JP2001025562A - Game ball counter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To discriminate whether game balls within a path are rightly charged from their top to a set position. SOLUTION: All electrode plate 84 is fixed to an opening/closing plate 82, an electrode plate 86 is fixed to a movable gutter 78, an electrode plate 122 is fixed to the middle of a tilting part 76 and an electrode plate 124 is fixed to the upper end part of the part 76. The plate 84 is at a position to which a leading game ball hits at the time of closing the plate 82, and the plates 86, 122 and 124 are at positions on which the fifth game ball, the tenth game ball and the fifteenth game ball are placed respectively at the time of closing the plate 82. At the time of looking at the presence/absence of the continuity between the plate 84 and the plates 86, 122, 124 at the time of closing the plate 82 to accumulate the game balls within a guiding path 72, it can be confirmed whether the game balls are arranged in contact with each other (whether they are rightly charged from their top to a set position).

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention belongs to the technical field of a game ball counting device mounted on a game machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a gaming machine using a game ball (pachinko ball) as a game medium inserted for executing a game or a prize discharged according to a game result. In such a gaming machine, counting of game balls is indispensable. For example, game balls are detected one by one by a sensor and the detection results are accumulated.

[0003]

However, depending on the type of game machine and the game form, there is an advantage that the progress of the game is accelerated when a plurality of game balls are taken in or ejected at once. For example, one unit is defined as a plurality of game balls as one unit.
There is a slot machine in which a game is started after taking in more than a unit of game balls (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 5-7642).

In the slot machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-7642, a take-in device for opening and closing the downstream end of a ball introduction gutter is provided, and when a game ball is caused to flow in with the take-in device closed. The capture sensor is installed at the position where the 15th ball stops at the upstream side of the capture device.
A shutter device for opening and closing the ball introduction gutter between the sixth ball is provided. This allows the game ball to pass while counting the capture device by closing the capture device and opening the shutter device, and closing the shutter device and opening the capture device after the detection of the 15th ball to obtain 15 game balls. Can be drained (taken).

However, according to the method of detecting a captured ball disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-7642, it is not possible to determine whether or not fifteen game balls are accurately filled on the upstream side of the capturing device. Was. As a specific example, if a game ball (or an equivalent object) is reciprocated in the vicinity of the capture sensor and counted by the capture sensor, 15 balls are passed without passing through 15 balls. I was able to make a mistake.

An object of the present invention is to determine whether or not game balls in a passage are correctly filled from the head to a set position (ie, a set number).

[0007]

Means for Solving the Problems and Effects of the Invention
The above described game ball counting device is provided with a guide path through which the game balls can move in a line, a movement preventing means for preventing the movement of the game balls to a downstream side from the blocking position, and an upstream from the blocking position. A continuous presence detecting means for detecting whether or not a game ball is continuously present up to the detection setting position;

In this game ball counting device, when the game balls move in the guide path, the movement preventing means prevents the movement to the downstream side from the stop position, so that the game balls are arranged in a line upstream from the stop position. Stay. The movement preventing means can be realized by a member (for example, a wall, a plate, a bar, or the like) that blocks the guide passage, and may be a fixed type, but the members for blocking them are made movable (that is, openable and closable). Then, it is preferable to provide the driving means.

By appropriately setting the distance from the blocking position to the detection setting position (the path length along which the game ball moves), the number of game balls staying at the blocking position to the detection setting position can be set. Then, the continuous presence detecting means determines whether or not the game balls are continuously present from the blocking position to the detection setting position, that is, whether or not the number of game balls corresponding to the distance from the blocking position to the detection setting position is correctly staying. Or to detect.

Further, since foreign matter such as dust is interposed between the game balls or the ball is clogged on the downstream side of the detection set position, the game balls are not densely filled between the inhibition position and the detection set position ( (Discontinuous). That is, it is possible to determine whether or not the game balls in the guide passage are correctly filled from the head (blocking position) to the detection set position (set number). Therefore, it is possible to cope with the above-described erroneous detection of the capture sensor and the act of intentionally causing erroneous recognition.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a game ball counting apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising presence / absence detection means for detecting whether or not there is a game ball at the detection set position. By using it in combination with the detection result by the means, it is possible to more reliably determine whether or not the game ball is correctly staying at the blocking position to the detection setting position.

If the result of detection by the continuous presence detecting means is discontinuous, and if the presence or absence of the game ball is detected by the presence / absence detecting means, it can be determined that a ball clogging or the like has occurred downstream of the game ball. If the presence / absence detection means does not detect a game ball, it is possible to determine that a problem has occurred on the upstream side (ball shortage, clogging of the ball on the upstream side, etc.), so that notification and measures according to each case can be taken. Will be possible.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the game ball counting apparatus according to the first aspect, an intermediate detection position is set between the blocking position and the detection setting position, and the continuous presence detecting means is provided. Is also characterized by detecting whether or not there is a game ball continuously from the blocking position to the intermediate detection position.

With this configuration, it is possible to detect whether or not the number of game balls corresponding to the detection set position (for example, 15) and the number of game balls corresponding to the intermediate detection position (for example, 10) are continuously present. . Thereby, for example, game balls (for example, 10 pieces) are continuous up to the intermediate detection position, but if there is no game ball up to the detection setting position (for example, 15 pieces), the game balls up to the intermediate detection position (for example, 10 pieces) It is possible to take measures such as executing a game with the number of times corresponding to a game ball, time, or the like.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the game ball counting device according to the third aspect, if an intermediate detecting means for detecting whether or not there is a game ball at the intermediate detecting position,
By using it in combination with the detection result by the continuous presence detecting means, it is possible to more reliably determine whether or not the game ball is correctly staying at the blocking position to the intermediate detection position.

If the result of detection by the continuous presence detecting means is discontinuous, and if the presence of a game ball is detected by the intermediate detecting means, it can be determined that a ball clogging or the like has occurred on the downstream side. If the intermediate detecting means does not detect a game ball, it can be determined that a problem on the upstream side (ball shortage, clogging of the ball on the upstream side, etc.) has occurred. Will be possible.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the game ball counting apparatus according to the third or fourth aspect, if a plurality of the intermediate detection positions are set, more kinds (for example, 15 pieces, 1
(0, 5) game balls can be counted. Further, the position such as clogged ball can be detected more precisely.

A game ball counting device according to a sixth aspect is the game ball counting device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects,
The game apparatus further comprises a batch discharging unit that collectively discharges a plurality of continuous game balls from the leading game ball in the game balls that are prevented from moving by the movement blocking unit from the guide path.

Assuming that the game balls are continuously present from the blocking position to the detection set position, and when ejecting (or taking in) the game balls, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-7542. In the case of letting out one by one from the downstream end of the guide passage as in the loading device, the time required for discharging (or taking in) becomes long, and for example, it may be difficult to quickly advance the game.

However, if a plurality of game balls continuous from the first game ball are collectively discharged from the guiding path by providing the collective discharge means as described in claim 6, the time required for discharging (or taking in). Is very short, and the game can proceed quickly. "Batch discharge"
Is to collectively discharge a plurality of game balls at substantially the same time, which is different from discharging a plurality of game balls within a certain period of time (for example, with a time difference between the first ball and the last ball).

The continuous presence detecting means, the presence / absence detecting means and the intermediate detecting means may be different types of detecting means. For example, if one of the detecting means is an electrical detecting means and the other is a detecting means of light, erroneous detection may be performed. It is preferable because the resistance to the resistance is increased.

[0022]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment in which the present invention is embodied as a betting ball take-in device of a slot machine will be described, and the embodiment will be described.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1, a slot machine 50 includes a symbol display device 10 which is a central player in a game. The symbol display device 10 is provided with three symbol belts 12, and by rotating each symbol belt 12, a plurality of symbols drawn on the surface thereof are scroll-displayed, and each symbol belt 12 is stopped. The hits are displayed by the combination of symbols.

The upper half of the front of the slot machine 50 has a transparent display window 52 facing the front of the symbol display device 10.
Is covered with a front cover 54 having Below the front cover 54, a dish door 58 provided with an upper plate 56 for storing game balls (pachinko balls) to be supplied as game media into the slot machine 50 has a door-like shape with respect to the main body side of the slot machine 50. It can be opened and closed.

A bet switch 6 for selecting the number of game balls to be inserted in one game is provided at the right end of the plate door 58.
0a, 60b, and 60c are attached, and a return button 61 is attached to the lower left corner. When the bet switch 60a is turned on, three units (one unit is five in this example)
When the bet switch 60b is turned on, one unit of the game balls is turned on, and when the bet switch 60c is turned on, two units of the game balls are taken into the slot machine 50 as bet balls. Note that the game can be played after the gaming balls are taken into the slot machine 50 as credits.
Credits of 3 units, 1 unit or 2 units are subtracted according to the ON operations of a, 60b and 60c.

An effective determination line is determined according to the bet switches 60a to 60c. In this example, the line crossing the center of the symbol display device 10 (lines B, E and H in FIG. 1) is valid for the bet switch 60b (1 unit), and the upper and lower two lines for the bet switch 60c (2 units). Three lines are also valid including the lines (A, D, G and C, F, J), and two more diagonal lines (A, E, J and C, E, G) with the bet switch 60a (3 units). In addition, five lines are valid.

At the front edge of the upper plate 56, a start switch 62 for instructing the start of a game (ie, the start of rotation of each symbol belt 12 of the symbol display device 10) and each symbol of the symbol display device 10 are provided. Stop switches 64a, 64b, 64c for stopping the belt 12 are attached.

[0028] After the player has turned on any of the bet switches 60a to 60c to take in the game balls thrown into the upper plate 56, or takes them in as credits in advance, any of the bet switches 60a to 60c is taken. When the start switch 62 is turned on and the start switch 62 is turned on, the three symbol belts 12 of the symbol display device 10 start rotating. When the player presses the stop switch 64a, the left symbol belt 12 stops, and the stop switch 6
Pressing 4b stops the central symbol belt 12, and pressing the stop switch 64c stops the right symbol belt 12. When the three symbol belts 12 are stopped, a combination of symbols along any one of the determination lines validated according to the operated bet switches 60a to 60c is set in advance. ), The number of game balls corresponding to the established prize combination is paid out as prize balls. The paid out prize balls are discharged to the upper plate 56 or the lower plate 66 attached to the lower side.

The above is an outline of the configuration and operation of the slot machine 50, and the procedure for proceeding with the game is the same as that of a known game. Next, a game ball capturing mechanism 70 unique to this embodiment will be described. The capture mechanism 70 corresponds to a game ball counting device, and is installed from the inside to the back of the dish door 58.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upper plate 56 is provided with a storage portion 56a for storing game balls and an alignment portion 56b for aligning game balls flowing out of the storage portion 56a in a line. On the downstream side of 56b, a guiding passage 72 having a size for moving the game balls in a line is continuously provided. Guideway 7
2 includes a U-turn part 74, a linear inclined part 76 connected to the downstream side of the U-turn part 74, and a movable gutter 78 connected to the downstream side of the inclined part 76. Storage unit 56a
From the U-turn part 74 to the U-turn part 74 (U-turn part 7).
4) is provided with a gentle slope, and the slope 76 and the movable gutter 78 are provided with a gentle slope opposite thereto. For this reason, the game balls thrown into the storage portion 56a are aligned in a line in the alignment portion 56b, flow into the guide passage 72, and reach the tip of the movable gutter 78.

The tip of the movable gutter 78, that is, the guide passage 7
A return gutter 80 communicating with the lower plate 66 is connected to the downstream end of 2, and communication between the guide passage 72 and the return gutter 80 is cut off by an opening / closing plate 82 corresponding to the movement preventing means. The opening / closing plate 82 is normally set to a closed position for closing the downstream end of the guide passage 72. In the closed position, the game ball moving in the guide passage 72 hits the opening / closing plate 82 and is prevented from flowing out to the gutter 80. It is. An electrode plate 84 is attached to the opening / closing plate 82 at a position where the leading game ball B1 abuts (see FIG. 3 (a-1)). The electrode plate 84 is driven up and down by a solenoid 83. When the return button 61 (see FIG. 1) is turned on, the open / close plate 82 is displaced upward to the open position, and the game ball in the guide passage 72 is returned from the return gutter 80 through the return gutter 80. It can be discharged to the lower plate 66.

As shown in FIG. 3B, an electrode plate 86 is attached to the bottom of the movable gutter 78, and one element of an optical sensor 88 which is a photocoupler in which an LED and a phototransistor are paired is provided on the side. In this example, an LED 88a is attached. Then, as shown in FIG.
6, the other element of the optical sensor 88, in this example, a phototransistor 88b is attached to the position facing the LED 88a.

The position of the electrode plate 86 is such that the game ball is
When the outflow is prevented, the fifth game ball B5 counted from the first game ball B1 is on the ride position, and the game ball B5 is the position for blocking light from the LED 88a toward the phototransistor 88b. Although the details will be described later, the installation location of the electrode plate 86 and the optical sensor 88 corresponds to the first intermediate detection position. Further, the electrode plate 86 is a part of the continuous presence detecting means, and the optical sensor 88 corresponds to the intermediate detecting means.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a driving mechanism 90 is arranged adjacent to the movable gutter 78. As shown in FIG. 3, the drive mechanism 90 has a case 92 serving as an outer shell, and the case 92 is fixed to the dish door 58 although details are omitted. A pair of guide rails 94 and 96 are fixed above and below the case 92, and the guide rails 94 and 9 are fixed.
At 6, the slider 98 is slidably held. The slider 98 is provided with a cam hole 100, and a lower end portion 100a thereof is substantially parallel to the guide rails 94 and 96.
A pair of locking members 102 are provided at the rear end of the slider 98 to lock the distal end plate 106 of the solenoid 104. The main body of the solenoid 104 is fixed to the case 92, and when electricity is supplied to the case 92, the plunger 108 is pulled in to draw the slider 98 to the retracted position (FIG. 4).
(Refer to (a-2))). When the power is not supplied, the plunger 10 is actuated by a return spring (not shown).
8 to project the slider 98 to the forward position (FIG. 3 (a-
2).

A driving pin 110 extending from the movable gutter 78 is inserted into the cam hole 100 of the slider 98.
The movable gutter 78 is supported by the case 92 via a hinge shaft 112 held by the case 92, and is attached to the inclined portion 76 via a hinge shaft 118 inserted between bearings 114 and 116 shown in FIG. The hinge shafts 11
It can swing about 2, 118.

For this reason, the drive pin 110 is
The relative position with respect to the cam hole 100 is changed in accordance with the forward and backward movements of the slider 98. The holding position (corresponding to the forward movement position of the slider 98) and the driving position (slider 9
8 (corresponding to the retreat position 8). And
With the swing displacement of the drive pin 110, the movable gutter 78 also swings between a stay position (corresponding to the holding position of the drive pin 110) and a discharge position (corresponding to the drive position of the drive pin 110).

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the sectional shape of the movable gutter 78 is L-shaped, and the sectional shape of the extension 76a of the inclined portion 76 is L-shaped with short side surfaces. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, when the movable gutter 78 is at the staying position, up to five game balls (game balls B1 to B5) are formed on the movable gutter 78 by the joint of the movable gutter 78 and the extension 76a. Can be held. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the movable gutter 78 is at the discharge position, the game ball on the movable gutter 78 falls from the movable gutter 78 through a gap with the extension 76a. The game ball dropped from the movable gutter 78 is taken into the slot machine 50 through a passage not shown, and is discharged outside the machine in the case of this example.

Since the lower end 100a of the cam hole 100 is substantially parallel (substantially horizontal) to the guide rails 94 and 96, when the movable gutter 78 receives the load of the game ball at the stay position, the load is Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the drive pin 110 from being swingably displaced upward. Therefore, it is not necessary to make the return spring of the solenoid 104 strong in order to maintain the slider 98 at the forward position, and the force for driving the plunger 108 to move backward can be reduced accordingly, so that the solenoid 104 can be downsized. .

As is clear from the description of the movable gutter 78 and the driving mechanism 90, they function together as a collective discharging means. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, a shutter plate 120 is provided at an upstream end of the movable gutter 78. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the shutter plate 120 has a fan shape and projects outside the movable gutter 78.
When the movable gutter 78 is at the discharge position, the movement of the game ball from the inclined portion 76 to the movable gutter 78 side is prevented. Therefore, at this time, the game ball B6 at the head of the inclined portion 76
The subsequent game balls do not flow out of the inclined portion 76.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode plates 122, 12
4 and one of the elements of the optical sensors 126 and 128 similar to the optical sensor 88, in this example, the LED 12
6a and 128a are attached. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the optical sensor 1 is located at a position facing the LED 126a.
26, the phototransistor 126b in this example.
Is attached, and the other element of the optical sensor 128, in this example, the phototransistor 1 is located at a position facing the LED 128a.
28b is attached.

The position of the electrode plate 122 is such that the game ball is
2 is the position where the tenth game ball B10 counted from the first game ball B1 rides when the outflow is blocked by the second game ball B1.
This is the position where the light traveling toward 26b is blocked. Although details will be described later, the installation location of the electrode plate 122 and the optical sensor 126 corresponds to the second intermediate detection position. Further, the electrode plate 122 is a part of the continuous presence detecting means, and the optical sensor 126 corresponds to the intermediate detecting means.

The position of the electrode plate 124 is such that when the outflow of the game ball is prevented by the opening / closing plate 82, the first game ball B
This is the position where the fifteenth game ball B15 counted from 1 rides, and the game ball B15 is a position where the light from the LED 128a to the phototransistor 128b is blocked. Although the details will be described later, the installation location of the electrode plate 124 and the optical sensor 128 corresponds to the detection setting position. The electrode plate 124 is a part of the continuous presence detecting means, and the optical sensor 128 corresponds to the presence / absence detecting means.

Further, as shown in FIG.
Further, a shutter 130 is disposed upstream of the optical sensor 128 to cut off communication between the inclined portion 76 and the U-turn portion 74. The shutter 130 is driven up and down by a solenoid 132 connected thereto, and prevents movement of the game ball from the U-turn portion 74 to the inclined portion 76 when ascending, and allows this when descending. Note that the vertical position of the shutter 130 is 1
It is between the fifth game ball B15 and the following game ball B16.

Next, referring to FIG.
Will be described. Control device 71 which is the center of control system
Is a microcomputer having a well-known CPU, ROM, RAM, input / output port, and the like. The control device 71 includes optical sensors 88, 126, 128, a bet switch 6
Switches and sensors such as 0a to 60c, a start switch 62, stop switches 64a to 64c, and a return button 61 are connected, and the control device 71 can acquire these detection signals and the like. The control device 71 includes an electrode plate 8.
4, 86, 122, and 124 are connected, and the control device 71 determines whether there is conduction between the electrode plates 84 and 86, the electrode plates 122 and 124, and determines whether each of the electrode plates 86, 12
It can be detected every 2,124. Further, operating components such as the symbol display device 10, the solenoids 83, 104, and 132 are also connected to the control device 71, and the control device 71 can control their operations.

The control device 71 executes various control processes regarding the execution of the game in the slot machine 50.
Among them, the fetch process closely related to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, in the capture process, the control device 71 first determines whether any of the bet switches 60a to 60c has been turned on (S101). If any of the bet switches 60a to 60c has been turned on (S101: YES), the control device 71 disables the operation of the return button 61 and cannot open the opening / closing plate 82 (S102). Bet switch 60
The process proceeds to the process of detecting the number of game balls corresponding to a to 60c (S10)
3).

If the bet switch 60a has been operated, since this is a three-unit bet, the conduction state of the electrode plate 124 and the signal level of the optical sensor 128 are checked (S104). At this time, as shown in FIG. 8A, from the electrode plate 84 (that is, the opening / closing plate 82) to the electrode plate 124,
Game balls B1 to B1 continuously to the movable gutter 78 and the inclined portion 76
If there is 5, an electric path from the electrode plate 84 to the electrode plate 124 via the game balls B1 to B15 is established, so that conduction between the electrode plate 84 and the electrode plate 124 is established. Therefore, it can be confirmed that 15 (3 units) game balls are staying here. If the signal of the optical sensor 128 is at the detection level, the presence of the game ball B15 can be confirmed.

However, if there is a gap between the game balls, or if an insulator such as plastic or glass is interposed between the game balls, fifteen game balls are exemplarily shown in FIG. 8B. The balls are not continuous, and an electrical path from the electrode plate 84 to the electrode plate 124 via the game ball is not established. In this case, since there is no electrical connection between the electrode plate 84 and the electrode plate 124, it can be determined that 15 (3 units) game balls do not stay here. At this time, the other electrode plates 86, 1
By checking the conduction state between the electrode 22 and the electrode plate 84, a discontinuous portion can be specified. For example, in the example of FIG. 8B, the electrode plate 84 and the electrode plate 86 are electrically connected through the game balls B1 to B5, but the electrode plate 122 and the electrode plate 84 are not electrically connected. It can be understood that it is between the game balls B6 to B10.

If the bet switch 60c has been operated, since this is a two-unit bet, the conduction state of the electrode plate 122 and the signal level of the optical sensor 126 are checked (S105). As described above, the electrode plates 84 to 12
Up to 2, the game ball B continues to the movable gutter 78 and the inclined portion 76.
If there is 1 to B10, conduction is established between the electrode plate 84 and the electrode plate 122, so that it can be confirmed that ten (two units) game balls are staying here. Also, the optical sensor 128
Is at the detection level, the presence of the game ball B10 can be confirmed. When ten game balls do not stay (there is a discontinuous part somewhere), it can be determined in the same manner as described above.

If the bet switch 60b has been operated, since this is a one-unit bet, the conduction state of the electrode plate 86 and the signal level of the optical sensor 88 are checked (S5).
106) In this case as well, it is possible to determine whether or not five are continuous as described above. These S104, S105 or S
Bet switches 60a-60c operated by 106
If it can be confirmed that the game balls of the number corresponding to are properly retained, the control device 71 determines that the game balls can be captured (S107:
YES), the solenoid 132 is operated, and the shutter 13 is turned on.
At 0, the upstream end of the inclined portion 76 is closed (S108). The closing of the shutter 130 is another step, for example, S
This may be performed together with the process of disabling the return button 61 in 102.

In the next step S109, the control device 71 operates the solenoid 104 of the drive mechanism 90 to incline the movable gutter 78, thereby ejecting five game balls B1 to B5 at once, and turning off the solenoid 104. The movable gutter 78 is returned. Thereby, the game balls B6 to B1 existing on the upstream side
5 move on the path of five pieces each, so that the movable gutter 7
8 is filled again.

If the bet switch 60c has been operated (in the case of two units), the movable gutter 78 is inclined again to discharge five game balls at once, and the movable gutter 78 is returned. If the bet switch 60a has been operated (in the case of three units), the movable gutter 78 is again inclined to discharge five game balls at once, and then the movable gutter 78 is returned.

Prior to the second and third inclines of the movable gutter 78, if the conduction state of the electrode plate 86 and the signal level of the optical sensor 88 are checked, batch discharge (collective capture) of five pieces each is further performed. It can be done reliably. After that, the control device 71
Returns the take-in mechanism 70 to the initial state by activating the return button 61 or lowering the shutter 130 (S110), and returns (shifts to another process).

On the other hand, the above-mentioned S104, S105 or S
Bet switches 60a-60c operated by 106
If it is determined that the number of game balls corresponding to the game ball does not stay correctly (S107: NO), the control device 71 determines whether there is a shortage of the inserted game balls by, for example, lighting of a lamp or sound. Error processing such as notifying that an error has occurred in S70 is performed (S111).

Since the game can be executed by taking in the game ball, the symbol display device 10 is operated (starts the game) according to the ON operation of the start switch 62. In addition,
In the case of an affirmative determination in S107, the game ball can be reliably taken in. Therefore, even if the game ball is not taken in in S109, the operation of the start switch 62 may be enabled to start the game.

The control device 71 executes this fetching process, in particular, executes S104, S105, and S106, and functions as a continuous presence detecting means in cooperation with the electrodes 84, 86, 122, and 124. I have.

[0056]

[Modification] In this example, the number of game balls is checked in advance, and the bet switches 60a to 60c are made effective according to the number. The control device 71 first sets the movable gutter 78
And the number of units of the game ball filled in the inclined portion 76 is confirmed (S201). The confirmation method is as described in S104,
Similar to 105 and 106, the electrode plate 84 and any electrode plate 8
It is determined how many game balls are present depending on whether 6, 122, and 124 are conducting. If the electrode plate 86 is not conductive, only four or less game balls are filled (less than one unit).

Next, the control device 71 sets the bet switches 60a to 60a in accordance with the number of game ball units determined in S201 (3 units, 2 units, 1 unit or less than 1 unit).
Enable or disable c. That is, if three game balls can be confirmed, the bet switches 60a to 60c are enabled (S202). If only two game balls are confirmed, the bet switches 60b and 60c are enabled (S202).
203) If only one unit of the game ball has been confirmed, the bet switch 60b is activated (S204). In addition, the return button 61 is invalidated together with the valid setting of the bet switches 60a to 60c. However, if less than one unit, all the bet switches 60a to 60c are invalidated and no bet is accepted (S205).

When S203, S203 or S204 is executed, only the ON operation of the activated bet switches 60a to 60c is accepted, the upstream end of the inclined portion 76 is closed by the shutter 130, and the same as described in the embodiment. The movable gutter 78 is tilted to operate the operated bet switches 60a to 60b.
The game balls of the unit number corresponding to 60c are taken in (S20).
6).

As described above, according to the take-in mechanism 70 of the present embodiment, it is determined whether or not the game ball exists continuously from the opening / closing plate 82 to the installation position of each of the electrode plates 86, 122, and 124, It is possible to detect whether or not the number of game balls corresponding to the distance to the electrode plates 86, 122, and 124 is correctly staying. In addition, it is possible to detect a case where the game balls are discontinuous due to foreign matter such as dust intervening between the game balls or clogging of the balls.

Further, by using the optical sensors 88, 126 and 128 together, it is possible to more reliably determine whether or not the game balls are continuously continuous. In addition, discontinuous positions and the like can be appropriately detected, and notification and measures can be taken according to cases. Since the electrode plates 84, 86, 122, 124 (continuous presence detecting means) and the optical sensors 88, 126, 128 (presence / absence detecting means and intermediate detecting means) are different from each other, for example, one of them is erroneously detected. Even so, if the other is normal, it can be determined to be an erroneous detection or one of the abnormalities.

By setting the detection position at a plurality of positions, a plurality of types (5, 10, 15) can be satisfactorily counted. Therefore, a bet of 3 units (15) is not accepted, but 1 or A detailed response, such as accepting two units, is possible. Since one unit (five) of game balls can be taken in at a time, the time required for taking is short and the game can proceed quickly. It should be noted that in addition to the means for collectively taking (discharging) one unit (for example, five) as a batch discharging means, the means for collectively taking (discharging) two units.
It is also possible to provide a means or a means for taking in (discharging) three units at a time. This can further reduce the time required to collectively (discharge) two or more units.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described according to the examples and the modifications, the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a slot machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a structure of an intake mechanism according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a structure of a movable gutter according to an embodiment;
(A-1) is a view from the downstream end side, FIG. 3 (a-2) is a side view of the slider and the solenoid, and FIG. 3 (b) is a sectional view near the electrode plate.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a state in which the movable gutter of the embodiment is inclined, and FIG. 4 (a-1) corresponds to FIG. 3 (a-1) and FIG.
2) corresponds to FIG. 3 (a-2), and FIG. 4 (b) corresponds to FIG. 3 (b).

5A and 5B are explanatory views of the arrangement of an electrode plate and an optical sensor in an inclined portion according to an embodiment, wherein FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view near a middle electrode plate, and FIG. 5B is an upstream electrode plate; It is sectional drawing of a vicinity.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a control system of the slot machine of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a loading process executed by the control device of the slot machine of the embodiment.

8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams of detection of continuous and discontinuous game balls by the control device. FIG. 8A is a diagram of a continuous state, and FIG.
(B) is an illustration of a discontinuous state.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a take-in process according to a modification performed by the control device of the slot machine of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

50: Slot machine, 56: Upper plate, 70: Capture mechanism (game ball counting device), 71: Control device (continuous presence detecting means), 72: Guide path, 74: U-turn section (guide path), 76 ... Inclined part (guide path), 78: movable gutter (guide path, batch discharge means), 82: open / close plate (movement prevention means), 84: electrode plate (continuous presence detection means), 86: electrode plate (continuous presence detection means) ), 88: optical sensor (intermediate detection means), 90: drive mechanism (collective discharge means), 94: guide rail (collective discharge means), 98: slider (collective discharge means), 104: solenoid (collective discharge means), 110 ...
Driving pins (collective discharging means), 122: electrode plate (continuous presence detecting means), 124: electrode plate (continuous presence detecting means), 1
26 ... optical sensor (intermediate detecting means), 128 ... optical sensor (presence / absence detecting means).

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A guide path through which game balls can move in a row,
A movement preventing means for preventing movement of the game ball to the downstream side from the blocking position, and a continuation for detecting whether or not the game ball exists continuously from the blocking position to a detection set position set on the upstream side thereof A game ball counting device provided with presence detection means. 2. The game ball counting device according to claim 1, further comprising presence / absence detection means for detecting whether or not there is a game ball at said detection set position. 3. The game ball counting device according to claim 1, wherein an intermediate detection position is set between the blocking position and the detection setting position, and the continuous presence detecting means detects the intermediate detection from the blocking position. A game ball counting device which also detects whether a game ball exists continuously to a position. 4. The game ball detection device according to claim 3, further comprising an intermediate detection means for detecting whether a game ball is present at the intermediate detection position. 5. The game ball detection device according to claim 3, wherein a plurality of the intermediate detection positions are set. 6. The game ball counting device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of game balls continuous from a head game ball in the game balls which are prevented from moving by the movement preventing means are collectively collected. A game ball counting device comprising a batch discharging means for discharging the game ball from the guidance passage.