so that the intensive monitoring of the entire game hall can be performed as before or more than before. It is easily possible.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the island control device and the system control device have a function of forcibly operating or stopping one of the electric operation devices by manual operation. The operation control command is valid only when the electric operating device that is the target of the manual operation is not the target of the manual operation by the island control device. Therefore, intensive management work of the entire game arcade by the system control device and individual management work for each game island by the island control device can be easily performed.

Further, in the present invention, the control command for manual operation from the system control device is effective only when the target electric operating device is not a target for manual operation by the island control device. In other words, when the work by the manual operation on the island side (the work of the staff who operates the island control device and checks or replaces the electric operation device or the like) is performed, the work on the island side is given priority. In addition, an operation instruction from a system control device (that is, a distant place), which is more difficult to grasp the state of the island than the island, is not accepted. For this reason, in such a case, it is possible to reliably prevent the operation instruction from the system control device from giving priority to causing a failure, an accident, or the like.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the starting condition of the forced throwing ball for forcibly sending the game ball in the specific game island to the adjacent game island via the ball polishing means is set to one of the game islands. When it is established, only the intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation for the pertinent gaming island are made inactive by the control of the control unit until the monitoring result of the perimeter monitoring unit for the pertinent gaming island becomes no ball amount. At the same time, the forcible ball is sent from the corresponding game island to the adjacent game island by the intra-island circulation means and the inter-island circulation means for the relevant game island. That is, when the start condition is satisfied, almost all of the game balls on the corresponding game island are automatically once sent to the adjacent island. At this time, all game balls forced to be thrown to the adjacent island are polished to remove corrosion and dirt, and no dirt or corrosion is brought into the adjacent island. For this reason, for example, by setting the start condition to be satisfied after the elapse of a certain time and by periodically performing the forcible throw, the game ball can stay at any place in the game island for a long time. Can be easily and reliably prevented, and almost all game balls held in each game island can be easily maintained in a good state free from corrosion and dirt. Moreover, even during the execution of the forced throwing, the normal inter-island circulation and intra-island circulation are continuously executed on all game islands except the corresponding game island. For this reason, even while the forced throwing is being performed, the holding amount of the game balls on the other game islands can be relatively easily maintained, and each of the game throwing can be performed relatively quickly when the forced throwing is completed. There is also an effect that the entire gaming island can easily return to a balanced state.

Further, in the invention according to claim 5, when the monitoring result of the ball quantity monitoring means for the corresponding game island becomes no ball quantity and the forced throwing is completed, the circulation within the island and the island The circulation returns to the active state.
For this reason, also at this point, the entire gaming island can be easily returned to a balanced state more quickly. In other words, after forcing a game ball, the empty island (the game island where the amount of the game ball is almost zero) is conversely forced to take in the game ball from the adjacent island. However, in this case, the amount of game balls on the adjacent island will temporarily decrease sharply, so eventually trying to balance on all islands will result in an island with a large number of game balls and an island with a small amount of game balls, and the balance will be lost. It may take time to take. However, if the configuration is such that the maintenance ball polishing is restored by normal inter-island circulation without performing such forced capture, the game ball is captured on the empty island while balancing each island, so compare The amount of game balls on the empty island can be restored to an appropriate range in a very short time, and the balance of each game island can be restored to an appropriate state relatively quickly.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a game arcade facility (game ball circulation system).

FIG. 2 is a front view of a gaming island.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a game island.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a control system of the gaming facility.

FIG. 5 is a connection diagram of a control device of the game arcade facilities.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a system control device.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a system control device.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a system control device.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a system control device.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing processing contents of a system control device.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing control information transmitted from the system control device.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a monitor display example of the system control device.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a monitor display example of the system control device.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a monitor display example of the system control device.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a monitor display example of the system control device.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a ball quantity information determination process and an inter-island circulation determination process in a table format.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart showing processing contents of an island control device.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart showing processing contents of the island control device.

FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a flow of maintenance ball polishing (forced ball feeding).

[Description of Signs] 11 Pachinko machine 12 Counter (intra-island circulation means, inter-island circulation means, electrically operated equipment) 10a, 10b, 10c Game island 13 Circulation tank (intra-island circulation means, inter-island circulation means) 13a Circulation main tank ( 13b Circulation auxiliary tank (inter-island circulation means) 14, 15 Inclined gutter (inter-island circulation means) 16 Shutter (inter-island circulation means, electrically operated equipment) 20a, 20b, 20c Island control device (control means) 21 relay device 22 System control device (control means) 32a, 32b Ball storage tank 33 Ball lifting device (circulation means in island, electric operation equipment, ball polishing means) 34a, 34b Ball discharge device (circulation means in island, electric operation equipment) 36a, 36b Ball supply gutter (circulation means in island) 37a, 37b Overflow gutter (circulation means in island) 38a, 38b First overflow -Hose (circulation means in the island) 39 Second overflow hose (circulation means in the island) 41a to 44a Ball quantity switch (ball quantity monitoring means) 41b to 44b Ball quantity switch (ball quantity monitoring means) 58 Setting switch

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. In a game arcade in which a plurality of gaming islands in which a plurality of gaming machines are installed are arranged, a game ball used in each gaming machine is circulated in each gaming island, and the gaming balls are required. It is a game ball circulation system that performs an inter-island circulation that exchanges between game islands according to the above, and appropriately holds the holding amount of game balls of each game island, and an island circulation means for circulating the game balls in the game island, The inter-island circulation means for exchanging the game balls between game islands, and the control means for performing the operation control of the electric actuating devices constituting the intra-island circulation means or the inter-island circulation means, and realizing the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation. The control unit is a target of the manual operation when a command for manually operating any of the electric actuators constituting the intra-island circulation unit or the inter-island circulation unit is input. A game characterized in that only the electrically operated devices are operated or stopped according to the command, and for the electrically operated devices not subjected to the manual operation, the operation control for realizing the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation is continued. Ball circulation system. 2. The control means is provided for each game island, a plurality of island control devices connected to each other so as to be able to send and receive signals to and from each other, and capable of sending and receiving signals to and from these island control devices. The island control device has a function of respectively controlling the in-island circulation and the inter-island circulation related to the game island provided with each island control device, 2. The system control device according to claim 1, wherein the system control device has a function of monitoring and displaying an amount of game balls held in each of the game islands and an operation state of an electric operating device constituting the intra-island circulation means or the inter-island circulation means. Game ball circulation system. 3. The island control device and the system control device have a function of forcibly activating or stopping any electric operating device constituting the intra-island circulation means or the inter-island circulation means by manual operation, The control command of the manual operation from the control device is effective only when the electric operation device that is the target of the manual operation is not the target of the manual operation by the island control device. 2. The game ball circulation system according to 2. 4. In a game arcade in which a plurality of gaming islands in which a plurality of gaming machines are installed are arranged, a game ball used in each gaming machine is circulated in each gaming island, and the gaming balls are required. A game ball circulation system that circulates between islands by exchanging between game islands in accordance with the game islands and appropriately holding the game ball possession of each game island, and monitoring the possession of game balls in the game island Means,
An intra-island circulation means for circulating the game balls in the game island, an inter-island circulation means for exchanging the game balls between the game islands, a ball polishing means provided on a circulation path of the intra-island circulation or inter-island circulation, Control means for controlling the operation of the circulation means or the inter-island circulation means to realize the intra-island circulation and the inter-island circulation, wherein the control means is adjacent to a game ball in a specific game island via the ball polishing means If the start condition of the forced throwing that is forcibly sent to the game island is established for any of the game islands, the corresponding game until the monitoring result of the ball amount monitoring means for the corresponding game island indicates that there is no ball amount. Inactivating only the intra-island circulation and inter-island circulation for the island, and controlling the intra-island circulation means and the inter-island circulation means for the corresponding gaming island so that the adjacent gaming island is adjacent to the corresponding gaming island. A game ball circulation system, wherein the forced ball is sent to a game island in contact with the game ball. 5. The control means, when the monitoring result of the ball quantity monitoring means for the corresponding game island indicates that there is no ball quantity and terminates the forced throwing, the intra-island circulation and the island distance for the corresponding game island. The game ball circulation system according to claim 4, wherein the circulation is returned to an active state.