JP2000237388A - Game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a player from uselessly hitting a game ball by stopping the hitting of the game ball when the number of hittable game balls (remaining balls) becomes equal to or less than a preset number through a remaining ball detector installed to a supply tray. SOLUTION: The game ball from the supply tray 12 to which a hitting device is attached is led through a passage 81 and a meandering route to which ball clogging prevention is executed to a ball feed body. On the downstream side of the supply tray 12, the remaining ball detector 80 for detecting that the number of the hittable remaining balls becomes the prescribed number is installed. In the case that the game ball enters a pattern start port, whether or not it is during a variable display game (specified state) is judged, and when it is not during the variable display game, whether or not it is during large winning establishing display (specified state) is judged. Then, at the time of the specified state, whether or not the remaining ball detector 80 is ON is judged, and in the case that the hittable game balls become equal to or less than a set number and the remaining ball detector 80 is turned off, a hitting motor is stopped and the game balls hittable in the specified state are secured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gaming machine for playing a game by firing a game ball, and to solving a disadvantage of a player.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pachinko machine as a gaming machine is provided with a symbol display and a symbol starting port capable of variably displaying a plurality of symbols in a gaming area, and is used to hit a shot game ball into the gaming area. When the game ball wins the symbol starting port, a variable display game in which the symbol displayed on the symbol display starts to change starts, and after a predetermined time, the symbols are sequentially stopped, and the combination of the determined symbols is, for example, When all the symbols are the same, a special game state (big hit) advantageous to the player may occur.

In the variable display game, when a game ball wins a symbol starting port, the winning balls are stored up to a predetermined number as start memory of the next and subsequent variable display games, and the variable display game is sequentially played. Do. Therefore, even after the player hits all the game balls in order to end the game, the player wins the symbol starting port and the variable display game is performed, or the variable display game with the start memory remaining is performed. After that, a special game state may be caused by a predetermined symbol being determined and displayed, but since the game ball has already been hit, the special game state may not be immediately supported. Therefore, in order to eliminate such inconvenience,
In a game machine that detects the remaining game balls and warns the player by displaying a lamp, etc., or rents a game ball with a card,
There is a type in which game balls are automatically lent when there is a card balance.

[0004]

However, since the warning in the lamp display is displayed at a position out of the player's field of view, the warning may be difficult for the player to notice.
In the form of automatically paying out game balls, although the special game state can be dealt with with a few remaining game balls, useless game balls (borrowed balls) are paid out, and the player is paid out. Is disadvantageous for Therefore, the present invention provides a gaming machine capable of eliminating such disadvantages for the player.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the number of playable game balls (remaining balls) is reduced to a predetermined number or less via a remaining ball detector installed on a supply plate. Then, by stopping the firing of the game ball, it is possible to prevent the player from hitting the useless game ball. Further, the gaming machine according to claim 2 stops firing of the game ball when the number of remaining balls is equal to or less than a predetermined number via a remaining ball detector installed on the supply tray in a specific state. In the event that a jackpot or the like occurs, it is possible to prevent unnecessary payout of borrowed balls and to eliminate disadvantages of the player. The gaming machine according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a selection unit for determining whether or not to stop the emission of the game ball, thereby easily selecting whether or not to stop the emission of the game ball.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 (front view) shows a pachinko machine 1 as a gaming machine. The pachinko machine 1 forms a pair with a card unit 20. Has a built-in card reader (not shown). The front panel 21 of the card unit 20 is provided with an indicator lamp and a card insertion slot 22 when the operation of the card unit is valid. On the other hand, on a supply plate 12 attached to the front panel 11 of the pachinko machine, operation buttons and the like for the card unit 20 are provided. Specifically, the balance of the card inserted into the card insertion slot 22 is A display 13a for displaying (frequency), etc., a conversion button 13b for supplying a lending ball to a pachinko machine via a card unit 20 by a player's operation, and a return button 1 for returning a card.
3c is provided.

[0007] A storage tray 17 is provided below the supply tray 12, and stores a prize ball that has overflowed when the supply tray 12 is full. Also, by operating the firing handle 51 of the firing device 50, the game balls supplied from the supply tray 12 for each ball are guided by the guide rail 2 and fired in the game area 3. The firing device 50 will be described later. Will be described in detail. A selection means (switching button or switch type) 25 is provided on the upper left end of the storage dish 17.
Is “ON”, the green lamp Ra is “OFF”
, The red lamp Rb is turned on.

A liquid crystal type special symbol display L for performing a variable display game through a plurality of variable symbols is disposed at a substantially central portion of the game area 3, and the special symbol display L is a variable display game. As one display mode in the symbol display section L
1, 0, 9, A, B, C, D, E in L1, L2
Five symbols are variably displayed in this order.

On the left and right sides of the special symbol display L, ordinary symbol starting gates 4a and 4b are provided, and when a game ball passes, the symbol of the ordinary symbol indicator 31 attached to the large winning opening 30 described later fluctuates. And stops after a lapse of a predetermined time for changing between the normal state and the advantageous state. When the finalized symbol matches a predetermined symbol, a "hit" occurs, and the blade 5a of the ordinary electric accessory 5 is opened for a predetermined time. The determination of the hit is made through a common counter Fc having a well-known circulation number, and the probability of the "hit" is 10/100.

When the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 5, a predetermined number of prize balls are paid out and a variable display game to be described later is performed. It is advantageous. The game balls passing through the normal symbol starting gates 4a and 4b are configured to flow down to the lower center of the game area 3, and the game area 3 includes other normal winning ports 9a and 9b. It is arranged.

When a game ball wins in the symbol starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 5, a special symbol starting signal is generated via a detector (not shown), and a variable display game is performed. The control shown in FIG. 7, which will be described in detail, is also performed. The variable display game includes a symbol display section L1.
The symbols of L3 are simultaneously displayed in a fluctuating manner.
The symbols are stopped and displayed at 1 to L3.

When the game ball wins the ordinary electric accessory 5 during the symbol change, it is sequentially stored in the variable memory, and the number of times of starting the next and subsequent variable display games stored in the variable memory is up to four. Pieces (however, this number can be selected as appropriate)
The memory lamp LR is turned on to notify the player in accordance with the number. Therefore, in the variable memory,
In addition to the starting ball which is currently changing the symbol, the maximum number of symbol starting memories of the next and subsequent times is added, and a number up to a maximum of 5 is stored.

Then, based on the special symbol start signal, a judgment counter Hc (a circulation counter of 0 to 329)
With a low probability (at power-on), a jackpot (special game state) (1/330 probability at "7"), reach (1/15 probability at "11-32"), or miss (A determination counter Hc value other than the above) is determined.

When the jackpot is judged by the judgment counter Hc, first, a reach for displaying the same symbol on the symbol display portions L1, L2 is generated, and then the jackpot symbol for aligning the same symbol on the symbol display portions L1, L2, L3. ("000" to "EE
E ") is fixedly displayed, and the opening / closing door 30a of the special winning opening 30 is kept open for t seconds, or closed when a game ball wins, and the opening and closing door 30a is opened while the opening / closing door 30a is open. When a game ball passes through a specific area (not shown) provided in the inside 30, the special winning opening 30 is opened again, and this operation is performed up to X times. Therefore, the player can obtain a large amount of prize balls. When the reach occurs, control is performed according to a control flow (FIG. 8) described in detail below.

The launching device 50 has a well-known configuration,
FIG. 2 showing the component configuration, FIG. 3 (A) showing the assembled state, FIG. 3 (B) showing the front, FIG. 4 (A) showing the back, FIG. 4 (B) showing the hitting portion, and the supply tray 12. FIG. 5 showing a cross section of
A description will be given with reference to FIGS. Reference numeral 51 denotes a firing handle for firing a game ball.
Is provided with a stop switch 49 that enables the firing motor 54 to be described later to be stopped. Also, this firing handle 5
The rotatable firing operation lever 52 attached to 1 adjusts the tension of an elastic body (strength adjusting spring) 57 described later to adjust the strength of the hit ball. Reference numeral 54 denotes a firing motor. A motor cam 55 is attached to a rotating shaft 54a of the firing motor 54 so that the hitting rod 56 can reciprocate intermittently.

That is, the striking rod 56 is urged in the firing direction by the elastic body 57 via the firing operation lever 52, but is temporarily rejected by the guide piece 60 rotated by the rotation of the motor cam 55. Biased in the direction. Then, when the motor cam 55 separates from the guide piece 60, the hitting rod 56 becomes free, and the restoring force of the elastic body 57 rotates sharply in the firing direction to fire a game ball, and a game (variable) in the game area. Display game) and the like.

Next, a mechanism for supplying game balls before the hitting rod 56 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4B, 5A and 5B. Is passage 81
And is guided to a ball feeder 61 that is rotatable about a rotation shaft 61a via a meandering path 12a in which ball clogging is prevented. A remaining ball detector (proximity) is provided downstream of the supply tray 12 to detect when the number of remaining balls that can be hit has reached a predetermined number (for example, 10) (FIG. 5B). Switch type,
A limit switch type, a photoelectric tube type, etc.) 80 is installed, and when it changes from FIG. 5 (A) to FIG. 5 (B), a signal is switched from “ON” to “OFF”.

A door 82 is provided below the passage of the supply tray 12.
Is installed, and the closed state is always maintained by the spring 83. However, when the push switch 88 is pressed, the opening / closing door 82 is slid and opened by the link mechanism 84, so that the game ball passes through the discharge passage 85. Is discharged to the storage dish 17. That is, when the player stops playing the game,
2 can be discharged by pressing the push switch 88.

An L-shaped ball feed lever 62 provided with a rotating roller 62a at its tip is mounted to be swingable about a fixed rotation shaft 62b. The ball feed lever guide piece 63, which rotates together with the rotation, makes a swinging motion depending on the state of being hooked.
Therefore, the rotating roller 62a is
When the lower edge of the ball feeder 61 is pushed up, the ball feeder 61 enters a game ball receiving state. After that, when the ball feed lever 62 rotates and the ball feeder 61 becomes free, a weight 61 attached to the ball feeder 61 is provided.
The game ball is rotated through b and the like, and the game ball for each ball is discharged from the discharge port 64 and guided to the front of the hitting rod 56 on the guide rail 2. The fired game balls are detected by a fire detector 90 provided on the machine side of the guide rail 2.

An electromagnetic solenoid 65 is provided on the ball feeder 61, and the electromagnetic solenoid 65 is set to "O".
N ", the operation rod 65a projects
The ball feeder 61 is maintained in a state of receiving game balls. Therefore,
The game ball is not discharged from the discharge port 64 by holding the receiving state.

Next, FIG. 6 showing a control block of the gaming machine will be described. This gaming machine is a special symbol display L composed of CPU, memory, etc., and controlled by specific software.
And a sub-control device for displaying symbols on the special symbol display L. Then, the main control device includes a remaining ball detector 80, a launch detector 90, various detectors for detecting a winning ball, etc., a storage lamp LR indicating the number of start memories of the variable display game, various lamp lighting in a big hit, and the like. Operation of a solenoid for turning off the light, opening and closing the opening / closing door 30a of the special winning opening 30, outputting to a speaker that emits sound, inputting a switching button (selection means) 25 and switching button 2
The control of the lamps Ra and Rb indicating the state of 5 is performed.

The power supply of the main controller is performed via a relay board, and a stop signal for the firing motor 54, which will be described later, is sent from the main controller to the motor drive board via the relay board. The motor drive board is controlled so as to be activated by a touch switch attached to the firing handle 51, and also stops the firing motor 54 by a signal from a stop switch 49 attached to the firing handle 51. When the player operates the stop switch 49, the firing motor 54 is stopped prior to the control flow described below.

Next, the processing of the variable display game will be described. However, the main control method of the variable display game is well-known and will not be described, and SUB1 and SUB2 executed in the interrupt processing shown in FIG. 7 will be described. Note that each variable is initialized when the power is turned on. First, the SUB1 will be described. A game ball is a symbol starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 5
It is determined whether or not the variable display game is in progress (specific state) (S1), and if it is not in the variable display game, it is determined whether or not "big hit confirmed display is in progress (specific state)" (S2). ). That is, in these specific states, there is a possibility that a game ball to be hit later may be required. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the remaining ball detector 80 is "ON" (S3). . This remaining ball detector 80 is "ON"
If it is, there are more game balls that can be hit than previously set game balls as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the flag F (= 0) is set, and the process ends (S4).

On the other hand, when the remaining ball detector 80 is "OFF" in the determination in the step 3, the number of game balls that can be hit is less than the preset number as shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the firing motor 54 is set to be stoppable based on whether or not the switching button 25 is "ON" (S5). That is, the player can select whether to set the switch button 25 to “ON (green lamp Ra is lit)” or “OFF (red lamp Rb is lit)”. Therefore,
When the switching button 25 is “ON”, the firing motor 54
Is stopped and the hitting of the game ball is set to be stoppable, so that the flag F (= 1) is set and the process ends (S6).
When the player has selected the switching button 25 to be OFF (the red lamp Rb is lit), the process proceeds to step 4 in order to maintain the possibility of hitting the ball.

Next, in SUB2, the setting flag F
It is determined whether or not the flag F is "0" based on the formula (S10). If the flag F is "0", the number of game balls that can be hit is larger than a preset number, so the firing motor 54 is started to hit the ball. It is enabled (S11). On the other hand, the flag F is "1"
If so, the number of game balls that can be hit is equal to or less than the preset number, so the firing motor 54 is stopped (S12).

As described above, in the specific state (during the variable display game or during the jackpot determination display), when the player selects via the switch button 25, a game ball that can be hit later can be secured. Therefore, even if a jackpot occurs after the specific state, the player does not need to take measures to newly borrow the game ball, and the player is not automatically paid out in the treatment of the borrowed ball by the card. The disadvantage of can be corrected.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 8 illustrates the control in the reach (specific state) with reference to SUB1 and SUB2. Note that each variable is initialized when the power is turned on. When the game ball wins the symbol starting port (ordinary electric accessory) 5, the judgment counter Hc determines whether or not a big hit occurs. In the case of the big hit, there is a case where the big hit does not occur but "reach" occurs. is there.

Therefore, in SUB1, it is determined whether or not a reach has occurred, that is, in the variable display game, for example, whether or not the symbols of the symbol display section L1 and the symbol display section L2 are the same (S20). Then, when it is in the reach (specific state), it is determined whether or not the remaining ball detector 80 is "ON" (S21). When the remaining ball detector 80 is "ON", a game ball that can hit the ball is determined. As shown in FIG. 5 (A), since there are more game balls than the preset game balls, this process is terminated. That is, the firing motor 54 is not stopped.

However, when the remaining ball detector 80 is "OFF", it is determined whether or not the switching button 25 is "ON" (S22). The switching button 25 is set to “ON (green lamp Ra lighting)” or “OFF (red lamp Rb
(Lit) can be selected by the player. Therefore, when the switching button 25 is "ON", the firing motor 54 is stopped, and the hitting of the game ball is stopped (S23). That is, after reaching the variable display game, there is a possibility that the symbol of the symbol display section L3 may cause a big hit. In preparation for the big hit, in order to leave a predetermined number of game balls, When the user selects, the firing motor 54 is stopped. However, when the player does not select such a treatment using the switching button 25, the firing motor 54 can keep hitting and can hit the ball.

On the other hand, in SUB2, after the firing motor 54 is stopped in step 23, it is determined whether or not the variable display game has been completed in order to restart the firing motor (S24).
Then, when the variable display game is over, the launch motor 54 is activated to enable hitting, whether it is a big hit or a miss (S25).

As described above, in the variable display game,
When the reach (specific state) occurs, the firing motor 5
4 can be stopped, so that even when a jackpot occurs, it is not necessary to borrow a new game ball, and the card is not automatically paid out in the treatment of the ball by the card. The disadvantages of the elderly.

(Third Embodiment) In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, it is determined whether or not the remaining ball detector 80 is "ON" (S30), and is "ON". Since there are sometimes game balls that can be hit more than a preset number,
4 is started (S35), and this process ends. However, when the remaining ball detector 80 is “OFF”, that is, when the preset number of playable balls decreases, the timer T is initialized (S 31).
After performing the addition process (S32), the firing motor 54 is stopped (S33). Then, it is determined in advance whether or not the timer T has become equal to or longer than the set time T0 (S34). When the time is up, the firing motor 54 is started (S3).
5). In this way, when the number of remaining game balls that can be hit is low, the firing motor 54 is temporarily stopped to notify the player in advance, thereby eliminating the disadvantage caused by the player having reduced remaining balls. Become.

FIG. 10 shows a remaining ball detector 80 which can be used in the first to third embodiments and which detects a remaining ball that can be hit.
Is calculated through the firing detector 90, and the remaining number of game balls is displayed on a part of the special symbol display L, thereby providing service to the player. for that reason,
First, it is determined whether or not the remaining ball detector 80 is "ON" (S41). When the remaining ball detector 80 is "ON", there are a predetermined number or more game balls that can be hit, and thus this process is terminated. However, when the remaining ball detector 80 is "OFF", the counter I is set to an initial value I0 (here, the number of remaining balls when the remaining ball detector 80 is "ON" is 10). (S42). Then, the firing detector 90 sets “O
N is determined (S43), and every time it is "ON", 1 is subtracted from the counter I (S44), and the value of "Counter I" is displayed on the special symbol display L (S4).
5). Then, the process ends after the counter I becomes "0" (S46). In this way, the number of remaining balls is displayed on, for example, a part of the special symbol display L, and the service is provided to the player.

The above-described stop of the operation of launching the game ball is performed by stopping the launch motor 54.
As shown in FIG. 4 (B), the operation may be performed by operating the electromagnetic solenoid 65. That is, when the electromagnetic solenoid 65 is turned “ON”, the operation rod 65a protrudes, and the ball feeder 61 maintains the state of receiving the game ball.
The game ball is not discharged from the discharge port 63 by maintaining the receiving state. In this configuration, the electromagnetic solenoid 65 is set to “O
By setting it to "FF", it is possible to immediately launch a game ball, and it is possible to deal with a state in which the ball can be hit more quickly than when the launching motor 54 is stopped. That is, even if the firing motor 54 is started, it is more preferable to release the hit ball by the electromagnetic solenoid 65 in the state of the steady rotation, compared to the case where the firing is not successful until the steady rotation.

The selection means (switching buttons and switches) 25 need not be provided. If provided, the selection means 25 is installed on the left end of the storage dish 17 so that a player can operate it. May be installed on the back side of the gaming machine so as to be selectable. In addition, the remaining ball detector 80 has a simple mounting position, for example, is mounted in a sliding manner,
It is meaningful that a predetermined number of changes can be easily implemented.

[0036]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the number of playable game balls (remaining ball) becomes equal to or less than a predetermined number, the game machine stops firing the game balls so that the player can uselessly play the game. The ball can be prevented from hitting. Further, in the gaming machine according to the second aspect, when the number of remaining balls is equal to or less than a predetermined number in a specific state, the game machine stops firing of the gaming balls, so that it can be prepared in case of a big hit or the like. It is no longer necessary to pay out a borrowed ball, and the disadvantage of the player is eliminated. In the gaming machine according to the third aspect, it is possible to easily select whether to stop the emission of the game ball by the selection means for determining whether to stop the emission of the game ball.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing components of a game ball launching device.

3A is an assembly view of the launching apparatus, and FIG. 3B is a front view.

FIG. 4A is a rear view of the launching device, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating the operation of the launching device.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams showing a cross section of the supply tray from the back side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control block of the gaming machine.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a control flow in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a control flow according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a control flow according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a control flow for displaying the number of remaining balls.

[Explanation of symbols]

 25 switch button 49 stop switch 54 firing motor 61 ball feeder 80 remaining ball detector L1 to L3 symbol display section

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A game machine for playing a game through the launch of a game ball, wherein when the number of remaining balls becomes equal to or less than a preset number via a remaining ball detector installed on a supply plate, the game ball is played. A gaming machine characterized in that it stops firing. 2. A game machine for playing a game through the firing of a game ball, wherein in a specific state, the game is performed through a remaining ball detector installed on a supply plate.
When the number of remaining balls is equal to or less than a preset number, the game machine stops firing game balls. 3. The gaming machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting whether or not to stop launching the gaming ball.