JP2000140390A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely discharge loaned game balls into an upper ball reservoir even if some game balls are retained in the upper ball reservoir. SOLUTION: This game machine has a prize ball outlet 14 for discharging prize balls and a loaned ball outlet 13 for discharging loaned balls opened so as to face the upstream side of the upper ball reservoir 11, and a difference in height from the lower edge 13a of the opening of the loaned ball outlet 13 to the bottom face 46 of the upper ball reservoir 11 is about the size of one game ball. It is also constituted such that a loaned ball discharged from the loaned ball outlet 13 can get on the game balls stored in the upper ball reservoir 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine, such as a pachinko gaming machine, for playing a game using a game ball stored in an upper ball storage unit, and more particularly, to a rental ball lent to a player and discharged as a prize. Prize balls are discharged from respective ball outlets facing the upper ball storage section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional technique will be described by taking a pachinko game machine as a typical game machine as an example. An upper plate is attached to the front side of a general pachinko game machine, and an upper ball storage portion for temporarily storing game balls used for games is formed on the upper plate. The upper ball storage portion is formed by a concave portion having an open upper portion, and has a bottom surface inclined downward to the right so that the stored game balls can be guided downward. And, facing the left side, which is the upstream part of the upper ball reservoir,
One ball discharge port for discharging prize balls and rental balls is opened.
In such a pachinko gaming machine, game balls are discharged to the upstream portion of the upper ball storage portion through the ball discharge port, and the discharged game balls are transferred to the downstream side (right side) of the upper ball storage portion along the downward slope of the bottom surface. Let it flow down. Then, the dropped game balls are guided to a shooting ball passage communicated with the downstream end portion of the upper ball storage section.

[0003] Regarding the above-mentioned ball discharge port, in order to allow a player to easily recognize the type of game ball discharged from the ball discharge port, the ball discharge port is lent to a prize ball discharge port for discharging a prize ball. A pachinko game machine divided into a ball rental outlet that discharges balls has been considered. In this pachinko machine, for example,
Open the prize ball discharge port near the upstream end of the upper ball storage section,
At the downstream side of the prize ball discharge port, a ball lending discharge port is opened adjacent to the prize ball discharge port. The lower edge of the opening of the prize ball discharge port and the lower edge of the opening of the ball lending port are provided at the same height as the bottom surface of the upper ball storage section, so that the game balls discharged from the discharge port can smoothly flow into the upper ball storage section. It can flow into the bottom. And, in this pachinko gaming machine, since both the prize ball discharge port and the lending ball discharge port are opened facing the upstream part of the upper ball storage part, it is necessary to store the game balls to the upstream part of the upper ball storage part. Can be.

In this type of pachinko gaming machine, a player operates a ball lending button to rent a game ball as the number of game balls stored in the upper ball reservoir decreases. The timing of receiving the rental of this game ball differs depending on the player, and some players receive the rental of the game ball just before the game ball stored in the upper ball storage section runs out, and the rental of the game ball at an earlier timing. There are also players who play the game with the upper ball reservoir always filled with game balls.

[0005] When a ball lending operation is performed at an early timing, the lending ball is discharged with a relatively large number of game balls remaining in the upper ball storage section. Since the released rental ball hits the upstream side of the game ball already stored in the upper ball storage section and stops there, it gradually accumulates on the upstream side of the upper ball storage section and reaches up to the front of the rental ball discharge port. When the lending ball is accumulated in front of the lending ball discharge port, since the lower edge of the opening of the leasing ball discharge port is provided at substantially the same height as the bottom of the upper ball storage section, the leasing ball discharge port is thereafter discharged from the leasing ball discharge port The game ball to be hit hits the game ball stored in front of the ball lending outlet, and stops in the ball lending passage communicating with the ball lending outlet.
Accordingly, the game balls to be discharged from the ball rental outlet are sequentially accumulated in the ball rental passage.

[0006] Further, when many prize balls are discharged from the prize ball discharge port after the lending balls are accumulated up to the front of the lent ball discharge port, the game balls are pushed out to the game balls discharged from the prize ball discharge port. Then, the game balls stored in the upper ball storage section flow into the ball rental passage from the ball rental outlet. Also in this case, the flowing game balls accumulate in the ball lending passage.

[0007]

By the way, the inside of the ball lending passage cannot be visually recognized from the player side. For this reason, it is difficult for the player to confirm whether or not all the lending balls have actually been discharged from the lending ball discharge port. Similarly, if the ball lending operation is performed in a state where the game balls in the upper ball storage section are stored up to the front of the lending ball discharge port, it is difficult even to check whether or not the lending balls have been discharged. is there. In such a case, the player plays the game without confirming whether the loaned ball has been properly discharged. It is not preferable to play a game while asking whether or not the loaned ball has been properly ejected, since this may cause distrust in the pachinko gaming machine.

[0008] Further, it is difficult for the player to understand how many game balls are stored in the ball lending passage, and therefore, even though the ball lending passage is filled with game balls, there is still room. There is a possibility that the ball lending operation may be performed on your own. If the ball lending operation is performed in a state where the ball lending passage is filled with game balls, the lending ball overflows, and the lower plate is directly discharged without being discharged from the leasing ball discharge port. Will be discharged to the lower ball reservoir. The rental ball directly discharged to the lower plate cannot be distinguished from a prize ball overflowing by the player. Therefore, also in this case, it is difficult for the player to confirm whether all the lending balls have been discharged from the lending ball discharge port, and the player feels distrust. Further, the player is likely to have a feeling that he / she has done useless things, and may lose interest in the game.

[0009] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if a small amount of game balls are stored in the upper ball storage section, a game in which the lending balls can be reliably discharged to the upper ball storage section. The purpose is to provide a machine.

[0010]

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention has been proposed to achieve the above-mentioned object, and according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game machine for use in games in which a bottom surface is inclined left and right. In a gaming machine in which an upper ball storage portion capable of temporarily storing a ball is formed on the front side, and a ball discharge opening for discharging a game ball facing the upper ball storage portion is opened, the ball discharge port is awarded. Divided into a prize ball discharge port that discharges balls and a lending ball discharge port that discharges lending balls, the lending ball discharge port and the prize ball discharge port are arranged side by side in the inclined direction of the bottom of the upper ball storage section, and are opened. The height difference from the lower edge of the opening to the bottom of the upper ball storage unit is set to a size that allows the lending ball discharged from the leasing ball outlet to ride on the game ball stored in the upper ball storage unit. It is characterized by.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the gaming machine according to the first aspect, wherein the lower edge of the opening of the ball lending outlet is arranged at a position higher than the lower edge of the opening of the winning ball outlet. is there.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a ball lending passage communicating with a ball lending outlet, a prize ball passage communicating with a prize ball discharging outlet,
An overflow passage for guiding the game balls overflowing from the lending ball passage and the prize ball passage to a lower ball storage portion provided below the upper ball storage portion; 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the award ball passage is made to overflow more easily than the lending ball passage by being positioned below a lower edge of the opening of the game machine.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, a pachinko gaming machine, which is a typical gaming machine, will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 1, the pachinko gaming machine 1 includes a pachinko machine main body 2 and a card unit 3. The pachinko machine body 2 is surrounded by a machine frame 4, and a frame-like front frame 5 having an opening is attached to the machine frame 4 so as to be openable and closable.
A game board 6 (see FIG. 2) is attached to the back surface of the front panel 5 so as to face the opening of the front frame 5 from behind. On the other hand, a glass frame 8 holding a front glass 7 (a kind of transparent member) is attached to a front surface of the front frame 5, and an opening / closing panel 10 having an upper plate 9 bulging out on the front surface is provided below the glass frame 8. It can be opened and closed. The upper plate 9 is provided with an upper ball storage section 11 capable of temporarily storing game balls used for a game, and the upper ball storage section 11 faces the upstream portion of the upper ball storage section 11 and is provided on the front surface of the opening and closing panel 10. Has a ball discharge port 12 opened. This ball discharge port 12 is a ball release port 1 for discharging a rental ball.
3 and a prize ball discharge port 14 for discharging a prize ball. The configuration of the upper plate 9 will be described later in detail. A lower plate 15 is provided below the opening / closing panel 10, an ashtray 16 is provided on the left side thereof, and a firing operation unit 17 is provided on the right side thereof. In addition, the lower plate 15 is provided with a lower ball storage unit 18 for storing game balls and the like which have overflowed without entering the upper ball storage unit 11.

On the other hand, a card reader / writer 21 and a card unit control device 22 are attached to the card unit 3, and the card insertion slot 23 is arranged facing the front of the card unit 3. Then, the card reader / writer 21
Sets the game card inserted into the card insertion slot 23 and reads the remaining number stored in the set game card. The card unit control device 22 manages the residual count stored in the game card, that is, subtracts the residual count based on the ball lending operation.

Next, the game board 6 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the game board 6 has a partition member 26 such as a guide rail attached to a front surface thereof, and the partition member 26 partitions a substantially circular game area 27. A variable display device 28 is mounted substantially at the center of the game area 27. A start port 29 is mounted below the variable display device 28, and a special winning opening (attacker) 30 is mounted below the start port 29. In addition, there are general winning openings 31 at various places in the game area 27.
... is attached. Here, the starting port 29, the special winning opening 3
0 and the general prize port 31 are so-called prize devices, and a predetermined number of game balls (prize balls) are discharged as a prize by winning a hit ball. For example, when the player wins the starting opening 29 or the general winning opening 31, seven prize balls are discharged.
Five prize balls are ejected. This prize ball is discharged from the above-mentioned prize ball discharge port 14 and stored in the upper ball storage unit 11.

Further, a rectangular notch 32 is formed in the lower left end portion of the game board 6. A front portion of a ball passage forming member 37 that forms a part of the ball lending passage 35 and the prize ball passage 36 is fitted into the notch 32. Here, the ball lending passage 35 is a passage for lending balls that communicates with the ball lending outlet 13, and the ball lending outlet 13 and the ball lending flow passage 38 (see FIG. 4).
Are provided in a state where they communicate with each other. This ball passage 35
Receives the rental ball flowing down in the ball rental flow path 38 and guides it to the ball rental outlet 13. On the other hand, the prize ball passage 36
Is a passage for a prize ball communicating with the prize ball discharge port 14, and is provided in a state where the prize ball discharge port 14 and the prize ball flow-down path 39 (see FIG. 4) are communicated. The prize ball passage 36 guides the prize ball flowing down the prize ball flow path 39 to the prize ball discharge port 14.

The ball passage forming member 37 is a member in which two upper and lower grooves 40 and 41 extending in the front-rear direction of the gaming machine are formed adjacent to each other on the left and right sides. The groove portion for a ball-for-lending which forms a part of the passage 35 and the groove portion 41 for the prize ball which forms a part of the prize-ball passage 36 are formed. The bottom surfaces of both grooves 40 and 41, which are part of the bottom surfaces of the ball lending passage 35 and the prize ball passage 36, are gently inclined downward toward the front of the gaming machine.
The game balls on 0 and 41 can be guided to the ball lending outlet 13 side or the prize ball outlet 14 side which is the front side of the gaming machine. The ball passage forming member 37 is formed integrally with the back mechanism board 42 (see FIG. 4), and the front portion is formed so as to protrude forward from the front surface of the back mechanism board 42. The rear portion extends to the inside of the prize ball flow path 39 and to the rear wall of the rental ball flow path 38. In addition, the game ball which flows down in the ball lending flow path 38 or the prize ball flow path 39 and does not survive the rear portion of the ball path forming member 37 is, as described later, an overflow flow path 43 (see FIG. 4). Through the lower ball storage section 18.

Next, the upper plate 9 will be described. FIG.
As shown in (a), the upper plate 9 is provided on the front surface of the opening / closing panel 10 in a state of bulging forward.
The upper ball storage section 11 for temporarily storing game balls used in the game is formed. The upper ball storage section 11 is formed by a concave portion having an open upper portion, and the bottom surface 46 is inclined downward toward the right side so that the stored game balls can be guided downward. The bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage section 11 is formed in a semi-biwa shape tapered on the right side (downstream side) when viewed from above, and guides down the game balls stored in the upper ball storage section 11 while aligning them. . The front surface 10a of the opening / closing panel 10 faces the left side portion, which is the upstream portion of the upper sphere storing portion 11.
The prize ball discharge port 14 and the lending ball discharge port 13 are opened. The prize ball discharge port 14 is opened to face the upstream end portion of the upper ball storage portion 11, that is, the inclined upper end portion of the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage portion 11. In addition, the ball rental outlet 13 is
Downstream of the prize ball discharge port 14 in the upper ball storage section 11,
That is, it is located on the right side, and is opened adjacent to the prize ball discharge port 14.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the prize ball outlet 14
The opening lower edge 14a is provided at substantially the same height as the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage portion 11, or slightly above the bottom surface 46a.
4 is provided above the lower edge 14a of the opening. In other words, the upper ball storage unit 1 extends from the lower edge 13a of the opening of the ball leasing outlet 13.
The height difference from the bottom surface 46 to the bottom surface 46 of the prize ball discharge port 14 to the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage 11 is set to be larger than the height difference from the bottom surface 46 to the bottom surface 46. The vertical position of the opening lower edge 13 a of the ball let-off port 13 is determined based on the height difference from the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage 11. That is, the height difference from the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13 to the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage unit 11 is determined by a game in which the lending ball discharged from the ball lending outlet 13 is stored in the upper ball storage unit 11. Set to a size that allows you to ride on the ball. In the present embodiment, the height difference A from the left end of the opening lower edge 13a (upstream end of the opening lower edge 13a) to the bottom surface 46 of the upper sphere storing portion 11 is set to a size about the diameter of a game ball. It may be larger than this. .

According to the present embodiment, even if game balls are stored up to the upstream portion of the upper ball storage section 11, the ball lending outlet 13
If the number of game balls stored before is about 1 to 2 steps,
The rental ball discharged from the rental ball discharge port 13 rides on the already stored game ball. That is, if the number of stored game balls is one, the game balls discharged from the ball lending outlet 13 ride on the stored game balls without any trouble.
On the other hand, if the number of stored game balls is two,
As shown by the dotted line in (b), the second-stage game ball rides on the first-stage game ball in a state of entering into the recess formed between the first-stage game balls, Combined with the downward inclination of the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage section 11, the height of the upper end of the second stage game ball is located at a position slightly above the lower edge 13a of the opening of the ball lending outlet 13. . The lending ball discharged from the lending ball discharge port 13 moves by the downward inclination of the bottom surface of the lending ball passage 35, and is thus biased to a certain extent. Alternatively, the game balls are discharged to the upper ball storage unit 11 so as to sew between the game balls in the second stage and ride on the game balls already stored. Therefore,
The player can confirm that all the lending balls have been reliably ejected.

Also, due to the height difference from the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13 to the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage section 11, a large amount of prize balls are discharged by a jackpot or the like, and the upper ball storage section 11 is discharged.
Is filled with the game balls, the game balls stored in the upper ball storage unit 11 are unlikely to flow into the ball rental passage 35 from the ball rental outlet 13.

A ball lending display 47 is provided between the lower edge 13a of the ball leasing outlet 13 and the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage section 11. The ball rental discharge indicator 47 functions as a discharge mode indicator for notifying the player that a game ball (rental ball) is being discharged, and is, for example, rearward from the front surface 10a of the open / close panel 10. It is composed of a concave chamber that is depressed toward the front, a translucent lens member that covers the front surface of the concave chamber, and a light source such as an LED or a light bulb that is disposed in the concave chamber behind the lens member. On the surface of this lens member, the letters "ball rental" are drawn, and the lens member shines with light from a light source that emits light during the discharge period of the rental ball, and the character "ball rental" is displayed by the player. Visible from

A cylindrical prize ball guide 48 extends toward the rear of the gaming machine from the prize ball discharge port 14 described above. The prize ball guide 48 is formed by the prize ball groove 41 of the ball passage forming member 37.
Together, they form part of the prize ball path 36. The bottom surface of the prize ball guide 48 is gently inclined downward toward the lower edge 14a of the opening of the prize ball discharge port 14. And opening and closing panel 1
In the closed state where 0 is closed, the rear end of the prize ball guide 48 fits into the front end of the prize ball groove 41. In this fitted state, the bottom surface of the prize ball groove 41 and the bottom surface of the prize ball guide 48, that is, the bottom surface of the prize ball passage 36, form a series of downward slopes up to the opening lower edge 14a of the prize ball discharge port 14. Form. Similarly, the ball let-off port 13 is provided with a ball hitting guide 49 having a cylindrical shape toward the rear of the gaming machine. The ball lending guide 49 forms a part of the ball lending passage 35 together with the ball lending groove 40 of the ball passage forming member 37. The bottom surface of the ball lending guide 49 is gently inclined downward toward the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13, and in the closed state of the open / close panel 10, the rear end of the ball lending guide 49 is lending. It fits into the front end of the ball groove 40. In this fitted state, the bottom surface of the ball-for-leasing groove 40 and the ball-lending guide 49
, Ie, the bottom surface of the ball lending passage 35,
A series of downward slopes up to the lower edge 13a of the opening is formed.
In the present embodiment, the downward inclination angle of the bottom surface of the ball lending passage 35 and the downward inclination angle of the bottom surface of the prize ball passage 36 are provided at substantially the same inclination angle.

Further, in this embodiment, the opening width B of the ball lending outlet 13, that is, the length of the lower edge of the opening is set to be wider than the opening width C of the prize ball outlet 14. This is because, in the pachinko gaming machine 1 of this type, the number of ejected balls is larger in the lending ball than in the prize ball when compared in one ball discharging operation. For example, the maximum number of prize balls discharged from the prize ball discharge port 14 is 15 at the time of one ball discharge operation (at the time of winning the grand prize port 30), and the lending ball discharged from the lending ball discharge port 13 is provided. Is 25 in one ball discharging operation. For this reason, by providing the opening width B of the ball lending outlet 13 wider than the opening width C of the prize ball discharging outlet 14 as in the present embodiment, in other words, the ball lending outlet 13 and the prize ball discharging outlet. 14 opening widths B and C
Is determined in accordance with the number of game balls that can be discharged by one ball discharging operation, whereby the game balls can be discharged to the upper ball storage unit 11 without clogging the balls.

At the downstream end of the upper sphere storage section 11, a firing sphere passage is provided so as to communicate with the upper sphere storage section 11 (not shown). The launching ball passage guides down the game balls in a state of being aligned in one row. The exit of the launching ball passage faces the launching position of the game ball, and the game balls in the launching ball passage are supplied to the target launching position in conjunction with the launch of the ball.

On the right front part of the upper plate 9, a residual frequency indicator 5 is provided.
1, a ball lending button 52, a return button 53 and the like are provided. The remaining number display 51 displays the number of times (remaining number) that can be used by the game card mounted on the card reader / writer 21 of the card unit 3, and is constituted by, for example, a 3-digit 7-segment LED. This frequency is, for example, 100
A circle corresponds to one frequency. The ball lending button 52 is operated by the player when requesting ball lending. When the ball lending button 52 is operated, a number of game balls corresponding to a preset frequency are discharged from the ball lending outlet 13. For example,
In a case where five lending balls (500 yen) are set to be discharged by one ball lending operation, five ball discharging operations of discharging 25 lending balls corresponding to one lending are performed five times. Repeat. The return button 53 is a button that is operated when a game card with a remaining frequency is ejected from the card reader / writer 21.

Next, the configuration of the back side of the pachinko machine main body 2 will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the pachinko machine main body 2
A back mechanism board 42 is mounted on the back side of the vehicle, and a ball storage tank 55 for storing game balls used as lending balls or prize balls is provided at an upper portion of the back mechanism board 42. Below the ball storage tank 55, a ball lead-out gutter 56 that guides the game balls derived from the ball storage tank 55 while flowing down while aligning them.
And a ball discharge unit 57 connected to the outlet of the ball discharge gutter 56 and discharging a game ball from the ball discharge gutter 56 as a lending ball or a prize ball.

The ball discharge unit 57 includes a discharge solenoid 5
8 and a discharge sensor 59, and a discharge solenoid 58
Is connected to a ball engaging piece 60 attached to the ball passage in the ball ejecting unit 57 so as to be able to protrude and retract, and the discharge sensor 59 is disposed facing the ball passage upstream of the ball engaging piece 60. I do. The ball discharge unit 57 is controlled by a discharge control device (ball discharge control means) (not shown), and discharges a predetermined number of game balls. For example, the discharge control device excites the discharge solenoid 58 to retreat the ball locking piece 60 from the ball passage, causes the game ball in the ball passage to flow down, and discharges the ball from the outlet of the ball discharge unit 57. Then, the detection signal from the discharge sensor 59 is monitored, and the number of game balls passing through the discharge sensor 59 accompanying this flow is counted. Thereafter, at the timing when a predetermined number of game balls have passed, the discharge solenoid 58 is demagnetized,
The game ball in the ball passage is brought into contact with the ball locking piece 60 by projecting the tip of the ball locking piece 60 into the ball passage, and the flow of the game ball is stopped.

At the exit of the ball discharge unit 57, a ball flow path 61 is extended downward while slightly meandering to the left and right. Branch to road 38. A switching valve 62 is provided at this branch portion as a down flow path switching means. The switching valve 62 guides the game balls discharged from the ball discharge unit 57 and flowing down the ball flow path 61 to the prize ball flow path 39 side or the ball lending flow path 38 side. This switching valve 62 is also controlled by the discharge control device. That is, a valve switching solenoid 63 as a valve driving source is connected to the switching valve 62, and the discharge control device switches the tilting state of the switching valve 62 by exciting and demagnetizing the valve switching solenoid 63.

For example, when discharging a lending ball, the discharge control device excites the valve switching solenoid 63 and moves the free end of the switching valve 62 from the back side of the game board 6 as shown by a dotted line in FIG. Look (similarly in the description of FIG. 4) and make contact with the right wall. In this excited state, the lending ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 57 and flowing down the ball down flow path 61 abuts on the switching valve 62 and flows down along the switching valve 62, and is guided to the ball lending flow down path 38 side. Is done. In a state other than when lending a ball is discharged, such as when a prize ball is discharged, the discharge control device demagnetizes the valve switching solenoid 63. In this demagnetized state, the free end of the switching valve 62 is located substantially vertically above as shown by the solid line in FIG. Therefore, in this demagnetized state, the ball discharging unit 5
The prize ball discharged from the ball 7 and flowing down the ball flow path 61 is
It is guided to the prize ball flow path 39 side.

At the lower end of the falling ball flow path 38, a ball groove 40 for forming a rear side of the ball passage 35 is provided.
The rear portion of the (ball passage forming member 37) extends. The rear portion of the ball-sending groove 40 is formed in a gutter shape with an open top. Therefore, the rental ball flowing down the rental ball flow path 38 is
The gutter-shaped ball-guttering groove 40 is received by the gutter-shaped ball-gathering groove 40 and guided to the front of the gaming machine along the downward slope of the bottom surface of the ball-gearing groove 40. A rear portion of the prize ball groove 41 (ball passage forming member 37) that forms a rear portion of the prize ball passage 36 extends from a lower end portion of the prize ball flow path 39. The rear portion of the prize ball groove 41 is also formed in a gutter shape with an open upper portion. Accordingly, the prize ball flowing down the prize ball flow path 39 is received by the prize ball groove 41 and is guided to the front of the gaming machine along the downward slope of the bottom surface of the prize ball groove 41.

The overflow channel 43 is communicated with the downstream side of the ball let-down flow path 38 and the prize ball flow-down path 39.
Is provided. The overflow channel 43 is provided when the upper ball storage section 11 is filled with game balls, and further, the ball-lending groove 40 and the prize-ball groove 41 are also filled with lending balls and prize balls. Ball or prize ball (ie, overflow ball) that has spilled without riding through the groove portion 41 for prize balls.
To the lower ball storage unit 18.

In the present embodiment, the upper end of the side wall portion 41a is defined as the side wall portion 40a of the groove portion 40 for ball lending and the side wall portion 41a of the groove portion for prize ball 41 constituting the lower edge portion of the entrance of the overflow channel 43. It is provided at a position lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 40a. In other words, the lower edge of the prize-ball-side overflow entrance is provided below the lower edge of the lending-ball-side overflow inlet. Accordingly, the bottom surface of the prize ball passage 36 is provided below the bottom surface of the ball lending passage 35. Here, "below" means provided at a lower position as a whole. That is, regarding the bottom surface of the prize ball passage 36 and the bottom surface of the ball lending passage 35,
The front edges of the bottom surfaces (that is, the opening lower edge 13 of the ball lending outlet 13)
a and the lower edge 14a of the opening of the prize ball discharge port 14), the rear ends of the bottom surface, and the substantially front and rear centers of the bottom surface. Is provided so that the bottom of is lower. With such a configuration, when the upper ball storage unit 11 is filled with game balls, the game balls are stored first in the prize ball passage 36, and further, the side wall 41a of the prize ball groove 41 is formed. Since the upper end is lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 40a of the ball-sending groove 40, the winning ball passage 36 overflows earlier than the ball-sending passage 35.

An overflow switch 65 for detecting that a predetermined amount of the overflow ball has been stored in the lower ball storage section 18 and the overflow channel 43 is provided in the middle of the overflow channel 43. This overflow switch 65 is used when an overflow ball that has not been able to enter the lower ball storage unit 18 accumulates to a predetermined height of the overflow channel 43, for example, when a large amount of prize balls are discharged in a special game. It is pressed by the overflow ball in 43 and continuously turned on.

The prize ball flow 3 in the ball flow 61
An opening of the ball discharge path 66 is opened on the right side slightly upstream of the branch portion of the ball flow path 9 and the ball flow path 38, and the ball discharge path 66 is formed along the right side of the prize ball flow path 39 from this entrance. It extends downward. The ball discharge path 66 is provided in the pachinko machine main body 2.
This is for discharging the game balls inside to the island facility side, and a discharge switching valve 67 is provided at the entrance. This discharge switching valve 6
In the normal state, as shown by a solid line in FIG. 4, the lamp 7 stands almost vertically and closes the entrance of the ball discharge path 66. In this state, the game balls discharged from the ball discharge unit 57 flow down to the prize ball flow path 39 or the ball lending flow path 38 side. Then, when discharging the game balls in the pachinko machine main body 2 to the island facility side, as shown by a dotted line in FIG. 4, tilt the free end until it comes into contact with the left wall portion of the ball flow path 61, The game balls discharged from the ball discharge unit 57 are guided to the ball discharge path 66 side.

Next, a description will be given of how the game balls are discharged in the pachinko gaming machine 1 having the above-described configuration.

Prior to the start of the game, the player inserts a game card into the card insertion slot 23 and operates the ball lending button 52 to borrow a game ball. The operation information of the ball lending button 52 is sent to the discharge control device, and the discharge control device controls the ball discharge unit 57 based on the operation information to discharge a required number of game balls. For example, if one ball corresponds to 25 game balls, and five ball balls are discharged by one ball lending button 52 operation, 125 ball balls are discharged by one ball lending button 52 operation.
Eject (25 × 5) game balls. When the lending ball is discharged, the valve switching solenoid 63 is excited, and the switching valve 62 is tilted as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4, and the lending ball discharged from the ball discharging unit 57 is guided to the lending ball flow downway 38 side. Is done. The ball for lending is received by the groove for ball lending 40, discharged from the ball lending outlet 13 through the groove for ball lending 40 and the ball lending guide 49, and stored in the upper ball storage 11.

A game is played using the lending balls discharged to the upper ball storage unit 11, and at this time, the upper ball storage unit 11
A player who wants to play a game in a state where is filled with game balls operates the ball lending button 52 at an earlier timing, that is, with a relatively large number of game balls remaining in the upper ball storage unit 11. In this case, the released rental ball is already in the upper ball storage unit 1
Since it stops at the upstream side of the game balls stored at 1, the upper ball storage unit 11 is gradually filled with game balls. And in this embodiment, since the height difference from the opening lower edge 13a of the lending ball discharge port 13 to the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage part 11 is made larger than the diameter of the game ball, as shown in FIG. After the game balls are stored to the extent that they cover the bottom surface of the upper ball storage unit 11, even if further lending balls are discharged from the lending ball outlet 13, the released lending balls are already in the upper ball storage unit 11. Ride on the stored game balls. Therefore, the player can confirm that all the rental balls have been discharged normally.

When the prize balls are continuously discharged, the upper ball storage section 11 is filled with game balls. Also in this case, the game balls stored in the upper ball storage unit 11 are provided with the ball lending from the ball rental outlet 13 due to the height difference from the lower edge 13a of the opening of the ball rental outlet 13 to the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage unit 11. It is difficult to flow into the passage 35, and it is difficult for game balls to be stored in the ball lending passage 35.
Since the opening lower edge 14a of the prize ball discharge port 14 is positioned lower than the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending discharge port 13, when the upper ball storage portion 11 is filled with game balls, the prize ball passage 36 is provided. The prize ball guided downward by the downward inclination of the bottom surface hits the game ball stored in front of the prize ball discharge port 14 and stops in the prize ball passage 36. Similarly, the following prize balls hit the upstream side of the game ball stopped in the prize ball passage 36,
It gradually accumulates toward the upstream side in the prize ball passage 36. When the prize balls accumulate until the prize balls no longer survive the rear portion of the ball passage forming member 37, the prize ball flow path 39 thereafter
The prize spheres flowing down the inside of the prize sphere spill over the side wall portion 41 a and spill out of the prize sphere groove portion 41 (the ball passage forming member 37), and overflow. It is guided down to the ball storage unit 18.

As described above, the lower edge 1 of the opening of the prize ball discharge port 14 is obtained.
Since the ball 4a is located below the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13, it is difficult for game balls to accumulate in the ball lending passage 35,
Game balls are more likely to accumulate in the prize ball passage 36 than in the lending ball passage 35. Furthermore, since the upper end of the side wall portion 41a is provided at a position lower than the upper end of the side wall portion 40a, the prize ball passage 36 easily overflows more than the ball lending passage 35. Therefore, it is assumed that the storage amount of the upper ball storage unit 11 has room,
Even a player who wants to borrow a game ball can recognize that the ball lending operation is useless due to the start of the prize ball overflow, and stop the useless ball lending operation in advance. Can be. Further, even if the start of the overflow of the prize ball and the ball lending operation are almost simultaneously performed, the ball lending passage 35 has a sufficient amount of stored balls before overflowing, so the ball lending passage 35 flows down the ball lending flow path 38. The lending ball that has been drawn is guided to the lending ball passage 35 without overflowing.
For this reason, game balls to be discharged as lending balls are discharged from the lending ball discharge port 13 to the upper ball storage unit 11. Therefore,
The player can surely visually recognize the game ball discharged from the ball rental port 13 and can confirm the discharge of the rental ball corresponding to the ball lending operation.

In the above-described embodiment, the ball discharging unit 57 discharges the prize ball and the lending ball without distinction, and discharges the prize ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 57 to the prize ball flow path 3.
9 and the rental ball is guided to the rental ball flow path 38. The prize ball flowing down the prize ball flow path 39 is discharged from the prize ball discharge port 14 to the upper ball storage section 11 through the prize ball passage 36. Through the passage 35, the ball is discharged from the ball lending outlet 13 to the upper ball storage 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and a series of prize ball flow paths from the ball discharge unit to the prize ball discharge port, and a series of ball flow down paths from the ball discharge unit to the ball release port. May be configured separately. Hereinafter, an embodiment configured as described above will be described.

FIG. 6 shows a series of prize ball discharge paths from the ball discharge unit 71 to the prize ball discharge port 14, and the ball discharge unit 71.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the pachinko machine main body 2 configured so as to be separated from a series of ball let-off discharge paths extending from a to a ball let-off outlet 13.

In the pachinko machine main body 2, the ball outlet gutter 56
, The game balls are arranged in two lines, the game balls of one line are used for prize balls, and the game balls of the other line are used for lending balls. For this reason, the game balls arranged by the ball guide gutter 56 are supplied to the ball discharge unit 71 for each strip. Ball discharge unit 71
Has a prize ball discharge mechanism 72 for discharging prize balls, and a lending ball discharge mechanism 73 for discharging lending balls. The prize ball discharge mechanism 72 and the lendable ball discharge mechanism 73 are implemented as described above. As in the embodiment, the discharge control unit includes a discharge solenoid, a discharge sensor, a ball locking piece, and the like, and is controlled by a discharge control device. The down flow path 74 for prize balls extends downwardly by communicating with the prize ball exit of the ball discharge unit 71, and the down flow path 75 for ball rental extends downwardly by communicating with the lent ball exit. And the downflow path 7 for the prize ball
4 is provided with a prize ball groove 41 at a rear portion of the ball passage forming member 37 at a lower end portion of the ball passage, and a ball rental groove portion 40 is provided at a lower end portion of a ball flowing down flow path 75. . further,
An overflow channel 43 is provided downstream of the spherical passage forming member 37. In addition, a configuration other than the above, for example, the ball lending outlet 13, the ball lending passage 35, the prize ball discharging port 14,
The configuration of the prize ball passage 36 and the like is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The downflow path 74 for the prize ball and the prize ball path 3
6 constitutes a prize ball discharge path. By this prize ball discharge path,
The prize ball discharged from the ball discharge unit 71 is set to the prize ball discharge port 1
4 and the guided prize ball is discharged from the prize ball discharge port 14 to the upper ball storage unit 11. Similarly, the ball let-off flow path 75 and the ball let-off path 35 constitute a ball let-off discharge path. The lending ball discharged from the ball discharging unit 71 is guided to the lending ball discharge port 13 by this leasing ball discharge path, and the guided lending ball is discharged from the leasing ball discharge port 13 to the upper ball storage unit 11. In this configuration, since the prize ball discharge path and the lending ball discharge path are formed in separate sections, only the prize ball is discharged from the prize ball discharge port 14 without providing a flow path switching valve or the like in the middle. It is possible to discharge only the rental ball from the rental ball discharge port 13. As described above, in the present embodiment, the ball rental outlet 13
Since only the lending ball is discharged from, it is possible for the player to reliably recognize the state in which the lending ball is discharged to the upper ball storage unit 11. For this reason, it is possible to dispel the distrust of the pachinko gaming machine 1 that the player has by the question of "Is the lending ball discharged normally?", Thereby giving the player a sense of security. be able to.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the lower edge 13a of the opening 13 of the ball lending outlet 13 is replaced with the lower edge 1 of the opening of the prize ball outlet 14.
By arranging it at a position higher than 4a, the ball rental outlet 13
The height difference from the lower edge 13a of the opening to the bottom surface 46 of the upper sphere storage portion 11 is made larger than the height difference from the lower edge 14a of the opening of the prize ball outlet 14 to the bottom surface 46 of the upper sphere storage portion 11 to store the upper ball. The game balls stored in the section 11 are less likely to flow from the ball lending outlet 13 into the ball lending passage 35. Focusing on this height difference, in a configuration in which the ball lending outlet 13 is opened to the right of the prize ball outlet 14 (that is, on the downstream side of the upper ball reservoir 11), the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13 is Prize ball outlet 14
The same height as the opening lower edge 14a, or the opening lower edge 14a
Even if the configuration is arranged at a lower position, the difference in elevation caused by the downward inclination of the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage section 11 is caused by the lower opening edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13 and the lower opening edge of the prize ball outlet 14. The height difference from the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13 to the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage 11 is reduced by making the height difference larger than the height difference from the opening ball lower edge 14a of the prize ball outlet 14.
, The height difference from the height to the bottom surface 46 of the upper ball storage section 11 can be made larger, and the inflow of game balls from the ball leasing outlet 13 into the ball luggage passage 35 can be prevented.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the prize ball discharge port 14 is opened facing the upstream end portion of the upper ball storage section 11, and the ball lending discharge port 13 is on the right side of the prize ball discharge port 14. ,
The one that is opened adjacent to the prize ball discharge port 14 is illustrated. In this configuration, the prize ball discharge port 14 has many ball discharge opportunities.
Is located on the upstream side of the upper ball storage unit 11, there is an advantage that game balls can be efficiently stored up to the upstream end portion of the upper ball storage unit 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the ball lending outlet 13 is exchanged with the prize ball discharging outlet 14, and the ball lending outlet 1 is replaced.
3 is opened facing the upstream end portion of the upper ball storage section 11, and the prize ball discharge port 14 is on the downstream side of the ball lending discharge port 13;
The opening may be formed so that the opening lower edge 14a is located below the opening lower edge 13a of the ball lending outlet 13.

In each embodiment, the pachinko gaming machine 1 as a representative gaming machine has been described as an example. However, gaming balls stored in the upper ball storage unit, such as an arrangement ball gaming machine and a sparrow ball gaming machine, are described. The present invention can be applied to a gaming machine configured to discharge a lending ball and a prize ball from a ball discharge port by using a game machine.

[0048]

As described above, the present invention has the following effects. According to the first aspect of the present invention, the difference in height from the lower edge of the opening of the ball lending outlet to the bottom surface of the upper ball storage is determined by the lending ball discharged from the ball leasing outlet being stored in the upper ball storage. Even if a ball lending operation is performed with the game balls stored in the upper ball storage section reaching the front of the ball lending discharge port, the ball lending The game ball discharged from the exit rides on the game ball stored in front of the lending ball discharge port and is stored. For this reason, the game ball to be discharged from the ball rental outlet can be reliably discharged from the ball rental outlet, and the player confirms that the rental ball has been normally discharged to the upper ball storage unit. be able to. Therefore, it is possible to dispel the distrust of the gaming machine which the player holds easily, and to give the player a further sense of security.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the lower edge of the opening of the ball lending outlet is arranged at a position higher than the lower edge of the opening of the prize ball discharging port, the game ball is placed in the ball leasing outlet. Even if the ball is stored downward, the lending ball from the lending ball discharge port is discharged onto the stored game ball, and the state of the discharge is easy to understand.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the lower edge of the opening of the prize ball outlet is located below the lower edge of the opening of the ball lending outlet, the game balls stored in the upper ball storage section. It is difficult for game balls to flow into the ball leasing passage from the ball lending outlet, and it is difficult for game balls to accumulate. For this reason, the award ball passage easily overflows before the lending ball passage. Therefore, even if a player who assumes that there is room in the upper ball storage section and intends to receive the lending of the game ball, the ball lending operation is useless due to the start of the overflow of the prize ball. It can be recognized, and useless ball lending operation can be stopped in advance. Furthermore, even if the start of the overflow of the prize ball and the ball lending operation are almost simultaneous, the lending ball that has flowed down the lending ball flow path overflows because the lending ball passage has a sufficient amount of stored ball. Without being guided to the ballroom. For this reason, game balls to be discharged as lending balls are discharged from the lending ball discharge port to the upper ball storage section. Therefore, the player can surely visually recognize the game ball discharged from the ball rental port, and can confirm the discharge of the rental ball in association with the ball lending operation.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the game board.

3A is a perspective view of the openable panel and the upper plate as viewed from the front side, and FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram illustrating a relationship between a ball lending outlet, a prize ball outlet, and a bottom surface of the upper ball storage unit. .

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine.

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the open / close panel and the upper plate in a state where the upper sphere storing portion is filled with game balls, as viewed from the front side,
(B) is a figure explaining how a game ball discharged from a ball lending outlet rides on a game ball stored in the upper ball storage section.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the pachinko gaming machine according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pachinko gaming machine 2 Pachinko machine main body 3 Card unit 4 Machine frame 5 Front frame 6 Game board 7 Front glass 8 Glass frame 9 Upper plate 10 Opening / closing panel 11 Upper ball storage unit 12 Ball outlet 13 Ball lending outlet 14 Prize ball discharge Exit 15 Lower tray 16 Ashtray 17 Launching operation unit 18 Lower ball storage unit 21 Card reader / writer 22 Card unit control device 23 Card insertion slot 26 Partition member 27 Game area 28 Variable display device 29 Start-up opening 30 Big winning opening 31 General winning opening 32 Notch portion 35 Ball-passing path 36 Prize-ball path 37 Ball-passage forming member 38 Ball-passing flow path 39 Prize-ball flow path 40 Groove-for-ball groove 41 Groove-for-prize ball section 42 Back mechanism panel 43 Overflow flow path 46 For upper ball storage section Bottom 47 Ball Discharge Indicator 48 Prize Ball Guide 49 Ball Rental Guide 51 Remaining Indicator 52 Ball Lend Button 53 Return Button 55 Ball Reservoir 56 Ball lead-out gutter 57 Ball discharge unit 58 Discharge solenoid 59 Discharge sensor 60 Ball locking piece 61 Ball flow down path 62 Switching valve 65 Overflow switch 66 Ball discharge path 67 Discharge switching valve 71 Ball discharge unit 72 Prize ball discharge mechanism 73 Lending Ball discharge mechanism 74 Flow down path for prize balls 75 Flow down path for ball rental

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A bottom surface is inclined downward to the left and right to form an upper ball storage portion on the front side capable of temporarily storing game balls to be used for a game, and the game balls are made to face the upper ball storage portion. In a gaming machine having an opening for discharging a ball to be discharged, the above-mentioned ball discharge port is divided into a prize ball discharge port for discharging prize balls and a lending ball discharge port for discharging lending balls, and a ball rental port and a prize ball discharge port. Are opened side by side in the inclined direction of the bottom of the upper ball storage unit, and the height difference from the lower edge of the opening of the ball rental outlet to the bottom of the upper ball storage unit is determined by the lending ball discharged from the ball rental outlet. A gaming machine characterized in that it is sized so that it can ride on a game ball stored in a section. 2. The gaming machine according to claim 1, wherein the lower edge of the opening of the ball lending outlet is arranged at a position higher than the lower edge of the opening of the prize ball outlet. 3. A ball lending passage connected to a ball lending outlet, a prize ball passage communicating with a prize ball discharging outlet, and game balls overflowing from the ball lending passage and the prize ball passage are provided below the upper ball storage. An overflow channel for guiding the flow to the lower ball storage section, wherein the lower edge of the opening of the prize ball outlet is located below the lower edge of the opening of the ball lending outlet, and the prize ball passage overflows from the ball leasing passage. The gaming machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gaming machine is made easy to perform.