JP2000167230A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the moving route of a game body such as a medal and to appropriately manage the game body circulated inside a game machine. SOLUTION: This game machine is provided with a hopper for pay-out for storing the medal fed by a player and paying out the medal to the player and a lower hopper 50 and an upper hopper 60 as a game body supplier for storing the medal made to pass through a game panel part 20 and supplying the medal to a game panel part 20 based on an indication from the player. The moving route of the medal through the hopper for pay-out and the moving route of the medal circulated between the lower hopper 50 and the upper hopper 60 are separated from each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a game machine for playing a game using a game such as a medal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a game machine of this type, a medal insertion device such as a hopper is installed above a vertical board surface, and a medal is mechanically inserted in response to an instruction from a player or occurrence of an event in a game. (For example, see JP-A-7-59)
905, JP-A-8-299587).

[0003]

In the above-described conventional apparatus, a path for a player to directly insert medals along the board surface is provided separately from a medal insertion path by the insertion apparatus. Is also used as a medal payout device, and a path for moving medals guided on the board and a path for paying medals to a player and receiving medals from a player are not separated. For this reason, a medal that is thrown from the throwing device to the board side and circulates in the game machine,
The medals inserted by the players are easily mixed. Therefore, both must always be medals of the same standard, and there are restrictions in designing a game machine. For example, even if the use of non-magnetic medals is considered on the board to prevent fraudulent activities using magnets, medals used in game centers and the like generally contain nickel components, As long as the game enters the board, preparing a non-magnetic medal on the game machine side has no effect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a game machine which improves a moving route of a game such as a medal and eliminates restrictions on a game machine circulating in the game machine.

[0005]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first game body supply device (10) for storing a first game body inserted by a player and paying out the first game body to the player, and a predetermined board surface. A second game body supply device (50) that stores the second game body (M) that has passed through the section (20), and supplies the second game body to the board portion based on an instruction from the player; , 60).
A game machine in which a movement path of the first game body via the first game body supply device and a movement path of the second game body via the second game body supply device are separated from each other. Solves the above-described problem.

According to the present invention, when the player inserts the first game body and instructs the insertion of the second game body into the board, the second game body supply device causes the second game body to be fed into the board. A body is provided and, in response, a game associated with the movement of the second gaming body is played within the board. The second game body that has passed through the board portion is collected and stored in the second game body supply device. When a player requests payout of a payout or the like obtained in a game, the first game body supply device pays out a predetermined number of first game bodies to the player. First and second
Since the moving paths of the game bodies are separated from each other, the game bodies inserted by the player do not mix with the movement path of the second game body, and the first game body, the second game body, and the Can be clearly distinguished. Therefore, it is not necessary to match the second game body leading to the board portion to the first game body, and it is not necessary to match the second game body with the first game body. Freely second
Game bodies can be selected. In addition, since non-standard game bodies do not mix with the board surface, inconvenience such as clogging does not occur on the side of the second game body supply device. Since a certain number of game bodies are always circulating on the movement path of the second game body, the number of game bodies can be easily managed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the first aspect, an input device (5) for outputting a predetermined insertion command signal in response to an insertion instruction operation by a player, and an output from the input device. The second game body supply device (60) is driven based on the
And an input control device (100) for inputting the game body into the board portion (20). According to this invention, when the player operates the input device to instruct the insertion of the game, the second game is supplied to the board. Various input modes can be provided by devising the relationship between the operation on the input device and the reaction of the second game body supply device to the input device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the second aspect, the insertion control device (100) determines whether or not a predetermined insertion continuation operation has been performed on the input device (5). Continuation request determination means for determining, and continuous insertion control means for continuously driving the second game body supply device until a predetermined stop condition is satisfied when the insertion continuation operation is performed. It is characterized by the following. Therefore, when the player performs a predetermined insertion continuation operation, the game body is continuously supplied to the board surface portion. As a result, for example, it is possible to produce a continuous fire of a game body, develop the contents of the game in relation to the fire, and attract the player's interest.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the first aspect, the board portion (20) has a height difference in a vertical direction. A lower supply device (50) capable of storing the second game body dropped from the lower portion and being able to be launched upward from the board surface portion, and storing the second game body launched from the lower supply device. And an upper supply device (60) that can be charged toward the board surface.

According to the invention, the upper supply device is provided with the second
As a means for executing the insertion of the game body, the lower supply device can be assigned a role as a replenishment means for the second game body with respect to the upper supply device. Since the game bodies are supplied from the upper supply device, the game bodies can be quickly supplied.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the fourth aspect, a lower transmission that outputs a predetermined detection signal in response to the transmission of the second game body from the lower supply device (50). A detection device (112) and the upper supply device (6);
0), an upper transmission detection device (113) that outputs a predetermined detection signal in response to the transmission of the second game body from (0), and a detection signal from each of the lower transmission detection device and the upper transmission detection device. A control device (100) for controlling the number of the second game bodies stored in the upper supply device within a predetermined range based on the control information.

According to the present invention, the number of game bodies sent from each of the lower supply device and the upper supply device can be counted using the signals sent from the lower sending detection device and the upper sending detection device. Therefore, by grasping the number of game bodies stored in the upper supply device at an appropriate reference time (for example, at the start of operation of the game machine) and counting the number of game bodies sent from each device after the reference, The number of gaming bodies stored in the upper supply device can always be accurately grasped. Then, by controlling the replenishment of the game bodies from the lower supply device to the upper supply device so that the number of the game bodies in the upper supply device is kept in an appropriate range, the upper supply device due to the excessive or under accumulation of the game bodies. The operation failure of the game can be prevented and the game body can always be supplied to the board in an optimal state.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the fifth aspect, the control device (100) continues the operation of sending the second game body to the upper supply device. And empty state detecting means for detecting an empty state of the upper supply device based on a detection signal from the upper sending detection device during operation, and stopping the upper supply device in response to the detection of the empty state Operation switching means for activating the lower supply device and continuing the transmission operation thereof, and the second storage device stored in the upper supply device based on a detection signal from the lower transmission detection device during operation. Storage number detection means for detecting the number of game bodies, and stop instruction means for stopping the lower supply device when the number detected by the storage number detection means reaches a predetermined range. Toss .

According to the present invention, the game bodies are sent to the lower supply device until the upper supply device becomes empty, and then the number of the game objects is counted while being sent from the lower supply device to the upper supply device. Thus, the number of game bodies stored in the upper supply device can be accurately grasped. By performing such an operation at an appropriate time, the number of gaming bodies in the upper supply device can be accurately managed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, a medal (M) is provided as the second game body, and the second supply unit is provided with a medal (M). Each is a medal storage (50
a, 50b) and a medal hopper (50, 60) for taking out the medals one by one by a rotating body (50c, 60c) arranged at the bottom of the storage part and sending the medals to the outside. The hopper (50, 60) is widely used as a medal supply device, and according to the present invention,
Since such a hopper is used, the game machine according to claims 4 to 6 can be easily realized.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the game machine according to the seventh aspect, the capacity of the storage section (60a) of the hopper (60) provided as the upper supply device is provided as the lower supply device. The storage capacity of the storage section (50a) of the hopper (50) is smaller than that of the storage section (50a). Since the hopper tends to have higher responsiveness as the capacity of the storage unit is smaller, if a small upper supply device is used, medals can be quickly inserted in response to an instruction from the player. When the capacity is small and the number of stored medals is insufficient, replenishment may be performed at an appropriate timing from the lower hopper. Since the size of the hopper as the upper supply device is reduced, the mechanism above the board surface can be made compact.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, a board portion (20) having a vertical difference in height and a game body (M) dropped from the board portion can be stored and can be launched upward from the board portion. A game comprising: a lower supply device (50); and an upper supply device (60) that stores the game body launched from the lower supply device and can be thrown toward the board surface. Machine.

According to the present invention, the game bodies stored in the upper supply device are thrown into the board, so that the game bodies can be supplied more quickly than when the game bodies are launched from below when they need to be thrown. . Also, since the game bodies are stored in the lower supply device, the lower supply device can function as a supply source of the game materials to the upper supply device. Therefore,
It is not necessary to store all of the game bodies necessary for the game machine in the upper supply device, and it is sufficient to supply the game bodies from the lower supply device to the upper supply device when a shortage occurs. For this reason,
The upper supply device can be made more compact as compared with a configuration in which all the game bodies are stored in the upper supply device.

[0020]

1 to 4 show the appearance of a medal game machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 1 is a perspective view, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a right side view, and FIG. FIG. As shown in these figures, the game machine 1 includes a main body 2 and an operation section 3 provided in front of the main body. The operation unit 3
Four stations 4... 4 are provided as places where players play games. A circular push button switch 5 is provided in the center of the upper surface of each station 4, and a rectangular push button switch 6 is provided on the right side thereof. A medal slot 7 is provided above the push button switch 6, and rectangular push button switches H and P are provided above the slot 7. The push button switch 5 is a bet switch for instructing the player to insert medals, and the push button switch 6 is for instructing to transfer the medal payout number acquired by the player by the medal game machine of the present embodiment to the medal holding number called credit. A collect switch and a push button switch P are a payout switch for instructing payout (payout) of a medal by a player, and a push button switch H is a help switch for instructing a player to display information such as a game operation method on a monitor 23 described later. Function as each. A medal payout opening 8 is provided on the front of each station 4.

FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the station 4. Note that a main body 2 is provided on the left side of the figure. The medals inserted from the insertion slot 7 are guided to the separator 9 and separated into those that conform to a predetermined standard and those that do not. The medals conforming to the standard are guided to the storage unit 10a of the hopper 10, and the other medals are returned to the medal payout opening 8 (omitted in FIG. 5) via the guide 11. The hopper 10 rotates a disk (not shown) with a hole arranged at the bottom of the storage unit 10a by a motor 10b, so that medals are taken one by one into the holes of the disk, and a predetermined number of medals on the rotation path of the disk are This is a known configuration in which medals are ejected one by one from a position.

The medals ejected from the hopper 10 are guided only to the medal payout opening 8 and are not supplied to the main body 2 side. That is, the hopper 10 only stores the medals inserted by the player and pays out the medals to the player. Below the hopper 10, a storage container 12 for storing overflowed medals is provided.
The hopper 10 may be provided in each station 4 one by one, or may be shared by a plurality of stations 4. However, in the case of sharing, a means for selecting a payout port of medals is required.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body 2 is provided with vertical game panel sections 20...
Is attached. As shown in FIG. 6, the game panel unit 20 is provided with a panel device 22 that defines a medal falling space 25 (see FIG. 7) as a game body, and a monitor 23 is mounted behind the panel device 22. . Panel device 2
2 is provided in each game panel unit 20 one by one. For the monitor 23, for example, a plasma display device is used. The screen 23a of the monitor 23 is substantially equal in size to two panel devices 22 connected to the left and right. That is, the monitors 23 are attached across the two game panel units 20, 20, and a total of two monitors 23 are provided on the main body 2. The screen 23a of the monitor 23 is attached to the back of the panel device 22 so as to be almost in close contact. The panel device 22 is transparent as a whole, through which the image on the monitor 23 can be clearly observed.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the panel device 22, and the right side of the figure is the side facing the monitor 23. The panel device 22 is configured by combining a front panel 30A and a back panel 30B in parallel with each other so that a medal falling space 25 having a width W is formed therebetween. The width W of the medal falling space 25 is slightly larger than the thickness t of the medal M.

The front panel 30A has a substrate 32, a protection plate 33, and a pattern printing film 34 interposed therebetween. Similarly, the back panel 30B
Also has a substrate 35, a protection plate 36, and a pattern printing film 37 interposed therebetween. Substrate 32
The protection plates 33 and 36 are each formed of a transparent acrylic plate. Medal falling space 2 of protection plates 33 and 36
The surfaces 33a and 36a facing the surface 5 are each subjected to a hard treatment so as to withstand contact with the medal M. Note that the substrate 32 may be formed of a glass plate.

The substrate 35 of the back panel 30B is made of polycarbonate which is softer than acrylic and is transparent. The reason is that a plurality of (only one is shown in FIG. 7) rivets 38 for driving the medal M in the medal falling space 25 are driven into the substrate 35. However, the material of the substrate 35 is not limited to polycarbonate, but may be, for example, impact-resistant acrylic.
The rivet 38 is made of stainless steel, and its leading end penetrates through the protection plate 36 and the medal falling space 25 to reach the protection plate 33 on the opposite side. Alternatively, the configuration may be such that the tip of the rivet 38 does not penetrate the protection plate 33 and touches the display.

The protection plates 33 and 36 have through holes 33b and 36, respectively.
b is provided as appropriate. Pattern printing film 34, 37
The light-emitting portion 40A and the light-receiving portion 40B constituting the upper chucker sensor (detection device) 40 have through holes 33b, 3b.
6b are provided in alignment with each other. Thus, the through holes 33b and 36b function as recesses for receiving the sensor 40. The light emitting unit 40A emits infrared light, and the light receiving unit 40B outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the received infrared light. The light emitting unit 40A and the light receiving unit 40B are fixed on conductive patterns (not shown) formed on the pattern printing films 34 and 37, respectively, using a conductive adhesive, and control of the game machine 1 is performed through the conductive patterns. It is electrically connected to the device. The print films 34 and 37 are made of a transparent material, for example, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), and a conductive pattern having high transparency is used.
For example, a pattern using carbon or silver is used as the conductive pattern. However, transparency that is not completely visible from the front of the game machine 1 is not always required. Of course,
If the problem of the resistance value of the conductive pattern is solved, the conductive pattern may be formed by a transparent conductor, and in this case, the visibility of the screen of the monitor 23 is further improved. When the conductive pattern is visible from the front of the game machine 1, a pattern, a character, or the like may be expressed using the conductive pattern. The conductive patterns may be directly printed on the substrates 32 and 35, and the films 34 and 37 may be omitted. Protection plates 33, 3
The thickness of 6 is determined so that the light emitting unit 40A and the light receiving unit 40B do not protrude into the medal falling space 25 and come into contact with the medal M.

When the medal M crosses the front of the light receiving section 40B, the infrared light from the light emitting section 40A is blocked, and the output signal from the light receiving section 40B changes. By detecting a signal corresponding to the decrease in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 40B, it is possible to detect the passage of the medal M at a desired position in the medal falling space 25. In addition, since the light receiving unit 40B is provided on the back panel 30B to detect light coming from the front of the game machine 1,
The light emitted from the monitor 23 does not directly enter the light receiving unit 40B, and there is no possibility that the detection accuracy is disturbed by the monitor 23. Also, since the decrease in the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 40B corresponds to the passage of the medal M, even if light other than the infrared light from the light emitting unit 40A enters the light receiving unit 40B from the front of the front panel 30A, the medal M passes. Is not output. Therefore, there is no possibility that a detection error will occur due to the illumination of the place where the game machine 1 is installed, and no erroneous detection will occur even if there is an illegal act such as illuminating the sensor 40 with a flashlight.

FIG. 8 shows an arrangement of the upper chucker sensor 40 and the like in one game panel section 20. In the game panel section 20, an upper chucker 41 is formed by a pair of transparent guide plates 41a, 41a extending in a vertical direction. The upper chucker 41 is the game panel unit 20
Are provided at approximately the center of the frame, and a total of nine are provided so as to surround the diamond in a diamond shape. Then, the chucker sensor 40 is disposed substantially at the center of each chucker 41. The guide plates 41a, 41a are made of a transparent polycarbonate, for example, the inner surface 36a of the front panel 30B (FIG. 7).
(See FIG. 3) so as to block the medal falling space 25.
The guide plate 41a regulates a falling path of the medal M near the upper chucker 41. By regulating the falling path in this way, only the medals M passing near the center of the chucker sensor 40 are reliably detected, and the detection error is reduced.
The guide plate 41a is a protective plate 3 to which the guide plate 41a is adhered and fixed.
6, the bonding operation is easy.

As is apparent from FIG. 8, twelve transparent guide plates 43... 43 extending in the vertical direction are attached to the lower end of the game panel unit 20 at equal intervals. The guide plate 43 is fixed by, for example, the same method as the guide plate 41a, and regulates the falling path of the medal M. By these guide plates 43, thirteen lower chuckers 44... 44 are formed at the lower end of the panel device 22. Panel device 2
The medal M that has reached the lower part of the second medal falling space 25 finally passes through one of the lower chuckers 44 and falls below the panel device 22. A medal M in each of the lower chuckers 44 is provided below the panel device 22.
Is provided with a lower chucker sensor 46 for detecting the presence / absence of the passage (see FIG. 9). These chucker sensors 46 can be installed below the screen 23a of the monitor 23, and can be concealed by a lower panel cover 26 (see FIGS. 1 and 6) that covers the lower end of the panel device 22. Therefore, it is not always necessary to adopt a configuration like the upper chucker sensor 40. For example, a reflective sensor may be provided behind the panel unit 20 to detect the passage of the medal M using reflected light.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 9 and 10,
A lower hopper 50 and an upper hopper 60 are provided inside the main body 2. The hoppers 50 and 60 are provided one by one in the game panel unit 20. Accordingly, four hoppers 50 and 60 are provided in one main body 2. Each of the hoppers 50, 60 is provided with a storage 50a, 60.
By rotating the discs 50c, 60c with holes arranged at the bottom of a by the motors 50b, 60b, the medals are taken in the holes of the discs 50c, 60c one by one, while the medals are taken one by one on the rotation path of the discs 50c, 60c. This is a known configuration in which medals are ejected one by one from a predetermined position.

The medals that have passed through the game panel section 20 are passed through guides 51 and 52 to the storage section 50a of the lower hopper 50.
(See FIG. 9). The medals stored in the storage unit 50a are stored in the storage unit 60 of the upper hopper 60 via the escalator 53 and the chute 54 by driving the motor 50b.
a. The medals stored in the storage section 60a are ejected one by one toward the chute 61 by driving the motor 60b. Then, the medals hit on the shoots 61 fall into a medal falling space 25 provided in the panel device 22 of the game panel section 20 (see FIG. 10).

The medals ejected from the lower hopper 50 are guided only to the upper hopper 60, and the medals ejected from the upper hopper 60 are guided only to the medal falling space 25.
The medals from the hoppers 50 and 60 are not supplied to the operation unit 3 (FIG. 1). That is, the lower hopper 50 only collects medals dropped from the medal falling space 25 and replenishes medals to the upper hopper 60.
Performs only insertion of medals into the medal falling space 25. Accordingly, a medal circulation path is configured on the main body 2 side independently of the medal payout path on the operation unit 3 side.

The upper hopper 60 is smaller than the lower hopper 50, and the number of medals stored in the upper hopper 60 is smaller than that of the lower hopper 50. Since the upper hopper 60 only inserts medals into the medal falling space 25, there is no need to hold a large amount of medals in preparation for paying out medals to the player, and the responsiveness is improved by narrowing the number of stored medals. Medals can be quickly launched. In addition, the medal from the slot 7 is inserted into the medal falling space 25.
Therefore, there is no risk of failure such as clogging due to the insertion of medals of different standards. Since medals circulating through the circulation path on the main body 2 side are not paid out to the player, the number of medals to be stored in the lower hopper 50 may be small. Moreover, the medals on the main body 2 side are not limited to versatile medals that can be used in other game machines. Therefore, a medal provided with a special decoration adapted to the game machine 1, for example, a decoration in harmony with an image displayed on the screen 23a of the monitor 23 may be used. To prevent fraudulent activity using magnets,
Non-magnetic medals such as stainless steel can also be used specially.

As is clear from FIGS. 8 and 10, a wiper device 70 is provided at the upper end of each game panel section 20. The wiper device 70 is provided to change the position of the medal falling into the medal falling space 25, and a pair of arms 7 arranged in the medal falling space 25.
1, 71 and a swing mechanism 72 for swinging the arms 71, 71 within a certain range.

As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the swing mechanism 72 includes a motor 73 with an instantaneous stop function (FIG. 10),
A drive plate 74 attached to the output shaft and a pair of pins 7 attached to the housing 2a of the main body 2 (see FIG. 6).
5, 75, a pair of levers 76, 76 rotatably attached to the pin 75, and a pin 7 at the tip of the lever 76.
A sliding body 78 rotatably connected via 7, 77;
It has a link 79 connecting the sliding body 78 and the driving plate 74.

One end of the link 79 is connected to the drive plate 74 at a position eccentric from the center of rotation. The levers 76, 76 are connected to the upper ends of the arms 71, 71 and the pins 7
5,75 are integrally rotatably connected. Therefore,
When the motor 73 is driven to rotate the drive plate 74, the rotational movement is converted into a reciprocating movement of the sliding body 78 in the left-right direction, and the arms 71, 71 swing back and forth within a certain range. The medals launched from the upper hopper 60 are guided between the arms 71, 71 and fall into the medal falling space 25. Therefore, the falling direction of the medal changes according to the inclination of the arm 71.

To detect whether the arms 71, 71 are located at the left or right ends of the swing range, a sliding member 78 is provided.
A pair of wiper sensors 80, 80 are provided side by side above. Each wiper sensor 80 is of a transmission type including a pair of light emitting units and light receiving units. When the wiper arm 71 is located substantially at the end of the swing range, the dog 78a provided at the upper end of the sliding body 78 overlaps with one of the sensors 80, so that the inspection light is not incident on the light receiving unit. Thereby, the positions of the arms 71, 71 are detected.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control system provided in one game machine. In the game machine 1 of the present embodiment, one CPU 10 is provided for the two game panel units 20, 20.
0 is provided. In other words, one CPU 100 is provided for one monitor 23. Accordingly, two sets of the configuration shown in FIG. 12 are provided for the entire game machine 1.

The CPU 100 includes a microprocessor unit and peripheral circuits necessary for its operation, and performs calculations necessary for advancing the game and controls the operation of each unit. CP
U100 includes bet switch 5, payout switch P, chucker sensor 40,
46 and the wiper sensor 80 are connected via the bus 101. In FIG. 12, the chucker sensors 40, 4
6 is shown only one for each game panel unit 20, but as described above, nine upper chucker sensors 40 and 13 lower chucker sensors 46 are provided for one game panel unit 20. Are output to the CPU 100. CPU10
0 manages a signal from each sensor by attaching a different port number to each other, for example, so that it is possible to determine which sensor the signal is from.

In addition to the above sensors, the CPU 10
0, the insertion detection sensor 110, the payout sensor 111, and the lower hopper sensor 1 shown only in FIG.
12 and the upper hopper sensor 113 are connected via the bus 101. The insertion detection sensor 110 is the medal insertion slot 7
Each time a medal is guided to the payout hopper 10 through the separator 9 from the, a signal indicating medal insertion is output. The payout sensor 111 outputs a signal indicating medal payout each time one medal is paid out from the hopper 10.
Further, the lower hopper sensor 112 and the upper hopper sensor 113 are connected to the lower hopper 50 and the upper hopper 60, respectively.
Each time a medal is paid out, a signal indicating medal payout is output.

Next, the CPU 100 controls the monitor 23, the speaker 120, the illumination device 121
Are connected via a display control circuit 122, a sound control circuit 123, and a lighting control circuit 124, respectively (except for the monitor 23, only shown in FIG. 12). The display control circuit 122 displays an image according to the request from the CPU 100 on the screen 23a of the monitor 23. The sound control circuit 123 causes the speaker 120 to output musical sounds, voices, sound effects, and the like according to a request from the CPU 100. The lighting control circuit 124 responds to a command from the CPU 100 by illuminating the illumination device 12 provided in each part of the game machine 1.
1 (for example, a strobe light) is switched. Further, the CPU 100 controls the motors 10b, 50b, 60b of the hoppers 10, 50, 60 described above as control targets.
And the wiper motor 73 are connected via the drive circuit 130.

Further, a RAM 140, a ROM 141, and an external storage device (for example, a hard disk storage device, a CD-ROM, and a reading device thereof) 142 as storage means are connected to the CPU 100 via a bus 101. The ROM 141 stores programs and data necessary for controlling basic operations of the game machine 1,
In the 141, data that changes sequentially during the game, for example, a medal winning state to the chucker or the like is stored as needed. Data that cannot be stored in the ROM 141 (for example, moving image data to be displayed on the monitor 23) is recorded in the external storage device. If the storage capacity of the ROM 141 is sufficient,
The external storage device 142 may be omitted. And
A communication control device 150 is also connected to the CPU 100 via the bus 101. The communication control device 150 is provided for appropriately exchanging information with the CPU 100 of another set of control systems provided in the game machine 1.

Next, the operation control of the CPU 100 regarding the flow of medals in the game machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 13 shows a procedure of an upper hopper initialization process executed by the CPU 100 when a predetermined initialization operation (for example, turning on a power supply or operating a reset switch) is performed on the game machine 1. This processing is performed by the upper hopper 6
This is performed so that the CPU 100 grasps the number of medals stored in 0, and is executed equally for the hoppers 50 and 60 of each game panel unit 20.

First, in step S10, the upper hopper 60
Starts, and then waits for a predetermined time (step S
11). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the upper hopper sensor 113 has detected a medal (step S12). When the medal is detected, the process returns to step S11. If a medal cannot be detected even after waiting for a predetermined time, it is determined that there is no medal in the upper hopper 60, and the process proceeds to step S13 where the upper hopper 6
The drive of 0 is stopped. The predetermined time in step S11 is set to a time at which it can be reliably determined that there is no medal in the upper hopper 60. Normally, medals are ejected intermittently at a predetermined cycle by driving the hopper 60.
In consideration of the fact that medals are not accommodated in c and medals are ejected irregularly, for example, the period is set to a plurality of periods or more.

Subsequently, a predetermined initial value (for example, 0) is set in a predetermined area of the RAM 140 as the number of medals of the upper hopper 60.
Is stored (step S14), and the driving of the lower hopper 50 is started to launch the medal to the upper hopper 60 (step S15).

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the lower hopper sensor 112 has detected a medal (step S16). If the medal is detected, 1 is added to the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 stored in the RAM 140 (step S17). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 has reached a predetermined value (step S18), and if not, the process returns to step S16. If the value has reached the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S19, in which the driving of the lower hopper 50 is stopped, and the upper hopper initialization processing ends.

Here, the predetermined value in step S18 is determined in relation to the occurrence rate of the so-called idling phenomenon of the upper hopper 60. That is, as described above, the upper hopper 60 is configured to rotate a disk with a hole and strike a medal taken into the hole. In such a hopper, even if the number of medals stored in the storage unit 60a is too large or too small, medals cannot be smoothly taken into the disc, and despite the fact that the disc is rotating, A blank hit phenomenon in which no medal is hit occurs. In the present game machine 1, when the player presses the bet switch 5, a medal is dropped from the upper hopper 60 into the medal falling space 25 in response to the bet switch 5, so that an unnatural hit gives the player an unnatural impression. Therefore, the upper hopper 60 is checked in advance for the range of the number of medals in which the occurrence rate of idle hit is lowest, and the process of step S18 is started so that the medal number of the upper hopper 60 is in the proper range. The predetermined value is set, for example, at the upper limit of the appropriate range or in the vicinity thereof.

If a medal cannot be detected in step S16, the process proceeds to step S20, and it is determined whether or not the medal cannot be detected for a predetermined time. If it is determined that the time is not up, the process returns to step S15 to instruct the lower hopper 50 to start driving again. on the other hand,
If the time is up, the process proceeds to step S21, where a predetermined error process is performed, and the initialization process is completed. Hopper 50, 6
0 is faulty or hopper 5
This is because the number of medals 0,60 may be insufficient.

After setting the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 in the appropriate range as described above, the CPU 100 executes the upper hopper management processing shown in FIG. 14 at an appropriate cycle. In this process, first, the upper hopper 60 stored in the RAM 140
Is acquired (step S30). This number is set in the medal falling space 25 by the processing of FIG.
Each time a medal is inserted, the value changes by subtracting from the value stored in the RAM 140.

In a succeeding step S31, the obtained number of medals is compared with an appropriate range of the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 to determine whether or not replenishment is necessary. If it is determined that replenishment is not necessary, the upper hopper management process ends. If it is determined that replenishment is necessary, the process proceeds to step S32 to start driving the lower hopper 50. In a succeeding step S33, the lower hopper sensor 112
Determines whether or not has detected a medal.
One is added to the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 stored in M140 (step S34). Then, the upper hopper 60
It is determined whether or not the number of medals has reached the predetermined value (step S35), and if not, the process returns to step S33. If it has reached the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S36, in which the drive of the lower hopper 50 is stopped, and the upper hopper management process ends. Note that the predetermined value in step S35 may be the same as that in step S18 in FIG.

If a medal cannot be detected in step S33, the process proceeds to step S37, and it is determined whether or not the medal cannot be detected for a predetermined time. Then, when it is determined that the time is not up, the process returns to step 32 to instruct the lower hopper 50 to start driving again. on the other hand,
If the time is up, the process proceeds to step S38, where a predetermined error process is performed, and the upper hopper management process ends.

By executing the processing of FIG. 14 at an appropriate frequency, medals in an appropriate range are always stored in the upper hopper 60. Therefore, it is possible to always maintain the best condition for inserting medals.

FIG. 15 shows a process executed by the CPU 100 to manage the insertion of medals into the medal falling space 25 and the payout of medals to the player during the game. This process is performed equally for the two stations 4, 4 and their corresponding hoppers 50, 60. In addition, the medal management process of FIG. 15 is repeatedly executed while the game machine 1 is operating, except for the case where the execution is prohibited in relation to other processes.

When the medal management process is started, the CPU 10
In step S40, it is determined whether or not the insertion detection sensor 110 has detected insertion of a medal in step S40, that is, whether or not a player has inserted a medal according to the standard through the medal insertion slot 7. When it is determined that there is an insertion, 1 is added to the number of credits stored in the RAM 140 (step S41),
Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S42. If it is determined that there is no input, the process proceeds directly to step S42. The number of credits is the number of medals recognized by the game machine 1 as the player's share.

In step S42, it is determined whether or not the bet switch 5 has been turned on by the player. When it is turned on, it is determined whether or not the number of credits is 0 (step S4).
3) If not 0, a medal insertion process is executed in step S44, and thereafter, the process proceeds to step S45. Step S
If it is not turned on at 42 or if it is determined at step S43 that the number of credits is 0, step S44 is skipped and the process proceeds to step S45. The subroutine processing in step S44 will be described later.

In the step S45, it is determined whether or not the player has turned on the payout switch P. When it is turned on, it is determined whether or not the number of credits is 0 (step S46). When it is not 0, the payout process is executed in step S47, and thereafter, the process returns to step S40. If it is not turned on in step S45, or if it is determined in step S46 that the number of credits is 0, step S47 is skipped and the process returns to step S40.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are flowcharts showing the procedure of the medal insertion processing executed as the subroutine processing of step S44 in FIG. 15 described above. This process is for inserting medals from the upper hopper 60 into the medal falling space 25 in response to the operation of the bet switch 5 by the player.

When the medal insertion process shown in FIG.
The PU 100 first starts timing to detect the duration of the pressing of the bet switch 5 (step S50), and then starts driving the upper hopper 60 (step S5).
1). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the upper hopper sensor 113 has detected a medal (step S52). When the medal is detected, the process proceeds to step S53, and the driving of the upper hopper 60 is temporarily stopped. Subsequently, 1 is subtracted from the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 stored in the RAM 140 (step S54), 1 is subtracted from the number of credits (step S55), and it is determined whether or not the number of credits after the subtraction is 0 (step S5).
6).

If the number of credits is not 0, it is determined in step S57 whether or not the on state of the bet switch 5 has been continued, and if not, the medal insertion processing ends. On the other hand, if the bet switch 5 is kept pressed, the process proceeds to step S58, and the elapsed time from the start of time measurement in step S50 is a predetermined time (for example, 1 to 2 seconds).
Is determined. If not reached, the process returns to step S57, and if reached, step S5 in FIG.
Go to 9.

In step S59, driving of the upper hopper 60 is started, and subsequently, it is determined whether or not the upper hopper sensor 113 has detected a medal (step S60). If detected, the process proceeds to step S61, where 1 is subtracted from the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 stored in the RAM 140, and then 1 is subtracted from the number of credits (step S62), and it is determined whether the number of credits after the subtraction is 0 or not. Yes (Step S6
3). If the number of credits is not 0, step S64
Then, it is determined whether or not the bet switch 5 is once turned off after the affirmative determination in step S58. If it has not been turned off, the process returns to step S60, and if it has been turned off, the process proceeds to step S65. In the step S65, it is determined whether or not the bet switch 5 is turned on again. If not, the process returns to the step S60. On the other hand, if it is on, the process proceeds to step S66 to stop driving the upper hopper 60,
After that, the medal insertion processing ends. When it is determined in step S63 that the number of credits is 0, the process also proceeds to step S66.

It should be noted that step S52 in FIG.
If no medal is detected in step S60 of step 7, the process proceeds to step S70 or S75, respectively, and it is determined whether or not a state in which no medal can be detected has continued for a predetermined time. If it is determined that the time is not up, the process returns to step S51 or S59 to instruct the upper hopper 60 to start driving again. On the other hand, when the time is up, the process proceeds to step S71 or S76, a predetermined error process is performed, and the initialization process ends.

According to the above-described processing, when the player presses the bet switch 5, first, one medal is
It is thrown into the medal falling space 25 from 0. Thereafter, if the bet switch 5 is kept pressed for a predetermined time or longer, medals are thrown from the upper hopper 60 into the medal falling space 25 until the number of credits becomes 0 or the player once turns off and turns on the bet switch 5 again. to continue. Step S65 may be omitted. In this case,
When the player keeps pressing the bet switch 5 for a predetermined time, medals are continuously discharged, and when the operation of the bet switch 5 is stopped, the insertion of medals is stopped.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the operation of step S4 in FIG.
7 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of payout processing executed as subroutine processing of FIG. This process is executed in response to the operation of the payout switch P by the player to pay out the credited number of medals to the player at that time. The number of credits changes depending on the insertion of a medal by a player, consumption in a game, and a payout.

When the payout process shown in FIG.
The PU 100 first acquires the current number of credits recorded in the RAM 140 as the number of remaining payouts (step S8).
0) Then, the drive of the payout hopper 10 is started (step S81). Then, the payout sensor 11
1 determines whether a medal has been detected (step S8).
2) If detected, the process proceeds to step S83, where 1 is subtracted from the current number of payouts. Then, it is determined whether or not the number of remaining payouts after the subtraction is 0 (step S84). If the number of remaining payouts is not 0, the process returns to step S82. When the number of remaining payouts becomes 0, the process proceeds to step S85, in which the driving of the payout hopper 10 is stopped, and the payout processing is completed. If no medal is detected in step S82, it is determined whether or not a state in which no medal can be detected has continued for a predetermined time (step S86). If it is determined that the time is not up, the process returns to step 81 to instruct the payout hopper 10 to start driving again. If the payout of the medal is not detected even after waiting for a predetermined time due to lack of medals, failure of the payout hopper 10, or the like, the time is up. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S87, performs predetermined error processing, and ends the initialization processing.

Next, the contents of the game executed on the game machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 19, in the present embodiment, a slot bingo game is a basic game, and a fireworks event is performed according to a medal winning state in the upper chucker 41 or the lower chucker 44.
The game proceeds with the flow of shifting to the bonus stage or the fever game. The fireworks event is an event in which a predetermined number of medals are continuously dropped from the upper hopper 60.

FIG. 20 shows a basic game screen 200 displayed on the monitor 23 when the slot bingo game is being played. In the game machine 1 of the present embodiment, the panel device 2 that defines the medal falling space 25
2 is transparent, and the background of the medal falling space 25 is the monitor 2
3 is composed of a game screen 200 projected on the screen.
One screen 200 is displayed for one game panel unit 20. That is, the screen 23 of one monitor 23
On screen a, two sets of screens 200 shown in FIG. 20 are displayed side by side.

The screen 200 includes a game information display section 201,
It includes a symbol display section 202, a life gauge display section 203, and a lower chucker information display section 204. The game information display section 201 displays information such as time, the number of credits, and the number of medals to be paid. Symbol display section 2
In 02, marks 202a and 202b, symbols 202c and 202d, etc. are displayed in alignment with each of the nine upper chucker sensors 40. After the game is started, a circular mark 202a is displayed on the chucker 41 for which the medal has not passed yet so that the player can grasp the position of the chucker 41. Chucker 4
When a "winning" in which a medal passes through 1 occurs, at the winning position, symbols 202c and 202d indicating winning have been displayed in place of or overlaid with the mark 202a. Note that the symbols 202c and 202d are merely examples.

As shown in FIG. 21, when three symbols are arranged side by side to form a line, it becomes "Bingo" and a predetermined number of medals are paid out to the player. If all the symbols on the line are the same, the process proceeds to the bonus stage. In some rare cases, a special symbol may be displayed, and when a line including the special symbol is formed, the process proceeds to the fever game. It should be noted that when two symbols are arranged and one remaining chucker 41 wins, a “Bingo” is generated, and a target mark 20 shown in FIG. 20 is placed at a position corresponding to the remaining one chucker 41.
2b is displayed.

The lower chucker information display section 204 displays information associated with each function of the lower chucker 44. As shown in FIG. 22, among the thirteen lower chuckers 44, three chuckers are defined as a trigger chucker 44a that shifts to a fireworks event in response to passing of a medal. When a medal passes through any of the trigger chuckers 44a, a transition is made to a fireworks event, and a counter 204a on the trigger chucker 44a is set.
Are continuously sent out from the upper hopper 60.

The number of medals displayed on the trigger chucker 44a increases by a predetermined amount (for example, one) each time a medal passes through the stored ball chucks 44b, 44b arranged on both sides of each trigger chucker 44a. When a medal passes through the ball storage chucker 44b, the trigger chucker 44a and a pair of ball storage chuckers 44 sandwiching the trigger chucker 44a.
The length of the level gauge 204b displayed so as to straddle three of b and 44b increases upward by a predetermined unit amount. When the length of the level gauge 204b reaches a predetermined value, a transition is made to a fireworks event equivalent to when a medal has passed the trigger chucker 44a at a position corresponding to the level gauge 204b.

The outside of the ball storage chuck 44b is defined as an out chuck 44c. When the medal passes through the out chucker 44c, the number of outs increases by one. When the number of outs reaches three, the symbol currently displayed on the symbol display unit 202 is deleted, and the game is restarted. In the life gauge display section 203, information indicating the accumulated number of out-numbers is displayed. In addition,
The value of the counter 204a and the gauge amount of the level gauge 204b are not affected by the out.

In the present embodiment, the entire panel device 22 is transparent, and when viewed from the player, the screen 200 displayed on the monitor 23 is predominantly visually recognized, and the positions of the chuckers 41 and 44 may be difficult to understand. So, Chucker 4
By displaying a mark, a symbol, or the like at a position corresponding to each of the chuckers 41, 44,
Can be easily visually recognized, thereby facilitating the medal insertion operation aiming at the chuckers 41 and 44.

FIGS. 23 to 26 are flowcharts showing the processing executed by CPU 100 to implement the above-described game. When a signal indicating medal passing is output from any of the chucker sensors 40 and 46 during execution of the game, the CPU 100 interrupts and executes the medal passing storage process of FIG. In this processing, the position of the chucker sensor 40 (or 46) that has output the signal indicating the medal passing is specified (step S100), and the information corresponding to the position can be determined in the passing history buffer area in the RAM 140 in the detection order. The state is stored (step S101). Then, the process returns to the process before the interruption.

The CPU 100 repeatedly executes the game processing shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 during execution of the game. This processing is processing for managing winning determination and shifting to a fireworks event in the slot bingo game in accordance with the information stored in the passage history buffer area of the RAM 140, and is performed in parallel with the processing of FIGS. Done.

In the game processing of FIG.
0 first determines whether or not an unprocessed passage history (information corresponding to the position) is stored in the passage history buffer area of the RAM 140 (step S110). If it is not stored, it waits until the passage history is recorded. On the other hand, if the passage history is stored, the processing regarding the passage history with the oldest detection order is started, and it is determined whether or not the passage history corresponds to “winning” (step S111). The “winning” here means that the medal passes through the upper chucker 41.

If it is determined that the winning history does not correspond to "winning", the process proceeds to step S112, and it is determined whether or not the passing history corresponds to "out", that is, whether or not the passing history corresponds to the passing of the out chucker 44c. R if “out”
One is added to the number of outs stored by the AM 140 (step S113), and it is determined whether or not the number of outs after the addition is three (step S114). If not 3 out, step S1
In step S18, the number of outs displayed on the life gauge display unit 203 of the screen 200 is increased by one, and then step S
Return to 110. On the other hand, in the case of three outs, the winning state stored in the RAM 140, that is, the history of the medal winning regarding the upper chucker 41 is cleared (step S11).
5) The display of the symbol display unit 202 of the screen 200 is updated to the initial state in which only the mark 202a is displayed (step S116), and the processed passage history is deleted from the passage history buffer area of the RAM 140 (step S117). Thereafter, the process returns to step S110.

If it is determined in step S111 that "winning" has occurred, the flow advances to step S120 to determine a symbol to be displayed at the winning position, that is, the position of the chucker 41 specified by the passing history information. Then, the record of the winning state in the RAM 140 is updated so that the winning history is stored (step S121), and the determined symbol is displayed on the screen 200 (step S122). This display may be accompanied by an animation in which some symbols are displayed alternately.

After the symbol is displayed, the symbol display section 20 is displayed based on the storage of the winning state updated in step S121.
In step S12, it is determined whether or not a line has been established.
3) If the line has not been established, the process proceeds to step S117.

On the other hand, when the line is established, the process proceeds to step S124 in FIG. 25, and it is determined whether or not the condition for shifting to the bonus stage is satisfied. When the condition is not satisfied, the condition for shifting to the fever game is determined in step S125. It is determined whether or not the condition is satisfied. When the condition for proceeding to the fever game is not satisfied, the process proceeds to step S126 to perform a predetermined holding process. The suspension process is a process of sequentially acquiring the passing history from a point of time of winning determination until a certain time (for example, about 3 seconds) later and sequentially updating the winning state during that time. The suspension processing was provided for the following reason.

In the case of the game machine 1, the upper chucker 41
In some cases, a medal that has won a prize may continue to another upper chucker 41, and a line may be established in the first prize, and another line may be established in a prize immediately thereafter. In such a case, as a so-called double WIN in which a plurality of lines are simultaneously established, it is desirable to give a higher payout than when a single line is established. However, if a payout is determined immediately after one line is established and that line is deleted, a double WIN with a time difference as described above cannot be detected. Therefore, by waiting for the determination of the payout for a certain period, the above-described double WIN can be detected, and a payout corresponding to the double WIN can be output. During the suspension period, it is desirable to prevent the line from disappearing due to three outs in view of the purpose. Even during the suspension period, if the condition is satisfied, it may be possible to shift to a fireworks event, a bonus stage, or a fever game.

When the suspension processing is completed, the process proceeds to step S127, and a payout is determined based on the winning state at that time.
Then, the payout number is added to the credit number of the player (step S128), the processed medal passing history is cleared (step S129), and all the upper chuckers 41 on the already established line are recognized as not winning. Then, the winning state stored in the RAM 140 is updated (step S130), and the display on the symbol display unit 202 is updated based on the updated state to delete the symbols on the line (step S131). Thereafter, the process returns to step S110 in FIG.

If it is determined in step S112 of FIG. 24 that the outgoing history is not out, it is determined whether or not the passing history currently being processed corresponds to the passing history of the ball storage chuck 44b (step S150). When it is determined that the game corresponds to the passage of the ball storage chuck 44b, the ball storage chuck 44
The storage in the RAM 140 relating to the display number of the counter 204a and the gauge amount of the level gauge 204b corresponding to b is updated so that their values increase by one (step S).
151) followed by the counter 204a and the gauge 204
The display of b is updated (step S152). Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the amount of the gauge 204b has reached a predetermined value required for the occurrence of a fireworks event (step S153). If the amount is less than the predetermined value, the process proceeds to step S117.

If it is determined in step S150 that the ball is not a ball storage chucker, that is, the trigger chucker 44a
Is determined to be a winning, or step S15
If it is determined in step 3 that the amount of the gauge 204b has reached the predetermined value, the process proceeds to the fireworks event (step S160), and after that, the process returns to step S110.

If it is determined in step S124 of FIG. 25 that the conditions of the bonus stage are satisfied, or if it is determined in step S125 that the conditions of the fever game are satisfied, step S140 or step S1 is performed.
Proceed to 41 to start the bonus game or fever game. Then, whether or not these games are over is monitored in step S142. When the games are over, the passage history of the medals stored in the RAM 140 is cleared in step S143, and the process proceeds to step S130.

In the bonus game, for example, a target image is displayed at a position of either the upper chucker 41 or the lower chucker 44 for a predetermined time, and the player displays the video within the predetermined time.
The game is executed a predetermined number of times, in which a pass is made if the medal passes, and a play in which the pass is failed if the medal cannot be passed is executed a predetermined number of times. Also,
The fever game is not limited to the game panel unit 20 that satisfies the conditions for proceeding to the fever game, but the other three game panel units 20 simultaneously shift to the fever game by interrupt processing, and all cooperate to issue one command. The game to be accomplished is executed. For example, a pair of monitors 2
When a player at each station 4 passes through the designated chuckers 41 and 44 on the respective panel units 20, the characters are defeated and the game is completed. Such a game is executed. During the execution of the fever game, two sets of CPUs 10 are communicated via the communication control device 150.
Data is transmitted between 0.

FIG. 26 shows a procedure for processing a fireworks event. When shifting to the fireworks event, the CPU 100 first monitors the monitor 23 for an effect indicating that the fireworks event has started.
The process starts using the speaker 120, the illumination device 121, and the like (step S161), and subsequently clears the unprocessed medal passage history stored in the RAM 140 (step S16).
2). Next, the number of medals used in the winning state and the fireworks event stored in the RAM 140 (the counter 204a
Is obtained (step S163), and the medal drop position from the wiper 70 is determined based on the obtained winning state (step S164). Specifically, it is determined whether the winning upper chucker 41 is present more on the right side or the left side of the game panel unit 20, and the wiper arm 71 is moved so that the medals fall toward more or less sides. Determine the stop position. By this position control, the probability of a line being established can be increased or decreased to some extent.

Then, the wiper arm 7 is positioned at the determined position.
It is determined whether or not 1 has moved based on signals from the wiper sensors 80 and 80 (step S165). If it is determined that the drop position has been reached, the drive of the wiper motor 73 is stopped and the wiper arm 71 is moved. Stop (Step S
166).

After that, the driving of the upper hopper 60 is started (step S167).
It is determined whether or not has detected a medal (step S16)
8). If detected, the process proceeds to step S169 and RAM
One is subtracted from the number of medals of the upper hopper 60 stored in 140, and subsequently, the presence or absence of a new prize is determined by referring to the passing history of medals recorded in the RAM 140 after the start of the fireworks event (step S170). If there is a winning, the record of the winning state is updated in step S171 so that the winning is stored, and the process proceeds to step S172. If there is no new winning, the process skips step S171 and proceeds to step S172.

In step S172, it is determined whether or not the number of medals inserted from the upper hopper 60 after the start of the fireworks event has reached the number of medals used in the fireworks event acquired in step S163. This determination can be made based on the amount of decrease in the number of medals in the upper hopper 60 after the start of the fireworks event. If the number of inserted medals has not reached the number used in the fireworks event, the process returns to step S168, and if it has, the process proceeds to step S173. In step S173, the driving of the upper hopper 60 is stopped. Subsequently, the drive of the wiper 70 is started (step S174), and the effect of the fireworks event is stopped (step S175), and the RA
The payout in the fireworks event is determined based on the winning state stored in M140 (step S176), and the determined number of medals is added to the number of credits of the player (step S177).

Thereafter, the winning state stored in the RAM 140 is updated so that the upper chucker 41 on the line established in the fireworks event is recognized as not winning (step S).
178), the display of the symbol display unit 202 is updated based on the information and the symbols on the line are deleted (step S).
179). As described above, the fireworks event ends, and the process returns to the processing in FIG. If no medal is detected in step S168, the process proceeds to step S180 to determine whether or not a state in which no medal can be detected has continued for a predetermined time. If it is determined that the time is not up, step S
The flow returns to 167 to instruct the upper hopper 60 to start driving again. On the other hand, if the time is up, step S18
Proceed to 1 to perform predetermined error processing and end the fireworks event.

In the process shown in FIG. 26, the wiper arm 71 is stopped during the fireworks event.
In addition, step S174 is omitted, and the insertion of medals from the upper hopper 60 is started at the timing when the wiper arm 71 moves to the medal falling position, and the wiper arm 71 is always rocked during the fireworks event as well as at other times. You may.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment,
Various changes may be made. For example, something other than a medal may be used for the second game body. The first game body and the second game body may be the same or different from each other.

In the above embodiment, the continuation request determination means, the continuous input control means, the operation continuation means, the empty state detection means, the operation switching means, the accumulation number detection means, the stop instruction, and the stop instruction are provided by a combination of the CPU 100 and specific software. Means are realized, but a part of them may be replaced by a logic circuit such as an LSI.

[0096]

As described above, according to the game machine of the present invention, the movement path of the first game body to be inserted by the player and the movement of the second game body passing through the board of the game machine. Since the route and the route are separated from each other, there is no need to match the second game body with the first game body, and it is convenient for game machines such as non-magnetic ones and those specially decorated according to the design of the game machine. In addition, the second game body can be freely selected.
Since non-standard game bodies do not mix with the board,
Inconvenience such as clogging does not occur on the side of the game body supply device. Since a certain number of game bodies are always circulating on the movement path of the second game body, the number of game bodies can be easily managed. In particular, when the second game body supply device is configured by combining supply devices such as hoppers respectively arranged at a lower portion and an upper portion of the board surface portion, quick introduction of the second game body to the board surface portion is possible. In addition, it is possible to prevent the malfunction of the upper supply device due to excessive or small accumulation of the game bodies, and to always supply the game bodies to the board surface in an optimal state.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medal game machine to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the game machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the game machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an internal structure of an operation unit provided in the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an internal structure of a main body of the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of the panel device provided on the front surface of the main body in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an arrangement of chuckers and the like in one game panel unit of the game machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion IX in FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part X in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a main part of a wiper device provided on an upper portion of the game panel unit of FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control system of the game machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an upper hopper initialization executed by the CPU of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the procedure of an upper hopper management process executed after the initialization process of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a medal management process executed during the game.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a medal shooting process executed as a subroutine process of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart following FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a payout process executed as a subroutine process of FIG. 15;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a basic flow of a game executed by the game machine in FIG. 1;

FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of a screen displayed on the screen during the slot bingo game of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a view showing an example in which a payout is obtained in the slot bingo game of FIG. 19;

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing the display at the lower end of the screen of FIG. 20 in association with the lower chucker.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a medal passage storage process which is executed by the CPU of FIG. 12 every time a medal passes through the chucker.

24 is a flowchart showing a procedure of a game process executed by the CPU in FIG. 12 during the game.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart following FIG. 24;

26 is a flowchart showing a procedure of fireworks event processing executed when a transition to a fireworks event occurs in the processing of FIG. 24.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Game machine 2 Main part 3 Operation part 4 Station 5 Bet switch (input device) 6 Payout switch 7 Medal slot 10 Payout hopper (first game body supply device) 20 Game panel part (panel part) 50 Lower hopper ( Second game body supply device, lower supply device 60 Upper hopper (second game body supply device, upper supply device) 100 CPU (control device) 112 Lower hopper sensor (lower delivery detection device) 113 Upper hopper sensor (upper delivery detection) Apparatus) M medal (second game body)

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] October 29, 1999 (1999.10.
29)

[Procedure amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction contents]

[Claims]

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A first game body supply device for storing a first game body inserted by a player and paying out the first game body to the player, and a second game passing a predetermined board portion A second game body supply device for storing a body and supplying the second game body to the board based on an instruction from the player, via the first game body supply device A game machine, wherein a moving path of the first game body and a moving path of the second game body via the second game body supply device are separated from each other. 2. An input device for outputting a predetermined insertion command signal in response to an insertion instruction operation by a player, and driving the second game body supply device based on the insertion command signal output from the input device. The game machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a throw-in control device that throws the second game body into the board portion. 3. The continuation request determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined continuation operation has been performed on the input device; and
3. The game machine according to claim 2, further comprising: a continuous insertion control unit configured to continuously drive the second game body supply device until a predetermined stop condition is satisfied. 4. 4. The board portion has a height difference in a vertical direction, and the second game body supply device stores the second game body dropped from the board portion, and stores the second game body. A lower supply device capable of being launched upward, and an upper supply device capable of storing the second game body launched from the lower supply device and being capable of being thrown toward the board surface. The game machine according to claim 1, wherein: 5. A lower sending detection device that outputs a predetermined detection signal in response to sending of the second game body from the lower supply device, and sending the second game body from the upper feeding device. An upper transmission detection device that outputs a predetermined detection signal in response to the second transmission detection device and the second transmission storage device that is stored in the upper supply device based on detection signals from the lower transmission detection device and the upper transmission detection device. The game machine according to claim 4, further comprising: a control device that controls the number of game bodies within a predetermined range. 6. The control device, further comprising: operation continuation means for continuing the sending operation of the second game body to the upper supply device; and based on a detection signal from the upper sending detection device during operation. Empty state detecting means for detecting an empty state of the upper supply device, and an operation of stopping the upper supply device in response to the detection of the empty state, activating the lower supply device, and continuing the sending operation thereof. Switching means; accumulation number detection means for detecting the number of the second game bodies stored in the upper supply device based on a detection signal from the lower transmission detection device during operation; and accumulation number detection. 6. The game machine according to claim 5, further comprising: stop instruction means for stopping the lower supply device when the number detected by the means reaches a predetermined range. 7. A medal is provided as the second game body, and each of the lower supply device and the upper supply device includes a medal storage unit and a rotating body disposed at a bottom of the storage unit. 5. A medal hopper for taking out medals one by one and sending the medals to the outside.
7. The game machine according to any one of claims 6 to 6. 8. The capacity according to claim 7, wherein the capacity of the storage unit of the hopper provided as the upper supply device is smaller than the capacity of the storage unit of the hopper provided as the lower supply device. game machine. 9. A board surface portion having a vertical difference in height, a lower supply device capable of storing a game body dropped from the board surface portion and launching upward from the board surface portion, and launching from the lower supply device. A game machine comprising: an upper supply device that stores the game body and that can be inserted toward the board surface.